The inflection point is an important feature of sigmoidal height-diameter(H-D)models.It is often cited as one of the properties favoring sigmoidal model forms.However,there are very few studies analyzing the inflectio...The inflection point is an important feature of sigmoidal height-diameter(H-D)models.It is often cited as one of the properties favoring sigmoidal model forms.However,there are very few studies analyzing the inflection points of H-D models.The goals of this study were to theoretically and empirically examine the behaviors of inflection points of six common H-D models with a regional dataset.The six models were the Wykoff(WYK),Schumacher(SCH),Curtis(CUR),HossfeldⅣ(HOS),von Bertalanffy-Richards(VBR),and Gompertz(GPZ)models.The models were first fitted in their base forms with tree species as random effects and were then expanded to include functional traits and spatial distribution.The distributions of the estimated inflection points were similar between the two-parameter models WYK,SCH,and CUR,but were different between the threeparameter models HOS,VBR,and GPZ.GPZ produced some of the largest inflection points.HOS and VBR produced concave H-D curves without inflection points for 12.7%and 39.7%of the tree species.Evergreen species or decreasing shade tolerance resulted in larger inflection points.The trends in the estimated inflection points of HOS and VBR were entirely opposite across the landscape.Furthermore,HOS could produce concave H-D curves for portions of the landscape.Based on the studied behaviors,the choice between two-parameter models may not matter.We recommend comparing seve ral three-parameter model forms for consistency in estimated inflection points before deciding on one.Believing sigmoidal models to have inflection points does not necessarily mean that they will produce fitted curves with one.Our study highlights the need to integrate analysis of inflection points into modeling H-D relationships.展开更多
Background:We used mixed models with random components to develop height-diameter(h-d) functions for mixed,uneven-aged stands in northwestern Durango(Mexico),considering the breast height diameter(d) and stand variabl...Background:We used mixed models with random components to develop height-diameter(h-d) functions for mixed,uneven-aged stands in northwestern Durango(Mexico),considering the breast height diameter(d) and stand variables as predictors.Methods:The data were obtained from 44 permanent plots used to monitor stand growth under forest management in the study area.Results:The generalized Bertalanffy-Richards model performed better than the other generalized models in predicting the total height of the species under study.For the genera Pinus and Quercus,the models were successfully calibrated by measuring the height of a subsample of three randomly selected trees close to the mean d,whereas for species of the genera Cupressus,Arbutus and Alnus,three trees were also selected,but they are specifically the maximum,minimum and mean d trees.Conclusions:The presented equations represent a new tool for the evaluation and management of natural forest in the region.展开更多
The study was conducted to develop height-diameter at breast height(HT-DBH) models for Alnus japonica in La Trinidad, Benguet,Philippines and evaluate their predictive capability.The six widely used nonlinear growth m...The study was conducted to develop height-diameter at breast height(HT-DBH) models for Alnus japonica in La Trinidad, Benguet,Philippines and evaluate their predictive capability.The six widely used nonlinear growth models that were selected in this study were the ChapmanRichards, Schnute, Modified logistic, Korf/Lundqvist,Weibull and Exponential. A total of 208 Alnus japonica trees were measured using standard diameter tape for DBH(1.3 m above the ground) and Vertex and transponder was used for the total height measurement. The performance of the developed models were evaluated using the fit statistics including coefficient of determination(R^2), root mean square error(RMSE), mean bias(ē), absolute mean difference(AMD), and Akaike Information Criterion(AIC). The lack-of-fit statistics was also performed for further evaluation of the performance of the models.Based on the evaluation criteria, all six models were able to determine the DBH-height relationships and fitted the data well. Using the rank analysis, the Weibull HT-DBH model had the best performance among the six commonly used nonlinear growth models. The results of this study will help forest managers especially in La Trinidad, Benguet to easily predict the total height using the Weibull model for Alnus japonica utilizing the DBH as the predicting variable.展开更多
Ecoregion-based height-diameter models were developed in the present study for Scots pine(Pinus sylves-tris L.)stands in Turkiye and included several ecological factors derived from a pre-existing ecoregional classifi...Ecoregion-based height-diameter models were developed in the present study for Scots pine(Pinus sylves-tris L.)stands in Turkiye and included several ecological factors derived from a pre-existing ecoregional classification system.The data were obtained from 2831 sample trees in 292 sample plots.Ten generalized height–diameter models were developed,and the best model(HD10)was selected according to statistical criteria.Then,nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was applied to the best model.The R2 for the generalized height‒diameter model(Richards function)modified by Sharma and Parton is 0.951,and the final model included number of trees,dominant height,and diameter at breast height,with a random parameter associated with each ecoregion attached to the inverse of the mean basal area.The full model predictions using the nonlinear mixed-effects model and the reduced model(HD10)predictions were compared using the nonlinear sum of extra squares test,which revealed significant differences between ecore-gions;ecoregion-based height–diameter models were thus found to be suitable to use.In addition,using these models in appropriate ecoregions was very important for achieving reliable predictions with low prediction errors.展开更多
Tree height (H) in a natural stand or forest plantation is a fundamental variable in management, and the use of mathematical expressions that estimate H as a function of diameter at breast height (d) or variables at t...Tree height (H) in a natural stand or forest plantation is a fundamental variable in management, and the use of mathematical expressions that estimate H as a function of diameter at breast height (d) or variables at the stand level is a valuable support tool in forest inventories. The objective was to fit and propose a generalized H-d model for Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus established in forest plantations of Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro, Michoacan, Mexico. Using nonlinear least squares (NLS), 10 generalized H-d models were fitted to 883 and 1226 pairs of H-d data from Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus, respectively. The best model was refitted with the maximum likelihood mixed effects model (MEM) approach by including the site as a classification variable and a known variance structure. The Wang and Tang equation was selected as the best model with NLS;the MEM with an additive effect on two of its parameters and an exponential variance function improved the fit statistics for Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus, respectively. The model validation showed equality of means among the estimates for both species and an independent subsample. The calibration of the MEM at the plot level was efficient and might increase the applicability of these results. The inclusion of dominant height in the MEM approach helped to reduce bias in the estimates and also to better explain the variability among plots.展开更多
In this study,we used an extensive sampling network established in central Romania to develop tree height and crown length models.Our analysis included more than 18,000 tree measurements from five different species.In...In this study,we used an extensive sampling network established in central Romania to develop tree height and crown length models.Our analysis included more than 18,000 tree measurements from five different species.Instead of building univariate models for each response variable,we employed a multivariate approach using seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models.These models incorporated variables related to species mixture,tree and stand size,competition,and stand structure.With the inclusion of additional variables in the multivariate seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models,the accuracy of the height prediction models improved by over 10% for all species,whereas the improvement in the crown length models was considerably smaller.Our findings indicate that trees in mixed stands tend to have shorter heights but longer crowns than those in pure stands.We also observed that trees in homogeneous stand structures have shorter crown lengths than those in heterogeneous stands.By employing a multivariate mixed-effects modelling framework,we were able to perform cross-model random-effect predictions,leading to a significant increase in accuracy when both responses were used to calibrate the model.In contrast,the improvement in accuracy was marginal when only height was used for calibration.We demonstrate how multivariate mixed-effects models can be effectively used to develop multi-response allometric models that can be easily calibrated with a limited number of observations while simultaneously achieving better-aligned projections.展开更多
Modelling tree height-diameter relationships in complex tropical rain forest ecosystems remains a challenge because of characteristics of multi-species, multi-layers, and indeterminate age composition. Effective model...Modelling tree height-diameter relationships in complex tropical rain forest ecosystems remains a challenge because of characteristics of multi-species, multi-layers, and indeterminate age composition. Effective modelling of such complex systems required innovative techniques to improve prediction of tree heights for use for aboveground biomass estimations. Therefore, in this study, deep learning algorithm (DLA) models based on artificial intelligence were trained for predicting tree heights in a tropical rain forest of Nigeria. The data consisted of 1736 individual trees representing 116 species, and measured from 52 0.25 ha sample plots. A K-means clustering was used to classify the species into three groups based on height-diameter ratios. The DLA models were trained for each species-group in which diameter at beast height, quadratic mean diameter and number of trees per ha were used as input variables. Predictions by the DLA models were compared with those developed by nonlinear least squares (NLS) and nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) using different evaluation statistics and equivalence test. In addition, the predicted heights by the models were used to estimate aboveground biomass. The results showed that the DLA models with 100 neurons in 6 hidden layers, 100 neurons in 9 hidden layers and 100 neurons in 7 hidden layers for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, outperformed the NLS and NLME models. The root mean square error for the DLA models ranged from 1.939 to 3.887 m. The results also showed that using height predicted by the DLA models for aboveground biomass estimation brought about more than 30% reduction in error relative to NLS and NLME. Consequently, minimal errors were created in aboveground biomass estimation compared to those of the classical methods.展开更多
Background: Measurements of tree heights and diameters are essential in forest assessment and modelling. Tree heights are used for estimating timber volume, site index and other important variables related to forest ...Background: Measurements of tree heights and diameters are essential in forest assessment and modelling. Tree heights are used for estimating timber volume, site index and other important variables related to forest growth and yield, succession and carbon budget models. However, the diameter at breast height (dbh) can be more accurately obtained and at lower cost, than total tree height. Hence, generalized height-diameter (h-d) models that predict tree height from dbh, age and other covariates are needed. For a more flexible but biologically plausible estimation of covariate effects we use shape constrained generalized additive models as an extension of existing h-d model approaches. We use causal site parameters such as index of aridity to enhance the generality and causality of the models and to enable predictions under projected changeable climatic conditions. Methods: We develop unconstrained generalized additive models (GAM) and shape constrained generalized additive models (SCAM) for investigating the possible effects of tree-specific parameters such as tree age, relative diameter at breast height, and site-specific parameters such as index of aridity and sum of daily mean temperature during vegetation period, on the h-d relationship of forests in Lower Saxony, Germany. Results: Some of the derived effects, e.g. effects of age, index of aridity and sum of daily mean temperature have significantly non-linear pattern. The need for using SCAM results from the fact that some of the model effects show partially implausible patterns especially at the boundaries of data ranges. The derived model predicts monotonically increasing levels of tree height with increasing age and temperature sum and decreasing aridity and social rank of a tree within a stand, The definition of constraints leads only to marginal or minor decline in the model statistics like AIC An observed structured spatial trend in tree height is modelled via 2-dimensional surface fitting. Conclusions: We demonstrate that the SCAM approach allows optimal regression modelling flexibility similar to the standard GAM but with the additional possibility of defining specific constraints for the model effects. The longitudinal character of the model allows for tree height imputation for the current status of forests but also for future tree height prediction.展开更多
Background: Generalized height-diameter curves based on a re-parameterized version of the Korf function for Norway spruce (Piceo abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pe...Background: Generalized height-diameter curves based on a re-parameterized version of the Korf function for Norway spruce (Piceo abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) in Norwa are presented. The Norwegian National Forest Inventory (NFI) is used as data base for estimating the model parameters. The derived models are developed to enable spatially explicit and site sensitive tree height imputatio in forest inventories as well as future tree height predictions in growth and yield scenario simulations. Methods: Generalized additive mixed models (gamm) are employed to detect and quantify potentially non-linear effects of predictor variables. In doing so the quadratic mean diameter serves as longitudinal covariate since stand ag as measured in the NFI, shows only a weak correlation with a stands developmental status in Norwegian forests. Additionally the models can be locally calibrated by predicting random effects if measured height-diameter pairs are available. Based on the model selection of non-constraint models, shape constraint additive models (scare) were fit tc incorporate expert knowledge and intrinsic relationships by enforcing certain effect patterns like monotonicity. Results: Model comparisons demonstrate that the shape constraints lead to only marginal differences in statistical characteristics but ensure reasonable model predictions. Under constant constraints the developed models predict increasing tree heights with decreasing altitude, increasing soil depth and increasing competition pressure of a tree. / two-dimensional spatially structured effect of UTM-coordinates accounts for the potential effects of large scale spatial correlated covariates, which were not at our disposal. The main result of modelling the spatially structured effect is lower tree height prediction for coastal sites and with increasing latitude. The quadratic mean diameter affects both the level and the slope of the height-diameter curve and both effects are positive. Conclusions: In this investigation it is assumed that model effects in additive modelling of height-diameter curves which are unfeasible and too wiggly from an expert point of view are a result of quantitatively or qualitatively limited data bases. However, this problem can be regarded not to be specific to our investigation but more general since growth and yield data that are balanced over the whole data range with respect to all combinations of predictor variables are exceptional cases. Hence, scare may provide methodological improvements in several applications by combining the flexibility of additive models with expert knowledge.展开更多
Model evaluation using benchmark datasets is an important method to measure the capability of large language models(LLMs)in specific domains,and it is mainly used to assess the knowledge and reasoning abilities of LLM...Model evaluation using benchmark datasets is an important method to measure the capability of large language models(LLMs)in specific domains,and it is mainly used to assess the knowledge and reasoning abilities of LLMs.Therefore,in order to better assess the capability of LLMs in the agricultural domain,Agri-Eval was proposed as a benchmark for assessing the knowledge and reasoning ability of LLMs in agriculture.The assessment dataset used in Agri-Eval covered seven major disciplines in the agricultural domain:crop science,horticulture,plant protection,animal husbandry,forest science,aquaculture science,and grass science,and contained a total of 2283 questions.Among domestic general-purpose LLMs,DeepSeek R1 performed best with an accuracy rate of 75.49%.In the realm of international general-purpose LLMs,Gemini 2.0 pro exp 0205 standed out as the top performer,achieving an accuracy rate of 74.28%.As an LLMs in agriculture vertical,Shennong V2.0 outperformed all the LLMs in China,and the answer accuracy rate of agricultural knowledge exceeded that of all the existing general-purpose LLMs.The launch of Agri-Eval helped the LLM developers to comprehensively evaluate the model's capability in the field of agriculture through a variety of tasks and tests to promote the development of the LLMs in the field of agriculture.展开更多
In this paper,we establish and study a single-species logistic model with impulsive age-selective harvesting.First,we prove the ultimate boundedness of the solutions of the system.Then,we obtain conditions for the asy...In this paper,we establish and study a single-species logistic model with impulsive age-selective harvesting.First,we prove the ultimate boundedness of the solutions of the system.Then,we obtain conditions for the asymptotic stability of the trivial solution and the positive periodic solution.Finally,numerical simulations are presented to validate our results.Our results show that age-selective harvesting is more conducive to sustainable population survival than non-age-selective harvesting.展开更多
In recent years,there has been an increasing need for climate information across diverse sectors of society.This demand has arisen from the necessity to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate variability and cha...In recent years,there has been an increasing need for climate information across diverse sectors of society.This demand has arisen from the necessity to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate variability and change.Likewise,this period has seen a significant increase in our understanding of the physical processes and mechanisms that drive precipitation and its variability across different regions of Africa.By leveraging a large volume of climate model outputs,numerous studies have investigated the model representation of African precipitation as well as underlying physical processes.These studies have assessed whether the physical processes are well depicted and whether the models are fit for informing mitigation and adaptation strategies.This paper provides a review of the progress in precipitation simulation overAfrica in state-of-the-science climate models and discusses the major issues and challenges that remain.展开更多
Utilizing finite element analysis,the ballistic protection provided by a combination of perforated D-shaped and base armor plates,collectively referred to as radiator armor,is evaluated.ANSYS Explicit Dynamics is empl...Utilizing finite element analysis,the ballistic protection provided by a combination of perforated D-shaped and base armor plates,collectively referred to as radiator armor,is evaluated.ANSYS Explicit Dynamics is employed to simulate the ballistic impact of 7.62 mm armor-piercing projectiles on Aluminum AA5083-H116 and Steel Secure 500 armors,focusing on the evaluation of material deformation and penetration resistance at varying impact points.While the D-shaped armor plate is penetrated by the armor-piercing projectiles,the combination of the perforated D-shaped and base armor plates successfully halts penetration.A numerical model based on the finite element method is developed using software such as SolidWorks and ANSYS to analyze the interaction between radiator armor and bullet.The perforated design of radiator armor is to maintain airflow for radiator function,with hole sizes smaller than the bullet core diameter to protect radiator assemblies.Predictions are made regarding the brittle fracture resulting from the projectile core′s bending due to asymmetric impact,and the resulting fragments failed to penetrate the perforated base armor plate.Craters are formed on the surface of the perforated D-shaped armor plate due to the impact of projectile fragments.The numerical model accurately predicts hole growth and projectile penetration upon impact with the armor,demonstrating effective protection of the radiator assemblies by the radiator armor.展开更多
The National Geophysical Data Center(NGDC)of the United States has collected aeromagnetic data for input into a series of geomagnetic models to improve model resolution;however,in the Tibetan Plateau region,ground-bas...The National Geophysical Data Center(NGDC)of the United States has collected aeromagnetic data for input into a series of geomagnetic models to improve model resolution;however,in the Tibetan Plateau region,ground-based observations remain insufficient to clearly reflect the characteristics of the region’s lithospheric magnetism.In this study,we evaluate the lithospheric magnetism of the Tibetan Plateau by using a 3D surface spline model based on observations from>200 newly constructed repeat stations(portable stations)to determine the spatial distribution of plateau geomagnetism,as well as its correlation with the tectonic features of the region.We analyze the relationships between M≥5 earthquakes and lithospheric magnetic field variations on the Tibetan Plateau and identify regions susceptible to strong earthquakes.We compare the geomagnetic results with those from an enhanced magnetic model(EMM2015)developed by the NGDC and provide insights into improving lithospheric magnetic field calculations in the Tibetan Plateau region.Further research reveals that these magnetic anomalies exhibit distinct differences from the magnetic-seismic correlation mechanisms observed in other tectonic settings;here,they are governed primarily by the combined effects of compressional magnetism,thermal magnetism,and deep thermal stress.This study provides new evidence of geomagnetic anomalies on the Tibetan Plateau,interprets them physically,and demonstrates their potential for identifying seismic hazard zones on the Plateau.展开更多
Climate model prediction has been improved by enhancing model resolution as well as the implementation of sophisticated physical parameterization and refinement of data assimilation systems[section 6.1 in Wang et al.(...Climate model prediction has been improved by enhancing model resolution as well as the implementation of sophisticated physical parameterization and refinement of data assimilation systems[section 6.1 in Wang et al.(2025)].In relation to seasonal forecasting and climate projection in the East Asian summer monsoon season,proper simulation of the seasonal migration of rain bands by models is a challenging and limiting factor[section 7.1 in Wang et al.(2025)].展开更多
To investigate the influence of coarse aggregate parent rock properties on the elastic modulus of concrete,the mineralogical properties and stress-strain curves of granite and dolomite parent rocks,as well as the stre...To investigate the influence of coarse aggregate parent rock properties on the elastic modulus of concrete,the mineralogical properties and stress-strain curves of granite and dolomite parent rocks,as well as the strength and elastic modulus of mortar and concrete prepared with mechanism aggregates of the corresponding lithology,and the stress-strain curves of concrete were investigated.In this paper,a coarse aggregate and mortar matrix bonding assumption is proposed,and a prediction model for the elastic modulus of mortar is established by considering the lithology of the mechanism sand and the slurry components.An equivalent coarse aggregate elastic modulus model was established by considering factors such as coarse aggregate particle size,volume fraction,and mortar thickness between coarse aggregates.Based on the elastic modulus of the equivalent coarse aggregate and the remaining mortar,a prediction model for the elastic modulus of the two and three components of concrete in series and then in parallel was established,and the predicted values differed from the measured values within 10%.It is proposed that the coarse aggregate elastic modulus in highstrength concrete is the most critical factor affecting the elastic modulus of concrete,and as the coarse aggregate elastic modulus increases by 27.7%,the concrete elastic modulus increases by 19.5%.展开更多
Kinetic impact is the most practical planetary-defense technique,with momentum-transfer efficiency central to deflection design.We present a Monte Carlo photometric framework that couples ejecta sampling,dynamical evo...Kinetic impact is the most practical planetary-defense technique,with momentum-transfer efficiency central to deflection design.We present a Monte Carlo photometric framework that couples ejecta sampling,dynamical evolution,and image synthesis to compare directly with HST,LICIACube,ground-based and Lucy observations of the DART impact.Decomposing ejecta into(1)a highvelocity(~1600 m/s)plume exhibiting Na/K resonance,(2)a low-velocity(~1 m/s)conical component shaped by binary gravity and solar radiation pressure,and(3)meter-scale boulders,we quantify each component’s mass and momentum.Fitting photometric decay curves and morphological evolution yields size-velocity distributions and,via scaling laws,estimates of Dimorphos’bulk density,cratering parameters,and cohesive strength that agree with dynamical constraints.Photometric ejecta modeling therefore provides a robust route to constrain momentum enhancement and target properties,improving predictive capability for kinetic-deflection missions.展开更多
Customer churn is the rate at which customers discontinue doing business with a company over a given time period.It is an essential measure for businesses to monitor high churn rates,as they often indicate underlying ...Customer churn is the rate at which customers discontinue doing business with a company over a given time period.It is an essential measure for businesses to monitor high churn rates,as they often indicate underlying issues with services,products,or customer experience,resulting in considerable income loss.Prediction of customer churn is a crucial task aimed at retaining customers and maintaining revenue growth.Traditional machine learning(ML)models often struggle to capture complex temporal dependencies in client behavior data.To address this,an optimized deep learning(DL)approach using a Regularized Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory(RBiLSTM)model is proposed to mitigate overfitting and improve generalization error.The model integrates dropout,L2-regularization,and early stopping to enhance predictive accuracy while preventing over-reliance on specific patterns.Moreover,this study investigates the effect of optimization techniques on boosting the training efficiency of the developed model.Experimental results on a recent public customer churn dataset demonstrate that the trained model outperforms the traditional ML models and some other DL models,such as Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM)and Deep Neural Network(DNN),in churn prediction performance and stability.The proposed approach achieves 96.1%accuracy,compared with LSTM and DNN,which attain 94.5%and 94.1%accuracy,respectively.These results confirm that the proposed approach can be used as a valuable tool for businesses to identify at-risk consumers proactively and implement targeted retention strategies.展开更多
This study demonstrates a novel integration of large language models,machine learning,and multicriteria decision-making to investigate self-moderation in small online communities,a topic under-explored compared to use...This study demonstrates a novel integration of large language models,machine learning,and multicriteria decision-making to investigate self-moderation in small online communities,a topic under-explored compared to user behavior and platform-driven moderation on social media.The proposed methodological framework(1)utilizes large language models for social media post analysis and categorization,(2)employs k-means clustering for content characterization,and(3)incorporates the TODIM(Tomada de Decisão Interativa Multicritério)method to determine moderation strategies based on expert judgments.In general,the fully integrated framework leverages the strengths of these intelligent systems in a more systematic evaluation of large-scale decision problems.When applied in social media moderation,this approach promotes nuanced and context-sensitive self-moderation by taking into account factors such as cultural background and geographic location.The application of this framework is demonstrated within Facebook groups.Eight distinct content clusters encompassing safety,harassment,diversity,and misinformation are identified.Analysis revealed a preference for content removal across all clusters,suggesting a cautious approach towards potentially harmful content.However,the framework also highlights the use of other moderation actions,like account suspension,depending on the content category.These findings contribute to the growing body of research on self-moderation and offer valuable insights for creating safer and more inclusive online spaces within smaller communities.展开更多
Machine learning-assisted methods for rapid and accurate prediction of temperature field,mushy zone,and grain size were proposed for the heating−cooling combined mold(HCCM)horizontal continuous casting of C70250 alloy...Machine learning-assisted methods for rapid and accurate prediction of temperature field,mushy zone,and grain size were proposed for the heating−cooling combined mold(HCCM)horizontal continuous casting of C70250 alloy plates.First,finite element simulations of casting processes were carried out with various parameters to build a dataset.Subsequently,different machine learning algorithms were employed to achieve high precision in predicting temperature fields,mushy zone locations,mushy zone inclination angle,and billet grain size.Finally,the process parameters were quickly optimized using a strategy consisting of random generation,prediction,and screening,allowing the mushy zone to be controlled to the desired target.The optimized parameters are 1234℃for heating mold temperature,47 mm/min for casting speed,and 10 L/min for cooling water flow rate.The optimized mushy zone is located in the middle of the second heat insulation section and has an inclination angle of roughly 7°.展开更多
文摘The inflection point is an important feature of sigmoidal height-diameter(H-D)models.It is often cited as one of the properties favoring sigmoidal model forms.However,there are very few studies analyzing the inflection points of H-D models.The goals of this study were to theoretically and empirically examine the behaviors of inflection points of six common H-D models with a regional dataset.The six models were the Wykoff(WYK),Schumacher(SCH),Curtis(CUR),HossfeldⅣ(HOS),von Bertalanffy-Richards(VBR),and Gompertz(GPZ)models.The models were first fitted in their base forms with tree species as random effects and were then expanded to include functional traits and spatial distribution.The distributions of the estimated inflection points were similar between the two-parameter models WYK,SCH,and CUR,but were different between the threeparameter models HOS,VBR,and GPZ.GPZ produced some of the largest inflection points.HOS and VBR produced concave H-D curves without inflection points for 12.7%and 39.7%of the tree species.Evergreen species or decreasing shade tolerance resulted in larger inflection points.The trends in the estimated inflection points of HOS and VBR were entirely opposite across the landscape.Furthermore,HOS could produce concave H-D curves for portions of the landscape.Based on the studied behaviors,the choice between two-parameter models may not matter.We recommend comparing seve ral three-parameter model forms for consistency in estimated inflection points before deciding on one.Believing sigmoidal models to have inflection points does not necessarily mean that they will produce fitted curves with one.Our study highlights the need to integrate analysis of inflection points into modeling H-D relationships.
基金financially supported by the"Programa de Mejoramiento del Profesorado"(project:Seguimiento y Evaluacion de Sitios Permanentes de Investigación Forestal y el Impacto Socioeconómico delManejo Forestal en Norte de México)supported by"Programa Banco Santander-USC"(becas para estancias predoctorales destinadas a docentes e investigadores de America Latina)
文摘Background:We used mixed models with random components to develop height-diameter(h-d) functions for mixed,uneven-aged stands in northwestern Durango(Mexico),considering the breast height diameter(d) and stand variables as predictors.Methods:The data were obtained from 44 permanent plots used to monitor stand growth under forest management in the study area.Results:The generalized Bertalanffy-Richards model performed better than the other generalized models in predicting the total height of the species under study.For the genera Pinus and Quercus,the models were successfully calibrated by measuring the height of a subsample of three randomly selected trees close to the mean d,whereas for species of the genera Cupressus,Arbutus and Alnus,three trees were also selected,but they are specifically the maximum,minimum and mean d trees.Conclusions:The presented equations represent a new tool for the evaluation and management of natural forest in the region.
基金support of the Forest Science and Technology Projects [Project Nos. 2013069D10-1819-AA03 and 2014068E10-1819-AA03] provided by the Korea Forest Service
文摘The study was conducted to develop height-diameter at breast height(HT-DBH) models for Alnus japonica in La Trinidad, Benguet,Philippines and evaluate their predictive capability.The six widely used nonlinear growth models that were selected in this study were the ChapmanRichards, Schnute, Modified logistic, Korf/Lundqvist,Weibull and Exponential. A total of 208 Alnus japonica trees were measured using standard diameter tape for DBH(1.3 m above the ground) and Vertex and transponder was used for the total height measurement. The performance of the developed models were evaluated using the fit statistics including coefficient of determination(R^2), root mean square error(RMSE), mean bias(ē), absolute mean difference(AMD), and Akaike Information Criterion(AIC). The lack-of-fit statistics was also performed for further evaluation of the performance of the models.Based on the evaluation criteria, all six models were able to determine the DBH-height relationships and fitted the data well. Using the rank analysis, the Weibull HT-DBH model had the best performance among the six commonly used nonlinear growth models. The results of this study will help forest managers especially in La Trinidad, Benguet to easily predict the total height using the Weibull model for Alnus japonica utilizing the DBH as the predicting variable.
基金supported by Scientific Research Projects Management Coordinator of Kastamonu University,under grant number KÜ-BAP01/2019-41.
文摘Ecoregion-based height-diameter models were developed in the present study for Scots pine(Pinus sylves-tris L.)stands in Turkiye and included several ecological factors derived from a pre-existing ecoregional classification system.The data were obtained from 2831 sample trees in 292 sample plots.Ten generalized height–diameter models were developed,and the best model(HD10)was selected according to statistical criteria.Then,nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was applied to the best model.The R2 for the generalized height‒diameter model(Richards function)modified by Sharma and Parton is 0.951,and the final model included number of trees,dominant height,and diameter at breast height,with a random parameter associated with each ecoregion attached to the inverse of the mean basal area.The full model predictions using the nonlinear mixed-effects model and the reduced model(HD10)predictions were compared using the nonlinear sum of extra squares test,which revealed significant differences between ecore-gions;ecoregion-based height–diameter models were thus found to be suitable to use.In addition,using these models in appropriate ecoregions was very important for achieving reliable predictions with low prediction errors.
文摘Tree height (H) in a natural stand or forest plantation is a fundamental variable in management, and the use of mathematical expressions that estimate H as a function of diameter at breast height (d) or variables at the stand level is a valuable support tool in forest inventories. The objective was to fit and propose a generalized H-d model for Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus established in forest plantations of Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro, Michoacan, Mexico. Using nonlinear least squares (NLS), 10 generalized H-d models were fitted to 883 and 1226 pairs of H-d data from Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus, respectively. The best model was refitted with the maximum likelihood mixed effects model (MEM) approach by including the site as a classification variable and a known variance structure. The Wang and Tang equation was selected as the best model with NLS;the MEM with an additive effect on two of its parameters and an exponential variance function improved the fit statistics for Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus, respectively. The model validation showed equality of means among the estimates for both species and an independent subsample. The calibration of the MEM at the plot level was efficient and might increase the applicability of these results. The inclusion of dominant height in the MEM approach helped to reduce bias in the estimates and also to better explain the variability among plots.
基金supported by the European Union and the Romanian Government through the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014–2020, under the project“Increasing the economic competitiveness of the forestry sector and the quality of life through knowledge transfer,technology and CDI skills”(CRESFORLIFE),ID P 40 380/105506, subsidiary contract no. 17/2020partially by the FORCLIMSOC Nucleu Programme (Contract 12N/2023)+2 种基金project PN 23090101CresPerfInst project (Contract 34PFE/December 30, 2021)“Increasing the institutional capacity and performance of INCDS ‘Marin Drǎcea’in RDI activities-CresPer”LM was financially supported by the Research Council of Finland's flagship ecosystem for Forest-Human-Machine Interplay–Building Resilience, Redefining Value Networks and Enabling Meaningful Experiences (UNITE)(decision number 357909)
文摘In this study,we used an extensive sampling network established in central Romania to develop tree height and crown length models.Our analysis included more than 18,000 tree measurements from five different species.Instead of building univariate models for each response variable,we employed a multivariate approach using seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models.These models incorporated variables related to species mixture,tree and stand size,competition,and stand structure.With the inclusion of additional variables in the multivariate seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models,the accuracy of the height prediction models improved by over 10% for all species,whereas the improvement in the crown length models was considerably smaller.Our findings indicate that trees in mixed stands tend to have shorter heights but longer crowns than those in pure stands.We also observed that trees in homogeneous stand structures have shorter crown lengths than those in heterogeneous stands.By employing a multivariate mixed-effects modelling framework,we were able to perform cross-model random-effect predictions,leading to a significant increase in accuracy when both responses were used to calibrate the model.In contrast,the improvement in accuracy was marginal when only height was used for calibration.We demonstrate how multivariate mixed-effects models can be effectively used to develop multi-response allometric models that can be easily calibrated with a limited number of observations while simultaneously achieving better-aligned projections.
文摘Modelling tree height-diameter relationships in complex tropical rain forest ecosystems remains a challenge because of characteristics of multi-species, multi-layers, and indeterminate age composition. Effective modelling of such complex systems required innovative techniques to improve prediction of tree heights for use for aboveground biomass estimations. Therefore, in this study, deep learning algorithm (DLA) models based on artificial intelligence were trained for predicting tree heights in a tropical rain forest of Nigeria. The data consisted of 1736 individual trees representing 116 species, and measured from 52 0.25 ha sample plots. A K-means clustering was used to classify the species into three groups based on height-diameter ratios. The DLA models were trained for each species-group in which diameter at beast height, quadratic mean diameter and number of trees per ha were used as input variables. Predictions by the DLA models were compared with those developed by nonlinear least squares (NLS) and nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) using different evaluation statistics and equivalence test. In addition, the predicted heights by the models were used to estimate aboveground biomass. The results showed that the DLA models with 100 neurons in 6 hidden layers, 100 neurons in 9 hidden layers and 100 neurons in 7 hidden layers for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, outperformed the NLS and NLME models. The root mean square error for the DLA models ranged from 1.939 to 3.887 m. The results also showed that using height predicted by the DLA models for aboveground biomass estimation brought about more than 30% reduction in error relative to NLS and NLME. Consequently, minimal errors were created in aboveground biomass estimation compared to those of the classical methods.
文摘Background: Measurements of tree heights and diameters are essential in forest assessment and modelling. Tree heights are used for estimating timber volume, site index and other important variables related to forest growth and yield, succession and carbon budget models. However, the diameter at breast height (dbh) can be more accurately obtained and at lower cost, than total tree height. Hence, generalized height-diameter (h-d) models that predict tree height from dbh, age and other covariates are needed. For a more flexible but biologically plausible estimation of covariate effects we use shape constrained generalized additive models as an extension of existing h-d model approaches. We use causal site parameters such as index of aridity to enhance the generality and causality of the models and to enable predictions under projected changeable climatic conditions. Methods: We develop unconstrained generalized additive models (GAM) and shape constrained generalized additive models (SCAM) for investigating the possible effects of tree-specific parameters such as tree age, relative diameter at breast height, and site-specific parameters such as index of aridity and sum of daily mean temperature during vegetation period, on the h-d relationship of forests in Lower Saxony, Germany. Results: Some of the derived effects, e.g. effects of age, index of aridity and sum of daily mean temperature have significantly non-linear pattern. The need for using SCAM results from the fact that some of the model effects show partially implausible patterns especially at the boundaries of data ranges. The derived model predicts monotonically increasing levels of tree height with increasing age and temperature sum and decreasing aridity and social rank of a tree within a stand, The definition of constraints leads only to marginal or minor decline in the model statistics like AIC An observed structured spatial trend in tree height is modelled via 2-dimensional surface fitting. Conclusions: We demonstrate that the SCAM approach allows optimal regression modelling flexibility similar to the standard GAM but with the additional possibility of defining specific constraints for the model effects. The longitudinal character of the model allows for tree height imputation for the current status of forests but also for future tree height prediction.
基金supported by the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research(NIBIO)
文摘Background: Generalized height-diameter curves based on a re-parameterized version of the Korf function for Norway spruce (Piceo abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) in Norwa are presented. The Norwegian National Forest Inventory (NFI) is used as data base for estimating the model parameters. The derived models are developed to enable spatially explicit and site sensitive tree height imputatio in forest inventories as well as future tree height predictions in growth and yield scenario simulations. Methods: Generalized additive mixed models (gamm) are employed to detect and quantify potentially non-linear effects of predictor variables. In doing so the quadratic mean diameter serves as longitudinal covariate since stand ag as measured in the NFI, shows only a weak correlation with a stands developmental status in Norwegian forests. Additionally the models can be locally calibrated by predicting random effects if measured height-diameter pairs are available. Based on the model selection of non-constraint models, shape constraint additive models (scare) were fit tc incorporate expert knowledge and intrinsic relationships by enforcing certain effect patterns like monotonicity. Results: Model comparisons demonstrate that the shape constraints lead to only marginal differences in statistical characteristics but ensure reasonable model predictions. Under constant constraints the developed models predict increasing tree heights with decreasing altitude, increasing soil depth and increasing competition pressure of a tree. / two-dimensional spatially structured effect of UTM-coordinates accounts for the potential effects of large scale spatial correlated covariates, which were not at our disposal. The main result of modelling the spatially structured effect is lower tree height prediction for coastal sites and with increasing latitude. The quadratic mean diameter affects both the level and the slope of the height-diameter curve and both effects are positive. Conclusions: In this investigation it is assumed that model effects in additive modelling of height-diameter curves which are unfeasible and too wiggly from an expert point of view are a result of quantitatively or qualitatively limited data bases. However, this problem can be regarded not to be specific to our investigation but more general since growth and yield data that are balanced over the whole data range with respect to all combinations of predictor variables are exceptional cases. Hence, scare may provide methodological improvements in several applications by combining the flexibility of additive models with expert knowledge.
文摘Model evaluation using benchmark datasets is an important method to measure the capability of large language models(LLMs)in specific domains,and it is mainly used to assess the knowledge and reasoning abilities of LLMs.Therefore,in order to better assess the capability of LLMs in the agricultural domain,Agri-Eval was proposed as a benchmark for assessing the knowledge and reasoning ability of LLMs in agriculture.The assessment dataset used in Agri-Eval covered seven major disciplines in the agricultural domain:crop science,horticulture,plant protection,animal husbandry,forest science,aquaculture science,and grass science,and contained a total of 2283 questions.Among domestic general-purpose LLMs,DeepSeek R1 performed best with an accuracy rate of 75.49%.In the realm of international general-purpose LLMs,Gemini 2.0 pro exp 0205 standed out as the top performer,achieving an accuracy rate of 74.28%.As an LLMs in agriculture vertical,Shennong V2.0 outperformed all the LLMs in China,and the answer accuracy rate of agricultural knowledge exceeded that of all the existing general-purpose LLMs.The launch of Agri-Eval helped the LLM developers to comprehensively evaluate the model's capability in the field of agriculture through a variety of tasks and tests to promote the development of the LLMs in the field of agriculture.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12261018)Universities Key Laboratory of Mathematical Modeling and Data Mining in Guizhou Province(2023013)。
文摘In this paper,we establish and study a single-species logistic model with impulsive age-selective harvesting.First,we prove the ultimate boundedness of the solutions of the system.Then,we obtain conditions for the asymptotic stability of the trivial solution and the positive periodic solution.Finally,numerical simulations are presented to validate our results.Our results show that age-selective harvesting is more conducive to sustainable population survival than non-age-selective harvesting.
基金the World Climate Research Programme(WCRP),Climate Variability and Predictability(CLIVAR),and Global Energy and Water Exchanges(GEWEX)for facilitating the coordination of African monsoon researchsupport from the Center for Earth System Modeling,Analysis,and Data at the Pennsylvania State Universitythe support of the Office of Science of the U.S.Department of Energy Biological and Environmental Research as part of the Regional&Global Model Analysis(RGMA)program area。
文摘In recent years,there has been an increasing need for climate information across diverse sectors of society.This demand has arisen from the necessity to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate variability and change.Likewise,this period has seen a significant increase in our understanding of the physical processes and mechanisms that drive precipitation and its variability across different regions of Africa.By leveraging a large volume of climate model outputs,numerous studies have investigated the model representation of African precipitation as well as underlying physical processes.These studies have assessed whether the physical processes are well depicted and whether the models are fit for informing mitigation and adaptation strategies.This paper provides a review of the progress in precipitation simulation overAfrica in state-of-the-science climate models and discusses the major issues and challenges that remain.
文摘Utilizing finite element analysis,the ballistic protection provided by a combination of perforated D-shaped and base armor plates,collectively referred to as radiator armor,is evaluated.ANSYS Explicit Dynamics is employed to simulate the ballistic impact of 7.62 mm armor-piercing projectiles on Aluminum AA5083-H116 and Steel Secure 500 armors,focusing on the evaluation of material deformation and penetration resistance at varying impact points.While the D-shaped armor plate is penetrated by the armor-piercing projectiles,the combination of the perforated D-shaped and base armor plates successfully halts penetration.A numerical model based on the finite element method is developed using software such as SolidWorks and ANSYS to analyze the interaction between radiator armor and bullet.The perforated design of radiator armor is to maintain airflow for radiator function,with hole sizes smaller than the bullet core diameter to protect radiator assemblies.Predictions are made regarding the brittle fracture resulting from the projectile core′s bending due to asymmetric impact,and the resulting fragments failed to penetrate the perforated base armor plate.Craters are formed on the surface of the perforated D-shaped armor plate due to the impact of projectile fragments.The numerical model accurately predicts hole growth and projectile penetration upon impact with the armor,demonstrating effective protection of the radiator assemblies by the radiator armor.
基金supported by the CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program and Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition Research Program(2019QZKK0708)as well as the Basic Research Program of Qinghai Province:Lithospheric Geomagnetic Field of the Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau and the Relationship with Strong Earthquakes(2021-ZJ-969Q).
文摘The National Geophysical Data Center(NGDC)of the United States has collected aeromagnetic data for input into a series of geomagnetic models to improve model resolution;however,in the Tibetan Plateau region,ground-based observations remain insufficient to clearly reflect the characteristics of the region’s lithospheric magnetism.In this study,we evaluate the lithospheric magnetism of the Tibetan Plateau by using a 3D surface spline model based on observations from>200 newly constructed repeat stations(portable stations)to determine the spatial distribution of plateau geomagnetism,as well as its correlation with the tectonic features of the region.We analyze the relationships between M≥5 earthquakes and lithospheric magnetic field variations on the Tibetan Plateau and identify regions susceptible to strong earthquakes.We compare the geomagnetic results with those from an enhanced magnetic model(EMM2015)developed by the NGDC and provide insights into improving lithospheric magnetic field calculations in the Tibetan Plateau region.Further research reveals that these magnetic anomalies exhibit distinct differences from the magnetic-seismic correlation mechanisms observed in other tectonic settings;here,they are governed primarily by the combined effects of compressional magnetism,thermal magnetism,and deep thermal stress.This study provides new evidence of geomagnetic anomalies on the Tibetan Plateau,interprets them physically,and demonstrates their potential for identifying seismic hazard zones on the Plateau.
文摘Climate model prediction has been improved by enhancing model resolution as well as the implementation of sophisticated physical parameterization and refinement of data assimilation systems[section 6.1 in Wang et al.(2025)].In relation to seasonal forecasting and climate projection in the East Asian summer monsoon season,proper simulation of the seasonal migration of rain bands by models is a challenging and limiting factor[section 7.1 in Wang et al.(2025)].
基金Funded by State Railway Administration Research Project(No.2023JS007)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52438002)+1 种基金Research and Development Programs for Science and Technology of China Railways Corporation(No.J2023G003)New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZE。
文摘To investigate the influence of coarse aggregate parent rock properties on the elastic modulus of concrete,the mineralogical properties and stress-strain curves of granite and dolomite parent rocks,as well as the strength and elastic modulus of mortar and concrete prepared with mechanism aggregates of the corresponding lithology,and the stress-strain curves of concrete were investigated.In this paper,a coarse aggregate and mortar matrix bonding assumption is proposed,and a prediction model for the elastic modulus of mortar is established by considering the lithology of the mechanism sand and the slurry components.An equivalent coarse aggregate elastic modulus model was established by considering factors such as coarse aggregate particle size,volume fraction,and mortar thickness between coarse aggregates.Based on the elastic modulus of the equivalent coarse aggregate and the remaining mortar,a prediction model for the elastic modulus of the two and three components of concrete in series and then in parallel was established,and the predicted values differed from the measured values within 10%.It is proposed that the coarse aggregate elastic modulus in highstrength concrete is the most critical factor affecting the elastic modulus of concrete,and as the coarse aggregate elastic modulus increases by 27.7%,the concrete elastic modulus increases by 19.5%.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12272018)the National Key Basic Research Project(2022JCJQZD20600).
文摘Kinetic impact is the most practical planetary-defense technique,with momentum-transfer efficiency central to deflection design.We present a Monte Carlo photometric framework that couples ejecta sampling,dynamical evolution,and image synthesis to compare directly with HST,LICIACube,ground-based and Lucy observations of the DART impact.Decomposing ejecta into(1)a highvelocity(~1600 m/s)plume exhibiting Na/K resonance,(2)a low-velocity(~1 m/s)conical component shaped by binary gravity and solar radiation pressure,and(3)meter-scale boulders,we quantify each component’s mass and momentum.Fitting photometric decay curves and morphological evolution yields size-velocity distributions and,via scaling laws,estimates of Dimorphos’bulk density,cratering parameters,and cohesive strength that agree with dynamical constraints.Photometric ejecta modeling therefore provides a robust route to constrain momentum enhancement and target properties,improving predictive capability for kinetic-deflection missions.
文摘Customer churn is the rate at which customers discontinue doing business with a company over a given time period.It is an essential measure for businesses to monitor high churn rates,as they often indicate underlying issues with services,products,or customer experience,resulting in considerable income loss.Prediction of customer churn is a crucial task aimed at retaining customers and maintaining revenue growth.Traditional machine learning(ML)models often struggle to capture complex temporal dependencies in client behavior data.To address this,an optimized deep learning(DL)approach using a Regularized Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory(RBiLSTM)model is proposed to mitigate overfitting and improve generalization error.The model integrates dropout,L2-regularization,and early stopping to enhance predictive accuracy while preventing over-reliance on specific patterns.Moreover,this study investigates the effect of optimization techniques on boosting the training efficiency of the developed model.Experimental results on a recent public customer churn dataset demonstrate that the trained model outperforms the traditional ML models and some other DL models,such as Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM)and Deep Neural Network(DNN),in churn prediction performance and stability.The proposed approach achieves 96.1%accuracy,compared with LSTM and DNN,which attain 94.5%and 94.1%accuracy,respectively.These results confirm that the proposed approach can be used as a valuable tool for businesses to identify at-risk consumers proactively and implement targeted retention strategies.
基金funded by the Office of the Vice-President for Research and Development of Cebu Technological University.
文摘This study demonstrates a novel integration of large language models,machine learning,and multicriteria decision-making to investigate self-moderation in small online communities,a topic under-explored compared to user behavior and platform-driven moderation on social media.The proposed methodological framework(1)utilizes large language models for social media post analysis and categorization,(2)employs k-means clustering for content characterization,and(3)incorporates the TODIM(Tomada de Decisão Interativa Multicritério)method to determine moderation strategies based on expert judgments.In general,the fully integrated framework leverages the strengths of these intelligent systems in a more systematic evaluation of large-scale decision problems.When applied in social media moderation,this approach promotes nuanced and context-sensitive self-moderation by taking into account factors such as cultural background and geographic location.The application of this framework is demonstrated within Facebook groups.Eight distinct content clusters encompassing safety,harassment,diversity,and misinformation are identified.Analysis revealed a preference for content removal across all clusters,suggesting a cautious approach towards potentially harmful content.However,the framework also highlights the use of other moderation actions,like account suspension,depending on the content category.These findings contribute to the growing body of research on self-moderation and offer valuable insights for creating safer and more inclusive online spaces within smaller communities.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2023YFB3812601)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51925401)the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST, China (No. 2022QNRC001)。
文摘Machine learning-assisted methods for rapid and accurate prediction of temperature field,mushy zone,and grain size were proposed for the heating−cooling combined mold(HCCM)horizontal continuous casting of C70250 alloy plates.First,finite element simulations of casting processes were carried out with various parameters to build a dataset.Subsequently,different machine learning algorithms were employed to achieve high precision in predicting temperature fields,mushy zone locations,mushy zone inclination angle,and billet grain size.Finally,the process parameters were quickly optimized using a strategy consisting of random generation,prediction,and screening,allowing the mushy zone to be controlled to the desired target.The optimized parameters are 1234℃for heating mold temperature,47 mm/min for casting speed,and 10 L/min for cooling water flow rate.The optimized mushy zone is located in the middle of the second heat insulation section and has an inclination angle of roughly 7°.