The minimal widths of three bounded subsets of the unit sphere associated to a unit vector in a normed linear space are studied,and three related geometric constants are introduced.New characterizations of inner produ...The minimal widths of three bounded subsets of the unit sphere associated to a unit vector in a normed linear space are studied,and three related geometric constants are introduced.New characterizations of inner product spaces are also presented.From the perspective of minimal width,strongε-symmetry of Birkhoff orthogonality is introduced,and its relation toε-symmetry of Birkhoff orthogonality is shown.Unlike most of the existing parameters of the underlying space,these new constants are full dimensional in nature.展开更多
The four-level nested neutral-point-clamped(4L-NNPC)inverter is a competitive topology among the various medium-voltage multilevel converters,and its main issue is flying-capacitor voltage unbalance.In this article,a ...The four-level nested neutral-point-clamped(4L-NNPC)inverter is a competitive topology among the various medium-voltage multilevel converters,and its main issue is flying-capacitor voltage unbalance.In this article,a novel carrier-interleaved pulse width modulation(CIPWM)method that satisfies the volt-sec balance principle is proposed with an advanced carrier distribution rule.By adopting the proposed CIPWM method,the redundant switching states of 4L-NNPC inverters can be evenly distributed into the output PWM waveform in each carrier period,and natural flying-capacitor voltage balance can be achieved.Furthermore,an active balancing strategy is also proposed to eliminate the voltage unbalance caused by nonideal factors,which is realized by simply adjusting the duty cycle and with no need to adjust the redundant switching states for 4L-NNPC inverters.The simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed CIPWM method and the flying-capacitor voltage balancing strategy.展开更多
BACKGROUND Red blood cell distribution width(RDW)is associated with the development and progression of various diseases.AIM To explore the association between pretreatment RDW and short-term outcomes after laparoscopi...BACKGROUND Red blood cell distribution width(RDW)is associated with the development and progression of various diseases.AIM To explore the association between pretreatment RDW and short-term outcomes after laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy(LPD).METHODS A total of 804 consecutive patients who underwent LPD at our hospital between March 2017 and November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Correlations between pretreatment RDW and clinicopathological characteristics and short-term outcomes were investigated.RESULTS Patients with higher pretreatment RDW were older,had higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scores and were associated with poorer short-term outcomes than those with normal RDW.High pretreatment RDW was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications(POCs)(hazard ratio=2.973,95%confidence interval:2.032-4.350,P<0.001)and severe POCs of grade IIIa or higher(hazard ratio=3.138,95%confidence interval:2.042-4.824,P<0.001)based on the Clavien-Dino classification system.Subgroup analysis showed that high pretreatment RDW was an independent risk factor for Clavien-Dino classi-fication grade IIIb or higher POCs,a comprehensive complication index score≥26.2,severe postoperative pancreatic fistula,severe bile leakage and severe hemorrhage.High pretreatment RDW was positively associated with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and was negatively associated with albumin and the prognostic nutritional index.CONCLUSION Pretreatment RDW was a special parameter for patients who underwent LPD.It was associated with malnutrition,severe inflammatory status and poorer short-term outcomes.RDW could be a surrogate marker for nutritional and inflammatory status in identifying patients who were at high risk of developing POCs after LPD.展开更多
Aerial organs in rice,including leaves,stems,and grains,are crucial for photosynthesis,lodging resistance,and yield.Therefore,an in-depth study on the development of these organs can lay a foundation for achieving hig...Aerial organs in rice,including leaves,stems,and grains,are crucial for photosynthesis,lodging resistance,and yield.Therefore,an in-depth study on the development of these organs can lay a foundation for achieving high and stable rice yields.In this study,we isolated a novel slender aerial organ mutant sao,which is characterized by a significant reduction in the width of leaves,stems,and grains.Histological analysis revealed that the slender phenotype of aerial organs in sao is caused by impaired cell proliferation and elongation.展开更多
To cater the need for real-time crack monitoring of infrastructural facilities,a CNN-regression model is proposed to directly estimate the crack properties from patches.RGB crack images and their corresponding masks o...To cater the need for real-time crack monitoring of infrastructural facilities,a CNN-regression model is proposed to directly estimate the crack properties from patches.RGB crack images and their corresponding masks obtained from a public dataset are cropped into patches of 256 square pixels that are classified with a pre-trained deep convolution neural network,the true positives are segmented,and crack properties are extracted using two different methods.The first method is primarily based on active contour models and level-set segmentation and the second method consists of the domain adaptation of a mathematical morphology-based method known as FIL-FINDER.A statistical test has been performed for the comparison of the stated methods and a database prepared with the more suitable method.An advanced convolution neural network-based multi-output regression model has been proposed which was trained with the prepared database and validated with the held-out dataset for the prediction of crack-length,crack-width,and width-uncertainty directly from input image patches.The pro-posed model has been tested on crack patches collected from different locations.Huber loss has been used to ensure the robustness of the proposed model selected from a set of 288 different variations of it.Additionally,an ablation study has been conducted on the top 3 models that demonstrated the influence of each network component on the pre-diction results.Finally,the best performing model HHc-X among the top 3 has been proposed that predicted crack properties which are in close agreement to the ground truths in the test data.展开更多
The number of secondary feathers varies among orders of birds with some orders exhibiting a positive relationship with ulna length,whereas in other orders secondary number is invariant.This difference has implications...The number of secondary feathers varies among orders of birds with some orders exhibiting a positive relationship with ulna length,whereas in other orders secondary number is invariant.This difference has implications for scaling of the width of the feather vane within orders.In those species where the number of secondary remiges is invariant with ulna length,vane width should scale isometrically with ulna size to maintain an aerodynamic flight surface.Where feather count increases with increasing ulna length then vane width should exhibit negative allometry.Vane length should also correlate with ulna length,irrespective of the number of feathers.Data were compiled from an online library of images for the vane length and the width of the vane at 50%of the vane length for the fifth secondary feather for 209 bird species from 24 different orders.The results supported the hypotheses that vane width is a function of ulna size,and the number of secondary feathers as associated with different orders.Vane length was unaffected by the number of secondaries but varied between orders.The results suggest that birds have solved the problem of maintaining the aerodynamic surface of the proximal wing in two ways.Hence as ulna length increases the first solution involves more feathers that exhibit negative allometry for vane width,or in the second where feather count doesn't change,the vane width simply scales isometrically.The implications for the mechanical properties of the vane,and how it affects wing function,have not yet been explored in a range of birds.展开更多
Intracranial aneurysm(IA)is a prevalent cerebrovascular disease associated with high mortality and disability rates upon rupture.The hemodynamics of IA,which are significantly influenced by geometric parameters,direct...Intracranial aneurysm(IA)is a prevalent cerebrovascular disease associated with high mortality and disability rates upon rupture.The hemodynamics of IA,which are significantly influenced by geometric parameters,directly impact its rupture.This study focuses on investigating the transient flow characteristics in saccular IA models fabricated using a water droplet-based method,specifically examining the influence of neck widths.Particle image velocimetry technique and numerical simulation were employed to investigate the dynamic evolution of flow structures within three IA models.The results reveal that neck width(W)has a substantial effect on flow characteristics in the neck region,subsequently impacting the deep flow inside the sac.Three distinct patterns were observed during flow evolution inside the sac:for W=2 mm,two vortices occur and then disappear with relatively low average flow velocity;for W=4 mm,enhanced effects of a high-speed jet result in periodic pulsatile flow velocity distribution while maintaining stable vortex core position;for W=6 mm,significant changes in flow velocity occur due to size expansion and intensity increase of vortices.These findings demonstrate that neck widths play a complex role in influencing transient flow characteristics within IAs.Overall,this research contributes to further understanding transient flow behaviors in IAs.展开更多
To address the challenges of poor surface quality and high energy consumption in marble cutting,this study introduces an auxiliary abrasive jet cutting technology enhanced by the use of polyacrylamide(PAM)as a dragred...To address the challenges of poor surface quality and high energy consumption in marble cutting,this study introduces an auxiliary abrasive jet cutting technology enhanced by the use of polyacrylamide(PAM)as a dragreducing additive.The effects of feed rate(50-300 mm/min),polymer concentration(0-0.5 g/L),and nozzle spacing(4-12 mm)on kerf width and surface roughness are systematically investigated through an orthogonal experimental design.Results reveal that feed rate emerges as themost significant factor(p<0.01),followed by PAM concentration and nozzle spacing.The optimal set of parameters,comprising a 200 mm/min feed rate,0.3 g/L PAM concentration,and 6mmnozzle spacing,achieves the narrowest kerf width(0.867 mm)and the lowest surface roughness(10.220μm).Analysis of the underlying mechanisms demonstrates that PAMenhances the energy efficiency of the jet by suppressing turbulent pulsations and increasing fluid viscoelasticity,thereby minimizing energy loss during the cutting process.展开更多
Computing free energy is a fundamental problem in statistical physics.Recently,two distinct methods have been developed and have demonstrated remarkable success:the tensor-network-based contraction method and the neur...Computing free energy is a fundamental problem in statistical physics.Recently,two distinct methods have been developed and have demonstrated remarkable success:the tensor-network-based contraction method and the neural-network-based variational method.Tensor networks are accurate,but their application is often limited to low-dimensional systems due to the high computational complexity in high-dimensional systems.The neural network method applies to systems with general topology.However,as a variational method,it is not as accurate as tensor networks.In this work,we propose an integrated approach,tensor-network-based variational autoregressive networks(TNVAN),that leverages the strengths of both tensor networks and neural networks:combining the variational autoregressive neural network’s ability to compute an upper bound on free energy and perform unbiased sampling from the variational distribution with the tensor network’s power to accurately compute the partition function for small sub-systems,resulting in a robust method for precisely estimating free energy.To evaluate the proposed approach,we conducted numerical experiments on spin glass systems with various topologies,including two-dimensional lattices,fully connected graphs,and random graphs.Our numerical results demonstrate the superior accuracy of our method compared to existing approaches.In particular,it effectively handles systems with longrange interactions and leverages GPU efficiency without requiring singular value decomposition,indicating great potential in tackling statistical mechanics problems and simulating high-dimensional complex systems through both tensor networks and neural networks.展开更多
BACKGROUND Post-hepatectomy liver failure(PHLF)after liver resection is one of the main complications causing postoperative death in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).It is crucial to help clinicians identif...BACKGROUND Post-hepatectomy liver failure(PHLF)after liver resection is one of the main complications causing postoperative death in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).It is crucial to help clinicians identify potential high-risk PHLF patients as early as possible through preoperative evaluation.AIM To identify risk factors for PHLF and develop a prediction model.METHODS This study included 248 patients with HCC at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University between January 2014 and December 2023;these patients were divided into a training group(n=164)and a validation group(n=84)via random sampling.The independent variables for the occurrence of PHLF were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and visualized as nomograms.Ultimately,comparisons were made with traditional models via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS In this study,portal vein width[odds ratio(OR)=1.603,95%CI:1.288-1.994,P≤0.001],the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)(OR=1.495,95%CI:1.126-1.984,P=0.005),and the albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score(OR=8.868,95%CI:2.144-36.678,P=0.003)were independent risk factors for PHLF.A nomogram prediction model was developed using these factors.ROC and DCA analyses revealed that the predictive efficacy and clinical value of this model were better than those of traditional models.CONCLUSION A new Nomogram model for predicting PHLF in HCC patients was successfully established based on portal vein width,the NLR,and the ALBI score,which outperforms the traditional model.展开更多
A simple rectangular microstrip antenna on low dielectric constant substrate such as air for improved radiation beam performance is theoretically investigated. The conventional patch antenna fabricated on common subst...A simple rectangular microstrip antenna on low dielectric constant substrate such as air for improved radiation beam performance is theoretically investigated. The conventional patch antenna fabricated on common substrates always produces quite broader E plane pattern compared to its H plane. In the present investigation, the same microstrip antenna is designed on air substrate with a view to develop an efficient feed for parabolic reflector antenna, which shows an excellent radiation pattern with symmetrical 3 dB beam widths at its both E and H plane. The present antenna compared to conventional structure to show its excellence in the beam performance is presented. The complete quantitative analysis to explore such radiation beam characteristics for both the structures (conventional and the present one) is also presented in this paper. An easy and handful relationship between the length of patch antenna and its fringing length for different types of substrate is established in the background of 3 dB beam widths. The proposed idea has been verified through a commercial software package for a patch operating in X band and a concrete physical insight into the phenomenon is developed.展开更多
Accurate prediction of strip width is a key factor related to the quality of hot rolling manufacture.Firstly,based on strip width formation mechanism model within strip rolling process,an improved width mechanism calc...Accurate prediction of strip width is a key factor related to the quality of hot rolling manufacture.Firstly,based on strip width formation mechanism model within strip rolling process,an improved width mechanism calculation model is delineated for the optimization of process parameters via the particle swarm optimization algorithm.Subsequently,a hybrid strip width prediction model is proposed by effectively combining the respective advantages of the improved mechanism model and the data-driven model.In acknowledgment of prerequisite for positive error in strip width prediction,an adaptive width error compensation algorithm is proposed.Finally,comparative simulation experiments are designed on the actual rolling dataset after completing data cleaning and feature engineering.The experimental results show that the hybrid prediction model proposed has superior precision and robustness compared with the improved mechanism model and the other eight common data-driven models and satisfies the needs of practical applications.Moreover,the hybrid model can realize the complementary advantages of the mechanism model and the data-driven model,effectively alleviating the problems of difficult to improve the accuracy of the mechanism model and poor interpretability of the data-driven model,which bears significant practical implications for the research of strip width control.展开更多
In this work,the effects of transverse boundary conditions,specifically the bias voltage on the transverse wall and the gap width,on the electron beam-generated plasmas(EBPs)confined in a narrow gap,are investigated u...In this work,the effects of transverse boundary conditions,specifically the bias voltage on the transverse wall and the gap width,on the electron beam-generated plasmas(EBPs)confined in a narrow gap,are investigated using the particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision(PIC/MCC)simulations.Simulation results reveal that the application of bias voltage causes beam deflections,leading to the formation of band structures in the beam electron velocity space.Three branches of electrostatic waves,including electron beam mode,Langmuir wave,and electron acoustic mode,are identified.Increasing the bias voltage and reducing gap width intensify beam deflections,resulting in the suppression of waves.Both wave excitation and beam deflection significantly modify beam electron transport,leading to the plasma non-uniformity.These findings enhance the understanding of beam transport and plasma behavior in discharges confined in a narrow gap.展开更多
BACKGROUND As red blood cell distribution width(RDW)and albumin have been shown to be independent predictors of mortality from various diseases,this study aimed to investigate the effect of the RDW to albumin ratio(RA...BACKGROUND As red blood cell distribution width(RDW)and albumin have been shown to be independent predictors of mortality from various diseases,this study aimed to investigate the effect of the RDW to albumin ratio(RA)as an independent predictor of the prognosis of patients admitted to the coronary care unit(CCU).AIM To use the RDW and albumin level to predict the prognosis of patients in the CCU.METHODS Data were obtained from the Medical Information Mart Intensive Care III database.The primary outcome was 365-day all-cause mortality,whereas the secondary outcomes were 30-and 90-day all-cause mortality,hospital length of stay(LOS),and CCU LOS.Cox proportional hazards regression model,propen-sity score matching,and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used.RESULTS The hazard ratio(95%confidence interval)of the upper tertile(RA>4.66)was 1.62(1.29 to 2.03)when compared with the reference(RA<3.84)in 365-day all-cause mortality.This trend persisted after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables in the propensity score-matching analysis.Similar trends were observed for the secondary outcomes of hospital and CCU LOS.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed by combining the RA and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)scores,and the C-statistic was higher than that of the SOFA scores(0.733 vs 0.702,P<0.001).CONCLUSION RA is an independent prognostic factor in patients admitted to the CCU.RA combined with the SOFA score can improve the predictive ability of the SOFA score.However,our results should be verified in future prospective studies.展开更多
AIM:To describe the optical coherence tomography(OCT)features in the fellow eyes of individuals with full-thickness macular holes(FTMHs).METHODS:This multicenter retrospective study included observational and validati...AIM:To describe the optical coherence tomography(OCT)features in the fellow eyes of individuals with full-thickness macular holes(FTMHs).METHODS:This multicenter retrospective study included observational and validation groups,incorporating fellow eyes of patients diagnosed with idiopathic FTMH.OCT images were categorized according to International Vitreomacular Traction Study(IVTS)and Gass classification.Age-and sex-related cataract patients were served as control groups.Vertical and horizontal OCT images were chosen for further measurement.OCT parameters including foveal floor width(FFW),central foveal thickness(CFT)and FFW/CFT ratio were assessed and compared between observational and control groups and were validated by validation group.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted for OCT parameters in identifying macular holes(MHs).RESULTS:A total of 73 patients were included in the observational group,comprising 51 females and 22 males,with an average age of 65.5±7.3y and an axial length of 23.9±0.8 mm.The validated group consisted of 47 patients,including 31 females and 16 males,with an average age of 65.0±7.4y and an average axial length of 23.6±0.8 mm.In the observational group,16.4%of the fellow eyes associated with FTMHs also exhibited MHs,while in the validated group,this prevalence was 12.7%.The 45.2%in the observational group and 44.6%in validated group of these fellow eyes displayed abnormalities including vitreomacular adhesion(VMA),vitreomacular traction(VMT),and MHs.Statistically significant differences were observed in FFW,CFT,and FFW/CFT ratio between control and observational group,as well as validated group(P<0.01),no matter in the vertical or horizontal layer.ROC curves revealed the area under the curve(AUC)for FFW and the FFW/CFT ratio was 0.85 and 0.90,respectively.CONCLUSION:In the case of unilateral idiopathic MHs,it was important to carefully monitor the condition of the fellow eye.The FFW and FFW/CFT ratio may be good metrics for predicting MHs.展开更多
Two asymmetric types of floating breakwaters integrated with a wave energy converter(WEC-FBs),a floating square box with a triangle(trapezoidal type)or a wave baffle(L type)attached to its rear side,have been proposed...Two asymmetric types of floating breakwaters integrated with a wave energy converter(WEC-FBs),a floating square box with a triangle(trapezoidal type)or a wave baffle(L type)attached to its rear side,have been proposed.In this research,the hydrodynamic performance,including capture width ratio(CWR),wave transmission coefficient,heave motion,and force coefficient,were studied and compared between the two types.A numerical simulation model based on the Navier-Stokes equation was employed.The effects of power take-off(PTO)damping coefficient,wave periods,and draft/displacement on the hydrodynamic performance of the two structure shapes were simulated and investigated.The results reveal that the L type performs better in shorter wave periods,and the trapezoidal type exhibits a higher CWR in intermediate wave periods.This study offers knowledge of the design and protection of the two WEC-FB types.展开更多
Purpose–MxV Rail conducted multiple single tie push tests(STPTs)between 2020 and 2023 to assess the changes in lateral tie resistance from tonnage accumulation,dynamic track stabilizers(DTS),tie type and ballast cond...Purpose–MxV Rail conducted multiple single tie push tests(STPTs)between 2020 and 2023 to assess the changes in lateral tie resistance from tonnage accumulation,dynamic track stabilizers(DTS),tie type and ballast condition.High lateral tie resistance is necessary for preventing lateral misalignments and track buckles.Therefore,understanding how various factors affect the lateral tie resistance will aid in the development of track buckling risk assessments and ballast maintenance best practices.Design/methodology/approach–The test involved tamping a section of track that consisted of both concrete and wood ties and then increasing the lateral tie resistance,using either tonnage during speed restrictions or a DTS.The STPTs and top-of-rail(TOR)elevation measurements were taken at multiple stages,including immediately after tamping and then after different tonnage increments or DTS.The results from this test were then added to a compiled measurement from previous tests,and the results from all the tests were used to develop general guidelines for ballast maintenance best practices and trade-off considerations.Findings–The results showed multiple factors affect the lateral track strength and therefore the susceptibility to misalignments and track buckles.The disturbance from ballast tamping can reduce the lateral track strength by 20–80%(∼45%median)and can be compacted from either tonnage(25–50%regain in strength after 0.1 m gross ton or MGT)or DTS(33–78%regain in strength).The amount of ballast(shoulder width and crib height),tie type and ballast characteristics all have a meaningful role in lateral track strength.Originality/value–This paper is based on the testing programs conducted by authors at MxV Rail.展开更多
BACKGROUND The hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio(HRR)is a recently intro-duced,easily accessible marker that provides insights into inflammation and the tumor vascular microenvironment.It has been sugges...BACKGROUND The hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio(HRR)is a recently intro-duced,easily accessible marker that provides insights into inflammation and the tumor vascular microenvironment.It has been suggested to have prognostic value for overall survival in various types of cancer,including urothelial carcinoma,lung cancer,and hepatocellular carcinoma.It has not yet been sufficiently invest-igated in colorectal cancers(CRC).AIM To investigate the prognostic significance of the HRR and other inflammation-based hematological markers in patients with metastatic CRC.Additionally,the study evaluated the impact of surgical interventions,particularly metastasectomy,and multiple clinical and laboratory parameters on overall survival.By iden-tifying low-cost,accessible prognostic indicators,this research seeks to support clinicians in optimizing treatment strategies and risk stratification for patients with CRC.METHODS In this retrospective study,patients diagnosed with CRC between January 2020 and December 2024 were analyzed.The impact of HRR in conjunction with inflammatory markers and a total of 22 different clinical and laboratory para-meters on overall survival were evaluated using univariate Cox regression and a multivariate model.Survival curves were visualized using Kaplan-Meier analysis.RESULTS A total of 155 patients with CRC were included in the study.The median age was 60 years,and 61.9%presented with de novo metastasis.In the receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve analysis performed to determine the optimal cutoff,the values were found to be 6.10 for carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)(P=0.036),18.85 for platelet-to-red cell distribution width ratio(P=0.028),and 10.87 for platelet distribution width-to-lymphocyte ratio(P=0.028).For neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR),monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio,HRR,and carbohydrate antigen 19-9,an optimal cutoff could not be determined using the receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve analysis.Therefore,the median values were adopted as the cutoffs(3.09,835.96,177.50,0.380,0.824,and 21.6,respectively).Univariate analysis identified male gender(P=0.045),being under 65 years of age(P=0.001),history of metastas-ectomy(P=0.001),low serum CEA level(P=0.010),low PLR(P=0.024),low SII(P=0.010),and high HRR(P=0.025)as favorable prognostic factors for overall survival.In the multivariate model,being under 65 years of age[hazard ratio(HR)=1.59,95%confidence interval(CI):1.06-2.39,P=0.025],metastasectomy(HR=0.49,95%CI:0.29-0.85,P=0.011),CEA(HR=1.51,95%CI:1.0-2.28,P=0.048),and PLR(HR=1.63,95%CI:1.09-2.44,P=0.018)emerged as independent prognostic factors for overall survival,whereas gender,SII,and HRR did not retain statistical significance.CONCLUSION In conclusion,low HRR alone was a prognostic indicator.However,when modelled with other inflammatory and clinical parameters,it did not provide a sufficiently strong marker feature.展开更多
Droughts impact forests by influencing various processes such as canopy greenness,tree growth,and reproduction,but most studies have only examined a few of these processes.More comprehensive assessments of forest resp...Droughts impact forests by influencing various processes such as canopy greenness,tree growth,and reproduction,but most studies have only examined a few of these processes.More comprehensive assessments of forest responses to climate variability and water shortages are needed to improve forecasts of post-drought dynamics.Iberian forests are well-suited for evaluating these effects because they experience diverse climatic conditions and are dominated by various conifer and broadleaf species,many of which exhibit masting.We assessed how greenness,evaluated using the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI),tree radial growth,and seed or cone production responded to drought in five tree species(three conifers:silver fir(Abies alba),Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris),and stone pine(Pinus pinea);two broadleaves:European beech(Fagus sylvatica)and holm oak(Quercus ilex)inhabiting sites with different aridity.We correlated these data with the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index(SPEI)using the climate window analysis(climwin)package,which identifies the most relevant climate window.Drought constrained growth more than greenness and seed or cone production.Dry conditions led to high seed or cone production in species found in cool,moist sites(silver fir,beech,and Scots pine).We also found negative associations of cone production with summer SPEI in the drought-tolerant stone pine,which showed lagged growth-cone negative correlations.However,in the seasonally dry holm oak forests,severe droughts constrained both growth and acorn production,leading to a positive correlation between these variables.Drought impacts on greenness,growth,seed,and cone production depended on species phenology and site aridity.A negative correlation between growth and reproduction does not necessarily indicate trade-offs,as both may be influenced by similar climatic factors.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12071444,12201581)the Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province of China(202103021223191).
文摘The minimal widths of three bounded subsets of the unit sphere associated to a unit vector in a normed linear space are studied,and three related geometric constants are introduced.New characterizations of inner product spaces are also presented.From the perspective of minimal width,strongε-symmetry of Birkhoff orthogonality is introduced,and its relation toε-symmetry of Birkhoff orthogonality is shown.Unlike most of the existing parameters of the underlying space,these new constants are full dimensional in nature.
基金supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation under Grant L242006.
文摘The four-level nested neutral-point-clamped(4L-NNPC)inverter is a competitive topology among the various medium-voltage multilevel converters,and its main issue is flying-capacitor voltage unbalance.In this article,a novel carrier-interleaved pulse width modulation(CIPWM)method that satisfies the volt-sec balance principle is proposed with an advanced carrier distribution rule.By adopting the proposed CIPWM method,the redundant switching states of 4L-NNPC inverters can be evenly distributed into the output PWM waveform in each carrier period,and natural flying-capacitor voltage balance can be achieved.Furthermore,an active balancing strategy is also proposed to eliminate the voltage unbalance caused by nonideal factors,which is realized by simply adjusting the duty cycle and with no need to adjust the redundant switching states for 4L-NNPC inverters.The simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed CIPWM method and the flying-capacitor voltage balancing strategy.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81302124.
文摘BACKGROUND Red blood cell distribution width(RDW)is associated with the development and progression of various diseases.AIM To explore the association between pretreatment RDW and short-term outcomes after laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy(LPD).METHODS A total of 804 consecutive patients who underwent LPD at our hospital between March 2017 and November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Correlations between pretreatment RDW and clinicopathological characteristics and short-term outcomes were investigated.RESULTS Patients with higher pretreatment RDW were older,had higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scores and were associated with poorer short-term outcomes than those with normal RDW.High pretreatment RDW was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications(POCs)(hazard ratio=2.973,95%confidence interval:2.032-4.350,P<0.001)and severe POCs of grade IIIa or higher(hazard ratio=3.138,95%confidence interval:2.042-4.824,P<0.001)based on the Clavien-Dino classification system.Subgroup analysis showed that high pretreatment RDW was an independent risk factor for Clavien-Dino classi-fication grade IIIb or higher POCs,a comprehensive complication index score≥26.2,severe postoperative pancreatic fistula,severe bile leakage and severe hemorrhage.High pretreatment RDW was positively associated with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and was negatively associated with albumin and the prognostic nutritional index.CONCLUSION Pretreatment RDW was a special parameter for patients who underwent LPD.It was associated with malnutrition,severe inflammatory status and poorer short-term outcomes.RDW could be a surrogate marker for nutritional and inflammatory status in identifying patients who were at high risk of developing POCs after LPD.
基金supported by the Sichuan Science and Technology Program,China(Grant No.2024JDRC0064)the Chongqing Talent Program Foundation,China(Grant No.cstc2024ycjh-bgzxm0063)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32470354)the Sichuan Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Seedling Foundation,China(Grant No.2024JDRC0064).
文摘Aerial organs in rice,including leaves,stems,and grains,are crucial for photosynthesis,lodging resistance,and yield.Therefore,an in-depth study on the development of these organs can lay a foundation for achieving high and stable rice yields.In this study,we isolated a novel slender aerial organ mutant sao,which is characterized by a significant reduction in the width of leaves,stems,and grains.Histological analysis revealed that the slender phenotype of aerial organs in sao is caused by impaired cell proliferation and elongation.
文摘To cater the need for real-time crack monitoring of infrastructural facilities,a CNN-regression model is proposed to directly estimate the crack properties from patches.RGB crack images and their corresponding masks obtained from a public dataset are cropped into patches of 256 square pixels that are classified with a pre-trained deep convolution neural network,the true positives are segmented,and crack properties are extracted using two different methods.The first method is primarily based on active contour models and level-set segmentation and the second method consists of the domain adaptation of a mathematical morphology-based method known as FIL-FINDER.A statistical test has been performed for the comparison of the stated methods and a database prepared with the more suitable method.An advanced convolution neural network-based multi-output regression model has been proposed which was trained with the prepared database and validated with the held-out dataset for the prediction of crack-length,crack-width,and width-uncertainty directly from input image patches.The pro-posed model has been tested on crack patches collected from different locations.Huber loss has been used to ensure the robustness of the proposed model selected from a set of 288 different variations of it.Additionally,an ablation study has been conducted on the top 3 models that demonstrated the influence of each network component on the pre-diction results.Finally,the best performing model HHc-X among the top 3 has been proposed that predicted crack properties which are in close agreement to the ground truths in the test data.
文摘The number of secondary feathers varies among orders of birds with some orders exhibiting a positive relationship with ulna length,whereas in other orders secondary number is invariant.This difference has implications for scaling of the width of the feather vane within orders.In those species where the number of secondary remiges is invariant with ulna length,vane width should scale isometrically with ulna size to maintain an aerodynamic flight surface.Where feather count increases with increasing ulna length then vane width should exhibit negative allometry.Vane length should also correlate with ulna length,irrespective of the number of feathers.Data were compiled from an online library of images for the vane length and the width of the vane at 50%of the vane length for the fifth secondary feather for 209 bird species from 24 different orders.The results supported the hypotheses that vane width is a function of ulna size,and the number of secondary feathers as associated with different orders.Vane length was unaffected by the number of secondaries but varied between orders.The results suggest that birds have solved the problem of maintaining the aerodynamic surface of the proximal wing in two ways.Hence as ulna length increases the first solution involves more feathers that exhibit negative allometry for vane width,or in the second where feather count doesn't change,the vane width simply scales isometrically.The implications for the mechanical properties of the vane,and how it affects wing function,have not yet been explored in a range of birds.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12172017 and 11872083)Project of Beijing Municipal Education Commission(Grant Nos.KZ202210005006 and KZ202110005007).
文摘Intracranial aneurysm(IA)is a prevalent cerebrovascular disease associated with high mortality and disability rates upon rupture.The hemodynamics of IA,which are significantly influenced by geometric parameters,directly impact its rupture.This study focuses on investigating the transient flow characteristics in saccular IA models fabricated using a water droplet-based method,specifically examining the influence of neck widths.Particle image velocimetry technique and numerical simulation were employed to investigate the dynamic evolution of flow structures within three IA models.The results reveal that neck width(W)has a substantial effect on flow characteristics in the neck region,subsequently impacting the deep flow inside the sac.Three distinct patterns were observed during flow evolution inside the sac:for W=2 mm,two vortices occur and then disappear with relatively low average flow velocity;for W=4 mm,enhanced effects of a high-speed jet result in periodic pulsatile flow velocity distribution while maintaining stable vortex core position;for W=6 mm,significant changes in flow velocity occur due to size expansion and intensity increase of vortices.These findings demonstrate that neck widths play a complex role in influencing transient flow characteristics within IAs.Overall,this research contributes to further understanding transient flow behaviors in IAs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant number:52006061)the Key R&D Program of Hunan Province(grant number:2024AQ2001)+2 种基金Scientific Research Program of Hunan Provincial Department of Education(grant number:22B0840)Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(grant number:2023JJ50483)Hunan University of Humanities,Science and Technology Graduate Student Research and Innovation Program(ZSCX2024Y06,ZSCX2024Y01).
文摘To address the challenges of poor surface quality and high energy consumption in marble cutting,this study introduces an auxiliary abrasive jet cutting technology enhanced by the use of polyacrylamide(PAM)as a dragreducing additive.The effects of feed rate(50-300 mm/min),polymer concentration(0-0.5 g/L),and nozzle spacing(4-12 mm)on kerf width and surface roughness are systematically investigated through an orthogonal experimental design.Results reveal that feed rate emerges as themost significant factor(p<0.01),followed by PAM concentration and nozzle spacing.The optimal set of parameters,comprising a 200 mm/min feed rate,0.3 g/L PAM concentration,and 6mmnozzle spacing,achieves the narrowest kerf width(0.867 mm)and the lowest surface roughness(10.220μm).Analysis of the underlying mechanisms demonstrates that PAMenhances the energy efficiency of the jet by suppressing turbulent pulsations and increasing fluid viscoelasticity,thereby minimizing energy loss during the cutting process.
基金supported by Projects 12325501,12047503,and 12247104 of the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject ZDRW-XX-2022-3-02 of the Chinese Academy of Sciencessupported by the Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology project 2021ZD0301900。
文摘Computing free energy is a fundamental problem in statistical physics.Recently,two distinct methods have been developed and have demonstrated remarkable success:the tensor-network-based contraction method and the neural-network-based variational method.Tensor networks are accurate,but their application is often limited to low-dimensional systems due to the high computational complexity in high-dimensional systems.The neural network method applies to systems with general topology.However,as a variational method,it is not as accurate as tensor networks.In this work,we propose an integrated approach,tensor-network-based variational autoregressive networks(TNVAN),that leverages the strengths of both tensor networks and neural networks:combining the variational autoregressive neural network’s ability to compute an upper bound on free energy and perform unbiased sampling from the variational distribution with the tensor network’s power to accurately compute the partition function for small sub-systems,resulting in a robust method for precisely estimating free energy.To evaluate the proposed approach,we conducted numerical experiments on spin glass systems with various topologies,including two-dimensional lattices,fully connected graphs,and random graphs.Our numerical results demonstrate the superior accuracy of our method compared to existing approaches.In particular,it effectively handles systems with longrange interactions and leverages GPU efficiency without requiring singular value decomposition,indicating great potential in tackling statistical mechanics problems and simulating high-dimensional complex systems through both tensor networks and neural networks.
基金Supported by Shaanxi Provincial Social Development Fund,No.2024SF-YBXM-140.
文摘BACKGROUND Post-hepatectomy liver failure(PHLF)after liver resection is one of the main complications causing postoperative death in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).It is crucial to help clinicians identify potential high-risk PHLF patients as early as possible through preoperative evaluation.AIM To identify risk factors for PHLF and develop a prediction model.METHODS This study included 248 patients with HCC at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University between January 2014 and December 2023;these patients were divided into a training group(n=164)and a validation group(n=84)via random sampling.The independent variables for the occurrence of PHLF were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and visualized as nomograms.Ultimately,comparisons were made with traditional models via receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS In this study,portal vein width[odds ratio(OR)=1.603,95%CI:1.288-1.994,P≤0.001],the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)(OR=1.495,95%CI:1.126-1.984,P=0.005),and the albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score(OR=8.868,95%CI:2.144-36.678,P=0.003)were independent risk factors for PHLF.A nomogram prediction model was developed using these factors.ROC and DCA analyses revealed that the predictive efficacy and clinical value of this model were better than those of traditional models.CONCLUSION A new Nomogram model for predicting PHLF in HCC patients was successfully established based on portal vein width,the NLR,and the ALBI score,which outperforms the traditional model.
文摘A simple rectangular microstrip antenna on low dielectric constant substrate such as air for improved radiation beam performance is theoretically investigated. The conventional patch antenna fabricated on common substrates always produces quite broader E plane pattern compared to its H plane. In the present investigation, the same microstrip antenna is designed on air substrate with a view to develop an efficient feed for parabolic reflector antenna, which shows an excellent radiation pattern with symmetrical 3 dB beam widths at its both E and H plane. The present antenna compared to conventional structure to show its excellence in the beam performance is presented. The complete quantitative analysis to explore such radiation beam characteristics for both the structures (conventional and the present one) is also presented in this paper. An easy and handful relationship between the length of patch antenna and its fringing length for different types of substrate is established in the background of 3 dB beam widths. The proposed idea has been verified through a commercial software package for a patch operating in X band and a concrete physical insight into the phenomenon is developed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.62273234)Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi(Program No.2022GY-306)Technology Innovation Leading Program of Shaanxi(Program No.2022QFY01-16).
文摘Accurate prediction of strip width is a key factor related to the quality of hot rolling manufacture.Firstly,based on strip width formation mechanism model within strip rolling process,an improved width mechanism calculation model is delineated for the optimization of process parameters via the particle swarm optimization algorithm.Subsequently,a hybrid strip width prediction model is proposed by effectively combining the respective advantages of the improved mechanism model and the data-driven model.In acknowledgment of prerequisite for positive error in strip width prediction,an adaptive width error compensation algorithm is proposed.Finally,comparative simulation experiments are designed on the actual rolling dataset after completing data cleaning and feature engineering.The experimental results show that the hybrid prediction model proposed has superior precision and robustness compared with the improved mechanism model and the other eight common data-driven models and satisfies the needs of practical applications.Moreover,the hybrid model can realize the complementary advantages of the mechanism model and the data-driven model,effectively alleviating the problems of difficult to improve the accuracy of the mechanism model and poor interpretability of the data-driven model,which bears significant practical implications for the research of strip width control.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12175322 and 12305223)the National Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2023A1515010762)。
文摘In this work,the effects of transverse boundary conditions,specifically the bias voltage on the transverse wall and the gap width,on the electron beam-generated plasmas(EBPs)confined in a narrow gap,are investigated using the particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision(PIC/MCC)simulations.Simulation results reveal that the application of bias voltage causes beam deflections,leading to the formation of band structures in the beam electron velocity space.Three branches of electrostatic waves,including electron beam mode,Langmuir wave,and electron acoustic mode,are identified.Increasing the bias voltage and reducing gap width intensify beam deflections,resulting in the suppression of waves.Both wave excitation and beam deflection significantly modify beam electron transport,leading to the plasma non-uniformity.These findings enhance the understanding of beam transport and plasma behavior in discharges confined in a narrow gap.
文摘BACKGROUND As red blood cell distribution width(RDW)and albumin have been shown to be independent predictors of mortality from various diseases,this study aimed to investigate the effect of the RDW to albumin ratio(RA)as an independent predictor of the prognosis of patients admitted to the coronary care unit(CCU).AIM To use the RDW and albumin level to predict the prognosis of patients in the CCU.METHODS Data were obtained from the Medical Information Mart Intensive Care III database.The primary outcome was 365-day all-cause mortality,whereas the secondary outcomes were 30-and 90-day all-cause mortality,hospital length of stay(LOS),and CCU LOS.Cox proportional hazards regression model,propen-sity score matching,and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used.RESULTS The hazard ratio(95%confidence interval)of the upper tertile(RA>4.66)was 1.62(1.29 to 2.03)when compared with the reference(RA<3.84)in 365-day all-cause mortality.This trend persisted after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables in the propensity score-matching analysis.Similar trends were observed for the secondary outcomes of hospital and CCU LOS.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed by combining the RA and sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)scores,and the C-statistic was higher than that of the SOFA scores(0.733 vs 0.702,P<0.001).CONCLUSION RA is an independent prognostic factor in patients admitted to the CCU.RA combined with the SOFA score can improve the predictive ability of the SOFA score.However,our results should be verified in future prospective studies.
基金Supported by Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Team(No.CXTDA2017039)the Soochow Scholar Project of Soochow University(No.R5122001).
文摘AIM:To describe the optical coherence tomography(OCT)features in the fellow eyes of individuals with full-thickness macular holes(FTMHs).METHODS:This multicenter retrospective study included observational and validation groups,incorporating fellow eyes of patients diagnosed with idiopathic FTMH.OCT images were categorized according to International Vitreomacular Traction Study(IVTS)and Gass classification.Age-and sex-related cataract patients were served as control groups.Vertical and horizontal OCT images were chosen for further measurement.OCT parameters including foveal floor width(FFW),central foveal thickness(CFT)and FFW/CFT ratio were assessed and compared between observational and control groups and were validated by validation group.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted for OCT parameters in identifying macular holes(MHs).RESULTS:A total of 73 patients were included in the observational group,comprising 51 females and 22 males,with an average age of 65.5±7.3y and an axial length of 23.9±0.8 mm.The validated group consisted of 47 patients,including 31 females and 16 males,with an average age of 65.0±7.4y and an average axial length of 23.6±0.8 mm.In the observational group,16.4%of the fellow eyes associated with FTMHs also exhibited MHs,while in the validated group,this prevalence was 12.7%.The 45.2%in the observational group and 44.6%in validated group of these fellow eyes displayed abnormalities including vitreomacular adhesion(VMA),vitreomacular traction(VMT),and MHs.Statistically significant differences were observed in FFW,CFT,and FFW/CFT ratio between control and observational group,as well as validated group(P<0.01),no matter in the vertical or horizontal layer.ROC curves revealed the area under the curve(AUC)for FFW and the FFW/CFT ratio was 0.85 and 0.90,respectively.CONCLUSION:In the case of unilateral idiopathic MHs,it was important to carefully monitor the condition of the fellow eye.The FFW and FFW/CFT ratio may be good metrics for predicting MHs.
基金Supported by Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(ZR2020ME259)Open Fund of Shandong Key Laboratory of Civil Engineering Disaster Prevention and Mitigation(CDPM2021KF21).
文摘Two asymmetric types of floating breakwaters integrated with a wave energy converter(WEC-FBs),a floating square box with a triangle(trapezoidal type)or a wave baffle(L type)attached to its rear side,have been proposed.In this research,the hydrodynamic performance,including capture width ratio(CWR),wave transmission coefficient,heave motion,and force coefficient,were studied and compared between the two types.A numerical simulation model based on the Navier-Stokes equation was employed.The effects of power take-off(PTO)damping coefficient,wave periods,and draft/displacement on the hydrodynamic performance of the two structure shapes were simulated and investigated.The results reveal that the L type performs better in shorter wave periods,and the trapezoidal type exhibits a higher CWR in intermediate wave periods.This study offers knowledge of the design and protection of the two WEC-FB types.
文摘Purpose–MxV Rail conducted multiple single tie push tests(STPTs)between 2020 and 2023 to assess the changes in lateral tie resistance from tonnage accumulation,dynamic track stabilizers(DTS),tie type and ballast condition.High lateral tie resistance is necessary for preventing lateral misalignments and track buckles.Therefore,understanding how various factors affect the lateral tie resistance will aid in the development of track buckling risk assessments and ballast maintenance best practices.Design/methodology/approach–The test involved tamping a section of track that consisted of both concrete and wood ties and then increasing the lateral tie resistance,using either tonnage during speed restrictions or a DTS.The STPTs and top-of-rail(TOR)elevation measurements were taken at multiple stages,including immediately after tamping and then after different tonnage increments or DTS.The results from this test were then added to a compiled measurement from previous tests,and the results from all the tests were used to develop general guidelines for ballast maintenance best practices and trade-off considerations.Findings–The results showed multiple factors affect the lateral track strength and therefore the susceptibility to misalignments and track buckles.The disturbance from ballast tamping can reduce the lateral track strength by 20–80%(∼45%median)and can be compacted from either tonnage(25–50%regain in strength after 0.1 m gross ton or MGT)or DTS(33–78%regain in strength).The amount of ballast(shoulder width and crib height),tie type and ballast characteristics all have a meaningful role in lateral track strength.Originality/value–This paper is based on the testing programs conducted by authors at MxV Rail.
文摘BACKGROUND The hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio(HRR)is a recently intro-duced,easily accessible marker that provides insights into inflammation and the tumor vascular microenvironment.It has been suggested to have prognostic value for overall survival in various types of cancer,including urothelial carcinoma,lung cancer,and hepatocellular carcinoma.It has not yet been sufficiently invest-igated in colorectal cancers(CRC).AIM To investigate the prognostic significance of the HRR and other inflammation-based hematological markers in patients with metastatic CRC.Additionally,the study evaluated the impact of surgical interventions,particularly metastasectomy,and multiple clinical and laboratory parameters on overall survival.By iden-tifying low-cost,accessible prognostic indicators,this research seeks to support clinicians in optimizing treatment strategies and risk stratification for patients with CRC.METHODS In this retrospective study,patients diagnosed with CRC between January 2020 and December 2024 were analyzed.The impact of HRR in conjunction with inflammatory markers and a total of 22 different clinical and laboratory para-meters on overall survival were evaluated using univariate Cox regression and a multivariate model.Survival curves were visualized using Kaplan-Meier analysis.RESULTS A total of 155 patients with CRC were included in the study.The median age was 60 years,and 61.9%presented with de novo metastasis.In the receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve analysis performed to determine the optimal cutoff,the values were found to be 6.10 for carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)(P=0.036),18.85 for platelet-to-red cell distribution width ratio(P=0.028),and 10.87 for platelet distribution width-to-lymphocyte ratio(P=0.028).For neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR),monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio,HRR,and carbohydrate antigen 19-9,an optimal cutoff could not be determined using the receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve analysis.Therefore,the median values were adopted as the cutoffs(3.09,835.96,177.50,0.380,0.824,and 21.6,respectively).Univariate analysis identified male gender(P=0.045),being under 65 years of age(P=0.001),history of metastas-ectomy(P=0.001),low serum CEA level(P=0.010),low PLR(P=0.024),low SII(P=0.010),and high HRR(P=0.025)as favorable prognostic factors for overall survival.In the multivariate model,being under 65 years of age[hazard ratio(HR)=1.59,95%confidence interval(CI):1.06-2.39,P=0.025],metastasectomy(HR=0.49,95%CI:0.29-0.85,P=0.011),CEA(HR=1.51,95%CI:1.0-2.28,P=0.048),and PLR(HR=1.63,95%CI:1.09-2.44,P=0.018)emerged as independent prognostic factors for overall survival,whereas gender,SII,and HRR did not retain statistical significance.CONCLUSION In conclusion,low HRR alone was a prognostic indicator.However,when modelled with other inflammatory and clinical parameters,it did not provide a sufficiently strong marker feature.
基金funded by the Science and Innovation Ministry of Spain(projects AGL 2012-33465,AGL 2016-76463-P,PID 2021-123675OB-C43,and TED 2021-129770B-C21)support by Margarita Salas postdoctoral fellowship(reference RCMS-22-G1T6IW-17-NLHJ80)of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
文摘Droughts impact forests by influencing various processes such as canopy greenness,tree growth,and reproduction,but most studies have only examined a few of these processes.More comprehensive assessments of forest responses to climate variability and water shortages are needed to improve forecasts of post-drought dynamics.Iberian forests are well-suited for evaluating these effects because they experience diverse climatic conditions and are dominated by various conifer and broadleaf species,many of which exhibit masting.We assessed how greenness,evaluated using the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI),tree radial growth,and seed or cone production responded to drought in five tree species(three conifers:silver fir(Abies alba),Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris),and stone pine(Pinus pinea);two broadleaves:European beech(Fagus sylvatica)and holm oak(Quercus ilex)inhabiting sites with different aridity.We correlated these data with the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index(SPEI)using the climate window analysis(climwin)package,which identifies the most relevant climate window.Drought constrained growth more than greenness and seed or cone production.Dry conditions led to high seed or cone production in species found in cool,moist sites(silver fir,beech,and Scots pine).We also found negative associations of cone production with summer SPEI in the drought-tolerant stone pine,which showed lagged growth-cone negative correlations.However,in the seasonally dry holm oak forests,severe droughts constrained both growth and acorn production,leading to a positive correlation between these variables.Drought impacts on greenness,growth,seed,and cone production depended on species phenology and site aridity.A negative correlation between growth and reproduction does not necessarily indicate trade-offs,as both may be influenced by similar climatic factors.
