The Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instruments (JEDI) on the Juno Jupiter polar-orbiting, atmosphere-skimming, mission to Jupiter will coordinate with the several other space physics instruments ...on the Juno spacecraft to characterize and understand the space environment of Jupiter’s polar regions, and specifically to understand the generation of Jupiter’s powerful aurora. JEDI comprises 3 nearly-identical instruments and measures at minimum the energy, angle, and ion composition distributions of ions with energies from H:20 keV and O: 50 keV to >1 MeV, and the energy and angle distribution of electrons from <40 to >500 keV. Each JEDI instrument uses microchannel plates (MCP) and thin foils to measure the times of flight (TOF) of incoming ions and the pulse height associated with the interaction of ions with the foils, and it uses solid state detectors (SSD’s) to measure the total energy (
E
) of both the ions and the electrons. The MCP anodes and the SSD arrays are configured to determine the directions of arrivals of the incoming charged particles. The instruments also use fast triple coincidence and optimum shielding to suppress penetrating background radiation and incoming UV foreground. Here we describe the science objectives of JEDI, the science and measurement requirements, the challenges that the JEDI team had in meeting these requirements, the design and operation of the JEDI instruments, their calibrated performances, the JEDI inflight and ground operations, and the initial measurements of the JEDI instruments in interplanetary space following the Juno launch on 5 August 2011. Juno will begin its prime science operations, comprising 32 orbits with dimensions 1.1×40 RJ, in mid-2016.
Providing real-time crowding information in urban railways would enable informed travel decisions and encourage cooperative behavior of passengers, as well as improve operating efficiency and safety. ...However, the problem of real-time crowding prediction is not trivial because of the unavailability of ground-truth crowding data, particularly for the direct impact of crowding on passengers (e.g., denied boarding on platforms). This paper proposes a data-driven method for real-time denied boarding prediction in urban railway systems using automated fare collection (AFC) and automated vehicle location (AVL) data. It predicts the denied boarding probability distribution or its derived metrics as a function of explanatory variables, including demand, operations, and incident-related factors. The method is validated through a case study covering 18 months on Hong Kong Mass Transit Railways. The results highlight the model’s accurate and robust performance in predicting denied boarding on platforms using purely AFC and AVL data (e.g., an average of 6%–7% error) under both recurrent and non-recurrent situations, in which transfer demand-related factors contribute most to the prediction. The prediction model outputs can support proactive operations control and management, as well as provision of customer information without relying on expensive and time-consuming data collection efforts. Customer information, for example, can include the average number of trains to wait before boarding or the average waiting time on the platform.
The Radiation Belt Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment (RBSPICE) on the two Van Allen Probes spacecraft is the magnetosphere ring current instrument that will provide data for answering the three ...over-arching questions for the Van Allen Probes Program: RBSPICE will determine “how space weather creates the storm-time ring current around Earth, how that ring current supplies and supports the creation of the radiation belt populations,” and how the ring current is involved in radiation belt losses. RBSPICE is a time-of-flight versus total energy instrument that measures ions over the energy range from ∼20 keV to ∼1 MeV. RBSPICE will also measure electrons over the energy range ∼25 keV to ∼1 MeV in order to provide instrument background information in the radiation belts. A description of the instrument and its data products are provided in this chapter.
The Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) Investigation is one of 5 fields-and-particles investigations on the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. MMS comprises 4 spacecraft flying in close ...formation in highly elliptical, near-Earth-equatorial orbits targeting understanding of the fundamental physics of the important physical process called magnetic reconnection using Earth’s magnetosphere as a plasma laboratory. EPD comprises two sensor types, the Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS) with one instrument on each of the 4 spacecraft, and the Fly’s Eye Energetic Particle Spectrometer (FEEPS) with 2 instruments on each of the 4 spacecraft. EIS measures energetic ion energy, angle and elemental compositional distributions from a required low energy limit of 20 keV for protons and 45 keV for oxygen ions, up to >0.5 MeV (with capabilities to measure up to >1 MeV). FEEPS measures instantaneous all sky images of energetic electrons from 25 keV to >0.5 MeV, and also measures total ion energy distributions from 45 keV to >0.5 MeV to be used in conjunction with EIS to measure all sky ion distributions. In this report we describe the EPD investigation and the details of the EIS sensor. Specifically we describe EPD-level science objectives, the science and measurement requirements, and the challenges that the EPD team had in meeting these requirements. Here we also describe the design and operation of the EIS instruments, their calibrated performances, and the EIS in-flight and ground operations. Blake et al. (The Flys Eye Energetic Particle Spectrometer (FEEPS) contribution to the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) investigation of the Magnetospheric Magnetoscale (MMS) Mission,
this issue
) describe the design and operation of the FEEPS instruments, their calibrated performances, and the FEEPS in-flight and ground operations. The MMS spacecraft will launch in early 2015, and over its 2-year mission will provide comprehensive measurements of magnetic reconnection at Earth’s magnetopause during the 18 months that comprise orbital phase 1, and magnetic reconnection within Earth’s magnetotail during the about 6 months that comprise orbital phase 2.
Background
Liver transplantation with livers grafts from elderly donors has been associated with a higher risk of biliary complications. The aim of this study was to examine whether our national ...protocol could contribute to a lower incidence of biliary complications.
Methods
All adult recipients in the Netherlands transplanted with a liver from an elderly donor (≥65 yrs; n = 68) in the period January 2000–July 2011 were matched with recipients of a liver from a donor <65 yr (n = 136). Outcome parameters were 90‐d, one‐yr, and three‐yr patient/graft survival rates, biliary complications (non‐anastomotic stricture, anastomotic stricture, biliary leakage, and post‐transplant cholangitis), and postoperative hepatic ischemic injury serum markers (AST/ALT).
Results
The median cold ischemia time (CIT) was 7:25 (h:min) in the group recipients of an elderly donor liver graft. Ninety‐day, one‐yr, and three‐yr patient/graft survival rates were similar between the group with an elderly donor liver and their younger controls. Moreover, no differences were found in the incidence of biliary complications and postoperative levels of AST/ALT between the two groups.
Conclusion
Transplantation of livers from elderly donors (≥65 yr) is not associated with a higher incidence of biliary complications, in a national policy wherein the CIT is kept short.
Background: Nonanastomotic biliary strictures (NAS) are a serious complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in connective tissue ...remodelling in chronic liver disease and complications after OLT.
Aim: To evaluate the relationship between MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 gene polymorphisms and NAS.
Methods: MMP‐2 (−1306 C/T) and MMP‐9 (−1562 C/T) gene promoter polymorphisms were analysed in 314 recipient–donor combinations. Serum levels of these MMPs were determined in subgroups of patients as well. NAS were identified with various radiological imaging studies performed within 4 years after OLT and defined as any stricture, dilation or irregularity of the intra‐ or extrahepatic bile ducts of the liver graft followed by an intervention, after exclusion of hepatic artery thrombosis and anastomotic strictures.
Results: The average incidence of NAS was 15%. The major clinical risk factor for the development of NAS was PSC in the recipient. The presence of the MMP‐2 CT genotype in donor and/or recipient was associated with a significantly higher incidence of NAS, up to 29% when both donor and recipient had the MMP‐2 CT genotype (P=0.003). In the multivariate analyses, pre‐OLT PSC (hazard ratio 2.1, P=0.02) and MMP‐2 CT genotype (hazard ratio 3.5, P=0.003) were found to be independent risk factors for the development of NAS after OLT. No obvious association was found between NAS and the MMP‐9 genotype and serum levels of the MMPs.
Conclusion: MMP‐2 CT genotype of donor and recipient is an independent risk factor, in addition to PSC, for the development of NAS after OLT.
Abstract Pouch colon anomaly and high anorectal malformation are well-defined rare anomalies. The association of pouch colon anomaly with rectal atresia has previously been defined in only one case. ...In this study, a 2-day-old baby is presented with pouch colon anomaly without fistula and with rectal atresia. As a second case in the literature, this pathologic condition has been treated through the abdominotransanal route by using a single-stage endorectal coloanal pull-through. Being uncommon and having an important therapeutic approach, this case has been evaluated as worth presenting.
Hepatic pseudocyst formation is a rare intra-abdominal complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts. The presence of an intracranial tumor and a history of central nervous system infection are major ...risk factors for the development of this complication. Hepatic pseudocysts secondary to ventriculoperitoneal shunts can be classified as intra- and extra-axially growing cysts. On abdominal computed tomography images, extra-axially growing pseudocysts are typically surrounded by a fine annulus that shows continuity to hepatic parenchyma. For treatment of extra-axially growing hepatic pseudocysts, surgical unroofing of the cyst and repositioning of the catheter is an effective method if there is no shunt infection and/or dysfunction.
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