Risk Management Realized: The Case of the National Mall and Memorial Parks 2007 Independence Day Celebration

The purpose of this study is to present an analysis of the effectiveness of the checkpoint and safe haven system developed by the NPS, which was put to the test during the 2007 event. The open park space used for festival activities, combined with a severe lightening storm that occurred, created a life threatening situation that mandated complete evacuation of the National Mall. Therefore, as part of a larger study, researchers were able to provide detailed documentation regarding how well NPS facilities and services met the crisis challenge that emerged at the 2007 National Independence Day Celebration. Overall, the study found that the NPS evacuation plan worked effectively. The designated shelters utilized existing facilities near the festival area. These safe havens were accessible and comfortable. Further, the emergency headquarters area was well organized and included representatives from key organizations. Despite the overall success of the risk management plan, weaknesses were detected. Communication after the initial evacuation was extremely poor. While most visitors took the waiting period in stride, there were a number who exhibited frustration due to a complete lack of weather updates as well as an unknown plan of action for the remaining event. A structured means of providing ongoing information with the public during an evacuation waiting period is essential so that visitors can make informed decisions regarding whether to stay or leave. Managers of outdoor festivals around the globe are subject to the precarious temperament of Mother Nature. Much can be learned from analyzing large-scale events, where both the points of success and the areas in need of improvement can be applied to festivals of any scope

Program Quality, Service Quality, and Visitor Satisfaction within the Film Festival Context: Evaluating Major Film Festivals in Korea

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the overall competitiveness of the major six international film festivals in Korea using the constructs of program quality, service quality and visitor satisfaction. Specifically, this study aims to 1) identify the underlying dimensions of service quality in the film festival context, 2) examine the relationships among program quality, service quality, and visitor satisfaction, and 3) compare visitor satisfaction through service quality assessment between the local resident and non-resident visitors. The study identified five factors as most important dimensions of service quality within the film festival: information service, auxiliary amenities (i.e., other events or a variety of souvenirs), quality of facilities, program quality, and accessibility. The results of the study are consistent with the previous studies in that program quality is an important factor to the success of the film festivals overall. The results of the study suggest, however, that program quality is not a most decisive factor in satisfying all types of visitors. Visitors who came from the outside region considered the quality of facilities as the vital factor to their satisfaction. It indicates that the film festival tourism destinations that want to attract more out-of-region visitors should ensure and improve the visitor facilities before they plan a film festival in their destination. On the other hand, if the main purpose of the film festival is to serve local residents, festival organizers and destination marketers should focus more on the information service including promotion of the event to the locals as well as signage, brochures, and event staff training. Failure or success of the film festival tourism depends not only on the high quality of program or service but also on the delivery of the high quality service attributes pertaining to the specific visitor needs

Quantum dots formed in three-dimensional Dirac semimetal Cd3_3As2_2 nanowires

We demonstrate quantum dot (QD) formation in three-dimensional Dirac semimetal Cd$_{3}$As$_{2}$ nanowires using two electrostatically tuned p$-$n junctions with a gate and magnetic fields. The linear conductance measured as a function of gate voltage under high magnetic fields is strongly suppressed at the Dirac point close to zero conductance, showing strong conductance oscillations. Remarkably, in this regime, the Cd$_{3}$As$_{2}$ nanowire device exhibits Coulomb diamond features, indicating that a clean single QD forms in the Dirac semimetal nanowire. Our results show that a p$-$type QD can be formed between two n$-$type leads underneath metal contacts in the nanowire by applying gate voltages under strong magnetic fields. Analysis of the quantum confinement in the gapless band structure confirms that p$-$n junctions formed between the p$-$type QD and two neighboring n$-$type leads under high magnetic fields behave as resistive tunnel barriers due to cyclotron motion, resulting in the suppression of Klein tunneling. The p$-$type QD with magnetic field-induced confinement shows a single hole filling. Our results will open up a route to quantum devices such as QDs or quantum point contacts based on Dirac and Weyl semimetals

Association of epicardial fat with left ventricular diastolic function in subjects with metabolic syndrome: assessment using 2-dimensional echocardiography

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is related with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and poor cardiovascular outcome. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness, measured by echocardiography, is increased in subjects with MetS. However, the association of EAT with LV diastolic function has not been evaluated in subjects with MetS. Methods In this retrospective study, EAT thickness was measured in 1,486 consecutive asymptomatic patients with no known heart disease who had transthoracic echocardiography during a self-referred healthcare exam. Subjects with a history of ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy or significant valvular heart disease were excluded. LVDD was defined as E/e ratio ≥ 15. Subjects were grouped into two groups, those with MetS and those without. Results MetS was present in 346 subjects. There was no difference in LV systolic function between the two groups. However compared to patients without MetS, patients with MetS had larger left atrium (LA) size and higher E/e ratio (38 ± 5 versus 35 ± 5 mm for LA and 10.0 ± 3.3 versus 8.7 ± 2.7 for E/e ratio in subjects with versus without MetS both p < 0.001). LVDD was found in 27 (7.8%) subjects with MetS, compared to 30 (2.6%) subjects without MetS (p < 0.001). In subjects with MetS, EAT was significantly correlated with LVDD, even after adjusting for other cardiometabolic risk factors such as age, systolic blood pressure, BMI, blood glucose and LDL cholesterol (OR 1.845, 95% CI 1.153-2.951, p = 0.011).This study was supported by Seoul National University Hospital (0420100700, 2010–1096).Peer Reviewe

Topological phase transition and surface states in a non-Abelian charged nodal line photonic crystal

Topological charges of nodal lines in a multigap system are represented by non-Abelian numbers, and the Euler class, a topological invariant, can be used to explain their topological phase transitions, such as pair-annihilation of nodal lines. Up until now, no discussion of phase transitions of nodal lines in photonic crystals using the Euler class has been reported, despite the fact that the Euler class and topological phase transition have recently been addressed in metallic or acoustic crystals. Here, we show how the deformation of a photonic crystal causes topological phase transitions in the nodal lines, and the Euler class can be used to theoretically predict the nodal lines’ stability based on the non-Abelian topological charge theory. Specifically, by manipulating the separation between the two single diamond structures and the extent of structural distortion, we numerically demonstrate the topological transition of nodal lines, e.g., from nodal lines to nodal rings. We then demonstrate that the range of surface states is strongly influenced by the topological phase transition of nodal lines. Moreover, the Zak phase was used to explain the surface states’ existence

Adenylyl cyclase-5 in the dorsal striatum function as a molecular switch for the generation of behavioral preferences for cue-directed food choices

BACKGROUND: Behavioral choices in habits and innate behaviors occur automatically in the absence of conscious selection. These behaviors are not easily modified by learning. Similar types of behaviors also occur in various mental illnesses including drug addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and autism. However, underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood. In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms regulating unconditioned preferred behaviors in food-choices. RESULTS: Mice lacking adenylyl cyclase-5 (AC5 KO mice), which is preferentially expressed in the dorsal striatum, consumed food pellets nearly one after another in cages. AC5 KO mice showed aversive behaviors to bitter tasting quinine, but they compulsively chose quinine-containing AC5 KO-pellets over fresh pellets. The unusual food-choice behaviors in AC5 KO mice were due to the gain of behavioral preferences for food pellets containing an olfactory cue, which wild-type mice normally ignored. Such food-choice behaviors in AC5 KO mice disappeared when whiskers were trimmed. Conversely, whisker trimming in wildtype mice induced behavioral preferences for AC5 KO food pellets, indicating that preferred food-choices were not learned through prior experience. Both AC5 KO mice and wildtype mice with trimmed whiskers had increased glutamatergic input from the barrel cortex into the dorsal striatum, resulting in an increase in the mGluR1-dependent signaling cascade. The siRNA-mediated inhibition of mGluR1 in the dorsal striatum in AC5 KO mice and wildtype mice with trimmed whiskers abolished preferred choices for AC5 KO food pellets, whereas siRNA-mediated inhibition of mGluR3 glutamate receptors in the dorsal striatum in wildtype mice induced behavioral preferences for AC5 KO food pellets, thus mimicking AC5 KO phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the gain and loss of behavioral preferences for a specific cue-directed option were regulated by specific cellular factors in the dorsal striatum, such that the preferred food choices were switched on when either the mGluR3-AC5 pathway was inactive or the mGluR1 pathway was active, whereas the preferred food-choices were switched off when mGluR1 or its downstream pathway was suppressed. These results identify the AC5 and mGluR system in the dorsal striatum as molecular on/off switches to direct decisions on behavioral preferences for cue-oriented options