The Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Macular Thickness in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus without Retinopathy Using Optical Coherence Tomography: A Comparative Study.

Introduction: Diabetes leads to an alteration in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and macular thickness which can easily be detected with optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Objectives: This study was done to compare the RNFL and macular thickness between diabetic patients without retinopathy and non-diabetic patients so that it would be useful in the early detection of retinal changes if present. The correlation between the RNFL and macular thickness with metabolic blood parameters of diabetic subjects was also studied.

A comparative analysis of hazard-prone housing acquisition programs in US and New Zealand communities.

This article describes the preliminary results of an international comparative assessment of hazard-prone housing acquisition programs (buyouts) undertaken in six US and New Zealand communities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with government officials and consultants tasked with administering buyout programs following flood, debris flow, and earthquake-based disasters. Key issues analyzed include local capacity, public participation, planning and design, program complexity, funding and financial management, and lesson drawing.