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
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
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
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
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
The problem of collision avoidance for non-cooperative targets has received significant attention from researchers in recent years.Non-cooperative targets exhibit uncertain states and unpredictable behaviors,making co...The problem of collision avoidance for non-cooperative targets has received significant attention from researchers in recent years.Non-cooperative targets exhibit uncertain states and unpredictable behaviors,making collision avoidance significantly more challenging than that for space debris.Much existing research focuses on the continuous thrust model,whereas the impulsive maneuver model is more appropriate for long-duration and long-distance avoidance missions.Additionally,it is important to minimize the impact on the original mission while avoiding noncooperative targets.On the other hand,the existing avoidance algorithms are computationally complex and time-consuming especially with the limited computing capability of the on-board computer,posing challenges for practical engineering applications.To conquer these difficulties,this paper makes the following key contributions:(A)a turn-based(sequential decision-making)limited-area impulsive collision avoidance model considering the time delay of precision orbit determination is established for the first time;(B)a novel Selection Probability Learning Adaptive Search-depth Search Tree(SPL-ASST)algorithm is proposed for non-cooperative target avoidance,which improves the decision-making efficiency by introducing an adaptive-search-depth mechanism and a neural network into the traditional Monte Carlo Tree Search(MCTS).Numerical simulations confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.展开更多
Short rotation plantation forestry(SRF)is being widely adopted to increase wood production,in order to meet global demand for wood products.However,to ensure maximum gains from SRF,optimised management regimes need to...Short rotation plantation forestry(SRF)is being widely adopted to increase wood production,in order to meet global demand for wood products.However,to ensure maximum gains from SRF,optimised management regimes need to be established by integrating robust predictions and an understanding of mechanisms underlying tree growth.Hybrid ecophysiological models,such as potentially useable light sum equation(PULSE)models,are useful tools requiring minimal input data that meet the requirements of SRF.PULSE models have been tested and calibrated for different evergreen conifers and broadleaves at both juvenile and mature stages of tree growth with coarse soil and climate data.Therefore,it is prudent to question:can adding detailed soil and climatic data reduce errors in this type of model?In addition,PULSE techniques have not been used to model deciduous species,which are a challenge for ecophysiological models due to their phenology.This study developed a PULSE model for a clonal Populus tomentosa plantation in northern China using detailed edaphic and climatic data.The results showed high precision and low bias in height(m)and basal area(m^(2)·ha^(-1))predictions.While detailed edaphoclimatic data produce highly precise predictions and a good mechanistic understanding,the study suggested that local climatic data could also be employed.The study showed that PULSE modelling in combination with coarse level of edaphic and local climate data resulted in reasonably precise tree growth prediction and minimal bias.展开更多
Climate change is expected to alter the popu-lation dynamics of pioneer tree species and their planned use in sustainable forest management,but we have a lim-ited understanding of how their demographic rates change in...Climate change is expected to alter the popu-lation dynamics of pioneer tree species and their planned use in sustainable forest management,but we have a lim-ited understanding of how their demographic rates change in response to climate changes during ecological restora-tion.Based on 12 years of demographic data for a pioneer tree species(Pinus massoniana)censused in three plots that correspond to three stages of ecological restoration in south-eastern China.We built integral projection models(IPMs)to assess vital rates(survival,growth,reproduction)and population growth in each plot,then evaluated demographic changes to simulated changes in seasonal mean temperature and precipitation in the current and previous census period.The plot representing the medium restoration stage had the highest population growth rate(λ=0.983).Mean population survival probability increased with ecological restoration,and reproduction probability was significantly suppressed at the high restoration stage.Survival is always the most important vital rate forλ,and climate affectsλprimarily via survival at each restoration stage.The current spring tem-perature was the most critical climate variable forλin the low and medium restoration stages,and previous summer temperature was most critical in the high restoration stage.Simulated warming leads to a decrease in the stochastic population growth rate(λ_(s))of P.massoniana in every stage.These findings suggest that during ecological restoration,P.massoniana responds to habitat change via modified demo-graphic performance,thus altering its response to climate change.Despite diverse responses to climate change,the persistence of P.massoniana populations is facing a wide-spread threat of warming states at each restoration stages.展开更多
Through the investigation of the species of street trees located along the main urban roads in Hefei City,a total of 22 species were selected,belonging to 16 families and 22 genera,with the Sapindaceae family being th...Through the investigation of the species of street trees located along the main urban roads in Hefei City,a total of 22 species were selected,belonging to 16 families and 22 genera,with the Sapindaceae family being the most prevalent.In this study,the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP)was employed to assess the comprehensive value of 22 species of street trees applied along the main urban roads in Hefei City.Fourteen evaluation criteria were selected from four categories:morphological indices,functional indices,resistance indices,and management indices,to develop a comprehensive evaluation model.Based on a composite score derived from 22 street trees,these trees were classified into three distinct grades.Grade I(L≥3.0)exhibited a high comprehensive application value in Hefei City and included 6 tree species,such asPlatanus.Grade II(2.5≤L<3.0)also demonstrated a high comprehensive application value,comprising 15 tree species,includingCatalpabungei.In contrast,grade III(L<2.5)indicated a general comprehensive application value,represented by a single species,Cedrusdeodara.The evaluation results can offer theoretical insights for the selection of urban street trees.展开更多
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
基金co-supported by the Foundation of Shanghai Astronautics Science and Technology Innovation,China(No.SAST2022-114)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62303378),the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.124B2031,12202281)the Foundation of China National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Test Physics&Numerical Mathematics,China(No.08-YY-2023-R11)。
文摘The problem of collision avoidance for non-cooperative targets has received significant attention from researchers in recent years.Non-cooperative targets exhibit uncertain states and unpredictable behaviors,making collision avoidance significantly more challenging than that for space debris.Much existing research focuses on the continuous thrust model,whereas the impulsive maneuver model is more appropriate for long-duration and long-distance avoidance missions.Additionally,it is important to minimize the impact on the original mission while avoiding noncooperative targets.On the other hand,the existing avoidance algorithms are computationally complex and time-consuming especially with the limited computing capability of the on-board computer,posing challenges for practical engineering applications.To conquer these difficulties,this paper makes the following key contributions:(A)a turn-based(sequential decision-making)limited-area impulsive collision avoidance model considering the time delay of precision orbit determination is established for the first time;(B)a novel Selection Probability Learning Adaptive Search-depth Search Tree(SPL-ASST)algorithm is proposed for non-cooperative target avoidance,which improves the decision-making efficiency by introducing an adaptive-search-depth mechanism and a neural network into the traditional Monte Carlo Tree Search(MCTS).Numerical simulations confirm the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.
基金The National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2021YFD2201203)the 5·5 Engineering Research&Innovation Team Project of Beijing Forestry University(No.BLRC2023C05)the Key Research and Development Program of Shandong Province(No.2021SFGC02050102)。
文摘Short rotation plantation forestry(SRF)is being widely adopted to increase wood production,in order to meet global demand for wood products.However,to ensure maximum gains from SRF,optimised management regimes need to be established by integrating robust predictions and an understanding of mechanisms underlying tree growth.Hybrid ecophysiological models,such as potentially useable light sum equation(PULSE)models,are useful tools requiring minimal input data that meet the requirements of SRF.PULSE models have been tested and calibrated for different evergreen conifers and broadleaves at both juvenile and mature stages of tree growth with coarse soil and climate data.Therefore,it is prudent to question:can adding detailed soil and climatic data reduce errors in this type of model?In addition,PULSE techniques have not been used to model deciduous species,which are a challenge for ecophysiological models due to their phenology.This study developed a PULSE model for a clonal Populus tomentosa plantation in northern China using detailed edaphic and climatic data.The results showed high precision and low bias in height(m)and basal area(m^(2)·ha^(-1))predictions.While detailed edaphoclimatic data produce highly precise predictions and a good mechanistic understanding,the study suggested that local climatic data could also be employed.The study showed that PULSE modelling in combination with coarse level of edaphic and local climate data resulted in reasonably precise tree growth prediction and minimal bias.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.31971638)the Public Welfare Project of Fujian Science and Technology Department(grant no.2024R1002001).
文摘Climate change is expected to alter the popu-lation dynamics of pioneer tree species and their planned use in sustainable forest management,but we have a lim-ited understanding of how their demographic rates change in response to climate changes during ecological restora-tion.Based on 12 years of demographic data for a pioneer tree species(Pinus massoniana)censused in three plots that correspond to three stages of ecological restoration in south-eastern China.We built integral projection models(IPMs)to assess vital rates(survival,growth,reproduction)and population growth in each plot,then evaluated demographic changes to simulated changes in seasonal mean temperature and precipitation in the current and previous census period.The plot representing the medium restoration stage had the highest population growth rate(λ=0.983).Mean population survival probability increased with ecological restoration,and reproduction probability was significantly suppressed at the high restoration stage.Survival is always the most important vital rate forλ,and climate affectsλprimarily via survival at each restoration stage.The current spring tem-perature was the most critical climate variable forλin the low and medium restoration stages,and previous summer temperature was most critical in the high restoration stage.Simulated warming leads to a decrease in the stochastic population growth rate(λ_(s))of P.massoniana in every stage.These findings suggest that during ecological restoration,P.massoniana responds to habitat change via modified demo-graphic performance,thus altering its response to climate change.Despite diverse responses to climate change,the persistence of P.massoniana populations is facing a wide-spread threat of warming states at each restoration stages.
基金Sponsored by Provincial-level Undergraduate Innovation Training Program of Anhui Xinhua University(S202312216043)Natural Science Key Research Program for Colleges and Universities in Anhui Province(2023AH051816)Anhui General Teaching Research Project(2022jyxm665).
文摘Through the investigation of the species of street trees located along the main urban roads in Hefei City,a total of 22 species were selected,belonging to 16 families and 22 genera,with the Sapindaceae family being the most prevalent.In this study,the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP)was employed to assess the comprehensive value of 22 species of street trees applied along the main urban roads in Hefei City.Fourteen evaluation criteria were selected from four categories:morphological indices,functional indices,resistance indices,and management indices,to develop a comprehensive evaluation model.Based on a composite score derived from 22 street trees,these trees were classified into three distinct grades.Grade I(L≥3.0)exhibited a high comprehensive application value in Hefei City and included 6 tree species,such asPlatanus.Grade II(2.5≤L<3.0)also demonstrated a high comprehensive application value,comprising 15 tree species,includingCatalpabungei.In contrast,grade III(L<2.5)indicated a general comprehensive application value,represented by a single species,Cedrusdeodara.The evaluation results can offer theoretical insights for the selection of urban street trees.
