Rapid assessment of flood loss based on neural network ensemble

Considering the defects of low accuracy and slow speed existing in traditional flood loss assessment, firstly, the technical route of flood loss assessment was presented based on the neural network ensemble. Secondly, through the study of certain country of Poyang Lake district, the flood loss assessment indicators of the test area were analyzed and extracted by utilizing analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and the weights of the impact factors were assigned. Subsequently, the approaches to generate individuals and conclusions of neural network ensemble model were also investigated. In the platform of C# language and neural network library under AForge.NET open source, a flood loss assessment program which could rapidly build neural network ensemble models was developed. Finally, the proposed method was tested and verified. The comparison results between the assessment results of the proposed method and the actual statistical flood loss proved the feasibility of this method, thus a new approach for flood loss assessment was provided.

Rapid assessment of the September 5,2022 M_(S)6.8 Luding earthquake in Sichuan,China

At 12:52,September 5,2022,an M_(S)6.8 earthquake occurred in Luding,Sichuan.The earthquake caused serious casualties and property loss,and was determined to have an epicenter intensity of Ⅸ degree.In this study,we used three earthquake intensity rapid assessment methods(i.e.WFM,BPM and ASM) to evaluate the intensity of this earthquake.Then,we comparatively analyzed the three methods based on strong ground motion observation data and actual intensity maps.The results show that:(1) The earthquake is associated with a southeast-oriented single-sided rupture.The WFM method can only evaluate earthquakes with two-sided ruptures,which has some limitations;(2) The intensity of BPM and ASM was overestimated on the southwest and north sides of the epicenter,but other high-intensity zones were similar to the intensities measured by actual surveys;(3) The residuals of the three intensity assessment methods were all between-0.5 and 1.Although a small number of stations were underestimated,the overall residuals were good,and the residuals gradually approached 0 with the increase of distance;(4) The number of towns and villages evaluated by the three methods in the earthquake area was almost all lower than the field survey results.One exception is the area of Ⅷ degree,where the BPM and ASM were higher than the survey results;(5) The area of the earthquake area evaluated by the three methods was low in Ⅵ and Ⅶ degree,moderate in Ⅷ degree,and low in Ⅸ degree(the area from ASM is similar to the area measured by actual survey).Overall,ASM is applicable to this earthquake intensity assessment.

Rapid assessment for seismic vulnerability of low and medium rise infilled RC frame buildings

An indexing method for rapid evaluation of the seismic vulnerability of infi lled RC frame buildings in Jordan is proposed. The method aims at identifying low and medium rise residential buildings as safe or in need of further detailed evaluation. Following a rapid visual screening, the building is assigned a Basic Capacity Index(BCI); fi ve performance modifi ers are identifi ed and multiplied by the BCI to arrive at the Capacity Index(CI) of the building. A Capacity Index lower than a limit CI value indicates that the screened building could experience moderate earthquake damage whereas a higher value implies that minor damage, if any, would take place. To establish the basic evaluation parameters; forty RC frame buildings were selected, designed and analyzed using static nonlinear analysis and incorporating the effect of infi ll walls. Effects of seismicity, local site conditions, horizontal irregularities(setbacks and re-entrant corners), vertical irregularities(soft story at ground fl oor level) and overhangs on the seismic performance of local buildings were examined. Assessment forms were designed and used to evaluate and rank 112 sample buildings. About 40% of the surveyed buildings were found to be in need of detailed evaluation to better defi ne their seismic vulnerabilities.

Combining first principles and machine learning for rapid assessment response of WO_(3) based gas sensors

The rapid advancement of gas sensitive properties in metal oxides is crucial for detecting hazardous gases in industrial and coal mining environments.However,the conventional experimental trial and error approach poses significant challenges and resource consumption for the high throughput screening of gas sensitive materials.Consequently,this paper introduced a novel screening approach that integrates first principles with machine learning(ML)to rapidly predict the gas sensitivity of materials.Initially,a comprehensive database of multi-physical parameters was established by modeling various adsorption sites on the surface of WO3,which serves as a representative material.Since density functional theory(DFT)is one of the first principles,DFT calculations were conducted to derive essential multi-physical parameters,including bandgap,density of states(DOS),Fermi level,adsorption energy,and structural modifications resulting from adsorption.The collected data was subsequently utilized to develop a cor-relation model linking the multi-physical parameters to gas sensitive performance using intelligent algo-rithms.The model’s performance was assessed through receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,confusion matrices,and other evaluation metrics,ultimately achieving a prediction accuracy of 90%for identifying key features influencing gas adsorption performance.This proposed strategy for predicting the gas sensitive characteristics of materials holds significant potential for application in identifying addi-tional gas sensitive properties across various materials.

The Rapid Assessment and Early Warning Models for COVID-19

Human beings have experienced a serious public health event as the new pneumonia(COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus has killed more than 3000 people in China, most of them elderly or people with underlying chronic diseases or immunosuppressed states. Rapid assessment and early warning are essential for outbreak analysis in response to serious public health events. This paper reviews the current model analysis methods and conclusions from both micro and macro perspectives. The establishment of a comprehensive assessment model, and the use of model analysis prediction, is very efficient for the early warning of infectious diseases. This would significantly improve global surveillance capacity, particularly in developing regions, and improve basic training in infectious diseases and molecular epidemiology.

Remote Sensing Based Rapid Assessment of Flood Crop Damage Using Novel Disaster Vegetation Damage Index(DVDI)

Accurate crop-specific damage assessment immediately after flood events is crucial for grain pricing,food policy,and agricultural trade.The main goal of this research is to estimate the crop-specific damage that occurs immediately after flood events by using a newly developed Disaster Vegetation Damage Index(DVDI).By incorporating the DVDI along with information on crop types and flood inundation extents,this research assessed crop damage for three case-study events:Iowa Severe Storms and Flooding(DR 4386),Nebraska Severe Storms and Flooding(DR 4387),and Texas Severe Storms and Flooding(DR 4272).Crop damage is assessed on a qualitative scale and reported at the county level for the selected flood cases in Iowa,Nebraska,and Texas.More than half of flooded corn has experienced no damage,whereas 60%of affected soybean has a higher degree of loss in most of the selected counties in Iowa.Similarly,a total of 350 ha of soybean has moderate to severe damage whereas corn has a negligible impact in Cuming,which is the most affected county in Nebraska.A total of 454 ha of corn are severely damaged in Anderson County,Texas.More than 200 ha of alfalfa have moderate to severe damage in Navarro County,Texas.The results of damage assessment are validated through the NDVI profile and yield loss in percentage.A linear relation is found between DVDI values and crop yield loss.An R2 value of 0.54 indicates the potentiality of DVDI for rapid crop damage estimation.The results also indicate the association between DVDI class and crop yield loss.

Trachoma rapid assessment in Shandong province of China

Background This research aims at identifying relative interventions on trachoma and testing the effectiveness of control measures adopted by assessing its prevalence and related risk factors in Shandong province of China. Methods Trachoma rapid assessment （TRA） was conducted in 6 sub-districts selected from Shandong province based on primary high risk assessment. Active trachoma in children aged 1-9 years and environmental risk factors of trachoma （unclean faces, absence of running water, and absence of flush toilets） were assessed （TRA 1）. Control measures were taken in endemic areas. A second TRA （TRA 2） was conducted after 12 months in the same 6 districts and findings of the two TRAs were compared. Results In TRA 1, we found trachoma in 3 sub-districts and the detection rate was 4% （95% CI： 0.39%-11.12%）, 6% （95% CI： 1.18%-14.17%）, and 6% （95% CI： 1.18%-14.17%） respectively. We could not find trachoma cases in TRA 2. Research data supports that children living with environmental risk factors face an increased risk to active trachoma. However, we could not find statistical evidence for this association, which may be caused by the limited data on prevalence. Conclusions This research indicates that the TRA methodology is easy to assess trachoma and its related risk factors. Based on the results of this study, we have already achieved the goal of ＂elimination of trachoma＂ in Shandong province, as the detection rate of trachomatous infiamation follicular/trachomatous inflammation intense in 1-9-year-old children was less than 5%. Chln Med J 2014;127（14）：2668-2671

Generation of an LncRNA Gtl2-GFP Reporter for Rapid Assessment of Pluripotency in Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Epigenetic reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells （iPSCs） by overexpression of defined factors holds great promise for disease modeling and regen- erative medicine （Takahashi and Yamanaka, 2006; Robinton and Daley, 2012）. However, the stochastic reprogramming process often results in variable pluripotency levels of iPSC lines as measured by their in vivo developmental potential, which poses a huge challenge to the applications of high quality iPSCs （Hanna et al., 2010）. The activation status of an imprinted Dlkl-Dio3 region has been identified as a molecular marker for pluripotency （Liu et al., 2010; Stadtfeld et al.,

Rapid Ecological and Environmental Assessment of Osun Sacred Forest Grove, Southwestern Nigeria

Osun Sacred Forest Grove is a unique landscape that combines important environmental, biological and cultural features. We conducted a multifaceted rapid assessment to evaluate the conservation status of the grove eleven years after it was designated a World Heritage Site. We recorded a rich diversity, consisting of 2 rock types, 3 minerals, 88 plant species, 108 insect families and 4 mammal species. Our survey also enabled us document up to 40 cultural artifacts. However, the plants, small mammals and insects collected, in their role as indicator taxa, demonstrate that biodiversity decreases extending outward from the core area of the grove into the buffer and outside zones. In addition, the detection of heterotrophic bacteria and fungi from microbiological analyses in water samples of the Osun River which runs through the grove raises health concerns. Our findings lead us to recommend that efforts be stepped up to deter encroachment of the buffer and outside zones into the core area of the grove. Furthermore, careful repair of deteriorating cultural artifacts should be undertaken regularly, with the actions of visitors monitored adequately to prevent depletion of biodiversity and pollution of the environment.

Prioritization of Water Resources Management Problems in North Central Nigeria Using Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM)

This study employed the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) to prioritize the water resources management problems in the North Central Nigeria. This was done through the assessment of the status of water resources management in the region, evaluation of existing policy and strategy of water management, identification of the management problems and the prioritization with RIAM. The stakeholders identified water resources management problems, ranked them in other of severity in different categories and also evaluated them using the RIAM techniques in the administered questionnaire. Eleven problems were analyzed based on the physical/chemical, biological/ecological, social/cultural and economic/operational factors using several impact indicators. Scores were assigned, the RIAM models applied and the averages taken to arrive at the final assessment scores. The two major water resources management problems identified are: 1) inadequate funds for further agricultural, hydroelectric, navigation and industrial development;2) poor data collection and banking. These problems were prioritized by RIAM in order of severity for urgent intervention. The RIAM technique has made a key contribution to the prioritization of water resources management by providing insights into urgent problems according to stakeholders and thus guides the policy maker in appropriate decision making.

Shaoma Zhijing granule for children with tic disorders: A rapid health technology assessment

Objective:To rapidly assess the effectiveness,safety,economy,and applicability of Shaoma Zhijing granule(SZG)for the treatment of children with tic disorders(TD),and provide currently available best evidence for decision-makers of health policies.Methods:We conducted a rapid health technology assessment(RHTA)to explore the value of SZG.A systematic literature search in eight literature databases and on three clinical trial registration platforms was performed.The literature was screened according to eligibility criteria.The screening process and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers,and the quality of the literature was also assessed.The results were summarized,analyzed,and presented in tables or figures.Results:A total of five randomized controlled trials(RCTs)were included in this study,of which one was published in English(in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry)and four in Chinese journals.The overall risk of bias for the five RCTs was evaluated as“some concerns.”SZG monotherapy or in combi-nation with tiapride was better than tiapride alone in improving traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes and tic symptoms,with a daily cost of¥67.50e107.22.Adverse events were mainly related to the digestive,respiratory,and neurological systems,but all were mild.Conclusion:Overall,the current RHTA of published,peer-reviewed literature has located a small body of evidence evaluating the use of SZG for the treatment of TD in children.SZG has effects on improving TCM syndromes and tic symptoms;the daily cost is¥67.50e107.22;and all adverse events are mild.High-quality studies with long-term follow-up should be conducted,so as to provide local evidence and consistently guide and improve scientific decision-making.

Population and housing grid spatialization in Yunnan Province based on grid sampling and application of rapid earthquake loss assessment:the Jinggu Ms6. 6 earthquake

Population and housing grid data spatialization hased on 340 grid samples （ 1 kmx 1 kin） is used in- stead of regional statistical data to simulate the population and housing distribution data of Yunnan Province （ 1 km×1 kin） for rapid loss assessment ibr the Jinggu Ms6.6 earthquake. The resuhs indicate that the method reflects the actual population and housing distribution and that the assessment results are eredihle. The method can be used to quickly provide spatial orientation disaster information after an earthquake.

Environmental Impact Assessment of Onshore Wind Farms in the Region of Central Greece Using a Modified RIAM Method

Wind energy is one of the most basic forms of renewable energy,which shows an increasing rate of development worldwide and also at the European level.However,this rapid deployment of wind farms makes the need for an impact assessment of this type of projects on the natural and man-made environment imperative.The present paper aims to identify and assess the environmental impacts of wind farm projects in the Region of Central Greece.A modified Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix(RIAM)method is used for this purpose.The methodology includes the identification of the existing onshore wind farm projects in the study area,the appropriate modifications of the RIAM method to respond to the characteristics of the projects and the study area,the qualitative assessment of their potential impacts during construction and operational phases and the computation of the Environmental Performance Grade(EPG)of projects based on the pro-posed modified RIAM method.The results reveal that although there are some slight negative impacts on the natural environment of the study area,the examined wind farms contribute positively both to the atmosphere and to the socio-economic environment of the study.This study extends the potential for using RIAM as a tool in environmental impact assessment studies of renewable energy projects.

COCKPIT-PLUS:A proposed method for rapid groundwater vulnerability-driven land use zoning in tropical cockpit karst areas

Karst groundwater is highly vulnerable to contamination,which urges better land use zoning.This paper proposes a new approach,called COCKPIT-PLUS,to minimize groundwater contamination within cockpit karst regions.The method employed four parameters:P(the existence of ponor/swallow hole),L(lineament density),U(sinking stream to an underground river),and S(distance to spring/pumping site).These parameters are essential for identifying contaminant pathways and transport from the surface to the karst groundwater/springs.COCKPIT-PLUS has been developed and validated in the Gunungsewu karst in Java,Indonesia.This research considers a cockpit as a single hydrological unit that uniquely recharges karst groundwater.We analyzed 2,811 cockpits and 81 other closed depressions to develop a land use planning map.The research used the time to first arrival(Ta),time to peak(Tp),and Q_(max/min)ratio parameters of two karst springs and two underground pumping sites for validation.Cockpits with ponors/swallow holes,sinking streams,high lineament density,and short distances to springs are vulnerable to groundwater and thus must be restricted areas for any land uses.The findings show that though the COCKPIT-PLUS uses a limited karst dataset,the proposed method seems reliable enough for a rapid land-use zoning approach in cockpit karst areas.

P25 Scoring Method for the Assessment of R/C Buildings

An effective rapid assessment technique, called ＂P25 Scoring Method＂, has been developed and tested on 26 different case studies recently, in order to predict the collapse vulnerability of the R/C buildings. After a short description of the approach, the study presents the sensitivity study of the method to the selected structural parameters by considering incremental deviation of the final scores from the base model. Further, the methodology was applied to an additional 100 damaged buildings in order to check the reliability of the method and some necessary modifications have been applied to the algorithm after considering this larger database. The evaluation of the results has been interpreted as a beneficial guidance for local authorities. The risk bands are defined according to the final scores and the effect of changing the band-width has also been studied through a safe but an economical procedure. A satisfactory correlation of the method with real damage states is obtained and a ready-to-use methodology has been introduced for future studies.

Impacts of the Wenchuan Earthquake on the Giant Panda Nature Reserves in China

The Wenchuan Earthquake that occurred in May of 2008 caused damages to large areas of Sichuan,Gansu,and Shaanxi provinces in China.Reports from local governments and related management agencies show that the giant panda nature reserves in the earthquake-hit areas were heavily damaged.Our estimates in this paper of the impacts of the earthquake on the giant panda in the earthquake-hit areas were made based on the interpretation of remote sensing images and information collected by field survey.A rapid assessment method was designed to estimate the damages of the earthquake on giant panda habitats.By using visual interpretation methods,we decoded the remote sensing images of the disaster area in the 49 giant panda nature reserves.Research results showed that the Wenchuan Earthquake and the succeeding secondary geological disasters caused great damages to the giant panda nature reserves and disturbed the normal life of the giant pandas there (e.g.,landscape fragmentation increased significantly).Undoubtedly,the life of the giant pandas there was affected.However,although the earthquake caused certain impacts on the giant pandas,it did not really threat their survival.Even so,we still strongly advocate for protection of the giant pandas,and have prioritized a couple of measures to be taken to restore the giant panda nature reserves in the earthquake-hit areas.

Relationship between diabetes mellitus and cataract in Hungary

AIM:To examine the coexistence of diabetes mellitus(DM)and cataract in Hungary.The effects of DM on the cataract surgical results were also in the focus of analysis.METHODS:Statistical data analysis of the results of the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness with Diabetic Retinopathy(RAAB+DR)module conducted in Hungary in 2015.This cross-sectional,population-based,national survey included 3523 people aged 50 years and over.Participants of the survey were examined on-site.Visual acuity,main cause for visual impairment(using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopes),in case of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)≤0.5 and blood glucose level(random test with glucometer)were examined.RESULTS:The prevalence of cataract was 23.4%,and DM was 20.0%.The occurrence of cataract steadily increased with age.Among the examined participants with DM,the prevalence of cataract was significantly(P=0.012)higher(+35%)than that in non-diabetic subjects(29.5%vs 21.8%).Following aging(OR=15.2%,P<0.001),DM proved to be the most independent influencing risk factor(OR=49.9%,P<0.001).The presence of DM was neither an influencing factor for complications of cataract surgery,nor for postoperative visual acuity.CONCLUSION:DM appears to be one of the main risk factors for developing cataract.Other risk factors,such as age,sex and environment also play an influencing role.Diabetes does not seem to affect the occurrence of cataract surgical complications.

Cataract blindness in Hungary

AIM:To estimate the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment resulting from cataract in the population aged≥50 y in Hungary,and to assess the cataract surgical services.METHODS:A rapid assessment of avoidable blindness(RAAB)was conducted.A total of 3523 eligible people were randomly selected and examined.Each participant underwent surgery for cataract was interviewed with regard to the year,place,and costs of the surgery.Participants with obvious cataract were asked why they had not yet undergone surgery(barriers to surgery).RESULTS:An estimated 12514 people were bilaterally blind;the visual acuity(VA)in 19293 people was<6/60,and the VA in 73962 people was<6/18 in the better eye due to cataract.An estimated 77933 eyes are blind;98067 eyes had a VA of<6/60,and an estimated 277493 eyes had a VA of<6/18 due to cataract.Almost all cataract surgeries were conducted in government hospitals.The age-and sexadjusted cataract surgical coverage with VA<3/60 in eyes was 90.0%.The rate of good visual outcome after surgery was 79.5%.Ocular comorbidity was the main cause of poor outcome(78.1%),followed by late complications(such as posterior capsule opacification)(17.2%),inadequate optical correction(3.1%),and surgical complications(1.6%).The main barrier to surgery in people with bilateral cataract and VA of<6/60 was‘need not felt’.CONCLUSION:The prevalence of visual impairment resulting from cataract is slightly higher than expected.The quality of the cataract surgical service seems adequate in Hungary.However,the number of cataract operations per year should continue to increase due to the increasing patient demands and the aging population.

A rapid-assessment model on the potential of district energy:The case of Temuco in Chile

District energy systems(DES)offer an optimal solution for decarbonising the heating and cooling sector while attaining multiple additional benefits.The first step to analyse the potential of DES in both new and existing markets is through rapid assessments(RA).Currently,publicly available models lack rapid assessments of the technical-economic and environmental potential of DES.This RA model was developed within the framework of UNEP’s District Energy in Cities Initiative to identify DES’s potential spending low time and monetary resources.In this light,the study presents a model for conducting a rapid assessment applied to the case of Temuco,Chile.Results show that a total of 55 MW DH(district heating)capacity is required to cover the heating demand.A wood-chip boiler of 25 MW capacity and a gas boiler of 30 MW capacity are considered in the calculations.The total CAPEX of the project is around 25 billion CLP,with a NPV of 10.5 billion CLP and an IRR of 14%.The project is also estimated to achieve an annual reduction of 24,382 tons of PM10 and 23,692 tons of PM2.5.The model was validated against an independent study conducted by an international consulting company,and the results were found to be in close proximity with the study.Thus,the model can be an effective tool for performing rapid assessments of DES projects in the region and subjecting attractive projects to more detailed pre-feasibility analysis.

Assessing anthropogenic pressure and threats on Paeonia emodi Wall.ex Royle habitats in Garhwal Himalaya

The Garhwal Himalaya is among the major repositories of immensely valuable wild edible plants and provides food security to the local population.Among the valuable plant species that grow in this region,Paeonia emodi(family Paeoniaceae)is an important wild edible species that found in temperate regions with an altitude range between 1800 and 2800 m.The species is facing a severe threat to its sustainability due to overharvesting,habitat disturbances,and a lack of effort regarding conservation.For the first time,this study investigated anthropogenic pressure,population decline perceptions in the natural habitat,and vulnerability assessment of P.emodi under selected study sites(n=23 villages).A semi structured questionnaire was used to interview approximately 45%of the local inhabitants,including herbal practitioners(Vaidhyas or Dais)of each village.On the basis of demographic characteristics,the perceptions and responses of 464 local people were documented regarding potential causes of deterioration and feasible options for sustainable utilization.Using the weight survey method,we estimated the actual amount of collection based on personal interaction and direct observation.In order to determine the threats status,a rapid vulnerability assessment(RVA)was performed and were used based on the current exploitation and usage.The present study revealed that leaf(100%)was the most frequently harvested part,followed by stem(95.65%),seed(26.09%),root(21.74%)and flower(13.04%).The village Triyuginarayan and Pothivasa recorded the highest collection scores while the purpose of the collection was mostly edible(100%),medicinal(100%),and least commercial(8.70%).According to the literature review and the present survey,the RVA(total=21)is categorized as category II(intermediate side of the RVA index),indicating a degree of vulnerability.The study revealed that P.emodi faces extinction in the Garhwal Himalayas.Growing this species through agro-production techniques may alleviate the pressure on the existing population as a result of the availability of raw materials for commercial and household uses.These findings will provide an effective framework for conservation and management decisions and plans.