Analysis of normal human retinal vascular network architecture using multifractal geometry

AIM：To apply the multifractal analysis method as a quantitative approach to a comprehensive description of the microvascular network architecture of the normal human retina.METHODS：Fifty volunteers were enrolled in this study in the Ophthalmological Clinic of Cluj-Napoca,Romania,between January 2012 and January 2014. A set of 100 segmented and skeletonised human retinal images,corresponding to normal states of the retina were studied. An automatic unsupervised method for retinal vessel segmentation was applied before multifractal analysis. The multifractal analysis of digital retinal images was made with computer algorithms,applying the standard boxcounting method. Statistical analyses were performed using the Graph Pad In Stat software.RESULTS：The architecture of normal human retinal microvascular network was able to be described using the multifractal geometry. The average of generalized dimensions（D_q）for q=0,1,2,the width of the multifractal spectrum（Δα=α_（max）-α_（min））and the spectrum arms＇ heights difference（│Δf│）of the normal images were expressed as mean±standard deviation（SD）：for segmented versions,D_0=1.7014±0.0057; D_1=1.6507±0.0058; D_2=1.5772±0.0059; Δα=0.92441±0.0085; │Δf│= 0.1453±0.0051; for skeletonised versions,D_0=1.6303±0.0051; D_1=1.6012±0.0059; D_2=1.5531± 0.0058; Δα=0.65032±0.0162; │Δf│= 0.0238±0.0161. The average of generalized dimensions（D_q）for q=0,1,2,the width of the multifractal spectrum（Δα）and the spectrum arms＇ heights difference（│Δf│）of the segmented versions was slightly greater than the skeletonised versions.CONCLUSION：The multifractal analysis of fundus photographs may be used as a quantitative parameter for the evaluation of the complex three-dimensional structure of the retinal microvasculature as a potential marker for early detection of topological changes associated with retinal diseases.

Seismic hazard analysis for central-western Argentina

In this study, we present a PSHA（Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis） for the city of San Juan, which is located in the central-western region of Argentina（30°S-35.5°S; 66.5°W-71°W）. In addition to crustal earthquakes provided by catalogues, recent paleoseismological and neotectonic investigations have permitted to consider events which occurred during the last 400 years.Four seismogenic sources that could cause damages to the studied site corresponding to Precordillera,Western Sierras Pampeanas, Basement of the Cuyana Basin and Cordillera Principal were identified.Based on the evaluation of the contribution of these sources,maximum moment magnitudes above 7.5（Mw） are expected.High values of SA（spectral acceleration）（0.2 and 1 s periods） and PGA（peak ground acceleration） were found in the city of San Juan, which suggests that it is located in a zone of high seismic hazard.Finally, the obtained SA spectra were compared with the seismic-resistant construction standards of Argentina INPRES-CIRSOC 103 [1]. Results suggest that for the city of San Juan and for a return period of475 years, it covers the seismic requirements of the structures.