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Syrian War Daily – 22nd of July 2018
July 22, 2018 July 22, 2018 ~ Joško Barić
Hello and welcome to the 493rd installment of the SWD.
Hama:
Second batch of rebel elements and their families were evacuated from Daraa and Al-Quneitra governorates and arrived at Morek in northern Hama through Qalaat al-Madiq crossing in western Hama. The batch reportedly consisted of around 2600 rebel elements and civilians, who will be transferred to camps for internally displaced persons in Aleppo and Idlib governorates. However, the batch was blocked for several hours at the western entrance to the city of Homs by the IRGC-affiliated Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas militias.
Israeli Air Force fired several missiles towards a Syrian government's research center north of Masyaf city. Syrian Arab News Agency confirmed the news about the targeting and stated that only material damage was caused.
Al-Quneitra:
Second batch of rebel elements and their families were evacuated from the governorate towards northern Syria. According to the reports, the batch consisted of at least 20 buses.
Israeli Defense Forces assisted in evacuating around 800 elements of the Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets) and their families from Al-Quneitra governorate through Israel to Jordan. However, several reports stated that only around 400 individuals arrived in Jordan. The evacuation was done at the request of the United States and several European countries. The evacuated elements and their families will be settled in Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Daraa:
Syrian Arab Army entered the city of Nawa, after rebel elements who refused reconciliation, and their families were evacuated from the locality towards northern Syria.
Approximate situation around Nawa, Tell al-Jumou is still under the control of the Islamic State-affiliated Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Walid, while Ghadir al-Bustan is currently disputed. Source: Suriyak
Faryab Province:
Afghan National Security Forces destroyed an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's (Taliban) camp and a vehicle in Ghormach district.
Jowzjan Province:
11 elements of the Islamic State surrendered to the Afghan National Security Forces with their weapons in Jarqadouq village of Qush Tepa district.
Kabul Province:
Islamic State's suicide attack targeted convoy of the Afghanistan's vice president, General Abdul Rashid Dostum near Kabul (Karzai) airport. According to the reports, at least 14 individuals were killed and around 60 wounded by the explosion, while Dostum wasn't harmed in the incident.
Nangarhar Province:
Approximate situation in Nangarhar province (red = Afghan National Security Forces, blue = Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and yellow = Islamic State), HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni
Paktia Province:
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Al-Emarah News stated that the group conducted coordinated attacks against the Afghan National Security Forces' positions in Zawaka area of Omna district. According to Al-Emarah News, an Afghan National Security Forces' base and four checkpoints were overran, while 14 elements were killed and 12 wounded in the encounters. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized ten assault rifles, four PK machine guns, and two RPG launchers from the checkpoints.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan overran an Afghan National Police's post in Agha Sahib Ghato area of Qarabagh district. Reports suggest that 12 elements of the Afghan National Police were killed in the encounter. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized a PK machine gun, four assault rifles, and an RPG launcher from the post.
Farah Province:
Approximate situation in Farah province, HD version of this map can be found here. Source: Afganistan Bülteni
Zabul Province:
Several Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's improvised explosive devices targeted an Afghan National Army's convoy in Baylogh area of Daychopan district. According to the reports, the explosions destroyed three vehicles, killing nine and wounding three soldiers.
Afghan National Security Forces arrested two elements of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Marjah and Nawa-I-Barakzayi districts.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's snipers killed three elements of the Afghan National Army in Parchawi area of Nad Ali district.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's improvised explosive device destroyed an Afghan National Army's armored personnel carrier in Jalahore area of Arghandab district.
Posted in Military Updates	AfghanistanIraqISISSyriaTurkey
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Have you ever taken a moment to think about how your vehicle's tires are made? Probably not, yet doing so may help you better understand what goes into our tire repair service. More than just a few inches of thick rubber, your tires are actually made from layer after layer of fabric cords called plies. These plies sit atop steel belts that help to reinforce both the sidewall and the treads, which is formed from several layers of synthetic rubber. Steel cable loops called beads give the tire the strength needed to stay seated on the rim. Once those components are placed together, they are run through a curing machine which cuts the tread pattern and bonds all the components together. To learn more about tires, including tire repair cost, visit Meineke #1939 in Chicago, IL today.
Keeping your tires in optimal condition is important for a myriad of reasons. First of all, well-maintained tires handle better on slick and uneven surfaces. Their ability to handle these surfaces means that you and your passengers are less likely to be involved in a collision. Tires also have a significant impact on your suspension system, and if they are not rotated periodically, you may have difficulty steering your vehicle. Tires are frequently overlooked by drivers, but the better your tires perform, the better your entire vehicle will perform. Stop by our Chicago, IL, Meineke #1939 store for a comprehensive inspection today.
Proper inspections of your tires should happen at least once a month. If you often drive in rough terrain or other dangerous conditions, you should inspect your tires and wheels twice a month or more. This is because tires can become worn down or damaged very easily in certain conditions. Sharp rocks or other debris can weaken tires and lead to premature blowouts and necessitate the need for a repair or replacement. Bring your vehicle to Meineke #1939 in Chicago, IL for an inspection and tire repair cost estimate. This will help you avoid having to search for "flat tire repair near me."
Damaged tires and wheels are a potential hazard that can be completely avoided with proper maintenance. If you ignore tire pressure issues or put off your search for "tire repair near me," you are placing yourself, your vehicle's occupants and everyone you pass on the road in danger. Without properly maintained tires, your tires could explode while you are driving, causing you to lose control. Contact Meineke #1939 in Chicago, IL for information on tire repair and tire pressure sensor replacement.
Your tires will typically give you plenty of notice that you should look into tire replacement or repair. Low tire tread is a serious problem that can only be solved through replacing the affected tire and its twin. Cracking, noticeable wear on only one side of the tire and vibration coming through the steering wheel are all indicators that you should have your tires inspected by a professional. If you do not replace your tires promptly, they could pop while you are driving. Taking your car to Meineke #1939 in Chicago, IL for a full tire inspection and tire repair is the best option for safe driving.
At Meineke, we understand that you may be concerned about tire rotation or tire repair cost. If you are, we offer a variety of tire rotation coupons that can help you save on these services. Our professionals always provide quality service. If you believe that your tires are old or damaged, don't hesitate to contact one of our professionals at the Chicago IL Meineke #1939 today.


With the Russound MCA 88X audio streamer, your house or small business will be wired for sound — without the wires! So, whether you are looking to up your hosting game, or make your customers' ears happy, it is time to see why Russound has been around for over 50 years.
The name Russound is synonymous with exceptional custom installation as well as quality DIY whole house audio sound distribution. Since 1967, Russound has been a leader in home and business audio. Famous for their A-Bus products and volume controllers, their ComPoint intercom systems, multichannel amplifiers, and architectural speakers have put them on the map.
While you are in total control of your sound distribution, this system requires custom installation. It is no bargain surround-sound setup; it is a top of the line, industry leader. You need to understand Russound's product to truly appreciate it.
With the X Series, Russound is now incorporating streaming audio and Bluetooth capability into their already state of the art sound distribution technology. The Russound MCA 88X is the flagship of their audio distribution catalog.
This Digital multi-zone streamer operates from as many as eight separate input sources. Besides the seven on-site source inputs, it also can channel 'XStream,' included with the system. The controller sends up to eight distinct and individual zones with the base unit. However, by linking as many as six additional systems to the base unit, you'll have enough power to stream to as many as 48 individual zones. That's enough to fill a small castle with music.
You may be able to fill your castle with high quality, wireless sound, but you will not be installing a Russound MCA 88X with your own tools. The company only approves a custom installation of the system by Russound certified installers who have successfully completed the Russound Certified Institute (RCI) training program. And just to make sure that no "non-certified" customers, or friends of customers, try to install the Russound MCA 88x, the manufacturer sends it out of the factory in a locked configuration only accessible to RCI trained installers.
Put simply, it will not only make sure correct initial installation of the system to specs. This also limits non-Russound sales from unauthorized distribution points such as yard sales, Craigslist, or on eBay. While this is a simple matter for the installer, merely requiring the certified installer to enter his personal activation data, it is virtually impossible for anyone else to get it up and running.
This is not only a good policy from a sales and profit standpoint, but even more so from a quality control perspective. You are purchasing the Mercedes Benz of audio streamer systems. Like Mercedes Benz, Russound permits no one other than their certified and trained mechanics to pop the hood.
One quick look at the unit's back panel may convince you that having a professional install the system may not be a bad idea.
As you can see, Russound did not waste any space when designing this unit. It has inputs and outputs edge to edge, but once you start using those connections, you will be glad they are all there. This is a powerful and versatile audio streamer, so you would expect it to look highly technical — and it does!
As I mentioned, several input options provide for up to seven individual sources as well as its built-in XStream streaming. Source inputs include up to seven Analog, and three Digital inputs (two coax and one optical or three coax inputs).
It also includes a Bluetooth extender port and a paging connector. The Bluetooth port makes it possible to set up the system anywhere convenient and connect a Russound BTC-1X Bluetooth receiver remotely as far away as 300 feet from the Bluetooth source. Note that the BTC-1X offers much improved audio quality through its higher performance aptX audio codec, while the RNET link permits connecting Russound RNET Smart Sources (the ST1 AM/FM external tuner), linking multiple MCA controllers, and using its high-performance aptX audio codec.
Russound has enabled all their MCA products for Ethernet devices, permitting internet control and extras. The Russound I/O feature (RIO) permits all Russound Internet control systems control, and communicate bi-directionally via internet protocol.
Configuring the MCA-88X is performed using either Russound's SCS-C5 software or a Web Config browser. Logging into the MCA-88X's IP address prompts you to enter a password to access the configuration settings. Once that's done, setup is simple and fast. This is where that DIY control comes into play.
You can choose which zones are active and name them. You can also set analog outputs to fixed or variable. The system supports user naming for sources as well as the ability to choose which zone can use the various sources. Russound has added other customizable options like loudness, bass, treble, and balance. Owners can group zones together, adjust volume by zone, and choose different zones for party mode.
End users can also personalize and adjust performance through the MyRussound iOS or Android, too. All told, basic setup configuration took me about 15 minutes.
Voice controllable with Amazon Alexa.
A 12VDC trigger output for power management and control.
Does Your Castle Need the Russound MCA 88X?
The Russound MCA-88X is not for everyone. It isn't cheap, but mostly that's because it isn't cheap! Russound's spot-on design, top-of-the-line features, and exquisite craftsmanship means you're getting the best on the market. However, for a simple household streaming system with few rooms and everyone content to listen to the same format of tunes, you may likely find it more than you need to get the job done.
That said, if you have a larger house, outdoor audio requirements or the need for a variety of high-resolution and streaming music in different areas, and want the special internet control and feedback, the Russound MCA 88x will provide you with everything you desire. And probably more than a few features you didn't know that you couldn't live without.


Saramanda is a five bedroom luxury Sandy Lane property in Barbados.
This five bedroom luxury Sandy Lane property in Barbados boasts beautifully landscaped gardens. There is a large outdoor patio for dining and entertainment and there are also five bedroom suites across two floors, each with their own bathroom and walk-in closets.
The two upstairs master suites at this luxury West coast villa feature king-size beds and private balconies that overlook the pool deck and gardens. Three additional bedroom suites are located on the ground floor, one bedroom features its own private patio. The upstairs master suites include both a tub and a shower, while the downstairs bedrooms suites have showers only.


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Black Mountain - a historic mecca of art, nature and Appalachian culture
The town of Black Mountain, situated in the fertile Swannanoa Valley and rimmed by the majestic ridges of the Appalachians, was originally settled by the Cherokee. Located along a route pioneers used to travel west, it became a popular stopover with its inns, boarding houses, and commercial trade.
With the coming of the railroad in the late 1800s, travel increased dramatically in the area. Lured by the magic of the mountains, many travelers decided to settle here, and soon a thriving town was established. Today, Black Mountain remains a popular tourist destination and is home to seven conference centers and retreats, including Montreat, which is the conference center of the Presbyterian Church and the home of Billy Graham.
Downtown Black Mountain is alive with galleries, vintage shops, pubs and fine dining.
After crossing the Continental Divide on I-40 West and heading into Black Mountain, streets with historic brick buildings draw you into the heart of town where mountain crafts, vintage shops, pottery, and art galleries cluster next to local pubs. The mountain air, friendly shopkeepers, and numerous dining options keep tourists flocking to the small, scenic town, located less than two hours from Winston-Salem.
From sightseeing and hiking to food tours and shopping, Black Mountain has a lot to offer. Pisgah Brewing Co., home of the award-winning Pisgah Pale Ale, is just a few miles outside of town, and free tours of the brewery are available every Saturday. Close by, Lake Eden, the former location of Black Mountain College, is now a camp for youth, but many of the legendary college's original buildings remain. In nearby Montreat, more than 20 hiking trails in varying distances crisscross 2,500 acres of pristine wilderness. Hikers may join a public hike led by a wilderness ranger or choose to hike on their own with a map. And for the foodies, Creative Mountain Food Tours offers a number of guided food tours that stop by five or more restaurants, giving tourists a chance to stroll, sip, and taste while chatting about local history and cuisine.
A handful of fresh hops at Pisgah Brewing Company
When hunger pangs start gnawing, amble down the street toward Veranda Café & Gifts (119 Cherry St.) for soup and a sandwich, or head over to Trailhead (207 W State St.), a pub with craft beers on tap where all the locals eat. New on the restaurant scene is La Guinguette (105 Richardson Blvd.), where Chef Stephane Diaz, former owner of restaurants in Paris and, most recently, in Asheville, specializes in crepes (La Normandie, with caramelized onions, leeks, Swiss, and Brie, is a favorite) and provides a happy atmosphere with great French wine. For a seriously good cup of coffee, and a bag of locally roasted beans to take home, be sure to stop at the famed Dripolator Coffeehouse (221 W State St.).
La Guinguette is the perfect place for a glass of French wine or one of their famous crepes.
If you're spending the night, there are several great places to stay in town. Red Rocker Inn, an 1896 Victorian bed and breakfast with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, has a delicious breakfast buffet. Just down the road is Black Mountain Inn, a historic bed-and-breakfast where the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Norman Rockwell, and John Steinbeck once stayed. Then there is the Monte Vista Inn, a historic hotel which functioned as a boarding house in the 1930s and is now a popular wedding destination.
Black Mountain Inn, where the spirit of Hemingway lingers.
The Monte Vista, a historic hotel where every room has a view.
If art is your thing, next door to the Monte Vista is Red House Studios (310 W. State St.), owned by the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League. It houses seven working artists' studios and offers exhibits, classes, and workshops. Downtown is also home to Black Mountain Center for the Arts (207 W. State St.), a community arts facility that houses monthly exhibits along with programs in music, visual, and performing arts.
Black Mountain Books - new, vintage, rare
Downtown is also where you'll find a variety of shopping options. For book lovers, a visit to Black Mountain Books is a great place to find new, rare, and vintage books. Then there are vintage shops such as Chifferobe, where you'll find anything from a copper baking pan to an antique broach, or Song of the Wood, where Jerry Read Smith's handcrafted hammer dulcimers are on display. Other noted shops include Seven Sisters Gallery, which carries a unique collection of jewelry, art, and accessories from local artists, and Take a Hike Mountain Outfitters, where you can stock up on camping and hiking gear.
Former site of the infamous Black Mountain College
If you're looking for an overnight road trip and a feast for the senses, look no further than this picturesque town in the Blue Ridge, where the views are free, the food is incredible, and the artistic heritage of Appalachia remains strong.
As featured in the June, 2015 issue of Winston-Salem Monthly Magazine. Article by Naomi Gingerich, photos by Joshua Ruffner. Copyright 2015.
A mom's journey from the wildly beautiful Pacific Northwest to the historic countryside of Normandy...
Sunlight streams through the open windows of this 1600's farmhouse situated in the beautiful countryside of Normandy on the northwest coast of France, home to Cat Bude, her husband and three children. A writer and photographer working for a museum design firm, Cat was swept off her feet twenty years ago by "French Guy," as she calls him, in a Los Angeles dog park, and, six months later they were married. Their initial years of marriage were spent moving about to various places in the Pacific Northwest where they owned a bed and breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington, followed by a move to Bainbridge Island where they opened a French Antiques business. The birth of their second child brought a tremendous change to their lives when their son was diagnosed with autism at age 20 months.
A firm believer in the providential hand of God, Cat relied on her faith, a support group of fellow moms with autistic children and a strong network of family and friends to get her through those difficult years. But when the economy plunged in 2008, and their business and marriage along with it, her husband initiated the biggest change of their lives to date - a move to his home in France.
Cat - vintage seller, mom, wife, foodie, photographer, writer.
In 2010, the Budes uprooted their small family from the island community they had come to love and headed off to the French countryside where, in 2013, they found their current home. Life in France has not been an easy adjustment for Cat, who misses her family and friends, but bringing new life to this old chateau has been helpful in making her feel she has truly found home.
With the addition of her online vintage pop-up shop, Sunday Brocantes, which takes place on the first two days of each month, Cat has found added fulfillment to her life in this new country. The shop includes her homemade soaps with lavender from the garden, vintage linens, and a delightful array of flea market finds from shopping trips around the country.
Their 17th century farmhouse, overrun with legions of rabbits when they first discovered it in 2013, has been appropriately named Maison Rabbit Hill.
And for dinner tonight - mussels fresh from the coast.
A herd of neighboring cows graze on Rabbit Hill's 19 acres of protected farmland.
Baguettes are a staple on any proper French woman's table, along with a beautiful bouquet of roses from the garden.
A fresh batch of soap awaits packaging for the pop-up shop.
This counter, these cutting boards, that display rack -- a dream cooking space.
Cat hosts vintage shopping tours throughout the year and entertains patrons in this beautiful dining room where fine French wines make an appearance alongside an assortment of cheese from the fromager.
A lovely old table found at a flea market is perfect for an outdoor dinner.
And for fancy holiday meals, the library creates the perfect atmosphere for a proper French feast: poached fish with cream sauce, lemon herbed rice, salads, and of course a selection of cheese and tarts.
Lucky finds from a flea market venture in Amiens.
Some vintage finds for Sunday Brocantes,
This classic French apron and assortment of kitchen linens are regular finds in Sunday Brocantes.
Ruling the roost (and providing eggs for a family of five).
Ready for market.
Fete du fromage yields a lovely assortment of cheese. Here, fabulous brebis.
So many varieties of pepper! Now that's something to sneeze about!
The youngest of their three children, this one is Cat's helper in the kitchen.
A rainbow of hope and promise over the lovely old barn at Rabbit Hill where King Charles Spaniels loll in the grass and cats stretch in the warm sunshine while chickens cluck and ornery goats frolic about looking for mischief.
Recipes...
At the start of last week I had both an abundance of vegetables from the market and a lack of time to plan extravagant meals to use them. I was looking for a way to use them all and save valuable time making meals the rest of the week. The result, was a tray of delicious roasted vegetables, and three delicious meals after, and extra minutes to do all of the other things on my busy schedule.
Step 1: Clean up and slice vegetables. I used yellow peppers, red onion, fennel, leeks, carrots, zucchini and egg plant. Place on a tray and add a generous amount of olive oil and sprinkle with Rabbit Hill 'Sel de Mer aux Herbes - Mediterranean' blend which features Herves de Provence and sun-dried tomato. Roast in the oven for just under an hour (watch to make sure they don't get too brown or dry) at 350 - 400 max (180C-200C). Cool, cover and put away for future use.
Three meals...
Recipe #1: Pasta with roasted veggies
Make any kind of pasta. Grill turkey or chicken breast strips and toss chopped roasted veggies with the grilled poultry and the cooked pasta. You can add pesto, chopped herbs, feta or grated cheese.
Recipe #2: Top a pre-made crust with roasted veggies, fresh basil and goat cheese. Add capers, olives, pepper flakes. Cook based on the crust's normal directions.
Recipe #3: Layer all of the remaining vegetables in an oven-proof dish. Top with cheese (I used feta) and six beaten eggs. Cook at 350F (180C) for 25-30 minutes depending on how deep your dish is.
All of these meals were easy and yummy and took just minutes. And the best part was using all of the vegetables from the market and nothing went to waste.
Market-fresh vegetables ready to roast in the oven.
For more information on Rabbit Hill and Sunday Brocantes, visit http://www.sundaybrocantes.com/
Her self-published book on autism, Leo Dances, is available through Blurb Books.
The Adventures of an Englishwoman
For a daughter who grew up in a home where the kitchen was off-limits, this English wife, mum, photographer and former Fox News writer has done pretty well for herself in the culinary department. Her mother, a gastronomic genius with an equal passion for photography, believed her daughters would find their own way in the cooking world, led by the tastes of their families when they married, and never taught them the secrets of her vast collection of Indian, Muslim and British recipes. It turns out she was right, although Kanchan Char thinks wistfully to those childhood days when she wanted nothing more than to help Mum in the kitchen.
Now a mother with two lovely daughters of her own, Kanchan has made the choice to teach her girls the skills she longed for early in life. Drawing from memories of her mother's spicy Indian dishes, her American aunts cooking briskets and hot dogs, and an Italian uncle who served mouth-watering dishes, she re-creates a bit of her childhood for her children as she cooks wholesome meals for their family each night. A melting pot of cultures, Char displays this to perfection in the variety of food she prepares, from Patatas Bravas or Prosciutto e Melone to Shammi Kebabs or a meaty Mughlai creation with tear-jerking spices.
Kanchan Char
Kanchan lives with her husband and two daughters in lovely Dorset on the southwest coast of England. Along with her self-taught skills as a home cook, she is an avid writer, music lover and photographer. Her blog, The Intrepid Misadventurer, was a finalist in the BiBs 2014 list for Fresh Voice and shortlisted for the BiBs 2014 Photo category. Both her blog and Instagram are a visual feast of photography and word magic featuring her life in the English countryside and her travels around the world. Follow me on this photo journey through her daily life.
Like mother, like daughter. Kanchan captures the beauty around her.
Kanchan's cooking skills have come a long way from the early days when she mistakenly purchased daffodils for asparagus.
Food arouses memories, and for Char, who grew up in a home with several thousand vinyls, it also arouses music. Calamari was always prepared to the tunes of Soul Blues and Jazz.
Beginning preparations for Patatas Bravas.
Le Petit Prince - a favorite bakery and coffee shop in Dorset.
As a child, Kanchan would peddle to the chemist's to get ISO400 monochromatic film for her mother's photography obsession, a passion she has inherited. Here, she enjoys a quiet moment with her favorite analogue photography magazine and a cup of coffee to start the day.
Art provides inspiration for life. Here, a vintage find of a favorite artist.
What's better than a cup of steaming coffee enjoyed in the early morning on the English coast?
Slow-cooked risotto made with pantry essentials: air-dried sausages, cheese, chives and a fair amount of garlic.
New Forest, a vast unenclosed pasture of land populated by free-roaming wild ponies and cattle.
Family photographs and favorite art.
The quiet beauty of the English countryside portrayed in this pastoral scene.
Home-cooked goodness served around this smooth, unfinished wooden table each night.
A walk in the village includes a stop for a cuppa.
Clean kitchen, happy Kanchan.
Recipe...
One of the things I've come to love most in England is the wonderfully sweet- tangy Caramelized Onion and Goat's Cheese Tartlet! My first tryst with it was at the Manor Farm Tea Room in Bleasby, a family run organic farm in Nottinghamshire, which was our local haunt when I lived in Notts… a bit of a hallowed time in my life. I think Goat's Cheese per se, is a bit of a polarizer…you either love it or despise it, few seem ambivalent about it!
Part of my blog legacy is to not just catalogue my mum's recipes and food I have fond memories of growing up with, but to also incorporate my newer favorites. Some of these classic recipes I've come to love have initiated me into British cooking, and the success of them will always glow with the light of a thousand candles.
Caramelized Onion and Goat's Cheese Tartlet
8 sheets Philo pastry, cut in strips
250g onions, thinly sliced
25g butter, melted
50g walnut pieces, chopped
1 packet of goat cheese, about 70g, cut in thin medallions
2 teaspoon chopped thyme
In a heavy bottomed pan add the oil, crushed garlic, sliced onions and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes, stirring often. You could add a teaspoon or two of light brown sugar to help with the caramelization! Stir occasionally for another about 6 minutes till the onions begin to turn a rich golden brown. Add a few sprigs of thyme and some freshly ground black pepper and cook a few minutes. Add toasted walnuts just before you take it off the pan! Cool and keep aside.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (gas 6).
Take the strips of filo pastry cut in roughly the height of your baking mold or muffin tray. Remember you're going to lay the strips in circles around the base of the mold. Brush each strip with melted butter.
Bake for 5-6 minutes, until the pastry is almost cooked. Spoon the onions into the baked tart shells and top with thin slices of goat's cheese, sprinkle with mixed herbs (optional).
Brush lightly with the remaining melted butter. Bake for 10–15 minutes until golden. Serve immediately with a helping of mixed salad leaves!
For more on Kanchan Char, visit intrepidmisadventurer.com.
Velvet Custard Pie
The thing about custard pie - it's unassuming on a plate. No frills, no fluff, no fancy schmancy. But it's one of those comforting things to reach for late at night when the desk lamp is on and the keys are clicking. Or to enjoy mid-afternoon by the garden with a cup of tea while the wind stirs the lavender blossoms. Or to snatch a bite straight out of the pan when reaching in the refrigerator for that bag of spinach in the bottom drawer. Here's to a simple dessert that brings back childhood memories of life on a farm where milk was plentiful, eggs were fresh and pie showed up on the table regularly.
2 1/2 cups scalded milk (I use cream mixed with half and half)
Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt together. Pour the hot milk in slowly, whipping on a low setting. Pour into unbaked 9-inch pie crust. Sprinkle top generously with nutmeg or cinnamon. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 325 degrees until done (approximately 20 - 30 more minutes). Pie should be slightly jiggly when removing from oven. You don't want to over-bake or custard will boil. Cool completely and chill before cutting.
From City Streets to Cow Paths
Imen McDonnell, author of the blog Farmette.
It all began on a wintry night in Minnesota when the beautiful and talented Imen, on a well-set career path in TV and film production, met a handsome Irishman visiting a mutual friend in Minneapolis. A few days later, when the man left for his home in Ireland, he sent a brimming basket of flowers to the desk of this bonny producer, asking her to be his Valentine. Two years later, Imen followed Richard to his farm in Dunmoylan. She left behind her career, her friends, her country, and, in fact, everything that had formed her identity to begin a new life as a farm wife in the idyllic Irish countryside. From the streets of Los Angeles and New York City to the cow paths of Kilcolman in County Limerick, this woman has traded her high heels for a sturdy pair of Wellingtons, her spacious office in the city for a farmhouse kitchen. But she has no regrets.
Imen McDonnell's story is beautifully portrayed in both words and photographs on her blog, Farmettte. She is currently writing her cooking memoir, Farmette, Recipes & Adventures from Life on an Irish Farm to be published by Roost Books and released in the USA, Ireland and UK in Spring 2016.
Tea, anyone? Teddy, a faithful Airedale Terrier, helped Imen with the transition to a new country when days were long, friends were few and well-set Irish traditions were being reckoned with.
Helping husband, Richard, move cattle to a new grazing pasture.
A celebration with fairy cakes and tea in honor of being chosen as a finalist in the 2015 Saveur Magazine Blog Awards.
One of Imen's biggest challenges: "Finding my way around a kitchen and becoming a home cook in a world where traditional trumps quick or convenient."
Keeping the farmer happy with his favorite dessert - swirly, fruity meringues with cream.
Today's farm lunch is Sea Breams from the local fishmonger, stuffed with citrus, fennel, fresh dill, oregano and thyme.
What better way to celebrate spring than with syllabub, made with Dry Cider and accented with rhubarb and rosemary?
Son, Geoffrey, joins her on foraging expeditions in the fields and woods of Dunmoylan. (Daniel Boone is alive and well in Ireland)
A summer picnic of potted smoked trout, soda bread and farmhouse cheeses to drink in the Irish sunshine and pure air.
One of the perks of living on a farm - fresh milk and cream every day. Ice cream, anyone?
A young farmer chef in training as Geoffrey helps to make roasted turkey sandwiches for a crew of hungry farmers.
Father and son, enjoying a romp in the creek that runs through the fields of this farm that has been in the McDonnell family for generations.
A walk on Ballybunion Beach
The man who stole her heart
Grits and Ramps
Today I built a bridge between wild Irish soul food and an eponymous soul food from the American south. And, it was SAVAGE. We collected a modest amount of ramps, cleaned, and simply dipped in a bit of olive oil for the grill, then served them charred and hot on a bed of creamy, cheesy, country grits.
Country Grits with Grilled Wild Irish Ramps
1/2 cup/75g of yellow, stone ground grits (can substitute polenta or coarse ground maizemeal if absolutely necessary, or just order grits online at Amazon)
2 cups/500ml boiling water
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
15-20 freshly cultivated wild ramps (could sub spring onion here if you don't have access to ramps)
Light a charcoal fire in your grill and allow coals to get white hot, or prepare and oil a grill pan. Coat the wild ramps with olive oil. Set aside.
Stir grits into a saucepan of rapidly boiling, salted water. Cook and stir until the boil comes back up then over and continue to cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cheese, cover, and let sit on stovetop while grilling the ramsons.
Place ramps on your grill and cook until just charred. Remove and set aside.
Spoon creamy grits into individual bowls, top with 4-5 grilled ramps, sprinkle with sea salt and serve.
Scullery Notes: When digging ramps, unless they are scarce in your area, be sure and get the whole root where the most profound flavour is found. The leaves are also great for making pesto, and the bulbs are great pickled and used for dirty martinis! Be mindful of how much you are taking from the land in relation to what is available to you. Never forage on the side of busy roads or where there is a lot of foot traffic which can be contaminating.
Irish Cream - the real deal
Makes 24 ounces
1 tsp. instant coffee powder
½ tsp. cocoa powder
¾ cup Irish whiskey
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
Combine 1 tbsp. cream and the coffee and cocoa powders to make a smooth paste. 2. Slowly add remaining cream, whisking until smooth.
Add whiskey, vanilla extract, and sweetened condensed milk; stir to combine.
Pour into a 24-oz. jar and keep refrigerated until ready to serve, up to 2 weeks.
To serve, pour into a tumbler filled with ice.
Imen McDonnell is currently writing her cooking memoir, Farmette, Recipes & Adventures from Life on an Irish Farm to be published by Roost Books and release in the USA, Ireland and UK in Spring 2016.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Reimposition Of Iran Sanctions Are Legal, Justified, U.S. Tells UN Court
U.S. State Department legal adviser Jennifer Newstead (left), and Iranian legal representative Mohsen Mohebi talk at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague on August 27.
The United States says the reimposition of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran is a legal and justified national security measure that cannot be challenged by Tehran at the United Nations' highest court.
U.S. State Department legal adviser Jennifer Newstead called on judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on August 28 to reject a request by Iran to order the suspension of the sanctions reimposed by President Donald Trump's administration earlier this month.
The move followed Washington's withdrawal from the landmark 2015 nuclear accord between Tehran and six world powers that curbed Tehran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for lifting crippling sanctions.
Newstead told the UN court in The Hague that it has no jurisdiction to rule on the matter, and argued that the United States has the right to protect its national security and other interests.
In the first day of hearings on August 27, a lawyer representing Iran, Mohsen Mohebi, told the court that the U.S. policies on Iran were "nothing but a naked economic aggression."
Iran filed a complaint with the ICJ in July, claiming that the sanctions breach a 1955 friendship treaty between Washington and Tehran.
The treaty, known as the Treaty of Amity, called for "friendly relations" between the two countries, encourages mutual trade and investment, and regulates diplomatic ties.
It was signed at a time of close relations between Washington and Tehran, long before the 1979 Islamic Revolution brought about decades of hostility between the two.
While Trump pulled the United States out of the 2015 nuclear pact, other signees of the treaty urged Washington to remain in the deal and have vowed to stay in it themselves.
The renewed U.S. sanctions target Iran's car industry, trade in gold and other precious metals, and purchases of U.S. dollars crucial to support its oil exports and other global trade.
Further sanctions are due to go into effect in November specifically targeting Iran's banking sector and oil industry, which drives growth in the Iranian economy.
With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters


We (the team of the birdringingstation 'Schlammwiss') are going for birding to the coast of Netherlands like almost every year. During the winter Nordic birds are coming down to over winter in Zeeland (and other parts of the north coast). With a mixed team of birdringers and trainees we're looking to find them and to improve ourselves.


text:
The bedside bookstack – December 2021
What's teetering on the bedside bookstack this December.
When breath becomes air by Paul Kalanithi, The Bodley Head London, 2016
As I waited in hospital recently, I was told an oncologist joke – that one of the risk factors for getting cancer is being a nice person. In this case, Dr Paul Kalanithi wasn't just nice. He was at the top of his field as a neurosurgeon, the recipient of awards, a favourite among colleagues and patients. At 36 he was diagnosed with cancer. At 37 he died.
Neurosurgery attracted me as much for its intertwining of brain and consciousness as for its intertwining of life and death.
This is the irony or more the tragedy of Paul Kalanithi's illness. He was a seeker from the outset, using literature and philosophy to answer some of life's biggest questions for himself, even as a young student. His search led him to pursue neurosurgery and the process and responsibility of his position was something he was always aware of.
Doctors in highly charged fields meet patients at inflected moments, the most authentic moments where life and identity were under threat; their duty included learning what made that particular patient's life worth living and planning to save those things if possible – or to allow the peace of death if not.
This memoir is a gift. It's a reflection on life and death and living with death. It's one I've tagged and underlined, will read over and push into people's hands I think.
My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley, Granta, 2021
I don't know what she's done or how she has done it but this book is close to perfect.
As a reader, I hated putting it down and finished it in two sittings. As a writer, I'm trying to analyse what it was that had such an effect on me. It's more vignettes than linear plotline. The prose isn't elevated or attempting any high-wire tricks but there is something close to perfection in it. I was so emotionally drawn in by the characters from the first paragraph and that was all she needed to do. The interactions are of a strained mother-daughter relationship as well as memories of a father and awkward contact with a sister.
A question of craft is to ask what your characters internal and external motivations are. Someone needs to not get what they want to move things along. No one is getting what they want from life or from their family relationships in this book. They've all apparently given up but still keep meeting and going through the motions and this is where the meat is. People being people.
One of the reads of the year. It's under my skin and chasing around and around and around. And when it all settles, I think I'll have to pick it up again.
Ten Thousand Aftershocks by Michelle Tom, Fourth estate, 2021
Another fraught mother-daughter relationship, except this time you can't console yourself that it's fiction. It's hard to believe that such a beautifully written memoir could be about such traumatic things.
How to sum up the damage and volatility of Michelle Tom's early family life? A violent father, a manipulative and narcissistic mother, and three children left to absorb the trauma and impact of all those years.
Split with the narration of childhood, there is the adult experience of the Christchurch earthquake(s) and the fissures that opened up for her own family. I loved this and found it fascinating. I just wish she didn't have to live through such trauma to write such a stunning book.
Repentance by Alison Gibbs, Scribe, 2021
It's 1976 and as the rest of the country slows down for the Christmas holidays things are charged and accelerating in Repentance. Usually, a small cattle and timber community, the town has new residents. Old farms are being turned into Hippie communes and the newcomers are worried about the fate of the rainforest nearby.
Joanne Parmenter's mum has just died of cancer. Her dad is a big man around town. He's pro logging and anti the new hippie arrivals living up in the hills. Joanne's sister works at the sawmill but Joanne goes to school with Melanie whose Mum is helping to organise protests. On both sides of a fight there are people with families, histories and loyalties that dictate their direction.
The heat, the beauty of the rainforest and the hum of insects beat throughout this story.
…and all around the metallic screaming of cicadas, a tremulous curtain of sound rising and dissolving through the trees.
The Rabbits by Sophie Overett, Penguin Vintage, 2021
This book set in the middle of a sticky Queensland summer felt like the right thing to be reading during a mini heatwave. You can feel the sweaty limbs and relentless heat, although, to be honest, that's the least of the Rabbit's problems. When 16-year-old Charlie Rabbit goes missing, the dysfunction that the family has been getting along with gets blown sky-high. Older sister, Olive Rabbit is fuming, younger brother Charlie Rabbit is lost and mum Delia, whose own sister went missing as a teenager, is caught in a present which seems a lot like her past.
When things took a magic realism turn a third of the way through, it felt a bit bumpy and I wasn't sure it would work, but I was so invested in the Rabbits that I had to keep going. I'm glad I did because, it worked when it was absorbed into the rest of the story.
Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down, Text Publishing, 2021
Before I'd read any of them, I used to get Jennifer's mixed up – Jennifer Down, Jennifer Mills, Jennifer Egan. This is my first Jennifer Down and I've only just started it but she's distinct now. I've already sobbed at the early trauma of Maggie's life. But Maggie isn't Maggie anymore. She's put time and distance between herself and that identity. I need to keep on reading to know the whys and whens and you better believe that I will.
Author nkcwriterPosted on December 21, 2021 Categories books, reading, The Bedside Bookstack
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text:
Q: Chef cookbook creation with future upgrades in mind If we create a chef cookbook to install Software packages (rpms, msi and exe) and if few days next version of the software released , then how do we plan for updating the cookbook.
Is there any common design pattern for this? any best practice?

A: Its totally depends on the cookbook structure and your project need.
You can write a multiple versions of the same cookbook to do the installation of different executable versions (rpm, msi & exe).
or you can define each and everything in attribute as a variable and try to write a generic recipe which does the installation for you and whenever you got a new version of your executable then you have to update only once in a attribute variable.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How do i Pass JSON Multiple parameters in JMeter with different users? In my current scenario i need to login with multiple users into application and create articles using provided input formed in json which have more than 50 parameters.How can i do that need to prepare two csv files or what,pls suggest.

A: I would come up with:

*

*A single JSON file containing placeholders for JMeter Functions and Variables which you will be using for parameterization like:
{
  "firstName": "${firstName}",
  "lastName": "${lastName}",
  "phone": ${phone},
  etc.
}

*Then I would create a CSV file containing the parameterization information like:
firstName,lastName,phone
John,Doe,123456789
Jane,Doe,987654321
etc.

*Configure JMeter to read the data from CSV using the CSV Data Set Config

*Reference the file from point 1 in the "Body Data" section of the HTTP Request sampler using __eval() and __FileToString() functions combination:
${__eval(${__FileToString(data.json,,)})}


text:
\section{Acknowledgements}

The numerical configuration generation (using the BQCD lattice QCD program~\cite{Haar:2017ubh})) and data analysis (using the Chroma software library~\cite{Edwards:2004sx}) was carried out on the DiRAC Blue Gene Q and Extreme Scaling (EPCC, Edinburgh, UK) and Data Intensive (Cambridge, UK) services, the GCS supercomputers JUQUEEN and JUWELS (NIC, Jülich, Germany) and resources provided by HLRN (The North-German Supercomputer Alliance), the NCI National Facility in Canberra, Australia (supported by the Australian Commonwealth Government) and the Phoenix HPC service (University of Adelaide). AHG is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship. RH is supported by STFC through grant ST/P000630/1. PELR is supported in part by the STFC under contract ST/G00062X/1. GS is supported by DFG Grant No. SCHI 179/8-1. KUC, RDY and JMZ are supported by the Australian Research Council grants DP190100297 and DP220103098.

\section{Introduction}
\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \scalebox{0.5}{\input{compton}}
    \caption{Forward Compton scattering for a proton with momentum $p$ and virtual photon with momentum $q$.}
    \label{fig:1}
\end{figure}

The forward Compton amplitude is a necessary input into two important physical quantities: predictions for the proton--neutron mass difference, and the hadronic background for measurements of the proton charge radius. All the components of this Compton amplitude can be determined experimentally, except for its subtraction function, $S_1(Q^2)$. Therefore, a first-principles lattice QCD calculation of this subtraction function is of great interest.

The mass difference of the proton and neutron has two sources: the different masses of the up and down quarks, and the different charges of these quarks---see Refs.~\cite{Gasser:1982ap, Miller:1990iz} for reviews. The leading electromagnetic contribution to the mass difference (Fig.~\ref{fig:2.a}) can be evaluated from the Cottingham sum rule \cite{Cottingham_1963},
\begin{equation}
    \delta m^{\text{EM}} = -\frac{i}{2m_p}\frac{\alpha}{(2\pi)^3} \int d^4 q \frac{T^\mu_\mu(p,q)}{Q^2 -i\epsilon},
    \label{massdiff}
\end{equation}
where $T_{\mu\nu}$ is the forward, spin-averaged Compton amplitude for a proton:
\begin{equation}\label{compdef}
    T_{\mu \nu}(p,q) \equiv \frac{i}{2}\sum_s \int d^4z \  e^{i q\cdot z} \langle p, s | {T} \{ j_\mu(z)j_\nu(0) \} | p, s \rangle.
\end{equation}
This amplitude describes the process of photon-proton scattering, $\gamma^{(*)}(q)P(p) \to \gamma^{(*)}(q)P(p)$, with no momentum transfer between initial and final states (Fig.~\ref{fig:1}).

Similarly, the Compton amplitude is required to constrain measurements of the proton charge radius from the muonic-hydrogen Lamb shift. Crucially, recent determinations of the charge radius from this Lamb shift conflict with previous results obtained via electron--proton scattering \cite{Bernauer_2010} by seven standard deviations \cite{Pohl:2010}---the so-called `proton radius puzzle' \cite{Pohl:2013yb, Antognini:2022xoo}. The hadronic corrections to the Lamb shift are dependent on the two-photon-exchange diagram (Fig.~\ref{fig:2.b}) \cite{Tomalak:2015, Afanasev:2017}:
\begin{equation}
  \mathcal{M}_{\text{TPE}} = -ie^4 \int \frac{d^4q}{(2\pi)^4}\frac{T_{\mu\nu}L^{\mu\nu}}{Q^4-i\epsilon},
    \label{tpe}
\end{equation}
where $L_{\mu\nu}$ is the leptonic contribution, which can be
calculated from QED, and $T_{\mu\nu}$ is the proton Compton amplitude.
Since the Compton subtraction function is poorly constrained, it
contributes the dominant uncertainty to the hadronic background
\cite{Carlson_2011, Paz_2011, Miller:2012}.
Hence more precise determinations of the subtraction function could
help clarify the proton radius puzzle.

It has been conjectured that the subtraction function receives
contributions from a $J=0$ fixed pole, which is independent of $Q^2$
\cite{Brodsky:1973hm}.
Such a singularity may arise from the exchange of a particle of
spin-zero or from a contact interaction term.
If correct, this would have far-reaching phenomenological consequences \cite{Brodsky:2008qu}, and potentially thwart the Cottingham sum rule.
However, this conjecture has remained rather controversial \cite{Muller:2015vha}.

The starting point for our study is the spin-averaged Compton
amplitude, Eq.~\eqref{compdef}, which can be decomposed into two
structures:
\begin{equation}\label{tensdecomp}
    T_{\mu \nu }(p,q) = \left(-g_{\mu\nu} + \frac{q_\mu q_\nu}{q^2} \right)\mathcal{F}_1(\omega,Q^2) + \left(p_\mu - \frac{p \cdot q}{q^2} q_\mu \right)\left(p_\nu - \frac{p \cdot q}{q^2} q_\nu \right)\frac{\mathcal{F}_2(\omega,Q^2)}{p \cdot q},
\end{equation}
where $\mathcal{F}_{1,2}$ are the \emph{Compton structure functions}, defined in terms of the photon virtuality, $Q^2 = {-q^2}$, and the inverse Bjorken scaling variable, $\omega = 2(p \cdot q)/Q^2$. These structure functions satisfy the following fixed-$Q^2$ dispersion integrals \cite{Drechsel:2002}:
\begin{align}\label{f1}
    \overline{\mathcal{F}}_1(\omega,Q^2) = \mathcal{F}_1(\omega,Q^2) - \mathcal{F}_1(0,Q^2) &= 2\omega^2 \int_0^1 dx \frac{2x F_1(x,Q^2)}{1- x^2\omega^2 - i\epsilon}, \\
    \mathcal{F}_2(\omega,Q^2) &= 4\omega \int_0^1 dx \frac{ F_2(x,Q^2)}{1- x^2\omega^2 - i\epsilon},
    \label{f2}
\end{align}
where $F_{1,2}(x=\omega^{-1}, Q^2)$ are measurable from deep inelastic scattering (DIS) cross sections.

However, equation \eqref{f1} features a contribution from the \emph{Compton amplitude subtraction function},
\begin{equation}
    S_1(Q^2) \equiv \mathcal{F}_1(\omega =0,Q^2),
\end{equation}
which is not experimentally accessible. Instead, this subtraction function has been determined from model-dependent, dispersive, non-relativistic, and effective theory calculations \cite{Alarcon:2013cba, Caprini:2016wvy, Caprini:2021btw, Carlson_2011, Erben:2014, Gasser:1974, Miller:2012, Paz_2011, Thomas:2014, Tomalak:2015aoa, Tomalak:2018, Walker-Loud_2012, Walker-Loud:2019}. These calculations have sizeable errors and are not always consistent with one another \cite{Gasser_2020}. At large $Q^2$, the subtraction function can be evaluated model-independently using the operator product expansion (OPE) \cite{Collins_1979, Hill_2017}, and the following asymptotic behaviour is predicted:
\begin{equation}
    S_1(Q^2) \sim \frac{m_N^2}{Q^2}, \quad \text{for}\quad Q^2\gg m_N^2.
    \label{opepred}
\end{equation}
However, as can be seen in Eqs.~\eqref{massdiff} and \eqref{tpe}, a determination for the whole domain of $S_1(Q^2)$ is necessary for inputs into the aforementioned physical quantities. Therefore, a determination of this subtraction function, particularly for low and intermediate $Q^2$, is of great interest.

\begin{figure}

     \begin{subfigure}{0.5\textwidth}
        \centering
        \scalebox{0.8}{\input{selfenergy}}
        \vspace{3mm}
        \caption{Electromagnetic self-energy}
        \label{fig:2.a}
    \end{subfigure}
    \begin{subfigure}{0.5\textwidth}
        \centering
        \scalebox{0.8}{\input{tpe}}
        \caption{Two-photon exchange}
        \label{fig:2.b}
    \end{subfigure}

 \caption{Two processes which have dependence on hadronic structure given by the Compton amplitude.}

\end{figure}

Recently, the Feynman-Hellmann method has been used to calculate the forward Compton amplitude in lattice QCD \cite{Chambers_2017, Utku_2020}, and has been extended to off-forward kinematics \cite{hannafordgunn2021generalised}. In this report, we apply this technique to calculate the Compton subtraction function. In particular, our initial results display large deviations from the asymptotic behaviour predicted by the OPE, Eq.~\eqref{opepred}. Therefore, we conduct an investigation of lattice artifacts of the subtraction function. We vary the lattice volume and spacing, and compare different discretisations of the vector current. Finally, we present a novel method to explore the effects of current-current contact terms in Feynman-Hellmann methods. Hence this work lays the foundation for future lattice QCD calculations of the Compton subtraction function, which would allow for better theoretical predictions of the proton--neutron mass difference, and more precise experimental determinations of the proton charge radius.

\section{Feynman-Hellmann: Local vector current implementation}
\label{sec:local}

Feynman-Hellmann methods provide a feasible alternative to the direct calculation of four-point functions. A background field is introduced to the quark propagator, with a small unphysical coupling, $\lambda$. At order $\lambda^2$, the perturbation to the propagator is a four-point function with a sum over time-slices on which the background field is inserted. As such, one set of Feynman-Hellmann inversions yields the sum over time-slices necessary to calculate a discretisation of the Compton amplitude, Eq.~\eqref{compdef}. By contrast, a direct four-point function evaluation of this amplitude would require $\mathcal{O}(T^2)$ inversions to get all possible insertion times for a lattice of temporal extent $T$.

It was shown in Ref.~\cite{Utku_2020} that for a perturbed nucleon propagator, $\mathcal{G}_{\lambda}(t) \simeq A_{\lambda}e^{-E_{\lambda}t}$, the perturbed energy, $E_{\lambda}$, can be related to the Compton amplitude subtraction function:
\begin{equation}
  - m_N \frac{\partial^2 E_{\lambda}}{\partial \lambda^2 }\bigg |_{\lambda=0} = S_1(Q^2),
    \label{fh_relation}
\end{equation}
in the nucleon's rest frame: $\vec{p}=0$. The derivation of this Feynman-Hellmann relation, Eq.~\eqref{fh_relation}, was carried out in terms of hadronic states with continuous spacetime coordinates \cite{Utku_2020}. Since our aim here will be on understanding and controlling several lattice artifacts, we instead focus on the Feynman-Hellmann implementation at the level of lattice quark propagators.

A common discretisation of the electromagnetic current is the \emph{local current}:
\begin{equation}
    j_{\mu}^{\text{loc}} (n) = \bar{\psi}(n)\gamma_{\mu}\psi(n).
    \label{loccurrent}
\end{equation}
To calculate the Compton amplitude, Eq.~\eqref{compdef}, with this discretisation, we compute the following perturbed propagator:
\begin{equation}
    \begin{split}
        S_{{\lambda}} = \big[M- \lambda \mathcal{O}_{\vec{q}}\big]^{-1},
      \label{perturbedquarkprop}
    \end{split}
\end{equation}
where the perturbing matrix is
\begin{equation}
    \big[\mathcal{O}_{\vec{q}}\big]_{n,m} =  \delta_{n,m} \phi_{\vec{q}}(\vec{n})i\gamma_3, \quad \text{with} \quad \phi_{\vec{q}}(\vec{n}) = e^{i\vec{q}\cdot\vec{n}}+e^{-i\vec{q}\cdot\vec{n}},
    \label{localcurrent}
\end{equation}
for $\lambda$ a small coupling. $M$ is the fermion matrix, which can be written, up to the clover term \cite{clover}, as
\begin{equation}
    M(n,m) \equiv \left(m_0+4\right )\delta_{n,m} - \frac{1}{2a}\sum_{\mu}\bigg [\vec{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m) + \cev{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m) \bigg],
\end{equation}
with
\begin{equation*}
    \vec{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m)\equiv (1-\gamma_{\mu})U_{\mu}(n)\delta_{n+\hat{\mu},m}, \quad \cev{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m)\equiv (1+\gamma_{\mu})U_{\mu}(n-\hat{\mu})^{\dagger} \delta_{n-\hat{\mu},m}.
\end{equation*}
Therefore, the second derivative of the perturbed propagator is
\begin{equation}
     \frac{\partial^2}{\partial \lambda^2}{S_{{\lambda}}}\bigg|_{{\lambda}=0}  = 2M^{-1}\mathcal{O}_{{\vec{q}}} M^{-1}\mathcal{O}_{{\vec{q}}} M^{-1},
     \label{localsecondderiv}
\end{equation}
which is a four-point function with the {local current}, Eq.~\eqref{loccurrent}.

In terms of the quark propagators, the nucleon propagators with the perturbation to the $u$ or $d$ quark\footnote{Since the perturbation is only applied to the fermion propagators and not to the sea quarks, these and all other results in this report are connected only.} are written, up to spin/colour structure, as
\begin{equation}
    \mathcal{G}^{uu}_{\lambda} \sim \big\< S^u_{\lambda}S^u_{\lambda}S^d \big\>, \quad  \mathcal{G}^{dd}_{\lambda} \sim \big\< S^uS^uS^d_{\lambda} \big\>, \quad  \mathcal{G}^{ud}_{\lambda_1,\lambda_2} \sim \big\< S^u_{\lambda_1}S^u_{\lambda_1}S^d_{\lambda_2} \big\>.
\end{equation}
Recalling the spectral representation of the nucleon perturbed propagator, $\mathcal{G}^{qq'}_{\lambda}(t) \simeq A^{qq'}_{\lambda}e^{-E^{qq'}_{\lambda}t}$, we have the following flavour-dependent Feynman-Hellmann relations:
\begin{equation}
     -m_N \frac{\partial^2 E^{qq}_{\lambda}}{\partial \lambda^2 }\bigg |_{\lambda=0} = S^{qq}_1(Q^2), \quad -2m_N \frac{\partial^2 E^{ud}_{\lambda}}{\partial \lambda_1\partial\lambda_2 }\bigg |_{\lambda_1=\lambda_2=0} = S^{ud}_1(Q^2)+S_1^{du}(Q^2).
\end{equation}
Therefore, to calculate the proton contribution to the subtraction function, we take
\begin{equation}
   S_1^p(Q^2) = \sum_{q,q' = u,d}e_{q}e_{q'}S^{qq'}_1(Q^2) = \frac{4}{9} S_1^{uu}(Q^2) + \frac{1}{9}S_1^{dd}(Q^2)-\frac{2}{9}\big(S_1^{ud}(Q^2)+S_1^{du}(Q^2)\big).
\end{equation}

\begin{table}
    \caption{Gauge ensemble details}
    \centering
\[
\begin{array}{c c c c c c c c c}
    N_f & L^3 \times T & L  [\text{fm}]  & a [\text{fm}]& \beta &\kappa  & m_{\pi} [\text{GeV}] & Z_V   \\
    \hline \hline
    2+1 & 32^3 \times 64 & 2.4 &  0.074 & 5.50  & 0.120900  & 0.47 & 0.86  \\
      \hline
     2+1 & 48^3 \times 96  & 3.3 & 0.068 & 5.65 & 0.122005 & 0.41 & 0.87 \\
     & 48^3 \times 96 &2.8  &0.058 & 5.80 & 0.122810 & 0.43  & 0.88 \\

\end{array}
\]
    \label{tab:I}
\end{table}

\subsection*{Results: Local Current Implementation}

The simulations with the local current implementation were carried out on three different gauge ensembles generated by the QCDSF/UKQCD Collaborations \cite{configs} (Tab.~\ref{tab:I}), with varying volume, lattice spacing and quark masses. All three ensembles are at the SU(3) flavour symmetric point: $\kappa_l = \kappa_s=\kappa$. The inserted momentum is always chosen to be of the form $q_{\mu} = (0, \vec{q})$. Therefore, to calculate the subtraction function, for which $p\cdot q=0$, we simply choose our nucleon sink momentum $\vec{p} = 0$. For the $32^3 \times 64$ lattice, we calculate a large range of $Q^2$ values, while for the two larger volumes, there are fewer. For the majority of points, the statistics are $N_{\text{meas}} \sim \mathcal{O}(100)- \mathcal{O}(1000)$, with some higher statistics points, $N_{\text{meas}} \sim \mathcal{O}(10000)$, for the smallest volume.

The results are presented in Fig.~\ref{fig:local_results}, and show an asymptotic behaviour that clearly deviates from the OPE prediction of $S_1(Q^2)\sim Q^{-2}$, given in Eq.~\eqref{opepred}. Instead of trending to zero for $Q^2\gg m_N^2$, the subtraction function approaches a non-zero value.

\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width =0.76\textwidth, keepaspectratio]{proton_all_local.pdf}
    \caption{Local current proton subtraction function results for a range of lattices. }
     \label{fig:local_results}
\end{figure}

In Regge analysis, it has been pointed out that the Compton amplitude may contain an OPE-breaking `fixed pole' \cite{Creutz:1968, Brodsky:2008qu}, which could possibly account for the results in Fig.~\ref{fig:local_results}.

However, since the OPE is such a successful tool, we must investigate whether or not this anomalous asymptotic behaviour is due to a lattice artifact.
As such artifacts will vanish in the continuum limit, we might expect them to be sensitive to variations in the lattice volume and spacing. However, the results in Fig.~\ref{fig:local_results} indicate only very minimal volume and spacing dependence in the subtraction function. This is in agreement with recent calculations using baryon chiral perturbation theory, where it was found that finite volume corrections to the Compton amplitude subtraction function would indeed be small \cite{Lozano_2021}.

Since the anomalous asymptotic behaviour of the subtraction function does not vary greatly with changes in volume and spacing, we next investigate how it depends on the discretisation of the vector current.

\section{Feynman-Hellmann: Conserved vector current implementation}
\label{sec:conserved}

The results shown in the previous section were based on the \emph{local} discretisation of the vector current, Eq.~\eqref{loccurrent}. In this section, we will repeat the same calculation with the \emph{conserved} vector current,
\begin{equation}
   \begin{split}
        j^{\text{con}}_{\mu}(n) = \frac{1}{2}\bar{\psi}(n)\left(\vec{\mathcal{D}}_\mu(n,m) - \cev{\mathcal{D}}_\mu(n,m) \right) \psi(m).
   \end{split}
\end{equation}
For the Wilson fermion action, this operator is a Noether current, with a renormalisation factor of $Z_V=1$, in contrast to the local operator. However, our implementation of this current followed here introduces an unphysical contamination to the energy shift, which we refer to as the \emph{seagull term}.

We implement the conserved current by introducing a perturbation on the gauge links:
\begin{equation}
    U_{\mu}(n) \to [1 + \delta_{\mu 3} ( e^{i\lambda \phi(n)} - 1 )] U_{\mu}(n).
    \label{pertlinks}
\end{equation}
Note that different implementations are possible; however, by modifying the gauge links, we can use existing optimised algorithms to more efficiently invert the fermion matrix.

\begin{figure}
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width =0.76\textwidth, keepaspectratio]{seagull_PoS.pdf}
    \caption{Plot of the ratio $R(\Upsilon_u, t) = \mathcal{G}_3(\Upsilon_u,t)/\mathcal{G}_2(t)$ where the baryon three-point function was calculated with fixed insertion at $t=10$. The purple shaded horizontal region is the fitting window ($t \in [16,20]$). }
    \label{fig:4}
\end{figure}

Therefore, the perturbed fermion matrix is
\begin{equation}
    M_{\lambda}(n,m) =  \left(m_0 + 4\right)\delta_{n,m} -\frac{1}{2a} \sum_{\mu}\bigg[ \vec{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m,\lambda)+ \cev{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m,\lambda) \bigg],
\end{equation}
with
\begin{align*}
    \vec{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m,\lambda) &\to  \vec{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m) \left[1 + \delta_{\mu 3} \left( e^{i\lambda \phi(n)} - 1 \right)\right], \\
    \cev{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m,\lambda) &\to  \cev{\mathcal{D}}_{\mu}(n,m) \left[1 + \delta_{\mu 3} \left( e^{-i\lambda \phi(n+\hat{\mu})} - 1 \right)\right].
\end{align*}
 \begin{figure}[h]
    \centering
     \includegraphics[width =0.76\textwidth, keepaspectratio]{proton_cons.pdf}
     \caption{Proton subtraction function results using the conserved current implementation, before (green) and after (yellow) removal of seagull term, $\Upsilon$. The results in blue are from the local implementation seen in Fig. \ref{fig:local_results}.}
     \label{fig:conserved_results}
 \end{figure}
The perturbed propagator is then $S_{\lambda} = [M_{\lambda}]^{-1}$, which has the second derivative
\begin{equation}
     \frac{\partial^2}{\partial \lambda^2}{S_{{\lambda}}}\bigg|_{{\lambda}=0}  = \underbrace{M^{-1}\big(\phi_{\vec{q}}\vec{\mathcal{D}}_3+\cev{\mathcal{D}}_3 \phi_{\vec{q}}\big) M^{-1}}_{\text{seagull contribution}} + \underbrace{2M^{-1}\big(\phi_{\vec{q}}\vec{\mathcal{D}}_3-\cev{\mathcal{D}}_3 \phi_{\vec{q}} \big) M^{-1}\big(\phi_{\vec{q}}\vec{\mathcal{D}}_3-\cev{\mathcal{D}}_3\phi_{\vec{q}} \big) M^{-1}}_{\text{four-point function}}.
     \label{conservedsecondderiv}
\end{equation}
Therefore, the Feynman-Hellmann relation, Eq.~\eqref{fh_relation}, has an additional \emph{seagull term} for this conserved current implementation:
\begin{equation}
  - m_N \frac{\partial^2 E_{\lambda}}{\partial \lambda^2 }\bigg |_{\lambda=0} = S_1(Q^2) - \Upsilon,
    \label{fh_relation_seagull}
\end{equation}
where the seagull term is given by
\begin{equation}
   \Upsilon_q = 2\<N|\bar{\psi}_q(n)\big(\vec{\mathcal{D}}_3+\cev{\mathcal{D}}_3 \big)\psi_q(n)|N\>.
    \label{seagull}
\end{equation}
Note that $(\phi_{\vec{q}})^2 = 2 + e^{2i\vec{q}\cdot\vec{n}}+e^{-2i\vec{q}\cdot\vec{n}} $, and the $e^{\pm 2i\vec{q}\cdot\vec{n}}$ terms do not produce a contribution to the energy shift. Hence $\Upsilon$ is independent of the transferred momentum $Q^2$.

\subsection{Seagull results}
As discussed in the preceding section, the seagull term arises from the fact that the perturbation to the fermion matrix is not a simple linear shift, but was instead applied to the gauge links, Eq.~\eqref{pertlinks}. Since this seagull term is purely an artifact of the implementation process, we must remove it from our calculation of the energy shift to isolate the subtraction function.

The three-point function corresponding to the seagull term is computed using a conventional sequential source through the operator. The required matrix element is then extracted from the ratio of the three-point and two-point functions:
\begin{equation}
   R(\Upsilon_q, t)  = \frac{\mathcal{G}_3(\Upsilon_q, t)}{\mathcal{G}_2(t)}
   \overset{t\gg a}{\simeq}\Upsilon_q,
\end{equation}
for $\Upsilon_q$ as defined in Eq.~\eqref{seagull}. The results for the up-quark are presented in Fig.~\ref{fig:4}. Once this matrix element is calculated we remove it from the conserved current calculation, as per Eq.~\eqref{fh_relation_seagull}, to isolate the subtraction function.

\subsection{Results: Conserved current implementation}

The proton subtraction function is calculated for the conserved current using the same gauge ensemble as the $32^3 \times 64$ volume local current seen in Tab. \ref{tab:I} with $N_{\text{meas}} = 1000$.

In comparison to the local current, we can see in Fig.~\ref{fig:conserved_results} that the conserved current subtraction function exhibits different behaviour in its intermediate $Q^2$ values. Once we remove the  seagull term to isolate the subtraction function, the large $Q^2$ behaviour closely matches OPE-breaking behaviour of the local current. Therefore, the anomalous asymptotic behaviour of the subtraction function can not be attributed directly to the discretisation of the current.

\section{Temporal Interlacing}
\label{sec:interlacing}

As outlined in the previous sections, the observed anomalous
asymptotic behaviour of $S_1(Q^2)$ changes very little with different
discretisations of the current or with the variations in lattice
spacing and volume.
Here, we explore a Feynman-Hellmann implementation that allows
us to sample the integration region of the Compton amplitude,
Eq.~\eqref{compdef}, more coarsely.
The motivation for considering such an implementation is that we will
remove any contamination from a potential contact term, however it
comes with the caveat that this method will also remove any essential
short-distance contributions, such as the $Z$-graph which is proposed
to be responsible for the elusive fixed pole \cite{Brodsky:1973hm}.
Keeping this in mind, however, by exploring such an implementation we
hope to gain insights into whether or not the observed anomalous
behaviour is due to a short-distance effect.

As previously discussed, our calculation has a sum over all time
slices on which the currents are inserted, including contributions for
which the Euclidean separation of currents is $|z|\sim a$, with
$z_{\mu}$ as in Eq.~\eqref{compdef}.
As a first step for investigating the effects of these contributions,
we implement a coarser sampling of the temporal integration region by
inserting two currents on different sets of time slices thereby
introducing a minimum temporal separation, $\tau_{\text{min}}$.
For instance, in the simplest case where $\tau_{\text{min}} = 1$, we insert one
current on the even time slices and the other on the odd:
\begin{equation}
   [\mathcal{O}_1]_{n,m} = \delta^{\text{even}}_{t_n,t_m}\delta_{\vec{n}, \vec{m}}\phi_{\vec{q}}(\vec{n})i\gamma_3,\quad   [\mathcal{O}_2]_{n,m} = \delta^{\text{odd}}_{t_n,t_m}\delta_{\vec{n}, \vec{m}}\phi_{\vec{q}}(\vec{n})i\gamma_3,
\end{equation}
where we have defined $\delta^{\text{even}(\text{odd})}$ to be non-vanishing only on even (odd) timeslices.
The perturbed propagator is now
\begin{equation}
    \begin{split}
        S_{\vec{\lambda}}(z_n;z_m)  & = \bigg[\big[M- \lambda_1 \mathcal{O}_1-\lambda_2 \mathcal{O}_2\big]^{-1}\bigg]_{n,m}.
        \label{perturbedffcorrIL}
    \end{split}
\end{equation}
Therefore, the Feynman-Hellmann relation for $\tau_{\text{min}}=1$ interlacing is
\begin{equation}
        \begin{split}
         - E_N \frac{\partial^2 E_{\vec{\lambda}}}{\partial \lambda_1\lambda_2 }\bigg |_{\vec{\lambda}=0} =   \sum_{t_1=0,2,4,6...}\sum_{t_2=1,3,5,...}\sum_{\vec{z}}e^{-i\vec{q}\cdot\vec{z}}\<N(\vec{p})|T\{j_{3}(\vec{z},t_1)j_{3}(0, t_2)\}|N(\vec{p})\>.
            \label{interlacingfhrel}
        \end{split}
    \end{equation}
With a judicious choice of kinematics, the RHS of
Eq.~\eqref{interlacingfhrel} is proportional to a discretisation of
$S_1(Q^2)$.
The interlacing in Eq.~\eqref{interlacingfhrel} changes the measure of
the two sums over time-slices from $a\to 2a$, which must be accounted
for by a factor of four. However, once this normalisation is accounted
for, in the continuum limit Eq.~\eqref{interlacingfhrel} approaches
the same object as our previous discretisations of the Compton
amplitude.
Similar results can be derived for $\tau_{\text{min}}=2$.

  \begin{figure}
      \centering
    \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{sub_vs_omega_pos.pdf}
    \caption{Results for multiple interlacings with the local current.
      %
      Interlacing results have low statistics, $N_{\text{meas}}\approx
      200$, while the uninterlaced ($\tau_{\text{min}}=0$) use the implementation
      from section \ref{sec:local}, and have $N_{\text{meas}}\approx
      1000$.
      %
      Left: The proton subtraction function, with OPE prediction from
      Ref.~\cite{Hill_2017}.
      %
      Right: The up quark contribution to the subtracted Compton
      structure function, $\overline{\mathcal{F}}_1$, for $Q^2\approx
      4.7\;\text{GeV}^2$.}
    \label{interlacingres}
  \end{figure}

\subsection{Interlacing results}

Our preliminary results for $S_1(Q^2)$ with the interlacing method are
calculated on the $32^3\times 64$ gauge configurations (see
Tab.~\ref{tab:I}), using the local current, Eq.~\eqref{loccurrent}.
We implement interlacings for two different values of minimum time
separation: $\tau_{\text{min}}=0$, which are simply the results from section
\ref{sec:local}, and $\tau_{\text{min}} = 1$, for which the new method has been
applied.
Since our interlaced results are exploratory, they have relatively low
statistics: $N_{\text{meas}}\approx200$.

In left plot of Fig.~\ref{interlacingres}, we show the subtraction function with and without interlacing.
We observe that the anomalous asymptotic behaviour of the subtraction
function is reduced in the interlaced results.
We also observe that the $Q^2$ dependence of the two results are
remarkably similar.
Hence it would appear that by removing the $t=0$ contribution to the
integral, we have essentially removed a contribution that is constant
in $Q^2$.
Whether this is due to an unphysical contact term or a fixed pole
remains a question to be addressed in future work.
By contrast, in the right plot of Fig.~\ref{interlacingres}, we
observe that the subtracted Compton structure function,
$\overline{\mathcal{F}}_1$ defined in Eq.~\eqref{f1}, which is
independent of $S_1(Q^2)$, is largely unaffected by the interlacing.

This demonstrates that the anomalous asymptotic behaviour of the
subtraction function can be attributed to very short-distance
contributions (i.e.~$|z|\sim a$), which are removed by the interlacing
procedure.
However, the $|z|\sim a$ contributions apparently do not affect the
Compton structure function $\overline{\mathcal{F}}_1$ significantly.
These very short-distance contributions could be lattice artifacts as
suggested by Martinelli et al. \cite{Dawson:1997, Martinelli_1999}, or
they could be of a physical origin, such as the proposed interactions
giving rise to an OPE-breaking `fixed pole'. However, further
investigation, numerical and analytic, is needed before we draw any
strong conclusions.

\section{Conclusion}

In this report, we present several calculations of the Compton amplitude subtraction function, $S_1(Q^2)$, in lattice QCD.
In contrast to the OPE prediction of $S_1(Q^2) \sim Q^{-2}$, our initial results trend to a large non-zero value at high-energies.
This anomalous behaviour was found to persist even after varying the lattice spacing and changing the current discretisation.

In the final section, we present a novel method, temporal interlacing, that allows us to more coarsely sample the integration region of the Compton amplitude.
Using this method, we demonstrate that the anomalous behaviour of the subtraction function can be attributed to very short-distance contributions, which may be lattice artifacts or physical contributions---future work will aim to clarify this.
We are currently performing an investigation of the Compton amplitude and its subtraction function on configurations with gradient flow as an extension of \cite{Can:2021swa}.
This investigation is ongoing and results will be reported elsewhere.

This work provides a foundation for future lattice QCD calculations of the Compton amplitude subtraction function.
This will allow us to reduce the theoretical uncertainties in predictions for the proton--neutron mass difference and improve determinations of the proton charge radius.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
Who is Katherine Johnson?
Quite often people pass through our lives and go mostly unnoticed, even when they border on the verge of greatness. It isn't until Hollywood makes a film about them, or they pass away, we finally realize how great they were, what they endured and the struggles they faced. This is the case of Katherine Johnson, who passed away last week at the age of 101.
If you are not familiar with the name Katherine Johnson, let me give you a little history about her. She was born at the end of WWI, in the small town of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Her mother was a teacher and her father a lumberjack. She was one of four children and had a difficult childhood, as was the case for most African American people in those days.
As a child she showed great mathematical skills, but public education was not available to African Americans past grade eight. Her family moved to a town called Institute, which was where the campus of West Virginia State College was situated, a historically black university.
She graduated from high school when she was 14 and enrolled in WVS, taking every math course available. Her Profs were very impressed and began to mentor her, developing new programs around her skills. In 1937, at the age of 18, she graduated with degrees in mathematics and French.
She became a teacher, and after marrying her first husband, she enrolled in a graduate math program, being the first African American woman to do so. She gave birth to a daughter, and left school to focus on family life.
A few years later, she started a career as a research mathematician, an extremely difficult field, especially for black women. In 1953 she accepted a job with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics as a mathematician, and excelled at every task given to her. She was referred to as the 'computer who wore skirts', and using a slide rule and an adding machine, solved numerous complex puzzles.
She was a virtual computer solving gust alleviation issues for aircraft. In 1958 they disbanded the 'coloured computing pool'. That same year Katherine started as an aerospace technologist, and shifted her career to the Spacecraft Controls Branch. When NASA used electronic computers for the first time to calculate John Glenn's orbit around Earth, officials called on Johnson to verify the computer's numbers. Glenn had asked for her specifically, and had refused to fly unless Johnson verified the calculations.
Probably her greatest achievement was to help calculate the trajectory for the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the moon. She retired in 1986, and continued to mentor young men and women in the field of math sciences. In 2010 during an interview, she remarked, "Everybody was concerned about them getting there. We were concerned about them getting back."
If it was not for the film Hidden Figures, most of us would never have heard of one of the world's smartest people.


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