The Ethics of AI Ethics: An Evaluation of Guidelines

Minds and Machines - Current advances in research, development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) systems have yielded a far-reaching discourse on AI ethics. In consequence, a number...     

现场总线系统的历史与标准(续1)

本文是Sauter博士、副教授在北京机械工业学院自动化系 ,西南师范大学信息工程学院与上海理工大学自动化系的演讲讲稿。本工作是中华人民共和国科学技术部与奥地利国家教科文部的政府合作计划 ,第二批第Ⅳ项关于“现场总线评估中心”的项目     

The World Wide Web as Enabling Technology for CSCW: The Case of BSCW

Despite the growth of interest in the field of CSCW,and the increasingly large number of systems whichhave been developed, it is still the case that fewsystems have been adopted for widespread use. This isparticularly true for widely-dispersed, cross-organisational working groups where problems ofheterogeneity in computing hardware and softwareenvironments inhibit the deployment of CSCWtechnologies. With a lightweight and extensibleclient-server architecture, client implementations forall popular computing platforms, and an existing userbase numbered in millions, the World Wide Web offersgreat potential in solving some of these problems toprovide an enabling technology for CSCWapplications. We illustrate this potential using ourwork with the BSCW shared workspace system – anextension to the Web architecture which provides basicfacilities for collaborative information sharing fromunmodified Web browsers. We conclude that despitelimitations in the range of applications which can bedirectly supported, building on the strengths of theWeb can give significant benefits in easing thedevelopment and deployment of CSCW applications.     

Design and performance of a combined secondary ion mass spectrometry-scanning probe microscopy instrument for high sensitivity and high-resolution elemental three-dimensional analysis

State-of-the-art secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) instruments allow producing 3D chemical mappings with excellent sensitivity and spatial resolution. Several important artifacts however arise from the fact that SIMS 3D mapping does not take into account the surface topography of the sample. In order to correct these artifacts, we have integrated a specially developed scanning probe microscopy (SPM) system into a commercial Cameca NanoSIMS 50 instrument. This new SPM module, which was designed as a DN200CF flange-mounted bolt-on accessory, includes a new high-precision sample stage, a scanner with a range of 100 μm in x and y direction, and a dedicated SPM head which can be operated in the atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy modes. Topographical information gained from AFM measurements taken before, during, and after SIMS analysis as well as the SIMS data are automatically compiled into an accurate 3D reconstruction using the software program "SARINA," which was developed for this first combined SIMS-SPM instrument. The achievable lateral resolutions are 6 nm in the SPM mode and 45 nm in the SIMS mode. Elemental 3D images obtained with our integrated SIMS-SPM instrument on Al/Cu and polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) samples demonstrate the advantages of the combined SIMS-SPM approach.     

Humic acid adsorption and surface charge effects on schwertmannite and goethite in acid sulphate waters

In acid conditions, as in acid mine drainage waters, iron oxide particles are positively charged, attracting negatively charged organic particles present in surrounding natural waters. Schwertmannite (Fe8O8(OH)6SO4) and goethite (alpha-FeOOH) are the most typical iron oxide minerals found in mine effluents. We studied schwertmannite formation in the presence of humic acid. Further, surface charge and adsorption of humic acid on synthetic schwertmannite and goethite surfaces in pH 2-9 and in humic acid concentrations of 0.1-100 mg/L C were examined. Schwertmannite did precipitate despite the presence of humic acid, although it contained more sulphate and had higher specific surface area than ordinary schwertmannite. Specific surface area weighted results showed that schwertmannite and goethite had similar humic acid adsorption capacities. Sulphate was released from schwertmannite surfaces with increasing pH, resulting in an increase in specific surface area. Presence of sulphate in solution decreased the surface charge of schwertmannite and goethite similarly, causing coagulation. In acid conditions (pH 2-3.5), according to the zeta potential, schwertmannite is expected to coagulate even in the presence of high concentrations of humic acid (< or = 100 mg/L C). However, at high humic acid concentrations (10-100 mg/L C) with moderate acid conditions (pH>3.5), both schwertmannite and goethite surfaces are strongly negatively charged (zeta potential < -30 mV) thus posing a risk for colloid stabilization and colloidal transport.     

Toxicity of parked motor vehicle indoor air

The interior of motor vehicles is made of a wide variety of synthetic materials, which emit volatile organic compounds (VOC). We tested the health effects of emissions from vehicles exposed to "parked in sunshine" conditions. A new and a 3 year old vehicle with identical interior were exposed to 14 000 W of light. Indoor air was analyzed by GC-MS. Toxicity of extracts of indoor air was assayed in human primary keratinocytes, human lung epithelial A549 cell line, and Chinese hamster V79 lung fibroblasts. In addition, toxicity after metabolic activation by CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, and CYP2E1 was assayed. The effect on type I allergic reaction (IgE-mediated immune response), type IV allergic reaction (T-cell mediated immune response), and irritative potential was evaluated also. A total of 10.9 and 1.2 mg/m(3) VOC were found in new and used motor vehicle indoor air, respectively. The major compounds in the new vehicle were o,m,p-xylenes, C3 and C4-alkylbenzenes, dodecane, tridecane, and methylpyrrolidinone. In the used vehicle they were acetone, methylpyrrolidinone, methylcyclohexane, acetaldehyde, o,m,p-xylenes, ethylhexanol, and toluene. No toxicity was observed in any cell line with or without metabolic activation. Neither did we find an effect on type IV sensitization or an irritative potential. A slight but statistically significant aggravating effect on IgE-mediated immune response of only the new vehicle indoor air was determined (p < 0.05). The IgE-response modulating effect of indoor air might be relevant for atopic individuals. Else no direct toxicity, no toxicity after metabolic activation by cytochrome P450, and no irritative or type IV sensitizing potential of motor vehicle indoor air were found, neither from the new nor used vehicle. Our investigations indicated no apparent health hazard of parked motor vehicle indoor air.     

The Aharonov-Bohm effect in graphene rings with metal mirrors

We measured the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect in graphene rings with superconducting-(Al) and normal-metal (Au) mirrors. The mirrors were deposited either on additional stubs connected to the rings in the transverse direction or on the ring bias lines. A significant enhancement of the visible phase coherence was observed in the latter case, in which we observed even the third harmonic of the AB oscillations. The superconductivity of the mirrors appears to be unimportant for the improved coherence in graphene. A large Fermi energy mismatch between graphene and the mirror material is sufficient for this effect. In addition, a transport gap was observed in our graphene structures at the gate voltage close to the Dirac point. The value of the gap can be reproduced by assuming the occurrence of Coulomb blockade effects in graphene.