Comparison of isotope-based linear and Bayesian mixing models in determining moisture recycling ratio

Stable water isotopes are natural tracers quantifying the contribution of moisture recycling to local precipitation,i.e.,the moisture recycling ratio,but various isotope-based models usually lead to different results,which affects the accuracy of local moisture recycling.In this study,a total of 18 stations from four typical areas in China were selected to compare the performance of isotope-based linear and Bayesian mixing models and to determine local moisture recycling ratio.Among the three vapor sources including advection,transpiration,and surface evaporation,the advection vapor usually played a dominant role,and the contribution of surface evaporation was less than that of transpiration.When the abnormal values were ignored,the arithmetic averages of differences between isotope-based linear and the Bayesian mixing models were 0.9%for transpiration,0.2%for surface evaporation,and–1.1%for advection,respectively,and the medians were 0.5%,0.2%,and–0.8%,respectively.The importance of transpiration was slightly less for most cases when the Bayesian mixing model was applied,and the contribution of advection was relatively larger.The Bayesian mixing model was found to perform better in determining an efficient solution since linear model sometimes resulted in negative contribution ratios.Sensitivity test with two isotope scenarios indicated that the Bayesian model had a relatively low sensitivity to the changes in isotope input,and it was important to accurately estimate the isotopes in precipitation vapor.Generally,the Bayesian mixing model should be recommended instead of a linear model.The findings are useful for understanding the performance of isotope-based linear and Bayesian mixing models under various climate backgrounds.

The relationship between compartment models and their stochastic counterparts:A comparative study with examples of the COVID-19 epidemic modeling

Deterministic compartment models(CMs)and stochastic models,including stochastic CMs and agent-based models,are widely utilized in epidemic modeling.However,the relationship between CMs and their corresponding stochastic models is not well understood.The present study aimed to address this gap by conducting a comparative study using the susceptible,exposed,infectious,and recovered(SEIR)model and its extended CMs from the coronavirus disease 2019 modeling literature.We demonstrated the equivalence of the numerical solution of CMs using the Euler scheme and their stochastic counterparts through theoretical analysis and simulations.Based on this equivalence,we proposed an efficient model calibration method that could replicate the exact solution of CMs in the corresponding stochastic models through parameter adjustment.The advancement in calibration techniques enhanced the accuracy of stochastic modeling in capturing the dynamics of epidemics.However,it should be noted that discrete-time stochastic models cannot perfectly reproduce the exact solution of continuous-time CMs.Additionally,we proposed a new stochastic compartment and agent mixed model as an alternative to agent-based models for large-scale population simulations with a limited number of agents.This model offered a balance between computational efficiency and accuracy.The results of this research contributed to the comparison and unification of deterministic CMs and stochastic models in epidemic modeling.Furthermore,the results had implications for the development of hybrid models that integrated the strengths of both frameworks.Overall,the present study has provided valuable epidemic modeling techniques and their practical applications for understanding and controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

A unified Minorization-Maximization approach for estimation of general mixture models

The mixed distribution model is often used to extract information from heteroge-neous data and perform modeling analysis.When the density function of mixed distribution is complicated or the variable dimension is high,it usually brings challenges to the parameter es-timation of the mixed distribution model.The application of MM algorithm can avoid complex expectation calculations,and can also solve the problem of high-dimensional optimization by decomposing the objective function.In this paper,MM algorithm is applied to the parameter estimation problem of mixed distribution model.The method of assembly and decomposition is used to construct the substitute function with separable parameters,which avoids the problems of complex expectation calculations and the inversion of high-dimensional matrices.

Generalized Height-Diameter Models for Pinus montezumae Lamb. and Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. Plantations in Michoacan, Mexico

Tree height (H) in a natural stand or forest plantation is a fundamental variable in management, and the use of mathematical expressions that estimate H as a function of diameter at breast height (d) or variables at the stand level is a valuable support tool in forest inventories. The objective was to fit and propose a generalized H-d model for Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus established in forest plantations of Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro, Michoacan, Mexico. Using nonlinear least squares (NLS), 10 generalized H-d models were fitted to 883 and 1226 pairs of H-d data from Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus, respectively. The best model was refitted with the maximum likelihood mixed effects model (MEM) approach by including the site as a classification variable and a known variance structure. The Wang and Tang equation was selected as the best model with NLS;the MEM with an additive effect on two of its parameters and an exponential variance function improved the fit statistics for Pinus montezumae and Pinus pseudostrobus, respectively. The model validation showed equality of means among the estimates for both species and an independent subsample. The calibration of the MEM at the plot level was efficient and might increase the applicability of these results. The inclusion of dominant height in the MEM approach helped to reduce bias in the estimates and also to better explain the variability among plots.

The Additive Hazard Mixing Models

This paper is concerned with the aging and dependence properties in the additive hazard mixing models including some stochastic comparisons. Further, some useful bounds of reliability functions in additive hazard mixing models are obtained.

Flow computations of multi-stages by URANS and flux balanced mixing models

The quasi-steady methods based on mixing models have been widely applied to flow computations of turbomachinery multi- stages in aerospace engineering. Meanwhile, the unsteady numerical simulation has also been used due to its ability in obtaining time-dependent flow solutions. In the paper, two different mixing treatments and the corresponding flux balanced ones are presented to exchange the flow solutions on the interfaces between adjacent blade rows. The four mixing treatments are then used for flow computations of a subsonic 1.5-stage axial turbine and a quasi-l.5-stage transonic compressor rotor. The results are compared with those by unsteady numerical method, which is implemented by using the sliding mesh technique. The effects of the quasi-steady and unsteady computation methods on the conservation of flow solutions across the interfaces are presented and addressed. Furthermore, the influence of mixing treatments on shock wave and flow separation of the transonic compressor rotor is presented in detail. All the results demonstrate that the flux balanced mixing treatments can be used for multi-stage flow computations with improved performance on interface conservation, even in the complex flows.

DOWNCOMER MIXING AND ITS EFFECT ON DISTILLATION TRAY EFFICIENCY

In this paper, the measurement of liquid mixing in a downcomer of segmental type of distillation column is presented. The extent of liquid mixing is calculated by means of a mixing pool model. The results indicate that liquid mixing in a downcomer is actually incomplete. It is a significant correction to the assumption of complete downcomer mixing or no downcomer mixing which is generally adopted in many distillation calculations. Besides, the present results are used in a two dimensional eddy diffusion model to calculate the distillation tray efficiency. It is shown that the assumption of complete downcomer mixing is closer to the actual situation than that of no downcomer mixing.

Adaptive Random Effects/Coefficients Modeling

Adaptive fractional polynomial modeling of general correlated outcomes is formulated to address nonlinearity in means, variances/dispersions, and correlations. Means and variances/dispersions are modeled using generalized linear models in fixed effects/coefficients. Correlations are modeled using random effects/coefficients. Nonlinearity is addressed using power transforms of primary (untransformed) predictors. Parameter estimation is based on extended linear mixed modeling generalizing both generalized estimating equations and linear mixed modeling. Models are evaluated using likelihood cross-validation (LCV) scores and are generated adaptively using a heuristic search controlled by LCV scores. Cases covered include linear, Poisson, logistic, exponential, and discrete regression of correlated continuous, count/rate, dichotomous, positive continuous, and discrete numeric outcomes treated as normally, Poisson, Bernoulli, exponentially, and discrete numerically distributed, respectively. Example analyses are also generated for these five cases to compare adaptive random effects/coefficients modeling of correlated outcomes to previously developed adaptive modeling based on directly specified covariance structures. Adaptive random effects/coefficients modeling substantially outperforms direct covariance modeling in the linear, exponential, and discrete regression example analyses. It generates equivalent results in the logistic regression example analyses and it is substantially outperformed in the Poisson regression case. Random effects/coefficients modeling of correlated outcomes can provide substantial improvements in model selection compared to directly specified covariance modeling. However, directly specified covariance modeling can generate competitive or substantially better results in some cases while usually requiring less computation time.

Evaluation of Subgrid-scale Models in Large-eddy Simulations of Turbulent Flow in a Centrifugal Pump Impeller

The current research of large eddy simulation （LES） of turbulent flow in pumps mainly concentrates in applying conventional subgrid-scale （SGS） model to simulate turbulent flow, which aims at obtaining the flow field in pump. The selection of SGS model is usually not considered seriously, so the accuracy and efficiency of the simulation cannot be ensured. Three SGS models including Smagorinsky-Lilly model, dynamic Smagorinsky model and dynamic mixed model are comparably studied by using the commercial CFD code Fluent combined with its user define function. The simulations are performed for the turbulent flow in a centrifugal pump impeller. The simulation results indicate that the mean flows predicted by the three SGS models agree well with the experimental data obtained from the test that detailed measurements of the flow inside the rotating passages of a six-bladed shrouded centrifugal pump impeller performed using particle image velocimetry （PIV） and laser Doppler velocimetry （LDV）. The comparable results show that dynamic mixed model gives the most accurate results for mean flow in the centrifugal pump impeller. The SGS stress of dynamic mixed model is decompose into the scale similar part and the eddy viscous part. The scale similar part of SGS stress plays a significant role in high curvature regions, such as the leading edge and training edge of pump blade. It is also found that the dynamic mixed model is more adaptive to compute turbulence in the pump impeller. The research results presented is useful to improve the computational accuracy and efficiency of LES for centrifugal pumps, and provide important reference for carrying out simulation in similar fluid machineries.

Local and generalized height-diameter models with random parameters for mixed,uneven-aged forests in Northwestern Durango,Mexico

Background:We used mixed models with random components to develop height-diameter(h-d) functions for mixed,uneven-aged stands in northwestern Durango(Mexico),considering the breast height diameter(d) and stand variables as predictors.Methods:The data were obtained from 44 permanent plots used to monitor stand growth under forest management in the study area.Results:The generalized Bertalanffy-Richards model performed better than the other generalized models in predicting the total height of the species under study.For the genera Pinus and Quercus,the models were successfully calibrated by measuring the height of a subsample of three randomly selected trees close to the mean d,whereas for species of the genera Cupressus,Arbutus and Alnus,three trees were also selected,but they are specifically the maximum,minimum and mean d trees.Conclusions:The presented equations represent a new tool for the evaluation and management of natural forest in the region.

Yield models for predicting aboveground ectomycorrhizal fungal productivity in Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster stands of northern Spain

Background: Predictive models shed light on aboveground fungal yield dynamics and can assist decision-making in forestry by integrating this valuable non-wood forest product into forest management planning. However, the currently existing models are based on rather local data and, thus, there is a lack of predictive tools to monitor mushroom yields on larger scales.Results: This work presents the first empirical models for predicting the annual yields of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms and related ecosystem services in Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster stands in northern Spain, using a long-term dataset suitable to account for the combined effect of meteorological conditions and stand structure.Models were fitted for the following groups of fungi separately: all ectomycorrhizal mushrooms, edible mushrooms and marketed mushrooms. Our results show the influence of the weather variables(mainly precipitation) on mushroom yields as well as the relevance of the basal area of the forest stand that follows a right-skewed unimodal curve with maximum predicted yields at stand basal areas of 30–40 m2·ha-1.Conclusion: These models are the first empirical models for predicting the annual yields of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms in Pinus sylvestris and Pinus pinaster stands in northern Spain, being of the highest resolution developed to date and enable predictions of mushrooms productivity by taking into account weather conditions and forests’ location, composition and structure.

Adaptive switching control of a class of nonlinear systems based on mixed multiple models

The transient behaviors of traditional adaptive control may be very poor in general. A practically feasible approach to improve the transient performances is the adoption of adaptive switc- hing control. For a typical class of nonlinear systems disturbed by random noises, mixed multiple models consisting of adaptive model and fixed models were considered to design the switching con- trol law. Under certain assumptions, the nonlinear system with the switching control law was proved rigorously to be stable and optimal A simulation example was provided to compare the performance of the switching control and the traditional adaptive control.

IMPROVED ESTIMATES OF THE COVARIANCE MATRIX IN GENERAL LINEAR MIXED MODELS

In this article, the problem of estimating the covariance matrix in general linear mixed models is considered. Two new classes of estimators obtained by shrinking the eigenvalues towards the origin and the arithmetic mean, respectively, are proposed. It is shown that these new estimators dominate the unbiased estimator under the squared error loss function. Finally, some simulation results to compare the performance of the proposed estimators with that of the unbiased estimator are reported. The simulation results indicate that these new shrinkage estimators provide a substantial improvement in risk under most situations.

Flow mixing model of liquid phase in an internal airlift loop reactor

Residence time distribution (RTD) analysis of liquid phase was conducted in an internal airlift loop reactor (AL) and a bubble column (BC) with the tracer response technique. These data were simulated and compared through several flow mixing models. The modeling results of two-parameter model indicated that there were higher ratio of full mixing zones and lower ratio of bypass flow in AL than in BC. Then a completely mixed-plug flow parallel combined (four-parameter) model was established. Modeling results show that it is more precise and more obvious than two-parameter model.

Software applications for providing comprehensive computing capabilities to problems related to mixed models in animal breeding

Several computer packages have been developed to accomplish improved programs for animal breeding and genetic selection. This paper described most of the currant software and provided suggestions for improved software. Khon Kaen University, Thailand, will provide free of charge the new software developed at Khon Kaen University by the author of this paper. The contact for requesting the software is listed: monchai@kku.ac.th.

Effects of Atomic Mixing in Inertial Confinement Fusion by Multifluid Interpenetration Mix Model

The effects of atomic-level rnixing are systemically investigated in a multifluid interpenetration mix model ,and results are compared with the single-fluid model＇s simulations and experimental data. It is shown that increasing the model free parameter α, shock Mach number, and the initial density discontinuity makes the mix length and fraction of mixing particle increase, resulting in the lower shock temperatures compared with the results of single-fluid model without mixing. Recent high-compressibility direct-drive spherical implosions on OMEGA are simulated by the interpenetration mix modal. The calculations with atomic mixing between fuel and shell match quite well with the observations. Without considering any mixing, the calculated neutron yields and ion temperatures are overpredicted; while inclusion of the interpenetration mix model with the adjustable parameter α could fit the simulated neutron yields and ion temperatures well with experimental data.

Comparative Research on the Stock Return Distributional Models

This paper compares the stock return distribution models of mixture normal distribution, mixed diffusion-jump and GARCH models based on the data of Chinese stock market. The Schwarz criterion is also used. We find all these models can capture the features of stock returns partly. EGARCH model is the best fitting to daily return and stable during different period. When the weekly and monthly returns are tested, the differences of the models＇ fitness become unobvious and unstable.

Nonparametric Estimation in Linear Mixed Models with Uncorrelated Homoscedastic Errors

Today, Linear Mixed Models (LMMs) are fitted, mostly, by assuming that random effects and errors have Gaussian distributions, therefore using Maximum Likelihood (ML) or REML estimation. However, for many data sets, that double assumption is unlikely to hold, particularly for the random effects, a crucial component in which assessment of magnitude is key in such modeling. Alternative fitting methods not relying on that assumption (as ANOVA ones and Rao’s MINQUE) apply, quite often, only to the very constrained class of variance components models. In this paper, a new computationally feasible estimation methodology is designed, first for the widely used class of 2-level (or longitudinal) LMMs with only assumption (beyond the usual basic ones) that residual errors are uncorrelated and homoscedastic, with no distributional assumption imposed on the random effects. A major asset of this new approach is that it yields nonnegative variance estimates and covariance matrices estimates which are symmetric and, at least, positive semi-definite. Furthermore, it is shown that when the LMM is, indeed, Gaussian, this new methodology differs from ML just through a slight variation in the denominator of the residual variance estimate. The new methodology actually generalizes to LMMs a well known nonparametric fitting procedure for standard Linear Models. Finally, the methodology is also extended to ANOVA LMMs, generalizing an old method by Henderson for ML estimation in such models under normality.

A Special Weight for Inverse Gaussian Mixing Distribution in Normal Variance Mean Mixture with Application

Normal Variance-Mean Mixture (NVMM) provides a general framework for deriving models with desirable properties for modelling financial market variables such as exchange rates, equity prices, and interest rates measured over short time intervals, i.e. daily or weekly. Such data sets are characterized by non-normality and are usually skewed, fat-tailed and exhibit excess kurtosis. The Generalised Hyperbolic distribution (GHD) introduced by Barndorff-Nielsen (1977) which act as Normal variance-mean mixtures with Generalised Inverse Gaussian (GIG) mixing distribution nest a number of special and limiting case distributions. The Normal Inverse Gaussian (NIG) distribution is obtained when the Inverse Gaussian is the mixing distribution, i.e., the index parameter of the GIG is . The NIG is very popular because of its analytical tractability. In the mixing mechanism, the mixing distribution characterizes the prior information of the random variable of the conditional distribution. Therefore, considering finite mixture models is one way of extending the work. The GIG is a three parameter distribution denoted by and nest several special and limiting cases. When , we have which is called an Inverse Gaussian (IG) distribution. When , , , we have , and distributions respectively. These distributions are related to and are called weighted inverse Gaussian distributions. In this work, we consider a finite mixture of and and show that the mixture is also a weighted Inverse Gaussian distribution and use it to construct a NVMM. Due to the complexity of the likelihood, direct maximization is difficult. An EM type algorithm is provided for the Maximum Likelihood estimation of the parameters of the proposed model. We adopt an iterative scheme which is not based on explicit solution to the normal equations. This subtle approach reduces the computational difficulty of solving the complicated quantities involved directly to designing an iterative scheme based on a representation of the normal equation. The algorithm is easily programmable and we obtained a monotonic convergence for the data sets used.

A Finite Mixture of Generalised Inverse Gaussian with Indexes -1/2 and -3/2 as Mixing Distribution for Normal Variance Mean Mixture with Application

Mixture models have become more popular in modelling compared to standard distributions. The mixing distributions play a role in capturing the variability of the random variable in the conditional distribution. Studies have lately focused on finite mixture models as mixing distributions in the mixing mechanism. In the present work, we consider a Normal Variance Mean mixture model. The mixing distribution is a finite mixture of two special cases of Generalised Inverse Gaussian distribution with indexes -1/2 and -3/2. The parameters of the mixed model are obtained via the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm. The iterative scheme is based on a presentation of the normal equations. An application to some financial data has been done.