Capturing Causality for Fault Diagnosis Based on Multi-Valued Alarm Series Using Transfer Entropy

Transfer entropy (TE) is a model-free approach based on information theory to capture causality between variables, which has been used for the modeling and monitoring of, and fault diagnosis in, complex industrial processes. It is able to detect the causality between variables without assuming any underlying model, but it is computationally burdensome. To overcome this limitation, a hybrid method of TE and the modified conditional mutual information (CMI) approach is proposed by using generated multi-valued alarm series. In order to obtain a process topology, TE can generate a causal map of all sub-processes and modified CMI can be used to distinguish the direct connectivity from the above-mentioned causal map by using multi-valued alarm series. The effectiveness and accuracy rate of the proposed method are validated by simulated and real industrial cases (the Tennessee-Eastman process) to capture process topology by using multi-valued alarm series

Multistimulus-Responsive Graphene Oxide/Fe3O4/Starch Soft Actuators

Soft actuators that respond to external stimuli like moisture, magnetism, light, and temperature have received tremendous attention owing to their promising potential in many frontier applications, including smart switches, soft robots, sensors, and artificial muscles. However, most of the conventional actuators can only be triggered by a solo stimulus and demand advanced manufacturing techniques that utilize expensive, hazardous, and synthetic raw materials. Herein, we design and fabricate a multiple stimuli-responsive actuator using graphene oxide, Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and tapioca starch via a water evaporation-induced self-assembly method. The resultant hybrid actuator exhibits a bending speed of ∼72° s–1 upon moisture exposure. Moreover, it can perform clockwise and counterclockwise rotations, linear motion, and magnetic object capture by regulating a magnetic field. As representative examples, the actuator is used to fabricate various smart devices such as smart curtains, biomimetic structures, and a smart gripper that undergo complex and consecutive motion under the influence of multiple stimuli.</p

The relationship of endothelial function and arterial stiffness with subclinical target organ damage in essential hypertension

Abstract This study aimed to explore whether brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) or the interaction of both parameters are associated with subclinical target organ damage (STOD) indices in patients with essential hypertension. A total of 4618 patients registered from January 2015 to October 2020 were included. baPWV and FMD were measured to evaluate arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction. Whereas left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), urine albumin‐creatinine ratio (UACR), and carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) were obtained as STOD indicators. On multivariable logistic regression analysis with potential confounders, higher quartiles of baPWV and FMD were significantly associated with an increased risk of STOD. In patients <65 years of age, the odds ratio (OR) of LVH, UACR, and CIMT ≥.9 mm for the fourth versus the first quartile of baPWV were 1.765 (1.390–2.240), 2.832 (2.014–3.813), and 3.075 (2.315–4.084), respectively. In interaction analysis, an increase in baPWV shows a progressively higher risk of STOD across the quartiles of FMD. Also, the estimated absolute risks of LVH, UACR, and CIMT ≥.9 mm for the first to fourth quartile of baPWV increased from 1.88 to 2.75, 2.35 to 4.44, and 3.10 to 6.10, respectively, in patients grouped by FMD quartiles. The addition of baPWV to FMD slightly improved risk prediction for STOD. BaPWV and FMD were independently associated with an increased risk of STOD in patients with essential hypertension especially among patients <65 years of age. Patients with elevated baPWV and decreased FMD parameters are at increased risk of STOD

Maritime Security on the Asia-Pacific: A Navigational Map for the New U.S. Administration

Created as part of the 2017 Jackson School for International Studies SIS 495: Task Force.Maritime security in the Asia-Pacific entails “traditional” security concerns such as naval power, and “non-traditional” security issues such as piracy, climate change and fisheries depletion. This task force evaluates policy options for a comprehensive maritime strategy for U.S. leadership