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Global coastal catchments experience peculiar flood risk attributes due to the confluence of multiple flood drivers. In these regions, the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons impose diverse flood risks that evoke meticulous research for the prudent execution of appropriate flood management options. For the first time in flood management literature, we develop an integrated approach to quantify the distinguishing nature of flood risks during both seasons. We employ a sophisticated 1D–2D coupled flood model to generate high-resolution flood hazards while considering the compound interactions between rainfalls and storm-tides. Flood vulnerability is mapped at the finest administrative scale while considering flood-susceptible physical and socio-economic indicators. With the concept of Bivariate Risk Classifier, we introduce two novel metrics: (a) area index and (b) multi-hazard risk index that advance our understanding of the multi-hazard nature of flood risks during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. These incisive indices propound case-specific flood management measures for long-term resilience.

This study aimed to define a novel metric for the area of the macular hole (MH) and cysts located around the hole using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device. This study was conducted with 58 eyes of 56 patients. The patients were divided into two groups according to anatomic closure after surgery. Using the metrics of macular hole index (MHI), tractional hole index (THI), hole forming factor (HFF), macular hole area (HA), the cystoid space areas in the inner retinal layers (CA), and our novel metric, the cyst hole area index (CHAI) was calculated. The correlation of the CA, the HA, and the CHAI with other indexes were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and cut-off values were derived for indexes predicting type 1 or type 2 closures. The CA showed a strong positive correlation with the base MH size and the maximum MH height (r = 0.624, p < 0.001; r = 0.722, p < 0.001, respectively). The HA showed a strong positive correlation with basal MH size and minimum MH size (r = 0.934, p < 0.001; r = 0.765, p < 0.001). The HA showed a moderate positive correlation with maximum MH height (r = 0.483, p < 0.001, respectively). CHAI showed a moderate positive correlation with minimum MH size (r = 0.297, p = 0.02). CHAI and HA showed a moderate negative correlation with post-operative BCVA (r = −0.39, p = 0.003; r = −0.357, p = 0.006; respectively). ROC curve analysis showed that MHI (0.823), THI (0.750), and HFF (0.722) predicted type 1 closure and that CHAI (0.769) and HA (0.709) predicted type 2 closures. MHI and our novel index CHAI, which can be calculated without any additional software, could successfully predict type 1 and type 2 closures, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Electroretinogram (ERG) plays an essential role in the diagnosis of retinal disease. Choosing appropriate methods could extract valuable information from ERG. In this study, a new criterion based on time–frequency domain analysis was proposed to investigate the retina in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients. Materials and methods: The total number of 16 eyes from eight RP patients and 20 eyes from age-matched healthy subjects were assessed. The signals included photopic and scotopic ERGs. Continuous wavelet transform was applied to ERGs. Dominant frequencies were extracted, and the contours related to these dominant frequencies were selected. As a new criterion, the areas related to dominant frequency contours were considered a feature to differentiate the RP and normal groups. To better evaluate the proposed criterion results, the time-domain analysis characteristics of ERG were also considered. Results: The results showed an increase in implicit time and reduced amplitude in RP patients (P < 0.05). A significant decrease of dominant frequencies and increasing their occurrence time were seen in ERG of RP patients. Also, in RP patients, the third dominant frequency was disappeared from the three main frequencies observed in photopic ERGs of normal subjects. The area criterion showed a significant decrease in RP groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: RP can cause changes in the time and time–frequency components of the ERG. The area index could represent a new view of the characteristics of the ERG in the time–frequency domain. This criterion can help the ophthalmologist to have a better evaluation of retinal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the utility and predictive ability of newer macular hole (MH) indices for closure following surgery. Methods: In this retrospective study, pre- and post-operative optical coherence tomography images of 49 eyes with idiopathic full-thickness MH were reviewed and analysed. Various quantitative parameters of MH like maximum outer diameter (OD), minimum diameter between edges, height, nasal and temporal arm lengths, macular hole angle were noted. Indices including hole form factor, Macular Hole Index, (MHI), Diameter Hole Index (DHI) and Tractional Hole Index (THI) were calculated. Newer area indices like macular hole area index (MAI), cystoid space area index (MCSAI) and tissue area index (MTAI) were calculated using Image J (Ver. 1.51). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and cut-off values were derived for indices predicting type 1 or type 2 closure. Stepwise regression analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were carried out to predict the chances of hole closure. Results: ROC curve analysis showed indices like MHI, THI and MCSAI were capable of successfully predicting type 1 closure while OD, DHI and MAI predicted type 2 closure. On stepwise regression analysis, MAI was identified as the most important index in predicting the type of hole closure. Using the binary logistic regression analysis, the predictive ability of the model to identify success or failure following MH surgery was 89.7% and 80% respectively. Conclusion: MAI measurement could be used as a single important index in predicting hole closure in idiopathic MH. Further research is required to study this area index in detail.

Purpose: To study the utility and predictive ability of newer macular hole (MH) indices for closure following surgery.Methods: In this retrospective study, pre- and post-operative optical coherence tomography images of 49 eyes with idiopathic full-thickness MH were reviewed and analysed. Various quantitative parameters of MH like maximum outer diameter (OD), minimum diameter between edges, height, nasal and temporal arm lengths, macular hole angle were noted. Indices including hole form factor, Macular Hole Index, (MHI), Diameter Hole Index (DHI) and Tractional Hole Index (THI) were calculated. Newer area indices like macular hole area index (MAI), cystoid space area index (MCSAI) and tissue area index (MTAI) were calculated using Image J (Ver. 1.51). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and cut-off values were derived for indices predicting type 1 or type 2 closure. Stepwise regression analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were carried out to predict the chances of hole closure.Results: ROC curve analysis showed indices like MHI, THI and MCSAI were capable of successfully predicting type 1 closure while OD, DHI and MAI predicted type 2 closure. On stepwise regression analysis, MAI was identified as the most important index in predicting the type of hole closure. Using the binary logistic regression analysis, the predictive ability of the model to identify success or failure following MH surgery was 89.7% and 80% respectively.Conclusion: MAI measurement could be used as a single important index in predicting hole closure in idiopathic MH. Further research is required to study this area index in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Slope index and area index were studied for assessing heart rate asymmetry (HRA). • Different reference points/lines were proposed for the slope index and area index. • Performance was evaluated in classifying two patient groups from healthy controls. • Using the minimum of the signal as a reference point is a conservative solution. • A full slope and area indices spectrum with difference references is recommended. Abstract Heart rate asymmetry (HRA) could capture valuable dynamical properties from the electrocardiographic RR interval time-series that are helpful for evaluating the cardiovascular functioning. Several metrics derived from the Poincaré plot have been established for assessing HRA such as the slope index (SI) and the area index (AI). In the current study, we aimed to examine how different reference points and reference lines affect the calculations of SI and AI. To understand their performance, two case studies that were to classify subjects with (1) arrhythmias and (2) congestive heart failure, respectively, from normal controls were performed. To examine whether these effects depend on data lengths, the case studies were performed on both long-term heartbeat interval time-series and short-term segments. Our results showed that different reference points or reference lines could strongly affect the performance of both SI and AI, especially when short-term data were being analyzed. Using the minimum of data as the reference point might be a conservative solution in application but a spectrum of SI or AI measurements with multiple reference points and reference lines are highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The land-use mix observed in the smaller Indian cities is peculiar, and in this context there were no past studies on how the landuse mix influences the travel pattern. The existing indices used for quantifying the land-use mix were found to have limitations in capturing the characteristics of land-use mix observed in the smaller Indian cities. The present study analyzed the drawbacks and limitations of the existing indices and modified the dissimilarity and entropy indices, as well as formulated new indices suitable to quantify the mixed land use. The objectives behind the mix quantification were to capture the land-use balance, land-use mix, and land-use complementarity. The modified dissimilarity and entropy indices were found to be significant in explaining the variation in the trip lengths as well as preference toward nonmotorized transport (NMT). Proposed new parameters such as the area index and mix-type index were found to be significant in explaining the variability observed in the trip length and the nonmotorized mode choice. From the elasticity analysis it has been observed that a slight change in the land-use mix significantly affects the travel patterns. Further, from the estimated multinomial logit (MNL) models it has been observed that the mixed land-use parameter was found to be significant in explaining the choice of public transport and nonmotorized modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In theory, the power of a trans-cranial Doppler signal may be used to measure changes in blood flow and vessel diameter in addition to velocity. In this study, a flow index (FI) of relative changes in blood flow was derived from frequency-weighted Doppler power signals. The FI, plotted against velocity, was calibrated to the zero intercept with absent flow to reduce the effects of non-uniform vessel insonation. An area index was also calculated. FIs were compared with actual flow in four silicone tubes of different diameter at increasing flow rates and increasing hematocrit (Hct) in a closed-loop phantom model. FI values were strongly correlated with actual flow, at constant Hct, but varied substantially with changes in Hct. Percentage changes in area indexes, relative to the 4-mm tube, were strongly correlated with tube cross-sectional area. The implications of these results for in vivo use are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Educational Research (EJER) is the property of Eurasian Journal of Educational Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Oral vaccination of foxes (OVF) is a powerful tool to combat rabies in wildlife, and large parts of western Europe have been freed from rabies using this tool. Nevertheless, the success of OVF, given with the number of campaigns needed to eliminate the disease, depends on many factors. This article for the first time focuses on and assesses difference in OVF with respect to the spatial setting of vaccinated areas with time. The size of the areas vaccinated with time and the size of the overlapping area of consecutively vaccinated areas are particularly considered. In order to integrate these two aspects into one single figure, an Area Index is proposed ranging between 0 and 1. A statistical analysis indicates that the number of campaigns needed for rabies elimination significantly decreases on condition that the total rabies endemic area is consecutively treated right from the beginning of oral vaccination. Hence, from an economical and environmental point of view, vaccination areas should be selected the way that guarantees an Area Index close to 1. The concept of an Area Index, as described here, is a useful tool not only in the context of OVF, but it could also be used for other control schemes against infectious diseases in wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]