Comparison of population-based algorithms for optimizing thinnings and rotation using a process-based growth model

Stand management optimization has long been computationally demanding as increasingly detailed growth and yield models have been developed. Process-based growth models are useful tools for predicting forest dynamics. However, the difficulty of classic optimization algorithms limited its applications in forest planning. This study assessed alternative approaches to optimizing thinning regimes and rotation length using a process-based growth model. We considered (1) population-based algorithms proposed for stand management optimization, including differential evolution (DE), particle swarm optimization (PSO), evolution strategy (ES), and (2) derivative-free search algorithms, including the Nelder–Mead method (NM) and Osyczka’s direct and random search algorithm (DRS). We incorporated population-based algorithms into the simulation-optimization system OptiFor in which the process-based model PipeQual was the simulator. The results showed that DE was the most reliable algorithm among those tested. Meanwhile, DRS was also an effective algorithm for sparse stands with fewer decision variables. PSO resulted in some higher objective function values, however, the computational time of PSO was the longest. In general, of the population-based algorithms, DE is superior to the competing ones. The effectiveness of DE for stand management optimization is promising and manifested.Peer reviewe

CodeFuse-13B: A Pretrained Multi-lingual Code Large Language Model

Code Large Language Models (Code LLMs) have gained significant attention in the industry due to their wide applications in the full lifecycle of software engineering. However, the effectiveness of existing models in understanding non-English inputs for multi-lingual code-related tasks is still far from well studied. This paper introduces CodeFuse-13B, an open-sourced pre-trained code LLM. It is specifically designed for code-related tasks with both English and Chinese prompts and supports over 40 programming languages. CodeFuse achieves its effectiveness by utilizing a high quality pre-training dataset that is carefully filtered by program analyzers and optimized during the training process. Extensive experiments are conducted using real-world usage scenarios, the industry-standard benchmark HumanEval-x, and the specially designed CodeFuseEval for Chinese prompts. To assess the effectiveness of CodeFuse, we actively collected valuable human feedback from the AntGroup's software development process where CodeFuse has been successfully deployed. The results demonstrate that CodeFuse-13B achieves a HumanEval pass@1 score of 37.10%, positioning it as one of the top multi-lingual code LLMs with similar parameter sizes. In practical scenarios, such as code generation, code translation, code comments, and testcase generation, CodeFuse performs better than other models when confronted with Chinese prompts.Comment: 10 pages with 2 pages for reference

Experimental and density functional theory study of the effect of polar groups on interaction at the polyolefin-aluminum laminated film interface

Good adhesive strength and joint durability are necessary for aluminum (Al)/polymer laminated film for lithium-ion battery packages. A modified propylene-based elastomer (mPBE) was prepared as the inner adhesive in this study. The polar group was grafted onto the PBE molecular chain via melt grafting with the assistance of styrene. The adhesive performance of PBE modified with glycidyl methacrylate is significantly higher than that of commercially available inner adhesives, Mitsui A and Dupont 739. Moreover, environmentally friendly trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] chemical conversion was used to treat Al foil and improve the adhesive joint. The wettability behavior of adhesive melt on the surface of Al foil was studied using high-temperature contact angle testing. The results indicate that wettability is not the sole factor impacting interfacial strength, surface energy of the adhesive melt also plays a role. To further study the effect of polar groups on the mPBE adhesion, a solvent casting-evaporation method was developed to prepare an ultra-thin mPBE coating on the Al foil surface. The morphology of mPBE-coated Al foils and the thickness of the coating were studied by atomic force microscope. The bonding mechanism at the interface was studied through time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and it was shown that the Cr(III) conversion coating could react with polar groups via acid-base interaction. Moreover, quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory were used to reveal the bonding mechanism at the molecular level, and it is found that the adhesive strength is related to the electron-donor abilities and reactivity of the adhesive molecules

Key Factors Affecting Trigger Voltage Of Scrs For Esd Protection

A lateral silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR), a modified vertical SCR and a modified lateral SCR with the same device width are fabricated in a 0.25-μm Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS high-voltage process. Key factors affecting the trigger voltage of SCRs are investigated by simulation and transmission line pulse tests. The simulation results show that the trigger voltage depends on the doping concentration, the space charge width and the vertical depth of the breakdown junction. The experimental results indicate that the trigger voltage can be decreased from 40 V to 15 V when the space charge width and the vertical depth of breakdown junction decrease appropriately

rs10499194 polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor-α inducible protein 3 (TNFAIP3) gene is associated with type-1 autoimmune hepatitis risk in Chinese Han population

<div><p>Previous studies have found that the polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-α induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) were associated with several autoimmune diseases. However, the role of TNFAIP3 polymorphisms in type-1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH-1) remained unclear. The present study aimed to clarify the association of TNFAIP3 polymorphisms with AIH-1 risk in a Chinese Han population. The TaqMan SNP genotyping assay was used to determine the distribution of TNFAIP3 polymorphisms in 432 AIH-1 patients and 500 healthy controls. The association of TNFAIP3 polymorphisms and clinical characteristic was further evaluated. Five TNFAIP3 polymorphisms (rs2230926, rs5029939, rs10499194, rs6920220, rs582757) were analyzed in the present study. No significant association could be observed between rs2230926, rs5029939, rs6920220, rs582757 and the susceptibility to AIH-1 in Chinese Han population. Compared with wild-type genotype CC at rs10499194, individuals carrying CT genotype had a significantly increased risk for developing AIH-1 (OR = 2.32, 95%CI 1.44–3.74). Under a dominant model, CT/TT carriers have a 140% increased risk of AIH-1 than CC carriers (OR = 2.40, 95%CI 1.50–3.87). The rs10499194 T allele was also found to be significantly associated with AIH-1 risk (OR = 2.41, 95%CI 1.51–3.82). In addition, higher serum ALT, AST levels and more common cirrhosis were observed in AIH-1 patients with T allele (CT/TT) than those with CC genotype. In conclusion, TNFAIP3 rs10499194 T allele and CT genotype were associated with an increased risk for AIH-1, suggesting rs10499194 polymorphism as a candidate of susceptibility locus to AIH-1.</p></div

Demographic and clinical characteristics of AIH-1 patients and normal controls.

<p>Demographic and clinical characteristics of AIH-1 patients and normal controls.</p

Genotype distribution and allele frequencies for TNFAIP3 gene polymorphisms in both AIH-1 patients and normal controls.

<p>Genotype distribution and allele frequencies for TNFAIP3 gene polymorphisms in both AIH-1 patients and normal controls.</p

Association of rs10499194 genotypes with clinical characteristics of AIH-1 patients.

<p>Association of rs10499194 genotypes with clinical characteristics of AIH-1 patients.</p

p-IkB expression in PBMCs from AIH-1 patients after LPS stimulation for 1h.

<p>P1/P2: patients (n = 2) with TT genotype; P3: patient (n = 1) with TC genotype; P4/P5/P5: patients with CC genotype (n = 3)</p