The massive — and massively expensive — oyster restoration project in Maryland's Harris Creek is yielding some pretty big pollution reductions, according to a new report.
Despite the big nitrogen number, the reefs are producing only a modest improvement in water quality in the creek, a tidal tributary of the Choptank River on the Eastern Shore. That's because pollution is washing into the creek from the Bay almost as fast as the reefs can filter it. But this report shows the value of doing more such large-scale reef projects, Bryer said.
Over the past seven years, federal and state agencies have planted nearly 2.5 billion hatchery-spawned spat, or baby oysters, on 350 acres of restored reefs in the creek. Advocates say such large-scale undertakings are the best hope for reviving the Chesapeake's depleted oyster population, which has dwindled to 1 or 2 percent of historic levels through decades of overharvesting, disease and pollution.
Watermen and their political supporters, though, criticize the project's cost — which has grown to $28.3 million — and question its outcome.
The restored reefs are in a sanctuary off-limits to harvest, and surveys in recent years have shown that the oysters there are thriving. It's too early to tell, though, if the reefs are self-sustaining, let alone seeding neighboring waters with juvenile oysters.
But scientists and restoration advocates say the reefs already provide other ecological benefits, including habitat for fish, crabs and other marine life. The oysters also filter pollutants from the water, and the report by VIMS and UMCES researchers quantifies the water quality impacts for the first time.
"One of the reasons for this study is to start to illuminate the benefits that may go unseen from a project like this," said The Nature Conservancy's Bryer.
An oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, so restoration advocates see projects like the one in Harris Creek as natural wastewater treatment plants.
Nitrogen is one of the main pollutants that oysters filter out of the water. It enters the Bay in stormwater runoff that contains fertilizer or animal waste from farms, streets and lawns; in treated and untreated sewage; and in fallout from power plant emissions and vehicle exhaust.
Nitrogen feeds algae blooms, which in turn consume dissolved oxygen in the water as the aquatic plants die and decay. Fish, crabs and shellfish struggle to survive in the resulting oxygen-starved "dead zones." Reducing nitrogen loads is a goal of the Bay's "pollution diet," formally called a total maximum daily load, that the U.S Environmental Protection Agency established for the Bay in 2010.
Oysters take in nitrogen as they consume algae and other bits of organic matter in the water. Some of the nitrogen in the algae is used by the oyster to grow its tissue and its shell, while the rest gets excreted and winds up in the sediment around the reef. There, in a complex chemical process known as denitrification, bacteria convert it into nitrogen gas, a form no longer able to feed algae blooms.
But measuring the oysters' filtration in open water like Harris Creek is a huge and tricky undertaking, because it's not a controlled environment. So, researchers Lisa Kellogg and Mark Brush from VIMS and Jeff Cornwell from UMCES collaborated on a computer model that could handle the complex calculation of all the variables involved in assessing what the reefs are doing to remove nutrients.
"The idea … is basically that the sampling we're doing is too expensive for any management agency to really undertake on their own," explained Kellogg, a senior research scientist at VIMS in Gloucester Point, VA. Through the model, she said, she and her colleagues hope to provide a tool that natural resource agencies could use to gauge the ecological benefits of this and other reef restoration projects.
Initially developed in 2014, while the Harris Creek reefs were still being restored, the model has since been enhanced and updated. With funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the scientists gathered more recent information about the creek's water quality and the number of oysters planted there. Using that data, the model indicates that the restored reefs can filter all the water in Harris Creek — nearly 10 billion gallons — in less than 10 days during the warm summer months, when oysters are actively filtering.
The oyster population in Harris Creek increased from an estimated 4.5 million bivalves before the restoration project to about 134 million afterward, the report notes. As with wild oyster reproduction, many of the hatchery-spawned spat perished — eaten by predators, smothered by sediment or outcompeted and starved of food by the other shellfish crowded around them. But if the remaining oysters continue to thrive, the reefs could remove a total of 1 million pounds of nitrogen over the next decade, according to the model calculations.
And oysters aren't the only ones removing nutrients from the water. The model figures that more than 40 percent of the nitrogen removal in the creek is being done by other filter-feeding marine animals that have found a home on the restored reefs — such as mussels and sea squirts, small bulbous creatures with little siphons, which grow in clumps on reefs, pilings, jetties and other hard surfaces in shallow waters.
Though the restored reefs could potentially remove all the nitrogen getting into Harris Creek from its tiny watershed — a little less than 10 square miles in a mostly rural landscape — it's only reducing the overall amount of nitrogen coming into the creek by about 5 percent . That's because the vast majority of nutrients come in from the Bay, and the pollution being removed is promptly replaced as tides flush more Bay water into the tributary. Even so, the scientists say it's significant that the reefs are dealing with pollution from beyond the creek watershed.
While the Harris Creek project's expense has been controversial, prompting Maryland officials to weigh a much smaller-scale effort planned for the St. Mary's River, the report indicates that restored reefs have value to the Bay cleanup. Based on the construction cost to date, the nitrogen removed by the Harris Creek reefs cost roughly $300 per pound. That's significantly more than what it costs per pound for most farm runoff control measures, but far less than it costs to capture nitrogen running off city or suburban streets, where storm drain retrofits can cost thousands of dollars per pound of pollution captured.
"Obviously, this is not an inexpensive experiment, but I think the project looks pretty good from what we see right now in terms of water quality," said Cornwell, a research professor at UMCES Horn Point laboratory in Cambridge.
Brush, who had the lead role in crafting the model, said it's designed to assess water-quality impacts of any reef project. The researchers hope to test that by applying it next to the Lynnhaven River in Virginia, recently selected for a 56-acre restoration project. Kellogg said that the Lynnhaven, near the mouth of the Bay, is far saltier than Harris Creek, and the population of filter-feeding creatures is somewhat different. Both factors could influence the rate of nitrogen removal.
"The real value is going to be down the line, when you apply models like this to more and more places," Cornwell said.
The report was welcomed by Stephanie Westby, oyster restoration coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Chesapeake Bay Office, which provided funding to Kellogg and Cornwell to collect data from Harris Creek that was used in the model.
"I think it should have a really great impact on how the state thinks about its restoration moving forward," Bryer said.
As originally posted, the story misstated the estimated cost per pound of nitrogen removed. A photo caption also mischaracterized sea squirts. The Bay Journal regrets the errors.
The costs per lb reduced numbers are mixing apples and oranges a bit. The total cost ($28M/100,000) comes out to a one time cost of $280/lb. Now, if we assume the reef is basically self-sustaining, and assign it a "lifespan" of 30 years (which is a standard timeframe assigned for most "permanent" best management practices), you get a very reasonable $9 per annualized lb reduced (essentially, 100,000 lbs per year for 30 years). My understanding is that cover crops run in the range of $5 per annualized lb of TN reduced, so oysters aren't too far off by that calculus. By comparison, the most affordable urban practices run in the range of $100 per annualized lb of TN.
Great article. And astute analysis from the previous commenter about the annualized cost of this "BMP." But to take the analysis one necessary step further, it's also important to start with this: "the reefs already provide other ecological benefits, including habitat for fish, crabs and other marine life." The point is that these oysters are not merely a very valuable nitrogen removing "BMP" but have many other benefits. And I don't just mean intrinsic value as a native species or a broad and unquantifiable 'ecosystem services' value in an academic sense. Though both of those are essential considerations too. Instead, I think anyone analyzing the restoration of the Bay watershed needs to go at least modestly beyond this COST PER POUND OF NITROGEN REMOVED measure. It's far too narrow and, unfortunately, far too prevalent. Would anyone now spend $300 on an ipod and another $300 on a Garmin and another $300 on a nice camera, and $300 on a camcorder, and $300 on a bunch of computer programs, etc, etc? Not a chance. Now, we can spend a fraction of the cost of the previous sum of all of this technology on one smart phone. Why? Obviously, it's because it makes no sense to only look at value in isolation, without the consideration of co-benefits. In the same way, we should never spend $100 per pound of nitrogen removed if that BMP doesn't do much to remove other far more hazardous pollutants, especially ones we know to be present in the places were people live. Rather, it's only commonsense to start by asking what are we getting with this money? If it's $100 for removal of 1 pollutant or $500 for removal of 100 pollutants. That's a no-brainer. This is the folly of nutrient trading and is also the same problematic logic behind too many management decisions supporting the Bay TMDL. It's also why one of the most important developments in the Bay restoration process was the 2014 Bay Agreement, which created all sorts of equally (if not MORE important) value propositions than simply nutrient and sediment reduction. Thanks for another great article (and to the previous commenter for elucidating some of these considerations).
This article did not address the two diseases that have plagued Chesapeake Bay oysters: Dermo and MSX. Are these oysters not susceptible for some reason, or is this a part of the Bay where the diseases are not prevalent?
The oyster diseases MSX and especially Dermo are found in a significant portion of adult oysters in that part of the Chesapeake Bay, but disease prevalence and mortality have remained below the average seen over the past three decades, according to DNR's annual fall surveys. Water salinity has been relatively low in recent years, which tends to reduce disease impacts.
Evan's going to make the "plant a one foot tall tree in a median" crowd upset with those kinds of remarks! The term for what you described is "stacked benefits." Every BMP has a life span, and the best BMPs (per effort/cost) offer "stacked benefits" during that lifetime. A street tree has a typical life span of 6-18 years. Stacked benefits for trees usually do not occur until beyond year 15. Oyster restoration, and some large scale habitat restoration projects, are at the opposite end of the spectrum. 30 - 200 year life span of the project, stacked benefits begin accruing in Year 1.
Good Point Sara. MSX and Dermo has killed the majority (80%) of the oyster reefs in bay, as recent as 2004. Seems like there are more studies ,computer models,theories,and projections than real results. More studies and computer models are sure to follow in the future.


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I know his pic was in the group one but I feel I should introduce you to our new Secretary and our media correspondent.
On my right is secretary Terry Docker and the young lady is Terry's lady, Kay, and on my left , Jim Bowden is our contact into the newspaper world.
The SEQ Vindicatrix Association was invited to take part in the 2014 Anzac Day Parade. There was one member that asked if we could display both Australian and British ensigns. That was easy as we could display and carry flags representing both the Australian Merchant Navy as well as the British Merchant Navy. This request was not too hard to fulfil as we have access to both flags.
On the 18th January 2014 this 'pirate', Ken Hitchcock, celebrated his 80th Birthday. A party, at the Club Southport Inc was arranged for him by his family. His two daughters organised the whole thing, with a little help from his wife Bernadette. There were 40+ guests at the Club they included a few Vindi boys, Kens Family including his Brother in law Ben. Ben is a Maestro Ukelele player who came over the ditch from NZ just to play Ken into becoming an Octagenarian. Also present were a number of his grandchildren, including a young lady that Ken is very proud of. She works for Virgin Airlines and came to the party from Sydney.
To start the festivities, Bernadette thanked everyone for being there and hoped they all enjoyed themselves. Ken also gave a short speech in which he too thanked everyone for attending, and emphasised the hard work that his two daughters had done to make it possible. They even arranged for the Chef to do a Special Dish just for Ken, he had an enjoyable Lemon Sole that wasn't even on the menu for that evening, thank you Mr Chef for being so obliging.
One other thing to mention here is that Ken is one of our Walking Wounded Warriors. Ken had a very serious operation on Christmas Eve. He had a tangle with Big C At present his recovery is slow but steady, but he showed his mettle at his party by joining in the toe tapping rendition, by his brother in law Ben of a couple of Maori songs.
Also throughout the meal there were some real memory jogging music and songs that ranged from Frank Sinatra to the Beverly Sisters. After the meal, there was no rush to go, but there was a great deal of lamp swinging that was washed down with an ale or three.
To round all this off, Ken is due to start having some radium treatments. Not sure at this time when that will start. I have been told that for these radium treats Ken has to wear a Lead Shield for his face. At the start of this narrative, I called Ken a 'Pirate', well once they put this face plate on him, doesn't he become the "Count of Monte Cristo?"
Social Outing to Cascade Gardens of Broad Beach Qld.
We had a very enjoyable Social Outing today to the above address, it's a pity you couldn't all get there. We had 15 people, that was 12 men and 3 ladies.
As usual our President arrived somewhat earlier than anyone else, and to while away the time he decided that he would catch us all a feed of fish. So out came the rod, and onto the bank he strode and made a strong cast out over the waters of the river. He told us that he fished for half an hour and had a wonderful amount of nowt to show for his endeavours. However, Eileen who was watching the progress of her man towards catching us a feed, told us that it was the shortest half hour that she had ever witnessed. Also there was no actual proof that Brian baited the hook. Ah well, can't win 'em all can we.
The meet was slated for 1100hrs and just about all hands that were going to arrive had done so by that time. We started to unload the goodies etc and went to the BBQ machine and after about 20 minutes, it became obvious that we would not be able to cook anything on those plates. Please don't think that the plates weren't hot, they both were, but only by the sun, and cooking bangers by direct sunlight is not going to happen. At least, not while the ground temperature of the suns rays is only about 25C. So it was that we broke camp and went walk about to find an operational BBQ. After a long drag, of at least 100 metres, we happened to chance upon another set-up and we again started pushing buttons and squinting at the little lights that lit up as green, then turned a kindly looking red colour. Success, the plates started, really started to get warm, then hot. Commence the cooking. Fortunately the bangers and steaks and stuff didn't take long to start smelling good and looking edible. Whilst all this was going on, the girls decided that there was not enough shade at this position, so issued 'requests' that after the cooking we should re-site ourselves at the original stopping base. As is usual, the men decided that the shade, 100 metres away, was just the spot to eat.
All this time there was plenty of chat going on, but not enough to get the goodies over cooked. The different bits and pieces were shared around, and we returned to our starting spot and the salads appeared and also the condiments and sauces too. We all tucked in to whatever we had on our plates, and listen to that, almost total silence. The ibis's and crows kept up their usual noisy presence, to try and encourage our group to pass along some of the spoils.
A short while after the foods had done their best to keep the quietness going, Brian addressed us with thanks for taking the time to come along and join in the conviviality and companionship of the day. Discussion took place in regards to the Christmas function – details on the noticeboard.
This is a report on the outing that the ALL SHIPS SPIT ROAST was an enjoyable days' outing. I know you all were informed of the happening as I sent out the email announcing the invitation. There were approximately 150 Lads & Ladies attending, and the talk was all about boats and ships of the Navies. It was worth the money just to see and talk to the many seafarers that had stories to tell and anecdotes to remember and inform others about. No doubt that some of the tales were tall, and not only that, but they had been told last year as well, but like all good shipmates, all within earshot always waited politely until the tale was told.
Our New group was invited to attend, and I am glad that I went, and I have every intention of attending again next year. The venue was rather unique as the function was held in the grounds of the Queensland Maritime Museum. There were no restrictions for the visitors, as they were welcome to wander on and through the prime exhibit, that being the ex R.A.N. Frigate Diamantina, that has been patched and painted by volunteers and is in sailing condition if needed. Also the rest of the museum was open to our group and lots of the items there are in pristine condition.
The $25 spit roast was well done and also done well, with plenty of salad items to go round, twice if you wanted another helping. There were two meats on offer, being Lamb and Beef. To round off there was two deserts, a Meringue and Cream or an Apple Pie with Custard. There wasn't too much of those for a 2nd round, but by then most of the visitors had had enough anyway. I am glad I went in by bus, as I may have had some trouble getting home if I had been driving, Four red wines (at $1 a pop) and I think I was over the driving max.
About 40 people at our Merchant Navy Day ceremony to pay homage to all the Merchant Seamen that did not arrive back in port during, not only WW11, but all conflicts throughout the past Centuries.
The program was introduced by Mr Brian Hunt. BEM. JP.
Father John Reid led the prayer and read the homily. He also led the singing of the Sailors Hymn. We had no music so we had to use our voices to make it sound good. The hymn was followed by Mr Andy Squibb (Vice President) laying a wreath at the flags.
The full ODE was then read by Don Johnstone, President, Sub Naval Association Sub Branch. The Last Post was followed by a Minutes Silence. Followed by 'Rouse'. This in turn was followed by the National Anthem.
Father John Reid then gave a Blessing for all Mariners, both current and past.
"Heroes" by Dave Partridge, read by Jack Secker.
"Reluctant Heroes" by Joe Earle, read by Jerry Purvis.
A few remarks thanking ALL HANDS for attending the Service, and an invitation to Tea, Coffee & Tab-Nabs.


Unravelling the complexities of a disease with multiple wildlife host and multiple tsetse vector species is no easy task. After over a century of field observations, experimental studies, anecdotal evidence and conjecture, the role of wildlife in the transmission of trypanosomes is still unclear. Recently, however, frameworks used in the studies of other vector-borne diseases with wildlife reservoirs showed that not only is it possible to understand transmission, but that spatio-temporal predictions of human disease risk and targeted control are realistic aims, even in such complex systems. This thesis explores the epidemiology of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in Northern Tanzania, where recent cases in tourists have highlighted the disease as a public health and economic concern. Assessment of the prevalence of trypanosome infections in different wildlife species is the first step in investigating the relative importance of different species in disease transmission. Identification of trypanosomes relies on sensitive and specific diagnostic tests. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols based on interspecies differences in the length of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions have been widely used in livestock to identify multiple trypanosome species in one PCR reaction. This study represents the first assessment of these protocols on blood samples collected from wildlife. Clonal sequence analysis of PCR products revealed a large range of trypanosomes circulating in wildlife, including Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma simiae Tsavo, Trypanosoma godfreyi and Trypanosoma vivax. In addition sequences similar to known sequences, termed Trypanosoma simiae-like and T. vivax-like trypanosomes, may reflect further diversity. However, further characterisation is needed before ITS protocols can be used widely for epidemiological studies in wildlife. The prevalence of T. brucei s.l. and T. congolense varied widely between species. This variation was predominantly explained by taxonomic classification, suggesting intrinsic differences in response to trypanosomes. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, the subspecies responsible for HAT, was identified in lion, hyaena and reedbuck. Age significantly affected the prevalence of T. congolense in lion and hyaena, with the highest prevalence in subadults. The lack of statistically significant differences in prevalence between animals sampled live or after death confirmed that post-mortem sampling provides a method for increasing sample sizes in wildlife studies. The complex relationship between tsetse density and prevalence of trypanosome infections illustrated the difficulties of assessing data from diverse ecosystems with many potential confounding factors. A cross-sectional study of Glossina swynnertoni and Glossina pallidipes, the main tsetse species in Serengeti, highlighted the difficulties of integrating the results of microscopy and PCR to generate meaningful measures of the prevalence of transmissible T. brucei infections for epidemiological studies. However, PCR results suggested that G. pallidipes may be more important as a vector of T. brucei s.l. than has been previously recognised. Spatial variation in both tsetse density and the prevalence of trypanosome infections suggests human disease risk is heterogeneous. The results of this study, along with relevant literature, are considered within the context of frameworks used for other vector-borne diseases and the implications for disease management discussed.


Insights Qualitativos 2.0: Who Killed the Cool Hunter?
Who Killed the Cool Hunter?
We all remember Malcolm Gladwell's influential article on cool hunters, the one he wrote in 1997. And the late 1990s did seem to be the hay day of the species.
It was pretty horrific. I remember listening to the consultant simultaneously wow and demean the marketers in the room with salacious stories of what the kids were up to. There was always something deeply self-congratulatory and other-condemnatory about the exercise. The cool hunter claimed glory for knowing what running shoes the kids were wearing. He might have divined this from the window of the limo on the way in from the airport, but hey.
Even this simple understanding raised the cool hunter in the larger of scheme of things, and from this great height he saw the marketer and saw that he was clueless. Always there was, on the part of the cool hunter, a fatal confusion between knowing cool and being cool, and you couldn't help feeling that however much the coolhunter was being paid by the corporation, he prized his knowledge more. He wasn't in it for the money. He was in it for the status.
So it was gratifying when we were treated to this recantation in the pages of Time Magazine in 2003.
How humiliating! Time Magazine! Flat footed, lumbering, always the last to know. And here was it was playing taps for the cool hunters who were supposed to put it out of business.
So what killed the cool hunting? Certainly, as Grossman pointed out, it didn't work. But, as we all know, not working has done nothing to discourage several consulting juggernauts. So that can't be it.
Three things, possibly. The corporation developed its own internal resources. Knowing and caring about popular culture ceased to be something to be ashamed of. Everyone got smarter about it, and some of them worked out for the corporation. Certainly, each successive generation coming into the corporation carried a still finer knowledge and a still greater love. The corporation would get smarter by simply standing still.
Second, the journalistic resources got steadily better. With the likes of Entertainment Weekly, the New York Times, The New Yorker, and even Time Magazine (not least in the person of James Poniewozik), suddenly there was intelligence with intelligence, and the corporation always prefers this especially when it can be had for the price of a subscription.
Third, I think contemporary culture just got too complicated for any individual to claim comprehensive knowledge or systematic insight. Yes, we now have websites like PSFK and Agenda, and these do a great job. And they are wise enough not to claim to divine the source, trajectory or advent of cool, as the cool hunters often did. They give us lots and let us choose.
Who killed the cool hunter? I think contemporary culture did. It got more complicated, in the process outstripping the cognitive abilities of even those who claimed guru status. And the knowledge of contemporary culture became more distributed. Increasingly, even the corporation had a clue.
Useful in their brief moment, cool hunters would eventually be remaindered by historical forces beyond their control. Those who live by the trend, apparently also die by it. And somehow I think that's fair. Surely contemporary culture is too interesting, important and difficult to be represented by catching phrases, exclamatory declarations and a haughty self importance. Cool hunters, you are now removed from fashion.
Gladwell, Malcolm. 1997. The Coolhunt. The New Yorker. March 17, 1997:78-88.


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What does homeowner's insurance cover when there is storm damage?
Hampton Roads continued to be pounded by storms for the second day. A determination is still being made on whether a Tornado hit the Oceanfront in Virginia Beach, VA yesterday at 3:30 pm, which injured 10 people and sent 4 to the hospital. The area between Atlantic and Pacific Avenues and 14th and 18th streets, the storm damaged the roofs of businesses and homes, as well as that of a school, church and motel. The storm also caused damage at Sandbridge and off of Laskin Road and sent dozens for cover. The Emergency Weather Alert System in Wakefield, VA began sending alerts two hours prior as severe storms passed through the region; some parts of Franklin had hail the size of golf balls. The area has 30% chance of rain this storms late this afternoon but not as severe.
But what do you do if a tree falls from neighbor's yard on to my property during a storm? A tree falls on your property and damages a shed or swing set; it's your responsibility, to dispose of it on private property. If the tree falls into the street you can contact your local municipality to clean up the debris. Your insurance may cover removal if the tree blocks access to a house or door, but that's up to the insurance company, each case is handled individually.
Will my neighbor be forced to pay for some of the removal? Negligence has to be proven on their part for example, the tree is rotten and you asked your neighbor to remove it and they refused. If you have ever made a claim of sort to a neighbor please keep written documents that you have communicated to the homeowner. Take photos of the tree that you requested to be removed and have an inspector to come out and issue a report for the tree.
What we most commonly see in storms is damage from a tree hitting a car in a driveway. Yes, this covered by your own auto insurance only if you have a "comprehensive" policy. This includes cars parked on the street.
What is someone is injured on my property during the storm? Personal Liability Coverage in your homeowner's policy protects you financially in the event you are found financially responsible in a covered lawsuit where you caused damage or harm to another person or their property.
We hope this helps you, but please be safe during a storm. Always remember to remove hazards away from your home before a storm strikes.
What Exactly Does Street Legal Mean?


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The ultimate guide to LED signage deployments
From design to viewing distance and content development, learn how to create immersive installations of direct-view LED signage.
Making Out-of-Home Advertising Smarter With Online Data
Published May 4, 2016 By:
Ubiquitous connectivity and steady streams of relevant, real-time online data are changing the game for out-of-home advertising companies and brands.
The old way of doing things involved companies conceiving and planning marketing campaigns weeks and months in advance, and then finding billboard and poster locations where a lot of people would see their printed message, but with the understanding that only a percentage of passersby would find that message relevant and timely.
But today, brands are creating sophisticated, highly targeted and relevant marketing campaigns using data visualization and digital signage.
General Motors Raises the Bar
General Motors is marketing its Chevy Malibu using a clever mashup of cameras, pattern-detection software and digital billboards to tell commuters that they too should be driving Malibus.
A camera and networked computer mounted up the roadway from the billboard scans oncoming cars, looking for the unique geometry of vehicle grilles that compete in the Malibu's category. When the pattern-seeking algorithm gets a hit, it provides via mobile Internet a data trigger to the networked computer that drives content on the billboard up the road — telling it to play a specific ad directed at that car.
So, a motorist driving toward the billboard in a competing car could see a message that suggests, as one example, that there are "more available safety features (on the Malibu) than your Hyundai Sonata."
Instead of a billboard using a generic message and trying to reach a percentage of the motorists who might one day buy a Malibu, real-time data hypertargets the crowd that drives cars similar to Malibus, and are the most likely to switch. The messages are almost personal, but stop well short of being invasive or creepy.
Targeted Advertising for Air Travelers
Heathrow Express is an aptly named passenger rail service that runs arriving passengers from London's Heathrow Airport into the heart of the UK capital in a matter of minutes. Digital out-of-home advertising screens mounted at the baggage carousels in arrivals were used to hypertarget the service's most likely customers, and then tell them precisely why they should take the train and not a cab or the Tube.
Using real-time data on traffic conditions, weather and schedules, digital screens matter-of-factly informed passengers waiting for their bags that if they took a taxi, it would take forever and cost a lot of money. Comparison data on the screens made it obvious that taking the express train was much more affordable, and would get them into London in half the time. Not surprisingly, the campaign was very successful, and won awards for its creativity and execution.
In another very different campaign near Heathrow, British Airways used flight tracker data from airplane transponders to show a child on a digital billboard watching and pointing at a real jet taking off or landing beyond the billboard, showing in text the flight number and destination or origin.
The Internet of Things and big data platforms enable developers to push the boundaries in advertising by making much more data readily available and easy to use for campaigns.
Another emerging media form, data visualization, uses this real-time and archival data to tell stories that influence consumer decisions in new and interesting ways — changing flat, printed infographics into dynamic and lively images.
The Capabilities of Digital Signage
The ad industry is not, however, changing just because of data, content and delivery systems like mobile Internet. Display technology advances are making it possible to put screens in new places and directly connect them to online data.
Daylight-readable LCD displays — illuminated inside by efficient LEDs — on sidewalks and shop windows attract consumers and help businesses stand out. Even in full sunlight, Samsung's 2,500 nit displays can cut through daylight glare. Samsung and its subsidiary Prismview also have new direct-view LED displays that easily win the glare battle with sunlight, and have LED lights that save energy and deliver sharp images.
Digital out-of-home advertising signage has traditionally been driven by external PC media players, but a new breed of commercial LCD displays — spanning the full spectrum of sizes — ships with embedded media players. Smart Signage displays build in the connectivity, storage and processing power to drive content to the screens. They streamline the size and bulk of digital signage setups, and reduce costs and cables by removing the need for external playback devices.
For example, a digital out-of-home advertising (or OOH) screen in a busy airport would need nothing more than a power cord and Wi-Fi access to start pulling and displaying real-time data incorporated into ads and other messages.
The future of digital OOH and public messaging is all about smart messaging that uses stored and real-time data to deliver increasingly relevant and timely messaging to consumers. Marketers are happier when they know they're reaching the right people with the right messages, and consumers are more receptive to messages that reflect their interests and lifestyles.
Find a digital display that fits your business needs on Samsung's digital signage solutions page.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Consider a scenario where 2 rendering contexts (each belonging to their own distinct window) exist in 2 separate threads of execution. Do OpenGL function pointers need to be loaded and used separately for each of them? Or can the gl* function pointers be global, loaded only once for a given application instance and used by both windows or contexts?
This function only works in the presence of a valid OpenGL context. Indeed, the function pointers it returns are themselves context-specific. The Windows documentation for this function states that the functions returned may work with another context, depending on the vendor of that context and that context's pixel format.
In practice, if two contexts come from the same vendor and refer to the same GPU, then the function pointers pulled from one context will work in the other. This is important when creating an OpenGL context in Windows, as you need to create a "dummy" context to get WGL extension functions to create the real one.
I was wondering if such a requirement also existed for the OpenGL functions?
[...] The functions can be OpenGL functions or platform-specific WGL functions.
This means loaded OpenGL functions are context-specific like WGL functions are on Windows.
Old hardware may return different function pointers for different contexts. Nowadays I doubt it. GLEW is moving to avoid this multi-context (MX) feature.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged c++ c windows winapi opengl or ask your own question.
How to screencapture window that uses OpenGL?
Why don't I have WGL_ARB_create_context extension?
Create Modern OpenGL context using WGL?


text:
Q: Generate Binary strings of given length and with a constraint I am trying to write a logic where I want to generate a list of binary strings of given size n and also the string should have maximum of k bits set to 1.
Example:
If n = 3, k = 1 ==> the number of 1's can be 0 or 1.
Then the output should be 000, 001, 010, 100

Below is the logic I have used with the help of this link as a reference:
Here n is same as arr.length.
static void generateAllBinaryStrings(int n, int arr[], int i, List<String> res, int k) {
    if (i == n) {
        StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
        int count = 0;
        for (int j = 0; j < arr.length; j++) {
            int val = arr[j];
            if (val == 1) {
                count++;
            }
            sb.append(val);
        }
        if (count <= k) {
            res.add(sb.toString());
        }

        return;
    }

    arr[i] = 0;
    generateAllBinaryStrings(n, arr, i + 1, res, k);

    arr[i] = 1;
    generateAllBinaryStrings(n, arr, i + 1, res, k);
}

public static void main(String args[]) {
    int n = 3;
    int[] arr = new int[n];
    int k = 1;
    int i = 0;
    List<String> res = new ArrayList<>();
    generateAllBinaryStrings(n, arr, i, res, k);
    System.out.println(res);// Prints [000, 001, 010, 100]
}

This code is working fine, but this logic generates all possible binary string then filters based on the number of 1's in the string.
Is there any less time complex algorithm for this problem.

A: The basic thing that comes into my mind while you are trying to generate the string with having this much data with you why cant you just have one more reference to your recursive call that tell how many 1 are there in you generated string as of the recursion in being called.
The method signature now might look like -
static void generateAllBinaryStrings(int n, int arr[], int i, List<String> res, int k,int currentCountOfOnes){
       // Rest logic remains same , each time you don't have to check how many 1's
      // are there as of the call made.

}

This might reduce complexity a bit more than what you have.
And one more obvious thing that you can think of is storing your previous called result (memorization -> that leads to a thought of dynamic programming)
Hope thoughts might have helped you.
Note : I could have coded all this but then there is no use of doing so. Try it out if you find it useful do let me know !!

A: I've come up with this:
static void generateAllBinaryStrings(StringBuilder sb, int n, Set<String> res, int k) {
    int len = sb.length();
    if (k == 0) {
        repeat(sb, '0', n);
        res.add(sb.toString());
        sb.setLength(len);
    } else {
        for (int i = 0; i <= n; ++i) {
            repeat(sb, '0', i);
            if (i < n) {
                sb.append('1');
                generateAllBinaryStrings(sb, n-i-1, res, k-1);
            } else {
                res.add(sb.toString());
            }
            sb.setLength(len);
        }
    }
}

private static void repeat(StringBuilder sb, char c, int n) {
    for (int j = 0; j < n; ++j) {
        sb.append('0');
    }
}

The idea is that you have k ones to place in a string of length n; so if k == 0, the only possible value is n zeroes. If k > 0, you can add n zeroes, or i zeros, i being anywhere between 0 and n-1, followed by a 1, recurse for the remaining space and k-1.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This book above to be released in 2010/2011 will feature my visit and photo "shoot"on location at Animals Asia Foundation in Chengdu China.
As you can see there has been no rest over the holidays in the GRAFFITI studio! I have so much to tell you guys but can only do a little at a time or it will be info overload!!
This is a really big milestone for me to get these book covers done!! Each of the books will be brimming over with my art and photography and are considered "coffee table" books in a collectors series. This upcoming trip is where I will be getting all my images from to fill the pages so they will be mostly NEW TO YOU and me as well!!
100% of any proceeds from each of the books go to their respective charity as mentioned above. I wanted to get the covers done before I left to show the directors at the Panda Bases and AAF what my plans are. A visual is always so much better than trying to describe the concept with my command of the Chinese dialects being VERY poor to say the least!
ABOVE IS A NEW CHOW PUPPY DESIGN..THANK YOU DIANA FOR LETTING ME USE DANIKA AS A MODEL.
CLICK ON THE TSHIRTS TO FIND THEM AVAILABLE IN THE TEAHOUSE MARKET.
THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW DESIGNS IN THE STORE …YOU CAN ALWAYS ACCESS THE STOREFRONT AT THE TOP OF MY BLOG.
Great idea, great titles, and great book covers!!! Can't wait to see them.
Thank you so much Linda!!!!! I can't wait to gather the materials to write them!!!! These next 4 weeks are going to be crazy waiting to go!! Wish you (and all of you) were physically coming with me but virtually we will be on the ultimate panda road trip!!
Nice work, Sandy! I love the panda art on the white t-shirt. Can't wait to see your photos after your trip!
Thanks Kristin!!! It really stand out on that shirt doesnt it? I can't wait to hear about your puppy visit to Dianas!!!!
WOW Sandra!!! I love the cover art and can't wait for the books! I do wish I were physically going with you on your next fabulous trip, but am so happy I will get to enjoy your journey through your wonderful blog…thanks so much for that!
Hello Lois and Deb!!! l'm so happy you girls are going to be traveling again with us on this trip. We are going to have so much fun!!! I promise to bring back goodies on this trip too…most of all I hope our weather is clear so I can use my cameras at the panda and moonbear bases!!! Cross your fingers!!!


which is usually somewhat flat.
edge, is quite narrow and tapered.
Figure 3-6. Typical airfoil section.
equidistant at all points from the upper and lower surfaces.
advantage of the air's response to certain physical laws.
greater than the weight of the aircraft, the aircraft will fly.
of air above the wing. Herein lies the key to flight.
but also with different wing designs.
enough lifting power to take the airplane off the ground.
shows some of the more common airfoil sections.
increased velocity reduces the pressure above the airfoil.


I'm at a conference for housing associations in Wales today and tomorrow, where we hope to encourage Board members to see the benefits of social media in learning from each other, cutting down on meetings, and connecting with the residents that they serve.
We've just started a conference blog, and as an experiment in social networking I wondered if you would drop by with a greeting and maybe a tip or two about how organisations and their committees can start to use social media. Just a comment ... or a piece on your blog if really moved ... I want to show how blogs can connect!


John Serbe Marfo is a lecturer in the Supply Chain and Information Systems Department. John brings over eight years and worth of experience in Information systems to the department. He holds a BSc honours degree and an MBA from KNUST, and several postgraduate diploma qualifications and professional certificates in ICT. John has acted as a Consultant, attended several conferences and is also an ICT Specialist, consulting for several public and private sector organizations, governmental and non-governmental institutions in Ghana and abroad.
John Frimpong Manso is a professional teacher with about 20years experience in teaching at various levels of education and currently a lecturer at the department of Supply Chain and Information Systems, KNUST School of Business. He lectures Procurement Management, Operations Management, Inventory Management, Supply Chain Risk Management and Supplier Relationship Management at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Kofi Agyenim Boateng is a lecturer in the Department of Information Systems and Decision Sciences at the KNUST School of Business, KNUST. He has BA (Hons) Publishing Studies from KNUST. However, his MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems and PhD in Information Systems were all obtained from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005and 2010 respectively.Since 2005, he has been connected with both academic and professional institutions in varied capacities as lecturer, visiting lecturer, researcher and reviewer.
Emmanuel Quansah is a lecturer in the Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems at the KNUST School of Business. He has a joint master's degree in Industrial Management from the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, Politecnica de Madrid in Spain and Politecnico di Milano in Italy. He also holds a BSc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana.
Dr. Asamoah has been a full time lecturer at the department Information Systems and Decision Sciences (ISDS) of the KNUST School of Business (KSB) for the past eight (8) years. He rose to become the Head of department from 2011-2013, and he is currently serving another term which will end in July 2016. Until his full time appointment at KNUST, Dr. Asamoah served as a part-time lecturer for 2-years at KSB, and he taught Management Information System (MIS) at the graduate level and Computers in Business at the undergraduate level.


text:
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EVAN "BULLET" JAMES, C.A.S.'Extreme' Alcohol and Drug Intervention Specialist | Founder, CEO
Tony Pallotto is an extreme interventionist whose family was riddled with alcoholism; he began using drugs and alcohol before he was 13. In spite of that, he's one of those extraordinary men who's led many different lives – including as an Air Force Member, Air Traffic Controller, Energy Contractor, and Advertising / Marketing Director for Newspapers. He left the corporate world in 1995 and working with his wife Maryann, formed UCI, a non-profit that seeks to help families facing addiction and other life threatening issues.
Tony PallottoExtreme Interventionist, Spirtual Family Counselor, Placement Specialist
Lauren is a nationally certified intervention specialist and formerly was critical care emergency transport responder. Lauren's immense experience working in life and death situations, along with the challenges she faced as a troubled youth, make her a prominent U.C.I. Extreme Interventionist.
Lauren NicoleMarketing Director, Certified Intervention Specialist
Michael is a fugitive recovery specialist and a veteran transport agent. Michael has twelve plus years of experience in the field and is also Evan's childhood friend. Michael has been a trusted extreme interventionist on some of U.C.I's most dangerous cases.
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Brett is a retired D.E.A. supervisor both in country and abroad. He proudly served as the United States Army as an airborne military police serviceman. Brett has long standing relationships with law enforcement and is a key member of U.C.I's Human Sex Trafficking division.
Brett Earl ScottU.C.I. Sex Trafficking Team Member
Evan "Bullet" James & Tony Pallotto on Dr. Drew discussing "Extreme Intervention" Click on image below to listen to episode
Huffington Post – High Intensity Intervention: An interview with Bullet Jame
James: Intervention doesn't always have a storybook ending – Interview on The Brett Winterble Show
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The decades since Johnson's studies have produced many variations on his themes and professionals now meet a wide range of environments and issues. The ground zero is no longer just a personal and family dimension it extends to the workplace and involves the boardrooms of Corporate American, the military, the media, all forms of celebrity from sports to movie and television stars, even the medical profession has doctors and nurses surrounded by their addictions as a part of their daily job description. 'Executive Interventions' are often instigated in companywide programs designed to define and solve problems with all workers and thus increase the strengths and resources of the worker and thus the corporation.
Intervention as a common remedial action has increased simply as more and more people hear about its practical ability and its updated application to a wider range of addictive circumstances. These occasions and circumstances have created a professional interventionist service industry working everywhere from the company boardroom to the darker societies of the inner city and everywhere in between.
I've heard that you can't help someone until they want help. Is this true?
No, it is not true. Most victims of behavioral disorders or addictions do not think they have any kind of problem at all. If you ask them if they have a problem or address them as an addict they will deny it. You might find the occasional partial admission: – "Everyone gets angry now and again", "Everyone has a few too many drinks once in a while", and "Most people experiment with drugs in their lifetime," their life habits are no different than everyone else in their mind.
Something has to happen in their lives to make them want to accept help.
Intervention is the first step in a sequence of events that can mend their soul and change and restore their lives.
Intervention sounds like 'forced' treatment. Does it really work?
It isn't how someone gets into treatment so much as what happens once they are in treatment. Intervention is more an enabling action directed towards treatment. Ultimately the final decision to enter the road to wellness is decided upon by the person with the problem(s). Speaking from experience we can help with decisions aimed to make all concerned feel comforted about the actions needed and the time necessary to make a person well again.
What do I need to know to find the right Professional for my situation?
As with any service industry the Professional Interventionist has a reputation built on experience.
Education, a contemporary understanding of the wide range of today's behavioral problems, human compassion, and client and patient trust are all ingredient to your selection of the correct Interventionist.
Your comfort level in understanding and trusting what you learn about this type of professional care-provider is important as these qualifications and talents should be easily recognizable as what you need in assisting your loved one to the care and treatment they need.
Find out how long they have been in the business and what educational background, formal training and working experience they have had since entering the field. Similar cases and how their plans were actually carried out should be volunteered as well as their outcome.
Make sure they have had ample and recent experience with your type of circumstance.
Feel content that your questions are answered fully and to your complete understanding.
Find comfort and confidence that they have the knowledge, compassion, discipline and strength to carry out what they define as the best route to facilitate the treatment of your loved one. Their experience will assist you in gauging the urgency of your situation, the path it should follow and the degree of safety it will entail.
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A professional interventionist not only knows how to construct and enable an intervention he/she also knows the best facility for rehabilitation relative to the patient's condition and needs. A professional knows how to get a candidate there effectively and safely. Recent experience in similar interventions is a valuable asset to the professional and thus the client. Constant research on clinics and facilities, knowing their success ratios and current availability for new patients is part of their service. As complex and stressful as these situations are you do not have to go through it alone.
What typically happens during an intervention?
The goal of an intervention is to get your loved one into treatment as soon as possible. The first step involves conducting a confidential meeting either in person, or over the phone with an individual's concerned family members and/or loved ones to gain valuable insight into the individual's unique circumstances, history of addiction, etc., assess whether an intervention is necessary, and the possible treatment options available. Appropriate treatment facilities are then contacted, and arrangements are made in advance, so that upon conclusion of the intervention the individual can be immediately escorted to the appropriate treatment facility. An individualized intervention plan is then developed and executed, upon which our highly experienced team confronts the individual, encourages the individual to seek treatment, and escorts the individual to the appropriate treatment facility.
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After an intervention our team typically helps refer and escort an individual into an appropriate treatment facility where they can get the type of help they need to take the first step toward a happier, healthier life.
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Each person is unique. Therefore, every intervention is unique. Our team of professionals cater each intervention to an individual's unique circumstances.
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The goal of an intervention is to encourage the individual to agree to accept help and proceed to relieve their suffering and the suffering of their family and friends.
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Extreme Intervention is an internationally respected organization and part of that reputation comes from being fairly priced within a professional and competitive service industry.
Airline tickets, car rentals, accommodations and other such costs can be quickly calculated even for last minute situations. Rates for Interventionists will be established based upon the circumstances of the intervention, transportation or missing person investigation. Please contact us for additional details.
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text:
Collection: The Ellacuria Tapes
American churchwomen murdered in El Salvador
Photograph of the corpses of three of the American churchwomen murdered by members of the Salvadoran military.
Oscar Romero
Photograph of Oscar Romero in 1979 reaching out to Salvadorans about a year before he was murdered while saying Mass.
National Security Decision Directive Number 17
Declassified document explicitly stating U.S. policy on Cuba and Central America
Photograph of the victims of "La Matanza" or "The Slaughter," which occurred in El Salvador in 1932.
Washington, D.C. protest advertisement
Flyer written in Spanish promoting a large scale demonstration in Washington, D.C. to protest U.S. military involvement in El Salvador.
Guerrilla Soldier
Photograph of a guerrilla soldier, Claudia, in the Salvadoran countryside during the Salvadoran Civil War
Site of the murders of the six Jesuits and two lay women at the Universidad Centroamericana on 16 November 1989.
Jimmy Carter at his desk in the Oval Office, 12/13/1977
El Mozote Massacre
Photograph of the aftermath of the El Mozote Massacre, when units of the Atlacatl Battalion destroyed a rural Salvadoran village
Salvadoran Military
Photograph of soldiers during the Salvadoran Civil War


text:
\section{Introduction}

The strong CP (Charge conjugation and Parity) problem is the puzzling question of why quantum chromodynamics (QCD) does not seem to break the CP symmetry. An attractive solution to this puzzle invokes a new $U(1)$ symmetry, the so-called Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry \cite{Peccei:1977hh, Peccei:1977ur}. Associated with the spontaneous breaking of the PQ symmetry is a light neutral pseudoscalar particle, the axion, which is closely related to the neutral pion \cite{Weinberg:1977ma, Wilczek:1977pj}. Axions are one of the most interesting non-baryonic candidates for dark matter in the universe. They may also exist as primordial cosmic relics copiously produced in the early Universe. For these reasons, axions have received much attention.

\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.0825}
\begin{table}[htdp]
\caption{main design parameters of IAXO's toroidal magnet}
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular*}{0.4\textwidth}{@{\extracolsep{\fill}} p{5.35 cm}  c } \hline
\textit{Property} & \textit{Value}\\
\hline
\textbf{Size:} \hfill Inner radius, $R_{in}$ (m) & 1.05  \\
\hfill Outer radius, $R_{out}$ (m)& 2.05 \\
\hfill Total axial length (m) & 22\\
\textbf{Mass:} \hfill Conductor (tons) & 65\\
\hfill Cold Mass (tons) & 130\\
\hfill Cryostat (tons) & 35\\
\hfill Total assembly (tons) & $\sim$250\\
\textbf{Coils:} \hfill Turns/coil & 180\\
\hfill Nominal current, $I_{op}$ (kA) & 12\\
\hfill Stored energy, $E$ (MJ) & 500\\
\hfill Peak magnetic field, $B_p$ (T) & 5.4\\
\hfill Average field in the bores (T) & 2.5 \\
\textbf{Conductor:} \hfill Overall size (mm$^2$) & 35 $\times$ 8\\
\hfill Number of strands & 40\\
\hfill Strand diameter (mm) & 1.3\\
\hfill Operational margin & 40\%\\
\hfill Temperature margin @ 5 T (K) & 1.9\\
\textbf{Heat Load:} \hfill  at 4.5 K (W) & $\sim$150\\
\hfill at 60-80 K (kW) & $\sim$1.6\\
\hline \end{tabular*}
\end{center}
\label{table1}
\end{table}

Axions interact very weakly with ordinary matter, thus being practically "invisible" particles. However, axions are predicted to convert to and from photons in the presence of a high-magnetic field. When an axion travels through a magnetic field region, it interacts with this magnetic field and may convert to a detectable photon (see Fig. \ref{fig:1}). This property is used to detect axions in terrestrial experiments. It is the aim of this work to define a new superconducting toroidal detector magnet that will be specifically designed for solar axions detection and will constitute the backbone of IAXO, the International AXion Observatory. The IAXO project entails an immense upgrade of axion detection experiments, compared to the current state-of-the-art which is represented by the CAST experiment at CERN and using a 9~T, 9~m long, LHC dipole prototype magnet with twin $15$~cm$^2$ bores. IAXO features a dramatic expansion of the present limits on axions search.

\begin{figure}[!h]
\begin{center}
    \includegraphics[scale=0.54] {Helioscope_Concept-eps-converted-to.pdf}
    \caption{Schematic view of the solar axions detection concept: solar axions are predicted to convert to detectable x-ray photons when interacting with a magnetic field. Source: Science magazine Vol. 308 (2005).}
    \label{fig:1}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

\section{Design Concept}

\subsection{Figure of Merit and Lay-Out Optimization}

The first step towards a conceptual design of IAXO's magnet is to optimize its toroidal geometry in order to meet the main design criterion, namely, achieving a sensitivity to the coupling between axions and photons of one order of magnitude beyond the limit of the current experiment (i.e. CAST). The magnet's figure of merit (MFOM) is given by $f_M = L^2B^2A$ \cite{IAXO}, where $L$ is the magnet's length, $B$ the magnetic field and $A$ the aperture covered by the x-ray optics. Currently, CAST's MFOM is 21~T$^2$m$^4$. Translating the design criterion to the $f_M$ language, the IAXO magnet should achieve an MFOM of 300, relative to CAST. One should notice that the complete figure of merit of the experiment includes the tracking, detectors and optics parameters as well and is given in \cite{IAXO}.

\begin{figure}[!h]
\begin{center}
	\subfigure{\includegraphics[scale=0.088]{A-eps-converted-to.pdf}}
	\subfigure{\includegraphics[scale=0.088]{B-eps-converted-to.pdf}}
	\caption{Illustration of the two principle angular alignment options considered for the telescopes with respect to the coils. The rectangles represent the toroid's coil and the circles represent the telescopes' bores. (a) "Field dominated" alignment: telescopes behind the coils. (b) "Area dominated" alignment: telescopes between the coils.}
	\label{alignment}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

When the magnet's straight section length $L$ is set to 20 m, the MFOM is determined by the integral $\int B^2(x,y)dxdy$. The integration is performed solely across the \textit{open} area covered by the x-ray optics. Hence, to perform the integration, the telescopes' positioning must be determined. Upon minimizing the radial positioning, two principal options for the angular alignment are considered: one is to align each of the telescopes between each pair of racetrack coils, whereas the other is to place the telescopes behind the racetrack coils. Fig. \ref{alignment} provides a general illustration of the two alignment options for an eight coils toroid. In practice, the two options represent two different approaches: the first, referred to as the "area dominated" option, takes advantage of the entire large aperture of each of the telescopes and the second "field dominated" option assumes that placing the coils behind the optics, and by that including areas with higher magnetic field in the integration, will increase $f_M$.

Once the telescopes' position is fixed, one can perform the integration over a disc with radius $R_{det}$ centered at $(R_{cen}, \theta_{cen})$. Then, the magnetic field is determined by the magnet's geometrical and electromagnetic parameters. For each lay-out configuration, the magnetic field is calculated using a 3D FEA model and the integration is then performed on the mid-plane. The model features an arc at the bended sections of each racetrack with a radius $R_{arc} = (R_{out} - R_{in})/2$, where $R_{out}$ and $R_{in}$ are the outer and inner radii of the racetrack coils, respectively. The model also assumes the use of an Al stabilized Rutherford NbTi cable in the coil windings. The winding dimensions are determined from the conductor dimensions assuming a few different winding configurations.

The optimization study shows that IAXO's MFOM is effected considerably by the fraction of the telescopes' aperture exposed to x-rays. Even when considering the "field dominated" alignment, it is preferable to use thinner coils, thus increasing the open aperture that is picked up by the telescopes. Moreover, the "area dominated" option gives a $15 \%$ larger MFOM, compared to the "field dominated" option.

\begin{figure}[!b]
\begin{center}
    \includegraphics[scale=0.102] {overview-eps-converted-to.pdf}
    \caption{Schematic view of the IAXO system. Shown are the cryostat, eight telescopes, turret leading the flexible services lines into the magnet, cryogenics and powering services boxes, inclination system and the rails for horizontal movement.}
    \label{fig:2}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

The result of the geometrical optimization study leads to a design concept, as presented in Fig. \ref{fig:2}, addressing all the experimental requirements of the magnet while relying on known and mostly well proven engineering solutions. This leads to a magnet design which is technically feasible to manufacture. Furthermore, the design concept essentially supports the decoupling of the magnet system from the optical detection systems. This allows for open bores, which are centered and aligned in between the racetrack coils, in accordance to the geometrical study. The eight warm bores will simplify the use of physics experimental instrumentation and the regular maintenance of the system. The diameter of the bores matches the diameter of the telescopes in use.

The toroidal magnet comprises the coil and its casing, an inner cylindrical support for the magnetic forces, a thermal shield, a vacuum vessel and a movement system (see Figs. \ref{fig:2} to \ref{cs} and Table I). Its mass is $\sim$250~tons with a stored energy of $\sim$500~MJ. Throughout the structural design study, the design goals are: a maximum deflection of 5 mm, a general stress limit of 50~MPa and a buckling factor of 5. The magnetic and structural designs are carried using the ANSYS$^{\textregistered}$ Workbench environment. The Maxwell 15.0 code is used to calculate 3D magnetic fields and Lorentz forces. The magnetic force load is then transferred to Workbench 14.0 to calculate stress and deformation. The eight bores in between the racetrack coils are facing eight x-ray telescopes with a diameter of 600 mm, which implies a focal length of 5 m. The choice for an eight coils toroid with the given dimensions and eight 600 mm telescopes and bores is also determined by cost optimization within the anticipated budget.

We end this section by mentioning that numerous magnet designs (e.g. accelerator magnets, solenoids and dipole structures) were considered during the optimization study until the conclusion that the optimal axion helioscope geometry has toroidal symmetry was made \cite{IAXO}. In addition, less conventional toroidal designs were also examined. For example, ideas for racetrack windings with bended ends were suggested to reduce the area loss when implementing the field dominated alignment. For the same reason toroids with slightly tilted coils were also discussed. In general, these designs posses technical complications while offering a low potential to significantly enlarge the MFOM and hence deviate from the philosophy behind our magnet concept. In addition, toroidal geometries with different number of coils were also studied. The MFOM scales linearly with the number of coils (when keeping the telescopes' cross-section constant), which points out that, as mentioned, the choice for an eight toroid is cost driven in essence.

\subsection{Conductor}

The conductor design is based on a large Rutherford type NbTi cable (with 40 strands of 1.3 mm diameter and Cu/SC ratio of 1.1) embedded in a high-purity aluminum stabilizer, following the techniques used in the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN \cite{ATLAS}-\cite{CMS} (see Fig. \ref{coil}). The use of the Rutherford cable as the superconducting element provides high current density while maintaining high performance redundancy in the large number of strands. The Al stabilizer serves both quench protection and stability for the superconductor.

\begin{figure}
\begin{center}
    \includegraphics[scale=0.28] {coil-eps-converted-to.pdf}
    \caption{Cross section of the conceptual design of the two double pancake winding pack and the coil casing (top) and the conductor with a 40 strands NbTi Rutherford cable embedded in a high purity Al stabilizer (bottom).}
    \label{coil}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

\subsubsection{Peak Magnetic Field and Forces}

The peak magnetic field in the windings, which determines the operation point of the conductor and the temperature margin, is calculated at 5.4~T for a current of 12~kA per turn. In order to minimize the forces acting on the bended sections, the racetrack coils are bent to a symmetric arc shape, with $R_{arc} = 0.5$~m. The net force acting on each racetrack coil is 18.8~MN, directed radially inwards.

\subsubsection{Stability Analysis}

The IAXO magnet requires maintaining the highest possible magnetic field in order to maximize the MFOM. However, acceptable operational and temperature margins are still required to ensure proper operation. For a two double pancake configuration with 180 turns and engineering current density $J_{eng} = 40$~A/mm$^2$, the peak magnetic field is $B_p = 5.4$~T, whereas the magnetic field on the inner edge of the coils at the toroid's mid-plane (where the $f_M$ integration is performed) is $B_{mid} = 5$~T. Then, we find that $J_c = 65$~A/mm$^2$, where the corresponding peak magnetic field is 8.8~T. Hence, IAXO's magnet is expected to work at about 60\% on the load line, which sets the operational margin to 40\%.

The temperature margin calculation is carried out with $T_{op} = 4.5$~K and for $B_p = 5.4$~T (which corresponds to a configuration with $B_{mid} = 5$~T). The number of turns in the coil is varied, aiming for approximately a 2~K temperature margin. A coil with two double pancakes and 45 turns per pancake satisfies this requirement with a temperature margin of 1.9~K, while yielding an MFOM of about 300, relative to CAST, which meets the principal design criterion.

\subsection{Quench Protection}

The adiabatic temperature rise due to a uniformly distributed quench is about 100~K. Therefore, the quench protection is based on an active protection system with multiple heaters along each of the eight racetracks, to enforce a homogenous cold mass temperature after a quench.

\subsection{Cold-Mass}

The cold mass' operating temperature is 4.5~K and its weight is approximately 130~tons. It consists of eight coils, with two double pancakes per coil, which form the toroid geometry and a central cylinder designed to support the magnetic force load. The coils are embedded inside Al5083 casings, which are attached to the support cylinder at their inner edge. The casings are designed to prevent coil deflection due to the magnetic forces.

A coil, shown in Fig. \ref{coil}, comprises two double pancake windings, separated by a 1 mm layer of insulation. The coils will be impregnated for final bonding and pre-stressed within their individual casing to minimize shear stress and prevent cracks and gaps appearing due to magnetic forces.

\begin{figure}[b!]
\begin{center}
    \includegraphics[scale=0.375] {cs-eps-converted-to.pdf}
    \caption{Mid-plane cut of the magnet vessel with depth view, showing the cold mass, surrounded by a thermal shield, and the cryostat. The open bores will allow for easy regular maintenance of the magnet system while simplifying the use of experimental instrumentation.}
    \label{cs}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

\subsection{Cryostat and Movement System}

The design of the cryostat is based on a large cylinder and two thick end plates with eight cylindrical open bores placed in between them, see Fig. \ref{cs}. The vessel is optimized to sustain the atmospheric pressure difference and the gravitational load, while being as light and thin as possible. Using two end flanges at the vessel's rims, as well as periodic reinforcement ribs at one meter intervals along the cryostat's length, the structural design goals are met for a 10~mm thick Al5083 vessel with two 70~mm thick end plates. The 10~mm wall thickness of the eight cylindrical bores have also been minimized in order for the bores to be placed as close as possible to the racetracks' inner radius, thereby increasing the MFOM.

Searching for solar axions, the IAXO detectors need to track the sun for the longest possible period in order to increase the data-taking efficiency. Thus, the magnet needs to be able to rotate both horizontally and vertically by the largest possible angles. For vertical inclination a $\pm$ 25$^\circ$ movement is required, while the horizontal rotation should be stretched to a full 360$^\circ$ rotation before the magnet revolves back at a faster speed to its starting position.

The 250 tons magnet system will be supported at its center of mass point (see Fig. \ref{fig:2}), thus minimizing the torques acting on the support structure and allowing for simple rotation and inclination mechanisms. Accordingly, a set of drives can be used to rotate the magnet, while a simple inclination structure can be placed behind the detectors (the farthest part of the system from its center of mass point), minimizing the force required to incline the magnet. The magnet services can be connected via a turret aligned with the rotation axis, thus simplifying the flexible cables and transfer lines arrangement. A 3D spiral shaped flexible chain, with radius and length altering as the magnet moves, is guiding the services lines and cables to the stationary connection point.

\subsection{Cryogenics}

The coil windings are cooled by liquid helium at a temperature of 4.5 K via conduction. The cooling scheme utilizes a forced flow helium cooling, where the coolant flows in a pipe system which will be attached to the coil casings, thus allowing for conduction cooling, in a manner similar to the ATLAS toroids \cite{ATLAS, ATLAS2}. The decision for using this concept is following the same philosophy of our concept: a known technology with a low-cost proven solution and most reliable.

The heat load on the magnet by radiation and conduction is $\sim$150~W at 4.5~K. In addition comes the thermal shield heat load of $\sim$1.6~kW. An acceptable thermal design goal is to limit temperature rise in the coils to 0.1~K above the coolant temperature under the given heat loads. To warrant this, a mass flow rate of $\sim$ 200~g/s is required.

A challenge is to maintain a stable forced flow against gravity because the magnet has to rotate at both positive and negative vertical angles. A possible solution is to use a dual cooling system, driven by a cold He-pump and a proper set of valves. When the magnet passes through its horizontal while tracking the sun, the helium flow is switched from one to the other circuit, thereby guaranteeing continuous helium flow along the coil casings.

\section{Conclusion}

The design of the new IAXO toroidal superconducting magnet satisfies the design criterion of increasing the solar axion searches sensitivity by at least 1 order of magnitude. The design is relying on known engineering solutions and manufacturing techniques. The design features maximum flexibility for the experimentalists, thus allowing to maximize and extend the detection potential of not only the search of axions, but also of more exotic particles, commonly known as Axion Like Particles (ALPs). Essentially, the magnet system and optical detectors are separated, allowing for a parallel effort of development, construction and initial operation. This, thereby, also minimizes cost and risks. In the coming years the design will be further detailed and project funding will be proposed.

\section*{Acknowledgment}

The authors would like to thank D. Mladenov of CERN for thorough and useful discussions on FE analysis. We acknowledge L. Walckiers and S. Russenschuck of CERN for directing the project to its current course at its early stages. We thank I. Ortega for his contribution to the lay-out optimization study. I. Shilon acknowledges the support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) under contract FPA2011-24058. H. Silva acknowledges the support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under contract SFRH/BEST/51761/2011. Lastly, we thank our IAXO collaborators for motivating this work.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
Why food keeps getting more expensive
Food prices continued to rise in September as consumers spent more on everything from meat and cereal to fruits and vegetables.
By Madeleine Ngo@maddiengo Oct 13, 2022, 5:00pm EDT
Christina Animashaun/Vox
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Rising inflation continues to strain American households, and stubbornly high prices have been especially evident for shoppers at the grocery store.
A jump in inflation in September was partly fueled by rising food prices, according to a Consumer Price Index report released on Thursday. Overall inflation rose 8.2 percent from a year ago, driven by gains in food, rent, and medical care costs.
In September, food prices rose 11.2 percent compared to a year ago and 0.8 percent from the month before. Everything from meat and cereal to fruits and vegetables grew more expensive. Food prices at restaurants also climbed 0.9 percent from the month before, while food at home increased 0.7 percent.
Food has become more expensive for a range of reasons. Increased gas prices and labor shortages have driven up costs for businesses. The war in Ukraine has disrupted exports of wheat, sunflower oil, and other produce, straining the global food supply and pushing up prices. And climate-related issues, such as a drought in the Western portion of the United States, have lowered crop yields.
"Spikes in costs due to labor, production disruptions, transportation demands, and global conflict are affecting every aspect of the food business," Andrew Harig, the vice president of tax, trade, sustainability, and policy development at The Food Industry Association (FMI), said in a statement after the CPI report's release. "Today's numbers make it clear that there is still work to be done to address these issues."
Supply chain disruptions, war, and drought have driven up prices
Food prices have spiked for many reasons during the pandemic, but they first started to rise because of increased demand.
Gregory Daco, the chief economist at EY-Parthenon, said that food prices began to rise earlier in the pandemic as people stocked up on food from the grocery store, leading to a jump in demand. Restaurant prices also picked up as more businesses reopened and consumers felt increasingly comfortable dining out. Since then, supply constraints have put additional pressure on food prices, Daco said.
"Now you're left with this environment where prices are elevated on both sides, and you're seeing supply constraints," Daco said.
David Ortega, a food economist and associate professor at Michigan State University, said that much of the rise in food prices has been a result of lingering pandemic-era supply chain disruptions. Increased gas prices have made it more expensive for farmers and retailers to transport food products around the country. Worker shortages have resulted in businesses paying more for labor. Farmers have also faced higher input costs for things like fertilizer. Costs have risen at nearly every step along the supply chain, and some of those increases have been passed on to consumers.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also tightened the global food supply: Ukraine is a major producer of wheat, sunflower oil, and other food products. Russia had blocked agricultural shipments from leaving the Black Sea region, although the two sides reached an agreement over the summer that allowed Ukraine to restart grain exports and helped lead to a drop in global food prices.
Climate-related issues have also hit the food supply. A drought in California has led to lower crop yields for fresh produce, Ortega said. Summer crops such as tomatoes and onions have withered, while leafy greens grown in the winter could be impacted. With less available food on the market, prices could continue to spike.
A deadly avian flu outbreak this year has also affected millions of birds, disrupting the supply of poultry and eggs from commercial farms and contributing to higher consumer costs, Ortega said.
Ortega said there are some reasons to believe that price gains could start to slow next year; falling global food commodity prices could trickle down to prices at the grocery store and supply chain issues could ease over time. But he said that food prices will likely remain elevated at least through the end of the year as the holiday season is underway.
"In the short term, it's safe to say that we're going to continue to see these sustained high price levels," Ortega said.
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text:
Kevin MacDonald: Solzhenitsyn's Chapter 23 of 200 Years Together
September 5, 2010 /33 Comments/in Jewish Ethnocentrism, Jewish Self-deception/by Kevin MacDonald
The current TOO article discusses Chapter 23 of Solzhenitsyn's 200 Years Together. I solicit comments here. The main theme is Jewish self-deception–the inability to see things without ethnic blinders, in particular, the history of the Jews in the USSR. After writing it, another example surfaced—they're not hard to come by—although, as usual, it's hard to know if it's more a matter of aggressive intimidation than self-deception. Yet another government official has gotten in trouble for saying the obvious. This time it's Karel de Gucht, the EU Trade Commissioner ("EU Trade Commissioner Apologizes for Jewish Comments").
The European Jewish Congress, an umbrella group, had demanded a retraction of De Gucht's remarks in which he maintained that Israel frustrates U.S.-led peace efforts and warned not to "underestimate the Jewish lobby on Capitol Hill."
"That is the best organized lobby that exists there," the former Belgian foreign minister said in the interview with the Dutch-speaking VRT radio network.
"Don't underestimate the opinion … of the average Jew outside of Israel," he said. "There is, indeed, a belief, I can hardly describe it differently, among most Jews that they are right. So it is not easy to have a rational discussion with a moderate Jew about what is happening in the Middle East. It is a very emotional issue."
De Gucht was saying (he's since apologized profusely) that Jews honestly believe what they are saying is true, so it's pretty much impossible to have a rational discussion–self-deception by any other name. It's the same with the history of the Jews in the USSR—and a great many other things.
The official Jewish reaction has been to see De Gucht's comments as an example of "a growing wave of anti-Semitism in Europe," explicitly said to be on a par with Thilo Sarrazin's comments on Jewish genetics. Again, there is a blind spot where facts are irrelevant. In a comment that is worthy of Abe Foxman, Moshe Kantor of the European Jewish Congress stated, "It has somehow become acceptable to attack Jews through Israel, even at the highest levels," said Kantor. "The old anti-Semitic libels of the all-powerful Jewish cabals, the recalcitrant Jew and the irrational Jews only caring for their own, are remade to fit 21st- century hostility to the Jewish State."
Of course, besides self-deception there is the very real possibility in this case that Kantor knows full well that this is just bluster and intimidation attempting to prevent public discussion of Jewish power and relying for its effectiveness on cowed European elites whose defining characteristic since WWII has been terror at being labeled an anti-Semite. Tough call.
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Kevin MacDonald: The Genteel Mr. Bradlaugh
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Nora Ephron makes an obvious choice
The Holocaust and gay marriage
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Kevin MacDonald: Solzhenitsyn's "During the Civil War" — Chapter 16 of 200 Years Together


text:
A "pulp fiction" Brexit?
|In Brexit
|By Sean Walsh
Sean Walsh highlights the fact that any part of the UK seeking customs partnership means that we will never truly be able to leave the EU.
Do you remember that bit in Pulp Fiction when John Travolta and Uma Thurman do the dance? It's a pretty impressive performance but as you watch it you know a darker tale is taking place in the background narrative. One of betrayal, recrimination and casual (and impressive) reinvention of language. It all looks impressive, but you know that these people are deeply morally corrupt.
But they put on a good show. It's aesthetically pleasing. Despite the hole in Travolta's sock.
I'm no dance expert myself, being 52 (and not recently having attended a wedding), so I have a question. Is there a version of the "excuse me" in which a random, possibly blond and overweight, male comes up and demands to take over from the female, possibly scrawny and overwhelmed, lead?
Because this has to be a suspicion at the moment: that this whole Brexit saga has been a sort of dance, choreographed against a well-known tune, the sort of Do Ray Me Brexit. When you know the notes to sing, you can remain in anything.
Boris Johnson has inherited the dance sequence, from the Dancing Queen herself. He is "making shapes" according to the same tune. It's not actually his fault. There is something about the Remainer virus that allows it to linger, like a spider in winter, in the warmest homes before it comes out to bite you. There are few more comfortably heated homes than 10 Downing Street.
The EU develops strategies not merely of democratic evasion, but of democratic sabotage. Having cultivated those strategies it injects its own sleeper cells into the real potency of the democracies it wishes to dissolve. I will not mention names. But I will mention, for example, the wonderful constituency of Beaconsfield.
We're always on the lookout for talented writers and welcome submissions. Please send your opinion piece or pitch to: editor@commentcentral.co.uk
The "backstop" protocols of Mrs May's Treaty were inserted so that they could be dropped around about now. They were the Paul Daniels bit. A useful distraction from the real obnoxiousness of her proposals. This impertinence takes the (absolutely stated) form of deeply embedded obligations to Remain, disguised in clever clauses. Read the rest of the Treaty (which is what it is, forget the word "deal"). Her "Withdrawal Agreement" the generation of a negotiating context, the parameters of which are defined by the "non-binding" (ha, ha) "Political Declaration". What does that require? A future customs "partnership". One which will oblige us to acquiesce in systems of constraint that will neutralise not just any trade agreement but the contemplation of any such possibility.
This will be a bit like one of those partnerships in which the brick comes through the window unless you agree the happily coincidental terms of a glazing agreement.
There is no way of leaving the EU as an intact country when even part of the leaving country remains in the orbit of its aggressively teleological structures. The media -Remainer- class has developed a strategy of reducing centuries of genuine, intelligent and decent national feeling and calling it "the DUP". The DUP represents all that but does not exhaust it. I am an Irish Catholic. The DUP speaks a version of nationalism and self-determination that I am able to live with. I don't share their views but am sympathetic to their expression of them. Unlike the Beaconsfield types, it is articulated through the filters of genuine loss and real pain.
Northern Ireland deserves better than perpetual Remainer assessment. It is not the black sheep of the UK family. It is the part of it that is absolved from the complacency that has overtaken the rest of us. While there is a Unionist majority it would be wrong to offend against it and leave them behind. And if there isn't such a majority then Mr Varadkar needs to ask himself this question: why did you allow your country's interests to be assimilated to the aggressions of Barnier et al? You've been played.
We are in the "tunnel" bit of the negotiations, the part where the EU gets what it wants by the application of sleep deprivation. Our negotiators need to know this, as they place the matchsticks under the eyelids: that to allow the most faithful part of the UK to be ripped away from us because of the suave snake-oil brilliance of a former Minister for French agriculture would be disgusting.
Customs partnership equals membership.
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Sean Walsh is a former university teacher of philosophy. He has a doctorate in the philosophy of artificial intelligence and his current research interests are in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics and the philosophy of religion. He is also interested in philosophical issues around addiction. He lives in Wiltshire and works with addiction and recovery agencies, and with a homeless charity.


Tips to Baking a Sponge Cake - COACH.
With Christmas just around the bend, it is time for every mother to start making preparations for baking delicious cakes, not only for their family, but also for relatives, friends and neighbours. Christmas is an occasion that is synonymously associated with cakes.
Also, there are many cake baking competitions held in most western countries. Cakes have always been an all time favourite among people of all ages, and baking a cake and making a sponge cake delivery to the nearest and dearest ones, is sure to make this occasion all the more special.
Most individuals find it difficult to bake a cake. But, with a few simple steps, baking a cake becomes easy and fun. Apart from Christmas, cakes can be baked on occasions like birthdays to celebrate any event, for a picnic or just about anything. Spongy cakes are liked by most people; however, the mixture is to be appropriate for making a sponge, lighter and spongy.
There are many websites that do provide the necessary information on baking different types of cakes. There are times, when the cake does not come just the way it should be and is a complete disaster. Either it did not rise, or might have risen inside the oven, but collapsed as soon as it cooled. Though it might taste good, yet the texture would be heavy and dense.
There are websites that are dedicated to cake baking. The author of such websites very clearly narrates the different types of ingredients that go into baking the cakes, the utensils and tools required in the process, the time involved in baking and what should the individual need to have a perfectly baked cake. By following such steps, the individual can definitely experiment on the cake baking, and will sure to get the best results if such steps are followed meticulously.
Even after a tough struggle in the kitchen, the individual might find that their hard work has not borne fruit. The overall look of the cake might make an individual hesitate to gift it to someone or send it across to the neighbour, even though it does taste good. They could be embarrassed at such a situation, but cannot avoid the fact that sending cakes is a gesture, especially given the importance of the season. This is the reason there are many websites that have come up on the internet to cater to the various requirements of the individuals.
Now, it is very much possible for them to select a cake of their choice from these websites, and gift it to someone that they love the most. This way, they can ensure that the receiver of the gift would get fresh, and homemade, superior quality cakes, which when consumed are sure to leave a long lasting impression on their mind and affection for the sender, in their heart. Hence, it is very important for the individuals planning to send cakes to select only the best and reputed websites, to make this occasion all the more important.