Biological invasions,driven mainly by human activities,pose significant threats to global ecosystems and economies,with fungi and fungal-like oomycetes playing a pivotal role.Ink disease,caused by Phytophthora cinnamo...Biological invasions,driven mainly by human activities,pose significant threats to global ecosystems and economies,with fungi and fungal-like oomycetes playing a pivotal role.Ink disease,caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi and P.×cambivora,is a growing concern for sweet chestnut stands(Castanea sativa)in Europe.Since both pathogens are thermophilic organisms,ongoing climate change will likely exacerbate their impact.In this study,we applied species distribution modeling techniques to identify poten-tial substitutive species for sweet chestnut in the light of future climate scenarios SSP126 and SSP370 in southern Switzerland.Using the presence-only machine learning algorithm MaxEnt and leveraging occurrence data from the global dataset GBIF,we delineated the current and projected(2070-2100)distribution of 28 tree species.Several exotic species emerged as valuable alternatives to sweet chestnut,although careful consideration of all potential ecological consequences is required.We also identified several native tree species as promising substitutes,offering ecological benefits and potential adaptability to climatic conditions.Since species diversification fosters forest resilience,we also determined communities of alternative species that can be grown together.Our findings represent a valuable deci-sion tool for forest managers confronted with the challenges posed by ink disease and climate change.Given that,even in absence of disease,sweet chestnut is not a future-proof tree species in the study region,the identified species could offer a pathway toward resilient and sustainable forests within the entire chestnut belt.展开更多
The complex behaviors of expansive soils,particularly their volumetric changes driven by moisture variations,pose significant challenges in urban geotechnical engineering.Although vegetation-induced moisture changes a...The complex behaviors of expansive soils,particularly their volumetric changes driven by moisture variations,pose significant challenges in urban geotechnical engineering.Although vegetation-induced moisture changes are known to affect ground movement,quantitative characterization of tree–soil interactions remains limited due to insufficient field data and unclear relationships between tree water uptake and soil response.This study investigates the mechanical behavior of expansive clay soils influenced by two Lophostemon confertus samples during a 14-month field monitoring program in Melbourne,Australia.The research methodology integrates measurements of soil displacement,total soil suction,moisture content,and tree water consumption through instrumentation and monitoring systems.Field measurements suggest that tree roots reached the limits of their water extraction capacity when total soil suction exceeded 2880 kPa within the active root zone.The spatial extent of tree-induced soil desiccation reached 0.6–0.7 times the tree height laterally and penetrated to depths of 2.5–3.3 m vertically.The mature sample,with an 86%greater crown area and a threefold larger sapwood area,exhibited 142%higher water consumption(35 kL),demonstrating the scalability of tree–soil interaction mechanisms.A multiple linear regression model was developed to quantify the coupled relationships between soil movement and key variables,achieving a high adjusted R2 value of 0.97,which provides engineers and practitioners with a practical tool for estimating ground movement near trees.These findings offer valuable insights for infrastructure design in tree-adjacent environments and can inform computational models and design codes to enable more accurate site assessments and sustainable urban development.展开更多
Unlike the detection of marked on-street parking spaces,detecting unmarked spaces poses significant challenges due to the absence of clear physical demarcation and uneven gaps caused by irregular parking.In urban citi...Unlike the detection of marked on-street parking spaces,detecting unmarked spaces poses significant challenges due to the absence of clear physical demarcation and uneven gaps caused by irregular parking.In urban cities with heavy traffic flow,these challenges can result in traffic disruptions,rear-end collisions,sideswipes,and congestion as drivers struggle to make decisions.We propose a real-time detection system for on-street parking spaces using YOLO models and recommend the most suitable space based on KD-tree search.Lightweight versions of YOLOv5,YOLOv7-tiny,and YOLOv8 with different architectures are trained.Among the models,YOLOv5s with SPPF at the backbone achieved an F1-score of 0.89,which was selected for validation using k-fold cross-validation on our dataset.The Low variance and standard deviation recorded across folds indicate the model’s generalizability,reliability,and stability.Inference with KD-tree using predictions from the YOLO models recorded FPS of 37.9 for YOLOv5,67.2 for YOLOv7-tiny,and 67.0 for YOLOv8.The models successfully detect both marked and unmarked empty parking spaces on test data with varying inference speeds and FPS.These models can be efficiently deployed for real-time applications due to their high FPS,inference speed,and lightweight nature.In comparison with other state-of-the-art models,our models outperform them,further demonstrating their effectiveness.展开更多
Volume models for the long-term management of Okomu National Park in Nigeria are not available. The main challenge in assessing forest resources is the lack of accurate, species-specific baseline data and updated info...Volume models for the long-term management of Okomu National Park in Nigeria are not available. The main challenge in assessing forest resources is the lack of accurate, species-specific baseline data and updated information on volume models, growth rates, and disturbances. This complicates the development of effective management plans. This study addresses this by modelling tree volume using temporary sample plots laid out using a systematic line transect method Data was collected from 16 40 m × 50 m plots using a Spiegel relascope. DBH, top, middle, and base diameters, and overall height were measured for trees ≤ 10 cm DBH. Newton’s formula calculated volume of each tree, and per hectare estimates generated. The results showed an average of 132 trees per hectare. Population densities of individual species ranged from 1–11/ha, indicating a low density. Strombosia pustulata was the most abundant species. For coefficients that form the basis for species grouping, species-specific volume equations were developed and grouped into three clusters. Regression equations were fitted and selected based on specific statistical metrics. The volume models showed that generalized (V_(i)=b_(0)+b_(1)(D_(i)^(2)H_(i))+ε_(i)) functions, based on the statistical metrics, performed more effectively. The generalized functions exhibited superior performance, evidenced by the uniform residual plot distribution for DBH^(2)H, implying consistent experimental error and adherence to regression assumptions. A t-test at 95% confidence showed that the discrepancy between predicted and actual values was insignificant. This study indicates that the prediction models provide effective management tools for climate mitigation and determining carbon sequestration by a tropical forest.展开更多
Following the publication of Zeng et al.(2023),an inadvertent error was recently identified in Figure 1B and Supplementary Figure S3.To ensure the accuracy and integrity of our published work,we formally request a cor...Following the publication of Zeng et al.(2023),an inadvertent error was recently identified in Figure 1B and Supplementary Figure S3.To ensure the accuracy and integrity of our published work,we formally request a correction to address this issue and apologize for any confusion this error may have caused.For details,please refer to the modified Supplementary Materials.展开更多
The tree shrew(Tupaia belangeri)has long been proposed as a suitable alternative to non-human primates(NHPs)in biomedical and laboratory research due to its close evolutionary relationship with primates.In recent year...The tree shrew(Tupaia belangeri)has long been proposed as a suitable alternative to non-human primates(NHPs)in biomedical and laboratory research due to its close evolutionary relationship with primates.In recent years,significant advances have facilitated tree shrew studies,including the determination of the tree shrew genome,genetic manipulation using spermatogonial stem cells,viral vector-mediated gene delivery,and mapping of the tree shrew brain atlas.However,the limited availability of tree shrews globally remains a substantial challenge in the field.Additionally,determining the key questions best answered using tree shrews constitutes another difficulty.Tree shrew models have historically been used to study hepatitis B virus(HBV)and hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection,myopia,and psychosocial stress-induced depression,with more recent studies focusing on developing animal models for infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.Despite these efforts,the impact of tree shrew models has not yet matched that of rodent or NHP models in biomedical research.This review summarizes the prominent advancements in tree shrew research and reflects on the key biological questions addressed using this model.We emphasize that intensive dedication and robust international collaboration are essential for achieving breakthroughs in tree shrew studies.The use of tree shrews as a unique resource is expected to gain considerable attention with the application of advanced techniques and the development of viable animal models,meeting the increasing demands of life science and biomedical research.展开更多
Individual Tree Detection-and-Counting(ITDC)is among the important tasks in town areas,and numerous methods are proposed in this direction.Despite their many advantages,still,the proposed methods are inadequate to pro...Individual Tree Detection-and-Counting(ITDC)is among the important tasks in town areas,and numerous methods are proposed in this direction.Despite their many advantages,still,the proposed methods are inadequate to provide robust results because they mostly rely on the direct field investigations.This paper presents a novel approach involving high-resolution imagery and the Canopy-Height-Model(CHM)data to solve the ITDC problem.The new approach is studied in six urban scenes:farmland,woodland,park,industrial land,road and residential areas.First,it identifies tree canopy regions using a deep learning network from high-resolution imagery.It then deploys the CHM-data to detect treetops of the canopy regions using a local maximum algorithm and individual tree canopies using the region growing.Finally,it calculates and describes the number of individual trees and tree canopies.The proposed approach is experimented with the data from Shanghai,China.Our results show that the individual tree detection method had an average overall accuracy of 0.953,with a precision of 0.987 for woodland scene.Meanwhile,the R^(2) value for canopy segmentation in different urban scenes is greater than 0.780 and 0.779 for canopy area and diameter size,respectively.These results confirm that the proposed method is robust enough for urban tree planning and management.展开更多
Height–diameter relationships are essential elements of forest assessment and modeling efforts.In this work,two linear and eighteen nonlinear height–diameter equations were evaluated to find a local model for Orient...Height–diameter relationships are essential elements of forest assessment and modeling efforts.In this work,two linear and eighteen nonlinear height–diameter equations were evaluated to find a local model for Oriental beech（Fagus orientalis Lipsky） in the Hyrcanian Forest in Iran.The predictive performance of these models was first assessed by different evaluation criteria： adjusted R^2（R^2_（adj））,root mean square error（RMSE）,relative RMSE（%RMSE）,bias,and relative bias（%bias） criteria.The best model was selected for use as the base mixed-effects model.Random parameters for test plots were estimated with different tree selection options.Results show that the Chapman–Richards model had better predictive ability in terms of adj R^2（0.81）,RMSE（3.7 m）,%RMSE（12.9）,bias（0.8）,%Bias（2.79） than the other models.Furthermore,the calibration response,based on a selection of four trees from the sample plots,resulted in a reduction percentage for bias and RMSE of about 1.6–2.7%.Our results indicate that the calibrated model produced the most accurate results.展开更多
Hydraulic fracturing is an effective technology for hydrocarbon extraction from unconventional shale and tight gas reservoirs.A potential risk of hydraulic fracturing is the upward migration of stray gas from the deep...Hydraulic fracturing is an effective technology for hydrocarbon extraction from unconventional shale and tight gas reservoirs.A potential risk of hydraulic fracturing is the upward migration of stray gas from the deep subsurface to shallow aquifers.The stray gas can dissolve in groundwater leading to chemical and biological reactions,which could negatively affect groundwater quality and contribute to atmospheric emissions.The knowledge oflight hydrocarbon solubility in the aqueous environment is essential for the numerical modelling offlow and transport in the subsurface.Herein,we compiled a database containing 2129experimental data of methane,ethane,and propane solubility in pure water and various electrolyte solutions over wide ranges of operating temperature and pressure.Two machine learning algorithms,namely regression tree(RT)and boosted regression tree(BRT)tuned with a Bayesian optimization algorithm(BO)were employed to determine the solubility of gases.The predictions were compared with the experimental data as well as four well-established thermodynamic models.Our analysis shows that the BRT-BO is sufficiently accurate,and the predicted values agree well with those obtained from the thermodynamic models.The coefficient of determination(R2)between experimental and predicted values is 0.99 and the mean squared error(MSE)is 9.97×10^(-8).The leverage statistical approach further confirmed the validity of the model developed.展开更多
Identifying risk factors for road traffic injuries can be considered one of the main priorities of transportation agencies. More than 12,000 fatal work zone crashes were reported between 2000 and 2013. Despite recent ...Identifying risk factors for road traffic injuries can be considered one of the main priorities of transportation agencies. More than 12,000 fatal work zone crashes were reported between 2000 and 2013. Despite recent efforts to improve work zone safety, the frequency and severity of work zone crashes are still a big concern for transportation agencies. Although many studies have been conducted on different work zone safety-related issues, there is a lack of studies that investigate the effect of adverse weather conditions on work zone crash severity. This paper utilizes probit–classification tree, a relatively recent and promising combination of machine learning technique and conventional parametric model, to identify factors affecting work zone crash severity in adverse weather conditions using 8 years of work zone weatherrelated crashes (2006–2013) in Washington State. The key strength of this technique lies in its capability to alleviate the shortcomings of both parametric and nonparametric models. The results showed that both presence of traffic control device and lighting conditions are significant interacting variables in the developed complementary crash severity model for work zone weather-related crashes. Therefore, transportation agencies and contractors need to invest more in lighting equipment and better traffic control strategies at work zones, specifically during adverse weather conditions.展开更多
Over the past decade,the presence of mistletoe(Viscum album ssp.austriacum)in Scots pine stands has increased in many European countries.Understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of mistletoe in stands i...Over the past decade,the presence of mistletoe(Viscum album ssp.austriacum)in Scots pine stands has increased in many European countries.Understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of mistletoe in stands is key to making appropriate forest management decisions to limit damage and prevent the spread of mistletoe in the future.Therefore,the main objective of this study was to determine the probability of mistletoe occurrence in Scots pine stands in relation to stand-related endogenous factors such as age,top height,and stand density,as well as topographic and edaphic factors.We used unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)imagery from 2,247 stands to detect mistletoe in Scots pine stands,while majority stand and site characteristics were calculated from airborne laser scanning(ALS)data.Information on stand age and site type from the State Forest database were also used.We found that mistletoe infestation in Scots pine stands is influenced by stand and site characteristics.We documented that the densest,tallest,and oldest stands were more susceptible to mistletoe infestation.Site type and specific microsite conditions associated with topography were also important factors driving mistletoe occurrence.In addition,climatic water balance was a significant factor in increasing the probability of mistletoe occurrence,which is important in the context of predicted temperature increases associated with climate change.Our results are important for better understanding patterns of mistletoe infestation and ecosystem functioning under climate change.In an era of climate change and technological development,the use of remote sensing methods to determine the risk of mistletoe infestation can be a very useful tool for managing forest ecosystems to maintain forest sustainability and prevent forest disturbance.展开更多
Malware is an ever-present and dynamic threat to networks and computer systems in cybersecurity,and because of its complexity and evasiveness,it is challenging to identify using traditional signature-based detection a...Malware is an ever-present and dynamic threat to networks and computer systems in cybersecurity,and because of its complexity and evasiveness,it is challenging to identify using traditional signature-based detection approaches.The study article discusses the growing danger to cybersecurity that malware hidden in PDF files poses,highlighting the shortcomings of conventional detection techniques and the difficulties presented by adversarial methodologies.The article presents a new method that improves PDF virus detection by using document analysis and a Logistic Model Tree.Using a dataset from the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity,a comparative analysis is carried out with well-known machine learning models,such as Credal Decision Tree,Naïve Bayes,Average One Dependency Estimator,Locally Weighted Learning,and Stochastic Gradient Descent.Beyond traditional structural and JavaScript-centric PDF analysis,the research makes a substantial contribution to the area by boosting precision and resilience in malware detection.The use of Logistic Model Tree,a thorough feature selection approach,and increased focus on PDF file attributes all contribute to the efficiency of PDF virus detection.The paper emphasizes Logistic Model Tree’s critical role in tackling increasing cybersecurity threats and proposes a viable answer to practical issues in the sector.The results reveal that the Logistic Model Tree is superior,with improved accuracy of 97.46%when compared to benchmark models,demonstrating its usefulness in addressing the ever-changing threat landscape.展开更多
Model checking is an automated formal verification method to verify whether epistemic multi-agent systems adhere to property specifications.Although there is an extensive literature on qualitative properties such as s...Model checking is an automated formal verification method to verify whether epistemic multi-agent systems adhere to property specifications.Although there is an extensive literature on qualitative properties such as safety and liveness,there is still a lack of quantitative and uncertain property verifications for these systems.In uncertain environments,agents must make judicious decisions based on subjective epistemic.To verify epistemic and measurable properties in multi-agent systems,this paper extends fuzzy computation tree logic by introducing epistemic modalities and proposing a new Fuzzy Computation Tree Logic of Knowledge(FCTLK).We represent fuzzy multi-agent systems as distributed knowledge bases with fuzzy epistemic interpreted systems.In addition,we provide a transformation algorithm from fuzzy epistemic interpreted systems to fuzzy Kripke structures,as well as transformation rules from FCTLK formulas to Fuzzy Computation Tree Logic(FCTL)formulas.Accordingly,we transform the FCTLK model checking problem into the FCTL model checking.This enables the verification of FCTLK formulas by using the fuzzy model checking algorithm of FCTL without additional computational overheads.Finally,we present correctness proofs and complexity analyses of the proposed algorithms.Additionally,we further illustrate the practical application of our approach through an example of a train control system.展开更多
Individual tree models(ITMs)are classified as growth and production models for projecting current and future forest stands.ITMs are more complex than other growth and production models,show a higher level of detail an...Individual tree models(ITMs)are classified as growth and production models for projecting current and future forest stands.ITMs are more complex than other growth and production models,show a higher level of detail and,consequently,produce a better modeling resolution.However,the accuracy and efficiency of ITMs have not been properly assessed to date.In this study,we estimated the growth in height,diameter,and individual tree volume of a Eucalyptus urophylla plantation by applying an ITM.We used a continuing forest inventory dataset in which 1554 individual trees within 29 permanent plots were measured in the field over a 6-year period(24 to 72 months).Each individual tree volume was estimated for future tree age.To achieve this,we adjusted the model to predict the height and diameter growth,and the probability of mortality as a function of the competition index.The ITM accuracy was assessed based on the analysis of variance results and,subsequently,the multiple mean comparison test at the 5%significance level.The tree volumes predicted by the ITM for the forest stand aged 72 months,beginning at ages 24,36,48,and 60 months,were compared to the field measured tree volume acquired from the 72-month forest inventory that was used as the reference age.Estimated and observed tree volumes were similar when the estimation was based on the 48-month forest plots.These results might help to reduce financial costs of forest inventory because the ITM produces accurate future predictions of forest stand stocks.Our estimated ITM for Eucalyptus plantations using measurement intervals up to 2 years is recommended because it significantly reduced the projected volume discrepancy compared to the field measurements.展开更多
This article presents two approaches for automated building of knowledge bases of soil resources mapping. These methods used decision tree and Bayesian predictive modeling, respectively to generate knowledge from tra...This article presents two approaches for automated building of knowledge bases of soil resources mapping. These methods used decision tree and Bayesian predictive modeling, respectively to generate knowledge from training data. With these methods, building a knowledge base for automated soil mapping is easier than using the conventional knowledge acquisition approach. The knowledge bases built by these two methods were used by the knowledge classifier for soil type classification of the Longyou area, Zhejiang Province, China using TM bi-temporal imageries and GIS data. To evaluate the performance of the resultant knowledge bases, the classification results were compared to existing soil map based on field survey. The accuracy assessment and analysis of the resultant soil maps suggested that the knowledge bases built by these two methods were of good quality for mapping distribution model of soil classes over the study area.展开更多
With the increasing availability of precipitation radar data from space,enhancement of the resolution of spaceborne precipitation observations is important,particularly for hazard prediction and climate modeling at lo...With the increasing availability of precipitation radar data from space,enhancement of the resolution of spaceborne precipitation observations is important,particularly for hazard prediction and climate modeling at local scales relevant to extreme precipitation intensities and gradients.In this paper,the statistical characteristics of radar precipitation reflectivity data are studied and modeled using a hidden Markov tree(HMT)in the wavelet domain.Then,a high-resolution interpolation algorithm is proposed for spaceborne radar reflectivity using the HMT model as prior information.Owing to the small and transient storm elements embedded in the larger and slowly varying elements,the radar precipitation data exhibit distinct multiscale statistical properties,including a non-Gaussian structure and scale-to-scale dependency.An HMT model can capture well the statistical properties of radar precipitation,where the wavelet coefficients in each sub-band are characterized as a Gaussian mixture model(GMM),and the wavelet coefficients from the coarse scale to fine scale are described using a multiscale Markov process.The state probabilities of the GMM are determined using the expectation maximization method,and other parameters,for instance,the variance decay parameters in the HMT model are learned and estimated from high-resolution ground radar reflectivity images.Using the prior model,the wavelet coefficients at finer scales are estimated using local Wiener filtering.The interpolation algorithm is validated using data from the precipitation radar onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission satellite,and the reconstructed results are found to be able to enhance the spatial resolution while optimally reproducing the local extremes and gradients.展开更多
We estimate tree heights using polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar(PolInSAR)data constructed by the dual-polarization(dual-pol)SAR data and random volume over the ground(RVoG)model.Considering the Se...We estimate tree heights using polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar(PolInSAR)data constructed by the dual-polarization(dual-pol)SAR data and random volume over the ground(RVoG)model.Considering the Sentinel-1 SAR dual-pol(SVV,vertically transmitted and vertically received and SVH,vertically transmitted and horizontally received)configuration,one notes that S_(HH),the horizontally transmitted and horizontally received scattering element,is unavailable.The S_(HH)data were constructed using the SVH data,and polarimetric SAR(PolSAR)data were obtained.The proposed approach was first verified in simulation with satisfactory results.It was next applied to construct PolInSAR data by a pair of dual-pol Sentinel-1A data at Duke Forest,North Carolina,USA.According to local observations and forest descriptions,the range of estimated tree heights was overall reasonable.Comparing the heights with the ICESat-2 tree heights at 23 sampling locations,relative errors of 5 points were within±30%.Errors of 8 points ranged from 30%to 40%,but errors of the remaining 10 points were>40%.The results should be encouraged as error reduction is possible.For instance,the construction of PolSAR data should not be limited to using SVH,and a combination of SVH and SVV should be explored.Also,an ensemble of tree heights derived from multiple PolInSAR data can be considered since tree heights do not vary much with time frame in months or one season.展开更多
BACKGROUND Development of distant metastasis(DM)is a major concern during treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).However,studies have demonstrated im-proved distant control and survival in patients with advanced N...BACKGROUND Development of distant metastasis(DM)is a major concern during treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).However,studies have demonstrated im-proved distant control and survival in patients with advanced NPC with the addition of chemotherapy to concomitant chemoradiotherapy.Therefore,precise prediction of metastasis in patients with NPC is crucial.AIM To develop a predictive model for metastasis in NPC using detailed magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)reports.METHODS This retrospective study included 792 patients with non-distant metastatic NPC.A total of 469 imaging variables were obtained from detailed MRI reports.Data were stratified and randomly split into training(50%)and testing sets.Gradient boosting tree(GBT)models were built and used to select variables for predicting DM.A full model comprising all variables and a reduced model with the top-five variables were built.Model performance was assessed by area under the curve(AUC).RESULTS Among the 792 patients,94 developed DM during follow-up.The number of metastatic cervical nodes(30.9%),tumor invasion in the posterior half of the nasal cavity(9.7%),two sides of the pharyngeal recess(6.2%),tubal torus(3.3%),and single side of the parapharyngeal space(2.7%)were the top-five contributors for predicting DM,based on their relative importance in GBT models.The testing AUC of the full model was 0.75(95%confidence interval[CI]:0.69-0.82).The testing AUC of the reduced model was 0.75(95%CI:0.68-0.82).For the whole dataset,the full(AUC=0.76,95%CI:0.72-0.82)and reduced models(AUC=0.76,95%CI:0.71-0.81)outperformed the tumor node-staging system(AUC=0.67,95%CI:0.61-0.73).CONCLUSION The GBT model outperformed the tumor node-staging system in predicting metastasis in NPC.The number of metastatic cervical nodes was identified as the principal contributing variable.展开更多
Stone Pine(Pinus pinea L.)is currently the pine species with the highest commercial value with edible seeds.In this respect,this study introduces a new methodology for extracting Stone Pine trees from Digital Surface ...Stone Pine(Pinus pinea L.)is currently the pine species with the highest commercial value with edible seeds.In this respect,this study introduces a new methodology for extracting Stone Pine trees from Digital Surface Models(DSMs)generated through an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV)mission.We developed a novel enhanced probability map of local maxima that facilitates the computation of the orientation symmetry by means of new probabilistic local minima information.Four test sites are used to evaluate our automated framework within one of the most important Stone Pine forest areas in Antalya,Turkey.A Hand-held Mobile Laser Scanner(HMLS)was utilized to collect the reference point cloud dataset.Our findings confirm that the proposed methodology,which uses a single DSM as an input,secures overall pixel-based and object-based F1-scores of 88.3%and 97.7%,respectively.The overall median Euclidean distance revealed between the automatically extracted stem locations and the manually extracted ones is computed to be 36 cm(less than 4 pixels),demonstrating the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed methodology.Finally,the comparison with the state-of-the-art reveals that the outcomes of the proposed methodology outperform the results of six previous studies in this context.展开更多
基金supported by the Pilot program“Adaptation to climate change”of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment(FOEN,project E03)by the Interreg V A Italy Switzerland Cooperation Program 20142020(project MONGEFITOFOR).
文摘Biological invasions,driven mainly by human activities,pose significant threats to global ecosystems and economies,with fungi and fungal-like oomycetes playing a pivotal role.Ink disease,caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi and P.×cambivora,is a growing concern for sweet chestnut stands(Castanea sativa)in Europe.Since both pathogens are thermophilic organisms,ongoing climate change will likely exacerbate their impact.In this study,we applied species distribution modeling techniques to identify poten-tial substitutive species for sweet chestnut in the light of future climate scenarios SSP126 and SSP370 in southern Switzerland.Using the presence-only machine learning algorithm MaxEnt and leveraging occurrence data from the global dataset GBIF,we delineated the current and projected(2070-2100)distribution of 28 tree species.Several exotic species emerged as valuable alternatives to sweet chestnut,although careful consideration of all potential ecological consequences is required.We also identified several native tree species as promising substitutes,offering ecological benefits and potential adaptability to climatic conditions.Since species diversification fosters forest resilience,we also determined communities of alternative species that can be grown together.Our findings represent a valuable deci-sion tool for forest managers confronted with the challenges posed by ink disease and climate change.Given that,even in absence of disease,sweet chestnut is not a future-proof tree species in the study region,the identified species could offer a pathway toward resilient and sustainable forests within the entire chestnut belt.
基金funded by the Australian Research Council via the ARC Linkage(Grant No.LP16160100649).
文摘The complex behaviors of expansive soils,particularly their volumetric changes driven by moisture variations,pose significant challenges in urban geotechnical engineering.Although vegetation-induced moisture changes are known to affect ground movement,quantitative characterization of tree–soil interactions remains limited due to insufficient field data and unclear relationships between tree water uptake and soil response.This study investigates the mechanical behavior of expansive clay soils influenced by two Lophostemon confertus samples during a 14-month field monitoring program in Melbourne,Australia.The research methodology integrates measurements of soil displacement,total soil suction,moisture content,and tree water consumption through instrumentation and monitoring systems.Field measurements suggest that tree roots reached the limits of their water extraction capacity when total soil suction exceeded 2880 kPa within the active root zone.The spatial extent of tree-induced soil desiccation reached 0.6–0.7 times the tree height laterally and penetrated to depths of 2.5–3.3 m vertically.The mature sample,with an 86%greater crown area and a threefold larger sapwood area,exhibited 142%higher water consumption(35 kL),demonstrating the scalability of tree–soil interaction mechanisms.A multiple linear regression model was developed to quantify the coupled relationships between soil movement and key variables,achieving a high adjusted R2 value of 0.97,which provides engineers and practitioners with a practical tool for estimating ground movement near trees.These findings offer valuable insights for infrastructure design in tree-adjacent environments and can inform computational models and design codes to enable more accurate site assessments and sustainable urban development.
基金supports this paper.Project Nos.NSTC-112-2221-E-324-003 MY3,NSTC-111-2622-E-324-002 and NSTC-112-2221-E-324-011-MY2.
文摘Unlike the detection of marked on-street parking spaces,detecting unmarked spaces poses significant challenges due to the absence of clear physical demarcation and uneven gaps caused by irregular parking.In urban cities with heavy traffic flow,these challenges can result in traffic disruptions,rear-end collisions,sideswipes,and congestion as drivers struggle to make decisions.We propose a real-time detection system for on-street parking spaces using YOLO models and recommend the most suitable space based on KD-tree search.Lightweight versions of YOLOv5,YOLOv7-tiny,and YOLOv8 with different architectures are trained.Among the models,YOLOv5s with SPPF at the backbone achieved an F1-score of 0.89,which was selected for validation using k-fold cross-validation on our dataset.The Low variance and standard deviation recorded across folds indicate the model’s generalizability,reliability,and stability.Inference with KD-tree using predictions from the YOLO models recorded FPS of 37.9 for YOLOv5,67.2 for YOLOv7-tiny,and 67.0 for YOLOv8.The models successfully detect both marked and unmarked empty parking spaces on test data with varying inference speeds and FPS.These models can be efficiently deployed for real-time applications due to their high FPS,inference speed,and lightweight nature.In comparison with other state-of-the-art models,our models outperform them,further demonstrating their effectiveness.
文摘Volume models for the long-term management of Okomu National Park in Nigeria are not available. The main challenge in assessing forest resources is the lack of accurate, species-specific baseline data and updated information on volume models, growth rates, and disturbances. This complicates the development of effective management plans. This study addresses this by modelling tree volume using temporary sample plots laid out using a systematic line transect method Data was collected from 16 40 m × 50 m plots using a Spiegel relascope. DBH, top, middle, and base diameters, and overall height were measured for trees ≤ 10 cm DBH. Newton’s formula calculated volume of each tree, and per hectare estimates generated. The results showed an average of 132 trees per hectare. Population densities of individual species ranged from 1–11/ha, indicating a low density. Strombosia pustulata was the most abundant species. For coefficients that form the basis for species grouping, species-specific volume equations were developed and grouped into three clusters. Regression equations were fitted and selected based on specific statistical metrics. The volume models showed that generalized (V_(i)=b_(0)+b_(1)(D_(i)^(2)H_(i))+ε_(i)) functions, based on the statistical metrics, performed more effectively. The generalized functions exhibited superior performance, evidenced by the uniform residual plot distribution for DBH^(2)H, implying consistent experimental error and adherence to regression assumptions. A t-test at 95% confidence showed that the discrepancy between predicted and actual values was insignificant. This study indicates that the prediction models provide effective management tools for climate mitigation and determining carbon sequestration by a tropical forest.
文摘Following the publication of Zeng et al.(2023),an inadvertent error was recently identified in Figure 1B and Supplementary Figure S3.To ensure the accuracy and integrity of our published work,we formally request a correction to address this issue and apologize for any confusion this error may have caused.For details,please refer to the modified Supplementary Materials.
基金supported by the STI2030-Major Projects(2021ZD0200900 to Y.G.Y.)"Light of West China" Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(xbzg-zdsys-202302 to Y.G.Y.)
文摘The tree shrew(Tupaia belangeri)has long been proposed as a suitable alternative to non-human primates(NHPs)in biomedical and laboratory research due to its close evolutionary relationship with primates.In recent years,significant advances have facilitated tree shrew studies,including the determination of the tree shrew genome,genetic manipulation using spermatogonial stem cells,viral vector-mediated gene delivery,and mapping of the tree shrew brain atlas.However,the limited availability of tree shrews globally remains a substantial challenge in the field.Additionally,determining the key questions best answered using tree shrews constitutes another difficulty.Tree shrew models have historically been used to study hepatitis B virus(HBV)and hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection,myopia,and psychosocial stress-induced depression,with more recent studies focusing on developing animal models for infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.Despite these efforts,the impact of tree shrew models has not yet matched that of rodent or NHP models in biomedical research.This review summarizes the prominent advancements in tree shrew research and reflects on the key biological questions addressed using this model.We emphasize that intensive dedication and robust international collaboration are essential for achieving breakthroughs in tree shrew studies.The use of tree shrews as a unique resource is expected to gain considerable attention with the application of advanced techniques and the development of viable animal models,meeting the increasing demands of life science and biomedical research.
基金supported by the project funded by International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable 740 Development Goals[Grant Number CBAS2022GSP07]Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Chongqing Natural Science Foundation[Grant Number CSTB2022NSCQMSX 2069]Ministry of Education of China[Grant Number 19JZD023].
文摘Individual Tree Detection-and-Counting(ITDC)is among the important tasks in town areas,and numerous methods are proposed in this direction.Despite their many advantages,still,the proposed methods are inadequate to provide robust results because they mostly rely on the direct field investigations.This paper presents a novel approach involving high-resolution imagery and the Canopy-Height-Model(CHM)data to solve the ITDC problem.The new approach is studied in six urban scenes:farmland,woodland,park,industrial land,road and residential areas.First,it identifies tree canopy regions using a deep learning network from high-resolution imagery.It then deploys the CHM-data to detect treetops of the canopy regions using a local maximum algorithm and individual tree canopies using the region growing.Finally,it calculates and describes the number of individual trees and tree canopies.The proposed approach is experimented with the data from Shanghai,China.Our results show that the individual tree detection method had an average overall accuracy of 0.953,with a precision of 0.987 for woodland scene.Meanwhile,the R^(2) value for canopy segmentation in different urban scenes is greater than 0.780 and 0.779 for canopy area and diameter size,respectively.These results confirm that the proposed method is robust enough for urban tree planning and management.
基金This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public,commercial,or not-for-profit sectors
文摘Height–diameter relationships are essential elements of forest assessment and modeling efforts.In this work,two linear and eighteen nonlinear height–diameter equations were evaluated to find a local model for Oriental beech（Fagus orientalis Lipsky） in the Hyrcanian Forest in Iran.The predictive performance of these models was first assessed by different evaluation criteria： adjusted R^2（R^2_（adj））,root mean square error（RMSE）,relative RMSE（%RMSE）,bias,and relative bias（%bias） criteria.The best model was selected for use as the base mixed-effects model.Random parameters for test plots were estimated with different tree selection options.Results show that the Chapman–Richards model had better predictive ability in terms of adj R^2（0.81）,RMSE（3.7 m）,%RMSE（12.9）,bias（0.8）,%Bias（2.79） than the other models.Furthermore,the calibration response,based on a selection of four trees from the sample plots,resulted in a reduction percentage for bias and RMSE of about 1.6–2.7%.Our results indicate that the calibrated model produced the most accurate results.
文摘Hydraulic fracturing is an effective technology for hydrocarbon extraction from unconventional shale and tight gas reservoirs.A potential risk of hydraulic fracturing is the upward migration of stray gas from the deep subsurface to shallow aquifers.The stray gas can dissolve in groundwater leading to chemical and biological reactions,which could negatively affect groundwater quality and contribute to atmospheric emissions.The knowledge oflight hydrocarbon solubility in the aqueous environment is essential for the numerical modelling offlow and transport in the subsurface.Herein,we compiled a database containing 2129experimental data of methane,ethane,and propane solubility in pure water and various electrolyte solutions over wide ranges of operating temperature and pressure.Two machine learning algorithms,namely regression tree(RT)and boosted regression tree(BRT)tuned with a Bayesian optimization algorithm(BO)were employed to determine the solubility of gases.The predictions were compared with the experimental data as well as four well-established thermodynamic models.Our analysis shows that the BRT-BO is sufficiently accurate,and the predicted values agree well with those obtained from the thermodynamic models.The coefficient of determination(R2)between experimental and predicted values is 0.99 and the mean squared error(MSE)is 9.97×10^(-8).The leverage statistical approach further confirmed the validity of the model developed.
基金sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration(FHWA)in cooperation with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials(AASHTO)
文摘Identifying risk factors for road traffic injuries can be considered one of the main priorities of transportation agencies. More than 12,000 fatal work zone crashes were reported between 2000 and 2013. Despite recent efforts to improve work zone safety, the frequency and severity of work zone crashes are still a big concern for transportation agencies. Although many studies have been conducted on different work zone safety-related issues, there is a lack of studies that investigate the effect of adverse weather conditions on work zone crash severity. This paper utilizes probit–classification tree, a relatively recent and promising combination of machine learning technique and conventional parametric model, to identify factors affecting work zone crash severity in adverse weather conditions using 8 years of work zone weatherrelated crashes (2006–2013) in Washington State. The key strength of this technique lies in its capability to alleviate the shortcomings of both parametric and nonparametric models. The results showed that both presence of traffic control device and lighting conditions are significant interacting variables in the developed complementary crash severity model for work zone weather-related crashes. Therefore, transportation agencies and contractors need to invest more in lighting equipment and better traffic control strategies at work zones, specifically during adverse weather conditions.
基金funded by National Science Centre,Poland under the project"Assessment of the impact of weather conditions on forest health status and forest disturbances at regional and national scale based on the integration of ground and space-based remote sensing datasets"(project no.2021/41/B/ST10/)Data collection and research was also supported by the project no.EZ.271.3.19.2021"Modele ryzyka zamierania drzewostanow glownych gatunkow lasotworczych Polski"funded by the General Directorate of State Forests in Poland。
文摘Over the past decade,the presence of mistletoe(Viscum album ssp.austriacum)in Scots pine stands has increased in many European countries.Understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of mistletoe in stands is key to making appropriate forest management decisions to limit damage and prevent the spread of mistletoe in the future.Therefore,the main objective of this study was to determine the probability of mistletoe occurrence in Scots pine stands in relation to stand-related endogenous factors such as age,top height,and stand density,as well as topographic and edaphic factors.We used unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)imagery from 2,247 stands to detect mistletoe in Scots pine stands,while majority stand and site characteristics were calculated from airborne laser scanning(ALS)data.Information on stand age and site type from the State Forest database were also used.We found that mistletoe infestation in Scots pine stands is influenced by stand and site characteristics.We documented that the densest,tallest,and oldest stands were more susceptible to mistletoe infestation.Site type and specific microsite conditions associated with topography were also important factors driving mistletoe occurrence.In addition,climatic water balance was a significant factor in increasing the probability of mistletoe occurrence,which is important in the context of predicted temperature increases associated with climate change.Our results are important for better understanding patterns of mistletoe infestation and ecosystem functioning under climate change.In an era of climate change and technological development,the use of remote sensing methods to determine the risk of mistletoe infestation can be a very useful tool for managing forest ecosystems to maintain forest sustainability and prevent forest disturbance.
基金This research work was funded by Institutional Fund Projects under Grant No.(IFPIP:211-611-1443).
文摘Malware is an ever-present and dynamic threat to networks and computer systems in cybersecurity,and because of its complexity and evasiveness,it is challenging to identify using traditional signature-based detection approaches.The study article discusses the growing danger to cybersecurity that malware hidden in PDF files poses,highlighting the shortcomings of conventional detection techniques and the difficulties presented by adversarial methodologies.The article presents a new method that improves PDF virus detection by using document analysis and a Logistic Model Tree.Using a dataset from the Canadian Institute for Cybersecurity,a comparative analysis is carried out with well-known machine learning models,such as Credal Decision Tree,Naïve Bayes,Average One Dependency Estimator,Locally Weighted Learning,and Stochastic Gradient Descent.Beyond traditional structural and JavaScript-centric PDF analysis,the research makes a substantial contribution to the area by boosting precision and resilience in malware detection.The use of Logistic Model Tree,a thorough feature selection approach,and increased focus on PDF file attributes all contribute to the efficiency of PDF virus detection.The paper emphasizes Logistic Model Tree’s critical role in tackling increasing cybersecurity threats and proposes a viable answer to practical issues in the sector.The results reveal that the Logistic Model Tree is superior,with improved accuracy of 97.46%when compared to benchmark models,demonstrating its usefulness in addressing the ever-changing threat landscape.
基金The work is partially supported by Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia(Grant No.AAC03300)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61962001)Graduate Innovation Project of North Minzu University(Grant No.YCX23152).
文摘Model checking is an automated formal verification method to verify whether epistemic multi-agent systems adhere to property specifications.Although there is an extensive literature on qualitative properties such as safety and liveness,there is still a lack of quantitative and uncertain property verifications for these systems.In uncertain environments,agents must make judicious decisions based on subjective epistemic.To verify epistemic and measurable properties in multi-agent systems,this paper extends fuzzy computation tree logic by introducing epistemic modalities and proposing a new Fuzzy Computation Tree Logic of Knowledge(FCTLK).We represent fuzzy multi-agent systems as distributed knowledge bases with fuzzy epistemic interpreted systems.In addition,we provide a transformation algorithm from fuzzy epistemic interpreted systems to fuzzy Kripke structures,as well as transformation rules from FCTLK formulas to Fuzzy Computation Tree Logic(FCTL)formulas.Accordingly,we transform the FCTLK model checking problem into the FCTL model checking.This enables the verification of FCTLK formulas by using the fuzzy model checking algorithm of FCTL without additional computational overheads.Finally,we present correctness proofs and complexity analyses of the proposed algorithms.Additionally,we further illustrate the practical application of our approach through an example of a train control system.
基金supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel(CAPES)the Brazilian National Council of Science and Technology(CNPQ)。
文摘Individual tree models(ITMs)are classified as growth and production models for projecting current and future forest stands.ITMs are more complex than other growth and production models,show a higher level of detail and,consequently,produce a better modeling resolution.However,the accuracy and efficiency of ITMs have not been properly assessed to date.In this study,we estimated the growth in height,diameter,and individual tree volume of a Eucalyptus urophylla plantation by applying an ITM.We used a continuing forest inventory dataset in which 1554 individual trees within 29 permanent plots were measured in the field over a 6-year period(24 to 72 months).Each individual tree volume was estimated for future tree age.To achieve this,we adjusted the model to predict the height and diameter growth,and the probability of mortality as a function of the competition index.The ITM accuracy was assessed based on the analysis of variance results and,subsequently,the multiple mean comparison test at the 5%significance level.The tree volumes predicted by the ITM for the forest stand aged 72 months,beginning at ages 24,36,48,and 60 months,were compared to the field measured tree volume acquired from the 72-month forest inventory that was used as the reference age.Estimated and observed tree volumes were similar when the estimation was based on the 48-month forest plots.These results might help to reduce financial costs of forest inventory because the ITM produces accurate future predictions of forest stand stocks.Our estimated ITM for Eucalyptus plantations using measurement intervals up to 2 years is recommended because it significantly reduced the projected volume discrepancy compared to the field measurements.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation ofChina (No. 40101014) and by the Science and technology Committee of Zhejiang Province (No. 001110445) China
文摘This article presents two approaches for automated building of knowledge bases of soil resources mapping. These methods used decision tree and Bayesian predictive modeling, respectively to generate knowledge from training data. With these methods, building a knowledge base for automated soil mapping is easier than using the conventional knowledge acquisition approach. The knowledge bases built by these two methods were used by the knowledge classifier for soil type classification of the Longyou area, Zhejiang Province, China using TM bi-temporal imageries and GIS data. To evaluate the performance of the resultant knowledge bases, the classification results were compared to existing soil map based on field survey. The accuracy assessment and analysis of the resultant soil maps suggested that the knowledge bases built by these two methods were of good quality for mapping distribution model of soil classes over the study area.
基金This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41975027)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.BK20171457)the National Key R&D Program on Monitoring,Early Warning and Prevention of Major Natural Disasters(Grant No.2017YFC1501401).
文摘With the increasing availability of precipitation radar data from space,enhancement of the resolution of spaceborne precipitation observations is important,particularly for hazard prediction and climate modeling at local scales relevant to extreme precipitation intensities and gradients.In this paper,the statistical characteristics of radar precipitation reflectivity data are studied and modeled using a hidden Markov tree(HMT)in the wavelet domain.Then,a high-resolution interpolation algorithm is proposed for spaceborne radar reflectivity using the HMT model as prior information.Owing to the small and transient storm elements embedded in the larger and slowly varying elements,the radar precipitation data exhibit distinct multiscale statistical properties,including a non-Gaussian structure and scale-to-scale dependency.An HMT model can capture well the statistical properties of radar precipitation,where the wavelet coefficients in each sub-band are characterized as a Gaussian mixture model(GMM),and the wavelet coefficients from the coarse scale to fine scale are described using a multiscale Markov process.The state probabilities of the GMM are determined using the expectation maximization method,and other parameters,for instance,the variance decay parameters in the HMT model are learned and estimated from high-resolution ground radar reflectivity images.Using the prior model,the wavelet coefficients at finer scales are estimated using local Wiener filtering.The interpolation algorithm is validated using data from the precipitation radar onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission satellite,and the reconstructed results are found to be able to enhance the spatial resolution while optimally reproducing the local extremes and gradients.
文摘We estimate tree heights using polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar(PolInSAR)data constructed by the dual-polarization(dual-pol)SAR data and random volume over the ground(RVoG)model.Considering the Sentinel-1 SAR dual-pol(SVV,vertically transmitted and vertically received and SVH,vertically transmitted and horizontally received)configuration,one notes that S_(HH),the horizontally transmitted and horizontally received scattering element,is unavailable.The S_(HH)data were constructed using the SVH data,and polarimetric SAR(PolSAR)data were obtained.The proposed approach was first verified in simulation with satisfactory results.It was next applied to construct PolInSAR data by a pair of dual-pol Sentinel-1A data at Duke Forest,North Carolina,USA.According to local observations and forest descriptions,the range of estimated tree heights was overall reasonable.Comparing the heights with the ICESat-2 tree heights at 23 sampling locations,relative errors of 5 points were within±30%.Errors of 8 points ranged from 30%to 40%,but errors of the remaining 10 points were>40%.The results should be encouraged as error reduction is possible.For instance,the construction of PolSAR data should not be limited to using SVH,and a combination of SVH and SVV should be explored.Also,an ensemble of tree heights derived from multiple PolInSAR data can be considered since tree heights do not vary much with time frame in months or one season.
文摘BACKGROUND Development of distant metastasis(DM)is a major concern during treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).However,studies have demonstrated im-proved distant control and survival in patients with advanced NPC with the addition of chemotherapy to concomitant chemoradiotherapy.Therefore,precise prediction of metastasis in patients with NPC is crucial.AIM To develop a predictive model for metastasis in NPC using detailed magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)reports.METHODS This retrospective study included 792 patients with non-distant metastatic NPC.A total of 469 imaging variables were obtained from detailed MRI reports.Data were stratified and randomly split into training(50%)and testing sets.Gradient boosting tree(GBT)models were built and used to select variables for predicting DM.A full model comprising all variables and a reduced model with the top-five variables were built.Model performance was assessed by area under the curve(AUC).RESULTS Among the 792 patients,94 developed DM during follow-up.The number of metastatic cervical nodes(30.9%),tumor invasion in the posterior half of the nasal cavity(9.7%),two sides of the pharyngeal recess(6.2%),tubal torus(3.3%),and single side of the parapharyngeal space(2.7%)were the top-five contributors for predicting DM,based on their relative importance in GBT models.The testing AUC of the full model was 0.75(95%confidence interval[CI]:0.69-0.82).The testing AUC of the reduced model was 0.75(95%CI:0.68-0.82).For the whole dataset,the full(AUC=0.76,95%CI:0.72-0.82)and reduced models(AUC=0.76,95%CI:0.71-0.81)outperformed the tumor node-staging system(AUC=0.67,95%CI:0.61-0.73).CONCLUSION The GBT model outperformed the tumor node-staging system in predicting metastasis in NPC.The number of metastatic cervical nodes was identified as the principal contributing variable.
基金supported by the Projects of Scientific Investigation(BAP)of Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University[Grant No.01/2019-32].
文摘Stone Pine(Pinus pinea L.)is currently the pine species with the highest commercial value with edible seeds.In this respect,this study introduces a new methodology for extracting Stone Pine trees from Digital Surface Models(DSMs)generated through an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV)mission.We developed a novel enhanced probability map of local maxima that facilitates the computation of the orientation symmetry by means of new probabilistic local minima information.Four test sites are used to evaluate our automated framework within one of the most important Stone Pine forest areas in Antalya,Turkey.A Hand-held Mobile Laser Scanner(HMLS)was utilized to collect the reference point cloud dataset.Our findings confirm that the proposed methodology,which uses a single DSM as an input,secures overall pixel-based and object-based F1-scores of 88.3%and 97.7%,respectively.The overall median Euclidean distance revealed between the automatically extracted stem locations and the manually extracted ones is computed to be 36 cm(less than 4 pixels),demonstrating the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed methodology.Finally,the comparison with the state-of-the-art reveals that the outcomes of the proposed methodology outperform the results of six previous studies in this context.
