Health diagnosis of ultrahigh arch dam performance using heterogeneous spatial panel vector model

Currently,more than ten ultrahigh arch dams have been constructed or are being constructed in China.Safety control is essential to long-term operation of these dams.This study employed the flexibility coefficient and plastic complementary energy norm to assess the structural safety of arch dams.A comprehensive analysis was conducted,focusing on differences among conventional methods in characterizing the structural behavior of the Xiaowan arch dam in China.Subsequently,the spatiotemporal characteristics of the measured performance of the Xiaowan dam were explored,including periodicity,convergence,and time-effect characteristics.These findings revealed the governing mechanism of main factors.Furthermore,a heterogeneous spatial panel vector model was developed,considering both common factors and specific factors affecting the safety and performance of arch dams.This model aims to comprehensively illustrate spatial heterogeneity between the entire structure and local regions,introducing a specific effect quantity to characterize local deformation differences.Ultimately,the proposed model was applied to the Xiaowan arch dam,accurately quantifying the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of dam performance.Additionally,the spatiotemporal distri-bution characteristics of environmental load effects on different parts of the dam were reasonably interpreted.Validation of the model prediction enhances its credibility,leading to the formulation of health diagnosis criteria for future long-term operation of the Xiaowan dam.The findings not only enhance the predictive ability and timely control of ultrahigh arch dams'performance but also provide a crucial basis for assessing the effectiveness of engineering treatment measures.

Panel data models with cross-sectional dependence: a selective review

In this review, we highlight some recent methodological and theoretical develop- ments in estimation and testing of large panel data models with cross-sectional dependence. The paper begins with a discussion of issues of cross-sectional dependence, and introduces the concepts of weak and strong cross-sectional dependence. Then, the main attention is primarily paid to spatial and factor approaches for modeling cross-sectional dependence for both linear and nonlinear （nonparametric and semiparametric） panel data models. Finally, we conclude with some speculations on future research directions.

Bayesian model averaging(BMA)for nuclear data evaluation

To ensure agreement between theoretical calculations and experimental data,parameters to selected nuclear physics models are perturbed and fine-tuned in nuclear data evaluations.This approach assumes that the chosen set of models accurately represents the‘true’distribution of considered observables.Furthermore,the models are chosen globally,indicating their applicability across the entire energy range of interest.However,this approach overlooks uncertainties inherent in the models themselves.In this work,we propose that instead of selecting globally a winning model set and proceeding with it as if it was the‘true’model set,we,instead,take a weighted average over multiple models within a Bayesian model averaging(BMA)framework,each weighted by its posterior probability.The method involves executing a set of TALYS calculations by randomly varying multiple nuclear physics models and their parameters to yield a vector of calculated observables.Next,computed likelihood function values at each incident energy point were then combined with the prior distributions to obtain updated posterior distributions for selected cross sections and the elastic angular distributions.As the cross sections and elastic angular distributions were updated locally on a per-energy-point basis,the approach typically results in discontinuities or“kinks”in the cross section curves,and these were addressed using spline interpolation.The proposed BMA method was applied to the evaluation of proton-induced reactions on ^(58)Ni between 1 and 100 MeV.The results demonstrated a favorable comparison with experimental data as well as with the TENDL-2023 evaluation.

Small Sample Estimation in Dynamic Panel Data Models: A Simulation Study

We used simulated data to investigate both the small and large sample properties of the within-groups (WG) estimator and the first difference generalized method of moments (FD-GMM) estimator of a dynamic panel data (DPD) model. The magnitude of WG and FD-GMM estimates are almost the same for square panels. WG estimator performs best for long panels such as those with time dimension as large as 50. The advantage of FD-GMM estimator however, is observed on panels that are long and wide, say with time dimension at least 25 and cross-section dimension size of at least 30. For small-sized panels, the two methods failed since their optimality was established in the context of asymptotic theory. We developed parametric bootstrap versions of WG and FD-GMM estimators. Simulation study indicates the advantages of the bootstrap methods under small sample cases on the assumption that variances of the individual effects and the disturbances are of similar magnitude. The boostrapped WG and FD-GMM estimators are optimal for small samples.

Assessment of the three representative empirical models for zenith tropospheric delay(ZTD)using the CMONOC data

The precise correction of atmospheric zenith tropospheric delay(ZTD)is significant for the Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS)performance regarding positioning accuracy and convergence time.In the past decades,many empirical ZTD models based on whether the gridded or scattered ZTD products have been proposed and widely used in the GNSS positioning applications.But there is no comprehensive evaluation of these models for the whole China region,which features complicated topography and climate.In this study,we completely assess the typical empirical models,the IGGtropSH model(gridded,non-meteorology),the SHAtropE model(scattered,non-meteorology),and the GPT3 model(gridded,meteorology)using the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China(CMONOC)network.In general,the results show that the three models share consistent performance with RMSE/bias of 37.45/1.63,37.13/2.20,and 38.27/1.34 mm for the GPT3,SHAtropE and IGGtropSH model,respectively.However,the models had a distinct performance regarding geographical distribution,elevation,seasonal variations,and daily variation.In the southeastern region of China,RMSE values are around 50 mm,which are much higher than that in the western region,approximately 20 mm.The SHAtropE model exhibits better performance for areas with large variations in elevation.The GPT3 model and the IGGtropSH model are more stable across different months,and the SHAtropE model based on the GNSS data exhibits superior performance across various UTC epochs.

A Stochastic Model to Assess the Epidemiological Impact of Vaccine Booster Doses on COVID-19 and Viral Hepatitis B Co-Dynamics with Real Data

A patient co-infected with COVID-19 and viral hepatitis B can be atmore risk of severe complications than the one infected with a single infection.This study develops a comprehensive stochastic model to assess the epidemiological impact of vaccine booster doses on the co-dynamics of viral hepatitis B and COVID-19.The model is fitted to real COVID-19 data from Pakistan.The proposed model incorporates logistic growth and saturated incidence functions.Rigorous analyses using the tools of stochastic calculus,are performed to study appropriate conditions for the existence of unique global solutions,stationary distribution in the sense of ergodicity and disease extinction.The stochastic threshold estimated from the data fitting is given by:R_(0)^(S)=3.0651.Numerical assessments are implemented to illustrate the impact of double-dose vaccination and saturated incidence functions on the dynamics of both diseases.The effects of stochastic white noise intensities are also highlighted.

A data and physical model dual-driven based trajectory estimator for long-term navigation

Long-term navigation ability based on consumer-level wearable inertial sensors plays an essential role towards various emerging fields, for instance, smart healthcare, emergency rescue, soldier positioning et al. The performance of existing long-term navigation algorithm is limited by the cumulative error of inertial sensors, disturbed local magnetic field, and complex motion modes of the pedestrian. This paper develops a robust data and physical model dual-driven based trajectory estimation(DPDD-TE) framework, which can be applied for long-term navigation tasks. A Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory(Bi-LSTM) based quasi-static magnetic field(QSMF) detection algorithm is developed for extracting useful magnetic observation for heading calibration, and another Bi-LSTM is adopted for walking speed estimation by considering hybrid human motion information under a specific time period. In addition, a data and physical model dual-driven based multi-source fusion model is proposed to integrate basic INS mechanization and multi-level constraint and observations for maintaining accuracy under long-term navigation tasks, and enhanced by the magnetic and trajectory features assisted loop detection algorithm. Real-world experiments indicate that the proposed DPDD-TE outperforms than existing algorithms, and final estimated heading and positioning accuracy indexes reaches 5° and less than 2 m under the time period of 30 min, respectively.

Dominant woody plant species recognition with a hierarchical model based on multimodal geospatial data for subtropical forests

Since the launch of the Google Earth Engine(GEE)cloud platform in 2010,it has been widely used,leading to a wealth of valuable information.However,the potential of GEE for forest resource management has not been fully exploited.To extract dominant woody plant species,GEE combined Sen-tinel-1(S1)and Sentinel-2(S2)data with the addition of the National Forest Resources Inventory(NFRI)and topographic data,resulting in a 10 m resolution multimodal geospatial dataset for subtropical forests in southeast China.Spectral and texture features,red-edge bands,and vegetation indices of S1 and S2 data were computed.A hierarchical model obtained information on forest distribution and area and the dominant woody plant species.The results suggest that combining data sources from the S1 winter and S2 yearly ranges enhances accuracy in forest distribution and area extraction compared to using either data source independently.Similarly,for dominant woody species recognition,using S1 winter and S2 data across all four seasons was accurate.Including terrain factors and removing spatial correlation from NFRI sample points further improved the recognition accuracy.The optimal forest extraction achieved an overall accuracy(OA)of 97.4%and a maplevel image classification efficacy(MICE)of 96.7%.OA and MICE were 83.6%and 80.7%for dominant species extraction,respectively.The high accuracy and efficacy values indicate that the hierarchical recognition model based on multimodal remote sensing data performed extremely well for extracting information about dominant woody plant species.Visualizing the results using the GEE application allows for an intuitive display of forest and species distribution,offering significant convenience for forest resource monitoring.

Analysis of Secured Cloud Data Storage Model for Information

This paper was motivated by the existing problems of Cloud Data storage in Imo State University, Nigeria such as outsourced data causing the loss of data and misuse of customer information by unauthorized users or hackers, thereby making customer/client data visible and unprotected. Also, this led to enormous risk of the clients/customers due to defective equipment, bugs, faulty servers, and specious actions. The aim if this paper therefore is to analyze a secure model using Unicode Transformation Format (UTF) base 64 algorithms for storage of data in cloud securely. The methodology used was Object Orientated Hypermedia Analysis and Design Methodology (OOHADM) was adopted. Python was used to develop the security model;the role-based access control (RBAC) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance security Algorithm were integrated into the Information System developed with HTML 5, JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) version 3 and PHP7. This paper also discussed some of the following concepts;Development of Computing in Cloud, Characteristics of computing, Cloud deployment Model, Cloud Service Models, etc. The results showed that the proposed enhanced security model for information systems of cooperate platform handled multiple authorization and authentication menace, that only one login page will direct all login requests of the different modules to one Single Sign On Server (SSOS). This will in turn redirect users to their requested resources/module when authenticated, leveraging on the Geo-location integration for physical location validation. The emergence of this newly developed system will solve the shortcomings of the existing systems and reduce time and resources incurred while using the existing system.

Intelligent Energy Utilization Analysis Using IUA-SMD Model Based Optimization Technique for Smart Metering Data

Smart metering has gained considerable attention as a research focus due to its reliability and energy-efficient nature compared to traditional electromechanical metering systems. Existing methods primarily focus on data management,rather than emphasizing efficiency. Accurate prediction of electricity consumption is crucial for enabling intelligent grid operations,including resource planning and demandsupply balancing. Smart metering solutions offer users the benefits of effectively interpreting their energy utilization and optimizing costs. Motivated by this,this paper presents an Intelligent Energy Utilization Analysis using Smart Metering Data(IUA-SMD)model to determine energy consumption patterns. The proposed IUA-SMD model comprises three major processes:data Pre-processing,feature extraction,and classification,with parameter optimization. We employ the extreme learning machine(ELM)based classification approach within the IUA-SMD model to derive optimal energy utilization labels. Additionally,we apply the shell game optimization(SGO)algorithm to enhance the classification efficiency of the ELM by optimizing its parameters. The effectiveness of the IUA-SMD model is evaluated using an extensive dataset of smart metering data,and the results are analyzed in terms of accuracy and mean square error(MSE). The proposed model demonstrates superior performance,achieving a maximum accuracy of65.917% and a minimum MSE of0.096. These results highlight the potential of the IUA-SMD model for enabling efficient energy utilization through intelligent analysis of smart metering data.

Finer topographic data improves distribution modeling of Picea crassifolia in the northern Qilian Mountains

The Qilian Mountains, a national key ecological function zone in Western China, play a pivotal role in ecosystem services. However, the distribution of its dominant tree species, Picea crassifolia (Qinghai spruce), has decreased dramatically in the past decades due to climate change and human activity, which may have influenced its ecological functions. To restore its ecological functions, reasonable reforestation is the key measure. Many previous efforts have predicted the potential distribution of Picea crassifolia, which provides guidance on regional reforestation policy. However, all of them were performed at low spatial resolution, thus ignoring the natural characteristics of the patchy distribution of Picea crassifolia. Here, we modeled the distribution of Picea crassifolia with species distribution models at high spatial resolutions. For many models, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) is larger than 0.9, suggesting their excellent precision. The AUC of models at 30 m is higher than that of models at 90 m, and the current potential distribution of Picea crassifolia is more closely aligned with its actual distribution at 30 m, demonstrating that finer data resolution improves model performance. Besides, for models at 90 m resolution, annual precipitation (Bio12) played the paramount influence on the distribution of Picea crassifolia, while the aspect became the most important one at 30 m, indicating the crucial role of finer topographic data in modeling species with patchy distribution. The current distribution of Picea crassifolia was concentrated in the northern and central parts of the study area, and this pattern will be maintained under future scenarios, although some habitat loss in the central parts and gain in the eastern regions is expected owing to increasing temperatures and precipitation. Our findings can guide protective and restoration strategies for the Qilian Mountains, which would benefit regional ecological balance.

An approach to estimate tree height using PolInSAR data constructed by the Sentinel-1 dual-pol SAR data and RVoG model

We estimate tree heights using polarimetric interferometric synthetic aperture radar(PolInSAR)data constructed by the dual-polarization(dual-pol)SAR data and random volume over the ground(RVoG)model.Considering the Sentinel-1 SAR dual-pol(SVV,vertically transmitted and vertically received and SVH,vertically transmitted and horizontally received)configuration,one notes that S_(HH),the horizontally transmitted and horizontally received scattering element,is unavailable.The S_(HH)data were constructed using the SVH data,and polarimetric SAR(PolSAR)data were obtained.The proposed approach was first verified in simulation with satisfactory results.It was next applied to construct PolInSAR data by a pair of dual-pol Sentinel-1A data at Duke Forest,North Carolina,USA.According to local observations and forest descriptions,the range of estimated tree heights was overall reasonable.Comparing the heights with the ICESat-2 tree heights at 23 sampling locations,relative errors of 5 points were within±30%.Errors of 8 points ranged from 30%to 40%,but errors of the remaining 10 points were>40%.The results should be encouraged as error reduction is possible.For instance,the construction of PolSAR data should not be limited to using SVH,and a combination of SVH and SVV should be explored.Also,an ensemble of tree heights derived from multiple PolInSAR data can be considered since tree heights do not vary much with time frame in months or one season.

How R&D investment promotes green technology innovation in the context of digitalization?-An empirical analysis based on provincial panel data

Green technology innovation is an important driving force and source to promote my country’s high-quality development,and it is the core path to achieve sustainable development.This paper uses my country’s provincial panel data from 2016 to 2019 to study the impact mechanism of R&D investment on green technology innovation,and introduces the level of digitization,using the panel threshold model to discuss its role in the impact mechanism of R&D investment on green technology innovation.The study found that when the level of digitalization in a region is low,increasing R&D investment does not necessarily improve the ability of green technology innovation;when the level of digitalization is relatively high,R&D investment has a positive role in promoting green technology innovation.Therefore,it is necessary to improve policies to encourage enterprises to increase investment in research and development;at the same time,it is necessary to promote the coordinated development of digital foundation,digital investment,digital literacy,digital economy and digital application,and promote the deep integration of digitalization and green technology innovation.

A Study of EM Algorithm as an Imputation Method: A Model-Based Simulation Study with Application to a Synthetic Compositional Data

Compositional data, such as relative information, is a crucial aspect of machine learning and other related fields. It is typically recorded as closed data or sums to a constant, like 100%. The statistical linear model is the most used technique for identifying hidden relationships between underlying random variables of interest. However, data quality is a significant challenge in machine learning, especially when missing data is present. The linear regression model is a commonly used statistical modeling technique used in various applications to find relationships between variables of interest. When estimating linear regression parameters which are useful for things like future prediction and partial effects analysis of independent variables, maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is the method of choice. However, many datasets contain missing observations, which can lead to costly and time-consuming data recovery. To address this issue, the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm has been suggested as a solution for situations including missing data. The EM algorithm repeatedly finds the best estimates of parameters in statistical models that depend on variables or data that have not been observed. This is called maximum likelihood or maximum a posteriori (MAP). Using the present estimate as input, the expectation (E) step constructs a log-likelihood function. Finding the parameters that maximize the anticipated log-likelihood, as determined in the E step, is the job of the maximization (M) phase. This study looked at how well the EM algorithm worked on a made-up compositional dataset with missing observations. It used both the robust least square version and ordinary least square regression techniques. The efficacy of the EM algorithm was compared with two alternative imputation techniques, k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) and mean imputation (), in terms of Aitchison distances and covariance.

Comparison of Uniform and Kernel Gaussian Weight Matrix in Generalized Spatial Panel Data Model

Panel data combine cross-section data and time series data. If the cross-section is locations, there is a need to check the correlation among locations. ρ and λ are parameters in generalized spatial model to cover effect of correlation between locations. Value of ρ or λ will influence the goodness of fit model, so it is important to make parameter estimation. The effect of another location is covered by making contiguity matrix until it gets spatial weighted matrix (W). There are some types of W—uniform W, binary W, kernel Gaussian W and some W from real case of economics condition or transportation condition from locations. This study is aimed to compare uniform W and kernel Gaussian W in spatial panel data model using RMSE value. The result of analysis showed that uniform weight had RMSE value less than kernel Gaussian model. Uniform W had stabil value for all the combinations.

Contribution of the MERISE-Type Conceptual Data Model to the Construction of Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators of the Effectiveness of Training in Relation to the Needs of the Labor Market in the Republic of Congo

This study proposes the use of the MERISE conceptual data model to create indicators for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of vocational training in the Republic of Congo. The importance of MERISE for structuring and analyzing data is underlined, as it enables the measurement of the adequacy between training and the needs of the labor market. The innovation of the study lies in the adaptation of the MERISE model to the local context, the development of innovative indicators, and the integration of a participatory approach including all relevant stakeholders. Contextual adaptation and local innovation: The study suggests adapting MERISE to the specific context of the Republic of Congo, considering the local particularities of the labor market. Development of innovative indicators and new measurement tools: It proposes creating indicators to assess skills matching and employer satisfaction, which are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of vocational training. Participatory approach and inclusion of stakeholders: The study emphasizes actively involving training centers, employers, and recruitment agencies in the evaluation process. This participatory approach ensures that the perspectives of all stakeholders are considered, leading to more relevant and practical outcomes. Using the MERISE model allows for: • Rigorous data structuring, organization, and standardization: Clearly defining entities and relationships facilitates data organization and standardization, crucial for effective data analysis. • Facilitation of monitoring, analysis, and relevant indicators: Developing both quantitative and qualitative indicators helps measure the effectiveness of training in relation to the labor market, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation. • Improved communication and common language: By providing a common language for different stakeholders, MERISE enhances communication and collaboration, ensuring that all parties have a shared understanding. The study’s approach and contribution to existing research lie in: • Structured theoretical and practical framework and holistic approach: The study offers a structured framework for data collection and analysis, covering both quantitative and qualitative aspects, thus providing a comprehensive view of the training system. • Reproducible methodology and international comparison: The proposed methodology can be replicated in other contexts, facilitating international comparison and the adoption of best practices. • Extension of knowledge and new perspective: By integrating a participatory approach and developing indicators adapted to local needs, the study extends existing research and offers new perspectives on vocational training evaluation.

Some Additional Moment Conditions for a Dynamic Count Panel Data Model with Predetermined Explanatory Variables

This paper proposes some additional moment conditions for the linear feedback model with explanatory variables being predetermined, which is proposed by [1] for the purpose of dealing with count panel data. The newly proposed moment conditions include those associated with the equidispersion, the Negbin I-type model and the stationarity. The GMM estimators are constructed incorporating the additional moment conditions. Some Monte Carlo experiments indicate that the GMM estimators incorporating the additional moment conditions perform well, compared to that using only the conventional moment conditions proposed by [2,3].

The influence of heterogeneous environmental regulation on the green development of the mining industry: empirical analysis based on the system GMM and dynamic panel data model

The intensity of environmental regulation (ERI) affects the short-term effect of the level of green mining (GML),and which structure determines the long-term mechanism.Based on the panel data from 2001 to 2015,with the dynamic panel model and system GMM estimation method were employed to test the influence of heterogeneous environmental regulation on green mining and its transmission mechanism.The results show that,there is a 'U' type nonlinear relationship between the ERI and GML.The direct effect of command-control-based (CAC) and the market incentive-based (MBI) environmental regulation on green development of mining shows the characteristics of inhibition and promotion.There is a 'U' type of indirectly moderating effect between technological innovation and the energy consumption structure on the GML.The technological innovation promotes the green development of the mining industry only after pass the inflection point of MBI,while the CAC plays a significant guiding role in upgrading of the energy consumption structure.There is an inhibition and promotion effect of MBI on the GML in the southeast coastal area,and the CAC is not significantly.Meanwhile,both of the ERI shows no positive effects in the central and western inland region.

Superiority of Bayesian Imputation to Mice in Logit Panel Data Models

Non-responses leading to missing data are common in most studies and causes inefficient and biased statistical inferences if ignored. When faced with missing data, many studies choose to employ complete case analysis approach to estimate the parameters of the model. This however compromises on the susceptibility of the estimates to reduced bias and minimum variance as expected. Several classical and model based techniques of imputing the missing values have been mentioned in literature. Bayesian approach to missingness is deemed superior amongst the other techniques through its natural self-lending to missing data settings where the missing values are treated as unobserved random variables that have a distribution which depends on the observed data. This paper digs up the superiority of Bayesian imputation to Multiple Imputation with Chained Equations (MICE) when estimating logistic panel data models with single fixed effects. The study validates the superiority of conditional maximum likelihood estimates for nonlinear binary choice logit panel model in the presence of missing observations. A Monte Carlo simulation was designed to determine the magnitude of bias and root mean square errors (RMSE) arising from MICE and Full Bayesian imputation. The simulation results show that the conditional maximum likelihood (ML) logit estimator presented in this paper is less biased and more efficient when Bayesian imputation is performed to curb non-responses.

Quasi Maximum Likelihood for MESS Varying Coefficient Panel Data Models with Fixed Effects

The study of spatial econometrics has developed rapidly and has found wide applications in many different scientific fields,such as demog­raphy,epidemiology,regional economics,and psychology.With the deepening of research,some scholars find that there are some model specifications in spatial econometrics,such as spatial autoregressive(SAR)model and matrix exponential spatial specification(MESS),which cannot be nested within each other.Compared with the common SAR models,the MESS models have computational advantages because it eliminates the need for logarithmic determinant calculation in maxi­mum likelihood estimation and Bayesian estimation.Meanwhile,MESS models have theoretical advantages.However,the theoretical research and application of MESS models have not been promoted vigorously.Therefore,the study of MESS model theory has practical significance.This paper studies the quasi maximum likelihood estimation for ma­trix exponential spatial specification(MESS)varying coefficient panel data models with fixed effects.It is shown that the estimators of model parameters and function coefficients satisfy the consistency and asymp­totic normality to make a further supplement for the theoretical study of MESS model.