text:
package com.njlabs.showjava.ui;

import android.annotation.*;
import android.app.*;
import android.content.*;
import android.content.pm.*;
import android.graphics.drawable.*;
import android.os.*;
import android.support.v7.app.AlertDialog;
import android.view.*;
import android.widget.*;

import com.google.firebase.crash.*;
import com.nao20010128nao.Neapolitan.R;
import com.njlabs.showjava.utils.*;
import com.njlabs.showjava.utils.logging.*;

import org.apache.commons.io.*;

import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;

public class AppListing extends BaseActivity {

    private ProgressDialog packageLoadDialog;
    private ListView listView = null;
    private boolean isDestroyed;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setupLayout(R.layout.activity_app_listing, "Show Java");

        listView = findViewById(R.id.list);

        ApplicationLoader runner = new ApplicationLoader();
        runner.execute();

    }

    private void showProgressDialog() {
        if (packageLoadDialog == null) {
            packageLoadDialog = new ProgressDialog(this);
            packageLoadDialog.setIndeterminate(false);
            packageLoadDialog.setCancelable(false);
            packageLoadDialog.setInverseBackgroundForced(false);
            packageLoadDialog.setCanceledOnTouchOutside(false);
            packageLoadDialog.setMessage("Loading installed applications...");
        }
        packageLoadDialog.show();
    }

    private void dismissProgressDialog() {
        if (packageLoadDialog != null && packageLoadDialog.isShowing()) {
            packageLoadDialog.dismiss();
        }
    }

    private void setupList(ArrayList<PackageInfoHolder> AllPackages) {
        ArrayAdapter<PackageInfoHolder> aa = new ArrayAdapter<PackageInfoHolder>(getBaseContext(), R.layout.package_list_item, AllPackages) {
            @SuppressLint("InflateParams")
            @Override
            public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent) {
                if (convertView == null) {
                    convertView = getLayoutInflater().inflate(R.layout.package_list_item, null);
                }

                PackageInfoHolder pkg = getItem(position);

                ViewHolder holder = new ViewHolder();

                holder.packageLabel = convertView.findViewById(R.id.pkg_name);
                holder.packageName = convertView.findViewById(R.id.pkg_id);
                holder.packageVersion = convertView.findViewById(R.id.pkg_version);
                holder.packageFilePath = convertView.findViewById(R.id.pkg_dir);
                holder.packageIcon = convertView.findViewById(R.id.pkg_img);
                holder.position = position;

                convertView.setTag(holder);

                holder.packageLabel.setText(pkg.packageLabel);
                holder.packageName.setText(pkg.packageName);
                holder.packageVersion.setText("version " + pkg.packageVersion);
                holder.packageFilePath.setText(pkg.packageFilePath);

                holder.packageIcon.setImageDrawable(pkg.packageIcon);

                return convertView;
            }
        };
        listView.setAdapter(aa);
        listView.setTextFilterEnabled(true);
        listView.setOnItemClickListener((parent, view, position, id) -> {

            final ViewHolder holder = (ViewHolder) view.getTag();

            String myApp = "com.njlabs.tester";
            if (holder.packageName.getText().toString().toLowerCase().contains(myApp.toLowerCase())) {
                Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "The application " + holder.packageName.getText().toString() + " cannot be decompiled !", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            } else {

                final File sourceDir = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory() + "/ShowJava/sources/" + holder.packageName.getText().toString() + "");

                if (Utils.sourceExists(sourceDir)) {
                    showAlreadyExistsDialog(holder, sourceDir);
                } else {
                    showDecompilerSelection(holder);
                }
            }
        });
    }

    private ArrayList<PackageInfoHolder> getInstalledApps(ApplicationLoader task) {
        ArrayList<PackageInfoHolder> res = new ArrayList<>();
        List<PackageInfo> packages = getPackageManager().getInstalledPackages(0);

        int totalPackages = packages.size();

        for (int i = 0; i < totalPackages; i++) {
            PackageInfo p = packages.get(i);
            if (!isSystemPackage(p)) {
                ApplicationInfo appInfo = null;
                try {
                    appInfo = getPackageManager().getApplicationInfo(p.packageName, 0);
                } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
                    Ln.e(e);
                }

                int count = i + 1;

                final PackageInfoHolder newInfo = new PackageInfoHolder();
                newInfo.packageLabel = p.applicationInfo.loadLabel(getPackageManager()).toString();

                task.doProgress("Loading application " + count + " of " + totalPackages + " (" + newInfo.packageLabel + ")");

                newInfo.packageName = p.packageName;
                newInfo.packageVersion = p.versionName;

                if (appInfo != null) {
                    newInfo.packageFilePath = appInfo.publicSourceDir;
                }

                newInfo.packageIcon = p.applicationInfo.loadIcon(getPackageManager());
                res.add(newInfo);
            }
        }
        Comparator<PackageInfoHolder> AppNameComparator = (o1, o2) -> o1.getPackageLabel().toLowerCase().compareTo(o2.getPackageLabel().toLowerCase());
        Collections.sort(res, AppNameComparator);
        return res;
    }

    private boolean isSystemPackage(PackageInfo pkgInfo) {
        return ((pkgInfo.applicationInfo.flags & ApplicationInfo.FLAG_SYSTEM) != 0);
    }

    @Override
    protected void onDestroy() {
        isDestroyed = true;
        dismissProgressDialog();
        super.onDestroy();
    }

    private static class ViewHolder {
        TextView packageLabel;
        TextView packageName;
        TextView packageVersion;
        TextView packageFilePath;
        ImageView packageIcon;
        int position;
    }

    private class ApplicationLoader extends AsyncTask<String, String, ArrayList<PackageInfoHolder>> {

        @Override
        protected ArrayList<PackageInfoHolder> doInBackground(String... params) {
            publishProgress("Retrieving installed application");
            return getInstalledApps(this);
        }

        @Override
        protected void onPostExecute(ArrayList<PackageInfoHolder> AllPackages) {
            setupList(AllPackages);
            if (!isDestroyed) {
                dismissProgressDialog();
            }
        }

        public void doProgress(String value) {
            publishProgress(value);
        }

        @Override
        protected void onPreExecute() {
            showProgressDialog();
        }

        @Override
        protected void onProgressUpdate(String... text) {
            packageLoadDialog.setMessage(text[0]);
        }
    }

    class PackageInfoHolder {
        private String packageLabel = "";
        private String packageName = "";
        private String packageVersion = "";
        private String packageFilePath = "";
        private Drawable packageIcon;

        public String getPackageLabel() {
            return packageLabel;
        }
    }

    private void showAlreadyExistsDialog(final ViewHolder holder, final File sourceDir){
        AlertDialog.Builder alertDialog = new AlertDialog.Builder(AppListing.this, R.style.AlertDialog);
        alertDialog.setTitle("This Package has already been decompiled");
        alertDialog.setMessage("This application has already been decompiled once and the source exists on your sdcard. What would you like to do ?");
        alertDialog.setPositiveButton("View Source", (dialog, which) -> {
            Intent i = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), JavaExplorer.class);
            i.putExtra("java_source_dir", sourceDir + "/");
            i.putExtra("package_id", holder.packageName.getText().toString());
            startActivity(i);
        });

        alertDialog.setNegativeButton("Decompile", (dialog, which) -> {
            try {
                FileUtils.deleteDirectory(sourceDir);
            } catch (IOException e) {
                FirebaseCrash.report(e);
            }
            showDecompilerSelection(holder);
        });
        alertDialog.show();
    }

    private void openProcessActivity(ViewHolder holder, String decompiler){
        Intent i = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), AppProcessActivity.class);
        i.putExtra("package_label", holder.packageLabel.getText().toString());
        i.putExtra("package_file_path", holder.packageFilePath.getText().toString());
        i.putExtra("decompiler", decompiler);
        startActivity(i);
    }

    private void showDecompilerSelection(final ViewHolder holder){
        if(!prefs.getBoolean("hide_decompiler_select", false)){
            final CharSequence[] items = getResources().getTextArray(R.array.decompilers);
            final CharSequence[] itemsVals = getResources().getTextArray(R.array.decompilers_values);

            AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);
            builder.setTitle("Pick a decompiler");
            builder.setItems(items, (dialog, item) -> openProcessActivity(holder, itemsVals[item].toString()));
            AlertDialog alert = builder.create();
            alert.show();
        } else {
            openProcessActivity(holder, prefs.getString("decompiler","cfr"));
        }
    }

}


A common approach to treating many illnesses is through targeting a specific protein. Gene-related illnesses, however, are particularly difficult to treat and targeting the gene with small molecules for drug development is an alternative approach. This is an attractive area because it provides new and potential methods for regulating the expression of diseased-genes. Dicationic diamidines are a class of small molecules which bind in the DNA minor groove where most gene control proteins, such as transcription factors, do not interact. These small molecules can modulate various processes through allosteric interactions and provide therapeutic potential. Typically, these compounds have an inherent selectivity towards sites rich in A∙T base pairs (bps). Many synthetic efforts are used to design diamidines specific to target mixed-site sequences (G∙C-containing) but these efforts remain challenging. To overcome this obstacle, our recognition repertoire must be extended to include G∙C bps and distinguishability among A∙T bp sites. Many biophysical methods can be used to investigate small molecule-DNA interactions and the development of competition mass spectrometry, in particular, has helped do this. Competition electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is a powerful, novel screening technique used to identify biomolecular interactions. This method identifies important information such as stoichiometry, relative binding affinity, and cooperativity and can be used for a number of analyses. It is particularly useful when applied as a competition assay to quickly and accurately pinpoint the preferred target site of a compound among many DNA sequences. Our competition ESI-MS methodology has been used to investigate the sequence specific interaction of diamidines with DNA and discover binding sites for synthetic compounds. Combining ESI-MS with other biophysical techniques has successfully identified patterns of recognition and the selectivity of DNA minor groove binding compounds. With this information, we have developed a detailed understanding of the variations in sequences and their effects on compound recognition. This will ultimately lead to more sequence specific, rationally designed compounds with fewer off-target effects.
Laughlin-Toth, Sarah, "To Affinity & Beyond: Exploring Sequence Selectivity of Small Molecules for the DNA Minor Groove." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2016.


text:
The Sound of the earth by Yuri Suzuki
"The Sound of the Earth is a content of Yuri Suzuki`s spherical record project, the grooves representing the outlines of the geographic land mass. Each country on the disc is engraved with a different sound, as the needle passes over it plays field recordings collected by Yuri Suzuki from around the world over the course of four years; traditional folk music, national anthems, popular music and spoken word broadcasts." - See more;
"When the needle moves along its metal arc it plays sounds from the grooves cut into the sphere, much like a traditional vinyl record player. Suzuki has been working on The Sound of the Earth since 2009 and has now unveiled a prototype, although the design doesn't work perfectly yet – as the movie below shows, the music skips as the globe turns." - Dezeen
An aural journey around the world in 30 minutes.
Photos by Hitomi Kai Yoda
Video by Alice Masters
via | Co.Design & Dezeen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
1,900 SeaWorld employees are laid off in latest cuts for the company
By Gabrielle Russon
The entrance to SeaWorld Orlando. (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel)
Nearly 1,900 furloughed employees permanently lost their jobs this month at SeaWorld's three Orlando properties, according to a state notice.
The layoffs come as theme park attendance at SeaWorld Orlando reopened in June with limited capacity of 30% to 35% attendance during the coronavirus pandemic, the company disclosed to the National Labor Relations Board.
Orlando-based SeaWorld Entertainment furloughed 95% of its company workforce during the pandemic. On Sept. 4, the company disclosed it was going to permanently lay off furloughed employees who hadn't been called back to work yet, although SeaWorld did not say how many people were affected.
A notice with the state, as a requirement under federal law for mass layoffs, revealed the blow — 1,896 employees at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove.
"The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on each of our lives, in ways both small and profound. The same is true for the travel, tourism, entertainment, and hospitality industries, and the operations of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc," spokeswoman Lori Cherry said in a statement. "While we were able to bring thousands of furloughed Ambassadors back to work and hoped to bring back everyone, the current environment requires us to set up the company for long term success. SeaWorld has determined that it must transition certain park and corporate personnel from a furloughed status to a permanent layoff."
SeaWorld Orlando president Kyle Miller cited the parks' reduced hours, consumers' fears during COVID-19 and government travel restrictions as the economic hardships facing the parks' recovery.
The sweeping layoffs hit multiple departments including food service, entertainment, security, animals and sales.
Among those who were laid off include: 455 food-service attendants, 272 park operation hosts, 121 performers and 18 senior trainers
Among the axed positions were low-level jobs while others were higher-ranking, such as a vice president of marketing or senior leaders who handle human resources, plant engineering, merchandise and other fields.
"We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Ambassadors to our company's shared mission, values, and goals," Cherry said. "We are sorry to have to part ways with any team members in this difficult moment, but their abiding commitment to our guests, fellow ambassadors and animals is recognized and made a lasting impact."
Right before the layoffs, SeaWorld changed its severance policy, which meant former employees are walking away with significantly less money, several told the Orlando Sentinel. One employee who had been there for more than eight years was to be paid four weeks.
In 2017, SeaWorld's severance policy stated eligible employees could get paid up to 26 weeks of base pay based on how many years they worked continuously at the company, according to company documents provided to the Sentinel. Full-time hourly workers received one week of base pay for every year worked at the company while salaried employees received two weeks of base pay per year, the policy said.
Several furloughed workers complained the company had hired new employees instead of bringing them back to their old jobs.
SeaWorld's troubles aren't unique.
Orlando's 15.3% unemployment rate was the highest in the state in July. Hotel workers and Universal employees are among the thousands who have lost their jobs as the pandemic slowed the tourism capital of the world.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity updated its website Tuesday, nearly two weeks after it was first notified of the SeaWorld layoff notice. The Tampa Bay Times first reported the layoff notice.
grusson@orlandosentinel.com


Home BCAW2013 ContinuitySA offers free BCI Good Practice Guidelines eLearning course as part of Business Continuity Awareness Week.
ContinuitySA offers free BCI Good Practice Guidelines eLearning course as part of Business Continuity Awareness Week.
As part of the upcoming global Business Continuity Awareness Week (BCAW2013) from the 18-22 March 2013 ContinuitySA is offering the BCI Good Practice Guidelines eLearning Course, which has been made available by the Business Continuity Institute(BCI) at no charge to interested parties.
The course provides an introduction to the principles of Business Continuity Management and includes the BCM lifecycle with built in tests to check progress which will help those new to the discipline who want an overview of the subject matter or those who want support as they revise for the BCI Certificate (CBCI) examination.
The content is based on the six BCM Professional Practices found in the Good Practice Guidelines (GPG).
Module 1 – An Introduction – What is Business Continuity Management?
Module 2– GPG Section 1 – How do I establish and manage Business Continuity?
Module 3 – GPG Section 2 – How do I embed Business Continuity within the organization?
Module 4 – GPG Section 3 – How do I analyze the organization?
Module 5 – GPG Section 4 – How do I determine the strategies and tactics to use?
Module 6 – GPG Section 5 – What plans do I develop and how?
Module 7 – GPG Section 6 – How do I improve the organization's Business Continuity capability?
Module 8 – End of course Assessment.
The course will run at the ContinuitySA offices in Midrand on Monday March 18th from 08.00 to 16.00. The course will be facilitated by Lynn Jackson, who will share practical guidelines as he goes through the individual modules.
For full details on all the ContinuitySA events supporting the BCAW including educational webinars and breakfast events click here.


Personal Injury Lawyer Wildwood, MO. When your way of life has changed because of injuries you sustained due to another's acts, you should pursue legal action against that person. If you've been injured and need experienced legal guidance, our Personal Injury Lawyers in Wildwood are ready to fight on your behalf.
While this is a short list of the benefits and recoveries we win for our Wildwood personal injury clients, we don't stop until our clients are fully satisfied with their personal injury claims. If you need a personal injury attorney in Wildwood, call or contact The Missouri Injury Law Firm now!
Your injuries and the accident that caused your personal injury claim shouldn't be taken lightly, and the personal injury attorney in Wildwood that you choose for your claim is the difference between a lost claim, and all of your injuries and hardship being covered financially. When you are ready to begin your personal injury claim in Wildwood, call or contact our personal injury lawyers now!
Losing a limb, for whatever reason, can cause not only physical pain, but emotional and psychological trauma as well. If the loss of limb could have been prevented and was caused by someone else's negligence or careless acts, you may be be entitled to compensation for your personal injury. Contact Missouri Injury Law Firm for a personal injury attorney to help get the maximum recovery for your personal injury.
Obtaining a head and brain injury can be so severe that it can alter how you are able to perform everyday functions. If you or a loved one has suffered a head or brain injury that was caused by the negligence of another, you may entitled to compensation for medical bills, loss of employment, and other financial struggles as a result of your personal injury.


text:
Time media brand sold to Salesforce.com founder
Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp (2nd L) claps after ringing the bell to open trading at the New York Stock Exchange in New York June 9, 2014. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Meredith announced on Sunday it has entered into an agreement to sell the Time media brand to Marc and Lynne Benioff for $190 million in cash.
The Benioff's are purchasing Time personally and will be unrelated to Saleforce.com.
"We are honored to be the caretakers of one of the world's most important media companies and iconic brands," said the Benioffs. "TIME has always been a trusted reflection of the state of the world, and reminds us that business is one of the greatest platforms for change."
Marc Benioff is chairman, co-chief executive and founder of Salesforce.com.
"We're pleased to have found such passionate buyers in Marc and Lynne Benioff for the TIME brand," said Meredith President and CEO Tom Harty. "For over 90 years, TIME has been at the forefront of the most significant events and impactful stories that shape our global conversation. We know TIME will continue to succeed and is in good hands with the Benioffs. We thank the TIME team for its ongoing hard work and passionate commitment."
Meredith plans to use proceeds from the transaction to pay down debt.
Meredith acquired Time in a deal valued at $2.8 billion as part of its purchase of Time Inc in January, shortly after which announced it was selling Time Inc's news and sports brands.


text:
Justia Patents Thermal Sensing Of FlowUS Patent for Systems and methods for detecting flow of a fluid Patent (Patent # 9,791,307)
Systems and methods for detecting flow of a fluid
Mar 4, 2016 - Alicat Scientific, Inc.
Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for detecting flow of a fluid. One embodiment of a system includes a flow body, a thermal tube sensor housing, and a computing device. In some embodiments, the flow body includes an inlet for receiving the fluid and an outlet for expelling the fluid, the thermal tube sensor housing includes a sensor tube that includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion, and the sensor tube is configured with a cross position where a first portion of the sensor tube crosses paths with a second portion of the sensor tube, reducing a thermo-siphoning effect.
Latest Alicat Scientific, Inc. Patents:
Systems and methods for thermal mass flow insulation
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Wide-range laminar flowmeter
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/129,242, filed Mar. 6, 2015. This application is also related to a co-owned U.S. Non-Provisional application entitled Systems and Methods for Thermal Mass Flow Insulation, which is filed on the same day as the present application and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Embodiments described herein are directed to systems and methods for thermal mass flow sensing and control and, specifically to embodiments for determining data related to flow rate of a fluid.
Mass flow meters are commonly used to measure fluid flow by sensing and quantifying selected physical parameters of the flow. Mass flow meters can also be used as a component of fluid flow controllers. Some current flow meters sense flow by measuring a change in temperature of a flowing fluid when a fixed amount of thermal energy is applied to the fluid. While these current flow meters may provide some data related to flow rate and other data, these embodiments often lack accuracy that is typically demanded in the field.
Another embodiment for detecting flow of a fluid includes a flow body, a thermal tube sensor housing, and a computing device. The flow body may include an inlet for receiving the fluid and an outlet for expelling the fluid. The thermal tube sensor housing may include a sensor tube that comprises a first connection portion, and a second connection portion. In some embodiments, the sensor tube is configured with a cross position, where the cross position includes a first portion of the sensor tube crossing paths with a second portion of the sensor tube, thereby reducing a thermo-siphoning effect. In some embodiments, the thermal tube sensor housing comprises a first inboard temperature sensor, a second inboard temperature sensor, a first outboard temperature sensor, a second outboard temperature sensor, and a heater that are coupled to the sensor tube. In still some embodiments, a flow rate is determined based on a change in temperature of the fluid detected by the first inboard temperature sensor, the second inboard temperature sensor, the first outboard temperature sensor, and the second outboard temperature sensor. Additionally, the data related to the flow rate may be output for display.
Another embodiment may include a thermal tube sensor housing for detecting flow of a fluid that includes a sensor tube, a first sensor bridge, a second sensor bridge, and a heater. In these embodiments, the first sensor bridge may include a first inboard temperature sensor and a second inboard temperature sensor. Additionally, the second sensor bridge may include a first outboard temperature sensor and a second outboard temperature sensor. In some embodiments, the first sensor bridge, the second sensor bridge, and the heater are coupled to the sensor tube. Similarly, the sensor tube may be configured with a cross position, where the cross position includes a first portion of the sensor tube crossing paths with a second portion of the sensor tube, thereby reducing a thermo-siphoning effect when the heater imparts thermal energy into the sensor tube. Additionally, a flow rate may be determined based on a change in temperature of the fluid detected by the first inboard temperature sensor, the second inboard temperature sensor, the first outboard temperature sensor, and the second outboard temperature sensor. Further, the data related to the flow rate may be output for display.
This description of specific embodiments of the present disclosure can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a mass flow meter, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of a mass flow meter and its various components, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a thermal tube sensor housing of a mass flow meter, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 depicts a side view of a thermal tube sensor housing, a flow body, and sensor adapter, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a sensor tube, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of another configuration of a sensor tube, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 7 depicts a side perspective view of a mass flow meter with a proportional control valve, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure relates to mass flow sensing and control and, more particularly, to flow meters that sense temperature changes in flowing fluid using an improved sensor design that avoids thermo-siphon effects and is insulated with a material that prevents external convective heat transfer. The present disclosure further relates to flow meters that use a resistive heater flanked by passive temperature sensors, incorporates thermistors to improve sensor responsiveness to small flow rate changes, and precisely monitors an average temperature of a sensor bridge to improve the responsiveness to flow rate changes.
Specifically, many mass flow meters utilize a sensor tube that is typically "U" shaped. A fluid is passed through this "U" shaped sensor tube and heat is applied to the tube for detecting the mass flow rate of the fluid. While such current solutions may provide some level of accuracy for mass flow rate, oftentimes these current solutions cause a thermo-siphoning effect, where the fluid is not heated evenly and the heated portion of the fluid rises to a different area of the sensor tube. This often causes an unintended flow reading by a flow device because the fluid is moving counter to the actual mass flow rate. Embodiments described herein significantly reduce and/or eliminate thermo-siphoning effects, thus providing enhanced accuracy for the mass flow rate determination and other measurements and calculations described herein.
Additionally, embodiments described herein utilize an insulator that includes insulating material for preventing undesirable thermal leakage that occurs when applying a heater to thermally conductive portions of the flow meter. The insulating material may include vacuum beads, a binder, and/or other materials for further enhancing accuracy of the flow meter, as described in more detail below.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a flow meter 100, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the flow meter 100 includes a flow body 102, which includes an inlet 104a and an outlet 104b. The inlet 104a is configured for receiving a fluid and the outlet 104b is configured for expelling the fluid. A sensor adaptor 106 is also included and coupled to the flow body 102. The flow meter 100 may also include a display device 108 and a user option 110 (or plurality of user options) for providing data and user input related to flow of a fluid that is detected by the flow meter 100. As an example, some embodiments may be configured to provide mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, pressure, temperature, and/or other data. The flow meter 100 may also include an input and/or output port 112 for providing output to a user or external device and/or for receiving input from a user or external device.
FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of a flow meter 100, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the flow meter 100 may include the flow body 102, which may be coupled to a flow interface 204a, high flow plate 204b, a flow element 204c, a top plate 204d, and a flow gasket 204e. The flow meter 100 may also include a temperature sensor 206 for detecting temperature of a fluid and/or environment. A pressure sensor 208 is also provided and may be configured for detecting pressure of the fluid and/or environment. With this information from the temperature sensor 206 and/or pressure sensor 208, as well as the mass flow that is determined (and described in more detail), volumetric flow may be determined.
A printed circuit board 210 is also included in the embodiment of FIG. 2 and may include a processor, memory component, and other hardware for providing the functionality provided herein, such as making these calculations. The memory component may store logic that, when executed by the processor, causes performance of the functionality described herein. It should be understood that while the printed circuit board 210 is depicted in FIG. 2, some embodiments may utilize any computing device, hardware, software, and/or firmware for providing the functionality described herein.
Coupled to the temperature sensor 206 and the pressure sensor 208 is a thermal tube sensor housing 224, which may include a housing cavity for holding sensing components described in more detail below. The flow meter 100 may also include an exterior portion, which may include a front plate 230a, a back plate 230b, and an upper plate 230c. The exterior portion may enclose the internal components described in FIG. 2 and may thus may create a water-tight and/or air-tight seal to prevent corrosion of the internal components.
FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a thermal tube sensor housing 224 of a flow meter 100, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the thermal tube sensor housing 224 may include a plurality of bores 332, 334 for receiving the temperature sensor 206 and the pressure sensor 208, respectively. Also provided in the thermal tube sensor housing 224 are bores 336a, 336b, which are configured to receive a sensor tube 350, as well as to connect the housing cavity 348 with the flow body 102 (FIG. 2). As discussed in more detail below, the bores 336a, 336b may couple to a bypass portion, a feed portion, and a return portion of the flow body 102 for directing a fluid through the sensor tube 350.
The housing cavity 348 may be sized and shaped to contain the sensor tube 350, a first bridge circuit, a second bridge circuit, a heater 345, and an insulation material, as described in greater detail herein. The housing cavity 348 may be accessible via a cover plate 338. The cover plate 338 may be removable to access the various components inside the housing cavity 348, such as, for example, to assemble the components prior to filling the housing cavity 348 with an insulator, as described in greater detail herein. The housing cavity 348 may additionally contain a sealable opening 340. The sealable opening 340 may be used to inject a material, such as, for example an insulator into the housing cavity 348 after the cover plate 338 is installed.
As discussed above, the embodiment of FIG. 3 may include a first sensor bridge, which may includes outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b, a second sensor bridge that includes inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b, as well as a heater 345 that provides thermal energy to the fluid within the sensor tube 350. The outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b and the inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b may include one or more negative and/or positive temperature coefficient thermistors that change resistance, in response to changing temperature.
As also illustrated in FIG. 3, the sensor tube 350 may pass near inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b. In addition, a plurality of outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b may be located adjacent to the inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b such that the outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b flank the inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b. The plurality of outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b may be configured to measure the temperature rise of the fluid inside the sensor tube 350 as the fluid passes through an area of the sensor tube 350 heated by the heater 345 and its passage through the area. An observed rise in temperature due to heating by the heater 345 (which may be configured as a central resistive heater or other type of heat generating device) may provide a measure of the fluid's flow rate.
It should be understood that the first sensor bridge, the second sensor bridge, and/or the heater 345 may be part of the printed circuit board 210 (which may be mounted on mounting plate 342), part of another circuit board and/or coupled to a circuit board. Accordingly, some embodiments of the printed circuit board 210 may be configured to extend from the housing cavity 348 such that when the cover plate 338 is installed, at least a portion of the printed circuit board 210 remains outside of the housing cavity 348. Such an arrangement may be achieved, for example, by using a flexible circuit material for the printed circuit board 210.
It should also be understood the various components inside the housing cavity 348 may be mechanically supported or otherwise surrounded with an insulator, which may include an insulating material. The insulator may generally prevent external convective heat transfer to the various thermally conductive components inside the housing cavity 348. As may generally be recognized in the art, such external convective heat transfer can have a detrimental effect on the flow measurement accuracy of the sensing circuitry and/or the sensor tube 350 in sensing flow.
In one embodiment, the insulator includes thermal plascrete, which comprises a binder material and a plurality of beads, and may have a density on the order of about 0.5 g/cm3. The insulating material may also optionally be coated with an adhesive, adhesive film, and/or compacted. The insulating material may generally be placed into the housing cavity 348 via the sealable opening 340.
The plurality of beads in the insulating material may be affixed together, such as via an ultrasonic welding process and/or a sintering process. Such processes may generally be any ultrasonic welding and/or sintering process now known or later developed. Depending on the embodiment, the beads may be a hollow material, such as, for example, glass or ceramic beads having a central void under vacuum. In one embodiment, the central void is at a pressure of about 1×10−8 Torr. Such a pressure is merely illustrative, and those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize other pressures that may be used. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the beads may be a non-hollow, pearlite material, such as, for example, expanded clay.
The binder material may include a low viscosity binder, particularly a low viscosity binder that has been hardened by chemical reaction, evaporation, and/or pyrolysis. In some embodiments, the binder material may be combined at between 5 and 95 percent of the total mixture weight with the beads and cured. Other examples of a binder material may include one or more adhesives, such as, for example, an epoxy diluted with a solvent (such as, for example, ethanol, acetone, or methyl ethyl ketone). Such resultant binder materials may be lower in strength and density than some materials, but may be suitable for use as the insulating material in some embodiments.
Additional examples of a binder material may include an inorganic binder, such as, for example, sodium silicate or the like. In some embodiments, the binder material may be a phenolic binder. Such a binder material may be particularly suitable when the environment in which the binder material is located is recognized as a very high temperature. A phenolic binder material may be subjected to a pyrolysis process to convert the phenol (or a similar organic material) to carbon. The phenolic binder material may be subjected to repeated saturation and pyrolysis processes to increase the density and strength of the insulating material, though such processes may also increase the thermal conductivity of the insulating material. However, the resultant binder material may have a significantly lower thermal conductivity than generally recognized carbon-carbon composite materials.
The insulating material may further include one or more reinforcing materials. Particularly, the reinforcing material may include a fibrous reinforcement material. Illustrative reinforcing materials may include organic reinforcement materials such as an aramid and/or inorganic reinforcement material such as glass or carbon fiber.
In some embodiments, the housing cavity 348 may be insulated with a high molecular weight gas, particularly a high molecular weight gas that is generally recognized as being suitable for thermal insulation. Illustrative high molecular weight gasses may include, but are not limited to, xenon, krypton, and combinations thereof. The high molecular weight gas may be injected into the housing cavity 348 via the sealable opening 145 and may be combined with any of the aforementioned insulating beads.
FIG. 4 depicts a side view of a thermal tube sensor housing 224, a flow body 102, and sensor adaptor 106, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the flow body 102 may include the inlet 104a and the outlet 104b. Also included in the flow body 102 are a bypass section 402 and a feed section 404 and a return section 406. The bypass section 402 may receive at least a portion of the fluid, which is then directed to the outlet 104b. The feed section 404 is also coupled to the inlet 104a, as well to the sensor adaptor 106. The feed section thus directs the fluid to a supply passage 408 of the sensor adaptor 106, which is coupled to the thermal tube sensor housing 224 via the sensor tube 350. The fluid may then exit the thermal tube sensor housing 224 via a return passage 410 of the sensor adaptor 106 and then to the return section 406, and out of the flow meter 100 via the outlet 104b.
Accordingly, a fluid may enter the inlet 104a and may flow into the bypass section 402, as well as the feed section 404. The fluid received by the feed section 404 is directed to the sensor tube 350 via the supply passage. The fluid is then exposed to the first outboard temperature sensor 344a. The first outboard temperature sensor 344a detects the temperature of the fluid at a first time. The fluid is then exposed to a first inboard temperature sensor 346a, which detects the temperature of the fluid, at a second time. The fluid is exposed to the heater 345, which provides thermal energy to the fluid. The fluid is then exposed to the second inboard temperature sensor 346b, which detects the temperature (after being exposed to the heater 345) at a third time. The fluid is exposed to the second outboard temperature sensor 344b, which detects the temperature of the fluid at a fourth time. The fluid is then returned to the flow body 102 via the return section 406 and the return passage 410, which is then output through the outlet 104b.
Accordingly, the electrical signals caused by the temperature differential seen between the outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b will be slower to respond to flow rate changes than those signals from the more centrally located inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b. The time lag noted between the signals from these two sets of sensors may be utilized to infer the time lag between the signal from the centrally located inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b and the actual fluid flow rate traversing sensor tube 350.
Specifically, the mass fluid flow may be measured by detecting a change in temperature of the flowing fluid passing through a sensor tube 350. The sensor tube 350 may be at least partially covered with temperature-sensitive resistance coils that are part of one or more of the sensor bridges. When a current is passed through the coils, the coils heat the sensor tube 350 and the fluid passing therein. The heated fluid causes the sensor bridge to become unbalanced, generating a signal that is directly proportional to the mass flow rate of the fluid passing there through.
Accordingly, embodiments described herein may detect a mass flow rate by detecting a temperature change of the fluid, as the fluid crosses the outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b, the inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b, and the heater 345. As the fluid reaches the first outboard temperature sensor 344a a temperature is detected. Similarly, the temperature of the fluid is detected when the fluid crosses the first inboard temperature sensor 346a. The fluid is then heated by the heater 345. As the fluid passes the second inboard temperature sensor 346b, the temperature is detected. As the fluid passes the second outboard temperature sensor 344b, the temperature is again detected. The computing elements on the printed circuit board 210 may then calculate the mass flow rate by determining the temperature change of the fluid versus the temperature difference between the temperature at the inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b and the outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b. Because the volumetric flow rate is calculated from the mass flow rate with respect to temperature and pressure, data from the temperature sensor 206 and the pressure sensor 208 may be utilized for this calculation.
It should also be understood that while the embodiment of FIG. 4 depicts the inlet 104a as receiving fluid from the environment and the outlet 104b as expelling the fluid to the environment, this is merely an example. Embodiments described herein may be configured to receive fluid via either the inlet 104a or the outlet 104b. If a fluid is received via the outlet 104b, values and calculations may encounter negative values, which indicate that the flow is opposite to the norm. Some embodiments may take the absolute value of such a negative value and/or provide other indication of the direction of fluid flow.
FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a sensor tube 350, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensor tube 350 may generally be configured to prevent a thermo-siphoning effect. As discussed above, the thermo-siphoning effect may occur because as the fluid is heated, the heated particles may move within the sensor tube 350, which may cause an incorrect mass flow reading. Thus, the configuration of the sensor tube 350 FIG. 5 may reduce and/or remove the thermo-siphoning effect present in many current solutions.
Specifically, the sensor tube 350 may incorporate one or more crossover configurations of a first portion of the sensor tube 350 and a second portion of the sensor tube 350. As illustrated, the crossover configuration of FIG. 5 includes an upper straight portion 552, which in the embodiment of FIG. 4 is coupled to the inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b, the outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b, and the heater 345. The sensor tube 350 may also include a first curved portion 554a and a second curved portion 554b, which are coupled to a first angled portion 556a and a second angled portion 556b, respectively. The first curved portion 554a and a second curved portion 554b embody substantially curved configurations (which may be mirrored configurations) that maintain the integrity of the sensor tube 350 (e.g., do not "pinch" or otherwise substantially reduce fluid flow in the sensor tube 350). The first curved portion 554a and a second curved portion 554b create a substantially acute angle between the upper straight portion 552 and the first angled portion 556a and the second angled portion 556b.
Thus, the first angled portion 556a and the second angled portion 556b cross paths at cross position 558. While the first angled portion 556a and the second angled portion 556b are not in physical contact in the sensor tube 350 of FIG. 5, this is just an example. In some embodiments, the cross position 558 may be configured such that the various portions of the sensor tube 350 are in physical contact. The sensor tube 350 also includes a first connection portion 562a and a second connection portion 562b, which are in fluid communication with the flow body 102, as depicted in FIG. 4.
As discussed above, the flow meter 100 may be configured to heat the fluid in the sensor tube 350, which may cause internal convective flow of the fluid. Thus in many current solutions, this results in an erroneous flow indication and/or other undesirable thermo-siphoning effects. By introducing the crossover configuration in the sensor tube 350, thermo-siphoning effects resulting from internal convective circulation are significantly reduced or eliminated.
FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of another configuration of a sensor tube 650, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 5, FIG. 6 depicts a first portion of the sensor tube 650 and a second portion of the sensor tube 650 crossing at a cross position 658. As illustrated, the sensor tube 650 includes an upper straight portion 652, which is coupled to a first curved portion 654a and a second curved portion 654b. The first curved portion 654a is coupled to a first middle straight portion 656a, while the second curved portion 654b is coupled to a second middle straight portion 656b. As also illustrated, the first curved portion 654a crosses the second middle straight portion 656b creating a cross position 658. Also provided in the sensor tube 650 are a third curved portion 660a and a fourth curved portion 660b, which are coupled to a first connection portion 662a and a second connection portion 662b.
It should be understood that the embodiments of FIG. 6 illustrate a different configuration of the sensor tube 650, while maintaining an upper straight portion 652 and a cross position 658. While the upper straight portion 652 may not be straight in every embodiment, positions on the sensor tube 650 may be provided for connecting the inboard temperature sensors 346a, 346b, the outboard temperature sensors 344a, 344b, and the heater 345. Additionally, one or more cross positions may be provided to reduce and/or eliminate any undesirable thermo-siphoning effects. Similarly, other configurations are contemplated, which may be based on space available in the housing cavity 348 (FIG. 3).
FIG. 7 depicts a side perspective view of a flow meter 100 with a proportional control valve 702, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the flow meter 100 may couple to the flow body 102 to regulate flow that is received by the flow meter 100. As an example, the proportional control valve 702 may include an input port and an output port that may be opened and closed (fully or partially) to regulate this fluid flow. Based on input from the user and/or commands provided by the printed circuit board 210 (FIG. 2), the proportional control valve 702 may dictate the amount of fluid that is received by the flow meter 100. While this depiction illustrates the presence of a proportional control valve connected to the outlet port 104b, some embodiments may be envisioned where said proportional control valve would be placed at the inlet port 104a.
As an example, a desired mass flow rate may be determined. This determination may be made based on user input and/or a determination made by the printed circuit board 210. Regardless, if the flow meter 100 measures a mass flow rate that is different than the desired mass flow rate (over a predetermined threshold or tolerance), the proportional control valve 702 may modify the flow rate of the fluid entering or exiting the flow meter 100. Additionally, some embodiments may be configured to hold constant mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, and/or pressure via the proportional control valve 702 and may report on the remaining variable values. As an example, the embodiment of FIG. 7 may be configured to hold constant the volumetric flow rate (which includes fixing mass flow rate, temperature, and/or pressure), and may then provide output data related to temperature, pressure, and/or mass flow rate. Other variations are also contemplated.
It is noted that terms like "preferably," "commonly," and "typically," when utilized herein, are not utilized to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to identify particular aspects of an embodiment of the present disclosure or to emphasize alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present disclosure.
1. A system for detecting flow of a fluid comprising a flow body, a thermal tube sensor housing, and a computing device, wherein:
the flow body comprises an inlet for receiving the fluid and an outlet for expelling the fluid;
the thermal tube sensor housing comprises a sensor tube that comprises a first connection portion and a second connection portion;
the sensor tube is configured with a cross position where a first portion of the sensor tube crosses paths with a second portion of the sensor tube, reducing a thermo-siphoning effect;
the thermal tube sensor housing comprises a first inboard temperature sensor, a first outboard sensor, a second inboard temperature sensor, a second outboard sensor, and a heater that are coupled to the sensor tube;
the fluid flows from the first outboard sensor to the first inboard sensor, to the heater, to the second inboard sensor, and to the second outboard sensor;
the thermal tube sensor housing is coupled to the flow body by the first connection portion and the second connection portion, such that the fluid received by the inlet is communicated to the sensor tube at the first connection portion and is returned to the flow body by the second connection portion for expelling by the outlet of the flow body;
a flow rate is determined based on a change in temperature of the fluid detected by the first outboard sensor, first inboard temperature sensor, the second inboard temperature sensor, and the second outboard sensor; and
data related to the flow rate is output for display.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow rate includes at least one of the following: a mass flow rate and a volumetric flow rate.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for detecting temperature and a pressure sensor for detecting pressure, wherein a reading from the temperature sensor and a reading from the pressure sensor are utilized by the computing device to calculate volumetric flow rate.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a proportional control valve, wherein the proportional control valve regulates an amount of fluid that enters the inlet.
5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a user option for holding constant at least one of the following: mass flow rate, temperature, and pressure.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first inboard temperature sensor and the second inboard temperature sensor are part of a bridge circuit for detecting the flow rate of the fluid.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow body includes a bypass section, a feed section, and a return section, wherein the bypass section directs the fluid from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the feed section directs the fluid to the sensor tube, and wherein the return section directs the fluid from the sensor tube to the outlet.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal tube sensor housing comprises a housing cavity within which the first inboard temperature sensor, the second inboard temperature sensor, and the heater reside.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the housing cavity further includes an insulator for reducing heat leaking from the housing cavity.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the thermal tube sensor housing further comprises a sealable opening for receiving insulation into the housing cavity.
11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a cover plate that that covers at least a portion of the housing cavity.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first inboard temperature sensor comprises a temperature-sensitive resistance coil.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first inboard temperature sensor detects a temperature of the fluid prior to being heated by the heater and wherein the second inboard temperature sensor detects the temperature of the fluid after being heated by the heater.
14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor adapter that is coupled to the flow body, wherein the sensor adapter receives a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow body comprises at least one of the following: a flow interface, a high flow plate, a flow element, a top plate, and a flow gasket.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor tube further comprises an upper straight portion, a first curved portion and a second curved portion, which are coupled to a first angled portion and a second angled portion, wherein the first curved portion creates a substantially acute angle between the upper straight portion and the first angled portion, and wherein the second angled portion creates a substantially acute angle between the upper straight portion and the second angled portion, such that the first angled portion and the second angled portion provide the cross position.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first inboard temperature sensor and the second inboard temperature sensor include a plurality of respective thermistors for detecting temperature.
18. A flow meter for detecting flow of a fluid, comprising a flow body, a thermal tube sensor housing, and a computing device, wherein:
the thermal tube sensor housing comprises a sensor tube that comprises a first connection portion, and a second connection portion;
the sensor tube is configured with a cross position, where the cross position includes a first portion of the sensor tube crossing paths with a second portion of the sensor tube, thereby reducing a thermo-siphoning effect;
the thermal tube sensor housing comprises a first inboard temperature sensor, a second inboard temperature sensor, a first outboard temperature sensor, a second outboard temperature sensor, and a heater that are coupled to the sensor tube,
a flow rate is determined based on a change in temperature of the fluid detected by the first inboard temperature sensor, the second inboard temperature sensor, the first outboard temperature sensor, and the second outboard temperature sensor; and
19. A thermal tube sensor housing for detecting flow of a fluid, comprising a sensor tube, a first sensor bridge, a second sensor bridge, and a heater, wherein:
the first sensor bridge comprises a first inboard temperature sensor and a second inboard temperature sensor,
the second sensor bridge comprises a first outboard temperature sensor and a second outboard temperature sensor;
the first sensor bridge, the second sensor bridge, and the heater are coupled to the sensor tube such that the fluid flows from the first outboard sensor to the first inboard sensor, to the heater, to the second inboard sensor, and to the second outboard sensor;
the sensor tube is configured with a cross position, where the cross position includes a first portion of the sensor tube crossing paths with a second portion of the sensor tube, thereby reducing a thermo-siphoning effect when the heater imparts thermal energy into the sensor tube;
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Filed: Mar 4, 2016
Assignee: Alicat Scientific, Inc. (Tucson, AZ)
Inventors: Neil W. Hartman (Bowie, AZ), Colin A. Roberts (Tucson, AZ), Marcus A. Mitchell (Tucson, AZ)
Primary Examiner: Jewel V Thompson
Current U.S. Class: Thermal Sensing Of Flow (73/202.5)
International Classification: G01F 15/14 (20060101); G01F 1/69 (20060101); G01F 15/06 (20060101); G01F 1/684 (20060101); G01F 5/00 (20060101);


Adra Architecture LLC (pronounced "ah-drah") is the architectural practice of Tim Brochu, offering a broad range of architectural services to residential, commercial, and healthcare clients in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
Tim has thirteen years of experience with one of northern New England's premier architecture firms designing, detailing, and managing many significant projects for regional healthcare, commercial, and institutional clients.
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As a project manager, he has earned the trust of his clients through his responsive communication, clarity of judgment, and attention to detail. Tim has led internal design teams to deliver complex projects on time and under budget, collaborated with consulting designers and engineers to bring consistency to construction documents, and coordinated with contractors in a cooperative spirit to maintain the quality of the design through to the completion of construction.
Tim founded Adra Architecture LLC to deliver his inspired design, technical expertise, and professional management to residential, commercial, and healthcare clients, with the personal attention of a local independent architectural practice.
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text:
The Maine Journal of Conservation and Sustainability
Submit to Spire
Cover Design Contest
Student perspectives on sustainable food production and diet choice
April 3, 2020 Spire 2020 Issue
By Jennifer J. Perry, Rebecca Champagne, Delaney Greiner, Adwoa Dankwa, Angela Czup and Adoum Fadaya Arabi
School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono ME
Globally, agriculture accounts for approximately 30% of greenhouse gas emissions (Vermeulen et al. 2012). Beyond our decisions to drive a hybrid car, turn down the thermostat or recycle, we make multiple choices about sustainability every time we sit down to a meal. In the context of food production and consumption, the concept of sustainability encompasses aspects of the ecological implications of production, processing and transport; nutrient density and contribution to a healthy diet; accessibility and affordability; yield and ability to meet global demand. In Organic and Natural Foods (FSN 555), a University of Maine food science course, graduate students studying different facets of food and agriculture (sustainable agriculture, nutrition, food science) learn about and discuss consumer trends in the food industry's "natural channel." Students are encouraged to form and defend individual, research-based opinions about movements such as "local" and "non-GMO" food and to discuss the merits of their positions within the context of the larger food system as well as how their research into these topics has affected their personal consumption behaviors. What follows is a synthesis of abbreviated writings focused on food-related topics. Each topic is addressed by multiple students, combining summaries of peer-reviewed literature and personal commentary with direct quotes from their classmates about the role that our food choices play in minimizing our environmental impact.
Topic: Meat consumption
It is widely recognized that meat and dairy products represent the most resource intensive production chains of any food (Godfray et al. 2018). Reducing demand for, and consumption of, animal products is one of the most widely cited strategies for increasing dietary sustainability and has been called for by non-governmental task forces focusing on human and ecological health (Macdiarmid et al. 2011). Students (none of whom identify as vegetarians or vegans) discussed this issue particularly with reference to the "plant protein" trend that has recently exploded in packaged goods and restaurant dining.
Americans, on average, consume a much larger quantity of red meat per capita than people in any other part of the world (Pan et al. 2012). Whether this is a consequence of culture or convenience, there has been an increase in consumption during the past several decades (Daniel et al. 2011). Despite the scientific knowledge and research illustrating the dangers of red meat consumption with regard to human health (Pan et al. 2012) and the environment (Godfray et al. 2018), consumers seem unwilling to change dietary intake. Meat consumption has been rising swiftly all over the world primarily due to rapid population growth and an increase in wealth. Meat consumption is projected to double over the next 30 years, increasing particularly in low income countries as wealth throughout the world redistributes (Godfray et al. 2018).
In the history of the modern American diet, repeated attempts have been made by corporations and government policy to popularize alternative diets (Wheless 2004, 31-50). Low fat diets were commonly adopted in the 1940s for weight reduction, and became more popular in the 1950s when medical and government agencies began promoting this approach for heart health, causing this incredible stigma that fat (true to its name) made one fat (La Berge 2008). The use of "Fat-Free" as a marketing tool peaked in the 1980s while the obesity epidemic exploded (Mitchell et al. 2011). Fast forward to the 1990's, and we find the exact opposite became true (Wheless 2004, 31-50). Carbohydrate consciousness, perhaps earliest and most notably espoused by Dr. Robert Atkins entered the public consciousness and "Sugar Free" was the new buzz term (La Berge 2008; Wheless 2004, 31-50). Another diet that has become widely adopted in recent years is the flexitarian diet. The term "flexitarian" was coined in 2009 and is commonly adopted as a way to reap the health benefits of a vegetarian diet while still eating meat when the cravings hit (US News & World Report, n.d.).
"Veganism does address animal agriculture issues, but … it does not address migrant worker rights and mistreatment." – Student perspective
Modifying a diet or changing a person's established schedule and routine is extremely difficult, especially in the minds of fully developed adults (Vilaro et al. 2018). Taking away hamburger and replacing it with a chicken or turkey patty, for example, has some positive effects on health, but the environmental impact is still relatively high (Pan et al. 2012). Food also has "guilty pleasure" qualities associated with it; eating is a social pastime and a way to de-stress for many individuals (Meule and Vögele 2013). If someone wasn't already predisposed to chicken or turkey, and preferred it to red meat, the desire to consume red meat still exists, driving the development of "meat analogues" meant to look and taste like the real thing. This desire to simply substitute, without making any grandiose or lasting changes, paves the way to creating food items best suited to meet that need.
Activity in the "plant protein" arena has exploded in recent years, arguably culminating in the national release of what many believe to be the most convincing beef substitute to date. The "Impossible Burger" was created by Dr. Patrick Brown, in his own company known as Impossible Foods (Fellet 2015). Its production began in 1990, and only recently came to a point of public acceptance, after several consumer trials and safety evaluations. Dr. Brown has stated that the meat industry is extremely damaging to the planet and that people should absolutely eat less meat (Fellet 2015; Roos et al. 2013).
"From personal experience, if an Impossible burger and a conventional beef burger were placed in front of me, I would not be able to tell the difference." – Student perspective
Often, the goal is simply to reduce, not to eliminate, the consumption of unhealthy food or a problematic behavior, but the extent of the reduction is frequently the point of contention. Some may consider replacing their daily hamburgers and hot dogs with chicken one day each week a reasonable solution for reducing red meat consumption, yet this does not have a strong impact on health or environmental sustainability (Meule and Vögele 2013; Pan et al. 2012; Roos et al. 2013; Vilaro et al. 2018).
"The benefit of living in the US is that we have access to a vast variety of foods. Food choice is a privilege, and those that have the luxury to choose should be mindful." – Student perspective
For health and environmental reasons, red meat should be consumed far less than the current rate of per capita consumption in the U.S. The flexitarian diet has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of the standard diet by reducing the proportion of calories coming from animal products. Although this diet was originally created to capitalize on the health benefits of the vegetarian diet, it has been recently marketed towards increasing the sustainability of the planet by reducing meat consumption. Whether that means a couple meals a week without meat or reducing meat consumption to once a week, the goal of the flexitarian movement is to encourage more of the population to cut down on meat and to raise awareness about the importance of adopting a less resource-intensive diet to increase environmental sustainability (Wolfson 2019).
Topic: USDA Organic food labeling and sustainability
USDA Organic refers to a set of standards governing the production of agricultural products including, but not limited to, fresh produce, meat, dairy and packaged foods. Despite growing demand for organic foods, requirements related to organic certification are not well understood by consumers (Aarset et al. 2004). While organic agriculture is generally recognized to result in fewer negative ecological impacts, when compared with large scale conventional farming, strict adherence to the National Organic Plan does not guarantee this result. Students discussed the potential impacts of growth in the organic sector on the validity of values commonly associated with the word "organic."
Consumer demand for organic products has skyrocketed in recent decades and continues to grow every year. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, consumer demand increased from just over $10 billion in 2005 to almost $35 billion in 2014 (USDA ERS 2019b). To many consumers, the organic seal means no pesticides, no artificial chemicals, eco-friendliness and highly nutritious (Bourn & Prescott, 2002). The motivations for choosing organic products vary from country to country. For example, in Germany, people choose organic based on health and ecological issues (Beharrell and MacFie 1991, Woodward and Meier-Ploeger 1999). In the Netherlands, "occasional organic buyers" patronize mainly for health reasons while "heavy organic buyers" do so for environmental reasons (Wandel and Bugge 1997). The word organic has been misconstrued to mean several things to consumers, such as small-scale, locally produced, and pesticide free.
"I think people need to understand that organic food production is not always small-scale." – Student perspective
However, today's organic food industry is a complex array of small- and large-scale food producers, local and global distribution networks, and a wide variety of products, including fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and processed foods. Those who shop at local farmers' markets know where their organic produce is coming from; consumers who purchase organic certified products in larger grocery stores or chain stores must carefully read labels to see where the food is produced. Additionally, with the surge in consumer demand this past decade, organic farms have not remained the idyllic small-scale backyard farm that many consumers imagine. For example, organic producers Earthbound Farm in California started as a two-and-a-half-acre farm in the mid 1980's; today, they occupy about 30,000 acres and are one of the largest organic produce growers in the United States (Whitney, 2007). The explosion of consumer demand drives the scaling-up of operations like Earthbound, which results in greater consumption of inputs, such as water and fertilizer, to keep yields high and consumers happy.
"When you think about organic foods, you automatically believe you are benefitting the environment positively. It's important to look more into the processing and sustainability of these organic ingredients as well." –Student perspective
By definition, organic production is defined as an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on the minimal use of off-farm inputs and management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony. In organic production foods are grown without synthetic pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics, modern genetic engineering techniques (including genetically modified crops), chemical fertilizers, or sewage sludge (USDA AMS 2018; Winter & Davis 2006). In order to be certified organic, farms must utilize some sort of crop rotation (USDA AMS 2018). The goal of this practice is to help promote the biodiversity of crops grown on the farm, mimicking a more natural ecosystem and moving away from the large monocultures often seen in conventional systems. Having a variety of crops can also promote diversity of beneficial insects, break pest cycles, and provide greater income for the farm. A meta-analysis of the scientific literature found that 327 of 396 publications pointed to higher biodiversity on organic farms over conventional farms (Rahmann 2011). And because organic farms do not use conventional herbicides, off-target effects on wildlife and local fauna could be little to none, helping increase species abundance and richness (Hole et al. 2005).
Organic certification also cannot be obtained unless a farm uses only non-synthetic fertilizers. This may include products such as animal manure or organically approved fertilizers like compost, fish meal, and seaweed extracts. Synthetic fertilizer uses in the United States, especially nitrogen fertilizers, have increased at an order of about 150% over the past few decades (Smith et al. 1998; USDA ERS 2019a) as conventional agriculture continues to grow larger and become more resource intensive. For example, use of a commonly used nitrogen fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia, increased from just under 1 million tons in the early 1960s to 3.8 million tons in 2015 (USDA ERS 2019a). Similarly, urea [nitrogen] fertilizer use grew from under 500,000 tons to 7.03 million tons during the same time period (USDA ERS 2019a). Research has found lower disease occurrence in soils amended with organic, as opposed to synthetic, fertilizer sources because of fertilizer source interactions with soil properties and soil health (Liu et al. 2007). Additionally, research has shown that use of synthetic fertilizers increases harmful insect populations. Yardim and Edwards (2003) found that pests such as aphids and invertebrate herbivores had higher populations where synthetic fertilizers were applied, likely because crops had decreased resistance to pest attacks via increased plant nutritional quality, and a reduction of metabolite concentrations that would allow the plant to better resist pest feeding.
Compared to conventional agriculture, there are some factors that make organic farming systems better for the environment. These systems do not use synthetic fertilizers or genetically modified seeds and have much greater biodiversity. However, organic food production may not be as environmentally friendly as some may believe. It is heavily reliant on soil tillage, has lower yields than conventional farming practices (Seufert et al. 2012), and may use organic pesticides (USDA AMS 2018). Additionally, not everyone has equal access to organic products or the means to purchase these more expensive goods. What is encouraging is the amount of research in organic systems being conducted around the United States, and the increased funding for agricultural research over the past few years. Organic farmers realize the need to make these systems more sustainable so that production can increase, and demand can be met.
Topic: Crop yields and access
The term "sustainability" is most often associated with minimizing ecological impacts. However, holistic discussion of dietary sustainability must integrate other concerns, including sufficient yield for the population and equity of access to a healthy diet. Students discussed the apparent conflict among these attributes of "sustainability" in the food system and how to strike a reasonable balance in their own lives.
From a historical point of view, the Green Revolution of the mid-twentieth century, which comprised the widespread adoption of improved crop varieties in conjunction with use of synthetic fertilizers and greater mechanization, has increased agricultural production on a global level, resulting in higher outputs and lower prices for consumers (Evenson and Gollin 2003). But unfortunately it has done so at the cost of the degradation of the environment and natural resources, most notably contributing to decreases in soil fertility and runoff of excess agro-chemicals (Pingali 2012). Even after all these efforts, the FAO estimated that about 805 million people, or one out of nine, around the world were undernourished in 2014 (UN 2019).
Many opponents of conventional farming argue that organic agriculture should be the future of farming in the United States so that we can move away from genetically modified seed use and heavy herbicide reliance. But the reality is that organic farms tend to have lower yields—meta-analyses of comparisons between organic and conventional farms point to 5-34% lower yields in organic systems (Seufert et al., 2012). Organic farming would require more land to produce the same amount of food now supplied by conventional farms (Seufert et al., 2012). This tradeoff may result in more deforestation and clearing of land for farming. In extreme cases, the lower yield of organic farming could result in food shortages and an increase in the number of food-insecure people.
Another concern is that organic food can be very expensive. Access to organic food is not equitable, especially in low-income, urban areas where grocery stores tend to be small and do not stock a wide variety of products. Consumer demographic analyses currently show that a majority of organic food shoppers are white, have a higher level of education, and are in a higher income bracket (Dettmann and Dimitri 2010). Changing this demographic to be more inclusive could require better food education and food distribution to help lower income and minority groups have more purchasing power. Many Americans lack food education and would need assistance to learn how to properly prepare and cook some types of food.
"As someone who does research in organic farming systems, and who is also a college student with limited funds, I tend to fall in the middle of this argument. I love supporting Maine's farmers and shop at the local market whenever possible. I believe organic farmers truly care about their production practices and want to meet the rising consumer demand in the best ways possible. However, I do not always have the means to have a 100% organic diet, and I know many, many others do not either." – Student perspective
In the current circumstance of a changing climate, a more integrative approach to farming is needed, one that combines the productivity of conventional methods and the sustainability of organic methods. The goal is to produce enough food for the growing world population, while ensuring that our food production has minimal impacts on the already fragile ecosystem.
"What we spend our money on reflects our values, and if we are actually concerned with our current environmental crisis, we are responsible for making more informed decisions and lifestyle changes, despite any inconvenience." – Student perspective
The factors that contribute to dietary choices are complex and capricious. We very often talk, in both academic and informal settings, about the impact that these choices have on personal health. It is much less common for us to engage in conversation about the ecological ramifications of our eating behavior, despite the potentially huge impact of sustainable diets on the health of the planet. The students whose perspectives are presented in this piece spent a semester reconciling their own food consumption patterns and beliefs with objective science while considering how the values and opinions of their classmates might lead them to make different, but justifiable decisions. Their thoughts and combined writings demonstrate the sense of accountability that comes from exploring these topics in a cooperative setting.
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Beharrell, Brian and J.H. MacFie. 1991. "Consumer Attitudes to Organic Foods." British Food Journal 93, no. 2: 25-30.
Bourn, Diane and John Prescott. 2002. "A Comparison of the Nutritional Value, Sensory Qualities, and Food Safety of Organically and Conventionally Produced Foods." Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 42, no. 1: 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408690290825439
Daniel, Carrie, Amanda Cross, Corinna Koebnick, and Rashmi Sinha. 2011. "Trends in Meat Consumption in the USA." Public Health Nutrition 14, no. 4: 575-583.
Dettmann, Rachael and Carolyn Dimitri. 2010. "Who's Buying Organic Vegetables? Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Consumers." Journal of Food Products Marketing 16: 79-91.
Evenson, R.E. and D. Gollin. 2003. "Assessing the Impact of the Green Revolution, 1960 to 2000." Science 300: 758-762.
Fellet, Melissae. 2015. "A Fresh Take on Fake Meat." ACS Central Science 1, no. 7: 347-349. doi:1021/acscentsci.5b00307
Godfray, H. Charles, Paul Aveyard, Tara Garnett, Jim Hall, Timothy Key, Jamie Lorimer, Ray Pierrehumbert, Peter Scarborough, Marco Springmann, and Susan Jebb. 2018. "Meat Consumption, Health, and the Environment." Food Security 361: 1-8.
Hole, David, Anthony Perkins, James Wilson, Henry Alexander, Philip Grice, and A.D. Evans. 2005. "Does Organic Farming Benefit Biodiversity?" Biological Conservation 122: 113-130.
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Liu, Bo, Marcia Gumpertz, Shuijin Hu, and Jean Ristaino. 2007. "Long-term Effects of Organic and Synthetic Soil Fertility Amendments on Soil Microbial Communities and the Development of Southern Blight." Soil Biology and Biochemistry 39: 2302-2316.
Macdiarmid, Jennie, Janet Kyle, Graham Horgan, Jennifer Loe, Claire Fyfe, Alex Johnstone, and Geraldine McNeill. 2011. "Livewell: a Balance of Healthy and Sustainable Food Choices. Report commissioned by World Wildlife Fund UK.
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Mitchell, Nia, Vicki Catenacci, Holly Wyatt, and James Hill. 2011. "Obesity: Overview of an Epidemic." Psychiatric Clinics of North America 34, no. 4: 717-732.
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A Letter From the Editor
From Climate Despair to Climate Action: Blue Hill Peninsula's Climate Action Net
Focusing on Solutions: Mount Desert Island's 'A Climate to Thrive'
Fiction as a Vehicle for Climate Change Education
The future of wild blueberries: Testing warming impacts using open-top chambers
Four Seasons of the Wild Blueberry Land in Maine
A Series of Poems: Referendum, Past Cars Speed Fast, and Hermitage
Faith in a Seed
A Collection of Poems: Cesspool (Spring Birds), and Hurricane
No Taproot: Amy Clampitt at 100
Diversifying Maine's coastal economy: A transition from lobster fishing to kelp aquaculture?
Art Series: Micro Nomos & Ocean Interweave
Youth perceptions of climate change and climate action in Waterville, Maine
Tackling Wicked Problems with Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research: A Team Perspective
Washed Out to Sea: Island Life in Peril


This week's period talk is from Partner Relations Assistant, Elisha.
Elisha talks all things period.
Oh, this is easy for me. Chocolate Nesquik Milkshake! YUM! I actually have this before I go to bed for the 7 days that I'm due on. So naughty but I absolutely have no regrets.
I honestly never know, I literally have the pleasure of a surprise visitor each month and have to get on and deal with it. I'm almost thankful because I never seem to get tummy cramps, headaches nor clumsiness. But on the downside… I forever have to prepare for the worst. Tampons in EVERY handbag is a MUST for me!
I was living in New Zealand at the time, it was just another normal day in the bathroom until I looked down. I had been educated about periods, but, I kid you not, once I saw what had happened I started screaming and ran downstairs to my dad…weirdly not my mum. I frantically asked him if I was dying, and he just shook his head and started laughing to then say – "Go tell your mum". A day I will never forget.
I really have no cringe stories, I am as open as a book. I have always been that friend that seems to be tooled up with sanitary products. But one Saturday night I was out with my girlfriends, Rebecca my friend was in desperate need of a tampon urgently, and this one time I didn't have anything. I then asked 3 random girls in the nightclub (with no shame) if anybody had anything because she was wearing white trousers, every girl's worst nightmare. I had solved the evening – a tampon was found.
I simply like to just go shopping – shopping is me at my happiest! By going out shopping I'm 100% not thinking about my period. I tend to buy something that makes me feel more confident and not make me feel so grumpy.


Laminate flooring is a popular choice for flooring. It is typically inexpensive, mimics the beauty of hardwood flooring, is "softer" than tile or hardwood, and is relatively easy to install without the help of a professional. There are only a few tools that are needed and just watching a tutorial about how to cut the pieces and following the directions may produce outstanding results. Simply follow the steps listed below to install beautiful laminate flooring.
If there is carpet or another type of flooring in place, remove the old flooring. Be sure to remove tack board, nails, and wall baseboards that may get in the way of installation. Thoroughly clean all of the debris off the floor so it is completely flat.
Plastic underlayment acts as a moisture barrier and helps to provide a softer feel to the floor. Lay plastic underlayment that is specifically designed for laminate flooring directly on the subfloor. Bring the underlayment out and up the wall about two inches to provide plenty of excess. Tape the underlayment to the wall with painter's tape that can be removed easily. Overlap the underlayment where necessary, making sure to allow about six inches of overlap and taping the sheets securely together with duct tape.
Use spacers to hold the flooring away from all walls about a quarter of an inch so that the flooring has room to expand. Lay the flooring, snapping the pieces together according to the directions. Be sure to alternate long pieces and short pieces as you move from one row to the next so that the joints between pieces are staggered from one row to the next. When you reach the end of each row, cut the last plank with a saw to fit perfectly, leaving a quarter inch gap away from the wall marked with a spacer.
A tapping tool and hammer can be used to fit planks together properly as you move down the length of the room. Scrap wood can be used to tap rows together, so that the grooves do not become damaged. If grooves or planks become damaged, be sure to remove the plank and use a fresh, undamaged plank. When you get to the last row, cut the planks lengthwise to fit, again leaving a quarter inch gap away from the wall.
Transition strips fit laminate flooring together with other types of flooring, creating a smooth and polished look. Be sure to remove transition strips from packaging and figure out exactly how they will fit so that you can cut planks to fill in gaps as necessary. Wood putty may also help to perfect the look of flooring around oddly shaped doorways.
Remove spacers and replace baseboards to cover the gaps between the flooring and the walls. Trim underlayment to fit under baseboards. If baseboards are very thin, quarter round may be necessary to completely cover gaps while still allowing room for expansion.
If you are thinking about installing laminate flooring, visit Flooring Headquarters today to begin the pricing and selection process.


Today's Monday Mapping is a bit nostalgic as we take a look at a multiplayer, immersive projection experience using an 8-bit Nintendo. Using an old school Nintendo, the event in Zurich had an amazing center piece that enabled attendees to play togeterh with controls being automatically passed from one player to another as the game was projected around the room. View the video above to see this amazing setup.