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Many cities worldwide are at the frontline of environmental challenges during their future planning. Navi Mumbai presents many opportunities to move a city toward sustainability. The land is scarce for development purposes in Mumbai, which has resulted in the creation of the suburban area of Navi Mumbai. As the latter has numerous water bodies and drainage channels, which lie in the ecosensitive zone, to stop organic development, the environmental suitability index along with the accessibility index needs to be assessed to promote future organized growth. The present study investigated the planning of the new areas and assessed environmental suitability and accessibility for various zones seeking future development. The analytical derivation of the environmental suitability index was based on the parameters, subindex, and attributes of environmental issues in that area. The parameters included (1) soil permeability, (2) water-holding capacity, (3) porosity, (4) properties of groundwater and marine water, (5) properties of air, and (6) noise. The entire area was divided into five zones for the current work. The analytical framework was a developed methodology of indices calculated from five monitoring stations obtained from the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited, India (CIDCO). The accessibility parameters of the transportation network were measured using alpha indices (α). Finally, a nondominated sorting algorithm was used to obtain final suitability based on the Pareto optimality condition. The development suitability of an area was obtained by computing the environmental suitability index and accessibility index. This computation decides which of the five stations is best for which type of planning. The study developed a dimension-wise suitability index for Navi Mumbai, aiming to streamline the planning process and integrate policies essential for planning to attain sustainable development for Navi Mumbai. During future planning, policymakers and planners have often ignored environmental aspects in ecofragile areas. Hence, planning for new development in ecofragile areas has often been haphazard, piecemeal, and organic. The framework adopted in this paper, combining the environmental suitability index and the accessibility index, intended to assess the area's health and prescribe future actions to reduce the negative environmental impacts of development and regulate the same. The paper showed how data on soil, water, groundwater, air, and noise can be used in a simple mathematical model to compute the environmental suitability index of an area. Similarly, graph-theoretic measures of the whole transportation network can measure the accessibility index of the area. Finally, the development suitability of the area can be calculated by combining the environmental suitability index and the accessibility index. The level of domination result signifies the most suitable station/node for different types of development. Based on the results, policymakers and planners can determine an ecofragile area's future land use development as required. This model can further be adopted by local governing authorities to plan for zoning, zoning regulations, and approval of a proposed development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Periodontal disease is the inflammation of the periodontal supporting structures of teeth. An index is an important tool of surveillance system based on the requirements of reliability, simplicity, and validity to screen oral health disease of the population. This paper aims to discuss on various indices formulated to measure periodontal disease from past to present. This paper reviews indices and different recording systems used to measure periodontal diseases at the population level by retrieving articles, selecting, writing, and summarizing the article. The advantages and disadvantages of various indices used for measuring periodontal disease are discussed in this article. Community Periodontal Index is the most widely accepted index used in larger research studies. However, presently, clinical attachment loss is a widely accepted tool for the diagnosis of periodontal disease. Future advances in new screening methods will be able to provide new opportunities in the diagnosis of active and progressive periodontal disease, which will further help in more precise screening of periodontal disease in larger research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a methodology for assessing the level of energy security for individual territories in countries. The most significant energy security indices for such an analysis are formulated and used to illustrate a method proposed to obtain an integrated assessment of the energy security state for the regions of Russia. A method for determining the specific weights of indicators in the general system of their value is presented. The application of the developed methodology for analyzing the main trends and the scale of changes in the state of energy security of Russian regions is shown on the example of the Siberian Federal District. Conclusions about the energy security state in these regions are made, and the reasons for the related negative trends are presented. The presented indicative analysis allows identifying the problems in various aspects of energy security in the regions and helps develop measures to improve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indices are often used to model theoretical concepts in economics and finance. Beyond the econometric models used to test the relationships between these variables, partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) allows the study of complex models, but it is an estimator that is still in its infancy in economics and finance research. Thus, the use of PLS-PM for composite analysis needs to be explored further. As one such attempt, this paper is focused on the determination of the indices' optimum weights. For this purpose, the effects of the market potential index (MPI) on foreign direct investment (FDI) and gross domestic product (GDP) were analysed by implementing different weighting schemes. The assessment of the model shows that PLS Mode B leads to better model fit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a global threat to public health. Increasingly, the impact of drought on mental health and wellbeing is being recognized. This paper investigates the relationship between drought and well-being to determine which drought indices most effectively capture well-being outcomes. A thorough understanding of the relationship between drought and well-being must consider the (i) three aspects of drought (duration, frequency, and magnitude); (ii) different types of drought (meteorological, agricultural, etc.); and (iii) the individual context of specific locations, communities, and sectors. For this reason, we used a variety of drought types, drought indices, and time windows to identify the thresholds for wet and dry epochs that enhance and suppress impacts to well-being. Four postcodes in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, are used as case studies in the analysis to highlight the spatial variability in the relationship between drought and well-being. The results demonstrate that the relationship between drought indices and well-being outcomes differs temporally, spatially, and according to drought type. This paper objectively tests the relationship between commonly used drought indices and wellbeing outcomes to establish whether current methods of quantifying drought effectively capture well-being outcomes. For funding, community programs, and interventions to result in successful adaptation, it is essential to critically choose which drought index, time window, and well-being outcome to use in empirical studies. The uncertainties associated with these relationships must be accounted for, and it must also be realized that results will differ on the basis of these decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological developments over the last two decades have allowed researchers to employ advanced tracking technologies to collect high-resolution spatial and temporal data. Despite the extensive use of these technologies in tourism research, they have not yet been applied to the existing indicators of tourism demand. The current paper aims to fill this lacuna, proposing the use of tracking technologies to measure tourist activity in destinations and, in particular, extreme conditions such as tourist saturation and overtourism. It introduces a new index for tourism demand, the Intensity-Density Index (IDI), based on high-resolution data in time and space. After presenting an overview of the common indicators for measuring tourism demand, the most common indicators, the Tourism Intensity Rate (TIR) and the Tourism Density Rate (TDR), are calculated twice, using traditional methods and advanced tracking technologies. The second calculation is based on a unique survey conducted in Israel between 2015 and 2017, which included some 3,000 tourists whose activity in the destination was documented entirely on a national level and at high resolution. Finally, the methodology for calculating high-resolution (HR) indicators using GPS data is presented, resulting in the IDI. Advanced tracking technologies' use in calculating the IDI not only helps present tourism activity more accurately in terms of time and space but can also be applied in tourism management to serve as a tool for effective planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible–near-infrared–shortwave-infrared (VNIR–SWIR) spectroscopy is one of the most promising sensing techniques to meet ever-growing demands for soil information and data. To ensure the successful application of this technique in the field, efficient methods for tackling detrimental moisture effects on soil spectra are critical. In this paper, mathematical techniques for reducing or removing the effects of soil moisture content (SMC) from spectra are reviewed. The reviewed techniques encompass the most common spectral pre-processing and algorithms, as well as less frequently reported methods including approaches within the remote sensing domain. Examples of studies describing their effectiveness in the search for calibration model improvement are provided. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques are summarized. Future research including further studies on a wider range of soil types, in-field conditions, and systematic experiments considering several SMC levels to enable the definition of threshold values for the effectiveness of the discussed methods is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroinvertebrates are used as bioindicators worldwide, but the high diversity of macroinvertebrate species and endemism in Latin America (LA) requires greater knowledge of this group to increase the effectiveness of biomonitoring. We examined some of the primary taxonomic and ecological studies on macroinvertebrates in the region, quantified the number of papers that used foreign and local indices, examined alternative approaches to bioassessment that may be more relevant for the region, and explored freshwater ecosystem management in LA. Here, we highlight the need to increase taxonomic knowledge and the number of specialists in local fauna, establish and maintain taxonomic collections in public institutions, and make online databases on the biodiversity in each country available. However, we also demonstrate that taxonomy specialists of different nationalities do collaborate on the generation of fundamental information about biodiversity in LA. We found that 57% of the 215 reviewed scientific articles from LA used foreign but locally adapted indices for biomonitoring aquatic ecosystems. Only 21% of these articles presented local indices developed in LA. New technologies, such as environmental DNA, offer substantial potential for bioassessment but only in regions where sufficient taxonomic knowledge exists and where species-level stressor–response relationships are well described. In the absence of more complete taxonomic records, there could be some value in developing biological trait and multimetric indices, and occupancy models could be developed to analyze the relationship between taxa and stress factors. These tools could be adopted by researchers to generate more accurate biotic indices based on local taxa. Finally, in LA, bioindicators are used to support scientific research more often than as environmental monitoring tools. Environmental laws and regulations that support the biomonitoring of LA freshwaters and unified criteria for evaluating and monitoring aquatic ecosystems are essential to face regional and global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ficus L. is a genus in Moraceae with 115 taxa from all over India and plays a key role in Indian ethnobotany. The Khasi and Jaintia hill in Meghalaya is rich in flora including the genus Ficus L. and have diverse cultures among local tribes. The uses, coverage, and cultural importance of Ficus can be expressed through several quantitative ethnobiological indices such as TIV, RFC, CI, and UV. This paper highlights the indices for ten species of Ficus used by the tribal people in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya which shows that the genus has higher ethnobotanical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liveability is a multi-dimensional and hierarchical concept which consists of various criteria and sub-criteria and may be evaluated in different ways. The aim of this study was to systematically review indicators and methods used for the evaluation of urban liveability in literature. The five-stage methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley was used to conduct this scoping review. A systematic search of electronic databases, including Scopus, Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Web of Science and EBSCO was done until May 29, 2019. Web searching, searching reference lists and hand searching was also conducted to retrieve more relevant articles. Two reviewers screened the papers for eligibility based on the inclusion criteria and extracted their key data and reported them descriptively. Sixty seven (67) out of 3,599 papers met the selection criteria. This review showed five distinct domains considered to be important components of liveability. These were Economical, Environmental, Institutional, Social, and Governance (Political) domains. The most important subdomains (indices) which were frequently applied in various studies were Environmental friendliness and Sustainability, Socio-Cultural Conditions and Economic Vibrancy and Competitiveness. We also identified seven different methodologies and six ranking tools used for assessing urban liveability. Among the quantitative methods, three methods accounted for 89.6% of the articles. These methods were the Analytical hierarchy process and entropy (AHP; n=24; 50%), Factor analysis & Principle Component Analysis (FA & PCA; n=12; 25%) and Spatial Multi-criteria Decision-making Method (Spatial; n=7; 14.6%). Among the ranking tools used, three ranking tools accounted for 65.4% of the articles. These tools were the Livable City Scientific Evaluation Standards (LCSES; n=9; 34.6%), The Global Liveable Cities Index (GLCI; n=4; 15.4%) and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU; n=4; 15.4%). This paper discusses and summarizes the latest indicators and methods used for determining urban liveability. The information offered in the review can help future investigators to decide which method suits their purpose and situation better and measure urban liveability more systematically than before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity elimination is a major focus of the Sustainable Development Goals and addresses one of the most pressing needs in developing countries. With the increasing incidence of food insecurity, poverty, and inequalities, there is a need for realignment of agriculture that aims to empower especially the rural poor smallholders by increasing productivity to improving food security conditions. Repositioning the agricultural sector should avoid general statements about production improvement, instead, it should tailor to location-specific recommendations that fully acknowledge the local spatial diversity of the natural resource base that largely determines production potentials under current low input agriculture. This paper aims to deconstruct the complex and multidimensional aspect of food insecurity and provides policymakers with an approach for mapping the spatial dimension of food insecurity. Using a set of GIS-based indicators, and a small-area approach, we combine Principal Component Analysis and GIS spatial analysis to construct one composite index and four individual indices based on the four dimensions of food security (access, availability, stability, and utilization) to map the spatial dimension of food insecurity in Vihiga County, Kenya. Data were collected by the use of a geocoded household survey questionnaire. The results reveal the existence of a clear and profound spatial disparity of food insecurity. Mapping food insecurity using individual dimension indices provides a more detailed picture of food insecurity as compared to the single composite index. Spatially disaggregated data, a small area approach, and GIS-based indicators prove valuable for mapping local-level causative factors of household food insecurity. Effective policy approaches to combat food insecurity inequalities should integrate spatially targeted interventions for each dimension of food insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to find out whether the sensitivity of occupancy of hotels and pensions in relation to the established seasonal patterns was significantly different in 2022 compared to the pre-pandemic period. For this purpose, pre-pandemic seasonal behaviour patterns of visitors to hotel and other accommodation establishments by region in the Czech Republic are first identified. Subsequently, the relationship between the occupancy of hotels and pensions in individual regions and the seasonal patterns found is modelled. The results show that the regions of the Czech Republic can be divided into several groups in terms of seasonality: no peak, one peak and two peaks. Cultural tourism tends to eliminate more pronounced seasonal dips. Furthermore, the results show that the occupancy of hotels and pensions in relation to the seasonal behaviour of residents is the same in all regions in the post-pandemic period as in the pre-pandemic period. In the case of non-resident visitors, there were slight changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In the sports field, soccer included, performance is often influenced by a number of factors, such as visual abilities and also agility. Aims. The paper aims to investigate and determine the relationship between the indices of visual reaction and agility in 12-13-year-old soccer players. Methods. The subjects of the research were 26 soccer players aged 12-13 years, from the Otopeni Sports Club. The visual reaction at the lower limbs level was determined using the OptoJump Next Platform. Measured indices: TReac. (reaction time) of left and right foot (sec). For agility - Witty SEM system with smart semaphores. Measured indices (sec): Lap L1-10, mean Laps and Time. Results. Analysis of visual reaction indices revealed a better performance in the right foot compared with the left one. Agility assessment highlights a mean of Laps of 4.82 sec, with significant differences of minimum and maximum values between Laps, indicating diverse levels of agility development in young soccer players. Correlation analysis of the indices of visual reaction and agility shows weak and non-existent connections between them, except for strong correlations at some distinct points. The need for specific training to improve both abilities in 12-13-year-old soccer players is thus demonstrated. Conclusions. The results of the study show that soccer players aged 12-13 years have differences in their visual performance and feet agility, with a faster visual reaction of the right foot. The various levels of agility development highlight the necessity to organize specific training for both abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: One of the most significant contributors to lower extremity degeneration alterations and its effects on balance and sports performance is dynamic knee valgus (DKV) as a faulty movement pattern. Different exercise interventions have been conducted to improve DKV. Extensive research and meta-objective analysis were conducted to assess how exercise interventions affected people with lower extremity functional indicators of DKV. Methods: The electronic databases Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), PubMed, Google Scholar, and Iranian databases SID and Magiran were systematically searched from inception to September 2021. Only full-text articles published in English/Persian peer-reviewed journals that met this study criterion were tracked. Two researchers evaluated the methodological quality of research findings separately, employing the Downs and Black Checklist. After collecting significant data from eligible studies, the results were integrated by applying a random-effects meta-analysis approach. Results: The final systematic review and meta-analysis comprised seven of the 3470 papers deemed potentially relevant. The outcome illustrates that different exercise interventions may be effective in improving dynamic balance (SD=0.93 degrees, 95%CI: 0.54-1.32, P<0.001) and functional performance (Hedge's g=1.695, 95% CI=1.22-2.17, Z=6.99, P<0.001) in 250 DKV participants. Conclusion: Exercise interventions appear to be an effective method to enhance dynamic balance and functional performance in individuals experiencing DKV; nevertheless, these results should be regarded as preliminary due to the limited number of studies and their limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today purchasing goods or services online is a regular activity. That is why in this paper we have analyzed the evolution of the online purchases of the individuals in the EU countries from 2010 until 2021 in accordance with the latest data provided by the Eurostat Database. For that we used charts, dynamic indices, and dynamic rhythms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many topological indices are closely related to chemical and physical properties, especially types of chemical structures that are characterized by the forms of chains of special chemical structures including hexacyclic, pentagonal, and tetracyclic structures. In 1947, the first chemist to find a relationship between topological index is called the Wiener index which was named after the chemical scientist Harold Wiener. He introduced the Wiener index to find a relationship between physic and chemical properties of chemical structures of molecular graphs. Then, the Hosoya polynomial in chemistry was found by Haruo Hosoya in 1988, through which the Wiener index was found, by finding the derivative of this polynomial and then substituting for the value of the variable with one. Therefore, our aim in this paper was to talk about other topological indices called Schultz and modified Schultz indices with mentioning their polynomials and to find general formulas for each of them for an alternating chain of quaternary and hexagonal rings, which have some applications in chemistry. Also, a program was made using the Mathematica program to find the polynomials, indices, and sketches of them with respect to the Schultz distance. The first researcher to talk about the Schultz index was Harry Schultz in 1989 and the first to talk about the modified Schultz index were Sandi Klav?zar and Ivan Gutman in 1997. Finally, many types of research are found Schultz and modified Schultz to Lots of graphs and operations defined on it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research paper aims to improve the methodology platform and engage language students. The study's main aim is to optimize the effectiveness of the learning process. Therefore, the authors of the article focused on solving the following tasks: 1) to revise the theoretical linguistic semiotics and lingua didactic approaches to understanding the notion of film/cinema; 2) to design the model of the neurolinguistic semiotics structure of a film; 3) to formulate the practical recommendations for applying the criterion of ecological impact to select authentic teaching video materials; 4) to experimentally prove their expediency. We utilize both general scientific research tools and unique experimental methods. We use observation, description, analysis, synthesis, generalization, and systemization, applied neurolinguistic programming (NLP), and lingua didactic techniques. We use the first group of strategies to formulate the theoretical basis of the work, logical arrangement of scientific facts, expression of conclusions, and qualification of actual material. With the help of the second group of methods, we design a model of the neurolinguistic semiotic structure of the film and experimentally verify its effectiveness in the teaching process. The main results: 1) the range of impact varieties is in the following way: weak degree - persuasion, moderate - suggestion, moderate and considerate - manipulation; 2) symbols are oriented to suggestive impact, copies - to suggestive and persuasion impact, indices - to the ability to actualize all impact varieties, including manipulations; 3) the use of publicist documentaries with persuasive and suggestive elements helps to increase student activity in the classroom. The significance of the work is that its results can be helpful to language teachers in the selecting of educational video materials for students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flash drought (FD) event is a relatively new form of severe occurrence, described by the quick onset and intensification of drought situations with serious consequences. This paper aims to understand the wide variety of studies and serve as a basis for future research potentials of FDs. An effort has been made to understand the advantages and limitations of the existing indices used for FD identification. A study in India was carried out for the identification of FDs using daily gridded data of soil moisture for eight days (octad). The results reveal that the Indus basin faced around 82% and the Cauvery basin faced about 88% of severe FDs during the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons, respectively. Additionally, the results show that the Indus basin faces FD in the monsoon season since the basin has mostly barren areas and wasteland. This review also highlights the role of humidity, wind and radiation, soil characteristics, climate oscillations, and the relation between FDs and heavy-rainfall-induced flash floods. Furthermore, the paper has depicted some specific research-needs to monitor, forecast, plan, and respond with crucial points. HIGHLIGHTS This study discusses the most extensive indices used to identify FDs.; A study is carried out in India to identify FDs using daily gridded soil moisture data for eight days (octad).; The study briefly explains the factors that need to be included in identifying and monitoring FDs.; The study also depicts the crucial points for future research-needs to monitor, forecast, plan, and respond to FDs.;

An index is a tool for comparing a phenomenon or several phenomena dating back to different periods to know the amount of change in the phenomena or the difference between them. For example, we compare the price of a commodity in a particular year with its price in a given year, compare the prices of a group of commodities in one year with their prices in another year, or compare the price of a commodity in two different places. For example, we compare the price of a commodity in one city with its price in another city. This paper presents a study of these Indices from a neutrosophic point of view. Which allows us to study Indices with uncertain or non-welldefined price data. In addition, access to results that determine the extent of the change in prices as accurately as possible, and thus the optimal planning for the next stage and the development of appropriate solutions. An applied example was presented to study the change in the prices of pesticides used to combat the "vine stem borer" insect using the neutrosophic Indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many price indices are constructed using bilateral transaction prices. This paper shows how the time series behavior of cross‐sectional price moments can reveal useful information about pricing behavior in bilateral transactions markets. Inference is formalized in a microlevel price determination model that allows for rigid pricing at the level of individual buyer/seller transactions as well as asymmetries in bargaining power. The model is used to estimate pricing rigidities in Norwegian salmon export transactions. Results suggest a high rate of price revisions and an informative salmon price index. The moments suggest price revisions are conducted at fixed time intervals consistent with optimal price revisions under costly information and that price revisions are more likely when transaction prices are below the reference price in the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Algeria forest, particularly in the northeastern region, has undergone profound changes in recent years. The Oued Bouhamdane watershed has a great forest potential, which is threatened by several factors of natural and human origin, resulting in a decrease in forest cover. It requires adequate forest monitoring to support the sustainable forest management of this watershed, which is possible thanks to satellite imagery. The objective of this research is to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of the vegetation cover of the Oued Bouhamdane watershed between 2013 and 2022 using remote sensing data. This study is based on the use of Landsat 8 and 9 images for two dates in 2013 and 2022, and the calculation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to identify changes in vegetation cover between 2013 and 2022. The calculation of NDVI and the realization of the vegetation change map showed a regression of the forest cover between 2013 and 2022 with a rate of -5.53% of the total of the study area with a general negative change of 28.62% of the study area. This regression is essentially linked to natural and anthropogenic factors. This work can be a valuable tool for sustainable management of the forest of this watershed; moreover, the method is also adaptable to other watersheds of the northeastern region of Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was performed during 2002-2007, on 86 Romanian Spotted primiparous cows, structured function of the dairy production level and number of milking. The time interval when their maximum lactation was noticed, in three consecutive days, was considered for recording the main qualitative and quantitative traits. On 19 of those primiparous cows, structured by two production levels and milking intervals, the main morpho-functional traits of the udder and its suitability for the mechanic milking were studied. On five primiparous, during the same lactation interval, the same quantitative traits were studied in dynamics by 5 samples each, during two milking time interval, on 22 samples in morning milking, respectively. The results were calculated and statistically interpreted, and they are synthetically presented in 5 tables and 3 graphics. The main aspects resulted from our research emphasized some qualitative and quantitative traits, their evolution and effect of the production level and number of milking. We also priority emphasized the main milk components in evolution by milking and possibility of fractionate valuating of the trade milk by valuation destinations.

Observations were made in several Mangalitsa farm from Hungary and Romania on Red, Blonde and Swallow-bellied varieties. Body measurements were performed on a total of 175 individuals of Mangalitsa and Mangalitsa x Duroc hybrids. There are differences in physical development among Mangalitsa varieties: blond variety has the best body development followed by red and swallow-bellied varieties. The average body weight for Mangalitsa pigs was 109.03±1.4 kg and the thoracic perimeter 115.18±0.95 cm. Results obtained indicate that body development of Mangalitsa pigs from Hungary area, are close to the breed standard. In average height at withers was 65.87±2.09 cm, while height at back was 72.59±1.2 cm. Low coefficient of variation for both measurements (CV%=1.83 for withers heigh and 1.52% for back height) indicate that pigs populations in which measurements were made are very homogeneous.

The study used the technique based on remote sensing to analyze and study the dynamics of an alfalfa crop and to estimate the production of fresh biomass in the climatic conditions of the agricultural year 2021-2022. Alfalfa culture in year III, was under non-irrigated cultivated conditions, in the perimeter of DER, University of Life Sciences "King Michael I" from Timisoara, Romania. A period between March 22 and July 23, 2022 was considered, the period during which 14 sets of images from the Sentinel 2 system were acquired. Based on the spectral information contained in the images, the MSAVI, NDMI, NDVI and NBR indices were calculated to characterize the dynamics of the alfalfa crop and estimate the production of fresh biomass. Three harvests (mowing) were made, on May 25 with a production of 10 t ha-1 fresh biomass, on July 1 with a production of 7.5 t ha-1 fresh biomass and on July 26 with a production of 7.5 t ha-1 fresh biomass. Spline models have described most accurately and under statistical safety conditions ( ε̅ = 0.000493 for MSAVI; ε̅ = 0.391963 for NDMI; ε̅ = 0.002972 for NDVI; ε̅ = 0.006759 for NBR) the dynamics of the indices calculated in relation to the time during the study period, also associated with the moments of fresh biomass harvested. The regression analysis facilitated obtaining predictive models of fresh biomass production, under statistical safety conditions (RMSEP=0.019289 for the combination of MSAVI and NDMI). 3D and isoquants graphic models described the variation of biomass production in relation to the pairs of indices used in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal disease is the inflammation of the periodontal supporting structures of teeth. An index is an important tool of surveillance system based on the requirements of reliability, simplicity, and validity to screen oral health disease of the population. This paper aims to discuss on various indices formulated to measure periodontal disease from past to present. This paper reviews indices and different recording systems used to measure periodontal diseases at the population level by retrieving articles, selecting, writing, and summarizing the article. The advantages and disadvantages of various indices used for measuring periodontal disease are discussed in this article. Community Periodontal Index is the most widely accepted index used in larger research studies. However, presently, clinical attachment loss is a widely accepted tool for the diagnosis of periodontal disease. Future advances in new screening methods will be able to provide new opportunities in the diagnosis of active and progressive periodontal disease, which will further help in more precise screening of periodontal disease in larger research studies.

The transformation regulation of the radial finite Airy-Gaussian beam array (FAiGBA) in uniaxial crystals orthogonal to the optical axis has been explored analytically and numerically under the paraxial approximation. The analytical evolution solution of this beam array in the x- and y-directions has been derived, respectively. The intensity distribution and side view of FAiGBA propagating in three types of uniaxial crystals have been demonstrated in several instances. Furthermore, particular attention has been devoted to the linear effect when this beam array transmits through the electro-optic crystal. The influence of non-paraxial longitudinal component and temperature on FAiGBA evolution characteristics has also been examined to verify the validity of the paraxial mechanism of this beam array propagating in uniaxial crystals. It is anticipated that these research findings will contribute to the advancement of FAiGBA applications in micro- and nano-control, optical fiber communication, optical trapping, and manipulation fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In connection with the growing spatial unevenness of socioeconomic development in Russia, empirical assessments of the activities of the public sector at the regional level are of scientific interest. Russia is a federal state in which all subjects have equal status; therefore, it is assumed that the state should strive to perform its functions equally throughout the country. A review of research into the activities of the public sector showed a lack of studies on its comprehensive assessment using Russian data at a regional level, which determined the aim of this study. The proposed assessment methodology is based on construction of a composite index of 74 indicators of socioeconomic development of regions for 2011–2020, in the formation of which the public sector plays a significant role. The PSP (Public Sector Performance) assessment methodology was modified by the authors by increasing the number of indicators considered and changing the standardization method, taking into account the characteristics of the data set. A procedure was also applied for assigning various weights to indicators through expert assessment of the state's influence on them. A composite PSP index by region and subindices for eight blocks were calculated: Transport Infrastructure; Healthcare; Education, Science and Innovation; Sports and Culture; Social support; Safety; Ecology; and Economic Development. The Gini coefficient indicates low differentiation of PSP in Russian regions, although the leaders of the final ranking are Moscow and St. Petersburg by a significant margin. The gap behind the leaders is more pronounced in the first three blocks. Authorities can use the results to identify weaknesses of regions, and sectoral spatial gaps; to develop directions for correcting government programs; and to determine the pool of interregional interactions in order to transfer the best administrative cases, projects, and practices from leading regions in the corresponding areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper posits a distinction between plain definite DPs and indexed definite DPs: only the latter have a syntactically represented referential index, an idxP, in [Spec, DP]. After sketching a theory of idx as a cross-categorial feature of pro-forms, the paper argues that anaphoric definites, complex demonstratives (e.g. that linguist), and pronominal definites (e.g. we linguists) have idxP specifiers in [Spec, DP]. The second part of the paper presents a case study from anaphoric definite DPs in Marka-Dafing (Mande) which provides evidence for this proposal. We examine a co-occurrence restriction between exophoric and anaphoric demonstratives in Marka-Dafing, concluding that this restriction provides additional support for a syntactically represented idxP in [Spec, DP], as well as motivating the Single Index Constraint, the idea that indexed definites can only make use of a single index to achieve reference.

In this study, 15 sampling sites were set up in Dongting Lake, a typical river-connected lake in China, to investigate water quality and diatioms in March, June, September and December from year 2017 to 2022. Seven diatom indices, including relative abundance of diatoms (RAD), percentage motile diatoms (PMD), generic diatom index (GDI), diatom quotient (DU), pollution tolerance index for diatoms (PTI), trophic diatom index (TDI), and Pampean diatom index (IDP), were selected to screen the adaptability of water quality assessment comparing with the Nemero index (NI), which is simple to calculate and has always been the main method for water quality assessment in Dongting Lake. The results from 2017 to 2019 showed that the diatom density in Dongting Lake ranged from 0.7 × 104 to 85.5 × 104 ind./L, with a certain decreasing trend. The spatial and temporal changes of some water quality factors were obvious, just like the temperature of water (WT), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+–N), dissolved oxygen (DO) and the comprehensive trophic level index (∑TLI) ranged from 45.99 to 50.72, with an average value of 47.85, indicating that the overall condition of Dongting Lake was medium nutrition. Correlation analysis showed that PTI, RAD and PMD could represent the information of DU, GDI, TDI and IDP, and were significantly positively correlated with DO (p < 0.01), while significantly negatively correlated with electrical conductivity (Cond), potassium permanganate (CODMn), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) and ∑TLI (p < 0.001). The index verification results from year 2020 to 2022 showed that PTI, RAD and PMD were all significantly positively correlated with NI (p < 0.001). Taking into account the data integrity of the index calculation and the difficulty degree, RAD was finally selected as the biological indicator for evaluating the water quality of Dongting Lake. The results of this study provide a new path or alternative method for water quality assessment of the river-connected lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canine lymphoma is the most common hematopoietic cancer in dogs. Numerous studies have evaluated the prognostic value of hematological abnormalities and ratios in both humans and dogs with lymphoma. Aim: To compare hematological parameters and complete blood count ratios between a population of dogs affected by lymphoma and healthy dogs to identify potential prognostic markers for lymphoma. Methods: This retrospective case-control study compares hematological parameters and complete blood count ratios between a population of 114 dogs affected by multicentric large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and 60 healthy dogs. Results: The study found several statistically significant differences between the hematological indices of LBCL dogs and healthy dogs, but no correlation between these parameters and the survival times of 78 dogs treated with chemotherapy Madison Wisconsin protocol. In addition, hematological alterations were evaluated such as anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. Conclusion: Hematological ratios have been suggested as potential prognostic markers for canine LBCL but their real prognostic value remains controversial and requires future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of field research, as well as the results of the use of remote-sensing data in the geochemical study of the soil cover of the Yertis River basin. In the work, the content of the gross form of heavy metals in the soil of the river basin was investigated. The atomic absorption method determined the content of the Poor configuration of elements of elements in soils. Statistical processing of the obtained data from N. A. Plokhinsky was carried out using the Statistica program. Also, using the performed indices in the remote sensing of clay minerals, iron oxides, and carbonates, the spatial distribution and comparison of pollutants in the soil cover of the river basin were revealed. The methods and means of image processing tested in this study can be used to create maps of the distribution of pollutants. Also, the data obtained reflect the patterns of distribution of heavy metals in the soils of the basin and can be used to optimize landscapes and improve the organization of ecological and geochemical monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let S M = { 0 , x , x 2 , ... , x n } be a monogenic semigroup with zero. Here, we consider the power graph ( M) over M with vertex set M ∗ = M \ { 0 } and two distinct vertices x i and x j are adjacent if i divides j or j divides i , where 1 ≤ i , j ≤ n. We compute various graph parameters of ( M) and topological indices based on distance of vertices. Finally, we compute some graph parameters of the cartesian product ( M 1) □ ( M 2) of graphs ( M 1) and ( M 2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current industrial operations pollute the world's land, water, and air with heavy metals. Metals' environmental behaviour and geographical distribution near the industrial production. Heavy metal contamination potential was assessed using geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, and other criteria. Heavy metal concentrations have increased due to industrial waste, geochemical shifts, agriculture, and mining. Modifying cell structure, heavy metals can harm and cause cancer. We need to develop and conduct comprehensive monitoring to determine if industrial production and mining is causing elevated heavy metal levels nearby area in the zone. This review shares contemporary heavy metal contamination on its nature, origin, and extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the initial diagnosis of urgent medical conditions, which include acute infectious diseases, it is important to assess the severity of the patient's clinical state as quickly as possible. Unlike individual biochemical or physiological indicators, derived indices make it possible to better characterize a complex syndrome as a set of symptoms, and therefore quickly take a set of adequate measures. Recently, we reported on novel diagnostic indices containing butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity, which is decreased in COVID-19 patients. Also, in these patients, the secretion of von Willebrand factor (vWF) increases, which leads to thrombosis in the microvascular bed. The objective of this study was the determination of the concentration and activity of vWF in patients with COVID-19, and the search for new diagnostic indices. One of the main objectives was to compare the prognostic values of some individual and newly derived indices. Patients with COVID-19 were retrospectively divided into two groups: survivors (n = 77) and deceased (n = 24). According to clinical symptoms and computed tomography (CT) results, the course of disease was predominantly moderate in severity. The first blood sample (first point) was taken upon admission to the hospital, the second sample (second point)—within 4–6 days after admission. Along with the standard spectrum of biochemical indicators, BChE activity (BChEa or BChEb for acetylthiocholin or butyrylthiocholin, respectively), malondialdehyde (MDA), and vWF analysis (its antigen level, AGFW, and its activity, ActWF) were determined and new diagnostic indices were derived. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), as well as Likelihood ratio (LR) and Odds ratio (OR) were calculated. The level of vWF antigen in the deceased group was 1.5-fold higher than the level in the group of survivors. Indices that include vWF antigen levels are superior to indices using vWF activity. It was found that the index [Urea] × [AGWF] × 1000/(BChEb × [ALB]) had the best discriminatory power to predict COVID-19 mortality (AUC = 0.91 [0.83, 1.00], p < 0.0001; OR = 72.0 [7.5, 689], p = 0.0002). In addition, [Urea] × 1000/(BChEb × [ALB]) was a good predictor of mortality (AUC = 0.95 [0.89, 1.00], p < 0.0001; OR = 31.5 [3.4, 293], p = 0.0024). The index [Urea] × [AGWF] × 1000/(BChEb × [ALB]) was the best predictor of mortality associated with COVID-19 infection, followed by [Urea] × 1000/(BChEb × [ALB]). After validation in a subsequent cohort, these two indices could be recommended for diagnostic laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An index is a tool for comparing a phenomenon or several phenomena dating back to different periods to know the amount of change in the phenomena or the difference between them. For example, we compare the price of a commodity in a particular year with its price in a given year, compare the prices of a group of commodities in one year with their prices in another year, or compare the price of a commodity in two different places. For example, we compare the price of a commodity in one city with its price in another city. This paper presents a study of these Indices from a neutrosophic point of view. Which allows us to study Indices with uncertain or non-well-defined price data. In addition, access to results that determine the extent of the change in prices as accurately as possible, and thus the optimal planning for the next stage and the development of appropriate solutions. An applied example was presented to study the change in the prices of pesticides used to combat the "vine stem borer" insect using the neutrosophic Indices.

Ficus L. is a genus in Moraceae with 115 taxa from all over India and plays a key role in Indian ethnobotany. The Khasi and Jaintia hill in Meghalaya is rich in flora including the genus Ficus L. and have diverse cultures among local tribes. The uses, coverage, and cultural importance of Ficus can be expressed through several quantitative ethnobiological indices such as TIV, RFC, CI, and UV. This paper highlights the indices for ten species of Ficus used by the tribal people in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya which shows that the genus has higher ethnobotanical value.

Educational stakeholders in Brunei are not exempted from the search for innovative instructional approaches as a tool to stem the tide of poor performance of students in mathematics. This study was designed to contribute to this national project by examining the impact of a digital escape game intervention on students' mathematics performance and affective constructs. Using a mixed methods approach, we generated both quantitative and qualitative data from 32 secondary school students who took part in the intervention study. The comparison between the pre-test and post-test scores of students shows a substantial improvement in the performance of students with different ability levels. Further analysis of the generated interview and questionnaire data reveals that the digital escape game reinforces students' interest in and enjoyment of mathematics, provides an avenue for students' collaborative learning and enhances students' communication skills while working together on mathematics tasks. These findings highlight the potential of the digital escape game in not only stemming the tide of poor performance in mathematics but also in enhancing students' motivational and social skills. In addition to students' positive perceptions of the digital escape game, there are some reservations about the clarity of instruction and the duration of the intervention. We discuss the implications of these findings for the teaching and learning of mathematics within and outside the Bruneian borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivations of this research are the continuation and intensification of drought effects on various socioeconomic sectors and the observation of few studies and no coordinated efforts to provide a compatible framework for drought risk management in different economic sectors and population groups of the study region. Present research was carried out to assess the vulnerability and population exposed to drought in Khorasan Razavi Province. Meteorological datasets for the years 1950–2020; drought indices including self-calibrating Palmer (scPDSI), standardized precipitation (SPI), and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration (SPEI); population and livestock density indicators; agricultural lands; water stress; and socioeconomic and infrastructural factors have been used. Results indicate that dry and wet periods were estimated to be more intense by SPEI in all studied stations; also, a significant difference was observed between the results of the SPI and SPEI indices in determining the long dry and wet periods. The highest variation between the occurrence of dry and wet periods was estimated using SPEI, which could be related to seasonal fluctuations of temperature and computational evapotranspiration. Although no significant correlation was observed between used indices to identify the number of wet months, a significant positive correlation exists between the numbers of dry months estimated by those. Drought risk analysis demonstrated that the central and southern parts of the province are exposed to very severe drought while the northern and northeastern parts of the area are more inclined to severe drought. The highest class of drought exposure is observed in the southern, central, and eastern regions of the province, so they represent the high-risk category of drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let C be an extriangulated category and τ be any n-cluster tilting subcategory of C . We consider the index with respect to τ and introduce the index Grothendieck group of τ. Using the index, we prove that the index Grothendieck group of τ is isomorphic to the Grothendieck group of C , which implies that the index Grothendieck groups of any two n-cluster tilting subcategories are isomorphic. In particular, we show that the split Grothendieck groups of any two 2-cluster tilting subcategories are isomorphic. Then we develop a general framework for c-vectors of 2-Calabi-Yau extriangulated categories with respect to arbitrary 2-cluster tilting subcategories. We show that the c-vectors have the sign-coherence property and provide some formulas for calculating c-vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural drought is a complex phenomenon with numerous consequences and negative implications for agriculture and food systems. The Sahel is frequently affected by severe droughts, leading to significant losses in agricultural yields. Consequently, assessing vulnerability to agricultural drought is essential for strengthening early warning systems. The aim of this study is to develop a new multivariate agricultural drought vulnerability index (MADVI) that combines static and dynamic factors extracted from satellite data. First, pixel temporal regression from 1981 to 2021 was applied to climatic and biophysical covariates to determine the gradients of trend magnitudes. Second, principal component analysis was applied to groups of factors that indicate the same type of vulnerability to configure the basic equation of vulnerability to agricultural drought. Then, random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbours (KNN), support vector machine (SVM) and naïve Bayes (NB) were used to predict drought vulnerability classes using the 28 factors as inputs and 708 pts of randomly distributed class labels. The results showed statistical agreement between the predicted MADVI spatial variability and the reference model (R=0.86 for RF) and its statistical relationships with the vulnerability subcomponents, with an R=0.73 with exposure to climate risk, R=0.64 with the socioeconomic sensitivity index, R=0.6 with the biophysical sensitivity index and a relatively weak correlation (R=0.21) with the physiographic sensitivity index. The overall vulnerability situation in the watershed is 21.8% extreme, 10% very high, 16.8% high, 27.7% moderate, 22.2% low and 1.5% relatively low considering the cartographic results of the predicted vulnerability classes with SVM having the best performance (accuracy=0.96, Kappa=0.95). The study is the first approach that uses the gradients of magnitudes of satellite covariate anomaly trends in multivariate modelling of vulnerability to agricultural drought. It can be easily scaled up across the Sahel region to improve early warning measures related to the impacts of agricultural drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to transform the previous erroneous ideas acquired by many of the students, a teaching outside the classroom is proposed, making the students themselves the ones who build their own knowledge from practice. Analyzing alpha, beta and gamma diversity, intrinsic alpha diversity must be measured through the characteristic species, gamma through the companion species, and beta through the gamma/alpha relationship, taking into account this relationship the lower the beta. The higher the conservation status of the community, if beta = 1 it means that there is a balance between characteristic species and companions, if beta is < 1 it means that there is a predominance of characteristic species over companions. As a result to be taken into consideration, it is observed in the inventory analysis that anthropic action is the cause of the changes in diversity, which translates into an instability of the association, being able to change one community for another. For this reason, we consider it is necessary to teach about the meaning of characteristic and companion species, since the student must know how to discern between both types of species, which leads us to learn the ecological niche of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]