Potential loss of energetic ions including alphas and radio-frequency tail ions due to classical orbit effects and magnetohydrodynamic instabilities (MHD) are central physics issues in the design and experimental physics programme of the SPARC tokamak. The expected loss of fusion alpha power due to ripple-induced transport is computed for the SPARC tokamak design by the ASCOT and SPIRAL orbit-simulation codes, to assess the expected surface heating of plasma-facing components. We find good agreement between the ASCOT and SPIRAL simulation results not only in integrated quantities (fraction of alpha power loss) but also in the spatial, temporal and pitch-angle dependence of the losses. If the toroidal field (TF) coils are well-aligned, the SPARC edge ripple is small (0.15–0.30 %), the computed ripple-induced alpha power loss is small (${\sim } 0.25\,\%$) and the corresponding peak surface power density is acceptable ($244\ \textrm{kW}\ \textrm {m}^{-2}$). However, the ripple and ripple-induced losses increase strongly if the TF coils are assumed to suffer increasing magnitudes of misalignment. Surface heat loads may become problematic if the TF coil misalignment approaches the centimetre level. Ripple-induced losses of the energetic ion tail driven by ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) heating are not expected to generate significant wall or limiter heating in the nominal SPARC plasma scenario. Because the expected classical fast-ion losses are small, SPARC will be able to observe and study fast-ion redistribution due to MHD including sawteeth and Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs). SPARC's parameter space for AE physics even at moderate $Q$ is shown to reasonably overlap that of the demonstration power plant ARC (Sorbom et al., Fusion Engng Des., vol. 100, 2015, p. 378), and thus measurements of AE mode amplitude, spectrum and associated fast-ion transport in SPARC would provide relevant guidance about AE behaviour expected in ARC.

The SPARC tokamak is a critical next step towards commercial fusion energy. SPARC is designed as a high-field ($B_0 = 12.2$ T), compact ($R_0 = 1.85$ m, $a = 0.57$ m), superconducting, D-T tokamak with the goal of producing fusion gain $Q>2$ from a magnetically confined fusion plasma for the first time. Currently under design, SPARC will continue the high-field path of the Alcator series of tokamaks, utilizing new magnets based on rare earth barium copper oxide high-temperature superconductors to achieve high performance in a compact device. The goal of $Q>2$ is achievable with conservative physics assumptions ($H_{98,y2} = 0.7$) and, with the nominal assumption of $H_{98,y2} = 1$, SPARC is projected to attain $Q \approx 11$ and $P_{\textrm {fusion}} \approx 140$ MW. SPARC will therefore constitute a unique platform for burning plasma physics research with high density ($\langle n_{e} \rangle \approx 3 \times 10^{20}\ \textrm {m}^{-3}$), high temperature ($\langle T_e \rangle \approx 7$ keV) and high power density ($P_{\textrm {fusion}}/V_{\textrm {plasma}} \approx 7\ \textrm {MW}\,\textrm {m}^{-3}$) relevant to fusion power plants. SPARC's place in the path to commercial fusion energy, its parameters and the current status of SPARC design work are presented. This work also describes the basis for global performance projections and summarizes some of the physics analysis that is presented in greater detail in the companion articles of this collection.

SPARC is designed to be a high-field, medium-size tokamak aimed at achieving net energy gain with ion cyclotron range-of-frequencies (ICRF) as its primary auxiliary heating mechanism. Empirical predictions with conservative physics indicate that SPARC baseline plasmas would reach $Q\approx 11$, which is well above its mission objective of $Q>2$. To build confidence that SPARC will be successful, physics-based integrated modelling has also been performed. The TRANSP code coupled with the theory-based trapped gyro-Landau fluid (TGLF) turbulence model and EPED predictions for pedestal stability find that $Q\approx 9$ is attainable in standard H-mode operation and confirms $Q > 2$ operation is feasible even with adverse assumptions. In this analysis, ion cyclotron waves are simulated with the full wave TORIC code and alpha heating is modelled with the Monte–Carlo fast ion NUBEAM module. Detailed analysis of expected turbulence regimes with linear and nonlinear CGYRO simulations is also presented, demonstrating that profile predictions with the TGLF reduced model are in reasonable agreement.

Ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) heating will be the sole auxiliary heating method on SPARC for both full-field (Bt0 ~ 12 T) D–T operation and reduced field (Bt0 ~ 8 T) D–D operation. Using the fast wave at ~120 MHz, good wave penetration and strong single-pass absorption is expected for D–T(3He), D(3He), D(H) and 4He(H) heating scenarios. The dependences of wave absorption on ${k_\parallel }$, 3He concentration, resonance location, antenna poloidal location and losses on alpha particles and ash have been studied. The antenna loading has been assessed by comparison with the Alcator C-Mod antennae. An antenna spectrum of ${k_\parallel }\sim 15\text{--}18\,{\textrm{m}^{ - 1}}$ is shown to be good for both core absorption and edge coupling. For the control of impurity sources, the antenna straps are rotated ~10° to be perpendicular to the B field and the straps can run with different power levels in order to optimize the antenna spectrum and to minimize the image current on the antenna frame. Combining the physics constraints with the SPARC port design, maintenance requirement and contingency against antenna failure during D–T operation, we plan to mount on the inner wall of the vacuum vessel a total of 12 4-strap antennae in 6 ports while keeping 3-strap antennae that are insertable and removable on port plugs as the backup option.

This Research Reflection provides an overview of three interrelated topics: (i) lameness in dairy cows, demonstrating the underpinning importance of the condition, (ii) dairy farmer detection, diagnosis and treatment of lameness and associated foot lesions as well as dairy farmer perceptions towards the condition and (iii) lameness detection technologies, and their potential application on farm to automate the detection of lameness in commercial dairy herds. The presented literature clearly demonstrates that lameness is a major health issue in dairy herds, compromising dairy cow welfare and productivity, and resulting in significant economic implications for dairy farmers. Despite this, dairy farmers fail to perceive lameness as a serious threat to their dairy business. This restricted perception of the importance of lameness may be a product of limited ability to detect lame cows. Many automated lameness detection technologies have been proposed to assist dairy farmers in managing their herds. However, limitations such as cost, performance and dairy farmer perception of the usefulness of these technologies, has lead to poor uptake. It can, therefore, be concluded that there is a need to more thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies under on-farm conditions, potentially in the form of a demonstration farm network. This will allow generation of the necessary data required to show dairy farmers that these technologies are reliable and are economically rational for their dairy business.

Whole-grain wheat, in particular coloured varieties, may have health benefits in adults with chronic metabolic disease risk factors. Twenty-nine overweight and obese adults with chronic inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) > 1·0 mg/l) replaced four daily servings of refined grain food products with bran-enriched purple or regular whole-wheat convenience bars (approximately 41–45 g fibre, daily) for 8 weeks in a randomised, single-blind parallel-arm study where body weight was maintained. Anthropometrics, blood markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipaemia and metabolites of anthocyanins and phenolic acids were compared at days 1, 29 and 57 using repeated-measures ANOVA within groups and ANCOVA between groups at day 57, with day 1 as a covariate. A significant reduction in IL-6 and increase in adiponectin were observed within the purple wheat (PW) group. TNF-α was lowered in both groups and ferulic acid concentration increased in the regular wheat (RW) group. Comparing between wheats, only plasma TNF-α and glucose differed significantly (P < 0·05), that is, TNF-α and glucose decreased with RW and PW, respectively. Consumption of PW or RW products showed potential to improve plasma markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in participants with evidence of chronic inflammation, with modest differences observed based on type of wheat.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The objectives of this presentation are to discuss 1) the implementation of Consent to Contact at an Academic Medical Center; 2) the access to lists of potential participants by study teams; and 3) the challenges and adjustments made to the initial conceptualized process. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Participant recruitment is critical to the success of all research studies. It is particularly challenging when investigators do not have a patient population from which to recruit. Thus, the University of Miami launched the CTC initiative in 2016 to facilitate study recruitment. Study investigators can request access to a registry of participants who agreed to be contacted and meet the initial study eligibility criteria. A multidisciplinary Operational Committee provides oversight and regulates access to the CTC registry. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The registry has over 110K patients who have agreed to be contacted for eligible research studies. The demographic distribution of the patients in the registry mirrors the diversity of the UHealth population. As of January 2018, when the registry became available to the research community, 25 study teams from different departments, including the All of Us Research Program, have requested potential participant lists. The process of requesting access to patient lists is adapted to studies’ needs, with particular reference to sensitive populations, such as HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, etc. Results on utilization and satisfaction of the CTC initiative are being collected and will be presented. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The CTC initiative allows UHealth patients to opt-in to the registry for research studies. The Operational Committee continues to monitor the successful consent of patients to participate in individual research studies and improving the request process.