Understanding the Evolution and Applications of Intelligent Systems via a Tri-X Intelligence (TI) Model

The evolution and application of intelligence have been discussed from perspectives of life, control theory and artificial intelligence. However, there has been no consensus on understanding the evolution of intelligence. In this study, we propose a Tri-X Intelligence (TI) model, aimed at providing a comprehensive perspective to understand complex intelligence and the implementation of intelligent systems. In this work, the essence and evolution of intelligent systems (or system intelligentization) are analyzed and discussed from multiple perspectives and at different stages (Type I, Type II and Type III), based on a Tri-X Intelligence model. Elemental intelligence based on scientific effects (e.g., conscious humans, cyber entities and physical objects) is at the primitive level of intelligence (Type I). Integrated intelligence formed by two-element integration (e.g., human-cyber systems and cyber-physical systems) is at the normal level of intelligence (Type II). Complex intelligence formed by ternary-interaction (e.g., a human-cyber-physical system) is at the dynamic level of intelligence (Type III). Representative cases are analyzed to deepen the understanding of intelligent systems and their future implementation, such as in intelligent manufacturing. This work provides a systematic scheme, and technical supports, to understand and develop intelligent systems.

Nanostructured multifunctional electrocatalysts for efficient energy conversion systems: Recent perspectives

Electrocatalysts play a significant performance in renewable energy conversion, supporting several sustainable methods for future technologies. Because of the successful fabrication of distinctive oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts, bifunctional ORR/OER and HER/OER electrocatalysts have become a hot area of contemporary research. ORR, OER, and HER have gained considerable attention because of their strong performance in different energy conversion and storage devices, including water-splitting devices, fuel cells, and metal–air rechargeable batteries. Therefore, the development of effective nanostructured multifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR, OER, and HER is necessary; and there is a demand for their industrialization for sustainable energy technology. In this review, details of current improvements in multifunctional catalysts for ORR/OER as well as HER/OER are presented, focusing on insight into the theoretical considerations of these reactions through investigation and estimation of different multifunctional catalysts. By analyzing the universal principles for various electrochemical reactions, we report a systematic scheme to clarify the recent trends in catalyzing these reactions over various types of nanostructure catalysts. The relevant reaction pathways and the related activity details for these reactions in the current literature are also included. Overall, the current demands and future outlines for improving the prospects of multifunctional electrocatalysts are discussed.

An Automatic Instrument Integration Scheme for Interoperable Ocean Observatories

Due to the heterogeneity, high cost, and harsh environment, ocean observatories demand a flexible, robust, and capable scheme to integrate science instruments. To deal with the challenges of automatic instrument integration and machine-to-machine interaction in ocean observatories, a systematic scheme is proposed based on Zero Configuration Networking (Zeroconf), Programmable Underwater Connector with Knowledge (PUCK), Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP), and Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocols, as well as a smart interface module to achieve instrument plug-and-play and standard communication among heterogeneous ocean instruments. The scheme specifically considers the resource-constrained ocean observatories and machine-to-machine interoperability, which is of great significance to interoperable ocean observatories. The laboratory tests have verified the feasibility of the proposed scheme.

An accessible STEM editor customizable for various local languages

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to facilitate the spread of accessible e-books, especially ones of STEM much more in developing countries, an efficient/systematic scheme to localize tools for producing/reading them should be established. Furthermore, even in many advanced countries, Print-disabled people still do not have a good tool to write a content including technical notations such as mathematical formulas in their own local language. This work is aimed at giving a practical solution for those problems. Design/methodology/approach Here, multilingual support in a tool to produce accessible STEM contents and its new localization scheme are discussed. Findings It is shown that the accessible STEM-document editor can be customized easily for print-disabled people so that they can read and author a material including complicated technical notations in their own local language. The localization for Vietnamese and other various languages actually has been worked on. Originality/value The Vietnamese version was completed, and some prototype versions for the other languages were also given. It is expected that the software can contribute to improve STEM accessibility much more in many countries.

A Systematic Approach to the Cutaneous Lymphoid Infiltrates: A Clinical, Morphologic, and Immunophenotypic Evaluation

Context.— The evaluation of cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates, both neoplastic and inflammatory, occurs very frequently in routine dermatopathologic examination and consultation practices. The “tough” cutaneous lymphoid infiltrate is feared by many pathologists; skin biopsies are relatively small, whereas diagnostic possibilities are relatively broad. It is true that cutaneous lymphomas can be difficult to diagnose and that in many circumstances multiple biopsies are required to establish a correct diagnostic interpretation. As a reminder, one should understand that low-grade cutaneous lymphomas are indolent disorders that usually linger for decades and that therapy does not result in disease cure. It is also important to remember that in most circumstances, those patients will die from another process that is completely unrelated to a diagnosis of skin lymphoma (even in the absence of specific therapy). Objective.— To use a clinicopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular approach in the evaluation of common lymphocytic infiltrates. Data Sources.— An in-depth analysis of updated literature in the field of cutaneous lymphomas was done, with particular emphasis on updated terminology from the most recent World Health Organization classification of skin and hematologic tumors. Conclusions.— A diagnosis of cutaneous lymphoid infiltrates can be adequately approached using a systematic scheme following the proposed ABCDE system. Overall, cutaneous T- and B-cell lymphomas are rare and “reactive” infiltrates are more common. Evaluation of lymphoid proliferations should start with a good sense of knowledge of the clinical presentation of the lesions, the clinical differential considerations, and a conscientious and appropriate use of immunohistochemistry and molecular tools.

Construction of simplified microbial consortia to degrade recalcitrant materials based on enrichment and dilution-to-extinction cultures

The capacity of microbes degrading recalcitrant materials has been extensively explored from environmental remediation to industrial applications. Although significant achievements were obtained with single strains, focus is now going toward the use of microbial consortia because of advantages in terms of functional stability and efficiency. While consortia assembly attempts were made from several known single strains, another approach consists in obtaining consortia from complex environmental microbial communities in search for novel microbial species, genes and functions. However, assembling efficient microbial consortia from complex environmental communities is far from trivial due to large diversity and biotic interactions at play. Here we propose a strategy containing enrichment and dilution-to-extinction cultures to construct simplified microbial consortia (SMC) for keratinous waste management, from complex environmental communities. Gradual dilutions were performed from a keratinolytic microbial consortium, and dilution 10−9was selected to construct a SMC library. Further compositional analysis and keratinolytic activity assays demonstrated that microbial consortia were successfully simplified, without impacting their biodegradation capabilities. These SMC possess promising potential for efficient keratinous valorization. More importantly, this reasoning and methodology could be transferred to other topics involving screening for simplified communities for biodegradation, thus considerably broadening its application scope.ImportanceMicrobial consortia have got more and more attention and extensive applications due to their potential advantages. However, a high diversity of microbes is likely to hide uncontrollable risks in practice specific to novel strains and complicated interaction networks. Exploring a convenient and efficient way to construct simplified microbial consortia is able to broaden the applied scope of microbes. This study presents the approach based on enrichment and dilution-to-extinction cultures, which gain abundance microbial consortia including some without losing efficiency from the enriched functional microbial community. The microbial interactions at the strain level were evaluated by using compositional identification and correlation analysis, which contribute to revealing the roles of microbes in the degradation process of recalcitrant materials. Our findings provide a systematic scheme to achieve optimizing microbial consortia for biodegradation from an environmental sample, could be readily applied to a range of recalcitrant materials management from environmental remediation to industrial applications.

Prosecutor v. Bemba et al.

The case against Jean-Pierre Bemba, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu, and Narcisse Arido is the first case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) dealing with offenses against administration of justice. The case is exceptional in terms of scope and size in comparison to other international prosecutions dealing with this kind of offense. The charges concern a systematic scheme aimed at producing false testimony of a large number of witnesses. Five people, including members of a defense team in another case before the ICC, carried out this operation over a period of many years. The case also involves several interesting evidentiary and procedural issues, including the overall regime for admission of evidence before the ICC.