Method to measure tree-ring width,density,elemental composition,and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes using one sample

Tree-ring width(RW),density,elemental com-position,and stable carbon and oxygen isotope(δ^(13)C,δ^(18)O)are widely used as proxies to assess climate change,ecology,and environmental pollution;however,a specific pretreat-ment has been needed for each proxy.Here,we developed a method by which each proxy can be measured in the same sample.First,the sample is polished for ring width meas-urement.After obtaining the ring width data,the sample is cut to form a 1-mm-thick wood plate.The sample is then mounted in a vertical sample holder,and gradually scanned by an X-ray beam.Simultaneously,the count rates of the fluorescent photons of elements(for chemical characteriza-tion)and a radiographic grayscale image(for wood density)are obtained,i.e.the density and the element content are obtained.Then,cellulose is isolated from the 1-mm wood plate by removal of lignin,and hemicellulose.After producing this cellulose plate,cellulose subsamples are separated by knife under the microscope for inter-annual and intra-annual stable carbon and oxygen isotope(δ^(13)C,δ^(18)O)analysis.Based on this method,RW,density,elemental composition,δ^(13)C,and δ^(18)O can be measured from the same sample,which reduces sample amount and treatment time,and is helpful for multi-proxy comparison and combination research.

Relationship between Inter Canine Width and Inter Alar Width, Inter Commissural Width, and Inter Canthal Distance: A Pilot Study

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between inter canine width (ICW) and inter alar width (IAW), inter commissural width (ICoW), and inter canthal distance (ICaD) in Bantu population. Materials and Methods: It was a pilot study included all participants who were aged at least 18 years, without a history of orthodontics treatment from Prosthodontics Department, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Kinshasa. The Ethics committee of the National Center of Research for Dental Sciences in DR Congo approved the study protocol (CNRSB 1504.218). The participants medical records were obtained from the interview and dental examination. Nature of the study was explained with participant information sheet, and an informed consent of all participants was obtained. The inclusion criteria were no missing maxillary and mandibular teeth, no diastema, and no anterior restorations, 18 years old before enrollment in the study. The exclusion criteria were inability to meet the above requirements, pregnancy, and refusal to participate in the study. The inter-canine width (ICW), inter alar width (IAW), inter canthal distance (ICaD) and inter-commissural width (ICoW) of each participant were measured with a digital Vernier caliper (Mitutoyo, UK Ltd.,) (0.01 mm) three times and the average value was recorded. The inter canthal distance (ICaD) was measured without applying pressure by bringing the recording parts of the caliper just in contact with the medial angle. The inter alar width (IAW) was marked with a fine marked pencil on the widest outer surface of the alae of the nose on either side or width. Those two points were measured without applying pressure by bringing the recording parts of the caliper just in contact with the outer surface. The participant was told to stop breathing shortly to avoid any change in shape of the nose. The inter-commissural width (ICoW) was determined by measuring the maxillary lip vermilion from commissure to commissure without the application of pressure on the tissue in the relaxed state. The inter-canine width (ICW) was measured indirectly using a dental floss. A dental floss was marked on one end prior to placement in the mouth. Using that point as reference, the dental floss was circumference along the curvature of the anterior dentition such that it passed along the contact point of all the teeth. The distal end of the canine teeth on both sides was then marked on the floss while it was stretched in the patients mouth. Floss was marked on both sides with the marker pencil. The distance between the two proximal contact points was measured and recorded. Data, analysis and validation were performed by the SPSS software (version 22.0, IBM SPSS Statistics, Chicago, IL, USA). Unpaired t-test was used, of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to test for comparability between socio-demographic characteristics dental measurements. Pearsons correlation coefficients test was calculated to determine the relationship between facial and dental parameters. Significance was set at P 0.01. Results: Of 314 participants enrolled, 202 were included. The age ranged from 18 to 68 years, with a mean age of 40.62 12.99 years. Although the Pearsons correlation coefficients were negative. Ninety-three participants (46%) were men and one hundred and nine (54%) were women. The overall mean age was 40.62 12.99 years. Facial and dental measurements were greater in women than men with significant differences for ICW (p = 0.04). However, no significant difference was seen between men and women for IAW, ICaD and ICoW (p = 0.44, p = 0.23, p = 0.31 respectively). The correlation including Pearsons correlation coefficient and P-values for all participants is not demonstrated. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that IAW, ICaD and ICoW cannot be used as a preliminary method for determining the width of the maxillary for anterior teeth for edentulous patients.

Red cell distribution width/platelet ratio estimates the 3-year risk of decompensation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-induced cirrhosis

BACKGROUND For compensated advanced chronic liver disease(cACLD)patients,the first decompensation represents a dramatically worsening prognostic event.Based on the first decompensation event(DE),the transition to decompensated advanced chronic liver disease(dACLD)can occur through two modalities referred to as acute decompensation(AD)and non-AD(NAD),respectively.Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension(CSPH)is considered the strongest predictor of decompensation in these patients.However,due to its invasiveness and costs,CSPH is almost never evaluated in clinical practice.Therefore,recognizing noninvasively predicting tools still have more appeal across healthcare systems.The red cell distribution width to platelet ratio(RPR)has been reported to be an indicator of hepatic fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease(MASLD).However,its predictive role for the decompensation has never been explored.AIM In this observational study,we investigated the clinical usage of RPR in predicting DEs in MASLD-related cACLD patients.METHODS Fourty controls and 150 MASLD-cACLD patients were consecutively enrolled and followed up(FUP)semiannually for 3 years.At baseline,biochemical,clinical,and Liver Stiffness Measurement(LSM),Child-Pugh(CP),Model for End-Stage Liver Disease(MELD),aspartate aminotransferase/platelet count ratio index(APRI),Fibrosis-4(FIB-4),Albumin-Bilirubin(ALBI),ALBI-FIB-4,and RPR were collected.During FUP,DEs(timing and modaities)were recorded.CSPH was assessed at the baseline and on DE occurrence according to the available Clinical Practice Guidelines.RESULTS Of 150 MASLD-related cACLD patients,43(28.6%)progressed to dACLD at a median time of 28.9 months(29 NAD and 14 AD).Baseline RPR values were significantly higher in cACLD in comparison to controls,as well as MELD,CP,APRI,FIB-4,ALBI,ALBI-FIB-4,and LSM in dACLD-progressing compared to cACLD individuals[all P<0.0001,except for FIB-4(P:0.007)and ALBI(P:0.011)].Receiving operator curve analysis revealed RPR>0.472 and>0.894 as the best cut-offs in the prediction respectively of 3-year first DE,as well as its superiority compared to the other non-invasive tools examined.RPR(P:0.02)and the presence of baseline-CSPH(P:0.04)were significantly and independently associated with the DE.Patients presenting baseline-CSPH and RPR>0.472 showed higher risk of decompensation(P:0.0023).CONCLUSION Altogether these findings suggest the RPR as a valid and potentially applicable non-invasive tool in the prediction of timing and modalities of decompensation in MASLD-related cACLD patients.

Climatic implications in earlywood and latewood width indices of Chinese pine in north central China

Latewood width(LWW)indices of trees are considered a reliable proxy of summer precipitation in the Northern Hemisphere.However,the strong coupling and high correlation between earlywood width(EWW)and LWW indices often prevent registration of climate signals of the LWW index.In this study,328-year-long earlywood width and latewood width chronologies were developed from Chinese pine at two sites in the Hasi Mountains,north central China.The climate responses of these chronologies were analyzed and the LWW index used to derive sum-mer precipitation signals.Correlation analyses showed that LWW was particularly influenced by earlywood growth and recorded stronger climate signals of the previous year as EWW,rather than those of the current year with infrequent summer climate signals.However,after removing the effect of earlywood growth using a simple regression model,the adjusted LWW chronology(LWW_(adj))showed a strong relationship with July precipitation in dry years.This suggests that the LWW_(adj) chronology has the potential to be used to investigate long-term variability in summer precipitation in drought-limited regions.

A mechanically coupled MEMS filter with high-Q width extensional mode resonators

This work presents a novel radio frequency(RF)narrowband Si micro-electro-mechanical systems(MEMS)filter based on capacitively transduced slotted width extensional mode(WEM)resonators.The flexibility of the plate leads to multiple modes near the target frequency.The high Q-factor resonators of around 100000 enable narrow bandwidth filters with small size and simplified design.The 1-wavelength and 2-wavelength WEMs were first developed as a pair of coupled modes to form a passband.To reduce bandwidth,two plates are coupled with aλ-length coupling beam.The 79.69 MHz coupled plate filter(CPF)achieved a narrow bandwidth of 8.8 kHz,corresponding to a tiny 0.011%.The CPF exhibits an impressive 34.84 dB stopband rejection and 7.82 dB insertion loss with near-zero passband ripple.In summary,the RF MEMS filter presented in this work shows promising potential for application in RF transceiver front-ends.

Predictive value of red blood cell distribution width and hematocrit for short-term outcomes and prognosis in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radical surgery

BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported that low hematocrit levels indicate poor survival in patients with ovarian cancer and cervical cancer,the prognostic value of hematocrit for colorectal cancer(CRC)patients has not been determined.The prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width(RDW)for CRC patients was controversial.AIM To investigate the impact of RDW and hematocrit on the short-term outcomes and long-term prognosis of CRC patients who underwent radical surgery.METHODS Patients who were diagnosed with CRC and underwent radical CRC resection between January 2011 and January 2020 at a single clinical center were included.The short-term outcomes,overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS)were compared among the different groups.Cox analysis was also conducted to identify independent risk factors for OS and DFS.RESULTS There were 4258 CRC patients who underwent radical surgery included in our study.A total of 1573 patients were in the lower RDW group and 2685 patients were in the higher RDW group.There were 2166 and 2092 patients in the higher hematocrit group and lower hematocrit group,respectively.Patients in the higher RDW group had more intraoperative blood loss(P<0.01)and more overall complications(P<0.01)than did those in the lower RDW group.Similarly,patients in the lower hematocrit group had more intraoperative blood loss(P=0.012),longer hospital stay(P=0.016)and overall complications(P<0.01)than did those in the higher hematocrit group.The higher RDW group had a worse OS and DFS than did the lower RDW group for tumor node metastasis(TNM)stage I(OS,P<0.05;DFS,P=0.001)and stage II(OS,P=0.004;DFS,P=0.01)than the lower RDW group;the lower hematocrit group had worse OS and DFS for TNM stage II(OS,P<0.05;DFS,P=0.001)and stage III(OS,P=0.001;DFS,P=0.001)than did the higher hematocrit group.Preoperative hematocrit was an independent risk factor for OS[P=0.017,hazard ratio(HR)=1.256,95%confidence interval(CI):1.041-1.515]and DFS(P=0.035,HR=1.194,95%CI:1.013-1.408).CONCLUSION A higher preoperative RDW and lower hematocrit were associated with more postoperative complications.However,only hematocrit was an independent risk factor for OS and DFS in CRC patients who underwent radical surgery,while RDW was not.

OsDA1 positively regulates grain width in rice

The size and shape of rice grains influence their yield and commercial value.We investigated the role of OsDA1,a rice homolog of the Arabidopsis DA1 gene,in regulating grain size and shape.OsDA1 was highly expressed in young spikelets and glumes.Its overexpression led to enlarged seeds with increased width and decreased length/width ratio(LWR)and knocking out OsDA1 reduced grain width and increased grain length and LWR.A R310K point mutation in the DA1-like domain is a potential target for breeding for increased grain width and length.OsDA1 interacted with TCP gene-family proteins to regulate grain size and shape.Our findings deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying grain size regulation and provide useful information for improving grain yield.

Application of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and red blood cell distribution width in diabetes mellitus complicated with heart failure

BACKGROUND Accumulating clinical evidence has shown that diabetes mellitus(DM)is a serious risk factor for cardiovascular disorders and an important factor for adverse cardiovascular events.AIM To explore the value of the combined determination of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and red blood cell distribution width(RDW)in the early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of DM complicated with heart failure(HF).METHODS We retrospectively analyzed clinical data on 65 patients with type 2 DM(T2DM)complicated with HF(research group,Res)and 60 concurrent patients with uncomplicated T2DM(control group,Con)diagnosed at Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital between January 2019 and December 2021.The NLR and RDW values were determined and comparatively analyzed,and their levels in T2DM+HF patients with different cardiac function grades were recorded.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to determine the NLR and RDW values(alone and in combination)for the early diagnosis of HF.The correlation between NLR and RDW with the presence or absence of cardiac events was also investigated.RESULTS Higher NLR and RDW levels were identified in the Res vs the Con groups(P<0.05).The NLR and RDW increased gradually and synchronously with the deterioration of cardiac function in the Res group,with marked differences in their levels among patients with grade II,III,and IV HF(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis revealed that NLR combined with RDW detection had an area under the curve of 0.915,a sensitivity of 76.9%,and a specificity of 100%for the early diagnosis of HF.Furthermore,HF patients with cardiac events showed higher NLR and RDW values compared with HF patients without cardiac events.CONCLUSION NLR and RDW were useful laboratory indicators for the early diagnosis of DM complicated with HF,and their joint detection was beneficial for improving diagnostic efficiency.Additionally,NLR and RDW values were directly proportional to patient outcomes.

Enhancing predictive accuracy in hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis:Role of red cell distribution width and prospective studies

This letter addresses the study titled“Red cell distribution width:A predictor of the severity of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis”by Lv et al published in the World Journal of Experimental Medicine.The study offers a valuable analysis of red cell distribution width(RDW)as a predictive marker for persistent organ failure in patients with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis.The study results suggest that RDW,combined with the Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score,could enhance the predictive accuracy for severe outcomes.Further investigation into the role of RDW in different severities of acute pancreatitis is recommended.Additionally,the need for large-scale and multicenter prospective studies to validate these findings is emphasized.

Crack Width Comparison between ACI 318, Eurocode 2 and GB 50010 for Flexural RC Members

Comparative research on different countries’ structural design codes holds great importance and can gain valuable insights: Awareness of Design Levels, Identifying Code Deficiencies and Optimizing Designs. The crack width of concrete structure is an important design aspect of the civil design. The four highly recognized and widely used crack width theories are systematically summarized. Based on the mentioned theories and project practices, American code ACI system, Eurocode 2 1992-1 and Chinese code GB 50010 have different crack width control requirement and calculation methods. The crack width control method based on ACI system code has evolved from the Z-factor method to the steel bar spacing control method which is simple and easy to be adopted for engineering. Meanwhile, the ACI 224.1R also gives a direct crack width calculation method consistent with the steel bar spacing control method. The Eurocode 2 and GB 50010 based on the bond-slip & no-slip theory consider much more affecting factors than ACI for predicting crack width. Taking the crack width calculation of Tunnel 5 intake as an example, the crack widths of the structure are calculated according to ACI system code, Eurocode 2 and GB 50010 respectively, the results show that the crack width results in various codes are not much different. The EN 1992-1 and GB 50010 results are almost the same which are less than the ACI 224.1Rresults.

The Prognostic Value of Red Cell Distribution Width in Critically Ill Cerebral Infarction Patients:A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective:Red blood cell distribution width(RDW)has been utilized as a prognostic indicator for mortality risk assessment in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular patients.Nevertheless,the prognostic significance of RDW in critically ill patients with cerebral infarction is yet to be investigated.The objective of this study is to examine the association between RDW and the risk of all-cause mortality in cerebral infarction patients admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU).Method:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV 2.2(MIMIC-IV)intensive care dataset for data analysis.The main results were the all-cause mortality rates at 3 and 12 months of follow-up.Cumulative curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method,and Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to examine the relationship between RDW and mortality rates in critically ill cerebral infarction patients.Results:The findings indicate that RDW serves as a significant prognostic factor for mortality risk in critically ill stroke patients,specifically at the 3 and 12-month follow-up periods.The observed correlation between increasing RDW levels and higher mortality rates among cerebral infarction patients further supports the potential utility of RDW as a predictive indicator.Conclusion:RDW emerges as an independent predictor of mortality risk during the 3 and 12-month follow-up periods for critically ill patients with cerebral infarction.

Developing nonlinear additive tree crown width models based on decomposed competition index and tree variables

Crown development is closely related to the biomass and growth rate of the tree and its width(CW)is an important covariable in growth and yield models and in forest management.To date,various CW models have been proposed.However,limited studies have explicitly focused on additive and inherent correlation of crown components and total CW as well as the influence of competition on crown radius from the corresponding direction.In this study,two model systems were used,i.e.,aggregation method system(AMS)and disaggregation method system(DMS),to develop crown width additive model systems.For calculating spatially explicit competition index(CI),four neighbor tree selection methods were evaluated.CI was decomposed into four cardinal directions and added into the model systems.Results show that the power model form was more proper for our data to fit CW growth.For each crown radius and total CW,height to the diameter at breast height(HDR)and basal area of trees larger than the subject tree(BAL)significantly contributed to the increase of prediction accuracy.The 3-m fixed radius was optimal among the four neighborhoods selection ways.After adding decomposed competition Hegyi index into model systems AMS and DMS,the prediction accuracy improved.Of the model systems evaluated,AMS based on decomposed CI provided the best performance as well as the inherent correlation and additivity properties.Our study highlighted the importance of decomposed CI in tree CW modelling for additive model systems.This study focused on methodology and could be applied to other species or stands.

Value of red blood cell distribution width in prediction of diastolic dysfunction in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND Clinical diagnosis of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy(CCM) often encounters challenges of lack of timeliness and disease severity, with the commonly positive indicator usually associated with advanced heart failure.AIM To explore suitable biomarkers for early CCM prediction.METHODS A total of 505 eligible patients were enrolled in this study and divided into four groups according to Child-Pugh classification: Group Ⅰ, Class A without CCM(105 cases);Group Ⅱ, Class A with CCM(175 cases);Group Ⅲ, Class B with CCM(139 cases);and Group Ⅳ, Class C with CCM(86 cases). Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine whether red blood cell distribution width(RDW) was an independent risk factor for CCM risk. The relationships between RDW and Child-Pugh scores, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease(MELD) scores, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.RESULTS A constant RDW increase was evident from Group Ⅰ to Group Ⅳ(12.54 ± 0.85, 13.29 ± 1.19, 14.30 ± 1.96, and 16.25 ± 2.13, respectively). Pearson correlation analysis showed that RDW was positively correlated with Child-Pugh scores(r = 0.642, P < 0.001), MELD scores(r = 0.592, P < 0.001), and NT-proBNP(r = 0.715, P < 0.001). Furthermore, between Group Ⅰ and Group Ⅱ, RDW was the only significant index(odds ratio: 2.175, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.549-3.054, P < 0.001), and it reached statistical significance when examined by ROC curve analysis(area under the curve: 0.686, 95%CI: 0.624-0.748, P < 0.001).CONCLUSION RDW can serve as an effective and accessible clinical indicator for the prediction of diastolic dysfunction in CCM, in which a numerical value of more than 13.05% may indicate an increasing CCM risk.

Indirect Vector Control of Linear Induction Motors Using Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation

Vector control schemes have recently been used to drive linear induction motors(LIM)in high-performance applications.This trend promotes the development of precise and efficient control schemes for individual motors.This research aims to present a novel framework for speed and thrust force control of LIM using space vector pulse width modulation(SVPWM)inverters.The framework under consideration is developed in four stages.To begin,MATLAB Simulink was used to develop a detailed mathematical and electromechanical dynamicmodel.The research presents a modified SVPWM inverter control scheme.By tuning the proportional-integral(PI)controller with a transfer function,optimized values for the PI controller are derived.All the subsystems mentioned above are integrated to create a robust simulation of the LIM’s precise speed and thrust force control scheme.The reference speed values were chosen to evaluate the performance of the respective system,and the developed system’s response was verified using various data sets.For the low-speed range,a reference value of 10m/s is used,while a reference value of 100 m/s is used for the high-speed range.The speed output response indicates that themotor reached reference speed in amatter of seconds,as the delay time is between 8 and 10 s.The maximum amplitude of thrust achieved is less than 400N,demonstrating the controller’s capability to control a high-speed LIM with minimal thrust ripple.Due to the controlled speed range,the developed system is highly recommended for low-speed and high-speed and heavy-duty traction applications.

Red cell distribution width: A predictor of the severity of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Compared with patients with other causes of acute pancreatitis,those with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis(HTG-AP)are more likely to develop persistent organ failure(POF).Therefore,recognizing the individuals at risk of developing POF early in the HTG-AP process is a vital for improving outcomes.Bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis(BISAP),a simple parameter that is obtained 24 h after admission,is an ideal index to predict HTG-AP severity;however,the suboptimal sensitivity limits its clinical application.Hence,current clinical scoring systems and biochemical parameters are not sufficient for predicting HTG-AP severity.AIM To elucidate the early predictive value of red cell distribution width(RDW)for POF in HTG-AP.METHODS In total,102 patients with HTG-AP were retrospectively enrolled.Demographic and clinical data,including RDW,were collected from all patients on admission.RESULTS Based on the Revised Atlanta Classification,37(33%)of 102 patients with HTG-AP were diagnosed with POF.On admission,RDW was significantly higher in patients with HTG-AP and POF than in those without POF(14.4%vs 12.5%,P<0.001).The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated a good discrim-inative power of RDW for POF with a cutoff of 13.1%,where the area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity were 0.85,82.4%,and 77.9%,respectively.When the RDW was≥13.1%and one point was added to the original BISAP to obtain a new BISAP score,we achieved a higher AUC,sensitivity,and specificity of 0.89,91.2%,and 67.6%,respectively.CONCLUSION RDW is a promising predictor of POF in patients with HTG-AP,and the addition of RDW can promote the sensitivity of BISAP.

Possibility of Solid Hydrometeor Growth Zone Identification Using Radar Spectrum Width

In this study,the correlation between simulated and measured radar velocity spectrum width(σ_(v))is investigated.The results show that the dendrites growth zones(DGZs)and needles growth zones(NGZs)mostly contain dendrites(DN)and needles(NE),respectively.Clearσ_(v) zones(1.1<σ_(v)(m s^(-1))<1.3 and 0.3<σ_(v)(m s^(-1))<0.7 for the DGZ and NGZ,respectively)could be identified in the case studies(27 and 28 February 2016)near altitudes corresponding to temperatures of–15°C and–5°C,according to the Japan Meteorological Agency and mesoscale model reanalysis data.Oblate particles with diverse particle shapes were observed in the DGZ withσ_(v)>1.2 m s^(-1),a differential reflectivity(ZDR)higher than 0 dB,and a cross-correlation coefficient(ρhv)less than 0.96.In contrast,prolate particles with relatively uniform shapes were observed in the NGZ withσ_(v)<0.6 m s^(-1),a ZDR less than 0 dB,andρhv higher than 0.97.The simulation results show that the DN exhibited a largerσ_(v) compared to the NE,and this observedσ_(v) was strongly dependent on the wind fluctuations(v’)due to turbulence or wind shear.In contrast,the NE exhibited a significantly smallσ_(v)~0.55 m s^(-1),which converges irrespective of v’.In addition,a strong correlation between the measuredσ_(v) values at five radar elevation angles(θ=6.2°,9.1°,13.1°,19°,and 80°)and those simulated in this study confirmed the significance of the analysis results.

Prediction of tree crown width in natural mixed forests using deep learning algorithm

Crown width(CW)is one of the most important tree metrics,but obtaining CW data is laborious and timeconsuming,particularly in natural forests.The Deep Learning(DL)algorithm has been proposed as an alternative to traditional regression,but its performance in predicting CW in natural mixed forests is unclear.The aims of this study were to develop DL models for predicting tree CW of natural spruce-fir-broadleaf mixed forests in northeastern China,to analyse the contribution of tree size,tree species,site quality,stand structure,and competition to tree CW prediction,and to compare DL models with nonlinear mixed effects(NLME)models for their reliability.An amount of total 10,086 individual trees in 192 subplots were employed in this study.The results indicated that all deep neural network(DNN)models were free of overfitting and statistically stable within 10-fold cross-validation,and the best DNN model could explain 69%of the CW variation with no significant heteroskedasticity.In addition to diameter at breast height,stand structure,tree species,and competition showed significant effects on CW.The NLME model(R^(2)=0.63)outperformed the DNN model(R^(2)=0.54)in predicting CW when the six input variables were consistent,but the results were the opposite when the DNN model(R^(2)=0.69)included all 22 input variables.These results demonstrated the great potential of DL in tree CW prediction.

Blown Film Extrusion Process for Polybags: Technical Overview and Applications

The choice of extrusion process is a decisive factor that affects the finished product quality for polybag manufacturing. One important component influencing the quality of the finished product is the selection of the extrusion technique. Two popular procedures that vary in the kind of dye used and the final product’s texture are cast film and blown film. In the horizontal extrusion moulding method known as “cast film”, heated resin is injected into a flat dye and allowed to cool on chill rolls. The film produced is clear, lightweight, and appropriate for lamination;its thickness varies based on the winding speed and the film is slower to crystallize and has less clarity but more durability because the resin molecules have reoriented, facing limitation of high wastage generation. This study primarily focused on the preparation of polybag film using the blown film extrusion process, utilizing high-quality polymer resins such as polyester polyethylene (PP) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) to minimize waste generation. The novelty of the process was reflected in minimising the waste generation. The control parameters considered in this study are temperature, pressure, and air intake volume. We investigated the influence of these critical process control parameters on the gauge thickness, optical properties, and mechanical strength of the polybag film produced through blown film extrusion. Additionally, we replicated the blown film process using simulation software developed at Pennsylvania College of Technology. The simulation results confirmed the overall stability of the polybag film produced through the blown film extrusion process.

术前血小板分布宽度联合系统性炎症指数对结肠癌术后复发转移的预测价值

目的研究术前血小板分布宽度(Platelet volume distribution width,PDW)联合系统性炎症指数(Systemic inflammation response index,SIRI)对结肠癌术后复发转移的预测价值。方法以2020年1月-2021年6月江苏大学附属医院胃肠外科就诊并接受根治性切除手术治疗的194例结肠癌患者为结肠癌组,选择同期在本院体检中心招募的100例健康体检者为对照组。术前检测并记录PDW和SIRI,收集患者的一般资料包括:性别、年龄、身高、体重、家族肿瘤史、是否吸烟、酗酒、体质指数(Body mass index,BMI)、肿瘤最大径、TNM分期(Tumor node metastasis,TNM)和分化程度。对患者随访2年,记录结肠癌复发转移情况。采用ROC曲线确定相关变量的临界最佳值,通过AUC(ROC曲线下面积)评价其预后的准确性。结果与对照组比较,结肠癌组PDW和SIRI均显著增高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术后发生复发转移患者术前PDW与SIRI高于术后未发生复发转移的患者,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。TNM分期Ⅲ~Ⅳ期和中低分化程度术后复发转移患者的PDW高于Ⅰ~Ⅱ期患者和高分化程度患者,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。肿瘤最大径≥5 cm、TNM分期Ⅲ~Ⅳ期和中低分化程度术后复发转移患者的PDW高于肿瘤最大径<5 cm、TNM分期Ⅰ~Ⅱ期和高分化程度的患者,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。PDW、SIRI及两者联合预测结肠癌术后复发转移的曲线下面积(Area under curve,AUC)分别为0.761(95%CI:0.691~0.831),0.836(95%CI:0.775~0.897)和0.918(95%CI:0.876~0.960)。术后复发转移患者的PDW与SIRI呈显著正相关关系(r=0.574,P=0.003)。结论PDW、SIRI与结肠癌患者临床病理特征和术后复发转移有关,两者联合预测术后复发转移的效能较好,可为临床应用提供一定参考价值。

压气储能地下储气库衬砌裂缝分布特征及演化规律研究

地下储气库衬砌的主要作用是将内压传递给围岩,且同时作为柔性密封层的附着基层。高内压作用下衬砌开裂可导致密封层出现反射型裂缝,进而引起高压气体的泄漏。为深入认识地下储气库衬砌的开裂特征,开发了基于FLAC3D平台的衬砌裂缝分析程序,研究了衬砌配筋方式、配筋率、钢筋保护层厚度、围岩类别和温压循环荷载作用等因素对衬砌开裂演化特征的影响。研究成果表明:对衬砌采取合理的配筋方式和改善围岩质量的措施可有效控制衬砌裂缝的宽度;采用分区配筋的方式可有效控制圆形断面隧洞式储气库衬砌中的最大裂缝宽度,同时降低衬砌的配筋量。空气压力和温度同步变化引起的热力耦合效应还有助于减小衬砌中出现的裂缝宽度。