{"qid": 937, "pid": "0e43fce6-12a9-11e5-89f3-61410da94eb1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "0e43fce6-12a9-11e5-89f3-61410da94eb1_0", "title": "Worried about MERS in South Korea? Visitors can (mostly) breathe easy.", "text": "Nurses wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they attend an International Conference of Nurses in Seoul on June 19. (Baek Seong-Ryul/AP) The infectious disease du jour is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a viral respiratory illness that\u2019s leaving some travelers hyperventilating about their vacation plans. For now, the month-old outbreak \u2014 the largest recorded outside the Middle East \u2014 is confined to South Korean health-care facilities, which aren\u2019t exactly popular summer destinations for Americans. But, as usual, the fear is spreading faster than the disease. \u201cMy husband is worried,\u201d reports a woman who plans to visit Seoul next month. \u201cBut I think if we wash our hands all the time and stay away from hospitals, we should be fine. What do you think?\u201d Travelers can breathe easy: Their chances of contracting MERS in South Korea are minimal. \u201cWe do not recommend that people avoid traveling to Korea,\u201d says Lisa Rotz, the associate director for global health and migration in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s division of global migration and quarantine. \u201cSo far, all transmission has been within health-care facilities, so the risk to most U.S. travelers is extremely low.\u201d But medical professionals say it\u2019s important to monitor the situation closely. And if you decide to cancel, it also helps to know your rights. The CDC publishes updates on the outbreak on its Web site, at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/mers-republic-of-korea. You can also find MERS information on the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) site: www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections. There is no evidence so far that this virus is spreading in the general community. Low risk doesn\u2019t mean no risk, notes Robert Wheeler, chief medical officer at On Call International, a travel risk-management company. If you\u2019re near the outbreak, he says, you need to take \u201cserious\u201d precaution, because there is risk of person-to-person transmission of the virus if you have close contact with an infected person. This could happen if someone provides direct care in the home of a person sick with MERS. \u201cThose with weakened immune systems, chronic diseases and people of older age tend to be particularly at risk for more serious illness and fatality when infected, so it is vital for these groups to be conscious of their surroundings and those they are in contact with,\u201d he says. The problem with MERS is the uncertainty surrounding it. It\u2019s an infectious disease especially likely to be seen in travelers, says Joe"}], "old": [{"_id": "0e43fce6-12a9-11e5-89f3-61410da94eb1_0", "title": "Worried about MERS in South Korea? Visitors can (mostly) breathe easy.", "text": "Nurses wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they attend an International Conference of Nurses in Seoul on June 19. (Baek Seong-Ryul/AP) The infectious disease du jour is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a viral respiratory illness that\u2019s leaving some travelers hyperventilating about their vacation plans. \u201cMy husband is worried,\u201d reports a woman who plans to visit Seoul next month. \u201cBut I think if we wash our hands all the time and stay away from hospitals, we should be fine. What do you think?\u201d Travelers can breathe easy: Their chances of contracting MERS in South Korea are minimal. \u201cWe do not recommend that people avoid traveling to Korea,\u201d says Lisa Rotz, the associate director for global health and migration in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s division of global migration and quarantine. \u201cSo far, all transmission has been within health-care facilities, so the risk to most U.S. travelers is extremely low.\u201d But medical professionals say it\u2019s important to monitor the situation closely. And if you decide to cancel, it also helps to know your rights. Low risk doesn\u2019t mean no risk, notes Robert Wheeler, chief medical officer at On Call International, a travel risk-management company. If you\u2019re near the outbreak, he says, you need to take \u201cserious\u201d precaution, because there is risk of person-to-person transmission of the virus if you have close contact with an infected person. This could happen if someone provides direct care in the home of a person sick with MERS. \u201cThose with weakened immune systems, chronic diseases and people of older age tend to be particularly at risk for more serious illness and fatality when infected, so it is vital for these groups to be conscious of their surroundings and those they are in contact with,\u201d he says. \u201cThese workers, if infected, return to pass the virus on to their communities,\u201d he says. \u201cThe current outbreak is troubling in that cases are coming in clusters, often in the same hospital. This pattern, along with the uncertainty regarding MERS\u2019s mode of transmission, suggests that medical facilities have not yet formulated an effective plan to prevent spread.\u201d The precise nature of MERS virus transmittal isn\u2019t well understood, says Florence Comite, an endocrinologist based in New York. What we do know is that the MERS virus has an incubation period of five to six days, but that symptoms can appear as early as two days"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Nurses wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they attend an International Conference of Nurses in Seoul on June 19.  (Baek Seong-Ryul/AP)\nThe infectious disease du jour is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a viral respiratory illness that\u2019s leaving some travelers hyperventilating about their vacation plans.\nFor now, the month-old outbreak \u2014 the largest recorded outside the Middle East \u2014 is confined to South Korean health-care facilities, which aren\u2019t exactly popular summer destinations for Americans. But, as usual, the fear is spreading faster than the disease.\n\u201cMy husband is worried,\u201d reports a woman who plans to visit Seoul next month. \u201cBut I think if we wash our hands all the time and stay away from hospitals, we should be fine. What do you think?\u201d\nTravelers can breathe easy: Their chances of contracting MERS in South Korea are minimal. \u201cWe do not recommend that people avoid traveling to Korea,\u201d says Lisa Rotz, the associate director for global health and migration in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s division of global migration and quarantine. \u201cSo far, all transmission has been within health-care facilities, so the risk to most U.S. travelers is extremely low.\u201d\nBut medical professionals say it\u2019s important to monitor the situation closely. And if you decide to cancel, it also helps to know your rights.\nThe CDC publishes updates on the outbreak on its Web site, at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/mers-republic-of-korea. You can also find MERS information on the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) site: www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections. There is no evidence so far that this virus is spreading in the general community.\nLow risk doesn\u2019t mean no risk, notes Robert Wheeler, chief medical officer at On Call International, a travel risk-management company. If you\u2019re near the outbreak, he says, you need to take \u201cserious\u201d precaution, because there is risk of person-to-person transmission of the virus if you have close contact with an infected person. This could happen if someone provides direct care in the home of a person sick with MERS.\n\u201cThose with weakened immune systems, chronic diseases and people of older age tend to be particularly at risk for more serious illness and fatality when infected, so it is vital for these groups to be conscious of their surroundings and those they are in contact with,\u201d he says.\nThe problem with MERS is the uncertainty surrounding it. It\u2019s an infectious disease especially likely to be seen in travelers, says Joe Alton, a physician and author of the book \u201cThe Survival Medicine Handbook.\u201d The reason: Its area of origin, Saudi Arabia, hires skilled workers in various fields from all over the world.\n\u201cThese workers, if infected, return to pass the virus on to their communities,\u201d he says. \u201cThe current outbreak is troubling in that cases are coming in clusters, often in the same hospital. This pattern, along with the uncertainty regarding MERS\u2019s mode of transmission, suggests that medical facilities have not yet formulated an effective plan to prevent spread.\u201d\nThe precise nature of MERS virus transmittal isn\u2019t well understood, says Florence Comite, an endocrinologist based in New York. What we do know is that the MERS virus has an incubation period of five to six days, but that symptoms can appear as early as two days and up to 14 days after an initial exposure.\n\u201cMERS is believed to spread from an infected person\u2019s respiratory secretions; for example, through coughing or sneezing,\u201d Comite says.\nHow do you protect yourself from MERS? Ronald St. John, who founded the travel health and safety site Sitata, says: the same ways you would minimize your exposure to any respiratory agent, such as the flu virus. \u201cThese include frequent hand-washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, maintaining a one-meter distance from someone who has a respiratory infection,\u201d the physician says.\nOne just as urgent question for travelers to Northeast Asia is how to protect your trip in case the outbreak worsens. Insurance can help, but you have to make sure you\u2019ve purchased the right coverage. A standard policy with named exclusions may limit a claim you have to make if there\u2019s an outbreak. In other words, you can\u2019t cancel a trip because you\u2019re afraid you might contract MERS.\nA \u201ccancel for any reason\u201d insurance policy allows you to recover a percentage of your trip for any reason, including a MERS outbreak. But those policies are usually pricey. Travel insurance typically sets you back by between 4 and 8 percent of your trip\u2019s prepaid, nonrefundable cost. A \u201ccancel for any reason\u201d policy can cost 10 percent of the nonrefundable cost, or even more.\nIf an outbreak happens, then airlines, cruise lines and tour operators may cancel their trips. In that case, you should be entitled to a full, no-questions-asked refund, although some companies, notably tour operators, will try to persuade you to accept a credit. Refer to the terms and conditions of your purchase to see what your refund would be. Don\u2019t rely on the verbal claims of a company representative.\nBut if there\u2019s a consensus among health professionals, it\u2019s that this isn\u2019t the time to cancel a trip to Korea, or Northeast Asia. The WHO continues to advise that travel restrictions for South Korea are not warranted.\n\u201cThe risk for a tourist appears to be very low,\u201d says Jeff Goad, an infectious diseases expert at Chapman University\u2019s pharmacy school.\nJust stay away from quarantined areas, take reasonable precautions, buy the right travel insurance and have a good time.\nElliott is a consumer advocate, journalist and co-founder of the advocacy group Travelers United. E-mail him at chris@elliott.org.\nMore from Travel:\nTravel Guide\nSki Guide\nCaribbean Guide\nRead more from Travel:\nRead past Navigator columns here"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "1011d0693a19cc06ef09f0990e03029a_1", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "1011d0693a19cc06ef09f0990e03029a_1", "title": "Philippines confirms second MERS case: How serious is the threat?", "text": "event of a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, in Tangerang, Indonesia, on July 3. (Rivan Awal Lingga/Antara Foto via Reuters) Health officials in the Philippines reported Monday that the country's second case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome was diagnosed in a 36-year-old foreign man who had flown in from Dubai. The country has stepped up surveillance and quarantine measures at ports of entry and in the city of Muntinlupa, south of Manila, the country's capital. Patients at the hospital where the man is being treated were donning face masks, according to the Philippine Star. Janette Garin, secretary of health of the Philippines, told reporters that the man began showing symptoms July 2 and was admitted July 4 to a hospital, where he tested positive for the virus. Garin urged the public not to panic and said that the man had a low amount of virus in his body and that officials had located and are monitoring eight people he had come into contact with. The government has declined to release any additional information about the man, including his nationality, occupation or the reason for his trip to the Philippines. \u201c[W]e appeal to the public to respect the privacy of the patient,\" she said in a media statement. \"What is important now is for us to continue practicing proper hygiene, having adequate rest, balanced diet, all leading to a good resistance; allow us to emphasize that vigilance is still needed.\" The Philippine government has emphasized that the World Health Organization does not recommend any type of travel or trade restrictions related to MERS but asked anyone entering the country to report to a hospital if they experience signs of a flu such as a fever with cough that are very similar to symptoms of MERS. The first case of MERS was in February when a nurse who came from Saudi Arabia tested positive for the disease. She recovered and was declared free of the virus within a few weeks. South Korea is still grappling with an outbreak of MERS within its borders, and as of Monday 185 cases have been confirmed. Thirty-three of those patients have died, according to the WHO. Read more: This is what drinking too much water during exercise does to your body Theranos blood test: The insanely influential Stanford professor who called the company out on its 'stealth research' Diabetes drugs' happy side effect: Weight loss"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Health officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport transport a simulated ill passenger during a drill as part of preparations in the event of a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, in Tangerang, Indonesia, on July 3. (Rivan Awal Lingga/Antara Foto \u2028\u2028via Reuters)\nHealth officials in the Philippines reported Monday that the country's second case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome was diagnosed in a 36-year-old foreign man who had flown in from Dubai.\nThe country has stepped up surveillance and quarantine measures at ports of entry and in the\u00a0city of Muntinlupa, south of Manila, the\u00a0country's\u00a0capital. Patients at the hospital where the man is being treated were donning face masks, according to the Philippine Star.\nJanette Garin,\u00a0 secretary of health of the Philippines, told reporters that the man began showing symptoms July 2 and was admitted\u00a0 July 4 to a hospital, where he tested positive for the virus.\nGarin urged the public not to panic and said\u00a0that the man had a low amount of virus in his body and that officials had\u00a0 located and are monitoring eight people he had come into contact with.\u00a0The government has declined to release any additional information about the man, including his nationality, occupation or the reason for his trip to the Philippines.\n\u201c[W]e appeal to the public to respect the privacy of the patient,\" she said in a media statement. \"What is important now is for us to continue practicing proper hygiene, having adequate rest, balanced diet, all leading to a good resistance; allow us to emphasize that vigilance is still needed.\"\nThe Philippine government has emphasized that the World Health Organization does not recommend any type of travel or trade restrictions related to MERS but asked anyone entering the country to report to a hospital if they experience signs of a flu such as a fever with cough that are very similar to symptoms of MERS.\nThe first case of MERS was in February when a nurse who came from Saudi Arabia tested positive for the disease. She recovered and was declared free of the virus within a few weeks. South Korea is still grappling with an outbreak of MERS within its borders, and as of Monday 185 cases have been confirmed. Thirty-three of those patients have died, according to the WHO.\nRead more:\nThis is what drinking too much water during exercise does to your body\nTheranos blood test: The insanely influential Stanford professor who called the company out on its 'stealth research'\nDiabetes drugs' happy side effect: Weight loss"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "1e88197c-d9f0-11e3-b745-87d39690c5c0_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "1e88197c-d9f0-11e3-b745-87d39690c5c0_0", "title": "Second case of MERS in U.S. is health-care worker in Saudi Arabia, visiting family here", "text": "Particles of the Middle East respiratory syndrome, MERS, coronavirus that emerged in 2012 are seen in a colorized transmission electron micrograph from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID. (Reuters/NIAID) A second case of the deadly respiratory virus known as Middle East respiratory syndrome has emerged in the United States, once again involving a health-care worker who lives in Saudi Arabia and was visiting his family in the United States, health officials said Monday. The 44-year-old man is in isolation at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orlando, where he arrived on May 8 showing symptoms of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed he had the virus Sunday night, agency Director Thomas Frieden said in a teleconference Monday. \u201cThe patient is in good condition and is improving,\u201d said Antonio Crespo, one of the hospital\u2019s infectious-disease specialists. \u201cWe are taking every precaution but believe the risk of transmission from this patient is very low since his symptoms were mild and he was not coughing when he arrived at the hospital.\u201d The man left Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 1, and flew to London, then on to Boston, Atlanta and Orlando, where he is visiting family. U.S. health officials are attempting to contact more than 500 people in 20 states who may have been exposed to the patient, and international authorities are doing the same overseas. Officials said the virus does not appear to be transmitted by casual contact but instead requires close contact for transmission. \u201cOur experience with MERS so far suggests that the risk to the general public is extremely low,\u201d Frieden said. Sixteen personnel at the Orlando hospital are being monitored for symptoms, and family members of the man are staying at home, a hospital spokeswoman said. MERS, which was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, can cause severe acute respiratory illness with fever, cough and shortness of breath. More than 30 percent of patients who have symptoms of MERS have died. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for MERS, which comes from the same family of viruses as the one that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome. SARS killed almost 800 people around the world in 2003. As of Monday, there were 538 MERS cases in at least 12 countries that have been confirmed and reported to the World Health Organization, including 145 deaths. Of those, Saudi Arabia had 450 cases"}], "old": [{"_id": "1e88197c-d9f0-11e3-b745-87d39690c5c0_0", "title": "Second case of MERS in U.S. is health-care worker in Saudi Arabia, visiting family here", "text": "Particles of the Middle East respiratory syndrome, MERS, coronavirus that emerged in 2012 are seen in a colorized transmission electron micrograph from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID. (Reuters/NIAID) \u201cThe patient is in good condition and is improving,\u201d said Antonio Crespo, one of the hospital\u2019s infectious-disease specialists. \u201cWe are taking every precaution but believe the risk of transmission from this patient is very low since his symptoms were mild and he was not coughing when he arrived at the hospital.\u201d The man left Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 1, and flew to London, then on to Boston, Atlanta and Orlando, where he is visiting family. U.S. health officials are attempting to contact more than 500 people in 20 states who may have been exposed to the patient, and international authorities are doing the same overseas. Officials said the virus does not appear to be transmitted by casual contact but instead requires close contact for transmission. \u201cOur experience with MERS so far suggests that the risk to the general public is extremely low,\u201d Frieden said. Sixteen personnel at the Orlando hospital are being monitored for symptoms, and family members of the man are staying at home, a hospital spokeswoman said. MERS, which was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, can cause severe acute respiratory illness with fever, cough and shortness of breath. More than 30 percent of patients who have symptoms of MERS have died. The new patient worked at a Jiddah hospital that was treating MERS cases. While in Orlando, he did not visit any theme parks in the area, said John H. Armstrong, Florida\u2019s secretary of health. Experts have worried that the recent increase in cases may be linked to mutations in the virus. But CDC officials said Monday they found no significant changes or mutations in the genetic sequence of the virus in a sample from the Indiana patient. Some of the increase in cases in the Middle East is because of better monitoring and tracking; the CDC and the WHO have teams in Saudi Arabia to help with the investigations. Airport and U.S. customs staff members are getting refresher training to look for symptoms among travelers, but the CDC is not recommending airport screening at this time, said Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Officials don\u2019t know how many U.S. health-care personnel are working in the"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Particles of the Middle East respiratory syndrome, MERS, coronavirus that emerged in 2012 are seen in a colorized transmission electron micrograph from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID. (Reuters/NIAID)\nA second case of the deadly respiratory virus known as Middle East respiratory syndrome has emerged in the United States, once again involving a health-care worker who lives in Saudi Arabia and was visiting his family in the United States, health officials said Monday.\nThe 44-year-old man is in isolation at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orlando, where he arrived on May 8 showing symptoms of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed he had the virus Sunday night, agency Director Thomas Frieden said in a teleconference Monday.\n\u201cThe patient is in good condition and is improving,\u201d said Antonio Crespo, one of the hospital\u2019s infectious-disease specialists. \u201cWe are taking every precaution but believe the risk of transmission from this patient is very low since his symptoms were mild and he was not coughing when he arrived at the hospital.\u201d\nThe man left Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 1, and flew to London, then on to Boston, Atlanta and Orlando, where he is visiting family. U.S. health officials are attempting to contact more than 500 people in 20 states who may have been exposed to the patient, and international authorities are doing the same overseas.\nOfficials said the virus does not appear to be transmitted by casual contact but instead requires close contact for transmission. \u201cOur experience with MERS so far suggests that the risk to the general public is extremely low,\u201d Frieden said.\nSixteen personnel at the Orlando hospital are being monitored for symptoms, and family members of the man are staying at home, a hospital spokeswoman said.\nMERS, which was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, can cause severe acute respiratory illness with fever, cough and shortness of breath. More than 30\u00a0percent of patients who have symptoms of MERS have died.\nThere is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for MERS, which comes from the same family of viruses as the one that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome. SARS killed almost 800 people around the world in 2003. As of Monday, there were 538\u00a0MERS cases in at least 12 countries that have been confirmed and reported to the World Health Organization, including 145 deaths. Of those, Saudi Arabia had 450 cases and 112 deaths, officials said.\nThe new patient worked at a Jiddah hospital that was treating MERS cases. While in Orlando, he did not visit any theme parks in the area, said John H. Armstrong, Florida\u2019s secretary of health.\nMonday\u2019s announcement came just days after a health-care worker who was the first confirmed U.S. case of MERS was released from an Indiana hospital Friday. Health officials said he no longer had symptoms, tested negative for the virus and posed no threat to the community. The Indiana and Florida cases are not linked, authorities said.\nExperts have worried that the recent increase in cases may be linked to mutations in the virus. But CDC officials said Monday they found no significant changes or mutations in the genetic sequence of the virus in a sample from the Indiana patient. Some of the increase in cases in the Middle East is because of better monitoring and tracking; the CDC and the WHO have teams in Saudi Arabia to help with the investigations.\nAirport and U.S. customs staff members are getting refresher training to look for symptoms among travelers, but the CDC is not recommending airport screening at this time, said Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.\nOfficials don\u2019t know how many U.S. health-care personnel are working in the Middle East, \u201cbut we do know it is not rare,\u201d Frieden said.\nIn the Indiana case, a U.S. citizen who had been living and working in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, flew to Indiana late last month to visit his family. The hospital where he worked in Saudi Arabia had treated some MERS cases, health officials said. The man flew from Riyadh through London to Chicago before boarding a bus to the Highland, Ind., area. He went to Community Hospital in Munster, Ind., on April\u00a028 after becoming sick. He was kept in isolation.\nAuthorities contacted most of the passengers on the flights and the bus, and none are symptomatic, according to the Indiana health department.\nCDC officials praised the Indiana hospital for its aggressive efforts to control the infection. Once the patient was a confirmed MERS case, hospital officials reviewed security tapes, monitored the sign-ins required of everyone \u2014 from doctors to housekeepers \u2014 who entered the patient\u2019s room and tracked them through their ID badges, embedded with electronic chips, which show their locations at all times. About 50 employees were sent home and kept isolated until the hospital was sure they did not have MERS. They were planning to return to work Monday and Tuesday, according to Alan Kumar, the hospital\u2019s chief information officer.\nRelated:\nFirst MERS victim has fully recovered\nCDC confirms first case of deadly MERS virus in Indiana"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "24eedd5ad60e2e9c4d6bfdd76bd8d644_1", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "24eedd5ad60e2e9c4d6bfdd76bd8d644_1", "title": "How an Indiana hospital got it right when MERS showed up at the door", "text": "diseases regardless of what they might be, so if they ever face a situation like this one, the danger can be contained. \"If they all know the protocols and standards, [and follow them],\" he said, \"when something like this comes in, the exposure is minimized.\" Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention In fact, one of the most interesting aspects of Community's handling of the case is how it figured out who had been near the patient. Officials there reviewed security tapes, tracked the sign-ins required of everyone \u2014 from doctors to housekeepers \u2014 who entered the patient's room and tracked them via the RFID badges they wear, which show their locations at all times. About 50 were sent home and kept isolated there until the hospital could be sure they did not have MERS. They are returning to work Monday and Tuesday, Kumar said. The patient, a U.S. resident who had been working in a health-care facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, arrived in the Emergency Department on a busy Monday afternoon and was immediately taken to a triage room. (A bit of luck for the Community staff: The emergency room wasn't slammed with patients as it was when I talked to Kumar on Monday.) The room was private and equipped with a negative airflow system, so that even when someone opened the door, air flowed inward, not outward, containing the virus, Kumar said. The air is not vented through the hospital's regular ducts, but sent through a special system with filters designed to destroy bacteria and viruses. Three hours later, the patient, who needed oxygen and fluids, was admitted to the hospital's medical floor, where he was again placed in a private room with special ventilation and seen by a primary care physician. By Tuesday, when an infectious disease specialist interviewed him over the phone, everyone who came in contact with him was required to wear gloves, gowns, masks and eye protection, Kumar said. The patient was put on a course of intravenous antibiotics because doctors weren't sure whether his symptoms, which looked like pneumonia, were bacterial or viral. The specialist asked the patient about his recent travel \u2014 if that question was asked in the emergency department, it didn't trigger suspicions of MERS \u2014 and ordered a test for the virus, which has killed 145 people so far, the vast majority of them in"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The exterior of Community Hospital in Munster, Ind., where a patient with the first confirmed U.S. case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was discovered. (Jim Young/Reuters)\nThere are now two confirmed cases of deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the United States, and neither was discovered at a big teaching hospital like Massachusetts General in Boston or Mount Sinai in New York. Which only emphasizes the need for all health-care personnel to be ready to respond to new crises the way medical authorities at Community Hospital in Munster, Ind., did when this country's first MERS case showed up at its emergency room April 28.\nCommunity Hospital is not some tiny facility in the middle of nowhere. It's in a bedroom community 30 miles from downtown Chicago, has 430 beds and sees 70,000 people in its emergency department annually. Still, MERS might not have been the first thing on the minds of doctors and nurses when a still-unnamed patient came into the emergency department with symptoms of what looked like a bad case of the flu.\nAnd that's the point, Alan Kumar, the hospital's chief medical information officer, told me Monday: Staff are drilled on proper procedures for handling infectious diseases regardless of what they might be, so if they ever face a situation like this one, the danger can be contained.\n\"If they all know the protocols and standards, [and follow them],\" he said, \"when something like this comes in, the exposure is minimized.\"\nThomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\nIn fact, one of the most interesting aspects of Community's handling of the case is how it figured out who had been near the patient. Officials there reviewed security tapes, tracked the sign-ins required of everyone \u2014 from doctors to housekeepers \u2014 who entered the patient's room and tracked them via the RFID badges they wear, which show their locations at all times. About 50 were sent home and kept isolated there until the hospital could be sure they did not have MERS. They are returning to work Monday and Tuesday, Kumar said.\nThe patient, a U.S. resident who had been working in a health-care facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, arrived in the Emergency Department on a busy Monday afternoon and was immediately taken to a triage room. (A bit of luck for the Community staff: The emergency room wasn't slammed with patients as it was when I talked to Kumar on Monday.) The room was private and equipped with a negative airflow system, so that even when someone opened the door, air flowed inward, not outward, containing the virus, Kumar said. The air is not vented through the hospital's regular ducts, but sent through a special system with filters designed to destroy bacteria and viruses.\nThree hours later, the patient, who needed oxygen and fluids, was admitted to the hospital's medical floor, where he was again placed in a private room with special ventilation and seen by a primary care physician. By Tuesday, when an infectious disease specialist interviewed him over the phone, everyone who came in contact with him was required to wear gloves, gowns, masks and eye protection, Kumar said. The patient was put on a course of intravenous antibiotics because doctors weren't sure whether his symptoms, which looked like pneumonia, were bacterial or viral.\nThe specialist asked the patient about his recent travel \u2014\u00a0if that question was asked in the emergency department, it didn't trigger suspicions of MERS \u2014\u00a0and ordered a test for the virus, which has killed 145 people so far, the vast majority of them in Saudi Arabia. The specialist sent a sample of the man's sputum to the state Health Department, and the CDC confirmed the MERS diagnosis Thursday before holding a news conference on the situation Friday afternoon.\nThe patient was better within a week but spent a few extra days at the hospital as his discharge was planned, Kumar said.\n\"At this point, it appears that MERS picked the wrong hospital, the wrong state and the wrong country to try to get a foothold,\" Indiana Health Commissioner William VanNess said at a news briefing Monday.\nPerhaps the most difficult problem for the hospital was reassuring the community after the news conference that the danger had been contained, Kumar said. For that, Community turned to an outside public relations firm for help, he said. By Monday, when officials were able to say that none of the 50 people exposed to the patient had shown signs of the virus, anxiety began to die down, he said. Now officials at the Dr. P. Phillips hospital in Orlando, who are caught up in the second U.S. MERS case, have asked Community Hospital for advice on how to handle relations with their surrounding area, he said.\nKumar said when the hospital does a post-mortem examination of its response to extraordinary events, \"typically you find things that were done incorrectly that you want to fix the next time. We really haven't had much of that.\""}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "3J3GJ4SBJUI6VNIDFMDXYQ3GC4_27", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3J3GJ4SBJUI6VNIDFMDXYQ3GC4_27", "title": "U.S. seeks to send expert team to China to combat coronavirus outbreak; Xi defends response", "text": "to evacuate around 700 of its nationals who have asked to come home. The government plans to send provide some 2 million masks and other medical relief items, including 200,000 items of protective clothing and goggles, on the planes, Yonhap news agency reported. By: Simon Denyer 8:30 AM: Countries move forward with evacuation plans BERLIN \u2014 Several countries continued to move forward with plans to evacuate their citizens from the coronavirus epicenter Wuhan. Among the nations pursuing or considering such plans are France, South Korea, Morocco, Britain, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands and Russia, Reuters reported. French authorities said they will initially focus on the evacuation of citizens who are not showing any symptoms of the virus, with a flight from Wuhan expected to arrive back in France on Thursday. The second flight for infected citizens has yet to be scheduled. In neighboring Germany, the Der Spiegel magazine reported that at least one military aircraft was expected to leave for Wuhan later this week to evacuate German citizens. The plans were not officially confirmed and the German Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. British authorities were still finalizing their own plans, too. Via its Twitter account, the British embassy in Beijing urged British nationals in Hubei province willing to leave the region to call a 24/7 hotline before 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The British government had previously faced pressure to enact a plan. The opposition Labour Party\u2019s Emily Thornberry accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of \u201cnot doing whatever it takes to protect our citizens from harm,\u201d according to the Evening Standard newspaper on Monday. By: Rick Noack 7:30 AM: Chinese embassy in Copenhagen demands apology over coronavirus cartoon BERLIN \u2014 The Chinese embassy in Denmark has demanded an apology over a coronavirus cartoon published in one of the country\u2019s highest-circulation newspapers, Jyllands-Posten. The cartoon showed a Chinese flag with what appeared to represent five coronavirus particles instead of the five typical yellow stars. The illustration \u2014 published by the same paper that drew international attention with the satirical Muhammad cartoons in 2005 that sparked rioting across the Middle East \u2014 struck a nerve with Chinese officials in Denmark. In a release, a spokesperson for the embassy called the cartoon \u201can insult to China\u201d that \u201churts the feelings of the Chinese people.\u201d \u201cWithout any sympathy and empathy, it has crossed the bottom line of civilized society and"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "BEIJING \u2014 A top U.S. health official said Tuesday that he offered to send a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to China to help with the coronavirus outbreak. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar did not describe the Chinese health minister\u2019s response but said he hopes that Beijing will accept the offer.\nThe World Health Organization said Tuesday that China had agreed to allow global health experts into the country. Chinese leader Xi Jinping said Tuesday that his country is being \u201copen, transparent, responsible\u201d in its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, as the number of cases continues to increase. Here\u2019s what we know:\n\u25cf The death toll has risen to 132 in China, with more than 5,974 confirmed cases of infection as of Wednesday morning local time \u2014 a day-over-day increase of more than 1,000. Other countries in the region also are reporting more people infected \u2014 nearly all of them tourists from China.\n\u25cf Germany reported three new cases late Tuesday, and said they are all connected to the country\u2019s first patient, a 33-year-old man who was most likely infected by a Chinese business visitor from Shanghai who he met at a company workshop.\n\u25cf Hong Kong announced dramatic measures to stem the flow of mainland Chinese into the territory, closing two railways, ferries and cross-border tour buses. Flights to mainland China will be slashed by half, and individual visas to Chinese will no longer be issued, starting Thursday. United Airlines suspended some flights from the United States to China after demand dropped.\n\u25cf Several countries, including France, South Korea, Canada, Britain and the United States, are putting together plans to evacuate their citizens from the outbreak epicenter in Wuhan.\n\u25cf Thailand has confirmed six more cases, bringing its total to 14 amid calls by many Asian populations to close the borders to Chinese visitors. Infections have been confirmed in France, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Canada and Sri Lanka. We\u2019re mapping the spread here.\n10:00 PM: Australia to evacuate some citizens from Wuhan and quarantine them on a remote island\nResponding to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, Australia said it would evacuate some of its nationals from Wuhan and hold them in quarantine on a remote island where the country has operated an immigration detention center.\nPrime Minister Scott Morrison announced the details Wednesday, adding that Australia had been working with the Chinese government to evacuate \u201cisolated and vulnerable\u201d Australians trapped in Hubei province, the epicenter of the health crisis.\nThe evacuees would be transferred to Christmas Island, an Australian territory hundreds of miles from the mainland in the Indian Ocean, where Australia has operated a controversial detention facility for asylum seekers.\nIt wasn\u2019t immediately clear how many people would be evacuated, though officials have said about 600 Australians have registered as being in Hubei province. Priority would be given to the young and the elderly, Morrison told reporters in the Australian capital Canberra Wednesday.\n\u201cAnyone who under this plan is transported to Christmas Island would be there, we envisage, for up to 14 days,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cBut that will be subject to the medical advice we receive.\u201d\nBy: David Crawshaw\n9:30 PM: Can the coronavirus be contained? Unknowns complicate U.S. response.\nChina has ordered an unprecedented quarantine of more than 50 million people. It has closed schools and shut down live animal markets. Airports across the globe are screening passengers coming from the world\u2019s most populous country.\nBut three weeks after the new coronavirus emerged as a health crisis, experts can\u2019t yet say whether these efforts will succeed at containing an infection that now threatens at least 15 countries.\nSome early signs are discouraging: Six countries, including China, have confirmed human-to-human transmission of the infection. Those include four cases in Germany connected to a single person \u2014 a worrisome sign for containment of the disease. Cases in China continue to multiply, and 5 million residents of Wuhan, where the virus originated, have left the city, some of them surely carrying the disease.\nBut so far, the mortality rate is less than the rate of other severe respiratory coronaviruses. In China, where 5,974 people are infected, 132 have died through Tuesday. That is a high rate, but far less than the fatality rate of SARS and MERS. And countries like the United States that quickly began screening travelers, isolating sick people and tracing their contacts have just a handful of cases. There have been no fatalities outside China.\nPublic health officials said Tuesday that they are grappling with a long list of unknowns that will determine how successful they are in limiting the toll of the widening outbreak. Those questions include how lethal the virus may be, how contagious it is, whether it is transmitted by people who are infected but show no symptoms, and whether it can be largely contained in its country of origin.\nSome experts are encouraged that no case outside China seems to be severe, and that no fatalities have been recorded outside China so far.\nRead more about the outbreak\u2019s unknowns and public health officials\u2019 response here.\nBy: Lena H. Sun and Lenny Bernstein\n8:45 PM: Two college basketball games postponed after Miami (Ohio) students tested for coronavirus\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Officials at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, have called off two college basketball games after administrators announced two students who had recently traveled to China were being tested for coronavirus.\nOne of the students visited the campus health center on Monday and exhibited flulike symptoms, prompting staff to test him and his travel companion, a university statement said. The two students are now isolated in their off-campus residences while they await their test results from the CDC.\nThe school\u2019s men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball teams were set to face Central Michigan and Western Michigan, respectively, over the next two days, but the athletic department announced on Tuesday that those games would be postponed.\nThe statement\n\u201cThe health and safety of our student-athletes is always a top priority and, out of abundance of caution, it was decided to cancel tonight\u2019s men\u2019s basketball game,\u201d Alford said in a statement. \u201cI appreciate the diligence that the staff at Miami have shown and this serves as a reminder of how serious these issues are.\u201d\nOne of the students tested was an international student, the school statement said. The university, a public institution in southwest Ohio, has about 25,000 students enrolled at four campuses. More than 80 percent of its 3,000 international students are from China.\nSpring semester classes began on Monday, after a month-and-a-half-long break and winter term when many students traveled abroad. As news of the outbreak spread, the university contacted students to ask about their travels, Jayne Brownell, the vice president for student life, said at a Tuesday news conference.\n\u201cWe are following all of those CDC and Department of Health guidelines,\u201d Brownell said. \u201cWe are in touch multiple times a day.\u201d\nBy: Reis Thebault\n8:10 PM: White House warns airlines a ban of all China-U.S. flights is possible amid growing concerns with outbreak\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The White House on Tuesday warned airlines that it may suspend all China-U.S. flights if the coronavirus outbreak become a bigger public health threat to the United States.\nIn a meeting with airline executives Tuesday afternoon, White House officials said they are not banning flights just yet, but said the U.S. government will assess the situation daily, leaving open the possibility of a ban on all flights from China, people familiar with the meeting said.\nAirlines in recent days have already canceled hundreds of flights scheduled from China\u2019s Wuhan International Airport, giving U.S. health officials a brief respite as they focused on the logistics of rerouting U.S.-bound travelers from the region to one of five airports for special screening.\nTravelers are being funneled to airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, where they are being screened for the virus. If cleared, they are allowed to continue to their final destination, officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.\nThe State Department has issued a Level 4 advisory for Wuhan, meaning \u201cno American should travel to Wuhan while this virus continues to have impact,\u201d Vice President Pence said Monday. Later Monday, the State Department issued a Level 3 travel advisory for all of China, urging Americans to reconsider or postpone travel to any part of the country.\nPublic health officials continue to say the coronavirus poses a low risk to the American public, but say the enhanced screenings at airports are part of \u201cproactive preparedness precautions.\u201d\nOfficials familiar with Tuesday\u2019s meeting with the airline executives said the White House made clear any decision to ban flights will be based on public health.\nBy: Luz Lazo\n7:45 PM: Charter plane with more than 200 evacuated Japanese citizens lands in Tokyo\nTOKYO \u2014 A charter plane carrying 206 Japanese from the Chinese city of Wuhan arrived at Tokyo\u2019s Haneda Airport on Wednesday morning, as the evacuation of foreign nationals from the coronavirus-hit city gets underway.\nTelevision reports said two of the passengers are suffering from cough and/or a fever, and video showed more than a dozen ambulances lined up outside the airport.\nJapanese officials say any passengers showing symptoms will be taken directly to a hospital specializing in infectious diseases, while the rest will be taken to another hospital and tested for signs of the virus.\nThe second group will then be allowed to go home but urged not to venture outdoors for two weeks during the incubation period of the virus, with health officials visiting them on a daily basis to monitor their condition.\nBut on social media and comments sections of news reports, many people asked why the rest of the group is not also being isolated.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really hard to understand why they do not isolate the returnees for two weeks,\u201d one person commented. \u201cIf some are already coughing and feverish, are not the other 200 plus people who are with them subject to infection? Are they allow to go home without isolation? What about their family members? What about their school or workplace?\u201d\nOfficials say more than 650 Japanese citizens have asked to be evacuated from the central province of Hubei, and other flights will be laid on as soon as possible.\nBy: Simon Denyer and Akiko Kashiwagi\n7:15 PM: Number of confirmed cases in China rises by more than 1,000 overnight\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The death toll in China continues to rise, as health agencies reported 26 more fatalities on Wednesday morning local time. As of about 6:30 a.m. in Beijing, coronavirus had killed 132 people \u2014 all but six of whom were from Hubei province, where the outbreak began, according to a tally from national and local health commissions.\nThe number of confirmed cases also rose dramatically, by more than 1,000, to 5,974, according to the Chinese health agencies, which also reported that 103 people have been successfully treated for the disease.\nThe day-over-day increase comes as countries scramble to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan, the disease\u2019s epicenter, and as Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged international cooperation to stop its spread.\n\u201cThe virus is a devil and we cannot let the devil hide,\u201d Xi said, according to a Reuters report.\nBy: Reis Thebault\n6:45 PM: Apple CEO says company expects coronavirus to disrupt its supply\nSAN FRANCISCO \u2014 Apple chief executive Tim Cook addressed the coronavirus in a conference call Tuesday with analysts, saying the company limited employee travel to \u201cbusiness critical\u201d areas in China last week and is monitoring the situation closely. Cook said Apple does have some suppliers in the Wuhan area, the disease epicenter that is under quarantine, but he said the company has alternative options that are based elsewhere.\nStill, Apple expects some disruption to its supply because of the virus, the effects of which have been felt across the country. Factories that make Apple products and components were set to reopen at the end of the month, following the Lunar New Year celebrations, but that date has been delayed until Feb. 10, Cook said on the call.\nApple is also seeing a disruption in retail sales in China because of the virus, Cook said. While Wuhan only contributes a small portion of sales to Apple\u2019s overall China business, and Apple has closed only one store, a number of stores outside Wuhan that sell Apple products have also closed. Many of the stores that haven\u2019t closed have reduced their operating hours. Apple has begun deep-cleaning its stores and conducting temperature checks of employees, he said, which is one way of determining whether someone may have contracted the virus.\nAmid the uncertainty, the company gave investors a wider range for revenue guidance next quarter, in anticipation of a possible disruption in its China sales.\nBy: Reed Albergotti\n6:00 PM: Sen. Warren releases plan for containing infectious diseases as coronavirus spreads\nWASHINGTON \u2014 As countries across at least four continents reported new cases of the novel coronavirus, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren released a plan for combating infectious diseases in the United States and abroad.\nThe plan, unveiled Tuesday, offers a brief history of deadly global outbreaks and takes shots at President Trump, whom Warren hopes to face in the November 2020 election and whose policies she says could make it more difficult for the world to deal with coronavirus and other diseases.\n\u201cThe world is watching closely to determine if this will be designated as our next global Public Health Emergency,\u201d Warren said, referring to coronavirus in a statement outlining her plan. \u201cInstead of building capacity to combat these problems, Donald Trump has deprioritized global health security and risked putting us on our heels in a crisis.\u201d\nWarren, along with former vice president Joe Biden, has criticized Trump\u2019s disbanding of the White House\u2019s global health security team and the abrupt departure of the top U.S. official in charge of the country\u2019s response in the event of a deadly pandemic.\nIf she were elected president, Warren said she would increase funding to the agencies charged with responding to outbreaks and increase funding for international fights against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. She said she would also push the CDC to develop vaccines for infectious diseases, such as a universal flu vaccine.\nPart of the money for these initiatives, she said, will come from a \u201cswear jar\u201d that requires drug companies that break the law to pay a portion of their profits to the National Institutes of Health, which will use that money to research infectious disease treatments.\n\u201cDiseases like coronavirus remind us why we need robust international institutions, strong investments in public health, and a government that is prepared to jump into action at a moment\u2019s notice,\u201d Warren said.\nBy: Reis Thebault\n3:45 PM: German officials confirm three new coronavirus cases\nBERLIN \u2014 German authorities confirmed three new coronavirus cases in the southern state of Bavaria on Tuesday evening, increasing the total number of cases in Germany to four.\nThe three new cases are connected to Germany\u2019s first patient, a 33-year-old male, who was confirmed to have the virus Monday and is in a \u201cmedically good state,\u201d according to regional health officials. Authorities did not immediately provide details on the three other infected individuals. All of them work for the same company, an automotive supplier in Bavaria.\nThe initial patient was most likely infected there Jan. 21 by a Chinese business visitor from Shanghai, who had entered Germany on Jan. 19 and did not display symptoms caused by the virus during her stay in southern Germany, according to preliminary details provided by German officials. She and the 33-year-old met at a workshop at the company.\nAuthorities said Tuesday that around 40 individuals had come into close contact with him and the Chinese visitor. All of them are now being tested for the virus.\nBy: Rick Noack\n3:35 PM: WHO says China will allow global health experts into country\nChina will allow the World Health Organization to send a team of experts into the country to study the coronavirus, the WHO said in a statement Tuesday, after a meeting between the organization\u2019s director general and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.\n\u201cThe two sides agreed that WHO will send international experts to visit China as soon as possible to work with Chinese counterparts on increasing understanding of the outbreak to guide global response efforts,\u201d the statement said.\nWhen asked whether the group would include American experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman, told The Washington Post that there\u2019s \u201cNo further information about composition or technical expertise of this group at this point.\u201d\nBy: Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady\n3:30 PM: In China, still more risk of dying from flu than the coronavirus, expert says\nWASHINGTON \u2014 As cases of the coronavirus continue to spread, global health experts say people in China \u2014 and around the world \u2014 are currently more at risk of dying of influenza.\n\u201cThe flu is a big deal in China,\u201d said Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.\nPeople there are \u201cmore at risk of dying of the flu right now than they are of coronavirus,\u201d he said, although incomplete government data makes it hard to assess the full effect of flu in China.\nFlu takes a substantial toll around the world, including in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been at least 15 million cases of the flu and 8,200 deaths in the United States this season.\nHuang said that getting a flu shot probably wouldn\u2019t keep individuals from contracting the coronavirus, but could have systemic benefits by bringing down the rate of those presenting flulike symptoms and seeking treatment, thus preserving hospital resources.\nFear, Huang said, \u201ccould itself be as contagious as the virus.\u201d\nBy: Ruby Mellen\n3:10 PM: Robot delivers food to people in quarantine in China\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Travelers who flew from Singapore to Hangzhou, China, are being held in quarantine in a hotel this week, where they received a visit from a special guest: Little Peanut, a food delivery robot.\n\u201cHello, everyone. Cute Little Peanut is serving food to you now,\u201d the robot said as it made its way down a hotel hallway. \u201cEnjoy your meal. If you need anything else, please message the staff on WeChat.\u201d\nLittle Peanut moved along the carpeted hallway with ease, pausing when a man in slippers and a face mask opened his door to retrieve his meal. As the robot moved ahead, another door opened, and another man reached for his meal. The robot continued down the hall, and two more men popped out of doors opposite one another, each retrieving their meals as well.\nThe delivery system, which reduces human contact with the people in quarantine, was captured in cellphone footage shared this week on Chinese state media.\nBy: Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady\n2:30 PM: Canada confirms third case of coronavirus\nTORONTO \u2014 A third person has tested positive in Canada for the novel coronavirus, the British Columbia Center for Disease Control said Tuesday.\nThe man, who is in his 40s, travels regularly to China for business and was in Wuhan during his most recent trip, said Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer. He began experiencing symptoms of the virus more than 24 hours after his arrival in Vancouver last week and contacted his primary health-care provider. He is being kept in isolation at home, where he is \u201cdoing well,\u201d she added, and does not require hospitalization.\nHenry said the case \u201cis not unexpected to us,\u201d given travel patterns and family ties between British Columbia and China, and is unlikely to be the last. She stressed that the risk of contracting the virus remains \u201cextremely low.\u201d\nDespite claims from some Chinese officials, Henry said that there is no evidence that the coronavirus can be spread while a carrier is asymptomatic and that the virus is not as infectious as influenza or measles.\n\u201cYou have to be in relatively close contact with somebody to inhale those droplets if they cough or sneeze,\u201d she said.\nThe man\u2019s case is considered a \u201cpresumptive positive\u201d pending confirmation from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but Henry said she is \u201cconfident\u201d it is a case of the virus given the man\u2019s travel pattern and symptoms.\nBy: Amanda Coletta\n2:00 PM: Wall Street bounces back after coronavirus-fueled sell-off\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. stock markets rebounded Tuesday after investors appeared to shake off immediate anxiety around the growing coronavirus outbreak.\nThe Dow Jones industrial average was up 250 points at midday, one day after shedding more than 450 points in its worst one-day sell-off since October. The Standard & Poor\u2019s 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq also rallied back, and were trading up 1.2 and 1.4 percent, respectively.\nStill, investors are keeping close watch on the coronavirus. Analysts worry that China\u2019s economy, which depends heavily on consumer spending, could take a hit given the massive slowdown in travel. There\u2019s also concern that it could disrupt global supply chains.\nThe U.S. economy could be cushioned from any major damage, analysts say, especially if the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak is any indication. The spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed nearly 800 people and infected more than 8,000 others, temporarily stifled growth in China.\nBy: Rachel Siegel\n1:25 PM: United Airlines suspends some flights to China as demand drops\nWASHINGTON \u2014 United Airlines, the largest U.S. carrier operating in China, said Tuesday afternoon that it is adjusting its near-term schedule and canceling 24 round-trip flights between the United States and China because so few people are traveling to China.\nThe cancellations affect flights from San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Dulles International Airport and Chicago O\u2019Hare International Airport.\n\u201cDue to a significant decline in demand for travel to China, we are suspending some flights between our hub cities and Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning Feb. 1 through Feb. 8,\u201d the airline said in a statement. \u201cWe will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed.\u201d\nBy: Hannah Sampson\n12:50 PM: Top U.S. health official says early cases may \u2018skew\u2019 understanding of coronavirus\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Azar said experts are scrambling to understand how quickly the novel coronavirus spreads, as well as its lethality, based on limited information.\nIn a news conference on Tuesday, the health secretary emphasized that officials\u2019 assessments are based on the publicly reported cases and that those \u201care naturally the most severe cases, because patients presented themselves to health-care providers.\u201d\nAnother challenge is figuring out lethality without knowing what the total universe of cases might be. Right now, China is reporting more than 100 deaths from the more than 4,500 cases.\nBut Azar noted that those cases, too, \u201cskew severe, including patients who are older or have other illnesses. The mortality rate may drop over time as we identify a broader set of cases.\u201d\nFor those reasons, Azar said, \u201cWe are still determining the real speed of spread. \u2026 We are also still learning about the severity of the virus.\u201d\nBy: Yasmeen Abutaleb and Lenny Bernstein\n12:35 PM: Authorities in Germany caution against ignoring flu risk as coronavirus spreads\nBERLIN \u2014 Authorities in Europe urged citizens Tuesday to not ignore risks posed by the flu, after public focus largely shifted to the spreading coronavirus.\nIn Germany, which confirmed its first coronavirus case in southern Bavaria on Monday night, officials have sought to keep the coronavirus in perspective by citing flu figures.\n\u201cSevere flu seasons can kill up to 20,000 people annually in Germany,\u201d said German Health Minister Jens Spahn. But health officials said they also did not want to diminish the risks posed by the coronavirus, even as the threat level across Europe remains relatively low.\nThe growing focus on the new virus may skew perception of the real risks it poses, but that doesn\u2019t mean the public interest has been unhelpful, said Susanne Glasmacher of the Robert Koch Institute, a German government health agency.\n\u201cSome of the means of protecting against influenza are the same as against coronavirus: keeping a distance, washing your hands,\u201d she said.\nEncouraging more citizens to take such measures seriously \u201cmight in fact be beneficial for keeping influenza numbers low \u2014 perhaps it might even help to increase influenza vaccination coverage,\u201d she said.\nBy: Rick Noack\n11:50 AM: Top U.S. health official says he offered to send CDC team to China\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on Tuesday that he reiterated an offer to China\u2019s minister of health to send a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team to China to aid with the public health response to the coronavirus outbreak.\nIn a news conference Tuesday, Azar said he spoke with the Chinese minister of health on Monday and repeated an offer he made on Jan. 6 to send a CDC team.\nAsked about the minister\u2019s response, Azar did not respond directly, saying he \u201chopes the Chinese government will take us up on\u201d the offer. \u201cWe are urging China that more cooperation and transparency are the most important steps you can take toward a more effective response,\u201d Azar said.\nAzar said health officials wanted more isolates of the virus from China to help better understand its transmission and to help in the development of vaccines and diagnostics. Top health officials also said that no option was off the table on further restricting travel from China, but they did not announce any new limitations.\nBy: Yasmeen Abutaleb and Lenny Bernstein\n11:30 AM: As outbreak spreads, Africa prepares for possible cases\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Despite rapidly growing ties between China and many African countries, no coronavirus cases have been recorded anywhere in Africa since the outbreak began in China in late December. Still, John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned Tuesday that it\u2019s \u201cvery possible that there are cases on the continent that have not been recognized.\u201d\nSpeaking to reporters in Addis Ababa, he noted that cases were suspected in several countries but that none has been confirmed. As is true elsewhere, preparedness for the virus will vary country by country, Nkengasong said.\n\u201cSome countries have very strong surveillance systems, some have weak surveillance systems, and some we are working with them to strengthen those systems there,\u201d he said. \u201cThis will be a test case of how those systems have been strengthened over the years.\u201d\nLarge numbers of Chinese citizens live and work in Africa, running shops and restaurants and working on Chinese infrastructure projects. And in the last decade, airlines have accounted for the rapidly growing exchange: Air traffic between Chinese and African cities surged more than 630 percent in the last decade, Quartz reported last year.\nMeanwhile, tens of thousands of African students are studying in China, with more than 4,000 believed to be studying in Hubei province alone, according to the Associated Press.\nAs of Tuesday, Nkengasong said, there is \u201cno need to charter flights to evacuate Africans out of Wuhan city.\u201d\nBut some African students have expressed concerns they are trapped in the epicenter of the outbreak. Samson Opoku, a Ghanaian student leader in Wuhan, told Ghanaian radio station Joy FM that he and others \u201cwant evacuation back home to Ghana.\u201d\n\u201cWhen the outbreak subsides or ends then we return and continue our academic work,\u201d he said.\nBy: Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady\n10:40 AM: Millions tune in to watch live stream of Chinese hospital construction\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Blocked from traveling and encouraged to stay indoors, millions of Chinese have found an unusual way to pass the time: watching hospitals get built \u2014 in real time.\nOn Tuesday, remarkable numbers of Chinese netizens watched grainy, wide-angle footage of workers flattening earth at the site of two temporary hospitals being built to treat the growing number of patients in Wuhan.\nTwin live streams showcasing work on the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals together had an average of 18 million concurrent views on Tuesday, according the South China Morning Post. The footage was hosted by CCTV, China\u2019s state broadcaster.\nFacing public anger, authorities promised to build two hospitals in 10 days \u2014 a response calibrated to show resolve and showcase Chinese know-how. The live streams appear to be a nod to calls for transparency.\nThe fact that so many people chose to watch the slow-moving coverage shows both the extent to which boredom is taking hold, as well as public interest in how the Chinese Communist Party is responding.\nChina\u2019s leaders have vowed to use the hulking architecture of the state to help those affected. The footage, boring as it may be, gives ordinary people a rare chance to show they\u2019re keeping watch.\nBy: Emily Rauhala\n10:10 AM: Xi defends China\u2019s handling of outbreak in meeting with WHO\nBEIJING \u2014 Chinese leader Xi Jinping defended his country\u2019s handling of the coronavirus epidemic as \u201copen, transparent, responsible\u201d on Tuesday in a meeting with World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, even as the Chinese mayor at the epicenter of the outbreak apologized for withholding information from the public.\nCalling the coronavirus a \u201cdemon,\u201d Xi told Tedros that he would not \u201clet a demon hide\u201d as he vouched for his government\u2019s ability to handle the crisis.\nIn return, China\u2019s official Xinhua News Agency described Tedros as praising Xi for \u201cpersonally commanding\u201d the outbreak response and \u201cshowing excellent leadership.\u201d\nAlthough international experts have largely praised the speed and methods with which Chinese scientists have carried out research into the novel virus, the Communist Party leadership has come under growing criticism about its handling of the epidemic in its critical early days and its politicization of the international public health response.\nXi\u2019s meeting with the WHO chief came a day after the mayor of Wuhan triggered a firestorm by publicly suggesting that he had not been allowed to speak out earlier about the epidemic.\nChina in recent days has also been criticized by Taiwan\u2019s president for trying to block the self-ruled island from meetings at the WHO, a United Nations agency, for political reasons at a sensitive moment. China, which has considerable clout at the U.N., views Taiwan as its own territory and has sought to diplomatically isolate the island.\nTaiwan reported late Tuesday that it had a first case of coronavirus transmission between two people on the island, raising fears of the virus\u2019s spread. The majority of cases so far have involved people who became infected while traveling in central China.\nBy: Gerry Shih\n9:30 AM: Taiwan reports first case of domestic transmission\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Taiwan\u2019s Central Epidemic Command Centre confirmed Tuesday that one of its eight confirmed coronavirus patients appeared to be the first case of transmission on the island. All previous cases had been infected first in China, Taiwan said. But the new patient, a man in his 50s, was infected by his wife after she returned from working in China, Reuters reports.\nTaiwan, despite its political divide with the government in Beijing, has close cultural and economic ties with mainland China. On Monday, an official at Taiwan\u2019s Mainland Affairs Council told reporters that there were as many as 300 business people from Taiwan in Wuhan.\nBy: Adam Taylor\n8:45 AM: Charter flight carrying medical supplies leaves Japan for Wuhan as evacuations begin\nTOKYO \u2014 A charter flight left Japan at 8 p.m. on Tuesday to evacuate around 200 people from Wuhan, officials said.\nThe plane is carrying masks, plastic gloves, protective clothing and food.\nIt was scheduled to leave Wuhan at 3 a.m. local time Wednesday and arrive back in Tokyo\u2019s Haneda airport at 7:30 a.m. Officials said 650 Japanese citizens living in the worst-affected province of Hubei have asked to come home, with the initial 200 selected among those living closest to the airport and the market from which the disease is believed to have spread.\nThose with symptoms will be taken directly to a hospital that specializes in treating infectious diseases, while those without symptoms will be taken to another hospital for tests.\nThe second group will then be allowed to go home, but urged not to venture outdoors for two weeks during the incubation period of the virus, with health officials visiting them on a daily basis to monitor their condition.\nOther flights will be added as soon as possible, officials told reporters.\nSouth Korea will send four flights to Wuhan on Thursday and Friday to evacuate around 700 of its nationals who have asked to come home.\nThe government plans to send provide some 2 million masks and other medical relief items, including 200,000 items of protective clothing and goggles, on the planes, Yonhap news agency reported.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n8:30 AM: Countries move forward with evacuation plans\nBERLIN \u2014 Several countries continued to move forward with plans to evacuate their citizens from the coronavirus epicenter Wuhan.\nAmong the nations pursuing or considering such plans are France, South Korea, Morocco, Britain, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands and Russia, Reuters reported.\nFrench authorities said they will initially focus on the evacuation of citizens who are not showing any symptoms of the virus, with a flight from Wuhan expected to arrive back in France on Thursday. The second flight for infected citizens has yet to be scheduled.\nIn neighboring Germany, the Der Spiegel magazine reported that at least one military aircraft was expected to leave for Wuhan later this week to evacuate German citizens. The plans were not officially confirmed and the German Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\nBritish authorities were still finalizing their own plans, too. Via its Twitter account, the British embassy in Beijing urged British nationals in Hubei province willing to leave the region to call a 24/7 hotline before 11 a.m. on Wednesday.\nThe British government had previously faced pressure to enact a plan. The opposition Labour Party\u2019s Emily Thornberry accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of \u201cnot doing whatever it takes to protect our citizens from harm,\u201d according to the Evening Standard newspaper on Monday.\nBy: Rick Noack\n7:30 AM: Chinese embassy in Copenhagen demands apology over coronavirus cartoon\nBERLIN \u2014 The Chinese embassy in Denmark has demanded an apology over a coronavirus cartoon published in one of the country\u2019s highest-circulation newspapers, Jyllands-Posten.\nThe cartoon showed a Chinese flag with what appeared to represent five coronavirus particles instead of the five typical yellow stars.\nThe illustration \u2014 published by the same paper that drew international attention with the satirical Muhammad cartoons in 2005 that sparked rioting across the Middle East \u2014 struck a nerve with Chinese officials in Denmark.\nIn a release, a spokesperson for the embassy called the cartoon \u201can insult to China\u201d that \u201churts the feelings of the Chinese people.\u201d\n\u201cWithout any sympathy and empathy, it has crossed the bottom line of civilized society and the ethical boundary of free speech and offends human conscience,\u201d the statement read, adding that the cartoonist Niels Bo Bojesen and the paper should \u201creproach themselves for their mistake and publicly apologize to the Chinese people.\u201d\nThe paper stood by the cartoon on Tuesday, with its editor in chief Jacob Nybroe saying that \u201cthere is no mockery or scorn in the drawing.\u201d\n\u201cWe can\u2019t apologize for something we don\u2019t think is wrong,\u201d Nybroe added, according to the paper\u2019s own coverage of the controversy.\nDanish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended the country\u2019s freedom of expression and satire, even though she did not directly comment on the cartoon in question itself.\nBy: Rick Noack\n6:00 AM: Philippines restricts visas for Chinese nationals\nMANILA \u2014 In the Philippines, immigration authorities temporarily suspended the issuance of visas upon arrival for Chinese nationals. Immigration commissioner Jaime Morente said that this was \u201cto slow down the influx of group tours,\u201d and possibly prevent the entry of the virus.\nChina is one of the country\u2019s top sources of tourists, accounting for over a million visits in 2018. The country is hoping to record 9.2 million international arrivals this year. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said that her department did not find it necessary to adjust tourism targets just yet.\n\u201cWe remain optimistic that the tourism industry will be resilient,\u201d said Puyat. \u201cNevertheless, we continue to monitor the situation. Our primary concern is the safety of visitors and locals.\u201d\nPolitical analyst Antonio La Vi\u00f1a says that these countries\u2019 precautionary measures are expected to have economic impacts, but he cautioned against these actions possibly taking on racist tones.\n\u201cCountries have no choice but to take such an approach as there is no alternative,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat would be temporary economic impacts could have long term consequences if that happens and not corrected.\u201d\nBy: Regine Cabato\n5:30 AM: Infected German man came into contact with Chinese visitor, authorities say\nBERLIN \u2014 German authorities have confirmed the first coronavirus case in the country. The 33-year-old male patient in southern Bavaria has been isolated and is being monitored, officials said in a news conference on Tuesday.\nHe is in a \u201cmedically good state,\u201d according to the regional health ministry.\nThe patient was most likely infected by a Chinese business visitor from Shanghai, who entered Germany on Jan. 19 and did not display symptoms caused by the virus during her stay in southern Germany, according to preliminary details provided by German officials.\nShe and the 33-year old met at a workshop in the offices of a German automotive supplier where the man works.\nAuthorities said Tuesday that around 40 individuals had come into close contact with him and the Chinese visitor.\nGermany is the second European nation to confirm a coronavirus case. French authorities have so far reported three cases.\nGerman health minister Jens Spahn said \u201cit was to be expected that the virus would reach Germany.\u201d\n\u201cAfter the [coronavirus] suspicion was confirmed, everyone who was in close contact with him is being examined,\u201d Spahn said, adding that the risk to Germans \u201cremains low.\u201d\nBy: Rick Noack\n5:05 AM: Three Russian regions close borders with China\nMOSCOW \u2014 Russia has closed its border with China in three of its Far East regions amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak, according to state-run news agency Tass.\nIt\u2019s one of a number of precautions Russia has taken, though the country\u2019s consumer safety regulator, Rospotrebnadzor, said Tuesday morning that there haven\u2019t been any cases of coronavirus recorded here yet. The border crossings in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Khabarovsk and Amur regions will be closed until Feb. 7.\nMoscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his website Tuesday that monitoring of hotels and popular tourist sites has been heightened.\n\u201cIf any alarming signals are identified, medical brigades will be dispatched to these sites immediately to carry out all-round checks,\u201d he said.\nRussia is also blocking organized tour groups from China, according to Tass, which cited Russia\u2019s travel industry union. Meanwhile, Russia\u2019s embassy in China has contacted 158 citizens in the Hubei province, including 113 in the city of Wuhan, which is on lockdown in an effort to contain the spread of the disease.\nBy: Isabelle Khurshudyan\n4:55 AM: Japan announces first coronavirus case for someone not from Wuhan epicenter\nTOKYO \u2014 Japan on Tuesday recorded its first case of coronavirus in someone who had not visited the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, but had come into contact with tourists from there.\nThe Japanese man, a tour bus driver in his 60s, drove two groups of Chinese tourists from Wuhan earlier this month, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said.\nKato told a news conference the man had worn a mask when he was working.\nHe was one of two new cases of coronavirus confirmed on Tuesday, bringing the total of cases in Japan to six.\nThe other cases involved four Chinese tourists from Wuhan, and a Chinese national living in Japan who returned home after visiting Wuhan.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n4:10 AM: Hong Kong leader restricts flow of mainland Chinese into city over virus fears\nHONG KONG \u2014 Facing public pressure across the political aisle, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday announced dramatic measures to stem the flow of mainland Chinese into the territory, including the closure of railways, ferries and cross-border tour buses.\nFlights to mainland China will be slashed by half, and the Hong Kong government will stop issuing individual travel visas to mainland Chinese, starting from Thursday.\nThe decision, Lam said, was made along with authorities in Beijing. All in all, about half of Hong Kong\u2019s border checkpoints with mainland China will be closed.\n\u201cThe flow of people between the two places needs to be drastically reduced,\u201d Lam said.\nBy: Shibani Mahtani\n3:45 AM: North Korea imposes one-month quarantine on recent arrivals\nTOKYO \u2014 North Korea, which already banned foreign tourists from entering the country, has now imposed a one-month quarantine on any foreigners who come in, including diplomats and aid workers.\nThe Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said it had been informed by North Korea\u2019s Foreign Ministry that \u201call foreigners\u201d who have recently visited China will be isolated and kept under medical supervision for a month.\nThe measures mirror steps taken by the country during the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, entry requirements were even stricter, with anyone entering the country, including North Korean nationals and regime officials, held in quarantine for 21 days.\nIn a post on its Facebook page spotted by the NK News service, the Russian Embassy said foreigners arriving by air will be placed under quarantine at a hotel just north of the capital Pyongyang, while those crossing by train will be kept a hotel in the border town of Sinuiju.\n\u201cThese measures are aimed at protecting the life and safety of our employees accredited to the DPRK diplomatic missions and international organizations, as well as the prevention of a pandemic of a new type of coronavirus,\u201d the Russian Embassy said, referring to the country\u2019s official name, the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea.\nRuling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported earlier that quarantine centers are being set up at the country\u2019s borders, ports and airports where anyone believed to have been exposed to the illness will be isolated.\nThe Ebola-related restrictions were kept in place for four months.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n3:30 AM: Thailand fears $1.6 billion loss in tourism revenue from China\nHONG KONG \u2014 Thailand is facing a $1.6 billion loss in tourism revenue with the shutdown of Chinese cities and banning of tour groups, an official said Tuesday.\nTourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn told local media that China\u2019s decision to restrict tour groups would have a deep impact on the tourism industry, which relies heavily on Chinese visitors.\nThailand also confirmed six more infections on Tuesday, taking its tally up to 14, the most in the region outside China. All of the new cases were travelers from China.\n\u201cNow we will expand screening to all Chinese from China and prepare equipment to screen 100 percent,\u201d said Sukhum Kanchanapimai, the permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said according to Reuters.\nBy: Shibani Mahtani\n3:20 AM: Kazakhstan toughening up visa requirements for Chinese\nDUBAI \u2014 Kazakhstan will now require medical certificates from Chinese visitors and has stopped issuing electronic visas in effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus outbreak into the country, an official said Tuesday.\nDeputy Foreign Minister Shukhrat Nuryshev also said there were no plans to close the border, and the country was seeking to repatriate 98 of its citizens stuck inside the outbreak\u2019s epicenter in Wuhan, Reuters reported.\nBy: Paul Schemm\n3:00 AM: Number of Chinese on lockdown rises to 54 million\nTOKYO \u2014 The number of Chinese citizens on travel lockdown has increased to 54 million with the addition of Shiyan.\nChina is attempting to seal off the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, centered around Wuhan in Hubei province and cutting all travel links.\nShiyan, the \u201cDetroit of the East,\u201d is an industrial city of over 3.4 million known for its auto sector.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n2:45 AM: Growing calls in Hong Kong to close border with mainland China\nHONG KONG \u2014 Even some pro-establishment politicians here are backing calls for the government to close the border with mainland China, regardless of the economic impact and the potential political fallout from the decision.\nBeijing has sovereignty over Hong Kong, but under the \u201cone country, two systems\u201d arrangement, Hong Kong maintains its own immigration system.\nJames Tien, a prominent businessman and honorary chairman of the pro-business and pro-Beijing Liberal Party, urged the government to consider starting by closing the mainland border for a period of a month.\nThough it is a \u201cvery painful\u201d suggestion for someone who\u2019s advocated for a business-friendly environment, \u201cspecial times call for special measures,\u201d Tien wrote in a Facebook post.\nThe territory is already reeling from the impact of eight months of political unrest over fears that Hong Kong\u2019s autonomy is being eroded by Beijing.\nTourism has been hit particularly hard, with a pronounced drop in visitors from mainland China. Some unions even in this sector, however, are similarly advocating for the border closure, arguing that the government must prioritize public health over short-term economic gain.\n\u201cIf everyone is unwell, economics won\u2019t be important anymore,\u201d said Alex Tsui, chairman of the pro-democracy Hong Kong Hotel Employees Union, noting that the 2003 SARS epidemic that hit the territory particularly hard spread through hotels.\n\u201cOur industry is very high risk, and hotels are a dangerous place for a virus to spread,\u201d he said. \u201cThe safety of the Hong Kong people and our hotel workers have to be the priority.\u201d\nThe Hong Kong government has encouraged civil servants, other than those delivering health care and other essential public services, to work from home after the Lunar New Year holiday, which ends on Tuesday.\nSports facilities and museums have been closed indefinitely, and major banks, financial institutions and law firms have also asked workers to self-quarantine. Trading however will return to normal on Wednesday.\nBy: Shibani Mahtani"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "464ZJ4FYZRALFDJFMES27JLBA4_4", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "464ZJ4FYZRALFDJFMES27JLBA4_4", "title": "Before the new coronavirus, travel aided the spread of other diseases. Here\u2019s a look back at 5 notable cases.", "text": "intellectual disabilities, serious speech problems and motor problems, which led the WHO to declare a global health emergency to prevent the spread of the virus. The United States has seen about 20 cases of the Zika virus, and in the 88 countries where the disease has been reported, hundreds of thousands have been infected, with nearly 2,200 babies born with microcephaly. Another disease that warranted the WHO\u2019s highest level of alert was the H1N1 swine flu epidemic in 2009 that is reported to have infected as many as 200 million people across the world. The swine flu pandemic, which originated as a respiratory illness in pigs, killed 358 children in the United States. It prompted travel restrictions in nearly a quarter of the countries in the world, and many imposed pork bans targeting NAFTA-affiliated countries. At the height of the outbreak, a number of countries imposed travel restrictions on flights in and out of Mexico, which resulted in a 40 percent decrease in traffic volume. A vaccine has been developed for H1N1, but due to the cyclical nature of flu season, new strains pop up \u2014 e.g., H7N9 \u2014 which has caused a spike in flu-related deaths as recently as 2018. The spread of inaccurate information became a central conflict amid the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome that was identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Worries over MERS (a strain of the coronavirus) began after the world\u2019s slow response to the Ebola outbreak had the international community questioning the leaders of Saudi Arabia about the effects of the disease and the adequacy of Saudi health facilities. MERS killed at least 13 people, infected more than 100 and was brought to South Korea by a passenger who had traveled from Saudi Arabia in 2015, which tested the WHO\u2019s rapid-response apparatus in controlling the disease\u2019s spread. MERS led to two deaths in South Korea, the closing of 500 schools and more than 1,300 people quarantined. Lauren Tierney, Tim Meko, Joe Fox, Simon Denyer, Lena H. Sun, Miriam Berger, Adam Taylor, Elanah Uretsky, Ishaan Tharoor, Lenny Bernstein, Bonnie Berkowitz, Laris Karklis, Shelly Tan, Denise Lu, Patterson Clark, Lena H. Sun and Anna Fifield contributed to this report. Read more: Coronavirus vaccine research is moving at record speed Can the coronavirus be contained? Unknowns complicate response. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, here\u2019s what you need to know about travel to China"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The world has been on edge in the early days of 2020 after a new, deadly strain of coronavirus was reported in China late last year. This coronavirus strain originated in the Wuhan province of China and has killed more than 100 people and infected over 8,100 there.\nIn the United States, six cases of the pneumonia-like illness have been confirmed, and it has quickly spread to countries including France, Japan, Nepal, Cambodia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Canada and Sri Lanka, plus Hong Kong and the island of Taiwan.\nThe first case in the United States appeared after a man from Washington state brought the virus back from Wuhan via plane in mid-January, and another traveler \u2014 a woman from Chicago \u2014 was confirmed to have brought the disease back from Wuhan as well. That woman passed the virus to her husband in the first case of person-to-person transmission within the States.\nIn the weeks since, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has raised its travel warning to a Level 3 (of three), its highest. The World Health Organization has issued a public health emergency as the number of people infected on mainland China rose above the SARS epidemic of 2003.\nAmerican Airlines has suspended routes to China in February and March. Following their lead, British Airways and Lufthansa have also suspended flights there, as well as airlines based in India and Kazakhstan.\nWith a travel ban in full effect out of Wuhan, it\u2019s worth a look back in recent decades at the global response and subsequent mobilization of resources. Here are a few that prompted global action from scientists and governments alike in the 21st century.\nChina faced the skepticism of the international health community when it was discovered that the country had initially covered up the SARS outbreak from 2002 to 2003. When a whistleblower told the world about the severity of the disease, China relented in letting the WHO help contain the highly infectious virus, which led to widespread changes in global health policy and an overhaul of China\u2019s public health system. The WHO warned travelers away from visiting Beijing and Toronto, the first time in its history to issue such a sweeping alert.\nChina\u2019s secrecy during the outbreak circumvented the WHO\u2019s ability to declare a public health emergency, which is a useful tool in coordinating countries\u2019 response to the spread of an infectious disease. When it was finally contained, SARS had infected more than 8,000 people in 30 countries across the world and killed 774 people worldwide, according to the CDC.\nWhen the worst Ebola outbreak in history began in West Africa in 2014, the disease had no treatment or vaccine. Those affected faced a fatality rate of up to 90 percent. By that summer, Ebola had caused the deaths of more than 700 people, and when the first patient infected with the hemorrhagic fever came to the United States, panic set in.\nThe WHO declared a \u201cpublic health emergency of international concern\u201d just days after a case was discovered near Rwanda. The Obama administration responded to the outbreak in an unprecedented way, ordering thousands of soldiers to West Africa to assist in treatment. The WHO argued that a travel ban would negatively affect the countries of West Africa. From 2014 to 2016, 11 Americans who contracted the disease were treated, while 11,000 people across that region and the Congo died due to the epidemic.\nFlaring up in Brazil in 2015, the Zika outbreak quickly spread across Central and South America through transmission from mosquitoes. The symptoms of the disease are mild, but the virus caused a scare in the United States due to its effects on pregnant women. In 2016, the WHO issued a travel advisory for Zika-impacted countries where the disease was linked to miscarriages, stillbirths and a birth defect called microcephaly. The outcomes of microcephaly in infants include intellectual disabilities, serious speech problems and motor problems, which led the WHO to declare a global health emergency to prevent the spread of the virus. The United States has seen about 20 cases of the Zika virus, and in the 88 countries where the disease has been reported, hundreds of thousands have been infected, with nearly 2,200 babies born with microcephaly.\nAnother disease that warranted the WHO\u2019s highest level of alert was the H1N1 swine flu epidemic in 2009 that is reported to have infected as many as 200 million people across the world. The swine flu pandemic, which originated as a respiratory illness in pigs, killed 358 children in the United States. It prompted travel restrictions in nearly a quarter of the countries in the world, and many imposed pork bans targeting NAFTA-affiliated countries.\nAt the height of the outbreak, a number of countries imposed travel restrictions on flights in and out of Mexico, which resulted in a 40 percent decrease in traffic volume. A vaccine has been developed for H1N1, but due to the cyclical nature of flu season, new strains pop up \u2014 e.g., H7N9 \u2014 which has caused a spike in flu-related deaths as recently as 2018.\nThe spread of inaccurate information became a central conflict amid the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome that was identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Worries over MERS (a strain of the coronavirus) began after the world\u2019s slow response to the Ebola outbreak had the international community questioning the leaders of Saudi Arabia about the effects of the disease and the adequacy of Saudi health facilities. MERS killed at least 13 people, infected more than 100 and was brought to South Korea by a passenger who had traveled from Saudi Arabia in 2015, which tested the WHO\u2019s rapid-response apparatus in controlling the disease\u2019s spread. MERS led to two deaths in South Korea, the closing of 500 schools and more than 1,300 people quarantined.\nLauren Tierney, Tim Meko, Joe Fox, Simon Denyer, Lena H. Sun, Miriam Berger, Adam Taylor, Elanah Uretsky, Ishaan Tharoor, Lenny Bernstein, Bonnie Berkowitz, Laris Karklis, Shelly Tan, Denise Lu, Patterson Clark, Lena H. Sun and Anna Fifield contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nCoronavirus vaccine research is moving at record speed\nCan the coronavirus be contained? Unknowns complicate response.\nIn the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, here\u2019s what you need to know about travel to China"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "4TKPKFAQ7BGZVCPROFNGV3UYPM_6", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "4TKPKFAQ7BGZVCPROFNGV3UYPM_6", "title": "Coronavirus vaccine research is moving at record speed", "text": "virus resurfaced in 2019 in Congo, more than 200,000 people were vaccinated. If the infections have begun to subside by the time vaccines are through the first round of safety testing, getting a vaccine approved would still be useful in case the virus flares again \u2014 but showing it is safe for healthy people in the general population will take time and continued effort. In the meantime, researchers are also looking at ways of quickly repurposing existing antiviral drugs to see whether any might work against the coronavirus. Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer of Johnson & Johnson, said the company has donated 100 boxes of an HIV medication, Prezcobix, to clinicians in Shanghai to see whether it showed any efficacy against the illness. Purdue University researchers hope to test experimental drugs that were initially developed to fight SARS. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, researchers have been gearing up to test remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug that has shown promise against other coronaviruses but failed against Ebola. But every step takes time. Even having the right laboratory tests, ingredients and animal models of the disease are crucial and time-consuming steps. Laboratories have been waiting for the viral genome to be synthesized by companies and are anxious to get samples of the actual virus. A decade after SARS, another coronavirus emerged that caused Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Many say the coronavirus in China is a lesson that this family of viruses will continue to cross from animals into humans and cause potential pandemics. That means scientists would like to be prepared, with vaccine platforms that can be readily adapted to new infections and antiviral drugs that work broadly for multiple diseases. \u201cEmerging viruses, they\u2019re a moving target. They come, and they go, and sometimes they come and they don\u2019t go. But it\u2019s impossible to predict the trajectory of an emerging virus,\u201d said Timothy Sheahan, assistant professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina. \u201cSo one way we\u2019re trying to maximize the utility of a given antiviral drug is to develop broad-spectrum antivirals. Rather than have one drug for one bug, we want one drug for many bugs.\u201d Read More: Global companies scramble to respond to coronavirus in China A prototype of how to fight the next pandemic: A vaccine without the shot Russian trolls and Twitter bots exploit vaccine controversy"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In a suburb south of Boston, robots have already started manufacturing a potential vaccine against the fast-spreading coronavirus. Another candidate vaccine \u2014 developed when a similar virus terrified the world \u2014 sits in deep freeze in a repository in Houston, ready to be thawed and formulated into thousands of vials for further testing. Yet another is being put together at facilities in San Diego and Houston, with projections that it could be tested in people by summer.\nTo scientists, the work to create a vaccine against the new coronavirus is advancing with a speed they could barely have imagined a decade ago. At the same time, it\u2019s not even close to quick enough to contain the spreading infection \u2014 and in many ways, the outbreak will test the capacity of science to react in real time to a new and unknown \u201cpathogen X\u201d that takes the world by surprise.\n\u201cTraditional vaccine development efforts have usually taken decades, not months,\u201d said Barney Graham, deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health, which hopes to have a vaccine in human testing by April. \u201cThis is, first, a response to this new virus, but it\u2019s also a drill for pathogen X \u2026 [to] press the system, to see how rapidly we can go.\u201d\nWhen a mysterious new illness emerges and public alarm is at its peak, there\u2019s a race to develop a way to prevent or treat the disease. But by the time a promising candidate is ready, it\u2019s often too late to be helpful against the outbreak that triggered the rush. Public interest, funding and the urgency that drove the early vaccine development can quickly taper.\n\u201cWe were getting candidate vaccines, the epidemics would die down, and they\u2019d get put back on the shelf,\u201d said Jacqueline Shea, chief scientific officer of Inovio, a biotech company that has been developing vaccines for Zika, Ebola and Middle East respiratory syndrome.\nThat\u2019s what happened with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), to the dismay of Peter Jay Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children\u2019s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development. Eight years ago, he and his co-director, Maria Elena Bottazzi, won federal funding to create a vaccine against SARS, a coronavirus that emerged in 2002 and infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800. By 2016, they had manufactured enough of the potential vaccine to get through toxicology tests and human safety trials.\nBut the team tried and failed to win various grants to bring their experimental vaccine through further testing. They say about $2 million could have funded essential and time-consuming toxicology studies and ready it for phase 1 trials \u2014 the technical term for the first-in-humans studies that typically determine the dosing and safety of a drug. Although the threat of SARS has receded, it was becoming increasingly clear that coronaviruses, long thought to cause mild illness, were able to cause serious pandemics.\nWhen the new coronavirus genome sequence was posted to an online genetic databank in early January, Hotez immediately saw the close similarity to SARS and realized the samples sitting in storage had the potential to defend against the new virus.\n\u201cHad we been able to secure the investment, we could have done all the phase 1 trials. We could have potentially been ready to vaccinate in China, now,\u201d Hotez said. \u201cThis is the problem with the whole vaccine infrastructure \u2014 it\u2019s reactive, not anticipatory enough. \u2018Oh, SARS is gone now, let\u2019s move on.\u2019\u201d\nWhat the scientific response to the new coronavirus has shown so far is how the first step in the process \u2014 designing and even beginning to manufacture the vaccine \u2014 can happen nearly overnight, thanks to the emergence of new technologies.\nScientists at the National Institutes of Health were strategizing with a Massachusetts biotech company, Moderna, over the winter holiday break about collaborating to build a vaccine for the virus. As soon as the genome of the virus was posted online, NIH designed the piece of the vaccine that should trigger the immune system to recognize and disable the virus. NIH sent its design to Moderna, which could integrate it into its virus platform and rapidly scale up manufacturing. NIH hopes to have the vaccine in the first safety trials by April.\nAt Inovio, a biotech company headquartered outside Philadelphia, a team began working on designing a vaccine hours after the sequence appeared, Shea said. The company farmed out production of one piece of its vaccine to a contract laboratory in Houston and is making the other component at its facility in San Diego. The company is gearing up for the lab and animal tests that will be necessary before safety trials in people.\nPharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has also jumped into the vaccine effort and estimates it will be eight to 12 months before its candidate is ready for testing in people. Many countries are also working on different approaches, in parallel.\n\u201cThe actual technical feat of making a vaccine against this virus is probably not going to be that hard,\u201d Hotez said. \u201cThe problem is you can\u2019t avoid or even compress the timelines very much for safety testing.\u201d\nThat means scientists are flooded with public interest in their vaccine efforts right now and must temper their excitement with the reality that there will be a months-long wait, at minimum, for a vaccine that\u2019s ready for its first tests in people.\n\u201cWhat is the value of a vaccine if development takes a year in the context of the current situation, which seems to be moving very rapidly? The value of a vaccine is we don\u2019t actually know what the trajectory of the epidemic could be,\u201d said Richard Hatchett, chief executive of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a global alliance that is funding the Inovio and Moderna efforts and another vaccine being created by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia.\nFor example, if the outbreak is still raging after initial safety tests, it is possible experimental vaccines could be used to protect people on the front lines of treating the disease or in emergency situations before they are approved for the general population, as happened with Ebola. When Ebola devastated West Africa in 2014, a vaccine was not ready. But when the virus resurfaced in 2019 in Congo, more than 200,000 people were vaccinated.\nIf the infections have begun to subside by the time vaccines are through the first round of safety testing, getting a vaccine approved would still be useful in case the virus flares again \u2014 but showing it is safe for healthy people in the general population will take time and continued effort.\nIn the meantime, researchers are also looking at ways of quickly repurposing existing antiviral drugs to see whether any might work against the coronavirus. Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer of Johnson & Johnson, said the company has donated 100 boxes of an HIV medication, Prezcobix, to clinicians in Shanghai to see whether it showed any efficacy against the illness. Purdue University researchers hope to test experimental drugs that were initially developed to fight SARS. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, researchers have been gearing up to test remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug that has shown promise against other coronaviruses but failed against Ebola.\nBut every step takes time. Even having the right laboratory tests, ingredients and animal models of the disease are crucial and time-consuming steps. Laboratories have been waiting for the viral genome to be synthesized by companies and are anxious to get samples of the actual virus.\nA decade after SARS, another coronavirus emerged that caused Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Many say the coronavirus in China is a lesson that this family of viruses will continue to cross from animals into humans and cause potential pandemics. That means scientists would like to be prepared, with vaccine platforms that can be readily adapted to new infections and antiviral drugs that work broadly for multiple diseases.\n\u201cEmerging viruses, they\u2019re a moving target. They come, and they go, and sometimes they come and they don\u2019t go. But it\u2019s impossible to predict the trajectory of an emerging virus,\u201d said Timothy Sheahan, assistant professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina. \u201cSo one way we\u2019re trying to maximize the utility of a given antiviral drug is to develop broad-spectrum antivirals. Rather than have one drug for one bug, we want one drug for many bugs.\u201d\nRead More:\nGlobal companies scramble to respond to coronavirus in China\nA prototype of how to fight the next pandemic: A vaccine without the shot\nRussian trolls and Twitter bots exploit vaccine controversy"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "589c19f6-236b-48f6-b4ea-ee3aa7ad66b5_1", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "589c19f6-236b-48f6-b4ea-ee3aa7ad66b5_1", "title": "South Korea quarantines more than 1,300 in race against MERS", "text": "Arabia, where MERS began in 2012, the World Health Organization said, warning that \u201cfurther cases can be expected.\u201d Suspected cases in South Korea total 398, and at least 1,364 people have been quarantined, the vast majority of them at home. Education authorities have left it to principals to decide whether to shut their schools, and 200 kindergartens and schools closed their doors on Wednesday while more than 500 planned to shut on Thursday. Almost all of them are in Gyeonggi province, the area around Seoul, where the first patient with the viral illness sought treatment, although six elementary schools and a middle school in Seoul will also close until Friday at parents\u2019 request. Drugstores reported a run on surgical masks and hand sanitizer as fear about a wider outbreak spread. MERS arrived in South Korea in a 68-year-old \u201cindex patient\u201d who had traveled to four countries in the Middle East and showed no symptoms when he returned home on May 4. But a week later, he sought treatment at two outpatient clinics and then two hospitals, potentially exposing a large number of health-care workers and other patients to the virus. South Korea\u2019s Ministry of Health and Welfare is scrambling to contain the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed two people. \u201cGiven the number of clinics and hospitals that cared for the index case, further cases can be expected,\u201d the World Health Organization said in a statement. The two patients who died, a 58-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man, had both been in contact with the index patient in the hospital, and both had other health problems that could have weakened their ability to fight the infection. The exposure times could have been as short as five minutes to a few hours, the WHO said. The South Korean government has been criticized for refusing to disclose the names of the clinics and hospitals where the index patient sought treatment. But three doctors at the emergency meeting Wednesday rejected demands for greater openness, Yonhap News Agency reported. Twenty-five out of the 30 people confirmed to have contracted the disease were infected at a single hospital, which has since closed to new patients. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities quarantined 88 people, including 14 South Koreans, after a 44-year-old South Korean man, the son of one of the people who has contracted the viral illness, defied medical advice and flew to Hong"}], "old": [{"_id": "589c19f6-236b-48f6-b4ea-ee3aa7ad66b5_1", "title": "South Korea quarantines more than 1,300 in race against MERS", "text": "home. Education authorities have left it to principals to decide whether to shut their schools, and 200 kindergartens and schools closed their doors on Wednesday while more than 500 planned to shut on Thursday. Almost all of them are in Gyeonggi province, the area around Seoul, where the first patient with the viral illness sought treatment, although six elementary schools and a middle school in Seoul will also close until Friday at parents\u2019 request. Drugstores reported a run on surgical masks and hand sanitizer as fear about a wider outbreak spread. MERS arrived in South Korea in a 68-year-old \u201cindex patient\u201d who had traveled to four countries in the Middle East and showed no symptoms when he returned home on May 4. But a week later, he sought treatment at two outpatient clinics and then two hospitals, potentially exposing a large number of health-care workers and other patients to the virus. South Korea\u2019s Ministry of Health and Welfare is scrambling to contain the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed two people. The two patients who died, a 58-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man, had both been in contact with the index patient in the hospital, and both had other health problems that could have weakened their ability to fight the infection. The exposure times could have been as short as five minutes to a few hours, the WHO said. The South Korean government has been criticized for refusing to disclose the names of the clinics and hospitals where the index patient sought treatment. But three doctors at the emergency meeting Wednesday rejected demands for greater openness, Yonhap News Agency reported. Twenty-five out of the 30 people confirmed to have contracted the disease were infected at a single hospital, which has since closed to new patients. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities quarantined 88 people, including 14 South Koreans, after a 44-year-old South Korean man, the son of one of the people who has contracted the viral illness, defied medical advice and flew to Hong Kong on May 26 while he had symptoms of the illness. He then traveled to the southern Chinese province of Guangdong by bus. China informed the WHO on May 29 that the man had tested positive for the virus and had been isolated at a hospital in Huizhou, Guangdong, while Chinese authorities try to track down other people who might have been exposed. Yoonjung Seo"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Seoul\u2019s mayor says the 35th identified case of MERS in the country is a doctor who had contact with another MERS patient. The country has at least 41 infections, the highest of anywhere outside the Middle East.\nTOKYO \u2014\nAmid criticism it has been too slow to respond to the viral illness, which has no vaccine or cure, President Park Geun-hye ordered the establishment of a task force to try to contain the infection and to be more transparent along the way.\n\u201cThere are a lot people worried about this situation,\u201d Park told an emergency meeting of officials and health experts Wednesday. \u201cWe must make the utmost effort to stop MERS from spreading.\u201d\nThe outbreak brings back memories of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, that began in Asia in 2003, spreading to Europe and the Americas and leading to 774 deaths worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\nFearful that MERS has already spread, China is also taking measures to contain it.\n\nTwo people have died from MERS in South Korea, while 28 others have been confirmed as having the viral illness, five of them on Wednesday alone. This makes the outbreak the largest outside Saudi Arabia, where MERS began in 2012, the World Health Organization said, warning that \u201cfurther cases can be expected.\u201d\nSuspected cases in South Korea total 398, and at least 1,364 people have been quarantined, the vast majority of them at home.\nEducation authorities have left it to principals to decide whether to shut their schools, and 200 kindergartens and schools closed their doors on Wednesday while more than 500 planned to shut on Thursday. Almost all of them are in Gyeonggi province, the area around Seoul, where the first patient with the viral illness sought treatment, although six elementary schools and a middle school in Seoul will also close until Friday at parents\u2019 request.\nDrugstores reported a run on surgical masks and hand sanitizer as fear about a wider outbreak spread.\nMERS arrived in South Korea in a 68-year-old \u201cindex patient\u201d who had traveled to four countries in the Middle East and showed no symptoms when he returned home on May 4.\nBut a week later, he sought treatment at two outpatient clinics and then two hospitals, potentially exposing a large number of health-care workers and other patients to the virus.\nSouth Korea\u2019s Ministry of Health and Welfare is scrambling to contain the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed two people.\n\u201cGiven the number of clinics and hospitals that cared for the index case, further cases can be expected,\u201d the World Health Organization said in a statement.\nThe two patients who died, a 58-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man, had both been in contact with the index patient in the hospital, and both had other health problems that could have weakened their ability to fight the infection. The exposure times could have been as short as five minutes to a few hours, the WHO said.\nThe South Korean government has been criticized for refusing to disclose the names of the clinics and hospitals where the index patient sought treatment. But three doctors at the emergency meeting Wednesday rejected demands for greater openness, Yonhap News Agency reported. Twenty-five out of the 30 people confirmed to have contracted the disease were infected at a single hospital, which has since closed to new patients.\nMeanwhile, Chinese authorities quarantined 88 people, including 14 South Koreans, after a 44-year-old South Korean man, the son of one of the people who has contracted the viral illness, defied medical advice and flew to Hong Kong on May 26 while he had symptoms of the illness. He then traveled to the southern Chinese province of Guangdong by bus.\nChina informed the WHO on May 29 that the man had tested positive for the virus and had been isolated at a hospital in Huizhou, Guangdong, while Chinese authorities try to track down other people who might have been exposed.\nYoonjung Seo contributed reporting from Seoul."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "5b470577c8521433daf5f1b5fe36ef94_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "5b470577c8521433daf5f1b5fe36ef94_0", "title": "MERS crisis: Do we need a NATO-type war strategy for potential epidemics?", "text": "Bill and Melinda Gates speak with parents whose children are participating in a malaria vaccine trial at the Bagamoyo District Hospital in Tanzania on June 28, 2011. (Photo courtesy Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) Health officials in Thailand on Friday confirmed the country's first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in a 75-year-old businessman from Oman. With the death of a MERS patient in Germany and the \"superspreading event\" in South Korea that has claimed 24 lives, the crisis has prompted calls for a better early warning and response process to stop the spread of infectious diseases that threaten the planet. At the top of many researchers' lists are a more structured way to prioritize, fund and work on vaccines for such pathogens. MERS was first discovered in 2012, and while scientists understand its molecular structure, there has been little progress toward a vaccine due to lack of interest from pharmaceutical companies. [Why MERS spread so far, so fast in South Korea] \"The question is: How long are we going to wait around and just follow these outbreaks before we get serious about making vaccines?\" Adrian Hill, a professor and director at the Jenner Institute at Britain's Oxford University, told Reuters. Matthew Frieman, an immunologist at University of Maryland School of Medicine, has been working on such a vaccine since 2013, according to the International Business Times. He said he's still looking for partner to begin clinical trials. \u201cThere's nothing standing in our way from pushing this forward other than the money and the will to do it,\u201d he said to the IBT. With the MERS death toll climbing higher in South Korea, here's what scientists know about the virus, how it spreads, and whether it poses a global threat. During the Ebola crisis, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates described the need for a way for governments to join together in manner similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). \u201cIt\u2019s instructive to compare our preparations for epidemics with our preparations for another sort of global threat -- war,\u201d Gates wrote in the The New England Journal of Medicine in April. [Ebola\u2019s lessons, painfully learned at great cost in dollars and human lives] Warning that there is a significant chance that an epidemic of a substantially more infectious disease will occur sometime in the next 20 years, Gates said Ebola is far from the most infectious disease we know. \"Although"}], "old": [{"_id": "5b470577c8521433daf5f1b5fe36ef94_0", "title": "MERS crisis: Do we need a NATO-type war strategy for potential epidemics?", "text": "Bill and Melinda Gates speak with parents whose children are participating in a malaria vaccine trial at the Bagamoyo District Hospital in Tanzania on June 28, 2011. (Photo courtesy Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) At the top of many researchers' lists are a more structured way to prioritize, fund and work on vaccines for such pathogens. MERS was first discovered in 2012, and while scientists understand its molecular structure, there has been little progress toward a vaccine due to lack of interest from pharmaceutical companies. [Why MERS spread so far, so fast in South Korea] \u201cThere's nothing standing in our way from pushing this forward other than the money and the will to do it,\u201d he said to the IBT. With the MERS death toll climbing higher in South Korea, here's what scientists know about the virus, how it spreads, and whether it poses a global threat. During the Ebola crisis, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates described the need for a way for governments to join together in manner similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). [Ebola\u2019s lessons, painfully learned at great cost in dollars and human lives] Warning that there is a significant chance that an epidemic of a substantially more infectious disease will occur sometime in the next 20 years, Gates said Ebola is far from the most infectious disease we know. \"Although the system is not perfect, NATO countries participate in joint exercises in which they work out logistics such as how fuel and food will be provided, what language they will speak, and what radio frequencies will be used,\" he wrote. \"Few, if any, such measures are in place for response to an epidemic,\" Gates added. \"Because there was so little preparation, the world lost time in the current epidemic trying to answer basic questions about combating Ebola. In the next epidemic, such delays could result in a global disaster.\" READ MORE: Good news, chocolate lovers: The more you eat the lower your risk of heart disease Common heartburn medications linked to greater risk of heart attack 5 things about trans fats and the FDA\u2019s proposed phase out DDT's breast cancer legacy: Daughters of those exposed have 4x higher risk of breast cancer"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Bill and Melinda Gates speak with parents whose children are participating in a\u00a0malaria vaccine trial at the Bagamoyo District Hospital in Tanzania on June 28, 2011. (Photo courtesy Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)\nHealth officials in Thailand on\u00a0Friday confirmed the country's\u00a0first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in a 75-year-old businessman from Oman. With the death of a MERS patient\u00a0in Germany and the \"superspreading event\" in South Korea that has claimed 24 lives, the crisis has prompted calls for a better early warning and response process\u00a0to stop the spread\u00a0of\u00a0infectious diseases that threaten the planet.\nAt the top of many researchers' lists are a more structured way to prioritize, fund and work on\u00a0vaccines for such pathogens. MERS was first discovered in 2012, and while scientists understand its molecular structure,\u00a0there has been little progress toward a vaccine due to lack of interest from pharmaceutical companies.\n[Why MERS spread so far, so fast in South Korea]\n\"The question is: How long are we going to wait around and just follow these outbreaks before we get serious about making vaccines?\" Adrian Hill, a professor and director at the Jenner Institute at Britain's Oxford University, told Reuters.\nMatthew Frieman, an immunologist at University of Maryland School of Medicine, has been working on such a vaccine since 2013, according to the International Business Times. He said he's still looking for partner to begin clinical trials.\n\u201cThere's nothing standing in our way from pushing this forward other than the money and the will to do it,\u201d he said to the IBT.\nWith the MERS death toll climbing higher in South Korea, here's what scientists know about the virus, how it spreads, and whether it poses a global threat.\nDuring the Ebola crisis, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates described the need for a way for governments to join together in manner similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).\n\u201cIt\u2019s instructive\u00a0to compare our preparations for epidemics with our preparations\u00a0for another sort of global threat -- war,\u201d Gates\u00a0wrote in the\u00a0The New England Journal of Medicine\u00a0in April.\n[Ebola\u2019s lessons, painfully learned at great cost in dollars and human lives]\nWarning that there\u00a0is a significant chance that an epidemic of a substantially more infectious disease will occur sometime in the next 20 years, Gates said Ebola is far from the most infectious disease we know.\n\"Although the system is not perfect, NATO countries participate in joint exercises in which they work out logistics such as how fuel and food will be provided, what language they will speak, and what radio frequencies will be used,\" he wrote.\n\"Few, if any, such measures are in place for response to an epidemic,\" Gates added. \"Because there was so little preparation, the world lost time in the current epidemic trying to answer basic questions about combating Ebola. In the next epidemic, such delays could result in a global disaster.\"\nREAD MORE:\nGood news, chocolate lovers: The more you eat the lower your risk of heart disease\nCommon heartburn medications linked to greater risk of heart attack\n5 things about trans fats and the FDA\u2019s proposed phase out\nDDT's breast cancer legacy: Daughters of those exposed have 4x higher risk of breast cancer"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "63675b71c68348466223463d15463558_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "63675b71c68348466223463d15463558_0", "title": "The deadly MERS virus is spreading at a terrifying rate", "text": "On Thursday, the Saudi Arabian health ministry confirmed 13 more cases of patients contracting MERS-CoV, the acronym for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, as well as two more deaths. MERS-CoV is an infectious disease with no known cure and is considered more deadly than SARS--which killed some 800 people during a 2002-2003 outbreak that first started in China. Since 2012, 83 people have died and 285 people have contracted the virus in the Kingdom alone. It has spread to the neighboring United Arab Emirates. Reports also suggest pilgrims from as far afield as Malaysia and the Philippines contracted the virus while on hajj in Mecca. What's been truly alarming has been the recent surge in numbers of those infected, with more confirmed reports so far this year than in all of 2013. Ian Mackay, an epidemiologist at the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre at the University of Queensland, has been monitoring the spread of the disease. In the chart he tweeted below, note the dramatic spike in cases in the past month (KSA is the acronym for the Kingdom). How does the view look from up there #MERS? More at VDU blog... http://t.co/d041Bqykk6 http://t.co/3AKpWY7eHQ The Saudi health ministry has been criticized for inadequately dealing with the situation. A lack of data shared by the Saudis has made it difficult for experts like Mackay as well as monitors at the WHO to study whether the virus has mutated and become more easily transmissible between humans--a development that could pave the way for a pandemic. Public health experts and epidemiologists are still struggling to understand where the virus originated and how it spreads--with most suggesting it emerged through contact with camels, and others pointing to bats as prime carriers of the virus. On Monday, the Saudi government removed health minister Abdullah al-Rabiah from his post, without offering an official explanation. His replacement, Adel Fakieh, promised \"transparency and to promptly provide the media and society with the information needed.\" But that may not soothe local fears. In Jeddah, where the majority of cases have been reported, four doctors resigned earlier this month after refusing to treat MERS-CoV patients. That's hardly a vote of confidence as international health officials and Saudi Arabia's panicked neighbors look to the Kingdom to stave off a potential global outbreak."}], "old": [{"_id": "63675b71c68348466223463d15463558_0", "title": "The deadly MERS virus is spreading at a terrifying rate", "text": "How does the view look from up there #MERS? More at VDU blog... http://t.co/d041Bqykk6 http://t.co/3AKpWY7eHQ"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "On Thursday, the Saudi Arabian health ministry confirmed 13 more cases of patients contracting MERS-CoV, the acronym for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, as well as two more deaths. MERS-CoV is an infectious disease with no known cure and is considered more deadly than SARS--which killed some 800 people during a 2002-2003 outbreak that first started in China. Since 2012, 83 people have died and 285 people have contracted the virus in the Kingdom alone. It has spread to the neighboring United Arab Emirates. Reports also suggest pilgrims from as far afield as Malaysia and the Philippines contracted the virus while on\u00a0hajj\u00a0in Mecca.\nWhat's been truly alarming has been the recent surge in numbers of those infected, with more confirmed reports so far this year than in all of 2013. Ian Mackay, an epidemiologist at the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre at the University of Queensland, has been monitoring the spread of the disease. In the chart he tweeted below, note the dramatic spike in cases in the past month (KSA is the acronym for the Kingdom).\nHow does the view look from up there #MERS? More at VDU blog... http://t.co/d041Bqykk6 http://t.co/3AKpWY7eHQ\nThe Saudi health ministry has been criticized for inadequately dealing with the situation. A lack of data shared by the Saudis has made it difficult for experts like Mackay as well as monitors at the WHO to study whether the virus has mutated and become more easily transmissible between humans--a development that could pave the way for a pandemic.\nPublic health experts and epidemiologists are still struggling to understand where the virus originated and how it spreads--with most suggesting it emerged through contact with camels, and others\u00a0pointing to bats\u00a0as prime carriers of the virus.\nOn Monday, the Saudi government removed health minister Abdullah al-Rabiah from his post, without offering an official explanation. His replacement, Adel Fakieh, promised \"transparency and to promptly provide the media and society with the information needed.\" But that may not soothe local fears. In Jeddah, where the majority of cases have been reported, four doctors resigned earlier this month after refusing to treat MERS-CoV patients. That's hardly a vote of confidence as international health officials and Saudi Arabia's panicked neighbors look to the Kingdom to stave off a potential global outbreak."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "656710c87dbf03c83ebd55e9f38e2f95_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "656710c87dbf03c83ebd55e9f38e2f95_0", "title": "First MERS victim has fully recovered", "text": "As we wait for details on the second case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the United States, here's some good news about the first one: The patient was released from a hospital Friday and is considered fully recovered, according to the Indiana Department of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference on the new case, a patient in Florida. But health officials reported Saturday that the first case, an unnamed U.S. health-care worker who had been living and working in Saudi Arabia, is fine. \u201cThe patient has tested negative for MERS, is no longer symptomatic and poses no threat to the community,\u201d said Alan Kumar, chief medical information officer at the Community Hospital in Munster, Ind. The hospital talked to the CDC before releasing the patient, the hospital said. MERS comes from the same family, coronavirus, The virus's incubation period \u2014 the time between exposure and development of symptoms \u2014 is about five days, similar to SARS. While experts do not know how the MERS virus is spread, the CDC advises Americans to protect themselves by washing their hands often, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touches to their eyes, nose and/or mouth with unwashed hands, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. People who develop fever and cough or shortness of breath within 14 days after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula should see a doctor. The Indiana patient traveled from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to London on April 24, and then to Chicago by air. He took a bus to the Highland, Ind. area and went to Community Hospital in Munster, Ind. after falling ill. He was kept in isolation until he recovered. Authorities contacted most of the passengers on the flights and the bus, and none are symptomatic, according to the Indiana health department. So far there has been no clear evidence that the virus can be transmitted by casual contact. Hospital staff who had direct contact with the patient are still off duty and remain in temporary isolation in their homes until lab results confirm they are not infected. Related: CDC confirms first case of deadly MERS virus in Indiana"}], "old": [{"_id": "656710c87dbf03c83ebd55e9f38e2f95_0", "title": "First MERS victim has fully recovered", "text": "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference on the new case, a patient in Florida. But health officials reported Saturday that the first case, an unnamed U.S. health-care worker who had been living and working in Saudi Arabia, is fine. \u201cThe patient has tested negative for MERS, is no longer symptomatic and poses no threat to the community,\u201d said Alan Kumar, chief medical information officer at the Community Hospital in Munster, Ind. The hospital talked to the CDC before releasing the patient, the hospital said. MERS comes from the same family, coronavirus, The virus's incubation period \u2014 the time between exposure and development of symptoms \u2014 is about five days, similar to SARS. While experts do not know how the MERS virus is spread, the CDC advises Americans to protect themselves by washing their hands often, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touches to their eyes, nose and/or mouth with unwashed hands, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. People who develop fever and cough or shortness of breath within 14 days after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula should see a doctor. The Indiana patient traveled from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to London on April 24, and then to Chicago by air. He took a bus to the Highland, Ind. area and went to Community Hospital in Munster, Ind. after falling ill. He was kept in isolation until he recovered. Authorities contacted most of the passengers on the flights and the bus, and none are symptomatic, according to the Indiana health department. So far there has been no clear evidence that the virus can be transmitted by casual contact. Hospital staff who had direct contact with the patient are still off duty and remain in temporary isolation in their homes until lab results confirm they are not infected."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "\u00a0\nAs we wait for details on the second case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the United States, here's some good news about the first one: The patient was released from a hospital Friday and is considered fully recovered, according to the Indiana Department of Health.\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference on the new case, a patient in Florida. But health officials reported Saturday that the first case, an unnamed U.S. health-care worker who had been living and working in Saudi Arabia, is fine.\n\u201cThe patient has tested negative for MERS, is no longer symptomatic and poses no threat to the community,\u201d said Alan Kumar, chief medical information officer at the Community Hospital in Munster, Ind. The hospital talked to the CDC before releasing the patient, the hospital said.\nMERS comes from the same family, coronavirus,\nThe virus's incubation period \u2014 the time between exposure and development of symptoms \u2014 is about five days, similar to SARS. While experts do not know how the MERS virus is spread, the CDC advises Americans to protect themselves by washing their hands often, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touches to their eyes, nose and/or mouth with unwashed hands, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. People who develop fever and cough or shortness of breath within 14 days after traveling from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula should see a doctor.\nThe Indiana patient traveled from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to London on April 24, and then to Chicago by air. He took a bus to the Highland, Ind. area and went to Community Hospital in Munster, Ind. after falling ill. He was kept in isolation until he recovered. Authorities contacted most of the passengers on the flights and the bus, and none are symptomatic, according to the Indiana health department. So far there has been no clear evidence that the virus can be transmitted by casual contact.\nHospital staff who had direct contact with the patient are still off duty and remain in temporary isolation in their homes until lab results confirm they are not infected.\nRelated: CDC confirms first case of deadly MERS virus in Indiana"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "6Q677F6XI5HVVMOM2JPU3BPKGU_4", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6Q677F6XI5HVVMOM2JPU3BPKGU_4", "title": "How is the coronavirus outbreak going to end? Here\u2019s how similar epidemics played out.", "text": "and left young people relatively unscathed. Florian Krammer, a virologist specializing in influenzas, noted that the world was vastly different in 1918. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have the tools to diagnose diseases or antibiotics to fight secondary infections. Hospitals back then were places where you went to die, not to get treatment. And in 1918, the world was at war. And a lot of the people infected were soldiers stuck in trenches,\u201d said Krammer, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. \u201cThat\u2019s hopefully not how this is going to play out.\u201d Ultimately, how many people die of coronavirus depends on how widely it spreads, how prepared we are and what the virus\u2019s true fatality rate turns out to be. If the coronavirus does indeed become ubiquitous like H1N1, it will be crucial to develop a vaccine. After the 2009 outbreak, experts developed an H1N1 vaccine that was included in flu shots people received in subsequent years. This helped protect especially vulnerable populations during following waves of infection. In the immediate future, anti-viral drugs may help, and labs around the world are testing their effectiveness against the coronavirus. No one knows if the coronavirus will be affected by seasons like the flu, despite President Trump\u2019s claims that it could \u201cgo away\u201d in April with warmer temperatures. \u201cWe\u2019re still learning a lot about the virus,\u201d said WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove. \u201cRight now there\u2019s no reason to think this virus would act differently in different climate settings. We\u2019ll have to see what happens as this progresses.\u201d Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they spread from animals to humans. Experts believe SARS spread from bats to civet cats to humans. The deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012 was probably transmitted from bats to camels to humans. With the coronavirus, no one knows what animals caused the current outbreak. And it\u2019s a mystery scientists will need to solve to prevent it from repeating in the future. One prime suspect is an endangered creature called the pangolin that looks like a cross between an anteater and an armadillo and whose scales are trafficked illegally. \u201cWith SARS, once they figured out the animals responsible in China, they were able to start culling them from the live markets,\u201d said Vineet Menachery, a virologist at University of Texas Medical Branch. \u201cIt\u2019s like a burst water pipe. You have to find the source in order to shut it off.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "As stock markets plunge, travel is disrupted and new coronavirus infections are diagnosed across the United States, one question on everyone\u2019s mind is how the outbreak is going to end.\nNo one knows for sure, but virologists say there are clues from similar outbreaks. Here are three scenarios:\nWhen severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) hit Asia in 2002, it was pretty scary \u2014 with a fatality rate of about 10 percent and no drugs shown to be effective against it. (The current coronavirus by comparison has a fatality rate that has been estimated ranging from less than 1 to 3.4 percent.) But within months, SARS was brought under control, and for the most part stamped out, by international cooperation and strict, old-school public health measures such as isolation, quarantine and contact tracing.\nThis would be an ideal outcome. But the difference is that SARS had more severe symptoms than the current coronavirus, so people went to the hospital shortly after being infected.\nCases of coronavirus will be harder to catch and isolate, said Stuart Weston, a postdoctoral virologist at University of Maryland. Weston is one of a small group of researchers who have received samples of the coronavirus and are studying it. Weston and other experts warn the outbreak in the United States and other countries is more widespread than tracked because many people with mild symptoms don\u2019t know they have been infected.\nOne of the grim lessons from the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa is how an epidemic can grow when it hits countries with weak health infrastructures. This is why the World Health Organization and others have been preparing countries in sub-Saharan Africa for the coronavirus, even though few cases so far have been reported there.\nCompared to the coronavirus, Ebola was less contagious and transmitted mainly by bodily fluids. The coronavirus can be transmitted in coughed and sneezed respiratory droplets that linger on surfaces. And yet Ebola infected more than 28,000 people and caused more than 11,000 deaths. Ebola is more lethal, and shortages of staff and supplies, poverty, delays by leaders and distrust of government exacerbated the outbreak.\nWHO leaders have been urging countries to prepare. On Friday, the organization raised its assessment of coronavirus to the highest level. \u201cThis is a reality check for every government on the planet: Wake up. Get ready. This virus may be on its way, and you need to be ready,\u201d said Michael Ryan, WHO\u2019s director of health emergencies. \u201cTo wait, to be complacent, to be caught unawares at this point, it\u2019s really not much of an excuse.\u201d\nThis is in essence what happened with the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, also called swine flu. It spread quickly, eventually to an estimated 11 to 21 percent of the global population. The WHO declared it a pandemic, and there was widespread fear.\nH1N1 turned out to be milder than initially feared, causing little more than runny noses and coughs in most people. And H1N1 is now so commonplace, it\u2019s simply seen as a part of the seasonal flus that come and go every year around the globe.\nEarly estimates on the fatality rate for H1N1 were much higher than the roughly 0.01 to 0.03 percent it turned out to be. Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that H1N1 killed 12,469 people in the United States during that first-year period from 2009 to 2010, infected 60.8 million cases and caused 274,304 hospitalizations. The true number is hard to ascertain because many who die of flu-related causes aren\u2019t tested to see whether it was H1N1 or another flu strain. As context, the seasonal flu has killed at least 18,000 people in the United States so far this season, according to the CDC.\nH1N1 is a particularly good parallel, epidemiologists say, because while it had a lower fatality rate than SARS or MERS, it was deadlier because of how infectious and widespread it became.\nNot to be alarmist, but another possible parallel might be the 1918 Spanish flu, which had a 2.5 percent fatality rate, eerily close to what\u2019s estimated for the coronavirus.\nCDC calls Spanish flu \u201cthe deadliest pandemic flu virus in human history,\u201d because it infected roughly one third of the world\u2019s population and killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Spanish flu was deadly to young and old, while coronavirus has proven to be most lethal to the elderly and left young people relatively unscathed.\nFlorian Krammer, a virologist specializing in influenzas, noted that the world was vastly different in 1918.\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t have the tools to diagnose diseases or antibiotics to fight secondary infections. Hospitals back then were places where you went to die, not to get treatment. And in 1918, the world was at war. And a lot of the people infected were soldiers stuck in trenches,\u201d said Krammer, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. \u201cThat\u2019s hopefully not how this is going to play out.\u201d\nUltimately, how many people die of coronavirus depends on how widely it spreads, how prepared we are and what the virus\u2019s true fatality rate turns out to be.\nIf the coronavirus does indeed become ubiquitous like H1N1, it will be crucial to develop a vaccine. After the 2009 outbreak, experts developed an H1N1 vaccine that was included in flu shots people received in subsequent years. This helped protect especially vulnerable populations during following waves of infection.\nIn the immediate future, anti-viral drugs may help, and labs around the world are testing their effectiveness against the coronavirus.\nNo one knows if the coronavirus will be affected by seasons like the flu, despite President Trump\u2019s claims that it could \u201cgo away\u201d in April with warmer temperatures.\n\u201cWe\u2019re still learning a lot about the virus,\u201d said WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove. \u201cRight now there\u2019s no reason to think this virus would act differently in different climate settings. We\u2019ll have to see what happens as this progresses.\u201d\nCoronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they spread from animals to humans. Experts believe SARS spread from bats to civet cats to humans. The deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012 was probably transmitted from bats to camels to humans. With the coronavirus, no one knows what animals caused the current outbreak. And it\u2019s a mystery scientists will need to solve to prevent it from repeating in the future.\nOne prime suspect is an endangered creature called the pangolin that looks like a cross between an anteater and an armadillo and whose scales are trafficked illegally.\n\u201cWith SARS, once they figured out the animals responsible in China, they were able to start culling them from the live markets,\u201d said Vineet Menachery, a virologist at University of Texas Medical Branch. \u201cIt\u2019s like a burst water pipe. You have to find the source in order to shut it off.\u201d"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "875cee393f803222f7518acc39471996_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "875cee393f803222f7518acc39471996_0", "title": "South Korea shuts down primary schools as spread of MERS alarms public", "text": "The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus is seen in an undated transmission electron micrograph from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). (Reuters) South Korea shut down 200 primary schools, canceled some public events and put more than 1,300 people in various levels of quarantine, acknowledging on Wednesday that the continuing spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome within its borders had become a crisis. Health officials announced Wednesday that five more people had been diagnosed, bringing the total infected with the virus to 30. Two patients have died. That makes the outbreak the largest outside the Arabian Peninsula, where the disease emerged in 2012. The virus, which primarily causes flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough, kills an estimated three to four out of every 10 patients infected. The situation in South Korea has alarmed the global health community because the virus has spread so fast and wide from a single individual. Other countries have imported cases in the same manner but the virus infected only a few others. How did MERS get to South Korea and why is it spreading so fast? The first known case, called an \u201cindex\u201d case, was reported on May 20. It involved a 68-year-old man who was returning from a 16-day business trip to four Middle Eastern countries. The man was asymptomatic during his return flight but was subsequently treated at two different out-patient clinics and two hospitals which created a lot of opportunities for the virus to spread. Health care workers did not suspect the man of having MERS so he was not put in isolation. Others who have been infected include health care workers, other patients, family members and visitors. The World Health Organization reported that some of the cases were patients in the same room or ward as the man, and that their exposure may have been from 5 minutes to a few hours. Seoul\u2019s mayor says the 35th identified case of MERS in the country is a doctor who had contact with another MERS patient. The country has at least 41 infections, the highest of anywhere outside the Middle East. Two recent cases represent an alarming development \u2014a third generation of transmission. That is, a patient who did not have contact with the index patient but came into contact with an intermediary who had been exposed to the virus. \"That raised fears that infections could now spread"}], "old": [{"_id": "875cee393f803222f7518acc39471996_0", "title": "South Korea shuts down primary schools as spread of MERS alarms public", "text": "The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus is seen in an undated transmission electron micrograph from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). (Reuters) South Korea shut down 200 primary schools, canceled some public events and put more than 1,300 people in various levels of quarantine, acknowledging on Wednesday that the continuing spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome within its borders had become a crisis. Health officials announced Wednesday that five more people had been diagnosed, bringing the total infected with the virus to 30. Two patients have died. That makes the outbreak the largest outside the Arabian Peninsula, where the disease emerged in 2012. The virus, which primarily causes flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough, kills an estimated three to four out of every 10 patients infected. The situation in South Korea has alarmed the global health community because the virus has spread so fast and wide from a single individual. Other countries have imported cases in the same manner but the virus infected only a few others. How did MERS get to South Korea and why is it spreading so fast? The first known case, called an \u201cindex\u201d case, was reported on May 20. It involved a 68-year-old man who was returning from a 16-day business trip to four Middle Eastern countries. The man was asymptomatic during his return flight but was subsequently treated at two different out-patient clinics and two hospitals which created a lot of opportunities for the virus to spread. Health care workers did not suspect the man of having MERS so he was not put in isolation. Seoul\u2019s mayor says the 35th identified case of MERS in the country is a doctor who had contact with another MERS patient. The country has at least 41 infections, the highest of anywhere outside the Middle East. Most of the primary schools that were shut down are in Gyeonggi province which surrounds the capital of Seoul and where many of the cases have been. The South Korean government has come under criticism for their handling of the situation, including its refusal to disclose the names of the health care facilities where the first patient was treated."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus is seen in an undated transmission electron micrograph from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). (Reuters)\nSouth Korea shut\u00a0down 200 primary schools, canceled\u00a0some public events and put\u00a0more than 1,300 people in various levels of quarantine, acknowledging on Wednesday that the\u00a0continuing\u00a0spread of\u00a0Middle East Respiratory Syndrome\u00a0within its borders had become a crisis.\nHealth officials announced Wednesday that five more people had been diagnosed, bringing the total infected with the virus to 30. Two patients have died. That makes the outbreak the largest outside the Arabian Peninsula, where the disease emerged in 2012. The virus, which primarily causes flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough, kills an estimated three to four out of every 10 patients infected.\nThe situation in South Korea has alarmed the global health community because the virus has spread so fast and wide from a single individual. Other countries have imported cases in the same manner but the virus infected only a few others.\nHow did MERS get to South Korea and why is it spreading so fast?\nThe first known case, called an \u201cindex\u201d case, was reported on May 20. It involved a 68-year-old man who was returning from a 16-day business trip to four Middle Eastern countries. The man was\u00a0asymptomatic during his return flight but was subsequently treated at two different out-patient clinics and two hospitals which created a lot of opportunities for the virus to spread. Health care workers did not suspect the man of having MERS so he was not put in isolation.\nOthers who have been infected include health care workers, other patients, family members and visitors. The World Health Organization reported that some of the cases were patients in the same room or ward as the man, and that their\u00a0exposure may have been from\u00a05 minutes to a few hours.\nSeoul\u2019s mayor says the 35th identified case of MERS in the country is a doctor who had contact with another MERS patient. The country has at least 41 infections, the highest of anywhere outside the Middle East.\nTwo recent cases represent an alarming development \u2014a third generation of transmission. That is, a patient who did not have contact with the index patient but came into contact with an intermediary who had been exposed to the virus. \"That raised fears that infections could now spread exponentially from all people who test positive,\" Korea's JoongAng Daily reported.\nMost of the primary schools that were shut down are in Gyeonggi province which surrounds the capital of Seoul and where many of the cases have been.\nPeter Ben Embarek, a\u00a0World Health Organization working on MERS, told\u00a0Science magazine that the simplest explanation for the \"superspreading\" event of the virus in South Korea may be a lapse in infection control measures at the hospital. It's also possible the strain that was imported may be different from others or that Koreans are more susceptible to the disease.\nThe South Korean government has come under criticism for their handling of the situation, including its refusal\u00a0to disclose the names of the health care facilities where the first patient was treated.\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "8edb82ae-557d-471a-ad16-545d0073caed_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "8edb82ae-557d-471a-ad16-545d0073caed_0", "title": "South Korea\u2019s Park is criticized for postponing U.S. visit", "text": "South Korea announced two more deaths from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, bringing the total to nine. TOKYO \u2014 But Park decided she had to stay home as new cases of the disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome, continue to emerge despite government predictions that the worst is over. The move is \u201cdesigned to take care of public safety, including putting a quick end to MERS,\u201d Kim Sung-woo, Park\u2019s spokesman, told reporters, according to the Yonhap News Agency. Park has delayed the trip as \u201cthe people\u2019s safety is the top priority,\u201d and she will try to ease public concern at home, Kim said. Park was due to leave Sunday for the United States, where she was to hold meetings with President Obama on Tuesday and visit Houston. In Washington, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said that \u201cPresident Obama looks forward to welcoming President Park to the White House at a mutually convenient time.\u201d The country has taken emergency measures to stop the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Two more people have died from the virus in South Korea, making a total of nine dead, health officials reported. They said 14 more cases were confirmed Thursday, pushing the number of infections to 122. Medical experts are cautioning that this outbreak is far from a pandemic, but South Koreans are alarmed. Park\u2019s decision comes amid vociferous criticism of her government\u2019s handling of the outbreak. The government also faced fire for its response to the Sewol ferry disaster. Park was further chastised for embarking on a trip to South America on the first anniversary of the disaster. But some critics questioned the message she was sending by staying home. She had previously told people not to \u201coverreact\u201d and said that everyone should \u201ccooperate to ensure that economic activities will not be weakened.\u201d A Realmeter poll published shortly before the announcement found that 53 percent thought Park should delay the trip, while 39 percent said she should continue with it. Fearful of contagion, South Koreans have been avoiding enclosed public places such as subway cars, shopping centers and movie theaters in droves, sparking concerns about the impact on the country's economy, which is already struggling. \u201cIf this atmosphere continues for more than a month, the domestic economy is expected to enter a slump as it did after the ferry disaster last year,\u201d the Chosun Ilbo, South Korea\u2019s largest newspaper, said in an editorial. Almost 2,500"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "South Korea announced two more deaths from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, bringing the total to nine.\nTOKYO \u2014\nBut Park decided she had to stay home as new cases of the disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome, continue to emerge despite government predictions that the worst is over.\nThe move is \u201cdesigned to take care of public safety, including putting a quick end to MERS,\u201d Kim Sung-woo, Park\u2019s spokesman, told reporters, according to the Yonhap News Agency. Park has delayed the trip as \u201cthe people\u2019s safety is the top priority,\u201d and she will try to ease public concern at home, Kim said.\nPark was due to leave Sunday for the United States, where she was to hold meetings with President Obama on Tuesday and visit Houston.\nIn Washington, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said that \u201cPresident Obama looks forward to welcoming President Park to the White House at a mutually convenient time.\u201d\nThe country has taken emergency measures to stop the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.\nTwo more people have died from the virus in South Korea, making a total of nine dead, health officials reported. They said 14 more cases were confirmed Thursday, pushing the number of infections to 122. Medical experts are cautioning that this outbreak is far from a pandemic, but South Koreans are alarmed.\nPark\u2019s decision comes amid vociferous criticism of her government\u2019s handling of the outbreak. The government also faced fire for its response to the Sewol ferry disaster. Park was further chastised for embarking on a trip to South America on the first anniversary of the disaster.\nBut some critics questioned the message she was sending by staying home. She had previously told people not to \u201coverreact\u201d and said that everyone should \u201ccooperate to ensure that economic activities will not be weakened.\u201d\nA Realmeter poll published shortly before the announcement found that 53 percent thought Park should delay the trip, while 39 percent said she should continue with it.\nFearful of contagion, South Koreans have been avoiding enclosed public places such as subway cars, shopping centers and movie theaters in droves, sparking concerns about the impact on the country's economy, which is already struggling.\n\u201cIf this atmosphere continues for more than a month, the domestic economy is expected to enter a slump as it did after the ferry disaster last year,\u201d the Chosun Ilbo, South Korea\u2019s largest newspaper, said in an editorial.\nAlmost 2,500 schools have closed to try to minimize chances of infection.\nA World Health Organization team that arrived in Seoul on Monday released its first recommendations, together with South Korea\u2019s Health Ministry, on Wednesday,  proposing that schools be reopened because they have not been linked to transmission of MERS in South Korea or in the Middle Eastern countries where it originated.\nAll of the transmissions have happened at hospitals, leading Choi Kyung-hwan, acting prime minister, to ask people not to visit family or friends in hospitals.\nBut he also warned people against unnecessary panic. \u201cThe government asks that people do not hold exaggerated fears or concerns over MERS, and that they do not act based on such groundless fears, such as reducing their spending or avoiding visits to areas that have reported confirmed cases of MERS,\u201d he said.\nRead more:\nSouth Korean President Park Geun-hye answers questions\nSouth Korea, at behest of conservative Christians, bans LGBT march\nIn South Korea, journalists fear a government clampdown on the press"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "8f42337b82cda6ebda99b1c647743b5c_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "8f42337b82cda6ebda99b1c647743b5c_0", "title": "South Korean begins experimental MERS plasma trial, considers economic stimulus", "text": "South Korean elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. (Ahn Young-joon/Associated Press) Weeks into a crisis that has killed 16 people, infected more than 150 and left thousands more under strict quarantine, South Korean officials have begun testing an experimental plasma treatment on two patients who have the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. The Korea Times reported that a 35-year-old police officer and a 38-year-old worker at the Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul received blood plasma from a man who had fully recovered from the virus. Both men are in critical condition. The treatment is similar to one that has been used, successfully in some cases, on a limited number of those infected by the Ebola virus. \"Blood plasma injection is not a medically proven treatment, but is often carried out in the absence of other treatments available,\" an official at Hallym University Medical Center told the news organization. \"The treatment was carried out in an attempt to improve the dire condition the two are in. Implementing the treatment is an option so long as it is done with the consent of the donor and the receiver.\" Plasma therapy was used more widely 50 years ago, but it lost popularity because of modern developments in vaccines and more effective treatments. Its advantage is that it's fast and inexpensive, and doesn't require the years and millions of dollars it usually takes to find other ways to fight contagious diseases. The South Korean government went on the offensive on the economic front this week as stocks closed close to an 11-week low on Tuesday. Officials pledged 400 billion won ($360 million) to help businesses and hospitals and an additional 50.5 billion ($45 million) to fund health measures. Korean Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan said a supplementary budget is being considered to mitigate downside risks to the economy as a whole. \"The government is doing all it can to quickly contain the outbreak,\" he told lawmakers, according to the Yonhap news agency. \"There is a need to guard against excessive anxiety and to limit the economic fallout.\""}], "old": [{"_id": "8f42337b82cda6ebda99b1c647743b5c_0", "title": "South Korean begins experimental MERS plasma trial, considers economic stimulus", "text": "South Korean elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. (Ahn Young-joon/Associated Press) Weeks into a crisis that has killed 16 people, infected more than 150 and left thousands more under strict quarantine, South Korean officials have begun testing an experimental plasma treatment on two patients who have the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus. The Korea Times reported that a 35-year-old police officer and a 38-year-old worker at the Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul received blood plasma from a man who had fully recovered from the virus. Both men are in critical condition. The treatment is similar to one that has been used, successfully in some cases, on a limited number of those infected by the Ebola virus. Plasma therapy was used more widely 50 years ago, but it lost popularity because of modern developments in vaccines and more effective treatments. Its advantage is that it's fast and inexpensive, and doesn't require the years and millions of dollars it usually takes to find other ways to fight contagious diseases. The South Korean government went on the offensive on the economic front this week as stocks closed close to an 11-week low on Tuesday. Officials pledged 400 billion won ($360 million) to help businesses and hospitals and an additional 50.5 billion ($45 million) to fund health measures. Korean Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan said a supplementary budget is being considered to mitigate downside risks to the economy as a whole. \"The government is doing all it can to quickly contain the outbreak,\" he told lawmakers, according to the Yonhap news agency. \"There is a need to guard against excessive anxiety and to limit the economic fallout.\""}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "South Korean elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)\u00a0virus. (Ahn Young-joon/Associated Press)\nWeeks into a crisis that has killed 16 people, infected more than 150 and left\u00a0thousands more under strict quarantine, South Korean officials have begun testing an\u00a0experimental plasma treatment on two patients who have the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus.\nThe Korea Times reported that a 35-year-old police officer and a 38-year-old worker at the Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul received blood plasma from a man who had fully recovered from the virus. Both men are in critical condition. The treatment is similar to one that has been used, successfully in some cases, on a limited number of those infected by the Ebola virus.\n\"Blood plasma injection is not a medically proven treatment, but is often carried out in the absence of other treatments available,\" an official at Hallym University Medical Center told the news organization.\u00a0\"The treatment was carried out in an attempt to improve the dire condition the two are in. Implementing the treatment is an option so long as it is done with the consent of the donor and the receiver.\"\nPlasma therapy was used more widely 50 years ago, but it lost popularity because of modern developments in vaccines and more effective treatments.\u00a0Its advantage is that it's fast and inexpensive, and doesn't require the years and millions of dollars it usually takes to find other ways to fight contagious diseases.\nThe South Korean government went on the offensive on the economic front this week as stocks closed close to an 11-week low on Tuesday. Officials pledged 400 billion won ($360 million)\u00a0 to help businesses and hospitals and an additional 50.5 billion ($45 million) to fund health measures.\u00a0Korean Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan said a supplementary budget is being considered to mitigate downside risks to the economy as a whole.\n\"The government is doing all it can to quickly contain the outbreak,\"\u00a0he told lawmakers, according to the Yonhap news agency. \"There is a need to guard against excessive anxiety and to limit the economic fallout.\"\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "949bd7be-d84a-11e2-9df4-895344c13c30_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "949bd7be-d84a-11e2-9df4-895344c13c30_0", "title": "SARS-like virus has high mortality rate in Saudi Arabia, specialists say", "text": "A new virus responsible for an outbreak of respiratory illness in the Middle East may be more deadly than SARS, according to a team of infectious disease specialists who recently investigated a set of cases in Saudi Arabia. Of 23 confirmed cases in April, 15 people died \u2014 an \u201cextremely high\u201d fatality rate of 65 percent, according to Johns Hopkins senior epidemiologist Trish Perl, a member of the team that analyzed the spread of the virus through four Saudi hospitals. Saudi officials said that as of Wednesday, 49 people have contracted the disease and 32 have died. The infectious disease experts, who published their findings online Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported that infection occurred by way of person-to-person contact and poses an especially serious risk because it is easily transmitted in hospital settings. Worldwide, the overall death rate from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus \u2014 or MERS-CoV \u2014 is at 59 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That rate is expected to bounce around as new clusters of infection develop. The vast majority of MERS-CoV infections have been in Saudi Arabia. No cases have been reported in the United States, but small clusters of infections have appeared in Britain, France, Italy and Tunisia. Since the virus first emerged in April 2012 with two fatal cases in Jordan, 64 people have been infected and 38 have died around the world. The virus comes from the same family as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003. Both viruses have a distincthaloed appearance when viewed under a microscope, and they typically target the respiratory tract. Like SARS, MERS starts with a fever and mild cough that eventually progress to pneumonia. At first, MERS does not look out of the ordinary compared with other, less serious types of respiratory infection. But Perl said doctors should start taking careful note of a patient\u2019s travel history, since all reported cases have been linked to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The team of specialists mapped the likely trail of infection that spanned four Saudi hospitals in just over a month. Patients stationed in the same hospital room or ward as an infected person, or even taken care of by the same nurse, were likely to be exposed to the virus. Out of the 23 infected, hospital"}], "old": [{"_id": "949bd7be-d84a-11e2-9df4-895344c13c30_0", "title": "SARS-like virus has high mortality rate in Saudi Arabia, specialists say", "text": "Of 23 confirmed cases in April, 15 people died \u2014 an \u201cextremely high\u201d fatality rate of 65 percent, according to Johns Hopkins senior epidemiologist Trish Perl, a member of the team that analyzed the spread of the virus through four Saudi hospitals. Saudi officials said that as of Wednesday, 49 people have contracted the disease and 32 have died. The infectious disease experts, who published their findings online Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported that infection occurred by way of person-to-person contact and poses an especially serious risk because it is easily transmitted in hospital settings. Worldwide, the overall death rate from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus \u2014 or MERS-CoV \u2014 is at 59 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That rate is expected to bounce around as new clusters of infection develop. The vast majority of MERS-CoV infections have been in Saudi Arabia. No cases have been reported in the United States, but small clusters of infections have appeared in Britain, France, Italy and Tunisia. Since the virus first emerged in April 2012 with two fatal cases in Jordan, 64 people have been infected and 38 have died around the world. The virus comes from the same family as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003. At first, MERS does not look out of the ordinary compared with other, less serious types of respiratory infection. But Perl said doctors should start taking careful note of a patient\u2019s travel history, since all reported cases have been linked to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The team of specialists mapped the likely trail of infection that spanned four Saudi hospitals in just over a month. Patients stationed in the same hospital room or ward as an infected person, or even taken care of by the same nurse, were likely to be exposed to the virus. Out of the 23 infected, hospital patients made up the majority of cases, but the virus also spread to visiting family members and hospital staff. The incubation period of the virus \u2014 the time between exposure and development of symptoms \u2014 was similar to SARS, about five days. During this period, the researchers warned, infection may be possible. While the high mortality rate is alarming, Perl said that outbreaks tend to have death rates that are high"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "A new virus responsible for an outbreak of respiratory illness in the Middle East may be more deadly than SARS, according to a team of infectious disease specialists who recently investigated a set of cases in Saudi Arabia.\nOf 23 confirmed cases in April, 15 people died \u2014 an \u201cextremely high\u201d fatality rate of 65 percent, according to Johns Hopkins senior epidemiologist Trish Perl, a member of the team that analyzed the spread of the virus through four Saudi hospitals.\nSaudi officials said that as of Wednesday, 49 people have contracted the disease and 32 have died.\nThe infectious disease experts, who published their findings online Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported that infection occurred by way of person-to-person contact and poses an especially serious risk because it is easily transmitted in hospital settings.\nWorldwide, the overall death rate from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus \u2014 or MERS-CoV \u2014 is at 59 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That rate is expected to bounce around as new clusters of infection develop.\n\nThe vast majority of MERS-CoV infections have been in Saudi Arabia. No cases have been reported in the United States, but small clusters of infections have appeared in Britain, France, Italy and Tunisia.\nSince the virus first emerged in April 2012 with two fatal cases in Jordan, 64 people have been infected and 38 have died around the world. The virus comes from the same family as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003.\nBoth viruses have a distincthaloed appearance when viewed under a microscope, and they typically target the respiratory tract. Like SARS, MERS starts with a fever and mild cough that eventually progress to pneumonia.\nAt first, MERS does not look out of the ordinary compared with other, less serious types of respiratory infection. But Perl said doctors should start taking careful note of a patient\u2019s travel history, since all reported cases have been linked to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.\nThe team of specialists mapped the likely trail of infection that spanned four Saudi hospitals in just over a month. Patients stationed in the same hospital room or ward as an infected person, or even taken care of by the same nurse, were likely to be exposed to the virus. Out of the 23 infected, hospital patients made up the majority of cases, but the virus also spread to visiting family members and hospital staff.\nThe incubation period of the virus \u2014 the time between exposure and development of symptoms \u2014 was similar to SARS, about five days. During this period, the researchers warned, infection may be possible.\nWhile the high mortality rate is alarming, Perl said that outbreaks tend to have death rates that are high at the beginning but then decline over time as doctors identify patients with milder versions of the illness. She cited the H1N1 and SARS outbreaks as examples.\nThis particular outbreak was largely contained by early detection and isolation of those infected, and through tighter hospital infection-control procedures \u2014 steps such as assigning a specific nurse to watch for patients with symptoms, requiring health-care workers to put on face masks and gloves, and fitting masks on patients."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "EE3AHJCNYII6VP2E6UCD5M4RRI_5", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "EE3AHJCNYII6VP2E6UCD5M4RRI_5", "title": "Most coronavirus cases are mild, complicating the response", "text": "reported that 15 of its 50 patients have fully recovered and been discharged. Most of the others still hospitalized are \u201cstable or improving,\u201d while eight are in critical condition in intensive care. Currently, the death rate of the disease is hovering around \u00ad2.5 percent, a remarkably high level, about the rate of the 1918 flu pandemic that killed roughly \u00ad50 million people around the world. Normal seasonal flu kills less than one-tenth of one percent of people who contract the virus. But experts have said the coronavirus fatality rate is likely to decline substantially as they compile a more accurate count of the people who contract the virus and survive. At the Aspen Institute presentation, Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he hoped the rate could decline toward 1 percent. Either figure makes the virus much less deadly than severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which killed more than \u00ad9 percent of the people who contracted it in 2003, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which kills nearly 35 percent of its victims. The mild nature of many illnesses, some experts said, may stem from the properties of the pathogen itself. For reasons scientists still don\u2019t fully understand, one virus may be a nuisance and a very similar one can be deadly. While two different coronaviruses produced SARS and MERS, four others cause about 30 percent of all common colds. The severity of the resulting illness is \u201cinherent in the virus,\u201d said Frieman, the University of Maryland virologist. One coronavirus that causes cold symptoms, called NL63, uses the same doorway into cells and infects the same cells as SARS, he said. \u201cOne gives you a runny nose and the other gives you lethal pneumonia,\u201d Frieman said. \u201cNo one studies this.\u201d A major question to be answered is who is most at risk. While many are focused on the overall death rate from the virus, Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said it is important to focus on the fatality rate in vulnerable groups. \u201cSARS was 10 percent overall, but it was 50 percent among older people,\u201d Hotez said. Figuring out who is most at risk is essential for creating the right public health strategy. \u201cIf you really want to address this epidemic, it\u2019s especially important we protect the vulnerable groups,\u201d Hotez said. leonard.bernstein@washpost.com carolyn.johnson@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The coronavirus has killed more than 1,300 people, brought a huge swath of central China to a standstill and rattled millions around the globe with hints of a pandemic seen in Hollywood fantasies.\nBut the virus\u2019s destructive potential has overshadowed one encouraging aspect of this outbreak: So far, about 82 percent of the cases \u2014 including all 14 in the United States \u2014 have been mild, with symptoms that require little or no medical intervention. And that proportion may be an undercount.\nHealth authorities managing the outbreak are trying to understand what that critical fact portends. Are the 60,000 sick people tallied so far just a portion of a vast reservoir of uncounted victims, some of whom may be spreading the disease? And do the mild illnesses reveal characteristics of the virus itself \u2014 something that could be useful in crafting a more effective response?\n\u201cThe fact that there are so many mild cases is a real hallmark of this disease and makes it so different from SARS,\u201d said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health\u2019s Center for Health Security. \u201cIt\u2019s also really challenging. Most of our surveillance is oriented around finding people who require medical intervention.\u201d\nIn China\u2019s Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, the number of new infections rose by 14,840 in a count released Thursday, with 242 new deaths, as health officials there broadened the criteria they are using to confirm cases.\nWorld Health Organization expert Michael Ryan said in a news briefing this week that, outside of Hubei province, the virus\u2019s behavior did not seem to be as aggressive or accelerated.\nFor those who study viruses, the large number of mild cases is reason for optimism. \u201cThis looks to be a bad, heightened cold \u2014 I think that\u2019s a rational way of thinking about it,\u201d said Matthew Frieman, a virologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. \u201cNot to diminish its importance \u2014 it\u2019s in the middle between SARS and the common cold.\u201d\nThough the virus was identified just six weeks ago, some of its characteristics are becoming clear. For the elderly and those with underlying heart disease, diabetes or other conditions, the disease can be quite severe. They are the ones dominating the ranks of the dead, often after pneumonia or other respiratory problems that lead to organ failure.\nOthers are not suffering nearly as much. Healthy, younger adults seem to do better, and there have been few fatalities among children, for reasons that have caused much speculation among experts.\n\u201cIt could be that some people have an immune response that results in severe illness and some people don\u2019t,\u201d Nuzzo said. \u201cIt is common .\u2009.\u2009. in coronaviruses that there is a spectrum of illness.\u201d\nAt a presentation on the disease hosted Tuesday by the Aspen Institute in Washington, Nancy Messonnier, an official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noted that only a few of the 14 U.S. patients required oxygen during convalescence.\n\u201cAll the patients in the U.S. haven\u2019t required tons of excessive care and actually, right now, they\u2019re actually all improving,\u201d said Messonnier, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. \u201cBased on the U.S. experience, and based on the experience of other countries outside China, a lot of these patients seem to be doing okay.\u201d\nBut Messonnier and others are less confident about what that might signify. She noted that U.S. officials set a very low threshold for illness as they began their  search for people with the disease among returnees from central China.\n\u201cIf we hadn\u2019t been looking so hard,\u201d she suggested, \u201cwe might not have found them.\u201d\nAnother possibility, said William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is that the U.S. patients were a self-selected sample of fairly healthy people \u2014 hardy enough, at least, to travel to Wuhan and back. Twelve of the U.S. patients were such travelers, while two others were spouses who came in contact with them after they returned.\nSchaffner also noted that in China, where the vast majority of deaths and illnesses from the \u201ccovid-19\u201d disease have occurred, air pollution and a higher smoking prevalence may contribute to the severity of the disease.\nMany experts have said early phases of outbreaks like this one tend to have a large number of severe cases, as the sickest people flock to hospitals and come to doctors\u2019 attention. And in Wuhan, where the health-care system is overwhelmed, people have complained they cannot find a hospital to test them for the virus, let alone to treat their symptoms. So patients with milder versions may be at home, uncounted, waiting out the epidemic.\nIn its latest \u201csituation report,\u201d released Wednesday, the World Health Organization listed 45,171 confirmed cases in 25 countries including China, with just 441 of the cases outside China. The WHO classified 8,204 of the Chinese cases as severe, meaning virtually all the rest are mild.\nThe WHO does not break down the cases outside China, but some countries do. Singapore, for example, has reported that 15 of its 50 patients have fully recovered and been discharged. Most of the others still hospitalized are \u201cstable or improving,\u201d while eight are in critical condition in intensive care.\nCurrently, the death rate of the disease is hovering around \u00ad2.5\u00a0percent, a remarkably high level, about the rate of the 1918 flu pandemic that killed roughly \u00ad50\u00a0million people around the world. Normal seasonal flu kills less than one-tenth of one percent of people who contract the virus.\nBut experts have said the coronavirus fatality rate is likely to decline substantially as they compile a more accurate count of the people who contract the virus and survive. At the Aspen Institute presentation, Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he hoped the rate could decline toward 1 percent.\nEither figure makes the virus much less deadly than severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which killed more than \u00ad9\u2008percent of the people who contracted it in 2003, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which kills nearly 35\u00a0percent of its victims.\nThe mild nature of many illnesses, some experts said, may stem from the properties of the pathogen itself. For reasons scientists still don\u2019t fully understand, one virus may be a nuisance and a very similar one can be deadly. While two different coronaviruses produced SARS and MERS, four others cause about 30 percent of all common colds.\nThe severity of the resulting illness is \u201cinherent in the virus,\u201d said Frieman, the University of Maryland virologist.\nOne coronavirus that causes cold symptoms, called NL63, uses the same doorway into cells and infects the same cells as SARS, he said.\n\u201cOne gives you a runny nose and the other gives you lethal pneumonia,\u201d Frieman said. \u201cNo one studies this.\u201d\nA major question to be answered is who is most at risk. While many are focused on the overall death rate from the virus, Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said it is important to focus on the fatality rate in vulnerable groups.\n\u201cSARS was 10 percent overall, but it was 50 percent among older people,\u201d Hotez said. Figuring out who is most at risk is essential for creating the right public health strategy.\n\u201cIf you really want to address this epidemic, it\u2019s especially important we protect the vulnerable groups,\u201d Hotez said.\nleonard.bernstein@washpost.com\ncarolyn.johnson@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "ESIJORB7R4I6VCDSLX3JQ6C2JY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ESIJORB7R4I6VCDSLX3JQ6C2JY_0", "title": "The new viral threat: What you need to know", "text": "The newly identified coronavirus that emerged last month from Wuhan, China, sickening more than 1,900 people worldwide and killing at least 56, has sparked growing anxiety and questions: How lethal is the virus? How can it be avoided? Is travel, especially to China, suddenly risky? Here is what we know so far. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that range from the common cold to much more serious diseases, according to the World Health Organization. They can infect both humans and animals. The newly emergent strain in China is related to two other coronaviruses that have caused major outbreaks in recent years: MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome, and SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. The new virus hasn\u2019t been named yet; it\u2019s referred to as \u201ca novel coronavirus.\u201d In rare cases, coronaviruses can spread from animals, such as camels and bats, to humans. (Household pets are not a threat.) The new virus is believed to have originated from a live animal market in Wuhan. But now it\u2019s clear, health authorities say, that the virus is spreading from person to person \u2014 likely through coughing and sneezing or touching an infected surface and then the mouth, nose or eyes, or coming into contact with contaminated fecal matter. Symptoms range from fever, muscle aches, dry cough, runny nose and shortness of breath to much more severe problems So far, the virus appears more serious than the common cold but less dangerous than SARS, public health experts have said. It does not appear to be anywhere near as deadly as Ebola, which is harder to transmit because it requires direct contact with an infected person\u2019s blood or bodily fluids. Antibiotics don\u2019t work on viruses. There\u2019s no medication for the new coronavirus, though the National Institutes of Health said human vaccine trials could begin within three months. Currently, health-care professionals are focusing on providing \u201csupportive care,\u201d including ensuring patients get plenty of liquids and oxygen. The situation is fluid but getting worse. The CDC has urged travelers to avoid Wuhan. Several other Chinese cities also are essentially on lockdown. Even places that aren\u2019t quarantined are experiencing disruptions and closures that could affect where travelers go and how they get around. For example, Beijing\u2019s Forbidden City and Shanghai Disneyland have been shuttered, as have many theaters and temples. Would-be travelers can stay abreast of developments by checking the CDC website and monitoring alerts"}], "old": [{"_id": "ESIJORB7R4I6VCDSLX3JQ6C2JY_0", "title": "The new viral threat: What you need to know", "text": "Symptoms range from fever, muscle aches, dry cough, runny nose and shortness of breath to much more severe problems The SARS epidemic began in November 2002 andrea.sachs@washpost.com lena.sun@washpost.com miriam.berger@washpost.com yasmeen.abutaleb@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The newly identified coronavirus that emerged last month from Wuhan, China, sickening more than 1,900 people worldwide and killing at least 56, has sparked growing anxiety and questions: How lethal is the virus? How can it be avoided? Is travel, especially to China, suddenly risky?\nHere is what we know so far.\nCoronaviruses are a large family of viruses that range from the common cold to much more serious diseases, according to the World Health Organization. They can infect both humans and animals. The newly emergent strain in China is related to two other coronaviruses that have caused major outbreaks in recent years: MERS, or Middle East respiratory syndrome, and SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. The new virus hasn\u2019t been named yet; it\u2019s referred to as \u201ca novel coronavirus.\u201d\nIn rare cases, coronaviruses can spread from animals, such as camels and bats, to humans. (Household pets are not a threat.) The new virus is believed to have originated from a live animal market in Wuhan. But now it\u2019s clear, health authorities say, that the virus is spreading from person to person \u2014 likely through coughing and sneezing or touching an infected surface and then the mouth, nose or eyes, or coming into contact with contaminated fecal matter.\nSymptoms range from fever, muscle aches, dry cough, runny nose and shortness of breath to much more severe problems\nSo far, the virus appears more serious than the common cold but less dangerous than SARS, public health experts have said. It does not appear to be anywhere near as\u00a0deadly as Ebola, which is harder\u00a0to transmit because it requires direct contact with an infected person\u2019s blood or bodily fluids.\nAntibiotics don\u2019t work on viruses. There\u2019s no medication for the new coronavirus, though the National Institutes of Health said human vaccine trials could begin within three months. Currently, health-care professionals are focusing on providing \u201csupportive care,\u201d including ensuring patients get plenty of liquids and oxygen.\nThe situation is fluid but getting worse.\nThe CDC has urged travelers to avoid Wuhan. Several other Chinese cities also are essentially on lockdown. Even places that aren\u2019t quarantined are experiencing disruptions and closures that could affect where travelers go and how they get around. For example, Beijing\u2019s Forbidden City and Shanghai Disneyland have been shuttered, as have many theaters and temples.\nWould-be travelers can stay abreast of developments by checking the CDC website and monitoring alerts issued by the State Department and U.S. embassies.\nBeijing authorities are restricting the movements of their own people. Officials said all inter-province bus services to and from Beijing would be halted in an effort to contain the outbreak, according to local news reports. In addition, officials are suspending domestic and overseas Chinese group tours, state media reported.\nElsewhere in Asia, cases of infection appear isolated. Nevertheless, more vulnerable travelers, including those who have health issues or are older, should be cleared by a medical professional before departing.\nYes, if the insurance was purchased with the \u201ccancel for any reason\u201d benefit. This optional upgrade for the policy usually has several restrictions, but if the traveler meets the criteria, he or she can recover up to 75\u00a0percent of their trip costs. People with standard travel insurance who cancel because of fear of contracting the virus will have to absorb the losses, however. When traveling outside the United States, travelers should be sure they have travel medical insurance that will cover hospital costs if they fall ill while abroad or need to be taken back to the United States.\nSome airlines are. Cathay Pacific passengers who reserved a ticket on or before Jan.\u00a021 can rebook, reroute their flight or receive a refund without penalty for travel through March\u00a031. Air China is also waiving change and cancellation fees for tickets issued by Jan.\u00a031 for travel by March\u00a029. Other airlines that are loosening their rules include United, China Eastern, China Southern and Hainan. Some carriers, however, are taking a wait-and-see approach.\nSome hotels also are making it easier to rejigger plans: Hilton, Accor, InterContinental Hotels and Hyatt are easing restrictions, and not just on Wuhan hotels. The waiver covers changes and cancellations at properties throughout China, for travel through early February. To qualify, the booking must have occurred directly through the hotel; otherwise, the third-party agent should be contacted.\nPolicies vary among tour operators and should be checked.\nA large number of airports around the world have established enhanced screening procedures for passengers arriving from Wuhan, and a few countries, including India, are testing passengers arriving from any destination in China. South Korea\u2019s Incheon International Airport is employing ear thermometers. In Japan, arriving passengers must fill out health forms. Australia is distributing pamphlets.\nIn the United States, the CDC and Customs and Border Protection are overseeing the process at five international airports in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and Chicago. Screening for symptoms and elevated temperatures may add a few minutes to the arrival process. Passengers who test positive for coronavirus will be quarantined for further testing by the CDC.\nThe CDC recommends that everyone get a flu shot and other required vaccinations for their destinations. Any meat consumed should be fully cooked, and hands should be washed frequently and vigorously with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.\nJesus Gonzalez, a physician with MedStar Health in Washington, recommends that travelers wear medical masks in crowded areas, such as train and bus stations and airports.\nThe SARS epidemic began in November 2002\nMERS emerged in the Middle East in 2012. Scientists say the first infection moved from a camel to a human in Saudi Arabia. The disease has been associated with\u00a0the death of 790 people since 2012, according to the CDC. \u00adAuthorities\u00a0contained the outbreak by isolating patients and warning against contact with camels and camel meat during the scare.\nandrea.sachs@washpost.com\nlena.sun@washpost.com\nmiriam.berger@washpost.com\nyasmeen.abutaleb@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "M4IVIFSLTII6VP2E6UCD5M4RRI_12", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "M4IVIFSLTII6VP2E6UCD5M4RRI_12", "title": "Coronavirus updates: Global death toll passes 1,000 as China records most deaths in a single day", "text": "Rosoboronexport chief Alexander Mikheyev said, according to Interfax. He said the agency had contracts with China for delivery and for training its personnel. Russian health authorities are monitoring more than 20,000 people in Russia for signs of the virus, including 6,000 Chinese citizens. Two cases of the virus have been found so far. Russia\u2019s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service warned Monday of \u201ceconomic looting\u201d by retailers seeking to take advantage of the crisis, with a sharp increase in the cost of medical masks across Russia. \u201cThe vast increase in retail prices for medical masks in 68 regions of the Russian Federation has all the indications of \u2018economic looting\u2019 during a period of increased demand,\u201d the FAS said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that pharmacies that price-gouged on medicines and medical masks should have their licenses canceled. By: Robyn Dixon 11:53 AM: Scientists hope an antiviral drug being tested in China could help patients U.S. officials confirmed last week that physicians in Wuhan, China, have begun testing an experimental drug called remdesivir on coronavirus patients. The drug, made by Gilead Sciences, was successfully used on the first U.S. patient, a 35-year-old man in Snohomish County, Wash. He recovered, but a single case can\u2019t determine the extent to which the drug may have contributed. Scientists are hopeful that the drug will work. Although remdesivir failed an ebola clinical trial, it has shown promise in laboratory tests against other coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Timothy Sheahan, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said that instead of developing a new drug for each emerging virus, the hope is that remdesivir could be broadly useful and work against multiple coronaviruses \u2014 one drug that could work against multiple bugs. \u201cI think starting a clinical trial is essential for determining if this drug will work\u201d against the coronavirus, Sheahan said. One of the clinical studies will test remdesivir on infected patients who are in the hospital but do not have severe symptoms. The other will test it on people with severe infections, who are on supplemental oxygen or have other complications. Gilead is providing the drug to Chinese researchers at no charge, according to spokeswoman Sonia Choi. By: Carolyn Y. Johnson 11:41 AM: Manufacturing in China remains slow China\u2019s"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "China tentatively returned to work Monday after an extended Lunar New Year shutdown precipitated by the coronavirus outbreak, but with deaths from the epidemic continuing to rise, much of the country remained at a standstill, and many were working from home. Meanwhile, an additional 65 people on board a quarantined cruise ship have tested positive for the virus.\nHere\u2019s what we know:\n\u25cf An additional 65 people on board the Diamond Princess have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Japan\u2019s Health Ministry says, bringing to 135 the number of people who are known to have been infected. Pressure is mounting to test everyone on the cruise ship.\n\u25cf China reports 1,016 dead and about 42,600 cases of coronavirus. On Monday alone, officials recorded 108 deaths in mainland China, the most in a single day. More than 7,000 of the affected patients were in critical condition, authorities said Monday. There were 42 confirmed cases in Hong Kong, 10 in Macao and 18 in Taiwan.\n\u25cf Britain announced new measures allowing the mandatory quarantine of those infected after the coronavirus outbreak was designated a \u201cserious and imminent\u201d threat to British health. Four more cases were confirmed in Britain, doubling its total number to eight.\n\u25cf New Chinese research says the virus can be transmitted by saliva, urine and stool, as well as the usual viral route of respiratory droplets. It generally takes three days from the time of infection for symptoms to manifest, and 15 percent of the infected contract severe pneumonia.\n10:31 PM: CDC confirms 13th coronavirus infection in the U.S.\nA person under federal quarantine in California has tested positive for coronavirus, marking the 13th confirmed case of the disease in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.\nThe person was among several hundred Americans who were evacuated last week from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak.\n\u201cCDC is conducting a thorough contact investigation of the person who has tested positive to determine contacts and to assess if those contacts had high risk exposures,\u201d the CDC said in an emailed statement.\nThe person was being treated at the University of California San Diego Medical Center. A spokesperson for the hospital did not immediately respond to a request for comment.\nBy: Derek Hawkins\n10:00 PM: Trump said coronavirus could \u2018miraculously\u2019 go away this spring. Diseases don\u2019t work like that, experts say.\nMore than once now, President Trump has suggested that the coronavirus will weaken or go away once the winter months have passed and the weather warms up.\nBut experts said that\u2019s impossible to predict at this stage.\nTrump first raised the idea in a tweet last week, saying the Chinese government\u2019s efforts to control the virus would succeed \u201cas the weather starts to warm and the virus hopefully becomes weaker, and then gone.\u201d\nHe made a similar prediction in a rally Monday, suggesting that the outbreak could subside \u201cby April.\u201d\n\u201cYou know, in theory when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away, that\u2019s true,\u201d he told an audience in New Hampshire.\nExperts said that\u2019s wishful thinking at best: While it\u2019s true that respiratory viruses tend to follow seasonal patterns, there\u2019s no telling what course the novel coronavirus will take.\n\u201cThis virus can do anything it wants,\u201d Allison McGeer, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at the University of Toronto, told The Washington Post last week. \u201cThat pattern of how it\u2019s going to spread is completely unknown, but it is critical to what the burden is going to be to all of us.\u201d\nA variety of outcomes are possible, McGeer said. The virus could peak and then recede before returning later in the year. It could also take hold in the Southern Hemisphere.\n\u201cIt could be just like another coronavirus, a bunch of colds,\u201d she said. \u201cIt could be like a regular flu season. It\u2019s possible it could be different and worse.\u201d\nPeter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College in Texas, told CNN that nobody yet knows enough about the coronavirus to say how it will behave.\n\u201cIt would be reckless to assume that things will quiet down in spring and summer,\u201d Hotez said. \u201cWe don\u2019t really understand the basis of seasonality, and of course we know absolutely nothing about this particular virus.\u201d\nBy: Derek Hawkins\n7:34 PM: Coronavirus death toll passes 1,000, and more than 7,000 patients remain in critical condition\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Chinese health officials announced Monday that 108 more people died from coronavirus, the most recorded in a single day, bringing the global death toll to 1,018.\nNearly all of the new deaths were recorded in Hubei province, the epicenter of the public health crisis. The outbreak has now claimed 1,016 lives in mainland China; one person died of the disease in Hong Kong and another in the Phillippines.\nThe number of new infections in China grew by nearly 2,500, officials said, with 2,097 more people falling ill in Hubei.\nChina has confrmed more than 42,600 cases since the epidemic started. More than 7,000 people remained in critical condition in the hospital, officials said, and nearly 188,ooo were under medical supervision.\nThere were 42 confirmed cases in Hong Kong, 10 in Macao and 18 in Taiwan. Chinese officials also reported nearly 4,000 recoveries in the mainland.\nBy: Derek Hawkins\n6:29 PM: The coronavirus is spreading rapidly. So is misinformation about it.\nMeghan May, a university professor who researches emerging diseases, seemed an unlikely person to contribute to misinformation about the novel coronavirus. Yet last week, May shared a mea culpa on Twitter, owning up to unwittingly retweeting information that had origins in a Russian misinformation campaign.\nThe story that managed to evade her typically discerning sensors: a claim that a Chinese Internet company had accidentally released death toll and infection totals \u2014 ones that exceeded official estimates \u2014 before quickly scrubbing evidence of them online. If true, May said at the time, the numbers indicated that the outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan was far more severe than the public was warned about.\nSince the first cases of a then-unidentified pneumonia were reported in late December, hoaxes, half-truths and flat-out lies have proliferated, mostly through social media. BuzzFeed News for several days kept a running list of misinformation, including wildly inaccurate reports that the death toll in China was 112,000 as of late January (reality: around 80 at the time); claims that Chinese people eating bats were the source of the outbreak (a viral photo of a woman biting a bat was not taken in China); and false suggestions that the virus was lab-engineered as a kind of bioweapon.\n\u201cI gave it some degree of credence because the artificial numbers would make the scale of the lockdown in Wuhan and the additional cities much more rational,\u201d May told The Washington Post on Monday. \u201cAnd I saw it shared by a person who is typically very credible.\u201d\nParts of the false story seemed rooted in fact: There are signs that Beijing has silenced whistleblowers and underreported cases of infections. But the situation the story described never happened.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really insidious when you have this cloud of confusion around details,\u201d May said.\nRead more here.\nBy: Kim Bellware\n3:00 PM: Second government-chartered flight evacuating Canadians leaves Wuhan\nTORONTO \u2014 A second government-chartered flight evacuating Canadians from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China has departed, Canadian foreign affairs minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Monday.\nThe flight will stop in Vancouver to refuel before making its way to a Canadian military base in Trenton, Ontario, where its 185 passengers will join the 215 evacuees who arrived last week. All of them will spend 14 days in quarantine there.\nPassengers completed health and immigration screenings at the airport in Wuhan. Anyone exhibiting symptoms of the virus would not have been allowed to board the aircraft, but it was not immediately clear if anyone was turned away.\nOfficials conduct regular health checks of those quarantined in Trenton. None of the travelers has been diagnosed with the virus.\nMyriam Larouche, a Canadian graduate student, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. that she passes the time in quarantine by doing her homework and watching movies. The evacuees are also allowed outdoors to exercise, but must stay within a restricted area and avoid physical contact with each other.\nBy: Amanda Coletta\n2:08 PM: A traveling British businessman appears to have spread the coronavirus in at least three countries\nThe story of a traveling British business executive who appears to have passed the coronavirus to Britons in at least three countries has prompted concerns over \u201csuperspreaders,\u201d who could play an outsize role in transmitting the infection.\nA British national, who has not been named, may have unwittingly spread the virus to at least 11 people in the course of his travels from Singapore to France to Switzerland to England, according to public health authorities and accounts in the British media. Infected Britons in England, France and Spain probably caught the virus from him.\nThe businessman, one of the first British nationals to test positive for the virus, works for the gas analysis company Servomex, according to the Guardian. He traveled to Singapore for work Jan. 20 and departed Jan. 22, the paper reported. He is thought to have contracted the virus while he was there.\nRead more: \u201cBritish coronavirus \u2018superspreader\u2019 may have infected at least 11 people in three countries\u201d\nBy: Karla Adam\n1:51 PM: China turns to disinfectant spray in attempt to fight the coronavirus\nEmergency service workers in China are soaking cars, buildings and even airplanes with disinfecting spray in an attempt to eliminate the virus from the city of Wuhan, where the epidemic began.\nIn recent days, media outlets linked to the ruling Communist Party have released videos showing the sprayers at work.\nIn one video posted Monday to the Twitter account of the People\u2019s Daily, workers in face masks wielding spray guns walk down Wuhan\u2019s narrow, empty streets as they trigger the devices, unleashing white clouds behind them. They appear to be spraying the substance indiscriminately, soaking cars and buildings as they go.\nThe footage also shows trucks flashing their headlights as huge amounts of the disinfectant spew out of tubes attached to the vehicles.\nIt\u2019s unclear how effective the method is, especially considering that the entire region is under a travel lockdown and many people are not venturing outside.\nCaitlin Rivers, an assistant professor in the health security program at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said it\u2019s unusual to use any type of spray campaign to try to prevent the spread of a viral respiratory infection.\n\u201cI have never seen that be used except for mosquito control, in which case that is warranted,\u201d she said.\nThus far, experts think the coronavirus is largely transmitted by close person-to-person contact and respiratory droplets. \u201cSome coronaviruses can persist on surfaces, but I usually don\u2019t think of a street as a surface I worry about,\u201d Rivers said.\nBy: Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady\n1:00 PM: President Trump says Xi told him heat kills viruses\nPresident Trump said Monday that Chinese President Xi Jinping reassured him that the cases of coronavirus are likely to dwindle during warmer months.\n\u201cHe feels very confident, he feels very confident,\u201d Trump said. \u201cAnd he feels that, again as I mentioned, by April, or during the month of April, the heat generally speaking kills this kind of virus. So that would be a good thing.\u201d\nTrump made the remarks during a meeting with governors at the White House. He had spoken with China\u2019s leader on the phone Friday.\nBy: Adam Taylor\n12:54 PM: Coronavirus will \u2018undoubtedly\u2019 affect Canadian economy, minister says\nTORONTO \u2014 The coronavirus will \u201cundoubtedly\u201d have a \u201creal\u201d impact on the Canadian economy, the country\u2019s finance minister said Monday.\nDelivering a keynote address at a meeting of the Economic Club of Canada in Alberta, Bill Morneau said that the virus is likely to disrupt supply chains and hit Canada\u2019s tourism sector. He also noted that oil prices have fallen 15 percent since the outbreak began because of a decrease in demand and fewer flights traveling to and from China.\n\u201cThe virus is undoubtedly going to have an economic impact\u201d across the country, Morneau said, adding that he expects it to be a topic of conversation when central bankers and finance ministers from the Group of 20 countries meet in Saudi Arabia later this month.\nLast week, Carolyn Wilkins, the senior deputy governor for the Bank of Canada, said the central bank was trying to better understand the potential economic risks posed by the coronavirus. She said much would depend on how long the epidemic lasts.\n\u201cIt\u2019s never a good time to have an outbreak like this,\u201d she said. \u201cBut when the global economy is feeling a little fragile [and] we\u2019ve got mixed data in Canada, it\u2019s certainly not great timing.\u201d\nThere have been seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Canada.\nBy: Amanda Coletta\n12:36 PM: Hong Kong evacuates apartment building after two cases in units 10 stories apart\nHong Kong\u2019s Center for Health Protection announced early Tuesday that it would be evacuating some residents of an apartment building after two people were diagnosed with coronavirus, despite living in apartments 10 stories apart.\nThe evacuation will take place in the Hong Mei House in the Cheung Hong Estate in Tsing Yi, public broadcaster RTHK reported, and only those who live in apartments with the number 7 on each floor will be evacuated.\nOfficials said that engineers from Hong Kong\u2019s housing department would investigate the sewage system in the building to see whether it could have been the source of the virus\u2019s spread.\nDuring the 2003 SARS outbreak, more than 300 people were infected in the Amoy Gardens apartment complex in Kowloon, Hong Kong, eventually leading to a quarantine of the apartment complex. Officials later said that the outbreak had spread through bathroom drainpipes.\nBy: Adam Taylor\n12:16 PM: Coronavirus could delay delivery of Russian S-400 air defense missile system to China\nMOSCOW \u2014 Russia\u2019s arms export agency Rosoboronexport warned Monday that its exports of the S-400 long-range air defense missile system to China could be delayed by the coronavirus.\nGovernment officials earlier indicated that a delivery of the S-400 system to China would take place in July.\n\u201cWe\u2019re working out these scenarios just in case. I don\u2019t rule out that certain delays in implementing all of our contracts may arise,\u201d Rosoboronexport chief Alexander Mikheyev said, according to Interfax.\nHe said the agency had contracts with China for delivery and for training its personnel.\nRussian health authorities are monitoring more than 20,000 people in Russia for signs of the virus, including 6,000 Chinese citizens. Two cases of the virus have been found so far.\nRussia\u2019s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service warned Monday of \u201ceconomic looting\u201d by retailers seeking to take advantage of the crisis, with a sharp increase in the cost of medical masks across Russia.\n\u201cThe vast increase in retail prices for medical masks in 68 regions of the Russian Federation has all the indications of \u2018economic looting\u2019 during a period of increased demand,\u201d the FAS said in a statement.\nRussian President Vladimir Putin said last week that pharmacies that price-gouged on medicines and medical masks should have their licenses canceled.\nBy: Robyn Dixon\n11:53 AM: Scientists hope an antiviral drug being tested in China could help patients\nU.S. officials confirmed last week that physicians in Wuhan, China, have begun testing an experimental drug called remdesivir on coronavirus patients.\nThe drug, made by Gilead Sciences, was successfully used on the first U.S. patient, a 35-year-old man in Snohomish County, Wash. He recovered, but a single case can\u2019t determine the extent to which the drug may have contributed.\nScientists are hopeful that the drug will work. Although remdesivir failed an ebola clinical trial, it has shown promise in laboratory tests against other coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).\nTimothy Sheahan, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said that instead of developing a new drug for each emerging virus, the hope is that remdesivir could be broadly useful and work against multiple coronaviruses \u2014 one drug that could work against multiple bugs.\n\u201cI think starting a clinical trial is essential for determining if this drug will work\u201d against the coronavirus, Sheahan said.\nOne of the clinical studies will test remdesivir on infected patients who are in the hospital but do not have severe symptoms. The other will test it on people with severe infections, who are on supplemental oxygen or have other complications.\nGilead is providing the drug to Chinese researchers at no charge, according to spokeswoman Sonia Choi.\nBy: Carolyn Y. Johnson\n11:41 AM: Manufacturing in China remains slow\nChina\u2019s manufacturing industry, which leads the world in terms of output, continues to be hobbled by the coronavirus epidemic. The full impact cannot be measured.\nSmartphone sales in China may dip by 50 percent in the first quarter, in part because manufacturing has not fully resumed, Reuters reported.\nThe slowdown is having ripple effects. Automaker Nissan said Monday it would temporarily halt production at a plant in Japan over shortages of parts in the supply chain from China.\nA Tesla factory in Shanghai is set to resume production, Reuters reported, but many key manufacturing facilities remain closed.\nChina has blocked the reopening of Foxconn plants, which supply Apple and other international technology giants, over coronavirus concerns, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. Some production may soon resume with a skeleton workforce, a source told Reuters.\nBy: Benjamin Soloway\n10:49 AM: Advance team of WHO experts arrives in China\nAn advance team of World Health Organization experts has arrived in China to help lay the groundwork for a larger team, officials from the body said Monday.\nThe team is led by Bruce Aylward, a Canadian physician and epidemiologist, who previously worked on the WHO\u2019s response to the 2014 ebola outbreak in West Africa.\n\u201cBruce and his colleagues will be working with their Chinese counterparts to make sure we have the right expertise on the team to answer the right questions,\u201d Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, told reporters at a daily news conference.\nOfficials from the WHO declined to be drawn into specifics about what Aylward\u2019s team would be doing in China, describing the members as medical professionals who would be given a large degree of autonomy to coordinate with local counterparts.\n\u201cThe team is there first and foremost to learn,\u201d said Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program.\nTedros had made a trip to Beijing for preliminary talks with President Xi Jinping and Chinese officials in late January, during which it was agreed that an international mission would be sent, but subsequent deliberations over its format lasted weeks.\nSome public health experts have criticized the Chinese government for initially misleading the world about the threat posed by the outbreak.\n\u201cWe were deceived,\u201d Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University who also provides technical assistance to the WHO, told The Washington Post.\nBy: Adam Taylor\n10:31 AM: Hong Kong billionaire pledges $12.9 million to help Wuhan\nLi Ka-Shing, the richest person in Hong Kong with an estimated net worth of $29.4 billion, has pledged a donation of $12.9 million to help Wuhan, the city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak.\nThe donation was made through the Li Ka Shing Foundation, which announced the news Monday that it would be making the donation \u201cin support of the frontline healthcare professionals battling the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.\u201d\nLi is one of Asia\u2019s best-known philanthropists and his charitable organization is the second largest private and individual-led foundation in the world, after the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.\nOn Feb. 6, the Gates Foundation announced that it would commit $100 million toward the global response to the coronavirus epidemic. A number of other wealthy figures have pledged money to help in the fight against the outbreak.\nThe Jack Ma Foundation, established by and named after the Chinese billionaire and co-founder of Alibaba Group, pledged $14.4 million toward fighting the outbreak in late January. The funding will primarily go toward vaccine research underway at Chinese institutions. Other big names donating millions in funds include the online food delivery company Meituan Dianping, logistics subsidiary Cainiao Global and Tencent Charity Foundation. Alibaba\u2019s payment and health subsidiaries are also offering loans and free services to affected people.\nBy: Adam Taylor and Miriam Berger\n9:58 AM: Quarantines and travel bans pose test to personal relationships\nThere\u2019s nothing like a quarantine or an international travel ban to test a relationship.\nAs the coronavirus continues to spread around the world, mixed-nationality couples and families looking to leave China have found themselves divided by citizenship status. Frustration and anxiety is running high as people struggle to navigate emergency measures meant to contain the virus, but which critics say have stoked xenophobia and public panic.\nGetting out of China, no matter one\u2019s nationality, is becoming harder and harder. Airlines are canceling flights. Countries are imposing bans on people traveling from China. Within the country, movement between and within cities is highly restricted. Chinese regulations and diplomatic relations have further complicated some efforts by governments to evacuate their citizens.\nCountless couples and families have faced a maddening array of international barriers.\nRead more here: \u201cLove in the time of coronavirus, quarantines and travel bans\u201d\nBy: Miriam Berger\n9:40 AM: New model suggests coronavirus outbreak began in November, University of Toronto researchers say\nA new disease-transmission model created by University of Toronto researchers suggests that the coronavirus epidemic started one month earlier than commonly believed.\nThe model uses open-access data to replicate epidemiological scenarios, allowing the researchers to test some narratives about the outbreak.\nAlthough it is only a model, it may provide a plausible explanation for how the virus was able to spread so quickly \u2014 useful in the absence of hard evidence.\n\u201cYou can\u2019t get up to that level of cases if the epidemic started in December even if you pushed the reproduction really high,\u201d David Fisman, a professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and one of the model\u2019s creators, said in a statement.\n\u201cIf you have a reproduction number of three, the epidemic could not have stated in mid-December because, according to the graph, it is undershooting the cases that were found in December,\u201d Fisman said.\nThe findings of Fisman and his colleagues were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine last week. The research suggested not only that the outbreak may have started earlier than widely thought, but also that it has not yet been controlled.\nBy: Adam Taylor\n8:30 AM: Russia quarantines top Chinese diplomat\nA top Chinese diplomat has been quarantined by Russian authorities as a safety precaution against the coronavirus outbreak, Interfax news agency reported Monday.\nThe diplomat, Consul General Cui Shaochun, had arrived in Yekaterinburg on Thursday to take up his new post but had not yet met with any Russian diplomats, according to Interfax.\nRussian Foreign Ministry official Alexander Kharlov told Interfax that Cui would be quarantined at home for two weeks and would not hold previously scheduled meetings.\nBy: Adam Taylor\n7:25 AM: Japan corrects new cruise ship infected cases to 65\nTOKYO \u2014 Japan\u2019s Health Ministry says 65 additional people on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive for the new coronavirus, correcting an earlier statement from the vessel\u2019s parent company.\nThe Health Ministry said the 65 cases came from 103 samples taken from people on board. The Diamond Princess\u2019s operator had earlier said 66 more people were infected.\nThe latest data means that 135 people on board the ship have tested positive out of 439 tests carried out, or nearly one person in three.\nDespite growing calls to test everyone on board the ship, Japan\u2019s chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Monday that under current circumstances, that would be \u201cdifficult.\u201d\nOfficials say Japan has the capacity to test 1,000 people a day but also needs to direct resources to other test centers around the country.\nSome 3,600 passengers and crew were allowed to disembark from a ferry quarantined in Hong Kong Sunday after all 1,800 crew members tested negative for the virus. It was feared the crew members might have come into contact with infected passengers on a previous trip.\n\u201cIsn\u2019t that strange?\u201d popular commentator Toru Tamakawa said on TV Asahi, asking why Japan, a much bigger country, had not been able to undertake a similar testing program. \u201cHow many people are there in Hong Kong? Isn\u2019t that strange? Why could we not do that?\u201d\nThe passengers on board the Diamond Princess were placed under 14-days\u2019 quarantine last Wednesday, largely confined to their cabins apart from brief chances to walk on deck. But the crew have had to continue working, without any quarantine arrangements, and several have now fallen ill. One Indian crew member issued a plea for help on Monday, arguing that he and fellow employees will all soon fall sick if they remain on board.\nBy: Simon Denyer and Akiko Kashiwagi\n7:11 AM: After being largely absent, Chinese leader Xi inspects \u2018front-line work\u2019 against coronavirus\nAfter being largely absent from the public in recent days, Chinese President Xi Jinping was shown donning a face mask and having his temperature taken on Monday.\nAccording to the state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xi inspected the \u201cfront-line work\u201d to counter the novel coronavirus in the Chaoyang district of Beijing.\nXi acknowledged Monday that the situation remains serious, but he added that the Chinese leadership would take further measures to contain the spread of the virus and prevent mass layoffs as a result of the economic fallout, according to Chinese state TV.\nTo some, Xi\u2019s recent absence from the public stage \u2014 and from the coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan \u2014 appeared to be an attempt to distance himself from the mistakes of the regional Communist Party\u2019s leadership.\nBut public frustration \u2014 including with the Communist Party in Beijing \u2014 mounted last week, following the death of Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang, who succumbed to the coronavirus. Li had been among the first to raise alarm over the new virus. He was subsequently detained and silenced by Wuhan police.\nHis death last week triggered a short-lived Chinese online campaign under the hashtag #WeWantFreedomOfSpeech, directed against what many viewed as an attempt by officials to cover up the crisis early on.\nBy: Rick Noack\n6:12 AM: China cracks down on wildlife trade believed to be behind virus outbreak\nChinese authorities said Monday they are cracking down on the trade in illegal wildlife, as the dangers of unhygienic wildlife markets where multiple species mix finally begins to sink in.\nAny form of wildlife trade will be strictly prohibited on platforms including marketplaces, supermarkets, dining establishments and e-commerce sites, and all sites raising wild animals will be quarantined, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.\nViolators will be penalized, and for serious violations, suspects will be handed over to the police for criminal investigation.\nTwo weeks ago, China banned the trade of wild animals until the coronavirus epidemic has been eliminated across the country, after evidence emerged that the disease was transmitted to humans through a market in the city of Wuhan that traded in game meat.\nThe SARS epidemic in 2002-2003 was thought to have been transmitted through the trade in masked palm civets, a nocturnal mammal with a long tail that spends much of its life in trees and is considered a delicacy in parts of the country.\nPolice in the southwestern province of Yunnan, a hub for the illegal trade in wildlife and for transit from neighboring countries, said they have launched their biggest operation in history against the wildlife trade, with 2,351 places where wild animals are bred \u201cclosed or controlled\u201d and 16 places for wildlife viewing closed.\nPolice on the island of Hainan said Monday they arrested a man for keeping a rare and endangered python on a farm. Shanghai police said they detained a man accused of illegal hunting, finding 109 dead wild animals, including wild ducks and turtledoves.\nTraditional Chinese medicine \u2014 and mystical beliefs in the powers of eating and consuming products made from wild animals in many parts of China \u2014 have brought many species close to extinction, with the reclusive pangolin in particular danger.\nIronically, a suggestion that the coronavirus might have been transmitted to humans via pangolins might offer a small lifeline to that animal, considered the most trafficked mammal in the world.\nBut a crackdown on illegal wildlife trade after SARS soon petered out. Wildlife experts say the latest ban needs to be made permanent.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n6:00 AM: Online company Indeed tells its people to work from home over virus fears\nOnline recruitment company Indeed has asked its employees in Dublin and Sydney to work remotely, amid concerns that some of its staff may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus.\nIn Dublin, the company employs more than 1,000 workers.\nCompany officials said the move was a precautionary measure, taken after one Singapore-based employee was tested for the virus. The staff member has not yet been confirmed to have the virus.\n\u201cSince some employees who visited Singapore have recently visited our Sydney and Dublin offices, we are asking all employees in the Dublin and Sydney offices to work from home until we have received confirmation,\u201d a company statement read, according to the Irish Independent newspaper.\nThe suspension of office work at the company came as many Chinese were heading back to work on Monday after an extended break. Many Chinese companies \u2014 including e-commerce giant Alibaba \u2014 asked their employees to work from home after the virus\u2019s spread accelerated, in what has been described as the \u201cworld\u2019s largest work-from-home experiment.\u201d\nBy: Rick Noack\n5:45 AM: Mistrust swirls through Hong Kong as officials struggle to paper over the cracks\nHONG KONG \u2014 Panic buying is gripping Hong Kong, where the collapse in trust in the city\u2019s government over the past year is prompting residents spooked by the coronavirus threat to take dramatic measures to procure essential household supplies.\nThe frenzy is perhaps best exemplified by a run on toilet paper, which has become extremely difficult to find in the city\u2019s supermarkets. Many other products are scarce, especially hand soap, sanitizer and surgical masks, and even staples such as rice.\nOne Hong Kong woman flew to Myanmar, which until 2016 was under U.S. sanctions, to stock up on surgical masks \u2014 a trip that until recently would have been a staggering move for a resident of a financial hub that proclaims itself to be \u201cAsia\u2019s world city.\u201d\nUnderpinning the panic is the widespread feeling in Hong Kong, reinforced by months of political unrest last year, that the city\u2019s government places the interests of the Communist Party ahead of those of Hong Kong residents.\nRead the full report here: In Hong Kong, toilet paper is in short supply. Trust in the government is even more scarce.\nBy: Shibani Mahtani\n5:30 AM: \u2018Soon we will all be infected\u2019: Crew aboard Diamond Princess pleads for help\nNEW DELHI \u2014 As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship rises, Indian crew members are making a public appeal for help.\nBinay Kumar Sarkar, 31, said he was one of about 160 Indian crew members on the ship. He said the crew was busy serving meals to passengers in their rooms three times a day and that everyone is \u201cscared who will be [infected] next.\u201d\nSarkar posted a video on Facebook on Monday ]in which he and several other crew members \u2014 all wearing masks and Princess Cruises uniforms \u2014 implored Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance.\nAll those aboard the ship should be tested, and those who are healthy should be allowed to go to their home countries, Sarkar told The Washington Post. Keeping everyone on the boat means \u201cvery soon we will all be infected.\u201d\nThe Diamond Princess, now docked off Yokohama, was placed under a 14-day quarantine that will last until Feb. 19. It has more than 3,700 passengers and crew onboard, and 136 of them have tested positive for the virus so far.\nBy: Tania Dutta and Joanna Slater\n5:18 AM: Eleven Americans among additional 66 people on board Diamond Princess who have virus\nTOKYO \u2014 Eleven Americans are among 66 additional people on board the Diamond Princess who have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the cruise ship operator said Monday.\nThe latest results bring to 136 the number of passengers and crew who have tested positive for the virus, not including a former passenger from Hong Kong who is thought to have brought the virus on board before disembarking.\nThe latest cases were made up of four Australians, one Briton, one Canadian, 45 Japanese, three Filipinos, one Ukrainian and 11 Americans, Princess Cruises said in a statement.\nThe ship and its 3,711 passengers and crew were placed under quarantine last Wednesday.\n\u201cSince it is early in the quarantine period of 14 days, it was not unexpected that additional cases would be reported involving individuals who were exposed prior to the start of the quarantine,\u201d the company said. \u201cThe quarantine end date remains at February 19, unless there are any unforeseen developments.\u201d\nGiven the high number of people on board who have tested positive for the virus, there have been calls for everyone to be tested. Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said Monday that the ministry was looking into the feasibility of testing everyone before they are discharged, to ensure they do not spread the virus around Japan or elsewhere.\nBut later, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that, under current circumstances, testing everyone would be \u201cdifficult.\u201d He did not give reasons.\nLast week, a Japanese government official said the country has the capacity to test 1,000 people a day.\nSome 3,600 passengers and crew were allowed to disembark from a ferry quarantined in Hong Kong after all 1,800 crew members tested negative for the virus. It was feared the crew members might have come into contact with infected passengers on a previous trip.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n5:11 AM: Britain announces four new cases of coronavirus, doubling total\nLONDON \u2014 Britain announced Monday that four more people tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the country to eight.\nChris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said that the \u201cnew cases are all known contacts of a previously confirmed U.K. case, and the virus was passed on in France.\u201d\nThe new cases come amid concerns of a so-called coronavirus \u201csuper spreader.\u201d According to media reports, a British man caught the virus in Singapore and is linked to seven other cases in England, France and Spain. Sky News said the British national flew from Singapore to the French Alps, where five British nationals tested positive, before flying to Britain on Jan. 28.\nOn Monday, the British government declared coronavirus a \u201cserious and imminent threat to public health,\u201d giving health authorities greater powers including forcibly sending people to isolation.\nAccording to local media, the decision was made after one of the people in quarantine attempted to leave the hospital.\nBy: Karla Adam\n4:30 AM: China notes rise in percentage of virus patients cured, even as death toll soars\nChina\u2019s health authorities say the proportion of people being cured of the new coronavirus has risen sharply in the past two weeks, indicating an improvement in the country\u2019s ability to provide medical treatment.\nThe proportion of patients who are cured has risen to 8.2 percent, up from 1.3 percent on Jan. 27, Mi Feng, a spokesman for the National Health Commission, told a news conference. In the worst-hit province of Hubei, the percentage of patients who have been cured rose to 6.1 percent from 1.7 percent on Jan. 27.\nMi said that reflected an improvement in treatment across the country as well as an increase in the supply of hospital beds in Hubei after new hospitals were built.\nOn Sunday, 632 patients walked out of hospital, bringing the total of people who have been discharged to 3,281.\nHowever, the daily death toll set a record Sunday, with 97 deaths, bringing the total to 908. The number of confirmed cases since the epidemic began rose by more than 3,000 to 40,171.\nAfter accounting for those people who are cured or who have died, China is still treating 35,982 confirmed cases, including 6,484 in serious condition, with 23,589 suspected cases.\nNearly 400,000 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients, with nearly 190,000 under medical observation.\nMi said an advance team from the World Health Organization would arrive in Beijing on Monday. China has come under criticism for not allowing in foreign medical experts sooner.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n3:46 AM: China launches app to check proximity to the coronavirus\nChina has released a mobile app that is supposed to show people if they have come into contact with the new coronavirus, and whether they are at risk of catching it.\nThe \u201cclose contact detector\u201d was released Saturday evening, with users scanning a QR code and submitting their name, phone number and ID number to make an inquiry into whether they have come into contact with an infected person, mainly through plane, train and bus journeys.\nThose who have been in close contact are advised to stay home and get in touch with local health authorities, state news agency Xinhua reported.\nThe report did not disclose how the app would work, saying only that it received support from the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Transport, China Railway and the Civil Aviation Administration of China \u201cto ensure accurate, reliable and authoritative data.\u201d\nChina\u2019s Communist Party operates an extensive system of surveillance over citizens, and identity cards are required to buy train and long-distance bus tickets. But the app will not currently be able to establish whether people might have caught the virus in shopping malls, for example.\nThe National Health Commission defines close contact as being proximity with a person who is confirmed or suspected of being infected with coronavirus, with no effective protection.\nIt includes people who work closely together, share the same classroom or live in the same house, as well as medical staff who have been in close contact with patients.\nOn a flight, Xinhua reported, all passengers in the same row as the infected person, as well as those three rows in front and three rows in back, would be defined as having come into close contact. This also applies to flight attendants who provide cabin services in the area. Other passengers would be referred to as having general contact.\nIn a fully enclosed air-conditioned train, all the passengers and crew members who are in the same compartment are regarded as being in close contact, Xinhua reported.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n3:40 AM: Coronavirus is a \u2018serious and imminent\u2019 threat to Britain, says health secretary\nThe spread of the new coronavirus is a \u201cserious and imminent\u201d threat to public health requiring stricter quarantine measures, Britain\u2019s Health Department announced Monday.\nThe statement in the name of Health Secretary Matt Hancock also designated Arrow Park Hospital as an isolation facility and declared that all of China\u2019s Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, was an \u201cinfected area.\u201d\nThe statement added that new measures have been adopted, giving the government greater powers to quarantine and isolate people to stop the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 40,000 people worldwide, nearly all of them in China.\nThe announcement followed the revelation that one British man who caught the virus in Singapore went on to possibly infect seven other people around Europe before returning to Britain.\nThe British government advises against all travel to Hubei province and all but the most essential travel to the rest of mainland China. \u201cIf you\u2019re in China and able to leave, you should do so,\u201d the travel advisory warned.\nOn Sunday, 200 British and foreign nationals were evacuated from the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began.\nBy: Paul Schemm\n3:25 AM: Taiwan tightens restrictions on Hong Kong and Macao travelers\nTaiwan announced new restrictions Monday on travelers from Hong Kong and Macao in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.\nOnly those traveling for business purposes or with residency in Taiwan will be allowed on the island, said Taiwan\u2019s Mainland Affairs Council. The new restrictions will take effect Tuesday.\nEven those allowed in must submit to a 14-day quarantine, either at home or in a hotel. According to the South China Morning Post, 10,840 students from Hong Kong and Macao are studying in Taiwan, 7,900 of them having left the island ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.\nAll residents of mainland China were already banned from entering Taiwan on Feb. 6.\nBy: Paul Schemm\n2:48 AM: Median coronavirus incubation period is three days but can stretch up to 24\nPeople infected with the new coronavirus normally come down with symptoms after about three days, but the disease can incubate in some people for up to 24 days, new research by Chinese scientists shows.\nThe disease spreads rapidly from among humans, and aside from conventional forms of transmission such as direct contact and respiratory droplets, it can be also be transmitted through saliva, urine and stools, but the fatality rate is \u201crelatively low,\u201d according to the research, co-authored by 37 doctors and researchers, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.\nFewer than half the infected patients who sought medical attention had fevers at the time, although nearly 90 percent developed a fever during hospitalization. Two-thirds of people had coughs, while diarrhea and vomiting were rare. Severe pneumonia occurred in 15.7 percent of cases.\nThe median incubation period, between infection and the onset of symptoms, was three days, but there was a wide range of between zero and 24 days. One of the authors told Chinese media that the 24-day incubation period occurred only in \u201cindividual cases.\u201d\nThe study looked at 1,099 cases where patients were confirmed to have the virus. Of the group, just over 1 percent had direct contact with wildlife, just over 30 percent had been to Wuhan, the city where the outbreak originated, and nearly 72 percent had contact with people from Wuhan.\nOf 62 stool samples tested, four tested positive to the presence of the virus, while evidence was also found of the virus in gastrointestinal tracts, saliva and urine. \u201cHygiene protection should take into account the transmission via gastrointestinal secretions,\u201d it said.\nBy: Simon Denyer\n2:03 AM: China starts animal trials on mice to develop new coronavirus vaccine\nChinese scientists have begun animal trials as they seek to develop a vaccine against the new coronavirus, Chinese media outlet Yicai reported Monday.\nSamples of the new vaccine were injected into more than 100 healthy mice on Sunday, and if the trials go well, the new vaccine could enter human clinical trials as soon as April, Yicai reported, citing multiple sources including an official from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or China CDC.\n\u201cThis is still at a very early stage, and there are still many steps to be taken before it can be used on humans,\u201d the official was quoted as saying.\nThe vaccine has been designed and developed by the China CDC, Tongji University School of Medicine and the Siwei (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co.\nCalls to China CDC, Tongji University and Siwei were not immediately answered.\nBy: Simon Denyer and Yang Liu\n1:45 AM: Another 60 people on board the Diamond Princess test positive for the virus\nTOKYO \u2014 Japan\u2019s Health Ministry said on Monday another 60 people on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing to 130 the total number known to have been infected on board the ship.\nThe infected passengers will be taken to local hospitals for treatment.\nCalls have been growing for Japanese authorities to test all roughly 3,700 passengers and crew on board the ship, especially since a significant proportion of those tested have been found to have the virus. Those calls have intensified after Hong Kong\u2019s authorities were able to test all 1,800 crew members on board another cruise ship, and when they all tested negative, letting everyone disembark.\nHealth Minister Katsunobu Kato has insisted that only people who show symptoms or are seen as being at high risk would be tested, but on Monday he said authorities were studying whether it was feasible to test everyone on board before letting them leave the ship at the end of the quarantine period, to prevent the spread of the infection in Japan.\nBefore Monday\u2019s test results were announced, 70 people out of 336 people tested had been found to have the virus, including six crew members.\nOn Saturday, Japan\u2019s Defense Minister Taro Kono tweeted that the U.S. government has explained to Japan that it is not thinking of disembarking any passengers on the Princess Diamond before the 14-day quarantine period ends, based on advice from U.S. health authorities.\nSome passengers had been asking to be flown home, fearing they could get infected on board the ship, and Japanese media had reported that a plan to take Americans out by another ship was under consideration.\nBy: Simon Denyer and Akiko Kashiwagi\n1:15 AM: Coronavirus death toll still accelerating, but growth in new infections stabilizes\nThe death toll from coronavirus has soared past 900, surpassing the toll from thee 2002-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, according to data released by China\u2019s National Health Commission on Monday, with 97 new deaths the previous day, the highest daily toll since the outbreak began.\nThe number of new infections also continues to grow, but the rate of increase appears to be stabilizing or even slowing, especially outside the worst affected province of Hubei.\nOn Sunday, China added 3,062 new confirmed infections, bringing the total of people known to have the virus to 40,171. It also added 4,008 new suspected infections.\nBut the number of new infections outside Hubei was only 444, compared to a peak of 890 new infections outside Hubei on Feb. 3.\nChinese health officials said Sunday that the apparent tapering off in new infections outside Hubei could be a result of the strict quarantine measures that have been out in place. The World Health Organization also noted an apparent tapering off in infections, calling it \u201cgood news,\u201d but cautioned many people still hadn\u2019t been tested and it was too early to make predictions about the number of new infections.\nBy: Simon Denyer"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "OPBP2IHULQI6VPCF4XKIVNCLT4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "OPBP2IHULQI6VPCF4XKIVNCLT4_0", "title": "\u2018Long-haul\u2019 covid-19 complications are real. I faced similar problems after surviving Ebola.", "text": "We need to talk about \u201clong-haul\u201d covid. Many people who\u2019ve had covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, continue to experience complications long after their initial illness, and those of us in the medical field don\u2019t know why. We can draw from similar illnesses and the growing body of research, especially the work being done by some of these patients themselves. It\u2019s no surprise that many who survived an initial bout of covid 19 \u2014 even if that illness was mild \u2014 continue to experience often-debilitating symptoms weeks and months after they first got sick. We\u2019ve seen this with many other viral illnesses, including covid-19\u2019s close coronavirus cousins, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). In one study of SARS survivors, 24 percent had markedly diminished exercise capacity and health status compared with the general population at 12 months after the onset of the illness. Another study showed that two years after SARS onset, more than 50 percent of SARS survivors had impairment in lung function tests and \u201ctheir exercise capacity and health status were remarkably lower than that of the general population.\u201d Dozens of other studies outline how SARS and MERS left many survivors with long-term health conditions. Enduring fatigue, inability to return to work and ongoing mental health challenges were incredibly common, in addition to the cardiac, respiratory and neurologic symptoms. We know what viruses can do to the immune system long term. And we know that other coronaviruses have left survivors with similar symptoms. So why are covid-19 long-haulers having such a hard time being taken seriously? As a doctor who treated hundreds of covid-19 patients in New York and sees them frequently in the emergency room, I know how this virus touched nearly every organ system, and how many still haven\u2019t recovered months after their initial illness. But in a sense, I\u2019m also a long-hauler myself. In 2014, I fell ill with Ebola after taking care of patients in Guinea. I spent 19 days in the hospital, and thankfully ultimately survived. But for months I had joint and muscle pains. It hurt to walk. My hair fell out in chunks. All of that got better. But some things didn\u2019t. To this date, nearly six years after my \u201crecovery,\u201d I continue to experience difficulty concentrating. My ability to create new memories is drastically reduced. I forget names and details of people I"}], "old": [{"_id": "OPBP2IHULQI6VPCF4XKIVNCLT4_0", "title": "\u2018Long-haul\u2019 covid-19 complications are real. I faced similar problems after surviving Ebola.", "text": "Another Recognition. Resources and rehabilitation. Research."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "We need to talk about \u201clong-haul\u201d covid.\nMany people who\u2019ve had covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, continue to experience complications long after their initial illness, and those of us in the medical field don\u2019t know why.\nWe can draw from similar illnesses and the growing body of research, especially the work being done by some of these patients themselves. It\u2019s no surprise that many who survived an initial bout of covid 19 \u2014 even if that illness was mild \u2014 continue to experience often-debilitating symptoms weeks and months after they first got sick. We\u2019ve seen this with many other viral illnesses, including covid-19\u2019s close coronavirus cousins, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).\nIn one study of SARS survivors, 24\u00a0percent had markedly diminished exercise capacity and health status compared with the general population at 12 months after the onset of the illness. Another study showed that two years after SARS onset, more than 50 percent of SARS survivors had impairment in lung function tests and \u201ctheir exercise capacity and health status were remarkably lower than that of the general population.\u201d\nDozens of other studies outline how SARS and MERS left many survivors with long-term health conditions. Enduring fatigue, inability to return to work and ongoing mental health challenges were incredibly common, in addition to the cardiac, respiratory and neurologic symptoms.\nWe know what viruses can do to the immune system long term. And we know that other coronaviruses have left survivors with similar symptoms. So why are covid-19 long-haulers having such a hard time being taken seriously?\nAs a doctor who treated hundreds of covid-19 patients in New York and sees them frequently in the emergency room, I know how this virus touched nearly every organ system, and how many still haven\u2019t recovered months after their initial illness. But in a sense, I\u2019m also a long-hauler myself.\nIn 2014, I fell ill with Ebola after taking care of patients in Guinea. I spent 19 days in the hospital, and thankfully ultimately survived. But for months I had joint and muscle pains. It hurt to walk. My hair fell out in chunks. All of that got better.\nBut some things didn\u2019t.\nTo this date, nearly six years after my \u201crecovery,\u201d I continue to experience difficulty concentrating. My ability to create new memories is drastically reduced. I forget names and details of people I knew very, very well. And in the past six years, it hasn\u2019t gotten any better.\nHonestly, it almost feels as if the virus indiscriminately pulled a razor blade through my brain, severing old memories at random, and on its way out dropped glue in its tracks to make it hard to create new ones.\nIn discussions I\u2019ve had with many covid long-haulers, both in the ER and online, I\u2019ve heard so many describe symptoms similar to what I experienced in the months after my illness. The fatigue, \u201cbrain fog,\u201d and feeling better some days and worse the next.\nAn article published in the Los Angeles Times this summer by David Lat, founding editor of the Above the Law legal blog who spent 17 days in the hospital including 6 days on a ventilator after he fell ill, said what many other long-covid patients feel:\n\u201cRecovering from a severe case of COVID-19 is not like switching a light on or off. It\u2019s more like a dimmer switch, where the light gets brighter, then darker, then brighter again. .\u2009.\u2009. Before I came down with COVID-19, I could run for miles. After returning from the hospital, I needed a wheelchair to go even half a block.\u201d\nSo what research do we have for covid-19?\nSo much of what we know about long-haulers is actually from long-haulers themselves. Groups such as Body Politic (@itsbodypolitic) led the first detailed patient surveys and have set up expansive support groups.\nTheir findings were further supported in July by a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that 35 percent of covid-19 patients had not returned to their usual state of health when interviewed two to three weeks after testing. Those with chronic conditions were affected the most. But even among young adults ages 18 to 34 with no chronic medical conditions, nearly 1 in 5 reported they had not returned to their usual state of health 14 to 21 days after testing. This is particularly concerning as outbreaks are now emerging at college campuses.\nAnd there are reports that even younger children are having to deal with long-term covid complications. This is beyond the hundreds of cases you may have read about of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), often weeks after a covid-19 infection.\nAlthough covid-19 is primarily defined by its respiratory symptoms \u2014 low oxygen, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) \u2014 it impacts nearly every organ system in one way or the other. This is true for the acute (early) infection but likely defines the long-term and chronic impacts as well.\nWhat percentage of those with covid-19 are affected with long-term symptoms?\nWe don\u2019t know for sure, but multiple studies have suggested approximately 10 percent of people experience prolonged illness after covid-19. At even a fraction of that, the toll is huge given that 6.7 million people in the United States so far have gotten the disease (and more than 30 million worldwide).\nA study from Rome showed the overwhelming majority of hospitalized patients still struggled with symptoms 60 days out. Fatigue, difficulty breathing, joint pain and chest pain persisted in many. About 87 percent still had at least one symptom, and 55 percent had three or more.\nCovid-19 has been associated with many long-term cardiac problems, including inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the sac around the heart (pericarditis), as well as abnormal heart rhythms. Some may develop cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle that prevents the heart from pumping effectively.\nA lot of college and professional athletes have been found to have myocarditis, even after a mild bout of covid-19, which has led some leagues and players themselves to call off their season.\nA few studies have already outlined the longer term cardiac impact of covid-19. A small one from Wuhan, China, showed a majority of recovered patients (15 out of 26) who were tested with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging had sustained cardiac involvement at a median of 47 days after symptom onset \u2014 primarily edema, fibrosis and impaired contractility of the heart.\nAnother\nUnsurprisingly, given that it\u2019s primarily a respiratory virus, emerging data indicate that many patients must deal with lung damage and \u201cexperience persistent respiratory symptoms months after their initial illness.\u201d\nLike SARS and MERS (where 30 percent had persistent lung abnormalities after their acute illness), breathlessness and cough are commonly reported long after recovery from covid-19. Many also have fibrosis (scarring), bronchiectasis (damage to bronchial tubes) and pulmonary vascular disease.\nBut we also know that patients who have been on ventilators and who are given pulmonary rehabilitation early on have better and faster resolution of underlying damage and symptoms.\nThose of us working on the covid-19 front lines saw how this disease caused kidney injury or failure in so many patients admitted to our hospitals. At the Mount Sinai Health System, in New York, during the peak of the pandemic there, 46 percent of patients admitted with covid-19 had some form of acute kidney injury; of those, 19 percent required urgent dialysis.\n\u201cThe next epidemic will be chronic kidney disease in the U.S. among those who recovered from the coronavirus,\u201d said Steven Coca, associate professor of nephrology at Mount Sinai and one of the authors on the study, in a published interview last month.\nThe neurologic system seems to have the most diverse aftereffects of covid infection, such as persistent headaches, anosmia (loss of smell), long-term disability from stroke and some relatively rare conditions \u2014 among them encephalitis, cranial neuropathies and even myasthenia gravis (a neuromuscular disorder causing weakness).\nThere are also many case reports of covid-19 patients with Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome, an autoimmune illness that causes altered sensation and motor function, primarily in the legs and arms. This was something we also saw with infections from the Zika virus a few years ago.\nAnd there have been loads of studies about anosmia related to covid-19. In many, this was reported in 30 to 60 percent of covid cases. Thankfully, most episodes resolved in two to three weeks, but for some, symptoms persist beyond that.\nIn addition to the neurologic impact, the mental health manifestations of long-covid can be profound. According to a report in STAT, \u201c1 in 3 patients recovering .\u2009.\u2009. could experience neurological or psychological aftereffects of their infections.\u201d\nThe mental health toll of this pandemic has been hard on everyone. But for long-haulers, the extra stress of being sick and not knowing if or when you\u2019ll feel better is an added burden. Support groups are helping many, but we need more resources.\nSo what\u2019s next? What do we need to do to better understand long-haul covid? Here are my suggestions:\nRecognition.\nResources and rehabilitation.\nResearch.\n\u201cWe must move long-haul covid from anecdote to something that is routinely quantified and monitored, as is currently being done with deaths and positive tests,\u201d Nisreen A. Alwan, associate professor in public health at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom who has suffered prolonged symptoms herself, wrote in the Lancet. \u201cWe must define and measure what \u2018recovery\u2019 means, focusing on how long symptoms last, how severe they are, how they impact someone\u2019s quality of life, and the nature of when and how they appear.\u201d\nI heartily agree. We urgently need more insight into how health-care providers can best help long-haul covid patients. This includes the \u201cwhole-patient approach\u201d to look more broadly at their health problems and assist patients with setting achievable targets for self-management.\nWhile there is much we don\u2019t know about long-haul covid, there is still a lot that we already do know: That it is real, that the toll is huge, that dealing with it is daunting.\nIf you want to know just how daunting, read bit.ly/Paul_Garner_long-haul by Paul Garner, a professor of infectious diseases at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in England, on his struggle to \u201caccommodate\u201d his long-term symptoms after getting covid-19.\nLike Garner, many people struggling today might still be recovering after this pandemic eventually recedes. We need action to address this now."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "QPO5LRHAHNEJVLNIWJJ3C7LZEM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "QPO5LRHAHNEJVLNIWJJ3C7LZEM_0", "title": "Key terms of the coronavirus outbreak, explained: From asymptomatic to zoonotic", "text": "With health officials trying to prevent and prepare for the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, there is much panic and confusion and many questions. Here are some key terms and facts to know: Coronavirus: Covid-19: Zoonotic: Community transmission: Outbreak: Epidemic: Pandemic: Fatality rate: Asymptomatic transmission: Isolation: Quarantine: Containment: Mitigation: Vaccine: Anti-viral medicines:"}], "old": [{"_id": "QPO5LRHAHNEJVLNIWJJ3C7LZEM_0", "title": "Key terms of the coronavirus outbreak, explained: From asymptomatic to zoonotic", "text": "Coronavirus: Covid-19: Zoonotic: Community transmission: Outbreak: Epidemic: Pandemic: Fatality rate: Asymptomatic transmission: Isolation: Quarantine: Containment: Mitigation: Vaccine: Anti-viral medicines:"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "With health officials trying to prevent and prepare for the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, there is much panic and confusion and many questions. Here are some key terms and facts to know:\nCoronavirus:\nCovid-19:\nZoonotic:\nCommunity transmission:\nOutbreak:\nEpidemic:\nPandemic:\nFatality rate:\nAsymptomatic transmission:\nIsolation:\nQuarantine:\nContainment:\nMitigation:\nVaccine:\nAnti-viral medicines:"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "RKPIZVC75AI6VMU3TW2C66ADU4_3", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "RKPIZVC75AI6VMU3TW2C66ADU4_3", "title": "The best hope for coronavirus treatment is an experimental drug that fizzled against Ebola", "text": "Aylward, WHO\u2019s assistant director general. Ten days later, RBC Capital Markets gave it only a 50 percent chance of succeeding as a treatment. The mixed signals have done little to dampen interest. There have been desperate pleas for supplies to treat patients on a \u201ccompassionate use\u2019\u2019 basis. Although Gilead leads the pack on treatments, large drug companies such as Merck, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi, as well as lesser-known companies Regeneron and Moderna, are pursuing coronavirus vaccines and medications, and executives estimate that at least 40 small biotech companies are developing drugs to fight it. Every time there is a new virus, \u201cwe get started, but we don\u2019t cross the finish line,\u2019\u2019 Julie Gerberding, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who is now the executive vice president and chief patient officer at Merck, said at a news briefing in Washington last week. This time, she said, industry is committed to pushing a vaccine to cross the line for regulatory approval. \u201cIf we don\u2019t cross it, it will be because it\u2019s scientifically hard,\u2019\u2019 she said, \u201cnot because of the will or the investment.\u2019\u2019 But drug companies also have been accused of not pursuing vaccines and antiviral treatments aggressively because the commercial markets for such drugs are weak. The potential patient pool for clinical trials dries up once a new infectious outbreak subsides, so investment can be frozen in partly completed projects. And the pool of medical customers for a drug can be short-lived, if a seasonal epidemic quickly disappears, offering little chance to recoup an investment of what could be hundreds of millions of dollars. Vaccine and treatment development tailed off after outbreaks of the earlier coronavirus cousins, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The drug industry\u2019s lobbying arm, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), said that at least half of its members have mobilized in various ways to fight the new coronavirus in recent weeks. \u201cWe need to encourage as many shots on goal as possible,\u2019\u2019 Stephen J. Ubl, PhRMA\u2019s chief executive officer, told reporters. Government efforts to spur development have produced sporadic progress. In the nearly 20 years since the SARS outbreak, the National Institutes of Health has spent nearly $700 million on research and development efforts around coronavirus, according to a survey by the advocacy group Public Citizen, which criticized the pharmaceutical industry for a \u201clack"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Medical researchers spent much of the past year trying to save Ebola victims in Congo using a clutch of experimental drugs. Of the four medications being tested, researchers said, one demonstrated especially poor ability to save patients from the deadly virus.\nThe drug, called remdesivir, had blocked the Ebola virus in laboratories and in animal experiments. But it did such a bad job extending survival in humans compared to two of the other treatments that researchers decided in August not to try it on any more patients.\nNow the drug, created by pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences, is being tested in new clinical trials, and global health authorities deem it the most promising of possible treatments for people who are severely ill with the novel coronavirus, which causes the covid-19 disease. Because it is a \u201cbroad spectrum\u2019\u2019 drug that has been effective against multiple viral targets in the lab and in animals, the strategy could work, experts said.\nThe drug\u2019s journey \u2014 from failing to prolong the lives of Ebola patients in sub-Saharan Africa just last year to being rushed into coronavirus clinical trials in China and the United States this year \u2014 symbolizes a dire lack of antiviral drugs that can fight emerging infectious threats.\nAs the outbreak spreads worldwide, a vaccine to prevent infection remains at least a year away. Meanwhile, there is no approved treatment to stop the virus once someone is infected, and the severe and sometimes fatal respiratory distress that afflicts a minority of patients.\nThe hope is that remdesivir will show better results with the coronavirus than it did with Ebola, which is from a different viral family, officials said. The first trial results could be available in April.\nGilead, the National Institutes of Health and Chinese health authorities are racing to test it on hundreds of people in controlled clinical trials, including a patient who was quarantined in Nebraska after being removed from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Axios reported this month that Gilead acted so quickly that it did not even wait for required approval by the Food and Drug Administration before it shipped doses to China. Asked to respond, Gilead said it thinks its \u201climited shipments\u2019\u2019 were made in compliance with U.S. law.\n\u201cI just hope remdesivir works, because we really need a therapeutic that can intervene in this crisis,\u2019\u2019 said Richard Whitley, director of an NIH-funded research effort involving the world\u2019s most dangerous viruses.\nGilead did not respond directly about the drug\u2019s failure in the Ebola trial. \u201cCovid-19 is a coronavirus that is unrelated to Ebola virus,\u2019\u2019 the company said. \u201cCovid-19 is associated with different symptoms, pa\u00adthol\u00adogy, and a different course of disease.\u2019\u2019\nInvented by Gilead about a decade ago, remdesivir has been proven to stop certain viruses from replicating in lab experiments and in animals. It has been researched in academic labs in North Carolina and Tennessee with backing from federal taxpayers since 2014, as part of a $37.5\u00a0million effort by NIH to find treatments for infectious diseases.\nUntil Monday, when it fell in a brutal market rout, Gilead\u2019s stock price had defied the overall market decline of recent weeks, rising almost 20 percent from Feb. 21 to March 6, on hopes that the drug could provide the first treatment for covid-19.\nThe lack of treatment helps explain why. The stock price increased 5\u00a0percent on Feb. 24 alone when a top official of the World Health Organization pinned much of the world\u2019s hopes for a treatment on the drug.\n\u201cThere is only one drug right now that we think may have real efficacy, and that\u2019s remdesivir,\u201d said Bruce Aylward, WHO\u2019s assistant director general. Ten days later, RBC Capital Markets gave it only a 50 percent chance of succeeding as a treatment.\nThe mixed signals have done little to dampen interest. There have been desperate pleas for supplies to treat patients on a \u201ccompassionate use\u2019\u2019 basis.\nAlthough Gilead leads the pack on treatments, large drug companies such as Merck, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi, as well as lesser-known companies Regeneron and Moderna, are pursuing coronavirus vaccines and medications, and executives estimate that at least 40 small biotech companies are developing drugs to fight it.\nEvery time there is a new virus, \u201cwe get started, but we don\u2019t cross the finish line,\u2019\u2019 Julie Gerberding, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who is now the executive vice president and chief patient officer at Merck, said at a news briefing in Washington last week. This time, she said, industry is committed to pushing a vaccine to cross the line for regulatory approval.\n\u201cIf we don\u2019t cross it, it will be because it\u2019s scientifically hard,\u2019\u2019 she said, \u201cnot because of the will or the investment.\u2019\u2019\nBut drug companies also have been accused of not pursuing vaccines and antiviral treatments aggressively because the commercial markets for such drugs are weak.\nThe potential patient pool for clinical trials dries up once a new infectious outbreak subsides, so investment can be frozen in partly completed projects. And the pool of medical customers for a drug can be short-lived, if a seasonal epidemic quickly disappears, offering little chance to recoup an investment of what could be hundreds of millions of dollars.\nVaccine and treatment development tailed off after outbreaks of the earlier coronavirus cousins, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The drug industry\u2019s lobbying arm, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), said that at least half of its members have mobilized in various ways to fight the new coronavirus in recent weeks.\n\u201cWe need to encourage as many shots on goal as possible,\u2019\u2019 Stephen J. Ubl, PhRMA\u2019s chief executive officer, told reporters.\nGovernment efforts to spur development have produced sporadic progress. In the nearly 20 years since the SARS outbreak, the National Institutes of Health has spent nearly $700\u00a0million on research and development efforts around coronavirus, according to a survey by the advocacy group Public Citizen, which criticized the pharmaceutical industry for a \u201clack of interest that has left us lagging behind.\u2019\u2019\nEvery epidemic presents uncertainty for drug companies, said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar for the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University.\n\u201cYou never know how long it\u2019s going to last. You never know what the market size is going to be,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cEvery conversation about price is when you\u2019re in the middle of an emergency.\u2019\u2019\nGiven the large degree of public financial support, debates are already flaring about how much Gilead should charge for its treatment if it ever makes it to market.\nCongress and President Trump authorized up to $3\u00a0billion last week for efforts by academic researchers and drug companies to develop vaccines and treatments for coronavirus, part of an $8.3\u00a0billion emergency spending bill. The industry successfully opposed efforts by some House Democrats to attach guarantees for affordable prices for vaccines or treatments that result.\nGilead said it is too soon to discuss potential markets, in written responses to The Washington Post.\n\u201cWe are focused on the potential clinical value that remdesivir may bring to patients and doing our part to respond to the coronavirus outbreak,\u2019\u2019 the company said.\nEarlier testing of remdesivir has been performed by a partnership of university academics and the National Institutes of Health called the Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development Center, coordinated by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It is focused on finding treatments for the family of coronaviruses, as well as Ebola, Zika, dengue and chikungunya.\nGilead said it donates free drug samples for the government-funded research of remdesivir and helps design scientific studies and clinical trials. Whitley, an infectious-disease expert who leads the drug development center in Alabama, credited Gilead for staying focused on fighting viral infections despite the poor market incentives.\n\u201cDrug companies don\u2019t have an interest in emerging infectious diseases,\u2019\u2019 he said.\nThe public should not be excessively discouraged by the negative Ebola results last year, Whitley added. The trial in rural areas of Congo, a conflict zone with rudimentary conditions, was complicated by the fact that remdesivir\u2019s correct dosage was unknown, he said. Also, it required a cumbersome daily IV administration, after being reconstituted from a freeze-dried form used for shipping in the uncontrolled climate conditions.\nThe drug has not been studied in human trials for SARS or MERS, because there are not enough patients, Gilead said.\n\u201cThe number of clinical MERS infections was limited, with almost exclusive localization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and there were no SARS infections,\u2019\u2019 the company said.\nIn the new coronavirus outbreak, it said, it is reviewing individual requests from physicians to provide the drug on a \u201ccompassionate use\u2019\u2019 basis but only to patients who are hospitalized and showing \u201csignificant clinical manifestations.\u2019\u2019\nchristopher.rowland@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "T345SIAQUVBZXJUBIYAKT66ZNI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "T345SIAQUVBZXJUBIYAKT66ZNI_0", "title": "Inside the extraordinary race to invent a coronavirus vaccine", "text": "Ian Haydon, a healthy 29-year-old, reported to a medical clinic in Seattle for a momentous blood draw last week. \u201cOh yeah,\u201d said the nurse taking his blood. \u201cThat is liquid gold.\u201d Haydon is an obscure but important participant in the most consequential race for a vaccine in medical history. In early April, he was among the first people in the United States to receive an experimental vaccine that could help end the coronavirus crisis. He volunteered to be a test subject knowing about the risks and unknowns, but eager to do his part to help end the worst pandemic in a century. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., will study blood from Haydon and others for signs that the vaccine triggered an immune response to a pathogen they have never encountered. It would be the first, preliminary signal that the vaccine could provide immunity to covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives worldwide. A coronavirus vaccine has become the light at the end of a very long tunnel, the tool that will bring the virus to heel, allowing people to attend sports events, hug friends, celebrate weddings and grieve at funerals. The goal to deliver a vaccine in 12 to 18 months, often repeated by the nation\u2019s top infectious disease scientist, Anthony S. Fauci, has become the one reassuring refrain during briefings on the crisis. The White House put together a task force called Operation Warp Speed to try to move even faster, making hundreds of millions of doses ready by January. With at least 115 vaccine projects at companies and research labs, the science is hurtling forward so fast and bending so many rules about how the process usually works that even veteran vaccine developers do not know what to expect. Scientific steps that typically take place sequentially over years \u2014 animal testing, toxicology studies, laboratory experiments, massive human trials, plans to ramp up production \u2014 are now moving in fast-forward and in parallel. Experts keep using the word \u201cunprecedented.\u201d It\u2019s a thrilling time in vaccine science, but also an unnerving one. U.S. regulators are firm in promising they will not sacrifice safety for speed, but some ethicists raise concerns about \u201cpandemic research exceptionalism,\u201d in which the demand to speed a vaccine to market could come at the expense of evidence and fuel the powerful anti-vaccine lobby."}], "old": [{"_id": "T345SIAQUVBZXJUBIYAKT66ZNI_0", "title": "Inside the extraordinary race to invent a coronavirus vaccine", "text": "Read more: The dark side of ventilators: Those hooked up for long periods face difficult recoveries \u2018Second-week crash\u2019 is time of peril for some covid-19 patients"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Ian Haydon, a healthy 29-year-old, reported to a medical clinic in Seattle for a momentous blood draw last week.\n\u201cOh yeah,\u201d said the nurse taking his blood. \u201cThat is liquid gold.\u201d\nHaydon is an obscure but important participant in the most consequential race for a vaccine in medical history. In early April, he was among the first people in the United States to receive an experimental vaccine that could help end the coronavirus crisis. He volunteered to be a test subject knowing about the risks and unknowns, but eager to do his part to help end the worst pandemic in a century.\nScientists at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., will study blood from Haydon and others for signs that the vaccine triggered an immune response to a pathogen they have never encountered. It would be the first, preliminary signal that the vaccine could provide immunity to covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives worldwide.\nA coronavirus vaccine has become the light at the end of a very long tunnel, the tool that will bring the virus to heel, allowing people to attend sports events, hug friends, celebrate weddings and grieve at funerals. The goal to deliver a vaccine in 12 to 18 months, often repeated by the nation\u2019s top infectious disease scientist, Anthony S. Fauci, has become the one reassuring refrain during briefings on the crisis. The White House put together a task force called Operation Warp Speed to try to move even faster, making hundreds of millions of doses ready by January.\nWith at least 115 vaccine projects at companies and research labs, the science is hurtling forward so fast and bending so many rules about how the process usually works that even veteran vaccine developers do not know what to expect.\nScientific steps that typically take place sequentially over years \u2014 animal testing, toxicology studies, laboratory experiments, massive human trials, plans to ramp up production \u2014 are now moving in fast-forward and in parallel. Experts keep using the word \u201cunprecedented.\u201d\nIt\u2019s a thrilling time in vaccine science, but also an unnerving one.\nU.S. regulators are firm in promising they will not sacrifice safety for speed, but some ethicists raise concerns about \u201cpandemic research exceptionalism,\u201d in which the demand to speed a vaccine to market could come at the expense of evidence and fuel the powerful anti-vaccine lobby.\n\u201cThe 26 years it took us to make the rotavirus vaccine is pretty typical. If it\u2019s 12 to 18 months, you\u2019re skipping steps,\u201d said Paul Offit, who developed a vaccine for rotavirus, which causes deadly diarrhea in infants and children. \u201cIs that a little risky? Yes it is, but so is getting infected with the virus.\u201d\nOn a weekend in early January, scientists at Inovio Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company outside of Philadelphia, began designing a vaccine for a mysterious pneumonia that didn\u2019t even have a name. They, like other teams around the world, used the genetic blueprint of the novel coronavirus, shared online by Chinese scientists, as their guide.\nIt took about three hours to design the vaccine, said Joseph Kim, chief executive of Inovio.\nScientists at NIH had been in talks about partnering with a Massachusetts biotechnology company, Moderna, and immediately began designing another vaccine candidate. By the end of the month, it was in production in a factory filled with robots in a suburb south of Boston.\nWith an array of promising vaccine technologies fueled by early scientific openness, dozens of vaccine efforts kicked off blindingly fast in dozens of countries.\n\u201cThen, the tough work began,\u201d Kim said.\nDesigning a promising vaccine is, in some ways, the easy part. Showing that it is safe and effective and then scaling up production can take years or even decades. Researchers are now trying to compress that timeline in ways they never have before, against a type of virus they have never successfully quelled. In some cases, they are also harnessing technologies that have never been used in approved vaccines. In contrast, scientists develop a new flu vaccine each year, an effort that is more of a \u201cplug and play\u201d situation, where a time-tested basic platform can be redirected to fight new flu strains.\n\u201cIt\u2019s another reason for better preparedness,\u201d said Barney Graham, deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center at NIH, pointing out that his lab had developed a vaccine for MERS, a related coronavirus, but only got it through mouse studies. \u201cIf we\u2019d taken at least two to three vaccine concepts through early-phase clinical trials on MERS, we might have a better idea on what to focus on for this SARS coronavirus \u2014 so instead of working with 115 different vaccine ideas, we might be working on five.\u201d\nScientists at Oxford University have announced the most aggressive timeline, with plans to make their vaccine \u2014 which depends on a weakened cold virus that typically infects chimpanzees \u2014 available in the fall.\nModerna and Inovio are developing vaccines that ferry two types of genetic material into cells to train the immune system to recognize the distinctive \u201cspike\u201d protein on the surface of the coronavirus. A Beijing company is trying an inactivated virus. Giant pharmaceutical companies, flush with government funding, are turning their vaccine platforms toward the coronavirus. Researchers at Texas A&M University are repurposing an existing tuberculosis vaccine to see whether it can prevent deaths or severe illness.\nTo make things more difficult, as the infection spread across the world, scientific teams had to change how they work, practicing social distancing in their labs so the virus doesn\u2019t take out the effort to combat it. That happened at NIH, when one scientist became infected with the coronavirus and two close colleagues on the effort had to quarantine for 14 days.\nGraham\u2019s Vaccine Research Center is working with only about 10 percent of its staff coming in, and his laboratory \u2014 which usually houses 20 people \u2014 can have only two at any one time.\nMeanwhile, the difficult laboratory science, such as animal testing, is in many ways, being leapfrogged or running in tandem with testing in people.\n\u201cThis is unusual,\u201d Kim said. \u201cIt\u2019s really moving at lightning speed with the urgency to match it.\u201d\nMany researchers can describe how vaccines are typically developed. But they can\u2019t say precisely how the coronavirus vaccines will come about. So much will depend not just on the science, but on how the outbreak evolves, how flexible regulators decide to be and what we continue to learn about the virus in real time.\nPhilanthropist Bill Gates argues things can\u2019t really return to normal until the world\u2019s 7 billion people are vaccinated \u2014 a daunting scenario that could take years and create a new kind of public strife, as governments and individual people scramble for limited doses. More than one vaccine will probably be needed because the first one may not be as effective as the follow-ups.\nThe front-runner vaccines in the United States have never been made at an industrial scale, and some vaccines require two doses to be given, further complicating any effort to scale up.\n\u201cWe really have never made those kinds of vaccines in large, large quantities. How quickly can that be done?\u201d said Kathryn Edwards, a professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to be able to say in 18 months that we have enough for all the world\u2019s people to be immunized with two doses.\u201d\nTypically, human clinical trials occur after extensive animal testing. Then, a small number of human subjects receive the vaccine in a phase 1 trial intended to determine the safety and the right dosage. People are monitored for any side effects, as well as early hints that the vaccine works. After carefully analyzing that data, companies decide to proceed to a larger phase 2 trial in several hundred patients, which looks for signs the vaccine is working. Then, they could proceed to a large phase 3 trial in which people are randomly assigned to receive either the vaccine or a dummy shot \u2014 a definitive test of safety and effectiveness, which often takes thousands of patients and several years.\nOffit, who is helping advise the U.S. vaccine effort, said the \u201clarge\u201d trials being considered that he is aware of range from 1,000 to 6,000 people that would probably take place over months. In contrast, when he developed a vaccine against rotavirus, the pivotal trial included 70,000 healthy infants over four years. The human papilloma virus vaccine was tested in 30,000 people.\n\u201cThose are typical trials,\u201d Offit said. \u201cThey tell you, pretty comfortably, that the vaccine is effective \u2014 and to some extent, that it doesn\u2019t have an uncommon side effect.\u201d\nNo one is talking about that for the coronavirus.\nModerna, the company that manufactures the vaccine Haydon received, plans to start its next larger trial in 500 to 600 people this spring, according to St\u00e9phane Bancel, the chief executive. He said the company began planning the trial nearly a month ago, even though it was still giving shots to the first human subjects.\n\u201cWe said, \u2018We cannot wait,\u2019\u201d Bancel said.\nInstead of holding off until the subjects have signs in their blood that the vaccine works, they are going to proceed to the next trial as soon as it shows safety. Bancel said Moderna hopes to sign a contract soon with a government agency so that they can start manufacturing and stockpiling the vaccine before approval. They could have 100 million doses ready to go on day one, if it is approved in a year.\nRegulators insist that even under unprecedented urgency, products will be held to a high safety bar.\n\u201cMy motto is a woodworking one: Measure twice, cut once. The only change to that motto is: Measure quickly twice, cut quickly once,\u201d said Peter Marks, the director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration.\nBut vaccine experts point out that rare safety problems often can be identified only in very large studies or even through monitoring after a vaccine has been deployed. They are most concerned about the risk that the vaccines could actually make the disease worse in some people, as happened in some animal studies of vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), through a mechanism called antibody dependent enhancement.\nIn 1966, for instance, an experimental vaccine for RSV, a common respiratory virus in children, backfired when some children developed a more severe disease. Scientific debate is still raging about a dengue vaccine used in the Philippines in recent years that increased the risk of hospitalization for dengue in children who had not previously been infected.\nThe public\u2019s health \u2014 and the trust in vaccines, considered one of the most successful public health interventions in human history \u2014 will be guarded by regulators, experts say, even as the political pressure intensifies to get a vaccine into broad use.\n\u201cThey\u2019re good at holding the line and aren\u2019t going to do anything that\u2019s reckless because if they did it, could jeopardize the whole U.S. vaccine effort, especially with the anti-vaccine lobby,\u201d said Peter Jay Hotez, the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.\nOne way to speed up vaccine development is \u201chuman challenge\u201d experiments, in which people are intentionally infected with the virus after being vaccinated. While the idea has gained steam among some scientists, people working on vaccine trials said it is an ethically challenging approach they would be uncomfortable with unless an effective treatment is discovered.\n\u201cRight now, I think it\u2019s a little premature. However, it\u2019s not off the table,\u201d said Wilbur Chen, chief of the adult clinical studies section in the University of Maryland School of Medicine\u2019s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health. \u201cI think it could be something that could be done; it could help us to really evaluate the efficacy of a vaccine much more quickly.\u201d\nVolunteers for such a challenge effort have already flooded an online sign-up created by a grass-roots group of researchers. Scientists are hopeful that enthusiasm will fill up all the trials necessary to prove the vaccines work. That will mean people willing to be test subjects for unproven vaccines with thinner-than-usual animal evidence behind them. It will mean people volunteering for trials in which half of them get a placebo. It may mean people weighing a vaccine whose benefits and risks aren\u2019t fully known against the risk of the virus.\nHaydon, who is due for his second shot of the vaccine next week, said he had never participated in a research study but was eager to assist.\n\u201cI\u2019m incredibly hopeful we\u2019ll arrive at a vaccine,\u201d he said. \u201cBut in order to do that, we need clinical trials \u2014 and at some point, for each new vaccine and each new drug, that has to go into someone for the first time.\u201d\nRead more:\nThe dark side of ventilators: Those hooked up for long periods face difficult recoveries\nChaotic search for coronavirus treatments undermines efforts, experts say\n\u2018Second-week crash\u2019 is time of peril for some covid-19 patients"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "UBUBEVSPLUI6VNZBT5GNZEF4DQ_1", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "UBUBEVSPLUI6VNZBT5GNZEF4DQ_1", "title": "Virus takes big toll on China\u2019s health workers", "text": "the confirmed cases, Chinese health authorities said. Six have died. One health care worker in Singapore also was infected. The Feb. 7 death of Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital who had warned fellow medical school graduates in a private chat of an outbreak of the virus, prompted a national outpouring of grief and rage toward authorities. He died after being detained and released by police for speaking out. By acknowledging the toll on health professionals, Beijing is trying to signal some transparency on a flash point issue, and letting ordinary people know officials share their sense of alarm. \u201cIt might raise a red flag about how serious the situation is,\u201d said Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. \u201cAnd hopefully that leads to a more effective government response.\u201d But Huang cautioned against seeing the figure as the final word on medical workers. \u201cIf it is coming from an official source, we have to take it always with a grain of salt,\u201d he said. Concerns about how medical personnel are faring in this crisis have been front and center from the start. Photos and video from Wuhan have shown exhausted doctors and nurses working in overflowing hospitals. At Zhongnan Hospital in Wuhan, 40 health care workers were infected with the virus in January, according to a JAMA study. The majority worked in the general wards, but seven were assigned to the emergency room and two worked in the intensive care unit. In one case, a single patient infected more than 10 health care workers. Still the toll on front line workers appears to be smaller than it was in other lethal coronavirus outbreaks. When SARS emerged in 2002, health care workers accounted for a fifth of the cases. A study of MERS infections from 2012 to 2018 found that health care workers made up a similar share \u2014 415 of the 2,223 confirmed cases. \u201cPatients need to be wearing a mask. Physicians taking care of them need to be protected themselves \u2014 not only medical doctors or nurses, but people who work in the hospitals: the transporters, the person who is at the front desk. All these individuals are at risk,\u201d said Charles Dela Cruz, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Yale University School of Medicine. To date, covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has caused more than"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "More than 1,700 Chinese medical workers have contracted the covid-19\nAmid widespread shortages of protective equipment for health care workers in China\u2019s Hubei province, Friday\u2019s announcement highlighted the challenges Beijing faces as its overwhelmed heath care system tries to contain the epidemic.\nAt the same time, officials noted the infection rate among health care workers is in line with that of previous respiratory viruses, including the 2003 SARS outbreak. The total appeared to be a count of infections that have occurred over many weeks, rather than a sudden escalation of the crisis.\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t surprising, if I\u2019m being honest,\u201d said Saskia V. Popescu, senior infection prevention epidemiologist for Honor Health, a hospital system in Phoenix. \u201cIt is very, very easy to have failures in infection control.\u201d\nMichael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization\u2019s Health Emergencies Program, said he believes the cases peaked in the third and fourth week of January and have declined since because of improved training and awareness.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a lower percentage than has occurred in other coronavirus outbreaks,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cNow that\u2019s not a guarantee that it won\u2019t change.\u201d\nA total of 1,716 Chinese medical providers were infected as of Feb. 11, 3.8 percent of the confirmed cases, Chinese health authorities said. Six have died. One health care worker in Singapore also was infected.\nThe Feb. 7 death of Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital who had warned fellow medical school graduates in a private chat of an outbreak of the virus, prompted a national outpouring of grief and rage toward authorities. He died after being detained and released by police for speaking out.\nBy acknowledging the toll on health professionals, Beijing is trying to signal some transparency on a flash point issue, and letting ordinary people know officials share their sense of alarm.\n\u201cIt might raise a red flag about how serious the situation is,\u201d said Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. \u201cAnd hopefully that leads to a more effective government response.\u201d\nBut Huang cautioned against seeing the figure as the final word on medical workers. \u201cIf it is coming from an official source, we have to take it always with a grain of salt,\u201d he said.\nConcerns about how medical personnel are faring in this crisis have been front and center from the start. Photos and video from Wuhan have shown exhausted doctors and nurses working in overflowing hospitals.\nAt Zhongnan Hospital in Wuhan, 40 health care workers were infected with the virus in January, according to a JAMA study. The majority worked in the general wards, but seven were assigned to the emergency room and two worked in the intensive care unit. In one case, a single patient infected more than 10 health care workers.\nStill the toll on front line workers appears to be smaller than it was in other lethal coronavirus outbreaks. When SARS emerged in 2002, health care workers accounted for a fifth of the cases. A study of MERS infections from 2012 to 2018 found that health care workers made up a similar share \u2014 415 of the 2,223 confirmed cases.\n\u201cPatients need to be wearing a mask. Physicians taking care of them need to be protected themselves \u2014 not only medical doctors or nurses, but people who work in the hospitals: the transporters, the person who is at the front desk. All these individuals are at risk,\u201d said Charles Dela Cruz, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Yale University School of Medicine.\nTo date, covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has caused more than 1,500 deaths, all but two in China, and 66,000 illnesses, with only 600 of those outside China. The United States has seen 15 cases and no fatalities.\nEgypt\u2019s Ministry of Health confirmed Friday that it had detected a case of coronavirus, the first known example of the outbreak in Africa. Health officials have worried about the virus reaching the continent because of its weak health care systems.\nA spokesperson for the ministry, Khaled Megahed, said in a statement that a foreign national had tested positive for the coronavirus and the WHO had been notified.\nAlthough the person had not shown symptoms, they were tested because of their travel history. The person was subsequently transported to a hospital and they are in stable condition under quarantine.\nA number of people who came into contact with the patient have been tested for the virus, Megahad said. All tested negative, but they will be placed under 14-day quarantine as a precaution.\nIn Japan, meanwhile, the Health Ministry said Friday that 10 people evacuated from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in the port of Yokohama are in serious condition, with eight confirmed to have the new coronavirus. One of the other two is still awaiting test results.\nAmid persistent criticism of its approach, the government said it would begin allowing some people who have tested negative for the virus to leave the ship and finish their quarantines on shore. Priority will be given to passengers over the age of 80 and those with existing medical problems, as well as people in windowless cabins, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said.\nSo far, 218 people aboard the ship have tested positive for the virus out of 713 who were assessed. The government says it plans to step up testing in a bid to examine everyone on board before the quarantine ends Feb. 19.\nA quarantine officer involved in screening passengers also fell sick. The health ministry said he did not follow proper procedures, wiping away sweat with his gloves and reusing a mask he had worn earlier, Japan\u2019s national television network, NHK, reported.\nThe U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moving forward with its plan to boost disease surveillance, named the five cities where labs will begin testing flu specimens for the coronavirus. They are Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.\nThe public health labs are part of CDC\u2019s existing flu surveillance network, which monitors seasonal influenza and hospitalizations. Specimens that are negative for flu will be tested for coronavirus, the CDC\u2019s Nancy Messonnier said. Testing will be expanded to additional labs in coming weeks.\nLab tests that confirm additional coronavirus cases could allow public health authorities to take actions to forestall outbreaks, such as canceling large gatherings or calling for telemedicine and telework.\nAt the same time, flu illnesses have risen sharply in recent weeks, Messonnier said, complicating efforts to determine whether an illness is caused by the new coronavirus or the flu virus. So far this season, at least 26 million people in the U.S. have contracted the flu, including 14,000 who died and 250,000 who were hospitalized.\nemily.rauhala@washpost.com\nlena.sun@washpost.com\nleonard.bernstein@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "WDCM37C67QI6VMAUJ6X2QZV3QE_5", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "WDCM37C67QI6VMAUJ6X2QZV3QE_5", "title": "U.S. coronavirus fatality rate could be lower than global rate so far", "text": "2 percent or 3,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be totally a reflection of the at-risk population. What are the underlying risk factors? Obesity? Smoking? Over 60 percent of Americans have an underlying health problem that could contribute to a poor outcome with this event.\u201d China has a higher case fatality rate than South Korea, where, as of Thursday, 35 people had died among 6,088 cases \u2014 a rate of 0.57 percent. Germany has reported 262 cases but zero deaths. A new study suggests the virus has split into two strains and a less aggressive strain is now more prevalent than a deadlier one. But that is a preliminary report and not confirmed. The report said reviews of 103 samples of the virus showed two distinct strains, which the authors name the L and the S strains. They hypothesized that the more aggressive L strain sickened people to the point that they sought medical treatment or other interventions. That would have made it less likely to spread. A less aggressive strain, the S type, could have circulated more easily over time among people who continued about their daily lives. Jeffery Taubenberger, a virologist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he would have to see \u201ca lot more convincing data before I would begin to think that hypothesis was supported.\u201d He said the study did not contain enough data showing a clear link between the different strains and different medical outcomes. But animal viruses do mutate soon after they enter a new species, such as human beings, he said: \u201cCertain adaptations are necessary. It\u2019s likely that change will occur early on in the pandemic.\u201d Taubenberger is an expert on influenza pandemics, including the 1918 Spanish Flu, the worst in history. Estimates of the fatality rate of Spanish Flu are impeded by a lack of data on how many people were infected. But Taubenberger said a plausible estimate is a 1.1 percent case fatality rate in the United States and 4.6 percent globally. In 1957, the influenza pandemic probably had a U.S. fatality rate of about 0.07, he said. Asked to appraise the current coronavirus epidemic, he said, \u201cRight now, to me, it looks like it\u2019s sort of on par with an influenza pandemic in its impact. Obviously we hope it\u2019s not going to be a 1918-like impact. It\u2019s something we definitely need to take seriously.\u201d joel.achenbach@washpost.com erica.werner@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The question everyone is asking: Just how deadly is the novel coronavirus? As it spreads across the planet, researchers are desperate to understand the contagiousness and lethality of covid-19, a respiratory disease that has killed more than 3,400 people.\nEvidence is mounting that the disease is most likely to result in serious illness or death among the elderly and people with existing health problems. It has little effect on most children, for reasons unknown.\nThe World Health Organization on Tuesday stated that the global case fatality rate is 3.4\u00a0percent. But that figure can be misleading if not framed correctly, and the official case fatality rate is likely to drop in coming months.\nU.S. health officials on Thursday briefed lawmakers in Congress and said they believe the case fatality rate in this country will most likely be in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 percent, meaning somewhere between one of every thousand and one of every hundred people with covid-19 will die.\nThat would make covid-19 closer in lethality to influenza in severe or pandemic flu seasons, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine co-authored by Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The article states that the true fatality rate of covid-19 \u201cmay be considerably less\u201d than 1 percent, and \u201cmay ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.\u201d\nThe WHO\u2019s fatality percentage, announced Tuesday, is based simply on the number of deaths globally (the numerator) and the number of confirmed cases of covid-19 (the denominator). As of Friday the WHO had counted 3,400 deaths among 100,000 cases.\nBut the official numbers do not capture the full scope of the contagion. The actual number of deaths from the virus might be somewhat higher, in part because of undercounting or misdiagnosis. There is little doubt that the number of infections \u2014 in many cases among people who either did not get sick or thought they had only a mild illness \u2014 is larger than the official case count. The infection rate will not be known until researchers do broad surveys to see who has developed antibodies to the virus.\n\u201cMany people don\u2019t get sick and don\u2019t get tested,\u201d Brett P. Giroir,  assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told reporters Thursday after participating in a closed-door briefing for House members.\n\u201cThe modeling suggests that we have a denominator problem. If you\u2019re really sick and you have respiratory failure, you go see someone and you get tested. But if you\u2019re not very ill, as most people are not, they do not get tested. They do not get counted in the denominator, especially in a crisis situation like in China,\u201d he said.\nAs late as Friday afternoon, the United States had 14 deaths among 260 cases, a rate of 5.4\u00a0percent. But testing has been slow in the U.S., and as it becomes more widespread the rate will plummet.\n\u201cYour denominator is going to explode, which will push the case fatality rate down. But it will also push the number of affected persons and communities up,\u201d said Kathleen Jordan, vice president and chief medical officer of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco.\nThe enigmatic nature of the new virus and the many unknowns about its trajectory have put people on edge, she said.\n\u201cI do think people tend to panic when it\u2019s unknown. Just having information about how it spread, how to protect yourself, it calms people down and makes them act appropriately and effectively,\u201d she said.\nA report from 25 researchers from China, the United States and six other countries and published by the WHO suggests the current high fatality rate is skewed by the terrible death toll in the first chaotic weeks of the outbreak in Wuhan, China. People who became sick in the first 10 days of January experienced a 17.3 percent death rate, the report said.\nBut among people developing symptoms after Feb. 1, the fatality rate has been 0.7\u00a0percent, the report said, noting that \u201cthe standard of care has evolved over the course of the outbreak.\u201d\nThe first cases in Wuhan were identified at the end of December. Not until Jan. 23 did the Chinese authorities impose severe travel restrictions designed to contain the spread of the coronavirus, officially known as SARS-CoV-2.\nIn those early days, doctors struggled to understand what they were dealing with and how best to treat patients, and \u201cwere quite overwhelmed,\u201d said Christine Kreuder Johnson, an epidemiologist at the University of California at Davis.\n\u201cThat can create a high case fatality rate because you can only tackle the most severe cases,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got patients that might not get the same care they might get in other circumstances \u2014 in peacetime, as we say.\u201d\nAnother new study from China, based on 1,099 patients in 552 hospitals across the country, put the case fatality rate there at 1.4 percent.\n\u201cAt this point it\u2019s all speculative. We don\u2019t know the denominator,\u201d said Columbia University epidemiologist Ian Lipkin, who recently visited China.\nThe China data does not necessarily predict what will happen elsewhere, said Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota.\n\u201cYou can\u2019t just take Chinese data and suddenly lay it over the United States. And say it\u2019s going to be 2 percent or 3,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be totally a reflection of the at-risk population. What are the underlying risk factors? Obesity? Smoking?  Over 60 percent of Americans have an underlying health problem that could contribute to a poor outcome with this event.\u201d\nChina has a higher case fatality rate than South Korea, where, as of Thursday, 35 people had died among 6,088 cases \u2014 a rate of 0.57 percent. Germany has reported 262 cases but zero deaths.\nA new study suggests the virus has split into two strains and a less aggressive strain is now more prevalent than a deadlier one. But that is a preliminary report and not confirmed.\nThe report said reviews of 103 samples of the virus showed two distinct strains, which the authors name the L and the S strains. They hypothesized that the more aggressive L strain sickened people to the point that they sought medical treatment or other interventions. That would have made it less likely to spread. A less aggressive strain, the S type, could have circulated more easily over time among people who continued about their\u00a0daily\u00a0lives.\nJeffery Taubenberger, a virologist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he would have to see \u201ca lot more convincing data before I would begin to think that hypothesis was supported.\u201d\nHe said the study did not contain enough data showing a clear link between the different strains and different medical outcomes. But animal viruses do mutate soon after they enter a new species, such as human beings, he said: \u201cCertain adaptations are necessary. It\u2019s likely that change will occur early on in the pandemic.\u201d\nTaubenberger is an expert on influenza pandemics, including the 1918 Spanish Flu, the worst in history. Estimates of the fatality rate of Spanish Flu are impeded by a lack of data on how many people were infected. But Taubenberger said a plausible estimate is a 1.1\u00a0percent case fatality rate in the United States and 4.6 percent globally.\nIn 1957, the influenza pandemic probably had a U.S. fatality rate of about 0.07, he said.\nAsked to appraise the current coronavirus epidemic, he said, \u201cRight now, to me, it looks like it\u2019s sort of on par with an influenza pandemic in its impact. Obviously we hope it\u2019s not going to be a 1918-like impact. It\u2019s something we definitely need to take seriously.\u201d\njoel.achenbach@washpost.com\nerica.werner@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "a10ed5b3d123978e1f97d3acc04fa9d1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a10ed5b3d123978e1f97d3acc04fa9d1_0", "title": "Another death reported in Saudi Arabian SARS-like virus", "text": "Saudi Arabia says a man has died from a new respiratory virus related to SARS, bringing to 62 the number of deaths in the kingdom at the center of the outbreak. The Health Ministry says the latest victim died in a Riyadh hospital on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. The ministry also reported that a chronically ill Saudi man who was admitted to a hospital in Riyadh became a new positive case of the virus, bringing to 150 the number of people infected in the kingdom since September 2012. The new virus is related to SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which killed some 800 people in a global outbreak in 2003. It belongs to a family of viruses that most often causes the common cold."}], "old": [{"_id": "a10ed5b3d123978e1f97d3acc04fa9d1_0", "title": "Another death reported in Saudi Arabian SARS-like virus", "text": "Saudi Arabia says a man has died from a new respiratory virus related to SARS, bringing to 62 the number of deaths in the kingdom at the center of the outbreak."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Saudi Arabia says a man has died from a new respiratory virus related to SARS, bringing to 62 the number of deaths in the kingdom at the center of the outbreak.\nThe Health Ministry says the latest victim died in a Riyadh hospital on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. The ministry also reported that a chronically ill Saudi man who was admitted to a hospital in Riyadh became a new positive case of the virus, bringing to 150 the number of people infected in the kingdom since September 2012. The new virus is related to SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, which killed some 800 people in a global outbreak in 2003. It belongs to a family of viruses that most often causes the common cold."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "a179587925171c35ba0fba51ab8cfab0_1", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "a179587925171c35ba0fba51ab8cfab0_1", "title": "New global coalition launched to create vaccines, prevent epidemics", "text": "(BARDA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which are working on Ebola and Zika vaccines. The United States is not providing funding for CEPI, but it is offering subject expertise. Officials took part in the planning discussions, and \u201cwhile we are not a formal partner to CEPI, we foresee synergies between our approaches,\u201d BARDA Director Rick Bright said in a statement. One such area is development of the most efficient technology for biodefense and infectious disease response, he said. Rebecca Katz, director of Georgetown University\u2019s Center for Global Health Science and Security, expects the new coalition \u201cwill just add much needed resources to a hard problem\u201d and not detract from other efforts' funding and resources. CEPI initially plans to target three viruses that have known potential to cause serious epidemics and can be transmitted from animals to humans: MERS, a deadly respiratory virus first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 that can be spread by camels and now is in 27 countries, including the United States; Lassa fever, an acute viral illness mainly found in West Africa and spread by rats; and Nipah, a newly emerging infection initially identified in 1999 in Malaysia and Singapore. During a Nipah outbreak there among pig farmers and people with close contact with pigs, nearly 300 people were infected and more than 100 died. Each virus is among WHO's priority pathogens. Few or no medical countermeasures exist to combat them. The current system for vaccine development is in crisis, health experts say, because it\u2019s a costly, complicated and labor-intensive development process that prioritizes therapeutics with the biggest possible market. CEPI hopes to develop two vaccine candidates against each of the target diseases. Officials said they did not choose Ebola and Zika vaccine work because considerable research is already underway. \u201cThe last thing we would like to do is duplicate efforts,\u201d Trevor Mundel, president of the Gates Foundation\u2019s global health division, told reporters during a briefing. Officials said they have raised $460 million, almost half of their $1 billion target for the first five years. They\u2019re now seeking proposals from researchers and companies and expect to announce which will be funded by mid-year. They're also calling for other governments and organizations to help complete fundraising by the end of the year. The Indian government, one of the coalition founders, is finalizing a financial commitment, according to CEPI. Several major pharmaceutical companies are"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "An electron micrograph scan shows the Ebola virus emerging from an infected cell. (NIAID/NIH)\nA global coalition to create new vaccines for emerging infectious diseases launched Wednesday with the ambitious aim of protecting the world from future\u00a0epidemics.\nAnnounced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the initiative has an initial investment of nearly $500 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Britain\u2019s Wellcome Trust and the governments of Japan, Norway and Germany.\nThe partnership will be called the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI. It grew out of the lessons from the world\u2019s woeful lack of preparedness for the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people and caused at least $2.2 billion in economic losses in the three hardest-hit countries.\nAs a result of that and the current Zika epidemic in the Americas, a global consensus has steadily grown among an array of governments, public health leaders, scientists and vaccine industry executives that a new system is needed to guard against future health threats.\nGlobal health experts welcomed the initiative, saying it would complement efforts already underway by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which are working on Ebola and Zika vaccines.\nThe United States is not providing funding for CEPI, but it is offering subject expertise. Officials took part in the planning discussions, and \u201cwhile we are not a formal partner to CEPI, we foresee synergies between our approaches,\u201d BARDA Director Rick Bright said in a statement. One such area is development of the most efficient technology for biodefense and infectious disease response, he said.\nRebecca Katz, director of Georgetown University\u2019s Center for Global Health Science and Security, expects the new coalition \u201cwill just add much needed resources to a hard problem\u201d and not detract from other efforts' funding and resources.\n\nCEPI initially plans to target three viruses that have known potential to cause serious epidemics and can be transmitted from animals to humans: MERS, a deadly respiratory virus first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 that can be spread by camels and now is in\u00a027 countries, including the United States;\u00a0Lassa fever, an acute viral illness mainly found in West Africa and spread by rats; and Nipah, a newly emerging infection initially identified in 1999 in Malaysia and Singapore. During a Nipah outbreak there among pig farmers and people with close contact with pigs, nearly 300 people were infected and more than 100 died.\nEach virus is among WHO's priority pathogens. Few or no medical countermeasures exist to combat them.\nThe current system for vaccine development is in crisis, health experts say, because it\u2019s a costly, complicated and labor-intensive development process that prioritizes therapeutics with the biggest possible market.\nCEPI hopes to develop two vaccine candidates against each of the target diseases. Officials said they did not choose Ebola and Zika vaccine\u00a0work because considerable research is already underway.\n\u201cThe last thing we would like to do is duplicate efforts,\u201d Trevor Mundel, president of the Gates Foundation\u2019s global health division, told reporters during a briefing.\nOfficials said they have raised $460 million, almost half of their $1 billion target for the first five years. They\u2019re now seeking proposals from researchers and companies and expect to announce which will be funded by mid-year. They're also\u00a0calling for other governments and organizations to help complete fundraising by the end of the year.\nThe Indian government, one of the coalition founders, is finalizing a financial commitment, according to CEPI.\n\nSeveral major pharmaceutical companies are providing support in the form of vaccine technology, expertise and guidance. Industry representatives are on the coalition\u2019s board and scientific advisory committee.\nBill Gates has said his biggest worry is a pathogen,\u00a0more infectious than Ebola, for which the world is totally unprepared. In a statement Wednesday, Gates said, \u201cThe ability to rapidly develop and deliver vaccines when new \u2018unknown\u2019 diseases emerge offers our best hope to outpace outbreaks, save lives and avert disastrous economic consequences.\u201d\nWellcome Director Jeremy Farrar was among those who first proposed a global vaccine development fund in mid-2015. CEPI\u2019s initial $1 billion investment goal, he said, pales in comparison to the tens of billions of dollars in costs from epidemics, starting with the 2003 SARS outbreak.\n\u201cVaccines can protect us, but we\u2019ve done too little to develop them as an insurance policy,\u201d Farrar said.\nCEPI's financial contributions so far for its first five years include:\n\u2022 Japan: $125 million\n\u2022 Norway: about $120 million\n\u2022 Germany: about $10.6 million in 2017 with more funding to come\n\u2022 Wellcome Trust: $100 million\n\u2022 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: $100 million\nRead more:\nCDC chief's biggest fear is influenza pandemic\nMeet some of the volunteers on the front line testing a new Zika vaccine\nThe United States already has a vaccine safety commission. And it works really well, experts say"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "ab5b8d2ffdbbd3dfd7bc3ccca984f1ce_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ab5b8d2ffdbbd3dfd7bc3ccca984f1ce_0", "title": "MERS fears in South Korea: Nearly 700 isolated as health officials seek to block spread", "text": "South Korea\u2019s Ministry of Health and Welfare is scrambling to contain the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed two people. South Korean health officials isolated nearly 700 people on Monday in an effort to stop the spread of the potentially deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome within its borders after 18 people became infected over the past 10 days -- a rate of transmission that appears more aggressive than in other countries. South Korea has been on high alert since May 20 when a 68-year-old man who had been traveling in Bahrain tested positive for the virus. Since then, the virus has been detected in a number of patients and visitors to the hospital where he was treated -- triggering global concern about whether the virus had mutated or genetic or environmental factors may have been at play. MERS, a coronavirus, is related to the one that infected thousands during the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and has no cure or vaccine. \"We must find the reason for the high rate of transmission unlike in the cases of other countries,\" President Park Geun-hye told a meeting on Monday, according to Reuters. The Associated Press reported Since being first reported in 2012, MERS has been mostly contained to Saudi Arabia, the United Emirates and Jordan. The World Health Organization says that 1,150 case have been reported and 427 of the patients have died. The WHO detailed the status of the two most recent cases: The case is a 35-year-old male who developed symptoms of cough, sputum and fever on 6 May and was admitted to hospital on 13 May. The patient has been on tuberculosis medication since his son was diagnosed with the bacterial disease in April. Between 15 and 17, he shared the same ward with the first case during his hospitalization from 15 to 17 May. On 20 May, after his discharge, the patient visited two different hospitals due to fever and was put on antibiotics. As symptoms persisted despite antibiotic therapy, he was admitted to a hospital again on 27 May and confirmed positive for MERS-CoV on 29 May. The case is a 35 year-old male whose mother shared the same ward with the first case. From 15 to 21 May, the patient visited his mother every day at the hospital. He developed symptoms and visited an emergency room on 24 May. The"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "South Korea\u2019s Ministry of Health and Welfare is scrambling to contain the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed two people.\nSouth Korean health officials isolated nearly 700 people on Monday in an effort to\u00a0stop the spread of the potentially deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome within its borders after\u00a018 people became infected over the past\u00a010 days -- a rate of transmission that appears more aggressive than in other countries.\nSouth Korea has been on high alert since May 20 when a 68-year-old man who had been traveling in Bahrain tested positive for the virus. Since then, the virus has been detected in a number of patients and visitors to the hospital where he was treated -- triggering global concern\u00a0about whether the virus had mutated or genetic or environmental factors may have been at play.\nMERS, a coronavirus, is related to the one that infected thousands\u00a0during the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and has\u00a0no cure or vaccine.\n\"We must find the reason for the high rate of transmission unlike in the cases of other countries,\" President Park Geun-hye told a meeting on Monday, according to Reuters.\nThe Associated Press reported\nSince being first reported in 2012,\u00a0MERS has been mostly contained to Saudi Arabia, the United Emirates and Jordan. The World Health Organization says that 1,150 case\u00a0have been reported and 427\u00a0of the patients have died. The WHO detailed the status of the two most recent cases:\nThe case is a 35-year-old male who developed symptoms of cough, sputum and fever on 6 May and was admitted to hospital on 13 May. The patient has been on tuberculosis medication since his son was diagnosed with the bacterial disease in April. Between 15 and 17, he shared the same ward with the first case during his hospitalization from 15 to 17 May. On 20 May, after his discharge, the patient visited two different hospitals due to fever and was put on antibiotics. As symptoms persisted despite antibiotic therapy, he was admitted to a hospital again on 27 May and confirmed positive for MERS-CoV on 29 May.\nThe case is a 35 year-old male whose mother shared the same ward with the first case. From 15 to 21 May, the patient visited his mother every day at the hospital. He developed symptoms and visited an emergency room on 24 May. The patient was admitted to hospital between 25 and 27 May and confirmed positive for MERS-CoV on 30 May.\nIn this Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, file photo, Egyptian Muslim pilgrims, some wearing masks as a precaution against the Middle East respiratory syndrome, pray after they cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called \"Jamarat,\" the last rite of the annual hajj, in Mina near the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. \u00a0(AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)\n\u00a0\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "d65e92fc-4d8a-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_2", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d65e92fc-4d8a-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_2", "title": "Media goes overtime on Ebola coverage, but not necessarily overboard", "text": "during a news conference in Dallas on Oct. 2. (Tony Gutierrez/AP) The question is a familiar one to people involved in spreading the word about public-health threats. News reporting, they say, typically underplays some risks and overplays others. Mundane behaviors \u2014 smoking, overeating \u2014 don\u2019t rate sustained media coverage yet are linked to preventable diseases that kill tens of thousands annually. Ordinary viruses, such as the flu, take a huge toll as well but don\u2019t rate screaming headlines. \u201cIf any or all of these issues received the levels of media coverage and public concern that Ebola was receiving, thousands of annual deaths could be prevented,\u201d said Jay Bernhardt, the founding director of the Center for Health Communication at the University of Texas. The volume of Ebola coverage, he said, \u201creminds me a lot of the over-the-top coverage of serial killers or celebrity scandals in that they are far out of proportion with the risk or relevance to the general population.\u201d Social-science research has shown that intensive news reporting on certain diseases can distort public perceptions of their severity and the chances of contracting them. In a 2008 experiment at McMaster University in Ontario that was updated last year, researchers asked undergraduates and medical students their impressions of 10 infectious diseases. Five of the diseases (anthrax, SARS, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and avian flu) had received relatively more news media coverage than a second group of five. Result: The \u201chigh-media frequency\u201d diseases were rated as more serious than the more obscure diseases by both the undergraduates and the medical students. Both groups overestimated the chances they would get one of the better-reported diseases. But that\u2019s not to say that the media is \u201cover-covering\u201d a particular threat, said Meredith Young, the lead researcher on the studies, who now works at Montreal\u2019s McGill University. \u201cIt really only is in hindsight that we can say whether a potential threat was over- or undercovered in the media and what the \u2018real\u2019 risk was of that particular infectious disease,\u201d she wrote in an e-mail. That is, \u201cdid the threat materialize? Or did the media coverage help to prevent the threat\u201d by warning of a potential contagion and mobilizing preventive action? Ebola\u2019s preeminence in the news media probably has much to do with the primal fear it inspires and the popular-culture context from which it comes. While Ebola isn\u2019t widespread or common, those who get it"}], "old": [{"_id": "d65e92fc-4d8a-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_2", "title": "Media goes overtime on Ebola coverage, but not necessarily overboard", "text": "the word about public-health threats. News reporting, they say, typically underplays some risks and overplays others. Mundane behaviors \u2014 smoking, overeating \u2014 don\u2019t rate sustained media coverage yet are linked to preventable diseases that kill tens of thousands annually. Ordinary viruses, such as the flu, take a huge toll as well but don\u2019t rate screaming headlines. Result: The \u201chigh-media frequency\u201d diseases were rated as more serious than the more obscure diseases by both the undergraduates and the medical students. Both groups overestimated the chances they would get one of the better-reported diseases. By contrast, other diseases have lesser \u201cbrand\u201d names. Only a few people outside a medical lab had ever heard of enterovirus until a few weeks ago, despite a series of periodic outbreaks for more than 50 years. \u201cThe public has always been interested in risks in proportion to how much fear or outrage they arouse, not in proportion to how much hazard they present,\u201d he said via e-mail. \u201cSince media coverage follows people\u2019s interests, reporters inevitably cover scary diseases that aren\u2019t very dangerous more than dangerous diseases that aren\u2019t very scary. That may drive public health professionals crazy, but it\u2019s a fact of life. Journalism is about news, not education.\u201d He added: \u201cEbola has all the hallmarks of a scary disease. It is novel, dramatic, horrifying, potentially catastrophic. It\u2019s perfect for horror movies; why wouldn\u2019t it be perfect for news stories?\u201d So, the blanket coverage \u2014 of the hospital admission mishap in Dallas, of the debates over travel and the repetitive reporting about the whys and wherefores of transmission \u2014 is important cautionary information in the event things get worse: \u201cAt least for the moment, U.S. investigative Ebola reporting is flourishing, and that\u2019s a blessing,\u201d he says. But ultimately the Ebola story isn\u2019t about Americans and America, Sandman said. The heart of the story is West Africa, where Ebola still rages. As long as the media focus remains on the United States, it will miss the potential \u201csparks\u201d that could alight from Africa, finding their way into populous and under\u00addeveloped cities around the world. At which point the global contagion scenarios of so many movies could become more than just science fiction: \u201cSpark suppression is going to be the most important Ebola story,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s essential to get this story out, because it is a political and ethical story as much as a technical story.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Members of the media set up outside of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas where Thomas Eric Duncan, who was the first to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, is in critical condition, on Oct. 1.  (G.J. Mccarthy/AP)\nThere\u2019s a potentially deadly disease afoot in America, with no known cure and terrifying consequences for those infected.\nEbola? Well, yes, but another bug has had far more wide-ranging consequences. Since an outbreak began in late summer, the  enterovirus has sent thousands of people, primarily children, to hospitals in 43 states and the District. One strain, enterovirus D68, has apparently caused polio-like symptoms in some patients, leaving them unable to move their limbs. Four people who recently died tested positive for the disease, although the link between the virus and the deaths is unclear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\nYou might not know all that from the news media\u2019s reporting over the past few weeks. The enterovirus certainly hasn\u2019t been ignored, but it\u2019s a mere footnote compared with the oceanic volumes devoted to Ebola, a disease that has devastated parts of West Africa but has only one confirmed case diagnosed in the United States. CNN has been especially relentless, chasing down every conceivable Ebola angle and a few inconceivable ones, too. One segment explored the possibility of catching Ebola from a sneeze, a pet or a swimming pool (the expert answers: \u201creally rare,\u201d \u201cno evidence for that\u201d and \u201chighly unlikely,\u201d respectively).\nFor the most part, the reporting on medical aspects of the disease has been straightforward and responsible, with many stories emphasizing the relatively low risks of infection. A few commentaries, meanwhile, have lapsed into xenophobia about the African sources\u00ad of the disease. One Fox News pundit, Andrea Tantaros, offered this analysis last week: \u201cIn these countries they don\u2019t believe in traditional medical care. So someone could get off a flight and seek treatment from a witch doctor who practices Santeria,\u201d an Afro-Caribbean religion that includes ritual animal sacrifice.\nBut even when the reporting is accurate, the sheer tonage of it raises a question about proportion and relative risk: Why is Ebola a media superstar when other diseases \u2014 say, enterovirus or the common flu \u2014 have more far-reaching and even deadlier consequences in this country?\nSally Nuran, manager of the Ivy Apartments where Thomas Eric Duncan stayed after getting sick, responds to questions from reporters during a news conference in Dallas on Oct. 2. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)\nThe question is a familiar one to people involved in spreading the word about public-health threats. News reporting, they say, typically underplays some risks and overplays others. Mundane behaviors \u2014 smoking, overeating \u2014 don\u2019t rate sustained media coverage yet are linked to preventable diseases that kill tens of thousands annually. Ordinary viruses, such as the flu, take a huge toll as well but don\u2019t rate screaming headlines.\n\u201cIf any or all of these issues received the levels of media coverage and public concern that Ebola was receiving, thousands of annual deaths could be prevented,\u201d said  Jay Bernhardt, the founding director of the Center for Health Communication at the University of Texas. The volume of Ebola coverage, he said, \u201creminds me a lot of the over-the-top coverage of serial killers or celebrity scandals in that they are far out of proportion with the risk or relevance to the general population.\u201d\nSocial-science research has shown that intensive news reporting on certain diseases can distort public perceptions of their severity and the chances of contracting them. In a 2008 experiment at McMaster University in Ontario that was updated last year, researchers asked undergraduates and medical students their impressions of 10 infectious diseases. Five of the diseases (anthrax, SARS, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and avian flu) had received relatively more news media coverage than a second group of five.\nResult: The \u201chigh-media frequency\u201d diseases were rated as more serious than the more obscure diseases by both the undergraduates and the medical students. Both groups overestimated the chances they would get one of the better-reported diseases.\nBut that\u2019s not to say that the media is \u201cover-covering\u201d a particular threat, said Meredith Young, the lead researcher on the studies, who now works at Montreal\u2019s McGill University. \u201cIt really only is in hindsight that we can say whether a potential threat was over- or undercovered in the media and what the \u2018real\u2019 risk was of that particular infectious disease,\u201d she wrote in an e-mail. That is, \u201cdid the threat materialize? Or did the media coverage help to prevent the threat\u201d by warning of a potential contagion and mobilizing preventive action?\nEbola\u2019s preeminence in the news media probably has much to do with the primal fear it inspires and the popular-culture context from which it comes. While Ebola isn\u2019t widespread or common, those who get it are at grave risk; the mortality rate is upward of 70\u00a0percent (the far-less covered Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, clocks in with a death rate of about 40\u00a0percent). Salon.com columnist Andrew O\u2019Hehir likens Ebola to a great white shark: Your chances of encountering one are abysmally low, but so are your chances of surviving such a meeting.\nLike the great white, public perceptions about Ebola have likely been primed by decades of movies, TV shows and books imagining a global contagion and resulting zombie apocalypse. More than a few news stories and TV segments lately have referred to Ebola\u2019s \u201chot zone,\u201d which was the name of a mega-selling 1994 book about the origins of the virus.\nBy contrast, other diseases have lesser \u201cbrand\u201d names. Only a few people outside a medical lab had ever heard of enterovirus until a few weeks ago, despite a series of periodic outbreaks for more than 50 years.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not surprising\u201d that Ebola is at the top of the media agenda, says Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust for America\u2019s Health, a nonprofit health advocacy organization based in Washington. \u201cThe novel is more interesting and frightening to people. Part of me gets it. But it\u2019s something we in the public-health community struggle with all the time.\u201d\nDespite the low odds of an Ebola pandemic in the United States, Peter Sandman, an expert in risk communication, says the story nevertheless warrants the attention it\u2019s getting.\n\u201cThe public has always been interested in risks in proportion to how much fear or outrage they arouse, not in proportion to how much hazard they present,\u201d he said via e-mail. \u201cSince media coverage follows people\u2019s interests, reporters inevitably cover scary diseases that aren\u2019t very dangerous more than dangerous diseases that aren\u2019t very scary. That may drive public health professionals crazy, but it\u2019s a fact of life. Journalism is about news, not education.\u201d\nHe added: \u201cEbola has all the hallmarks of a scary disease. It is novel, dramatic, horrifying, potentially catastrophic. It\u2019s perfect for horror movies; why wouldn\u2019t it be perfect for news stories?\u201d\nSo, the blanket coverage \u2014 of the hospital admission mishap in Dallas, of the debates over travel and the repetitive reporting about the whys and wherefores of transmission \u2014 is important cautionary information in the event things get worse: \u201cAt least for the moment, U.S. investigative Ebola reporting is flourishing, and that\u2019s a blessing,\u201d he says.\nBut ultimately the Ebola story isn\u2019t about Americans and America, Sandman said. The heart of the story is West Africa, where Ebola still rages. As long as the media focus remains on the United States, it will miss the potential \u201csparks\u201d that could alight from Africa, finding their way into populous and under\u00addeveloped cities around the world.\nAt which point the global contagion scenarios of so many movies could become more than just science fiction: \u201cSpark suppression is going to be the most important Ebola story,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s essential to get this story out, because it is a political and ethical story as much as a technical story.\u201d"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "d90115244f58533677a04dc8e0645b7b_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "d90115244f58533677a04dc8e0645b7b_0", "title": "Scientists announce important Zika milestone: First vaccine ready for human trials", "text": "Stella Guerra performs physical therapy on an infant born with microcephaly at Altino Ventura Foundation in Recife, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Since the World Health Organization declared Zika a public health emergency in February, teams of scientists from all over the world have been attacking the virus from many different angles. They have made advances in understanding the structure of the virus, the historical path of the mosquitoes that carry it and the risk to babies still in the womb \u2014 important knowledge, but of little immediate practical use. Now, the discoveries have finally led to something that might be able to stop the pathogen: a vaccine. Pennsylvania vaccine maker Inovio Pharmaceuticals and South Korea\u2019s GeneOne Life Sciences said Monday that they had received approval from U.S. regulators to start testing a DNA vaccine, known as GLS-5700, on humans. The early-stage study will include 40 healthy subjects. It is primarily designed to assess the safety of the vaccine but will also measure the immune response generated by the injection. Zika, part of the flavivirus family of viruses that includes West Nile, dengue and yellow fever, is believed to be responsible for causing thousands of babies to be born with shrunken heads in Brazil and elsewhere. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently detailed the cases of six babies born with the condition in the United States. Inovio \u201cWe are proud to have attained the approval to initiate the first Zika vaccine study in human volunteers,\u201d Kim said in a statement. \u201cAs of May 2016, 58 countries and territories reported continuing mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus; the incidences of viral infection and medical conditions caused by the virus are expanding, not contracting.\u201d Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said he believes the world\u2019s best hope against Zika is a vaccine and that, because of previous research on West Nile and dengue, a Zika vaccine should take less time to develop than vaccines for many other infectious diseases. The challenge is that Zika is unique among its related viruses because the others don\u2019t invade the nervous system or developing fetuses because of blood-brain and placental barriers. Researches who examined the virus\u2019s structure with an electron microscope recently explained to The Washington Post what it is about its structure that might make it so dangerous: It shares a basic structure with all flaviviruses: Genetic"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Stella Guerra performs physical therapy on an infant born with microcephaly at Altino Ventura Foundation in Recife, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)\nSince the World Health Organization declared Zika a public health emergency\u00a0in February, teams of scientists from all over the world have been attacking the virus\u00a0from many different angles. They have made advances in understanding the structure of the virus, the historical path of the mosquitoes that carry it and the\u00a0risk to babies still in the womb \u2014 important knowledge, but of little immediate practical use.\nNow, the discoveries have finally led to something that might be able to stop the pathogen: a vaccine.\nPennsylvania vaccine maker Inovio Pharmaceuticals and South Korea\u2019s GeneOne Life Sciences said Monday that they\u00a0had received approval from U.S. regulators to start testing a\u00a0DNA vaccine, known as GLS-5700, on humans. The early-stage study will include 40 healthy subjects. It is primarily designed to assess\u00a0the safety of the vaccine but will also measure the immune response generated by the injection.\u00a0Zika, part of the flavivirus family of viruses that includes West Nile, dengue and yellow fever,\u00a0is believed to be responsible for causing thousands of babies to be born with shrunken heads in Brazil and elsewhere. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently detailed the cases of six babies born with the condition in the United States.\nInovio\n\u201cWe are proud to have attained the approval to initiate the first Zika vaccine study in human volunteers,\u201d Kim said in a statement. \u201cAs of May 2016, 58 countries and territories reported continuing mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus; the incidences of viral infection and medical conditions caused by the virus are expanding, not contracting.\u201d\nAnthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said\u00a0he believes the world\u2019s best hope against\u00a0Zika is a vaccine and that, because\u00a0of previous research on\u00a0West Nile and dengue, a Zika vaccine should take less time to develop than vaccines for many other infectious diseases. The challenge is that Zika is unique\u00a0among its related viruses\u00a0because the others don\u2019t invade the nervous system or developing fetuses because of blood-brain and placental barriers.\nResearches who examined\u00a0the virus\u2019s structure with an electron microscope recently explained to\u00a0The Washington Post\u00a0what it is about its structure that might make it so dangerous:\nIt shares a basic\u00a0structure with all flaviviruses: Genetic info in the form of RNA is surrounded by a fatty membrane, then encased in a protein shell\u00a0with a 20-sided face. The protein shells are made of 180 copies of two different proteins, each composed of chains of different amino acids.\u00a0Once inside a target cell, the virus breaks apart and forces the host to do\u00a0its bidding, replacing the instructions coded into the cell\u2019s DNA with\u00a0those programmed by viral\u00a0RNA.\nZika differs most from other flaviviruses at a spot thought to be crucial to the cellular break-in. At this site, a carbohydrate molecule \u2014\u00a0made of different sugars \u2014 sits on the virus\u2019s protein shell. This spot where Zika differs, called a glycosylation site, actually protrudes from the shell of the virus.\u00a0In other viruses, similar protrusions act like strangers offering candy, tricking the human cell into binding with the invader. Like other flaviviruses, Zika seems to have a unique smattering of amino acids around that area.\nThe Food and Drug Administration has also been aggressive about trying to green-light other things that may be useful to the Zika fight. In May, it granted approval for emergency use of a\u00a0Zika test\u00a0from Altona Diagnostics. Another company, Hologic, said its product \u2014 a diagnostic test used to identify snippets of the Zika virus in human blood \u2014 had received similar approval to be used in emergency cases in all 50 U.S. states, plus Puerto Rico and territories.\nRead more:\nCDC: 6 pregnancies in Zika-infected women resulted in birth defects\nU.S. to send rapid response teams when Zika hits here\nZika can cause microcephaly even if moms have no symptoms\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "db47b1a98aa783613ea5d2ebbcfab3dd_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "db47b1a98aa783613ea5d2ebbcfab3dd_0", "title": "The 5 things you need to know about MERS (and global health)", "text": "The hunt for the MERS virus in South Korea continues. (Reuters) Even before the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has ended, there\u2019s a new infectious disease to fear: Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. MERS appeared three years ago in Saudi Arabia, probably after jumping from camels to their human handlers, and had mostly stayed there \u2014 until last month, when it struck in South Korea. Within that month, MERS has caused more than 100 illnesses and at least 9 deaths in that country. Will it become an epidemic? Can it be contained? Those questions are on many minds for several reasons. Scientists know relatively little about MERS. We don\u2019t yet know how to treat it. It\u2019s related to other deadly respiratory ailments like SARS. Many wonder whether global institutions like the World Health Organization can keep people safe \u2014 especially after WHO\u2019s failures in responding to Ebola. But the situation does not appear quite as dire with MERS. Thanks to the lessons learned from previous outbreaks of respiratory diseases and relatively pro-active responses, the global health governance system\u2019s response has reassured a number of experts that a full-blown MERS epidemic is unlikely. At the same time, MERS shows that there are still important shortcomings in global health governance. 1. There\u2019s a lot we don\u2019t know about MERS yet, but it doesn\u2019t act like a disease that will become a widespread epidemic. MERS appears unlikely to become widespread, in part because of its unique qualities. MERS is a relatively new disease. It was first identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, after a 60-year-old man entered a hospital in Jeddah complaining of shortness of breath, a week-long cough, and kidney failure. Between its discovery in 2012 and this past March, MERS had infected slightly more than 1,000 people and caused nearly 400 deaths. Two facts about how MERS spreads make a widespread outbreak less likely. First, MERS doesn\u2019t spread very easily. The average MERS patient causes only 0.7 additional illnesses. By contrast, the average SARS patient infected 5 other people. Many of the Saudi cases still occur in people who are in close contact with camels. Since the typical MERS patient does not infect another person, the disease can be contained. Second, human-to-human MERS transmission is happening mainly within health-care facilities and among people with weakened immune systems. As a result, relatively simple changes in hospital procedures may stop MERS\u2019 spread."}], "old": [{"_id": "db47b1a98aa783613ea5d2ebbcfab3dd_0", "title": "The 5 things you need to know about MERS (and global health)", "text": "The hunt for the MERS virus in South Korea continues. (Reuters) Even before the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has ended, there\u2019s a new infectious disease to fear: Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. Will it become an epidemic? Can it be contained? 1. There\u2019s a lot we don\u2019t know about MERS yet, but it doesn\u2019t act like a disease that will become a widespread epidemic. 2. The South Korean government is trying to avoid China\u2019s mistakes with SARS. The Korean government\u2019s strategic shift shows that it understands the importance of sharing information to combat a disease outbreak \u2014 and the importance of responding to public unrest. But we have not yet seen whether this newfound openness will restore the public\u2019s faith in the government\u2019s ability to deal with public health, or whether the initial delay in responding will have long-term consequences. 3. Diseases like MERS move with people, but that does not mean that people should not move. But these reactions, while understandable, are ineffective and may cause bigger problems. The better strategies are contact tracing and monitoring those who have recently been in affected regions, strategies far more focused on key individuals than immobilizing the whole population. 4. MERS in South Korea should not distract us from what is happening in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, the Saudi government has not shown much inclination to share information or to cooperate with the international community. If we have learned anything from the history of successful interventions by global health institutions, it\u2019s that cooperation between national governments and international public health institutions is vital. 5. So far, WHO is doing its job. With Ebola, WHO largely failed to perform these tasks. In the case of MERS, though, it appears to be fulfilling its obligations. Part of the difference may also be that, unlike Ebola, MERS has not strained the organization\u2019s resources. So far, WHO has not asked the international community for financial contributions for MERS, suggesting that its current resources are enough to handle the outbreak. If things become more serious, WHO may need a serious infusion of money and personnel. Furthermore, if MERS spreads to more countries, it could strain the ability of disease surveillance systems to monitor and trace new cases. The lack of funds to support and strengthen disease surveillance systems is a serious shortcoming in the international community\u2019s efforts to stop the spread of infectious diseases. Jeremy Youde"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The hunt for the MERS virus in South Korea continues. (Reuters)\nEven before the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has ended, there\u2019s a new\u00a0infectious disease to fear: Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS.\nMERS appeared three years ago in Saudi Arabia, probably after jumping from camels to their human handlers, and had mostly stayed there \u2014 until last month, when it struck in South Korea. Within that month, MERS has caused more than 100 illnesses and at least 9 deaths in that country.\nWill it become an epidemic? Can it be contained?\nThose questions are on many minds for several reasons. Scientists know relatively little about MERS. We don\u2019t yet know how to treat it. It\u2019s related to other deadly respiratory ailments like SARS. Many wonder whether global institutions like the World Health Organization can keep people safe \u2014 especially after WHO\u2019s failures in responding to Ebola.\nBut the situation does not appear quite as dire with MERS. Thanks to the lessons learned from previous outbreaks of respiratory diseases and relatively pro-active responses, the global health governance system\u2019s response has reassured a number of experts that a full-blown MERS epidemic is unlikely. At the same time, MERS shows that there are still important shortcomings in global health governance.\n1. There\u2019s a lot we don\u2019t know about MERS yet, but it doesn\u2019t act like a disease that will become a widespread epidemic.\nMERS\u00a0appears unlikely to become widespread, in part because of its unique qualities. MERS is a relatively new disease. It was first identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, after a 60-year-old man entered a hospital in Jeddah complaining of shortness of breath, a week-long cough, and kidney failure. Between its discovery in 2012 and this past March, MERS had infected slightly more than 1,000 people and caused nearly 400 deaths.\nTwo facts about how MERS spreads make a widespread outbreak less likely. First, MERS doesn\u2019t spread very easily. The average MERS patient causes only 0.7 additional illnesses. By contrast, the average SARS patient infected 5 other people. Many of the Saudi cases still occur in people who are in close contact with camels. Since the typical MERS patient does not infect another person, the disease can be contained.\nSecond, human-to-human MERS transmission is happening mainly within health-care facilities and among people with weakened immune systems.\u00a0As a result, relatively simple changes in hospital procedures may stop MERS\u2019 spread.\n2. The South Korean government is trying to avoid China\u2019s mistakes with SARS.\nWhen SARS\u00a0appeared in 2002, the Chinese government\u2019s initial response was abysmal. It denied the reports of a new disease. It recommended ineffective prevention strategies, like using vinegar to disinfect the air. It imposed a news blackout to prevent reporting about \u201catypical pneumonia.\u201d It prevented WHO officials from having access to hospitals and clinics.\nThese responses exacerbated the problem, giving the disease time to infect more people and causing people to question the government\u2019s trustworthiness. The secrecy and failure to share information with international partners impeded a timely response, and China was widely condemned.\nAt first, the Korean government underestimated the disease\u2019s extent and provided little information about how widely it had spread. This caused many to openly question the government\u2019s ability to handle the crisis. By last Sunday, though, Seoul had thoroughly changed its tactics. The government is sharing the names of all the hospitals treating MERS patients, providing public information about how people can protect themselves, and actively countering rumors. President Park Geun-hye even postponed her planned trip to Washington this week so that she could help coordinate her government\u2019s response.\nThe Korean government\u2019s strategic shift shows that it understands the importance of sharing information to combat a disease outbreak \u2014 and the importance of responding to public unrest. But we have not yet seen whether this newfound openness will restore the public\u2019s faith in the government\u2019s ability to deal with public health, or whether the initial delay in responding will have long-term consequences.\n3. Diseases like MERS move with people, but that does not mean that people should not move.\nTravel spreads infectious diseases. In 1918 and 1919, a global influenza pandemic killed at least 30 million people worldwide, in no small part because World War I troop movements \u00a0spread influenza around the globe. Nearly a century later, a never-before seen disease called severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged in southern China.\nOver nine months, SARS spread to 34 countries, caused nearly 8100 illnesses, and killed 774 people. After the outbreak ended, epidemiologists identified globalization and rapid travel as key to SARS\u2019 rapid spread. Indeed, they traced roughly 4000 cases and 550 deaths to a single doctor who checked into a Hong Kong hotel in February 2003.\nThe current MERS outbreak in South Korea has been traced back to a 68-year-old man who had spent time in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.\nWhen these sorts of outbreaks occur, there is often an impulse to close borders, restrict travel, and close down public gathering spots like schools and theaters. Indeed, nearly 2500 South Korean schools have been closed so far. Arrivals at South Korean airports, movie ticket sales, and amusement park admissions are down substantially.\nBut these reactions, while understandable, are ineffective and may cause bigger problems.\nWHO is not recommending any travel restrictions, and a\u00a0WHO-Korean government task force is urging schools to reopen. Why? Since MERS does not spread easily from one person to another, travel restrictions and school closings will do little to stop its spread. Rather, they may generate panic, which can have larger social, economic, and political consequences. They may also discourage people from seeking treatment.\nThe better strategies are contact tracing and monitoring those who have recently been in affected regions, strategies far more focused on key individuals than immobilizing the whole population.\n4. MERS in South Korea should not distract us from what is happening in Saudi Arabia.\nWhile the MERS cases in South Korea have received much attention in recent weeks, the disease remains largely centered in Saudi Arabia. MERS first emerged there, and more than 85 percent of human cases of the disease have happened in the country. Because there is so much we still do not know about MERS and because Saudi Arabia figures so prominently in its origin and transmission, this is where global health institutions need to devote a great deal of time and attention.\nUnfortunately, the Saudi government has not shown much inclination to share information or to cooperate with the international community.\nIn 2013, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan lambasted the Saudi government for failing to share virus samples with WHO-affiliated labs, delaying the ability of scientists to research the virus and attempt to discover treatments. International officials have said that the Saudi government has repeatedly denied offers of help and assistance since 2012.\nMore recently, the Saudi deputy minister of health deflected attention away from MERS and suggested that the only reason for the high number of cases in his country was that it was looking for them. \u201cThe more you look, the more you find,\u201d he told science journalist Helen Branswell.\nIf we have learned anything from the history of successful interventions by global health institutions, it\u2019s that cooperation between national governments and international public health institutions is vital.\n5. So far, WHO is doing its job.\nUnder the International Health Regulations, human cases of new diseases that have a high likelihood of spreading internationally should be reported to WHO. In response, WHO works to keep countries informed about risks, builds capacity to detect new cases, and coordinates an international response.\nWith Ebola, WHO largely failed to perform these tasks. In the case of MERS, though, it appears to be fulfilling its obligations.\nWHO set up an emergency committee to work on MERS\u00a0in 2013, and it publicly makes available both the minutes of its meetings and the names of its members. It has provided governments with guidance about proper procedures and policies for dealing with MERS, and it provides regular updates on the numbers of cases and epidemiological information.\nWhat explains the difference? Part of it may be that WHO has experience working with this sort of virus. WHO\u2019s response to SARS was widely praised, and MERS and SARS are in the same virological family. It may be that the organization has been monitoring MERS for a number of years, giving it time to develop its expertise and appropriate strategies.\nPart of the difference may also be that, unlike Ebola, MERS has not strained the organization\u2019s resources. So far, WHO has not asked the international community for financial contributions\u00a0for MERS, suggesting that its current resources are enough to handle the outbreak. If things become more serious, WHO may need a serious infusion of money and personnel.\nFurthermore, if MERS spreads to more countries, it could strain the ability of disease surveillance systems to monitor and trace new cases. The lack of funds to support and strengthen disease surveillance systems is a serious shortcoming in the international community\u2019s efforts to stop the spread of infectious diseases.\nJeremy Youde is an associate professor of political science and department head at the University of Minnesota Duluth. His most recent books are"}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "dfb03492-d494-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "dfb03492-d494-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_0", "title": "The Download: Novavax has laid the groundwork for MERS vaccine, executives say", "text": "Executives at Gaitherburg-based Novavax say the company has laid the groundwork for a vaccine to combat Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, should the number of people infected with the virus continue to rise as some public health officials fear. In the April 13 issue of the medical journal Vaccine, researchers from the company and the University of Maryland School of Medicine published data showing they were able to block infection in laboratory tests. The vaccine is still considered highly experimental and would need additional safety and efficacy tests before it could be used in humans. But researchers contend their findings are a promising development for health officials. \u201cWe\u2019ve been talking with a lot of different people who are interested in what\u2019s going on here. No decision has been made about going forward,\u201d said Greg Glenn, senior vice president of research and development at Novavax. Matthew Frieman \u201cIf it continues to rise as it has been, this type of vaccine, even though it\u2019s experimental, may be fast-tracked all the way,\u201d Frieman said. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports the first case of MERS emerged in 2012, and most cases have been contained to countries on the Arabian Peninsula. The first confirmed case in a traveler to the United States was reported last week. Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. About 30 percent of those with the illness die from it. Bits & bytes Bethesda-based WealthEngine, a data analytics company that helps marketers to learn about the wealth and lifestyles of customers, raised $7 million from investors last week. Novak Biddle Venture Partners Making your summer reading list? Aneesh Chopra, the nation\u2019s first chief technology officer, last week released his book, \u201cInnovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government.\u201d Chopra, who now works for under-the-radar upstart Hunch Analytics, argues in the 299-page book that modern technology offers the government ways to operate more efficiently and tackle persistent problems in new ways ."}], "old": [{"_id": "dfb03492-d494-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_0", "title": "The Download: Novavax has laid the groundwork for MERS vaccine, executives say", "text": "The vaccine is still considered highly experimental and would need additional safety and efficacy tests before it could be used in humans. But researchers contend their findings are a promising development for health officials. Matthew Frieman \u201cIf it continues to rise as it has been, this type of vaccine, even though it\u2019s experimental, may be fast-tracked all the way,\u201d Frieman said. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports the first case of MERS emerged in 2012, and most cases have been contained to countries on the Arabian Peninsula. The first confirmed case in a traveler to the United States was reported last week. Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. About 30 percent of those with the illness die from it. Bits & bytes Novak Biddle Venture Partners"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Executives at Gaitherburg-based Novavax say the company has laid the groundwork for a vaccine to combat Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, should the number of people infected with the virus continue to rise as some public health officials fear.\nIn the April 13 issue of the medical journal Vaccine, researchers from the company and the University of Maryland School of Medicine published data showing they were able to block infection in laboratory tests.\nThe vaccine is still considered highly experimental and would need additional safety and efficacy tests before it could be used in humans. But researchers contend their findings are a promising development for health officials.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been talking with a lot of different people who are interested in what\u2019s going on here. No decision has been made about going forward,\u201d said Greg Glenn, senior vice president of research and development at Novavax.\nMatthew Frieman\n\u201cIf it continues to rise as it has been, this type of vaccine, even though it\u2019s experimental, may be fast-tracked all the way,\u201d Frieman said.\nThe Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports the first case of MERS emerged in 2012, and most cases have been contained to countries on the Arabian Peninsula. The first confirmed case in a traveler to the United States was reported last week.\nSymptoms of the virus include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. About 30 percent of those with the illness die from it.\nBits & bytes\nBethesda-based WealthEngine, a data analytics company that helps marketers to learn about the wealth and lifestyles of customers, raised $7 million from investors last week.\nNovak Biddle Venture Partners\nMaking your summer reading list? Aneesh Chopra, the nation\u2019s first chief technology officer, last week released his book, \u201cInnovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government.\u201d\nChopra, who now works for under-the-radar upstart Hunch Analytics, argues in the 299-page book that modern technology offers the government ways to operate more efficiently and tackle persistent problems in new ways ."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "eee08850-5ee0-11e4-8b9e-2ccdac31a031_1", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "eee08850-5ee0-11e4-8b9e-2ccdac31a031_1", "title": "Gaithersburg-based Novavax developing vaccine to prevent spread of Ebola", "text": "prove to be safe and effective, there still would be more work to do. Executives said it remains unclear how quickly the medicine would be available for health workers and military personnel working in areas stricken with Ebola. Chief executive Stanley C. Erck said the company would expect to have results from its initial trial in humans during the first three months of 2015 and, based on those results, could plot a path toward selling the vaccine later that year. To get to that stage, Novavax would require both positive test results and an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration to expedite the approval process. Novavax has developed technology that uses the genetic code of particular strain of virus to generate a vaccine. It has allowed the company to respond quickly to recent outbreaks of influenza and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, known as MERS. \u201cWhat our technology allows us to do is quickly make a vaccine that is both safe and stimulates antibody responses to emerging diseases,\u201d Erck said. \u201cEbola comes up and that is a virus that is a perfect fit for our platform.\u201d The company began work on an Ebola vaccine as soon as scientists had mapped the genetic sequence of the strain responsible for the ongoing outbreak in West Africa. Novavax has already tested the vaccine in rodents and rabbits, and plans are underway for a trial in baboons. \u201cSafety in vaccines is really important because when you develop cancer drugs or drugs for severe diseases, you can afford to have drugs that work but have some side effects,\u201d Erck said. \u201cBut with vaccines, you\u2019re working with healthy people.\u201d The FDA and global health agencies are fervently seeking ways to contain and treat the Ebola virus as it continues to spread across West African nations and isolated cases emerge in other countries, including the United States. \u201cWe\u2019ve called [the FDA] up and told them what we\u2019re doing, and we\u2019ve worked very closely with the FDA,\u201d Erck said. \u201cThey want to see products emerge that can be effective in this outbreak.\u201d That sense of urgency has allowed some drugmakers and biotechnology companies to expedite safety trials. Regulators in Switzerland, for example, approved inoculating health workers traveling to Africa with an experimental vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline. More from Capital Business: For a daily rundown of Washington area business news, sign up for the \u201cCapBiz A.M.\u201d e-mail newsletter."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Gaithersburg-based Novavax, a life sciences company that develops vaccines for infectious diseases, could begin testing a vaccine to stem the spread of Ebola in humans as soon as December, the company\u2019s chief executive said.\nShould the vaccine prove to be safe and effective, there still would be more work to do. Executives said it remains unclear how quickly the medicine would be available for health workers and military personnel working in areas stricken with Ebola.\nChief executive Stanley C. Erck said the company would expect to have results from its initial trial in humans during the first three months of 2015 and, based on those results, could plot a path toward selling the vaccine later that year.\nTo get to that stage, Novavax would require both positive test results and an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration to expedite the approval process.\nNovavax has developed technology that uses the genetic code of particular strain of virus to generate a vaccine. It has allowed the company to respond quickly to recent outbreaks of influenza and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, known as MERS.\n\u201cWhat our technology allows us to do is quickly make a vaccine that is both safe and stimulates antibody responses to emerging diseases,\u201d Erck said. \u201cEbola comes up and that is a virus that is a perfect fit for our platform.\u201d\nThe company began work on an Ebola vaccine as soon as scientists had mapped the genetic sequence of the strain responsible for the ongoing outbreak in West Africa. Novavax has already tested the vaccine in rodents and rabbits, and plans are underway for a trial in baboons.\n\u201cSafety in vaccines is really important because when you develop cancer drugs or drugs for severe diseases, you can afford to have drugs that work but have some side effects,\u201d Erck said. \u201cBut with vaccines, you\u2019re working with healthy people.\u201d\nThe FDA and global health agencies are fervently seeking ways to contain and treat the Ebola virus as it continues to spread across West African nations and isolated cases emerge in other countries, including the United States.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve called [the FDA] up and told them what we\u2019re doing, and we\u2019ve worked very closely with the FDA,\u201d Erck said. \u201cThey want to see products emerge that can be effective in this outbreak.\u201d\nThat sense of urgency has allowed some drugmakers and biotechnology companies to expedite safety trials. Regulators in Switzerland, for example, approved inoculating health workers traveling to Africa with an experimental vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline.\nMore from Capital Business:\nFor a daily rundown of Washington area business news, sign up for the \u201cCapBiz A.M.\u201d e-mail newsletter."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "f4a641c6de4703ef1180e09315e6d1c7_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "f4a641c6de4703ef1180e09315e6d1c7_0", "title": "This SARS-like virus has killed 30 of the 50 people who contracted it", "text": "The World Health Organization has announced three new deaths from a new virus that has alarmed health officials in the Middle East and Europe since it was first discovered last year. The organization has now confirmed 50 cases of what it calls Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. Thirty of those patients have died. Those numbers are cause for concern. The MERS virus is a coronavirus, which is the same type of virus responsible for the common cold as well as SARS, but less than a tenth of the people who fell ill in the SARS epidemic of 2002 and 2003 died. The new avian influenza virus spreading in China, known as H7N9, has resulted in death in a quarter of known cases, while the more well-known bird flu strain, H5N1, kills about half of those who are infected, according to The New York Times. It's still too early to say whether the MERS virus is more dangerous than these other viruses, since many more people could have been infected without developing severe symptoms. Yet MERS is worrisome for other reasons. A study published online Thursday in The Lancet described how one patient in a French hospital caught the disease from another who had recently traveled to Dubai and did not survive. The two shared a room together for three days, but it wasn't until more than a week afterward that symptoms appeared in the other patient. The authors of the study estimated the incubation period at 9-12 days, a long time in which infected people could spread the disease without realizing that they are ill. It still isn't certain at what stage people carrying the virus are most contagious, the Los Angeles Times reports. Another concern is that the virus is difficult to identify. An article published in The New England Journal of Medicine this week described how the disease apparently spread through three generations of a family in Riyadh. A boy and his uncle survived the illness, while the boy's father and grandfather did not. Yet doctors could not confirm the presence of the MERS virus in the youngest of the patients, and were not able to confirm it in the two who died until after they passed away. The World Health Organization is not advising restrictions or special screening for travelers, but it has issued recommendations for surveillance that describe what respiratory illnesses hospital personnel should regard"}], "old": [{"_id": "f4a641c6de4703ef1180e09315e6d1c7_0", "title": "This SARS-like virus has killed 30 of the 50 people who contracted it", "text": "The organization has now confirmed 50 cases of what it calls Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. Thirty of those patients have died. We do not know yet how dangerous the virus is, but we can hope health care systems around the world are up to the task of monitoring and preventing infections, in which case we won't have to find out."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The World Health Organization has announced three new deaths from a new virus that has alarmed health officials in the Middle East and Europe since it was first discovered last year.\nThe organization has now confirmed 50 cases of what it calls Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. Thirty of those patients have died.\nThose numbers are cause for concern. The MERS virus is a coronavirus, which is the same type of virus responsible for the common cold as well as SARS, but less than a tenth of the people who fell ill in the SARS epidemic of 2002 and 2003 died. The new avian influenza virus spreading in China, known as H7N9, has resulted in death in a quarter of known cases, while the more well-known bird flu strain, H5N1, kills about half of those who are infected, according to The New York Times. It's still too early to say whether the MERS virus is more dangerous than these other viruses, since many more people could have been infected without developing severe symptoms.\nYet MERS is worrisome for other reasons. A study published online Thursday in The Lancet described how one patient in a French hospital caught the disease from another who had recently traveled to Dubai and did not survive. The two shared a room together for three days, but it wasn't until more than a week afterward that symptoms appeared in the other patient. The authors of the study estimated the incubation period at 9-12 days, a long time in which infected people could spread the disease without realizing that they are ill. It still isn't certain at what stage people carrying the virus are most contagious, the Los Angeles Times reports.\nAnother concern is that the virus is difficult to identify. An article published in The New England Journal of Medicine this week described how the disease apparently spread through three generations of a family in Riyadh. A boy and his uncle survived the illness, while the boy's father and grandfather did not. Yet doctors could not confirm the presence of the MERS virus in the youngest of the patients, and were not able to confirm it in the two who died until after they passed away.\nThe World Health Organization is not advising restrictions or special screening for travelers, but it has issued recommendations\u00a0for surveillance that describe what respiratory illnesses hospital personnel should regard as suspicious. Still, the agency has to rely on doctors to find cases, who in many countries have other problems to worry about, as Foreign Policy reports. For example, the virologist who first identified the MERS pathogen at a Saudi hospital told the Guardian that he was fired for making his discovery public.\nWe do not know yet how dangerous the virus is, but we can hope health care systems around the world are up to the task of monitoring and preventing infections, in which case we won't have to find out."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "f54e56f2f54d82627e36aa6b2656f438_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "f54e56f2f54d82627e36aa6b2656f438_0", "title": "Here are the five U.S. cities where most travelers from Saudi Arabia and the UAE arrive", "text": "There\u2019s been a lot of attention to the deadly respiratory virus known as Middle East Respirator Syndrome (MERS), now that two confirmed cases have emerged in the United States. Both patients were travelers from Saudi Arabia. Most of the 571 confirmed cases worldwide are in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. With infections just a plane trip away, as experts like to say, here are the top five destinations in the United States for travelers arriving from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the months of May and June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The five accounted for 75 percent of the arrivals from those two countries; based on historical patterns, the CDC estimates that about 100,000 travelers will arrive in these cities in May and June of this year. The CDC is urging travelers to and from the Arabian Peninsula to take extra precautions, such as avoiding contact with sick people and washing hands frequently. Anyone who comes down with fever, cough or shortness of breath within 14 days after traveling to the region should consult a physician. The agency emphasizes, however, that there is no evidence that the disease is transmitted by casual contact. It appears to require close contact, such as patient to caregiver, for the disease to be communicated. 1. New York 30,680 2. Washington ~24,514 3. Los Angeles 15,070 4. Atlanta 14,567 5. Chicago 10,457 And let\u2019s not forget our neighbor to the North. Toronto is also a big destination, with 14,889 travelers."}], "old": [{"_id": "f54e56f2f54d82627e36aa6b2656f438_0", "title": "Here are the five U.S. cities where most travelers from Saudi Arabia and the UAE arrive", "text": "With infections just a plane trip away, as experts like to say, here are the top five destinations in the United States for travelers arriving from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the months of May and June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The five accounted for 75 percent of the arrivals from those two countries; based on historical patterns, the CDC estimates that about 100,000 travelers will arrive in these cities in May and June of this year. The CDC is urging travelers to and from the Arabian Peninsula to take extra precautions, such as avoiding contact with sick people and washing hands frequently. Anyone who comes down with fever, cough or shortness of breath within 14 days after traveling to the region should consult a physician. 1. New York 30,680 2. Washington ~24,514 3. Los Angeles 15,070 4. Atlanta 14,567 5. Chicago 10,457 And let\u2019s not forget our neighbor to the North. Toronto is also a big destination, with 14,889 travelers."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "There\u2019s been a lot of attention to the deadly respiratory virus known as Middle East Respirator Syndrome (MERS), now that two confirmed cases have emerged in the United States. Both patients were travelers from Saudi Arabia. Most of the 571 confirmed cases worldwide are in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.\nWith infections just a plane trip away, as experts like to say, here are the top five destinations in the United States for travelers arriving from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the months of May and June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The five accounted for 75 percent of the arrivals from those two countries; based on historical patterns, the CDC estimates that about 100,000 travelers will arrive in these cities in May and June of this year.\nThe CDC is urging travelers to and from the Arabian Peninsula to take extra precautions, such as avoiding contact with sick people and washing hands frequently. Anyone who comes down with fever, cough or shortness of breath within 14 days after traveling to the region should consult a physician.\nThe agency emphasizes, however, that there is no evidence that the disease is transmitted by casual contact. It appears to require close contact, such as patient to caregiver, for the disease to be communicated.\n1. New York 30,680\n2. Washington ~24,514\n3. Los Angeles 15,070\n4. Atlanta 14,567\n5. Chicago 10,457\nAnd let\u2019s not forget our neighbor to the North. Toronto is also a big destination, with 14,889 travelers."}
{"qid": 937, "pid": "fd06c87cf6b4e394dd63ef355eb3e546_0", "query_info": {"_id": 937, "text": "What is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?", "instruction_og": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "China recently discovered a new coronavirus strain that is similar to MERS.  Tell me about the symptoms of MERS, the incubation period for infection, and the lethality rate.  Information on vaccines and treatments is relevant.  Official sources of information on MERS also is relevant.  Information on the origins of MERS is not relevant nor are the specific locations of previous outbreaks.  Editorials are not relevant. If the document discusses a potential animal origin, please ignore the document.", "short_query": "Find authoritative sources to answer this health-related question.", "keywords": "authoritative health-related"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "fd06c87cf6b4e394dd63ef355eb3e546_0", "title": "The terrifying track of how one \u2018super-spreader\u2019 was responsible for nearly half of MERS cases in South Korea", "text": "South Korean elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus as they go to school in Seoul in 2015. (Ahn Young-joon/AP) The outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the huge megalopolis of Seoul from May to July last year was among the most chilling examples of how fast infectious diseases can spread in our modern world. From a single businessman who acquired the virus abroad, the disease jumped rapidly from person to person until 36 were dead, 186 infected and thousands were quarantined -- leaving huge swaths of the South Korean capital region, where 25 million people live, paralyzed with fear. Schools closed, department store sales tanked, and tourist visas were canceled. The economic toll was so severe that the country's central bank had to cut interest rates. Now, doctors involved in the care of the first patients have gone back and documented in exacting detail the geography of MERS as it spread in one hospital. In a paper published Friday in the journal the Lancet, Sun Young Cho and colleagues reconstructed the transmission of the virus through a series of maps, tables and diagrams that would have made Michael Crichton shudder. First identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, MERS has since made its way around the world and infected people in 27 countries. The illness is severe, with patients developing fever, cough and respiratory distress. The death rate is believed to be more than 30 percent. One of the most revealing details in the analysis is its finding that the traveler, dubbed Patient 1, wasn't the \"super-spreader\" as previously thought. Patient 1, who was 68, transmitted the virus to another man early in his illness and before he knew he had MERS. It was this other man, 35-year-old Patient 14, who exposed so many others. Both men first were seen at Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital, a regional facility that had opened months earlier, for what appeared at the time to be pneumonia. They were treated on the same floor, according to health investigators. Both recovered enough to be released. When their conditions worsened, Patient 1 and Patient 14 separately sought help at one of Seoul's premier health centers -- the Samsung Medical Center, a massive university-affiliated hospital with 1,982 beds and a staff of 9,000. Patient 14's story at Samsung began when he arrived in the emergency department and"}], "old": [{"_id": "fd06c87cf6b4e394dd63ef355eb3e546_0", "title": "The terrifying track of how one \u2018super-spreader\u2019 was responsible for nearly half of MERS cases in South Korea", "text": "South Korean elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus as they go to school in Seoul in 2015. (Ahn Young-joon/AP) The outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the huge megalopolis of Seoul from May to July last year was among the most chilling examples of how fast infectious diseases can spread in our modern world. From a single businessman who acquired the virus abroad, the disease jumped rapidly from person to person until 36 were dead, 186 infected and thousands were quarantined -- leaving huge swaths of the South Korean capital region, where 25 million people live, paralyzed with fear. Schools closed, department store sales tanked, and tourist visas were canceled. The economic toll was so severe that the country's central bank had to cut interest rates. First identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, MERS has since made its way around the world and infected people in 27 countries. The illness is severe, with patients developing fever, cough and respiratory distress. The death rate is believed to be more than 30 percent. Both men first were seen at Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital, a regional facility that had opened months earlier, for what appeared at the time to be pneumonia. They were treated on the same floor, according to health investigators. Both recovered enough to be released. When their conditions worsened, Patient 1 and Patient 14 separately sought help at one of Seoul's premier health centers -- the Samsung Medical Center, a massive university-affiliated hospital with 1,982 beds and a staff of 9,000. Patient 14's story at Samsung began when he arrived in the emergency department and was treated for breathing problems. He was given a mask, the authors note, but \"frequently could not hold it because of severe respiratory symptoms.\" At the time, doctors did not suspect he had been exposed to MERS, so he was not isolated. But two days later, he was contacted by Korean health authorities about his potential contact with Patient 1. (The Lancet) The potential damage was estimated to be vast. A total of 1,576 people -- 675 patients, 683 visitors and 218 health-care workers -- were identified as contacts. And testing confirmed doctors' worst fears. The attack rate of the virus, calculated by dividing the number of people infected by the number exposed, was extremely high and caused an \"epidemic curve\" of cases."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "South Korean elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus as they go to school in Seoul in 2015. (Ahn Young-joon/AP)\nThe outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)\u00a0in the huge megalopolis of Seoul from\u00a0May to July last year was\u00a0among the most chilling examples of how fast infectious diseases can spread in our\u00a0modern world. From a\u00a0single businessman who acquired the virus\u00a0abroad, the disease jumped rapidly from person to person until 36 were dead, 186 infected and thousands were\u00a0quarantined -- leaving huge swaths of the South Korean capital region, where 25 million people live, paralyzed with fear.\nSchools closed, department store sales tanked, and tourist visas were canceled. The economic toll was so severe that the country's central bank had to cut interest rates.\nNow, doctors involved in the care of the first patients have gone back and documented in exacting detail the geography of MERS as it spread in one hospital. In a paper published Friday in the journal the\u00a0Lancet, Sun Young Cho and colleagues reconstructed the transmission of the virus through\u00a0a series of maps, tables and diagrams that would have made Michael Crichton shudder.\nFirst identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, MERS has\u00a0since made its way around the world and infected people in 27 countries. The illness is severe, with patients developing fever, cough and respiratory distress. The death rate is believed to be more than 30 percent.\nOne of the most revealing\u00a0details in the analysis is its finding that the traveler, dubbed Patient 1, wasn't the\u00a0\"super-spreader\" as previously thought. Patient 1, who was 68, transmitted the virus to another man\u00a0early in his illness and before he knew he had MERS.\u00a0It was this other man, 35-year-old Patient 14, who exposed so many others.\nBoth men first were seen at Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital, a regional facility that had opened months earlier, for what appeared at the time to be pneumonia. They were treated on the same floor, according to health investigators. Both recovered enough to be released.\nWhen their conditions worsened, Patient 1 and Patient 14 separately sought help at\u00a0one of Seoul's premier health centers -- the\u00a0Samsung\u00a0Medical Center, a massive university-affiliated hospital with 1,982 beds and a staff of 9,000.\nPatient 14's story at Samsung began when he arrived in the emergency department\u00a0and was treated for breathing problems. He was given a mask, the authors note, but \"frequently could not hold it because of severe respiratory\u00a0symptoms.\" At the time, doctors did not suspect he had been exposed to MERS, so he was not isolated. But two days later, he was\u00a0contacted by Korean health authorities about his potential contact with\u00a0Patient 1.\nAfter Patient 14's infection was confirmed, Samsung officials combed through electronic medical records and security video footage to map where he had been. The investigation showed the man\u00a0was treated in three \"zones\" of the emergency department, went to the radiology suite four times, walked around both within and outside the ER and went to the bathroom several times. In the map below, Patient 14 was in zones II, III and IV, the registration area, radiology suite and presumably the hallways.\n(The Lancet)\nThe potential damage was estimated to be vast. A total of\u00a01,576 people -- 675 patients,\u00a0683 visitors and 218 health-care\u00a0workers -- were identified as contacts. And testing confirmed doctors' worst fears. The attack rate of the virus, calculated\u00a0by dividing the number of people infected by the number exposed, was extremely high and caused an \"epidemic curve\" of cases.\nFor the purposes of analysis, the researchers divided the patients into three risk groups. Those in Group A, considered close contacts, had been in the same zone of the emergency room as Patient 14. (Close contact with an infectious patient is traditionally defined as within six feet or within the same room or area for a prolonged period.) Group B consisted of people who were treated in different zones but had overlapped with Patient 14 in the registration area or radiology suite. Group C included patients who were treated in different zones and did not otherwise directly overlap with Patient 14 in space or time in any specific location.\nThe overall attack rate for patients and visitors was only 2 percent in Group C (15 of 1,003) and 5 percent in Group B (six of 116). But for Group A it was incredibly high at 20 percent\u00a0(47 of 239). The rate of infection for\u00a0health-care workers was also just 2 percent (five of 218).\nA timeline of infections is shown below. Those\u00a0in Group A are in shown as\u00a0dark grey-blue squares.\n(The Lancet)\nThe analysis turned up other worrisome details about the virulence of the virus: Several patients in the emergency department\u00a0got MERS although Patient 14's bed was not adjacent to theirs. In one case, it was about 20 feet away. And numerous visitors accompanying loved ones in the emergency department\u00a0were also infected. As for the incubation period, it averaged seven days, but patients in closest proximity to Patient 14 appeared to get the virus faster -- within five days -- while those farther away did not develop symptoms for 11 days on average.\nIn total, Patient 14 was linked to\u00a082 MERS cases, or nearly 45 percent of the 186 cases seen in South Korea during the outbreak.\n(The Lancet)\nBy contrast, researchers found that\u00a0Patient 1\u00a0had been in\u00a0contact with 285 other patients and 193 health-care workers while at the medical center. No transmissions occurred on the day that he was in the general ward before being\u00a0isolated.\u00a0(Patient 1 infected 28 others at his previous hospital.)\nThe researchers could not explain the difference but suggested it could have been due to \"a number of factors such as time from onset of disease, symptoms, duration of contact, pattern of movement and the spread of the virus itself.\"\nThey found that individuals who overlapped with Patient 14 in the radiology suite or registration area had higher attack rates (5 percent) than the other\u00a0patients (1 percent), \"suggesting that transmission might occur by even brief exposures to recently contaminated objects or encounters with individuals carrying a super-spreader.\"\nThe role of super-spreaders was also critically important during the 2002-2004 SARS outbreak in Hong Kong and the bordering Chinese province of Guangdong.\nIn an accompanying commentary,\u00a0David S. Hui, a professsor of emerging infectious diseases at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, wrote that the retrospective analysis highlights shortcomings in hospital systems worldwide. He noted the failure of St. Mary's to implement\u00a0strict isolation of patients and quarantine of contacts as well as both facilities' poor communication and knowledge of patient movement between hospitals. More generally, he highlighted emergency department overcrowding, inadequate ventilation and limited availability of isolation rooms as issues needing to be addressed to prevent future outbreaks.\n\"Failure in infection control and prevention in health-care facilities has resulted in large numbers of secondary cases of [MERS] infection involving health-care workers, existing patients and visitors in Saudi Arabia and several other countries in the past few years,\" Hui said.\nRead more:\nBoston subway study finds no plague or anthrax -- but plenty of other crazy little lifeforms\nBrain changes persist in student athletes six months after a concussion, study suggests\n4 in 10 highly rated sunscreens don\u2019t meet American Academy of Dermatology guidelines\nIs 10,000-steps goal more myth than science? Study seeks fitness truths through our phones and more\nLike our Health  Wellness page on\u00a0Facebook"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "2UCC57L6WRGCNPWIVABVNOATJU_2", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2UCC57L6WRGCNPWIVABVNOATJU_2", "title": "Doctors keep discovering new ways the coronavirus attacks the body", "text": "than women, but there are also signs it complicates pregnancies. It mostly spares the young. Until it doesn\u2019t: Last week, doctors warned of a rare inflammatory reaction with cardiac complications among children that may be connected to the virus. On Friday, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) announced 73 children had fallen severely ill in the state and a 5-year-old boy in New York City had become the first child to die of the syndrome. Two more children had succumbed as of Saturday. That news has shaken many doctors, who felt they were finally grasping the full dimensions of the disease in adults. \u201cWe were all thinking this is a disease that kills old people, not kids,\u201d Reich said. Mount Sinai has treated five children with the condition. Reich said each started with gastrointestinal symptoms, which turned into inflammatory complications that caused very low blood pressure and expanded their blood vessels. This led to heart failure in the case of the first child who died. \u201cThe pattern of disease was different than anything else with covid,\u201d he said. Of the millions, perhaps billions, of coronaviruses, six were previously known to infect humans. Four cause colds that spread easily each winter, barely noticed. Another was responsible for the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome that killed 774 people in 2003. Yet another sparked the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2012, which kills 34 percent of the people who contract it. But few do. SARS-CoV-2, the bad seed of the coronavirus family, is the seventh. It has managed to combine the infectiousness of its cold-causing cousins with some of the lethality of SARS and MERS. It can spread before people show symptoms of disease, making it difficult to control, especially without widespread and accurate testing. At the moment, social distancing is the only effective countermeasure. It has infected 4 million people around the globe, killing more than 280,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. In the United States, 1.3 million have been infected and more than 78,000 have died. Had SARS or MERS spread as widely as this virus, Rasmussen said, they might have shown the same capacity to attack beyond the lungs. But they were snuffed out quickly, leaving only a small sample of disease and death. Trying to define a pathogen in the midst of an ever-spreading epidemic is fraught with difficulties. Experts say"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Deborah Coughlin was neither short of breath nor coughing. In those first days after she became infected by the novel coronavirus, her fever never spiked above 100 degrees. It was vomiting and diarrhea that brought her to a Hartford, Conn., emergency room on May 1.\n\u201cYou would have thought it was a stomach virus,\u201d said her daughter, Catherina Coleman. \u201cShe was talking and walking and completely coherent.\u201d\nBut even as Coughlin, 67, chatted with her daughters on her cellphone, the oxygen level in her blood dropped so low that most patients would be near death. She is on a ventilator and in critical condition at St. Francis Hospital, one more patient with a strange constellation of symptoms that physicians are racing to recognize, explain and treat.\n\u201c\nToday, there is widespread recognition that the novel coronavirus is far more unpredictable than a simple respiratory virus. Often it attacks the lungs, but it can also strike anywhere from the brain to the toes. Many doctors are focused on treating the inflammatory reactions it triggers and its capacity to cause blood clots, even as they struggle to help patients breathe.\nThey have little solid research to guide them as they learn on the fly about a new disease with more than 78,000 U.S. deaths attributed to it. The World Health Organization\u2019s database already lists more than 14,600 papers on covid-19. Even the world\u2019s premier public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have constantly altered their advice to keep pace with new developments.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know why there are so many disease presentations,\u201d said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University\u2019s Mailman School of Public Health. \u201cBottom line, this is just so new that there\u2019s a lot we don\u2019t know.\u201d\nMore than four months of clinical experience across Asia, Europe and North America has shown the pathogen does much more than invade the lungs. \u201cNo one was expecting a disease that would not fit the pattern of pneumonia and respiratory illness,\u201d said David Reich, a cardiac anesthesiologist and president of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.\nIt attacks the heart\nIt can begin with a few symptoms or none at all, then days later, squeeze the air out of the lungs without warning. It picks on the elderly, people weakened by previous disease, and, disproportionately, the obese. It harms men more than women, but there are also signs it complicates pregnancies.\nIt mostly spares the young. Until it doesn\u2019t: Last week, doctors warned of a rare inflammatory reaction with cardiac complications among children that may be connected to the virus. On Friday, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) announced 73 children had fallen severely ill in the state and a 5-year-old boy in New York City had become the first child to die of the syndrome. Two more children had succumbed as of Saturday.\nThat news has shaken many doctors, who felt they were finally grasping the full dimensions of the disease in adults. \u201cWe were all thinking this is a disease that kills old people, not kids,\u201d Reich said.\nMount Sinai has treated five children with the condition. Reich said each started with gastrointestinal symptoms, which turned into inflammatory complications that caused very low blood pressure and expanded their blood vessels. This led to heart failure in the case of the first child who died.\n\u201cThe pattern of disease was different than anything else with covid,\u201d he said.\nOf the millions, perhaps billions, of coronaviruses, six were previously known to infect humans.\nFour cause colds that spread easily each winter, barely noticed. Another was responsible for the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome that killed 774 people in 2003. Yet another sparked the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2012, which kills 34 percent of the people who contract it. But few do.\nSARS-CoV-2, the bad seed of the coronavirus family, is the seventh. It has managed to combine the infectiousness of its cold-causing cousins with some of the lethality of SARS and MERS. It can spread before people show symptoms of disease, making it difficult to control, especially without widespread and accurate testing. At the moment, social distancing is the only effective countermeasure.\nIt has infected 4 million people around the globe, killing more than 280,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. In the United States, 1.3 million have been infected and more than 78,000 have died.\nHad SARS or MERS spread as widely as this virus, Rasmussen said, they might have shown the same capacity to attack beyond the lungs. But they were snuffed out quickly, leaving only a small sample of disease and death.\nTrying to define a pathogen in the midst of an ever-spreading epidemic is fraught with difficulties. Experts say it will be years until it is understood how the disease damages organs and how medications, genetics, diets, lifestyles and distancing impact its course.\n\u201cThis is a virus that literally did not exist in humans six months ago,\u201d said Geoffrey Barnes, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan who works in cardiovascular medicine. \u201cWe had to rapidly learn how this virus impacts the human body and identify ways to treat it literally in a time-scale of weeks. With many other diseases, we have had decades.\u201d\nIn the initial days of the outbreak, most efforts focused on the lungs. SARS-CoV-2 infects both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, eventually working its way deep into the lungs, filling tiny air sacs with cells and fluid that choke off the flow of oxygen.\nBut many scientists have come to believe that much of the disease\u2019s devastation comes from two intertwined causes.\nThe first is the harm the virus wreaks on blood vessels, leading to clots that can range from microscopic to sizable. Patients have suffered strokes and pulmonary emboli as clots break loose and travel to the brain and lungs. A study in the Lancet, a British medical journal, showed this may be because the virus directly targets the endothelial cells that line blood vessels.\nThe second is an exaggerated response from the body\u2019s own immune system, a storm of killer \u201ccytokines\u201d that attack the body\u2019s own cells along with the virus as it seeks to defend the body from an invader.\nResearch and therapies are focused on these phenomena. Blood thinners are being more widely used in some hospitals. A review of records for 2,733 patients, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, indicates they may help the most seriously ill.\n\u201cThings change in science all the time. Theories are made and thrown out. Hypotheses are tweaked. It doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t know what we are doing. It means we are learning,\u201d said Deepak Bhatt, executive director of interventional cardiology at Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital in Boston.\nInflammation of those endothelial cells lining blood vessels may help explain why the virus harms so many parts of the body, said Mandeep Mehra, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and one of the authors of the Lancet study on how covid-19 attacks blood vessels.\nThat means defeating covid-19 will require more than antiviral therapy, he said.\n\u201cWhat this virus does is it starts as a viral infection and becomes a more global disturbance to the immune system and blood vessels \u2014 and what kills is exactly that,\u201d Mehra said. \u201cOur hypothesis is that covid-19 begins as a respiratory virus and kills as a cardiovascular virus.\u201d\nThe thinking of kidney specialists has evolved along similar lines. Initially, they attributed widespread and severe kidney disease to the damage caused by ventilators and certain medications given to intensive-care patients, said Daniel Batlle, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.\nThen they noticed damage to the waste-filtering kidney cells of patients even before they needed intensive care. And studies out of Wuhan found the pathogen in the kidneys themselves, leading to speculation the virus is harming the organ.\n\u201cThere was nothing unique at first,\u201d Batlle said. But the new information \u201cshows this is beyond the regular bread-and-butter acute kidney injury that we normally see.\u201d\nLike other coronaviruses, SARS-Cov-2 infiltrates the body by attaching to a receptor, ACE2, found on some cells. But the makeup of the spikes that protrude from this virus is somewhat different, allowing the virus to bind more tightly. As a result, fewer virus particles are required to infect the host. This also may help explain why this virus is so much more infectious than SARS, Rasmussen said.\nOther factors can\u2019t be ruled out in transmission, she said, including the amount of virus people shed and how strictly they observe social distancing rules.\nOnce inside a cell, the virus replicates, causing chaos. ACE2 receptors, which help regulate blood pressure, are plentiful in the lungs, kidneys and intestines \u2014 organs hit hard by the pathogen in many patients. That also may be why high blood pressure has emerged as one of the most common preexisting conditions in people who become severely ill with covid-19.\nThe receptors differ from person to person, leading to speculation that genetics may explain some of the variability in symptoms and how sick some people become.\nThose cells \u201care almost everywhere, so it makes sense that the virus would cause damage throughout the body,\u201d said Mitchell Elkind, a professor of neurology at Columbia University\u2019s College of Physicians and Surgeons and president-elect of the American Heart Association.\nInflammation spurs clotting as white blood cells fight off infection. They interact with platelets and activate them in a way that increases the likelihood of clotting, Elkind said.\nSuch reactions have been seen in severe infections, such as sepsis. But for covid-19, he said, \u201cwe are seeing this in a large number of people in a very short time, so it really stands out.\u201d\n\u201cThe virus can attack a lot of different parts of the body, and we don\u2019t understand why it causes some problems for some people, different problems for others \u2014 and no problems at all for a large proportion,\u201d Elkind said.\nCoughlin, in critical condition at a hospital in Connecticut, deteriorated quickly after she reached the emergency room. Her fever shot up to 105, and pneumonia developed in her lungs.\nOn Wednesday, she called her six daughters on FaceTime, telling them doctors advised she go on a ventilator.\n\u201cIf something happens to me, and I don\u2019t make it, I\u2019m at peace with it,\u201d she told them.\nThe conversation broke daughter Coleman\u2019s heart.\n\u201cI am deciding to help her go on a ventilator, and she may never come off,\u201d she said. \u201cThat could have been my last phone conversation with her.\u201d\nIllustrations from iStock. Edited by\nRead more:\nCoronavirus destroys lungs. But doctors are finding its damage in kidneys, hearts and elsewhere.\nYoung and middle-aged people, barely sick with covid-19, are dying of strokes\nChildren are falling ill with perplexing inflammatory syndrome thought to be linked to covid-19\nA mysterious blood-clotting complication is killing coronavirus patients\nFrostbite\u2019 toes and other peculiar rashes may be signs of hidden coronavirus infection, especially in the young"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "3QYNYDHSUZB4RB3J2AWHNRYN4E_0", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3QYNYDHSUZB4RB3J2AWHNRYN4E_0", "title": "What you need to know about coronavirus", "text": "What began with a handful of mysterious illnesses in a central China city has traveled the world. First detected on the last day of 2019, the novel coronavirus has killed more than 705,000 people with infections surpassing 18 million worldwide. It has triggered nationwide lockdowns, stock market upheaval and dangerous conspiracy theories. Most cases are mild, but health officials say much is still unknown about the virus that causes the disease covid-19. The Washington Post has spoken to scores of doctors, officials and experts to answer as many of your questions as we can about the newest global health emergency. Here\u2019s what we know so far. Sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories linked within the newsletter are free to access. These days, \u201ccoronavirus\u201d is often prefaced with the word \u201cnovel,\u201d because that\u2019s precisely what it is: a new strain in a family of viruses we\u2019ve all seen before \u2014 and, in some form, had. According to the WHO, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that range from the common cold to much more serious diseases. These diseases can infect both humans and animals. The strain that began spreading in Wuhan, the capital of China\u2019s Hubei province, is related to two other coronaviruses that have caused major outbreaks in recent years: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Symptoms of a coronavirus infection range in severity from respiratory problems to cases of pneumonia, kidney failure and a buildup of fluid in the lungs. They may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. In April, the CDC added new symptoms of the disease to its list, shedding more light on how the virus infects patients. The symptoms now include: a cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and a loss of taste or smell. Covid-19 spreads more easily than SARS and is similar to other coronaviruses that cause cold-like symptoms, experts have said. It appears to be highly transmissible, and since cases are mild, the disease may be more widespread than current testing numbers suggest. Read more about coronaviruses, their symptoms and how they are spread here. Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d Public health officials say the novel coronavirus is less deadly than SARS, which killed about 10 percent of people who"}], "old": [{"_id": "3QYNYDHSUZB4RB3J2AWHNRYN4E_0", "title": "What you need to know about coronavirus", "text": "Planning to travel? Here\u2019s what to know. Mapping the spread of coronavirus Read more about the illness here. Read more about how long social distancing might last here. Coronavirus: Covid-19: Community transmission: Asymptomatic transmission: Outbreak: Epidemic: Pandemic: \u201c Containment: Mitigation: Isolation: Quarantine: Zoonotic:"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "What began with a handful of mysterious illnesses in a central China city has traveled the world. First detected on the last day of 2019, the novel coronavirus has killed more than 705,000 people with infections surpassing 18 million worldwide. It has triggered nationwide lockdowns, stock market upheaval and dangerous conspiracy theories.\nMost cases are mild, but health officials say much is still unknown about the virus that causes the disease covid-19.\nThe Washington Post has spoken to scores of doctors, officials and experts to answer as many of your questions as we can about the newest global health emergency. Here\u2019s what we know so far.\nSign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories linked within the newsletter are free to access.\nThese days, \u201ccoronavirus\u201d is often prefaced with the word \u201cnovel,\u201d because that\u2019s precisely what it is: a new strain in a family of viruses we\u2019ve all seen before \u2014 and, in some form, had. According to the WHO, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that range from the common cold to much more serious diseases. These diseases can infect both humans and animals. The strain that began spreading in Wuhan, the capital of China\u2019s Hubei province, is related to two other coronaviruses that have caused major outbreaks in recent years: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).\nSymptoms of a coronavirus infection range in severity from respiratory problems to cases of pneumonia, kidney failure and a buildup of fluid in the lungs. They may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.\nIn April, the CDC added new symptoms of the disease to its list, shedding more light on how the virus infects patients. The symptoms now include: a cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and a loss of taste or smell.\nCovid-19 spreads more easily than SARS and is similar to other coronaviruses that cause cold-like symptoms, experts have said. It appears to be highly transmissible, and since cases are mild, the disease may be more widespread than current testing numbers suggest.\nRead more about coronaviruses, their symptoms and how they are spread here.\nWhy outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d\nPublic health officials say the novel coronavirus is less deadly than SARS, which killed about 10 percent of people who were infected during the outbreak that began in 2002. But epidemiologists are still trying to determine exactly how deadly covid-19 is.\nSimilar to other respiratory illnesses, older people and those with illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure are at increased risk. Data show that the virus is killing more men than women in the U.S.\nBut, as with other diseases, there can be tremendous individual variation in how people respond. There will be people with known risk factors who recover as well as people who develop severe cases for reasons we don\u2019t understand.\nThere\u2019s also no evidence that children are more prone to contracting covid-19, according to the CDC, and that was also the case with the disease\u2032s cousins, SARS and MERS.\nRead more about the deadliness of coronavirus here.\nThe coronavirus primarily spreads from person to person and not easily from a contaminated surface. In updated guidance issued in late-May, the CDC said the virus spreads \u201ceasily and sustainably\u201d between people. The agency added that contaminated objects, surfaces and infected animals do not appear to be significant modes of transmission.\nThe virus travels through the droplets a person produces when talking or coughing, the CDC website says. An individual does not need to feel sick or show symptoms to spread it.\nRead more about how the coronavirus spreads here.\nPlanning to travel? Here\u2019s what to know.\nThere are some basic precautions you can take, which are the same as what you should be doing every day to stave off other respiratory diseases. You\u2019ve seen the guidance before: Wash your hands regularly. Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze. And when you\u2019re sick, stay home from work or school and drink lots of fluids.\nThe CDC recommends washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose or sneezing. It also advises not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth and to clean objects and surfaces you touch often.\nRead more about preparing for coronavirus here.\nMapping the spread of coronavirus\nSymptoms are primarily respiratory. Coughing and shortness of breath are common, according to the CDC. Fever is also possible. The severity of the symptoms depends highly on the patient\u2019s age and immune system.\nFor the elderly and those with underlying heart disease, diabetes or other conditions, coronavirus can cause pneumonia and lead to organ failure and death. But for most people, cases have been mild, requiring little to no medical intervention.\nRead more about one man\u2019s experience with coronavirus here.\nKawasaki disease is an inflammatory disease affecting children. In May, doctors identified a syndrome similar to Kawasaki that appeared to be triggered by covid-19. When the puzzling connection first emerged, public health warnings focused on young patients, who have suffered symptoms that look more like traditional Kawasaki, which is characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels.\nBut in the weeks that followed, some doctors said they began to see the illness in young adults and teens, who have more of an \u201coverwhelming\u201d response involving the heart and multiple organs.\nThe syndrome appears to be rare, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention \u2014 which recently dubbed the condition MIS-C or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children \u2014 has expressed alarm about the rapid decline of patients with the illness. The health agency and major medical groups have urged parents to seek an urgent evaluation if they suspect their child may have the condition.\nRead more about the illness here.\nIt is a good idea to call your primary-care doctor if you have both a fever and a cough, experts said. And if you have shortness of breath, unremitting fever, weakness or lethargy, it\u2019s definitely time to get in touch with a health-care professional, they say. Those could be signs of pneumonia, which is common in severe cases of coronavirus.\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends that you seek medical help if you recently traveled to a coronavirus-infected area or had close contact with a known infected person and have a fever, a cough or trouble breathing.\nRead more about seeking medical help and getting tested here.\nIf you have mild symptoms, you probably won\u2019t be. If you are sick enough to be hospitalized, you\u2019ll likely get tested. If you are in the middle group, it\u2019s unclear.\nAnd even as more tests are being manufactured and shipped around the country, many public health labs receiving them don\u2019t have enough staff or equipment to meet the testing need. Some medical centers are  offering their own tests, and some primary care doctors are exploring how to administer the tests in their offices, but many are reluctant because it carries risks for their staff and other patients.\nOther hospitals and localities are setting up testing locations away from emergency rooms, clinics and doctors\u2019 offices to minimize the risk of health care workers and other patients being infected. And, in declaring a national emergency, Trump said the administration will work with retailers like Walmart and Target to develop drive-through testing clinics across the country.\nRead more about how testing in the U.S. is working here.\nThe most honest answer, according to experts, is: \u201cIt depends.\u201d It\u2019s not going to be over anytime soon \u2014 a matter of months rather than weeks. And a few key factors will determine just how many months.\nFirst, it depends on when U.S. cases finally reach their peak \u2014 a time that\u2019s impossible to predict because of how limited testing remains in America. And even after the peak, we may need drastic actions to keep the virus at bay. It also depends on how the virus behaves, and whether it\u2019ll be affected by the change of seasons like the flu.\nBut, ultimately, how well America is able to flatten and bend its epidemiological curve of infections depends largely on how willing people will be to sacrifice individual conveniences and on their desire to save the lives of others.\n\u201cI don\u2019t know if people are ready now for how long they\u2019re probably going to have to keep up this social distancing,\" said Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida. \"But as they see the hospital situation get more extreme, I think that attitude will change.\u201d\nRead more about how long social distancing might last here.\nThis depends on where you live. Almost all states issued a sweeping directive, but in some places, cities and counties enacted their own measures. In all, 315 million Americans were affected. Most orders allowed residents to leave their homes to shop for groceries and other essentials, to exercise outdoors, to go to the doctor and to pick up prescriptions. But each jurisdiction had its own list of do\u2019s and don\u2019ts.\nGeorgia, Tennessee and Florida were among the first states to begin lifting restrictions \u2014 a move that experts and math models say will almost certainly lead to more infections and deaths. Other places, like New York City and California, have taken a more cautious approach. The Post is keeping track of how states reopen.\nRead more about the stay-at-home order in your state here.\nPresident Trump announced new guidance in April that people in the U.S. wear face coverings in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a reversal of the administration\u2019s earlier recommendations.\nThe guidance makes clear that wearing face coverings or cloth masks is an additional public health measure to prevent the spread of the virus, not a substitute for social distancing. Social distancing of at least six feet is still recommended even when wearing a mask. Guidance and internal memos from CDC emphasize that a cloth facial mask is intended not so much to protect the wearer but to help prevent people who do not know they are infected from spreading of the virus to others.\nThe new CDC guidance was prompted by increasing evidence that infected people without symptoms can spread the coronavirus. Simple cloth masks that cover the mouth and nose can prevent virus transmission from such individuals when they are out buying groceries, where people may come into closer contact, for example.\nThis coronavirus could follow a seasonal pattern, peaking in the winter months. It could infect lots of people now and then recede in the Northern Hemisphere before returning in the fall.\n\u201cThis virus can do anything it wants,\u201d said Allison McGeer, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at the University of Toronto. \u201cThat pattern of how it\u2019s going to spread is completely unknown, but it is critical to what the burden is going to be to all of us. \u2026 It could be just like another coronavirus, a bunch of colds. It could be like a regular flu season. It\u2019s possible it could be different and worse.\u201d\nCoronavirus:\nCovid-19:\nCommunity transmission:\nAsymptomatic transmission:\nOutbreak:\nEpidemic:\nPandemic:\n\u201c\nContainment:\nMitigation:\nIsolation:\nQuarantine:\nZoonotic:\nRead more about these terms here."}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "4X3FM2EIABEADDOOGICQOGNCDE_4", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "4X3FM2EIABEADDOOGICQOGNCDE_4", "title": "The code: How genetic science helped expose a secret coronavirus outbreak", "text": "taken from patients at the system\u2019s hospital and clinics. The first vials of virus arrived in early April, carried by courier in a cooler packed with ice. Sequencing them was a multistep operation that took the better part of 48 hours, but the data was more useful the faster it came in. To keep the process going, Kenny would drive to his darkened laboratory at odd hours of the night, carefully pipetting samples onto sequencing chips while the world around him slept. When he at last had results in hand, Kenny uploaded each genome to a global database, then sorted the sequences into their spots on the coronavirus family tree. This allowed him to identify distinct sub-strains introduced to the region from outbreaks around the world. Two sub-strains, found in La Crosse and Postville, shared a distinctive mutation, marking them as part of the same major lineage. By the time the viruses arrived in the Midwest, they had acquired additional key mutations that Kenny could use to track each sub-strain. Each virus variant acts as a spark; if it lands on poor kindling \u2014 say, someone who practices social distancing and is able to quarantine as soon as she realizes she is sick \u2014 it will soon die out. Most of the sub-strains Kenny sequenced, including the La Crosse variant, showed up only a few times in his data, suggesting these sparks were quickly extinguished. But the Postville sub-strain \u2014 characterized by three distinctive mutations that have not been found in combination anywhere else in the world \u2014 appeared over and over again, picking up additional mutations along the way. Kenny found 27 cases, mostly from Postville and the surrounding area. \u201cI thought, \u2018Wow. This is a crazy, out-of-control situation,\u2019 \u201d Kenny said. \u201cThe fact that they all . . . clustered together on this tree really indicated there was a single introduction to that region that really took hold and expanded.\u201d The scientist began to scour the documents that accompanied his virus samples. Though the tiny vials of virus had no names attached to them, they came with fairly detailed medical records. The patients ranged in age from 7 to 80. Their symptoms spanned from mild coughs and headaches to breathlessness and raging fever. But most compelling was this: The majority of initial patients infected with this sub-strain worked at Agri Star or lived with someone who did. Something"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Leer en espa\u00f1ol\nPOSTVILLE, Iowa \u2014 It wasn\u2019t until their colleagues began to disappear that workers at Agri Star Meat and Poultry realized there was a killer in their midst.\nFirst came the rumors that rabbis at the kosher plant had been quarantined. Then a man who worked in the poultry department fell ill. They heard whispers about friends of friends who had been stricken with scorching fevers and unbearable chills \u2014 characteristic symptoms of the novel coronavirus.\nWhere was the contagion coming from?\nNo one would say. Not Agri Star\u2019s wealthy owner, who didn\u2019t shut down production lines after cases were confirmed among workers. Not the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which closed a complaint containing multiple allegations against the plant without an inspection. Not Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), whose administration threatened to prosecute officials who released covid data and did not conduct testing at the plant until seven weeks after the first infections.\nThe mystery terrified Magdalena Toj Garc\u00eda, a 36-year-old worker in the beef department who worried about bringing the virus home to her three young daughters. It infuriated John Ellingson, a council member in a nearby town desperate to know if his constituents were at risk.\nBut it intrigued Paraic Kenny, a tumor geneticist turned disease detective, who knew that the killer had left behind vital clues.\nThe coronavirus mutates as it moves through its victims. Infectious particles swabbed from a patient\u2019s nose carry small but distinctive differences in its genome that can be used, like a molecular bar code, to track where the virus came from and how it had been transmitted. By reading the virus\u2019s RNA, Kenny could unveil how cases were connected to one another, exposing the secret spread of the disease.\nThe truth of what happened at Agri Star \u2014 and across America \u2014 is written in that code.\nSmall, stealthy and skilled at exploiting human vulnerabilities, the novel coronavirus seems tailor-made to wreak havoc on humanity. Its surface spikes fit as neatly as keys into the receptors that unlock our cells. It turns our organs into factories for its own reproduction, putting our molecular machinery to work building its proteins and transcribing its genome. In 24 hours it can fill a human\u2019s respiratory tract with a trillion copies of itself.\nAnd, with the cunning that comes from millennia of evolution, the virus exploits all of our most human habits. Traveling invisibly on the breath of its victims, it spreads most efficiently wherever we gather to work, to eat, to pray.\n\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing evolutionary machine dedicated to making more copies of itself,\u201d Kenny said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s sadly very good at doing just that.\u201d\nA native of Ireland who still speaks in a soft brogue, he\u2019d come to the Midwest by way of the Bronx after deciding he wanted to raise his son someplace more like home. For five years he has served as director of the Kabara Cancer Research Institute at the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wis., practicing what he called \u201csmall town science.\u201d He sequenced patients\u2019 tumor genomes to determine what therapies would work for them and read journal articles to keep up with breakthroughs happening elsewhere.\nBut suddenly, this March, Gundersen\u2019s rural health system was facing a disease no doctor had seen before. All nonessential labs, including Kenny\u2019s, were shutting down.\n\u201cWe were looking at this, you know, wondering: Is there something we can do with the expertise and equipment that we have?\u201d Kenny said.\nThat\u2019s when he turned to an emerging field called genomic epidemiology.\nThe coronavirus is far simpler than a living cell \u2014 little more than a protein capsule protecting a packet of genetic material.\nThe nearly 30,000 nucleotide \u201cletters\u201d of that genome convey all the information the virus needs to survive.\nBut every so often, perhaps every two weeks, the virus makes a mistake as it replicates, introducing a mutation to the code.\nOnce a mutation occurs, it will remain in the genome of the virus and all its future offspring \u2014 a clue that can reveal how the virus has spread.\nThese single-letter switches rarely change the way the virus behaves. But much the way shared features help a person recognize members of the same family, researchers use the mutations to group samples into virus \u201csub-strains.\u201d Their findings can help decipher which infections are related to one another, exposing links invisible to traditional contact tracers.\nKenny wasn\u2019t sure what he would find in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. But it would be information \u2014 objective evidence in a pandemic rife with obfuscation and uncertainty. He figured he had to try.\nHe converted his suddenly empty lab into a coronavirus sequencing facility. He ordered the chemicals and kits needed to study viral genomes, sought approval from Gundersen\u2019s institutional review board to sequence samples taken from patients at the system\u2019s hospital and clinics.\nThe first vials of virus arrived in early April, carried by courier in a cooler packed with ice. Sequencing them was a multistep operation that took the better part of 48 hours, but the data was more useful the faster it came in. To keep the process going, Kenny would drive to his darkened laboratory at odd hours of the night, carefully pipetting samples onto sequencing chips while the world around him slept.\nWhen he at last had results in hand, Kenny uploaded each genome to a global database, then sorted the sequences into their spots on the coronavirus family tree. This allowed him to identify distinct sub-strains introduced to the region from outbreaks around the world.\nTwo sub-strains, found in La Crosse and Postville, shared a distinctive mutation, marking them as part of the same major lineage.\nBy the time the viruses arrived in the Midwest, they had acquired additional key mutations that Kenny could use to track each sub-strain.\nEach virus variant acts as a spark; if it lands on poor kindling \u2014 say, someone who practices social distancing and is able to quarantine as soon as she realizes she is sick \u2014 it will soon die out. Most of the sub-strains Kenny sequenced, including the La Crosse variant, showed up only a few times in his data, suggesting these sparks were quickly extinguished.\nBut the Postville sub-strain \u2014 characterized by three distinctive mutations that have not been found in combination anywhere else in the world \u2014 appeared over and over again, picking up additional mutations along the way.\nKenny found 27 cases, mostly from Postville and the surrounding area.\n\u201cI thought, \u2018Wow. This is a crazy, out-of-control situation,\u2019 \u201d Kenny said. \u201cThe fact that they all . . . clustered together on this tree really indicated there was a single introduction to that region that really took hold and expanded.\u201d\nThe scientist began to scour the documents that accompanied his virus samples. Though the tiny vials of virus had no names attached to them, they came with fairly detailed medical records. The patients ranged in age from 7 to 80. Their symptoms spanned from mild coughs and headaches to breathlessness and raging fever.\nBut most compelling was this: The majority of initial patients infected with this sub-strain worked at Agri Star or lived with someone who did.\nSomething had gone terribly wrong in Postville, Kenny realized. Something that provided fuel for a single virus spark to erupt into an inferno.\nMagdalena Toj Garcia had worked at Agri Star for more than a decade. She went in six days a week to carve up carcasses and clean up spills, arriving before dawn and leaving long after dark. When she learned about the virus in March, she wanted one thing: a mask.\n\u201cNo,\u201d a supervisor told her. \u201cWe are only going to give them to the sick.\u201d\n\u201cBut that is precisely why I need a mask,\u201d Toj insisted. \u201cSo I will not get sick.\u201d\nThe answer was still no.\n\u201cThat is a lie,\u201d Agri Star owner Hershey Friedman said when asked about this incident. He said that all workers were required to wear masks in the facility.\nAgri Star\u2019s head of health, safety and human resources, Diane Guerrero, later clarified that in March the plant was following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that only sick people wear masks. The plant switched to universal mask use when the agency recommended it on April 3.\nBoth Friedman and Guerrero said the company undertook extensive efforts to protect its 575 workers. The plant plastered public health notices around the facility, doubled the number of hand sanitizer dispensers and installed barriers between workstations. A cadre of workers called \u201cthe Covid Crusaders\u201d cleaned surfaces. Starting in early April, they began taking every employee\u2019s temperature and asking them about their health before they entered.\nIf plant employees became infected, Friedman told The Post, it wasn\u2019t while at work. \u201cThere was zero covid-19 in our facility,\u201d he said.\nToj, and several of her colleagues who were diagnosed with the coronavirus, told a different story.\nAgri Star confirmed Postville\u2019s first coronavirus cases in mid-March, fracturing the uneasy peace among its diverse residents: the Orthodox Jews who help run the plant, the immigrants from Somalia, Mexico and Central America who make up much of its workforce, the White descendants of the German and Scandinavian farmers who founded the town generations ago.\nTwelve years earlier, the plant had been the target of one of the largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in history. The town rebounded after Friedman, a Canadian business magnate, bought the plant out of bankruptcy in 2009. But the effects of the raid are still felt in the way people mostly keep to their ethnic enclaves. Conversations about the coronavirus are held in hushed tones \u2014 when they are held at all.\n\u201cThe problem was here, but people didn\u2019t want to talk about it,\u201d said one ranch worker, whose wife \u2014 an Agri Star employee \u2014 was hospitalized with covid-19 for more than a week.\nAgri Star acknowledged three early cases connected to the plant in a brief statement in The Yeshiva World, an Orthodox Jewish online news publication. But Toj and her colleagues, many of whom speak little English, didn\u2019t read the article. Though Guerrero said the company told supervisors to notify anyone who worked near someone who tested positive, six workers who got sick told The Post that no one from the plant warned them about their potential exposure or asked who else they might have infected. Workers said they were forced to triangulate their risk based on snatches of rumor and snippets of fact.\n\u201cThey\u2019re going to get us sick,\u201d Toj would often say, \u201cand they don\u2019t even know it.\u201d\nThe closest health clinic to Postville had so few covid-19 tests that many residents were sent to Gundersen\u2019s main hospital in La Crosse, where Kenny worked, more than an hour away.\nAgri Star should conduct its own testing, Toj told her husband, Rudy P\u00e9rez. If workers at least knew where the sickness was, they could protect themselves.\nThe company said it asked the state to test its workers on April 20, more than a month after it confirmed the first infections connected to the plant.\nBefore then, plant executives told employees to stay home if they had symptoms, P\u00e9rez said. That wasn\u2019t much of an option for Agri Star\u2019s low-wage employees, who, like about a quarter of all U.S. workers, have no paid sick leave. The emergency coronavirus legislation passed this March includes a requirement for paid sick leave, but it does not apply to businesses like Agri Star with more than 500 employees \u2014 even when workers are instructed to quarantine.\nToj took matters into her own hands, purchasing six face masks for herself and her husband. The couple would bathe as soon as they got home from work and drank mug after mug of hot tea with lemon, which they hoped would ward off disease.\nOn a Friday morning in early April, a plant supervisor instructed Toj, P\u00e9rez and several others to scrub down the offices, bathrooms and dining area used by the plant\u2019s rabbis, who were not coming into work. It wasn\u2019t until they finished that their supervisor asked if they had used protective equipment, Toj said.\nOne worker said she had been given a mask that day, but it became so soaked with blood from her work in the slaughterhouse that she had to take it off to breathe. Toj said she had been given no protection at all.\nThe company\u2019s policy, Guerrero said, is to hand out gear to employees based on their daily assignment. As long as they describe where they\u2019re headed, \u201ceverybody is issued the proper equipment,\u201d she said. \u201cWhether they choose to wear it or not is a concern.\u201d\nIn the days after the cleaning, Toj recalled, \u201cI really started feeling bad, bad, bad.\u201d Though Guerrero said the plant required employees to report symptoms, Toj tried to push through her illness, worried that missing a shift could get her fired. But the virus was settling in her cells, fogging her head and flooding her with fatigue.\nFinally, Toj felt her chest tighten until she couldn\u2019t breathe. She rushed outside the plant, gasping for air.\n\u201cI\u2019m scared,\u201d she told her husband. \u201cI am going to the hospital. I need to know if I have it.\u201d\nThe diagnoses came for both of them two days later: positive.\nToj called a friend who had cleaned the rabbi\u2019s rooms alongside her. Her friend had also been diagnosed with the virus; her husband was feverish and presumed positive. At least two other members of the cleaning crew tested positive, Toj said, and all the others showed symptoms.\nBoth women are convinced they contracted the virus at Agri Star. \u201cWe didn\u2019t go anywhere else \u2014 from our house to work, from our house to work,\u201d said Toj\u2019s friend, who spoke on the condition anonymity out of fear for her job.\nToj sent her daughters to live with her mother while she and her husband fought off the virus. For three weeks, they were bedridden. And the bills kept piling up: rent, groceries, $300 for Toj\u2019s chest x-ray. She looked over her scant belongings, trying to think of what to sell. She ran through a mental list of friends who might support them and called her boss at Agri Star to ask for financial assistance. Help never came.\nThe company says it has no record of Toj\u2019s request.\nSeventeen miles north of Postville, in the county seat of Waukon, city councilman John Ellingson could barely step out of his house in April without being bombarded with anxious questions.\n\u201cJohn, what do you know?\u201d constituents would ask, at the grocery store or passing his table at the S&D Caf\u00e9 on Main Street. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d\nLike him, they had been tracking the unusually high case counts for their rural area; the county\u2019s positivity rate was almost as high as Manhattan\u2019s. Yet in a place as spread out as Allamakee, those cases could be next door, or about an hour away. It wasn\u2019t enough to know that the virus was in the county, Ellingson said \u2014 people needed to know where.\nBut when the Republican councilman asked the state health department for a breakdown of infections in each of the county\u2019s 18 townships, the state refused.\nOfficials claimed that would violate medical privacy law, even though many other states stratify case counts by Zip code. The state wouldn\u2019t even tell Ellingson how many cases were in his own town. When he persisted, the department stopped returning his calls.\nThe numbers reported at the governor\u2019s news conferences \u201cwere damn near worthless,\u201d Ellingson said. \u201cIt was more a political show than it was informative to the citizens.\u201d\nAnd his constituents?\n\u201cThey were pissed,\u201d Ellingson said, \u201cknowing the government had information and they weren\u2019t giving it.\u201d\nIn seeking what seemed like a simple answer to an obvious question, Ellingson ran into what scientists say is one of the biggest barriers to controlling the pandemic: a dire shortage of facts. There are few national standards for collecting and reporting case counts and hospitalizations. A review of outbreak data led by former CDC director Tom Frieden found that no state discloses even half of what health experts consider \u201c15 essential indicators\u201d for managing the disease.\nAs the government shifted its coronavirus reporting system, numbers have vanished from CDC Web pages. News organizations have had to sue for information about racial disparities in deaths. In many Florida counties, officials won\u2019t tell parents whether there are coronavirus cases at their children\u2019s schools.\nIowa is no exception. The state has refused to release its pandemic plan, which guides its response to the coronavirus, saying the document is \u201cconfidential.\" The health department\u2019s covid-19 dashboard doesn\u2019t list hospitalizations among health care workers or outbreaks in congregate facilities such as homeless shelters and prisons.\nIn July, state auditor Rob Sand said Iowa\u2019s system for reporting test results was rife with \u201cillegal and unbusinesslike practices, inefficiencies, and apparently pointless risks.\u201d He criticized Iowa\u2019s use of medical privacy laws to justify its secrecy.\n\u201cIf you live in this town, you\u2019re literally making decisions that affect your health,\u201d Sand said. \u201cAnd you have people like the state of Iowa and people like meatpacking companies that are falsely describing what the law allows them to do in order to shield the fact that they simply don\u2019t want to share that information.\u201d\nBy the time Ellingson launched his quest for data, Iowa officials had already received warnings about Agri Star. Weeks earlier, an anonymous worker had called the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA), reporting that employees had been exposed to rabbis who had tested positive for the virus, one of whom was \u201cdeathly ill.\u201d A few days later, a lawyer for Iowa Legal Aid told IOSHA that two Agri Star workers said the plant was unsafe. According to the April 3 complaint, released under a public records request from The Post, employees were working closely together and were not given protective equipment.\n\u201cSeveral employees are required to come to work ill,\u201d the complaint said. \u201cManagement is telling workers that covid-19 is a lie and it has been made up by the government.\u201d\nIOSHA never visited the plant to investigate these claims; on-site inspections in Iowa have been curtailed during the pandemic. Instead, the agency asked Agri Star for a written response.\n\u201cNot everyone understands the value of our operations being open, but we can assure you we have taken precautions to ensure our employees are safe,\u201d Guerrero wrote in an April 14 letter.\nShe denied all the allegations in the complaint and offered a long list of the measures she said the company had adopted: handwashing trainings, homemade masks. The complaint was closed.\nThose early months of the pandemic were a scramble, Guerrero recalled. She\u2019d never handled a health crisis like this \u2014 no one had \u2014 and the government provided little help. The Department of Labor and the CDC didn\u2019t release guidance for meatpacking facilities until April 26. The Iowa health department rarely communicated with her about tracking new cases or tracing their contacts, leaving Guerrero to cobble together a spreadsheet of sick workers on her own. When she walked outside the plant, she said, it seemed as though the rest of the town wasn\u2019t taking any precautions at all.\n\u201cNobody was really able to guide us on how we should maneuver through this,\u201d she said.\nIt wasn\u2019t until May 5, more than seven weeks after the first Postville cases were diagnosed and 15 days after Agri Star requested help, that a state testing strike force finally came to the plant. Over 450 workers were tested for current and past infections.\nIowa did not make the results of that event public, and Guerrero said the state provided no interpretation when it sent the company its lab report.\nThe state\u2019s policy, articulated by Department of Public Health deputy director Sarah Reisetter at a May 27 news conference, is to only disclose outbreaks in workplaces like meatpacking plants if 10 percent of employees test positive, and then only if specifically asked by a member of the media. (A nursing home is considered to have an outbreak once three people test positive.) The state declined The Post\u2019s requests for Agri Star\u2019s case data.\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t really provide any information about them at all,\u201d Polly Carver-Kimm, a former spokeswoman for the Iowa health department, said of towns like Postville.\nShe said secrecy was the state\u2019s unwritten rule. The governor\u2019s communications director wouldn\u2019t let her talk to the press without his approval, Carver-Kimm said. She believes she was retaliated against for doing her job: talking with reporters and releasing vital information about covid-19.\nAfter 13 years on the job, Carver-Kimm resigned in July. This month she filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Iowa, saying she was pressured to leave after pushing to make more covid-19 data available to the public.\nPat Garrett, communications director for Reynolds, declined to answer a detailed list of questions about the state\u2019s response. He instead issued a brief statement, saying, \u201cThe state of Iowa worked to get testing to all meat processing facilities in Iowa. We regularly reported outbreaks at meat packing facilities if 10 percent of their workforce tested positive.\u201d\nAfter more than a month of effort, Ellingson finally got a hold of case numbers broken down by Zip code as of May 12: Postville had 87 of Allamakee\u2019s 97 covid-19 infections.\nWaukon had three.\nThe councilman posted the numbers on Facebook and told constituents he planned to update them every few days. But then he found out the county workers who had shared the data had been told they could be fined, fired, even imprisoned for violating medical privacy laws.\nEllingson stopped clamoring for data. The number of cases in Postville has not been released since.\nToj and P\u00e9rez spent three weeks battling the coronavirus. Their oldest daughter also apparently came down with the disease: The 14-year-old lost her sense of taste for several days.\nEven more frightening was when Toj\u2019s mother fell sick. She spent six days in the hospital, breathing oxygen through a tube. She recovered, Toj said, because God was protecting her. This whole time, God was the only one protecting them all.\nToj walked back into the plant for the first time in late April and encountered a changed Agri Star. All around the building, posters proclaimed the importance of hand washing. New workstations had been marked out on the floor to help people maintain social distance. Every employee was given a homemade mask.\n\u201cNow we need masks?\u201d Toj asked, infuriated. \u201cSix feet of distance \u2014 for what? Everybody is already infected because there were lots of people who got sick and they didn\u2019t even notice.\"\nBut Kenny did. He kept a vast chart of the region\u2019s coronavirus outbreak pinned to a cork board in his office in La Crosse. Tiny colored dots represented cases for which he had a genome. Thin lines connected them according to the mutations they shared.\nLooking at the Postville cluster \u2014 more than two dozen yellow dots linked by three distinctive mutations \u2014 it was clear to him what happened. The sub-strain started with a single case. But in the crowded conditions of the meat processing plant, it exploded.\n\u201cA single viral introduction led to unrestrained spread within the facility,\u201d Kenny wrote in a study on the website MedRxiv, where scientists post \u201cpreprint\u201d research that has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. His research, he said, showed \u201cthe collateral damage resulting from widespread dissemination of this disease from a meat-packing epicenter across a large midwestern region.\u201d\nMultiple lines of evidence put Agri Star at the epicenter of this outbreak, Kenny said. The fact that patients from across Postville\u2019s diverse communities were infected with the same sub-strain \u2014 despite living, shopping and worshiping in different places \u2014 suggests they contracted the illness in the one setting they shared: the plant.\nAlso key was that Kenny found a husband and wife with \u201cclearly genetically distinct\u201d variants of the Postville sub-strain. Usually couples infect each other, so they carry identical versions of the virus. But these two had acquired their infections separately \u2014 most likely at the plant, where they both worked.\n\u201cI think one needs to jump through a lot of mental hoops to avoid the conclusion that the plant itself was a significant nexus for spread,\u201d Kenny said.\nSince Kenny\u2019s results have not undergone peer review, The Post asked seven independent researchers to assess his findings. All agreed that Kenny had found evidence of a cluster of closely related cases, though some cautioned that broader and more representative sampling would strengthen his conclusions.\nThey also made a key point: While Kenny had clearly found a chain of genetically linked viruses in people who worked at or were connected to Agri Star, an analysis like his cannot definitively show how the virus got into the plant or exactly how individuals became infected. Those details may never be known.\nYet an explosion of genetically linked cases is exactly what scientists would expect from the conditions that workers described, said Bronwyn MacInnis, a virologist at the Broad Institute in Boston.\nMacInnis, who has worked on genomic epidemiology investigations during outbreaks of Zika, malaria and now the coronavirus, noted that the vast majority of covid-19 cases are thought to be driven by \u201csuper-spreader\u201d situations, where large groups gather in enclosed areas. Kenny\u2019s data, she said, \u201cshow that was the case in this setting.\u201d\nHoping he could help the government response, Kenny took his results to a coalition of local health departments, including Allamakee County officials. In other countries, genomic epidemiology has helped identify chains of transmission so officials could stop the coronavirus from spreading.\nBut few U.S. health departments have taken full advantage of the cutting-edge tool. As far as Kenny knows, no one from Allamakee County or the state of Iowa ever acted on his genetic evidence.\nAnd the virus kept on spreading. Kenny identified the Postville sub-strain in patients from 15 cities across three states. A case was detected by researchers in Ecuador this July. According to Kenny, at least one person infected with the sub-strain has died.\nBoth Agri Star and Iowa knew many plant employees became sick, The Washington Post has found. The strike force testing of 463 workers in May found 12 active cases of covid-19 and at least 106 people with antibodies, which are evidence of past infection. Agri Star received lab results for a further 49 positive antibody tests, which Iowa did not report among the county\u2019s case totals.\n\u201cThat\u2019s a lot of people who were positive for antibodies,\u201d said Gigi Gronvall, an immunologist at Johns Hopkins University who is an expert on serology tests. The figures suggest \u201cthey had an outbreak and it went on for some time.\u201d\nIt\u2019s unclear why the state did not report the full number of positive antibody tests. But at least 20 percent and as many as 29 percent of Agri Star workers contracted the coronavirus between mid-March and early May. These numbers, which Guerrero confirmed, clearly exceed the CDC\u2019s recommended definition for an outbreak \u2014 two or more linked cases of a disease \u2014 and likely meet Iowa\u2019s 10 percent threshold.\nHealth experts and worker advocates have criticized Iowa\u2019s metric, which was adapted from an older policy for monitoring flu outbreaks in schools.\nCovid-19 is far more contagious and virulent than the flu, said Jan Flora, a sociology professor at Iowa State University. \u201cTo use the same threshold means that the state and the meatpacking plant will always be attempting to close the barn door after the horse has escaped.\u201d\nIn denying The Post\u2019s request for Agri Star\u2019s case numbers, the Iowa Department of Public Health said it only released information about workplaces in cases of \u201cactive viral infection.\" In other words, because the state took so long to test workers, the peak of the outbreak had already passed \u2014 so Iowa never had to acknowledge that the outbreak occurred at all.\nCases in Allamakee County are creeping back up. With 27 new daily cases per 100,000 residents, Iowa has one of the highest infection rates in the country.\nIt also has some of the nation\u2019s loosest coronavirus restrictions. Reynolds has rebuffed a White House task force recommendation to issue a statewide mask mandate. Bars remain open in all but six counties, and public schools are required to hold at least half of their classes in person. Since the state does not report school outbreaks, an Ames couple have taken it upon themselves to track cases in the state\u2019s education system; as of Sept. 24 they have found 473 infected students and 246 infected staff.\nMany people in Postville think the danger is over, because no one in power has said otherwise. Masks are rare on the small town\u2019s streets. Toj and P\u00e9rez have returned to their storefront church, where they shake hands, share hymnals and sing with their faces uncovered.\n\u201cIt\u2019s sad,\u201d Kenny said. What he\u2019d found in the genome was not just the transmission history of the coronavirus in his region. It was a record of humanity\u2019s failures \u2014 of mistakes made and warnings missed and information withheld during those early months of the pandemic. In exposing what went wrong, it offered a guide to getting things right.\n\u201cBut we don\u2019t learn from our mistakes,\u201d Kenny said. \u201cAnd we certainly don\u2019t learn from science.\u201d\nAlice Crites and Nate Jones in Washington contributed to this report. Milli Legrain provided translations."}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "52BVDA4GBZGPVFO2NRRVTYBFQY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "52BVDA4GBZGPVFO2NRRVTYBFQY_0", "title": "Losing sense of smell may be a hidden symptom of coronavirus, doctors warn", "text": "While every case is different, the telltale symptoms of the novel coronavirus have been widely agreed upon \u2014 a high fever, persistent cough or shortness of breath. In the most severe instances, those afflicted have reported confusion or difficulty breathing, and sometimes, anxiety is the most prevailing symptom of all. But a team of British ear, nose and throat doctors on Friday raised the possibility of a new indicator of the coronavirus, one they say has been observed globally, even in patients who are otherwise asymptomatic: anosmia, a condition that causes the loss of sense of smell. In a statement, they warned that adults experiencing recent anosmia could be unknown carriers of covid-19, and urged them to consider self-isolation. \u201cAll of this evidence is accumulating very rapidly, but there\u2019s nothing yet robustly in print,\u201d Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society, said in an interview. \u201cSince then, I\u2019ve had colleagues from around the world saying: \u2018That\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re seeing.\u2019 They\u2019ve been trying [to raise awareness], but it hasn\u2019t been picked up.\u201d Experts at the World Health Organization say they have not yet confirmed the loss of smell or taste as a symptom of the coronavirus but haven\u2019t ruled it out. Hopkins, who published the statement along with Nirmal Kumar, the president of ENT UK, a body that represents ear, nose and throat specialists in Britain, said she was driven by recent discussions on rhinological discussion boards related to the coronavirus pandemic. There, she observed ENTs reporting a surge of reported anosmia across their patients, and even among themselves. In their statement, Hopkins and Kumar cited reports from South Korea, China, Iran and Italy, where, they wrote, \u201csignificant numbers of patients with proven covid-19 infection have developed anosmia/hyposmia,\u201d the latter of which signals a reduced ability to detect smells. In Germany, they wrote, more than two-thirds of confirmed coronavirus cases included anosmia. And in South Korea, a country that has seen ample covid-19 testing, \u201c30 percent of patients testing positive have had anosmia as their major presenting symptom in otherwise mild cases.\u201d \u201cThis week, I saw nine patients that lost their sense of smell, which is unheard of in my practice,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cThey were almost all under 40, and they were all told not to self-isolate.\" Anosmia and hyposmia are historically linked to early symptoms of upper-respiratory infections \u2014 including previous strains of coronavirus \u2014 because the virus"}], "old": [{"_id": "52BVDA4GBZGPVFO2NRRVTYBFQY_0", "title": "Losing sense of smell may be a hidden symptom of coronavirus, doctors warn", "text": "Adam Taylor and Cindy Boren contributed to this report."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "While every case is different, the telltale symptoms of the novel coronavirus have been widely agreed upon \u2014 a high fever, persistent cough or shortness of breath. In the most severe instances, those afflicted have reported confusion or difficulty breathing, and sometimes, anxiety is the most prevailing symptom of all.\nBut a team of British ear, nose and throat doctors on Friday raised the possibility of a new indicator of the coronavirus, one they say has been observed globally, even in patients who are otherwise asymptomatic: anosmia, a condition that causes the loss of sense of smell. In a statement, they warned that adults experiencing recent anosmia could be unknown carriers of covid-19, and urged them to consider self-isolation.\n\u201cAll of this evidence is accumulating very rapidly, but there\u2019s nothing yet robustly in print,\u201d Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society, said in an interview. \u201cSince then, I\u2019ve had colleagues from around the world saying: \u2018That\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re seeing.\u2019 They\u2019ve been trying [to raise awareness], but it hasn\u2019t been picked up.\u201d\nExperts at the World Health Organization say they have not yet confirmed the loss of smell or taste as a symptom of the coronavirus but haven\u2019t ruled it out.\nHopkins, who published the statement along with Nirmal Kumar, the president of ENT UK, a body that represents ear, nose and throat specialists in Britain, said she was driven by recent discussions on rhinological discussion boards related to the coronavirus pandemic. There, she observed ENTs reporting a surge of reported anosmia across their patients, and even among themselves.\nIn their statement, Hopkins and Kumar cited reports from South Korea, China, Iran and Italy, where, they wrote, \u201csignificant numbers of patients with proven covid-19 infection have developed anosmia/hyposmia,\u201d the latter of which signals a reduced ability to detect smells. In Germany, they wrote, more than two-thirds of confirmed coronavirus cases included anosmia. And in South Korea, a country that has seen ample covid-19 testing, \u201c30 percent of patients testing positive have had anosmia as their major presenting symptom in otherwise mild cases.\u201d\n\u201cThis week, I saw nine patients that lost their sense of smell, which is unheard of in my practice,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cThey were almost all under 40, and they were all told not to self-isolate.\"\nAnosmia and hyposmia are historically linked to early symptoms of upper-respiratory infections \u2014 including previous strains of coronavirus \u2014 because the virus damages olfactory bulbs that are involved in the sense of smell. But Hopkins raised concern at the number of covid-19 patients who were otherwise asymptomatic. She pointed to guidance in the United States and Britain, which generally instructs people to self-isolate if they are experiencing more-obvious coronavirus symptoms.\nHopkins said she hopes that flagging another potential symptom will resonate with those who haven\u2019t taken social distancing and self-isolation seriously enough \u2014 the ones who fail to realize they may unknowingly carry the virus.\n\u201cThe lack of awareness allows these people to carry on,\u201d she added. \u201cThis potentially gives us an opportunity to capture some of those people who are silent spreaders of disease. The patients I\u2019m seeing haven\u2019t had a cough or fever at all.\"\nCiting the ENT UK statement, the American Academy of Otolaryngology on Sunday wrote that in the absence of allergies, sinusitis or rhinitis, the loss of smell or taste should \u201cwarrant serious consideration for self-isolation and testing.\"\n\u201cAnosmia, in particular, has been seen in patients ultimately testing positive for the coronavirus with no other symptoms,\u201d the academy wrote. \u201cWe propose that these symptoms be added to the list of screening tools for possible covid-19 infection.\u201d\nReports of anosmia appearing as a possible symptom of coronavirus have reverberated online in recent days. In response to a news article on the topic, Daniel Goldman \u2014 the former lead investigative counsel for the House Intelligence Committee Democrats who said last week that he and his wife had tested positive for covid-19 \u2014 wrote on Twitter that \u201cthis has been the case with both my wife and me.\u201d\nRudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz center whose positive novel coronavirus test prompted the National Basketball Association to shut down entirely, said Sunday that he, too, had lost his sense of smell.\nThomas Hummel, an ear, nose and throat expert at the University of Dresden in Germany, said Monday that he wasn\u2019t surprised by the reported linkages between covid-19 and anosmia. While he understands the need for urgent measures to \u201cflatten the curve,\u201d he warned that many people are functionally anosmic \u2014 including about 5 percent of all Germans \u2014 and reiterated that it will take more data to prove a true correlation.\nHe said the warning, without further research, could cause panic even among those who have long suffered from anosmia, further straining outpatient clinics. (For those experiencing short-term anosmia, both Hummel and Hopkins agree that the sense of smell typically returns as the body recovers).\n\u201cOn one end, it would be nice to have a good study. On the other hand, it\u2019s about not spreading the virus,\u201d he said. \u201cMany people out there have anosmia. They don\u2019t have a good sense of smell. And if you alert all these people that if you have anosmia you need to stay home, there would be many false positives. That\u2019s the other side of the coin.\u201d\nWHO experts expressed a similar sentiment, announcing Monday that they have not yet confirmed the loss of smell or taste as a symptom of the coronavirus.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have the answer to that yet, although there\u2019s quite a bit of interest in this online,\u201d Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO\u2019s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said at a daily news briefing Monday.\nVan Kerkhove said a number of countries were collecting data on the symptoms of early infections, and that the WHO is working to learn if they have identified the loss of smell or taste as a symptom.\n\u201cWe have a good handle on what the major ones are: Those are fevers. This is dry cough, and this is shortage of breath,\u201d said Van Kerkhove, adding that aches and pains and headaches were also found. Some patients, though \u201cvery few\u201d overall, had reported gastrointestinal problems, runny noses or sneezing.\nBut still, Hopkins said the tendency to focus on the major symptoms could further perpetuate the spread of the virus.\n\u201cWhile there is a chance the apparent increase in incidence could merely reflect the attention covid-19 has attracted in the media, and that such cases may be caused by typical rhinovirus and coronavirus strains, it could potentially be used as a screening tool to help identify otherwise asymptomatic patients, who could then be better instructed on self-isolation,\u201d Hopkins and Kumar wrote.\nAdam Taylor and Cindy Boren contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "7HZDQQFK2RC7RJR2RAJPRZDUMY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "7HZDQQFK2RC7RJR2RAJPRZDUMY_0", "title": "This coronavirus mutation has taken over the world. Scientists are trying to understand why. ", "text": "When the first coronavirus cases in Chicago appeared in January, they bore the same genetic signatures as a germ that emerged in China weeks before. But as Egon Ozer, an infectious-disease specialist at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, examined the genetic structure of virus samples from local patients, he noticed something different. A change in the virus was appearing again and again. This mutation, associated with outbreaks in Europe and New York, eventually took over the city. By May, it was found in 95 percent of all the genomes Ozer sequenced. At a glance, the mutation seemed trivial. About 1,300 amino acids serve as building blocks for a protein on the surface of the virus. In the mutant virus, the genetic instructions for just one of those amino acids \u2014 number 614 \u2014 switched in the new variant from a \u201cD\u201d (shorthand for aspartic acid) to a \u201cG\u201d (short for glycine). But the location was significant, because the switch occurred in the part of the genome that codes for the all-important \u201cspike protein\u201d \u2014 the protruding structure that gives the coronavirus its crownlike profile and allows it to enter human cells the way a burglar picks a lock. And its ubiquity is undeniable. Of the approximately 50,000 genomes of the new virus that researchers worldwide have uploaded to a shared database, about 70 percent carry the mutation, officially designated D614G but known more familiarly to scientists as \u201cG.\u201d \u201cG\u201d hasn\u2019t just dominated the outbreak in Chicago \u2014 it has taken over the world. Now scientists are racing to figure out what it means. At least five laboratory experiments suggest that the mutation makes the virus more infectious, although only one of those studies has been peer-reviewed. That study, led by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and published Thursday in the journal Cell, also asserts that patients with the G variant actually have more virus in their bodies, making them more likely to spread it to others. The mutation doesn\u2019t appear to make people sicker, but a growing number of scientists worry that it has made the virus more contagious. \u201cThe epidemiological study and our data together really explain why the [G variant\u2019s] spread in Europe and the U.S. was really fast,\u201d said Hyeryun Choe, a virologist at Scripps Research and lead author of an unpublished study on the G variant\u2019s enhanced infectiousness in laboratory cell cultures. \u201cThis"}], "old": [{"_id": "7HZDQQFK2RC7RJR2RAJPRZDUMY_0", "title": "This coronavirus mutation has taken over the world. Scientists are trying to understand why. ", "text": "Correction: An initial version of this article gave an incorrect affiliation for Jeremy Luban. He is a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "When the first coronavirus cases in Chicago appeared in January, they bore the same genetic signatures as a germ that emerged in China weeks before.\nBut as Egon Ozer, an infectious-disease specialist at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, examined the genetic structure of virus samples from local patients, he noticed something different.\nA change in the virus was appearing again and again. This mutation, associated with outbreaks in Europe and New York, eventually took over the city. By May, it was found in 95 percent of all the genomes Ozer sequenced.\nAt a glance, the mutation seemed trivial. About 1,300 amino acids serve as building blocks for a protein on the surface of the virus. In the mutant virus, the genetic instructions for just one of those amino acids \u2014 number 614 \u2014 switched in the new variant from a \u201cD\u201d (shorthand for aspartic acid) to a \u201cG\u201d (short for glycine).\nBut the location was significant, because the switch occurred in the part of the genome that codes for the all-important \u201cspike protein\u201d \u2014 the protruding structure that gives the coronavirus its crownlike profile and allows it to enter human cells the way a burglar picks a lock.\nAnd its ubiquity is undeniable. Of the approximately 50,000 genomes of the new virus that researchers worldwide have uploaded to a shared database, about 70 percent carry the mutation, officially designated D614G but known more familiarly to scientists as \u201cG.\u201d\n\u201cG\u201d hasn\u2019t just dominated the outbreak in Chicago \u2014 it has taken over the world. Now scientists are racing to figure out what it means.\nAt least five laboratory experiments suggest that the mutation makes the virus more infectious, although only one of those studies has been peer-reviewed. That study, led by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and published Thursday in the journal Cell, also asserts that patients with the G variant actually have more virus in their bodies, making them more likely to spread it to others.\nThe mutation doesn\u2019t appear to make people sicker, but a growing number of scientists worry that it has made the virus more contagious.\n\u201cThe epidemiological study and our data together really explain why the [G variant\u2019s] spread in Europe and the U.S. was really fast,\u201d said Hyeryun Choe, a virologist at Scripps Research and lead author of an unpublished study on the G variant\u2019s enhanced infectiousness in laboratory cell cultures. \u201cThis is not just accidental.\u201d\nBut there may be other explanations for the G variant\u2019s dominance: biases in where genetic data are being collected, quirks of timing that gave the mutated virus an early foothold in susceptible populations.\n\u201cThe bottom line is, we haven\u2019t seen anything definitive yet,\u201d said Jeremy Luban, a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.\nThe scramble to unravel this mutation mystery embodies the challenges of science during the coronavirus pandemic. With millions of people infected and thousands dying every day around the world, researchers must strike a high-stakes balance between getting information out quickly and making sure that it\u2019s right.\nSARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease covid-19, can be thought of as an extremely destructive burglar. Unable to live or reproduce on its own, it breaks into human cells and co-opts their biological machinery to make thousands of copies of itself. That leaves a trail of damaged tissue and triggers an immune system response that for some people can be disastrous.\nThis replication process is messy. Even though it has a \u201cproofreading\u201d mechanism for copying its genome, the coronavirus frequently makes mistakes, or mutations. The vast majority of mutations have no effect on the behavior of the virus.\nBut since the virus\u2019s genome was first sequenced in January, scientists have been on the lookout for changes that are meaningful. And few genetic mutations could be more significant than ones that affect the spike protein \u2014 the virus\u2019s most powerful tool.\nThis protein attaches to a receptor on respiratory cells called ACE2, which opens the cell and lets the virus slip inside. The more effective the spike protein, the more easily the virus can break into the bodies of its hosts. Even when the original variant of the virus emerged in Wuhan, China, it was obvious that the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 was already quite effective.\nBut it could have been even better, said Choe, who has studied spike proteins and the way they bind to the ACE2 receptor since the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003.\nThe spike protein for SARS-CoV-2 has two parts that don\u2019t always hold together well. In the version of the virus that arose in China, Choe said, the outer part \u2014 which the virus needs to attach to a human receptor \u2014 frequently broke off. Equipped with this faulty lock pick, the virus had a harder time invading host cells.\n\u201cI think this mutation happened to compensate,\u201d Choe said.\nStudying both versions of the gene using a proxy virus in a petri dish of human cells, Choe and her colleagues found that viruses with the G variant had more spike proteins, and the outer parts of those proteins were less likely to break off. This made the virus approximately 10 times more infectious in the lab experiment.\nThe mutation does not seem to lead to worse outcomes in patients. Nor did it alter the virus\u2019s response to antibodies from patients who had the D variant, Choe said, suggesting that vaccines being developed based on the original version of the virus will be effective against the new strain.\nChoe has uploaded a manuscript describing this study to the website bioRxiv, where scientists can post \u201cpreprint\u201d research that has not yet been peer reviewed. She has also submitted the paper to an academic journal, which has not yet published it.\nThe distinctive infectiousness of the G strain is so strong that scientists have been drawn to the mutation even when they weren\u2019t looking for it.\nNeville Sanjana, a geneticist at the New York Genome Center and New York University, was trying to figure out which genes enable SARS-CoV-2 to infiltrate human cells. But in experiments based on a gene sequence taken from an early case of the virus in Wuhan, he struggled to get that form of the virus to infect cells. Then the team switched to a model virus based on the G variant.\n\u201cWe were shocked,\u201d Sanjana said. \u201cVoil\u00e0! It was just this huge increase in viral transduction.\u201d They repeated the experiment in many types of cells, and every time the variant was many times more infectious.\nTheir findings, published as a preprint on bioRxiv, generally matched what Choe and other laboratory scientists were seeing.\nBut the New York team offers a different explanation as to why the variant is so infectious. Whereas Choe\u2019s study proposes that the mutation made the spike protein more stable, Sanjana said experiments in the past two weeks, not yet made public, suggest that the improvement is actually in the infection process. He hypothesized that the G variant is more efficient at beginning the process of invading the human cell and taking over its reproductive machinery.\nLuban, who has also been experimenting with the D614G mutation, has been drawn to a third possibility: His experiments suggest that the mutation allows the spike protein to change shape as it attaches to the ACE2 receptor, improving its ability to fuse to the host cell.\nDifferent approaches to making their model virus might explain these discrepancies, Luban said. \u201cBut it\u2019s quite clear that something is going on.\u201d\nAlthough these experiments are compelling, they\u2019re not conclusive, said Kristian Andersen, a Scripps virologist not involved in any of the studies. The scientists need to figure out why they\u2019ve identified different mechanisms for the same effect. All the studies still have to pass peer review, and they have to be reproduced using the real version of the virus.\nEven then, Andersen said, it will be too soon to say that the G variant transmits faster among people.\nCell culture experiments have been wrong before, noted Anderson Brito, a computational biologist at Yale University. Early experiments with hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug, hinted that it was effective at fighting the coronavirus in a petri dish. The drug was touted by President Trump, and the Food and Drug Administration authorized it for emergency use in hospitalized covid-19 patients. But that authorization was withdrawn this month after evidence showed that the drug was \u201cunlikely to be effective\u201d against the virus and posed potential safety risks.\nSo far, the biggest study of transmission has come from Bette Korber, a computational biologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory who helped build one of the world\u2019s biggest viral genome databases for tracking HIV. In their paper published this week, Korber\u2019s team argues that the G variant \u201cmay have a fitness advantage\u201d that explains its overwhelming dominance.\nUsing two statistical approaches, the researchers analyzed some 30,000 sequences from across the world; they found that most places where the original virus was dominant before March were eventually taken over by the mutated version. This switch often took place in a matter of weeks. This was especially apparent in the United States: Ninety-six percent of early sequences here belonged to the D variant, but by the end of March, more than two thirds of sequences carried the G amino acid instead.\nKorber\u2019s collaborators in the U.K. also found evidence that people with the G variant had more viral particles in their bodies. Although this higher viral load didn\u2019t seem to make people sicker, it might explain the G variant\u2019s rapid spread, the scientists wrote. People with more virus to shed are more likely to infect others.\nMeanwhile, the paper describes two laboratory experiments confirming what Sanjana, Choe and others have found: the G variant was 3 to 6 times more infectious.\nA preliminary version of the Los Alamos paper, which did not include these laboratory findings, drew intense scrutiny when it was released as a pre-print in the spring. Though the additional data and the credibility of peer review make the case for increased transmissibility even stronger, many scientists -- including Korber -- say more research is needed.\n\u201cThere are so many biases in the data set here that you can\u2019t control for and you might not know exist,\u201d Andersen said. In a time when as many as 90 percent of U.S. infections are still undetected and countries with limited public health infrastructure are struggling to keep up with surging cases, a shortage of data means \u201cwe can\u2019t answer all the questions we want to answer.\u201d\nPardis Sabeti, a computational biologist at Harvard University and the Broad Institute, noted that the vast majority of sequenced genomes come from Europe, where the G variant first emerged, and the United States, where infections thought to have been introduced by travelers from Europe spread undetected for weeks before the country shut down. This could at least partly explain why it appears so dominant.\nThe mutation\u2019s success might also be a \u201cfounder effect,\u201d she said. Arriving in a place like Northern Italy \u2014 where the vast majority of sequenced infections are caused by the G variant \u2014 it found easy purchase in an older and largely unprepared population, which then unwittingly spread it far and wide.\nScientists may be able to rule out these alternative explanations with more rigorous statistical analyses or a controlled experiment in an animal population. And as studies on the D614G mutation accumulate, researchers are starting to be convinced of its significance.\n\u201cI think that slowly we\u2019re beginning to come to a consensus,\u201d said Judd Hultquist, a virologist at Northwestern University.\nSolving the mystery of the D614G mutation won\u2019t make much of a difference in the short term, Andersen said. \u201cWe were unable to deal with D,\u201d he said. \u201cIf G transmits even better, we\u2019re going to be unable to deal with that one.\u201d\nBut it\u2019s still essential to understand how the genome influences the behavior of the virus, scientists say. Identifying emerging mutations allows researchers to track their spread. Knowing what genes affect how the virus transmits enables public health officials to tailor their efforts to contain it. Once therapeutics and vaccines are distributed on a large scale, having a baseline understanding of the genome will help pinpoint when drug resistance starts to evolve.\n\u201cUnderstanding how transmissions are happening won\u2019t be a magic bullet, but it will help us respond better,\u201d Sabeti said. \u201cThis is a race against time.\u201d\nCorrection: An initial version of this article gave an incorrect affiliation for Jeremy Luban. He is a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School."}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "AHEZEVCDL4I6XLBKHLAPFOGO5M_2", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "AHEZEVCDL4I6XLBKHLAPFOGO5M_2", "title": "U.K. coronavirus mutation prompts more travel bans and major disruptions at ports", "text": "and robust.\u201d British scientists advising the government said Monday that this coronavirus mutation first arose in England in September, but it wasn\u2019t until December that researchers saw how quickly it began to dominate. Today, 80 percent of newly diagnosed cases in London, for example, were likely caused by the new mutation. A review of the latest data underscored \u201chigh confidence\u201d that the new strain has a transmission advantage over earlier versions of the coronavirus seen in Britain, said Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at the University of Oxford. The scientists said that in nasal and throat swabs taken from patients, there appeared to be more virus particles present, compared to earlier versions. Researchers on Monday also flagged early evidence that children appeared to be more susceptible to the new strain, although they cautioned it did not make the children more likely to have symptoms or become sick. The new strain may make children \u201cas equally susceptible as adults,\u201d said Wendy Barclay, head of the infectious-disease department at Imperial College London. Adam Finn, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Bristol, said Monday that the new strain was being tested to see if it might be more resistant to vaccines. \u201cIt is a matter of immediate interest,\u201d he said, adding that predictions are it will \u201chave either no effect or a minor effect\u201d on the efficacy of vaccines. In the interim, scientists said Britain\u2019s vaccine rollout should continue as quickly as possible. The World Health Organization sought to temper panic. Chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the coronavirus is mutating at a much slower rate than the seasonal flu. \u201cAnd so far, even though we\u2019ve seen a number of changes and a number of mutations, none has made a significant impact on either the susceptibility of the virus to any of the currently used therapeutics, drugs or the vaccines under development, and one hopes that that will continue to be the case,\u201d she said. Tobias Kurth, director of the Institute of Public Health at Berlin\u2019s Charit\u00e9 University Hospital, said the decision by numerous countries to \u201cpull the emergency brakes\u201d and suspend travel with Britain is \u201cunderstandable.\u201d But Kurth cautioned that the mutation is \u201ccertainly already in continental Europe, and likely in Germany.\u201d \u201cWe won\u2019t be able to stop it,\u201d even though travel restrictions may slow the spread of the mutation, he said. French Health Minister Olivier V\u00e9ran acknowledged Monday"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "LONDON \u2014\nThe British government scrambled Monday to dampen the impact of travel entry bans from more than 40 countries prompted by fear of a new coronavirus mutation believed to have originated in England.\nHealth officials said they do not believe the mutation is more deadly or vaccine resistant, but evidence that it spreads much more easily has alarmed governments in Europe and around the world.\nScientists advising the British government estimated that the new variant was 50 percent more transmissible.\nAs country after country shut their borders to people traveling from Britain, the greatest travel disruption emerged along both sides of the English Channel, after France imposed a far more comprehensive ban than the border closures during the first wave of the virus in spring.\nThe short passage from Britain to France across the channel is one of the most important transport corridors in Europe. On Monday, hundreds of trucks backed up for miles, prompting concern that food and other time-sensitive cargo might end up rotting on the roadside.\nBritish supermarket chain Sainsbury\u2019s warned: \u201cIf nothing changes, we will start to see gaps over the coming days on lettuce, some salad leaves, cauliflowers, broccoli and citrus fruit \u2014 all of which are imported from the continent at this time of year.\u201d\nThe hashtag #lettuce trended on Twitter in Britain, as panicked shoppers tried to stock up on supplies for Christmas and beyond.\nIn a news conference at Downing Street on Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson played down the impact of border closures and batted away questions about the need for a national lockdown, while emphasizing progress on vaccines. More than 500,000 people in Britain have gotten an initial Pfizer-BioNTech shot.\nJohnson said he understood the fears of other countries about the new virus strain, but was talking to French President Emmanuel Macron \u2014 who is self-isolating after coming down with covid-19 last week \u2014 about getting the ports moving again.\nMeanwhile, Johnson reported, the line of trucks idling at the Dover port had been reduced from 500 to 170. And he said France\u2019s travel ban affected only 20 percent of the trade going in and out of Britain \u2014 freight carried by trucks with drivers, who travel by ferry or tunnel.\n\u201cWhich means the vast majority of food, medicines and other supplies are coming and going as normal,\u201d Johnson said, adding that British supermarket supply chains are \u201cstrong and robust.\u201d\nBritish scientists advising the government said Monday that this coronavirus mutation first arose in England in September, but it wasn\u2019t until December that researchers saw how quickly it began to dominate. Today, 80 percent of newly diagnosed cases in London, for example, were likely caused by the new mutation.\nA review of the latest data underscored \u201chigh confidence\u201d that the new strain has a transmission advantage over earlier versions of the coronavirus seen in Britain, said Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at the University of Oxford.\nThe scientists said that in nasal and throat swabs taken from patients, there appeared to be more virus particles present, compared to earlier versions.\nResearchers on Monday also flagged early evidence that children appeared to be more susceptible to the new strain, although they cautioned it did not make the children more likely to have symptoms or become sick.\nThe new strain may make children \u201cas equally susceptible as adults,\u201d said Wendy Barclay, head of the infectious-disease department at Imperial College London.\nAdam Finn, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Bristol, said Monday that the new strain was being tested to see if it might be more resistant to vaccines. \u201cIt is a matter of immediate interest,\u201d he said, adding that predictions are it will \u201chave either no effect or a minor effect\u201d on the efficacy of vaccines.\nIn the interim, scientists said Britain\u2019s vaccine rollout should continue as quickly as possible.\nThe World Health Organization sought to temper panic. Chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the coronavirus is mutating at a much slower rate than the seasonal flu. \u201cAnd so far, even though we\u2019ve seen a number of changes and a number of mutations, none has made a significant impact on either the susceptibility of the virus to any of the currently used therapeutics, drugs or the vaccines under development, and one hopes that that will continue to be the case,\u201d she said.\nTobias Kurth, director of the Institute of Public Health at Berlin\u2019s Charit\u00e9 University Hospital, said the decision by numerous countries to \u201cpull the emergency brakes\u201d and suspend travel with Britain is \u201cunderstandable.\u201d\nBut Kurth cautioned that the mutation is \u201ccertainly already in continental Europe, and likely in Germany.\u201d\n\u201cWe won\u2019t be able to stop it,\u201d even though travel restrictions may slow the spread of the mutation, he said.\nFrench Health Minister Olivier V\u00e9ran acknowledged Monday morning that the new variant may already be in France. Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark said they have identified the mutation among recently discovered coronavirus cases in their countries.\nMutations of the virus that share traits with the British variant have also been detected in South Africa and are responsible for an increases in infection there.\nIn Britain, officials on Monday announced 33,364 new coronavirus cases and 215 deaths.\nWith cases soaring, some stoked by the new variant, Johnson ordered London and parts of the southeast England into Tier 4 lockdown over the weekend, telling 18 million people to \u201cstay at home\u201d and only venture out to shop for food and medicine, attend medical appointments or do outdoor exercise.\nThe travel bans compounded the upheaval. They come less than two weeks before Britain is set to cut its last membership ties with the European Union. The two sides have yet to agree on a post-Brexit trade deal, and the disruptions on Monday provided a preview of what could happen if Britain crashes out of the bloc without one.\nJohnson tried to suggest that anticipation of a possible no-deal Brexit offered an advantage when faced with pandemic-related border closures. \u201cThe government has been preparing for a long time for exactly this kind of event,\u201d he said.\nBritish Transport Minister Grant Shapps said the government was providing portable toilets for stranded lorry drivers and rerouting trucks at Britain\u2019s southern port, where tens of thousands of trucks normally converge every day to board ferries or travel through the Eurotunnel to France. Authorities made contingency plans to deliver medicines by military helicopter if necessary.\nEarlier Monday, French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari had tweeted that in the coming hours, in coordination with other European nations, the country would \u201cput in place a robust sanitary protocol to allow traffic flows from the United Kingdom to resume.\u201d But no announcement had been made by evening.\nEven though the European travel restrictions do not ban trucks from entering the United Kingdom, industry representatives cautioned that few companies would be willing to take the risk of then becoming stranded there, meaning trade was impacted in both directions.\n\u201cNo driver wants to deliver to the U.K. now, so the U.K. is going to see its freight supply dry up,\u201d said Vanessa Ibarlucea, a spokeswoman for the French road haulage federation, according to Reuters.\nBeyond the ports, many passengers were left stranded, as more countries canceled flights to and from the United Kingdom.\nBeth Gabriel Ware, a British citizen who lives in Turkey, found herself stuck at her parents\u2019 home in Kent after the Turkish government banned flights from Britain on Sunday. She had surprised her family with a visit after they had been apart for 10 months.\n\u201cI will be sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future,\u201d said Ware, 23.\nHind Mrabet, 21, who planned to move from Britain to Paris for school at the end of this week, now does not know when she will be able to cross into France.\n\u201cThey seem to be making last-minute decisions that leave people in panic,\u201d she said of the British government.\nwilliam.booth@washpost.com\nrick.noack@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "CFIOQWSKOQI6XF5WJ247OL7UNM_2", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "CFIOQWSKOQI6XF5WJ247OL7UNM_2", "title": "U.K. authorizes Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine", "text": "2 million people a week \u2014 10 times the current rate \u2014 to beat back the pandemic. The National Health Service will start inoculating with the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, with nursing home residents, health-care workers and people over 80 at the front of the line. There are plans to deliver the vaccine in mass immunization centers, such as sporting arenas and convention halls. The urgency is especially great with a new variant of the virus spreading rapidly. Researchers have found no indication the variant is deadlier, but it appears to be 50 percent more transmissible. Britain recorded more than 53,000 cases on Tuesday \u2014 the highest in a single day. British hospitals have more coronavirus patients than when the first wave gripped the country in April. As of Thursday, 8 in 10 people in England will be under the highest tier of restrictions. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have enacted tight restrictions, as well. Hancock said having both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines means the government now has \u201ca very high degree of confidence that we can be out of this by spring.\u201d Hancock said that in the interest of injecting as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, it would be sufficient to give a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and allow more than the usual 21 days between shots. \u201cIn the data, the scientists and the regulators have found the immunity comes from around two weeks after the first dose, and then the second dose should be taken up to 12 weeks later to give you that long-term protection,\u201d Hancock said. \u201cThis means we can spend the first three months vaccinating people with the first doses, getting them that immunity, getting people protection quicker than we possibly could have done otherwise,\u201d he said. Britain bet the house on the AstraZeneca vaccine, ordering 100 million doses, compared with 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 7 million doses of Moderna, which the United Kingdom has not yet reviewed for emergency authorization. AstraZeneca says it can deliver about 2 million doses a week initially. It has pledged 40 million doses by the end of March. The company has manufacturing facilities in Britain. June Raine, chief executive of the British regulator, said \u201cno corners were cut\u201d in the rapid review of the vaccine, even though it was developed at Oxford and backed by the British government. Raine"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "LONDON \u2014\nBritain on Wednesday became the first country to authorize a coronavirus vaccine from the University of Oxford and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, adding a second shot to the fight against a surging outbreak here driven by a highly infectious variant of the virus.\nThe Oxford-AstraZeneca doses are cheaper than other coronavirus vaccines and easier to transport, as they can be stored at normal fridge temperatures.\nHealth Minister Matt Hancock praised the homegrown vaccine as a \"game-changer\" and said clinical trials have proved it to be safe and effective \u2014 but he did not put to rest questions about how effective.\nResearchers from the Oxford-AstraZeneca team earlier this month published interim results that showed their vaccine was 62\u00a0percent effective for volunteers given two full doses and 90\u00a0percent effective for a smaller subgroup who received a half dose followed by a full dose. The scientists said they were studying why the different regimens produced such different results.\nBritain\u2019s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency authorized the vaccine at two full doses for people 18 and older, concluding the results of the half-dose regimen could not yet be supported.\nBritish regulators also noted data is limited on how well the vaccine works in those over 65, who are among the most vulnerable to the virus but who represented less than 6 percent of the clinical trial participants. Still, the regulators okayed use in older populations. Health officials stressed that the vaccine has been shown to greatly reduce severe illness from covid-19, the disease the virus causes, which will cut the number of hospitalizations and deaths.\nMoncef Slaoui, the head of the White House\u2019s Operation Warp Speed, said at a Wednesday briefing that he anticipates the AstraZeneca vaccine gaining U.S. authorization in April, based on successful completion of Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States.\nHe said that he has \u201cno doubt the vaccine is very effective against severe disease\u201d but that the \u201cbiggest question mark is efficacy in the elderly population that needs to be further documented.\u201d\nThe Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines already rolled out in the United States use a different technology and had simpler trial designs, showing them to be 95 percent effective.\nBritain has injected some 600,000 people with the Pfizer vaccine since becoming the first Western country to roll out mass inoculations. But experts say the government must ramp up quickly, to inoculate 2 million people a week \u2014 10 times the current rate \u2014 to beat back the pandemic.\nThe National Health Service will start inoculating with the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, with nursing home residents, health-care workers and people over 80 at the front of the line. There are plans to deliver the vaccine in mass immunization centers, such as sporting arenas and convention halls.\nThe urgency is especially great with a new variant of the virus spreading rapidly. Researchers have found no indication the variant is deadlier, but it appears to be 50 percent more transmissible.\nBritain recorded more than 53,000 cases on Tuesday \u2014 the highest in a single day. British hospitals have more coronavirus patients than when the first wave gripped the country in April.\nAs of Thursday, 8 in 10 people in England will be under the highest tier of restrictions. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have enacted tight restrictions, as well.\nHancock said having both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines means the government now has \u201ca very high degree of confidence that we can be out of this by spring.\u201d\nHancock said that in the interest of injecting as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, it would be sufficient to give a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and allow more than the usual 21 days between shots.\n\u201cIn the data, the scientists and the regulators have found the immunity comes from around two weeks after the first dose, and then the second dose should be taken up to 12 weeks later to give you that long-term protection,\u201d Hancock said.\n\u201cThis means we can spend the first three months vaccinating people with the first doses, getting them that immunity, getting people protection quicker than we possibly could have done otherwise,\u201d he said.\nBritain bet the house on the AstraZeneca vaccine, ordering 100 million doses, compared with 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 7 million doses of Moderna, which the United Kingdom has not yet reviewed for emergency authorization.\nAstraZeneca says it can deliver about 2 million doses a week initially. It has pledged 40 million doses by the end of March. The company has manufacturing facilities in Britain.\nJune Raine, chief executive of the British regulator, said \u201cno corners were cut\u201d in the rapid review of the vaccine, even though it was developed at Oxford and backed by the British government. Raine said it has \u201cthe potential to save many lives.\u201d\nPrime Minister Boris Johnson said the approval of the new vaccine was \u201ctruly fantastic news \u2014 and a triumph for British science.\u201d\nBritish scientists noted that the vaccine could help protect not only Britons but also many in the developing world.\nRegulators in India will meet Friday to consider whether to grant emergency approval. Serum Institute of India, one of the world\u2019s biggest vaccine manufacturers, has nearly 50 million doses ready and plans to produce 300\u00a0million by July. Half of the production will be used in India.\nThe vaccine uses a harmless cold virus that typically infects chimpanzees to deliver to the body\u2019s cells the genetic code of the spike protein that dots the outside of the coronavirus. That teaches the body\u2019s immune system to block the real virus.\nAt a briefing announcing the approval of the vaccine, Wei Shen Lim, a respiratory physician and chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, said, \u201cThe data shared with us, and I am not sure it is entirely in the public domain, calculated the vaccine efficacy between Day 22 of Dose 1 to the time of Dose 2 being given, the figure is around 70 percent.\u201d\nLim added, \u201cBut I don\u2019t think I should be revealing any more than that at this point in time.\u201d\nIn an AstraZeneca news release on Wednesday, the company said that \u201cthe primary efficacy endpoint based on a pooled analysis showed that the vaccine was 70.4\u00a0percent.\u201d\n\u201cToday is an important day for millions of people in the U.K. who will get access to this new vaccine,\u201d said Pascal Soriot, chief executive of AstraZeneca. \u201cIt has been shown to be effective, well-tolerated, simple to administer and is supplied by AstraZeneca at no profit.\u201d\nHe said scientists believe the AstraZeneca vaccine will be effective against the new variant detected in Britain.\nPublic health officials say there is much to recommend the new vaccine, as it costs less than $4 a dose, is relatively easy to manufacture at huge scale and does not require special handling.\nThe British government has not released how much it is paying for vaccines. A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said the prices are \u201ccommercially sensitive so can\u2019t be disclosed by us.\u201d But U.S. figures suggest that the Pfizer vaccine may be five times as expensive as AstraZeneca\u2019s.\nThe Pfizer vaccine must also be kept in special freezers and dry ice at extremely low temperatures.\nThe British health secretary conceded that the Pfizer requirements \u201cmade it more challenging to get out, especially to some of the smaller care homes, and those limitations aren\u2019t there for this Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.\u201d\nApproval of the vaccine provides \u201ca ray of hope at the end of a very challenging year,\u201d said Lawrence Young, a professor of molecular oncology at Warwick Medical School. \u201cIt also comes at a time when we have just recorded the largest daily increase in the number of infections in the U.K. and when the NHS is struggling with the number of hospitalizations. And all this on the backdrop of a more infectious variant of the virus.\u201d\nAndrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, told the BBC that the pandemic this year was \u201clike being in a blizzard.\u201d\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been really struggling uphill through snow drifts with this icy wind in our faces, and I think this morning we do have some respite with this good news and the warmth that that brings,\u201d he said."}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "CL2PV2T5KFA77PRBVILUIJRRGM_1", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "CL2PV2T5KFA77PRBVILUIJRRGM_1", "title": "CDC: Covid-19 death toll is twice as high among people of color under age 65 as for white Americans", "text": "while for Hispanics it was 71, and for all nonwhite, non-Hispanic people it was 72. Researchers found that the virus exacted a vastly steeper toll on people of color who were younger than 65. About 35 percent of Hispanic people who died of covid-19 were under 65, and about 29.5 percent of nonwhite, non-Hispanics who died were under 65. By comparison, 13.2 percent of deaths among white people were in those younger than 65. The percentage of deaths among Hispanic and nonwhite people exceeded their representation in the U.S. population. That suggests rates of coronavirus transmission are higher among younger members of those groups than among their white counterparts and may reflect their greater presence in front-line jobs that don\u2019t allow them to work from home. It could also suggest they are more likely to live in crowded or multigenerational homes where it is difficult to maintain social distancing. Authorities on health disparities say racial differences arise from social and structural inequities that leave some racial and ethnic groups around the world acutely vulnerable to the most devastating effects of the coronavirus. Those differences have helped fuel protests for racial justice that have swept the nation. Among those older than 65 who died of covid-19, nearly 41 percent were white and non-Hispanic, 21 percent were Hispanic and 32 percent were nonwhite and non-Hispanic. The CDC report found that diabetes was common among those younger than 65 who died. Nearly half of the deaths in people under 65 were in people with diabetes. Overall, 35 percent of patients under age 65 hospitalized with covid-19 had diabetes. The CDC recently broadened its warning about the groups at risk of developing severe complications from covid-19. Officials said even younger people who are obese or have other health conditions, such as diabetes, can become severely ill if they contract the virus. A CDC study last month found that people with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes were hospitalized six times as often as otherwise healthy individuals infected with the coronavirus during the first four months of the pandemic and they died 12 times as often. In the report released Friday, nearly 1 in 12 deaths in people under 65 took place at home or in an emergency department, suggesting they may not have had access to health care, may have delayed seeking care or may have been delayed in getting diagnosed."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The coronavirus proved substantially deadlier to people of color under the age of 65 than to their white counterparts in the early days of the pandemic, an in-depth analysis released Friday found.\nThe report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the agency\u2019s most comprehensive analysis of the demographics of those who died of covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Researchers analyzed data for about 52,000 confirmed deaths between mid-February and mid-April.\nMost of the people who died were older than 65, and most had underlying medical conditions. But researchers obtained more complete data on race, ethnicity and underlying conditions for a subset of about 10,000 people. Most of those deaths occurred in New York City, New Jersey and Washington state, three areas hardest hit at the dawn of the pandemic.\nWhat was notable was the higher death toll among some racial and ethnic groups, researchers said.\nThe study found stark differences in the age at which people from different racial and ethnic groups died of covid-19. Among white people, the median age was 81, while for Hispanics it was 71, and for all nonwhite, non-Hispanic people it was 72.\nResearchers found that the virus exacted a vastly steeper toll on people of color who were younger than 65. About 35 percent of Hispanic people who died of covid-19 were under 65, and about 29.5 percent of nonwhite, non-Hispanics who died were under 65. By comparison, 13.2 percent of deaths among white people were in those younger than 65.\nThe percentage of deaths among Hispanic and nonwhite people exceeded their representation in the U.S. population. That suggests rates of coronavirus transmission are higher among younger members of those groups than among their white counterparts and may reflect their greater presence in front-line jobs that don\u2019t allow them to work from home. It could also suggest they are more likely to live in crowded or multigenerational homes where it is difficult to maintain social distancing.\nAuthorities on health disparities say racial differences arise from social and structural inequities that leave some racial and ethnic groups around the world acutely vulnerable to the most devastating effects of the coronavirus. Those differences have helped fuel protests for racial justice that have swept the nation.\nAmong those older than 65 who died of covid-19, nearly 41 percent were white and non-Hispanic, 21 percent were Hispanic and 32 percent were nonwhite and non-Hispanic.\nThe CDC report found that diabetes was common among those younger than 65 who died. Nearly half of the deaths in people under 65 were in people with diabetes. Overall, 35 percent of patients under age 65 hospitalized with covid-19 had diabetes.\nThe CDC recently broadened its warning about the groups at risk of developing severe complications from covid-19. Officials said even younger people who are obese or have other health conditions, such as diabetes, can become severely ill if they contract the virus.\nA CDC study last month found that people with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes were hospitalized six times as often as otherwise healthy individuals infected with the coronavirus during the first four months of the pandemic and they died 12 times as often.\nIn the report released Friday, nearly 1 in 12 deaths in people under 65 took place at home or in an emergency department, suggesting they may not have had access to health care, may have delayed seeking care or may have been delayed in getting diagnosed."}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "CYC3ICSKXQI6XKPUBZTIXF3SXI_4", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "CYC3ICSKXQI6XKPUBZTIXF3SXI_4", "title": "California, Colorado confirm infections with U.K. coronavirus variant", "text": "to boost staffing and were not the cause of the outbreak, which began much earlier. Herlihy added that it was not clear where the two people might have been exposed. Both are in isolation and recovering, officials said. The fact that the individual with the confirmed infection, described as a man in his 20s, had no known travel history \u201clogically implies that there\u2019s more spread throughout the state,\u201d said Anuj Mehta, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Denver Health who has been involved in the state\u2019s pandemic response. \u201cWe have to assume he got it from community spread,\u201d Mehta said. \u201cThat could mean two other people had it, or it could mean 200 other people had it. Time will tell how widespread it is.\u201d Most mutations have no practical consequence. Since all viruses mutate, there are many variants of the coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2. But one mutation that appeared early this year is now seen in all new coronavirus cases, and many scientists say it enhanced infectivity. Now the United Kingdom and South Africa variants are seizing the attention of scientists and public health officials. \u201cWe expect to see new variants emerge over time,\u201d Walke said. The U.K. variant, which contains 17 mutations, including some affecting the spike protein on the exterior of the virus, first appeared there in September and has become dominant across the country, leading to a lockdown in London and southern England and travel bans by other countries hoping to prevent its importation. Officials in the United States, where surveillance of viral sequences is spotty, say they are not surprised it has been detected in this country. \u201cI would have been amazed if this variant was not present in the U.S. given that it\u2019s been bouncing around in the U.K. since September and people do go back and forth,\u201d Collins said. At least one epidemiologist said it is unlikely the new variant is a driving force in the disease surges in Los Angeles and other locations. Although the United States is sequencing only a small fraction of cases \u2014 and missing many infections because people are asymptomatic \u2014 the new strain would probably have been picked up if it had spread at that scale, said John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer of Boston Children\u2019s Hospital. But given the paucity of sequencing, finding one or two cases in Colorado suggests there are several hundred"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The coronavirus variant that has pummeled Britain was identified Wednesday in Southern California, the second confirmed infection in the United States of what scientists believe to be a more contagious strain of the pathogen.\nThe news broke just hours after Colorado officials revealed they are investigating their second suspected infection involving the variant, and as federal officials pledged to ramp up their monitoring of coronavirus mutations.\nThe California case involved a 30-year-old man who was tested Wednesday, officials said. He had no known travel history. The same is true of the two people involved in the Colorado cases. That suggests the variant, believed by scientists to be more transmissible but not more likely to sicken or kill, is freely circulating in some communities in the United States.\n\u201cBecause there is no travel history, we believe this is not an isolated case in San Diego County, and there are probably other cases of the same strain in San Diego County,\u201d County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said at a news conference.\nThe rapid-fire developments in two states underscored the need to improve the country\u2019s scattered surveillance of the coronavirus, which jumped from an unknown animal into the human species late last year and appears to be evolving as it adapts to its new host.\n\u201cJust an hour or so ago we were informed that this new variant, this new strain that we\u2019ve identified obviously from the United Kingdom \u2026 has been identified here in the state of California, in Southern California,\u201d Gov. Gavin Newsom said on a Facebook Live broadcast.\nFederal health officials said that a new surveillance system, created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in November to track new variants of the coronavirus, will eventually be able to analyze as many as 3,500 virus genomes per week to look for mutations of interest \u2014 a capability scientists say is essential to identify and protect against new strains with mutations that might evade testing and be impervious to vaccines or certain treatments.\nIn a statement released Wednesday in response to questions about the pace of the program, the CDC did not offer a timetable, saying it \u201chas been working on the surveillance for several months and has some components in place. This is the time to accelerate the process to better help public health and safety.\u201d\nBoth the U.K. variant and one spreading rapidly in South Africa are believed by scientists to carry mutations that enhance transmissibility for reasons not clearly understood. However, they are not thought to change the severity of the illness, or pose any issues for the efficacy of the newly developed coronavirus vaccines. They also do not appear able to cause reinfections in people who have already survived a recent bout with the virus.\nBut a more transmissible virus means more infections, an unwelcome development amid the cold-weather surge of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the United States and many other countries trying to survive this brutal pandemic winter.\nThe variants \u201ccould lead to more cases and put even more strain on our heavily burdened health-care systems,\u201d said Henry Walke, head of the CDC\u2019s response to covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.\nThe United Kingdom variant, named B.1.1.7, has been identified in at least 19\u00a0countries. Walke said that no one knows how widely it has actually spread in the United States or globally. The South Africa variant has been seen in a total of four countries, but not in the United States so far.\nHe and others said the identification of the variant in this country should spur people to follow guidelines designed to limit the virus\u2019s spread.\n\u201cIf there was a reason to work really hard on stopping community transmission, we have an even better reason now, because we\u2019re up against a more formidable enemy,\u201d said Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. \u201cThings are getting bad enough already, just from the previous viral strain.\u201d\nColorado authorities echoed those admonitions on Wednesday as they described their scrutiny of a second case they described as \u201chighly suspicious.\u201d\nBoth infected individuals are members of the National Guard who were deployed Dec.\u00a023 to the Good Samaritan Society assisted-living facility in Simla, Colo., in Elbert County, where all 26\u00a0residents tested positive for the familiar strain of the virus and four died, officials said.\nThe facility confirmed that an \u201callied health worker\u201d tested positive with the new variant strain of the virus and said the state health department had been on site to test employees.\n\u201cWe look forward to beginning vaccinations at this location next week,\u201d said Randy Fitzgerald, regional vice president of the Good Samaritan Society.\nState epidemiologist Rachel Herlihy said the new variant has not been detected among the facility\u2019s residents. She said the two National Guard personnel were among six deployed to boost staffing and were not the cause of the outbreak, which began much earlier.\nHerlihy added that it was not clear where the two people might have been exposed. Both are in isolation and recovering, officials said.\nThe fact that the individual with the confirmed infection, described as a man in his 20s, had no known travel history \u201clogically implies that there\u2019s more spread throughout the state,\u201d said Anuj Mehta, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Denver Health who has been involved in the state\u2019s pandemic response.\n\u201cWe have to assume he got it from community spread,\u201d Mehta said. \u201cThat could mean two other people had it, or it could mean 200 other people had it. Time will tell how widespread it is.\u201d\nMost mutations have no practical consequence. Since all viruses mutate, there are many variants of the coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2. But one mutation that appeared early this year is now seen in all new coronavirus cases, and many scientists say it enhanced infectivity. Now the United Kingdom and South Africa variants are seizing the attention of scientists and public health officials.\n\u201cWe expect to see new variants emerge over time,\u201d Walke said.\nThe U.K. variant, which contains 17\u00a0mutations, including some affecting the spike protein on the exterior of the virus, first appeared there in September  and has become dominant across the country, leading to a lockdown in London and southern England and travel bans by other countries hoping to prevent its importation.\nOfficials in the United States, where surveillance of viral sequences is spotty, say they are not surprised it has been detected in this country.\n\u201cI would have been amazed if this variant was not present in the U.S. given that it\u2019s been bouncing around in the U.K. since September and people do go back and forth,\u201d Collins said.\nAt least one epidemiologist said it is unlikely the new variant is a driving force in the disease surges in Los Angeles and other locations. Although the United States is sequencing only a small  fraction of cases \u2014 and missing many infections because people are asymptomatic \u2014 the new strain would probably have been picked up if it had spread at that scale, said John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer of Boston Children\u2019s Hospital.\nBut given the paucity of sequencing, finding one or two cases in Colorado suggests there are several hundred that have been missed, he said.\n\u201cIt could drive a future surge, especially given the challenges with the vaccine rollout,\u201d Brownstein said. He added that greater numbers of infections also translate to additional opportunities for the virus to mutate in potentially problematic ways. \u201cThe sheer amount of transmission allows more chances for it to mutate,\u201d he said.\nAmong those problems could be reduced effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies, as mutations may affect how they neutralize the virus, said Jesse Goodman, who directs the COMPASS program at Georgetown University, which focuses on science-based public health policy. Some monoclonal antibody treatments, such as the one President Trump received when he had covid-19 and hailed as a cure, contain more than one antibody, making resistance less likely to develop.\nGoodman said that although preliminary evidence suggests the changes in the new variant are unlikely to reduce the vaccines\u2019 effectiveness, that may not be true of future mutations. Still, the messenger RNA platform used in two newly authorized vaccines is comparatively easy to modify to handle mutant strains, he said.\n\u201cWe are still learning every day about this virus,\u201d Goodman said. \u201cWe don\u2019t know when or how often we may need to make changes in a coronavirus vaccine.\u201d\nBruce Gellin, president of global immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, said the shifts in the coronavirus reflect a pattern that mimics what goes on with influenza, where scientists routinely monitor changes in the strain.\nWith other coronaviruses \u2014 such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), the current strain of the novel coronavirus and now the new variant \u2014 scientists are constantly playing catch up, said Gellin, who advocates a Manhattan Project-type approach to produce a universal vaccine that could protect against any strain of the coronavirus or flu.\n\u201cWe need to have an approach that will prevent these problems before they show up, rather than quash after they arrive,\u201d he said."}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "HBC4DQSET4I6XLBKHLAPFOGO5M_0", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "HBC4DQSET4I6XLBKHLAPFOGO5M_0", "title": "Britain finds 2 cases of coronavirus variant linked to South Africa; travel resumes across English Channel", "text": "Britain has found two cases of a coronavirus variant linked to South Africa, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Wednesday, both of which are tied to contact with recent arrivals from that country. Hancock announced new restrictions on visitors from South Africa and called on anyone who has recently been to that country or been in contact with a recent arrival from there to quarantine immediately, describing the measures as temporary while officials seek to better understand the variant. \u201cThis virus is highly concerning because it is yet more transmissible and appears to have mutated further than the new variant that\u2019s been discovered in the U.K.,\u201d he said at a news conference. South African officials announced last week that their scientists had detected a new variant that appeared to be fueling a rapid rise in infections there. The appearance of the South African variant in Britain comes as its officials are already grappling with a worsening coronavirus outbreak linked to a different variant recently discovered in England. Experts have cautioned that both variants need additional study as scientists seek to better understand the mutations and what effect \u2014 if any \u2014 they will have on vaccines. British authorities are tightening restrictions in response to the increase in cases. By Dec. 26, about 24 million people will face Britain\u2019s toughest coronavirus rules, under which all nonessential businesses are required to close. Many countries in Europe and elsewhere closed their borders to British travelers in recent days to try to limit the spread of the variant discovered in England. Some also placed restrictions on people traveling from South Africa. France banned freight across the English Channel, one of Europe\u2019s busiest travel corridors, for 48 hours. On Wednesday, ferry passengers began to trickle back into France from Britain, after a late-night agreement between the countries to allow some people back into France, provided they could show negative coronavirus test results. It will take days, however, to move the thousands of freight trucks stranded on the British side of the English Channel as all the drivers are tested. British Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted Wednesday that mass testing has begun and that the \u201cpriority is to get lorries moving.\u201d Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick estimated that at least 4,000 trucks were parked around the Kent region and said the military would manage testing sites, including one at Manston airport, where many of the trucks are located."}], "old": [{"_id": "HBC4DQSET4I6XLBKHLAPFOGO5M_0", "title": "Britain finds 2 cases of coronavirus variant linked to South Africa; travel resumes across English Channel", "text": "siobhan.ogrady@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Britain has found two cases of a coronavirus variant linked to South Africa, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Wednesday, both of which are tied to contact with recent arrivals from that country.\nHancock announced new restrictions on visitors from South Africa and called on anyone who has recently been to that country or been in contact with a recent arrival from there to quarantine immediately, describing the measures as temporary while officials seek to better understand the variant.\n\u201cThis virus is highly concerning because it is yet more transmissible and appears to have mutated further than the new variant that\u2019s been discovered in the U.K.,\u201d he said at a news conference.\nSouth African officials announced last week that their scientists had detected a new variant that appeared to be fueling a rapid rise in infections there.\nThe appearance of the South African variant in Britain comes as its officials are already grappling with a worsening coronavirus outbreak linked to a different variant recently discovered in England.\nExperts have cautioned that both variants need additional study as scientists seek to better understand the mutations and what effect \u2014 if any \u2014 they will have on vaccines.\nBritish authorities are tightening restrictions in response to the increase in cases. By Dec.\u200926, about 24\u2009million people will face Britain\u2019s toughest coronavirus rules, under which all nonessential businesses are required to close.\nMany countries in Europe and elsewhere closed their borders to British travelers in recent days to try to limit the spread of the variant discovered in England. Some also placed restrictions on people traveling from South Africa.\nFrance banned freight across the English Channel, one of Europe\u2019s busiest travel corridors, for 48 hours. On Wednesday, ferry passengers began to trickle back into France from Britain, after a late-night agreement between the countries to allow some people back into France, provided they could show negative coronavirus test results.\nIt will take days, however, to move the thousands of freight trucks stranded on the British side of the English Channel as all the drivers are tested.\nBritish Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted Wednesday that mass testing has begun and that the \u201cpriority is to get lorries moving.\u201d\nHousing Secretary Robert Jenrick estimated that at least 4,000 trucks were parked around the Kent region and said the military would manage testing sites, including one at Manston airport, where many of the trucks are located.\nPatel urged people to avoid traveling to Kent because of major congestion, saying that an increase in travelers \u201cwill slow things down.\u201d\nTV footage showed angry truck drivers scuffling with police and honking their horns in protest after being stranded for days, often far from even the most basic sanitation facilities. Many face the prospect of missing Christmas with their families.\nIn interviews with local television, truckers picketing the port town of Dover said there was no movement, no apparent testing and no hygiene facilities for them.\n\u201cWhat we\u2019ve got this morning is very, very angry truckers in Dover,\u201d Rod McKenzie of the Road Haulage Association told the BBC. \u201cThey\u2019re tired, frustrated, desperately want to get home for Christmas.\u201d\nKent police tweeted Wednesday that they have responded to \u201cdisturbances in Dover and Manston this morning involving individuals hoping to cross the Channel\u201d and made one arrest.\nIn his morning television appearances, Jenrick said there were no shortages of food at supermarkets and urged everyone to avoid panic-buying. Many locations have reported empty supermarket shelves.\nAnd Britain\u2019s main supermarket chains, Tesco and Sainsbury\u2019s, warned Monday that some fresh food could run out if freight did not start moving soon. Late Tuesday, Tesco announced the rationing of certain products in an email to customers, including toilet paper, rice, soap and eggs, to ensure there would be enough for everyone.\nBritain\u2019s newspapers, meanwhile, were filled with images of thousands of trucks lined up in Manston.\nConcern over the new variants comes as Britain is attempting to negotiate the terms of its future relations with the European Union and as much of the country is enduring a harsh new lockdown coinciding with the Christmas holiday season.\nAs many European countries rushed to impose new rules on travelers from Britain, the European Commission on Tuesday urged European Union member states to coordinate their response and lift bans on flights, trains and freight, citing \u201cthe need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions.\u201d\nSome countries chose to maintain or expand their prohibitions anyway, while others eased their restrictions but requested polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, coronavirus tests for new arrivals.\nIndia has suspended flights from Britain until the end of the year. Meanwhile, it plans to track down all passengers who arrived from Britain in the past month. Officials across India have been asked to track and monitor the health of the passengers for the next two weeks.\nAbout a dozen passengers from Britain have tested positive for the coronavirus on arrival in four Indian cities in recent days, according to local media reports. Their samples are being examined for the variant detected in England, and they are being kept in quarantine pending the results.\n\nsiobhan.ogrady@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "ILJV6ZVXJRBL7B3HZZGXX2MWHY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ILJV6ZVXJRBL7B3HZZGXX2MWHY_0", "title": "U.S. ranks 43rd worldwide in sequencing to check for coronavirus variants like the one found in the U.K.", "text": "The United States has the most coronavirus cases in the world \u2014 but in sequencing cases to check for genetic changes, it lags at an astoundingly low rate. Of the more than 18 million cases officially reported in the United States, just 51,212, or 0.3 percent, have been genetically analyzed for variants, according to the latest data from the GISAID Initiative, which provides a global database of coronavirus genomes. Worldwide, the United States ranks 43rd in percentage of cases sequenced among countries with more than 100 reported infections. Britain, by contrast, is No. 8, having analyzed 7.4 percent of its more than 2 million documented cases, according to the Covid-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium. Britain\u2019s relatively high rate probably contributed to its detection of a highly transmissible variant circulating in southern England since September. \u201cIt makes sense that it was detected first in the U.K. because they have probably the world\u2019s best surveillance program,\u201d Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, told The Washington Post. Australia, which has reported more than 28,200 coronavirus cases, has sequenced 58.6 percent, the highest rate worldwide. New Zealand ranks second, with 48.6 percent of the country\u2019s more than 2,100 cases analyzed. Taiwan, Denmark and Iceland also make the top five. South Africa, which globally falls at 42, just ahead of the United States, announced Dec. 18 that it had detected a similar variant after a surge in cases there. South Africa is battling the worst outbreak in Africa. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not documented any cases of the British variant in the United States \u2014 but experts, even at the CDC, say it\u2019s probably already here. \u201cGiven the small fraction of U.S. infections that have been sequenced, the variant could already be in the United States without having been detected,\u201d the CDC wrote on its website."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The United States has the most coronavirus cases in the world \u2014 but in sequencing cases to check for genetic changes, it lags at an astoundingly low rate.\nOf the more than 18 million cases officially reported in the United States, just 51,212, or 0.3 percent, have been genetically analyzed for variants, according to the latest data from the GISAID Initiative, which provides a global database of coronavirus genomes. Worldwide, the United States ranks 43rd in percentage of cases sequenced among countries with more than 100 reported infections.\nBritain, by contrast, is No. 8, having analyzed 7.4 percent of its more than 2 million documented cases, according to the Covid-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium. Britain\u2019s relatively high rate probably contributed to its detection of a highly transmissible variant circulating in southern England since September.\n\u201cIt makes sense that it was detected first in the U.K. because they have probably the world\u2019s best surveillance program,\u201d Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security, told The Washington Post.\nAustralia, which has reported more than 28,200 coronavirus cases, has sequenced 58.6 percent, the highest rate worldwide. New Zealand ranks second, with 48.6 percent of the country\u2019s more than 2,100 cases analyzed. Taiwan, Denmark and Iceland also make the top five.\nSouth Africa, which globally falls at 42, just ahead of the United States, announced Dec. 18 that it had detected a similar variant after a surge in cases there. South Africa is battling the worst outbreak in Africa.\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not documented any cases of the British variant in the United States \u2014 but experts, even at the CDC, say it\u2019s probably already here.\n\u201cGiven the small fraction of U.S. infections that have been sequenced, the variant could already be in the United States without having been detected,\u201d the CDC wrote on its website."}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "LDO3W7WGNZCCDKCXPESGYCIW44_5", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "LDO3W7WGNZCCDKCXPESGYCIW44_5", "title": "A mysterious blood-clotting complication is killing coronavirus patients", "text": "derangement.\u201d In math, a derangement is a permutation in which no element is in its original position. Harlan Krumholz, a cardiac specialist at the Yale-New Haven Hospital Center, said no one knows whether blood complications are a result of a direct assault on blood vessels, or a hyperactive inflammatory response to the virus by the patient\u2019s immune system. \u201cOne of the theories is that once the body is so engaged in a fight against an invader, the body starts consuming the clotting factors, which can result in either blood clots or bleeding. In Ebola, the balance was more toward bleeding. In covid-19, it\u2019s more blood clots,\u201d he said. A study published in JAMA on Wednesday found that a large number of covid-19 patients admitted to New York State\u2019s largest health system came in with blood test readings that indicated clotting problems. And a Dutch study published April 10 in the journal Thrombosis Research provided more evidence the issue is widespread, finding 38 percent of 184 covid-19 patients in an intensive care unit had blood that clotted abnormally. The researchers called it \u201ca conservative estimation\u201d because many of the patients were still hospitalized and at risk of further complications. Early data from China on a sample of 183 patients showed more than 70 percent of patients who died of covid-19 had small clots develop throughout their bloodstream.Although acute respiratory distress syndrome still appears to be the leading cause of death in covid-19 patients, blood complications are not far behind, said Behnood Bikdeli, a fourth-year fellow at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who helped anchor a paper about the blood clots in the Journal of The American College of Cardiology. \u201cMy guess is it\u2019s one of the top three causes of demise and deterioration in covid-19 patients,\u201d he said. That recognition is prompting many hospitals to change the way they think about the disease and manage it. When the novel coronavirus first hit, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others put people with asthma at the top of their lists of those who might be the most vulnerable. But European researchers writing in the journal Lancet noted it was \u201cstriking\u201d how underrepresented asthma patients had been. Earlier this month, when New York state released data about the top chronic health problems of those who died of covid-19, asthma was not among them. Instead, they were almost all cardiovascular conditions. Some"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Craig Coopersmith was up early that morning as usual and typed his daily inquiry into his phone. \u201cGood morning, Team Covid,\u201d he wrote, asking for updates from the ICU team leaders working across 10 hospitals in the Emory University health system in Atlanta.\nOne doctor replied that one of his patients had a strange blood problem. Despite being put on anticoagulants, the patient was still developing clots. A second said she\u2019d seen something similar. And a third. Soon, every person on the text chat had reported the same thing.\n\u201cThat\u2019s when we knew we had a huge problem,\u201d said Coopersmith, a critical-care surgeon. As he checked with his counterparts at other medical centers, he became increasingly alarmed: \u201cIt was in as many as 20, 30 or 40 percent of their patients.\u201d\nOne month ago when the country went into lockdown to prepare for the first wave of coronavirus cases, many doctors felt confident they knew what they were dealing with. Based on early reports, covid-19 appeared to be a standard variety respiratory virus, albeit a contagious and lethal one with no vaccine and no treatment. They\u2019ve since seen how covid-19 attacks not only the lungs, but also the kidneys, heart, intestines, liver and brain.\nIncreasingly, doctors also are reporting bizarre, unsettling cases that don\u2019t seem to follow any of the textbooks they\u2019ve trained on. They describe patients with startlingly low oxygen levels \u2014 so low that they would normally be unconscious or near death \u2014 talking and swiping on their phones. Asymptomatic pregnant women suddenly in cardiac arrest. Patients who by all conventional measures seem to have mild disease deteriorating within minutes and dying at home.\nWith no clear patterns in terms of age or chronic conditions, some scientists hypothesize that at least some of these abnormalities may be explained by severe changes in patients\u2019 blood.\nThe concern is so acute some doctor groups have raised the controversial possibility of giving preventive blood thinners to everyone with covid-19 \u2014 even those well enough to endure their illness at home.\nBlood clots, in which the red liquid turns gel-like, appear to be the opposite of what occurs in Ebola, Dengue, Lassa and other hemorrhagic fevers that lead to uncontrolled bleeding. But they actually are part of the same phenomenon \u2014 and can have similarly devastating consequences.\nAutopsies have shown some people\u2019s lungs fill with hundreds of microclots. Errant blood clots of a larger size can break off and travel to the brain or heart, causing a stroke or heart attack. On Saturday, Broadway actor Nick Cordero, 41, had his right leg amputated after being infected with the novel coronavirus and suffering from clots that blocked blood from getting to his toes.\nLewis Kaplan, a University of Pennsylvania physician and head of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, said every year doctors treat people with clotting complications, from those with cancer to victims of severe trauma, \u201cand they don\u2019t clot like this.\u201d\n\u201cThe problem we are having is that while we understand that there is a clot, we don\u2019t yet understand why there is a clot,\u201d Kaplan said. \u201cWe don\u2019t know. And therefore, we are scared.\u201d\nThe first sign something was going haywire was in legs, which were turning blue and swelling. Even patients on blood thinners in the ICU were developing clots \u2014 which is not unusual in one or two patients in one unit but is for so many at the same time. Next came the clogging of the dialysis machines, which filter impurities in blood when kidneys are failing and jammed several times a day.\n\u201cThere was a universal understanding that this was different,\u201d Coopersmith said.\nThen came the autopsies. When they opened up some deceased patients\u2019 lungs, they expected to find evidence of pneumonia and damage to the tiny air sacs that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the bloodstream. Instead, they found tiny clots all over.\nZoom meetings were convened in some of the largest medical centers nationwide. Tufts. Yale-New Haven. The University of Pennsylvania. Brigham and Women\u2019s. Columbia-Presbyterian. Theories were shared. Treatments debated.\nAlthough there was no consensus on the biology of why this was happening and what could be done about it, many came to believe the clots might be responsible for a significant share of U.S. deaths from covid-19 \u2014 possibly explaining why so many people are dying at home.\nIn hindsight, there were hints blood problems had been an issue in China and Italy as well, but it was more of a footnote in studies and on information-sharing calls that had focused on the disease\u2019s destruction of the lungs.\n\u201cIt crept up on us. We weren\u2019t hearing a tremendous amount about this internationally,\u201d said Greg Piazza, a cardiovascular specialist at Brigham and Women\u2019s who has begun a study of bleeding complications of covid-19.\nHelen W. Boucher, an infectious-disease specialist at Tufts Medical Center, said there\u2019s no reason to think anything is different about the virus in the United States. More likely, she said, the problem was more obvious to American doctors because of the unique demographics of U.S. patients, including large percentages with heart disease and obesity that make them more vulnerable to the ravages of blood clots. She also noted small but important differences in the monitoring and treatment of patients in ICUs in this country that would make clots easier to detect.\n\u201cPart of this is by virtue of the fact that we have such incredible intensive care facilities,\u201d she said.\nThe body\u2019s cardiovascular system often is described as a network of one-way streets that connect the heart to other organs. Blood is the transport system, responsible for moving nutrients to the cells and waste away from them. A common cold or a cut on the finger can lead to changes that help repair the damage, but when the body undergoes a more significant trauma, the blood can overreact, leading to an imbalance that can cause excessive clots or bleeding \u2014 and sometimes both.\nScientists call this \u201chemostatic derangement.\u201d In math, a derangement is a permutation in which no element is in its original position.\nHarlan Krumholz, a cardiac specialist at the Yale-New Haven Hospital Center, said no one knows whether blood complications are a result of a direct assault on blood vessels, or a hyperactive inflammatory response to the virus by the patient\u2019s immune system.\n\u201cOne of the theories is that once the body is so engaged in a fight against an invader, the body starts consuming the clotting factors, which can result in either blood clots or bleeding. In Ebola, the balance was more toward bleeding. In covid-19, it\u2019s more blood clots,\u201d he said.\nA study published in JAMA on Wednesday found that a large number of covid-19 patients admitted to New York State\u2019s largest health system came in with blood test readings that indicated clotting problems.\nAnd a Dutch study published April 10 in the journal Thrombosis Research provided more evidence the issue is widespread, finding 38 percent of 184 covid-19 patients in an intensive care unit had blood that clotted abnormally. The researchers called it \u201ca conservative estimation\u201d because many of the patients were still hospitalized and at risk of further complications.\nEarly data from China on a sample of 183 patients showed more than 70 percent of patients who died of covid-19 had small clots develop throughout their bloodstream.Although acute respiratory distress syndrome still appears to be the leading cause of death in covid-19 patients, blood complications are not far behind, said Behnood Bikdeli, a fourth-year fellow at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who helped anchor a paper about the blood clots in the Journal of The American College of Cardiology.\n\u201cMy guess is it\u2019s one of the top three causes of demise and deterioration in covid-19 patients,\u201d he said.\nThat recognition is prompting many hospitals to change the way they think about the disease and manage it. When the novel coronavirus first hit, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others put people with asthma at the top of their lists of those who might be the most vulnerable. But European researchers writing in the journal Lancet noted it was \u201cstriking\u201d how underrepresented asthma patients had been. Earlier this month, when New York state released data about the top chronic health problems of those who died of covid-19, asthma was not among them. Instead, they were almost all cardiovascular conditions.\nSome medical centers have begun giving all hospitalized covid-19 patients small doses of blood thinners as preventive measures, and many are adjusting doses upward for the most seriously ill. The challenge is the more you give, the greater the danger of upsetting the balance in the other direction and having the patient bleed to death.\nAnother big mystery the doctors hope the blood issue will shed light on is why some maternity patients are collapsing during or after giving birth.\nA paper published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM in late March detailed how two women with no prior symptoms of covid-19 ended up in intensive care. The first was a 38-year-old patient of New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in Manhattan who spiked a fever of 101.3 while undergoing a C-section delivery and began bleeding profusely. The second woman, 33, also underwent a C-section but the next day developed a cough that progressed to respiratory distress. Her heart beat irregularly and her blood pressure jumped to as high as 200/90.\nSeveral physician-researchers said the relationship between covid-19, clotting and pregnant women is \u201can area of interest.\u201d Women in childbirth can experience clotting and bleeding complications because of the involvement of the blood-rich placenta, but it\u2019s possible covid-19 may be triggering additional cases by making some women\u2019s bodies \u201close balance.\u201d\n\u201cThere\u2019s lots of speculation,\u201d Krumholz said. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the frustrating things about this virus. We\u2019re in a lot of darkness still.\u201d\nRead more:\nAfter deaths of two of their own in New Jersey town, some EMTs go AWOL while others soldier on\nSandy Brown lost her husband and son to the coronavirus. As multiple families face multiple deaths, experts call for isolating sick away from families.\nA funeral, a birthday party, hugs and covid-19: CDC traces Chicago coronavirus outbreak to family gatherings\nWho\u2019s favored, who\u2019s not if there\u2019s a ventilator shortage"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "LPD3YBSVZZAMVJRX23N5FSA4FE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "LPD3YBSVZZAMVJRX23N5FSA4FE_2", "title": "The Health 202: Coronavirus keeps spreading. But at least we've learned more about it.", "text": "the immune system's \u201cmemory\u201d T cells, which are trained to recognize specific People may derive this protection from standard childhood vaccinations or from previous infections by other coronaviruses, such as those that cause the common cold, my colleague Ariana Eunjung Cha reported. \u201cThis might potentially explain why some people seem to fend off the virus and may be less susceptible to becoming severely ill,\u201d National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins remarked in a blog post last week. \u201cOn a population level, such findings, if validated, could be far-reaching,\u201d Ariana wrote. \u201c \u2026 In communities in Boston, Barcelona, Wuhan and other major cities, the proportion of people estimated to have antibodies and therefore presumably be immune has mostly been in the single digits. But if others had partial protection from T cells, that would raise a community\u2019s immunity level much higher.\u201d The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in June that there were roughly 10 times more coronavirus infections in the United States than had been confirmed through testing. There were just 2.4 million confirmed cases when CDC Director Robert Redfield made that estimate \u2014 which, if accurate, would have translated to 24 million cases at the time. Confirmed cases have since doubled, to more than 5 million \u2014 meaning the virus may have swept through tens of millions of people. Redfield based his estimate on the results of antibody tests, which examine a person\u2019s blood for indicators that the body fought off an infection, Lena H. Sun and Joel Achenbach wrote. Scientists initially thought the virus easily spread on surfaces, similar to how other viruses operate. That\u2019s why much of the initial public health advice centered around hand-washing and disinfecting surfaces. Now public health experts think SARS-CoV-2 is primarily spread through person-to-person contact. In May, the CDC updated guidance on its \u201cHow COVID-19 Spreads\u201d website to say that \u201cthe virus spreads easily between people.\u201d The agency also acknowledged the virus may spread other ways, such as through touching contaminated objects or surfaces, but clarified \u201cthis is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.\u201d \u201cThe virus travels through the droplets a person produces when talking or coughing,\u201d Ben Guarino and Joel wrote. \u201cAn individual does not need to feel sick or show symptoms to spread the submicroscopic virus. Close contact means within about six feet, the distance at which a sneeze flings heavy"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "with Paulina Firozi\nCoronavirus infections are swelling in the United States, which hit 5 million cases over the weekend.\nBut so is the body of research on how the novel coronavirus spreads and affects people.\nDozens of studies have now been published in top medical journals, providing critical information to public health officials and medical professionals attempting to get a handle on the virus. More understanding of the virus is critical, as its aggressive spread around the country confounds President Trump\u2019s efforts toward an economic rebound and threatens to keep schools and workplaces shuttered through the fall.\nThere\u2019s a lot left to learn. But some of the blanks are starting to be filled in, now that researchers around the world have had six months to study it (check out The Post's database of questions and answers about the pandemic).\nHere are some things we learned about the virus over the summer \u2014 and some questions that persist:\nResearchers are still trying to discover whether people without visible symptoms spread the virus at similar rates as those with symptoms. There\u2019s been a considerable amount of confusion around this question, particularly after the World Health Organization appeared to suggest the virus isn\u2019t spread asymptomatically \u2014 and then walked back its pronouncement the next day.\nIt seems clear that asymptomatic transmission does occur. People with no symptoms carry the same level of virus in their nose, throat and lungs as those with symptoms, according to a South Korean study of 303 people published last week in JAMA Internal Medicine.\nThe study was the first to distinguish between patients who didn\u2019t develop symptoms initially and those who did develop symptoms later on \u2014 which can cause some confusion when looking at asymptomatic spread. Based on their observations, the researchers estimated that 30 percent of infected people never develop symptoms.\nAnthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said last week he thinks the figure is closer to 40 percent.\n\u201cThe good news about covid-19 is that about 40 percent of the population have no symptoms when they get infected,\u201d Fauci said, but he added that asymptomatic people \"are propagating the outbreak, which means that you\u2019re going to infect someone, who will infect someone, who then will have a serious consequence.\u201d\nThere is some very early, tentative evidence suggesting a segment of the world\u2019s population may have partial protection thanks to the immune system's \u201cmemory\u201d T cells, which are trained to recognize specific\nPeople may derive this protection from standard childhood vaccinations or from previous infections by other coronaviruses, such as those that cause the common cold, my colleague Ariana Eunjung Cha reported.\n\u201cThis might potentially explain why some people seem to fend off the virus and may be less susceptible to becoming severely ill,\u201d National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins remarked in a blog post last week.\n\u201cOn a population level, such findings, if validated, could be far-reaching,\u201d Ariana wrote. \u201c \u2026 In communities in Boston, Barcelona, Wuhan and other major cities, the proportion of people estimated to have antibodies and therefore presumably be immune has mostly been in the single digits. But if others had partial protection from T cells, that would raise a community\u2019s immunity level much higher.\u201d\nThe head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in June that there were roughly 10 times more coronavirus infections in the United States than had been confirmed through testing.\nThere were just 2.4 million confirmed cases when CDC Director Robert Redfield made that estimate \u2014 which, if accurate, would have translated to 24 million cases at the time. Confirmed cases have since doubled, to more than 5 million \u2014 meaning the virus may have swept through tens of millions of people.\nRedfield based his estimate on the results of antibody tests, which examine a person\u2019s blood for indicators that the body fought off an infection, Lena H. Sun and Joel Achenbach wrote.\nScientists initially thought the virus easily spread on surfaces, similar to how other viruses operate. That\u2019s why much of the initial public health advice centered around hand-washing and disinfecting surfaces.\nNow public health experts think SARS-CoV-2 is primarily spread through person-to-person contact.\nIn May, the CDC updated guidance on its \u201cHow COVID-19 Spreads\u201d website to say that \u201cthe virus spreads easily between people.\u201d The agency also acknowledged the virus may spread other ways, such as through touching contaminated objects or surfaces, but clarified \u201cthis is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.\u201d\n\u201cThe virus travels through the droplets a person produces when talking or coughing,\u201d Ben Guarino and Joel wrote. \u201cAn individual does not need to feel sick or show symptoms to spread the submicroscopic virus. Close contact means within about six feet, the distance at which a sneeze flings heavy droplets. Example after example have shown the microbe\u2019s affinity for density. The virus has spread easily in nursing homes, prisons, cruise ships and meatpacking plants \u2014 places where many people are living or working in proximity.\u201d\nChildren only rarely get seriously ill or die of covid-19, the disease the virus causes; data on hospitalizations and deaths make that clear. But whether \u2014 and to what extent \u2014 they can spread the virus to others asymptomatically is still murky.\nStudies are also conflicting on whether the age of children affects their likelihood of spreading the virus. One study conducted at a Chicago hospital found children younger than 5 with mild to moderate cases of covid-19 had much higher levels of virus in their noses than older children and adults \u2014 suggesting they could be more infectious, Ariana, Haisten Willis and Chelsea Janes reported.\nBut a study out of South Korea examining household transmission seemed to\nThe lungs appear most susceptible to the virus. Researchers have also found the pathogen in\nBut researchers have been surprised to discover little inflammation on the brain, despite previous reports about\nPutin declared victory in the vaccine race, saying his own daughter has already been inoculated with it, The Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan and Carolyn Y. Johnson report.\n\u201cOfficials have pledged to vaccinate millions of people, including teachers and front-line health-care workers, with the experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow this month, raising global alarm that the country is jumping dangerously ahead of critical, large scale testing that is essential to determine if it is safe and effective,\u201d they write.\nNaturally:\n\u201cOf course, what counts most is for us to be able to ensure the unconditional safety of the use of this vaccine and its efficiency in the future. I hope that this will be accomplished,\u201d Putin said at a meeting with government members Tuesday.\n\u201cThe aggressive strategy from a country eager to declare a victory amid one of the worst outbreaks in the world has been criticized by outside scientists who worry that\nThe Trump administration is circulating a proposal that would enable border officials to block individuals from entering the country from Mexico if they are suspected to be infected, Chelsea Janes, Brady Dennis, Nick Miroff and Josh Dawsey report.\n\u201cIt is unclear whether the Trump administration has the legal authority to block citizens and permanent residents from returning to their own country, but one official said the administration is weighing a public health emergency declaration that would let the White House keep out potentially infected Americans,\u201d they add. \u201cMedical experts have warned the administration that such restrictions would make little difference in controlling the pandemic, because widespread community transmission already is occurring in the United States.\u201d\nThe administration has already cited the pandemic to enforce a system of expelling most migrants taken into custody at the border and returning them to Mexico.\nThe New York Times, which first reported the administration\u2019s discussions, reported that the draft regulation does not detail how long the individual would be required to stay outside the country.\nThe Times adds, \u201cThe rule appears to apply to all points of entry into the United States, including at airports and along both the northern and southern borders. In particular, the draft could impact the border with Mexico, where many American citizens and legal residents cross back and forth frequently.\u201d\nImmigration and Customs Enforcement says it wants to expel migrant children to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But the children sent home have already tested negative.\n\u201cCourt documents, and information given by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to congressional staff last week, reveal that the Trump administration has agreed to test every child in its custody before sending them back to their home countries under the expulsion policy,\u201d Dara Lind and Lomi Kriel report for ProPublica. \u201cICE\u2019s comprehensive testing appears to undermine the rationale for the mass expulsion policy: that it is necessary to \u2018prevent the introduction\u2019 of COVID-19 into the United States.\u201d\nThe administration has cited the ongoing pandemic as the reason it is sidestepping protections that are meant to direct migrant children to the Department of Health and Human Services. Citing a law that allows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to exclude an individual if they may introduce diseases into the United States, the CDC began blocking anyone without documentation from entering the country in March.\nIt\u2019s not clear, Dara and Lomi add, when the testing requirements began.\nLee Gelernt of the ACLU, which is representing children in legal challenges to the policy, told ProPublica that the administration\u2019s \u201cclaim that they need to summarily expel children because of COVID was always a pretext. \u2026 If they are now actually testing and know the children do not have COVID, then the policy is that much more unjustified.\u201d\nJeff Jeans, a conservative Republican from Sedona, Ariz., will explain how he opposed the Affordable Care Act until he was diagnosed with throat cancer and was able to get insurance coverage despite that preexisting condition, Matt Viser reports.\nThe list of speakers also includes \u201ca former Trump voter from Pennsylvania who is supporting Biden, a paramedic and immigrant from Mexico City on the front lines of the pandemic in Florida, a bus driver from Atlanta and an autoworker from Lake Orion, Mich.,\u201d he adds.\nHillary Clinton, the party\u2019s 2016 presidential nominee, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will also be among the marquee speakers during the four-night convention, which will be mostly virtual and streamed online across numerous social media platforms and on television. Former president Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are also set to speak, though Warren will be slotted into the vice presidential speaking slot if she\u2019s chosen as Biden\u2019s running mate.\nDuring his landmark visit, the Health and Human Services secrretary pointed to the U.S. support for Taiwan in \u201csecurity, commerce, health care and shared common values\u201d and praised its strategy for addressing the novel coronavirus, Gerry Shih reports. U.S. and Taiwanese officials also signed an accord meant to signal cooperation on disease control and drug development.\nThe Chinese government wasn't pleased.\n\u201cChina claims Taiwan, a self-ruled island backed militarily by Washington, as its territory, and it objects strenuously to Taiwan\u2019s participation in international bodies like the World Health Organization and to any official exchanges that lend Taiwan the appearance of sovereign nation status,\" Gerry writes.\nAzar\u2019s visit was also an opportunity for the U.S. and Taiwan to compare notes on their responses to the pandemic.\n\u201cThe gap between the democracies is stark: Taiwan, population 23 million, has reported fewer than 500 novel coronavirus cases and seven deaths as of Sunday. The United States, population 328 million, has reported 5 million cases and more than 162,000 deaths,\u201d Emily Rauhala reports.\nChuang Yin-ching, an infectious-disease specialist with the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, told The Post about learning about the coronavirus. He held a news conference in mid-January to warn the world, days after listening to local health officials in Wuhan, China, describe the mysterious new virus.\n\u201cTaiwan took immediate action. The United States did not,\u201d Emily writes. \u201c \u2026 Much of Taiwan\u2019s coronavirus strategy \u2014 masks, contact tracing, testing, quarantine \u2014 has been well documented. But Chuang\u2019s testimony about the earliest days of the outbreak offers additional lessons about how Taiwan was able to stop the coronavirus in its tracks \u2014 while the United States was overrun.\u201d\nA few more stories to catch up on this morning:"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "MZDPKATOVMI6VMKI4THD7PMFWU_2", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "MZDPKATOVMI6VMKI4THD7PMFWU_2", "title": "Three months into the pandemic, here\u2019s how likely the coronavirus is to infect people", "text": "774 deaths worldwide. That successful fight may have led to some complacency; researchers say funding for SARS research dried up in recent years. \u201cWe thought we cured it. We thought the virus disappeared. Well, the virus didn\u2019t disappear, did it?\u201d said Michael Buchmeier, a UC Irvine virologist who has studied coronaviruses for three decades. Because this is such a contagious virus, a large percentage of the world\u2019s population, potentially billions of people, could become infected within the next couple of years. Frantic efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccine are likely to take a year or more. President Trump and others have repeatedly downplayed the threat of covid-19 by comparing its lethality to seasonal influenza, which claims tens of thousands of lives in the United States every year. But covid-19 may be many times as lethal for an infected person as seasonal flu. Messaoudi noted that the health system is set up to deal with the seasonal flu, but not with a new, pandemic disease. \u201cWe have a vaccine for the flu. And antivirals. It\u2019s seasonal, we prepare for it, we try to get vaccination coverage; this is already what our system is dealing with,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is the wrong time to deal with another surge of a respiratory disease that causes a lot of morbidity and potentially mortality.\u201d The bulldozer nature of coronavirus means widespread severe illnesses and deaths from covid-19 can happen with terrifying speed. This happened in northern Italy, where hospitals become overwhelmed and many patients couldn\u2019t get standard lifesaving treatment. The pandemic appears to be largely driven by direct, human-to-human transmission. That is why public health officials have told people to engage in social distancing, a simple but effective way to drive down virus\u2019s reproductive number \u2014 known as R0, pronounced \u201cR naught.\u201d That is the average number of new infections generated by each infected person. The R0 is not an intrinsic feature of the virus. It can be lowered through containment, mitigation and ultimately \u201cherd immunity,\u201d as people who have recovered become less susceptible to infections or serious illnesses. For the epidemic to begin to end, the reproduction rate has to drop below 1. In the early days in China, before the government imposed extreme travel restrictions in Wuhan and nearby areas, and before everyone realized exactly how bad the epidemic might be, the R0 was 2.38, according to a study published in"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Three months into this pandemic, scientists are coming to understand the novel coronavirus. They know, for example, that as horrible as this virus is, it is not the worst, most apocalyptic virus imaginable. Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, is not as contagious as measles, and although it is very dangerous, it is not as likely to kill an infected person as, say, Ebola.\nBut there is one critically important, calamitous feature of SARS-CoV-2: the novelty. When it jumped from an animal host into the human population sometime late last year, no one had immunity to it. That is one reason the new coronavirus is not comparable to a harsh strain of the flu going around.\nThe first cluster of mysterious, pneumonia-like respiratory illnesses was reported in Wuhan, China, at the end of December, and in the days that followed, it spread explosively. With astonishing speed, this submicroscopic pathogen has contaminated the planet, infecting more than 600,000 as of Saturday and killing at least 28,000, grinding global commerce to a near standstill and rattling the nerves of everyone brave enough to be following the news.\n\u201cThis is a new virus that has landed in the human community. We are a brand-new, naive population. We\u2019re kind of sitting ducks, right?\u201d said Ilhem Messaoudi, a virologist at the University of California at Irvine.\nMost viral contagions in circulation face obstacles in the form of people with at least partial immunity. But this coronavirus is a bulldozer. It can flatten everyone in its path.\nWhen the virus infects people, they don\u2019t get sick right away. Researchers believe the  incubation period before symptoms is roughly five days on average. In studying the pattern of illness, epidemiologists have made the dismaying discovery that people start shedding the virus \u2014 potentially making others sick \u2014 in advance of symptoms. Thus, the virus has a gift for stealth transmission. It seeds itself in communities far and wide, where vulnerable human beings represent endless fertile terrain.\nAt the genetic level, the new virus is not terribly different from the SARS virus that emerged in China in 2002 \u2014 which is why the new one has the derivative name SARS-CoV-2. SARS killed nearly 1 in 10 patients. But people with SARS infections did not shed the virus until they were already quite sick, and victims were typically hospitalized. SARS was snuffed out after causing about 8,000 infections and 774 deaths worldwide.\nThat successful fight may have led to some complacency; researchers say funding for SARS research dried up in recent years.\n\u201cWe thought we cured it. We thought the virus disappeared. Well, the virus didn\u2019t disappear, did it?\u201d said Michael Buchmeier, a UC Irvine virologist who has studied coronaviruses for three decades.\nBecause this is such a contagious virus, a large percentage of the world\u2019s population, potentially billions of people, could become infected within the next couple of years. Frantic efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccine are likely to take a year or more.\nPresident Trump and others have repeatedly downplayed the threat of covid-19 by comparing its lethality to seasonal influenza, which claims tens of thousands of lives in the United States every year. But covid-19 may be many times as lethal for an infected person as seasonal flu.\nMessaoudi noted that the health system is set up to deal with the seasonal flu, but not with a new, pandemic disease.\n\u201cWe have a vaccine for the flu. And antivirals. It\u2019s seasonal, we prepare for it, we try to get vaccination coverage; this is already what our system is dealing with,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is the wrong time to deal with another surge of a respiratory disease that causes a lot of morbidity and potentially mortality.\u201d\nThe bulldozer nature of coronavirus means widespread severe illnesses and deaths from covid-19 can happen with terrifying speed. This happened in northern Italy, where hospitals become overwhelmed and many patients couldn\u2019t get standard lifesaving treatment.\nThe pandemic appears to be largely driven by direct, human-to-human transmission. That is why public health officials have told people to engage in social distancing, a simple but effective way to drive down virus\u2019s reproductive number \u2014 known as R0, pronounced \u201cR naught.\u201d That is the average number of new infections generated by each infected person.\nThe R0 is not an intrinsic feature of the virus. It can be lowered through containment, mitigation and ultimately \u201cherd immunity,\u201d as people who have recovered become less susceptible to infections or serious illnesses. For the epidemic to begin to end, the reproduction rate has to drop below 1.\nIn the early days in China, before the government imposed extreme travel restrictions in Wuhan and nearby areas, and before everyone realized exactly how bad the epidemic might be, the R0 was 2.38, according to a study published in the journal Science. That is a highly contagious disease.\nBut on Jan. 23, China imposed extreme travel restrictions and soon put hundreds of millions of people into some form of lockdown as authorities aggressively limited social contact. The R0 plummeted below 1, and the epidemic has been throttled in China, at least for now.\nThe virus does have an innate infectivity, based on how it binds to receptors in cells in the respiratory tract and then takes over the machinery of those cells to make copies of itself. But its ability to spread depends also on the vulnerability of the human population, including the density of the community.\n\u201cIf you have a seriously infectious virus and you\u2019re sitting by yourself in a room, the R naught is zero. You can\u2019t give it to anybody,\u201d says Jeffery Taubenberger, a virologist with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.\nWithout a vaccine or a drug to stop infections, the best hope is to break the chain of transmission one infection at a time. There is no way to combat the virus through aerial spraying, dousing the public drinking water with a potion or simply hoping that it will magically go away.\n\u201cSocial distancing is building speed bumps so that we can slow the spread of the virus. We have to respect the speed bumps,\u201d Messaoudi said.\nMelissa Nolan, an epidemiologist at the University of South Carolina, said the efficacy of social distancing \u201cis the million-dollar question right now.\u201d\nShe compared the current public measures to what happened during the 1918 influenza pandemic that killed an estimated 675,000 people in the United States, and in which some cities were more careful than others about enforcing social distancing.\n\u201cThe USA is currently in a natural experiment of sorts, which each state implementing their own version of social distancing,\u201d she said. \u201cWe will be able to compare the efficacy of these various public health policies, but not until more time has passed.\u201d\nThe social distancing effort requires individual participation on behalf of a collective need. But it is self-interested first and foremost: No one wants to catch this virus. It can be deadly, and even if not, many victims are miserable for days or even weeks on end.\nNot only must people limit their direct contact, they need to limit the amount that their paths overlap, because the virus can linger on surfaces.\nThe virus degrades outside a host because of exposure to moisture and sunlight, or from drying out. But a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that in pristine laboratory conditions, some SARS-CoV-2 particles can remain potentially viable on metal or plastic for up to three days.\nIt is unclear to what degree contact with contaminated surfaces is playing a role in the contagion. This is obviously something everyone would like to know when they handle the pump at a gas station or go to a grocery store. Absent hard data, limiting contact with shared surfaces, such as door handles or checkout machines, and frequent hand-washing is highly advisable.\nEven though we do not have a vaccine, and no one had immunity to this novel pathogen, people have some innate, mechanical defenses against viruses just like they do against pollen and dust, Taubenberger noted. Cells in the respiratory tract have tiny hairlike projections, called cilia, that move mucus toward the throat in a manner that helps clear invasive particles. This is not our body\u2019s first viral rodeo.\njoel.achenbach@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "QPO5LRHAHNEJVLNIWJJ3C7LZEM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "QPO5LRHAHNEJVLNIWJJ3C7LZEM_0", "title": "Key terms of the coronavirus outbreak, explained: From asymptomatic to zoonotic", "text": "With health officials trying to prevent and prepare for the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, there is much panic and confusion and many questions. Here are some key terms and facts to know: Coronavirus: Covid-19: Zoonotic: Community transmission: Outbreak: Epidemic: Pandemic: Fatality rate: Asymptomatic transmission: Isolation: Quarantine: Containment: Mitigation: Vaccine: Anti-viral medicines:"}], "old": [{"_id": "QPO5LRHAHNEJVLNIWJJ3C7LZEM_0", "title": "Key terms of the coronavirus outbreak, explained: From asymptomatic to zoonotic", "text": "Coronavirus: Covid-19: Zoonotic: Community transmission: Outbreak: Epidemic: Pandemic: Fatality rate: Asymptomatic transmission: Isolation: Quarantine: Containment: Mitigation: Vaccine: Anti-viral medicines:"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "With health officials trying to prevent and prepare for the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, there is much panic and confusion and many questions. Here are some key terms and facts to know:\nCoronavirus:\nCovid-19:\nZoonotic:\nCommunity transmission:\nOutbreak:\nEpidemic:\nPandemic:\nFatality rate:\nAsymptomatic transmission:\nIsolation:\nQuarantine:\nContainment:\nMitigation:\nVaccine:\nAnti-viral medicines:"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "QZ4PTMLWWJBDNPCB2CJRTEJGTE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "QZ4PTMLWWJBDNPCB2CJRTEJGTE_1", "title": "U.S. stocks sink as U.K. coronavirus mutation sparks alarm", "text": "said Monday in comments emailed to The Post. European markets plummeted on the news. The benchmark Stoxx 600 index declined 2.7 percent in midday trading, while France\u2019s CAC 40 and Germany\u2019s DAX both slumped nearly 3 percent. The U.K.\u2019s FTSE 100 index declined 2.5 percent. Major U.S. indices declined 1 percent or more at the opening bell Monday before recovering some losses. The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day barely positive at 30,215. The S&P 500 index had declined .4 percent to 3,694, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq ticked .1 percent lower to 12,742. U.K. health officials have said the variant first identified there was spreading 70 percent faster than other strains. The variant has now been found in Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy and South Africa. But U.S. public health experts and federal officials say that while this strain is fast-spreading, it might not be any more dangerous than others already detected. There is no evidence yet that the mutation could require changes to coronavirus vaccines, experts say, but investors still are thrown by the prospect of another major setback on the road to recovery. Despite the catastrophic impacts of the pandemic\u2019s first wave, stock markets have hovered near or at record highs for weeks even as U.S. coronavirus deaths have soared past 317,000 and the economy shows signs of slowing. \u201cWe should keep in mind how far we\u2019ve come,\u201d Chris Larkin, managing director of trading at E-Trade, said in comments emailed to The Post. \u201cIf the year had ended Friday, [the S&P\u2019s] annual return would have been 14.8% \u2014 placing it comfortably in the top half of yearly gains since 1960. Not bad, considering the SPX was down 32% on the year in March.\u201d The prevailing unease was reflect in oil markets Monday, where the revival of European travel restrictions sparked fears of another broader lockdown. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark sank, 4.1 percent to trade at $50.10 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, fell 4.2 percent to trade at $47.04 per barrel. \u201cCrude prices plummeted as a fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus emerging from the UK would cripple all travel across Europe and the US,\u201d Ed Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, said Monday in comments emailed to The Post. \u201cThe short-term crude demand outlook just got dealt a massive blow that will provide added uncertainty over the next couple of months. \u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Global markets swooned Monday as a new coronavirus strain in the United Kingdom sparked renewed travel restrictions in Europe and uncertainty among investors.\nRecent days had offered a parade of good news for traders, with the rapid-fire approval and rollout of Pfizer and BioNTech and Moderna\u2019s coronavirus vaccines and the long-awaited deal on Congress\u2019 $900 billion economic relief package. But a fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus in England has thrown another wrench into hopes that normalcy is just around the corner. Fears of the mutation prompted travel bans to the region by European countries and Canada over the weekend, as well as severe lockdown restrictions on millions in London and across southern England.\n\"The precautions required to assess the potential harm of the new Covid-19 strain will undoubtedly introduce additional risk to markets, which expected a smooth return to normal life following the vaccine\u2019s rollout,\u201d James McDonald, chief executive and chief investment officer of Hercules Investments, said Monday in comments emailed to The Post.\nEuropean markets plummeted on the news. The benchmark Stoxx 600 index declined 2.7 percent in midday trading, while France\u2019s CAC 40 and Germany\u2019s DAX both slumped nearly 3 percent. The U.K.\u2019s FTSE 100 index declined 2.5 percent.\nMajor U.S. indices declined 1 percent or more at the opening bell Monday before recovering some losses. The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day barely positive at 30,215. The S&P 500 index had declined .4 percent to 3,694, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq ticked .1 percent lower to 12,742.\nU.K. health officials have said the variant first identified there was spreading 70 percent faster than other strains. The variant has now been found in Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy and South Africa. But U.S. public health experts and federal officials say that while this strain is fast-spreading, it might not be any more dangerous than others already detected.\nThere is no evidence yet that the mutation could require changes to coronavirus vaccines, experts say, but investors still are thrown by the prospect of another major setback on the road to recovery. Despite the catastrophic impacts of the pandemic\u2019s first wave, stock markets have hovered near or at record highs for weeks even as U.S. coronavirus deaths have soared past 317,000 and the economy shows signs of slowing.\n\u201cWe should keep in mind how far we\u2019ve come,\u201d Chris Larkin, managing director of trading at E-Trade, said in comments emailed to The Post. \u201cIf the year had ended Friday, [the S&P\u2019s] annual return would have been 14.8% \u2014 placing it comfortably in the top half of yearly gains since 1960. Not bad, considering the SPX was down 32% on the year in March.\u201d\nThe prevailing unease was reflect in oil markets Monday, where the revival of European travel restrictions sparked fears of another broader lockdown. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark sank, 4.1 percent to trade at $50.10 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, fell 4.2 percent to trade at $47.04 per barrel.\n\u201cCrude prices plummeted as a fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus emerging from the UK would cripple all travel across Europe and the US,\u201d Ed Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA, said Monday in comments emailed to The Post. \u201cThe short-term crude demand outlook just got dealt a massive blow that will provide added uncertainty over the next couple of months. \u201d"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "R47VZCSDZEI6XITXJGTND6O76E_7", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "R47VZCSDZEI6XITXJGTND6O76E_7", "title": "U.S. officials debate travel bans as coronavirus variant spreads in Britain", "text": "lags behind many countries in sequencing the virus, having sequenced just 0.3 percent of the approximately 18 million coronavirus cases that have emerged since the start of the year. Forty-four countries surpass that proportion. The United Kingdom has sequenced roughly 8 percent of its outbreak, ranking ninth in the world. Australia, Denmark, Gambia, Iceland, New Zealand, Taiwan and Vietnam have sequenced even higher percentages of their outbreaks. The emergence of the new coronavirus variant could serve as a wake-up call about the need for better surveillance of the virus, said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport. \u201cThe same kind of infrastructure that you\u2019d want to monitor for all kinds of infectious-disease threats is what you\u2019d want to have in place now, but we just don\u2019t really have it in place,\u201d Kamil said. There have been many false alarms about dangerous mutations of the coronavirus, starting early in the pandemic. But a number of scientists who have been skeptical about reports of mutations are saying this new variant \u2014 the existence of which was announced Dec. 14 in the House of Commons \u2014 looks like a truly more transmissible version of SARS-CoV-2. They note that it is defined by not just one, but 17 mutations that popped up together and was first seen in a sample in September. There is no definitive scientific proof that this variant\u2019s rapid spread in recent months is directly driven by the mutations. But they said the mutations are suspicious. Eight affect the spike protein on the virus\u2019s exterior. The mutations may be helping the virus bind more easily to human receptor cells, scientists said. \u201cMy hunch is that it probably does have some kind of transmission advantage just because it did become so prevalent so quickly,\u201d Rasmussen said. \u201cThe preliminary data is strongly suggesting that it is spreading more easily,\u201d Kristian G. Andersen, an immunologist at Scripps Research, said in an email Monday. \u201cWe need to act as if the lineage is indeed spreading more easily as we cannot afford to hope that it\u2019s not and then be wrong about it.\u201d Even though the appearance of this variant is concerning and will require close surveillance, it is unlikely to undermine the vaccination program, said William Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. \u201cThe vaccine is a pretty thorough thing,\u201d Hanage said. \u201cWhether or not"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The new, mutation-laden variant of the coronavirus that has been spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom may already be circulating in the United States and other countries, leading infectious-disease experts said Monday.\nThere is no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness from covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. And scientists do not know with certainty whether this variant, officially known as B.1.1.7, is truly more transmissible. But it has the appearance of being so.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know that for absolutely certain, but it is reasonable to assume that is going on,\u201d Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Monday.\n\u201cNor is there any indication that the mutation would interfere with the response to the vaccine,\u201d Fauci added. \u201cHaving said all of that, when you\u2019re dealing with mutations, you have to follow them very closely and don\u2019t take them lightly.\u201d\nThe appearance of a coronavirus variant \u2014 which experts are so far not describing as a functionally distinct \u201cstrain\u201d \u2014 has generated a host of travel bans among nations hoping to limit import of the virus from the United Kingdom. This variant and another one identified in South Africa that contains a similar mutation have generated ominous headlines at a moment when positive news about vaccines had offered hope that the end of the pandemic could arrive in the not-too-distant future.\nSeveral top infectious-disease experts said Monday the variant may not have originated in the United Kingdom. Instead, it may have been identified there first because the United Kingdom has a robust monitoring system that has examined tens of thousands of genomic sequences of virus samples.\nThe United States has lagged in sequencing and does not have nearly the same level of virus surveillance.\n\u201cIt may very well be here. It may have even started here. The sequencing in the U.S. is so sporadic,\u201d said Jeremy Luban, a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.\n\u201cIt makes sense that it was detected first in the U.K. because they have probably the world\u2019s best surveillance program. It would not shock me at all to find out that it also is circulating in the U.S.,\u201d said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security.\nShe added that the coronavirus already in the United States is spreading easily, and a new variant will not change the need for people to follow public health guidance. A travel ban affecting flights from the United Kingdom might make little difference, she said.\n\u201cI don\u2019t think a travel ban is going to be particularly helpful. We already have out-of-control transmission of all the variants that are circulating in the U.S. here,\u201d she said.\nFauci said: \u201cIt very well might be here for all we know. That\u2019s why we have a system to do surveillance.\u201d\nThroughout the country, public health and elected officials grappled with how to respond to the new variant while seeking to calm public nerves just as a mass vaccination campaign gets underway.\nNew York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) called on the federal government to halt flights from the United Kingdom, citing decisions by several European countries to do so and the unknowns about the new variant. In the absence of federal action, he said he had taken a step within his power: Asking the three airlines that fly from the U.K. into New York \u2014 British Airways, Delta and Virgin Atlantic \u2014 to require all travelers to test negative before boarding. All three airlines agreed to do so.\n\u201cI believe intuitively [the new variant] is already here .\u2009.\u2009. because if it\u2019s been flying around the world, it will be here,\u201d Cuomo said. \u201cWe learned this lesson the hard way, and we\u2019re not going to go through it again. We have been victimized by federal incompetence and federal negligence, that is fact. And we are not going to be victimized again. .\u2009.\u2009. I believe my intuition is correct that this is another disaster waiting to happen.\u201d\nAcross the Hudson River in New Jersey, officials seemed far less alarmed. Asked why he had not attempted to restrict travel from Britain, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said: \u201cI think the science around that is still to be determined.\u201d But he added that the state was discussing the matter with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees airports in the region, including Newark Liberty International Airport.\nChristina Tan, New Jersey\u2019s state epidemiologist, noted that viruses frequently mutate and there is no evidence to suggest the variant would affect vaccination efforts. The main takeaway, she said, was that people should avoid travel that is not essential. \u201cWhether you have concerns about a new variant from the U.K. versus a hot spot from another part of the country, does it really matter?\u201d Tan said.\nCanada issued a 72-hour ban on flights from the United Kingdom on Sunday, and it took effect within hours, at midnight. Canada\u2019s minister of transport, Marc Garneau, said the move \u201cwill reduce the public health risks to Canadians.\u201d\nPresident Trump had issued a proclamation partially banning travel from the United Kingdom in March, though there were numerous exceptions, including for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as well as some relatives. Travel fell sharply, but thousands of people have continued to fly to the United States from the United Kingdom each month.\nAccording to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics and aviation data firm Cirium, more than 13,600 passengers flew directly from the United Kingdom to the United States in June. That figure has continued to climb. Airlines for America, an industry advocacy group, said total passengers arriving from London\u2019s Heathrow Airport topped 30,000 in November.\nU.S. officials said health authorities have been considering the best course, and discussions are underway among senior officials.\n\u201cCDC is following the situation closely and actively assessing the implications of the new variant and response options with respect to international travel,\u201d the agency said in a statement.\nIn Chicago, Allison Arwady, commissioner of the city\u2019s Department of Public Health, said the new variant did not give her \u201cmajor pause\u201d and should not undermine the vaccine campaign.\n\u201cIt still has the same crown, it still has the same spikes, there\u2019s no major changes in any way that we would anticipate the vaccine would not be effective,\u201d Arwady said. \u201cIt does not in any way affect us here in Chicago in terms of our planning or how the virus is behaving here. And, importantly, nothing about this at this point is concerning from a vaccine protection standpoint.\u201d\nIn California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said his administration had been in discussion for the past 48 hours with airlines and \u201cstakeholders\u201d in the state about possible new quarantine and testing protocols for travelers arriving from the United Kingdom. He said he hoped \u201cthe federal government takes action in this space.\u201d\nHe noted that researchers in California sequence 5,000 to 10,000 coronavirus samples a day and had seen no evidence of a new variant in the state.\nMark Ghaly, California\u2019s health and human services secretary, described the variant as \u201ca little bit more sticky than the covid virus that we\u2019ve been seeing to date.\u201d He said officials there are concerned \u201cbecause of the unknowns\u201d and will make recommendations about monitoring visitors from the United Kingdom and other affected areas.\n\u201cThe last thing we want to do is let a new strain of covid come and spread more rapidly or easily across the state,\u201d Ghaly said.\nOne place well positioned to identify the new variant if it is in the United States is Houston, where  scientists at Houston Methodist Hospital have produced 15,000 coronavirus sequences, according to hospital researcher James M. Musser. They haven\u2019t seen it.\n\u201cThat\u2019s not to say that it won\u2019t show up. But we do not have it now,\u201d Musser said.\nMusser noted that more than 8,000 people have been vaccinated at Houston Methodist,  with an additional 2,000 receiving the vaccine every day. Musser said he is concerned that vaccinations will put \u201cmassive selection pressure\u201d on the virus to mutate and to evade the immune response.\n\u201cWe are at war with an enemy that we have so little intel on, that it\u2019s just shocking to me,\u201d Musser said.\nData from the GISAID Initiative, which provides a global database of coronavirus genomes, shows the United States lags behind many countries in sequencing the virus, having sequenced just 0.3 percent of the approximately 18 million coronavirus cases that have emerged since the start of the year. Forty-four countries surpass that proportion. The United Kingdom has sequenced roughly 8 percent of its outbreak, ranking ninth in the world. Australia, Denmark, Gambia, Iceland, New Zealand, Taiwan and Vietnam have sequenced even higher percentages of their outbreaks.\nThe emergence of the new coronavirus variant could serve as a wake-up call about the need for better surveillance of the virus, said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport.\n\u201cThe same kind of infrastructure that you\u2019d want to monitor for all kinds of infectious-disease threats is what you\u2019d want to have in place now, but we just don\u2019t really have it in place,\u201d Kamil said.\nThere have been many false alarms about dangerous mutations of the coronavirus, starting early in the pandemic. But a number of scientists who have been skeptical about reports of mutations are saying this new variant \u2014 the existence of which was announced Dec. 14 in the House of Commons \u2014 looks like a truly more transmissible version of SARS-CoV-2.\nThey note that it is defined by not just one, but 17 mutations that popped up together and was first seen in a sample in September. There is no definitive scientific proof that this variant\u2019s rapid spread in recent months is directly driven by the mutations. But they said the mutations are suspicious.\nEight affect the spike protein on the virus\u2019s exterior. The mutations may be helping the virus bind more easily to human receptor cells, scientists said.\n\u201cMy hunch is that it probably does have some kind of transmission advantage just because it did become so prevalent so quickly,\u201d Rasmussen said.\n\u201cThe preliminary data is strongly suggesting that it is spreading more easily,\u201d Kristian G. Andersen, an immunologist at Scripps Research, said in an email Monday. \u201cWe need to act as if the lineage is indeed spreading more easily as we cannot afford to hope that it\u2019s not and then be wrong about it.\u201d\nEven though the appearance of this variant is concerning and will require close surveillance, it is unlikely to undermine the vaccination program, said William Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.\n\u201cThe vaccine is a pretty thorough thing,\u201d Hanage said. \u201cWhether or not the existing vaccines are less effective against B.1.1.7 is at the moment not known. I think there is good reason to think they will not be severely impacted.\u201d"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "R6FM47FEGII6VNQZH6ITHO5UQI_2", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "R6FM47FEGII6VNQZH6ITHO5UQI_2", "title": "Experts dispute reports that coronavirus is becoming less lethal", "text": "reporting in Italy are entirely due to changes to medical treatment and in human behavior, which limit transmission and numbers of new infections initiated by large inocula \u2014 a larger dose of virus appears to be worse \u2014 rather than changes in the virus itself,\u201d he said. All viruses evolve over time, and many infectious-disease experts think the novel coronavirus will eventually become less lethal to human beings, joining four other coronaviruses in causing common colds. But there is no solid evidence so far that it has changed significantly in the five months since it was first recognized among patients in Wuhan, China. \u201cThe virus hasn\u2019t lost function on the time scale of two months,\u201d said Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist at the University of California at Irvine. \u201cLoss of function is something I expect over a time scale of years.\u201d In the United States, the pandemic has taken on a patchwork pattern, with much of the Northeast seeing marked improvement. But some places in the South \u2014 Alabama, Texas and Virginia, for example \u2014 as well as Wisconsin, California and Washington state are showing increases in confirmed cases, according to the coronavirus tracker of Johns Hopkins University. \u201cEvery place has a different epidemic, and it\u2019s not because of the virus,\u201d said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Slight tweaks in the microbe\u2019s genetic makeup appear in different places on the planet. Epidemiologists use those mutations to track the virus\u2019s spread. Those changes are akin to stickers slapped on a well-traveled suitcase \u2014 markers of where the luggage has gone that don\u2019t impart any functional change. Researchers Harm van Bakel, Emilia Sordillo and Viviana Simon at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who have been focusing on the genetics of the novel coronavirus, said in an interview that they had not seen a dip in viral load among patients in that hospital system since March, nor have they detected any major genetic changes in the virus in New York City. People in the United States are collectively holding their breath, meanwhile, to see if there is an uptick in cases in response to the reopening of the economy, public gatherings over the Memorial Day holiday weekend and the eruption of protests against police violence in cities in recent days. Nuzzo pointed out that it usually takes around five days, and up to 14"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Has the novel coronavirus in Italy changed in some significant way? That was the suggestion of a top doctor in northern Italy who reports that patients to his hospital have been showing up with lower levels of the virus in their upper respiratory tracts compared with those two months ago.\nAlberto Zangrillo, head of San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, roiled the global public health community on Sunday when he told RAI, the national TV station, that \u201cthe virus clinically no longer exists in Italy,\u201d with patients showing minute amounts of virus in nasal swabs. Zangrillo theorized in a follow-up interview with The Washington Post that something different may be occurring \u201cin the interaction between the virus and the human airway receptors.\u201d\nHe added, \u201cWe cannot demonstrate that the virus has mutated, but we cannot ignore that our clinical findings have dramatically improved.\u201d\nThe comments, which received widespread attention following a Reuters report, prompted vigorous pushback from Michael Ryan, a top official with the World Health Organization, who said Monday during an online news conference that \u201cwe need to be exceptionally careful not to create a sense that all of a sudden the virus by its own volition has now decided to be less pathogenic. That is not the case at all.\u201d\nThe consensus among other experts interviewed Monday is that the clinical findings in Italy likely do not reflect any change in the virus itself.\nZangrillo\u2019s clinical observations are more likely a reflection of the fact that with the peak of the outbreak long past, there is less virus in circulation, and people may be less likely to be exposed to high doses of it. In addition, only severely sick people were likely to be tested early on, compared with the situation now when even those with mild symptoms are more likely to get swabbed, experts said.\nThe pandemic is evolving rapidly, with the rate of new cases declining in some hard-hit areas of the world, including northern Italy and New York City, while rising dramatically in Brazil, Peru and India. The virus, however, is mutating at a slow rate, experts say.\nSome strains\nVaughn Cooper, an infectious-disease expert at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said the new coronavirus mutates slowly compared with influenza and other microbes, and its genetic changes appear to be \u201cmostly inconsequential.\u201d\n\u201cI believe it\u2019s safe to say that the differences that doctors are reporting in Italy are entirely due to changes to medical treatment and in human behavior, which limit transmission and numbers of new infections initiated by large inocula \u2014 a larger dose of virus appears to be worse \u2014 rather than changes in the virus itself,\u201d he said.\nAll viruses evolve over time, and many infectious-disease experts think the novel coronavirus will eventually become less lethal to human beings, joining four other coronaviruses in causing common colds. But there is no solid evidence so far that it has changed significantly in the five months since it was first recognized among patients in Wuhan, China.\n\u201cThe virus hasn\u2019t lost function on the time scale of two months,\u201d said Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist at the University of California at Irvine. \u201cLoss of function is something I expect over a time scale of years.\u201d\nIn the United States, the pandemic has taken on a patchwork pattern, with much of the Northeast seeing marked improvement. But some places in the South \u2014 Alabama, Texas and Virginia, for example \u2014 as well as Wisconsin, California and Washington state are showing increases in confirmed cases, according to the coronavirus tracker of Johns Hopkins University.\n\u201cEvery place has a different epidemic, and it\u2019s not because of the virus,\u201d said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.\nSlight tweaks in the microbe\u2019s genetic makeup appear in different places on the planet. Epidemiologists use those mutations to track the virus\u2019s spread. Those changes are akin to stickers slapped on a well-traveled suitcase \u2014 markers of where the luggage has gone that don\u2019t impart any functional change.\nResearchers Harm van Bakel, Emilia Sordillo and Viviana Simon at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who have been focusing on the genetics of the novel coronavirus, said in an interview that they had not seen a dip in viral load among patients in that hospital system since March, nor have they detected any major genetic changes in the virus in New York City.\nPeople in the United States are collectively holding their breath, meanwhile, to see if there is an uptick in cases in response to the reopening of the economy, public gatherings over the Memorial Day holiday weekend and the eruption of protests against police violence in cities in recent days.\nNuzzo pointed out that it usually takes around five days, and up to 14 days, for an infection to result in symptoms, and then there is a further time lag before someone seeks a test and gets a result. There is also a lag between when symptoms begin and a person with a serious illness requires hospitalization. Thus it may be several weeks before the lessening of social distancing could result in a detectable change in the trajectory of a local epidemic, she said.\nCompounding the uncertainty\n\u201cWe never knew where the transmission was occurring in the United States. And still don\u2019t know,\u201d she said. \u201cIs it risky to go to the grocery store?\u201d\nCaitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at Johns Hopkins, noted that it is hard to tell to what degree people are practicing recommended safety measures, such as social distancing, in communities that have eased stay-at-home orders. She is most concerned about crowded institutions in which social distancing is difficult or impossible.\n\u201cI think we will continue to see explosive outbreaks connected to institutions,\u201d Rivers said.\nOf the 10 counties in the United States experiencing the greatest increase in their seven-day new case average from Friday, May 22, to Friday, May 29, at least nine have experienced outbreaks at a correctional facility, detention center, food processing center, or long-term-care facility.\n\u201cAn outbreak starts at an institution, then it starts to move into the community,\u201d Rivers said. \u201cWe can\u2019t just say, \u2018It\u2019s there at that place, it\u2019s irrelevant to the rest of us.\u2019 That\u2019s not true.\u201d"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "RJAJJGF6ONAQVGYLROTCTYMGMY_5", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "RJAJJGF6ONAQVGYLROTCTYMGMY_5", "title": "The coronavirus disarms the foot soldiers of the immune system. Scientists theorize that boosting them could fight covid-19.", "text": "unless we think it\u2019s going to be beneficial.\u201d She said she would like the NIH-sponsored trial to answer whether giving interferon drugs to hospitalized patients is helpful, and what dosages yield the best results. What\u2019s more, pitting these virus fighters against the coronavirus too late in the process could actually worsen symptoms, according to animal models cited in a recent review of interferon studies. Missing interferons, severe symptoms Scientists theorize that the virus\u2019s ability to disarm interferons early on may explain other aspects of the disease, such as the out-of-control inflammation reaction that develops in some patients. As the immune system mounts an inflammatory defense \u2014 but there are too few interferons to quickly contain the virus \u2014 the body\u2019s response can spiral out of control, several scientists said. In some cases, this uncontrolled inflammation becomes deadly. Some experts also suggest that a person\u2019s ability to mobilize interferons to wage a strong immune response at the start of the infection process may predict less severe disease. \u201cWe know that individuals differ in their ability to mount an interferon response,\u201d said pediatrician Petter Brodin, who studies the immune system at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. When otherwise healthy people fall ill, Brodin said, \u201cit makes me wonder at least \u2014 do they have a genetic susceptibility, an underlying immunodeficiency that we haven\u2019t picked up yet, which gives them this response, potentially because they failed to induce interferons?\u201d There is preliminary evidence for this, such as a case study of four men under age 35 who had rare genetic variants associated with impaired interferon response and who were hospitalized in the Netherlands with severe covid-19. Cause and effect is very difficult to determine in the human immune system. The Science papers used a variety of techniques to examine the virus, but they described only single points in time. \u201cYou are getting more of a snapshot,\u201d said Gaglia, who was not involved with these reports. What happens on the third day of an infection may not be what happens on the 10th. \u201cAnd so you are trying then to make an inference of the sequence of events.\u201d Additional studies of the immune system can help unravel the stages of infection. Pulendran said his team is collecting blood samples at regular, frequent intervals \u201cto map out the trajectory of this disease.\u201d The race to understand and shore up our inner defenses continues. Read more:"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Researchers across the planet are racing to harness one of the immune system\u2019s front-line defenders as an early treatment for covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that has killed more than 800,000 people globally.\nUntil now, early-stage treatments have remained elusive. But an improved understanding how the virus disarms some of the body\u2019s immune fighters, called interferons, is creating excitement among scientists who theorize they might be able to counter that process and prevent infections from developing into severe disease.\nInterferons are immune proteins that normally interfere with a virus\u2019s life cycle \u2014 hence the name, interferon. In addition to their antiviral properties, they summon natural killer cells, \u201cthe best soldiers, as it were, of the innate immune system,\u201d Anthony S. Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview.\nThat system is both the body\u2019s whooping air-raid siren and its emergency responders rushing to the scene. The virus\u2019s ability to hamstring this system may be one of the keys to its success.\nNow, several trials are underway in the United States and elsewhere to see whether giving interferon drugs to coronavirus patients early on might prevent severe disease or hasten recovery if administered later.\nDriving the trials are a spate of recent studies showing that interferons are weakest in the worst coronavirus cases. Scientists in France came to this conclusion after examining cells in the blood of 50 covid-19 patients who had spent 10 days in the hospital, as they wrote in a study published Aug. 7 in the journal Science.\n\u201cWe found that the more severe the patients were, the less interferon type-1 they were producing,\u201d said Benjamin Terrier, a professor of internal medicine at the National Reference Center for Rare Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in Paris\u2019s Cochin Hospital, referring to a subset of the proteins normally deployed against viruses.\nThis spring, Benjamin tenOever, a microbiology professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at New York\u2019s Mount Sinai Hospital, and his colleagues came to similar conclusions after studying the virus in samples taken from humans, ferrets and infected cells grown in a lab. Interferons, as they reported in the journal Cell, were lacking in all of those.\n\u201cThe virus is very actively repressing both the production of and the sequencing of interferons,\u201d meaning the process by which the body makes these proteins, tenOever said.\nThis weakening happens not only in patients\u2019 lungs but in their blood, according to new research by Bali Pulendran, an immune system expert at Stanford University School of Medicine, and his colleagues.\nThe team isolated immune cells from the blood of patients with severe covid-19, placed them in petri dishes and tried to provoke them with bacteria and viruses. Normally, such provocations would cause the immune cells to erupt in a shower of interferons and other defensive molecules.\nBut, as the scientists reported in a paper published Aug. 11 in Science, those cells in covid-19 patients were inert. It was as though the coronavirus, or a consequence of its infection, had snipped their fuses.\n\u201cAfter eight days or so, the type-1 interferon system is completely absent, and silenced, by the infection,\u201d Pulendran said.\nInterferons\u2019 therapeutic possibility\nResearchers caution that many questions about interferon treatments for coronavirus patients remain unanswered. Past clinical studies that tested them to treat SARS and MERS showed little or no benefit.\nBut there are promising early signals. Preliminary results from a small randomized clinical trial, publicized in a news release in late July by the British company Synairgen, suggests that an inhaled interferon treatment reduced the odds of developing severe covid-19, compared with a placebo. Experts cautioned that the trial was small, just 101 patients, and the results were not yet published in a peer-reviewed study.\nIn France, investigators plan to test interferon treatments if cases continue to rise. But they are currently too low to enroll enough patients in a clinical trial, Terrier said.\nA large, U.S. National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical trial launched this month will test an interferon drug injected in patients hospitalized with covid-19. Those patients will receive interferon beta-1a, a synthetic molecule identical to the protein our bodies make, every other day for the first week of their hospital stay.\nThe trial is recruiting about 1,000 patients from 100 hospitals around the world. The patients will be sick but not so ill as to require ventilators to breathe. That speaks to the goal of treating the disease before it worsens.\n\u201cWhat you\u2019re likely going to see, as more antivirals come along and then the monoclonal antibodies come along, will be a propensity to treating as early as you possibly can to prevent people from getting into the hospital,\u201d Fauci said.\nThe patients in the study will also get remdesivir, an antiviral agent the FDA authorized in the spring. Researchers will compare their recovery against that of covid-19 patients who received remdesivir alone. \u201cThe purpose of it is to determine whether you get added value,\u201d Fauci said. The trial is slated to run through November 2023.\nShould interferon beta-1a prove useful, Fauci said he doubted there would be shortages, because it is already widely used, for instance, to treat multiple sclerosis. Interferon drugs were also previously used as a standard treatment for hepatitis C, though newer, more-effective therapies have largely replaced them.\nDespite their potential, interferons may not be a panacea, scientists cautioned.\n\u201cIn principle, you could think, why don\u2019t we just give it to everybody who has a viral infection ever,\u201d said Tufts University microbiologist Marta Gaglia. \u201cBut in reality, it has proven less effective than we would like.\u201d\nA critical factor may be getting the timing right. The new studies suggest interferon treatments would be most helpful in the earliest stages of the disease, but that window may close before most people are hospitalized and doctors can treat them.\n\u201cInterferon also has a lot of side effects,\u201d Gaglia pointed out. These include muscle aches, fever and other ailments associated with flu infections. \u201cSo we wouldn\u2019t want to use it unless we think it\u2019s going to be beneficial.\u201d\nShe said she would like the NIH-sponsored trial to answer whether giving interferon drugs to hospitalized patients is helpful, and what dosages yield the best results.\nWhat\u2019s more, pitting these virus fighters against the coronavirus too late in the process could actually worsen symptoms, according to animal models cited in a recent review of interferon studies.\nMissing interferons, severe symptoms\nScientists theorize that the virus\u2019s ability to disarm interferons early on may explain other aspects of the disease, such as the out-of-control inflammation reaction that develops in some patients.\nAs the immune system mounts an inflammatory defense \u2014 but there are too few interferons to quickly contain the virus \u2014 the body\u2019s response can spiral out of control, several scientists said. In some cases, this uncontrolled inflammation becomes deadly.\nSome experts also suggest that a person\u2019s ability to mobilize interferons to wage a strong immune response at the start of the infection process may predict less severe disease.\n\u201cWe know that individuals differ in their ability to mount an interferon response,\u201d said pediatrician Petter Brodin, who studies the immune system at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.\nWhen otherwise healthy people fall ill, Brodin said, \u201cit makes me wonder at least \u2014 do they have a genetic susceptibility, an underlying immunodeficiency that we haven\u2019t picked up yet, which gives them this response, potentially because they failed to induce interferons?\u201d\nThere is preliminary evidence for this, such as a case study of four men under age 35 who had rare genetic variants associated with impaired interferon response and who were hospitalized in the Netherlands with severe covid-19.\nCause and effect is very difficult to determine in the human immune system. The Science papers used a variety of techniques to examine the virus, but they described only single points in time.\n\u201cYou are getting more of a snapshot,\u201d said Gaglia, who was not involved with these reports. What happens on the third day of an infection may not be what happens on the 10th. \u201cAnd so you are trying then to make an inference of the sequence of events.\u201d\nAdditional studies of the immune system can help unravel the stages of infection. Pulendran said his team is collecting blood samples at regular, frequent intervals \u201cto map out the trajectory of this disease.\u201d The race to understand and shore up our inner defenses continues.\nRead more:\nWartime doctors battling covid-19 rush to treat the ill \u2014 but without knowing what really works\nTrump urges people who have recovered from covid-19 to donate blood plasma\n\u2018Superspreading\u2019 events, triggered by people who may not even know they are infected, propel coronavirus pandemic"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "VEWCYA3RE5EKFEZ2ZFWGYGHHQY_1", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "VEWCYA3RE5EKFEZ2ZFWGYGHHQY_1", "title": "Away from U.S. election fever, coronavirus rages on", "text": "rate in Europe after Belgium, asked the World Health Organization to send an emergency medical team to the country because thousands of Czech medical professionals have been infected with the virus. Though death rates are not as high as they were in the first wave of the virus, they are slowly climbing around the world. According to a tally by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Latin America now accounts for 1 out of 3 coronavirus-related deaths. The picture is all the more alarming in the United States. \u201cWith nearly 9.5 million coronavirus cases reported, the United States is adding new infections at an unprecedented rate,\u201d my colleagues reported. \u201cThe seven-day average for new cases hit record highs in 20 states spanning every region of the country Wednesday, with the largest increases in Colorado, Maine, Minnesota and Iowa.\u201d Trump\u2019s record in managing the crisis has not helped. In public and private, he has feuded with many of the administration\u2019s senior public health officials, blaming their warnings and assessments for stoking panic and hurting the American economy. An internal report put forward at the beginning of the week by Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, seemed to fault the administration for not adequately preparing for what could be a dark winter. \u201cWe are entering the most concerning and most deadly phase of this pandemic \u2026 leading to increasing mortality,\u201d said Birx\u2019s report, which my colleagues reported on first. \u201cThis is not about lockdowns \u2014 it hasn\u2019t been about lockdowns since March or April. It\u2019s about an aggressive balanced approach that is not being implemented.\u201d Birx contradicted Trump on many fronts \u201cEven if Biden wins, we still have several months of the Trump administration in which the epidemic is at its worst,\u201d Carlos del Rio, an infectious-disease expert at Emory University, told the New York Times. \u201cTrump is not in charge. He\u2019s given up, he has basically implied, \u2018I don\u2019t care about this\u2019 and he has turned it over to the governors.\u201d The Biden camp has already assembled a coronavirus task force of leading public health experts, who will attempt to map out strategies for, among other things, an efficient, widespread delivery of vaccines and better coordination between federal agencies and the states, should there be a change in power. But their efforts may get stymied in the current smoldering political environment. \u201cThe transition team has also discussed contingency"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "You\u2019re reading an excerpt from the Today\u2019s WorldView newsletter.\nIt\u2019s been a distracting week, but don\u2019t ignore\nAt least 12 people in Denmark have been infected with the new strain, which was probably introduced to the mink population by humans before mutating and spreading back to the human population. Experts fear that current vaccines in production may prove ineffective against this version of the virus. Danish police and military personnel are expected to be deployed to carry out the mass cull, while authorities implemented new restrictions on movement between certain regions in northern Denmark.\nElsewhere in Europe, the surge of the coronavirus rages on. England reentered a national lockdown Thursday, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning that such measures were necessary to prevent the collapse of the country\u2019s health system. Italy reported 445 coronavirus-related deaths Thursday, the country\u2019s highest daily fatality count since April.\nAlso on Thursday, France reported a daily record for coronavirus infections, with the country\u2019s health minister saying that coronavirus patients already accounted for some 85 percent of French hospitals\u2019 intensive-care capacity. This week, Germany, Hungary and Poland also all posted daily records in new coronavirus cases. The Czech Republic, which has the highest coronavirus infection rate in Europe after Belgium, asked the World Health Organization to send an emergency medical team to the country because thousands of Czech medical professionals have been infected with the virus.\nThough death rates are not as high as they were in the first wave of the virus, they are slowly climbing around the world. According to a tally by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, Latin America now accounts for 1 out of 3 coronavirus-related deaths.\nThe picture is all the more alarming in the United States.\n\u201cWith nearly 9.5 million coronavirus cases reported, the United States is adding new infections at an unprecedented rate,\u201d my colleagues reported. \u201cThe seven-day average for new cases hit record highs in 20 states spanning every region of the country Wednesday, with the largest increases in Colorado, Maine, Minnesota and Iowa.\u201d\nTrump\u2019s record in managing the crisis has not helped. In public and private, he has feuded with many of the administration\u2019s senior public health officials, blaming their warnings and assessments for stoking panic and hurting the American economy. An internal report put forward at the beginning of the week by Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, seemed to fault the administration for not adequately preparing for what could be a dark winter.\n\u201cWe are entering the most concerning and most deadly phase of this pandemic \u2026 leading to increasing mortality,\u201d said Birx\u2019s report, which my colleagues reported on first. \u201cThis is not about lockdowns \u2014 it hasn\u2019t been about lockdowns since March or April. It\u2019s about an aggressive balanced approach that is not being implemented.\u201d\nBirx contradicted Trump on many fronts\n\u201cEven if Biden wins, we still have several months of the Trump administration in which the epidemic is at its worst,\u201d Carlos del Rio, an infectious-disease expert at Emory University, told the New York Times. \u201cTrump is not in charge. He\u2019s given up, he has basically implied, \u2018I don\u2019t care about this\u2019 and he has turned it over to the governors.\u201d\nThe Biden camp has already assembled a coronavirus task force of leading public health experts, who will attempt to map out strategies for, among other things, an efficient, widespread delivery of vaccines and better coordination between federal agencies and the states, should there be a change in power. But their efforts may get stymied in the current smoldering political environment.\n\u201cThe transition team has also discussed contingency plans for the possibility that the Trump administration would refuse to cooperate and share information during a transition, according to another source close to Biden,\u201d Politico reported. \u201cThe prospect of dueling task forces in both outgoing and incoming administrations could create tension as the country races to develop a Covid-19 vaccine, as one or more of the candidates currently in clinical trials could be approved during the transition.\u201d\nObservers elsewhere can only shake their heads at America\u2019s turmoil. \u201cAt a time when the nation should be pulling together with what the British would call Blitz spirit, the streets of many cities have been the setting for what appear to be the beginnings of civil strife,\u201d noted an editorial in the National, an English-language daily in the United Arab Emirates.\nRead more:\nTrumpism is here to stay\nI just voted for the first time\nTrump, Biden and the world"}
{"qid": 938, "pid": "XS3E5DIVENFBNJ3XPNAFBKRNLY_1", "query_info": {"_id": 938, "text": "Find information about COVID-19 variants and how they differ from the main outbreak.", "instruction_og": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness.", "instruction_changed": "COVID-19 variants appear to transmit faster and are fueling outbreaks from the U.K. to South Africa. The U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, which contains 17 mutations, appears to be a more highly transmissible form of the virus and is showing up in at least 19 countries around the world.  The South Africa variant is being seen in 4 other countries. Both variants seem to be more contagious but there is no evidence that they cause more severe illness. Documents that discuss long-covid or the flu are irrelevant.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing the question of COVID-19 variant transmissibility.", "keywords": "COVID-19 transmissibility"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XS3E5DIVENFBNJ3XPNAFBKRNLY_1", "title": "\u2018Frostbite\u2019 toes and other peculiar rashes may be signs of hidden coronavirus infection, especially in the young", "text": "soon as this week, offers some tantalizing clues about the pathogen and its wildly different effects on different people. Four months into the battle with the novel coronavirus, the paper is part of a flood of scientific evidence that is challenging early assumptions that covid-19 primarily affects the lungs. While the majority of cases turn out to be mild and may involve no symptoms at all, we now know infection can sometimes result in devastating injury to the kidneys, heart and other major organs. And in the same way the first sign of infection for some may be loss of smell and taste \u2014 those are among the six new covid-19 symptoms the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added to its list Monday \u2014 the toe rashes may be an early marker of disease, or possibly one that it has resolved and passed. One of the clearest findings of the new paper is that most patients with \u201ccovid toes\u201d were asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms. Another is their age. Nearly all were children or adults in their 20s and 30s \u2014 a group that as a whole tends to have a less severe bodily response to the disease than their older counterparts. Freeman, a Harvard Medical School researcher who led the analysis in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology, said the information should be comforting to those who have seen the lesions on themselves or loved ones. \u201cMost of the patients were young, healthy and had a benign clinical course,\u201d she said. \u201cThe message to the public is not to panic,\u201d she added. \u201cI don\u2019t want people to think if they are having purple spots on their toes that they are going to end up on a ventilator in the ICU. That is not what we are seeing in the data.\u201d One of the earliest reports of issues in toes came in early April, when a French dermatology group warned of \u201cpseudo-frostbite\u201d of the extremities and transient hives, and urged patients with such problems to consult a dermatologist. \u201cWe alert the population and the medical profession to detect these potentially contagious patients \u2014 who may not necessarily have respiratory signs \u2014 as soon as possible,\u201d they wrote. Then on April 18, a report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology detailed purplish lesions on the feet of a 23-year-old student in Belgium. He had a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "As a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Esther Freeman was prepared for things to be a bit quieter during the pandemic lockdown. But not too long after it began, she started getting urgent calls about odd frostbite-like patches showing up on people\u2019s toes.\nThe rash itself was rather harmless.\nWhile some complained of a burning sensation, the inflammation usually disappeared on its own in two to three weeks without treatment. What was striking is that many of those patients had tested positive for covid-19.\n\u201cMy inbox and my telemedicine clinic are full of just toes. It\u2019s all about toes. I have never seen so many toes,\u201d Freeman said.\nThe curious phenomenon has also caught the interest of researchers in hot zones such as France, Italy and China. But the reports had been mostly limited to individual case studies and first-person observations, making it difficult to determine what these rashes mean, why they are occurring and how they are linked to the virus.\nNow a U.S.-based group is preparing to publish the first in-depth look at covid-19\u2019s dermatologic effects, based on a registry of nearly 300 patients confirmed or suspected of having the virus. The report, expected out as soon as this week, offers some tantalizing clues about the pathogen and its wildly different effects on different people.\nFour months into the battle with the novel coronavirus, the paper is part of a flood of scientific evidence that is challenging early assumptions that covid-19 primarily affects the lungs. While the majority of cases turn out to be mild and may involve no symptoms at all, we now know infection can sometimes result in devastating injury to the kidneys, heart and other major organs.\nAnd in the same way the first sign of infection for some may be loss of smell and taste \u2014 those are among the six new covid-19 symptoms the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added to its list Monday \u2014 the toe rashes may be an early marker of disease, or possibly one that it has resolved and passed.\nOne of the clearest findings of the new paper is that most patients with \u201ccovid toes\u201d were asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms. Another is their age. Nearly all were children or adults in their 20s and 30s \u2014 a group that as a whole tends to have a less severe bodily response to the disease than their older counterparts.\nFreeman, a Harvard Medical School researcher who led the analysis in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology, said the information should be comforting to those who have seen the lesions on themselves or loved ones.\n\u201cMost of the patients were young, healthy and had a benign clinical course,\u201d she said.\n\u201cThe message to the public is not to panic,\u201d she added. \u201cI don\u2019t want people to think if they are having purple spots on their toes that they are going to end up on a ventilator in the ICU. That is not what we are seeing in the data.\u201d\nOne of the earliest reports of issues in toes came in early April, when a French dermatology group warned of \u201cpseudo-frostbite\u201d of the extremities and transient hives, and urged patients with such problems to consult a dermatologist. \u201cWe alert the population and the medical profession to detect these potentially contagious patients \u2014 who may not necessarily have respiratory signs \u2014 as soon as possible,\u201d they wrote.\nThen on April 18, a report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology detailed purplish lesions on the feet of a 23-year-old student in Belgium. He had a dry cough and a low-grade fever and tested positive for covid-19, but was otherwise healthy. The researchers theorized that the lesions may \u201cportend an indolent course and a good prognosis.\u201d\nViral rashes themselves are not unusual. Changes in the skin \u2014 the body\u2019s largest organ \u2014 are often one of the most obvious indicators that something is awry. Measles produces itchy flat spots; coxsackie, painful sores in the hands, feet and mouth; and dengue fever, what has been described as \u201cislands of white in a sea of red\u201d on the face.\nBut the location of the rash on the toes, and sometimes fingers too, has puzzled researchers.\nThis type of rash, called pernio or chilblains, usually occurs in the dead of winter because of exposure to cold, such as when a person is slogging in freezing rain in wet socks. But covid-19 patients are getting it in springtime. Doctors also typically see the rash in people who work as florists or in warehouses that are not temperature-controlled \u2014 not in children, as is happening now.\n\u201cThe truth is nobody knows why this is happening and why it\u2019s happening in the toes and fingers,\u201d said Ebbing Lautenbach, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Pennsylvania\u2019s Perelman School of Medicine.\nOne theory is that it may be related to inflammation and blood-clotting complications, he said, which more and more doctors suspect are a cause of some covid-19 deaths.\n\u201cAs you get away from the core of the body out to the periphery, the blood vessels get smaller, so they are more susceptible to inflammation and clotting,\u201d Lautenbach explained.\nIn the case of the 23-year-old student in Belgium, researcher Curtis Thompson said a biopsy showed inflammation in the cells in the location of the rash that resulted in attacks to the surface of the skin\u2019s dermis, the inner of the two main layers of skin. He said it looked nearly identical to what he\u2019s seen in patients with lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and pain because the immune system attacks healthy tissue.\n\u201cYou could take these biopsies and put them in a textbook under the lupus chapter,\u201d said Thompson, an affiliate professor of dermatology and pathology at Oregon Health & Science University.\nAs a result, he believes the rashes are a sign that the body\u2019s natural defense mechanisms are at work. But unlike lupus, for which there is no cure, the suspected covid-19 rashes have come and gone within days or weeks in the patients he\u2019s seen.\nOf the first 200 reports analyzed for the study, out of a total of 300 in the registry today, about half were toe rashes. The other skin conditions reported include hives, those itchy red bumps that are usually a sign of an allergic reaction; water blisters; and something that looks a lot like chickenpox.\nJoanna Harp, a dermatologist at New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, said she suspects \u201cthe various skin findings we are seeing may reflect the myriad of different ways our immune system can react to this virus.\u201d\nIn hospitalized patients, she said there has been a pattern of \u201clacy, dusky, purple rashes\u201d on the arms, legs and buttocks, which are distinct from the toe rashes. She said skin biopsies showed there was clotting in the blood vessels of the skin. A paper published in the Lancet medical journal earlier this month showed the virus appears to attack a thin layer of cells that line the vessel walls, suggesting a possible mechanism for these types of rashes and other clotting problems.\n\u201cMany of these patients also have evidence of internal clotting, such as blood clots in the veins of their legs, or in their lungs, suggesting these skin findings are a manifestation of their internal clotting tendency,\u201d Harp said.\nFreeman said that while her team is still analyzing information about other types of rashes, she feels it\u2019s important for people to be aware because they \u201care potentially infectious and might have no idea they are infected.\u201d She urged those who notice such lesions to talk to a health-care professional to see if there may be other explanations.\nIf not, she said, people might consider getting tested for the virus and self-isolating.\n\u201cWhat people are worried about when they see these things on their toes are two main things: \u2018Oh, my gosh, am I going to get really sick?\u2019 The data is reassuring on that,\u201d Freeman said. \u201cThe other is, \u2018Am I going to infect my family and friends?\u2019 And on that, unfortunately, I can\u2019t be more reassuring.\u201d\nRead more:\nSome young and middle-aged people, barely sick with covid-19, are dying of strokes\nBritain\u2019s national health authority issued a worrisome alert about children, covid-19 and potential complications\nCoronavirus looks different in kids than in adults\nA mysterious blood-clotting complication is killing coronavirus patients"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "267cce66b16fded2c4252396c4828d6b_2", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "267cce66b16fded2c4252396c4828d6b_2", "title": "As Britain reels, the queen stays silent. For how long?", "text": "a PG-rated version playing out in Westminster\u2019s corridors of power. British Prime Minister David Cameron, the queen\u2019s 12th prime minister, resigned Friday morning, and both of Britain's main political parties are in turmoil. Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland and one of Britain\u2019s canniest politicians (future Queen of the North?), has been busy pushing her dream for Scottish independence. She says it is \u201chighly likely\u201d that there will be a second referendum on Scottish independence, given that the majority of Scots voted to remain in the E.U. The Scottish National Party has said that if Scotland were to gain independence, the queen would remain head of state with the title \u201cQueen of Scots.\u201d In Northern Ireland, where voters strongly backed staying in the bloc, questions have been raised about border checks between a post-Brexit Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is in the E.U., and what that could mean for the fragile peace process. The political party Sinn Fein has called for the border to be removed completely. Britain is a constitutional monarchy with a queen who reigns but does not rule. She can\u2019t vote and is expected to remain politically neutral. \u201cAs Head of State The Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters,\u201d the palace says on its website. Indeed, when the Sun tabloid ran a front-page headline \u201cQueen backs Brexit,\u201d Buckingham Palace complained to the media watchdog, which ruled that the headline was inaccurate. \u201cThe queen remains politically neutral as she has for 63 years,\u201d the palace said in response to the headline. But nothing prevents her from issuing the kind of statement she did after the Scottish referendum, in which she said she had no doubt that the U.K. would unite \u201cin a spirit of mutual respect and support.\u201d The queen \u201cis a tremendous unifying\u201d figure, said Robert Lacey, a royal biographer, who noted that she has played an important role in Anglo-Irish relations. For instance, when she visited the Republic of Ireland in 2011, the first British monarch to do so in 100 years, she was widely praised for her efforts toward reconciliation. During a state banquet in Dublin, she began her speech by speaking in Irish, causing then-Irish President Mary McAleese to turn to others and mouth \u201cwow.\u201d But on issues related to Brexit, it appears that the queen is holding her tongue \u2014 for now, at least."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Britain's Queen Elizabeth leaves after attending a Maundy Thursday service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, Britain March 24, 2016. REUTERS/Toby Melville\nLONDON \u2014 From pubs in Peterborough to beaches in Brighton, you\u2019d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the United Kingdom holding back their views on Brexit.\nWell, actually, there is one person: Queen Elizabeth II.\nShe is Britain's\u00a0longest-serving monarch and is the head of state of the U.K., a political union made up\u00a0of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.\nHowever, the queen\u2019s united kingdom is looking anything but. Its very existence has come under threat after\u00a0the U.K.\u2019s stunning decision to leave the European Union\u00a0\u2014 popularly known as Brexit. Although no one knows where\u00a0all the pieces of the puzzle will land, some have questioned whether\u00a0the map of the U.K. might be redrawn to include just England and Wales.\nThe British Empire once covered a quarter of the world. Now Brexit could shrink the UK to just England and Wales https://t.co/zbYAaPkLix\nOn Monday, the 90-year-old monarch was expected to attend a number of public engagements in Northern Ireland. As of Monday afternoon, she had not said a word\u00a0\u2014 at least publicly \u2014 about Brexit.\nThe Queen has arrived in Northern Ireland. Will she be talking Brexit? They voted remain here https://t.co/y6zr5JlYQL\nThe queen\u2019s deafening silence is in stark contrast to what happened after the 2014 referendum on\u00a0Scottish independence, when\u00a0she issued a statement within hours of the results.\nOf course, these are unusual times.\nWhen the queen visited Northern Ireland in 2014, she stopped by the set of \"Game of Thrones.\" If she doesn't have time on this trip, she could always turn\u00a0on the telly to see a PG-rated version playing out in Westminster\u2019s corridors of power. British Prime Minister David Cameron, the queen\u2019s 12th prime minister, resigned Friday morning, and both of Britain's\u00a0main political parties are in turmoil.\nNicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland and one of Britain\u2019s canniest politicians (future Queen of the North?), has been busy pushing her dream for Scottish independence. She says it is \u201chighly likely\u201d that there will be a second referendum on\u00a0Scottish independence, given that the majority of Scots voted to remain in the E.U.\nThe Scottish National Party has said that if Scotland were to gain independence, the queen would remain head of state with the title \u201cQueen of Scots.\u201d\nIn Northern Ireland, where voters strongly backed staying in the bloc, questions have been raised about border checks between a post-Brexit Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is in the E.U., and what that could mean for the fragile peace process.\nThe political party Sinn Fein has called for the border to be removed completely.\nBritain is a constitutional monarchy with a queen who reigns but does not rule. She can\u2019t vote and is expected to remain politically neutral.\n\u201cAs Head of State The Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters,\u201d the palace says on its website.\nIndeed, when the Sun tabloid ran a front-page headline \u201cQueen backs Brexit,\u201d Buckingham Palace complained to the media\u00a0watchdog, which ruled that the headline was inaccurate.\n\u201cThe queen remains politically neutral as she has for 63 years,\u201d the palace said in response to the headline.\nBut nothing prevents her from issuing the kind of statement she did after the Scottish referendum, in which she said she had no doubt that the U.K. would unite \u201cin a spirit of mutual respect and support.\u201d\nThe queen \u201cis a tremendous unifying\u201d figure, said Robert Lacey, a royal biographer, who noted that she has played an important role in Anglo-Irish relations.\nFor instance, when she visited the Republic of Ireland in 2011, the first British monarch to do so in 100 years, she was widely praised for her efforts toward reconciliation. During a state banquet in Dublin, she began her speech by speaking in Irish, causing then-Irish President Mary McAleese to turn to others and mouth \u201cwow.\u201d\nBut on issues related to Brexit, it appears that the queen is holding her tongue \u2014\u00a0for now, at least."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "2f6b842e7e81205a7e5e596a4c4be6e9_4", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2f6b842e7e81205a7e5e596a4c4be6e9_4", "title": "A tiny party of hardliners holds the balance of power in Britain. Here\u2019s what you need to know", "text": "linked both to the British economy and to that of the Republic of Ireland, which will remain a European Union member. Therefore, economic relationships would become far more complex if there were a \u201chard border\u201d set between Northern Ireland and the Republic. This situation could also have implications for the peace deal in the North, which was facilitated by the fact that both the United Kingdom and Ireland are member nations of the EU. The DUP is pulled in both directions on the EU \u2013 in practice it wants a \u2018soft Brexit,\u2019 which would involve an amicable deal between the EU and UK on issues such as customs, but in principle it has been quite hostile to the EU as a political entity. The practical reason it wants the UK to make a deal on Brexit is because it wants to undercut Sinn Fein and Northern republicans. Sinn Fein wants a border deal where Northern Ireland would have special status, with unique arrangements for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This would lessen the impact of Brexit and possibly dissociate Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom, pushing a little further towards an eventual united Republic of Ireland. For Sinn Fein, the best outcome is one that clearly separates Northern Ireland from the UK, providing a wedge that can be used to separate Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and push it towards the Republic. The DUP, in contrast, has demanded that there be no special status for Northern Ireland as part of its deal. It wants the border question to be resolved, both because of the economic interests of DUP voters who would be hurt by a closed border, and because questions over the border can be exploited by Sinn Fein. This means that it wants Brexit to involve a deal on customs and immigration that would not have a special carveout for Northern Ireland, but instead involve a blanket arrangement for all of the United Kingdom. However, if the DUP\u2019s head says that a soft Brexit deal is a good idea, its heart is anti-EU. The DUP\u2019s leader, Ian Paisley believed that the EU was (as described in a paper on his website) a secret Catholic plot to dominate Europe. During the Brexit campaign, the DUP received a somewhat mysterious large donation, which it used to fund a newspaper supplement in the mainland UK arguing"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "British newspapers on Friday tout the election results. (Daniel Sorabji/AFP/Getty Images)\nAfter last week\u2019s shocking results, Britain\u2019s Conservative Party had to make a deal with Northern Ireland\u2019s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to return to government. It appears likely that the DUP will not go into a coalition with the Conservatives, but will simply support the \u201cminority government\u201d from the outside on key votes, while not being part of the coalition.\nHere\u2019s what you need to know about the DUP and the likely deal they will strike.\nIt is\u00a0Northern Ireland\u2019s hard-line Unionist party.\nThe DUP, as the name suggests, is a party\u00a0that supports the union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and opposes nationalists and republicans who would prefer a united Ireland. In Northern Ireland\u2019s political system, there is a very strong link between voting and religion: Most Catholics vote for nationalist or republicans; most Protestants vote for unionists. Since a peace agreement was reached a decade ago, Ulster politics have become more polarized, with Protestants tending to vote for more extreme unionists and Catholics voting\u00a0for republicans, who were associated with the Irish Republican Army, instead of nationalists. This polarization benefited both the DUP, which took seats in Parliament from the less fervent Ulster Unionist Party in Thursday\u2019s election, and the republican\u00a0Sinn Fein party, which wiped out the nationalist SDLP.\nIt\u00a0is associated with anti-Catholic evangelical Protestantism.\nOriginally, the DUP was closely associated with the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, which was founded by the Rev. Ian Paisley, who also led the DUP for decades. The Free Presbyterians are evangelical, fundamentalist Christians. In contrast to conservative evangelicals in the United States, who forged a tacit political alliance with conservative Catholics decades ago, the Free Presbyterians have strong anti-Catholic views. Paisley himself was involved with anti-Catholic paramilitaries in the 1960s and notoriously yelled that Pope John Paul II was the \u201cAntichrist\u201d when the pontiff visited the European Parliament in the 1980s. The relationship between the church and party has weakened over time: Paisley\u2019s successor as party leader, Peter Robinson, started the movement away from domination by the Free Presbyterians, and the current DUP leader, Arlene Foster, is a member of the Episcopalian-linked Church of Ireland. Nonetheless, the party\u2019s association with a particular brand of fundamentalist Christianity has shaped many of its political positions (including not only hostility to Catholic Irish nationalism, but to homosexuality too).\nThe DUP is finding its feet again\nAfter Paisley\u2019s departure as party leader, the DUP had some difficult times. Robinson had been Paisley\u2019s right-hand man for decades, but struggled to fill the shoes of his more charismatic predecessor, especially after becoming embroiled in a financial scandal involving his wife Iris Robinson\u2019s 19-year-old lover. Robinson\u2019s successor, Foster, faced her own less salacious scandal involving a government incentive scheme that ended up costing vastly more than expected, leading to instability in Northern Ireland\u2019s governing executive. However, the DUP did very well in Thursday\u2019s election, not only nearly eliminating the\u00a0rival Ulster Unionist Party, but also\u00a0doing so by apparently\u00a0attracting a surge of new voters.\u00a0A cooperative relationship with the Conservative Party is likely to strengthen the DUP\u2019s position.\nThe DUP opposes abortion and gay marriage\nEuropean conservatives, unlike US conservatives, have mostly accepted abortion and gay rights. The DUP\u2019s neighbors in the Republic of Ireland have a conservative government \u2013 but one which is now led by an openly gay man, who is contemplating a limited relaxation of Ireland\u2019s constitutional near-ban on abortion. Scotland\u2019s Conservative party is led by a gay Protestant woman who is about to marry her Irish Catholic partner.\nThe DUP stands outside this European mainstream. In the 1970s, it notoriously led a \u2018Save Ulster from Sodomy\u2019 campaign, and DUP members still regularly make homophobic comments. Iris Robinson, for example, has described homosexuality as \u201cdisgusting, loathsome, nauseating, wicked and vile.\u201d Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, has an effective ban on abortion, which has been maintained in large part thanks to DUP support.\nThe DUP will surely use its bargaining position to keep same-sex marriage and abortion out of Northern Ireland. It is unlikely that it will be able to extend its social values to the rest of the UK, given opposition from Scottish Conservatives, and the more general tacit belief of UK mainland Conservatives that nineteenth century morality is not a vote-winner. The DUP is also likely to press for money. Northern Ireland\u2019s economy depends heavily on public spending that is subsidized by the United Kingdom as a whole, and the DUP will be pressing for more of it, which they can then take credit for with voters.\nDUP support might have implications for Brexit.\nNorthern Ireland has been put in a particularly tricky position by Britain\u2019s decision to leave the European Union. Northern Ireland\u2019s economy is linked both to the British economy and to that of the Republic of Ireland, which will remain a\u00a0European Union member.\u00a0Therefore, economic relationships would\u00a0become far more complex if there were a \u201chard border\u201d set between Northern Ireland and the Republic.\nThis situation\u00a0could also have implications for the peace deal in the North, which was facilitated by the fact that both the United Kingdom\u00a0and Ireland are member nations of the EU. The DUP is pulled in both directions on the EU \u2013 in practice it wants a \u2018soft Brexit,\u2019 which would involve an amicable deal between the EU and UK on issues such as customs, but in principle it has been quite hostile to the EU as a political entity.\nThe practical reason it wants the UK to make a deal on Brexit is because it wants to undercut Sinn Fein and Northern republicans. Sinn Fein wants a border deal where Northern Ireland would have special status, with unique arrangements for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This would lessen the impact of Brexit\u00a0and possibly dissociate Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom, pushing a little further towards an eventual united Republic of Ireland. For Sinn Fein, the best outcome is one that clearly separates Northern Ireland from the UK, providing a wedge that can be used to separate Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and push it towards the Republic.\nThe DUP, in contrast, has demanded that there be no special status for Northern Ireland as part of its deal. It wants the border question to be resolved, both because of the economic interests of DUP voters who would be hurt by a closed border, and because questions over the border can be exploited by Sinn Fein. This means that it wants Brexit to involve a deal on customs and immigration that would not have a special carveout for Northern Ireland, but instead involve a blanket arrangement for all of the United Kingdom.\nHowever, if the DUP\u2019s head says that a soft Brexit deal is a good idea, its heart is anti-EU. The DUP\u2019s leader, Ian Paisley believed that the EU was (as described in a paper on his website) a secret Catholic plot to dominate Europe. During the Brexit campaign, the DUP received a somewhat mysterious large donation, which it used to fund a newspaper supplement in the mainland UK arguing for Brexit. While it is probable that the DUP will work towards a soft Brexit as it has claimed in public, strengthening the hand of those Conservatives who want a mutually agreeable accommodation with the E.U, there are close informal connections between the DUP and hardline pro-Brexiters, which will likely lead to continued speculation about what\u2019s actually going on.\n[An earlier version of this post was published on June 9, 2017]."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "36f8a88beb7906451df7e15dd60d23d8_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "36f8a88beb7906451df7e15dd60d23d8_0", "title": "Will Brexit drive Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom?", "text": "Michel Barnier, center, the European Commission\u2019s Brexit chief negotiator, and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan, right, and others pause at the border separating Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic on May 12 in Monaghan, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Judy Dempsey is the author of \u201cDas Ph\u00e4nomen Merkel\u201d (K\u00f6rber-Stiftung, 2013). She also edits the Carnegie Endowment\u2019s Strategic Europe blog. During the run-up to Ireland and Britain joining the European Union in 1973, my high school class in Dublin was completely divided over the merits of joining Europe. On one side were the nationalists. They said we would lose our language and our identity. On the other side were a group of passionate supporters of Europe. Here was our chance to break our economic, political and social dependence on Britain and become part of the European continent. Little did we know at the time what impact Irish and British membership of the E.U. would have on the conflict in the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland. Back then, it was mired in sectarianism, violence and the apparently irreconcilable demands of the nationalists, who wanted unification with Dublin, and the unionists, who wanted to remain under the British Crown. E.U. membership, however, gave Ireland a new and wider perspective that was no longer confined to Britain. That, plus enlightened leadership from London and Dublin and Washington and Belfast, led to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Peace, however uneasy, descended on Northern Ireland. But Britain\u2019s decision to leave the E.U. is already having a profound impact on the two parts of Ireland and the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom itself. Unless British Prime Minister Theresa May grasps the implications, Brexit could precipitate the breakup of the United Kingdom. The Northern Irish might choose to find their way back to Europe by uniting with the South. If Northern Ireland opts to remain within the U.K., that could lead to a hard border between the North and the South and a whole host of corresponding new problems, above all calling into question the Good Friday Agreement. Such uncertainty could reignite tensions between nationalists and unionists. \u201cIn terms of the Brexit debate on the U.K. mainland, nobody cares about the implications for Northern Ireland,\u201d said Eunan O\u2019Halpin, professor of contemporary Irish history at Trinity College, Dublin. But the citizens of the province clearly do. The Good Friday Agreement allows the people of Northern Ireland \u201cto"}], "old": [{"_id": "36f8a88beb7906451df7e15dd60d23d8_0", "title": "Will Brexit drive Northern Ireland out of the United Kingdom?", "text": "Michel Barnier, center, the European Commission\u2019s Brexit chief negotiator, and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan, right, and others pause at the border separating Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic on May 12 in Monaghan, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Judy Dempsey is the author of \u201cDas Ph\u00e4nomen Merkel\u201d (K\u00f6rber-Stiftung, 2013). She also edits the Carnegie Endowment\u2019s Strategic Europe blog. During the run-up to Ireland and Britain joining the European Union in 1973, my high school class in Dublin was completely divided over the merits of joining Europe. On one side were the nationalists. They said we would lose our language and our identity. On the other side were a group of passionate supporters of Europe. Here was our chance to break our economic, political and social dependence on Britain and become part of the European continent. Little did we know at the time what impact Irish and British membership of the E.U. would have on the conflict in the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland. Back then, it was mired in sectarianism, violence and the apparently irreconcilable demands of the nationalists, who wanted unification with Dublin, and the unionists, who wanted to remain under the British Crown. But Britain\u2019s decision to leave the E.U. is already having a profound impact on the two parts of Ireland and the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom itself. Unless British Prime Minister Theresa May grasps the implications, Brexit could precipitate the breakup of the United Kingdom. The Northern Irish might choose to find their way back to Europe by uniting with the South. If Northern Ireland opts to remain within the U.K., that could lead to a hard border between the North and the South and a whole host of corresponding new problems, above all calling into question the Good Friday Agreement. Such uncertainty could reignite tensions between nationalists and unionists. \u201cIn terms of the Brexit debate on the U.K. mainland, nobody cares about the implications for Northern Ireland,\u201d said Eunan O\u2019Halpin, professor of contemporary Irish history at Trinity College, Dublin. But the citizens of the province clearly do. The Good Friday Agreement allows the people of Northern Ireland \u201cto identify themselves as Irish or British.\u201d This means that the 1.8 million people in the province can hold both British and Irish citizenship. The applications from Northern Ireland are also driven by fears that Brexit would lead to a \u201chard border\u201d like the one"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Michel Barnier, center, the European Commission\u2019s Brexit chief negotiator, and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan, right,\u00a0and others pause at the border separating Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic on May 12 in Monaghan, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)\nJudy Dempsey is the author of \u201cDas Ph\u00e4nomen Merkel\u201d (K\u00f6rber-Stiftung, 2013). She also edits the Carnegie Endowment\u2019s Strategic Europe blog.\nDuring the run-up to Ireland and Britain joining the European Union in 1973, my high school class in Dublin was completely divided over the merits of joining Europe. On one side were the nationalists. They said we would lose our language and our identity. On the other side were a group of passionate supporters of Europe. Here was our chance to break our economic, political and social dependence on Britain and become part of the European continent.\nLittle did we know at the time what impact Irish and British membership of the E.U. would have on the conflict in the British-ruled province of Northern Ireland. Back then, it was mired in sectarianism, violence and the apparently irreconcilable demands of the nationalists, who wanted unification with Dublin, and the unionists, who wanted to remain under the British Crown.\nE.U. membership, however, gave Ireland a new and wider perspective that was no longer confined to Britain. That, plus enlightened leadership from London and Dublin and Washington and Belfast, led to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Peace, however uneasy, descended on Northern Ireland.\nBut Britain\u2019s decision to leave the E.U. is already having a profound impact on the two parts of Ireland and the territorial integrity of the United Kingdom itself.\nUnless British Prime Minister Theresa May grasps the implications, Brexit could precipitate the breakup of the United Kingdom. The Northern Irish might choose to find their way back to Europe by uniting with the South. If Northern Ireland opts to remain within the U.K., that could lead to a hard border between the North and the South and a whole host of corresponding new problems, above all calling into question the Good Friday Agreement. Such uncertainty could reignite tensions between nationalists and unionists.\n\u201cIn terms of the Brexit debate on the U.K. mainland, nobody cares about the implications for Northern Ireland,\u201d said Eunan O\u2019Halpin, professor of contemporary Irish history at Trinity College, Dublin. But the citizens of the province clearly do.\nThe Good Friday Agreement allows the people of Northern Ireland \u201cto identify themselves as Irish or British.\u201d This means that the 1.8 million people in the province can hold both British and Irish citizenship.\nHaving both didn\u2019t become an issue until the Brexit vote of June 2016. In Northern Ireland, 56 percent chose to stay in the E.U. Since then, there been a notable uptick in the number of people from Northern Ireland applying for Irish citizenship, from 3,973 applications in January 2016 to 7,045 a year later. An Irish passport is an E.U. passport.\nThe applications from Northern Ireland are also driven by fears that Brexit would lead to a \u201chard border\u201d like the one that existed before the Good Friday Agreement, when a heavily fortified border divided the island. Since 1998, the island of Ireland became seamless. The E.U.\u2019s cherished four freedoms of labor, capital, goods and services became a reality. Some 60,000 people now move each day across the invisible borders. Trade is flourishing, as are cultural and social links. Brexit could bring that to a halt.\nThe prospects of a hard border haunt the government in Dublin and the communities in Northern Ireland. For one thing, unless special arrangements for Northern Ireland are agreed upon by Brussels, E.U. funds \u2014 which jumped since the Good Friday Agreement and have totaled nearly $7.9 billion between 2007 and 2020 \u2014 would dry up. Britain itself, of course, would no longer be eligible for E.U. funds aimed at supporting poorer regions and agriculture.\nSecond, nationalists in Northern Ireland might campaign for unification with the Republic in order to remain in the E.U. \u2014 and thus realize their goal. But unionists who oppose unification would feel threatened. \u201cThe Brexit process is helping nationalists consolidate their vote,\u201d said David Phinnemore, professor of European politics at Queen\u2019s University, Belfast. \u201cThe unionists are not ready for unification. Not at all. For many unionists, the Crown is far more important than the E.U.,\u201d Phinnemore added. As if London cares.\nEdna Kenny, the Irish prime minister, knows his British counterpart May has little interest in Northern Ireland. He has embarked on a big diplomatic offensive in Brussels and with the E.U. member states to lobby for a soft border \u2014 and put the idea of unification on the minds of E.U. leaders.\nOn April 29, during a summit of E.U. leaders in Brussels, 27 of them endorsed the \u201cKenny Text\u201d anchored in the Good Friday Agreement. It states that the Good Friday Agreement \u201cprovides for an agreed mechanism whereby a united Ireland may be brought about through peaceful and democratic means. In this regard, the European Council acknowledges that, in accordance with international law, the entire territory of such a united Ireland would thus be part of the European Union.\u201d\nThe possibility of Irish unification isn\u2019t the only potential challenge to the continued existence of the United Kingdom, of course. The Scots, who also wish to remain in the E.U., are already planning another referendum on independence. One wonders if May is truly aware of the gravity of the threat that faces her country.\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "3c727fa3cbd6abdea03545567789e47c_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3c727fa3cbd6abdea03545567789e47c_0", "title": "A stampede for Irish passports in the wake of Brexit vote", "text": "LONDON \u2014 Standing on the steps of the Irish Embassy in London, Alison Rayner looked at her Irish wife and blurted out: \u201cYou\u2019re European, and I am not!\u201d For Rayner, a 63-year-old British jazz musician who travels around Europe, it was not a comforting thought. But like many Brits, she is considering applying for an Irish passport as a way to cling onto her E.U. citizenship following Britain\u2019s decision to leave the European Union. (iStock) Many Britons are scrambling to apply for passports from countries within the E.U., as a way to stay in the bloc even as their country waves goodbye. \u201cIt\u2019s worth investigating if I can get Irish citizenship, because I\u2019d like to remain European,\u201d she said. Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said there has been a surge in interest for passports since Britain\u2019s vote for exit, or Brexit, from the E.U., adding that the flood of applications could impact those who have a genuine need for a passport for imminent travel. \u201cAn unnecessary surge in applications for Irish passports will place significant pressure on the system and on turnaround times and is likely to impact those with a genuine need for passports to facilitate imminent travel plans,\u201d he said in a statement. Britons can apply for Irish citizenship if they were born in Ireland or if they have a parent or grandparent who is Irish. It\u2019s estimated that about 6 million people, about 10 percent of the British population, have Irish heritage. For now, Britain is still a part of the European Union, and until that changes, Britain\u2019s burgundy passport will read \u201cEuropean Union\u201d at the top. Britain has not yet triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the the formal process by which member states can leave. But there is an immediate panic in the air over what will happen. \u201cHow to get an Irish passport,\u201d was one of the most Googled phrases after the referendum result last week. Over the weekend, a post office in Belfast, Northern Ireland, posted a notice saying it had temporarily run out of passport forms. Support for applying for an Irish passport has come from unlikely places. Ian Paisley Jr., a Parliament member and son of one of Northern Ireland\u2019s most famous politicians of the same name, urged followers on Twitter to get a second passport if possible. This surprised many people, given he was also a strong advocate for"}], "old": [{"_id": "3c727fa3cbd6abdea03545567789e47c_0", "title": "A stampede for Irish passports in the wake of Brexit vote", "text": "LONDON \u2014 Standing on the steps of the Irish Embassy in London, Alison Rayner looked at her Irish wife and blurted out: \u201cYou\u2019re European, and I am not!\u201d For Rayner, a 63-year-old British jazz musician who travels around Europe, it was not a comforting thought. But like many Brits, she is considering applying for an Irish passport as a way to cling onto her E.U. citizenship following Britain\u2019s decision to leave the European Union. (iStock) Many Britons are scrambling to apply for passports from countries within the E.U., as a way to stay in the bloc even as their country waves goodbye. \u201cIt\u2019s worth investigating if I can get Irish citizenship, because I\u2019d like to remain European,\u201d she said. Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said there has been a surge in interest for passports since Britain\u2019s vote for exit, or Brexit, from the E.U., adding that the flood of applications could impact those who have a genuine need for a passport for imminent travel. Britons can apply for Irish citizenship if they were born in Ireland or if they have a parent or grandparent who is Irish. It\u2019s estimated that about 6 million people, about 10 percent of the British population, have Irish heritage. But there is an immediate panic in the air over what will happen. Support for applying for an Irish passport has come from unlikely places. Ian Paisley Jr., a Parliament member and son of one of Northern Ireland\u2019s most famous politicians of the same name, urged followers on Twitter to get a second passport if possible. This surprised many people, given he was also a strong advocate for Brexit. \u201cMy advice is if you are entitled to a second passport, then take one,\u201d he wrote on Twitter. My advice is if you are entitled to second passport then take one. I sign off lots of applications for constituents https://t.co/oWoiVIFF8A At Ireland\u2019s passport office in West London on Tuesday, there was a steady stream of people arriving to drop off passport applications. Many said they were there because of Brexit. One woman and her 14-year-old nephew were carrying a stack of about 20 applications to give to friends and relatives in Northern Ireland. An employee at the office, who didn\u2019t want to be named, noted that \u201cit could take three years to sort all of this out. People don\u2019t all have to come in one day, like"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "LONDON \u2014 Standing on the steps of the Irish Embassy in London, Alison Rayner looked at her Irish wife and blurted out: \u201cYou\u2019re European, and I am not!\u201d\nFor Rayner, a 63-year-old British jazz musician who travels around Europe, it was not a comforting thought. But like many Brits, she is considering applying for an Irish passport as a way to cling onto her E.U. citizenship following Britain\u2019s decision to leave the European Union.\n(iStock)\nMany Britons are scrambling to apply for passports from countries within the E.U., as a way to stay in the bloc even as their country waves goodbye.\n\u201cIt\u2019s worth investigating if I can get Irish citizenship, because I\u2019d like to remain European,\u201d she said.\nIrish\u00a0Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said there has been a surge in interest for passports since Britain\u2019s vote for exit, or Brexit, from the E.U., adding that the flood of applications could impact those who have a genuine need for a passport\u00a0for imminent travel.\n\u201cAn unnecessary surge in applications for Irish passports will place significant pressure on the system and on turnaround times and is likely to impact those with a genuine need for passports to facilitate imminent travel plans,\u201d he\u00a0said in\u00a0a statement.\nBritons can apply for Irish citizenship if they were born in Ireland or if they have a parent or grandparent who is Irish. It\u2019s estimated that about 6 million people, about 10 percent of the British population, have Irish heritage.\nFor now, Britain is still a part of the European Union, and until that changes, Britain\u2019s burgundy passport will read \u201cEuropean Union\u201d at the top. Britain has not yet triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the the formal process by which member states can leave.\nBut there is an immediate panic in the air over what will happen.\n\u201cHow to get an Irish passport,\u201d was one of the most Googled phrases after the referendum result last week. Over the weekend, a post office in Belfast, Northern Ireland, posted a notice saying it had temporarily run out of passport forms.\nSupport for applying for an Irish passport has come from unlikely places. Ian Paisley Jr., a Parliament member and son of one of Northern Ireland\u2019s most famous politicians of the same name, urged followers on Twitter to get a second passport if possible.\nThis surprised many people, given he was also a strong advocate for Brexit.\n\u201cMy advice is if you are entitled to a second passport, then take one,\u201d he wrote on Twitter.\nMy advice is if you are entitled to second passport then take one. I sign off lots of applications for constituents  https://t.co/oWoiVIFF8A\nAt Ireland\u2019s passport office in West London on Tuesday, there was a steady stream of people arriving to drop off passport applications. Many said they were there because of Brexit. One woman and her 14-year-old nephew were carrying a stack of about 20 applications to give to friends and relatives in Northern Ireland.\nAn employee at the office, who didn\u2019t want to be named, noted that \u201cit could take three years to sort all of this out. People don\u2019t all have to come in one day, like they have.\u201d\nWhile Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and thus must abide by the Brexit referendum, the majority of residents there voted to remain\u00a0in the E.U. And under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the 1998 landmark accord that ended decades of bloodshed, anybody living in Northern Ireland can apply for a British or Irish passport.\nMichael Walkington, 50, a Londoner born in Northern Ireland, said he was applying for an Irish passport so that his two children would have the same access to jobs and education opportunities that they do now. As members of the E.U., Irish citizens can live and work in 27 member states.\n\u201cIt may still be possible to do those things in the future, but we feel it would be more bureaucratic,\u201d he said.\nSheila Steele, a Londoner with bright blue eyes, said that she decided to apply for an Irish passport after the \u201cdreadful\u201d referendum result.\n\u201cI thought about it before, my mother was Irish, but when Brexit happened, I thought, \u2018that\u2019s it,\u2019 \u201d said Steele, a retired market researcher in her 70s.\nShe was clutching documents that allow her to track her passport, which she was told would arrive in about eight weeks.\n\u201cI don\u2019t feel British, I feel European,\u201d she said.\nRead more:\nWhat a real \u2018Brexit Britain\u2019 would look like\nBrexit prompts a push to end English in the European Union\nBritain confronts a wave of racist incidents after the Brexit vote"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "3faf55f49be570d54fd44306778a48ef_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3faf55f49be570d54fd44306778a48ef_1", "title": "How the Northern Irish Unionists might save Theresa May\u2019s bacon", "text": "to abortion services. Their critics say the unionists are supported by paramilitary groups. And they really dislike Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The Tories say May has struck a deal \u2014 what they are calling \u201can understanding\u201d \u2014 with the Democratic Unionist Party. A DUP source told the Guardian newspaper, \u201cWe want there to be a government. We have worked well with May. The alternative is intolerable. For as long as Corbyn leads Labour, we will ensure there\u2019s a Tory PM.\u201d But this support comes at a price. Northern Ireland as a whole voted strongly in favor of remaining in the European Union in the vote last June, by a majority of 56 percent to 44 percent. Unionist leaders urged their constituents to vote Leave, but the ballots among their own supporters were divided. In the aftermath of the vote to leave the European bloc, DUP politicos have pushed for a kinder, gentler Brexit, and one that takes into account the unique history and geography of Ireland. Remember that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom \u2014 along with England, Wales and Scotland \u2014 and shares a long porous border with E.U. member Ireland to the south. That border was a kind of no man\u2019s land, populated by British soldiers, gunmen and smugglers during the decades of battles against the Irish Republican Army. As The Washington Post reported last year, more than 180 formal roads cross that border \u2014 many more if you count tractor trails and foot paths. Most of the time, a traveler barely sees a sign noting the change in countries. This will now become Europe\u2019s back door to Britain and vice versa. It was only 15 years ago that the last bomb exploded in the long conflict between British security forces and Ulster loyalist paramilitary groups and the Irish Republican Army. More than 3,500 people were killed during the Troubles, half of them civilians. Nobody wants to see its return, but there are fears on both sides that Brexit could awake old demons \u2014 and usher in a \u201chard border,\u201d with customs checkpoints and immigration controls. Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP, has warned both against a hard border and a hard Brexit. In the party\u2019s 2017 election manifesto, a top promise was: \u201cWork to get the best Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.\u201d It appears they are now in a good position to push for that."}], "old": [{"_id": "3faf55f49be570d54fd44306778a48ef_1", "title": "How the Northern Irish Unionists might save Theresa May\u2019s bacon", "text": "win 319 seats in Thursday\u2019s snap election, seven short of the 326 needed for a majority in parliament. That certainly wasn\u2019t her plan. And so May has spent the dawn hours at 10 Downing Street ringing her counterparts at the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, which won 10 seats. On the surface, the Irish unionists have much in common with the Tories. They\u2019re traditionalists \u2014 God save the queen and the Union Jack. They are also more socially conservative than the Tories. They\u2019ve vetoed same-sex marriage proposals and opposed access to abortion services. Their critics say the unionists are supported by paramilitary groups. And they really dislike Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The Tories say May has struck a deal \u2014 what they are calling \u201can understanding\u201d \u2014 with the Democratic Unionist Party. But this support comes at a price. Northern Ireland as a whole voted strongly in favor of remaining in the European Union in the vote last June, by a majority of 56 percent to 44 percent. Unionist leaders urged their constituents to vote Leave, but the ballots among their own supporters were divided. In the aftermath of the vote to leave the European bloc, DUP politicos have pushed for a kinder, gentler Brexit, and one that takes into account the unique history and geography of Ireland. Remember that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom \u2014 along with England, Wales and Scotland \u2014 and shares a long porous border with E.U. member Ireland to the south. That border was a kind of no man\u2019s land, populated by British soldiers, gunmen and smugglers during the decades of battles against the Irish Republican Army. It was only 15 years ago that the last bomb exploded in the long conflict between British security forces and Ulster loyalist paramilitary groups and the Irish Republican Army. More than 3,500 people were killed during the Troubles, half of them civilians. Nobody wants to see its return, but there are fears on both sides that Brexit could awake old demons \u2014 and usher in a \u201chard border,\u201d with customs checkpoints and immigration controls. Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP, has warned both against a hard border and a hard Brexit. In the party\u2019s 2017 election manifesto, a top promise was: \u201cWork to get the best Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.\u201d It appears they are now in a good position to push for that."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, speaks to members of the media outside Stormont Parliament Buildings in Belfast on March 6. (Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)\nLONDON \u2014 British Prime Minister Theresa May thought she would sweep elections with a broad mandate to run the exit negotiations with the European Union, but it did not work out that way.\nNow it appears that a little party in Northern Ireland needs to come to the Tory\u2019s rescue.\nMay\u2019s Conservative Party is forecast to win 319 seats in Thursday\u2019s snap election, seven short of the 326 needed for a majority in parliament. That certainly wasn\u2019t her plan.\nAnd so May has spent the dawn hours at 10 Downing Street ringing her counterparts at the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, which won 10 seats.\nOn the surface, the Irish unionists have much in common with the Tories. They\u2019re traditionalists \u2014 God save the queen and the Union Jack. They are also more socially conservative than the Tories. They\u2019ve vetoed same-sex marriage proposals and opposed access to abortion services. Their critics say the unionists are supported by paramilitary groups.\u00a0And they really dislike Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.\nThe Tories say May has struck a deal \u2014 what they are calling \u201can understanding\u201d \u2014 with the Democratic Unionist Party.\nA DUP source told the Guardian newspaper, \u201cWe want there to be a government. We have worked well with May. The alternative is intolerable. For as long as Corbyn leads Labour, we will ensure there\u2019s a Tory PM.\u201d\nBut this support comes at a price.\nNorthern Ireland as a whole voted strongly in favor of remaining in the European Union in the vote last June, by a majority of 56 percent to 44 percent. Unionist leaders urged their constituents to vote Leave, but the ballots among their own supporters were divided.\nIn the aftermath of the vote to leave the European bloc, DUP politicos have pushed for a kinder, gentler Brexit, and one that takes into account the unique history and geography of Ireland.\nRemember that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom \u2014 along with England, Wales and Scotland \u2014 and shares a long porous border with E.U. member Ireland to the south.\nThat border was a kind of no man\u2019s land, populated by British soldiers, gunmen and smugglers during the decades of battles against the Irish Republican Army.\nAs The Washington Post reported last year, more than 180 formal roads cross that border \u2014 many more if you count tractor trails and foot paths. Most of the time, a traveler barely sees a sign noting the change in countries. This will now become Europe\u2019s back door to Britain and vice versa.\nIt was only 15 years ago that the last bomb exploded in the long conflict between British security forces and Ulster loyalist paramilitary groups and the Irish Republican Army. More than 3,500 people were killed during the Troubles, half of them civilians.\nNobody wants to see its return, but there are fears on both sides that Brexit could awake old demons \u2014 and usher in a \u201chard border,\u201d with customs checkpoints and immigration controls.\nArlene Foster, leader of the DUP, has warned both against a hard border and a hard Brexit. In the party\u2019s 2017 election manifesto, a top promise was: \u201cWork to get the best Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.\u201d It appears they are now in a good position to push for that."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "4WFFKRPKGRERHCIAW6FXLSZLII_4", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "4WFFKRPKGRERHCIAW6FXLSZLII_4", "title": "If Boris Johnson gets his Brexit, it may break the United Kingdom", "text": "of the European Union. \u201cBrexit in any shape promises to weaken the bonds between the nations of the British Isles. In the extreme form that seems to be the working assumption by Johnson\u2019s new administration, it will impose intolerable strains. This could set in train a process that ends with the break-up of the union.\u201d The most intolerable strain would lie across the Irish Sea. A Brexit that doesn\u2019t include an Irish backstop could stoke old tensions, explained my colleague Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady: \u201cThe border is a highly sensitive issue in Ireland because its current arrangement was negotiated as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that put an end to the 30-year period known as \u2018the Troubles.\u2019 During that time, sectarian violence between Unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to stay part of the United Kingdom, and Nationalists, who wanted it to belong to the Republic of Ireland, left more than 3,500 dead. Now, there are fears that the reinstatement of tight border controls between the two sides could ignite a dangerous new wave of tensions reminiscent of that era.\u201d That\u2019s why officials in Dublin and Brussels consider the backstop nonnegotiable. On Tuesday, almost a full week after taking office, Johnson placed his first phone call to Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Their exchange was reportedly \u201ctesty\u201d and not particularly productive. According to an Irish readout, Varadkar reminded Johnson that the backstop was \u201ca consequence\u201d of Britain\u2019s political decision to embark on Brexit and that Ireland had the full strength of the E.U. behind it. On Friday, Varadkar hinted at the possibility of Northern Ireland severing its ties with the United Kingdom in the event of a no-deal Brexit. \u201cI think increasingly you see liberal Protestants and Unionists who will start to ask where they feel more at home,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the things that ironically could really undermine the union of the U.K. is a hard Brexit, both for Northern Ireland and for Scotland, and that is a problem they are going to have to face.\u201d Not for nothing did former British prime minister Gordon Brown remark at a London event last week that Johnson could be remembered \u201cnot as the 55th prime minister of the U.K. but as the first prime minister of England.\u201d Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know?"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know?\nIn his first speech last week as Britain\u2019s new leader, Prime Minister Boris Johnson exhibited his customary bravado\nBut already, it\u2019s Johnson who is starting to look like the prime minister with no clothes.\nOn Tuesday, the British pound dropped to its lowest level in two years, a reaction to growing alarm over the likelihood of Johnson\u2019s government crashing Britain out of Europe in a \u201cno-deal\u201d Brexit. His cabinet is packed with hard-line Brexiteers who, like Johnson, want to see Brexit achieved at almost any cost. One minister has already indicated that the government is operating under the \u201cassumption\u201d that it must prepare for a \u201cno-deal\u201d departure: a scenario that would see tariffs immediately slapped on British exports to the continent, financial chaos, lines and delays at border checks, and an endless assortment of other (in some cases, still unforeseen) problems.\nJohnson, undaunted, has engaged in a game of brinkmanship with Brussels and Dublin. Over the weekend, he talked tough on his Brexit intentions, voicing his opposition to the \u201cIrish backstop\u201d \u2014 the current understanding forged between Britain and the European Union that would preserve a soft border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and therefore theoretically keep all of Britain in the E.U.\u2019s customs union.\nEuropean diplomats insist that the current withdrawal agreement, including the conditions around the Irish border \u2014 the subject of months of painstaking talks between Johnson\u2019s predecessor, Theresa May, and the E.U.\u2019s 27 other member states \u2014 is not up for renegotiation. Johnson resents their intransigence and has said he won\u2019t meet with E.U. leaders until they reconsider their position on the backstop.\nOfficials in Brussels, meanwhile, may be hoping that Johnson is compelled to blink first and that Britain\u2019s Parliament acts to block a no-deal Brexit. That also may be a scenario Johnson actually wants. Another impasse at Westminster could prompt a snap general election that may yield a Parliament more inclined to back Johnson\u2019s agenda.\n\u201cThe most likely scenario is Boris goes off to Brussels, Brussels says no, Boris says: \u2018Brussels is dictating to us. We want to do a deal, but they won\u2019t let us do a deal,\u2019\u201d University of Nottingham politics professor Steven Fielding told the Associated Press. \u201cRamping all of that up and then saying, \u2018Come and support me on the road to our glorious Brexit\u2019 \u2014 and call an election.\u201d\nBut the domestic picture for Johnson is hardly rosy, either.\n\"The people of Scotland did not vote for this Tory government, they didn\u2019t vote for this new prime minister, they didn\u2019t vote for Brexit, and they certainly didn\u2019t vote for a catastrophic no-deal Brexit, which Boris Johnson is now planning for,\u201d Sturgeon said before his arrival. As my colleagues reported, the chaos and damage of a \u201cno-deal\u201d Brexit may speed calls for a new independence referendum in Scotland \u2014 a cause backed by Sturgeon\u2019s Scottish National Party.\nThe next day in Wales, Johnson met a similarly dubious Welsh first minister. Mark Drakeford, a member of the opposition Labour Party, warned in an interview with the Guardian that a no-deal Brexit would endanger Wales\u2019s agricultural and manufacturing sectors and \u201ca whole way of life that has existed for centuries.\u201d He stressed that Johnson\u2019s characteristic \u201cbluff and bluster\u201d was testing the unity of the United Kingdom itself.\n\u201cI think the union that is the United Kingdom is more at risk today than at any time in my political lifetime,\u201d he said, pointing to how both Scotland and Northern Ireland overwhelmingly voted to remain in the European Union.\nJohnson will travel to Belfast on Wednesday in the final swing of his national tour.\n\u201cThe prime minister\u2019s twin ambitions are on a dangerous collision course,\u201d noted an editorial in the Financial Times, referring to Johnson\u2019s stated desire to both strengthen ties among Britain\u2019s four home nations and lead the country swiftly out of the European Union. \u201cBrexit in any shape promises to weaken the bonds between the nations of the British Isles. In the extreme form that seems to be the working assumption by Johnson\u2019s new administration, it will impose intolerable strains. This could set in train a process that ends with the break-up of the union.\u201d\nThe most intolerable strain would lie across the Irish Sea. A Brexit that doesn\u2019t include an Irish backstop could stoke old tensions, explained my colleague Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady: \u201cThe border is a highly sensitive issue in Ireland because its current arrangement was negotiated as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that put an end to the 30-year period known as \u2018the Troubles.\u2019 During that time, sectarian violence between Unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to stay part of the United Kingdom, and Nationalists, who wanted it to belong to the Republic of Ireland, left more than 3,500 dead. Now, there are fears that the reinstatement of tight border controls between the two sides could ignite a dangerous new wave of tensions reminiscent of that era.\u201d\nThat\u2019s why officials in Dublin and Brussels consider the backstop nonnegotiable. On Tuesday, almost a full week after taking office, Johnson placed his first phone call to Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Their exchange was reportedly \u201ctesty\u201d and not particularly productive. According to an Irish readout, Varadkar reminded Johnson that the backstop was \u201ca consequence\u201d of Britain\u2019s political decision to embark on Brexit and that Ireland had the full strength of the E.U. behind it.\nOn Friday, Varadkar hinted at the possibility of Northern Ireland severing its ties with the United Kingdom in the event of a no-deal Brexit. \u201cI think increasingly you see liberal Protestants and Unionists who will start to ask where they feel more at home,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the things that ironically could really undermine the union of the U.K. is a hard Brexit, both for Northern Ireland and for Scotland, and that is a problem they are going to have to face.\u201d\nNot for nothing did former British prime minister Gordon Brown remark at a London event last week that Johnson could be remembered \u201cnot as the 55th prime minister of the U.K. but as the first prime minister of England.\u201d\nWant smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know?"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "5K72QHPS3NCIDJCPLHQ4CMKCEA_4", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5K72QHPS3NCIDJCPLHQ4CMKCEA_4", "title": "Brexit: The next big 5 things to watch", "text": "of question to be asked. 4. Ireland\u2019s border is a huge question The Irish border has become the most intractable issue in the withdrawal negotiations, as Northern Ireland is part of Britain, but the Republic of Ireland is, and will remain, an E.U. member. Whatever Brexit deal is struck (or not) will have a significant impact on trade and security. However, for the Democratic Unionists, a Northern Ireland party whose votes give May a majority in Parliament, it is also integral to questions of identity and their place in Britain. The remaining E.U. member states have been solidly behind the Irish government, refusing to countenance signing off a withdrawal agreement unless it contains an Irish \u201cbackstop\u201d that would keep Northern Ireland in the customs union and parts of the single market to avoid an internal Irish border even in the event of a \u201chard Brexit.\u201d There is still some hope in London that Dublin might agree to a slight softening of the language around the backstop, if only because the Republic of Ireland would be the member state worst affected by a no-deal outcome. As of yet, however, there seems little sign of this happening. 5. And the E.U. has other worries Brexit is not the only or even the top priority for the E.U. Concerns over migration and the continuing demands of euro-zone governance tend to take priority. The other 27 E.U. states have been happy to entrust the process to their chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, thereby ensuring continued unity. And, of course, member states also have been keen to benchmark Brexit as an unfavorable outcome for any state considering following suit. However, the actual prospect of Brexit may start to sharpen minds. A punitive Brexit could have long-term political and economic consequences not just for relations between the E.U. and Britain but also the wider geopolitical and security landscape in Europe. If the British people felt they were being punished by the E.U., support not only for European integration, but conceivably also for solidarity within NATO, might weaken. European negotiations have a habit of going to the wire \u2014 and Brexit will be no different. But with Brexit, there is a legally defined end date \u2014 March 29, 2019 \u2014 and the default outcome is not the status quo ante but a no-deal scenario that would be profoundly damaging. The stakes, then, could not be higher. Tim Haughton"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The divorce negotiations may go to the wire.\nThe negotiations over the British withdrawal from the European Union were supposed to be over by now. But the October European summit came and went without a deal. And a much-hyped challenge to Prime Minister Theresa May\u2019s leadership fizzled out Wednesday, in part thanks to the reaction to the gruesome off-the-record language from critics in her party.\nThe Brexit process remains a multilevel negotiation, where actors send out signals and seek to frame the discussions to rally support, obfuscate and intimidate. With just over 150 days to go until Britain is due to leave the European Union, here are five things to watch:\n1. Can Theresa May deal with Tory MPs?\nDivisions over Europe\nThe government is trying to persuade Conservative \u201cRemainers\u201d that the alternative \u201cno deal\u201d exit is far too costly for Britain. And they are communicating to members of the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) that voting down the deal might create the conditions for another referendum, which might lead to Brexit not happening at all. And, of course, the government is holding out the dire prospect that defeat for a Brexit vote in the House of Commons might herald a new election\u00a0\u2014 and a Labour government headed by Jeremy Corbyn.\nWill May\u2019s tactics work? For some Conservative MPs, the Brexit issue matters more than party unity, whatever threats are leveled. Pro-remain MPs such as Anna Soubry and Ken Clarke are likely to attempt to bring about another referendum. The ERG contains a number of MPs who see any concession to Brussels as a betrayal of the 2016 referendum.\nDespite this opposition within the Tory side, it is far from clear there is a sufficient or unified pull to depose the prime minister. But its refusal to support the government causes problems in Parliament and may yet lead to a defeat over Brexit.\n2\nAny Brexit deal requires the support of Parliament, but the Conservatives do not have a majority in the House of Commons \u2014 even if every Tory backed Theresa May. How Northern Ireland is treated in the final withdrawal agreement will matter greatly \u2014 can May rely on the critical support of the Democratic Unionist Party?\nAnd the Labour Party has its own divisions \u2014 some MPs will back the government\u2019s leave plan. Some are pro-remain but argue that an acceptable deal would be better than the prospect of a no-deal outcome. Others still will vote against any deal, hoping to secure another referendum.\nCalculating the numbers is devilishly difficult, with many MPs publicly undecided on how they intend to vote \u2014 many, of course, want to see whatever deal materializes before they decide. And there is another complication. Some Labour MPs might feel constrained from supporting the Brexit deal by a fear of rebellion in their own constituencies. The recent Labour Party conference passed a change to party rules, making it easier to challenge a sitting MP. Those seen to be supporting a Tory government over Brexit might find themselves early test cases of the new procedures.\n3. Public opinion shows profound divisions\nYes, 700,000 pro-remainers took to the streets of London this month to demand a \u201cpeople\u2019s vote\u201d on any Brexit deal. Yet public opinion remains largely stable and profoundly divided over Brexit.\nRecent data suggest a slight shift toward remain. However, this shift seems to be made up mainly of people who either did not or could not vote in 2016, now stating that they would vote in this way, rather than leavers changing their minds.\nIt\u2019s also far from obvious how such a vote would come about. In the event that Parliament could not agree on a Brexit deal, it is conceivable that MPs might opt to delegate the decision to the public. But this would require an extension to the Article 50 process, and it\u2019s not clear Parliament could agree on the form of question to be asked.\n4. Ireland\u2019s border is a huge question\nThe Irish border has become the most intractable issue in the withdrawal negotiations, as Northern Ireland is part of Britain, but the Republic of Ireland is, and will remain, an E.U. member. Whatever Brexit deal is struck (or not) will have a significant impact on trade and security. However, for the Democratic Unionists, a Northern Ireland party whose votes give May a majority in Parliament, it is also integral to questions of identity and their place in Britain.\nThe remaining E.U. member states have been solidly behind the Irish government, refusing to countenance signing off a withdrawal agreement unless it contains an Irish \u201cbackstop\u201d that would keep Northern Ireland in the customs union and parts of the single market to avoid an internal Irish border even in the event of a \u201chard Brexit.\u201d There is still some hope in London that Dublin might agree to a slight softening of the language around the backstop, if only because the Republic of Ireland would be the member state worst affected by a no-deal outcome. As of yet, however, there seems little sign of this happening.\n5. And the E.U. has other worries\nBrexit is not the only or even the top priority for the E.U. Concerns over migration and the continuing demands of euro-zone governance tend to take priority. The other 27 E.U. states have been happy to entrust the process to their chief negotiator,\u00a0Michel Barnier, thereby ensuring continued unity. And, of course, member states also have been keen to benchmark Brexit as an unfavorable outcome for any state considering following suit.\nHowever, the actual prospect of Brexit may start to sharpen minds. A punitive Brexit could have long-term political and economic consequences not just for relations between the E.U. and Britain but also the wider geopolitical and security landscape in Europe. If the British people felt they were being punished by the E.U., support not only for European integration, but conceivably also for solidarity within NATO, might weaken.\nEuropean negotiations have a habit of going to the wire \u2014 and Brexit will be no different. But with Brexit, there is a legally defined end date \u2014 March 29, 2019 \u2014 and the default outcome is not the status quo ante but a no-deal scenario that would be profoundly damaging. The stakes, then, could not be higher.\nTim Haughton"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "7584a77ef5e9b3b6b6d0a4322539e1da_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "7584a77ef5e9b3b6b6d0a4322539e1da_1", "title": "How the E.U.\u2019s ruling on Apple explains why Brexit happened", "text": "United Kingdom did with its Brexit vote \u2014 needs to leave an interventionist, anti-sovereignty European Union. To put the question a different way: Did Apple, in collusion with the Irish government, rip off the Irish public by arranging a huge tax break? Or did the European Union just undermine Ireland's economic model and strip the country of its competitive advantage, risking Ireland's long-term growth? Much of the debate across the Irish Sea in Britain during the lead-up to the referendum on E.U. membership in June centered on the idea that bureaucrats with no allegiance to Britain were sitting in Brussels and writing their laws. Proponents of a \"Brexit\" argued that leaving the E.U. would allow the country to \"take back control\" of its economy and borders. After the E.U.'s ruling on Apple and Ireland on Tuesday, one of the most outspoken Brexit leaders, Nigel Farage, tweeted that the E.U. was \"anti-democratic\" and \"doomed,\" and included a video of him on a television show saying \"Across the whole continent, people are saying, 'Why are our laws being made somewhere else?'\" Others began using the hashtag #Irexit, or argued that it was the E.U., and not Ireland, that had broken its treaty obligations to its member-state. This kind of ruling will foment Irish resentment against the EU. #Irexit? cc @Fox_Claire https://t.co/2MW38NXT60 The EU has just put a torpedo into Ireland's economic model & violated a treaty obligation not to interfere in Irish tax affairs. Mehmet Simsek, Turkey's deputy prime minister, even took the opportunity to suggest that Apple shift from Ireland to Turkey, which isn't a E.U. member, where he'd be \"happy to provide more generous tax incentives.\" Apple should move to Turkey. Happy to provide more generous tax incentives. Won't have to deal with EU bureaucracy https://t.co/9ceOnauGi0 And despite the promise of an unprecedentedly large injection of tax revenue, the Irish government plans to appeal the ruling. \"This is necessary to defend the integrity of our tax system, to provide tax certainty to business and to challenge the encroachment of E.U. state aid rules into the sovereign member state competence of taxation,\" Michael Noonan, Ireland's finance minister said in a statement. Apple will also appeal. At the core of their argument is a denial that they got special tax rates unavailable to others. \"The European Commission has launched an effort to rewrite Apple\u2019s history in Europe, ignore Ireland\u2019s tax laws and"}], "old": [{"_id": "7584a77ef5e9b3b6b6d0a4322539e1da_1", "title": "How the E.U.\u2019s ruling on Apple explains why Brexit happened", "text": "of the debate across the Irish Sea in Britain during the lead-up to the referendum on E.U. membership in June centered on the idea that bureaucrats with no allegiance to Britain were sitting in Brussels and writing their laws. Proponents of a \"Brexit\" argued that leaving the E.U. would allow the country to \"take back control\" of its economy and borders. Others began using the hashtag #Irexit, or argued that it was the E.U., and not Ireland, that had broken its treaty obligations to its member-state. This kind of ruling will foment Irish resentment against the EU. #Irexit? cc @Fox_Claire https://t.co/2MW38NXT60 The EU has just put a torpedo into Ireland's economic model & violated a treaty obligation not to interfere in Irish tax affairs. Mehmet Simsek, Turkey's deputy prime minister, even took the opportunity to suggest that Apple shift from Ireland to Turkey, which isn't a E.U. member, where he'd be \"happy to provide more generous tax incentives.\" Apple should move to Turkey. Happy to provide more generous tax incentives. Won't have to deal with EU bureaucracy https://t.co/9ceOnauGi0 And despite the promise of an unprecedentedly large injection of tax revenue, the Irish government plans to appeal the ruling. \"This is necessary to defend the integrity of our tax system, to provide tax certainty to business and to challenge the encroachment of E.U. state aid rules into the sovereign member state competence of taxation,\" Michael Noonan, Ireland's finance minister said in a statement. Apple will also appeal. At the core of their argument is a denial that they got special tax rates unavailable to others. \"The European Commission has launched an effort to rewrite Apple\u2019s history in Europe, ignore Ireland\u2019s tax laws and upend the international tax system in the process,\" read part of a statement from Apple's chief executive, Tim Cook. The ruling, he said, would have a \"profound and harmful effect on investment and job creation in Europe.\" \"Using the Commission\u2019s theory, every company in Ireland and across Europe is suddenly at risk of being subjected to taxes under laws that never existed,\" argued Cook. Much further to the left on the political spectrum, the Social Democrats, Ireland's newest political party, echoed the resentment toward Apple that many Irish citizens expressed throughout the day on social media. Read More: Eight years after they helped wreck the economy, Ireland sends 3 bankers to prison Where Europe is most and least"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "E.U. Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager speaks at an Aug. 25 news conference at the European Commission in Brussels. (Stephanie Leco/European Pressphoto Agency)\nOn Tuesday morning, the governing body of the\u00a0European Union\u00a0ruled that one of its members, Ireland, had broken its rules by allowing U.S.-based\u00a0Apple Inc. to pay a tax rate of 1 percent \u2014 and sometimes as little as .0005\u00a0percent. Ireland's regular tax rate is 12.5\u00a0percent, and E.U. rules state that members can't give special benefits to individual companies \u2014 even the most highly valued company in the world.\nUnder the E.U. ruling, Apple would be required to pay Ireland more than\u00a0$14.5 billion in back taxes. Both Apple\u00a0and the Irish government plan to appeal.\nThat's\u00a0is a huge amount of money for a small country like Ireland, which suffered terribly after the 2008 financial crisis and required a massive bailout from the E.U. Many in Ireland are salivating over what kind of public infrastructure or personal tax breaks $14.5 billion could be spent on. The sum is roughly equal to Ireland's entire health budget, to put it in perspective.\nOthers, however, see the ruling\u00a0as exactly why Ireland \u2014 just like the United Kingdom\u00a0did with its Brexit vote \u2014 needs to leave\u00a0an interventionist, anti-sovereignty European Union.\nTo put the question a different way: Did Apple, in collusion with the Irish government, rip off the Irish public by arranging\u00a0a huge tax break? Or did the European Union just undermine Ireland's economic model and strip the country of its competitive advantage, risking Ireland's long-term growth?\nMuch of the debate across the Irish Sea in Britain during\u00a0the lead-up to the referendum on E.U. membership in June centered on the idea that bureaucrats with no allegiance to Britain were sitting in Brussels and writing their laws. Proponents of a \"Brexit\" argued that leaving the E.U. would allow the country to \"take back control\" of its economy and borders.\nAfter the E.U.'s ruling on Apple and Ireland on Tuesday, one of the most outspoken Brexit leaders, Nigel Farage, tweeted that the E.U. was \"anti-democratic\" and \"doomed,\" and included a video of him on a television show saying \"Across the whole continent, people are saying, 'Why are our laws being made somewhere else?'\"\nOthers began using the hashtag #Irexit, or argued that it was the E.U., and not Ireland, that had broken its treaty obligations to its member-state.\nThis kind of ruling will foment Irish resentment against the EU. #Irexit? cc @Fox_Claire  https://t.co/2MW38NXT60\nThe EU has just put a torpedo into Ireland's economic model & violated a treaty obligation not to interfere in Irish tax affairs.\nMehmet Simsek, Turkey's deputy prime minister, even took the opportunity to suggest that Apple shift from Ireland to Turkey, which isn't a E.U. member, where he'd be \"happy to provide more generous tax incentives.\"\nApple should move to Turkey.  Happy to provide more generous tax incentives. Won't have to deal with EU bureaucracy\n\nhttps://t.co/9ceOnauGi0\nAnd despite the promise of an unprecedentedly large injection of tax revenue, the Irish government plans to appeal the ruling.\n\"This is necessary to defend the integrity of our tax system, to provide tax certainty to business and to challenge the encroachment of E.U. state aid rules into the sovereign member state competence of taxation,\" Michael Noonan, Ireland's finance minister said in a statement.\nApple will also appeal. At the core of their argument is a denial\u00a0that they got special tax rates\u00a0unavailable\u00a0to others.\n\"The European Commission has launched an effort to rewrite Apple\u2019s history in Europe, ignore Ireland\u2019s tax laws and upend the international tax system in the process,\" read part of a statement from Apple's chief executive, Tim Cook. The ruling, he said, would have\u00a0a \"profound and harmful effect on investment and job creation in Europe.\"\n\"Using the Commission\u2019s theory, every company in Ireland and across Europe is suddenly at risk of being subjected to taxes under laws that never existed,\" argued Cook.\nIreland's second and third-biggest parties seemed to align with the ruling Fine Gael party in opposing the ruling. Both the\u00a0Fianna F\u00e1il and Labour parties spokesmen stated that it\u00a0was counter to their understandings of Ireland's ability to set its own tax rules and expressed worry that should the appeals fall through, multinationals\u00a0would lose faith in Ireland as a destination for investment.\u00a0Apple employs around 6,000 people across Ireland and made overtures that those jobs would be kept there.\nMuch further to the left on the political spectrum, the Social Democrats, Ireland's newest political party, echoed the resentment toward Apple that\u00a0many Irish citizens expressed throughout the day on social media.\n\"While Small and Medium sized enterprises, which employ seven out of every 10 people in the private sector, struggled throughout the downturn, many going to the wall, this multinational giant was paying the bare minimum in tax,\" said a statement released on their website.\nRead More:\nEight years after they helped wreck the economy, Ireland sends 3 bankers to prison\nWhere Europe is most and least innovative, in 6 maps\nDonald Trump just called himself \u2018Mr. Brexit,\u2019 and nobody really knows why"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "8ade3f05a47f5f6ec0489fa703dd6e82_5", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "8ade3f05a47f5f6ec0489fa703dd6e82_5", "title": "Post-Brexit, the U.K. is in its worst political crisis since 1940", "text": "legal process to trigger a second independence referendum within the next two years, which she hopes will allow Scotland to stay in the European Union. Guy Verhofstadt, the Belgian leader of the Liberal faction in the European Parliament, has already extended an invitation to Sturgeon over Twitter to discuss the idea in Brussels, which she eagerly accepted. She also suggested that the members of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh could simply veto a Brexit. Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams of Sinn F\u00e9in have called for a border poll on a united Ireland. The possibility of a border poll is a central provision of the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland after decades of violent conflict. The U.K. government\u2019s Northern Ireland Secretary has the power to call a poll on whether Northern Ireland should remain a part of the U.K. or should unite with the Republic of Ireland. Just like the SNP in Scotland, Sinn F\u00e9in argues that Brexit is a \u201cpolitical and economic game changer.\u201d An open border and free mobility of labor between Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as E.U. membership for both parts of the island, were cornerstones of the 1998 peace agreement brokered by, among others, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. In short, the Brexit vote may also set off an unintended flare-up of the bitter old conflict in Northern Ireland between pro-Dublin Catholic Republicans and pro-London Protestant Unionists. One result of Brexit therefore may be to reduce the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the \u201cUntied Kingdom of Little England and Wales.\u201d Referendums expose democratic dysfunction Political scientists have always differed on the democratic merits of holding a referendum. There have been many arguments either on the merits or the costs of referendums for both democratic process and outcome reasons. The Brexit vote reveals that a referendum on a controversial policy decision can divide a country, laying bare deep social fissures, especially along age, class, ethnic and geographic lines. The Brexit vote has also revealed that the House of Commons and most of the British economic and financial establishment are profoundly out of touch with the rest of the country they govern and control. The more disturbing revelation is that the \u201cleave\u201d campaign was able to win based on a series of inaccurate statements about the E.U., outright lies about the actual cost"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Politicians in the U.K. insist that they will move forward with the process to exit the E.U., but not everyone is happy about it. Here's what will make it a long and difficult ordeal.\nOn June 23, Britain\u00a0voted to leave the European Union. With a much higher than expected turnout of 72 percent, close to 52 percent of the electorate voted to leave, while just over 48 percent voted to remain. The referendum fundamentally divided the country. London, Scotland, and Northern Ireland overwhelmingly voted to maintain the status quo, while the Welsh and especially the rest of England voted in large numbers to break with Brussels. The vote also showed large gaps between young and old, rich and poor, more and less educated, more and less well-traveled, as well as urban and rural. The former consistently sided with remain while the latter systematically favored leaving.\nThe vote left the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe and the world behind in a state of bewilderment. International financial markets went into a tailspin, wiping out close to $3 trillion in global wealth in just two trading sessions. The day after the vote \u2014 June 24 \u2014 was the worst day in global equity markets since the market collapse in September 2008 that followed the failure of Lehman Brothers. Britain\u2019s currency, the pound sterling, crashed to its lowest level vis-\u00e0-vis the dollar since 1985. Prime Minister David Cameron, who had renegotiated Britain\u2019s terms with the E.U. and headed the \u2018remain\u2019 campaign, announced that he planned to resign.\nHow can we make sense of it all?\nThe vote has left U.K. politics in its deepest crisis since World War II\nWhile the \u201cpeople have spoken\u201d in favor of leaving, three-quarters of the members of the House of Commons want to remain in the E.U., suggesting that the current parliament is vastly out of touch with the people it claims to represent.\nThe Conservative Party\u2019s\nTo choose a new Conservative Party leader, who would also serve as Britain\u2019s\u00a0next prime minister, Tory members of Parliament (MPs) have to agree on a short list of two, probably over the coming two weeks. Then the 150,000 or so party members will get to decide between the two finalists, after an internal campaign that will probably last about six weeks.\nAs May and Johnson jostle for the position, they will likely offer competing views on what a post-Brexit E.U. looks like, and what model \u2014\u00a0Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Canada, or Singapore and Hong Kong\u00a0\u2014 to follow in how the country relates to the E.U. in the future. Meanwhile, recent Google searches for \u201chow to join the Conservative Party\u201d have skyrocketed, suggesting that the contest will be unpredictable.\nThe Labour Party\nAfter the results came in, many of his MPs blamed him for the large shares of \u201cleave\u201d voters in many of Labour\u2019s traditional working class constituencies, as many voters were unclear as to whether Corbyn supported in or out. Just four days after the referendum, 172 of Corbyn\u2019s\u00a0229 MPs outright rejected him in a no-confidence vote;\u00a0only 40 MPs voted in support while\u00a013 MPs did not vote.\nBut replacing him will prove hard, especially if he keeps his vow to fight on, as Labour\u2019s rules consider\u00a0such a vote to be\u00a0nonbinding. In the meanwhile, Corbyn remains very popular among Labour\u2019s grassroots members, who are the ones who actually decide on a new leader. In September 2015, he got a solid mandate from 61 percent of Labour members, in a four-way race that was a stinging rejection of the Party\u2019s establishment, including Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.\nWith a leaderless government and a rudderless opposition, the U.K. would ordinarily expect a new general election.\nThe Fixed Term Parliament Act of 2011 stipulates a fixed five-year term for every new government. There are only two ways to call a snap election. One way is for two-thirds of the sitting House to agree that \u201cthere shall be an early parliamentary election.\u201d Another way is for parliament to call for a motion of no confidence in \u201cHer Majesty\u2019s Government\u201d by simple majority, which then can only be reversed by a vote of confidence within the next 14 days. With an absolute \u2014\u00a0though slim \u2014 majority of just 16 seats, the new Conservative leadership, expected in early September, would have to propose a \u201cno confidence\u201d motion in themselves.\nBut why would they? Keep in mind that a slim majority of current Conservative MPs opposes leaving the E.U. Many of their districts voted in large numbers for Brexit. These MPs are unlikely to favor early elections, lest they be unseated by a challenger from the right-wing nationalist U.K. Independence Party (UKIP), whose leader, Nigel Farage, was one of the main faces of the \u201cleave\u201d campaign.\nIn the meanwhile, Labour MPs feel in no position to go head-to-head with the Tories given the hapless leadership Jeremy Corbyn has provided thus far. Most MPs in traditional Labour constituencies, especially in the industrial north of England, also fear being unseated by a UKIP candidate or losing to a Tory. Furthermore, the Europe question cuts through the middle of both Conservative and Labour Parties, and is therefore an incredibly thorny issue to find common ground on in an election manifesto.\nIn short, the U.K. is in the midst of its worst political crisis since May 1940, when Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain to face the existential threat of Nazi Germany after the fall of France.\nBrexit may undo the United\u00a0Kingdom\nThe first casualty of the Brexit vote will probably be the union among England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, rather than the European Union itself. While England and Wales voted \u201cout\u201d by a margin of 53-47,\u00a0Scotland voted to stay in\u00a0the EU by 62 to 38 and Northern Ireland by 56 to 44.\nScotland\nNicola Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland (the Scottish equivalent of a prime minister) and head of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has set in motion the legal process to trigger a second independence referendum within the next two years, which she hopes will allow Scotland to stay in the European Union. Guy Verhofstadt, the Belgian leader of the Liberal faction in the European Parliament, has already extended an invitation to Sturgeon over Twitter to discuss the idea in Brussels, which she eagerly accepted. She also suggested that the members of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh could simply veto a Brexit.\nMeanwhile, in Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams of Sinn F\u00e9in have called for a border poll on a united Ireland. The possibility of a border poll is a central provision of the Good Friday Agreement,\u00a0which brought peace to Northern Ireland after decades of violent conflict. The U.K. government\u2019s Northern Ireland Secretary has the power to call a poll on whether Northern Ireland should remain a part of the U.K. or should unite with the Republic of Ireland.\nJust like the SNP in Scotland, Sinn F\u00e9in argues that Brexit is a \u201cpolitical and economic game changer.\u201d An open border and free mobility of labor between Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as E.U. membership for both parts of the island, were cornerstones of the 1998 peace agreement brokered by, among others, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. In short, the Brexit vote may also set off an unintended flare-up of the bitter old conflict in Northern Ireland between pro-Dublin Catholic Republicans and pro-London Protestant Unionists.\nOne result of Brexit therefore may be to reduce the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the \u201cUntied Kingdom of Little England and Wales.\u201d\nReferendums expose democratic dysfunction\nPolitical scientists have always differed on the democratic merits of holding a referendum. There have been many\u00a0arguments either on the merits or the costs of referendums for both democratic process and outcome reasons. The Brexit vote reveals that a referendum on a controversial policy decision can divide a country, laying bare deep social fissures, especially along age, class, ethnic and geographic lines. The Brexit vote has also revealed that the House of Commons and most of the British economic and financial establishment are profoundly out of touch with the rest of the country they govern and control.\nThe more disturbing revelation is that the \u201cleave\u201d campaign was able to win based on a series of inaccurate statements about the E.U., outright lies about the actual cost of Brexit, false promises on the country\u2019s post-Brexit future and overtly racist attitudes against immigration.\nIn my book \u201cIdeas and Economic Crises in Britain from Attlee to Blair,\u201d which built on the work of Sheri Berman, Mark Blyth, Colin Hay, and Kate McNamara, I argued that some ideas prevail because they can give a convincing and simplified solution to perceived problems, not necessarily because they are inherently superior. Constructing a coherent and persuasive narrative of what went wrong, who is to blame and how things will get better plays a key role in winning elections. Political scientists need to better account for ideas and identity as we model voter behavior.\nReferendums are hard to undo. The E.U. does have something of a tradition of letting countries vote again if they got it wrong the first time. Even though this happened previously in the cases of Denmark and Ireland \u2014 when a new E.U. treaty was rejected and then renegotiated with the member state in question \u2014 this may not be politically feasible this time. The U.K., after all, voted to leave the E.U. altogether.\nWhen Britain\u00a0signed the Lisbon Treaty of the E.U., which came into effect in November 2009, it also agreed to the procedure of leaving the union, as stipulated in Article 50. This procedure gives two years to negotiate the terms of the divorce. However, the member state that wants to leave is the only entity that can trigger those Article 50 proceedings. The rest of Europe cannot force the U.K. to do so. Some have suggested that the U.K. may never do so, as the legal way for renegotiating and a second referendum is wide open. Angela Merkel has said she can\u2019t speed up or slow down Brexit talks. The E.U. could be in limbo for months.\nDavid Cameron says he will leave it up to his successor to decide when to invoke the article and start the painful process of leaving the E.U. Boris Johnson, still his most likely successor, is already appearing to backpedal. He has said he hopes not to trigger Article 50, but rather to negotiate an amicable divorce on Britain\u2019s terms. The E.U. is unlikely to agree to that, with E.U. officials already dismissing it as a \u201cpipe dream.\u201d So the option of last resort would be to go back to the voters, have them reject an actual Brexit and hope the nightmare will go away.\nBut as I noted above,\u00a0early elections are\u00a0not a very attractive option for either the Conservative or the Labour Party. Of course, that may change. But right now, the referendum outcome has exposed the country\u2019s democratic dysfunction.\nPolitical scientists can no longer assume that European integration moves only in one direction\nPolitical scientists\u2019 views about European integration have traditionally divided into two camps: Ernst Haas\u2019s \u201cneo-functionalism\u201d\u00a0and Andrew Moravcsik\u2019s \u201cliberal inter-governmentalism.\u201d\u00a0The former school assumed that nations would see positive spillovers and positive feedback from initial economic cooperation and that this would lead to more integration in such areas as foreign and security policy, agriculture, the environment and judicial affairs \u2014 resulting in an ever-closer union. The latter school saw \u201cgrand bargains\u201d pushing the E.U. forward based on the rational interests of the main interest groups in the most important member states. Further E.U. integration would be the sum total of those periodic bargains.\nBoth schools of thought believed the E.U. was gradually moving toward closer cooperation and eventually to some version of a United States of Europe. \u201cCrises\u201d were assumed to be the catalysts for major leaps forward. This argument was based on the belief of Jean Monnet \u2014 one of the E.U.\u2019s founding fathers in the 1950s \u2014 that \u201cEurope will be forged in crises, and will be the sum of the solutions adopted in those crises.\u201d\nCraig Parsons\nPolitical scientists have as of yet no useful theories to explain and understand the centrifugal forces of potential E.U. disintegration, having thus far paid less attention to how domestic politics, identity, class and culture affect this process. They therefore need to come up with new theories. Kate McNamara\u2019s new book \u201cThe Politics of Everyday Europe\u201c does a great job explaining how the European Union has successfully managed to construct authority by transforming symbols and practices in everyday European life in a rather banal way. We now need to better understand the mainly national forces that are capable of undoing this process.\nBrexit could prove devastating for the future of the United Kingdom, the future of the European Union and the future of the international liberal order. The latter has been the foundation of our postwar peace and prosperity, which many now realize is much more fragile than they had taken for granted.\nIn late June, many celebrated the referendum results, and British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that he will resign after Britons went to the polls.\nMatthias Matthijs is assistant professor of international political economy at Johns Hopkins University\u2019s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), author of \u201cIdeas and Economic Crises in Britain from Attlee to Blair\u201d (Routledge 2011) and co-editor (with Mark Blyth) of \u201cThe Future of the Euro\u201d (OUP 2015)."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "8ef37a3a-6206-11e1-8ca8-e9c037995d79_2", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "8ef37a3a-6206-11e1-8ca8-e9c037995d79_2", "title": "Ireland becomes a test for E.U. crisis remedy", "text": "the Irish people would put any future bailouts in jeopardy. Under a 2010 deal, Ireland is scheduled to receive rescue funds through next year. But analysts say that, like Greece, Dublin may require another rescue package \u2014 one it could effectively be barred from getting if the treaty is voted down. Ireland\u2019s prime minister, Enda Kenny, who strongly backs the treaty, described the referendum on Tuesday as an \u201copportunity to reaffirm Ireland\u2019s commitment to membership of the euro.\u201d \u201cThe Irish people can confirm our commitment to responsible budgeting and ensure that the reckless economic mismanagement that drove our country to the brink of bankruptcy will not be repeated,\u201d he said, laying the blame on the previous government. Polls: Vote too close to call European and Irish government officials had desperately hoped to avoid a referendum. Irish voters have twice rejected key E.U. treaties \u2014 in 2001 and 2008 \u2014 although both accords were ultimately approved in second referendums after Dublin won a number of concessions. Recent Irish opinion polls have shown that a vote on the new European fiscal pact would be too close to call. But a ruling by the Irish attorney general indicated that under the national constitution, Ireland could not ratify the accord without a referendum. Although a date has not been announced, the vote is expected to take place by June. The campaign to pass the treaty in Ireland, experts say, is likely to be aided by the growing realization in European capitals that the accord amounts to a paper tiger, with any harsh penalties for violators coming only after a laborious, bureaucratic process. But in Ireland, the referendum on the treaty is also likely to be seen as a proxy vote on the tough austerity imposed on Ireland by its lenders at the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank as part of a three-year bailout deal struck in 2010. Always different from the one in Greece, the Irish crisis was sparked not by runaway government spending and faked economic figures, but by a U.S.-style property bubble that led to the near-collapse of the banking system. In sharp contrast to the Greeks, since being bailed out, Ireland has been portrayed by its lenders as a model, with the Irish so far succeeding in cutting the deficit, improving competitiveness and restoring their country to growth. Demands \u2018just aren\u2019t fair\u2019 But many in"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "LONDON \u2014\nThe decision will amount to the first public test of a new accord that would seek to enforce budget discipline throughout the region, setting strict limits on state spending to restore investor confidence in the bloc\u2019s indebted countries. Last month, 25 of the European Union\u2019s 27 nations \u2014 all but Britain and the Czech Republic \u2014 agreed to the German-led treaty, with the nations involved now in the process of trying to ratify it.\nYet opinion polls across Europe suggest a deepening suspicion of E.U. institutions, with surveys in Ireland particularly suggesting a wide gap between the public and its leaders over the wisdom of granting more power to authorities in Brussels.\nWhile the new treaty appears to enjoy more support in countries such as Germany \u2014 where famously frugal taxpayers have been heavily tapped to bail out Greece, Ireland and Portugal \u2014 in Dublin and elsewhere, opponents say they see their sovereignty at stake.\n\u201cI don\u2019t think the Irish feel we have any sovereignty left anymore,\u201d Shay Moran, a 41-year-old unemployed semiconductor engineer and treaty opponent, said recently at Dublin\u2019s Gravediggers pub, where Irish revolutionaries once plotted against British rule. \u201cAll I see is [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel wielding a big stick and telling us what to do.\u201d\nThe move by the Irish to put the question before voters who have a history of rejecting European accords could not alone scuttle the new treaty.\nAlthough 25 nations have agreed to the new accord, only 12 of the 17 nations that share the euro must ratify it for the treaty to come into effect. So far, only Ireland has declared that it will hold a public vote.\nYet Ireland\u2019s announcement comes as doubts are swirling about the treaty\u2019s backing in France, the region\u2019s second-largest economy and without whose support many would see the treaty as effectively dead.\nIn Paris, the Socialist front-runner in the upcoming presidential election, Francois Hollande, has indicated that if he were elected in May, he would renegotiate the treaty to include measures oriented toward promoting growth in European economies \u2014 something the Germans continue to strongly oppose. The Irish referendum, analysts said, amounts to a further complication to a treaty meant to prevent another European debt crisis and that was used to persuade German politicians this week to support a costly second bailout for near-bankrupt Greece.\nMore important, a rejection of the treaty by the Irish people would put any future bailouts in jeopardy. Under a 2010 deal, Ireland is scheduled to receive rescue funds through next year. But analysts say that, like Greece, Dublin may require another rescue package \u2014 one it could effectively be barred from getting if the treaty is voted down. Ireland\u2019s prime minister, Enda Kenny, who strongly backs the treaty, described the referendum on Tuesday as an \u201copportunity to reaffirm Ireland\u2019s commitment to membership of the euro.\u201d\n\u201cThe Irish people can confirm our commitment to responsible budgeting and ensure that the reckless economic mismanagement that drove our country to the brink of bankruptcy will not be repeated,\u201d he said, laying the blame on the previous government.\nPolls: Vote too close to call\nEuropean and Irish government officials had desperately hoped to avoid a referendum.\nIrish voters have twice rejected key E.U. treaties \u2014 in 2001 and 2008 \u2014 although both accords were ultimately approved in second referendums after Dublin won a number of concessions. Recent Irish opinion polls have shown that a vote on the new European fiscal pact would be too close to call.\nBut a ruling by the Irish attorney general indicated that under the national constitution, Ireland could not ratify the accord without a referendum. Although a date has not been announced, the vote is expected to take place by June.\nThe campaign to pass the treaty in Ireland, experts say, is likely to be aided by the growing realization in European capitals that the accord amounts to a paper tiger, with any harsh penalties for violators coming only after a laborious, bureaucratic process.\nBut in Ireland, the referendum on the treaty is also likely to be seen as a proxy vote on the tough austerity imposed on Ireland by its lenders at the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank as part of a three-year bailout deal struck in 2010.\nAlways different from the one in Greece, the Irish crisis was sparked not by runaway government spending and faked economic figures, but by a U.S.-style property bubble that led to the near-collapse of the banking system. In sharp contrast to the Greeks, since being bailed out, Ireland has been portrayed by its lenders as a model, with the Irish so far succeeding in cutting the deficit, improving competitiveness and restoring their country to growth.\nDemands \u2018just aren\u2019t fair\u2019\nBut many in Ireland say the recovery here looks better on paper than it does in real life, raising fresh doubts about the country\u2019s ability to regain market confidence by the time its $112\u00a0billion bailout runs out next year. Some economists are suggesting that, like Greece, Ireland may be forced into a second massive bailout despite its recent gains.\nE.U. estimates suggest that Ireland\u2019s economy grew by almost 1\u00a0percent in 2011. But that figure is pumped up by profits from multinationals such as eBay, Facebook and Google that use Ireland for its low corporate tax rates and tend to repatriate a good portion of those profits while employing only 7 percent of the Irish workforce.\nAfter stripping those numbers out, the Irish economy appears to have actually suffered a mild recession last year. Consumer spending, retail sales and bank credit have dried up with few signs of recovery. The Irish unemployment rate remains near modern highs, above 14 percent.\nFew in Ireland are seriously debating the need to reduce spending and close the budget gap. But opponents of strict austerity insist that a focus on deep and quick cuts, mixed with markedly higher sales and new property taxes, has hampered the nation\u2019s return to robust growth. That, many here argue, would only continue for years if Ireland agrees to the new European treaty.\nFor some, such as Cian Dowling, 20, a bright-eyed engineering major at University College Dublin, it has meant rethinking a commitment to education. New cuts to university subsidies mean that he will now have to pay $8,000 or more a year out of pocket for a master\u2019s degree in a country with no U.S.-style student loan programs. Like tens of thousands of young Irish escaping dwindling domestic opportunity, he is considering a life overseas, possibly in New Zealand.\n\u201cWhat they\u2019re really doing is telling young people like me that we can\u2019t get higher educations anymore,\u201d he said. \u201cBut wasn\u2019t a lack of education Ireland\u2019s problem in the past?\u201d\nHe continued: \u201cI feel like these demands from Europe for cuts just aren\u2019t fair. Isn\u2019t it better to try to help us get back on our feet rather than knocking us down again?\u201d\nSpecial correspondent Brendan Howard in Dublin contributed to this report.\nMore world news coverage:\n- Crippled cruise ship to reach land Thursday\n- China cautious on euro bailout\n- Russian whistleblower charged with slander\n- Read more headlines from around the world"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "AWUQ3THWVAI6VBPXLFARRCUYZU_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "AWUQ3THWVAI6VBPXLFARRCUYZU_1", "title": "Fear in Northern Ireland, as Boris Johnson threatens the E.U. over Brexit", "text": "a political football,\u201d said Powell, a lobbyist with the Women\u2019s Resource and Development Agency in Belfast. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Ireland \u2014 and today the line marking the boundary between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is invisible. Powell said border communities are \u201chorrified\u201d over the uncertainties and brinkmanship of Brexit. In the past week, Johnson started to deploy martial language, asserting that the E.U. is plotting to \u201ccarve up our country\u201d and to choke off food supplies with destabilizing new barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. \u201cUnless we agree to the E.U.\u2019s terms, the E.U. will use an extreme interpretation of the Northern Ireland protocol to impose a full-scale trade border down the Irish Sea,\u201d Johnson wrote in the Telegraph newspaper. Irish Foreign Affairs Secretary Simon Coveney dismissed Johnson\u2019s claim that Europe wanted to \u201cblockade\u201d Northern Ireland as \u201ctotally bogus.\u201d Europeans are livid that Johnson has introduced a bill before Parliament that would breach key parts of the Brexit withdrawal treaty, an agreement Johnson signed only nine months ago, calling the pact \u201chistoric\u201d and \u201cfantastic.\u201d The deal seeks to finesse trade and customs issues to enable Northern Ireland to exit along with the rest of the United Kingdom but to preserve easy trade \u2014 and psychological ties \u2014 with the Republic of Ireland, which will remain part of the E.U. In the absence of a free-trade deal, there would probably have to be some kind of controls between north and south to levy tariffs and quotas. Chief E.U. negotiator Michel Barnier said the Northern Ireland protocol signed last year represents no threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom. He tweeted, \u201cWe agreed this delicate compromise with [Boris Johnson] & his gov in order to protect peace & stability on island of Ireland. We could not have been clearer about the consequences of #Brexit.\u201d Martin O\u2019Brien is a veteran peace-building activist from north Belfast, who worked to ensure that strong human rights were included in the Good Friday Agreement. \u201cBrexit \u2014 and this government\u2019s particular form of Brexit, a hard Brexit \u2014 was embarked on with no regard to the consequences for Northern Ireland,\u201d he said. O\u2019Brien called the withdrawal agreement signed by the U.K. and E.U. last year \u201ca carefully constructed mechanism to try to minimize the worst consequences\u201d of Brexit. \u201cNow the government has decided to go back on the compromise"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "BELFAST \u2014\nBoris Johnson is moving forward on his threat to override the Brexit withdrawal agreement with the European Union \u2014 a move that every living former British prime minister warns against \u2014 and the people of Northern Ireland again find themselves fearful that decisions made in London and Brussels could upend the hard-won peace and prosperity on their island.\nBritain will leave the European Union at the end of 2020, with or without a new free-trade deal, Johnson promises. With just over three months to go before the end of a transition period, a pact between the sides seems as far away as ever. Relations between Europe and Britain have grown shouty, underlining the high stakes of the showdown, as Britain and Europe both struggle to recover from deep pandemic recessions.\nRachel Powell grew up in South Armagh, where during the Troubles a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was patrolled by British troops, often attacked by Irish republican militants. She said she\u2019s deeply concerned about what will happen next.\n\u201cThe British government has not got a clue about what it is like to live on the border, and it is again using it as a political football,\u201d said Powell, a lobbyist with the Women\u2019s Resource and Development Agency in Belfast.\nThe 1998 Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Ireland \u2014 and today the line marking the boundary between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is invisible.\nPowell said border communities are \u201chorrified\u201d over the uncertainties and brinkmanship of Brexit.\nIn the past week, Johnson started to deploy martial language, asserting that the E.U. is plotting to \u201ccarve up our country\u201d and to choke off food supplies with destabilizing new barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.\n\u201cUnless we agree to the E.U.\u2019s terms, the E.U. will use an extreme interpretation of the Northern Ireland protocol to impose a full-scale trade border down the Irish Sea,\u201d Johnson wrote in the Telegraph newspaper.\nIrish Foreign Affairs Secretary Simon Coveney dismissed Johnson\u2019s claim that Europe wanted to \u201cblockade\u201d Northern Ireland as \u201ctotally bogus.\u201d\nEuropeans are livid that Johnson has introduced a bill before Parliament that would breach key parts of the Brexit withdrawal treaty, an agreement Johnson signed only nine months ago, calling the pact \u201chistoric\u201d and \u201cfantastic.\u201d\nThe deal seeks to finesse trade and customs issues to enable Northern Ireland to exit along with the rest of the United Kingdom but to preserve easy trade \u2014 and psychological ties \u2014 with the Republic of Ireland, which will remain part of the E.U. In the absence of a free-trade deal, there would probably have to be some kind of controls between north and south to levy tariffs and quotas.\nChief E.U. negotiator Michel Barnier said the Northern Ireland protocol signed last year represents no threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom. He tweeted, \u201cWe agreed this delicate compromise with [Boris Johnson] & his gov in order to protect peace & stability on island of Ireland. We could not have been clearer about the consequences of #Brexit.\u201d\nMartin O\u2019Brien is a veteran peace-building activist from north Belfast, who worked to ensure that strong human rights were included in the Good Friday Agreement. \u201cBrexit \u2014 and this government\u2019s particular form of Brexit, a hard Brexit \u2014 was embarked on with no regard to the consequences for Northern Ireland,\u201d he said.\nO\u2019Brien called the withdrawal agreement signed by the U.K. and E.U. last year \u201ca carefully constructed mechanism to try to minimize the worst consequences\u201d of Brexit.\n\u201cNow the government has decided to go back on the compromise and, again, that is hugely destabilizing,\u201d he said.\nQueen\u2019s University Belfast professor Katy Hayward said, \u201cWe should be familiar with this by now, the stirring up of a political storm over Northern Ireland and its place after Brexit, but we are no less weary of it.\u201d\nShe said that \u201cthe anxieties are only growing. .\u2009.\u2009. We face the prospect of the U.K. flagrantly breaking international law and using Northern Ireland\u2019s position as justification for it. This sets a whole new precedent. And it bodes very badly for peace.\u201d\nDuring the Troubles, more than 3,500 people were killed, over half of them civilians.\nBrandon Lewis, Johnson\u2019s minister for Northern Ireland, admitted to the House of Commons last week that the new bill to amend the Brexit deal with Europe will \u201cbreak international law,\u201d but, he said, only in a \u201cspecific and limited way.\u201d\nJohnson\u2019s move has set off alarms in the U.S. Congress, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warning that today\u2019s open border between north and south must be preserved at all costs. Undermine the Good Friday pact, Pelosi said, and \u201cthere will be absolutely no chance of a U.S.-U.K. trade agreement passing the Congress.\u201d\nIf Britain and Europe are unable to sign a trade deal by year\u2019s end, then World Trade Organization rules would apply to goods traded between the E.U. and the U.K., with tariffs and quotas levied in both directions. Supply chains 40 years in the making could be derailed.\nOn the island of Ireland, there is growing anxiety that Johnson is hurtling toward a no-deal Brexit.\n\u201cSecuring a \u2018zero tariff, zero quota\u2019 free-trade agreement with the E.U. remains critical to the future of U.K. businesses,\u201d said Ann McGregor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. \u201cWe urge ministers to redouble their efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement with our largest trading partner at a crucial time in the negotiations.\u201d\nFormer British prime ministers Tony Blair and John Major joined forces to condemn Johnson\u2019s attempt to override the \u00adBrexit agreement, calling it \u201cshameful.\u201d They urged lawmakers in the Labour and Conservative parties to vote down the bill.\n\u201cIt raises questions that go far beyond the impact on Ireland, the peace process and negotiations for a trade deal \u2014 crucial though they are. It questions the very integrity of our nation,\u201d the pair wrote in the Sunday Times.\nSince then, the bill cleared an initial vote in the House of Commons.\nSammy Wilson, a senior figure in the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, said his group will table amendments to Johnson\u2019s bill. But he dismissed as \u201cutter bunkum\u201d the former prime ministers\u2019 worry that the Irish peace could unravel.\nWilson said Johnson\u2019s bill will make it easier for Northern Ireland to do business with Great Britain with less paperwork."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "BPEEAJM6TJFZTAP6WUODEUOBGE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "BPEEAJM6TJFZTAP6WUODEUOBGE_1", "title": "Why the Irish border is a perpetual Brexit snag", "text": "of the United Kingdom, a heated debate has emerged over what to do to about the border after Brexit. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has made it clear that Ireland would not accept any deal that led to the implementation of a hard border. In addition to concerns that such a change would create major inconveniences for trade and movement, there are serious fears that reinstating a militarized border could reignite old tensions. On paper, the conflict ended more than 20 years ago, but there are still open hostilities that have at times bubbled up into violence. Earlier this year, clashes broke out in the city of Londonderry, also called Derry, after a police raid against suspected militant Irish nationalists. In the chaos that followed, Northern Irish journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead in what police called \u201ca terrorist act.\u201d That evening of turmoil in the border city reignited concerns that despite two decades of peace, the conflict was not entirely over \u2014 and added further to the stress over what Brexit could do to the border. To keep the border between the two sides soft, former British prime minister Theresa May tried to sell lawmakers on a plan known as the Irish backstop, which would require Britain to maintain ties to European trade policies. That enraged the pro-Brexit camp, which said it would subject the U.K. to E.U. rules even though it would no longer have any voting power in the E.U. In his first remarks to Parliament after he succeeded May as prime minister this summer, Boris Johnson said that to agree to such a system would violate Britain\u2019s independence and self-respect. \u201cIf an agreement is to be reached,\u201d he said, \u201cit must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop.\u201d Irish leaders lashed out at that suggestion, and Johnson and Varadkar reportedly shared a tense phone call soon after. But now Johnson has suggested a different plan that would allow the United Kingdom to completely withdraw from the E.U. customs rules by implementing a special customs border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. That arrangement would allow certain goods to be imported in Northern Ireland, for example, as long as they don\u2019t go any further than that. Not everyone is content with this plan, and some are especially concerned by the idea that this would in theory lead"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "For decades, Northern Ireland was entangled in a bloody conflict between Unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and Nationalists, who wanted to belong to the Republic of Ireland.\nThe violence tore families apart and pitted neighbors against one another. Bombs ripped through major cities such as London and Belfast. The British military opened fire on unarmed protesters.\nThen, in 1998, after 30 years of fighting had killed more than 3,500 people, a truce put an end to the dark period known as the Troubles. Although tensions still existed between the two sides, the treaty, known as the Good Friday Agreement, ushered in a much-welcomed era of relative peace.\nBut more than two decades later, some crucial details of the arrangement that cooled the conflict have emerged as a sticking point in Britain\u2019s rocky negotiations to depart from the European Union.\nBecause both Northern Ireland and Ireland belonged to the E.U. in 1998, the truce that ended the conflict allowed the two sides to implement a soft border between them. Since then, people and goods have easily crossed the border. But now, because Britain is trying to leave the E.U. and Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom, a heated debate has emerged over what to do to about the border after Brexit.\nIrish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has made it clear that Ireland would not accept any deal that led to the implementation of a hard border. In addition to concerns that such a change would create major inconveniences for trade and movement, there are serious fears that reinstating a militarized border could reignite old tensions.\nOn paper, the conflict ended more than 20 years ago, but there are still open hostilities that have at times bubbled up into violence. Earlier this year, clashes broke out in the city of Londonderry, also called Derry, after a police raid against suspected militant Irish nationalists. In the chaos that followed, Northern Irish journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead in what police called \u201ca terrorist act.\u201d\nThat evening of turmoil in the border city reignited concerns that despite two decades of peace, the conflict was not entirely over \u2014 and added further to the stress over what Brexit could do to the border.\nTo keep the border between the two sides soft, former British prime minister Theresa May tried to sell lawmakers on a plan known as the Irish backstop, which would require Britain to maintain ties to European trade policies. That enraged the pro-Brexit camp, which said it would subject the U.K. to E.U. rules even though it would no longer have any voting power in the E.U.\nIn his first remarks to Parliament after he succeeded May as prime minister this summer, Boris Johnson said that to agree to such a system would violate Britain\u2019s independence and self-respect.\n\u201cIf an agreement is to be reached,\u201d he said, \u201cit must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop.\u201d\nIrish leaders lashed out at that suggestion, and Johnson and Varadkar reportedly shared a tense phone call soon after.\nBut now Johnson has suggested a different plan that would allow the United Kingdom to completely withdraw from the E.U. customs rules by implementing a special customs border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. That arrangement would allow certain goods to be imported in Northern Ireland, for example, as long as they don\u2019t go any further than that. Not everyone is content with this plan, and some are especially concerned by the idea that this would in theory lead to setting up a customs border in the Irish Sea.\nBut earlier this week, E.U. leaders approved the draft text of the plan and Johnson then called for a Saturday vote, leading the Parliament to convene on a Saturday for the first time in 37 years. Johnson hoped to end the day with his deal approved. But lawmakers instead voted to withhold support until after they pass the technical legislation required for Britain to leave.\nThe question of what to do about the Irish border wasn\u2019t at the forefront of debate Saturday. But Johnson is still facing resistance among Northern Irish lawmakers from the Democratic Unionist Party, who have said his plan for the border is not in the \u201clong-term interests\u201d of Northern Ireland.\nRead more:\nThe Good Friday Agreement ended decades of conflict. Ireland worries Brexit could unravel it.\nWhy Boris Johnson is already clashing with Ireland over Brexit\nA battle over language is at the heart of Northern Ireland crisis"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "CLTSL6ZPURAPPKKYUXYPQ3RO2Y_2", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "CLTSL6ZPURAPPKKYUXYPQ3RO2Y_2", "title": "After Britain\u2019s elections, people are talking about a united Ireland. Don\u2019t hold your breath.", "text": "of the United Kingdom. In the end, Boris Johnson effectively abandoned the DUP and struck a provisional deal with the E.U. under which there would be no customs controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but there would be controls between Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain. Now, the DUP is in a bad situation with little bargaining leverage. The final problem for Unionists is very simple. Johnson\u2019s Conservatives don\u2019t seem to particularly care about unionists, and perhaps don\u2019t even care very much about Northern Ireland\u2019s territorial status. They were happy to weaken Northern Ireland\u2019s relationship with Britain to reach a deal on Brexit. They are redefining their understanding of conservatism so that it is based around English nationalism rather than U.K. nationalism. That poses an existential threat to Northern Ireland unionists, who view the United Kingdom as the core of their political identity. This does not mean a united Ireland Northern Ireland is entering into a world of nationalist strength, unionist weakness, U.K. government near-indifference, and a Brexit deal that emphasizes connections between Northern Ireland and the Republic at the expense of connections between Northern Ireland and Britain. That might seem to add up to a united Ireland in a hurry, perhaps after a cross-border referendum. However, there are strong countervailing forces. The first and most obvious of these is that the government of the Republic of Ireland does not want a united Ireland in the short term. It can see very well how Britain\u2019s politics have been shattered by a divisive referendum over the country\u2019s constitutional status. It does not want to import instability into its own political system by encouraging a referendum in Northern Ireland that would be similarly divisive. It is notable that Ireland\u2019s first response to the election result was to warn against moving to a united Ireland and to express the hope that Northern Ireland\u2019s Assembly (which has been suspended due to disagreements between nationalists and unionists) might now be revived. The Republic\u2019s government wants a return to stability in Northern Ireland rather than dangerous and unpredictable short-term change. The second is that the party that really wants a united Ireland and political upheavals in the Republic suffered some setbacks in the elections. Sinn Fein, which was organically linked to Irish Republican Army paramilitaries, did well in capturing seats, but its overall vote fell. It is being challenged again by the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Britain\u2019s election results seem to point in two very different directions. The headline result is that Boris Johnson\u2019s Conservative Party has won a smashing victory against Jeremy Corbyn\u2019s Labour Party, clearing the way for Britain\u2019s exit from the European Union. This would seem like good news for British nationalists, who have treated the E.U. as an enemy for decades.\nYet this victory may weaken the political fabric of the United Kingdom. Scottish nationalists did extraordinarily well, too, while for the first time, more nationalist members of Parliament (who want a united Ireland) have been elected in Northern Ireland than unionist MPs (who want the union with Great Britain to continue). This has prompted some commentators to start talking about a united Ireland. But that isn\u2019t likely to happen any time soon.\nThe election results are a triple blow to Ulster Unionists\nThe election results present enormous challenges to unionists, including the dominant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The first problem is the obvious one. For the first time, there will be fewer unionist MPs in the new Parliament than there will be nationalist MPs, although nationalist MPs still do not have a majority, because the cross-community Alliance party has also won a seat. This is a problem, because the territory of Northern Ireland was deliberately designed to ensure a unionist majority in perpetuity. (Full disclosure: The author\u2019s great-grandfather was the Irish representative on the Boundary Commission that controversially agreed to this border.)\nNow, this century-long territorial gerrymander seems on the verge of collapse thanks to demographic and political changes. Nationalists do not enjoy a majority (because of the Alliance Party), but the result tells unionists that they are in long-term trouble.\nThat isn\u2019t all. The DUP had a powerful voice in the last Parliament, because it could demand a price for supporting the minority Conservative government. Under the so-called \u201cconfidence and supply\u201d agreement, it was not in government itself, but could demand concessions from the administration, including political concessions on Northern Ireland. That was one reason it was so hard to reach an agreement on Brexit.\nThe border between the Republic of Ireland and the North of Ireland became a key issue for negotiators, because of fears that reintroduction of border controls could destabilize peace. However, the DUP threatened to veto any agreement that created a separate arrangement for Northern Ireland, in case it damaged Northern Ireland\u2019s link to the rest of the United Kingdom. In the end, Boris Johnson effectively abandoned the DUP and struck a provisional deal with the E.U. under which there would be no customs controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but there would be controls between Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain. Now, the DUP is in a bad situation with little bargaining leverage.\nThe final problem for Unionists is very simple. Johnson\u2019s Conservatives don\u2019t seem to particularly care about unionists, and perhaps don\u2019t even care very much about Northern Ireland\u2019s territorial status. They were happy to weaken Northern Ireland\u2019s relationship with Britain to reach a deal on Brexit. They are redefining their understanding of conservatism so that it is based around English nationalism rather than U.K. nationalism. That poses an existential threat to Northern Ireland unionists, who view the United Kingdom as the core of their political identity.\nThis does not mean a united Ireland\nNorthern Ireland is entering into a world of nationalist strength, unionist weakness, U.K. government near-indifference, and a Brexit deal that emphasizes connections between Northern Ireland and the Republic at the expense of connections between Northern Ireland and Britain. That might seem to add up to a united Ireland in a hurry, perhaps after a cross-border referendum. However, there are strong countervailing forces.\nThe first and most obvious of these is that the government of the Republic of Ireland does not want a united Ireland in the short term. It can see very well how Britain\u2019s politics have been shattered by a divisive referendum over the country\u2019s constitutional status. It does not want to import instability into its own political system by encouraging a referendum in Northern Ireland that would be similarly divisive.\nIt is notable that Ireland\u2019s first response to the election result was to warn against moving to a united Ireland and to express the hope that Northern Ireland\u2019s Assembly (which has been suspended due to disagreements between nationalists and unionists) might now be revived. The Republic\u2019s government wants a return to stability in Northern Ireland rather than dangerous and unpredictable short-term change.\nThe second is that the party that really wants a united Ireland and political upheavals in the Republic suffered some setbacks in the elections. Sinn Fein, which was organically linked to Irish Republican Army paramilitaries, did well in capturing seats, but its overall vote fell. It is being challenged again by the Social Democratic Labour Party (SDLP), its more moderate nationalist rival, which won two seats. The Alliance party, which works across both the nationalist and unionist community, made real gains in the election, likely by appealing to more moderate unionists. Sinn Fein\u2019s strategy has been to build strength in both Northern Ireland and the Republic, so as to press for a united Ireland, where it could be a powerful force. It failed to make the progress it wanted to make in the last general elections in the Republic of Ireland, and now it is losing votes in Northern Ireland, too.\nThe result is long-term uncertainty for Northern Irish politics, but little short-term likelihood of a united Ireland. Unionists are uncertain about their future, but there is no strong and unified movement for a united Ireland. The party that most wants a united Ireland is losing popularity rather than gaining it.\nOver the long run, increasing economic ties between Northern Ireland and the Republic might make a united Ireland more plausible. But even then there would be controversy: It is not clear, for example, whether voters in the Republic would be willing to pay the higher taxes that would be needed to maintain government services and high rates of government employment in the Northern Irish economy.\nDon\u2019t miss anything! Sign up to get TMC\u2019s smart analysis in your inbox, three days a week."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "CLVKDDWGSNCXJCLWFHIO3CI7RE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "CLVKDDWGSNCXJCLWFHIO3CI7RE_2", "title": "Ireland\u2019s prime minister talks Brexit and Trump", "text": "only speculating here \u2014 a short extension that would allow the deal we\u2019ve agreed to with the British government to be ratified or a much longer extension allowing us to explore a much closer relationship between the U.K. and the E.U. than had been envisaged up to this date. Are the other E.U. leaders on the same page about this? Obviously, Ireland is very worried about issues like the border with Northern Ireland, for example, but other European nations have differing priorities. There has been enormous solidarity behind Ireland on the issues of the peace process, the Good Friday Agreement and the border. A lot of people have predicted that solidarity would break \u2014 it hasn\u2019t. The unity in the European Union is undoubted, just as nobody can doubt the extent that disunity now pervades politics in the United Kingdom. Do you view the U.S.-Ireland relationship differently because of Brexit? Brexit solidifies Ireland\u2019s position as a reliable partner and a safe place for U.S. companies to invest because we know where we want to be in the world, which is at the heart of the European Union. We believe in free enterprise and free trade. We believe in the multilateral system, and we have a political consensus around that in Ireland. Potentially, when the U.K. leaves the European Union, we can be a strong partner for the U.S. [in the E.U.] We will always be on team Europe, but we are going to be an English-speaking country \u2014 the only one in the European Union \u2014 and a country with a very similar business culture to the U.S. I think potentially Ireland can be a bridge between the E.U. and the United States, which the U.K. can\u2019t be anymore. A lot of people would argue your administration and the Trump administration have quite different values. How do you reconcile that? I am not sure I can. We are very different politically, and our governments are very different. We have very different views on social policy and very different views on multilateralism. I don\u2019t think those can be reconciled, but I think that the relationship between Ireland and the U.S. is long-lasting, it\u2019s strong. Governments in Ireland change, and presidents in America change. The job that I have to do and others have to do is to make sure that those things that transcend the administrations or governments that are in"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday, along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know?\nLeo Varadkar, prime minister of Ireland, cuts a sharp contrast to President Trump.\nThis week, Varadkar came to Washington ahead of a trip to Chicago for St. Patrick\u2019s Day. Some of the optics may be awkward \u2014 the Irish leader plans to bring his partner, Matt, to meet Vice President Pence on Thursday. However, the timing may be key. On Tuesday, British lawmakers voted against Prime Minister Theresa May\u2019s Brexit deal. The very next day, they voted against a \u201cno-deal Brexit.\"\nToday\u2019s WorldView met with Varadkar on Wednesday, one day ahead of his meetings with the president and the vice president, to ask him about Brexit, Trump and what Britain\u2019s exit from the European Union might mean for Dublin\u2019s relationship with Washington.\nThe interview below was edited for length and clarity.\nTWV: What is your reaction to the votes in London against a \u201cno deal\u201d Brexit on Wednesday?\nLeo Varadkar: It\u2019s evident to everyone that the situation is changing rapidly day by day. It\u2019s quite dynamic and, I\u2019m afraid to say, chaotic in London, as far as I am concerned. What happened today in the House of Commons, I think, is that MPs have clearly indicated that they don\u2019t want to leave if there isn\u2019t a deal.\nWhat I hope now is, the possibility that things that had been ruled out months and years ago can be reconsidered. It may be an opportunity now for MPs to think about what Brexit really means. If they change their mind on those issues, such as the Customs Union and the Single Market, I think they\u2019ll receive a very warm and generous response from the E.U.\nWould you support some sort of extension to the March 29 deadline for Brexit?\nAn extension is better than no deal. I think everyone accepts this is a decision that will be made in Brussels by the European Council, of which I am a member. The decision must be made unanimously, so the obvious question that we\u2019re going to want to ask the British government is how long an extension are you seeking, and what is the purpose of it?\nWhat I wouldn\u2019t like is a rolling cliff edge whereby there are a series of extensions. So perhaps instead \u2014 I am really only speculating here \u2014 a short extension that would allow the deal we\u2019ve agreed to with the British government to be ratified or a much longer extension allowing us to explore a much closer relationship between the U.K. and the E.U. than had been envisaged up to this date.\nAre the other E.U. leaders on the same page about this? Obviously, Ireland is very worried about issues like the border with Northern Ireland, for example, but other European nations have differing priorities.\nThere has been enormous solidarity behind Ireland on the issues of the peace process, the Good Friday Agreement and the border. A lot of people have predicted that solidarity would break \u2014 it hasn\u2019t. The unity in the European Union is undoubted, just as nobody can doubt the extent that disunity now pervades politics in the United Kingdom.\nDo you view the U.S.-Ireland relationship differently because of Brexit?\nBrexit solidifies Ireland\u2019s position as a reliable partner and a safe place for U.S. companies to invest because we know where we want to be in the world, which is at the heart of the European Union. We believe in free enterprise and free trade. We believe in the multilateral system, and we have a political consensus around that in Ireland.\nPotentially, when the U.K. leaves the European Union, we can be a strong partner for the U.S. [in the E.U.] We will always be on team Europe, but we are going to be an English-speaking country \u2014 the only one in the European Union \u2014 and a country with a very similar business culture to the U.S.\nI think potentially Ireland can be a bridge between the E.U. and the United States, which the U.K. can\u2019t be anymore.\nA lot of people would argue your administration and the Trump administration have quite different values. How do you reconcile that?\nI am not sure I can. We are very different politically, and our governments are very different. We have very different views on social policy and very different views on multilateralism. I don\u2019t think those can be reconciled, but I think that the relationship between Ireland and the U.S. is long-lasting, it\u2019s strong. Governments in Ireland change, and presidents in America change. The job that I have to do and others have to do is to make sure that those things that transcend the administrations or governments that are in power are in place.\nOne thing that\u2019s really changed about the U.S.-Ireland relationship is that it\u2019s very much a two-way relationship now. Ireland is one of the top 10 investors in the U.S. \u2014 unimaginable just 20 or 30 years ago. So you know you have jobs, investments, trade going in both directions to the benefit of both. That\u2019s something I\u2019ll be saying to President Trump [on Thursday].\nWhen he proposed his\nWe haven\u2019t seen that. Perhaps more American companies are staying in the United States or are investing more in the United States rather than in Europe. But you know we mentioned earlier some of the political differences between the government that I lead and President Trump\u2019s administration? There are areas of similarity, and one of those is that we believe in pro-enterprise culture. When the U.S. decided to reduce its corporation tax rate, we had no objections with that whatsoever.\nThere was a lot of speculation that President Trump\u2019s visit to Ireland last year was\nI\u2019m actually not sure why it was canceled, but I imagine any visit to Europe and many parts of the world raises the risk of protest for President Trump. I don\u2019t think it would stop him traveling to Britain or France, and I don\u2019t think it\u2019d stop him traveling to Ireland, quite frankly. We have a standing invitation to any U.S. president to visit Ireland.\nThere are areas in which [Trump] has been quite helpful to Ireland. We had an issue around Aughinish, which is a very big aluminum plant in the West of the country employing hundreds of people that was potentially threatened by sanctions on Russia. The U.S. administration was very helpful in protecting those jobs. They worked with us on immigration issues as well, particularly around regularizing undocumented immigrants who are Irish citizens in the States and easing immigration rules so that some of those Irish people who want to invest here can get [visas] more easily. He does own a business in Ireland, too, which we shouldn\u2019t forget.\nWant smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday, along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know?"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "DRE4F72AXRAENBZA7EW2EEEP7E_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "DRE4F72AXRAENBZA7EW2EEEP7E_0", "title": "Even if Johnson\u2019s deal passes, Brexit won\u2019t just be \u2018done\u2019", "text": "Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday, along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions? When British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged members of Parliament on Saturday to back his Brexit deal, The delay increases the likelihood of parliamentary maneuvers that could derail or alter Johnson\u2019s plans this week, but Johnson isn\u2019t heading toward certain defeat. He could still secure approval for his deal, perhaps without having to make use of the Brexit extension beyond Oct. 31, which Johnson was forced to request Saturday. After more than three years of uncertainty, there might be a tight majority for his agreement. In case his deal is approved, Johnson is likely to celebrate himself as the man who got \u201cBrexit done\u201d \u2014 a phrase he has frequently used in the past. But in reality, the United Kingdom\u2019s Brexit woes are here to stay. Many of the Brexit concerns that have been on Britons\u2019 minds in recent years \u2014 a breakup of the United Kingdom or the possibility of severe economic ramifications, for instance \u2014 would remain a risk, even if Johnson\u2019s deal is approved. Northern Ireland is expected to remain at the center of the Brexit debate one way or another. Johnson\u2019s proposed deal would avoid the reintroduction of border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but only because it would, in practice, move the customs border into the Irish Sea, which separates the islands of Britain and Ireland. Even though Northern Ireland would leave the E.U. customs union with the rest of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland would \u2014 at least initially \u2014 in some aspects remain aligned with the European Union. That\u2019s a major headache for Northern Ireland\u2019s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which has backed the Conservative Party in Parliament but won\u2019t support Johnson\u2019s deal. The party fears that his plans would drive Britain and Northern Ireland apart and could lead to Northern Ireland eventually unifying with the Republic of Ireland. \u201cParadoxically Mr. Johnson and Brexit may have done more for a united Ireland than the [Irish Republican Army] ever did,\u201d Jonathan Powell, a former adviser to prime minister and Labour party leader Tony Blair, wrote in the Financial Times over the weekend. Poll numbers indicate that support for unification is on the rise in Northern Ireland. Those advocating a break with the United Kingdom could see a similar rise"}], "old": [{"_id": "DRE4F72AXRAENBZA7EW2EEEP7E_0", "title": "Even if Johnson\u2019s deal passes, Brexit won\u2019t just be \u2018done\u2019", "text": "Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday, along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions? When British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged members of Parliament on Saturday to back his Brexit deal, Northern Ireland is expected to remain at the center of the Brexit debate one way or another. There is no indication that the approval of a Brexit deal would hurt Johnson\u2019s critics in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday, along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions?"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday, along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions?\nWhen British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged members of Parliament on Saturday to back his Brexit deal,\nThe delay increases the likelihood of parliamentary maneuvers that could derail or alter Johnson\u2019s plans this week, but Johnson isn\u2019t heading toward certain defeat. He could still secure approval for his deal, perhaps without having to make use of the Brexit extension beyond Oct. 31, which Johnson was forced to request Saturday. After more than three years of uncertainty, there might be a tight majority for his agreement.\nIn case his deal is approved, Johnson is likely to celebrate himself as the man who got \u201cBrexit done\u201d \u2014 a phrase he has frequently used in the past. But in reality, the United Kingdom\u2019s Brexit woes are here to stay. Many of the Brexit concerns that have been on Britons\u2019 minds in recent years \u2014 a breakup of the United Kingdom or the possibility of severe economic ramifications, for instance \u2014 would remain a risk, even if Johnson\u2019s deal is approved.\nNorthern Ireland is expected to remain at the center of the Brexit debate one way or another.\nJohnson\u2019s proposed deal would avoid the reintroduction of border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but only because it would, in practice, move the customs border into the Irish Sea, which separates the islands of Britain and Ireland. Even though Northern Ireland would leave the E.U. customs union with the rest of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland would \u2014 at least initially \u2014 in some aspects remain aligned with the European Union.\nThat\u2019s a major headache for Northern Ireland\u2019s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which has backed the Conservative Party in Parliament but won\u2019t support Johnson\u2019s deal. The party fears that his plans would drive Britain and Northern Ireland apart and could lead to Northern Ireland eventually unifying with the Republic of Ireland.\n\u201cParadoxically Mr. Johnson and Brexit may have done more for a united Ireland than the [Irish Republican Army] ever did,\u201d Jonathan Powell, a former adviser to prime minister and Labour party leader Tony Blair, wrote in the Financial Times over the weekend. Poll numbers indicate that support for unification is on the rise in Northern Ireland.\nThose advocating a break with the United Kingdom could see a similar rise in support in Scotland, where First Minister and Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon has been rallying support for a second independence referendum. Five years ago, Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, but \u2014 like Northern Irish voters \u2014 Scots predominantly backed remaining in the E.U. in 2016.\nLast week, Sturgeon reiterated that \u201cit is clearer than ever that the best future for Scotland is one as an equal, independent European nation.\"\nThere is no indication that the approval of a Brexit deal would hurt Johnson\u2019s critics in Northern Ireland and Scotland.\nBut pro-E.U. MPs worry that hard-line Brexiteers may be hoping to derail those trade talks, in which case Britain could crash out of the current arrangements. In some ways, the economic ramifications of that would be similar to a \u201cno deal\u201d scenario and could result in a plummeting GDP.\nIronically, all of this \u2014 including Johnson\u2019s deal itself \u2014 would constitute a more radical break with the E.U. than even some Brexiteers proposed in 2016.\nSince 2016, however, the British electorate appears to have moved in the exact opposite direction. Whereas few \u201cleave\u201d or \u201cremain\u201d voters appear to have changed their minds on Brexit, polls have still started to show a consistent preference for remaining in the E.U. for at least a year.\nPollsters argue that the growing support for remaining in the E.U. is mostly a result of demographic change, The Washington Post\u2019s Karla Adam writes. Some older voters \u2014 who tend to be more supportive of Brexit \u2014 have died. Meanwhile, younger Britons who have reached the voting age since 2016 are predominantly in favor of staying in the European Union.\nAs the idea of a confirmatory referendum on Johnson\u2019s deal appears to be gaining momentum among the opposition Labour Party, there is a theoretical chance that British voters\u2019 increasingly pro-remain attitude could still derail Johnson\u2019s plans, even if Parliament passes the deal. The emphasis here, of course, should be on \u201ctheoretical.\u201d\nBrexit has consistently proved to be unpredictable. After more than three years, there does appear to be one certainty, however: Whatever happens, Brexit won\u2019t just be \u201cdone,\u201d as Johnson is suggesting.\nWant smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday, along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions?"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "EECSV7EDSNF5TODXFNX7MEIR5U_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "EECSV7EDSNF5TODXFNX7MEIR5U_0", "title": "The Good Friday Agreement ended decades of conflict. Ireland worries Brexit could unravel it.", "text": "In 1998, after 30 years of violence that left 3,500 people dead, peace was finally achieved in Northern Ireland. Now some are concerned that Brexit could be putting at risk the treaty that helped end the fighting, usually known as the Good Friday Agreement. A critical part of that agreement was softening the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which was militarized during the decades of violence known as the Troubles. Today, people and goods can pass freely across that border, thanks to the peace and the European Union\u2019s policy of free movement between its member countries. But if Britain leaves the E.U., it could potentially need to reestablish customs controls and entry points with Ireland. Many fear that returning such checkpoints to the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland \u2014 making it a \u201chard border\u201d once more \u2014 would be reminiscent of the island\u2019s dark past, potentially unleashing a new wave of instability. \u201cBoth the U.K. and Ireland will have an obligation to honor the Good Friday Agreement, protect the peace and honor our commitment to the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland, that there won\u2019t be a hard border,\u201d Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Wednesday. Former U.S. senator George J. Mitchell, who served as independent chairman of the Northern Ireland peace talks, wrote in The Washington Post in December that changing the status of the border \u201ccould increase the possibility of a resumption of violence.\u201d Those living there have similar concerns. As William Booth and Amanda Ferguson wrote for The Washington Post in November, some people just over the border in Northern Ireland \u201cworry that a bungled Brexit could rekindle tensions and possibly lead to violence.\u201d In recent days, hundreds of people have gathered by the border, holding signs and protesting the possibility of new restrictions. But attempts to solve the issue have ground the Brexit process to a halt. The withdrawal deal that British Prime Minister Theresa May struck with the E.U. included a provision known as the \u201cbackstop\u201d to make sure that a hard border would not be reinstated in Ireland. The backstop specified that Northern Ireland would leave the E.U. customs union only when Britain and the E.U. were able to work out an arrangement to avoid a hard border. It was intended to give the two sides time to hash out a final deal on the issue after Britain leaves"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In 1998, after 30 years of violence that left 3,500 people dead, peace was finally achieved in Northern Ireland. Now some are concerned that Brexit could be putting at risk the treaty that helped end the fighting, usually known as the Good Friday Agreement.\nA critical part of that agreement was softening the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which was militarized during the decades of violence known as the Troubles. Today, people and goods can pass freely across that border, thanks to the peace and the European Union\u2019s policy of free movement between its member countries.\nBut if Britain leaves the E.U., it could potentially need to reestablish customs controls and entry points with Ireland. Many fear that returning such checkpoints to the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland \u2014 making it a \u201chard border\u201d once more \u2014 would be reminiscent of the island\u2019s dark past, potentially unleashing a new wave of instability.\n\u201cBoth the U.K. and Ireland will have an obligation to honor the Good Friday Agreement, protect the peace and honor our commitment to the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland, that there won\u2019t be a hard border,\u201d Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Wednesday.\nFormer U.S. senator George J. Mitchell, who served as independent chairman of the Northern Ireland peace talks, wrote in The Washington Post in December that changing the status of the border \u201ccould increase the possibility of a resumption of violence.\u201d\nThose living there have similar concerns. As William Booth and Amanda Ferguson wrote for The Washington Post in November, some people just over the border in Northern Ireland \u201cworry that a bungled Brexit could rekindle tensions and possibly lead to violence.\u201d In recent days, hundreds of people have gathered by the border, holding signs and protesting the possibility of new restrictions.\nBut attempts to solve the issue have ground the Brexit process to a halt.\nThe withdrawal deal that British Prime Minister Theresa May struck with the E.U. included a provision known as the \u201cbackstop\u201d to make sure that a hard border would not be reinstated in Ireland. The backstop specified that Northern Ireland would leave the E.U. customs union only when Britain and the E.U. were able to work out an arrangement to avoid a hard border. It was intended to give the two sides time to hash out a final deal on the issue after Britain leaves the block on March 29.\nInstead, the backstop enraged May\u2019s coalition partners, Northern Ireland\u2019s Democratic Unionist Party, and many in her own Conservative Party. The dissidents argued that the backstop would essentially dismember Britain, placing Northern Ireland outside of it indefinitely.\nAfter May\u2019s deal went down to overwhelming defeat in January, the House of Commons voted to send her back to Brussels to try to secure \u201calternative arrangements\u201d for the Irish border, prompting fears that those arrangements could include a hard border.\n\u201cWhat they have done is they\u2019ve reneged on the backstop and reneged on the Good Friday Agreement,\u201d Ian Blackford, a lawmaker from the Scottish National Party, said Tuesday.\nMay responded the following day, reiterating \u201cthe commitment of this government to the Belfast Good Friday agreement\u201d and adding that Blackford\u2019s remarks were \u201cfrankly irresponsible.\u201d Blackford quipped back that \u201cthe only thing that is irresponsible is the actions of this prime minister.\u201d\nA hard border remains unlikely. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday that renegotiating the Brexit deal is not a possibility, as has the Irish government. Still, even the suggestion of such a move has many in Ireland on edge.\nIreland has now been put in \u201ca desperate situation \u2026 through no fault of our own,\u201d Diarmaid Ferriter, a professor of history at University College Dublin, told The Post. \u201cIt\u2019s not Ireland\u2019s doing, and we\u2019re going to ultimately be the victims of it.\""}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "GGW3XHWXUUI6RA4EXTCUSL7PJE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "GGW3XHWXUUI6RA4EXTCUSL7PJE_0", "title": "Could Brexit bring new troubles to Northern Ireland?", "text": "LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland \u2014 It was \u201ca very sociable summer,\u201d the Derry Girls recall. As easy as the breeze, they crossed the largely invisible border into the Republic of Ireland, to visit family, or share a pint, or swim in the sea during the unseasonably warm weather. \u201cSo we all got to thinking how we take all this for granted \u2014 the freedom of it, the flow \u2014 and how it all could end,\u201d said Nicola Herron, 52, a local doctor who joined the group of like-minded women to pressure politicians to keep things just the way they are. \u201cIt\u2019s scary, to be honest,\u201d said Elaine Doherty, 50, a psychologist and fellow activist in the campaign, which formally calls itself Derry Girls Against Borders. \u201cBrexit is just months away \u2014 and there\u2019s not a single person who can tell you what will happen to us.\u201d The 310-mile border that cuts across the island of Ireland has become perhaps the single greatest impediment in the divorce negotiations between Britain and the European Union. \u201cA real sticking point,\u201d as British Prime Minister Theresa May put it. The challenges loom over how to continue to allow for the free movement of people and trade between the Republic of Ireland, which will remain in the European Union, and Northern Ireland, which will leave along with the rest of the United Kingdom. And how to keep the border just as invisible, even as the U.K. and the E.U. inexorably diverge \u2014 each free to establish their own immigration controls, customs tariffs and food safety rules. And finally, how to do all this without upsetting the delicate peace in Northern Ireland that has relied on an open border. People north and south are quick to say there will be no returning to the \u201cTroubles\u201d \u2014 the vicious, intimate guerrilla war between pro-British Protestant unionists and Irish Catholic republicans that left more than 3,500 people dead. Yet, sectarian lines remain deeply drawn in Northern Ireland. Many people in this border city \u2014 still known as Londonderry by Protestant residents and Derry by the 75 percent with Irish Catholic heritage \u2014 worry that a bungled Brexit could rekindle tensions and possibly lead to violence. Today, driving along the Irish border, you might pass a farmer who has a barn in one country but grazes his sheep in the other. Almost 1 million people freely cross the squiggly line"}], "old": [{"_id": "GGW3XHWXUUI6RA4EXTCUSL7PJE_0", "title": "Could Brexit bring new troubles to Northern Ireland?", "text": "Saoradh\u2019s headquarters in Derry were raided william.booth@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland \u2014\nIt was \u201ca very sociable summer,\u201d the Derry Girls recall. As easy as the breeze, they crossed the largely invisible border into the Republic of Ireland, to visit family, or share a pint, or swim\u00a0in the sea during the unseasonably warm weather.\n\u201cSo we all got to thinking how we take all this for granted \u2014 the freedom of it, the flow \u2014 and how it all could end,\u201d said Nicola Herron, 52, a local doctor who joined\u00a0the group of like-minded women to pressure politicians to keep things just the way they are.\n\u201cIt\u2019s scary, to be honest,\u201d said Elaine Doherty, 50, a psychologist and fellow activist in the campaign, which formally calls itself\u00a0Derry Girls Against Borders. \u201cBrexit is just months away \u2014 and there\u2019s not a single person who can tell you what will happen to us.\u201d\nThe 310-mile border that cuts across the island of Ireland has become perhaps the single greatest impediment in the divorce negotiations between Britain and the European Union.\n\u201cA real sticking point,\u201d as British Prime Minister Theresa May put it.\nThe challenges loom over how to continue to allow for the free movement of people and trade between the Republic of Ireland, which will remain in the European Union, and Northern Ireland, which will leave along with the rest of the United Kingdom.\nAnd how to keep the border just as invisible, even as the U.K. and the E.U. inexorably diverge \u2014 each free to establish their own immigration controls, customs tariffs and food safety rules.\nAnd finally, how to do all this without upsetting the delicate peace in Northern Ireland that has relied on an open border.\nPeople north and south are quick to say there will be no returning to the \u201cTroubles\u201d \u2014 the vicious, intimate guerrilla war between pro-British Protestant unionists and Irish Catholic republicans that left more than 3,500 people dead.\nYet, sectarian lines remain deeply drawn in Northern Ireland. Many people in this border city \u2014 still known as Londonderry by Protestant residents and Derry by the 75\u00a0percent with Irish Catholic heritage \u2014 worry that a bungled Brexit could rekindle tensions and possibly lead to violence.\nToday, driving along the Irish border, you might pass a farmer who has a barn in one country but grazes his sheep in the other. Almost 1\u00a0million people freely cross the squiggly line on the map each month. There are 200 official crossing points, and nobody knows how many dirt roads, foot trails and cow paths. The economies are tightly intertwined.\nBorder checkpoints, and all the militarized infrastructure of barracks, watchtowers, bunkers and blast walls, were removed from the island of Ireland in the aftermath of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, a hard-won pact that ended 30 years of violence. The deal was in many ways a masterpiece\u00a0of diplomacy \u2014 it didn\u2019t seek to resolve all political differences in Northern Ireland\u00a0but instead acknowledged the \u201ccontinuing, and equally legitimate, political aspirations\u201d of republicans and unionists.\nE.U. membership made such evasion possible. E.U. policies of free movement and free trade allowed Northern Irish republicans to feel more connected to the Republic of Ireland, while unionists could continue to be an integral part of the United Kingdom. No one had to choose. Lines, grievances, identities could begin to soften.\nBut after Brexit?\nRepublicans worry that a defined border on the island would undercut their relationship with the rest of Ireland. Leaders of Sinn Fein, the republican political party, have warned that any Brexit border would hasten the day they seek an island-wide vote to unify.\nBritish loyalists are livid about the E.U. proposal to place a customs border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Britain. May\u2019s governing partners, Northern Ireland\u2019s hard-line Democratic Unionist Party, oppose any kind of \u201cspecial status\u201d that would make them separate from the United Kingdom.\nEuropean Council President\u00a0Donald Tusk has blamed the Brexit campaigners, \u201cwho are 100% responsible for bringing back the problem of the Irish border,\u201d he said in a tweet.\nIn the 2016 referendum,\u00a056\u00a0percent of Northern Ireland voters\u00a0cast their ballots to remain in the European Union. In Derry, it was 78\u00a0percent.\n\u201cBrexit has re-politicized everything,\u201d said Jennifer McKeever, president of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and owner of a shuttle bus service with a third of its staff and customers living across the border.\nMay and her European counterparts have promised there will never again be a hard border on the island of Ireland. But what\u2019s a real-world and politically feasible alternative? They haven\u2019t said, because they don\u2019t know.\nMay vows that her negotiators in the transition period after Brexit begins in March will craft an unprecedented free-trade accord with Europe that makes an Irish border unnecessary.\nFailing that, the prime minister says, Britain will deploy a not-yet-invented \u201ctechnological fix\u201d \u2014 perhaps a system that employs cameras with facial recognition software, plus mobile tracking apps and customs checks in warehouses far from the border.\nNorthern Ireland\u2019s top police officer has\u00a0warned that any customs posts or security installations would be viewed as \u201cfair game\u201d for attack.\n\u201cThe last thing we would want is any infrastructure around the border, because there is something symbolic about it and it becomes a target for violent dissident republicans,\u201d Chief Constable George Hamilton told the Guardian newspaper.\nPaddy Gallagher, 26, is a spokesman for a new fringe political party called Saoradh, which means \u201cliberation\u201d in Irish. The group is home to hard-line republicans who reject the Good Friday Agreement.\nGallagher concurred that \u201cany sign of a fixed border\u201d would quickly become a target. A remote camera recording license plates? A customs collector with bar-code scanner? \u201cCapable groups would be willing to attack them,\u201d said Gallagher, careful not to endorse violence himself.\nSaoradh\u2019s headquarters in Derry were raided\nPeople here point to a disturbing week of violence this summer, sparked by unionist parades celebrating the \u201cTwelfth of July,\u201d the victory of\u00a0Protestant Prince William of Orange over\u00a0the\u00a0deposed Catholic king James II in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.\nAngry crowds in the Catholic Bogside neighborhood erected barricades to shut down streets. Although the protests were dismissed by many as \u201crecreational rioting\u201d by drunken mobs, more than\u00a070 petrol bombs were hurled, alongside two pipe bombs thrown at police officers.\nThis civil unrest occurred on the same streets that were the backdrop of \u201cBloody Sunday,\u201d when British soldiers shot and killed 14 unarmed protesters at a civil rights march in 1972.\n\u201cIt was in Derry where the Troubles started, and it was in Derry where they ended, too,\u201d said Brenda Stevenson, 51, a former mayor here and the niece of the\u00a0Irish leader John Hume, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize in 1998 for his role in ending the conflict.\nToday, there\u2019s fresh graffiti in the Bogside urging the young to \u201cJoin the IRA\u201d \u2014 even though the Irish Republican Army retired its armed campaign in 2005.\nA short walk away, in the Waterside, the shrinking Protestant enclave, a mural proclaims that \u201cthe loyalists are still under siege.\u201d\nTime is running out on the Brexit negotiations. Frustrated by British delays, the Europeans have insisted on a \u201cbackstop,\u201d a legally binding insurance policy, to preserve an Ireland without borders in the event that a free-trade deal eludes them. In that case, Northern Ireland would remain a member of the E.U. customs union until the issue is resolved \u2014 a proposal that May has, until now, rejected.\nAlong the Irish border, people worry that the British prime minister might abandon her commitment to open borders. They have good reason. Polling commissioned by the\u00a0University of Edinburgh and Cardiff University found that 75\u00a0percent of English\u00a0Tory voters would accept the collapse of the Northern Ireland peace process \u201cas the price of Brexit.\u201d\nProtestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland think they are not taken seriously. Both sides were flummoxed to learn that Karen Bradley, May\u2019s new secretary for Northern Ireland, was\u00a0so ignorant about Irish politics that she confessed surprise in an interview that \u201cpeople who are nationalists don\u2019t vote for unionist parties and vice versa.\u201d\nNor were they happy to hear former foreign secretary Boris Johnson say that a soft border in Ireland would be no different from the discreet cameras that record and later charge drivers congestion fees for vehicles entering central London.\nJeanette Warke, 74, founded the Cathedral Youth Club for children in\u00a0Protestant Waterside\u00a0in 1972 with her\u00a0husband, David, now deceased. They were worried about youths joining\u00a0paramilitary groups.\nWarke said she voted to leave Europe, although \u201cwe were not clear what Brexit was about.\u201d\nShe said, \u201cYou voted to \u2018leave\u2019 if you were Prod [Protestant] and \u2018remain\u2019 if you were Catholic, was the way it seemed to me.\u201d\nIf there were another referendum today, Warke said, she would vote to stay in Europe. She\u2019s now worried, too, about tomorrow.\nwilliam.booth@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "GH2EVXT75NB3ZLUUO6MYFHGPDU_2", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "GH2EVXT75NB3ZLUUO6MYFHGPDU_2", "title": "Trump thinks that Ireland wants a border wall. Good grief.", "text": "\u2014 between Northern Ireland and the Republic would have massive political and economic consequences, undermining peace, and damaging an economy that now spans the whole island of Ireland. It is likely that Trump got some of his misunderstandings from talking to pro-Brexit politicians in the United Kingdom just before coming to Ireland. Pro-Brexit politicians have been highly frustrated with the Irish border situation, because resolving the problem is one of the preconditions for a basic deal on Brexit. The deal Theresa May tried and failed to get through the British Parliament included a \u201cbackstop\u201d \u2014 a commitment by the United Kingdom that it would agree to a special arrangement for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic in the event it could not reach a full deal. Pro-Brexit politicians hated this arrangement because this would require the United Kingdom to stay subject to E.U. rules, leading them to vote down the proposed deal. Trump\u2019s comments were embarrassing for the United States because they revealed that Trump did not really understand the issues between the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. However, they are probably not going to do significant damage to relations among Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Irish and British politicians have already priced in Trump\u2019s inability to understand the nuances of Brexit. Indeed, his comments about the wall were more ambiguous and hence less obviously wrong than his previous suggestion that the United Kingdom should leave the European Union and then sue it. Indeed, it is possible that Trump officials and family members have come away with a positive impression from the visit. While Trump is highly unpopular in Ireland, the official meeting with the Taoiseach took place in an airport VIP lounge, making protest difficult. Trump is now staying in his private golf course in the western part of Ireland. The inhabitants of the local village nearby are unlikely to make a ruckus, since they view his visit as an opportunity for profit. Ireland\u2019s priorities during the Trump visit were not to get Trump\u2019s support in negotiations with Britain. They were to secure smaller concessions on issues such as immigration (Ireland has many undocumented citizens living in the United States) and to avoid major diplomatic catastrophe. Irish politicians and diplomats are probably breathing a quiet sigh of relief that the official part of the visit is over and that nothing terrible has happened."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "President Trump is paying a brief visit to Ireland, where he met with Ireland\u2019s \u201cTaoiseach\u201d (prime minister) Leo Varadkar. In his meeting, he said, \u201cProbably you will ask me about Brexit because I just left some very good people who are very much involved with Brexit, as you know. I think that will all work out very well, and also for you with your wall, your border.\u201d Varadkar was quick to correct Trump, saying, \u201cI think one thing we want to avoid, of course, is a wall or border between us.\u201d He was being diplomatic. The very last thing that Ireland wants is the border wall that Trump seemed to be suggesting.\nBrexit is the reason the Irish border is a political issue in the first place. The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (which is part of the United Kingdom) has always been politically vexed. After Ireland became independent, it fought a civil war over the question of whether Northern Ireland should be part of the new state, and Northern Ireland \u201crepublicans\u201d spent decades committing terrorist offenses in pursuit of a united Ireland. However, the fact that the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland were both members of the European Union helped take some of the poison out of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. It was possible to remove border posts controlling the flows of goods and people, since these were not required between E.U. states.\nNow that the United Kingdom is probably leaving the E.U., the border is becoming a big political issue again. Nobody wants to bring back border controls, least of all the Republic of Ireland, which fears that dissident republicans might use border controls to win support and stir up violence. Yet if the United Kingdom is no longer subject to the customs, immigration and market arrangements of the European Union, there is a clear threat of a return to a closed border.\nThis is the complex problem that Trump has gotten himself entangled in. Trump believes very strongly that walls solve border problems. He doesn\u2019t seem to understand how walls can create problems, too. Yet a wall \u2014 or any physical barrier \u2014 between Northern Ireland and the Republic would have massive political and economic consequences, undermining peace, and damaging an economy that now spans the whole island of Ireland.\nIt is likely that Trump got some of his misunderstandings from talking to pro-Brexit politicians in the United Kingdom just before coming to Ireland. Pro-Brexit politicians have been highly frustrated with the Irish border situation, because resolving the problem is one of the preconditions for a basic deal on Brexit. The deal Theresa May tried and failed to get through the British Parliament included a \u201cbackstop\u201d \u2014 a commitment by the United Kingdom that it would agree to a special arrangement for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic in the event it could not reach a full deal. Pro-Brexit politicians hated this arrangement because this would require the United Kingdom to stay subject to E.U. rules, leading them to vote down the proposed deal.\nTrump\u2019s comments were embarrassing for the United States because they revealed that Trump did not really understand the issues between the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. However, they are probably not going to do significant damage to relations among Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Irish and British politicians have already priced in Trump\u2019s inability to understand the nuances of Brexit. Indeed, his comments about the wall were more ambiguous and hence less obviously wrong than his previous suggestion that the United Kingdom should leave the European Union and then sue it.\nIndeed, it is possible that Trump officials and family members have come away with a positive impression from the visit. While Trump is highly unpopular in Ireland, the official meeting with the Taoiseach took place in an airport VIP lounge, making protest difficult. Trump is now staying in his private golf course in the western part of Ireland. The inhabitants of the local village nearby are unlikely to make a ruckus, since they view his visit as an opportunity for profit.\nIreland\u2019s priorities during the Trump visit were not to get Trump\u2019s support in negotiations with Britain. They were to secure smaller concessions on issues such as immigration (Ireland has many undocumented citizens living in the United States) and to avoid major diplomatic catastrophe. Irish politicians and diplomats are probably breathing a quiet sigh of relief that the official part of the visit is over and that nothing terrible has happened."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "GUP4OGRT4EI6VFY3IO7MH74YMA_3", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "GUP4OGRT4EI6VFY3IO7MH74YMA_3", "title": "Northern Ireland\u2019s parliament collapsed three years ago. On Saturday, lawmakers go back to work.", "text": "on Britain\u2019s program to encourage farmers and businesses to switch from fossil fuel to biomass heating. However, there was no cap on usage, so $2 could be paid in subsidies for every $1 spent, and costs spiraled out of control as users gamed the system. A public investigation, which could prove especially damaging for the DUP, is due to conclude in the coming months. But at the heart of the impasse over the past three years have been arguments over the use of the Irish language, and struggles over how British and Irish identities in the contested region are promoted. Northern Ireland has enjoyed relative peace and prosperity since the Good Friday Agreement was brokered, with assistance from the United States, in 1998 \u2014 ending three decades of sectarian violence known as the Troubles, which saw 3,600 soldiers, combatants and civilians killed. On Friday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party was ready to share power with all other parties. She described the official recognition of Irish identity and funding for the Irish language as marking a \u201chistoric moment,\u201d and said the pact would put Irish Gaelic on a par with English in Northern Ireland. McDonald said many \u201cchallenges lie ahead, including the impact of Brexit, austerity and other pressing issues.\u201d The Sinn Fein leader said her party would continue to press for a referendum on Irish reunification, which the unionists oppose. A previous attempt to get a deal, in February 2018, proved unsuccessful after DUP leaders said they couldn\u2019t sell the Irish language elements to their supporters, amid fears that the promotion and expansion of Irish would detract from their British identity. The DUP\u2019s Foster said the new deal is \u201cfair and balanced,\u201d with the inclusion of \u201cmany mechanisms to strengthen the union,\u201d and she hailed Britain\u2019s promises to spend more on the region. \u201cThe key to making devolution work will be having the resources to do so,\u201d she said. In recent weeks, thousands of health-care workers, including nurses for the first time, have been striking over pay and staffing levels in Northern Ireland, adding further pressure on the parties to get back to work. Ireland\u2019s deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, described the deal as \u201chistoric.\u201d Johnson said it is \u201ca great step forwards for the people of Northern Ireland and for restoring public confidence in stable devolved government and delivering much-needed reforms to public services.\u201d william.booth@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "BELFAST \u2014\nAfter three years of paralysis, the leaders of Northern Ireland's two largest political parties agreed Friday to return to work at their regional parliament, ending a bitter feud that undercut faith that the two sides \u2014 one Protestant and unionist, the other Catholic and nationalist \u2014 could forge a common way forward.\nThe Northern Ireland Assembly will meet Saturday, for the first time since January 2017, to appoint new speakers and ministers.\nThe three-year adjournment of a parliament would be crippling in most settings. But to cynics in Northern Ireland, it suggested that their politicians were not missed.\nLeaders in Britain, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, described the long hiatus as the height of irresponsibility, as both sides abandoned their roles. It was a reminder, too, that peaceful coexistence in Northern Ireland remains tentative.\nThe agreement to get back to work was based on a no-nonsense \u201cNew Decade, New Approach\u201d put forward by an exasperated Britain and Republic of Ireland.\nBritain, which oversees affairs in the region, threatened that if the political parties could not resolve their differences and return to Stormont, the region\u2019s assembly in Belfast, they would be forced to immediately face voters in an election neither side particularly wanted.\nIn quick succession Thursday and Friday, first the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which wants to maintain Northern Ireland\u2019s union with Britain, and then the Irish republican party Sinn Fein said they were prepared to endorse the 62-page document.\nThe deal includes a new Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, which would promote both Irish and British culture in Northern Ireland on an equal basis.\nIt would recognize, enhance and protect the use of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, a right activists have long sought.\nThe new agreement would also make it more difficult for any one party to stand in the way of legislation. Previously, the DUP had blocked same-sex marriage \u2014 though, while Stormont was shuttered, the British Parliament legalized same-sex marriage and abortion in Northern Ireland.\nThe 2017 collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly was bundled up in the long strife between unionists and nationalists, but with new twists.\nSinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness essentially disbanded Stormont by resigning the joint position he held with DUP leader Arlene Foster.\nMcGuinness, who died two months later, had been incensed over what was known as the \u201cCash for Ash\u201d scandal.\nThe Renewable Heat Incentive, which was set up in 2012 when Foster was enterprise minister, was modeled on Britain\u2019s program to encourage farmers and businesses to switch from fossil fuel to biomass heating.\nHowever, there was no cap on usage, so $2 could be paid in subsidies for every $1 spent, and costs spiraled out of control as users gamed the system.\nA public investigation, which could prove especially damaging for the DUP, is due to conclude in the coming months.\nBut at the heart of the impasse over the past three years have been arguments over the use of the Irish language, and struggles over how British and Irish identities in the contested region are promoted.\nNorthern Ireland has enjoyed relative peace and prosperity since the Good Friday Agreement was brokered, with assistance from the United States, in 1998 \u2014 ending three decades of sectarian violence known as the Troubles, which saw 3,600 soldiers, combatants and civilians killed.\nOn Friday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party was ready to share power with all other parties. She described the official recognition of Irish identity and funding for the Irish language as marking a \u201chistoric moment,\u201d and said the pact would put Irish Gaelic on a par with English in Northern Ireland.\nMcDonald said many \u201cchallenges lie ahead, including the impact of Brexit, austerity and other pressing issues.\u201d The Sinn Fein leader said her party would continue to press for a referendum on Irish reunification, which the unionists oppose.\nA previous attempt to get a deal, in February 2018, proved unsuccessful after DUP leaders said they couldn\u2019t sell the Irish language elements to their supporters, amid fears that the promotion and expansion of Irish would detract from their British identity.\nThe DUP\u2019s Foster said the new deal is \u201cfair and balanced,\u201d with the inclusion of \u201cmany mechanisms to strengthen the union,\u201d and she hailed Britain\u2019s promises to spend more on the region.\n\u201cThe key to making devolution work will be having the resources to do so,\u201d she said.\nIn recent weeks, thousands of health-care workers, including nurses for the first time, have been striking over pay and staffing levels in Northern Ireland, adding further pressure on the parties to get back to work.\nIreland\u2019s deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, described the deal as \u201chistoric.\u201d\nJohnson said it is \u201ca great step forwards for the people of Northern Ireland and for restoring public confidence in stable devolved government and delivering much-needed reforms to public services.\u201d\nwilliam.booth@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "HKMR2K5VU5HEDAE4OPUL6FOIEM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "HKMR2K5VU5HEDAE4OPUL6FOIEM_0", "title": "Northern Ireland\u2019s peace was already in trouble. Brexit is making things harder to fix.", "text": "The murder of Lyra McKee, the young journalist killed by the \u201cNew Irish Republican Army\u201d in Northern Ireland last week, has focused attention on how Brexit might affect Northern Ireland\u2019s fragile peace. Whatever happens with Brexit, it has already weakened the 1998 Good Friday Agreement\u2019s institutional fixes that led to paramilitaries dropping their arms. That has complicated an already difficult political situation. The problems that Brexit poses for Northern Ireland are complicated by the fact that the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly have been suspended since January 2017. That\u2019s the locally elected government and legislature that were established as part of the Good Friday peace agreement. That agreement brought an end to the Troubles, the 30-year civil conflict between unionists, who are predominantly Protestant and want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and nationalists, who are predominantly Catholic and want Northern Ireland to be part of the Republic of Ireland. One of the agreement\u2019s main provisions required them to share power in the Executive and the Assembly. But in 2017, the main parties representing each side \u2014 the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein \u2014 ceased working together, as the agreement required, leaving the province without a regional government. These fights were unrelated to Brexit. But Brexit \u2014 or more particularly, the heated atmosphere in British Parliament and among the wider public \u2014 has distracted the British government and kept it from pressuring the political parties in Northern Ireland to resolve their disputes. As a result, politicians have stopped engaging across sectarian lines. With no one to make policy decisions, the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service told the BBC, there\u2019s been a \u201cslow decay and stagnation\u201d in public services. Ordinary citizens have lost faith in government. The Brexit process has also damaged the relationship between the governments of Britain and the Republic of Ireland \u2014 a relationship that once provided a framework to accommodate Northern Ireland\u2019s warring sides. But the two governments\u2019 shared understanding has degenerated as they fight over the status of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Although all sides want to prevent violence from resuming, they differ on how to deal post-Brexit with the border, which \u2014 because both nations have been European Union members \u2014 currently has no passport or customs checkpoints. That has to change if Britain leaves the E.U. At the Irish government\u2019s insistence,"}], "old": [{"_id": "HKMR2K5VU5HEDAE4OPUL6FOIEM_0", "title": "Northern Ireland\u2019s peace was already in trouble. Brexit is making things harder to fix.", "text": "Kimberly Cowell-Meyers is an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs at American University. Carolyn Gallaher is a professor in the School of International Service at American University and the author of \u201c"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The murder of Lyra McKee, the young journalist killed by the \u201cNew Irish Republican Army\u201d in Northern Ireland last week, has focused attention on how Brexit might affect Northern Ireland\u2019s fragile peace. Whatever happens with Brexit, it has already weakened the 1998 Good Friday Agreement\u2019s institutional fixes that led to paramilitaries dropping their arms. That has complicated an already difficult political situation.\nThe problems that Brexit poses for Northern Ireland are complicated by the fact that the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly have been suspended since January 2017. That\u2019s the locally elected government and legislature that were established as part of the Good Friday peace agreement.\nThat agreement brought an end to the Troubles, the 30-year civil conflict between unionists, who are predominantly Protestant and want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and nationalists, who are predominantly Catholic and want Northern Ireland to be part of the Republic of Ireland. One of the agreement\u2019s main provisions required them to share power in the Executive and the Assembly.\nBut in 2017, the main parties representing each side \u2014 the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein \u2014 ceased working together, as the agreement required, leaving the province without a regional government. These fights were unrelated to Brexit. But Brexit \u2014 or more particularly, the heated atmosphere in British Parliament and among the wider public \u2014 has distracted the British government and kept it from pressuring the political parties in Northern Ireland to resolve their disputes. As a result, politicians have stopped engaging across sectarian lines. With no one to make policy decisions, the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service told the BBC, there\u2019s been a \u201cslow decay and stagnation\u201d in public services. Ordinary citizens have lost faith in government.\nThe Brexit process has also damaged the relationship between the governments of Britain and the Republic of Ireland \u2014 a relationship that once provided a framework to accommodate Northern Ireland\u2019s warring sides. But the two governments\u2019 shared understanding has degenerated as they fight over the status of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Although all sides want to prevent violence from resuming, they differ on how to deal post-Brexit with the border, which \u2014 because both nations have been European Union members \u2014 currently has no passport or customs checkpoints.\nThat has to change if Britain leaves the E.U. At the Irish government\u2019s insistence, the E.U. will only sign an exit deal if Britain agrees to keep the border open: In other words, traffic can continue to flow freely without passport and customs checks. Prime Minister Theresa May agreed to this \u201cIrish backstop.\u201d But Parliament has rejected the withdrawal deal three times \u2014 in no small part because many members of Parliament object to the backstop.\nPro-Brexit members of British Parliament argue that the Irish government\u2019s position has made it impossible for Parliament to approve the withdrawal deal. These politicians seem willing to sacrifice the peace agreement in Northern Ireland if it allows them to exit Europe. The relationship between the two countries is as frayed as it has been in decades.\nSince the 2017 election in which May lost her majority in the House of Commons, she has depended upon the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party\u2019s 10 MPs to stay in power. The DUP is right-wing, fiscally frugal, socially conservative and ultra-unionist. It was also the only party in Northern Ireland not to sign the Good Friday Agreement \u2014 and the only party to actively campaign in favor of Brexit. Though it is the largest party in Northern Ireland, it only won about 36 percent of the vote in 2017.\nThe DUP\u2019s role in propping up May\u2019s party places it at the center of parliamentary debates over Brexit. Northern Ireland\u2019s second-largest party, Sinn Fein, represents 29 percent of the vote and is staunchly nationalist. However, Sinn Fein\u2019s seven MPs do not take their seats in Parliament because they refuse to recognize Britain\u2019s sovereignty in Northern Ireland. These two facts lead to debate in Parliament that is profoundly skewed in favor of only one side of the historic conflict in Northern Ireland: the unionist perspective.\nThe Brexit process demonstrates how the Good Friday Agreement did not fundamentally erase the conflict\u2019s divides \u2014 even if it did produce an arrangement that most Unionists and Nationalists could live with. Since McKee\u2019s killing, the British and Irish governments have announced new talks among the Northern Irish political parties to restore the Assembly and the Executive. But it will have a hard time persuading them to work together given all the damage the Brexit process has done.\nKimberly Cowell-Meyers is an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs at American University.\nCarolyn Gallaher is a professor in the School of International Service at American University and the author of \u201c"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "IOGMV7IJNRG6XJPO7NI227HQMU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "IOGMV7IJNRG6XJPO7NI227HQMU_0", "title": "These 5 countries are busy prepping for a post-Brexit world", "text": "DUBLIN \u2014 To measure Ireland\u2019s profound vulnerability to a no-deal Brexit, just go to any slaughterhouse or supermarket in this nation \u2014 and ask who eats that beef, or how that bread, milk and beer reached the shelf. Take Guinness. It\u2019s brewed in Dublin, bottled and canned in Belfast, sent back for distribution from Dublin, then often heads back north or across the Irish Sea to Britain for three border crossings before it reaches the consumer. The same goes for milk, which is shipped back and forth for processing and sale in both jurisdictions. Similarly fluid trade applies for cattle, pigs and sheep. Northern farmers often sell their animals for slaughter in the south, and the meat often is shipped back into Northern Ireland or elsewhere in Britain. Then there is Ireland\u2019s dependence on Britain for critical goods and services: prescription and over-the-counter drugs, electricity and natural gas. These would keep flowing in a no-deal Brexit, but they would travel more slowly and at greater cost to Irish consumers. \u201cI\u2019m convinced we will be hit harder by a no-deal Brexit than Britain itself,\u201d said Dan O\u2019Brien, senior economist at one of Ireland\u2019s main think tanks, the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin. \u201cWe are much more trade-dependent. We export more beef to Britain than anywhere else. Even more importantly, a huge amount of our imports either come from the U.K. or via the U.K. Many of us produce goods bound for Britain. Everyone in Ireland is a daily consumer of British goods.\u201d As a result, nowhere outside Britain is watching the Brexit shenanigans at Westminster more closely or nervously than Ireland, whose own economic management is held hostage by the British government\u2019s vow to leave the European Union and its borderless trade environment without any successor agreement in place. Economists broadly agree that Ireland\u2019s vibrant economy is close to overheating, with near-full employment and rising wages amid unaffordable housing, deficits tamed thanks to record tax hauls from U.S. multinationals based here, and growth near the top of the E.U. table. The government of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said it wants to unveil a 2020 budget next month that keeps a fiscal lid on things \u2014 but the crash-out Brexit being threatened next door would force the Irish to do the opposite, pumping money into an economy suddenly reeling from a severe shock. \u201cIt is hard to plan when"}], "old": [{"_id": "IOGMV7IJNRG6XJPO7NI227HQMU_0", "title": "These 5 countries are busy prepping for a post-Brexit world", "text": "Pogatchnik reported from Dublin, Birnbaum reported from Brussels, Rolfe reported from Madrid, and Morris and Noack reported from Berlin."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "DUBLIN \u2014 To measure Ireland\u2019s profound vulnerability to a no-deal Brexit, just go to any slaughterhouse or supermarket in this nation \u2014 and ask who eats that beef, or how that bread, milk and beer reached the shelf.\nTake Guinness. It\u2019s brewed in Dublin, bottled and canned in Belfast, sent back for distribution from Dublin, then often heads back north or across the Irish Sea to Britain for three border crossings before it reaches the consumer.\nThe same goes for milk, which is shipped back and forth for processing and sale in both jurisdictions. Similarly fluid trade applies for cattle, pigs and sheep. Northern farmers often sell their animals for slaughter in the south, and the meat often is shipped back into Northern Ireland or elsewhere in Britain.\nThen there is Ireland\u2019s dependence on Britain for critical goods and services: prescription and over-the-counter drugs, electricity and natural gas. These would keep flowing in a no-deal Brexit, but they would travel more slowly and at greater cost to Irish consumers.\n\u201cI\u2019m convinced we will be hit harder by a no-deal Brexit than Britain itself,\u201d said Dan O\u2019Brien, senior economist at one of Ireland\u2019s main think tanks, the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin. \u201cWe are much more trade-dependent. We export more beef to Britain than anywhere else. Even more importantly, a huge amount of our imports either come from the U.K. or via the U.K. Many of us produce goods bound for Britain. Everyone in Ireland is a daily consumer of British goods.\u201d\nAs a result, nowhere outside Britain is watching the Brexit shenanigans at Westminster more closely or nervously than Ireland, whose own economic management is held hostage by the British government\u2019s vow to leave the European Union and its borderless trade environment without any successor agreement in place.\nEconomists broadly agree that Ireland\u2019s vibrant economy is close to overheating, with near-full employment and rising wages amid unaffordable housing, deficits tamed thanks to record tax hauls from U.S. multinationals based here, and growth near the top of the E.U. table.\nThe government of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said it wants to unveil a 2020 budget next month that keeps a fiscal lid on things \u2014 but the crash-out Brexit being threatened next door would force the Irish to do the opposite, pumping money into an economy suddenly reeling from a severe shock.\n\u201cIt is hard to plan when we do not yet know what the U.K. will do. But Irish business needs to plan for the worst,\u201d said Irish Business Minister Heather Humphreys. \u201cWaiting and hoping for the best is a gamble we cannot take,\u201d she said. \u201cIt would be a sure way to end up going to the wall when hard Brexit becomes an unwelcome reality.\u201d\nIn recent weeks she has regularly hosted events to help companies dependent on British trade secure state-backed bridging loans, pivot to new products and markets, and smarten up on accounting skills before new customs barriers and tariffs hit.\nThe introduction of those new trade barriers are all but certain to snarl traffic in Ireland\u2019s ports and along its border with Northern Ireland. That invisible line represents Britain\u2019s only land border with the E.U. \u2014 a line that Brussels expects the Irish to enforce in event of Brexit.\nInterTradeIreland, a cross-border agency established as part of the U.S.-brokered 1998 peace accord that ended decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland, said more than 1 million deliveries cross the 300-mile border each year. None are taxed or stopped for checks, thanks to joint E.U. membership.\nA study commissioned by Northern Ireland\u2019s Department of the Economy found that many of the 11,000 businesses involved in imports and exports between Ireland and Northern Ireland would find a post-Brexit border too expensive and bureaucratic to manage, leaving trade to wither.\nOne of those traders, O\u2019Neills, is the largest sports equipment manufacturer in Ireland. It\u2019s based in Northern Ireland in the border town of Strabane and could find its production of uniforms and equipment for thousands of Gaelic football and hurling clubs taxed as foreign exports.\n\u201cHalf of our employees live in the republic with the border barely 1\u00bd miles away,\u201d said O\u2019Neills Managing Director Kieran Kennedy. \u201cAny delays on that border would cause us severe problems, especially if there\u2019s tariffs and duties, which would add 10 percent to our costs and would make us uncompetitive.\u201d\n\u201cMost businesses in the north are depending on sales to Europe,\u201d he said. \u201cIt would be an absolute disaster for Northern Ireland if there was a no-deal Brexit and a hard border. We\u2019d lose the whole of the European market.\u201d\nThe Irish also need Britain\u2019s \u201cland bridge\u201d for transporting perishable goods between Ireland and continental Europe. Aidan Flynn, general manager of the Freight Transport Association of Ireland, said it typically takes trucks bearing European goods around 20 hours to reach Ireland via the Chunnel Tunnel or English Channel ferry and British highways \u2014 and double the time if forced to use cargo ships that bypass Britannia.\n\u201cIt makes no economic sense to pay your drivers to sit drinking on a boat for the guts of two days,\u201d he said.\nHe forecasts that some popular goods and key ingredients would start to run short within two days of a hard Brexit, because Irish supply chains are premised on next-day deliveries from Britain \u2014 even for staples such as bread. Almost all milled flour comes from Britain.\n\u201cWe might have to live without it, or pay through the nose for the privilege,\u201d Flynn said.\nIreland\u2019s Economic and Social Research Institute estimates that a no-deal Brexit would cost each Irish household an annual average of 3,000 euros (about $3,300) before tax as many goods rise in price by 30 percent or more \u2014 including British-distributed staples such as cereals, tea, coffee, sugar, ice cream and soft drinks.\nBut Humphreys said Ireland has spent the past three years preparing for Brexit to ensure that goods speed through Dublin Port, the key point of entry. \u201cI meet regularly with retail distributors who have strong exposure to British trade,\u201d she said. \u201c \u2026 They tell me they\u2019re doing everything they can to ensure a continuity of supply and bread on the shelves.\u201d\nFrench customs officials will soon start on a dry month-long test of their Brexit preparedness, forcing companies to pretend that Britain already departed without a deal. Companies that want to do business with Britain will have to file their plans online, make their declarations to customs officers and potentially open up their shipments to inspectors, Gerald Darmanin, the French minister in charge of overseeing the customs agency, told RTL radio.\nFrance does plenty of business with non-E. U. countries, he said. Companies should just be ready to deal with Britain as though it were \u201cSouth Africa,\u201d he said.\n\u201cFor a month, we are going to act as if there is Brexit for a large number of companies,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to put in place a sort of general rehearsal, so that we are ready at the end of October.\u201d\nMore than 4 million trucks go through the northern port of Calais every year. Right now, they face minimal controls, since there is no customs border between Britain and France. Much of the trade is done by businesses that have no prior experience with customs controls and borders.\nOfficials fear that if there is a disorderly withdrawal from Europe, the holdups from the trucks could snarl traffic across northern France. They are bolstering the ranks of their customs officers by 700, and the customs agency is practicing all through September to prepare for a sudden British departure.\nStress is spiking. Customs workers went on strike earlier this year to demand higher pay for the anticipated stress they will face with the new demands. French fishermen who ply British waters wonder whether they will lose access to their fish stocks overnight. Winemakers have put expansion plans on hold.\nFrance may line up with other E.U. countries to apply for disaster funding that officials in Brussels said Wednesday they were considering repurposing for a no-deal Brexit. The $660 million fund usually is used for recovery from forest fires and earthquakes. This year it may be used for an economic explosion of a man-made variety, officials said.\nThe French government still sees a no-deal Brexit as the most likely scenario, officials have said, and they have held Brexit briefings with French businesses. They are bracing for an economic slowdown, an unwelcome development for French President Emmanuel Macron, who has just started to move beyond months of \u201cyellow vest\u201d protests against his leadership.\nWith its signature efficiency, Germany has long been preparing for the impact of Brexit. Its port authorities assure that measures are in place to avoid disruption, and its Finance Ministry said preparations for a no-deal Brexit are \u201clargely completed.\u201d\nIn an attempt to mitigate potential Brexit chaos in export-dependent Germany, customs authorities are hiring 900 additional employees to carry out the checks that will be required overnight in case of a no-deal.\nAs of Aug. 1, some 620 of the new customs employees had been hired, based at the main international cargo airports of Leipzig, Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich, as well as the seaport of Hamburg, according to the Central Customs Authority.\nBut with the country already at risk of recession, pundits have warned that Brexit could help push Germany over the edge. Britain is Germany\u2019s fifth-largest export market, though exports to Britain have dropped for three consecutive years since the Brexit vote, in part due to the drop in the value of the pound.\nGerman companies say they are doing what they can to prepare themselves. Cars are the backbone of Germany\u2019s manufacturing industry, and its automobile giants have been some of the most vocal lobbyists against Brexit \u2014 while taking steps to shelter themselves against the fallout.\nBritain is not just Germany\u2019s biggest single export market for cars but also a key supplier of parts. Car companies have a complex supply chain, where parts often cross Europe\u2019s tariff-free borders more than once, meaning they could be hit particularly hard by a no-deal Brexit.\nBMW has shifted some of its engine production out of Britain. In July, it said it had switched the manufacture of engines destined for South Africa from the West Midlands to Germany. Industry experts say manufacturers have also shipped additional finished cars to Britain to prevent a disruption in supply.\nOther sectors are also moving to get ahead of Brexit. The German pharmaceutical company Bayer has built extra warehousing in Britain. German banks have been attempting to contact clients they believe might be affected, to help them cushion the blow.\nAn article in German regional newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt this week laid out for its readers the bleakest scenario: Tens of thousands of jobs are at stake, and billions for Germany\u2019s economy. Visitors to Britain will have to navigate visa applications, and there could be a shortage in medical supplies. But it also pointed to a small bright side for tourists: The pound has been falling for months. \u201cTraveling to the island and shopping in London will be cheaper,\u201d it said.\nSpain is home to more than 300,000 Britons, according to registrations with the Spanish government, a larger share than the other 27 E.U. states.\nAnticipating a possible no-deal Brexit, Spain passed a contingency plan in March promising British residents certain rights and a fast track to permanent residency.\nBut the decree explicitly demanded reciprocity for the more than 150,000 Spaniards living in Britain.\nBut little else suggests Spain has been gearing up for a no-deal Brexit \u2014 and the country has much at stake.\nIn March, the Bank of Spain estimated a chaotic Brexit would cause a 0.8 percent drop in the Spanish gross domestic product over the next five years, amounting to some 10 billion euros (over $11 billion).\nBritain is the top European-country investor in Spain, committing some 80 billion euros in 2017. Britons are also key to the housing market, making up 23 percent of transactions of used houses in 2018.\nAnd there are signs that British investors are already growing skittish. Britons made up only 13.8 percent of real estate sales to foreigners in the first quarter of this year, down from 15 percent in 2018, according to the Association of Property Registrars.\n\u201cSpain has not put in place any incentives for real estate investment for Britons,\u201d said David del Val, with the financial analysis and market research company Afi. \u201cWe have a golden visa schedule that allows non-E. U. residents to gain an E.U. visa by buying property above a certain threshold and with some extra requirements, but this obviously does not apply to Britons yet.\u201d\nSpanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez has said he intends to safeguard the rights of Spaniards living in Britain, as well as to maintain administrative and legal cooperation on criminal matters.\n\u201cMy main goal was to guarantee that the U.K.\u2019s decision [to leave the E.U.] would have the smallest possible impact on citizens and businesses,\u201d he said earlier this year.\nIn addition to providing permanent residency for Britons living in Spain, the post-Brexit plan puts in place other key measures recognizing working and voting rights and providing driving permits, social security, unemployment, education and health care for these Brits.\nThe bigger challenge may be not the Brits living in Spain but retaining the tourists the country hopes to attract. Every year, Spain\u2019s coasts and islands flood with tourists roasting on the beaches and enjoying their summer homes on the Mediterranean coast \u2014 and until now a sizable share of those tourists have been British.\nBut Spain recorded a 1.4 percent drop in British tourists in the first half of 2019, according to the National Institute of Statistics.\nSpain also faces a challenge managing the border with the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, which sits on Spain\u2019s southern tip and has long been a sore spot between the two E.U. countries.\nGibraltar depends on an estimated 15,000 border workers \u2014 some 9,000 of whom are Spaniards. A chaotic Brexit would force Spain to reopen border control stations and could cause long delays. For now, the gates remain open.\nUnlike other E.U. member states, Poland isn\u2019t particularly stressed about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.\n\u201cHonestly speaking, I would not say we have far-reaching countrywide preparations for Brexit,\u201d said Jakub Borowski, chief economist at the Cr\u00e9dit Agricole bank in Warsaw. Borowski pointed to a widespread belief in Poland that a deal with Britain will eventually be struck and a no-deal scenario avoided. The country\u2019s overall economic dependency on Britain is also relatively low, despite strong Polish-British ties, he said.\n\u201cIn the long run, a hard Brexit can even be positive for Poland because we may benefit from migration and investment,\u201d Borowski added.\nAbout 900,000 Polish nationals are estimated to live in Britain, the highest number of any E.U. nation.\nFacing unemployment and low wages at home, younger Poles especially began moving to Britain when it opened up its labor markets in 2004. The mass emigration of Poles soon began to worry lawmakers in Warsaw, however, who feared the \u201cbrain drain\u201d could hamper economic growth.\nBritain crashing out of the E.U. could be an opportunity to \u201creverse migration trends and attract back\u201d some of the Poles working in Britain, Mariusz-Jan Radlo of the Warsaw School of Economics wrote in an analysis last year. That could have a positive impact on Poland\u2019s \u201clong-term economic growth,\u201d according to Radlo, as the Polish economy suffers from a shortage of skilled labor.\nPolish economists hoped a no-deal Brexit would lead to the transfer of more production facilities to Poland. \u201cPoland looks attractive in terms of location, quality of the labor force and wages,\u201d which remain lower than in many other parts of Europe, Borowski said.\nStill, he acknowledged that the impact \u201cin the short run can be painful,\u201d especially for companies that would face higher-than-average tariffs on exports to Britain. Some of those companies have begun to look for ways to diversify their export markets.\nRemittances from Britain could also decline significantly if there is a hard Brexit, with the British pound expected to lose more of its value and fewer Poles expected to move to Britain.\nPersonal remittances from Polish migrants to their home country made up about 1.2 percent of Poland\u2019s GDP last year, according to World Bank estimates. But analysts said lost remittances could be balanced out by Polish nationals moving their families \u2014 and potentially their companies \u2014 to Poland.\nPogatchnik reported from Dublin, Birnbaum reported from Brussels, Rolfe reported from Madrid, and Morris and Noack reported from Berlin."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "IORAIW6CXZDK5CNGRCMZ7K2G6Y_3", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "IORAIW6CXZDK5CNGRCMZ7K2G6Y_3", "title": "Why Boris Johnson is already clashing with Ireland over Brexit", "text": "of the United Kingdom could be drawn into question. \u201cI think increasingly you see liberal Protestants and unionists who will start to ask where they feel more at home,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the things that ironically could really undermine the union of the U.K. is a hard Brexit, both for Northern Ireland and for Scotland, and that is a problem they are going to have to face.\u201d But over the weekend, Johnson doubled down on the comments, calling a backstop \u201canti-democratic.\u201d Although the Troubles technically ended in the late 1990s, a number of violent incidents have rocked the area near the Irish border in Northern Ireland in recent months. In April, journalist Lyra McKee was shot and killed after riots broke out in the northern Irish town of Londonderry, home to a large population of Irish nationalists. Former U.S. senator George J. Mitchell, who chaired the peace talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement, wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post late last year that changing the border \u201ccould increase the possibility of a resumption of violence.\u201d Fears over a hard border deepened in January, after then-Prime Minister Theresa May\u2019s Brexit deal was overwhelmingly struck down by British lawmakers, who ordered her to return to the drawing board and determine a new arrangement for the border with Ireland. Some who oppose a hard border saw that as May essentially reneging on the Good Friday Agreement, a claim May insisted was untrue. E.U. leaders made clear at that time that the backstop was nonnegotiable. But now, Johnson\u2019s renewed calls to abolish the backstop that would protect the current border arrangements have left many confused about what may come next. Johnson has threatened to leave the E.U. without a deal if he can\u2019t renegotiate a new one by the October deadline. And E.U. commissioner Claude Juncker has made clear that the E.U. is unwilling to consider a renegotiation \u2014 especially one that abolishes the backstop. In his first call with Johnson last week, he said the most recently negotiated arrangement was \u201cthe best and only agreement possible.\" And chief E.U. Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier called Johnson\u2019s insistence on removing the Irish backstop \u201cunacceptable.\u201d Read more The Good Friday Agreement ended decades of conflict. Ireland worries Brexit could unravel it. Could Brexit bring new troubles to Northern Ireland? A battle over language is at the heart of Northern Ireland crisis"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "In his first address to lawmakers as the newly appointed prime minister of Britain last week, Boris Johnson made one thing clear: He does not support the idea of an Irish backstop, a measure that would tie Britain to European trade policies as a way to maintain a soft border between Ireland and northern Ireland.\n\u201cNo country that values its independence and indeed its self-respect could agree to a treaty which signed away our economic independence and self-government as this backstop does,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIf an agreement is to be reached, it must be clearly understood that the way to the deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop.\u201d\nThe comments provoked disbelief in Ireland and elsewhere in the European Union, where leaders see maintaining the backstop as nonnegotiable.\nOn Tuesday, British and Irish media reported that Johnson and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar had a terse phone call \u2014 their first since Johnson became Britain\u2019s leader \u2014 in which Varadkar \u201cemphasized to the prime minister that the backstop was necessary as a consequence of decisions taken in the UK and by the UK government.\u201d\nThe border is a highly sensitive issue in Ireland because its current arrangement was negotiated as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that put an end to the 30-year period known as \u201cthe Troubles.\u201d\nDuring that time, sectarian violence between Unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to stay part of the United Kingdom, and Nationalists, who wanted it to belong to the Republic of Ireland, killed more than 3,500.\nNow, there are fears that the reinstatement of tight border controls between the two sides could ignite a dangerous new wave of tensions reminiscent of that era.\nMany are also eager to maintain the status quo because it would help to preserve the relatively unrestricted trade that exists between Northern Ireland and Ireland. But British lawmakers who oppose the backstop have expressed concerns that it will force Britain to continue to abide by E.U. trade rules.\nAfter Johnson\u2019s remarks last week, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Johnson appeared to \u201chave made a deliberate decision to set Britain on a collision course with the E.U. and with Ireland.\u201d\nVaradkar told Irish broadcaster RT\u00c9 that Johnson\u2019s remarks were \u201cnot in the real world.\u201d\n\u201cListening to what he said today, I got the impression that he wasn\u2019t just talking about deleting the backstop, he was talking about a whole new deal \u2014 a better deal for Britain,\u201d Varadkar said, referring to Johnson\u2019s remarks. \u201cThat is not going to happen.\u201d\nSpeaking in Donegal, Ireland, on Friday, Varadkar said he thinks that if Britain leaves the E.U. without a deal, the unity of the United Kingdom could be drawn into question.\n\u201cI think increasingly you see liberal Protestants and unionists who will start to ask where they feel more at home,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the things that ironically could really undermine the union of the U.K. is a hard Brexit, both for Northern Ireland and for Scotland, and that is a problem they are going to have to face.\u201d\nBut over the weekend, Johnson doubled down on the comments, calling a backstop \u201canti-democratic.\u201d\nAlthough the Troubles technically ended in the late 1990s, a number of violent incidents have rocked the area near the Irish border in Northern Ireland in recent months. In April, journalist Lyra McKee was shot and killed after riots broke out in the northern Irish town of Londonderry, home to a large population of Irish nationalists.\nFormer U.S. senator George J. Mitchell, who chaired the peace talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement, wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post late last year that changing the border \u201ccould increase the possibility of a resumption of violence.\u201d\nFears over a hard border deepened in January, after then-Prime Minister Theresa May\u2019s Brexit deal was overwhelmingly struck down by British lawmakers, who ordered her to return to the drawing board and determine a new arrangement for the border with Ireland. Some who oppose a hard border saw that as May essentially reneging on the Good Friday Agreement, a claim May insisted was untrue. E.U. leaders made clear at that time that the backstop was nonnegotiable.\nBut now, Johnson\u2019s renewed calls to abolish the backstop that would protect the current border arrangements have left many confused about what may come next.\nJohnson has threatened to leave the E.U. without a deal if he can\u2019t renegotiate a new one by the October deadline. And E.U. commissioner Claude Juncker has made clear that the E.U. is unwilling to consider a renegotiation \u2014 especially one that abolishes the backstop. In his first call with Johnson last week, he said the most recently negotiated arrangement was \u201cthe best and only agreement possible.\"\nAnd chief E.U. Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier called Johnson\u2019s insistence on removing the Irish backstop \u201cunacceptable.\u201d\nRead more\nThe Good Friday Agreement ended decades of conflict. Ireland worries Brexit could unravel it.\nCould Brexit bring new troubles to Northern Ireland?\nA battle over language is at the heart of Northern Ireland crisis"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "J2MHSN5UTBFKDE3LE6JPTGSMIE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "J2MHSN5UTBFKDE3LE6JPTGSMIE_1", "title": "Theresa May\u2019s Brexit speech may break the Northern Ireland peace process", "text": "in Northern Ireland To understand what is going on, it\u2019s first necessary to understand the role that the European Union played in the Irish peace process. The shared E.U. \u201ccustoms union\u201d and a \u201csingle market\u201d avoided the need for border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This not only made it possible for the two economies to become highly integrated. It also had symbolic importance, in allowing people and goods to move back and forth between the two jurisdictions, without any necessary implication that Northern Ireland would become politically united with the Republic. Britain\u2019s decision to leave the European Union has politicized border controls, raising the question of how to reconcile the fact that the Republic of Ireland is still in the European Union, and operates under E.U. customs and market rules, and Northern Ireland soon will not. Unionists \u2014 who want to stay part of Britain \u2014 do not want any arrangement in which Northern Ireland would have separate rules from Britain. They fear that this might lead Northern Ireland to drift politically closer to the Republic. Republicans and nationalists \u2014 and the government of the Republic of Ireland \u2014 do not want any arrangement in which Northern Ireland would have a \u201chard border\u201d with the Republic. The problem is that it is difficult to avoid a hard border, without some kind of special rules and status for Northern Ireland. This is why the Northern Ireland border question was supposed to be settled before Brexit negotiations proper began. It turned out to be impossible to reach a deal on what to do with Northern Ireland\u2019s status, but E.U. negotiators and the Republic of Ireland accepted a compromise under which Britain agreed on a \u201cbackstop\u201d arrangement. The European Union and Ireland interpreted this deal as saying that if no better mutually acceptable arrangement could be found, Northern Ireland would stay in the European Union\u2019s Single Market and Customs Union, allowing the real negotiations to begin. Britain is backpedaling on the backstop Britain always wanted to interpret the backstop commitment more flexibly than the European Union. It tried to persuade the European Union to accept a deal under which Britain would stay inside E.U. customs and market arrangements for some period while it sorted out its own long-term status, but would not be bound by the broader commitments of E.U. membership. The European Union made it clear that"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "On Friday, British Prime Minister Theresa May will deliver a speech at Belfast\u2019s Waterfront Hall. Its contents have been widely leaked. May is set to denounce the \u201cbackstop\u201d her government negotiated with the European Union as part of the Brexit agreement. She will say that the proposal would breach the Belfast Agreement that secured peace in Northern Ireland and leave the people of Northern Ireland without any representation in trade negotiations. She will say that \u201cthe economic and constitutional dislocation of a formal \u2018third country\u2019 customs border within our own country is something I will never accept and I believe no British prime minister could ever accept. And as they made clear this week, it is not something the House of Commons will accept either.\u201d\nThis speech is a very big deal. The backstop arrangement is a crucial part of Brexit negotiations. It also may have major consequences for peace in Northern Ireland. May\u2019s hostility to the backstop probably doesn\u2019t have much to do with constitutional principle. It is more likely driven by politics within her own political party, and the demands of the Democratic Unionist Party, which is propping up May\u2019s minority government.\nPeace and borders are closely connected in Northern Ireland\nTo understand what is going on, it\u2019s first necessary to understand the role that the European Union played in the Irish peace process. The shared E.U. \u201ccustoms union\u201d and a \u201csingle market\u201d avoided the need for border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This not only made it possible for the two economies to become highly integrated. It also had symbolic importance, in allowing people and goods to move back and forth between the two jurisdictions, without any necessary implication that Northern Ireland would become politically united with the Republic.\nBritain\u2019s decision to leave the European Union has politicized border controls, raising the question of how to reconcile the fact that the Republic of Ireland is still in the European Union, and operates under E.U. customs and market rules, and Northern Ireland soon will not. Unionists \u2014 who want to stay part of Britain \u2014 do not want any arrangement in which Northern Ireland would have separate rules from Britain. They fear that this might lead Northern Ireland to drift politically closer to the Republic. Republicans and nationalists \u2014 and the government of the Republic of Ireland \u2014 do not want any arrangement in which Northern Ireland would have a \u201chard border\u201d with the Republic. The problem is that it is difficult to avoid a hard border, without some kind of special rules and status for Northern Ireland.\nThis is why the Northern Ireland border question was supposed to be settled before Brexit negotiations proper began. It turned out to be impossible to reach a deal on what to do with Northern Ireland\u2019s status, but E.U. negotiators and the Republic of Ireland accepted a compromise under which Britain agreed on a \u201cbackstop\u201d arrangement. The European Union and Ireland interpreted this deal as saying that if no better mutually acceptable arrangement could be found, Northern Ireland would stay in the European Union\u2019s Single Market and Customs Union, allowing the real negotiations to begin.\nBritain is backpedaling on the backstop\nBritain always wanted to interpret the backstop commitment more flexibly than the European Union. It tried to persuade the European Union to accept a deal under which Britain would stay inside E.U. customs and market arrangements for some period while it sorted out its own long-term status, but would not be bound by the broader commitments of E.U. membership. The European Union made it clear that this proposal was unacceptable, because it would plausibly allow Britain an enormous degree of freedom both in terms of when it decided to leave, and how it interpreted its obligations toward Europe.\nFurthermore, pro-Brexit members of the Conservative Party, who had once promised that Britain would remain part of the customs union, now want a much \u201charder\u201d Brexit than they once said they did. Theresa May, fearing that pro-Brexiters would split her party and perhaps force her resignation as leader, agreed last week to terms imposed by the pro-Brexit faction. One of her concessions was a change to the British customs bill that declared that it would be unlawful for Northern Ireland to be \u201cpart of a separate customs territory to Great Britain.\u201d This meant that Britain has legally pre-committed itself to refusing to implement the backstop that the European Union thought had already been agreed.\nThe politics of the backstop are not being driven by constitutional worries, but by Britain\u2019s inability to get the European Union to agree to a fudged agreement on customs and single market membership, the intransigence of May\u2019s own party members, and the weakness of May\u2019s leadership. It is furthermore likely that the Democratic Unionist Party, which is propping up May\u2019s government, has also demanded that there be no arrangement that would distinguish Northern Ireland from the rest of Britain.\nThis may destabilize Brexit negotiations \u2014 and Northern Ireland\nMay\u2019s speech will have stark consequences for Britain\u2019s Brexit negotiations. She is presenting the European Union with a fait accompli, binding her government to a negotiating position that the European Union has made it clear it will not accept. It is theoretically possible that this will work to her advantage. Sometimes, as political scientists such as Robert Putnam have argued, weakness at home may turn into strength abroad. If you are too weak, you won\u2019t be able to implement concessions that other governments would like you to make. However, the danger of weakness is that you may be caught in a position that is simply unacceptable to other countries\u2019 negotiators, so that no deal is possible. This is the big risk that May is taking. If her new demands are unacceptable to the European Union, Britain will find itself in a \u201cno deal\u201d Brexit that could have very damaging consequences for the British economy.\nFurthermore, the speech\u2019s intransigence is likely to have consequences within Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland\u2019s peace deal was already in serious danger, as a result of distrust between the major parties. May\u2019s speech is likely to be interpreted by nationalists as a strong signal that she is in the pocket of the Democratic Unionist Party. Already, nationalists are having difficulty restraining radicals from returning to \u201cthe armed struggle.\u201d May\u2019s speech is likely to add greatly to their difficulties."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "KAIPWLNYFVEDXP7KQ2PZAVWF44_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "KAIPWLNYFVEDXP7KQ2PZAVWF44_1", "title": "Brexit could make Ireland a \u2018special friend\u2019 to the United States, Irish ambassador says", "text": "that could rival many Brexiteers' own hopes for an economic future that relies on greater trade with the United States and other nations outside of Europe. \u201cBritain is under a cloud of uncertainty as far as its future access to the European single market in concerned,\u201d Mulhall said. \u201cWe feel that any country that\u2019s looking at either expanding its presence in Europe or establishing a presence for the first time will look less favorably on Britain and more favorably on Ireland.\u201d After Brexit, British leaders have clung to the idea of an unbending Anglo-American bond. British Prime Minister Theresa May was the first world leader to visit President Trump after he took office last year. Both leaders praised the \u201cspecial relationship\u201d during that visit, with May saying it was based \u201con the bonds of history, of family, kinship and common interests.\u201d But at the same time, Britain\u2019s position as a member of the E.U. was one of its key selling points. \u201cWe are strong and active members of the European Union, the gateway to the world\u2019s largest single market,\u201d said May\u2019s predecessor, David Cameron, in a 2010 speech. With Britain looking to leave the E.U., many other E.U. countries are now pledging to become Washington\u2019s new \u201cgateway to Europe.\u201d Ireland may be a particularly attractive base for American companies: Its common-law system is similar to the American legal structure, and it is known for being one of the most business-friendly countries in the E.U. And, of course, Ireland and the United States share a common language. \u201cWe will be the only English-speaking country left in the European Union,\u201d Mulhall pointed out. Outside experts agree that Ireland is well positioned to strengthen its ties to the United States. \u201cIreland\u2019s institutions have been calibrated toward attracting U.S. investment for decades, which places the country in a strong position to attract investment which may pivot away from the U.K. post-Brexit,\u201d said Neil Dooley, a politics lecturer at the University of Sussex. Given that Ireland is a relatively small country \u2014 just 4.7 million people \u2014 even a small change could have profound effects on the economy. Irish firms are in the process of reforming their business plans for a post-Brexit future, according to Sean Davis, the regional director for Enterprise Ireland, a state economic agency that promotes new export sales. Davis said that 73 percent of Irish companies that work with Enterprise Ireland"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The \u201cspecial relationship\u201d between Britain and the United States has been a fixture of international politics for decades. Could Washington now also have a \u201cspecial friend\u201d in Ireland?\nDaniel Mulhall, Ireland\u2019s ambassador in Washington, thinks so. And he says it\u2019s largely because of Britain\u2019s departure from the European Union.\n\u201cBrexit is a game-changer for Ireland,\u201d Mulhall said to The Washington Post. \u201cWe become a bridge between the European Union and the United States both for investment but also for influence,\u201d he added.\nThose hopes even have a tangible symbol: This month, seeking to expand its diplomatic mission in Washington, the Irish government closed a deal to buy a 6,500-square-foot building once used by the Egyptian Embassy. It\u2019s still a far cry from Britain\u2019s gargantuan embassy compound, one of the biggest in Washington, but it\u2019s a signal of Dublin\u2019s intent.\nBefore he took up residence in Washington last year, Mulhall served as Ireland\u2019s ambassador to Britain. He personally campaigned against Britain\u2019s vote to leave the E.U. in 2016; after British voters approved Brexit, he later told a reporter, he felt \u201csadness\u201d that Britain\u2019s relationship with Ireland was being risked.\nNow he sees Brexit as a new opportunity for Ireland \u2014 one that could rival many Brexiteers' own hopes for an economic future that relies on greater trade with the United States and other nations outside of Europe.\n\u201cBritain is under a cloud of uncertainty as far as its future access to the European single market in concerned,\u201d Mulhall said. \u201cWe feel that any country that\u2019s looking at either expanding its presence in Europe or establishing a presence for the first time will look less favorably on Britain and more favorably on Ireland.\u201d\nAfter Brexit, British leaders have clung to the idea of an unbending Anglo-American bond. British Prime Minister Theresa May was the first world leader to visit President Trump after he took office last year. Both leaders praised the \u201cspecial relationship\u201d during that visit, with May saying it was based \u201con the bonds of history, of family, kinship and common interests.\u201d\nBut at the same time, Britain\u2019s position as a member of the E.U. was one of its key selling points. \u201cWe are strong and active members of the European Union, the gateway to the world\u2019s largest single market,\u201d said May\u2019s predecessor, David Cameron, in a 2010 speech.\nWith Britain looking to leave the E.U., many other E.U. countries are now pledging to become Washington\u2019s new \u201cgateway to Europe.\u201d Ireland may be a particularly attractive base for American companies: Its common-law system is similar to the American legal structure, and it is known for being one of the most business-friendly countries in the E.U.\nAnd, of course, Ireland and the United States share a common language. \u201cWe will be the only English-speaking country left in the European Union,\u201d Mulhall pointed out.\nOutside experts agree that Ireland is well positioned to strengthen its ties to the United States. \u201cIreland\u2019s institutions have been calibrated toward attracting U.S. investment for decades, which places the country in a strong position to attract investment which may pivot away from the U.K. post-Brexit,\u201d said Neil Dooley, a politics lecturer at the University of Sussex.\nGiven that Ireland is a relatively small country \u2014 just 4.7 million people \u2014 even a small change could have profound effects on the economy. Irish firms are in the process of reforming their business plans for a post-Brexit future, according to Sean Davis, the regional director for Enterprise Ireland, a state economic agency that promotes new export sales.\nDavis said that 73 percent of Irish companies that work with Enterprise Ireland have taken some kind of action to deal with a post-Brexit future. That often means planning to steer their exports away from Britain. \u201cThe U.K. is going to become less attractive to Irish companies,\u201d Davis said.\nCompanies sponsored by Enterprise Ireland opened 59 offices in the United States last year, according to Davis. In total, there are more than 800 Irish-owned companies in the United States, with 100,000 people employed by Irish-origin companies.\nThat\u2019s a useful talking point given the Trump administration\u2019s focus on protecting American jobs, but there could be other issues down the line. The United States has a considerable trade deficit with the Ireland, and Trump has specifically called out the country as a \u201ctax haven.\u201d The tax cuts passed by Republicans in 2017 appear to have hit U.S. investment in Ireland, according to Irish estimates.\nAnd with Trump, there\u2019s always the risk of unexpected feuds. The president is at odds with the Irish government on a variety of foreign policy issues; he has already canceled one trip to Ireland amid planned mass protests.\nAs such, any hopes for a \u201cspecial relationship,\u201d with this president at least, may be premature. \u201cI don\u2019t think Ireland kids itself that it has a special, meaningful relationship with the U.S.,\u201d said Brian Lucey, a professor at Trinity Business School at Trinity College Dublin. \u201cParticularly with Trump, where there\u2019s a hard-nosed, mercantilist approach.\u201d\nBut Mulhall argued Ireland knows how quickly things can change. \u201cWe were by far the poorest E.U. country\u201d 40 years ago, he said. \u201cToday we\u2019re one of the richest ones.\u201d\n\u201cThis is, I think, one of the most exciting projects of my 40-year career in the foreign service,\u201d he said of Ireland\u2019s new global ambition. \u201cWe\u2019re no longer a weak country trying to pull itself up by its bootstraps. We now have strengths and we need to deploy those strengths to advance our interest further in this changing and sometimes volatile international environment.\u201d\nRead more:\nIreland, worried about peace process, considers recognition of a Palestinian state\nCan Brexit be stopped? A guide for those just waking up to Britain\u2019s political nightmare.\nBrexit might be so bad that Cadbury is stockpiling chocolate just in case"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "LBWGSCADSJFFJBGMJV4MSKCTUI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "LBWGSCADSJFFJBGMJV4MSKCTUI_0", "title": "How Boris Johnson and President Trump risk destabilizing Northern Ireland", "text": "Amanda Sloat Since taking office on July 24, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined a significantly harder stance on Brexit than his predecessor, Theresa May. He has made clear that Britain is leaving the European Union on Oct. 31, with or without a deal. He is refusing to negotiate with E.U. leaders unless they reopen the withdrawal agreement and remove the Northern Ireland backstop, which are long-standing E.U. red lines. He also announced more than 2 billion pounds to fund no-deal contingency plans, including stockpiling medicine and hiring more border officers. As Johnson and his \u201cwar cabinet\u201d of hard-line Brexiteers push forward with their demands, the risks to Northern Ireland are increasing. But instead of seeking to stabilize the peace process, President Trump has encouraged Britain to abandon divorce talks with the E.U. in favor of a trade deal with the United States \u2014 a position that could have potentially disastrous consequences. Northern Ireland remains the biggest hurdle to Brexit. Britain is part of the E.U.\u2019s customs union and single market. It will leave both after Brexit, elevating the border with Ireland to a customs border with associated controls. This will create practical challenges and devastate many who endured decades of sectarian violence. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which addressed security and governance concerns of nationalist and unionist communities and took steps to mitigate identity politics, removed checkpoints along the border. The British government has argued that it can avoid border infrastructure by developing technical alternatives or negotiating a post-Brexit economic agreement with the E.U. Unless and until either occurs, European leaders insist on an insurance policy: Britain must remain in a customs union with the E.U., and Northern Ireland must comply with single-market regulations on goods. Johnson views the backstop as \u201canti-democratic,\u201d as it does not allow unilateral British withdrawal, hampers the negotiation of trade deals and was not endorsed by Parliament. The E.U. has been clear that a no-deal Brexit would result in a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, though the British and Irish governments have pledged not to impose controls. Yet both countries have incentives to find a solution. In order for London to negotiate a post-Brexit trade deal with the E.U., Brussels has insisted it must first accept measures that keep the border open and protect the E.U. single market. In order for Dublin to maintain trade with the rest of the E.U.,"}], "old": [{"_id": "LBWGSCADSJFFJBGMJV4MSKCTUI_0", "title": "How Boris Johnson and President Trump risk destabilizing Northern Ireland", "text": "Amanda Sloat Read more: Amanda Sloat: Sacrificing peace in Northern Ireland is not acceptable price for Brexit Michael Dobbs: Boris Johnson may be planning an electoral coup straight out of the Trump playbook Maya Goodfellow: Boris Johnson and his regressive cabinet mean disaster for Britain The Post\u2019s View: Boris Johnson is optimistic. How long will that last? Fareed Zakaria: Boris Johnson will accelerate the decline of Europe Ryan Bourne: Don\u2019t lump Boris Johnson together with Donald Trump"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Amanda Sloat\nSince taking office on July 24, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined a significantly harder stance on Brexit than his predecessor, Theresa May. He has made clear that Britain is leaving the European Union on Oct. 31, with or without a deal. He is refusing to negotiate with E.U. leaders unless they reopen the withdrawal agreement and remove the Northern Ireland backstop, which are long-standing E.U. red lines. He also announced more than 2 billion pounds to fund no-deal contingency plans, including stockpiling medicine and hiring more border officers.\nAs Johnson and his \u201cwar cabinet\u201d of hard-line Brexiteers push forward with their demands, the risks to Northern Ireland are increasing. But instead of seeking to stabilize the peace process, President Trump has encouraged Britain to abandon divorce talks with the E.U. in favor of a trade deal with the United States \u2014 a position that could have potentially disastrous consequences.\nNorthern Ireland remains the biggest hurdle to Brexit. Britain is part of the E.U.\u2019s customs union and single market. It will leave both after Brexit, elevating the border with Ireland to a customs border with associated controls. This will create practical challenges and devastate many who endured decades of sectarian violence. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which addressed security and governance concerns of nationalist and unionist communities and took steps to mitigate identity politics, removed checkpoints along the border.\nThe British government has argued that it can avoid border infrastructure by developing technical alternatives or negotiating a post-Brexit economic agreement with the E.U. Unless and until either occurs, European leaders insist on an insurance policy: Britain must remain in a customs union with the E.U., and Northern Ireland must comply with single-market regulations on goods. Johnson views the backstop as \u201canti-democratic,\u201d as it does not allow unilateral British withdrawal, hampers the negotiation of trade deals and was not endorsed by Parliament.\nThe E.U. has been clear that a no-deal Brexit would result in a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, though the British and Irish governments have pledged not to impose controls. Yet both countries have incentives to find a solution. In order for London to negotiate a post-Brexit trade deal with the E.U., Brussels has insisted it must first accept measures that keep the border open and protect the E.U. single market. In order for Dublin to maintain trade with the rest of the E.U., it must comply with regulations governing its border with a nonmember.\nAll of Northern Ireland\u2019s political party leaders stressed the dire consequences of a no-deal Brexit during Johnson\u2019s visit to Belfast this week. There are economic risks, including the projected loss of 40,000 jobs and an estimated decline in exports to Ireland of 11 percent to 19 percent. There are security risks, with police chiefs long warning about unrest and attacks on customs posts. There are also political risks, with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar cautioning that a hard border could heighten calls for Irish reunification.\nThe lack of governance in Northern Ireland creates further complications. The power-sharing executive, a key component of the Good Friday Agreement, collapsed in January 2017 after disagreements between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and nationalist Sinn F\u00e9in over mismanagement of a green-energy program. Repeated attempts to restore the government have failed. Absent democratic oversight, civil servants are reluctant to make decisions. Given the complexity of a no-deal Brexit, Britain\u2019s top civil servant has recommended imposing direct rule. London reclaimed decision-making authority from Belfast at various points during the first decade after the agreement. Yet suspending the devolved government now would be contentious, particularly for the nationalist community, as Johnson\u2019s reliance on the DUP\u2019s 10 legislators for a one-seat parliamentary majority in Westminster would privilege the unionist position.\nAlthough the United States has long supported the Northern Ireland peace process, the Trump administration has been notably absent. Instead, the president has called Brexit a \u201cgreat thing,\u201d warned that the current divorce settlement would threaten British trade with the United States, and promised Johnson a \u201cvery substantial\u201d deal once his country leaves the European Union. Both leaders are ignoring Brexit\u2019s inconvenient truth: If Britain deviates from E.U. economic rules, there will be more freedom to negotiate new trade agreements, yet greater need for intrusive checks along the Irish border.\nCongressional leaders and prominent Irish-Americans are filling the silence. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) first raised the alarm in April when she toured London, Dublin and Belfast to warn that Congress would not support a trade agreement that damaged the peace process. Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee that could block a trade deal, and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), co-chairs of the Friends of Ireland caucus, reiterated similar pledges this week. A group of 40 Irish-American leaders raised related concerns in a letter to the new British government.\nAs Britain races toward the Brexit cliff, the Trump administration must join other worried Americans in putting peace before trade.\nRead more:\nAmanda Sloat: Sacrificing peace in Northern Ireland is not acceptable price for Brexit\nMichael Dobbs: Boris Johnson may be planning an electoral coup straight out of the Trump playbook\nMaya Goodfellow: Boris Johnson and his regressive cabinet mean disaster for Britain\nThe Post\u2019s View: Boris Johnson is optimistic. How long will that last?\nFareed Zakaria: Boris Johnson will accelerate the decline of Europe\nRyan Bourne: Don\u2019t lump Boris Johnson together with Donald Trump"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "O3HPV5FK3FC6XIGW7EHKR36RKU_5", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "O3HPV5FK3FC6XIGW7EHKR36RKU_5", "title": "Brexiteers ignored Ireland. Ireland may have the last laugh.", "text": "power in Northern Ireland, did not take its needs seriously, the E.U. did. For all its faults, the E.U. does understand itself as a peace project. What happens in Northern Ireland matters to its sense of Europe\u2019s identity. So the E.U. has fully backed Ireland in its insistence that there can be no hard border after Brexit. And this means that Northern Ireland (and, hence, the United Kingdom as a whole) has to remain aligned with the E.U.\u2019s customs union and single market \u201cunless and until\u201d some other way of keeping the border invisible can be found. This \u201cbackstop\u201d is written into the withdrawal agreement and has been, for the British, its most contentious aspect. It kills the fantasy of a clean break from recent history and makes Brexit a largely pointless exercise. In theory, the U.K. could just leave the E.U. without a deal and ignore the consequences for Ireland. But that option is so damaging to its own economy that only a small rump of fanatics still clings to it. The alternatives to the backstop put forward by the supporters of Brexit have failed to gain any purchase. One was a fabulous deal with the E.U. in which \u201cfrictionless\u201d trade will continue \u2013 in other words the U.K. leaves the E.U.\u2019s club but still enjoys all the benefits of being in. It is a fantasy. The other was the idea that technology could be used to monitor cross-border trade with no physical infrastructure. Such technology does not yet exist. So if we exclude make-believe and science fiction, we are left with the unpalatable reality that a post-Brexit U.K. has to stay so close to the E.U. that leaving hardly seems worth the bother. Their own culpable ignorance of Northern Ireland will not stop the Brexit zealots from blaming the Irish for the mess. In their eyes, Brexit would always have been a triumph were it not for the crazy complications of John Bull\u2019s Other Island. Boris Johnson, who led the Leave campaign in 2016, has railed against the backstop as a \u201cmonstrosity\u201d that \u201cis being used to coerce Britain into becoming a vassal state of Brussels.\u201d But if it is a monster, it is one conjured by the Brexiteers from the depths of their rage against political and historical realities. Their willful delusions \u2014 regarding Northern Ireland and much else besides \u2014 were always bordering on the insane."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A former staffer on the official campaign to persuade Britain to leave the European Union recently recalled an awkward moment from about a month before the Brexit referendum: The BBC\u2019s flagship evening news program phoned the campaign\u2019s offices in London to see whether someone would come on the show to debate the effects of Brexit on the Irish border \u2014 and no one wanted to do it.\nEven the most able media performers felt that \u201cthey simply lacked real knowledge of the issue,\u201d the ex-staffer, Oliver Norgrove, recently wrote in a column in the Irish Times. What\u2019s more, the fate of the border seemed like a minor question: \u201cI remember quite vividly the feeling of unease and discomfort about the prospect of us talking about something we just didn\u2019t feel needed addressing,\u201d Norgrove wrote.\nIn a classic case of the return of the repressed, the question the supporters of Brexit refused to address has come back to haunt them. Theirs was a dream of a simple, once-and-for-all escape from the past 46 years of history. Britain would erase the recent past, in which its destiny has been intertwined with that of its continental neighbors, and begin a new and glorious story. But there is another history, one in which Britain has been entwined, for many centuries, with an even closer neighbor, Ireland. That story cannot be erased. And the impossibility of escaping from it has, in the end, made Brexit itself impossible.\nIf Brexit has come crashing down to earth, the piece of Earth in question is a straggling, meandering, perplexing and porous line on the map: the 310-mile border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It emerged as a temporary line of partition in 1920 \u2014 ironically during another episode in which a country was exiting a larger union. Catholic Ireland was breaking away from the United Kingdom. The Protestant-dominated Northeast wanted to remain. So it was agreed that there would be a short-term boundary until a permanent solution was found.\nThat never happened. The temporary line became a permanent, fraught border. Irish nationalists regarded it with resentment as an improper imposition on the natural unity of the island. Unionists, on the other hand, regarded the border as their defense against being absorbed into a Catholic-dominated United Ireland against their will. During the 30-year conflict that racked Northern Ireland \u2014 between 1968 and 1998 \u2014 the border became one of the most heavily policed in the world, with armed troops, watchtowers and the buzz of military helicopters overhead. For the communities separated by it, it was a daily reminder of bitter and violent difference.\nAnd then a wonderful thing happened. Britain, Ireland, the E.U. and the United States worked together to create one of the finest diplomatic achievements of the past 50 years: the Belfast Agreement of 1998 (also known as the Good Friday Agreement). With peace, the border more or less vanished. The military and police installations were removed, and because both Ireland and Britain were in the E.U., there was no need for customs posts, either. For 20 years, people have come and gone freely over about 300 crossings to work, trade and socialize \u2014 105 million times a year. When I travel now from Dublin to Belfast, I struggle to remember where the border is \u2014 it is a line on a map, not a barrier on the road. The most the traveler is likely to encounter is a sign saying \u201cWelcome to Northern Ireland.\" It would be hard to overstate how much this has contributed to the sense of normality and the building of ordinary human contact that underpin the hard-won peace. A generation has grown up with this physical and psychological freedom.\nBut along came Brexit. Its effects, if implemented in their pure form, would be not just to restore a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic but also to make it much more extreme than it ever was before. It would now be a major E.U. land border, a boundary between Britain on the one side and a 27-member bloc on the other. This would be profoundly unsettling for a peace process that has made huge progress but is still fragile.\nThe naked truth is that the prospect of disrupting the peace agreement really does not matter to the voters in Britain who backed Brexit. Asked whether \u201cthe unraveling of the peace process in Northern Ireland\u201d is a \u201cprice worth paying\u201d for a Brexit that allows them to \u201ctake back control,\u201d fully 83 percent of \u201cLeave\u201d voters agree that it is. This attitude reflects the recklessness of those who campaigned for Brexit, their blithe ignorance of and indifference to the consequences of what they were proposing. In this, the border question merely points to the broader reasons the whole Brexit project is such a dismal failure: It was never more than a set of slogans. It was all about the joy of exiting, with no clear sense of what condition the United Kingdom might be exiting into.\nBrexit is in part a product of a resurgent English nationalism, and polls have shown that those who voted Leave are not too concerned if it leads to the breakup of the United Kingdom. In one recent survey, over 60 per cent of Leave voters said they would not be greatly or at all concerned were Northern Ireland to depart from the U.K. and join a United Ireland. Since the violence of the Troubles diminished, this part of the British state has been increasingly out of sight and out of mind.\nWhile Britain, which is the sovereign power in Northern Ireland, did not take its needs seriously, the E.U. did. For all its faults, the E.U. does understand itself as a peace project. What happens in Northern Ireland matters to its sense of Europe\u2019s identity. So the E.U. has fully backed Ireland in its insistence that there can be no hard border after Brexit. And this means that Northern Ireland (and, hence, the United Kingdom as a whole) has to remain aligned with the E.U.\u2019s customs union and single market \u201cunless and until\u201d some other way of keeping the border invisible can be found. This \u201cbackstop\u201d is written into the withdrawal agreement and has been, for the British, its most contentious aspect. It kills the fantasy of a clean break from recent history and makes Brexit a largely pointless exercise.\nIn theory, the U.K. could just leave the E.U. without a deal and ignore the consequences for Ireland. But that option is so damaging to its own economy that only a small rump of fanatics still clings to it. The alternatives to the backstop put forward by the supporters of Brexit have failed to gain any purchase. One was a fabulous deal with the E.U. in which \u201cfrictionless\u201d trade will continue \u2013 in other words the U.K. leaves the E.U.\u2019s club but still enjoys all the benefits of being in. It is a fantasy. The other was the idea that technology could be used to monitor cross-border trade with no physical infrastructure. Such technology does not yet exist. So if we exclude make-believe and science fiction, we are left with the unpalatable reality that a post-Brexit U.K. has to stay so close to the E.U. that leaving hardly seems worth the bother.\nTheir own culpable ignorance of Northern Ireland will not stop the Brexit zealots from blaming the Irish for the mess. In their eyes, Brexit would always have been a triumph were it not for the crazy complications of John Bull\u2019s Other Island. Boris Johnson, who led the Leave campaign in 2016, has railed against the backstop as a \u201cmonstrosity\u201d that \u201cis being used to coerce Britain into becoming a vassal state of Brussels.\u201d But if it is a monster, it is one conjured by the Brexiteers from the depths of their rage against political and historical realities. Their willful delusions \u2014 regarding Northern Ireland and much else besides \u2014 were always bordering on the insane."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "OMNEY7SGNQI6TKXYIUJKN7RUHE_4", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "OMNEY7SGNQI6TKXYIUJKN7RUHE_4", "title": "Trump and Irish leader celebrate their countries\u2019 close ties, but differences over Brexit are evident", "text": "if you remember,\u201d Trump said describing his visit during the presidential campaign to his golf resort in Scotland. The visit and the news conference were the day after the June 23 Brexit vote, not the day before. \u201cI think it could\u2019ve been negotiated in a different manner, frankly. I hate to see it being \u2014 everything being ripped apart right now,\u201d Trump said, adding that holding a second referendum \u201cwould be very unfair to the people that won.\u201d British lawmakers voted Thursday not to seek a do-over vote, at least for now. Nile Gardiner, a former aide to British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, said Trump \u201chas been very clear in his view that Brexit is great for America and for Britain.\u201d Gardiner rejects Irish concerns about the border and said the issue has been used as a \u201cbattering ram\u201d by E.U. leadership keen to make Britain a cautionary example to other member states flirting with an exit. \u201cThe Irish government has played a very adversarial role,\u201d Gardiner said. \u201cThere is very deep-seated animosity within the Irish government to Brexit.\u201d Pence glossed over the Brexit disagreement as he welcomed Varadkar for the breakfast, and grew nostalgic as he recounted his grandfather\u2019s emigration from Ireland and his own affection for the country. Pence attempted the Irish leader\u2019s formal title, calling him \u201cTaoiseach Varadkar.\u201d Pence got the pronunciation right \u2014 \u201cTEE-shuck\u201d \u2014 and said he, too, plans a trip to Ireland shortly. Trump gave it a try, too, and got pretty close, during the final theatrical rite of the Irish visit \u2014 the presentation of a crystal bowl of shamrocks. Brexit won\u2019t spoil the relationship, even given Trump\u2019s history of turning on leaders who cross him, said Marquette University historian Timothy G. McMahon, president of the American Conference for Irish Studies. \u201cThe United States and the Republic of Ireland have such close ties that it\u2019s unlikely that anything permanently damaging would happen,\u201d McMahon said. \u201cFriendly disagreements happen in diplomacy all the time.\u201d Trump may agree. At the luncheon, he sounded cheerful as he described his discussion with Varadkar. \u201cWe talked about Brexit, something that is turning out to be a little more complex than they thought it would be. But it will all work out. Everything does,\u201d he said. \u201cOne way or the other, it\u2019s going to work out.\u201d anne.gearan@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "President Trump, perhaps not wanting to spoil the chummy mood of the annual St. Patrick\u2019s Day-themed visit, announced at the start of his meetings with the Irish prime minister Thursday that he was not going to comment on Brexit, on which he and his guest vigorously disagree.\nAnd then, of course, he commented at length.\n\u201cI can tell you it\u2019s a very complex thing that\u2019s going on right now,\u201d Trump said of Britain\u2019s drawn-out and drama-filled divorce from the European Union. \u201cIt\u2019s tearing a country apart,\u201d said Trump, who has cheered from the sidelines for Brexit and the populist and nationalist British politicians who have championed it.\n\u201cWe have a different opinion, president,\u201d Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said mildly. \u201cI regret that Brexit\u2019s happening.\u201d\nThe annual ritual of the American president hosting the leader of Ireland in celebration of the intertwined history of the two countries dates to 1959, and evokes a political era of patronage and old-school Irish American pols, such as former House speaker Thomas P. \u201cTip\u201d O\u2019Neill (D-Mass.).\nFor Irish leaders \u2014 even a modern figure such as the young, gay, mixed-race Varadkar \u2014 the event reinforces historical bonds that translate to tourism, business partnerships and other boons of shared history and language. More than 30\u00a0million Americans, or about 1 in 10, have Irish ancestry.\n\u201cIt\u2019s an enormous pleasure for Ireland, a small country, to have this annual meeting on account of St. Patrick\u2019s Day, and to have a chance to make even closer and tighter the bonds between the United States and Ireland,\u201d Varadkar told Trump.\nBut the tensions over Brexit served this year to highlight a divide between the two countries, with Ireland embracing the European Union as Trump questions why European nations continue to marry their economies together instead of going it alone on issues such as trade.\nFor most U.S. presidents, the kitschy tribute to Ireland is good politics. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wore a green jacket to greet Varadkar for lunch at the Capitol, and a green-tie-wearing Vice President Pence hosted Varadkar and his partner for breakfast.\nTrump was game to keep the ritual going despite his outsider status and disdain for stuffy political convention. He saw Varadkar for three events and told him he plans to soon visit Ireland \u2014 a country where he owns a golf course.\n\u201cMany of the traditions this president violates pertain to political etiquette and expectations,\u201d said Kathleen Costello-Sullivan, a historian at Le Moyne College. \u201cIn contrast, he seems to enjoy the kinds of cultural trappings and traditions that come with the office.\u201d\nThursday\u2019s events carried on despite awkward timing. As the meetings in Washington began, British lawmakers were debating whether to delay Brexit. Parliament voted later in the day to request a delay of the planned March\u00a029 exit.\nWhile Varadkar prepared to have breakfast with Pence and a who\u2019s who of Irish Americans, including the president of Notre Dame, Trump tweeted an open invitation to Britain to free itself of the European Union and its trade rules.\n\u201cMy Administration looks forward to negotiating a large scale Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. The potential is unlimited!\u201d Trump wrote.\nIreland is at the center of the practical discussion of how Britain would separate itself from the European Union and its open movement of goods and people because the only affected land border runs between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Irish leaders say a new formal border would put profitable commerce at risk and invoke the ghosts of the bloody conflicts in Northern Ireland known as the Irish Troubles.\n\u201cI look forward to talking to you later about Brexit, giving you our perspective on it and the real importance of protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the really hard-won peace in Northern Ireland,\u201d Varadkar told Trump, referring to the 1998 British-Irish peace accord.\nDuring that Oval Office meeting and later at a Capitol Hill lunch, Varadkar smiled politely as Trump talked about the \u201csad\u201d saga of Britain\u2019s exit and criticized both the European Union and British Prime Minister Theresa May, who he said could have gotten better terms by following his advice.\n\u201cI will tell you, I\u2019m surprised at how badly it\u2019s all gone from the standpoint of a negotiation,\u201d Trump said, sounding like he wasn\u2019t that surprised at all.\nTrump also got in a plug for his Irish golf course and repeated an embroidered story about having predicted the surprise outcome of the 2016 British Brexit referendum.\n\u201cI predicted it was going to happen, and I was right. And people laughed when I predicted it, and they won by about two points,\u201d Trump said. \u201cAnd I was standing out on Turnberry, and we had a press conference, and people were screaming. That was the day before, if you remember,\u201d Trump said describing his visit during the presidential campaign to his golf resort in Scotland.\nThe visit and the news conference were the day after the June\u00a023 Brexit vote, not the day before.\n\u201cI think it could\u2019ve been negotiated in a different manner, frankly. I hate to see it being \u2014 everything being ripped apart right now,\u201d Trump said, adding that holding a second referendum \u201cwould be very unfair to the people that won.\u201d\nBritish lawmakers voted Thursday not to seek a do-over vote, at least for now.\nNile Gardiner, a former aide to British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, said Trump \u201chas been very clear in his view that Brexit is great for America and for Britain.\u201d\nGardiner rejects Irish concerns about the border and said the issue has been used as a \u201cbattering ram\u201d by E.U. leadership keen to make Britain a cautionary example to other member states flirting with an exit.\n\u201cThe Irish government has played a very adversarial role,\u201d Gardiner said. \u201cThere is very deep-seated animosity within the Irish government to Brexit.\u201d\nPence glossed over the Brexit disagreement as he welcomed Varadkar for the breakfast, and grew nostalgic as he recounted his grandfather\u2019s emigration from Ireland and his own affection for the country. Pence attempted the Irish leader\u2019s formal title, calling him \u201cTaoiseach Varadkar.\u201d Pence got the pronunciation right \u2014 \u201cTEE-shuck\u201d \u2014 and said he, too, plans a trip to Ireland shortly. Trump gave it a try, too, and got pretty close, during the final theatrical rite of the Irish visit \u2014 the presentation of a crystal bowl of shamrocks.\nBrexit won\u2019t spoil the relationship, even given Trump\u2019s history of turning on leaders who cross him, said Marquette University historian Timothy G. McMahon, president of the American Conference for Irish Studies.\n\u201cThe United States and the Republic of Ireland have such close ties that it\u2019s unlikely that anything permanently damaging would happen,\u201d McMahon said. \u201cFriendly disagreements happen in diplomacy all the time.\u201d\nTrump may agree. At the luncheon, he sounded cheerful as he described his discussion with Varadkar.\n\u201cWe talked about Brexit, something that is turning out to be a little more complex than they thought it would be. But it will all work out. Everything does,\u201d he said. \u201cOne way or the other, it\u2019s going to work out.\u201d\nanne.gearan@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "OQXXMUKUEJEQTI7HBLR53MGGIQ_3", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "OQXXMUKUEJEQTI7HBLR53MGGIQ_3", "title": "Northern Ireland is in crisis because of a dispute over language", "text": "Ireland back into play. The extraordinary circumstances even prompted Ireland\u2019s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, to urge the abstentionist Sinn Fein to take its six seats in the British Parliament to thwart a \u201chard Brexit\u201d that would see Britain leave the E.U. customs union. Meanwhile the U.K. government only survives because of a Conservative-DUP pact in Westminster. The main unionist and nationalist parties have shifted their sights beyond Northern Ireland\u2019s domestic politics, toward the bigger game of Northern Ireland\u2019s long-term future. Will it remain part of the United Kingdom, as unionists want, or shift toward the Republic of Ireland as Sinn Fein is seeking? These outside circumstances make the language issue more volatile. Sinn Fein had prepared their voters to accept nothing less than a stand-alone language act, which the DUP would see as capitulation to nationalism. As the recent talks took place in relative secrecy, rumors of mandatory language training in schools and affirmative action in the civil service quickly spread. By the time British Prime Minister Theresa May and Varadkar arrived in Belfast on Feb. 12, signaling their support for a compromise deal including Irish language legislation, the DUP had gotten spooked. One assembly representative told us that his office had received calls in the following two days not only from hard-liners but also from \u201cmoderate, middle class\u201d unionists. It is likely that DUP representatives\u2019 offices got similar phone calls and fed the information back to their negotiating team. The deal was more than the DUP was willing to sell to its base. There is no obvious way out Most of the options for a deal are unpalatable to one or more of the parties. Direct rule by the U.K. government, which would bypass Northern Ireland\u2019s Stormont government, is the most likely short-term outcome. Yet, the DUP-Conservative pact and the looming specter of a Brexit deal \u2014 on which Sinn Fein and the DUP are deeply divided \u2014 mean that direct rule would be politically tricky. Joint authority exercised by the U.K. and Irish governments is another option. Already some are calling for a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Yet, the unionist community would be sure to oppose a stronger role for Dublin. New elections could be called, in the hope that the power balance would shift in favor of the moderate middle. Yet this would almost certainly be wishful thinking. The voting bases of DUP and Sinn Fein have only"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "When Northern Ireland\u2019s nationalists and unionists made peace in 1998, a key part of the deal was a power-sharing arrangement to run Northern Ireland\u2019s government. That collapsed 13 months ago, and five rounds of talks have not been enough to bring it back to life. The latest talks ended Feb. 14, when Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster announced her party\u2019s withdrawal. Here\u2019s how Northern Ireland got into this mess, and here is what could happen next.\nNorthern Ireland\u2019s government collapsed over scandal and cultural conflict\nA decade of power-sharing between the unionist DUP and nationalist Sinn Fein fell apart last January when Sinn Fein pulled out, primarily because of a scandal involving a botched renewable heating scheme. However, relations between nationalists and unionists had already been deteriorating because of other issues, including\u00a0same-sex marriage (unionists are opposed), dealing with the past (Sinn Fein was intimately linked to the Irish Republican Army, but the nature and extent of that relationship remains contested), Brexit and a proposed Irish Language Act. The return of the Irish language question led to the latest breakdown.\nIt may seem strange that the Irish language could provoke a crisis, when Northern Irish politicians could reach agreement on such contentious issues as the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons and devolution of policing. However, as the military conflict died down, conflicts over culture and identity, which were not resolved in the original peace deal, have increased. These cultural hot points include issues such as marches by the unionist Orange Order, flags and emblems.\nAlthough the agreement pledges \u201cparity of esteem\u201d between nationalists and unionists, this was supposed to be just one part of a broader commitment to human rights and equality. However, the peace process has increasingly come to focus on cultural issues where the two sides disagree, so that other minority rights are lost in the shuffle, and questions such as\u00a0same-sex marriage\u00a0and welfare reform are being interpreted as markers in the fight between unionism and nationalism.\u00a0 Cultural issues can be indivisible in a way that standard security and power sharing is not so that there are winners and losers but no space for compromise.\nThe Irish language has become a proxy for these broader identity disputes.\u00a0 Language is a deeply symbolic, often zero-sum issue.\u00a0 The Irish language has been bound up with nationalist identity since the Gaelic cultural revival of the late 19th century and was used by Republican paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles to communicate without prison guards understanding.\nSinn Fein has long made a point of promoting the Irish language, of which 11 percent of people in Northern Ireland have some knowledge. Yet the issue became more rancorous in recent months, with Foster commenting in March 2017 that, \u201cif you feed a crocodile, it will keep coming back and looking for more.\u201d The crocodile became a useful rallying symbol for Sinn Fein, which performed strongly in the subsequent elections.\nAlthough nationalists believe that equality requires an Irish Language Act, which would bring language protections into line with other parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland, unionists see it differently.\u00a0 Even though other parties support an act, unionists believe that Sinn Fein has been politicizing \u2014 even \u201cweaponizing\u201d \u2014\u00a0language rights as part of a broader agenda to turn Northern Ireland ever-greener on the way to a united Ireland. Even moderate unionist voices depict it as an attempt to remove \u201cBritishness\u201d from Northern Ireland.\nExternal politics don\u2019t help\nOutside politics have also helped destabilize Northern Ireland. The shadow of Brexit and the threat of a hard border \u00a0have brought the constitutional status of Northern Ireland back into play. The extraordinary circumstances even prompted Ireland\u2019s prime minister, Leo Varadkar, to urge the abstentionist Sinn Fein to take its six seats in the British Parliament to thwart a \u201chard Brexit\u201d that would see Britain leave the E.U. customs union. Meanwhile the U.K. government only survives because of a Conservative-DUP pact in Westminster. The main unionist and nationalist parties have shifted their sights beyond Northern Ireland\u2019s domestic politics, toward the bigger game of Northern Ireland\u2019s long-term future. Will it remain part of the United Kingdom, as unionists want, or shift toward the Republic of Ireland as Sinn Fein is seeking?\nThese outside circumstances make the language issue more volatile. Sinn Fein had prepared their voters to accept nothing less than a stand-alone language act, which the DUP would see as capitulation to nationalism. As the recent talks took place in relative secrecy, rumors of mandatory language training in schools and affirmative action in the civil service quickly spread. By the time British Prime Minister\u00a0Theresa May and Varadkar arrived in Belfast on Feb. 12, signaling their support for a compromise deal including Irish language legislation, the DUP had gotten spooked. One assembly representative told us that his office had received calls in the following two days not only from hard-liners but also from \u201cmoderate, middle class\u201d unionists. It is likely that DUP representatives\u2019 offices got similar phone calls and fed the information back to their negotiating team. The deal was more than the DUP was willing to sell to its base.\nThere is no obvious way out\nMost of the options for a deal are unpalatable to one or more of the parties. Direct rule by the U.K. government, which would bypass Northern Ireland\u2019s Stormont government, is the most likely short-term outcome. Yet, the DUP-Conservative pact and the looming specter of a Brexit deal \u2014 on which Sinn Fein and the DUP are deeply divided \u2014 mean that direct rule would be politically tricky.\nJoint authority exercised by the U.K. and Irish governments is another option. Already some are calling for a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Yet, the unionist community would be sure to oppose a stronger role for Dublin.\nNew elections could be called, in the hope that the power balance would shift in favor of the moderate middle. Yet this would almost certainly be wishful thinking. The voting bases of DUP and Sinn Fein have only been strengthened by this crisis, and another election would likely deliver even more of the same.\nSo what\u2019s left? More talks. If Northern Ireland\u2019s government is to be restored, it will necessarily involve power sharing \u2014 which itself means more negotiation and compromise. Any one of the above options could be used to focus minds and get the DUP and Sinn Fein back to the table. Yet if a new round of talks is to be more successful, it may have to be more inclusive.\nThe original peace deal rested on talks that included all parties, including very small ones. It is possible that this could create a different negotiation dynamic, where the parties that have been crowded out by the success of the DUP and Sinn Fein could widen the set of issues under negotiation and treat issues such as marriage equality as important in their own right. A large body of political science suggests that broadening the agenda may make it easier to link issues and reach agreement. Including more parties to the talks might paradoxically help this happen.\nAllison McCulloch is an associate professor at Brandon University, Canada, and Cera Murtagh is a research fellow at Queen\u2019s University Belfast. They are co-researchers on the project"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "P36VJZA4SQI6RGHVZ3WPVB2BWY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "P36VJZA4SQI6RGHVZ3WPVB2BWY_0", "title": "Northern Ireland has become an unexpected hurdle for Brexit", "text": "LONDON \u2014 In the days of the Troubles, as the 30-year sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland was known, the borderlands between the North and the Republic of Ireland were called \u201cbandit country\u201d \u2014 a frontier of milk smugglers, gun runners and frequent clashes between British soldiers and Irish Republican Army cells. Today, because the sides made peace and because both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland are members of the same European Union, the border between them is wide open to the point of invisibility. Manufactured goods, alongside tens of thousands of people, and a lot of sheep and Guinness stout, pass freely on a daily basis, without customs checks or passport control, over new highways, farm roads and country lanes. But that border is now a major point of contention in the Brexit debate, as Britain and the E.U. sort out how to disengage next year. European negotiators on Wednesday released draft language for a treaty that would have Northern Ireland essentially remain in the E.U. customs union, which would allow for an open border for trade and travel between Northern Ireland, still a part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland in the south, a member of the European bloc. In Parliament, British Prime Minister Theresa May immediately called the proposal unacceptable, signaling a rocky road ahead. May said the Brussels draft would \u201cundermine the U.K. common market and threaten the constitutional integrity of the U.K. by creating a customs and regulatory border down the Irish Sea, and no U.K. prime minister could ever agree to it.\u201d Presenting the proposed treaty, Brussels\u2019s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said that Europe was open to other suggestions but that it must preserve the open border. He signaled that Europe needed to hear clear answers from May and that time was running out. This vexing issue of the Irish border was hardly mentioned before Britain\u2019s historic June 2016 vote to leave the European Union. But the balance between Republicans and Unionists, and between north and south on the Irish island, remains fragile and unsettled 20 years after the sectarian violence ended with the Good Friday Agreement. May is squeezed by the border issue in part because she failed to achieve a majority in the last British elections and so had to enter into a soft coalition with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland, made up of Protestants loyal"}], "old": [{"_id": "P36VJZA4SQI6RGHVZ3WPVB2BWY_0", "title": "Northern Ireland has become an unexpected hurdle for Brexit", "text": "Returning from a morning jog william.booth@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "LONDON\n\u2014\u00a0In the\u00a0days of the Troubles, as the 30-year sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland was known,\u00a0the borderlands between the North and the Republic of Ireland were called \u201cbandit country\u201d \u2014 a frontier of milk smugglers, gun runners and frequent clashes between British soldiers and Irish Republican Army cells.\nToday, because the sides made peace and because both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland are members of the same European Union, the border between them is wide open to the point of invisibility. Manufactured goods, alongside tens of thousands of people, and a lot of sheep and Guinness stout, pass freely on a daily basis, without customs checks or passport control, over new highways, farm roads and country lanes.\nBut that border is now a major point of contention in the Brexit debate, as Britain and the E.U. sort out how to disengage next\u00a0year.\nEuropean negotiators on Wednesday released draft language for a treaty that would have Northern Ireland essentially remain in the E.U. customs union, which would allow for an open border for trade and travel between Northern Ireland, still a part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland in the south, a member of the European bloc.\nIn Parliament, British Prime Minister Theresa May immediately called the proposal unacceptable, signaling a rocky road ahead.\nMay said the Brussels draft would \u201cundermine the U.K. common market and threaten the constitutional integrity of the U.K. by creating a customs and regulatory border down the Irish Sea, and no U.K. prime minister could ever agree to it.\u201d\nPresenting the proposed treaty, Brussels\u2019s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said that Europe was open to other suggestions but that it must preserve the open border. He signaled that Europe needed to hear clear answers from May and that time was running out.\nThis\u00a0vexing issue of the Irish border was hardly mentioned before Britain\u2019s historic June 2016 vote to leave the European Union.\nBut the balance between Republicans and Unionists, and between north and south on the Irish island, remains fragile and unsettled 20 years after the sectarian violence\u00a0ended\u00a0with the Good Friday Agreement.\nMay is squeezed by the border issue in part because she failed to achieve a majority in the last British elections and so had to enter into a soft coalition with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland, made up of Protestants loyal to Britain and the monarch, who oppose any move that would sever ties with the United Kingdom.\nThe DUP leader in Parliament, Nigel Dodds, on Wednesday described the latest E.U. proposals as \u201cludicrous\u201d and said that if enacted, the treaty would be \u201ccatastrophic\u201d for Northern Ireland.\n\u201cWe did not leave the European Union to oversee the breakup of the United Kingdom,\u201d he told the\u00a0BBC.\nThe conservative Times of London wrote, \u201cThe European Union has demanded that Britain\u00a0effectively hand over sovereignty of Northern Ireland to Brussels if it cannot find a solution to the Irish border question.\u201d\nMeanwhile, the Republic of Ireland\u2019s foreign minister, Simon Coveney, praised the draft language.\nMay has suggested the Irish border issue can be finessed with a combination of clever compromise and 21st-century technology, but she has not said how.\nThe question of what to do about the border was dismissed this week as a nonissue by hard-line Brexiteers in May\u2019s cabinet, foremost by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who on Tuesday suggested the solution was no more complex than arranging cameras along the frontier to take pictures of license plate numbers passing by, to collect tolls and information.\nHe compared the Irish border to moving between two boroughs in London, between zones where traffic tolls are taken to\u00a0reduce congestion and pollution in the city\u2019s center. Johnson\u2019s comments, criticized as glib and ahistorical, angered both sides of the Irish border.\nReturning from a morning jog\nEarlier this week, Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party and the opposition in Parliament, said\u00a0he supported a softer Brexit that could include a customs union with Europe on trade and tariffs \u2014 an arrangement that could preserve an open Irish border but would block Britain from making its own bilateral deals abroad. May dismissed the idea.\nThe prime minister is scheduled to present the government\u2019s vision for Brexit in a major speech on Friday.\nwilliam.booth@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "PDTTDFPFMZCI3PSUXRHX4LXVUI_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "PDTTDFPFMZCI3PSUXRHX4LXVUI_1", "title": "After 3 years, Northern Ireland\u2019s legislators have finally gone back to work. What happened?", "text": "for example, almost 20,000 health service workers went on strike over low pay, inadequate staffing levels, dangerous conditions and a declining quality of care. Citizens have put intense pressure on politicians to do the jobs for which they continued to be paid despite the suspension. Furthermore, the politics of Brexit changed the political parties\u2019 calculations. From 2017 until the U.K. Parliament\u2019s December elections, the DUP enjoyed power as junior partner to the Conservative Party. However, the DUP was less influential than it had hoped; it was unable to prevent the British Parliament from extending same-sex marriage and abortion rights to people in Northern Ireland, despite its strong opposition. Perhaps more important, the DUP also failed to prevent Boris Johnson\u2019s government from approving a Brexit withdrawal deal that will leave Northern Ireland tied to the Republic of Ireland\u2019s economy and that of the European market \u2014 while creating trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The new U.K. government no longer depends on the DUP, as the Conservative Party won an outright majority. It declared that it would call new elections in Northern Ireland if the parties did not find common ground by Jan. 13. In the December U.K. elections, both Sinn Fein and the DUP lost votes to more centrist parties, so they had no appetite to face the voters again without making progress on issues that matter to them. The British House of Commons also passed Johnson\u2019s withdrawal deal Jan. 9 \u2014 suggesting that the U.K. is now very likely to exit the European Union on Jan. 31. Northern Ireland now needs locally accountable politicians to represent its interests throughout the transition, making the significant decisions about implementation that remain. Now the governing parties will have to deal with ordinary politics For the past three years, government ministries have been running on autopilot. But now the DUP, Sinn Fein and the three other, smaller parties in the executive will have to deal with the backlog of neglected issues. They face pressure to reform the health care, education and welfare systems; invest in infrastructure and public services; address policing issues leftover from the Troubles; and devise new funding schemes to pay for all of this, possibly by taxing water. These mundane politics of governing are all complicated by the fact that the parties have multiple, competing agendas and little experience of trust or cooperation. The"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "On Jan. 10, three years after Northern Ireland\u2019s main political parties suspended its power-sharing assembly and government, the parties agreed to return to governing. What prompted this dramatic shift?\nThe assembly and government were fundamental elements of the 1998 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland. However, they collapsed in 2017 amid arguments between the province\u2019s two largest parties: the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), whose members are predominantly Protestant and want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom; and Sinn Fein, whose members are predominantly Catholic and want Northern Ireland to unite with the Republic of Ireland. What kicked off the dispute was the Democratic Unionist first minister\u2019s involvement in a scandal related to mismanagement of public funds. But uncertainty about the 2016 Brexit referendum complicated matters, as each party sought potential advantage over the other.\nSo why have they agreed to resume the government after having refused to cooperate for three years? And what comes next for Northern Ireland?\nUnhappy voters and the changing politics of Brexit changed politicians\u2019 incentives\nWithout anyone to make the necessary decisions since 2017, bread and butter issue areas such as health and education have fallen into crisis. In December, for example, almost 20,000 health service workers went on strike over low pay, inadequate staffing levels, dangerous conditions and a declining quality of care. Citizens have put intense pressure on politicians to do the jobs for which they continued to be paid despite the suspension.\nFurthermore, the politics of Brexit changed the political parties\u2019 calculations. From 2017 until the U.K. Parliament\u2019s December elections, the DUP enjoyed power as junior partner to the Conservative Party. However, the DUP was less influential than it had hoped; it was unable to prevent the British Parliament from extending same-sex marriage and abortion rights to people in Northern Ireland, despite its strong opposition. Perhaps more important, the DUP also failed to prevent Boris Johnson\u2019s government from approving a Brexit withdrawal deal that will leave Northern Ireland tied to the Republic of Ireland\u2019s economy and that of the European market \u2014 while creating trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.\nThe new U.K. government no longer depends on the DUP, as the Conservative Party won an outright majority. It declared that it would call new elections in Northern Ireland if the parties did not find common ground by Jan. 13. In the December U.K. elections, both Sinn Fein and the DUP lost votes to more centrist parties, so they had no appetite to face the voters again without making progress on issues that matter to them.\nThe British House of Commons also passed Johnson\u2019s withdrawal deal Jan. 9 \u2014 suggesting that the U.K. is now very likely to exit the European Union on Jan. 31. Northern Ireland now needs locally accountable politicians to represent its interests throughout the transition, making the significant decisions about implementation that remain.\nNow the governing parties will have to deal with ordinary politics\nFor the past three years, government ministries have been running on autopilot. But now the DUP, Sinn Fein and the three other, smaller parties in the executive will have to deal with the backlog of neglected issues. They face pressure to reform the health care, education and welfare systems; invest in infrastructure and public services; address policing issues leftover from the Troubles; and devise new funding schemes to pay for all of this, possibly by taxing water. These mundane politics of governing are all complicated by the fact that the parties have multiple, competing agendas and little experience of trust or cooperation.\nThe parties will also have to deal with the politically vexed question of language politics \u2014 specifically, the status of Irish (a Gaelic language) and Ulster Scots (a Scots dialect that is related to English) as official languages. Although Lithuanian and Polish are, after English, the most common first languages spoken in primary schools, the Irish and Ulster Scots languages are important symbols of culture and identity for nationalist/Catholic and unionist/Protestant identities respectively. Indeed, the DUP\u2019s refusal to back the Irish Language Act, which would have recognized the Irish language as an official language in Northern Ireland, was almost as central as the public works scandal was to the 2017 collapse of government.\nAs part of the agreement to go back into government, both parties agreed to support legislation that would create an Office of Identity and Cultural Expression and appoint commissioners to enhance the development of both languages, although in slightly different contexts: the use of Irish by public authorities and the use of Ulster Scots in arts and literature. Given that the two sides have been wrestling over the language issue since 1998, if not before, working through the details and implementing the legislation will be challenging.\nFurther, the multi-party government will have to decide what Boris Johnson\u2019s Brexit deal will mean for trade within and from Northern Ireland. For now, Northern Ireland will remain in the E.U.\u2019s regulatory framework \u2014 while goods coming from Northern Ireland into the rest of Great Britain will have to go through customs checks. That sign of separation from the U.K. troubles the DUP. The Northern Ireland parties will have to agree whether to make that permanent or find some other solution to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, which would antagonize Sinn Fein and threaten to reignite the Troubles. They will also have to work with the British and Irish governments on the details of hundreds of separate and related matters.\nAll of this comes amid fundamental changes to Northern Ireland itself. Changing demographics are making Irish unification more plausible in the near term, as nationalists, who wish to have Northern Ireland leave the U.K. and unite with the Republic of Ireland, become more dominant. Nationalists make up a majority of legislators in Northern Ireland for the first time. If the government were to hold a referendum on unification, as the Good Friday Agreement provides for, polls suggest that unification would pass with a slight majority. There is no guarantee that such a referendum will take place, or would pass, but even the possibility could reignite tensions or even lead to violent conflict between the communities.\nDon\u2019t miss anything! Sign up to get TMC\u2019s smart analysis in your inbox, three days a week.\nKimberly Cowell-Meyers is assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs at American University.\nCarolyn Gallaher is senior associate dean in the School of International Service at American University."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "VU3MTIHZXNDZDFSAS37WZVXU4U_0", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "VU3MTIHZXNDZDFSAS37WZVXU4U_0", "title": "After Brexit, will Northern Ireland return to violence?", "text": "Brexit has revived fears that Northern Ireland will return to violence. After three decades of \u201cThe Troubles,\u201d deadly warfare in which almost 3,500 people died, violence mostly ended after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement was signed. That peace deal relied in part on European Union membership, which enabled free trade and free movement between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. That satisfied both British unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the U.K., and Irish republicans, who wanted to join the Republic of Ireland. Many feared that Brexit threatened that truce. When the U.K. decided to leave the European Union, observers feared that introducing a \u201chard\u201d border between Northern Ireland, still part of the U.K., and the Republic of Ireland, still part of the E.U., might undermine the peace and encourage militant Irish republicans to attack the border. The compromise that Boris Johnson negotiated involved what\u2019s called \u201cthe Irish backstop,\u201d a complex deal that keeps Northern Ireland within the U.K. customs union while it operates under E.U. rules. The goal was to enable goods and people to continue to pass freely between the two parts of Ireland. But even presuming that the next U.K. parliament enacts Johnson\u2019s Brexit deal, as expected, post-Brexit violence in Northern Ireland still looms. In October, a spokesperson for the so-called New IRA republican paramilitary group told Channel 4 that any border infrastructure would be a \u201clegitimate target for [an] attack.\u201d Shortly afterwards, the political party Saoradh, thought to have links to the New IRA, slammed the deal: \u201cThe British border remained as an obstacle to the Irish people having real democracy and national self-determination.\u201d Radical republicans aren\u2019t the only threat, however. Northern Ireland\u2019s unionists (who want to keep Northern Ireland in the U.K.) and loyalists (politically extreme unionists) have been angered by British concessions to the Republic of Ireland and Europe. Loyalists are hinting that they too might take up arms again. Here\u2019s what\u2019s happening. Northern Unionists don\u2019t like the deal that Boris struck Boris Johnson\u2019s Brexit proposal was designed to make it less likely that militant republicans would mobilize around the border. However, the compromise imposed trade barriers between the island of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, angering Northern Irish loyalists. Influential loyalist commentator Jamie Bryson, the editor of the \u201cUnionist Voice,\u201d summed loyalist sentiments up: \u201cRepublicans have been rewarded yet again for threatening peace with the constant stream of Brexit"}], "old": [{"_id": "VU3MTIHZXNDZDFSAS37WZVXU4U_0", "title": "After Brexit, will Northern Ireland return to violence?", "text": "Northern Unionists don\u2019t like the deal that Boris struck Some feel threatened by what is happening in Northern Ireland This explains why loyalists are so unhappy The anger articulated at recent loyalist meetings Loyalists might turn to violence Research by political scientists Jessie Blackbourn and Kacper Rekawek Don\u2019t miss anything! Sign up to get TMC\u2019s smart analysis in your inbox, three days a week. Dieter Reinisch is a historian at"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Brexit has revived fears that Northern Ireland will return to violence. After three decades of \u201cThe Troubles,\u201d deadly warfare in which almost 3,500 people died, violence mostly ended after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement was signed. That peace deal relied in part on European Union membership, which enabled free trade and free movement between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. That satisfied both British unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the U.K., and Irish republicans, who wanted to join the Republic of Ireland.\nMany feared that Brexit threatened that truce. When the U.K. decided to leave the European Union, observers feared that introducing a \u201chard\u201d border between Northern Ireland, still part of the U.K., and the Republic of Ireland, still part of the E.U., might undermine the peace and encourage militant Irish republicans to attack the border.\nThe compromise that Boris Johnson negotiated involved what\u2019s called \u201cthe Irish backstop,\u201d a complex deal that keeps Northern Ireland within the U.K. customs union while it operates under E.U. rules. The goal was to enable goods and people to continue to pass freely between the two parts of Ireland.\nBut even presuming that the next U.K. parliament enacts Johnson\u2019s Brexit deal, as expected, post-Brexit violence in Northern Ireland still looms. In October, a spokesperson for the so-called New IRA republican paramilitary group told Channel 4 that any border infrastructure would be a \u201clegitimate target for [an] attack.\u201d Shortly afterwards, the political party Saoradh, thought to have links to the New IRA, slammed the deal: \u201cThe British border remained as an obstacle to the Irish people having real democracy and national self-determination.\u201d\nRadical republicans aren\u2019t the only threat, however. Northern Ireland\u2019s unionists (who want to keep Northern Ireland in the U.K.) and loyalists (politically extreme unionists) have been angered by British concessions to the Republic of Ireland and Europe. Loyalists are hinting that they too might take up arms again. Here\u2019s what\u2019s happening.\nNorthern Unionists don\u2019t like the deal that Boris struck\nBoris Johnson\u2019s Brexit proposal was designed to make it less likely that militant republicans would mobilize around the border. However, the compromise imposed trade barriers between the island of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, angering Northern Irish loyalists. Influential loyalist commentator Jamie Bryson, the editor of the \u201cUnionist Voice,\u201d summed loyalist sentiments up: \u201cRepublicans have been rewarded yet again for threatening peace with the constant stream of Brexit concessions.\u201d\nIn an earlier comment, Bryson, who is believed to have significant insight into loyalist paramilitary organisation, said that loyalists were closely watching the outcome of Brexit. In the past month, loyalists have held several meetings throughout Northern Ireland, complaining of \u201cserious discontent around the proposed Betrayal Act designed to create an economic United Ireland.\u201d\nSome feel threatened by what is happening in Northern Ireland\nNorthern Ireland unionism and loyalism are both politically linked to Protestantism, which used to control Northern Irish politics. Since the peace process in the 1990s, a new Catholic middle class emerged in Northern Ireland. After the Good Friday agreement, Catholics became more prominent in politics, threatening Protestants and unionists\u2019 once-dominant position. This led, as political scientist James McAuley outlines, to a \u201cdistrust of unionist leadership, a strong belief that loyalists had throughout the conflict been used, both ideologically and logistically, by established unionist politicians.\u201d\nThe 2013 Peace Monitoring Report gives some examples of these changing social and economic realities. For instance, in that year, 13 out of the 15 areas with the worst academic and school results were unionist. Someone coming from a poor nationalist background had a roughly one in five chance of going to university, while the chances for a poor unionist were only one in ten. Protestants were badly hit by the economic recession and the disappearance of industries that they used to dominate. In 2013, Protestant youth unemployment stood at 24 percent, while Catholic unemployment was 17 percent.\nIn the same year, loyalist protests over the perceived removal of British identity emerged in the form of so-called \u201cflag protests,\u201d sparked by Belfast\u2019s city council decision to fly the Union Jack over city hall only on designated days. This led to weeks of sometimes violent street demonstrations.\nThis explains why loyalists are so unhappy\nThe combination of external challenge and internal threat explains the resurgence of loyalists\u2019 worries. Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a core element of unionist and loyalist identity. When the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force declared its war to be over in 2007, it stated that \u201cthe constitutional question has now been firmly settled\u201d and \u201cthe Union remains safe.\u201d\nNow, that is not so clear. Some think that Johnson\u2019s deal establishes a border through the Irish sea between the U.K. and Northern Ireland, calling the constitutional status of the union into question. Loyalists furthermore feel threatened by public discussions over Irish unity following Sinn F\u00e9in requests for a referendum on a United Ireland within five years, even though the Good Friday Agreement says that only Britain can hold one.\nThe anger articulated at recent loyalist meetings\nLoyalists might turn to violence\nDespite these increasing tensions and divisions, neither loyalists nor republicans seem likely to turn to violence in the near future. But longer term, loyalists rather than republicans may be the ones who start the fighting. That may have been what happened in the past. In his seminal treatise on Northern Ireland, scholar Brendan O\u2019Leary insists that the violence that launched the Troubles was started by loyalists who worried that they were losing status and advantage in Northern Ireland.\nResearch by political scientists Jessie Blackbourn and Kacper Rekawek\nDon\u2019t miss anything! Sign up to get TMC\u2019s smart analysis in your inbox, three days a week.\nDieter Reinisch is a historian at"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "XGLFQIV3UNGAVGRMGMEZRGZ4NY_4", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XGLFQIV3UNGAVGRMGMEZRGZ4NY_4", "title": "How Brexit could kill Northern Ireland\u2019s peace accords", "text": "of terrorist offenses, usually Catholics. Defendants lost their rights to a jury trial; their cases were heard by a single judge with lower standards of evidence. Having ECHR\u2019s human rights framework was critical to Catholic support of the agreement. Without it, nationalists may withdraw their support for the agreement. Brexit may also upend the economic integration between Ireland and Northern Ireland. For example, many popular brands of whiskey, butter, cheese and milk cross the border several times before the final product is ready for market. A hard border could make cross-border production more difficult and lead to higher prices. Unionists\u2019 and nationalists\u2019 differing attitudes toward Brexit are already straining relations. Although a majority of Northern Ireland voted to remain in the E.U., 85 percent of nationalists voted to stay \u2014 40 percent of unionists did. In fact, the DUP was the only party in Northern Ireland to campaign in favor of Brexit. Like Scotland, which also voted against Brexit, Northern Ireland will be dragged out of the E.U. against its will, further antagonizing nationalists, who dispute the legitimacy of Northern Ireland\u2019s inclusion in the U.K. Perhaps most important, Brexit has the potential to wreck Northern Ireland\u2019s power-sharing institutions. After Prime Minister Theresa May called snap elections last June, the Conservatives lost their majority in the British Parliament and, as a result, formed a \u201cconfidence and supply agreement\u201d with the DUP to stay in power. Although the DUP never signed the Good Friday Agreement and holds only a narrow majority in Northern Ireland, it now holds the balance of power in the British Parliament. That makes it impossible for the British government to be a neutral arbiter in disputes between the DUP and other parties in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in January, and the two parties have been unable to form a government since. Without a functional government, Northern Ireland can\u2019t articulate its interests in Brexit negotiations. It also cannot accomplish the basic tasks of governing and, thus, may soon find itself under direct rule from the British government \u2014 a potentially perilous situation, given that sharing power in the assembly was critical to winning nationalist support for the agreement. Brexit will profoundly change the agreement and could weaken the willingness of some parties to support it. The agreement may survive, but its parties will have to reimagine it for a post-Brexit world. Kimberly Cowell-Meyers Carolyn Gallaher"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Twenty years ago, the Good Friday Agreement put an end to Northern Ireland\u2019s Troubles, a 30-year conflict that pit nationalists/republicans (mostly Catholic) fighting for a united Ireland against unionists/loyalists (mostly Protestant) fighting to stay in the United Kingdom. The agreement included numerous signatories:\u00a0paramilitaries, all but one of the province\u2019s major political parties, and the governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.\nMany parts of the agreement rested on the fact that both the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland belonged to the European Union and, thus, shared a common political and economic framework. The U.K.\u2019s decision to leave the E.U. \u2014 called Brexit \u2014 could undermine important parts of the agreement.\nAgreeing to leave Northern Ireland bi-national and co-sovereign\nThe agreement\u2019s main contribution was the creation of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a parliamentary body that guarantees a voice for both of Northern Ireland\u2019s main communities.\nThe agreement also created intergovernmental councils in which government officials work closely with other regional governments in the U.K. and with the Republic of Ireland. These councils allow nationalists and unionists to ensure connections to Ireland and the U.K., respectively. And the agreement allowed residents of Northern Ireland to identify as British, Irish or both, and to claim citizenship in one or both countries.\nAlthough the agreement didn\u2019t set out to foster economic integration, the absence of war and common membership in the E.U. made it possible. Today, people, goods and services move freely across the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The only indication that you\u2019ve crossed the border is a change in the background color of signs \u2014 green in Ireland and blue in Northern Ireland.\nAccording to political scientist Brendan O\u2019Leary, the agreement \u201cmade Ireland bi-national,\u201d providing \u201cimaginative elements of co-sovereignty.\u201d\u00a0As such, even though the constitutional question at the heart of the conflict \u2014 should Northern Ireland be part of Ireland or the U. K.? \u2014 has not been definitively answered, the agreement meant the incompatible identities of unionist and nationalist could be, if not reconciled, at least balanced.\nBrexit could upend these delicate compromises\nBrexit calls all these relationships into question. The most pressing issue is the border. When Britain leaves the E.U., the E.U.\u2019s legal boundaries will change. How the border changes is ultimately up to British and E.U. negotiators, but the two largest parties inside Northern Ireland \u2014 Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) \u2014 don\u2019t agree on what the border should look like.\nThe DUP prefers a\u00a0\u201chard border.\u201d This would mean that the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland would look more like international borders outside the E.U., with border security, passport controls and customs.\nSinn Fein favors a soft border. To preserve the current freedom of movement between the two countries, Sinn Fein would like to see the formal border defined as existing in the Irish Sea. That way, travelers and goods from the E.U. would pass through customs and border control when entering London but not when moving from Dublin to Belfast.\nNationalists oppose a hard border because it would undermine (in practice) their right to claim Irish citizenship and travel across unimpeded. Unionists oppose a soft border because they believe it would not only separate them from the U.K. but also impose a de facto unification with Ireland.\nRights, goods, and institutions\nBrexit may also nullify Britain\u2019s membership in the European Convention on Human Rights. The ECHR is important because it guarantees a common set of rights for Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland\u2019s new legal structures. This is no mean feat. For much of Northern Ireland\u2019s history, Catholics were systematically discriminated against by Unionist leaders. For instance, Catholics complained that Protestants were given better access to publicly subsidized housing. During the Troubles, allegations of discrimination increased. In 1972, for example, the U.K. government created Diplock courts\u00a0for those accused of terrorist offenses, usually Catholics.\u00a0Defendants lost their rights to a jury trial; their cases were heard by a single judge with lower standards of evidence.\nHaving ECHR\u2019s human rights framework was critical to Catholic support of the agreement. Without it, nationalists may withdraw their support for the agreement.\nBrexit may also upend the economic integration between Ireland and Northern Ireland. For example, many\u00a0popular brands of whiskey, butter, cheese and milk\u00a0cross the border several times before the final product is ready for market. A hard border could make cross-border production more difficult and lead to higher prices.\nUnionists\u2019 and nationalists\u2019 differing attitudes toward Brexit are already straining relations. Although a majority of Northern Ireland voted to remain in the E.U., 85 percent of nationalists voted to stay \u2014 40 percent of unionists did. In fact, the DUP was the only party in Northern Ireland to campaign in favor of Brexit. Like Scotland, which also voted against Brexit, Northern Ireland will be dragged out of the E.U. against its will, further antagonizing nationalists, who dispute the legitimacy of Northern Ireland\u2019s inclusion in the U.K.\nPerhaps most important, Brexit has the potential to wreck Northern Ireland\u2019s power-sharing institutions. After Prime Minister Theresa May called snap elections last June, the Conservatives lost their majority in the British Parliament and, as a result, formed a \u201cconfidence and supply agreement\u201d with the DUP to stay in power. Although the DUP never signed the Good Friday Agreement and holds only a narrow majority in Northern Ireland, it now holds the balance of power in the British Parliament. That makes it impossible for the British government to be a neutral arbiter in disputes between the DUP and other parties in Northern Ireland.\nThe Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in January, and the two parties have been unable to form a government since. Without a functional government, Northern Ireland can\u2019t articulate its interests in Brexit negotiations. It also cannot accomplish the basic tasks of governing and, thus, may soon find itself under direct rule from the British government \u2014 a potentially perilous situation, given that sharing power in the assembly was critical to winning nationalist support for the agreement.\nBrexit will profoundly change the agreement and could weaken the willingness of some parties to support it. The agreement may survive, but its parties will have to reimagine it for a post-Brexit world.\nKimberly Cowell-Meyers\nCarolyn Gallaher"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "YIE276VS5MI6TLGIDWCHXLGKOM_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "YIE276VS5MI6TLGIDWCHXLGKOM_1", "title": "Northern Ireland\u2019s politicians don\u2019t agree on much. Except that Boris Johnson\u2019s no-deal Brexit would be a disaster.", "text": "threat to take Britain out of the E.U. without a deal, without a trade pact or a transition period, was folly, or worse. \u201cWe are in a crisis, and Brexit is adding to the chaos,\u201d said Naomi Long, the leader of the Alliance Party. Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein president, said Johnson\u2019s plan for a no-deal Brexit has increased the likelihood that the United Kingdom will splinter \u2014 by boosting the case for Irish reunification. Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday morning, McDonald said: \u201cTraditionally, the argument and the discourse has been between green and orange, between Irishness and Britishness. But Brexit changed that and added a new dimension, a critical dimension, which is: European or not? Inside the European Union or not?\u201d Northern Ireland is slated to leave the E.U. along with the rest of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland to the south will remain a member of the E.U. One of the most vexing challenges of Brexit is what to do about the border between the two. Under what terms will milk, machine parts, beer, financial services, bacon and people move across? Johnson has said he will not meet with European leaders until they agree to strike the Irish border \u201cbackstop,\u201d or guarantee, from the withdrawal agreement they negotiated with his predecessor, Theresa May. The backstop seeks to ensure an open border by essentially tying Britain to E.U. rules and regulations in the case the two sides cannot agree to a trade deal that makes such a guarantee unnecessary. After her meeting with Johnson, Sinn Fein\u2019s McDonald said that if there was a hard Brexit, she would push for a vote for Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom. Nichola Mallon, a leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said she had a \u201cvery blunt meeting\u201d with Johnson and observed that he did not have a full grasp of the \u201ccomplexities\u201d of Northern Ireland. She said she told Johnson that he \u201cmust avoid a hard Brexit at all costs.\u201d Mallon said she reminded the prime minister that he had responsibilities under the Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of sectarian violence, and that he \u201cmust live up to them.\u201d Mallon said, \u201cWe pressed him time and time again and just got stock responses.\u201d On the other hand, Arlene Foster, the leader of Northern Ireland\u2019s Democratic Unionist Party, said she and Johnson had a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "BELFAST \u2014\nPrime Minister Boris Johnson completed his awkward, somewhat hostile tour of the four nations in the United Kingdom on Wednesday with a visit to Northern Ireland.\nHe wasn\u2019t booed, as he was by Welsh farmers and Scottish nationalists \u2014 because he was far away from demonstrators.\nBut his greeting was far from sunny. Johnson faces a real challenge keeping a restive four-nation kingdom allied as it hurtles toward a cliff-edge departure from Europe. He may rise or fall over how he handles questions about borders, the union and sovereignty.\nAs Johnson begins his premiership, vowing to leave the European Union, \u201cdo or die,\u201d by the end of October, he is being greeted with blunt talk about what leaving without a withdrawal deal would entail.\nHe is also learning that his gung-ho Brexit-at-any-cost \u2014 which appealed to the elderly, white, male, well-to-do Conservative Party members who picked him as their leader \u2014 doesn\u2019t translate as well outside England\u2019s borders.\nJohnson met Wednesday with the five fractious parties of Northern Ireland \u2014 a place so split that its gridlocked assembly has not convened since January 2017.\nThe party leaders were largely united on one thing: They warned Johnson that his threat to take Britain out of the E.U. without a deal, without a trade pact or a transition period, was folly, or worse.\n\u201cWe are in a crisis, and Brexit is adding to the chaos,\u201d said Naomi Long, the leader of the Alliance Party.\nMary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein president, said Johnson\u2019s plan for a no-deal Brexit has increased the likelihood that the United Kingdom will splinter \u2014 by boosting the case for Irish reunification.\nSpeaking to the BBC on Wednesday morning, McDonald said: \u201cTraditionally, the argument and the discourse has been between green and orange, between Irishness and Britishness. But Brexit changed that and added a new dimension, a critical dimension, which is: European or not? Inside the European Union or not?\u201d\nNorthern Ireland is slated to leave the E.U. along with the rest of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland to the south will remain a member of the E.U. One of the most vexing challenges of Brexit is what to do about the border between the two. Under what terms will milk, machine parts, beer, financial services, bacon and people move across?\nJohnson has said he will not meet with European leaders until they agree to strike the Irish border \u201cbackstop,\u201d or guarantee, from the withdrawal agreement they negotiated with his predecessor, Theresa May.\nThe backstop seeks to ensure an open border by essentially tying Britain to E.U. rules and regulations in the case the two sides cannot agree to a trade deal that makes such a guarantee unnecessary.\nAfter her meeting with Johnson, Sinn Fein\u2019s McDonald said that if there was a hard Brexit, she would push for a vote for Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom.\nNichola Mallon, a leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said she had a \u201cvery blunt meeting\u201d with Johnson and observed that he did not have a full grasp of the \u201ccomplexities\u201d of Northern Ireland.\nShe said she told Johnson that he \u201cmust avoid a hard Brexit at all costs.\u201d\nMallon said she reminded the prime minister that he had responsibilities under the Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of sectarian violence, and that he \u201cmust live up to them.\u201d\nMallon said, \u201cWe pressed him time and time again and just got stock responses.\u201d\nOn the other hand, Arlene Foster, the leader of Northern Ireland\u2019s Democratic Unionist Party, said she and Johnson had a good talk.\nFoster\u2019s DUP has propped up the minority Conservative government in Westminster with a coalition partnership for the past three years. In exchange, the government under May and now Johnson is showering $1.5 billion on Northern Ireland.\nFoster said Johnson promised to be \u201cneutral on the administration of Northern Ireland but will never be neutral on the union.\u201d She said an Irish referendum on unification would not receive Johnson\u2019s endorsement.\nJohnson did not make any public appearances during his four-hour visit to Belfast.\nIn a short statement to reporters on his arrival at Stormont House, the site of Britain\u2019s Northern Ireland Office, he vowed to help the parties of Northern Ireland restart their stalled parliament.\nThe stalemate sits squarely on the shoulders of Irish politicians, but Johnson\u2019s predecessor did little to alleviate it.\n\u201cIt\u2019s great to be here in Northern Ireland, and clearly the people of Northern Ireland have been without a government, without [the Northern Ireland Assembly], for two years and six months, so my prime focus this morning is to do everything I can to help that get up and running again,\u201d Johnson told reporters, adding that he expected Brexit also to come up in talks.\nDowning Street confirmed that he had planned no individual media interviews and would take no reporter questions during his visit, though a Sky correspondent cut in with a question about his dinner with the DUP.\nAs Johnson traveled north, Ireland\u2019s central bank released new estimates, forecasting that a \u201cdisorderly Brexit\u201d would cost the republic 34,000 jobs and reduce annual economic growth from 4.1\u00a0percent to 0.7\u00a0percent in 2020.\nDamien McGenity, a leader of Northern Ireland\u2019s Border Communities Against Brexit, stood outside the stalled parliament in Belfast to warn that a no-deal Brexit would be a job killer.\n\u201cThis no-deal nonsense that the new prime minister is coming out with is just crazy,\u201d he said.\n\u201cI cross the border seven or eight times a day. My wife works in the south. Her family lives on the other side of the border. It\u2019s just us going about our daily life. And no matter what anyone says, there will have to be checks on the border if there is no deal. This is E.U. rules.\u201d\nHe said, \u201cIt's going to have a massive effect on our lives.\u201d\nwilliam.booth@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "YWGIN2MVBNGSXCDQU6TF7QDEGM_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "YWGIN2MVBNGSXCDQU6TF7QDEGM_1", "title": "The real Brexit breakdown", "text": "been that May would present an outline of a deal on Wednesday, but that, too, has fallen through. European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that there are \u201cno grounds for optimism\u201d that progress will be made at the summit. The biggest issue, the fate of the Irish border, \u201clooks like a new version of the Gordian knot,\u201d Tusk said, according to the Guardian. \u201cUnfortunately, I cannot see a new version of Alexander the Great.\u201d When Britain leaves Europe, its only land border with an E.U. member state will be the currently open one between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Given the still-recent history of violence there \u2014 not to mention the considerable cross-border trade \u2014 there is little desire to reinstate a hard border with physical checks and customs controls. But no one has yet figured out how to avoid doing so. May has played with the idea of keeping Britain in the E.U. customs regime on a temporary basis, allowing both sides more time to reach a permanent agreement on the border issue. E.U. leaders, meanwhile, have suggested that only Northern Ireland stay in the customs union for the time being, while the rest of Britain leaves. But May\u2019s government depends on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, a Northern Irish party that balks at the idea of trade barriers that would separate the region from the rest of Britain. Members have suggested they could withdraw their support if such barriers were erected, hobbling May\u2019s already weak rule. The Irish government, meanwhile, has reiterated that a decision on the issue cannot be delayed or deferred. The Irish border is far from the only unresolved issue in Brexit negotiations. But it\u2019s a revealing one, demonstrating how hard it is to find compromises on major issues involving parties with dramatically different interests The Post\u2019s William Booth and Karla Adams have explained how bad a \u201cno deal\u201d Brexit could be: grounded airplanes, massive traffic jams at ports, empty grocery shelves and even shortages of medicine. This may be a worst-case scenario, but there\u2019s no reason to not take it seriously. Indeed, some Brits have already started stocking up on key supplies, much like the \u201cdoomsday preppers\u201d we see in the United States. One study recently released by Britain\u2019s Institute for Government suggested there were five scenarios for how things could"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Want smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know?\nIt\u2019s been more than two years since British voters demanded that the country leave the European Union\nAhead of a major summit in Brussels on Wednesday between British Prime Minister Theresa May and the leaders of the other 27 E.U. nations, talks between British and European negotiators appear to have broken down yet again. With about six months until Britain leaves the bloc, the negotiations are theoretically in the home stretch. But how they will end is as unclear as ever.\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t an ordinary endgame,\u201d wrote Bloomberg\u2019s Therese Raphael this week. \u201cAll the major pieces are still on the board and pretty much the full range of potential outcomes \u2014 from no deal to no Brexit, and everything in between \u2014 remain live possibilities.\u201d\nMay still needs to come up with a plan that satisfies the rest of Europe and her party at home, which is increasingly torn between those who support May and those who think she is driving too soft a bargain \u2014 and are potentially angling to replace her.\nThe expectation had been that May would present an outline of a deal on Wednesday, but that, too, has fallen through. European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that there are \u201cno grounds for optimism\u201d that progress will be made at the summit.\nThe biggest issue, the fate of the Irish border, \u201clooks like a new version of the Gordian knot,\u201d Tusk said, according to the Guardian. \u201cUnfortunately, I cannot see a new version of Alexander the Great.\u201d\nWhen Britain leaves Europe, its only land border with an E.U. member state will be the currently open one between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Given the still-recent history of violence there \u2014 not to mention the considerable cross-border trade \u2014 there is little desire to reinstate a hard border with physical checks and customs controls. But no one has yet figured out how to avoid doing so.\nMay has played with the idea of keeping Britain in the E.U. customs regime on a temporary basis, allowing both sides more time to reach a permanent agreement on the border issue. E.U. leaders, meanwhile, have suggested that only Northern Ireland stay in the customs union for the time being, while the rest of Britain leaves.\nBut May\u2019s government depends on the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, a Northern Irish party that balks at the idea of trade barriers that would separate the region from the rest of Britain. Members have suggested they could withdraw their support if such barriers were erected, hobbling May\u2019s already weak rule. The Irish government, meanwhile, has reiterated that a decision on the issue cannot be delayed or deferred.\nThe Irish border is far from the only unresolved issue in Brexit negotiations. But it\u2019s a revealing one, demonstrating how hard it is to find compromises on major issues involving parties with dramatically different interests\nThe Post\u2019s William Booth and Karla Adams have explained how bad a \u201cno deal\u201d Brexit could be: grounded airplanes, massive traffic jams at ports, empty grocery shelves and even shortages of medicine. This may be a worst-case scenario, but there\u2019s no reason to not take it seriously. Indeed, some Brits have already started stocking up on key supplies, much like the \u201cdoomsday preppers\u201d we see in the United States.\nOne study recently released by Britain\u2019s Institute for Government suggested there were five scenarios for how things could unfold over the next few months. Only one would result in an \u201corderly exit\u201d for Britain from the E.U. \u2014 all the rest were \u201cno deals.\u201d\nWho is to blame for that? To be honest, there is enough to go around. But it seems likely that May, who barely survived a disastrous election in June, will get most of it. If she falls, former allies like Boris Johnson, who is far more of a Brexit hard-liner, are sure to pounce.\nThe truth is that no other leader may have done better in the same circumstances. In a lengthy profile of May for the New Yorker, Sam Knight suggested that the British prime minister faces an impossible situation, with populist demands on one side, practical realities on the other and no way to truly reconcile both. \u201cMay\u2019s best hope has been to contain the damage on all sides,\u201d Knight wrote.\nIn the meantime, there is a country to run \u2014 at least in theory. The British government remains almost exclusively focused on leaving the E.U. \u201cThe country \u2014 as an administrative entity \u2014 has virtually stopped working,\u201d Businessweek put it recently. \u201cBrexit, Brexit, Brexit,\u201d Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament\u2019s Brexit coordinator told the New Yorker. \u201cCan you imagine a country that, for years, the clock stops?\u201d\nIt\u2019s not clear when the clock will start again. Even if Brexit can be pulled off, more complications lie ahead. May has spoken with President Trump of their hope for a \u201cbig and ambitious\u201d U.S.-U.K. trade deal, but a senior British official told Bloomberg that the idea is a pipe dream; Trump, leading a far bigger economy, will accept only a tough deal on his own terms.\nJohn Major, perhaps the only living former British prime minister who enjoys some semblance of a good reputation, summed up the problem with a speech in London this week. After Brexit, Britain will be a \u201cmiddle-sized, middle-ranking nation that is no longer supercharged by its alliances,\u201d he told the audience. \u201cSuddenly, the world will be a little chillier.\u201d\nWant smart analysis of the most important news in your inbox every weekday along with other global reads, interesting ideas and opinions to know?"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "Z2JUYD3APJF77FGB32Y3OP37KI_1", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "Z2JUYD3APJF77FGB32Y3OP37KI_1", "title": "What might Britain\u2019s E.U. withdrawal mean for the Irish border? A photo essay.", "text": "270 public roads crisscross it, and on some, you can\u2019t always tell exactly where. The subtleties can be as simple as a contrast in the pavement, as seen in the first photo on the road from Londonderry to the village of Muff in the Republic of Ireland. In Belleek, there is a gas station situated in such a way that when you walk through the front door, you\u2019re in the Republic of Ireland, but when you exit out the back, you\u2019re in Northern Ireland. All this makes it difficult to imagine restoring checkpoints and customs controls, which the United Kingdom\u2019s exit from the European Union could require. What to do about that winding line between the two Irelands has become a sticking point in Brexit negotiations. There could be other consequences, too. This past year, attacks on police, the killing of a young journalist and a bombing in a border village were attributed to Brexit stoking relatively dormant sectarian tensions. It is unclear if political leaders will figure out a solution by the time the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. What is clear, though, is that they run the risk of endangering a hard-won peace that the creation of the European Union helped secure. A dog and horse on the Northern Ireland side of the River Fane. The trees in the background on the other side of the river are in the Republic of Ireland. Standing in Northern Ireland just outside the Republic of Ireland, on a road heading into the town of Clones. If you drive on this road for seven miles, you will reach Clones in just over 10 minutes \u2014 and cross the border four times. A former official flag of Northern Ireland \u2014 known as the Ulster banner \u2014 flies in the Protestant enclave of the Fountain, which is surrounded by mostly Catholic communities in the border city of Londonderry (also called Derry) in Northern Ireland. A sign in Londonderry opposing internment by remand, a practice used during the Troubles, in which the British held Irish republicans for years without charging them. A small shop in Clones, which is in the border region and has been designated for economic development by the Irish government. The majority of roads into Clones lead to Northern Ireland. Beer kegs behind a pub in Clones, a small town in western County Monaghan, in the Republic of Ireland. The rear"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "In September, I took a road trip with photojournalist Louie Palu along the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, which is not. It meanders some 310 miles through idyllic countryside and picturesque towns. As we drove southeast from one end, in the city of Londonderry (also called Derry), to the other, in Newry, it was hard to comprehend the sectarian conflict that this partition once incited.\nBorder checkpoints first appeared shortly after the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, cutting through towns and choking some local economies. This \u201chard\u201d border remained through the three decades of conflict between Protestant unionists and Catholic nationalists that began in the late \u201960s known as the Troubles. British military checkpoints were also established along it in an attempt to contain the violence. More than 3,600 people died during the Troubles, and thousands more were injured.\nAn old customs post in Northern Ireland faces a farm in County Armagh heading toward the Republic of Ireland.\nThe Good Friday Agreement in 1998 ended the conflict and led to the removal of this infrastructure, creating the \u201csoft\u201d border that is traveled so freely today. Approximately 270 public roads crisscross it, and on some, you can\u2019t always tell exactly where.\nThe subtleties can be as simple as a contrast in the pavement, as seen in the first photo on the road from Londonderry to the village of Muff in the Republic of Ireland. In Belleek, there is a gas station situated in such a way that when you walk through the front door, you\u2019re in the Republic of Ireland, but when you exit out the back, you\u2019re in Northern Ireland.\nAll this makes it difficult to imagine restoring checkpoints and customs controls, which the United Kingdom\u2019s exit from the European Union could require. What to do about that winding line between the two Irelands has become a sticking point in Brexit negotiations.\nThere could be other consequences, too. This past year, attacks on police, the killing of a young journalist and a bombing in a border village were attributed to Brexit stoking relatively dormant sectarian tensions. It is unclear if political leaders will figure out a solution by the time the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. What is clear, though, is that they run the risk of endangering a hard-won peace that the creation of the European Union helped secure.\nA dog and horse on the Northern Ireland side of the River Fane. The trees in the background on the other side of the river are in the Republic of Ireland.\nStanding in Northern Ireland just outside the Republic of Ireland, on a road heading into the town of Clones. If you drive on this road for seven miles, you will reach Clones in just over 10 minutes \u2014 and cross the border four times.\nA former official flag of Northern Ireland \u2014 known as the Ulster banner \u2014 flies in the Protestant enclave of the Fountain, which is surrounded by mostly Catholic communities in the border city of Londonderry (also called Derry) in Northern Ireland.\nA sign in Londonderry opposing internment by remand, a practice used during the Troubles, in which the British held Irish republicans for years without charging them.\nA small shop in Clones, which is in the border region and has been designated for economic development by the Irish government. The majority of roads into Clones lead to Northern Ireland.\nBeer kegs behind a pub in Clones, a small town in western County Monaghan, in the Republic of Ireland.\nThe rear door of a gas station in Belleek, Northern Ireland, that is split by the border. You enter the front door in the Republic of Ireland and exit the rear door in Northern Ireland.\nCoal, gas canisters and produce are sold out of a trailer along the side of a road west of Londonderry, adjacent to the border with the Republic of Ireland.\nA railway bridge on the River Belcoo that was blown up by the British Army in the 1970s, as seen from the Republic of Ireland.\nA long ditch just over 300 yards crosses a field with farm animals, cutting through a snaking section of the border five times. This ditch extends from a rural road and a highway that runs between Dublin and Belfast.\nLow tide on the Northern Ireland side of the River Newry, which functions as a border with the Republic of Ireland. It is adjacent to Narrow Water Castle, where the Irish Republican Army launched one of the most catastrophic attacks, known as the Warrenpoint ambush, on the British Army in the late 1970s during the Troubles.\nA border fence disappears into Lough Vearty, a lake in an agricultural area southeast of Donegal."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "a85e7a5c-c172-11e2-ab60-67bba7be7813_2", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "a85e7a5c-c172-11e2-ab60-67bba7be7813_2", "title": "British \u2018opt-out\u2019 from EU could complicate law enforcement in Irish \u2018bandit country\u2019", "text": "follows through with proposals made public last October to exercise a mass \u201copt out\u201d and subsequently seek to negotiate with EU partners to opt back into some of these measures. Britain negotiated the right to withdraw from EU justice and police co-operation measures under the Lisbon treaty, which gives the European Court of Justice the right to make rulings on these matters from December 2014. A final decision by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition on the issue is expected shortly, in order to provide time for London to negotiate with its EU partners. David Forde, Northern Ireland\u2019s justice minister, wrote this month to the House of Lords warning that Northern Ireland was \u201cparticularly vulnerable\u201d to the proposed opt out, given that it was the only part of Britain that shared a land border with another country. His letter, seen by the FT, noted particular concern regarding any British opt out from the European arrest warrant. Between 2004 and the start of 2013, some 192 suspected criminals or terrorists were surrendered to the British authorities by Ireland under the European arrest warrant, according to Irish figures. Last year, Britain issued 51 warrants to the Irish authorities, of which 14 related to murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter charges. The latest arrest in a terror investigation was made on Friday. \u201cPolice on both sides of the Irish Sea \u2013 as well as either side of the border \u2013 fear a return to the days when Ireland\u2019s supreme court would refuse extradition of terrorist suspects,\u201d says Hugo Brady, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think tank. Before the introduction of the European Arrest Warrant, Ireland and Britain relied on the 1957 Council of Europe Convention on Extradition to surrender suspects to its neighbor. But legal experts say this measure is no longer covered by Irish legislation and, in any case, is inadequate for dealing with terrorism. Lucinda Creighton, Ireland\u2019s Europe minister, said the border situation and the peace process could be complicated by British opt-outs or full withdrawal from the bloc. \u201cMost worrying is the impact this could have on the delicate peace on the island. We have been able to build the peace process in the context of the EU, which has helped us establish the Good Friday institutions,\u201d she told the FT. \u201cIf we suddenly have a new frontier with UK \u2013 and it becomes a new frontier"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "COUNTY LOUTH, Ireland \u2014 The narrow, winding road along the border between counties Armagh and Louth looks like any other in rural Ireland. But there are video cameras on the trees leading to the farm of Thomas \u201cSlab\u201d Murphy, raided by hundreds of police in helicopters two months ago during a crackdown on suspected cross-border fuel laundering.\nThe area is dotted with monuments to the \u201cdisappeared\u201d \u2013 killed nearby by the IRA during the \u201cTroubles\u201d in Northern Ireland \u2013 another visible sign of how this area requires some of the closest cross-border police co-operation in the EU.\n\u201cThere have been numerous police raids on [Mr Murphy\u2019s] farm,\u201d says a security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. \u201cThe most recent was about two months ago when 300 police and army from both sides of the border swooped at dawn.\u201d\nTackling criminality in this border area, nicknamed \u201cbandit country\u201d during the Troubles, is at the heart of Irish concerns over British moves to renegotiate its relationship with the EU.\nThere are fears in Dublin and Belfast that London\u2019s proposal to \u201copt out\u201d of 130 EU measures dealing with police and judicial co-operation and hold a referendum on EU membership could put lives at risk.\n\u201cThere are a large number of areas of police and judicial co-operation which could be negatively impacted by such a move,\u201d Alan Shatter, Ireland\u2019s justice minister told the Irish parliament last week.\nIn his speech, he mentioned the European arrest warrant as critical to fighting terrorism, warning there would be no legal basis for extradition between Britain and Ireland without it. Mutual legal assistance would also be adversely affected, he said.\n\u201cIt is clear that only the terrorists and criminals will profit from the legal gap,\u201d he said.\nPolice suspect that Murphy\u2019s farm, which straddles the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, is involved a fuel smuggling operation costing Dublin and London millions of euro in lost tax. No charges have been made following the raid.\nMurphy, 63, has previously faced allegations of being a former IRA leader. He has strenuously denied the allegations.\nThe threat from dissident Republican terrorists, who operate on both sides of the border, also requires police and customs to use a range of EU justice measures as the legal basis for swapping intelligence information and surrendering suspects.\nSecurity analysts say this co-operation could be jeopardized if British home secretary Theresa May follows through with proposals made public last October to exercise a mass \u201copt out\u201d and subsequently seek to negotiate with EU partners to opt back into some of these measures.\nBritain negotiated the right to withdraw from EU justice and police co-operation measures under the Lisbon treaty, which gives the European Court of Justice the right to make rulings on these matters from December 2014. A final decision by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition on the issue is expected shortly, in order to provide time for London to negotiate with its EU partners.\nDavid Forde, Northern Ireland\u2019s justice minister, wrote this month to the House of Lords warning that Northern Ireland was \u201cparticularly vulnerable\u201d to the proposed opt out, given that it was the only part of Britain that shared a land border with another country. His letter, seen by the FT, noted particular concern regarding any British opt out from the European arrest warrant.\nBetween 2004 and the start of 2013, some 192 suspected criminals or terrorists were surrendered to the British authorities by Ireland under the European arrest warrant, according to Irish figures. Last year, Britain issued 51 warrants to the Irish authorities, of which 14 related to murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter charges. The latest arrest in a terror investigation was made on Friday.\n\u201cPolice on both sides of the Irish Sea \u2013 as well as either side of the border \u2013 fear a return to the days when Ireland\u2019s supreme court would refuse extradition of terrorist suspects,\u201d says Hugo Brady, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think tank.\nBefore the introduction of the European Arrest Warrant, Ireland and Britain relied on the 1957 Council of Europe Convention on Extradition to surrender suspects to its neighbor. But legal experts say this measure is no longer covered by Irish legislation and, in any case, is inadequate for dealing with terrorism.\nLucinda Creighton, Ireland\u2019s Europe minister, said the border situation and the peace process could be complicated by British opt-outs or full withdrawal from the bloc.\n\u201cMost worrying is the impact this could have on the delicate peace on the island. We have been able to build the peace process in the context of the EU, which has helped us establish the Good Friday institutions,\u201d she told the FT.\n\u201cIf we suddenly have a new frontier with UK \u2013 and it becomes a new frontier with the EU \u2013 this could create issues in terms of border controls.\u201d\n\u2014 Financial Times"}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "c8c7cd88abd0700920881ff8809a8edd_4", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "c8c7cd88abd0700920881ff8809a8edd_4", "title": "How Brexit could unravel one of Bill Clinton\u2019s most historic achievements", "text": "rival, and only months from being its enemy. Although the outbreak of World War I averted an all-out civil war, it did not prevent sectarian violence from descending on Ulster during the Irish struggle for independence from Britain or the partition of the island into North and South. Northern Ireland emerged from the insanity of political violence that terrorized the country between 1969 and 1998. In 1998, Unionists and Nationalists acknowledged the other\u2019s right to hold political views anathema to their own, thanks to honest brokers such as Britain and the United States. Subsequently, Britain operated as an outside referee, decidedly neutral, to ensure that both sides abided by their agreements and protected the rights of all citizens. That neutrality, however, is now in serious jeopardy. A power-sharing government in Northern Ireland broke down last year. The fight was ostensibly over a funding scheme controversy, but the identity politics of Brexit, brimming with conflict over immigration, trade and national meaning, loomed large. And that brings us back to May and the DUP. Brexit divides Northern Ireland. The DUP championed \u201cleave\u201d while Sinn Fein, along with 56 percent of Northern Irish voters, voted \u201cremain.\u201d The day after the referendum, Sinn Fein opportunistically began raising the specter of Irish reunification. Both sides blew past a June 29 deadline to reach an agreement, and neither side appears willing to compromise its demands. Absent that, Northern Ireland would confront the prospect of direct rule from Westminster by a DUP-backed Tory government. It\u2019s no wonder many are skeptical of the British government\u2019s ability to remain an honest broker. What does the future hold for Northern Ireland, the border between North and South, or May\u2019s Conservative government? No one knows. Considering President Trump\u2019s vocal support for Brexit, his decidedly isolationist approach to foreign policy and his deep unpopularity abroad, it seems highly unlikely the United States has the power or will to ensure Northern Ireland\u2019s continued stability. But, one thing is certain: May\u2019s reference to the \u201cConservative and Unionist Party\u201d is an echo of the disastrous Conservative policy that enabled political violence in Ulster, and a constitutional crisis nearly a century ago. Sadly, the legacy of that constitutional crisis and the narrow, nationalistic politics that drove it continue to haunt the political realities of the present. Northern Ireland provides a cautionary note against embracing nationalism at the expense of globalism \u2014 it threatens to upend peace."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "British Prime Minister Theresa May and Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster. May\u2019s partnership with the\u00a0DUP could upset the\u00a0peace in Northern Ireland that Bill Clinton helped broker.\u00a0(Daniel Leal-Olivas/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)\nExperts have warned about the dangers of the isolationist impulses coursing through global politics. But the consequences are only beginning to emerge. Thanks to President Trump\u2019s disinterest in the world beyond the United States, and a shortsighted power play by British Prime Minister Theresa May, we may soon see a vivid illustration of isolationism\u2019s consequences in Northern Ireland \u2014 one that unravels one of Bill Clinton\u2019s most historic achievements.\nIn February 1994, President Bill Clinton ignored the adamant wishes of America\u2019s closest ally, the United Kingdom, and issued Gerry Adams, leader of the Irish Republican Army\u2019s political party Sinn Fein, a U.S. visa. Clinton gave Adams legitimacy, and increased his ability to bring the \u201chard gunmen\u201d of the IRA to the peace table.\nAbout 21 months later, in November 1995, Clinton visited Northern Ireland. He toured the country and met with Protestants and Roman Catholics, who were struggling to emerge from decades of violence. It was the first such visit by a sitting U.S. president, indicative of the political capital Clinton was willing to spend on the country\u2019s fledgling peace process.\nNoting his own \u201cUlster Scot\u201d heritage, Clinton mused that throughout U.S. history, Irish Catholics and Protestants \u201chave built our nation.\u201d In return, Clinton pledged that as long as both communities worked to build a lasting peace, \u201cthe United States of America will proudly stand with you.\u201d\nClinton followed this promise by dispatching Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine) to negotiate the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998\u00a0\u2014 a document that still guides the political institutions in Northern Ireland and has led to a lasting, if tenuous, peace.\nClinton\u2019s historic accomplishment demonstrates the benefits of global engagement. But today it is in serious jeopardy, because the domestic politics driving Trump and May dictate a reckless course with serious ramifications in Northern Ireland.\nAfter her party\u2019s disastrous showing in June\u2019s snap election, May promised a government of \u201ccertainty.\u201d She insisted \u201cthat only the Conservative and Unionist Party has the legitimacy and ability to provide that certainty by commanding a majority in the House of Commons.\u201d\nThe what party?\nMay\u2019s baffling reference to the \u201cConservative and Unionist Party\u201d was, in part, a savvy attempt to normalize the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the small Northern Irish party allowing her to keep her job. But it also demonstrates her willingness to abandon Britain\u2019s role as one of the honest brokers in Northern Ireland\u2019s peace process to keep her job.\nThe party\u2019s official title, the Conservative and Unionist Party, harks back to the \u201cHome Rule Crisis\u201d before World War I. Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom, but the results of the 1910 election had left the Liberal Party with a hung Parliament and in need of a coalition partner\u00a0\u2014\u00a0just like Britain today.\nIn that case, Liberals latched onto the Irish Parliamentary Party. To coax their 77 members of Parliament to the bargaining table, Prime Minister Herbert Asquith promised Irish Home Rule\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a watered-down version of independent governance.\nUlster Protestants, the unionists in northern Ireland who wished to remain part of the United Kingdom and opposed home rule, panicked. They anointed Edward Carson, a dour Dublin-born lawyer who had risen to prominence as a quick-witted, emotional speaker, as their party leader. Carson campaigned against home rule, culminating with Ulster Day, an elaborate ceremony in which 500,000 Ulster men and women signed the \u201cSolemn League and Covenant\u201d pledging to resist home rule \u201cusing all means which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy.\u201d\nUlster Protestants\u2019 paranoia offered English Conservatives an electoral opportunity. If the Liberals had the Irish Parliamentary Party as a partner, shouldn\u2019t the Conservatives have their own Irish plaything?\nAndrew Bonar Law, the Conservative Party leader, thought so. In June 1912, he discovered that rhetoric \u2014 such as there is \u201cno length of resistance to which Ulster will go in which I shall not be ready to support them\u201d \u2014 could exhilarate crowds. This pledge helped transform the Conservative Party into the Conservative & Unionist Party of Great Britain.\nCarson and Bonar Law campaigned together, promising to resist home rule by any means necessary. Ulster Unionists implemented this pledge, ignoring the constitution with impunity, culminating with the 1914 smuggling of 25,000 rifles into Ulster from Germany\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a deliberately provocative act considering Germany was Britain\u2019s largest rival, and only months from being its enemy.\nAlthough the outbreak of World War I averted an all-out civil war, it did not prevent sectarian violence from descending on Ulster during the Irish struggle for independence from Britain or the partition of the island into North and South.\nNorthern Ireland emerged from the insanity of political violence that terrorized the country between 1969 and 1998. In 1998, Unionists and Nationalists acknowledged the other\u2019s right to hold political views anathema to their own, thanks to honest brokers such as Britain and the United States.\nSubsequently, Britain operated as an outside referee, decidedly neutral, to ensure that both sides abided by their agreements and protected the rights of all citizens.\nThat neutrality, however, is now in serious jeopardy. A power-sharing government in Northern Ireland broke down last year. The fight was ostensibly over a funding scheme controversy, but the identity politics of Brexit, brimming with conflict over immigration, trade and national meaning, loomed large.\nAnd that brings us back to May and the DUP. Brexit divides Northern Ireland. The DUP championed \u201cleave\u201d while Sinn Fein, along with 56 percent of Northern Irish voters, voted \u201cremain.\u201d The day after the referendum, Sinn Fein opportunistically began raising the specter of Irish reunification.\nBoth sides blew past a June 29 deadline to reach an agreement, and neither side appears willing to compromise its demands. Absent that, Northern Ireland would confront the prospect of direct rule from Westminster by a DUP-backed Tory government. It\u2019s no wonder many are skeptical of the British government\u2019s ability to remain an honest broker.\nWhat does the future hold for Northern Ireland, the border between North and South, or May\u2019s Conservative government?\u00a0 No one knows.\nConsidering President Trump\u2019s vocal support for Brexit, his decidedly isolationist approach to foreign policy and his deep unpopularity abroad, it seems highly unlikely the United States has the power or will to ensure Northern Ireland\u2019s continued stability. But, one thing is certain: May\u2019s reference to the \u201cConservative and Unionist Party\u201d is an echo of the disastrous Conservative policy that enabled political violence in Ulster, and a constitutional crisis nearly a century ago.\nSadly, the legacy of that constitutional crisis\u00a0and the narrow, nationalistic politics that drove it continue to haunt the political realities of the present. Northern Ireland provides a cautionary note against embracing nationalism at the expense of globalism\u00a0\u2014 it threatens to upend peace."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "db3099b6-2127-11e6-b944-52f7b1793dae_4", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "db3099b6-2127-11e6-b944-52f7b1793dae_4", "title": "A British vote to leave the E.U. could shatter the United Kingdom", "text": "\u201cWe\u2019re much more like America of 100 years ago than the England of today.\u201d Scotland is not the only place in the United Kingdom where this month\u2019s referendum threatens to bring politically destabilizing consequences. Welsh leaders, who tend to be pro-E.U., have said a British vote to abandon the union could spark a constitutional crisis. In Northern Ireland, where a tenuous peace has held for nearly two decades, a vote to leave would add a new line of partition to the Emerald Isle, with the Republic of Ireland inside the E.U. and the counties of Northern Ireland outside it. Analysts have warned that such division could hinder the economy, prompt renewed border controls and revive dangerous levels of sectarianism. In an echo of the nationalist push in Scotland, Catholic leaders in the generally pro-European north say that if Britain opts to leave the E.U., there should be a referendum on the reunification of Ireland. Surveys suggest that Protestant voters would block any such move and keep Northern Ireland inside the United Kingdom. The polls in Scotland are far less clear, but the determination of nationalists to hold another referendum is not. \u201cThe nationalists will use any justification to call another vote,\u201d said Ross Thomson, a Conservative member of the Scottish Parliament who is among the few elected officials in Scotland campaigning for Brexit. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be the E.U. They\u2019ll just do it when the polls look good.\u201d Other Brexit advocates who favor keeping Scotland inside the U.K. say they do not think the E.U. matters enough to Scottish voters to make a difference in an \u00adindependence vote. \u201cIt\u2019s very soft support,\u201d said Robert Malyn, a pro-Brexit campaigner who was handing out fliers one recent afternoon at the central train station in Glasgow, Scotland\u2019s largest city. \u201cThe E.U. is not loved enough to be a red line.\u201d The lack of enthusiasm is reflected in the difference between this campaign and the one in 2014. During the run-up to the independence vote, all of Scotland \u2014 from the Gothic back alleys of Edinburgh to the remote valleys of the Highlands \u2014 seemed bathed in the dueling paraphernalia of the \u201cno\u201d and \u201cyes\u201d camps. Signs hung from storefronts, buttons peeked out from jacket lapels, and fierce debates erupted nightly in pubs and across dinner tables. This time, there is virtually no visible evidence that in less than a month, Scotland \u2014"}], "old": [{"_id": "db3099b6-2127-11e6-b944-52f7b1793dae_4", "title": "A British vote to leave the E.U. could shatter the United Kingdom", "text": "warned that such division could hinder the economy, prompt renewed border controls and revive dangerous levels of sectarianism. Surveys suggest that Protestant voters would block any such move and keep Northern Ireland inside the United Kingdom. The polls in Scotland are far less clear, but the determination of nationalists to hold another referendum is not. \u201cThe nationalists will use any justification to call another vote,\u201d said Ross Thomson, a Conservative member of the Scottish Parliament who is among the few elected officials in Scotland campaigning for Brexit. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be the E.U. They\u2019ll just do it when the polls look good.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s very soft support,\u201d said Robert Malyn, a pro-Brexit campaigner who was handing out fliers one recent afternoon at the central train station in Glasgow, Scotland\u2019s largest city. \u201cThe E.U. is not loved enough to be a red line.\u201d The lack of enthusiasm is reflected in the difference between this campaign and the one in 2014. During the run-up to the independence vote, all of Scotland \u2014 from the Gothic back alleys of Edinburgh to the remote valleys of the Highlands \u2014 seemed bathed in the dueling paraphernalia of the \u201cno\u201d and \u201cyes\u201d camps. Signs hung from storefronts, buttons peeked out from jacket lapels, and fierce debates erupted nightly in pubs and across dinner tables. This time, there is virtually no visible evidence that in less than a month, Scotland \u2014 and the United Kingdom \u2014 will be making such a consequential choice. \u201cThe E.U. is such a big institution, and it seems far away from everybody. It\u2019s a hard thing to get your head around,\u201d said Jonny Ross-Tatam, president of the students association at the University of Edinburgh. Still, Ross-Tatam has been making the case among his fellow students for why it matters to stay in the E.U. If Britain leaves, he said, research funding would be jeopardized and students could lose their ability to live, work and study across the continent. \u201cWe can go to Sweden, Germany or France and not pay anything in tuition,\u201d he said. \u201cThis vote is one of the biggest decisions that our generation is going to have to make.\u201d Indeed, Salmond said that a second independence referendum will be held sooner or later, regardless of which way Britain votes this month. \u201cIndependence is inevitable,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re just debating time scale now.\u201d Karla Adam in London contributed to this report."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": " A Brexit campaigner handing out leaflets in Glasgow. Photo by Griff Witte/The Washington Post (GW/Griff Witte/TWP)\nEDINBURGH, Scotland \u2014\nBut less than two years after Scots opted to remain in the United Kingdom, the specter of secession again looms over the lush green expanse of the British isles. The trigger this time is another referendum with existential impact: this month\u2019s vote on whether to leave the European Union.\nIf Britain chooses to ditch the E.U. despite a vote to stay from the Euro-friendly Scots, nationalist leaders here say they will revive the push for an independent nation in order to keep Scotland inside Europe. And they think that the second time around, they would win.\n\u201cPulling Scotland out of the European Union against our will would be a change in material circumstances,\u201d said Alex Sal\u00admond, who led the campaign for independence in 2014 and now represents Scotland in the British Parliament.\nIn Peterborough, 45-minutes north of London, anti-E.U. sentiment runs strong. A large part of the discontent is the mass influx of Eastern European immigrants that residents say has transformed the ancient market town.\nIn that scenario, he said, there will be \u201ca referendum on Scottish independence within the next two years. And this time, the result would be \u2018yes.\u2019\u2009\u201d\nThe potential for a British breakup as fallout from the June\u00a023 referendum underscores just how much is at stake when the country decides whether to become the first nation to withdraw from the 28-member E.U.\nA shock to the global economy, a rupture in the Western alliance and a change in occupancy at 10 Downing Street are all possible consequences of a British vote to leave \u2014 popularly known as \u201cBrexit.\u201d\nThe very existence of Great Britain could also be on the line.\nBritish Prime Minister David Cameron reluctantly offered the public a direct say over the country\u2019s E.U. membership for much the same reason he acceded to the Scottish call for an independence vote in 2014: He thought it was the only way to settle the fundamental questions at the heart of British identity. Is the United Kingdom part of Europe or not? Is it one nation or more?\nBut the potential for a British exit from the E.U. to reawaken the push for Scottish independence reflects just how much Cameron\u2019s strategy may have backfired. Instead of laying the issues to rest, critics say, he may have unleashed the age of the \u201cneverendum\u201d \u2014 a prolonged period of turbulence that does not stop until the public votes to take Britain out of Europe and split Scotland from the United Kingdom.\n\u201cIn order to put these questions to bed for a generation, you need a vote of 60-40,\u201d said Menzies Campbell, a veteran Scottish member of Parliament who supports keeping Scotland in Britain and Britain in the E.U. \u201cIf the losing side gets 45\u00a0[percent], they\u2019re not going to give up.\u201d\nThat was what pro-independence Scots won in the 2014 vote. Since then, their side has delivered a pair of electoral thumpings: The Scottish National Party won by huge margins in both the 2015 British parliamentary elections and in the Scottish parliamentary contests last month, suggesting that the appetite for independence has hardly ebbed. Opinion polls show that Scotland would be about evenly divided if the independence vote were re-run today.\nIf Britain chooses to leave the E.U. \u2014 despite Scottish objections \u2014 that could tilt the balance in the nationalists\u2019 favor, reinforcing divisions between north and south.\nThe visceral anti-E.U. sentiment that runs through English politics can hardly be found north of Hadrian\u2019s Wall, the ancient stone fortification that bisected Britain during Roman times. Polls show a decisive advantage for the \u201cin\u201d campaign in Scotland, while England flirts with \u201cout.\u201d\nThe reasons for the difference are both historical and contemporary. Scotland has long had a close affiliation with continental Europe, going so far as to side with the French in wars against the English. As citizens of a small nation, Scots see membership in a broader European community as a comfort; the English are more likely to see rival power centers on the continent as a threat.\n\u201cThere\u2019s an emotional connection between Scotland and Europe,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cWe\u2019ve never had the residual antagonism toward Europe that has been maintained in England.\u201d\u00a0\nBut perhaps the most important reason for the split in opinion is immigration.\nIn crowded England \u2014 which makes up nearly 85\u00a0percent of the U.K. population but only about half the land \u2014 many people regard arrivals from elsewhere in Europe under the E.U.\u2019s free-movement rules as an unwelcome burden. In sparsely populated Scotland \u2014 the entire population of 5\u00a0million is roughly equal to the inner boroughs of London \u2014 there is plenty of room for newcomers.\n\u201cScotland is not full up,\u201d Salmond said. \u201cWe\u2019re much more like America of 100\u00a0years ago than the England of today.\u201d\nScotland is not the only place in the United Kingdom where this month\u2019s referendum threatens to bring politically destabilizing consequences. Welsh leaders, who tend to be pro-E.U., have said a British vote to abandon the union could spark a constitutional crisis. In Northern Ireland, where a tenuous peace has held for nearly two decades, a vote to leave would add a new line of partition to the Emerald Isle, with the Republic of Ireland inside the E.U. and the counties of Northern Ireland outside it.\nAnalysts have warned that such division could hinder the economy, prompt renewed border controls and revive dangerous levels of sectarianism.\nIn an echo of the nationalist push in Scotland, Catholic leaders in the generally pro-European north say that if Britain opts to leave the E.U., there should be a referendum on the reunification of Ireland.\nSurveys suggest that Protestant voters would block any such move and keep Northern Ireland inside the United Kingdom. The polls in Scotland are far less clear, but the determination of nationalists to hold another referendum is not.\n\u201cThe nationalists will use any justification to call another vote,\u201d said Ross Thomson, a Conservative member of the Scottish Parliament who is among the few elected officials in Scotland campaigning for Brexit. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be the E.U. They\u2019ll just do it when the polls look good.\u201d\nOther Brexit advocates who favor keeping Scotland inside the U.K. say they do not think the E.U. matters enough to Scottish voters to make a difference in an \u00adindependence vote.\n\u201cIt\u2019s very soft support,\u201d said Robert Malyn, a pro-Brexit campaigner who was handing out fliers one recent afternoon at the central train station in Glasgow, Scotland\u2019s largest city. \u201cThe E.U. is not loved enough to be a red line.\u201d\nThe lack of enthusiasm is reflected in the difference between this campaign and the one in 2014. During the run-up to the independence vote, all of Scotland \u2014 from the Gothic back alleys of Edinburgh to the remote valleys of the Highlands \u2014 seemed bathed in the dueling paraphernalia of the \u201cno\u201d and \u201cyes\u201d camps. Signs hung from storefronts, buttons peeked out from jacket lapels, and fierce debates erupted nightly in pubs and across dinner tables.\u00a0\nThis time, there is virtually no visible evidence that in less than a month, Scotland \u2014 and the United Kingdom \u2014 will be making such a consequential choice.\n\u201cThe E.U. is such a big institution, and it seems far away from everybody. It\u2019s a hard thing to get your head around,\u201d said Jonny Ross-Tatam, president of the students association at the University of Edinburgh.\nStill, Ross-Tatam has been making the case among his fellow students for why it matters to stay in the E.U. If Britain leaves, he said, research funding would be jeopardized and students could lose their ability to live, work and study across the continent.\n\u201cWe can go to Sweden, Germany or France and not pay anything in tuition,\u201d he said. \u201cThis vote is one of the biggest decisions that our generation is going to have to make.\u201d\nThat is what campaigners on both sides told Scots in the lead-up to the 2014 referendum. But these days, such monumental decisions are coming often \u2014 and there could be another one looming.\nIndeed, Salmond said that a second independence referendum will be held sooner or later, regardless of which way Britain votes this month.\n\u201cIndependence is inevitable,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re just debating time scale now.\u201d\nKarla Adam in London contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 939, "pid": "f31e9d72-5375-11e6-b652-315ae5d4d4dd_5", "query_info": {"_id": 939, "text": "How Brexit will impact Ireland facts and fiction", "instruction_og": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit.", "instruction_changed": "I am planning to travel to Ireland and want to understand the impact of Brexit on Ireland, including the impact on currency exchange and imports and exports.  I am also interested in Irish perceptions of Brexit and supposed impacts, whether they are real or not.  What is transpiring in Ireland due to Brexit?  I'm not interested in the politics of Britain in the sense of how they got to Brexit. To be relevant, it must directly discuss Ireland.", "short_query": "Research the question's impact on a country, excluding its politics.", "keywords": "impact country"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "f31e9d72-5375-11e6-b652-315ae5d4d4dd_5", "title": "The Brexit wild card? Ireland.", "text": "freedom fighter was the other\u2019s terrorist, she said. \u201cThe past is best in the past,\u201d Devlin said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t take much to stir tensions on the border,\u201d said \u00adEunan O\u2019Halpin, a professor of contemporary Irish history at Trinity College in Dublin. \u201cIs there still bitterness? Of course there is,\u201d he said. A vote for a united Ireland? After the Brexit ballot, Irish politicians quickly began to jostle for advantage as they assessed what future negotiations over the coming split would mean \u2014 for the border, for the relations between north and south, between London, Belfast, Dublin and Brussels. \u201cThat Ireland can be both one unit and two separate units may be a bizarre political fiction, but it is a fiction that has enabled former enemies to live with one another in relative peace,\u201d Ian McBride, professor of Irish and British history at King\u2019s College in London, wrote in the Guardian. In an interview, McBride said, \u201cI assume there\u2019ll be a common sense solution to this.\u201d He said too many people have too much to lose. The leader of the main opposition party in Ireland, Micheal Martin, said the rejection of Brexit by voters in Northern Ireland could be a \u201cdefining moment\u201d in Irish politics and \u201cmay show people the need to rethink current arrangements.\u201d Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister of Northern Ireland and a leader of Sinn Fein, called Brexit \u201ca disaster for Ireland.\u201d \u201cAnything that resembled a return to border checkpoints would represent a grievous undermining of the Good Friday Agreement,\u201d McGuinness said. \u201cI view such a prospect with great alarm.\u201d Sinn Fein\u2019s leader, Gerry Adams, said that the vote by Northern Ireland against Brexit should boost support for a future referendum on Irish unity. Talk of such a \u201cborder poll\u201d to consider the reunification of north and south raises hackles among British loyalists in the north. Arlene Foster, first minister of Northern Ireland, vowed that little would change along the border and said talk of a referendum on the unification of Ireland was folly. \u201cThis is the silly season, and often we have people coming forward with policy ideas that have no relevance to reality, and certainly a border poll, if it were to happen, would give a resounding result that we wanted to remain within the United Kingdom,\u201d Foster told the BBC\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d program. Sammy Wilson, a leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, which supported a leave"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "A flag for the Republic of Ireland has to mark the mostly invisible border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. (William Booth/The Washington Post)\nCULLAVILLE, Northern Ireland \u2014\nA generation ago? So fearful were British troops of IRA snipers that they deployed their soldiers in helicopters instead of risking the roads in County Armagh.\nToday, this is a fine place to be a cow.\nNow there is peace \u2014 and plenty of golf being played \u2014 along the 300 miles of the sinuous border that separates Northern Ireland from Ireland.\nYet change may be coming to the frontier, following the vote in June by Britain to leave the European Union.\nThere are no signs, no custom posts or immigration control along the 300-mile invisible border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. (William Booth/The Washington Post)\nWhat will happen to the Irish isle, north and south, is one of the biggest wild cards of the Brexit vote.\nNorthern Ireland is a part of Britain, and so it must now bid goodbye to the European bloc, no matter that a clear majority in Northern Ireland wanted to stay in the union \u2014 56\u00a0percent voted to remain, while 44\u00a0percent voted leave.\nTheir neighbors to the south in Ireland will remain part of the E.U.\nWhat will happen to trade and travel is unknown \u2014 and there are even bigger questions being asked about unification of the island.\nWill a Romanian \u2014 or a Libyan \u2014 traveling from Dublin soon have to show a passport on the way to Belfast? Will a truckload of E.U. or British goods be inspected crossing the border, and how? Will a bottle of milk cost the same on both sides \u2014 and who will enforce the regulations for its proper pasteurization, and what will happen to the millions in farm subsidies, tax breaks and development funds that help farmers produce the milk?\nBritain\u2019s new post-Brexit prime minister, Theresa May, vowed that \u201cno one wants a return to the borders of the past.\u201d But many question what\u2019s ahead.\nPoliticians in the U.K. insist that they will move forward with the process to exit the E.U., but not everyone is happy about it. Here's what will make it a long and difficult ordeal.\n\u201cNobody knows what\u2019s going to happen to our border, and people who know the least are the politicians,\u201d said Eugene McSkeane, 39, a hog farmer in Crossmaglen in Northern Ireland, who pointed to the overblown promises made before the historic Brexit ballot that were quickly withdrawn after the votes were counted.\nThe farmer said the decision about the border won\u2019t be made by just Britain or Ireland. The remaining members of the E.U. will also have a say.\nMcSkeane lives in the north but crosses back and forth across the border without a thought.\n\u201cWe pay our electric bill in the south and our water bills in the north,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s second nature.\u201d\nKids go to schools on either side. Farmers till land that straddles the line. A local veterinarian said it\u2019s a morning\u2019s work to treat a cow in the north and a sheep in the south.\n\u201cTechnically, I imagine you\u2019re supposed to check in with someone when you transport a body across the border, but I don\u2019t see why you would bother with that now,\u201d said Bernard O\u2019Hanlon, 56, a funeral director and owner of a pub in Mullaghbawn in Northern Ireland. His two businesses, alongside a car wash, are combined.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve forgotten all about borders,\u201d he said. \u201cNow are they going to mean something again? That\u2019s daft.\u201d\nAt the crossroads near O\u2019Hanlon\u2019s is a monument to fallen fighters who died during the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule that led to independence for Ireland. Beneath the flowers and portraits are the words, \u201cIf you really want an Irish Republic vote Sinn Fein.\u201d\n\u2018A can of worms\u2019\n\u201cDrive down the hill over the river you won\u2019t see a sign telling you you just crossed a border,\u201d said Brendan McAleavy, 55, a publican in Cullaville, whose bar has two different drawers at the cash register, one for British pounds, the other for euros. (Britain maintained the pound as its currency despite being an E.U. member, while Ireland adopted the euro).\nMore than 180 formal roads cross the border \u2014 many more if you count tractor trails and foot paths.\nAlong the River Fane, anglers fish for trout from both sides of the border. A local has hung the green, white and orange flag of Ireland along a hedgerow.\nThis will now become the E.U.\u2019s back door to Britain and vice versa.\nAlasdair McDonnell, a member of Parliament from Belfast, said he\u2019s been deluged with queries from constituents worried about what will happen to the border in the wake of the Brexit vote.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve opened up a can of worms,\u201d he warned during a debate in Parliament.\n\u201cThere\u2019s been massive progress and benefits of the last 20 years,\u201d he said. \u201cFree movement has transformed the island of Ireland.\u201d\n\u201cThere are people with a living memory of the hard border, and it\u2019s not a good memory at all,\u201d said McDonnell, a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.\n\u201cNobody wants a return to the dark days,\u201d he said.\nIt was only 15 years ago that the last bomb exploded in the long conflict between British security forces and Ulster loyalist paramilitary groups and the Irish Republican Army. More than 3,500 people were killed during the Troubles, half of them civilians.\nThe peace brought by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement is now well-worn, widely accepted and an economic success for both north and south.\nFor some, change is worrisome.\n\u201cBrexit got everyone talking, that\u2019s for sure. It reminds everyone who is who, where is where, north and south, the Troubles, all of that,\u201d said Anne Devlin, a shop clerk who was filling her car with gas in Castleblayney in Ireland but who lives in Northern Ireland.\nDuring the Troubles, one side\u2019s freedom fighter was the other\u2019s terrorist, she said.\n\u201cThe past is best in the past,\u201d Devlin said.\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t take much to stir tensions on the border,\u201d said \u00adEunan O\u2019Halpin, a professor of contemporary Irish history at Trinity College in Dublin.\n\u201cIs there still bitterness? Of course there is,\u201d he said.\nA vote for a united Ireland?\nAfter the Brexit ballot, Irish politicians quickly began to jostle for advantage as they assessed what future negotiations over the coming split would mean \u2014 for the border, for the relations between north and south, between London, Belfast, Dublin and Brussels.\n\u201cThat Ireland can be both one unit and two separate units may be a bizarre political fiction, but it is a fiction that has enabled former enemies to live with one another in relative peace,\u201d Ian McBride, professor of Irish and British history at King\u2019s College in London, wrote in the Guardian.\nIn an interview, McBride said, \u201cI assume there\u2019ll be a common sense solution to this.\u201d He said too many people have too much to lose.\nThe leader of the main opposition party in Ireland, Micheal Martin, said the rejection of Brexit by voters in Northern Ireland could be a \u201cdefining moment\u201d in Irish politics and \u201cmay show people the need to rethink current arrangements.\u201d\nMartin McGuinness, deputy first minister of Northern Ireland and a leader of Sinn Fein, called Brexit \u201ca disaster for Ireland.\u201d\n\u201cAnything that resembled a return to border checkpoints would represent a grievous undermining of the Good Friday Agreement,\u201d McGuinness said. \u201cI view such a prospect with great alarm.\u201d\nSinn Fein\u2019s leader, Gerry Adams, said that the vote by Northern Ireland against Brexit should boost support for a future referendum on Irish unity.\nTalk of such a \u201cborder poll\u201d to consider the reunification of north and south raises hackles among British loyalists in the north.\nArlene Foster, first minister of Northern Ireland, vowed that little would change along the border and said talk of a referendum on the unification of Ireland was folly.\n\u201cThis is the silly season, and often we have people coming forward with policy ideas that have no relevance to reality, and certainly a border poll, if it were to happen, would give a resounding result that we wanted to remain within the United Kingdom,\u201d Foster told the BBC\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d program.\nSammy Wilson, a leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, which supported a leave vote in the Brexit campaign, told The Washington Post in an interview at his offices in Larne that there are already immigration controls shared by Ireland and Britain in the form of the Common Travel Area protocol.\nWilson said the threat of \u201crising tensions\u201d between Catholics and Protestants, republicans and unionists, is \u201ca despicable argument.\u201d\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have a disaffected population. We won\u2019t have a return to terrorism,\u201d he said.\nThere\u2019s too much trade, too much togetherness now.\n\u201cIt\u2019s all going to blow over soon enough,\u201d he said."}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "37f3c7ac-8fe8-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_2", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "37f3c7ac-8fe8-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_2", "title": "Organic pioneer Nora Pouillon plans to retire, sell her eponymous restaurant", "text": "be a little crazy.\u201d Pouillon\u2019s career and topsy-turvy personal life have been documented in her memoir, released last summer, called \u201cMy Organic Life.\u201d A young woman married to a French journalist, she moved to Washington in the 1960s and found \u201ca culinary nightmare.\u201d Horrified by how unhealthy American food could be, she taught herself to cook and then began to teach others. After a stint in the kitchen at the Tabard Inn, she bought a former grocery store and opened Restaurant Nora in 1979. Female chef-owners are still, regrettably, rare, but in those days, they were almost nonexistent. \u201cI believe that Nora forever will be a heroine of the food scene of D.C.,\u201d said chef Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s. \u201cTo me, she deserves everything. She\u2019s shown us the way.\u201d Nora Pouillon in her herb garden on the side of her restaurant in May 1983. (Harry Naltchayan/The Washington Post) The restaurant was one of the approximately 100 to get a mention in D.C.\u2019s first Michelin Guide, released last Thursday, though it did not receive any stars. In their write-up, inspectors praised the vegetarian tasting menu and called Pouillon \u201cthe Alice Waters of D.C.\u201d It took her two years to develop the standards for an organic restaurant with the certification agency Oregon Tilth. The restaurant became certified in 1999. The fact that there aren\u2019t more certified organic restaurants is \u201csort of depressing,\u201d she said. \u201cI was hoping there would be more, but often restaurants perhaps strive toward doing it, but after awhile they lost interest, because they figured their clientele didn\u2019t really care.\u201d That may be because talking a good game about farm-to-table food is, for many customers, no different from proving those bona fides through certification, as Nora does. \u201cThey don\u2019t understand that you cannot just say \u2018I\u2019m organic.\u2019 You basically have to prove it,\u201d she said. It also disappoints her that her proteges have not taken the same path. \u201cIn 37 years I went through, I think, 40 different chefs,\u201d she said, \u201cAnd none of them \u2014 none of them \u2014 has an organic restaurant. They all do their own thing.\u201d One of them is Haidar Karoum, former chef of Proof, Estadio and Doi Moi. Pouillon was \u201cvery influential in terms of how I think about food,\u201d he said. But when he opened Proof, he never considered organic certification, even though he bought from the same farms he did while a chef"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Nora Pouillon (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)\nYears before farm-to-table, sustainable, organic kale was on the menu at seemingly every restaurant in the District, you would find it at one restaurant \u2014 and that restaurant was Nora\u2019s. The rustic but elegant dining room bordering Kalorama was the first restaurant in the country to be certified organic, inspiring a generation of chefs to shop locally for high-quality ingredients.\nSelf-taught, Austrian-born chef Nora Pouillon has spread the gospel of farm-fresh locavorism far and wide, and, her mission now accomplished, she has decided to put her namesake restaurant out to pasture. She intends to sell the 37-year-old restaurant and its building, and retire as soon as she can find the proper buyer.\n\u201cI have to accept the fact that I am just getting too old,\u201d said Nora, who will turn 73 this month. \u201cAt the beginning it was, for me, sort of a shock to think that the restaurant, after all these years, does not continue. You always hope that somebody continues with your name.\u201d\nHer four children did not want the restaurant. \u201cThey have seen their mother slave away,\u201d she said. She\u2019s not so sure she would have wanted them to take it, either. She knows the toll that the business takes on family life.\n\u201cI have, soon, five grandchildren. My daughter is expecting any day,\u201d she said. \u201cI really never had time to be a grandmother.\u201d\nNora Pouillon at a roast in her honor in September 2014. (Scott Henrichsen Photography)\nBut don\u2019t expect Pouillon to leave her restaurant without having a say in what will take its place. She\u2019s looking for a buyer who will continue her legacy.\n\u201cThat would be ideal \u2014 somebody that would continue under his name, but with the same philosophy,\u201d she said. Or, barring that, \u201csomebody that continues at least with local, and perhaps keeps the healthy aspect.\u201d\nShe expects, though, that the restaurant\u2019s organic certification will end when her ownership of it does. There are only a handful of such restaurants in the country because the requirements are extremely onerous: All of the food that comes into Nora\u2019s kitchen must be certified organic, which is reflected in her menu prices. Even her table linens are laundered in chlorine-free biodegradable soap.\n\u201cI realized that it\u2019s so difficult to be certified organic. I don\u2019t think I would find anybody who would do it,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to be a little crazy.\u201d\nPouillon\u2019s career and topsy-turvy personal life have been documented in her memoir, released last summer, called \u201cMy Organic Life.\u201d A young woman married to a French journalist, she moved to Washington in the 1960s and found \u201ca culinary nightmare.\u201d Horrified by how unhealthy American food could be, she taught herself to cook and then began to teach others. After a stint in the kitchen at the Tabard Inn, she bought a former grocery store and opened Restaurant Nora in 1979. Female chef-owners are still, regrettably, rare, but in those days, they were almost nonexistent.\n\u201cI believe that Nora forever will be a heroine of the food scene of D.C.,\u201d said chef Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s. \u201cTo me, she deserves everything. She\u2019s shown us the way.\u201d\nNora Pouillon in her herb garden on the side of her restaurant in May 1983. (Harry Naltchayan/The Washington Post)\nThe restaurant was one of the approximately 100 to get a mention in D.C.\u2019s first Michelin Guide, released last Thursday, though it did not receive any stars. In their write-up, inspectors praised the vegetarian tasting menu and called Pouillon \u201cthe Alice Waters of D.C.\u201d\nIt took her two years to develop the standards for an organic restaurant with the certification agency Oregon Tilth. The restaurant became certified in 1999.\nThe fact that there aren\u2019t more certified organic restaurants is \u201csort of depressing,\u201d she said. \u201cI was hoping there would be more, but often restaurants perhaps strive toward doing it, but after awhile they lost interest, because they figured their clientele didn\u2019t really care.\u201d\nThat may be because talking a good game about farm-to-table food is, for many customers, no different from proving those bona fides through certification, as Nora does.\n\u201cThey don\u2019t understand that you cannot just say \u2018I\u2019m organic.\u2019 You basically have to prove it,\u201d she said.\nIt also disappoints her that her proteges have not taken the same path.\n\u201cIn 37 years I went through, I think, 40 different chefs,\u201d she said, \u201cAnd none of them \u2014 none of them \u2014 has an organic restaurant. They all do their own thing.\u201d\nOne of them is Haidar Karoum, former chef of Proof, Estadio and Doi Moi.\nPouillon was \u201cvery influential in terms of how I think about food,\u201d he said. But when he opened Proof, he never considered organic certification, even though he bought from the same farms he did while a chef at Asia Nora, Pouillon\u2019s fusion offshoot.\nNora Pouillon is hoping to sell her eponymous restaurant to someone who shares her philosophy. (Scott Suchman/Courtesy of Restaurant Nora)\n\u201cI think my staff were able to explain that to guests without making it a thing,\u201d he said. Working for Nora, \u201cI saw what was great about [certification], and what was not so great about it. It really demands .\u2009.\u2009. a full-time position of somebody who is just doing buying. It\u2019s extremely difficult to get the certification, even more to maintain it.\u201d\nPouillon offered him the first chance to buy her business \u2014 he recently struck out on his own \u2014 but he turned her down.\n\u201cI feel like every spot wants to be something. I feel like that\u2019s a place that should always have linens and a certain style,\u201d he said. Although he was honored to be considered, \u201cWhat I\u2019m going to be doing is going to be a little less formal. I didn\u2019t think it was the right fit.\u201d\nSo the hunt begins. She doesn\u2019t expect the eventual buyer to be from the District \u2014 maybe the West Coast, she thinks. She declined to discuss the price. It will take a while, maybe as long as a year. That\u2019s good news for her regulars, who will have more time to partake. Still, she expects \u201cthey will be furious.\u201d\nBut Pouillon has made peace with her decision.\n\u201cI think it\u2019s easier for me to think that somebody will take it over, and not keep the name and do something that I wouldn\u2019t approve of,\u201d she said. \u201cI think that I am past that. I think that whoever buys it, I just wish him the best.\u201d\nMore from Food:\nHave questions about cooking? Join our live chat Wednesdays at 12."}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "3CPX2AMLEND5ZEC42VZRMYHC6U_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3CPX2AMLEND5ZEC42VZRMYHC6U_0", "title": "The Inn at Little Washington earns its third Michelin star, a first for the D.C. region", "text": "There\u2019s an old French adage about the Michelin Guide, the famed little red restaurant rating book: \u201cIt takes three generations to get three stars,\u201d the guide\u2019s top rating. It used to be that top European restaurants would be handed down through families, each descendant improving on his father\u2019s work. In the case of chef Patrick O\u2019Connell of the Inn at Little Washington, it took only three years to get three stars. The Michelin Guide announced Thursday that it added a coveted third star to the Inn\u2019s previous designation, making it the first restaurant in the Washington area to earn three stars. \u201cThat a kid from South Capitol Street, via Clinton, Maryland, who worked in a Mr. H hamburgers \u2026 can teach himself to cook and measure his progress every year against the greatest restaurants in the world, realizing that if he kept at it and [was] committed and willing to sacrifice, [he] could make an achievement like this, it\u2019s like being in the midst of a fairy tale,\u201d O\u2019Connell said. Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s\u2019s Minibar and Aaron Silverman\u2019s Pineapple and Pearls kept their two-star ratings. There were two new additions to the one-star list: Chef Ryan Ratino\u2019s Bresca and Robert Wiedmaier\u2019s Siren, the latter with a kitchen led by executive chef and partner Brian McBride. They are the first Michelin stars for all three chefs. Bresca and Siren joined the previous list of one-star restaurants, all of which maintained their stars: Komi, M\u00e9tier, Blue Duck Tavern, the Dabney, Fiola, Kinship, Masseria, Plume, Rose\u2019s Luxury, Sushi Taro and Tail Up Goat. The Michelin Guide\u2019s arrival in Washington three years ago cemented the city\u2019s status as a serious food destination. But with its first three-star restaurant, \u201cit\u2019s clear that Washington now has joined the ranks of the great gastronomic capitals of the world,\u201d said Michael Ellis, the outgoing international director for the Michelin Guides. The Inn, a restaurant and hotel modeled on the three-star inns of France, was elevated in the ratings this year after many visits, Ellis said, from \u201cboth the U.S. team as well as the international team. I had lot of French inspectors there.\u201d Inspectors praised \u201cthe attention to detail on the plate,\u201d Ellis said. \u201cAlso, he really has elevated the execution of his sauces to a degree that was just amazing.\u201d O\u2019Connell\u2019s third star coincides with the Inn\u2019s 40th anniversary, an event the chef has feted throughout the year. Anniversaries"}], "old": [{"_id": "3CPX2AMLEND5ZEC42VZRMYHC6U_0", "title": "The Inn at Little Washington earns its third Michelin star, a first for the D.C. region", "text": "More from Food: Michelin\u2019s cheap-eats list has doubled in size. What does that say about D.C. dining?"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "There\u2019s an old French adage about the Michelin Guide, the famed little red restaurant rating book: \u201cIt takes three generations to get three stars,\u201d the guide\u2019s top rating. It used to be that top European restaurants would be handed down through families, each descendant improving on his father\u2019s work.\nIn the case of chef Patrick O\u2019Connell of the Inn at Little Washington, it took only three years to get three stars. The Michelin Guide announced Thursday that it added a coveted third star to the Inn\u2019s previous designation, making it the first restaurant in the Washington area to earn three stars.\n\u201cThat a kid from South Capitol Street, via Clinton, Maryland, who worked in a Mr. H hamburgers \u2026 can teach himself to cook and measure his progress every year against the greatest restaurants in the world, realizing that if he kept at it and [was] committed and willing to sacrifice, [he] could make an achievement like this, it\u2019s like being in the midst of a fairy tale,\u201d O\u2019Connell said.\nJos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s\u2019s Minibar and Aaron Silverman\u2019s Pineapple and Pearls kept their two-star ratings. There were two new additions to the one-star list: Chef Ryan Ratino\u2019s Bresca\u00a0and Robert Wiedmaier\u2019s Siren, the latter with a kitchen led by executive chef and partner Brian McBride. They are the first Michelin stars for all three chefs. Bresca and Siren joined the previous list of one-star restaurants, all of which maintained their stars: Komi, M\u00e9tier,\u00a0Blue Duck Tavern, the Dabney, Fiola, Kinship, Masseria, Plume, Rose\u2019s Luxury, Sushi Taro and Tail Up Goat.\nThe Michelin Guide\u2019s arrival in Washington three years ago cemented the city\u2019s status as a serious food destination. But with its first three-star restaurant, \u201cit\u2019s clear that Washington now has joined the ranks of the great gastronomic capitals of the world,\u201d said Michael Ellis,\u00a0the outgoing international director for the Michelin Guides.\nThe Inn, a restaurant and hotel modeled on the three-star inns of France, was elevated in the ratings this year after many visits, Ellis said, from \u201cboth the U.S. team as well as the international team. I had lot of French inspectors there.\u201d Inspectors praised \u201cthe attention to detail on the plate,\u201d Ellis said. \u201cAlso, he really has elevated the execution of his sauces to a degree that was just amazing.\u201d\nO\u2019Connell\u2019s third star coincides with the Inn\u2019s 40th anniversary, an event the chef has feted throughout the year. Anniversaries are not something that Michelin takes into account, said Ellis, who called it a \u201cnice coincidence.\u201d\n\u201cTo have him, in his 40th year of his activity, have the ultimate accolade from Michelin and our universe is a source of great pleasure for all of us,\u201d Ellis said.\nO\u2019Connell said that he and his staff had been working intensely all year to achieve the third star. \u201cWe thought we had given it everything we had last year. But that wasn\u2019t the case \u2014 we had more to give,\u201d O\u2019Connell said. \u201cAnd we exceeded our own expectations this year with not only our efforts but our ability to form an intense common bond. There isn\u2019t anyone in the operation right now\u201d \u2014 from the cooks to the servers to the gardeners \u2014 \u201cwho isn\u2019t all in, in wanting this acknowledgment.\u201d\nFor Ratino, who has achieved his first Michelin star at 28, the phone call from Ellis was \u201cunreal,\u201d he said. While he was waiting to learn whether he had gotten a star, he \u201cnever had so much anxiety,\u201d Ratino said.\nEllis said that his inspectors have been keeping an eye on Ratino since his days at Caviar Russe in New York. Now that Ratino has his star, the chef said he plans to take more risks at Bresca.\n\u201cI think maybe we could become a little bit more adventurous with the diners. With something like this, people trust you a little more,\u201d Ratino said. \u201cIt\u2019s just the beginning of that global recognition that can put a place on the map.\u201d\nWiedmaier\u2019s restaurant Siren, like Bresca, earned its star within its first year open, which was \u201ctotally unexpected,\u201d Wiedmaier said. \u201cWhen we came up with the vision, Brian and I, we always wanted this to be a Michelin-star restaurant.\u201d\nMcBride, meanwhile, said he had \u201ca little inkling that we might get one. \u2026 I put it out of my head and said, \u2018Business as usual.\u2019 \u201d\nWiedmaier\u2019s fine-dining restaurant, Marcel\u2019s, continued to be shut out of the star listing.\n\u201cMy staff isn\u2019t feeling very good there,\u201d Wiedmaier said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to work harder to get it next year.\u201d\nLast week, Michelin announced its list of Bib Gourmands, a designation given to excellent restaurants where you can get two dishes and a drink for less than $40. (It\u2019s considered Michelin\u2019s \u201ccheap eats\u201d list even though many have pointed out that $40 per person isn\u2019t exactly cheap). The Washington Bib Gourmand list nearly doubled in size this year, adding 19 restaurants. A few of those buzz-worthy additions include Maydan, the Middle Eastern restaurant\u00a0named one of the best new restaurants in the United States by\u00a0Bon App\u00e9tit\u00a0and\u00a0Eater, as well as Fancy Radish, Spoken English, Tiger Fork and Timber Pizza Co.\nThe 19 additions is, \u201cto my recollection, a record for any single edition in the United States,\u201d Ellis said. It\u2019s also, in part, the reason the guide has not yet expanded to the suburbs, as Michelin had promised. \u201cThere was just so much going on in D.C.,\u201d Ellis said, that an expansion was put off for a later edition.\nTwo restaurants that have been highly acclaimed on other ratings guides fell short of earning a star or a Bib Gourmand. Elle and Himitsu, both of which have made the Bon App\u00e9tit list, were each named a l\u2019Assiette Michelin, the designation for restaurants that are included without a Bib Gourmand or star rating. So, too, was Rasika, one of the area\u2019s top-rated restaurants that has not yet earned a star, to the disappointment of its many fans. Ellis said that his team would continue to watch all three restaurants for future guides. This year\u2019s Michelin Guide contains more than 70 restaurants with the l\u2019Assiette Michelin designation, representing 36 types of cuisine.\n\u201cWe\u2019re not a phone book,\u201d Ellis said. \u201cJust being in the selection is an honor.\u201d\nThe Michelin Guide was introduced by the tire company in 1900 as a travel guide \u2014 encouraging people to take road trips and, consequently, wear down their Michelin tires. While it has faced steep competition from other ratings systems, such as the\u00a0World\u2019s 50 Best Restaurants, its stars are still one of the highest honors for a restaurant and a designation chefs work their entire lives to achieve. Nevertheless, critics say that its ratings are rooted in a Eurocentric worldview and that more-casual American restaurants throw inspectors for a loop.\nThe guide utilizes inspectors from around the world. It never sends the same inspector to the same restaurant twice, and inspectors always pay for their own meals. Restaurants are rated on their creativity, personality, ingredient quality, value and consistency, among other factors. But factors outside of the diner\u2019s experience are not taken into account. After the #MeToo awakening in restaurants over the past year, the James Beard Awards decided to evaluate chefs and restaurants on their character and integrity, in addition to the food. Michelin has no such plans.\n\u201cThe second we let any considerations other than what\u2019s on the plate into our consideration is game over for us,\u201d Ellis said. \u201cThere\u2019s a million different interest groups.\u201d\nKapnos, the Greek restaurant owned by Mike Isabella, who recently declared bankruptcy after a high-profile sexual harassment suit against him was settled this spring, was included as l\u2019Assiette Michelin.\u00a0In cases where a chef or restaurateur has been accused of sexual harassment, \u201cthat will play out, whether in the courts or public opinion,\u201d Ellis said. \u201cDiners can vote with their feet.\u201d\nFor chefs who make it to that level, a third star isn\u2019t necessarily a relief. Some famous chefs have tried to \u201cgive back\u201d their stars, a practice that Michelin rejects.\nO\u2019Connell said he understands the pressure. \u201cI think that, as with many wonderful reviews, the pressure could be a little greater, or a lot greater, as the expectations mount and people come from a farther distance,\u201d he said. \u201cSo if you\u2019re traveling here from China and you\u2019re someone who follows Michelin stars, you\u2019re making a direct comparison between us as a three-star restaurant and the greatest three-star restaurant in Paris.\u201d\nBut for O\u2019Connell, who has worked his entire career for the honor, it\u2019s an occasion for a major celebration. He recalled an employee asking him, years ago, what would happen if the Inn were to earn three stars.\n\u201cI said \u2026 \u2018Champagne would be flowing in the streets of Little Washington,\u2019 \u201d O\u2019Connell said. \u201cI hope big Washington is celebrating, too, and they realize that anything we can do collectively together to put the nation\u2019s capital on the radar of the international culinary scene benefits everyone.\u201d\nMore from Food:\nMichelin\u2019s cheap-eats list has doubled in size. What does that say about D.C. dining?"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "4FVTL5OCQBFTJDCOPTHSXD37BI_3", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "4FVTL5OCQBFTJDCOPTHSXD37BI_3", "title": "The movers, shakers and surprising omissions in Tom Sietsema\u2019s fall dining guide", "text": "in last year\u2019s guide. Be warned: This is a section that might not stick around next year. There are now 11 restaurants in the Hall of Fame. Surprise: Rasika West End joins its sister restaurant in Sietsema\u2019s list of \u201crestaurants that do what they do better than their peers.\u201d None of the restaurants in this category had ratings change, including the three-and-a-half-star Rasika West End. The Hall of Fame is home to seven of the guide\u2019s eight four-star restaurants. The other one is M\u00e9tier, which placed fourth in Sietsema\u2019s Top 10. Eric Ziebold\u2019s dining room earned four stars in 2017, was docked half a star in 2018, but is now back to a \u201csuperlative\u201d rating. A Michelin star isn\u2019t always enough. Little Pearl and Gravitas both celebrated receiving their first Michelin stars this year, but neither is featured in Sietsema\u2019s new guide. Little Pearl had earned three stars in 2018, and Gravitas earned a No. 10 ranking in Sietsema\u2019s spring Top 10, but that wasn\u2019t enough. \u201cOne could argue that I liked two of Aaron Silverman\u2019s restaurants [Pineapple and Pearls and Rose\u2019s Luxury] better than Little Pearl this year,\u201d Sietsema says, \u201cor I thought Rooster & Owl was a more original, and less expensive, tasting menu experience overall than Gravitas. As I said in my introduction [to the Dining Guide], I also had to stop somewhere.\u201d Bresca, Fiola, Masseria and Plume are other Washington restaurants that earned Michelin stars but have not been featured in Sietsema\u2019s recent guides. Kinship, which has one Michelin star, returned to the dining guide after missing out in 2018. The big mover: The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm Chef Tarver King\u2019s Lovettsville escape made its fall dining guide debut with a three-and-a-half-star rating and the No. 5 spot in Sietsema\u2019s Top 10. Pretty impressive for a farm restaurant that first earned a mention in 2017\u2032s spring dining guide, and \u201calmost made it\u201d into the fall guide that year. King is \u201cliving the dream,\u201d Sietsema says, \u201cgetting most of his ingredients from his backyard and really putting ingredients on a pedestal, while also explaining their connection to the tasting menu. I tasted joy in his dishes.\u201d As the dining scene grows, so do the options outside the city. This was a banner year for restaurants outside Washington\u2019s borders. Eighteen of them \u2014 a dozen in Virginia, six in Maryland \u2014 earned a spot in the dining guide,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Like French wine from the cellar at Marcel\u2019s or the 100-day kimchi at Anju, Tom Sietsema\u2019s fall dining guides get better with age. The 20th edition contains reviews of 77 restaurants \u2014 the largest number ever. In addition to numerous shake-ups in the annual list of his Top 10 personal favorites, Sietsema has added another restaurant to his Hall of Fame, created a new category called \u201cClassics\u201d to honor restaurants that have stood the test of time, and bestowed a coveted three-and-a-half-star review on a restaurant that has never before appeared in the fall dining guide.\nHere\u2019s a look at some of the numbers behind the new collection. (Find the full guide here.)\n77 restaurants is a record.\nThe previous five fall dining guides have contained between 37 and 53 reviews of area restaurants. (The 2016 edition had 52 Sietsema reviews, plus 10 cheap eats recommendations by Tim Carman and a list of D.C.'s top 10 bars chosen by yours truly.) Sietsema chose to visit more restaurants this time because \u201c20 years is a milestone of sorts,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe guide merited being bigger, because I had more I wanted to say in my introduction and more people and events I wanted to flag\u201d in smaller sections looking back at his tenure. \u201cThis anniversary issue gave me a chance to look back and salute all the good work that had been done on my watch and look ahead at the same time.\u201d\nIt\u2019s hard to get in Sietsema\u2019s Top 10. It\u2019s harder to stay there.\nEnrique Limardo\u2019s Seven Reasons went straight to No. 1 in the Latin American restaurant\u2019s first dining guide appearance. That\u2019s just one of the prominent changes to this year\u2019s Top 10. (\u201cI like to mix things up,\u201d Sietsema says.) Only two restaurants from last fall\u2019s Top 10 remain among Sietsema\u2019s admittedly personal favorites: the four-star Pineapple and Pearls and the lauded Three Blacksmiths. Three others, including last year\u2019s top pick Del Mar, are still in the guide. Momofuku, Spoken English and Kuya Ja\u2019s Lechon Belly have been dropped altogether, while Himitsu and Little Havana have closed.\nIt\u2019s a similar story when comparing Sietsema\u2019s picks from the 2019 spring dining guide, which focused on newer restaurants. Mama Chang and Rooster & Owl are both survivors in the Top 10, while three of Sietsema\u2019s spring favorites are nowhere to be found in the fall guide: the Michelin-starred Gravitas, Estuary and, again, Little Havana. Of note: Rooster & Owl, which was Sietsema\u2019s No. 3 in the spring and No. 2 in the new guide, is the only restaurant to move up the Top 10 list.\nSo long, sweet 16.\nOf the 48 restaurants included in the 2018 fall dining guide, one-third did not return in 2019. This includes the two closed restaurants mentioned above, but also Little Pearl and Momofuku, both of which received three stars last year. The others that didn\u2019t make the cut: Bresca, Joselito Casa de Comidas, Kaliwa, Nasime, Q by Peter Chang, Rasa, Spoken English (all two-and-a-half stars), America Eats Tavern, Elephant Jumps, Kuya Ja\u2019s Lechon Belly, Tortino and Zenebech (two stars each).\nTen new additions are \u201cClassics,\u201d to mark Sietsema\u2019s platinum anniversary.\nIn contrast to the trendsetters in the Hall of Fame, Sietsema says, the new \u201cClassics\u201d section is a nod to restaurants that \u201cplay a special role in the city, not just because they\u2019ve endured for a long time in a fickle market, but because they\u2019re at least \u2018good\u2019 and add something important to the scene.\u201d Some have been reviewed in the magazine before, such as Filomena and Bombay Club, but none featured in last year\u2019s guide. Be warned: This is a section that might not stick around next year.\nThere are now 11 restaurants in the Hall of Fame.\nSurprise: Rasika West End joins its sister restaurant in Sietsema\u2019s list of \u201crestaurants that do what they do better than their peers.\u201d None of the restaurants in this category had ratings change, including the three-and-a-half-star Rasika West End. The Hall of Fame is home to seven of the guide\u2019s eight four-star restaurants. The other one is M\u00e9tier, which placed fourth in Sietsema\u2019s Top 10. Eric Ziebold\u2019s dining room earned four stars in 2017, was docked half a star in 2018, but is now back to a \u201csuperlative\u201d rating.\nA Michelin star isn\u2019t always enough.\nLittle Pearl and Gravitas both celebrated receiving their first Michelin stars this year, but neither is featured in Sietsema\u2019s new guide. Little Pearl had earned three stars in 2018, and Gravitas earned a No. 10 ranking in Sietsema\u2019s spring Top 10, but that wasn\u2019t enough. \u201cOne could argue that I liked two of Aaron Silverman\u2019s restaurants [Pineapple and Pearls and Rose\u2019s Luxury] better than Little Pearl this year,\u201d Sietsema says, \u201cor I thought Rooster & Owl was a more original, and less expensive, tasting menu experience overall than Gravitas. As I said in my introduction [to the Dining Guide], I also had to stop somewhere.\u201d Bresca, Fiola, Masseria and Plume are other Washington restaurants that earned Michelin stars but have not been featured in Sietsema\u2019s recent guides. Kinship, which has one Michelin star, returned to the dining guide after missing out in 2018.\nThe big mover: The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm\nChef Tarver King\u2019s Lovettsville escape made its fall dining guide debut with a three-and-a-half-star rating and the No. 5 spot in Sietsema\u2019s Top 10. Pretty impressive for a farm restaurant that first earned a mention in 2017\u2032s spring dining guide, and \u201calmost made it\u201d into the fall guide that year. King is \u201cliving the dream,\u201d Sietsema says, \u201cgetting most of his ingredients from his backyard and really putting ingredients on a pedestal, while also explaining their connection to the tasting menu. I tasted joy in his dishes.\u201d\nAs the dining scene grows, so do the options outside the city.\nThis was a banner year for restaurants outside Washington\u2019s borders. Eighteen of them \u2014 a dozen in Virginia, six in Maryland \u2014 earned a spot in the dining guide, after eight suburban restaurants were included in 2018, and nine in 2019. It\u2019s worth noting that Jaleo has locations in Bethesda and Crystal City, but only the downtown location is included in the dining guide. Similarly, Buena Vida\u2019s Clarendon location made the guide, not its Silver Spring outpost.\nVirginia:\nMaryland:\nREAD MORE\nThe 25 best casual restaurants in the D.C. area\nHere are 11 of the best places to enjoy pit beef \u2014 Maryland\u2019s answer to barbecue\nForget chicken sandwiches. Which chain makes the best fried chicken?"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "54QR4KUKSFBCXJRGNBCHAQVRDQ_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "54QR4KUKSFBCXJRGNBCHAQVRDQ_0", "title": "One D.C. restaurant loses a Michelin star, while four others claim one", "text": "This post has been updated. The Michelin guide, now in its fourth year of awarding stars to Washington restaurants, is known for prizing stability over flash. And so there is nothing you could call seismic about the changes announced Tuesday for the 2020 list of D.C. establishments. No change at the top: the Inn at Little Washington retained its three-star status, and the two restaurants previously awarded two stars each \u2014 Pineapple and Pearls and Minibar \u2014 remained. The drama, such as it was, was all at the single-star level, with four eateries joining the elite club. The newcomers are Ivy City\u2019s industrial-chic Gravitas, hearth-fired Middle Eastern hot spot Maydan, Capitol Hill cafe-cum-wine-bar Little Pearl, and Sushi Nakazawa, the New York import located in the Trump hotel. One venerable restaurant, Foggy Bottom new American staple Blue Duck Tavern, was bumped off the one-star list. (Another previously starred restaurant, Robert Wiedmaier\u2019s Siren, closed.) For stargazers tracking the changes, the 2020 list might have contained a surprise: no Bad Saint, the tiny Filipino hot spot that has garnered national attention. Bad Saint had previously been included on the guidebook\u2019s list of cheap eats (known as the Bib Gourmand designation) but was left off that 2020 list announced last week. The omission this year had some wondering if Bad Saint would graduate to the list of starred restaurants, but it did not. A Michelin inspector spoke with us over the phone about the changes, though the company\u2019s hypersensitivity to the anonymity of its reviewers meant he spoke only on the condition that his name be withheld. First, a word about Michelin\u2019s behind-the-scenes process, which has come under more scrutiny than ever since a famed French chef sued the company for demoting his restaurant from three stars to two, claiming that the guide violated its policy of multiple visits. Of Blue Duck, the inspector said, the decision to \u201csuppress\u201d a star is one the company takes seriously. If a meal at a starred restaurant is off, another inspector will go in for a visit. (Likewise, he says, if an inspector has a meal at an unstarred restaurant that suggests it is star-worthy, another inspector visits to weigh in.) On both visits to the Foggy Bottom restaurant, he said \u201cthe technique and quality weren\u2019t there.\u201d As for the additions, he praised Little Pearl\u2019s \u201cgreat value\u201d; said that Maydan\u2019s live-fire cooking \u201cdazzled us\u201d; praised \u201cthe quality"}], "old": [{"_id": "54QR4KUKSFBCXJRGNBCHAQVRDQ_0", "title": "One D.C. restaurant loses a Michelin star, while four others claim one", "text": "This post has been updated. As for Bad Saint losing its Bib status, our inspector says, \u201cIt\u2019s a lovely restaurant and well deserves to be a local favorite. But the p \u201cWhat was really exciting this year,\u201d he said, \u201cwas that Washington further expressed its rich diversity.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s something we\u2019re definitely talking about for the future,\u201d he said. Here\u2019s the full list of Washington\u2019s 2020 Michelin starred restaurants: Three Stars: Two stars: One star: More from Food: To David Chang, the \u2018ethnic\u2019 food aisle is racist. Others say it\u2019s convenient. The key to White Claw\u2019s surging popularity: Marketing to a post-gender world We did it, America. We ate Popeyes out of chicken sandwiches."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "This post has been updated.\nThe Michelin guide, now in its fourth year of awarding stars to Washington restaurants, is known for prizing stability over flash. And so there is nothing you could call seismic about the changes announced Tuesday for the 2020 list of D.C. establishments.\nNo change at the top: the Inn at Little Washington retained its three-star status, and the two restaurants previously awarded two stars each \u2014 Pineapple and Pearls and Minibar \u2014 remained.\nThe drama, such as it was, was all at the single-star level, with four eateries joining the elite club. The newcomers are Ivy City\u2019s industrial-chic Gravitas, hearth-fired Middle Eastern hot spot Maydan, Capitol Hill cafe-cum-wine-bar Little Pearl, and\u00a0Sushi Nakazawa, the New York import located in the Trump hotel.\nOne venerable restaurant, Foggy Bottom new American staple Blue Duck Tavern, was bumped off the one-star list. (Another previously starred restaurant, Robert Wiedmaier\u2019s Siren, closed.)\nFor stargazers tracking the changes, the 2020 list might have contained a surprise: no Bad Saint, the tiny Filipino hot spot that has garnered national attention. Bad Saint had previously been included on the guidebook\u2019s list of cheap eats (known as the Bib Gourmand designation) but was left off that 2020 list announced last week. The omission this year had some wondering if Bad Saint would graduate to the list of starred restaurants, but it did not.\nA Michelin inspector spoke with us over the phone about the changes, though the company\u2019s hypersensitivity to the anonymity of its reviewers meant he spoke only on the condition that his name be withheld.\nFirst, a word about Michelin\u2019s behind-the-scenes process, which has come under more scrutiny than ever since a famed French chef sued the company for demoting his restaurant from three stars to two, claiming that the guide violated its policy of multiple visits.\nOf Blue Duck, the inspector said, the decision to \u201csuppress\u201d a star is one the company takes seriously. If a meal at a starred restaurant is off, another inspector will go in for a visit. (Likewise, he says, if an inspector has a meal at an unstarred restaurant that suggests it is star-worthy, another inspector visits to weigh in.) On both visits to the Foggy Bottom restaurant, he said \u201cthe technique and quality weren\u2019t there.\u201d\nAs for the additions, he praised Little Pearl\u2019s \u201cgreat value\u201d; said that Maydan\u2019s live-fire cooking \u201cdazzled us\u201d; praised \u201cthe\u00a0quality of product and skill going into the meal\u201d at\u00a0Sushi Nakazawa; and said Gravitas \u201cright away struck us as [offering] star-caliber cuisine.\u201d\nThe addition of Little Pearl, the Capitol Hill gem that transforms, Batman-like, from a cafe by day to a wine bar by night, is a coup for chef and owner Aaron Silverman. He\u2019s also the force behind two-star Pineapple and Pearls and one-star Rose\u2019s Luxury, which means all three of his properties now have stars, a feat unmatched by other Washington chefs with multiple restaurants.\nKnowing the drill from previous years \u2014 representatives from Michelin call the morning the list is published \u2014 Silverman told The Washington Post he was waiting with a question. \u201cI was going to ask them what I needed to do to bring Little Pearl up to the level\u201d of a star, he said.\nAnd when he was informed that it was a fait accompli? \u201cI was blown away,\u201d he said. \u201cFor the staff, it\u2019s a recognition of their hard work. That sounds cliche, but it\u2019s true.\u201d\nHe and his staff had already celebrated the night before; they hosted a collaborative dinner in honor of the Michelin list with fellow one-stars Bresca and the Dabney. \u201cWe do it ahead of time, so there\u2019s no pressure about who got how many stars,\u201d he says. \u201cHonestly, it\u2019s not about stars; it\u2019s about the D.C. restaurant community.\u201d\nAs for Bad Saint losing its Bib status, our inspector says, \u201cIt\u2019s a lovely restaurant and well deserves to be a local favorite. But the p\nThe Michelin star as a measurement of a restaurant might feel a bit dusty. The designation was created almost a century ago by a tire company with the goal of getting diners out on the road (and wearing out those treads!) to discover far-flung gastronomic destinations. These days, we\u2019re eating hyperlocally and more concerned about our carbon footprint than the joys of burning rubber.\nBut the star system chugs along.\nOne way Michelin is looking to keep up with the times? The company is emphasizing the globe-spanning cuisines on the list. The inspector noted that 36 cuisines are represented in the 130 Washington establishments on the list (which includes the starred establishments, the Bib Gourmands, and a slew of others that merely get the moniker of \u201cMichelin Plates\u201d). Seven appear on the starred list, a coterie that got a boost from the addition of Maydan\u2019s Middle Eastern-meets-African offerings.\n\u201cWhat was really exciting this year,\u201d he said, \u201cwas that Washington further expressed its rich diversity.\u201d\nAnd geographic diversity a little closer to home could be on its way, he added. Since the Michelin guide first came to Washington, there\u2019s been talk about expanding its reach into the gastronomically fertile \u2019burbs ringing the city.\n\u201cThat\u2019s something we\u2019re definitely talking about for the future,\u201d he said.\nGwendal Poullennec, international director\u00a0of the Michelin Guides, said the company could be bringing its signature little red books to other U.S. cities, though he declined to identify what metropolis might be in the mix. \u201cThe U.S. is a very interesting culinary market,\u201d he said. And he served this heads-up to restaurateurs across the land: \u201cWe always have inspectors in the field.\u201d\nHere\u2019s the full list of Washington\u2019s 2020 Michelin starred restaurants:\nThree Stars:\nThe Inn at Little Washington\nTwo stars:\nPineapple and Pearls\nMinibar\nOne star:\nBresca\nThe Dabney\nFiola\nGravitas\nKinship\nKomi\nLittle Pearl\nMasseria\nMayd\u0101n\nM\u00e9tier\nPlume\nRose\u2019s Luxury\nSushi Nakazawa\nSushi Taro\nTail Up Goat\nMore from\u00a0Food:\nTo David Chang, the \u2018ethnic\u2019 food aisle is racist. Others say it\u2019s convenient.\nThe key to White Claw\u2019s surging popularity: Marketing to a post-gender world\nWe did it, America. We ate Popeyes out of chicken sandwiches."}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "6DMFDTYTL5HPHIHUHKWVEAEL7U_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "6DMFDTYTL5HPHIHUHKWVEAEL7U_0", "title": "Patrick O\u2019Connell wins James Beard lifetime achievement award for his decades at the Inn at Little Washington", "text": "In September, Inn at Little Washington chef Patrick O\u2019Connell achieved a lifelong goal, one of the highest culinary achievements: a third Michelin star. Turns out, there were more accolades to come. On Thursday, the James Beard Foundation announced that O\u2019Connell would receive its lifetime achievement award at the annual James Beard Awards gala on May 6. O\u2019Connell, 73, founded his restaurant in a former garage 41 years ago in Washington, Va. It has since grown to become a world-class dining destination, modeled after the grand inns found in remote villages throughout Europe. In that time, O\u2019Connell has won five James Beard Awards, and has served the queens of England, Jordan and Spain and the king of Spain. The restaurant has topped the list of best restaurants in Tom Sietsema\u2019s Fall Dining Guide, and it debuted in the Washington Michelin guide with two stars before earning its third in 2018. \u201cThe trompe-l\u2019oeil peach \u2014 spun from peach compote, peach mousse, a chocolate stem and a fondant leaf \u2014 is worth the trip,\u201d wrote Sietsema in his most recent dining guide, in which he named the inn to his inaugural D.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame. \u201cBut the dessert, whose fruit changes with the season, is one of many pieces of evidence. I\u2019d throw in the hors d\u2019oeuvre that imagines a BLT as a parfait, the brilliant curry arranged with diver scallops finished with a spritz of calvados at the table, the eggplant Milanese bedded on ribbons of onions and tarted up with tomato-ginger jam, the last dish among the sumptuous vegetarian options.\u201d The restaurant and inn are dedicated to an over-the-top level of service: \u201cVisitors have been known to be greeted outside with an invitation to tour the hamlet in a horse-drawn carriage.\u201d O\u2019Connell celebrated the inn\u2019s anniversary last year with four events, including a $2,500-per-person dinner that re-created the experience of dining at the table of George Washington, with Thomas Keller and Alice Waters among the invitees. The JBF\u2019s lifetime achievement award is \u201cbestowed upon a person in the industry whose lifetime body of work has had a positive and long-lasting impact on the way we eat, cook, and think about food in America,\u201d said the news release. It praised O\u2019Connell for \u201ccultivating fruitful relationships with his neighbors \u2014 many of whom have a strong connection to the land\u201d in his small town. In 2017, another local chef, Nora Pouillon, was"}], "old": [{"_id": "6DMFDTYTL5HPHIHUHKWVEAEL7U_0", "title": "Patrick O\u2019Connell wins James Beard lifetime achievement award for his decades at the Inn at Little Washington", "text": "More from Food: The Inn at Little Washington earns its third Michelin star, a first for the D.C. region Soleil Ho is a young, queer woman of color who wants to redefine food criticism The World Restaurant Awards said it was committed to gender representation. So why is its shortlist mostly men?"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "In September, Inn at Little Washington chef Patrick O\u2019Connell achieved a lifelong goal, one of the highest culinary achievements: a third Michelin star. Turns out, there were more accolades to come. On Thursday, the James Beard Foundation announced that O\u2019Connell would receive its lifetime achievement award at the annual James Beard Awards gala on May 6.\nO\u2019Connell, 73, founded his restaurant in a former garage 41 years ago in Washington, Va. It has since grown to become a world-class dining destination, modeled after the grand inns found in remote villages throughout Europe. In that time, O\u2019Connell has won five James Beard Awards, and has served\u00a0the queens of England, Jordan and Spain and the king of Spain. The restaurant has topped the list of best restaurants in Tom Sietsema\u2019s Fall Dining Guide, and it debuted in the Washington Michelin guide with two stars before earning its third in 2018.\n\u201cThe trompe-l\u2019oeil peach \u2014 spun from peach compote, peach mousse, a chocolate stem and a fondant leaf \u2014 is worth the trip,\u201d wrote Sietsema in his most recent dining guide, in which he named the inn to his inaugural D.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame. \u201cBut the dessert, whose fruit changes with the season, is one of many pieces of evidence. I\u2019d throw in the hors d\u2019oeuvre that imagines a BLT as a parfait, the brilliant curry arranged with diver scallops finished with a spritz of calvados at the table, the eggplant Milanese bedded on ribbons of onions and tarted up with tomato-ginger jam, the last dish among the sumptuous vegetarian options.\u201d The restaurant and inn are dedicated to an over-the-top level of service: \u201cVisitors have been known to be greeted outside with an invitation to tour the hamlet in a horse-drawn carriage.\u201d\nO\u2019Connell celebrated the inn\u2019s anniversary last year with four events, including a $2,500-per-person dinner that re-created the experience of dining at the table of George Washington, with Thomas Keller and Alice Waters among the invitees.\nThe JBF\u2019s lifetime achievement award is \u201cbestowed upon a person in the industry whose lifetime body of work has had a positive and long-lasting impact on the way we eat, cook, and think about food in America,\u201d said the news release. It praised O\u2019Connell for \u201ccultivating fruitful relationships with his neighbors \u2014 many of whom have a strong connection to the land\u201d in his small town. In 2017, another local chef, Nora Pouillon, was selected for the lifetime achievement award. Her namesake D.C. restaurant changed the way chefs think about organic produce. Previous winners have included chef Jacques Pepin, critic Craig Claiborne and winemaker Robert Mondavi.\nIn the news release, O\u2019Connell said he was \u201chumbled\u201d to receive the honor. \u201cI\u2019m living proof that you can hide out in a mountain village with a population of 133 and still be discovered and recognized by your peers,\u201d he said. \u201cThe power of good food should never be underestimated.\u201d\nMore from Food:\nThe Inn at Little Washington earns its third Michelin star, a first for the D.C. region\nSoleil Ho is a young, queer woman of color who wants to redefine food criticism\nThe World Restaurant Awards said it was committed to gender representation. So why is its shortlist mostly men?"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "7cba3850-8fd7-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_1", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "7cba3850-8fd7-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_1", "title": "It\u2019s obvious: To Michelin, lower-priced restaurants are an afterthought", "text": "or less my turf. But, frankly, I\u2019d lose all credibility if I dared to pass off Doi Moi, Bad Saint, Zaytinya, Kyirisan and others as cheap eats. There\u2019s a difference between being able to cobble together a meal to meet an arbitrarily low price point and experiencing a restaurant as it was intended. Happy hour at Zaytinya, on Ninth Street NW. (Michael Temchine/For The Washington Post) To my mind, high-profile restaurants such as Bad Saint, Zaytinya and Kyirisan feel uncomfortably shoehorned into this category, perhaps because inspectors did not deem them worthy of a real Michelin star or two. If that\u2019s true, then the Bib classification seems as much a dumping ground for Michelin also-rans as a bargain-hunter\u2019s designation. I know this much is true: If Michelin were truly interested in quality food with a modest price tag, its inspectors would have investigated spots with less star power. It wouldn\u2019t take much research. At this point, numerous diners and critics have praised such places as Baan Thai, El Sol Restaurante & Tequileria, Donburi, Panda Gourmet, Indigo, Bub and Pop\u2019s, Taqueria Habanero, Mi Cuba Cafe and other bargain outlets within the District. Perhaps these places will appear on another bargain list that Michelin publishes. A spokesman reminded me that the D.C. Michelin Guide will include an \u201cUnder $25\u201d category, separate from the Bib Gourmand selections. These are recommended restaurants, just like the Bib Gourmand places, even if they carry no stars and no lip-smacking mascot heads. These second-tier cheap eats will be revealed Thursday, along with the prom-queen starred restaurants that will, of course, hog the spotlight. El Sol's steak huarache \u2014 masa with beans, cheese, cactus, sour cream and steak. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post) What qualities separate the restaurants on the two bargain-minded lists? I mean, other than an additional $15 on your tab at Bib joints? I wish I knew for certain. Media outlets and Michelin itself have said the Bibs are places where inspectors will happily spend their own money. They\u2019re inspector favorites, in other words, which seems a reasonable, if not exactly analytical, explanation for the separation of lower-cost eateries. Personally, I would have assumed inspectors would want to spend their own cash on any restaurant in the Red Guide. While restaurants in the Bib and Under $25 categories are not eligible for Michelin stars, they can appear on both budget lists, if the prices"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Jessica and Alfredo Solis, two of the founders of El Sol Restaurante & Tequileria, at the 14th Street restaurant. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\nMichelin did itself no favors this month when, in advance of its first Washington dining guide, the company announced the restaurants that had earned a \u201cBib Gourmand\u201d designation, awarded to those places deemed to serve excellent food at reasonable prices.\nThe guide\u2019s anonymous inspectors could find only 19 restaurants worthy of a Bib, named after the tire company\u2019s chubby, rubbery mascot, Bibendum, whose lip-licking face will accompany each eatery in the District\u2019s debut Michelin Guide, set to drop Thursday. The inspectors\u2019 quest was, no doubt, complicated by various factors: the established criteria (menus must offer two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less, excluding tax and gratuity), a newcomer\u2019s narrow knowledge of the local dining scene, the limited scope of the project (restaurants within the District\u2019s borders only) and Michelin\u2019s tradition of favoring refinement over rusticity.\nLet\u2019s not kid ourselves: In the rarefied and purified air of Michelin guides, a Bib designation assumes the mantle of a bargain and value restaurant, which, as The Washington Post\u2019s $20 Diner, is more or less my turf. But, frankly, I\u2019d lose all credibility if I dared to pass off Doi Moi, Bad Saint, Zaytinya, Kyirisan and others as cheap eats. There\u2019s a difference between being able to cobble together a meal to meet an arbitrarily low price point and experiencing a restaurant as it was intended.\nHappy hour at Zaytinya, on Ninth Street NW. (Michael Temchine/For The Washington Post)\nTo my mind, high-profile restaurants such as Bad Saint, Zaytinya and Kyirisan feel uncomfortably shoehorned into this category, perhaps because inspectors did not deem them worthy of a real Michelin star or two. If that\u2019s true, then the Bib classification seems as much a dumping ground for Michelin also-rans as a bargain-hunter\u2019s designation.\nI know this much is true: If Michelin were truly interested in quality food with a modest price tag, its inspectors would have investigated spots with less star power. It wouldn\u2019t take much research. At this point, numerous diners and critics have praised such places as Baan Thai, El Sol Restaurante & Tequileria, Donburi, Panda Gourmet, Indigo, Bub and Pop\u2019s, Taqueria Habanero, Mi Cuba Cafe and other bargain outlets within the District.\nPerhaps these places will appear on another bargain list that Michelin publishes. A spokesman reminded me that the D.C. Michelin Guide will include an \u201cUnder $25\u201d category, separate from the Bib Gourmand selections. These are recommended restaurants, just like the Bib Gourmand places, even if they carry no stars and no lip-smacking mascot heads. These second-tier cheap eats will be revealed Thursday, along with the prom-queen starred restaurants that will, of course, hog the spotlight.\nEl Sol's steak huarache \u2014 masa with beans, cheese, cactus, sour cream and steak. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\nWhat qualities separate the restaurants on the two bargain-minded lists? I mean, other than an additional $15 on your tab at Bib joints? I wish I knew for certain. Media outlets and Michelin itself have said the Bibs are places where inspectors will happily spend their own money. They\u2019re inspector favorites, in other words, which seems a reasonable, if not exactly analytical, explanation for the separation of lower-cost eateries. Personally, I would have assumed inspectors would want to spend their own cash on any restaurant in the Red Guide.\nWhile restaurants in the Bib and Under $25 categories are not eligible for Michelin stars, they can appear on both budget lists, if the prices are appropriate. For example, in the 2016 Michelin Guide for the San Francisco Bay area and surrounding wine country, three of the 74 Bib restaurants appear on the Under $25 list, too. The 2016 Chicago guide had a higher percentage of Bib restaurants on the Under $25 list: 11 of the Windy City\u2019s 58 Bibs were cheaper spots.\nOwners and staff at Bad Saint, a Filipino restaurant on 11 Street NW, open for business. (Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post)\nWhat does that mean? That Michelin inspectors would never set foot in most of the cheap eateries if they had to cover the check? That Michelin is padding the book with restaurants that don\u2019t really make the cut with inspectors? (This impression seems to be reinforced by restaurants that appear in the guides but are not officially included on any of the lists.) There are obviously more questions than answers, and only the anonymous inspectors can answer them.\nYou\u2019ll notice that both Chicago and San Francisco have far more Bib restaurants than the District. There are reasons for that. Washington\u2019s debut Michelin Guide was restricted not just by geography but also by budget and time. Many of the 10 inspectors who fanned out across Washington, a spokesman told me, also had to cover restaurants in other cities. Future editions of the D.C. guide, I\u2019m told, will expand into the suburbs and feature more Bibs.\nAll of which makes me think that, at least for the first edition, Michelin had its eye trained on the starred restaurants, not the cheaper ones. Adjust your expectations accordingly.\nMore from Food:\nHave questions about cooking? Join our live chat Wednesdays at 12."}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "HIOB2WIOOVFVFF5QHOO4D2SVAE_6", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "HIOB2WIOOVFVFF5QHOO4D2SVAE_6", "title": "20 Years of Dining in Washington", "text": "D\u2019Angelo). Chef Johnny Monis at his no-reservations Little Serow (Scott Suchman). As for my profession, the saying is true, notably in the years after Yelp made its debut in 2004: Everybody is a critic. Not only are amateur reviewers sharing with the world their thoughts about their dining experiences, they\u2019re commenting on professional critics. Frankly, I\u2019m fine with any competition. The more people talking about food, the merrier. Plus, competition tends to keep people on their toes. At the dawn of my tenure, I got dozens of calls a day and baskets of letters a month. Now, readers are comfortable instant messaging me at all hours of the day on social media \u2014 alas. (I heart you, gang, but I host a weekly online chat to address any burning restaurant questions.) Thirteen years ago, I declared Washington a top-tier restaurant city, evinced in part by my travels around the country: \u201cThe more I sample the handiwork of chefs outside the region, the more I admire what\u2019s on the menu right here at home.\u201d It wasn\u2019t until 2016, however, that national media seconded my vote of confidence. That\u2019s the year Bon App\u00e9tit anointed Washington the restaurant city of the year and the Michelin Guide began evaluating our dining establishments (not well or widely, perhaps, but the District lapped up the attention). \u201cBorn here, I\u2019d always considered D.C. a one-horse town,\u201d recalls veteran restaurateur Jackie Greenbaum, a champion of underdog neighborhoods. Three years ago, she visited a bunch of new spots in Los Angeles and says she couldn\u2019t wait to come home. \u201cI couldn\u2019t figure out why for a bit, then I realized it was because D.C. was just as cool as L.A., if not cooler, and lacked the pretense.\u201d She has a point. Just look at all the good things in small packages, and all over the city. As far as fine dining is concerned, no market in the country does it better than Washington, which has replaced the form\u2019s traditional stuffiness with whimsy while remaining delicious. The Inn at Little Washington got the ball rolling here, with word plays on its menu and a cheese cart that moos, but successive high-end players keep the bar high. Witness the tiny (and oft-stolen) hammers used to shatter toffee at Kinship, the cocktails whipped up tableside at Pineapple and Pearls, the everything at Minibar. The more I think about it, O\u2019Connell and my"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "T\nO\u2019Connell, of course, is defying gravity at the Inn at Little Washington, the Virginia dining destination that has entertained several generations of merrymakers over four decades and last year garnered the ultimate three stars from France\u2019s Michelin Guide.\nMy black-and-white sketch endures, too, never updated to mark the passage of time. More than 9,000 restaurant meals on the job can take their toll on a critic. A current (and honest) rendering would reveal an extra chin and a fuller suit.\nNot that I\u2019m complaining. Everyone should be so lucky to be paid to pursue their passion. My great fortune over two decades has been to document the Washington dining scene for a discerning audience \u2014 to chew and tell, so to speak.\nBesides, time flies when you\u2019re having pho \u2026 and lamb vindaloo, baby goat, steamed mussels, Peking duck, doro wat, chicken peri-peri, a daiquiri animated with Pop Rocks, pasta tinted with squid ink, \u201cbreakfast for dinner,\u201d vegetable charcuterie, 100-day-old kimchi and more dishes of whole fish and grilled meat than I can count.\nSpeaking of steak, my debut review put me at the Prime Rib on K Street. The restaurant was far from new even then, but it occupied a place along a power corridor and served something I figured a lot of readers could relate to, in a dining room so formal it kept a closet of coats and ties for gentlemen who didn\u2019t know better. Back then, patrons sought out steakhouses, or looked to French or Italian restaurants, to mark special occasions.\nNow, I\u2019d no more launch a column with one of those flavors than wear skinny jeans. As a world capital, Washington has always offered dozens of cuisines, but only recently have the non-European examples risen to broad prominence. A younger me would have raised an eyebrow at the idea that people would stand in line, sometimes for hours, for northern Thai food in a basement (Little Serow, introduced in 2011) or even an American restaurant where the signature is a bowl of pork, litchis and chiles (Rose\u2019s Luxury, opened in 2013).\nBut a younger me also worked in a different Washington. Dupont Circle, Georgetown and later Penn Quarter hosted many of the best tables. The idea of \u201cdowntown\u201d dining pretty much stopped with the seafood-themed DC Coast at 14th and K streets. (There were exceptions, including Rupperts, a trendy taste of Berkeley on Seventh Street NW.) Toward the end of 2000, the game changed markedly with the arrival of a sprawling Fresh Fields (now Whole Foods Market) in Logan Circle. Once known for bulletproof windows and greasy carryouts, the neighborhood gained instant cachet. \u201cWith the cars double-parked outside,\u201d wrote Anne Hull in The Washington Post a year later, \u201cit became apparent there was a new drug on P Street. It was called food.\u201d\nBack then, the leaders of the chef pack were mostly white men with some age on them: O\u2019Connell in the hinterland and Jeff Buben (Vidalia), Roberto Donna (Galileo), Bob Kinkead (Kinkead\u2019s) and Michel Richard (Citronelle) in the District. \u201cIf one wanted to become a chef,\u201d says Amy Brandwein, a protege of Donna\u2019s who went on to open the beloved Centrolina in 2015, \u201cthose were the restaurants you went to work for. Nowhere else.\u201d\nThe headliners these days are apt to be younger people of color and women: Kwame Onwuachi, Erik Bruner-Yang and Marjorie Meek-Bradley, among others. Motivated at least for a time by agreeable rents and a desire to cook where customers actually live, a new generation of chefs and restaurants has turned Shaw and H Street NE into dining meccas. More recently, the Navy Yard and the Wharf have added to the area\u2019s embarrassment of restaurant riches \u2014 and rooms with views.\nDining out is a bigger sport than ever. Last year, consumers spent an estimated $4.4\u00a0billion in the District alone, according to the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. That\u2019s almost double the amount from 2006, the last time I referenced local food and drink sales.\nThe sport has gotten more expensive, but affluent and well-educated Washington diners are willing to pay the price. \u201cIs okra the new truffle?\u201d Eric Ziebold wondered in a recent email to me. The chef at Kinship and M\u00e9tier had just seen the vegetable selling for almost $7 a pound at a farmers market. The gist: Diners are willing to pay for their choices. \u201cThey do want better products, they do want to eat more responsibly, and they do have the means to pay for it,\u201d he wrote.\nSince my maiden dining guide, in which I told readers where I spent my own money (and got lambasted by some for the $19,000 I dropped that year), we\u2019ve come a long way, baby. Flipping through fall roundups past felt like perusing a memory book. Here I am in 2004, talking about chef-to-watch Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, improved bread baskets and neighborhood spots offering amuse-bouches \u2014 a fine-dining accent \u2014 but also complaining about the plight of vegetarians. Three years later saw me describing spinoffs from prominent chefs, street corners peddling more than hot dogs, and Logan Circle and the Atlas District as dining destinations. On my 10th anniversary as food critic, the news included an uptick in female sommeliers, farmers being hailed as heroes, destination suburban restaurants and celebrity chefs lured to open outposts in Washington.\nVeteran tastemakers point to a couple of pivotal factors in the past 20 years. One was the 2008 recession, which hit fine-dining establishments especially hard. Seemingly overnight, linens and flowers got 86\u2019d. We\u2019ve been eating differently ever since. Take lunch. When\u2019s the last time you actually reserved an afternoon table anywhere? A fleet of food trucks and a small army of homegrown, fast-casual operators, among them Cava and Sweetgreen, diverted our attention and budgets away from seated, multicourse lunches.\nEqually profound was the widespread reliance on the Internet, followed by social media, which changed the game for diners, chefs and critics alike.\nThe paying public could get a taste of a place before it stepped inside. All they had to do was click on a restaurant\u2019s website or scroll through a Yelp review. Ziebold recalls returning to Washington from California in 2004 and hearing good things about Ethiopian food. He enlisted staff from that part of the world to serve as guides. That\u2019s how it worked then. Fast forward: \u201cI just did a Google search of Ethiopian cuisine, which turned up 23,900,900 results in .98 seconds,\u201d he emailed.\nArmed with more knowledge, today\u2019s diners are primed to document their every bite, behavior that has changed what happens in the kitchen and elsewhere. One reason hot food might be cold by the time you get it is because young chefs in particular know you might be photographing it and they want it to look its best. Minibar by Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s this year replaced its high-sheen oak counter in the open kitchen with a cherry wood surface \u2014 the better backdrop for Instagrammers, of course.\nFrom left: Spike Gjerde in 2013; the Line hotel, which opened in 2017, is home to his restaurant A Rake\u2019s Progress (Sarah L. Voisin). Chef Ris Lacoste in 2012; her West End restaurant, Ris, opened in 2010 (Rebecca D\u2019Angelo). Chef Johnny Monis at his no-reservations Little Serow (Scott Suchman).\nAs for my profession, the saying is true, notably in the years after Yelp made its debut in 2004: Everybody is a critic. Not only are amateur reviewers sharing with the world their thoughts about their dining experiences, they\u2019re commenting on professional critics. Frankly, I\u2019m fine with any competition. The more people talking about food, the merrier. Plus, competition tends to keep people on their toes.\nAt the dawn of my tenure, I got dozens of calls a day and baskets of letters a month. Now, readers are comfortable instant messaging me at all hours of the day on social media \u2014 alas. (I heart you, gang, but I host a weekly online chat to address any burning restaurant questions.)\nThirteen years ago, I declared Washington a top-tier restaurant city, evinced in part by my travels around the country: \u201cThe more I sample the handiwork of chefs outside the region, the more I admire what\u2019s on the menu right here at home.\u201d It wasn\u2019t until 2016, however, that national media seconded my vote of confidence. That\u2019s the year Bon App\u00e9tit anointed Washington the restaurant city of the year and the Michelin Guide began evaluating our dining establishments (not well or widely, perhaps, but the District lapped up the attention).\n\u201cBorn here, I\u2019d always considered D.C. a one-horse town,\u201d recalls veteran restaurateur Jackie Greenbaum, a champion of underdog neighborhoods. Three years ago, she visited a bunch of new spots in Los Angeles and says she couldn\u2019t wait to come home. \u201cI couldn\u2019t figure out why for a bit, then I realized it was because D.C. was just as cool as L.A., if not cooler, and lacked the pretense.\u201d\nShe has a point. Just look at all the good things in small packages, and all over the city. As far as fine dining is concerned, no market in the country does it better than Washington, which has replaced the form\u2019s traditional stuffiness with whimsy while remaining delicious. The Inn at Little Washington got the ball rolling here, with word plays on its menu and a cheese cart that moos, but successive high-end players keep the bar high. Witness the tiny (and oft-stolen) hammers used to shatter toffee at Kinship, the cocktails whipped up tableside at Pineapple and Pearls, the everything at Minibar.\nThe more I think about it, O\u2019Connell and my illustrated mug aren\u2019t the only constants on the Washington food scene. Look up from your bowls of ramen, your plates of pizza and your pavlova \u2014 this year\u2019s \u201cit\u201d dessert \u2014 and you\u2019ll see plentiful examples of that old standby, steak.\nFor years, some of us have tried to erase this city\u2019s out-of-date reputation as a meat market. We are more than steakhouses! But here we are in 2019, with plenty of new brands to try, and I\u2019m not going to dwell on it, because the grill-forward arrivals are outflanked by dozens of more compelling styles of cooking. In my mash note to Washington four years ago, Andr\u00e9s summed up the landscape when he said, \u201cWe are not one thing, but so many things at once.\u201d The sentiment is truer than ever today. Eat on.\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:\nIn the news:"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "LYHPV5WQ3MI6TB72QUA2IVWAAM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "LYHPV5WQ3MI6TB72QUA2IVWAAM_0", "title": "Since 2000, these trailblazers have helped make D.C. a better place to eat", "text": "Hundreds of people have made Washington a better place to eat, drink and be merry since I became food critic in 2000. These brands blazed trails: Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s: Ashok Bajaj: Amy Brandwein: Derek Brown: Jeff Buben: Erik Bruner-Yang: Lisa and Peter Chang: Jackie Greenbaum: Mark Furstenberg: The Nortons: The Obamas: Patrick O\u2019Connell: Michel Richard: Andy Shallal: Fabio and Maria Trabocchi:"}], "old": [{"_id": "LYHPV5WQ3MI6TB72QUA2IVWAAM_0", "title": "Since 2000, these trailblazers have helped make D.C. a better place to eat", "text": "Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s: Ashok Bajaj: Amy Brandwein: Derek Brown: Jeff Buben: Erik Bruner-Yang: Lisa and Peter Chang: Jackie Greenbaum: Mark Furstenberg: The Nortons: The Obamas: Patrick O\u2019Connell: Michel Richard: Andy Shallal: Fabio and Maria Trabocchi:"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Hundreds of people have made Washington a better place to eat, drink and be merry since I became food critic in 2000. These brands blazed trails:\nJos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s:\nAshok Bajaj:\nAmy Brandwein:\nDerek Brown:\nJeff Buben:\nErik Bruner-Yang:\nLisa and Peter Chang:\nJackie Greenbaum:\nMark Furstenberg:\nThe Nortons:\nThe Obamas:\nPatrick O\u2019Connell:\nMichel Richard:\nAndy Shallal:\nFabio and Maria Trabocchi:"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "MOMFSMEDHUI6VI7L5H6JGFQHAM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "MOMFSMEDHUI6VI7L5H6JGFQHAM_0", "title": "Recapture the spirit of date night \u2014 remember that? \u2014 with takeout for 2 from these restaurants", "text": "Remember date night, when a couple could escape for a leisurely meal and spend time talking and catching up after a week of work? We can\u2019t eat at restaurants now, but we can try to recapture some of that spirit, thanks to restaurants bringing multicourse meal packages and optional wine pairings into your home. Some are fine-dining establishments preparing swordfish or wagyu brisket, while others bring the vibe of a carefree Friday night. The Michelin-starred Masseria used to offer guided tasting menus with four to six courses in its dining room near Union Market. Now, the \u201cMasseria a Casa\u201d takeout menu offers one multicourse meal for two each day. Diners can check the restaurant website on Monday to see a week\u2019s worth of dinners and plan ahead. The reduced number of options is the result of both a leaner team in the kitchen and the challenges of getting ingredients. \u201cWe used to get deliveries from the West Coast every day, or overnight from Italy,\u201d chef Nick Stefanelli says. Now, \u201csome deliver once a week, some every other day.\u201d But the intent is still there: \u201cWe\u2019re trying to stay within what Masseria\u2019s experience was \u2014 being able to bring happiness through food,\u201d he says. Creating a restaurant-like experience is also on the mind of Michael Rafidi, the chef at Albi near the Navy Yard. His weekly three-course menu features a limited number of courses, he says, to remove guesswork for customers. Albi\u2019s staff has been trained to guide diners through the menu and answer questions about flavors and serving sizes, which just isn\u2019t possible for people reading a menu from a screen. \u201cWhen you\u2019re ordering a la carte, you\u2019re not getting the best of what we do here,\u201d Rafidi says. However, just because you\u2019re ordering a meal from a renowned chef doesn\u2019t mean that their kitchen is doing all the work. A recent takeout dinner for two from the Michelin-starred Rose\u2019s Luxury arrived in a fleet of 18 different plastic containers with a sheet of paper providing \u201ca couple of tips\u201d for each of the four courses, including advice to heat sausage in the microwave for 30 seconds before mixing it into the restaurant\u2019s famous litchi salad. \u201cThere was a big learning curve\u201d with packaging food to go, says Masseria\u2019s Stefanelli, whose menu also arrives with detailed instructions. \u201cWe put a three-course meal in a bag but didn\u2019t label each of"}], "old": [{"_id": "MOMFSMEDHUI6VI7L5H6JGFQHAM_0", "title": "Recapture the spirit of date night \u2014 remember that? \u2014 with takeout for 2 from these restaurants", "text": "ABC Pony 2 I St. SE. Dinner-to-go menu available after 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. $50. abcpony.com. Albi 1346 Fourth St. SE. Dinner available from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. $40-$95. albidc.com. Bresca 1906 14th St. NW. Available from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. $45-$195. brescadc.com. Centrolina 974 Palmer Alley NW. Available daily from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. $115. centrolinadc.com. Masseria 1340 Fourth St. NE. Available between 4 and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. $85-$225. masseria-dc.com. Rose\u2019s Luxury 717 Eighth St. SE. Available for takeout between 5 and 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. $45. rosesluxury.com. Sfoglina 4445 Connecticut Ave. NW. Takeout and delivery available from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Same-day orders must be placed by 5 p.m. $85. sfoglinapasta.com. fritz.hahn@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Remember date night, when a couple could escape for a leisurely meal and spend time talking and catching up after a week of work?\nWe can\u2019t eat at restaurants now, but we can try to recapture some of that spirit, thanks to restaurants bringing multicourse meal packages and optional wine pairings into your home. Some are fine-dining establishments preparing swordfish or wagyu brisket, while others bring the vibe of a carefree Friday night.\nThe Michelin-starred Masseria used to offer guided tasting menus with four to six courses in its dining room near Union Market. Now, the \u201cMasseria a Casa\u201d takeout menu offers one multicourse meal for two each day. Diners can check the restaurant website on Monday to see a week\u2019s worth of dinners and plan ahead. The reduced number of options is the result of both a leaner team in the kitchen and the challenges of getting ingredients. \u201cWe used to get deliveries from the West Coast every day, or overnight from Italy,\u201d chef Nick Stefanelli says. Now, \u201csome deliver once a week, some every other day.\u201d But the intent is still there: \u201cWe\u2019re trying to stay within what Masseria\u2019s experience was \u2014 being able to bring happiness through food,\u201d he says.\nCreating a restaurant-like experience is also on the mind of Michael Rafidi, the chef at Albi near the Navy Yard. His weekly three-course menu features a limited number of courses, he says, to remove guesswork for customers. Albi\u2019s staff has been trained to guide diners through the menu and answer questions about flavors and serving sizes, which just isn\u2019t possible for people reading a menu from a screen. \u201cWhen you\u2019re ordering a la carte, you\u2019re not getting the best of what we do here,\u201d Rafidi says.\nHowever, just because you\u2019re ordering a meal from a renowned chef doesn\u2019t mean that their kitchen is doing all the work. A recent takeout dinner for two from the Michelin-starred Rose\u2019s Luxury arrived in a fleet of 18 different plastic containers with a sheet of paper providing \u201ca couple of tips\u201d for each of the four courses, including advice to heat sausage in the microwave for 30 seconds before mixing it into the restaurant\u2019s famous litchi salad.\n\u201cThere was a big learning curve\u201d with packaging food to go, says Masseria\u2019s Stefanelli, whose menu also arrives with detailed instructions. \u201cWe put a three-course meal in a bag but didn\u2019t label each of the sauces. We\u2019d get phone calls, \u2018What\u2019s in this bag?\u2019 \u2018What do I do with this?\u2019\u201d since sauces and toppings are packaged separately from other items. Another common question: What to do with leftovers, so \u201cwe\u2019re adding reheating instructions,\u201d Stefanelli says.\nWhile doing the work yourself takes away from the illusion of dining out, pacing multiple courses lends itself to savoring the food, not rushing. You have to get up after each course, possibly reheat, and definitely replate, while someone gets to enjoy another glass of wine. (All these restaurants offer optional wine and cocktails, usually pairings created with their sommeliers.)\nThe upside, of course, is the price: In different times, spending $45 at Rose\u2019s Luxury might get you two small plates and a cocktail. Here, it gets you four courses, with leftovers.\nAnd while what\u2019s on your plate is the focus, some restaurants go beyond the food to create an experience. On Friday nights, Erik Bruner-Yang\u2019s ABC Pony offers a rotating menu of Philippine dishes, and diners are encouraged to tune in to the restaurant\u2019s Instagram Live, where Les Talusan, a native of Manila and regular DJ at local clubs Showtime and Marx Cafe, provides a jumping soundtrack of vintage Philippine pop and disco, spun live on vinyl. For a couple of hours, as you feast on pork belly and groove to Bong Penera, you can close your eyes and imagine that you\u2019re somewhere other than your dining room table.\nABC Pony\nChef Paolo Dungca is a native of the Philippines, and previously cooked at Bad Saint and Kaliwa. Bruner-Yang says some members of the Filipino community \u201cwere coming in and teasing [Dungca] that there wasn\u2019t enough Filipino on the menu.\u201d At the same time, DJ Les Talusan had brought up \u201chosting an actual Filipino disco night\u201d at ABC Pony, and Bruner-Yang says it made sense to combine the two. An added attraction is that Friday is focused toward vegetarians, with meat \u2014 such as last week\u2019s crispy pork belly \u2014 available as an add-on.\n2 I St. SE. Dinner-to-go menu available after 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. $50. abcpony.com.\nAlbi\nAlbi offers a three-course dinner for $40 per person, or the \u201call-out\u201d family-style meal for two or three, which comes with a trio of small plates, a large main course and sides, and dessert to finish, for an all-inclusive $95. Either way, recommended wine pairings start at a reasonable $33. (For those who want a smaller taste, a la carte options and shawarma lunch specials are also available.)\n1346 Fourth St. SE. Dinner available from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. $40-$95. albidc.com.\nBresca\nAnyone craving a simulated steakhouse experience can splurge on the Steak House Classic, a $195 dinner for two with a 32-ounce prime dry-aged rib-eye that\u2019s triple-seared over charcoal, and all the accoutrements: shrimp cocktail, wedge salad and sides.\n1906 14th St. NW. Available from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. $45-$195. brescadc.com.\nCentrolina\nWhile an a la carte menu is available for carryout or delivery, it\u2019s easier to just let chef Amy Brandwein do the hard work, with three \u201cdinner sets\u201d that come with everything you need for two people: antipasti; focaccia or a baguette; a pasta course; a choice of Mediterranean sea bass, rib eye or charred chicken with sides; cookies or a daily pastry; and a bottle of wine.\n974 Palmer Alley NW. Available daily from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. $115. centrolinadc.com.\nMasseria\nMasseria will deliver \u201canywhere inside the Beltway,\u201d Stefanelli says, and a steady flow of business has allow him to hire back some employees who were laid off when the restaurant initially closed.\n1340 Fourth St. NE. Available between 4 and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. $85-$225. masseria-dc.com.\nRose\u2019s Luxury\nAs noted above, the bags of food come with many containers and easy-to-follow instructions on how to prepare the food at home. Make sure to grab a bottle of wine for an extra $45, picked by the house sommelier.\n717 Eighth St. SE. Available for takeout between 5 and 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. $45. rosesluxury.com.\nSfoglina\nToss in a bottle of wine, such as the $15 Pinot Grigio da Fabio Trabocchi from Italy\u2019s Cantina La Vis, or one of the at-home cocktail kits for two, and you\u2019re set.\n4445 Connecticut Ave. NW. Takeout and delivery available from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Same-day orders must be placed by 5 p.m. $85. sfoglinapasta.com.\nfritz.hahn@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "PL5HVNRLBRAJXAFFGSRH6ZZQAY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "PL5HVNRLBRAJXAFFGSRH6ZZQAY_0", "title": "Washington\u2019s Michelin stars feted at the French Embassy", "text": "More than a dozen of Washington\u2019s top chefs gathered on the dramatic staircase of the French ambassador\u2019s residence on Thursday night, their chef whites traded for stylish suits, clutching fresh-off-the-presses copies of the red-jacketed Michelin guide in which each of them had earned a star or two. Though the party, hosted by Ambassador G\u00e9rard Araud, was ostensibly a celebration of all of them, there was a definite sense in the room \u2014 even among the honorees \u2014 that this was Patrick O\u2019Connell\u2019s party and they were all just there to enjoy it. O\u2019Connell, the proprietor of the Inn at Little Washington, had just earned a rare third star in the famed French gastronomic guidebook, a first since Michelin debuted its Washington edition three years ago and a distinction that launched O\u2019Connell, who has made no secret over the years of his star-lust, into an ultra-prestigious club. He was beaming, of course, amid well-heeled well-wishers, including International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde and what seemed like half of the city\u2019s culinary world. And though everyone wanted to make the night all about him, he was quick to turn the credit to the team that works with him at the Inn, which just celebrated its 40th anniversary, and to his loyal clientele. \u201cIt\u2019s an extended family that now goes back generations,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is theirs.\u201d Our conversation with O\u2019Connell was interrupted several times by champagne-flute-toting partygoers who just had to stop by, shake his hand, and tell him about some memorable meal or another they\u2019d had at the Inn. Anniversaries and birthdays were recounted in rapturous detail. Among the fans queuing up? Oh, look, it\u2019s Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), who hesitated before telling us about his favorite night enjoying O\u2019Connell\u2019s hospitality. Yes, he got engaged there, he said, \u201cbut everyone gets engaged there!\u201d His best story was hardly cliche: After his last day as governor in 2006, after handing over the keys to the governor\u2019s mansion to his successor (that was now-Sen. Tim Kaine), per Virginia tradition, an outgoing governor gets one last trip anywhere in the commonwealth, provided by the state police. With the option of heading anywhere, Warner had the uniformed guys drop him off \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 at the Inn, where he and his wife joined six other couples for dinner. \u201cWe stayed up way too late talking,\u201d Warner remembered. \u201cAnd I made you an"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "More than a dozen of Washington\u2019s top chefs gathered on the dramatic staircase of the French ambassador\u2019s residence on Thursday night, their chef whites traded for stylish suits, clutching fresh-off-the-presses copies of the red-jacketed Michelin guide in which each of them had earned a star or two. Though the party, hosted by Ambassador G\u00e9rard Araud, was ostensibly a celebration of all of them, there was a definite sense in the room \u2014 even among the honorees \u2014 that this was Patrick O\u2019Connell\u2019s party and they were all just there to enjoy it.\nO\u2019Connell, the proprietor of the Inn at Little Washington, had just earned a rare third star in the famed French gastronomic guidebook, a first since Michelin debuted its Washington edition three years ago and a distinction that launched O\u2019Connell, who has made no secret over the years of his star-lust, into an ultra-prestigious club.\nHe was beaming, of course, amid well-heeled well-wishers, including International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde and what seemed like half of the city\u2019s culinary world. And though everyone wanted to make the night all about him, he was quick to turn the credit to the team that works with him at the Inn, which just celebrated its 40th anniversary, and to his loyal clientele. \u201cIt\u2019s an extended family that now goes back generations,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is theirs.\u201d\nOur conversation with O\u2019Connell was interrupted several times by champagne-flute-toting partygoers who just had to stop by, shake his hand, and tell him about some memorable meal or another they\u2019d had at the Inn. Anniversaries and birthdays were recounted in rapturous detail. Among the fans queuing up? Oh, look, it\u2019s Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), who hesitated before telling us about his favorite night enjoying O\u2019Connell\u2019s hospitality. Yes, he got engaged there, he said, \u201cbut everyone gets engaged there!\u201d\nHis best story was hardly cliche: After his last day as governor in 2006, after handing over the keys to the governor\u2019s mansion to his successor (that was now-Sen. Tim Kaine), per Virginia tradition, an outgoing governor gets one last trip anywhere in the commonwealth, provided by the state police. With the option of heading anywhere, Warner had the uniformed guys drop him off \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 at the Inn, where he and his wife joined six other couples for dinner.\n\u201cWe stayed up way too late talking,\u201d Warner remembered.\n\u201cAnd I made you an American flag cake,\u201d O\u2019Connell responded, smiling at the memory.\nAnother perk of a three-star designation? O\u2019Connell has finally caught up to several of his \u201cgodlike inspirations\u201d who are fellow members of the international\u00a0Relais\u00a0&\u00a0Ch\u00e2teaux organization, he says. \u201cI love that it\u2019s come full circle, that these are the people who created a direction for me, and now I\u2019ve been blessed to be in their same galaxy,\u201d he said.\nMany of the younger chefs in the room were perfectly okay with conceding the spotlight. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t be happier for him,\u201d said Aaron Silverman, whose restaurant Pineapple and Pearls retained its two stars. Silverman said that the elder statesman, whom he recalled first seeing in a magazine when he was a mere 10-year-old, offered chefs like him the same kind of inspiration that O\u2019Connell had found in his own three-starred mentors. \u201cThe Inn guys \u2014 they\u2019re our role models, and we just want to be like them when we grow up.\u201d"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "PQDXTN4KJBDSDK2SLFHNQIBCCY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "PQDXTN4KJBDSDK2SLFHNQIBCCY_0", "title": "Tom Sietsema on his Fall Dining Guide, from Fiola\u2019s disappearance to the four-star Baltimore restaurant", "text": "There\u2019s a lot to digest in Tom Sietsema\u2019s new Fall Dining Guide, including a new entry to the pantheon of four-star restaurants and a new \u201cD.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame\u201d category. Some restaurants are back in the dining guide after missing out for a year or six, while 10 restaurants that received three-star ratings in last year\u2019s guide have been left out altogether. Sietsema picked the three-star Del Mar as his No. 1 restaurant, ahead of the four-star Pineapple and Pearls. In his weekly online chat he explained why: \u201cThe Top 10 list is highly personal, a collection of current favorites that have less to do with star ratings than with my gut reaction to them,\u201d Sietsema wrote. \u201cPineapple and Pearls gets four stars for setting the bar for innovative fine dining, but I could see myself at (and send diners to) Del Mar more often for sublime service, Spanish food and ambiance.\u201d To make sense of the other changes, we chatted with The Post\u2019s restaurant critic. Fiola and Fiola Mare were two of the 10 \u2014 10! \u2014 restaurants that earned three stars in the \u201cThe crush of excellent new restaurants plays a role, sure. I\u2019d still recommend Fiola and Fiola Mare to readers looking for a high-end Italian or seafood experience, but I had more fun at some of their less-formal competitors, foremost Centrolina. (You can argue with \u2018best,\u2019 but not with \u2018favorite,\u2019 which is something more personal.)\u201d This year saw the introduction of a \u201c \u201cHall of Famers are restaurants that have been around for a while, sometimes a decade or more, but are worthy of high praise because they set the gold standard for French, omakase, Spanish tapas or whatever. I can\u2019t guarantee I\u2019ll run another such list next fall guide, and if I do, the mix could change. For instance, 2 Amys was not on the list because a flood meant I couldn\u2019t get there before it reopened.\u201d And lest these restaurants rest on their laurels, Sietsema adds, \u201cI am always going back to popular restaurants to see if they're performing well.\" Charleston \u201cCharleston is consistently excellent, food- and comfort-wise. I\u2019m rarely there that the chef isn\u2019t in her kitchen, and that dedication shows on the plate. The one thing that has held the restaurant back before was probably a coolness in the service, a certain stiffness that didn\u2019t signal \u2018Baltimore charm.\u2019 \u201d Like Charleston,"}], "old": [{"_id": "PQDXTN4KJBDSDK2SLFHNQIBCCY_0", "title": "Tom Sietsema on his Fall Dining Guide, from Fiola\u2019s disappearance to the four-star Baltimore restaurant", "text": "Fiola and Fiola Mare were two of the 10 \u2014 10! \u2014 restaurants that earned three stars in the This year saw the introduction of a \u201c Charleston Like Charleston, One inclusion that caught my eye was Elephant Jumps. The Falls Church Thai restaurant is back in the Dining Guide for the first time since 2011 and 2012. What made you take notice of them again? The Other interesting facts from this year\u2019s Dining Guide: READ MORE"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "There\u2019s a lot to digest in Tom Sietsema\u2019s new Fall Dining Guide, including a new entry to the pantheon of four-star restaurants and a new \u201cD.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame\u201d category. Some restaurants are back in the dining guide after missing out for a year or six, while 10 restaurants that received three-star ratings in last year\u2019s guide have been left out altogether.\nSietsema picked the three-star Del Mar as his No. 1 restaurant, ahead of the four-star Pineapple and Pearls. In his weekly online chat he explained why: \u201cThe Top 10 list is highly personal, a collection of current favorites that have less to do with star ratings than with my gut reaction to them,\u201d Sietsema wrote. \u201cPineapple and Pearls gets four stars for setting the bar for innovative fine dining, but I could see myself at (and send diners to) Del Mar more often for sublime service, Spanish food and ambiance.\u201d\nTo make sense of the other changes, we chatted with The Post\u2019s restaurant critic.\nFiola and Fiola Mare were two of the 10 \u2014 10! \u2014 restaurants that earned three stars in the\n\u201cThe crush of excellent new restaurants plays a role, sure. I\u2019d still recommend Fiola and Fiola Mare to readers looking for a high-end Italian or seafood experience, but I had more fun at some of their less-formal competitors, foremost Centrolina. (You can argue with \u2018best,\u2019 but not with \u2018favorite,\u2019 which is something more personal.)\u201d\nThis year saw the introduction of a \u201c\n\u201cHall of Famers are restaurants that have been around for a while, sometimes a decade or more, but are worthy of high praise because they set the gold standard for French, omakase, Spanish tapas or whatever. I can\u2019t guarantee I\u2019ll run another such list next fall guide, and if I do, the mix could change. For instance, 2 Amys was not on the list because a flood meant I couldn\u2019t get there before it reopened.\u201d\nAnd lest these restaurants rest on their laurels, Sietsema adds, \u201cI am always going back to popular restaurants to see if they're performing well.\"\nCharleston\n\u201cCharleston is consistently excellent, food- and comfort-wise. I\u2019m rarely there that the chef isn\u2019t in her kitchen, and that dedication shows on the plate. The one thing that has held the restaurant back before was probably a coolness in the service, a certain stiffness that didn\u2019t signal \u2018Baltimore charm.\u2019 \u201d\nLike Charleston,\n\u201cSushi Taro has always been great for omakase, but there were other Japanese restaurants I wanted to flag last year. As for Marcel\u2019s, it\u2019s been doing what it does so well, for so long, I felt I needed to create a special category to give the restaurant its due.\u201d\nOne inclusion that caught my eye was Elephant Jumps. The Falls Church Thai restaurant is back in the Dining Guide for the first time since 2011 and 2012. What made you take notice of them again?\n\u201cI had been eating Thai food around Washington, wondering why so many restaurants had slipped, and remembered how much I enjoyed Elephant Jumps in its early days. I returned, twice, hoping for a trip down memory lane, and came back with an example of a solid Thai kitchen I could recommend with confidence.\u201d\nThe\n\u201cI\u2019m still a big fan of the Tavern. It addresses so many diner wishes. But I figure it gets lots of love and attention on my chat, and as you point out, I sang its praises in the spring guide. Old Maryland Grill has been taken over by the hotel it\u2019s in, in College Park, and has switched concepts. As for Rake\u2019s Progress, as beautiful as the setting is, I\u2019d rather eat at the Dabney in Blagden Alley for Mid-Atlantic fare.\u201d\nOther interesting facts from this year\u2019s Dining Guide:\nFive Michelin-starred restaurants didn\u2019t make the guide: Blue Duck Tavern, Kinship, Masseria, Plume and Siren. (All have one Michelin star.)\nSix of the seven restaurants to earn four stars in 2017 kept that rating; M\u00e9tier slipped to 3.5.\nEight restaurants are located or have branches outside D.C.: Charleston, Elephant Jumps, Flamant, the Inn at Little Washington, Jaleo, Kuya Ja\u2019s Lechon Belly, Nasime, Q by Peter Chang and Three Blacksmiths. (There were five in the Spring Dining Guide and nine last fall.) Those looking for more suburban options should see Tim Carman\u2019s list of the 10 best bargains outside D.C.\nNine of the 30 restaurants in the Spring Dining Guide also made it into fall\u2019s: Seven of the top 10, including No. 1 Elle, plus Bresca and Kaliwa.\nForty-eight restaurants made this year\u2019s guide. Last year\u2019s, which included 53, was the largest guide ever.\nSixty was the lowest decibel reading in the new \u201cQuiet\u201d section of the guide, at M\u00e9tier. (Elle and Le Diplomate tied for loudest at 84.)\n$325 is the most expensive meal, for 12 courses with beverage pairings at Pineapple and Pearls. At the other end of the spectrum, the \u201cexcellent\u201d vegetable lumpia at Kuya Ja\u2019s Lechon Belly costs $4.49.\nREAD MORE\nTom Sietsema\u2019s 2018 Fall Dining Guide\nD.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame\nThe 10 best bargain restaurants in the suburbs"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "TKQTZXRGTFEWTPTVK5I6USIZWY_7", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "TKQTZXRGTFEWTPTVK5I6USIZWY_7", "title": "12 fancy-schmancy D.C. chefs reveal where they go for cheap comfort food", "text": "or Costco or whatever is a good, easy grab.\u201d Jon Sybert Chef and co-owner of Tail Up Goat shot up the ranks in just a few months when it was awarded a Michelin star in 2016. But the folks behind the Mediterranean spot in Adams Morgan aren\u2019t letting the honor go to their heads, says chef and co-owner Jon Sybert. \u201cMy wife\u2019s [Jill Tyler, service director and co-owner] constant refrain \u2018smart and kind\u2019 is really the cornerstone to our service ethos,\u201d Sybert says. When he\u2019s not crafting Tail Up\u2019s succulent dishes or putting the finishing touches on his soon-to-open casual eatery down the street, Reveler\u2019s Hour, he\u2019s chowing down on a $3.64 beef chili- and cheese-filled tortilla. \u201cMeats & Foods in Bloomingdale has a few of my favorite snacks in D.C., period, and is an amazing, inexpensive and delicious option,\u201d he says. \u201cThe Chilito is maybe my favorite single dish in the city.\u201d Ris Lacoste Owner of In D.C.\u2019s cutthroat restaurant scene, Ris Lacoste\u2019s West End namesake has held strong for the past decade. And to celebrate this milestone, Ris will soon undergo an extensive interior face-lift that will also add more savory American dishes to the menu. As a longtime D.C. resident, Lacoste has a list of favorite indulgences, one being &pizza\u2019s gluten-free pizza topped with spicy tomato sauce, vegan cheese, spinach, mushrooms, grilled onions, bacon, sausage, black olives, banana peppers and garlic oil. \u201cI rarely change [the toppings],\u201d she says. \u201cI did cheat on the dairy and wheat once and had the buffalo chicken pizza, and it was delicious!\u201d Nicholas Stefanelli Chef and owner of If you order carbonara at Nicholas Stefanelli\u2019s Officina at The Wharf, you\u2019ll get cheesy fritters instead of a plate of hearty pasta. The chef isn\u2019t afraid to play with his food, but he doesn\u2019t go completely off the rails either. \u201cWe make sure that the heart and soul of what we\u2019re trying to work on stays intact,\u201d he says of his Italian outposts. \u201cIf there\u2019s a slight variation on that, or something that we change creates a nuance, you still feel like the dish has some soulfulness to it.\u201d One of his favorite foods to eat during his downtime \u2014 besides peanut M&M\u2019s \u2014 isn\u2019t quite as nuanced. \u201cI like going to El Rinconcito Cafe on 11th and M for their sopa de res, which is a short-rib beef stew that\u2019s very good.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Once D.C.\u2019s best chefs are done cooking their elegant dishes for others, what do they eat while off the clock? Most likely, they\u2019re scarfing down a hot dog at 7-Eleven or tacos at a carryout joint. It\u2019s true, these chefs \u2014 even Michelin star and James Beard Award winners \u2014 feast on their favorite cheap comfort foods, just like us. Here, some notable names share their go-to places for fast, easy indulgences.\nCathal Armstrong\nCo-owner and chef of\nChef Cathal Armstrong calls himself \u201ca man of simple taste,\u201d despite running two of D.C.\u2019s buzziest restaurants, including Kaliwa at The Wharf. \u201cWhen my wife and I opened Restaurant Eve [in 2004], we would go to McDonald\u2019s for date night on Fridays and grab a Quarter Pounder,\u201d Armstrong says with a laugh. And while he\u2019s cut back on the Mickey D\u2019s and amped up his workout regimen, exercising six days a week now, he still indulges at his comfort spots, including Duangrat\u2019s Thai Restaurant in Falls Church and, on occasion, Five Guys and Shake Shack. \u201cFive Guys does that double cheeseburger with bacon and goes all out, and at Shake Shack I go for the classic ShackBurger.\u201d\nTeresa Velazquez\nHead chef and co-owner of\nThe family empire behind A Baked Joint and Baked & Wire offers some reprieve for diners with food restrictions with its new restaurant, La Betty. \u201cWhen I design anything, I try to make sure that anybody in any food group or allergens group can eat something on the menu,\u201d says the Mount Vernon Triangle restaurant\u2019s co-owner and head chef Teresa Velazquez. Since Velazquez spends the majority of her time cooking up American dishes, including veggie corn dogs and slow-roasted beef, her tastes outside of work skew toward other nations\u2019 cuisines. \u201cWe can get great soup dumplings from Shanghai Lounge,\u201d she says of dining out with her family. \u201cMy son lived in China for a while, and when we went to visit, we realized what they\u2019re actually supposed to taste like.\u201d\nYuan Tang\nExecutive chef and co-owner of\nWhen you\u2019re digging into the shiitake larb or crispy pig ear at 14th Street NW spot Rooster & Owl, it\u2019s meant to be a communal experience. The sharable, four-course small-plate menu takes its cues from the way Yuan Tang and his wife, Carey, dine out. But when Tang\u2019s not sharing food \u2014 or can\u2019t go to his other indulgence spot in Arlington, Quarterdeck \u2014 he makes a pit stop after work at 7-Eleven. \u201cThis is going to be very embarrassing, but I like 7-Eleven hot dogs,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a 7-Eleven two blocks away from the restaurant. One of my other guilty pleasures is their iced coffee. It\u2019s cheap and it\u2019s good. And I always get a hot dog with it.\u201d\nHaidar Karoum\nHead chef and owner of\nWhen Haidar Karoum opened his first solo venture, Chloe, last year in Navy Yard, he didn\u2019t want to be pigeonholed with the menu. \u201cAt an early age I was really lucky enough to experience a lot of different cuisines, and I think that\u2019s where my passion for food came from,\u201d Karoum says. His Michelin-recognized restaurant features Western and Eastern dishes, including crispy soft-shell crab and potato gnocchi. But even with his worldly culinary tastes, Karoum can\u2019t help but rave about the $17 shrimp deal at Woodley Park\u2019s Hot N Juicy Crawfish. \u201cIt\u2019s such a great deal for what you pay for a pound of shrimp. It\u2019s fantastic,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s always just super fresh \u2014 they serve it shell-on, head-on. When you suck on the head, it\u2019s the best part.\u201d\nEric Ziebold\nChef and co-owner of\nM\u00e9tier, which sits below restaurant Kinship, takes fine dining seriously \u2014 that means men are required to wear jackets, and you\u2019ll need to shell out at least $200 per person for the seven-course tasting menu that includes a sauteed filet of branzino and a pan-seared squab breast. Sure, chef Eric Ziebold owns one of the swankiest spots in town, but he\u2019s also got a soft spot for a cheap Salvadoran carryout joint in Alexandria. \u201cIt\u2019s by one of the farmers markets I go to \u2014 I stopped on a whim one day and \u2018discovered\u2019 it,\u201d he says. \u201cRosita\u2019s Restaurant and Carryout on Richmond Highway has really good tacos de barbacoa and a decent michelada.\u201d\nRobert Curtis\nExecutive chef of\nBefore Robert Curtis married Tu\u011f\u00e7e Saliho\u011flu, the couple had a long-distance relationship that involved Curtis making a trip to Istanbul. \u201cI went to my first meyhane [a traditional Turkish restaurant] and saw the style of restaurants and the way people were eating with the small plates,\u201d Curtis says. \u201cIt was amazing.\u201d Shaw\u2019s Hazel takes inspiration from his experience abroad, featuring dishes such as the carrot haydari (a Turkish yogurt dip) and bulgur kofte. When he\u2019s craving Turkish food outside of work, Curtis and Saliho\u011flu swear by downtown casual street-food spot Tempo. \u201cMy wife and I would go to it every week if we could,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the closest things I\u2019ve had to authentic Turkish food in the states, and the best kumpir I\u2019ve had outside of Istanbul.\u201d\nErin Clarke\nExecutive chef of\nPulling off Sfoglina\u2019s extravagant dishes, such as the pappardelle noodles and the BBQ-stuffed spinach tortellini, takes a veteran chef like Erin Clarke who knows how to make pasta from scratch. To perfect her craft, Clarke has traveled far and wide \u2014 including to Paris, where she trained under a Michelin-starred chef. After she\u2019s prepared her decadent noodle dishes and checked out for the day, Clarke sometimes heads to one of her favorite go-to cheap eateries, located in an Arlington strip mall. \u201cHands down, the best Thai food ever is Thai Square. It\u2019s like, if your grandmother was Thai, this is what you\u2019d be eating,\u201d she says of the long-standing eatery\u2019s menu. \u201cTheir papaya salad [the somtum] is the best \u2014 I always get two orders of it. My friend and I always try to re-create it, but we just end up leaving it up to them.\u201d\nMatt Baker\nExecutive chef and owner of\nGravitas is ideal for indecisive diners who can\u2019t pick just one entree \u2014 even if their lives depended on it. The Ivy City restaurant has several tasting menus featuring seasonal American fare that change regularly. Matt Baker\u2019s favorite indulgence spots include Capitol Hill\u2019s Chiko, Union Market\u2019s Stellina Pizzeria \u2014 and Cracker Barrel. \u201cI grew up in Texas, so I\u2019m always in the mood for a fried chicken or chicken fried steak or anything that\u2019s going to be stick-to-your-ribs-type cooking,\u201d he says. \u201cI went again to Cracker Barrel maybe three weeks ago and I got the fried chicken. It was phenomenal.\u201d\nReid Shilling\nExecutive chef and owner of\nReid Shilling\u2019s Mid-Atlantic restaurant in Navy Yard, Shilling Canning Company, pays homage to his family\u2019s former food processing business of the same name. \u201cWe work with 30 or 40 different farmers, producers or fishermen that bring their products to us directly from the farm or from the dock,\u201d he says. Shilling admits he spends most of his time eating at the restaurant, but sometimes those $2.75 salte\u00f1as at Luzmary Bolivian Restaurant in Falls Church can be too hard to resist. \u201cThey\u2019re Bolivia\u2019s version of a pocket pie. They\u2019re filled with chicken or beef, the dough is rich and they\u2019re a little bit sweet and super beautiful,\u201d he says. If he can\u2019t get to Luzmary, another indulgence awaits him in a supermarket aisle: \u201cA $5 chicken from Giant or Costco or whatever is a good, easy grab.\u201d\nJon Sybert\nChef and co-owner of\nTail Up Goat shot up the ranks in just a few months when it was awarded a Michelin star in 2016. But the folks behind the Mediterranean spot in Adams Morgan aren\u2019t letting the honor go to their heads, says chef and co-owner Jon Sybert. \u201cMy wife\u2019s [Jill Tyler, service director and co-owner] constant refrain \u2018smart and kind\u2019 is really the cornerstone to our service ethos,\u201d Sybert says. When he\u2019s not crafting Tail Up\u2019s succulent dishes or putting the finishing touches on his soon-to-open casual eatery down the street, Reveler\u2019s Hour, he\u2019s chowing down on a $3.64 beef chili- and cheese-filled tortilla. \u201cMeats & Foods in Bloomingdale has a few of my favorite snacks in D.C., period, and is an amazing, inexpensive and delicious option,\u201d he says. \u201cThe Chilito is maybe my favorite single dish in the city.\u201d\nRis Lacoste\nOwner of\nIn D.C.\u2019s cutthroat restaurant scene, Ris Lacoste\u2019s West End namesake has held strong for the past decade. And to celebrate this milestone, Ris will soon undergo an extensive interior face-lift that will also add more savory American dishes to the menu. As a longtime D.C. resident, Lacoste has a list of favorite indulgences, one being &pizza\u2019s gluten-free pizza topped with spicy tomato sauce, vegan cheese, spinach, mushrooms, grilled onions, bacon, sausage, black olives, banana peppers and garlic oil. \u201cI rarely change [the toppings],\u201d she says. \u201cI did cheat on the dairy and wheat once and had the buffalo chicken pizza, and it was delicious!\u201d\nNicholas Stefanelli\nChef and owner of\nIf you order carbonara at Nicholas Stefanelli\u2019s Officina at The Wharf, you\u2019ll get cheesy fritters instead of a plate of hearty pasta. The chef isn\u2019t afraid to play with his food, but he doesn\u2019t go completely off the rails either. \u201cWe make sure that the heart and soul of what we\u2019re trying to work on stays intact,\u201d he says of his Italian outposts. \u201cIf there\u2019s a slight variation on that, or something that we change creates a nuance, you still feel like the dish has some soulfulness to it.\u201d One of his favorite foods to eat during his downtime \u2014 besides peanut M&M\u2019s \u2014 isn\u2019t quite as nuanced. \u201cI like going to El Rinconcito Cafe on 11th and M for their sopa de res, which is a short-rib beef stew that\u2019s very good.\u201d"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "a3540253b58c882cf0caaa73ebfdac68_1", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a3540253b58c882cf0caaa73ebfdac68_1", "title": "Chef Edward Lee is opening a massive new Succotash in Penn Quarter next year", "text": "really affords us the ability to branch out on the culinary side, on the design side, and really do what we want Succotash to be able to do. So, we do think of it as a flagship location for us to create the type of full Succotash concept,\" says Knead co-founder Michael Reginbogin during a phone interview. [Sietsema: A taste of the new South comes to National Harbor with Succotash] If it sounds like Lee \u2014 a perpetual nominee in the James Beard Awards \u2014 and Knead are gunning for Michelin stars, you wouldn't be off-base in that assumption. The famous Michelin Guide will drop its first volume dedicated to D.C. dining on Oct. 13, too early for Succotash D.C. to earn a star. But the principals wouldn't mind seeing Succotash DC in the 2017 guide. \"I'm sure it's something that's crossed all of our minds,\" says Knead co-founder Jason Berry. \"We always want to take the brand further. National Harbor was a great place to test the concept and the menu, see what works, see what doesn't. And now we have a bigger canvas to paint on, and you have to take some chances and push the culinary envelope 100 percent.\" The plan, according to the partners, is to maintain the staples that \"put Succotash on the map at National Harbor\" \u2014 the crispy blue catfish, baby back ribs, pimento cheeseburger with bacon jam \u2014 but rejigger the menu with about 40 to 50 percent new items. It's too early to say what Lee may create for the D.C. location, but Berry says that National Harbor restaurant couldn't include a wood-fired grill. So expect some dishes with smoky flavor. Before anything happens, however, the Knead team has to complete designs. Reginbogin is working with //3877, a Georgetown firm that has designed Momofuku CCDC, Matchbox on 14th St. NW and other restaurants. The building's interior, with its soaring ceilings and statuesque columns, has been designated a historic site, which means Knead and company have to work with preservation officials to get approval for all designs. Knead plans to maintain the building's Greek revival architecture while adding \"grand touches evocative of late Southern architecture.\" At present, Berry says, the space is nothing but a \"cold, dark shell.\" Adds Reginbogin: \"We have to open everything up and put in plumbing, electrical, sewage, bathrooms, kitchens, you name it. There's nothing in there right"}], "old": [{"_id": "a3540253b58c882cf0caaa73ebfdac68_1", "title": "Chef Edward Lee is opening a massive new Succotash in Penn Quarter next year", "text": "in March 2017 with lunch and dinner service, and a bar with 200 whiskeys and a sizeable wine program. \"This space really affords us the ability to branch out on the culinary side, on the design side, and really do what we want Succotash to be able to do. So, we do think of it as a flagship location for us to create the type of full Succotash concept,\" says Knead co-founder Michael Reginbogin during a phone interview. [Sietsema: A taste of the new South comes to National Harbor with Succotash] \"I'm sure it's something that's crossed all of our minds,\" says Knead co-founder Jason Berry. \"We always want to take the brand further. National Harbor was a great place to test the concept and the menu, see what works, see what doesn't. And now we have a bigger canvas to paint on, and you have to take some chances and push the culinary envelope 100 percent.\" The plan, according to the partners, is to maintain the staples that \"put Succotash on the map at National Harbor\" \u2014 the crispy blue catfish, baby back ribs, pimento cheeseburger with bacon jam \u2014 but rejigger the menu with about 40 to 50 percent new items. It's too early to say what Lee may create for the D.C. location, but Berry says that National Harbor restaurant couldn't include a wood-fired grill. So expect some dishes with smoky flavor. At present, Berry says, the space is nothing but a \"cold, dark shell.\" Adds Reginbogin: \"We have to open everything up and put in plumbing, electrical, sewage, bathrooms, kitchens, you name it. There's nothing in there right now. There's not even air-conditioning.\" Despite the historic hurdles they have to clear, Reginbogin and Berry are confident they can hit their target opening date next spring. \"We have no issues or concerns about being able to create the space we want to create. We have to jump though some hoops before we get the building permit,\" says Berry. To which his partner Reginbogin adds: \"With a shell that's empty, you have a lot more flexibility as to what you put where. Where are we going to put the kitchen? Should we put it on the first floor, the second floor or the basement?\" That, in the end, may shave time off construction for Succotash D.C. \u2014 and allow Edward Lee to jump-start his campaign for Michelin stars."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Located in National Harbor, far from the mainstream of D.C. dining, Succotash has been a relatively safe port for Louisville-based chef Edward Lee to introduce his Asian-infused Southern cooking to Washingtonians. Or at least to the conventioneers who visit the self-contained community of breezy amusements. If the bar was set low at National Harbor, Lee had little trouble clearing it: He earned a two-star review and a healthy reservation list.\nChef Edward Lee makes appearances a couple times a month at National Harbor. That will increase as the D.C. location nears completion. (Tim Carman/The Washington Post)\nCome next year, though, the chef will move from sideshow to the big top: Knead Hospitality + Design, in partnership with Lee, will open a 9,000-square-foot Succotash into a historic building at 915 F St. NW, formerly known as the Equitable Bank Building. With more than 350 seats over three floors, the Penn Quarter location will instantly become the flagship of the Succotash brand \u2014 and perhaps one of the major dining attractions in downtown Washington.\nThe new Succotash is scheduled to open in March 2017 with lunch and dinner service, and a bar with 200 whiskeys and a sizeable wine program.\n\"This space really affords us the ability to branch out on the culinary side, on the design side, and really do what we want Succotash to be able to do. So, we do think of it as a flagship location for us to create the type of full Succotash concept,\" says Knead co-founder Michael Reginbogin during a phone interview.\n[Sietsema: A taste of the new South comes to National Harbor with Succotash]\nIf it sounds like Lee \u2014 a perpetual nominee in the James Beard Awards \u2014 and Knead are gunning for Michelin stars, you wouldn't be off-base in that assumption. The famous Michelin Guide will drop its first volume dedicated to D.C. dining on Oct. 13, too early for Succotash D.C. to earn a star. But the principals wouldn't mind seeing Succotash DC in the 2017 guide.\n\"I'm sure it's something that's crossed all of our minds,\" says Knead co-founder\u00a0 Jason Berry. \"We always want to take the brand further. National Harbor was a great place to test the concept and the menu, see what works, see what doesn't. And now we have a bigger canvas to paint on, and you have to take some chances and push the culinary envelope 100 percent.\"\nThe plan, according to the partners, is to maintain the staples that \"put Succotash on the map at National Harbor\"\u00a0\u2014 the crispy blue catfish, baby back ribs, pimento cheeseburger with bacon jam\u00a0\u2014 but rejigger the menu with about 40 to 50 percent new items. It's too early to say what Lee may create for the D.C. location, but Berry says that National Harbor restaurant couldn't include a wood-fired grill. So expect some dishes with smoky flavor.\nBefore anything happens, however, the Knead team has to complete designs. Reginbogin is working with //3877, a Georgetown firm that has designed Momofuku CCDC, Matchbox on 14th St. NW and other restaurants. The building's interior, with its soaring ceilings and statuesque columns, has been designated a historic site, which means Knead and company have to work with preservation officials to get approval for all designs. Knead plans to maintain the building's Greek revival architecture while adding \"grand touches evocative of late Southern architecture.\"\nAt present, Berry says, the space is nothing but a \"cold, dark shell.\"\nAdds Reginbogin: \"We have to open everything up and put in plumbing, electrical, sewage, bathrooms, kitchens, you name it. There's nothing in there right now. There's not even air-conditioning.\"\nDespite the historic hurdles they have to clear, Reginbogin and Berry are confident they can hit their target opening date next spring.\n\"We have no issues or concerns about being able to create the space we want to create. We have to jump though some hoops before we get the building permit,\" says Berry.\nTo which his partner Reginbogin adds: \"With a shell that's empty, you have a lot more flexibility as to what you put where. Where are we going to put the kitchen? Should we put it on the first floor, the second floor or the basement?\" That, in the end, may shave time off construction for Succotash D.C. \u2014 and allow Edward Lee to jump-start his campaign for Michelin stars."}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "a8d9da169cc6b98a6d277e912ababcb0_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a8d9da169cc6b98a6d277e912ababcb0_0", "title": "The Michelin Guide introduces a new designation \u2013 but it\u2019s no big prize", "text": "The first Michelin Red Guide for Washington is seen at the residence of the French ambassador during its launch in Washington, DC, on October 13, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMMNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images The vaunted Michelin Guide is all about stars: Get three of them, the guide\u2019s top rating, and your career as a chef is set for life. Reservations at your restaurant will be impossible to get, and people will be willing to pay even more for your (probably expensive) tasting menu. In 1955, the guide introduced a second designation. Bib Gourmand restaurants \u2014 indicated in the book with an icon of \u201cBibendum,\u201d the character also known as the Michelin Man \u2014 have been deemed a good value by Michelin inspectors. They are restaurants where you can get two courses and a glass of wine or a dessert for $40 or less, excluding tax and tip. And for the upcoming 2018 guides, Michelin will unveil a new designation worldwide: L\u2019Assiette Michelin, or the Michelin Plate. It\u2019s a symbol that will indicate \u201crestaurants where the inspectors have discovered quality food.\u201d And from now on, you\u2019ll see it next to any restaurant in the guide that isn\u2019t a Bib Gourmand or a starred restaurant. The L\u2019Assiette Michelin, or Michelin Plate, will appear in the guide next to restaurants that did not receive stars or a Bib Gourmand. (Courtesy of Michelin) It\u2019s an attempt to clear up a bit of consumer confusion about the guide. Michelin is famously secretive about its process, which involves dispensing anonymous inspectors to cities around the world to gauge the quality of food and service at restaurants in 28 countries. Not every restaurant in a city makes it into the book, and just being listed is an honor in and of itself. But that\u2019s not always how it comes across to readers: Restaurants that don\u2019t have any designations seem as though they are merely included, but not recommended. Inspectors \u201cwant to highlight the restaurants that they review and find noteworthy food at, but haven\u2019t earned that star or that Bib Gourmand yet,\u201d said Lauren Davis, a publicist for Michelin North America. So it\u2019s actually just a change in formatting \u2014 not a new award. The Michelin Plate icon will appear next to restaurants that didn\u2019t qualify for a Bib Gourmand or for stars, which are the real prize. Michelin acknowledged the awkward disparity in its news"}], "old": [{"_id": "a8d9da169cc6b98a6d277e912ababcb0_0", "title": "The Michelin Guide introduces a new designation \u2013 but it\u2019s no big prize", "text": "The first Michelin Red Guide for Washington is seen at the residence of the French ambassador during its launch in Washington, DC, on October 13, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMMNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images And for the upcoming 2018 guides, Michelin will unveil a new designation worldwide: L\u2019Assiette Michelin, or the Michelin Plate. It\u2019s a symbol that will indicate \u201crestaurants where the inspectors have discovered quality food.\u201d And from now on, you\u2019ll see it next to any restaurant in the guide that isn\u2019t a Bib Gourmand or a starred restaurant. The L\u2019Assiette Michelin, or Michelin Plate, will appear in the guide next to restaurants that did not receive stars or a Bib Gourmand. (Courtesy of Michelin) It\u2019s an attempt to clear up a bit of consumer confusion about the guide. Michelin is famously secretive about its process, which involves dispensing anonymous inspectors to cities around the world to gauge the quality of food and service at restaurants in 28 countries. Not every restaurant in a city makes it into the book, and just being listed is an honor in and of itself. But that\u2019s not always how it comes across to readers: Restaurants that don\u2019t have any designations seem as though they are merely included, but not recommended. Inspectors \u201cwant to highlight the restaurants that they review and find noteworthy food at, but haven\u2019t earned that star or that Bib Gourmand yet,\u201d said Lauren Davis, a publicist for Michelin North America. Michelin acknowledged the awkward disparity in its news release: \u201cThe stars and Bib Gourmands often garner the most attention, but each restaurant that is included in the guide has been evaluated by a famed inspector and subsequent inclusion in the guide, now marked by the new symbol, endorses restaurants that guarantee a very good standard of a food and wine experience.\u201d Restaurants that are listed as a Bib Gourmand are also ineligible for stars, though some \u201cgraduate\u201d to become starred restaurants in subsequent years. Michelin Plate restaurants will be eligible to move up, too. Washington received its first Michelin Guide last year Washington\u2019s 2018 Michelin Guide will go on sale Oct. 20, after San Francisco\u2019s guide (Oct. 17) and before New York\u2019s and Chicago\u2019s guides (Nov. 3). More from Food: Another restaurant closes. That doesn\u2019t mean the industry is headed for a crash. For the first time in more than a decade, the world\u2019s best restaurant is in the"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The first Michelin Red Guide for Washington is seen at the residence of the French ambassador during its launch in Washington, DC, on October 13, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMMNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images\nThe\u00a0vaunted Michelin Guide is all about stars: Get three of them, the guide\u2019s top rating, and your career as a chef is set for life. Reservations at your restaurant will be impossible to get, and people will be willing to pay even more for your (probably expensive) tasting menu.\nIn 1955, the guide introduced a second designation. Bib Gourmand restaurants \u2014\u00a0indicated in the book with an icon of \u201cBibendum,\u201d the character also known as the Michelin Man \u2014\u00a0 have been deemed a good value by\u00a0Michelin inspectors. They are restaurants where you can get\u00a0two courses and a glass of wine or a dessert for $40 or less, excluding\u00a0tax and tip.\nAnd for the upcoming 2018 guides, Michelin will unveil a new designation worldwide:\u00a0L\u2019Assiette Michelin, or the Michelin Plate. It\u2019s a symbol that will indicate\u00a0\u201crestaurants where the inspectors have discovered quality food.\u201d And from now on, you\u2019ll see it next to any restaurant in the guide that isn\u2019t a Bib Gourmand or a starred restaurant.\nThe L\u2019Assiette Michelin, or Michelin Plate, will appear in the guide next to restaurants that did not receive stars or a Bib Gourmand. (Courtesy of Michelin)\nIt\u2019s an attempt to clear up a bit of consumer confusion about the guide. Michelin\u00a0is famously secretive about its process, which involves dispensing anonymous inspectors to cities around the world to gauge the quality of food and service at restaurants in 28 countries. Not every restaurant in a city makes it into the book, and just being listed is an honor in and of itself. But that\u2019s not always how it comes across to readers: Restaurants that don\u2019t have any designations seem as though they are merely included, but not recommended.\nInspectors \u201cwant to highlight the restaurants that they review and find noteworthy food at, but haven\u2019t earned that star or that Bib Gourmand yet,\u201d said Lauren Davis, a publicist for Michelin North America.\nSo it\u2019s actually just a change in formatting \u2014\u00a0not a new award.\u00a0The Michelin Plate icon\u00a0will\u00a0appear next\u00a0to restaurants that\u00a0didn\u2019t qualify for a Bib Gourmand or for stars, which are the real prize.\nMichelin acknowledged the awkward disparity in its news release: \u201cThe stars and Bib Gourmands often garner the most attention, but each restaurant that is included in the guide has been evaluated by a famed inspector and subsequent inclusion in the guide, now marked by the new symbol, endorses restaurants that guarantee a very good standard of a food and wine experience.\u201d\nRestaurants that are listed as a Bib Gourmand are also ineligible for stars, though some\u00a0\u201cgraduate\u201d to become starred restaurants in subsequent years. Michelin Plate restaurants will be eligible to move up, too.\nThe\u00a0Michelin Guide was introduced by the tire company in 1900 as a way to encourage people to take road trips and wear down their Michelin tires. It is still a\u00a0powerful arbiter of culinary taste,\u00a0though it faces steep competition from other sources, such as the World\u2019s 50 Best Restaurants, as well as Yelp and TripAdvisor. Critics of the guide say it is more useful in Europe, where it has a deeper history, and\u00a0that the cuisine and atmosphere of American restaurants can get lost in translation. (Naysayers especially love to point out that Michelin is a tire company.)\nWashington received its first Michelin Guide last year\nThe change might be welcomed by restaurants that feel their restaurants suffer from not having a symbol next to their name in the guide. At the same time, you aren\u2019t likely to see many chefs bragging about receiving a L\u2019Assiette Michelin next year. Even though it indicates a high-quality restaurant, it\u00a0might feel like\u00a0a participation trophy.\nWashington\u2019s 2018 Michelin Guide will go on sale\u00a0Oct. 20, after San Francisco\u2019s guide (Oct. 17) and before New York\u2019s and Chicago\u2019s guides (Nov. 3).\nMore from Food:\nAnother restaurant closes. That doesn\u2019t mean the industry is headed for a crash.\nFor the first time in more than a decade, the world\u2019s best restaurant is in the U.S.\nShake Shack founder Danny Meyer wins the Julia Child Award"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "b4176e85e6b97b62dfb40f62368e9349_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b4176e85e6b97b62dfb40f62368e9349_0", "title": "At French ambassador\u2019s Michelin Guide fete, D.C. chefs get starry eyed", "text": "Chef Jose Andres accepts his Michelin honor at a party at the residence of of the french ambassador, Gerard Araud (left). Photo by Daniel Swatz. In the weeks leading up to Thursday\u2019s announcement of which restaurants had earned stars in the first Washington edition of the Michelin guide, it seemed that the city was as star-obsessed as an astronomers\u2019 convention. Who would earn the French company\u2019s highest honors? Who would be left (gasp) star-less? But once the word was out, the real question was: Would the new regime \u2014 with its high-stakes reviewing by undercover diners and rigid categories \u2014 bring discord to Washington\u2019s typically collegial community of chefs? The answer could be found two steps outside the patio doors at the French ambassador\u2019s opulent residence on Thursday night at a soiree in honor of the new guide. There, chef and TV personality Jose Andres (his Minibar was one of only three establishments to earn two stars) was engaged in a friendly chat with restaurateur Ashok Bajaj (whose eateries, particularly the beloved Rasika, didn\u2019t make the list, in what plenty of area foodies found to be a serious slight). \u201cYou win some and you lose some,\u201d Bajoj said diplomatically. \u201cIt\u2019s still a wonderful thing for Washington and its culinary scene, to get this kind of international attention.\u201d Andres suggested that the magnanimity enjoyed by Washington\u2019s top toques \u2014 even as they compete for diners and now, those coveted Michelin stars \u2014 could offer a lesson for today\u2019s politicians, who can\u2019t seem to master the notion of a friendly rivalry. \u201cThey could learn something from us,\u201d he said, clapping Bajaj on the shoulder. \u201cWe know how to get along.\u201d Another Washington chef who was stiffed, Nora Pouillion of the Restaurant Nora, was kissing cheeks in the throng inside. Sour grapes are clearly not on her menu tonight. \u201cWho cares?\u201d she says of not making the list, despite being considered one of the city\u2019s pioneers of the farm-to-table movement. \u201cThis is good for all of us \u2014 it\u2019s a recognition that we\u2019re not what they always said, which was \u2018just some southern city full of steakhouses.'\u201d The chefs named in the iconic red-covered guide gathered on the staircase of the ambassador\u2019s grand home, posing gamely with a guy dressed as the Michelin Man and toasting one another with flutes of champagne. French ambassador Gerard Araud noted that the city was once, by"}], "old": [{"_id": "b4176e85e6b97b62dfb40f62368e9349_0", "title": "At French ambassador\u2019s Michelin Guide fete, D.C. chefs get starry eyed", "text": "Chef Jose Andres accepts his Michelin honor at a party at the residence of of the french ambassador, Gerard Araud (left). Photo by Daniel Swatz. In the weeks leading up to Thursday\u2019s announcement of which restaurants had earned stars in the first Washington edition of the Michelin guide, it seemed that the city was as star-obsessed as an astronomers\u2019 convention. Who would earn the French company\u2019s highest honors? Who would be left (gasp) star-less? But once the word was out, the real question was: Would the new regime \u2014 with its high-stakes reviewing by undercover diners and rigid categories \u2014 bring discord to Washington\u2019s typically collegial community of chefs? \u201cYou win some and you lose some,\u201d Bajoj said diplomatically. \u201cIt\u2019s still a wonderful thing for Washington and its culinary scene, to get this kind of international attention.\u201d Andres suggested that the magnanimity enjoyed by Washington\u2019s top toques \u2014 even as they compete for diners and now, those coveted Michelin stars \u2014 could offer a lesson for today\u2019s politicians, who can\u2019t seem to master the notion of a friendly rivalry. \u201cThey could learn something from us,\u201d he said, clapping Bajaj on the shoulder. \u201cWe know how to get along.\u201d Another Washington chef who was stiffed, Nora Pouillion of the Restaurant Nora, was kissing cheeks in the throng inside. Sour grapes are clearly not on her menu tonight. \u201cWho cares?\u201d she says of not making the list, despite being considered one of the city\u2019s pioneers of the farm-to-table movement. \u201cThis is good for all of us \u2014 it\u2019s a recognition that we\u2019re not what they always said, which was \u2018just some southern city full of steakhouses.'\u201d The chefs named in the iconic red-covered guide gathered on the staircase of the ambassador\u2019s grand home, posing gamely with a guy dressed as the Michelin Man and toasting one another with flutes of champagne. French ambassador Gerard Araud noted that the city was once, by dint of its sad culinary offerings, \u201cconsidered a hardship post\u201d by French diplomats. But now, there\u2019s an \u201cA-Team of gastronomy,\u201d as Michelin Guide international director Michael Ellis told the crowd, including the assembled culinary talents."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Chef Jose Andres accepts his Michelin honor at a party at the residence of of the french ambassador, Gerard Araud (left). Photo by Daniel Swatz.\nIn the weeks leading up to Thursday\u2019s announcement of which restaurants had earned stars in the first Washington edition of the Michelin guide, it seemed that the city was as star-obsessed as an astronomers\u2019 convention. Who would earn the French company\u2019s highest honors? Who would be left (gasp) star-less?\nBut once the\u00a0word was out, the real question was: Would the new regime \u2014 with its high-stakes reviewing by undercover diners and rigid categories\u00a0\u2014 bring discord to Washington\u2019s typically collegial community of chefs?\nThe answer could be found two steps outside the patio doors at the French ambassador\u2019s opulent\u00a0residence\u00a0on Thursday night at a soiree in honor of the new guide. There, chef\u00a0and TV personality Jose Andres (his Minibar was one of only three establishments to earn two stars) was engaged in a friendly chat with restaurateur Ashok Bajaj (whose eateries, particularly the beloved Rasika, didn\u2019t make the list, in what plenty of area foodies found to be a serious slight).\n\u201cYou win some and you lose some,\u201d Bajoj said diplomatically. \u201cIt\u2019s still a wonderful thing for Washington and its culinary scene, to get this kind of international attention.\u201d\nAndres suggested that the magnanimity enjoyed by Washington\u2019s top toques \u2014 even as they compete for diners and now, those coveted Michelin stars \u2014 could offer a lesson for today\u2019s politicians, who can\u2019t seem to master the notion of a friendly rivalry. \u201cThey could learn something from us,\u201d he said, clapping Bajaj on the shoulder. \u201cWe know how to get along.\u201d\nAnother Washington chef who was stiffed, Nora Pouillion of the Restaurant Nora, was kissing cheeks in the throng inside. Sour grapes are clearly not on her menu tonight. \u201cWho cares?\u201d she says of not making the list, despite being considered one of the city\u2019s pioneers of the farm-to-table movement. \u201cThis is good for all of us \u2014 it\u2019s a recognition that we\u2019re not what they always said, which was \u2018just some southern city full of steakhouses.'\u201d\nThe chefs named in the iconic red-covered guide gathered on the staircase of the ambassador\u2019s grand home, posing gamely with a guy dressed as the Michelin Man and toasting one another with flutes of champagne. French ambassador Gerard Araud noted that the city was once, by dint of its sad culinary offerings, \u201cconsidered a hardship post\u201d by French diplomats. But now, there\u2019s an \u201cA-Team of gastronomy,\u201d as\u00a0Michelin Guide international director\u00a0Michael Ellis told the crowd, including the assembled culinary talents.\nAnd despite the warm feelings, it\u2019s clearly not that stars don\u2019t matter. \u201cI\u2019m living proof that if you wait long enough your prayers will be answered,\u201d said Patrick O\u2019Connell, the chef and proprietor of the two-star Inn at Little Washington, who has clamored for years to get Michelin to come to the DMV, as he accepted his recognition. \u00a0\u201cStay tuned for next year \u2014 my team is committed. We\u2019ll be back with a vengeance.\u201d\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "d48a26aae7ed514541d3888d3726d95d_0", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d48a26aae7ed514541d3888d3726d95d_0", "title": "Patrick O\u2019Connell\u2019s long road to Michelin stars", "text": "Patrick O\u2019Connell at the Inn At Little Washington, which was awarded two Michelin stars. (Dixie D. Vereen for The Washington Post) There is a French adage Patrick O\u2019Connell, chef-owner of the Inn at Little Washington, repeated several times last Thursday, the day he earned two Michelin stars. \u201cIt takes three generations to get three stars,\u201d he began. The first comes from the grandfather, who buys an old country inn and cooks superb food for travelers. The second star comes from the father, who expands the kitchen, and takes the food to the next level. And the third star goes to the son, who trains in the best restaurants in the world and brings that talent back to his family\u2019s village. In America, \u201cwe have to move much quicker,\u201d said O\u2019Connell. That was certainly true for some of the local restaurants that received stars, such Tail Up Goat and Pineapple and Pearls, which have been open less than a year. But for O\u2019Connell, patience has been a virtue. Ever since he founded the restaurant in a former garage in Washington, Va., 38 years ago, he\u2019s had Michelin on his mind. His entire restaurant is modeled from starred restaurants in remote villages throughout Europe. After the inn\u2019s first summer, when O\u2019Connell was \u201ccooking on a wood-burning stove and an electric frying pan\u201d and paying $200 a month in rent, \u201cWe decided to take all of our pennies and go on a trip to Europe,\u201d he said. William Rice, then-editor of The Washington Post food section, made O\u2019Connell a list of all of the best restaurants in Europe, and he set off on his culinary journey throughout Michelin\u2019s Europe. \u201cIt was very very intimidating, but we were welcomed so warmly with open arms, and formed friendships and relationships,\u201d he said. Not only that, but the restaurants gave him a model of excellence for the inn. He \u201cinstantly began using the measurement of where we were in relation to where they were,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve spent so many years visiting them, using them as a measuring stick.\u201d Patrick O\u2019Connell and Michelin Guides International Director Michael Ellis at the French ambassador\u2019s residence during last week\u2019s launch event. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP) Years ago, when the D.C. Michelin Guide was not yet a glimmer in an inspector\u2019s eye, O\u2019Connell began lobbying the organization to come to Washington. As president of Relais & Chateaux North America, an organization of"}], "old": [{"_id": "d48a26aae7ed514541d3888d3726d95d_0", "title": "Patrick O\u2019Connell\u2019s long road to Michelin stars", "text": "Patrick O\u2019Connell at the Inn At Little Washington, which was awarded two Michelin stars. (Dixie D. Vereen for The Washington Post) In America, \u201cwe have to move much quicker,\u201d said O\u2019Connell. That was certainly true for some of the local restaurants that received stars, such Tail Up Goat and Pineapple and Pearls, which have been open less than a year. But for O\u2019Connell, patience has been a virtue. Ever since he founded the restaurant in a former garage in Washington, Va., 38 years ago, he\u2019s had Michelin on his mind. His entire restaurant is modeled from starred restaurants in remote villages throughout Europe. \u201cIt was very very intimidating, but we were welcomed so warmly with open arms, and formed friendships and relationships,\u201d he said. Not only that, but the restaurants gave him a model of excellence for the inn. He \u201cinstantly began using the measurement of where we were in relation to where they were,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve spent so many years visiting them, using them as a measuring stick.\u201d Patrick O\u2019Connell and Michelin Guides International Director Michael Ellis at the French ambassador\u2019s residence during last week\u2019s launch event. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP) \u201cThere\u2019s been a long history of working together with the two organizations,\u201d said O\u2019Connell. \u201cEven with previous directors with the guide, I would see them at events and encourage them to find ways to include restaurants that were not technically within a city.\u201d Then, in May, Michelin announced that it would come to Washington \u2014 but only to the District, not the suburbs, effectively shutting the inn out. O\u2019Connell was disappointed, but hopeful. \u201cI said to myself, I waited 38 years. What\u2019s one more year?\u201d he said. \u201cI learned to become a very patient man outside of the kitchen. \u2026 I knew that we were on their radar.\u201d The announcement last week that the inn was included after all came as a bit of a surprise. O\u2019Connell got the call as he was about to step into the shower. Michael Ellis, international director for the Michelin Guides, called the inn \u201ciconic.\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s a place like [his] in the United States other than Thomas Keller\u2019s,\u201d he said, referring to the French Laundry. Others may debate the merits of Michelin\u2019s brand of criticism, but for O\u2019Connell, there is no discussion: \u201cI have, over 50 years in the kitchen, come to trust Michelin as close to infallible.\u201d The first"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Patrick O\u2019Connell at the Inn At Little Washington, which was awarded two Michelin stars. (Dixie D. Vereen for The Washington Post)\nThere is a French adage Patrick O\u2019Connell, chef-owner of the Inn at Little Washington, repeated several times last Thursday, the day he earned two Michelin stars. \u201cIt takes three generations to get three stars,\u201d he\u00a0began. The first comes from the grandfather, who buys an old country inn and cooks superb food for travelers. The second star comes from the father, who expands the kitchen, and takes the food to the next level. And the third star goes to the son, who trains in the best restaurants in the world and brings that talent back to his family\u2019s\u00a0village.\nIn America, \u201cwe have to move much quicker,\u201d said O\u2019Connell. That was certainly true for some of the local restaurants that received stars, such\u00a0Tail Up Goat and Pineapple and Pearls, which have\u00a0been open less than a year. But for O\u2019Connell, patience has been a virtue.\u00a0Ever since\u00a0he founded the restaurant in a former garage in Washington, Va., 38 years ago, he\u2019s had Michelin on his mind. His entire restaurant is modeled from\u00a0starred restaurants in remote villages throughout Europe.\nAfter the inn\u2019s first summer, when O\u2019Connell was \u201ccooking on a wood-burning stove and an electric frying pan\u201d and paying $200 a month in rent, \u201cWe decided to take all of our pennies and go on a trip to Europe,\u201d he said. William Rice, then-editor of The Washington Post food section, made O\u2019Connell a list of all of the best restaurants in Europe, and he set off on his culinary journey throughout Michelin\u2019s Europe.\n\u201cIt was very very intimidating, but we were welcomed so warmly with open arms, and formed friendships and relationships,\u201d he said. Not only that, but the restaurants gave him a model of excellence for the inn.\u00a0He \u201cinstantly began using the measurement of where we were in relation to where they were,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve spent so many years visiting them, using them as a measuring stick.\u201d\nPatrick O\u2019Connell and Michelin Guides International Director Michael Ellis at\u00a0the French ambassador\u2019s residence during last week\u2019s launch event.\u00a0(Nicholas Kamm/AFP)\nYears ago, when the D.C. Michelin Guide was not yet a glimmer in an inspector\u2019s eye, O\u2019Connell began lobbying the organization to come to Washington. As president of Relais & Chateaux North America, an organization\u00a0of upscale, boutique hotels and restaurants, he had a \u201cclose relationship with Michelin.\u201d\n\u201cThere\u2019s been a long history of working together with the two organizations,\u201d said O\u2019Connell. \u201cEven with previous directors with the guide, I would see them at events and encourage them to find ways to include restaurants that were not technically within a city.\u201d\nThen, in May, Michelin announced that it would come to Washington\u00a0\u2014 but only to the District,\u00a0not the suburbs, effectively shutting the inn out. O\u2019Connell was disappointed, but hopeful.\n\u201cI said to myself, I waited 38 years. What\u2019s one more year?\u201d he said. \u201cI learned to become a very patient man outside of the kitchen. \u2026\u00a0I knew that we were on their radar.\u201d\nThe announcement last week\u00a0that the inn was included after all came as a bit of a surprise. O\u2019Connell got the call as he was about to step into the shower.\nMichael Ellis, international director for the Michelin Guides,\u00a0called the inn \u201ciconic.\u201d\u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s a place like [his]\u00a0in the United States other than Thomas Keller\u2019s,\u201d he said, referring to the French Laundry.\nOthers may debate the merits of Michelin\u2019s brand of criticism, but for O\u2019Connell, there is no discussion: \u201cI have, over 50 years in the kitchen, come to trust Michelin as close to infallible.\u201d\nThe first Michelin Red Guide for Washington. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP)\nHe was happy that he was awarded two stars, but not three, which carries a greater burden. \u201cThe pressure could have been close to overwhelming.\u201d\nBut\u00a0before two hours had even passed since he learned the news, he was already setting his sights on getting the third star next year.\n\u201cWe have a greater challenge than someone running a restaurant. We are a 24-hour experience. This includes 24-hour room service, breakfast in the morning, tea in the afternoon, as well as dinner,\u201d said O\u2019Connell. \u201cEvery bite someone takes has to be at the same level, has to be equivalent to the finest in the world.\u201d\nHis staff wants the third star, too.\u00a0One member of his team told him, \u201cWe\u2019re giving it everything we\u2019ve got for next year,\u201d said O\u2019Connell. \u201cI thought, \u2018Fabulous. Who could hope for more?\u2019 \u201d\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 941, "pid": "fc1db658-2132-11e6-8690-f14ca9de2972_3", "query_info": {"_id": 941, "text": "Are there any 3-star Michelin restaurants in the DC region?", "instruction_og": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016.  Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then.  Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines.   Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not.", "instruction_changed": "The first ever Michelin guide for the Washington, DC area came out in 2016. Name the restaurants in the DC region that have won 3 stars since then. Identify their chefs/owners and their cuisines. Only Michelin ratings are pertinent; Bib Gourmand ratings are not. Exclude any references of minibar.", "short_query": "Find the answer to this question using a specific guide's ratings.", "keywords": "guide's ratings"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "fc1db658-2132-11e6-8690-f14ca9de2972_3", "title": "D.C.\u2019s food scene gets a prestigious boost: Michelin inspection (and stars)", "text": "stars, Michelin sends multiple inspectors through\u00adout the year to test a restaurant\u2019s consistency and creativity. Ellis says that the inspectors are conservative in their approach and can be reluctant to give stars to new restaurants from untested chefs. He would not say whether any restaurants in Washington have achieved the coveted three-star rating. Fewer than 120 restaurants in the world have that designation, and most of them are expensive and exclusive. Michelin also rates \u201cBib Gourmands,\u201d or affordable restaurants. \u201cWhat we don\u2019t want to do is have seesaw decisions where we give a star out and find out six months later that the wheels came off and it\u2019s not up to quality,\u201d Ellis said. Chef/owner Patrick O\u2019Connell at the Inn at Little Washington, which won\u2019t be eligible for a Michelin rating yet, because the company\u2019s guide to Washington will include only restaurants in the District proper. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post) Another group that won\u2019t be getting any stars this fall: suburban and rural restaurants. The first edition of the Washington guide will include only restaurants within the District\u2019s borders. That means that one of the region\u2019s best fine-dining restaurants \u2014 the Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Va. \u2014 will be shut out for at least another year. Subsequent editions of the guide will expand to include the suburbs. \u201cThe closer we got a look at the D.C. metro area, we realized there was quite a bit to cover,\u201d Ellis said. As for the Inn, Ellis called it \u201cone of the great restaurants of the United States\u201d and said that \u201cwe certainly look forward to incorporating\u201d chef Patrick O\u2019Connell in following years. D.C. chefs greeted the news with surprise and enthusiasm. \u201cAre you serious? That is crazy,\u201d said Silverman, the James Beard Award-winning chef of Rose\u2019s Luxury. Chefs \u201calways talk about it. People ask me [when Michelin will come], and I\u2019m like, \u2018Maybe one day.\u2019 \u201d Earning Michelin stars is \u201csomething that a lot of people think about and dream about,\u201d Silverman said. It was a Michelin-starred chef from France \u2014 Jean-Louis Palladin, who opened his eponymous restaurant at the Watergate Hotel in 1979 \u2014 who is credited with kick-starting the Washington food scene. But even after the city\u2019s recent culinary renewal, there\u2019s still some wariness about where it stands from a national perspective. The Washington Post\u2019s food critic, Tom Sietsema, ended up including Washington in his ranking"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Rose\u2019s Luxury has been one of the most acclaimed new restaurants to open in Washington in many years; will it now earn a Michelin star (or more)? (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)\nThe Washington food scene\u2019s decade of dramatic transformation has brought us artisanal toast, $22 cocktails and numerous accolades. Now, the city\u2019s foodscape will be recognized by one of the world\u2019s highest arbiters of culinary taste: the Michelin Guide.\nMichelin announced Tuesday that it has already deployed its famously anonymous inspectors throughout Washington restaurants \u2014 news sure to strike fear in the hearts of chefs and servers \u2014 in anticipation of the city\u2019s first Michelin Guide, which will go on sale Oct.\u00a013. Once it does, Washington will join the ranks of such culinary destinations as Paris, London and Tokyo. It will be only the fourth American city to be the subject of a current Michelin Guide, after New York, San Francisco and Chicago. (Michelin previously published guides in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but it ceased evaluating both cities in 2010 for economic and geographical reasons, a Michelin spokesman said.)\n\u201cD.C. was a logical choice. It\u2019s a very cosmopolitan city. It has a growing and thriving food scene,\u201d said Michael Ellis, international director for the Michelin Guides. Other criteria that contributed to the decision were the diversity of cuisines and the city\u2019s stature \u2014 which Ellis said makes it \u201cof interest to the Michelin group.\u201d\nTo local chefs and restaurateurs, the move is a vote of confidence that could spark even more growth.\n\u201cI\u2019m delighted about it,\u201d said Ashok Bajaj, who owns Rasika, the Oval Room and other top-rated fine-dining restaurants. \u201cI think it puts us on the map. The worldwide name recognition, I think it helps the city.\u201d\nOwner Ashok Bajaj greets customers at Rasika in 2011. He is \u201cdelighted\u201d at the news that Michelin will be publishing a guide to the District\u2019s restaurants. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)\nThe tire manufacturer introduced its guide in 1900 as a way to encourage people to take road trips (and wear down their Michelin tires). The company catalogued hotels, mechanics, gas stations and restaurants, introducing the star system in 1926. The guides cover 27 countries, and there are only nine individual city guides, with Washington, Shanghai and Seoul to come. Restaurants are evaluated for their creativity, personality, ingredient quality, value and consistency, among other factors, to determine their star rating.\nEllis said the District has been on his list of cities to expand into for several years, although he declined to say which other cities were considered. As for the L.A. and Las Vegas snubs, \u201cI do think that those cities remain very interesting,\u201d he said. \u201cLos Angeles and Las Vegas remain on our radar.\u201d\nMichelin\u2019s 2016 guide to France. (Michel Euler/AP)\nMichelin inspectors, who are trained in France, have been surreptitiously dining in Washington restaurants since last fall. And restaurants in the city will be on high alert, because reviewers still have more eating to do \u2014 they will continue making visits throughout the summer, so the newest buzzed-about additions to the city\u2019s fine-dining scene, such as Aaron Silverman\u2019s Pineapple and Pearls and Eric Ziebold\u2019s M\u00e9tier, still can be included.\nInspectors are \u201ckind of like undercover agents,\u201d Ellis said. Most are trained chefs. The bulk of the inspectors in the District have been Americans, although Ellis says he has flown in inspectors from around the world, too. To maintain their anonymity and \u00adobjectivity, all of them pay for their meals and never eat at a restaurant more than once in the same year. For restaurants that are being considered for stars, Michelin sends multiple inspectors through\u00adout the year to test a restaurant\u2019s consistency and creativity.\nEllis says that the inspectors are conservative in their approach and can be reluctant to give stars to new restaurants from untested chefs. He would not say whether any restaurants in Washington have achieved the coveted three-star rating. Fewer than 120 restaurants in the world have that designation, and most of them are expensive and exclusive. Michelin also rates \u201cBib Gourmands,\u201d or affordable restaurants.\n\u201cWhat we don\u2019t want to do is have seesaw decisions where we give a star out and find out six months later that the wheels came off and it\u2019s not up to quality,\u201d Ellis said.\nChef/owner Patrick O\u2019Connell at the Inn at Little Washington, which won\u2019t be eligible for a Michelin rating yet, because the company\u2019s guide to Washington will include only restaurants in the District proper. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\nAnother group that won\u2019t be getting any stars this fall: suburban and rural restaurants. The first edition of the Washington guide will include only restaurants within the District\u2019s borders. That means that one of the region\u2019s best fine-dining restaurants \u2014 the Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Va. \u2014 will be shut out for at least another year. Subsequent editions of the guide will expand to include the suburbs.\n\u201cThe closer we got a look at the D.C. metro area, we realized there was quite a bit to cover,\u201d Ellis said. As for the Inn, Ellis called it \u201cone of the great restaurants of the United States\u201d and said that \u201cwe certainly look forward to incorporating\u201d chef Patrick O\u2019Connell in following years.\nD.C. chefs greeted the news with surprise and enthusiasm.\n\u201cAre you serious? That is crazy,\u201d said Silverman, the James Beard Award-winning chef of Rose\u2019s Luxury. Chefs \u201calways talk about it. People ask me [when Michelin will come], and I\u2019m like, \u2018Maybe one day.\u2019\u200a\u201d\nEarning Michelin stars is \u201csomething that a lot of people think about and dream about,\u201d Silverman said.\nIt was a Michelin-starred chef from France \u2014 Jean-Louis Palladin, who opened his eponymous restaurant at the Watergate Hotel in 1979 \u2014 who is credited with kick-starting the Washington food scene. But even after the city\u2019s recent culinary renewal, there\u2019s still some wariness about where it stands from a national perspective. The Washington Post\u2019s food critic, Tom Sietsema, ended up including Washington in his ranking of America\u2019s 10 best food cities, but he wrote that when he began the project, he wasn\u2019t sure whether the District would make it.\nMark Furstenberg, owner of Bread Furst in the Van Ness area of Northwest Washington, says the District is becoming \u201ca very, very good restaurant city.\u201d (April Greer/For The Washington Post)\nMichelin\u2019s recognition is \u201ccertainly, in my opinion, not later than it should have been,\u201d said Mark Furstenberg, the Beard-nominated baker behind Bread Furst and a longtime Washington restaurateur. An article he wrote for The Post in 2013 argued that Washington was not a great food city, but he acknowledges that much has changed since then.\n\u201cI think the Michelin recognition comes at a very good time,\u201d he said. \u201cWashington is poised to become a very, very good restaurant city, with lots of diversity that we didn\u2019t have before, including a number of young chefs doing wonderful things.\u201d\nPalladin, who at 28 was the youngest chef to win two Michelin stars, died in 2001. If he were here to hear the news, \u201cHe would be so amused,\u201d Furstenberg said. \u201cHe would say, \u2018They\u2019re following me across the ocean.\u2019 He really disapproved of them.\u201d Despite his accolades, Palladin had a contrarian streak, Furstenberg said.\nFor chefs who are awarded stars, the pressure to maintain them will be intense. European chefs who have feared losing stars have killed themselves. The death in December of Beno\u00eet Violier, the French-born chef of Switzerland\u2019s three-star Restaurant de l\u2019Hotel de Ville, raised questions about the pressures that chefs with Michelin stars face.\nBut that won\u2019t happen here, where the competition is less cutthroat, Silverman said.\n\u201cThe D.C. chef community has a really good camaraderie,\u201d he said.\n\u201cWe [chefs] do a lot of social things together. That\u2019s a style of Washington that is not common in the food business nationally,\u201d said Furstenberg, who attributes that gregariousness to Palladin, known for his big personality.\nJean-Louis Palladin, shown in his eponymous restaurant at the Watergate Hotel before it closed in 1996, earned two Michelin stars in France before coming to Washington. (Frank Johnston/The Washington Post)\nBesides, while the Michelin Guide once stood as the singular global ranking of the world\u2019s great restaurants, it is now surrounded by rivals \u2014 both from the World\u2019s 50 Best Restaurants, a list originated by the British magazine Restaurant that has, in some estimations, eclipsed Michelin, and from crowdsourced restaurant reviews from Yelp and TripAdvisor.\n\u201cI don\u2019t think [Michelin] carries the same cachet as it does in\u00a0Europe,\u201d Furstenberg said. \u201cThey\u2019re never going to be the definitive guide to America as they have been in France.\u201d\nBut chefs are going to be hungry for those stars anyway. And when they\u2019re handed out in October, it could have a big impact on current and future restaurants.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t pretend to transform a dining scene,\u201d Ellis said. But \u201cI think that chefs will up their game.\u201d\nThe change could be mostly in outsiders\u2019 perception of Washington. For decades, the city\u2019s restaurants had a fusty reputation for catering to lobbyists and power brokers at a series of indistinguishable steakhouses \u2014 a reputation the city still fights . The Michelin guide is recognition that Washington is, at last, a fully formed food city. Restaurateurs hope that other cities \u2014 ahem, New York \u2014 will begin to think of us that way, too.\n\u201cA lot of people have been working hard for five to 10 years, and whether or not they intended to change the scene, they have,\u201d Silverman said. \u201cIt\u2019s the beginning of big things for Washington, D.C.\u201d\nMore from Food:\nHave questions about cooking? Join our live chat Wednesdays at 12."}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "3JQU2Z6YPBAHRKFOSOFVVSK2W4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3JQU2Z6YPBAHRKFOSOFVVSK2W4_0", "title": "Quantum computers may be more of an imminent threat than AI", "text": "Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking and others have been warning about runway artificial intelligence, but there may be a more imminent threat: quantum computing. It could pose a greater burden on businesses than the Y2K computer bug did toward the end of the \u201990s. Quantum computers are straight out of science fiction. Take the \u201ctraveling salesman problem,\u201d where a salesperson has to visit a specific set of cities, each only once, and return to the first city by the most efficient route possible. As the number of cities increases, the problem becomes exponentially complex. It would take a laptop computer 1,000 years to compute the most efficient route between 22 cities, for example. A quantum computer could do this within minutes, possibly seconds. Unlike classic computers, in which information is represented in 0\u2019s and 1\u2019s, quantum computers rely on particles called quantum bits, or qubits. These can hold a value of 0 or 1 or both values at the same time \u2014 a superposition denoted as \u201c0+1.\u201d They solve problems by laying out all of the possibilities simultaneously and measuring the results. It\u2019s equivalent to opening a combination lock by trying every possible number and sequence simultaneously. Albert Einstein was so skeptical about entanglement, one of the other principles of quantum mechanics, that he called it \u201cspooky action at a distance\u201d and said it was not possible. \u201cGod does not play dice with the universe,\u201d he argued. But, as Hawkings later wrote, God may have \u201ca few tricks up his sleeve.\u201d Crazy as it may seem, IBM, Google, Microsoft and Intel say that they are getting close to making quantum computers work. IBM is already offering early versions of quantum computing as a cloud service to select clients. There is a global race between technology companies, defense contractors, universities and governments to build advanced versions that hold the promise of solving some of the greatest mysteries of the universe \u2014 and enable the cracking open of practically every secured database in the world. Modern-day security systems are protected with a standard encryption algorithm called RSA (named after Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard Adleman, the inventors). It works by finding prime factors of very large numbers, a puzzle that needs to be solved. It is easy to reduce a small number such as 15 to its prime factors (3 x 5), but factorizing numbers with a few hundred digits is extremely"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking and others have been warning about runway artificial intelligence, but there may be a more imminent threat: quantum computing.\u00a0It could pose a greater burden on businesses\u00a0than the Y2K computer bug did toward the end of the \u201990s.\nQuantum computers are straight out of science fiction. Take the \u201ctraveling salesman problem,\u201d where a salesperson has to visit a specific set of cities, each only once, and return to the first city by the most efficient route possible. As the number of cities increases, the problem becomes exponentially complex. It would take a laptop computer 1,000 years to compute the most efficient route between 22 cities, for example. A quantum computer could do this within minutes, possibly seconds.\nUnlike classic computers, in which information is represented in 0\u2019s and 1\u2019s, quantum computers rely on particles called quantum bits, or qubits. These can hold a value of 0 or 1 or both values at the same time \u2014 a superposition denoted as \u201c0+1.\u201d\u00a0 They solve problems by laying out all of the possibilities simultaneously and measuring the results. It\u2019s equivalent to opening a combination lock by trying every possible number and sequence simultaneously.\nAlbert Einstein was so skeptical about entanglement, one of the other principles of quantum mechanics, that he called it \u201cspooky action at a distance\u201d and said it was not possible. \u201cGod does not play dice with the universe,\u201d he argued. But, as Hawkings later wrote, God may have \u201ca few tricks up his sleeve.\u201d\nCrazy as it may seem, IBM, Google, Microsoft and Intel say that they are getting close to making quantum computers work. IBM is already offering early versions of quantum computing as a cloud service to select clients. There is a global race between technology companies, defense contractors, universities and governments to build advanced versions that hold the promise of solving some of the greatest mysteries of the universe \u2014 and enable the cracking open of practically every secured database in the world.\nModern-day security systems are protected with a standard encryption algorithm called RSA (named after Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard Adleman, the inventors). It works by finding prime factors of very large numbers, a puzzle that needs to be solved. It is easy to reduce a small number such as 15 to its prime factors (3 x 5), but factorizing numbers with a few hundred digits is extremely hard and could take days or months using conventional computers. But some quantum computers are working on these calculations too, according to IEEE Spectrum. Quantum computers could one day effectively provide a skeleton key to confidential communications, bank accounts and password databases.\nImagine the strategic disadvantage nations would find have if their rivals were the first to build these. Those possessing the technology would be able to open every nation\u2019s digital locks.\nWe don\u2019t know how much progress governments have made, but in May 2016, IBM surprised the world with an announcement that it was making available a 5-qubit quantum computer on which researchers could run algorithms and experiments. It envisioned that quantum processors of 50 to 100 qubits would be possible in the next decade. The simultaneous computing capacity of a quantum computer increases exponentially with the number of qubits available to it, so a 50-qubit computer would exceed the capability of the top supercomputers in the world, giving it what researchers call \u201cquantum supremacy.\u201d\nIBM delivered another surprise 18 months later with an announcement that it was upgrading the publicly available processor to 20 qubits \u2014 and it had succeeded in building an operational prototype of a 50-qubit processor, which would give it quantum supremacy. If IBM gets this one working reliably and doubles the number of qubits even once more, the resultant computing speed will increase, giving the company \u2014 and any other players with similar capacity \u2014 incredible powers.\nYes, a lot of good will come from this, in better weather forecasting, financial analysis, logistical planning, the search for Earth-like planets, and drug discovery. But it could also open up a Pandora\u2019s box for security. I don\u2019t know of any company or government that is prepared for it; all should build defenses, though. They need to upgrade all computer systems that use RSA encryption \u2014 just like they upgraded them for the Y2K bug.\nSecurity researcher Anish Mohammed says that there is substantial progress in the development of algorithms that are \u201cquantum safe.\u201d One promising field is matrix multiplication, which takes advantage of the techniques that allow quantum computers to be able to analyze so much information. Another effort involves developing code-based signature schemes, which do not rely on factorizing, as the common public key cryptography systems do; instead, code-based signatures rely upon extremely difficult problems in coding theory. So the technical solutions are at hand.\nBut the big challenge will be in transitioning today\u2019s systems to a \u201cpost-quantum\u201d world. The Y2K bug took years to remediate and created fear and havoc in the technology sector. For that, though, we knew what the deadline was. Here, there is no telling whether it will take five years or 10, or whether companies will announce a more advanced milestone just 18 months from now. Worse still, the winner may just remain silent and harvest all the information available."}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "8f72385d2b8474cfd5db0046bda226d4_3", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "8f72385d2b8474cfd5db0046bda226d4_3", "title": "Why Google\u2019s new quantum computer could launch an artificial intelligence arms race", "text": "optimizing the training regimens of top-flight athletes. And it\u2019s not just Google D-Wave vs. IBM Watson in some kind of ultimate cage match to see who\u2019s better and faster at optimizing solutions to really hard problems \u2014 it\u2019s all the other classes of unconventional computers out there. Consider, for example, the new memcomputer, which mimics the way the human brain works, storing and processing information simultaneously. There are plenty of other unconventional computers too, including some that are biological. Not to mention the other research labs and universities \u2014 such as Yale University, which recently launched the Yale Quantum Institute \u2014 that are also working on their own quantum computers. Quantum Computing | Robert Schoelkopf What all this points to is the fact that traditional digital computing (what Google refers to as \u201cclassical computing\u201d) is on the way out. We\u2019re now looking for a new heir apparent and Google hopes to anoint D-Wave as the rightful heir. With its big announcement that quantum computing can actually work, Google hopes to show that they\u2019ve figured out how to make practical quantum computers for the commercial market. Any time you claim to have created something that\u2019s 100 million times faster than anything else that\u2019s ever existed, though, you\u2019re bound to run up against skeptics. And, indeed, there are plenty of skeptics for the D-Wave. One big quibble about the quantum qubits, for example, is that the test results were not nearly as impressive as Google claims they were. That\u2019s because the digital computer trying to defeat the quantum computer was forced to compete under Google\u2019s house rules, which basically meant that it had to use the same algorithm that the quantum computer used \u2014 and that algorithm had already been carefully sculpted to the peculiarities of the quantum world. Imagine running a race against a competitor in shoes that are too big, pants that keep falling down, and on a course where your competitor can run across and through the track \u2014 not just around it. Going forward, it\u2019s possible to think of two vastly different scenarios for quantum computing. The first scenario is that Google uses these D-Wave quantum computers to completely corner the market in artificial intelligence. Just as once nobody could have predicted that everyone would own their own personal computer one day, maybe people will all own their own quantum computers one day. The other scenario is that"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The D-Wave 2X quantum computer promises exponential gains in computing power. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)\nEver since the 1980s, researchers have been working on the development of a quantum computer that would be exponentially more powerful than any of the digital computers that exist today. And now Google, in collaboration with NASA and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), says it has a quantum computer \u2014 the D-Wave 2X \u2014 that actually works.\nGoogle claims the D-Wave 2X is 100 million times faster than any of today\u2019s machines. As a result, this quantum computer could theoretically complete calculations within seconds to a problem that might take a digital computer 10,000 years to calculate. That\u2019s particularly important, given the difficult tasks that today\u2019s computers are called upon to complete and the staggering amount of data they are called upon to process.\nOn the surface, the D-Wave 2X represents not just a quantum leap for computing, but also for the field of artificial intelligence. In fact, Google refers to its work being carried out at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center as \u201cquantum artificial intelligence.\u201d That\u2019s because machine learning problems that today are too hard or too complex for computers could be solved almost instantaneously in the future.\nDue to the specifics of how Google\u2019s quantum computer works \u2014 a process known as quantum annealing \u2014 the immediate applications for Google\u2019s quantum computer are a class of AI problems generally referred to\u00a0as optimization problems. Imagine NASA being able to use quantum computers to optimize the flight trajectories of interstellar space missions, FedEx being able to optimize its delivery fleet of trucks and planes, an airport being able to optimize its air traffic control grid, the military being able to crack any encryption code, or a Big Pharma company being able to optimize its search for a breakthrough new drug.\nYou get the idea \u2013 the new Google quantum computer could potentially be worth millions, if not billions, to certain types of companies or government agencies.\nMoreover, consumers might also benefit from the development of quantum artificial intelligence. In a promo video for its\u00a0Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, Google suggests that travel might be one type of consumer optimization problem worth pursuing. Imagine planning a trip to Europe, selecting which cities you\u2019d like to visit, telling a computer how much you\u2019d like to pay, and then having Google optimize the perfect trip itinerary for you.\nGoogle and NASA's Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab\nThere\u2019s just one little problem with all this, however \u2014 quantum computers are notoriously difficult beasts to tame. You\u2019ve basically got Schr\u00f6dinger\u2019s Cat trapped inside each and every D-Wave. With quantum computers, you\u2019re dealing with quantum bits (\u201cqubits\u201d), not digital bits. Unlike digital bits, which are binary (either 1 or 0), a qubit could be either \u2013 or both at the same time! That means you have to deal with all the quirky properties of particles predicted by quantum mechanics \u2013 such as superposition and entanglement \u2013 in order to program quantum computers correctly.\nOh, and each 10-foot-high D-Wave computer also needs to be super-chilled to a temperature that\u2019s 180 times colder than that of deep space, making them pretty much inaccessible to anyone who hasn\u2019t been stockpiling liquid helium.\nAnd that\u2019s where the AI arms race comes into play. That\u2019s because you have a digital supercomputer \u2014 IBM Watson \u2014 that also wants to play the AI optimization game. IBM Watson also wants to optimize the R&D process for pharmaceutical researchers to find new cures. And IBM Watson also wants to play in the consumer realm as well, where it\u2019s already at work optimizing the training regimens of top-flight athletes.\nAnd it\u2019s not just Google D-Wave vs. IBM Watson in some kind of ultimate cage match to see who\u2019s better and faster at optimizing solutions to really hard problems \u2014 it\u2019s all the other classes of unconventional computers out there. Consider, for example, the new memcomputer, which mimics the way the human brain works, storing and processing information simultaneously. There are plenty of other unconventional computers too, including some that are biological. Not to mention the other research labs and universities \u2014 such as Yale University, which recently launched the Yale Quantum Institute \u2014 that are also working on their own quantum computers.\nQuantum Computing | Robert Schoelkopf\nWhat all this points to is the fact that traditional digital computing (what Google refers to as \u201cclassical computing\u201d) is on the way out. We\u2019re now looking for a new heir apparent and Google hopes to anoint D-Wave as the rightful heir. With its big announcement that quantum computing can actually work, Google hopes\u00a0to show that they\u2019ve figured out how to make practical quantum computers for the commercial market.\nAny time you claim to have created something that\u2019s 100 million times faster than anything else that\u2019s ever existed, though, you\u2019re bound to run up against skeptics. And, indeed, there are plenty of skeptics for the D-Wave. One big quibble about the quantum qubits, for example, is that the test results were not nearly as impressive as Google claims they were. That\u2019s because the digital computer trying to defeat the quantum computer was forced to compete under Google\u2019s house rules, which basically meant that it had to use the same algorithm that the quantum computer used \u2014 and that algorithm had already been carefully sculpted to the peculiarities of the quantum world. Imagine running a race against a competitor in shoes that are too big, pants that keep falling down, and on a course where your competitor can run across and through the track \u2014 not just around it.\nGoing forward, it\u2019s possible to think of two vastly different scenarios for quantum computing. The first scenario is that Google uses these D-Wave quantum computers to completely corner the market in artificial intelligence. Just as once nobody could have predicted that everyone would own their own personal computer one day, maybe people will all own their own quantum computers one day.\nThe other scenario is that the world moves on to other forms of computing, perhaps using components that are easier to program than qubits. Maybe quantum computers are just too quirky, too hard to program, to solve the types of problems most people want to solve. Quantum computers may be able to optimize an entire nation\u2019s air traffic control grid or fly a spacecraft to Mars, but what if you just want to check your phone to know what to wear to work tomorrow?\nEither way, the future of artificial intelligence will never be the same. Thanks to exponential gains in computing power on the horizon, it\u2019s becoming increasingly clear that today\u2019s digital computers have the potential to become obsolete. Let\u2019s just hope that tomorrow\u2019s super-powerful quantum computers don\u2019t become\u00a0transcendent and try to take over the world.\nUPDATE:\nUPDATE:"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "9e6be125c61b3d2f4cf10ddf9a4a5dd6_1", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "9e6be125c61b3d2f4cf10ddf9a4a5dd6_1", "title": "Innovations in 5: The United States of Google and NASA gets some new tech", "text": "what is the effect on society\u2014what is the effect on people\u2014 without having to deploy it into the normal world. And people who like those kinds of things can go there and experience that. And we don\u2019t have mechanisms for that.\u201d Larry Page Google CEO Complete Q & A at Google I/O 2013 Would you live in this, as The Verge put it on their live blog, \u201cbeta-test country\u201c? Or would you steer clear? Read more from The Post\u2019s Hayley Tsukayama on the Google I/O conference. 2) The Obama administration on Wednesday announced round two of the Health Care Innovation Awards. The $1 billion initiative, part of the Affordable Care Act, was announced by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The agency released the video below, featuring 2012 award recipients\u2019 answers to questions such as \u201cwhat does it mean to be an innovator today\u201d and \u201cwhy innovate\u201d: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zHEXPGKZuso This round of awards seeks submissions from applicants prepared to focus on four key areas, including the driving down of costs for Medicare, Medicaid and Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) recipients in certain stages of care, improving care for patients with special needs, transforming financial and clinical models and improving health for specific populations based on one or more of a number of criteria. The awards are administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Just about any type of organization, public or private, can apply. Letters of intent are due June 1-28, and applications must be turned in June 14-Aug.15. (Department of Health and Human Services, Reuters) 3) One technology begins to break down, another new technology arrives at NASA. As news broke that the Kepler spacecraft was experiencing technical difficulties that could potentially derail the Earth-like planet hunting mission, NASA announced the arrival of the Dream Chaser prototype for engineering tests. The Dream Chaser, created by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), is part of a NASA program to develop a spacecraft to safely and reliably transport U.S. astronauts to and from the international space station and low-earth orbit. SpaceX and Boeing are also partnering with NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program, which is overseeing the effort. An image of the Dream Chaser engineering test article, created by Sierra Nevada Corp. In this image, the Dream Chaser is being prepared for shipping in Louisville, Colo. at the SNC facility. (SNC ) The Dream Chaser engineering test article arrives at NASA\u2019s"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Here\u2019s what we\u2019re reading/watching today:\n1)\u00a0Google CEO Larry Page conducted a surprise open question-and-answer session during the Google I/O conference Wednesday.\nLarry Page, Google\u2019s co-founder and chief executive, speaks during the keynote presentation at Google I/O 2013 in San Francisco, on Wednesday, May 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)\nAmong other observations (including the fact he \u201cdidn\u2019t appreciate\u201d\u00a0this), Page expressed his sadness over the state of innovation online and offline and offered his take (not positive) on the rocky relationship between Google and Microsoft. Page, who recently revealed that he suffers from vocal cord paralysis, also openly mulled the idea of creating a separate country free of the regulations and strictures that, as Page sees it, hold back innovation:\n\u201cWe haven\u2019t maybe built mechanisms to allow experimentation. There [are] many, many exciting and important things you can do that you just can\u2019t do because they\u2019re illegal or they\u2019re not allowed by regulation. And that makes sense. We don\u2019t want our world to change too fast. But maybe we should set aside a small part of the world. \u2026 I think, as technologists, we should have some safe places where we can try out some new things and figure out what is the effect on society\u2014what is the effect on people\u2014 without having to deploy it into the normal world. And people who like those kinds of things can go there and experience that. And we don\u2019t have mechanisms for that.\u201d\nLarry Page Google CEO Complete Q & A at Google I/O 2013\nWould you live in this, as The Verge put it on their live blog, \u201cbeta-test country\u201c? Or would you steer clear?\nRead more from The Post\u2019s Hayley Tsukayama on the Google I/O conference.\n2) The Obama administration on Wednesday announced round two of the\u00a0Health Care Innovation Awards. The $1 billion initiative, part of the Affordable Care Act, was announced by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The agency released the video below, featuring 2012 award recipients\u2019 answers to questions such as \u201cwhat does it mean to be an innovator today\u201d and \u201cwhy innovate\u201d:\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zHEXPGKZuso\nThis round of awards seeks submissions from applicants prepared to focus on four key areas, including the driving down of costs for Medicare, Medicaid and Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) recipients in certain stages of care, improving care for patients with special needs, transforming financial and clinical models and improving health for specific populations based on one or more of a number of criteria. The awards are administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Just about any type of organization, public or private, can apply. Letters of intent are due June 1-28, and applications must be turned in June 14-Aug.15. (Department of Health and Human Services,\u00a0Reuters)\n3) One technology begins to break down, another new technology arrives at NASA. As news broke that the Kepler spacecraft was experiencing technical difficulties that could potentially derail the Earth-like planet hunting mission, NASA announced the arrival of the Dream Chaser\u00a0prototype for engineering tests. The Dream Chaser, created by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), is part of a NASA program to develop a spacecraft to safely and reliably transport U.S. astronauts to and from the international space station and low-earth orbit. SpaceX and Boeing are also partnering with NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program, which is overseeing the effort.\nAn image of the Dream Chaser engineering test article, created by Sierra Nevada Corp. In this image, the Dream Chaser is being prepared for shipping in Louisville, Colo. at the SNC facility. (SNC )\n\u00a0\nThe Dream Chaser engineering test article arrives at NASA\u2019s Dryden Flight Research Center. (NASA/Tom Tschida)\n4) In other NASA news, the space agency has also teamed up with Google and the Universities Space Research Association to acquire a supercomputing system from Canadian-based D-Wave, reports the Wall Street Journal. The computer is only the second ever to be purchased from the company. The $10 million D-Wave Two system will be housed in Calif., near Google, at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center. A new laboratory at Ames is in the works to house the technology and focus on the study of quantum computing. (WSJ)\n5) In the \u201ccan\u2019t we all just get along\u201d file is this dispatch from the land of science fiction: \u201cStar Wars\u201d and \u201cDoctor Who\u201d fans were involved in a dispute at a science fiction convention at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, according to the BBC. Apparently a Sharks-versus-Jets style feud existed between two fan groups, which erupted into an apparently mild altercation that led to a call to the police.\n\u201cThis wasn\u2019t a fight between Star Wars fans and Doctor Who fans with lightsabers and sonic screwdrivers drawn,\u201d\u00a0Norwich Sci-Fi Club treasurer Jim Poole reportedly said.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a bit sad and pathetic. We\u2019re all in the same boat. We\u2019re not in competition. \u2026\u00a0We\u2019d like to extend the hand of friendship.\u201d\nGood idea because if Star Wars taught us anything, it\u2019s that you never know who your friends (or father) are. And, if that doesn\u2019t do it for you, just think of the children (Star Wars: spoiler alert):\nSon's reaction to 'Empire Strikes Back' reveal!!!!\n(BBC)"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "AUIBNGGPZRF6XF7WQ66SVZV5YQ_0", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "AUIBNGGPZRF6XF7WQ66SVZV5YQ_0", "title": "The Technology 202: Trump administration unveils $1 billion quantum and artificial intelligence initiative", "text": "with Tonya Riley The Trump administration today unveiled An influx of cash for research in quantum and artificial intelligence is designed to help build more powerful computers and other tools for processing information, which could accelerate research and other scientific developments \u2013- a goal that has taken on new significance amid a global race to develop a vaccine and treatments for coronavirus. The announcement is a shot across the bow in the broader tech race with China \u2013 and seems positioned to be a feather in Trump's cap during the week of the Republican National Convention. Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and senior adviser who is speaking at the convention this week, credited Trump with this \u201cdefining achievement A significant chunk of the funding China has made significant investments in these fields, raising questions about the United States's ability to retain its technological edge. The Trump administration is not viewed as science friendly and has made major cuts to science research. But it has continued to prioritize quantum and artificial intelligence as a national security issue, as China names these fields as priorities in its own research initiatives. However, the Trump administration\u2019s investment pales in comparison to the investments that China says it has made. The country announced a $10 billion investment in one of the largest quantum labs, and it has made some achievements in the field, such as the first quantum satellite. Academics however have questioned media reports about this and concluded the Chinese government isn't likely dramatically outspending the United States in artificial intelligence. \u201cAs the 12 new Institutes demonstrate, the United States will continue to lead in AI and QIS thanks to an innovation ecosystem that is the envy of the world,\u201d U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios told me. \u201cWe will succeed because the federal government partners with private-sector and academic leaders from all across the country to accelerate foundational research and promote free-market innovation and commercialization.\u201d An administration official said that today's announcement is just part of a broader research and development investment in these technologies. The person said the administration is on track to double its spending on quantum and artificial intelligence in two years. The private sector in the United States has also been heavily investing in these technologies \u2013 with venture capitalists and large tech companies pouring billions into technology in the fields. Several prominent tech companies \u2013 including IBM, Intel"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "with Tonya Riley\nThe Trump administration today unveiled\nAn influx of cash for research in quantum and artificial intelligence is designed to help build more powerful computers and other tools for processing information, which could accelerate research and other scientific developments \u2013- a goal that has taken on new significance amid a global race to develop a vaccine and treatments for coronavirus.\nThe announcement is a shot across the bow in the broader tech race with China \u2013 and seems positioned to be a feather in Trump's cap during the week of the Republican National Convention.\nIvanka Trump, the president's daughter and senior adviser who is speaking at the convention this week, credited Trump with this \u201cdefining achievement\nA significant chunk of the funding\nChina has made significant investments in these fields, raising questions about the United States's ability to retain its technological edge.\nThe Trump administration is not viewed as science friendly and has made major cuts to science research. But it has continued to prioritize quantum and artificial intelligence as a national security issue, as China names these fields as priorities in its own research initiatives.\nHowever, the Trump administration\u2019s investment pales in comparison to the investments that China says it has made. The country announced a $10 billion investment in one of the largest quantum labs, and it has made some achievements in the field, such as the first quantum satellite. Academics however have questioned media reports about this and concluded the Chinese government isn't likely dramatically outspending the United States in artificial intelligence.\n\u201cAs the 12 new Institutes demonstrate, the United States will continue to lead in AI and QIS thanks to an innovation ecosystem that is the envy of the world,\u201d U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios told me. \u201cWe will succeed because the federal government partners with private-sector and academic leaders from all across the country to accelerate foundational research and promote free-market innovation and commercialization.\u201d\nAn administration official said that today's announcement is just part of a broader research and development investment in these technologies. The person said the administration is on track to double its spending on quantum and artificial intelligence in two years.\nThe private sector in the United States has also been heavily investing in these technologies \u2013 with venture capitalists and large tech companies pouring billions into technology in the fields.\nSeveral prominent tech companies \u2013 including IBM, Intel and Microsoft and startups \u2013 are participating in the initiative. Their involvement underscores the pressure on U.S. companies to also maintain a competitive edge over competitors around the world. There will be plans in place to transfer technologies from the center to industry.\nIBM will be a partner in three of the five quantum centers at the Department of Energy labs. Dario Gil, director of IBM Research, told me the initiative is an \u201cimportant development\u201d and it was very positive that different companies, universities and the government were all coming together.\n\u201cI will continue to advocate that the aggregate level of investment increases in science and technology in general in the United States by the federal government,\u201d he said.\nProgramming note: We\u2019ll be back in your inbox after Labor Day on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Enjoy these last weeks of summer and follow @PostTech on Twitter for the latest news from our colleagues.\nShe expressed sympathy with parents who are trying to navigate the digital world for their children.\n\u201cJust like me, I know many of you watch how mean and manipulative social media can be \u2026 I\u2019m sure many of you are looking for answers\nIt was one of several jabs against tech companies during the second night of the convention.\nTiffany Trump also slammed the effects of social media on society.\n\u201cPeople must recognize that our thoughts, opinions, and even the choice of who we vote for are being manipulated and invisibly coerced by the media and tech giants,\u201d she said.\n\u201cRather than allowing Americans the right to form our own beliefs, this misinformation system keeps people mentally enslaved to the ideas they deem correct. This has fostered unnecessary fear and divisiveness\nTiffany, the youngest of Trump's adult children, is a recent graduate of Georgetown Law,\nCorrection: This article has been updated to make clear that Tiffany is the youngest of Trump's adult children, not the youngest.\nMary Ann Mendoza, a member of the Women for Trump Campaign board, shared a thread of tweets promoting conspiracy theories about a Jewish plot to control the world, Colby Itkowitz reports.\n\u201cMy apologies for not paying attention to the intent of the whole message. That does not reflect my feelings or personal thoughts whatsoever,\u201d Mendoza wrote after reporters picked up the tweets.\nMendoza had shared similar conspiracy theories about a wealthy Jewish family in the past.\nRemovals in the most sensitive categories \u2013 including violent extremism and content that could jeopardize child safety \u2013 nearly tripled, Protocol's Issie Lapowsky reports. The company attributed the increase to a more aggressive approach of \u201cpotential over-enforcement\u201d and accepting a lower level of accuracy for removals flagged by its technology.\nBut comparing YouTube's results with Facebook, which also sent human moderators home in March, shows automated systems across the industry have room to improve.\nRemovals of child sexual abuse material fell in Facebook's second quarter. Conversely, Facebook saw more removals of hate speech than YouTube. YouTube said it maintained its appeals process to account for over-removals, whereas Facebook suspended it's for the most sensitive categories.\nThe comparison between the two social media giants isn't one to one. Each platform has slightly different definitions of categories.\n\u201cAnd yet, the two reports still illustrate an important point about how the\nChief executive Alex Karp took a jab at competitors who rely on selling and mining data and advertising for rebuking controversial government contracts, Ari Levy at CNBC reports.\n\u201cSoftware projects with our nation\u2019s defense and intelligence agencies, whose missions are to keep us safe, have become controversial, while companies built on advertising dollars are commonplace,\" Karp wrote in a letter in the filing. \"The slogans and marketing of many of the Valley\u2019s largest technology firms attempt to obscure this simple fact.\u201d\nPalantir, which was co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, has accrued more than $1.5 billion in federal contracts with agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Thiel was a prominent Trump supporter and member of Trump's transition team in 2016, but he has since reportedly distanced himself from the president.\nLast year, the company had nearly $580 million in losses.\nThe filing also outlines Palantir's clear stance against working with China, saying it could hurt the company's growth long-term.\n\u201cWe do not consider any sales opportunities with the Chinese communist party, do not host our platforms in China, and impose limitations on access to our platforms in China in order to protect our intellectual property, to promote respect for and defend privacy and civil liberties protections, and to promote data security,\u201d the filing says.\nLawmakers have slammed tech companies including Apple and Google for their relationships with China in the past.\nSpeakers during the first night of the Republican National Convention took a more moderate tack than Black influencers online who have used extreme tactics to fight against the president's Black critics, Isaac Stanley-Becker reports.\nConservative commentators such as Candace Owens, who wields a network of Facebook pages, have popularized anti-Democratic sentiments like leaving the \u201cDemocratic plantation.\u201d The attacks against Democrats alleging the political suppression of Black Americans have grown more explicit since Kamala Harris, who is Black and Asian American, was named to the ticket.\nA viral video from Kimberly Klacik, a Black Republican running for Congress in Maryland, who spoke on opening night, called Harris a prop. Conservative influencers and Trump supporters Diamond and Silk popularized a meme attacking Harris for marrying a white man. These attacks have spread beyond conservative online corners to more fringe groups as well, Isaac reports.\nHaving Black voices spread the message is key to spreading \"misinformation and hate\" as a legitimate critique of Democrats, said Andre Banks, a co-founder of Win Black/Pa\u2019lante, a group combating disinformation targeting Black and Latino communities. \u201cNo White person,\u201d Banks said, could deliver similar messages without \u201cexperiencing harmful side effects.\u201d\nWorkers are bringing demands in light of raging wildfires in California, Megan Rose Dickey at TechCrunch reports. Gig Workers Collective, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of workers at companies including Lyft and Instacart, is calling the delivery company to pay a disaster rate equal to average daily pay as long as operations are shut down. The group also wants Instacart to commit to shutting down operations in markets where a state of emergency or evacuation has been issued.\nHow the Hollywood Fix Cornered the Influencer Paparazzi Market (New York Times)\nStephen Colbert reminds us of this great moment in RNC history:"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "AUTBHMTQRVDEHHDCO4YPHJXOCQ_7", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "AUTBHMTQRVDEHHDCO4YPHJXOCQ_7", "title": "Google scientists say they\u2019ve achieved \u2018quantum supremacy\u2019 breakthrough over classical computers", "text": "the process demanded the entire capacity of a supercomputer, plus an additional storage mechanism. And no matter how good algorithms for classical computers get, he said, quantum computers are improving exponentially faster. \u201cWe are in the quantum supremacy regime,\u201d Martinis said. The Nature paper \u201cis a very strong statement towards that, and it\u2019s going to get stronger and stronger in the future.\u201d Computer scientists refer to systems such as Sycamore as \u201cNoisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum technology,\u201d or NISQ. This term (yet another Preskill invention) describes machines that can perform some calculations but are still too small and error-prone to be fully functional. The true revolution will happen slowly \u2014 Montanaro guessed it will be 10 to 15 years before a resilient, large-scale quantum computer comes online. But in the meantime, scientists can start to design more-modest algorithms for NISQ machines, using them to model solar panels, superconductors and other systems where quantum effects play an important role. Still, it\u2019s the grandest possibilities presented by quantum computing that entice companies and governments to keep plugging away at it. Several technology companies are competing to create quantum machines; IBM has even made its prototype available online for anyone to use. Last year, President Trump signed into law the National Quantum Initiative Act, which establishes research centers to focus on quantum information science. Meanwhile, China has spent billions on quantum technology development. The most obvious potential applications of this research are in the realm of national security. Entangled particles could one day be used for \u201cquantum communication\u201d \u2014 a means of sending super-secure messages that doesn\u2019t rely on cables or wireless signals. The tremendous processing power of quantum computers might be used to break previously unbreakable codes. Then again, some experts worry this capacity will be used to steal people\u2019s passwords \u2014 potentially imperiling online systems including email, banking and more. But spying and hacking are far from the technology\u2019s only uses. Biologists might use quantum computers to understand natural processes far too complex for classical machines to simulate. Pharmaceutical researchers could employ them to discover new drugs. Quantum computing promises to generate better artificial intelligence and more-effective nanotechnologies. \u201cIn many ways quantum brings computing full circle,\u201d Pichai said, \u201cgiving us another way to speak the language of the universe and understand the world and humanity not just in 1s and 0s but in all of its states: beautiful, complex, and with limitless possibility.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "For the first time, a machine that runs on the mind-boggling physics of quantum mechanics has reportedly solved a problem that would stump the world\u2019s top supercomputers \u2014 a breakthrough known as \u201cquantum supremacy.\u201d\nIf validated, the report by Google\u2019s AI Quantum team and University of California at Santa Barbara physicist John Martinis constitutes a major leap for quantum computing, a technology that relies on the bizarre behavior of tiny particles to encode huge amounts of information. According to a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature, Google\u2019s Sycamore processor performed in less than three and a half minutes a calculation that would take the most powerful classical computer on the planet 10,000 years to complete.\nThe achievement has been compared to the Wright brothers\u2019 12-second first flight at Kitty Hawk \u2014 an early, aspirational glimpse at a revolution to come. By providing exponentially greater calculation power than the machines we use today, quantum computers could one day transform the way we communicate ideas, conceal data and comprehend the universe.\nThe result is also a feather in the cap for both Google and the United States, because quantum technology is expected to confer huge economic and national security advantages to whoever can master it first.\nThe technology community has been abuzz about the breakthrough ever since a leaked version of the study was published on (and then removed from) a NASA website last month.\n\u201cFor those of us who work on the theory,\u201d said Ashley Montanaro, an expert in quantum algorithms at the University of Bristol, \u201cit\u2019s a point where it really seems that things that were only theoretical in the past are now becoming reality.\u201d\nWriting in the magazine Quanta, Caltech theoretical physicist John Preskill called the result \u201ca remarkable achievement in experimental physics and a testament to the brisk pace of progress in quantum computing hardware.\u201d\nBut the claim also has prompted skepticism from competitors. Researchers at IBM, which has been working on its own quantum machines, reported this week that a classical computer system would in fact take two and a half days to perform the calculation in Google\u2019s report \u2014 and would make fewer mistakes in the process. (That paper has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.)\nIn a blog post, the IBM scientists also questioned the use of the James Bond-esque term \u201cquantum supremacy,\u201d which seems to imply that classical computers are about to become obsolete.\nWhoever turns out to be right, quantum supremacy is a largely symbolic achievement; the specific task assigned to the Google computer \u2014 checking outputs from a random number generator \u2014 has few practical applications.\nIn a statement Wednesday, Google chief executive Sundar Pichai called this a \u201chello world\u201d milestone (the simple phrase is often the first program written by people learning to code), representing \u201ca moment of possibility.\u201d\nHis words echo what Preskill wrote in his piece for Quanta. The Caltech physicist, who coined the notion of quantum supremacy in 2012, said he aimed to convey the notion that \u201cthis is a privileged time in the history of our planet,\u201d when the most arcane laws of physics might be harnessed for human ambitions.\nScientists have known for a century that the predictable laws of Newtonian physics \u2014 objects fall down; matter can be in only one place at a time \u2014 fall apart at the atomic and subatomic level.\nIn this quantum realm, electrons appear to leap from one energy state to another. Particles can exist in multiple states at the same time, a phenomenon known as \u201csuperposition.\u201d They can also stay connected across large distances, which Albert Einstein called \u201cspooky\u201d and modern physicists call \u201centanglement.\u201d\nWith quantum computing, scientists can put these weird, wild particles to work.\nClassical computers encode information in \u201cbits,\u201d an electrical or optical pulse that can represent either a 0 or 1. Eight bits constitute a \u201cbyte,\u201d which can typically store one character \u2014 for example, the letter A or a dollar sign. The first eight-inch floppy disk held 242,944 bytes. Apple\u2019s new iPhone 11 comes with 64 billion bytes.\nThe Summit system at Oak Ridge National Lab, a classical supercomputer that takes up two tennis courts\u2019 worth of floor space and can perform 200 quadrillion calculations per second, boasts a whopping 250 petabytes of storage \u2014 in bytes, that number comes out to about 250,000,000,000,000,000.\nBut superposition means that a quantum bit, or qubit, isn\u2019t confined to being just 0 or 1. This means it can be associated with twice as many numbers, a power that increases exponentially with each qubit added: Two qubits are associated with four possible numbers; three with eight; four with 16.\nBy the time you get up to 53 qubits \u2014 the functional size of both Google\u2019s Sycamore processor and a similar machine being built at IBM \u2014 you\u2019re approaching the potential of supercomputers like Summit. By harnessing quantum physics, a small machine can hold vast amounts of information and perform multiple calculations at once.\nThat is, if the quantum computer works. A faint noise or a glimmer of heat can alter a superposition, leading to errors. Measuring a particle, or disturbing it in any way, will cause the superposition to \u201cdecohere,\u201d or collapse. The qubit becomes an ordinary bit. Add more qubits to a system, and decoherence becomes even harder to control.\nThat\u2019s what stands between researchers such as those at Google and the quantum world they hope to attain. To build an effective quantum computer, scientists must figure out how to create and manipulate entangled qubits that last long enough to do something interesting with them.\nWednesday\u2019s announcement is the product of half a decade of collaboration between Google researchers and Martinis\u2019s team at UCSB. Their first task was to build their machine, a futuristic tower of coiled wires and gleaming silicon and steel.\nThe Sycamore processor itself is just a tiny silicon chip comprising 54 qubits laid out in a crosshatch pattern. This chip is bonded to a superconducting circuit board and then enclosed in a refrigerator so powerful that its temperature approaches absolute zero. This ensures that nothing can affect the qubits except the electronic signals sent by the scientists themselves.\nThen they had to come up with a calculation complex enough to test their computer, and myriad tiny fixes for the errors that arose. One of the qubits in the processor failed to function, so the scientists had to cut it out of their experiments. The team developed an error-correcting process to ensure that the results coming out of each component were 99.99 percent accurate.\nPichai, the Google chief executive, described how every component of the processor had to be invented and built by the scientists themselves.\n\u201cIf it didn\u2019t work \u2014 and often, it didn\u2019t \u2014 they had to redesign and build it again,\u201d he said. \u201cThe thing about building something that hasn\u2019t been proven yet is that there is no playbook.\u201d\nIn October 2018, severe wildfires in Southern California forced the experimenters to temporarily close their Santa Barbara laboratory \u2014 right at a moment when their progress had started to stall, Pichai said. The forced break may have helped them; three months later, they achieved their breakthrough.\nIn a commentary for Nature, MIT physicist William Oliver wrote that the new results will help combat some of the criticisms of quantum computers: that they are too difficult to control and won\u2019t work on large scales. But even a computer like Google\u2019s is too \u201cnoisy,\u201d or error-prone, to be viable long-term.\nSpeaking to reporters Wednesday, Martinis said the team\u2019s next step would be to improve its error-correction process. Then he hopes to scale up the processor to 1,000 qubits, creating a system capable of processing more parallel computations than there are atoms in the observable universe.\nAddressing IBM\u2019s criticism of the quantum supremacy claim, Martinis said he anticipated that other researchers would find more-efficient ways to simulate the quantum machine\u2019s calculation with classical computers. But two and a half days is still a lot longer than three minutes \u2014 and the process demanded the entire capacity of a supercomputer, plus an additional storage mechanism.\nAnd no matter how good algorithms for classical computers get, he said, quantum computers are improving exponentially faster.\n\u201cWe are in the quantum supremacy regime,\u201d Martinis said. The Nature paper \u201cis a very strong statement towards that, and it\u2019s going to get stronger and stronger in the future.\u201d\nComputer scientists refer to systems such as Sycamore as \u201cNoisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum technology,\u201d or NISQ. This term (yet another Preskill invention) describes machines that can perform some calculations but are still too small and error-prone to be fully functional.\nThe true revolution will happen slowly \u2014 Montanaro guessed it will be 10 to 15 years before a resilient, large-scale quantum computer comes online.\nBut in the meantime, scientists can start to design more-modest algorithms for NISQ machines, using them to model solar panels, superconductors and other systems where quantum effects play an important role.\nStill, it\u2019s the grandest possibilities presented by quantum computing that entice companies and governments to keep plugging away at it.\nSeveral technology companies are competing to create quantum machines; IBM has even made its prototype available online for anyone to use. Last year, President Trump signed into law the National Quantum Initiative Act, which establishes research centers to focus on quantum information science. Meanwhile, China has spent billions on quantum technology development.\nThe most obvious potential applications of this research are in the realm of national security. Entangled particles could one day be used for \u201cquantum communication\u201d \u2014 a means of sending super-secure messages that doesn\u2019t rely on cables or wireless signals. The tremendous processing power of quantum computers might be used to break previously unbreakable codes.\nThen again, some experts worry this capacity will be used to steal people\u2019s passwords \u2014 potentially imperiling online systems including email, banking and more.\nBut spying and hacking are far from the technology\u2019s only uses. Biologists might use quantum computers to understand natural processes far too complex for classical machines to simulate. Pharmaceutical researchers could employ them to discover new drugs. Quantum computing promises to generate better artificial intelligence and more-effective nanotechnologies.\n\u201cIn many ways quantum brings computing full circle,\u201d Pichai said, \u201cgiving us another way to speak the language of the universe and understand the world and humanity not just in 1s and 0s but in all of its states: beautiful, complex, and with limitless possibility.\u201d"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "J4IF4YWWB5HQNOJ3MO7MWMI6LA_5", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "J4IF4YWWB5HQNOJ3MO7MWMI6LA_5", "title": "The quantum revolution is coming, and Chinese scientists are at the forefront", "text": "emphasis on the common good, he said. \u201cOne guy spent two years really focused on how to prepare the lab room. You can assign people these tasks \u2014 they will do something that in our world would be seen as beneath us. But here they are supported and held in high esteem.\u201d Pan received his doctorate from the University of Vienna in 1999 and conducted further research at the University of Heidelberg before moving home, along with several Chinese colleagues. China\u2019s work on quantum technologies at the time was \u201crelatively backward\u201d and needed outside help, Pan said in an email. \u201cTherefore, our team took the initiative to send students to top research groups abroad to learn related technologies,\u201d he said. \u201cFortunately, they later returned back to work in China.\u201d Most of the Chinese researchers speaking at the Shanghai conference spent years studying overseas. Their slide decks were peppered with humorous references to Western pop culture and events. One featured a picture of President Trump with the caption \u201cMake SPDC Great Again\u201d \u2014 a reference to an optical process whereby a photon splits in two. During a coffee break, one Chinese researcher\u2019s phone erupted in a ringtone from the TV show \u201cFriends.\u201d Their PhDs or postdoctoral credentials came from universities such as Stanford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge and the University of Toronto, according to their biographies printed in the program. While their talks didn\u2019t focus on military applications, much of the technology they\u2019re pursuing would have clear uses in both the commercial and defense realms, scientists say. Quantum computers might someday be able to crack all existing forms of encryption. Quantum sensors could help the Chinese military track and target enemy troops with greater precision. The university where Pan works, USTC, has established several quantum-research partnerships with state-owned defense companies in recent years, with aims that include enhancing the combat capability of naval vessels, according to Chinese media reports cited in the Center for a New American Security paper. \u201cChina\u2019s national advances in quantum communications and computing \u2026 will be leveraged to support military purposes,\u201d according to the paper\u2019s authors, Elsa Kania and John Costello, who reviewed hundreds of Chinese-language media, government and technical reports. Scientists who have discussed the field with U.S. government officials say the Trump administration has recently expressed concern about the number of Chinese students pursuing studies in the United States in sensitive areas such"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "SHANGHAI \u2014 More than a decade ago, Chinese physicist Pan Jian-Wei returned home from Europe to help oversee research into some of the most important technology of the 21st century.\nAt a conference in Shanghai this summer, Pan and his team offered a rare peek at the work he described as a \u201crevolution.\u201d\nThey spoke of the hacking-resistant communications networks they are building across China, the sensors they are designing to see through smog and around corners, and the prototype computers that may someday smash the computational power of any existing machine.\nAll the gear is based on quantum technology \u2014 an emerging field that could transform information processing and confer big economic and national-security advantages to countries that dominate it. To the dismay of some scientists and officials in the United States, China\u2019s formidable investment is helping it catch up with Western research in the field and, in a few areas, pull ahead.\nBeijing is pouring billions into research and development and is offering Chinese scientists big perks to return home from Western labs. China\u2019s drive has sparked calls for more R&D funding in the United States, and helped trigger concerns in the Trump administration that some types of scientific collaboration with China may be aiding the People\u2019s Liberation Army and hurting U.S. interests.\n\u201cThe United States must be prepared for a future in which its traditional technological predominance faces new, perhaps unprecedented challenges,\u201d the Center for a New American Security wrote in a recent report about China\u2019s quantum ambitions.\nQuantum technology seeks to harness the distinct properties of atoms, photons and electrons to build more powerful tools for processing information.\nLast year, China had nearly twice as many patent filings as the United States for quantum technology overall, a category that includes communications and cryptology devices, according to market research firm Patinformatics. The United States, though, leads the world in patents relating to the most prized segment of the field \u2014 quantum computers \u2014 thanks to heavy investment by IBM, Google, Microsoft and others.\nHelping oversee China\u2019s program is Pan, whom Chinese media call the \u201cfather of quantum.\u201d From his labs at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), in Shanghai and Hefei, the 49-year-old leads a team of 130 researchers. In 2017, the journal Nature named him one of \u201cten people who mattered this year,\u201d saying he had \u201clit a fire under the country\u2019s efforts in quantum technology.\u201d\nPan occasionally gives lab tours to President Xi Jinping, who takes a keen interest in his work, according to Chinese media. Pan is also overseeing plans for a new national lab for quantum research in Anhui province, which he said had drawn about $400 million in government funding.\nAt the Shanghai event, Pan illustrated his slide presentation with science-nerd jokes about Einstein and \u201cStar Trek.\u201d In a nod to Schr\u00f6dinger\u2019s cat \u2014 a 1930s thought experiment that helped define a quantum concept called superposition \u2014 Pan used images of a cartoon feline standing upright and lying flat on its back.\n\u201cAs we all know, in our everyday life, a cat can only either be in an alive or dead state,\u201d Pan said, but \u201ca cat in the quantum world can be in a coherent superposition of alive and dead states.\u201d\nHe was making the point that quantum particles, also known as quantum bits, differ fundamentally from the bits in today\u2019s technology. Existing computers and communications networks store, process and transmit information by breaking it down into long streams of bits, which are typically electrical or optical pulses representing a zero or one.\nQuantum bits, or qubits, which are often atoms, electrons or photons, can exist as zeros and ones at the same time, or in any position between, a flexibility that allows them to process information in new ways. Some physicists compare them to a spinning coin that is simultaneously in a heads and tails state.\nIn his talk, Pan detailed how China is harnessing qubits to safeguard its communications from hacking \u2014 one of the fields in which China appears to have a lead over the West.\nPan and his team are aiming to launch a constellation of satellites and a nationwide fiber-optic network that use qubits to securely transmit information. An almost 1,300-mile fiber link connecting Beijing, Shanghai and other cities is already up and running. So is a satellite China launched in 2016, which has conducted several prominent experiments, including facilitating a hacking-resistant video conference between Beijing and Vienna.\nWhen the network is complete, it could complicate U.S. efforts to eavesdrop on China\u2019s government or military communications, some Western scientists say.\n\u201cI predict China will go black in two to three years \u2014 we won\u2019t be able to read anything,\u201d said Jonathan Dowling, a physics professor at Louisiana State University who spends part of the year as a visiting faculty member at USTC in Shanghai.\nOthers argue that even if China\u2019s network equipment is more secure, it could still be hacked by manipulating the humans running the system.\nIf the technology gains traction globally, China could be in a strong position to sell it, given the large number of patents its universities and companies have registered for devices and technology relating to quantum communication and encryption, according to Patinformatics.\nPan has credited Edward Snowden for motivating China\u2019s quantum research. The former National Security Agency contractor\u2019s revelations about NSA eavesdropping led China to pour money into developing more secure communications, Pan has said in published interviews.\nBarry Sanders, a Canadian physicist from the University of Calgary, spends two to three months a year as a visiting professor at the USTC labs in Shanghai. He got the job through China\u2019s \u201cThousand Talents\u201d program, which recruits Western scientists for teaching and research stints, and offers incentives to persuade Chinese researchers to return home from overseas.\nSanders said China\u2019s cultural differences can provide advantages in the lab.\n\u201cI have my Western way of doing things \u2014 freedom of thought, take risks,\u201d he said. In China, there is more emphasis on the common good, he said. \u201cOne guy spent two years really focused on how to prepare the lab room. You can assign people these tasks \u2014 they will do something that in our world would be seen as beneath us. But here they are supported and held in high esteem.\u201d\nPan received his doctorate from the University of Vienna in 1999 and conducted further research at the University of Heidelberg before moving home, along with several Chinese colleagues.\nChina\u2019s work on quantum technologies at the time was \u201crelatively backward\u201d and needed outside help, Pan said in an email. \u201cTherefore, our team took the initiative to send students to top research groups abroad to learn related technologies,\u201d he said. \u201cFortunately, they later returned back to work in China.\u201d\nMost of the Chinese researchers speaking at the Shanghai conference spent years studying overseas. Their slide decks were peppered with humorous references to Western pop culture and events. One featured a picture of President Trump with the caption \u201cMake SPDC Great Again\u201d \u2014 a reference to an optical process whereby a photon splits in two. During a coffee break, one Chinese researcher\u2019s phone erupted in a ringtone from the TV show \u201cFriends.\u201d\nTheir PhDs or postdoctoral credentials came from universities such as Stanford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge and the University of Toronto, according to their biographies printed in the program.\nWhile their talks didn\u2019t focus on military applications, much of the technology they\u2019re pursuing would have clear uses in both the commercial and defense realms, scientists say.\nQuantum computers might someday be able to crack all existing forms of encryption. Quantum sensors could help the Chinese military track and target enemy troops with greater precision. The university where Pan works, USTC, has established several quantum-research partnerships with state-owned defense companies in recent years, with aims that include enhancing the combat capability of naval vessels, according to Chinese media reports cited in the Center for a New American Security paper.\n\u201cChina\u2019s national advances in quantum communications and computing \u2026 will be leveraged to support military purposes,\u201d according to the paper\u2019s authors, Elsa Kania and John Costello, who reviewed hundreds of Chinese-language media, government and technical reports.\nScientists who have discussed the field with U.S. government officials say the Trump administration has recently expressed concern about the number of Chinese students pursuing studies in the United States in sensitive areas such as quantum science.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve always encouraged the best and brightest to come from overseas, and it\u2019s always served our nation well,\u201d said John Preskill, the Richard P. Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology, who has advised the government on quantum-tech issues. \u201cBut there is concern in government about how we are training all these people, and a lot of them are going back to China and competing in technologies that have implications for national security. And we\u2019re talking about what to do about it.\n\u201cMany of us in academia, although we know there are complicated issues, are inclined to continue encouraging Chinese students to come,\u201d Preskill said, \u201cbut there is a continuing discussion in the government about what\u2019s the best policy for doing that.\u201d\nIn an opinion piece this month, two U.S. university associations said their members were strengthening security protocols and building closer relationships with the FBI and intelligence agencies, after hearing \u201cincreasing concern\u201d from the federal government about \u201cforeign interference\u201d in university research. They also praised the contributions of Chinese students and faculty, and said the United States must continue to welcome them.\nPan said he believed collaboration would bring only rewards in quantum science.\n\u201cThe academic exchange benefits both countries,\u201d he said via email. \u201cI see no reason whatsoever that the United States government should be concerned and discourage normal academic activities. Recall that quantum mechanics was first developed in Europe, and then moved to the United States.\u201d\nAsked whether his group contributes to research for the Chinese military, Pan said his university and team are \u201cby nature, for fundamental scientific research and education.\u201d\n\u201cWe publish our fundamental research results in international journals which are available to read from all around the world. From reading our papers, other people, who can be from the United States, Europe, Japan, or China, might be inspired and further develop \u2018immediately useful\u2019 technology or products for industry or commercial or military use,\u201d he said, adding this was \u201cout of our control.\u201d\nSome corners of the U.S. government are restricting collaboration with China. In June, the Energy Department, one of the main agencies funding physics and quantum-science research, prohibited its employees and contractors from responding to certain foreign countries\u2019 talent-recruitment programs, including China\u2019s Thousand Talents. The agency said it wanted to limit \u201cunauthorized transfers of scientific and technical information.\u201d\nThe ban followed the indictment of a former scientist at the Energy Department\u2019s Los Alamos National Laboratory, on charges of making false statements about his involvement with Thousand Talents.\n\u201cWhat we have said in shorthand is, you cannot work for the Department of Energy and for one of these foreign talent recruitment programs. You cannot work for a foreign country and the Department of Energy at the same time,\u201d Chris Fall, director of the agency\u2019s Office of Science, said in an interview.\nIn part motivated by China\u2019s progress, Congress late last year passed the National Quantum Initiative Act, which authorized an extra $1.2 billion in research funding over five years. The Energy Department is on tap to receive a big chunk of that money, which it plans to use to set up several quantum-focused research centers. The agency is soliciting ideas from its own national laboratories and from universities and the private sector as it decides how to establish those centers, Fall said.\n\u201cThe beauty of how we do science in this country is that it isn\u2019t top-down,\u201d he said.\nFor now, China is lagging behind the U.S. tech industry in perhaps the most important race in the field: building a quantum computer.\nA fully functioning quantum computer has the potential to be transformative. The exponentially greater calculation power could help identify new chemical compounds to treat intractable diseases, and eliminate traffic snarls by predicting and managing the flow of vehicles.\nHowever, the possibility that the machines could eventually crack all existing forms of encryption is a major worry for militaries, governments and businesses that handle sensitive data.\nTo get a fully functioning computer \u2014 a goal still a decade or more away, most scientists agree \u2014 researchers must coax a large number of qubits into working together efficiently. That\u2019s difficult because qubits are finicky and have the propensity to stop functioning at the slightest disturbance, such as a minor change in temperature.\nGoogle and IBM are at the forefront, using superconducting circuits to manipulate qubits. Google last year unveiled a quantum processor with 72 qubits, surpassing IBM\u2019s previously announced 50-qubit computer.\nMore important than the number of qubits is how effectively they work together, said Chris Monroe, a University of Maryland physicist and co-founder of the start-up IonQ. The company recently reported that its prototype computer, using 11 qubits made of ionized atoms, performed more complex calculations with greater accuracy than any rival machine. (IonQ\u2019s investors include AWS, a subsidiary of Amazon, whose founder, Jeff Bezos, owns The Washington Post).\nChinese researchers so far have reported a 12-qubit processor, using superconducting technology similar to Google\u2019s and IBM\u2019s.\nThe leader of that work, USTC professor Zhu Xiaobo, presented his team\u2019s results at the Shanghai conference, flashing a picture of their prototype on the screen \u2014 a shiny tangle of coaxial cables resembling an intricate golden chandelier. (IBM\u2019s and Google\u2019s machines have a similar look.)\n\u201cWe are now working on 24 qubits,\u201d Zhu said. \u201cWe hope next year we will go to 50, and maybe sometime we will go to quantum supremacy,\u201d he added, referring to the point at which a quantum computer is able to perform a calculation that existing computers can\u2019t. The benchmark, though widely anticipated, will mark only the beginning of progress in the field, scientists say.\nLu Chaoyang, a young physicist who earned his PhD at Cambridge University, also stepped to the lectern to deliver an update on his team\u2019s approach to quantum computing. It relies on photons, which he dubbed \u201cfast-flying qubits.\u201d\nLu, whom Sanders calls a \u201crising superstar\u201d in China, peppered his talk with funny cat GIFs and Western cultural references.\nAlthough the idea for a quantum computer first surfaced 40 years ago, there is still a long way to go, Lu said.\nHe then pressed play on a brief video snippet of \u201cHarry Potter\u201d author J.K. Rowling, who spoke about the importance of setting \u201cachievable goals.\u201d\n\u201cIt\u2019s important we set achievable goals for experiments so we can continuously progress,\u201d Lu said.\nLyric Li contributed to this report"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "NNHDM6D664I6RNTAJUHZ6A2R6E_1", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "NNHDM6D664I6RNTAJUHZ6A2R6E_1", "title": "D.C.-area cybertech companies persuade West Coast investors to head east", "text": "in companies that utilize talent and know-how from the region\u2019s spy agencies. The other is NightDragon Security, a fund set up by Dave DeWalt, who ran cybersecurity giant FireEye as chief executive for four years. That investment followed a $20 million one led by Scale Venture Partners, another Silicon Valley-based fund, in a Herndon-based company called Expel. Expel is headed by Dave Merkel, who was a top executive at AOL before becoming chief technologist at Mandiant, a cybersecurity company that was bought by FireEye for close to $1 billion. They are riding a wave that has been building for years. Cybersecurity companies in the District, Maryland and Virginia struck 47 deals with venture investors in 2017 compared with just 15 in 2011, according to an internal analysis by Paladin Capital, a D.C.-based venture capital firm. There have already been 24 such deals in the first half of 2018, suggesting the trend will continue. All of that extra capital, combined with new federal cybersecurity spending from defense and intelligence agencies, has spawned hundreds of new companies in the D.C. area. A 2017 survey by Amplifier Ventures and the Kogod School of Business at American University found a whopping 858 D.C.-area companies engaged in cybersecurity work. Their business is more than just protecting IT networks. Bethesda-based Quantum Xchange, for example, wants to build futuristic fiber-optic cables between Washington and Boston, using a novel encryption method it says will be able to resist not-yet-developed code-crackers based on the laws of quantum mechanics. The company has raised $10 million for the effort. Another is Social SafeGuard, which helps companies including Johnson & Johnson, Sun Life Financial and McAfee track their social media presence, which includes spotting accounts that have been commandeered by hackers. Some companies use its service to find fake social media accounts set up by hackers to spoof their way into corporate networks. Some projects involve tracking down accounts set up to impersonate corporate executives, for example. In other cases, Social SafeGuard\u2019s corporate customers are surveilling their own employees to make sure they don\u2019t leak proprietary information or do anything improper online. Executives say the company gathers the data from more than 50 \u201cdigital and social channels\u201d including Facebook and Twitter, all of it with employees\u2019 consent. \u201cIf you\u2019re a CEO of a well-known company, chances are there are hundreds of people spoofing you. In addition to that, you have lots of"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The Washington area is rarely thought of as a hotbed for technology companies. The region\u2019s biggest firms have generally gravitated toward the quiet, stable business of government contracting, while start-ups tend to move elsewhere in search of growth capital.\nThe area\u2019s cybersecurity companies, however, are proving to be an exception to the rule.\nA handful of recent \u201cexits\u201d \u2014 start-up lingo for taking a company public or otherwise cashing out \u2014 are beginning to show investors that the area\u2019s crowded cybersecurity industry can yield returns.\nTenable Network Security, a Columbia, Md.-based cybersecurity firm that helps large organizations spot network vulnerabilities, recently filed for its initial public offering after raising more than $300\u00a0million from investors. In a separate deal in late February, a company called Phishme was bought by private equity giants BlackRock and Pamplona Capital in a deal that valued it at $400\u00a0million.\nAll of that activity is persuading some well-known Silicon Valley investors to head east in search of opportunity.\nSocial SafeGuard, a Charlottesville-based start-up, recently disclosed that it has raised $11\u00a0million in new funding from a pair of West Coast funds. The first, Allegis Cyber, is a Palo Alto, Calif.-based venture fund known for investing in companies that utilize talent and know-how from the region\u2019s spy agencies. The other is NightDragon Security, a fund set up by Dave DeWalt, who ran cybersecurity giant FireEye as chief executive for four years.\nThat investment followed a $20 million one led by Scale Venture Partners, another Silicon Valley-based fund, in a Herndon-based company called Expel. Expel is headed by Dave Merkel, who was a top executive at AOL before becoming chief technologist at Mandiant, a cybersecurity company that was bought by FireEye for close to $1\u00a0billion.\nThey are riding a wave that has been building for years. Cybersecurity companies in the District, Maryland and Virginia struck 47 deals with venture investors in 2017 compared with just 15 in 2011, according to an internal analysis by Paladin Capital, a D.C.-based venture capital firm. There have already been 24 such deals in the first half of 2018, suggesting the trend will continue.\nAll of that extra capital, combined with new federal cybersecurity spending from defense and intelligence agencies, has spawned hundreds of new companies in the D.C. area. A 2017 survey by Amplifier Ventures and the Kogod School of Business at American University found a whopping 858 D.C.-area companies engaged in cybersecurity work.\nTheir business is more than just protecting IT networks.\nBethesda-based Quantum Xchange, for example, wants to build futuristic fiber-optic cables between Washington and Boston, using a novel encryption method it says will be able to resist not-yet-developed code-crackers based on the laws of quantum mechanics. The company has raised $10\u00a0million for the effort.\nAnother is Social SafeGuard, which helps companies including Johnson & Johnson, Sun Life Financial and McAfee track their social media presence, which includes spotting accounts that have been commandeered by hackers. Some companies use its service to find fake social media accounts set up by hackers to spoof their way into corporate networks. Some projects involve tracking down accounts set up to impersonate corporate executives, for example.\nIn other cases, Social SafeGuard\u2019s corporate customers are surveilling their own employees to make sure they don\u2019t leak proprietary information or do anything improper online. Executives say the company gathers the data from more than 50 \u201cdigital and social channels\u201d including Facebook and Twitter, all of it with employees\u2019 consent.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re a CEO of a well-known company, chances are there are hundreds of people spoofing you. In addition to that, you have lots of employees getting in trouble for saying and doing things on social media,\u201d said Spencer Tall, managing partner at Allegis Capital.\nSocial Safeguard \u201ctracks it all,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can monitor what key employees are doing on an individual basis.\u201d\nIn January, the company partnered with anti-virus giant McAfee to identify what it called a \u201ctargeted campaign to spread pro-Pakistan and pro-Turkey propaganda,\u201d in which former TV news anchor Greta Van Susteren\u2019s account was temporarily taken over and used to send direct messages to President Trump, who follows her on Twitter.\nSocial SafeGuard is still small, but the performance of other D.C.-area cyberfirms sets a high bar. Events of the 2016 U.S. presidential election may have added fuel to the fire, too.\n\u201cWith the election in 2016, everyone became aware of the inherent risks of digital channels,\u201d said Otavio Freire, the chief technology officer at Social SafeGuard.\naaron.gregg@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "RRCVQNTQGEI6RP4GUI2RWXWOTE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "RRCVQNTQGEI6RP4GUI2RWXWOTE_0", "title": "Quantum computing finds its lobbying voice", "text": "Futuristic machines that rely on quantum mechanics to solve complex problems, known as quantum computers, have been touted as technology disrupters that could one day transform entire industries. Some of the world\u2019s biggest companies say they are developing such systems \u2014 IBM, Google and Lockheed Martin, to name a few \u2014 though they say they are years away from being able to use them for practical purposes. In the meantime, the industry\u2019s early players are enlisting influential lobbyists to sell the concept as a national imperative, arguing that America risks falling behind China if it does not take a more concerted approach. Computing hardware pioneer IBM wheeled a towering replica of its own quantum computer into the Rayburn House Office Building last week, where company lobbyists and technical experts schmoozed with sharply dressed congressional staffers. The next morning a consortium of physicists and industry representatives organized by the trade group National Photonics Initiative met at the offices of BGR Group, a lobbying firm, to discuss existing federal programs, according to a person who was at the meeting. A separate lobbying group called the Quantum Industry Coalition is bringing together 14 of the industry\u2019s early players to influence legislation on the matter. The coalition doesn\u2019t have a website yet, but it says it counts some of the technology world\u2019s biggest players among its membership: Microsoft, Intel and Lockheed Martin, as well as a handful of start-ups. The coalition\u2019s goal is to help the fledgling U.S. quantum computing industry \u2014 which promises to transform entire economies but as of yet has no known viable product \u2014 move from theories to products. \u201cWe wanted to have an exclusively corporate voice, one that represents the U.S. quantum industry community \u2014 and only that community,\u201d said Paul Stimers, a partner at the law firm K&L Gates who founded the coalition. \u201cWe are pushing the legislation as much as we can in two directions: One is more of a focus on applied research as opposed to theoretical research, and the other is workforce development.\u201d They are trying to shepherd parallel legislation in the House and Senate. On June 7, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) introduced the Quantum Computing Research Act of 2018, which calls for a federal research consortium funded by the Defense Department. It is now being considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee. And staffers for Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), say they are preparing"}], "old": [{"_id": "RRCVQNTQGEI6RP4GUI2RWXWOTE_0", "title": "Quantum computing finds its lobbying voice", "text": "aaron.gregg@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Futuristic machines that rely on quantum mechanics to solve complex problems, known as quantum computers, have been touted as technology disrupters that could one day transform entire industries. Some of the world\u2019s biggest companies say they are developing such systems \u2014 IBM, Google and Lockheed Martin, to name a few \u2014 though they say they are years away from being able to use them for practical purposes.\nIn the meantime, the industry\u2019s early players are enlisting influential lobbyists to sell the concept as a national imperative, arguing that America risks falling behind China if it does not take a more concerted approach.\nComputing hardware pioneer IBM wheeled a towering replica of its own quantum computer into the Rayburn House Office Building last week, where company lobbyists and technical experts schmoozed with sharply dressed congressional staffers. The next morning a consortium of physicists and industry representatives organized by the trade group National Photonics Initiative met at the offices of BGR Group, a lobbying firm, to discuss existing federal programs, according to a person who was at the meeting.\nA separate lobbying group called the Quantum Industry Coalition is bringing together 14 of the industry\u2019s early players to influence legislation on the matter. The coalition doesn\u2019t have a website yet, but it says it counts some of the technology world\u2019s biggest players among its membership: Microsoft, Intel and Lockheed Martin, as well as a handful of start-ups.\nThe coalition\u2019s goal is to help the fledgling U.S. quantum computing industry \u2014 which promises to transform entire economies but as of yet has no known viable product \u2014 move from theories to products.\n\u201cWe wanted to have an exclusively corporate voice, one that represents the U.S. quantum industry community \u2014 and only that community,\u201d said Paul Stimers, a partner at the law firm K&L Gates who founded the coalition. \u201cWe are pushing the legislation as much as we can in two directions: One is more of a focus on applied research as opposed to theoretical research, and the other is workforce development.\u201d\nThey are trying to shepherd parallel legislation in the House and Senate.\nOn June\u00a07, Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) introduced the Quantum Computing Research Act of 2018, which calls for a federal research consortium funded by the Defense Department. It is now being considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee.\nAnd staffers for Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), say they are preparing to introduce a similar bill in the House called the National Quantum Initiative Act. A fact sheet published by the committee describes setting up a White House \u201cNational Quantum Coordination Office\u201d to manage the government\u2019s disparate funding efforts and help form partnerships between industry and government.\n\u201cThe goal of this is to go beyond ad hoc research and take a more systematic approach,\u201d said Dario Gil, a physicist who oversees artificial intelligence and quantum computing programs at IBM.\nMainstream physicists have pointed to a range of potentially transformative uses for quantum computers. Some physicists say quantum computers could break common data encryption algorithms by virtue of their ability to factor large numbers. Others say they could transform financial markets and reinvent business processes by solving now-impossible optimization problems.\nQuantum computing \u201cis capable of being as important to the 21st century as any technology was to the 20th century,\u201d said Matthew Putman, who runs New York-based Nanotronics.\nThey admit, however, that today\u2019s quantum computers seem like little more than ultraexpensive science projects.\n\u201cWe have quantum computers today, but they\u2019re not solving any problem that you couldn\u2019t solve with a classical computer,\u201d said David Moehring, a quantum physicist who oversaw quantum research projects at IARPA, the U.S. intelligence community\u2019s advanced research and development organization. Moehring is now chief executive of IonQ, a College Park, Md.-based start-up that is building a quantum-based system of its own with investment funding from New Enterprise Associates, Google Ventures and Amazon Web Services.\nPotential uses for such systems, while unproven, are attracting an increasingly crowded field of tech companies hoping to be first to market. QuantumComputingReport.com, an industry website, lists 19 publicly traded companies, 64 start-ups and 58 investment funds that claim to be engaged in the issue.\nThey include large companies such as IBM, whose technicians say the market could materialize in three to five years. Start-ups sporting names such as Qnami and QSpice Labs are working on related software and systems that can enable the machines\u2019 use. A handful of start-ups have machines of their own, including IonQ and Canadian start-up D-Wave Systems.\nThe industry\u2019s advocates are pitching quantum technology as part of a geopolitical great power competition, arguing that whichever country develops a fully functional quantum computer first will have a distinct technological advantage over its rivals.\n\u201cQuantum is essential for our national security, for our data security and for our economic security,\u201d said Rep. Jerry McNerney (R-Calif.), who attended Tuesday\u2019s reception. \u201cIf we don\u2019t [invest in quantum computing research], we\u2019re going to fall behind other countries.\u201d\nThe Chinese government has apparently committed billions of dollars to quantum research, according to the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based newspaper.\nThose investments may be yielding results. A team of Chinese physicists recently reported that they had successfully sent intertwined quantum particles from a satellite to a ground location, reflecting a phenomenon known as \u201cspooky action.\u201d\nThe U.S. government has quantum research and development efforts of its own. A 2016 report from a White House-convened research consortium found total public U.S. funding for quantum research to be about $200\u00a0million a year. There may be significantly more work taking place in secret: Documents provided by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden and published by The Washington Post in 2014 revealed that the spy agency pursued a $79.7\u00a0million project to develop a \u201ccryptographically useful quantum computer,\u201d funded under classified contracts at a lab in College Park.\naaron.gregg@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "TXW342B5ANCTLPWGLDXOPOJP6U_0", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "TXW342B5ANCTLPWGLDXOPOJP6U_0", "title": "Money for quantum", "text": "The Trump administration released its budget proposal this week, and science funding would take a hit. (Here\u2019s where we point out that Congress has, for the past three years, rejected these trims and generally increased funding at research agencies.) When asked to explain the proposed cuts to basic research, Kelvin Droegemeier, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy director, told reporters Monday: \u201cThe key priority in this administration is prioritizing of research and then, you know, placing our money on things that are extremely important. And then, for those things that are less important or lower priority, not focusing on them as much\u201d while \u201crelying on the private sector to innovate from the research outcomes that our universities and our federal labs produce.\u201d About those priorities: Quantum information and artificial intelligence remain the lodestars that guide the administration\u2019s research budget. The proposal \u201ccommits to double quantum R&D and nondefense AI R&D by 2022,\u201d said Michael Kratsios, the White House\u2019s chief technology officer. Kratsios said American leadership of artificial intelligence was an \u201cimperative,\u201d as \u201cour adversaries and others around the world\u201d use AI \u201cto track their people, to imprison ethnic minorities, to monitor political dissidents.\u201d The National Science Foundation requested $868 million to be allocated to artificial intelligence research and $226 million to quantum information science, NSF Director France Cordova said. At USDA, its competitive grant program would receive an additional $100 million for AI and other technology applied to agriculture \u2014 though the agency that distributes those grants, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, has been hobbled by its recent relocation out of the District. The request would provide $25 million to develop an \u201centangled quantum Internet\u201d that connects Energy Department labs, said Paul Dabbar, the Department of Energy\u2019s science undersecretary. If successful, nodes at the 17 labs, from Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island to the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California, would form the backbone of the first national quantum network. As science-fictional as a quantum Internet might sound, the reality is that its immediate importance is security \u2014 exploiting quantum mechanics to prevent information from being intercepted \u2014 rather than new online experiences."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Trump administration released its budget proposal this week, and science funding would take a hit. (Here\u2019s where we point out that Congress has, for the past three years, rejected these trims and generally increased funding at research agencies.)\nWhen asked to explain the proposed cuts to basic research, Kelvin Droegemeier, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy director, told reporters Monday: \u201cThe key priority in this administration is prioritizing of research and then, you know, placing our money on things that are extremely important. And then, for those things that are less important or lower priority, not focusing on them as much\u201d while \u201crelying on the private sector to innovate from the research outcomes that our universities and our federal labs produce.\u201d\nAbout those priorities: Quantum information and artificial intelligence remain the lodestars that guide the administration\u2019s research budget. The proposal \u201ccommits to double quantum R&D and nondefense AI R&D by 2022,\u201d said Michael Kratsios, the White House\u2019s chief technology officer.\nKratsios said American leadership of artificial intelligence was an \u201cimperative,\u201d as \u201cour adversaries and others around the world\u201d use AI \u201cto track their people, to imprison ethnic minorities, to monitor political dissidents.\u201d\nThe National Science Foundation requested $868 million to be allocated to artificial intelligence research and $226 million to quantum information science, NSF Director France Cordova said. At USDA, its competitive grant program would receive an additional $100 million for AI and other technology applied to agriculture \u2014 though the agency that distributes those grants, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, has been hobbled by its recent relocation out of the District.\nThe request would provide $25 million to develop an \u201centangled quantum Internet\u201d that connects Energy Department labs, said Paul Dabbar, the Department of Energy\u2019s science undersecretary. If successful, nodes at the 17 labs, from Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island to the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California, would form the backbone of the first national quantum network.\nAs science-fictional as a quantum Internet might sound, the reality is that its immediate importance is security \u2014 exploiting quantum mechanics to prevent information from being intercepted \u2014 rather than new online experiences."}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "UYZH5IQWMBF5TB77IXKCOTBQEU_5", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "UYZH5IQWMBF5TB77IXKCOTBQEU_5", "title": "The Technology 202: More than 200 companies are calling for a national privacy law. Here\u2019s an inside look at their proposal.", "text": "a flurry of reactions on Twitter: Collins, the British lawmaker who released the documents, explained his decision on Twitter. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the FTC \u201cmust act decisively & vigorously\u201d following the release of the Facebook documents. The Post\u2019s Geoffrey A. Fowler noted that the release of documents challenges Facebook\u2019s defense that it does not sell user data. Bloomberg News\u2019s Sarah Frier said the emails also show \u201chow ruthless\u201d the social network is with its competitors. The revelations could raise legal issues for Facebook, according to Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu. Motherboard\u2019s Joseph Cox argued that Facebook \u201cknew full well what it was doing around highly controversial decisions, knew what the blow back would be, and did it anyway.\u201d And Cher also weighed in. -- The White House is hosting tech executives and academics for a discussion about innovation. \u2014 Google maintains an advertising service for small local businesses in China that doesn\u2019t generate significant revenue but helps the U.S. company remain on good terms with Chinese authorities \u201cThe officials shower the centers with incentives like free rent \u2014 Tensions already running high between Washington and Beijing just went up a notch after Canadian officials said a top executive from Chinese tech company Huawei Technologies faces extradition to the United States. \u2014 Encryption-cracking quantum computing is coming \u2014 though not right away. \u201cQuantum computers with the ability to crack today\u2019s encrypted systems are at least 10 years away from development \u2014 Waymo is starting the United States's first commercial driverless service in Arizona, marking a major break in the expansion of autonomous vehicles. Waymo One, as the service is called, is launching in Chandler and other communities near Phoenix. \u201cWaymo, part of Alphabet Inc., is starting small, rolling out the service first to hundreds of the company\u2019s local volunteer testers, and only in part of this sprawling region of almost 5 million people,\u201d Michael reported. But expanding driverless vehicles will require winning over the public. \u201cThere is significant public skepticism about self-driving cars, and polls find most people don\u2019t want to ride in them,\u201d according to my colleague. \u2014 A majority of New Yorkers support Amazon\u2019s plan for their city but are having mixed reactions about the incentives that the company is receiving. \u2014 More news generating buzz on the Web: Today Man arrested after Cheesecake Factory promotion chaos: George W. Bush honors his father with tearful eulogy:"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Ctrl + N\nWant more tech policy news? Sign up to get The Technology 202 in your inbox.\nA broad coalition of more than 200 retailers, banks and technology companies is releasing new recommendations for national privacy legislation today in a clear push to get out in front of lawmakers promising to rein in their data collection practices in the next Congress.\nThe Business Roundtable\u2019s consumer privacy legislation framework, provided exclusively to The Technology 202, calls on the United States to adopt a national privacy law that would apply the same data collection requirements to all companies regardless of sector -- while ramping up\u00a0Federal Trade Commission\u00a0staffing and funding to enforce the rule. It calls on companies to give consumers more control of their data and form a national standard for breach notification.\n\u201cWe see a real need to both protect consumers at a time when digital services and the digital economy is so important and expanding, and at the same time, making sure we\u2019re advancing global competitiveness,\u201d\u00a0Julie Sweet, chief executive of Accenture North America, who chairs the Business Roundtable\u2019s technology committee, tells me.\nMembers of the Business Roundtable include chief executives from companies such as Apple, Walmart and Wells Fargo. And some of its top executives such as J.P. Morgan chief executive Jamie Dimon and AT&T chief executive Randall L. Stephenson will meet with policymakers including Ivanka Trump and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) at a CEO Innovation Summit in Washington later today.\nThe fact that such a wide cross-section of companies -- far beyond the technology campuses of Silicon Valley \u2013 are actively seeking ways to change the collection and storage of data online reflects a sea change for the privacy debate in the United States.\nAfter all, every company is a technology company; it\u2019s not just popular social networks or search engines that will be subject to national privacy legislation but any company that handles personal information online.\u00a0As the Marriott data breach highlighted just last week, companies that are rarely associated with the technology industry\u00a0hold tremendous amounts of data about individuals -- and they may not be doing enough to protect it.\nAll this puts even more pressure on policymakers --\nThe Business Roundtable\u2019s framework is relatively broad -- and that reflects the challenge. Its recommendations to lawmakers include:\nWhat\u2019s more, Business Roundtable does not include some of the highest profile technology companies that have recently been under fire for their mishandling of user data. For instance, Google, Facebook and Amazon are not members. (Amazon founder and chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos also owns The Washington Post.)\nIt's a big tech day\u00a0in Washington, and it remains to be seen whether privacy will be top of mind.\nWhether or not it comes up at the White House today, the devil will be in the details as lawmakers try to craft a privacy bill before 2020, when a law in California is slated to go into effect.\nAlready, Democrats are saying they will not support a national bill that is weaker than protections consumers\u00a0have in local jurisdictions. And as my colleague Aaron Gregg reported, some\u00a0Democrats in the wake of the Marriott breach want the U.S. to adopt fines that are similar to the EU\u2019s\u00a0\u00a0General Data Protection Regulation ,\u00a0which contains fines\u00a0up to 4 percent of a company\u2019s global revenue if it fails to comply with its requirements.\nJay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the ACLU,\u00a0said any company that handles personal information is going to have to tighten its ship if a national law passes. But some companies will feel the burden of a national privacy law more than others, whether or not they\u2019re considered a technology company, given the way many operate in today\u2019s digital economy.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re in the business of profiting off of shady intrusions on people\u2019s privacy, then I think you need to worry,\u201d Stanley said. \u201cThere is a reckoning that\u2019s taking place right now.\u201d\nBITS:\u00a0 A trove of documents released by a British lawmaker yesterday could fuel other investigations of Facebook from lawmakers\u00a0around the world.\nHere's the top issue to watch:\nFacebook quickly went on the defensive, with Zuckerberg\u00a0posting on his personal Facebook page that the documents were just part of discussions. \u201cWe\u2019ve never sold anyone\u2019s data,\u201d he wrote. Yet\u00a0Damian Collins, who is leading the parliamentary investigation into Facebook, said the social giant had\u00a0\u201cwhitelisting agreements with certain companies\u201d to access user data after the social network restricted such access in 2014 and 2015.\nNIBBLES: There is no indication that Zuckerberg\u00a0will relinquish his position as chairman of Facebook's board of directors despite the latest scandal.\nMeanwhile, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg received the backing of the company's board in\u00a0another scandal. The board defended Sandberg\u2019s decision to inquire whether philanthropist George Soros shorted Facebook\u2019s stock as\u00a0\u201centirely appropriate,\u201d the Wall Street Journal's\u00a0Deepa Seetharaman reported. Nevertheless, the accumulation of controversies is taking a toll on Facebook\u2019s workforce.\u00a0\u201cCurrent and former employees describe a tense and, at times, hostile atmosphere inside the company, one in which both senior employees and even staunch loyalists are contemplating their futures,\u201d BuzzFeed\u00a0News's\u00a0Charlie Warzel and\u00a0Ryan Mac wrote.\nBYTES:\u00a0The documents indicate that Facebook users and developers were kept in the dark about the company\u2019s data collection practices.\u00a0\u201c\nFacebook even realized that it could result in backlash against the company, at one point discussing how the media might portray it. \u201cThis is a pretty high-risk thing to do from a PR perspective but it appears that the growth team will charge ahead and do it,\u201d the email read.\nIn addition to privacy concerns, the documents called attention to the company\u2019s hard-nosed tactics in dealing with competitors, particularly the Vine video app owned by Facebook rival Twitter.\nRus Yusupov, co-founder of Vine, recalled the episode on Twitter:\n-- The release of the Facebook documents prompted a flurry of reactions on Twitter:\nCollins, the British lawmaker who released the documents, explained his decision on Twitter.\nSen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the FTC \u201cmust act decisively & vigorously\u201d following the release of the Facebook documents.\nThe Post\u2019s Geoffrey A. Fowler noted that the release of documents challenges Facebook\u2019s defense that it does not sell user data.\nBloomberg News\u2019s Sarah Frier said the emails also show \u201chow ruthless\u201d the social network is with its competitors.\nThe revelations could raise legal issues for Facebook, according to Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu.\nMotherboard\u2019s Joseph Cox argued that Facebook \u201cknew full well what it was doing around highly controversial decisions, knew what the blow back would be, and did it anyway.\u201d\nAnd Cher also weighed in.\n-- The White House is hosting tech executives and academics for a discussion about innovation.\n\u2014 Google maintains an advertising service for small local businesses in China that doesn\u2019t generate significant revenue but helps the U.S. company remain on good terms with Chinese authorities\n\u201cThe officials shower the centers with incentives like free rent\n\u2014\u00a0Tensions already running high between Washington and Beijing just went up a notch after Canadian officials said a top executive from Chinese tech company Huawei Technologies faces extradition to the United States.\n\u2014 Encryption-cracking quantum computing is coming \u2014 though not right away. \u201cQuantum computers with the ability to crack today\u2019s encrypted systems are at least 10 years away from development\n\u2014 Waymo is starting the United States's first commercial driverless service in Arizona,\u00a0marking a major break in the expansion of autonomous vehicles.\nWaymo One, as the service is called, is launching in Chandler and other communities near Phoenix.\u00a0\u201cWaymo, part of Alphabet Inc., is starting small, rolling out the service first to hundreds of the company\u2019s local volunteer testers, and only in part of this sprawling region of almost 5 million people,\u201d Michael reported. But expanding driverless vehicles will require winning over the public.\u00a0\u201cThere is significant public skepticism about self-driving cars, and polls find most people don\u2019t want to ride in them,\u201d according to my colleague.\n\u2014 A majority of New Yorkers support Amazon\u2019s plan for their city but are having mixed reactions about the incentives that the company is receiving.\n\u2014 More news generating buzz on the Web:\nToday\nMan arrested after Cheesecake Factory promotion chaos:\nGeorge W. Bush honors his father with tearful eulogy:"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "XTX4YWAHOZBC3BV6XCZNNC2EM4_1", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XTX4YWAHOZBC3BV6XCZNNC2EM4_1", "title": "Start-ups seek to capitalize on \u2018rising tide\u2019 in commercial quantum computing", "text": "all-equity transaction. Rigetti and QxBranch have raised $119 million and $4 million, respectively, from venture capitalists. \u201cWhat this represents in quantum is that the customer readiness is emerging,\u201d said Chad Rigetti, founder and chief executive of Rigetti Computing. \u201cQuantum is really an opportunity for America to kind of leap ahead on computing and chip technology after globalization has led to the migration of that expertise elsewhere.\u201d Companies such as Rigetti are building on substantial investments in quantum science from the academic and government communities. The Washington Post reported in 2014 that the NSA was working on a \u201ccryptographically useful quantum computer\u201d under a $79.9 million research program called \u201cpenetrating hard targets.\u201d The Chinese government has made quantum science investments of its own. Start-ups like Rigetti are pursuing a slightly different goal. Rigetti wants to offer a \u201cfull-stack\u201d quantum computing capability to business customers, executives from both companies said in an interview this week. The company is already renting out its quantum computing capabilities to business customers for a fee, hoping their experimentation will yield commercially useful ideas. They declined to disclose financial details. For the past five years QxBranch has been working to build the software, analytical functions and user interfaces that businesses could use to operate such machines. Where Rigetti has focused on hardware, QxBranch has built its business around how customers might use the technology. The two companies have worked together on various projects since 2015. \u201cOur job at Rigetti now will be to identify the end-use cases that can benefit from this technology,\u201d QxBranch founder Michael Brett said in an interview. \u201cThat\u2019s something that we\u2019re only going to be able to do under one roof.\u201d Brett says his company\u2019s customers have included large businesses from a range of industries, the largest being financial services. UBS Investment Bank used the company\u2019s algorithms to experiment with analyzing the foreign exchange market, he said. And the pharmaceutical company Merck has experimented with possible optimization challenges. Others working on quantum hardware include a Canadian tech firm called D-wave, which has sold its computers to Lockheed Martin and others, reportedly for millions of dollars each. A College Park, Md.-based company called IonQ has raised roughly $22 million from investors including New Enterprise Associates, Amazon Web Services and the venture capital arm of Google. It recently hired Peter Chapman, formerly the engineering director at Amazon Prime, as chief executive. David Moehring is a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "For decades, physicists have theorized that quantum computers \u2014 machines that rely on interactions among subatomic particles to perform now-impossible analytical feats \u2014 could one day leap ahead of traditional computers and transform the business world.\nTheir potential uses sound like something out of a science-fiction novel. It has been widely suggested that functional quantum computers could cut through data encryption; predict stock market swings by analyzing millions of variables at once; improve drug development by simulating interactions of subatomic particles, or enable communications systems that work faster than the speed of light.\nEven their staunchest advocates say today\u2019s machines are, at best, years away from any practical use.\nEven so, a growing start-up community is betting that a \u201cquantum revolution\u201d in computing will materialize sooner rather than later, and its members have raised hundreds of millions of dollars in private capital in a race to be first to market. An industry website, QuantumComputingReport.com, lists 117 private start-ups that claim to be working on quantum technology.\nRigetti Computing, a California-based start-up, is among a handful of companies with its own quantum computer. The company announced Thursday it is acquiring QxBranch, a D.C.-based start-up that specializes in quantum-enabled software, in an all-equity transaction.\nRigetti and QxBranch have raised $119 million and $4 million, respectively, from venture capitalists.\n\u201cWhat this represents in quantum is that the customer readiness is emerging,\u201d said Chad Rigetti, founder and chief executive of Rigetti Computing. \u201cQuantum is really an opportunity for America to kind of leap ahead on computing and chip technology after globalization has led to the migration of that expertise elsewhere.\u201d\nCompanies such as Rigetti are building on substantial investments in quantum science from the academic and government communities. The Washington Post reported in 2014 that the NSA was working on a \u201ccryptographically useful quantum computer\u201d under a $79.9 million research program called \u201cpenetrating hard targets.\u201d The Chinese government has made quantum science investments of its own.\nStart-ups like Rigetti are pursuing a slightly different goal.\nRigetti wants to offer a \u201cfull-stack\u201d quantum computing capability to business customers, executives from both companies said in an interview this week. The company is already renting out its quantum computing capabilities to business customers for a fee, hoping their experimentation will yield commercially useful ideas. They declined to disclose financial details.\nFor the past five years QxBranch has been working to build the software, analytical functions and user interfaces that businesses could use to operate such machines. Where Rigetti has focused on hardware, QxBranch has built its business around how customers might use the technology. The two companies have worked together on various projects since 2015.\n\u201cOur job at Rigetti now will be to identify the end-use cases that can benefit from this technology,\u201d QxBranch founder Michael Brett said in an interview. \u201cThat\u2019s something that we\u2019re only going to be able to do under one roof.\u201d\nBrett says his company\u2019s customers have included large businesses from a range of industries, the largest being financial services. UBS Investment Bank used the company\u2019s algorithms to experiment with analyzing the foreign exchange market, he said. And the pharmaceutical company Merck has experimented with possible optimization challenges.\nOthers working on quantum hardware include a Canadian tech firm called D-wave, which has sold its computers to Lockheed Martin and others, reportedly for millions of dollars each.\nA College Park, Md.-based company called IonQ has raised roughly $22 million from investors including New Enterprise Associates, Amazon Web Services and the venture capital arm of Google. It recently hired Peter Chapman, formerly the engineering director at Amazon Prime, as chief executive.\nDavid Moehring is a physicist who oversaw quantum computing research for IARPA, the intelligence community\u2019s research and development agency. Moehring said he thinks the flourish of start-up activity is driven by public attention to quantum science from large tech companies, which provide a research and development customer base for start-ups. There are at least a dozen public companies \u2014 including Intel, Microsoft and Google \u2014 with quantum computing research programs.\n\u201cThe customers are definitely getting more vocal,\u201d Moehring said. \u201cIt\u2019s really just a rising tide lifting everything right now.\u201d"}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "b8e9f1f6736c097591e79f0a00c865fe_5", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "b8e9f1f6736c097591e79f0a00c865fe_5", "title": "This company sold Google a quantum computer. Here\u2019s how it works.", "text": "this work that we did with Google, and that was later published, was really about adapting their state-of-the-art conventional algorithms and adapting it and see how it would perform [with quantum hardware]. We ran the training [e.g. had the computer analyze example data] for a couple of weeks on the hardware. The outcome was a \"trained\" piece of software that no longer needed to be on the quantum processor. And it was quite good at identifying cars\u2014comparable or slightly better than what they were able to do [with conventional computers]. It's a great illustration for us of the potential of the technology and how it could be used. The algorithm looks for features of the image. The identification and evaluation of those features turns into an optimization type of problem. That optimization problem was adapted to run on our hardware. We had to change the problem around slightly so it can run on our hardware, cast it in a form that's actually a little harder for people to solve [with conventional computers]. Even the fact that it was in the ballpark of the conventional algorithms in the field was very exciting. We didn't really officially release the 128 qubit product until 2011. This was on a very early version of this technology I thought the point of quantum computing was that it could solve problems dramatically faster than conventional computers. Why should people be impressed if your hardware only produced results that are \"comparable or slightly better\" than conventional methods? An important element of D-Wave's technology is our roadmap. We're continuously improving and building bigger processors. Recently we released a 512 qubit processor. If we look at the performance roadmap of that hardware, where performance in solving these problems relative to the state of the art, we saw that between that 128 qubit and 512 qubit, a 300,000x improvement in performance. That kind of performance gain is really unprecedented. With that 512 qubit processor, it was able to meet and match the state of the art in classical algorithms and computers. It's very exciting that we had achieved that. So when we look at that we say we continue to make these things bigger and more powerful. Right now, we have a 1000 qubit processor in our lab. We plan to release it later in 2014. The major thing that's changing aside from some of the design details is the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "D-Wave officials with one of their computers. (<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124348109@N01/9558389543/in/photolist-fyDfcH-9Mi3xq-fttcb1-emhYPi-bC3ecm-emoK5N-dzYfbV-bpcst8-cef1cb-awGYmv-bCZPZ2-83VWyN-dgZcgm-awKGgS-dpMevg-dtoK7Y-emhYqK-agJ3xP-ahqS6j-drs1zr\">Steve Jurvetson</a>)\nLast week I did an interview with Scott Aaronson, an MIT computer scientist and a leading expert on quantum computing. Aaronson had harsh words for D-Wave, a leading quantum computing vendor that Aaronson considers \"the leaders on generating hype.\"\nI thought it would be interesting to hear from D-Wave, a start-up that has raised more than $130 million in venture capital and employs over 100 people. So I interviewed Jeremy Hilton, D-Wave's vice president of processor development. He has been at the company since 2000. We spoke on the phone on Tuesday. The transcript has been edited for length and clarity.\nTimothy B. Lee: Let's start at the beginning. Can you explain what D-Wave's products do and why they're useful?\nJeremy Hilton: Let me give you a bit of history of why D-Wave ended up going down the path it went down. We were founded back in 1999. Up until 2005, we were really focused on surveying the field of quantum computing. We asked, \"of all the different ways to realize a quantum computer, what was the best technology that would be able to scale up to a relevant computational scale?\"\nThat was a fascinating exercise. It showed a lot of things. It showed some of the massive challenges in implementing the conventional model for building a quantum computer. That model is called Gate Model Quantum Computing. [Editor's note: Scott Aaronson explained that model in a recent Switch interview.] And when people typically describe quantum, they are thinking of this gate model approach. It's an intuitive way to describe quantum computing because it extends our current understanding of how computers work.\nBut in the early 2000s, some bright researchers from MIT published an alternative model called adiabatic quantum computing. There are a number of differences between gate and adiabatic QC. It's been proven in the literature\u2014not by D-Wave\u2014that those are equivalent models of quantum computation. That being said, what D-Wave built is not universal quantum computing.\nSo why did you decide to go with the adiabatic approach?\nWhen the original models were proposed at MIT and this adiabatic approach was born, then there were some follow-on researchers at MIT who also extended that into a physical implementation in superconducting qubits. D-Wave at the time, 2004, in particular Geordie Rose, founder and now CTO, was looking at this stuff. They were trying to figure out how D-Wave could start building hardware and do something useful in a shorter time frame than is possible with this gate model approach. The [adiabatic] algorithms that have been published were strongly connected to [solving] optimization problems. That gets you into the space of solving a complexity class called NP-Hard.\nThere are a lot of things that differentiate gate model and adiabatic quantum computing (AQC). One of the key things is the role of decoherence. One of the criticism we often hear from the academic community is that basically you sink or swim based on your decoherence time. [i.e. the amount of time, typically a small fraction of a second, that a quantum computing device can maintain its quantum characteristics.] [Academics believe that] if your qubit doesn't pass a high threshold, you can't get started. That's why over the last 15 years, that community has focused on building better qubits. [They're still working with] two or three qubits, but decoherence times have really improved.\nIn 2005 when we were starting to think about this AQC model, we noticed something different. The states that you care about are always the ground state of your system of qubits. That means you have some inherent robustness and immunity from noise and things like decoherence. That means we could start building AQC processors and use it to solve these problems that have practical applications we care about [without building the more robust qubits needed for gate-model quantum computing].\nCan you be more concrete about this? What kind of hardware is inside a D-Wave device and how does it work?\nIn concrete hardware terms, all of these models [of quantum computing] can be implemented in superconducting hardware, ion hardware, many other types of hardware. [There are] implementations of AQC in ion trap configurations. That's all possible.\nD-Wave has focused on the superconducting side of things to benefit from the infrastructural advancement the semiconductor has made. The fabrication of superconductors is all [mature] semiconductor technology. We fabricate [our chips] at Cyprus Semiconductor. We don't have exotic tools to make those devices. That was an important aspect for D-Wave, we want to scale up to a high level. If all those problems have already been solved, we'll be able to take advantage more quickly. [If we had used] ion trap technology, new technologies would have needed to scale up.\nD-Wave's processor is custom-designed to solve something called the Ising spin glass in a transverse magnetic field. That problem can be mapped to other problems that are very interesting. There are problems that are known in logistics and scheduling, things like  satisfiability. These are mathematical challenges that represent problems people have. The traveling salesman problem is the classic example of this type of optimization problem. From there, the spectrum of potential applications is quite a lot larger.\nGoogle is one of your partners. How has Google put D-Wave's technology to use?\nIn 2009, we did some work with Google to develop a car classifying [system]. It did object identification in image search. The idea was to be able to use our 128 qubit processor to train an algorithm to be able to identify if a car was in a picture or not. These kinds of questions seem a bit odd to us, because as humans it's very easy to determine if there's a car in a picture. But a machine looks at it in terms of pixels rather than objects. A lot of machine learning is how do we get machines to think of pictures as the objects instead of the raw data.\nSo this work that we did with Google, and that was later published, was really about adapting their state-of-the-art conventional algorithms and adapting it and see how it would perform [with quantum hardware]. We ran the training [e.g. had the computer analyze example data] for a couple of weeks on the hardware. The outcome was a \"trained\" piece of software that no longer needed to be on the quantum processor. And it was quite good at identifying cars\u2014comparable or slightly better than what they were able to do [with conventional computers]. It's a great illustration for us of the potential of the technology and how it could be used.\nThe algorithm looks for features of the image. The identification and evaluation of those features turns into an optimization type of problem. That optimization problem was adapted to run on our hardware. We had to change the problem around slightly so it can run on our hardware, cast it in a form that's actually a little harder for people to solve [with conventional computers].\nEven the fact that it was in the ballpark of the conventional algorithms in the field was very exciting. We didn't really officially release the 128 qubit product until 2011. This was on a very early version of this technology\nI thought the point of quantum computing was that it could solve problems dramatically faster than conventional computers. Why should people be impressed if your hardware only produced results that are \"comparable or slightly better\" than conventional methods?\nAn important element of D-Wave's technology is our roadmap. We're continuously improving and building bigger processors. Recently we released a 512 qubit processor. If we look at the performance roadmap of that hardware, where performance in solving these problems relative to the state of the art, we saw that between that 128 qubit and 512 qubit, a 300,000x improvement in performance. That kind of performance gain is really unprecedented.\nWith that 512 qubit processor, it was able to meet and match the state of the art in classical algorithms and computers. It's very exciting that we had achieved that. So when we look at that we say we continue to make these things bigger and more powerful.\nRight now, we have a 1000 qubit processor in our lab. We plan to release it later in 2014. The major thing that's changing aside from some of the design details is the scale of the problem you can represent, going from a 500-variable graph to a 1000-variable graph. Complexity of that is growing tremendously. [It leads to an] unimaginable exponential blowup of the number of solutions. That scale of problems is getting that much harder for classical algorithms to solve.\n[After that] we're planning to release a 2000-bit processor design. That's pushing into a scale of territory where we're tackling problems that are very difficult for people to solve [with conventional methods]. The community is working on getting a few qubits to work at the scale they're trying to work at.\nWe're at a point where we see that our current product is matching the performance of state-of-the-art classical computers. Over the next few years, we should surpass them. The ideal is to get into a space that is fundamentally intractable with classical machines. In the short term all we focus on is showing some scaling advantage and being able to pull away from that classical state of the art.\nCan you help me gain an intuition for how this works under the hood? What does a D-Wave quantum computer do that makes it so much faster than a conventional one?\nLet me give you a metaphor. An optimization problem can be represented by hills and valleys. The best answer is the lowest point in that energy landscape. The challenge in any algorithm is to explore that energy landscape in some way, to try to find that minimum. The reason these problems become so difficult is that the state space is enormous. Even at 512 qubits, with 512 variables, that 2512 states. Each one of those states is an energy in your problem. You're trying to find the one energy that is the lowest. The one bit state that represents the lowest energy in your algorithm. Classic algorithms drop themselves in that energy landscape and run downhill. More sophisticated algorithms have some way of running uphill. But you can boil it down to running downhill as fast as possible.\nWith quantum computing, you have the same energy landscape picture, but you start off in a superposition of all the possible states, effectively expanding the energy landscape. At any given point in time, you can use tunneling to explore different valleys. Entanglement, it's not known what the role would be. If you're in a superposition, entanglement allows those valleys to interact and interfere in a way that allows the system to find its lowest-energy optimization.\nWe're trying to expand the way nature works where nature is trying to find its lowest-energy configuration and bringing quantum mechanical effects to bear to help explore that energy landscape.\nOne of the most frequently mentioned quantum computing algorithms is Shor's algorithm, which provides an efficient way to factor large numbers. Can you implement Shor's algorithm on D-Wave's hardware?\nD-Wave hasn't focused on factoring much. For very clear reasons, the general field of QC galvanized around Shor's algorithm. It's an application that captures the imagination. Talk about being able to crack public key cryptography gets peoples' attention.\nThere are algorithms related to the factoring problem that can be run on our hardware and we've done some basic work along those lines. It's simply not a particularly interesting market segment for a business. We've focused our energy more on problems that can connect to things like machine learning, financial modeling, logistics and scheduling. They clearly relate to major business challenges.\nWhy do you think some people have formed a perception that D-Wave is a secretive company?\nThat's a historic effect. In 2007 and really prior to 2009, we were working out a lot of the challenges associated with building a scalable technology and seeing if we could make this work. Our focus wasn't on publication. In 2009, once we got it working, we started publishing at an academic level. We had 22 scientific papers. [We released a] detailed blueprint of our technology. We've focused on having a level of transparency that's unprecedented. If people want to see our lab, we invite them and give them a tour. We make sure our scientists show them the technology."}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "df7deb3c-987c-11e1-927c-291130c98dff_0", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "df7deb3c-987c-11e1-927c-291130c98dff_0", "title": "Federal Faces: Jacob M. Taylor", "text": "Jacob M. Taylor Position: Physicist, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Best known for: Government work: Motivation for service: Biggest challenge: NIST physicist Jacob Taylor (Curt Suplee/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY) Quote: \u201c \u2014 From the Partnership for Public Service For a full profile, go to The Fed Page at washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government."}], "old": [{"_id": "df7deb3c-987c-11e1-927c-291130c98dff_0", "title": "Federal Faces: Jacob M. Taylor", "text": "Jacob M. Taylor Best known for: Government work: Motivation for service: Biggest challenge: NIST physicist Jacob Taylor (Curt Suplee/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY) Quote: \u201c \u2014 From the Partnership for Public Service For a full profile, go to The Fed Page at washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Jacob M. Taylor\nPosition: Physicist, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)\nBest known for:\nGovernment work:\nMotivation for service:\nBiggest challenge:\nNIST physicist Jacob Taylor (Curt Suplee/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY)\nQuote: \u201c\n\u2014 From the Partnership for Public Service\nFor a full profile, go to The Fed Page at washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government."}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "e4681b48-ecfe-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_2", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "e4681b48-ecfe-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_2", "title": "Can quantum computing change the world? This start-up is betting on it.", "text": "was funded in part by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, which has sponsored several such efforts in the past. The team demonstrated a way to identify and detect arbitrary errors in a quantum computer simultaneously; until now, only one type of error could be detected at a time. They also showed that it was possible to detect errors on a design that could potentially be scaled up to create larger, more powerful quantum computers. For IBM, one commercial application of quantum computing lies in biochemistry. Theoretically, scientists could simulate natural molecules to gain a better understanding of their underlying chemistry by using quantum computing, said Jerry Chow, manager of IBM\u2019s experimental quantum computing group. That could have the potential to improve drug design, he said. The research findings are a very important step forward, but scientists still have a long way to go toward building a stable and scalable system, said Daniel Lidar, a professor of electrical engineering and chemistry and the scientific director of the USC Lockheed Martin Quantum Computation Center. The advantage of a quantum computer over a classical computer lies in the way it performs big calculations. Traditional computers use bits \u2014 0s and 1s \u2014 to perform calculations in a sequential manner. Quantum computers, on the other hand, use devices called \u201cqubits\u201d that can simultaneously exist as both 0s and 1s. Using this property, quantum computers can theoretically cut down the number of calculations required to solve a problem, quickly providing a potential solution or a set of probable solutions to a problem. This property is key to solving highly specialized problems such as codebreaking or crunching big data more efficiently than a classical computer. That\u2019s why quantum computing has long attracted the interest of government agencies including the National Security Agency, which had plans to design its own computer to break encryption, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which has a request for information out on the potential uses of quantum computing. At QxBranch, Brett says he is confident that advances in quantum computing design are already paving the way for commercial applications. The company, which has four employees in Washington and 15 around the world, has raised capital from angel investors that it will spend to validate uses of quantum computing. A Series A financing round should follow at the end of the year, Brett said. Correction: An earlier photo caption"}], "old": [{"_id": "e4681b48-ecfe-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_2", "title": "Can quantum computing change the world? This start-up is betting on it.", "text": "outperform a classical system, said Scott Aaronson, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Recent experimental progress has given some in the field hope that scalable quantum devices are within reach, he said. The team demonstrated a way to identify and detect arbitrary errors in a quantum computer simultaneously; until now, only one type of error could be detected at a time. They also showed that it was possible to detect errors on a design that could potentially be scaled up to create larger, more powerful quantum computers. For IBM, one commercial application of quantum computing lies in biochemistry. Theoretically, scientists could simulate natural molecules to gain a better understanding of their underlying chemistry by using quantum computing, said Jerry Chow, manager of IBM\u2019s experimental quantum computing group. That could have the potential to improve drug design, he said. The research findings are a very important step forward, but scientists still have a long way to go toward building a stable and scalable system, said Daniel Lidar, a professor of electrical engineering and chemistry and the scientific director of the USC Lockheed Martin Quantum Computation Center. The advantage of a quantum computer over a classical computer lies in the way it performs big calculations. Traditional computers use bits \u2014 0s and 1s \u2014 to perform calculations in a sequential manner. Quantum computers, on the other hand, use devices called \u201cqubits\u201d that can simultaneously exist as both 0s and 1s. Using this property, quantum computers can theoretically cut down the number of calculations required to solve a problem, quickly providing a potential solution or a set of probable solutions to a problem. This property is key to solving highly specialized problems such as codebreaking or crunching big data more efficiently than a classical computer. At QxBranch, Brett says he is confident that advances in quantum computing design are already paving the way for commercial applications. The company, which has four employees in Washington and 15 around the world, has raised capital from angel investors that it will spend to validate uses of quantum computing. A Series A financing round should follow at the end of the year, Brett said. Correction: An earlier photo caption with this report incorrectly stated that Michael Brett was a former senior vice president and chief technology officer at Lockheed Martin. Ray Johnson was the former Lockheed Martin executive."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Ray O. Johnson, left, board member of quantum computing start-up QxBranch and the former senior vice president and chief technology officer of defense giant Lockheed Martin, and Michael Brett, QxBranch\u2019s chief executive. (Jeffrey MacMillan/For The Washington Post)\nImagine a computer that could sift through millions of financial transactions in real time to detect fraud or look for signs of insider trading, and do it exponentially faster than the most powerful computers in the world today.\nA Washington start-up is betting that such a machine can be built in the not-too-distant future, using the mysterious principles of quantum computing.\nQxBranch\nQxBranch \u2014 a spinoff from Aerospace Concepts \u2014 was born out of that collaboration and develops and tests commercial applications for quantum computing. The company has Lockheed\u2019s recently retired chief technology officer, Ray Johnson, on its board of directors.\nThe power of quantum computing lies in its ability to perform complex calculations much faster than traditional computing systems, Johnson said. It could help large organizations solve logistics and optimization problems or enhance machine learning used in artificial intelligence systems, he said.\nHow Does a Quantum Computer Work?\nAt Lockheed, Johnson led the defense giant\u2019s foray into quantum computing. The contractor and the University of Southern California jointly own one of two commercially available quantum computers in the world, manufactured by Canadian firm \u00adD-Wave (The other one is owned by Google and NASA). Lockheed also established a quantum computing research center at the University of Maryland\u2019s College Park campus last year.\nFor now, a machine that can solve such large-scale problems exists only in theory. That\u2019s because quantum computers are highly unstable, delicate systems that can function only in protected environments to eliminate interference from other particles. They are usually kept in supercooled environments colder than outer space.\nThere are additional uncertainties. For example, quantum computers are known to be useful for certain types of calculations such as codebreaking, but for others, such as machine learning and optimization, scientists still don\u2019t know for sure whether they will outperform a classical system, said Scott Aaronson, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.\nRecent experimental progress has given some in the field hope that scalable quantum devices are within reach, he said.\nLast week, IBM published a research paper describing two developments that could have significant implications for the future design of such computers. IBM\u2019s research was funded in part by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, which has sponsored several such efforts in the past.\nThe team demonstrated a way to identify and detect arbitrary errors in a quantum computer simultaneously; until now, only one type of error could be detected at a time. They also showed that it was possible to detect errors on a design that could potentially be scaled up to create larger, more powerful quantum computers.\nFor IBM, one commercial application of quantum computing lies in biochemistry. Theoretically, scientists could simulate natural molecules to gain a better understanding of their underlying chemistry by using quantum computing, said Jerry Chow, manager of IBM\u2019s experimental quantum computing group. That could have the potential to improve drug design, he said.\nThe research findings are a very important step forward, but scientists still have a long way to go toward building a stable and scalable system, said Daniel Lidar, a professor of electrical engineering and chemistry and the scientific director of the USC Lockheed Martin Quantum Computation Center.\nThe advantage of a quantum computer over a classical computer lies in the way it performs big calculations. Traditional computers use bits \u2014 0s and 1s \u2014 to perform calculations in a sequential manner. Quantum computers, on the other hand, use devices called \u201cqubits\u201d that can simultaneously exist as both 0s and 1s. Using this property, quantum computers can theoretically cut down the number of calculations required to solve a problem, quickly providing a potential solution or a set of probable solutions to a problem.\nThis property is key to solving highly specialized problems such as codebreaking or crunching big data more efficiently than a classical computer.\nThat\u2019s why quantum computing has long attracted the interest of government agencies including the National Security Agency, which had plans to design its own computer to break encryption, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which has a request for information out on the potential uses of quantum computing.\nAt QxBranch, Brett says he is confident that advances in quantum computing design are already paving the way for commercial applications. The company, which has four employees in Washington and 15 around the world, has raised capital from angel investors that it will spend to validate uses of quantum computing. A Series A financing round should follow at the end of the year, Brett said.\nCorrection: An earlier photo caption with this report incorrectly stated that Michael Brett was a former senior vice president and chief technology officer at Lockheed Martin. Ray Johnson was the former Lockheed Martin executive."}
{"qid": 943, "pid": "e61ad0604acf552568c18d062dbd6f4d_1", "query_info": {"_id": 943, "text": "Discuss the commercial status of quantum computing in the US.", "instruction_og": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing.  Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place.  Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security.", "instruction_changed": "The US has made significant investments in quantum computing. Describe the commercial aspects of this technology in the US to include what companies are involved and where the research and development is taking place. Commercial use of quantum computing technology also is of interest. Quantum computing efforts outside the US are not relevant. US government funding and legislation is not relevant nor is any information related to US national security or any information mentioning universities.", "short_query": "Summarize commercial aspects of a technology in a specific region for this question.", "keywords": "commercial technology region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "e61ad0604acf552568c18d062dbd6f4d_1", "title": "Google\u2019s plan to keep your Web browsing safe from the cyberattacks of tomorrow", "text": "was taking the first step toward protecting user's browsing data against it. The search giant is testing out a Web encryption method called \"New Hope,\" which is designed to help fend off potential quantum attacks for a small number of Chrome browser users when they connect to Google's servers. To understand why quantum computing could be such a big problem for encryption, we'll have to talk a little bit about how it works. Normal computers rely on bits, the smallest units of data, represented by either a zero or one, to store and process information. But quantum computer bits or \"qubits\" can encode more complex pieces of information. That means that quantum computers have the potential to solve certain kinds of problems much, much faster than regular computers \u2014 including guessing the digital keys that are used to lock up the encryption techniques that are common today. Basically, that means quantum computing has the potential to turn into a kind of master lockpick that could help governments or cybercriminals open up everything from your email to your online banking account. Luckily, that kind of attack would require much larger quantum computers than what exists today, so it's still a theoretical problem. But it's a problem Google wants to head off by figuring out how to deploy \"post-quantum\" encryption algorithms, those designed to be more difficult to crack with the type of processing quantum computing uses, sooner rather than later. The algorithm they're testing now, New Hope \u2014 and yes, that is a Star Wars reference \u2014 was created by cryptography researchers Erdem Alkim, L\u00e9o Ducas, Thomas P\u00f6ppelmann and Peter Schwabe. In Google's experiment, the New Hope-based system is used alongside current industry standards to ensure that data remains protected for now, even if the test is unsuccessful. If the experiment works, the information it protects will be safe from the prying eyes of hackers or governments who may deploy sophisticated quantum computers sometime down the line \u2014 and that future-proofing is one of the reasons Google is doing this now. \"A hypothetical, future quantum computer would be able to retrospectively decrypt any Internet communication that was recorded today, and many types of information need to remain confidential for decades,\" Google software engineer Matt Braithwaite wrote in a blog post revealing the experiment. \"Thus even the possibility of a future quantum computer is something that we should be thinking about today.\""}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "(Kacper Pempel/Reuters)\nThere's a huge threat looming over the\u00a0way people's data are protected\u00a0right now \u2014 and Google is testing out a way to guard\u00a0against it.\nThe threat is a still-experimental technology called quantum computing, and Google announced Thursday that it was taking the first step toward protecting user's browsing data against it. The search giant is testing out a Web encryption method called \"New Hope,\" which is designed to help fend off potential quantum attacks for a small number of Chrome browser users when they connect\u00a0to Google's servers.\nTo understand why\u00a0quantum computing\u00a0could be such a big problem for encryption, we'll have to talk a little bit about how it works. Normal computers rely on bits, the smallest units of data, represented by either a zero or one,\u00a0to store and process information.\u00a0But\u00a0quantum computer bits or \"qubits\" can encode more complex pieces of information.\nThat means that quantum computers have the potential to solve certain kinds of problems much, much faster than regular computers \u2014 including guessing the digital keys that are used to lock up the encryption techniques that are common today. Basically, that means quantum computing has the potential to turn into a kind of master lockpick that could help governments or\u00a0cybercriminals open up everything from your email to your online banking account.\nLuckily, that kind of attack would require much larger quantum computers than what exists today, so it's still a theoretical problem. But it's a problem Google wants to head off by figuring out how to deploy \"post-quantum\" encryption algorithms, those designed to be more difficult to crack with the type of processing quantum computing uses, sooner rather than later.\nThe algorithm they're testing now, New Hope\u00a0\u2014 and yes, that is a Star Wars reference \u2014 was created by cryptography researchers\u00a0Erdem Alkim, L\u00e9o Ducas, Thomas P\u00f6ppelmann and Peter Schwabe.\u00a0In Google's experiment, the New Hope-based system is used alongside current industry standards to ensure that data remains protected for now, even if the test is unsuccessful.\nIf the experiment works, the information it protects will be safe from the prying eyes of hackers or governments who may deploy sophisticated quantum computers sometime down the line \u2014 and that future-proofing is one of the reasons Google is doing this now.\n\"A hypothetical, future quantum computer would be able to retrospectively decrypt any\u00a0Internet communication that was recorded today, and many types of information need to remain confidential for decades,\" Google software engineer Matt Braithwaite wrote in a blog post\u00a0revealing the experiment. \"Thus even the possibility of a future quantum computer is something that we should be thinking about today.\""}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "13592c6742d44fc21ca805908333f07d_1", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "13592c6742d44fc21ca805908333f07d_1", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Wednesday, May 7", "text": "RSVPs. Just show up and pay for what you drink. \u2022 Savor Week events you'll need tickets for ChurchKey will be pouring 50 beers Wednesday night. Stick to four-ounce tasters to try more beer. (Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post) Two of the finest breweries in Fort Collins, Colo., are bringing 10 drafts to Scion for an event cleverly called \"Beer & Cheese: An Evening with Funkwerks, Odell, & Right Proper.\" The folks who run the cheese counter at D.C.'s own Right Proper Brewing Company will match Funkwerks' flavorful saisons and Belgian-style ales and Odell's brawny IPAs and malty Scotch ale with a variety of cheeses. (The private pairing class with the owners of Odell and Funkwerks is sold out, but cheese and beer pairings can be purchased a la carte at the bar while they last.) Scion has posted the full draft list on its site. It would be easy to make \"War Between the States\" jokes about ChurchKey's \"North vs. South\" night, which pits the beers of Maine's Allagash and New York's Ithaca against those of Georgia's Terrapin and North Carolina's Foothills, but really, all that matters is that all 50 taps and five casks will be pouring some truly excellent beers. My pick-only-one choices would be Allagash Midnight Brett, Ithaca White Gold Belgian ale, Terrapin Maker\u2019s Mark barrel-aged Big Hoppy Monster and Foothills IPA of the Month, and then the cask of Terrapin Maggie's Peach with hibiscus, green cardamom, cinnamon and peach in the cask. All beers are sold in four-ounce glasses are well as full pours to help with sampling. You can see the full list on ChurchKey's Facebook page. Eugene, Ore.,'s Oakshire Brewing has been earning raves for its small-batch beers and aged seasonals, but since they distribute only within Oregon, most Washingtonians haven't been able to try them. Thank God for Savor, then: The brewery is taking over 10 taps on the roof of Jack Rose tonight, with local fixtures 3 Stars taking over the other 10. I'm most looking forward to tasting Oakshine, but 3 Stars is making sure they won't be overlooked: They're debuting a version of Southern Belle brown ale aged in a cask of Knob Creek rye whiskey, which Jack Rose boasts as \"the only known Knob Creek Rye barrel to ever leave the distillery.\" All beers will be $5 between 6 and 9 p.m., and the draft list is posted here."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "This weekend's Savor craft beer festival brings brewers and beer fans from across the country to the National Building Museum for two nights of tastings and seminars. But the real fun takes place at local bars in the nights leading up to the festival, with happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events. Every day this week, we'll publish a list of that night's must-do events, which don't require RSVPs. Just show up and pay for what you drink.\n\u2022 Savor Week events you'll need tickets for\nChurchKey will be pouring 50 beers Wednesday night. Stick to four-ounce tasters to try more beer. (Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post)\nTwo of the finest breweries in Fort Collins, Colo., are bringing 10 drafts to Scion for an event cleverly called \"Beer & Cheese: An Evening with Funkwerks, Odell, & Right Proper.\" The folks who run the cheese counter at D.C.'s own Right Proper Brewing Company will match Funkwerks' flavorful saisons and Belgian-style ales and Odell's brawny IPAs and malty Scotch ale with a variety of cheeses. (The private pairing class with the owners of Odell and Funkwerks is sold out, but cheese and beer pairings can be purchased a la carte at the bar while they last.) Scion has posted the full draft list on its site.\nIt would be easy to make \"War Between the States\" jokes about ChurchKey's \"North vs. South\" night, which pits the beers of Maine's Allagash and New York's Ithaca against those of Georgia's Terrapin and North Carolina's Foothills, but really, all that matters is that all 50 taps and five casks will be pouring some truly excellent beers. My pick-only-one choices would be Allagash Midnight Brett, Ithaca White Gold Belgian ale, Terrapin Maker\u2019s Mark barrel-aged Big Hoppy Monster and Foothills IPA of the Month, and then the cask of Terrapin Maggie's Peach with hibiscus, green cardamom, cinnamon and peach in the cask. All beers are sold in four-ounce glasses are well as full pours to help with sampling. You can see the full list on ChurchKey's Facebook page.\nEugene, Ore.,'s Oakshire Brewing\u00a0has been earning raves for its small-batch beers and aged seasonals, but since they distribute only within Oregon, most Washingtonians haven't been able to try them. Thank God for Savor, then: The brewery is taking over 10 taps on the roof of Jack Rose tonight, with local fixtures 3 Stars taking over the other 10. I'm most looking forward to tasting Oakshine, but 3 Stars is making sure they won't be overlooked: They're debuting a version of Southern Belle brown ale aged in a cask of Knob Creek rye whiskey, which Jack Rose boasts as \"the only known Knob Creek Rye barrel to ever leave the distillery.\" All beers will be $5 between 6 and 9 p.m., and the draft list is posted here."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "14ea566804982d4077f4780f69a2b5fa_8", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "14ea566804982d4077f4780f69a2b5fa_8", "title": "Craft beers crash the party at Maryland, Delaware beaches", "text": "produced at Baltimore's Peabody Heights Brewery, but the five on tap at Hooper's still come from the nanobrewery. Our favorites included the Jackspot, an amber ale with caramel and nutty flavors, and the Blackfin Black IPA, where the roasted malt gets some citrus flavor from the hops. Hooper's has been a fixture in West Ocean City for more than three decades; its barnlike structure has an airplane hanging from the ceiling, an authentic NASCAR racecar in the dining room and life-size statues of the Blues Brothers on a platform above diners' heads. The all-you-can-eat crabs are a big draw, and this isn't really the sort of place to get a flight of beers. But don't miss the \"Stadium Cup Special\": Buy a 22-ounce plastic cup of Fin City beer for $6, and subsequent refills are $2.50. That deal proves tough to beat at any bar, unless you're a big fan of the 75-cent Natty Light drafts at Fish Tales on Wednesday nights. 7. Backshore Brewing Co. 913 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, Md. 443-373-1224. www.facebook.com/Backshore. Best for Beer to drink on your beach house porch Beer to impress your beer-snob friends Hours You're not going to beat the view from the patio at Backshore Brewing: Situated right on Ocean City's boardwalk, the place offers a broad expanse of umbrella-studded beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The most in-demand seats are in a booth fashioned from an old VW bus - it's a great Instagram photo-op that provides a prime vantage point for people-watching. I enjoy the funky nature of this cramped storefront brewery: The half-dozen barstools are fashioned from old kegs, and the wooden boards on the bar top were once part of the boardwalk. Order a flight of four beers and you'll receive a vintage plastic skateboard with holes drilled into it to hold the glasses containing 5-ounce pours. Order all six of the rotating beers and the flight arrives in a wooden surfboard. But Backshore's beer is wildly inconsistent. When friends and I stopped in last summer, shortly after its April 2013 opening, our assessment was that the beers were okay - inoffensive, not particularly memorable, but a step up from the ubiquitous Miller Lite or Landshark. A trip in early May, though, was a disappointment. One of the six beers we tried was a Maerzen called Novemberfest, which tasted like it had been sitting in the tap lines all"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "\u2022 Jump to:\u00a0On the way to Ocean City | In Ocean City | Near the Delaware Beaches \u2022 Beach bars and liquor stores with local beer on tap\nI started going to the Delaware beaches regularly with friends seven years ago. We all have a taste for microbrews -- our trips involved an annual pilgrimage to Dogfish Head's Rehoboth Beach brewpub to taste the weird and (usually) delicious beer -- but our beach house fridge at the time was stocked with cans of Corona and Miller High Life, the kind of beer more suited to drinking while barbecuing or a game of beer pong.\nIf you wanted a \"local\" beer from the Eastern Shore of Maryland or the lower half of Delaware in 2007, Dogfish Head was your only choice. But recently, that area, much like the Washington region, has been undergoing a craft beer renaissance. Seven breweries have opened since April 2012, which is the same month that Evolution Craft Brewing Company moved from a tiny building in Delmar, Del., to a massive new facility in Salisbury, Md.\n\u2022 Gallery: Take a look inside three Eastern Shore brewpubs\nTo research this story, I spent two weekends brewery-hopping at the shore with friends, visiting every place at least once. (We skipped Dogfish Head, choosing to focus on the younger and lesser-known breweries.) We ordered samplers, swapped glasses and rated favorites. While I love a good barrel-aged stout as much as the next guy, we were looking for two types of beers in particular: something refreshing to sip on the porch of your beach house or condo, and something that would wow your beer-snob friends who always rave about the latest and rarest thing they found at ChurchKey.\nOur memories of the beach will always be more about sun, sand and mini-golf than a growler of IPA picked up en route. But spending a week in Rehoboth or Ocean City no longer means you're consigned to drinking Corona or Bud Light Lime-A-Rita. (Save those for beer pong.)\nCambridge's RAR Brewing is a hip bar with live music, table shuffleboard and its own brewery. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\nOn the way to Ocean City\n\n\n1. RAR Brewing\n504 Poplar St., Cambridge, Md. 443-225-5664. www.realerevival.com.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nRAR Brewing has what you'd expect from a hip small-town bar: a friendly staff, a weekly shuffleboard league, performances by comedians and musicians, and food prepped right behind the bar counter. (But also try the sushi, which comes from the nearby Mantra restaurant.) Then you notice the brewing equipment through a window in the dining room.\nLaunched last August, RAR Brewing - an abbreviation of the clunky full name, ReAleRevival - is still getting its feet wet but shows plenty of promise. Only two of the eight beers on draft in early May were RAR's: the Nanticoke Nectar IPA, a zesty hop bomb that received universal approval from my group, and Bucktown Brown, which had rich roasted-coffee notes. The other taps included DC Brau's Everyday Junglist and Dogfish Head Namaste - a sign these guys like interesting beer.\nI wanted to get a growler of \"The Necta,\" as it's advertised on pint glasses, but because of the brewery's small size, the bartenders couldn't sell it to go until the next batch of kegs were ready a few days later. The brewery has plans to expand its offerings: A saison will be released this weekend.\n\n\n2. Evolution Craft Brewing Company\n201 E. Vine St., Salisbury, Md. 443-260-2337. www.evolutioncraftbrewing.com.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nEvents\nOutside of Dogfish Head, Evolution - Evo to its fans - should be the Delmarva brewery most familiar to Washington beer lovers: Its core line, including Lot 3 IPA and Lucky 7 Porter, is found all over the D.C. area. That growth was possible because of Evolution's 2012 relocation from a tiny building in Delmar to a former ice plant in Salisbury, which now boasts an acclaimed restaurant and bar-sized tasting room as well as a large-capacity brewery.\nThe tasting room usually has nine to 10 beers on tap for sampling. On weekends, there's often a cask-conditioned ale, too. The raw bar offers $1 local oysters at happy hour, which encourages lingering. (For something more substantial, the menu at the neighboring Public House is stocked with local seafood and produce.)\nThere frequently are one-off and collaboration beers available to sip, and those hoping for something outside Evo's familiar but stellar lineup should look beyond the taps: The bar sells 750 milliliter bottles of the seasonal Migration beers, which are aged for months in spirits or wine barrels.\n\n\n3. 3rd Wave Brewing\n501 N. Bi-State Blvd., Delmar, Del. 302-907-0423. www.3rdwavebrewingco.com.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nEvents\nThe space occupied by 3rd Wave Brewing is a piece of brewing history: From 2009 to the spring of 2012, the former grocery store was the original home of Evolution. When Evo moved to larger premises in Salisbury, Md., Lori Clough and Suellen Vickers decided to make the leap from homebrewing to running a brewery. They opened 3rd Wave in the fall of 2012.\nThe one-room brewery doesn't contain much beyond a bar, a television and an area selling hats and T-shirts, but there are shaded picnic tables in the parking lot. With nine beers on tap, it's worth getting a flight (four 4-ounce pours for $6). Skip 3rd Wave's IPAs and double IPAs, which we've found to be thin and a bit unbalanced, and look for the sweeter, sunnier beers: The fruit-kissed BeachBreak Apricot Wheat is exactly the kind of smooth, quaffable beer you want on a hot day, and Dean B's Honey Saison isn't far behind.\n\n\n4. Tall Tales Brewing Company\n6929 Heron Grove Ct., Parsonsburg, Md. 410-543-2739. www.talltalesbrew.com.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nEvents\nThe most interesting thing about the year-and-a-half-old Tall Tales Brewing Company is its outdoor bar. Owner Jason Hearn ran a landscaping company before becoming a brewer, and it shows in the spacious, well-manicured back patio, which has water features and planters in addition to an extensive bar with wood-burning pizza ovens. Dogs and kids can stretch their legs and adults can play cornhole and, later this summer, volleyball in a sandy area.\nMy friends and I tried flights of everything that was available, and most of the offerings were the kind of beers that elicited a shrug as we passed the glasses around. Some Beach Island Ale is a light, biscuity kolsch that would be nice to sip in the sun, but nothing else made us want to grab beers to go. The most popular beer, we were told, is Red Headed Step Child, an Irish red ale that came off as too sweet and malty.\nThe tap room at Burley Oak Brewery is a cool neighborhood bar with games, live music and some of the best craft beer in Maryland. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\n\n\n5. Burley Oak\n10016 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 443-513-4647. www.burleyoak.com.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nEvents\nThe coolest bar in America's Coolest Small Town also makes some of the best beers in the Free State. Owner and brewer Bryan Brushmiller opened Burley Oak in a century-old cooperage in August 2011 and has been charging forward ever since. A wide variety of beers fly out of the brewery, from sour ales to super-hopped IPAs to barrel-aged red ales, each one more interesting than the last. I visited the brewery the week after it opened, I've gone back several times a year since and I'm hard-pressed to think of a beer I wouldn't order again.\nBrushmiller enjoys putting fresh twists on his old recipes - he'll switch the hops in the Aboriginal Gangster IPA to an experimental variety to create a completely new beer, or toss Concord grapes into a cask of Berliner weisse for a different flavor profile. Burley Oak's terroir is especially intriguing: Brushmiller purchases grain from local farmers, and worked with a soil scientist to develop indigenous barley that is used in several brews.\nI love getting growler fills, but I also enjoy hanging out at the bar on a weekend night. Local cover bands perform in the corner, a multi-generational crowd hoists pints at the bar and groups play ring toss or cards. The building itself, with barnlike ceilings, art by local painters on the walls and white fairy lights strung overhead, reminds me of a Midwestern beer hall. You're definitely not in Washington or, for that matter, Ocean City.\nIn Ocean City\n\n\n6. Fin City Brewing Co.\nInside Hooper's Crab House, 12913 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, Md. 410-213-1771. www.fincitybrewing.com.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nFin City, which tapped its first keg in April 2012, bills itself as \"Ocean City's Oldest Brewery.\" Its evolution has been remarkable: Two years ago, homebrewer Vince Wright set up equipment in the loft over the bar at Hooper's Crab House. One of Fin City's first efforts was a thin lager named Fin Light, which a Hooper's bartender once described as \"like Coors Light.\" Now Fin City is making pale ales and black IPAs that are sold Maryland-wide.\nThe Fin City beers you find in bottles are produced at Baltimore's Peabody Heights Brewery, but the five on tap at Hooper's still come from the nanobrewery. Our favorites included the Jackspot, an amber ale with caramel and nutty flavors, and the Blackfin Black IPA, where the roasted malt gets some citrus flavor from the hops.\nHooper's has been a fixture in West Ocean City for more than three decades; its barnlike structure has an airplane hanging from the ceiling, an authentic NASCAR racecar in the dining room and life-size statues of the Blues Brothers on a platform above diners' heads. The all-you-can-eat crabs are a big draw, and this isn't really the sort of place to get a flight of beers.\nBut don't miss the \"Stadium Cup Special\": Buy a 22-ounce plastic cup of Fin City beer for $6, and subsequent refills are $2.50. That deal proves tough to beat at any bar, unless you're a big fan of the 75-cent Natty Light drafts at Fish Tales on Wednesday nights.\n\n\n7. Backshore Brewing Co.\n913 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, Md. 443-373-1224. www.facebook.com/Backshore.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nYou're not going to beat the view from the patio at Backshore Brewing: Situated right on Ocean City's boardwalk, the place offers a broad expanse of umbrella-studded beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The most in-demand seats are in a booth fashioned from an old VW bus - it's a great Instagram photo-op that provides a prime vantage point for people-watching.\nI enjoy the funky nature of this cramped storefront brewery: The half-dozen barstools are fashioned from old kegs, and the wooden boards on the bar top were once part of the boardwalk. Order a flight of four beers and you'll receive a vintage plastic skateboard with holes drilled into it to hold the glasses containing 5-ounce pours. Order all six of the rotating beers and the flight arrives in a wooden surfboard.\nBut Backshore's beer is wildly inconsistent. When friends and I stopped in last summer, shortly after its April 2013 opening, our assessment was that the beers were okay - inoffensive, not particularly memorable, but a step up from the ubiquitous Miller Lite or Landshark.\nA trip in early May, though, was a disappointment. One of the six beers we tried was a Maerzen called Novemberfest, which tasted like it had been sitting in the tap lines all winter. The 410 Kolsch was fine for a summer beer, and the light, sweet Downtown Sugar Brown, one of the better beers last year, was just as I remembered. (It's worth noting that since my most recent visit, the brewpub has tapped a new IPA and a stout aged in bourbon barrels, which sound more interesting than anything I tried.)\nTemper your expectations and enjoy the scenery, but don't go out of your way.\nLorrie Taylor of West Grove, Penn., and her husband Patrick (left) visit the Backshore Brewing Company on Ocean City's boardwalk whenever they're in town. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\n\n8. Ocean City Brewing Co.\nBut you won't be able to taste Ocean City Brewing's beers right away: Because of the permitting delays, brewer Mark Fesche won't be making his own recipes until this week at the earliest. If all goes well, they'll be on tap in mid-June. In the meantime, Shores says the two dozen taps in the pub will be filled with local craft brews.\nWhat's most impressive about Ocean City Brewing right now is its sheer scale: The 18,000-square-foot building, which formerly housed a lumber company, includes a 30-barrel brewing system, which is more than three times the size of Burley Oak's and six times the size of Fin City's. The restaurant area of the brewpub has 200 seats, and the bar will seat an additional 100 at long, Oktoberfest-style tables made from barrels.\n\"I saw plenty of places that were smaller, but I wanted to be a full production brewery,\" Shores says. \"We want to be the next Dogfish Head.\"\nNear the Delaware beaches\n\n\n9. 16 Mile Brewery\n413 S. Bedford St., Georgetown, Del. 302-253-8816. www.16milebrewery.com.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nEvents\nThe 16 Mile Brewery has been around since 2009, but visiting became a special experience when the spacious tasting room and tavern opened in January 2012. There are 11 beers on tap, televisions, tables inlaid with checkerboards and, incongruously, a fireplace, which was roaring away on a warm day in early May.\n16 Mile's six core beers, such as the light Responders Ale and Amber Sun Ale, are often found at Delaware beach bars and liquor stores. They're fine English-influenced ales, but not particularly distinctive. Here's why you should visit the brewery, which is about a 30-minute drive from the Delaware beaches: There are always five draft-only beers, which may be originals or variations on existing brews, on the chalkboard menu. The crisp, malty Blues' Golden Ale, for instance, becomes a different (and more delicious) animal when orange, sage, basil and thyme are added; a version earlier this month was aged with lime, salt and tequila-soaked oak.\nBartenders - who sometimes are the brewers themselves - are generous with flights. Six 5-ounce pours cost $10, eight are $12 and you can sample all 11 for $16. (Individual 5-ounce pours are $2 each if you want to create a smaller flight.) When you find something you like, you can purchase a pint and watch a baseball game or, on Friday nights, listen to music. 16 Mile bottles its beers, somewhat of a rarity among Eastern Shore brewers, so six-packs and cases of the core beers are available to go, along with growlers.\n\n\n10. Mispillion River\n255 Mullett Run St., Milford, Del. 302-491-6623. www.mispillionriverbrewing.com.\nBest for\nBeer to drink on your beach house porch\nBeer to impress your beer-snob friends\nHours\nEvents\nMispillion River, which opened in November 2013, needed only five months to make its mark on the national beer scene, claiming a silver medal at the World Beer Cup for Beach Bum Joe, a refreshing and fruity cross between a Belgian golden ale and a hoppy American pale ale. (Naturally, it placed in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category.)\nDespite the award, you probably haven't heard of Mispillion River: Its beers are available only in Delaware, and only on draft. But it's worth seeking out.\nSet in an anonymous business park, Mispillion doesn't look like much. The large tasting room, fitted with board games and a PA system for weekend shows, isn't that impressive. But what's coming out of the taps is downright exciting, thanks to brewer Jared Barnes and assistant brewer Ryan Maloney: A malty, heavily hopped imperial red ale called Holy Crap! has just the right amount of sweetness; a big, bold black IPA named Big Earl bursts with four kinds of citrusy and spicy hops; and a malty, deliciously on-style German Dopplebock is named Goat Island Thunder, after a nearby nature area. I brought a couple of friends along to sample the beers, and we kept passing glasses around asking, \"Seriously? Have you tried this one yet?\"\nThere's a blink-and-you-miss it element to the beer. Of the 10 beers we enjoyed in early May, I asked the bartender - assistant brewer Maloney - which ones might still be available when we came back Memorial Day weekend. He thought there might be three. (One of them, thankfully, was the Mosaic, a malty, aromatic pale ale made solely with Mosaic hops.) He said that Mispillion had made about 70 beers, though not all of them had made it to the taps.\nAll I call tell you to do is go in and start sampling: Four 5-ounce pours cost $10, and 10 go for $20. You're going to want to have a full glass ($5) of at least one when you're finished, and then it's time for the hard choice: Which ones do you take home?"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "1d265908-a809-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "1d265908-a809-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_0", "title": "Farm-based breweries are on tap in Loudoun", "text": "Beer lovers can look forward to the arrival of farm-based breweries across Loudoun County this spring, after the Board of Supervisors\u2019 recent passage of an ordinance that allows brewery businesses and tasting rooms on land where ingredients for beer are grown. Last year, state lawmakers passed legislation that relaxed regulations for farm-based breweries across Virginia. The Board of Supervisors\u2019 approval of the farm brewery ordinance at a Jan. 21 meeting made Loudoun the first county in Virginia to incorporate the new state law into local legislation. Jay DeCianno, a farmer who is preparing to open a brewery now that the ordinance has passed, said in a statement that Loudoun\u2019s aspiring brewers were \u201cthrilled\u201d that the board had authorized farm breweries. \u201cThis demonstrates their support for entrepreneurs and small business owners like us,\u201d DeCianno said. \u201cWe depend on this for our success.\u201d Virginia is home to 93 craft breweries, according to the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, eight of which are operating in Loudoun. The Brewers Association estimates that these businesses have a statewide economic value of more than $650 million. The ordinance will allow farmers outside Loudoun\u2019s incorporated towns to begin farm brewery operations, county officials said in a statement. The county\u2019s department of economic development is working with six new businesses that plan to begin production this year, officials said. \u201cWe have everything in Loudoun to make farm breweries an incredibly successful industry,\u201d Loudoun Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer said in the statement. Loudoun\u2019s increasingly popular craft brewery industry will also be fueled by the addition of the largest hops yard in the state \u2014 the first commercial-scale hops processing facility located in the mid-Atlantic region \u2014 at Black Hops Farm in Lucketts. The project, which will convert 15 acres of former pasture land into a sprawling hops yard, was announced in November by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D.) Within days of the governor\u2019s announcement, the popular, Frederick, Md.-based Flying Dog brewery moved to set up shop in Loudoun, county officials said. \u201cEvery day we get calls from people who want to start breweries or grow hops or specialty grains,\u201d Rizer said in the statement. Kellie Boles, the county\u2019s agricultural business development officer, anticipates that the local brewery industry will follow the path of the county\u2019s explosive winery scene. \u201cOur winery industry has doubled in the last decade, and there\u2019s a pent-up demand for farm breweries,\u201d Boles said in the"}], "old": [{"_id": "1d265908-a809-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_0", "title": "Farm-based breweries are on tap in Loudoun", "text": "Beer lovers can look forward to the arrival of farm-based breweries across Loudoun County this spring, after the Board of Supervisors\u2019 recent passage of an ordinance that allows brewery businesses and tasting rooms on land where ingredients for beer are grown. Last year, state lawmakers passed legislation that relaxed regulations for farm-based breweries across Virginia. The Board of Supervisors\u2019 approval of the farm brewery ordinance at a Jan. 21 meeting made Loudoun the first county in Virginia to incorporate the new state law into local legislation. Jay DeCianno, a farmer who is preparing to open a brewery now that the ordinance has passed, said in a statement that Loudoun\u2019s aspiring brewers were \u201cthrilled\u201d that the board had authorized farm breweries. \u201cThis demonstrates their support for entrepreneurs and small business owners like us,\u201d DeCianno said. \u201cWe depend on this for our success.\u201d Virginia is home to 93 craft breweries, according to the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, eight of which are operating in Loudoun. The Brewers Association estimates that these businesses have a statewide economic value of more than $650 million. The ordinance will allow farmers outside Loudoun\u2019s incorporated towns to begin farm brewery operations, county officials said in a statement. The county\u2019s department of economic development is working with six new businesses that plan to begin production this year, officials said. \u201cWe have everything in Loudoun to make farm breweries an incredibly successful industry,\u201d Loudoun Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer said in the statement. Within days of the governor\u2019s announcement, the popular, Frederick, Md.-based Flying Dog brewery moved to set up shop in Loudoun, county officials said. \u201cEvery day we get calls from people who want to start breweries or grow hops or specialty grains,\u201d Rizer said in the statement. Kellie Boles, the county\u2019s agricultural business development officer, anticipates that the local brewery industry will follow the path of the county\u2019s explosive winery scene. \u201cOur winery industry has doubled in the last decade, and there\u2019s a pent-up demand for farm breweries,\u201d Boles said in the statement. \u201cThese businesses will make a big contribution to the Loudoun economy in a short time.\u201d \u201cPassing this legislation allows us to grow our brewery product offerings and extend our visitor experience into western Loudoun,\u201d Beth Erickson, Visit Loudoun president and chief executive, said in an e-mail. \u201cThis paves the way for Loudoun to have a vibrant craft beer scene that has the potential to rival"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Beer lovers can look forward to the arrival of farm-based breweries across Loudoun County this spring, after the Board of Supervisors\u2019 recent passage of an ordinance that allows brewery businesses and tasting rooms on land where ingredients for beer are grown.\nLast year, state lawmakers passed legislation that relaxed regulations for farm-based breweries across Virginia. The Board of Supervisors\u2019 approval of the farm brewery ordinance at a Jan. 21 meeting made Loudoun the first county in Virginia to incorporate the new state law into local legislation.\nJay DeCianno, a farmer who is preparing to open a brewery now that the ordinance has passed, said in a statement that Loudoun\u2019s aspiring brewers were \u201cthrilled\u201d that the board had authorized farm breweries.\n\u201cThis demonstrates their support for entrepreneurs and small business owners like us,\u201d DeCianno said. \u201cWe depend on this for our success.\u201d\nVirginia is home to 93 craft breweries, according to the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, eight of which are operating in Loudoun. The Brewers Association estimates that these businesses have a statewide economic value of more than $650\u00a0million.\nThe ordinance will allow farmers outside Loudoun\u2019s incorporated towns to begin farm brewery operations, county officials said in a statement. The county\u2019s department of economic development is working with six new businesses that plan to begin production this year, officials said.\n\u201cWe have everything in Loudoun to make farm breweries an incredibly successful industry,\u201d Loudoun Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer said in the statement.\nLoudoun\u2019s increasingly popular craft brewery industry will also be fueled by the addition of the largest hops yard in the state \u2014 the first commercial-scale hops processing facility located in the mid-Atlantic region \u2014 at Black Hops Farm in Lucketts. The project, which will convert 15 acres of former pasture land into a sprawling hops yard, was announced in November by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D.)\nWithin days of the governor\u2019s announcement, the popular, Frederick, Md.-based Flying Dog brewery moved to set up shop in Loudoun, county officials said.\n\u201cEvery day we get calls from people who want to start breweries or grow hops or specialty grains,\u201d Rizer said in the statement.\nKellie Boles, the county\u2019s agricultural business development officer, anticipates that the local brewery industry will follow the path of the county\u2019s explosive winery scene.\n\u201cOur winery industry has doubled in the last decade, and there\u2019s a pent-up demand for farm breweries,\u201d Boles said in the statement. \u201cThese businesses will make a big contribution to the Loudoun economy in a short time.\u201d\nOfficials with Visit Loudoun, the county\u2019s tourism organization, said they plan to build on Loudoun\u2019s prominence as a beer destination by creating a \u201ccraft beer trail,\u201d similar to local wine trails that have lured visitors to the county\u2019s 42 wineries. A \u201cbeer traveler\u201d survey conducted by Visit Loudoun last year showed that the county\u2019s breweries were already drawing visitors \u2014 most of whom were well educated and affluent \u2014 from across the region and beyond, adding to the $1\u00a0billion generated annually by Loudoun\u2019s tourism industry.\n\u201cPassing this legislation allows us to grow our brewery product offerings and extend our visitor experience into western Loudoun,\u201d Beth Erickson, Visit Loudoun president and chief executive, said in an e-mail. \u201cThis paves the way for Loudoun to have a vibrant craft beer scene that has the potential to rival similar brewery destinations in Virginia and across the country.\u201d\nBrian Jenkins, Visit Loudoun\u2019s director of strategy and research, said the organization was aware of at least eight brewers that were waiting for the board\u2019s vote before moving forward with plans to establish their businesses.\n\u201cThe potential of tourism-generated economic impact is immense,\u201d he said. \u201cWe expect the number of farm breweries to grow exponentially, now that the legislation is passed.\u201d"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "21cf3f16-1090-11e5-a0dc-2b6f404ff5cf_3", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "21cf3f16-1090-11e5-a0dc-2b6f404ff5cf_3", "title": "Following a national trend, farm-to-glass beers are growing in Md.", "text": "allow farm brewers to become wholesalers and sell their products directly to bars and restaurants rather than go through a distributor. Beneficiaries of the new rules include Red Shedman Farm Brewery & Hop Yard, which opened at the Linganore Winecellars in Frederick County in November and now distributes to restaurants and liquor stores in seven counties, and Manor Hill Brewing, which poured its first beers at Victoria in March. Atticks knows of \u201cat least four more in the planning stages,\u201d including the Brookeville Beer Farm, the first farm brewery in Montgomery County, which aims to be brewing in September. Virginia passed a similar law in 2014, easing the path for farm breweries to open on land zoned for agricultural purposes, because the act of brewing beer is considered manufacturing. Old 690 Brewing in Purcellville was one of the first breweries to take advantage of the new rules, with 300 hop plants in the ground before its opening last August. There are more in the works; the most prominent was to be Farmworks Brewery in Lucketts, run by Flying Dog, but the brewery canceled those plans last month. Nationally, the number of farm breweries is \u201ccertainly growing, mostly buoyed by the increasing number of states offering farm brewery licenses,\u201d says Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association, a nationwide craft-beer trade group. (The group does not yet break out farm breweries from other craft breweries and so does not have definitive statistics on their growth.) An early adopter in the farm brewing category was Oregon\u2019s Rogue Ales, which bought its first farm in 2008 and now owns two. At first, President Brett Joyce says, they bought farms to supply their own hops and avoid price fluctuations that were rife in the industry. \u201cWe loved it so much that, 12 months into it, we thought, \u2018Why can\u2019t we do barley? Why can\u2019t we grow grain?\u2019 Then we started planting other crops,\u201d such as pumpkins, he says. Those crops allowed brewers to experiment with new products, such as pumpkin beer, and \u201cwe wouldn\u2019t have done that before we had the farm,\u201d Joyce says. Usually eight or nine beers are brewed each year, using only products from the farm and sold under the Rogue Farms label. More important, the Rogue farms now supply about 15 percent of the barley and 40 to 45 percent of the hops for all beers in the Rogue"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Manor Hill Farm in Ellicott City is home to Manor Hill Brewing, the newest \"farm brewery\" in Maryland. A state law approved in 2012 allows farmers to make beer as long as they use Maryland agricultural products. (Fritz Hahn/The Washington Post)\nRandy Marriner and his wife, Mary, bought the Manor Hill Farm in Ellicott City in 2011, thinking the 54-acre expanse would be a nice place to live while raising angus beef and growing vegetables to use at their nearby restaurant, the Victoria Gastro Pub. They never imagined they would fill two acres with towering trellises for growing hops, or convert an old barn-cum-garage into a brew house filled with gleaming stainless-steel fermenters.\nThey hadn\u2019t planned on hiring Ben Little, an award-winning brewer and veteran of Flying Dog, to help them create Sour Mojito, a sour blond ale brewed with key limes and dried wintergreen that became the highest-rated beer at the 2015 Maryland Craft Beer Festival.\nAnd they certainly didn\u2019t think they\u2019d be sending their beers to bars as far afield as the District and Baltimore, which they\u2019ll be doing as of July 6.\n\u201cI\u2019d never made beer before,\u201d Randy says, standing in his new brewery. \u201cI\u2019ve consumed a hell of a lot of it.\u201d\nThe spur for the Marriners to move from farming to brewing \u2014 in line with a growing national trend \u2014 was a 2012 state law that created the farm brewery manufacturer\u2019s license. Also known as a Class 8 license, it allows its holders to, among other things, brew up to 15,000 barrels of beer a year, as long as that beer is made with Maryland agricultural products, such as hops or barley.\nRandy didn\u2019t know anything about the farm brewery bill at the time: He was busy championing a law that would allow his craft-beer bar with 24 taps to sell refillable growlers of beer for customers to take home. The real impetus came when Mary read a magazine article about Colorado\u2019s acclaimed Oskar Blues brewery and its 50-acre farm, which brews beer, raises animals and grows vegetables to supply a pair of restaurants. \u201cShe kept hitting me in the arm and saying, \u2018This is us! This is us!\u2019\u200a\u201d\nThat\u2019s when Manor Hill Brewing was born, with the slogan \u201cFamily-owned, farm-brewed.\u201d\nAnyone who has been to a trendy restaurant in the past five years has certainly been made aware of the virtues of \u201cfarm-to-table\u201d: the idea that diners can and should know which farm their carrots or kale came from, or whether their free-range organic chicken had friends. It\u2019s a valuable, if mockable, ideal. But as that label becomes passe, a growing number of brewers are trumpeting \u201cfarm-to-glass\u201d beers, creating IPAs and sour ales with products grown in neighboring fields.\nThe Marriners\u2019 story is one that\u2019s becoming more common throughout the Free State, according to Kevin Atticks, executive director of the Brewers Association of Maryland. \u201cIt\u2019s on the increase,\u201d he says, adding that his office is fielding more calls about \u201ctaking a family farm and finding new ways to make use of it,\u201d such as turning it into a farm brewery or farm distillery. \u201cThe state has a keen interest in using its alcohol laws as a means to preserve family farms. You\u2019re not just helping a new industry; you\u2019re preserving lands and creating jobs in the rural economy.\u201d\nA few small breweries sprang up in the wake of the 2012 legislation, including Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm in Mount Airy and Ruhlman Brewing in Carroll County. But interest truly heated up last year, when the statehouse modified the Class 8 license to allow farm brewers to become wholesalers and sell their products directly to bars and restaurants rather than go through a distributor.\nBeneficiaries of the new rules include Red Shedman Farm Brewery & Hop Yard, which opened at the Linganore Winecellars in Frederick County in November and now distributes to restaurants and liquor stores in seven counties, and Manor Hill Brewing, which poured its first beers at Victoria in March. Atticks knows of \u201cat least four more in the planning stages,\u201d including the Brookeville Beer Farm, the first farm brewery in Montgomery County, which aims to be brewing in September.\nVirginia passed a similar law in 2014, easing the path for farm breweries to open on land zoned for agricultural purposes, because the act of brewing beer is considered manufacturing. Old 690 Brewing in Purcellville was one of the first breweries to take advantage of the new rules, with 300 hop plants in the ground before its opening last August. There are more in the works; the most prominent was to be Farmworks Brewery in Lucketts, run by Flying Dog, but the brewery canceled those plans last month.\nNationally, the number of farm breweries is \u201ccertainly growing, mostly buoyed by the increasing number of states offering farm brewery licenses,\u201d says Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association, a nationwide craft-beer trade group. (The group does not yet break out farm breweries from other craft breweries and so does not have definitive statistics on their growth.)\nAn early adopter in the farm brewing category was Oregon\u2019s Rogue Ales, which bought its first farm in 2008 and now owns two. At first, President Brett Joyce says, they bought farms to supply their own hops and avoid price fluctuations that were rife in the industry. \u201cWe loved it so much that, 12 months into it, we thought, \u2018Why can\u2019t we do barley? Why can\u2019t we grow grain?\u2019 Then we started planting other crops,\u201d such as pumpkins, he says. Those crops allowed brewers to experiment with new products, such as pumpkin beer, and \u201cwe wouldn\u2019t have done that before we had the farm,\u201d Joyce says.\nUsually eight or nine beers are brewed each year, using only products from the farm and sold under the Rogue Farms label. More important, the Rogue farms now supply about 15 percent of the barley and 40 to 45 percent of the hops for all beers in the Rogue Ales line. \u201cIt\u2019s enough that we\u2019re serious about it,\u201d Joyce says, adding that \u201cif there\u2019s a disaster, we can still get the hops we need.\u201d\nThat is an important point: While some people see \u201cfarm brewery\u201d and assume that it means all the ingredients come from the same farm, that\u2019s not the case with most Maryland breweries. \u201cThe difficulty of building that [one-farm] business model is weather, diseases and pests, which doesn\u2019t always sync up with the reality of the craft beer market, especially when you get into the supply side with restaurants,\u201d explains Atticks of the Brewer\u2019s Association of Maryland. \u201cWe\u2019ve had two very rough winters. The crops suffer.\u201d Compounding the problem is a lack of malt houses, which prepare the grain for brewing. There\u2019s only one in the state at the moment, in Frederick County, though more are planned.\nAt Manor Hill, the Marriners put in 2,800 Chinook, Cascade, Centennial and Nugget hop plants and will use those and vegetables and herbs from the Victoria Gastro Pub garden. (Brewer Ben Little is looking forward to making a sour beer with blackberries aged in a rye barrel with Brettanomyces yeast.) They\u2019re negotiating with Maryland farmers to supply other ingredients, in order to keep their beers as local as possible. The water comes from a hand-dug 65-foot-deep well on the property. Randy Marriner says that Alda Hopkins Clark, the mother of longtime state Sen. James A. Clark Jr., who lived on a neighboring farm, claimed that the well\u2019s water \u201cmakes the best iced tea in Howard County.\u201d\nFor now, anyone looking to try the flagship Manor Hill IPA \u2014 well made, with a burst of tropical fruit in the nose and balanced by resiny pine notes in the finish \u2014 will have to head to the Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia, where four of the two dozen taps will be dedicated to Manor Hill beers. Marriner does not plan to open a public tasting room or offer tours of Manor Hill Brewing, for reasons of access: The farm is at the end of a long, narrow road, and to have visitors frequently driving down \u201cwould destroy the character\u201d of the rural area, he says. \u201cAnd I live here. .\u2009.\u2009. We figure our restaurants will be our tasting rooms,\u201d referring to Victoria Gastro Pub and Food Plenty, which is set to open in Clarksville in 2016.\nThat\u2019s the biggest thing that sets Manor Hill apart from other farm breweries. Old 690 offers tours, food trucks, live music and weekly trivia nights. Ruhlman has a disc golf course adjacent to the tasting room. Rogue president Joyce boasts that \u201cwe\u2019ve created a beer version of a winery: Come to our farm, see our hops, smell them, taste them.\u201d Marriner says that he\u2019s not opposed to the burgeoning field of what\u2019s known as agri-tourism, but that it\u2019s just not a good fit for Manor Hill. He does concede there that might be \u201cvery specific, controlled kinds of events\u201d at the farm.\nManor Hill is on target to produce about 2,000 barrels of beer this year, which is an average amount for a new brewery and it\u2019s slightly more than DC Brau produced in its first year. Next year, Marriner says, he plans to expand the number of fermenters and bring in a mobile canning unit to produce six-packs of the brewery\u2019s flagships. By next month, a limited number of kegs will begin finding their way to bars throughout Maryland and in the District. A series of launch parties is in the works.\n\u201cIt\u2019s good for the local economy, it\u2019s good for the environment,\u201d Marriner says. \u201cThis is a family-owned, true-to-ourselves operation. We can do what we want to do.\u201d\nManor Hill Brewing (not open to the public): www.manorhillbrewing.com.\nVictoria Gastro Pub: 8201 Snowden River Pkwy., Columbia. 410-750-1880. victoriagastropub.com.\nMore:\nHow to have the most Maryland summer ever"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "27eacfdd23552465f6f379d84e93c69f_1", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "27eacfdd23552465f6f379d84e93c69f_1", "title": "The best beer events to check out during Savor week", "text": "It's Taco Tuesday, and there are two beer-and-taco pairings taking place in Adams Morgan. At Jack Rose, Minnesota's acclaimed Surly is bringing 10 rare and barrel-aged beers, while Pennsylvania's Victory will also have 10 on draft. The rooftop grill menu includes tacos inspired by both states. 2007 18th St. NW. jackrosediningsaloon.com. At Smoke and Barrel, you'll get three tacos and a side for $8, paired with beers from Michigan's Founders, including Kentucky Breakfast Stout, aged versions of Backwoods Bastard and PC Pils, which is only served at Founders' Michigan brewery. 2471 18th St. NW. smokeandbarreldc.com. Wednesday, June 1 Thursday, June 2 Tomme Arthur is an elder statesman in the brewing world, winner of numerous gold medals in national and international competitions for his Belgian-style beers at Lost Abbey and Pizza Port in San Diego County. Arthur is in town for Savor and will host a tasting of 20 beers from those breweries and others, including a new project called the Hop Concept, at the Sovereign. Doors open at 6 p.m. 1206 Wisconsin Ave. NW. thesovereigndc.com. Aging beer in wood is trendy, but it also can be complicated. At Pizzeria Paradiso's Fun With Foeders event, guests will try a dozen beers aged in the traditional wooden barrels, including selections from Perennial, New Belgium, Allagash, Right Proper and Bavik. Brewers Nathan Zeender of Right Proper and Phil Wymore of Perennial will talk about the process of using foeders with Paradiso beer director Josh Fernands. Tickets are $42 in advance and the event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the pizzeria's Georgetown location. 3282 M St. NW. eatyourpizza.com. Friday, June 3 Saturday, June 4 Savor Afterparties On Friday, Allagash, 21st Amendment and Uinta are taking over Lost and Found in Blagden Alley, while City Tap House hosts a late-night brunch, paired with Terrapin Wake-n-Bake, Evil Twin Imperial Donut Break and other \"breakfast\" beers. Lost and Found: 1240 Ninth St. NW. lostandfounddc.com. City Tap House: 901 Ninth St. NW. citytaphousedc.com. Saturday is more of a locals' night, with two events in Chinatown. Flying Dog's appropriately named \"The Unnecessary Drinks\" brings a selection of brewhouse rarities to Jackpot, while DC Brau, Port City and special guests Melvin Brewing of Wyoming tap a selection of their beers - including the debut of a new barrel-aged Port City wit - at Bar Deco. Jackpot: 726 Seventh St. NW. jackpotdc.com. Bar Deco: 717 Sixth St. NW. bardecodc.com."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The taps\u00a0at City Tap House will play host to out-of-town breweries during Savor week, including a night of Keystone State brews on June 1. (Photo by Dan Swartz/Courtesy of City Tap House)\nSeventy-six breweries from across the United States will have their beers flowing at the Savor craft beer festival, June 3-4 at the National Building Museum. But it feels as if at least that many out-of-town brewers are being featured at Washington bars in the days leading up to Savor's showcase tastings. Here are the important beer events you should have on your calendar.\n[Why one of the nation\u2019s premier beer festivals seems to have lost its luster]\nMonday, May 30\nTuesday, May 31\nIt's Taco Tuesday, and there are two beer-and-taco pairings taking place in Adams Morgan. At Jack Rose, Minnesota's acclaimed Surly is bringing 10 rare and barrel-aged beers, while Pennsylvania's Victory will also have 10 on draft. The rooftop grill menu includes tacos inspired by both states. 2007 18th St. NW. jackrosediningsaloon.com.\nAt Smoke and Barrel, you'll get three tacos and a side for $8, paired with beers from Michigan's Founders, including Kentucky Breakfast Stout, aged versions of Backwoods Bastard and PC Pils, which is only served at Founders' Michigan brewery. 2471 18th St. NW. smokeandbarreldc.com.\nWednesday, June 1\nThursday, June 2\nTomme Arthur is an elder statesman in the brewing world, winner of numerous gold medals in national and international competitions for his Belgian-style beers at Lost Abbey and Pizza Port in San Diego County. Arthur is in town for Savor and will host a tasting of 20 beers from those breweries and others, including a new project called the Hop Concept, at the Sovereign. Doors open at 6 p.m. 1206 Wisconsin Ave. NW. thesovereigndc.com.\nAging beer in wood is trendy, but it also can be complicated. At Pizzeria Paradiso's Fun With Foeders event, guests will try a dozen beers aged in the traditional wooden barrels, including selections from Perennial, New Belgium, Allagash, Right Proper and Bavik. Brewers Nathan Zeender of Right Proper and Phil Wymore of Perennial will talk about the process of using foeders with Paradiso beer director Josh Fernands. Tickets are $42 in advance and the event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the pizzeria's Georgetown location. 3282 M St. NW. eatyourpizza.com.\nFriday, June 3\nSaturday, June 4\nSavor Afterparties\nOn Friday, Allagash, 21st Amendment and Uinta are taking over Lost and Found in Blagden Alley, while City Tap House hosts a late-night brunch, paired with Terrapin Wake-n-Bake, Evil Twin Imperial Donut Break and other \"breakfast\" beers. Lost and Found: 1240 Ninth St. NW. lostandfounddc.com. City Tap House: 901 Ninth St. NW. citytaphousedc.com.\nSaturday is more of a locals' night, with two events in Chinatown. Flying Dog's appropriately named \"The Unnecessary Drinks\" brings a selection of brewhouse rarities to Jackpot, while DC Brau, Port City and special guests Melvin Brewing of Wyoming tap a selection of their beers - including the debut of a new barrel-aged Port City wit - at Bar Deco. Jackpot: 726 Seventh St. NW. jackpotdc.com. Bar Deco: 717 Sixth St. NW. bardecodc.com."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "2a1e8d6957c6d6ceb9fbeaa9eaa3f207_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "2a1e8d6957c6d6ceb9fbeaa9eaa3f207_0", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Friday-Saturday, May 9-10", "text": "The Black Squirrel features rare Florida beers and an appearance by Great Lakes' head brewer this weekend. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) The Savor craft beer festival finally begins tonight, and whether you have tickets or not, the happy hours and late-night \"Savor after-parties\" continue though the weekend. Friday Meridian Pint Florida comes to Adams Morgan as Cigar City and Proof breweries take over 10 taps at the Black Squirrel, beginning at 4:45 p.m. Both breweries are promising to bring special brews that rarely leave their taphouses. On a more local note, the bar will also be pouring rare beers from Richmond's Strangeways brewery. All the beers from the three breweries are listed on the Black Squirrel's site. Once the fun at the National Building Museum ends, breweries will head to nearby bars to continue the party. The most exciting one is the Colorado Brewers' Night at City Tap House, which features 40 taps from Odell, Funkwerks, Great Divide, Left Hand, Avery, Oskar Blues, New Belgium and Boulder Beer Company, for $5 to $10 each, beginning at 10 p.m. (Take a look at the pretty epic draft list.) The brewers and staff from Ommegang and Boulevard will be at R.F.D. with a selection of rare and popular beers, including the first keg of Boulevard ESB to come to Washington. The Brooklyn Brewery team will host a tap takeover at the Big Hunt, while Smuttynose sponsors a party featuring DJ Dredd and $5 drafts at the Black Cat. Saturday The most star-studded event of the day isn't in Washington but Fairfax, where Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione will preside over Belgium on the Beltway, a day of tasting Belgian-inspired beers from eight of America's biggest craft breweries, at the Dogfish Head Alehouse. Beer celebrities in attendance include Kim Jordan of New Belgium, Steve Hindy of Brooklyn, Rob Todd of Allagash and Dick Cantwell of Elysian. A $30 ticket, which can be purchased in advance or on site, includes tastes of all 16 beers and live music all day. (The party runs from 10 a.m. to midnight, but the brewers will only be there from noon to 2 p.m.) Stone Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing has a huge following in Washington, which should make head brewer Luke Purcell's afternoon appearance at the Black Squirrel very popular. He's pouring some of the brewhouse rarities that rarely find their way outside of the taphouse,"}], "old": [{"_id": "2a1e8d6957c6d6ceb9fbeaa9eaa3f207_0", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Friday-Saturday, May 9-10", "text": "The Black Squirrel features rare Florida beers and an appearance by Great Lakes' head brewer this weekend. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) The Savor craft beer festival finally begins tonight, and whether you have tickets or not, the happy hours and late-night \"Savor after-parties\" continue though the weekend. Friday Meridian Pint Saturday Stone"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Black Squirrel features rare Florida beers and an appearance by Great Lakes' head brewer this weekend. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)\nThe Savor craft beer festival finally begins tonight, and whether you have tickets or not, the happy hours and late-night \"Savor after-parties\" continue though the weekend.\nFriday\nMeridian Pint\nFlorida comes to Adams Morgan as Cigar City and Proof breweries take over 10 taps at the Black Squirrel, beginning at 4:45 p.m. Both breweries are promising to bring special brews that rarely leave their taphouses. On a more local note, the bar will also be pouring rare beers from Richmond's Strangeways\u00a0brewery. All the beers from the three breweries are listed on the Black Squirrel's site.\nOnce the fun at the National Building Museum ends, breweries will head to nearby bars to continue the party. The most exciting one is the Colorado Brewers' Night at City Tap House, which features 40 taps from Odell, Funkwerks, Great Divide, Left Hand, Avery, Oskar Blues, New Belgium and Boulder Beer Company, for $5 to $10 each, beginning at 10 p.m. (Take a look at the pretty epic draft list.) The brewers and staff from Ommegang and Boulevard will be at R.F.D. with a selection of rare and popular beers, including the first keg of Boulevard ESB to come to Washington. The Brooklyn Brewery team will host a tap takeover at the Big Hunt, while Smuttynose sponsors a party featuring DJ Dredd and $5 drafts at the Black Cat.\nSaturday\nThe most star-studded event of the day isn't in Washington but Fairfax, where Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione will preside over Belgium on the Beltway, a day of tasting Belgian-inspired beers from eight of America's biggest craft breweries, at the Dogfish Head Alehouse. Beer celebrities in attendance include Kim Jordan of New Belgium, Steve Hindy of Brooklyn, Rob Todd of Allagash and Dick Cantwell of Elysian. A $30 ticket, which can be purchased in advance or on site, includes tastes of all 16 beers and live music all day. (The party runs from 10 a.m. to midnight, but the brewers will only be there from noon to 2 p.m.)\nStone\nCleveland's Great Lakes Brewing has a huge following in Washington, which should make head brewer Luke Purcell's afternoon appearance at the Black Squirrel very popular. He's pouring some of the brewhouse rarities that rarely find their way outside of the taphouse, including Rally Drum Red Ale, Triple Dog Dare, Alberta Clipper Porter and Rye of the Tiger IPA, beginning at noon.\nOnce again, there will be parties after Savor officially wraps up for the night. Flying Dog and Firestone Walker, the breweries that collaborated on this year's official Savor beer, will take over taps at the nearby City Tap House. Try the Hydra Cuvee, a blend of black rye IPA and imperial porter, as well as other beers from the two brewers. ChurchKey is hosting an event with Bluejacket, Brooklyn and New Belgium, which will mark the debut of three new beers that brewers Greg Engert (Bluejacket), Garrett Oliver (Brooklyn) and Peter Bouckaert (New Belgium) worked on together at Bluejacket. Other beers from the three breweries will also be on tap during the event, which begins at 10 p.m."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "2c803fb7306e061af64ba4ef3c35dba1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "2c803fb7306e061af64ba4ef3c35dba1_0", "title": "It\u2019s beer festival season, or how to spend your weekends for the next two months", "text": "This post has been updated. We're in the midst of peak Beer Festival Season. Through the end of June, it's tough to go more than two weeks without at least one event offering the chance to drink dozens of beers outdoors for one low(ish) price. Representatives from Baltimore's Brewer's Art brewpub pour their beers at the 2014 Maryland Craft Beer Festival, including brewer Victor Rini. (Photo by Nicholas Karlin/Courtesy of Brewers Association of Maryland) What follows is an analysis of the upcoming beer festivals, with criteria including the all-important level of Beer Geek Appeal. Maryland Craft Beer Festival Date: The annual Savor craft beer festival brings the biggest names in brewing to Washington for two nights of tastings and seminars. (Photo by Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor) Savor Date: The downside is that Savor sells out very quickly, though friends of mine have always managed to find a last-minute ticket on Craigslist or StubHub. Right now, tickets for Friday night range from $189 to $297 on StubHub, with more expensive tickets usually including access to a seminar. Summerfest DC Date: Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest Date: The following festivals have taken place since this post was first published on April 9. DC Beer Festival Date: Cherry Blossom Beer and Wine Festival Date: Mid-Atlantic Spring Beer Festival Date: Mad Fox Spring Bock Fest Date: D.C. Craft Beer Festival Date: D.C. Hopfest Date: ABV: D.C.'s Leading Libation Festival Date: Beer, Bacon, Music Date:"}], "old": [{"_id": "2c803fb7306e061af64ba4ef3c35dba1_0", "title": "It\u2019s beer festival season, or how to spend your weekends for the next two months", "text": "This post has been updated. We're in the midst of peak Beer Festival Season. Through the end of June, it's tough to go more than two weeks without at least one event offering the chance to drink dozens of beers outdoors for one low(ish) price. Representatives from Baltimore's Brewer's Art brewpub pour their beers at the 2014 Maryland Craft Beer Festival, including brewer Victor Rini. (Photo by Nicholas Karlin/Courtesy of Brewers Association of Maryland) What follows is an analysis of the upcoming beer festivals, with criteria including the all-important level of Beer Geek Appeal. Maryland Craft Beer Festival Date: The annual Savor craft beer festival brings the biggest names in brewing to Washington for two nights of tastings and seminars. (Photo by Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor) Savor Date: Summerfest DC Date: Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest Date: The following festivals have taken place since this post was first published on April 9. DC Beer Festival Date: Cherry Blossom Beer and Wine Festival Date: Mid-Atlantic Spring Beer Festival Date: Mad Fox Spring Bock Fest Date: D.C. Craft Beer Festival Date: D.C. Hopfest Date: ABV: D.C.'s Leading Libation Festival Date: Beer, Bacon, Music Date:"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "This post has been updated.\nWe're in the midst of peak Beer Festival Season. Through the end of June, it's tough to go more than two weeks without at least one\u00a0event offering the chance to drink dozens of beers outdoors for one low(ish) price.\nRepresentatives from Baltimore's Brewer's Art brewpub pour their beers at the 2014 Maryland Craft Beer Festival, including\u00a0brewer Victor Rini. (Photo by Nicholas Karlin/Courtesy of Brewers Association of Maryland)\nWhat follows is an analysis of the upcoming\u00a0beer festivals, with criteria including the all-important level of Beer Geek Appeal.\nMaryland Craft Beer Festival\nDate:\nThe annual Savor craft beer festival brings the biggest names in brewing to Washington for two nights of tastings and seminars. (Photo by Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor)\nSavor\nDate:\nThe downside is that Savor\u00a0sells out very quickly, though friends of mine have always managed to find a last-minute ticket on Craigslist or StubHub. Right now, tickets for Friday night range from $189 to $297 on StubHub, with more expensive tickets usually including access to a seminar.\nSummerfest DC\nDate:\nNorthern Virginia Summer Brewfest\nDate:\nThe following festivals have taken place since this post was first published on April 9.\nDC Beer Festival\nDate:\nCherry Blossom Beer and Wine Festival\nDate:\nMid-Atlantic Spring Beer Festival\nDate:\nMad Fox Spring Bock Fest\nDate:\nD.C. Craft Beer Festival\nDate:\nD.C. Hopfest\nDate:\nABV: D.C.'s Leading Libation Festival\nDate:\nBeer, Bacon, Music\nDate:"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "38b3ddba-9eb9-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "38b3ddba-9eb9-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_0", "title": "Loudoun news in brief", "text": "Pilot Malt House comes to Loudoun Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) announced Virginia\u2019s first dedicated malting operation at a ceremony Dec. 10 at Black Hops Farm in Lucketts. Pilot Malt House will invest about $1 million to construct and operate the facility and create seven jobs. The company will purchase more than 2 million pounds of Virginia-grown barley, wheat and rye over the next three years. Pilot is an artisan malt house that uses locally grown grains and a mix of traditional and modern processing techniques to produce a variety of base, specialty and custom malts. \u201cPilot Malt House is a welcome resource for our farms and businesses,\u201d said Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York in a statement. \u201cPilot Malt House will allow more investment to stay in Loudoun and will ensure that Virginia\u2019s craft beer industry is rooted in Loudoun\u2019s rural economy,\u201d said Loudoun Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer in a statement. For information, go to governor.virginia.gov. Hospital opening comes with address adjustments Thirty-nine Arcola-area property owners are getting new addresses this month. After a vote by the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, those residents will no longer live on Gum Spring Road. They will have Stone Springs Boulevard or Medical Drive addresses. The road name changes follow the opening of StoneSprings Hospital Center, and recognize new traffic patterns in the area. The changes affect the former Gum Spring Road between Route 50 and Evergreen Road. The portion of Gum Spring Road south of Route 50 is unchanged. Project Elf to provide assistance to needy families The Loudoun Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services Prevention/Intervention team is partnering with local Girl Scouts and the sheriff\u2019s office to provide gifts and other resources to 100 families throughout the county. The Girl Scouts of Loudoun Service Unit 70 have adopted families that are receiving case management services. More than 100 troops are participating to provide gifts and clothing.. Prevention/Intervention Program staff members will deliver the gifts, clothing and food to families before the holidays. Sheriff\u2019s deputies will assist staff delivering the gifts donated by the scouts. For information about Project Elf or the Loudoun Prevention/Intervention Program, call 703-777-0176. \u2014 Compiled by Sandy Mauck"}], "old": [{"_id": "38b3ddba-9eb9-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_0", "title": "Loudoun news in brief", "text": "Pilot Malt House comes to Loudoun Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) announced Virginia\u2019s first dedicated malting operation at a ceremony Dec. 10 at Black Hops Farm in Lucketts. Pilot Malt House will invest about $1 million to construct and operate the facility and create seven jobs. The company will purchase more than 2 million pounds of Virginia-grown barley, wheat and rye over the next three years. Pilot is an artisan malt house that uses locally grown grains and a mix of traditional and modern processing techniques to produce a variety of base, specialty and custom malts. \u201cPilot Malt House is a welcome resource for our farms and businesses,\u201d said Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York in a statement. \u201cPilot Malt House will allow more investment to stay in Loudoun and will ensure that Virginia\u2019s craft beer industry is rooted in Loudoun\u2019s rural economy,\u201d said Loudoun Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer in a statement. Hospital opening comes with address adjustments Thirty-nine Arcola-area property owners are getting new addresses this month. After a vote by the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, those residents will no longer live on Gum Spring Road. They will have Stone Springs Boulevard or Medical Drive addresses. The road name changes follow the opening of StoneSprings Hospital Center, and recognize new traffic patterns in the area. The changes affect the former Gum Spring Road between Route 50 and Evergreen Road. The portion of Gum Spring Road south of Route 50 is unchanged. Project Elf to provide assistance to needy families The Loudoun Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services Prevention/Intervention team is partnering with local Girl Scouts and the sheriff\u2019s office to provide gifts and other resources to 100 families throughout the county. The Girl Scouts of Loudoun Service Unit 70 have adopted families that are receiving case management services. More than 100 troops are participating to provide gifts and clothing.. Prevention/Intervention Program staff members will deliver the gifts, clothing and food to families before the holidays. Sheriff\u2019s deputies will assist staff delivering the gifts donated by the scouts. For information about Project Elf or the Loudoun Prevention/Intervention Program, call 703-777-0176. \u2014 Compiled by Sandy Mauck"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Pilot Malt House comes to Loudoun\nGov. Terry McAuliffe (D) announced Virginia\u2019s first dedicated malting operation at a ceremony Dec. 10 at Black Hops Farm in Lucketts. Pilot Malt House will invest about $1\u00a0million to construct and operate the facility and create seven jobs. The company will purchase more than 2\u00a0million pounds of Virginia-grown barley, wheat and rye over the next three years.\nPilot is an artisan malt house that uses locally grown grains and a mix of traditional and modern processing techniques to produce a variety of base, specialty and custom malts.\n\u201cPilot Malt House is a welcome resource for our farms and businesses,\u201d said Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York in a statement.\n\u201cPilot Malt House will allow more investment to stay in Loudoun and will ensure that Virginia\u2019s craft beer industry is rooted in Loudoun\u2019s rural economy,\u201d said Loudoun Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer in a statement.\nFor information, go to governor.virginia.gov.\nHospital opening comes with address adjustments\nThirty-nine Arcola-area property owners are getting new addresses this month.\nAfter a vote by the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, those residents will no longer live on Gum Spring Road. They will have Stone Springs Boulevard or Medical Drive addresses.\nThe road name changes follow the opening of StoneSprings Hospital Center, and recognize new traffic patterns in the area. The changes affect the former Gum Spring Road between Route 50 and Evergreen Road. The portion of Gum Spring Road south of Route 50 is unchanged.\nProject Elf to provide assistance to needy families\nThe Loudoun Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services Prevention/Intervention team is partnering with local Girl Scouts and the sheriff\u2019s office to provide gifts and other resources to 100 families throughout the county.\nThe Girl Scouts of Loudoun Service Unit 70 have adopted families that are receiving case management services. More than 100 troops are participating to provide gifts and clothing..\nPrevention/Intervention Program staff members will deliver the gifts, clothing and food to families before the holidays. Sheriff\u2019s deputies will assist staff delivering the gifts donated by the scouts.\nFor information about Project Elf or the Loudoun Prevention/Intervention Program, call 703-777-0176.\n\u2014 Compiled by Sandy Mauck"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "39863156-4536-11e6-88d0-6adee48be8bc_4", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "39863156-4536-11e6-88d0-6adee48be8bc_4", "title": "How the Bible Belt got down with craft beer", "text": "and he waited eight years to finally turn a profit. Sierra Nevada and New Belgium had no such problems in California and Colorado. They grew into two of the largest craft brewers in the nation, expanded their reach to the East Coast and looked for ways to ease their path to customers there. This summer, New Belgium is ramping up production in its new 500,000-barrel facility that looms like a massive motorcycle (which the building is meant to evoke) parked along the French Broad River at the south end of downtown Asheville. Its brew tanks are cooking up batches of Fat Tire, New Belgium\u2019s signature amber ale, and Ranger, its IPA. Last month, its tasting room was packing in visitors to watch the Tour de France on a projector screen and sip varietals at reclaimed-wood tables fashioned from the remnants of the livestock yard that once occupied part of the 18-acre site. On a recent weekday, landscapers were tilling the grounds and blue masking tape held temporary paper signs on conference rooms. Sierra Nevada\u2019s facility is turning out hundreds of thousands of barrels of ale in a resort-style setting outside of Mills River, N.C. It is a working theme park of beer. (Jacob Biba/For The Washington Post) Sierra Nevada\u2019s facility is turning out hundreds of thousands of barrels of ale in a resort-style setting outside of town. It is a working theme park of beer, complete with a full restaurant, outdoor concert amphitheater and a gift shop, in what appears from the outside to be part overstuffed hunting lodge, part steel mill. Brewing on the East Coast saves money for the Californians and the Coloradans, and it adds freshness to brews they would otherwise be shipping across the country. \u201cBeer is heavy,\u201d said Brendan Beers, New Belgium\u2019s business support manager in Asheville. \u201cThe closer you can get your production facility to the end customer, the better.\u201d Before construction began, New Belgium officials met with wary local brewers. They assured them that they weren\u2019t trying to invade the Asheville craft scene \u2014 they were selling to the whole East Coast. Sierra Nevada officials say they told the locals that they would choose a different North Carolina location if there were objections to them moving to the outskirts of Asheville. Then they invited every brewer in town to an all-expenses-paid week of \u201cbeer camp\u201d at their Northern California headquarters. Many local brewers"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Morgan Persky, a bartender at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, pours a beer for a customer at the brewery's taproom in Mills River, N.C. (Jacob Biba/For The Washington Post)\nMorgan Persky, a bartender at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Mills River, N.C., pours a beer for a customer at the brewery's taproom. (Jacob Biba/For The Washington Post)\nASHEVILLE, N.C. \u2014\n\u201cIt was a wasteland,\u201d he says of North Carolina and surrounding states. \u201cThere was no good IPA in the Southeast.\u201d\nThe reason the region wasn\u2019t producing hoppy, piney, West Coast-style India pale ales, the type that dominate craft sales around the country? Stifling government regulation. Century-old laws made it nearly impossible to start a craft brewery across the South and Mid-Atlantic. And when lawmakers began to repeal those laws, starting with North Carolina in 2005, Dickinson and other enterprising brewers took advantage.\nDickinson and his brother, Luke, partnered with three family friends: Ryan, Rick and Denise Guthy. Together, they invested $3 million within six months, and in late 2012 they started Wicked Weed, a purveyor of IPAs, sour ales and other malted varieties that is now the fastest-growing homegrown brewery in Asheville. The Asheville area has at least 23 craft breweries and 90,000 residents, the densest concentration in the United States. North Carolina\u2019s microbrew production has increased 600\u00a0percent, to 675,000 barrels in 2015, just in four years.\nSimilar stories are playing out in Virginia and South Carolina \u2014 opening a market for local entrepreneurs and, at a much larger scale, big craft players from the Western states where government hurdles were never a problem.\nRoss Yates pours a beer. New Belgium Brewing Company, based in Colorado, is ramping up production in its new 500,000-barrel facility in downtown Asheville. (Jacob Biba/For The Washington Post)\nThe arrival of California brewery Sierra Nevada, which opened outside Asheville in 2014, and Colorado\u2019s New Belgium, which will start offering tours on Monday, opens a final geographic frontier for one of the rare American industries where small business is booming. Their mammoth production facilities cement Asheville\u2019s status as a power-player in the craft world \u2014 but also give their homegrown brewers some big new neighbors to worry about.\nThe proliferation of craft brewing on the East Coast is a case study in how government regulation can block entrepreneurship for decades \u2014 and leave entire regions playing catch-up when it is finally relaxed.\nNew business creation is slowing across the country and in most industries, but not in the world of beer. The industry is dominated by a few big players, led by the soon-to-be-merged SAB Miller and Anheuser-Busch InBev. But smaller competitors, peddling wide varieties of stronger and more flavorful beer, are popping up everywhere to steal market share.\nThere were 2,347 craft breweries in the United States in 2012, according to the Brewers Association, a trade group, and they combined for 12\u00a0percent of the country\u2019s beer sales in dollar terms. The sales share grew to 21\u00a0percent in 2015. By year\u2019s end, if trends hold, there will be 5,000 craft breweries nationwide.\nFour Western states house more than a quarter of those breweries: California, Washington, Oregon and Colorado, which have long been havens for the hoppy India pale ales that form the liquid foundation of the craft industry. The Midwest and Northeast also boast strong craft scenes.\nThe Mid-Atlantic is finally on its way. From 2005 to 2012, North Carolina lawmakers steadily repealed laws \u2014 Bible Belt leftovers from the end of Prohibition nearly a century earlier \u2014 that had stifled brewers from making and selling craft beer.\nThey lifted restrictions on how much alcohol a beer could include by volume, which had effectively banned many of the most popular craft styles. They began allowing larger craft breweries to sell their products on site, opening the way for small-volume brew houses. And they made it easier for some smaller breweries to distribute beer to stores and bars.\nOscar Wong, founder and owner of Highland Brewing Company, inside his brewery's taproom in Asheville. (Jacob Biba/For The Washington Post)\nUntil the restrictions were lifted, it took enormous quantities of money and patience to start a brewery in the state. Oscar Wong had both, which was why he had no competition when he began selling beer from an Asheville basement two decades ago. He had plenty of critics, though. They wrote the local newspaper regularly, complaining that he was doing the devil\u2019s work with his pale ale.\nWong had sold an engineering business in his 40s and was bored in retirement. He hired a brewmaster and was content to build Highland Brewing slowly, from a few converted dairy tanks in 1994 to a leafy campus with its own bottling plant today. He brewed Scottish ale that was low enough in alcohol content to avoid violating state law, and he waited eight years to finally turn a profit.\nSierra Nevada and New Belgium had no such problems in California and Colorado. They grew into two of the largest craft brewers in the nation, expanded their reach to the East Coast and looked for ways to ease their path to customers there.\nThis summer, New Belgium is ramping up production in its new 500,000-barrel facility that looms like a massive motorcycle (which the building is meant to evoke) parked along the French Broad River at the south end of downtown Asheville.\nIts brew tanks are cooking up batches of Fat Tire, New Belgium\u2019s signature amber ale, and Ranger, its IPA. Last month, its tasting room was packing in visitors to watch the Tour de France on a projector screen and sip varietals at reclaimed-wood tables fashioned from the remnants of the livestock yard that once occupied part of the 18-acre site. On a recent weekday, landscapers were tilling the grounds and blue masking tape held temporary paper signs on conference rooms.\nSierra Nevada\u2019s facility is turning out hundreds of thousands of barrels of ale in a resort-style setting outside of Mills River, N.C. It is a working theme park of beer. (Jacob Biba/For The Washington Post)\nSierra Nevada\u2019s facility is turning out hundreds of thousands of barrels of ale in a resort-style setting outside of town. It is a working theme park of beer, complete with a full restaurant, outdoor concert amphitheater and a gift shop, in what appears from the outside to be part overstuffed hunting lodge, part steel mill.\nBrewing on the East Coast saves money for the Californians and the Coloradans, and it adds freshness to brews they would otherwise be shipping across the country.\n\u201cBeer is heavy,\u201d said Brendan Beers, New Belgium\u2019s business support manager in Asheville. \u201cThe closer you can get your production facility to the end customer, the better.\u201d\nBefore construction began, New Belgium officials met with wary local brewers. They assured them that they weren\u2019t trying to invade the Asheville craft scene \u2014 they were selling to the whole East Coast. Sierra Nevada officials say they told the locals that they would choose a different North Carolina location if there were objections to them moving to the outskirts of Asheville. Then they invited every brewer in town to an all-expenses-paid week of \u201cbeer camp\u201d at their Northern California headquarters.\nMany local brewers say the arrival of the Western craft giants has attracted more customers to their taprooms. They also say they can\u2019t imagine trying to grow large enough, fast enough, to challenge them for East Coast craft supremacy.\n\u201cWhy would I fight a battle with companies that are so well established with such a good product?\u201d said Walt Dickinson, the Wicked Weed founder. \u201cThat\u2019s not what we\u2019re trying to be.\u201d\nWalt Dickinson, owner of Wicked Weed Brewing, says the arrival of the Western craft giants has attracted more customers to his taproom. (Jacob Biba/For The Washington Post)\nA week after the Dickinsons announced plans for Wicked Weed, Sierra Nevada said it was coming to town. \u201cI knew it was going to be great for us,\u201d Walt Dickinson said, \u201cbringing in more beer tourists.\u201d\nHe was right. Wicked Weed has doubled its production every year and now is up to 22,000 barrels annually. Its main brewery and restaurant is packed in the afternoons and evenings.\nNone of that would have been possible under North Carolina\u2019s old blue laws, Dickinson said. As similar laws fall around the South, in states such as Georgia and Tennessee, breweries like Wicked Weed could see growth opportunities \u2014 although the West Coast brewers will probably see more.\nPolicy changes in Virginia have unleashed a wave of homegrown breweries, but they have also attracted big new facilities from San Diego\u2019s Stone Brewing (in Richmond) and Oregon\u2019s Deschutes Brewery (in Roanoke).\n\u201cIt\u2019s a first-mover advantage\u201d for the Western brewers, said Bart Watson, the chief economist for the Brewers Association. (Yes, that\u2019s a real job.) \u201cThe window on being a truly national craft brewery has essentially closed already.\u201d\nFor North Carolina pioneer Wong, who distributes to several states but has no national ambitions, the arrival of the Western giants in his back yard means more traffic to his brewery but also more competition for tap handles and more pressure to drop his six-pack prices.\n\u201cI would have preferred that they weren\u2019t here,\u201d Wong said on a recent morning, lounging in an upstairs bar at his brewery. \u201cBut what it has forced us to do is up our game.\u201d\nHis is perhaps the only local brewery now large enough, at 40,000 barrels a year, to worry about going toe-to-toe with the larger Western players.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have the efficiencies they do,\u201d said Leah Wong Ashburn, the founder\u2019s daughter, who is now Highland\u2019s president. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen 12-pack prices that I\u2019ve never seen for craft beer.\u201d\n(Highland Brewing charges $16 for a 12-pack of its Early\u2019s Hoppy Wheat beer. A 12-pack of Sierra Nevada sells for as little as $14.99 in grocery stores. And the mass market giant Budweiser might go for $11.50 for a 12-pack.)\nHighland, though, is adapting. It recently put in a rooftop bar and is selling, with wide distribution, its first West Coast-style IPA. You can buy it at a gas station/brew emporium near the Asheville Airport.\nIt is displayed prominently, right next to stacked cases of Sierra Nevada."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "4333c394-70cb-11e4-ad12-3734c461eab6_1", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "4333c394-70cb-11e4-ad12-3734c461eab6_1", "title": "Virginia is for beer lovers: Study highlights rapid growth of craft breweries", "text": "Loudoun last year, whereas the county took more than a decade to establish that many wineries, tourism officials said. The survey results offered a more detailed look at the visitors driving the trend. About 66 percent of the respondents were men, according to the study, and the average age was 39, younger than the usual Loudoun wine visitor and leisure traveler. The typical craft beer drinker is a highly educated professional, the survey found, and many respondents said they worked in the technology, education and health-care fields. Many of the surveyed beer drinkers indicated that they regularly participate in tastings and sometimes make an overnight trip of their visit, driving several hours to get to specific breweries, Jenkins said. Nearly 75 percent of the survey respondents said they visit two to three breweries per trip, Jenkins said, which supports the creation of a brewery trail, comparable to several popular winery trails in Loudoun. About 80 percent of those surveyed indicated that they also visited local restaurants, historical sites and wineries, a crossover that is especially encouraging to Loudoun officials, Jenkins said, because it highlights a broader tourism benefit. \u201cThis gets the attention of our Board of Supervisors because it\u2019s not just that people are coming out for the breweries, but they\u2019re getting out to all the destinations here,\u201d he said. Visitors who tour multiple breweries and stay overnight tend to spend about $365 per trip, the study found. \u201cThey don\u2019t spend quite as much as the wine visitors, but just in terms of sheer numbers, this market is much larger,\u201d Jenkins said. Beer drinkers make up 49 percent of the nation\u2019s beverage alcohol market; wine drinkers account for 17 percent, officials said. The growth of Virginia\u2019s craft beer industry mirrors a national trend. The number of craft breweries across the country has soared in recent years, rising from about 1,800 breweries in 2010 to more than 2,500 this year, according to the Brewers Association. In Virginia, craft brewers have benefited from recent changes to state laws. In 2012, new regulations allowed for the sale of pints at tasting rooms, making brewery businesses more profitable. This year, state lawmakers passed legislation to relax regulations for farm-based breweries \u2014 provided that the operation grows and uses its own agricultural product, such as hops or barley, in its brews. After the passage of the new state law in July, county officials are now"}], "old": [{"_id": "4333c394-70cb-11e4-ad12-3734c461eab6_1", "title": "Virginia is for beer lovers: Study highlights rapid growth of craft breweries", "text": "traveler. The typical craft beer drinker is a highly educated professional, the survey found, and many respondents said they worked in the technology, education and health-care fields. Many of the surveyed beer drinkers indicated that they regularly participate in tastings and sometimes make an overnight trip of their visit, driving several hours to get to specific breweries, Jenkins said. Nearly 75 percent of the survey respondents said they visit two to three breweries per trip, Jenkins said, which supports the creation of a brewery trail, comparable to several popular winery trails in Loudoun. About 80 percent of those surveyed indicated that they also visited local restaurants, historical sites and wineries, a crossover that is especially encouraging to Loudoun officials, Jenkins said, because it highlights a broader tourism benefit. \u201cThis gets the attention of our Board of Supervisors because it\u2019s not just that people are coming out for the breweries, but they\u2019re getting out to all the destinations here,\u201d he said. Visitors who tour multiple breweries and stay overnight tend to spend about $365 per trip, the study found. \u201cThey don\u2019t spend quite as much as the wine visitors, but just in terms of sheer numbers, this market is much larger,\u201d Jenkins said. Beer drinkers make up 49 percent of the nation\u2019s beverage alcohol market; wine drinkers account for 17 percent, officials said. The growth of Virginia\u2019s craft beer industry mirrors a national trend. The number of craft breweries across the country has soared in recent years, rising from about 1,800 breweries in 2010 to more than 2,500 this year, according to the Brewers Association. In Virginia, craft brewers have benefited from recent changes to state laws. In 2012, new regulations allowed for the sale of pints at tasting rooms, making brewery businesses more profitable. This year, state lawmakers passed legislation to relax regulations for farm-based breweries \u2014 provided that the operation grows and uses its own agricultural product, such as hops or barley, in its brews. After the passage of the new state law in July, county officials are now considering local zoning amendments governing farm-based breweries, evaluating whether to impose any additional regulations. Once that process is complete, tourism officials said, they anticipate a wave of new brewery permits. \u201cWe want to get all the i\u2019s dotted and the t\u2019s crossed,\u201d Jenkins said. \u201cWe want to get the economic impact of this tourism going as fast as we can.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Loudoun County has long branded itself \u201cD.C.\u2019s wine country,\u201d home to a thriving community of vineyards and tasting rooms. But a new tourism study projects that its burgeoning craft beer industry could soon make the county just as popular for its ales and lagers as it is for varietal wines.\nThe 2014 Virginia Craft Beer Visitor Profile Study \u2014 conducted by Visit Loudoun, the county\u2019s tourism agency, as well as the Virginia Tourism Corporation and Nelson County\u2019s economic development office \u2014 surveyed nearly 700 visitors at breweries across Virginia, including Lost Rhino Brewing in Loudoun. By learning more about the state\u2019s beer tourists, officials hope to capitalize on a market that has already shown potential for explosive growth.\n\u201cThere\u2019s just not a lot of information out there on beer travelers,\u201d said Brian Jenkins, director of business strategy and research at Visit Loudoun. \u201cWe wanted to get our heads around what the value [of the industry] is, particularly with all these permits being filed.\u201d\nAbout eight craft breweries have opened their doors in Loudoun, officials said, and others are in the works, a rate of growth that outpaces even the county\u2019s rapidly expanding winery scene. Sixteen brewery permits were filed in Loudoun last year, whereas the county took more than a decade to establish that many wineries, tourism officials said.\nThe survey results offered a more detailed look at the visitors driving the trend. About 66\u00a0percent of the respondents were men, according to the study, and the average age was 39, younger than the usual Loudoun wine visitor and leisure traveler. The typical craft beer drinker is a highly educated professional, the survey found, and many respondents said they worked in the technology, education and health-care fields.\nMany of the surveyed beer drinkers indicated that they regularly participate in tastings and sometimes make an overnight trip of their visit, driving several hours to get to specific breweries, Jenkins said. Nearly 75 percent of the survey respondents said they visit two to three breweries per trip, Jenkins said, which supports the creation of a brewery trail, comparable to several popular winery trails in Loudoun.\nAbout 80 percent of those surveyed indicated that they also visited local restaurants, historical sites and wineries, a crossover that is especially encouraging to Loudoun officials, Jenkins said, because it highlights a broader tourism benefit.\n\u201cThis gets the attention of our Board of Supervisors because it\u2019s not just that people are coming out for the breweries, but they\u2019re getting out to all the destinations here,\u201d he said.\nVisitors who tour multiple breweries and stay overnight tend to spend about $365 per trip, the study found.\n\u201cThey don\u2019t spend quite as much as the wine visitors, but just in terms of sheer numbers, this market is much larger,\u201d Jenkins said. Beer drinkers make up 49\u00a0percent of the nation\u2019s beverage alcohol market; wine drinkers account for 17 percent, officials said.\nThe growth of Virginia\u2019s craft beer industry mirrors a national trend. The number of craft breweries across the country has soared in recent years, rising from about 1,800 breweries in 2010 to more than 2,500 this year, according to the Brewers Association.\nIn Virginia, craft brewers have benefited from recent changes to state laws.\nIn 2012, new regulations allowed for the sale of pints at tasting rooms, making brewery businesses more profitable. This year, state lawmakers passed legislation to relax regulations for farm-based breweries \u2014 provided that the operation grows and uses its own agricultural product, such as hops or barley, in its brews.\nAfter the passage of the new state law in July, county officials are now considering local zoning amendments governing farm-based breweries, evaluating whether to impose any additional regulations.\nOnce that process is complete, tourism officials said, they anticipate a wave of new brewery permits.\n\u201cWe want to get all the i\u2019s dotted and the t\u2019s crossed,\u201d Jenkins said. \u201cWe want to get the economic impact of this tourism going as fast as we can.\u201d"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "47a2162d5b1b5f14f51fa779d1c41314_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "47a2162d5b1b5f14f51fa779d1c41314_0", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Monday, May 5", "text": "This weekend's Savor craft beer festival brings brewers and beer fans from across the country to the National Building Museum for two nights of tastings and seminars. But the real fun takes place at local bars the nights leading up to the festival, with happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events. Every day this week, we'll publish a list of that night's must-do events that don't require RSVPs: Just show up and pay for what you drink. \u2022 Savor week events you'll need tickets for Monday's event lineup is slow, perfect for easing into the madness of Savor week. The 20 taps on Jack Rose's rooftop deck will be taken over by Flying Dog and DC Brau tonight. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) DC Brau Bell's Brewery Savor week involves drinking a lot of strong beer. Might as well tune up your liver at Bier Baron, which is focusing on draft beers around 5 percent ABV or less. Highlights include Smuttynose's new Bouncy House IPA (4.5 percent), Victory Hop Ticket IPA (4.5 percent) and Peak Organic's Fresh Cut dry-hopped pilsner (4.6 percent). Doors open at 4 p.m."}], "old": [{"_id": "47a2162d5b1b5f14f51fa779d1c41314_0", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Monday, May 5", "text": "This weekend's Savor craft beer festival brings brewers and beer fans from across the country to the National Building Museum for two nights of tastings and seminars. But the real fun takes place at local bars the nights leading up to the festival, with happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events. Every day this week, we'll publish a list of that night's must-do events that don't require RSVPs: Just show up and pay for what you drink. Monday's event lineup is slow, perfect for easing into the madness of Savor week. The 20 taps on Jack Rose's rooftop deck will be taken over by Flying Dog and DC Brau tonight. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) DC Brau Bell's Brewery"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "This weekend's Savor craft beer festival brings brewers and beer fans from across the country to the National Building Museum for two nights of tastings and seminars. But the real fun takes place at local bars the nights leading up to the festival, with happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events. Every day this week, we'll publish a list of that night's must-do events that don't require RSVPs: Just show up and pay for what you drink.\n\u2022\u00a0Savor week events you'll need tickets for\nMonday's event lineup is slow, perfect for easing into the madness of Savor week.\nThe 20 taps on Jack Rose's rooftop deck will be taken over by Flying Dog and DC Brau tonight. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)\nDC Brau\nBell's Brewery\nSavor week involves drinking a lot of strong beer. Might as well tune up your liver at Bier Baron, which is focusing on draft beers around 5 percent ABV or less. Highlights include Smuttynose's new Bouncy House IPA (4.5 percent), Victory Hop Ticket IPA (4.5 percent) and\u00a0Peak Organic's Fresh Cut dry-hopped pilsner (4.6 percent). Doors open at 4 p.m."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "603343d6-48ca-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_5", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "603343d6-48ca-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_5", "title": "Breweries and bars turn Leesburg into the craft beer capital of Northern Virginia", "text": "flight of three beers) and find something you want to take home. Endres sells 32-ounce growlers instead of the usual 64-ounce jugs (\u201cYou don\u2019t have to drink five beers back to back, especially if you open it by yourself\u201d) for about $8 per fill. Everything is 20 percent off from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays during the growler happy hours. The grand opening was last Saturday, but Crooked Run remains a work in progress. \u201cI\u2019m still trying to get things together,\u201d Endres says. \u201cI just got barstools in a few weeks ago.\u201d Barnhouse Brewing 13840 Barnhouse Pl., Leesburg. 703-675-8480. www.barnhousebrewery.com . Open one weekend a month. Next open days: Nov. 23-24. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Roger Knoell is living every homebrewer\u2019s dream. Until a year ago, he was experimenting with pale ales, porters and pumpkin ales, making 20 gallons at a time at his home in Lucketts. \u201cWe were providing kegs to friends who had kegerators or were having parties,\u201d he says. \u201cThen people I didn\u2019t know and had never heard of were calling me and saying, \u2018Hey, I had your beer at so-and-so\u2019s house. How could I get more of it?\u2019 Brewing is a passion of mine, but then we realized we might be able to do something with this.\u201d \u201cThis\u201d is a new 1.5 barrel brewing system, which makes about 47 gallons of beer per batch. Knoell is taking the recipes he\u2019s tweaked the past 18 years of homebrewing using local products, such as hops grown in his back yard, or honey and corn from Loudoun farms. The Good Gourd Almighty pumpkin ale gets its fresh flavor from pumpkins picked at the nearby Temple Hall farm, so while there\u2019s some spice, there\u2019s less of that sweet pumpkin pie taste that so many commercial brews have. Additionally, some porters and stouts are also aged in whiskey barrels from the Catoctin Creek distillery. Now there\u2019s no way around this: It can be a bit weird to visit Barnhouse, which is essentially in the basement of the Knoells\u2019 home. In the summer, visitors could picnic on the vast lawn behind the house, or play horseshoes and bocce. But in the winter, the taproom can be a little cramped, though there\u2019s a fire pit outside. Loudoun County zoning laws mean that Barnhouse can be open only one weekend a month, using a \u201cspecial event\u201d permit. Knoell says recent open houses"}], "old": [{"_id": "603343d6-48ca-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_5", "title": "Breweries and bars turn Leesburg into the craft beer capital of Northern Virginia", "text": "open days: Nov. 23-24. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Roger Knoell is living every homebrewer\u2019s dream. Until a year ago, he was experimenting with pale ales, porters and pumpkin ales, making 20 gallons at a time at his home in Lucketts. \u201cWe were providing kegs to friends who had kegerators or were having parties,\u201d he says. \u201cThen people I didn\u2019t know and had never heard of were calling me and saying, \u2018Hey, I had your beer at so-and-so\u2019s house. How could I get more of it?\u2019 Brewing is a passion of mine, but then we realized we might be able to do something with this.\u201d \u201cThis\u201d is a new 1.5 barrel brewing system, which makes about 47 gallons of beer per batch. Knoell is taking the recipes he\u2019s tweaked the past 18 years of homebrewing using local products, such as hops grown in his back yard, or honey and corn from Loudoun farms. The Good Gourd Almighty pumpkin ale gets its fresh flavor from pumpkins picked at the nearby Temple Hall farm, so while there\u2019s some spice, there\u2019s less of that sweet pumpkin pie taste that so many commercial brews have. Additionally, some porters and stouts are also aged in whiskey barrels from the Catoctin Creek distillery. Now there\u2019s no way around this: It can be a bit weird to visit Barnhouse, which is essentially in the basement of the Knoells\u2019 home. In the summer, visitors could picnic on the vast lawn behind the house, or play horseshoes and bocce. But in the winter, the taproom can be a little cramped, though there\u2019s a fire pit outside. Loudoun County zoning laws mean that Barnhouse can be open only one weekend a month, using a \u201cspecial event\u201d permit. Knoell says recent open houses have brought in anywhere from 50 to 100 people to sample beers and fill growlers. \u201cPeople love coming out to the country,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s more like a winery experience, rather than just sitting in a tap room.\u201d Knoell charges $10 for most growler fills and sells custom ceramic swing-top growlers for $17. That winery experience is what he hopes to capture more of in the future: He hopes to build a separate tasting room on his property, and the goal is to eventually open a \u201cfarm brewery,\u201d similar to Loudoun\u2019s farm wineries. Knoell also is collaborating with other small brewers on a Loudoun Brewery Trail, similar to"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The craft beer scene is hopping in the heart of Virginia\u2019s wine country, thanks to a new collection of breweries, brewpubs and beer bars.\nIt\u2019s a great time to be a beer  lover.\nAnd all of this is just in Leesburg.\nLoudoun County\u2019s seat is better known for its antique shops than for its night spots, and the county itself is a destination for wine, not lagers. But the historic town has a growing concentration of beer-centric establishments. MacDowell Brew Kitchen and Crooked Run Brewing both include nanobreweries that produce just enough beer to sell on site. Leesburg Brewing Company, a joint venture from the owners of the Leesburg Vintner wine shop and the nearby Corcoran Brewing Company, is due to become a brewpub in December. In the meantime, it\u2019s just serving great local beer.\nA few miles from downtown, in Lucketts, Roger Knoell\u2019s Barnhouse Brewery sells beers from his back yard one weekend a month. He hopes to begin supplying bars with his products soon.\nLoudoun County isn\u2019t the first Northern Virginia suburb to create a bustling beer scene. Nearly every other month brings an announcement of a brewery in the works. Just in the past 15 months, we\u2019ve heard about Corcoran Brewing and Adroit Theory in Purcellville, Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, Old 690 Brewing in Hillsboro, Portner Brewing in Alexandria and Prince William Brewing in Gainesville. Manassas\u2019s BadWolf nanobrewery opened in June, and Lovettsville\u2019s Mad Horse Brewpub had its \u201cGrand-er Opening\u201d to welcome a new brewer this summer. These join such established breweries as Lost Rhino in Ashburn, Port City in Alexandria and the Sweetwater brewpubs in Sterling, Merrifield and Centreville.\nJake Endres, an award-winning homebrewer, used Kickstarter to fund the Crooked Run nanobrewery, which had its grand opening in Leesburg\u2019s Market Station on Nov. 9. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post)\nThe mix of breweries and beer bars in Leesburg, however, is richer than in most other towns. One factor behind the growth is the number of breweries and beer bars that already call Leesburg home, such as Tuscarora Mill (lovingly referred to as \u201cTuskies\u201d), which has been selling craft beer since 1985, and the six-year-old Vintage 50 brewpub.\nBrewer Jake Endres says that when he was looking for places to open Crooked Run, \u201chaving such good craft beer bars around me\u201d was part of the attraction of coming to Leesburg\u2019s historic Market Station. \u201cYou can go to five different places in one night,\u201d he adds. \u201cThat\u2019s unusual in western Loudoun, where everything is usually spread out.\u201d\n\u201cIt\u2019s like gravity,\u201d explains Shawn Malone, a co-owner of the beer-centric Tuscarora Mill and Fire Works Pizza, which sit next to each other at Market Station. \u201cIt just attracts other [craft beer] businesses, and it shows no signs of letting up. When you look at Fire Works and Tuskies, you think they\u2019d cannibalize each other, but they\u2019re both selling buckets of beer.\u201d\nAnd once visitors get used to good beer, they only want more, making Leesburg ripe to continue its sudsy growth, Malone argues.\n\u201cEvery day, I\u2019m trying a great new beer that I haven\u2019t had before,\u201d Malone says. \u201cWe always say that once you get hooked on something good, whether it\u2019s food or wine or beer, you can\u2019t go back to what you had before. People are trying more good beer, and it\u2019s opening their eyes.\u201d\nIt\u2019s time to open yours, too. Here are six stops for your very own Leesburg beer crawl.\nBreweries\nCrooked Run Brewing\n205 Harrison St. SE, Suite B (Inside Market Station). Leesburg. 571-918-4446. www.crookedrunbrewing.com. Open Tuesday-Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 1 p.m. to midnight, Sunday 1 to 6 p.m.\nJake Endres didn\u2019t set out to be a brewer. The 26-year-old majored in political science at James Madison University, but fate intervened. \u201cI graduated in the middle of a recession,\u201d he says. \u201cI spent six months applying for jobs and got nothing.\u201d Instead of relying on his degree to make a living, Endres turned to his homebrewing hobby.\nEndres started making his own beer when he was 21. With hundreds of batches under his belt, he won medals in competitions as far afield as South Carolina, Indiana and Pennsylvania.\nLast year, Virginia passed a law that allows breweries to sell full pints of their beer on site without the need for food service, which is required at bars. Endres has no desire to open a restaurant, but he loves beer, especially artisanal Belgian and American ales. So he decided to give brewing a shot while he had \u201cno wife, no kids, no mortgage.\u201d He wrote a business plan and posted a pitch on Kickstarter in February. In a month, he\u2019d raised $11,000. \u201cThere are people clamoring for any kind of beer you can imagine,\u201d he says. \u201cPeople are really stoked to have craft beer coming from Virginia.\u201d\nThe space that Crooked Run occupies in the rear of Market Station is about the size of a finished basement. It\u2019s a charmingly bare-bones operation: The tasting room contains a bar, six barstools, a couple of picnic tables and a fireplace and hearth (covered with fermenting vessels). Hops are strung along the Christmas lights overhead.\nCrooked Run regularly has four beers on tap, drawn from a list of 21 recipes that Endres felt were \u201cnailed down.\u201d The name of his Summer Night raspberry saison may be unseasonal, but the swirl of sweet chocolate and rich raspberry flavors seems perfectly suited to cool weather. The Hellfire black IPA has big tropical fruit flavors and a smooth, malty bitterness, while the Wishing Well dry stout is a classic example of the style. Endres says he\u2019s stoked about Stoicism, a \u201cwhite Belgian quadruple\u201d he\u2019s making this fall that\u2019s cold-steeped in lightly crushed coffee beans, and Seek Truth, a strong Belgian-style tripel aged with cherrywood.\nCustomers are welcome to hang out over a few pints, which sell for $5 to $6 each, and bring their own food from nearby restaurants. Grab a sampler ($6 for a flight of three beers) and find something you want to take home. Endres sells 32-ounce growlers instead of the usual 64-ounce jugs (\u201cYou don\u2019t have to drink five beers back to back, especially if you open it by yourself\u201d) for about $8 per fill. Everything is 20 percent off from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays during the growler happy hours.\nThe grand opening was last Saturday, but Crooked Run remains a work in progress. \u201cI\u2019m still trying to get things together,\u201d Endres says. \u201cI just got barstools in a few weeks ago.\u201d\nBarnhouse Brewing\n13840 Barnhouse Pl., Leesburg. 703-675-8480.  www.barnhousebrewery.com . Open one weekend a month. Next open days: Nov. 23-24. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.\nRoger Knoell is living every homebrewer\u2019s dream. Until a year ago, he was experimenting with pale ales, porters and pumpkin ales, making 20 gallons at a time at his home in Lucketts. \u201cWe were providing kegs to friends who had kegerators or were having parties,\u201d he says. \u201cThen people I didn\u2019t know and had never heard of were calling me and saying, \u2018Hey, I had your beer at so-and-so\u2019s house. How could I get more of it?\u2019 Brewing is a passion of mine, but then we realized we might be able to do something with this.\u201d\n\u201cThis\u201d is a new 1.5 barrel brewing system, which makes about 47 gallons of beer per batch. Knoell is taking the recipes he\u2019s tweaked the past 18 years of homebrewing using local products, such as hops grown in his back yard, or honey and corn from Loudoun farms. The Good Gourd Almighty pumpkin ale gets its fresh flavor from pumpkins picked at the nearby Temple Hall farm, so while there\u2019s some spice, there\u2019s less of that sweet pumpkin pie taste that so many commercial brews have. Additionally, some porters and stouts are also aged in whiskey barrels from the Catoctin Creek distillery.\nNow there\u2019s no way around this: It can be a bit weird to visit Barnhouse, which is essentially in the basement of the Knoells\u2019 home. In the summer, visitors could picnic on the vast lawn behind the house, or play horseshoes and bocce. But in the winter, the taproom can be a little cramped, though there\u2019s a fire pit outside. Loudoun County zoning laws mean that Barnhouse can be open only one weekend a month, using a \u201cspecial event\u201d permit. Knoell says recent open houses have brought in anywhere from 50 to 100 people to sample beers and fill growlers. \u201cPeople love coming out to the country,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s more like a winery experience, rather than just sitting in a tap room.\u201d Knoell charges $10 for most growler fills and sells custom ceramic swing-top growlers for $17.\nThat winery experience is what he hopes to capture more of in the future: He hopes to build a separate tasting room on his property, and the goal is to eventually open a \u201cfarm brewery,\u201d similar to Loudoun\u2019s farm wineries. Knoell also is collaborating with other small brewers on a Loudoun Brewery Trail, similar to the county\u2019s Wine Trail. \u201cWine has been the king for a long time in Loudoun County,\u201d Knoell says, but his visitors show him that\u2019s changing. \u201cPeople come out to wineries one day, but they do breweries the next day.\u201d\nBrewpubs\nVintage 50 Brewpub\n50 Catoctin Cir. NE, Leesburg. 703-777-2169. www.vintage50.com. Open Monday-Thursday 3 p.m. to close, Friday-Sunday 11 a.m. to close.\nSince opening in 2007, Vintage 50 has employed some impressive brewmasters, including Bill Madden, who now runs the award-winning Mad Fox Brewing in Falls Church, and Kristi Mathews Griner, now overseeing production at Capitol City Brewing Company. The man in the hot seat today is Bret Kimbrough, formerly of Growlers Brew Pub in Gaithersburg.\nTwenty-five beers are listed over the bar. Only about a third of those are available, though, so look for the ones with a \u201cNow on tap\u201d tag hanging underneath. Start with the sampler, which gives you five ounces of any four beers of your choice for $10. Make one of them the Velociraptor Rye IPA, which mixes citrus and caramel notes with a good bitterness, and the hoppy Point of Rocks Pale Ale.\nThe place itself is rather plain \u2014 it\u2019s on the first floor of an anonymous office building near the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, and decorated to match the setting. There\u2019s a small patio with heaters for smokers, but this is a place you come for food and drink, not to party. (The food is filling pub grub.; for snacking, try the pretzel with beer cheese or, if you\u2019re starving, the large platter of house-made potato chips smothered in beer-braised pork, gravy, mozzarella and melted cheddar.)\nVintage 50 is one of the most affordable brewpubs you\u2019ll run across: Most house beers are $4.50 a pint, with one or two higher-alcohol options for $5.50. Everything is far cheaper if you can get there from 3 to 5 p.m. daily, when everything is $2. The price rises to $3 from 5 to 7 p.m. Growlers are $9 or $10 per fill, though one \u201cbrewer\u2019s choice\u201d beer is half-price on Wednesday.\nMacDowell Brew Kitchen\n202 B Harrison St. SE, Leesburg. 703- 777-2739. www.macdowellbrewkitchen.com. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.\nThe Friday after Thanksgiving will mark the one-year anniversary of MacDowell Brew Kitchen\u2019s first house beer, brewed on-site by the Mud Hound Brewing Company. It\u2019s also the bar\u2019s third birthday. But if you drop into the bar, you might not see any Mud Hound beers among the 25 taps. \u201cWe have such a small system,\u201d laments co-owner Nils Schnibbe. The brewery makes only a half-barrel, or 15.5 gallons, at a time. \u201cWe put it on Facebook when [the beer] goes on tap, and then it goes so quickly.\u201d Schnibbe is hoping that a three-barrel system will be in place by February, allowing five or six house beers to be on tap at all times.\nEven without the \u201cBrew,\u201d MacDowell is a worthwhile beer destination. The 25 draft lines are loaded with choices from such Virginia breweries as 3 Brothers, Devils Backbone and Starr Hill, as well as hophead favorites Stone, Lagunitas and Flying Dog. Tap takeovers hosted by such smaller breweries as Natty Greene\u2019s or Perennial are a regular occurrence. Don\u2019t see a handle you like? An additional 125 choices are available in bottles. The building\u2019s second floor is being renovated to expand the dining room and add 50 more taps. (Schnibbe is hopeful work will be finished before Nov. 29.)\nThe inside is nice, if bland. I\u2019m drawn to the patio, an odd place that feels like the set for a Jimmy Buffet video. A thick layer of sand blankets the ground. Palm trees soar overhead. T\nTwo halves of a fishing boat called the Sea Witch are the centerpiece: Its rear serves as a three-sided bar counter, surrounded by stools, as a bartender pours from taps in the middle. A few feet away, the ship\u2019s cabin contains tables for dining. A thick layer of sand blankets the ground. An enormous alligator, carved from a tree trunk by local chainsaw artist Patrick Burns, occupies another part of the lot, near a couple of toy dumptrucks that children play with in this giant sandbox. The patio was almost removed this summer because of a zoning dispute with the town, but more than 2,000 people signed a petition demanding it stay put \u2014 so it did.\nDuring the winter months, the Key West vibe is slightly diminished, as customers sit around large fire pits. Musicians play Tuesday and most weekends. \u201cLife moves pretty fast here, so we wanted to have a beach feel, where people could just kick back,\u201d Schnibbe says.\nBeer Bars\nTuscarora Mill\n203 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg. 703-771-9300. www.tuskies.com. Open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.\nTuskie\u2019s, as it\u2019s known to everyone in town, is the godfather of the Leesburg beer scene. When the restaurant opened in 1985, \u201cwe had Bass, Anchor Steam and Pilsner Urquell on tap, which was pretty cutting-edge at the time,\u201d remembers Shawn Malone, who owns Tuskie\u2019s with his brother, Kevin. They expanded the draft beer selection to 21 taps in 1992, and the following year, they held their first beer dinner with Sierra Nevada. The dinners, in which beer is paired with wild game or strip steaks, have been monthly fixtures ever since.\nThe Malones have since opened three other restaurants with a craft beer focus: Magnolia\u2019s at the Mill in Purcellville and Fire Works Pizza in Leesburg and Arlington. The Leesburg Fire Works, which has 12 taps and 100 choices in bottles, is next door to Tuskie\u2019s and across the street from MacDowell Brew Kitchen, making it a regular stop on the town\u2019s beer crawl. But for me, Tuskie\u2019s is the one to visit. On my last trip, the wide-ranging draft beer selection included big Belgian quads, hoppy West Coast IPAs and refreshingly mild brown ales. Bartenders recommend great flights of beer (pick three drafts for $7). And the beer dinners offer a combination of hearty local food and rare brews. The next one, with Bell\u2019s Brewery on Dec. 3, will pair five courses with a selection heavy on stouts and seasonal brews. (All-inclusive tickets are $90 and will sell out in advance.) The bar snacks are great, and the atmosphere \u2014 dark wood, staff in white shirts and dark ties \u2014 feels classy.\nLeesburg Brewing Company\n2 C Loudoun St. SW, Leesburg. 571-442-8124. www.leesburgbrewing.com. Open 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, 4-10 p.m. Thursday, Noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Noon-5 p.m. Sunday.\nWhen Leesburg Brewing Company opened in May, the two couples behind it \u2014 Jim and Lori Corcoran, owners of Corcoran Winery and Corcoran Brewing in nearby Waterford, and Mike and JoAnne Carroll, the longtime owners of the Leesburg Vintner wine shop \u2014 promised that it would be a neighborhood brewpub. Almost six months later, those plans are going out the window.\nKevin Bills, the head brewer at Corcoran, says the plan was to move Corcoran\u2019s small \u201cpilot brewing system\u201d to the basement of Leesburg Brewing Company. Unfortunately, \u201cwith a building that old,\u201d Bills says, \u201cthe more you start to [work on it], the more you find.\u201d The building can\u2019t support all the equipment. \u201cWe\u2019ve abandoned the brewery, and it\u2019s going to be more of a craft beer destination,\u201d he says.\nThe new business, which Bills says will be renamed Leesburg Beer Company next month, won\u2019t be much of a change from the way Leesburg Brewing Company has operated so far. There will be more draft beers \u2014 Bills says 18 taps will flow in a basement bar \u2014 but it should remain a place to enjoy craft brews in a relaxed atmosphere.\nSince the bar opened, \u201ctap takeovers\u201d on the half-dozen draft lines have been frequent occurrences, with Maryland\u2019s Evolution Craft Brewing and Virginia\u2019s 3 Brothers and Devils Backbone among recent participants. But you\u2019ll also find Bold Rock Cider, DC Brau\u2019s IPAs or even a selection of pumpkin beers from across the country.\nLeesburg Brewing Company\u2019s menu is loaded with comfortable bar food: A gooey grilled cheese with gouda and pesto; a burger that gets heat from chorizo in the patty and chipotle in the mayo; crispy beer-battered onion rings. The friendly bartenders are quick to offer samples of beers and to suggest other places you might want to visit, making this feel like a true neighborhood spot, regardless of whether brews are made on-site or on the other side of Loudoun County."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "6ccaddbc6cc2d12c7a0d165ec9e59aea_1", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6ccaddbc6cc2d12c7a0d165ec9e59aea_1", "title": "Find out which beer is made closest to you with this crazy map", "text": "below. If you're not on a mobile device, you can mouse-over to get details about a region's \"home\" brewery, and you can click on the map to zoom in for more detail in dense urban areas. The little white dots when you zoom in are the actual brewery locations. Want to just see a giant image of the map instead? Here you go. Every brewery in the lower 48 The first thing you'll notice is that the pattern of breweries typically follows population patterns -- more densely populated area have more breweries, hence the cells \"belonging\" to each brewery are smaller. Check out, for instance, the crazy-quilt of breweries in the San Francisco Bay area, below. But in far-flung rural areas, breweries (and people) are spread farther apart from each other. In Southwestern Utah (below), for instance, the Zion Canyon Brewing Company is the only one for hundreds of miles around, according to poi-factory's crowdsourced data. Whether you live in say, Panaca, Nev., (pop. 963) or 236 miles away in Page, Ariz., (pop. 7,326), you can think of Zion Canyon as your home brew. Conversely, if you live in a city, there are probably any number of breweries within a few blocks of you. If you live on one side of Baltimore, for instance, Full Tilt Brewing is probably the closest to you. On the other side, Union Brewing is probably close. And so on. But in some places you find geographic clusters of brewing in places where you wouldn't expect it based on population alone. Check out Western New York (below), for instance. The many breweries there are a reflection of the region's rich beermaking history with breweries like Genesee in continuous operation since the late 1800s. If nothing else, these maps should give you a good sense of what people are talking about when they talk about the \"craft beer revolution\" in the United States. The number of American breweries has risen sharply in recent years \u2014 up over 70 percent since the late 1990s, according to business statistics maintained by the Census Bureau. The Brewers Association, a trade group for craft beer makers, estimates that over 1,000 craft breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs popped up between 2012 and 2014 alone. \"The majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a local brewery,\" the association wrote last year. \"That percentage is only going to climb in the coming years.\""}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "You know what's great? Beer. And the only thing better than a great beer is a great\u00a0local beer. Wouldn't it be nice to know which of America's literally thousands of breweries is closest to you?\nWell now you can! A dedicated community of GPS enthusiasts maintains a list of every brewery and brewpub in North America over at poi-factory.com. I took all the listings for the lower 48 -- all 4,750 of them -- and plotted them on a map. Then I overlaid a\u00a0grid on the map called a Voronoi diagram. What it does, basically, is for any point in the lower 48, it shows you which brewery is the closest.\nCheck it out below. If you're not on a mobile device, you can\u00a0mouse-over to get details about a region's \"home\" brewery, and you can click on the map to zoom in for more detail in dense urban areas. The little white dots when you zoom in are the actual brewery locations. Want to just see a giant image of the map instead? Here you go.\nEvery brewery in the lower 48\nThe first thing you'll notice is that the pattern of breweries typically follows population patterns -- more densely populated area have more breweries, hence the cells \"belonging\" to each brewery are smaller. Check out, for instance, the crazy-quilt of breweries in the San Francisco Bay area, below.\n\nBut in far-flung rural areas, breweries (and people) are spread farther apart from each other. In Southwestern Utah (below), for instance, the Zion Canyon Brewing Company is the only\u00a0one for hundreds of miles around, according to poi-factory's crowdsourced data. Whether you live in say, Panaca, Nev., (pop. 963) or 236\u00a0miles away in Page, Ariz., (pop. 7,326), you can think of Zion Canyon as your home brew.\n\nConversely, if you live in a city, there are probably any number of breweries within a few blocks of you. If you live\u00a0on one side of Baltimore, for instance, Full Tilt Brewing is probably the closest to you. On the other side, Union Brewing is probably close. And so on.\nBut in some places you find geographic clusters of brewing in places where you wouldn't expect it based on population alone. Check out Western New York (below), for instance. The many breweries there are a reflection of the region's rich beermaking history with breweries like Genesee in continuous operation since the late 1800s.\n\nIf nothing else, these maps should give you a good sense of what people are talking about when they talk about the \"craft beer revolution\" in the United States. The number of American breweries has risen sharply in recent years \u2014 up over 70 percent since the late 1990s, according to business statistics maintained by the Census Bureau. The Brewers Association, a trade group for craft beer makers, estimates that over 1,000 craft breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs popped up between 2012 and 2014 alone.\n\"The majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a local brewery,\" the association wrote last year. \"That percentage is only going to climb in the coming years.\""}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "7115d2c999cbe16d53f21c42e23ce12c_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "7115d2c999cbe16d53f21c42e23ce12c_0", "title": "Here\u2019s what you need to know about Handsome Beer Co., D.C.\u2019s newest brewery", "text": "Handsome Beer Co. owners Graham MacDonald (left) and Matt Humbard. (Photo courtesy of Handsome Beer Co.) Washington's beer market is increasingly crowded, but it seems like there's always room for more local beer. Handsome Beer Co., D.C.'s newest brewing company, launches its first three beers Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Glen's Garden Market in Dupont Circle, followed by a week of events that will take co-founders Graham MacDonald and Matt Humbard to bars in D.C., Baltimore, Frederick and Annapolis. (A full schedule is on Handsome's website.) MacDonald and Humbard met in 2010 through mutual friends, and bonded over a love of beer. But it wasn't until 2013, when MacDonald was working as a manager at Right Proper Brewing Company, that they considered launching their own brewery. \"Matt came in with a growler of his homebrew \u2013 a saison fermented with brettanomyces and dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin \u2013 and once I had that beer, it clicked into place,\" MacDonald says. \"I thought, 'Oh my God \u2013 this could be sold.'\" How does Handsome differ from the other options on local taps? I sat down with MacDonald and Humbard at Meridian Pint \u2013 where they're hosting a party at 5 p.m. Wednesday with four beers, including a cask \u2013 to find out. They don't have a brewery. In short: There's no tasting room, so the best place to sample the lineup is at this week's launch parties. They don't have an IPA. (Yet.) Handsome will have three beers at first: Medium and Message, an earthy pale ale that marries Belgian malt and yeast with Moteuka hops; Galaxy Saison, a summery saison with huge tropical fruit notes; and Strange Charm, a rich, appealing brown ale with notes of leather and pitted fruit that seems tailor-made for drinking outdoors on a fall weekend. Brown ales from D.C. area breweries are rare, and this is not your typical dark beer. \"It's not a porter because it doesn't have that roasty character, and it's not a Belgian brown because it doesn't have that candy sweetness,\" Humbard says. Instead, it's designed to highlight the characteristic flavors of Humbard's favorite malt, Special B. In every beer, \"you have your malt, your yeast, and your hops,\" he says. \"My approach is, here's a malt that I like. How far can I take this flavor without changing its character?\" Allowing certain flavors and ingredients to shine is a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Handsome Beer Co. owners Graham MacDonald (left) and Matt Humbard. (Photo courtesy of Handsome Beer Co.)\nWashington's beer market is increasingly crowded, but it seems like there's always room for more local beer. Handsome Beer Co., D.C.'s newest brewing company, launches its first three beers Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Glen's Garden Market in Dupont Circle, followed by a week of events that will take co-founders Graham MacDonald and Matt Humbard to bars in D.C., Baltimore, Frederick and Annapolis. (A full schedule is on Handsome's website.)\nMacDonald and Humbard met in 2010 through mutual friends, and bonded over a love of beer. But it wasn't until 2013, when MacDonald was working as a manager at Right Proper Brewing Company, that they considered launching their own brewery. \"Matt came in with a growler of his homebrew \u2013 a saison fermented with brettanomyces and dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin \u2013 and once I had that beer, it clicked into place,\" MacDonald says. \"I thought, 'Oh my God \u2013 this could be sold.'\"\nHow does Handsome differ from the other options on local taps? I sat down with MacDonald and Humbard at Meridian Pint \u2013 where they're hosting a party at 5 p.m. Wednesday with four beers, including a cask \u2013 to find out.\nThey don't have a brewery.\nIn short: There's no tasting room, so the best place to sample the lineup is at this week's launch parties.\nThey don't have an IPA. (Yet.)\nHandsome will have three beers at first: Medium and Message, an earthy pale ale that marries Belgian malt and yeast with Moteuka hops; Galaxy Saison, a summery saison with huge tropical fruit notes; and Strange Charm, a rich, appealing brown ale with notes of leather and pitted fruit that seems tailor-made for drinking outdoors on a fall weekend. Brown ales from D.C. area breweries are rare, and this is not your typical dark beer. \"It's not a porter because it doesn't have that roasty character, and it's not a Belgian brown because it doesn't have that candy sweetness,\" Humbard says. Instead, it's designed to highlight the characteristic flavors of Humbard's favorite malt, Special B. In every beer, \"you have your malt, your yeast, and your hops,\" he says. \"My approach is, here's a malt that I like. How far can I take this flavor without changing its character?\"\nAllowing certain flavors and ingredients to shine is a common theme throughout\u00a0Handsome's beers. The Galaxy Saison, for example, is really about demonstrating the awesome flavors of that particular hop.\nHandsome is one of the only local or regional breweries I can think of that doesn't have an IPA in its initial lineup. And when one arrives, it won't be the typical West Coast hop bomb: The IPA they're working on now is made with brettanomyces yeast for a rustic, funky flavor. Since IPA is the most popular craft beer style in America, MacDonald anticipates they're going to get questions about its lack thereof over the next week. \"I don't want to say 'That's not what we do,'\" he says.\n\"We haven't ruled anything out,\" Humbard adds. \"If we made an IPA, it would have to showcase an ingredient that was really special, or made in an interesting way.\"\nA sample bottle of Handsome Beer Co's Galaxy Saison. (Photo by Fritz Hahn/The Washington Post)\nThey don't have flagship beers.\n\"If we had a permanent location, then flagships might make more sense: 'Come to our brewery and find these four beers,'\" Humbard says. Instead, they'll gauge market reaction and adjust accordingly. If one beer isn't selling as well as they hoped, they can simply stop making it and move on to brewing batches of something else. If Humbard wants to make a dandelion saison \u2013 he homebrews one with fresh yellow flowers every year \u2013 he can drop that into the rotation.\nThey're not just in D.C.\nHandsome inked a deal with Maryland-based distributors Legends Limited earlier this year, and is leveraging that to build relationships with beer bars across the state, as well as in D.C. They don't expect to be in every bar right now \u2013 they're only making 30-barrel batches at a time at Old Bust Head, and their contract-brewing situation means \"the beers have to be at a certain price point, which rules out a $6 16-ounce\" pour, MacDonald says. (He adds later that he thinks Handsome's beers will likely sell for $7 to $8 in most bars, which he calls \"mid-range for the market.\") As an aside, they'll be a bit cheaper at the launch party at Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle on Thursday, Sept. 24, where all three draft beers and a special cask will be half-price from 5 to 7 p.m."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "7e76affa-fdad-11e5-80e4-c381214de1a3_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "7e76affa-fdad-11e5-80e4-c381214de1a3_0", "title": "Why one of the nation\u2019s premier beer festivals seems to have lost its luster", "text": "Savor, at the National Building Museum, features beer and food pairings. (Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor) For years, Savor has been the gold standard of beer festivals in Washington, and one of the most important beer festivals in America. Every May or June \u2014 with the exception of 2013, when it went on tour to New York \u2014 more than 70 craft breweries have descended on the great hall of the National Building Museum for the classiest such event I\u2019ve ever seen. Most beer festivals celebrate the beers of a certain state or region, but Savor is an opportunity to sample beers from all over America, each paired with gourmet snacks. Attendees get the chance to chat with superstars such as Dogfish Head\u2019s Sam Calagione and Boston Beer\u2019s Jim Koch, and to attend educational seminars on specific trends or styles. The week leading up to the festival is a parade of tap takeovers, dinners and meet-and-greets with visiting brewers at bars around town. Savor\u2019s popularity has led to complaints about how hard it is to get tickets, with the 2,000 tickets for each of its two nights generally selling out in less than an hour. (In Savor\u2019s third year, 2010, tickets for the one-night affair sold out in 10 minutes.) But some of the luster seems to have rubbed off: More than two weeks after the $135 tickets went on sale, many of the salons with brewers have sold out, but general admission is still available for both June 3 and 4. It\u2019s a strange turn of events for what was once one of the hottest tickets on the beer calendar, especially because interest in craft beer and brewing is at an all-time high. Is Savor on a downturn, or is this just a blip? What has changed since Savor began in 2008 is the level of competition. Although Savor was once one of the few really big festivals in the D.C. area, there are now many more throughout the year \u2014 and, more important, none of them approach Savor\u2019s price tag. For example, the DC Beer Festival at Nationals Park on Saturday includes unlimited samples from 83 breweries. Admission for a three-hour window is $40. At least 60 breweries will be in Leesburg, Va., for the Americana Beer Fest in June, which carries a $45 ticket price. The Maryland Craft Beer Festival in Frederick in May includes unlimited beers from"}], "old": [{"_id": "7e76affa-fdad-11e5-80e4-c381214de1a3_0", "title": "Why one of the nation\u2019s premier beer festivals seems to have lost its luster", "text": "Savor, at the National Building Museum, features beer and food pairings. (Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor) For years, Savor has been the gold standard of beer festivals in Washington, and one of the most important beer festivals in America. Every May or June \u2014 with the exception of 2013, when it went on tour to New York \u2014 more than 70 craft breweries have descended on the great hall of the National Building Museum for the classiest such event I\u2019ve ever seen. Most beer festivals celebrate the beers of a certain state or region, but Savor is an opportunity to sample beers from all over America, each paired with gourmet snacks. Attendees get the chance to chat with superstars such as Dogfish Head\u2019s Sam Calagione and Boston Beer\u2019s Jim Koch, and to attend educational seminars on specific trends or styles. The week leading up to the festival is a parade of tap takeovers, dinners and meet-and-greets with visiting brewers at bars around town. Savor\u2019s popularity has led to complaints about how hard it is to get tickets, with the 2,000 tickets for each of its two nights generally selling out in less than an hour. (In Savor\u2019s third year, 2010, tickets for the one-night affair sold out in 10 minutes.) But some of the luster seems to have rubbed off: More than two weeks after the $135 tickets went on sale, many of the salons with brewers have sold out, but general admission is still available for both June 3 and 4. It\u2019s a strange turn of events for what was once one of the hottest tickets on the beer calendar, especially because interest in craft beer and brewing is at an all-time high. Is Savor on a downturn, or is this just a blip? Of course, none of those events occupies the same rarefied air as Savor. For a hardcore beer fan, DC Beer Fest is a comparative yawn: You won\u2019t find Allagash founder Rob Tod pouring White at his brewery\u2019s stand. Your Great Lakes beer won\u2019t be paired with a snack of braised rabbit and herb spaetzle. And, most important, the majority of the beers can be found in any craft-centric bar on a Saturday night: The lineup is heavy on locals such as Denizens, Hellbender or the Ocean City Brewing Company, and it\u2019s tough to get excited about \u201cnational\u201d representatives Magic Hat or Shiner Bock. Would you rather"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Savor, at the National Building Museum, features beer and food pairings. (Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor)\nFor years, Savor has been the gold standard of beer festivals in Washington, and one of the most important beer festivals in America. Every May or June \u2014 with the exception of 2013, when it went on tour to New York \u2014 more than 70 craft breweries have descended on the great hall of the National Building Museum for the classiest such event I\u2019ve ever seen.\n\u2003Most beer festivals celebrate the beers of a certain state or region, but Savor is an opportunity to sample beers from all over America, each paired with gourmet snacks. Attendees get the chance to chat with superstars such as Dogfish Head\u2019s Sam Calagione and Boston Beer\u2019s Jim Koch, and to attend educational seminars on specific trends or styles. The week leading up to the festival is a parade of tap takeovers, dinners and meet-and-greets with visiting brewers at bars around town.\nSavor\u2019s popularity has led to complaints about how hard it is to get tickets, with the 2,000 tickets for each of its two nights generally selling out in less than an hour. (In Savor\u2019s third year, 2010, tickets for the one-night affair sold out in 10 minutes.)\nBut some of the luster seems to have rubbed off: More than two weeks after the $135 tickets went on sale, many of the salons with brewers have sold out, but general admission is still available for both June 3 and 4.\nIt\u2019s a strange turn of events for what was once one of the hottest tickets on the beer calendar, especially because interest in craft beer and brewing is at an all-time high. Is Savor on a downturn, or is this just a blip?\nWhat has changed since Savor began in 2008 is the level of competition. Although Savor was once one of the few really big festivals in the D.C. area, there are now many more throughout the year \u2014 and, more important, none of them approach Savor\u2019s price tag. For example, the DC Beer Festival at Nationals Park on Saturday includes unlimited samples from 83 breweries. Admission for a three-hour window is $40. At least 60 breweries will be in Leesburg, Va., for the Americana Beer Fest in June, which carries a $45 ticket price. The Maryland Craft Beer Festival in Frederick in May includes unlimited beers from at least 40 breweries for its $40 ticket.\nYou could attend all three of those events for less than the cost of entry for 3 \n\n  \u200a \n 1/ \n 2 \nhours of sampling at Savor.\nOf course, none of those events occupies the same rarefied air as Savor. For a hardcore beer fan, DC Beer Fest is a comparative yawn: You won\u2019t find Allagash founder Rob Tod pouring White at his brewery\u2019s stand. Your Great Lakes beer won\u2019t be paired with a snack of braised rabbit and herb spaetzle. And, most important, the majority of the beers can be found in any craft-centric bar on a Saturday night: The lineup is heavy on locals such as Denizens, Hellbender or the Ocean City Brewing Company, and it\u2019s tough to get excited about \u201cnational\u201d representatives Magic Hat or Shiner Bock.\nWould you rather spend three afternoons out drinking in the sun with friends, or one night inside a landmark museum with some of the biggest names in craft brewing?\nBut even for the hardcore, Savor doesn\u2019t have the kind of buzz it once did. And that\u2019s because of the breweries involved.\nOf the 76 participants in 2016, there are plenty of faraway breweries I\u2019m looking forward to sampling, including Country Boy, Austin Beerworks and Strange Craft. Then there are numerous breweries I\u2019ve never heard of: Boone Valley Brewing from Boone, Iowa; Lewis & Clark Brewing from Helena, Mont.; Mitten Brewing from Grand Rapids, Mich. That is what sets Savor apart from the region\u2019s other beer festivals: the excitement of discovery. Sampling the unfamiliar and stumbling across a great new sour or IPA is, to me, the point of going.\nA quick scan of the Savor menu shows 41 breweries whose products aren\u2019t regularly available in the Washington area. By Savor\u2019s own count, half of this year\u2019s breweries have never been featured at the event, and only 30 percent were included last year.\nThe hankering for new flavors and beers should be a good thing, right? Sure, if they\u2019re the right new flavors. Hardcore and casual beer geeks alike would leap at the chance to try the biggest, buzziest breweries they can find. Think Tree House, Toppling Goliath, Three Floyds or Russian River. All of those are likely to have multiple entries in any list of the World\u2019s Best Beers. All are Brewers Association members. None will be pouring beers at Savor.\nUnlike most beer festivals, Savor doesn\u2019t curate the list of participants. Sixty of the 76 breweries are chosen by random lottery, with a certain number representing each of eight regions of the country. The remaining 16 places go to breweries that sponsor the event. This year, supporting breweries, including Devils Backbone and New Belgium, paid $6,000; supporting partners, including Dogfish Head and Hardywood Park, paid $15,000 for better table spaces and more prominent display of their logos. Those are not sums that most small, growing breweries can afford to pay for the right to give away their beer at a festival.\nIf the Brewers Association wanted to make Savor one of the most exciting beer festivals in the country, it could turn the field into a mix of random draw and invitations. As much as a spot at Savor will raise the profile of a tiny brewery in the Great Lakes region, the people buying tickets for the tasting would be more interested in trying something from Minneapolis\u2019s well-regarded Surly Brewing, which was one of the first breweries to run out of beer in 2015 but didn\u2019t get in this year.\nThis is a choice that will satisfy no one: The Brewers Association has more than 3,000 brewery members and only 60 non-sponsored slots. Members can argue that the right to go to Savor \u2014 or the association\u2019s Great American Beer Festival in Denver \u2014 is a benefit of membership. The choice is whether Savor\u2019s organizers want to create consumer buzz, or let all participants have a chance to show off their beers.\nOne is good for prestige, the other is good for ticket sales.\nMore from Food:\nBeer Column archive"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "80d06d8eaeaa89e9f6d2be2a2f8974a0_1", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "80d06d8eaeaa89e9f6d2be2a2f8974a0_1", "title": "The Veil, Triple Crossing and The Answer are putting Richmond on the craft beer map", "text": "Group, which owns D.C.\u2019s ChurchKey. \u201cThe three brewers from Richmond that I think are unbelievable and really just extraordinarily exceptional [are] The Veil, The Answer and Triple Crossing.\u201d If you\u2019re a craft beer fan in D.C., you\u2019ve had the opportunity to try all three \u2014 Engert often pours their brews from his taps \u2014 but since beer tastes better from the source, here\u2019s a guide to three of Richmond\u2019s best breweries. Triple Crossing Brewing opened a second location in Richmond\u2019s Fulton neighborhood in December. (Quentin Penn-Hollar) Triple Crossing Brewing Triple Crossing Shortly after, Scott Jones, who grew up in Richmond with Worcester, called to tell him about his new kegerator. Jones had dreamed of opening a bar, so Worcester invited Jones to get drinks with him and Wirtes. All three were into the Northeast style of super-hoppy, juicy, hazy beers. \u201cAt the time, that scene wasn\u2019t here in Richmond so we felt we\u2019d be doing something new,\u201d Worcester says. Triple Crossing Brewing\u2019s flagship IPA Falcon Smash was inspired by \u201cSuper Smash Bros.\u201d and Nintendo 64. (Ellen Collier/Express) In April 2014, the trio opened Triple Crossing Brewing in a small space in downtown Richmond. Last December, Triple Crossing expanded to add a much larger brewhouse in the city\u2019s Fulton neighborhood, about a mile from Stone Brewing\u2019s new space. (The two breweries recently teamed up on a double IPA called Fulton Rising \u2014 a nod to the developing area they share.) \u201c[The downtown location] allowed us to start off real small, test out these recipes, see how we felt they did and how people responded to them,\u201d Worcester says. Triple Crossing began canning beers using a mobile canner last fall, starting with flagship IPA Falcon Smash (the name is a \u201cSuper Smash Bros.\u201d reference, and the label notes that the beer pairs well with Nintendo 64) and the Radiohead-inspired pale ale Paranoid Aledroid. (A rotating roster of cans is available in Fulton every other Friday.) Though Wirtes brews a variety of styles, hoppy beers \u2014 especially low-alcohol session ales \u2014 remain Triple Crossing\u2019s specialty. \u201cWe like to do the beers people want to sit down and drink more than one of,\u201d Worcester says, citing their hoppy golden ale, pilsner and English bitter. \u201cWe do have the hop bombs \u2014 those are our favorites \u2014 but we also want to have stuff for people who are not into that style.\u201d The next frontier"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Triple Crossing Brewing, which opened in 2014, has two locations in Richmond. (Triple Crossing Brewing)\nWhen An Bui opened his Vietnamese restaurant Mekong in a Richmond strip mall in 1995, he served only wine and no beer. \u201cThere was no beer scene,\u201d Bui says, noting that the city had a brewpub, Legend Brewing, but that was basically it.\nTwo years later, Mekong dumped the wine and started focusing on beer. \u201cIt was just a gut feel,\u201d Bui says. \u201cWe started getting the Belgian stuff in, started giving free tastings to people, built it one person at a time. Eventually, we had a small beer community of supporters.\u201d\nHe hosted homebrewing meetings at Mekong to get people into brewing. \u201cIf other cities can do this, why can\u2019t Richmond have a beer scene?\u201d Bui recalls thinking.\nToday, Richmond has more than 20 breweries \u2014 including California craft behemoth Stone Brewing\u2019s new East Coast facility and Bui\u2019s own The Answer Brewpub \u2014 and the number keeps growing, thanks in part to a 2012 Virginia Senate bill that allows breweries to sell their beers for on-site consumption.\n\u201cThere\u2019s been an explosion of craft brewing in Richmond,\u201d says Greg Engert, beer director for Neighborhood Restaurant Group, which owns D.C.\u2019s ChurchKey. \u201cThe three brewers from Richmond that I think are unbelievable and really just extraordinarily exceptional [are] The Veil, The Answer and Triple Crossing.\u201d\nIf you\u2019re a craft beer fan in D.C., you\u2019ve had the opportunity to try all three \u2014 Engert often pours their brews from his taps \u2014 but since beer tastes better from the source, here\u2019s a guide to three of Richmond\u2019s best breweries.\nTriple Crossing Brewing opened a second location in Richmond\u2019s Fulton neighborhood in December. (Quentin Penn-Hollar)\nTriple Crossing Brewing\nTriple Crossing\nShortly after, Scott Jones, who grew up in Richmond with Worcester, called to tell him about his new kegerator. Jones had dreamed of opening a bar, so Worcester invited Jones to get drinks with him and Wirtes. All three were into the Northeast style of super-hoppy, juicy, hazy beers. \u201cAt the time, that scene wasn\u2019t here in Richmond so we felt we\u2019d be doing something new,\u201d Worcester says.\nTriple Crossing Brewing\u2019s flagship IPA Falcon Smash was inspired by \u201cSuper Smash Bros.\u201d and Nintendo 64. (Ellen Collier/Express)\nIn April 2014, the trio opened Triple Crossing Brewing in a small space in downtown Richmond. Last December, Triple Crossing expanded to add a much larger brewhouse in the city\u2019s Fulton neighborhood, about a mile from Stone Brewing\u2019s new space. (The two breweries recently teamed up on a double IPA called Fulton Rising \u2014 a nod to the developing area they share.)\n\u201c[The downtown location] allowed us to start off real small, test out these recipes, see how we felt they did and how people responded to them,\u201d Worcester says.\nTriple Crossing began canning beers using a mobile canner last fall, starting with flagship IPA Falcon Smash (the name is a \u201cSuper Smash Bros.\u201d reference, and the label notes that the beer pairs well with Nintendo 64) and the Radiohead-inspired pale ale Paranoid Aledroid. (A rotating roster of cans is available in Fulton every other Friday.)\nThough Wirtes brews a variety of styles, hoppy beers \u2014 especially low-alcohol session ales \u2014 remain Triple Crossing\u2019s specialty.\n\u201cWe like to do the beers people want to sit down and drink more than one of,\u201d Worcester says, citing their hoppy golden ale, pilsner and English bitter. \u201cWe do have the hop bombs \u2014 those are our favorites \u2014 but we also want to have stuff for people who are not into that style.\u201d\nThe next frontier for Triple Crossing is sours, like Waxing Poetic, a tart and fruity Berliner weisse.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a passion project for us,\u201d Jones says. \u201cThere\u2019s so many ways it can go.\u201d\nEvery Tuesday, customers line up to purchase cans of beer at The Veil. (The Veil Brewing Co.)\nThe Veil Brewing Co.\nThe Veil Brewing Co.\n\u201cI make the beers that I prefer to drink,\u201d he says, \u201cand I cross my fingers that everybody else likes them too.\u201d\nWhen The Veil first opened its doors last April, customers were already waiting in line to buy cans. These days, there\u2019s still a line that stretches dozens (and dozens) of people deep for every Tuesday can release.\nThe Veil\u2019s flagship double IPA Crucial Taunt is soft, juicy and hazy. (Ellen Collier/Express)\n\u201cIt\u2019s fun, it\u2019s bewildering, it\u2019s humbling,\u201d says co-owner Dave Michelow, who handles the business side with co-owner Dustin Durrance. Michelow credits the hype behind Tarpey\u2019s beer \u2014 most often soft, juicy and hazy IPAs and double IPAs like Master Shredder and Crucial Taunt \u2014 for the constant lines. Fans trade Veil beers across the country, and ratebeer.com recently ranked it the No. 3 new brewery in the world.\nThough Tarpey previously worked at acclaimed Vermont breweries Hill Farmstead and The Alchemist (and interned at Belgium\u2019s iconic Cantillon), this is his first head brewing job. Tarpey used to sing in metal bands and only got into brewing on a lark when he started volunteering at O\u2019Connor Brewing in Norfolk, Va.\nTarpey recalls his thought process at the time: \u201cI like beer, I don\u2019t know much about brewing, it seems like it would be cool if I volunteered \u2014 maybe I\u2019ll get some free beer out of it. Once I was there, I fell in love.\u201d\nWalk into The Veil on a random day and there\u2019s a chance you may see only IPAs (though of the 120 or so beers The Veil has brewed in its first year, there have been plenty of sours and stouts \u2014 including one, Hornswoggler, that they sometimes brew with Oreo-style cookies).\n\u201cFor us, it\u2019s important to create a beer that is flavorful, aromatic, complex, has tons of hop character but is also approachable,\u201d Tarpey says. \u201cWe try to cut back on the bitterness as much as possible because there\u2019s a lot of people when they think hoppy beer or IPA, they think bitter. They don\u2019t think this beer is going to taste like a blend of orange juice and grapefruit juice.\u201d\nThe Answer Brewpub pours a rotating stable of house beers alongside a robust list of guest taps. (The Answer Brewpub)\nThe Answer Brewpub\nIf Richmond craft beer has a forefather, it\u2019s An Bui. By the time he opened The Answer in 2014, his restaurant Mekong was already known as Richmond\u2019s best craft beer bar.\nOpening a brewery \u201cwas never my thinking,\u201d Bui says, but a space opened up a few doors down from Mekong and he thought, \u201cmaybe it\u2019s the time.\u201d\nHe was driven by the prospect of drinking fresh hoppy beers. \u201cWhen beer is delivered, it\u2019s 2 to 3 weeks old by the time it gets to us,\u201d Bui says. \u201cHow great would it be to taste fresh beer off the tank?\u201d\nAn Bui owns two of Richmond\u2019s best beer spots: Mekong and The Answer. (The Answer Brewpub)\nSo he founded The Answer, a small, bare-bones brewpub with 50-plus taps, a rotating series of beers from head brewer Brandon Tolbert, a stage for live music and a small menu of Vietnamese food.\n\u201cWe make a lot of IPA,\u201d where freshness is paramount, Bui says. \u201cThen we have some fruity [sour] beer [and] we have some stout where we play with adjuncts.\u201d\nThe Answer developed a process called The Andall, similar to Dogfish Head\u2019s Randall, that involves infusing beers with ingredients like coffee, peanut butter cups, chilies and fruit, resulting in big, bold flavors.\nBeers are available to-go in growlers or crowlers (32-ounce cans of fresh draft beer); Bui doesn\u2019t anticipate producing enough beer to start canning or bottling anytime soon.\n\u201cI\u2019m just trying to enjoy the moment that we have here,\u201d Bui says. \u201cSo many breweries, so many awesome beers. The beer crowds in town are more educated and have more options to pick. It\u2019s incredible.\u201d\nRead more about beer:\nThese exemplary craft beer bars keep their menus short and sweet\nThe secret to building the perfect draft beer list\nA new beer from Atlas Brew Works, DC Brau and REI supports local bike trails"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "818957edd8dd5b1b45fe988c343af9e4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "818957edd8dd5b1b45fe988c343af9e4_0", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Thursday, May 8", "text": "Tonight is the biggest night of Savor week, with two dozen tastings, tappings and events on the official Savor calendar. It's a really difficult task to trim the list down to a few essentials, but here are the ones where we'd spend our money. One of the few Savor events to come to Virginia finds 20 beers from Richmond's Hardywood Park and Tampa's Cigar City Brewing Company at Rustico's Ballston tonight. (Photo by Evy Mages/For The Washington Post) Sister bars Twenty taps at Ballston's Rustico are being turned over to Richmond's Hardywood Park and Tampa's Cigar City breweries today. Hardywood is an up-and-coming brewery known for Belgian-style ales with funky aging techniques; Cigar City has a cult following for its IPAs, farmhouse saisons and imperial stouts. Cigar City beers are rare in these parts, which makes a chance to drink the Double Barrel Aged Hunahpu (an imperial stout with a perfect rating on Beer Advocate) and Jai Alai IPA a good reason to go to Ballston, beginning at 4 p.m. Click to see the beer menu. Jim Koch, the founder of Sam Adams, hosts a party at Jack Rose dedicated to the 30th anniversary of America's largest craft brewery. Twenty Sam Adams beers will be on tap (and $5 from 6 to 9 p.m.), and everyone who buys a beer can partake of a free clambake from 6 to 8. Minnesota's Surly Brewing Company has lots of fans, thanks to beers like the dry, hoppy Overrated West Coast Style IPA and the amazing Furious IPA. They'll pour 13 beers at ChurchKey tonight, including Schadenfreude Dunkel and Pentagram wild ale, and casks of Furious and Blakkr, a dark ale, beginning at 4 p.m. You might want to go on the early side: A Surly event at Pizzeria Paradiso during last year's Craft Brewers Conference ran out of beer pretty fast. One of the best brewery-vs-brewery events returns to Birreria Paradiso in Georgetown tonight: Washington vs. Washington. Eight taps will be devoted to beers from Washington State's Elysian, NoLi, Reuben\u2019s Brew and Sound Brewery, while eight more will go to D.C.'s own DC Brau, Atlas and 3 Stars."}], "old": [{"_id": "818957edd8dd5b1b45fe988c343af9e4_0", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Thursday, May 8", "text": "Tonight is the biggest night of Savor week, with two dozen tastings, tappings and events on the official Savor calendar. It's a really difficult task to trim the list down to a few essentials, but here are the ones where we'd spend our money. One of the few Savor events to come to Virginia finds 20 beers from Richmond's Hardywood Park and Tampa's Cigar City Brewing Company at Rustico's Ballston tonight. (Photo by Evy Mages/For The Washington Post) Sister bars"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Tonight is the biggest night of Savor week, with two dozen tastings, tappings and events on the official Savor calendar. It's a really difficult task to trim the list down to a few essentials, but here are the ones where we'd spend our money.\nOne of the few Savor events to come to Virginia finds 20 beers from Richmond's Hardywood Park and Tampa's Cigar City Brewing Company at Rustico's Ballston tonight. (Photo by Evy Mages/For The Washington Post)\nSister bars\nTwenty taps at Ballston's Rustico are being turned over to Richmond's Hardywood Park and Tampa's Cigar City breweries today. Hardywood is an up-and-coming brewery known for Belgian-style ales with funky aging techniques; Cigar City has a cult following for its IPAs, farmhouse saisons and imperial stouts. Cigar City beers are rare in these parts, which makes a chance to drink the Double Barrel Aged Hunahpu (an imperial stout with a perfect rating on Beer Advocate) and Jai Alai IPA a good reason to go to Ballston, beginning at 4 p.m. Click to see the beer menu.\nJim Koch, the founder of Sam Adams, hosts a party at Jack Rose dedicated to the 30th anniversary of America's largest craft brewery. Twenty Sam Adams beers will be on tap (and $5 from 6 to 9 p.m.), and everyone who buys a beer can partake of a free clambake from 6 to 8.\nMinnesota's Surly Brewing Company has lots of fans, thanks to beers like the dry, hoppy Overrated West Coast Style IPA and the amazing Furious IPA. They'll pour 13 beers at ChurchKey tonight, including Schadenfreude Dunkel and Pentagram wild ale, and casks of Furious and Blakkr, a dark ale, beginning at 4 p.m. You might want to go on the early side: A Surly event at Pizzeria Paradiso during last year's Craft Brewers Conference ran out of beer pretty fast.\nOne of the best brewery-vs-brewery events returns to Birreria Paradiso in Georgetown tonight: Washington vs. Washington. Eight taps will be devoted to beers from Washington State's Elysian, NoLi, Reuben\u2019s Brew and Sound Brewery, while eight more will go to D.C.'s own DC Brau, Atlas and 3 Stars."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "9329306754765159db0c70ed4b177a0c_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "9329306754765159db0c70ed4b177a0c_0", "title": "The Savor craft beer festival returns to D.C. in June, and tickets go on sale next week", "text": "The Savor craft beer festival brought 76 craft breweries to the National Building Museum in May 2014. (Photo by Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor) Savor, one of the country's biggest craft beer events, will return to the National Building Museum the weekend of June 5-6. This is later than usual for Savor, which is usually held in May, but the beer lovers who travel from around the country probably won't care. Seventy-four \"small and independent craft breweries\" each bring two of their beers to Washington for the party, where they're paired with hors d'oeuvres for unlimited sampling. For aficionados, this is a chance to try beers that don't usually make it to Washington -- when was the last time you saw a bar with Short's (Michigan) or Surly (Minnesota) bar on tap? -- and an opportunity to meet and greet the rock stars of the beer world. [Beer Madness 2015: Vote for your favorite craft beers in the Sweet 16] Tickets go on sale to the general public through Ticketmaster March 25 at noon, and purchasers are limited to two tickets per night. Prices are the same as last year: $135 for general admission, and $155 if you want to attend one of the popular educational salons. The salon schedule hasn't been announced yet, but last year's sessions included Sam Adams founder Jim Koch discussing the brewery's barrel-aging program and offering rare samples; the brewers of Stone, Green Flash and Coronado talking about San Diego beer culture and sharing West Coast IPAs; and the founders of Dogfish Head and Left Hand demonstrating how drinking proper glassware enhances the flavor of beer. If you're trying to get tickets, you need be online as close to noon as possible: Tickets generally sell out within half an hour. (There's a Tuesday pre-sale open only to the American Homebrewers Association, so ask any homebrewing friends if they're members.) And if dropping $135 for one night sounds like too much money, you don't need to go to Savor to sample rare and wonderful beers: Many of the breweries hold tasting events and meet-and-greets at D.C. beer bars in the days before the festival. (Here are a few of the highlights from Savor Week 2014.)"}], "old": [{"_id": "9329306754765159db0c70ed4b177a0c_0", "title": "The Savor craft beer festival returns to D.C. in June, and tickets go on sale next week", "text": "The Savor craft beer festival brought 76 craft breweries to the National Building Museum in May 2014. (Photo by Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor) Savor, one of the country's biggest craft beer events, will return to the National Building Museum the weekend of June 5-6. This is later than usual for Savor, which is usually held in May, but the beer lovers who travel from around the country probably won't care. [Beer Madness 2015: Vote for your favorite craft beers in the Sweet 16] If you're trying to get tickets, you need be online as close to noon as possible: Tickets generally sell out within half an hour. (There's a Tuesday pre-sale open only to the American Homebrewers Association, so ask any homebrewing friends if they're members.)"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Savor craft beer festival brought 76 craft breweries to the National Building Museum in May 2014. (Photo by Eddie Arrossi/Courtesy of Savor)\nSavor, one of the country's biggest craft beer events, will return to the National Building Museum the weekend of June 5-6. This is later than usual for Savor, which is usually held in May, but the beer lovers who travel from around the country probably won't care.\nSeventy-four\u00a0\"small and independent craft breweries\" each bring two of their beers to Washington for the party, where they're paired with hors d'oeuvres for unlimited sampling. For aficionados, this is\u00a0a chance to try beers that don't usually make it to Washington -- when was the last time you saw a bar with Short's (Michigan) or Surly (Minnesota) bar on tap? -- and an opportunity to meet and greet the rock stars of the beer world.\n[Beer Madness 2015: Vote for your favorite craft beers in the Sweet 16]\nTickets go on sale to the general public through Ticketmaster\u00a0March 25 at noon, and purchasers are limited to two tickets per night. Prices are the same as last year: $135 for general admission, and $155 if you want to attend one of the popular educational salons. The salon schedule hasn't been announced yet, but last year's sessions included Sam Adams founder Jim Koch discussing the brewery's barrel-aging program and offering rare samples; the brewers of Stone, Green Flash and Coronado talking about San Diego beer culture and sharing West Coast IPAs; and the founders of Dogfish Head and Left Hand demonstrating how drinking proper glassware enhances the flavor of beer.\nIf you're trying to get tickets, you need be online as close to noon as possible: Tickets generally sell out within half an hour. (There's a Tuesday pre-sale open only to\u00a0the American Homebrewers Association, so ask any homebrewing friends if they're members.)\nAnd if dropping $135 for one night sounds like too much money, you don't need to go to Savor to sample rare and wonderful beers: Many of the breweries hold tasting events and meet-and-greets at D.C. beer bars\u00a0in the days before the festival. (Here are a few of the highlights from Savor Week 2014.)"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "93a48df9ca3936c4d0abf8a90a568d49_2", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "93a48df9ca3936c4d0abf8a90a568d49_2", "title": "One of the most important names in D.C. brewing is back, with help from DC Brau", "text": "\u2013 which means that the lager could ferment \"in tanks without holding up any of our other beers.\" The can is based on a 1930s label from the Heurich House archive, but designed by artist Graham Jackson, who also did DC Brau's Solar Eclipse and Smells Like Freedom cans. \"The cool thing about this is that it says it was brewed for the Christian Heurich Brewing Company by DC Brau,\" explains Heurich House's Bender. \"We're bringing back the name.\" The Heurich House, one of the best-preserved Victorian homes in America, frequently uses beer as a way to reach out to the public, whether it's at the monthly History and Hops gatherings, which bring beer lovers to the mansion for meet-and-greets and tastings with local brewers, or the annual Oktoberfest held in the house's garden. \"Anything we can do to educate people about who Christian Heurich was, and his importance to this city, we're going to do that,\" Bender says. \"The history of the beer and the existence of the historic beers are really important to us. We're trying to make history interesting to people, more than just walking through a museum as someone talks at you. [Heurich's Lager] is living history.\" [History and Hops: History collides with local beer at the Brewmaster\u2019s Castle] The official release of the beer is during a 1916-themed party at the Heurich House on Thursday, March 24, which features live jazz, hors d'oeuvres and DC Brau brews. Tickets are $100, which benefits the museum; a $150 VIP ticket includes an hour-long private tasting with the brewers. After the party, DC Brau will sell Heurich's Lager at the brewery in cans and growlers during its regular public hours. Hancock says there will be around 150 cases of cans, but \"It is by no means a large enough release to make it to all corners of the city.\" Translation: Try it soon, or you might be waiting for a while. Bender says that the Heurich House, which owns the trademarks to the names of Heurich's brewery and beer, is open to collaborating with local breweries about recreating other Heurich brands in the future, such as Old Georgetown and Senate ales and Champeer Malt Liquor. \"I think it will grow organically. But what's exciting about this is that the Christian Heurich Brewing Company is back.\" A 1930s label for Heurich's Lager Beer. (Courtesy of the Heurich House Museum)"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Heurich's Lager makes its debut at a fundraiser at the Heurich House on March 24, and will be sold at DC Brau's brewery after that. (Photo courtesy of DC Brau)\nFor the first time in more than six decades, cans of beer from the Christian Heurich Brewing Company are returning to Washington, thanks to DC Brau, the Heurich House Museum and some dedicated beer historians.\nHeurich was the largest brewer in Washington in the early part of the 20th century. The German immigrant opened his first brewery in 1873, and the Christian Heurich Brewing Company closed its giant Foggy Bottom facility in 1956. (Heurich himself died in 1945 at the age of 102.) We might wonder what the beer tasted like, but Heurich House Executive Director Kim Bender says a series of fires at the brewery destroyed most of its archives, including the recipes.\nThat misfortune didn't\u00a0dissuade homebrewers Mike Stein, Joshua Hubner and Pete Jones, who reverse-engineered a version of Heurich's Lager Beer in 2013 after looking at the brewery's invoices for raw ingredients, researching Heurich's taste in beer, and making educated guesses about the recipe given the limitations of the day. They made a presentation about the beer to the staff of the Heurich House, who decided to have a 1,000-gallon batch made at DC Brau, with a recipe refined by head brewer Jeff Hancock. He decided to use Bavarian yeast and added both flaked rice and flaked maize to the body. \"It's a fun little hybrid between pre- and post-Prohibition lagers,\" Hancock\u00a0explains.\nDC Brau released Heurich's Lager on draft during the 2013 DC Beer Week, selling it at the brewery and special events. Earlier this year, Hancock asked the Heurich House whether his brewery could brew the lager again \u2013 and,\u00a0this time, release it in cans. \"We enjoyed it so much the first time around,\" Hancock says, but the problem was that lagers sit in fermentation tanks for weeks longer than ales, which would tie up much needed production space. However,\u00a0DC Brau has been steadily ramping up its capacity \u2013 Hancock says they're on track to brew close to 19,000 barrels of beer this year \u2013 which means that the lager could ferment \"in tanks without holding up any of our other beers.\"\nThe can is based on a 1930s label from the Heurich House archive, but designed by artist Graham Jackson, who also did DC Brau's Solar Eclipse and Smells Like Freedom cans. \"The cool thing about this is that it says it was brewed for the Christian Heurich Brewing Company by DC Brau,\" explains Heurich House's Bender. \"We're bringing back the name.\"\nThe Heurich House, one of the best-preserved Victorian homes in America, frequently uses beer as a way to reach out to the public, whether it's at the monthly History and Hops gatherings, which bring beer lovers\u00a0to the mansion for meet-and-greets and tastings with local brewers, or the annual Oktoberfest held in the house's garden. \"Anything we can do to educate people about who Christian Heurich was, and his importance to this city, we're going to do that,\" Bender says. \"The history of the beer and the existence of the historic beers are really important to us. We're trying to make history interesting to people, more than just walking through a museum as someone talks at you. [Heurich's Lager] is living history.\"\n[History and Hops:\u00a0History collides with local beer at the Brewmaster\u2019s Castle]\nThe official release of the beer is during a 1916-themed party at the Heurich House on Thursday, March 24, which features live jazz, hors d'oeuvres and DC Brau brews. Tickets are $100, which benefits the museum; a $150 VIP ticket includes an hour-long private tasting with the brewers.\nAfter the party, DC Brau will sell Heurich's Lager at the brewery in cans and growlers during its regular public hours. Hancock says there will be around 150 cases of cans, but \"It is by no means a large enough release to make it to all corners of the city.\" Translation: Try it soon, or you might be waiting for a while.\nBender says that the Heurich House, which owns the trademarks to the names of Heurich's brewery and beer, is open to collaborating with local breweries about recreating other Heurich brands in the future, such as Old Georgetown and Senate ales and Champeer Malt Liquor. \"I think it will grow organically. But what's exciting about this is that the Christian Heurich Brewing Company is back.\"\nA 1930s label for Heurich's Lager Beer. (Courtesy of the Heurich House Museum)"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "94a708b06cb11e1b9436c3fa7d8fcdc1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "94a708b06cb11e1b9436c3fa7d8fcdc1_0", "title": "11 things to do in the D.C. area on the weekend of June 3-5", "text": "Welcome to the first weekend in June, D.C. To help you start the month with a bang, here are this weekend's best bets in nightlife, festivals, museums, music and much more around the Washington area. - D.C. tap takeover: The best beer events of Savor week - The Hotlist: 12 things to see, eat, drink and do in June - Garden party: 3 new beer gardens to check out More than 70 breweries from across the United States will have their beers flowing at the Savor craft beer festival this weekend at the National Building Museum. (\u00a9 BREWERS ASSOCIATION) Through Sunday: [Local beer here: The definitive guide to D.C.\u2019s best breweries] Friday-Sunday: Friday-Sunday: [It\u2019s outdoor movie season. Here\u2019s where to find free screenings.] Friday: PINKWASH - WALK FORWARD WITH MY EYES CLOSED (5/18/16) Friday: Awesome Con 2015 Cosplay and Overview (Washington DC) Friday-Sunday: Saturday: Saturday: \"Awkward Sex ... and the City\" returns to the Black Cat Saturday-Sunday: [Bound for the beach? Check out these new bars.] Sunday: Sunday: [D.C. restaurants are bracing for Metro\u2019s earlier weekend closing]"}], "old": [{"_id": "94a708b06cb11e1b9436c3fa7d8fcdc1_0", "title": "11 things to do in the D.C. area on the weekend of June 3-5", "text": "Welcome to the first weekend in June, D.C. To help you start the month with a bang, here are this weekend's best bets in nightlife, festivals, museums, music and much more around the Washington area. More than 70 breweries from across the United States will have their beers flowing at the Savor craft beer festival this weekend at the National Building Museum. (\u00a9 BREWERS ASSOCIATION) Through Sunday: [Local beer here: The definitive guide to D.C.\u2019s best breweries] Friday-Sunday: Friday-Sunday: [It\u2019s outdoor movie season. Here\u2019s where to find free screenings.] Friday: PINKWASH - WALK FORWARD WITH MY EYES CLOSED (5/18/16) Friday: Awesome Con 2015 Cosplay and Overview (Washington DC) Friday-Sunday: Saturday: Saturday: \"Awkward Sex ... and the City\" returns to the Black Cat Saturday-Sunday: [Bound for the beach? Check out these new bars.] Sunday: Sunday: [D.C. restaurants are bracing for Metro\u2019s earlier weekend closing]"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Welcome to the first weekend in June, D.C. To help you start the month with a bang, here are this weekend's best bets in nightlife, festivals, museums, music and much more around the Washington area.\n- D.C. tap takeover: The best beer events of Savor week\n- The Hotlist: 12 things to see, eat, drink and do in June\n- Garden party: 3 new beer gardens to check out\nMore than 70\u00a0breweries from across the United States will have their beers flowing at the Savor craft beer festival\u00a0this weekend\u00a0at the National Building Museum. (\u00a9 BREWERS ASSOCIATION)\nThrough Sunday:\n[Local beer here: The definitive guide to D.C.\u2019s best breweries]\nFriday-Sunday:\nFriday-Sunday:\n[It\u2019s outdoor movie season. Here\u2019s where to find free screenings.]\nFriday:\nPINKWASH - WALK FORWARD WITH MY EYES CLOSED (5/18/16)\nFriday:\nAwesome Con 2015 Cosplay and Overview (Washington DC)\nFriday-Sunday:\nSaturday:\nSaturday: \"Awkward Sex ... and the City\" returns to the Black Cat\nSaturday-Sunday:\n[Bound for the beach? Check out these new bars.]\nSunday:\nSunday:\n[D.C. restaurants are bracing for Metro\u2019s earlier weekend closing]"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "O7RAQLG3GEI6VAE6XC7FPOTBNY_8", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "O7RAQLG3GEI6VAE6XC7FPOTBNY_8", "title": "Where\u2019s the most relaxing place to sip a cold beer right now? At a farm.", "text": "stream to the business.\u201d Around 300 hop plants grow on a quarter-acre plot, but you won\u2019t find tanks or brewing equipment on-site: Roberts brews the beers at Antietam Brewery in Hagerstown, where they\u2019re also kegged and canned. The arrangement has been especially beneficial during the pandemic, allowing Mad Science to have a steady stream of cans for to-go sales. If all goes well, Roberts hopes to build out a brewery at the farm in the next five years. Roberts is an unabashed hophead, using a wide variety of hops, including Nugget, Cascade and Columbus, to create punchy IPAs. The Agent Orange is a standout: a hazy IPA with pine, citrus and candied orange flavors, thanks to the addition of sweet orange peel, and caramel malt providing a sturdy backbone. Human Harvester, brewed with fresh hops, is malty and resinous, with a lingering bitter grapefruit note. Beyond the hops, look for Helles Belles, a lighter lager that Roberts regularly infuses with blackberries, peaches and other fresh fruit from the farm as a taproom exclusive, or the Prion Porter, a delightfully roasty dark beer with six kinds of malt. Mad Science\u2019s outdoor seating is attractive and pleasant, surrounded by lush shrubs and trees, and some of the shaded tables have views of the fields across the road which, according to a historic marker on the property, look much the way they did when soldiers camped there during the Civil War. Local food trucks serve lunch on weekends. There\u2019s a playground out back for younger visitors, who can also meet brewery dog Sinnamon and the garden center\u2019s chatty parrot, Chico. When you do leave, don\u2019t be surprised if you find yourself carrying potted plants back to the car along with a four-pack of beer. 1619 Buckeystown Pike, Adamstown, Md. madsciencebrewing.com. Open Saturday and Sunday. Manor Hill is probably the most familiar farm brewery for Washington-area beer lovers, as cans of its juicy IPA and dry, quaffable Grisette farmhouse ale are found in bars and liquor stores in D.C. and Delaware, as well as across the Free State. The farm that Randy and Mary Marriner initially envisioned as a way to supply food to their Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia has become so much more than when it opened in 2015. You can\u2019t forget that Manor Hill is a farm and brewery: The dramatically long one-lane driveway rolls past fields on either side, and"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The most relaxing places to sip a cold, refreshing beer, according to my recent research, include an Adirondack chair overlooking an old wooden barn on a family farm that dates from the 1830s and a picnic table where you can watch horses gallop through an adjacent pasture.\nThese settings sound so idyllic, and yet when it comes to craft breweries, they\u2019re usually the exception, instead of the rule.\nWineries sell themselves as a back-to-nature day out, places harried city dwellers can have a glass of wine among the vines where the grapes grew. Meanwhile, most of the beer sold in America is made in factories packed with long, gleaming rows of enormous stainless steel tanks. Visit standout craft breweries around the D.C. area, and more often than not, you find yourself pulling into an industrial park.\nThe truth is, beer is just as much of an agricultural product as wine, made from hops, grain, water and yeast. There\u2019s nowhere better to remind yourself of that than a farm brewery, where you can socially distance in the fresh air with a cold beverage in hand while looking over hop vines, fields and, yes, the occasional horse.\nFarm breweries are a relatively recent addition to the local beer scene: Maryland created a specific license allowing farms to open breweries on their property in 2012, and Virginia passed similar legislation in 2014. Both require the use of \u201cagricultural products\u201d grown on the farm to be used in the beer produced there. For some farm breweries, that means wheat or barley, though most grow hops, as well as fruits and produce that add additional flavor.\nThere are now 14 farm breweries open in Maryland, with a dozen more in planning, while Virginia\u2019s Alcoholic Beverage Control has issued almost three dozen farm-brewery licenses. Jim Bauckman of the Brewers Association of Maryland sees the growth of farm breweries as twofold: First, he notes, \u201colder family farms are being passed down\u201d to new generations of owners \u201clooking for new ways to make, or keep, the farm profitable.\u201d Also, he adds, the growth of agritourism has encouraged existing farms to get creative and add more amenities, such as breweries and wineries, for visiting urbanites. \u201cThe outdoor experience is very enticing to people,\u201d Bauckman says. \u201cPeople want to be outdoors, and see what\u2019s going on in rural America. They\u2019re looking for connections back to the land.\u201d\nIf you\u2019re looking to make that connection yourself, these farm breweries offer plenty of space. They can get busy at peak times, so some require advance reservations. Most welcome children and dogs, though they ask that kids stay at the table instead of running around. But even if you\u2019re going solo, you\u2019ll come away with a new appreciation for what goes into your glass, and a relaxing day spent out of the house.\nIf any brewery has captured the imagination of the D.C. craft beer community during the pandemic, it\u2019s Wheatland Spring, located an hour outside downtown Washington on a picturesque 19th-century farm. The beers coming out of its tiny brewhouse include a pitch-perfect Pilsener, a Kolsch with a welcome and flinty minerality, and ales fermented with wild yeast discovered on the farm. The owners believe in using classic hops and \u201cestate\u201d grain grown on the farm itself.\nAt the same time, the vast majority of beer drinkers in the area are not going to be as obsessed as some people \u2014 including me \u2014 with the idea that Wheatland Spring\u2019s stunning new Helles Lager, Servus, is made with a mix of local malt and Bavarian barley from a single farm near the town of Aying, Germany, which combine to create the aroma of a perfect baguette. And you know what? You don\u2019t have to be.\nThe atmosphere is remarkable. Visitors enter a weathered old barn and sit at tables made from knobby trees. Canvas sails shade picnic tables and Adrirondack chairs with views of the barn, the old corn crib \u2014 now home to the brewery \u2014 and freshly harvested fields. Families sit on haybales and around a firepit. The beer consists of styles that even the most casual beer drinkers know and will happily drink in the sun: Pilsener, a citrusy witbier, a hefeweizen with balanced clove and banana notes, an IPA with spicy hops.\nOwners John and Bonnie Branding were inspired by farm breweries they visited while living in Bavaria. \u201cOur approach is what I\u2019d imagine if I was running a small family brewery 200 years ago,\u201d John explains. \u201cYou grow what you can on your farm, and for everything else, you expand out in concentric circles: You\u2019d source from your neighbor\u2019s farm, and keep moving the circle out.\u201d Last year, Wheatland Springs produced about 40,000 pounds of wheat from the farm; in June, John says, they harvested a little over half as much barley. All of Wheatland Springs\u2019 cans show how much malted grain came from the farm, and how much from the wider region. The beers are brewed with water from the farm\u2019s well \u2014 one of the most important items on the Brandings\u2019 list when they fell in love with the place. \u201cFor us, it very much is and was a passion project,\u201d John says. \u201cWe believe there\u2019s a lot of value in small farms.\u201d\nWheatland Spring celebrated its first anniversary in June, but its reputation really began to grow this spring. With the number of visitors to the farm drying up, the Brandings made the decision to can more beer, and began making weekly deliveries that extended inside the Beltway, and shipping to Virginia and D.C. They\u2019ve made the farm more comfortable, too, limiting the capacity, even though you might feel 20 feet away from the closest guests, putting a gazebo in the middle of a field, and adding contactless pickup and payment. Reservations are suggested, especially on weekend afternoons, but walk-in guests are also welcome. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to offer a great experience on the farm but have a sense of normalcy,\u201d John says.\n38506 John Wolford Rd., Waterford, Va. wheatlandspring.com. Open Wednesday through Sunday.\nYou can\u2019t talk about Waredaca without talking about horses. Portraits of them adorn each of the brewery\u2019s canned releases, and if you linger at your picnic table on a weekend afternoon, you\u2019re bound to see a couple in the nearby fields. Sometimes, horses come right up to the fence next to the brewery\u2019s grassy outdoor seating area, causing a stampede of cameraphone-wielding guests. \u201cHorses were always a very important part of our story and our history,\u201d explains Jessica Snyder, one of the third-generation owners of the Montgomery County farm, \u201cso we decided to make it part of the brand.\u201d\nWaredaca \u2014 short for WAshington REcreational DAy CAmp \u2014 was founded as a day camp in 1932, and has been at its present location since the 1950s. The brewery is a much more recent addition, having opened in 2015. \u201cWe wanted to diversify the existing farm operation, which is a year-round equestrian facility,\u201d Snyder says. Even after they settled on a brewery, Snyder says the family decided against converting some pasture to produce grain: \u201cWe could grow barley at the cost of not having as many horses on the farm.\u201d You could bet your life savings on the result of that one.\nInstead, Waredaca\u2019s brewers make use of farm-grown hops and adjuncts, or products that flavor the beer: Lemon verbena is used in the flagship IPA, Thai basil adds enticing aroma to the White Flag witbier, and local strawberries and blackberries find their way into tart goses. The bold, hoppy Sampson double IPA gets its rich body thanks to Waredaca\u2019s apiaries. (\u201cHoneybees are terribly high maintenance, but they\u2019ve been really good the last couple of years,\u201d Snyder says.)\nWaredaca has always been a place to linger outside over beers, especially if you score a table with a view of the pond and horse pasture. Despite everything going on in the world, it now feels more relaxing than ever. The number of outdoor seats has more than doubled since the coronavirus pandemic began, but the brewery says that its mix of picnic tables and Adirondack chairs are closer to 12 feet apart than the mandated six feet. Reservations are required, and can be made through Open Table for a two-hour period. Ordering from the table is a breeze, using flags to get the servers\u2019 attention, and food is available from an on-site food truck, though you can also bring your own.\n4017 Damascus Rd., Laytonsville, Md. waredacabrewing.com. Open Thursday through Sunday.\nPulling into Thanksgiving Farms in Frederick County can be a disconcerting experience: It\u2019s a sprawling garden center with rows of potted perennials, ornamental shrubs and greenhouses, all featuring plants and fruit grown on a 56-acre family farm, as well as a market selling supplies and produce. But, at the farthest end of the building from the parking lot, there\u2019s a taproom, making this the perfect destination for your lawncare-related weekend errands. \u201cAs far as we know, we are the only garden center and produce farm with a brewery in the United States,\u201d says Mad Science founder Brian Roberts.\nMad Science opened to the public in 2015, but Roberts had started home-brewing a decade earlier, after his wife Louisa \u2014 part of the family that owns Thanksgiving Farms \u2014 \u201ctold me I needed to get a hobby,\u201d he says. (Roberts, an Army veteran, is a scientist who works with vaccines and drug development during the week.) He began planting hops on the farm, and jokes that it took \u201ctwo years of convincing my mother-in-law that she needed to add beer as another revenue stream to the business.\u201d\nAround 300 hop plants grow on a quarter-acre plot, but you won\u2019t find tanks or brewing equipment on-site: Roberts brews the beers at Antietam Brewery in Hagerstown, where they\u2019re also kegged and canned. The arrangement has been especially beneficial during the pandemic, allowing Mad Science to have a steady stream of cans for to-go sales. If all goes well, Roberts hopes to build out a brewery at the farm in the next five years.\nRoberts is an unabashed hophead, using a wide variety of hops, including Nugget, Cascade and Columbus, to create punchy IPAs. The Agent Orange is a standout: a hazy IPA with pine, citrus and candied orange flavors, thanks to the addition of sweet orange peel, and caramel malt providing a sturdy backbone. Human Harvester, brewed with fresh hops, is malty and resinous, with a lingering bitter grapefruit note. Beyond the hops, look for Helles Belles, a lighter lager that Roberts regularly infuses with blackberries, peaches and other fresh fruit from the farm as a taproom exclusive, or the Prion Porter, a delightfully roasty dark beer with six kinds of malt.\nMad Science\u2019s outdoor seating is attractive and pleasant, surrounded by lush shrubs and trees, and some of the shaded tables have views of the fields across the road which, according to a historic marker on the property, look much the way they did when soldiers camped there during the Civil War. Local food trucks serve lunch on weekends. There\u2019s a playground out back for younger visitors, who can also meet brewery dog Sinnamon and the garden center\u2019s chatty parrot, Chico. When you do leave, don\u2019t be surprised if you find yourself carrying potted plants back to the car along with a four-pack of beer.\n1619 Buckeystown Pike, Adamstown, Md. madsciencebrewing.com. Open Saturday and Sunday.\nManor Hill is probably the most familiar farm brewery for Washington-area beer lovers, as cans of its juicy IPA and dry, quaffable Grisette farmhouse ale are found in bars and liquor stores in D.C. and Delaware, as well as across the Free State. The farm that Randy and Mary Marriner initially envisioned as a way to supply food to their Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia has become so much more than when it opened in 2015.\nYou can\u2019t forget that Manor Hill is a farm and brewery: The dramatically long one-lane driveway rolls past fields on either side, and every car turning into the parking lot passes rows of trellises covered with climbing green hops. And yet, when you actually settle down at the Howard County brewery, most of the tables are arranged in the middle of a parking lot right outside the tasting room, as if you were at a suburban restaurant in the midst of Phase 2 of the coronavirus reopening.\nThe tables are well spaced, but the seating area is loud and lacking atmosphere. The best spots are farther away: Walk past the resident food truck, and you\u2019ll find a path leading toward a grassy area with umbrella-shaded picnic tables. (Veterans know they\u2019re allowed to bring their own chairs and blankets to spread out in the grass, in case all the seats are taken.) Just be warned that capacity is limited, and no reservations are taken. If the farm fills up, as it regularly does, you\u2019ll be given the option of either coming back later or purchasing cans of beer to enjoy at home.\nOn a recent visit, most of the taps were filled with \u201climited release\u201d beers, including Jousting Windmills: Fruity Peppers, a thick, smoothie-like fruited sour that balances the sweetness of citrus with Trinidad Scorpion peppers; Ginger, a well-balanced tropical New England IPA; and the just-released Festbier, a bready, traditional Vienna lager. Flights are no longer available, but it\u2019s hard to complain when 12 of the 14 drafts are $6.\nWhen I first wrote about Manor Hill for The Post in 2015, the Marriners weren\u2019t planning a tasting room at the brewery, preferring customers to go to Victoria instead. I\u2019m glad they changed their minds and opened the farm to all.\n4411 Manor Lane, Ellicott City, Md. manorhillbrewing.com. Open Friday and Saturday.\nOne of the pioneers of Virginia\u2019s farm brewing movement, Old 690 opened a few months after Virginia legalized farm brewing in 2014. They already had more than 300 hop plants in the ground, and plans to grow more fruit.\nYou can still see the hop vines and an expanded garden on the 10-acre farm, near the converted barn that serves as a welcoming, no-frills taproom. The choice seats are on the shady veranda, the wide, flagstone covered patio that holds both umbrella-covered tables and a firepit, and a wide green lawn where kids run and play while parents chat and look on from nearby tables.\nThe menu at Old 690 attempts to cover all the bases: hazy IPA, tangerine hard seltzer, a milk stout brewed with Lucky Charms, a resiny pale ale. The standout drinks made the most of fruit, including a sour ale with pineapple, passion fruit and peach that looked like a beach drink and tasted closer to a pi\u00f1a colada, and a mellow Margarita Gose spiked with blackberries and lime. A strawberry blonde ale sounded like a throwback to the microbrews of the new millennium but smelled like freshly picked berries and had a soft, sweet flavor that avoided being too cloying. (Speaking of retro drinks, there\u2019s a Raspberry Wheat ale, too.)\nIf you move in craft beer circles, Old 690 is not a name you might not have heard for a while. But sitting on that patio on a Sunday afternoon, sipping on fruited beers and chatting without having to talk over piped-in music, was a relaxing escape from some of Loudoun County\u2019s more hyped breweries, and a pleasant detour from the real world.\n15670 Ashbury Church Rd., Purcellville, Va. old690.com. Open Friday through Sunday.\nYou might not expect to find a farm brewery at the top of a mountain. At Bear Chase, the awe-inspiring view down into the rolling hills and fields of the Loudoun Valley is all most people are thinking about after grabbing a beer from the taproom or the numerous satellite bars and sinking into a comfortable Adirondack chair, kicking back to enjoy the breeze and kill a lazy summer afternoon.\nAnd yet Bear Chase is a farm brewery, albeit one that doesn\u2019t play up that it grows hops, cucumbers and squash to put in its beers, and even the strawberries and other fruit for its Bear Claws line of canned hard seltzers. (They, like other Bear Chase products, are only found at the brewery, so you\u2019ll have to purchase six-packs to share with friends who love Claws-related products.)\nI confess: I completely forgot about the farm products, until one of the taproom staff told me they were located down the hill, below the sloping lawn. That makes sense, as you wouldn\u2019t want anything to get in the way of the view.\nBear Chase\u2019s beers are handled by Charles Noll, whose extensive r\u00e9sum\u00e9 includes Franklins Brewery in Hyattsville as well as Harpoon Brewery in Massachusetts. After only a year in operation, Bear Chase\u2019s Oktoberfest won the gold medal in the Marzen category at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival. That\u2019s something to consider when you\u2019re looking for a place to spend a day outside with beers and a view of the changing leaves in the coming months, and especially if you want to do it with acres of space for kids, dogs and family to gather.\n33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont, Va. bearchasebrew.com. Open daily."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "UKDKAXDFBRHNHGHYIA7NXH4MIM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "UKDKAXDFBRHNHGHYIA7NXH4MIM_0", "title": "Pint by pint, Maryland\u2019s sustainable breweries support local communities", "text": "Walk into any bar or bottle shop across America these days and the healthy selection of local craft beer is evidence that the artisanal food movement has reached the tap. Now, a new wave of sustainable microbreweries are showing that craft beer can be environmentally friendly as well. Some of those microbreweries are in Maryland, scattered throughout the rolling farmlands of the Piedmont plateau and the Eastern Shore. With fertile acreage for barley, oats and hops\u2014plus a rich history of communitarian values\u2014it\u2019s easy to see why. \u201cSustainable brewing supports local jobs and local farmers,\u201d said Lisa Challenger, director of Worcester County Tourism. \u201cA large portion of every sale of local craft beer stays in the community, so it\u2019s big business for small towns.\u201d D.C.-area residents know rural Maryland well from summertime shore visits and autumnal hiking expeditions, but the burgeoning beer scene offers a reason to visit year round. FeBREWary\u2014Maryland\u2019s month-long celebration of local craft beer\u2014provides an up-close opportunity to see how these sustainable local brewers are taking the importance of community to heart. The journey from farm to tap Less than 10 miles inland from the Ocean City boardwalk, the area around Berlin, Md., is replete with farms and steeped in old-school agricultural traditions. That made sustainability an easy call for Bryan Brushmiller, owner of Burley Oak Brewing Company in Worcester County. \u201cBeing a sustainable brewery in this town is just doing what we do here,\u201d Brushmiller said. \u201cWe utilize local ingredients because the products are just better, and it helps your neighbor.\u201d After Brushmiller was laid off from his job in 2009, he took up homebrewing and soon encountered an opportunity: What to do with the spent grain left over from the brewing process? Rather than see it go to waste, he decided to feed it to his chickens. \u201cEven back then,\u201d he said, \u201cmy thoughts were, \u2018How do I utilize my byproducts? How do I not waste anything?\u2019\u201d Two years later, a local farmer and soil scientist named Brooks Clayville proposed working with Brushmiller to grow and harvest a barley that would be well-suited to the local climate and could be malted for brewing. After lots of trial and error, they found the perfect strain\u2014a pale barley that forms the basis for Burley Oak\u2019s Homegrown Session IPA, one of approximately 450 beers the brewery has produced since 2011. Burley Oak has no flagship beer, instead taking advantage"}], "old": [{"_id": "UKDKAXDFBRHNHGHYIA7NXH4MIM_0", "title": "Pint by pint, Maryland\u2019s sustainable breweries support local communities", "text": "The journey from farm to tap Old-fashioned flavors on a working farm An eco-friendly outpost on the Eastern Shore Learn more about taking a summer beer-cation"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Walk into any bar or bottle shop across America these days and the healthy selection of local craft beer is evidence that the artisanal food movement has reached the tap. Now, a new wave of sustainable microbreweries are showing that craft beer can be environmentally friendly as well. Some of those microbreweries are in Maryland, scattered throughout the rolling farmlands of the Piedmont plateau and the Eastern Shore. With fertile acreage for barley, oats and hops\u2014plus a rich history of communitarian values\u2014it\u2019s easy to see why.\n\u201cSustainable brewing supports local jobs and local farmers,\u201d said Lisa Challenger, director of Worcester County Tourism. \u201cA large portion of every sale of local craft beer stays in the community, so it\u2019s big business for small towns.\u201d\nD.C.-area residents know rural Maryland well from summertime shore visits and autumnal hiking expeditions, but the burgeoning beer scene offers a reason to visit year round. FeBREWary\u2014Maryland\u2019s month-long celebration of local craft beer\u2014provides an up-close opportunity to see how these sustainable local brewers are taking the importance of community to heart.\nThe journey from farm to tap\nLess than 10 miles inland from the Ocean City boardwalk, the area around Berlin, Md., is replete with farms and steeped in old-school agricultural traditions. That made sustainability an easy call for Bryan Brushmiller, owner of Burley Oak Brewing Company in Worcester County. \u201cBeing a sustainable brewery in this town is just doing what we do here,\u201d Brushmiller said. \u201cWe utilize local ingredients because the products are just better, and it helps your neighbor.\u201d\nAfter Brushmiller was laid off from his job in 2009, he took up homebrewing and soon encountered an opportunity: What to do with the spent grain left over from the brewing process? Rather than see it go to waste, he decided to feed it to his chickens. \u201cEven back then,\u201d he said, \u201cmy thoughts were, \u2018How do I utilize my byproducts? How do I not waste anything?\u2019\u201d\nTwo years later, a local farmer and soil scientist named Brooks Clayville proposed working with Brushmiller to grow and harvest a barley that would be well-suited to the local climate and could be malted for brewing. After lots of trial and error, they found the perfect strain\u2014a pale barley that forms the basis for Burley Oak\u2019s Homegrown Session IPA, one of approximately 450 beers the brewery has produced since 2011. Burley Oak has no flagship beer, instead taking advantage of close relationships with farmers and a new 3,000-square-foot \u201cFunk Factory\u201d to continually concoct fresh experimentations (they were years ahead of the sour beer trend). Visitors sample a rotating selection at the lively on-site taproom, set in an all-wood 19th century cooperage, and can enjoy local live music, art unveilings and other events on a regular basis.\nThe spent grain from all that experimentation? It goes to farmers as feed. That local-first mindset can yield pleasant opportunities, like the time a farmer brought over a large batch of blueberry blossom honey for Burley Oak to brew with. \u201cThat epitomizes what we do,\u201d Brushmiller said. \u201cWe can support a local farmer, make something distinctive, and it will be a quality beer because it\u2019s local and fresh.\u201d\nOld-fashioned flavors on a working farm\n\u201cI had farming in my blood,\u201d said Tom Barse, proprietor of Mount Airy\u2019s Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm, which he operates alongside his wife, Carolann McConaughy. Barse\u2019s grandparents grew up on tobacco and sheep farms on the St. Mary\u2019s Peninsula in Maryland and in County Galway, Ireland, and his parents bought farmland in Preston County, W.Va.\nAfter Barse took a detour to law school, he and McConaughy purchased the verdant 47-acre Stillpoint Farm. They devised a multifaceted, sustainable agricultural operation on a small scale, raising a rare breed of sheep, harvesting high-quality horse hay, keeping bees, and brewing beer\u2014a passion Barse had pursued as a homebrewer since 1972.\nBarse calls Milkhouse an \u201cold-fashioned\u201d brewery, which means you won\u2019t find any double chocolate habanero stouts on tap. \u201cWe make plain beers with local ingredients so that you can taste what those ingredients are all about,\u201d he said. The Cascade and Chinook hops used in many of Milkhouse\u2019s beers are grown in Stillpoint\u2019s hopyard, and Barse sources most of the other grains, fruits, herbs and honey from local farmers. He ferments wild yeast in the farm\u2019s old milking parlor, and he is working with a local maltster to create new regional flavors.\nVisitors can try Barse\u2019s \u201call Maryland\u201d beers in the brewery\u2019s tasting room, before or after touring the farm. \u201cBy our customers seeing that working farms are still very much alive in our area, we can continue to educate people on the importance of agriculture in our day-to-day lives and brews,\u201d said Sarah Healey, Milkhouse\u2019s general manager.\nBarse\u2019s law degree came in handy in 2012, when he was instrumental in passing Maryland\u2019s farm brewery law, which created a license that permits the on-site consumption of any beer made with an agricultural product from the farm. It has transformed small farm breweries into destinations for locals and tourists, and it has helped bootstrapped operations become self-sustaining. Milkhouse was the first brewery to receive the new license; Barse estimates that on a pleasant Saturday in June, as many as 200 people will come by to sip on brews like the Dollyhyde Farmhouse Ale (refreshing, with a touch of spice) and the Homestead Hefeweizen (malty, with mild banana notes). During FeBREWary, Milkhouse will debut the City Slicker Sour Farmhouse, a collaboration with Olde Mother Brewing that utilizes an experimental grain from the University of Maryland Agriculture Extension office.\nAn eco-friendly outpost on the Eastern Shore\nEducation is central to the mission of many sustainable breweries in Maryland, a calling that Jason and Beth Hearn\u2014the founders of Tall Tales Brewing Company in Parsonsburg\u2014take seriously. \u201cWe want to ensure that when people visit, they know where their fresh ingredients come from,\u201d Jason Hearn said. \u201cIt\u2019s part of their community, and it helps us be responsible as a business and as neighbors.\u201d\nTall Tales came about when the Hearnses were looking to reutilize the headquarters of their landscaping business, a skill set that proved handy for the eco-friendly construction of the brewery: Large windows save on heating and air, while rain gardens conserve water.\nThe Hearnses wanted to make exceptional beer (and food) in an ecologically responsible way. They began sending residual yeast and grains to hog and cattle farmers. They developed a sophisticated water reuse system that allows them to recycle all of the brewery\u2019s wastewater and rainwater catchment back into the crops on site. And they installed a state-of-the-art brewing system and commercial kitchen, which cranks out brick-oven pizzas to pair with mythically named beers like Sasquatch Imperial Stout and Paul Bunyan Belgian Strong Ale.\nTall Tales wants to serve as an example for other small breweries in the area, proving that it\u2019s possible to make great beer, be environmentally responsible, and turn a profit. They host live music most Fridays and Saturdays, as well as group functions, charity events and even weddings. For FeBREWary, they participated in the Love on Tap Shore Craft Beer Fest, alongside other local breweries.\n\u201cWe view ourselves as an important part of the community,\u201d Beth Hearn said. \u201cWhen they come here, our neighbors know that we\u2019re trying to take care of the environment\u2014not just for us, but for years to come.\u201d\nLearn more about taking a summer beer-cation"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "XAQPZIMKPREA5AZFQAK6IW4OGA_2", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XAQPZIMKPREA5AZFQAK6IW4OGA_2", "title": "Welcome to a Beer Town", "text": "considered the front-runners as beer cities in the mid-Atlantic, the Washington area has arrived to the scene. \u201cIt used to be that we were very much a little brother to Philly,\u201d said Sam Fitz, the beer director at Meridian Pint. There is an argument that we\u2019ve surpassed them as \u201cone of, if not [the], premier East Coast beer scenes,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t think of a bar that\u2019s opened in the past two years that hasn\u2019t opened with craft beer.\u201d But what makes a good beer town? It\u2019s not just the beer. Or the breweries. What makes D.C. unique is the melange of tastes and the transcendent interest in craft beer. \u201cWhat I\u2019m consistently impressed by is how it\u2019s not just the beer geeks that are into the beer anymore,\u201d said Greg Engert, beer director for the Neighborhood Restaurant Group. \u201cIt\u2019s everybody.\u201d D.C. resident Irina King happily enjoyed a New Belgium Rampant Imperial IPA at Smith Commons on Tuesday during its Masters of the Craft Beer Universe event series. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d she said. \u201cIn New York, in Charleston, in the South, it\u2019s nothing like here. People love beer here. And they appreciate the fact that it\u2019s from D.C., it\u2019s homegrown. It\u2019s not a fad.\u201d Dan Kopman, co-founder of Schlafly Beer and a lobbyist for the Brewers Association, summed up why D.C. is a unique beer experience: There is an international community that demands imports and there are people from around the country who are interested in their hometown or regional beers. \u201cYou overlay that with new breweries starting up here in the District and it just creates this synergy of international, national, [and] local,\u201d Kopman said on the floor of the trade show Wednesday. \u201cYou won\u2019t get that in other cities.\u201d Besides the size of the venue, the decision to bring this year\u2019s Craft Brewers Conference to D.C. was also policy-related. On Tuesday, more than 200 brewery owners, CEOs and employees lobbied on Capitol Hill to gain support for new federal excise tax legislation. \u201cThe decision to come here first started getting momentum in 2009,\u201d said Bob Pease, chief operating officer of the Brewers Association. \u201cThe vision at that time was that we would come here and we would have hundreds of our members engage in some type of advocacy effort [and] that Washington would blossom into a great craft beer community \u2026 Much of that has come to fruition.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "After this week, D.C.\u2019s reputation will never be the same. When the 2013 Craft Brewers Conference comes to an end today, nobody will blink if you call us a beer town.\nIn just a few years, the nation\u2019s capital has gone from having no breweries and a humble scene to having one of the most distinctive beer cultures in the country.\nAfter the Heurich Brewery closed in 1956, making way for the Kennedy Center, there hadn\u2019t been a brewery in the district until 2011, when DC Brau opened its doors at 3178 Bladensburg Road NE. Now there are three within the city\u2019s limits, and two more are in the works. Since 2008, at least 11 have opened if you include certain suburbs.\nThe Brewers Association\u2019s annual gathering is the Super Bowl of craft beer \u2014 a product that comes from traditional, independent breweries of a certain size. The event brings together brewers, distributors, retailers, enthusiasts and professionals of all sorts. But it isn\u2019t held just anywhere.\n\u201cI\u2019ve always seen CBC go down somewhere else, or read about it,\u201d said Drew Swift, the general manager at Meridian Pint in Columbia Heights. \u201cFor us to be chosen means that people are finally recognizing the scene and giving it some respect.\u201d\nThat respect is not easy to come by, especially from veteran West Coasters. \u201cComing from Seattle, you get quite a few eclectic styles,\u201d said beer enthusiast Dalona Foster while visiting the soon-to-open Bluejacket brewery near Nationals Park. But \u201ceach brewery [here] has their own unique twist to offer \u2026 I\u2019m pretty impressed.\u201d\nMany see the recent growth as just the beginning.\n\u201cIt\u2019s no accident that we chose D.C. to start our brewery up,\u201d said Will Durgin, who formerly worked for Oregon\u2019s Pyramid Brewery and is now the head brewer at Atlas Brew Works, which aims to open this year at 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE. \u201cThe potential here is absolutely gigantic.\u201d\nThough Baltimore and Philadelphia have traditionally been considered the front-runners as beer cities in the mid-Atlantic, the Washington area has arrived to the scene.\n\u201cIt used to be that we were very much a little brother to Philly,\u201d said Sam Fitz, the beer director at Meridian Pint. There is an argument that we\u2019ve surpassed them as \u201cone of, if not [the], premier East Coast beer scenes,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t think of a bar that\u2019s opened in the past two years that hasn\u2019t opened with craft beer.\u201d\nBut what makes a good beer town? It\u2019s not just the beer. Or the breweries. What makes D.C. unique is the melange of tastes and the transcendent interest in craft beer.\n\u201cWhat I\u2019m consistently impressed by is how it\u2019s not just the beer geeks that are into the beer anymore,\u201d said Greg Engert, beer director for the Neighborhood Restaurant Group. \u201cIt\u2019s everybody.\u201d\nD.C. resident Irina King happily enjoyed a New Belgium Rampant Imperial IPA at Smith Commons on Tuesday during its Masters of the Craft Beer Universe event series. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d she said. \u201cIn New York, in Charleston, in the South, it\u2019s nothing like here. People love beer here. And they appreciate the fact that it\u2019s from D.C., it\u2019s homegrown. It\u2019s not a fad.\u201d\nDan Kopman, co-founder of Schlafly Beer and a lobbyist for the Brewers Association, summed up why D.C. is a unique beer experience: There is an international community that demands imports and there are people from around the country who are interested in their hometown or regional beers. \u201cYou overlay that with new breweries starting up here in the District and it just creates this synergy of international, national, [and] local,\u201d Kopman said on the floor of the trade show Wednesday. \u201cYou won\u2019t get that in other cities.\u201d\nBesides the size of the venue, the decision to bring this year\u2019s Craft Brewers Conference to D.C. was also policy-related. On Tuesday, more than 200 brewery owners, CEOs and employees lobbied on Capitol Hill to gain support for new federal excise tax legislation. \u201cThe decision to come here first started getting momentum in 2009,\u201d said Bob Pease, chief operating officer of the Brewers Association. \u201cThe vision at that time was that we would come here and we would have hundreds of our members engage in some type of advocacy effort [and] that Washington would blossom into a great craft beer community \u2026 Much of that has come to fruition.\u201d"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "a5c734e8-3f39-11e7-adba-394ee67a7582_2", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "a5c734e8-3f39-11e7-adba-394ee67a7582_2", "title": "Five myths about beer", "text": "broadcast beer\u2019s masculine image to a wide audience. By 2016, 74 percent of American men drank beer each week, whereas only 26 percent of women did. Nevertheless, history shows that beer has always been a woman\u2019s drink, too. In colonial and early republic America, women and enslaved people brewed beer as a domestic task. Martha Ballard, a Maine midwife, wrote in her diary on May 18, 1786: \u201cA Clear day. we Brewd a barll & \u00bd Beer.\u201d Nineteenth-century women, especially widows, operated boarding houses where they served beer and food to travelers. And, as women entered wage-earning jobs at the turn of the 20th century, they, too, came to patronize urban saloons. Soon, however, advertisers\u2019 nearly exclusive focus on male drinkers reduced its popularity among women. Petite bottles, low-calorie styles and Miller\u2019s declaration that it was the \u201cchampagne\u201d of beers sought to bring women back into the fold. Yet their consumption never equaled men\u2019s. Contemporary beer culture offers a slowly changing story. In 1983, the American Homebrewers Association tapped a woman, Nancy Vineyard, as its Homebrewer of the Year (a feat not repeated until 2013). Since 2008, the Pink Boots Society, a charitable organization with 50 chapters in 10 countries, has awarded educational scholarships to women in the industry. An increasing number of women are studying brewing and founding breweries. American women\u2019s relationship to beer has been equally, if not more, long-lasting than men\u2019s ties to the drink. It has just been more likely to occur out of the public eye. Myth No. 3 Craft breweries are small breweries. What is craft beer? The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as \u201ca beer made in a traditional or non-mechanized way by a small brewery.\u201d Merriam-Webster says it\u2019s \u201ca specialty beer produced in limited quantities.\u201d Similarly, the Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade association that promotes craft beer, designates a craft brewery as \u201csmall, independent and traditional.\u201d Size seems key. Yet the BA also considers eight of the 15 largest beer companies in America to be \u201ccraft.\u201d What\u2019s going on? According to the BA\u2019s definition, a craft brewer produces 6 million or fewer barrels of beer every year. Six million sounds like a lot, especially in contrast to early micro-breweries that typically made a few thousand barrels, at most. Yet despite the success of big craft companies such as Yuengling, Boston Beer and Sierra Nevada, their sales volume counts for a drop,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Different varietals of a precious elixir. (Valentyn Volkov / iStock)\n\nSummer for Americans is a time of backyard barbecues, baseball and beer. Memorial Day weekend is a perfect chance to sit outside with the season\u2019s first sixer, and the varieties of beer you can pick up at the local grocer have multiplied. \u201cThis is a golden age for beer lovers,\u201d as The Washington Post reported in 2016. Yet the sheer number of options could confuse even the most enthusiastic consumer. No wonder myths about beer\u2019s past and present abound. Here are five.\nMyth No. 1\nAmerican beer is a product of the Midwest.\nBeer calls to mind the great cities of the American heartland, where 19th-century workers slaughtered pork, processed grain and brewed. They created iconic brands with staying power, such as Anheuser-Busch, Miller, Pabst and Schlitz . For several months last year, St. Louis\u2019s Anheuser-Busch even renamed Budweiser \u201cAmerica,\u201d making the country\u2019s most-consumed beer brand synonymous with the nation itself. Budweiser is \u201can icon of core American values like optimism and celebration,\u201d its makers tout.\nYet American beer has a much longer and more geographically diverse history. Archaeological evidence indicates that indigenous peoples in North and South America produced fermented beverages from corn, fruits and other plants long before Europeans arrived. The continent\u2019s first commercial brewery opened in what\u2019s now Manhattan in 1612. Barrels of English ale supplied hydration and nutrition to the Pilgrims as they sailed west in 1620. In the late 1700s, hops grew at George Washington\u2019s Mount Vernon. When Gold Rush hopefuls and railroad builders looked west in the 1800s, German immigrants brewed for them in New Orleans, Denver and San Francisco. As the nation grew, beer went with it.\nBut when Prohibition began in 1920, it shuttered American breweries. Only a few big producers, most in the Midwest (plus Colorado\u2019s Coors), survived. Their size allowed them to adapt, redirecting factories and refrigerated trucks toward the production of soft drinks, ice cream and even ceramics during years when they couldn\u2019t brew. They would come to dominate the market and shape Americans\u2019 palates. In these ways, ties between the Midwest and American beer are products of a more recent past.\nMyth No. 2\nBeer is a man\u2019s drink.\nIn 19th-century America, men brewed in modernizing factories and drank in rowdy saloons, becoming the public face of beer production and consumption. In print and on TV, 20th-century ads broadcast beer\u2019s masculine image to a wide audience. By 2016, 74 percent of American men drank beer each week, whereas only 26 percent of women did.\nNevertheless, history shows that beer has always been a woman\u2019s drink, too. In colonial and early republic America, women and enslaved people brewed beer as a domestic task. Martha Ballard, a Maine midwife, wrote in her diary on May 18, 1786: \u201cA Clear day. we Brewd a barll & \u00bd Beer.\u201d Nineteenth-century women, especially widows, operated boarding houses where they served beer and food to travelers. And, as women entered wage-earning jobs at the turn of the 20th century, they, too, came to patronize urban saloons. Soon, however, advertisers\u2019 nearly exclusive focus on male drinkers reduced its popularity among women. Petite bottles, low-calorie styles and Miller\u2019s declaration that it was the \u201cchampagne\u201d of beers sought to bring women back into the fold. Yet their consumption never equaled men\u2019s.\nContemporary beer culture offers a slowly changing story. In 1983, the American Homebrewers Association tapped a woman, Nancy Vineyard, as its Homebrewer of the Year (a feat not repeated until 2013). Since 2008, the Pink Boots Society, a charitable organization with 50 chapters in 10 countries, has awarded educational scholarships to women in the industry. An increasing number of women are studying brewing and founding breweries.\nAmerican women\u2019s relationship to beer has been equally, if not more, long-lasting than men\u2019s ties to the drink. It has just been more likely to occur out of the public eye.\nMyth No. 3\nCraft breweries are small breweries.\nWhat is craft beer? The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as \u201ca beer made in a traditional or non-mechanized way by a small brewery.\u201d Merriam-Webster says it\u2019s \u201ca specialty beer produced in limited quantities.\u201d Similarly, the Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade association that promotes craft beer, designates a craft brewery as \u201csmall, independent and traditional.\u201d Size seems key. Yet the BA also considers eight of the 15 largest beer companies in America to be \u201ccraft.\u201d What\u2019s going on?\nAccording to the BA\u2019s definition, a craft brewer produces 6 million or fewer barrels of beer every year. Six million sounds like a lot, especially in contrast to early micro-breweries that typically made a few thousand barrels, at most. Yet despite the success of big craft companies such as Yuengling, Boston Beer and Sierra Nevada, their sales volume counts for a drop, or a few, in the proverbial bucket. According to the BA\u2019s math, even the largest craft brewer produces no more than 3 percent of the volume of beer sold to Americans in a year. In 2016, craft beer counted for 12 percent of the total American beer market, by volume. The takeaway is not that some craft breweries are very small and others less small, but that companies on top of the beer market \u2014 Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors and Pabst \u2014 are extremely, gigantically big.\nAsk consumers to define craft beer, and they\u2019ll name a variety of factors other than size that appeal to them. The brewers often concoct new styles that let drinkers experiment; they run taprooms where customers can relax with their friends and neighbors; they build ties to their local communities. Some craft breweries are active in philanthropy, others emphasize environmental sustainability, still others employ innovative management practices such as employee stock ownership plans, and many pursue collegial, collaborative ties with other breweries. Market share, ultimately, is the wrong way to define a beer.\nMyth No. 4\nCraft beer is a recent invention.\nThe explosive pace of brewery openings and eclectic new offerings could convince anyone that craft beer is a 21st-century innovation. Between 2006 and 2016, the number of American breweries, most of them craft, leapt from 1,460 to 5,301, exceeding the pre-Prohibition total. As of early 2017, two new American breweries were opening each day. Craft beer\u2019s surge fits with consumers\u2019 enthusiasm for artisan foods and the inclination to \u201crevitalize\u201d formerly industrial neighborhoods across the nation.\nYet American craft beer is much older than that nanobrewery down the block. Loose collectives of home brewers began to tinker in West Coast basements in the 1960s and early 1970s, when home brewing was still illegal. Bored by light lagers, they found inspiration in English, Belgian and German styles during military or educational travels abroad. Motivation came, too, from the California wine industry, Fritz Maytag\u2019s reborn Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco (1965) and Jack McAuliffe\u2019s New Albion Brewing Company in Sonoma County, Calif. (1976). Brewing-science classes at the University of California at Davis trained people who would transition from home brewing to professional, starting a craft beer revolution.\nEarly craft brewers elbowed their way into a market dominated by big beer. They changed consumers\u2019 palates by introducing porters, stouts and hoppy styles, like Sierra Nevada\u2019s iconic pale ale . Initial generations\u2019 success paved the way for today\u2019s brewers, who find eager investors and consumers as they experiment with wild yeasts, barrel aging and more.\nMyth No. 5\nWine is for aging. Beer is for drinking fresh.\nCool cellars evoke images of dusty wine bottles, their contents mellowing and growing in value the longer they sit. Beer, on the other hand, should be consumed fresh, right? There\u2019s even an iPhone app that calculates a beer\u2019s age, using codes printed on the bottle or can, lest the drinker be fooled by something that has been sitting on the shelf too long.\nFor many beers, fresh is better. Certain styles, such as pilsners and most saisons, should be enjoyed close to the date of production. Others, especially hop-forward beers like IPAs, require uninterrupted refrigeration and timely consumption to preserve the volatile flavors of hops. Nevertheless, certain beers improve in character if aged and cellared. American brewers have long experimented with holding beers in wine and liquor barrels, aging them before they reach the consumer. High-alcohol-by-volume styles, such as barleywines , benefit especially from cellaring at home. Aging a beer softens the high-alcohol edge and allows a complex set of characteristics and flavors (toffee, straw, wood, wine) to emerge.\nSo how should a consumer cellar beer? First, choose the right styles. If you begin with a six-pack, drink one bottle fresh to understand its initial flavor profile. Keep the beer in a cool, dark space. Store it standing up or on its side; conflicting opinions abound. Sample aging beers regularly, perhaps once a year, to catch a brew that threatens to age past its peak. When it\u2019s time to enjoy it, serve it in the correct glassware and at the proper temperature. Cheers.\nTwitter: @theresamccu\nFive myths is a weekly feature challenging everything you think you know. You can check out previous myths, read more from Outlook or follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter."}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "bc1891fea27b2f686e1a358d5272dcf7_1", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "bc1891fea27b2f686e1a358d5272dcf7_1", "title": "3 Stars and Neal Place Tap & Garden team up for a hyperlocal beer", "text": "vines have shot up, and the hop cones have gotten larger and begun giving off fresh, oily aromas. Soon, they're going to be picked and sent to 3 Stars Brewing Company, where they'll be used to create that brewery's first-ever Made in D.C. beer. [A brewers dozen: The 12 events to hit during D.C. Beer Week] \"We've done some hop samplings, with hops that homebrewers grew in their backyards, but we've never used D.C. hops in a beer before,\" says 3 Stars co-founder Dave Coleman. \"There's not a lot of hop farms in the city.\" Coleman and the brewing team haven't determined how much they'll get of each hop variety, which include Cascade, Nugget, Willamette and Sorachi Ace, and the yield will help determine what kind of beer to create. Some at the brewery want to take advantage of the freshness of the hops to make a strong, pungent double IPA, Coleman says, while others have argued for a lighter style of beer, such as a saison, that would better show off the flavors of the hops. (\"We're a brewery divided,\" he jokes.) Either way, it will probably be a cask-conditioned ale, and will include some other ingredients sourced locally. \"We'll probably forage for some herbs,\" Coleman says. \"Something that rounds out the aromatics, and will balance or even counterbalance the flavors.\" Expect the beer to be ready for a mid-October release, with a party to be held at Neal Place Tap & Garden. \"This is just the first installment,\" says Coleman, who found out about the hops when Neal Place co-founder Gina Chersevani posted a photo of the crop on Instagram last week. \"We'll see where we go from here. It's the whole 'Made in D.C.' thing. We're trying to showcase something made in D.C. that showcases ingredients from D.C. We're proud to be a D.C. business, and I know Gina is too.\" Both 3 Stars and Neal Place will be open for D.C. Beer Week events this weekend: 3 Stars hosts the Hopfunk Fest at its Takoma brewery from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and Neal Place is turning its taps over to RAR Brewing from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Hops grow on wires at Neal Place Tap & Garden near Union Market. The hops will be used in beer by the 3 Stars Brewing Company in Northeast D.C. (Photo by Fritz Hahn/The Washington Post)"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Hops grow on wires at Neal Place Tap & Garden near Union Market. The hops will be used in beer by the 3 Stars Brewing Company in Northeast D.C. (Photo by Fritz Hahn/The Washington Post)\nThroughout the summer, visitors to Neal Place Tap & Garden might have noticed green vines creeping their way up guidewires surrounding the beer garden's picnic tables and bocce court. These are hop vines -- eight varieties in all -- that produce the hop flowers, or cones, used to flavor beer.\nIn the last few weeks, the vines have shot up, and the hop cones have gotten larger and begun giving off fresh, oily aromas. Soon, they're going to be picked and sent to 3 Stars Brewing Company, where they'll be used to create that brewery's first-ever Made in D.C. beer.\n[A brewers dozen: The 12 events to hit during D.C. Beer Week]\n\"We've done some hop samplings, with hops that homebrewers grew in their backyards, but we've never used D.C. hops in a beer before,\" says 3 Stars co-founder Dave Coleman. \"There's not a lot of hop farms in the city.\"\nColeman and the brewing team haven't determined how much they'll get of each hop variety, which include Cascade, Nugget, Willamette and Sorachi Ace, and\u00a0the yield\u00a0will help determine what kind of beer to create. Some at the brewery want to take advantage of the freshness of the hops to make a strong, pungent double IPA, Coleman says, while others have argued for a lighter style of beer, such as a saison, that would better show off the flavors of the hops. (\"We're a brewery divided,\" he jokes.)\u00a0Either way, it will probably be a cask-conditioned ale, and will include some other ingredients sourced locally. \"We'll probably forage for some herbs,\" Coleman says. \"Something that rounds out the aromatics, and will balance or even counterbalance the flavors.\"\nExpect the beer to be ready for a mid-October release, with a party to be held at Neal Place Tap & Garden. \"This is just the first installment,\" says Coleman, who found out about the hops when Neal Place co-founder Gina Chersevani posted a photo of the crop on Instagram last week. \"We'll see where we go from here. It's the whole 'Made in D.C.' thing. We're trying to showcase something made in D.C. that showcases ingredients from D.C. We're proud to be a D.C. business, and I know Gina is too.\"\nBoth 3 Stars and Neal Place will be open for D.C. Beer Week events this weekend: 3 Stars hosts the Hopfunk Fest at its Takoma brewery from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and Neal Place is turning its taps over to RAR Brewing from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday.\nHops grow on wires at Neal Place Tap & Garden near Union Market. The hops will be used in beer by the 3 Stars Brewing Company in Northeast D.C. (Photo by Fritz Hahn/The Washington Post)"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "c9e585b51cd1fb87c46654380e36f1f2_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "c9e585b51cd1fb87c46654380e36f1f2_0", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Tuesday, May 6", "text": "This weekend's Savor craft beer festival brings brewers and beer fans from across the country to the National Building Museum for two nights of tastings and seminars. But the real fun takes place at local bars in the nights leading up to the festival, with happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events. Every day this week, we'll publish a list of that night's must-do events, which don't require RSVPs. Just show up and pay for what you drink. \u2022 Savor Week events you'll need tickets for Smoke and Barrel's Tuesday draft lineup features beers that rarely leave the Midwest. (Photo by James Buck/The Washington Post) The reason craft beer geeks love Savor week is because it offers an unparalleled chance to taste acclaimed beers from across the country that don't usually make it to Washington. The Best of the Midwest event at Smoke and Barrel tonight is a great example: You've probably had fantastic brews by Bell's, Founders and Schlafly, and might have seen a Perennial tap or two around town lately. But Sun King's beers don't leave Indiana, which means only frequent travelers have tried the acclaimed Fistful of Hops IPA, or the Batch 666: Sympathy for the Devil Black IPA. It's a similar story for Country Boy Brewing, a Lexington, Ky., brewery only sold in Kentucky and Tennessee, or Off Color, which stays mainly in the Chicago area. You can try multiple beers from all these breweries among the 24 drafts, as well as rare beers from Bell's, Perennial and Schlafly, beginning at 5 p.m. (Check out the full draft list.) Firestone Walker Looking for a good craft beer happy hour? Firestone Walker and Flying Dog \u2013 the two breweries that collaborated on this year's exclusive Savor beer, a blend of imperial porter and black rye IPA \u2013 are teaming up to put a dozen beers on tap at Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle. All beers will be half-price between 5 and 7 p.m. (The full draft list is online.)"}], "old": [{"_id": "c9e585b51cd1fb87c46654380e36f1f2_0", "title": "Savor week: Beer events for Tuesday, May 6", "text": "This weekend's Savor craft beer festival brings brewers and beer fans from across the country to the National Building Museum for two nights of tastings and seminars. But the real fun takes place at local bars in the nights leading up to the festival, with happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events. Every day this week, we'll publish a list of that night's must-do events, which don't require RSVPs. Just show up and pay for what you drink. Smoke and Barrel's Tuesday draft lineup features beers that rarely leave the Midwest. (Photo by James Buck/The Washington Post) Firestone Walker"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "This weekend's Savor craft beer festival brings brewers and beer fans from across the country to the National Building Museum for two nights of tastings and seminars. But the real fun takes place at local bars in the nights leading up to the festival, with happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events. Every day this week, we'll publish a list of that night's must-do events, which don't require RSVPs. Just show up and pay for what you drink.\n\u2022\u00a0Savor Week events you'll need tickets for\nSmoke and Barrel's Tuesday draft lineup features beers that rarely leave the Midwest. (Photo by James Buck/The Washington Post)\nThe reason craft beer geeks love Savor week is because it offers an unparalleled chance to taste acclaimed beers from across the country that don't usually make it to Washington. The Best of the Midwest event at Smoke and Barrel tonight is a great example: You've probably had fantastic brews by Bell's, Founders and Schlafly, and might have seen a Perennial tap or two around town lately. But Sun King's beers don't leave Indiana, which means only frequent travelers have tried the acclaimed Fistful of Hops IPA, or the Batch 666: Sympathy for the Devil Black IPA. It's a similar story for Country Boy Brewing, a Lexington, Ky., brewery only sold in Kentucky and Tennessee, or Off Color, which stays mainly in the Chicago area. You can try multiple beers from all these breweries among the 24 drafts, as well as rare beers from Bell's, Perennial and Schlafly, beginning at 5 p.m. (Check out the full draft list.)\nFirestone Walker\nLooking for a good craft beer happy hour? Firestone Walker and Flying Dog \u2013 the two breweries that collaborated on this year's exclusive Savor beer, a blend of imperial porter and black rye IPA \u2013 are teaming up to put a dozen beers on tap at Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle. All beers will be half-price between 5 and 7 p.m. (The full draft list is online.)"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "d23e3800-b998-11e5-99f3-184bc379b12d_5", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d23e3800-b998-11e5-99f3-184bc379b12d_5", "title": "America now has more breweries than ever. And that might be a problem.", "text": "in the District and Baltimore last fall, and the citrusy Nanticoke Nectar IPA became a hit. \u201cNectar sold so well that [bars] believe in us,\u201d says co-founder Chris Brohawn, \u201cand that gets our foot in the door\u201d when they\u2019re trying to get bars to carry a saison or a seasonal beer. About 85 percent of the beer RAR makes leaves the premises. Still, with an increasing number of local breweries fighting for the same oxygen, Brohawn knows buzz can be fleeting. This year, RAR plans to stay in the spotlight by releasing limited-edition beers in cans at its brewpub \u201cmonthly, if not bi-weekly,\u201d Brohawn says. RAR has experimented with placing local radio and print ads, but he says the social-media buzz surrounding a beer release \u201cincreases the word-of-mouth tenfold.\u201d Many in the beer industry pin their hopes for small breweries on localization: the idea that consumers would rather drink beers made down the road than across the country. Lary Hoffman, who co-owns Galaxy Hut in Arlington and Spacebar in Falls Church with his wife, Erica, prefers to stock most of the taps with Virginia breweries, such as Blue Mountain, Champion and Three Notch\u2019d. \u201cYou can get any style of beer locally now, and the quality is on par with the best beer in the world, so why not seek out the regional option?\u201d he asks. A handful of national brands, including Bell\u2019s and Avery, show up on the 28 taps at Galaxy Hut and the 24 at Spacebar, but they\u2019re the exception. Customers would be angry \u201cif our draft lineup looked like a Safeway shelf,\u201d Hoffman says. In national surveys conducted by the Brewers Association, 67 percent of craft beer drinkers said it was important to them that their beer be locally made, while 61 percent said it was important that the brewery was independent. Meanwhile, the craft category is growing faster than the total beer market, and in 2014 reached a double-digit (11 percent) share of the marketplace by volume. Those trends aren\u2019t lost on Terry Haley, vice president for marketing at World of Beer, which has 77 craft-focused locations along the Eastern Seaboard and throughout the South. Haley says his company tries to make sure local and craft regional beers are well represented among the roughly 50 taps found at each tavern, even though \u201cthere\u2019s definitely a point of emphasis to have what we call \u2018craft\u2019 beers across"}], "old": [{"_id": "d23e3800-b998-11e5-99f3-184bc379b12d_5", "title": "America now has more breweries than ever. And that might be a problem.", "text": "in the District and Baltimore last fall, and the citrusy Nanticoke Nectar IPA became a hit. \u201cNectar sold so well that [bars] believe in us,\u201d says co-founder Chris Brohawn, \u201cand that gets our foot in the door\u201d when they\u2019re trying to get bars to carry a saison or a seasonal beer. About 85 percent of the beer RAR makes leaves the premises. Still, with an increasing number of local breweries fighting for the same oxygen, Brohawn knows buzz can be fleeting. This year, RAR plans to stay in the spotlight by releasing limited-edition beers in cans at its brewpub \u201cmonthly, if not bi-weekly,\u201d Brohawn says. RAR has experimented with placing local radio and print ads, but he says the social-media buzz surrounding a beer release \u201cincreases the word-of-mouth tenfold.\u201d In national surveys conducted by the Brewers Association, 67 percent of craft beer drinkers said it was important to them that their beer be locally made, while 61 percent said it was important that the brewery was independent. Meanwhile, the craft category is growing faster than the total beer market, and in 2014 reached a double-digit (11 percent) share of the marketplace by volume. Those trends aren\u2019t lost on Terry Haley, vice president for marketing at World of Beer, which has 77 craft-focused locations along the Eastern Seaboard and throughout the South. Haley says his company tries to make sure local and craft regional beers are well represented among the roughly 50 taps found at each tavern, even though \u201cthere\u2019s definitely a point of emphasis to have what we call \u2018craft\u2019 beers across the major styles: Stone, Lagunitas; here in Tampa, Cigar City\u2019s Jai Alai [IPA]. You have to have some of these standbys.\u201d Customers Jeff Babka, left, and Steve DeBacco at the World of Beer bar and restaurant in Arlington in August. Each restaurant in the chain has about 50 taps that always include a mix of local and regional beers. (Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post) Of the 50 drafts at World of Beer in Arlington last week, 12 were from the DMV. They included 3 Stars, Parkway, Oliver and Escutcheon, as well as the more widely distributed Devils Backbone and Flying Dog. Other World of Beer locations had a similar ratio: 14 of 46 drafts in Atlanta came from Georgia; Louisville\u2019s 50 taps included 11 Kentucky or Indiana beers. Brewers Association economist Bart Watson called the number of brewery"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Bartender Corey Faircloth fills a glass at Spacebar, a bar in Falls Church, Va., that sells 24 craft beers on tap and 20 kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches. (Evy Mages/For The Washington Post)\nI\nThe new number includes giant Budweiser, artisan Dogfish Head and your neighborhood brewpub. Although beer industry observers have known this day was coming, the pace of growth was explosive: At the end of 2011, there were 2,033 breweries, or fewer than half as many as now. In 2005, there were only 1,447. And 25 years ago? The Brewers Association, a trade group for small and independent breweries, logged a mere 284 in 1990.\nSo this is a golden age for beer lovers. It is easier than ever to find a great IPA (the most popular craft beer style in America), stout or session ale at a bar or liquor store. Previously ignored styles such as gose and Berliner weisse have become trendy, while brewers have a free hand to experiment with Belgian IPAs or saisons packed with unusual herbs.\nOn the other hand, the expanding market \u2014 at least two breweries open every day \u2014 has created a new set of problems for brewers. New arrivals, riding the craft beer wave, are finding it difficult to stand out. And it\u2019s not as if bars have doubled the number of their taps in the past five years. So not only do the new breweries need to squeeze past their rivals even to make it in front of consumers, but they might need to convince bars that they\u2019re more deserving of a chance than better-known beers from Lagunitas or Great Lakes.\nGraham MacDonald, left, and Matt Humbard launched Handsome Beer at Washington-area bars in Sept. 2015. (From Handsome Beer)\nGraham MacDonald, the co-founder of Washington\u2019s new Handsome Beer, estimates that his beers have been sold at around 140 bars, restaurants and stores in the District and Maryland since last fall. Even so, he describes the process of getting into those establishments as \u201ca bit of a challenge.\u201d\n\u201cThere\u2019s been a huge influx of breweries who\u2019ve come to market in the last year,\u201d he says. \u201cOnly two or three years ago .\u2009.\u2009. it was easy to go in and say, \u2018Here\u2019s a new IPA, here\u2019s a new pale ale, here\u2019s a new stout.\u2019 But now it\u2019s not just the other new guys who are making the same thing; it\u2019s all the other established breweries.\u201d\nThe sentiment is the same on the other side of the bar. \u201cPicking the draft list has become exponentially harder than it was two or three years ago,\u201d says Jace Gonnerman, beer director for the District\u2019s Meridian Pint, Brookland Pint and Smoke and Barrel. \u201cYou have to balance styles, but how many spots do I have for national breweries? What local breweries do I want to focus on?\n\u201cEvery time a local brewery opens making really, really high-quality beer, it pushes a national brewery off. We keep a good mix of national breweries on, because people are looking for that. But you have to say no to people way more than you say yes.\u201d\nBartender Ben Brown pours from the tap at Pint on a recent Friday night. The restaurant's general manager, Drew Swift, says half of the bar's draft beers come from breweries located within a 60-mile radius of the establishment. (Lexey Swall/For The Washington Post)\nEven when they are given a chance, some small brewers have expressed frustration with the way beer bars order products. Instead of buying three kegs of a new beer and running through them all, as it might have done when local beers were a novelty, a bar tends to buy a keg and, once it\u2019s empty, fill the draft line with a competitor\u2019s product, and then another one, and so on, before rotating back to the first brewery\u2019s beer weeks or months later.\nDave Delaplaine of Roofers Union in Adams Morgan, which regularly swaps beers on and off 16 of its 22 draft lines, defends the practice. \u201cThat\u2019s what the culture of the beer world is: In order to have really fun beers, these crazy one-offs, you have to change a lot,\u201d he says. \u201cBreweries are approaching it as an art and want to try new things. I\u2019d take that any day: That\u2019s what got people to try their beer in the first place.\u201d\nWhen brewer Jason zumBrunnen and his partners began planning Ratio Beerworks in Denver\u2019s River North district, they knew what they were up against. \u201cI think we\u2019ve had 10 breweries open in the neighborhood since 2010,\u201d zumBrunnen says. \u201cColorado is the forefront of craft beer in general. Making great beer is just the barrier to entry. Five years before us, opening a brewery was a very cool thing to do. The difference now is the amount of brands. There\u2019s a finite number of tap handles at Falling Rock or Euclid Hall,\u201d two Denver beer bars known for outstanding craft selections.\nRatio\u2019s business plan didn\u2019t rely on getting beer bars to put their French-style saison and Scotch ale on tap. Instead, it called for 90 percent of all sales to take place onsite. The brewery built a modern-industrial taproom that encouraged lingering, and it made deals with local music promoters to host acoustic performances and meet-and-greets with bands. For outside the brewery, Ratio made arrangements with a handful of modern restaurants and beer bars, \u201cnot necessarily the fastest-moving accounts,\u201d zumBrunnen says, \u201cbut establishing the kinds of place we wanted to be in,\u201d so that customers at those places think, \u2018Oh, I\u2019ve heard of them, I\u2019ll go check out the taproom.\u2019 \u201d\nLuke Stanton, 21, and Brennan Ewing, 22, visit RAR Brewing in Cambridge, Md. Most of the company\u2019s beers leave the premises to be sold elsewhere. (File photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\nRAR Brewing, which opened as a brewpub in Cambridge, Md., in the summer of 2013, took the opposite approach. It began distributing its beers around the Eastern Shore and eventually in the District and Baltimore last fall, and the citrusy Nanticoke Nectar IPA became a hit. \u201cNectar sold so well that [bars] believe in us,\u201d says co-founder Chris Brohawn, \u201cand that gets our foot in the door\u201d when they\u2019re trying to get bars to carry a saison or a seasonal beer. About 85 percent of the beer RAR makes leaves the premises.\nStill, with an increasing number of local breweries fighting for the same oxygen, Brohawn knows buzz can be fleeting. This year, RAR plans to stay in the spotlight by releasing limited-edition beers in cans at its brewpub \u201cmonthly, if not bi-weekly,\u201d Brohawn says. RAR has experimented with placing local radio and print ads, but he says the social-media buzz surrounding a beer release \u201cincreases the word-of-mouth tenfold.\u201d\nMany in the beer industry pin their hopes for small breweries on localization: the idea that consumers would rather drink beers made down the road than across the country. Lary Hoffman, who co-owns Galaxy Hut in Arlington and Spacebar in Falls Church with his wife, Erica, prefers to stock most of the taps with Virginia breweries, such as Blue Mountain, Champion and Three Notch\u2019d. \u201cYou can get any style of beer locally now, and the quality is on par with the best beer in the world, so why not seek out the regional option?\u201d he asks. A handful of national brands, including Bell\u2019s and Avery, show up on the 28 taps at Galaxy Hut and the 24 at Spacebar, but they\u2019re the exception. Customers would be angry \u201cif our draft lineup looked like a Safeway shelf,\u201d Hoffman says.\nIn national surveys conducted by the Brewers Association, 67 percent of craft beer drinkers said it was important to them that their beer be locally made, while 61 percent said it was important that the brewery was independent. Meanwhile, the craft category is growing faster than the total beer market, and in 2014 reached a double-digit (11 percent) share of the marketplace by volume.\nThose trends aren\u2019t lost on Terry Haley, vice president for marketing at World of Beer, which has 77 craft-focused locations along the Eastern Seaboard and throughout the South. Haley says his company tries to make sure local and craft regional beers are well represented among the roughly 50 taps found at each tavern, even though \u201cthere\u2019s definitely a point of emphasis to have what we call \u2018craft\u2019 beers across the major styles: Stone, Lagunitas; here in Tampa, Cigar City\u2019s Jai Alai [IPA]. You have to have some of these standbys.\u201d\nCustomers Jeff Babka, left, and Steve DeBacco at the World of Beer bar and restaurant in Arlington in August. Each restaurant in the chain has about 50 taps that always include a mix of local and regional beers. (Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post)\nOf the 50 drafts at World of Beer in Arlington last week, 12 were from the DMV. They included 3 Stars, Parkway, Oliver and Escutcheon, as well as the more widely distributed Devils Backbone and Flying Dog. Other World of Beer locations had a similar ratio: 14 of 46 drafts in Atlanta came from Georgia; Louisville\u2019s 50 taps included 11 Kentucky or Indiana beers.\nBrewers Association economist Bart Watson called the number of brewery openings \u201cpretty incredible,\u201d but he points out that America isn\u2019t exactly saturated with beer makers: In a 2014 article, he noted that the United States has fewer breweries per capita than the United Kingdom, Germany or Latvia. Last summer, after the number of breweries hit 4,000, Watson calculated that \u201cthere are also nearly 1,000 cities with a population of more than 10,000 that don\u2019t have a local brewery yet, and numerous neighborhoods in larger cities without a local brewpub or taproom.\u201d\nOther markets are hyper-competitive. Mike Sardina, president of the San Diego Brewers Guild, says that while there are at least 100 breweries in the county, there are also plenty of bars that will give a shot to newcomers. \u201cBut the beer has to be killer from a quality perspective, and the angle has to be that it\u2019s not just another pale ale,\u201d he says. \u201cThese bars support San Diego craft beer to a degree that they\u2019ll bring in any new beer, but if it\u2019s not up to par, it\u2019s tough to get a second chance.\u201d\nThat law-of-the-jungle competitiveness will guide whether or not new breweries make it, says Scot Blair, owner of San Diego\u2019s Hamilton\u2019s Tavern, a fixture on national \u201cBest Beer Bar\u201d lists, and the Monkey Paw and South Park breweries, both of which have been honored at the Great American Beer Festival. \u201cLocal doesn\u2019t mean better,\u201d he says. \u201cThe emphasis has to be on making good beer. We have maybe 110 breweries in San Diego. We were better when we had less breweries, because we were focused more on quality. It\u2019s like real estate. Everybody jumps on when it\u2019s a bubble.\u201d\nMore from Food:\nBeer Column archive"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "d4423240-a436-11e5-9c4e-be37f66848bb_5", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "d4423240-a436-11e5-9c4e-be37f66848bb_5", "title": "The booming industry that veterans are tapping into", "text": "more existential question. One day, while working on a construction job he hated, Wilder asked himself, \u201c\u2018Who are Neil and I? Who do we hope to represent?\u2019 Well, we\u2019re young veterans.\u201d Despite their adoption of the name, Wilder and McCanon, both of whom completed tours in Iraq, say they\u2019re conscious that they walk a fine line. When you use the word \u201cveterans,\u201d McCanon says, \u201cyou represent a wide spectrum of people. In our labeling and our choice of names, we try not to overrepresent our military or our patriotism.\u201d \u201cWe try very hard not to wave flags or use red, white and blue on the labels,\u201d Wilder adds. Instead, they use olive drab and labels styled as World War II propaganda posters to evoke what Wilder calls \u201cthe Greatest Generation feeling. It\u2019s military, but it\u2019s also nostalgic.\u201d At Fair Winds Brewing in Lorton, brew master Charlie Buettner and brewer Jill Yoffe clean a tank. (Andre Chung/For The Washington Post) Others agree: Ian Schuster says he heard from some veterans at the CBC roundtable who are concerned that breweries with overly militaristic names looked as if they were cashing in on their military service. Arroyo, of Heritage, served in Iraq but says that he and his brother initially discussed whether to tell anyone that they were veterans. \u201cWe\u2019re happy with the exposure, but the much more important thing is making good beer. We want you to come out and have a great craft beer and say, \u2018Oh, hey, these guys are veterans,\u2019 not come out because we\u2019re veterans.\u201d Whether or not they advertise their service, a tie that binds veteran-owned breweries is support for charitable causes. \u201cOne of the things that\u2019s hard to root out of a military guy is that drive and that love of service to their country and community,\u201d says Heritage\u2019s Arroyo. \u201cAny way that we can give back, whether that\u2019s donating or doing an event, we\u2019re happy to do it.\u201d Many specifically help organizations that help veterans. Every quarter, Service Brewing picks a different such charity to support. The brewery hosts a launch party for a new beer and donates a percentage of ticket and beer sales to its designated charity. Earlier this year, the beneficiary was Homes for Our Troops, which builds adapted homes for disabled veterans. After the fundraising, Service founder Kevin Ryan, who led two companies in Iraq, learned that \u201cone of my soldiers"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Heritage Brewing co-founder Sean Arroyo, above, started the brewery with his brother Ryan, who like him is a veteran. They launched the business on New Year\u2019s Eve 2013. (Andre Chung/for The Washington Post)\nCasey Jones had a career in the Coast Guard before founding Fair Winds Brewing in Lorton. He says running a brew house is \u201cvery consistent with my military experience.\u201d (Andre Chung/for The Washington Post)\nVeterans have always been involved in the brewing industry, going back to the early days of the republic. These days, though, they\u2019re more visible than ever, thanks to veteran-owned breweries with names such as Service, Honor and Young Veterans, and as liquor stores and bars across the country stock beers called Freedom Isn\u2019t Free IPA, Devil Dog Stout or Boot Camp Brown Ale.\nThere are no hard numbers to track the number of veterans starting their own breweries: The Brewers Association, a national trade association for craft breweries, doesn\u2019t track or ask about the service of brewery founders, says director Paul Gatza, but there\u2019s no question that interest is growing. The annual Craft Brewers Conference, which draws more than 10,000 industry professionals to a different city each year, included a \u201cVeterans Roundtable\u201d this year for the first time, allowing brewers who\u2019d served in any branch of the military to network, talk shop and trade advice.\nIn many ways, it makes sense that veterans would be drawn to brewing: As of Nov. 30, there were 4,144 breweries in America, the highest number in the country\u2019s history and double the number in 2011. At the same time, the downsizing of the military means more veterans are looking for work and getting help through such organizations as the Jonas Project, a nonprofit group that helps turn veterans into entrepreneurs.\n\u201cA lot of us joined the military because it\u2019s not just sitting in a cubicle, typing on a keyboard,\u201d explains Casey Jones, the founder of Lorton\u2019s 10-month-old Fair Winds Brewing, who graduated from the Coast Guard Academy and later became an instructor there. \u201cFor me, it was being out on ships. For others, it was being in the outdoors, mountaineering, or being active. We like to be doing different things. Here, we call ourselves brewers, but one day we\u2019re brewing, the next day we focus on cellaring, the next day we\u2019re working on packaging. That\u2019s very consistent with my military experience.\u201d\nThe tap room at Heritage Brewing is set up inside the Manassas brew house. Heritage also has a bar on the concourse at Verizon Center. (Andre Chung/For The Washington Post)\nSean Arroyo and his brother Ryan, founders of Heritage Brewing in Manassas, both joined the military but \u201chad always talked about starting a brewery,\u201d Sean Arroyo says. \u201cWe thought, \u2018We\u2019ll do 20 years, get out and do the brewery.\u2019 Our military retirement, if you will.\u201d But after four years in the Marines, during which time he began home-brewing, Sean Arroyo joined the Army National Guard and began working on a business degree. He later got a job in finance but realized \u201cthe financial world wasn\u2019t for me.\u201d He thought about joining the FBI, \u201cbut then sequestration happened.\u201d He took that as a sign that he and his brother, who remains on active duty, \u201cshould go and do what we\u2019re passionate about.\u201d\nHeritage opened on New Year\u2019s Eve 2013 and has experienced \u201c100 percent growth year over year,\u201d Arroyo says, with hundreds of bars and liquor stores stocking Freedom Isn\u2019t Free and Kings Mountain Scotch Ale. At the beginning of hockey season, Heritage opened a bar on the concourse at Verizon Center, offering a highly visible outlet for its beers.\nIn Virginia, the growing number of breweries owned and run by veterans includes Young Veterans in Virginia Beach, Bold Mariner in Norfolk and Fidelis Beer, which is based in Burke but brews its beers under contract at Beltway Brewing in Sterling.\nIan Schuster, the founder of the Schubros Brewery in San Ramon, Calif., and a Naval Academy graduate who served in Iraq and Kosovo, says similar breweries are sprouting up all over the country. Schuster led the roundtable discussion at the Craft Brewers Conference, where he met representatives from 30 breweries, from Key West to Seattle.\nHeritage Brewing\u2019s Sean Arroyo works on an experimental batch. (Andre Chung/For The Washington Post)\nIn October, Schuster and a group of veterans who\u2019d met over beers at the CBC founded the nonprofit Veterans Beer Alliance. Schuster wants it to be a way for veteran-owned business to network or potentially share costs. As an example, he cites a conversation he had with Jeff Dieringer of the Fort Washington-based beer distributors DOPS. \u201cThe first 15 minutes was all about beer. The rest was what he did in the Army, what I did in the Navy,\u201d Schuster says. Schubros recently reached an agreement to have DOPS handle the brewery\u2019s upcoming launch in the District, Maryland and Delaware, thanks in large part to the connection between Schuster and Dieringer. \u201cThere\u2019s a level of trust right off the bat,\u201d Schuster says. \u201cWe understand each other\u2019s history.\u201d\nIf breweries with veteran ties are becoming more visible, it\u2019s due in large part to the marketing, including the names of breweries and beers. Many breweries play up their connections for a simple reason: \u201cNo matter where we go, there are people who relate to veterans,\u201d says Kevin Ryan, a West Point graduate who opened Service Brewing in Savannah, Ga., in 2014. \u201cTheir dad served or their next-door neighbor served or their grandfather was a vet.\u201d Service\u2019s beers include Rally Point Pilsner and Battlewagon Double IPA, but it also tries to appeal to non-veterans: The brewery\u2019s motto, \u201cHow do you serve?\u201d is featured on a large chalkboard in its tasting room, and visitors are invited to add their own response.\nFor Thomas Wilder and Neil McCanon, high school friends who opened Young Veterans Brewing in Virginia Beach in 2013 after serving in the Army National Guard and the Army and Army Reserve, respectively, their name is a response to a more existential question. One day, while working on a construction job he hated, Wilder asked himself, \u201c\u2018Who are Neil and I? Who do we hope to represent?\u2019 Well, we\u2019re young veterans.\u201d\nDespite their adoption of the name, Wilder and McCanon, both of whom completed tours in Iraq, say they\u2019re conscious that they walk a fine line. When you use the word \u201cveterans,\u201d McCanon says, \u201cyou represent a wide spectrum of people. In our labeling and our choice of names, we try not to overrepresent our military or our patriotism.\u201d\n\u201cWe try very hard not to wave flags or use red, white and blue on the labels,\u201d Wilder adds. Instead, they use olive drab and labels styled as World War II propaganda posters to evoke what Wilder calls \u201cthe Greatest Generation feeling. It\u2019s military, but it\u2019s also nostalgic.\u201d\nAt Fair Winds Brewing in Lorton, brew master Charlie Buettner and brewer Jill Yoffe clean a tank. (Andre Chung/For The Washington Post)\nOthers agree: Ian Schuster says he heard from some veterans at the CBC roundtable who are concerned that breweries with overly militaristic names looked as if they were cashing in on their military service. Arroyo, of Heritage, served in Iraq but says that he and his brother initially discussed whether to tell anyone that they were veterans. \u201cWe\u2019re happy with the exposure, but the much more important thing is making good beer. We want you to come out and have a great craft beer and say, \u2018Oh, hey, these guys are veterans,\u2019 not come out because we\u2019re veterans.\u201d\nWhether or not they advertise their service, a tie that binds veteran-owned breweries is support for charitable causes. \u201cOne of the things that\u2019s hard to root out of a military guy is that drive and that love of service to their country and community,\u201d says Heritage\u2019s Arroyo. \u201cAny way that we can give back, whether that\u2019s donating or doing an event, we\u2019re happy to do it.\u201d\nMany specifically help organizations that help veterans. Every quarter, Service Brewing picks a different such charity to support. The brewery hosts a launch party for a new beer and donates a percentage of ticket and beer sales to its designated charity. Earlier this year, the beneficiary was Homes for Our Troops, which builds adapted homes for disabled veterans. After the fundraising, Service founder Kevin Ryan, who led two companies in Iraq, learned that \u201cone of my soldiers from Iraq is going to be receiving a home from them this spring. It hammers home the importance of what we\u2019re doing.\u201d\nYoung Veterans hosts a monthly gathering at its brewery called Vet Noise, which uses beer sales, food trucks and live music to raise money for veteran-focused groups such as Fisher House and Dogs on Deployment. This month, the brewery held a food and supply drive for Vetshouse, which helps homeless veterans in Virginia Beach.\nFair Winds Brewing sells an assortment of beers in its tap room. Launched 10 months ago, it\u2019s among a growing number of breweries owned and run by veterans. (Andre Chung/For The Washington Post)\nOther partnerships are more traditional: Battlefield Brew Works in Gettysburg, Pa., donates all the proceeds from its Red Circle Ale to the Red Circle Foundation, which helps support the families of special forces members who have been wounded or killed.\nThe smaller breweries, like many others across the country, are finding out that the next challenge will be growth. Young Veterans has received plenty of buzz, especially after Semper Fi P.A. won a bronze medal in the Best IPA category at the 2015 Virginia Craft Brewers Cup, but its beers are hard to find outside its hometown. \u201cWe\u2019ve gotten a reputation for being a little bit bigger than we are,\u201d McCanon says. \u201cWe have a three-barrel brew house and do about a thousand barrels a year,\u201d which is a drop in a bucket compared to Virginia competitors Devils Backbone or Champion, let alone the big boys.\nService Brewing is sold in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, but Ryan says he regularly receives distribution requests from members of the military farther afield. \u201cThey\u2019ve been [stationed] at Fort Gordon or Fort Augusta, places where we\u2019re now available, and they move on [to another posting], and they want to get your beer where they are now.\u201d"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "f79c08d6759d5af437efb3f5b77afbbf_0", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "f79c08d6759d5af437efb3f5b77afbbf_0", "title": "No Savor tickets? Drink beer at these events instead.", "text": "Next week is the biggest week of the year for Washington's beer lovers. The catalyst is the annual Savor craft beer festival, which brings 76 of the country's top breweries to the National Building Museum on Friday and Saturday nights for tastings and seminars. All tickets for Savor sold out in around 30 minutes back in March, but if you didn't get them, don't worry: The real fun is found at the happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events that spring up at D.C. beer bars. This is your chance meet Brooklyn Brewery founder Garrett Oliver or Sam Adams founder Jim Koch; try numerous rare beers from Founders or Stone; or sample Odell, Cigar City and other breweries that don't regularly show up on taps in this region. Dogfish Head Ale House in Fairfax will pour 16 Belgian-inspired beers from seven different breweries on May 10. (Photo by Evy Mages for The Washington Post) Starting Monday, we'll have a daily post with a rundown of the day's must-do beer tastings and events, most of which are free and require no reservations. But if you're planning ahead, some big events do require tickets. Here are six you might want to book now. The Ultimate Funkwerks Beer & Food Experience Where and when Founders Beer Brunch Where and when Belgium on the Beltway Where and when Third Annual Brewers Brunch Where and when Maine Beer Company Clam Bake Where and when All 'Ale the Ladies Meet-and-Greet Where and when"}], "old": [{"_id": "f79c08d6759d5af437efb3f5b77afbbf_0", "title": "No Savor tickets? Drink beer at these events instead.", "text": "Dogfish Head Ale House in Fairfax will pour 16 Belgian-inspired beers from seven different breweries on May 10. (Photo by Evy Mages for The Washington Post) Starting Monday, we'll have a daily post with a rundown of the day's must-do beer tastings and events, most of which are free and require no reservations. But if you're planning ahead, some big events do require tickets. Here are six you might want to book now. The Ultimate Funkwerks Beer & Food Experience Where and when Founders Beer Brunch Where and when Belgium on the Beltway Where and when Third Annual Brewers Brunch Where and when Maine Beer Company Clam Bake Where and when All 'Ale the Ladies Meet-and-Greet Where and when"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Next week is the biggest week of the year for Washington's beer lovers. The catalyst is the annual Savor craft beer festival, which brings 76 of the country's top breweries to the National Building Museum on Friday and Saturday nights for tastings and seminars. All tickets for Savor sold out in around 30 minutes back in March, but if you didn't get them, don't worry: The real fun is found at the happy hours, brewer meet-and-greets and rare-beer events that spring up at D.C. beer bars. This is your chance meet Brooklyn Brewery founder Garrett Oliver or Sam Adams founder Jim Koch; try numerous rare beers from Founders or Stone; or sample Odell, Cigar City and other breweries that don't regularly show up on taps in this region.\nDogfish Head Ale House in Fairfax will pour 16 Belgian-inspired beers from seven different breweries on May 10. (Photo by Evy Mages for The Washington Post)\nStarting Monday, we'll have a daily post with a rundown of the day's must-do beer tastings and events, most of which are free and require no reservations. But if you're planning ahead, some big events do require tickets. Here are six you might want to book now.\nThe Ultimate Funkwerks Beer & Food Experience\nWhere and when\nFounders Beer Brunch\nWhere and when\nBelgium on the Beltway\nWhere and when\nThird Annual Brewers Brunch\nWhere and when\nMaine Beer Company Clam Bake\nWhere and when\nAll 'Ale the Ladies Meet-and-Greet\nWhere and when"}
{"qid": 944, "pid": "fb5eae57c67ff8a7a2cdda8d358f5959_2", "query_info": {"_id": 944, "text": "Find information on homebrewing beer and its increasing popularity.", "instruction_og": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing.", "instruction_changed": "Homebrewing beer has been legal in the United States since the 1970's. It's popularity increases each year. Some brewers have been using locally grown ingredients and have increased their output so much that they have turned their former hobby into profitable businesses. The Capitol region is a thriving area for homebrewers and microbrewers.  Find information on the growth of homebrewing. Keep the results limited to American only, any mention of a non-American brewery/beer is irrelevant.", "short_query": "Research the expansion of a specific hobby into a business for this question.", "keywords": "expansion business"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "fb5eae57c67ff8a7a2cdda8d358f5959_2", "title": "Celebrate D.C. Beer Week with crab feasts, tap takeovers and a scavenger hunt", "text": "a ticket in advance helps avoid a sellout crowd. 5 to 8 p.m. Boundary Stone, 116 Rhode Island Ave. NW. www.boundarystonedc.com. $20. Wednesday, Aug. 12 The DC Brewery Q&A at City Tap House, which features owners and brewers from 3 Stars, Atlas Brew Works, Bluejacket, DC Brau and Hellbender, promises to answer your questions about the local beer scene. RSVP to info@citytaphousedc.com. After the panel ends, the Coast to Coast Tap Takeover at nearby RFD includes 45 beers from all over the country for $5 each until 11 p.m. DC Brewery Q&A: 6 to 8 p.m. at City Tap House, 901 I St. NW. www.citytaphousedc.com. Free admission. Coast to Coast Tap Takeover: Starts at 4 p.m. at RFD, 810 Seventh St. NW. www.lovethebeer.com. $5 cover charge to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Center. Thursday, Aug. 13 If you have a craving for crustaceans and local brews, Smoke and Barrel is hosting an all-you-can-eat crab feast with two Eastern Shore breweries: RAR of Cambridge and Evolution of Salisbury. Each ticket includes crabs, corn on the cob, hush puppies, and unlimited pours of seven beers from each of the breweries from 6 to 8 p.m. Smoke and Barrel, 2471 18th St. NW. www.smokeandbarreldc.com. $65. Ciders and meads Friday, Aug. 14 Many of the events during DC Beer Week celebrate local beers, but part of the strength of the local beer scene is the ability to enjoy brews from around the country, if not the world. San Diego's Ballast Point has become a fixture on local taps this summer \u2013 its Grapefruit Sculpin IPA is the perfect marriage of a hoppy West Coast IPA and a quenching German radler \u2013 and ChurchKey is putting two dozen Ballast Point beers on tap and another four on draft for one night only. 4 p.m. to close. ChurchKey, 1337 14th St. NW. www.churchkeydc.com. Free admission. Saturday, Aug. 15 The Old Ebbitt BrewHaHa pairs nine breweries, including Hardywood, Flying Dog and DC Brau, with one of nine chefs \u2013 maybe Michael Friedman of the Red Hen or Nathan Anda of Partisan and Red Apron Butchery. Each brewery picks two beers to serve, and the chef creates small bites to pair with them. The event runs from 8 to 11 p.m. and all food and drinks are included in the ticket price. 8 to 11 p.m. Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 15th St. NW. www.brewhaha2015.eventfarm.com. $65. Sunday, Aug. 16"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "DC Brau's annual all-you-can-eat crab feast at the Quarterdeck is one of the most popular events of DC Beer Week. (D.C. Beer Week)\nDC Beer Week runs Aug. 9-16,\u00a0and every night is packed with events: beer dinners, happy hours, crab feasts, and even a scavenger hunt through Dupont Circle. A longer list of events can be found on the official DC Beer Week Calendar.\nFriday-Saturday, Aug. 7-8\nSunday, Aug. 9\nGet to know 11 new local breweries at the Black Squirrel's New Kids on the Block tasting. Hellbender (D.C.) and Adroit Theory (Purcellville, Va.) are regularly seen at D.C. beer bars; Caboose (Vienna), Ornery (Woodbridge) and Mispillion River (Milford, Del.) are less common, while this is the D.C. debut of Jailbreak (Laurel) and an early chance to try a beer from Metropole (Arlington), which isn't even open yet. 4 p.m. to midnight. The Black Squirrel, 2427 18th St. NW. www.blacksquirreldc.com. Free admission.\nMonday, Aug. 10\nTuesday, Aug. 11\nIf you enjoy a rich, strong barrel-aged beer, make your way to Boundary Stone for the second annual Battle of the Barrel-Aged Brews, where DC Brau is defending its title against competition from 3 Stars, Atlas, Hellbender and Port City. Small pours of each beer are included in the $20 ticket, along with an all-important ballot that lets you vote for the winner. Buying a ticket in advance helps avoid a sellout crowd. 5 to 8 p.m. Boundary Stone, 116 Rhode Island Ave. NW. www.boundarystonedc.com. $20.\nWednesday, Aug. 12\nThe DC Brewery Q&A at City Tap House, which features owners and brewers from 3 Stars, Atlas Brew Works, Bluejacket, DC Brau and Hellbender, promises to answer your questions about the local beer scene. RSVP to info@citytaphousedc.com.\u00a0 After the panel ends, the Coast to Coast Tap Takeover\u00a0at nearby RFD includes 45 beers from all over the country for $5 each until 11 p.m. DC Brewery Q&A: 6 to 8 p.m. at City Tap House, 901 I St. NW. www.citytaphousedc.com. Free admission. Coast to Coast Tap Takeover: Starts at 4 p.m. at RFD, 810 Seventh St. NW. www.lovethebeer.com. $5 cover charge to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Center.\nThursday, Aug. 13\nIf you have a craving for crustaceans and local brews, Smoke and Barrel is hosting an all-you-can-eat crab feast with two Eastern Shore breweries: RAR of Cambridge and Evolution of Salisbury. Each\u00a0ticket includes crabs, corn on the cob, hush puppies, and unlimited pours of seven beers from each of the breweries from 6 to 8 p.m. Smoke and Barrel, 2471 18th St. NW. www.smokeandbarreldc.com. $65.\nCiders and meads\nFriday, Aug. 14\nMany of the events during DC Beer Week celebrate local beers, but part of the strength of the local beer scene is the ability to enjoy brews from around the country, if not the world. San Diego's Ballast Point has become a fixture on local taps this summer \u2013 its Grapefruit Sculpin IPA is the perfect marriage of a hoppy West Coast IPA and a quenching German radler \u2013 and ChurchKey is putting two dozen Ballast Point beers on tap and another four on draft for one night only. 4 p.m. to close. ChurchKey, 1337 14th St. NW. www.churchkeydc.com. Free admission.\nSaturday, Aug. 15\nThe Old Ebbitt BrewHaHa\u00a0pairs nine breweries, including Hardywood, Flying Dog and DC Brau, with one of nine chefs \u2013 maybe Michael Friedman of the Red Hen or Nathan Anda of Partisan and Red Apron Butchery. Each brewery picks two beers to serve, and the chef creates small bites to pair with them. The event runs from 8 to 11 p.m. and all food and drinks are included in the ticket price. 8 to 11 p.m. Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 15th St. NW. www.brewhaha2015.eventfarm.com. $65.\nSunday, Aug. 16"}
{"qid": 946, "pid": "25b64fd951394698ba5fe97727b1c5ad_0", "query_info": {"_id": 946, "text": "The site of a murder in northwest DC is for sale.", "instruction_og": "The upper northwest DC mansion where three members of the Savopoulos  family and their housekeeper Figueroa were murdered in October 2015 is for sale.  Describe the size of the mansion, its condition, the sale price, the listing agent, and the buyer.  Also of interest is whether the buyer moved into the house as is or completely refurbished the residence.  Sale of comparable homes on Woodland Drive NW are pertinent. Details of the murder and subsequent trial are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "The upper northwest DC mansion where three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper Figueroa were murdered in October 2015 is for sale. Describe the size of the mansion, its condition, the sale price, the listing agent, and the buyer. Also of interest is whether the buyer moved into the house as is or completely refurbished the residence. Sale of comparable homes on Woodland Drive NW are pertinent. Details of the murder and subsequent trial are not relevant. Omit any references to Georgetown.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this real estate question.", "keywords": "real estate online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "25b64fd951394698ba5fe97727b1c5ad_0", "title": "The D.C. area\u2019s 10 most pricey house listings", "text": "Dramatic staircases, nine fireplaces and a 20-car driveway are among the features. View Photo Gallery \u2014A home gym, libraries and an indoor water feature are among the amenities in these pricey properties. With the help of Rockville-based multiple-listing service MRIS, we compiled a list of some of the most expensive houses for sale in the Washington area. The properties range from a $12.9 million chateau set in the woods of McLean to a $3.99 million estate in Great Falls modeled on Shirley Plantation on the James River. Other properties on the list include a 19th-century mansion and a sleek contemporary condo that is under construction. (Sean Shanahan) \u2022 801 Turkey Run Rd., McLean $12.9 million Agent: Deborah Shapiro and Michael Anastasia, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty Inspired by the Chateau Chambord in France, this home \u2014 more than 14,000 square feet \u2014 rests on more than two acres surrounded by a forest. The estate has five bedrooms, seven full baths and four half baths. It also has a lower-level full bar and wine cellar in a grotto-like setting, an outdoor kitchen and entertaining space, a swimming pool and parking for five cars. To read more about this home, click here. (Courtesy of HomeVisit) \u2022 3120 Woodland Drive NW, Washington $8.1 million Agent: Marc Fleisher, Long & Foster Real Estate This elegant brick Georgian-style home in Massachusetts Avenue Heights features formal and informal entertaining spaces, including a formal dining room, a formal living room and a sunroom wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows. Upstairs is a charming library with an arched opening to the upper-level gallery. The private half-acre lot includes a swimming pool. (Courtesy of HomeVisit) \u2022 7700 Oldchester Rd., Bethesda $7.2 million Agent: Marc Fleisher, Long & Foster Real Estate This estate, custom built by Sandy Spring Builders in 2009, has more than 12,000 square feet of living space with seven bedrooms and eight baths. Special features include an indoor waterfall feature, two custom-milled libraries, a morning room with stone walls and a fireplace, a spacious sunroom that provides year-round indoor-outdoor living and a lower level with a basketball court, a gym, a spa bath and guest quarters. (Courtesy of TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty) \u2022 2615 30th St. NW, Washington $6.75 million Agent: Jonathan Taylor, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty This Colonial-style stone home in Massachusetts Avenue Heights has nearly 9,000 finished square feet, including a grand foyer that leads into large entertaining"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Dramatic staircases, nine fireplaces and a 20-car driveway are among the features.\nView Photo Gallery \u2014A home gym, libraries and an indoor water feature are among the amenities in these pricey properties.\nWith the help of Rockville-based multiple-listing service MRIS, we compiled a list of some of the most expensive houses for sale in the Washington area.\nThe properties range from a $12.9\u00a0million chateau set in the woods of McLean to a $3.99\u00a0million estate in Great Falls modeled on Shirley Plantation on the James River. Other properties on the list include a 19th-century mansion and a sleek contemporary condo that is under construction.\n(Sean Shanahan)\n\u2022 801 Turkey Run Rd., McLean\n$12.9 million\nAgent: Deborah Shapiro and Michael Anastasia, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\nInspired by the Chateau Chambord in France, this home \u2014 more than 14,000 square feet \u2014 rests on more than two acres surrounded by a forest. The estate has five bedrooms, seven full baths and four half baths. It also has a lower-level full bar and wine cellar in a grotto-like setting, an outdoor kitchen and entertaining space, a swimming pool and parking for five cars. To read more about this home, click here.\n(Courtesy of HomeVisit)\n\u2022 3120 Woodland Drive NW, Washington\n$8.1 million\nAgent: Marc Fleisher, Long & Foster Real Estate\nThis elegant brick Georgian-style home in Massachusetts Avenue Heights features formal and informal entertaining spaces, including a formal dining room, a formal living room and a sunroom wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows. Upstairs is a charming library with an arched opening to the upper-level gallery. The private half-acre lot includes a swimming pool.\n(Courtesy of HomeVisit)\n\u2022 7700 Oldchester Rd., Bethesda\n$7.2 million\nAgent: Marc Fleisher, Long & Foster Real Estate\nThis estate, custom built by Sandy Spring Builders in 2009, has more than 12,000 square feet of living space with seven bedrooms and eight baths. Special features include an indoor waterfall feature, two custom-milled libraries, a morning room with stone walls and a fireplace, a spacious sunroom that provides year-round indoor-outdoor living and a lower level with a basketball court, a gym, a spa bath and guest quarters.\n(Courtesy of TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty)\n\u2022 2615 30th St. NW, Washington\n$6.75 million\nAgent: Jonathan Taylor, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\nThis Colonial-style stone home in Massachusetts Avenue Heights has nearly 9,000 finished square feet, including a grand foyer that leads into large entertaining spaces. The home has five bedrooms, six full baths, two half baths, a large kitchen and breakfast area, a library and a graceful formal dining room with arched doorways. The master suite features his-and-hers baths and a dressing room, while the finished lower level includes a dining area with a glass block wall. The grounds include a swimming pool and an unusual whirlpool tub set in a stone grotto.\n(Courtesy of BTW Images)\n\u2022 3911 Bradley Lane, Chevy Chase, Md.\n$5.2 million\nAgent: Hans Wydler, Long & Foster Real Estate\nThis circa 1895 estate, which rests on 1.34 acres, has been updated throughout yet retains its original architectural detail and a floor plan suited for grand entertaining and intimate gatherings. The home has nine bedrooms, 10 baths and nearly 12,000 square feet of living space, including a receiving room, formal living room, great room, dining room and solarium. The spacious grounds include a swimming pool, terraces and a deep shaded porch.\n(Courtesy of HomeVisit)\n\u2022 9325 Belle Terre Way, Potomac\n$4.995 million\nAgent: Kimberly Casey and Daryl Judy, Washington Fine Properties\nThe original Belle Terre Estate, built in 1942, is a renovated classic European house set on more than two acres. The grounds include lawns, terraces, two large guesthouses with a total of five bedrooms and five baths, a swimming pool and pool house and a sport court. The main house, which has approximately 7,700 square feet, has five bedrooms, four full baths, two half baths and spaces for entertaining formally and informally such as a sunroom, family room, living room and dining room. The home has an office on the main level as well as a second office on the loft level.\n(Courtesy of TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty)\n\u2022 4901 Hampden Lane, Bethesda\n$4.845 million\nAgent: Dave DeSantis, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\nLocated in the heart of Bethesda at the corner of Hampden Lane and Montgomery Lane, the Lauren is a new luxury residential condominium designed by Miami architect Robert M. Swedroe, with interiors by the Akseizer Group. The homes offer large floor plans, direct-access elevators, high ceilings, private rooftop terraces or private balconies, a home automation system, fireplaces and high-end fixtures and appliances. Building amenities will include a wine cellar for the use of residents that will double as a private screening room. This unit, anticipated to be ready in late 2015, has approximately 3,500 square feet, four bedrooms and five baths.\n(Courtesy of TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty)\n\u2022 1322 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington\n$4.445 million\nAgent: Peter Lane and Robert Sanders, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\nThis Logan Circle mansion, built in 1885, features more than 9,200 square feet on five levels with 11 bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and nine fireplaces. The interior features a careful restoration of the original exposed brick walls, wood beams, moldings and antique fireplaces. The home includes a finished lower level with two bedrooms, two baths and a kitchen as well as an in-law suite on the fourth floor with another kitchen, an oversized brick patio and parking for two cars.\n(Courtesy of HomeVisit)\n\u2022 4929 Glenbrook Rd. NW, Washington\n$4.295 million\nAgent: William F.X. Moody and Robert Hryniewicki, Washington Fine Properties\nBuilt in 1934, this completely restored brick Colonial in Spring Valley includes a two-story addition. The home has grand rooms for entertaining and family living, six bedrooms, nine baths and approximately 6,000 finished square feet. The home includes informal recreation areas on the lower level, a three-car garage and a terrace accessible from the living room and family room that leads to the rear garden.\n(Courtesy of TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty)\n\u2022 11206 Richland Grove Drive, Great Falls\n$3.999 million\nAgent: Penny Yerks and Anj Murphy, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\nKnown as Eight Oaks and inspired by the design of Shirley Plantation, this estate rests on one of the highest points of Great Falls. The five-acre property has a gated entry opening onto a winding drive, a four-car garage, a swimming pool and terraces. Inside, the home has four levels, each accessible by an elevator. The grand foyer has a floating marble staircase, the library has walls of black walnut harvested from the property, and the main level has multiple salons and promenades designed for entertaining on a lavish scale. The home has six bedrooms, 10 full baths, four half baths and a finished lower level with an in-law suite, a wine cellar, a gym and a club room.\nMichele Lerner is a freelance writer.\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 946, "pid": "D7Z7SSPUDZGTZDXZ5OD7GAH2NI_1", "query_info": {"_id": 946, "text": "The site of a murder in northwest DC is for sale.", "instruction_og": "The upper northwest DC mansion where three members of the Savopoulos  family and their housekeeper Figueroa were murdered in October 2015 is for sale.  Describe the size of the mansion, its condition, the sale price, the listing agent, and the buyer.  Also of interest is whether the buyer moved into the house as is or completely refurbished the residence.  Sale of comparable homes on Woodland Drive NW are pertinent. Details of the murder and subsequent trial are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "The upper northwest DC mansion where three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper Figueroa were murdered in October 2015 is for sale. Describe the size of the mansion, its condition, the sale price, the listing agent, and the buyer. Also of interest is whether the buyer moved into the house as is or completely refurbished the residence. Sale of comparable homes on Woodland Drive NW are pertinent. Details of the murder and subsequent trial are not relevant. Omit any references to Georgetown.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this real estate question.", "keywords": "real estate online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "D7Z7SSPUDZGTZDXZ5OD7GAH2NI_1", "title": "Inside the D.C. area\u2019s most expensive homes for sale", "text": "than 11,000 square feet and sits on a nearly one-acre lot. The home has a ballroom-size living room with high ceilings and an Italian fireplace mantel. The master suite includes two bathrooms. Buyers also have a right of first refusal for the adjacent 26,700-square-foot lot. The home was listed last year at $9.995 million. \u2022 2404 Wyoming Ave. NW, Washington $5.7 million Agent: Michael Rankin, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty The Colonial Revival-style mansion in Kalorama has been renovated by Jim Gibson and includes 8,241 square feet with seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms on four levels. The house, built in 1921, has high ceilings and classic architectural details, an open kitchen and family room with an exposed-beam ceiling, a home theater, four fireplaces, an elevator and a wine cellar. Two sets of French doors open onto a terrace that overlooks gardens and a heated swimming pool. Three sets of French doors open from the lower level onto a shaded brick patio. This house was listed at $5.95 million last year. \u2022 1805 Hoban Rd. NW, Washington $4.995 million Agent: Ted Gossett, Washington Fine Properties Built in 1932, this brick home was renovated and expanded in 2016. The 7,800-square-foot home has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and three fireplaces on four levels. The main level has a formal living room, a large dining room and a family room with a coffered ceiling and a wall with several sets of French doors. The kitchen includes two dishwashers, a professional-grade stove and a wine chiller, and there is a second kitchen on the lower level. The master suite has two bathrooms and two walk-in closets. The property has two terraces and a garden. \u2022 3611 R St. NW, Washington $3.695 million Agents: HRL Partners: Robert Hryniewicki, Adam Rackliffe and Chris Leary with Washington Fine Properties This contemporary home in the Burleith neighborhood adjacent to Georgetown, built in 2004, has 6,100 square feet on four levels. Each level has its own terrace, and a 1,250-square-foot roof deck provides more outdoor living space. The modern rooms include floor-to-ceiling walls of glass, a two-story living room with a fireplace, high ceilings and a master bathroom with a steam shower, a whirlpool tub and heated floors. The lower level of the house is an apartment with a second kitchen, four guest bedrooms and two bathrooms. Last year, the house was priced at $4.25 million. \u2022 10231 Leesburg Pike, Vienna"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Using data from the Rockville-based multiple-listing service Bright MLS, we compiled a list of some of the most expensive houses for sale in the Washington area. Listings range from $3.499 million to $10.75 million and include two contemporary-style residences, a Montgomery County farm and a four-lot parcel in Vienna.\n\u2022\u00a02815 Woodland Dr. NW, Washington\n$10.75 million\nAgent: Marilyn Charity, Washington Fine Properties\nBuilt in 2010, this contemporary home in Massachusetts Avenue Heights was designed by Marshall Moya and sits on a nearly half-acre lot overlooking Rock Creek Park. The house has four bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The great room, which has 20-foot-high ceilings, offers views of the park. The house has slate floors, an elevator, five fireplaces, a whole-house media system, a media room, a wine room, an exercise room, a sauna, a swimming pool, five terraces and an eight-car garage. The house was listed at $13.5 million and $11.5 million\u00a0last year.\n\u2022\u00a05215 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda\n$5.75 million\nAgent: Marc Fleisher, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\nThis home, built in 1913, was renovated and expanded in 2013 by architect George Meyers of GTM Architects, Gibson Builders and interior designer Mary Douglas Drysdale. The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom residence has more than 11,000 square feet and sits on a nearly one-acre lot. The home has a ballroom-size living room with high ceilings and an Italian fireplace mantel. The master suite includes two bathrooms. Buyers also have a right of first refusal for the adjacent 26,700-square-foot lot. The home was listed\u00a0last year at $9.995 million.\n\u2022\u00a02404 Wyoming Ave. NW, Washington\n$5.7 million\nAgent: Michael Rankin, TTR Sotheby\u2019s International Realty\nThe Colonial Revival-style mansion in Kalorama has been renovated by Jim Gibson and includes 8,241 square feet with seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms on four levels. The house, built in 1921,\u00a0 has high ceilings and classic architectural details, an open kitchen and family room with an exposed-beam ceiling, a home theater, four fireplaces, an elevator and a wine cellar. Two sets of French doors open onto a terrace that overlooks gardens and a heated swimming pool. Three sets of French doors open from the lower level onto a shaded brick patio. This house was listed at $5.95 million\u00a0last year.\n\u2022\u00a01805 Hoban Rd. NW, Washington\n$4.995 million\nAgent: Ted Gossett, Washington Fine Properties\nBuilt in 1932, this brick home was renovated and expanded in 2016. The 7,800-square-foot home has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and three fireplaces on four levels. The main level has a formal living room, a large dining room and a family room with a coffered ceiling and a wall with several sets of French doors. The kitchen includes two dishwashers, a professional-grade stove and a wine chiller, and there is a second kitchen on the lower level. The master suite has two bathrooms and two walk-in closets. The property has two terraces and a garden.\n\u2022\u00a03611 R St. NW, Washington\n$3.695 million\nAgents: HRL Partners: Robert Hryniewicki, Adam Rackliffe and Chris Leary with Washington Fine Properties\nThis contemporary home in the Burleith neighborhood adjacent to Georgetown, built in 2004, has 6,100 square feet on four levels. Each level has its own terrace, and a 1,250-square-foot roof deck provides more outdoor living space. The modern rooms include floor-to-ceiling walls of glass, a two-story living room with a fireplace, high ceilings and a master bathroom with a steam shower, a whirlpool tub and heated floors. The lower level of the house is an apartment with a second kitchen, four guest bedrooms and two bathrooms.\u00a0Last year, the house was priced at $4.25 million.\n\u2022\u00a010231 Leesburg Pike, Vienna\n$3.5 million\nAgent: Eric Stewart, Long & Foster Real Estate\nUnlike many of the other expensive listings this month, this Vienna property is primarily valuable for its land, which includes four lots ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 acres. The land, purchased by Samuel Millard in 1915, includes a house, a garage and a guesthouse. Millard\u2019s parents owned the nearby Colvin Run Mill, and he\u00a0ran it until he sold it in 1934. The Millards also had a 40-acre family farm named Windswept. The four lots, which are being marketed to builders, are the last of the Millard family\u2019s land.\n\u2022\u00a017300 Whites Store Rd., Boyds, Md.\n$3.5 million\nAgent: Robert Jamison of Charles Jamison LLC\nBuilt in 1983, the mansion at this Montgomery County estate rests on a hilltop on a 155-acre site. The main house has 20,585 square feet with nine bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. In addition to formal and informal entertaining spaces, which include a family room with built-in seating in a conversation pit, the house has an indoor swimming pool and whirlpool tub. The property also has two additional houses, cropland and a forest.\n\u2022\n$3.499 million\nAgent:\u00a0Kesh Tayal, Wydler Brothers\nBuilt in 2014, this French Manor-style house has 10,000 square feet with seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms and four fireplaces. The house has an elevator, hardwood flooring, an expansive kitchen with two center islands, and a master suite with a separate sitting room with a fireplace and a coffee bar. The lower level includes a bar, a wine cellar, an exercise room and a media room. The grounds include a five-car garage and a guesthouse with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a deck and a covered patio."}
{"qid": 946, "pid": "ee60de44-815c-11e5-9afb-0c971f713d0c_0", "query_info": {"_id": 946, "text": "The site of a murder in northwest DC is for sale.", "instruction_og": "The upper northwest DC mansion where three members of the Savopoulos  family and their housekeeper Figueroa were murdered in October 2015 is for sale.  Describe the size of the mansion, its condition, the sale price, the listing agent, and the buyer.  Also of interest is whether the buyer moved into the house as is or completely refurbished the residence.  Sale of comparable homes on Woodland Drive NW are pertinent. Details of the murder and subsequent trial are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "The upper northwest DC mansion where three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper Figueroa were murdered in October 2015 is for sale. Describe the size of the mansion, its condition, the sale price, the listing agent, and the buyer. Also of interest is whether the buyer moved into the house as is or completely refurbished the residence. Sale of comparable homes on Woodland Drive NW are pertinent. Details of the murder and subsequent trial are not relevant. Omit any references to Georgetown.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this real estate question.", "keywords": "real estate online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ee60de44-815c-11e5-9afb-0c971f713d0c_0", "title": "Home of Savopoulos slayings in upper Northwest Washington for sale", "text": "The home where the high-profile killings took place is seen boarded up on June 16, 2015. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) The home in upper Northwest Washington where three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper were brutally killed in May is for sale. A real estate listing says the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom house has 10,800 square feet and sits in the 3200 block of Woodland Drive NW. The sale price is $3.25 million. Businessman Savvas Savopoulos, 46, his wife Amy, 47, their son, Phillip, 10, and a housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa, 57, were found dead in May inside the home. It had been set on fire. [Sword, duct tape among possible evidence collected in Savopoulos killings] Authorities have charged Daron Wint, 34, with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths. Police have said the victims were held captive overnight and that the attacker or attackers fled with $40,000 delivered to the home as a ransom payment. The home in Northwest Washington where three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper where murdered in May is up for sale. The home's purchase price is listed for $3.25 million. Wint is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court in December. At one of his recent hearings in September, prosecutors told a judge they were looking into whether Wint had an accomplice in the slayings. Keith L. Alexander contributed to this report."}], "old": [{"_id": "ee60de44-815c-11e5-9afb-0c971f713d0c_0", "title": "Home of Savopoulos slayings in upper Northwest Washington for sale", "text": "The home where the high-profile killings took place is seen boarded up on June 16, 2015. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) A real estate listing says the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom house has 10,800 square feet and sits in the 3200 block of Woodland Drive NW. The sale price is $3.25 million. [Sword, duct tape among possible evidence collected in Savopoulos killings] Authorities have charged Daron Wint, 34, with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths. Police have said the victims were held captive overnight and that the attacker or attackers fled with $40,000 delivered to the home as a ransom payment. The home in Northwest Washington where three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper where murdered in May is up for sale. The home's purchase price is listed for $3.25 million. Wint is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court in December. At one of his recent hearings in September, prosecutors told a judge they were looking into whether Wint had an accomplice in the slayings. Keith L. Alexander contributed to this report."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The home where the high-profile killings took place is seen boarded up on June 16, 2015. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)\nThe home in upper Northwest Washington where three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper were brutally killed in May is for sale.\nA real estate listing says the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom house has 10,800 square feet and sits in the 3200 block of Woodland Drive NW. The sale price is $3.25 million.\nBusinessman Savvas Savopoulos, 46, his wife Amy, 47, their son, Phillip, 10, and a housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa, 57, were found dead in May inside the home. It had been set on fire.\n[Sword, duct tape among possible evidence collected in Savopoulos killings]\nAuthorities have charged Daron Wint, 34, with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths. Police have said the victims were held captive overnight and that the attacker or attackers fled with $40,000 delivered to the home as a ransom payment.\nThe home in Northwest Washington where three members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper where murdered in May is up for sale. The home's purchase price is listed for $3.25 million.\nWint is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court in December.\nAt one of his recent hearings in September, prosecutors told a judge they were looking into whether Wint had an accomplice in the slayings.\nKeith L. Alexander contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "11e9ec9413a53541c9c2dbeba9d1b801_0", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "11e9ec9413a53541c9c2dbeba9d1b801_0", "title": "A great view of colliding galaxies, thanks to magnifying glasses in the sky", "text": "This diagram shows how the effect of gravitational lensing around a normal galaxy focuses the light coming from a very distant star-forming galaxy merger to created a distorted, but brighter view. (ESA/ESO/M. Kornmesser) Remember \"lensing galaxies\"? With the help of several telescopes (including the Hubble) and an international team of astronomers, one of these gravitational lenses has revealed our best ever view of an ancient galactic collision. The two galaxies are pictured as they were when the universe was just half its current age, the astronomers report. The collision, using combined images from Hubble and Keck-II (NASA/ESA/ESO/W. M. Keck Observatory) Interacting galaxies The galaxies (known together as H-ATLAS J142935.3-002836) resemble a collision called the Antennae Galaxies. The latter collision is much closer to our planet, and has been imaged quite clearly using the Hubble before. But H-ATLAS J142935.3-002836 turns more than 400 times the mass of the Sun in gas into new stars each year, which is around ten times the rate of the Antennae system. It was a multi-telescoping effort that revealed clear images of the combined system. But the Hubble can track down the traces of these perfectly aligned cosmic lenses, allowing astronomers to devote their efforts to the right nooks and crannies of the universe."}], "old": [{"_id": "11e9ec9413a53541c9c2dbeba9d1b801_0", "title": "A great view of colliding galaxies, thanks to magnifying glasses in the sky", "text": "This diagram shows how the effect of gravitational lensing around a normal galaxy focuses the light coming from a very distant star-forming galaxy merger to created a distorted, but brighter view. (ESA/ESO/M. Kornmesser) Remember \"lensing galaxies\"? The collision, using combined images from Hubble and Keck-II (NASA/ESA/ESO/W. M. Keck Observatory) Interacting galaxies It was a multi-telescoping effort that revealed clear images of the combined system. But the Hubble can track down the traces of these perfectly aligned cosmic lenses, allowing astronomers to devote their efforts to the right nooks and crannies of the universe."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "This diagram shows how the effect of gravitational lensing around a normal galaxy focuses the light coming from a very distant star-forming galaxy merger to created a distorted, but brighter view. (ESA/ESO/M. Kornmesser)\nRemember \"lensing galaxies\"?\nWith the help of several telescopes (including the Hubble) and an international team of astronomers, one of these\u00a0gravitational lenses has revealed our best ever view of\u00a0an ancient galactic collision. The two galaxies are pictured as they were when the universe was just half its current age, the astronomers report.\nThe collision, using combined images from Hubble and Keck-II (NASA/ESA/ESO/W. M. Keck Observatory)\nInteracting galaxies\nThe galaxies (known together as H-ATLAS J142935.3-002836) resemble a collision called the Antennae Galaxies. The latter collision is much closer to our planet, and has been imaged quite clearly using the Hubble before.\u00a0But\u00a0H-ATLAS J142935.3-002836 turns more than 400 times the mass of the Sun in gas into new stars each year, which is around ten times the rate of the Antennae system.\nIt was a multi-telescoping effort that revealed clear images of the combined system. But the Hubble can track down the traces of these perfectly aligned cosmic lenses, allowing astronomers to devote their efforts to the right nooks and crannies of the universe.\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "1270f085f4db84f45eccd9166fc3bbca_3", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "1270f085f4db84f45eccd9166fc3bbca_3", "title": "Astronomers just saw farther back in time than they ever have before", "text": "told the BBC. And new ones were popping out all the time; GN-z11 formed stars at a rate 20 times faster than our own Milky Way. For a brief time, they burned brilliantly. And then they burned out. The researchers say that the existence of such a hot and active galaxy shows how little they know about the universe\u2019s toddler years. Marijn Franx, a co-author from the University of Leiden, noted in the statement that previous research suggested that such a thing wasn\u2019t possible. How exactly the brilliant GN-z11 was created \u201cremains somewhat of a mystery for now,\u201d added his colleague Ivo Labbe. There is some skepticism about GN-z11\u2019s age from other scientists. Speaking to the AP, Richard Ellis, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatory who found the previous record-holder for farthest galaxy ever seen, noted that the astronomers studied a spectrum of light that\u2019s seen as less reliable. Ellis wrote in an email that those light signatures are \u201cnoisier and harder to interpret,\u201d and that for GN-z11 to be visible it would have to be three times brighter than typical galaxies. Oesch responded that his team made sure \u201cthis was as clean as possible a measurement,\u201d and noted that the technique he used is now becoming standard. This will probably stand as one of Hubble\u2019s last big accomplishments and almost certainly its most distant find. The decades-old behemoth hasn\u2019t been repaired since 2009, and will likely be retired after NASA launches its new space telescope, the James Webb, in 2018. Exactly how that happens is still up in the air, so to speak. The telescope could be booted into a higher \u201cparking orbit,\u201d where it will float for centuries as yet another piece of space junk. Or it might be summoned back to Earth via a robotic craft, which would guide it on a fiery descent into the Pacific Ocean. But both options are still years away. If anything, Oesch said, the new find shows that after more than two decades aloft, Hubble has still got it. \u201cHubble has proven once again, even after almost 26 years in space, just how special it is,\u201d he told the BBC. \u201cWhen the telescope was launched, we were investigating galaxies a little over half-way back in cosmic history. Now, we\u2019re going 97 percent of the way back. It really is a tremendous achievement.\u201d A look at the best photos of space."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The astronomers on the Hubble team broke the cosmic distance record by measuring the farthest galaxy yet, galaxy GN-z11. Its image is shown as it existed 13.4 billion years ago.\nTo look through the lens of a telescope is to peer back in\u00a0time.\nThe light we view\u00a0through it\u00a0has spent hundreds, millions, even billions of years\u00a0crossing the vastness of space to reach us, carrying with it images of things\u00a0that happened long ago.\nOn Thursday,\u00a0astronomers at the Hubble Space Telescope announced\u00a0that they\u2019d seen\u00a0back farther than they ever have before,\u00a0to\u00a0a galaxy 13.4 billion light years away in a time when the universe was just past its infancy.\nThe finding shattered what\u2019s known as the \u201ccosmic distance record,\u201d illuminating a point\u00a0in time that scientists once thought\u00a0could never be seen with current technology.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve taken a major step back in time, beyond what we\u2019d ever expected to be able to do with Hubble,\u201d Yale University astrophysicist\u00a0Pascal Oesch, the lead author of the study, said in a statement.\nThe galaxy, unpoetically named\u00a0GN-z11, appears as an unremarkable, fuzzy, dark red splotch when it\u2019s magnified from an image taken by the Hubble Telescope. But by measuring a phenomenon known as redshift, Oesch and his colleagues were able to look back in time to when the galaxy was brilliantly blue and incredibly hot, bursting with brand new stars that formed at a frenetic rate.\n\u201cIt really is star bursting,\u201d\u00a0study co-author Gabriel Brammer, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, told the Associated Press.\nHubble Space Telescope image shows the Galaxy GN-z11, shown in the inset, 13.4 billion light years away from Earth. (NASA/ESA handout via Reuters)\nRedshift explains GN-z11\u2019s dull crimson coloring: Because the universe is expanding, every object we see through a telescope is actually moving away from us. And as they move, the waves of light\u00a0they emit stretch out, shifting in color from blue, which has a relatively\u00a0short wavelength, down to red, whose waves are long. The phenomenon isn\u2019t so different from the way the sound of a train deepens as it chugs away from the listener.\nBy measuring the degree of redshift, scientists can figure out how long light has been traveling to us through space, and thereby how long ago the thing that they\u2019re looking at existed. Previously, the highest redshift number assigned to a galaxy was 8.68 \u2014 meaning it existed some 13.2 billion years in the past.\nGN-z11\u2019s redshift number is 11.1.\nThis means that the galaxy was around just 400 million years after the Big Bang \u2014 no time at all, in cosmic terms \u2014 to a period that is\u00a097 percent of the way to the universe\u2019s very beginnings.\n(A note on time and distance:\u00a0Light years are a measure of distance \u2014 how far light can travel in a year. But in cases like this, they are an indicator of age. Since the light from GN-z11 has traveled 13.4 billion years to reach us, that means\u00a0it\u2019s been traveling for 13.4 billion years, so\u00a0its source must be 13.4 billion years\u00a0old.)\n(NASA, ESA, and A. Feild)\nThe universe was still a toddler at that stage \u2014 hazy, cold and shrouded in a fog of hydrogen gas.\nBut the stars in GN-z11 and other galaxies like it were fast-growing giants\u00a0that would have swiftly heated things up,\u00a0\u201cfrying\u201d the gas around them, the scientists told the BBC.\u00a0And new ones were popping out all the time; GN-z11 formed stars at a rate 20 times faster than our own Milky Way.\nFor a brief time, they burned brilliantly. And then they burned out.\nThe researchers say that the existence of such a hot and active galaxy shows how little they know about the universe\u2019s toddler years.\u00a0Marijn Franx, a co-author\u00a0from the University of Leiden, noted in the statement\u00a0that previous research suggested that such a thing wasn\u2019t possible.\nHow exactly the brilliant GN-z11 was created\u00a0\u201cremains somewhat of a mystery for now,\u201d added his colleague\u00a0Ivo Labbe.\nThere is some skepticism about GN-z11\u2019s age from other scientists. Speaking to the AP,\u00a0Richard Ellis, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatory who found the\u00a0previous record-holder for farthest galaxy ever seen, noted that the astronomers studied a spectrum of light that\u2019s seen as less reliable.\nEllis\u00a0wrote in an email that\u00a0those light signatures are \u201cnoisier and harder to interpret,\u201d and that for GN-z11 to be visible it would have to be three times brighter than typical galaxies.\nOesch responded that his team made sure \u201cthis was as clean as possible a measurement,\u201d and noted that the technique\u00a0he used is now becoming standard.\nThis will probably\u00a0stand as one of Hubble\u2019s last big accomplishments and almost certainly its most distant find. The decades-old behemoth hasn\u2019t been repaired since 2009, and\u00a0will likely be retired\u00a0after NASA launches its new space telescope, the James Webb, in 2018.\nExactly how that happens is still up in the air, so to speak. The telescope could be booted into a higher \u201cparking orbit,\u201d where it will float for centuries as yet another piece of space junk. Or it might be summoned back to Earth via a robotic craft, which would guide it on a fiery descent into the Pacific Ocean.\nBut both options are still years away. If anything, Oesch said, the new find shows that after more than two decades aloft, Hubble has still got it.\n\u201cHubble has proven once again, even after almost 26 years in space, just how special it is,\u201d he\u00a0told the BBC.\u00a0\u201cWhen the telescope was launched, we were investigating galaxies a little over half-way back in cosmic history. Now, we\u2019re going 97 percent of the way back. It really is a tremendous achievement.\u201d\nA look at the best photos of space."}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "218f8ee0-77bf-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_1", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "218f8ee0-77bf-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_1", "title": "Hubble telescope probes cosmic dawn, sees big stars, faint galaxies", "text": "Spitzer, which observes in infrared, and another space telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory. This long-exposure Hubble Space Telescope image of massive galaxy cluster Abell 2744 is the deepest ever made of any cluster of galaxies. It shows some of the faintest and youngest galaxies ever detected in space. Abell 2744, located in the constellation Sculptor, appears in the foreground of this image. It contains several hundred galaxies as they looked 3.5 billion years ago. (NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz, M. Mountain, A. Koekemoer, and the HFF Team (STScI)) The new campaign exploits a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. This is an opportunistic maneuver that draws inspiration from Albert Einstein\u2019s general theory of relativity, which describes how gravity curves the fabric of space and time. In the foreground of one new image is a galaxy cluster named Abell 2744, containing hundreds of galaxies. \u201cForeground\u201d is perhaps an imperfect term given that these galaxies are 3.5 billion light-years away \u2014 it has taken 3.5 billion years for the light to reach the Hubble. The gravity of the clustered galaxies creates a lensing effect that magnifies thousands of galaxies that are far in the background \u2014 some of them more than 12 billion light-years away, having emitted that light in the very earliest era of galaxy formation. \u201cLight following a path around those clusters is bent,\u201d Jennifer Lotz, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, said at a news conference Tuesday. The initial expansion of the universe, known as the Big Bang, happened about 13.7 billion years ago, a measurement that has become more precise in the past few years with new data from space telescopes. Theorists believe it took about 400 million years for the first stars to ignite and the first galaxies to form. The Hubble can\u2019t see quite that deeply in time and space, but the earliest galaxy-forming epoch is a target for NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled for launch in 2018. The universe in its youth was going through a blue period, because the stars were blue, just like the young, hot stars we see in the constellation Orion, said Garth Illingworth, professor of astronomy at the University of California at Santa Cruz and one of the scientists involved in the new research. In telescopes, these young galaxies look red, because their light has been stretched out \u2014 red-shifted \u2014 over billions of years. \u201cIn reality, if"}], "old": [{"_id": "218f8ee0-77bf-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_1", "title": "Hubble telescope probes cosmic dawn, sees big stars, faint galaxies", "text": "looked 3.5 billion years ago. (NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz, M. Mountain, A. Koekemoer, and the HFF Team (STScI)) The new campaign exploits a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. This is an opportunistic maneuver that draws inspiration from Albert Einstein\u2019s general theory of relativity, which describes how gravity curves the fabric of space and time. In the foreground of one new image is a galaxy cluster named Abell 2744, containing hundreds of galaxies. \u201cForeground\u201d is perhaps an imperfect term given that these galaxies are 3.5 billion light-years away \u2014 it has taken 3.5 billion years for the light to reach the Hubble. The gravity of the clustered galaxies creates a lensing effect that magnifies thousands of galaxies that are far in the background \u2014 some of them more than 12 billion light-years away, having emitted that light in the very earliest era of galaxy formation. \u201cLight following a path around those clusters is bent,\u201d Jennifer Lotz, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, said at a news conference Tuesday. The initial expansion of the universe, known as the Big Bang, happened about 13.7 billion years ago, a measurement that has become more precise in the past few years with new data from space telescopes. Theorists believe it took about 400 million years for the first stars to ignite and the first galaxies to form. The Hubble can\u2019t see quite that deeply in time and space, but the earliest galaxy-forming epoch is a target for NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled for launch in 2018. The universe in its youth was going through a blue period, because the stars were blue, just like the young, hot stars we see in the constellation Orion, said Garth Illingworth, professor of astronomy at the University of California at Santa Cruz and one of the scientists involved in the new research. In telescopes, these young galaxies look red, because their light has been stretched out \u2014 red-shifted \u2014 over billions of years. \u201cIn reality, if you go there, it\u2019s all blue,\u201d Illingworth said. If you could have parked yourself in that young universe, you would have seen those blue galaxies all around, many as big as our moon, Illingworth said. But you couldn\u2019t go for a star-gazing stroll, because there were no planets then. The matter in the cosmos was mostly hydrogen, with a smidgen of helium and hardly any atoms larger than that."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Two venerable space telescopes, the Hubble and the Spitzer, have teamed to study the very early universe, and here\u2019s what they see at the cosmic dawn: a wild and woolly party, with brilliant blue stars that aren\u2019t ready to settle down into anything so structured as a conventional spiral galaxy.\nInstead, the early years of the universe featured a profusion of small, irregular, blobby galaxies that were popping with big, hot, super-luminous stars forming at a furious rate. Galaxies were colliding all over the place.\nRay Villard, a spokesman for the Space Telescope Science Institute, which conducts Hubble research for NASA, said it\u2019s like seeing the finale of a fireworks show, just that it\u2019s close to the beginning of time.\nThe new results and images of the early cosmos were released Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society at National Harbor.\nThis is not the first time that the Hubble, in its third decade of operation, has taken a \u201cdeep field\u201d look at the universe, training its gaze on a tiny spot and holding it there to collect the ancient light. But a new observation campaign, dubbed the Frontier Fields, supplements Hubble time with data from the Spitzer, which observes in infrared, and another space telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory.\nThis long-exposure Hubble Space Telescope image of massive galaxy cluster Abell 2744 is the deepest ever made of any cluster of galaxies. It shows some of the faintest and youngest galaxies ever detected in space. Abell 2744, located in the constellation Sculptor, appears in the foreground of this image. It contains several hundred galaxies as they looked 3.5 billion years ago. (NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz, M. Mountain, A. Koekemoer, and the HFF Team (STScI))\nThe new campaign exploits a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. This is an opportunistic maneuver that draws inspiration from Albert Einstein\u2019s general theory of relativity, which describes how gravity curves the fabric of space and time.\nIn the foreground of one new image is a galaxy cluster named Abell 2744, containing hundreds of galaxies. \u201cForeground\u201d is perhaps an imperfect term given that these galaxies are 3.5 billion light-years away \u2014 it has taken 3.5 billion years for the light to reach the Hubble. The gravity of the clustered galaxies creates a lensing effect that magnifies thousands of galaxies that are far in the background \u2014 some of them more than 12 billion light-years away, having emitted that light in the very earliest era of galaxy formation.\n\u201cLight following a path around those clusters is bent,\u201d Jennifer Lotz, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, said at a news conference Tuesday.\nThe initial expansion of the universe, known as the Big Bang, happened about 13.7 billion years ago, a measurement that has become more precise in the past few years with new data from space telescopes. Theorists believe it took about 400 million years for the first stars to ignite and the first galaxies to form. The Hubble can\u2019t see quite that deeply in time and space, but the earliest galaxy-forming epoch is a target for NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled for launch in 2018.\nThe universe in its youth was going through a blue period, because the stars were blue, just like the young, hot stars we see in the constellation Orion, said Garth Illingworth, professor of astronomy at the University of California at Santa Cruz and one of the scientists involved in the new research.\nIn telescopes, these young galaxies look red, because their light has been stretched out \u2014 red-shifted \u2014 over billions of years. \u201cIn reality, if you go there, it\u2019s all blue,\u201d Illingworth said.\nIf you could have parked yourself in that young universe, you would have seen those blue galaxies all around, many as big as our moon, Illingworth said. But you couldn\u2019t go for a star-gazing stroll, because there were no planets then. The matter in the cosmos was mostly hydrogen, with a smidgen of helium and hardly any atoms larger than that.\n\u201cIt was much, much wilder than what we see today,\u201d said Anahita Alavi, a graduate student in the physics and astronomy department at the University of California at Riverside. \u201cEverything was closer together. The possibility of these galaxies colliding with each other, and merging with each other, was higher.\u201d\nStar formation picked up speed for several billion years. But then, about 9 billion years ago, the situation calmed down markedly and became more organized. Stars formed at a slower rate. The expanding universe became home to billions of majestic spiral and elliptical galaxies \u2014 and, on one rock at least, to astronomers staring into the night sky.\nRelated:\nSeries: Space exploration and the future of NASA"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "2583cb400e137d7711d8f09ec355aaef_2", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2583cb400e137d7711d8f09ec355aaef_2", "title": "Behold, the Hubble Telescope\u2019s latest close-up photo of Jupiter", "text": "left side of the image is Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot, an ongoing larger-than-Earth storm on the gas giant planet's surface. A smaller storm, dubbed \u201cRed Spot Junior,\u201d is visible farther south. Winds on the planet can reach up to 400 mph. \u201cHowever, as with the last images of Jupiter taken by Hubble and telescopes on the ground, this new image confirms that the huge storm that has raged on Jupiter\u2019s surface for at least 150 years continues to shrink,\u201d the agencies said. \u201cThe reason for this is still unknown. So Hubble will continue to observe Jupiter in the hope that scientists will solve this stormy riddle.\u201d The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit in 1990, and ever since its first photo \u2014 an underwhelming grainy, black-and-white image of some stars, thanks to a flaw in a primary mirror \u2014 it has gone on to deliver some truly dazzling images from space. Time magazine has a roundup of the 50 \u201cbest\u201d photos taken by Hubble, though all are quite extraordinary in their own way, depending on one's interest in any particular corner of the universe. Photos of Saturn from the Cassini spacecraft; Perseid meteor shower; Kepler space telescope\u2019s detection of possible new exoplanets; and more images from space. NASA has been developing a new telescope, the $8 billion James Webb Space Telescope, that will be able to see back in time, almost to the beginning of the universe. The Webb will be able to collect seven times the starlight as the Hubble and observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't, The Washington Post's Joel Achenbach reported in February. Eventually, the Webb telescope is expected to replace the Hubble, which \u201cis still working fabulously but getting long in the tooth,\u201d Achenbach wrote. Until then, the Hubble will continue capturing away. The photo released Thursday was part of the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy program, according to NASA and the ESA. The program, which allows the telescope to study the outer planets each year, started in 2014 with Uranus and has been observing Jupiter and Neptune since 2015. In 2018, the Hubble will turn its focus to Saturn. Read more: Closing in on launch: NASA\u2019s gold-mirrored, $8 billion Webb Space Telescope You can now spell \u2018Earthling\u2019 with a capital \u2018E,\u2019 and here\u2019s why See the best images of Jupiter yet, just in time for NASA\u2019s Juno probe"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Jupiter, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope on Monday. (Courtesy of NASA, the European Space Agency, A. Simon via GSFC)\nAmid plenty of\u00a0political turmoil\u00a0on Earth on Thursday, NASA and the European Space Agency quietly released the latest\u00a0photo of Jupiter taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.\nThis picture revealed no new discoveries, unlike a Hubble image last fall that detected evidence of water vapor plumes from one of Jupiter's moons.\u00a0Nor did it capture the aftermath of some significant event, such as when a comet or asteroid collided with\u00a0Jupiter's atmosphere and left it \u201cbruised.\u201d\nInstead, Thursday's picture was simply a reminder that,\u00a0somewhere out there above the heavens, a decades-old space telescope is still doing what it has done best: capturing spectacularly detailed images of the universe to blow the minds of those on Earth.\nThis month, Jupiter is in opposition, meaning\u00a0it is at its closest to our planet (416 million miles away), with its Earth-facing hemisphere fully illuminated by the sun. It will shine especially brightly Friday night and early Saturday morning,\u00a0when it makes its absolute closest approach.\nNever ones to miss an opportunity, NASA and the ESA decided to point the Hubble toward Jupiter while it was in opposition, so that it could capture the atmosphere of the largest planet in the solar system in more detail.\nThe image it\u00a0took Monday didn't disappoint.\u00a0Hubble was able to capture surface features that are just 80 miles across.\n\u201cThe final image shows a sharp view of Jupiter and reveals a wealth of features in its dense atmosphere,\u201d NASA and the ESA, which cooperate on the Hubble project, said in a statement. The picture \u201creveals the intricate, detailed beauty of Jupiter\u2019s clouds as arranged into bands of different latitudes.\u201d\nClearly visible in the photo are Jupiter's famous atmospheric bands, created by different-colored clouds. The lighter bands have higher concentrations of frozen ammonia in them, compared with the darker ones, the agencies said.\nOn the lower left side of the image is Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot, an ongoing larger-than-Earth storm on the gas giant planet's surface. A smaller storm, dubbed \u201cRed Spot Junior,\u201d is visible farther south. Winds on the planet can reach up to 400 mph.\n\u201cHowever, as with the last images of Jupiter taken by Hubble and telescopes on the ground, this new image confirms that the huge storm that\u00a0has raged on Jupiter\u2019s surface for at least 150 years continues to shrink,\u201d the agencies said. \u201cThe reason for this is still unknown. So Hubble will continue to observe Jupiter in the hope that scientists will solve this stormy riddle.\u201d\nThe Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit in 1990, and ever since its first photo \u2014 an underwhelming grainy, black-and-white image of some stars, thanks to a flaw in a primary mirror \u2014 it has gone on to deliver some truly dazzling images from space. Time magazine has a roundup of the 50 \u201cbest\u201d photos taken by Hubble, though all are quite extraordinary in their own way, depending on one's interest in any particular corner of the universe.\nPhotos of Saturn from the Cassini spacecraft; Perseid meteor shower; Kepler space telescope\u2019s detection of possible new exoplanets; and more images from space.\nNASA has been developing a new telescope, the $8 billion James Webb Space Telescope, that will be able to see back in time, almost to the beginning of the universe. The Webb will be able to collect seven times the starlight as the Hubble and observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't, The Washington Post's Joel Achenbach reported in February. Eventually, the Webb telescope is expected to replace the Hubble, which \u201cis still working fabulously but getting long in the tooth,\u201d Achenbach wrote.\nUntil then, the Hubble will continue capturing away. The photo released Thursday was part of the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy program, according to NASA and the ESA. The program, which allows the telescope to study the outer planets each year, started in 2014 with Uranus and has been observing Jupiter and Neptune since 2015. In 2018, the Hubble will turn its focus to Saturn.\nRead more:\nClosing in on launch: NASA\u2019s gold-mirrored, $8 billion Webb Space Telescope\nYou can now spell \u2018Earthling\u2019 with a capital \u2018E,\u2019 and here\u2019s why\nSee the best images of Jupiter yet, just in time for NASA\u2019s Juno probe"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "415ac854-3a78-11e3-b7ba-503fb5822c3e_2", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "415ac854-3a78-11e3-b7ba-503fb5822c3e_2", "title": "Newly identified galaxy is the most distant ever confirmed", "text": "outlying galaxy \u2014 with the official catalogue name z8_GND_5296 \u2014 left the galaxy 13.1 billion years ago. This gives us a glimpse of the universe as it was when it was only 700 million years old. In other words, we\u2019re looking 95 percent of the way back to the Big Bang. To put that into human terms, that would be like an 80-year-old watching a video of himself on his fourth birthday. \u201cFrom observing these distant galaxies, we can understand how the universe was when it was very young,\u201d Tilvi said. \u201cThere\u2019s no other way to look into the past.\u201d Here\u2019s a look back at some of the space telescope\u2019s discoveries. Setting out to find the most distant galaxy isn\u2019t a single eureka moment, but rather a careful process of confirmation and remeasurement. Further-away galaxies than z8_GND_5296 have been identified but failed a double-check process along the way. The team first perused a month\u2019s worth of images from the Hubble telescope for possible candidate galaxies. Hubble avoids the snags that Earth-bound telescopes can run into, such as clouds and bad weather, to more easily spot the red blobs that signal a distant object. The same effect that causes a passing ambulance siren to change pitch as it zooms by, called the Doppler shift, makes the most distant galaxies appear red. Because the universe is expanding, the galaxy\u2019s light moves away from us and gets stretched into a redder wavelength. \u201cThese galaxies from within the first billion years of the universe are so far away that they have shifted into the infrared, or redder than our eyes can see,\u201d Finkelstein said. How red the light of the object is gives some sense of how far away it is, but a technique called spectroscopy is the true litmus test that accurately confirms the distance. The researchers spent two days at the Keck Observatory, near the summit of the Mauna Kea volcano, looking for a characteristic piece of data called the Lyman-alpha emission line. The Lyman-alpha line tends to be a bright signature of old-universe galaxies that are forming stars at a high rate. Once found for a particular galaxy, an exact distance from Earth can be calculated. Although disappointing at first, finding only one Lyman-alpha line is an intriguing discovery, the scientists say. One theory says that, after cooling down from the Big Bang, a cosmic fog of neutral hydrogen gas cloaked"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "An artist's rendition of the newly discovered galaxy z8_GND_5296. The galaxy looks red in the actual Hubble Space Telescope image because the collective blue light gets shifted due to the expansion of the universe and its large distance from Earth. (V. Tilvi/S.L. Finkelstein/ C. Papovich/Hubble Heritage Team)\nScientists have discovered the most distant galaxy ever confirmed, whose light took just over 13\u00a0billion years to reach Earth, providing a snapshot of the early universe. The faraway system resides in the night sky just above the handle of the Big Dipper.\nOne curious trait about the record-breaker is that it forms stars at an incredible rate, about 330 per year \u2014 more than a hundred times faster than our Milky Way galaxy. This could be a trademark of the universe\u2019s early days, when hydrogen gas for star formation was much more plentiful.\n\u201cWe wanted to figure out how galaxies evolve,\u201d said Steven Finkelstein, lead author and University of Texas at Austin astronomer. \u201cOne way to do that is to push back deeper and deeper into the history of the universe.\u201d The study was published online Wednesday in the journal Nature.\nAt first, the landmark discovery was a little bit of a let-down, the scientists said.\nThe team of astronomers used images from the Hubble Space Telescope to identify 43 possible faraway galaxies and then used state-of-the-art spectrographic equipment at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii to confirm their distances. In the end, Finkelstein and his colleagues could only retrieve data from this lone galaxy.\nOver the past 12 months, scientists have captured stunning images of the planets, a galaxy, a planetary nebula and more from space.\n\u201cWe were first excited, then a little disappointed because we only saw one, and then excited again,\u201d he said. \u201cWe would have hoped for some number bigger than one.\u201d\nWith advances in instrumentation technology, astronomers continue to stretch their detection capabilities further outward from the Milky Way. Because light takes time to travel such long distances, remote objects allow them to peer back through time.\nTake the sun as a simple example, said study author and Texas A&M University astronomer Vithal Tilvi. Sunlight takes a little over eight minutes to reach Earth.\n\u201cThat means that when we are looking at the sun, we are actually looking at the sun as it was eight minutes ago,\u201d he said.\nIn comparison, the light detected from this outlying galaxy \u2014 with the official catalogue name z8_GND_5296 \u2014 left the galaxy 13.1\u00a0billion years ago. This gives us a glimpse of the universe as it was when it was only 700\u00a0million years old.\nIn other words, we\u2019re looking 95 percent of the way back to the Big Bang. To put that into human terms, that would be like an 80-year-old watching a video of himself on his fourth birthday.\n\u201cFrom observing these distant galaxies, we can understand how the universe was when it was very young,\u201d Tilvi said. \u201cThere\u2019s no other way to look into the past.\u201d\nHere\u2019s a look back at some of the space telescope\u2019s discoveries.\nSetting out to find the most distant galaxy isn\u2019t a single eureka moment, but rather a careful process of confirmation and remeasurement. Further-away galaxies than z8_GND_5296 have been identified but failed a double-check process along the way.\nThe team first perused a month\u2019s worth of images from the Hubble telescope for possible candidate galaxies. Hubble avoids the snags that Earth-bound telescopes can run into, such as clouds and bad weather, to more easily spot the red blobs that signal a distant object.\nThe same effect that causes a passing ambulance siren to change pitch as it zooms by, called the Doppler shift, makes the most distant galaxies appear red. Because the universe is expanding, the galaxy\u2019s light moves away from us and gets stretched into a redder wavelength.\n\u201cThese galaxies from within the first billion years of the universe are so far away that they have shifted into the infrared, or redder than our eyes can see,\u201d Finkelstein said.\nHow red the light of the object is gives some sense of how far away it is, but a technique called spectroscopy is the true litmus test that accurately confirms the distance. The researchers spent two days at the Keck Observatory, near the summit of the Mauna Kea volcano, looking for a characteristic piece of data called the Lyman-alpha emission line.\nThe Lyman-alpha line tends to be a bright signature of old-universe galaxies that are forming stars at a high rate. Once found for a particular galaxy, an exact distance from Earth can be calculated.\nAlthough disappointing at first, finding only one Lyman-alpha line is an intriguing discovery, the scientists say.\nOne theory says that, after cooling down from the Big Bang, a cosmic fog of neutral hydrogen gas cloaked our early universe.\n\u201cThat was the case until the very first galaxies lit up,\u201d said Harvard University astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who was not involved in the study. \u201cThey produced the ultraviolet radiation that broke up hydrogen.\u201d\nGradually, the universe started a \u201creionization\u201d process \u2014 first with bubbles of ionization around individual stars, then dwarf galaxies. As those young galaxies grew in size and overlapped, they formed larger regions of ionization that eventually became today\u2019s fully ionized universe.\n\u201cPerhaps we are seeing the evidence that it ended right around this galaxy,\u201d Loeb said, and this one happened to peek through the fog where the other 42 candidates could not.\nLoeb also believes the unusually high star-formation rate may have to be reconfirmed. Although there are other galaxies that birth hundreds of stars per year, they are often quite massive, while z8_GND_5296 is considered a dwarf galaxy.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not unusual to find small galaxies at those early times, but finding such a small galaxy making so many stars at once is unusual,\u201d he said.\nKim is a freelance science writer based in Philadelphia.\nMore news:\nDestination Unknown part 1: NASA\u2019s mission improbable\nDestination Unknown part 2: The skies. The limits."}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "445f6dd351307e7bfabb5371c8466050_0", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "445f6dd351307e7bfabb5371c8466050_0", "title": "After 21 years on the case, astronomers track down a thieving star", "text": "This is an artist\u2019s impression of supernova 1993J, which exploded in the galaxy M81. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have identified the blue helium-burning companion star, seen at the center of the expanding nebula of debris from the supernova. (NASA/Maria-Jose Vi\u00f1as) Over two decades ago, scientists discovered a supernova, or exploding star, named SN 1993J. Located 11 million light-years away in the Messier 81 galaxy, the supernova was of an unusual type -- it had less hydrogen than your usual stellar explosion. Because of this, astronomers always thought it must have a companion star. The companion star would have stolen hydrogen from the first before it went supernova, leaving behind a mostly-hydrogen shell. In a recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal, researchers report that they've finally fingered the culprit. \u201cA binary system is likely required to lose the majority of the primary star\u2019s hydrogen envelope prior to the explosion,\" said lead researcher Ori Fox of UC Berkeley in a statement. \"The problem is that, to date, direct observations of the predicted binary companion star have been difficult to obtain since it is so faint relative to the supernova itself.\" To identify the companion star, Fox and his colleagues used images from the Hubble telescope. They looked for a spectrum of ultraviolet light that matched the predicted glow of the companion star, so it could be distinguished from the other stars in its crowded neighborhood. NASA reports"}], "old": [{"_id": "445f6dd351307e7bfabb5371c8466050_0", "title": "After 21 years on the case, astronomers track down a thieving star", "text": "This is an artist\u2019s impression of supernova 1993J, which exploded in the galaxy M81. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have identified the blue helium-burning companion star, seen at the center of the expanding nebula of debris from the supernova. (NASA/Maria-Jose Vi\u00f1as) Over two decades ago, scientists discovered a supernova, or exploding star, named SN 1993J. Located 11 million light-years away in the Messier 81 galaxy, the supernova was of an unusual type -- it had less hydrogen than your usual stellar explosion. Because of this, astronomers always thought it must have a companion star. The companion star would have stolen hydrogen from the first before it went supernova, leaving behind a mostly-hydrogen shell. In a recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal, researchers report that they've finally fingered the culprit. To identify the companion star, Fox and his colleagues used images from the Hubble telescope. They looked for a spectrum of ultraviolet light that matched the predicted glow of the companion star, so it could be distinguished from the other stars in its crowded neighborhood. NASA reports"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "This is an artist\u2019s impression of supernova 1993J, which exploded in the galaxy M81. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have identified the blue helium-burning companion star, seen at the center of the expanding nebula of debris from the supernova. (NASA/Maria-Jose Vi\u00f1as)\nOver two decades ago, scientists discovered a supernova, or exploding star, named SN 1993J. Located 11 million light-years away in the Messier 81 galaxy, the supernova was of an unusual type -- it had less hydrogen than your usual stellar explosion.\nBecause of this, astronomers always thought it must have a companion star. The companion star would have stolen hydrogen from the first before it went supernova, leaving behind a mostly-hydrogen shell. In a recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal, researchers report that they've finally fingered the culprit.\n\u201cA binary system is likely required to lose the majority of the primary star\u2019s hydrogen envelope prior to the explosion,\"\u00a0said lead researcher Ori Fox of UC Berkeley in a statement. \"The problem is that, to date, direct observations of the predicted binary companion star have been difficult to obtain since it is so faint relative to the supernova itself.\"\nTo identify the companion star, Fox and his colleagues used\u00a0images from the Hubble telescope. They looked for a spectrum of ultraviolet light that matched the predicted glow of the companion star,\u00a0so it could be distinguished from the other stars in its crowded neighborhood.\nNASA reports"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "4b04bd9675ade20631e189ca73a27b64_2", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "4b04bd9675ade20631e189ca73a27b64_2", "title": "Here\u2019s what you should know about the newfound TRAPPIST-1 solar system", "text": "distance between the sun and Mercury. This is what lets them stay warm by their star's dim light, but it also puts them at risk. Solar flares could damage their atmospheres (if they have atmospheres), radiation could blast away any nascent life (if life even emerged). Michael Gillon, the lead author of the study, said that TRAPPIST-1 is a relatively quiet star, and the level of radiation the planets probably receive doesn't look totally hostile to life. But it's still something to worry about. The planets don't have days and nights. Because the planets are close to the sun, and to one another, the astronomers believe that they are \u201ctidally locked.\u201d This is what happens when the amount of time it takes a body to orbit matches the length of one rotation on its axis. The result is that the same side of the body always faces the object it orbits around. The moon is tidally locked with Earth, which is why we always see the same face of our satellite when we look up at night. For the planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system, this means that one side of each body is constantly blasted with their sun's heat, while the other sides are perpetually in darkness. This \u2026 doesn't sound very homey. It could create huge temperature gradients that drive powerful winds. It could mean that half of each planet freezes while the other half burns. No, it won't. Sorry, Annie. (tumblr) We can't see the planets directly. Scientists were able to detect the planets using the \u201ctransiting method,\u201d in which they use tiny dips in light from the star caused by the planets passing across its face. With the Hubble Space Telescope, the soon-to-launch James Webb Space Telescope and ground-based observatories, astronomers can also analyze the light that passes through the atmospheres of the planets to figure out what molecules those atmospheres contain. But we won't be able to directly image the solar system with current technology, Gillon said. Because the planets are so close to their star, they will be impossible to distinguish amid its glare. Just because some of the planets are in the habitable zone doesn't mean that they're actually habitable, let alone inhabited. The \u201chabitable zone\u201d is kind of a squishy concept. Astronomers define it as the range of orbits around a given star at which planets are warm enough to sustain liquid water"}], "old": [{"_id": "4b04bd9675ade20631e189ca73a27b64_2", "title": "Here\u2019s what you should know about the newfound TRAPPIST-1 solar system", "text": "relatively quiet star, and the level of radiation the planets probably receive doesn't look totally hostile to life. But it's still something to worry about. The planets don't have days and nights. For the planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system, this means that one side of each body is constantly blasted with their sun's heat, while the other sides are perpetually in darkness. This \u2026 doesn't sound very homey. It could create huge temperature gradients that drive powerful winds. It could mean that half of each planet freezes while the other half burns. No, it won't. Sorry, Annie. (tumblr) We can't see the planets directly. Scientists were able to detect the planets using the \u201ctransiting method,\u201d in which they use tiny dips in light from the star caused by the planets passing across its face. With the Hubble Space Telescope, the soon-to-launch James Webb Space Telescope and ground-based observatories, astronomers can also analyze the light that passes through the atmospheres of the planets to figure out what molecules those atmospheres contain. But we won't be able to directly image the solar system with current technology, Gillon said. Because the planets are so close to their star, they will be impossible to distinguish amid its glare. Just because some of the planets are in the habitable zone doesn't mean that they're actually habitable, let alone inhabited. Mars makes this landscape look lush. (tumblr) Amy Barr Mlinar, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, pointed out that, in some ways, life is a requirement for life. Even with all these caveats, the planets are really, really exciting. \u201cThere are other worlds out there just like the Earth that have some commonalities with the Earth and we can imagine them,\u201d NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen said at a news conference Wednesday. \u201cThe question, 'Are we alone out here?' is being answered as we speak.\u201d There are 100 billion stars in our galaxy, and it's thought that about 15 percent of them are ultracool dwarfs like TRAPPIST-1. If even a fraction of those stars host multiple planet systems, and even a fraction of those have terrestrial planets in the habitable zone, there could potentially be millions of rocky worlds waiting for us to explore. \u201cThe discovery gives us a hint that finding a second Earth is not just a matter of if, but when,\u201d Zurbuchen said. But we don't need to wait to find other Earthlike"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Astronomers found a new solar system just 39 light years from ours, full of Earthlike planets. Here\u2019s what you should know about the TRAPPIST-1 system.\nYou may have heard that astronomers\u00a0made a big announcement today about a \u201cdiscovery outside our solar system.\u201d\nIt wasn't aliens.\nInstead, astronomers reported\u00a0the\u00a0discovery of a solar system containing seven rocky, Earth-size planets just 39 light years away. The bodies\u00a0orbit an ultracool dwarf star called TRAPPIST-1 in the constellation Aquarius. Several of the planets are\u00a0located in what's known as the \u201chabitable zone\u201d \u2014 the Goldilocks region where it's thought water can exist and life can thrive.\nThis is the first time astronomers have discovered so many\u00a0terrestrial planets orbiting a single star, and this new system could be the best target in the galaxy to search for extraterrestrial\u00a0life. Even\u00a0they aren't home to aliens, TRAPPIST-1 will provide planetary scientists with an unprecedented new window on the formation of solar systems and the behavior of rocky worlds.\nSo, sure, this is a really cool discovery. Even if I\u00a0hadn't\u00a0watched \u201cContact\u201d over the weekend, I'd be daydreaming about visiting\u00a0TRAPPIST-1, where transits are a daily spectacle and the star's dim glow\u00a0gives the appearance of a perpetual sunset. Just add an ocean and a few palm trees, and it's hard to imagine a better vacation spot.\n(tumblr)\nBut I'm not packing my bags just yet, and you probably shouldn't either. Here's why:\nTRAPPIST-1 is 39 light years away.\nYes, that is crazy close in the scheme of the universe. The Milky Way galaxy alone is 100,000 light years across. But even if humanity had a spacecraft capable of moving at the speed of light, it would take almost four decades to get to TRAPPIST-1. I don't know about you, but I don't have that many vacation days.\nIt's kind of a wimpy star.\nTRAPPIST-1 is an ultracool dwarf star, 10 times smaller and 2.5 times cooler than our own sun. In fact, it's more comparable to Jupiter than to the sun. Even though the TRAPPIST-1 planets\u00a0are Earthlike, the system is definitely an alien one. It's not clear what the likelihood of life\u00a0might be in such a system.\nNot that kind of dwarf. (tumblr)\nHow close is too close?\nThe planets of this system orbit in super\u00a0tight circles around their sun.\u00a0The entire system is barely\u00a0bigger than the distance between the sun and Mercury.\u00a0This is what lets them stay warm by their star's dim light, but it also puts them at risk. Solar flares could damage their atmospheres (if they have atmospheres), radiation could blast away any nascent life (if life even emerged). Michael Gillon,\u00a0the lead author of the study, said that TRAPPIST-1 is a relatively quiet star, and the level of radiation the planets probably receive doesn't look totally hostile\u00a0to life. But it's still something to worry about.\n\nThe planets don't have days and nights.\nBecause the planets are close to the sun, and to one another, the astronomers believe that they are \u201ctidally locked.\u201d This is what happens when the amount of time it takes a body\u00a0to orbit matches the length of one rotation on its axis. The result is that the same side of the body always faces the object it orbits around. The moon is tidally locked with Earth, which is why we always see the same face of our satellite when we look up at night.\nFor the planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system, this means that one side of each body is constantly blasted with their sun's heat, while the other sides are perpetually in darkness. This \u2026 doesn't sound very homey. It could create huge temperature gradients that drive powerful winds. It could mean that half of each planet freezes while the other half burns.\nNo, it won't. Sorry, Annie. (tumblr)\nWe can't see the planets directly.\nScientists were\u00a0able to detect the planets using the \u201ctransiting method,\u201d in which they use tiny dips in light from the star caused by the planets passing across its face. With the Hubble Space Telescope, the soon-to-launch James Webb Space Telescope and ground-based observatories, astronomers can also analyze the light that passes through the atmospheres of the planets to figure out what molecules those atmospheres contain.\nBut\u00a0we won't be able to directly image the solar system with current technology, Gillon said. Because the planets are so close to their star, they will be impossible to distinguish amid its glare.\nJust because some of the\u00a0planets are in the habitable zone doesn't mean that they're actually habitable, let alone inhabited.\nThe \u201chabitable zone\u201d is kind of a squishy concept.\u00a0Astronomers define it as the range of orbits around a given star at which planets are warm enough to sustain liquid water on their surface. But it's all theoretical. Scientists assume that a middling distance from the sun and liquid water make a planet habitable because they're so essential to life on Earth. But there are ways for bodies to hold water even if they're far away from their stars. Just look at Europa, the moon of Jupiter that is thought to have a vast, salty ocean beneath its icy surface. Plus, lots of liquid water isn't necessarily a good thing. In a paper published in the journal Science in 2013, astrophysicist Sara Seager pointed out that water is a greenhouse gas \u2014 too much of it too close to a star could\u00a0trap heat on a planet and turn it into something like Venus.\nBesides, a planet requires a lot more than water and light to be livable. Scientists think Mars once had water, but when its internal dynamo broke down, it lost its atmosphere and became\u00a0the frozen desert we know today. Truly habitable planets probably need strong magnetic fields to protect their inhabitants from radiation and fierce solar winds.\nMars makes this landscape look lush. (tumblr)\nAmy Barr Mlinar, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, pointed out that, in some ways, life is a requirement for life.\nEven with all these caveats, the planets are really, really exciting.\n\u201cThere are other worlds out there just like the Earth that have some commonalities with the Earth and we can imagine them,\u201d NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen said at a news conference Wednesday. \u201cThe question, 'Are we alone out here?' is being answered as we speak.\u201d\nThere are 100 billion stars in our galaxy, and it's thought that about 15 percent of them are ultracool dwarfs like TRAPPIST-1. If even a fraction of those stars host\u00a0multiple planet systems, and even a fraction of those have terrestrial\u00a0planets in the habitable zone, there could potentially be millions of rocky worlds waiting for us to explore.\n\u201cThe discovery gives us a hint that finding a second Earth is not just a matter of if, but when,\u201d Zurbuchen said.\nBut we don't need to wait to find other Earthlike exoplanets. The TRAPPIST-1 system has offered up seven such worlds, and they're right within our sights. All scientists have to do now is point their telescopes at it and look."}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "4b2533f0-4e64-11e4-babe-e91da079cb8a_1", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "4b2533f0-4e64-11e4-babe-e91da079cb8a_1", "title": "Webb Space Telescope promises astronomers new scientific adventures", "text": "says Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who helped plan Webb\u2019s science mission. \u201cWe are digging deep into the universe. But as the sources of light become fainter and farther away, you need a big telescope like the James Webb.\u201d A view inside the Helium-cooled shroud that takes the telescope\u2019s Integrated Science Instrument Module, ISIM, to its flight operating temperature of 35 kelvins and above. (Chris Gunn/NASA) Named for a former NASA director, the 21-foot-diameter Webb telescope will be 100 times as powerful as the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched in 1990. Although Hubble wasn\u2019t the first space telescope, its images of far-off objects have dazzled the public and led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as determining how fast the universe is expanding. The Webb will be both bigger and located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images from the faintest galaxies. Four infrared cameras will capture light that is moving away from us very quickly and that has shifted from the visible to the infrared spectrum, described as red-shifted. The advantage of using infrared light is that it is not blocked by clouds of gas and dust that may lie between the telescope and the light. Webb\u2019s mirrors are covered in a thin layer of gold that absorbs blue light but reflects yellow and red visible light, and its cameras will detect infrared light and a small part of the visible spectrum. As objects move away from us, the wavelength of their light shifts from visible light to infrared light. That\u2019s why the Webb\u2019s infrared cameras will be able to see things that are both far away and moving away from us. The cameras will also probe the atmospheres of planets that revolve around nearby stars, known as exoplanets, for the chemical signatures of life: water, oxygen and maybe even pollution from alien civilizations. But before any of that dazzling science happens, there\u2019s a lot of testing to do at Goddard, in the clean room and a nearby \u201ccryo-chamber.\u201d An overhead view of engineers working with the ISIM inside the thermal vacuum chamber at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. (Chris Gunn/NASA) The five-layer sun shield for the James Webb Space Telescope is tested in July at the Northrop Grumman facility in Redondo Beach, Calif. (Chris Gunn/NASA/EPA) Various tests will squeeze, shake, freeze and twist thousands of individual parts in an effort"}], "old": [{"_id": "4b2533f0-4e64-11e4-babe-e91da079cb8a_1", "title": "Webb Space Telescope promises astronomers new scientific adventures", "text": "become fainter and farther away, you need a big telescope like the James Webb.\u201d A view inside the Helium-cooled shroud that takes the telescope\u2019s Integrated Science Instrument Module, ISIM, to its flight operating temperature of 35 kelvins and above. (Chris Gunn/NASA) The Webb will be both bigger and located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images from the faintest galaxies. Four infrared cameras will capture light that is moving away from us very quickly and that has shifted from the visible to the infrared spectrum, described as red-shifted. The advantage of using infrared light is that it is not blocked by clouds of gas and dust that may lie between the telescope and the light. Webb\u2019s mirrors are covered in a thin layer of gold that absorbs blue light but reflects yellow and red visible light, and its cameras will detect infrared light and a small part of the visible spectrum. As objects move away from us, the wavelength of their light shifts from visible light to infrared light. That\u2019s why the Webb\u2019s infrared cameras will be able to see things that are both far away and moving away from us. The cameras will also probe the atmospheres of planets that revolve around nearby stars, known as exoplanets, for the chemical signatures of life: water, oxygen and maybe even pollution from alien civilizations. But before any of that dazzling science happens, there\u2019s a lot of testing to do at Goddard, in the clean room and a nearby \u201ccryo-chamber.\u201d An overhead view of engineers working with the ISIM inside the thermal vacuum chamber at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. (Chris Gunn/NASA) The five-layer sun shield for the James Webb Space Telescope is tested in July at the Northrop Grumman facility in Redondo Beach, Calif. (Chris Gunn/NASA/EPA) \u201cIt\u2019s not feasible to test it as a complete system,\u201d said Geithner, NASA\u2019s deputy project manager for technical issues. \u201cSo what that means is we have to test different pieces of it and convince ourselves through testing and analysis that when it\u2019s put together, it will work.\u201d Five sunshield test layers were unfolded and separated in July 2014 for NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope by Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, Calif. Back in the 1990s, NASA sent shuttle astronauts to repair Hubble\u2019s mirror during a dangerous operation that required five days of spacewalks. But that\u2019s not"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Dressed in a protective suit, NASA photographer Desiree Stover shines a light on a portion of the James Webb Space Telescope, being assembled at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.  (CHRIS GUNN/NASA)\nDressed in a protective suit, NASA photographer Desiree Stover shines a light on a portion of the James Webb Space Telescope, being assembled at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. (Chris Gunn/NASA)\nInside a very big and very clean room at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., nearly 30 workers dressed in white protective suits, goggles and blue booties cluster around the parts of a time machine.\nThese parts \u2014 gold-covered mirrors, tennis-court-size sun shields, delicate infrared cameras \u2014 are slowly being put together to become the James Webb Space Telescope.\nAstronomers are hoping that the Webb will be able to collect light that is very far away from us and is moving still farther away. The universe has been expanding ever since the big bang got it started, but scientists reckon that if the telescope is powerful enough, they just might be able to see the birth of the first galaxies, some 13.5 billion years ago.\n\u201cThis is similar to archaeology,\u201d says Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who helped plan Webb\u2019s science mission. \u201cWe are digging deep into the universe. But as the sources of light become fainter and farther away, you need a big telescope like the James Webb.\u201d\nA view inside the Helium-cooled shroud that takes the telescope\u2019s Integrated Science Instrument Module, ISIM, to its flight operating temperature of 35 kelvins and above. (Chris Gunn/NASA)\nNamed for a former NASA director, the 21-foot-diameter Webb telescope will be 100 times as powerful as the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched in 1990. Although Hubble wasn\u2019t the first space telescope, its images of far-off objects have dazzled the public and led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as determining how fast the universe is expanding.\nThe Webb will be both bigger and located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images from the faintest galaxies. Four infrared cameras will capture light that is moving away from us very quickly and that has shifted from the visible to the infrared spectrum, described as red-shifted. The advantage of using infrared light is that it is not blocked by clouds of gas and dust that may lie between the telescope and the light. Webb\u2019s mirrors are covered in a thin layer of gold that absorbs blue light but reflects yellow and red visible light, and its cameras will detect infrared light and a small part of the visible spectrum. As objects move away from us, the wavelength of their light shifts from visible light to infrared light. That\u2019s why the Webb\u2019s infrared cameras will be able to see things that are both far away and moving away from us.\nThe cameras will also probe the atmospheres of planets that revolve around nearby stars, known as exoplanets, for the chemical signatures of life: water, oxygen and maybe even pollution from alien civilizations.\nBut before any of that dazzling science happens, there\u2019s a lot of testing to do at Goddard, in the clean room and a nearby \u201ccryo-chamber.\u201d\nAn overhead view of engineers working with the ISIM inside the thermal vacuum chamber at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. (Chris Gunn/NASA)\nThe five-layer sun shield for the James Webb Space Telescope is tested in July at the Northrop Grumman facility in Redondo Beach, Calif. (Chris Gunn/NASA/EPA)\nVarious tests will squeeze, shake, freeze and twist thousands of individual parts in an effort to make sure the spacecraft will survive blastoff from a spaceport in French Guyana and the cold environment of its orbiting position almost a million miles from Earth. By comparison, Hubble circles just 375 miles above our planet, depending on its orbit.\nThe project, which began in 2004, peaks in October 2018 when the telescope is launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from the European Space Agency. From now on, NASA engineers will find the pace picking up and deadlines getting even tighter.\nAs a young engineer in the early 1990s, Paul Geithner helped fix tiny bumps on Hubble\u2019s glass mirror, a flaw discovered after the telescope was in space. Today, at 52, Geithner is making sure everything stays on track on the Webb assembly line at Goddard. He says testing of individual parts, including each of the 18 hexagonal mirrors, the backplane (which NASA describes as the spine holding the mirrors) and all the scientific instruments will be done by the end of this year. Beginning in early 2015, portions of the telescope and its spacecraft will be joined together with special glue and bolts.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not feasible to test it as a complete system,\u201d said Geithner, NASA\u2019s deputy project manager for technical issues. \u201cSo what that means is we have to test different pieces of it and convince ourselves through testing and analysis that when it\u2019s put together, it will work.\u201d\nFive sunshield test layers were unfolded and separated in July 2014 for NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope by Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, Calif.\nBack in the 1990s, NASA sent shuttle astronauts to repair Hubble\u2019s mirror during a dangerous operation that required five days of spacewalks. But that\u2019s not an option for the Webb: It will be parked too far away.\nGeithner said everybody learned lessons from the Hubble mistake, which NASA blamed on a contractor. Now, the need for independent testing of the optical surfaces is clear. \u201cYou don\u2019t use the same tools that you use to make the optics to tell you it is okay,\u201d he said.\nThis year concluded several \u201ccryo-tests\u201d (testing reactions at extremely low temperatures), in which the boxlike structure containing the infrared cameras \u2014 called the Integrated Science Instrument Module, or ISIM \u2014 was lowered into a 60-foot-tall vacuum chamber at Goddard. The air was pumped out to simulate conditions in space, liquid nitrogen flooded an inner chamber and super-cooled helium was pumped into a smaller interior chamber. The four-camera package faced temperatures of 11 degrees Kelvin, which is minus-440 degrees Fahrenheit.\n\u201cThe biggest stress is not the shaking from the [spacecraft] launch,\u201d Geithner explained. \u201cBut the whole thing shrinks when it cools down, so there\u2019s a lot of stress on the joints and it tries to tear itself apart.\u201d\nThe Hubble Space Telescope captured the Jovian moon Ganymede in the center of Jupiter's Great Red Spot. The Webb will be bigger and located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture better images. (AFP/NASA/Getty Images/ESA/A. Simon/Goddard Space Flight Cente)\nA protoplanetary disc surrounding the young star HL Tauri is the sharpest image ever taken by ALMA, sharper than is routinely achieved in visible light with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. (AFP/Getty Images/ALMA/ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)\nISIM survived the cryo-test in July, was warmed up to room temperature and then removed from the cryo-chamber in October. It needs to be pulled apart, then put back together for final tests next year.\nMeasuring everything twice means the Webb telescope will function as it is supposed to, according to Geithner. But the extra testing is expensive.\nCost overruns and early delays nearly killed the project in 2011. Webb\u2019s price tag soared from initial estimates of $1 billion in the late 1990s to the current figure of $8.8 billion. But Congress gave NASA a second chance, and the agency revised its construction budget to keep it within limits. Still, the Webb is NASA\u2019s most expensive science mission. Some critics say it has sucked money away from other worthy projects, such as other missions around the solar system or monitoring environmental changes on Earth.\nNASA chief Charles Bolden told Goddard workers in February that the project is on budget and on schedule, as long as Congress keeps the money flowing.\nDiscoveries in our solar system and beyond.\nIn the meantime, scientists such as Sara Seager of MIT, who studies exoplanets that revolve around distant stars, are imagining the discoveries that will occur once Webb directs its mirrors toward deep space. As a planet moves in front of a star, researchers hope to see the fingerprints of its atmosphere, which absorbs starlight. By analyzing the chemical spectrum of the light, they may be able to determine the atmosphere\u2019s composition. Oxygen has a spectral fingerprint, as does methane, carbon dioxide and other gases found in atmospheres.\nSeager and other scientists can point the Hubble at exoplanets, but they don\u2019t get much time to use it because the entire telescope heats up and cools down as it passes from day to night.\nExoplanet hunters need to point the telescope for a long time at one place. The Webb telescope represents a big step forward, according to Seager, because it won\u2019t be bothered by light or radiation from the sun and the Earth and therefore will be able to see more-distant objects. (A five-layer sun shield and distance from the Earth will protect the telescope.)\n\u201cAnytime you put something new in space, the astronomy world changes dramatically,\u201d Seager said.\nSupport structures wrapped in gold thermal blankets are housed within the vacuum chamber called the Space Environment Simulator, or SES. The SES is located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., where components of the James Webb Space Telescope are being tested to withstand the extreme temperatures of space. (Chris Gunn/NASA)\nWhen NASA began planning the Webb telescope, exoplanets were just being discovered. The early ones were huge, Jupiter-size bodies that were too cold or too poisonous to harbor the conditions needed for life. Now, scientists have found more than 5,000 exoplanets, from big gas giants to smaller rocky worlds that lie within what\u2019s called the \u201cGoldilocks zone\u201d \u2014 neither too close nor too far away from their star, meaning conditions are neither too hot nor too cold.\n\u201cThese [space telescopes] take so long to build,\u201d Seager said. \u201cOriginally we didn\u2019t know about the richness of exoplanets, and we didn\u2019t know they were so diverse. I see the James Webb as the tool for the second generation of exoplanet studies.\u201d\nAs they wait for the Webb\u2019s launch in four years, Seager and other planetary scientists are drawing up a list of star systems that could be candidates for the first studies.\nSeager says she likes to remind people about the value of big, complex scientific projects, even if they cost a lot of money, take a long time to build and don\u2019t have a concrete scientific payoff.\n\u201cAs a nation, should we be building complicated things and pushing the limit of progress in technology? It\u2019s a question I like to pose to people,\u201d she said. \u201cShould we just get by, or is it critical for our future to invest in complicated technologies? That usually makes them think for a while.\u201d\nNiiler is a freelance writer.\nA tale of two telescopes\nHubble\nWebb\n\n\nWeight\n24,500 pounds\n14,300 pounds\n\n\nMirror diameter\n8 feet\n21 feet\n\n\nDistance from Earth\n375 miles\n930,000 miles\n\n\nLaunch date\nApril 1990\nOctober 2018\nSource: NASA\nRelated:\nJupiter gains a creepy \u2018eye\u2019 in Hubble photo\nHubble finds huge, magnifying glass galaxy\nHubble telescope probes cosmic dawn, sees big stars"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "54e2c192555984e923886cb1374865f9_0", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "54e2c192555984e923886cb1374865f9_0", "title": "The Hubble found a galaxy so huge, it acts like a magnifying glass", "text": "The massive red galaxy reveals a small spiral galaxy (in blue) behind it. (NASA and ESA) \"Lensing\" galaxies Now, scientists using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have unexpectedly found the most distant lensing galaxy to date. Its light has taken 9.6 billion years to reach us (200 million light years closer than the previous record holder), and the obect it's magnifying - a tiny spiral galaxy that we can now see undergoing a surge of star formation - is 10.7 billion light years away. Kenneth Wong, one of the researchers to announce the discovery, said in a NASA press release that these cosmic magnifiers aren't all that rare. But to find outside of our stellar backyard is a special treat. \"There are hundreds of lens galaxies that we know about, but almost all of them are relatively nearby, in cosmic terms,\" said Wong, first author on the team's science paper. \"To find a lens as far away as this one is a very special discovery because we can learn about the dark-matter content of galaxies in the distant past. By comparing our analysis of this lens galaxy to the more nearby lenses, we can start to understand how that dark-matter content has evolved over time.\" Dark matter The lens galaxy has presumably spent the past 9 billion years bulking up on dark matter as it grew up, and today it probably looks a lot like the massive galaxies we find closer to home. But because it's so far away, the image we see of it provides a fascinating lens into the past."}], "old": [{"_id": "54e2c192555984e923886cb1374865f9_0", "title": "The Hubble found a galaxy so huge, it acts like a magnifying glass", "text": "The massive red galaxy reveals a small spiral galaxy (in blue) behind it. (NASA and ESA) \"Lensing\" galaxies \"There are hundreds of lens galaxies that we know about, but almost all of them are relatively nearby, in cosmic terms,\" said Wong, first author on the team's science paper. \"To find a lens as far away as this one is a very special discovery because we can learn about the dark-matter content of galaxies in the distant past. By comparing our analysis of this lens galaxy to the more nearby lenses, we can start to understand how that dark-matter content has evolved over time.\" Dark matter The lens galaxy has presumably spent the past 9 billion years bulking up on dark matter as it grew up, and today it probably looks a lot like the massive galaxies we find closer to home. But because it's so far away, the image we see of it provides a fascinating lens into the past."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The massive red galaxy reveals a small spiral galaxy (in blue) behind it. (NASA and ESA)\n\"Lensing\" galaxies\nNow, scientists\u00a0using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have unexpectedly found the most distant lensing galaxy to date. Its light has taken 9.6 billion years to reach us (200 million light years closer than the previous record holder), and the obect it's magnifying - a tiny spiral galaxy that we can now see undergoing a surge of star formation - is 10.7 billion light years away. Kenneth Wong, one of the researchers to announce the discovery, said in a NASA press release that these cosmic magnifiers aren't all that rare. But to find outside of our stellar\u00a0backyard\u00a0is a special treat.\n\"There are hundreds of lens galaxies that we know about, but almost all of them are relatively nearby, in cosmic terms,\" said Wong, first author on the team's science paper. \"To find a lens as far away as this one is a very special discovery because we can learn about the dark-matter content of galaxies in the distant past. By comparing our analysis of this lens galaxy to the more nearby lenses, we can start to understand how that dark-matter content has evolved over time.\"\nDark matter\nThe lens galaxy has presumably spent the past 9 billion years bulking up on dark matter as it grew up, and today it probably looks a lot like the massive galaxies we find closer to home. But because it's so far away, the image we see of it provides a fascinating lens into the past."}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "5ed5906e-f9fe-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_3", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "5ed5906e-f9fe-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_3", "title": "Closing in on launch: NASA\u2019s gold-mirrored, $8 billion Webb Space Telescope", "text": "the first stars and galaxies were forming. It will give scientists the deepest look into space and back in time. Cost overruns led to budget reviews, battles in Congress, near-death experiences, recrimination and, finally, to a reconfigured budget and timetable that lawmakers approved. The project devoured NASA money that might have gone to other science endeavors. It became known as the telescope that ate astronomy. The Webb, which includes major contributions from the Canadian and European space agencies, has long been seen as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. The latter is still working fabulously but getting long in the tooth. There have been rumors that the Trump administration could somehow gin up a Hubble repair mission with astronauts on a new shuttle-like spacecraft, but officials at NASA Goddard say they haven\u2019t been asked to plan for anything like that. The Webb is quite different from the Hubble, starting with the fact that it\u2019s much bigger. The Hubble has a 2.4-meter mirror, but the Webb has 18 hexagonal mirrors that collectively are 6.5 meters \u2014 more than 21 feet \u2014 in diameter. It can collect seven times as much starlight. The new telescope can observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light that are inaccessible to the Hubble. In deep space, shaded from the sun, the Webb is designed to operate under extremely cold conditions. That\u2019s necessary for infrared astronomy because otherwise the heat from its instruments would block out the faint light from distant objects. As things turned out, the Webb\u2019s problems with schedule may have been fortuitous. The original goal was to look at very faint objects in deepest space \u2014 the very first stars and galaxies, so far away that their light, emitted about 13.7 billion years ago, is only now reaching our solar system. But the Webb may play a key role in the search for habitable worlds that are relatively nearby, orbiting stars in our own galactic neighborhood. The very first \u201cexoplanet\u201d \u2014 a planet orbiting another star \u2014 was discovered 22 years ago, right about the time Mather began working on the Webb. Thousands of exoplanets have been found since. Earlier this week, astronomers announced the remarkable discovery of a system with seven Earth-size planets around a star named Trappist 1, some 39 light-years away. Several have orbits that might allow water, if present, to be liquid at the surface. There\u2019s no way"}], "old": [{"_id": "5ed5906e-f9fe-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_3", "title": "Closing in on launch: NASA\u2019s gold-mirrored, $8 billion Webb Space Telescope", "text": "the first stars and galaxies were forming. It will give scientists the deepest look into space and back in time. Cost overruns led to budget reviews, battles in Congress, near-death experiences, recrimination and, finally, to a reconfigured budget and timetable that lawmakers approved. The project devoured NASA money that might have gone to other science endeavors. It became known as the telescope that ate astronomy. The Webb, which includes major contributions from the Canadian and European space agencies, has long been seen as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. The latter is still working fabulously but getting long in the tooth. There have been rumors that the Trump administration could somehow gin up a Hubble repair mission with astronauts on a new shuttle-like spacecraft, but officials at NASA Goddard say they haven\u2019t been asked to plan for anything like that. The Webb is quite different from the Hubble, starting with the fact that it\u2019s much bigger. The Hubble has a 2.4-meter mirror, but the Webb has 18 hexagonal mirrors that collectively are 6.5 meters \u2014 more than 21 feet \u2014 in diameter. It can collect seven times as much starlight. The new telescope can observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light that are inaccessible to the Hubble. In deep space, shaded from the sun, the Webb is designed to operate under extremely cold conditions. That\u2019s necessary for infrared astronomy because otherwise the heat from its instruments would block out the faint light from distant objects. As things turned out, the Webb\u2019s problems with schedule may have been fortuitous. The original goal was to look at very faint objects in deepest space \u2014 the very first stars and galaxies, so far away that their light, emitted about 13.7 billion years ago, is only now reaching our solar system. But the Webb may play a key role in the search for habitable worlds that are relatively nearby, orbiting stars in our own galactic neighborhood. The very first \u201cexoplanet\u201d \u2014 a planet orbiting another star \u2014 was discovered 22 years ago, right about the time Mather began working on the Webb. Thousands of exoplanets have been found since. There\u2019s no way for the Webb or any other current telescope to see these planets directly, because they\u2019re too close to the parent star. But as they transit the star \u2014 passing across the face of the star as seen from the telescope"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "A NASA technician works on the primary mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled for launch in October 2018. The telescope will be able to detect light from the earliest stars and galaxies and to search for evidence that distant planets have atmospheres conducive to life. (NASA)\nThe world\u2019s most expensive telescope is parked for the moment in Greenbelt, Md., shrouded in a protective tent at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. In just two years, this long-delayed, $8 billion, cosmos-penetrating instrument is supposed to be nearly a million miles from Earth.\nIf it works, the James Webb Space Telescope will collect the oldest light in the universe, emitted soon after the big bang, when the first stars lit up and the first galaxies began to form. It will study black holes lurking at the center of galaxies. It will scrutinize the light from planets around distant stars and look for atmospheres you\u2019d expect to see on worlds rioting with life.\nBut that\u2019s only after an epic journey. It\u2019s not a straight shot from the Washington suburbs to space.\nThe telescope first must be sealed in a climate-controlled container. Then, sometime in late March or early April, a truck will haul it very slowly and gently in the dead of night along a partially closed Capital Beltway. A lead car will watch for road obstacles and potholes.\nArriving at Joint Base Andrews, the Webb should slide, barely, into the cargo hold of a C-5C military transport plane.\nAn artist's illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope. The kite-shaped object beneath the telescope's gold-plated mirror is a sunshield to protect the Webb's instruments. (Northrop Grumman)\nThen comes a flight to Houston, to the NASA Johnson Space Center, where it will be tested in a vacuum chamber that will simulate the environment of deep space. From Houston it will be flown to Los Angeles, to a facility run by the project\u2019s primary contractor, Northrop Grumman, where it will be mated with its sunshield and navigational hardware.\nThen comes a boat ride, one that will carry the telescope down the southwestern coast of North America and through the Panama Canal to French Guiana. That\u2019s where, in October 2018, it will be blasted into space atop a European Ariane rocket \u2014 a quarter-century after the Webb was conceived.\nWhat could go wrong?\n\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful and terrifying,\u201d says astronomer Heidi Hammel of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, one of six scientists guaranteed observing time with the instrument. \u201cThe terrifying part comes because we know that this is rocket science for real, we are taking our fabulous telescope \u2014 it\u2019s a beautiful machine \u2014 and we\u2019re going to put it on a rocket ship and light the fuse.\u201d\nAstronomers have a complicated and anguished relationship with the Webb. It\u2019s amazing. It\u2019s also wildly expensive. And it was supposed to be in space years ago.\nJohn Mather, a Nobel laureate who is the senior project scientist, began working on it in 1995. He and his team had to achieve a long list of innovations to get the Webb built \u2014 things like the gold-covered mirrors, the sunshield and the means of keeping everything very cold.\n\u201cThis job was just so hard, and when you\u2019re at the beginning you don\u2019t have the imagination to see how hard it is. No one had appreciated the difficulty of the test program,\u201d he said this week.\nThe James Webb Space Telescope, now at NASA Goddard in Greenbelt, Md., is designed to gather light emitted early in the history of the universe, some 13.7 billion years ago, when the first stars and galaxies were forming. It will give scientists the deepest look into space and back in time.\nCost overruns led to budget reviews, battles in Congress, near-death experiences, recrimination and, finally, to a reconfigured budget and timetable that lawmakers approved. The project devoured NASA money that might have gone to other science endeavors. It became known as the telescope that ate astronomy.\nThe Webb, which includes major contributions from the Canadian and European space agencies, has long been seen as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. The latter is still working fabulously but getting long in the tooth.\nThere have been rumors that the Trump administration could somehow gin up a Hubble repair mission with astronauts on a new shuttle-like spacecraft, but officials at NASA Goddard say they haven\u2019t been asked to plan for anything like that.\nThe Webb is quite different from the Hubble, starting with the fact that it\u2019s much bigger. The Hubble has a 2.4-meter mirror, but the Webb has 18 hexagonal mirrors that collectively are 6.5 meters \u2014 more than 21 feet \u2014 in diameter. It can collect seven times as much starlight.\nThe new telescope can observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light that are inaccessible to the Hubble. In deep space, shaded from the sun, the Webb is designed to operate under extremely cold conditions. That\u2019s necessary for infrared astronomy because otherwise the heat from its instruments would block out the faint light from distant objects.\nAs things turned out, the Webb\u2019s problems with schedule may have been fortuitous.\nThe original goal was to look at very faint objects in deepest space \u2014 the very first stars and galaxies, so far away that their light, emitted about 13.7 billion years ago, is only now reaching our solar system. But the Webb may play a key role in the search for habitable worlds that are relatively nearby, orbiting stars in our own galactic neighborhood.\nThe very first \u201cexoplanet\u201d \u2014 a planet orbiting another star \u2014 was discovered 22 years ago, right about the time Mather began working on the Webb. Thousands of exoplanets have been found since.\nEarlier this week, astronomers announced the remarkable discovery of a system with seven Earth-size planets around a star named Trappist 1, some 39 light-years away. Several have orbits that might allow water, if present, to be liquid at the surface.\nThere\u2019s no way for the Webb or any other current telescope to see these planets directly, because they\u2019re too close to the parent star. But as they transit the star \u2014 passing across the face of the star as seen from the telescope \u2014 the starlight will dim slightly. That\u2019s how they were discovered.\nAn atmosphere around a planet will skew the wavelengths of the starlight. Astronomers can then use spectroscopy to discern which kinds of molecules make up the exoplanet atmosphere.\nThe Hubble has looked at the Trappist system and already has determined that the planets are probably rocky rather than gaseous like Jupiter or Saturn. But the Webb has sophistication the Hubble lacks. The Webb can detect the clear signatures of atmospheres containing water, ozone, oxygen, methane and other molecules. That could provide compelling evidence of a habitable planet.\nAs astrophysicist Michelle Thaller of NASA points out, while it wouldn\u2019t be the same thing as direct detection of life, it would be a major achievement for the still-young scientific field known as astrobiology.\nCloser to home, the Webb\u2019s prime viewing targets include the Great Red Spot of Jupiter, Saturn\u2019s intriguing moon Titan, the dwarf planet Pluto and its moon Charon, plus the gaggle of \u201ctrans-Neptunian objects\u201d way out in the exurbs of the solar system \u2014 little-known worlds such as Sedna, Quaoar and Makemake.\nBut first the telescope, which is supposed to begin observing in April 2019, has to function as planned. It would be hard to repair something parked at L2, the Webb\u2019s destination point in space, which is 930,000 miles from Earth on the opposite side of our planet from the sun.\n\u201cI can tell you that we\u2019re doing what we need to do to make sure that it\u2019ll work,\u201d Mather said. \u201cYou test. And test and test.\u201d\nAnd look for potholes along the way \u2014 literally."}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "6064e1b6-4459-11e5-846d-02792f854297_5", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6064e1b6-4459-11e5-846d-02792f854297_5", "title": "New Horizons has gone to Pluto, and now comes the Great Beyond", "text": "orbiting stars in our galaxy (not to mention all the planets in the billions of other galaxies in the known universe). But space is not designed for ease of human travel. The nearest star to the sun is Proxima Centauri, and it\u2019s about 25 trillion miles away. If New Horizons were racing directly toward Proxima Centauri, it wouldn\u2019t get there for tens of thousands of years. The more plausible targets for direct robotic exploration are closer to home. One possibility, someday, is Eris, a dwarf planet discovered by Brown and colleagues in 2005. It\u2019s a virtual Pluto twin. New Horizons can\u2019t go to Eris, because Eris is on the other side of our solar system; it\u2019s also currently three times as far from Earth as Pluto is. This might be a better mission for the next century, when Eris\u2019s eccentric orbit will have brought it much closer. Brown says a better target might be another of his discoveries: Quaoar, a 700-mile-diameter object that\u2019s not much farther from the sun than Pluto. Or perhaps a probe will someday go to an as-yet-undiscovered planet. \u201cThere\u2019s probably a lot of objects out there, and I think it\u2019s probably just a matter of time before we find something similar in size to Pluto or possibly bigger,\u201d said John Grunsfeld, the astronomer-astronaut and Hubble repairman who now is head of science for NASA. \u201cThe idea that there\u2019s a large object out there is rattling around the community,\u201d Brown said. New Horizons cannot go search for mystery planets. It\u2019s not that kind of probe. Its telescope gives it a narrow gaze \u2014 \u201clike looking down a straw,\u201d said Fountain, the project manager. There is, however, one major feat that New Horizons has yet to accomplish, other than taking the plasma and dust measurements and steering itself toward MU69. It still has to tell Earth exactly what it saw at Pluto. The team leaders keep reminding everyone that New Horizons is carrying a trove of data, including high-resolution imagery, that has yet to return home. The big Pluto download won\u2019t be finished until about the end of October 2016. Transmission rates are slow, and will get even slower, as the distant spacecraft gets more distant. Read more: After a wait, spacecraft confirms close pass of Pluto. Sees craters and mounds. New Horizons spots ice flows on Pluto\u2019s surface The heroes and the secrets of the Pluto mission"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "NASA\u2019s New Horizons has sent back the first in a series of the sharpest views of Pluto it obtained during its July flyby \u2013 and the best close-ups of Pluto that humans may see for decades.\nThe big encounter with Pluto is over. The void is dead ahead.\nNASA\u2019s New Horizons spacecraft is hurtling through the Kuiper Belt, a cold, dark realm of tiny, icy objects and the occasional dwarf planet such as Pluto. The spacecraft\u2019s science instruments are detecting plasma and dust, but its cameras have been turned off. For the moment, there\u2019s nothing to see and not much to do other than measure the loneliness of deep space.\nNew Horizons has a bit of an existential, or perhaps astronomical, dilemma: After you pass Pluto, there\u2019s a whole lot of nothing.\nThe spacecraft can maneuver slightly, but whatever it is going to look at next has to be more or less directly straight ahead. A couple of weeks ago, the New Horizons team decided to aim the spacecraft at  a small object, roughly 28\u2009miles in diameter and known as 2014 MU69. The spacecraft will fly past it on Jan. 1, 2019.\nMU69 was discovered last year by the Hubble Space Telescope, which was looking for something, anything, that might be in the path of New Horizons. The Hubble found five objects, but MU69 was the most inviting target, requiring the least amount of fuel.\n\nNew Horizons still has to surmount a bureaucratic obstacle. NASA hasn\u2019t yet approved an \u201cextended mission\u201d for the spacecraft. The New Horizons team has until spring to put together a proposal that lays out what an extended mission would cost. NASA would consult with the broader science community before signing off on the extension.\nIn some respects, it seems like an easy decision: New Horizons is a healthy spacecraft. It passed through the Pluto system without any nasty collisions with damaging particles, and it has a radioactive power source that can keep it operational for a couple of decades at least. It has half a tank of propellant.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have to buy any rocket, we don\u2019t have to fly across 3\u2009billion miles of space, we don\u2019t have to build a spacecraft,\u201d said the team leader, planetary scientist Alan Stern.\nThe scientific case for closely studying MU69 is that it\u2019s different from Pluto, much smaller, a \u201ccold, classical\u201d Kuiper Belt object that is likely to have formed 4.6\u2009billion years ago, at the birth of the solar system. \u201cIt is a completely new family of object,\u201d said project scientist Hal Weaver of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the mission headquarters.\nOn the other hand: This thing isn\u2019t Pluto. It\u2019s small. It will be hard to obtain images as dramatic as the ones New Horizons got when it buzzed within 7,800 miles of Pluto\u2019s surface.\nProject manager Glen Fountain said his team, which he says includes the best navigators in the world, can probably get the spacecraft within 15,000 miles of the target \u2014 and maybe much closer.\nImages from some of the space agency\u2019s explorations of the solar system.\nBut because MU69 was just discovered, there\u2019s almost no data about its orbit. If you\u2019re Fountain, the questions are: Where is it, exactly? And where will it be a day from now? This is known as the \u201cephemeris\u201d data. New Horizons can\u2019t be joysticked in real time because it\u2019s so far away \u2014 a one-way message to the spacecraft, which is 3\u00a0billion miles from Earth, currently takes about 4.5\u2009hours even at the speed of light, and MU69 is another billion miles farther.\nThe location uncertainty was a factor during the Pluto encounter, too.\n\u201cWe really didn\u2019t know where the object was that well, and we only had one chance,\u201d Fountain said.\nNew Horizons skimmed Pluto 90 seconds earlier than expected and about 50\u2009miles closer to the surface, said Mission Operations manager Alice Bowman. But that was within the margin of error \u2014 still a huge success, particularly given a computer glitch 10\u2009days earlier and all the other things that might have derailed the mission.\n\u201cI am still amazed and in awe of what we accomplished as a team. In some ways, it\u2019s hard to digest it all,\u201d Bowman wrote last week in an e-mail. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s because taking all those small, continued steps over these past years became a matter of course and when those last steps were taken, it was hard to fully comprehend the magnitude of what we\u2019d done.\u201d\nAfter Pluto, a spacecraft learns what space is really like: big and mostly empty.\nMike Brown, the California Institute of Technology astronomer who has discovered a number of dwarf planets in the outer solar system, has to admit that it\u2019s a rarefied realm: \u201cEach one of them is further away from the next cool thing than the Earth is from Jupiter. It is a vast, almost completely empty region.\u201d\nWe know, extrapolating from the observations of the planet-hunting Kepler Space Telescope, that there are probably tens of billions of exoplanets orbiting stars in our galaxy (not to mention all the planets in the billions of other galaxies in the known universe). But space is not designed for ease of human travel.\nThe nearest star to the sun is Proxima Centauri, and it\u2019s about 25\u2009trillion miles away. If New Horizons were racing directly toward Proxima Centauri, it wouldn\u2019t get there for tens of thousands of years.\nThe more plausible targets for direct robotic exploration are closer to home. One possibility, someday, is Eris, a dwarf planet discovered by Brown and colleagues in 2005. It\u2019s a virtual Pluto twin. New Horizons can\u2019t go to Eris, because Eris is on the other side of our solar system; it\u2019s also currently three times as far from Earth as Pluto is. This might be a better mission for the next century, when Eris\u2019s eccentric orbit will have brought it much closer.\nBrown says a better target might be another of his discoveries: Quaoar, a 700-mile-diameter object that\u2019s not much farther from the sun than Pluto.\nOr perhaps a probe will someday go to an as-yet-undiscovered planet.\n\u201cThere\u2019s probably a lot of objects out there, and I think it\u2019s probably just a matter of time before we find something similar in size to Pluto or possibly bigger,\u201d said John Grunsfeld, the astronomer-astronaut and Hubble repairman who now is head of science for NASA.\n\u201cThe idea that there\u2019s a large object out there is rattling around the community,\u201d Brown said.\nNew Horizons cannot go search for mystery planets. It\u2019s not that kind of probe. Its telescope gives it a narrow gaze \u2014 \u201clike looking down a straw,\u201d said Fountain, the project manager.\nThere is, however, one major feat that New Horizons has yet to accomplish, other than taking the plasma and dust measurements and steering itself toward MU69. It still has to tell Earth exactly what it saw at Pluto.\nThe team leaders keep reminding everyone that New Horizons is carrying a trove of data, including high-resolution imagery, that has yet to return home. The big Pluto download won\u2019t be finished until about the end of October 2016. Transmission rates are slow, and will get even slower, as the distant spacecraft gets more distant.\nRead more:\nAfter a wait, spacecraft confirms close pass of Pluto. Sees craters and mounds.\nNew Horizons spots ice flows on Pluto\u2019s surface\nThe heroes and the secrets of the Pluto mission"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "9071d52985831b0082d951e8df297f40_0", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "9071d52985831b0082d951e8df297f40_0", "title": "These retro postcards show where the Hubble has taken us in 25 years", "text": "Within the Sea Monster it\u2019s thought that the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1073 resembles our own Milky Way. (Open University) The Hubble Space Telescope, which turned 25 on Friday, doesn't travel through space. It's in a fairly low orbit -- 353 miles high, just around 100 miles higher than the space station -- and never leaves Earth's side. But over the past quarter of a century, its increasingly impressive resolution has brought us to strange new places. [NASA unveils 25th anniversary image for the Hubble: Celestial fireworks in a bed of new stars] The Hubble\u2019s color infrared composite image from the Milky Way\u2019s center revealed a new population of massive stars. (Open University) The Open University In a few million years, scientists estimate that the Red Rectangle nebula will actually bloom into a shell of diffuse gas, known as a planetary nebula. (Open University) Sometimes we even get to enjoy a 3-D birds-eye view: This visualization provides a three-dimensional perspective on Hubble's 25th anniversary image of the nebula Gum 29 with the star cluster Westerlund 2 at its core. The Sombrero galaxy is one of the biggest objects in its cluster, equivalent to 800 billion suns. (Open University) The online postcards aren't for sale, unfortunately, but the puns are pretty delightful: The entire Cone Nebula (made of gas and dust) is seven light-years long. (Open University) The globular cluster of stars known as Messier54 was discovered by astronomer Charles Messier way back in 1778. (Open University) Want more Hubble? Give these a click: Still sharp, Hubble Space Telescope turns 25 with a cloudy future NASA unveils 25th anniversary image for the Hubble: Celestial fireworks in a bed of new stars The Hubble spotted this smiley face in space From the Hubble, a new image of a glittering cosmic wonderland with stars as old as the universe itself"}], "old": [{"_id": "9071d52985831b0082d951e8df297f40_0", "title": "These retro postcards show where the Hubble has taken us in 25 years", "text": "Within the Sea Monster it\u2019s thought that the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1073 resembles our own Milky Way. (Open University) [NASA unveils 25th anniversary image for the Hubble: Celestial fireworks in a bed of new stars] The Hubble\u2019s color infrared composite image from the Milky Way\u2019s center revealed a new population of massive stars. (Open University) The Open University In a few million years, scientists estimate that the Red Rectangle nebula will actually bloom into a shell of diffuse gas, known as a planetary nebula. (Open University) Sometimes we even get to enjoy a 3-D birds-eye view: This visualization provides a three-dimensional perspective on Hubble's 25th anniversary image of the nebula Gum 29 with the star cluster Westerlund 2 at its core. The Sombrero galaxy is one of the biggest objects in its cluster, equivalent to 800 billion suns. (Open University) The online postcards aren't for sale, unfortunately, but the puns are pretty delightful: The entire Cone Nebula (made of gas and dust) is seven light-years long. (Open University) The globular cluster of stars known as Messier54 was discovered by astronomer Charles Messier way back in 1778. (Open University) Want more Hubble? Give these a click: Still sharp, Hubble Space Telescope turns 25 with a cloudy future NASA unveils 25th anniversary image for the Hubble: Celestial fireworks in a bed of new stars The Hubble spotted this smiley face in space From the Hubble, a new image of a glittering cosmic wonderland with stars as old as the universe itself"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Within the Sea Monster it\u2019s thought that the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1073 resembles our own Milky Way. (Open University)\nThe Hubble Space Telescope, which turned 25 on Friday, doesn't travel through space. It's in a fairly low orbit\u00a0-- 353 miles high, just around 100 miles higher than the space station -- and never leaves Earth's side. But over the past quarter of a century, its increasingly impressive resolution has brought us to strange new places.\n[NASA unveils 25th anniversary image for the Hubble: Celestial fireworks in a bed of new stars]\nThe Hubble\u2019s color infrared composite image from the Milky Way\u2019s center revealed a new population of massive stars. (Open University)\nThe Open University\nIn a few million years, scientists estimate that the Red Rectangle nebula will actually bloom into a shell of diffuse gas, known as a planetary nebula. (Open University)\nSometimes we even get to enjoy a 3-D birds-eye view:\nThis visualization provides a three-dimensional perspective on Hubble's 25th anniversary image of the nebula Gum 29 with the star cluster Westerlund 2 at its core.\nThe Sombrero galaxy is one of the biggest objects in its cluster, equivalent to 800 billion suns. (Open University)\nThe online postcards aren't for sale, unfortunately, but the puns are pretty delightful:\nThe entire Cone Nebula (made of gas and dust) is seven light-years long. (Open University)\nThe globular cluster of stars known as Messier54 was discovered by astronomer Charles Messier way back in 1778. (Open University)\nWant more Hubble? Give these a click:\nStill sharp, Hubble Space Telescope turns 25 with a cloudy future\nNASA unveils 25th anniversary image for the Hubble: Celestial fireworks in a bed of new stars\nThe Hubble spotted this smiley face in space\nFrom the Hubble, a new image of a glittering cosmic wonderland with stars as old as the universe itself"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "97154d9fc9412ef13ee038a79183093f_0", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "97154d9fc9412ef13ee038a79183093f_0", "title": "From the Hubble, a new image of a glittering cosmic wonderland with stars as old as the universe itself", "text": "All that glitters. (NASA/ESA/Gilles Chapdelaine) It kind of looks like a snow globe -- or maybe like the glittering ornament atop a massive Christmas tree. Or like your neighbor's house during December, if you're lucky enough to live next to an aggressive seasonal decorator. But this image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows Messier 92. Messier 92 is a globular cluster, or a spherical group of old stars bound tightly together by gravity. Their density can make globular clusters appear quite bright, and this is one of the brightest in our whole galaxy. You may even have seen this cosmic bauble before. It's over 25,000 light years away from Earth, but with 330,000 stars packed tightly into it, it's often visible with the naked eye. You can catch its occasional appearances in the constellation Hercules. Astronomers know from Messier 92's molecular composition that it isn't just bright -- it's also very old. About as old as the universe itself, in fact. Like this image? You could have been the one to create it. A version of this photo was submitted by Gilles Chapdelaine as part of the Hubble's Hidden Treasures image competition. The Hubble has beamed back so much data that not all of it has been translated into visible images, but the public is welcome to sift through archives to try to find stellar shots worth sharing. Find out more at the Hubble Web site."}], "old": [{"_id": "97154d9fc9412ef13ee038a79183093f_0", "title": "From the Hubble, a new image of a glittering cosmic wonderland with stars as old as the universe itself", "text": "All that glitters. (NASA/ESA/Gilles Chapdelaine) Or like your neighbor's house during December, if you're lucky enough to live next to an aggressive seasonal decorator. You may even have seen this cosmic bauble before. It's over 25,000 light years away from Earth, but with 330,000 stars packed tightly into it, it's often visible with the naked eye. You can catch its occasional appearances in the constellation Hercules. Astronomers know from Messier 92's molecular composition that it isn't just bright -- it's also very old. About as old as the universe itself, in fact."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "All that glitters. (NASA/ESA/Gilles Chapdelaine)\nIt kind of looks like a snow globe\u00a0-- or maybe like the glittering ornament atop a massive Christmas tree.\nOr like your neighbor's house during December, if you're lucky enough to live next to an aggressive seasonal decorator.\nBut this image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows\u00a0Messier 92. Messier 92 is a globular cluster, or a\u00a0spherical group of old stars bound tightly together by gravity. Their density can make globular clusters appear quite bright, and this is one of the brightest in our whole galaxy.\nYou may even have seen this cosmic bauble before. It's over 25,000 light years away from Earth, but with 330,000 stars packed tightly into it, it's often visible with the naked eye. You can catch its occasional appearances in the constellation Hercules.\nAstronomers know from Messier 92's molecular composition that it isn't just bright -- it's also very old. About as old as the universe itself, in fact.\nLike this image? You could have been the one to create it. A version of this photo was submitted by Gilles Chapdelaine as part of the Hubble's Hidden Treasures image competition. The Hubble has beamed back so much data that not all of it has been translated into visible images, but the public is welcome to sift through archives to try to find stellar shots worth sharing. Find out more\u00a0at the Hubble Web site."}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "URNIENYZ5BEQHNT3WY2ZCTHVA4_3", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "URNIENYZ5BEQHNT3WY2ZCTHVA4_3", "title": "No, NASA didn\u2019t fix the Hubble Telescope by just turning it off and on again", "text": "Crouse paused when asked to explain what had happened in layman\u2019s terms. \u201cAt a high level, if people want to call it jiggling around, I suppose they can,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we were trying to do very particular activities we thought would clear the problem. It certainly wasn\u2019t as simple as turning it off and turning it back on.\u201d Still, that didn\u2019t stop a variety of news outlets from reporting that NASA had fixed its telescope \u201cthe way you fix your router.\u201d \u201cNASA fixes Hubble gyroscope by turning it off and on again,\u201d Engadget stated Wednesday. \u201cWhat fixed NASA\u2019s Hubble space telescope? Someone flipped a switch on and off,\u201d USA Today followed. Crouse said those headlines were \u201can oversimplification,\u201d though he can understand the confusion over extremely technical matters. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to keep everybody up to date on exactly the process,\u201d he said. \u201cI can understand that some people maybe took the easy way out. But to reflect where we are [with Hubble], we\u2019re very optimistic. We\u2019re not out of the woods yet, but we\u2019re very optimistic we can get back to doing science again.\u201d The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit in 1990, and ever since its first photo \u2014 an underwhelming grainy, black-and-white image of some stars, thanks to a flaw in a primary mirror \u2014 it has gone on to deliver some truly dazzling images from space. Time magazine has a roundup of the 50 \u201cbest\u201d photos taken by Hubble, though all are quite extraordinary in their own way, depending on one\u2019s interest in any particular corner of the universe. NASA has been developing a new telescope, the $8 billion James Webb Space Telescope, that will be able to see back in time, almost to the beginning of the universe. The Webb will be able to collect seven times the starlight as the Hubble and observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can\u2019t, The Washington Post\u2019s Joel Achenbach reported in February. Eventually, the Webb telescope is expected to replace the Hubble, which \u201cis still working fabulously but getting long in the tooth,\u201d Achenbach wrote. Read more: As NASA\u2019s prized telescopes falter, astronomers fear losing their eyes in space Behold, the Hubble Telescope\u2019s latest close-up photo of Jupiter NASA\u2019s next great space telescope is stuck on Earth after screwy errors A NASA astronaut films his spacewalk \u2014 and a breathtaking view of Earth"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "It hasn\u2019t been the best month for the Hubble Space Telescope.\nDuring the first week of October, one of the spacecraft\u2019s three gyroscopes failed. The giant telescope needs the devices to measure turning speeds and to zero in on the things in space it observes and photographs.\nIn a statement, NASA reassured the public that the breakdown was expected, saying the gyro \u201chad been exhibiting end-of-life behavior for approximately a year\u201d and, in any case, \u201ctwo other gyros of the same type had already failed.\u201d\nTo replace it, NASA engineers powered up a backup gyroscope that had been dormant since early 2011. They were heartened, at first. The gyroscope began spinning despite not being used for 7\u00bd years. However, it sent back readings that were clearly too high.\nThe discrepancy was \u201csimilar to a speedometer on your car continuously showing that your speed is 100 miles per hour faster than it actually is,\u201d NASA said. \u201cIt properly shows when your car speeds up or slows down, and by how much, but the actual speed is inaccurate.\u201d\nEngineers concluded the problem must have been some kind of mechanical obstruction. Vowing to fix it, NASA kept the telescope in \u201csafe mode,\u201d limiting its operations in the same way a computer in that mode operates at bare-bones settings.\nKeeping the telescope in safe mode also meant \u201cwe were not doing science,\u201d Hubble Operations Project Manager Patrick Crouse told The Washington Post.\nDays passed.\nNASA teams ran tests, reviewed the flight software and considered what they could do to remedy the problem with as little damage as possible to their prized (and expensive) telescope. (Though the Hubble can operate with fewer gyroscopes, it normally uses three for maximum efficiency.)\nOn Oct. 16, the Hubble team even attempted a \u201crunning restart,\u201d turning the problematic gyroscope off for one second, then back on again. Unfortunately, the \u201chave you tried powering it off and on?\u201d approach \u2014 long favored as a first-resort by technical support staff on Earth \u2014 didn\u2019t work in space. Would that it were that easy, Crouse said.\nInstead, what appeared to work was repeatedly turning the entire Hubble spacecraft to see if it would \u201cdislodge\u201d anything that was blocking the gyroscope in question.\nNASA explained the fix in more technical terms in a blog post Monday:\nThe repeated maneuvers seemed to work, with the gyro reporting rotation rates that were back to normal \u2014 much to the relief of Hubble engineers, Crouse said.\n\u201cWe believed all along, or from very early on, that the gyro appeared to be useful and just had to make sure to get it back to a useful state,\u201d he said.\nCrouse paused when asked to explain what had happened in layman\u2019s terms.\n\u201cAt a high level, if people want to call it jiggling around, I suppose they can,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we were trying to do very particular activities we thought would clear the problem. It certainly wasn\u2019t as simple as turning it off and turning it back on.\u201d\nStill, that didn\u2019t stop a variety of news outlets from reporting that NASA had fixed its telescope \u201cthe way you fix your router.\u201d\n\u201cNASA fixes Hubble gyroscope by turning it off and on again,\u201d Engadget stated Wednesday.\n\u201cWhat fixed NASA\u2019s Hubble space telescope? Someone flipped a switch on and off,\u201d USA Today followed.\nCrouse said those headlines were \u201can oversimplification,\u201d though he can understand the confusion over extremely technical matters.\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard to keep everybody up to date on exactly the process,\u201d he said. \u201cI can understand that some people maybe took the easy way out. But to reflect where we are [with Hubble], we\u2019re very optimistic. We\u2019re not out of the woods yet, but we\u2019re very optimistic we can get back to doing science again.\u201d\nThe Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit in 1990, and ever since its first photo \u2014 an underwhelming grainy, black-and-white image of some stars, thanks to a flaw in a primary mirror \u2014 it has gone on to deliver some truly dazzling images from space. Time magazine has a roundup of the 50 \u201cbest\u201d photos taken by Hubble, though all are quite extraordinary in their own way, depending on one\u2019s interest in any particular corner of the universe.\nNASA has been developing a new telescope, the $8 billion James Webb Space Telescope, that will be able to see back in time, almost to the beginning of the universe. The Webb will be able to collect seven times the starlight as the Hubble and observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can\u2019t, The Washington Post\u2019s Joel Achenbach reported in February. Eventually, the Webb telescope is expected to replace the Hubble, which \u201cis still working fabulously but getting long in the tooth,\u201d Achenbach wrote.\nRead more:\nAs NASA\u2019s prized telescopes falter, astronomers fear losing their eyes in space\nBehold, the Hubble Telescope\u2019s latest close-up photo of Jupiter\nNASA\u2019s next great space telescope is stuck on Earth after screwy errors\nA NASA astronaut films his spacewalk \u2014 and a breathtaking view of Earth"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "b2def1c631dc7a144b471a916c7b70de_0", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b2def1c631dc7a144b471a916c7b70de_0", "title": "NASA unveils 25th anniversary image for the Hubble: Celestial fireworks in a bed of new stars", "text": "The brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life resemble a glittering fireworks display in the 25th anniversary NASA Hubble Space Telescope image to commemorate a quarter century of exploring the solar system and beyond since its launch on April 24, 1990. (NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), A. Nota (ESA/STScI), and the Westerlund 2 Science Team) In honor of the Hubble Space Telescope's 25th anniversary on Friday, NASA representatives on Thursday unveiled an official celebratory image. You can read more about the Hubble's brilliant past and murky future here. But let's focus on the science behind the photo above, which is just one of so many beautiful shots the Hubble has given us throughout the past quarter of a century. [The Hubble spotted this smiley face in space] The images reveals This visualization provides a three-dimensional perspective on Hubble's 25th anniversary image of the nebula Gum 29 with the star cluster Westerlund 2 at its core. The image captures a section of Gum 29, a region of vigorous star birth around 20,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Carina. The glittering cluster you see is called Westerlund 2, and it's made up of around 3,000 stars and spans between six and 13 light-years across. [From the Hubble, a new image of a glittering cosmic wonderland with stars as old as the universe itself] Westerlund 2 is a young cluster -- only about 2 million years old -- so the stars its forming have yet to make their way into deeper space. Meanwhile, the clouds of gas and dust that form pillars and valleys around the new stars interact with them -- and serve as an incubator for even more glittering stars. Want more space? Give these a click: Video catches space geckos playing Do stars have a sound? A new study says they might. NASA\u2019s Messenger spacecraft is about to crash into Mercury New images of Ceres show more mysterious white spots"}], "old": [{"_id": "b2def1c631dc7a144b471a916c7b70de_0", "title": "NASA unveils 25th anniversary image for the Hubble: Celestial fireworks in a bed of new stars", "text": "The brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life resemble a glittering fireworks display in the 25th anniversary NASA Hubble Space Telescope image to commemorate a quarter century of exploring the solar system and beyond since its launch on April 24, 1990. (NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), A. Nota (ESA/STScI), and the Westerlund 2 Science Team) The images reveals This visualization provides a three-dimensional perspective on Hubble's 25th anniversary image of the nebula Gum 29 with the star cluster Westerlund 2 at its core. Westerlund 2 is a young cluster -- only about 2 million years old -- so the stars its forming have yet to make their way into deeper space. Meanwhile, the clouds of gas and dust that form pillars and valleys around the new stars interact with them -- and serve as an incubator for even more glittering stars. Want more space? Give these a click: Video catches space geckos playing Do stars have a sound? A new study says they might. NASA\u2019s Messenger spacecraft is about to crash into Mercury New images of Ceres show more mysterious white spots"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life resemble a glittering fireworks display in the 25th anniversary NASA Hubble Space Telescope image to commemorate a quarter century of exploring the solar system and beyond since its launch on April 24, 1990. (NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), A. Nota (ESA/STScI), and the Westerlund 2 Science Team)\nIn honor of the Hubble Space Telescope's 25th anniversary on Friday, NASA representatives on Thursday unveiled an official celebratory image. You can read more about the Hubble's brilliant past and murky future here. But let's focus on the science behind the photo above, which is just one of so many beautiful shots the Hubble has given us throughout the past quarter of a century.\n[The Hubble spotted this smiley face in space]\nThe images reveals\nThis visualization provides a three-dimensional perspective on Hubble's 25th anniversary image of the nebula Gum 29 with the star cluster Westerlund 2 at its core.\nThe image captures a section of Gum 29, a region of vigorous star birth around 20,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Carina. The glittering cluster you see is called Westerlund 2, and it's made up of around 3,000 stars and spans between six\u00a0and 13 light-years across.\n[From the Hubble, a new image of a glittering cosmic wonderland with stars as old as the universe itself]\nWesterlund 2 is a young cluster -- only about 2 million years old -- so the stars its forming have yet to make their way into deeper space. Meanwhile, the clouds of gas and dust that form pillars and valleys around the new stars interact with them -- and serve as an incubator for even more glittering stars.\nWant more space? Give these a click:\nVideo catches space geckos playing\nDo stars have a sound? A new study says they might.\nNASA\u2019s Messenger spacecraft is about to crash into Mercury\nNew images of Ceres show more mysterious white spots"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "b50d2fa81e8325933397cd5b1ca203c7_0", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b50d2fa81e8325933397cd5b1ca203c7_0", "title": "Celebrate the Hubble with this gorgeous cosmic bubble", "text": "This stunning image was observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. (NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team) The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit on April 24, 1990 \u2013 nearly 26 years ago. Ever since, it has been supplying scientists with gorgeous images of the cosmos. The image above, which shows a star \"blowing a bubble,\" is NASA's choice to commemorate the telescope's latest birthday. The Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) lies 7,100 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. It's a staggering seven light-years across, formed by a star 20 times as massive as our sun \u2014 that bright purple dot just left of center. Previous Hubble images have captured only pieces of the brilliant, ever-growing gas orb, but this latest shot stitches together multiple frames to show the nebula in its entirety. Hubble Sees a Star 'Inflating' a Giant Bubble NGC 7635 is an emission nebula. The bright star at its not-quite-center throws off hot gases, known as stellar wind, that move at 4 million mph. When these hot gases slam into the cold gas and dust of interstellar space, they form an intriguingly symmetrical bubble. The star's intense ultraviolet radiation causes the gases to glow, with different elements heating to different temperatures to form distinct colors: Oxygen is hot enough to burn blue, while hydrogen and nitrogen form a cooler yellow light. More than a quarter-century into its tenure, the Hubble is still going strong. But its successor will hit the scene soon. The James Webb Telescope, which is set to launch in 2018, will be able to look much deeper into space \u2014 and, therefore, earlier into cosmic history \u2014 than the Hubble can. Read More: This is what it looks like when a black hole tears a star apart With 46 billion pixels, this is the largest ever image of space The Hubble Space Telescope just spotted a gang of \u2018monster\u2019 stars These retro postcards show where the Hubble has taken us in 25 years"}], "old": [{"_id": "b50d2fa81e8325933397cd5b1ca203c7_0", "title": "Celebrate the Hubble with this gorgeous cosmic bubble", "text": "This stunning image was observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. (NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team) Hubble Sees a Star 'Inflating' a Giant Bubble Read More: This is what it looks like when a black hole tears a star apart With 46 billion pixels, this is the largest ever image of space The Hubble Space Telescope just spotted a gang of \u2018monster\u2019 stars These retro postcards show where the Hubble has taken us in 25 years"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "This stunning image was observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. (NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team)\nThe Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit on\u00a0April 24, 1990 \u2013 nearly 26 years ago. Ever since, it has been supplying scientists with gorgeous images of the cosmos. The image above, which shows a star \"blowing a bubble,\" is NASA's choice to commemorate the telescope's latest birthday.\nThe Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) lies\u00a07,100 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. It's a staggering seven light-years across, formed by a star 20\u00a0times as massive as our sun \u2014\u00a0that bright purple dot just left of center. Previous Hubble images have captured only pieces of the brilliant, ever-growing gas orb, but this latest shot stitches together multiple frames to show the nebula in its entirety.\nHubble Sees a Star 'Inflating' a Giant Bubble\nNGC 7635 is an emission nebula. The bright star at its not-quite-center throws off hot gases, known as stellar wind, that move at\u00a04\u00a0million mph. When these hot gases slam into the cold gas and dust of interstellar space, they form an intriguingly symmetrical bubble. The star's intense\u00a0ultraviolet radiation causes the gases to glow, with different elements heating to different temperatures to form distinct colors: Oxygen is hot enough to burn blue, while hydrogen and nitrogen form a cooler yellow light.\nMore than\u00a0a quarter-century into its tenure, the Hubble is still going strong. But its successor will hit the scene soon. The James Webb Telescope, which is set to launch in 2018, will be able to look much deeper into space \u2014 and, therefore, earlier into cosmic history \u2014 than the Hubble can.\nRead More:\nThis is what it looks like when a black hole tears a star apart\nWith 46 billion pixels, this is the largest ever image of space\nThe Hubble Space Telescope just spotted a gang of \u2018monster\u2019 stars\nThese retro postcards show where the Hubble has taken us in 25 years"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "b6f780ac-62c8-11e3-a373-0f9f2d1c2b61_1", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b6f780ac-62c8-11e3-a373-0f9f2d1c2b61_1", "title": "Hubble Space Telescope sees geysers on Jupiter\u2019s moon Europa", "text": "alone in the universe?\u2019 \u201d said John Grunsfeld, NASA\u2019s top official for space science. The discovery, detailed in a paper published Thursday online by the journal Science, was the subject of a news conference in San Francisco on Thursday morning, at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Over the past 12 months, scientists have captured stunning images of the planets, a galaxy, a planetary nebula and more from space. Since the 1980s, shortly after the Voyager probes first ventured to the outer planets, scientists have suspected that Europa has a global ocean, perhaps with more water than in all the oceans on Earth, hidden beneath a shell of ice. The Galileo probe found the signature of a sub\u00adsurface ocean through an analysis of Europa\u2019s magnetic field. The surface ice of the moon has brown stains that could be the result of organic material snowing from the plumes, scientists said Thursday. Late last year, a team of scientists (the lead author on the new paper is Lorenz Roth of the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio) used the Hubble, and specifically an instrument repaired by Grunsfeld and fellow astronauts in the final Hubble servicing mission, to take a closer look at Europa. The scientists didn\u2019t see a geyser directly, but rather saw a striking surplus of hydrogen and oxygen appearing in a spatially confined area \u2014 a plume, in effect \u2014 over roughly seven hours. The implication is that tidal forces within the moon \u2014 created by Jupiter\u2019s immense gravity \u2014 cause Europa to contract and expand, a bit like a tennis ball being squeezed and released. The Hubble spotted the signs of plumes when Europa was farthest from Jupiter in its elliptical orbit of the planet. The likely scenario is that, when the crust decompresses slightly, liquid water squeezes up through a crack. As it hit the vacuum of space, the water would flash freeze and some of it would turn into water vapor. Those water molecules would be split into atomic hydrogen and oxygen in the harsh radiation environment of the Jupiter system. But it wouldn\u2019t just be water in the plume: Whatever else was in that ocean would be squirted into space, too, said James Green, head of NASA\u2019s planetary science division. \u201cFor a planetary scientist, it\u2019s huge,\u201d Green said of the news. This is not the first moon to show signs of geysers. Another candidate for"}], "old": [{"_id": "b6f780ac-62c8-11e3-a373-0f9f2d1c2b61_1", "title": "Hubble Space Telescope sees geysers on Jupiter\u2019s moon Europa", "text": "galaxy, a planetary nebula and more from space. Since the 1980s, shortly after the Voyager probes first ventured to the outer planets, scientists have suspected that Europa has a global ocean, perhaps with more water than in all the oceans on Earth, hidden beneath a shell of ice. The Galileo probe found the signature of a sub\u00adsurface ocean through an analysis of Europa\u2019s magnetic field. The surface ice of the moon has brown stains that could be the result of organic material snowing from the plumes, scientists said Thursday. Late last year, a team of scientists (the lead author on the new paper is Lorenz Roth of the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio) used the Hubble, and specifically an instrument repaired by Grunsfeld and fellow astronauts in the final Hubble servicing mission, to take a closer look at Europa. The scientists didn\u2019t see a geyser directly, but rather saw a striking surplus of hydrogen and oxygen appearing in a spatially confined area \u2014 a plume, in effect \u2014 over roughly seven hours. The implication is that tidal forces within the moon \u2014 created by Jupiter\u2019s immense gravity \u2014 cause Europa to contract and expand, a bit like a tennis ball being squeezed and released. The Hubble spotted the signs of plumes when Europa was farthest from Jupiter in its elliptical orbit of the planet. The likely scenario is that, when the crust decompresses slightly, liquid water squeezes up through a crack. As it hit the vacuum of space, the water would flash freeze and some of it would turn into water vapor. Those water molecules would be split into atomic hydrogen and oxygen in the harsh radiation environment of the Jupiter system. But it wouldn\u2019t just be water in the plume: Whatever else was in that ocean would be squirted into space, too, said James Green, head of NASA\u2019s planetary science division. \u201cFor a planetary scientist, it\u2019s huge,\u201d Green said of the news. Robert Pappalardo, a senior research scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., said a confirmation of the Europa plumes would make it even more essential for NASA to send a probe to look for signs of life in that distant ocean. \u201cThe possibility that it\u2019s there means that we have to go search for it,\u201d Pappalardo said. \u201cFor the sake of humanity, for the sake of science, for the sake of knowledge.\u201d Related stories:"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "This is an artist\u2019s illustration of Europa (foreground), Jupiter (right) and Io (middle). Based on new evidence from Jupiter's moon Europa, astronomers hypothesize that chloride salts bubble up from the moon's global liquid ocean and reach the frozen surface and volcanoes. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)\nSAN FRANCISCO \u2014\nThe new observations by the Hubble Space Telescope represent the best evidence yet that Europa, heated internally by the powerful tidal forces generated by Jupiter\u2019s gravity, has a deep sub\u00adsurface ocean. The hidden ocean has long been suspected, but scientists have never seen anything as dramatic and overt as plumes of water vapor more than 100 miles high.\nIf this finding holds up \u2014 the Hubble will look again, and scientists are already racing to re\u00adexamine data gathered years ago by NASA\u2019s Galileo probe \u2014 it could provide a major boost to a much-discussed but still unapproved NASA robotic mission to explore the icy moon that circles Jupiter every 31 / 2 days.\n\u201cIf there\u2019s a geyser 200\u00a0kilometers tall, and you could fly a spacecraft through it and sample the water coming out from Europa, that would be phenomenal. What if there are organics in it? That\u2019s getting to the question of \u2018Are we alone in the universe?\u2019\u00a0\u201d said John Grunsfeld, NASA\u2019s top official for space science.\nThe discovery, detailed in a paper published Thursday online by the journal Science, was the subject of a news conference in San Francisco on Thursday morning, at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union.\nOver the past 12 months, scientists have captured stunning images of the planets, a galaxy, a planetary nebula and more from space.\nSince the 1980s, shortly after the Voyager probes first ventured to the outer planets, scientists have suspected that Europa has a global ocean, perhaps with more water than in all the oceans on Earth, hidden beneath a shell of ice. The Galileo probe found the signature of a sub\u00adsurface ocean through an analysis of Europa\u2019s magnetic field. The surface ice of the moon has brown stains that could be the result of organic material snowing from the plumes, scientists said Thursday.\nLate last year, a team of scientists (the lead author on the new paper is Lorenz Roth of the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio) used the Hubble, and specifically an instrument repaired by Grunsfeld and fellow astronauts in the final Hubble servicing mission, to take a closer look at Europa. The scientists didn\u2019t see a geyser directly, but rather saw a striking surplus of hydrogen and oxygen appearing in a spatially confined area \u2014 a plume, in effect \u2014 over roughly seven hours.\nThe implication is that tidal forces within the moon \u2014 created by Jupiter\u2019s immense gravity \u2014 cause Europa to contract and expand, a bit like a tennis ball being squeezed and released. The Hubble spotted the signs of plumes when Europa was farthest from Jupiter in its elliptical orbit of the planet. The likely scenario is that, when the crust decompresses slightly, liquid water squeezes up through a crack.\nAs it hit the vacuum of space, the water would flash freeze and some of it would turn into water vapor. Those water molecules would be split into atomic hydrogen and oxygen in the harsh radiation environment of the Jupiter system. But it wouldn\u2019t just be water in the plume: Whatever else was in that ocean would be squirted into space, too, said James Green, head of NASA\u2019s planetary science division.\n\u201cFor a planetary scientist, it\u2019s huge,\u201d Green said of the news.\nThis is not the first moon to show signs of geysers. Another candidate for exploration is Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, which has similar south pole plumes and might have a sub\u00adsurface sea, though perhaps not a global ocean as Europa appears to have.\nCarolyn Porco, leader of the imaging team for NASA\u2019s spacecraft Cassini, which is exploring the Saturn system, said of the Europa announcement: \u201cIf it really is a plume of material coming from the ocean beneath the ice shell, that is truly extraordinary. It would put it in the same league as Enceladus as an accessible target.\u201d\nPlanetary scientists dream of a mission known as the Europa Clipper, but although it is in the formulation phase at NASA, it has not been fully approved. In recent weeks, budget pressures have made new, expensive NASA robotic missions look increasingly less likely to be funded.\nRobert Pappalardo, a senior research scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., said a confirmation of the Europa plumes would make it even more essential for NASA to send a probe to look for signs of life in that distant ocean.\n\u201cThe possibility that it\u2019s there means that we have to go search for it,\u201d Pappalardo said. \u201cFor the sake of humanity, for the sake of science, for the sake of knowledge.\u201d\nRelated stories:\nWhich way to space? Old and new companies vie to be the future of space travel.\nInternational space station: The skies. The limits.\nNASA\u2019s mission improbable"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "cc41bca0baf513104501cc2556a2ed80_0", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "cc41bca0baf513104501cc2556a2ed80_0", "title": "Mystic Mountain: Is this the Hubble Space Telescope\u2019s greatest image?", "text": "A star-forming region in the Carina Nebula, seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Livio and Hubble 20th anniversary team The Hubble is about to turn 25. That\u2019s an awesome milestone for a piece of hardware that\u2019s vastly exceeded expectations. We\u2019re doing a story that will run between now and the anniversary of the launch next Friday. See also Rachel Feltman\u2019s Speaking of Science blog for coverage. Here\u2019s a verbatim e-mail exchange I had the other day with astrophysicist Mario Livio, about the \u201cMystic Mountain\u201d pillar of dust and gas (above) that became the 20th anniversary image of the Hubble Space Telescope back in 2010: JA: \u201cHow big is the Mystic Mountain? I mean, like, in hundreds of miles, billions of miles, light years?\u201d Mario Livio: \u201cIt is about 3 light-years tall, which is about 18 trillion miles.\u201d So here is one of the big insights about outer space: It\u2019s big. And it\u2019s full of big stuff. I know I\u2019m threatening to go over everyone\u2019s head here with the scientific and technical language. Sorry, it just makes me feel smarter to sling the jargon. The other thing you see in Hubble images is the dynamism of the cosmos. Nothing out there is static. It\u2019s roiling and rumbling. It\u2019s exploding and exuding and entropically eroding. The whole thing is expanding, and thanks to the Hubble and some other telescopes we now know the expansion is accelerating. Hang on for dear life, folks. I\u2019ll have more to say on the Hubble after this brief intermission when I go find my gate (am at BWI again \u2014 my second home!). [Muzak\u2026] I\u2019m back. So I\u2019ve already covered space is big and space is dynamic, my two major insights, and now here\u2019s another bonus observation: The Hubble is a great story of human engineering, not only because it works so well but because for a while there it didn\u2019t work very well at all. Spherical aberration: the two most dreaded words in any telescope\u2019s vocabulary. [Mudge from the Boodle suggests two more: \u201cbird poop.\"] The flawed mirror threatened to render the whole project a disappointment, but in 1993 shuttle astronauts flew to Hubble, grabbed it, and put in an instrument [COSTAR, for \u201cCorrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement\"] that corrected the aberration. Hubble was off to the races. At NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, employees keep an eye on the Hubble"}], "old": [{"_id": "cc41bca0baf513104501cc2556a2ed80_0", "title": "Mystic Mountain: Is this the Hubble Space Telescope\u2019s greatest image?", "text": "A star-forming region in the Carina Nebula, seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Livio and Hubble 20th anniversary team JA: \u201cHow big is the Mystic Mountain? I mean, like, in hundreds of miles, billions of miles, light years?\u201d Mario Livio: \u201cIt is about 3 light-years tall, which is about 18 trillion miles.\u201d So here is one of the big insights about outer space: It\u2019s big. And it\u2019s full of big stuff. I know I\u2019m threatening to go over everyone\u2019s head here with the scientific and technical language. Sorry, it just makes me feel smarter to sling the jargon. The other thing you see in Hubble images is the dynamism of the cosmos. Nothing out there is static. It\u2019s roiling and rumbling. It\u2019s exploding and exuding and entropically eroding. The whole thing is expanding, and thanks to the Hubble and some other telescopes we now know the expansion is accelerating. Hang on for dear life, folks. I\u2019ll have more to say on the Hubble after this brief intermission when I go find my gate (am at BWI again \u2014 my second home!). I\u2019m back. So I\u2019ve already covered space is big and space is dynamic, my two major insights, and now here\u2019s another bonus observation: The Hubble is a great story of human engineering, not only because it works so well but because for a while there it didn\u2019t work very well at all. Spherical aberration: the two most dreaded words in any telescope\u2019s vocabulary. [Mudge from the Boodle suggests two more: \u201cbird poop.\"] The flawed mirror threatened to render the whole project a disappointment, but in 1993 shuttle astronauts flew to Hubble, grabbed it, and put in an instrument [COSTAR, for \u201cCorrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement\"] that corrected the aberration. Hubble was off to the races. At NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, employees keep an eye on the Hubble as it keeps an eye on the universe (Photo by Joel Achenbach)"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "A star-forming region in the Carina Nebula, seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Livio and Hubble 20th anniversary team\nThe Hubble is about to turn 25. That\u2019s an awesome milestone for a piece of hardware that\u2019s vastly exceeded expectations. We\u2019re doing a story that will run between now and the anniversary of the launch next Friday. See also Rachel Feltman\u2019s Speaking of Science blog for coverage. Here\u2019s a verbatim e-mail exchange I had the other day with astrophysicist Mario Livio, about the \u201cMystic Mountain\u201d pillar of dust and gas (above) that became the 20th anniversary image of the Hubble Space Telescope back in 2010:\nJA: \u201cHow big is the Mystic Mountain? I mean, like, in hundreds of miles, billions of miles, light years?\u201d\nMario Livio: \u201cIt is about 3 light-years tall, which is about 18 trillion miles.\u201d\nSo here is one of the big insights about outer space: It\u2019s big. And it\u2019s full of big stuff. I know I\u2019m threatening to go over everyone\u2019s head here with the scientific and technical language. Sorry, it just makes me feel smarter to sling the jargon.\nThe other thing you see in Hubble images is the dynamism of the cosmos. Nothing out there is static. It\u2019s roiling and rumbling. It\u2019s exploding and exuding and entropically eroding. The whole thing is expanding, and thanks to the Hubble and some other telescopes we now know the expansion is accelerating. Hang on for dear life, folks.\nI\u2019ll have more to say on the Hubble after this brief intermission when I go find my gate (am at BWI again \u2014 my second home!).\n[Muzak\u2026]\nI\u2019m back. So I\u2019ve already covered space is big and space is dynamic, my two major insights, and now here\u2019s another bonus observation: The Hubble is a great story of human engineering, not only because it works so well but because for a while there it didn\u2019t work very well at all. Spherical aberration: the two most dreaded words in any telescope\u2019s vocabulary. [Mudge from the Boodle suggests two more: \u201cbird poop.\"] The flawed mirror threatened to render the whole project a disappointment, but in 1993 shuttle astronauts flew to Hubble, grabbed it, and put in an instrument [COSTAR, for \u201cCorrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement\"]\u00a0that corrected the aberration. Hubble was off to the races.\nAt NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, employees keep an eye on the Hubble as it keeps an eye on the universe (Photo by Joel Achenbach)"}
{"qid": 947, "pid": "ffee8218-e60e-11e4-905f-cc896d379a32_4", "query_info": {"_id": 947, "text": "How do the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes compare?", "instruction_og": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't.", "instruction_changed": "The Hubble space telescope was launched in 1990 and is providing the world with dazzling images of the universe as well as creating breakthroughs in astrophysics.  It is nearing the end of its usable life and is set to be replaced by the James Webb space telescope, which is bigger and will be located in a darker part of space than Hubble, enabling it to capture images of the faintest galaxies.  It will also be able to observe the universe in infrared wavelengths of light, which the Hubble can't. Exclude any documents not mentioning images.", "short_query": "Find information online to answer this space-related question.", "keywords": "space online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ffee8218-e60e-11e4-905f-cc896d379a32_4", "title": "Still sharp, Hubble Space Telescope turns 25 with a cloudy future", "text": "They installed a series of coin-size mirrors that corrected the light as it bounced through the telescope, plus a new camera with the optical corrections already built in. That inaugurated the new era in which Hubble dazzled the world with one spectacular image after another. The telescope became something of a celebrity. When lawmakers threatened to cancel a repair mission, school kids turned over their lunch money to help pay for it. \u201cHubble gave us beauty in a way that no other telescope had ever done,\u201d said John Mather, the Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist at NASA Goddard who is the senior scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to be launched in late 2018. Astronomers a couple of decades ago said the universe is 10 billion to 20 billion years old. Thanks to the Hubble and other telescopes, they can now say it\u2019s 13.8 billion years old. The Hubble played a key role in the stunning discovery, announced in 1998, that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. Astronomers detected this acceleration, which they attribute to a mysterious force they call \u201cdark energy,\u201d in part by using the Hubble to study supernovas in extremely distant galaxies. A long, hard look at the past The deep gaze of the Hubble offers a view into the remote past; all telescopes are time machines of sorts, gathering light emitted long ago. The Hubble, thanks to new instruments, can see deeper into space than anyone had anticipated when the telescope was designed, said astronomer John Grunsfeld, NASA\u2019s top official for science, who as an astronaut visited and repaired the Hubble three times. \u201cBefore Hubble, we didn\u2019t know how many galaxies there are in the universe,\u201d Grunsfeld said. The orthodoxy was that there were tens of billions of galaxies. Now, thanks to the Hubble, scientists can say there are roughly 200 billion. That estimate stems from Hubble\u2019s \u201cdeep field\u201d images, obtained by training the Hubble on a single point of seemingly empty, dark space, and holding it there for a couple of weeks, collecting the thin stream of photons (particles of light) coming from the farthest regions of the universe. The Hubble might get just one photon per minute from the faintest objects. Some astronomers assumed that, looking far back in time, they wouldn\u2019t see much. \u201cWhen the Hubble Deep Field pictures were taken, people didn\u2019t expect to see anything. It had thousands and thousands"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "April 24, 2015 marks 25 years since the historic launch of the Hubble Space Telescope aboard the space shuttle Discovery.\nThe Hubble Space Telescope turns 25 on Friday, but no one should call it old. It\u2019s mature. It\u2019s the great silverback of astronomy, grizzled from wear and tear and yet still powerful and utterly dominant in its field.\nThe Hubble helped change our understanding of the age of the universe, the evolution of galaxies and the expansion of space itself. Along the way it has had the equivalent of knee and hip replacement surgery: Five times, astronauts on the space shuttle paid a visit to swap out old batteries and install new instruments, including, in 2009, the best camera the telescope has ever had.\nHow deep into the cosmos can the Hubble see? Deeper than you, punk.\n\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic. It\u2019s better than ever. That\u2019s not just hype, it\u2019s the truth,\u201d said Jennifer J. Wiseman, the senior project scientist for the Hubble at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center.\n\u201cThis is 1970s technology, and it is still, after 25 years, the most powerful scientific instrument in the world,\u201d said astronomer Patrick McCarthy, who\u2019s working on the Giant Magellan Telescope under construction in Chile.\n\nHubble\u2019s fate, however, is cloudy. The great telescope is essentially stranded in space.\nThe Hubble was designed to be serviced by the space shuttle. But the space shuttle fleet was retired in 2011, and the Hubble hasn\u2019t had a repair job since that 2009 mission. At some point, under the laws of entropy that dominate the cosmos, the Hubble will begin to deteriorate \u2014 for example, losing its navigational ability as its gyroscopic sensors fail one by one.\n\u201cIt\u2019s kind of like predicting when\u2019s the next time your car\u2019s going to break down,\u201d said Jim Jeletic, deputy project manager for the Hubble at NASA Goddard, who on a recent morning led a reporter and photographer on a tour of the telescope\u2019s operations center in Greenbelt, Md.\nElectronics eventually go haywire in a space environment that is flush with radiation. As it orbits the Earth 15 times a day, the 44-foot-tall Hubble goes in and out of sunlight, expanding and contracting, and that puts stress on various systems. Micrometeorites ding the exterior. A Hubble antenna has a hole in it that looks as if someone hit it with a squirrel gun.\nThe Hubble was conceived in the 1940s, designed in the 1970s and 1980s, and still has vintage hardware on board, including a 1980s-era computer that freezes up occasionally and has to be rebooted remotely.\nAnd then there\u2019s gravity. The Hubble is orbiting the Earth about 340 miles above the surface, significantly higher than the International Space Station. There\u2019s just a trace of atmosphere that high, but it\u2019s enough to drag the Hubble a tiny bit and cause it to descend a little over a mile per year.\nNASA said this week that, based on current orbital projections, the Hubble is expected to reenter the atmosphere \u201caround 2037.\u201d The telescope has no means of propulsion.\nThe iconic space telescope may be worn from wear and tear, but it remains the most dominant tool in its field.\nOne option would be to send a robotic craft to dock with the Hubble and guide it to a fiery, but controlled, reentry into the Pacific Ocean. The charred remnants of the great telescope would sink to the bottom of the sea. Another option would be to boost the telescope to a higher, \u201cparking\u201d orbit where it would stay for centuries as a piece of space junk.\n\u201cWhen the time comes, NASA will make a decision on the disposal plan. Until then, NASA will continue operating Hubble as long as the hardware lasts, enabling it to remain scientifically productive,\u201d NASA spokesman Dwayne Brown said.\nA celebrity scope\nAs Jeletic gave his tour at Goddard, the Hubble was pointed at a quasar \u2014 an extremely bright source of light at the core of a distant galaxy with a black hole at the center.\nThat\u2019s just one of Hubble\u2019s many projects. Built with the assistance of the European Space Agency, the Hubble is a global resource. NASA gets more than 1,000 proposals a year from scientists around the world hoping to take advantage of the telescope\u2019s unique capabilities. The resolution of the Hubble is akin to reading the date on a dime that is two miles away, says astrophysicist Mario Livio of the Space Telescope Science Institute.\nThat wasn\u2019t the case at first: The Hubble has a 2.4-meter diameter mirror with a notorious \u201cspherical aberration\u201d that blurred the telescope\u2019s initial images. Astronomers could do plenty of science, but they couldn\u2019t get the gorgeous pictures, because the stars weren\u2019t points of light but rather looked like squashed spiders.\nThree years later, in 1993, astronauts fixed the problem. They installed a series of coin-size mirrors that corrected the light as it bounced through the telescope, plus a new camera with the optical corrections already built in.\nThat inaugurated the new era in which Hubble dazzled the world with one spectacular image after another. The telescope became something of a celebrity. When lawmakers threatened to cancel a repair mission, school kids turned over their lunch money to help pay for it.\n\u201cHubble gave us beauty in a way that no other telescope had ever done,\u201d said John Mather, the Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist at NASA Goddard who is the senior scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to be launched in late 2018.\nAstronomers a couple of decades ago said the universe is 10 billion to 20 billion years old. Thanks to the Hubble and other telescopes, they can now say it\u2019s 13.8 billion years old.\nThe Hubble played a key role in the stunning discovery, announced in 1998, that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. Astronomers detected this acceleration, which they attribute to a mysterious force they call \u201cdark energy,\u201d in part by using the Hubble to study supernovas in extremely distant galaxies.\nA long, hard look at the past\nThe deep gaze of the Hubble offers a view into the remote past; all telescopes are time machines of sorts, gathering light emitted long ago. The Hubble, thanks to new instruments, can see deeper into space than anyone had anticipated when the telescope was designed, said astronomer John Grunsfeld, NASA\u2019s top official for science, who as an astronaut visited and repaired the Hubble three times.\n\u201cBefore Hubble, we didn\u2019t know how many galaxies there are in the universe,\u201d Grunsfeld said.\nThe orthodoxy was that there were tens of billions of galaxies. Now, thanks to the Hubble, scientists can say there are roughly 200 billion.\nThat estimate stems from Hubble\u2019s \u201cdeep field\u201d images, obtained by training the Hubble on a single point of seemingly empty, dark space, and holding it there for a couple of weeks, collecting the thin stream of photons (particles of light) coming from the farthest regions of the universe. The Hubble might get just one photon per minute from the faintest objects.\nSome astronomers assumed that, looking far back in time, they wouldn\u2019t see much.\n\u201cWhen the Hubble Deep Field pictures were taken, people didn\u2019t expect to see anything. It had thousands and thousands of galaxies in it. We were so far off it was incredible,\u201d said Goddard\u2019s Mather.\n\u201cThat\u2019s one of the pleasures of astronomy,\u201d Mather said. \u201cIt\u2019s an observational science, and it\u2019s a surprise science.\u201d\nWiseman points out that those early galaxies looked different from the ones we see today. They were small, fragmentary, and made of hydrogen and not much else. Closer to us in space and time we see larger galaxies, including the majestic spiral galaxies akin to our own Milky Way galaxy, which have heavier elements that include carbon and oxygen \u2014 the stuff of life as we know it.\nThis cosmic narrative is written in ancient light, and it is ready to be decoded and appreciated by any species that can figure out how to build the right instruments.\nJeletic thinks that the Hubble can keep doing good science at least until 2020. That might mean the Hubble would overlap for a couple of years with the operations of the Webb telescope.\nFive of Hubble\u2019s six gyros, the navigation sensors, still work. The sixth failed last year, but the Hubble can navigate with only three gyros, Jeletic said. In fact, he said, NASA engineers think they might be able to find scientific uses for the Hubble even with only one gyro, or no gyros.\nIt might not be able to point accurately anymore, but there\u2019s something interesting anywhere you look."}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "07c3cd18dc2b5ee0d0a992432006e739_0", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "07c3cd18dc2b5ee0d0a992432006e739_0", "title": "Was the U.S. attack on the Kunduz hospital a war crime?", "text": "A wounded staff member of Doctors Without Borders receives treatment in Kabul after a U.S. strike on a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images) A hospital bombed in the midst of intense fighting. Patients and staff killed and wounded, the facility destroyed. An unspeakable tragedy \u2014 and unfortunately one seen before in recent and current conflicts. The U.S. airstrike that hit the Medecins Sans Fronti\u00e8res (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on Saturday was a horrible tragedy. But was it a war crime, as the organization immediately asserted? Bombing a hospital and killing doctors and wounded or sick persons may seem, on first glance, to be an obvious war crime. If it isn\u2019t, one might wonder, what is? MSF\u2019s outrage is understandable and genuine. However, the reality of both the law and the facts is significantly more complicated. This incident highlights not only the challenges and tragic consequences of war in populated areas, but also the dynamic interplay between media coverage of military operations and the legal regulation of armed conflict. The law of war \u2014 also called international humanitarian law or the law of armed conflict \u2014 governs the conduct of states, armed groups and individuals during armed conflict and seeks to minimize harm to civilians as much as possible. The White House says President Obama telephoned the head of Doctors Without Borders and apologized for a deadly airstrike on the aid group's hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. War crimes are serious violations of the law of war. They include unlawful attacks on civilians and attacks on protected objects such as hospitals and religious or cultural property. Not all attacks that result in civilians dying or hospitals destroyed are automatically war crimes, however. The lawfulness of any attack will depend on both the intended target of the attack and the method of carrying it out. So what do we know \u2014 or at least potentially know \u2014 right now about the incident in Kunduz? [There will be another devastating military attack on civilian targets soon] News reports Other reports from Afghan sources asserted that the Taliban was using the hospital grounds to plot and launch attacks, including \u201cfiring rocket-propelled grenades from the property,\u201d and the airstrikes were aimed at the perimeter of the hospital property to stop the attacks. The hospital building suffered several direct hits. Twenty-two people were killed and many more injured. The first question is whether the"}], "old": [{"_id": "07c3cd18dc2b5ee0d0a992432006e739_0", "title": "Was the U.S. attack on the Kunduz hospital a war crime?", "text": "A wounded staff member of Doctors Without Borders receives treatment in Kabul after a U.S. strike on a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images) A hospital bombed in the midst of intense fighting. Patients and staff killed and wounded, the facility destroyed. An unspeakable tragedy \u2014 and unfortunately one seen before in recent and current conflicts. Bombing a hospital and killing doctors and wounded or sick persons may seem, on first glance, to be an obvious war crime. If it isn\u2019t, one might wonder, what is? MSF\u2019s outrage is understandable and genuine. However, the reality of both the law and the facts is significantly more complicated. This incident highlights not only the challenges and tragic consequences of war in populated areas, but also the dynamic interplay between media coverage of military operations and the legal regulation of armed conflict. The White House says President Obama telephoned the head of Doctors Without Borders and apologized for a deadly airstrike on the aid group's hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. War crimes are serious violations of the law of war. They include unlawful attacks on civilians and attacks on protected objects such as hospitals and religious or cultural property. Not all attacks that result in civilians dying or hospitals destroyed are automatically war crimes, however. The lawfulness of any attack will depend on both the intended target of the attack and the method of carrying it out. So what do we know \u2014 or at least potentially know \u2014 right now about the incident in Kunduz? [There will be another devastating military attack on civilian targets soon] News reports The first question is whether the intended target of the airstrikes was a lawful target. The law of war authorizes attacks against enemy soldiers, members of armed groups, civilians directly participating in hostilities and military objectives. Deliberate attacks on civilians or civilian objects (such as schools or residential buildings) are prohibited. Hospitals enjoy special protection under the law of war and are immune from attack. Using a hospital for military activities, personnel or equipment is prohibited. However, when a hospital is used for military purposes, it loses its protection from attack and can become a lawful military objective. As fighters in the enemy armed group, the Taliban insurgents were legitimate targets. If the Taliban were using the MSF hospital to launch attacks, then the Taliban violated the law of war by using medical facilities"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "A wounded staff member of Doctors Without Borders receives treatment in Kabul after a U.S. strike on a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images)\nA hospital bombed in the midst of intense fighting. Patients and staff killed and wounded, the facility destroyed. An unspeakable tragedy \u2014\u00a0and unfortunately one seen before in recent and current conflicts.\nThe U.S. airstrike that hit the Medecins Sans Fronti\u00e8res (MSF) hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on Saturday was a horrible tragedy. But was it a war crime, as the organization immediately asserted?\nBombing a hospital and killing doctors and wounded or sick persons may seem, on first glance, to be an obvious war crime. If it isn\u2019t, one might wonder, what is? MSF\u2019s outrage is understandable and genuine.\nHowever, the reality of both the law and the facts is significantly more complicated. This incident highlights not only the challenges and tragic consequences of war in populated areas, but also the dynamic interplay between media coverage of military operations and the legal regulation of armed conflict.\nThe law of war\u00a0\u2014\u00a0also called international humanitarian law or the law of armed conflict \u2014\u00a0governs the conduct of states, armed groups and individuals during armed conflict and seeks to minimize harm to civilians as much as possible.\nThe White House says President Obama telephoned the head of Doctors Without Borders and apologized for a deadly airstrike on the aid group's hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan.\nWar crimes are serious violations of the law of war. They include unlawful attacks on civilians and attacks on protected objects such as hospitals and religious or cultural property. Not all attacks that result in civilians dying or hospitals destroyed are automatically war crimes, however. The lawfulness of any attack will depend on both the intended target of the attack and the method of carrying it out.\nSo what do we know \u2014\u00a0or at least potentially know \u2014\u00a0right now about the incident in Kunduz?\n[There will\u00a0be another devastating military attack on civilian targets soon]\nNews reports\nOther reports from Afghan sources asserted that the Taliban was using the hospital grounds to plot and launch attacks, including \u201cfiring rocket-propelled grenades from the property,\u201d and the airstrikes were aimed at the perimeter of the hospital property to stop the attacks.\u00a0The hospital building suffered several direct hits. Twenty-two people were killed and many more injured.\nThe first question is whether the intended target of the airstrikes was a lawful target.\nThe law of war authorizes attacks against enemy soldiers, members of armed groups, civilians directly participating in hostilities and military objectives. Deliberate attacks on civilians or civilian objects (such as schools or residential buildings) are prohibited.\nHospitals enjoy special protection under the law of war and are immune from attack. Using a hospital for military activities, personnel or equipment is prohibited. However, when a hospital is used for military purposes, it loses its protection from attack and can become a lawful military objective.\nAs fighters in the enemy armed group, the Taliban insurgents were legitimate targets. If the Taliban were using the MSF hospital to launch attacks, then the Taliban violated the law of war by using medical facilities to shield military objectives, namely their personnel and their rocket-launchers. In addition, the hospital would have lost its protection from attack after due warning to cease the military activity, becoming a legitimate target for attack.\nDoctors Without Borders Executive President Jason Cone called on President Obama to support a fact-finding mission through the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission after the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan.\nIf, as reports suggest, the airstrikes were aimed at Taliban fighters near the hospital or Taliban fighters and equipment using hospital property and facilities to shield their activities, then the choice of these targets would not run afoul of the law.\nBut that is not the end of the story.\nThe law does not focus only on the target of the attack, because prohibiting direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects can only go so far in protecting civilians. The law also mandates extensive steps to protect civilians and civilian objects from incidental harm during lawful military operations.\nThe two most important are precautions and proportionality.\n- The principle of precautions mandates additional steps to minimize harm to civilians from attacks. An attacking party must verify that the target is a lawful military objective, use weapons that will minimize incidental harm to civilians, avoid indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks and provide effective advance warning where feasible.\n- The principle of proportionality requires that an attacker refrain from any attack in which the expected civilian casualties will be excessive in light of the anticipated military gain from the attack. That is, an attack expected to cause excessive collateral damage is unlawful.\nProportionality is at once both simple and highly complex.\nIt is simple because the idea of maximizing protection of civilians by minimizing incidental harm from military operations is straightforward and sensible. It is complex, however, because it demands that one understand the military advantage of a particular attack, assess the likely expected civilian casualties and determine whether those casualties will be excessive in the circumstances at the time of the attack.\nThe airstrikes in Kunduz raise significant questions about precautions:\n- Did the Afghan forces calling for the strike and the U.S. forces launching the strike establish the location of the hospital as a protected site?\n- Were the Taliban fighters indeed using the hospital?\n- If so, did either Afghan or U.S. forces warn the hospital of the pending strike?\n- Were weapons chosen that could minimize harm to civilians?\nThe proportionality rule poses equally important questions:\n- What did the U.S. forces know about the hospital and how many people were in it?\n- What damage to the hospital did they anticipate from the attacks?\n- What other options did they have to neutralize the Taliban threat?\nIn the end, only a comprehensive investigation \u2014\u00a0like those under way by the United States, NATO and Afghanistan\u00a0\u2014 can determine the cause and legality of the strike by examining these and other questions.\nMost important, however, any legal analysis must examine these questions prospectively; that is, from the perspective of the U.S. forces and what they knew at the time of the attack \u2014\u00a0not from the perspective of the hospital staff or from the retrospective view of the horrified observer or readers of the news after the fact.\nHere lies perhaps the biggest challenge in the aftermath of a horrible tragedy: the suffering and horror are all too evident immediately after the incident, but the legality or illegality of an attack rests on the information available to the commander at the time, and the intent and reasonable judgment of the commander in launching that attack.\nReal-time media coverage can do justice \u2014\u00a0in a sense \u2014\u00a0to the tragedy and suffering, but not to the question of legality without the information essential to and uncovered in the course of a thorough investigation."}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "0da262e8-6c34-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_1", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "0da262e8-6c34-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_1", "title": "Top U.S. general in Afghanistan: Hospital was \u2018mistakenly struck\u2019", "text": "Afghan government reclaim Kunduz, the first major Afghan city to fall to the Taliban since the war began in 2001, would be available after a Pentagon investigation. He declined to give a timeline for that probe. But numerous questions remain about how Saturday\u2019s strike, in which an AC-130 gunship conducted repeated bombing raids on a building housing the hospital\u2019s emergency rooms and intensive care unit, could have happened. Campbell described the incident as a mistake, but he did not specify whether the American pilots had tried to hit another target and missed or whether they intended to strike the hospital building but did not know it was a medical facility. Neither have officials said whether U.S. forces violated their own rules of engagement in Afghanistan, which permit the United States to use air power in three situations: for counterterrorism operations, in self-defense or to protect Afghan forces \u201cin extremis.\u201d In a statement released Tuesday, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said he would hold those responsible accountable. \u201cThe U.S. military takes the greatest care in our operations to prevent the loss of innocent life,\u201d Carter said. \u201cAnd when we make mistakes, we own up to them.\u201d Doctors Without Borders has described the attack as deliberate and a possible war crime. Twelve of the group\u2019s staffers and 10 patients, including three children, were killed. White House press secretary Josh Earnest reacts to a U.S. general's testimony that a deadly U.S. air strike on a hospital in Afghanistan was a mistake. \u201cThis attack cannot be brushed aside as a mere mistake or an inevitable consequence of war,\u201d Joanne Liu, president of MSF International, said in a statement. Doctors Without Borders is also known by its French initials, MSF. The organization said it repeatedly provided the hospital\u2019s coordinates to U.S. and Afghan authorities. U.S. military officials have already revised their account of what occurred overnight on Saturday. On Monday, speaking at the Pentagon, Campbell said the attack was authorized after Afghan troops, under attack by the Taliban, requested American air support. That contradicted earlier statements from Pentagon officials that the strike was ordered to protect U.S. forces on the ground who were taking direct fire from the Taliban. According to Pentagon officials, U.S. Special Operations forces were positioned in Kunduz, advising elite Afghan troops nearby, when the strike took place. It now appears that U.S. forces were not facing direct attack from the Taliban."}], "old": [{"_id": "0da262e8-6c34-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_1", "title": "Top U.S. general in Afghanistan: Hospital was \u2018mistakenly struck\u2019", "text": "Afghan government reclaim Kunduz, the first major Afghan city to fall to the Taliban since the war began in 2001, would be available after a Pentagon investigation. He declined to give a timeline for that probe. But numerous questions remain about how Saturday\u2019s strike, in which an AC-130 gunship conducted repeated bombing raids on a building housing the hospital\u2019s emergency rooms and intensive care unit, could have happened. Campbell described the incident as a mistake, but he did not specify whether the American pilots had tried to hit another target and missed or whether they intended to strike the hospital building but did not know it was a medical facility. Neither have officials said whether U.S. forces violated their own rules of engagement in Afghanistan, which permit the United States to use air power in three situations: for counterterrorism operations, in self-defense or to protect Afghan forces \u201cin extremis.\u201d In a statement released Tuesday, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said he would hold those responsible accountable. \u201cThe U.S. military takes the greatest care in our operations to prevent the loss of innocent life,\u201d Carter said. \u201cAnd when we make mistakes, we own up to them.\u201d Doctors Without Borders has described the attack as deliberate and a possible war crime. Twelve of the group\u2019s staffers and 10 patients, including three children, were killed. White House press secretary Josh Earnest reacts to a U.S. general's testimony that a deadly U.S. air strike on a hospital in Afghanistan was a mistake. U.S. military officials have already revised their account of what occurred overnight on Saturday. On Monday, speaking at the Pentagon, Campbell said the attack was authorized after Afghan troops, under attack by the Taliban, requested American air support. That contradicted earlier statements from Pentagon officials that the strike was ordered to protect U.S. forces on the ground who were taking direct fire from the Taliban. According to Pentagon officials, U.S. Special Operations forces were positioned in Kunduz, advising elite Afghan troops nearby, when the strike took place. It now appears that U.S. forces were not facing direct attack from the Taliban. About 9,800 U.S. troops are stationed in Afghanistan. Almost 7,000 are tasked to a multinational mission to help Afghan forces fight the Taliban, while a smaller number are part of a U.S. effort to hunt down al-Qaeda and other militants. Under questioning by lawmakers, Campbell acknowledged that he believes the current"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Army General John Campbell clarified that the decision to provide air support to Afghan forces in Kunduz, which hit a hospital, was a U.S. decision. \"We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility,\" Gen. Campbell said while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 6.\nA senior U.S. general on Tuesday said the air attack that killed 22 patients and medical staffers in northern Afghanistan was not intended to strike a hospital run by an international aid group, adding to an evolving Pentagon account of one of the deadliest American strikes on a civilian target in recent history.\nGen. John F. Campbell, who commands U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, said the powerful U.S. gunship that struck a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders in the city of Kunduz acted in response to a request from Afghan troops facing a Taliban attack.\nBut, Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee, the United States bore ultimate responsibility for authorizing strikes on a civilian compound.\n\u201cA hospital was mistakenly struck,\u201d he said. \u201cWe would never intentionally target a protected medical facility.\u201d\n\nCampbell said a full accounting of the weekend incident, which occurred as U.S. forces sought to help the Afghan government reclaim Kunduz, the first major Afghan city to fall to the Taliban since the war began in 2001, would be available after a Pentagon investigation. He declined to give a timeline for that probe.\nBut numerous questions remain about how Saturday\u2019s strike, in which an AC-130 gunship conducted repeated bombing raids on a building housing the hospital\u2019s emergency rooms and intensive care unit, could have happened.\nCampbell described the incident as a mistake, but he did not specify whether the American pilots had tried to hit another target and missed or whether they intended to strike the hospital building but did not know it was a medical facility.\nNeither have officials said whether U.S. forces violated their own rules of engagement in Afghanistan, which permit the United States to use air power in three situations: for counterterrorism operations, in self-defense or to protect Afghan forces \u201cin extremis.\u201d\nIn a statement released Tuesday, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said he would hold those responsible accountable.\n\u201cThe U.S. military takes the greatest care in our operations to prevent the loss of innocent life,\u201d Carter said. \u201cAnd when we make mistakes, we own up to them.\u201d\nDoctors Without Borders has described the attack as deliberate and a possible war crime. Twelve of the group\u2019s staffers and 10\u00a0patients, including three children, were killed.\nWhite House press secretary Josh Earnest reacts to a U.S. general's testimony that a deadly U.S. air strike on a hospital in Afghanistan was a mistake.\n\u201cThis attack cannot be brushed aside as a mere mistake or an inevitable consequence of war,\u201d Joanne Liu, president of MSF International, said in a statement. Doctors Without Borders is also known by its French initials, MSF. The organization said it repeatedly provided the hospital\u2019s coordinates to U.S. and Afghan authorities.\nU.S. military officials have already revised their account of what occurred overnight on Saturday. On Monday, speaking at the Pentagon, Campbell said the attack was authorized after Afghan troops, under attack by the Taliban, requested American air support. That contradicted earlier statements from Pentagon officials that the strike was ordered to protect U.S. forces on the ground who were taking direct fire from the Taliban.\nAccording to Pentagon officials, U.S. Special Operations forces were positioned in Kunduz, advising elite Afghan troops nearby, when the strike took place. It now appears that U.S. forces were not facing direct attack from the Taliban.\nThe incident adds fuel to a debate about the future of the limited U.S. mission in Afghanistan as the White House considers further changes to its plan for bringing the U.S. military footprint to under 1,000 troops at the end of 2016. President Obama has linked his legacy to pulling U.S. forces from Afghanistan and ending America\u2019s longest war.\nAbout 9,800 U.S. troops are stationed in Afghanistan. Almost 7,000 are tasked to a multinational mission to help Afghan forces fight the Taliban, while a smaller number are part of a U.S. effort to hunt down al-Qaeda and other militants.\nUnder questioning by lawmakers, Campbell acknowledged that he believes the current exit plan should be changed, given security conditions on the ground.\nCampbell spoke as Afghan forces struggle to fully retake Kunduz. While much of the city is now under government control, the Taliban\u2019s ability to seize a major urban area illustrates the militants\u2019 resilience despite years of assaults from NATO forces.\nFierce clashes were reported Tuesday.\nA U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to comment freely, said U.S. forces conducted two airstrikes in Kunduz province Monday, both of which targeted insurgents \u201cthreatening Afghan and coalition forces.\u201d Special Operations soldiers remain embedded with Afghan troops battling the Taliban in and around Kunduz.\nIn Kabul, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani\u2019s government did not deny it had requested the U.S. airstrike Saturday but said the matter was being investigated.\nSayed Zafar Hashemi, a Ghani spokesman, said it would be common for the Afghan military to solicit air support from the coalition. Hashemi said most of the airstrikes that occurred in Kunduz after the Taliban overran it last week resulted from a specific request from the Afghanistan military.\nSaturday\u2019s incident was among the deadliest U.S. strikes to result in civilian casualties in Afghanistan. In July 2002, more than 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured when a U.S. aircraft fired on a wedding party.\nOf the 12 Doctors Without Borders staffers killed, three were physicians. After the attack, the group withdrew from Kunduz; it still operates five other facilities in Afghanistan.\nOfficials with Doctors Without Borders have raised doubts about the U.S. military\u2019s ability to conduct a satisfactory investigation of its own actions. NATO and the Afghan government have launched separate probes.\nThe Afghan Ministry of Health issued a statement expressing its support for an independent probe. The ministry said the strike \u201cthreatens the health of millions of Afghans\u201d because private charities are now reconsidering operating in the country.\n\u201cStaff no longer feel safe in any health facility anywhere in the country,\u201d the ministry said. \u201cAnd some international health organizations are questioning whether the risks of staying in the country are just too high after such an attack.\u201d\nSome Afghan leaders continue to defend the airstrike. Hamdullah Danishi, the acting governor of Kunduz province, said Taliban fighters had been using hospital grounds as a staging area from which to launch attacks on the provincial capital, Kunduz city.\nDanishi said he played no role in ordering the airstrike, but he reiterated that the area around the hospital had to be cleared of militants. \u201cWe have a military decision-making council that decides such issues,\u201d Danishi said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if it made the request.\u201d\n\u201cBut if it was me,\u201d Danishi continued, \u201cI would have ordered the airstrike.\u201d\nAfghan military leaders declined to comment.\nThe aircraft that carried out the Kunduz attack was an AC-130 gunship, a platform that is dedicated almost entirely to supporting Special Operations forces, such as those advising Afghan troops around Kunduz. The plane flies at a relatively low altitude and can loiter over a target. Its pilots must rely on visual targeting to strike locations on the ground.\nCraig reported from Kabul. Sayed Salahuddin in Kabul and Thomas Gibbons-Neff in Washington contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nThe bloody history of Kunduz, from Afghanistan\u2019s \u2018Convoy of Death\u2019 to now\nIn Kunduz, echoes of a 1988 guerrilla assault after the Soviets withdrew\nToday's coverage from Post correspondents around the world"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "141bad65cb7c5507141a62442d86e5fe_3", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "141bad65cb7c5507141a62442d86e5fe_3", "title": "There are still a lot of questions around the U.S. bombing of the MSF hospital in Kunduz", "text": "to fire. [By evening, a hospital. By morning, a war zone.] AC-130s operate with a variety of infared and low-light sensors that allow them to see almost everything on the battlefield below, albeit not in color. In order for the aircraft to fire, it must locate the friendly forces it is supporting before engaging enemy targets. Though there are now various accounts circulating about what happened that night, it is still unknown who talked to the aircraft and when. Was there an American combat controller embedded with the Afghan forces talking to the AC-130? Or was the aircraft only talking to American special forces soldiers located at the command center nowhere near the battle? Another important question raised by the hospital bombardment is whether the U.S. government can be charged with war crimes for knowingly targeting a hospital \u2014 something that Doctors Without Borders has repeatedly accused U.S. forces of doing. According to the Law of Armed Conflict and the Army field manual of the law of land warfare, \u201cMedical units/establishments lose protection if committing \u2018acts harmful to the enemy.\u2019 Acts harmful to the enemy are not only acts of warfare proper, but also any activity characterizing combatant action, such as setting up observation posts, or the use of the hospital as a liaison center for fighting troops.\u201d The Law of Armed Conflict also notes that even if a hospital is being used in a manner which voids its protected status that \u201cprotection ceases only after a warning has been given, and it remains unheeded after a reasonable time to comply.\u201d [From \u2018collateral damage\u2019 to \u2018deeply regrets\u2019: How the Pentagon has shifted on the Afghan hospital attack] So in this case, even if the Taliban had been using the hospital, the United States could still possibly be at the same level of fault regardless of the Taliban\u2019s presence. While Doctors Without Borders had called for an external investigation into the incident, the Pentagon is still conducting one of its own that has yet to be released. \u201cMy intent is to disclose the findings of the investigation once it is complete,\u201d said Gen. John Campbell, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan in an emailed statement Saturday. \u201cWe will be forthright and transparent and we will hold ourselves accountable for any mistakes made. While we desire the investigation to be timely, what\u2019s most important is that it be done thoroughly and correctly.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Afghan National Army soldiers arrive to start an operation soon, outside of Kunduz city, Afghanistan, on Sept. 30. (Najim Rahim/AP)\nThe bombardment that struck a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan was requested by an Army Special Forces unit that apparently knew that the structure was a hospital but believed it was under Taliban control, according to an Associated Press report.\nThe report, released Monday and citing a number of anonymous sources, also indicated that the hospital\u2019s location was well-circulated to U.S. forces and that, in the days prior to the attack, U.S. officials had confronted Doctors Without Borders about the Taliban\u2019s presence in their facility.\n\nDoctors Without Borders have denied that Taliban fighters had seized the facility.\n\u201cThe hospital was under the control of [Doctors Without Borders]. Our staff reported no armed combatants or fighting in the compound prior to the airstrike,\u201d said Tim Shenk, a Doctors Without Borders spokesman, in an email.\n[Kunduz faces tough resurrection after brief Taliban takeover]\nPentagon spokesman Army Maj. Roger Cabiness, did not dispute the AP\u2019s report, but wrote in an email that there are still multiple ongoing investigations and that \u201cit would be\u00a0premature to draw any conclusions before those investigations are complete.\u201d\nEven with the apparent coordination and knowledge of the facility, a prominent one-story building towards the south of the city, a U.S. AC-130U gunship from 4th Special Operations Squadron targeted and fired upon the facility with a combination of 25mm and 40mm cannon as well as a 105mm howitzer in the early hours of Oct. 3rd. According to those on the ground, the strike lasted for almost an hour and involved four distinct passes from the aircraft. AC-130\u2019s traditionally circle their targets in a wide orbit, banking continuously to the left in order to align their weapon systems. The AC-130 is known as a premier close air support platform and more often than not operate as attachments to special operation teams.\nThe attack, according to new reports from Doctors Without Borders, left 30 dead and resulted in the shuttering of the hospital.\nIn this Oct. 16, 2015 file photo, the charred remains of the Doctors Without Borders hospital is seen after it was hit by a U.S. airstrike in Kunduz, Afghanistan. (Najim Rahim via AP)\nAccording to those familiar with the incident, the crew of the AC-130, call sign Hammer, verified their permission to fire twice before engaging the hospital. AC-130Us carry a crew of 14, often including a special forces liaison officer responsible for communicating with ground units. While it is still unclear who relayed the initial call for an airstrike, according to U.S. officials, the request came from an Afghan special forces unit that was pinned down by Taliban fire. The request was then relayed to the Joint Operations Command manned by soldiers from the Army\u2019s 3rd\u00a0Special Forces Group and their Afghan counterparts located south of the city near the Kunduz airport. The JOC then directed the AC-130 to the vicinity of the hospital where the AC-130 identified Taliban fighters firing from the hospital grounds. From there the JOC authorized\u00a0the AC-130 to fire.\n[By evening, a hospital. By morning, a war zone.]\nAC-130s operate with a variety of infared and low-light sensors that allow them to see almost everything on the battlefield below, albeit not in color. In order for the aircraft to fire, it must locate the friendly forces it is supporting before engaging enemy targets. Though there are now various accounts circulating about what happened that night, it is still unknown who talked to the aircraft and when. Was there an American combat controller embedded with the Afghan forces talking to the AC-130? Or was the aircraft only talking to American special forces soldiers located at the command center nowhere near the battle?\nAnother important question raised by the hospital bombardment is whether the U.S. government can be charged with war crimes for knowingly targeting a hospital \u2014 something that Doctors Without Borders has repeatedly accused U.S. forces of doing. According to the Law of Armed Conflict and the Army field manual of the law of land warfare, \u201cMedical units/establishments lose protection if committing\u00a0\u2018acts harmful to the enemy.\u2019 Acts harmful to the enemy are not only acts of warfare proper, but also any activity characterizing combatant action, such as setting up observation posts, or the use of the hospital as a liaison center for fighting troops.\u201d\nThe Law of Armed Conflict also notes that even if a hospital is being used in a manner which voids its protected status that \u201cprotection ceases only after a warning has been given, and it remains unheeded after a reasonable time to comply.\u201d\n[From \u2018collateral damage\u2019 to \u2018deeply regrets\u2019: How the Pentagon has shifted on the Afghan hospital attack]\nSo in this case, even if the Taliban had been using the hospital, the United States could still possibly be at the same level of fault regardless of the Taliban\u2019s presence.\nWhile Doctors Without Borders had called for an external investigation into the incident, the Pentagon\u00a0is still conducting one of its own that has yet to be released.\n\u201cMy intent is to disclose the findings of the investigation once it is complete,\u201d said Gen. John Campbell, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan in an emailed statement Saturday. \u201cWe will be forthright and transparent and we will hold ourselves accountable for any mistakes made. While we desire the investigation to be timely, what\u2019s most important is that it be done thoroughly and correctly.\u201d"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "1c8affe2-6ebc-11e5-b31c-d80d62b53e28_5", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "1c8affe2-6ebc-11e5-b31c-d80d62b53e28_5", "title": "By evening, a hospital. By morning, a war zone.", "text": "could plan some operations that had been delayed before,\u201d Molinie said. Shortly before midnight, clashes erupted nearby between Taliban and government forces and quickly intensified, said Islamuddin, a Kunduz resident who lives about 50 yards from the hospital gates and, like many Afghans, goes by one name. At the airport, U.S. advisers received a request from Afghan special forces for urgent help in the vicinity of the hospital, where they reported receiving Taliban fire. Scrambling to assist, American Special Operations forces advisers requested immediate close air support for the Afghan commandos. Soon after, an AC-130U from the 4th Special Operations Squadron \u2014 call sign \u201cHammer\u201d \u2014 was lumbering through a mostly clear night sky toward the target position. The AC-130U is one variant of the AC-130 gunship. A holdover from the Vietnam War, the plane is a converted transport aircraft loaded with 25mm and 40mm cannons as well as a 105mm howitzer. As its weapons jut from the left side the aircraft, the AC-130 engages targets in a wide left turn. Crewed by a dozen airmen, including a Special Operations Ground liaison officer responsible for coordinating with ground forces, the AC-130 has low-light and thermal sensors that give it a \u201cGod\u2019s eye\u201d of the battlefield in almost all weather conditions. According to individuals familiar with the incident, American forces from the JOC directed the aircraft over the Afghan special forces and sent up the initial \u201ccall for fire\u201d to the aircraft. The request gave the aircraft the necessary targeting information as well as the location of friendly forces. According to an individual familiar with the aircraft\u2019s operations that night, the sensor operators identified fighters moving into and firing from one of the hospital\u2019s front porticos. The crew, piloting an aircraft that rarely targets buildings, asked the JOC twice if they wanted the aircraft to engage, the individual said. How close active Taliban forces may have been to the hospital \u2014 a point where the accounts of the charity\u2019s personnel and Afghan security officials diverge \u2014 is now a central question for investigators. Even if Taliban militants were firing from the compound, U.S. rules of engagement would not have allowed an airstrike if the crew knew it was a protected civilian facility. On Saturday, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said that the U.S. military was authorized to make \u201cappropriate\u201d condolence payments to the families of civilians killed in the hospital attack,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Medical personnel treat the injured Oct. 3 following an attack by a U.S. gunship on the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. (Doctors Without Borders/AFP/Getty Images)\nKABUL \u2014\nThe spillover from the militant assault, which had overwhelmed local security forces, was an unsettling sign at the lightly guarded civilian facility, where doctors and nurses were tending to a crush of patients.\nIt was also a foreshadowing of a far greater calamity that would descend on the hospital four days later when, in the early hours of Oct. 3, nearby U.S. combat advisers authorized a gunship to unleash a powerful attack. The AC-130U plane, circling above in the dark, raked the medical compound with bursts of cannon fire, potentially even using high explosive incendiary munitions, for more than an hour. The assault left at least 22 people dead, some of them burned to death.\nThe aid group, also known as M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res, has demanded an international investigation of what it deems a possible war crime.\nThe U.S. military, whose own account of what took place changed in the initial days after the attack, has said that the hospital was \u201cmistakenly struck\u201d in an attempt to support Afghan security forces. But the military has declined to provide full details of the incident while its investigators examine what occurred in the worst example of errant U.S. air power in recent years.\nThis account of what took place is based on multiple interviews in Afghanistan and the United States with U.S. and Afghan military officials, Doctors Without Borders personnel and local Kunduz residents; some of those interviewed spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.\n\nAlthough government forces have recaptured much of Kunduz, the city\u2019s collapse to a relatively small militant force was a blow to the Afghan government and its Western allies, illustrating the Taliban\u2019s potency at a time when foreign forces are winding down their long mission in the country.\nIn the days after the city\u2019sSept. 28 collapse, Taliban fighters consolidated their control of the neighborhood around the hospital\u2019s tree-lined compound, clamping down on residents\u2019 movement and imposing their harsh interpretation of Islam.\nFor much of that week, the central Kunduz neighborhood of Spinzar, which was under the militants\u2019 control, was relatively quiet, according to residents and hospital officials.\nInside the hospital, which the international relief agency in recent years had turned into the province\u2019s most advanced medical facility, doctors and nurses were busier than ever. Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, exhausted hospital staffers treated 394 people, many of whom had received gunshot wounds during the battle for the city.\nAll that week, a steady stream of Taliban fighters appeared at the hospital seeking treatment, adding to the patient load, according to a hospital security guard.\nBefore fighters were admitted onto hospital grounds, the guard said, they were required to hand over their assault weapons to facility guards. Once inside, the Taliban fighters \u2014 many of whom had been shot \u2014 were treated like any other patient.\n\nThe Taliban appeared to respect the neutrality of the charity operation, the only hospital functioning in Kunduz that week.\n\u201cEven the Taliban didn\u2019t harm wounded Afghan security forces taken to the hospital,\u201d the guard said.\nDoctors Without Borders has declined to discuss patient identities, pointing to rules under the Geneva Conventions that state wounded soldiers or militants must be treated like other noncombatants. \u201cWe don\u2019t even want to know who is inside because that is a basic protection, as a patient,\u201d said Guilhem Molinie, director of the organization\u2019s operations in Afghanistan.\nBut organization officials said that some Taliban fighters were treated.\nAccording to the guard\u2019s account, not just wounded Taliban fighters were present at the hospital that week. On Monday, Sept. 28, as the battle for Kunduz kicked off, Mullah Abdul Salam, the most senior Taliban commander in Kunduz province, visited wounded fighters receiving treatment there, the guard said.\nSome Afghan leaders have suggested that the Taliban had been using the hospital as a base. MSF officials have strongly denied those claims, saying no Taliban commanders and fighters had used hospital grounds to plan or carry out attacks.\nShattered calm\nEarly on Saturday, Oct. 3, a team of U.S. Special Operations forces was tracking the fighting across Kunduz from a small U.S.-Afghan joint operations center at the airport, about five miles south of the city. The JOC, as it is called, has become a hallmark of the long insurgent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where U.S. forces liaise closely with their local counterparts.\nAs part of the limited U.S. military mission in Afghanistan, that night the U.S. forces were supporting elite Afghan troops as they fought their way through the city, and helped coordinate U.S. air power to back their assault against the Taliban.\nGen. John F. Campbell, commander of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, told lawmakers in Washington on Thursday that his forces were providing planning and \u201ctraining advice\u201d for local forces around Kunduz, with a headquarters support group at the airfield.\nIn the days after the city\u2019s fall, Afghan security forces had advanced into Kunduz\u2019s commercial district but were still locked in intense clashes with Taliban militants holed up in government buildings, private homes and the abandoned offices of international aid groups. That Afghan security forces had made it into the city at all was a result of the airstrikes that the U.S. military began to conduct to support their advance.\nThe strikes earlier in the week were reported to have killed nearly 50 Taliban fighters who were attempting to advance on Afghan and coalition troops at the Kunduz airport.\nIn central Kunduz on the night of Oct. 2, hospital staffers were settling in. Five patients \u2014 members of a family shot while trying to flee Kunduz \u2014 had been brought in earlier that evening, around 6 p.m. The wards were mostly quiet after that, and no major fighting had been reported.\n\u201cIt was the first time the team could rest and [the] first time we could plan some operations that had been delayed before,\u201d Molinie said.\nShortly before midnight, clashes erupted nearby between Taliban and government forces and quickly intensified, said Islamuddin, a Kunduz resident who lives about 50 yards from the hospital gates and, like many Afghans, goes by one name. At the airport, U.S. advisers received a request from Afghan special forces for urgent help in the vicinity of the hospital, where they reported receiving Taliban fire.\nScrambling to assist, American Special Operations forces advisers requested immediate close air support for the Afghan commandos.\nSoon after, an AC-130U from the 4th Special Operations Squadron \u2014 call sign \u201cHammer\u201d \u2014 was lumbering through a mostly clear night sky toward the target position.\nThe AC-130U is one variant of the AC-130 gunship. A holdover from the Vietnam War, the plane is a converted transport aircraft loaded with 25mm and 40mm cannons as well as a 105mm howitzer. As its weapons jut from the left side the aircraft, the AC-130 engages targets in a wide left turn. Crewed by a dozen airmen, including a Special Operations Ground liaison officer responsible for coordinating with ground forces, the AC-130 has low-light and thermal sensors that give it a \u201cGod\u2019s eye\u201d of the battlefield in almost all weather conditions.\n\nAccording to individuals familiar with the incident, American forces from the JOC directed the aircraft over the Afghan special forces and sent up the initial \u201ccall for fire\u201d to the aircraft. The request gave the aircraft the necessary targeting information as well as the location of friendly forces.\nAccording to an individual familiar with the aircraft\u2019s operations that night, the sensor operators identified fighters moving into and firing from one of the hospital\u2019s front porticos. The crew, piloting an aircraft that rarely targets buildings, asked the JOC twice if they wanted the aircraft to engage, the individual said. How close active Taliban forces may have been to the hospital \u2014 a point where the accounts of the charity\u2019s personnel and Afghan security officials diverge \u2014 is now a central question for investigators. Even if Taliban militants were firing from the compound, U.S. rules of engagement would not have allowed an airstrike if the crew knew it was a protected civilian facility.\n\nOn Saturday, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said that the U.S. military was authorized to make \u201cappropriate\u201d condolence payments to the families of civilians killed in the hospital attack, and to provide funding for repairing the hospital.\nU.S. investigators are now trying to determine whether the air crew knew that the target was a hospital.\nWhile the Afghan government has not said definitively whether it thinks that the Taliban forces were firing from near or within the compound, local officials have said that the group had set up a \u201ccommand center\u201d at the facility \u2014 an assertion Doctors Without Borders has strongly rejected.\nWho placed the call?\nAnother unresolved question is who placed the request for the air support. According to Brig. Gen. Dawlat Waziri, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, troops from the Afghan army\u2019s 209th Corps were fighting on the ground in that area, but officials in Kabul were unsure whether they made the request processed by U.S. advisers at the Kunduz airport.\nWaziri suspects that Afghan soldiers were aware of the hospital\u2019s location. Before soldiers begin combat, they receive detailed maps from local police outlining the locations of mosques, schools and hospitals, he said.\nA few minutes after 2 a.m., following approval from U.S. forces, the plane fired a massive initial burst at the main hospital building, which houses the facility\u2019s emergency rooms and intensive care unit.\nWhile it is unclear what weapons were employed, the AC-130U\u2019s 40mm round has a high explosive incendiary munition that is lined with zirconium. The rounds are known for causing fires.\n\nOne MSF physician, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons, had finished his shift and was drifting off to sleep in the hospital\u2019s break room when a giant blast shook the building. Light fixtures and parts of the ceiling crashed down on him.\nThe explosion, possibly from the plane\u2019s 105mm gun, was so powerful that it shattered windows of nearby homes. \u201cI saw the flame of fire rise from the hospital,\u201d Islamuddin said.\nThe Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz in flames following the Oct. 3 airstrike. (Doctors Without Borders/AP)\nThe physician and other staff members rushed to the hospital\u2019s basement, which was used as a makeshift bomb shelter.\nFar above, the U.S. pilots banked the aircraft into a wide orbit circling the hospital. Over the next 65 minutes, the plane unleashed additional fire on each pass around the facility below, every 15 minutes or so.\nSome staff members and patients may have died instantly; others died amid the rubble or as colleagues tried fruitlessly to administer care. A pharmacist died in the hospital office. As a fire engulfed the hospital building, at least six patients burned to death in the intensive care unit.\nDoctors Without Borders medical personnel treat wounded colleagues and patients after the assault. (AFP/Getty Images)\nDuring the attack, staff members placed desperate calls to colleagues, who relayed messages to U.S. officials in Kabul and Washington, including to the Pentagon\u2019s Joint Staff in Washington, the organization said.\nIn the days before the assault, Doctors Without Borders said, it provided the hospital\u2019s location repeatedly to the same officials. But the relief group has declined to provide details of exactly who it alerted. The office of the Joint Staff says it has not yet located an individual who received that information.\n\nAt about 3:30 a.m., staffers huddled in the basement bomb shelter heard the guns fall silent. It is not known why the air crew chose to halt the attack.\nMany of those who had taken shelter below ground were too frightened to emerge and stayed there until dawn. \u201cThen we heard this calling, \u2018Anyone alive? You can come out,\u2019 \u201d the physician recalled.\nWhen he emerged into the rubble of the smoldering hospital, the doctor immediately saw the bodies of patients and colleagues. Other staffers began to make their way out into the open and rushed to treat those wounded in the attacks. Some could not be saved. One doctor died on a desk while another staff member tried to perform emergency surgery to save him.\nMohammad Sharif in Kabul and Julie Tate and Andrew Katz in Washington contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nDoctors Without Borders says U.S. airstrike hit hospital in Afghanistan\nThe bloody history of Kunduz, from Afghanistan\u2019s \u2018Convoy of Death\u2019 to now\nIn Kunduz, echoes of a 1988 guerrilla assault after the Soviets withdrew"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "1cb4203ed6f45e2a7af592c2f108a925_0", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "1cb4203ed6f45e2a7af592c2f108a925_0", "title": "Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan: The world\u2019s most-needed hospitals are under attack", "text": "Burnt vehicles are pictured in front of the damaged the Doctors Without Borders-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo, April 28, 2016. (Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters) The al-Quds hospital in Aleppo targeted in Wednesday night's attacks was one of 150 hospitals supported by Doctors Without Borders in Syria. The organization directly runs six in the country, but provides funding and medical supplies to other medical facilities. The international charity group, also referred to as M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res (MSF) in French, said the medical facility was directly hit and reduced to \"rubble.\" The organization has condemned the overnight attack, which also claimed the life of one of the area's last pediatricians. \"Where is the outrage among those with the power and obligation to stop this carnage?\u201d said Muskilda Zancada, the MSF head in Syria, in an online statement. The United Nations estimates that at least half of Syria's hospitals have been destroyed, and the spark of attacks on hospitals is an especially disturbing trend. In armed conflict, hospitals are protected by international law. Yet the facilities supported and run by the Nobel Prize-winning organization have frequently come under attack. And it's not only medical structures. The group said five rescue workers from the Syrian Civil Defense organization have also been killed. Here is a look at the three recent attacks on Doctors Without Borders hospitals: 1. Kunduz, Afghanistan. Doctors Without Borders medical personnel treat civilians injured following an offensive against Taliban militants by Afghan and coalition forces at a hospital in Kunduz. (Doctors Without Borders/AFP via Getty Images) On Oct. 3, 2015, U.S. military forces \"mistakenly struck\" a hospital as they attempted to help Afghan forces. The attack killed 44 people and injured 30. The hospital was deemed a neutral zone, even for Taliban militants fighting Afghan forces who were being treated there. Inside the hospital, which the international relief agency in recent years had turned into the province\u2019s most advanced medical facility, doctors and nurses were busier than ever. Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, exhausted hospital staffers treated 394 people, many of whom had received gunshot wounds during the battle for the city. All that week, a steady stream of Taliban fighters appeared at the hospital seeking treatment, adding to the patient load, according to a hospital security guard. Before fighters were admitted onto hospital grounds, the guard said, they were required"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Burnt vehicles are pictured in front of the damaged the Doctors Without Borders-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo, April 28, 2016. (Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters)\nThe al-Quds hospital in Aleppo targeted in Wednesday night's attacks was one of 150 hospitals supported by Doctors Without Borders in Syria. The organization directly runs six in the country, but provides funding and medical supplies to other medical facilities.\nThe\u00a0international charity group, also referred to as\u00a0M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res\u00a0(MSF) in French, said the medical facility was directly hit and reduced to \"rubble.\" \u00a0The organization has condemned the\u00a0overnight attack, which also claimed the life of one of the area's last pediatricians.\n\"Where is the outrage among those with the power and obligation to stop this carnage?\u201d said\u00a0Muskilda Zancada, the MSF head in Syria, in an online statement.\nThe United Nations estimates that at least half of Syria's hospitals have been destroyed, and\u00a0the spark of attacks on hospitals is an especially disturbing trend. In armed conflict,\u00a0hospitals are protected by international law. Yet the facilities supported and run by the Nobel Prize-winning organization have frequently come under attack. And it's not only medical structures. The group said five rescue workers from\u00a0the Syrian Civil Defense organization have also been killed.\nHere is a look at the three recent attacks on Doctors Without Borders hospitals:\n1. Kunduz, Afghanistan.\nDoctors Without Borders medical personnel treat civilians injured following an offensive against Taliban militants by Afghan and coalition forces at a hospital in Kunduz. (Doctors Without Borders/AFP via Getty Images)\nOn Oct. 3, 2015, U.S. military forces \"mistakenly struck\" a hospital as they attempted to help Afghan forces. The attack killed 44 people and injured 30. The hospital was deemed a neutral zone, even for Taliban militants fighting Afghan forces who were being treated there.\nInside the hospital, which the international relief agency in recent years had turned into the province\u2019s most advanced medical facility, doctors and nurses were busier than ever. Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, exhausted hospital staffers treated 394 people, many of whom had received gunshot wounds during the battle for the city.\nAll that week, a steady stream of Taliban fighters appeared at the hospital seeking treatment, adding to the patient load, according to a hospital security guard.\nBefore fighters were admitted onto hospital grounds, the guard said, they were required to hand over their assault weapons to facility guards. Once inside, the Taliban fighters \u2014 many of whom had been shot \u2014 were treated like any other patient.\n2.\u00a0Saada, Yemen\nFirst photos for our health facility in Haydan #Saada after the airstrikes that took place last night. #Yemen https://t.co/P2mr7sgp63\nOn Oct. 27, 2015, a Saudi-led airstrike campaign destroyed a hospital in northern Yemen, injuring one staff member. All others escaped.\u00a0As my colleague Thomas Gibbons-Neff notes, hospitals must be given prior warning to evacuate\u00a0before they can be targeted\u00a0as a military facility.\nThe loss of another hospital to destruction from the air is just one more instance in a disturbing month-long trend that has spanned multiple conflict zones.\nHospitals are protected areas under the International Law of Armed Conflict and are only viable military targets if the hospital is being used for a military objective. Even then, however, the facility must be given ample time to evacuate before it can be legally targeted.\n3. Syria\nOn Feb. 15, 2016, two airstrikes hit northern Syrian hospitals supported by Doctors Without\u00a0Borders.\u00a0The attacks killed at least 25 people and injured 11, according to reports. Data compiled by the organization shows that a\u00a0total of 94 attacks have hit facilities supported by the group.\n\u00a0\nThis image taken from video provided by the Syrian activist-based media group Maara Media Center shows Syrian Civil Defense rescuers running from the site of a second explosion near a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders in Maaret al-Numan, Idlib, Syri. \u00a0(Maara Media Center/AP)\nRead more:\nInternational Red Cross official sees \u2018disturbing trend\u2019 in attacks on hospitals in conflict zones\nWar in Yemen is pushing health-care facilities to the brink of collapse\nWhat the ruins of Kobane tell us about the destruction of Syria"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "24103848-6cd4-11e5-b31c-d80d62b53e28_2", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "24103848-6cd4-11e5-b31c-d80d62b53e28_2", "title": "Obama apologizes to head of Doctors Without Borders for strike on hospital", "text": "inconsistencies in the U.S. and Afghan accounts of what happened over recent days,\u201d Liu said. Liu said the proposed commission would gather evidence from the United States, NATO and Afghanistan. After that, the charity would decide whether to seek criminal charges for loss of life and damage. The group has said the attack might be deemed a war crime. \u201cIf we let this go, we are basically giving a blank check to any countries at war,\u201d she said. Army General John Campbell clarified that the decision to provide air support to Afghan forces in Kunduz, which hit a hospital, was a U.S. decision. \"We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility,\" Gen. Campbell said while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 6. Liu, who spoke prior to the call with Obama, noted there had been no commitments yet on official cooperation with an independent investigation. But U.S. officials said that the United States would be unlikely to take part in an inquiry by the commission. The United States is not a party to the body. \u201cWe do participate in some international tribunals and are party to numerous treaties, but when it comes to investigations of our military activities, we do those ourselves,\u201d said John Bellinger III, who was the State Department\u2019s top lawyer from 2005 to 2009. Bellinger said the commission, which has never been activated, may not have the ability to quickly conduct an investigation of this type. \u201cBecause accidents or incidents . . . do happen not infrequently, the U.S. government knows how to conduct an investigation\u201d such as the one now taking place. In a statement issued later in the day, Liu acknowledged the call with Obama and reiterated her call for an independent probe to determine \u201cwhat happened in Kunduz, how it happened, and why it happened.\u201d Obama also spoke on Wednesday with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to express condolences for the Afghans killed on Saturday. The president\u2019s personal outreach is one sign of the administration\u2019s concern about what is one of the worst instances of U.S. air power gone astray in Afghanistan in years. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter promised to hold those responsible accountable, if necessary. The U.S. military rarely, if ever, disciplines individual service members for \u201ccollateral damage\u201d or other actions that occur as part of combat. Officials are now scrambling to assemble an accurate account of"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Doctors Without Borders Executive President Jason Cone called on President Obama to support a fact-finding mission through the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission after the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan.\nPresident Obama apologized to Doctors Without Borders on Wednesday for an airstrike that killed 12 aid workers and 10 patients in Afghanistan, even as the White House withheld U.S. support for an international inquiry the relief group says is needed to investigate an attack that may qualify as a war crime.\nWhite House press secretary Josh Earnest said that Obama had spoken by telephone with Joanne Liu, international president of the group also known as M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res, or MSF, and expressed his condolences for Saturday\u2019s strike in northern Afghanistan.\n\u201cWhen we make a mistake, we are honest, own up to it and apologize,\u201d Earnest told reporters at the White House. \u201cThe Department of Defense goes to great lengths to prevent civilian casualties, but in this case, there was a mistake, and it\u2019s one that the United States owns up to.\u201d\nAt least 22 people, including three children and 12 Doctors Without Borders staff, were killed overnight on Saturday when an American AC-130 gunship launched repeated attacks on the civilian medical facility in the city of Kunduz, where Afghan forces are battling Taliban fighters who overran the city a week ago.\nEarnest said that Obama promised Liu a thorough investigation \u201cand if necessary will implement changes to make sure tragedies like this one are less likely in the future.\u201d\nThe White House says President Obama telephoned the head of Doctors Without Borders and apologized for a deadly airstrike on the aid group's hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan.\nHe declined to say whether the White House would support Liu\u2019s demand for an independent investigation of the incident, but suggested the United States would back only a Pentagon probe now underway, along with separate NATO and Afghan inquiries.\nMSF, which operates health facilities under difficult conditions across the globe, has insisted the U.S. military cannot conduct a reliable investigation of its own forces\u2019 actions.\nLiu, speaking earlier in the day at a news briefing in Geneva, said that an independent examination should be conducted by the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission, a body that was set up in the 1990s under the Geneva Conventions.\n\u201cThe facts and circumstances of this attack must be investigated independently and impartially, particularly given the inconsistencies in the U.S. and Afghan accounts of what happened over recent days,\u201d Liu said.\nLiu said the proposed commission would gather evidence from the United States, NATO and Afghanistan. After that, the charity would decide whether to seek criminal charges for loss of life and damage. The group has said the attack might be deemed a war crime.\n\u201cIf we let this go, we are basically giving a blank check to any countries at war,\u201d she said.\nArmy General John Campbell clarified that the decision to provide air support to Afghan forces in Kunduz, which hit a hospital, was a U.S. decision. \"We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility,\" Gen. Campbell said while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 6.\nLiu, who spoke prior to the call with Obama, noted there had been no commitments yet on official cooperation with an independent investigation.\nBut U.S. officials said that the United States would be unlikely to take part in an inquiry by the commission. The United States is not a party to the body.\n\u201cWe do participate in some international tribunals and are party to numerous treaties, but when it comes to investigations of our military activities, we do those ourselves,\u201d said John Bellinger III, who was the State Department\u2019s top lawyer from 2005 to 2009.\nBellinger said the commission, which has never been activated, may not have the ability to quickly conduct an investigation of this type. \u201cBecause accidents or incidents .\u2009.\u2009. do happen not infrequently, the U.S. government knows how to conduct an investigation\u201d such as the one now taking place.\nIn a statement issued later in the day, Liu acknowledged the call with Obama and reiterated her call for an independent probe to determine \u201cwhat happened in Kunduz, how it happened, and why it happened.\u201d\nObama also spoke on Wednesday with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to express condolences for the Afghans killed on Saturday.\nThe president\u2019s personal outreach is one sign of the administration\u2019s concern about what is one of the worst instances of U.S. air power gone astray in Afghanistan in years.\nOn Tuesday, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter promised to hold those responsible accountable, if necessary. The U.S. military rarely, if ever, disciplines individual service members for \u201ccollateral damage\u201d or other actions that occur as part of combat.\nOfficials are now scrambling to assemble an accurate account of what happened in Kunduz after their narrative shifted in the initial days following the attack.\nWhile military officials initially said the airstrike took place to defend U.S. forces on the ground in Kunduz, the Pentagon later revised its account. They now say the strike came in response to a request from Afghan forces, not U.S. forces, under fire from the Taliban.\nThere are now about 9,800 U.S. troops on the ground as the Obama administration seeks to wind down the long war there. Most are tasked with supporting Afghan forces, who lack key capabilities in intelligence and air power, while a smaller number is dedicated to tracking down militants who threaten the United States.\nFor the most part, U.S. forces are not supposed to be taking part in combat operations against the Taliban, as they did in the years that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. White House officials are considering additional revisions to President Obama\u2019s plan to bring the U.S. military footprint to 1,000 or less by the end of next year.\nGen. John F. Campbell, the head of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, has ordered that all forces under his command are trained again in rules of engagement that govern operations in Afghanistan.\nThe Pentagon has not yet said whether Saturday\u2019s strikes violated those rules, which permit the United States to use air power in three situations: for counterterrorism operations, in self-defense or to protect Afghan forces \u201cin extremis.\u201d\nRyan reported from Washington and Deane from London. Tim Craig and Sayed Salahuddin in Kabul and David Nakamura and Thomas Gibbons-Neff in Washington contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nThe bloody history of Kunduz, from Afghanistan\u2019s \u2018Convoy of Death\u2019 to now\nIn Kunduz, echoes of a 1988 guerrilla assault after the Soviets withdrew\nToday's coverage from Post correspondents around the world"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "25eba93688f4ca428134719dadf092a1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "25eba93688f4ca428134719dadf092a1_0", "title": "U.S. military struggles to explain how it wound up bombing Doctors Without Borders hospital", "text": "Speaking at the Pentagon, Gen. John Campbell, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said Afghan troops under fire in Kunduz requested air support from U.S. forces. The airstrikes killed 22 in a Doctors Without Borders hospital. A heavily armed U.S. gunship designed to provide added firepower to Special Operations forces was responsible for shooting and killing 22 people at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, over the weekend, Pentagon officials said Monday. The attack occurred in the middle of the night Saturday, when Afghan troops and a U.S. Special Forces team training and advising them were on the ground near the hospital in Kunduz, the first major Afghan city to fall to the Taliban since the war began in 2001. The top U.S. general in Afghanistan said Monday the airstrike was requested by Afghan troops who had come under fire, contradicting earlier statements from Pentagon officials that the strike was ordered to protect U.S. forces on the ground. [Afghan response to hospital bombing is muted, even sympathetic] The new details, and the continuing dispute over what exactly happened, heightened the controversy over the strike. In the two days since the incident, U.S. officials have struggled to explain how a U.S. aircraft wound up attacking a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders. On Monday, the medical humanitarian group said the United States was squarely responsible. \u201cThe reality is the U.S. dropped those bombs,\u201d Christopher Stokes, general director of Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement. \u201cWith such constant discrepancies in the U.S. and Afghan accounts of what happened, the need for a full transparent independent investigation is ever more critical.\u201d The weekend\u2019s disastrous airstrike reinforces doubts about how effectively a limited U.S. force in Afghanistan can work with Afghan troops to repel the Taliban, which has been newly emboldened as the United States draws down its presence. The strike also comes as the Obama administration is weighing whether to keep as many as 5,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond 2015, according to senior officials. Obama has not made a final decision on the proposal, but the recent advances by the Taliban have certainly complicated the president\u2019s calculus. Army Gen. John Campbell, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told reporters Monday at a news conference that Afghan forces \u201cadvised that they were taking fire from enemy positions and asked for air support from U.S. forces.\u201d Campbell made"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Speaking at the Pentagon, Gen. John Campbell, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said Afghan troops under fire in Kunduz requested air support from U.S. forces. The airstrikes killed 22 in a Doctors Without Borders hospital.\nA heavily armed U.S. gunship designed to provide added firepower to Special Operations forces was responsible for shooting and killing 22 people at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, over the weekend, Pentagon officials said Monday.\nThe attack occurred in the middle of the night Saturday, when Afghan troops and a U.S. Special Forces team training and advising them were on the ground near the hospital in Kunduz, the first major Afghan city to fall to the Taliban since the war began in 2001. The top U.S. general in Afghanistan said Monday the airstrike was requested by Afghan troops who had come under fire, contradicting earlier statements from Pentagon officials that the strike was ordered to protect U.S. forces on the ground.\n[Afghan response to hospital bombing is muted, even sympathetic]\nThe new details, and the continuing dispute over what exactly happened, heightened the controversy over the strike. In the two days since the incident, U.S. officials have struggled to explain how a U.S. aircraft wound up attacking a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders. On Monday, the medical humanitarian group said the United States was squarely responsible.\n\u201cThe reality is the U.S. dropped those bombs,\u201d Christopher Stokes, general director of Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement. \u201cWith such constant discrepancies in the U.S. and Afghan accounts of what happened, the need for a full transparent independent investigation is ever more critical.\u201d\nThe weekend\u2019s disastrous airstrike reinforces doubts about how effectively a limited U.S. force in Afghanistan can work with Afghan troops to repel the Taliban, which has been newly emboldened as the United States draws down its presence.\nThe strike also comes as the Obama administration is weighing whether to keep as many as 5,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan beyond 2015, according to senior officials. Obama has not made a final decision on the proposal, but the recent advances by the Taliban have certainly complicated the president\u2019s calculus.\nArmy Gen. John Campbell, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told reporters Monday at a news conference that Afghan forces \u201cadvised that they were taking fire from enemy positions and asked for air support from U.S. forces.\u201d Campbell made it clear that this differed from initial reports that said U.S. forces were under attack and called in the airstrikes for their defense.\nCampbell\u2019s remarks differed from two previous comments, including one made by Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter on Sunday that said U.S. forces were under attack.\n\u201cAt some point in the course of the events there [they] did report that they, themselves, were coming under attack. That much I think we can safely say,\u201d Carter told reporters Sunday.\nAfghan forces battle the Taliban in an effort to retake the city.\nAbdul Qahar Aram, spokesman for the Afghan army\u2019s 209th Corps in northern Afghanistan, said he could not comment on the specifics of Saturday\u2019s hospital bombing. But Aram said there was a \u201cstrong possibility\u201d that Afghan forces had requested it.\nA spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had no immediate comment on Campbell\u2019s statement.\nOne aspect of the strike that remained unclear Monday was the exact role played by U.S. forces accompanying the Afghans that night.\nAfter Kunduz was overrun with Taliban fighters late last month, American Special Operations forces were ferried in to shore up Afghan forces that were making little headway in the fight to retake the populated city center. Together, the U.S. and Afghan forces have been able to retake nearly all of the city.\nThese \u201ctrain, advise and assist\u201d missions are a staple of U.S. Special Forces capabilities and have been conducted extensively in recent years. In combat situations, rather than return fire, U.S. troops on these missions are more likely to help direct communication, casualty evacuation and direct air support from an AC-130, for instance, if it is available.\nAs a result, there has been little direct contact between U.S. troops and the Taliban since most U.S. forces were relegated to the sidelines when official combat operations ended last year.\n[Afghans who once watched war from afar forced to flee as front lines shift]\nThe aircraft that carried out the weekend attack was an AC-130 gunship, according to Campbell. Unlike jets, the AC-130 is a unique aircraft dedicated almost entirely to supporting Special Operations forces.\nIn order to make sure targeting and communication from the ground to the aircraft is as seamless as possible, every AC-130 flies with a liaison officer who has spent time as a Special Forces soldier on the ground.\nWhile most jets streak across a target, moving quickly while dropping bombs or firing cannons or machine guns, the AC-130 essentially loiters over a target at around 7,000 feet, flying in a circle and firing from weapons ports mounted on the aircraft\u2019s left side.\nUnlike other military fixed-wing aircraft, an AC-130 is requested differently. While a jet requires a map coordinate to engage its target, the AC-130 relies on direction (a compass heading) and a distance to the enemy target from the friendly forces engaged on the ground. In short, it relies on visual targeting.\nThis difference might explain why the hospital was targeted even though Doctors Without Borders said it had given U.S. and Afghan forces its map coordinates before.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a visual acuity aircraft,\u201d said a U.S. close-air support pilot who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of his active-duty status. \u201cAn AC-130 finds the friendly force, then fires over their left or right shoulder.\u201d\nThe pilot went on to add that an AC-130 does not enter enemy airspace and look for targets. It specifically has to be guided onto the target by a force on the ground and will fire only after identifying friendly and enemy forces, he said.\nThe aircraft, because of its large profile and the fact that it operates at low altitude, flies close air support missions only at night. Since it only works in the dark, the crew of roughly a dozen uses a number of infrared sensors and night vision devices to see and engage targets on the ground.\nAccording to Navy Cmdr. Elissa Smith, a Pentagon spokeswoman, there have been 12 U.S. airstrikes around the city of Kunduz since Sep. 29. The airstrike on the Doctors Without Borders hospital was the second strike within the city.\nIt now ranks among one of the most high-profile U.S. strikes to result in civilian casualties in Afghanistan. In July 2002, a U.S. AC-130 fired on a wedding party, killing more than 40 and injuring more than 100 people in northern Helmand province.\nSince Saturday\u2019s attack, Doctors Without Borders has left Kunduz.\nTim Craig in Kabul contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nU.S. troops dispatched to Kunduz to help Afghan forces\nAfghan forces undertake bid to regain key city seized by Taliban\nThe bloody history of Kunduz, from Afghanistan\u2019s \u2018Convoy of Death\u2019 to now"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "2ed13104-b50a-48ec-9eb9-92db8ee3a876_5", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2ed13104-b50a-48ec-9eb9-92db8ee3a876_5", "title": "Doctors Without Borders says U.S. airstrike hit hospital in Afghanistan; at least 19 dead", "text": "U.S. military has faced criticism over civilian casualties and \u201cfriendly fire\u201d incidents. Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai repeatedly accused the U.S. military of being reckless in how it carried out airstrikes. But after Ghani replaced Karzai last year, relations between the Afghan government and coalition officials improved dramatically. Ghani, who is hoping that Obama rethinks his timetable for removing troops from Afghanistan, did not directly criticize the United States for the tragedy. The U.S. military official said Special Forces soldiers were on the ground advising Afghan forces when they detected incoming fire from Taliban fighters. They received authorization to return fire at an area that was apparently close to the hospital, the official said. The AC-130 gunship, commonly known as the Spectre, can stay above a target for long amounts of time and carries a number of weapons, including a 105mm cannon. On Saturday, as the main hospital building was still smoldering, Doctors Without Borders circulated photographs showing the aftermath of the bombing. In one photo, a health-care worker in blood-stained scrubs huddled in a corner with another man. Later in the day, hospital officials began evacuating patients to another facility about two hours\u2019 drive away, a risky undertaking because fierce fighting continues across swaths of northeastern Afghanistan. There are mounting concerns that an already grim humanitarian situation in Kunduz will worsen in the coming days. \u201cThe dead bodies are lying on the streets, both the Taliban and also civilians, and no one is allowed to pick up the bodies,\u201d said Laghmani, the local resident. \u201cThere is also an electricity shortage, a water shortage plus a bread shortage.\u201d There have been several incidents in the past in which U.S. airstrikes inadvertently caused large numbers of civilian casualties. In 2002, the U.S. military mistakenly bombed a wedding in Afghanistan\u2019s central province of Uruzgan, killing more than 35 people. In 2009, the U.S.-led coalition bombed two tanker trucks in Kunduz, igniting a fireball that killed 74 civilians, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission. Missy Ryan and Thomas Gibbons-Neff in Washington, and Mohammad Sharif in Kabul contributed to this report. Read more: Afghans who once watched war from afar forced to flee as front lines shift U.S. troops dispatched to Kunduz to help Afghan forces In Taliban-held Kunduz, echoes of a 1988 guerrilla assault after the Soviets withdrew Doctors, aid workers fight Ebola in West Africa, then fear of disease in U.S."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Photos from social media show the aftermath of an incident in Kunduz, Afghanistan where U.S. forces may have mistakenly bombed a hospital, killing at least 16 people. Officials warned the death toll could rise as dozens of people remain unaccounted for.\nKABUL \u2014\nThe airstrike occurred before dawn when a Doctors Without Borders trauma center in war-torn Kunduz was struck while doctors were treating dozens of patients. Hospital officials said they were assaulted from the air for 30 to 45 minutes, resulting in a large fire that burned some patients to death in their beds. Among those killed were 12 of the charity group\u2019s staff members, the group said.\n\u201cThis attack is abhorrent and a grave violation of international humanitarian law,\u201d said Meinie Nicolai, the group\u2019s president.\nWhile the charity\u2019s workers reported waves of bombs hitting their facility, the U.S.-led military coalition in Kabul issued a statement confirming one American airstrike that may have caused \u201ccollateral damage\u201d to a \u201cmedical facility.\u201d Authorities said it was launched against \u201cinsurgents who were directly firing upon U.S. servicemembers\u201d who had traveled to Kunduz to advise Afghan security forces.\nThe hospital disaster came at the end of a week in which U.S. forces had to step up their involvement in Afghanistan\u2019s chaotic 14-year war, despite President Obama\u2019s pledge to reduce the U.S. role and remove most American troops from the country by the end of 2016.\n\nU.S. fighter jets and Special Operations troops were dispatched to the area after Taliban militants on Monday overran Kunduz, Afghanistan\u2019s sixth-largest city.\nIt was unclear how close Taliban fighters may have been to the hospital Saturday or whether the U.S. military didn\u2019t realize the building was a hospital. Afghan security officials said Taliban fighters had been pouring into the facility in recent days seeking treatment for gunshot wounds and other injuries.\nThe charity and other international organizations reacted with outrage, and the hospital\u2019s management said it had repeatedly informed the U.S.-led coalition of the facility\u2019s precise GPS coordinates over the past few months. The location of the hospital was last conveyed to the international coalition three days before the airstrike, officials added.\nIndependent probe sought\nIn a statement, the United Nations\u2019 top human rights official called for an independent, public investigation.\n\u201cThis event is utterly tragic, inexcusable and, possibly, even criminal,\u201d said Zeid Ra\u2019ad al-Hussein, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, adding that \u201cif established as deliberate in a court of law, an airstrike on a hospital may amount to a war crime.\u201d\nJason Cone, executive director of Doctors Without Borders in the United States, said hospital officials in Kunduz immediately reached out to U.S. military officials when the airstrike occurred.\nAn airstrike damaged much of the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz. (Msf/AFP/Getty Images)\n\u201cThe bombing continued for more than 30 minutes after American and Afghan military officials in Kabul and Washington were first informed,\u201d the organization said in a statement.\nA U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk freely, said the strike appears to have been carried out by an AC-130 gunship, a heavily armed warplane.\nLate Saturday, Obama extended his condolences to those killed and injured and said in a statement that \u201cthe Department of Defense has launched a full investigation, and we will await the results of that inquiry before making a definitive judgment as to the circumstances of this tragedy.\u201d\n\u2018The only advanced hospital\u2019\nAfghan President Ashraf Ghani said Army Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of the U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, called him Saturday to offer condolences. But U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter was cautious in a statement issued Saturday, saying that \u201ca full investigation\u201d was underway and that he was extending prayers to those affected. \u201cWe are still trying to determine exactly what happened,\u201d his statement said.\nIn all, at least 12 Doctors Without Borders staff members were killed along with seven patients, three of them children, the group said. At least 37 other people were seriously injured, including 19 staff members. The hospital was \u201cpartially destroyed\u201d in the attack, which began shortly after 2\u00a0a.m., the group said.\n\u201cThe bombs hit, and then we heard the plane circle round,\u201d said Heman Nagarathnam, who is the charity\u2019s head of programs in northern Afghanistan. \u201cThere was a pause, and then more bombs hit. This happened again and again. When I made it out from the office, the main hospital building was engulfed in flames.\u201d\nThose who could, Nagarathnam said, hid in the hospital\u2019s bunker. Medical staff and critically ill patients, however, were left exposed to the ensuing fire.\nA nurse working at the hospital, Lajos Zoltan Jecs, said that when she and other staff members emerged from a safe room after the attack, they looked into the intensive care unit, which was on fire.\n\u201cSix patients were burning in their beds,\u201d she said in a statement issued by Doctors Without Borders. \u201cThere are no words for how terrible it was,\u201d she said.\nMirza Laghmani, a local resident, said Afghan soldiers were battling militants near the hospital when Saturday\u2019s airstrike took place.\n\u201cThe Taliban are taking and evacuating their wounded fighters to the hospital for treatment,\u201d said Laghmani, who said the militant group still controls most of the city. \u201cIt was the only advanced hospital\u201d in the area.\nAbdul Qahar Aram, spokesman for the Afghan army\u2019s 209th Corps in northern Afghanistan, on Saturday said Taliban fighters are now hiding in \u201cpeople\u2019s houses, mosques and hospitals using civilians as human shields.\u201d\nSultan Arab, a local police commander in Kunduz, said the hospital came under an airstrike \u201cbecause the Taliban had shifted their command center inside the hospital.\u201d\nDoctors Without Borders, which operates in 20 countries and was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, prides itself on treating any patient in need of assistance.\nThroughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military has faced criticism over civilian casualties and \u201cfriendly fire\u201d incidents. Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai repeatedly accused the U.S. military of being reckless in how it carried out airstrikes. But after Ghani replaced Karzai last year, relations between the Afghan government and coalition officials improved dramatically.\nGhani, who is hoping that Obama rethinks his timetable for removing troops from Afghanistan, did not directly criticize the United States for the tragedy.\nThe U.S. military official said Special Forces soldiers were on the ground advising Afghan forces when they detected incoming fire from Taliban fighters. They received authorization to return fire at an area that was apparently close to the hospital, the official said.\nThe AC-130 gunship, commonly known as the Spectre, can stay above a target for long amounts of time and carries a number of weapons, including a 105mm cannon.\nOn Saturday, as the main hospital building was still smoldering, Doctors Without Borders circulated photographs showing the aftermath of the bombing. In one photo, a health-care worker in blood-stained scrubs huddled in a corner with another man.\nLater in the day, hospital officials began evacuating patients to another facility about two hours\u2019 drive away, a risky undertaking because fierce fighting continues across swaths of northeastern Afghanistan.\nThere are mounting concerns that an already grim humanitarian situation in Kunduz will worsen in the coming days.\n\u201cThe dead bodies are lying on the streets, both the Taliban and also civilians, and no one is allowed to pick up the bodies,\u201d said Laghmani, the local resident. \u201cThere is also an electricity shortage, a water shortage plus a bread shortage.\u201d\nThere have been several incidents in the past in which U.S. airstrikes inadvertently caused large numbers of civilian casualties.\nIn 2002, the U.S. military mistakenly bombed a wedding in Afghanistan\u2019s central province of Uruzgan, killing more than 35 people. In 2009, the U.S.-led coalition bombed two tanker trucks in Kunduz, igniting a fireball that killed 74 civilians, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission.\nMissy Ryan and Thomas Gibbons-Neff in Washington, and Mohammad Sharif in Kabul contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nAfghans who once watched war from afar forced to flee as front lines shift\nU.S. troops dispatched to Kunduz to help Afghan forces\nIn Taliban-held Kunduz, echoes of a 1988 guerrilla assault after the Soviets withdrew\nDoctors, aid workers fight Ebola in West Africa, then fear of disease in U.S."}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "591168a83398156c6fde08a0523912aa_0", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "591168a83398156c6fde08a0523912aa_0", "title": "CIA job interview leads to criminal investigation of Green Beret", "text": "Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, Jr., right, awards the Silver Star to Capt. Mathew L. Golsteyn in January 2011. (The Fayetteville Observer/James Robinson) A Green Beret officer who was stripped of a prestigious valor award and dropped from the Special Forces fell out of favor with Army officials after the CIA shared information it gathered about him while he was going through screening for a potential job, according to officials familiar with the case. Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Command for an undisclosed violation of the U.S. military\u2019s rules of engagement in 2010 that resulted in the death of a known enemy fighter and bombmaker in Helmand province, Afghanistan, according to the officials. The Army closed a lengthy investigation last summer without charging Golsteyn with any crime, but Army Secretary John McHugh revoked a Silver Star that Golsteyn had been awarded for heroism on Feb. 20, 2010, during the iconic Battle of Marja. The Army also took away Golsteyn\u2019s Special Forces tab, a qualification that goes to any soldier who completes Special Forces training, and reassigned him to the conventional Army as an infantry officer, several officials said. He is in the process of determining his future with the Army, said his lawyer, Phil Stackhouse. [READ: Army revokes Silver Star for Green Beret officer, citing investigation] It\u2019s an uncommon fall for a commander who led a 3rd Special Forces Group team in combat. Golsteyn received the Silver Star in 2011 for braving enemy fire numerous times as a captain on a day in which his team came under attack while hunting an enemy sniper team that had opened fire on their patrol base, according to an Army summary of action. Army officials later approved an upgrade to the Distinguished Service Cross \u2014 considered one level down from the Medal of Honor in honoring combat heroism \u2014 but ultimately decided Golsteyn deserved neither. Neither the Army nor Stackhouse have been willing to elaborate on the allegations he faced, and Golsteyn declined to be interviewed through his lawyer. But three sources with knowledge of the investigation told The Washington Post that the Army began probing Golsteyn\u2019s actions after he interviewed for a job with the CIA. Todd Ebitz, a spokesman for the agency, declined to comment. Capt. Mathew L. Golsteyn is congratulated by fellow soldiers following the Valor Awards Ceremony for 3rd Special Forces Group at"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Lt. Gen.\u00a0John F. Mulholland, Jr., right, awards the Silver Star to Capt. Mathew L. Golsteyn in January 2011. (The Fayetteville Observer/James Robinson)\nA Green Beret officer who was stripped of a prestigious valor award and dropped from the Special Forces fell out of favor with Army officials after the CIA shared information it gathered about him while he was going through screening for a potential job, according to officials familiar with the case.\nMaj. Mathew L. Golsteyn was investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Command for an undisclosed violation of the U.S. military\u2019s rules of engagement in 2010 that resulted in the death of a known enemy fighter and bombmaker in Helmand province, Afghanistan, according to the officials. The Army closed a lengthy investigation last summer without charging Golsteyn with any crime, but Army Secretary John McHugh revoked a Silver Star that Golsteyn had been awarded for heroism on Feb. 20, 2010, during the iconic Battle of Marja.\nThe Army also took away Golsteyn\u2019s Special Forces tab, a qualification that goes to any soldier who completes Special Forces training, and reassigned him to the conventional Army as an infantry officer, several officials said. He is in the process of determining his future with the Army, said his lawyer, Phil Stackhouse.\n[READ: Army revokes Silver Star for Green Beret officer, citing investigation]\nIt\u2019s an uncommon fall for a commander who led a 3rd Special Forces Group team in combat. Golsteyn received the Silver Star in 2011 for braving enemy fire numerous times as a captain on a day in which his team came under attack while hunting an enemy sniper team that had opened fire on their patrol base, according to an Army summary of action. Army officials later approved an upgrade to the Distinguished Service Cross \u2014 considered one level down from the Medal of Honor in honoring combat heroism \u2014 but ultimately decided Golsteyn deserved neither.\nNeither the Army nor Stackhouse have been willing to elaborate on the allegations he faced, and Golsteyn declined to be interviewed through his lawyer. But three sources with knowledge of the investigation told The Washington Post that the Army began probing Golsteyn\u2019s actions after he interviewed for a job with the CIA. Todd Ebitz, a spokesman for the agency, declined to comment.\nCapt. Mathew L. Golsteyn is congratulated by fellow soldiers following the Valor Awards Ceremony for 3rd Special Forces Group at\u00a0Fort Bragg. (The Fayetteville Observer/James Robinson)\nGolsteyn\u2019s story received attention after Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R.-Calif.) wrote a piece for the Daily Beast this week that accused Army investigators of threatening the men who served under Golsteyn and offering them immunity in exchange for their testimony. None of his fellow soldiers were willing to speak to investigators, Hunter said. Chris Grey, a spokesman for Army CID, confirmed they investigated Golsteyn, but declined additional comment.\nAn independent expert on military awards, Doug Sterner, said it is highly uncommon in the military for a prestigious valor award like the Silver Star to be stripped away later. Sterner, An Army veteran who served in Vietnam, questioned whether it was fair to do so.\n\u201cHis award went through the process,\u201d Sterner said. \u201cIt was properly vetted, it was properly processed and it was awarded for a single act at a moment in time.\u201d\nA\u00a0number of influential people have advocated on Golsteyn\u2019s\u00a0behalf. In addition to Hunter, Medal of Honor recipient William D. Swenson wrote a letter that was circulated on Capitol Hill and said he would \u201cgladly stand with [Golsteyn] on any battlefield against any enemy.\u201d Swenson wrote they went through training together early in their careers, but were brought back together through \u201cunfortunate circumstances\u201d that he does not describe.\n\u201cHaving now known Golsteyn through the course of his career as an Officer, I can truly say he is the finest Officer I have served with,\u201d said Swenson\u2019s letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Post. \u201cHe stands apart. When our nation calls for warriors to defeat our enemies, it calls for Officers like Matt Golsteyn.\u201d\nSwenson, who received the nation\u2019s top award for valor in 2013, could not be reached for comment.\nA recently retired Marine officer, Col. Randall Newman, who led infantry operations during the Battle of Marja, also has advocated for Golsteyn on several occasions and written letters on his behalf, he told The Post on Friday. Golsteyn led operations in the southern portion of what had been a Taliban stronghold, and had his complete trust, Newman said.\n\u201cMatt is a very conscientious guy, and probably one of his greatest attributes is that he is one of the harshest critics of himself,\u201d Newman said. \u201cI can see him being a guy and being involved in an action, and then wondering afterward if he had done the right thing.\u201d\nNewman said he was interviewed by Army investigators, but is not clear on all the specifics of the allegations against Golsteyn.\n\u201cUntil someone produces some viable evidence that he has done something wrong, he should be treated as an innocent man,\u201d Newman said. \u201cMatt has been exposed to what I imagine is the worst punishment possible for a warrior, which is being benched.\u201d"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "6ec9aca6-fae0-11e2-a369-d1954abcb7e3_0", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "6ec9aca6-fae0-11e2-a369-d1954abcb7e3_0", "title": "Army officer convicted in shooting deaths of 2 Afghans", "text": "Last summer, days into a new assignment leading a platoon in a volatile patch of southern Afghanistan, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army asked one of his soldiers to open fire on two Afghan men on motorcycles. The fatal shots set in motion an extraordinary criminal investigation that unfolded largely unnoticed until a jury at Fort Bragg, N.C., this week heard dramatically different accounts of the choices that the officer, Clint Lorance, made that day. On Thursday evening, jurors convicted the 28-year-old Lorance of murder, siding with prosecutors who portrayed his order as a reckless contravention of the rules of engagement. Lorance\u2019s supporters say the real crime was the military\u2019s decision to turn a war hero deployed in one of the most dangerous and remote corners of Afghanistan into a defendant. \u201cTo put murder charges on him!\u201d Lorance\u2019s mother, Anna Lorance, protested in an interview before the verdict in the court-martial was announced. \u201cIn war, people die. When you\u2019re in a heated combat zone, you have seconds to think.\u201d Lorance was sentenced to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of pay and dismissal from the military. In the annals of American war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, cases that have landed service members in court on serious charges have typically been preceded by outcries, allegations of egregious conduct and extensive coverage in the news media. The vast majority of defendants have been enlisted troops. There was the 2004 Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the 2005 Haditha massacre in Iraq \u2014 cases so shocking that they injected an indelible poison into the relationship between Baghdad and Washington. In Afghanistan, a squad of soldiers infamously described itself as a \u201ckill team\u201d for shooting Afghan men for sport in 2010; the group\u2019s ringleader kept body parts as trophies. Just months before Lorance\u2019s fateful patrol, an Army sergeant left his base at night and massacred 17 sleeping Afghans, including several children. Lorance\u2019s case is remarkable because he is only the second Army officer charged with murder in a battlefield death during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His defense, outlined in a detailed account on a Web site registered to his name, sought to shift the burden, putting U.S. military rules of engagement on trial. \u201cIn modern warfare, there is no clearly defined enemy,\u201d argues a statement on the site, which his family is using to raise money for the officer\u2019s legal expenses. \u201cLong"}], "old": [{"_id": "6ec9aca6-fae0-11e2-a369-d1954abcb7e3_0", "title": "Army officer convicted in shooting deaths of 2 Afghans", "text": "Last summer, days into a new assignment leading a platoon in a volatile patch of southern Afghanistan, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army asked one of his soldiers to open fire on two Afghan men on motorcycles. The fatal shots set in motion an extraordinary criminal investigation that unfolded largely unnoticed until a jury at Fort Bragg, N.C., this week heard dramatically different accounts of the choices that the officer, Clint Lorance, made that day. On Thursday evening, jurors convicted the 28-year-old Lorance of murder, siding with prosecutors who portrayed his order as a reckless contravention of the rules of engagement. Lorance\u2019s supporters say the real crime was the military\u2019s decision to turn a war hero deployed in one of the most dangerous and remote corners of Afghanistan into a defendant. \u201cTo put murder charges on him!\u201d Lorance\u2019s mother, Anna Lorance, protested in an interview before the verdict in the court-martial was announced. \u201cIn war, people die. When you\u2019re in a heated combat zone, you have seconds to think.\u201d Lorance was sentenced to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of pay and dismissal from the military. In the annals of American war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, cases that have landed service members in court on serious charges have typically been preceded by outcries, allegations of egregious conduct and extensive coverage in the news media. The vast majority of defendants have been enlisted troops. \u201cIn modern warfare, there is no clearly defined enemy,\u201d argues a statement on the site, which his family is using to raise money for the officer\u2019s legal expenses. \u201cLong gone are the days where American Soldiers could distinguish their enemy by the uniform they wore.\u201d Lorance was born and raised in Hobart, a small town in Oklahoma, the son of a welder and a stay-at-home mom. As a toddler, his mother said, he played with toy guns and firetrucks. \u201cWe knew at a young age who he was going to be: someone who would defend and help,\u201d she said. He signed up to become a military police officer on his 18th birthday, when the nation was barely a year into the Afghanistan war and had not yet invaded Iraq. As an enlisted man, Lorance was deployed to South Korea and later Iraq, where he spent 15 months. He loved the rigor and intensity of a military career, Anna Lorance, 54, said. \u201cEvery year, his pride just"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Last summer, days into a new assignment leading a platoon in a volatile patch of southern Afghanistan, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army asked one of his soldiers to open fire on two Afghan men on motorcycles.\nThe fatal shots set in motion an extraordinary criminal investigation that unfolded largely unnoticed until a jury at Fort Bragg, N.C., this week heard dramatically different accounts of the choices that the officer, Clint Lorance, made that day.\nOn Thursday evening, jurors convicted the 28-year-old Lorance of murder, siding with prosecutors who portrayed his order as a reckless contravention of the rules of engagement. Lorance\u2019s supporters say the real crime was the military\u2019s decision to turn a war hero deployed in one of the most dangerous and remote corners of Afghanistan into a defendant.\n\u201cTo put murder charges on him!\u201d Lorance\u2019s mother, Anna Lorance, protested in an interview before the verdict in the court-martial was announced. \u201cIn war, people die. When you\u2019re in a heated combat zone, you have seconds to think.\u201d\nLorance was sentenced to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of pay and dismissal from the military.\nIn the annals of American war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, cases that have landed service members in court on serious charges have typically been preceded by outcries, allegations of egregious conduct and extensive coverage in the news media. The vast majority of defendants have been enlisted troops.\nThere was the 2004 Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the 2005 Haditha massacre in Iraq \u2014 cases so shocking that they injected an indelible poison into the relationship between Baghdad and Washington. In Afghanistan, a squad of soldiers infamously described itself as a \u201ckill team\u201d for shooting Afghan men for sport in 2010; the group\u2019s ringleader kept body parts as trophies. Just months before Lorance\u2019s fateful patrol, an Army sergeant left his base at night and massacred 17 sleeping Afghans, including several children.\nLorance\u2019s case is remarkable because he is only the second Army officer charged with murder in a battlefield death during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His defense, outlined in a detailed account on a Web site registered to his name, sought to shift the burden, putting U.S. military rules of engagement on trial.\n\u201cIn modern warfare, there is no clearly defined enemy,\u201d argues a statement on the site, which his family is using to raise money for the officer\u2019s legal expenses. \u201cLong gone are the days where American Soldiers could distinguish their enemy by the uniform they wore.\u201d\nLorance was born and raised in Hobart, a small town in Oklahoma, the son of a welder and a stay-at-home mom. As a toddler, his mother said, he played with toy guns and firetrucks. \u201cWe knew at a young age who he was going to be: someone who would defend and help,\u201d she said.\nHe signed up to become a military police officer on his 18th birthday, when the nation was barely a year into the Afghanistan war and had not yet invaded Iraq. As an enlisted man, Lorance was deployed to South Korea and later Iraq, where he spent 15 months. He loved the rigor and intensity of a military career, Anna Lorance, 54, said.\n\u201cEvery year, his pride just grew and grew, along with his rank,\u201d his mother said.\nAfter his Iraq deployment, Lorance became the first college graduate in his family and was commissioned as an officer.\nHe was deployed to southern Afghanistan in March 2012. After a first lieutenant in his unit, the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 8nd Airborne Division, was wounded in a bombing, Lorance unexpectedly became a platoon leader, a job that many infantry officers regard as among the most challenging and rewarding in a military career.\nShortly after he and his men rolled out of their small outpost in Kandahar province early July 2, 2012, Army pilots warned Lorance over the radio about suspected insurgents loitering north, east and west of the platoon, according to the account posted on the Web site. As the troops, most of whom were on foot, approached a village, they spotted the men on motorcycles. Suspecting that they were insurgents, Lorance asked one of his soldiers to shoot them.\n\u201cI was given a lawful order,\u201d the shooter, Pvt. David Shilo, testified, according to the Fayetteville Observer. \u201cMy life wasn\u2019t threatened at the time.\u201d\nLorance\u2019s site contends that intelligence reports he had reviewed suggested that every man on a motorcycle in that vicinity was presumed to be a member of the Taliban because the insurgent group was in control of the area. The order to fire the two long-range shots was rightful, his account says, \u201celiminating the threat.\u201d\nProsecutors say Lorance knew that to be false \u2014 and they elicited testimony from service members that bolstered their case. U.S. troops in Afghanistan may open fire only if they detect hostile intent or actions in the battlefield.\nAfter some of his men reported the incident up the chain of command, Lorance was reassigned to a desk job and stripped of his weapon as an investigation was launched. In January, a few months after returning home with the rest of the brigade, he was charged with murder, attempted murder and misconduct.\nThe charging document depicts Lorance as abusive. He warned an Afghan man whose property abutted the outpost that \u201cif there is enemy activity on your land, we will shoot and kill you, your family and your kid,\u201d the document says. It also accuses him of impeding the investigation by asking a soldier to falsely state in the incident report that the platoon could not examine the slain Afghans\u2019 bodies because locals removed them shortly after the shooting.\nHis parents raised money through the Web site and their neighbors to retain Guy Womack, a Houston lawyer and retired Marine lieutenant colonel who has represented high-profile military defendants.\nWomack said in a statement issued late Thursday night that he was \u201cbitterly disappointed\u201d by the verdict. He said his client\u2019s actions were justified in light of the threat level in the area and the information conveyed to him during the patrol, which made Lorance feel the men in motorcycles posed an imminent threat.\n\u201cI respect the Member\u2019s decision,\u201d Womack wrote, referring to the jury. \u201cBut I fear it bodes ill for other small unit leaders who face similar challenges, daily, in Afghanistan.\u201d\nThe sentence handed down against Lorance dashes his plans for the future.\n\u201cUntil this incident, Clint planned on serving his country for 10 more years, retiring from the Army and attending law school,\u201d his Web site says. \u201cClint\u2019s dream is to work in a district attorney\u2019s office as an associate prosecutor.\u201d"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "7GOH2RDYVAI6TJ57ZCSDXBHOGE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "7GOH2RDYVAI6TJ57ZCSDXBHOGE_1", "title": "In southern Afghanistan, U.S. airstrikes kill up to 18 members of Afghan forces ", "text": "Butler said. \u201cWe regret this tragic loss of life of our partners.\u201d Afghan officials in Kabul and Helmand gave conflicting information on the number of casualties, saying that between eight and 18 Afghan personnel were killed and that 14 others were wounded. They said the incident, which took place during a ground battle on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, was under investigation. The Taliban said in a statement that U.S. forces were behind the strikes, but the Helmand governor\u2019s office said it was not clear whether Afghan or foreign forces had carried them out. The incident occurred amid the widespread combat between Taliban fighters and U.S.-backed Afghan forces that has gone on for months and caused heavy casualties among Afghan troops and civilians. The Taliban launched its annual spring offensive in March and has continued aggressive attacks since last week, the start of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting and prayer. The Taliban surge is seen as a means to gain leverage in ongoing peace talks with the United States. Errant airstrikes such as occurred in Helmand have been relatively rare during the years of conflict here, but Thursday\u2019s incident bore a striking resemblance to a recent occurrence in southern Uruzgan province in March, when at least five Afghan soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in U.S. airstrikes. In that case, Afghan defense officials said, the soldiers had been patrolling near a checkpoint when they were attacked from the air. \u201cThe attack was caused by lack of proper coordination,\u201d a defense official told the Reuters news agency at the time. In a statement about the March air attack, the U.S. military said its forces had conducted \u201cprecision self-defense airstrikes on people firing on Afghan and American forces\u201d who were conducting a ground operation near an Afghan army checkpoint. Deadlier incidents have occurred. More than 40 civilians were killed in aerial attacks in October 2015 in the northern city of Kunduz while a ferocious battle was underway against Taliban insurgents for control of the area. A U.S. AC-130 gunship attacked a hospital run by the charity Doctors Without Borders, killing 42 people, after receiving confused or unclear target information from Afghan ground forces. The incident provoked an angry outcry from the Afghan public and led to a major investigation by U.S. military officials. Since then, U.S. military commanders have made repeated efforts to improve battlefield and air coordination with their Afghan counterparts. pamela.constable@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "KABUL \u2014\nU.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan killed as many as 18 Afghan police officers late Thursday during heavy ground fighting with Taliban forces near the capital of Helmand province, Afghan officials and provincial leaders said Friday.\nU.S. military officials here said the airstrikes, in what they described as a\u00a0\u201ctragic accident,\u201d killed members of the Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters, but they did not say how many from each side died.\nA spokesman for the U.S. military advisory mission here, Lt. Col. Dave Butler, said in a statement that Afghan security officials requested\u00a0\u201cprecision air support\u201d during heavy fighting and that U.S. military personnel had worked with Afghan coordinators. The coordinators \u201cconfirmed that the areas were clear of friendly forces,\u201d he said. \u201cUnfortunately, they were not, and a tragic accident resulted.\u201d\nU.S. officials are\u00a0\u201cexamining the miscommunication to ensure it is not repeated,\u201d Butler said. \u201cWe regret this tragic loss of life of our partners.\u201d\nAfghan officials in Kabul and Helmand gave conflicting information on the number of casualties, saying that between eight and 18 Afghan personnel were killed and that 14 others were wounded. They said the incident, which took place during a ground battle on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, was under investigation.\nThe Taliban said in a statement that U.S. forces were behind the strikes, but the Helmand governor\u2019s office said it was not clear whether Afghan or foreign forces had carried them out.\nThe incident occurred amid the widespread combat between Taliban fighters and U.S.-backed Afghan forces that has gone on for months and caused heavy casualties among Afghan troops and civilians.\nThe Taliban launched its annual spring offensive in March and has continued aggressive attacks since last week, the start of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting and prayer. The Taliban surge is seen as a means to gain leverage in ongoing peace talks with the United States.\nErrant airstrikes such as occurred in Helmand have been relatively rare during the years of conflict here, but Thursday\u2019s incident bore a striking resemblance to a recent occurrence in southern Uruzgan province in March, when at least five Afghan soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in U.S. airstrikes.\nIn that case, Afghan defense officials said, the soldiers had been patrolling near a checkpoint when they were attacked from the air.\u00a0\u201cThe attack was caused by lack of proper coordination,\u201d a defense official told the Reuters news agency at the time.\nIn a statement about the March air attack, the U.S. military said its forces had conducted\u00a0\u201cprecision self-defense airstrikes on people firing on Afghan and American forces\u201d who were conducting a ground operation near an Afghan army checkpoint.\nDeadlier incidents have occurred. More than 40 civilians were killed in aerial attacks in October 2015 in the northern city of Kunduz while a ferocious battle was underway against Taliban insurgents for control of the area. A U.S. AC-130 gunship attacked a hospital run by the charity Doctors Without Borders, killing 42 people, after receiving confused or unclear target information from Afghan ground forces.\nThe incident provoked an angry outcry from the Afghan public and led to a major investigation by U.S. military officials. Since then, U.S. military commanders have made repeated efforts to improve battlefield and air coordination with their Afghan counterparts.\npamela.constable@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "8a46eea4-d647-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_2", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "8a46eea4-d647-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_2", "title": "Three killed, including 15-year-old, in Afghan security raid on health clinic", "text": "staffers and caretakers. President Obama apologized for that airstrike, but Doctors Without Borders is pressing for war crimes charges to be filed. Gen. John Campbell, the outgoing commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, blamed \u201chuman error\u201d for the Kunduz strike. Campbell said U.S. Special Forces who had been operating in that area had not been briefed that the Doctors Without Borders compound was a hospital. Afghan security forces, however, have been known to routinely enter medical facilities in pursuit of militants, even though hospitals are considered neutral spaces under international law. A few months before the hospital in Kunduz was bombed, Doctors Without Borders complained that Afghan troops had illegally entered the facility. A report released Sunday by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan noted that coalition and Afghan special forces raided health facilities in Logar and Helmand provinces in December. The report said the search operations \u201cresulted in the arrest of healthcare staff and destruction of clinic equipment \u2014 although they did not cause any civilian casualties.\u201d Jorgen Holmstrom, the country director for the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, said all the patients in the group\u2019s clinics had the right to be protected. \u201cMedical facilities and medical staff are to provide treatment to anyone in need, and patients are to be granted safety according to humanitarian law,\u201d he said. Lindh noted that the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is the only medical provider in Wardak province, where fierce battles between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants are common. Abdul Wali Noorzai, a spokesman for the provincial police force, said the raid began when Afghan special forces used ropes to descend into the village from a helicopter. \u201cThe operation was conducted at night, and Afghans do not have the technology to do it by air, lowering troops onto the ground,\u201d he said. \u201cI think Americans were present with them.\u201d U.S. military officials say the Afghan army sometimes uses its own helicopters now to conduct night operations, without the presence of coalition advisers. Hameeda Akbari, a member of parliament from the area, said the hospital was well-known for treating Taliban militants. She called the raid \u201cjustifiable.\u201d \u201cThat hospital treats the opposition,\u201d Akbari said. But Lindh stressed that the staff at the health clinic \u201cis not part of this conflict.\u201d \u201cAnyone who comes to our clinics, we don\u2019t ask questions, and they should feel protected,\u201d Lindh said. \u201cBut they were taken out, and they"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Afghan and U.S. flags fly side by side during a security handover ceremony in Panjshir province in 2011. U.S. officials are looking into allegations that U.S. troops may have been involved in a deadly raid on a clinic in Wardak province Wednesday night.   (Ahmad Masood/Reuters)\nKABUL \u2014\nThe Swedish Committee for Afghanistan said in a statement that the Afghan National Army had conducted the raid, calling the attack \u201ca gross violation of humanitarian principles and the Geneva Convention.\u201d\nBjorn Lindh, a spokesman for the group, said Afghan troops arrived near the 10-bed clinic in a helicopter about 11 p.m. Initially, he said, they went to the home of a local ambulance driver and detained him. The ambulance driver then escorted the soldiers to the health clinic.\nThe troops stormed into the clinic and began arresting and beating staff members, Lindh said, adding that they then \u201cfound two patients who were injured in some way.\u201d\n\u201cThey took these people out of the clinic to a nearby bazaar and killed them,\u201d Lindh said. A 15-year-old boy who had been watching over the two men was also killed, he said.\nA spokesman for the Defense Ministry did not return several calls for comment.\nSome local officials in Wardak, south of Kabul, alleged that U.S. forces were also involved in the raid, perhaps flying the helicopters that transported Afghan security personnel to the area.\nCol. Michael T. Lawhorn, spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, said officials are investigating those claims.\n\u201cWe are aware of those reports, and we are looking into them,\u201d Lawhorn said.\nGen. Razeq Safi, commander of an Afghan army brigade for Logar and Wardak provinces, said that four Taliban insurgents were killed and two others wounded during the incident. Another insurgent was also taken in custody, he said.\nBut Safi denied that the Afghan army had conducted the raid, saying he suspects Afghan police special forces carried it out in cooperation with \u201cforeign troops.\u201d\n\u201cChoppers were seen last night,\u201d Safi said. \u201cAirstrikes have also taken place there.\u201d\nAn official with the Afghan Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, said the agency did conduct operations in Wardak on Wednesday night but declined to comment on whether they took place near the health clinic.\nThe apparent raid comes less than six months after U.S. Special Forces mistakenly strafed a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 42 patients, medical staffers and caretakers. President Obama apologized for that airstrike, but Doctors Without Borders is pressing for war crimes charges to be filed.\nGen. John Campbell, the outgoing commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, blamed \u201chuman error\u201d for the Kunduz strike. Campbell said U.S. Special Forces who had been operating in that area had not been briefed that the Doctors Without Borders compound was a hospital.\nAfghan security forces, however, have been known to routinely enter medical facilities in pursuit of militants, even though hospitals are considered neutral spaces under international law. A few months before the hospital in Kunduz was bombed, Doctors Without Borders complained that Afghan troops had illegally entered the facility.\nA report released Sunday by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan noted that coalition and Afghan special forces raided health facilities in Logar and Helmand provinces in December. The report said the search operations \u201cresulted in the arrest of healthcare staff and destruction of clinic equipment \u2014 although they did not cause any civilian casualties.\u201d\nJorgen Holmstrom, the country director for the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, said all the patients in the group\u2019s clinics had the right to be protected.\n\u201cMedical facilities and medical staff are to provide treatment to anyone in need, and patients are to be granted safety according to humanitarian law,\u201d he said.\nLindh noted that the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is the only medical provider in Wardak province, where fierce battles between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants are common.\nAbdul Wali Noorzai, a spokesman for the provincial police force, said the raid began when Afghan special forces used ropes to descend into the village from a helicopter.\n\u201cThe operation was conducted at night, and Afghans do not have the technology to do it by air, lowering troops onto the ground,\u201d he said. \u201cI think Americans were present with them.\u201d\nU.S. military officials say the Afghan army sometimes uses its own helicopters now to conduct night operations, without the presence of coalition advisers.\nHameeda Akbari, a member of parliament from the area, said the hospital was well-known for treating Taliban militants. She called the raid \u201cjustifiable.\u201d\n\u201cThat hospital treats the opposition,\u201d Akbari said.\nBut Lindh stressed that the staff at the health clinic \u201cis not part of this conflict.\u201d\n\u201cAnyone who comes to our clinics, we don\u2019t ask questions, and they should feel protected,\u201d Lindh said. \u201cBut they were taken out, and they were killed.\u201d\nMohammad Sharif in Kabul and Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nU.S.-funded Afghan air force is growing. So are civilian casualties it causes.\nThe top U.S. commander in Afghanistan is leaving, but the troops are staying\nU.S. airstrikes in Kunduz destroyed more than a hospital\nToday\u2019s coverage from Post correspondents around the world"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "a98643d13491a91182a79a34723f7ef2_3", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a98643d13491a91182a79a34723f7ef2_3", "title": "Army reopens investigation into detainee\u2019s death after Special Force soldier\u2019s Fox News interview", "text": "kill him and his family. Golsteyn told the CIA during his polygraph test that he trusted the tribal leader and \u201chad no qualms\u201d about killing the detainee \u201cbecause he couldn\u2019t have lived with himself if [the suspected bombmaker] killed another Soldier or Marine,\u201d Army documents said. During Golestyn\u2019s interview with the CIA, according to investigators, he described taking the bombmaker off the base, shooting him and burying his remains in a shallow grave. Golsteyn added that later that night, he and two other soldiers dug up the remains, brought them back to their base and burned them in a pit used to dispose of trash. Golsteyn and his attorneys have long maintained that the Army\u2019s characterization of events is filled with exaggerations and leaps of logic. No other service members would serve as witnesses against Golsteyn, even when investigators offered immunity from prosecution. Then-Army Secretary John M. McHugh stripped Golsteyn of his valor award in fall 2014, and the Army also revoked his Special Forces tab and reassigned him as a conventional infantry soldier. Golsteyn said in his email to The Post that his case was reopened despite an Army administrative board determining last year that the murder accusation against him was unfounded. The panel did find that Golsteyn demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer and recommended a general discharge under honorable conditions, ensuring he could keep health benefits. Former Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn is shown in Afghanistan in 2010. (Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter) Senior defense officials, Golsteyn said, continue to talk tough about the fight against the Islamic State group while they \u201cmischaracterize my combat actions as \u2018murder.'\u201d He compared his case to that of another officer, former 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 for ordering his soldiers to open fire on village elders in Afghanistan who were approaching his unit while they were on patrol. Several member of Lorance\u2019s platoon testified against him after being offered immunity. \u201cI am filled with moral disgust that such individuals can continue to wreak such havoc on our warfighters without consequence,\u201d Golsteyn said, adding that he does not regret doing the TV interview because it was important to speak out on how soldiers are restricted in combat. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R.-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee who has clashed with the Army repeatedly about Golsteyn\u2019s treatment, said"}], "old": [{"_id": "a98643d13491a91182a79a34723f7ef2_3", "title": "Army reopens investigation into detainee\u2019s death after Special Force soldier\u2019s Fox News interview", "text": "brought them back to their base and burned them in a pit used to dispose of trash. Golsteyn and his attorneys have long maintained that the Army\u2019s characterization of events is filled with exaggerations and leaps of logic. No other service members would serve as witnesses against Golsteyn, even when investigators offered immunity from prosecution. Then-Army Secretary John M. McHugh stripped Golsteyn of his valor award in fall 2014, and the Army also revoked his Special Forces tab and reassigned him as a conventional infantry soldier. Golsteyn said in his email to The Post that his case was reopened despite an Army administrative board determining last year that the murder accusation against him was unfounded. The panel did find that Golsteyn demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer and recommended a general discharge under honorable conditions, ensuring he could keep health benefits. Former Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn is shown in Afghanistan in 2010. (Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter) Senior defense officials, Golsteyn said, continue to talk tough about the fight against the Islamic State group while they \u201cmischaracterize my combat actions as \u2018murder.'\u201d He compared his case to that of another officer, former 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 for ordering his soldiers to open fire on village elders in Afghanistan who were approaching his unit while they were on patrol. Several member of Lorance\u2019s platoon testified against him after being offered immunity. \u201cI am filled with moral disgust that such individuals can continue to wreak such havoc on our warfighters without consequence,\u201d Golsteyn said, adding that he does not regret doing the TV interview because it was important to speak out on how soldiers are restricted in combat. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R.-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee who has clashed with the Army repeatedly about Golsteyn\u2019s treatment, said Thursday that he was disgusted with the Army\u2019s decision to reopen the case. Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Army\u2019s top officer, and Army Secretary Eric Fanning told Hunter that they cannot stop the investigation at this point, Hunter said. \u201cMatt Golsteyn is an American hero. Matt Golsteyn does for the American people what we ask him to do, and the Army is screwing him again,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cI\u2019m embarrassed for the U.S. Army \u2014 and they ought to be embarrassed.\u201d In a letter sent Wednesday to Milley and"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Then-Capt. Mathew L. Golsteyn is congratulated by fellow soldiers after receiving the Silver Star for valor during a ceremony in January 2011. (Fayetteville Observer/James Robinson)\nThe Army\u2019s Criminal Investigation Command has reopened its investigation of an Afghanistan war hero who Army officials said confessed to killing an unarmed Taliban detainee.\nThe service is again scrutinizing former Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn after he appeared in a Fox News television interview in October and acknowledged that he had killed a Taliban bombmaker who had been held as a detainee during the bloody battle of Marja in February 2010. The bombmaker was not on a list of targets that U.S. forces had been cleared to kill, according to Army documents; Golsteyn said that letting go of the insurgent meant the Taliban member could later target Afghans who are helping U.S. troops.\n\u201cYou realize quickly that you make things worse,\u201d Golsteyn said in the interview. \u201cIt is an inevitable outcome that people who are cooperating with coalition forces, when identified, will suffer some terrible torture or be killed.\u201d\nGolsteyn first acknowledged killing the detainee during a polygraph test while he was interviewing for a job with the CIA in 2011. A lengthy military probe followed. Army documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act last year show that the service investigated Golsteyn on charges of murder and conspiracy but closed the case after determining that it did not have any evidence to prosecute. The results of his polygraph would not be admissible in court, defense officials said.\nLt. Col. Jennifer Johnson, an Army spokeswoman, said in a statement that it would be \u201cinappropriate to comment further regarding an ongoing investigation.\u201d A spokesman for Army Criminal Investigation Command, Christopher Grey, declined to comment.\nGolsteyn said Thursday in an email to The Washington Post that he was \u201cfrustrated, but not terribly surprised\u201d that the Army reopened its investigation into his actions. He declined to discuss what happened the day the bombmaker died, but said the Defense Department and Army has \u201cviciously pursued me without a discernible cause or a stated goal for over five years.\u201d\nGolsteyn led a team from 3rd Special Forces Group, of Fort Bragg, N.C., that had a unit of Marines deployed alongside it during the bloody Battle of Marja in February 2010. Two Marines under his command \u2014 Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, and Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19 \u2014 were killed and three more were wounded Feb. 18 after a metal sliding door booby-trapped with explosives detonated.\nArmy Maj. Matthew L. Golsteyn smiles in Afghanistan as a captain in 2010. (Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter)\nTwo days later, Golsteyn watched a Taliban marksman nearly hit another Marine who was manning a rooftop observation post on their base. He launched an 80-man mission to hunt the shooter down, slogging through a muddy field under fire to help a wounded Afghan soldier, returning fire with an antitank weapon, and coordinating repeated airstrikes by\u00a0F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and a Predator drone. He was awarded a Silver Star, the military\u2019s third-highest award for combat valor, and service officials later recommended an upgrade to the more prestigious Distinguished Service Cross.\nArmy documents show that Golsteyn\u2019s unit launched a search for bombmaking supplies in the area after the deaths of Johnson and McQueary, and detained the man Golsteyn confessed to killing. A tribal leader working with the Americans identified the detainee as a member of the Taliban but worried the detainee knew who had singled him out. The tribal leader\u2019s immediate fear: If Golsteyn\u2019s unit let the detainee go, he would kill him and his family.\nGolsteyn told the CIA during his polygraph test that he trusted the tribal leader and \u201chad no qualms\u201d about killing the detainee \u201cbecause he couldn\u2019t have lived with himself if [the suspected bombmaker] killed another Soldier or Marine,\u201d Army documents said. During Golestyn\u2019s interview with the CIA, according to investigators, he described taking the bombmaker off the base, shooting him and burying his remains in a shallow grave. Golsteyn added that later that night, he and two other soldiers dug up the remains, brought them back to their base and burned them in a pit used to dispose of trash.\nGolsteyn and his attorneys have long maintained that the Army\u2019s characterization of events is filled with exaggerations and leaps of logic. No other service members would serve as witnesses against Golsteyn, even when investigators offered immunity from prosecution. Then-Army Secretary John M. McHugh stripped Golsteyn of his valor award in fall 2014, and the Army also revoked his Special Forces tab and reassigned him as a conventional infantry soldier.\nGolsteyn said in his email to The Post that his case was reopened despite an Army administrative board determining last year that the murder accusation against him was unfounded. The panel did find that Golsteyn demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer and recommended a general discharge under honorable conditions, ensuring he could keep health benefits.\nFormer Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn is shown in Afghanistan in 2010. (Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter)\nSenior defense officials, Golsteyn said, continue to talk tough about the fight against the Islamic State group while they \u201cmischaracterize my combat actions as \u2018murder.'\u201d He compared his case to that of another officer, former 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 for ordering his soldiers to open fire on village elders in Afghanistan who were approaching his unit while they were on patrol. Several member of Lorance\u2019s platoon testified against him after being offered immunity.\n\u201cI am filled with moral disgust that such individuals can continue to wreak such havoc on our warfighters without consequence,\u201d Golsteyn said, adding that he does not regret doing the TV interview because it was important to speak out on how soldiers are restricted in combat.\nRep. Duncan D. Hunter (R.-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee who has clashed with the Army repeatedly about Golsteyn\u2019s treatment, said Thursday that he was disgusted with the Army\u2019s decision to reopen the case. Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Army\u2019s top officer, and Army Secretary Eric Fanning told Hunter that they cannot stop the investigation at this point, Hunter said.\n\u201cMatt Golsteyn is an American hero. Matt Golsteyn does for the American people what we ask him to do, and the Army is screwing him again,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cI\u2019m embarrassed for the U.S. Army \u2014 and they ought to be embarrassed.\u201d\nIn a letter sent Wednesday to Milley and Fanning, Hunter wrote that they have \u201cthe ability to fix this stupidity.\u201d\nA senior Army official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of\u00a0the sensitivity of the case, said a complaint on the Army\u2019s handling of the case has been filed with the Defense Department Inspector General. Until that is resolved, the official said, the case is on hold.\nRelated on Checkpoint:\nArmy secretary defends stripping Special Forces officer of awards\nCIA job interview led to criminal investigation of Green Beret"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "b4e0928cc4a923d13f8d5e59c870e548_3", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b4e0928cc4a923d13f8d5e59c870e548_3", "title": "Army reopens probe into suspected bombmaker\u2019s death after Special Forces soldier\u2019s Fox News interview", "text": "he would kill him and his family. Golsteyn told the CIA during his polygraph test that he trusted the tribal leader and \u201chad no qualms\u201d about killing the bombmaker \u201cbecause he couldn\u2019t have lived with himself if [the suspected bombmaker] killed another Soldier or Marine,\u201d Army documents said. During Golestyn\u2019s interview with the CIA, according to Army investigators, he described taking the bombmaker off the base, shooting him and burying his remains in a shallow grave. Golsteyn added that later that night, he and two other soldiers dug up the remains, brought them back to their base and burned them in a pit used to dispose of trash. Golsteyn and his attorneys have long maintained that the Army\u2019s characterization of events is filled with exaggerations and leaps of logic. No other service members would serve as witnesses against Golsteyn, even when investigators offered immunity from prosecution. Then-Army Secretary John M. McHugh stripped Golsteyn of his valor award in fall 2014, and the Army also revoked his Special Forces tab and reassigned him as a conventional infantry soldier. Golsteyn said in his email to The Post that his case was reopened despite an Army administrative board determining last year that the murder accusation against him was unfounded. The panel did find that Golsteyn demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer and recommended a general discharge under honorable conditions, ensuring he could keep health benefits. Former Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn is shown in Afghanistan in 2010. (Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter) Senior defense officials, Golsteyn said, continue to talk tough about the fight against the Islamic State group while they \u201cmischaracterize my combat actions as \u2018murder.'\u201d He compared his case to that of another officer, former 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 for ordering his soldiers to open fire on village elders in Afghanistan who were approaching his unit while they were on patrol. Several member of Lorance\u2019s platoon testified against him after being offered immunity. \u201cI am filled with moral disgust that such individuals can continue to wreak such havoc on our warfighters without consequence,\u201d Golsteyn said, adding that he does not regret doing the TV interview because it was important to speak out on how soldiers are restricted in combat. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R.-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee who has clashed with the Army repeatedly about"}], "old": [{"_id": "b4e0928cc4a923d13f8d5e59c870e548_3", "title": "Army reopens probe into suspected bombmaker\u2019s death after Special Forces soldier\u2019s Fox News interview", "text": "the remains, brought them back to their base and burned them in a pit used to dispose of trash. Golsteyn and his attorneys have long maintained that the Army\u2019s characterization of events is filled with exaggerations and leaps of logic. No other service members would serve as witnesses against Golsteyn, even when investigators offered immunity from prosecution. Then-Army Secretary John M. McHugh stripped Golsteyn of his valor award in fall 2014, and the Army also revoked his Special Forces tab and reassigned him as a conventional infantry soldier. Golsteyn said in his email to The Post that his case was reopened despite an Army administrative board determining last year that the murder accusation against him was unfounded. The panel did find that Golsteyn demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer and recommended a general discharge under honorable conditions, ensuring he could keep health benefits. Former Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn is shown in Afghanistan in 2010. (Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter) Senior defense officials, Golsteyn said, continue to talk tough about the fight against the Islamic State group while they \u201cmischaracterize my combat actions as \u2018murder.'\u201d He compared his case to that of another officer, former 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 for ordering his soldiers to open fire on village elders in Afghanistan who were approaching his unit while they were on patrol. Several member of Lorance\u2019s platoon testified against him after being offered immunity. \u201cI am filled with moral disgust that such individuals can continue to wreak such havoc on our warfighters without consequence,\u201d Golsteyn said, adding that he does not regret doing the TV interview because it was important to speak out on how soldiers are restricted in combat. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R.-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee who has clashed with the Army repeatedly about Golsteyn\u2019s treatment, said Thursday that he was disgusted with the Army\u2019s decision to reopen the case. Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Army\u2019s top officer, and Army Secretary Eric Fanning told Hunter that they cannot stop the investigation at this point, Hunter said. \u201cMatt Golsteyn is an American hero. Matt Golsteyn does for the American people what we ask him to do, and the Army is screwing him again,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cI\u2019m embarrassed for the U.S. Army \u2014 and they ought to be embarrassed.\u201d In a letter sent Wednesday to"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Then-Capt. Mathew L. Golsteyn is congratulated by fellow soldiers after receiving the Silver Star for valor during a ceremony in January 2011. (Fayetteville Observer/James Robinson)\nThe Army\u2019s Criminal Investigation Command has reopened its investigation of an Afghanistan war hero who Army officials said confessed to killing an unarmed Taliban detainee.\nThe service is again scrutinizing former Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn after he appeared in a Fox News television interview in October and acknowledged that he had killed a Taliban bombmaker who had been held as a detainee during the bloody battle of Marja in February 2010. The suspected bombmaker was not on a list of targets that U.S. forces had been cleared to kill, according to Army documents; Golsteyn said that letting go of the insurgent meant the Taliban member could later target Afghans who are helping U.S. troops.\n\u201cYou realize quickly that you make things worse,\u201d Golsteyn said in the interview. \u201cIt is an inevitable outcome that people who are cooperating with coalition forces, when identified, will suffer some terrible torture or be killed.\u201d\nGolsteyn first acknowledged killing the man during a polygraph test while he was interviewing for a job with the CIA in 2011. A lengthy military probe followed. Army documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act last year show that the service investigated Golsteyn on charges of murder and conspiracy but closed the case after determining that it did not have any evidence to prosecute. The results of his polygraph would not be admissible in court, defense officials said.\nLt. Col. Jennifer Johnson, an Army spokeswoman, said in a statement that it would be \u201cinappropriate to comment further regarding an ongoing investigation.\u201d A spokesman for Army Criminal Investigation Command, Christopher Grey, declined to comment.\nGolsteyn said Thursday in an email to The Washington Post that he was \u201cfrustrated, but not terribly surprised\u201d that the Army reopened its investigation into his actions. He declined to discuss what happened the day the suspected bombmaker died, but said the Defense Department and Army has \u201cviciously pursued me without a discernible cause or a stated goal for over five years.\u201d\nGolsteyn led a team from 3rd Special Forces Group, of Fort Bragg, N.C., that had a unit of Marines deployed alongside it during the bloody Battle of Marja in February 2010. Two Marines under his command \u2014 Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, and Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19 \u2014 were killed and three more were wounded Feb. 18 after a metal sliding door booby-trapped with explosives detonated.\nArmy Maj. Matthew L. Golsteyn smiles in Afghanistan as a captain in 2010. (Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter)\nTwo days later, Golsteyn watched a Taliban marksman nearly hit another Marine who was manning a rooftop observation post on their base. He launched an 80-man mission to hunt the shooter down, slogging through a muddy field under fire to help a wounded Afghan soldier, returning fire with an antitank weapon, and coordinating repeated airstrikes by\u00a0F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and a Predator drone. He was awarded a Silver Star, the military\u2019s third-highest award for combat valor, and service officials later recommended an upgrade to the more prestigious Distinguished Service Cross.\nArmy documents show that Golsteyn\u2019s unit launched a search for bombmaking supplies in the area after the deaths of Johnson and McQueary, and detained the man Golsteyn confessed to killing. A tribal leader working with the Americans identified the detainee as a member of the Taliban but worried the detainee knew who had singled him out. The tribal leader\u2019s immediate fear: If Golsteyn\u2019s unit let the detainee go, he would kill him and his family.\nGolsteyn told the CIA during his polygraph test that he trusted the tribal leader and \u201chad no qualms\u201d about killing the bombmaker \u201cbecause he couldn\u2019t have lived with himself if [the suspected bombmaker] killed another Soldier or Marine,\u201d Army documents said. During Golestyn\u2019s interview with the CIA, according to Army investigators, he described taking the bombmaker off the base, shooting him and burying his remains in a shallow grave. Golsteyn added that later that night, he and two other soldiers dug up the remains, brought them back to their base and burned them in a pit used to dispose of trash.\nGolsteyn and his attorneys have long maintained that the Army\u2019s characterization of events is filled with exaggerations and leaps of logic. No other service members would serve as witnesses against Golsteyn, even when investigators offered immunity from prosecution. Then-Army Secretary John M. McHugh stripped Golsteyn of his valor award in fall 2014, and the Army also revoked his Special Forces tab and reassigned him as a conventional infantry soldier.\nGolsteyn said in his email to The Post that his case was reopened despite an Army administrative board determining last year that the murder accusation against him was unfounded. The panel did find that Golsteyn demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer and recommended a general discharge under honorable conditions, ensuring he could keep health benefits.\nFormer Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn is shown in Afghanistan in 2010. (Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter)\nSenior defense officials, Golsteyn said, continue to talk tough about the fight against the Islamic State group while they \u201cmischaracterize my combat actions as \u2018murder.'\u201d He compared his case to that of another officer, former 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 for ordering his soldiers to open fire on village elders in Afghanistan who were approaching his unit while they were on patrol. Several member of Lorance\u2019s platoon testified against him after being offered immunity.\n\u201cI am filled with moral disgust that such individuals can continue to wreak such havoc on our warfighters without consequence,\u201d Golsteyn said, adding that he does not regret doing the TV interview because it was important to speak out on how soldiers are restricted in combat.\nRep. Duncan D. Hunter (R.-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee who has clashed with the Army repeatedly about Golsteyn\u2019s treatment, said Thursday that he was disgusted with the Army\u2019s decision to reopen the case. Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Army\u2019s top officer, and Army Secretary Eric Fanning told Hunter that they cannot stop the investigation at this point, Hunter said.\n\u201cMatt Golsteyn is an American hero. Matt Golsteyn does for the American people what we ask him to do, and the Army is screwing him again,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cI\u2019m embarrassed for the U.S. Army \u2014 and they ought to be embarrassed.\u201d\nIn a letter sent Wednesday to Milley and Fanning, Hunter wrote that they have \u201cthe ability to fix this stupidity.\u201d\nA senior Army official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of\u00a0the sensitivity of the case, said a request for information on the Army\u2019s handling of the case has been filed with the Defense Department Inspector General. Until that is resolved, the official said, the case is on hold.\nRelated on Checkpoint:\nArmy secretary defends stripping Special Forces officer of awards\nCIA job interview led to criminal investigation of Green Beret"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "da0f15c363089ad71ece356ffd2ba43f_1", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "da0f15c363089ad71ece356ffd2ba43f_1", "title": "From \u2018collateral damage\u2019 to \u2018deeply regrets\u2019: How the Pentagon has shifted on the Afghan hospital attack", "text": "hospital. The use of the military term \u201ccollateral damage\u201d immediately inflamed the situation as Doctors Without Borders saw the classification of the strike as a dismissal of the incident. Under the Law of Armed Conflict, collateral damage is legal as long \u201cas it is not excessive in light of the overall military advantage anticipated from the attack.\u201d Sunday, Oct. 4: I think our current understanding, again, understanding that an investigation is going on and early facts can be misleading, is that yes, there was American air action in that area, and that American forces there were engaged in the general vicinity. And at some point in the course of the events there did report that they, themselves, were coming under attack. That much I think we can safely say. \u2014Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter to reporters while enroute to Spain The day after the attack, with criticism mounting, Carter insisted that U.S. forces were essentially acting in self-defense. The Pentagon would only say that the attack was conducted \u201cin the vicinity\u201d of a Doctors Without Borders medical facility. Monday, Oct. 5: We have now learned that on October, 3rd, Afghan forces advised that they were taking fire from enemy positions and asked for air support from U.S. Forces. An air strike was then called to eliminate the Taliban threat and several civilians were accidentally struck. \u2014Commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John Campbell to reporters Campbell appeared to be pointing the finger at Afghan forces for requesting the airstrike, and he said specifically that he was correcting earlier reports that indicated U.S. forces were directly engaged with the enemy when they called in the airstrike. Doctors Without Borders immediately responded to Campbell\u2019s comment. \u201cThe reality is the U.S. dropped those bombs,\u201d Christopher Stokes, general director of Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement. \u201cWith such constant discrepancies in the U.S. and Afghan accounts of what happened, the need for a full transparent independent investigation is ever more critical.\u201d Tuesday, Oct. 6: Army General John Campbell clarified that the decision to provide air support to Afghan forces in Kunduz, which hit a hospital, was a U.S. decision. \"We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility,\" Gen. Campbell said while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 6. A hospital was mistakenly struck. We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility. \u2014Gen. Campbell in testimony"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The burned Doctors Without Borders hospital is seen after the complex in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz was bombed on Oct. 3. (M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res via AP)\nIn the days since a U.S. gunship opened fire on a Doctor Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, the Pentagon has struggled to explain how 22 people, including patients, staff and three children, wound up killed in the airstrike.\nOfficials have offered murky and contradictory statements on the incident, which Doctors Without Borders has called a war crime. Meanwhile, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John Campbell has pledged a full investigation into the attack, and the White House has expressed its condolences.\nBelow, a timeline of the Defense Department\u2019s evolving\u00a0account of what happened.\nSaturday, Oct. 3:\nU.S. forces conducted an airstrike in Kunduz city at 2:15am (local), Oct. 3, against individuals threatening the force.\u00a0 The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility.\u00a0 This incident is under investigation.\n\u2014U.S. Army Col. Brian Tribus, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan\nInitial reports were extremely murky, with the Pentagon still not sure if it could confirm that a U.S. airstrike in fact had hit\u00a0the hospital. The use\u00a0of the military term \u201ccollateral damage\u201d immediately inflamed the situation as Doctors Without Borders saw\u00a0the classification of the strike as a dismissal of the incident. Under the Law of Armed Conflict, collateral damage is legal as long\u00a0\u201cas it is not excessive in light of the overall military advantage anticipated from the attack.\u201d\nSunday, Oct. 4:\nI think our current understanding, again, understanding that an investigation is going on and early facts can be misleading, is that yes, there was American air action in that area, and that American forces there were engaged in the general vicinity.\nAnd at some point in the course of the events there did report that they, themselves, were coming under attack.\u00a0 That much I think we can safely say.\n\u2014Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter to reporters while\u00a0enroute to Spain\nThe day after the attack, with criticism mounting, Carter insisted that U.S. forces were essentially acting in self-defense. The Pentagon would only say that the attack was conducted \u201cin the vicinity\u201d of a Doctors Without Borders medical facility.\nMonday, Oct. 5:\nWe have now learned that on October, 3rd, Afghan forces advised that they were taking fire from enemy positions and asked for air support from U.S. Forces. An air strike was then called to eliminate the Taliban threat and several civilians were accidentally struck.\n\u2014Commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Army Gen. John Campbell to reporters\nCampbell appeared to be pointing the finger at Afghan forces for requesting the airstrike, and he said specifically that he was correcting earlier reports that indicated U.S. forces were directly engaged with the enemy when they called in the airstrike. Doctors Without Borders immediately responded to Campbell\u2019s comment. \u201cThe reality is the U.S. dropped those bombs,\u201d Christopher Stokes, general director of Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement. \u201cWith such constant discrepancies in the U.S. and Afghan accounts of what happened, the need for a full transparent independent investigation is ever more critical.\u201d\nTuesday, Oct. 6:\nArmy General John Campbell clarified that the decision to provide air support to Afghan forces in Kunduz, which hit a hospital, was a U.S. decision. \"We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility,\" Gen. Campbell said while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 6.\nA hospital was mistakenly struck. We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility.\n\u2014Gen. Campbell in testimony to Senate Armed Service Committee\n\u2026the Department of Defense deeply regrets the loss of innocent lives that resulted from this tragic event. The investigation into how this could have happened is continuing, and we are fully supporting NATO and Afghanistan\u2019s concurrent investigations. We will complete our investigation as soon as possible and provide the facts as they become available.\u00a0 The U.S. military takes the greatest care in our operations to prevent the loss of innocent life, and when we make mistakes, we own up to them.\n\u2014Defense Secretary Ash Carter in a statement\nFour days after the attack, Carter and Campbell shifted their tone, saying the U.S. military was squarely responsible for the attack and those that needed to be held responsible would be.\nRead more:\nAfghan response to hospital bombing is muted, even sympathetic\nThe bloody history of Kunduz, from Afghanistan\u2019s \u2018Convoy of Death\u2019 to now\nIn Kunduz, echoes of a 1988 guerrilla assault after the Soviets withdrew"}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "f2f57825e4cc7cb2b2908a66f8c8f52c_4", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "f2f57825e4cc7cb2b2908a66f8c8f52c_4", "title": "Army revokes Silver Star award for Green Beret officer, citing investigation", "text": "his actions. He directed his troops to launch an assault across 700 meters of open fields, but an armored truck known as a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle sank into mud under gunfire after about 175 meters. Under heavy machine-gun and sniper fire, Golsteyn ran about 150 meters to the trapped MRAP to retrieve a powerful 84mm Carl Gustav recoilless rifle, an anti-tank weapon. While moving under gunfire, he coordinated a medical evacuation for the wounded Afghan soldier and then opened fire with the Carl Gustav, said the Army narrative, which was obtained by The Post. \u201cCaptain Golsteyn was alone running in the open through enemy gun fire that had over 80 men pinned down, and from the crow\u2019s nest on top of [Forward Operating Base] McQueary, it looked like Captain Golsteyn was alone fighting 30 enemy fighters out in the poppy fields,\u201d the award narrative said. Enemy reinforcements continued to arrive on the battlefield, so Golsteyn organized airstrikes by both F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and a Predator drone. No American or coalition troops were killed in the battle despite a barrage of enemy fire that lasted four hours, the narrative said. Golsteyn has been critical of the Afghanistan mission in the past. In the 2011 Bing West book \u201cThe Wrong War: Grit, Strategy and the Way Out of Afghanistan,\u201d he is quoted as saying that the Americans were considered insurgents in Afghanistan who were \u201cselling a poor product called the Kabul government.\u201d West later wrote in a review of a book about another Special Forces soldier, Maj. Jim Gant, that the careers of Gant, Golsteyn and a third Green Beret, Dan McKone, were \u201cterminated,\u201d assessing that the Army failed them. West could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Golsteyn wrote about his assignment in Afghanistan in a June 2014 academic paper for a class at Fayetteville State University that was published online. It covers his 2010 deployment and said that his unit \u2014 known as a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha, or A-Team \u2014 operated in multiple two- and three-man teams. Over time, local tribesmen grew to trust them, especially after three weeks of fighting, he added. \u201cWe enjoyed repeated interactions with the local populace because we lived with them, fighting for them as well as alongside them,\u201d Golsteyn wrote. \u201cIn a 60 day period, our medical clinic run by Green Berets with several Marine medics treated approximately"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Capt. Mathew L. Golsteyn is congratulated by fellow soldiers after an awards ceremony for the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 2011. (Photo by The Fayetteville Observer/James Robinson)\nCapt. Mathew L. Golsteyn was leading a Special Forces team in Afghanistan in 2010 when an 80-man mission he assembled to hunt insurgent snipers went awry. One of the unit\u2019s five vehicles sank in mud, a gunshot incapacitated an Afghan soldier fighting alongside the Americans, and insurgents maneuvered on them to rake the soggy fields with machine-gun fire.\nGolsteyn, already a decorated Green Beret officer, responded with calm resolve and braved enemy fire repeatedly that day, according to an Army summary of his actions. He received the Silver Star for valor for his actions during a 2011 ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C. Top Army officials later approved him for an upgrade to the prestigious Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor in recognizing combat heroism by U.S. soldiers.\nIn a rare reversal, however, Golsteyn, now a major,\u00a0no longer has either award. The officer, a former member of the 3rd Special Forces Group and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., was later investigated for an undisclosed violation of the military\u2019s rules of engagement in combat for killing a known enemy fighter and bomb maker, according to officials familiar with the case. The investigation closed last year without Golsteyn\u2019s being charged with a crime, but Army Secretary John M. McHugh decided not only to deny Golsteyn the Distinguished Service Cross, but also to revoke his Silver Star.\nMcHugh cited a provision in Army regulations that if facts become known that would have prevented the awarding of a medal, the award can be revoked. The Silver Star was approved by a top commander in Afghanistan \u2014 Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez, then the three-star deputy commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan\u00a0\u2014\u00a0according to Golsteyn\u2019s lawyer, Phil Stackhouse.\n\u201cI firmly believe that had he known about the derogatory information that was [found] by the aforementioned investigation, he would have never awarded Major Golsteyn the Silver Star,\u201d McHugh said in a\u00a0Nov. 17 letter to Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R.-Calif.), who has advocated on Golsteyn\u2019s behalf. \u201cAccordingly, I have decided to revoke the interim Silver Star that Major Golsteyn received for this action.\u201d\nThe decision is still shrouded in mystery because of the secretive nature of the Army\u2019s investigation into Golsteyn, who did extensive work with U.S. Marines in and around Marja in Helmand province. An online Defense Department database of top valor awards still included Golsteyn\u2019s Silver Star as of Wednesday afternoon and said the information was current as of Jan. 30.\nA spokesman for McHugh\u2019s office, Lt. Col. Chris Kasker, declined to comment Wednesday, citing the administrative nature of the decision. But he released details of Golsteyn\u2019s service record that show he no longer has a Silver Star and is is not in Special Forces anymore. The major earned a Bronze Star and Army Commendation medal with \u201cV\u201d devices for heroism in earlier actions, Kasker said. Golsteyn joined the Army in 2002.\nLt. Gen. John F. Mulholland Jr., right, awards the Silver Star to then-Capt. Mathew L. Golsteyn during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 2011. The Fayetteville Observer/James Robinson\nHunter, a former Marine officer and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, alleged in the Daily Beast on\u00a0Tuesday that the Army \u201cwent to extraordinary lengths to investigate Golsteyn,\u201d threatening his fellow soldiers and offering them immunity. In a Dec. 4 letter to Army Human Resources Command, Hunter said the revocation appears to be \u201cretaliatory and vindictive.\u201d\n\u201cThe Army has been unable to present substantive evidence while an overwhelming number of first-person accounts provided to Army investigators uphold Matt\u2019s record as a top-level operator,\u201d said Hunter\u2019s letter, which the congressman\u2019s office released to The Post.\nGolsteyn\u2019s lawyer said the investigation into the Army officer\u2019s actions was launched in 2011, less than a year after he received the Silver Star. He remains assigned to Army Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg and is in the process of determining what to do with his future, Stackhouse said. The lawyer declined to elaborate on what the Army investigated.\n\u201cIn the summer of 2014, we were certainly under the impression that everything was done and complete,\u201d said Stackhouse. \u201cThe revocation of his valor awards came out of left field to us.\u201d\nThe decision also raises the question of whether the military should strip troops of awards they have earned if they are found to have done something wrong later.\nGolsteyn\u2019s Silver Star came for actions on Feb. 20, 2010. He assembled his\u00a0unit after his base had come under sniper fire from an insurgent wielding a Dragunov rifle, according to an Army narrative of his actions. He directed his troops to launch an assault across 700 meters of open fields, but an armored truck known as a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle sank into mud under gunfire after about 175 meters.\nUnder heavy machine-gun and sniper fire, Golsteyn ran about 150 meters to the trapped MRAP to retrieve a powerful 84mm Carl Gustav recoilless rifle, an anti-tank weapon. While moving under gunfire, he coordinated a medical evacuation for the wounded Afghan soldier and then opened fire with the Carl Gustav, said the Army narrative, which was obtained by The Post.\n\u201cCaptain Golsteyn was alone running in the open through enemy gun fire that had over 80 men pinned down, and from the crow\u2019s nest on top of [Forward Operating Base] McQueary, it looked like Captain Golsteyn was alone fighting 30 enemy fighters out in the poppy fields,\u201d the award narrative said.\nEnemy reinforcements continued to arrive on the battlefield, so Golsteyn organized airstrikes by both F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and a Predator drone. No American or coalition troops were killed in the battle despite a barrage of enemy fire that lasted four hours, the narrative said.\nGolsteyn has been critical of the Afghanistan mission in the past. In the 2011 Bing West book \u201cThe Wrong War: Grit, Strategy\u00a0 and the Way Out of Afghanistan,\u201d he is quoted as saying that the Americans were considered insurgents in Afghanistan who were \u201cselling a poor product called the Kabul government.\u201d\nWest later wrote in a review of a book about another Special Forces soldier, Maj. Jim Gant, that the careers of Gant, Golsteyn and a third Green Beret, Dan McKone, were \u201cterminated,\u201d assessing that the Army failed them. West could not be reached for comment Wednesday.\nGolsteyn wrote about his assignment in Afghanistan in a June 2014 academic paper for a class at Fayetteville State University that was published online. It covers his 2010 deployment and said that his unit \u2014 known as a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha, or A-Team \u2014 operated in multiple two- and three-man teams. Over time, local tribesmen grew to trust them, especially after three weeks of fighting, he added.\n\u201cWe enjoyed repeated interactions with the local populace because we lived with them, fighting for them as well as alongside them,\u201d Golsteyn wrote. \u201cIn a 60 day period, our medical clinic run by Green Berets with several Marine medics treated approximately 1,000 local Afghans. We executed multiple helicopter casualty evacuations for civilian victims of [improvised explosive devices] in addition to being the first responders to the scene in nearly every case.\u201d\nThis story has been updated with new information about Golsteyn\u2019s current status in the Army."}
{"qid": 948, "pid": "f5fc87e76960138eca76b8792e490820_2", "query_info": {"_id": 948, "text": "Find information about troops who have been accused of war crimes during their service in Afghanistan.", "instruction_og": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative.", "instruction_changed": "Australian forces are accused of war crimes while on duty in Afghanistan. Some other countries are also investigating what their troops may have done while serving there. There have also been American contractors accused and convicted of war crimes while fighting the War on Terror. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating these accusations for years, but the US government has not always been cooperative. Relevant documents include events related to bombings.", "short_query": "Research global war crime investigations related to this question.", "keywords": "global war crime investigations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "f5fc87e76960138eca76b8792e490820_2", "title": "Medical facilities becoming routine casualties in conflict zones", "text": "Russian aircraft have been pictured using precision guided munitions, the majority of the airstrikes carried out by Russian aircraft use \u201cdumb\u201d bombs. There have also been reported sittings of Russian cluster munitions. On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Russians\u2019 use of \u201cdumb\u201d bombs for 85 to 90 percent of their strikes in Syria \u201cincreases the possibility\u201d of more civilian casualties in the four-year old conflict. In response to these claims, the Russian Deputy Minister of Defense, Anatoly Antonov, summoned the military attaches from a number of NATO countries to provide proof of their respective countries allegations that Russia is indeed targeting and bombing medical facilities \u2014 something if proven constitutes a war crime. \u201cIf there is no evidence or official information refuting, the Russian Ministry of [Defense] would estimate such stovepiping as a part of information warfare against Russia,\u201d the Russian Defense Ministry said in a written statement posted online. While Russia disputes international claims that its forces bombed hospitals, the United States has taken responsibility for bombing a hospital run by MSF in Kunduz, Afghanistan. Army General John Campbell clarified that the decision to provide air support to Afghan forces in Kunduz, which hit a hospital, was a U.S. decision. \"We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility,\" Gen. Campbell said while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 6. The Pentagon has apologized and pledged a number of investigations into the Oct. 3 bombing, but it has yet to release any details about the circumstances that resulted in the death of 30 people, including 12 staff members and a number of patients. The attack, carried out for more than an hour by a heavily armed AC-130 gunship, burned out a large portion of the hospital \u2014 rendering it inoperable for the near future and causing MSF to evacuate the city altogether. According to MSF, the hospital was one of the only trauma centers open to the public in northeastern Afghanistan. The group has requested an external investigation, as it believes the U.S. military is incapable of investigating itself, and has also accused the United States of war crimes for intentionally targeting a hospital, something the Pentagon denies. Read more: Afghan response to hospital bombing is muted, even sympathetic Top U.S. general in Afghanistan: Hospital was \u2018mistakenly struck\u2019 The Pentagon\u2019s evolving response to the Afghan hospital attack"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Doctors Without Borders staff are seen after an attack\u00a0on their trauma center\u2019s compound in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Oct. 3. (M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res via AP)\nLate Monday night, a series of Saudi-led airstrikes leveled a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Saada, Yemen, effectively denying medical access to more than 200,000 people, according to a statement from the group.\nOnly one staff member was injured, as the hospital\u2019s personnel were evacuated in between further strikes.\n\u201cThis attack is another illustration of a complete disregard for civilians in Yemen, where bombings have become a daily routine,\u201d said Hassan Boucenine, the relief organization\u2019s\u00a0head of mission in Yemen, in an online statement.\nThe charity, also known as M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res or its French acronym MSF, said the hospital\u2019s coordinates had been \u201cregularly shared\u201d with the coalition before the strikes.\u00a0On Wednesday, MSF said the coordinates were last shared with coalition forces on Oct. 24, two days before the buildings were hit.\n[By evening, a hospital. By morning, a war zone.]\nThe loss of another hospital to destruction from the air is just one more instance in a disturbing month-long trend that has spanned multiple conflict zones.\nHospitals are protected areas under the International Law of Armed Conflict and are only viable military targets if the hospital is being used for a military objective. Even then, however, the facility must be given ample time to evacuate before it can be legally targeted.\nIn Syria, four hospitals have been bombed since Russian airstrikes began in the country on Sep. 30, according to international observers and news reports. Physicians for Human Rights, a group that tracks attacks on medical facilities and medical worker deaths in Syria, has recorded 313 attacks against medical facilities since the civil war began. According to the group, 283 of the attacks have been carried out by Syrian government forces.\nThe strikes hit hospitals in Al-Eis, Sarmin and Latamneh.\nOn Friday, advocacy group Human Rights Watch released a report stating that two possible Russian airstrikes in northern Homs on Oct. 15 killed 59 civilians, 33 of which were children. Human Rights Watch said\u00a0the attacks were possibly unlawful and called on Russia to investigate\u00a0the attacks.\n[There are still a lot of questions around the U.S. bombing of the MSF hospital in Kunduz]\nWhile Russian aircraft have been pictured using precision guided munitions, the majority of the airstrikes carried out by Russian aircraft use \u201cdumb\u201d bombs. There have also been reported sittings of Russian cluster munitions. On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Russians\u2019 use of \u201cdumb\u201d bombs for 85 to 90 percent of their strikes in Syria \u201cincreases the possibility\u201d of more civilian casualties in the four-year old conflict.\nIn response to these claims, the Russian Deputy Minister of Defense, Anatoly Antonov, summoned the military attaches from a number of NATO countries to provide proof of their respective countries allegations that Russia is indeed targeting and bombing medical facilities \u2014 something if proven constitutes a war crime.\n\u201cIf there is no evidence or official information refuting, the Russian Ministry of [Defense] would\u00a0estimate such stovepiping as a part of information warfare against Russia,\u201d the Russian Defense Ministry said in a written statement posted online.\nWhile Russia disputes international claims that its\u00a0forces bombed hospitals, the United States has taken responsibility for bombing a\u00a0hospital run by MSF in Kunduz, Afghanistan.\nArmy General John Campbell clarified that the decision to provide air support to Afghan forces in Kunduz, which hit a hospital, was a U.S. decision. \"We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility,\" Gen. Campbell said while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 6.\nThe Pentagon has apologized and pledged a number of investigations into\u00a0the Oct. 3 bombing, but it has\u00a0yet to release any\u00a0details\u00a0about the circumstances that\u00a0resulted in the death of 30 people, including 12 staff members and a number of patients. The attack, carried out for more than an hour by a heavily armed AC-130 gunship, burned out a large portion of the\u00a0hospital \u2014 rendering it inoperable for the near future and causing MSF\u00a0to evacuate the city altogether.\nAccording to MSF, the hospital was one of the only trauma centers open to the public in northeastern Afghanistan. The group has requested an external investigation, as it\u00a0believes the U.S. military is incapable of investigating itself, and has also accused the United States of war crimes for intentionally targeting a hospital, something the Pentagon denies.\nRead more:\nAfghan response to hospital bombing is muted, even sympathetic\nTop U.S. general in Afghanistan: Hospital was \u2018mistakenly struck\u2019\nThe Pentagon\u2019s evolving response to the Afghan hospital attack"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "236GRQQEOYI6TNVJBKS4F7GJ4Q_11", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "236GRQQEOYI6TNVJBKS4F7GJ4Q_11", "title": "Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s final months as an exile in the long shadow of Saudi Arabia", "text": "to Washington. His departure triggered a further attempt to secure his obedience. This time it came not from Qahtani but the Saudi information minister, who called Khashoggi in August to tell him that the writing ban had been lifted and that the government might be prepared to give him money to set up a pro-Saudi think tank in Washington. The minister, Awwad Alawwad, the former Saudi ambassador to Germany, also relayed a potentially unsettling request. \u201cThe crown prince would like to see you,\u201d the minister said, according to a Khashoggi colleague who overheard the call. Saudi officials deny that the minister mentioned Mohammed. Always conflicted about his relationship with the royals, Khashoggi explored the think tank offer, and even submitted a proposal, according to documents reviewed by The Post. His plan described an entity that would be called the \u201cSaudi Research Council\u201d in Washington, with an initial budget of $1 million to $2 million. The proposal outlined ideas such as cultivating relationships with other influential organizations, but it seemed aimed at shoring up the Saudi reputation abroad. It notes, for example, that \u201can irresponsible media\u201d had unfairly maligned the kingdom over alleged connections to terrorist groups for many years, and that the council could work on behalf of Riyadh \u201cto regain its positive role and image.\u201d The proposal also outlined a plan to form a team for the purpose of \u201cmonitoring potential negative news.\u201d The team would follow emerging story lines and social media \u201cthat might explode against the kingdom\u201d then \u201cnotify the ministry in Riyadh.\u201d The prospect of such a Saudi-friendly endeavor appealed to members of Khashoggi\u2019s family who at times faced travel restrictions and other hardships imposed by Riyadh in apparent retaliation for his work. Khashoggi\u2019s eldest son, Salah, a banker in Saudi Arabia, and other family members urged him to pursue the think tank plan. But Khashoggi was also being prodded by others to reject Riyadh\u2019s entreaties, and it\u2019s not clear that the ministry of information was ever prepared to proceed. Khashoggi appears to have reached a fateful decision in this period to turn further away from the only country he ever considered home. His marriage subsequently disintegrated and his eldest son cut off contact with him for months, friends and associates said. Khashoggi\u2019s children declined to be interviewed for this article. In conversations, Khashoggi seemed alternately despondent and invigorated, proclaiming to one friend: \u201cI am a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Jamal Khashoggi had been in the United States for only a few months when the forces he had fled in Saudi Arabia made clear that he would never fully escape.\nHe was at a friend\u2019s home in suburban Virginia in October 2017 when his phone lit up with an incoming call from Riyadh. On the line was Saud al-Qahtani, a feared lieutenant of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.\nThe royal heir and his henchman were at that point in the early stages of a brutal crackdown in the kingdom \u2014 arresting rivals, torturing enemies and silencing critics. Khashoggi had previously been banned from writing or even tweeting, but fear that worse could be in store had prompted him to seek refuge in the United States.\nQahtani was uncharacteristically amiable on the call. He told Khashoggi that public comments praising Saudi reforms, including a decision to allow women to drive, had pleased the crown prince. He urged Khashoggi to \u201ckeep writing and boasting\u201d about Mohammed\u2019s achievements. While the conversation was cordial, the subtext was clear: Khashoggi no longer lived under Saudi rule, but the country\u2019s most powerful royal was monitoring his every word.\nKhashoggi reacted with a combination of the nerve and trepidation that would define the remaining months of his life. He challenged Qahtani about the plight of activists he knew had been imprisoned in the kingdom, according to a friend who witnessed the exchange. But even as he did so, the friend said, \u201cI saw how Jamal\u2019s hand was shaking while holding the phone.\u201d\nA year later, Khashoggi, 59, would be dead, and Mohammed and Qahtani would be implicated by U.S. intelligence agencies in his killing, which was carried out by a team of assassins dispatched from Riyadh.\nThe crime has roiled relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, exposed the ruthless side of a crown prince who was supposed to represent the kingdom\u2019s enlightened future, and revealed the extent to which the Trump administration prioritizes protecting an oil-rich ally over humanitarian concerns.\nThe case has also taken on the dimensions of a global cause. Khashoggi, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, was a writer of modest influence beyond the Middle East when he was alive. In death, he has become a symbol of a broader struggle for human rights, as well as a chilling example of the savagery with which autocratic regimes silence voices of dissent.\nKhashoggi\u2019s life and work, particularly in his final year, were inevitably more complicated than can be captured in that idealized frame. The complete truth about his fate remains elusive in large measure because of a determined Saudi effort to obscure events \u2014 an effort that included relaying false information to executives at The Post in the days after Khashoggi\u2019s death.\nThis account of his final 18\u00a0months, which reveals new details about Khashoggi\u2019s interactions with Saudi officials, his activities over the last year of his life as an exile and his killing, is based on interviews with dozens of associates, friends and officials from countries including Saudi Arabia and the United States as well as Turkey, where Khashoggi was killed and dismembered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.\nUnderestimating the Saudis\nKhashoggi was an advocate for reform in his country, but he neither saw himself as a dissident nor believed in bringing radical change to a nation that has operated for the past eight decades as an absolute monarchy.\nHe relished his newfound freedoms in the United States and the attention his writing got from a Western audience, but he often resisted appeals from associates to be more forceful in his criticism of the kingdom. He was by many accounts depressed by the separation from his country and the strain that his departure and work placed on his family.\nEven in exile, Khashoggi remained loyal to Saudi Arabia and reluctant to sever ties to the royal court. In September 2017, at the same time he was embarking on a new role as opinion columnist for The Washington Post, he was pursuing up to $2 million in funding from the Saudi government for a think tank that he proposed to run in Washington, according to documents reviewed by the paper that appear to be part of a proposal he submitted to the Saudi ministry of information.\nKhashoggi also sent messages to the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Khaled bin Salman \u2014 the brother of the crown prince \u2014 expressing his loyalty to the kingdom and reporting on some of his activities in the United States, according to copies reviewed by The Post.\nIn one case, Khashoggi told the ambassador that he had been contacted by a former FBI agent working on behalf of families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks \u2014 in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi. He said he would go forward with the meeting and emphasize \u201cthe innocence of my country and its leadership.\u201d\nBut in the conspiracy-driven climate of Middle East politics, Khashoggi came under mounting suspicion because of his writing as well as associations he cultivated over many years with perceived enemies of Riyadh.\nAmong Khashoggi\u2019s friends in the United States were individuals with real or imagined affiliations with the Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood, and an Islamic advocacy organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, regarded warily for its support of the public uprisings of the Arab Spring. Khashoggi cultivated ties with senior officials in the Turkish government, also viewed with deep distrust by the rulers in Saudi Arabia.\nAfter leaving the kingdom, Khashoggi sought to secure funding and support for an assortment of ideas that probably would have riled Middle East monarchs, including plans to create an organization that would publicly rank Arab nations each year by how they performed against basic metrics of freedom and democracy.\nPerhaps most problematic for Khashoggi were his connections to an organization funded by Saudi Arabia\u2019s regional nemesis, Qatar. Text messages between Khashoggi and an executive at Qatar Foundation International show that the executive, Maggie Mitchell Salem, at times shaped the columns he submitted to The Washington Post, proposing topics, drafting material and prodding him to take a harder line against the Saudi government. Khashoggi also appears to have relied on a researcher and translator affiliated with the organization, which promotes Arabic-language education in the United States.\nEditors at The Post\u2019s opinion section, which is separate from the newsroom, said they were unaware of these arrangements, or his effort to secure Saudi funding for a think tank. \u201cThe proof of Jamal\u2019s independence is in his journalism,\u201d Fred Hiatt, editorial page editor of The Post, said in a statement. \u201cJamal had every opportunity to curry favor and to make life more comfortable for himself, but he chose exile and \u2014 as anyone reading his work can see \u2014 could not be tempted or corrupted.\u201d\nA former U.S. diplomat who had known Khashoggi since 2002, Salem said that any assistance she provided Khashoggi was from a friend who sought to help him succeed in the United States. She noted that Khashoggi\u2019s English abilities were limited and said that the foundation did not pay Khashoggi nor seek to influence him on behalf of Qatar.\n\u201cHe and I talked about issues of the day as people who had come together, caring about the same part of the world,\u201d Salem said. \u201cJamal was never an employee, never a consultant, never anything to [the foundation]. Never.\u201d\nIt is not clear that the Saudi government knew of Khashoggi\u2019s ties to the Qatar foundation, although the kingdom routinely engages in surveillance of dissidents abroad.\nTo friends and family members, Khashoggi\u2019s connections were indicative of his intellectual curiosity and disregard for rigid national, religious and ideological boundaries. He traveled constantly, attended dozens of conferences each year and developed long-standing friendships with people whose opinions were at odds with his own.\nNevertheless, Khashoggi knew that his writings and associations carried risks. He told friends and colleagues repeatedly that he would be imprisoned if he ever reentered Saudi Arabia, and he spoke often of his concern for his four children, including a son who remained in the kingdom and had faced intermittent harassment from the authorities there.\nIn the end, Khashoggi underestimated what Saudi Arabia was capable of as he entered the consulate in Istanbul to collect paperwork needed to remarry and begin rebuilding a personal life that had experienced some turmoil during his exile.\n\u201cHis biggest fear was being imprisoned but not being killed,\u201d said the friend who witnessed the Qahtani call, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for his own security. \u201cHe had never thought of that.\u201d\n'Lord of the Flies'\nThe October 2017 phone call was part of a long series of interactions between the Saudi columnist and Qahtani, a 40-year-old veteran of the Saudi Air Force who emerged from a decade of maneuvering in the royal court as one of the crown prince\u2019s closest advisers.\nQahtani was given broad authority to protect the image of the crown prince, widely known by his initials, \u201cMBS.\u201d It was an assignment that involved flooding social media platforms with propaganda and using espionage capabilities to monitor critics. At times it also meant banning those perceived as being disloyal \u2014 including Khashoggi \u2014 from writing or posting comments online. Under Mohammed and Qahtani, many activists have also been imprisoned for their dissent.\nWith more than a million followers on Twitter, Qahtani is derisively known as \u201cLord of the Flies,\u201d a reference to the swarms of social media operatives \u2014 \u201celectronic flies\u201d \u2014 that descend on perceived adversaries of the kingdom and Mohammed.\nEven before Mohammed began making his move to claim the title of crown prince, Qahtani was scouring the private sector for tools that could aide him in his efforts of suppression. Emails released by WikiLeaks show that someone using Qahtani\u2019s identity pursued spyware capabilities from an Italian company as early as 2012.\nA lawsuit filed last month by a Saudi exile in Canada, Omar Abdulaziz, accused the Saudi government of monitoring his text message exchanges with Khashoggi by using Israeli software designed to secretly control an ordinary smartphone, turning it into a surveillance device against its owner.\nQahtani was working to mute Khashoggi\u2019s voice as early as 2016.\nThe journalist, a native of Medina, had an eventful but often bumpy career over several decades in Saudi Arabia. Drawn to radical causes in his early years, Khashoggi traveled to Afghanistan in the 1980s as a correspondent where he interviewed Osama bin Laden and posed for a picture holding a military rifle.\nKhashoggi was fired twice as editor of Saudi Arabia\u2019s Al-Watan newspaper because he was seen as agitating against the government. But he was also an insider in the royal court. In between those editing stints, Khashoggi worked as an adviser to Prince Turki al-Faisal, the former head of Saudi intelligence, when the prince served as ambassador to the United Kingdom and then the United States.\nThe first major clash between Qahtani and Khashoggi came in late 2016, when the writer was working as a columnist for the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper. At a time when Mohammed and others were celebrating the election of Donald Trump, who promised a far warmer relationship with Riyadh than President Barack Obama had pursued, Khashoggi was more cautious, warning in mid-November 2016 on Twitter that the Saudis should be wary of the untested American president.\nShortly thereafter, while Khashoggi was attending a conference in Qatar, Qahtani called to inform him that he was \u201cnot allowed to tweet, not allowed to write, not allowed to talk,\u201d said a Khashoggi associate who, like others, also spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons.\nQahtani added, \u201cYou can\u2019t do anything anymore \u2014 you\u2019re done.\u201d\nKhashoggi\u2019s ban over the ensuing eight months coincided with a period of intense intrigue in Riyadh. As Mohammed maneuvered to consolidate power, his enforcer began building his capabilities, including \u201ctiger teams\u201d tasked with carrying out overseas abductions and the interrogation of prisoners. It was hard to reconcile such operations with the innocuous name of Qahtani\u2019s department: the Center for Studies and Media Affairs.\nThe power grab\nIn April 2017, Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia for three weeks to stay in London with a Saudi businessman and fellow former adviser to Prince Turki, Nawaf Obaid, who had had his own falling out with the royal court. The two talked about Khashoggi\u2019s desire to move to the United States, according to a person familiar with their discussions.\nBut Qahtani surfaced again, calling Khashoggi in London to tell him that all would be forgiven if he returned to Riyadh. It was part of Qahtani\u2019s \u201chot-cold\u201d handling of Khashoggi, the person said, alternating between being menacing and reassuring.\nIn June 2017, Mohammed and his supporters carried out an extraordinary power grab, detaining the designated crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a 57-year-old grandson of the founding Saudi monarch. He emerged from his detainment to issue a humiliating public pledge of loyalty to his much younger cousin, Mohammed, relinquishing the title of crown prince.\nThe turbulence added to Khashoggi\u2019s fears. In June, as Mohammed was plotting, Khashoggi made his exit, packing his bags, locking up his house and boarding a flight to Washington.\nHis departure triggered a further attempt to secure his obedience. This time it came not from Qahtani but the Saudi information minister, who called Khashoggi in August to tell him that the writing ban had been lifted and that the government might be prepared to give him money to set up a pro-Saudi think tank in Washington.\nThe minister, Awwad Alawwad, the former Saudi ambassador to Germany, also relayed a potentially unsettling request. \u201cThe crown prince would like to see you,\u201d the minister said, according to a Khashoggi colleague who overheard the call. Saudi officials deny that the minister mentioned Mohammed.\nAlways conflicted about his relationship with the royals, Khashoggi explored the think tank offer, and even submitted a proposal, according to documents reviewed by The Post. His plan described an entity that would be called the \u201cSaudi Research Council\u201d in Washington, with an initial budget of $1 million to $2 million.\nThe proposal outlined ideas such as cultivating relationships with other influential organizations, but it seemed aimed at shoring up the Saudi reputation abroad. It notes, for example, that \u201can irresponsible media\u201d had unfairly maligned the kingdom over alleged connections to terrorist groups for many years, and that the council could work on behalf of Riyadh \u201cto regain its positive role and image.\u201d\nThe proposal also outlined a plan to form a team for the purpose of \u201cmonitoring potential negative news.\u201d The team would follow emerging story lines and social media \u201cthat might explode against the kingdom\u201d then \u201cnotify the ministry in Riyadh.\u201d\nThe prospect of such a Saudi-friendly endeavor appealed to members of Khashoggi\u2019s family who at times faced travel restrictions and other hardships imposed by Riyadh in apparent retaliation for his work. Khashoggi\u2019s eldest son, Salah, a banker in Saudi Arabia, and other family members urged him to pursue the think tank plan.\nBut Khashoggi was also being prodded by others to reject Riyadh\u2019s entreaties, and it\u2019s not clear that the ministry of information was ever prepared to proceed.\nKhashoggi appears to have reached a fateful decision in this period to turn further away from the only country he ever considered home. His marriage subsequently disintegrated and his eldest son cut off contact with him for months, friends and associates said.\nKhashoggi\u2019s children declined to be interviewed for this article.\nIn conversations, Khashoggi seemed alternately despondent and invigorated, proclaiming to one friend: \u201cI am a free man, and I am going to change Saudi Arabia.\u201d\nRaising his voice\nKhashoggi\u2019s arrival in Washington came at an auspicious time for The Post, which was seeking writers for an online section called Global Opinions. One of its editors, Karen Attiah, reached out to Khashoggi to ask him to write on the forces roiling Saudi Arabia.\nOn Sept. 18, 2017, Khashoggi\u2019s first column for The Post appeared with a stark opening line: \u201cWhen I speak of the fear, intimidation, arrests and public shaming of intellectuals and religious leaders who dare to speak their minds, and then I tell you that I\u2019m from Saudi Arabia, are you surprised?\u201d\nThe column was also a declaration of his own independence. \u201cI have left my home, my family and my job, and I am raising my voice,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI want you to know that Saudi Arabia has not always been as it is now. We Saudis deserve better.\u201d\nTo hear such unflinching words from a Saudi writer was rare. The fact that they appeared on such a prominent platform would likely have been unnerving to those around the crown prince.\nMohammed had largely succeeded in Washington at casting himself as a leader who would bring Western-style reforms to Saudi Arabia. He had cultivated such a close relationship with the Trump administration that he routinely traded messages and phone calls with Trump\u2019s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, outside traditional diplomatic channels.\nKhashoggi was now writing for a publication that could undercut the crown prince\u2019s narrative in Washington. It was less than two weeks later that Khashoggi got the call that made his hands tremble.\nKhashoggi did at times praise the crown prince, crediting him for reforms, including allowing movie theaters to open in the kingdom. But he also seemed to grow more bold in his criticisms.\nIn November, Khashoggi compared Mohammed to Russian President Vladi\u00admir Putin just as a brutal new crackdown began in the Saudi capital. Hundreds of wealthy Saudis, including members of the royal family, were detained at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, many of them reportedly beaten while being interrogated, accused of corruption and forced to surrender billions of dollars in assets. Khashoggi criticized Saudi Arabia\u2019s policies in Lebanon, its bombing campaign in Yemen, its blockade of Qatar, its repression of women and its opposition to a free press.\nKhashoggi was never a staff employee of the Post, and he was paid about $500 per piece for the 20 columns he wrote over the course of the year. He lived in an apartment near Tysons Corner in Fairfax County that he had purchased while working at the Saudi Embassy a decade earlier.\nAs the months went on, he struggled with bouts of loneliness and stumbled into new relationships. He secretly married an Egyptian woman, Hanan El Atr, in a ceremony in suburban Virginia, though neither filled out paperwork to make it legal, and the relationship quickly fizzled.\nKhashoggi pursued other ventures. Among them was a plan to create an organization called Democracy for the Arab World Now. He sought out financial backers and turned for organizational help to Nihad Awad, the head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The organization has worked to ensure the fair treatment of Muslims in the United States, but its support for the uprisings of the Arab Spring led Saudi authorities to see it as an adversary.\nKhashoggi cultivated friendships with people with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that he joined when he was a college student in the United States but subsequently backed away from. The organization is banned by autocratic regimes in the Middle East.\nKhashoggi also appears to have accepted significant help with his columns. Salem, the executive at the Qatar foundation, reviewed his work in advance and in some instances appears to have proposed language, according to a voluminous collection of messages obtained by The Post.\nIn early August, Salem prodded Khashoggi to write about Saudi Arabia\u2019s alliances \u201cfrom DC to Jerusalem to rising right wing parties across Europe...bringing an end to the liberal world order that challenges their abuses at home.\u201d\nKhashoggi expressed misgivings about such a strident tone, then asked, \u201cSo do you have time to write it?\u201d\n\u201cI\u2019ll try,\u201d she replied, although she went on to urge him to \u201ctry a draft\u201d himself incorporating sentences that she had sent him by text. A column reflecting their discussion appeared in The Post on Aug. 7. Khashoggi appears to have used some of Salem\u2019s suggestions, though it largely tracks ideas that he expressed in their exchange over the encrypted app WhatsApp.\nOther texts in the 200-page trove indicate that Salem\u2019s organization paid a researcher who did work for Khashoggi. The foundation is an offshoot of a larger Qatar-based organization. Khashoggi also relied on a translator who worked at times for the Qatari embassy and the foundation.\nHiatt, The Post\u2019s editorial page editor, said that Khashoggi\u2019s writings show no attempt to favor the Qatar position. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t attack Saudi Arabia\u2019s campaign against Qatar, as Qatar might have wanted,\u201d Hiatt said. \u201cNor does he embrace MBS\u2019s reforms, as the crown prince might have wanted. On the contrary: he courageously stands up for Saudi dissidents \u2014 and for the cause of freedom throughout the region \u2014 while trying to nudge the reforms in a constructive direction.\u201d\nKhashoggi and Salem seemed to understand how his association with a Qatar-funded entity could be perceived, reminding one another to keep the arrangement \u201cdiscreet.\u201d He voiced concern that his family could be vulnerable.\nAs she reviewed a draft of the Aug. 7 column, she accused him of pulling punches. \u201cYou moved off topic and seem to excuse Riyadh...ITS HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC.\u201d The next day he wrote back that he had submitted the column, saying, \u201cThey\u2019re going to hang me when it comes out.\u201d\nA syringe\nBy July 2018, the Saudi crown prince had commanded subordinates to find a way to bring the exiled columnist back to the kingdom, according to intercepted communications examined by U.S. intelligence officials.\nThey saw an opportunity in late September, when Khashoggi entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul seeking paperwork he needed for a marriage to a Turkish woman. He was told to return the following week. Khashoggi said he would be back the following Tuesday.\nAfter attending a weekend conference in London, Khashoggi returned to Istanbul early in the morning on Oct. 2 and called the consulate to say he would be there by 1 p.m. He met his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, for breakfast and told her of his plan. Concerned about him going alone, she skipped obligations at a university in Istanbul to accompany him. As he left his phones with her and went inside, it was the last time she ever saw him.\nSeveral Saudi teams were already in place, having arrived on a pair of jets from Riyadh. The operatives had met with Qahtani before leaving, according to Saudi officials. Assigned to the team was Maher Mutreb, a Mohammed bodyguard who had worked at the Saudi Embassy in London at the same time as Khashoggi.\nWhat happened inside might never have emerged were it not for listening devices planted in the Saudi Consulate by Turkish intelligence. The recordings span several days and capture operatives discussing in advance of Khashoggi\u2019s arrival their plans to subdue and kill him, according to Western intelligence officials.\nKhashoggi seemed to realize quickly that he was in danger. A member of the team asked whether he would take tea, and Khashoggi replied yes with an edge in his voice that made it clear that he sensed that this ritual act of politeness presaged something sinister, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss classified material.\nA member of the team informed Khashoggi that he was going back to Saudi Arabia, according to a Western official who said that for a moment Khashoggi seems to have believed that he was going to be drugged and abducted. The Saudi team, however, brought a syringe packed with enough sedative to be lethal, the officials said.\nThe rest of the recording suggests there was no intent to take Khashoggi alive, multiple officials said. It captures the writer gasping for air in a physical struggle that gives way to silence. The horror resumes with the sound of an electric motor, presumably a saw that a special member of the team \u2014 a crime scene expert from the Saudi Ministry of Interior \u2014 used to dismember Khashoggi\u2019s body.\nSaudi officials maintain that the team did not bring a saw but used implements found at the consulate, citing the statements that the suspects have given authorities.\nKhashoggi\u2019s body has not been recovered. Saudi officials said that the killers entrusted Khashoggi\u2019s remains to an accomplice in Turkey. Turkish authorities said the Saudis have yet to provide any evidence or identify this supposed individual.\nPublisher, diplomat meet\nKhashoggi\u2019s disappearance, reported to Turkish authorities by Cengiz after she had waited outside the consulate for more than three hours, set off a frantic search for clues in Istanbul and Washington.\nAt The Post, publisher Fred Ryan appealed for help from senior Trump administration officials at the White House and State Department. Ryan also drafted a letter to Mohammed, delivered via diplomatic channels, the day after Khashoggi disappeared.\nTrump officials were responsive during the initial days after the writer\u2019s disappearance. Then, suddenly, the administration\u2019s willingness to engage seemed to evaporate. It was as if Mohammed\u2019s ardent backers understood, perhaps from early intelligence reports, that Khashoggi would not be found alive and that what they faced was no longer a case of a missing journalist but a looming diplomatic crisis.\nRyan\u2019s attempts to get information from the Saudi government were met with denials and falsehoods.\nAfter days of requests, Khaled, the Saudi ambassador and brother of the crown prince, agreed to meet with Ryan at The Post publisher\u2019s Georgetown home. He arrived around 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7, five days after Khashoggi disappeared.\nThe ambassador indicated that he had been gathering information from Riyadh and that Saudi Arabia did not regard Khashoggi as a threat. \u201cJamal has always been honest,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have never perceived him as being an asset of [a hostile country] or anyone else.\u201d\nThe ambassador proceed to make a series of assertions that defied logic and were contradicted by details emerging from Istanbul.\nRyan asked about reports that Saudi planes had flown into and out of Istanbul around the time of Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance, pressing the ambassador on the presence of any Saudi aircraft. The ambassador responded categorically, saying that such reports were \u201cbaseless\u201d when, in fact, such flights had taken place and the teams had flown back to Saudi Arabia within hours of Khashoggi\u2019s death.\nAsked to provide evidence backing up Saudi Arabia\u2019s claims that Khashoggi had departed the consulate safely, the ambassador said that video cameras at the compound \u201cweren\u2019t recording\u201d because of technical problems.\nRyan was incredulous. \u201cYou can walk around the block here and you will appear on a dozen video cameras,\u201d he said motioning to the surrounding neighborhood. \u201cI don\u2019t understand this.\u201d Saudi authorities have since concluded that the consulate cameras were intentionally disabled.\nRyan questioned the ambassador about other Saudi claims that seemed riddled with gaping holes of logic. Why would Khashoggi have exited through the consulate back door, as some had suggested, when his fiancee was waiting out front? Why would he deviate from what he had done just days earlier, when he entered and left through the same door?\nThe ambassador was adamant. Allegations of Saudi involvement were \u201cbaseless and ridiculous,\u201d he said, noting that Saudi investigators had already arrived in Istanbul and questioned employees at the consulate. \u201cIt\u2019s impossible that this would be covered up and we wouldn\u2019t know about it,\u201d he said.\nIn a statement Friday, Saud Kabli, the director of communications at the Saudi Embassy, said: \u201cNothing the Ambassador shared with Mr. Ryan in their conversation was an attempt to mislead. The information provided was the best information we had at that time. Unfortunately, that information has since proved to be false.\u201d\nThe conversation concluded after an hour. Ryan ended by saying that if Khashoggi were killed or abducted by Saudi Arabia it would be \u201cthe most depraved and oppressive act against a journalist in modern history.\u201d\nRecalling the meeting in an interview, Ryan said that \u201coverwhelming evidence has emerged indicating that virtually everything they told us was false.\u201d\nSaudi Arabia has detained 21 people in connection with Khashoggi\u2019s killing, and removed five senior officials \u2014 including Qahtani \u2014 from their jobs. Saudi officials have continued to deny that the crown prince was involved. Though the CIA has concluded with medium to high confidence that Mohammed ordered the operation, President Trump has sought to insulate the crown prince, saying \u201cmaybe he did, maybe he didn\u2019t.\u201d\nTurkish intelligence officials have identified Qahtani as the mastermind and indicated that he was the recipient of a message from a member of the kill team during the operation informing him that the \u201cdeed\u201d had been done.\nSaudi officials suggested that Qahtani created the crisis by driving Khashoggi from the kingdom, only to see him gain a more prominent platform for his criticism abroad. Qahtani then hatched the plot to silence Khashoggi in an effort to avoid the wrath of the crown prince, a theory that has the virtue from the Saudi perspective of shielding the royal heir from blame.\nU.S. intelligence agencies tracked a flurry of messages between Mohammed and Qahtani in the hours before and after Khashoggi was killed. The Post was shown purported copies of those messages, texts that centered on mundane matters including a solar energy program and discussion of remarks by a foreign official. It was not possible to establish the authenticity of the documents.\nAssociates of Khashoggi draw little distinction between the crown prince and his enforcer. \u201cQahtani has been the source of all evil\u201d for Khashoggi, said a friend of the journalist. \u201cA thug. A liar. A bastard.\u201d But each time Qahtani targeted Khashoggi, the associate said, \u201cit\u2019s understood who is telling him to do it.\u201d\nOn Oct. 3, one day after Khashoggi\u2019s death, while his fate remained uncertain, his researcher contacted The Post to say that he had a draft of a column that Khashoggi had begun writing before his disappearance. It was published two weeks later.\nIn it, Khashoggi lamented that \u201cArab governments have been given free rein to continue silencing the media at an increasing rate,\u201d and that the region was \u201cfacing its own version of an Iron Curtain, imposed not by external actors but through domestic forces vying for power.\u201d\n\u201cWe need to provide a platform for Arab voices,\u201d he said.\nCorrection: Nihad Awad is head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, not the Center on American-Islamic Relations. This story has been updated.\nsouad.mekhennet@washpost.com\ngreg.miller@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "516aca25-b0c3-4541-bc5b-0d73cfb053b3_0", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "516aca25-b0c3-4541-bc5b-0d73cfb053b3_0", "title": "Slain journalist\u2019s sons forgive his killers, clearing way for clemency", "text": "Salah Khashoggi, left, a son of Jamal Khashoggi, shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 23, 2018. (Saudi Press Agency/AP) The sons of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi posted a message on social media early Friday saying that they have forgiven their father\u2019s killers, a declaration that could allow Saudi authorities to commute the death sentences of five Saudi officials convicted of Khashoggi\u2019s murder. The statement was posted on the Twitter account of Salah Khashoggi, the journalist\u2019s eldest son, who lives in Saudi Arabia. \u201cWe, sons of the martyr Jamal Khashoggi, announce that we forgive those who killed our father,\u201d said the message, which cited a tradition of granting pardons during the holy month of Ramadan. The Saudi justice system allows families of victims in some capital cases to grant clemency to convicted killers. There had been widespread speculation that Khashoggi\u2019s children, who have refrained from criticizing the Saudi leadership, would take such a step, though it was not clear whether their expression of forgiveness was extended willingly or coerced. Khashoggi\u2019s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, criticized the Khashoggi family statement on Friday. \u201cNo one has the right to pardon his killers,\u201d she wrote on Twitter. \u201cI and others will not stop until we get #JusticeForJamal.\u201d Khashoggi, a veteran journalist who contributed columns to The Washington Post, was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 when he went to collect documents that would allow him to remarry. The killers were Saudi government agents, dispatched to Turkey on the orders of top advisers to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to Turkish and Saudi prosecutors. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi attends a news conference in the Bahraini capital, Manama, on Dec. 15, 2014. (Mohammed al-Shaikh/AFP/Getty Images) Khashoggi\u2019s body was dismembered as part of a blundering attempt by the agents to cover up the killing, prosecutors said. The Saudi government initially denied any knowledge of the killing and later called it a rogue operation. The crown prince denied any advance knowledge of the plot, even though the CIA concluded with \u201cmedium to high confidence\u201d that Mohammed had ordered Khashoggi\u2019s killing. Saudi prosecutors said in December that five unidentified people had been sentenced to death in connection with the murder after a trial in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Three other people were sentenced to jail terms totaling 24 years. The verdicts were criticized by human rights"}], "old": [{"_id": "516aca25-b0c3-4541-bc5b-0d73cfb053b3_0", "title": "Slain journalist\u2019s sons forgive his killers, clearing way for clemency", "text": "Salah Khashoggi, left, a son of Jamal Khashoggi, shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 23, 2018. (Saudi Press Agency/AP) Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi attends a news conference in the Bahraini capital, Manama, on Dec. 15, 2014. (Mohammed al-Shaikh/AFP/Getty Images) Read more Today\u2019s coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "\n\n\n\nSalah Khashoggi, left, a son of Jamal Khashoggi, shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 23, 2018. (Saudi Press Agency/AP)\n\nThe sons of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi posted a message on social media early Friday saying that they have forgiven their father\u2019s killers, a declaration that could allow Saudi authorities to commute the death sentences of five Saudi officials convicted of Khashoggi\u2019s murder.\nThe statement was posted on the Twitter account of Salah Khashoggi, the journalist\u2019s eldest son, who lives in Saudi Arabia. \u201cWe, sons of the martyr Jamal Khashoggi, announce that we forgive those who killed our father,\u201d said the message, which cited a tradition of granting pardons during the holy month of Ramadan.\nThe Saudi justice system allows families of victims in some capital cases to grant clemency to convicted killers. There had been widespread speculation that Khashoggi\u2019s children, who have refrained from criticizing the Saudi leadership, would take such a step, though it was not clear whether their expression of forgiveness was extended willingly or coerced.\nKhashoggi\u2019s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, criticized the Khashoggi family statement on Friday. \u201cNo one has the right to pardon his killers,\u201d she wrote on Twitter. \u201cI and others will not stop until we get #JusticeForJamal.\u201d\nKhashoggi, a veteran journalist who contributed columns to The Washington Post, was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October 2018 when he went to collect documents that would allow him to remarry. The killers were Saudi government agents, dispatched to Turkey on the orders of top advisers to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to Turkish and Saudi prosecutors.\n\n\n\nSaudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi attends a news conference in the Bahraini capital, Manama, on Dec. 15, 2014. (Mohammed al-Shaikh/AFP/Getty Images)\n\nKhashoggi\u2019s body was dismembered as part of a blundering attempt by the agents to cover up the killing, prosecutors said. The Saudi government initially denied any knowledge of the killing and later called it a rogue operation. The crown prince denied any advance knowledge of the plot, even though the CIA concluded with \u201cmedium to high confidence\u201d that Mohammed had ordered Khashoggi\u2019s killing.\nSaudi prosecutors said in December that five unidentified people had been sentenced to death in connection with the murder after a trial in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Three other people were sentenced to jail terms totaling 24 years.\nThe verdicts were criticized by human rights groups because of the trial\u2019s secrecy. Two senior officials who were implicated in the killing, including Saud al-Qahtani, the crown prince\u2019s media adviser, were cleared of wrongdoing, prosecutors said.\nEven as the trial was held, the Saudi royal court was preparing for a private settlement with Khashoggi\u2019s four children and hoping to ensure they refrained from criticizing the kingdom\u2019s leadership, according to current and former Saudi officials.\nTo that end, the children were given multimillion-dollar homes and monthly five-figure payments as part of a compensation package that was approved by King Salman soon after Khashoggi\u2019s killing, officials said.\nAfter the payments were reported by The Post last year, Salah Khashoggi, a banker, characterized them as \u201cacts of generosity\u201d by Saudi Arabia\u2019s leader and said they were \u201cnot admission of guilt or scandal.\u201d He said that \u201cno settlement discussion has been or is discussed.\u201d\n\nRead more\n\n\n\n\nToday\u2019s coverage from Post correspondents around the world\n\nLike Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "AL6A5JBFNII6VHGJ4GOPXSD6KE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "AL6A5JBFNII6VHGJ4GOPXSD6KE_1", "title": "Saudi Arabia says five sentenced to death in killing of Jamal Khashoggi", "text": "had no advance knowledge of the plot. At a news conference in Riyadh on Monday, Shalaan al-Shalaan, a spokesman for the Saudi public prosecutor, declined to identify the five people who were sentenced to death. Three other people were sentenced to jail terms totaling 24 years. Shalaan said two senior officials \u2014 Saud al-Qahtani, a royal adviser, and Ahmed al-Assiri, a former deputy head of intelligence \u2014 were investigated and exonerated. Mohammed al-Otaibi, who served as consul general in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul when the killing occurred, was also cleared, the spokesman said. Salah Khashoggi, the eldest of Jamal\u2019s four children, called the verdicts \u201cjust.\u201d \u201cWe affirm our confidence in the Saudi judiciary on all its levels, in it being fair to us, and achieving justice,\u201d he wrote on Twitter. But Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi\u2019s fiancee, also on Twitter, said the findings were \u201cnot acceptable.\u201d The Post\u2019s publisher, Fred Ryan, also criticized the outcome. \u201cThe complete lack of transparency and the Saudi government\u2019s refusal to cooperate with independent investigators suggests that this was merely a sham trial,\u201d Ryan said in a statement. \u201cThose ultimately responsible, at the highest level of the Saudi government, continue to escape responsibility for the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi.\u201d Khashoggi, who lived in Virginia, visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, to obtain documents that would allow him to marry Cengiz. Turkish and Saudi investigators say Khashoggi was killed soon after he arrived at the mission, as Cengiz waited outside, by a team of agents who had flown to Istanbul from Saudi Arabia. Shalaan said the killing resulted from a \u201csnap decision\u201d by the Saudi operatives. Turkish investigators have cast doubt on claims that it was spontaneous. They note that the Saudi team included an autopsy expert whose role included dismembering Khashoggi\u2019s body. Khashoggi\u2019s remains have not been found. It is unclear when the trial concluded. Shalaan said attendees included Khashoggi\u2019s two sons and their lawyers, as well as representatives of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council \u2014 the United States, Britain, China, Russia and France \u2014 and Turkey. The death sentences await confirmation by higher courts. After the killing, Saudi authorities said they were investigating the roles played by Qahtani and Assiri in organizing and dispatching the team of agents that confronted Khashoggi inside the consulate. The decision to investigate the two men \u2014 loyal and trusted aides"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "ISTANBUL \u2014\nFive people have been sentenced to death in connection with the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last year, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor announced Monday, but the two most senior officials implicated in the case, including an adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, were cleared of wrongdoing.\nThe slaying of Khashoggi in October 2018 sparked a global outcry against the kingdom and led to greater scrutiny of a crackdown on dissidents pursued by the crown prince. Khashoggi, 59, a Saudi national who contributed columns to The Washington Post from self-imposed exile in the United States, had emerged as one of Mohammed\u2019s most prominent critics.\nThe verdicts came after a trial in Riyadh\u2019s criminal court that lasted nearly a year and was shrouded in secrecy. Court sessions were closed to the public, and foreign officials who attended were told not to reveal details of the proceedings. Human rights groups warned that the lack of transparency threatened to obscure the possible involvement of senior Saudi officials \u2014 including the crown prince \u2014 in the killing.\nThe CIA concluded last year that Mohammed had ordered Khashoggi\u2019s assassination, contradicting Saudi Arabia\u2019s insistence that the crown prince had no advance knowledge of the plot.\nAt a news conference in Riyadh on Monday, Shalaan al-Shalaan, a spokesman for the Saudi public prosecutor, declined to identify the five people who were sentenced to death. Three other people were sentenced to jail terms totaling 24 years.\nShalaan said two senior officials \u2014 Saud al-Qahtani, a royal adviser, and Ahmed al-Assiri, a former deputy head of intelligence \u2014 were investigated and exonerated. Mohammed al-Otaibi, who served as consul general in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul when the killing occurred, was also cleared, the spokesman said.\nSalah Khashoggi, the eldest of Jamal\u2019s four children, called the verdicts \u201cjust.\u201d\n\u201cWe affirm our confidence in the Saudi judiciary on all its levels, in it being fair to us, and achieving justice,\u201d he wrote on Twitter.\nBut Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi\u2019s fiancee, also on Twitter, said the findings were \u201cnot acceptable.\u201d\nThe Post\u2019s publisher, Fred Ryan, also criticized the outcome.\n\u201cThe complete lack of transparency and the Saudi government\u2019s refusal to cooperate with independent investigators suggests that this was merely a sham trial,\u201d Ryan said in a statement. \u201cThose ultimately responsible, at the highest level of the Saudi government, continue to escape responsibility for the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi.\u201d\nKhashoggi, who lived in Virginia, visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018, to obtain documents that would allow him to marry Cengiz. Turkish and Saudi investigators say Khashoggi was killed soon after he arrived at the mission, as Cengiz waited outside, by a team of agents who had flown to Istanbul from Saudi Arabia.\nShalaan said the killing resulted from a \u201csnap decision\u201d by the Saudi operatives. Turkish investigators have cast doubt on claims that it was spontaneous. They note that the Saudi team included an autopsy expert whose role included dismembering Khashoggi\u2019s body. Khashoggi\u2019s remains have not been found.\nIt is unclear when the trial concluded. Shalaan said attendees included Khashoggi\u2019s two sons and their lawyers, as well as representatives of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council \u2014 the United States, Britain, China, Russia and France \u2014 and Turkey.\nThe death sentences await confirmation by higher courts.\nAfter the killing, Saudi authorities said they were investigating the roles played by Qahtani and Assiri in organizing and dispatching the team of agents that confronted Khashoggi inside the consulate.\nThe decision to investigate the two men \u2014 loyal and trusted aides of Crown Prince Mohammed \u2014 and to fire them from their posts suggested at the time that the Saudi leadership might be prepared to implicate at least a few high-level officials, as the kingdom faced its worst public relations crisis in decades.\nQahtani, a media adviser to Mohammed, was arguably the more powerful official. A strident defender of the royal family, he directed online attacks against critics of the crown prince. His swarm of Twitter operatives would berate religious scholars, dissidents and journalists in defense of Mohammed, earning Qahtani the nickname \u201cLord of the Flies.\u201d\nQahtani is also accused of overseeing the kingdom\u2019s crackdown on dissidents and directing the torture of Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent women\u2019s rights activist who has been imprisoned since last year. Saudi officials have denied that the activists were tortured.\nThe Trump administration last year imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi citizens implicated in Khashoggi\u2019s death. They included Qahtani, who officials said was \u201cpart of the planning and execution of the operation that led to the killing.\u201d\nShalaan said Monday that Qahtani was \u201cinvestigated by the public prosecutor and was not charged because of lack of evidence against him.\u201d\nAssiri, the former deputy head of intelligence, was initially charged after prosecutors said he was responsible for issuing the order for Khashoggi\u2019s forcible return to Saudi Arabia. Shalaan said Monday that Assiri\u2019s guilt \u201cwas not proved.\u201d\nPresident Trump has vigorously defended Saudi Arabia and the crown prince, arguing that the relationship between the kingdom and the United States is too important to be derailed by Khashoggi\u2019s death.\nA senior State Department official, speaking anonymously under rules imposed by the department, called the verdicts \u201can important step in holding those responsible for the terrible crime accountable.\u201d\n\u201cWe\u2019ve encouraged Saudi Arabia to undertake a fair and transparent judicial process, and we will continue to do so,\u201d the official said.\nLater, the official called the Khashoggi killing \u201cawful\u201d but added: \u201cLet\u2019s not lose sight of the fact 1,500 people were killed in recent weeks in Iran, according to Reuters. I\u2019m not changing the subject. But there\u2019s a lot of atrocities around the world.\u201d\nThe killing widened a rift between Saudi Arabia and the government of Turkey, which first revealed the details of the grisly slaying inside the consulate.\nSaudi Arabia said the killing was a rogue operation carried out by overzealous agents who had been instructed to return Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia alive.\nTurkish officials remained skeptical Monday.\n\u201cThe ruling of the relevant court in Saudi Arabia announced today on the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi falls short of the expectations of Turkey and the international community for the clarification of all aspects of this murder and the serving of justice,\u201d Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.\nA U.N. human rights investigator in June called for a U.N.-assisted criminal inquiry. Agn\u00e8s Callamard, a special rapporteur with the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that Saudi authorities participated in the destruction of evidence and that culpability for the killing extended beyond the Saudis who were charged.\nCallamard called the verdicts announced Monday a \u201cmockery.\u201d\n\u201cThe hit-men are guilty, sentenced to death,\u201d she wrote on Twitter. \u201cThe masterminds not only walk free. They have barely been touched by the investigation and the trial. That is the antithesis of Justice.\u201d\nAdam Coogle, a Middle East researcher for New York-based Human Rights Watch, said Saudi Arabia\u2019s \u201cabsolution of its senior leadership of any culpability in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi raises serious concerns over the fairness of the criminal proceedings.\u201d\nThe kingdom\u2019s handling of the killing, \u201cfrom complete denial to hanging the murder on lower-level operatives in a trial that lacked transparency, demonstrates the need for an independent criminal inquiry,\u201d he wrote in a text message.\nkareem.fahim@washpost.com\nsarah.dadouch@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "EPOZDPW62YI6RC5MX7QB7TODUY_1", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "EPOZDPW62YI6RC5MX7QB7TODUY_1", "title": "Sons of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi appeal for the return of his remains ", "text": "government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has tried to prod Saudi leaders to acknowledge what he says is their role in the death. The Saudi government refused to comment for weeks but, in the face of international outrage, finally conceded that Khashoggi was killed in their consulate, even as they blamed it on rogue Saudi agents. Lost in the din have been the voices of Khashoggi\u2019s children, grieving and forced to pick through a confusion of graphic news reports as they piece together details of their father\u2019s death. Khashoggi\u2019s daughters did not appear in the CNN interview. \u201cEverybody\u2019s telling a different story. I\u2019m trying to simplify it as much as possible. He died,\u201d Abdullah Khashoggi said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a normal situation and not a normal death.\u201d \u201cI really hope that whatever happened wasn\u2019t painful for him, or it was quick,\u201d he added. Salah Khashoggi, who lives in Saudi Arabia, became the public face of the family\u2019s sorrow when a photograph of him, stone-faced, meeting Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was shared on social media and interpreted as evidence of the family\u2019s rage at the royal family. But in fact, Salah Khashoggi said, the king had assured him that \u201ceverybody involved will be brought to justice\u201d for the killing. \u201cI have faith in that. This will happen,\u201d he said. Erdogan has said that Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s killing by Saudi agents was premeditated and that the order came from the \u201chighest levels\u201d of the Saudi government, although he has not specified who he thinks was responsible. Erdogan also has demanded that the Saudi government reveal the location of Khashoggi\u2019s body. Turkey has said that a hit squad sent from Saudi Arabia strangled Khashoggi shortly after he entered the consulate to seek a document he needed for his planned marriage to his Turkish fiancee. Turkish authorities said the team dismembered Khashoggi\u2019s body and disposed of it. Turkey has repeatedly accused Saudi authorities of trying to obstruct its investigation. On Monday, a Turkish official said that at least two members of a team that Saudi Arabia sent to investigate Khashoggi\u2019s killing were actually there to cover it up. The official, who was not authorized to comment on the record and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the dispatch of the two men to Turkey \u201csuggests that Khashoggi\u2019s slaying was within the knowledge of top Saudi officials.\u201d The official confirmed details"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "ISTANBUL \u2014\nMore than a month after their father\u2019s death, the sons of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi have made a plaintive appeal for the return of his body, saying he should be buried in the Saudi city where he was born in a cemetery alongside his relatives.\n\u201cWe just need to make sure that he rests in peace,\u201d Salah Khashoggi, 35, told CNN in an interview Sunday alongside his brother, Abdullah Khashoggi, 33, in their first comments to the news media since their father was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct.\u00a02.\nJamal Khashoggi\u2019s body has not been found. And even as the sons requested the speedy retrieval of his remains, new details from Turkey\u2019s investigation into the case that were released Monday made that likelihood seem remote. A Turkish official said investigators believe Saudi Arabia sent a two-person \u201ccleanup\u201d team to Turkey nine days after Khashoggi\u2019s death\u00a0to remove any evidence of his killing from the consulate as well as the nearby residence of the Saudi consul general.\nThe regional rivalry between Turkey and Saudi Arabia has captured the spotlight in the weeks since the killing of Khashoggi, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post. The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has tried to prod Saudi leaders to acknowledge what he says is their role in the death. The Saudi government refused to comment for weeks but, in the face of international outrage, finally conceded that Khashoggi was killed in their consulate, even as they blamed it on rogue Saudi agents.\nLost in the din have been the voices of Khashoggi\u2019s children, grieving and forced to pick through a confusion of graphic news reports as they piece together details of their father\u2019s death. Khashoggi\u2019s daughters did not appear in the CNN interview.\n\u201cEverybody\u2019s telling a different story. I\u2019m trying to simplify it as much as possible. He died,\u201d Abdullah Khashoggi said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a normal situation and not a normal death.\u201d\n\u201cI really hope that whatever happened wasn\u2019t painful for him, or it was quick,\u201d he added.\nSalah Khashoggi, who lives in Saudi Arabia, became the public face of the family\u2019s sorrow when a photograph of him, stone-faced, meeting Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was shared on social media and interpreted as evidence of the family\u2019s rage at the royal family.\nBut in fact, Salah Khashoggi said, the king had assured him that \u201ceverybody involved will be brought to justice\u201d for the killing.\n\u201cI have faith in that. This will happen,\u201d he said.\nErdogan has said that Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s killing by Saudi agents was premeditated and that the order came from the \u201chighest levels\u201d of the Saudi government, although he has not specified who he thinks was responsible. Erdogan also has demanded that the Saudi government reveal the location of Khashoggi\u2019s body.\nTurkey has said that a hit squad sent from Saudi Arabia strangled Khashoggi shortly after he entered the consulate to seek a document he needed for his planned marriage to his Turkish fiancee. Turkish authorities said the team dismembered Khashoggi\u2019s body and disposed of it.\nTurkey has repeatedly accused Saudi authorities of trying to obstruct its investigation. On Monday, a Turkish official said that at least two members of a team that Saudi Arabia sent to investigate Khashoggi\u2019s killing were actually there to cover it up.\nThe official, who was not authorized to comment on the record and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the dispatch of the two men to Turkey \u201csuggests that Khashoggi\u2019s slaying was within the knowledge of top Saudi officials.\u201d\nThe official confirmed details in a report published Monday in Turkey\u2019s pro-government Sabah newspaper that said the two men \u2014 a chemist and a toxicologist \u2014\u00a0were part of a delegation of Saudi investigators\u00a0sent to Turkey nine days after Khashoggi was killed.\nBeginning Oct.\u00a012, the two men visited the consulate regularly for a week, the paper reported.\n\u201cWe believe that the two individuals came to Turkey for the sole purpose of covering up evidence,\u201d the official said.\nkareem.fahim@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "EZSWWTXRCQI6VABFLU2IS5UKZA_1", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "EZSWWTXRCQI6VABFLU2IS5UKZA_1", "title": "Saudi Arabia hands down \u2018final\u2019 rulings in Jamal Khashoggi murder, sentencing 8 to prison terms", "text": "to Turkey from Saudi Arabia in October 2018 before killing and dismembering Khashoggi, a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The rulings came after a trial that was closed to the public and the news media and that was criticized by human rights groups as lacking transparency. \u201cThese verdicts carry no legal or moral legitimacy. They came at the end of a process which was neither fair, nor just, or transparent,\u201d Agn\u00e8s Callamard, a U.N. human rights expert who conducted an investigation into the killing, wrote on Twitter after the sentences were announced. Saudi Arabia\u2019s leaders have been desperate to move past the killing. Grisly details had fueled global outrage, as did Saudi Arabia\u2019s initial denials that it had anything to do with Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance. And the Saudi ruling on Monday failed to answer the most urgent questions about the murder, including who had ordered it and the whereabouts of Khashoggi\u2019s remains. The CIA concluded with \u201cmedium to high confidence\u201d that Mohammed, who effectively rules Saudi Arabia, had ordered the killing, which he has denied. Turkey is holding a separate trial and has indicted 20 Saudi citizens on murder charges, though none of the defendants is in Turkish custody. Khashoggi, 59, was a veteran Saudi journalist who contributed opinion columns to The Washington Post. He had visited the Istanbul consulate intending to collect documents that would allow him to remarry while his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, waited for him outside. In a statement posted on Twitter, Cengiz said: \u201cThe Saudi authorities are closing the case without the world knowing the truth of who is responsible for Jamal\u2019s murder. Who planned it, who ordered it, where is his body?\u201d Five of the eight defendants were spared the death penalty after Khashoggi\u2019s sons announced in May they had forgiven their father\u2019s killers. The Saudi justice system allows families of victims in some capital cases to grant clemency to convicted killers. Instead, the five received 20-year prison terms, according to the statement on Monday. Three other defendants received sentences between seven and 10 years, the statement said. Two senior Saudi officials \u2014 Saud al-Qahtani, a powerful royal media adviser, and Ahmed al-Assiri, a former deputy head of intelligence \u2014 were exonerated by the Saudi court late last year, even after Saudi prosecutors said the two men played central roles in the plot that led to Khashoggi\u2019s death."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Saudi Arabia\u2019s public prosecutor said Monday that eight people had been sentenced to prison terms between seven and 20 years for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in what the prosecutors said was a \u201cfinal\u201d ruling in the case, according to a statement carried by the Saudi state-run news agency.\nThe statement did not name the defendants. They were all believed to be members of a 15-man hit squad that traveled to Turkey from Saudi Arabia in October 2018 before killing and dismembering Khashoggi, a critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.\nThe rulings came after a trial that was closed to the public and the news media and that was criticized by human rights groups as lacking transparency.\n\u201cThese verdicts carry no legal or moral legitimacy. They came at the end of a process which was neither fair, nor just, or transparent,\u201d Agn\u00e8s Callamard, a U.N. human rights expert who conducted an investigation into the killing, wrote on Twitter after the sentences were announced.\nSaudi Arabia\u2019s leaders have been desperate to move past the killing. Grisly details had fueled global outrage, as did Saudi Arabia\u2019s initial denials that it had anything to do with Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance.\nAnd the Saudi ruling on Monday failed to answer the most urgent questions about the murder, including who had ordered it and the whereabouts of Khashoggi\u2019s remains.\nThe CIA concluded with \u201cmedium to high confidence\u201d that Mohammed, who effectively rules Saudi Arabia, had ordered the killing, which he has denied. Turkey is holding a separate trial and has indicted 20 Saudi citizens on murder charges, though none of the defendants is in Turkish custody.\nKhashoggi, 59, was a veteran Saudi journalist who contributed opinion columns to The Washington Post. He had visited the Istanbul consulate intending to collect documents that would allow him to remarry while his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, waited for him outside.\nIn a statement posted on Twitter, Cengiz said: \u201cThe Saudi authorities are closing the case without the world knowing the truth of who is responsible for Jamal\u2019s murder. Who planned it, who ordered it, where is his body?\u201d\nFive of the eight defendants were spared the death penalty after Khashoggi\u2019s sons announced in May they had forgiven their father\u2019s killers.  The Saudi justice system allows families of victims in some capital cases to grant clemency to convicted killers. Instead, the five received 20-year prison terms, according to the statement on Monday.\nThree other defendants received sentences between seven and 10 years, the statement said.\nTwo senior Saudi officials \u2014 Saud al-Qahtani, a powerful royal media adviser, and Ahmed al-Assiri, a former deputy head of intelligence \u2014 were exonerated by the Saudi court late last year, even after Saudi prosecutors said the two men played central roles in the plot that led to Khashoggi\u2019s death."}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "GLE6O6HIXQI6RPMJ53HTWF4CAY_3", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "GLE6O6HIXQI6RPMJ53HTWF4CAY_3", "title": "Saudi Arabia distances crown prince from killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi", "text": "Thursday implicated two higher-level officials in what the prosecutor said was an operation intended either to persuade or force Khashoggi to return to Saudi Arabia. One of them, Ahmed al-Assiri, a former deputy head of intelligence, issued an order for Khashoggi\u2019s return on Sept. 29, the prosecutor said. That was one day after Khashoggi first visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and was told to return the following week. Qahtani, on the U.S. sanctions list Thursday, was also involved in planning Khashoggi\u2019s repatriation, according to the prosecutor. Saudi officials have changed their story about Khashoggi\u2019s killing several times since he disappeared, first denying any knowledge of his whereabouts and then saying that he was killed during a fistfight. In the latest version laid out by the prosecutor, a 15-member team was formed to bring Khashoggi back from Istanbul, \u201cby means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force.\u201d The team included a forensic expert \u201cfor the purpose of removing evidence from the scene in case force had to be used to return the victim,\u201d according to a summary of the prosecutor\u2019s statement that was emailed to reporters. The leader of the Saudi team also contacted a collaborator in Turkey to secure a safe house in case Khashoggi was forcibly removed, the statement said. But after deciding that moving Khashoggi to a safe house would not be possible, a team leader decided to kill the journalist, according to the prosecutor. \u201cThe investigation concluded that the crime was carried out after a physical altercation with the victim where he was forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death, may Allah bless his soul,\u201d the statement said. Khashoggi\u2019s body was dismembered and then taken by one of the Saudi agents to the \u201clocal collaborator,\u201d according to the prosecutor, who said a sketch of the collaborator has been produced. Turkish officials have complained repeatedly about Saudi Arabia\u2019s refusal to identify the collaborator and said they suspect that such a person does not exist. They have also demanded that the Saudis reveal the whereabouts of Khashoggi\u2019s remains. Turkey\u2019s prosecutor said late last month that Khashoggi was strangled or suffocated as soon as he entered the consulate, in line with \u201cpremeditated plans.\u201d Khashoggi\u2019s eldest son, Salah Khashoggi, announced Thursday on Twitter that the family would receive condolence visits beginning Friday. kareem.fahim@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "ISTANBUL \u2014\nSaudi Arabia\u2019s public prosecutor released the findings of a long-awaited investigation of\u00a0the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Thursday, saying that a team of Saudi agents dispatched to Istanbul with orders to bring him home alive had instead killed the journalist and dismembered his body.\nSaudi Arabia\u2019s crown prince had no knowledge of the operation, Shaalan al-Shaalan, a spokesman for the prosecutor, said at\u00a0a news conference in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.\nHe said that 11 suspects have been indicted and that\u00a0authorities are seeking the death penalty for five of them. None of the suspects were named. The order to kill Khashoggi, who had criticized the Saudi monarchy over the past year,\u00a0came from one of the leaders of the Saudi team in Istanbul, Shaalan said.\nProsecutor Saud al-Mojeb\u2019s conclusion \u2014 that the killing was authorized by relatively low-level officials who disobeyed orders and acted on the fly \u2014 contradicted assertions by Turkish investigators, who have said it was a meticulously planned\u00a0operation, with elaborate preparations to cover up the crime that included scouting locations where Khashoggi\u2019s body could be disposed of in secret.\nTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the slaying was premeditated and the orders\u00a0came from \u201cthe highest levels of the Saudi government,\u201d without specifying exactly who was responsible.\nTurkey has called for an international investigation into the killing. On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that some of the latest Saudi statements about the killing were not\u00a0\u201csatisfactory.\u201d\n\u201cThis is not something that happens instantaneously,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople and tools were brought to dismember the body.\u201d\nKhashoggi, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post, was killed Oct. 2, soon after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents he needed to remarry.\nThe U.S. Treasury said Thursday that it would impose sanctions on 17\u00a0individuals linked to the\u00a0\u201cabhorrent killing.\u201d On the list was\u00a0Saud al-Qahtani, a close adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the consul general of the Istanbul mission, Mohammad al-Otaibi.\n\u201cThese individuals who targeted and brutally killed a journalist who resided and worked in the United States must face consequences for their actions,\u201d the Treasury said in a statement.\nOfficials in several countries have said it is unlikely that Khashoggi was\u00a0killed without the knowledge of\u00a0the crown prince, Saudi Arabia\u2019s de facto leader.\u00a0But there is no definitive evidence that\u00a0Mohammed ordered the operation. Saudi officials deny that the crown prince was in any way responsible for Khashoggi\u2019s death.\n\u201cHe did not have any knowledge,\u201d Shaalan said\u00a0Thursday.\nSaudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir described the killing as a\u00a0\u201cmistake\u201d and denied any involvement on the part of Mohammed.\u00a0\u201cHis royal highness the crown prince has nothing to do with this issue,\u201d Jubeir he told reporters in Riyadh.\nMojeb\u2019s statement Thursday implicated two higher-level officials in what the prosecutor said was an operation intended\u00a0either to persuade\u00a0or force Khashoggi to return\u00a0to Saudi Arabia. One of them, Ahmed al-Assiri, a\u00a0former deputy head of intelligence, issued an order for Khashoggi\u2019s return on Sept. 29, the prosecutor said. That was one day after Khashoggi first visited the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and was told to return the following week.\nQahtani, on the U.S. sanctions list Thursday, was also involved in\u00a0planning Khashoggi\u2019s repatriation, according to the prosecutor.\nSaudi officials have changed their story about Khashoggi\u2019s killing several times since he disappeared, first denying any knowledge of his whereabouts and then saying that he was killed during a fistfight.\nIn the latest version laid out by the prosecutor, a 15-member team was formed to bring Khashoggi back from Istanbul,\u00a0\u201cby means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force.\u201d The team included a forensic expert\u00a0\u201cfor the purpose of removing evidence from the scene in\u00a0case force had to be used to return the victim,\u201d according to a summary of the prosecutor\u2019s statement that was emailed to reporters.\nThe leader of the Saudi team also contacted a collaborator in Turkey to secure a safe house in case Khashoggi was forcibly removed,\u00a0the statement said. But after deciding that\u00a0moving Khashoggi to a safe house would not be possible, a team leader decided to kill the journalist, according to the prosecutor.\n\u201cThe investigation concluded that the crime was carried out after a physical altercation with the victim where he was forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death, may Allah bless his soul,\u201d the statement said.\nKhashoggi\u2019s body was dismembered and then taken by one of the Saudi agents to the\u00a0\u201clocal collaborator,\u201d according to the prosecutor, who said a sketch of the collaborator has been produced.\nTurkish officials have complained repeatedly about Saudi Arabia\u2019s refusal to identify the\u00a0collaborator and said they suspect that such a person does not exist. They have also demanded that the Saudis reveal the whereabouts of Khashoggi\u2019s remains.\nTurkey\u2019s prosecutor said late last month that Khashoggi was strangled or suffocated as soon as he entered the consulate, in line with\u00a0\u201cpremeditated plans.\u201d\nKhashoggi\u2019s eldest son, Salah Khashoggi, announced Thursday on Twitter that the family would receive condolence visits beginning Friday.\nkareem.fahim@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "HQTVGXS3TII6TFRFAHKI2UHPOU_1", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "HQTVGXS3TII6TFRFAHKI2UHPOU_1", "title": "Son of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi appears to defend Saudi crown prince, his family\u2019s compensation", "text": "be premature to do so before the cases are resolved. Saudi prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against five men accused of playing a direct role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. Among them is Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, a longtime Saudi official with close ties to the crown prince who previously worked with Khashoggi at the Saudi Embassy in London. Saudi officials have maintained that the killing was carried out by rogue Saudi operatives and that Mohammed had no foreknowledge of or involvement in the plot. But the CIA, citing intercepted communications and other evidence, has concluded with medium to high confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggi\u2019s capture or death. Salah, the only Khashoggi child who continues to live in Saudi Arabia, has been the family\u2019s point person in dealings with the government and royal court. He was photographed shaking hands with the crown prince in October before leaving the kingdom to meet with others in his family, including a brother and two sisters. When reached by phone earlier this month, Khashoggi declined to answer questions about the payments. His statement Wednesday appeared to acknowledge the compensation indirectly, saying that members of the family \u201cwere brought up by our parents to thank acts of good not disavow.\u201d Khashoggi and his siblings were given houses in Jiddah worth several million dollars apiece, according to people familiar with the arrangement. Salah Khashoggi owns the largest of the structures, while the other properties are part of a shared compound. The children also received initial payments of about 1 million Saudi riyal \u2014 or roughly $266,000 \u2014 after Saudi authorities acknowledged that their father had been killed by state operatives, according to a person with knowledge of the issue who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the matter. These payments have not been previously disclosed because they were not known at the time of The Post story this month. The Khashoggi children have shown significant restraint in their few public statements since their father\u2019s death. But Salah Khashoggi\u2019s tweet went further than those previous communications in praising the crown prince. The son described his father as \u201ca respectable journalist and patriotic Saudi citizen,\u201d although he was frequently critical of the kingdom\u2019s policies in opinion columns published by The Post. The paper also reported in December"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The oldest son of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Wednesday appeared to defend the crown prince suspected of orchestrating his father\u2019s killing as well as the family\u2019s decision to accept compensation worth millions of dollars from the Saudi government.\nIn an apparent reference to those payments, Salah Khashoggi said on Twitter that \u201cacts of generosity and humanity come from the high moral grounds\u201d maintained by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and are \u201cnot admission of guilt or scandal.\u201d\nThe posting represented the first statement from the family since The Washington Post reported this month that all four of Khashoggi\u2019s adult children have been given multimillion-dollar homes in the kingdom and are receiving monthly payments exceeding $10,000 apiece.\nThe story also said the Khashoggi children are in line to receive additional payments possibly totaling tens of millions of dollars as part of \u201cblood money\u201d negotiations that are expected to ensue when trials of Khashoggi\u2019s accused killers conclude.\nSalah Khashoggi sought to cast doubt on that sequence, saying that \u201cno settlement discussion has been or is discussed.\u201d Others close to the matter have said it is accurate that no formal negotiations have begun, but only because it would be premature to do so before the cases are resolved.\nSaudi prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against five men accused of playing a direct role in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October. Among them is Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, a longtime Saudi official with close ties to the crown prince who previously worked with Khashoggi at the Saudi Embassy in London.\nSaudi officials have maintained that the killing was carried out by rogue Saudi operatives and that Mohammed had no foreknowledge of or involvement in the plot. But the CIA, citing intercepted communications and other evidence, has concluded with medium to high confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggi\u2019s capture or death.\nSalah, the only Khashoggi child who continues to live in Saudi Arabia, has been the family\u2019s point person in dealings with the government and royal court. He was photographed shaking hands with the crown prince in October before leaving the kingdom to meet with others in his family, including a brother and two sisters.\nWhen reached by phone earlier this month, Khashoggi declined to answer questions about the payments. His statement Wednesday appeared to acknowledge the compensation indirectly, saying that members of the family \u201cwere brought up by our parents to thank acts of good not disavow.\u201d\nKhashoggi and his siblings were given houses in Jiddah worth several million dollars apiece, according to people familiar with the arrangement. Salah Khashoggi owns the largest of the structures, while the other properties are part of a shared compound.\nThe children also received initial payments of about 1\u00a0million Saudi riyal \u2014 or roughly $266,000 \u2014 after Saudi authorities acknowledged that their father had been killed by state operatives, according to a person with knowledge of the issue who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the matter. These payments have not been previously disclosed because they were not known at the time of The Post story this month.\nThe Khashoggi children have shown significant restraint in their few public statements since their father\u2019s death. But Salah Khashoggi\u2019s tweet went further than those previous communications in praising the crown prince.\nThe son described his father as \u201ca respectable journalist and patriotic Saudi citizen,\u201d although he was frequently critical of the kingdom\u2019s policies in opinion columns published by The Post.\nThe paper also reported in December that Jamal Khashoggi had relied on associates, including a longtime friend with close ties to Qatar, to help shape his writings for an American audience. Part of his son\u2019s statement seemed aimed at that account, saying that \u201crecent attempts to smear his legacy and draw friction are ill and immoral.\u201d\ngreg.miller@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "ICMMGAGWBQI6RA4EXTCUSL7PJE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ICMMGAGWBQI6RA4EXTCUSL7PJE_2", "title": "Trump says Saudis engaged in \u2018worst coverup ever\u2019 as U.S. imposes penalties ", "text": "on this matter from the United States,\u201d Pompeo said during a briefing at the State Department. \u201cWe will continue to explore additional measures to hold those responsible accountable.\u201d The killing of Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, has provoked international outrage over Saudi Arabia\u2019s conduct and raised urgent questions about whether the kingdom\u2019s crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, was involved in the plot. Mohammed on Tuesday received a standing ovation when he appeared at a major investment conference in Riyadh \u2014 which some Western executives and leaders have withdrawn from because of the controversy \u2014 but the crown prince did not address the crowd. Separately on Tuesday, the official Saudi Press Agency published photos of the Saudi monarch, King Salman, and the crown prince meeting two members of Khashoggi\u2019s family, including his son. One photo showed the son, Salah, looking ashen-faced and shaking hands with Mohammed as a video cameraman stood in the background. Saudi Arabia\u2019s Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter that the leaders shared \u201ctheir deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of Jamal Khashoggi, may God rest his soul.\u201d For more than two weeks after Khashoggi disappeared while visiting the consulate, Saudi officials repeatedly said that he had left the mission alive and that they had no information about his whereabouts. Early Saturday, the Saudi officials did an abrupt reversal, acknowledging he had been killed inside the consulate but blaming the matter on a \u201crogue\u201d operation that ended in a deadly brawl. \u201cSaudi Arabia took an important step by accepting the murder,\u201d Erdogan said in his speech. \u201cAfter this, we expect them to reveal those responsible for this matter. We have information that the murder is not instant, but planned,\u201d he said. Erdogan directly addressed King Salman, noticeably making no mention of the 33-year-old crown prince. Erdogan requested that the 18 Saudi suspects arrested so far be put on trial in Istanbul and said it was important that any Saudi investigation be carried out \u201cby an impartial and fair delegation\u201d with no connections to the killing. The Turkish president did not address some of the most explosive allegations that have surfaced during the investigation \u2014 notably that Khashoggi was dismembered after he was killed. And he did not present any of the evidence that Turkey had gathered so far, including audio recordings that investigators are"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "ISTANBUL \u2014\nPresident Trump said Tuesday that Saudi officials had engaged in the \u201cworst coverup ever\u201d after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi earlier this month, as the administration took its first concrete step to penalize Saudi Arabia, revoking visas for its agents implicated in the killing.\nThat initial penalty was modest, since 18 of the 21 Saudi suspects were already under arrest, and Trump said he would \u201cleave it up to Congress\u201d to determine how best to punish the kingdom for the killing inside its Istanbul consulate.\nTurkey\u2019s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Tuesday labeled the killing \u201cplanned\u201d and \u201cbrutal\u201d and called on Saudi Arabia to extradite the detained suspects to Turkey to face justice. Erdogan\u2019s highly anticipated comments, during a speech to his ruling party in the capital, Ankara, contradicted Saudi accounts that Khashoggi was killed when an argument inside the consulate escalated into a fistfight.\nThe Turkish leader did not directly accuse the Saudi leadership of involvement in the killing but strongly indicated that the Saudi investigation had not reached high enough into the kingdom\u2019s ruling circles.\n\u201cIt will not satisfy the public by just pinning this kind of matter on a few security and intelligence officers,\u201d he said. \u201cCovering up this kind of savagery will hurt the conscience of all humanity.\u201d\nProviding several new details, Erdogan described an operation in which Saudi agents removed the hard disk on a consulate camera and one team visited wooded areas in and around Istanbul \u201cfor reconnaissance\u201d before the killing. These were areas that Turkish police later focused on as they searched for Khashoggi\u2019s body.\nSpeaking in the Oval Office, Trump skewered the Saudis, saying, \u201cThey had a very bad original concept, it was carried out poorly, and the coverup was the worst in the history of coverups.\u201d He added, \u201cIn terms of what we ultimately do, I\u2019m going to leave it very much \u2014 in conjunction with me \u2014 I\u2019m going to leave it up to Congress.\u201d\nThe State Department said the visa penalties would affect 21 Saudis. Most already have visas, and their documents are being revoked. Some who do not have visas are now ineligible for them, officials said.\nSecretary of State Mike Pompeo, who announced the action, said he is also working with the Treasury Department on whether to impose sanctions on those responsible for the journalist\u2019s death.\n\u201cThese penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States,\u201d Pompeo said during a briefing at the State Department. \u201cWe will continue to explore additional measures to hold those responsible accountable.\u201d\nThe killing of Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, has provoked international outrage over Saudi Arabia\u2019s conduct and raised urgent questions about whether the kingdom\u2019s crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, was involved in the plot.\nMohammed on Tuesday received a standing ovation when he appeared at a major investment conference in Riyadh \u2014 which some Western executives and leaders have withdrawn from because of the controversy \u2014 but the crown prince did not address the crowd.\nSeparately on Tuesday, the official Saudi Press Agency published photos of the Saudi monarch, King Salman, and the crown prince meeting two members of Khashoggi\u2019s family, including his son.\nOne photo showed the son, Salah, looking ashen-faced and shaking hands with Mohammed as a video cameraman stood in the background. Saudi Arabia\u2019s Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter that the leaders shared \u201ctheir deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of Jamal Khashoggi, may God rest his soul.\u201d\nFor more than two weeks after Khashoggi disappeared while visiting the consulate, Saudi officials repeatedly said that he had left the mission alive and that they had no information about his whereabouts. Early Saturday, the Saudi officials did an abrupt reversal, acknowledging he had been killed inside the consulate but blaming the matter on a \u201crogue\u201d operation that ended in a deadly brawl.\n\u201cSaudi Arabia took an important step by accepting the murder,\u201d Erdogan said in his speech. \u201cAfter this, we expect them to reveal those responsible for this matter. We have information that the murder is not instant, but planned,\u201d he said.\nErdogan directly addressed King Salman, noticeably making no mention of the 33-year-old crown prince. Erdogan requested that the 18 Saudi suspects arrested so far be put on trial in Istanbul and said it was important that any Saudi investigation be carried out \u201cby an impartial and fair delegation\u201d with no connections to the killing.\nThe Turkish president did not address some of the most explosive allegations that have surfaced during the investigation \u2014 notably that Khashoggi was dismembered after he was killed. And he did not present any of the evidence that Turkey had gathered so far, including audio recordings that investigators are said to possess that captured the moments when Khashoggi was killed.\nBut Erdogan provided the most detailed timeline yet of the days and hours leading up to the killing three weeks ago.\nIn the timeline he laid out, the team of Saudi agents dispatched to Istanbul had carefully prepared for Khashoggi\u2019s death.\nThe team was first alerted, Erdogan said, after Khashoggi visited the consulate on Sept.\u00a028.\n\u201cPlanning and the work of a road map starts here,\u201d the president said. Three days later, on Oct. 1, teams of Saudi agents begin arriving in Istanbul, he said, with one team performing reconnaissance in nearby wooded areas. The Saudi team consisted of \u201cintelligence, security and forensic workers,\u201d Erdogan said.\nKhashoggi entered the mission at 1:14 p.m. Oct. 2. When he had not emerged a few hours later, his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting for him outside, alerted authorities and an investigation began, Erdogan said. Camera footage showed that Khashoggi never left, he added.\nErdogan highlighted attempts by the Saudis to obstruct or cover up the killing, including a ruse involving a Saudi agent who was dressed like Khashoggi and captured on camera exiting the consulate.\n\u201cWhy\u00a0did 15 people gather in Istanbul the day of the murder? Who did these people receive orders from?\u201d he asked. \u201cWhy was the consulate opened not immediately, but days later, for investigation? When the murder was obvious, why were inconsistent explanations given?\u201d\n\u201cWhy is the body still not found?\u201d\nDuring Erdogan\u2019s address Tuesday, lawmakers from his party sat mostly silent. But when he shifted to his demands of the Saudi royals, the audience cheered enthusiastically at the mention of Turkey\u2019s sovereignty and authority to prosecute the suspects.\nIn a phone call to Khashoggi\u2019s family on Tuesday, Erdogan expressed his condolences for the journalist\u2019s death and promised to continue pursuing the investigation, according to a person familiar with the conversation.\nThe Khashoggi case has embarrassed the Trump administration, which regards the crown prince as one of its closest Arab allies and Saudi Arabia as a cornerstone of the U.S. strategy to counter Iran.\u00a0On Monday, CIA Director Gina Haspel headed to Turkey, where she is expected to assess the strength of the evidence that Turkish officials have collected.\nSaudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Tuesday that the kingdom was committed to a \u201ccomprehensive investigation\u201d into the journalist\u2019s death and had dispatched a team to Turkey.\nSpeaking in Indonesia on Tuesday, Jubeir said the Saudi investigators had\u00a0\u201cuncovered evidence of a murder.\u201d He also vowed to put mechanisms in place that would prevent similar incidents in the future, without expanding upon what those would be.\nKhashoggi\u2019s death has tarnished the global reputation of the crown prince, who has eased social restrictions at home while pursuing an unrelenting crackdown on rivals and critics, imprisoning hundreds. Mohammed has also tried to lure exiled dissidents such as Khashoggi, who lived in Virginia, back to Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi\u2019s friends and other exiles have said.\nAs Saudi Arabia on Tuesday opened its landmark business conference \u2014 part of the crown prince\u2019s plan to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil revenue \u2014 the country\u2019s Foreign Ministry released video of him inside a crowd of attendees, posing for a selfie.\nDespite the pullout of several high-profile participants, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde, the event was packed with people from across the Middle East, as well as from China, India and the United States.\nKhashoggi\u2019s death was acknowledged at the beginning of the conference by a panel moderator, Lubna Olayan, a prominent Saudi business leader who said she had known the journalist.\n\u201cI want to tell all our foreign guests, for whose presence with us this morning we are very grateful, that the terrible acts reported in recent weeks are alien to our culture and our DNA,\u201d she said.\nkareem.fahim@washpost.com\ntamer.el-ghobashy@washpost.com\njohn.hudson@washpost.com\nchico.harlan@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "IHXYLQ763FB3ZC4VF3XYEYBLZA_0", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "IHXYLQ763FB3ZC4VF3XYEYBLZA_0", "title": "Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance in Turkey plays into Middle East media war", "text": "More than a week after the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, all parties involved agree that the journalist walked into Saudi Arabia\u2019s consulate in Istanbul on the afternoon of Oct. 2. When it comes to what happened next, however, the Saudis have a very different story. Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi left the consulate, where he was seeking papers that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancee, after an unremarkable visit. Yet Turkish authorities, as well as the missing Saudi journalist\u2019s friends and family, say Khashoggi did not come out of the consulate, where his fiancee was waiting for him outside. With little evidence officially put forward by either side, journalists from The Washington Post and other news organizations have reported on unreleased details about the investigation, some of which have been obtained from Turkish officials speaking off the record. These details suggest that Khashoggi was killed at the consulate. There has been some corroboration from other sources, including by U.S. intelligence officials who said Saudi Arabia\u2019s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, had been trying to lure Khashoggi back to the kingdom. But the Middle East is deeply divided by geopolitical interests and is a place where leaks of information \u2014 and misinformation \u2014 are often intended to drive narratives. Turkey and Saudi Arabia sit on opposing sides of this divide, and both have a reputation for muddying the water. Turkey is \u201creally notorious for social media disinformation, trolling, outright lies in the press\u201d to further the government\u2019s position, said Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations. Saudi Arabia has not offered any compelling evidence or even a plausible alternative hypothesis for what happened inside the consulate; it has said that security cameras at the facility did not record footage. Instead, it has tried to undermine the reports about Khashoggi by focusing on the source of information and the idea that Turkey does not have a neutral viewpoint. Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the United States and the crown prince\u2019s brother, released a statement this week that criticized \u201cvarious malicious leaks and grim rumors flying around about Jamal\u2019s whereabouts and fate.\u201d Although the Saudi government is not a neutral party in the situation, some experts agreed that the Turkish accounts needed real scrutiny. \u201cHaving been on the end of Turkish state-affiliated media attacks and lies, I can see that the possibility for manipulation here is great,\u201d said"}], "old": [{"_id": "IHXYLQ763FB3ZC4VF3XYEYBLZA_0", "title": "Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance in Turkey plays into Middle East media war", "text": "Read more: Missing journalist\u2019s fiancee demands to know: \u2018Where is Jamal?\u2019 Crown prince sought to lure Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia and detain him, U.S. intercepts show"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "More than a week after the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, all parties involved agree that the journalist walked into Saudi Arabia\u2019s consulate in Istanbul on the afternoon of Oct. 2.\nWhen it comes to what happened next, however, the Saudis have a very different story.\nSaudi Arabia says Khashoggi left the consulate, where he was seeking papers that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancee, after an unremarkable visit. Yet Turkish authorities, as well as the missing Saudi journalist\u2019s friends and family, say Khashoggi did not come out of the consulate, where his fiancee was waiting for him outside.\nWith little evidence officially put forward by either side, journalists from The Washington Post and other news organizations have reported on unreleased details about the investigation, some of which have been obtained from Turkish officials speaking off the record. These details suggest that Khashoggi was killed at the consulate.\nThere has been some corroboration from other sources, including by U.S. intelligence officials who said Saudi Arabia\u2019s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, had been trying to lure Khashoggi back to the kingdom.\nBut the Middle East is deeply divided by geopolitical interests and is a place where leaks of information \u2014 and misinformation \u2014 are often intended to drive narratives. Turkey and Saudi Arabia sit on opposing sides of this divide, and both have a reputation for muddying the water.\nTurkey is \u201creally notorious for social media disinformation, trolling, outright lies in the press\u201d to further the government\u2019s position, said Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations.\nSaudi Arabia has not offered any compelling evidence or even a plausible alternative hypothesis for what happened inside the consulate; it has said that security cameras at the facility did not record footage. Instead, it has tried to undermine the reports about Khashoggi by focusing on the source of information and the idea that Turkey does not have a neutral viewpoint.\nKhalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the United States and the crown prince\u2019s brother, released a statement this week that criticized \u201cvarious malicious leaks and grim rumors flying around about Jamal\u2019s whereabouts and fate.\u201d\nAlthough the Saudi government is not a neutral party in the situation, some experts agreed that the Turkish accounts needed real scrutiny. \u201cHaving been on the end of Turkish state-affiliated media attacks and lies, I can see that the possibility for manipulation here is great,\u201d said Cook, who added that he thinks Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate.\nUnder President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has cracked down on the country\u2019s once-vibrant and relatively free media world. It ranks 157 in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index, having dropped more than 50 spots in a decade. The Committee to Protect Journalists says more journalists are imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country.\nSome of the information attributed to Turkish officials presents a contradictory account of what may have happened in the consulate. One report suggested that the Turkish government may have video of the alleged killing of Khashoggi, while other outlets have suggested that some officials think the journalist is still alive.\nH.A. Hellyer, a senior nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council in London, said the chaotic nature of the Turkish leaks in the immediate aftermath of Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance may have been an attempt to pressure Saudi Arabia.\nThe Turkish line has since become more consistent, he said. \u201cOne can only imagine that the Turks' expectations of what Riyadh is going to do have changed,\u201d Hellyer added.\nPublications funded by the Saudi government and its allies appear to be attempting to cast doubt on the case, rather than present a rival theory. At the weekend, al-Arabiya English published an interview that it said was conducted with Salah Khashoggi, the eldest son of the missing journalist, in which he was quoted as saying that he did not know his father\u2019s fiancee and stressed that he wanted to cooperate with the Saudi government.\nSalah Khashoggi remains in Saudi Arabia, however, raising questions about whether any interview conducted with him would have been under duress.\nSupporters of the Saudi viewpoint also have latched on to the fact that some of the reporting on the case has come from media outlets that are close to the Turkish government or news organizations such as Al Jazeera that are funded by the government of Qatar, a small Persian Gulf country embroiled in a standoff with Saudi Arabia and its allies.\n\u201cThe Saudi-Erdogan relationship is stressed,\u201d Ali Shihabi, founder of the Arabia Foundation, a pro-Riyadh think tank in Washington, wrote on Twitter over the weekend. He said Turkey would need to present \u201cabsolutely irrefutable evidence\u201d for its allegations to be believed.\nTurkey has remained a key ally for Qatar even as Saudi Arabia led a blockade of the tiny oil-rich state. Turkey even sent troops to Qatar in a show of strength and support last year.\nThe Qatar-Saudi spat has become notorious for acts of subterfuge and the leaks of information and misinformation. Qatari-linked hackers are widely suspected of leaking the personal emails of Yousef al-Otaiba, ambassador to the United States for the United Arab Emirates, a key Saudi ally. The move appeared to be a response to a hack of Qatari government websites that U.S. officials say the UAE orchestrated.\n\u201cI think we\u2019ve got to remember, for years, there have been propaganda missives from Saudi-funded media, Turkish-funded media, Qatari-funded media \u2014 and it\u2019s been pretty constant,\u201d Hellyer said. \u201cAll these media operations take their cues from state apparatuses, directly or otherwise, so it makes it really difficult to rely on them independently, without double and triple verification.\"\nAkin Unver, a professor at Kadir Has University in Istanbul who specializes in digital propaganda, said both sides in the Saudi-Qatar split had made widespread use of misinformation and propaganda, often employing government-sponsored trolls and bots on social media to escalate disputes and gain support.\nBut despite Saudi Arabia\u2019s narrative on Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance, Unver said he was surprised not to have seen similar levels of propaganda from either side about the case \u2014 even though Turkey was perhaps the most active country in this field, he said.\n\u201cThis means that both countries view the matter as extremely delicate and don\u2019t want to use propaganda as a way of political communication before the diplomatic negotiations are complete,\u201d Unver said.\nFor the United States, finding out conclusively what happened to Khashoggi will prove important to its Middle East policy. The Trump administration has closely aligned itself with the Saudi crown prince and is at odds with Turkey\u2019s Erdogan on several issues, but the U.S. Senate opened an investigation of the Khashoggi case Wednesday that could result in sanctions on Saudi officials if the Turkish version of events is confirmed.\nAn investigation by the United States or another outside arbitrator would be the best chance to find out conclusively what happened, Cook said. \u201cEven if the Turks aren\u2019t lying, you have to have another layer there,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause they\u2019ve been so bad on this.\u201d\nRead more:\nMissing journalist\u2019s fiancee demands to know: \u2018Where is Jamal?\u2019\nCrown prince sought to lure Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia and detain him, U.S. intercepts show"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "ONRDFPTXGYI6TPJFZGEVKXTXMY_1", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ONRDFPTXGYI6TPJFZGEVKXTXMY_1", "title": "Khashoggi fiancee criticizes Trump\u2019s response to killing of Saudi journalist", "text": "and property to Khashoggi\u2019s four adult children. Cengiz was the last person to see Khashoggi before he entered the consulate to obtain papers for their planned marriage. He never emerged from the building, where according to U.S. and Turkish authorities he was killed and dismembered by a team of assassins dispatched from Riyadh. She also described an alarming conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after Khashoggi\u2019s death, in which the Turkish leader cautioned about the danger posed by Saudi Arabia under the volatile crown prince. \u201cWhat we are faced with now is not a normal country, not a normal leader,\u201d Erdogan said, according to Cengiz. He added that Mohammed is \u201csomeone who tends to behave erratically.\u201d The White House and the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Turkey and Saudi Arabia are rivals, and Erdogan\u2019s government reacted with anger to the kingdom\u2019s apparent belief that it could kill one of its citizens with impunity on Turkish soil. A Turkish intelligence recording shared with the CIA included audio of a struggle inside the consulate and Khashoggi gasping for air. Turkish surveillance footage also showed Saudi operatives clumsily trying to cover their tracks in Istanbul, and it helped to disprove Saudi claims that Khashoggi had left the consulate unharmed. Saudi officials have denied that Mohammed was involved in or even aware of the operation to kill Khashoggi, insisting that it was carried out by rogue elements of the government. Saudi authorities have announced investigations of 21 people in connection with the killing, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for five men accused of being directly involved. Cengiz said she had met Khashoggi at a conference last year and that the two soon made plans to wed. She said that he sometimes voiced concerns that Saudi Arabia would retaliate for columns he wrote that were critical of the government by seizing his passport or other means but that he did not fear for his safety. She said she accompanied him to the consulate of her own accord that day, and that while he left belongings including a phone with her outside, he did not express any concern that he might be abducted or take any precautions such as leaving her with instructions on whom to call. Cengiz said she had considered relocating to the United States after Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance but opted to settle in London, where"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The fiancee of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi criticized the U.S. response to his killing on Wednesday, saying that the Trump administration has failed to uphold American values by allowing the Saudi government to avoid meaningful consequences for the crime.\nKhashoggi \u201chad always championed the U.S.\u201d as \u201c the place you went \u201cto challenge the status quo and speak truth to power,\u201d Hatice Cengiz said in a meeting Wednesday with Washington Post journalists. \u201cJamal would have been most disappointed of all to see the U.S. response.\u201d\nCengiz\u2019s remarks are her strongest statement to date on the Trump administration\u2019s muted reaction to a killing that was widely condemned as an attack on press freedoms and a brazen violation of human rights.\nPresident Trump has questioned the CIA\u2019s conclusion that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman authorized the operation and has resisted imposing any substantial penalty on a long-standing Middle East ally.\nCengiz, who is scheduled to testify before a House subcommittee Thursday, also said that the Saudi government has not contacted her to offer compensation or even condolences since Khashoggi was killed in the kingdom\u2019s consulate in Istanbul last October. By contrast, the kingdom has given millions of dollars in cash and property to Khashoggi\u2019s four adult children.\nCengiz was the last person to see Khashoggi before he entered the consulate to obtain papers for their planned marriage. He never emerged from the building, where according to U.S. and Turkish authorities he was killed and dismembered by a team of assassins dispatched from Riyadh.\nShe also described an alarming conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after Khashoggi\u2019s death, in which the Turkish leader cautioned about the danger posed by Saudi Arabia under the volatile crown prince.\n\u201cWhat we are faced with now is not a normal country, not a normal leader,\u201d Erdogan said, according to Cengiz. He added that Mohammed is \u201csomeone who tends to behave erratically.\u201d\nThe White House and the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.\nTurkey and Saudi Arabia are rivals, and Erdogan\u2019s government reacted with anger to the kingdom\u2019s apparent belief that it could kill one of its citizens with impunity on Turkish soil.\nA Turkish intelligence recording shared with the CIA included audio of a struggle inside the consulate and Khashoggi gasping for air. Turkish surveillance footage also showed Saudi operatives clumsily trying to cover their tracks in Istanbul, and it helped to disprove Saudi claims that Khashoggi had left the consulate unharmed.\nSaudi officials have denied that Mohammed was involved in or even aware of the operation to kill Khashoggi, insisting that it was carried out by rogue elements of the government. Saudi authorities have announced investigations of 21 people in connection with the killing, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for five men accused of being directly involved.\nCengiz said she had met Khashoggi at a conference last year and that the two soon made plans to wed. She said that he sometimes voiced concerns that Saudi Arabia would retaliate for columns he wrote that were critical of the government by seizing his passport or other means but that he did not fear for his safety.\nShe said she accompanied him to the consulate of her own accord that day, and that while he left belongings including a phone with her outside, he did not express any concern that he might be abducted or take any precautions such as leaving her with instructions on whom to call.\nCengiz said she had considered relocating to the United States after Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance but opted to settle in London, where she now lives and is pursuing a doctoral degree, in part because the \u201cU.S. is going through a difficult political time.\u201d\nShe said that Saudi Arabia has continued to impede the search for answers to lingering questions, including the whereabouts of Khashoggi\u2019s remains. Based on conversations with Turkish officials, she said, \u201cI know for a fact they have not found anything.\u201d\nAs a result, she said, she still clings to a small hope that Khashoggi might be alive. \u201cIf someone came up to me and said he is alive, I would believe it,\u201d she said.\ngreg.miller@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "R6QYLTGURMI6RDBC7IXPOS6W2Y_7", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "R6QYLTGURMI6RDBC7IXPOS6W2Y_7", "title": "In death, Saudi writer\u2019s mild calls for reform grew into a defiant shout", "text": "halted all programming that same day, citing technical difficulties. Al-Arab would never come back. Afterward, the man who was twice fired from newspaper jobs for allowing the expression of dissenting views seemed genuinely surprised that the TV project was shut down, said Salem, his Washington friend. \u201cHis goal was to create a first-rate media outlet with the highest standards, in Arabic, because it was important to him that Arabs could access this kind of information,\u201d she said. \u201cHe felt that the people in power would keep their word. He said, \u2018They told me it would be protected.\u2019 \u201d Patrons sidelined, arrested For some of Mr. Khashoggi\u2019s friends and colleagues, the question that has reverberated since his disappearance and killing inside a Saudi consulate is simply: Why? Why should the mild criticisms of a gregarious, well-connected Saudi citizen so enrage the country\u2019s crown prince? \u201cThat\u2019s the question,\u201d the Saudi friend said. \u201cYou have four or five people in London that were far more dangerous for the government than Jamal. From the beginning, I was really surprised.\u201d One obvious contributing factor, some say, was the dramatic power shift in Saudi Arabia since Mohammed\u2019s assent to power. Previously, Mr. Khashoggi\u2019s main patrons in the government were members of the al-Faisal branch of the royal family, including Turki and Prince Khalid al-Faisal, who was the journalist\u2019s boss while he served as editor at al-Watan. But over the last two years, many of his backers were sidelined, and some were arrested by the crown prince, who has cracked down on all forms of dissent while also liberalizing certain aspects of Saudi society and culture. After Mr. Khashoggi was barred last year from writing his weekly column in Al-Hayat, a Saudi-owned newspaper based in London, the pressure inside his own country became unbearable, friends say. His wife \u2014 his second \u2014 sued for divorce, citing the increasing risk to his adult children \u2014 two daughters and two sons \u2014 and Mr. Khashoggi moved into a condo in McLean, Va., in the Washington suburbs. Soon afterward, he accepted an offer to become a regular contributor to The Post\u2019s \u201cGlobal Opinions\u201d column. \u201cI\u2019m under so much pressure from family members and friends to stay silent. But this isn\u2019t right,\u201d he explained in a text message to Karen Attiah, the section editor who recruited him. \u201cWe have enough Arab failing states. I don\u2019t want my country to be one,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "When he began his self-imposed exile to Washington last year, Jamal Khashoggi described himself simply as one \u201cindependent journalist using his pen for the good of his country.\u201d With his brutal killing in Turkey this month, the Saudi journalist became much more: the Arab world\u2019s loudest dissenter and an international symbol for the cause of free expression.\nIn their effort to silence the 59-year-old writer, Saudi officials eliminated a domestic nuisance who had angered the country\u2019s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In the process, however, they touched off a temblor of global outrage that would shake the kingdom and strain relations with its most important allies.\nAfter two weeks of denials, the Saudi government acknowledged early Saturday that Mr. Khashoggi had died violently inside the country\u2019s diplomatic consulate in Istanbul, while claiming that the death resulted from an argument and fistfight. A government statement announced the arrests of 18 Saudis, the firing of five top officials and a plan to overhaul the country\u2019s intelligence agencies \u2014 to be overseen by Mohammed.\nYet, if anything, the admission appeared only to further amplify Mr. Khashoggi\u2019s criticisms of the Saudi government. Senior U.S. lawmakers of both political parties expressed skepticism Saturday over the Saudi explanation for his killing, and Rep. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, demanded in a Twitter post that \u201cThe Kingdom must be held to account.\u201d Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) tweeted: \u201cTo say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr. Khashoggi is an understatement. .\u2009.\u2009. It\u2019s hard to find this latest \u2018explanation\u2019 as credible.\u201d\nIronically, Mr. Khashoggi had never sought to be a disrupter and instead, as a lifelong member of the Saudi political establishment, had been an advocate for modest reform within the system. Refusing to be labeled a \u201cdissident,\u201d he argued simply that his fellow Arabs deserved the \u201cright to speak their minds without fear of imprisonment,\u201d as he wrote in a Washington Post column in April.\nUp until his death, he firmly believed that such reforms were within reach, even in Saudi Arabia, friends and former colleagues said.\n\u201cThis was Jamal: He had a never-ending hope that changes could happen, and that Arabs could lead the way,\u201d said Maggie Mitchell Salem, a former State Department official and Middle East specialist who became a lifelong friend.\n\u201cIn killing him, it\u2019s like they killed more than a man,\u201d she said. \u201cThey killed a vision of what Arab media and society could be like.\u201d\nSpeaking out boldly\nMr. Khashoggi spent his life straddling uncomfortable boundaries between occupations and interests that often seemed in conflict.\nHe was a lifelong journalist who also moved easily within the highest circles of Saudi politics, and sometimes served as a spokesman and adviser to senior government officials. He was a supporter of political Islam who at times sympathized with the Muslim Brotherhood, the transnational Sunni Muslim movement that is now outlawed in Saudi Arabia. Yet he was a strident critic of Islamist extremism, and he spent his later years championing liberal causes such as women\u2019s rights and freedom of expression in Muslim societies.\nEarly in his journalistic career, in the 1980s and 1990s, he became famous for his repeated interviews with Osama bin Laden, and he wrote admiringly in those days about the wealthy Saudi whose U.S.-backed mujahideen militia was fighting the communist government of Afghanistan. But he later broke sharply with bin Laden over his embrace of terrorism, and he became one of the Arab world\u2019s most vociferous critics of \u00adal-Qaeda after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.\n\u201cThe most pressing issue now,\u201d he wrote in a 2002 essay, \u201cis to ensure that our children can never be influenced by extremist ideas, like those 15 Saudis who were misled into hijacking four planes that fine September day, piloting them, and us, straight into the jaws of hell.\u201d\nHe considered himself to be a fierce Saudi patriot, friends say, though he embraced the West and was frequently critical of his country\u2019s rulers and policies. He met freely with officials and operatives from foreign intelligence agencies, including those of the United States and other Western countries, but sought no favors and \u201ccarefully avoided compromising his journalistic integrity,\u201d according to a former U.S. intelligence official who met frequently with him over two decades.\n\u201cHe believed in working within legal parameters\u201d to improve conditions in his country, said the official, who insisted on anonymity in describing his agency\u2019s information-collection efforts. \u201cHe also believed that the United States could be a force for good in Saudi Arabia.\u201d\nHis seemingly contradictory stances earned Mr. Khashoggi legions of opponents and critics. Some Arab dissidents distrusted him because of his close ties with senior government officials, such as Turki al-Faisal, the Saudi prince and former ambassador to Washington, for whom Mr. Khashoggi once worked as a media adviser. But over time, it was the Saudi establishment that turned on the journalist, moving first to shut down his publishing platforms in the Arab peninsula, and then to crush him.\nHis chief offense: speaking out boldly about the problems he saw at home, said Hisham Melhem, a columnist for the Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar and longtime acquaintance of Mr. Khashoggi.\n\u201cHe was offended by the corruption he saw, and he pushed for a degree of political empowerment for Saudi citizens,\u201d Melhem said. For Saudi Arabia\u2019s leaders, \u201cthat put Khashoggi in the category of misfits and troublemakers.\u201d\nShut down and fired\nBorn in the Saudi holy city of Medina, Mr. Khashoggi grew up without wealth in a middle-class Saudi family with Turkish ancestry. He did have numerous important familial connections to the upper echelons of Saudi society. His grandfather was a physician to the royal court. His uncle, Adnan Khashoggi, was an international arms dealer who briefly became a figure in the Iran-contra scandal of the 1980s. He was a first cousin of Dodi Fayed, the Egyptian film producer who was dating Britain\u2019s Diana, Princess of Wales, at the time of their fatal car crash in Paris in 1997.\nKhashoggi studied business administration at Indiana State University and managed bookstores in Saudi Arabia before venturing into journalism. He covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Algeria and Sudan for the Saudi Gazette and later would rise to the top ranks of Saudi newspaper writers and opinion-makers. But it was his advocacy of democratic reforms \u2014 most notably in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings \u2014 that won him notoriety abroad and deep distrust within the inner circles of the Saudi elite.\n\u201cHe was always drawing my attention,\u201d said Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Turkey\u2019s ruling AKP party who frequently engaged with Mr. Khashoggi during panels and conferences. \u201cAfter the Arab Spring, he was very prominent in discussions, because, while his country was anti-Arab Spring, he was pro-Arab Spring, and promoting democratization movements. He thought the Arab Spring was a historical chance for the Arab world.\u201d\nFriends say Mr. Khashoggi had a complex view of the Muslim Brotherhood and other political Islamists, particularly in his later years. He believed that democracy in the Middle East was impossible unless moderate Islamists were allowed a voice, acquaintances said, but also he disdained extremism, and his social leanings were decidedly secularist.\n\u201cHis idea was that we shouldn\u2019t be an enemy to them,\u201d said a Saudi friend who requested anonymity because of the risk of official retaliation. \u201cIt\u2019s wasn\u2019t his mentality. He was more liberal, more Western.\u201d\nIn part because of his deep connections to Turki, the former ambassador, and to billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Mr. Khashoggi managed to rise to increasingly prominent positions in the Arab media world, only to find his path blocked by more conservative Saudi officials who objected to his political views. He was twice appointed as editor of the influential Saudi daily \u00adal-Watan but was quickly fired both times \u2014 once after just three months on the job.\nIn 2015, he was named founding director of a new all-Arab satellite news channel, al-Arab, bankrolled by bin Talal. After four years of preparations, the broadcaster went on the air on Feb. 1, 2015, from a lavish studio in the World Trade Center in Manama, Bahrain. But the station quickly ran into trouble when it aired, during one of its first shows, a segment that featured a Shiite dissident critical of Bahrain\u2019s violent crackdown on Arab Spring protesters four years earlier.\nBahraini officials halted all programming that same day, citing technical difficulties. Al-Arab would never come back.\nAfterward, the man who was twice fired from newspaper jobs for allowing the expression of dissenting views seemed genuinely surprised that the TV project was shut down, said Salem, his Washington friend.\n\u201cHis goal was to create a first-rate media outlet with the highest standards, in Arabic, because it was important to him that Arabs could access this kind of information,\u201d she said. \u201cHe felt that the people in power would keep their word. He said, \u2018They told me it would be protected.\u2019\u00a0\u201d\nPatrons sidelined, arrested\nFor some of Mr. Khashoggi\u2019s friends and colleagues, the question that has reverberated since his disappearance and killing inside a Saudi consulate is simply: Why? Why should the mild criticisms of a gregarious, well-connected Saudi citizen so enrage the country\u2019s crown prince?\n\u201cThat\u2019s the question,\u201d the Saudi friend said. \u201cYou have four or five people in London that were far more dangerous for the government than Jamal. From the beginning, I was really surprised.\u201d\nOne obvious contributing factor, some say, was the dramatic power shift in Saudi Arabia since Mohammed\u2019s assent to power. Previously, Mr. Khashoggi\u2019s main patrons in the government were members of the al-Faisal branch of the royal family, including Turki and Prince Khalid al-Faisal, who was the journalist\u2019s boss while he served as editor at al-Watan. But over the last two years, many of his backers were sidelined, and some were arrested by the crown prince, who has cracked down on all forms of dissent while also liberalizing certain aspects of Saudi society and culture.\nAfter Mr. Khashoggi was barred last year from writing his weekly column in Al-Hayat, a Saudi-owned newspaper based in London, the pressure inside his own country became unbearable, friends say. His wife \u2014 his second \u2014 sued for divorce, citing the increasing risk to his adult children \u2014 two daughters and two sons \u2014 and Mr. Khashoggi moved into a condo in McLean, Va., in the Washington suburbs. Soon afterward, he accepted an offer to become a regular contributor to The Post\u2019s \u201cGlobal Opinions\u201d column.\n\u201cI\u2019m under so much pressure from family members and friends to stay silent. But this isn\u2019t right,\u201d he explained in a text message to Karen Attiah, the section editor who recruited him. \u201cWe have enough Arab failing states. I don\u2019t want my country to be one, too.\u201d\nHis Post columns, translated into English, gave Mr. Khashoggi a powerful new platform and a vastly larger global audience. Yet many Saudi dissidents remained suspicious, and some resisted his efforts to recruit them for a new pro-democracy foundation he talked of launching.\n\u201cJamal used to work for the government for the last 30 or 35 years, and because of that, he was away from dissidents,\u201d said Omar Abdulaziz, a 27-year-old Saudi activist in Canada who runs a popular YouTube channel. \u201cWhen he left the country and decided to criticize the Saudi government, the majority of them were saying, \u2018You know what? Maybe Jamal is a spy.\u2019\u00a0\u201d\nYahya Assiri, a London-based activist who runs the ALQST human rights organization, said he also was skeptical when Mr. Khashoggi phoned him one day to see if he was willing to help.\n\u201cYou used to be pro-government, and now you want to work with us,\u201d Assiri recalled telling Mr. Khashoggi. The journalist replied that he had been supportive all along but had sought to work within the system \u2014 an option that was no longer tenable for him.\n\u201cI completely support your demands, when you demand democracy, when you demand human rights,\u201d he quoted Mr. Khashoggi as saying. \u201cBut I was trying to do this reform from inside the country, from inside the regime.\u201d\nWhile writing his Post column, Mr. Khashoggi continued to lobby friends to help him launch his new foundation, which he had tentatively decided to call Democracy for Arab World Now, or DAWN, to be jointly based in the United States and Turkey. He also turned his efforts to online activism, funding a project to build what he called a \u201cbee army\u201d to counter pro-government trolls on social media platforms such as Twitter. He put up $5,000 of his own money to help buy foreign SIM cards for mobile phones, to be assigned to users in Saudi Arabia who were critical of the government but afraid to link their Saudi numbers to their Twitter accounts, activists said. About 200 SIM cards have already been assigned.\nIn late September, he met friends in London to discuss his various plans. Then he flew to Istanbul to deal with a bit of unfinished personal business: obtaining paperwork from Saudi Arabia that would allow him to marry his fiancee, Turkish doctoral student Hatice Cengiz.\nOn Oct.\u00a02, he entered the Saudi Consulate to pick the document up in advance of the couple\u2019s marriage, planned for the following day. He was never seen again.\nHis death would become a global media sensation, in part because of the brutal fashion in which he was killed, according to accounts leaked over the following days by Turkish officials, who said he was tortured and dismembered inside the consulate.\nFor Arab colleagues, the gruesome details bore echoes of previous slayings of writers and dissidents whose hands and fingers were mutilated to send a warning to others who might dare to pick up a pen to criticize the powerful.\n\u201cThe symbolism is deliberate: If you write with your right hand, your right fingers would be cut off, or burned in acid,\u201d said Melhem, the Lebanese journalist.\n\u201cFor us, Jamal is the last in a long train of journalists, artists and scholars to be killed in the Arab world,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has been done mostly with impunity \u2014 until now.\u201d\njoby.warrick@washpost.com\nloveday.morris@washpost.com\nsouad.mekhennet@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "S7XEYBWT2II6RJG3DBBRDUTRFE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "S7XEYBWT2II6RJG3DBBRDUTRFE_2", "title": "Saudi attempts to distance crown prince from Khashoggi killing haven\u2019t quieted uproar", "text": "Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said Sunday on CNN\u2019s \u201cState of the Union,\u201d referring to the crown prince. Corker \u2014 who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee \u2014 called for a \u201ccollective response\u201d by the United States, Britain, France and Germany if an investigation reveals that the crown prince was behind Khashoggi\u2019s killing. During an appearance Sunday on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press,\u201d Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said the Saudi ambassador should be formally expelled from the United States if an investigation shows the crown prince\u2019s involvement. Jubeir denied on Sunday that Mohammed had any prior knowledge of the operation and said that the agents involved \u201cweren\u2019t people closely tied\u201d to him. \u201cEven the senior leadership of our intelligence service was not aware of this,\u201d Jubeir said. The foreign minister said that Saudi Arabia does not know where Khashoggi\u2019s body is and that officials have not listened to an audio recording that Turkey claims proves Khashoggi was tortured, killed and dismembered. When asked by Fox News about the fistfight scenario put forth Saturday by prosecutors, Jubeir deflected, saying the circumstances of Khashoggi\u2019s death were still being investigated. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to ascertain the facts as to what happened in the consulate,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd what happened subsequent to that.\u201d Jubeir\u2019s contention that the Saudi government did not know precisely what happened to Khashoggi in the consulate \u2014 after the kingdom had previously announced that he was killed in a fistfight \u2014 was the latest in a series of shifting explanations by Saudi officials since Khashoggi disappeared. Reuters on Sunday quoted an unnamed Saudi official who portrayed Khashoggi\u2019s death as the result of a botched kidnapping. In a detailed account, the official said members of the 15-man Saudi team threatened to drug and kidnap Khashoggi and had \u201ckilled him in a chokehold\u201d when he resisted. Khashoggi\u2019s body, the official added, was rolled up in a carpet and given to a \u201clocal cooperator\u201d for disposal. A Saudi official, who spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation, refused to confirm the details of the Reuters report but said that there had been a standing order from Saudi intelligence to \u201cnegotiate with people outside to come back home.\u201d The team that approached Khashoggi had been sent to negotiate, but \u201cit went south,\u201d the official said, adding that \u201cthere was no order for a kidnapping. There was no order for a killing.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "ISTANBUL \u2014\nSaudi Arabia\u2019s foreign minister denied on Sunday that the nation\u2019s powerful young crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s killing, but the attempt to distance Mohammed bin Salman from the journalist\u2019s demise did little to blunt an international uproar that could test Saudi Arabia\u2019s status as a regional \u00adpower.\nAt the same time, Saudi officials have failed to answer questions about where Khashoggi\u2019s remains are and have offered inconsistent narratives for how he was killed, undermining the government\u2019s assertion that Khashoggi died after a fistfight broke out when he was confronted by agents seeking to bring him back to Riyadh while he was visiting the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct.\u00a02.\nThat explanation will face a fresh challenge on Tuesday when Turkish President\u00a0Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to reveal details of his government\u2019s investigation into the killing of Khashoggi, a move that could directly contradict Saudi Arabia\u2019s official account of what happened inside its consulate.\nErdogan said he would explain the episode \u201cin a very different way\u201d when his ruling party meets, adding to the already intense global pressure Saudi leadership has faced to provide a full picture of how Khashoggi was killed.\n\u201cWe seek justice and this will be revealed in all its naked truth, not through some ordinary steps but in all its naked truth,\u201d Erdogan said on Sunday, according to the semiofficial Anadolu news agency. \u201cThe incident will be revealed entirely.\u201d\nMeanwhile, Saudi Arabia\u2019s foreign minister sought to contain the fallout on Sunday while telegraphing the kingdom\u2019s priority: shielding Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince and de facto ruler, from growing speculation that Khashoggi\u2019s killing could not have happened without his knowledge or consent.\n\u201cThis was an operation that was a rogue operation,\u201d Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News. \u201cThis was an operation where individuals ended up exceeding the authorities and responsibilities they had. They made a mistake when they killed Jamal Khashoggi.\u201d\nSenior Republicans and Democrats proposed a range of severe punishments, including sanctions on the longtime U.S. ally, the expulsion of the Saudi ambassador and the cutting of arms sales. Nearly all of the calls for repercussions have centered on whether Mohammed knew of or ordered the operation to kill Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post contributing columnist and former royal insider turned critic.\n\u201cIt\u2019s my thinking that MBS was involved in this, that he directed this and that this person was purposefully murdered,\u201d Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said  Sunday on CNN\u2019s \u201cState of the Union,\u201d referring to the crown prince.\nCorker \u2014 who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee \u2014 called for a \u201ccollective response\u201d by the United States, Britain, France and Germany if an investigation reveals that the crown prince was behind Khashoggi\u2019s killing.\nDuring an appearance Sunday on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press,\u201d Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said the Saudi ambassador should be formally expelled from the United States if an investigation shows the crown prince\u2019s involvement.\nJubeir denied on Sunday that Mohammed had any prior knowledge of the operation and said that the agents involved \u201cweren\u2019t people closely tied\u201d to him.\n\u201cEven the senior leadership of our intelligence service was not aware of this,\u201d Jubeir said.\nThe foreign minister said that Saudi Arabia does not know where Khashoggi\u2019s body is and that officials have not listened to an audio recording that Turkey claims proves Khashoggi was tortured, killed and dismembered.\nWhen asked by Fox News about the fistfight scenario put forth Saturday by prosecutors, Jubeir deflected, saying the circumstances of Khashoggi\u2019s death were still being investigated.\n\u201cWe\u2019re trying to ascertain the facts as to what happened in the consulate,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd what happened subsequent to that.\u201d\nJubeir\u2019s contention that the Saudi government did not know precisely what happened to Khashoggi in the consulate \u2014 after the kingdom had previously announced that he was killed in a fistfight \u2014 was the latest in a series of shifting explanations by Saudi officials since Khashoggi disappeared.\nReuters on Sunday quoted an unnamed Saudi official who portrayed Khashoggi\u2019s death as the result of a botched kidnapping. In a detailed account, the official said members of the 15-man Saudi team threatened to drug and kidnap Khashoggi and had \u201ckilled him in a chokehold\u201d when he resisted.\nKhashoggi\u2019s body, the official added, was rolled up in a carpet and given to a \u201clocal cooperator\u201d for disposal.\nA Saudi official, who spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation, refused to confirm the details of the Reuters report but said that there had been a standing order from Saudi intelligence to \u201cnegotiate with people outside to come back home.\u201d The team that approached Khashoggi had been sent to negotiate, but \u201cit went south,\u201d the official said, adding that \u201cthere was no order for a kidnapping. There was no order for a killing.\u201d\nTurkey and Saudi Arabia have been at odds over what happened inside the consulate ever since Khashoggi,\n\n a critic of the Saudi monarchy, disappeared there on Oct.\u00a02.\nTurkish authorities almost immediately concluded that Khashoggi was targeted by a 15-man squad of Saudi agents who killed and dismembered him in the diplomatic mission. The authorities said they have audio recordings from inside the consulate that provide a clear account of how Khashoggi was killed.\nAmerican intelligence officials have said they intercepted communications showing that Saudi officials were plotting to lure Khashoggi back to the kingdom \u2014 an operation that was ordered by the crown prince, the officials said. CIA officials have listened to the audio recording that Turkey says proves Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents in the consulate, according to people briefed on the matter.\nSaudi Arabia denied any knowledge of his fate for two weeks. On Saturday, the kingdom changed course dramatically, announcing that a preliminary investigation found that Khashoggi was killed after a fistfight inside the consulate.\nSaudi prosecutors said 18 people had been arrested and five top officials fired for their connection to the case. Two of the dismissed officials were among Mohammed\u2019s closest advisers, Saud al-Qahtani and the deputy intelligence\u00a0chief, Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri.\nQahtani, described by analysts as the crown prince\u2019s media czar and enforcer with a penchant for leveraging social media to promote Saudi interests, on Sunday changed his Twitter biography \u2014 reflecting his demotion from adviser to the Royal Court to the head of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity.\nThe change indicated Qahtani would still retain significant influence in the Saudi effort to track dissidents online and disseminate official messages via a highly coordinated social-media strategy.\nA Saudi official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the other fired intelligence officers were nearing retirement.\nThey included Maj. Gen. \u00adMohammed bin Saleh al-Rumaih, assistant head of the General Intelligence Directorate; Maj. Gen. Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Shaya, head of General Intelligence for Human Resources; and Gen. Rashad bin Hamed al-Mohammad, director of the General Directorate of Security and Protection.\nPresident Trump initially said the Saudi explanation of Khashoggi\u2019s death was credible. But in an interview with The Post late Saturday, Trump conceded that \nthere had been \u201cdeception.\u201d Still, he defended Saudi Arabia as an \u201cincredible ally\u201d and expressed hope that Mohammed was not involved.\nOn Sunday, Britain, Germany and France issued a joint statement indicating that the Saudi explanation of Khashoggi\u2019s killing did not go far enough.\n\u201cThere remains an urgent need for clarification of exactly what happened on October 2nd \u2014 beyond the hypotheses that have been raised so far in the Saudi investigation, which need to be backed by facts to be considered credible,\u201d the statement said.\u00a0\u201cWe will ultimately make our judgement based on the credibility of the further explanation we receive about what happened and our confidence that such a shameful event cannot and will not ever be repeated.\u201d\nAsked about Saudi Arabia\u2019s belated acknowledgment of Khashoggi\u2019s killing,\u00a0Jubeir said the shifting Saudi account of what happened was a result of a coverup by the arrested agents.\n\u201cThey told us that he left the consulate,\u201d Jubeir said. \u201cThey came back to Saudi Arabia; they filed a report to that effect.\u201d\nA public prosecutor launched his investigation after \u201cdiscrepancies\u201d between the agents\u2019 report and the reports coming out of Turkey, which Jubeir said revealed that the team had falsified its report.\n\u201cThis is an aberration, this is a mistake, this is a criminal act, and those responsible for it will be punished,\u201d Jubeir added. Later on Sunday, the Saudi monarch, King Salman, and the crown prince called Khashoggi\u2019s son, Salah Khashoggi, to express their condolences, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.\ntamer.el-ghobashy@washpost.com\nkareem.fahim@washpost.com\ncarol.morello@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "XHVSJ7XEKMI6TMFGHUBXEG4F54_1", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XHVSJ7XEKMI6TMFGHUBXEG4F54_1", "title": "At Istanbul memorial for Jamal Khashoggi, a moment\u2019s silence, then shouts for justice", "text": "Saudi officials, convinced that Khashoggi\u2019s words, written in columns for The Post, were a grave threat to the state. The officials worked for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who almost certainly authorized the killing, according to the CIA and other intelligence agencies, but who has steadfastly denied it. \u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d was Mohammed\u2019s answer when asked recently whether he had ordered Khashoggi\u2019s death. None of Khashoggi\u2019s Saudi relatives attended Wednesday, either, including his children, but that, too, was expected. Khashoggi\u2019s killing aggravated arguments between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and to travel to the Istanbul memorial was to take a side in that argument, something no Saudi citizen could afford to do. A son, Salah Khashoggi, who lives in the kingdom, warned in a Twitter post Monday that Saudi Arabia\u2019s \u201copponents and enemies\u201d were exploiting his father\u2019s killing and added that he had \u201cabsolute confidence\u201d in the kingdom\u2019s judiciary to prosecute the killers. With his immediate family absent, Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s life and legacy were celebrated Wednesday by friends, colleagues and supporters, including Arab political exiles, whose ranks he had reluctantly joined. Among others in attendance were his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, who had paced outside the consulate, waiting fruitlessly for him to emerge; Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Post; Frederick J. Ryan Jr., the paper\u2019s publisher; and Agn\u00e8s Callamard, a United Nations human rights investigator who wrote a report that provided the most thorough accounting to date of Khashoggi\u2019s death. Callamard\u2019s has been an unexpectedly loud voice in the year after Khashoggi\u2019s death. With incessant demands for accountability, she has inserted herself into a conversation dominated by powerful governments, criticizing all of them, including Saudi Arabia, the United States and Turkey, for their conduct. \u201cNo one should get away with murder,\u201d she said Wednesday, this time clearly focusing on the Saudi government and the crown prince, the kingdom\u2019s young leader. \u201cNo matter who they are or how high their station in life.\u201d Like other speakers, she also addressed what she said was a threat to the global news media that Khashoggi\u2019s death had laid bare. \u201cMy call to you,\u201d she said, speaking to journalists around the world, \u201cpersist, insist, expose \u2014 for Jamal and the other Jamals around the world.\u201d The setting added resonance to Callamard\u2019s plea. Turkey\u2019s government, which has vigorously demanded that Saudi Arabia account for Khashoggi\u2019s death, is itself one of the most prolific jailers of journalists around the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "ISTANBUL \u2014\nThe memorial service for Jamal Khashoggi was held in the shadow of the Saudi Consulate on Wednesday, on the first anniversary of his death, at the minute he walked through the consulate door, the last time that anyone who cared about the journalist saw him alive.\nA speaker, David Hearst, asked for silence to mark the occasion. Then participants began to shout: for justice, for remembrance, for this death to resonate, on behalf of others whose deaths, disappearances or imprisonments had passed without notice.\nThe service started with Khashoggi\u2019s own words, in a video broadcast on a screen behind the stage, voicing demands that were both routine and impossible.\n\u201cI am 60 years old,\u201d the Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributing columnist said in the recording. \u201cI want to enjoy life, and I want to be free to speak for my country.\u201d\nThe country, Saudi Arabia, had no representatives on a dais that hosted a chorus of its critics. It would have been strange had any been invited. Saudi government agents are accused of killing Khashoggi on that Tuesday last year, of dismembering his body, of concealing the location of his\u00a0remains.\nThe agents were dispatched by top Saudi officials, convinced that Khashoggi\u2019s words, written in columns for The Post, were a grave threat to the state. The officials worked for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who almost certainly authorized the killing, according to the CIA and other intelligence agencies, but who has steadfastly denied it.\n\u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d was Mohammed\u2019s answer when asked recently whether he had ordered Khashoggi\u2019s death.\nNone of Khashoggi\u2019s Saudi relatives attended Wednesday, either, including his children, but that, too, was expected. Khashoggi\u2019s killing aggravated arguments between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and to travel to the Istanbul memorial was to take a side in that argument, something no Saudi citizen could afford to do.\nA son, Salah Khashoggi, who lives in the kingdom, warned in a Twitter post Monday that Saudi Arabia\u2019s\u00a0\u201copponents and enemies\u201d were exploiting his father\u2019s killing and added that he had\u00a0\u201cabsolute confidence\u201d in the kingdom\u2019s judiciary to prosecute the killers.\nWith his immediate family absent, Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s life and legacy were celebrated Wednesday by friends, colleagues and supporters, including Arab political exiles, whose ranks he had reluctantly joined. Among others in attendance were his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, who had paced outside the consulate, waiting fruitlessly for him to emerge; Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Post; Frederick J. Ryan Jr., the paper\u2019s publisher; and Agn\u00e8s Callamard, a United Nations human rights investigator who wrote a report that provided the most thorough accounting to date of Khashoggi\u2019s death.\nCallamard\u2019s has been an unexpectedly loud voice in the year after Khashoggi\u2019s death. With incessant demands for accountability, she has inserted herself into a conversation dominated by powerful governments, criticizing all of them, including Saudi Arabia, the United States and Turkey, for their conduct.\n\u201cNo one should get away with murder,\u201d she said Wednesday, this time clearly focusing on the Saudi government and the crown prince, the kingdom\u2019s young leader. \u201cNo matter who they are or how high their station in life.\u201d\nLike other speakers, she also addressed what she said was a threat to the global news media that Khashoggi\u2019s death had laid bare. \u201cMy call to you,\u201d she said, speaking to journalists around the world, \u201cpersist, insist, expose \u2014 for Jamal and the other Jamals around the world.\u201d\nThe setting added resonance to Callamard\u2019s plea. Turkey\u2019s government, which has vigorously demanded that Saudi Arabia account for Khashoggi\u2019s death, is itself one of the most prolific jailers of journalists around the world, according to press freedom groups.\nSoldiers watched from the rooftops as the sun baked those on the stage. One of them, Turan Kislakci, called on the Saudi government to hand over the consulate, so it could be turned into a museum honoring Khashoggi\u2019s life.\nFor all the celebration of Khashoggi\u2019s legacy, the service Wednesday was also a tribute to Cengiz, forced into the public spotlight as she grieved. It was she who had to respond to questions she could not answer after her fiance disappeared, and who was subjected to mockery on social media when Saudi loyalists tried to deny Khashoggi\u2019s killing had occurred.\n\u201cNo one should ever have to endure what you did,\u201d Bezos said, in brief comments before embracing her.\nRyan, The Post\u2019s publisher, also thanked Cengiz, \u201cwhose time of great joy was transformed into a terrifying nightmare. You have searched unceasingly for answers.\u201d\nThe answers, held by secretive governments, have been hard to come by. A trial underway in Saudi Arabia is held behind closed doors. A CIA assessment of the killing has not been released. Audio recordings made by Turkey of the killing have been shared with a few people but not the public.\n\u201cLast year today, I was standing here,\u201d Cengiz said Wednesday. \u201cI was a girl in love, waiting for my man to come out of the consulate. We wanted to go to dinner. We wanted to invite our friends to our wedding. Now after the worst year in my life, I stand here broken but proud \u2014 proud to see you all here.\u201d\nA drone hovered. Photographers crowded toward the stage.\n\u201cI still seek justice,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to know what happened to his body. I want his friends to be released from jail. I want those in power to be held accountable for their actions.\u201d\nkareem.fahim@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "YGZGHDDYAYI6TM7VKZZ634WRE4_1", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "YGZGHDDYAYI6TM7VKZZ634WRE4_1", "title": "\u2018I am asking for justice:\u2019 Khashoggi\u2019s fiancee urges Congress to put more pressure on Saudi Arabia in the wake of journalist\u2019s killing", "text": "the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations comes one day after she criticized Trump\u2019s response in a meeting with Washington Post journalists. Also speaking at Thursday\u2019s hearing was Gulchehra Hoja, an ethnic Uighur journalist with Radio Free Asia in Washington. Hoja has said that more than 20 of her relatives \u2014 including her brother and her elderly parents \u2014 have been detained in China because of her reporting on human rights abuses in the Muslim-majority Xinjiang region. Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Sarah Repucci, senior director for research and analysis at Freedom House, also testified. In her interview with The Washington Post, Cengiz said the Saudi government has not contacted her to offer compensation or even condolences since Khashoggi was killed in the kingdom\u2019s consulate in Istanbul in October. By contrast, the kingdom has given millions of dollars in cash and property to Khashoggi\u2019s four adult children. Cengiz and Khashoggi met at a conference last year and made plans to marry soon after. At Thursday\u2019s hearing, she said that when they were making their wedding preparations, \u201cI was happier to be alive than I had ever been in my life.\u201d All of that came crashing down seven months ago when, according to U.S. and Turkish authorities, Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi assassins after he entered the consulate to obtain papers for their planned marriage. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just Jamal that was killed\u201d in the consulate that day, Cengiz said. \u201cIt was also what we\u2019re talking about here \u2014 the values that the United States represents. Didn\u2019t they get murdered as well?\u201d She told lawmakers that she \u201cstill cannot make human sense of it.\u201d \u201cI still feel that I\u2019ll wake up and it will get back to that,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I cannot understand that the world still has not done anything about this.\u201d At one point in the hearing, freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, thanked Cengiz for her courage and told her that Khashoggi had once encouraged her to run for Congress when they were attending an Iftar dinner together. \u201cI remember he had said to me, he took a famous picture of Keith Ellison and I, and he said, \u2018Ilhan, you need to run for Congress,\u2019 \u201d Omar said, referring to the Democrat who previously held"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi called Thursday for members of Congress to put greater pressure on Saudi Arabia to answer questions related to the Saudi journalist\u2019s slaying, telling lawmakers, \u201cI am asking for justice.\u201d\n\u201cThis act \u2014 this murder \u2014 was a great brutality, and the last seven, eight months, nothing was done,\u201d Hatice Cengiz said at a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on the dangers of reporting on human rights. \u201cWe still do not know why he was killed. We don\u2019t know where his corpse is.\u201d\nShe urged lawmakers to press Saudi Arabia\u2019s leaders and sanction the kingdom in response to the killing of Khashoggi, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post.\n\u201cIn the early days, President Trump said that this would be solved,\u201d Cengiz said. \u201cAnd Ms. Pelosi talked about how unacceptable this was. But seven, eight months later, we see that nothing has been done, and that is why I\u2019m here today.\u201d\nThe House and Senate voted earlier this year to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, in a rebuke of the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. But Trump vetoed the resolution, and the Senate failed to override it.\nCengiz\u2019s testimony before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations comes one day after she criticized Trump\u2019s response in a meeting with Washington Post journalists.\nAlso speaking at Thursday\u2019s hearing was Gulchehra Hoja, an ethnic Uighur journalist with Radio Free Asia in Washington. Hoja has said that more than 20 of her relatives \u2014 including her brother and her elderly parents \u2014 have been detained in China because of her reporting on human rights abuses in the Muslim-majority Xinjiang region.\nJoel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Sarah Repucci, senior director for research and analysis at Freedom House, also testified.\nIn her interview with The Washington Post, Cengiz said the Saudi government has not contacted her to offer compensation or even condolences since Khashoggi was killed in the kingdom\u2019s consulate in Istanbul in October. By contrast, the kingdom has given millions of dollars in cash and property to Khashoggi\u2019s four adult children.\nCengiz and Khashoggi met at a conference last year and made plans to marry soon after. At Thursday\u2019s hearing, she said that when they were making their wedding preparations, \u201cI was happier to be alive than I had ever been in my life.\u201d\nAll of that came crashing down seven months ago when, according to U.S. and Turkish authorities, Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi assassins after he entered the consulate to obtain papers for their planned marriage.\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t just Jamal that was killed\u201d in the consulate that day, Cengiz said. \u201cIt was also what we\u2019re talking about here \u2014 the values that the United States represents. Didn\u2019t they get murdered as well?\u201d\nShe told lawmakers that she \u201cstill cannot make human sense of it.\u201d\n\u201cI still feel that I\u2019ll wake up and it will get back to that,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I cannot understand that the world still has not done anything about this.\u201d\nAt one point in the hearing, freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, thanked Cengiz for her courage and told her that Khashoggi had once encouraged her to run for Congress when they were attending an Iftar dinner together.\n\u201cI remember he had said to me, he took a famous picture of Keith Ellison and I, and he said, \u2018Ilhan, you need to run for Congress,\u2019 \u201d Omar said, referring to the Democrat who previously held her seat. \u201cAnd I said, \u2018I can\u2019t run for Congress, because the only seat I can run for is occupied by Keith Ellison.\u2019 And we laughed about that, and I didn\u2019t really know that that would be the last time that I would see him.\u201d\nLawmakers of both parties said that they shared Cengiz\u2019s sentiment that more needs to be done to hold Saudi Arabia to account for the killing.\n\u201cI think the world was horrified at the open, blatant murder of your fiancee, and the fact that that has gone unanswered in the world is a source of shame,\u201d said Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the subcommittee\u2019s chair. \u201cWe will do what we can. There needs to be justice for what was done.\u201d\nRep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) accused Saudi Arabia\u2019s leaders of being \u201cvery, very unforthcoming\u201d with information, not just on Khashoggi\u2019s killing but also in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.\n\u201cI find it appalling; I think we all must find it appalling,\u201d he said, criticizing the \u201cincredible arrogance\u201d of the Saudi government.\nfelicia.sonmez@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "YJ44UPSUQUI6TDXT7PKBULHE2U_1", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "YJ44UPSUQUI6TDXT7PKBULHE2U_1", "title": "Khashoggi children have received houses in Saudi Arabia and monthly payments as compensation for killing of father", "text": "$10,000 or more to each sibling were approved late last year by King Salman as part of what one former official described as an acknowledgment that \u201ca big injustice has been done\u201d and an attempt \u201cto make a wrong right.\u201d But the royal family is also relying on its wealth to help contain the ongoing fallout from the killing and dismemberment of the prominent Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributing columnist who was targeted for articles that were often critical of the government. A Saudi official described the payments as consistent with the country\u2019s long-standing practice of providing financial support to victims of violent crime or even natural disasters and rejected the suggestion that the Khashoggi family would be obligated to remain silent. \u201cSuch support is part of our custom and culture,\u201d the official said. \u201cIt is not attached to anything else.\u201d As part of their preliminary settlement, the Khashoggi children were each given houses in Jiddah worth as much as $4 million apiece. The properties are part of a shared compound in which Salah Khashoggi, the eldest son, occupies the main structure. A banker in Jiddah, Salah is the only Khashoggi sibling who intends to continue living in Saudi Arabia, according to people close to the family. The others reside in the United States and are expected to sell their new Saudi properties. Salah, who has been responsible for financial discussions with Saudi authorities, declined to comment on the matter when reached by phone Monday. His desire to remain in Jiddah with his family has contributed to the siblings\u2019 deference to the authorities and caution in their public statements over the past six months. In October, the Saudi government released photos of Salah shaking hands with Mohammed, an image that was meant to show the crown prince offering condolences but was widely seen as an indication of the coercive power the royal family was exerting on Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s children. The writer\u2019s two daughters, Noha Khashoggi and Razan Jamal Khashoggi, published an essay in The Washington Post last year in which they described their father\u2019s hopes for changes in Saudi Arabia but emphasized that he was \u201cno dissident\u201d and did not accuse the crown prince or other Saudi officials of being culpable in his death. Noha did not respond to a request for comment, and Razan could not be reached. The monthly schedule of payments and prospect of eventual multimillion-dollar"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The children of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi have received million-dollar houses in the kingdom and monthly five-figure payments as compensation for the killing of their father, according to current and former Saudi officials as well as people close to the family.\nKhashoggi\u2019s two sons and two daughters may also receive much larger payouts \u2014 possibly tens of millions of dollars apiece \u2014 as part of \u201cblood money\u201d negotiations that are expected to ensue when the trials of Khashoggi\u2019s accused killers are completed in the coming months, according to the officials and others who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks.\nThe previously undisclosed payments are part of an effort by Saudi Arabia to reach a long-term arrangement with Khashoggi family members, aimed in part at ensuring that they continue to show restraint in their public statements about the killing of their father by Saudi operatives in Istanbul six months ago, the officials said.\nThe Khashoggi siblings have refrained from any harsh criticism of the kingdom, even as their father\u2019s death provoked global outrage and widespread condemnation of the heir to the Saudi throne, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.\nThe delivery of homes and monthly payments of $10,000 or more to each sibling were approved late last year by King Salman as part of what one former official described as an acknowledgment that \u201ca big injustice has been done\u201d and an attempt \u201cto make a wrong right.\u201d\nBut the royal family is also relying on its wealth to help contain the ongoing fallout from the killing and dismemberment of the prominent Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributing columnist who was targeted for articles that were often critical of the government.\nA Saudi official described the payments as consistent with the country\u2019s long-standing practice of providing financial support to victims of violent crime or even natural disasters and rejected the suggestion that the Khashoggi family would be obligated to remain silent. \u201cSuch support is part of our custom and culture,\u201d the official said. \u201cIt is not attached to anything else.\u201d\nAs part of their preliminary settlement, the Khashoggi children were each given houses in Jiddah worth as much as $4\u00a0million apiece. The properties are part of a shared compound in which Salah Khashoggi, the eldest son, occupies the main structure.\nA banker in Jiddah, Salah is the only Khashoggi sibling who intends to continue living in Saudi Arabia, according to people close to the family. The others reside in the United States and are expected to sell their new Saudi properties.\nSalah, who has been responsible for financial discussions with Saudi authorities, declined to comment on the matter when reached by phone Monday. His desire to remain in Jiddah with his family has contributed to the siblings\u2019 deference to the authorities and caution in their public statements over the past six months.\nIn October, the Saudi government released photos of Salah shaking hands with Mohammed, an image that was meant to show the crown prince offering condolences but was widely seen as an indication of the coercive power the royal family was exerting on Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s children.\nThe writer\u2019s two daughters, Noha Khashoggi and Razan Jamal Khashoggi, published an essay in The Washington Post last year in which they described their father\u2019s hopes for changes in Saudi Arabia but emphasized that he was \u201cno dissident\u201d and did not accuse the crown prince or other Saudi officials of being culpable in his death.\nNoha did not respond to a request for comment, and Razan could not be reached.\nThe monthly schedule of payments and prospect of eventual multimillion-dollar settlements would appear to give the Khashoggis a long-term financial incentive to remain quiet even as human rights organizations and critics of Saudi Arabia continue to demand accountability from the kingdom.\nWashington Post publisher Fred Ryan said in an op-ed Monday, six months after Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s death, that the Saudis \u201chave adopted a strategy of evasion\u201d that has \u201cscapegoated expendable officials, seeking to quell international furor by staging a sham trial.\u201d\nKhashoggi\u2019s second son, Abdullah, declined to comment when reached Monday. William Taylor, a Washington lawyer who has represented the family, also refused to discuss any compensation the family has received.\nThe negotiations with the family have been led by the outgoing Saudi ambassador to the United States, Khalid bin Salman, brother of the crown prince.\nThe CIA concluded\nSaudi officials have strenuously denied that Mohammed was involved, describing the slaying as a rogue operation carried out by a team that intended to subdue Khashoggi and take him back to Riyadh but killed him after a struggle at the consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi had gone to the diplomatic facility to collect paperwork needed to remarry.\nU.S. intelligence agencies, relying in part on eavesdropping equipment placed in the Saudi Consulate by the Turkish government, have concluded that Khashoggi was strangled or smothered.\nSaudi officials have yet to explain what happened to Khashoggi\u2019s body. His killers are believed to have dismembered and disposed of it. Officials who have heard audio of the operation said that one of the Saudi operatives \u2014 who has a background in forensic crime-scene work \u2014 can be heard warning other operatives to play loud music to mask the sound of an electric device.\nSaudi authorities have announced investigations of 21 people in connection with Khashoggi\u2019s killing, including Saud al-Qahtani, an enforcer for the crown prince suspected by some of orchestrating the operation against Khashoggi.\nProsecutors are seeking the death penalty for five operatives who traveled from Riyadh to Istanbul and were in the consulate when Khashoggi was killed. They include Maher Mutreb, a former colonel in the Saudi intelligence service who knew Khashoggi when both worked in London at the Saudi Embassy.\nIf the men are convicted and sentenced to death, the Saudi system of justice could allow the Khashoggi family members to grant their father\u2019s killers clemency as part of a \u201cblood money\u201d arrangement in which they might then be entitled to tens of millions of dollars.\nIt is unclear whether Khashoggi\u2019s children would be required to forgive or absolve the killers to collect the payments.\nFormer Saudi officials and experts said that the royal court and government have incentives to seek such an agreement and avoid a situation in which only low-level operatives are executed for their role in a plot that was developed and orchestrated from high levels of government.\nThe issue of how far to go in protecting their father\u2019s legacy has been a source of tension among the Khashoggi siblings, according to people close to the family. The daughters have at times pushed to be more outspoken about their father\u2019s life and the kingdom\u2019s ruthlessness, while the brothers have focused on maximizing the amount of money the family will collect.\nAt one point in the weeks after their father\u2019s death, Abdullah Khashoggi told advisers working with the family that he wanted to punish the royal court by going after one of the crown prince\u2019s prized possessions. \u201cI want the da Vinci,\u201d he said, referring to a painting by the Renaissance master that the crown prince paid $450\u00a0million for in 2017.\ngreg.miller@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 949, "pid": "Z5POLFER6MI6TKW3OTTLFNDPNI_4", "query_info": {"_id": 949, "text": "Compile information on Jamal Khashoggi's family", "instruction_og": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "On the day he was murdered, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his second wife.  Of interest is information on his first wife and their children.  Also relevant are details of the relationship the Saudi government has with his children.    Details surrounding Khashoggi's death and subsequent investigations are not relevant. Saudi Arabia must be included in the document text.", "short_query": "Find background information related to the question's subject.", "keywords": "background information"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "Z5POLFER6MI6TKW3OTTLFNDPNI_4", "title": "U.N. investigator calls for probe of Saudi officials in Khashoggi killing", "text": "it clear that it will not let this stand.\u201d In a telephone interview from Geneva, Callamard characterized the U.S. response as ambiguous and conflicted. \u201cAt the highest level of the U.S. government, there has not been a determination to hold to account the state of Saudi Arabia,\u201d she said. She called U.S. sanctions against 17 suspects, most of them low- to mid-level personnel, insufficient. Callamard offered a macabre account of Khashoggi\u2019s final moments, drawn from audio recordings that captured events inside the consulate in the days before Khashoggi visited a second time and on the day of the killing. She said she was permitted to listen to 45 minutes of conversation \u2014 a small fraction of the seven hours of audio captured by Turkish intelligence. Her team was permitted to keep notes on only a portion of the recordings. Other conversations \u201cwere reconstructed from memory,\u201d she wrote. Some of the audio was hard to discern. \u201cFor instance, on the basis of recordings, the Special Rapporteur could not reach firm conclusions about what [she and her investigators] were told was the sound of a \u2018saw\u2019 in operation. The Turkish authorities undoubtedly have more information and intelligence about events in the Saudi Consulate than they were willing or able to share with the inquiry,\u201d the report said. According to the report, 13 minutes before Khashoggi entered the consulate on Oct. 2, two of the Saudi agents, Maher Mutreb and Salah Tubaigy, a forensic expert, discussed dismembering the body. \u201cJoints will be separated,\u201d Tubaigy told Mutreb. \u201cFirst time I cut on the ground. If we take plastic bags and cut it into pieces, it will be finished.\u201d Khashoggi\u2019s name was not mentioned, but Mutreb referred to the \u201csacrificial animal.\u201d The report also said that Tubaigy \u201cexpressed concerns\u201d about what was about to transpire, telling Mutreb: \u201cMy direct manager is not aware of what I am doing. There is no one to protect me.\u201d The audio suggests they attempted to make Khashoggi think he would be kidnapped and repatriated to Saudi Arabia, not killed. When Khashoggi arrived at the consulate on Oct. 2, he was invited to the consul general\u2019s office and asked whether he would return to Saudi Arabia. \u201cHe responded that he wanted to return in the future,\u201d the report states. But the Saudi agents, using the pretext of an Interpol warrant, said they were there to take him back to the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A U.N. investigation into the brutal slaying of Jamal Khashoggi released Wednesday provides the clearest picture yet of the journalist\u2019s final moments inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, refocusing attention on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his crackdown on dissidents.\nThe months-long investigation by Agnes Callamard, a human rights expert at the United Nations, faulted the United States and other countries for not exerting enough pressure on Saudi Arabia despite \u201ccredible evidence\u201d of the likelihood that \u00adMohammed was involved in Khashoggi\u2019s killing.\nShe called for sanctioning and freezing the prince\u2019s assets until he is either cleared or definitively implicated.\nWith access to audio recordings provided by Turkish intelligence, Callamard laid out in graphic detail how Saudi government agents prepared to kill and dismember Khashoggi. The planning started days before the killing, after Khashoggi \u2014 by then one of Saudi Arabia\u2019s most prominent dissidents \u2014 startled the staff at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul by visiting to obtain a certificate of marriage eligibility.\n\u201cWe were all shocked,\u201d the consulate\u2019s security attache said in a phone call to an official in Saudi Arabia on Sept. 28, the day of Khashoggi\u2019s first visit last year. \u201cIt is known that he is one of the people sought.\u201d\nThe details, and other revelations in the report, ended a respite for Saudi officials from international censure as the killing faded from conversations among allies and investors. Instead, the focus had turned to Iran, with Saudi Arabia positioned as vital to countering security threats attributed to Tehran.\nCallamard, a special rapporteur for the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that Saudi authorities participated in the destruction of evidence after Khashoggi was killed and that culpability for the slaying extends beyond the 11 Saudis who are on trial in a closed-door judicial proceeding in the kingdom.\n\u201cMr. Khashoggi\u2019s killing constituted an extrajudicial killing for which the State of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible,\u201d Callamard\u2019s report said.\nAdel al-Jubeir, the kingdom\u2019s minister of state for foreign affairs, dismissed the findings in posts on Twitter on Wednesday. He said the report included \u201ccontradictions and baseless allegations.\u201d\nJubeir also rejected the report\u2019s calls for a U.N.-assisted criminal inquiry into the killing, saying that the \u201cjudicial authorities in the kingdom are the only ones competent to hear this case.\u201d\nCallamard said she found no \u201csmoking gun\u201d incriminating the crown prince himself but said he had played an essential role in\u00a0repressing dissidents and almost certainly knew that a criminal mission targeting Khashoggi was being planned.\n\u201cEvidence points to the 15-person mission to execute Mr. Khashoggi requiring significant government coordination, resources and finances,\u201d she wrote. \u201cWhile the Saudi government claims that these resources were put in place by Ahmed Asiri, every expert consulted finds it inconceivable that an operation of this scale could be implemented without the Crown Prince being aware, at a minimum, that some sort of mission of a criminal nature, directed at Mr. Khashoggi, was being launched.\u201d\nAsiri, Saudi Arabia\u2019s former deputy head of intelligence, is one of two senior Saudi officials implicated by the kingdom\u2019s prosecutors in the killing and the only senior official on trial.\nCallamard\u2019s account of Khashoggi\u2019s death is the most definitive to date, even though her inquiry was hampered by Saudi Arabia\u2019s refusal to allow her to visit the kingdom to conduct interviews.\nSecretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Trump have deplored the killing of Khashoggi, who was a contributing columnist for The Washington Post in the year before his death. But they have said the relationship with Saudi Arabia is too important to be sidetracked by a single incident.\nPompeo recently said the United States, invoking emergency powers because of rising tensions with Iran, will sell weapons worth $8\u00a0billion\u00a0to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.\nAt Wednesday\u2019s Senate confirmation hearing for Kelly Knight Craft, Trump\u2019s nominee to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) laid blame for Khashoggi\u2019s slaying squarely on the Saudi crown prince.\n\u201cHe did it,\u201d said Graham, one of the biggest Republican critics of Trump\u2019s approach to the kingdom. \u201cWouldn\u2019t have happened without him, he knew it was going to happen, he wanted it to happen, he caused it to happen, and this is just the tip of the iceberg of other things going on in this kingdom.\u201d\nHuman rights groups echoed Callamard\u2019s call for an international investigation.\n\u201cCallamard\u2019s report underscores that there will be no justice for Jamal Khashoggi unless Congress steps up,\u201d said Rob Berschinski, the senior vice president for policy at Human Rights First. \u201cSaudi leaders have made it clear that they intend to get away with murder. President Trump has made it clear that he values arms sales over the killing and dismemberment of a U.S. resident. Congress must make it clear that it will not let this stand.\u201d\nIn a telephone interview from Geneva, Callamard characterized the U.S. response as ambiguous and conflicted.\n\u201cAt the highest level of the U.S. government, there has not been a determination to hold to account the state of Saudi Arabia,\u201d she said.\u00a0She called U.S. sanctions against 17 suspects, most of them low- to mid-level personnel, insufficient.\nCallamard offered a macabre account of Khashoggi\u2019s final moments, drawn from\u00a0audio recordings that captured events inside the consulate in the days before Khashoggi visited a second time and on the day of the killing.\u00a0She said she was permitted to listen to 45 minutes of conversation \u2014 a small fraction of the seven hours of audio captured by Turkish intelligence. Her team was permitted to keep notes on only a portion of the recordings. Other conversations \u201cwere reconstructed from memory,\u201d she wrote.\nSome of the audio was hard to discern. \u201cFor instance, on the basis of recordings, the Special Rapporteur could not reach firm conclusions about what [she and her investigators] were told was the sound of a \u2018saw\u2019 in operation. The Turkish authorities undoubtedly have more information and intelligence about events in the Saudi Consulate than they were willing or able to share with the inquiry,\u201d the report said.\nAccording to the report, 13 minutes before Khashoggi entered the consulate on Oct.\u00a02, two of the Saudi agents, Maher Mutreb and Salah Tubaigy, a forensic expert, discussed dismembering the body.\n\u201cJoints will be separated,\u201d Tubaigy told Mutreb. \u201cFirst time I cut on the ground. If we take plastic bags and cut it into pieces, it will be finished.\u201d Khashoggi\u2019s name was not mentioned, but Mutreb referred to the \u201csacrificial animal.\u201d\nThe report also said that Tubaigy \u201cexpressed concerns\u201d about what was about to transpire, telling Mutreb: \u201cMy direct manager is not aware of what I am doing. There is no one to protect me.\u201d\nThe audio suggests they attempted to make Khashoggi think he would be kidnapped and repatriated to Saudi Arabia, not killed.\nWhen Khashoggi arrived at the consulate on Oct. 2, he was invited to the consul general\u2019s office and asked whether he would return to Saudi Arabia.\n\u201cHe responded that he wanted to return in the future,\u201d the report states.\nBut the Saudi agents, using the pretext of an Interpol warrant, said they were there to take him back to the kingdom.\nMore conversation followed, the report said. Khashoggi insisted that people were waiting for him outside, as one of the agents tried to\u00a0persuade him to send a message to his son. \u201cWhat should I say?\u201d Khashoggi asked. \u201cSee you soon? I can\u2019t say kidnapping.\u201d\n\u201cType it Mr. Jamal,\u201d one of the agents replied. \u201cHurry up. Help us so that we can help you because at the end we will take you back to Saudi Arabia and if you don\u2019t help us you know what will happen at the end.\u201d\nThen, in the recordings, \u201csounds of a struggle can be heard,\u201d the report said.\nIn her report, Callamard \u00adpainted a poignant picture of Khashoggi.\nAn important but traditionalist journalist in Saudi Arabia, Khashoggi \u201cwas not seen by dissidents to be naturally \u2018one of them,\u2019\u2009\u201d Callamard wrote. Increasingly isolated by his views, he went into self-exile. Living in the Washington area, he had little income, little security and little status, making him lonely and unhappy, Callamard wrote. His decision to remarry suggested he was preparing to live a fuller, more settled life, she said.\ncarol.morello@washpost.com\nkareem.fahim@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "01029cda-262d-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "01029cda-262d-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_1", "title": "House Republicans say no to allowing federal studies of medical marijuana", "text": "how to address shifting public sentiment about marijuana use. Although the GOP has supported steps to allow state medical-marijuana programs to flourish, Republicans generally have not supported efforts to advance national policy on legalization. When a Senate committee this year passed a measure to let doctors discuss marijuana with patients at Veterans Affairs clinics, House Republicans shot it down. When the District legalized weed for personal use, a powerful House committee chairman threatened the city\u2019s mayor with jail time. Minnesota this month began allowing sales of medical marijuana in pill bottles and vials of marijuana-infused oil. (Glen Stubbe/St. Paul Pioneer Press) House Republicans have defended their opposition to pot. There is no evidence, they have said, that loosening marijuana laws would do anything but destroy the brains of the nation\u2019s adolescents, let alone offer benefits to veterans. The lack of evidence, however, can be traced to congressional Republicans who have made it all but impossible for federal agencies to fund objective testing on the effects of marijuana use. The amendment that died Wednesday was seen by some as a potential game-changer. With 23 states allowing medical marijuana \u2014 and a handful plus the District of Columbia having outright legalized it \u2014 some House Republicans (and Democrats, too) thought that it was finally time to allow more federal testing of marijuana. For Republican opponents, the research could provide either evidence to continue holding the line or solid ground for the party to begin tiptoeing toward the mainstream. Perhaps surprisingly was the House Republicans\u2019 most outspoken critic of legalization over the past two years who co-sponsored the measure. Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, a doctor and author of a measure in Congress that has left legalization in the District in limbo, said more science was the way to go. \u201cWe need science to clearly determine whether marijuana has medicinal benefits and, if so, what is the best way to gain those benefits,\u201d he said Wednesday before the House Rules Committee sidelined the amendment in a vote late Wednesday night. Another Republican, Rep. H. Morgan Griffith of Virginia, pleaded with the committee in person to approve it, but for a different reason. Whereas Harris sponsored the measure confident that the research would prove marijuana is bad, Griffith has become convinced that there are limited circumstances in which marijuana has medical benefits for patients. \u201cWe let doctors use heroin derivatives, barbiturates and all kinds of"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Types of medical marijuana for sale are shown in Oregon. House Republicans on Wednesday rejected a plan that could have allowed for more federal research on marijuana\u2019s effects. (Gosia Wozniacka/AP)\nMedical marijuana is now sold in nearly half of all states, and even one red state has legalized it for recreational use. Veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are clamoring for access to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Loosening pot laws polls better in three swing states than any 2016 presidential candidate.\nBut House Republicans have so far declined to keep pace with shifting public opinion. They did so again late Wednesday, when a rare bipartisan pot proposal died a quiet death in the House that would have reclassified marijuana so that national laboratories could conduct \u201ccredible research on its safety and efficacy as a medical treatment.\u201d\nThe amendment to a bill scheduled for debate Thursday on the House floor would have encouraged the National Institutes of Health and the Drug Enforcement Administration to work together to allow studies of the benefits and risks of marijuana to treat cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions.\nThe vote is the latest action to reflect national Republicans\u2019 uncertainty on how to address shifting public sentiment about marijuana use. Although the GOP has supported steps to allow state medical-marijuana programs to flourish, Republicans generally have not supported efforts to advance national policy on legalization.\nWhen a Senate committee this year passed a measure to let doctors discuss marijuana with patients at Veterans Affairs clinics, House Republicans shot it down. When the District legalized weed for personal use, a powerful House committee chairman threatened the city\u2019s mayor with jail time.\nMinnesota this month began allowing sales of medical marijuana in pill bottles and vials of marijuana-infused oil. (Glen Stubbe/St. Paul Pioneer Press)\nHouse Republicans have defended their opposition to pot. There is no evidence, they have said, that loosening marijuana laws would do anything but destroy the brains of the nation\u2019s adolescents, let alone offer benefits to veterans.\nThe lack of evidence, however, can be traced to congressional Republicans who have made it all but impossible for federal agencies to fund objective testing on the effects of marijuana use.\nThe amendment that died Wednesday was seen by some as a potential game-changer. With 23 states allowing medical marijuana \u2014 and a handful plus the District of Columbia having outright legalized it \u2014 some House Republicans (and Democrats, too) thought that it was finally time to allow more federal testing of marijuana.\nFor Republican opponents, the research could provide either evidence to continue holding the line or solid ground for the party to begin tiptoeing toward the mainstream.\nPerhaps surprisingly was the House Republicans\u2019 most outspoken critic of legalization over the past two years who co-sponsored the measure.\nMaryland Rep. Andy Harris, a doctor and author of a measure in Congress that has left legalization in the District in limbo, said more science was the way to go.\n\u201cWe need science to clearly determine whether marijuana has medicinal benefits and, if so, what is the best way to gain those benefits,\u201d he said Wednesday before the House Rules Committee sidelined the amendment in a vote late Wednesday night.\nAnother Republican, Rep. H. Morgan Griffith of Virginia, pleaded with the committee in person to approve it, but for a different reason.\nWhereas Harris sponsored the measure confident that the research would prove marijuana is bad, Griffith has become convinced that there are limited circumstances in which marijuana has medical benefits for patients.\n\u201cWe let doctors use heroin derivatives, barbiturates and all kinds of nasty stuff that I wouldn\u2019t want people to use recreationally. Why not study marijuana?\u201d Griffith, still smarting from the unraveling of the amendment, said in an interview.\n\u201cAndy Harris doesn\u2019t think the research will show anything positive, but I do, and both of us feel willing to take the risk, do the research, and let us use evidence to make decisions,\u201d he said. \u201cThis amendment would have answered the question one way or the other. I think it would have shown it is a valuable medical substance, but now we don\u2019t have the evidence.\u201d\nWhy the measure failed remains unclear.\nTo allow for federal research of marijuana, the amendment would have created a new designation for the substance. Marijuana is currently in a class of Schedule 1 drugs designated as the most dangerous, alongside heroin and LSD, and considered more addictive by the federal government than even cocaine.\nThe amendment, also sponsored by Democrats Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Sam Farr of California, would have created a new subclassification within Schedule\u20091 dubbed \u201cSchedule 1R\u201d for research.\nThe amendment also made clear that if federal research found that the Schedule\u20091 designation no longer seemed appropriate that \u201cmarijuana could then be rescheduled further after this research is completed.\u201d\nBoth Griffith and an aide for Harris pointed to the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over national drug laws, as interfering with the proposal at the last minute Wednesday. A spokeswoman said the committee, led by another Virginia Republican, Robert W. Goodlatte, had no comment.\nThe effort put advocates for marijuana legalization in the odd position of having to praise Harris, who had become a nemesis of the cause.\n\u201cThere are lawmakers who say they oppose marijuana reform because the research hasn\u2019t been done yet, and the reality is the research hasn\u2019t been done yet because there have been obstacles deliberately put in place,\u201d said Michael Collins, policy manager for the pro-marijuana Drug Policy Alliance.\n\u201cTo Mr. Harris\u2019s credit, he thinks there are benefits to researching marijuana, whether you support it or not,\u201d Collins said. \u201cI think it points to the fact that people are realizing that blanket opposition, using the old reefer-madness arguments, don\u2019t apply any more.\u201d\nIndeed, even opponents of legalization said research seemed like a logical step and a path forward that even they could support.\n\u201cI think that\u2019s great, anything that removes the barriers and promotes honest-to-goodness research is welcomed,\u201d said Sue Rusche, head of National Families in Action, a drug-prevention organization that has been around since the 1980s\u2019 \u201cJust Say No\u201d campaign.\nRusche\u2019s group, based in Atlanta, has fought unsuccessfully to keep Georgia from allowing sales of cannabinoid oils for treatment for a range of ailments.\n\u201cRight now we really don\u2019t know what you\u2019re getting. What we need is research to show us what level of CBD and THC should be given and what\u2019s safe.\u201d"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "0a4680cb8729c0a9cf234ac252c33271_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "0a4680cb8729c0a9cf234ac252c33271_1", "title": "A GOP congressman says he used medical marijuana while in office", "text": "marijuana to help deal with arthritis pain, and it worked. Two weeks ago, Rohrabacher said, he tried a topical wax-based marijuana treatment. That night, it was \"the first time in a year and a half that I had a decent night\u2019s sleep because the arthritis pain was gone,\" Rohrabacher said. Rohrabacher is one of the leading conservative voices on overhauling marijuana laws in the U.S. Congress. He's the architect of a provision in federal law that prevents the Department of Justice from interfering with state-level medical marijuana operations. But his statement is nonetheless noteworthy because, according to one close observer, it marks the first time in at least several decades that a sitting U.S. congressman has admitted to marijuana use while in office. \"This is definitely the first legislator in Congress in at least 30-some-odd years who has acknowledged to using marijuana illegally,\" the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws' executive director, Alan St. Pierre, told Russ Belville of Cannabis Radio yesterday. Medical marijuana is legal in Rohrabacher's home state of California. But it remains illegal for all uses under federal law. The Drug Enforcement Administration considers marijuana to have \"no currently accepted medical use\" and \"a high potential for abuse.\" Marijuana is placed in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, a designation reserved for the most dangerous drugs, including heroin. But this federal designation is increasingly at odds with medical evidence and scientific consensus. A growing body of research is finding that marijuana can be effective in treating chronic pain and muscle stiffness \u2014 the types of things that an arthritis sufferer like Rohrabacher might have to deal with. Patients with these conditions are often prescribed powerful (and deadly) opioid medications. To the extent that marijuana could substitute for those drugs, more access to medical marijuana could literally save lives. The Drug Enforcement Administration is currently considering a motion to move marijuana out of Schedule 1 and into a less restrictive classification, which could remove many barriers that currently stifle marijuana research. Some observers are skeptical, though, given the DEA's previous attempts to block research and the organization's general resistance to changing norms on drug use. Meanwhile, patients are left to navigate the often messy world of medical marijuana research and regulations on their own. It remains to be seen whether Rohrabacher's experience may cause his congressional colleagues to give medical marijuana reform a second look."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) speaks during a news conference in Washington in November 2013 to discuss marijuana laws. (Lauren Victoria Burke/AP)\nU.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) just made a\u00a0striking\u00a0admission: Speaking to a group of marijuana activists on Capitol Hill, Rohrabacher said he had recently turned to medical marijuana to help deal with arthritis pain, and it worked.\nTwo weeks ago, Rohrabacher said, he tried a topical wax-based marijuana treatment. That night, it was\u00a0\"the first time in a year and a half that I had a decent night\u2019s sleep because the arthritis pain was gone,\" Rohrabacher said.\nRohrabacher is one of the leading conservative voices on overhauling marijuana laws\u00a0in the U.S. Congress. He's the architect of a provision in federal law that prevents the Department of Justice from interfering with state-level medical marijuana operations. But his statement\u00a0is nonetheless noteworthy because, according to one close observer, it marks the first time in at least several decades that a sitting U.S. congressman has admitted to marijuana use while in office.\n\"This is definitely the first legislator in Congress in at least 30-some-odd years who has acknowledged to using marijuana illegally,\" the\u00a0National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws' executive director, \u00a0Alan St. Pierre, told Russ Belville of Cannabis Radio yesterday.\nMedical marijuana is legal in Rohrabacher's home state of California. But it remains illegal for all uses under federal law. The Drug Enforcement Administration considers marijuana to have \"no currently accepted medical use\" and \"a high potential for abuse.\" Marijuana is placed in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, a designation reserved for the most dangerous drugs, including heroin.\nBut this federal designation is increasingly at odds with medical evidence and scientific consensus. A growing body of research is finding that marijuana can be effective in treating chronic pain and muscle stiffness \u2014 the types of things that an arthritis sufferer like Rohrabacher might have to deal with. Patients with these conditions are often prescribed powerful (and deadly) opioid medications. To the extent that marijuana could substitute for those drugs, more access to medical marijuana could literally save lives.\nThe Drug Enforcement Administration is currently considering a motion to move marijuana out of Schedule 1 and into a less restrictive classification, which could remove many barriers that currently stifle marijuana research. Some observers are skeptical, though, given the DEA's previous attempts to block\u00a0research and the organization's general resistance to changing norms on drug use.\nMeanwhile, patients are left to navigate the often messy world of medical marijuana research and regulations on their own. It remains to be seen whether Rohrabacher's experience\u00a0may cause his congressional colleagues to give medical marijuana reform a second look."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "179ee5499e9a48d054bb7b426c0f2591_2", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "179ee5499e9a48d054bb7b426c0f2591_2", "title": "A maker of deadly painkillers is bankrolling the opposition to legal marijuana in Arizona", "text": "safety of Arizona\u2019s citizens, and particularly its children,\" the company said. \"Insys firmly believes in the potential clinical benefits of cannabinoids. Like many in the healthcare community, we hope that patients will have the opportunity to benefit from these potential products once clinical trials demonstrate their safe and effective use.\" Supporters of marijuana legalization questioned the company's motivation for getting involved in the campaign, noting its financial interest in minimizing competition for Subsys and synthetic marijuana products. \"It appears they are trying to kill a non-pharmaceutical market for marijuana in order to line their own pockets,\" J.P Holyoak of the pro-legalization campaign said in a statement. Tom Angell of the pro-marijuana group Marijuana Majority said the donation blunts opponents' argument that marijuana legalization would put public safety at risk. Studies have shown that marijuana can be effective in treating chronic pain, without the overdose risk or side effects that powerful opioid painkillers, like fentanyl, can bring. Other studies have found that opioid overdose deaths fall in areas with access to medical marijuana. \"Accepting this money undermines everything that marijuana prohibitionists say about their desire to protect public health,\" Angell said in an email. \"It's difficult to understand how people who profit from selling a drug like fentanyl can keep a straight face while arguing that marijuana is just too dangerous to legalize.\" The opposition group Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy made no apologies for accepting the contribution. \"We are grateful that Insys Therapeutics \u2013 an Arizona-based company \u2013 has chosen to join Governor Ducey, the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, the Arizona Small Business Association, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Arizona Catholic Conference of Bishops, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and several other community organizations in defeating Prop. 205 in November,\" ARDP campaign manager Adam Deguire said in an emailed statement. Kevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national group opposed to marijuana legalization, said in an email that there was nothing particularly objectionable about Insys's efforts to oppose recreational marijuana while also working to develop synthetic drugs based on chemicals in the plant. \"I don't think Insys should be admonished for working on marijuana-based medications via the FDA process \u2014 they're following the rules, and that's a good thing,\" he said. \"Obviously I don't agree with aggressive fentanyl marketing,\" he added. This isn't the first time the company has been active in marijuana politics. In"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A sales associate handles a jar of cannabis inside a Good Meds medical cannabis center in Lakewood, Colo.,\u00a0in\u00a02013. (Matthew Staver/For The Washington Post)\nThe\u00a0campaign against marijuana legalization in Arizona received a major infusion of cash last week\u00a0from a\u00a0synthetic cannabis\u00a0drugmaker that has been investigated for alleged improper\u00a0marketing of\u00a0a\u00a0highly addictive\u00a0prescription painkiller, according to campaign finance reports.\nThe $500,000 donation from\u00a0Insys Therapeutics, based in\u00a0Chandler, Ariz., amounts to more than\u00a0one-third of all money raised by Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, the group opposing legalization. It's one of the largest single contributions to any anti-legalization campaign ever, according to campaign finance records\u00a0maintained by ballotpedia.com.\nThe cash infusion could even the playing field\u00a0in an arena where legalization supporters have traditionally outspent opponents. Until the Insys donation, legalization supporters in Arizona had out-fundraised opponents by about 3-to-1. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has raised more than $3 million, much of it\u00a0from the Marijuana Policy Project, a national group working to change marijuana laws.\nInsys\u00a0has\u00a0developed a drug\u00a0based on a synthetic version of marijuana's active ingredient, THC. Called\u00a0Syndros, the drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration\u00a0in July\u00a0for treatment of AIDS and cancer patients' symptoms. It is awaiting scheduling by\u00a0the Drug Enforcement Administration.\nInsys also manufactures the deadly painkiller Subsys fentanyl. The company\u00a0is facing\u00a0state and federal investigations, as well as a\u00a0shareholder lawsuit, over allegations that it improperly marketed\u00a0the drug to doctors in an effort to boost sales.\nIn February, a former sales rep for the company pleaded guilty to fraud charges stemming from a kickback scheme involving Subsys fentanyl purchases. Last month, two former employees pleaded not guilty after being arrested for allegedly participating in a similar fentanyl kickback scheme.\nAt the time of the arrests, FBI Assistant Director Diego Rodriguez said in a statement,\u00a0\"This case should be something the medical industry and the general public should pay close attention to because it\u2019s one of the reasons we\u2019re experiencing an epidemic of overdoses and deaths in this country.\"\nIn an emailed statement, Insys said it opposes the Arizona ballot measure, Proposition 205, because marijuana's safety hasn't been demonstrated\u00a0through the federal regulatory process.\nInsys \"has joined a broad alliance of elected officials, health care organizations and business leaders in opposing Prop. 205 because it fails to protect the safety of Arizona\u2019s citizens, and particularly its children,\" the company said. \"Insys\u00a0firmly believes in the potential clinical benefits of cannabinoids. Like many in the healthcare community, we hope that patients will have the opportunity to benefit from these potential products once clinical trials demonstrate their safe and effective use.\"\nSupporters of marijuana legalization questioned the company's\u00a0motivation for getting involved in the campaign, noting its\u00a0financial interest in minimizing competition for Subsys and synthetic marijuana products.\n\"It appears they are trying to kill a non-pharmaceutical market for marijuana in order to line their own pockets,\" J.P Holyoak of the pro-legalization campaign said in a statement.\nTom Angell of the pro-marijuana group Marijuana Majority said the donation blunts\u00a0opponents'\u00a0argument that\u00a0marijuana legalization would put\u00a0public safety at risk.\u00a0Studies have shown that marijuana can be effective in\u00a0treating chronic pain, without the overdose risk or side effects that powerful opioid painkillers, like fentanyl, can bring.\u00a0Other studies have found that opioid overdose deaths fall in areas with access to medical marijuana.\n\"Accepting this money undermines everything that marijuana prohibitionists say about their desire to protect public health,\" Angell said in an email. \"It's difficult to understand how people who profit from selling a drug like fentanyl can keep a straight face while arguing that marijuana is just too dangerous to legalize.\"\nThe opposition group Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy made no apologies for accepting the contribution.\n\"We are grateful that Insys Therapeutics \u2013 an Arizona-based company \u2013 has chosen to join Governor Ducey, the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, the Arizona Small Business Association, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Arizona Catholic Conference of Bishops, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and several other community organizations in defeating Prop. 205 in November,\" ARDP campaign manager Adam Deguire said in an emailed statement.\nKevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national group opposed to marijuana legalization, said in an email that there was nothing particularly objectionable about Insys's efforts to oppose recreational marijuana while also working to develop synthetic drugs based on chemicals in the plant.\u00a0\"I don't think Insys should be admonished for working on marijuana-based medications via the FDA process \u2014 they're following the rules, and that's a good thing,\" he said.\n\"Obviously I don't agree with aggressive fentanyl marketing,\" he added.\nThis isn't the first time the company has been active in marijuana politics. In 2011, the company wrote to\u00a0the Drug Enforcement Administration to express\u00a0opposition to loosening restrictions on\u00a0natural THC, citing \"the abuse potential in terms of the need to grow and cultivate substantial crops of marijuana in the United States.\"\nLast year, the company petitioned the DEA to loosen restrictions on the synthetic version of another compound occurring in marijuana plants, known as\u00a0cannabidiol (CBD).\nInsys Therapeutics made $62 million in net revenue on Subsys fentanyl\u00a0sales in the first quarter of this year, representing 100 percent of the company's earnings.\u00a0The CDC has implicated the drug in a\u00a0\"surge\" of overdose deaths in several states in recent years.\nLast October, the company announced it had received a \"fast track\" designation from the FDA to speed development of a drug intended to treat opioid overdoses.\n\"We are encouraged by the Fast Track designation that will allow us to advance our program to address a significant unmet medical need in the market,\" the company said in a statement at the time. \"Opioids are responsible for a high proportion of fatal drug overdoses around the world.\"\nLaw enforcement agencies nationwide are struggling to stop a growing heroin epidemic from spreading across the United States.\nMore from Wonkblog:\n- Why this \u2018horrible\u2019 idea for how to legalize pot could be worth voting for\nLegal marijuana is finally doing what the drug war couldn't\nSupport for marijuana legalization has hit an all-time high\nThis story has been updated to include\u00a0the name of Insys's fentanyl drug, Subsys."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "181a529c-8ae4-11e6-bff0-d53f592f176e_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "181a529c-8ae4-11e6-bff0-d53f592f176e_1", "title": "The drug industry\u2019s answer to opioid addiction: More pills", "text": "who take prescription painkillers. They call it \u201copioid-induced constipation,\u201d or \u201cOIC.\u201d The story of OIC illuminates the opportunism of pharmaceutical innovators and the consequences of a heavily drug-dependent society. Six in 10 American adults take prescription drugs, creating a vast market for new meds to treat the side effects of the old ones. Opioid prescriptions alone have skyrocketed from 112 million in 1992 to nearly 249 million in 2015, the latest year for which numbers are available, and America\u2019s dependence on the drugs has reached crisis levels. Millions are addicted to or abusing prescription painkillers such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that, from 1999 to 2014, more than 165,000 people died in the United States from prescription-opioid overdoses, which have contributed to a startling increase in early mortality among whites, particularly women \u2014 a devastating toll that has hit hardest in small towns and rural areas. The pharmaceutical industry\u2019s response has been more drugs. The opioid market \u2014 now worth nearly $10 billion a year in sales in the United States \u2014 has expanded to include a growing universe of medications aimed at treating secondary effects rather than controlling pain. There\u2019s Suboxone, financed and promoted by the U.S. government as a safer alternative to methadone for those trying to break their dependence on opioids. There\u2019s naloxone, the emergency injection and nasal spray carried by first responders to treat overdoses. And now there\u2019s Relistor, the drug based on Moss\u2019s work, and a competitor, Movantik, for constipation. In colorful charts designed to entice investors, numerous pharmaceutical makers tout the \u201cexpansion opportunity\u201d that exists in the \u201copioid use disorders population.\u201d Indivior, a specialty pharmaceutical company listed on the London Stock Exchange, sees \u201caround 2.5m potential patients, the majority of whom are addicted to prescription painkillers,\u201d as opposed to illicit drugs such as heroin. Another company, New Jersey-based Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, highlights \u201cgrowth drivers\u201d for the market, noting that millions of additional Americans not yet identified are also likely to be dependent on opioid painkillers. Analysts estimate that each of these submarkets \u2014 addiction, overdose and side effects \u2014 is worth at least $1 billion a year in sales. These economics, experts say, work against efforts to end the epidemic. If opioid addiction disappeared tomorrow, it would wipe billions of dollars from the drug companies\u2019 bottom lines. A potent product From a profit-making standpoint, opioids"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Jonathan Moss, a physician and professor at the University of Chicago, helped develop what might be the next billion-dollar drug, designed to treat an uncomfortable side effect of high-dose opiate prescriptions \u2014 constipation. (Lucy Hewett)\nUNNATURAL CAUSES\nCancer patients taking high doses of opioid painkillers are often afflicted by a new discomfort: constipation. Researcher Jonathan Moss thought he could help, but no drug company was interested in his ideas for relieving suffering among the dying.\nSo Moss and his colleagues pieced together small grants and, in 1997, received permission to test their treatment. But not on cancer patients. Federal regulators urged them to use a less frail \u2014 and by then, rapidly expanding \u2014 group: addicts caught in the throes of a nationwide opioid epidemic.\nSuddenly, Moss said, investors were knocking at his door.\n\u201cAs clinicians, we wanted to help palliative patients,\u201d said Moss, a professor and physician at University of Chicago Medicine. \u201cThe company that bought our work saw a broader market.\u201d\nToday, Moss\u2019s side project is hailed as the next billion-dollar drug. And the once-disinterested pharmaceutical industry is bombarding doctors and the public with information about a serious, if previously unrecognized, condition common among the millions of Americans who take prescription painkillers. They call it \u201copioid-induced constipation,\u201d or \u201cOIC.\u201d\nThe story of OIC illuminates the opportunism of pharmaceutical innovators and the consequences of a heavily drug-dependent society. Six in 10 American adults take prescription drugs, creating a vast market for new meds to treat the side effects of the old ones.\nOpioid prescriptions alone have skyrocketed from 112 million in 1992 to nearly 249 million in 2015, the latest year for which numbers are available, and America\u2019s dependence on the drugs has reached crisis levels. Millions are addicted to or abusing prescription painkillers such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that, from 1999 to 2014, more than 165,000 people died in the United States from prescription-opioid overdoses, which have contributed to a startling increase in early mortality among whites, particularly women \u2014 a devastating toll that has hit hardest in small towns and rural areas.\nThe pharmaceutical industry\u2019s response has been more drugs. The opioid market \u2014 now worth nearly $10 billion a year in sales in the United States \u2014 has expanded to include a growing universe of medications aimed at treating secondary effects rather than controlling pain.\nThere\u2019s Suboxone, financed and promoted by the U.S. government as a safer alternative to methadone for those trying to break their dependence on opioids. There\u2019s naloxone, the emergency injection and nasal spray carried by first responders to treat overdoses. And now there\u2019s Relistor, the drug based on Moss\u2019s work, and a competitor, Movantik, for constipation.\nIn colorful charts designed to entice investors, numerous pharmaceutical makers tout the \u201cexpansion opportunity\u201d that exists in the \u201copioid use disorders population.\u201d\nIndivior, a specialty pharmaceutical company listed on the London Stock Exchange, sees \u201caround 2.5m potential patients, the majority of whom are addicted to prescription painkillers,\u201d as opposed to illicit drugs such as heroin. Another company, New Jersey-based Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, highlights \u201cgrowth drivers\u201d for the market, noting that millions of additional Americans not yet identified are also likely to be dependent on opioid painkillers.\nAnalysts estimate that each of these submarkets \u2014 addiction, overdose and side effects \u2014 is worth at least $1 billion a year in sales. These economics, experts say, work against efforts to end the epidemic.\nIf opioid addiction disappeared tomorrow, it would wipe billions of dollars from the drug companies\u2019 bottom lines.\n\nA potent product\nFrom a profit-making standpoint, opioids are a potent product. Chronic use can cause myriad side effects that usually are mild enough to keep people taking painkillers but sufficiently uncomfortable to send them back to the doctor.\nAndrew Kolodny, executive director of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, said this domino effect can turn a patient worth a few hundred dollars a month into one worth several thousand dollars a month.\n\u201cMany patients wind up very sedated from opioids, and it\u2019s not uncommon to give them amphetamines to make them more alert. But now they can\u2019t sleep, so they get Ambien or Lunesta. The amphetamines also make them anxious, paranoid and sweaty, and that means even more drugs,\u201d said Kolodny, who also serves as chief medical officer to Phoenix House, a nonprofit organization that offers drug and alcohol treatment in 10 states and the District.\nWomen, in particular, are ideal customers. About 57 percent of working-age women who take opioids have four or more prescriptions, according to a Washington Post analysis of participants in the latest National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among working-age women who don\u2019t take opioids, 14 percent have four or more prescriptions, the analysis shows.\nAmong men, the numbers are significantly lower. About 41 percent of working-age men on prescription opioids have at least four prescriptions. Among men who don\u2019t take opioids, 9 percent have four or more.\nStudies show that constipation afflicts 40 percent to 90 percent of opioid patients. As recently as a few years ago, doctors typically advised people to cut down the dosages of their pain meds, to take them less often, or to try non-drug interventions such as changing their diets or increasing physical activity.\nBy promoting opioid-induced constipation as a condition in need of more targeted treatment, critics say the drug industry is creating incentives to maintain the painkillers at full strength and add another pill instead.\n\u201cThe pharmaceutical industry literally created the problem [of OIC],\u201d Kolodny said. \u201cThey named it, and they started advertising what a serious issue it is. And now they\u2019ve got the solution for it.\u201d\n\nA Super Bowl ad\nOpioid-induced constipation burst onto the biggest possible public stage in February, when AstraZeneca, maker of Movantik, aired a spot during Super Bowl 50 , one of the most expensive ad opportunities of the year. It featured a middle-aged man wistfully watching another man triumphantly adjusting his belt, a dog peacefully relieving itself under a tree and a woman striding by with a banner of toilet paper trailing victoriously from one high-heeled shoe.\n\u201cIf you need an opioid to manage your chronic pain, you may be so constipated it feels like everyone can go \u2014 except you,\u201d a narrator intones.\nAstraZeneca's 2016 super bowl ad features a man looking for relief from constipation due to opioid use.\nThat ad was aimed at men, but many others in the Movantik campaign target women, airing on \u201cGood Morning America,\u201d movies on the Hallmark Channel and specials about former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Diana and singer Whitney Houston.\nIn one, a slightly overweight dark-blonde woman talks about \u201cstruggling to find relief.\u201d In another, a giant cartoon pill looms sympathetically over a middle-aged brunette, who complains that opioids really helped with her pain but left her with some \u201cbaggage.\u201d\n\u201cSo awkward,\u201d she sighs.\nThe Super Bowl ad, aired before an audience of more than 100 million people, quickly became the latest flash point in the country\u2019s war against opioids. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) called the ad \u201ca shameful attempt to exploit America\u2019s addiction crisis to boost corporate profits.\u201d White House chief of staff Denis McDonough tweeted: \u201cNext year, how about fewer ads that fuel opioid addiction and more on access to treatment.\u201d\nAstraZeneca and its marketing partner Daiichi Sankyo defended the commercials, calling opioid-induced constipation \u201ca legitimate medical condition\u201d affecting millions of Americans.\n\u201cThe ad has driven good dialogue about OIC, and just as importantly, also added to the increasing and necessary conversation about the appropriate and safe use of opioids,\u201d a spokeswoman said.\nPaul Gileno, president of the U.S. Pain Foundation, a patient advocacy group that worked with AstraZeneca on the ads, notes that many people use opioids responsibly.\n\u201cPeople ask, \u2018Why are you helping addicts?\u2019 That\u2019s not the case,\u201d Gileno said. \u201cWe are trying to help people who are suffering from chronic pain to be able to continue on their medicines and live their lives.\u201d\n\nA \u2018brilliant\u2019 pitch\nEach tiny pink pill of Movantik retails for about $10, and most insurance plans cover it. Since the Super Bowl, prescriptions have jumped from 6,600 to 8,800 a week, AstraZeneca recently reported.\nMovantik holds the dominant market share, but Canada\u2019s Valeant Pharmaceuticals \u2014 one of the companies under fire by Congress for jacking up prices of old drugs \u2014 won approval in July from the Food and Drug Administration to sell Relistor, its version of the pill. Analysts estimate that as many as six other drugs may be on the market by 2019.\nInvestors have been talking about the \u201cblockbuster potential\u201d of these drugs since at least 2008, when Movantik had been tested on only a small number of human subjects, and long before it received FDA approval in 2014. While it is illegal to market a drug before approval, it is fine to market the condition the drug is designed to treat. And so \u201cOIC\u201d was born.\nThe branding began around 2010, when \u201cOIC\u201d began appearing in papers in some of the top medical journals, in poster presentations and on the lips of panelists speaking at major medical conferences. \u201cOpioid-induced constipation\u201d suddenly replaced what had been a vast vocabulary used to describe the problem, including terms such as \u201cbowel dysfunction\u201d and \u201cgut motility.\u201d\nLast year, after it won government approval to sell Movantik, AstraZeneca rolled out a number of free continuing-education classes. Doctors and nurses must take such classes to remain licensed. The titles included: Opioid-induced Constipation: A Neglected Complication and Unmet Needs in Opioid-Induced Constipation.\nThe companies have also asked pain doctors to show patients a chart about stool \u201chealth,\u201d with diagrams to help assess shape and clumpiness.\nAdriane Fugh-Berman, a researcher at Georgetown University Medical Center who studies drug marketing, called the Movantik strategy \u201cbrilliant.\u201d She compared it to other recent \u201cdisease awareness\u201d campaigns focused on \u201cpremenstrual dysphoric disorder\u201d (treatable with a new version of Prozac packaged in pink instead of blue) and \u201cbinge-eating disorder\u201d (for which there is a new pill called Vyvanse).\nThe OIC campaign created the perception of great need for the drug when the market should be \u201cvanishingly small,\u201d Fugh-Berman said \u2014 certainly not big enough to justify ads during the Super Bowl.\n\u201cThe best way to treat opioid-induced constipation,\u201d she said, \u201cis to prevent it in the first place by not overusing opioids.\u201d\nMoss reluctantly continued to test a constipation-easing drug he was developing on opioid addicts, rather than cancer patients, at the behest of the Food and Drug Administration. It became Valeant\u2019s Relistor. (Lucy Hewett)\nWilliam Chey, director of the Gastrointestinal Physiology Laboratory at the University of Michigan, helped design and execute the first large-scale human study for a competing drug that became Movantik, the first drug on the market specifically approved to treat opioid-induced constipation. (Nick Hagen)\nPotential for good and bad\nConstipation is different for people on opioids. Opioids bind to a receptor that makes the gastrointestinal tract go awry, decreasing the secretion of fluids and inhibiting the muscle contractions that propel waste. As a result, stool gets \u201cstuck.\u201d\nWhile mostly a nuisance, the condition can be serious, especially among people already weakened by end-stage cancer. Some patients have been rushed to the emergency room to have the material removed from their bodies.\nIn the early 1990s, Moss and his colleagues at the University of Chicago began working on a drug that would block what are known as mu opioid receptors, which are responsible for the side effect. The drug showed promise, and Moss was devastated when investors told him the potential profits were too small to be worth the risky investment.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re a drug company, who wants to make a drug for people who weren\u2019t going to be around in a couple of months? They wanted to aim for something people could take for 10, 20 years,\u201d recalled Moss, who specializes in anesthesiology and critical care.\nThe researchers decided to fund the work without industry help but ran into another roadblock: The FDA said it was too risky to continue testing the experimental drug on cancer patients. Regulators suggested a different population: opioid addicts being treated with methadone.\nMoss was reluctant. He considered the idea a detour that would slow down his work. \u201cOur hearts really sank,\u201d he said.\nThinking that he had no choice, Moss began the testing, and the results were published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, in 2000. Pharmaceutical companies immediately came calling.\nMoss\u2019s drug was picked up by a biotech company and, after changing hands a few times, eventually became Valeant\u2019s Relistor. Nearly all the profits will go to the companies. The licensing deal through the University of Chicago calls for Moss and four colleagues to receive a modest initial payment in the thousands of dollars, plus a tiny slice of sales royalties. They also get \u201cmilestone payments\u201d when the drug reaches a certain stage of approval or a certain market size.\nParallel efforts took off at other companies. Nektar Therapeutics, a small San Francisco firm specializing in drug research and development, had been working on a drug known as NKTR-118, which was aimed at limiting opioid penetration of the central nervous system and reducing side effects such as dizziness and sleepiness. But researchers found that it also helped with constipation.\nIn 2009, AstraZeneca bought the rights for the drug and recruited William Chey, director of the Gastrointestinal Physiology Laboratory at the University of Michigan, to help design and execute the first large-scale human study. The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2014, were a crucial part of pushing Movantik over the FDA finish line. Last year, it became the first drug on the market specifically approved to treat opioid-induced constipation.\nChey said that he has seen many patients with cancer and other serious illnesses suffering from the condition and that he believes Movantik can improve their quality of life. However, Chey said he also recognizes the concern that Movantik could enable chronic opioid use and worsen the nation\u2019s epidemic of addiction.\n\u201cI\u2019ve thought a lot about the potential good and bad,\u201d he said. \u201cUsed responsibly, this is an incredibly valuable drug. Hopefully, people will use it that way.\nDan Keating contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "296ad1e2-9a38-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "296ad1e2-9a38-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_1", "title": "\u2018Mommy lobby\u2019 emerges as a powerful advocate for medical marijuana for children", "text": "with seizure disorders who have been successfully treated with a special oil extract made from cannabis plants, mothers have become the new face of the medical marijuana movement. Similar scenes have been playing out in recent weeks in other states where medical marijuana remains illegal: Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, Utah, New York, North Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky. The \u201cmommy lobby\u201d has been successful at opening the doors to legalizing marijuana \u2014 if only a crack, in some places \u2014 where others have failed. In the 1970s and \u201980s, mothers were on the other side of the issue, successfully fending off efforts to decriminalize marijuana with heartbreaking stories about how their teenage children\u2019s lives unraveled when they began to use the drug. Mothers have long been among the most powerful constituent groups in the United States, and the reason is clear. Groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving are able to draw so much public support because they tug at a universal human emotion: the desire to protect children from harm. And while national gun-control efforts after the Sandy Hook massacre faltered, mothers\u2019 groups worked to keep the issue on the public radar, helping to get some new measures passed at the state level. Today, mothers are fighting for access to the drug, and they have changing public attitudes on their side. For the first time, a majority of Americans in opinion polls say they support the full legalization of marijuana. Last year, Colorado and Washington state made marijuana fully legal, and there has been a groundswell of support in several states for ballot initiatives or legislation to do the same, including some in the conservative South. Medical marijuana is now legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The diseases and conditions for which it can legally be used are limited and vary by jurisdiction. Most states have additional requirements for children: Instead of one prescription, parents must get two from different doctors. Even in states where marijuana is available for children, the mothers say it is often a challenge to convince physicians that the potential benefits outweigh the risks. The drug the mothers are seeking is an extract that contains only trace amounts of the part of the plant responsible for the euphoric effect of the drug but is still high in cannabidiol, or CBD \u2014 a substance that scientists think may quiet the electrical and chemical activity in the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Born with a rare chromosomal disorder, 6-year-old Lydia Schaeffer suffers from life-threatening seizures that doctors haven\u2019t been able to control despite countless medications. In marijuana, Lydia\u2019s family members think they might have found a treatment that works. Now, they are trying to help legalize the drug.\nStanding in a Wisconsin State Capitol hearing room surrounded by parents hugging their seriously ill children, Sally Schaeffer began to cry as she talked about her daughter.\nBorn with a rare chromosomal disorder, 6-year-old Lydia suffers from life-threatening seizures that doctors haven\u2019t been able to control despite countless medications. The family\u2019s last hope: medical marijuana.\nSchaeffer, 39, didn\u2019t just ask lawmakers to legalize the drug. She begged.\n\u201cIf it was your child and you didn\u2019t have options, what would you do?\u201d she said during her testimony in Madison on Feb. 12.\nThe representatives were so moved that they introduced a bipartisan bill to allow parents in situations similar to Schaeffer\u2019s to use the drug on their children.\nFor some families with children who suffer from rare seizure disorders, a new form of medical marijuana is proving to be a life-changing treatment.\nEmboldened by stories circulated through Facebook, Twitter and the news media about children with seizure disorders who have been successfully treated with a special oil extract made from cannabis plants, mothers have become the new face of the medical marijuana movement.\nSimilar scenes have been playing out in recent weeks in other states where medical marijuana remains illegal: Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, Utah, New York, North Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky.\nThe \u201cmommy lobby\u201d has been successful at opening the doors to legalizing marijuana \u2014 if only a crack, in some places \u2014 where others have failed. In the 1970s and \u201980s, mothers were on the other side of the issue, successfully fending off efforts to decriminalize marijuana with heartbreaking stories about how their teenage children\u2019s lives unraveled when they began to use the drug.\nMothers have long been among the most powerful constituent groups in the United States, and the reason is clear. Groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving are able to draw so much public support because they tug at a universal human emotion: the desire to protect children from harm. And while national gun-control efforts after the Sandy Hook massacre faltered, mothers\u2019 groups worked to keep the issue on the public radar, helping to get some new measures passed at the state level.\nToday, mothers are fighting for access to the drug, and they have changing public attitudes on their side. For the first time, a majority of Americans in opinion polls say they support the full legalization of marijuana.\nLast year, Colorado and Washington state made marijuana fully legal, and there has been a groundswell of support in several states for ballot initiatives or legislation to do the same, including some in the conservative South.\nMedical marijuana is now legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The diseases and conditions for which it can legally be used are limited and vary by jurisdiction. Most states have additional requirements for children: Instead of one prescription, parents must get two from different doctors.\nEven in states where marijuana is available for children, the mothers say it is often a challenge to convince physicians that the potential benefits outweigh the risks.\nThe drug the mothers are seeking is an extract that contains only trace amounts of the part of the plant responsible for the euphoric effect of the drug but is still high in cannabidiol, or CBD \u2014 a substance that scientists think may quiet the electrical and chemical activity in the brain that causes seizures. Instead of leaves that are smoked, it is a liquid that is mixed in food or given to a child with a dropper.\nThe prospect of treating large numbers of children with this substance has alarmed medical organizations and anti-drug groups that say the potential dangers of prescribing an untested and unregulated treatment for young children are being lost in the conversation.\nLittle is known about the effects of marijuana on children; most studies have looked at teenagers who use it illicitly.\nMuch of the concern centers on the developing brain: Marijuana use has been linked to higher rates of mental illness, including thought disorders, depression and anxiety, as well as \u2014 according to one prominent study published last year \u2014 diminished IQ over time.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of misinformation and emotion in this issue, rather than a focus on science,\u201d said Kevin Sabet, an outspoken opponent of marijuana legalization who is director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida and was a former senior adviser for drug policy in the Obama administration.\nThe epilepsy community is divided on the issue. The Epilepsy Foundation, which represents patients and their families, said in late February that it backs efforts to legalize medical marijuana for use in pediatric epilepsy patients. But the American Epilepsy Society, which represents physicians and other professionals working in the field of epilepsy, says the treatment \u201cmay not be advisable due to lack of information on safety and efficacy.\u201d\nSharon Levy, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on substance abuse, said she\u2019s a strong proponent of studying and developing medications from the active ingredients in marijuana. But she does not support the idea of parents choosing the plant they think would be best, making their own oral preparations and guessing at proper dosage without knowing long-term side effects.\n\u201cIt is a bad idea. When I look at the accumulation of studies about marijuana and children, I am very concerned,\u201d she said.\nLevy said she understands that efforts to develop and test marijuana-\u00adbased treatments for the disorder may not be moving fast enough for some children with severe epilepsy. But she said that the fact that there are flaws with the regulatory system means that we should fix the system rather than bypass it.\n\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t forget that the regulatory system was put in place for a reason,\u201d Levy said. \u201cThe history of medicine is littered with stories of \u2018medications\u2019 that had terrible long-term impacts.\u201d\nCharlotte\u2019s story\nStories about the promise of marijuana for seizures have been circulating as far back as the 19th century, but it wasn\u2019t until two years ago, when Paige Figi, a Colorado mom, began posting online stories about her child\u2019s experiences with the treatment, that other families began to take notice.\nOf the 2.3 million Americans living with epilepsy, more than 1 million of them have seizures that can\u2019t be controlled by modern medicine. Figi\u2019s daughter, Charlotte, was one of them.\nDiagnosed with a rare condition called the condition known as Dravet syndrome, Charlotte, then 5, was suffering from more than 300 seizures each week. She used a wheelchair, could only say a few words and had gone into cardiac arrest more than once. Desperate after doctors told them there was nothing more they could do, Figi and her husband, Matt, turned to medical marijuana.\nThey began to give Charlotte a few drops of an extract made from a strain of marijuana that was high in CBD, which is thought to be medicinal, and low in THC, the component that creates a high, twice a day with her food. They were surprised when the seizures nearly stopped.\nAs Charlotte\u2019s miraculous story spread, more than 100 families relocated to Colorado Springs, where the dispensary selling the substance is located. Across the country, parents are holding bake sales, benefit concerts and other fundraisers to try to raise money for the treatment; it can cost several hundred dollars a month to purchase the extract. A nonprofit foundation formed to assist those seeking the drug said that 187 pediatric patients are being treated and that there is a waiting list of more than 3,000.\nFigi and Joshua Stanley, the grower who co-created the strain that is being used in the treatment \u2014 now known as \u201cCharlotte\u2019s Web\u201d \u2014 have become heroes in the epilepsy community.\nAt the invitation of mothers, Figi and Stanley have been traveling around the country, telling Charlotte\u2019s story to lawmakers in other states.\n\u201cIt\u2019s very emotional,\u201d Figi said of the hearings. \u201cEveryone\u2019s handing out tissues \u2014 especially when someone comes who has lost a child to seizures, and they are coming out to support this effort.\u201d\nStanley, 38, recently started Strains of Hope, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to trying to get governments around the world to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. As a first step, he said he is working with partners in Jamaica, where he hopes the extract could be available for free to children who need it as soon as the end of this year.\n\u201cChildren should not be dying because of these antiquated laws,\u201d he said.\nBut beyond all the heartbreak and hope lies the question of whether the treatment works. And if so, how?\nStanley declined to release any detailed numbers about how effective the treatment has been, but he said nearly every child with epilepsy who took the extract experienced a reduction in seizures.\nThere is some medical support for such a claim. There are several thousand published studies showing the potential benefits of marijuana for some conditions, and animal studies have shown that using CBD can stop seizures. Marijuana is made up of hundreds of components, with about 80 classified as cannabinoids unique to the plant, which scientists think activate specific receptors in the brain and other parts of the body to produce physiological and behavioral effects.\nHeather Jackson, executive director of Realm of Caring, a foundation that is dedicated to research, education and advocacy for Charlotte\u2019s Web and other marijuana-derived medicines, said the organization has begun to communicate with partners about the possibility of starting clinical trials for the treatment.\n\u201cWe know that, in order for the treatment to be accepted by the medical community, there has be more testing, but because it\u2019s marijuana, there has been a lot of red tape,\u201d she said.\nGW Pharmaceuticals, a British company, received FDA approval in December to begin clinical trials of a medicinal form of marijuana for children with epilepsy at New York University\u2019s Langone Medical Center, the University of California at San Francisco and other locations.\nBut the trials are limited, and many mothers said they tried to enroll but were told the trials were full.\nProposals for the future\nOne of the first things Schaeffer told lawmakers when she stepped up to the podium in the hearing room in Madison was that she had never smoked marijuana. She wanted to make it clear that she wasn\u2019t part of a more radical movement that aims to legalize recreational marijuana.\nLike many of the mothers involved, Schaeffer said she supports legalizing medical marijuana for everyone but would be happy with a narrow law that authorizes the use of a specific kind of marijuana treatment for children.\nSchaeffer\u2019s daughter, Lydia, has a rare form of epilepsy that makes her have seizures when she sleeps. Doctors have told the family that the only treatment option is a surgical procedure that would remove part of her brain. They warned Schaeffer and her husband that such a treatment might end up leaving her more disabled \u2014 the surgery could blind her, for instance. Moving the whole family outside Wisconsin to a state where medical marijuana is legal is not an option, they said, because they own a small landscaping business in Burlington and Sally Schaeffer\u2019s parents live nearby.\nShe said that if the bill does not go through this session, she may move to Colorado with her daughter and her husband may have to stay behind with their two sons.\n\u201cIf I have to wait, I worry, what if my child doesn\u2019t make it? It is heartbreaking to think of losing your child from a seizure when you know the medication is out there that could help them,\u201d Schaeffer said.\nWisconsin state assembly member David Murphy, a Republican, said he signed on to be a co-sponsor of the bill after hearing about the mothers\u2019 plight.\n\u201cI am not in support of legalizing marijuana and have not supported medical marijuana up to this point, but common sense tells me this is not remotely the same thing as that,\u201d Murphy said.\nWhile the mothers have received almost universal sympathy wherever they go, the proposed solutions to their problems differ by state.\nIn Wisconsin, the state committee on children and families passed a bill last week to allow the use of CBD oil in the treatment of seizure disorders. In Utah, state lawmakers have talked about importing the extract from Colorado and having the health department administer it as an herbal supplement.\nIn New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) has proposed a plan to use existing law to allow 20 hospitals to dispense the drug.\nNone of these are permanent solutions, the mothers say.\nEven those who live in one of the states that allow medical marijuana say there is a need for change.\nThe main issue is that many parents think that only certain strains or formulations may work for their children, and, because marijuana is classified as a controlled substance, they can\u2019t move the drugs across state lines \u2014 limiting not only their treatment options but medical research.\n\u201cThis is not how medical care is supposed to work in the United States. You shouldn\u2019t have to watch your child suffering and be told you can\u2019t have the medicine that can help because you live in the wrong state,\u201d said Colleen Stice, 35, a former payroll manager in Tulsa who quit her job to take care of her 14-month-old son, Rowan, after he began to have seizures.\nShe said she and her husband are ready to move to Colorado if legislation is not approved in Oklahoma, but she worries about what might happen if a different drug that works better is developed in another state. Would they pick up and move again?\nThe only answer to this patchwork system of access to medical marijuana treatments, the mothers say, is federal intervention.\nThey are asking the FDA to speed up the approval process for drugs based on CBD, requesting that the National Institutes of Health dedicate more money to this type of research and urging the Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana so that it can be moved around more easily.\nThis month, the mothers will bring their fight to Washington. Dozens are planning to fly in from across the country to meet with key legislators on Capitol Hill and hold a march across the city. They plan to bring their children.\nMagda Jean-Louis and Eddy Palanzo contributed to this report.\nFor more information:\nRealm of Caring\nEpilepsy Foundation statement on medical marijuana access and research\nAmerican Epilepsy Society statement on marijuana and epilepsy\n\nMore from The Washington Post:\nA brief history of public opinion on marijuana legalization in one chart\nThe Lazarus Weed: The strange rise again of legalized pot\nGallery: A tour of Colorado\u2019s blossoming pot industry\nAdvocates press for marijuana measure on D.C. ballot\nMd. lawmakers hear truth, fiction about marijuana"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "2a15bb1a-0999-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "2a15bb1a-0999-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_0", "title": "Jeff Sessions: \u2018Medical marijuana has been hyped, maybe too much\u2019", "text": "Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke in Richmond. (Zach Gibson/European Pressphoto Agency) RICHMOND \u2014 \u201cI think medical marijuana has been hyped, maybe too much,\u201d he told reporters in Richmond after an event about violent crime. \u201cDosages can be constructed in a way that might be beneficial, I acknowledge that, but if you smoke marijuana, for example, where you have no idea how much THC you\u2019re getting, it\u2019s probably not a good way to administer a medicinal amount. So forgive me if I\u2019m a bit dubious about that.\u201d Sessions also cast doubt, as he has before, on the use of marijuana to curb opioid addiction. Studies have shown that medical marijuana laws and access to medical marijuana dispensaries are associated with fewer opioid deaths and less prescription painkiller abuse. During his campaign, President Trump said he was \u201c100\u00ad percent\u201d in favor of medical marijuana. White House spokesman Sean Spicer recently confirmed that the president sees a \u201cbig difference\u201d between using marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. \u201cThe problem is that you\u2019re seeing now a disagreement between Sessions and the president on the issue of medical marijuana,\u201d said Michael Collins of the Drug Policy Alliance. \u201cIt\u2019s concerning because the administration, the White House themselves, have sort of committed themselves to not going after medical marijuana. Sessions is out casting doubt on that.\u201d Smoking is a necessary way to consume medical marijuana, he said, because chronic pain sufferers need the instantaneous relief other forms of the drug cannot provide. The dosage concern doesn\u2019t make sense, he said, because there\u2019s no evidence of fatal marijuana overdoses. A congressional provision prevents the Justice Department from spending money to interfere with state-level medical marijuana programs. However, that appropriations amendment must be reauthorized this year. Twenty-eight states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico have medical marijuana programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Collins said the federal government could easily do research into marijuana efficacy, but that opponents of legalization are standing in the way. \u201cThe people complaining that more research needs to be done are the very people in a position to do the research,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they\u2019ll never do it, because they know the research will show the positives.\u201d Independent studies have generally found marijuana to be effective for treating chronic pain, nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, and muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. But the Drug Enforcement Administration, which"}], "old": [{"_id": "2a15bb1a-0999-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_0", "title": "Jeff Sessions: \u2018Medical marijuana has been hyped, maybe too much\u2019", "text": "Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke in Richmond. (Zach Gibson/European Pressphoto Agency) RICHMOND \u2014 Studies have shown that medical marijuana laws and access to medical marijuana dispensaries are associated with fewer opioid deaths and less prescription painkiller abuse. \u201cThe problem is that you\u2019re seeing now a disagreement between Sessions and the president on the issue of medical marijuana,\u201d said Michael Collins of the Drug Policy Alliance. \u201cIt\u2019s concerning because the administration, the White House themselves, have sort of committed themselves to not going after medical marijuana. Sessions is out casting doubt on that.\u201d Smoking is a necessary way to consume medical marijuana, he said, because chronic pain sufferers need the instantaneous relief other forms of the drug cannot provide. The dosage concern doesn\u2019t make sense, he said, because there\u2019s no evidence of fatal marijuana overdoses. A congressional provision prevents the Justice Department from spending money to interfere with state-level medical marijuana programs. However, that appropriations amendment must be reauthorized this year. Twenty-eight states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico have medical marijuana programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. \u201cThe people complaining that more research needs to be done are the very people in a position to do the research,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they\u2019ll never do it, because they know the research will show the positives.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke in Richmond.  (Zach Gibson/European Pressphoto Agency)\nRICHMOND \u2014\n\u201cI think medical marijuana has been hyped, maybe too much,\u201d he told reporters in Richmond after an event about violent crime. \u201cDosages can be constructed in a way that might be beneficial, I acknowledge that, but if you smoke marijuana, for example, where you have no idea how much THC you\u2019re getting, it\u2019s probably not a good way to administer a medicinal amount. So forgive me if I\u2019m a bit dubious about that.\u201d\nSessions also cast doubt, as he has before, on the use of marijuana to curb opioid addiction.\nStudies have shown that medical marijuana laws and access to medical marijuana dispensaries are associated with fewer opioid deaths and less prescription painkiller abuse.\nDuring his campaign, President Trump said he was \u201c100\u00ad\u00a0percent\u201d in favor of medical marijuana. White House spokesman Sean Spicer recently confirmed that the president sees a \u201cbig difference\u201d between using marijuana for medical and recreational purposes.\n\u201cThe problem is that you\u2019re seeing now a disagreement between Sessions and the president on the issue of medical marijuana,\u201d said Michael Collins of the Drug Policy Alliance. \u201cIt\u2019s concerning because the administration, the White House themselves, have sort of committed themselves to not going after medical marijuana. Sessions is out casting doubt on that.\u201d\nSmoking is a necessary way to consume medical marijuana, he said, because chronic pain sufferers need the instantaneous relief other forms of the drug cannot provide. The dosage concern doesn\u2019t make sense, he said, because there\u2019s no evidence of fatal marijuana overdoses.\nA congressional provision prevents the Justice Department from spending money to interfere with state-level medical marijuana programs. However, that appropriations amendment must be reauthorized this year. Twenty-eight states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico have medical marijuana programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.\nCollins said the federal government could easily do research into marijuana efficacy, but that opponents of legalization are standing in the way.\n\u201cThe people complaining that more research needs to be done are the very people in a position to do the research,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they\u2019ll never do it, because they know the research will show the positives.\u201d\nIndependent studies have generally found marijuana to be effective for treating chronic pain, nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, and muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. But the Drug Enforcement Administration, which operates under the Justice Department, maintains that marijuana has no medical value."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "2e4001c3b3206fb73d4af6da95202888_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "2e4001c3b3206fb73d4af6da95202888_0", "title": "Medical marijuana victories in Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas, Montana turn the tide", "text": "Cured and finished buds as well as growing medical marijuana plants propagated at a medical marijuana growing operation in Washington in September. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) Tuesday was a banner night for medical marijuana \u2014 with ballot initiatives in numerous states widening access to the substance for Americans seeking relief from pain or a treatment for illness. Massachusetts and California, where Napster co-founder and cancer philanthropist Sean Parker helped fund a campaign to legalize the drug, were among the states passing new recreational marijuana laws. The tide also turned in Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas \u2014 where similar measures were defeated in the past \u2014 and in Montana where measures regarding medical marijuana were passed. Before this week, medical marijuana was legal in a little over half the country or 25 states. The wins come as rigorous scientific evidence is mounting that marijuana or its components may have beneficial medical effects. Earlier this year, GW Pharmaceuticals said that clinical trials show a cannabis-derived drug may be able to reduce seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. Physicians are also increasingly looking to marijuana as an alternative to highly addictive opioids that have led to a crisis in overdoses. This chart, from my colleague Christopher Ingraham, shows just how dramatic the difference in the painkiller prescriptions is in medical-marijuana states vs. non-medical-marijuana states. Here's a closer look at the medical marijuana measures passed Tuesday night: Florida: North Dakota: Montana: \u201cThe previous restriction imposed a limit of three, which was sharply opposed by patients and providers in the program. Most medical marijuana patients were left without a registered provider under the restrictions. Since they went into effect, patients have left the program. More than a third of patients registered in September left over the next month \u2014 7,785 remained in October, according to the state health department. \u201cI-182 adds post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of eligible conditions, allows for lab testing for marijuana and orders annual health department inspections of providers.\u201d Arkansas: For some families with children who suffer from rare seizure disorders, a new form of medical marijuana is proving to be a life-changing treatment. Marijuana wins big on election night Cannabis-derived drug shows promise for kids with epilepsy; GW pharma stock doubles One striking chart shows why pharma companies are fighting legal marijuana"}], "old": [{"_id": "2e4001c3b3206fb73d4af6da95202888_0", "title": "Medical marijuana victories in Florida, North Dakota, Arkansas, Montana turn the tide", "text": "Cured and finished buds as well as growing medical marijuana plants propagated at a medical marijuana growing operation in Washington in September. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) Tuesday was a banner night for medical marijuana \u2014 with ballot initiatives in numerous states widening access to the substance for Americans seeking relief from pain or a treatment for illness. Massachusetts and California, where Napster co-founder and cancer philanthropist Sean Parker helped fund a campaign to legalize the drug, were among the states passing new recreational marijuana laws. The tide also turned in Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas \u2014 where similar measures were defeated in the past \u2014 and in Montana where measures regarding medical marijuana were passed. Before this week, medical marijuana was legal in a little over half the country or 25 states. Here's a closer look at the medical marijuana measures passed Tuesday night: Florida: North Dakota: Montana: \u201cThe previous restriction imposed a limit of three, which was sharply opposed by patients and providers in the program. Most medical marijuana patients were left without a registered provider under the restrictions. Since they went into effect, patients have left the program. More than a third of patients registered in September left over the next month \u2014 7,785 remained in October, according to the state health department. \u201cI-182 adds post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of eligible conditions, allows for lab testing for marijuana and orders annual health department inspections of providers.\u201d Arkansas: For some families with children who suffer from rare seizure disorders, a new form of medical marijuana is proving to be a life-changing treatment. Marijuana wins big on election night Cannabis-derived drug shows promise for kids with epilepsy; GW pharma stock doubles One striking chart shows why pharma companies are fighting legal marijuana"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Cured and finished buds as well as growing medical marijuana plants propagated at a medical marijuana growing operation in Washington in\u00a0September. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)\nTuesday was a banner night for medical marijuana\u00a0\u2014 with ballot initiatives in numerous\u00a0states widening access to the substance for Americans\u00a0seeking relief from pain or a treatment for illness.\nMassachusetts and California, where Napster co-founder and cancer philanthropist Sean Parker helped fund a campaign to legalize the drug, were among the states passing new recreational marijuana laws. The tide also turned in Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas \u2014 where similar measures were defeated in the past\u00a0\u2014 and in Montana where\u00a0measures regarding medical marijuana were passed. Before this week, medical marijuana was legal in a little over\u00a0half the country or 25 states.\nThe wins\u00a0come as rigorous scientific evidence is\u00a0mounting that marijuana or its components\u00a0may have beneficial medical effects. Earlier this year,\u00a0GW Pharmaceuticals said that clinical trials show a\u00a0cannabis-derived\u00a0drug may be able to reduce seizures in patients with Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. Physicians\u00a0are also increasingly looking to marijuana as an alternative to highly addictive\u00a0opioids that have led to\u00a0a crisis in overdoses. This chart, from my colleague Christopher Ingraham, shows just how dramatic the\u00a0difference in the painkiller prescriptions is in\u00a0medical-marijuana states vs. non-medical-marijuana states.\n\nHere's a closer look at the medical marijuana measures passed Tuesday night:\nFlorida:\nNorth Dakota:\nMontana:\n\u201cThe previous restriction imposed a limit of three, which was sharply opposed by patients and providers in the program.\u00a0Most medical marijuana patients were left without a registered provider under the restrictions. Since they went into effect, patients have left the program. More than a third of patients registered in September left over the next month \u2014 7,785 remained in October, according to the state health department.\n\u201cI-182 adds post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of eligible conditions, allows for lab testing for marijuana and orders annual health department inspections of providers.\u201d\nArkansas:\nFor some families with children who suffer from rare seizure disorders, a new form of medical marijuana is proving to be a life-changing treatment.\nMarijuana wins big on election night\nCannabis-derived drug shows promise for kids with epilepsy; GW pharma stock doubles\nOne striking chart shows why pharma companies are fighting legal marijuana"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "377e29aac3e897b3620738f5727e9828_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "377e29aac3e897b3620738f5727e9828_0", "title": "New study finds that medical marijuana may be helping to curb the opioid epidemic", "text": "A medical marijuana plant grows in Washington, D.C. (Linda Davidson / The Washington Post) After states pass laws permitting medical marijuana, drivers in those states become less likely to test positive for opioids after fatal car accidents, a new study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health has found. Researchers analyzed federal crash data in 18 states over the period from 1999 to 2013. States that passed a medical marijuana law during this period saw a reduction in opioid involvement in fatal car accidents, relative to states without such a law. The reduction was greatest among drivers aged 21 to 40, the age group most likely to use medical marijuana where it's available. \"We would expect the adverse consequences of opioid use to decrease over time in states where medical marijuana use is legal, as individuals substitute marijuana for opioids in the treatment of severe or chronic pain,\" said June H. Kim, a doctoral student at the Mailman School of Public Health, and the study's lead author, in a press release. The study, published today in the American Journal of Public Health, is the first to look at the relationship between medical marijuana laws and individual-level laboratory measurements of opioid use. The results suggest a fairly straightforward conclusion that \"in states with medical marijuana laws, fewer individuals are using opioids,\" the authors write. It adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic pain patients may substitute marijuana for prescription painkillers in states where the option is available. One paper published earlier this year found that Medicare Part D prescriptions for painkillers declined significantly in states that passed medical marijuana laws. Other studies have shown that medical marijuana states see fewer painkiller overdose deaths than states without medical pot, and that access to medical marijuana dispensaries is also linked to declining rates of opiate overdose and death. In a sign some drugmakers might be worried about marijuana's impact, the company behind the powerful painkiller fentanyl recently poured half a million dollars into the campaign opposing full marijuana legalization in Arizona, one of the biggest-ever single donations to an anti-legalization cause. Medical marijuana is currently legal, with varying degrees of restriction, in 25 states plus the District of Columbia. Still, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration earlier this year refused to relax restrictions on marijuana, claiming that the drug has no medically accepted use. The DEA is also moving to"}], "old": [{"_id": "377e29aac3e897b3620738f5727e9828_0", "title": "New study finds that medical marijuana may be helping to curb the opioid epidemic", "text": "A medical marijuana plant grows in Washington, D.C. (Linda Davidson / The Washington Post) After states pass laws permitting medical marijuana, drivers in those states become less likely to test positive for opioids after fatal car accidents, a new study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health has found. \"We would expect the adverse consequences of opioid use to decrease over time in states where medical marijuana use is legal, as individuals substitute marijuana for opioids in the treatment of severe or chronic pain,\" said June H. Kim, a doctoral student at the Mailman School of Public Health, and the study's lead author, in a press release. The study, published today in the American Journal of Public Health, is the first to look at the relationship between medical marijuana laws and individual-level laboratory measurements of opioid use. The results suggest a fairly straightforward conclusion that \"in states with medical marijuana laws, fewer individuals are using opioids,\" the authors write. It adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic pain patients may substitute marijuana for prescription painkillers in states where the option is available. More from Wonkblog: Middle-aged parents are now more likely to smoke weed than their teenage kids Ohio city shares shocking photos of adults who overdosed with a small child in the car A maker of deadly painkillers is bankrolling the opposition to legal marijuana in Arizona"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "A\u00a0medical marijuana plant grows\u00a0in Washington, D.C.\u00a0(Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)\nAfter states pass laws permitting medical marijuana, drivers in those states become less likely to test positive for opioids after fatal car accidents, a new study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health has found.\nResearchers analyzed federal crash data in 18 states over the period from 1999 to 2013. States that passed a medical marijuana law during this period saw a reduction in opioid involvement in fatal car accidents, relative to states without such a law. The reduction was greatest among drivers aged 21 to 40, the age group most likely to use medical marijuana where it's available.\n\"We would expect the adverse consequences of opioid use to decrease over time in states where medical marijuana use is legal, as individuals substitute marijuana for opioids in the treatment of severe or chronic pain,\" said June H. Kim, a doctoral student at the Mailman School of Public Health, and\u00a0the study's lead author, in a press release.\nThe study, published today in the\u00a0American Journal of Public Health, is the first to look at the relationship between medical marijuana laws and individual-level laboratory measurements of opioid use. The results suggest a fairly straightforward conclusion that \"in states with medical marijuana laws, fewer individuals are using opioids,\" the authors write.\nIt\u00a0adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic pain patients may substitute marijuana for prescription painkillers in states where the option is available.\nOne paper published earlier this year found that Medicare Part D prescriptions for painkillers declined significantly in states that passed medical marijuana laws. Other studies have shown that medical marijuana states see fewer painkiller overdose deaths than states without medical pot, and that access to medical marijuana dispensaries is also linked to declining rates of opiate overdose and death.\nIn a sign some drugmakers might be\u00a0worried about marijuana's impact,\u00a0the company behind the\u00a0powerful painkiller fentanyl recently poured half a million dollars into the campaign opposing full marijuana legalization in Arizona, one of the biggest-ever single donations to an anti-legalization cause.\nMedical marijuana is currently legal, with varying degrees of restriction, in 25 states plus the District of Columbia. Still, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration earlier this year refused to relax restrictions on marijuana, claiming that the drug has no medically accepted use.\nThe DEA is also moving to increase restrictions on another natural drug, kratom, that some\u00a0opiate addicts say they have used to kick their painkiller habit.\nIn 2014, painkiller overdoses killed nearly 19,000 people, according to the CDC. According to the DEA, no overdose death from marijuana has ever been recorded.\nMore from Wonkblog:\nMiddle-aged parents are now more likely to smoke weed than their teenage kids\nOhio city shares shocking photos of adults who overdosed with a small child in the car\nA maker of deadly painkillers is bankrolling the opposition to legal marijuana in Arizona"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "42dbbc5a-8e61-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_5", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "42dbbc5a-8e61-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_5", "title": "Philip Seymour Hoffman\u2019s death points to broader opioid drug epidemic", "text": "and then Sunday brought three more \u2014 10 deaths in three days. Laboratory tests showed that all had taken a lethal 50-50 mixture of heroin and fentanyl. The overdoses from the \u00adfentanyl-laced heroin apparently have stopped, Williams and Hacker said \u2014 presumably because word got to users that they were in grave peril from heroin sold in plastic envelopes stamped \u201cTheraflu\u201d and \u201cBud Ice.\u201d \u201cOne of the challenges, of course, with this is that there are people who hear that there is some particularly strong heroin, and they would like some of it,\u201d Hacker said. But, she added, \u201cmost users don\u2019t want to die. They\u2019re not looking to overdose. They\u2019re not looking to commit suicide. They\u2019re looking to get high.\u201d Gil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief who is director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said he is concerned that many young people simply don\u2019t grasp how addictive heroin can be. \u201cWe see it in suburbs, among high school kids, and again it goes back to high school kids not being aware how dangerous it is. They think if they snort it or smoke it, they won\u2019t become addicted \u2014 and within weeks they\u2019ve become an injecting drug user,\u201d Kerlikowske said. \u201cThis is really among the most debilitating of drug addictions that we historically know of,\u201d said Hall, the Florida epidemiologist. \u201cThe heroin or opioid becomes the whole focus of the person\u2019s life. Everything is centered on how are they going to take care of their need to have the opiate in their brain in the next 24 hours and what are they going to do to get that.\u201d The White House is pushing more cities to follow the model of Quincy, Mass., where officers on patrol carry an anti-overdose medication called naloxone, which is sold under brand names such as Narcan. Lt. Patrick Glynn, commander of the Quincy police narcotics unit, said the program began after the city and neighboring jurisdictions had 99 overdose deaths in just 18 months in 2008 and 2009. \u201cWe realized we could not arrest our way out of this epidemic. Young people, middle-aged people were dropping on the street, overdosing on heroin,\u201d Glynn said. In a recent three-year period, Glynn said, police administered 227 doses of nasal-spray Narcan and were able to reverse 216 of the overdoses. Related: 8 questions about heroin and the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Drugs are prepared for injection by a user addicted to heroin in St. Johnsbury, Vt. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin devoted his State of the State speech to the scourge of heroin. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)\nThe death last Sunday of \u00adOscar-winning actor Philip \u00adSeymour Hoffman at age 46 \u00adfocused media attention on the nationwide surge in heroin use and overdoses. But the very real heroin epidemic is framed by an even more dramatic increase since the beginning of the century in overdoses from pharmaceutical drugs known as opioids.\nThese are, in effect, tandem epidemics \u2014 an addiction crisis driven by the powerful effects on the human brain of drugs derived from morphine.\nPrescription opioids are killing Americans at more than five times the rate that heroin is, according to the most recent numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These drugs are sold under such familiar brand names as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet and can be found in medicine cabinets in every precinct of American society. They\u2019re also sold illicitly on the street or crushed and laced into heroin.\nThere have been numerous efforts by law enforcement agencies to crack down on \u201cpill mills\u201d that dispense massive amounts of the pharmaceuticals, as well as regulations aimed at preventing users from \u201cdoctor shopping\u201d to find someone who will write a prescription.\nThose efforts have had the unintended effect, officials say, of driving some people to heroin in recent years as their pill supply dries up.\n(Patterson Clark / The Washington Post/Source: CDC)\nThe latest government survey of drug abuse shows a drop since 2010 in first-time users of illegally obtained OxyContin. But heroin use is up. It\u2019s akin to pushing on a beanbag chair. Health officials in Maryland, for example, reported that in the first seven months of 2012, a 15\u00a0percent drop in pharmaceutical opioid overdoses was accompanied by a 41\u00a0percent increase in heroin overdoses.\nMarket forces play a role in this drug substitution, as do the brutal realities of addiction and the need for a fix. Street heroin is much cheaper than a pharmaceutical \u2014 typically $10 a packet for heroin, compared with perhaps $80 on the street for an 80\u00a0milligram OxyContin, public health officials say.\nThe stigma and lethality of street heroin \u2014 long viewed much more negatively than drugs such as cocaine, according to government surveys \u2014 are no deterrent to someone facing the agony of withdrawal from an opioid.\n\u201cIn the storm of narcotic withdrawal, any opiate port will do,\u201d said Jim Hall, an epidemiologist at Nova Southeastern University in Florida who studies addiction.\nPrescription painkillers may also grease a slippery slope toward a relapse for former heroin addicts. Hoffman appears to be a case in point. He was found with a needle in his arm and dozens of heroin packets in his Manhattan apartment. The autopsy and initial toxicology tests were inconclusive, and so the precise cause of Hoffman\u2019s death \u2014 whether he overdosed on heroin alone, for example, or in combination with one or more other drugs \u2014 is pending further investigation.\nBut the actor revealed last year that, after being clean for two decades, he suffered a relapse into heroin use after first taking prescription pills.\n\u201cThe main driver of overdoses right now in our country is from opioid medications, more than from heroin,\u201d said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.\nIn 2010, according to the CDC, 3,036 people died in the United States from heroin overdoses, up from 1,960 in 1999.\nBut 22,134 people died in 2010 from unintentional pharmaceutical drug overdoses, nearly triple the 7,523 deaths reported in 1999, according to the CDC. About three out of four of those overdoses \u2014 16,652 \u2014 were from opioids. Most of the rest of the overdoses came from such drugs as Xanax, Valium and Ativan, which are used for anxiety or sleeplessness and are categorized scientifically as benzodiazepines.\nMost people who abuse pills don\u2019t have legal prescriptions for them. They get them from family and friends, and sometimes from drug dealers. Young people may view them as safer than street drugs such as heroin because they are manufactured as medicine and originate with doctors.\n\u201cWe have tried to shatter the myth that these are safe,\u201d Volkow said.\nYoung people are often the victims of chemical combinations they don\u2019t understand, said Karen Hacker, director of Pennsylvania\u2019s Allegheny County Health Department, which includes the city of Pittsburgh. They combine pills with alcohol and other drugs. They may feel that snorting or smoking certain drugs is safer than injecting them. And they may not realize that slow-release opioid painkillers have long-lasting effects.\n\u201cWe had people going to sleep kind of drunk and literally not waking up in the morning,\u201d Hacker said.\nHer county had a rash of 16\u00a0deaths between Jan.\u00a017 and Jan.\u00a030 from heroin laced with the opioid painkiller fentanyl, which is many times stronger than heroin. The chief medical examiner, Karl Williams, said that in the 1980s and 1990s, Allegheny County would typically have about 100 overdoses annually. But in the late \u201990s, he said, the numbers began steadily rising, and now there are about 250 overdoses each year.\nEven that huge rate of overdoses didn\u2019t prepare the coroner for what he saw on Friday, Jan.\u00a017, when three bodies were brought in with signs of heroin overdoses. The next day, Saturday, he saw four more cases, and then Sunday brought three more \u2014 10 deaths in three days. Laboratory tests showed that all had taken a lethal 50-50 mixture of heroin and fentanyl.\nThe overdoses from the \u00adfentanyl-laced heroin apparently have stopped, Williams and Hacker said \u2014 presumably because word got to users that they were in grave peril from heroin sold in plastic envelopes stamped \u201cTheraflu\u201d and \u201cBud Ice.\u201d\n\u201cOne of the challenges, of course, with this is that there are people who hear that there is some particularly strong heroin, and they would like some of it,\u201d Hacker said. But, she added, \u201cmost users don\u2019t want to die. They\u2019re not looking to overdose. They\u2019re not looking to commit suicide. They\u2019re looking to get high.\u201d\nGil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle police chief who is director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said he is concerned that many young people simply don\u2019t grasp how addictive heroin can be.\n\u201cWe see it in suburbs, among high school kids, and again it goes back to high school kids not being aware how dangerous it is. They think if they snort it or smoke it, they won\u2019t become addicted \u2014 and within weeks they\u2019ve become an injecting drug user,\u201d Kerlikowske said.\n\u201cThis is really among the most debilitating of drug addictions that we historically know of,\u201d said Hall, the Florida epidemiologist. \u201cThe heroin or opioid becomes the whole focus of the person\u2019s life. Everything is centered on how are they going to take care of their need to have the opiate in their brain in the next 24 hours and what are they going to do to get that.\u201d\nThe White House is pushing more cities to follow the model of Quincy, Mass., where officers on patrol carry an anti-overdose medication called naloxone, which is sold under brand names such as Narcan. Lt. Patrick Glynn, commander of the Quincy police narcotics unit, said the program began after the city and neighboring jurisdictions had 99 overdose deaths in just 18 months in 2008 and 2009.\n\u201cWe realized we could not arrest our way out of this epidemic. Young people, middle-aged people were dropping on the street, overdosing on heroin,\u201d Glynn said.\nIn a recent three-year period, Glynn said, police administered 227 doses of nasal-spray Narcan and were able to reverse 216 of the overdoses.\nRelated: 8 questions about heroin and the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "4d42d63a-acb3-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_5", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "4d42d63a-acb3-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_5", "title": "New rules on narcotic painkillers cause grief for veterans and VA", "text": "have showed that the opioid overdose rate is higher in the United States than anywhere else. DEA officials offer some flexibility, allowing doctors to write prescriptions for up to 90 days by post-dating them. But many VA doctors will not do that because of concerns over fraud or fatal overdoses; doctors are telling patients they need to come back every month, medical staff say. Half of all returning troops suffer chronic pain, according to a study in the June issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. So a new generation of pain doctors is pushing for alternative ways to help veterans cope with chronic pain. Some alternatives are acupuncture, bright light therapy and medical marijuana. As part of a $21.7 million initiative with the National Institutes of Health, VA is looking for therapies that could substitute for opioids. \u201cOur hospitals are doing some really exciting things to combat chronic pain and take care of our veterans. There are VA hospitals that are using alpha-stimulation devices to treat pain and depression,\u201d VA Secretary Robert McDonald said. \u201cThat\u2019s only going to continue and keep getting better. And we are getting there.\u201d [Federal research seeks alternatives to addictive opioids for veterans in pain] In the meantime, however, veterans say they continue to bear the burden of the new restrictions on narcotic painkillers. A retired staff Army sergeant who served in Iraq, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for medical privacy reasons, said he can\u2019t drive because of shrapnel in his femur and pelvis. He takes the bus nearly two hours for \u201ca one-minute consult\u201d to get his medications. He has been taking them for more than nine years and has never had an addiction problem, he said. Mike Davis, a retired Army corporal, said he shattered his left arm from the elbow to the fingertips when he fell off of a Pershing missile during maneuvers in Germany in 1979. Over the years, he has had six surgeries. After the last one, in 2003, he was prescribed opioids and said he has been on them since. Davis, who now works as a social worker in Illinois, said he feels lucky to have found a combination of painkillers that works for him. \u201cIt\u2019s just insulting to the veteran to assume they are abusing these drugs,\u201d said his wife, Linda Davis, who works as his personal patient advocate. \u201cI\u2019m fully aware that people"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Craig Schroeder, who was injured in 2006 while serving with the Marines in Iraq, suffers from traumatic brain injury and pain, for which he has been on a steady regimen of opioids. (Ted Richardson/For The Washington Post)\nNew federal rules that make it harder to get narcotic painkillers are taking an unexpected toll on thousands of veterans who depend on these prescription drugs to treat a wide variety of ailments, such as missing limbs and post-traumatic stress.\nThe restrictions, adopted last summer by the Drug Enforcement Administration to curb a national epidemic of opioid abuse, are for the first time, in effect, forcing veterans to return to the doctor every month to renew their medication, although many were already struggling to get appointments at overburdened VA health facilities. And even if patients can get appointments, the new rules pose an additional hardship for many who live a good distance from the health centers.\nAlthough the tighter regulation applies to everyone on opioid painkillers, it\u2019s hitting veterans especially hard because so many are being treated for horrific injuries sustained during the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and have become dependent on the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 beleaguered health-care system for medical care.\nThe rules come at a time of turmoil for VA. The agency\u2019s widespread problem with patient backlogs burst into view last year with revelations that employees had covered up how long veterans had to wait for care, even for such pressing matters as cancer and suicide prevention.\n[How the VA developed its culture of cover-ups]\nIn dramatically curtailing access to the highly addictive painkillers, the government is trying to roll back what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has termed \u201cthe worst drug addiction epidemic in the country\u2019s history, killing more people than heroin and crack cocaine.\u201d The rules apply to \u201chydrocodone combination products,\u201d such as Vicodin.\nMore than half a million veterans are now on prescription opioids, according to VA.\nPain experts at VA say that in hindsight they have been overmedicating veterans, and doctors at the Pentagon and VA now say that the use of the painkillers contributes to family strife, homelessness and even suicide among veterans. A study by the American Public Health Association in 2011 also showed that the overdose rate among VA patients is nearly double the national average.\nBut some veterans say they have come to depend on these painkillers to function and now, unable to get a timely renewal of the prescription, are suffering withdrawal symptoms that feel like a panic attack and the flu at the same time.\nCraig Schroeder was injured in a makeshift-bomb explosion while serving as a Marine corporal in the \u201cTriangle of Death,\u201d a region south of Baghdad. He suffers from traumatic brain injury, which has affected his hearing, memory and movement, and from pain related to a broken foot and ankle and a herniated disc in his back. He has been on a steady regimen of opioids.\nBut after the DEA regulations were put in place, he was unable to get an appointment to see his doctor for nearly five months, he said. He stayed in bed at his home in North Carolina much of that time.\n\u201cIt was a nightmare. I was just in unbearable, terrible pain,\u201d he said. \u201cI couldn\u2019t even go to the ER because those doctors won\u2019t write those scripts.\u201d\nHis wife, Stephanie Schroeder, said getting him a VA appointment turned into a part-time job and her \u201cmain mission in life.\u201d While part of the problem was a shortage of doctors, she said she also noticed that VA had become hostile toward patients who asked for painkillers.\n\u201cSuddenly, the VA treats people on pain meds like the new lepers,\u201d she said. \u201cIt feels like they told us for years to take these drugs, didn\u2019t offer us any other ideas, and now we\u2019re suddenly demonized, second-class citizens.\u201d\nOfficials at Disabled American Veterans, a veterans service organization, said VA needs to be more compassionate and help veterans through the changes.\n\u201cWe\u2019re hearing from veterans with lifelong disabilities, who never had a problem with addiction issues. They have been on these drugs for decades, and then all of a sudden it was boom, a total change in attitudes,\u201d said Joy Ilem, the group\u2019s deputy national legislative director.\nGavin West, a clinical operations chief at VA, said there has been a systematic effort since autumn to contact veterans to explain the new rules, broader concerns about opioid use and alternative options for treatment. At the same time, he said, the agency is working to ensure that veterans get the access to medical care that\u2019s required.\n\u201cThe DEA did a good thing here for opioid safety,\u201d he said. But he added, \u201cHow do you balance the sensitivity of patients and the new rules when all of a sudden a veteran, who\u2019s been treated with this medication for 15 years or 20 years, has everything change?\u201d\nTo help patients adjust to the changes, Rollin Gallagher, VA\u2019s national director for pain management, said staff members are meeting personally with veterans. \u201cThere is the real anxiety of being in pain and losing control of that pain. We are aware of the fact that we need to pay attention to this,\u201d he said.\nThe agency recently set up a Choice Card program for veterans, which would allow those facing long wait lists or who live more than 40 miles away from a VA hospital to use private clinic visits. Veterans say the initiative is complicated and confusing. VA officials acknowledged this month that veterans have been using this program at a lower rate than anticipated.\n[Veterans say new choice cards are causing more problems]\nDEA officials declined to comment on the specific challenges that the new rules pose for veterans. Barbara L. Carreno, a DEA spokeswoman, said in a statement that everyone, including \u201cpractitioners employed by the U.S. Veterans Administration,\u201d have to follow the new regulations. The officials said the rules are a response to multiple medical studies that have showed that the opioid overdose rate is higher in the United States than anywhere else.\nDEA officials offer some flexibility, allowing doctors to write prescriptions for up to 90 days by post-dating them. But many VA doctors will not do that because of concerns over fraud or fatal overdoses; doctors are telling patients they need to come back every month, medical staff say.\nHalf of all returning troops suffer chronic pain, according to a study in the June issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. So a new generation of pain doctors is pushing for alternative ways to help veterans cope with chronic pain. Some alternatives are acupuncture, bright light therapy and medical marijuana. As part of a $21.7\u00a0million initiative with the National Institutes of Health, VA is looking for therapies that could substitute for opioids.\n\u201cOur hospitals are doing some really exciting things to combat chronic pain and take care of our veterans. There are VA hospitals that are using alpha-stimulation devices to treat pain and depression,\u201d VA Secretary Robert McDonald said. \u201cThat\u2019s only going to continue and keep getting better. And we are getting there.\u201d\n[Federal research seeks alternatives to addictive opioids for veterans in pain]\nIn the meantime, however, veterans say they continue to bear the burden of the new restrictions on narcotic painkillers.\nA retired staff Army sergeant who served in Iraq, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for medical privacy reasons, said he can\u2019t drive because of shrapnel in his femur and pelvis. He takes the bus nearly two hours for \u201ca one-minute consult\u201d to get his medications. He has been taking them for more than nine years and has never had an addiction problem, he said.\nMike Davis, a retired Army corporal, said he shattered his left arm from the elbow to the fingertips when he fell off of a Pershing missile during maneuvers in Germany in 1979. Over the years, he has had six surgeries.\nAfter the last one, in 2003, he was prescribed opioids and said he has been on them since. Davis, who now works as a social worker in Illinois, said he feels lucky to have found a combination of painkillers that works for him.\n\u201cIt\u2019s just insulting to the veteran to assume they are abusing these drugs,\u201d said his wife, Linda Davis, who works as his personal patient advocate. \u201cI\u2019m fully aware that people doctor-shop, some docs overprescribe. But I think they need to realize that there\u2019s a real difference between addiction and dependence.\u201d\nBut Andrew Kolodny, president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, called the new DEA rules \u201cthe single most important change that could happen. The best way to treat any disease, whether it\u2019s Ebola or opioid addiction, is to stop creating more people with the disease.\u201d\nAt the same time, he said, VA needs to do far more to help veterans through the rocky transition.\n\u201cUnfortunately, veterans are the victims here,\u201d Kolodny said. \u201cThe VA created this mess by aggressively jumping onto pills as the solution. But it\u2019s not something you can just abruptly stop.\u201d\nThe Washington Post has created a Facebook community for veterans to share their experiences. If you\u2019ve served, please join here: www.facebook.com/groups/478888458878205."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "598d308c9b43450bf69a0e40899447b4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "598d308c9b43450bf69a0e40899447b4_0", "title": "25 states now call marijuana \u201cmedicine.\u201d Why doesn\u2019t the DEA?", "text": "Charles Schatz of Bel Air, Maryland holds a sign demanding the use of marijuana for medical cases as he joins dozens of protestors for the legalization of marijuana in front of the White House, April 2, 2016, in Washington, DC. Mike Theiler/AFP John Kasich signed Ohio's medical marijuana bill into law yesterday, making it the 25th state (26 counting Washington, D.C.) to allow some form of medical marijuana use. Ohio's measure is more restrictive than medical marijuana bills in many other states. It does not allow patients to smoke marijuana -- they must ingest it orally via edible products, or use a vaporizer. It doesn't allow patients to grow their own marijuana, and only a handful of conditions, including epilepsy, chronic pain and cancer, qualify for a medical marijuana recommendation. Medical marijuana advocates had launched a campaign to put a broader medical marijuana bill before voters this fall. But the bill approved by legislature and signed by Gov. Kasich was in many tended to stave off more permissive ballot measures. And it appears to have been successful: the group pushing for the ballot initiative recently suspended that campaign, calling the legislature's bill \"imperfect\" but saying the bill's passage represented \"a joyous day for the thousands of Ohioans who will finally be able to safely access much-needed medicine. This year has been a symbolically significant year for medical marijuana policy: with the passage of legislation in Pennsylvania and Ohio nearly 175 million Americans -- over half of the population -- now have access to medical marijuana. These changes are putting pressure on the federal government to update a decades-old marijuana policy that most experts agree is out of step with current scientific understanding of the drug and its risks and benefits. The Drug Enforcement Administration has, since the 1970s, classified marijuana under the most highly restrictive category of regulation: Schedule 1, meaning it has \"no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.\" Marijuana shares this designation with heroin. But drug science has come a long way since the 1970s. Researchers now know that marijuana is actually one of the least-addictive mind-altering drugs. Even chronic uses poses few serious risks to physical health. Most importantly, at least for federal classification purposes, marijuana has been shown to have great promise when it comes to medical use."}], "old": [{"_id": "598d308c9b43450bf69a0e40899447b4_0", "title": "25 states now call marijuana \u201cmedicine.\u201d Why doesn\u2019t the DEA?", "text": "Charles Schatz of Bel Air, Maryland holds a sign demanding the use of marijuana for medical cases as he joins dozens of protestors for the legalization of marijuana in front of the White House, April 2, 2016, in Washington, DC. Mike Theiler/AFP Ohio's measure is more restrictive than medical marijuana bills in many other states. It does not allow patients to smoke marijuana -- they must ingest it orally via edible products, or use a vaporizer. It doesn't allow patients to grow their own marijuana, and only a handful of conditions, including epilepsy, chronic pain and cancer, qualify for a medical marijuana recommendation. This year has been a symbolically significant year for medical marijuana policy: with the passage of legislation in Pennsylvania and Ohio nearly 175 million Americans -- over half of the population -- now have access to medical marijuana. These changes are putting pressure on the federal government to update a decades-old marijuana policy that most experts agree is out of step with current scientific understanding of the drug and its risks and benefits. As of Feb. 26, 2015 marijuana was made legal in D.C.\u2014sort of. Here are the ins and outs of the complex pot law."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Charles Schatz of Bel Air, Maryland holds a sign demanding the use of marijuana for medical cases as he joins dozens of protestors for the legalization of marijuana in front of the White House, April 2, 2016, in Washington, DC. Mike Theiler/AFP\nJohn Kasich signed Ohio's medical marijuana bill into law yesterday, making it the 25th state (26 counting Washington, D.C.) to allow some form of medical marijuana use.\nOhio's measure is more restrictive than medical marijuana bills in many other states. It does not allow patients to smoke marijuana -- they must ingest it orally via edible products, or use a vaporizer. It doesn't allow patients to grow their own marijuana, and only a handful of conditions, including epilepsy, chronic pain and cancer, qualify for a medical marijuana recommendation.\nMedical marijuana advocates had launched a campaign to put a broader medical marijuana bill before voters this fall. But the bill approved by legislature and signed by Gov. Kasich was in many\u00a0tended to stave off more permissive ballot measures. And it appears to have been successful:\u00a0the group pushing for the ballot initiative recently suspended that campaign, calling the legislature's bill \"imperfect\" but saying the bill's passage represented \"a joyous day for the thousands of Ohioans who will finally be able to safely access much-needed medicine.\nThis year\u00a0has been a symbolically significant year for medical marijuana policy: with the passage of legislation in Pennsylvania and Ohio nearly 175 million Americans -- over half of the population -- now have access to medical marijuana.\n\nThese changes are putting pressure on the federal government to update a decades-old marijuana policy that most experts agree is out of step with current scientific understanding of the drug and its risks and benefits.\nThe Drug Enforcement Administration has, since the 1970s, classified marijuana under the most highly restrictive category of regulation: Schedule 1, meaning it has\u00a0\"no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.\" Marijuana shares this designation with heroin.\nBut drug science has come a long way since the 1970s. Researchers now know that marijuana is actually one of the least-addictive mind-altering drugs. Even chronic uses poses few serious risks to physical health.\nMost importantly, at least for federal classification purposes, marijuana has been shown to have\u00a0great promise when it comes to medical use. It's been shown to be an effective treatment for chronic pain. Given that people with this condition are routinely prescribed powerful painkillers that cause tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year, broader use of medical marijuana in these cases would quite literally save lives.\nBut neither the research, nor more widespread public acceptance, have so far prompted drug authorities to relax federal restrictions on marijuana. The biggest marijuana-related change at the DEA in the past year was an acknowledgement\u00a0by\u00a0the administration's chief that\u00a0heroin is in fact more dangerous than marijuana. The DEA Administrator still believes that medical marijuana is \"a joke.\"\nThe DEA is currently in the final stages of reviewing a petition to re-schedule marijuana and has told lawmakers it will have a final decision by July. Advocates of medical marijuana reforms say the\u00a0petition represents a chance to bring the agency\u00a0more in line with public opinion, scientific consensus, and the lived experience of millions of medical marijuana patients.\nAs of Feb. 26, 2015 marijuana was made legal in D.C.\u2014sort of. Here are the ins and outs of the complex pot law."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "6065eb88-a47d-11e3-84d4-e59b1709222c_4", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6065eb88-a47d-11e3-84d4-e59b1709222c_4", "title": "Marijuana research hampered by access from government and politics, scientists say", "text": "ill effects of smoking marijuana rather than on potential medicines. That\u2019s poised to radically change. As an increasing number of states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, a bustling industry of start-up drug companies and medical groups focused on finding marijuana-based treatments has emerged. GW Pharmaceuticals, a British company, is studying two different extracts of marijuana that have shown promise for patients with Type 2 diabetes and epilepsy. ISA Scientific, based in Utah, is researching medications for pain and diabetes made from the cannabinoids found in marijuana that could be swallowed in capsule form. Some of these new-generation researchers are exploring ways to try to speed up their work by bypassing the federal process for obtaining the drug. In Colorado, for instance, academic researchers have asked state officials whether they would allow them to study extracts grown within the state. In Georgia, scientists are seeking legislative action to allow the state\u2019s five medical research universities to cultivate marijuana. A bill allowing them to do so recently won the backing of a House committee. Much of the debate surrounding marijuana research is focused on its classification by the DEA as a Schedule I drug, the most restrictive of five categories. Schedule I drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Other drugs in that group include LSD, heroin and ecstasy. The American Medical Association said in November that it does not support state medical marijuana efforts and still considers the drug dangerous. But it also called on the government to encourage more clinical research \u2014 by reconsidering its classification as a Schedule I drug. A lower-level classification would allow researchers to obtain marijuana more easily. The fact that the Obama administration in recent months has moved to loosen restrictions on marijuana in other regards has raised hopes that it will take similar action that will help scientists. The Justice Department said last year that it would not challenge state laws legalizing marijuana, and in February, the Treasury announced new guidelines meant to make it easier for cannabis businesses to open bank accounts in states where the drug is legal. Kevin Sabet, a former White House senior adviser for drug policy who has been dubbed the No. 1 legalization enemy by Rolling Stone magazine, said he supports efforts to break down barriers for researchers. But he proposed that this could be done more efficiently"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "With funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Marijuana Project at the University of Mississippi cultivates and supplies research-grade cannabis material for scientific and medical research. (Robert Jordan/Associated Press)\nMillions of ordinary Americans are now able to walk into a marijuana dispensary and purchase bags of pot on the spot for a variety of medical ailments. But if you\u2019re a researcher like Sue Sisley, a psychiatrist who studies post-traumatic stress disorder, getting access to the drug isn\u2019t nearly so easy.\nThat\u2019s because the federal government has a virtual monopoly on growing and cultivating marijuana for scientific research, and getting access to the drug requires three separate levels of approval.\nSisley\u2019s fight to get samples for her study\nWhile 20 states and the District have made medical marijuana legal \u2014 in Colorado and Washington state the drug is also legal for recreational use \u2014 it remains among the most tightly controlled substances under federal law. For scientists, that means extra steps to obtain, transport and secure the drug \u2014 delays they say can slow down their research by months or even years.\nThe barriers exist despite the fact that the number of people using marijuana legally for medical reasons is estimated at more than 1\u00a0million.\nAt a news conference for the National Cannabis Industry Assoc., Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) was asked how many members of Congress he thinks smokes pot.\nStalled for decades because of the stigma associated with the drug, lack of funding and legal issues, research into marijuana\u2019s potential for treating diseases is drawing renewed interest. Recent studies and anecdotal stories have provided hope that marijuana, or some components of the plant, may have diverse applications, such as treating cancer, HIV and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\nBut scientists say they are frustrated that the federal government has not made any efforts to speed the process of research. Over the years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has turned down several petitions to reclassify cannabis, reiterating its position that marijuana has no accepted medical use and remains a dangerous drug. The DEA has said that there is a lack of safety data and that the drug has a high potential for abuse.\nSisley\u2019s study got the green light from the Food and Drug Administration in 2011, and for most studies, that would have been enough. But because the study is about marijuana, Sisley faced two additional hurdles.\nFirst, she had to apply to the Department of Health and Human Services to purchase \u00adresearch-grade samples from the one farm in the United States \u2014 housed at the University of Mississippi and managed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse \u2014 that is allowed to grow marijuana under federal law. HHS initially denied her application but then approved a revised version March 14 \u2014 more than four months after it was submitted.\nNow, Sisley must get permission from the DEA to possess and transport the drug.\nSpokeswoman Dawn Dearden said that the agency is supportive of medical research on marijuana but needs to follow regulations under the Controlled Substances Act. \u201cDEA has not denied DEA registration to a HHS-approved marijuana study in the last 20-plus years,\u201d she said.\nSisley, who began her work with PTSD while at the Department of Veterans Affairs and now works at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, says she considers the HHS news a \u201ctriumph\u201d for marijuana research. But she says the study has \u201ca potentially long road with the DEA who is famous for delays.\u201d\nBorn with a rare chromosomal disorder, 6-year-old Lydia Schaeffer suffers from life-threatening seizures that doctors haven\u2019t been able to control despite countless medications. In marijuana, Lydia\u2019s family members think they might have found a treatment that works. Now, they are trying to help legalize the drug.\n\u201cThere is a desperate need for this research, but it\u2019s impossible to study this drug properly in an atmosphere of prohibition,\u201d she said.\nOrrin Devinsky, director of the epilepsy center at New York University\u2019s Langone Medical Center, said many would-be marijuana researchers are driven to abandon projects after they discover how time-consuming and expensive it can be to obtain the drug.\n\u201cThere is no rationale for this except for the federal government\u2019s outdated 1930s view about marijuana,\u201d said Devinsky, who is studying the use of an extract of the plant for the control of seizures.\nA resurgence in research\nThe cannabis plant was once a staple in American pharmacies, but since the turn of the 20th century, some states began to see it as a poison and introduced restrictions. Research on its medicinal uses came to a virtual standstill.\nThere are now 156 active researchers who are approved by the DEA to study marijuana \u2014 a number that has remained steady in recent years \u2014 but scientists say most are government-funded and focus on the ill effects of smoking marijuana rather than on potential medicines.\nThat\u2019s poised to radically change. As an increasing number of states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, a bustling industry of start-up drug companies and medical groups focused on finding marijuana-based treatments has emerged. GW Pharmaceuticals, a British company, is studying two different extracts of marijuana that have shown promise for patients with Type 2 diabetes and epilepsy. ISA Scientific, based in Utah, is researching medications for pain and diabetes made from the cannabinoids found in marijuana that could be swallowed in capsule form.\nSome of these new-generation researchers are exploring ways to try to speed up their work by bypassing the federal process for obtaining the drug. In Colorado, for instance, academic researchers have asked state officials whether they would allow them to study extracts grown within the state. In Georgia, scientists are seeking legislative action to allow the state\u2019s five medical research universities to cultivate marijuana. A bill allowing them to do so recently won the backing of a House committee.\nMuch of the debate surrounding marijuana research is focused on its classification by the DEA as a Schedule I drug, the most restrictive of five categories. Schedule I drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Other drugs in that group include LSD, heroin and ecstasy.\nThe American Medical Association said in November that it does not support state medical marijuana efforts and still considers the drug dangerous. But it also called on the government to encourage more clinical research \u2014 by reconsidering its classification as a Schedule I drug. A lower-level classification would allow researchers to obtain marijuana more easily.\nThe fact that the Obama administration in recent months has moved to loosen restrictions on marijuana in other regards has raised hopes that it will take similar action that will help scientists. The Justice Department said last year that it would not challenge state laws legalizing marijuana, and in February, the Treasury announced new guidelines meant to make it easier for cannabis businesses to open bank accounts in states where the drug is legal.\nKevin Sabet, a former White House senior adviser for drug policy who has been dubbed the No. 1 legalization enemy by Rolling Stone magazine, said he supports efforts to break down barriers for researchers. But he proposed that this could be done more efficiently without rescheduling the drug \u2014 which remains highly controversial and would have implications for the criminal justice system.\nSabet signed a letter\n\u2018The whole process is wrong\u2019\nIn the brave new world of medical marijuana, family doctors, psychiatrists and other community practitioners are the gatekeepers and must determine whether a patient truly needs the drug. But in many cases, doctors are prescribing the drug for their patients against the recommendations of medical societies and with only limited research to back up what they are doing.\n\u201cThe whole process is wrong,\u201d said Andrew Weil, the American doctor and author who conducted the first double-blind clinical trials of marijuana in 1968.\n\u201cThere is a great deal of evidence both clinical and anecdotal of its therapeutic effects, but the research has been set way back by government polices,\u201d Weil added.\n\u201cWe are at the point where we are really just learning about this, and for doctors that means a lot of experimentation,\u201d said Bonni Goldstein, a pediatrician who is medical director of the Ghost Group, which manages WeedMaps.com, a searchable directory of doctors and dispensaries.\nIn many states, for instance, marijuana is approved for pain and prescribed for those with arthritis. But a study published in the journal of the American College of Rheumatology this month found that the effectiveness and safety of marijuana to treat conditions such as arthritis are not supported by medical evidence.\nAnother condition for which medical marijuana is widely prescribed is PTSD. Yet the American Psychiatric Association discourages doctors from using it to treat psychiatric disorders. In a statement in November, the APA said, \u201cThere is no current scientific evidence that marijuana is in any way beneficial for the treatment of any psychiatric disorder.\u201d\nSisley said she has been working with marijuana for several years to treat soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq who have flashbacks, insomnia and anxiety, but she has had questions about dosages that haven\u2019t been answered. Is one gram a day optimal? Or two? Is it better to smoke the marijuana or use a vaporizer, which heats ground marijuana leaves to produce a gas?\nSisley \u2014 who is working on the PTSD study with Rick Doblin, executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies \u2014 says she thinks the next big political fight over marijuana may come from studies such as hers. If research shows that marijuana is an effective medical treatment, it could force the federal government\u2019s hand on reclassifying it.\nMore from The Washington Post:\n\u2018Mommy lobby\u2019 emerges as a powerful advocate for medical marijuana\nThe Lazarus Weed: The strange rise again of legalized pot\nMedical marijuana clinic takes on IRS\nPot: It\u2019s just good business\nIn-depth: Marijuana\u2019s acceptance comes after many failures"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "62ff38f152d809024fb0e9de434b422d_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "62ff38f152d809024fb0e9de434b422d_1", "title": "The Senate marijuana reform bill would bring federal policy in line with medical research", "text": "would bring federal policy more closely in line with the recommendations of major medical organizations. The American Medical Association, for instance, has recommended that \"marijuana\u2019s status as a federal schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines.\" The American Cancer Society \"believes that the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration imposes numerous conditions on researchers and deters scientific study of cannabinoids.\" It calls for federal officials to \"examine options consistent with federal law for enabling more scientific study on marijuana.\" And the American Academy of Pediatrics has explicitly called for moving marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2. The organizations' recommendations on medical marijuana are especially significant given that all three steadfastly oppose the full legalization of cannabis. From the medical community's standpoint, rescheduling the plant represents a reasonable middle-ground approach that would enable more research into marijuana's effects without opening the floodgates to legalization and potential widespread use. Several surveys of doctors have found broad support among them for medical marijuana. The Senate bill would also help federal policy catch up with public sentiment. Large majorities of Americans have supported the use of medical marijuana for decades now. The most recent numbers show public support for medical marijuana approaching an astonishing 90 percent -- when's the last time 90 percent of the public agreed on anything? There are robust majorities in favor of medical marijuana even in the deepest of red states like Utah, where two thirds of voters supported a recent medical marijuana measure that ultimately failed to pass the state Senate by a single vote. Most importantly, the Senate bill would bring federal and state policies into closer alignment on the question of medical marijuana. Currently 23 states plus the District of Columbia have medical marijuana programs in place. 146 million Americans -- 46 percent of the population -- now live in a state with some form of legalized marijuana. For these people, the gap between lived experience and federal law grows wider by the day. The danger for federal authorities is that outdated laws that stand in opposition to science, medical research and public opinion will make scofflaws of us all. We are now closing in on two decades of real-world experience with medical marijuana at the state level, starting when California voters approved"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "\nA bipartisan trio of Senators plan to unveil a medical marijuana reform bill today that would remove many of the federal barriers to states that want to implement medical marijuana regimes. The bill, sponsored by Senators Rand Paul, Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand, is being\u00a0hailed as \"historic\" by drug policy reform organizations.\nOver at GovBeat, Niraj Chokshi has a detailed rundown of the bill's provisions. They include:\n- Downgrading marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 of the Controlled Substances Act;\n- Ease some restrictions on transporting marijuana between states, which would expand access to medical marijuana to some patients in states that currently don't allow it;\n- Make it easier for banks to do business with the marijuana industry;\n- Direct the National Institute on Drug Abuse to broaden access to marijuana for research;\n- And allow doctors with the Dept. of Veteran's Affairs to recommend marijuana in the states that allow it.\nA key point is that this bill wouldn't legalize medical marijuana per se. Rather, it amends\u00a0many of the outdated federal policies that have prevented states from embarking on their own medical marijuana programs. As such, it\u00a0represents a fundamentally modest package of reforms that would bring federal policy more closely in line with the recommendations of major medical organizations.\nThe American Medical Association, for instance, has recommended that \"marijuana\u2019s status as a federal schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines.\" The American Cancer Society \"believes that the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration imposes numerous conditions on researchers and deters scientific study of cannabinoids.\" It calls for federal officials to\u00a0\"examine options consistent with federal law for enabling more scientific study on marijuana.\" And the American Academy of Pediatrics has explicitly called for moving marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2.\nThe organizations' recommendations on medical marijuana are especially significant given that all three steadfastly oppose the full legalization of cannabis. From the medical community's standpoint, rescheduling the plant represents a reasonable middle-ground approach that would enable more research into marijuana's effects without opening the floodgates to legalization and potential widespread use. Several surveys of doctors have found broad\u00a0support among them for medical marijuana.\nThe Senate bill would also help federal policy catch up with public sentiment. Large majorities of Americans have supported the use of medical marijuana for decades now. The most recent numbers show public support for medical marijuana approaching an astonishing 90 percent -- when's the last time 90 percent of the public agreed on anything? There are robust majorities in favor of medical marijuana even in the deepest of red states like Utah, where two thirds of voters supported a recent medical marijuana measure that ultimately failed to pass the state Senate by a single vote.\nMost importantly, the Senate bill would bring\u00a0federal and state policies into closer alignment on the question of medical marijuana. Currently 23 states plus the District of Columbia have medical marijuana programs in place. 146 million Americans -- 46 percent of the population -- now live in a state with some form of legalized marijuana. For these people, the gap between lived experience and federal law grows wider by the day.\nThe danger for federal authorities is that outdated laws that stand in opposition to science, medical research and public opinion will make scofflaws of us all. We are now closing in on two decades of real-world experience with medical marijuana at the state level, starting when California voters approved medical marijuana in 1996.\u00a0And yet, despite opponents' dire warnings, California hasn't fallen into the ocean, the world hasn't ended, and the patchouli-scented apocalypse has failed to materialize. It's good news that Congress is finally starting to take notice."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "648c2e1130789e81e7be9311633b0dd8_2", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "648c2e1130789e81e7be9311633b0dd8_2", "title": "What getting medical marijuana is like today vs. what getting medical liquor was like during Prohibition", "text": "were available to patients with anemia, tuberculosis, pneumonia, high blood pressure and other disorders, according to the History Channel. The American Medical Association actually adopted a resolution in June 1917, less than three years before Prohibition began, stating alcohol\u2019s use as a \u201ctherapeutic agent\u201d had no scientific value and \u201cshould be further discouraged.\u201d However , alcohol had long been used for medical purposes, including during the Civil War to treat soldiers\u2019 pain when they ran out of other painkillers. What qualifies someone for medical marijuana? In California, which in 1996 became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, its Department of Public Health allows marijuana to be used by those with a \u201cserious medical condition,\u201d including AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraines, persistent muscle spasms, seizures, severe nausea or any other chronic medical symptom that limits their life activities or would cause serious harm to their physical or mental safety if untreated. How did someone apply for medical liquor? Prohibition prescription front (Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Patients had to receive a prescription from a doctor that noted the kind of alcohol they were to receive, and a dosage, according to Okrent. It usually cost $3 for a prescription and $3 or $4 to have it filled at a pharmacy, Okrent wrote, or about $40 in today\u2019s dollars. Quality varied, ranging from cheap alcohol to well-known brands like Jack Daniel\u2019s, which included a phrasing \u201cUnexcelled for Medicinal Purposes\u201d on its label. How does someone apply for medicinal marijuana? California\u2019s medical marijuana application form (via <a href=\"http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/forms/CtrldForms/cdph9042.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">California Department of Public Health</a>) Applying varies by state. In California, a resident must receive a doctor\u2019s recommendation and provide that along with proof of identity and proof of residency in their county. The state charges a fee of $33 to $66. The highest fee in the country is the $200 charged by Minnesota, New Jersey and Oregon, while in Maine and New Mexico, there is no fee. How much medical liquor could someone possess? The maximum legal prescription was for one pint of alcohol every 10 days, according to Okrent. How much medical marijuana can someone possess? It varies greatly by state. In Alaska, Montana and Nevada, it\u2019s legal to possess one ounce of usable marijuana, in addition to plants, while in Oregon and Washington, it\u2019s legal to posess 24 ounces of usable marijuana in addition to plants."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Left: Orange County sheriff\u2019s deputies dump illegal alcohol (via Orange County Archives). Right: Members of the Colorado National Guard with illegal marijuana (Lewis Geyer/Times-Call via AP)\nDuring Prohibition, people\u00a0were able to legally consume alcohol if they received a prescription from a doctor, similar to how residents of some states are able to legally consume marijuana. Here\u2019s\u00a0how that\u00a0worked.\nIn what states was medical liquor legal?\nIn all 48 states (Alaska and Hawaii were not granted statehood until 1959, 26 years after Prohibition was repealed). Medical liquor was regulated by the U.S. Treasury department and not the states, like medical marijuana is. Pharmacies\u2019 ease of obtaining permits to fill prescriptions varied by geography,\u00a0author\u00a0Daniel Okrent wrote in\u00a0\u201cLast Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition,\u201d\u00a0according to Smithsonian.\u00a0Pharmacies in\u00a0big cities, on the coasts and along the Canadian border had\u00a0an easier time.\nIn what states is medical marijuana legal?\nToday, 23 states and the District of Columbia\u00a0have passed laws allowing at least some form of medical marijuana, including Colorado and Washington, which have also legalized recreational use. The amount of marijuana someone can posses varies by state. In Alaska, Montana and Nevada, individuals are limited to one ounce, while in Oregon, one can possess up to 24 ounces.\nWhat qualified someone for medical liquor?\nPrescriptions for medical\u00a0liquor\u00a0were\u00a0available to patients with anemia, tuberculosis, pneumonia, high blood pressure and other disorders,\u00a0according to the History Channel. The American Medical Association actually adopted a resolution in June 1917, less than three years before Prohibition began, stating alcohol\u2019s use as a \u201ctherapeutic agent\u201d had no scientific value and \u201cshould be further discouraged.\u201d However , alcohol had long been used for medical purposes, including during the Civil War to treat soldiers\u2019 pain when they ran out of other painkillers.\nWhat qualifies someone for medical marijuana?\nIn\u00a0California, which in 1996 became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, its Department of Public Health allows marijuana to be used by those with a \u201cserious medical condition,\u201d including\u00a0AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraines, persistent muscle spasms, seizures, severe nausea or any other chronic medical symptom that limits their life activities or would cause serious harm to their physical or mental safety if untreated.\nHow did someone apply\u00a0for medical\u00a0liquor?\nProhibition prescription front (Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)\nPatients had to receive a prescription from a doctor that noted the kind of alcohol they were to receive, and a dosage,\u00a0according to Okrent. It usually cost $3 for a prescription and $3 or $4 to have it filled at a pharmacy, Okrent\u00a0wrote, or about $40 in today\u2019s dollars. Quality varied, ranging from cheap alcohol to well-known brands like Jack Daniel\u2019s, which included a phrasing \u201cUnexcelled for Medicinal Purposes\u201d on its label.\nHow does someone apply\u00a0for medicinal marijuana?\nCalifornia\u2019s medical marijuana application form (via\u00a0<a href=\"http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/forms/CtrldForms/cdph9042.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">California Department of Public Health</a>)\nApplying varies by state. In California, a resident must receive a doctor\u2019s recommendation and provide that along with proof of identity\u00a0and\u00a0proof of residency in\u00a0their county. The state charges a fee of\u00a0$33 to\u00a0$66. \u00a0The highest fee in the country is the $200 charged by Minnesota, New Jersey and Oregon, while in Maine and New Mexico, there is no fee.\nHow much medical liquor could someone possess?\nThe maximum legal prescription was for one pint of alcohol every 10\u00a0days, according to Okrent.\nHow much medical marijuana can someone possess?\nIt varies greatly by state. In Alaska, Montana and Nevada, it\u2019s legal to possess one ounce of usable marijuana, in addition to plants, while in Oregon and Washington, it\u2019s legal to posess 24 ounces of usable marijuana in addition to plants."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "676e4e62-2e80-11e7-9534-00e4656c22aa_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "676e4e62-2e80-11e7-9534-00e4656c22aa_0", "title": "NFL players fight pain with medical marijuana: \u2018Managing it with pills was slowly killing me\u2019", "text": "Cannabis that is rich in cannabidiol (CBD) is being grown west of Colorado Springs, which proponents say could help NFL players manage pain without the risks presented by opioids. (Brennan Linsley/Associated Press) BOULDER, Colo. \u2014 \u201cEvery day, I wake up in pain, from my ankles to my neck,\u201d said Ebenezer Ekuban, 40, who played defensive end for nine NFL seasons. \u201cIt\u2019s part of the territory. I know what I signed up for.\u201d Retirement is a daily exercise in managing pain, which is what brought the men to the unmarked CW Hemp offices on a recent Friday for a tour and a firsthand lesson on the potential benefits of the marijuana plant. As the country\u2019s discussion on the drug broadens, state laws change and public perception shifts, there\u2019s a movement in football circles to change the way marijuana is viewed and regulated within the NFL, which still includes cannabis on its list of banned substances. For decades, football players have treated pain with postgame beers, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and powerful prescription painkillers. The sport\u2019s overreliance on drugs for pain management is the subject of a federal lawsuit and has sparked an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Retired NFL players use opioids at four times the rate of the general population, according to one study, and marijuana advocates say there\u2019s a safer, healthier alternative available. No professional sport has so many outspoken proponents of marijuana\u2019s medicinal qualities, but then again no sport is as closely associated with pain and injury . \u201cThis pain is never going away. My body is damaged,\u201d said Eugene Monroe, 30, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens last year three weeks after becoming the first active player to publicly call on the league to permit medical marijuana. \u201cI have to manage it somehow. Managing it with pills was slowly killing me. Now I\u2019m able to function and be extremely efficient by figuring out how to use different formulations of cannabis.\u201d Since his release from the Baltimore Ravens, Eugene Monroe has emerged as the leading advocate among former players for change in the NFL\u2019s restrictions on use of medical marijuana. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) There\u2019s still no shortage of opposition to marijuana, and many on both sides of the debate agree that further research is needed. While many states have rolled back laws in recent years, early signs from the Trump administration suggest that the Justice Department isn\u2019t"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Cannabis that is rich in cannabidiol (CBD) is being grown west of Colorado Springs, which proponents say could help NFL players manage pain without the risks presented by opioids. (Brennan Linsley/Associated Press)\nBOULDER, Colo. \u2014\n\u201cEvery day, I wake up in pain, from my ankles to my neck,\u201d said Ebenezer Ekuban, 40, who played defensive end for nine NFL seasons. \u201cIt\u2019s part of the territory. I know what I signed up for.\u201d\nRetirement is a daily exercise in managing pain, which is what brought the men to the unmarked CW Hemp offices on a recent Friday for a tour and a firsthand lesson on the potential benefits of the marijuana plant. As the country\u2019s discussion on the drug broadens, state laws change and public perception shifts, there\u2019s a movement in football circles to change the way marijuana is viewed and regulated within the NFL, which still includes cannabis on its list of banned substances.\nFor decades, football players have treated pain with postgame beers, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and powerful prescription painkillers. The sport\u2019s overreliance on drugs for pain management is the subject of a federal lawsuit and has sparked an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Retired NFL players use opioids at four times the rate of the general population, according to one study, and marijuana advocates say there\u2019s a safer, healthier alternative available.\nNo professional sport has so many outspoken proponents of marijuana\u2019s medicinal qualities, but then again no sport is as closely associated with pain and injury .\n\u201cThis pain is never going away. My body is damaged,\u201d said Eugene Monroe, 30, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens last year three weeks after becoming the first active player to publicly call on the league to permit medical marijuana. \u201cI have to manage it somehow. Managing it with pills was slowly killing me. Now I\u2019m able to function and be extremely efficient by figuring out how to use different formulations of cannabis.\u201d\nSince his release from the Baltimore Ravens, Eugene Monroe has emerged as the leading advocate among former players for change in the NFL\u2019s restrictions on use of medical marijuana. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)\nThere\u2019s still no shortage of opposition to marijuana, and many on both sides of the debate agree that further research is needed. While many states have rolled back laws in recent years, early signs from the Trump administration suggest that the Justice Department isn\u2019t ready to soften its stance. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that marijuana is \u201conly slightly less awful\u201d than heroin.\nNFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week that he opposes players using the drug recreationally but is willing to listen to the league\u2019s medical advisers on the potential value of medicinal marijuana. \u201cTo date, they haven\u2019t said this is a change we think you should make that\u2019s in the best interests of the health and safety of our players,\u201d he said. \u201cIf they do, we\u2019re certainly going to consider that.\u201d\nMost of the former Broncos on the tour in Boulder had been skeptics not long ago. But the more they learned, the more they\u2019d come to think that some form of marijuana could be the alternative they\u2019d been looking for, the answer for their sore backs, balky knees, pounding headaches and sleepless nights.\n\u201cHey, everybody. Thank you so much for being here,\u201d said Del Jolly, CW Hemp\u2019s business development manager. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to tell you about who we are, how much care is put into this product, and how it\u2019s incredibly legit, incredibly safe and incredibly high-quality, something we need to get the NFL to start understanding.\u201d\nThe former players put on protective glasses and prepared to tour the facility. \u201cYou all got a grow house in here?\u201d asked one player. Another inquired about a free sample before the tour began, and another asked, \u201cWill we be able to drive home when we\u2019re finished?\u201d\nThe room laughed. \u201cIt depends on what you had before this,\u201d Jolly explained.\n\u2018Let me give this a shot\u2019\nCW Hemp specializes in cannabis that is rich in cannabidiol (CBD) that the ex-players were told acts acts much differently than marijuana as most people know it. The company\u2019s roots are in helping cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, and it began making headlines when children with epilepsy saw a dramatic drop in the number of seizures they experienced after taking CBD.\nThe plant used to be called \u201chippie\u2019s disappointment,\u201d Vijay Bachus, the company\u2019s site director, told the former players, \u201cbecause it wouldn\u2019t get you high.\u201d\n\u201cIt had high levels of CBD but low levels of THC. Nobody would be smoking it for recreational purposes,\u201d he said, likening the THC levels to the amount of alcohol found in an O\u2019Doul\u2019s.\nTHC \u2014 tetrahydrocannabinol \u2014 is the cannabinoid that produces the high that most associate with marijuana. CBD has some similar properties but not the psychoactivity and mood-altering effects.\nWhile researchers have found that THC might have some benefits \u2014 particularly with pain, anxiety or nausea \u2014 the science behind CBD is not as robust. But recent studies have found evidence that it can be effective treating everything from epilepsy and cancer to heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and schizophrenia. It can also act as an anti-inflammatory and a neuroprotectant, raising hopes it may be valuable in treating and preventing head injuries.\nVanessa Cantu pours out hemp oil at the CW Hemp facilities in Boulder, Colo., in 2016. (Paul Aiken/Associated Press)\nThe group entered a room where two dozen 40-pound barrels were filled with ground-up cannabis plant.\n\u201cI can smell it now,\u201d said Steve Foley, 63, who played defensive back for the Broncos from 1976 to 1986.\nThe scent is faint; more like a college dorm room after a vigorous cleaning. The quality control room is the first step of the process.\n\u201cWhere does the oil come from?\u201d asked one former player.\n\u201cHave some patience,\u201d Le-Lo Lang said with a laugh.\nA laboratory processing cannabis is about the last place Lang would ever have imagined himself. As a professional athlete \u2014 a defensive back for the Broncos from 1990 to 1993 \u2014 he never took drugs. He didn\u2019t taste alcohol until a sip of champagne on his wedding day, and still today he rarely drinks. \u201cIt was never something that interested me, not even a little bit,\u201d he said.\nLang, 50, has been away from the sport for nearly 25 years. Today he has headaches, difficulty sleeping, back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain \u201cand everything else,\u201d he said.\nBut for him, there was a stigma attached to marijuana and the people who use it. He lives in Colorado, which was a pioneer in relaxing state marijuana laws, but his feelings still took years to overcome.\nThe country has moved in a similar direction. In a recent poll, 72\u00a0percent of Americans said regular alcohol use posed more of a health risk than regular marijuana use. The same survey found that nearly one in five marijuana users rely on the drug to help manage pain.\nThat prospect is what helped Lang and his fellow ex-athletes open their minds. \u201cI just felt like with all the pain and issues that I\u2019m having, let me give this a shot,\u201d he said.\nThe exact effects of CBD are mostly anecdotal. It\u2019s not classified as medicinal marijuana and is currently regulated as a hemp product. Manufacturers, like CW Hemp, are careful not to make too many medical claims. But increasingly, researchers are finding a correlation between marijuana use and a decreased dependence on opioids. The National Institute on Drug Abuse cites a pair of government-funded studies in saying \u201cthat medical marijuana products may have a role in reducing the use of opioids needed to control pain.\u201d The federal institute cautioned that more research is needed.\nAfter a few weeks of using CBD, Lang noticed he was sleeping much better. He still had headaches, but they weren\u2019t as bad. Some of his other pains were still present, though.\nBachus led the group into a lab. The cannabis had soaked in alcohol, and an employee was squeezing liquid out of a mesh bag into a pan. \u201cJust like squeezing the juice out of a tomato,\u201d one of the players observed.\nThe lab has hosted football players in the past, including Kyle Turley, a former offensive lineman who says his football career led to a painkiller addiction, and Jake Plummer, a former quarterback who has become a vocal proponent of CBD.\nRetired players Justin Sandy and Ebenezer Ekuban during their tour of the CW Hemp facilities. Said Ekuban: \u201cI think in due time, the NFL is gonna realize that CBD is not a performance-enhancing drug.\u201d (RM/Photo by Malek Asfeer/CW Hemp)\nEkuban played with Plummer for four seasons with the Broncos and had first heard about the potential benefits of cannabis from his former teammate. Ekuban retired in 2009 after nine seasons, and it wasn\u2019t until five or six months had passed that he realized the aches weren\u2019t going away.\n\u201cI thought I\u2019d feel better getting away from all those hits,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I was worse off.\u201d\nAs a player, Ekuban had surgery on his lower back, knee, shoulder and Achilles\u2019 tendon. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories were a regular part of his regimen, the drugs carrying him from one game into the next. \u201cA couple blood tests showed elevated liver enzymes,\u201d he said. \u201cI knew they were from all those painkillers.\u201d\nThe more he studied cannabis, the more he felt comfortable with it. He\u2019s started using CBD in the mornings and at night. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t taken everything away,\u201d he said, \u201cbut I believe it\u2019s helping significantly.\u201d\nResearch has found that CBD increases a molecule called anandamide, which reduces pain and increases the production of neurons in the hippocampus region of the brain, which can impact mood and anxiety. Compared with a placebo, the National Academies of Science, Medicine and Engineering found \u201cstrong evidence\u201d that marijuana is effective at dealing with chronic pain. Twenty-nine states plus the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana; 22 of the NFL\u2019s 32 teams play their home games in those jurisdictions.\n\u201cI think in due time, the NFL is going to realize that CBD is not a performance-enhancing drug,\u201d Ekuban said. \u201cIf anything, it helps with anxiety, helps with concentration, it helps with pain.\u201d\nFormer Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer takes a dose of cannabinoid oil before playing handball in 2016. (AAron Ontiveroz/Denver Post)\n\u2018Make a smart decision\u2019\nThe NFL does not release the results of drug tests, so there\u2019s no way to know the number of active players who use marijuana or the reasons they might use it. Players who have never violated the league\u2019s drug policy are tested for recreational drugs only once a year \u2014 at some point between April and August.\n\u201cThere is no doubt that players are using cannabis extensively, almost as a substitution therapy for other treatments that the NFL is offering that they perceive as more toxic or highly addictive,\u201d said Sue Sisley, an Arizona-based physician who serves on the board of advisers for the Korey Stringer Institute, which has partnered with the NFL on health and safety issues. \u201cFor instance, these players obviously receive mega-dosages of opioids easily from their trainers and team docs. But when they want to seek out what they believe is a safer, less toxic alternative like cannabis, they\u2019re fined and sanctioned.\u201d\nThe NFL has indicated an interest in studying the issue but seems resistant to major changes. Goodell told ESPN Radio last week that marijuana is addictive and unhealthy and that he is not currently in favor of allowing players to use it recreationally.\n\u201cListen, you\u2019re ingesting smoke, so that\u2019s not usually a very positive thing that people would say,\u201d the league commissioner said. \u201cIt does have [an] addictive nature. There are a lot of compounds in marijuana that may not be healthy for the players long term. All of those things have to be considered. And it\u2019s not as simple as someone just wants to feel better after a game.\u201d\nFormer NFL players Ricky Williams, Lance Johnstone, Nate Jackson and Eben Britton at a conference on medical marijuana at the Harvard Medical School last month. (Steven Senne/Associated Press)\nThe NFL Players Association has formed a pain management committee to study the issue, and many expect marijuana to become a bigger discussion point in the near future. The union could urge the league to differentiate between recreational and medicinal use or push to lessen the penalties for a failed test. \u201cWe still think there can be a more therapeutic approach in the way we deal with marijuana in particular, and we\u2019d like the league\u2019s help with that, and we know owners feel that way, too,\u201d said George Atallah, a union spokesman.\nThe current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in 2020, and both sides have indicated they might be willing to address the issue \u2014 either the testing, the legality or the penalties levied.\n\u201cI would hope that the NFL stands by what it says it stands for \u2014 player health and safety, first and foremost,\u201d said Monroe, who since his retirement has emerged as football\u2019s most prominent marijuana proponent. \u201cIf that statement is true, there\u2019s enough info out there right now for the NFL to make a smart decision.\u201d\n\u2018A young industry\u2019\nStopping at CW Hemp\u2019s research and development lab, Bachus explained to the former players that the company must be poised for regulatory changes. Marijuana is still classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which means the federal government sees a potential for abuse and no medical value. It also means researchers have a difficult time cutting through red tape to study the drug.\nThe Food and Drug Administration is considering how it classifies CBD, and if the extract gets approval as a medication, not only could doctors start prescribing it, the DEA could classify CBD differently than marijuana .\nOne of the players in the group, Justin Sandy, was more familiar with cannabis than his cohorts. Sandy, 35, was in the NFL for parts of four seasons \u2014 a career that lasted just long enough to break bones in both feet, require four knee surgeries and trigger daily pain in his back, knees and feet. He got into organic agriculture early in his retirement and recently began growing five acres of cannabis in nearby Boulder County.\n\u201cThis is such a young industry,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the majority of the country still lumps hemp and marijuana together. It\u2019s like a tomato plant with different varieties, that\u2019s how I like to think about this.\u201d\nThe research is continuing. CW Hemp\u2019s charitable partner, Realm of Caring, is working with researchers out of Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania on studies specific to football players. Several of the former Broncos players would sign up.\nThe tour was wrapping up, and the former players began removing their protective glasses.\n\u201cAny final questions?\u201d Bachus asked.\n\u201cYou all going to let us try some?\u201d one of the former players deadpanned."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "6918ac29270b0532499566892e735fcf_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6918ac29270b0532499566892e735fcf_1", "title": "Study: Medical marijuana changes how employees use sick time", "text": "mixed. \"It is simply uncertain as to whether there are negative labor market consequences of drug use in general, and cannabis use in particular,\" the 2014 paper concludes. But there hasn't been a lot of research into the impact of licit marijuana use \u2014 particularly medical marijuana use \u2014 on the workplace. So Ullman decided to look into what happened to employee sick-day use in states that legalized medical marijuana, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey (CPS). On the one hand, you might expect broader access to marijuana to result in more workers calling in sick, because they're too stoned to work or because they just don't feel like showing up on a given day. On the other hand, if medical pot is successfully treating conditions that would otherwise render somebody unable to work, you might expect sick days to decrease. So Ullman examined before-and-after sick-day data from 24 states that had medical marijuana laws at the time of his study. On average, he found that \"respondents were 8% less likely to report being absent from work due to health issues after medical marijuana laws\" were passed. The CPS numbers also suggest that states with fewer restrictions on the use of medical marijuana, such as on the number of conditions it could be recommended for, had more of a decrease in sick-day use than states with stricter regulations. Now, if you read much about this type of research, you're probably expecting a Big Important Caveat to appear here, and you're right: Ullman's study can say that sick-day use decreased after the passage of medical marijuana laws. But it can't say medical marijuana caused that decrease. There are any number of factors that could have accounted for a drop in absenteeism in the states Ullman studied \u2014 better access to health care, better workplace wellness programs, improved employee health overall, etc. The decline in absenteeism could be driven more by any of those factors than by whatever happened to the state's marijuana laws. However, Ullman notes that the effect of the laws was stronger for middle-aged workers and for males, the groups most likely to hold medical marijuana cards. That, combined with the stronger effect of the laws in the more lax states, does suggest that the laws themselves could be a driver of the reduced absenteeism seen in the data. Ullman notes that there are any"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Cannabis plants grow at Vireo Health's medical marijuana cultivation facility in Johnstown, N.Y., on Aug. 19. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)\n\"Fact #1: Legalizing marijuana is bad for the workplace.\"\nThat's the stark warning from the Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace, a nonprofit that works to combat drug use among American employees.\n\"The impact of employee marijuana use is seen in the workplace in lower productivity, increased workplace accidents and injuries, increased absenteeism, and lower morale,\" the institute writes. \"This can and does seriously impact the bottom line.\"\nDoes it really, though?\nNew research published in the journal Health Economics suggests that the argument\u00a0is overstated. Darin F. Ullman, an economist who recently received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin\u00a0at\u00a0Milwaukee, wanted to know what effect, if any, the enactment of medical marijuana laws has had on employee absentee rates.\nA\u00a0fair amount of research has been done on the aggregate impact of illicit marijuana use on workplace productivity. Generally speaking, the most recent research \u2014 gathered and summarized in this 2014 paper \u2014 indicates that most marijuana use has little effect on\u00a0workplace productivity, although\u00a0chronic or heavy pot use can be a problem.\nOn net, the evidence is mixed. \"It is simply uncertain as to whether there are negative labor market consequences of drug use in general, and cannabis use in particular,\" the 2014 paper concludes.\nBut there hasn't been a lot of research into the impact of\u00a0licit marijuana use \u2014 particularly medical marijuana use \u2014 on the workplace. So Ullman decided to look into what happened to employee sick-day use in states that legalized medical marijuana, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey\u00a0(CPS).\nOn the one hand, you might expect broader access to marijuana to result in more workers calling in sick, because they're too stoned to work or because they just don't feel like showing up on a given day. On the other hand, if medical pot is successfully treating conditions that would otherwise render somebody unable to work, you might expect sick days to decrease.\nSo Ullman examined before-and-after sick-day data from\u00a024 states that had medical marijuana\u00a0laws at the time of his study. On average, he found that \"respondents were 8% less likely to report being absent from work due to health issues after medical marijuana laws\" were passed. The CPS numbers also suggest that states with fewer restrictions on the use of medical marijuana, such as on the number of conditions it could be recommended for, had more of a decrease in sick-day use than states with stricter regulations.\n\nNow, if you read much about this type of research, you're probably expecting a Big Important Caveat to appear here, and you're right: Ullman's study can say that sick-day use decreased after the passage of\u00a0medical marijuana laws. But it can't say medical marijuana\u00a0caused\u00a0that decrease. There are any number of factors that could have accounted for a drop in absenteeism in the states Ullman studied \u2014 better access to health care, better workplace wellness programs, improved employee health overall, etc. The decline in absenteeism could be driven more by any of those factors than by whatever happened to the state's marijuana laws.\nHowever, Ullman notes that the effect of the laws was\u00a0stronger for middle-aged workers and for males,\u00a0the groups most likely to hold medical marijuana cards. That, combined with the stronger effect of the laws in the more lax states, does suggest that the laws themselves could be a driver of the reduced absenteeism seen in the data.\nUllman notes\u00a0that there are any number of plausible reasons this could be the case. If self-treating with medical marijuana lets \"individuals experience relief from disabling symptoms,\u00a0absence from work could decline.\" Beyond that, other studies have shown that alcohol consumption declines after\u00a0the passage of medical marijuana laws. Heavy drinking is a big driver of absenteeism, so if medical marijuana cuts back on boozing, it would have the net effect of reducing absenteeism, as well.\n\"The results of this paper therefore\u00a0suggest that [medical marijuana laws]\u00a0would decrease costs for employers as it has reduced self-reported absence from work due to\u00a0illness/medical issues,\" Ullman concludes.\nVoters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada just approved recreational marijuana use. Here's what they can learn from Washington, Colorado and Oregon, states where marijuana use has already been legalized."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "77826b12369b84b7aaf49e2c2070e8ff_2", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "77826b12369b84b7aaf49e2c2070e8ff_2", "title": "Pregnant women are increasingly using marijuana for morning sickness, study finds. That\u2019s not good.", "text": "studies have shown links between prenatal marijuana exposure and impaired functions such as impulse control, visual memory and attention during school years. An ongoing study also found an association between prenatal marijuana exposure and restricted fetal growth during pregnancy, as well as increased frontal cortical thickness among school-age children. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant or breast-feeding women \u2014 and women considering pregnancy \u2014 should be screened for and discouraged from using marijuana and other substances. The study published Monday analyzed data from women ages 18 through 44 from the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2002 through 2014. Researchers assessed data from 200,510 women of reproductive age, including 10,587 pregnant women. Among pregnant women, the prevalence of the use of marijuana in the past month increased 62 percent from 2002 through 2014. The use was most prevalent among women ages 18 to 25, indicating that younger women are at greater risk. Recent use among women who were not pregnant also increased, from about 6 percent in 2002 to 9 percent in 2014, researchers reported. Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug during pregnancy, Volkow wrote, and a study from Hawaii suggested that pregnant women with severe nausea are more likely to use marijuana than other pregnant women. Despite medical recommendations, some online forums and articles laud the pain-relieving benefits of marijuana use during pregnancy, particularly to treat hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe type of morning sickness consisting of persistent nausea and vomiting that can lead to dehydration, weight loss and electrolyte imbalances. To date, 29 states and Washington, D.C., have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana. Nausea is a medically approved reason to take marijuana in all of the states where medical use is legal. Although no states specifically list pregnancy-related conditions as an indication for the drug, none of them prohibit or include warnings about the possible harms of marijuana, Volkow wrote. The numbers of pregnant women using marijuana \u2014 less than 4 percent, according to the study \u2014 are not high. Nevertheless, the authors of the study wrote, \u201cthe increases over time and potential adverse consequences of prenatal marijuana exposure suggest further monitoring and research are warranted.\u201d More from Morning Mix Famed poker pro with \u2018remarkable\u2019 $9.6 million scheme has to pay it back, judge rules Tabloid columnist wrote that a Disneyland-bound Muslim family had al-Qaeda ties. She was dead wrong."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A cannabis plant. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)\nMore U.S. women are using marijuana during pregnancy than in previous years to treat\u00a0nausea and morning sickness, a new study suggests.\nThe findings present potentially serious medical concerns because of earlier\u00a0studies\u00a0indicating that infants who were exposed to marijuana were more likely to be anemic, have lower birth weight and be placed in neonatal intensive care than infants of mothers who did not use marijuana.\nAccording to the study\u00a0published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, nearly 4 percent of pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 44 reported in 2014 they had used marijuana in the past month, compared with 2.4 percent in 2002.\n\u201cSome sources on the Internet are touting marijuana as a solution for the nausea that commonly accompanies pregnancy,\u201d said Nora D. Volkow,\u00a0director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, writing in an editorial\u00a0published online with the study. However, she said, \u201cdoctors must be aware of the risks involved and err on the side of caution by not recommending the drug for pregnant patients.\u201d\nSome data suggest pregnant women are turning to marijuana specifically during the first trimester of pregnancy, the period that presents the greatest risks of drug exposure to the fetus,\u00a0Volkow wrote.\nAlthough the influence of marijuana on human brain development is not entirely clear, studies have shown links between prenatal marijuana exposure and impaired functions such as impulse control, visual memory and attention during school years.\u00a0An ongoing study\u00a0also found an association between prenatal marijuana\u00a0exposure and restricted fetal growth during pregnancy, as well as increased frontal cortical thickness among school-age children.\nThe American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant or breast-feeding women \u2014 and\u00a0women considering\u00a0pregnancy \u2014 should be screened for and discouraged from using marijuana and other substances.\nThe study published Monday analyzed data from women ages 18 through 44 from the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2002 through 2014. Researchers assessed data from 200,510 women of reproductive age, including 10,587 pregnant women.\nAmong pregnant women, the prevalence of the use of marijuana in the past month increased 62\u00a0percent from 2002 through 2014. The use was\u00a0most prevalent among women ages 18 to 25,\u00a0indicating that younger women are at greater risk.\u00a0Recent use among women who were not pregnant also increased, from about 6 percent in 2002 to 9 percent in 2014, researchers reported.\nMarijuana is the most widely used illegal drug during pregnancy, Volkow wrote, and a\u00a0study from Hawaii suggested that pregnant women with severe nausea\u00a0are\u00a0more likely to use marijuana than other pregnant women.\nDespite medical recommendations, some online\u00a0forums and articles laud the pain-relieving benefits of marijuana use during pregnancy, particularly to treat hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe type of morning sickness consisting of persistent nausea and vomiting that can lead to dehydration, weight loss and electrolyte imbalances.\nTo date,\u00a029 states and Washington, D.C., have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana.\u00a0Nausea is a medically approved reason to take marijuana in all of the states where medical use is legal. Although no states specifically list pregnancy-related conditions as an indication for the drug, none of them prohibit or include warnings about the possible harms of marijuana, Volkow wrote.\nThe numbers of pregnant women using marijuana \u2014 less than 4 percent, according to the study \u2014 are not high. Nevertheless, the authors of the study wrote, \u201cthe increases over time and potential adverse consequences of prenatal marijuana exposure suggest further monitoring and research are warranted.\u201d\nMore from Morning Mix\nFamed poker pro with \u2018remarkable\u2019 $9.6 million scheme has to pay it back, judge rules\nTabloid columnist wrote that a Disneyland-bound Muslim family had al-Qaeda ties. She was dead wrong."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "81bbf7c0-b5b2-11e6-b8df-600bd9d38a02_3", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "81bbf7c0-b5b2-11e6-b8df-600bd9d38a02_3", "title": "A powerful new form of medical marijuana, without the high", "text": "of psychoactivity undermines any argument that it should be illegal. It\u2019s really shifted the national discussion on this issue.\u201d Voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada just approved recreational marijuana use. Here's what they can learn from Washington, Colorado and Oregon, states where marijuana use has already been legalized. As more scientists recognize the compound\u2019s potential, there has been an \u201cexplosion of research,\u201d according to Pal Pacher, a pharmacologist and cardiologist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. He has been studying the chemical for more than a decade; his work has shown that CBD may have benefits in both heart disease and diabetes. One key area of CBD research is epilepsy. Several scientists are focusing on its potential to reduce seizures, especially among those for whom other treatments have failed. \u201cWe\u2019ve found significant positive effects with CBD,\u201d says New York University neurologist Orrin Devinsky, who studies the compound for severe childhood epilepsy. In a study whose findings have not yet been published, he and a colleague, Daniel Friedman, found that patients receiving CBD in addition to their usual medicines had 39 percent fewer convulsive seizures than patients who remained on their normal drug regimen. Given that the study included only the most treatment-resistant patients, this is an \u201cexcellent response,\u201d Devinsky says. Much more research is needed, he says, to establish whether CBD works, and if so for what conditions, but he understands that severely ill patients, or their parents, may not want to wait for this data: \u201cIf other drugs don\u2019t work, it\u2019s certainly reasonable to try this.\u201d The compound has also shown promise in treating anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. Much of this work has been in rats and mice, but several studies have found benefits for humans. For instance, German researchers showed in 2012 that giving CBD to schizophrenic patients reduced psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and disordered thinking. CBD seems to have anti-cancer properties, too. At the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute in San Francisco, researchers Sean McAllister and Pierre Desprez have found that CBD can block cancer cells from metastasizing. It\u2019s not clear how CBD works. This is partly because it stimulates multiple biochemical pathways, which may account for its wide range of effects. The compound is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and it increases levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin as well as another molecule, anandamide, which reduces pain and anxiety. Francisco Guimaraes, a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Medical marijuana plant propagated at  a growing operation in Washington, DC.  (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)\nJackson Leyden had always been a healthy kid; he practiced taekwondo, and he played lacrosse and baseball. But in 2011, a few months after his eighth birthday, he began having seizures several times a day. Many were brief, a half-minute of staring into space, but he also had severe episodes in which he would collapse, sometimes injuring himself. Over the next two years, he was hospitalized about 50 times, and he missed much of fourth and fifth grade.\nHis parents took him to more than 20 doctors around the country, and he tried more than a dozen medications. Nothing worked. Two years ago, the Leydens were at the end of their rope. They decided to see whether marijuana might help. (Medical use of the drug is legal in the District, where they live, and the Leydens found a doctor willing to work with them.) In 2014, Jackson got his first dose of cannabis.\n\u201cWithin a few days, he was having hardly any seizures,\u201d says his mother, Lisa. \u201cI was shocked.\u201d Over the next few months, he stopped taking other medications.\nNot only did the medicine help, it did so without making him high. The strain of marijuana that Jackson takes is unusual: It contains high levels of cannabidiol, or CBD, one of the two main molecules in marijuana; the other is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. While THC is famously mind-altering, CBD is not.\nOver decades, researchers have found that THC may help treat pain, nausea, loss of appetite and other problems, while CBD was thought to be biologically inactive in humans. But in the past 10 years, scientists have concluded that CBD may be quite useful. Dozens of studies have found evidence that the compound can treat epilepsy as well as a range of other illnesses, including anxiety, schizophrenia, heart disease and cancer.\nNow 13, Jackson \u2014 whose diagnosis is undetermined \u2014 continues to use marijuana every day. (Like many patients, he ingests it in droplet form, which allows for more precise dosing and avoids lung problems.) He still has seizures, but they are less severe and they occur once every week or two, down from around 200 a month before he started using cannabis. He is back in school full time and is well enough to go on hikes and bike rides with his family.\nThousands of people around the country are using high-CBD marijuana.\n\u201cThis is a really powerful compound,\u201d says Mikhail Kogan, the medical director of the George Washington University Center for Integrative Medicine. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it work for a lot of my patients.\u201d He prescribes high-CBD strains of cannabis regularly for such illnesses as epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, autism and insomnia.\n\u2018A game-changer\u2019\nIn the cannabis plant, CBD and THC generally have an inverse relationship: The more THC there is, the less CBD, and vice versa. In recent years, growers have bred some plants to contain high levels of CBD. Some say the two compounds work synergistically and that for many ailments, combining CBD and THC is best.\nWhat makes CBD especially appealing is that it doesn\u2019t get the user high. Most recreational marijuana users want this effect, of course, but many patients would rather avoid it. This has allowed CBD to sidestep many of the political, legal and medical concerns that have hindered the spread of medical marijuana.\n\u201cCBD has been a game-changer for medical marijuana,\u201d says Martin Lee, the director of Project CBD, a Northern California nonprofit that promotes use of the compound. \u201cIts safety and lack of psychoactivity undermines any argument that it should be illegal. It\u2019s really shifted the national discussion on this issue.\u201d\nVoters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada just approved recreational marijuana use. Here's what they can learn from Washington, Colorado and Oregon, states where marijuana use has already been legalized.\nAs more scientists recognize the compound\u2019s potential, there has been an \u201cexplosion of research,\u201d according to Pal Pacher, a pharmacologist and cardiologist at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. He has been studying the chemical for more than a decade; his work has shown that CBD may have benefits in both heart disease and diabetes.\nOne key area of CBD research is epilepsy. Several scientists are focusing on its potential to reduce seizures, especially among those for whom other treatments have failed. \u201cWe\u2019ve found significant positive effects with CBD,\u201d says New York University neurologist Orrin Devinsky, who studies the compound for severe childhood epilepsy.\nIn a study whose findings have not yet been published, he and a colleague, Daniel Friedman, found that patients receiving CBD in addition to their usual medicines had 39 percent fewer convulsive seizures than patients who remained on their normal drug regimen. Given that the study included only the most treatment-resistant patients, this is an \u201cexcellent response,\u201d Devinsky says.\nMuch more research is needed, he says, to establish whether CBD works, and if so for what conditions, but he understands that severely ill patients, or their parents, may not want to wait for this data: \u201cIf other drugs don\u2019t work, it\u2019s certainly reasonable to try this.\u201d\nThe compound has also shown promise in treating anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. Much of this work has been in rats and mice, but several studies have found benefits for humans. For instance, German researchers showed in 2012 that giving CBD to schizophrenic patients reduced psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and disordered thinking.\nCBD seems to have anti-cancer properties, too. At the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute in San Francisco, researchers Sean McAllister and Pierre Desprez have found that CBD can block cancer cells from metastasizing.\nIt\u2019s not clear how CBD works. This is partly because it stimulates multiple biochemical pathways, which may account for its wide range of effects. The compound is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and it increases levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin as well as another molecule, anandamide, which reduces pain and anxiety.\nFrancisco Guimaraes, a pharmacologist at the University of Sao Paolo in Brazil, has found that it increases growth of new neurons in the brain, especially in the hippocampus, a region that plays a key role in depression and anxiety.\n\u201c[CBD] is a Disneyland for a pharmacologist,\u201d he says. \u201cThere are so many possible mechanisms, so many possible ways it can be useful.\u201d\nBut studying CBD is not easy: Scientists complain that laws and regulations put excessive constraints on their work. Although it doesn\u2019t make users high, CBD (both the molecule and CBD-rich cannabis) is classified by the federal government as a Schedule 1 drug, which means they have high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.\nThe list includes marijuana (undifferentiated by strain) and heroin. (While the federal government oversees marijuana research, marijuana use is regulated, in part, by state laws.) As a result, scientists who study the compound must follow a host of restrictive rules. Last year, responding to a request from several governors to change marijuana\u2019s designation, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced that all cannabis would remain a Schedule 1 drug.\nStill on Schedule 1\n\u201cIt\u2019s ludicrous and arbitrary,\u201d according to Devinsky, who says getting government approval for his epilepsy trial required dozens of hours of extra work. Like most scientists who study the compound, he uses almost pure CBD. Although not at all psychoactive, it must be kept in a heavy safe with an alarm system.\nEven as the research proceeds, thousands of people are using CBD as medicine. A British pharmaceutical company, GW Pharma, has developed two CBD drugs: Sativex, which contains a 1-to-1 ratio of CBD and THC, and Epidiolex, which is pure CBD. The former is prescribed for the painful muscle spasms that occur in multiple sclerosis, while the latter is aimed at childhood seizures. Sativex is not available in the United States, but it is approved in 29 other countries, including Canada, England and Israel.\nEpidiolex has not been cleared for sale anywhere in the world; GW Pharma says it expects to begin the approval process with the Food and Drug Administration next year.\nAnd thousands of Americans are using strains of cannabis with a strong CBD content. Advocates and medical marijuana dispensaries agree that as awareness about CBD grows, so does demand.\nStephanie Kahn, who with her husband, Jeffrey, runs the Takoma Wellness Center, a medical marijuana dispensary in Northwest Washington, says that about half of her 1,200 patients use CBD-rich products. Her dispensary offers several strains of high-CBD cannabis as well as CBD oil, with different ratios of CBD and THC, each of which she recommends for particular conditions. \u201cWe get questions about it every day,\u201d she says. \u201cA lot of our patients get relief with this, and a lot of times this works better than pharmaceutical drugs.\u201d\nNo insurance\nThe cost of treatment varies: Depending on the dispensary and the dosage, it can range from around $100 a month to more than $1,000. Despite the cost, which is not covered by insurance, CBD medicines are drawing great interest for children with severe, intractable epilepsy. California and Colorado, which were among the first states to legalize medical marijuana, have become hot spots for such patients. Before other states legalized medicinal CBD use, some families moved to these states so they could have access to the compound.\nOne of the most experienced practitioners in this field is Los Angeles physician Bonni Goldstein, who has used the compound to treat dozens of children with intractable epilepsy. She says about half of these patients have seen a significant drop in the number of seizures. \u201cUsed in the right way, with the right patient, CBD is extremely powerful,\u201d she says.\nYet even those who believe in this power recognize that CBD medicine remains largely unexplored: Treatments are not systematized, many products are not standardized or tested, and patients (or their parents) are generally left to figure out dosing on their own. While some suppliers and dispensaries test the CBD and THC levels of their products, many do not. \u201cWe really need more research, and more evidence,\u201d Kogan says. \u201cThis has to be done scientifically.\u201d\nFor Lisa Leyden, Jackson\u2019s mother, these issues don\u2019t negate the compound\u2019s enormous potential. \u201cI realize this isn\u2019t perfect,\u201d she says. \u201cWe absolutely need to know more. But in the meantime, many people need help. They\u2019re in bad shape, and this seems to work.\u201d"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "877428f0-5e68-11e6-8c8b-bf430a787cff_5", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "877428f0-5e68-11e6-8c8b-bf430a787cff_5", "title": "Risky alone, deadly together: Overdoses on combined prescriptions plague white women", "text": "since the late 1990s responded with highly addictive painkillers, many of them central nervous system depressants previously reserved for the terminally ill. The more expansive use of opioids has fed an epidemic of dependency, leading to new prescriptions for anti-anxiety drugs and a rash of fatal overdoses. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post) (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post) These drugs appear to be a factor even among suicides, another major contributor to rising female mortality. According to Kern County coroner records obtained by The Post, 85 white women ages 35 to 60 killed themselves here over the past seven years. About half overdosed on prescription drugs, The Post found, and about half of those \u2014 21 women \u2014 had some combination of opioids, benzodiazepines and alcohol in their bloodstreams. Many of the women who chose other means of suicide, such as gunshot or hanging, also died in a haze of prescription drugs, The Post found. In nearly half of the 28 cases in which a toxicology test was performed, the women had consumed opioids, benzodiazepines or other central nervous system depressants. When a woman dies in Kern County, it falls to Coroner Manager Dawn Ratliff to determine what happened. Her investigators explore medicine cabinets, flip through journals, scrutinize text messages and interview friends. Repeatedly, a pattern emerges, Ratliff said: A personal crisis leads to prescriptions to soothe the pain. And then they lose control. Beverly Layman shares her fears with pastor Craig Amos, who was making a hospice visit to her home in Bakersfield. Layman died the following week from cirrhosis of the liver. She had been a longtime user of painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, alcohol and illicit drugs. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post) \u201cThey are worn down. And they can\u2019t rise above it,\u201d said Ratliff, who puts the blame in part on the rise of social media, which can create unrealistic expectations about how life should go. \u201cBefore, if you lived in a rural area, all you knew was your community. You just knew what people in your community looked like, what their lives were like. You didn\u2019t expect to look like a movie star \u2014 or live like one,\u201d she said. Ratliff, 60, works closely with Eggert, 58, who created an outreach team for surviving family members of suicides that has been lauded as a national model. Eggert said she, too, has noticed the weariness and the desire for a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "UNNATURAL CAUSES SICK AND DYING IN SMALL-TOWN AMERICA |\nIn Bakersfield, Calif., middle-aged white women are struggling with addictions. Some are dying. Meet three women tied together by pain.\nBAKERSFIELD, Calif. \u2014\nIn all, Franklin, 60, takes more than a dozen different prescription drugs, washing them down with tap water and puffing on a Marlboro while she waits for them to kick in.\n\u201cThey take the edge off, but that\u2019s about it,\u201d Franklin says. So she keeps a bottle of vodka handy for added relief, increasing her risk of joining the legions of American women dying from \u00adprescription-drug overdoses.\nWhile death rates are falling for blacks and Hispanics in middle age, whites are dying prematurely in growing numbers, particularly white women. One reason: a big increase in overdoses, primarily from opioids, but also from anti-anxiety drugs, which are often prescribed in tandem.\nBetween 1999 and 2014, the number of middle-aged white women dying annually from opiate overdoses shot up 400 percent, according to a Washington Post analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anti-anxiety drugs known as benzodiazepines contributed to a growing share of the 54,000 deaths over that period, reaching a third in the past several years, The Post found \u2014 though spotty reporting in death records means it is likely that the combination is even more widespread.\nBoth drugs depress the central nervous system, temporarily easing pain and anxiety while suppressing respiration, heart rate and the gag reflex. Alcohol has the same effect, and combining any of these can be fatal.\n\u201cThey act like a dimmer switch on the central nervous system,\u201d said Rear Adm. Susan Blumenthal, former U.S. assistant surgeon general and an expert on women\u2019s health issues. \u201cWhen taken in combination, a person\u2019s breathing and heart will slow down, and can ultimately stop. People can go to sleep and never wake up.\u201d\nWhite women are more likely than women of other races to be prescribed opiates, and far more likely to be prescribed both opiates and anti-anxiety drugs, according to an analysis of middle-aged participants in the latest National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. White women prescribed opiates are five times as likely as white men to be given that drug combination \u2014 helping to explain why white women may be at special risk.\nFederal health officials have recognized the danger. This spring, in a guideline that urged doctors to reduce the use of opioids for chronic pain, the CDC warned against prescribing them together with benzodiazepines, except for patients battling fatal diseases such as cancer. At the very least, the CDC urged doctors to warn patients of the risks, especially when the drugs are mixed with alcohol.\nKaren Franklin shows some of the pills she takes during an eight-hour period. She suffers from a back injury and lives with chronic pain. She said that despite taking morphine and other prescription medications, her pain level is usually a 10. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\nOn Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began requiring warning labels on opioids and benzodiazepines \u2014 nearly 400 products in total \u2014 with information about the potentially fatal consequences of taking these medications at the same time.\n\u201cIt is nothing short of a public health crisis when you see a substantial increase of avoidable overdose and death related to two widely used drug classes being taken together,\u201d FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement. \u201cWe implore health care professionals to heed these new warnings and more carefully and thoroughly evaluate, on a patient-by-patient basis, whether the benefits of using opioids and benzodiazepines \u2014 or CNS depressants more generally \u2014 together outweigh these serious risks.\u201d\nFederal officials have no power to mandate a change in doctors\u2019 prescribing habits. Even if they did, a mandate would do little for patients such as Franklin who get their prescriptions from multiple physicians.\n\u201cAn opioid might be prescribed by a pain specialist while a general practitioner or a psychologist may prescribe the benzodiazepine. They may not know about one another,\u201d said Deborah Dowell, lead author of the CDC\u2019s new opioid guidelines.\nFranklin\u2019s struggle began 17 years ago with a single prescription for Vicodin. At the time, she had her own home and managed a grocery store. But the side effects of long-term opioid use soon set in. Mounting anxiety. Sleeplessness. Depression. With each new problem, doctors sent her home with more pills.\nNow she lives with her 88-year-old father and spends her days shuffling between the TV, a refrigerator stocked with chocolate Ensure and the bathroom, which relatives call her sanctuary. Armed with a Bible and a carton of Marlboros, she prays for God\u2019s protection, cracking the bathroom window to let the cigarette smoke drift into the back yard.\nLately, Franklin has been blacking out. Her sister found her facedown in a plate of food, and she started using a walker after losing consciousness on her way to the mailbox.\n\u201cWhat is happening right now is a slow suicide,\u201d said her friend Ellen Eggert, a supervisor for the Kern County Mental Health Department. But Franklin is resisting Eggert\u2019s appeals to seek help with her addictions.\n\u201cI know it\u2019s not good for me,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cBut I would rather say my prayers and take my medication.\u201d\n\nSuicides have doubled\nBakersfield lies in the heart of Kern County, a vast sprawl of lush cropland in California\u2019s Central Valley. Here, accidental overdoses among white women have tripled since 1999, according to federal health data, and suicides have doubled.\nThe death toll has alarmed health-care workers like Eggert and given rise to a loose network of therapists, nurses, pastors and drug counselors struggling to understand a generation of women overwhelmed by modern life and undone by modern medicine.\nSome, like Franklin, begin their descent after an injury. Others seek relief from conditions related to menopause. Middle-aged women also are more likely than men to suffer from a variety of painful conditions, including lupus, migraines and rheumatoid arthritis.\nWhatever the complaint, doctors and drug companies have since the late 1990s responded with highly addictive painkillers, many of them central nervous system depressants previously reserved for the terminally ill. The more expansive use of opioids has fed an epidemic of dependency, leading to new prescriptions for anti-anxiety drugs and a rash of fatal overdoses.\n(Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\n(Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\nThese drugs appear to be a factor even among suicides, another major contributor to rising female mortality. According to Kern County coroner records obtained by The Post, 85 white women ages 35 to 60 killed themselves here over the past seven years. About half overdosed on prescription drugs, The Post found, and about half of those \u2014 21 women \u2014 had some combination of opioids, benzodiazepines and alcohol in their bloodstreams.\nMany of the women who chose other means of suicide, such as gunshot or hanging, also died in a haze of prescription drugs, The\u00a0Post found. In nearly half of the 28 cases in which a toxicology test was performed, the women had consumed opioids, benzodiazepines or other central nervous system depressants.\nWhen a woman dies in Kern County, it falls to Coroner Manager Dawn Ratliff to determine what happened. Her investigators explore medicine cabinets, flip through journals, scrutinize text messages and interview friends. Repeatedly, a pattern emerges, Ratliff said: A personal crisis leads to prescriptions to soothe the pain. And then they lose control.\nBeverly Layman shares her fears with pastor Craig Amos, who was making a hospice visit to her home in Bakersfield. Layman died the following week from cirrhosis of the liver. She had been a longtime user of painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, alcohol and illicit drugs. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\n\u201cThey are worn down. And they can\u2019t rise above it,\u201d said Ratliff, who puts the blame in part on the rise of social media, which can create unrealistic expectations about how life should go.\n\u201cBefore, if you lived in a rural area, all you knew was your community. You just knew what people in your community looked like, what their lives were like. You didn\u2019t expect to look like a movie star \u2014 or live like one,\u201d she said.\nRatliff, 60, works closely with Eggert, 58, who created an outreach team for surviving family members of suicides that has been lauded as a national model. Eggert said she, too, has noticed the weariness and the desire for a quick fix to life\u2019s problems.\n\u201cWomen have had to be strong for so long. Opioids are a good way out. Benzos are a good way out,\u201d Eggert said. Women \u201cstart depending on them to get through. Then, after a while, it\u2019s not getting them through anymore. It\u2019s running their life.\u201d\nThe autopsy reports are filled with stories of dependency:\nBonnie Jean Marshall, 54, overdosed in 2012 after drinking alcohol and taking three prescription drugs, including the opioid Vicodin and the benzodiazepine Xanax. She lived in Wofford Heights, a village in the southern Sierra Nevada, and suffered from hypertension, pain and anxiety. She left a suicide note: \u201cSick for months\u2014can\u2019t get well so sorry nana.\u201d\nHoli Michele Mitchell, 43, shot herself in 2014 after taking Vicodin and two benzodiazepines \u2014 Klonopin and Xanax. She lived in Bodfish, a small town in the Kern River Valley, and struggled with depression after her son died in a car accident. His picture and a broken charm bracelet were found by her body.\nCheryl Moore, 56, left a journal that described two suicide attempts in the weeks before she overdosed on painkillers and alcohol in February 2015. Moore, who lived in Bakersfield, had begun taking opiates 18 months earlier after breaking her ankle. Then her husband, Duane, died of liver cancer, leaving a stockpile of stronger painkillers.\nMoore\u2019s brother, Eugene Frey, said he understands why women might turn to suicide, even when, like his sister, they have the means to seek treatment.\n\u201cThere is an expectation for them to keep it together. People think: \u2018Hey, you are white. You are privileged. So why do you have so many problems? Maybe you are the problem,\u2019 \u201d Frey said. \u201cThere isn\u2019t a lot of space for them to be vulnerable.\u201d\nEllen Eggert, center, leads a suicide prevention training session in Bakersfield. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\nCultural shift\nEggert is part of a network of female health professionals working to understand the increase in white female mortality in Kern County. She said that she believes it is rooted in the cultural shift of the 1960s. As taboos were stripped away, women began drinking, smoking and medicating themselves more like men. As they aged, they began to suffer the effects: Since 1999, the death rate from alcohol abuse has more than doubled among white women ages 45 to 54, according to CDC data, though the rate for white men remains twice as high.\n\u201cIt\u2019s become normalized,\u201d Eggert said. \u201cWhy does alcohol kill more people than all the other drugs combined? Because it\u2019s acceptable, available, and there\u2019s not a thing wrong with it. Why do women fail to see the danger of taking so many pills? Because it\u2019s legitimate. It comes from a doctor.\u201d\nJoan Knowlden, a psychologist in Kern County, said she saw a sharp rise in middle-aged female patients in the early 2000s. Many\u00a0had turned to alcohol, \u00adanti-anxiety drugs and painkillers to \u201cmellow them out.\u201d\nSome had delayed childbearing, Knowlden said, and were trying to raise children just as they reached their peak professionally. Many were also entering menopause, which typically causes a drop in serotonin, a chemical that naturally soothes the brain.\n\u201cWith perimenopause and menopause, you already have anxiety, sleep loss, loss of bladder control and loss of sex drive,\u201d Knowlden said. \u201cIt can just become too much.\u201d\nSometimes, Knowlden sends her clients to Sherri Bergamo, a nurse practitioner known as \u201cthe Hormone Queen of Bakersfield.\u201d Bergamo noted that the rise of opioid painkillers coincided with a shift in treatment for menopausal women: Doctors stopped prescribing hormone-replacement therapy after studies found it increased the risk of stroke, blood clots and breast cancer.\nForced to \u201cwhite knuckle\u201d their way through menopause, Bergamo said, many women sought other forms of relief for mood swings and depression. She offers them custom-mixed hormones, which she argues are safer.\n\u201cThere are some risks, but they are calculated, and they are carefully monitored,\u201d said Bergamo, 74, who has undergone hormone therapy for 26 years. \u201cI believe it saves lives.\u201d\nMedicine is coming back around to Bergamo\u2019s point of view. This year, a panel of experts assembled by the North American Menopause Society concluded that hormone replacement is largely safe, especially for women under 60. In October, the society plans to recommend a return to hormone therapy for most healthy women, according to executive director JoAnn Pinkerton, division director of the Midlife Health Center at the University of Virginia Health System.\nOne thing menopausal women should probably avoid is long-term opioid use, which can further lower hormone levels, said Stanford University professor Beth Darnall, who specializes in pain psychology research.\n\u201cWhen women go through menopause, there are big changes with pain, anxiety and depression. There is a hard body of research on this,\u201d Darnall said. \u201cOpioids, taken long term, reduce the level of hormones in the body. This can lead to a greater sensitivity to pain. And it can feed into this dose-escalation cycle.\u201d\nKaren Franklin, right, sleeps during the afternoon in Bakersfield. She lives with her father, Richard Barker, 88. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\nThe turning point\nThe turning point in Franklin\u2019s life came in the late 1990s, when she said her tailbone was fractured during an episode of domestic violence. The pain led her to Vicodin, starting with the lowest dose: tablets containing five milligrams of the opioid hydrocodone.\n\u201cIt might as well have been baby aspirin,\u201d she says now. \u201cAll it did was make me a little sleepy.\u201d\nAt the time, Franklin was managing a grocery store, a physically demanding job that had her lifting Halloween pumpkins, boxes of Easter candy and endless cases of soda. Within a few months, she persuaded her doctor to double the dose. Then she begged for stronger opiates, cycling through prescriptions for codeine, oxycodone and OxyContin.\nPeriodically, her doctors cut her off. \u201cThey would say, \u2018You kind of like this too much,\u2019\u2009\u2019\u2019 Franklin recalled. So she would call 911 and take a trip to the emergency room, where doctors typically offered a shot of Demerol, another powerful opioid.\nIn the early 2000s, Franklin\u2019s mother died, her second marriage began to unravel, and she decided to quit working. Doctors added antidepressants, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medications to her list of prescriptions.\nHer world began to narrow. She saw fewer people. Franklin said she became \u201ca hermit.\u201d\nHer friend Eggert suggested a psychologist, group therapy, long walks, church, yoga. Franklin rejected each idea. She came to believe she needed surgery. So in 2004, a surgeon implanted metal rods at the base of her spine.\nThe surgery failed to provide relief, and Franklin filed for disability.\n\u201cI was told it would be 80 percent better,\u201d she said, \u201cbut instead it was 80 percent worse.\u201d\nFranklin keeps an X-ray of her back clipped to her refrigerator. If anyone questions her pain, she points to the X-ray: \u201cThey see those plates and they know it\u2019s bad.\u201d\nIn recent months, her chronic drug use has generated a host of new health problems, including pancreatitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Those conditions led to more doctor visits, which produced more prescriptions, and more pills to shake out of more bottles in her pink-tiled bathroom.\nHer bottle of vodka, once stowed under the bathroom sink, now stays out on the floor, within easy reach.\nDale Carter and Brian Benson deliver a recently deceased 44-year-old white female to the Kern County coroner in Bakersfield. Prescription narcotics were among the medications found in the woman\u2019s apartment. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)\nKeating reported from Washington."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "88c6caee-7b00-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "88c6caee-7b00-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_0", "title": "N.Y. governor takes careful step on medical marijuana", "text": "NEW YORK \u2014 While nearly two dozen states have approved marijuana for medical purposes and Colorado and Washington have legalized its use for pleasure, Cuomo (D) is tapping a 1980 state law to allow as many as 20 hospitals to dispense the drug to people with certain severe illnesses as an experimental research project. \u201cI\u2019m absolutely thrilled that he\u2019s actually verbalized the words \u2018medical marijuana,\u2019 but he\u2019s just got to go further,\u201d said Susan Rusinko, a 52-year-old central New York resident who said a hit of pot is a \u201cwonder drug\u201d that relaxes immobilizing leg spasms from her multiple sclerosis. It\u2019s unclear whether she would even qualify for Cuomo\u2019s initiative or whether there would be a participating hospital near her. While advocates are frustrated, Cuomo\u2019s limited embrace of medical marijuana may be a politically astute and scientifically sensitive move on an issue on which popular enthusiasm has outpaced a weak body of medical research, experts say. Some doctors avidly back using cannabis to treat problems ranging from chemotherapy-related nausea to chronic pain, but other medical experts say there are good reasons for caution. While the marijuana plant holds tantalizing possibilities, they say, it\u2019s still a question mark as medicines go. Cuomo\u2019s initiative is styled as a test of whether pot can be effectively used as medicine without being abused. \u201cThis does not start with a premise: \u2018Oh, this is a slam dunk. . . . We can do it without any ancillary problems,\u2019 \u201d he told reporters Monday. \u201cIt\u2019s the exact opposite.\u201d Under his plan, people with cancer, glaucoma and possibly some other \u201clife-threatening or sense-threatening\u201d conditions could seek to get marijuana through studies based at hospitals yet to be named, with \u201cstringent research protocols and eligibility requirements.\u201d Cuomo\u2019s initiative bypasses a state legislature that has weighed but failed to pass more ambitious medical marijuana laws. He\u2019s relying instead on his administrative powers to carry out a 1980 law allowing medical-marijuana research. Critics think medical marijuana is an entree to more recreational use of a drug that was widely outlawed in the United States in the 1930s. \u201cI think it sends the wrong signal to our young people,\u201d said Michael Long, chairman of the New York Conservative Party. Supporters say the marijuana plant is effective against various ailments, including backaches, anxiety and seizures. If the medical science is unsettled, allowing pharmaceutical pot is popular with New Yorkers. A Quinnipiac University"}], "old": [{"_id": "88c6caee-7b00-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_0", "title": "N.Y. governor takes careful step on medical marijuana", "text": "NEW YORK \u2014 While nearly two dozen states have approved marijuana for medical purposes and Colorado and Washington have legalized its use for pleasure, Cuomo (D) is tapping a 1980 state law to allow as many as 20 hospitals to dispense the drug to people with certain severe illnesses as an experimental research project. \u201cI\u2019m absolutely thrilled that he\u2019s actually verbalized the words \u2018medical marijuana,\u2019 but he\u2019s just got to go further,\u201d said Susan Rusinko, a 52-year-old central New York resident who said a hit of pot is a \u201cwonder drug\u201d that relaxes immobilizing leg spasms from her multiple sclerosis. It\u2019s unclear whether she would even qualify for Cuomo\u2019s initiative or whether there would be a participating hospital near her. While advocates are frustrated, Cuomo\u2019s limited embrace of medical marijuana may be a politically astute and scientifically sensitive move on an issue on which popular enthusiasm has outpaced a weak body of medical research, experts say. Some doctors avidly back using cannabis to treat problems ranging from chemotherapy-related nausea to chronic pain, but other medical experts say there are good reasons for caution. While the marijuana plant holds tantalizing possibilities, they say, it\u2019s still a question mark as medicines go. Cuomo\u2019s initiative is styled as a test of whether pot can be effectively used as medicine without being abused. Under his plan, people with cancer, glaucoma and possibly some other \u201clife-threatening or sense-threatening\u201d conditions could seek to get marijuana through studies based at hospitals yet to be named, with \u201cstringent research protocols and eligibility requirements.\u201d Cuomo\u2019s initiative bypasses a state legislature that has weighed but failed to pass more ambitious medical marijuana laws. He\u2019s relying instead on his administrative powers to carry out a 1980 law allowing medical-marijuana research. Critics think medical marijuana is an entree to more recreational use of a drug that was widely outlawed in the United States in the 1930s. \u201cI think it sends the wrong signal to our young people,\u201d said Michael Long, chairman of the New York Conservative Party. Supporters say the marijuana plant is effective against various ailments, including backaches, anxiety and seizures. If the medical science is unsettled, allowing pharmaceutical pot is popular with New Yorkers. A Quinnipiac University poll in June found 70 percent of state voters support it. And for Cuomo, the issue represents an opportunity to plant a flag on the left \u2014 but not too far \u2014 as"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "NEW YORK \u2014\nWhile nearly two dozen states have approved marijuana for medical purposes and Colorado and Washington have legalized its use for pleasure, Cuomo (D) is tapping a 1980 state law to allow as many as 20 hospitals to dispense the drug to people with certain severe illnesses as an experimental research project.\n\u201cI\u2019m absolutely thrilled that he\u2019s actually verbalized the words \u2018medical marijuana,\u2019 but he\u2019s just got to go further,\u201d said Susan Rusinko, a 52-year-old central New York resident who said a hit of pot is a \u201cwonder drug\u201d that relaxes immobilizing leg spasms from her multiple sclerosis. It\u2019s unclear whether she would even qualify for Cuomo\u2019s initiative or whether there would be a participating hospital near her.\nWhile advocates are frustrated, Cuomo\u2019s limited embrace of medical marijuana may be a politically astute and scientifically sensitive move on an issue on which popular enthusiasm has outpaced a weak body of medical research, experts say.\nSome doctors avidly back using cannabis to treat problems ranging from chemotherapy-related nausea to chronic pain, but other medical experts say there are good reasons for caution. While the marijuana plant holds tantalizing possibilities, they say, it\u2019s still a question mark as medicines go.\nCuomo\u2019s initiative is styled as a test of whether pot can be effectively used as medicine without being abused.\n\u201cThis does not start with a premise: \u2018Oh, this is a slam dunk. .\u2009.\u2009. We can do it without any ancillary problems,\u2019\u00a0\u201d he told reporters Monday. \u201cIt\u2019s the exact opposite.\u201d\nUnder his plan, people with cancer, glaucoma and possibly some other \u201clife-threatening or sense-threatening\u201d conditions could seek to get marijuana through studies based at hospitals yet to be named, with \u201cstringent research protocols and eligibility requirements.\u201d\nCuomo\u2019s initiative bypasses a state legislature that has weighed but failed to pass more ambitious medical marijuana laws. He\u2019s relying instead on his administrative powers to carry out a 1980 law allowing medical-marijuana research.\nCritics think medical marijuana is an entree to more recreational use of a drug that was widely outlawed in the United States in the 1930s. \u201cI think it sends the wrong signal to our young people,\u201d said Michael Long, chairman of the New York Conservative Party.\nSupporters say the marijuana plant is effective against various ailments, including backaches, anxiety and seizures.\nIf the medical science is unsettled, allowing pharmaceutical pot is popular with New Yorkers. A Quinnipiac University poll in June found 70\u00a0percent of state voters support it.\nAnd for Cuomo, the issue represents an opportunity to plant a flag on the left \u2014 but not too far \u2014 as he faces reelection this year amid talk of his potential 2016 presidential prospects. Cuomo enjoys favorability ratings around 55 and 60\u00a0percent in recent polls, but some of the state\u2019s Democratic limelight has been shining lately on newly installed, staunchly liberal New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.\n\u2014 Associated Press"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "92829fd9c082527d9fbca8ce0675c33f_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "92829fd9c082527d9fbca8ce0675c33f_0", "title": "Colorado Supreme Court says companies can fire workers for using medical marijuana in their off-hours", "text": "Marijuana plants at RiverRock Organic Cannabis in Denver, Co. (Photo by Marc Piscotty For The Washington Post) Colorado is a state where many residents legally use marijuana. It is also a state where companies can fire employees for using the drug, even if that occurred when the person wasn\u2019t at work. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that a business can fire an employee for using medical marijuana even if the employee is off-duty and abiding by state law, a decision that could have far-reaching ramifications in a state that has decriminalized most marijuana use. The justices said that employees can still be fired because marijuana remains illegal in the eyes of the federal government, making this case a high-profile example of the sharp divide between state laws and the federal law. This chasm affects nearly two dozen states that allow legal medical marijuana, as well as a growing effort across the country to legalize recreational marijuana, following in the footsteps of Colorado and other states. While the ruling does not specifically mention Colorado\u2019s highly publicized and thriving recreational marijuana industry, focusing instead on medical marijuana, it could reverberate across a state that allows anyone 21 and older to legally buy and use marijuana. In Colorado, about one in seven residents said they use marijuana, according to data released Monday by the state Department of Public Health and Environment. And about a third of the people who defined themselves as current marijuana users last year said they used it daily. The opinion released Monday dealt with an employee who was fired because he used medical marijuana. Under Colorado state law, it is considered discriminatory \u201cfor an employer to terminate the employment of any employee due to that employee\u2019s engaging in any lawful activity off the premises of the employer during nonworking hours.\u201d In the case, Coats v. Dish Network, Brandon Coats argued that the satellite provider violated this statute by firing him for using medical marijuana after work, because he was acting in accordance with Colorado law. Coats is a quadriplegic who has used a wheelchair since he was a teenager, according to court filings, and he obtained a medical marijuana license in 2009. Brandon Coats, right. (Ed Andrieski/AP) Coats worked for Dish until 2010, when he tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC, the active mind-altering ingredient in marijuana) during a random drug test. He was fired for violating the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Marijuana plants at RiverRock Organic Cannabis in Denver, Co. (Photo by Marc Piscotty For The Washington Post)\nColorado is a state where many residents legally use marijuana. It is also a state where companies can fire employees for using the drug, even if that occurred\u00a0when the person\u00a0wasn\u2019t at work.\nThe Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that a business can fire an employee for using medical marijuana even\u00a0if the employee is off-duty and abiding by state law, a decision that could have far-reaching ramifications in a state that has decriminalized most marijuana use.\nThe justices said that employees\u00a0can still be fired because marijuana remains\u00a0illegal in the eyes of the federal government,\u00a0making this case a high-profile\u00a0example of the\u00a0sharp divide between state laws and the federal law. This chasm affects nearly two dozen states that allow\u00a0legal medical marijuana, as well as a growing effort across the country to legalize recreational marijuana, following in the footsteps of Colorado and other states.\nWhile the\u00a0ruling does not specifically mention Colorado\u2019s highly publicized and thriving recreational marijuana industry, focusing instead on medical marijuana, it could reverberate across\u00a0a state that allows anyone 21 and older to legally buy and use marijuana.\nIn Colorado, about one in seven residents said they use marijuana, according to data released Monday by the state\u00a0Department of Public Health and Environment. And about a third of the people who defined themselves as current marijuana users last year said they used it daily.\nThe opinion released Monday dealt with an employee who was\u00a0fired\u00a0because he used medical marijuana.\u00a0Under Colorado state law, it is considered discriminatory \u201cfor an employer to terminate the employment of any employee due to that employee\u2019s engaging in any lawful activity off the premises of the employer during nonworking hours.\u201d\nIn the case,\u00a0Coats v. Dish Network, Brandon Coats argued that the satellite provider violated this statute by firing him for using medical marijuana after work, because he was acting in accordance with Colorado law. Coats is a quadriplegic who has used a wheelchair since he was a teenager, according to court filings, and he obtained a medical marijuana license in 2009.\nBrandon Coats, right. (Ed Andrieski/AP)\nCoats worked for Dish until 2010,\u00a0when he tested positive\u00a0for\u00a0tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC, the active mind-altering ingredient\u00a0in marijuana) during a random drug test. He was fired for violating the company\u2019s drug policy.\nA trial court dismissed Coats\u2019s claim that he had been wrongfully terminated, and an appeals court upheld that decision.\u00a0The state\u2019s Supreme Court,\u00a0in an opinion delivered by Justice Allison H. Eid, agreed with the lower courts, determining that despite the state law, Coats\u2019s marijuana use can\u2019t be considered lawful because it violates federal law.\nThe Colorado statute does not define what is a \u201clawful\u201d activity, Eid wrote, and while\u00a0Coats argued that it should cover things legal under Colorado law, she said the justices disagreed.\n\u201cAs a national employer, Dish remains committed to a drug-free workplace and compliance with federal law,\u201d Dish Network said in a statement praising the decision.\nMichael Evans, an attorney for Coats, called\u00a0the decision was \u201cdevastating\u201d and said the state\u2019s legislature must act to keep people from needing medical marijuana from having to choose between using the drug and their work.\n\u201cAlthough I\u2019m very disappointed today, I hope that my case has brought the issue of use of medical marijuana and employment to light,\u201d Coats said in a statement released through Evans\u2019s firm. \u201cIf we\u2019re making marijuana legal for medical purposes we need to address issues that come along with it such as employment.\u201d\nCoats worked as a telephone customer service representative who only used marijuana after work hours and at home, Evans\u2019s firm said.\nAdvocates of reforming drug policy said the case highlighted the problematic gray areas that exist between state and federal law.\n\u201cIt\u2019s now painfully clear that something akin to a medical marijuana bill of rights is needed for patients in Colorado,\u201d Art Way, state director for the Drug Policy Alliance in Colorado, said in a statement e-mailed to The Post. \u201cWe need robust state protections for our patients and legal adult marijuana users, just as we have robust regulations for the marijuana industry.\u201d\nRecreational marijuana became legal in Colorado last year, after voters in 2012 approved\u00a0a constitutional\u00a0amendment making that state and Washington the\u00a0first in the country to legalize\u00a0retail sales of the drug for personal use.\nMeanwhile, medical marijuana is allowed in nearly half the\u00a0states in the country, with 23 states and Washington, D.C. allowing legal medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.\nIn\u00a0Colorado, medical marijuana has been allowed since 2001, when a constitutional\u00a0amendment went into effect allowing \u201cpersons suffering from debilitating medical conditions\u201d to possess and use marijuana.\nThat constitutional amendment does not require employers \u201cto accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any work place.\u201d However, it does not explicitly state what happens when medical marijuana is used by employees outside the workplace.\nBut the federal government still deems\u00a0marijuana a Schedule I substance, considered by the Drug Enforcement Administration to be \u201cthe most dangerous drugs\u201d they classify, along with heroin, LSD and peyote.\nIn 2009, David W. Ogden, a deputy attorney general, wrote in a memo\u00a0that prosecuting people with serious illnesses who use medical marijuana \u201cis unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources.\u201d\nRather, the memo said, the Justice Department would remain focused on entities that illegally sell marijuana instead of people who \u201care in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws\u201d governing medical marijuana.\nThis post has been updated. First published: 12:16 p.m."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "929a3dd447ce017e8c3ffedbc07bf130_2", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "929a3dd447ce017e8c3ffedbc07bf130_2", "title": "As more states legalize marijuana, NFLPA to study potential as a pain-management tool", "text": "it can honestly ruin someone\u2019s career if the wrong team gets wind of it and has adverse opinions on it. But my health is more important than the opinion of someone who could be my employer now or my future employer. . . . \u201cThere\u2019s enough anecdotal evidence already to say, \u2018Hey listen, we know it\u2019s not toxic. We know it\u2019s safer than what we\u2019re already doing.\u2019 \u201d Monroe, who announced his retirement in July, was not available for further comment Wednesday, according to one of his representatives. Some contend that the increasing number of states to legalize marijuana use should impact the NFL\u2019s view. \u201cThere is no health and safety reason for marijuana being on the banned list and now the legal rationale has crumbled,\u201d a person on the players\u2019 side of the sport said Wednesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic. Some medical experts are also advocating for cannabis-based treatment over some current painkillers, noting the addiction and overdose potential of opioids. In 2014, 19,000 deaths were attributed to overdoses from prescription pain medication, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Prescription painkillers have also been cited as a gateway to heroin use. \u201cIn my mind, there\u2019s no comparison if we just started from scratch in the year 2016 and looked newly at which class of drugs worked better to treat pain and side-effect profile up to and including death, in the case of opioids,\u201d Daniel Clauw, a University of Michigan professor who has performed studies comparing opioids and cannabis, told the Post in June. \u201cYou put the two next to each other, and there really is no debate which is more effective to treat pain. You would go the cannabinoid route instead of the opiate route.\u201d Cannabidiol, or CBD, an anti-inflammatory extracted from cannabis, could potentially help players as a preventative measure against one of the most pressing issues facing the NFL: concussions. Lester Grinspoon, a professor emeritus at Harvard and one of the first medical marijuana researchers, said in an interview with the Post earlier this year that \u201cevidence shows CBD is neuroprotective. I would have each individual take a capsule an hour or two before they play or practice. It\u2019s better than nothing.\u201d Grinspoon also noted there would be no guarantee such a measure would work. Following Tuesday\u2019s election results, the league has given no indication that,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The increasing legalization of marijuana at the state level could spur change with the NFL\u2019s drug policy. (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press)\nIn the aftermath of a new set of states legalizing marijuana use\u00a0in the national elections, the NFL Players Association said Wednesday it is actively studying the possibility of allowing players to use marijuana as a pain-management tool.\nThe union is forming an NFL players pain management committee that will study players\u2019 use of marijuana as a pain-management mechanism, among other things,\u00a0though the union has not yet determined if\u00a0an adjustment to the sport\u2019s ban on marijuana use is warranted.\n\u201cMarijuana is still governed by our collective bargaining agreement,\u201d George Atallah, the NFLPA\u2019s assistant executive director of\u00a0external affairs, said in a phone interview Wednesday. \u201cAnd while some states have moved in a more progressive direction, that fact still remains.\n\u201cWe are actively looking at the issue of pain management of our players. And studying marijuana as a substance under that context is the direction we are focused on.\u201d\nA growing push from players within the sport, plus an ongoing national medical conversation over the benefits of marijuana and the dangers of opiate-based painkillers, have increased scrutiny on the league\u2019s rules that ban the drug. This also comes as\u00a0voters in California, Nevada and Massachusetts approved recreational marijuana use Tuesday, joining four other states and Washington, D.C., in enacting similar laws. Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota voters legalized medical marijuana use, bringing the total of states with such measures to more than two dozen.\nBut marijuana use remains prohibited under the drug policy collectively bargained between the NFL and the NFLPA, and both parties would need to agree to any changes to that policy. Players are tested for marijuana and can be fined or suspended without pay for positive or missed tests.\nThe union\u2019s contemplation of approving marijuana as a pain-management mechanism for players had begun before Tuesday\u2019s voting.\nSome players, including former Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Eugene Monroe, argue that marijuana is safer than the painkillers commonly used by players and its use should be permitted by the sport for pain-management purposes.\n\u201cTo this point, I understand why no one but me as an active player has said anything about it,\u201d Monroe said in an interview with the Post earlier this year prior to his retirement. \u201cIt\u2019s a banned substance in our league. Speaking about it can honestly ruin someone\u2019s career if the wrong team gets wind of it and has adverse opinions on it. But my health is more important than the opinion of someone who could be my employer now or my future employer. . . .\n\u201cThere\u2019s enough anecdotal evidence already to say, \u2018Hey listen, we know it\u2019s not toxic. We know it\u2019s safer than what we\u2019re already doing.\u2019 \u201d\nMonroe, who announced his retirement in July, was not available for further comment Wednesday, according to one of his representatives.\nSome contend that the increasing number of states to legalize marijuana use should impact the NFL\u2019s view.\n\u201cThere is no health and safety reason for marijuana being on the banned list and now the legal rationale has crumbled,\u201d a person on the players\u2019 side of the sport said Wednesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.\nSome medical experts are also advocating for cannabis-based treatment over some current painkillers, noting the addiction and overdose potential of opioids. In 2014, 19,000 deaths were attributed to overdoses from prescription pain medication, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Prescription painkillers have also been cited as a gateway to heroin use.\n\u201cIn my mind, there\u2019s no comparison if we just started from scratch in the year 2016 and looked newly at which class of drugs worked better to treat pain and side-effect profile up to and including death, in the case of opioids,\u201d Daniel Clauw, a University of Michigan professor who has performed studies comparing opioids and cannabis, told the Post in June. \u201cYou put the two next to each other, and there really is no debate which is more effective to treat pain. You would go the cannabinoid route instead of the opiate route.\u201d\nCannabidiol, or CBD, an anti-inflammatory extracted from cannabis, could potentially help players as a preventative measure against one of the most pressing issues facing the NFL: concussions.\nLester Grinspoon, a professor emeritus at Harvard and one of the first medical marijuana researchers, said in an interview with the Post earlier this year that \u201cevidence shows CBD\u00a0is neuroprotective. I would have each individual take a capsule an hour or two before they play or practice. It\u2019s better than nothing.\u201d\nGrinspoon also noted there would be no guarantee such a measure would work.\nFollowing Tuesday\u2019s election results, the league has given no indication that, in its view, any change to the current drug policy is at hand.\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t just the NFL\u2019s policy,\u201d NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a written statement Wednesday to the Post. \u201cThis is a collectively bargained policy with the NFL Players Association.\n\u201cThe program is administered by jointly appointed independent medical advisors to the league and the NFLPA who are constantly reviewing and relying on the most current research and scientific data. We continue to follow the advice of leading experts on treatment, pain management and other symptoms associated with concussions and other injuries. However, medical experts have not recommended making a change or revisiting our collectively-bargained policy and approach related to marijuana, and our position on its use remains consistent with federal law and workplace policies across the country. If these medical experts change their view, then this is an area that we would explore.\u201d\nThe current collective bargaining agreement between the league and union runs through 2020. But the two sides review the sport\u2019s drug policies annually and sometimes make adjustments. In September 2014, the league and union agreed to raise the threshold for what constitutes a positive test for marijuana from 15 nanograms per milliliter to 35 nanograms per milliliter.\u00a0A nanogram is one-billionth of a gram.\nUnder the league\u2019s current rules failed or missed tests typically result in\u00a0a suspension of four games without pay for a fourth violation. The first violation results in the player being referred to a substance abuse program. The second violation results in a fine equivalent to two of the player\u2019s game checks, and the third violation typically results in a four-game fine. A fifth violation is a 10-game suspension and a sixth violation is a one-year ban.\nThe league has come under fire recently for the length of suspensions given for marijuana use compared to other violations, such as the initial suspensions for domestic violence incidents assessed to then-New York Giants kicker Josh Brown (one game) earlier this season and then-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (two games) in 2014.\nRice\u2019s suspension was subsequently increased in the wake of a public outcry, although the longer suspension later was overturned by an arbitrator. Brown has been put on the commissioner\u2019s exempt list, a form of paid leave, as the league mulls a possible larger penalty. He was released by the Giants. Rice has remained unsigned since being released by the Ravens in 2014.\nDespite the legalization of marijuana in some states, the federal prohibition on marijuana use remains in place. The Obama administration maintained a policy of noninterference with state marijuana laws. It is not clear what approach will be taken by the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.\nGabriel Feldman, the director of the sports law program at Tulane University, said the NFL and NFLPA face a practical and perhaps political decision about marijuana, but not one of compliance with shifting state laws.\n\u201cThere are substances on the banned substances list that are not illegal,\u201d Feldman said in a phone interview. \u201cThe league and the Players Association can make the determination under the CBA that substances that are legal can be on the banned substances list. . . . [Conversely the league] doesn\u2019t have to test for it just because it\u2019s illegal.\n\u201cThe league is certainly not bound by the laws of individual states in terms of whether they test or don\u2019t test. There are some who might say that alcohol should be a banned substance even though it\u2019s legal. Ultimately it\u2019s up to the league and the players to decide.\u201d\nThe momentum of the marijuana-legalization movement potentially could influence the NFL\u2019s thinking, Feldman said.\n\u201cIt may,\u201d Feldman said. \u201cI would think that both the league and the players are continuing to study the issue and continuing to study whether it makes sense. Certainly as the laws change, that might inform their decision and we may see action. [But] the league also has a uniformity issue. Even if the federal prohibition is lifted and it\u2019s legal in some states and illegal in other states, the NFL might have an interest in maintaining uniformity in its policy.\u201d\nPrevious reporting by The Washington Post\u2019s Adam Kilgore and Liz Clarke was used in this story."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "9adc8502-98dd-11e3-80ac-63a8ba7f7942_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "9adc8502-98dd-11e3-80ac-63a8ba7f7942_1", "title": "Marijuana\u2019s rising acceptance comes after many failures. Is it now legalization\u2019s time?", "text": "plant strains such as Gorilla Glue, Silver Haze and Crystal Coma. All in a state where marijuana is not yet quite legal, and all without a single police officer to be seen. America has been at the edge of marijuana legalization several times during the past half-century, but never as close to mass acceptance of the drug as the nation is today. Since the 1960s, the United States has traveled on a herky-jerky trip from hippies and head shops to grass-roots backlash by suburban parents, from enthusiastic funding of the war on drugs to a gathering consensus that the war had little effect on marijuana use. Now, for the first time, marijuana legalization is winning majority support in public opinion polls and a drug used by about 6 percent of Americans \u2014 and one-third of the nation\u2019s high school seniors \u2014 is starting to shake off its counterculture reputation. It is winning acceptance even from some police, prosecutors and politicians. But is this time really different? Why is the current campaign for legalization resonating when previous ones did not? Today\u2019s leap toward legality is entwined with the financial desperation of cash-strapped states, an Internet-driven revolution in how Americans learn about marijuana and its medicinal uses, and a rising libertarian sensibility in which many liberals and conservatives alike have grown skeptical of government\u2019s role in telling citizens how to medicate themselves. The skies looked bright for legalization at several other points in recent decades, and those efforts ultimately went nowhere, as campaigns by parents combined with sharp opposition by law enforcement and elected officials to keep marijuana on the list of substances that can land you in jail. But in 20 states and the District, the booming medical marijuana industry (the drug first became legal to treat ailments in California in 1996) has raised expectations of full legalization. In 2012, legalized marijuana outpolled President Obama in Colorado; the votes for pot and Obama in Washington state were almost identical at 56 percent each. Activists in at least six states and the District are working to put legalization initiatives on the ballot this year or in 2016, and legislatures in 13 states are considering bills to legalize a plant that in 80 years has traveled from widely used patent medicine to felony to misdemeanor and now to the cusp of acceptance as one more taxed and regulated mind-altering substance, akin to alcohol"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In the San Francisco Bay Area, activists who've been rallying for marijuana reform for decades see a new wave of politics and public opinion that may change California's cannabis laws to come.\nIn the San Francisco Bay Area, activists who've been rallying for marijuana reform for decades see a new wave of politics and public opinion that may change California's cannabis laws to come. (Chris Hardy and Casey Capachi/The Washington Post)\nSAN BERNARDINO, Calif. \u2014\nAcross a vast outdoor plaza lined with hundreds of booths, this month\u2019s Cannabis Cup gathering in Southern California has attracted more than 10,000 visitors at $40 a ticket. By midafternoon, some of them are sprawled on overstuffed couches that merchants have thoughtfully provided. Others move from booth to booth, sampling wares from businesses that have risen from the underground economy to create a burgeoning industry of hazy legality.\nVendors hawk brightly colored candies, chocolate bars, slickly designed jars of gourmet peanut butter \u2014 all infused with weed. Smokers sample e-cigarettes, vaporizers and the latest in bongs and glassware. Agricultural firms display industrial-sized machinery for harvesting plants, electronics firms offer a dazzling array of grow lights, and everywhere, growers lovingly explain the virtues of dozens of plant strains such as Gorilla Glue, Silver Haze and Crystal Coma.\nAll in a state where marijuana is not yet quite legal, and all without a single police officer to be seen.\nAmerica has been at the edge of marijuana legalization several times during the past half-century, but never as close to mass acceptance of the drug as the nation is today.\nSince the 1960s, the United States has traveled on a herky-jerky trip from hippies and head shops to grass-roots backlash by suburban parents, from enthusiastic funding of the war on drugs to a gathering consensus that the war had little effect on marijuana use. Now, for the first time, marijuana legalization is winning majority support in public opinion polls and a drug used by about 6 percent of Americans \u2014 and one-third of the nation\u2019s high school seniors \u2014 is starting to shake off its counterculture reputation. It is winning acceptance even from some police, prosecutors and politicians.\nBut is this time really different? Why is the current campaign for legalization resonating when previous ones did not? Today\u2019s leap toward legality is entwined with the financial desperation of cash-strapped states, an Internet-driven revolution in how Americans learn about marijuana and its medicinal uses, and a rising libertarian sensibility in which many liberals and conservatives alike have grown skeptical of government\u2019s role in telling citizens how to medicate themselves.\nThe skies looked bright for legalization at several other points in recent decades, and those efforts ultimately went nowhere, as campaigns by parents combined with sharp opposition by law enforcement and elected officials to keep marijuana on the list of substances that can land you in jail.\nBut in 20 states and the District, the booming medical marijuana industry (the drug first became legal to treat ailments in California in 1996) has raised expectations of full legalization. In 2012, legalized marijuana outpolled President Obama in Colorado; the votes for pot and Obama in Washington state were almost identical at 56 percent each.\nActivists in at least six states and the District are working to put legalization initiatives on the ballot this year or in 2016, and legislatures in 13 states are considering bills to legalize a plant that in 80 years has traveled from widely used patent medicine to felony to misdemeanor and now to the cusp of acceptance as one more taxed and regulated mind-altering substance, akin to alcohol or tobacco.\nMike Aldrich, with the support of his wife, Michelle, has been pushing for the legalization of marijuana for over four decades. He now predicts that \u201cmarijuana\u2019s going to be legal in the United States in 10 years. Of course, I first said that in 1967.\u201d (Chris Hardy/for The Washington Post)\nThe seeds of change\nMichael Aldrich remembers the day: Aug. 6, 1963.\nHe was a kid from South Dakota, a Princeton junior studying at Harvard for the summer, out on a date with a beautiful beatnik woman he\u2019d met in a class on contemporary British poetry. She was dressed all in black. He was smitten. They\u2019d spent the evening at Club 47, a legendary folkie spot, and now, as they walked through Harvard Yard, she turned to him and asked, \u201cEver try this?\u201d She showed him a tiny, skinny joint.\nThey lit up right there in the Yard.\n\u201cWe were in bed within the hour,\u201d Aldrich recalls. \u201cI was sold.\u201d He began smoking pot every day, a practice that would continue for half a century.\nIn short order, Aldrich began his life\u2019s work. His campaign for legalization seemed in its first years like a blend of academic exercise and cultural rebellion, but it contained the seeds of arguments that would gradually shift social attitudes toward the drug.\nAs a graduate student traveling abroad, Aldrich explored marijuana\u2019s role in the mythology of India. As a doctoral student at the state university in Buffalo, in 1967, he founded the nation\u2019s first campus group advocating for legalized pot, LEMAR, as in LEgalize MARijuana. They were 15 longhaired hippies who thought they could change the world.\nAldrich challenged the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Henry Giordano, to a debate. Giordano argued that marijuana was worse than heroin and that efforts to legalize the weed were \u201cjust another effort to break down our whole American system.\u201d Aldrich answered with a history of pot\u2019s use as a relaxant, sedative, painkiller and inspirational aid.\nAldrich organized the first national conference on legalization and met the poet Allen Ginsberg, who hired him as his personal assistant and launched a New York City chapter of LEMAR. In 1969, Aldrich moved to California to teach and joined other activists there to create Amorphia, which made and sold Acapulco Gold brand rolling papers and used the proceeds to fund a drive for \u201cfree, legal backyard marijuana.\u201d\nMarijuana by that time was a symbol of the anti-Vietnam War movement and the hippie counterculture; only 12 percent of Americans favored legalizing pot. Amorphia \u2014 a core group of 30 hippies, many of whom lived communally in a house north of San Francisco in Marin County \u2014 didn\u2019t need to reach much beyond their peers to collect enough signatures to put a legalization initiative on the ballot in 1972. In the face of a wall of opposition from politicians, police and parents, the hippies had forced the issue.\nCalifornia would vote on making pot legal.\n\nA bridge over ideology\nBack in Washington, from the perspective of the Nixon White House, marijuana was at the core of the nation\u2019s deepening generational, social and political divide. Young people seemed out of control, detached from institutions and traditions, determined to smash the rules and go their own way.\nOne of Nixon\u2019s youngest advisers, Gordon Brownell, was a native Washingtonian who came to the White House fresh out of college. He had founded Colgate University\u2019s first conservative club, and in law school he had remained a loyal conservative but secretly smoked pot with a friend who later became a federal drug prosecutor.\nBy the time he returned to Washington, Brownell had put marijuana out of his mind. He was profoundly alienated by longhaired radicals. When they surrounded the White House to protest the war, he walked through the crowd to get to his car and saw that \u201cI was on the other side of a cultural divide. I was not one of them.\u201d\nIn 1969, when the daughter of TV host Art Linkletter killed herself and her father blamed the death on her use of LSD, Brownell wrote a memo urging that Nixon come out in favor of a national crusade against the \u201csocial evil\u201d of drugs.\nA year later, Brownell, then 26, left Washington to take a top post in California Gov. Ronald Reagan\u2019s reelection campaign. Living in Los Angeles, Brownell dated a woman who reintroduced him to marijuana and also shared mescaline \u2014 a drug with effects similar to LSD. Thrilled by the psychedelic journey, he nonetheless felt like a criminal.\n\u201cPossession of marijuana was a felony in California,\u201d he says. \u201cI still supported Reagan, but I felt for the first time the tension with being a Republican as Nixon and Reagan waged war on drugs.\u201d\nAfter the campaign, Brownell moved to Mendocino, rented a cabin by the sea, let his hair grow, and spent nine months writing a novel about a conservative young woman whose life pivots when she discovers drugs. He met and hung out with hippies who smoked a lot of dope, and he never let on that he\u2019d worked for Nixon and Reagan.\nA few miles away, the hippies of Amorphia realized they had no clue how to run a statewide campaign. They needed professional help, a bridge to the 90-plus percent of Californians who were not pot-smoking radicals.\nBrownell had taken a job in Washington to write for a conservative newsletter, but a newspaper story about the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the marijuana legalization lobby, changed his direction. \u201cReform was stalled because it was associated with hippies, antiwar activists and radicals,\u201d he says. \u201cI could put a different face on marijuana.\u201d\nGordon Brownell\u2019s home office contains memorabilia of his days working for Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. He believed a libertarian appeal would persuade Californians to approve a 1972 ballot initiative legalizing marijuana. It won only 35 percent of the vote. (Chris Hardy/For the Washington Post)\nBrownell moved back west to become political coordinator of the California Marijuana Initiative. Many of the hippies thought he had to be a narc. His friends from the Reagan campaign thought he\u2019d gone mad. \u201cA lot of doors just closed on me,\u201d Brownell says.\nThe message he crafted for middle-class Californians was basic libertarianism: \u201cI\u2019d tell my Republican friends, \u2018What you do in your own home is none of the government\u2019s business, and that was central to Barry Goldwater\u2019s message,\u2019\u2009\u201d Brownell recalls, sipping coffee from an Obama for President mug.\nNixon crushed George McGovern, 55 percent to 42 percent, in California that year. The marijuana initiative won 35 percent of the vote, well more than opponents had predicted, but the result was still a clear message that, as Brownell says, \u201cit just wasn\u2019t mainstream yet. We couldn\u2019t counter that stereotype of who used marijuana.\u201d\nA push to decriminalize\nIn 1970, Nixon signed into law a measure that eliminated mandatory prison sentences for marijuana possession and required him to set up a commission looking into the dangers of marijuana.\nMichael Aldrich and Allen Ginsberg cut their hair, shaved off their beards and donned neckties to testify before the commission. \u201c\u2009\u2018Get straight and infiltrate\u2019 was the idea,\u201d said Aldrich\u2019s wife, Michelle, who supported her husband\u2019s ventures in pot politics by working as a stockbroker.\nBut the commission had little patience for those who portrayed marijuana as harmless or even a social good.\n\u201cIt was an insane position then and now, given our understanding of smoking and health,\u201d says Michael Sonnenreich, a former drug prosecutor who was staff director of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse. \u201cI\u2019m a conservative guy, but it made no sense to overburden the police and the jails. The system was out of kilter. This never meant we were in favor of people smoking the crap.\u201d\nIn 1972, too late to have an impact on the California initiative, the commission unanimously recommended that marijuana be decriminalized.\nThe administration was appalled. Nixon\u2019s aides \u201cbelieved that bad people smoked this,\u201d Sonnenreich says. \u201cThe whole world was going upside down \u2014 the pill, assassinations, LSD, Vietnam. So certain people in the White House tried to convince me not to come out for decriminalizing.\u201d\nThe report was one of three that year \u2014 the others were from Canada\u2019s government and Consumers Union \u2014 to determine that marijuana was less harmful than other illegal drugs and to recommend decriminalization. In 11 state legislatures across the country between 1973 and 1979, penalties for possession were greatly reduced or eliminated.\nMarijuana seemed to have made the jump from the counterculture into the mainstream. \u201cI thought there was no turning back,\u201d says NORML\u2019s founder, Keith Stroup. In Washington, Stroup smoked pot with President Jimmy Carter\u2019s son Chip while Secret Service agents stood outside the door.\nStroup drafted the statement the president sent Congress in 1977 arguing that \u201cpenalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself.\u201d Carter urged Congress to accept the commission\u2019s findings and decriminalize marijuana.\n\u201cUse was extremely widespread and there were clearly very few medical consequences,\u201d says Peter Bourne, who was Carter\u2019s drug czar. But Bourne and Carter couldn\u2019t move the needle on decriminalization. Forty-five million Americans had tried marijuana, but as California\u2019s commission on pot concluded, \u201cprogress is rarely linear.\u201d To many parents, pot was a sign that they were losing their children.\nThe coverage of marijuana in PSAs, politics and pop culture has evolved quite a bit since the 1960s. See how the messages about pot have changed as much as the faces delivering them, from Sonny Bono to Barack Obama. (Gillian Brockell contributed to this video) (Kate M. Tobey /The Washington Post)\nParents turn the tide\nFor Carla Lowe, it was the calls she got as PTA president of her children\u2019s high school in Sacramento. The school\u2019s neighbors saw students smoking, and it didn\u2019t smell like tobacco.\nFor Sue Rusche, it was a group of parents in Georgia who gathered after several middle school children were discovered smoking pot at a party.\nFrom the late 1970s into the \u201980s, Lowe, Rusche and many other mothers created a parents\u2019 movement that halted, then reversed, momentum toward decriminalization. Starting in suburbs where teenagers turned to pot and turned head shops into hangouts, the movement compelled state and federal lawmakers to slam the brakes on Carter\u2019s push for decriminalization and then feed the Reagan administration\u2019s appetite for tougher enforcement.\n\u201cMy son was a super athlete,\u201d Lowe says, \u201cand then, all of a sudden, he\u2019d seem silly and inattentive. I didn\u2019t know that it was marijuana. Then I was called into school because they found what I heard as a \u2018bomb\u2019 in his locker.\u201d At school, Lowe learned that what her son had in his locker was a bong made from a tennis-ball can.\nShe devoted the next three years of her life to ridding her city of paraphernalia \u2014 and the next 35 years to fighting liberalized drug laws. She got a bong of her own \u2014 and a buzzbee, a Frisbee rigged up with a pipe in the center \u2014 and brought it to PTA and church groups to let parents know that \u201cyour children are smoking pot and these are the toys and tools that are being marketed to them.\u201d\nThe comedienne Carol Burnett called Lowe and offered to help. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) enlisted Lowe to join her campaign against paraphernalia. First lady Nancy Reagan joined the bandwagon with her \u201dJust Say No to Drugs\u201d campaign. Attorney General Edwin Meese III saw a tough stand against marijuana as a way to push back against a counterculture that was undermining society.\nThe legalization movement entered an 18-year freeze.\n\u201cWe were caught flatfooted,\u201d Stroup says. \u201cI thought nobody would take these moms seriously. Oh, was I wrong. There was a feeling that the country was getting out of control. I wasn\u2019t sure we\u2019d ever regain the momentum.\u201d\nThe mothers didn\u2019t do it alone. The rise of cocaine brought a constant supply of frightening stories that reinforced support for harsher enforcement: gun battles among powerful drug dealers, the rising power of cartels creating geopolitical strain between the United States and Latin American countries, the devastating impact of crack on cities, the overdose death of basketball star Len Bias, comedian Richard Pryor lighting himself on fire while he was using cocaine.\nLowe finally got her son to stop smoking pot when she \u201cgave him three months to get cleaned out, or no college,\u201d she says.\nBut she saw that stepped-up enforcement made little headway against marijuana\u2019s popularity, and the parents\u2019 movement could never raise significant funds.\n\u201cWe basically died out in the early \u201990s,\u201d Rusche says. \u201cWe\u2019ve never been able to find a single foundation willing to support this cause.\u201d\nBy the mid-\u201990s, most parent groups had dissolved. Those that remained saw the tide turn against them once again. Rusche recalls Stroup telling her at a debate that although the reform movement appeared to be defeated, it would be back with a new strategy \u2014 positioning marijuana as medicine.\nA shift in strategy\nGen. Barry McCaffrey never saw marijuana in high school or at West Point, from which he graduated in 1964. \u201cPre-pot,\u201d he says. \u201cMy generation was a lot of alcohol abuse and everybody smoked cigarettes.\u201d But when he got to Vietnam as an Army first lieutenant, McCaffrey saw pot having \u201ca huge, pernicious effect on the armed forces\u201d and beyond. \u201cBus drivers were stoned, students were stoned, reporters were stoned.\u201d\nBy the time McCaffrey became the nation\u2019s drug czar in 1996, he had launched a crusade against drug abuse. He saw pot as a crucial battleground because, he says, \u201cmarijuana\u2019s a stalking horse for Darwinian, libertarian acceptance of drug use of all kinds.\u201d\nIn those years, McCaffrey could depend on audience applause as he belittled those who would ease restrictions on marijuana.\n\u201cWoody Harrelson, the noted agronomist, is going to save America with a crop of marijuana,\u201d the general would say of the film star and pot proponent. \u201cBut the American people, mothers and fathers, aren\u2019t stupid enough to do that.\u201d Whereupon audiences would cheer.\nBut in San Francisco during the \u201990s, the 30-year culture war over marijuana had gone silent, replaced by a new urgency. In the city\u2019s devastated gay neighborhoods, AIDS powerfully shifted the debate.\nDennis Peron was about the least likely person to become the symbol of a drive to redefine marijuana as a symbol of compassion and care. Peron, an insistent, rough-edged guy from the Bronx, was a pot dealer who\u2019d been arrested more than 20 times. He\u2019d been selling ever since he came home from Vietnam with a pound of pot and a habit acquired while working 16-hour days in an Air Force morgue, bagging and shipping bodies of fallen comrades.\nAfter Dennis Peron\u2019s lover died, he resolved to find a way to supply marijuana to anyone suffering from AIDS. The Cannabis Buyers Club he launched in San Francisco was instrumental in winning legal status for medical use of the drug. (Chris Hardy/For The Washington Post)\nPeron is gay, and his longtime lover, Jonathan West, had AIDS and was dying. Peron supplied West and other AIDS patients with marijuana to ease the side effects of their medications.\n\u201cIt gave them the munchies so they\u2019d eat something,\u201d Peron says. \u201cI could help these people, sell them marijuana and make a little money.\u201d\nHe says he required customers to show physicians\u2019 letters confirming their diagnoses; this, he hoped, might protect him from prosecution.\nIt didn\u2019t. In 1990, San Francisco police raided Peron\u2019s apartment, which for years had been a place where gay men could hang out and get high. They arrested him for selling marijuana. Later that year, two weeks after testifying on Peron\u2019s behalf, West died. Peron then resolved to find a way to supply pot to anyone suffering from AIDS.\nHe launched the Cannabis Buyers Club in a prominent storefront and invited TV stations to interview his customers. He wanted to force lawmakers to confront marijuana use as medical care. He won enough attention and support that, in 1991, a nonbinding resolution he wrote asking the state to make marijuana legal for medical purposes won a citywide vote by a 79 to 21 percent margin.\nCity police left him alone after that, but once Peron\u2019s club attracted more than 4,000 members and had 90 employees, state officials decided they could no longer ignore such a flagrant violation. They raided the club in 1996, arresting Peron once more. Again, he took his case to the people.\n\u201cI\u2019d lost my lover, my friends were dead, I had nothing to lose,\u201d Peron says. \u201cI wasn\u2019t the right symbol \u2014 a gay guy, busted for pot \u2014 but no one else wanted to do it. So we went statewide.\u201d\nThe 1996 campaign for medical marijuana in California pushed aside groovy graphics and hippie rhetoric and repositioned weed as a tonic for cancer, glaucoma and AIDS patients. Grandmothers took to TV to explain how marijuana eased their pain, and Peron enlisted doctors in a campaign that asked: \u201cIf it\u2019s helping people, how can we keep it illegal?\u201d\nBack in Washington, strategists at NORML were skeptical of using medical benefits to back-door marijuana into legal status.\nPeron insists there was no subterfuge. \u201cAll use is medicinal,\u201d he says. \u201cAll people, even those who say they\u2019re using it recreationally, have clouds in their lives. Marijuana makes you see the silver lining in those clouds. That is a medical use.\u201d\nThat argument was not going to win an election. With the campaign running behind, even true believers saw they needed a different way. Enter billionaires George Soros and Peter Lewis, who each pumped half a million dollars into the medical marijuana effort. Peron never spoke to his campaign\u2019s benefactors. \u201cSoros doesn\u2019t understand marijuana\u2019s true benefits,\u201d Peron says. \u201cHe\u2019s just against the war on drugs.\u201d\nThe initiative won 56 percent of the vote, opening the door.\nDuring the next decade, 20 states and the District followed the same path, but with extremely different results. In California, where medical marijuana permits are as easy to get as a bottle of scotch, more than half a million people have cards letting them shop in hundreds of dispensaries. In the District, where the law requires a 14-page application and recognizes only four diseases as warranting treatment with marijuana, just 120 people have been approved to purchase it since the first dispensary opened last July.\nPeron, now 67, closed his cannabis club and says he stopped selling pot in 2001. \u201cI was glad I didn\u2019t have to sell pot anymore \u2014 too much stress,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019d rather Walgreens did it.\u201d\nAccepting drug abuse?\nToday, Boulder, Colo., is a city of 100,000 that has three Walgreens \u2014 none of which sell marijuana \u2014 and more than 100 medical marijuana dispensaries, even before licensing commences for shops that seek to sell weed for recreational use. Major national chain stores are not yet applying to sell pot, but at the Cannabis Cup convention and on hundreds of Web sites of marijuana-related businesses, the battle against liberalizing pot laws seems lost.\n\u201cThe momentum to treat marijuana as a legal drug is irreversible,\u201d says McCaffrey, the former drug czar. He no longer accepts invitations to appear on television to debate the issue because he says the networks \u201conly wanted a rented idiot general who didn\u2019t understand that marijuana was harmless and filling America\u2019s jails. The opposition has gone silent. The politicians, police, judges know this is bad policy but they don\u2019t make a peep. So we\u2019re going to end up with impaired surgeons and air pilots. We\u2019re just accepting another drug of abuse.\u201d\nAfter half a century of advocacy, Aldrich now predicts that \u201cmarijuana\u2019s going to be legal in the United States in 10 years. Of course, I first said that in 1967.\u201d He laughs. But this time, he says, it\u2019s unstoppable: \u201cIt\u2019s taken 40 years to reach a point where our national leaders have smoked. The last three presidents have admitted it.\u201d\nIf legalization spreads beyond Colorado and Washington state, it likely will be because of a confluence of forces that have gathered steam during the past decade: Big money is backing the new, aboveground marijuana industry, the Internet has altered the kind of messages that Americans hear about pot, Americans have grown more libertarian in their perspective on personal freedoms, the most anti-marijuana generation has passed on, and people across the ideological spectrum have grown frustrated with the cost, both financial and social, of decades of arrests and imprisonments.\nLegalization drives are underway mainly in states facing tough budget problems. Just as casino gambling spread first among states hungry for new tax revenues, so too are hard-up states now realizing, as Stroup says, that \u201cbig money can be made and suddenly the sin doesn\u2019t matter that much.\u201d\nBuds of GT Dragon, a potent hybrid strain of cannabis, are displayed by a San Diego medical marijuana delivery service at the 2014 Cannabis Cup in California. (David Walter Banks/For The Washington Post)\nAngelo Capozi\u2019s company TwoSticky.com marketed marijuana-infused honey and peanut butter at the 2014 Cannabis Cup. (David Walter Banks/For The Washington Post)\nThe burgeoning marijuana industry has flourished on the Internet, where back channels filled with anecdotal accounts of marijuana\u2019s medicinal benefits have fed consumer appetites for everything from seeds to growing equipment to edibles.\nAngelo Capozi, 45, spent decades as a chef, even appearing on TV\u2019s \u201cIron Chef America,\u201d before starting TwoSticky.com, which makes marijuana-laced peanut butter and honey. He made the switch after experimenting with recipes on behalf of his father, a cancer patient looking for relief from pain.\nCapozi believes the doorway to legal status opened as his parents\u2019 peers began to die.\n\u201cOnce that generation\u2019s out of here, it\u2019s going to really open up,\u201d he says. \u201cWithin a few years, I expect to be able to put my product on a supermarket shelf with a bar code.\u201d\nThe passing of the baby boomers\u2019 parents has created the first cross-generational consensus in favor of liberalized laws, says Stroup, now 70. \u201cWe knew we were going to win demographically, eventually,\u201d he says. \u201cI just wasn\u2019t sure I\u2019d see it in my lifetime.\u201d\nThe generational shift change has greatly diminished the organized opposition. Few parent groups remain active; Rusche\u2019s National Families in Action still exists, but its founder now supports decriminalization. Rusche, 75, still believes marijuana is harmful, but she has concluded that the parents\u2019 movement erred in failing to present alcohol and tobacco as the same sort of gateway drugs as marijuana.\n\u201cThere are a whole lot of arrests that shouldn\u2019t be happening,\u201d Rusche says. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to see laws unfairly applied with people of color overwhelmingly being the ones arrested.\u201d\nHer longtime ally is startled to hear of Rusche\u2019s altered stance.\n\u201cI\u2019m just stunned,\u201d Carla Lowe says. \u201cDecriminalization is just a step to legalization. What we\u2019re seeing today is a grab for taxes and a power play by a fast-growing industry.\u201d\nEven with a diminished opposition, the path to legalization faces considerable obstacles, especially from parents who don\u2019t want their teens to be too easily tempted by the drug, city residents who envision street corners teeming with kids getting high, and sheriffs and police chiefs who say marijuana arrests remain a powerful tool against drug abuse and other crimes.\nDiane Goldstein, a retired police lieutenant in Redondo Beach, Calif., went from busting drug users to working for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a nonprofit group critical of \u201cthe failures of our existing drug policies.\u201d Some ex-colleagues tell her she\u2019s dishonoring officers who died enforcing drug laws, but Goldstein, a Republican and a grandmother, says her audiences at Rotary clubs and Republican women\u2019s groups increasingly support taxing and regulating marijuana.\n\u201cWe\u2019re never going to be drug-free,\u201d says Goldstein, who says she hasn\u2019t used pot since high school. \u201cBut we can make it less available to kids by making it legal and restricting access. And we can stop marginalizing people because they\u2019ve been arrested for pot and can\u2019t get student loans or jobs.\u201d\nFrom left, Makoto Anderson, Anthony Ramirez and Jeremiah Harvey help Cannabis Cup attendees take sample \u201cdabs\u201d of concentrated marijuana. A metal tool with a small amount, or \u201cdab,\u201d of resin is touched to a heated titanium nail fitted inside a glass pipe, and the resulting vapor is inhaled. (David Walter Banks/For The Washington Post)\nAs the rhetorical battle continues and politicians remain cautious about speaking out on marijuana, the facts on the ground are changing fast. The Cannabis Cup, an open-air marketplace the size of two football fields in the San Bernardino Valley, featured open consumption of pot-infused sodas, candies and cookies and displays of whole marijuana plants \u2014 staged with virtually no controversy.\n\u201cGenerations coming up now don\u2019t see what the big deal is,\u201d says Brian Wansolich, 39, wearing a white coat emblazoned with the logo of his online cannabis ratings service, Leafly. \u201cMy parents still have moral problems with it, but now they see we can tax this and get states out of trouble. It\u2019s the American way.\u201d"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "9c0a561c8958524cd791998b1c45d6d6_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "9c0a561c8958524cd791998b1c45d6d6_1", "title": "Why Elizabeth Warren thinks legalizing marijuana could help end America\u2019s opioid addiction crisis", "text": "the American Medical Association found solid evidence that marijuana is effective at treating chronic pain. The researchers noted \u201c30% or greater improvement in pain with cannabinoid compared with placebo.\u201d Marijuana is safe when used to treat pain A Canadian study published last year in the journal Pain found no evidence of serious side effects among medical marijuana users after a year of treatment. Users did report some incidence of \u201cnon-serious\u201d side effects, such as coughing and dizziness, however. Medical marijuana users are less likely to drink or take other painkillers Research published last year in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review found that 80 percent of medical marijuana users reported substituting pot for painkillers, and 52 percent said they drank less when taking medical marijuana. \u201cThe high rate of substitution for prescribed substances, particularly among patients with pain-related conditions, suggests that further research into cannabis/cannabinoids as a potentially safer substitute for or adjunct to opiates is justified,\u201d the researchers concluded. States with medical marijuana laws have fewer painkiller overdose deaths In 2014, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that states with medical marijuana laws saw a 24.8 percent reduction in opioid overdose deaths, compared with states without such laws. That worked out to about 1,700 fewer deaths in 2010 alone. Medical marijuana availability decreases the rate of opioid dependency and death An NBER working paper published last year found that the presence of marijuana dispensaries was associated with a 15 percent to 35 percent decrease in substance abuse admissions and a similar drop in opiate overdose deaths. \u201cOur findings suggest that providing broader access to medical marijuana may have the potential benefit of reducing abuse of highly addictive painkillers,\u201d the researchers concluded. One important thing to note: All of the studies above were published in the past 18 months or so. This is a fairly new angle of inquiry, and the results suggest it is a highly promising one. The CDC could play a leading role in fostering more of this type of research in the future, and the need for it is critical: Nearly 20,000 people died from prescription opiate overdoses in 2014, according to the CDC. More from Wonkblog: This Super Bowl ad proved just how much America loves its opioid painkillers Why hardly anyone dies from a drug overdose in Portugal The dramatic shift in heroin use in the past 50 years: Whiter, more suburban"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) addresses the 10th annual Make Progress National Summit last July in Washington.\u00a0(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)\nSen.\u00a0Elizabeth Warren wants the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u00a0to explore the use of\u00a0medical marijuana as an alternative to the powerful opioid painkillers that kill thousands of people each year.\nIn a letter to CDC chief Tom Friedan, the Massachusetts Democrat also asks the agency to look into \u201cthe impact of the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana on opioid overdose deaths.\u201d\nFrom a public health standpoint, Warren is right. There is a lot of potential here. Here\u2019s a rundown of what the research has shown so far:\nMarijuana is effective at treating pain\nA big meta-analysis of 79 studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association found\u00a0solid evidence that marijuana is effective at treating chronic pain. The researchers noted \u201c30% or greater improvement in pain with cannabinoid compared with placebo.\u201d\nMarijuana is safe when used to treat pain\nA Canadian study published last year in the journal Pain found no evidence\u00a0of\u00a0serious side effects among medical marijuana users after a year of treatment. Users did report some incidence of \u201cnon-serious\u201d side effects, such as\u00a0coughing and dizziness, however.\nMedical marijuana users are less likely to drink or take other painkillers\nResearch published last year in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review found that 80 percent of medical marijuana users reported substituting pot for painkillers, and 52 percent said they drank less when taking medical marijuana.\n\u201cThe high rate of substitution for prescribed substances,\u00a0particularly among patients with pain-related\u00a0conditions, suggests that further research into cannabis/cannabinoids as a potentially safer substitute for or\u00a0adjunct to opiates is justified,\u201d the researchers concluded.\nStates with medical marijuana laws have fewer painkiller overdose deaths\nIn 2014, a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that states with medical marijuana laws saw a 24.8 percent reduction in opioid overdose deaths, compared with\u00a0states without such laws. That worked out to about\u00a01,700 fewer deaths in 2010 alone.\nMedical marijuana availability decreases the rate of opioid dependency and death\nAn NBER working paper published last year found that\u00a0the presence of marijuana dispensaries was associated with a 15 percent to 35 percent decrease in substance abuse admissions and a similar drop in opiate overdose deaths.\n\u201cOur findings suggest that providing broader access to medical marijuana may have the potential benefit of reducing abuse of highly addictive painkillers,\u201d the researchers concluded.\nOne important thing to note: All of the studies above were published in the past 18 months or so. This is a fairly new angle of inquiry, and the results suggest it is a highly promising one.\nThe CDC could play a leading role in fostering more of this type of research in the future, and the need for it is critical: Nearly 20,000 people died from prescription opiate overdoses in 2014, according to the CDC.\nMore from Wonkblog:\nThis Super Bowl ad proved just how much America loves its opioid painkillers\nWhy hardly anyone dies from a drug overdose in Portugal\nThe dramatic shift in heroin use in the past 50 years: Whiter, more suburban"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "ID7XLYKDUNC7VOHNBNINEJ652M_5", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ID7XLYKDUNC7VOHNBNINEJ652M_5", "title": "The Health 202: Half of Americans think Obamacare marketplaces are crumbling", "text": "controlled substances as part of a nationwide crackdown on opioid use and distribution, our colleague Lenny Bernstein reports. \u201cOver the last 45 days, the DEA has surged resources and personnel to prevent the diversion of opioids, arresting dozens of people and taking away drug dispensing authority from nearly 150 medical professionals,\u201d Attorney General Jeff Sessions said yesterday in a news release about the efforts. The enforcement surge followed a review of 80 million drug transactions that revealed dispensers who sold disproportionately large amounts of drugs -- particularly opioid painkillers -- and sparked 188 investigations. \u2014Making medical and recreational marijuana available may be one way to help fight the opioid epidemic. Two new studies published yesterday found availability of marijuana is linked with lower rates of opioid prescription rates, \u201cThe studies are the latest in a long line of research showing that marijuana availability is associated with reductions in opiate use and misuse,\u201d \"There is widespread agreement among doctors and public-health experts that marijuana is effective at treating chronic pain,\" \u201cMarijuana is one of the potential alternative drugs that can provide relief from pain at a relatively lower risk of addiction and virtually no risk of overdose,\u201d Wen and Hockenberry wrote. \u201cThese findings suggest that medical and adult-use marijuana laws have the potential to reduce opioid prescribing for Medicaid enrollees, a segment of population with disproportionately high risk for chronic pain, opioid use disorder, and opioid overdose.\u201d \u2014The confusion continues over whether former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin resigned or was fired. But our colleague Aaron Blake points out that if Shulkin decided to step down from his role, as the White House says, they should be able to prove it by producing a resignation letter. Why does it matter? \u2014 Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is making sure he has good eyes and ears at the agency's major operating divisions. According to an email Redfield sent to agency staff yesterday afternoon, McGowan \u201cworked in the Immediate Office of the Secretary and across HHS operating divisions to coordinate with external groups, and this included working closely with the secretary\u2019s public affairs team to amplify messages about HHS priorities.\u201d The email said McGowan worked directly on \u201cmany of the department\u2019s priority issues, including the opioid epidemic, drug pricing and health reform.\u201d McGowan joined HHS a year ago. Before that, he had worked for then-Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) for nearly six"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "THE PROGNOSIS\nHalf of Americans think the Obamacare marketplaces are falling apart.\u00a0But they\u2019re not \u2014 even though Republicans have pulled out some legs from under them.\nFifty-three percent of people believe the individual marketplaces \u2014 where those without\u00a0workplace coverage can get subsidized health-care plans \u2014 are \u201ccollapsing,\u201d according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll released this morning. And while 64 percent of Republicans believe this narrative, nearly half of all Democrats buy into it, too.\nSuch public sentiment is perhaps not surprising, given the marketplaces\u2019 turbulent year under the GOP\u2019s congressional and executive branch rule.\u00a0Democrats are responsible for the structure of the marketplaces \u2014 and new health benefit mandates that pushed premiums higher. But Republicans have not solved the existing problems and perhaps even made them worse.\nRecall late last month, when it became clear lawmakers weren\u2019t going to fund extra payments to help insurers lower premiums in the omnibus spending bill \u2014 or perhaps ever. Before that, President Trump took steps to exempt more plans from Affordable Care Act requirements by expanding short-term and association health plans, which could lower premiums for healthy folks but make them more expensive for the sick.\nCongressional Republicans did try and dramatically fail to replace the much-maligned ACA with a system\u00a0offering cheaper health insurance. And they\u2019ve been bragging since December about how they repealed its penalty for lacking coverage, which could further inflate premiums if enough healthy people drop coverage as a result.\nAdd all these actions together and it certainly means the marketplaces aren\u2019t headed for the kind of dramatic revitalization they needed, where the 10 million people covered under them suddenly find a wide selection of affordable plans instead of double-digit rate hikes and insurer exits.\nOver the next few months, insurers will be filing their 2019 rates with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Stakeholders are closely watching the trajectory for premiums and level of competition in the marketplaces. There remains the possibility that some counties may lack insurers, a problem the administration narrowly circumvented last year.\nBut Republicans\u2019 actions, while perhaps maladroit, aren\u2019t exactly a death knell to the marketplaces, either.\n\u201cI do think [enrollment] is headed down rather than up if there\u2019s not a solution.\u00a0But it won\u2019t happen overnight,\u201d Joel Ario, who headed up the marketplaces during the Obama administration, told me.\nArio said the repeal of the law\u2019s individual mandate will negatively affect the marketplaces because it could cause younger, healthier people to drop out of them, pushing up premiums for everyone left. But the Kaiser poll offers evidence that at least among current enrollees, most intend to continue\u00a0their coverage even without a requirement by the federal government to do so.\nNine in 10 respondents to the Kaiser survey said they will continue buying their own insurance even when the penalty for being uninsured is no longer in effect. Respondents indicated they\u2019re more driven to buy coverage to avoid hefty medical bills and for peace of mind, rather than\u00a0simply because it\u2019s required\u00a0by the government.\nSeventy-five percent said a major reason for being covered was to \u201cprotect against high medical bills in the case of severe illness or accident\u201d and 66 percent cited \u201cpeace of mind\u201d as another major reason. Just 34 percent said the mandate was a major reason they\u2019d decided to buy a plan.\nAnd there\u2019s evidence that marketplace insurers are beginning to regain profitability, if you look at how much insurers pay out in benefits versus how much they collect in premiums.\nAs time ticks down to\u00a0the next enrollment period, which will again run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, the question is whether increased stabilization among insurers is enough to counter the negative effects of repealing the individual mandate. When all is\u00a0said and done, the two effects might end up roughly canceling each other out.\n\u201cThe carriers have now gotten their rates to a point where their balance sheets are pretty good,\u201d Ario told me. \u201cWhat would have been fairly stable rates will be up some, but not hugely.\u201d\nAHH: Here's how Iowa is trying to create cheaper health\u00a0plans: by contending that not all health plans are health insurance.\nThe law says such plans \u201csponsored by a nonprofit agricultural organization .\u2009.\u2009. shall be deemed not to be insurance.\u201d That means they will be allowed to avoid both federal and state insurance regulations, sparking\u00a0debate over whether the strategy is\u00a0a creative path to offer some residents an alternative to spiking prices in the state\u2019s ACA marketplace \u2014\u00a0or a path to substandard coverage that will divide the healthy from the sick.\nIowa's Farm Bureau plan is the state\u2019s second attempt to bypass parts of the ACA.\nOOF: Persistent water and sewage leaks in and around the operating rooms of Washington\u2019s largest hospital are at the center of a lawsuit seeking millions in damages for\u00a0the infection-related death of a patient early last year,\nDuring a tour last summer they described a \u201cblack, grainy, foul smelling substance\u201d on the floor between two operating rooms.\nOUCH: Questions are swirling about how seriously the gay hookup app Grindr\u00a0takes its users' privacy. BuzzFeed\u00a0News reports the app, which has more than 3.6 million users,\u00a0has been providing information about its users\u2019 HIV status to two other companies.\n\u201cGrindr was founded in 2009 and has been increasingly branding itself as the go-to app for healthy hookups and gay cultural content,\u201d Azeen\u00a0writes.\u00a0\u201dIn December, the company launched an online magazine dedicated to cultural issues in the queer community. The app offers free ads for HIV-testing sites, and last week, it debuted an optional feature that would remind users to get\u00a0tested for HIV\u00a0every three to six months.\u201d\nThe Norwegian nonprofit\u00a0SINTEF\u00a0first identified the issue.\n....But the new analysis, confirmed by cybersecurity experts...calls into question how seriously the company takes its users\u2019 privacy.\u201d\n\u2014The Drug Enforcement Administration\u00a0has arrested 28 pharmacists and drug prescribers and revoked the license of 147 people who handle controlled substances as part of a nationwide crackdown on opioid use and distribution, our colleague Lenny Bernstein reports.\n\u201cOver the last 45 days, the DEA has surged resources and personnel to prevent the diversion of opioids, arresting dozens of people and taking away drug dispensing authority from nearly 150 medical professionals,\u201d Attorney General Jeff Sessions said yesterday in a news release about the efforts.\nThe enforcement surge\u00a0followed a review of 80 million drug transactions that revealed dispensers who sold disproportionately large amounts of drugs -- particularly opioid painkillers -- and sparked 188 investigations.\n\u2014Making\u00a0medical and recreational marijuana available may be one way to help fight the opioid epidemic. Two new studies published yesterday found availability of marijuana is linked with lower rates of opioid prescription rates,\n\u201cThe studies are the latest in a long line of research showing that marijuana availability is associated with reductions in opiate use and misuse,\u201d\n\"There is widespread agreement among doctors and public-health experts that marijuana is\u00a0effective at treating chronic pain,\"\n\u201cMarijuana is one of the potential alternative drugs that can provide relief from pain at a relatively lower risk of addiction and virtually no risk of overdose,\u201d Wen and Hockenberry wrote. \u201cThese findings suggest that medical and adult-use marijuana laws have the potential to reduce opioid prescribing for Medicaid enrollees, a segment of population with disproportionately high risk for chronic pain, opioid use disorder, and opioid overdose.\u201d\n\u2014The confusion continues over whether former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin resigned or was fired. But our colleague Aaron Blake points out that if Shulkin\u00a0decided to step down from his role, as the White House says, they\u00a0should be able to prove it by producing a resignation letter.\nWhy does it matter?\n\u2014 Health and Human Services\u00a0Secretary Alex Azar is making sure he has good eyes and ears at the agency's major operating divisions.\nAccording to an email Redfield sent to agency staff yesterday\u00a0afternoon, McGowan \u201cworked in the Immediate Office of the Secretary and across HHS operating divisions to coordinate with external groups, and this included working closely with the secretary\u2019s public affairs team to amplify messages about HHS priorities.\u201d The email said McGowan worked directly on \u201cmany of the department\u2019s priority issues, including the opioid epidemic, drug pricing and health reform.\u201d\nMcGowan joined HHS a year ago. Before that, he had worked for then-Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) for nearly six years, including as deputy chief of staff.\nMcGowan was also political director for Karen Handel\u2019s unsuccessful run for the Republican nomination for governor of Georgia in 2010, according to his LinkedIn page. Handel defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff in a special congressional election last year to fill the seat vacated by Price in Georgia\u2019s 6th congressional district.\n\u2014The federal government is lagging behind the private sector when it comes to addressing sexual harassment concerns among its employees,\nVeterans Affairs, along with the Navy, Homeland Security and Agriculture, has among the highest rates of harassment, according to the Merit Systems Protection Board.\n\u2014A few more good reads from the Post and beyond:\nToday\nComing Up\nRep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) said she won\u2019t seek reelection after she took months to remove a top aide accused of threatening to kill a colleague:\nHere\u2019s what you need to know about Bill Cosby\u2019s retrial:\nWatch the president and first lady kick off the annual Easter Egg Roll:"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "a192217dda900bcb1b909eb685d2708f_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "a192217dda900bcb1b909eb685d2708f_1", "title": "The stark difference in how doctors and the government view marijuana", "text": "that excessive drinking causes 88,000 deaths per year, according to the CDC. The medical and research communities have known for some time that marijuana is one of the more benign substances you can put in your body relative to other illicit drugs. A recent longitudinal study found that chronic, long-term marijuana use is about as bad for your physical health as not flossing. Compared to alcohol, it's virtually impossible to overdose on marijuana alone. On a per-user basis, marijuana sends fewer people to the emergency room than alcohol or other drugs. The scientific consensus was best captured in a 2010 study in the Lancet, which polled several dozen researchers working in addiction and drug policy. The researchers rated commonly used recreational drugs according to the harm they pose to individuals who use them, as well as the harm they pose to society as a whole. Here's what their results looked like: The experts rated marijuana as less harmful to both users and to society than either tobacco or alcohol, or indeed than many other recreational drugs, such as heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine. Alcohol was, by far, the most socially harmful drug the committee rated, as well as one of the most harmful drugs to individual users. Research like this is one reason surveys have shown a substantial majority of doctors support the use of medical marijuana. And although big medical groups, such as the American Medical Association, haven't shifted gears on marijuana, other groups, such as the California Medical Association, are now openly calling for marijuana legalization. This year has also seen the formation of the nation's first doctor's group devoted to legalizing marijuana, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation. The group views marijuana legalization primarily as a public health issue. None of this is to say, of course, that marijuana is completely \"safe\" or \"harm-free.\" As with any drug, using too much weed can lead to dependency on it. And as with any other drug, marijuana can have particularly harmful effects on young, developing minds. But the federal approach to marijuana has stood at odds with the science on the drug for decades. As far back as the 1970s, an expert report commissioned by Richard Nixon recommended that the federal government decriminalize marijuana use, given the drug's mild effects. Nixon, of course, ignored the report's findings. In the years since, there have been hundreds of thousands of arrests for marijuana possession"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "(Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)\nNathaniel P. Morris is a resident physician at Stanford Hospital specializing in mental health. He recently penned a strongly worded\u00a0op-ed for ScientificAmerican.com\u00a0on the differences between how some in the medical community view marijuana and how the federal government regulates it.\n\"The federal government's\u00a0scheduling of marijuana\u00a0bears little relationship to actual\u00a0patient care,\" he wrote in the essay published\u00a0last week. \"The notion that marijuana is more dangerous or prone to abuse\u00a0than alcohol (not scheduled), cocaine (Schedule II), methamphetamine (Schedule II), or prescription\u00a0opioids (Schedules\u00a0II, III, and IV)\u00a0doesn't reflect what we see in clinical\u00a0medicine.\"\nHere's Morris' money quote:\nFor most health care providers, marijuana is an afterthought.\nWe don't see cannabis overdoses. We don't order scans for cannabis-related brain abscesses. We don't treat cannabis-induced heart attacks. In medicine, marijuana use is often\u00a0seen on par with tobacco or caffeine consumption \u2014 something we counsel patients about stopping or limiting, but nothing urgent to treat or\u00a0immediately life-threatening.\nHe contrasts that with the terrible effects of alcohol he sees in the emergency room every day, like car crash victims and drunk patients choking on their own vomit. Morris points out that excessive drinking causes 88,000 deaths per year, according to the CDC.\nThe medical and research communities have known for some time that marijuana is one of the more benign substances you can put in your body relative to other illicit drugs. A recent longitudinal study found that chronic, long-term marijuana use is about as bad for your physical health as not flossing. Compared to\u00a0alcohol, it's virtually impossible to overdose on marijuana alone. On a per-user basis, marijuana sends fewer people to the emergency room than alcohol or other drugs.\nThe scientific consensus was best captured in a 2010 study in the Lancet, which polled several dozen researchers working in addiction and drug policy. The researchers rated commonly used recreational drugs according to the harm they pose to individuals who use them, as well as the harm they pose to society as a whole. Here's what their results looked like:\n\nThe experts rated marijuana as less harmful to both users and to society than either tobacco or alcohol, or indeed than many other recreational drugs, such as heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine. Alcohol was, by far, the most socially harmful drug the committee rated, as well as one of the most harmful drugs to individual users.\nResearch like this is one reason surveys have shown a substantial majority of doctors support the use of medical marijuana. And although big medical groups, such as the American Medical Association, haven't\u00a0shifted gears on marijuana, other groups, such as the California Medical Association, are now openly calling for marijuana legalization.\n\u00a0\nThis year has also seen the formation of the nation's first doctor's group devoted to legalizing marijuana, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation. The group views marijuana legalization primarily as a public health issue.\nNone of this is to say, of course, that marijuana is completely \"safe\" or \"harm-free.\" As with any drug,\u00a0using too much weed can lead to dependency on it. And as with any other drug, marijuana can have particularly harmful effects on young, developing minds.\nBut the federal approach to marijuana has stood at odds with the science on the drug for decades. As far back as the 1970s, an expert report commissioned by Richard Nixon recommended that the federal government decriminalize marijuana use, given the drug's mild effects.\nNixon, of course, ignored the report's findings. In the years\u00a0since, there have been\u00a0hundreds of thousands of arrests for marijuana possession each year, people have lost\u00a0their homes and their property\u00a0over suspicion of marijuana use, and decades of racially biased policing tactics\u00a0have\u00a0decimated many\u00a0minority communities.\nVoters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada just approved recreational marijuana use. Here's what they can learn from Washington, Colorado and Oregon, states where marijuana use has already been legalized."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "ad271b8fc0b290b2c04c56a28f8ef4be_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ad271b8fc0b290b2c04c56a28f8ef4be_0", "title": "Study: Legalizing medical marijuana has not increased teen pot use", "text": "October, 2010 photo of marijuana plant under grow lights at a warehouse in Denver. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) Among the concerns of those who oppose legalization of marijuana for medical purposes was that one way or the other, the pot would find its way to young people and encourage more drug use. But the first comprehensive study of teen drug use in the states where marijuana is available for medical uses shows that it just hasn\u2019t happened. The study, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, is sure to figure into the ongoing debate over the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes. The authors, led by Esther K. Choo, of Brown University\u2019s Alpert Medical School, wrote: Our study suggests that \u2014 at least thus far \u2014 the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes has not increased adolescent marijuana use, a finding supported by a growing body of literature. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia The researchers looked at reported marijuana use by teens in states where medical marijuana is now legal, both before and after the laws were passed. and compared those numbers with nearby states where pot remains illegal for all purposes, controlling for demographic factors such as gender, age and race that might affect the outcome. The study used data gathered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s anonymous Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System survey, which is administered every other year by local and state schools to kids in ninth through twelfth grade. Although pot use remains common among teens, with one-third saying they\u2019d tried pot before and a fifth reporting use in the past month, the results of the study show medical marijuana laws didn\u2019t increase pot use by teens in any state. The authors don\u2019t advocate anything as a result of study and advocates of legalization hoping to pass it around state legislatures may want to think twice before doing so. The authors note that: \u201cMarijuana has a demonstrated impact on the still-developing adolescent brain\u201d and that \u201cin early adolescence, marijuana may have permanent detrimental effects on cognition. Marijuana has also been linked to schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders among adolescents. Longitudinal cohort studies of adolescents using marijuana found associations between use and later respiratory problems, general malaise, and neurocognitive problems, as well as social problems including lower academic achievement and functioning.\u201d"}], "old": [{"_id": "ad271b8fc0b290b2c04c56a28f8ef4be_0", "title": "Study: Legalizing medical marijuana has not increased teen pot use", "text": "October, 2010 photo of marijuana plant under grow lights at a warehouse in Denver. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) Among the concerns of those who oppose legalization of marijuana for medical purposes was that one way or the other, the pot would find its way to young people and encourage more drug use. But the first comprehensive study of teen drug use in the states where marijuana is available for medical uses shows that it just hasn\u2019t happened. The authors, led by Esther K. Choo, of Brown University\u2019s Alpert Medical School, wrote: Our study suggests that \u2014 at least thus far \u2014 the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes has not increased adolescent marijuana use, a finding supported by a growing body of literature. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia The researchers looked at reported marijuana use by teens in states where medical marijuana is now legal, both before and after the laws were passed. and compared those numbers with nearby states where pot remains illegal for all purposes, controlling for demographic factors such as gender, age and race that might affect the outcome. The study used data gathered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s anonymous Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System survey, which is administered every other year by local and state schools to kids in ninth through twelfth grade. Although pot use remains common among teens, with one-third saying they\u2019d tried pot before and a fifth reporting use in the past month, the results of the study show medical marijuana laws didn\u2019t increase pot use by teens in any state. The authors don\u2019t advocate anything as a result of study and advocates of legalization hoping to pass it around state legislatures may want to think twice before doing so. The authors note that: \u201cMarijuana has a demonstrated impact on the still-developing adolescent brain\u201d and that \u201cin early adolescence, marijuana may have permanent detrimental effects on cognition. Marijuana has also been linked to schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders among adolescents. Longitudinal cohort studies of adolescents using marijuana found associations between use and later respiratory problems, general malaise, and neurocognitive problems, as well as social problems including lower academic achievement and functioning.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "October, 2010 photo of marijuana plant under grow lights at a warehouse in Denver.\u00a0 (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)\nAmong the concerns of those who oppose legalization of marijuana for medical purposes was that one way or the other, the pot would find its way to young people and encourage more drug use. But the first comprehensive study of teen drug use in the states where marijuana is available for medical uses shows that it just hasn\u2019t happened.\nThe study,\u00a0published in the latest issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, is sure to figure into the ongoing debate over the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes.\nThe authors, led by Esther K. Choo, of Brown University\u2019s Alpert Medical School, wrote:\nOur study suggests that \u2014 at least thus far \u2014 the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes has not increased adolescent marijuana use, a finding supported by a growing body of literature.\nTwenty-one states and the District of Columbia\nThe researchers looked at reported marijuana use by teens in states where medical marijuana is now legal, both before and after the laws were passed. and compared those numbers with nearby states where pot remains illegal for all purposes, controlling for demographic factors such as gender, age and race that might affect the outcome.\nThe study used data gathered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s anonymous Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System survey, which is administered every other year by local and state schools to kids in ninth through twelfth grade.\nAlthough\u00a0pot use remains common among teens, with one-third saying they\u2019d tried pot before and a fifth reporting use in the past month, the results of the study show medical marijuana laws didn\u2019t increase pot use by teens in any state.\nThe authors don\u2019t advocate anything as a result of study and advocates of legalization hoping to pass it around state legislatures may want to think twice before doing so.\u00a0 The authors note that:\n\u201cMarijuana has a demonstrated impact on the still-developing adolescent brain\u201d and that \u201cin early adolescence, marijuana may have permanent detrimental effects on cognition. Marijuana has also been linked to schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders among adolescents. Longitudinal cohort studies of adolescents using marijuana found associations between use and later respiratory problems, general malaise, and neurocognitive problems, as well as social problems including lower academic achievement and functioning.\u201d"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "b172894b4c03a3ca580e7d105cebea8a_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b172894b4c03a3ca580e7d105cebea8a_1", "title": "Marijuana wins big on election night", "text": "approaching.\u201d Voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada just approved recreational marijuana use. Here's what they can learn from Washington, Colorado and Oregon, states where marijuana use has already been legalized. California has long been seen as a bellwether by both supporters and opponents of marijuana reform. The state is home to about 12 percent of the U.S. population. Given the size of the state's economy and the economic impact of the marijuana industry there, California's adoption of legal marijuana could prompt federal authorities to rethink their decades-long prohibition on the use of marijuana. In a recent interview with Bill Maher, President Obama said that passage of the legalization measures on Tuesday could make the current federal approach to the drug \u201cuntenable.\u201d Still, the likelihood of a Trump White House leaves a lot of uncertainty about the fate of marijuana measures in the next four years. Under Obama, federal authorities largely took a hands-off approach to state-level legalization efforts. But an incoming administration more skeptical of drug reform could easily reverse that approach. \u201cThe prospect of Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie as attorney general does not bode well,\u201d the Drug Policy Alliance's Nadelmann said in an interview. \u201cThere are various ways in which a hostile White House could trip things up.\u201d Nadelmann pointed to the success of marijuana measures in the midst of an evident Republican wave as a sign that support for legalization now cuts deeply across party lines. And citing Trump's often contradictory statements on marijuana and drug use in the past, Nadelmann added that \u201cDonald Trump personally could probably go any which way on this.\u201d With today's votes, legal marijuana is also making significant inroads in the Northeast. \u201cMarijuana legalization has arrived on the East Coast,\u201d said Tom Angell of the marijuana reform group Marijuana Majority in an email. \u201cWhat Colorado and other states have already done is generating revenue, creating jobs and reducing crime, so it\u2019s not surprising that voters in more places are eager to end prohibition.\u201d Opponents of legalization said they were disappointed by the outcomes. \u201cWe were outspent greatly in both California and Massachusetts, so this loss is disappointing, but not wholly unexpected,\u201d said Kevin Sabet of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana in a statement. \u201cDespite having gained considerable ground in the last few weeks, the out-of-state interests determined to make money off of legalization put in too much money to"}], "old": [{"_id": "b172894b4c03a3ca580e7d105cebea8a_1", "title": "Marijuana wins big on election night", "text": "an incoming administration more skeptical of drug reform could easily reverse that approach. \u201cThe prospect of Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie as attorney general does not bode well,\u201d the Drug Policy Alliance's Nadelmann said in an interview. \u201cThere are various ways in which a hostile White House could trip things up.\u201d Nadelmann pointed to the success of marijuana measures in the midst of an evident Republican wave as a sign that support for legalization now cuts deeply across party lines. And citing Trump's often contradictory statements on marijuana and drug use in the past, Nadelmann added that \u201cDonald Trump personally could probably go any which way on this.\u201d With today's votes, legal marijuana is also making significant inroads in the Northeast. \u201cMarijuana legalization has arrived on the East Coast,\u201d said Tom Angell of the marijuana reform group Marijuana Majority in an email. \u201cWhat Colorado and other states have already done is generating revenue, creating jobs and reducing crime, so it\u2019s not surprising that voters in more places are eager to end prohibition.\u201d Opponents of legalization said they were disappointed by the outcomes. \u201cWe were outspent greatly in both California and Massachusetts, so this loss is disappointing, but not wholly unexpected,\u201d said Kevin Sabet of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana in a statement. \u201cDespite having gained considerable ground in the last few weeks, the out-of-state interests determined to make money off of legalization put in too much money to overcome.\u201d \u201cThis is a major tipping point,\u201d said Tom Angell of Florida's vote. \u201cWith Florida's decision, a majority of states in the U.S. now have laws allowing patients to find relief with medical marijuana, and these protections and programs are no longer concentrated in certain regions of the country like the West and Northeast.\u201d The victory in North Dakota is something of a surprise as no polling was done on the measure. \u201cBetter late than never,\u201d said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the drug reform group Drug Policy Alliance, in a statement. \u201cMost states outside the South already have legal medical marijuana, but the overwhelming victory today in Florida is likely to accelerate the momentum for reform throughout the region.\u201d More from Wonkblog: One striking chart shows why pharma companies are fighting legal marijuana Legal marijuana is finally doing what the drug war couldn't One-fifth of this occupation has a serious drinking problem Donald Trump, 70, will be the 45th"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The 2016 election has proved to be the biggest victory for marijuana reform since 2012, with voters in California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine approving recreational marijuana initiatives.\nVoters in California,\u00a0Massachusetts\u00a0and Nevada approved recreational marijuana initiatives Tuesday night, and several other states passed medical marijuana provisions, in what\u00a0is turning out to be the biggest electoral victory for marijuana reform since 2012, when Colorado and Washington first approved the drug's recreational use.\nIn addition to the states above,\u00a0local outlets in Maine are declaring victory for that state's legalization measure, but with 91 percent of precincts reporting just a few thousand votes separate the \"Yes\" and \"No\" columns.\nA similar legalization measure in Arizona\u00a0did not gain sufficient support to pass, with 52 percent of voters rejecting it.\nOn the medical side, voters in Florida, North Dakota and Arkansas have approved medical marijuana initiatives. Voters in in Montana also rolled back\u00a0restrictions on an existing medical pot law.\nReformers were jubilant. \u201cThis represents a monumental victory for the marijuana reform movement,\u201d said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, in a statement. \u201cWith California\u2019s leadership now, the end of marijuana prohibition nationally, and even internationally, is fast approaching.\u201d\nVoters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada just approved recreational marijuana use. Here's what they can learn from Washington, Colorado and Oregon, states where marijuana use has already been legalized.\nCalifornia has long been seen as a bellwether by both supporters and opponents of marijuana reform. The state is home to about 12 percent of the U.S. population.\u00a0Given the size of the state's economy and the economic impact of the marijuana industry there, California's adoption of legal marijuana could prompt federal authorities to rethink their decades-long prohibition on the use of marijuana.\nIn a recent interview with Bill Maher, President Obama said that passage of the legalization measures on Tuesday could make the current federal approach to the drug \u201cuntenable.\u201d\nStill, the likelihood of a Trump White House leaves a lot of uncertainty about the fate of marijuana measures in the next four years. Under Obama, federal authorities largely took a hands-off approach to state-level legalization efforts. But an incoming administration more skeptical of drug reform could easily reverse that approach.\n\u201cThe prospect of\u00a0Rudy Giuliani or Chris Christie as attorney general\u00a0does not bode well,\u201d the Drug Policy Alliance's Nadelmann said in an interview. \u201cThere are various ways in which a hostile White House could trip things up.\u201d\nNadelmann pointed to the success of marijuana measures in the midst of an evident Republican wave as a sign that support for legalization now cuts deeply across party lines. And citing Trump's often contradictory statements on marijuana and drug use in the past, Nadelmann added that \u201cDonald Trump personally could probably go any which way on this.\u201d\nWith today's votes, legal marijuana is also making significant inroads in the Northeast. \u201cMarijuana legalization has arrived on the East Coast,\u201d said Tom Angell of the marijuana reform group Marijuana Majority in an email. \u201cWhat Colorado and other states have already done is generating revenue, creating jobs and reducing crime, so it\u2019s not surprising that voters in more places are eager to end prohibition.\u201d\nOpponents of legalization said they were disappointed by the outcomes. \u201cWe were outspent greatly in both California and Massachusetts, so this loss is disappointing, but not wholly unexpected,\u201d said Kevin Sabet of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana in a statement. \u201cDespite having gained considerable ground in the last few weeks, the out-of-state interests determined to make money off of legalization put in too much money to overcome.\u201d\nVotes on medical marijuana in Florida and North Dakota were decisive.\u00a0Florida's Amendment 2 passed with 71\u00a0percent support, according to the\u00a0Associated Press. In North Dakota, the AP\u00a0reports that 64 percent of voters approving of the medical marijuana measure.\nTwo years ago, a medical marijuana measure in\u00a0Florida earned 58 percent of the vote, just shy of the 60 percent threshold\u00a0needed for passage. Then, as now, opposition to the measure was fueled by multimillion-dollar donations from Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas casino magnate and GOP donor. In 2014 Adelson spent $5.5 million to defeat the measure. This year he's spent $1.5 million in Florida, and several million more to defeat recreational marijuana measures in other states.\n\u201cThis is a major tipping point,\u201d said Tom Angell of Florida's vote. \u201cWith Florida's decision, a majority of states in the U.S. now have laws allowing patients to find relief with medical marijuana, and these protections and programs are no longer concentrated in certain regions of the country like the West and Northeast.\u201d\nThe victory in North Dakota is something of a surprise as no polling was done on the measure.\nThe Florida amendment has the potential to be one of the more permissive medical marijuana regimes in the nation. In addition to diseases like HIV, cancer and PTSD, the measure also allows doctors to recommend medical pot\u00a0for \u201cother debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.\u201d While the 2014 measure allowed doctors to prescribe marijuana for any illness they believed it would be useful for, the new measure requires they show the\u00a0illness is severe \u2014 though the\u00a0wording gives physicians considerable leeway in determining which conditions would meet those criteria.\nThe medical pot measure in North Dakota allows doctors to recommend the drug for a number of severe medical conditions.\nWith the passage of Amendment 2, Florida will become the first Southern state to enact a robust medical marijuana regime. Medical marijuana is already legal in 25 other states and the District.\n\u201cBetter late than never,\u201d said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the drug reform group Drug Policy Alliance, in a statement. \u201cMost states outside the South already have legal medical marijuana, but the overwhelming victory today in Florida is likely to accelerate the momentum for reform throughout the region.\u201d\nMore from Wonkblog:\nOne striking chart shows why pharma companies are fighting legal marijuana\nLegal marijuana is finally doing what the drug war couldn't\nOne-fifth of this occupation has a serious drinking problem\nDonald Trump, 70, will be the 45th president of the United States. The real-estate developer and former reality-TV star is the first person to win the presidency without having previously held public office or served in the U.S. military."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "b1f3de0dedcfb27d6dd728f67e96ce08_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "b1f3de0dedcfb27d6dd728f67e96ce08_1", "title": "Medical marijuana will be on Florida ballot", "text": "ballot summary was sufficiently clear. Republicans, led by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R), had challenged the language as misleading. Justices debated whether the language made clear that medical marijuana could only be used to treat \u201cdebilitating\u201d diseases, like cancer, AIDS and Parkinson\u2019s. The three justices who dissented said the ballot summary was \u201cseriously deceptive\u201d and would do voters \u201ca severe disservice.\u201d \u201cToday\u2019s ruling leaves the issue of medical marijuana in the hands of Florida\u2019s voters. I encourage every Floridian to read the full amendment in order to understand the impact it could have on Floridians,\u201d Bondi said in a statement after the court\u2019s ruling. The proposed amendment will share the ballot with a heated race between Gov. Rick Scott (R) and his predecessor, former Gov. Charlie Crist, who last won office as a Republican but is now a Democrat. Crist, once dubbed \u201cChain Gang Charlie\u201d for his tough-on-crime stands, says he supports legalizing marijuana for medical uses; Scott opposes the bill. Crist is heavily favored over former state Sen. Nan Rich in the Democratic primary. Some Republicans worry the proposed amendment will drive turnout among younger voters, who disproportionately vote Democratic. Several Republicans recently voiced fears that the amendment was little more than a Trojan horse for the Crist campaign. Opposition to the medical marijuana push is likely to come from Save Our Society from Drugs, a group run in part by Betty Sembler. Sembler\u2019s husband, Mel, is a former ambassador and major Republican donor. The group\u2019s executive director told the Tampa Tribune that the loopholes in the proposed amendment would create \u201cde-facto marijuana legalization.\u201d In an interview earlier this month, Ben Pollara, who is running the pro-amendment campaign, said his group would aim to raise and spend at least $10 million. If the amendment passes, Florida would join 18 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing medical patients to use marijuana. Two states, Washington and Colorado, allow legal purchases for non-medical use. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in November showed a huge majority of Florida voters, 82 percent, backed allowing adults to use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes the drug. Just 16 percent of voters said they opposed marijuana for medical use. The same poll showed a slim plurality \u2014 48 percent \u2014 supported allowing adults to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Forty-six percent said they opposed recreational marijuana use."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Joints for Florida? Voters will get to make that decision this November (Credit: Brennan Linsley/Associated Press.)\nThe Florida Supreme Court has narrowly approved language for a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana for medical use, guaranteeing the measure a spot on the state\u2019s November ballot.\nAdvocates have already collected well over the 683,000 signatures necessary to qualify the measure for the fall ballot. County officials have already validated a sufficient number of signatures. The court challenge was all that stood in their way.\nIn an 84-page opinion, the court ruled by a 4-3 margin that the proposal\u2019s ballot summary was sufficiently clear. Republicans, led by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R), had challenged the language as misleading.\nJustices debated whether the language made clear that medical marijuana could only be used to treat \u201cdebilitating\u201d diseases, like cancer, AIDS and Parkinson\u2019s. The three justices who dissented said the ballot summary was \u201cseriously deceptive\u201d and would do voters \u201ca severe disservice.\u201d\n\u201cToday\u2019s ruling leaves the issue of medical marijuana in the hands of Florida\u2019s voters. I encourage every Floridian to read the full amendment in order to understand the impact it could have on Floridians,\u201d Bondi said in a statement after the court\u2019s ruling.\nThe proposed amendment will share the ballot with a heated race between Gov. Rick Scott (R) and his predecessor, former Gov. Charlie Crist, who last won office as a Republican but is now a Democrat.\nCrist, once dubbed \u201cChain Gang Charlie\u201d for his tough-on-crime stands, says he supports legalizing marijuana for medical uses; Scott opposes the bill. Crist is heavily favored over former state Sen. Nan Rich in the Democratic primary.\nSome Republicans worry the proposed amendment will drive turnout among younger voters, who disproportionately vote Democratic. Several Republicans recently voiced fears that the amendment was little more than a Trojan horse for the Crist campaign.\nOpposition to the medical marijuana push is likely to come from Save Our Society from Drugs, a group run in part by Betty Sembler. Sembler\u2019s husband, Mel, is a former ambassador and major Republican donor. The group\u2019s executive director told the Tampa Tribune that the loopholes in the proposed amendment would create \u201cde-facto marijuana legalization.\u201d\nIn an interview earlier this month, Ben Pollara, who is running the pro-amendment campaign, said his group would aim to raise and spend at least $10 million.\nIf the amendment passes, Florida would join 18 other states and the District of Columbia in allowing medical patients to use marijuana. Two states, Washington and Colorado, allow legal purchases for non-medical use.\nA Quinnipiac University poll conducted in November showed a huge majority of Florida voters, 82 percent, backed allowing adults to use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes the drug. Just 16 percent of voters said they opposed marijuana for medical use.\nThe same poll showed a slim plurality \u2014 48 percent \u2014 supported allowing adults to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Forty-six percent said they opposed recreational marijuana use."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "b5d0b84af61ecc0026145cbec7c94f18_5", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "b5d0b84af61ecc0026145cbec7c94f18_5", "title": "An unprecedented number of states will vote on marijuana this fall", "text": "in 2014. While 58 percent of voters approved it, the measure failed to meet the 60-percent threshold necessary for a constitutional change. This year's measure is similar to the failed 2014 initiative, but supporters hope that a more Democratic-leaning electorate in a presidential election year will tip the scales in their favor. Florida's bill has garnered a number of high-profile endorsements from state and national political leaders, as well as groups like the NAACP, ACLU and some labor organizations. Most recent polls show support surpassing the 60 percent threshold needed for passage. But the 2014 amendment also had blockbuster polling numbers in the summer leading up to the election, only to collapse going into the fall. This could have been due to a late infusion of Adelson cash for the anti-marijuana campaign and a growing unease among voters with the specifics of the marijuana law. Arkansas -- Medical marijuana Arkansas is also making a play to be the first southern state allowing medical marijuana. The effort recently received a boost when the state Democratic party put a call for medical marijuana into their party platform. Voters there narrowly rejected medical marijuana in 2012, but a June survey put support at 58 percent among likely voters. That support may be stymied by the fact that there are going to be two competing medical pot measures on Arkansas' ballot: One of those is a simple state statute, while the other is a constitutional amendment. The measures are similar, and voters are free to vote for both. If both pass with a simple majority vote, the measure with the most support will be enacted. But there's also a danger of \"splitting the ticket,\" and diluting medical marijuana support between two measures. North Dakota -- Medical marijuana In something of a surprise move, a medical marijuana measure recently qualified for the ballot in North Dakota. How this one will play out is anyone's guess. It appears the last polling on medical pot in the state was done in 2014, when 47 percent of voters approved of medical pot and 41 percent opposed it. North Dakota's always been a bit of an odd man out when it comes to medical marijuana. Its neighbor to the west, Montana, approved medical pot by ballot in 2004. Its neighbor to the east, Minnesota, approved it via legislature in 2014. But North Dakota is a notoriously conservative state. Authorities"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "(Rachel Orr/Washington Post illustration; iStock)\nThis is a pivotal year for American drug policy. More\u00a0states\u00a0than ever will consider easing\u00a0restrictions on marijuana use this November:\u00a0Voters in five states will decide whether to fully legalize recreational use, while voters in four more will weigh in on whether to allow medical marijuana.\nThe outcome of these initiatives could\u00a0set the tone for the national marijuana legalization discussion going forward. Big state victories for the pro-marijuana contingent\u00a0-- recreational weed in California, medical marijuana in Florida -- could\u00a0widen the gap between state and federal marijuana policies, ratcheting up\u00a0pressure on Congress and the next presidential administration to provide a fix.\nOn the other hand, a string of defeats would signal\u00a0public unease about condoning the use of\u00a0an intoxicating substance that isn't tobacco or alcohol. Defeats would suggest that opponents' longstanding criticisms of the legal marijuana industry are making inroads among voters.\nAs campaigning shifts into high gear in the fall, here's a rundown of\u00a0where marijuana will be on the ballot in November -- and how those contests are shaping up.\nCalifornia -- Recreational marijuana\nA \"yes\" on weed in the world's sixth-largest economy would loom large in the marijuana debate,\u00a0making marijuana legal along the entire\u00a0West Coast.\nCalifornia is home to nearly 40 million people and an existing $2.7 billion market in medical marijuana. Legalization of recreational marijuana could cause that industry to swell to $6 billion or more by 2020, according to ArcView Research, a marijuana industry research firm.\u00a0That kind of money is already drawing\u00a0the interest of businesses and investors,\u00a0who could leverage their newfound legal lobbying clout to pressure Congress and other states to relax restrictions on marijuana sales and use.\nVoters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada just approved recreational marijuana use. Here's what they can learn from Washington, Colorado and Oregon, states where marijuana use has already been legalized.\nPolls have shown the legalization measure drawing the support of 60 percent -- or more -- of voters, making it perhaps the marijuana initiative most likely to pass this fall. Legalization has been endorsed by some high-profile state and national politicians, as well as the California Democratic Party, the ACLU and NAACP of California, and the California Medical Association. It's opposed by a number of law enforcement groups and some\u00a0politicians,\u00a0including\u00a0Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).\nSupporters of the legalization measure also hold a huge fundraising advantage over opponents. According to Ballotpedia, supporters had roughly $11.5 million in cash on hand as of Aug. 16, compared to opponents' $186,000.\nNevada -- Recreational marijuana\nWhile home to only 2.8 million people, legal weed in Nevada could have outsize national impact due to Las Vegas's draw as a tourism destination -- 40 million visitors per year.\nStill, there's a lot less money in play in Nevada than there is in California -- supporters of legalization have a little\u00a0more than $1 million in cash on hand, while opponents have zero, according to the latest campaign finance disclosures.\nThat dynamic could change heading into the fall. Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has long opposed marijuana liberalization, and almost single-handedly bankrolled the campaign opposing Florida's medical marijuana initiative in 2014.\nA late infusion of Adelson cash in Nevada could tip the scale of public support for the legalization measure there. A July poll found that 50 percent of Nevada voters supported the measure, while 41 percent opposed it.\nArizona -- Recreational marijuana\nArizona is the third act of the marijuana legalization trilogy playing out in\u00a0the West\u00a0this November. It's also the state giving marijuana proponents their toughest fight -- a July poll found that only 39 percent of likely voters support the measure, while 53 percent\u00a0oppose.\nThe measure is not fundamentally different from other legalization bills on November\u00a0ballots. But Arizona has different demographics than its neighbors to the north and west. The state has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1996, and Republicans are less likely to\u00a0support marijuana legalization than other Americans.\nMassachusetts -- Recreational marijuana\nMassachusetts, on the other hand, is\u00a0one of the deepest blue states in the nation, but voters there don't seem to be warming up to the legalization measure on\u00a0their ballot this fall. Just 41 percent said they'd vote for it in July, down from the mid-to-high-50s a few months earlier.\nSome elected officials have been campaigning fiercely against the state's marijuana measure, including\u00a0Governor Charlie Baker. In March,\u00a0he joined\u00a0the state attorney general and Boston's mayor to pen\u00a0an\u00a0op-ed in the Boston Globe\u00a0that was highly critical of legalization efforts.\u00a0Soon after it\u00a0published, a state Senate committee\u00a0released\u00a0a report detailing how\u00a0lawmakers could blunt the measure's impact should it pass ,\u00a0such as requiring child-resistant packaging on marijuana products and putting strict limits on advertising.\nMaine -- Recreational marijuana\nMarijuana appears to be on stronger footing in nearby Maine. Polls conducted there earlier this year suggest the state's legalization measure currently enjoys upwards of 50 percent support.\nThat initiative was nearly derailed when Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap invalidated tens of\u00a0thousands of petition signatures necessary to put the measure on the ballot. But a judge reversed Dunlap's decision on an appeal from the pro-legalization campaign, clearing the measure's way forward.\nMaine has traditionally been at the forefront of marijuana change. The state was one of the first to decriminalize the use of small amounts of marijuana in the 1970s, and it was quick to follow California's lead in legalizing medical marijuana in 1999. In 2013, residents of Portland, the state's largest city, voted to legalize the possession of marijuana.\nFlorida -- Medical marijuana\nOn the medical marijuana side of the ledger, Florida is the biggest fight. Supporters and opponents have poured close to $10 million\u00a0into the contest there. It\u00a0would\u00a0make\u00a0Florida the first state in the South\u00a0with a robust medical marijuana law.\nFlorida voters narrowly rejected\u00a0a constitutional amendment for a California-style medical marijuana\u00a0market in 2014. While 58 percent of voters approved it, the measure failed to meet the 60-percent threshold necessary for a constitutional change.\nThis year's measure is similar to the failed 2014 initiative, but supporters hope that\u00a0a more\u00a0Democratic-leaning electorate in a presidential election year will tip the scales in their favor.\nFlorida's bill has garnered a number of high-profile endorsements from state and national political leaders, as well as groups like the NAACP, ACLU and some labor organizations. Most recent\u00a0polls\u00a0show support surpassing the 60 percent threshold needed for passage.\nBut the 2014 amendment also had blockbuster polling numbers in the summer leading up to the election, only to collapse going into the fall. This could have been due to a\u00a0late infusion of Adelson cash for the anti-marijuana campaign and a growing unease among voters with the specifics of the marijuana law.\nArkansas -- Medical marijuana\nArkansas is also making a play to be the first southern state allowing\u00a0medical marijuana. The effort recently received a boost when the state Democratic party put a call for medical marijuana into their party platform.\nVoters there narrowly rejected medical marijuana\u00a0\u00a0in 2012, but\u00a0a June survey put support at 58 percent among likely voters.\nThat support may be stymied by the fact that there are going\u00a0to be two competing medical pot measures on Arkansas' ballot: One of those is a simple state statute, while the other is a constitutional amendment.\nThe\u00a0measures are similar, and voters are free to vote for both. If\u00a0both pass with a simple majority vote, the measure with the most support will be enacted. But there's also a danger of \"splitting the ticket,\" and diluting medical marijuana support between two\u00a0measures.\nNorth Dakota -- Medical marijuana\nIn something of a surprise move, a medical marijuana measure recently qualified for the ballot in North Dakota. How this one will play out is anyone's guess. It appears the last polling on medical pot in the state was done in 2014, when 47 percent of voters approved of medical pot and\u00a041 percent opposed it.\nNorth Dakota's always been a bit of an odd man out when it comes to medical marijuana. Its neighbor to the west, Montana, approved medical pot by ballot\u00a0in 2004. Its neighbor to the east, Minnesota, approved it\u00a0via legislature in 2014.\nBut North Dakota is a notoriously conservative state. Authorities there have already been warning about the alleged cost to implement the measure. But backers dispute the official cost estimates.\nMontana -- Medical marijuana\nWait, doesn't Montana already have medical marijuana? Well, yes and no.\u00a0Voters approved medical pot in 2004, but since then, state lawmakers have been working to undermine that measure.\u00a0In 2011, they passed legislation\u00a0that, among other things,\u00a0prevented medical dispensaries from charging for their services beyond the cost of recouping a licensing fee.\u00a0In the year following the law, the number of medical marijuana providers plummeted by 90 percent.\nFor that reason, medical marijuana supporters have put a measure on the ballot that would roll back most of those restrictions and breathe some life back into Montana's medical marijuana regime.\nMore from Wonkblog:\nOne-fifth of this occupation has a serious drinking problem\nObamacare's surcharge for smokers may have backfired\nWant to reduce obesity? Legalize medical marijuana, researchers say."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "be1a71d8-035a-11e7-ad5b-d22680e18d10_14", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "be1a71d8-035a-11e7-ad5b-d22680e18d10_14", "title": "NFL abuse of painkillers and other drugs described in court filings", "text": "declined to comment. The Colts did not respond to a request for comment. The former players also allege in the complaint that they weren\u2019t always sure what medicines they were taking and weren\u2019t advised of the risks, because team doctors and trainers failed to inform them and keep proper records. A January 2008 memo from the Vikings\u2019 head trainer documented how sloppy the record-keeping could be. \u201cHere is week 17\u2019s fiasco,\u201d he wrote, according to the sealed documents, before detailing how the team\u2019s logs didn\u2019t match the inventory. And a May 2010 email cited in the court filing showed that the Falcons\u2019 logs didn\u2019t match the league\u2019s audit report for at least four medications. The team was also on the DEA\u2019s \u201cradar\u201d for the large amounts of controlled substances it had ordered, according to court records. Lining up for the \u2018T Train\u2019 One drug in particular is highlighted throughout the lawsuit as a staple for NFL teams. Toradol is available only with a prescription. Though not addictive, it is powerful enough that many countries only administer it in hospitals and only after surgery. The lawsuit claims teams would freely offer it each Sunday to numb existing injuries but also in anticipation of the inevitable aches and pains accrued each Sunday. A 2002 study found that 28 of the 30 teams that responded to a questionnaire administered Toradol injections \u2014 15 players each game day on average. Though team physicians have been aware that such use was \u201coff label,\u201d the practice continued for more than a decade. In the 2013 Post survey of retired players, 50 percent of those who retired in the 1990s or later reported using Toradol during their careers, including seven out of 10 who retired in 2000 or later. In 2012, an NFL Physicians Society task force was formed to study the drug and to \u201cformulate a \u2018best practice\u2019 recommendation,\u201d according to an email cited in the court filings from Matt Matava, the St. Louis Rams\u2019 team doctor and the society\u2019s former head. The task force was funded by the league office, and the lawsuit cites emails obtained during discovery that show Matava met with league Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York to discuss the task force in January 2012. Though Matava\u2019s task force recommended that Toradol not be used in anticipation of pain, it cited \u201cunique clinical challenges of the NFL\u201d and stated that each physician"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Sealed court documents viewed by The Washington Post describe widespread abuse of painkillers and other drugs by the National Football League.\nNational Football League\nThe sealed material, which was reviewed by The Washington Post, provides a rare look into the league\u2019s relationship with drugs and how team doctors manage the pain inherent in a bruising sport to keep players on the field.\nFederal law lays out strict guidelines for how teams can handle and dispense prescription drugs. The sealed court filing, which includes testimony and documents by team and league medical personnel, describes multiple instances in which team and league officials were made aware of abuses, record-keeping problems and even violations of federal law and were either slow in responding or failed to comply.\nThe filing, which was prepared by lawyers for the players suing the league, asserts that \u201cevery doctor deposed so far . . . has testified that they violated one or more\u201d federal drug laws and regulations \u201cwhile serving in their capacity as a team doctor.\u201d Anthony Yates, the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 team doctor and past president of the NFL Physicians Society, testified in a deposition that \u201ca majority of clubs as of 2010 had trainers controlling and handling prescription medications and controlled substances when they should not have,\u201d the filing states.\nAt times, team medical staff displayed a cavalier attitude toward federal guidelines that govern dispensing medicine. In August 2009, for example, Paul Sparling, the Cincinnati Bengals\u2019 head trainer, wrote in an email: \u201cCan you have your office fax a copy of your DEA certificate to me? I need it for my records when the NFL \u2018pill counters\u2019 come to see if we are doing things right. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019m pretty good at keeping them off the trail!\u201d\nThe Bengals did not make Sparling available for comment or respond to questions about his 2010 email.\nNFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the allegations contained in the court filing \u201care meritless and the league and its clubs will continue to vigorously defend these claims.\u201d\n\u201cThe NFL clubs and their medical staffs are all in compliance with the Controlled Substances Act,\u201d McCarthy said in an email. \u201c. . . The NFL clubs and their medical staffs continue to put the health and safety of our players first, providing all NFL players with the highest quality medical care. Any claim or suggestion to the contrary is simply wrong.\u201d\nThe details and communications were unearthed by lawyers representing more than 1,800 former professional football players who are suing the league in U.S. District Court in Northern California, claiming they suffer long-term organ and joint damage, among other maladies, as a result of improper and deceptive drug distribution practices by NFL teams.\nThe material was collected by the players\u2019 attorneys as part of the discovery process in the case. The attorneys redacted large portions of the 127-page complaint because both parties had agreed to do so under a court-approved protective order, sealing it from public view. The Post was able to review the redacted information because of an apparent technical error in the filing process but not some of the supporting exhibits and documents.\nThe filing solely reflects the ex-players\u2019 claims against the NFL\u2019s 32 teams, presenting their legal arguments and evidence to the court. Steven Silverman, the plaintiffs\u2019 attorney, said he could not comment.\nThe court filing reveals that the teams dispensed painkillers and prescription-strength anti-inflammatories in numbers far beyond anything previously acknowledged or made public. In the calendar year of 2012, for example, the average team prescribed nearly 5,777 doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and 2,213 doses of controlled medications to its players, according to a March 2013 internal document from Lawrence Brown, the NFL-employed medical adviser who oversees its drug issues.\nThose numbers could average out to about six to seven pain pills or injections a week per player over the course of a typical NFL season, but sports medicine experts noted that it\u2019s unlikely the drugs were distributed evenly over the entire roster and just as unlikely that team logs represent the full extent of medications players seek out to manage pain.\n\u201cIt sounds like an incredible amount of intervention with some pretty risky drugs, some of which, in the case of Vicodin, have a high addiction potential,\u201d said Arthur Caplan, director of the Division of Medical Ethics at New York University\u2019s Langone Medical Center and co-founder of the NYU Sports and Society Program. \u201cIt makes you think, are the physicians looking out for the health of the players, or are they just trying to keep them on the field?\u201d\nMinnesota Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman, here working with running back Adrian Peterson in 2012 while Peterson recovered from knee surgery, once lamented that his team was not using a painkiller other teams were utilizing. (Jim Mone /Associated Press)\nDrug experts who reviewed the data for The Post cautioned that a thorough understanding of the league\u2019s use of pain medication is limited without knowing the exact dosages, types of controlled substances administered and whether all the players on a team were consuming the medications or whether a smaller number accounted for a larger percentage of the drug use.\nThe filing likens painkillers to performance-enhancing drugs and says while players often felt compelled to use them to contribute to their teams, medical staffs felt pressured to administer them to remain competitive. A February 2006 memo included in the court filing was from the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 head trainer, Eric Sugarman. Writing to then-head coach Brad Childress and the team\u2019s vice president for operations, the trainer said he had met for three hours with team physician David Fischer and lamented that the Vikings were not regularly using a powerful painkiller called Toradol, as other teams were.\n\u201cI expressed my concern that [the Vikings] are at a competitive disadvantage. . . . I feel very strongly about this point,\u201d he wrote. \u201c. . . I feel that Dr. Fischer is beginning to see my point of view on many issues. I also feel he is willing to change to improve.\u201d\nThe Vikings did not respond to requests for comment or to make Sugarman or Fischer available.\nDisregarding federal laws\nHealth and safety practices in the NFL have been under scrutiny in recent years, most notably regarding head trauma from concussions and other long-term health issues faced by former players. The court filing gives a glimpse behind the league\u2019s medical curtain, revealing some of the NFL\u2019s internal discussions and attitudes toward managing pain.\nIn their filing, the players\u2019 lawyers cite multiple instances in which team executives and league officials were made aware of issues surrounding the handling of pain medication. League medical advisers Brown and Elliott Pellman communicated with team physicians on issues such as medication abuse and attended meetings of the NFL Physicians Society. For example, the complaint cites a 1998 meeting of the society in which Brown reported that during an audit, at least \u201c5\u00a0teams were in noncompliance with controlled substances.\u201d\nThe NFL declined to make the medical advisers available to comment.\nBud Carpenter, the Buffalo Bills\u2019 longtime trainer, \u201cadmitted under oath that he witnessed team doctors give players injections of prescription medications without telling them what the drug was they were receiving or its side effects. .\u2009.\u2009. He further testified that doctors provided prescription medications at places other than where they were allowed to do so in violation of federal and state laws.\u201d\nThe Bills declined to comment on the remarks or make Carpenter or other team medical personnel available.\nThe former players say the teams intentionally disregarded federal laws and openly acknowledged their compliance problems. In the complaint, lawyers say \u201cnumerous documents obtained during discovery show how Clubs and their doctors and trainers concealed their illegal activities for years.\u201d\nBengals trainer Paul Sparling attends to outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict in a 2014 preseason game. (Tony Tribble/Associated Press)\nFor example, in a May 2010 email, Pepper Burruss, the Green Bay Packers\u2019 longtime trainer, wrote to his counterpart with the Steelers: \u201cI expect no immediate guidance from Dr. Brown or Dr.\u00a0Pellman, other than \u2018cover your own behind.\u2019\u2009\u201d\nA Packers spokesman declined to comment or to make Burruss available.\nThe complaint alleges that the NFL has been plagued by prescription drug problems for decades. The league\u2019s former drug adviser, Forrest Tennant, issued a report in May 1990 that stated, in part, \u201c[s]ome Clubs don\u2019t seem to know which drugs are controlled substances, and some don\u2019t apparently understand the necessity (and law) to keep dispensing logs and an internal audit.\u201d Another league document, produced in September 2014, called \u201cNFL Prescription Drug Program Advisory Committee Major Findings and Recommendations,\u201d reported the \u201cnon-physician administration and/or dispensing of medications occurs at many Clubs,\u201d the complaint states.\nFederal law bars nonlicensed team personnel, such as athletic trainers, from dispensing medication. The complaint cites multiple instances in which clubs were warned about this practice, including letters from Brown to the Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.\nElliott Pellman , right, helps running back Cedric Houston off the field in 2006 when Pellman was head of the medical department of the New York Jets, along with team orthopedist Elliott Hershman. (Tom Berg/Getty Images)\nIn 2010, the DEA began a crackdown on the league\u2019s practices after a San Diego Chargers player caught in a traffic stop was found to be in possession of 100 doses of Vicodin. David Chao, the Chargers\u2019 team doctor at the time, operated under a cloud of controversy before leaving the team in 2013 as the NFL Players Association called for his ouster, the DEA scrutinized his practices and the California state medical board revoked his license before deciding to put him on a five-year probation.\nIn August 2010, seven doctors from the NFL Physicians Society convened on a conference call with Pellman, the league\u2019s medical adviser, to discuss the DEA\u2019s new interest in their practices. The lawsuit quotes an unattributed remark from the minutes of the conference call: \u201cWe don\u2019t want to give them the fodder that we have all been doing this wrong. We don\u2019t want to show our deficiencies.\u201d\nThe minutes of the call reflect that Pellman and at least two other team doctors met with DEA officials to discuss the investigation and the NFL\u2019s practices, according to the documents. The DEA gave the physicians a 78-slide presentation on laws governing handling of controlled substances \u2014 including restrictions on transporting drugs across state lines \u2014 and a warning that there were no special exemptions for the league, the plaintiffs\u2019 complaint states.\nMcCarthy, the NFL spokesman, said the DEA was invited to meet with team medical staffs \u201cto ensure compliance\u201d and \u201cto ensure they are properly educated on federal law and aware of the risk of noncompliance.\u201d\nBuffalo Bills team doctor John Marzo testified he traveled and administered controlled substances during road games. (Don Heupel/Associated Press)\nYet even after the DEA began to instruct and pressure the league, the lawsuit charges that doctors still did not come into compliance. According to the sealed court filing, Buffalo\u2019s team physician, John Marzo, testified in a deposition that after the DEA made its presentation to league physicians in 2011, he continued to travel with and administer controlled substances during road games.\nIn January 2012, Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys\u2019 team doctor, wrote his congressman, urging a change to the Controlled Substances Act that would accommodate NFL teams. Cooper stated that for \u201cdecades under current law, team doctors have illegally [yet unknowingly] transported and administered medications to injured players while covering games away from home.\u201d\nThe league didn\u2019t bring teams into compliance until 2015, when it instituted the \u201cvisiting team medical liaison program,\u201d which allows team physicians to use local doctors to prescribe and distribute controlled substances while on the road. The new program called for a stark departure in the way drugs were administered before, during and after games \u2014 and was met with resistance.\nIn a November 2010 email, Sparling, the Bengals\u2019 trainer, wrote to his counterpart with the Detroit Lions, complaining about the new program. \u201cUntil the new [program] is actually in effect,\u201d he said, \u201cwe will continue to do as we have done for the past 42 years. . . . I sure would love to know who blew up the system that worked all these years.\u201d\nThe program did not take effect until 2015, after the DEA again applied pressure. According to the deposition of Yates, the Steelers\u2019 doctor cited in the lawsuit, the impetus was a series of DEA raids conducted in October 2014 to see whether teams were traveling with controlled substances. The lawsuit states that NFL teams were tipped off by a DEA employee in advance of the raids, and \u201cnot surprisingly, none of them were carrying controlled substances.\u201d\nThe Steelers declined to make Yates available for comment.\nPackers head athletic trainer Pepper Burruss embraces quarterback Brett Favre in 2015. (Todd Rosenberg/Associated Press)\nReliance on pharmaceuticals\nThe case marks a rare instance in which the attorneys suing the NFL and seeking damages on behalf of players have gone to discovery. Cases often are preempted by the labor deal between the NFL and its players\u2019 union because the collective bargaining agreement provides other avenues to settle grievances, such as arbitration.\nThe plaintiffs, though, are suing each of the 32 NFL teams rather than the league as a whole, and in July, U.S. District Judge William Alsup allowed this one to continue on the grounds that the plaintiffs\u2019 allegations fall under the \u201cillegality exception\u201d to the collective bargaining rule. The exception states that parties to a collective bargaining agreement cannot contract for or immunize illegal conduct.\nThe powerful anti-inflammatory Toradol is often administered to players before games. (Alamy Stock Photo)\nSince then, plaintiffs\u2019 lawyers have been interviewing potential witnesses under oath \u2014 including at least 11 team and league medical officials \u2014 and compiling pertinent documents, such as drug logs and communications between team executives. While the case isn\u2019t scheduled for trial until October, the players\u2019 attorneys say in their filing they already have compiled \u201chundreds of thousands of pages of documents.\u201d\nThe complaint recounts specific allegations against each of the 32 teams and details the widespread mishandling and disbursement of medications. \u201cThese doctors and trainers dispensed the Medications to their football patients in an amount and manner they would never do with their non-football patients,\u201d the ex-players said in their complaint.\nClubs distributed the drugs not just during and after games but beforehand to blunt the effects of potential injuries, according to the complaint.\nA January 2010 email from a New York Jets assistant trainer revealed that team\u2019s use in 2008: 1,031 doses of Toradol and 1,295 doses of Vicodin. The following season the Jets\u2019 use of Toradol increased to 1,178 doses and of Vicodin to 1,564 doses.\nToradol, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory often used to manage short-term postoperative pain, deadens feeling and inhibits the body\u2019s ability to sense injury. The opiate Vicodin also relieves and masks pain, but unlike Toradol, it is highly addictive.\nAccording to the March 2013 document from Brown, the Steelers provided its players 7,442 doses of NSAIDs in 2012 \u2014 only the 10th most in the league that year \u2014 and 2,123 doses of unnamed controlled medications \u2014 the 14th most.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of pills, but there\u2019s also a lot of information we still don\u2019t know,\u201d said Linda Cottler, the founding chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Florida\u2019s College of Public Health and Health Professions.\nIn 2011, Cottler, who has helped advise the league in the past on prescription drugs, led the most comprehensive study to date on painkiller use in the NFL, surveying 644 retired NFL players. More than half the respondents said they used opioids during their NFL careers, and seven in 10 admitted to misusing the drugs. Of that group, 22 percent said they took six or more pills each day during their playing careers, the highest amount reported in the survey.\nThat study found that 7 percent of the former players were still actively using opioid drugs in retirement \u2014 more than four times the rate of opioid use in the general population at the time.\nThe sealed documents might not provide a full picture of the league\u2019s use of pain medications, but they do offer snapshots of how much teams rely on pharmaceuticals to put their players on the field each week. According to the court filing: The Atlanta Falcons spent nearly $100,000 on prescriptions in a single year \u2014 nearly three times the league average; a Bengals trainer said he\u2019s aware of teams that dispense 90 or more Vicodin pills per game; one drug inventory showed that during seven months of 2004, the Indianapolis Colts administered 900 doses of Toradol and 585\u00a0doses of Vicodin.\nRepresentatives for the Falcons, Jets and Steelers declined to comment. The Colts did not respond to a request for comment.\nThe former players also allege in the complaint that they weren\u2019t always sure what medicines they were taking and weren\u2019t advised of the risks, because team doctors and trainers failed to inform them and keep proper records.\nA January 2008 memo from the Vikings\u2019 head trainer documented how sloppy the record-keeping could be. \u201cHere is week 17\u2019s fiasco,\u201d he wrote, according to the sealed documents, before detailing how the team\u2019s logs didn\u2019t match the inventory. And a May 2010 email cited in the court filing showed that the Falcons\u2019 logs didn\u2019t match the league\u2019s audit report for at least four medications. The team was also on the DEA\u2019s \u201cradar\u201d for the large amounts of controlled substances it had ordered, according to court records.\nLining up for the \u2018T Train\u2019\nOne drug in particular is highlighted throughout the lawsuit as a staple for NFL teams. Toradol is available only with a prescription. Though not addictive, it is powerful enough that many countries only administer it in hospitals and only after surgery. The lawsuit claims teams would freely offer it each Sunday to numb existing injuries but also in anticipation of the inevitable aches and pains accrued each Sunday.\nA 2002 study found that 28 of the 30 teams that responded to a questionnaire administered Toradol injections \u2014 15 players each game day on average. Though team physicians have been aware that such use was \u201coff label,\u201d the practice continued for more than a decade. In the 2013 Post survey of retired players, 50 percent of those who retired in the 1990s or later reported using Toradol during their careers, including seven out of 10 who retired in 2000 or later.\nIn 2012, an NFL Physicians Society task force was formed to study the drug and to \u201cformulate a \u2018best practice\u2019 recommendation,\u201d according to an email cited in the court filings from Matt Matava, the St. Louis Rams\u2019 team doctor and the society\u2019s former head. The task force was funded by the league office, and the lawsuit cites emails obtained during discovery that show Matava met with league Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York to discuss the task force in January 2012.\nThough Matava\u2019s task force recommended that Toradol not be used in anticipation of pain, it cited \u201cunique clinical challenges of the NFL\u201d and stated that each physician should practice medicine \u201cas he or she feels is in the best interest of the patient.\u201d\nToradol continued to be used heavily in the wake of the recommendation. The sealed court filing also cites a 2014 survey that included responses from 27\u00a0teams. On average, 26.7 players \u2014 more than half the active roster \u2014 took at least one dose of Toradol on game day.\nAccording to the sealed court filing, months after the task force issued its recommendations, Matava emailed Yates, the Steelers\u2019 doctor, questioning the team physicians who failed to respond to surveys regarding Toradol usage. \u201cIf these guys want to give Toradol because they think it is needed or acceptable, then they should .\u2009.\u2009. say so. What are they afraid of?\u201d Matava, who did not respond to a request for comment, wrote in the same email that \u201c[c]ontinued use of Toradol in the present climate is not rational.\u201d\nBut apparently it is still in practice. According to the sealed filing, Yates testified in his deposition that \u201cthat even last season, he witnessed players lining up for the \u2018T Train\u2019 \u2014 Toradol injections before a game.\u201d\nCorrection\nAn earlier version of this article reported that David Chao, the San Diego Chargers team doctor, had issued 100 does of Vicodin found in possession of a Chargers player caught in a traffic stop in 2010. Chao has denied issuing the Vicodin to the player. The assertion was included in the filing by lawyers for former players suing the league but The Post does not have corroborating evidence to support it.\nFrom the archives:\nThe Post\u2019s NFL Medicine Series\nMedical care in the NFL is turned on its head\nPain and drugs in the NFL\nWho pays for the insurance?\nThe physical price of an NFL career\nLiability for the past"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "c9123111ac3c9aa8e550bd6c8e6115b5_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "c9123111ac3c9aa8e550bd6c8e6115b5_1", "title": "Medical marijuana initiative likely headed for Florida ballot", "text": "to allow Florida patients to use marijuana for medical purposes say they will turn in enough signatures to qualify for the fall ballot by next week. Supporters of the measure have until Feb. 1 to submit just over 683,000 valid signatures of registered voters. Realistically, backers are shooting for about 1 million signatures, to account for any deemed invalid; organizers say they will hit the million-signature mark by next week. \u201cAs of tomorrow, we should be right at, maybe a little bit under, a million\u201d signatures, said Ben Pollara, who runs the People United for Medical Marijuana campaign that\u2019s spearheading the initiative. \u201cBy this time next week, we should have more than enough to give us some comfort that we should be on the ballot.\u201d So far, the Florida Department of Elections says the group has submitted 265,000 valid signatures. The group says it has hundreds of thousands of signatures still being processed by county elections officials. Once the signatures are submitted and verified, Florida\u2019s Supreme Court will rule on whether the amendment\u2019s ballot title and summary meet legal requirements, a decision likely to come before the beginning of April (See the proposed summary language here). And if the measure makes the ballot, organizers say poll results show they will start the fall campaign in strong position. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in November showed a huge majority of Florida voters, 82 percent, backed allowing adults to use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes the drug. Just 16 percent of voters said they opposed marijuana for medical use. The same poll showed a slim plurality \u2014 48 percent \u2014 supported allowing adults to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Forty-six percent said they opposed recreational marijuana use. But backers are still preparing for a big fight. Pollara said his group will aim to raise at least $10 million for the fall campaign, which will share the stage with a high-profile race between Gov. Rick Scott (R) and his eventual Democratic challenger. \u201cWe\u2019re a big state. We have a lot of media markets. They\u2019re going to be expensive, given the governor\u2019s race,\u201d Pollara said. At present, 18 states and the District of Columbia allow patients to use marijuana for medical purposes, while two states \u2014 Colorado and Washington \u2014 allow legal purchases for non-medical use. Eleven of those states legalized marijuana for medical use through ballot initiatives."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Kristi Kelly, co-founder of medical-marijuana dispensary Good Meds Network. (Matthew Staver/The Washington Post.)\nBackers of a constitutional amendment to allow Florida patients to use marijuana for medical purposes say they will turn in enough signatures to qualify for the fall ballot by next week.\nSupporters of the measure have until Feb. 1 to submit just over 683,000 valid signatures of registered voters. Realistically, backers are shooting for about 1 million signatures, to account for any deemed invalid; organizers say they will hit the million-signature mark by next week.\n\u201cAs of tomorrow, we should be right at, maybe a little bit under, a million\u201d signatures, said Ben Pollara, who runs the People United for Medical Marijuana campaign that\u2019s spearheading the initiative. \u201cBy this time next week, we should have more than enough to give us some comfort that we should be on the ballot.\u201d\nSo far, the Florida Department of Elections says the group has submitted 265,000 valid signatures. The group says it has hundreds of thousands of signatures still being processed by county elections officials.\nOnce the signatures are submitted and verified, Florida\u2019s Supreme Court will rule on whether the amendment\u2019s ballot title and summary meet legal requirements, a decision likely to come before the beginning of April (See the proposed summary language here).\nAnd if the measure makes the ballot, organizers say poll results show they will start the fall campaign in strong position.\nA Quinnipiac University poll conducted in November showed a huge majority of Florida voters, 82 percent, backed allowing adults to use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes the drug. Just 16 percent of voters said they opposed marijuana for medical use.\nThe same poll showed a slim plurality \u2014 48 percent \u2014 supported allowing adults to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Forty-six percent said they opposed recreational marijuana use.\nBut backers are still preparing for a big fight. Pollara said his group will aim to raise at least $10 million for the fall campaign, which will share the stage with a high-profile race between Gov. Rick Scott (R) and his eventual Democratic challenger.\n\u201cWe\u2019re a big state. We have a lot of media markets. They\u2019re going to be expensive, given the governor\u2019s race,\u201d Pollara said.\nAt present, 18 states and the District of Columbia allow patients to use marijuana for medical purposes, while two states \u2014 Colorado and Washington \u2014 allow legal purchases for non-medical use. Eleven of those states legalized marijuana for medical use through ballot initiatives."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "ce58f47340190da8dc97d435e4b3b066_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ce58f47340190da8dc97d435e4b3b066_0", "title": "One striking chart shows why pharma companies are fighting legal marijuana", "text": "(Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post) There's a body of research showing that painkiller abuse and overdose are lower in states with medical marijuana laws. These studies have generally assumed that when medical marijuana is available, pain patients are increasingly choosing pot over powerful and deadly prescription narcotics. But that's always been just an assumption. Now a new study, released in the journal Health Affairs, validates these findings by providing clear evidence of a missing link in the causal chain running from medical marijuana to falling overdoses. Ashley and W. David Bradford, a daughter-father pair of researchers at the University of Georgia, scoured the database of all prescription drugs paid for under Medicare Part D from 2010 to 2013. They found that, in the 17 states with a medical-marijuana law in place by 2013, prescriptions for painkillers and other classes of drugs fell sharply compared with states that did not have a medical-marijuana law. The drops were quite significant: In medical-marijuana states, the average doctor prescribed 265 fewer doses of antidepressants each year, 486 fewer doses of seizure medication, 541 fewer anti-nausea doses and 562 fewer doses of anti-anxiety medication. But most strikingly, the typical physician in a medical-marijuana state prescribed 1,826 fewer doses of painkillers in a given year. These conditions are among those for which medical marijuana is most often approved under state laws. So as a sanity check, the Bradfords ran a similar analysis on drug categories that pot typically is not recommended for \u2014 blood thinners, anti-viral drugs and antibiotics. And on those drugs, they found no changes in prescribing patterns after the passage of marijuana laws. \"This provides strong evidence that the observed shifts in prescribing patterns were in fact due to the passage of the medical marijuana laws,\" they write. In a news release One interesting wrinkle in the data is glaucoma, for which there was a small increase in demand for traditional drugs in medical-marijuana states. It's routinely listed as an approved condition under medical-marijuana laws, and studies have shown that marijuana provides some degree of temporary relief for its symptoms. The Bradfords hypothesize that the short duration of the glaucoma relief provided by marijuana \u2014 roughly an hour or so \u2014 may actually stimulate more demand in traditional glaucoma medications. Glaucoma patients may experience some short-term relief from marijuana, which may prompt them to seek other, robust treatment options from their doctors. The"}], "old": [{"_id": "ce58f47340190da8dc97d435e4b3b066_0", "title": "One striking chart shows why pharma companies are fighting legal marijuana", "text": "(Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post) They found that, in the 17 states with a medical-marijuana law in place by 2013, prescriptions for painkillers and other classes of drugs fell sharply compared with states that did not have a medical-marijuana law. The drops were quite significant: In medical-marijuana states, the average doctor prescribed 265 fewer doses of antidepressants each year, 486 fewer doses of seizure medication, 541 fewer anti-nausea doses and 562 fewer doses of anti-anxiety medication. But most strikingly, the typical physician in a medical-marijuana state prescribed 1,826 fewer doses of painkillers in a given year. These conditions are among those for which medical marijuana is most often approved under state laws. So as a sanity check, the Bradfords ran a similar analysis on drug categories that pot typically is not recommended for \u2014 blood thinners, anti-viral drugs and antibiotics. And on those drugs, they found no changes in prescribing patterns after the passage of marijuana laws. \"This provides strong evidence that the observed shifts in prescribing patterns were in fact due to the passage of the medical marijuana laws,\" they write. In a news release In what may be the most concerning finding for the pharmaceutical industry, the Bradfords took their analysis a step further by estimating the cost savings to Medicare from the decreased prescribing. They found that about $165 million was saved in the 17 medical marijuana states in 2013. In a back-of-the-envelope calculation, the estimated annual Medicare prescription savings would be nearly half a billion dollars if all 50 states were to implement similar programs. \"That amount would have represented just under 0.5 percent of all Medicare Part D spending in 2013,\" they calculate. Cost-savings alone are not a sufficient justification for implementing a medical-marijuana program. The bottom line is better health, and the Bradfords' research shows promising evidence that medical-marijuana users are finding plant-based relief for conditions that otherwise would have required a pill to treat. \"Our findings and existing clinical literature imply that patients respond to medical marijuana legislation as if there are clinical benefits to the drug, which adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the Schedule 1 status of marijuana is outdated,\" the study concludes. The Bradfords will next look at whether similar patterns hold for Medicaid. Anne McDonald Pritchett, Vice president of policy and research for PhRMA, discusses prescription drug abuse. The discussion took place during Coffee@WaPo: A policy"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "(Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)\nThere's a body of research showing that\u00a0painkiller abuse and overdose are lower in states with medical marijuana laws. These studies have generally assumed that when medical marijuana is available, pain patients are increasingly choosing pot over powerful and deadly prescription narcotics. But that's always been just an assumption.\nNow a new study, released in the journal Health Affairs, validates these findings by providing clear evidence of a missing link in the causal chain running from medical marijuana to falling overdoses.\u00a0Ashley and W. David Bradford, a daughter-father pair of researchers at the University of Georgia, scoured the database of all prescription drugs paid for under Medicare Part D from 2010 to 2013.\nThey found that, in the 17 states with a medical-marijuana law in place by 2013, prescriptions for painkillers and other classes of drugs fell sharply compared with\u00a0states that\u00a0did not have a medical-marijuana law. The drops were quite significant: In medical-marijuana states, the average doctor prescribed 265 fewer doses of antidepressants each year, 486\u00a0fewer doses of seizure medication, 541 fewer anti-nausea doses and 562 fewer doses of anti-anxiety medication.\nBut most strikingly, the typical physician in a medical-marijuana state prescribed 1,826 fewer doses of painkillers in a given year.\n\u00a0\n\nThese conditions are among those\u00a0for which medical marijuana is most often approved under state laws. So as a sanity check, the Bradfords ran a similar analysis on drug categories that pot typically is not recommended for \u2014\u00a0blood thinners, anti-viral drugs and antibiotics. And on those drugs, they found no changes in prescribing patterns after the passage of marijuana laws.\n\"This provides strong\u00a0evidence that the observed shifts in prescribing\u00a0patterns were in fact due to the passage of the\u00a0medical marijuana laws,\"\u00a0they write.\nIn a news\u00a0release\nOne interesting wrinkle in the data is glaucoma, for which there was a small increase in demand for traditional drugs in medical-marijuana states. It's routinely listed as an approved condition under medical-marijuana laws, and studies have shown that marijuana provides some degree of temporary relief for its symptoms.\nThe Bradfords hypothesize that the short duration of the glaucoma relief provided by marijuana \u2014\u00a0roughly an hour or so \u2014\u00a0may actually stimulate\u00a0more demand in traditional glaucoma medications. Glaucoma patients may experience some short-term relief from marijuana, which may prompt them to seek other, robust treatment options from their doctors.\nThe tanking numbers for painkiller prescriptions in medical marijuana states are likely to cause some concern among pharmaceutical companies. These companies have long been at the forefront of opposition to marijuana reform, funding research by anti-pot academics and funneling dollars to groups,\u00a0such as\u00a0the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, that oppose marijuana legalization.\nPharmaceutical companies have also lobbied federal agencies directly to prevent the liberalization of marijuana laws. In one case, recently uncovered by the office of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand\u00a0(D-N.Y.), the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that naturally derived THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, be moved from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 of the Controlled Substances Act \u2014\u00a0a less restrictive category that would acknowledge the drug's medical use and make it easier to research\u00a0and prescribe.\u00a0Several months after HHS submitted its recommendation, at least one drug company that manufactures a synthetic version of THC \u2014\u00a0which would presumably have to compete with any natural derivatives \u2014\u00a0wrote to the Drug Enforcement Administration\u00a0to\u00a0express\u00a0opposition to rescheduling natural THC, citing \"the abuse potential in terms of the need to grow and cultivate substantial crops of marijuana in the United States.\"\nThe DEA\u00a0ultimately rejected the HHS recommendation\u00a0without explanation.\nIn what may be the most concerning finding for the pharmaceutical industry, the Bradfords took their analysis a step further by estimating the cost savings to Medicare from\u00a0the decreased prescribing. They found that about $165 million was saved in the 17 medical marijuana states in 2013. In a back-of-the-envelope calculation, the estimated annual Medicare prescription savings would be\u00a0nearly half a billion dollars if all 50 states were to implement similar programs.\n\"That amount would\u00a0have represented just under 0.5 percent of all\u00a0Medicare Part D spending in 2013,\" they calculate.\nCost-savings alone are not a sufficient justification for implementing a medical-marijuana program. The bottom line is better health, and the Bradfords' research shows promising evidence that medical-marijuana users are finding plant-based relief for conditions that\u00a0otherwise would have required\u00a0a pill to treat.\n\"Our findings and existing clinical\u00a0literature imply that patients respond to medical\u00a0marijuana legislation as if there are clinical benefits\u00a0to the drug, which adds to the growing body\u00a0of evidence suggesting that the Schedule 1\u00a0status\u00a0of marijuana is outdated,\" the study concludes.\nOne limitation of the study is that it only looks at Medicare Part D spending, which applies only to seniors. Previous studies have shown that seniors are among the most reluctant medical-marijuana users, so the net effect\u00a0of medical marijuana for all prescription patients may be even greater.\nThe Bradfords will next look at whether similar patterns hold for Medicaid.\nAnne McDonald Pritchett, Vice president of policy and research for PhRMA, discusses prescription drug abuse. The discussion took place during Coffee@WaPo: A policy conversation about addiction in America."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "db15f5f6-13a8-11e2-ba83-a7a396e6b2a7_4", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "db15f5f6-13a8-11e2-ba83-a7a396e6b2a7_4", "title": "Marijuana legalization on ballot in 3 states, but Justice Department remains silent", "text": "and your administration are indifferent to the legalization issue.\u201d \u201cWe stand united against any efforts . . . to legalize marijuana or any other currently illegal substances and urge you to respond . . . expressing unequivocal opposition to marijuana legalization generally and these initiatives specifically,\u201d the former National Drug Control Policy directors wrote. Along with the Colorado ballot proposal, Initiative 502 in Washington and Measure 80 in Oregon would allow people who are 21 and older to buy marijuana from shops regulated by the state. All three ballot initiatives are a step beyond the laws that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Starting with California in 1996, the District and 17 states, including the three with these ballot proposals, have passed laws making it legal to manufacture, distribute and possess marijuana for such purposes. Arkansas has a similar measure on the ballot this year. In 2009, David Ogden, then the deputy attorney general, wrote a memo to U.S. attorneys, advising that the prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana, remained a core priority. Marijuana distribution was the largest source of revenue for the Mexican cartels, Ogden said. But he also addressed the growing number of states legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. \u201cProsecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers . . . who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources,\u201d Ogden wrote. Last year, in a memo to U.S. attorneys, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole reiterated Ogden\u2019s position on medical marijuana but indicated that there was a growing increase in scope of commercial cultivation, sale, distribution and use of marijuana for \u201cpurported medical purposes.\u201d \u201cThe Ogden Memorandum was never intended to shield such activities from federal enforcement action and prosecution, even when those activities purport to comply with state law,\u201d Cole wrote. In recent months, federal authorities have cracked down on the sale of marijuana from dispensaries near schools. The DEA warned in August that about two dozen marijuana dispensaries operating in school zones in Washington state would face possible prosecution if they didn\u2019t shut down. That same month, U.S. Attorney John Walsh in Colorado sent out 10 letters to medical marijuana dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools, ordering them to close. Julie Tate contributed to this report."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Marijuana plants grow at the Northwest Patient Resource Center medical marijuana dispensary in Seattle.  (Ted S. Warren/AP)\nVoters are set to cast their ballots in three Western states next month on whether to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use, initiatives that would directly violate federal law but that have drawn only silence from the Justice Department.\nDespite the urging of drug enforcement experts, officials in Washington have not said how the federal government would deal with possible state laws in Colorado, Washington and Oregon that would conflict with the federal Controlled Substances Act. Federal law prohibits the production, possession and sale of marijuana and classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, putting it in the same category as LSD and heroin.\nNine former administrators of the Drug Enforcement Administration wrote a letter last month to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., urging him to publicly oppose the ballot initiatives that, if passed, would make the states the first in the nation to decriminalize marijuana for recreational use by adults.\n\u201cTo continue to remain silent conveys to the American public and the global community a tacit acceptance of these dangerous initiatives,\u201d wrote the former administrators, who oversaw the DEA under both Democratic and Republican presidents from 1973 to 2007. \u201cWe urge you to take a public position on these initiatives as soon as possible.\u201d\nHolder has not responded to the letter. The former officials are planning to hold a news conference Monday to press their concerns more publicly.\n\u201cThe Justice Department should speak out ahead of the ballot initiatives to avoid immediate court action,\u201d said Peter Bensinger, the DEA administrator from 1976 to 1981. \u201cThe initiatives will be in direct conflict with federal law, international treaty obligations and Supreme Court rulings.\u201d\nThe Justice Department can file suit to try to block state laws that it deems to have violated federal statutes. It did that, for example, after Arizona passed a law in 2010 that the state said was aimed at cracking down on illegal immigrants but that the Obama administration believed was unconstitutional. In other cases, officials have simply made the Justice Department\u2019s stance clear ahead of ballot initiatives, as Holder did in 2010 when he said that officials opposed a California measure to legalize marijuana.\nBut with the upcoming initiatives over legalization, Justice Department spokeswoman Allison W. Price said the department would not comment. \u201cWe are not going to speculate on the outcome of various ballot initiatives state by state,\u201d she said.\nColorado\u2019s measure, known as Amendment 64, is the most likely to pass, according to observers and local polls. Under the measure, retail stores would be allowed to sell marijuana, and it would be taxed and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.\nGrowing operations would be legalized, as would \u201cinfusion factories\u201d that could blend marijuana into brownies, candy bars and lollipops, according to Tom Gorman, the director of the federal Rocky Mountain High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.\n\u201cIf this passes, Colorado would have the most liberal marijuana laws in the developed world, more liberal than the Netherlands,\u201d said Gorman, whose group brings together local, state and federal law enforcement officials. \u201cIt\u2019s illegal for a state to pass a constitutional measure that allows its citizens to violate federal law.\u201d\nThe initiative has the support of 51\u00a0percent of state voters, according to a poll conducted for the Denver Post. More than 300 physicians in the state have joined the campaign for legalization.\n\u201cAs physicians, we have a professional obligation to do no harm,\u201d Bruce Madison, former associate medical director of the faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said in a statement. \u201cBut the truth is that the Colorado marijuana laws do just that, by wasting hundreds of millions of dollars in a failed war on marijuana, by ruining thousands of lives by unnecessary arrest and incarceration, and by causing the deaths of hundreds of people killed in black-market criminal activities.\u201d\nIn a letter to President Obama, four former White House drug czars said the administration\u2019s \u201cnon-discussion\u201d stance \u201cis sending a message that you and your administration are indifferent to the legalization issue.\u201d\n\u201cWe stand united against any efforts .\u2009.\u2009. to legalize marijuana or any other currently illegal substances and urge you to respond .\u2009.\u2009. expressing unequivocal opposition to marijuana legalization generally and these initiatives specifically,\u201d the former National Drug Control Policy directors wrote.\nAlong with the Colorado ballot proposal, Initiative 502 in Washington and Measure 80 in Oregon would allow people who are 21 and older to buy marijuana from shops regulated by the state.\nAll three ballot initiatives are a step beyond the laws that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Starting with California in 1996, the District and 17 states, including the three with these ballot proposals, have passed laws making it legal to manufacture, distribute and possess marijuana for such purposes. Arkansas has a similar measure on the ballot this year.\nIn 2009, David Ogden, then the deputy attorney general, wrote a memo to U.S. attorneys, advising that the prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana, remained a core priority. Marijuana distribution was the largest source of revenue for the Mexican cartels, Ogden said.\nBut he also addressed the growing number of states legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes.\n\u201cProsecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers .\u2009.\u2009. who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources,\u201d Ogden wrote.\nLast year, in a memo to U.S. attorneys, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole reiterated Ogden\u2019s position on medical marijuana but indicated that there was a growing increase in scope of commercial cultivation, sale, distribution and use of marijuana for \u201cpurported medical purposes.\u201d\n\u201cThe Ogden Memorandum was never intended to shield such activities from federal enforcement action and prosecution, even when those activities purport to comply with state law,\u201d Cole wrote.\nIn recent months, federal authorities have cracked down on the sale of marijuana from dispensaries near schools.\nThe DEA warned in August that about two dozen marijuana dispensaries operating in school zones in Washington state would face possible prosecution if they didn\u2019t shut down. That same month, U.S. Attorney John Walsh in Colorado sent out 10 letters to medical marijuana dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools, ordering them to close.\nJulie Tate contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "dd4549c8-f977-11e4-9030-b4732caefe81_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "dd4549c8-f977-11e4-9030-b4732caefe81_0", "title": "Even where it\u2019s legal for parents to smoke pot: What about the kids?", "text": "Candace Junkin is the founder and head of the International Women's Cannabis Conference, which works to share the voices of women and mothers for the legalization of marijuana. She is photographed at her St. Mary's County, Md., home. (Reza A. Marvashti / For the Washington Post) Like the parent of any toddler and kindergartner, Jared wants to keep certain things out of reach. Liquor is stored out of sight in a cupboard. The household cleaners are safely kept behind childproof locks. And the marijuana is stashed high on a shelf in a fireproof lockbox. Evenings fall into a familiar routine. Family dinner. Baths. Then, after their daughters are snuggled in for the night, Jared slips out onto the back deck of their District apartment and smokes a now-legal bowl of marijuana. \u201cIt relaxes me. And it helps me get perspective to see the big picture. I find that enjoyable,\u201d said Jared, a rare parent in the District who was willing to talk openly about his marijuana use. He asked that his full name not be used because he is concerned about the impact on his children. Jared said he and other pot-smoking parents he knows have one ironclad rule: They don\u2019t smoke in front of their kids. Yet what will happen once the kids figure out Dad\u2019s on the balcony getting high? Marijuana sold by a local dealer in Washington. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post) More than half the country supports legalizing marijuana, according to polls. But it\u2019s this question \u2014 What about the kids? \u2014 that provokes unease, even outrage, and keeps many pot- using parents uncertain about how to navigate the \u201cnew normal\u201d of legalized marijuana. The stakes are high for both parents and kids. Even where the drug is legal, parental pot-smoking can be considered as a factor in child-neglect cases, just like alcohol. As a result, some parents have been accused of endangering their children and had them taken away by child protective service agencies. There are fears that if parents reveal their use, teens will be more likely to give it a try, a phenomenon supported by research. And although the science is fairly new, some studies have found heavy marijuana use in adolescence can permanently disrupt key networks in the developing brain associated with memory and processing information. \u201cFor parents, this is a confusing time. If they\u2019re users, how are they going to talk"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Candace Junkin is the founder and head of the International Women's Cannabis Conference, which works to share the voices of women and mothers for the legalization of marijuana. She is photographed at her St. Mary's County, Md., home. (Reza A. Marvashti / For the Washington Post)\nLike the parent of any toddler and kindergartner, Jared wants to keep certain things out of reach.\nLiquor is stored out of sight in a cupboard. The household cleaners are safely kept behind childproof locks. And the marijuana is stashed high on a shelf in a fireproof lockbox.\nEvenings fall into a familiar routine. Family dinner. Baths. Then, after their daughters are snuggled in for the night, Jared slips out onto the back deck of their District apartment and smokes a now-legal bowl of marijuana.\n\u201cIt relaxes me. And it helps me get perspective to see the big picture. I find that enjoyable,\u201d said Jared, a rare parent in the District who was willing to talk openly about his marijuana use. He asked that his full name not be used because he is concerned about the impact on his children.\nJared said he and other pot-smoking parents he knows have one ironclad rule: They don\u2019t smoke in front of their kids. Yet what will happen once the kids figure out Dad\u2019s on the balcony getting high?\nMarijuana sold by a local dealer in Washington. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post)\nMore than half the country supports legalizing marijuana, according to polls. But it\u2019s this question \u2014 What about the kids? \u2014 that provokes unease, even outrage, and keeps many pot- using parents uncertain about how to navigate the \u201cnew normal\u201d of legalized marijuana.\nThe stakes are high for both parents and kids. Even where the drug is legal, parental pot-smoking can be considered as a factor in child-neglect cases, just like alcohol. As a result, some parents have been accused of endangering their children and had them taken away by child protective service agencies.\nThere are fears that if parents reveal their use, teens will be more likely to give it a try, a phenomenon supported by research. And although the science is fairly new, some studies have found heavy marijuana use in adolescence can permanently disrupt key networks in the developing brain associated with memory and processing information.\n\u201cFor parents, this is a confusing time. If they\u2019re users, how are they going to talk to their kids?\u201d said Matthew Kuehlhorn, founder of Community Thrive, a new organization in Colorado that helps facilitate such talks in an effort to prevent youth substance use. \u201cThis is a social culture change we haven\u2019t seen the likes of since alcohol prohibition ended.\u201d\nKathy Henderson, who leads a Parents Against Pot effort in her Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast Washington, said she has noticed that legalization has led to a higher incidence of children \u201cwalking around the street openly smoking marijuana and thinking it\u2019s okay.\u201d\n\u201cIt\u2019s very, very disheartening,\u201d she said. \u201cOur children have so many challenges to begin with, this has really set us back. It\u2019s crazy.\u201d\nPlaying it straight\nJared said he doesn\u2019t want his daughters to use marijuana as minors, but he plans to be straight with them when they\u2019re older.\n\u201cWhen they get to the age of 21, and can make a legal choice, they need to know, honestly, \u2018What\u2019s alcohol like? What\u2019s it going to do to me? What are the risks? And what\u2019s cannabis like?\u2019\u2008\u201d\nIn Jared\u2019s mind, cannabis \u2014 advocates\u2019 preferred term \u2014 is the substance of lesser harm. It\u2019s less addictive, studies have found, causes fewer health problems and, unlike alcohol, no one has ever died using it.\nAnd he likes the idea that regulating the marijuana trade should make marijuana harder for teens to acquire.\nIn time, he hopes smoking a joint will be as unremarkable for parents as cracking open a beer at the end of the day. But that\u2019s not today.\nEven Jared, who made the decision to \u201cout\u201d himself as a pot smoker because he works for the pro-legalization Marijuana Policy Project, is nervous. He hastens to say that he never smokes so much he couldn\u2019t quickly respond to an emergency with the kids.\n\u201cThere\u2019s still so much stigma,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I worked anyplace else, I wouldn\u2019t be talking openly.\u201d\nFinding connections\nAdvocates for legalizing marijuana say there are more pot-smoking parents than most people think. The Pew Research Center reported that 47\u00a0percent of Americans \u2014 about 150\u00a0million people \u2014 have tried marijuana.\nA group of mothers in Beverly Hills, Calif., made headlines as the \u201cMarijuana Moms\u201d not long ago when they came clean about using marijuana to deal with chronic pain. And the Global Drug Policy Observatory found that women between the ages of 30 and 50 were among the biggest supporters of legalization in Washington state and Colorado.\n\u201cMarijuana, of all the mind- altering substances, is probably the only one that helps you cope with being a parent,\u201d said Adam Eidinger, a cannabis activist in the District, who said he smokes marijuana regularly for medical reasons. \u201cIt gives you patience.\u201d\nLike Jared, Eidinger keeps his stash in a safe locked away from his 11-year-old daughter, and he smokes on his condominum\u2019s roof deck. But he\u2019s been pushing the District to amend the new law, which permits the drug to be used inside one\u2019s home, in order to allow pot smoking at special clubs, roof decks, beer gardens or bars. \u201cI don\u2019t know how that\u2019s any better for children \u2014 having friends come over to my house and smoking weed around my kid,\u201d he said.\nYvonne Maguire, a stay-at-home mother of young children, was terrified that her District neighbors would find out she smoked marijuana to deal with insomnia and migraines. But since she moved to Colorado, where the recreational use of marijuana has been legal since January 2014, she and her husband have joined groups that activists have put together for parents who smoke pot.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really nice,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a way for parents to feel more comfortable.\u201d\nBrittany Driver, mother of a 3-year-old and regular medical marijuana user, dispenses advice in her Pot and Parenting column for the Denver Post .\nShe\u2019s also helping to promote an app, called High There, that will help pot-smoking mothers find each other.\n\u201cEven in Colorado, there\u2019s still such a stigma for parents, it\u2019s still hard to talk about openly,\u201d Driver said.\nLegal questions\nBecause of that stigma, even when it\u2019s legal, some pot-smoking parents worry that their use will be met with the disapproval of others, who might ostracize their children.\nBut what keeps many parents underground, they say, is their terror of someone calling Child Protective Services. A pot-smoking couple who ran a medical marijuana dispensary in Washington state, where medical and recreational marijuana use is legal, had their 5-year-old taken away and placed in CPS protective custody in November when he tested positive for THC, the psycho-active chemical in marijuana.\nAnd in April, CPS took away the 11-year-old son of Shona Banda, who uses marijuana to manage Crohn\u2019s disease and is an outspoken advocate for medical marijuana in Kansas, where legalization bills failed this year. After her son spoke out about medical marijuana in school, police investigated and found marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a lab for extracting cannabis oil in the kitchen, within easy reach of children. Banda faces the possibility of child endangerment and other charges.\nMindy Good, spokeswoman for Child and Family Services in the District, said officials have been having serious conversations about what marijuana\u2019s new legal status in the District will mean.\n\u201cWhether a substance is legal or illegal is of less concern to us than whether or not it\u2019s affecting someone\u2019s ability to parent,\u201d she said. \u201cFor instance, alcohol is totally legal. But if it\u2019s impairing the ability to protect and care for your child, that\u2019s when we step in.\u201d\nSara Arnold co-founded the Family Law & Cannabis Alliance, a Massachusetts-based group that monitors and advocates for pot-smoking parents\u2019 legal rights, in part because she herself, a medical marijuana user, has been investigated by CPS three times.\n\u201cWe have actually had instances of medical marijuana patients in states where medical marijuana is legal facing termination of their parental rights,\u201d Arnold said. \u201cIf a parent had a bottle of wine, no one would be coming to check that out.\u201d\nChanging demographics\nThough studies show that the majority of marijuana users tend to be lower-income and those with less than a high school education, Max Simon, with Green Flower Media, sees that changing. Green Flower is sponsoring a \u201cComing Out Green\u201d campaign of reports and videos of personal stories to rehabilitate pot\u2019s outlaw image.\n\u201cOne of the fastest growing markets we\u2019re seeing is the baby-boom generation,\u201d who smoked pot in college then quit when they got jobs and now want to use it again, he said. And most of them are parents. The group is releasing a new report, \u201cBe Askable,\u201d with advice for setting family rules and a \u201cjust wait\u201d message to help teens delay any substance use until their brains are developed.\nCandace Junkin, co-founder of the International Women\u2019s Cannabis Coalition, is a mother of four and grandmother of three who lives in St. Mary\u2019s County, Md., where medical marijuana has been legal since 2014. (Virginia recently passed a bill legalizing medical marijuana for epilepsy, glaucoma and cancer.) She suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, a condition that causes excruciating shooting pains in her face. Her doctors initially prescribed painkillers, but they made her so disoriented her children called her \u201cMombie.\u201d In 2002, she found marijuana eased the pain and began smoking or vaporizing up to six times a day.\nAt first, she was so ashamed that she hid her use from her children. \u201cBut over the years, the kids started to see that when Mommy would be hurting, she would go in her bedroom, and she would come out and she would be better,\u201d Junkin said.\nShe decided to share the research she\u2019d done on the health benefits of cannabis with them. None of her children, the youngest of whom is 17, smoke pot.\n\u201cOne kid is about to go to college. Another is about to graduate. One owns her own business,\u201d she said. \u201cFor a pothead mom, I think I\u2019ve done okay.\u201d"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "dd5440cb6e3c8059fa3aa15496722879_2", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "dd5440cb6e3c8059fa3aa15496722879_2", "title": "U.S. affirms its prohibition on medical marijuana", "text": "ways.\u201d But as it has in previous reviews, marijuana again failed an analysis conducted by the FDA and NIDA. The FDA concluded that medical and scientific data do not yet prove that marijuana is safe and effective as a medicine. Legally, that prohibits the DEA from reclassifying the drug. \u201cWe\u2019re pleased to see that the Obama Administration \u2026 understands the science the way we and almost every single medical association in the country understand it,\u201d said Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which opposes loosening restrictions on marijuana. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) praised the decision to allow more facilities to cultivate marijuana for research, but said the decision doesn\u2019t go far enough. \u201cThis decision ... is further evidence that the DEA doesn\u2019t get it. Keeping marijuana at Schedule I continues an outdated, failed approach \u2014 leaving patients and marijuana businesses trapped between state and federal laws,\u201d Blumenauer said. PostTV travels to the county in West Virginia with the highest-rate increase in marijuana possession arrests to see how pot laws have affected communities. Schedule I drugs \u2014 which include LSD and heroin, as well as marijuana \u2014 have \u201cno currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.\u201d Schedule II drugs, such as the powerful narcotic painkillers that have caused an epidemic of addiction over the past decade, have medicinal value but \u201ca high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.\u201d Marijuana was placed in Schedule I in 1970, when Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act. Research has shown that some components of marijuana have promise as a treatment for epilepsy and chronic pain. Some people use it to relieve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, although research has not been conducted to prove its value for that condition. Rosenberg said that while individual researchers may have shown that marijuana or its extracts are helpful for certain conditions, the FDA has the most comprehensive view of the state of scientific research on the drug. \"The FDA knows this better than anyone on the planet,\" he said, though he acknowledged that \"a lot of people will disagree with that.\" He also noted that many people misconstrue the controlled substance scheduling regime as a ranking of drugs' relative dangers. Clearly, he said, marijuana is not as dangerous as heroin, LSD and"}], "old": [{"_id": "dd5440cb6e3c8059fa3aa15496722879_2", "title": "U.S. affirms its prohibition on medical marijuana", "text": "I continues an outdated, failed approach \u2014 leaving patients and marijuana businesses trapped between state and federal laws,\u201d Blumenauer said. PostTV travels to the county in West Virginia with the highest-rate increase in marijuana possession arrests to see how pot laws have affected communities. Schedule I drugs \u2014 which include LSD and heroin, as well as marijuana \u2014 have \u201cno currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.\u201d Schedule II drugs, such as the powerful narcotic painkillers that have caused an epidemic of addiction over the past decade, have medicinal value but \u201ca high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.\u201d Marijuana was placed in Schedule I in 1970, when Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act. Research has shown that some components of marijuana have promise as a treatment for epilepsy and chronic pain. Some people use it to relieve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, although research has not been conducted to prove its value for that condition. Rosenberg said that while individual researchers may have shown that marijuana or its extracts are helpful for certain conditions, the FDA has the most comprehensive view of the state of scientific research on the drug. \"The FDA knows this better than anyone on the planet,\" he said, though he acknowledged that \"a lot of people will disagree with that.\" He also noted that many people misconstrue the controlled substance scheduling regime as a ranking of drugs' relative dangers. Clearly, he said, marijuana is not as dangerous as heroin, LSD and perhaps some of the opioids in Schedule 2. \"It's not the Richter Scale,\" he said. But that doesn't mean cannabis and its extracts are safe for medical use and not prone to abuse, he added. Academic researchers have complained that registration and application requirements to work with Schedule I drugs make studying their purported benefits difficult. The DEA, however, says the number of researchers registered to study marijuana and its components has doubled in the past two years. The governors of Rhode Island and Washington, and a New Mexico resident, Bryan A. Krumm, petitioned the DEA to remove marijuana from Schedule I. The agency most recently rejected a similar request in 2011, touching off a legal battle to force reclassification in which the DEA ultimately prevailed. With so many states"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Marijuana plants growing at a Minnesota Medical Solutions greenhouse in Otsego, Minn., last year. The crop is part of the state's medical marijuana supply.\u00a0 (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune/AP)\nThis post has been updated.\nThe government refused again Thursday to allow the use of\u00a0marijuana for medical purposes, reaffirming its conclusion that the drug\u2019s therapeutic value has not been proved scientifically and defying a growing clamor to legalize it for the treatment of a variety of conditions.\nIn an announcement in the Federal Register and a letter to petitioners, the Drug Enforcement Administration turned down requests to remove marijuana from \u201cSchedule I,\u201d which classifies it as a drug with \u201cno currently accepted medical use\u201d in the United States and precludes doctors from prescribing it.\nThe decision keeps the federal government at odds with 25\u00a0states and the District of Columbia, which have passed laws allowing medical use of marijuana to some degree. Members of\u00a0 Congress have called for its reclassification and on Wednesday, the National Conference of State Legislatures adopted a resolution asking the federal government to remove marijuana from Schedule I.\n\"Right now, the science doesn't support it,\" Chuck Rosenberg, acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said in an interview Thursday. Citing a lengthy analysis conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, he said the decision \"is tethered to the science.\"\nThe agency announced one policy change that could increase the amount of research conducted on marijuana: the DEA will expand the number of places allowed to grow marijuana for studies of its value in chronic pain relief, as a treatment for epilepsy and for other purposes. Currently, only the University of Mississippi,which holds an exclusive contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is federally licensed to grow marijuana for research purposes.\nThe latest development in the 46-year legal and policy battle over the status of marijuana disappointed advocates of looser restrictions on the drug, who had hoped that the government would carve out a special place for marijuana in the controlled-substance regulations or move it to a less tightly regulated category, Schedule II.\nIn the words of a 2015 Brookings Institution report, a move to Schedule II \u201cwould signal to the medical community that [the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health] are ready to take\u00a0medical marijuana research seriously, and help overcome a government-sponsored chilling effect on research that\u00a0manifests in direct and indirect ways.\u201d\nBut as it has in previous reviews, marijuana again failed an analysis conducted by the FDA and NIDA. The FDA concluded that medical and scientific data do not yet prove that marijuana is safe and effective as a medicine. Legally, that prohibits the DEA from reclassifying the drug.\n\u201cWe\u2019re pleased to see that the Obama Administration\u00a0\u2026 understands the science the way we and almost every single medical association in the country understand it,\u201d said Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which opposes loosening restrictions on marijuana.\nRep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) praised the decision to allow more facilities to cultivate marijuana for research, but said the decision doesn\u2019t go far enough. \u201cThis decision ... is further evidence that the DEA doesn\u2019t get it. Keeping marijuana at Schedule I continues an outdated, failed approach \u2014 leaving patients and marijuana businesses trapped between state and federal laws,\u201d Blumenauer said.\nPostTV travels to the county in West Virginia with the highest-rate increase in marijuana possession arrests to see how pot laws have affected communities.\nSchedule I drugs \u2014 which include LSD and heroin, as well as marijuana \u2014 have \u201cno currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.\u201d Schedule II drugs, such as the powerful narcotic painkillers that have caused an epidemic of addiction over the past decade, have medicinal value but \u201ca high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.\u201d Marijuana was placed in Schedule I in 1970, when Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act.\nResearch has shown that some components of marijuana have promise as a treatment for epilepsy and chronic pain. Some people use it to relieve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, although research has not been conducted to prove its value for that condition.\nRosenberg said that while individual researchers may have shown that marijuana or its extracts are helpful for certain conditions, the FDA has the most comprehensive view of the state of scientific research on the drug.\n\"The FDA knows this better than anyone on the planet,\" he said, though he acknowledged that \"a lot of people will disagree with that.\"\nHe also noted that many people misconstrue the controlled substance scheduling regime as a ranking of drugs' relative dangers. Clearly, he said, marijuana is not as dangerous as heroin, LSD and perhaps some of the opioids in Schedule 2. \"It's not the Richter Scale,\" he said. But that doesn't mean cannabis and its extracts are safe for medical use and not prone to abuse, he added.\nAcademic researchers have complained that registration and application requirements to work with Schedule I drugs make studying their purported benefits difficult. The DEA, however, says the number of researchers registered to study marijuana and its components has doubled in the past two years.\nThe governors of Rhode Island and Washington, and a New Mexico resident, Bryan A. Krumm, petitioned the DEA to remove marijuana from Schedule I. The agency most recently rejected a similar request in 2011, touching off a legal battle to force reclassification in which the DEA ultimately prevailed.\nWith so many states allowing the use of cannabis components for health reasons, Rosenberg acknowledged the conflict with the federal government's posture. But he said prescribers need not fear that the announcement signals a federal crackdown.\n\"We are not changing our enforcement priorities,\" he said.\nIt is unclear how many more facilities would be allowed to grow marijuana for researchers under the new rules. But the government signaled its intent to end the effective monopoly on cultivation maintained by NIDA and the University of Mississippi, officials said. That would allow a greater supply and a wider variety of products for research. Growers would apply to DEA, not NIDA, for permission to cultivate.\n\"If petitioners meet our criteria, and they can assure us that this stuff can be handled safely and securely,\" they likely will be given permission to cultivate marijuana for research purposes, he said.\nThe new policy also contains a \u201cstatement of principles\u201d that reminds growers of the provisions of a 2014 law that governs the use of industrial hemp. The plant is a cannabis variant that contains a low concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical responsible for most of marijuana\u2019s impact on the brain.\nChristopher Ingraham contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nThe DEA's latest stance on marijuana, explained"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "e048d322-baed-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_5", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "e048d322-baed-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_5", "title": "One-third of long-term users say they\u2019re hooked on prescription opioids", "text": "he had no trouble giving up the drugs when he tried, but his pain returned and he was forced to resume taking them. \u201cIf they actually stopped you from getting the [drugs], it would be very difficult for me,\u201d Stonesifer said. \u201cIt would put me in a wheelchair instead of being able to get around. And once you\u2019re in a wheelchair, you never get up.\u201d Nancy Horton, 62, of Martinsburg, W.Va., admits that she is addicted to the 190 milligrams of oxycodone she takes daily to dull the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Without the drugs, \u201cI get the shakes. I am very anxious,\u201d she said. \u201cI just pace constantly. I can\u2019t get comfortable.\u201d After 15 years on opioids, she said, \u201cI look back now and think, \u2018What could I have done differently?\u2019 \u201d Sizable minorities of respondents report using the drugs for purposes other than managing pain. Such behavior is much more common among people who say they are addicted or physically dependent on opioids. Among this group, 47 percent say they sometimes take the drugs for \u201cfun or to get high\u201d; 38 percent use them to \u201cdeal with day-to-day stress\u201d; and 30 percent use them to \u201crelax or relieve tension.\u201d Side effects are widespread. Over half of long-term users said that they have experienced constipation; almost as many felt indigestion, dry mouth or nausea; and 15 percent said that they have had breathing problems. One in 5 (21 percent) have taken additional medications to treat those symptoms. More than half (52 percent) of long-term users said that they have taken other prescription medications for anxiety, depression and sleeplessness while on opioids, and 1 in 6 said that they have consumed the drugs along with alcohol \u2014 risky combinations that could have dire consequences. Overall, nearly 6 in 10 said that they take at least four prescription drugs, and about one-third said that they take seven or more medications. The survey revealed a largely positive relationship between opioid consumers and their doctors. Large majorities said doctors have warned them to avoid alcohol, cautioned them about possible side effects and explained the risk of addiction. But 61 percent said that their doctors did not suggest a plan for getting off the drugs when they were first prescribed, and more than half said doctors have not altered their dose or frequency. Among long-term users who stopped taking opioids, 34 percent said the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "UNNATURAL CAUSES | SICK AND DYING IN SMALL-TOWN AMERICA:\nRespondents who took part in The Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey on long-term, opioid painkiller use share their experiences of living with pain.\nOne-third of Americans who have taken prescription opioids for at least two months say they became addicted to, or physically dependent on, the powerful painkillers, according to a new Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey.\nVirtually all long-term users surveyed said that they were introduced to the drugs by a doctor\u2019s prescription, not by friends or through illicit means. But more than 6 in 10 said doctors offered no advice on how or when to stop taking the drugs. And 1 in 5 said doctors provided insufficient information about the risk of side effects, including addiction.\nThe survey raises sharp questions about the responsibility of doctors for an epidemic of addiction and overdose that has claimed nearly 180,000 lives since 2000. Opioid deaths surged to more than 30,000 last year, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with deaths from heroin alone surpassing the toll from gun homicides.\nDoctors have been widely blamed for sparking the crisis by overprescribing highly addictive opioids to treat everyday pain. The survey suggests that they are still doing too little to stop it.\n\u201cWhy isn\u2019t it 100\u00a0percent?\u201d demanded Gary Mendell, founder of Shatterproof, a grass-roots group dedicated to reducing addiction in the United States, referring to the share who say doctors have counseled them on stopping the medication. \u201cIt\u2019s unbelievable that it\u2019s not 100\u00a0percent.\u201d\n\nPatrice A. Harris, chairwoman of the American Medical Association\u2019s Board of Trustees and chair of its task force to reduce opioid abuse, acknowledged that doctors could do more to counsel patients on avoiding addiction.\n\u201cThe doctors that I have talked to are discussing this with their patients,\u201d Harris said. But, citing the survey, she added: \u201cWe could certainly do a better job.\u201d\nDespite the high rate of dependence, the poll finds that a majority of long-term opioid users say the drugs have dramatically improved their lives. Opioids relieve pain that is otherwise in\u00adtrac\u00adtable, they said in follow-up interviews, allowing them to walk, work and pursue other activities. Fully two-thirds of users surveyed said relief is well worth the risk of addiction.\nPeople living with opioid users tend to have a darker view of the drugs\u2019 effects. While one-third of users say they are hooked, more than half of people living with them suspect addiction, the survey found. Family members are also far more likely to say the drugs have damaged the users\u2019 physical and mental health, finances and personal relationships.\n\nStill, the survey\u2019s findings highlight a fundamental conflict: While the drugs are a scourge for many, they are a godsend to others, especially the estimated 100\u00a0million Americans who live in chronic pain. Efforts by policymakers to restrict use have been met with outrage.\n\u201cWe\u2019re not saying that no one should ever be on these pills,\u201d but most people would be \u201chealthier and more functional if they were off them,\u201d said CDC Director Tom Frieden, who this spring urged doctors to sharply limit the number of pills they prescribe.\n\u201cThe bottom line here is that prescription opiates are as addictive as heroin. They\u2019re dangerous drugs,\u201d Frieden said. \u201cYou take a few pills, you can be addicted for life. You take a few too many and you can die.\u201d\nOpioid abuse \u2014 both prescription painkillers and their chemical cousins, heroin and fentanyl \u2014 is the main cause of rising death rates among middle-aged white Americans, particularly women in rural areas. It also has contributed to the first overall decline in U.S. life expectancy at birth in more than two decades, the government reported Thursday.\nIn 2014, U.S. doctors wrote 240\u00a0million prescriptions for opiates, enough for every adult to have their own bottle of pills. The CDC estimated that about 2.1\u00a0million Americans are addicted to legal narcotics.\nIn the first-ever guidelines on opioids for physicians, the CDC in March urged doctors to try nonnarcotic methods before offering patients pills containing oxycodone, hydrocodone and other opioids. The guidelines noted that there is little evidence that opioids are effective beyond 12\u00a0weeks.\n\u201cThree days or less will often be sufficient; more than seven days will rarely be needed,\u201d the guidelines say.\nBut many people take the drugs much longer. In the past two years, about 5\u00a0percent of American adults have used prescription opioids for at least two months, the poll found; about half of those report taking the drugs for two years or more.\n\nFor the survey, one of the most comprehensive polls of long-term opioid users to date, The Post and Kaiser interviewed 622 people who said that they had taken narcotic painkillers for at least two months over the past two years. The survey also included 187 people who said they share a household with an opioid user, usually a spouse or a parent.\nThe survey did not include people who were treated for cancer or a terminal illness. At the time of the interview, 45\u00a0percent of long-term users were no longer taking the drugs, while 55\u00a0percent were still taking them. Users were slightly more likely than the general public to be white and far more apt to be middle-aged.\nNearly all long-term users (95\u00a0percent) said that they began taking the drugs to relieve pain from surgery, an injury or a chronic condition. Just 3\u00a0percent said that they started as recreational users.\nMore than 8 in 10 said that they tried to manage their pain with nonnarcotic medication; about 7 in 10 said that they tried alternative treatments, such as physical therapy and acupuncture. More than half (57\u00a0percent) found those methods ineffective.\n\nCharles Stonesifer, 74, a former bricklayer who lives in Baltimore, has taken Tylenol with codeine and then Tramadol over the past two years. \u201cBoth my knees are shot,\u201d he said, adding that he would be unable to walk without narcotics.\nStonesifer said that he had no trouble giving up the drugs when he tried, but his pain returned and he was forced to resume taking them.\n\u201cIf they actually stopped you from getting the [drugs], it would be very difficult for me,\u201d Stonesifer said. \u201cIt would put me in a wheelchair instead of being able to get around. And once you\u2019re in a wheelchair, you never get up.\u201d\nNancy Horton, 62, of Martinsburg, W.Va., admits that she is addicted to the 190\u00a0milligrams of oxycodone she takes daily to dull the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Without the drugs, \u201cI get the shakes. I am very anxious,\u201d she said. \u201cI just pace constantly. I can\u2019t get comfortable.\u201d\nAfter 15 years on opioids, she said, \u201cI look back now and think, \u2018What could I have done differently?\u2019\u2009\u201d\nSizable minorities of respondents report using the drugs for purposes other than managing pain. Such behavior is much more common among people who say they are addicted or physically dependent on opioids. Among this group, 47\u00a0percent say they sometimes take the drugs for \u201cfun or to get high\u201d; 38\u00a0percent use them to \u201cdeal with day-to-day stress\u201d; and 30\u00a0percent use them to \u201crelax or relieve tension.\u201d\nSide effects are widespread. Over half of long-term users said that they have experienced constipation; almost as many felt indigestion, dry mouth or nausea; and 15\u00a0percent said that they have had breathing problems. One in 5 (21\u00a0percent) have taken additional medications to treat those symptoms.\nMore than half (52\u00a0percent) of long-term users said that they have taken other prescription medications for anxiety, depression and sleeplessness while on opioids, and 1 in 6 said that they have consumed the drugs along with alcohol \u2014 risky combinations that could have dire consequences. Overall, nearly 6 in 10 said that they take at least four prescription drugs, and about one-third said that they take seven or more medications.\n\nThe survey revealed a largely positive relationship between opioid consumers and their doctors. Large majorities said doctors have warned them to avoid alcohol, cautioned them about possible side effects and explained the risk of addiction.\nBut 61\u00a0percent said that their doctors did not suggest a plan for getting off the drugs when they were first prescribed, and more than half said doctors have not altered their dose or frequency. Among long-term users who stopped taking opioids, 34\u00a0percent said the termination of their prescription was a reason.\nJust 4\u00a0percent said that they have a prescription for naloxone, the drug that can be administered by someone else in an emergency to reverse the effect of an overdose.\n\nWhile about a quarter of long-term users said a friend or family member has suggested they stop taking the drug, two-thirds said that they are \u201cnot too\u201d or \u201cnot at all\u201d concerned about becoming addicted. And about 6 in 10 of those who report being addicted have not sought treatment or other help.\nYngvild Olsen, chair of the American Society of Addiction Medicine\u2019s public policy committee, said doctors \u201chave a vital role to play in addressing the epidemic, not only by changing their prescribing patterns and learning a lot more about chronic pain management and addiction, but also by stepping up to the plate in learning how to treat addiction.\u201d\nEmily Guskin, Monica Akhtar and Erin Patrick O\u2019Connor contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "e83794274df6e2d65f8d8d1fdf6256a0_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "e83794274df6e2d65f8d8d1fdf6256a0_1", "title": "The American Legion wants the federal government to change course on marijuana", "text": "military veterans, has called on Congress to remove marijuana from Schedule 1 of the federal Controlled Substances Act and \"reclassify it in a category that, at a minimum will recognize cannabis as a drug with potential medical value.\" In a resolution passed at the Legion's annual convention last week, the organization said it hopes that better research into marijuana and an official acknowledgment of its potential medical benefits will hasten the development of new treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, ailments that have plagued veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Legion's resolution, published online by Marijuana.com, noted that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration recently approved the country's first randomized, controlled trial using whole-plant, smoked marijuana to treat PTSD symptoms. That study will be conducted by Sue Sisley, an Arizona researcher who tried for nearly a decade to get a green light for the research but struggled to find an academic institution to sponsor it. The University of Colorado ultimately agreed to fund the research. During an address at the Legion's convention in Cincinnati, Sisley told members that \"veterans are exhausted and feel like guinea pigs; they\u2019re getting desperate\u201d and that traditional medications didn't seem to be providing adequate relief to many vets suffering from PTSD. The DEA recently reaffirmed its decades-old policy of classifying marijuana among the most dangerous drugs, citing its \"high potential for abuse\" and \"no currently accepted medical use.\" That position has faced increasing criticism from federal and state lawmakers, physicians, researchers and even some law enforcement groups. Medical marijuana is extremely popular with voters: A June Quinnipiac University poll found that 89 percent supported the use of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. A separate survey by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America found that 68 percent of responding members supported legalizing medical marijuana in their state, and 75 percent said that the Department of Veterans Affairs should allow medical marijuana as a treatment option. A DEA position paper from 2013 states that \"smoked marijuana has not withstood the rigors of science \u2014 it is not medicine, and it is not safe.\" More from Wonkblog: Legal marijuana is doing what the drug war couldn't An unprecedented number of states will vote on marijuana this fall The \u2018mostly false\u2019 argument that could derail legal weed in California Middle-aged parents are now more likely to smoke weed than their teenage kids"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Army veteran Perry Parks of Rockingham, N.C., attends a demonstration in front of the White House in November to bring awareness to the overmedication of veterans and advocate\u00a0for federal legalization of\u00a0medical marijuana. (Ricky Carioti/ The Washington Post)\nThe American Legion, a group representing 2.4\u00a0million U.S. military veterans, has called on Congress\u00a0to remove marijuana from Schedule 1 of the federal Controlled Substances Act and \"reclassify it in a category that, at a minimum will recognize cannabis\u00a0as a drug with potential medical value.\"\nIn a resolution\u00a0passed at the Legion's annual convention last week,\u00a0the organization said it\u00a0hopes that better research into marijuana and an official acknowledgment of its potential medical benefits will hasten the development of new treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, ailments that have plagued veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.\nThe Legion's resolution,\u00a0published online by Marijuana.com,\u00a0noted that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration recently approved the country's first randomized, controlled trial\u00a0using whole-plant, smoked marijuana to treat PTSD symptoms. That study will be conducted by Sue Sisley, an Arizona researcher who tried for nearly a decade\u00a0to get a green light for the research but struggled to find an academic institution to sponsor it. The University of Colorado ultimately agreed to fund the research.\nDuring an address\u00a0at the Legion's convention in Cincinnati, Sisley told\u00a0members that \"veterans are exhausted and feel like guinea pigs; they\u2019re getting desperate\u201d\u00a0and that traditional medications didn't seem to be providing adequate relief to many vets suffering from PTSD.\nThe DEA\u00a0recently reaffirmed its decades-old policy of classifying marijuana among the most dangerous drugs, citing its \"high potential for abuse\" and \"no currently accepted medical use.\" That position has faced\u00a0increasing criticism from\u00a0federal and state lawmakers, physicians, researchers\u00a0and even some law enforcement groups.\nMedical marijuana is extremely popular with voters: A June Quinnipiac University poll found that 89 percent supported the use of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. A separate survey by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America\u00a0found that 68 percent of responding members supported legalizing medical marijuana in their state, and 75 percent said that the Department of Veterans Affairs should allow medical marijuana as a treatment option.\nA DEA position paper from 2013 states that \"smoked marijuana has not withstood the rigors of science \u2014 it is not medicine, and it is not safe.\"\nMore from Wonkblog:\nLegal marijuana is doing what the drug war couldn't\nAn unprecedented number of states will vote on marijuana this fall\nThe \u2018mostly false\u2019 argument that could derail legal weed in California\nMiddle-aged parents are now more likely to smoke weed than their teenage kids"}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "e938eb71c105a2bb18e45aa06c446c0b_2", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "e938eb71c105a2bb18e45aa06c446c0b_2", "title": "Justin Trudeau may have made the best case for legal pot ever", "text": "will inevitably lead to increased use among teens and adolescents. This would obviously be a problem, because younger users are more at risk for marijuana dependency than adults, and heavy use among teens has been linked to a whole host of social and mental health problems. But Trudeau points to an easy-to-overlook fact: It's already incredibly easy for teenagers to get high if they want to. In 2015, for instance, nearly 80 percent of U.S. 12th-graders said it would be easy for them to obtain marijuana. It's clear, in other words, that current policies centered on making the drug completely illegal are doing little to keep it out of the hands of kids who want to use it. Trudeau argues that taking pot out of the black market and putting it under the aegis of a regulatory structure will actually make it harder for kids \u2014 those most susceptible to the drug's harms \u2014 to obtain it. We don't really know yet if that's the case. Legalization experiments in Colorado and elsewhere are still too young to draw sweeping conclusions about the effects of legalization on teen use and access. That said, the early data is encouraging. A recent study published in Lancet Psychiatry found that the over the past decade or so \u2014 as 13 states passed medical-marijuana laws, 10 states relaxed penalties for marijuana use, and Colorado and Washington became the first states to fully legalize recreational pot use \u2014 not only have national teen marijuana use rates declined, but problems associated with teen marijuana use, like dependency, have fallen too. Beyond that, the latest federal data shows no significant year-over-year change in marijuana use among teens in Colorado and Washington in the year after marijuana became legal there. Experts say none of this is particularly surprising. \"Most of the legal changes have pertained only to those 21 and over, so the absence of a big increase in teens is exactly what you\u2019d expect,\" Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon University told me late last year. In short, it may be the case that marijuana legalization will have a much smaller impact on teen use rates than once feared. This doesn't mean that legalization doesn't bring risks of its own, however. If marijuana is more widely available, more people will use it, and a certain percent of them will develop a dependency on the drug. And another subset of"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Justin Trudeau says legalizing marijuana is the best way to keep this baby from smoking marijuana. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press via AP)\nSpeaking Wednesday\u00a0at an economic conference, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made one of the more buttoned-down, straight-edged arguments for marijuana legalization I've heard in recent years. It's worth quoting at length so I've done that below:\nLook, our approach on legalizing marijuana is not about creating a boutique industry or bringing in tax revenue, it\u2019s based on two very simple principles:\nThe first one is, young people have easier access to cannabis now, in Canada, than they do in just about any other countries in the world. [Of] 29 different countries studied by the U.N., Canada was number one in terms of underage access to marijuana. And whatever you might think or studies seen about cannabis being less harmful than alcohol or even cigarettes, the fact is it is bad for the developing brain and we need to make sure that it\u2019s harder for underage Canadians to access marijuana. And that will happen under a controlled and regulated regime.\nThe other piece of it is there are billions upon billions of dollars flowing into the pockets of organized crime, street gangs and gun-runners, because of the illicit marijuana trade, and if we can get that out of the criminal elements and into a more regulated fashion we will reduce the amount of criminal activity that\u2019s profiting from those, and that has offshoots into so many other criminal activities. So those are my focuses on that.\nI have no doubt that Canadians and entrepreneurs will be tremendously innovative in finding ways to create positive economic benefits from the legalization and control of marijuana, but our focus is on protecting kids and protecting our streets.\nTrudeau made these remarks in response to a conference participant who\u00a0said that \"Canada could be to cannabis as France is to wine.\" These enthusiastic predictions about the burgeoning marijuana industry \u2014 billions of dollars in revenue and taxes, thousands of jobs created -- should be familiar to anyone who's followed efforts to legalize pot here in the United States.\nBut Trudeau's argument for legalization is concerned less with creating benefits, and more with reducing harms.\u00a0He starts from the same place that many legalization\u00a0opponents start from \u2014 concern for the safety of children.\nOpponents of legalization have always argued that relaxing marijuana laws will inevitably lead to increased use among teens and adolescents. This would obviously be a\u00a0problem, because younger users are more at risk for marijuana dependency than adults, and heavy use among teens has been linked to a whole host of social and mental health problems.\nBut Trudeau points to an easy-to-overlook fact: It's\u00a0already\u00a0incredibly easy for teenagers to get high if they want to. In 2015, for instance, nearly 80 percent of U.S. 12th-graders said it would be easy for them to obtain marijuana. It's clear, in other words, that current policies centered on making the drug completely illegal are doing little to keep it out of the hands of kids who want to use it.\nTrudeau argues that taking pot out of the black market and putting it under the aegis of a regulatory structure will actually make it harder for kids \u2014 those most susceptible to the drug's harms \u2014 to obtain it. We don't really know yet if that's the case. Legalization experiments in Colorado and elsewhere are still too young to draw sweeping conclusions about the effects of legalization on teen use and access.\nThat said, the early data is encouraging. A recent study published in Lancet Psychiatry\u00a0found that the over the past decade or so \u2014 as 13 states passed medical-marijuana laws, 10 states relaxed penalties for\u00a0marijuana use, and Colorado and Washington became the first states to fully legalize recreational pot use \u2014 not only have national teen marijuana use rates\u00a0declined, but problems associated with teen marijuana use, like dependency, have fallen too.\nBeyond that, the latest federal data shows no significant year-over-year change in marijuana use among teens in Colorado and Washington in the year after marijuana became legal there.\nExperts say none of this is particularly surprising.\u00a0\"Most of the legal changes have pertained only to those 21 and over, so the absence of a big increase in teens is exactly what you\u2019d expect,\" Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon University told me late last year.\nIn short, it may be the case that marijuana legalization will have a much smaller impact on teen use rates than once feared. This doesn't mean that legalization doesn't bring risks of its own, however. If marijuana is more widely available, more people will use it, and a certain percent of them will develop a dependency on the drug. And another subset of users will end up doing incredibly stupid or dangerous things while high.\nBut the question is weighing these very real risks of harm against the harms\u00a0that are already occurring because of prohibition. Marijuana prohibition ruins lives \u2014 lives of the hundreds of thousands of people arrested for possessing the drug each year, or the lives of thousands of people put behind bars for years on account of simple marijuana possession, or the lives of people living in the communities wracked by violence when rival drug gangs fight over turf and put innocents in the crossfire.\nTrudeau is saying that this current approach isn't working, and that people legitimately concerned over the harms of the drug trade should consider a radically different approach. So far, the evidence is backing him up.\nCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Washington for the White House state dinner, and Twitter users remarked on the \"bromance\" friendship between Trudeau and President Obama."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "f278b17015610a4064d9cafdd5a4580d_0", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "f278b17015610a4064d9cafdd5a4580d_0", "title": "These are the states that could legalize pot next", "text": "Marijuana legalization now enjoys majority support in the U.S. -- 52 percent of Americans support legalization, 42 percent oppose it, and 7 percent remain undecided, according to the latest General Social Survey. But most changes to marijuana law aren't happening at the federal level, they're happening in the states. In some, possession and use remains a crime. Other states have decriminalized possession of small amounts, 24 have legalized marijuana for medical use, and 4 states plus Washington, D.C., have gone fully legal. There are as many shades of grey (or green) between these policies as there are states. So it's useful to have some sense of public attitudes toward marijuana at the state level, especially considering marijuana will be on the ballot in many states in 2016. No polling outlet that I'm aware of has released comprehensive state-level results for attitudes toward marijuana legalization. But the question has been asked in most states by a variety of polling firms in recent years, and I thought it might be useful to compile all those results in once place. So here they are. Since late 2012, marijuana legalization questions have been asked in at least 38 states. In 25 of those states, majorities supported legalization. In another 5 states, there wasn't majority support for or opposition against legalization -- results were very close, in other words. And in 8 states, majorities opposed legalization. Methodology is important here. Most of these state results shouldn't be directly compared to each other, which is why I'm simply sorting states into qualitative categories rather than doing a numeric comparison of support. The reason is that question wording across these surveys varies considerably, and we know that question wording has a strong effect on marijuana survey results. But each of the surveys I included were scientifically conducted by credible polling firms. They offer representative samples of the populations of their respective states. They all ask about support for the full legalization of marijuana -- not just support for medical marijuana, or for decriminalization, but for legalizing recreational use. I've included all the detailed information, including question wording, survey firm, sample size, survey date, and a link to the raw results in a table below, so you can check it out for yourself. For Alaska, D.C. and Oregon, I used the actual results of last fall's ballot initiatives, since those represent the most recent (and most accurate!) barometer"}], "old": [{"_id": "f278b17015610a4064d9cafdd5a4580d_0", "title": "These are the states that could legalize pot next", "text": "Since late 2012, marijuana legalization questions have been asked in at least 38 states. In 25 of those states, majorities supported legalization. In another 5 states, there wasn't majority support for or opposition against legalization -- results were very close, in other words. And in 8 states, majorities opposed legalization. Methodology is important here. Most of these state results shouldn't be directly compared to each other, which is why I'm simply sorting states into qualitative categories rather than doing a numeric comparison of support. The reason is that question wording across these surveys varies considerably, and we know that question wording has a strong effect on marijuana survey results. But each of the surveys I included were scientifically conducted by credible polling firms. They offer representative samples of the populations of their respective states. They all ask about support for the full legalization of marijuana -- not just support for medical marijuana, or for decriminalization, but for legalizing recreational use. I've included all the detailed information, including question wording, survey firm, sample size, survey date, and a link to the raw results in a table below, so you can check it out for yourself. For Alaska, D.C. and Oregon, I used the actual results of last fall's ballot initiatives, since those represent the most recent (and most accurate!) barometer of support in those states. It's important to remember that majority support in a state now doesn't equal sure-fire victory. Some of these measures may not even quality for the ballot. In other cases, voters may sour on the details of specific proposals as they learn more about them. And in just about all of these cases, the public is closely divided between support on opposition. Even given these caveats, however, it's useful to get an assessment of the lay of the land as we head in to 2016. The full list of state polls is below. Did I miss anything? Let me know. State Legalization support (%) Question wording Source and link Sample size Population surveyed Date Alabama -- Alaska 53 Ballot measure: \"This bill would tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana in Alaska. The bill would make the use of marijuana legal for persons 21 years of age or older. The bill would allow a person to possess, use, show, buy, transport, or grow set amounts of marijuana, with the growing subject to certain restrictions.\""}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Marijuana legalization now enjoys majority support in the U.S. -- 52 percent\u00a0of Americans support legalization, 42 percent oppose it, and 7 percent remain undecided, according to the latest General Social Survey.\nBut\u00a0most changes to marijuana law aren't happening at the federal level, they're happening in the states. In some,\u00a0possession and use remains a crime. Other states have decriminalized possession of small amounts, 24 have legalized marijuana for medical use, and 4 states plus Washington, D.C.,\u00a0have gone fully legal. There are as many shades of grey (or green) between these policies as there are states.\nSo it's useful to have some sense of public attitudes toward marijuana at the state level, especially considering marijuana will be on the ballot in many states in 2016. No polling outlet that I'm aware of has released comprehensive state-level results for attitudes toward marijuana legalization. But the question has been asked in most states by a variety of polling firms in recent years, and I thought it might be useful to compile all those results in once place. So here they are.\n\nSince late 2012, marijuana legalization questions have been asked in at least 38 states. In 25 of those states, majorities supported legalization. In another 5 states, there wasn't majority support for or opposition against legalization -- results were very close, in other words. And in 8 states, majorities opposed legalization.\nMethodology is important here. Most of these state results shouldn't be directly compared to each other, which is why I'm simply sorting states into qualitative categories rather than doing a numeric comparison of support. The reason is that question wording across these surveys varies considerably, and we know that question wording has a strong effect on marijuana survey results.\nBut each of the surveys I included were scientifically conducted by credible polling firms. They offer representative samples of the populations of their respective states. They all ask about support for the full legalization of marijuana -- not just support for medical marijuana, or for decriminalization, but for legalizing recreational use. I've included all the detailed information, including question wording, survey firm, sample size, survey date, and a link to the raw results in a table below, so you can check it out for yourself. For Alaska, D.C.\u00a0and Oregon, I used the actual results of last fall's ballot initiatives, since those represent the most recent (and most accurate!) barometer of support in those states.\nAccording to Ballotpedia, a legislation-tracking website, legalization initiatives may appear on the ballot in 11\u00a0states in 2016, as well as Ohio this year. Among those 12\u00a0states, the latest survey results show majority support for legalization in six\u00a0-- Arizona, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio. In two\u00a0states -- Maine and Missouri -- there isn't a majority for or against legalization. And in four states -- Arkansas, Mississippi, Montana and Wyoming -- state-level polling hasn't been done.\nIt's important to remember that majority support in a state now doesn't equal sure-fire victory. Some of these measures may not even quality for the ballot. In other cases, voters may sour on the details of specific proposals as they learn more about them. And in just about all of these cases, the public is closely divided between support on opposition.\nEven given these caveats, however, it's useful to get an assessment of the lay of the land as we head in to 2016. The full list of state polls is below. Did I miss anything? Let me know.\nState\nLegalization support (%)\nQuestion wording\nSource and link\nSample size\nPopulation surveyed\nDate\n\n\nAlabama\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlaska\n53\nBallot measure: \"This bill would tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana in Alaska. The bill would make the use of marijuana legal for persons 21 years of age or older. The bill would allow a person to possess, use, show, buy, transport, or grow set amounts of marijuana, with the growing subject to certain restrictions.\"\nBallot measure\nall\nvoters\nNov-14\n\n\nArizona\n53\n\u201cDo you favor or oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\u201d(% who favor)\nBehavior Research Center's Rocky Mountain Poll\n701\nvoters\nMay-15\n\n\nArkansas\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCalifornia\n54\n\u201cNext, in general, do you think the use of marijuana should be legal, or not?\"(% saying \"Yes, legal\")\nPublic Policy Institute of California\n1706\nadults\nMay-15\n\n\nColorado\n62\n\"Do you support or oppose allowing adults in {{STATE}} to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nQuinnipiac University Poll\n894\nvoters\nApr-15\n\n\nConnecticut\n63\n\"Do you support or oppose allowing adults in Connecticut to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nQuinnipiac University Poll\n1235\nvoters\nMar-15\n\n\nDC\n70\nBallot measure: \"Legalization of Possession of Minimal Amounts of Marijuana for Personal Use Act of 2014\"\nBallot measure\nall\nvoters\nNov-14\n\n\nDelaware\n56\n\"Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not?\"\nUniversity of Delaware's Center for Political Communication\n902\nadults\nSep-14\n\n\nFlorida\n55\n\"Do you support or oppose allowing adults in {{STATE}} to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nQuinnipiac University Poll\n1087\nvoters\nApr-15\n\n\nGeorgia\n49\n\"Should the general assembly in Georgia legalize the use of marijuana by adults, or not?\" (% saying \"yes\")\nAtlanta Journal-Constitution\n905\nadults\nJan-15\n\n\nHawaii\n66\n\"What if Hawaii decided to legalize the use of marijuana by adults and regulated its sale and collected tax money from the sale? \u2026 yes, to tax and regulate; or no, to leave marijuana use by afdults a crim?\" (percent saying \"yes\")\nQ-mark research\n400\nvoters\nJan-14\n\n\nIdaho\n31\n\"Do you support or oppose the legalization of marijuana in Idaho?\" (% who \"strongly\" or \"somewhat\" support)\nIdaho Politics Weekly\n605\nadults\nJan-15\n\n\nIllinois\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIndiana\n52\n\"Marijuana use is currently illegal in Indiana. Would you favor or oppose a change in the law that makes marijuana a regulated substance much like the way we regulate the use of alcohol and tobacco products?\" (% saying \"favor\")\nBowen Center for Public ffairs\n600\nadults\nOct-13\n\n\nIowa\n47\n\"Do you support or oppose allowing adults in {{STATE}} to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nQuinnipiac University Poll\n948\nvoters\nApr-15\n\n\nKansas\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKentucky\n38\n\"Do you favor or oppose the Commonwealth of Kentucky allowing residents to buy and use marijuana in the following situations?\" (percent favoring \"under any circumstances\")\nKentucky Health Issues Poll\n1,680\nadults\nOct-12\n\n\nLouisiana\n45\n\"Would you favor or oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"favor\")\nLouisiana State University\n514\nadults\nJan-15\n\n\nMaine\n48\n\"Do you think marijuana usage should be legal or illegal in Maine?\" (% saying \"legal\")\nPublic Policy Polling\n953\nadults\nAug-13\n\n\nMaryland\n52\n\"In general, do you support or oppose making the use of marijuana legal in Maryland?\" (% saying \"support\" or \"strongly support\")\nGoucher Poll\n619\nadults\nFeb-15\n\n\nMassachusetts\n53\n\"In general, do you favor or oppose the legalization of marijuana? \" (% saying \"favor\")\nSuffolk University/Boston Herald\n600\nlikely voters\nFeb-14\n\n\nMichigan\n51\n\"Would you support or oppose the legalization of marijuana for recreational use if it was regulated and taxed like alcohol?\" (% saying \"strongly\" or \"somewhat\" support)\nMarketing Research Group\n600\nlikely voters\nApr-15\n\n\nMinnesota\n46\n\"Do you think marijuana should be made legal or not?\" (% saying \"yes\")\nSt. Cloud State University Survey\n626\nadults\nOct-13\n\n\nMississippi\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMissouri\n45\nFull text of proposed ballot measure to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana (percent supporting ballot measure)\nGreenberg Quinlan Rosner Research\n500\nlikely voters\nFeb-14\n\n\nMontana\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNebraska\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNevada\n54\n\"Would you support or oppose the legalization of marijuana for recreational use if it was regulated and taxed like alcohol?\" (% saying \"strongly\" or \"somewhat\" support)\nMoore Information\n500\nvoters\nSep-13\n\n\nNew Hampshire\n54\n\"Do you support or oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal recreational use in New Hampshire?\" (% saying \"strongly\" or \"somewhat\" support)\nThe WMUR Granite State Poll\n567\nadults\nMay-15\n\n\nNew Jersey\n58\n\"Thinking about the issue in general, to what extent do you personally support or oppose legalizing, taxing, and regulating marijuana for adults 21 and over? Do you strongly support it, somewhat support it, somewhat oppose it, or strongly oppose it?\"\nRutgers-Eagleton Poll\n860\nadults\nApr-15\n\n\nNew Mexico\n44\n\u201cDo you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults in New Mexico, with a tax and regulation system, similar to Colorado?\u201d(% saying \"support\")\nAlbuquerque Journal poll\n500\nlikely voters\nSep-14\n\n\nNew York\n51\n\"Do you support or oppose allowing adults in New York State to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nQuinnipiac University Poll\n1129\nvoters\nApr-14\n\n\nNorth Carolina\n37\n\"Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not?\"\nPublic Policy Polling\n845\nvoters\nJan-15\n\n\nNorth Dakota\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOhio\n52\n\"Do you support or oppose allowing adults in {{STATE}} to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nQuinnipiac University Poll\n1077\nvoters\nApr-15\n\n\nOklahoma\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOregon\n56\nA ballot initiative that \"Allows possession, manufacture, sale of marijuana by/to adults, subject to state licensing, regulation, taxation\"\nBallot initiative\nall\nvoters\nNov-14\n\n\nPennsylvania\n51\n\"Do you support or oppose allowing adults in {{STATE}} to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nQuinnipiac University Poll\n1036\nvoters\nApr-15\n\n\nRhode Island\n57\n\"Since 2012, four states - Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon - have changed their laws to regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol for legal use by adults who are 21 and older. Would you support or oppose changing Rhode Island law to regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol?\" (% saying \"support\")\nPublic Policy Polling\n763\nvoters\nApr-15\n\n\nSouth Carolina\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSouth Dakota\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTennessee\n32\n\"Which comes closer to your view about the use of marijuana by adults? It should be legal for personal use, it should be legal only for medicinal use, or it should not be legal?\" (% saying it should be legal for personal use)\nVanderbilt University\n1505\nadults\nMay-14\n\n\nTexas\n58\n\"The voters in Colorado and Washington changed their laws to allow marijuana to be regulated similarly to alcohol for adults age 21 and older. Would you support or oppose changing Texas law to regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol, where stores would be licensed to sell marijuana to adults 21 and older?\" (% who \"strongly\" or \"somewhat\" support)\nPublic Policy Polling\n860\nvoters\nSep-13\n\n\nUtah\n--\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVermont\n54\n\"Do you support or oppose passing a similar law (to legalize recreational marijuana) in Vermont to legalize and regulate marijunana for recreational use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nCastleton Polling Institute\n700\nadults\nFeb-15\n\n\nVirginia\n54\n\"Do you support or oppose allowing adults in {{STATE}} to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use?\" (% saying \"support\")\nQuinnipiac University Poll\n961\nvoters\nApr-15\n\n\nWashington\n56\n\"In general, do you think marijuana usage should be legal or illegal?\" (% saying \"legal\")\nPublic Policy Polling\n879\nvoters\nMay-15\n\n\nWest Virginia\n46\n\"Two states -- Colorado and Washington -- recently changed their laws to regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol, for legal use by adults age 21 and older. Would you support or oppose changing West Virginia law to regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol, so stores would be licensed to sell marijuana to adults 21 and older?\" (% who support)\nPublic Policy Polling\n614\nvoters\nDec-13\n\n\nWisconsin\n46\n\"Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not?\" (% saying \"yes\")\nMarquette Law School Survey\n800\nvoters\nSep-14\n\n\nWyoming\nCORRECTION: An earlier version of this post contained an incorrect result for Louisiana. The percentage of Louisiana residents who favor marijuana legalization is 45 percent."}
{"qid": 950, "pid": "fde2158c-99f1-11e1-9c00-4876538800d6_1", "query_info": {"_id": 950, "text": "Find information about the popularity of traditional painkillers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-nausea drugs in states that adopted medical marijuana laws.", "instruction_og": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs.", "instruction_changed": "Studies indicate that medical marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; AIDS; and spasms. Overall, most of the same studies report that there has been a decrease in a variety of drugs, especially pain-killers, in states that have adopted medical marijuana laws. Among the older population, medical marijuana is reportedly improving their quality of life, making them less dependent widely prescribed opioid painkillers and other drugs. Documents mentioning Washington are relevant.", "short_query": "Find scholarly articles that support this question's claims.", "keywords": "scholarly support"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "fde2158c-99f1-11e1-9c00-4876538800d6_1", "title": "Aspiring D.C. pot dealers challenge rejections to sell medical marijuana", "text": "they have decided not to pursue legal action. For nearly a year, the women have used their retirement savings to lease a dispensary location in Shaw, hoping to provide medical marijuana to people with glaucoma, AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis. They want to know exactly where they fell short in their months-long application bid. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to waste their time or our time,\u201d Rice said. \u201cIt\u2019s confusing even to us.\u201d The health department, which is overseeing the roll-out of the medical marijuana program, relied on a panel of experts to score each application. The agency told one applicant that much of the proposal was \u201cadequate,\u201d but denied it anyway. It dinged at least three of the unsuccessful applicants for not providing a sample label even though the application didn\u2019t require one. Rice\u2019s group asked to see its scores through a request under the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act. But the agency refused to release the scores or other material that would shed light on the panel\u2019s decision-making process, arguing that a final announcement has not yet been made, and that such documents contain trade secrets. The scores are also part of confidential deliberations by government officials that the city is not legally obligated to disclose, said health department spokeswoman Najma Roberts. That explanation troubles the applicants who were turned away. \u201cI don\u2019t understand why this is so secretive, especially for something so high-profile,\u201d said Tom Lindenfeld, a local political consultant working with Compassion Centers, which is affiliated with an established dispensary operator in California. The two other groups that have filed appeals are the Health Company, which is led by Michael Duplessie, a Bethesda ophthalmologist, and the Free World Remedy, led by Jonathan Marlow, a competitive bass fisherman from Northern Virginia whose mother suffers from multiple sclerosis. The legal challenges are the latest wrinkle in a selection process marred by glitches from the start. Since passing a medical marijuana law in 2010, the District has taken a go-slow approach in an effort to avoid some of the mistakes that have been made in other jurisdictions, such as Colorado and California, where critics say medical marijuana has become little more than legalized drug dealing. The District\u2019s regulations are among the toughest in the country, with strict limits on how many plants can be grown, how much the dispensaries can charge and who can buy it. Only people with"}], "old": [{"_id": "fde2158c-99f1-11e1-9c00-4876538800d6_1", "title": "Aspiring D.C. pot dealers challenge rejections to sell medical marijuana", "text": "they have decided not to pursue legal action. For nearly a year, the women have used their retirement savings to lease a dispensary location in Shaw, hoping to provide medical marijuana to people with glaucoma, AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis. They want to know exactly where they fell short in their months-long application bid. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to waste their time or our time,\u201d Rice said. \u201cIt\u2019s confusing even to us.\u201d The health department, which is overseeing the roll-out of the medical marijuana program, relied on a panel of experts to score each application. The agency told one applicant that much of the proposal was \u201cadequate,\u201d but denied it anyway. It dinged at least three of the unsuccessful applicants for not providing a sample label even though the application didn\u2019t require one. Rice\u2019s group asked to see its scores through a request under the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act. But the agency refused to release the scores or other material that would shed light on the panel\u2019s decision-making process, arguing that a final announcement has not yet been made, and that such documents contain trade secrets. The scores are also part of confidential deliberations by government officials that the city is not legally obligated to disclose, said health department spokeswoman Najma Roberts. That explanation troubles the applicants who were turned away. \u201cI don\u2019t understand why this is so secretive, especially for something so high-profile,\u201d said Tom Lindenfeld, a local political consultant working with Compassion Centers, which is affiliated with an established dispensary operator in California. The two other groups that have filed appeals are the Health Company, which is led by Michael Duplessie, a Bethesda ophthalmologist, and the Free World Remedy, led by Jonathan Marlow, a competitive bass fisherman from Northern Virginia whose mother suffers from multiple sclerosis. The legal challenges are the latest wrinkle in a selection process marred by glitches from the start. The District\u2019s regulations are among the toughest in the country, with strict limits on how many plants can be grown, how much the dispensaries can charge and who can buy it. Only people with certain chronic conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma qualify; they are allowed two ounces in a 30-day period with a doctor\u2019s recommendation. The city began accepting applications The health department initially rejected some applicants for minor errors, such as leaving off e-mail addresses, then later let"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The medical marijuana advocacy group The Green House, LLC, meets May 4 to discuss their plans for trying to gain a license to be able to legally sell marijuana. Their initial application was rejected but the group is filing an appeal. (Jahi Chikwendiu/WASHINGTON POST)\nCorrection:\nJohnnie Scott Rice has held a lot of titles in her life: director of constituent services, advisory neighborhood commissioner, D.C. Council candidate. But there is one title she covets that has eluded her: District pot dealer.\nRice, 71, is part of the Green House, a self-proclaimed \u201cgroup of old ladies\u201d that the city recently turned down for a license to sell medical marijuana. Three other rejected applicants, including a Bethesda eye doctor and a competitive bass fisherman, have gone to court in the past week to contest the city\u2019s decision, said Ted O. Gest, spokesman for the D.C. attorney general\u2019s office.\nMany of those turned down have said the selection process is confusing and opaque. They contend that the D.C. Health Department did not provide clear explanations for its decisions \u2014 an accusation that city officials deny.\nRice and her partners, who include a former lingerie store owner and a social worker, are disappointed, although they have decided not to pursue legal action. For nearly a year, the women have used their retirement savings to lease a dispensary location in Shaw, hoping to provide medical marijuana to people with glaucoma, AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis. They want to know exactly where they fell short in their months-long application bid.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t want to waste their time or our time,\u201d Rice said. \u201cIt\u2019s confusing even to us.\u201d\nThe health department, which is overseeing the roll-out of the medical marijuana program, relied on a panel of experts to score each application.\nThe agency told one applicant that much of the proposal was \u201cadequate,\u201d but denied it anyway. It dinged at least three of the unsuccessful applicants for not providing a sample label even though the application didn\u2019t require one.\nRice\u2019s group asked to see its scores through a request under the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act. But the agency refused to release the scores or other material that would shed light on the panel\u2019s decision-making process, arguing that a final announcement has not yet been made, and that such documents contain trade secrets. The scores are also part of confidential deliberations by government officials that the city is not legally obligated to disclose, said health department spokeswoman Najma Roberts.\nThat explanation troubles the applicants who were turned away.\n\u201cI don\u2019t understand why this is so secretive, especially for something so high-profile,\u201d said Tom Lindenfeld, a local political consultant working with Compassion Centers, which is affiliated with an established dispensary operator in California.\nThe two other groups that have filed appeals are the Health Company, which is led by Michael Duplessie, a Bethesda ophthalmologist, and the Free World Remedy, led by Jonathan Marlow, a competitive bass fisherman from Northern Virginia whose mother suffers from multiple sclerosis.\nThe legal challenges are the latest wrinkle in a selection process marred by glitches from the start.\nSince passing a medical marijuana law in 2010, the District has taken a go-slow approach in an effort to avoid some of the mistakes that have been made in other jurisdictions, such as Colorado and California, where critics say medical marijuana has become little more than legalized drug dealing.\nThe District\u2019s regulations are among the toughest in the country, with strict limits on how many plants can be grown, how much the dispensaries can charge and who can buy it. Only people with certain chronic conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and glaucoma qualify; they are allowed two ounces in a 30-day period with a doctor\u2019s recommendation.\nThe city began accepting applications\nThe health department initially rejected some applicants for minor errors, such as leaving off e-mail addresses, then later let them back in. Officials also rejected Duplessie\u2019s application to operate a cultivation center because it was 90 minutes late \u2014 even though an evacuation of the agency\u2019s offices was partly to blame.\nThe agency was supposed to announce the dispensary licensees this spring but pushed the date back to June, forcing some of the applicants, including Rice\u2019s group, to spend additional money to continue leasing space.\nThe health department last month informed the 17 aspiring pot retailers which of them were still in the running. Only four made it through, and they must win approval from their local advisory neighborhood commissions.\nThe four that made it: Herbal Alternatives, which is looking to open a dispensary near 20th and M streets NW; Metropolitan Wellness Center Corporation, which is eyeing a location along Barracks Row on Capitol Hill by a fast-food restaurant and a tattoo parlor; Takoma Wellness Center, which plans to open near the Takoma Metro station; and VentureForth LLC, which has a site by O and North Capitol streets NW.\nSo far, many of the groups that the city has tapped to grow and to sell medical marijuana have mainly been established pot dispensaries and cultivators from other parts of the country, including Abatin Wellness Center of Sacramento, the brainchild of former talk-show host Montel Williams.\nLocal officials, including D.C. Council member David Catania (I-At Large), had hoped for more local representation. The local players who have made the cut for either a dispensary or cultivation license are retired Takoma Park rabbi Jeffrey Kahn and his wife, Stephanie; financier Corey Barnette; and Capitol Hill liquor store owners Rick and Jon Genderson.\nDeep roots in the city were a big part of the pitch that Rice, a third-generation Washingtonian, made at community gatherings in Shaw, where their dispensary was to be located, on the same block as social-service agency Bread for the City.\nRice grew up in Trinidad, the daughter of a bricklayer, and has been a longtime fixture on the D.C. political scene. She has run for office, worked as an aide to Catania and served as an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Ward 7 for 10 years. She is also an insulin-dependent diabetic, has glaucoma and can no longer drive at night. Not long after the D.C. Council made medical marijuana legal, she heard from friends in California that cannabis could help people with glaucoma.\n\u201cIt made me think about this,\u201d she said. \u201cIf this medicine can improve these conditions in me, why not?\u201d\nUnbeknownst to her, Francine Levinson, 61, was also thinking about applying for a license. Levinson has started businesses before. She got into banking after she discovered she couldn\u2019t get a loan without her husband or her father signing for her. She became a founding member of the First Women\u2019s Bank of Maryland. Levinson later ran a lingerie store for nine years. She and Rice have been friends for years, but they didn\u2019t tell each other right away about their interest in pursuing a medical marijuana dispensary license.\n\u201cEverybody was so timid about it,\u201d Rice said.\nAfter a mutual friend clued both of them in, the two decided to partner up and even considered naming the business \u201cFrankie and Johnnie,\u201d a reference to the classic song, until Levinson\u2019s daughter, Stephanie Mantelmacher, 46, said, \u201cno one is going to know what that means.\u201d Seeing that her input might come in handy, Mantelmacher, a former executive with XM Satellite Radio, joined the group. Leigh A. Slaughter, 58, a lawyer and real estate agent, and former Whitman-Walker Clinic official Patricia Hawkins, 71, filled out the team.\nIf the city opens up the process again, Rice said, they would consider making another attempt. Until then, they can only imagine what might have been.\nThe people who will be coming to buy medical marijuana \u201cdon\u2019t want to see some young kids selling dope,\u201d she said. \u201cMost of the clientele is going to look like us. We are the face of the users of medical marijuana.\u201d\nshina@washpost.com\nRead more from The Washington Post:\nObama decision on gay marriage divides local residents\nD.C. police chief staying on the job\nIs the \u2019cop\u2019 pulling you over a real police officer?\nJohn Kelly: Help find a new life for disabled dog"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "001487786f344f880b56898ed1a82806_4", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "001487786f344f880b56898ed1a82806_4", "title": "How the Pentagon ending its deal with immigrant recruits could hurt the military", "text": "2009, said Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer who led the program\u2019s design and implementation. Now two-thirds of all Army Reserve dentists are program recruits, according to NPR, which points to a quiet reliance on a pipeline of trained medical professionals with one big incentive to sign up that U.S.-born recruits do not need: citizenship. Personnel funds dipping into operations While program recruits are a fraction of the military\u2019s roughly 2.2 million active troops and reservists, the potential of losing access to their highly specialized skills could have outsize security consequences, said Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Rising personnel costs means it is generally more expensive to recruit new troops than to retain those already in service. Recruitment of U.S. citizens with critical skills is particularly difficult and expensive when competing with the private sector, Harrison said. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to avoid skills shortfalls, it might mean siphoning resources from other accounts,\u201d Harrison said. \u201cThe Defense Department will often pull money out of operations and maintenance accounts\u201d to cover personnel costs, he said, leaving, for instance, less funds for replenishing stocks of munitions drained from counter-Islamic State operations and repairing vehicles damaged in combat. Program recruits have also been a reliable way to inject motivated troops into the force. The Pentagon\u2019s review of the program found the recruits have a lower attrition rate than U.S.-born service members, which would save the military recruiting funds down the road. And linguists who stay in uniform would blunt costs of finding third-party translators, Harrison said. \u201cWhen you lose a linguist, you end up buying them back at a higher rate through a contractor,\u201d he said. The MAVNI program has not always worked as intended. The program, which is renewed on a yearly basis, has been suspended several times since 2009 for security reviews and internal questions about its efficiency. Pentagon reviews of the program point to dissatisfaction with some recruits over their specialties being underutilized, or by being placed into jobs unrelated to their skills. But that\u2019s an agencywide issue, Scharre said. \u201cThe military has a problem of thinking of people as interchangeable cogs rather than looking at individual skill sets,\u201d he said. Read more U.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan are at levels not seen since Obama troop surge It could take more than a decade to clear Mosul of explosives, U.S. officials say"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Staff Sgt. Eteru Ane, of American Samoa, takes an oath of allegiance to become a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2007 at Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq. American Samoa is the only U.S. territory where citizenship is not granted at birth. (U.S. Army)\nThe Washington Post reported last month that the Pentagon has recommended ending a program that gives foreign-born troops with medical and language skills leverage in gaining citizenship. Congress has weighed in since then, and some recruits under threat of deportation\u00a0have sought preemptive refuge.\nAdvocates, defense analysts and the military\u2019s own assessments of the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest program point to an initiative that, when working as designed,\u00a0benefits national security, reduces recruitment and training costs, and provides a steady stream of troops.\nBut internal discussions point to concerns over security risks and even internal mismanagement as a reason to scuttle the program that has minted 10,400 troops since its implementation in 2009. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the program\u2019s future, citing a host of related lawsuits.\nEnding\u00a0the program could produce some unintended consequences that affect the military\u2019s ability to executes its missions around the world. Here are a few:\nValuable use within Special Operations Command\nSpecial Operations Command, which specializes in missions to train and advise foreign militaries and militias, has been a vocal supporter of the program since its onset. The command was heavily involved in creating the program in 2008, and personnel with especially crucial skills are prioritized for Special Operations assignments, a Pentagon overview of the program said.\nThen Sgt.\u00a0Saral K. Shrestha, a Nepalese native and MAVNI recruit, was tapped by the Army\u2019s 3rd Special Forces Group for his fluency in Urdu on a deployment to Afghanistan. He would later win the Army\u2019s soldier of the year competition in 2012.\nIn 2013, then Sgt. Saral K. Shrestha, a Nepalese native and Military Accessions Vital to National Interest recruit, described what it was like coming to Nebraska from Nepal and receiving U.S. citizenship.\nSpecial operators spend time and resources to\u00a0groom culturally attuned translators to become their eyes and ears in often hostile environments, where trust can mean the difference between mission success and failure, said Paul Scharre, the director of the technology and national security program at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.\nLinguists in the program cut through the middlemen, Scharre said.\nScharre served in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger and worked with both local translators and Afghan-born contractors who lived for years in the United States. While he has not worked with MAVNI program recruits specifically, he said\u00a0translators with American insight are \u201cfar and away\u201d the most valuable on the battlefield.\n\u201cThey can bridge cultural divides and explain why locals are behaving in a certain way that U.S. troops can understand,\u201d Scharre said, describing one translator born in Afghanistan who had lived in San Francisco for many years.\nAn Air Force Special Operations information page listing vital languages overlaps with global military operations. Slots in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 for French, Arabic, Korean, Polish, Swahili and Somali are listed as filled, dovetailing with ongoing missions against the Islamic State and reinforcing NATO allies against mounting Russian aggression.\nThe need for native speakers of\u00a0Dari, another language spoken in Afghanistan \u2014 where Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will soon unveil a new strategy for the nearly 16-year old war\u00a0\u2014\u00a0is listed as unfilled.\nDental clearances for deployment\nDental work is not typically in the national security conversation. But it\u2019s among a checklist of health-related issues all troops must pass to receive orders for combat deployments, and physician shortages\u00a0have the potential to affect the amount of troops the military can send to war.\nThe MAVNI program filled an immediate need addressing vacancies in the Army Reserve Dental Corps, with nearly half of empty slots filled the first year of the program in 2009, said Margaret Stock,\u00a0a retired Army officer who led the program\u2019s design and implementation.\nNow two-thirds of all Army Reserve dentists are program recruits, according to NPR, which points to a quiet reliance on a pipeline of trained medical professionals with one big incentive to sign up that U.S.-born recruits do not need: citizenship.\nPersonnel funds dipping into operations\nWhile program recruits are a fraction of the military\u2019s\u00a0roughly 2.2 million active troops and reservists, the potential of losing access to their\u00a0highly specialized skills could have outsize security consequences, said\u00a0Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.\nRising personnel costs means it is\u00a0generally more expensive\u00a0to recruit new troops than to retain those already in service. Recruitment of U.S. citizens with critical skills is particularly difficult and expensive when competing with the private sector, Harrison said.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re going to avoid skills shortfalls, it might mean siphoning resources from other accounts,\u201d Harrison said.\n\u201cThe\u00a0Defense Department\u00a0will often pull money out of operations and maintenance accounts\u201d to cover personnel costs, he said, leaving, for instance, less funds for replenishing\u00a0stocks of munitions drained from counter-Islamic State operations and repairing vehicles damaged in combat.\nProgram recruits have also been a reliable way to inject motivated troops into the force. The Pentagon\u2019s review of the program found the recruits have a lower attrition rate than U.S.-born service members, which would save the military recruiting funds down the road.\nAnd linguists who stay in uniform\u00a0would blunt costs of finding third-party translators, Harrison said.\n\u201cWhen you lose a linguist, you end up buying them back at a higher rate through a contractor,\u201d he said.\nThe MAVNI program has not always worked as intended. The program, which is renewed on a yearly basis, has been suspended several times since 2009 for security reviews and internal questions about its\u00a0efficiency.\nPentagon reviews of the program point to dissatisfaction\u00a0with some recruits over their specialties being underutilized, or by being placed into jobs unrelated to their skills.\nBut that\u2019s an agencywide issue, Scharre said.\n\u201cThe military has a problem of thinking of people as interchangeable cogs rather than looking at individual skill sets,\u201d he said.\nRead more\nU.S. airstrikes in Afghanistan are at levels not seen since Obama troop surge\nIt could take more than a decade to clear Mosul of explosives, U.S. officials say"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "2QCZPAQRBRGVVAVPBH3JJGFESE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "2QCZPAQRBRGVVAVPBH3JJGFESE_0", "title": "The Army is trying to find criminal conduct among immigrant recruits, email shows", "text": "The lawsuits and public pressure made it clear: The Army had a problem. In August, it reversed its decision to expel dozens of immigrant recruits who were seeking expedited citizenship by serving in the U.S. military. But days before, on Aug. 13, a military intelligence unit asked Army Reserve attorneys to scrutinize its completed security screening packets for admissions of potential crimes by immigrant recruits, according to an email obtained by The Washington Post. The email is written in a who, what, when, where, why format. The \u201cwhy\u201d says: \"[Immigrant recruits] are currently suing the federal government claiming they were wrongfully discharged from the Army.\u201d Critics say the request appears to be retribution for the lawsuits that helped overturn dozens of dismissals and was intended to legitimize a process beset with legal and bureaucratic problems that have been blamed internally for draining vast resources. \u201cInstead of a good-faith attempt to give due process, it\u2019s done in bad faith,\u201d Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer and immigration attorney, told The Post on Tuesday. The Pentagon acknowledged the email but said the request was not designed to discharge immigrant recruits or charge them with crimes. Air Force Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said in a statement that \u201cthe request for personnel to assist in the review was to ensure we were following federal guidelines and to ensure the packages were complete and accurate given the ongoing MAVNI litigation.\u201d Gleason provided her statement on Tuesday. On Wednesday, she said the reviews were \u201cdetermined to be unnecessary\u201d two days after initial coordination and the packets were diverted back to Army intelligence officials \u201cfor reporting to other agencies.\u201d The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, or MAVNI, promises expedited citizenship for badly needed language and medical skills. More than 10,400 immigrants entered the force through the program since 2009, when it was implemented by Stock. It was shuttered last year. The August email followed a tumultuous summer where the Army responded to lawsuits by halting the discharge of recruits while the Pentagon figured out an orderly and fair screening process. Gleason said last month that the Pentagon wants to treat recruits with \u201cdignity and respect.\u201d An unknown number of recruits and reservists have been kicked out after their enlistment because of problems in their counterintelligence screening process \u2014 which typically occurs after recruits clear background checks through FBI and police databases, Stock"}], "old": [{"_id": "2QCZPAQRBRGVVAVPBH3JJGFESE_0", "title": "The Army is trying to find criminal conduct among immigrant recruits, email shows", "text": "This story has been updated. Read more:"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The lawsuits and public pressure made it clear: The Army had a problem.\nIn August, it reversed its decision to expel dozens of immigrant recruits who were seeking expedited citizenship by serving in the U.S. military.\nBut days before, on Aug. 13, a military intelligence unit asked Army Reserve attorneys to scrutinize its completed security screening packets for admissions of potential crimes by immigrant recruits, according to an email obtained by The Washington Post.\nThe email is written in a who, what, when, where, why format. The \u201cwhy\u201d says: \"[Immigrant recruits] are currently suing the federal government claiming they were wrongfully discharged from the Army.\u201d\nCritics say the request appears to be retribution for the lawsuits that helped overturn dozens of dismissals and was intended to legitimize a process beset with legal and bureaucratic problems that have been blamed internally for draining vast resources.\n\u201cInstead of a good-faith attempt to give due process, it\u2019s done in bad faith,\u201d Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer and immigration attorney, told The Post on Tuesday.\nThe Pentagon acknowledged the email but said the request was not designed to discharge immigrant recruits or charge them with crimes.\nAir Force Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said in a statement that \u201cthe request for personnel to assist in the review was to ensure we were following federal guidelines and to ensure the packages were complete and accurate given the ongoing MAVNI litigation.\u201d\nGleason provided her statement on Tuesday.\nOn Wednesday, she said the reviews were \u201cdetermined to be unnecessary\u201d two days after initial coordination and the packets were diverted back to Army intelligence officials \u201cfor reporting to other agencies.\u201d\nThe Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, or MAVNI, promises expedited citizenship for badly needed language and medical skills. More than 10,400 immigrants entered the force through the program since 2009, when it was implemented by Stock. It was shuttered last year.\nThe August email followed a tumultuous summer where the Army responded to lawsuits by halting the discharge of recruits while the Pentagon figured out an orderly and fair screening process. Gleason said last month that the Pentagon wants to treat recruits with \u201cdignity and respect.\u201d\nAn unknown number of recruits and reservists have been kicked out after their enlistment because of problems in their counterintelligence screening process \u2014 which typically occurs after recruits clear background checks through FBI and police databases, Stock said.\nThe Pentagon has defended the stricter screening measures introduced in 2016, saying 20 MAVNIs have been investigated for national security concerns in the past five years. It will not say if any of those investigations led to charges or action.\nBut what has emerged in recent months is a mosaic of seemingly innocuous reasons for dismissals or for reasons outside a recruit\u2019s control. Many reasons for discharges are connected to their foreign backgrounds \u2014 which the Pentagon desired to harness in the first place.\nThe Army has turned immigrants away for holding foreign investments, sending money to parents or communicating with relatives who work in foreign governments, said Stock, who has reviewed declassified reports. Others were discharged because another agency failed to provide documents for screeners in time for an interview, she added.\nNow, following questions and a lawsuit over the process, it appears screeners looked to uncover more substantial issues.\nThe 902nd Military Intelligence Group at Fort Meade, Md., which has conducted the counterintelligence screenings, asked Army Reserve attorneys to help \u201creview [immigrant recruit] packets to determine whether the applicants admitted to or provided information about a crime that requires reporting to law enforcement,\u201d the email says.\nThe counterintelligence screening is an hours-long interview where recruits are asked about their foreign activities before their arrival in the United States, their relatives and employment history, and loyalty to America.\nAt least three dozen attorneys were asked to help review screenings, according to an Army legal official who received the email. A majority of those attorneys do not practice immigration law in private practice or in the government, the official told The Post.\n\u201cIt looks like additional screening will potentially be useful to the Army in defending its actions in civil litigation,\u201d said the official, who declined to provide a name to speak candidly.\nGleason did not answer questions about whether the request for help evaluating screening packets raised questions about the review process, nor a question asking if screeners were directed to focus on immigration-related issues to later forward to other agencies.\nThe results are not shared with recruits and are only available if they make public records requests. One recruit, a Chinese PhD student, was turned away because a screener with no medical experience said he had Asperger\u2019s syndrome \u2014 on the basis that he once observed a family member with autism, The Post previously reported.\nStock said she has reviewed about 30 declassified screening packets. Recruits have shared them with her when asking for help.\n\u201cThey don\u2019t have the bureaucratic will to fix this. They just want to get this problem over with,\u201d Stock said of the Pentagon. \u201cThe way you get rid of the problem is you get rid of the people.\u201d\nThis story has been updated.\nRead more:\nForeign-born recruits, promised citizenship by the Pentagon, flee the country to avoid deportation\nHow the Pentagon ending its deal with immigrant recruits could hurt the military"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "3XLROTICINCOLLVMIXUMZYO724_3", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3XLROTICINCOLLVMIXUMZYO724_3", "title": "What do military service members think about diversity \u2014 especially gender diversity \u2014 in their ranks?", "text": "cohort disfavored applicants from traditionally underrepresented racial or ethnic groups or disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Midshipmen strongly disfavor gender-non-binary applicants and faculty candidates. Attitudes toward gender at the Naval Academy are much different than at other schools. Most college students slightly favor female and non-binary applicants over men. At the academy, a female applicant is just as likely as a man to be selected, all things being equal, and midshipmen weakly prefer women to men for faculty slots. But a gender-non-binary applicant was less likely to be selected than a male applicant \u2014 by 20 percentage points for admission and 13 percentage points for a faculty slot. That varied by demographic group. Whites more strongly disfavored female and gender-non-binary applicants than nonwhites did. And men were more likely to disfavor female and gender-non-binary applicants than women. Gender nonconformity challenges the military hierarchy. Midshipmen favor socioeconomic and racial or ethnic diversity in admissions and faculty hires. So why are their attitudes toward gender-non-binary individuals so different? Mixed signals from the top levels of leadership could play a role. Until recently, federal guidelines banned intersex and gender-nonconforming individuals in the military because of supposed medical risks. In June 2016, the Obama administration prohibited the armed forces from involuntarily separating people who came out as transgender. President Trump reversed course on July 26, 2017, through multiple tweets in which he announced he would ban transgender people from the military. Historically, when signals from the top are clear, attitudes in the officer ranks follow. Naval Academy attitudes toward women were initially skeptical but shifted quickly in favor after women first matriculated in the 1970s. Attitudes toward gay and lesbian service members shifted in favor after the \u201cdon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell\u201d debates of the 1990s subsided. The debate over transgender people in the military is relatively new and unfamiliar, and institutional disagreements may foster reservations among midshipmen. If the courts and top civilian and military leaders were to line up, attitudes among officers in training would probably follow. However, recent events suggest that if signals from the top do line up, they most certainly will be against transgender acceptance. John M. Carey is the Wentworth Professor in the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College. Yusaku Horiuchi is professor of government and the Mitsui Professor of Japanese Studies at Dartmouth College. John Polga-Hecimovich is assistant professor of political science at the United States Naval Academy. The views expressed"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Following a Supreme Court decision in January, the Pentagon confirmed April 15 that it would effectively ban transgender people from attending the U.S. Naval Academy and other service academies starting in the fall of 2020.\nWe wanted to examine what Naval Academy midshipmen think about diversity in general and about gender nonconformity in particular.\nEven though there has been plenty of debate within the U.S. military about transgender service, it is notoriously difficult to discern attitudes on contentious issues through direct survey questions, so we carried out survey experiments at the Naval Academy to investigate these questions. We found that the midshipmen agree there is value in having a military that is racially, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse. However, they weren\u2019t as sure about gender diversity.\nMidshipmen are indifferent toward female applicants for admission and slightly positive toward female faculty candidates. But attitudes toward gender-non-binary applicants are strongly negative.\nHow we did our research\nAs we explain in our forthcoming article in Armed Forces & Society, we used randomized conjoint analysis. Here\u2019s how it works: We gave participants pairs of hypothetical applicants for admission as midshipmen or Naval Academy faculty. Each applicant profile was made up of a bundle of personal qualities, accomplishments and demographics.\nOn race and ethnicity, the applicants were described as either black, white, Asian, Native American or Hispanic. On gender, most were described either as men or women, but we also included applicants whose gender was \u201cnon-binary.\u201d\nRespondents\u2019 choices from among thousands of paired comparisons allowed us to estimate their relative preferences on characteristics related to diversity and those that are not. This method allows researchers to assess attitudes on sensitive topics without alerting participants what our focus is.\nWe administered two experiments at the Naval Academy in the winter of 2018, one measuring attitudes on student admissions and the other on faculty recruitment \u2014 1,154 midshipmen, or 26 percent of all those enrolled, participated. We conducted similar experiments at six other universities, allowing us to compare attitudes at the Naval Academy with those at civilian institutions.\nMidshipmen\u2019s attitudes are pretty similar to those of college students\nMidshipmen strongly favor applicants from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds and moderately favor members of traditionally underrepresented racial or ethnic groups. However, midshipmen express a powerful preference against gender-non-binary applicants and faculty candidates \u2014 which we didn\u2019t find at other colleges.\nMidshipmen favor racial and economic diversity.\nThe strongest factors driving selection have to do with scholarly achievement \u2014 standardized test scores and high school grades for admissions, and teaching and research records for faculty \u2014 but midshipmen prefer members of traditionally underrepresented racial or ethnic groups in both admissions and faculty recruitment. For admission to the Naval Academy, they favor first-generation applicants and applicants from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.\nHere\u2019s how that breaks down. When asked which candidates they would admit, our respondents were five percentage points more likely to admit a black applicant and three percentage points more likely to select a Native American than one who is white. They felt similarly about hiring faculty, with moderate preferences of three to four percentage points for black, Hispanic and Native American candidates over whites.\nMeanwhile, midshipmen were 12 percentage points less likely to select an applicant whose family\u2019s income is in the nation\u2019s top income percentile than someone whose family income was at the median. And they were five percentage points more likely to select a first-generation applicant than one whose parents attended college.\nThose preferences were pretty consistent across demographic subgroups. White and nonwhite midshipmen and midshipmen from families with higher or lower incomes felt roughly the same. Most important, no cohort disfavored applicants from traditionally underrepresented racial or ethnic groups or disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.\nMidshipmen strongly disfavor gender-non-binary applicants and faculty candidates.\nAttitudes toward gender at the Naval Academy are much different than at other schools. Most college students slightly favor female and non-binary applicants over men. At the academy, a female applicant is just as likely as a man to be selected, all things being equal, and midshipmen weakly prefer women to men for faculty slots. But a gender-non-binary applicant was less likely to be selected than a male applicant \u2014 by 20 percentage points for admission and 13 percentage points for a faculty slot.\nThat varied by demographic group. Whites more strongly disfavored female and gender-non-binary applicants than nonwhites did. And men were more likely to disfavor female and gender-non-binary applicants than women.\nGender nonconformity challenges the military hierarchy.\nMidshipmen favor socioeconomic and racial or ethnic diversity in admissions and faculty hires. So why are their attitudes toward gender-non-binary individuals so different?\nMixed signals from the top levels of leadership could play a role. Until recently, federal guidelines banned intersex and gender-nonconforming individuals in the military because of supposed medical risks. In June 2016, the Obama administration prohibited the armed forces from involuntarily separating people who came out as transgender. President Trump reversed course on July 26, 2017, through multiple tweets in which he announced he would ban transgender people from the military.\nHistorically, when signals from the top are clear, attitudes in the officer ranks follow. Naval Academy attitudes toward women were initially skeptical but shifted quickly in favor after women first matriculated in the 1970s. Attitudes toward gay and lesbian service members shifted in favor after the \u201cdon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell\u201d debates of the 1990s subsided.\nThe debate over transgender people in the military is relatively new and unfamiliar, and institutional disagreements may foster reservations among midshipmen. If the courts and top civilian and military leaders were to line up, attitudes among officers in training would probably follow. However, recent events suggest that if signals from the top do line up, they most certainly will be against transgender acceptance.\nJohn M. Carey is the Wentworth Professor in the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College.\nYusaku Horiuchi is professor of government and the Mitsui Professor of Japanese Studies at Dartmouth College.\nJohn Polga-Hecimovich is assistant professor of political science at the United States Naval Academy.\nThe views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not represent the views of or endorsement by the United States Naval Academy, the Department of the Navy, the Department of Defense, or the United States government."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "41d3be7a7f760a9880f63aa81a17813e_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "41d3be7a7f760a9880f63aa81a17813e_1", "title": "End of women-in-conflict ban inspires some to enlist", "text": "up their minds. They\u2019re enlisting ASAP. In the hours after the Pentagon announced that women could soon serve in gender-segregated combat roles, dozens of young women tweeted or Facebooked their plans to followers. Kimberly Munzinger, who left the Marines when she couldn\u2019t become a field artillerist, might join again after she wraps up her degree. Lily Bolourian, who had planned to go to law school, called a reservist friend to meet for coffee and talk about enlisting. \u201cI had never even thought about the military before,\u201d Bolourian said. \u201cBut I feel a call to serve now. We finally have equality, and I want to be a part of that history.\u201d Bolourian doesn\u2019t look like your average recruit: She\u2019s petite at 5\u20192\u201d and giggles often when she speaks. She also doesn\u2019t come from a military family. Her parents avoided Iran\u2019s compulsory service requirement when they emigrated to the United States before the Iranian revolution, and they hoped their daughter would become an astronaut or engineer. But Bolourian, who has organized abortion protests and served as the women\u2019s outreach coordinator for Obama\u2019s D.C. campaign, sees the change as a civil rights issue on par with the repeal of \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell.\u201d \u201cWomen have fought for this for years,\u201d she said. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d see it by the time I\u2019m 22.\u201d Kimberly Munzinger never thought she\u2019d see the day, either. A senior speech pathology major at Eastern Michigan University, Munzinger spent four years flying drones for the Marines before she abandoned her dream of shooting \u201cbig guns.\u201d \u201cWOMEN ARE FINALLY ALLOWED IN COMBAT!!!\u201d She tweeted on Jan. 23, immediately after the Pentagon announcement. \u201cWe should have never been [expletive] banned in the 1st place. Give me my enlist papers.\u201d In his statement Thursday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta did not forecast how the change could impact recruitment, if at all. But a 2012 study on the controversial repeal of \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u201d found no impact on unit recruitment or retention. As many as 230,000 new jobs could open to women, many of them in Army and Marine infantry units. Currently women make up 15 percent of the U.S. military. \u201cMy being a female never harmed a flight mission I directed,\u201d Mulzinger said. \u201cI\u2019ve heard people say that women have different hygiene habits, or they\u2019re not strong enough. But there are some men who can\u2019t lift 300 pounds.\u201d Mulzinger herself lifts 325."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Female soldiers train on a firing range in Fort Campbell, Ky., in September 2012. (Mark Humphrey/AP)\nWhile some politicians have yet to come to terms with the women-in-combat issue, a few women have already made up their minds. They\u2019re enlisting ASAP.\nIn the hours after the Pentagon announced that women could soon serve in gender-segregated combat roles, dozens of young women tweeted or Facebooked their plans to followers. Kimberly Munzinger, who left the Marines when she couldn\u2019t become a field artillerist, might join again after she wraps up her degree. Lily Bolourian, who had planned to go to law school, called a reservist friend to meet for coffee and talk about enlisting.\n\u201cI had never even thought about the military before,\u201d Bolourian said. \u201cBut I feel a call to serve now. We finally have equality, and I want to be a part of that history.\u201d\nBolourian\u00a0doesn\u2019t look like your average recruit: She\u2019s petite at 5\u20192\u201d and giggles often when she speaks. She also doesn\u2019t come from a military family. Her parents avoided Iran\u2019s compulsory service requirement when they emigrated to the United States before the Iranian revolution, and they hoped their daughter would become an astronaut or engineer.\nBut Bolourian, who has organized abortion protests and served as the women\u2019s outreach coordinator for Obama\u2019s D.C. campaign, sees the change as a civil rights issue on par with the repeal of \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell.\u201d\n\u201cWomen have fought for this for years,\u201d she said. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d see it by the time I\u2019m 22.\u201d\nKimberly Munzinger never thought she\u2019d see the day, either. A senior speech pathology major at Eastern Michigan University, Munzinger spent four years flying drones for the Marines before she abandoned her dream of shooting \u201cbig guns.\u201d\n\u201cWOMEN ARE FINALLY ALLOWED IN COMBAT!!!\u201d She tweeted on Jan. 23, immediately after the Pentagon announcement. \u201cWe should have never been [expletive] banned in the 1st place. Give me my enlist papers.\u201d\nIn his statement Thursday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta did not forecast how the change could impact recruitment, if at all. But a 2012 study on the controversial repeal of \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u201d found no impact on unit recruitment or retention.\nAs many as 230,000 new jobs could open to women, many of them in Army and Marine infantry units. Currently women make up 15 percent of the U.S. military.\n\u201cMy being a female never harmed a flight mission I directed,\u201d Mulzinger said. \u201cI\u2019ve heard people say that women have different hygiene habits, or they\u2019re not strong enough. But there are some men who can\u2019t lift 300 pounds.\u201d\nMulzinger herself lifts 325."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "4RPQSFYWHJD7JCKMLDCKONP2X4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "4RPQSFYWHJD7JCKMLDCKONP2X4_0", "title": "The Army kicked out dozens of immigrant recruits. Now it\u2019s allowing them back amid a legal battle.", "text": "The Army on Mon\u00adday re\u00adinstat\u00aded doz\u00adens of im\u00admi\u00adgrant re\u00adserv\u00adists who sought cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship through mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady en\u00adlist\u00adment, re\u00advers\u00ading a decision that has affected more than a hun\u00addred foreign-born recruits amid a law\u00adsuit con\u00adtend\u00ading some dis\u00admiss\u00adals were un\u00adfair and giv\u00aden without cause. The decision puts the recruits back on a path of ex\u00adpe\u00addit\u00aded cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady has prom\u00adised in ex\u00adchange for cru\u00adcial lan\u00adguage and med\u00adi\u00adcal skills. Until re\u00adcent\u00adly, these soldiers could be\u00adcome American cit\u00adi\u00adzens with\u00adin months of en\u00adter\u00ading train\u00ading, sig\u00adnif\u00adi\u00adcant\u00adly fast\u00ader than the nat\u00adu\u00adral\u00adi\u00adza\u00adtion proc\u00adess out\u00adside the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady. The Army\u2019s re\u00adver\u00adsal is the lat\u00adest con\u00adces\u00adsion in a bar\u00adrage of court fil\u00adings that claim the re\u00adcent dis\u00adcharge of im\u00admi\u00adgrant recruits vio\u00adlat\u00aded Army pol\u00adicy and po\u00adten\u00adtial\u00adly vio\u00adlat\u00aded due proc\u00adess guar\u00adan\u00adteed in the Constitution. Critics of the Penta\u00adgon\u2019s han\u00addling of the pro\u00adgram say it points to se\u00adri\u00adous prob\u00adlems with how the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady vets its for\u00adeign recruits. Army of\u00adfi\u00adcials said in a Mon\u00adday court fil\u00ading that six re\u00adserv\u00adists in\u00advolved in a law\u00adsuit had their dis\u00adcharg\u00ades re\u00advoked, along with 32 reservists whose dismissals were halt\u00aded. A total of 149 cases are be\u00ading reviewed, the Army said. More than 10,000 im\u00admi\u00adgrants have en\u00adtered the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady since 2009 through the pro\u00adgram, which sought to en\u00adlist im\u00admi\u00adgrants with skills the Penta\u00adgon has said are es\u00adpe\u00adcial\u00adly vi\u00adtal to mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady mis\u00adsions. An Associated Press re\u00adport from July said the Army had be\u00adgun dis\u00adcharg\u00ading doz\u00adens of im\u00admi\u00adgrant recruits, prompt\u00ading ques\u00adtions over its decisions and proc\u00adess. That led to a July 20 memo ordering a halt to discharges of im\u00admi\u00adgrants who en\u00adlisted in the Mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady Ac\u00adces\u00adsions Vi\u00adtal to the National In\u00adter\u00adest (MAVNI) program, to e\u00adval\u00adu\u00adate its ad\u00admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtive proc\u00adess for sep\u00ada\u00adra\u00adtion. Days before the memo, the Army reversed the discharge of Lucas Calixto, a Bra\u00adzil\u00adian re\u00adserv\u00adist who first brought suit against the Army. His at\u00adtor\u00adneys de\u00adclined to com\u00adment. The re\u00adin\u00adstate\u00adment of doz\u00adens of recruits and the broad\u00ader look at 149 total cases is an out\u00adcrop\u00adping of that re\u00adview, Penta\u00adgon spokeswoman Air Force Maj. Carla Glea\u00adson told The Washington Post on Tues\u00adday. Security con\u00adcerns have driv\u00aden the im\u00adple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion of com\u00adpli\u00adcat\u00aded and thorough vet\u00adting, Glea\u00adson said, which scru\u00adti\u00adniz\u00ades im\u00admi\u00adgrants far more than U.S.-born troops. She has pre\u00advi\u00adous\u00adly said 20 MAVNI recruits have been in\u00adves\u00adti\u00adgat\u00aded for na\u00adtion\u00adal se\u00adcuri\u00adty risks since 2013 but has not said if any of those probes led to charges or ar\u00adrests. The new screen\u00ading proc\u00adess im\u00adple\u00adment\u00aded in September 2016, along with broad se\u00adcuri\u00adty con\u00adcerns, led the Penta\u00adgon to shut\u00adter the pro\u00adgram in De\u00adcem\u00adber. But the"}], "old": [{"_id": "4RPQSFYWHJD7JCKMLDCKONP2X4_0", "title": "The Army kicked out dozens of immigrant recruits. Now it\u2019s allowing them back amid a legal battle.", "text": "Read more: Penta\u00adgon\u2019s chief spokeswoman is un\u00adder in\u00adves\u00adti\u00adga\u00adtion for allegedly mis\u00adtreat\u00ading em\u00adploy\u00adees"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Army on Mon\u00adday re\u00adinstat\u00aded doz\u00adens of im\u00admi\u00adgrant re\u00adserv\u00adists who sought cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship through mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady en\u00adlist\u00adment, re\u00advers\u00ading a decision that has affected more than a hun\u00addred foreign-born recruits amid a law\u00adsuit con\u00adtend\u00ading some dis\u00admiss\u00adals were un\u00adfair and giv\u00aden without cause.\nThe decision puts the recruits back on a path of ex\u00adpe\u00addit\u00aded cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady has prom\u00adised in ex\u00adchange for cru\u00adcial lan\u00adguage and med\u00adi\u00adcal skills. Until re\u00adcent\u00adly, these soldiers could be\u00adcome American cit\u00adi\u00adzens with\u00adin months of en\u00adter\u00ading train\u00ading, sig\u00adnif\u00adi\u00adcant\u00adly fast\u00ader than the nat\u00adu\u00adral\u00adi\u00adza\u00adtion proc\u00adess out\u00adside the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady.\nThe Army\u2019s re\u00adver\u00adsal is the lat\u00adest con\u00adces\u00adsion in a bar\u00adrage of court fil\u00adings that claim the re\u00adcent dis\u00adcharge of im\u00admi\u00adgrant recruits vio\u00adlat\u00aded Army pol\u00adicy and po\u00adten\u00adtial\u00adly vio\u00adlat\u00aded due proc\u00adess guar\u00adan\u00adteed in the Constitution. Critics of the Penta\u00adgon\u2019s han\u00addling of the pro\u00adgram say it points to se\u00adri\u00adous prob\u00adlems with how the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady vets its for\u00adeign recruits.\nArmy of\u00adfi\u00adcials said in a Mon\u00adday court fil\u00ading that six re\u00adserv\u00adists in\u00advolved in a law\u00adsuit had their dis\u00adcharg\u00ades re\u00advoked, along with 32 reservists whose dismissals were halt\u00aded. A total of 149 cases are be\u00ading reviewed, the Army said.\nMore than 10,000 im\u00admi\u00adgrants have en\u00adtered the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady since 2009 through the pro\u00adgram, which sought to en\u00adlist im\u00admi\u00adgrants with skills the Penta\u00adgon has said are es\u00adpe\u00adcial\u00adly vi\u00adtal to mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady mis\u00adsions.\nAn Associated Press re\u00adport from July said the Army had be\u00adgun dis\u00adcharg\u00ading doz\u00adens of im\u00admi\u00adgrant recruits, prompt\u00ading ques\u00adtions over its decisions and proc\u00adess.\nThat led to a July 20 memo ordering a halt to discharges of im\u00admi\u00adgrants who en\u00adlisted in the Mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady Ac\u00adces\u00adsions Vi\u00adtal to the National In\u00adter\u00adest (MAVNI) program, to e\u00adval\u00adu\u00adate its ad\u00admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtive proc\u00adess for sep\u00ada\u00adra\u00adtion. Days before the memo, the Army reversed the discharge of Lucas Calixto, a Bra\u00adzil\u00adian re\u00adserv\u00adist who first brought suit against the Army. His at\u00adtor\u00adneys de\u00adclined to com\u00adment.\nThe re\u00adin\u00adstate\u00adment of doz\u00adens of recruits and the broad\u00ader look at 149 total cases is an out\u00adcrop\u00adping of that re\u00adview, Penta\u00adgon spokeswoman Air Force Maj. Carla Glea\u00adson told The Washington Post on Tues\u00adday.\nSecurity con\u00adcerns have driv\u00aden the im\u00adple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adtion of com\u00adpli\u00adcat\u00aded and thorough vet\u00adting, Glea\u00adson said, which scru\u00adti\u00adniz\u00ades im\u00admi\u00adgrants far more than U.S.-born troops. She has pre\u00advi\u00adous\u00adly said 20 MAVNI recruits have been in\u00adves\u00adti\u00adgat\u00aded for na\u00adtion\u00adal se\u00adcuri\u00adty risks since 2013 but has not said if any of those probes led to charges or ar\u00adrests.\nThe new screen\u00ading proc\u00adess im\u00adple\u00adment\u00aded in September 2016, along with broad se\u00adcuri\u00adty con\u00adcerns, led the Penta\u00adgon to shut\u00adter the pro\u00adgram in De\u00adcem\u00adber.\nBut the Army and the Penta\u00adgon want the proc\u00adess to be above board and fair for recruits still in the pipe\u00adline, Glea\u00adson said. Recruits signed en\u00adlist\u00adment con\u00adtracts. Be\u00adcause of that, she not\u00aded, the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady \u201cwants to treat you with dig\u00adni\u00adty and re\u00adspect.\u201d\nCourt fil\u00adings and at\u00adtor\u00adneys for im\u00admi\u00adgrant recruits paint a dif\u00adfer\u00adent pic\u00adture of how the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady has han\u00addled the proc\u00adess.\nMar\u00adga\u00adret Stock, who helped im\u00adple\u00adment MAVNI when she was an Army of\u00adfi\u00adcer and is now an im\u00admi\u00adgra\u00adtion lawyer, said she has re\u00adviewed or been told first hand a\u00adbout 20 to 30 coun\u00adter\u00adin\u00adtel\u00adli\u00adgence re\u00adview sum\u00admaries ob\u00adtained by recruits who filed Freedom of In\u00adfor\u00adma\u00adtion Act re\u00adquests.\nShe de\u00adscribes re\u00adviews rid\u00addled with er\u00adrors and leaps of log\u00adic.\nA com\u00admon reason to weed out non-citizen recruits is the ex\u00adist\u00adence of for\u00adeign rela\u00adtives or send\u00ading mon\u00adey to rela\u00adtives in oth\u00ader count\u00adries \u2014 a fair\u00adly com\u00admon re\u00adali\u00adty for im\u00admi\u00adgrants.\n\u201cThey set up a sys\u00adtem de\u00adsigned to fail,\u201d Stock told The Post.\nOne Chi\u00adnese recruit and PhD can\u00addi\u00addate study\u00ading phys\u00adics was de\u00adnied en\u00adlist\u00adment af\u00adter an Army coun\u00adter\u00adin\u00adtel\u00adli\u00adgence screen\u00ader said he had trou\u00adble with so\u00adcial inter\u00adac\u00adtions and may have signs of \u201chigh func\u00adtion\u00ading As\u00adperg\u00ader\u2019s,\u201d ac\u00adcord\u00ading to a docu\u00adment re\u00adviewed by The Post.\nThe recruit had no men\u00adtal health di\u00adag\u00adno\u00adsis and hadn\u2019t heard of the con\u00addi\u00adtion be\u00adfore, Stock said. The screen\u00ader wrote af\u00adter an inter\u00adview that he had no med\u00adi\u00adcal ex\u00adper\u00adtise be\u00adyond ob\u00adserv\u00ading a fam\u00adi\u00adly mem\u00adber with au\u00adtism.\nThe recruit, who had en\u00adlisted in August 2016 and was told he failed the se\u00adcuri\u00adty re\u00adview in June, had re\u00adceived no ex\u00adpla\u00adna\u00adtion from his re\u00adcruit\u00ader and only ob\u00adtained his screen\u00ading sum\u00adma\u00adry from a FOIA re\u00adquest.\nIn a let\u00adter, his re\u00adcruit\u00ader said he was a\u00admong the most dis\u00adci\u00adplined recruits under his su\u00adper\u00advi\u00adsion, Stock said.\nNow his fu\u00adture as a cit\u00adi\u00adzen and sol\u00addier are in doubt. The Army did not immediately return comment about its screening policies.\nOth\u00ader recruits have seen their lives upended by the Penta\u00adgon\u2019s han\u00addling of the MAVNI pro\u00adgram.\nMore than 1,000 recruits had to wait so long for their checks to be fin\u00adished that they lost law\u00adful im\u00admi\u00adgra\u00adtion sta\u00adtus, ex\u00adpos\u00ading them to po\u00adten\u00adtial de\u00adpor\u00adta\u00adtion, the Penta\u00adgon said in a memo ob\u00adtained by The Post last sum\u00admer.\nSome fled or sought a\u00adsy\u00adlum to avoid re\u00adturn\u00ading to count\u00adries where they face per\u00adse\u00adcu\u00adtion or that forbid for\u00adeign mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady serv\u00adice, in\u00adclud\u00ading one Iraqi-born recruit who fled to Canada out of fear that the Islamic State would as\u00adsas\u00adsi\u00adnate him if he were de\u00adport\u00aded.\nIn oth\u00ader in\u00adstan\u00adces, some en\u00adlist\u00adment con\u00adtracts were canceled nation\u00adwide in an ap\u00adpar\u00adent and broad mis\u00adunder\u00adstand\u00ading of rules that al\u00adlowed recruits to wait an ad\u00addi\u00adtion\u00adal year for the mil\u00adi\u00adtar\u00ady to fin\u00adish the checks. Some Army re\u00adcruit\u00aders re\u00adinstat\u00aded con\u00adtracts for im\u00admi\u00adgrants short\u00adly af\u00adter re\u00adceiv\u00ading in\u00adqui\u00adries from The Post in the fall.\nRead more:\n\u2018Fat Leon\u00adard\u2019 scan\u00addal grows with indictment of three more retired Navy of\u00adfi\u00adcials\nPenta\u00adgon\u2019s chief spokeswoman is un\u00adder in\u00adves\u00adti\u00adga\u00adtion for allegedly mis\u00adtreat\u00ading em\u00adploy\u00adees"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "5c16213c-14a3-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5c16213c-14a3-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_1", "title": "Air Force struggles to keep pace with explosion in the use of combat drones", "text": "and retention, is crucial to maintaining the effectiveness of an overstressed force and would help the Air Force meet future demand for remotely piloted flight. The plan to reduce drone capacity to a maximum of 60 simultaneous combat flights by this fall, which the Air Force made public this spring, is the centerpiece of an effort to make the pace of Air Force drone operations more sustainable, and to help heal the stresses caused by a decade of frenetic expansion. But with renewed operations in Iraq against the Islamic State, a new campaign of strikes against the group in Syria and continued operations in Afghanistan, the demand for unmanned aircraft\u2019s surveillance and combat powers is higher than ever. Col. James \u201cCliffy\u201d Cluff, the top Air Force commander for remotely piloted aircraft, said the service had expected demand for drone flights to fall off as the United States wrapped up its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That plan \u201cwas overcome by the enemy,\u201d he told reporters in a rare media visit to Creech Air Force Base, where Cluff commands 3,000 pilots and support personnel. Since last summer\u2019s dramatic advances by Islamic State militants, U.S. aircraft have conducted 3,600 strikes in Iraq and Syria, many of them conducted by unmanned planes. The remotely piloted aircraft program burst into action in the decade after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In 2001, the Air Force was only capable of keeping two drones flying combat missions at a time. Behind every drone in the air conducting a combat air patrol, there are hundreds of personnel required to maintain active and reserve aircraft and amass intelligence and even special teams deployed overseas dedicated to takeoff and landing of aircraft. By 2010, during President Obama\u2019s surge of troops to Afghanistan, the program\u2019s flight capacity had reached 39. It peaked at 65 in 2014. The growth has complicated challenges the Air Force has faced in fielding and retaining pilots for the program, which has often been seen by pilots as an unattractive alternative to piloting manned aircraft. Today, the Air Force needs to produce 300 new drone pilots a year. Because of recruitment and training constraints, it is only producing 180.The Air Force also loses 240 drone pilots each year as airmen return to other duties or they leave the service altogether. The 500 pilots and 500 sensor operators at Creech, nestled among bare hillsides an hour\u2019s drive"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": " An Air Force pilot conducts a training flight at Nevada\u2019s Creech Air Force Base, which oversees drone operations overseas. (Missy Ryan/The Washington Post)\nCREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. \u2014\n\u201cYeah, it looks like a gun,\u201d says an American drone pilot, peering into a gray-tone screen in a darkened, distant trailer.\nThe pilot, who Air Force officials asked be identified only as Capt. Bert, is talking to ground headquarters through a headset. He then counts off the half-minute until one of the drone\u2019s Hellfire missiles strikes its target, throwing the man to the ground with a flash of light.\nThe ground controller\u2019s voice comes back in a static burst. \u201cConfirmed: enemy killed in action.\u201d\nBut this target is not a suspected militant on the battlefield in Iraq or Afghanistan. He\u2019s a U.S. airman, role-playing in the desert outside Las Vegas, and the missile strike was a training simulation at the Nevada air base that coordinates U.S. drone flight overseas.\nAir Force officials hope to provide more training missions like this for drone operators as the U.S. military cuts back the pace of drone operations overseas. They say increased training for new and existing pilots, along with steps to improve pilot recruitment and retention, is crucial to maintaining the effectiveness of an overstressed force and would help the Air Force meet future demand for remotely piloted flight.\nThe plan to reduce drone capacity to a maximum of 60 simultaneous combat flights by this fall, which the Air Force made public this spring, is the centerpiece of an effort to make the pace of Air Force drone operations more sustainable, and to help heal the stresses caused by a decade of frenetic expansion.\nBut with renewed operations in Iraq against the Islamic State, a new campaign of strikes against the group in Syria and continued operations in Afghanistan, the demand for unmanned aircraft\u2019s surveillance and combat powers is higher than ever.\nCol. James \u201cCliffy\u201d Cluff, the top Air Force commander for remotely piloted aircraft, said the service had expected demand for drone flights to fall off as the United States wrapped up its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.\nThat plan \u201cwas overcome by the enemy,\u201d he told reporters in a rare media visit to Creech Air Force Base, where Cluff commands 3,000 pilots and support personnel. Since last summer\u2019s dramatic advances by Islamic State militants, U.S. aircraft have conducted 3,600 strikes in Iraq and Syria, many of them conducted by unmanned planes.\nThe remotely piloted aircraft program burst into action in the decade after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In 2001, the Air Force was only capable of keeping two drones flying combat missions at a time. Behind every drone in the air conducting a combat air patrol, there are hundreds of personnel required to maintain active and reserve aircraft and amass intelligence and even special teams deployed overseas dedicated to takeoff and landing of aircraft.\nBy 2010, during President Obama\u2019s surge of troops to Afghanistan, the program\u2019s flight capacity had reached 39. It peaked at 65 in 2014.\nThe growth has complicated challenges the Air Force has faced in fielding and retaining pilots for the program, which has often been seen by pilots as an unattractive alternative to piloting manned aircraft. Today, the Air Force needs to produce 300 new drone pilots a year. Because of recruitment and training constraints, it is only producing 180.The Air Force also loses 240 drone pilots each year as airmen return to other duties or they leave the service altogether.\nThe 500 pilots and 500 sensor operators at Creech, nestled among bare hillsides an hour\u2019s drive from Las Vegas, have pushed themselves hard in recent years to keep pace with the demands of overseas operations. While they typically work shifts of at least eight flight hours, five days on and then two to three days off, they are often called in for a sixth consecutive day because of personnel shortages.\nThe strains of that pace are \u201cwhy we\u2019re attacking the manning problem today.\u201d As commander of Creech, Cluff is in the odd position of touting the effectiveness of the skills of the airmen of his 432nd Wing and 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing and their arsenal of more than 130 Predator, Reaper and Sentinel aircraft while also pushing for recognition that the pace of their operations must be eased.\nEarlier this year, the Air Force announced plans to address gaps in drone pilots, including larger retention bonuses and greater use of reservists, National Guard personnel and contractors.\nA reduction in U.S. drone flights comes as other nations seek to accelerate their own unmanned flight programs, which has the potential to ease the future burden to U.S. operations. The United States is also moving to allow the sale of lethal American drone technology to certain allies.\nKelley Sayler, an associate fellow at the Center for a New American Security, said the reduction in flight capacity would \u201cnecessarily degrade\u201d U.S. intelligence capabilities.\nIn the long run, she said, the Air Force must increase promotions and other opportunities available to drone pilots and consider making the job accessible to enlisted personnel or others with a lesser level of training.\n\u201cIf the Air Force simply maintains its current course, we\u2019re likely to see continued problems with retention, which could in turn result in further reductions in [flight capacity] and negatively impact future military operations,\u201d she said.\nThe job is made personal for Shantae, a sensor operator who like other personnel asked to be identified only by her rank and first name.\nThe daughter of an active duty Marine, the senior airman takes pride in a mission she sees as primarily about keeping American personnel safe overseas. Air Force officials said the vast majority of unmanned flight hours are dedicated to surveillance, including watching over American troops as they conduct operations overseas. But she acknowledged that events on the battlefield sometimes \u201cweigh heavy on you.\u201d\nThe flight demands are made more striking by the fact that drone operators, like a small number of U.S. military personnel stationed in the United States, are \u201cdeployed in place.\u201d While they may take part in combat operations during the day, most airmen get into their cars after their shifts conclude and make the 50-minute drive back to Las Vegas, with its lights and revelry.\n\u201cEvery single day this base is at war,\u201d Cluff said.\nWhile the dissonance of remote warfare is real, a 2012 survey showed that what drone operators struggled with the most were familiar challenges: the demands of shift work, long hours, lack of sleep and inadequate staffing.\nTo address both kinds of stress, in 2011 the base stood up a \u201chuman performance team\u201d including experts in air physiology, psychology and flight medicine, and chaplains, all of whom have top-level security clearances.\nThe Air Force is now trying to replicate the team elsewhere, officials at the base said.\nIn 2014 alone, officials at the base said, they made 13 \u201csuicide saves,\u201d or interventions with service members who were contemplating suicide. The suicide rate is no higher among drone personnel than other Air Force personnel.\nWhile in other parts of the Air Force medical personnel might focus on training pilots on coping with high altitudes, those who operate unmanned aircraft must instead find ways to counteract the fatigue associated with long shifts sitting in trailers, their eyes glued to screens. Maj. Maria Elena Gomez-Mejia, who focuses on operational physiology, said many airmen struggled to adjust to regular changing work schedules that could keep them at Creech all or part of the night.\nOver time, Air Force officials also hope to upgrade equipment in ways that will lessen the toll of long pilot hours. Now, pilots and their sensor operators must contend with a crowded array of 14 different screens, which provide information on everything from the aircraft\u2019s position and course to area topography. To communicate with personnel on the ground or in the air, they can use radio, online chat or phone. The cluttered arrangement has not changed significantly in 15 years, Col. Matthew Finnegan said.\nA next-generation cockpit now under development will merge those screens and streamline communications."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "7047115870d7910b42bc779541f5deb5_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "7047115870d7910b42bc779541f5deb5_1", "title": "Flournoy to Trump: Let women serve in combat roles", "text": "\u201cSome of the things that they\u2019re asking you to do and be politically correct about are ridiculous.\u201d In September, Trump defended a 2013 tweet in which he seemed to blame gender integration in the military for a rise in sexual assaults. \u201c26,000 unreported sexual assaults in the military \u2014 only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?\u201d Trump tweeted. Flournoy, who was widely expected to be named as the first female defense secretary if Clinton had won, said the Trump team should look at all of the research, develop a deeper understanding of the issue and then make decisions based on what the actual implications would be of rolling back military personnel reforms, rather than treating it as a political issue. \u201cI would hope the new administration would take a fact-based, data-informed approach to this issue, understand it for all of its potential implications and ultimately choose to stay on the trajectory that\u2019s been set by a couple of administrations now,\u201d she said. Setting standards and then allowing members of the military to try to meet those standards regardless of gender or gender identity is the right approach socially and militarily, she argued. \u201cUltimately, having a military that is a truly a meritocracy, that has the diversity that looks like America, that leverages all our strengths across the full range of human capital and people who are willing to serve, that\u2019s in our interest as a nation,\u201d she said. If Trump does decide the new policy based on the views of the uniformed military leadership, the current reforms could very well be reversed. According to reports, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, opposed the decision to allow women to serve in combat roles and tried to exempt his service, the Marine Corps, from the policy. The GOP platform explicitly calls for keeping women out of combat units and infantry battalions and proposes a review of the Obama administration\u2019s \u201cideology based personnel policies.\u201d \u201cWe reject the use of the military as a platform for social experimentation and will not accept or continue attempts to undermine military priorities and mission readiness,\u201d the platform states. \u201cMilitary readiness should not be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.\u201d The incoming Trump administration is pledging to strengthen and expand the size of the U.S. military, but it risks weakening that very effort"}], "old": [{"_id": "7047115870d7910b42bc779541f5deb5_1", "title": "Flournoy to Trump: Let women serve in combat roles", "text": "profound impacts \u2014 certainly for morale, certainly for retention of women who are looking for opportunities \u2026 and it will probably also impact recruiting,\u201d Mich\u00e8le Flournoy, who served as undersecretary of defense for policy during President Obama\u2019s first term, said Monday at an event at the Aspen Institute. Trump has said he would follow the recommendations of military leaders on a range of military personnel policies. But it\u2019s not clear what this will mean for last December\u2019s decision to open up all combat roles to women who meet fixed standards and last July\u2019s move to allow transgender soldiers to serve openly and receive related medical coverage. \u201cWe have a politically correct military, and it\u2019s getting more and more politically correct every day,\u201d Trump said at a campaign event in October. \u201cSome of the things that they\u2019re asking you to do and be politically correct about are ridiculous.\u201d Flournoy, who was widely expected to be named as the first female defense secretary if Clinton had won, said the Trump team should look at all of the research, develop a deeper understanding of the issue and then make decisions based on what the actual implications would be of rolling back military personnel reforms, rather than treating it as a political issue. \u201cI would hope the new administration would take a fact-based, data-informed approach to this issue, understand it for all of its potential implications and ultimately choose to stay on the trajectory that\u2019s been set by a couple of administrations now,\u201d she said. Setting standards and then allowing members of the military to try to meet those standards regardless of gender or gender identity is the right approach socially and militarily, she argued. \u201cUltimately, having a military that is a truly a meritocracy, that has the diversity that looks like America, that leverages all our strengths across the full range of human capital and people who are willing to serve, that\u2019s in our interest as a nation,\u201d she said. \u201cWe reject the use of the military as a platform for social experimentation and will not accept or continue attempts to undermine military priorities and mission readiness,\u201d the platform states. \u201cMilitary readiness should not be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.\u201d The incoming Trump administration is pledging to strengthen and expand the size of the U.S. military, but it risks weakening that very effort by pushing away women who want to fight."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "President-elect Donald Trump. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)\nDuring the presidential campaign, President-elect Donald Trump called the Obama administration\u2019s move to open combat fighting roles to women in the military \u201cpolitically correct\u201d and said he might reverse the policy. On Monday, the woman who might have been Hillary Clinton\u2019s defense secretary called on him to preserve options for women who serve in uniform.\n\u201cIf we reverse direction, it will very likely have very profound impacts \u2014 certainly for morale, certainly for retention of women who are looking for opportunities \u2026 and it will probably also impact recruiting,\u201d Mich\u00e8le Flournoy, who served as undersecretary of defense for policy during President Obama\u2019s first term, said Monday at an event at the Aspen Institute.\nTrump has said he would follow the recommendations of military leaders on a range of military personnel policies. But it\u2019s not clear what this will mean for last December\u2019s decision to open up all combat roles to women who meet fixed standards and last July\u2019s move to allow transgender soldiers to serve openly and receive related medical coverage.\n\u201cWe have a politically correct military, and it\u2019s getting more and more politically correct every day,\u201d Trump said at a campaign event in October. \u201cSome of the things that they\u2019re asking you to do and be politically correct about are ridiculous.\u201d\nIn September, Trump defended a 2013 tweet in which he seemed to blame gender integration in the military for a rise in sexual assaults. \u201c26,000 unreported sexual assaults in the military \u2014 only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?\u201d Trump tweeted.\nFlournoy, who was widely expected to be named as the first female defense secretary if Clinton had won, said the Trump team should look at all of the research, develop a deeper understanding of the issue and then make decisions based on what the actual implications would be of rolling back military personnel reforms, rather than treating it as a political issue.\n\u201cI would hope the new administration would take a fact-based, data-informed approach to this issue, understand it for all of its potential implications and ultimately choose to stay on the trajectory that\u2019s been set by a couple of administrations now,\u201d she said.\nSetting standards and then allowing members of the military to try to meet those standards regardless of gender or gender identity is the right approach socially and militarily, she argued.\n\u201cUltimately, having a military that is a truly a meritocracy, that has the diversity that looks like America, that leverages all our strengths across the full range of human capital and people who are willing to serve, that\u2019s in our interest as a nation,\u201d she said.\nIf Trump does decide the new policy based on the views of the uniformed military leadership, the current reforms could very well be reversed. According to reports, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, opposed the decision to allow women to serve in combat roles and tried to exempt his service, the Marine Corps, from the policy.\nThe GOP platform explicitly calls for keeping women out of combat units and infantry battalions and proposes a review of the Obama administration\u2019s \u201cideology based personnel policies.\u201d\n\u201cWe reject the use of the military as a platform for social experimentation and will not accept or continue attempts to undermine military priorities and mission readiness,\u201d the platform states. \u201cMilitary readiness should not be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.\u201d\nThe incoming Trump administration is pledging to strengthen and expand the size of the U.S. military, but it risks weakening that very effort by pushing away women who want to fight."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "7C6WYBU4AUI6RNK6KABDADXQAQ_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "7C6WYBU4AUI6RNK6KABDADXQAQ_1", "title": "Army suspends discharges of foreign-born recruits from citizenship program", "text": "Lucas Calixto, a 28-year-old reservist from Brazil, who entered the military through the program and sued the Pentagon because he faced an uncertain future in the United States owing to his separation. The decision is the latest controversy surrounding a pilot program that the Pentagon established in 2008 offering expedited American citizenship for foreign-born recruits with highly desired language and medical skills. More than 10,000 recruits have enlisted in the U.S. military through the program, in some cases obtaining citizenship by the end of their basic training. It wasn\u2019t clear if the Army suspension would lead to fewer MAVNI recruits being discharged in the future. The Pentagon suspended the program in 2016 after judging that its procedures presented an unacceptable risk of insider threats including espionage and terrorism. The department ordered that those service members who enlisted through the program be subjected to enhanced security screening \u2014 a procedure that would be impossible for many of them to pass. An increasing number of service members in the program have been receiving discharge orders since then. They have argued in court filings that they haven\u2019t received proper explanations about why they are being pushed out or opportunities to appeal the decisions. Cynthia O. Smith, a spokeswoman for the Army, said in a statement that the service had suspended discharges of individuals recruited through the program \u201cin order to conduct a thorough review of the administrative separation process.\u201d Smith added, \u201cWe continue to abide by all requirements to include completing a thorough background investigation on all MAVNI applicants.\u201d Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the required security screening can be difficult and time-consuming for MAVNI recruits because they are foreign nationals and the military has a limited ability to verify information in the individual\u2019s home country. Margaret Stock, a lawyer and retired lieutenant colonel in the military police, who helped create the program, said she believed the Army memo was a reaction to Calixto\u2019s lawsuit and \u201can admission by the Army that they are violating the soldiers\u2019 rights.\u201d \u201cIt violates Army regulations to discharge them without telling them why they are being discharged,\u201d Stock said. She said the program had been designed to recruit qualified immigrants and now the Pentagon was expelling them in some cases for having foreign relatives. \u201cIt\u2019s clear to me that they just want to get rid of people \u2014 and it looks like a good clean"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The Army is suspending discharges of foreign-born recruits who enlisted as part of a special military program that put them on the path to U.S. citizenship, following lawsuits by soldiers who say they have been expelled unfairly and without explanation.\nIn a July 20 memo, a top Army personnel official ordered the service to \u201csuspend processing of all involuntary separation actions\u201d for individuals in the program and ordered a review of the discharge procedures for affected soldiers by Aug. 15.\nMarshall M. Williams, acting assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, also asked the Army deputy chief of staff in charge of personnel to recommend whether additional guidance should be issued regarding the discharge procedures for individuals who enlisted through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program (MAVNI).\nThe existence of the memo, which emerged in a court proceeding, was first reported Thursday by the Associated Press.\nThe Army\u2019s decision to halt the discharges temporarily comes amid a raft of legal actions by soldiers who enlisted through the program and have now been discharged, potentially complicating their promised path to citizenship.\nThe service issued the July 20 memo days after reversing its decision to discharge Lucas Calixto, a 28-year-old reservist from Brazil, who entered the military through the program and sued the Pentagon because he faced an uncertain future in the United States owing to his separation.\nThe decision is the latest controversy surrounding a pilot program that the Pentagon established in 2008 offering expedited American citizenship for foreign-born recruits with highly desired language and medical skills. More than 10,000 recruits have enlisted in the U.S. military through the program, in some cases obtaining citizenship by the end of their basic training.\nIt wasn\u2019t clear if the Army suspension would lead to fewer MAVNI recruits being discharged in the future.\nThe Pentagon suspended the program in 2016 after judging that its procedures presented an unacceptable risk of insider threats including espionage and terrorism. The department ordered that those service members who enlisted through the program be subjected to enhanced security screening \u2014 a procedure that would be impossible for many of them to pass.\nAn increasing number of service members in the program have been receiving discharge orders since then. They have argued in court filings that they haven\u2019t received proper explanations about why they are being pushed out or opportunities to appeal the decisions.\nCynthia O. Smith, a spokeswoman for the Army, said in a statement that the service had suspended discharges of individuals recruited through the program\u00a0\u201cin order to conduct a thorough review of the administrative separation process.\u201d\nSmith added, \u201cWe continue to abide by all requirements to include completing a thorough background investigation on all MAVNI applicants.\u201d\nMaj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokesperson, said the required security screening can be difficult and time-consuming for MAVNI recruits because they are foreign nationals and the military has a limited ability to verify information in the individual\u2019s home country.\nMargaret Stock, a lawyer and retired lieutenant colonel in the military police, who helped create the program, said she believed the Army memo was a reaction to Calixto\u2019s lawsuit and\u00a0\u201can admission by the Army that they are violating the soldiers\u2019 rights.\u201d\n\u201cIt violates Army regulations to discharge them without telling them why they are being discharged,\u201d Stock said. She said the program had been designed to recruit qualified immigrants and now the Pentagon was expelling them in some cases for having foreign relatives.\n\u201cIt\u2019s clear to me that they just want to get rid of people \u2014 and it looks like a good clean excuse to get rid of people to make it look like they failed a background check,\u201d Stock said.\nDefense Secretary Jim Mattis said last year that the Pentagon would like to find a way to save the program.\npaul.sonne@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "85d0664df05d39a7b11db95fc40df9d5_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "85d0664df05d39a7b11db95fc40df9d5_1", "title": "Foreign-born recruits, promised citizenship by the Pentagon, flee the country to avoid deportation", "text": "across the recruit population that their path to citizenship would abruptly end. Then he received a letter from Kurdish officials warning of sweeps targeting Kurds for deportation and watched as news reports of the program\u2019s struggles mounted. Rafeeq\u2019s student visa was set to expire on Aug. 1. He faced a decision: wait for the Pentagon\u2019s bureaucracy to untangle itself as the Trump administration seeks to expand deportation powers, or flee. He chose to flee. On June 11, Rafeeq went to Vancouver to apply for asylum in Canada. His biggest fear with deportation is the chance that Islamic State militants would prize his capture if they uncovered his attempt to enlist. \u201cI can\u2019t go back to Kirkuk,\u201d he said. \u201cThey would kill me.\u201d Pentagon proposals spark fear On June 26, The Post first reported on the Defense Department\u2019s internal recommendations to shutter the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest program, which has naturalized 10,400 troops since 2009, and to cancel the contracts of 1,800 of recruits like Rafeeq who are waiting to train. About 1,000 of those recruits have waited so long that they have fallen out of legal immigration status. An internal Defense Department memo obtained by The Post acknowledges that canceling these contracts would expose the recruits to deportation. In response, lawmakers urged Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to honor the contracts of those recruits. The recruits, who have already sworn allegiance to the United States in their oaths of enlistment, could potentially face harsh interrogations or jail time if they are deported to countries such as China or Russia, said Tom Malinowski, former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor in the Obama administration. \u201cThese are not rule of law societies, and if they want to put pressure on [recruits], they will,\u201d Malinowski told The Post. Malinowski said public announcements and photos of enlistments on social media could easily be exploited by adversarial intelligence agencies, in a potential propaganda victory attacking not just the United States but its most revered institution \u2014 the military. Those governments could force the recruits to \u201ctell the honest story of how America betrayed them,\u201d he said. \u201cThe basic purpose of Russian propaganda is not to extol Russia, but to convince people that America is amoral,\u201d Malinowski said. The Chinese government\u2019s charge of treason, which it finds in cases threatening to national security, ranges from 10 years of confinement to death,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "U.S. troops are sworn in as naturalized citizens on Nov. 2, 2012, at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.<br />(State Department)\nFrustrated by delayed promises of citizenship from the U.S. military, and in fear of the Islamic State if he were deported back to Iraq, Ranj Rafeeq has given up the American Dream for a\u00a0Canadian one.\nRafeeq was eager as a teenager to translate for U.S. troops stationed in his home town of Kirkuk in 2005. He immigrated to Portland, Ore., to study\u00a0seven years later, hoping to don an Army uniform after earning his graduate degree in civil engineering.\nHe signed an enlistment contract in January 2016, with a training date set in September.\n\u201cI loved American soldiers. It was my dream to be a part of them,\u201d Rafeeq, now 29, told The Washington Post.\nBut Rafeeq\u2019s plans to serve imploded as the Pentagon\u2019s program, designed to leverage medical and language\u00a0skills of immigrants in exchange for fast-tracked citizenship, was log-jammed with\u00a0additional security measures\u00a0for recruits last fall, stressing an\u00a0already overburdened screening process.\nThe program was put on hold in September 2016 \u2014 just as he was scheduled to report for training \u2014 sparking fear in Rafeeq and across the recruit population that their path to citizenship would abruptly\u00a0end.\nThen he received a letter from Kurdish officials\u00a0warning of sweeps targeting Kurds for deportation\u00a0and watched as news reports of the program\u2019s struggles mounted.\nRafeeq\u2019s student visa was set to expire on Aug. 1. He faced a decision: wait for the Pentagon\u2019s bureaucracy to untangle itself as the Trump administration seeks to expand deportation powers, or flee.\nHe chose to flee. On June 11, Rafeeq went to Vancouver to apply for asylum in Canada. His biggest fear with deportation is\u00a0the chance that Islamic State militants would\u00a0prize his capture if they uncovered his attempt to enlist.\n\u201cI can\u2019t go back to Kirkuk,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u00a0would\u00a0kill me.\u201d\nPentagon proposals spark fear\nOn June 26,\u00a0The Post first reported\u00a0on the Defense Department\u2019s internal recommendations\u00a0to shutter the\u00a0Military Accessions Vital to National Interest program, which has naturalized 10,400 troops since 2009, and to cancel\u00a0the contracts of 1,800 of recruits like\u00a0Rafeeq who are waiting to train.\nAbout 1,000 of those recruits\u00a0have waited so\u00a0long that they have fallen out of legal immigration status. An internal Defense Department memo obtained by The Post acknowledges that canceling these contracts would expose the recruits to deportation.\u00a0In response, lawmakers urged Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to honor the contracts of those recruits.\nThe recruits, who have already sworn allegiance to the United States in their oaths of enlistment, could potentially face harsh interrogations or\u00a0jail time if they are deported to countries such as China or Russia, said\u00a0Tom Malinowski, former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor in the Obama administration.\n\u201cThese are not rule of law societies, and if they want to put pressure on [recruits], they will,\u201d\u00a0Malinowski told The Post.\nMalinowski said public announcements and photos of enlistments on social media could easily be exploited by\u00a0adversarial intelligence agencies,\u00a0in a potential\u00a0propaganda victory attacking\u00a0not just\u00a0the United States but its most revered institution \u2014 the\u00a0military.\nThose governments could force the recruits to \u201ctell\u00a0the honest story of how America betrayed them,\u201d he said.\n\u201cThe basic purpose of Russian propaganda is not to extol Russia, but to convince people that America is amoral,\u201d Malinowski said.\nThe Chinese government\u2019s charge of treason, which it\u00a0finds in cases threatening to national security, ranges from 10 years of confinement to death, according to the Chinese People\u2019s Congress.\nAlong with South Korea, China is one of the main sources of program recruits, according to a Pentagon assessment of the program.\nMedia reports on the\u00a0memo ignited discussion among the program\u2019s recruits and hopefuls, who closely track developments in tightknit online\u00a0forums, with one Facebook page alone listing 20,000 members.\nA recruit\u00a0from India who administers some of pages told The Post he has seen an increase in the discussion of recruits seeking preemptive refuge. He estimates that hundreds of the 1,000 potentially under threat of deportation\u00a0have either fled or are seriously considering fleeing\u00a0to Canada, Germany, Australia and other countries.\nOne Chinese national, who declined to give his name, enlisted in the program and expected to leave for training in July 2016, but the program\u2019s suspension and a closing window for his immigration status prompted him to file for asylum in the United States last month.\nChina has a nativist culture, he said, and if deported he would face persecution from neighbors suspicious of his activities after living in the United States for six years.\n\u201cI wish people would see us as assets, not liabilities,\u201d he said. \u201cI love the United States a great deal, and I would do anything to defend this country.\u201d\nSecurity concerns\nThe program was created after military\u00a0officials determined that certain medical skills and language proficiencies\u00a0\u2014 such as Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Korean\u00a0\u2014 were vital to national security\u00a0but in short supply among U.S.-born troops. The program promises citizenship in months instead of the years-long naturalization process.\nProgram recruits are especially valuable to the Special Operations Command because of deep cultural\u00a0and language skills necessary to train and\u00a0advise foreign militaries\u00a0and militias,\u00a0according to a 2013 Pentagon review of the program.\nRafeeq\u2019s case is emblematic of sudden widespread distrust in the program at a time when the military seeks to ramp up personnel numbers after years of Obama-led troop level drawdowns, said Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer who led the program\u2019s design and implementation and is now an immigration lawyer.\n\u201cThe Defense Department has undermined the program in such a way that it is unlikely that the damage can be undone at this point,\u201d she said. \u201cImmigrant recruits are unlikely to trust the military\u00a0in the future, and recruiting will suffer.\u201d\nPentagon spokesman Johnny Michael\u00a0declined to comment on any aspect of the program, citing ongoing\u00a0lawsuits related to the program filed against\u00a0the agency. It is unclear whether the recommendations will be implemented.\nThe action memo revealed by The Post draws on agency concerns that infiltrators could use the program but does not mention whether any have exploited the program.\nOfficials assigned threat level tiers to the nearly 10,000 program\u00a0recruits, both in the service and waiting to serve, based on characteristics such as proximity to classified information and how thoroughly they have been vetted.\nStock said program\u00a0recruits are the most vetted in the military, and infiltrators likely\u00a0would not risk\u00a0screenings in the process involving the departments of State and Homeland Security, and various intelligence agencies.\n\u201cInstead of improving overall vetting of all individuals who pose a risk, the Defense Department\u00a0has chosen to waste valuable vetting resources, time and energy on \u2018extreme vetting\u2019 of people who pose little risk,\u201d Stock said.\n\u2018I was looking for ways to make America great\u2019\nRafeeq\u00a0has watched Iraq burn from Portland. His family\u00a0fled violence in Kirkuk after his younger brother was injured by a car bomb. The Islamic State battled Kurdish militias there in\u00a02014, and militants have been active there as recently as October.\nFor years he has wanted to lend the United States his native tongue\u00a0of Kurdish and Arabic in the fight against the Islamic State. That has changed.\n\u201cI lost all my faith in the military. I felt like they were lying to me and all my brothers and sisters,\u201d Rafeeq said. \u201cI was looking for ways to make America great in the world while they were trying to kick us out.\u201d\nIf Canada grants him asylum,\u00a0Rafeeq wants to join the military, with a maple leaf on his shoulder.\n\u201cIn Afghanistan, in\u00a0Syria, I will serve them,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are hospitable and respectful toward me.\u201d\nRead more:\nA high school journalist called Jim Mattis. The man known as \u2018Chaos\u2019 answered.\nHere are the names and photos of the 15 Marines and sailor who died in Mississippi plane crash"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "9ca7d25ab147f6bb346764860671b42f_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "9ca7d25ab147f6bb346764860671b42f_1", "title": "The Pentagon promised citizenship to immigrants who served. Now it might help deport them.", "text": "filled medical billets and language specialties \u2014 like Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Pashto \u2014 which were identified by the Pentagon as vital to the success of military operations, but in short supply among U.S.-born troops. Last year, officials heightened security screenings specifically for MAVNI recruits, diverting \u201calready constrained Army fiscal and manpower resources,\u201d the memo said. A U.S. Army recruiting command virtual town hall on June 16 addressed questions about the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program launched by the Defense Department in 2009. The overtasked vetting process and heightened security risk led officials to recommend canceling enlistment contracts for all 1,800 awaiting orders for basic training, and halting the program altogether, according to the memo. Those recruits are in what the military calls the delayed-entry program, a holding pool of recruits assigned training dates in the future. About 1,000 of them have seen their visas expire while waiting for travel orders, which would put them at risk of deportation if their contracts are canceled. Defense Department spokesman Johnny Michael said Monday the agency is reviewing program requirements, declining to confirm the existence of the memo or ongoing internal discussions. The copy obtained by The Washington Post was signed off by Pentagon personnel official Tony Kurta on May 19. It is unclear when the memo was issued and its current status. Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer central in implementing the program in 2009, reviewed the document and called the decision a breach of contract made in bad faith. \u201cIt\u2019s terrible. You trusted the Army, who delayed the process, and now they\u2019re going to cancel your contract and have you deported,\u201d Stock said. Stock, now an attorney who practices immigration law in Alaska, said the Department of Homeland Security would possibly welcome the move as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up deportations. The recruits are on government rolls detailing their addresses, phone numbers and legal statuses, making them prime targets for removal. It remains unclear if military officials would hand over that information to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Pentagon is also considering ending the careers of 2,400 part-time troops in the program who have yet to attend basic training. Stock, the retired officer, waved off concerns of heightened risk of the MAVNI recruits cited in the memo, which says 30 percent subject to \u201cenhanced screening\u201d have \u201cunmitigable derogatory information\u201d that could bar them from"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "U.S. troops are sworn in as naturalized citizens on Nov. 2, 2012, at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. (State Department)\nThe Pentagon is considering a plan to cancel enlistment contracts for 1,000 foreign-born recruits without legal immigration status, knowingly exposing them to deportation, a Defense Department memo shows.\nThe undated action memo, prepared for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis by personnel and intelligence officials at the Pentagon and obtained by The Washington Post, describes potential security threats of immigrants recruited in a program designed to award fast-tracked citizenship in exchange for urgently needed medical and language skills.\nAdditionally, 4,100 troops \u2014\u00a0most of whom are\u00a0naturalized citizens \u2014 may face \u201cenhanced screening,\u201d though the Pentagon voiced concern on how to navigate \u201csignificant legal constraints\u201d of \u201ccontinuous monitoring\u201d of citizens without cause, according to the memo.\nOfficials have assigned threat level tiers to the nearly 10,000 Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program\u00a0recruits, both in the service and waiting to serve, based on characteristics like proximity to classified information or how thoroughly they have been vetted.\nThe Defense Department launched the program in 2009.\u00a0Since the program\u2019s start, more than 10,400 troops, most of them with service in the Army, have filled medical billets and language specialties \u2014 like Russian, Mandarin Chinese and Pashto \u2014 which were identified by the Pentagon as vital to the success of military operations, but in short supply among U.S.-born troops.\nLast year,\u00a0officials heightened security screenings specifically for MAVNI recruits, diverting\u00a0\u201calready constrained Army fiscal and manpower resources,\u201d the memo said.\nA U.S. Army recruiting command virtual town hall on June 16 addressed questions about the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program launched by the Defense Department in 2009.\nThe\u00a0overtasked vetting process and heightened security risk led officials to recommend canceling enlistment contracts for all 1,800 awaiting orders for basic training, and halting the program altogether, according to the memo.\nThose recruits are in what the military calls the delayed-entry program, a holding pool of recruits assigned training dates in the future. About 1,000 of them have seen their visas expire while waiting for travel orders, which would put them at risk of deportation if their contracts are canceled.\nDefense Department spokesman Johnny Michael said Monday the agency is reviewing program requirements, declining to confirm the existence of the memo or ongoing internal discussions. The\u00a0copy obtained by The Washington Post was signed off by Pentagon personnel official Tony Kurta on May 19. It is unclear when the memo was issued and its current status.\nMargaret Stock, a retired Army officer central in implementing the program in 2009, reviewed the document and called the decision a breach of contract made in bad faith.\n\u201cIt\u2019s terrible. You trusted the Army, who delayed the process, and now they\u2019re going to cancel your contract and have you deported,\u201d Stock said.\nStock, now an attorney who practices immigration law in Alaska, said the Department of Homeland Security would possibly welcome the move as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up deportations.\nThe recruits are on government rolls detailing their addresses, phone numbers and legal statuses, making them prime targets for removal. It remains unclear if military officials would hand over that information to the U.S.\u00a0Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\nThe Pentagon is also considering ending the careers of 2,400 part-time troops in the program who have yet to attend basic training.\nStock, the retired officer, waved off concerns of heightened risk of the MAVNI recruits cited in the memo, which says 30 percent\u00a0subject to \u201cenhanced screening\u201d\u00a0have \u201cunmitigable derogatory information\u201d that could bar them from service.\nThat term is typically used to describe applicants with characteristics that cannot be helped, Stock says, like a family member who worked for a foreign government or simply having foreign relatives.\nThere does not appear to have been a policy designed to grant exceptions to what would be a common occurrence among the population, she said.\n\u201cIt\u2019s okay to investigate someone with a legitimate security threat,\u201d Stock said. \u201cBut the recruits share a characteristic they don\u2019t like, which is they\u2019re foreigners. They\u2019re going to be treated as second-class citizens for their entire career.\u201d\nStock pointed to a recent Army blunder \u2014 an enlistment of a U.S. citizen who fought alongside Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine \u2014 as an example of extreme vetting that occurs for program recruits but not native-born troops.\nIt\u2019s against Pentagon equal-opportunity policies, Stock said.\n\u201cYou can\u2019t treat people with a certain characteristic differently,\u201d she said. \u201cYou don\u2019t do surveillance on everyone who is Irish-American because Mike Flynn broke the law when talking to the Russians.\u201d"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "AMPRNVTC3II6TP5NG2T6WNWLMA_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "AMPRNVTC3II6TP5NG2T6WNWLMA_1", "title": "Military spouses face added challenges while trying to find jobs. This could help.", "text": "as they relocate with the military compromises the quality of life of military families and the readiness of the military force.\u201d The employment barriers facing military spouses may also make it more difficult to recruit men and women willing to serve in the armed forces. One of the most significant barriers for military spouses, as it is for many other job seekers, is state occupational licensing rules governing hundreds of occupations, including teaching, paralegal and health-care work. Obtaining state certification can require taking courses, passing tests and paying steep fees. These requirements are especially onerous for military spouses, who usually expect to be in a particular state for only a couple of years. According to Syracuse University research, more than one-third of military spouses work in fields subject to occupational licensing, disproportionately more than the general population. And according to the Chamber survey, nearly one-quarter of military spouses cite occupational licensing as their biggest barrier to employment. Like countless people across the country who selflessly put their spouses\u2019 careers ahead of their own, military spouses will always face some additional employment challenges. Not only are their moves frequent, but also the military bases are often far from urban centers, where jobs are more plentiful. Numerous public and private programs already exist to help overcome some of these challenges. But state legislators can do even more good by eliminating the burdensome state occupational requirements that require military spouses to repeatedly acquire expensive and time-consuming licenses to work legally in their chosen professions. Military spouses will no longer have to worry about such rules in Kentucky and Iowa. We are proud to have each recently signed statewide legislation to allow military spouses (and veterans) to use their occupational licenses, issued in any other state, in our states as well. Under the legislation, state administrative bodies must issue occupational licenses within 30 days of receiving an application from military spouses who are licensed in another state. The reform will benefit not only military spouses but also our state economies, which can now more easily employ this underutilized talent pool. With help from the Job Creators Network , which has led this multistate effort by convening a meeting of governors and Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to address this issue, support is growing nationwide for such occupational-licensing reforms. We are working with 12 other states to implement similar legislation. We encourage every state to join"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Matt Bevin (R) is the governor of Kentucky; Kim Reynolds (R) is the governor of Iowa.\nWith Americans nationwide enjoying the best job market in decades, the unemployment rates in our states, Kentucky (4.1 percent) and Iowa (2.4 percent), are also at or near generational lows. Yet at least one group of Americans struggles with high unemployment: military spouses. In the most recent figures available, the\u00a0Defense Department reported that the unemployment rate for spouses of military members on active duty in 2017 was 24 percent\n.\nMilitary spouses who can find work often must settle for jobs below their skill and experience levels. They earn\u00a027 percent less\n\n than their civilian counterparts with similar skills and experience, according to a 2018 report by the president\u2019s Council of Economic Advisers. A 2017 U.S.\u00a0Chamber of Commerce\u00a0survey found\n that nearly half of military spouses describe their financial situation as \u201cstruggling\u201d or living \u201cpaycheck to paycheck.\u201d\nIt\u2019s bad enough that the country is letting down the more than\u00a0600,000\n spouses of America\u2019s men and women in uniform, but the Pentagon\u00a0says\u00a0\nthe lack of job opportunities also potentially harms national security: \u201cThe inability of spouses to obtain and retain fulfilling employment as they relocate with the military compromises the quality of life of military families and the readiness of the military force.\u201d The employment barriers facing military spouses may also make it more difficult to recruit men and women willing to serve in the armed forces.\nOne of the most significant barriers for military spouses, as it is for many other job seekers, is state occupational licensing rules governing hundreds of occupations, including teaching, paralegal and health-care work. Obtaining state certification can require taking courses, passing tests and paying steep fees. These requirements are especially onerous for military spouses, who usually expect to be in a particular state for only a couple of years.\nAccording to Syracuse University\u00a0research, more than one-third\n of military spouses work in fields subject to occupational licensing, disproportionately more than the general population. And according to the Chamber \nsurvey, nearly one-quarter of military spouses cite occupational licensing as their biggest barrier to employment.\nLike countless people across the country who selflessly put their spouses\u2019 careers ahead of their own, military spouses will always face some additional employment challenges. Not only are their moves frequent, but also the military bases are often far from urban centers, where jobs are more plentiful. Numerous public and private programs already exist to help overcome some of these challenges. But state legislators can do even more good by eliminating the burdensome state occupational requirements that require military spouses to repeatedly acquire expensive and time-consuming licenses to work legally in their chosen professions.\nMilitary spouses will no longer have to worry about such rules in Kentucky and Iowa. We are proud to have each recently signed statewide legislation to allow military spouses (and veterans) to use their occupational licenses, issued in any other state,\n in our states as well.\nUnder the legislation, state administrative bodies must issue occupational licenses within 30 days of receiving an application from military spouses who are licensed in another state. The reform will benefit not only military spouses but also our state economies, which can now more easily employ this underutilized talent pool.\nWith help from the Job Creators Network\n, which has led this multistate effort by convening a meeting of governors and Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to address this issue, support is growing nationwide for such occupational-licensing reforms. We are working with 12 other states to implement similar legislation.\nWe encourage every state to join this licensing-reform effort and help military spouses share in the current labor-market prosperity."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "DO3BEBYKTRFUTHNUNUQHMUDUSY_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "DO3BEBYKTRFUTHNUNUQHMUDUSY_1", "title": "Free trade doesn\u2019t just lead to job loss. It means more deaths from drug overdoses and increased military recruitment.", "text": "\u2014 the military tends to send more recruiters to these communities. Trade-related job losses lead to higher levels of opioid addiction The opioid epidemic now kills roughly 130 people in the United States every day. While this is a national public health emergency, less-educated white men in Appalachia have been particularly harmed. In 2015, the overdose mortality rate in Appalachia was 65 percent higher than the rest of the country. Less-educated white males suffer overdose deaths at such a high rate that it has lowered their overall life expectancy. As can be seen in the figure above, Appalachia has the highest rate of trade-related job loss in the country. And trade puts downward pressure on the wages and job prospects of less-educated manufacturing workers, the majority of which are white men. Job loss generally increases the risk of depression and drug misuse. Since jobs lost from trade are relatively \u201cgood\u201d manufacturing jobs \u2014 offering better wages, benefits, and higher unionization rates than the rest of the private sector \u2014 it may be even more difficult for workers to adjust after layoffs. Worse still, the risk of drug use has significantly increased with the introduction of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, into heroin markets around the United States. In a recently published paper, Simeon Kimmel and I explored the nationwide relationship between free trade and the opioid epidemic. We found that 1,000 trade-related job losses in a given locality were associated with a 2.7 percent increase in opioid-related overdose deaths. When fentanyl was present in the local heroin supply, however, the same size trade shock was associated with an 11.3 percent increase in such overdose deaths. People go into the army \u2014 since they don\u2019t have many other options Since the mid-1990s, free trade has also steadily sent Americans into the military. Trade-related job losses reduce the economic and educational opportunities available to unskilled workers and therefore increase the supply of potential military recruits. Demand for recruits also increases, as the U.S. government responds to these economic shocks by increasing recruitment efforts and enlistment goals in trade-affected counties. Hickory, N.C., an Appalachian city once known as the \u201cfurniture capital of the world,\u201d suffered 11,000 trade-related job losses between 1996 and 2010. In the face of these trade shocks, enlistment in the U.S. Army quadrupled for the local county. I spoke with a local high school ROTC leader, who explained that students"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "President Trump will soon send the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to Congress. It won\u2019t pass in the House, though, without support from Democrats who want the new trade deal to include tougher labor and environmental provisions. For example, Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, demands that the USMCA include better programs to help American workers hurt by free trade.\nCritics such as Neal argue that American free trade agreements fail to address what happens to local communities that are hit by waves of imports and layoffs. While the economic and political consequences of trade-related job losses are well known \u2014 lower wages and more support for populist leaders \u2014 my research suggests that the impact of free trade is much broader.\nIn a recently published study, my co-author and I find that trade-related job losses are closely related to spikes in opioid-related overdose deaths. Less-educated males in Appalachia bear the brunt of free trade as well as the opioid epidemic. And as young people look for ways out of communities hurt by trade, enlistment in the U.S. Army also surges. It\u2019s not just that youth are more willing to enlist after trade shocks \u2014 the military tends to send more recruiters to these communities.\nTrade-related job losses lead to higher levels of opioid addiction\nThe opioid epidemic now kills roughly 130 people in the United States every day. While this is a national public health emergency, less-educated white men in Appalachia have been particularly harmed.\nIn 2015, the overdose mortality rate in Appalachia was 65 percent higher than the rest of the country. Less-educated white males suffer overdose deaths at such a high rate that it has lowered their overall life expectancy.\nAs can be seen in the figure above, Appalachia has the highest rate of trade-related job loss in the country. And trade puts downward pressure on the wages and job prospects of less-educated manufacturing workers, the majority of which are white men.\nJob loss generally increases the risk of depression and drug misuse. Since jobs lost from trade are relatively \u201cgood\u201d manufacturing jobs \u2014 offering better wages, benefits, and higher unionization rates than the rest of the private sector \u2014 it may be even more difficult for workers to adjust after layoffs. Worse still, the risk of drug use has significantly increased with the introduction of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, into heroin markets around the United States.\nIn a recently published paper, Simeon Kimmel and I explored the nationwide relationship between free trade and the opioid epidemic. We found that 1,000 trade-related job losses in a given locality were associated with a 2.7 percent increase in opioid-related overdose deaths. When fentanyl was present in the local heroin supply, however, the same size trade shock was associated with an 11.3 percent increase in such overdose deaths.\nPeople go into the army \u2014 since they don\u2019t have many other options\nSince the mid-1990s, free trade has also steadily sent Americans into the military. Trade-related job losses reduce the economic and educational opportunities available to unskilled workers and therefore increase the supply of potential military recruits. Demand for recruits also increases, as the U.S. government responds to these economic shocks by increasing recruitment efforts and enlistment goals in trade-affected counties.\nHickory, N.C., an Appalachian city once known as the \u201cfurniture capital of the world,\u201d suffered 11,000 trade-related job losses between 1996 and 2010. In the face of these trade shocks, enlistment in the U.S. Army quadrupled for the local county.\nI spoke with a local high school ROTC leader, who explained that students \u201cwill try to join the military after high school because they\u2019ve tried the job market, they\u2019ve tried going to college and couldn\u2019t go. \u2026 Very few of them are joining the military for patriotic reasons.\u201d\nA high school guidance counselor in Hickory told me that before the trade shocks, recruiters would visit their school once a year. Now, military recruiters come multiple times a week and eat lunch with students in the cafeteria. The counselor lamented, \u201cI\u2019m not sure how many states and counties around the country allow just a constant flow of military recruiters in.\u201d\nThese dynamics spread far beyond the closed furniture mills of North Carolina. I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Defense Department and analyzed data from around the United States from 1996 through 2010. The study found that a shock of 1,000 trade-related job losses was associated with a 33 percent increase in Army enlistment in the average county.\nU.S. policies do not focus on these problems\nWith the 2020 presidential election approaching, there is a growing bipartisan consensus in favor of trade protection and government intervention into markets. However, tariffs will not have direct benefits for the communities that have already suffered trade-related job losses. And revised trade agreements such as the USMCA \u2014 with their lack of compensation for trade losers \u2014 continue to overlook the broader social consequences of free trade.\nAdam Dean"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "EJA274MSQRAOZFV36WUXLXQ6QI_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "EJA274MSQRAOZFV36WUXLXQ6QI_1", "title": "Immigrant doctors want to help the Army fight the coronavirus. The Pentagon won\u2019t let them.", "text": "civilian hospitals but signed up to serve part-time with the Army. Now, they are desperate to serve in uniform as they wait for background checks to complete. An internal medicine specialist, a doctor from India with a specialty in respiratory illnesses, said he has treated at least 40 patients with the coronavirus in a civilian hospital in New York City. He enlisted in the Army in 2015 and has mostly sat around while on reservist duty as a low-ranking soldier with little to do. \u201cI love to help people,\u201d he told The Post. \u201cBut these hurdles are unnecessary. I\u2019m wasting years of my medical experience in the Army.\u201d Like the other five recruits interviewed for this story, he declined to provide his name and some identifying details for fear of retribution from the U.S. government. Those six recruits combined have spent 25 years on limited reserve duty as junior soldiers unable to use any of their medical skills in uniform. The Pentagon did not return a request for comment, and the Army did not say how many immigrant physicians are still waiting to muster into the service. The physicians enlisted in an immigrant recruitment program that traded fast-tracked citizenship for language and medical skills that the Pentagon identified as both vital to national security but in short supply among U.S.-born troops. More than 10,000 skilled immigrants entered the military in the last decade, mostly for their linguistic skills. The program shuttered in 2017 amid security concerns and heightened background checks that stalled the process for years. At least several dozen physicians are still waiting for their checks to finish. They busy themselves with menial tasks at their reserve units, where they have limited duties, said retired Army officer Margaret Stock, the architect of the program and an immigration attorney who has represented physician recruits. The military has consistent physician shortages, a 2018 Government Accountability Office report found. \u201cThe nation is facing a crisis when we need these people,\u201d Stock said. \u201cIt was the point of recruiting them in the first place.\u201d The Military Accessions Vital to National Interest program was championed by Special Operations Command for its stream of language and cultural experts who could aid them in unconventional missions, a Pentagon overview of the program said. It also helped the Army Reserve fill many dental jobs, a vital task because dentists must be available to clear soldiers for combat"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Dozens of immigrant physicians who enlisted through a Pentagon program meant to harness their medical skills are stuck taking out trash and filing paperwork, an immigration attorney said, even as the military mobilizes doctors to fight the growing coronavirus pandemic.\nSix recruits with relevant training \u2014 a pulmonary specialist, an epidemiologist and two internal medicine practitioners, among others \u2014 are frustrated that the glacial pace of security checks has slowed their chance to serve at a crucial moment, they told The Washington Post.\nThe inertia comes as the force\u2019s growing need for medical professionals becomes clearer \u2014 and more urgent. More than 200 military medical students and nurses will receive diplomas early, officials said Thursday, and officials have braced for a surge in demand in military hospitals.\nIt is unclear whether the military has enough doctors to treat its own troops and family members as the pandemic worsens. The Army is testing if medical soldiers who have left the service are interested in rejoining, and several active duty units have mobilized to help civilian hospitals with non-coronavirus patients.\nMore than 300 service members have been infected, the agency said Thursday, including some who have recovered.\nThe immigrant physicians work in civilian hospitals but signed up to serve part-time with the Army. Now, they are desperate to serve in uniform as they wait for background checks to complete.\nAn internal medicine specialist, a doctor from India with a specialty in respiratory illnesses, said he has treated at least 40 patients with the coronavirus in a civilian hospital in New York City. He enlisted in the Army in 2015 and has mostly sat around while on reservist duty as a low-ranking soldier with little to do.\n\u201cI love to help people,\u201d he told The Post. \u201cBut these hurdles are unnecessary. I\u2019m wasting years of my medical experience in the Army.\u201d\nLike the other five recruits interviewed for this story, he declined to provide his name and some identifying details for fear of retribution from the U.S. government.\nThose six recruits combined have spent 25 years on limited reserve duty as junior soldiers unable to use any of their medical skills in uniform.\nThe Pentagon did not return a request for comment, and the Army did not say how many immigrant physicians are still waiting to muster into the service.\nThe physicians enlisted in an immigrant recruitment program that traded fast-tracked citizenship for language and medical skills that the Pentagon identified as both vital to national security but in short supply among U.S.-born troops.\nMore than 10,000 skilled immigrants entered the military in the last decade, mostly for their linguistic skills. The program shuttered in 2017 amid security concerns and heightened background checks that stalled the process for years.\nAt least several dozen physicians are still waiting for their checks to finish. They busy themselves with menial tasks at their reserve units, where they have limited duties, said retired Army officer Margaret Stock, the architect of the program and an immigration attorney who has represented physician recruits.\nThe military has consistent physician shortages, a 2018 Government Accountability Office report found.\n\u201cThe nation is facing a crisis when we need these people,\u201d Stock said. \u201cIt was the point of recruiting them in the first place.\u201d\nThe Military Accessions Vital to National Interest program was championed by Special Operations Command for its stream of language and cultural experts who could aid them in unconventional missions, a Pentagon overview of the program said.\nIt also helped the Army Reserve fill many dental jobs, a vital task because dentists must be available to clear soldiers for combat deployments. By 2017, two-thirds of Army reservist dentists came through the program.\nBut the pipeline closed that year following new stringent regulations and enhanced background checks, leading some to trickle in through thickets of bureaucracy.\nOne of them, a pulmonologist from the Middle East, treated veterans at a VA hospital, trained medical students, and in 2016, enlisted in the Army to provide his expertise in uniform.\nHe sits on the coronavirus response board at his Georgia hospital. \u201cRespiratory failure is where my expertise begins,\u201d he told The Post. \u201cI take care of the sickest of the sick.\u201d\nHe and the other physicians are in a reserve status that allows basic access to Army bases and limited responsibilities, but they have not been fully processed for basic or officer training.\nHe came to the United States a decade ago, but his enlistment coincided with new stringent background checks that delayed hundreds of recruits from completing the enlistment process, turning the reliable stream of recruits into a flurry of lawsuits, asylum claims and fears of deportation.\nThe process dragged out for years, he said, until last week, when he was given an unfavorable determination for having foreign family members, even though he was naturalized \u2014 part of a pattern of canceled enlistments and failed screenings for fact-of-life events and, often, simply for existing as foreigners.\nHe was given 30 days to provide a rebuttal for the determination, which does not yet mean he is denied a chance to serve.\n\u201cIt was not my choice to be born in a different country,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what I need to do to prove my allegiance.\u201d\nAn internal medicine specialist in Louisiana \u2014 who said he has treated nearly two dozen coronavirus patients this week alone \u2014 has faced similar hurdles. He enlisted in 2016 and was naturalized, but he was also given an unfavorable determination because he often speaks to his foreign-born father.\nHis reserve duty has mostly involved classes and occasionally trash removal duty typical of junior soldiers, not physicians. \u201cFor more than four years I\u2019m sitting and doing nothing,\u201d he said.\nImmigrant physician recruits typically join the Army Reserve, which would primarily treat other soldier members unless they were mobilized to assist in a public health response.\nThe Defense Department has failed to identify and place talented troops into jobs that harness their abilities, said Paul Scharre, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a former policy analyst at the Pentagon.\n\u201cThe military has done an unequivocally horrible job tapping into skills,\u201d he said. But with MAVNI, \u201cwe know adding these people would make a difference.\u201d\nA Chinese epidemiologist in California echoed the sentiment. He enlisted in 2016 and was naturalized but has yet to move forward as an officer, spending time cleaning facilities as a cook at his selected reserve unit.\n\u201cI have skills and I can help,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel useless.\u201d\nThis story has been updated."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "EN4GLIX224I6PD3GFXYLSS5ZRI_4", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "EN4GLIX224I6PD3GFXYLSS5ZRI_4", "title": "After Iraq and Afghanistan, pioneering women in the military set sights on Congress", "text": "and maternity leave. Sullivan, who worked at the Pentagon in the Obama administration, also said she has seen firsthand the devastating consequences of war, and thinks that Trump \u201cputs the national security of this country at risk\u201d with his \u201cerratic and bizarre\u201d behavior. McGrath agreed that many veterans are upset with the commander in chief: \u201cA lot of us are saying this isn\u2019t the country we fought for.\u201d The former combat pilot singled out the need for better affordable health care for her candidacy. She first must win the Democratic primary \u2014 a field that includes Lexington Mayor Jim Gray \u2014 for the chance to unseat Rep. Garland \u201cAndy\u201d Barr (R). A viral campaign video has boosted her bid. In it she says that at age 13, she wrote to her members of Congress saying she wanted an opportunity to fly fighter jets. Her House member wrote back saying that women were not allowed in combat, and her senator, Mitch McConnell (R), never replied. McGrath ended up flying 89 combat missions against al- \u00adQaeda and the Taliban. Several Republican Party officials acknowledged that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and liberal groups, including VoteVets.org, are increasing their efforts to recruit veterans who are critical of Trump. \u201cDemocrats have made a concerted effort because of the stigma attached to them since the 2016 election, which showed them to be out of touch with voters, a party of coastal elites,\u201d said Jesse Hunt, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. But Hunt said that although military service is admirable, \u201cbiography is not everything, and a Democrat is a Democrat.\u201d Voters are swayed by where a candidate stands on issues such as single-payer health care and tax cuts, Hunt said. But many Democrats see the effectiveness of having combat veterans speak out on deeply partisan issues, including those involving guns. Burgess, of the American Enterprise Institute, said veterans have an identity apart from political party. Many grew up in middle-class and rural areas, and that helps them \u201cget away from the hated image of the elite politician,\u201d she said. Jeremy Teigen, author of a new book, \u201cWhy Veterans Run,\u201d said Republicans have had more success in getting their veterans elected. Democrats have a history of backing veterans in long-shot races. But he said there are signs this year that Democrats are being more strategic. Of 36 veterans who attended a two-day workshop run"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In Amy McGrath\u2019s pitch to voters in Kentucky, she wears a bomber jacket and stands next to an F/A-18, the fighter jet she flew as a Marine to drop bombs on Afghanistan.\nIn Mikie Sherrill\u2019s political ad in New Jersey, the camera lingers over a whirring Sea King helicopter, like the one she piloted on Navy missions.\nAnd in Martha McSally\u2019s video announcing her run for Senate in Arizona, she is crouched in the cockpit of an Air Force fighter jet to underscore that she was the first woman to fly in combat.\nWomen who served in the military are running for elective office in greater numbers than at any time in history. Many broke gender barriers in uniform and say it\u2019s time to make their mark in politics. For generations, military veterans who become elected officials have overwhelmingly been male and Republican, but these female veterans, many of whom served in pioneering combat roles in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are overwhelmingly Democrats and critical of President Trump.\n\u201cMany of us felt like we really had to focus on some of the areas that needed further groundbreaking, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate,\u201d said Sherrill, 46, a Democrat running in New Jersey\u2019s 11th Congressional District. Sherrill said she and other female veterans are motivated to run for office by what she calls a \u201clack of respect\u201d for women by the Trump administration and by the dearth of women on Capitol Hill. She said she was astounded to see an all-male Senate panel debating last year whether to repeal the Affordable Care Act.\nSherrill is considered a strong contender who could flip the Republican seat being vacated by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee who surprised many by dropping out of the race in January after 24 years in Congress. His district voted for Trump by less than one percentage point.\nOnly four of the 535 members of Congress are female veterans, two Republicans and two Democrats. But at least 32 more women who served in the military are now campaigning for the House and Senate \u2014 25 Democrats and seven Republicans, said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.\nScores more are campaigning for statewide office and state legislative seats, many with the aim of running for Congress later.\nThe increase in veterans running \u2014 the number of men is rising, too \u2014 is beginning to reverse the long decline of veterans in Congress. In the 1970s, more than 70\u00a0percent of House and Senate members had served in the military. Today, about 20\u00a0percent have.\nAlthough the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan created a larger pool of potential candidates, it is no coincidence that at a time of sinking regard for politicians, bomber jackets, Bronze Stars and aviator wings are showing up in so many 2018 campaign ads. A recent Gallup poll showed that 72\u00a0percent of people had \u201ca great deal\u201d or \u201cquite a lot\u201d of confidence in the military, but only 12\u00a0percent did for Congress.\nCombat veterans in Congress have a long history of commanding attention when discussing war. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who lost her legs when a rocket-propelled grenade hit her Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq, was widely quoted recently when she called Trump a \u201cfive-deferment draft dodger\u201d and accused him of goading North Korea.\nIn response to Trump calling Democrats \u201ctreasonous\u201d for not clapping during his State of the Union address, Duckworth countered that she swore an oath to the Constitution and did not have to \u201cmindlessly cater to the whims of Cadet Bone Spurs,\u201d a reference to Trump receiving a Vietnam War-era deferment because of bone spurs.\nDemocrats want to highlight the fact that many military veterans are appalled by Trump, who has filled his inner circle with retired generals and is planning a huge military parade later this year.\nStudies have shown that veterans in office are more reluctant to vote to go to war, but that once war is declared, they back an all-out effort, said Rebecca Burgess, who studies veterans in public office for the American Enterprise Institute.\nIn half a dozen interviews with female candidates who are veterans, health care was a key reason they wanted to run. Many also talked about the need to improve education, to gain greater gender parity and to institute paid maternity leave. Wanting strong national security, they said, was a given and rarely mentioned first.\n\u201cWomen look around and see what is happening, and they want to see change,\u201d said Maura Sullivan, 38, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and is a Democrat running for an open House seat in New Hampshire. She said many issues need to be addressed, including child care, mental health and maternity leave.\nSullivan, who worked at the Pentagon in the Obama administration, also said she has seen firsthand the devastating consequences of war, and thinks that Trump \u201cputs the national security of this country at risk\u201d with his \u201cerratic and bizarre\u201d behavior.\nMcGrath agreed that many veterans are upset with the commander in chief: \u201cA lot of us are saying this isn\u2019t the country we fought for.\u201d\nThe former combat pilot singled out the need for better affordable health care for her candidacy. She first must win the Democratic primary \u2014 a field that includes Lexington Mayor Jim Gray \u2014 for the chance to unseat Rep. Garland \u201cAndy\u201d Barr (R). A viral campaign video has boosted her bid. In it she says that at age 13, she wrote to her members of Congress saying she wanted an opportunity to fly fighter jets. Her House member wrote back saying that women were not allowed in combat, and her senator, Mitch McConnell (R), never replied.\nMcGrath ended up flying 89 combat missions against al- \u00adQaeda and the Taliban.\nSeveral Republican Party officials acknowledged that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and liberal groups, including VoteVets.org, are increasing their efforts to recruit veterans who are critical of Trump.\n\u201cDemocrats have made a concerted effort because of the stigma attached to them since the 2016 election, which showed them to be out of touch with voters, a party of coastal elites,\u201d said Jesse Hunt, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.\nBut Hunt said that although military service is admirable, \u201cbiography is not everything, and a Democrat is a Democrat.\u201d\nVoters are swayed by where a candidate stands on issues such as single-payer health care and tax cuts, Hunt said.\nBut many Democrats see the effectiveness of having combat veterans speak out on deeply partisan issues, including those involving guns.\nBurgess, of the American Enterprise Institute, said veterans have an identity apart from political party. Many grew up in middle-class and rural areas, and that helps them \u201cget away from the hated image of the elite politician,\u201d she said.\nJeremy Teigen, author of a new book, \u201cWhy Veterans Run,\u201d said Republicans have had more success in getting their veterans elected. Democrats have a history of backing veterans in long-shot races. But he said there are signs this year that Democrats are being more strategic.\nOf 36 veterans who attended a two-day workshop run by the nonpartisan Veterans Campaign in Washington last month, 14 were Democrats, nine were Republicans and the rest were undecided or independents.\nErica Courtney, a former Army helicopter pilot and a Democrat living in Virginia, was one of those who attended sessions such as \u201cBulletproofing Your Service Record & Avoiding Common Pitfalls.\u201d She said the military taught her to lead by example and to be inclusive, adding, \u201cNow I am embarrassed to watch the nightly news with my children.\u201d\nIn Arizona, McSally is embracing Trump as she seeks the seat being vacated by Sen. Jeff Flake (R).\nElected to the House in 2015, McSally faces former sheriff Joe Arpaio, another Trump ally, in the Republican primary. The retired Air Force colonel is flying herself to campaign stops, telling voters she will work with Trump on border security, a top issue in her Arizona district.\nShe also uses \u201csalty language,\u201d as she calls it \u2014 just like the guys she served with in the military. She got people\u2019s attention last year when as a House member, she stood up in a GOP conference room during discussions about replacing the Affordable Care Act and said \u201clet\u2019s get this f---ing thing done.\u201d\n\u201cSorry if I offended you, but that is who I am,\u201d McSally said in an interview. She said most voters appreciate her candid, straightforward, \u201ceven a little edgy\u201d approach.\n\u201cLike our president, I am tired of PC politicians and their BS excuses,\u201d McSally said in a video announcing her Senate bid. \u201cI am a fighter pilot, and I talk like one. That\u2019s why I told Washington Republicans to grow a pair of ovaries and get the job done.\u201d\nMcGrath, the Kentucky Democrat, said the male-dominated world of politics makes sense for female veterans like her. \u201cSuccess in combat as a fighter pilot is not gender-dependent,\u201d she said. \u201cA lot of women out there kicked butt.\u201d\nmary.jordan@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "GMEDEUUZXQI6RNQLDSEX6F7BQU_3", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "GMEDEUUZXQI6RNQLDSEX6F7BQU_3", "title": "When a Trump supporter\u2019s wife is deported", "text": "Mexican immigrants murderers and rapists was \u201cpeanuts compared to what turns out to be the truth.\u201d In real life, the ones Trump loves and the ones Trump demonizes are not so far apart. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tells me it doesn\u2019t track the number of military spouses subjected to deportation. But the advocacy group American Families United, extrapolating from census figures, estimates there are as many as 11,800 active-duty military service members with a spouse or family member vulnerable to deportation. And that doesn\u2019t include veterans\u2019 families. Since the Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolutionary War, and the Irish Brigade during the Civil War, immigrants have had a central role in the U.S. military. That\u2019s true now, too, says Jon Soltz, an Iraq veteran who founded the group VoteVets. If zero tolerance is enforced, he said, it will feel as if \u201ceverybody has a family member who is affected.\u201d As many as 1,000 foreign nationals, recruited to the military for their critical language or medical skills, face potential discharge over delays in background checks. The Trump administration\u2019s removal of protected status for Salvadorans and Haitians means many more military family members will face deportation. Many veterans themselves have been deported because of missed application deadlines. ICE, in a statement, says it \u201cremoved Alejandra Juarez, a citizen and national of Mexico, to her home country.\u201d ICE said she had attempted in 1998 to enter the country by falsely claiming she was a U.S. citizen and was issued an \u201cexpedited order of removal.\u201d She returned, illegally, and remained without incident until a traffic stop led ICE to reinstate her removal order in 2013. But the Obama administration did not prioritize the deportation of military family members \u2014 a policy of protection supported by, among others, then-Rep. Mike Pence. These are different times. Juarez hasn\u2019t spoken much in public about his family\u2019s ordeal. (He wasn\u2019t home Monday when I attempted to reach him.) But in the Stars and Stripes interview, he spoke about preparing his daughters for the impending family separation. \u201cI\u2019ve been preaching to them you\u2019ve got to be mentally tough \u2014 pretty much what they teach you in the Army,\u201d he said. But nothing the military taught him could have prepared him for the cruelty his country just inflicted on his family. Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbank\u2019s archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Sgt. Temo Juarez was a Trump guy. An Iraq combat veteran who served as a Marine infantryman and then an Army National Guardsman, his friends called him a \u201csuper conservative.\u201d With his wife, he brought up their two daughters in Central Florida. He supported Trump in 2016, eager for a change.\nBut now, \u201cI am eating my words,\u201d he told the military newspaper Stars and Stripes in an interview published last week.\nOn Friday, Juarez and his family became the latest victims of Trump\u2019s zero-tolerance policy on immigration.\nOn that day, his wife, Alejandra, left the country under a deportation order. She had come to the United States from Mexico illegally as a teenager two decades ago and had until now being living undisturbed with Temo, a naturalized U.S. citizen, and daughters, both natural-born Americans. This week, Temo will fly to Mexico with his daughters, 9-year-old Estela and 16-year-old Pamela \u2014 and leave his younger daughter there, even though English is her first language. He can\u2019t do his construction job and take care of her in Florida by himself.\nTemo Juarez believed Trump would deport only illegal immigrants who were criminals, and his wife had no record.\nInstead, as the family fought Alejandra\u2019s deportation, young Estela, with unicorns on her T-shirt, wept as she spoke to TV cameras: \u201cI really do want to stay with my mom and dad. I want us to be together and stay in my house. I don\u2019t want to go to Mexico. I want to stay here.\u201d\nFor Sgt. Juarez, this was the Trump administration\u2019s unique way of saying, \u201cThank you for your service.\u201d\nTrump\u2019s \u201cfamily separation\u201d policy is most visible on the border. Last week, the administration said it still had not reunited 572 immigrant children it separated from their parents. The administration, in a court filing last week, said it should be up to the American Civil Liberties Union \u2014 the group that sued over family separation \u2014 to locate the parents.\nBut, as the Juarez case shows, the wanton cruelty of the immigration policy isn\u2019t limited to new arrivals. \u201cZero tolerance literally ripped this family apart,\u201d Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), the Juarezes\u2019 congressman, told me Monday. \u201cThe administration is so extreme on immigration that they\u2019re deporting the spouses of military veterans.\u201d\nSoto and colleagues introduced legislation and wrote letters to help the Juarez family. No use.\nAt political rallies, Trump often exults: \u201cOh, do we love our veterans!\u201d He also talks about illegal immigrants who \u201cinfest\u201d the country; last week he said calling Mexican immigrants murderers and rapists was \u201cpeanuts compared to what turns out to be the truth.\u201d\nIn real life, the ones Trump loves and the ones Trump demonizes are not so far apart. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tells me it doesn\u2019t track the number of military spouses subjected to deportation. But the advocacy group American Families United, extrapolating from census figures, estimates there are as many as 11,800 active-duty military service members with a spouse or family member vulnerable to deportation. And that doesn\u2019t include veterans\u2019 families.\nSince the Marquis de Lafayette during the Revolutionary War, and the Irish Brigade during the Civil War, immigrants have had a central role in the U.S.\u00a0military. That\u2019s true now, too, says Jon Soltz, an Iraq veteran who founded the group VoteVets. If zero tolerance is enforced, he said, it will feel as if \u201ceverybody has a family member who is affected.\u201d\nAs many as 1,000 foreign nationals, recruited to the military for their critical language or medical skills, face potential discharge over delays in background checks. The Trump administration\u2019s removal of protected status for Salvadorans and Haitians means many more military family members will face deportation. Many veterans themselves have been deported because of missed application deadlines.\nICE, in a statement, says it \u201cremoved Alejandra Juarez, a citizen and national of Mexico, to her home country.\u201d ICE said she had attempted in 1998 to enter the country by falsely claiming she was a U.S. citizen and was issued an \u201cexpedited order of removal.\u201d\nShe returned, illegally, and remained without incident until a traffic stop led ICE to reinstate her removal order in 2013. But the Obama administration did not prioritize the deportation of military family members \u2014 a policy of protection supported by, among others, then-Rep.\u00a0Mike Pence.\nThese are different times.\nJuarez hasn\u2019t spoken much in public about his family\u2019s ordeal. (He wasn\u2019t home Monday when I attempted to reach him.) But in the Stars and Stripes interview, he spoke about preparing his daughters for the impending family separation. \u201cI\u2019ve been preaching to them you\u2019ve got to be mentally tough \u2014 pretty much what they teach you in the Army,\u201d he said.\nBut nothing the military taught him could have prepared him for the cruelty his country just inflicted on his family.\nTwitter: @Milbank\nRead more from Dana Milbank\u2019s archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "GR6GAVPLZJBZRPMI44EO3WEJFA_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "GR6GAVPLZJBZRPMI44EO3WEJFA_1", "title": "He\u2019s a U.S. soldier deployed on the southern border \u2014 and an unlawful immigrant", "text": "in southeastern China is beautiful, he said, the region dotted with lakes and towering limestone karst formations. But it is also stifling. He felt trapped by family expectations, and a passion for engineering could take him only so far there. There were better opportunities in America, he believed. He joined his sister in California on a student visa and enrolled in college. The military seemed like a place to further his career, he said, and the Pentagon\u2019s immigrant recruit program guaranteed something more than job security: \u201cA sense of pride,\u201d he said. His enlistment would also harness something that makes him especially valuable to the military \u2014 his voice. He speaks Mandarin Chinese, which is among several languages the Pentagon has deemed strategically vital but in short supply among U.S.-born troops. And as the Pentagon has increasingly worried about China\u2019s military ambitions, it seemed like the perfect time, then, for the Chinese-born soldier to offer his skills. He was scheduled to begin training in August 2016, according to documents obtained by The Post. That\u2019s about when everything started to go very wrong. The Pentagon program he enlisted through, Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, was beginning its year-long implosion. Immigrant recruits commonly timed their enlistment so their student and visitor visas could carry them through with enough time to legally protect them. The Chinese soldier enlisted when he was still a lawful immigrant with a valid visa \u2014 in compliance with MAVNI requirements. But the Pentagon\u2019s security screening was so slow that \u201csome number of 4,300 MAVNI applicants\u201d had fallen out of lawful status as they waited, according to an internal agency memo dated Sept. 30, 2016. The agency later said the number crested at 1,000 recruits. That number included the Chinese soldier, whose enlistment date slid back amid the chaos. Many recruits waited months, or years, to move forward. The Chinese soldier did not even have weeks. In September 2016, the Pentagon introduced vastly more complicated security checks amid fears of foreign infiltrators. Weeks later, in October, his legal status expired, making him an unlawful immigrant. He picked up fares as a Lyft driver while he waited for his enlistment to move forward, he said, and took pains to avoid the border when he ventured to San Diego. He wouldn\u2019t risk flying, either. In August 2017, after nine grueling months under threat of deportation, he was granted deferred"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The U.S. soldier was ready to deploy across the world at a moment\u2019s notice, but when the orders came down weeks ago to mobilize on the southern border, it sparked a flash of concern.\nHe knew the mission was in support of border agents combing harsh borderland terrain to arrest anyone unlawfully in the country.\nPeople like him.\n\u201cI\u2019m an illegal immigrant,\u201d the Chinese-born soldier told The Washington Post by phone.\nHis duties do not often intersect with Customs and Border Protection agents, he said, but he has avoided them out of fear they will learn that one of 5,400 troops in their orbit is in violation of immigration law.\nThat has placed him in the unusual situation of serving a nation that has not recognized him as a citizen, despite promises from the Pentagon to quickly naturalize skilled immigrants in exchange for service, as they had done for thousands of troops since 2009.\nThe Post is withholding the soldier\u2019s name and certain details, including his duty location, because he fears discipline for speaking to the media.\nThe soldier, now in his late 20s, began his path to the United States nearly a decade ago, after high school.\nHis home in southeastern China is beautiful, he said, the region dotted with lakes and towering limestone karst formations. But it is also stifling. He felt trapped by family expectations, and a passion for engineering could take him only so far there.\nThere were better opportunities in America, he believed.\nHe joined his sister in California on a student visa and enrolled in college. The military seemed like a place to further his career, he said, and the Pentagon\u2019s immigrant recruit program guaranteed something more than job security: \u201cA sense of pride,\u201d he said.\nHis enlistment would also harness something that makes him especially valuable to the military \u2014 his voice. He speaks Mandarin Chinese, which is among several languages the Pentagon has deemed strategically vital but in short supply among U.S.-born troops.\nAnd as the Pentagon has increasingly worried about China\u2019s military ambitions, it seemed like the perfect time, then, for the Chinese-born soldier to offer his skills. He was scheduled to begin training in August 2016, according to documents obtained by The Post.\nThat\u2019s about when everything started to go very wrong. The Pentagon program he enlisted through, Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, was beginning its year-long implosion.\nImmigrant recruits commonly timed their enlistment so their student and visitor visas could carry them through with enough time to legally protect them. The Chinese soldier enlisted when he was still a lawful immigrant with a valid visa \u2014 in compliance with MAVNI requirements.\nBut the Pentagon\u2019s security screening was so slow that \u201csome number of 4,300 MAVNI applicants\u201d had fallen out of lawful status as they waited, according to an internal agency memo dated Sept. 30, 2016.\nThe agency later said the number crested at 1,000 recruits. That number included the Chinese soldier, whose enlistment date slid back amid the chaos. Many recruits waited months, or years, to move forward.\nThe Chinese soldier did not even have weeks. In September 2016, the Pentagon introduced vastly more complicated security checks amid fears of foreign infiltrators.\nWeeks later, in October, his legal status expired, making him an unlawful immigrant.\nHe picked up fares as a Lyft driver while he waited for his enlistment to move forward, he said, and took pains to avoid the border when he ventured to San Diego. He wouldn\u2019t risk flying, either.\nIn August 2017, after nine grueling months under threat of deportation, he was granted deferred action by Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but that already expired, he said, putting him back into the crosshairs of immigration enforcement.\nThe MAVNI program was shuttered last fall, crushed by its own bureaucratic inertia, and remaining applicants in the system trickled through enlistment.\nMilitary naturalizations plummeted just as the Chinese soldier readied for training, and USCIS closed its offices at three basic training sites in January 2018, BuzzFeed reported.\nThe agency said it did so after rule changes mandated 180 days of service to naturalize. In response, it moved to a roving model to perform naturalization services, though it did not say how troops like the Chinese soldier could fall through the cracks.\nCongress mandated faster naturalizations established after a U.S. soldier from Trinidad was killed in Iraq on his way to gather paperwork for his citizenship. A Pentagon spokeswoman did not return a request for comment on how and why immigrant troops may arrive at their units without being naturalized.\nSoon after the January closures, the Chinese soldier made it to basic training.\nHis drill sergeants told him he would not be naturalized during basic training in Missouri, he said.\nHe then moved to advanced training in Texas. He said he was told the base was not set up for naturalizations, either.\nAnd then, soon after he arrived at his home station, he was mobilized for the border deployment.\nIn China, his parents have worried about his status and his safety after seeing images of Central American migrants fleeing tear gas. He feels sympathetic to fellow immigrants, he said, who like him left their home to pursue opportunities elsewhere.\n\u201cAt the same time,\u201d he said, \u201ca massive group rushing in wasn\u2019t the best way to do so, I think.\u201d\nAt his new unit, he said paperwork for his naturalization was underway but that the border deployment has paused the process while he is gone.\nTroops on the border were scheduled to leave by Dec. 15. But on Tuesday, the Pentagon extended forces there to the end of January, leaving him more time to ponder the risks of interacting with federal agents there.\nHe has kept busy in his down time by working out, reading and studying for certification tests on his smartphone, he said.\nSometimes he will catch a sunset of brilliant orange and pink.\nIt\u2019s wondrous out there, he said, in the big, beautiful country not quite his home.\nThis story has been updated.\nRead More:\nInmates posing as women online blackmailed hundreds of troops in \u2018sextortion\u2019 scheme\nPentagon identifies Special Operations troops killed in Afghanistan\nA woman\u2019s daring escape from a Border Patrol agent helped reveal a \u2018serial killer,\u2019 police say"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "HKCYA6HXIII6RBR2RFZBEBSG4A_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "HKCYA6HXIII6RBR2RFZBEBSG4A_1", "title": "After losing court battle, Pentagon will send green-card holders to recruit training ", "text": "week. They will be placed in available slots, and the services will have to consider factors such as their needs and prospective recruits\u2019 preferences. The injunction eases pressure on a group of prospective troops that the Pentagon has long recruited, pitching self-betterment and, in some cases, a chance at U.S. citizenship. About 18,000 U.S. troops were green-card holders at the beginning of the Trump administration, and about 5,000 joined the military each year before the stricter policy, Pentagon officials have said. Some military officials have raised concerns internally that the growing backlog of green-card holders could present problems for a military always in need of new troops. The directive, which was obtained by The Washington Post, was issued two days after a reporter began asking military officials last week about the glut of potential recruits waiting to train and whether it was complying with the injunction. In the Navy, officials overseeing the issue called it \u201cuntenable\u201d in a recent document reviewed by The Post and warned that the situation brings \u201cincreasing risk of mission failure.\u201d The document said the average wait time for a green-card holder to join the U.S. military had grown to 354 days as opposed to 168 for U.S. citizens, raising the possibility that the Navy would miss its recruiting goals. If the Pentagon ordered the services to comply with the court injunction, the Navy should ship lawful permanent residents to the \u201cmaximum extent possible\u201d to fill about 1,154 open slots in recruit training in December and January, officials added. A military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said the Navy has more than 2,870 green-card holders under contract and waiting to go to recruit training. A Marine Corps spokesman, Gunnery Sgt. Justin Kronenberg, said his service had 1,062 additional green-card holders awaiting recruit training. Like the other services, the Marines were awaiting additional guidance from the Pentagon last week.\u201cThe Marine Corps Recruiting Command has kept full pace with [Defense Department] policy updates and is in compliance with all guidance regarding Lawful Permanent Resident accessions,\u201d Kronenberg said. \u201cWe\u2019ve maintained maximum transparency concerning the process with our LPR applicants to ensure they and their families are informed and their questions are answered.\u201d The Marine Corps sent 1,044 green-card holders to recruit training in 2016 and 1,169 in 2017, but the number dropped to 808 in the most recent fiscal year"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The Pentagon will begin sending a backlog of thousands of green-card holders to recruit training, suspending a policy adopted by the Trump administration last year that required more-stringent background checks for some immigrants wanting to serve, according to two defense officials and an internal memo.\nThe policy called for green-card holders to submit to and complete a full background check and respond to any concerns before they could go to boot camp. That was in addition to standard requirements for green-card applicants, such as biometrics screening.\nThe change put thousands of people in limbo, as their screening languished and specific jobs within the military promised to them slipped away.\nThe new directive says that each armed service must comply immediately with a preliminary injunction issued last month in the District Court for the Northern District of California. In it, Judge Jon S. Tigar agreed with an argument from the lawyers of two prospective service members and the American Civil Liberties Union that the Pentagon had not satisfactorily explained why new screening is necessary. Tigar said the policy should be disregarded.\nAir Force Lt. Col. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said the services will begin sending the recruits\u00a0to training this week. They will be placed in available\u00a0slots, and the services will have to consider factors such as their needs and\u00a0prospective recruits\u2019 preferences.\nThe injunction eases pressure on a group of prospective troops that the Pentagon has long recruited, pitching self-betterment and, in some cases, a chance at U.S. citizenship. About 18,000 U.S. troops were green-card holders at the beginning of the Trump administration, and about 5,000 joined the military each year before the stricter policy, Pentagon officials have said.\nSome military officials have raised concerns internally that the growing backlog of green-card holders could present problems for a military always in need of new troops.\nThe directive, which was obtained by The Washington Post, was issued two days after a reporter\u00a0began asking military officials last week about the glut of potential recruits waiting to train and whether it was complying with the injunction.\nIn the Navy, officials overseeing the issue called it \u201cuntenable\u201d in a recent document reviewed by The Post and warned that the situation brings \u201cincreasing risk of mission failure.\u201d\nThe document said the average wait time for a green-card holder to join the U.S. military had grown to 354 days as opposed to 168 for U.S. citizens, raising the possibility that the Navy would miss its recruiting goals.\nIf the Pentagon ordered the services to comply with the court injunction, the Navy should ship lawful permanent residents to the \u201cmaximum extent possible\u201d to fill about 1,154 open slots in recruit training in December and January, officials added.\nA military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said the Navy has more than 2,870 green-card holders under contract and waiting to go to recruit training.\nA Marine Corps spokesman, Gunnery Sgt. Justin Kronenberg, said his service had 1,062 additional green-card holders awaiting recruit training. Like the other services, the Marines were awaiting additional guidance from the Pentagon last week.\u201cThe Marine Corps Recruiting Command has kept full pace with [Defense Department] policy updates and is in compliance with all guidance regarding Lawful Permanent Resident accessions,\u201d Kronenberg said. \u201cWe\u2019ve maintained maximum transparency concerning the process with our LPR applicants to ensure they and their families are informed and their questions are answered.\u201d\nThe Marine Corps sent 1,044 green-card holders to recruit training in 2016 and 1,169 in 2017, but the number dropped to 808 in the most recent fiscal year ending in September.\nThe Air Force sent 567 green-card holders to recruit training in 2016 and 590 in 2017, according to data provided by the service. But that number dropped to 44 in the fiscal year ending in September. About 470 green-card holders are under contract and waiting to attend training.\nThe Army sent 4,600 green-card holders to recruit training in 2016, and 3,600 in 2017, according to data provided by the Pentagon. That number plummeted to 513 in 2018, as the Army also missed its recruiting goal in 2018 for the first time since 2005 by about 6,500 soldiers, despite spending more than $200 million on bonuses. The service declined to say how many green-card holders are in its system waiting to ship to training, citing the open litigation.\nThe green-card holders originate from many countries with which the United States has friendly relations, with lawful permanent residents from the Philippines making up the largest number. In the Navy, about 656 of the group waiting to go to boot camp are from there.\n\nChina, Jamaica, Nigeria and Mexico are among the other nations with significant numbers, according to data provided to The Post.\nThe Pentagon has grappled with frequent Chinese efforts to steal U.S. secrets and is concerned about Islamic extremism in Nigeria, but it also has lauded the past efforts by green-card holders from those nations to join the military and earn their citizenship.\nThe suit filed in California by the ACLU details the cases of Jiahao Kuang, who moved to the United States from China at 8 years old, and Deron Cooke, who successfully applied for a green card at age 22 and emigrated from Jamaica.\nKuang grew up in California and enlisted in the Navy in July 2017, motivated by a desire to serve the United States and earn money for college, according to court documents for the case. He was initially expected to head to training in July 2018, but that date was later shifted until January 2019. He did not apply for college in anticipation of joining the Navy, the documents said.\nCooke, unaware of the Pentagon\u2019s new policy last year, resigned from a job in anticipation of soon joining the Air Force as an auto mechanic. He, too, was caught in limbo and still hasn\u2019t begun training.\nThe judge ruled that the two recruits are representative of the kind of people affected by the Pentagon\u2019s policy. The court will continue to review the issue.\ndan.lamothe@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "HWGTPJWSJVAFBJBPDII25KURGQ_4", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "HWGTPJWSJVAFBJBPDII25KURGQ_4", "title": "Discharging immigrant soldiers is the American way. That\u2019s the problem.", "text": "as military assets to being viewed as an immigration problem and national security threat. Instead of being granted asylum, many of them were subjected to deportation. The pattern of welcoming foreign nationals into the military and then discharging or criminalizing them has continued to the present. In 2009, the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or MAVNI, program was established to enlist non-U.S. citizens through the promise of expedited citizenship. The MAVNI program prioritized enlistees with \u201ccritical skills\u201d such as \u201cphysicians, nurses, and certain experts in language with associated cultural background.\u201d It was part of the revival of counterinsurgency championed by senior military officials in the War on Terror. Despite its promised military benefits, the specter of \u201cforeigners within\u201d plagued the program almost from its start. In 2009, MAVNI was suspended temporarily after the mass shooting at Fort Hood, Tex., by U.S.-born Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. The program was reinstated in 2012 after the implementation of tighter screening procedures. With the recent wave of discharges of MAVNI recruits, however, we are seeing echoes of the past. Some of the recruits have been discharged because of their \u201cforeign ties\u201d of their relatives living abroad. There has been a persistent contradiction between the imperatives of fighting U.S. wars abroad \u2014 in which immigrants and those perceived to be foreign because of their race are valued for their skills and symbolic value \u2014 and the ongoing war at home against immigrants and racial minorities who are deemed a threat to America\u2019s imagined homogenous culture. Discharging \u201cbad\u201d immigrants from the military has been a way of resolving this contradiction. It preserves the military\u2019s image as an inclusive and diverse institution and reinforces the false idea that there are \u201cdeserving\u201d immigrants. At the same time, however, it nurtures suspicions about racial minorities, immigrants and foreigners. As this history reveals, the struggle for justice on behalf of those who have been discharged from the military must be waged as part of the struggle against this administration\u2019s anti-immigrant policies, and that struggle must be a part of the broader fight to end America\u2019s permanent war at home and abroad. So long as the United States remains engaged in almost perpetual war, there will be a need for nonwhite soldiers with cultural and symbolic value and simultaneously intense suspicion of them. Xenophobia and militarism have always fueled one another, and ending one requires ending the other."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Last month, reports emerged that the U.S. military had begun discharging immigrant Army reservists and recruits who did not pass their security screening and were deemed \u201cunsuitable.\u201d For many, it closed off their pathway to obtaining U.S. citizenship through the military.\nThis action reflects the latest in the Trump administration\u2019s organized assault on immigrants, but it\u2019s also part of a far longer story. Over the past 70 years of unending U.S. wars, the military has repeatedly welcomed immigrants and those deemed \u201cforeign\u201d for their skills and symbolic value, and then subsequently discharged them on the grounds that they posed a threat to the nation. Doing so reflects an America caught between military necessity and suspicion of others, driven by racism, that has made appeals for immigrant inclusion and support for U.S. overseas militarism increasingly difficult to separate.\nDuring World War II, hundreds of Japanese Americans were recruited into the military from internment camps. Many served in the segregated 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Those skilled in the Japanese language joined the Military Intelligence Service to gather and analyze enemy intelligence.\nBeyond their language skills and manpower, Japanese Americans also offered great symbolic value for the military by countering Japanese propaganda about American racism. At a time when nearly 120,000 Japanese residents in the United States were imprisoned in camps and had their constitutional rights suspended because they were deemed \u201cenemy aliens,\u201d these exceptional Japanese American soldiers told a story of redemption and American progress. President Harry S. Truman commended them in 1946: \u201cYou fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice \u2014 and you have won.\u201d\nAnd yet, even as symbols of American enlightenment and indispensable cogs in the war machine, many Japanese American service members faced intense scrutiny because of suspicions about their potential for disloyalty. After the war, the Army ordered \u201call inductees or enlistees of Japanese ancestry\u201d to Occupied Japan to serve as translators and \u201cambassadors of democracy.\u201d At the same time, the Army\u2019s Office of Intelligence (G-2) monitored them for potential subversion, and Japanese American service members believed to have ties with Japanese communists were discharged.\nOnce the Korean War broke out, Korean Americans stationed in South Korea were similarly interrogated over their political affiliations and potential ties to Communist North Korea.\nEven as these Americans served their country with distinction, they were treated as foreigners whose presence in the military only further amplified the threat that they posed to national security. They were seen as racial minorities first and soldiers second, and notwithstanding their donning of the military uniform, their loyalty to the nation was rendered inherently suspect by their race. In some cases, Army intelligence officers even believed that their \u201cracial background\u201d made them susceptible to communist propaganda.\nThis ambivalence toward nonwhite American soldiers extended to soldiers from allied countries. During the Cold War, the Defense Department created the Mutual Defense Assistance Program to train soldiers from allied countries, including South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and South Vietnam. The program brought over 140,000 foreign military trainees to the United States throughout the 1950s.\nLike the Japanese Americans in the military during World War II, the Defense Department saw these trainees as vital manpower for the defense of the \u201cfree world\u201d from Communism as well as cultural ambassadors who could spread the gospel of American democracy back in their home countries. To enhance what they termed the \u201ccollateral benefits\u201d of the trainees, the Defense Department even published guidebooks to acquaint them with the \u201cAmerican way of life\u201d premised on ideals of freedom and individualism.\nDespite being allies, these foreign trainees were not immune from the anti-communist hysteria then sweeping the United States. Immigrant communities in particular fell prey to witch hunts in this environment. And when some foreign trainees went AWOL and sought asylum in the United States from U.S.-backed anti-communist regimes in their home countries, they quickly went from being perceived as military assets to being viewed as an immigration problem and national security threat. Instead of being granted asylum, many of them were subjected to deportation.\nThe pattern of welcoming foreign nationals into the military and then discharging or criminalizing them has continued to the present. In 2009, the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or MAVNI, program was established to enlist non-U.S. citizens through the promise of expedited citizenship. The MAVNI program prioritized enlistees with \u201ccritical skills\u201d such as \u201cphysicians, nurses, and certain experts in language with associated cultural background.\u201d It was part of the revival of counterinsurgency championed by senior military officials in the War on Terror.\nDespite its promised military benefits, the specter of \u201cforeigners within\u201d plagued the program almost from its start. In 2009, MAVNI was suspended temporarily after the mass shooting at Fort Hood, Tex., by U.S.-born Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. The program was reinstated in 2012 after the implementation of tighter screening procedures.\nWith the recent wave of discharges of MAVNI recruits, however, we are seeing echoes of the past. Some of the recruits have been discharged because of their \u201cforeign ties\u201d of their relatives living abroad.\nThere has been a persistent contradiction between the imperatives of fighting U.S. wars abroad \u2014 in which immigrants and those perceived to be foreign because of their race are valued for their skills and symbolic value \u2014 and the ongoing war at home against immigrants and racial minorities who are deemed a threat to America\u2019s imagined homogenous culture. Discharging \u201cbad\u201d immigrants from the military has been a way of resolving this contradiction. It preserves the military\u2019s image as an inclusive and diverse institution and reinforces the false idea that there are \u201cdeserving\u201d immigrants. At the same time, however, it nurtures suspicions about racial minorities, immigrants and foreigners.\nAs this history reveals, the struggle for justice on behalf of those who have been discharged from the military must be waged as part of the struggle against this administration\u2019s anti-immigrant policies, and that struggle must be a part of the broader fight to end America\u2019s permanent war at home and abroad. So long as the United States remains engaged in almost perpetual war, there will be a need for nonwhite soldiers with cultural and symbolic value and simultaneously intense suspicion of them. Xenophobia and militarism have always fueled one another, and ending one requires ending the other."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "J4OABWQZ5VC6BAHMSK4Y652IBE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "J4OABWQZ5VC6BAHMSK4Y652IBE_2", "title": "Hundreds of immigrant recruits risk \u2018death sentence\u2019 after Army bungles data, lawmaker says", "text": "dozen asylum claims for Chinese recruits who fear government retaliation, according to a person with knowledge of the claims who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Abhishek Bakshi, an Indian recruit, said he received the list by accident in July 2017 from an Army recruiter in Wisconsin who asked whether he wanted to schedule a security interview. The spreadsheet was disturbing, said Bakshi, whose name is on the list. \u201cThe list could be a risk to those people,\u201d Bakshi told The Post. He filed an affidavit to support one Chinese asylum claim that has since been used for other claims. The breach, he wrote, \u201cincreases the danger of persecution of Chinese [recruits].\u201d Margaret Stock, an immigration lawyer and retired Army officer, said she is aware of six Chinese recruits who have been granted asylum. Dozens of others are waiting on pending claims overseen by her and other lawyers, she said. All of the affected recruits were part of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest recruitment program, which has rotated more than 10,400 immigrants into the force with promises to quickly naturalize them in exchange for needed medical and language skills. It was closed in 2017 following security fears and increased background checks that paralyzed vetting resources within the government. Chinese recruits filing for asylum are concerned that extensive background checks implemented in 2016 will deny them enlistment for innocuous reasons, and some have waited so long that their visas have expired, exposing them to deportation. That has heightened concern they may be forced into the waiting arms of hostile governments. \u201cThe Defense Department is coming up with any reason to fail them,\u201d Stock said. Another Chinese recruit at an Army Reserve aviation unit in Fort Knox, Ky., received the list in December 2017, among other documents related to enlistment, after it was forwarded among a chain of recruiting officials. His name was also on the list. \u201cI was shocked to receive the spreadsheet,\u201d he wrote in an October asylum claim. \u201cI surmised that Army personnel didn\u2019t bother to look at the Excel attachment before forwarding it.\u201d The lists also include the status of intelligence agency checks and background investigations that are similar to the scope of top-secret clearances. Malinowski said recruits or their families could be imperiled if adversarial intelligence networks learned of their enlistments and detained them to ask their understanding of the enlistment process, security at"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Army officials inadvertently disclosed sensitive information about hundreds of immigrant recruits from nations such as China and Russia, in a breach that could aid hostile governments in persecuting them or their families, a lawmaker and former U.S. officials said.\nA spreadsheet intended for internal coordination among recruiters was accidentally emailed to recruits and contained names, Social Security numbers and enlistment dates. The list was sent out inadvertently at least three times between July 2017 and January 2018.\nThe breach prompted at least a dozen asylum claims amid concern that if the list were intercepted and recruits were forced to return to autocratic nations such as China or Russia, their enlistments would be harnessed to punish them or their families with jail time, harsh interrogations or worse, said Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), a former human rights official in the State Department under President Barack Obama.\n\u201cIf that list is floating out there, it would potentially be incredibly dangerous for [recruits]. In some countries, it can even be a death sentence,\u201d Malinowski told The Washington Post, referring to China and Russia. It is not clear whether those governments have obtained the list.\nThe list contains sensitive data about more than 4,200 immigrant recruits. Of those, more than 900 Chinese Mandarin speakers and dozens of Russian speakers are on the spreadsheet, according to a copy obtained by The Post.\nThe breach carries a tinge of irony. The Army negligently gave sensitive personnel information to recruits who the Pentagon says present an elevated security risk \u2014 information that could become a propaganda victory for adversarial governments.\nChinese citizens found to seriously breach national security are subject to the death penalty, according to criminal law there. Punishment for foreign collusion in China ranges from 10 years to life in prison.\nThe Army said recruiting officials investigated the breach and \u201censured corrective actions were taken,\u201d according to Col. Michael Indovina, a spokesman for Army Training and Doctrine Command, although his statement did not elaborate on what action was taken.\n\u201cWe acknowledged the severity of this inadvertent disclosure of sensitive personal information; upon notification of this release, the command immediately reported the disclosure, and while we determined that the risk of further disclosure was minimal, swift actions were taken by the command to mitigate further release,\u201d Indovina said.\nThe command declined to comment further.\nThe data breach has been used as supporting evidence in at least a dozen asylum claims for Chinese recruits who fear government retaliation, according to a person with knowledge of the claims who spoke on the condition of anonymity.\nAbhishek Bakshi, an Indian recruit, said he received the list by accident in July 2017 from an Army recruiter in Wisconsin who asked whether he wanted to schedule a security interview. The spreadsheet was disturbing, said Bakshi, whose name is on the list.\n\u201cThe list could be a risk to those people,\u201d Bakshi told The Post. He filed an affidavit to support one Chinese asylum claim that has since been used for other claims. The breach, he wrote, \u201cincreases the danger of persecution of Chinese [recruits].\u201d\nMargaret Stock, an immigration lawyer and retired Army officer, said she is aware of six Chinese recruits who have been granted asylum. Dozens of others are waiting on pending claims overseen by her and other lawyers, she said.\nAll of the affected recruits were part of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest recruitment program, which has rotated more than 10,400 immigrants into the force with promises to quickly naturalize them in exchange for needed medical and language skills. It was closed in 2017 following security fears and increased background checks that paralyzed vetting resources within the government.\nChinese recruits filing for asylum are concerned that extensive background checks implemented in 2016 will deny them enlistment for innocuous reasons, and some have waited so long that their visas have expired, exposing them to deportation. That has heightened concern they may be forced into the waiting arms of hostile governments.\n\u201cThe Defense Department is coming up with any reason to fail them,\u201d Stock said.\nAnother Chinese recruit at an Army Reserve aviation unit in Fort Knox, Ky., received the list in December 2017, among other documents related to enlistment, after it was forwarded among a chain of recruiting officials.\nHis name was also on the list. \u201cI was shocked to receive the spreadsheet,\u201d he wrote in an October asylum claim. \u201cI surmised that Army personnel didn\u2019t bother to look at the Excel attachment before forwarding it.\u201d\nThe lists also include the status of intelligence agency checks and background investigations that are similar to the scope of top-secret clearances.\nMalinowski said recruits or their families could be imperiled if adversarial intelligence networks learned of their enlistments and detained them to ask their understanding of the enlistment process, security at U.S. installations \u201cor anything that may be useful.\u201d\nAlthough the list does not provide a country of origin, languages are listed using Defense Department linguistics codes, and program participants must be foreign-born. One list has circulated as early as July 2017, and variations of the list have included home addresses, obtained emails show.\nUpdated lists referred to in emails as late as January 2018 may contain more names.\nMalinowski has said that other evidence of enlistment could be gathered by adversarial powers, such as social media posts and communication surveillance. But the spreadsheets can confirm enlistments and fill in any gaps they do not have, removing any speculation, he said.\nThe Defense Department had used caution to handle personal information of immigrant recruits, underscoring the need to safeguard their families in hostile nations, said Naomi Verdugo, a former senior recruiting official for the Army at the Pentagon.\nSince 2009, when the MAVNI program began, officials would instruct Army public affairs staff to clear the use of photos, names and other details in media reports with immigrants who were particularly vulnerable.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re from Canada, it\u2019s probably not an issue,\u201d Verdugo said. \u201cIf you\u2019re from Pakistan, it could be a problem.\u201d\nThe practice was in place in 2015, when Verdugo left, she said, although it is unclear whether Army or defense officials follow the same policies.\nThe Justice Department has successfully argued in a lawsuit that identities and personal information of certain immigrant recruits should be protected. The recruits \u201chave a right to privacy and may not wish to be identified,\u201d a U.S. attorney wrote in an August filing.\nThe MAVNI program intended to harness skills in short supply among U.S.-born troops. But now, Malinowski said, Chinese recruits granted asylum may be just refugees instead of soldiers.\n\u201cWouldn\u2019t it have been better if we got the benefit of their intended service?\u201d he asked.\nThis post has been updated.\nRead more:\nU.S. doesn\u2019t yet have a plan to prevent Russia from building more missiles as treaty collapses, top general says\nHe\u2019s a U.S. soldier deployed on the southern border \u2014 and an unlawful immigrant"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "JHQGYQEXTRDYPISY5RVIIFFV44_5", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "JHQGYQEXTRDYPISY5RVIIFFV44_5", "title": "The military is kicking out foreign recruits it needs \u2014 for having foreign ties", "text": "to national security? They can\u2019t articulate it here.\u201d Other rejections point to speculative or seemingly benign information for immigrants living typical lives. \u201cYou revealed that you maintain routine contact with your father and mother who are citizens of and reside in China,\u201d one document said. An Indian-born recruit was cut loose after an investigation determined that family members \u201cwork for or have worked for the Indian army,\u201d according to one document, even thought India and the United States share a defense relationship. Recruits from South Korea, a key U.S. defense ally, have been penalized because their fathers are required by conscription to serve, Stock said. Maxwell declined to say why a family member\u2019s involvement in a friendly military would raise suspicions. Another enlistee was rejected for \u201cmultiple wire transfers\u201d through U.S. banks, though the screening review did not describe the nature of the transfers or whether they were unlawful. One recruit, a Chinese doctoral student, was turned away because a screener with no medical experience said the recruit had Asperger\u2019s syndrome \u2014 on the basis that the screener once observed a family member with autism, The Post previously reported. Potential persecution of Li\u2019s family could be aided by the U.S. military itself. U.S. Army recruiters inadvertently exposed the private information of hundreds of Chinese-born recruits, heightening the risk that Chinese government officials would target their families, a lawmaker said. Those disclosures and enlistment delays have forced several to apply for U.S. asylum protection, including Li, while he fights the Army\u2019s determination that he is unsuitable for service. He said wants to bring his family to the United States. Until then, he has taken a rather American path: He helps design grain enclosures and spreaders for a farm equipment company in Minnesota, with an eye to eventually transitioning from the Army to the Air Force. Li wants to be a pilot, he said, perhaps for the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Fighters can be flashy, he said. But the Hercules can get him more time in the cockpit on missions around the world. Read more: He\u2019s a U.S. soldier deployed on the southern border \u2014 and an unlawful immigrant The Army kicked out dozens of immigrant recruits. Now it\u2019s allowing them back amid a legal battle. David Simon called Trump a \u2018race-hating fraud,\u2019 then opened a fire hose of profanity at the trolls Donald Trump and Al Sharpton\u2019s relationship status: It\u2019s complicated"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In the past month, the Pentagon booted two Chinese recruits from the enlistment process because of their dead grandfathers, who lived very different lives.\nOne recruit\u2019s grandfather, whom he never met, served in the communist military. Another recruit was removed from the program after drilling for three years because of the polar opposite \u2014 Zicheng Li\u2019s grandfather fought against, and was tortured by, China\u2019s Communist Party, defense officials wrote.\nScreening documents obtained by The Washington Post detailing reasons that these and other foreign recruits were removed from the military reveal a pattern of canceled enlistments and failed screenings for fact-of-life events and, often, simply for existing as foreigners.\nImmigrant enlistees have been cut loose for being the children of foreign parents or for having family ties to their native government or military. In some cases, they have relatives who served in militaries closely allied with the United States. Those removals raise questions about the Pentagon\u2019s screening process and why it has weeded out precisely the recruits defense officials said they needed.\nThe Pentagon program under which they were recruited called for a simple idea: The military would enlist immigrants to harness strategic language and medical abilities in short supply among U.S.-born troops, calling the skills of immigrants a national security imperative.\nThe program was even named in that fashion \u2014 Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or MAVNI, which enlisted more than 10,400 foreign troops in the past decade, with the promise of fast-tracked naturalization that would take weeks. Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Arabic and other speakers have been in demand by defense officials.\nThen denials began to quicken since stricter screening was implemented in late 2016, an attorney for immigrant recruits said, pointing to family ties as a common reason.\nLi, who arrived in Minnesota from China in 2012 to study aerospace engineering, told The Post that his Army enlistment had crawled since February 2016. In that time, he attended drills as a selected reservist and received his uniform and an ID card that grants him access to Army installations.\nThen this month, after three years of waiting, an enlistment denial justification letter arrived in his mailbox, containing two sentences about family history.\nLi told investigators that his since-deceased grandfather\u2019s torture decades ago by communists prompted worry of reprisals if the Chinese government learned of Li\u2019s enlistment. \u201cYou revealed that you fear for your family\u2019s safety,\u201d officials wrote in a letter, saying his suitability for enlistment is adverse, documents show.\n\u201cI\u2019m shocked and numb,\u201d Li said. \u201cThey use anything they can to kick us out.\u201d\nThe new vetting process has delayed enlistments by years, and the wait has turned more than 1,000 recruits \u2014 who enlisted as legal immigrants with visas \u2014 into unlawful immigrants whose credentials expired as their screenings tumbled through bureaucratic limbo.\nThe Pentagon has acknowledged in court filings that none of the thousands of recruits who later naturalized from the program have been charged with espionage-related crimes, though one Chinese recruit has been accused of failing to register as a foreign agent. The new vetting procedures did not play a role in his detection, court filings said.\nIt is unclear how many immigrant recruits have been turned away as recruits or discharged as soldiers in recent months. In a spate of lawsuits alleging misconduct and violation of equal protection laws, the Pentagon has reversed decisions and halted discharges.\nDefense officials have not offered public insight into how the vetting works or what kind of oversight exists but defend the process as necessary to avoid foreign influence and coercion. The vetting results are typically explained in one or two sentences.\nAnother Chinese-born recruit, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal to his family by the Chinese government, told The Post he was denied enlistment last month because his father and grandfather served in the communist military, though the report about his relatives\u2019 positions was inaccurate, he said.\nHis grandfather died before the recruit was born. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the harm is for me to finish my contract and gain my citizenship,\u201d he said.\nMAVNI screening can be \u201ctime-consuming due to our limited ability\u201d to verify information from home countries, said Jessica Maxwell, a Pentagon spokeswoman. She declined to address questions about the process itself and whether screeners adjust expectations of foreign ties if they are screening foreign people.\nShe also declined to say how many MAVNI recruits are still waiting for their screening to finish, citing litigation and privacy limitations.\nMargaret Stock, an immigration lawyer who has represented MAVNI recruits, including Li, said the Pentagon has scuttled millions of dollars and years of time to produce unclear reasons it separates immigrants the agency itself determined it needed.\n\u201cThis is what they come up with? Your grandfather served in a foreign army before you were born?\u201d Stock said. \u201cWhat is the threat to national security? They can\u2019t articulate it here.\u201d\nOther rejections point to speculative or seemingly benign information for immigrants living typical lives.\n\u201cYou revealed that you maintain routine contact with your father and mother who are citizens of and reside in China,\u201d one document said.\nAn Indian-born recruit was cut loose after an investigation determined that family members \u201cwork for or have worked for the Indian army,\u201d according to one document, even thought India and the United States share a defense relationship. Recruits from South Korea, a key U.S. defense ally, have been penalized because their fathers are required by conscription to serve, Stock said.\nMaxwell declined to say why a family member\u2019s involvement in a friendly military would raise suspicions.\nAnother enlistee was rejected for \u201cmultiple wire transfers\u201d through U.S. banks, though the screening review did not describe the nature of the transfers or whether they were unlawful.\nOne recruit, a Chinese doctoral student, was turned away because a screener with no medical experience said the recruit had Asperger\u2019s syndrome \u2014 on the basis that the screener once observed a family member with autism, The Post previously reported.\nPotential persecution of Li\u2019s family could be aided by the U.S. military itself. U.S. Army recruiters inadvertently exposed the private information of hundreds of Chinese-born recruits, heightening the risk that Chinese government officials would target their families, a lawmaker said.\nThose disclosures and enlistment delays have forced several to apply for U.S. asylum protection, including Li, while he fights the Army\u2019s determination that he is unsuitable for service.\nHe said wants to bring his family to the United States. Until then, he has taken a rather American path: He helps design grain enclosures and spreaders for a farm equipment company in Minnesota, with an eye to eventually transitioning from the Army to the Air Force.\nLi wants to be a pilot, he said, perhaps for the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.\nFighters can be flashy, he said. But the Hercules can get him more time in the cockpit on missions around the world.\nRead more:\nHe\u2019s a U.S. soldier deployed on the southern border \u2014 and an unlawful immigrant\nThe Army kicked out dozens of immigrant recruits. Now it\u2019s allowing them back amid a legal battle.\nDavid Simon called Trump a \u2018race-hating fraud,\u2019 then opened a fire hose of profanity at the trolls\nDonald Trump and Al Sharpton\u2019s relationship status: It\u2019s complicated"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "N3V7WPDWVFGXHPSZRA5REGSOI4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "N3V7WPDWVFGXHPSZRA5REGSOI4_0", "title": "Immigrant recruits face more scrutiny than white supremacists when they enlist. Here\u2019s why.", "text": "Officially, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Christopher Paul Hasson wielded a secret security clearance and oversaw development of vessels designed for drug enforcement and counterterrorism operations. But, prosecutors said, time at his work computer also drifted to planning a domestic terrorist attack and building a hit list as the self-avowed white nationalist stockpiled guns at home. Hasson\u2019s arrest last week in Maryland, where he faces drug and gun charges, has raised questions about how the military screens for hate group affiliations or other threats, especially compared with how the Pentagon has approached vetting its foreign recruits \u2014 an arduous process that has led to a number of lawsuits. Few tools to screen for hate group affiliation are available beyond visible tattoo inspections and a criminal record check during the enlistment and commission process, said Air Force Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman. Individual military services have rules for how they rescreen and investigate potential violators after they are in uniform, she said. By contrast, a Pentagon program for skilled foreign recruits designed to trade expedited citizenship for service requires layers of intensive vetting. Recruits with valid visas are screened by the State and Homeland Security departments before even entering the program, and since 2016 they have been subjected to additional counterintelligence screening and security checks similar to a top-secret clearance. Continuous vetting requirements, even after recruits had been naturalized, were reversed by a federal court after a judge ruled they were so stringent that they violated constitutional equal-protection laws. The Pentagon said it feared insider threats in the military. \u201cThe military is neglecting checks on native-born Americans,\u201d said Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer who helped implement the foreign recruit program at the Pentagon. \u201cAnd they\u2019re focused on vetting the least dangerous group in the military.\u201d The Pentagon could institute simpler broad checks for native-born and foreign recruits alike to block or catch more bad actors, she said. The Defense Department said it feared security holes in the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest recruitment program, or MAVNI, which was shuttered in 2017, though it acknowledged in court filings that none of the thousands of naturalized recruits from the program have been charged with espionage-related crimes. One Chinese national who entered the program was charged with failing to report as a foreign agent but did not make it to basic training, and the new vetting procedures did not play a"}], "old": [{"_id": "N3V7WPDWVFGXHPSZRA5REGSOI4_0", "title": "Immigrant recruits face more scrutiny than white supremacists when they enlist. Here\u2019s why.", "text": "Dan Lamothe contributed to this report. Read more: \u2018This is disgusting:\u2019 Lawmakers blast companies overseeing military homes racked by toxic dangers"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Officially, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Christopher Paul Hasson wielded a secret security clearance and oversaw development of vessels designed for drug enforcement and counterterrorism operations.\nBut, prosecutors said, time at his work computer also drifted to planning a domestic terrorist attack and building a hit list as the self-avowed white nationalist stockpiled guns at home.\nHasson\u2019s arrest last week in Maryland, where he faces drug and gun charges, has raised questions about how the military screens for hate group affiliations or other threats, especially compared with how the Pentagon has approached vetting its foreign recruits \u2014 an arduous process that has led to a number of lawsuits.\nFew tools to screen for hate group affiliation are available beyond visible tattoo inspections and a criminal record check during the enlistment and commission process, said Air Force Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman. Individual military services have rules for how they rescreen and investigate potential violators after they are in uniform, she said.\nBy contrast, a Pentagon program for skilled foreign recruits designed to trade expedited citizenship for service requires layers of intensive vetting.\nRecruits with valid visas are screened by the State and Homeland Security departments before even entering the program, and since 2016 they have been subjected to additional counterintelligence screening and security checks similar to a top-secret clearance.\nContinuous vetting requirements, even after recruits had been naturalized, were reversed by a federal court after a judge ruled they were so stringent that they violated constitutional equal-protection laws. The Pentagon said it feared insider threats in the military.\n\u201cThe military is neglecting checks on native-born Americans,\u201d said Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer who helped implement the foreign recruit program at the Pentagon. \u201cAnd they\u2019re focused on vetting the least dangerous group in the military.\u201d\nThe Pentagon could institute simpler broad checks for native-born and foreign recruits alike to block or catch more bad actors, she said.\nThe Defense Department said it feared security holes in the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest recruitment program, or MAVNI, which was shuttered in 2017, though it acknowledged in court filings that none of the thousands of naturalized recruits from the program have been charged with espionage-related crimes.\nOne Chinese national who entered the program was charged with failing to report as a foreign agent but did not make it to basic training, and the new vetting procedures did not play a role in his detection, court filings said.\nThe additional Pentagon vetting became such a bureaucratic albatross that it essentially imploded the program. Other lawsuits and decisions related to vetting and naturalization procedures led to victories for immigrant recruits.\nSimilarly heightened screening for green-card holders has also been introduced and subsequently challenged.\nHasson, 49, was ordered held for 14 days as prosecutors weigh additional charges. He had previously served in the Marine Corps and the Army National Guard. Coast Guard officials said he is no longer in his position as an acquisitions officer at their Washington headquarters.\n\u201cUnlawful possession of drugs and firearms, as well as advocacy for supremacist doctrine, ideology, or causes, violates Coast Guard policy, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and our organization core values,\u201d said Lt. Cmdr. Scott McBride, a Coast Guard spokesman.\nHasson had held a secret security clearance since April 2005, McBride said, and he would have renewed it in 2015. It is unclear whether the clearance was revoked.\nA Coast Guard member was reprimanded last month for flashing a hand signal associated with white supremacy on live TV.\nWhite supremacists and neo-Nazis became an issue in the 1980s and \u201990s, when officials ordered crackdowns to weed out individuals who sought access to weapons and tactical training to later use in a race war.\nBut white supremacists are still getting through. In 2017, an active-duty Marine took part in violence at the \u201cUnite the Right\u201d rally in Charlottesville, and two others hung a racist banner in North Carolina, prompting embarrassment in the service and a rush to emphasize that participation in such groups was not tolerated.\nExisting measures are not adequate to combat extremism in the ranks, experts said.\n\u201c 'Screening out\u2019 \u201d isn\u2019t a comprehensive enough answer for the threat posed by the white power movement,\u201d said Kathleen Belew, author of \u201cBring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America\u201d and a history professor at the University of Chicago. \u201cWhat we need is a broad public conversation about this movement,\u201d she said.\nIt is unclear how many service members with ties to hate groups are in the military. A 2017 poll by Military Times found a quarter of troops said they saw evidence of white nationalism in the ranks. The white power movement overall has taken cues from cell-style terrorism to make it harder for authorities to monitor and defeat, Belew said.\nA lack of scrutiny for U.S. citizen recruits has recently led to other national security breaches.\nIn 2017, a dual French-U. S. citizen enlisted in the U.S. Army after he fought with Russian separatists in Ukraine and helped start an anti-Western militant group. He was assigned to an infantry unit in Hawaii undetected until a report by The Washington Post led to his discharge.\nDan Lamothe contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nAllies decline request to stay in Syria after U.S. troops withdraw\n\u2018This is disgusting:\u2019 Lawmakers blast companies overseeing military homes racked by toxic dangers"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "NM4I2XPVJZAIPL5NSD37XDWUNA_5", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "NM4I2XPVJZAIPL5NSD37XDWUNA_5", "title": "When it comes to helping our soldiers, talk is cheap", "text": "if Adm. William McRaven shares my political views or not. But I do know that few Americans have sacrificed or risked more than he has to protect America & the freedoms we enjoy. His military career exemplified honor & excellence. I am grateful for his service.\u201d Many of the mainstream news stories about Trump\u2019s comments cited the five draft deferments that the president received during Vietnam. The stories often referenced this information without elaboration, as if its meaning and relevance were self-evident: Trump was a coward who had no right to criticize McRaven, because McRaven served and he had not. But there is something specious about this popular reverence for the military. While the vast majority of Americans view all branches of the military favorably, they have little interest in enlisting. A recent report by the Council on Foreign Relations revealed that only 0.5 percent of the population (1.29 million people) are active-duty military, down from roughly 1 percent (2.2 million) in 1973. With the exception of a small uptick after September 11, the size of the active duty-military has been steadily decreasing for the last 45 years, and this year the Army fell short of its recruiting goal of 80,000 new enlistees. The disconnect between our regard for the military and our disinterest (my own included) in actually serving deepens the already sharp division between civilian and military populations. Paradoxically, venerating military personnel, even with good intentions, may exacerbate it further. Setting military personnel apart as special and glorifying their combat experiences makes it easier to ignore the costs of war and the deeply uneven ways that they are distributed, both domestically and abroad. Instead of this reckoning, civilians who shoulder few of those burdens can feel as if they've contributed, merely by professing their support and gratitude to the troops. In this way, it becomes easier and easier to consent to militarism and so to guarantee that the same people will be called on to fight again and again. At the same time, the slow-motion crisis at the VA, the recent spike in suicides among young veterans, the ongoing epidemic of untreated mental health issues among military personnel and the financial hardships that many military families encounter all reveal the shallowness of the gratitude that we are compelled to profess. Chastising the president for yet another boorish attack does nothing to solve these problems. Instead, we\u2019d be far"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "\u201cWouldn\u2019t it have been nice if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner?\u201d President Trump mused last month.\nWith that conjecture about the leadership of Admiral William McRaven, whom he succinctly dismissed as a \u201cHillary Clinton fan\u201d and \u201cObama backer,\u201d Trump provoked yet another scandal about presidential comportment. Of course, it\u2019s hardly news that Trump criticized someone seemingly unassailable; indeed, his swipe at Chief Justice John Roberts three days later largely displaced the McRaven story.\nBut like Trump\u2019s insistence that the late Sen. John McCain was \u201cnot a war hero,\u201d his criticism of McRaven rankled in a newsworthy way because it grated against our sense that military personnel ought to be publicly venerated. The ritual of saying thank you to the troops is now an established, almost demanded, response to the pervasive notion that military personnel are the best among us, frequently couched as a repayment of our perceived collective debts for their sacrifice.\nBut singling out military personnel for such acknowledgments actually comes at the expense of meaningfully recognizing their service. By taking the easy way out, offering accolades instead of the concrete support they need or careful thought about the human costs of U.S. foreign policy, we may actually be putting our troops at greater risk. Because adoration for the troops has become so central to American militarism (the idea that war is necessary, inevitable, even beneficial), participating in these rituals may, in fact, cement the beliefs that inspire the United States to send its military personnel to war.\nThe expectation that politicians and ordinary citizens alike express their unwavering support for the troops is relatively new. Although our government has provided compensation for injured veterans since before the Revolutionary War, it has often doled out these benefits begrudgingly.\nDuring the Civil War, the government established a veterans\u2019 pension, and the years after the war were marked by an upwelling of citizen gratitude for the massive conscript army credited with preserving the Union. In his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln implored the nation to \u201cstrive on\u2026to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphans.\u201d This pledge later became the foundation for the mission statement of the Veterans Administration.\nYet by the end of the 19th century, animosity toward people with disabilities contributed to the social marginalization of injured veterans. Indeed, over time, the initial good will toward veterans morphed into resentment about the special treatment they seemed to be receiving from the state. In public discourse, veterans were often scorned for laziness, criminality and malingering unemployment, a characterization that persisted into the era of World War I.\nIn October 1920, as New York voters considered a state bond that would pay a bonus to veterans, Henry Stimson \u2014 Secretary of War under William Howard Taft and again under Franklin Roosevelt, and himself a World War I veteran \u2014 wrote a piece in the New York Times warning that this bonus would \u201cinevitably teach the service men to lean upon the State and nation.\u201d Although the bond issue passed handily, the nationwide push toward rehabilitation for injured veterans was motivated by a concern that they become productive \u2014 gainfully employable \u2014 members of society, not any sense that the nation owed them a debt of gratitude.\nIn the midst of the Great Depression in 1932, thousands of jobless World War I veterans converged on Washington to demand immediate payment of service bonuses they were scheduled to receive in 1945. In an attempt to repulse the \u201cBonus Army,\u201d the Hoover administration called in the city police.\nAfter this provoked a riot in which two protesters were shot and killed, Hoover dispatched an Army unit equipped with tanks and tear gas that ultimately dispersed the men.\nHoover\u2019s successor, Franklin Roosevelt, took a gentler approach to veteran activists, even as, in 1933, he gave a speech that would be virtually unthinkable today: insisting that veterans, even disabled veterans, were not entitled to any special benefits. In 1944, Roosevelt \u2014 perhaps mindful that the nation could ill afford a return to the mass discontent and unemployment that sparked the Bonus March \u2014 signed the GI Bill. Notably, however, even this seminal legislation spawned controversy in both houses of Congress.\nThe GI Bill reflected how, by and large, World War II veterans received a heroes\u2019 welcome, supported tangibly with state resources. Yet this treatment of veterans was anomalous in 20th-century American wars and did not last. Sharply divided public opinion about the Vietnam War begot conflicting opinions about the personnel who fought it, with many veterans stung by the sense that they returned home to a hostile public and a government disinterested in their needs.\nThe end of the draft in 1973 and subsequent transition to an all-volunteer force, however, changed the meaning of enlistment, transforming the act into the utmost symbol of patriotism and willing self-sacrifice. Moreover, the belief that an indifferent or even antagonistic civilian population exacerbated the trauma of Vietnam veterans became a cautionary tale about how military personnel ought to be treated.\nThe newfound option for most Americans to avoid military service seemingly endowed them with a new responsibility: expressing gratitude toward military personnel who enlisted so that they didn't have to. This resulted in a crucial transformation: the choice not to enlist became entirely unremarkable \u2014 until a civilian criticized U.S. military action, the military or someone in it, at which point their civilian status instantly delegitimized their argument. By the time the Gulf War began, rhetorically supporting the troops became a political imperative, and after September 11, it became the only viable platform, regardless of one\u2019s position on our subsequent wars.\nThis historical transformation manifested itself in the two most prominent reactions to Trump\u2019s criticism of McRaven: professions of gratitude for the admiral and criticism of Trump\u2019s lack of military service. Even many Republican leaders made clear their respect for McRaven, though they dared not criticize the president directly. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) exemplified this, tweeting: \u201cI don\u2019t know if Adm. William McRaven shares my political views or not. But I do know that few Americans have sacrificed or risked more than he has to protect America & the freedoms we enjoy. His military career exemplified honor & excellence. I am grateful for his service.\u201d\nMany of the mainstream news stories about Trump\u2019s comments cited the five draft deferments that the president received during Vietnam. The stories often referenced this information without elaboration, as if its meaning and relevance were self-evident: Trump was a coward who had no right to criticize McRaven, because McRaven served and he had not.\nBut there is something specious about this popular reverence for the military. While the vast majority of Americans view all branches of the military favorably, they have little interest in enlisting. A recent report by the Council on Foreign Relations revealed that only 0.5 percent of the population (1.29 million people) are active-duty military, down from roughly 1 percent (2.2 million) in 1973. With the exception of a small uptick after September 11, the size of the active duty-military has been steadily decreasing for the last 45 years, and this year the Army fell short of its recruiting goal of 80,000 new enlistees.\nThe disconnect between our regard for the military and our disinterest (my own included) in actually serving deepens the already sharp division between civilian and military populations. Paradoxically, venerating military personnel, even with good intentions, may exacerbate it further. Setting military personnel apart as special and glorifying their combat experiences makes it easier to ignore the costs of war and the deeply uneven ways that they are distributed, both domestically and abroad. Instead of this reckoning, civilians who shoulder few of those burdens can feel as if they've contributed, merely by professing their support and gratitude to the troops.\nIn this way, it becomes easier and easier to consent to militarism and so to guarantee that the same people will be called on to fight again and again. At the same time, the slow-motion crisis at the VA, the recent spike in suicides among young veterans, the ongoing epidemic of untreated mental health issues among military personnel and the financial hardships that many military families encounter all reveal the shallowness of the gratitude that we are compelled to profess. Chastising the president for yet another boorish attack does nothing to solve these problems. Instead, we\u2019d be far better off questioning our own accountability for the suffering of military personnel, which mandatory platitudes will never alleviate."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "QY2LICCAG5BW3IOLC6W24432ZQ_0", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "QY2LICCAG5BW3IOLC6W24432ZQ_0", "title": "The longtime connection between race, country music and military recruitment", "text": "As protesters against police killings take to the streets across the nation, different branches of the U.S. armed forces have begun to reckon with the issue of race and military service. The Marines announced a ban on public displays of the Confederate flag. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., an African American and Pacific Air Forces Commander, posted a video to Twitter detailing the racism he has faced while serving the country. Given the current momentum behind the Black Lives Matter movement and the fact that more than 40 percent of the nation\u2019s active duty military are members of a racial minority, it makes sense that the armed forces are grappling with their racial politics. But if the military truly wants to change race relations in the ranks, it may have to rethink an old strategy that has made a recent comeback in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic \u2014 the use of country music as a tool for military recruitment. The Army and Air Force Recruiting Service began using country music radio and television performances in the 1950s to boost voluntary enlistment among the young white Southerners who were the presumed audience for the genre. The Army stumbled into this tactic in 1953 when it drafted a rising star named Faron Young. While Young completed basic training, his first hit, \u201cGoin\u2019 Steady,\u201d climbed the charts. Recruiters then made Young a voice of recruitment and entertainment for the remainder of his enlistment period \u2014 including an appearance on an ABC talent show, \u201cTalent Patrol,\u201d that showcased the entertainment skills of service members. By employing Young in this way, the Army used the singer\u2019s growing popularity as a way to plug enlistment from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and brand military service with the down-home appeal of country music. The recruiting service soon partnered with Owen Bradley, one of Nashville\u2019s top producers, to create more Pentagon-sponsored country music content. In 1957, the Army launched \u201cCountry Style, U.S.A.,\" a 15-minute television program recorded at Bradley\u2019s studio. Each episode featured current stars, including future legend Johnny Cash, performing a few songs with a recruiting service message to join the Army stuck between the tunes. Other service branches copied the Army\u2019s strategy. The Air Force created a radio recruitment show called \u201cCountry Music Time,\u201d and the Navy followed with the humorously named \u201cHootenavy.\u201d The entertainment value lured audiences to these shows, exposing them"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "As protesters against police killings take to the streets across the nation, different branches of the U.S. armed forces have begun to reckon with the issue of race and military service. The Marines announced a ban on public displays of the Confederate flag. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., an African American and Pacific Air Forces Commander, posted a video to Twitter detailing the racism he has faced while serving the country.\nGiven the current momentum behind the Black Lives Matter movement and the fact that more than 40 percent of the nation\u2019s active duty military are members of a racial minority, it makes sense that the armed forces are grappling with their racial politics.\nBut if the military truly wants to change race relations in the ranks, it may have to rethink an old strategy that has made a recent comeback in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic \u2014 the use of country music as a tool for military recruitment.\nThe Army and Air Force Recruiting Service began using country music radio and television performances in the 1950s to boost voluntary enlistment among the young white Southerners who were the presumed audience for the genre. The Army stumbled into this tactic in 1953 when it drafted a rising star named Faron Young. While Young completed basic training, his first hit, \u201cGoin\u2019 Steady,\u201d climbed the charts.\nRecruiters then made Young a voice of recruitment and entertainment for the remainder of his enlistment period \u2014 including an appearance on an ABC talent show, \u201cTalent Patrol,\u201d that showcased the entertainment skills of service members. By employing Young in this way, the Army used the singer\u2019s growing popularity as a way to plug enlistment from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and brand military service with the down-home appeal of country music.\nThe recruiting service soon partnered with Owen Bradley, one of Nashville\u2019s top producers, to create more Pentagon-sponsored country music content. In 1957, the Army launched \u201cCountry Style, U.S.A.,\" a 15-minute television program recorded at Bradley\u2019s studio. Each episode featured current stars, including future legend Johnny Cash, performing a few songs with a recruiting service message to join the Army stuck between the tunes.\nOther service branches copied the Army\u2019s strategy. The Air Force created a radio recruitment show called \u201cCountry Music Time,\u201d and the Navy followed with the humorously named \u201cHootenavy.\u201d The entertainment value lured audiences to these shows, exposing them to the recruitment pitches embedded within each episode.\nYet, this wasn\u2019t simply an economic win-win-win for the military, the country stars who gained publicity and potential enlistees. Rather, the recruiting service\u2019s use of country music also had a dark side. Because of the racial history of the country music industry, recruiters imagined that their message only appealed to white recruits, and they used it heavily during the height of the mid-century civil rights movement.\nWhile country music can claim fans of all genders and races, it still retains a reputation as a genre made by and for white Southerners, a reputation that stretches back to its commercial beginnings. In the 1920s, record companies segregated musical genres along racial lines in reflection of the Jim Crow laws of the day, casting \u201chillbilly\u201d music, later renamed country, as an all-white genre and \u201crace records\u201d as a catchall for different genres of black music. Those divisions never really abated over the years, even as country music produced African American stars like Charley Pride and later Darius Rucker.\nFor the white Southerners targeted by these country music campaigns in the 1950s and 1960s, joining the military offered a steppingstone to social respectability and economic stability \u2014 a way to avoid the manual labor and low-wage service sector jobs that dominated the post-war economy of the South. The pitches in shows like \u201cCountry Style, U.S.A.\u201d always focused on the economic benefits of military service. Thousands of white Southerners, including several future country music stars, joined the armed forces for these economic reasons. Cash, who grew up on a farm in Dyess, Ark., enlisted in the Air Force in 1951 for the prospect of a steady job. As he wrote in his autobiography, \u201ca government paycheck and a clean blue uniform looked pretty good.\u201d\nThe military\u2019s use of country music continued for nearly 40 years \u2014 until rising enrollment of African Americans and people of color prompted a change in recruitment strategies. Backed by fiddles, steel guitars and banjos, country music recruitment helped brand the genre as the sound of white devotion to the nation-state. At the same time, the recruiting service acted as an unofficial promotional branch of the country music industry, helping push the music to military and civilian audiences and giving a government-sponsored boost to the genre in the process.\nOf course, the links between country music and the military extended beyond these recruitment partnerships, as country stars found success with patriotic anthems and militaristic themes, from the anti-hippie backlash of Merle Haggard\u2019s \u201cFightin\u2019 Side of Me\u201d to the macho nationalism of Toby Keith\u2019s \u201cCourtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American).\u201d These types of songs have led many observers to equate country music with the conservative political beliefs that tend to align with unflinching support for the nation\u2019s military missions.\nGiven this history, it\u2019s not shocking that since May 17, the U.S. Army has sponsored country music star Chuck Wicks\u2019s weekly Facebook Live \u201cSunday Serenade,\u201d marking the return of country music recruiting. On the first Army-sponsored episode, neither Wicks nor guest Brantley Gilbert engaged in jingoistic posturing or even urged their audience to join the military. But Wicks appeared in front of an Army recruitment banner, an Army logo appeared in the bottom corner of the screen and the artists mentioned briefly that the U.S. Army sponsored that week\u2019s show.\nWhile the lack of a hard sell might surprise some, the hawkish patriotism heard in songs by the likes of Haggard and Keith has obscured the deeper connection between country music and the U.S. military found in the long history of musical recruitment. Now, amid the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, it looks as if the Army has retooled this old strategy for a new landscape, deploying country music to entice a new generation of recruits with the tools of social media.\nTherein lies the inherent problem with country music recruitment. Although country music has grown more diverse over the last decade, with artists like Rucker, Kane Brown and Jimmie Allen experiencing success, the industry still predominantly caters to a white fan base.\nJust last week, Mickey Guyton, an African American country singer, released a new song called \u201cBlack Like Me\u201d in which she sings \u201cIf you think we live in the land of the free / You should try and be black like me.\u201d This is not patriotism as support for the military but patriotism as dissent. Guyton has struggled to break through in the white, male-dominated world of country, and the smash hit \u201cOld Town Road\u201d by Lil Nas X proved deeply controversial and failed to get country airplay, reinforcing the sense that country is a white-dominated genre.\nCountry music\u2019s history as the sound of hawkish patriotism, owing both to connections with the military and songs from artists like Keith, means that the return of country music recruitment strategies runs the risk of reinforcing the racial divisions that have plagued the nation for generations. Instead, the military ought to consider the impact of its longtime country music recruitment strategy and wrestle with the way it contributed to some of the cultural problems our armed forces must now confront."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "RWQRIQ274BBCLNPVM6RNAAN6OU_3", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "RWQRIQ274BBCLNPVM6RNAAN6OU_3", "title": "A deported veteran has been granted U.S. citizenship, after 14 years of living in Mexico", "text": "veterans. \u201cTo make sure that if I leave, it doesn\u2019t close down. \u2026 I got a commitment to these guys,\u201d he said. Two deported veterans are now living in The Bunker, Barajas-Varela said. The support house opened a second location last year in Juarez, Mexico, near the Texas border, and another one is in the works in the Dominican Republic. For years, deported veterans have received little to no attention in Washington because politicians are unlikely to support convicted criminals. The Trump administration\u2019s hard-line immigration policy has steered the debate toward cutting legal immigration, creating a border wall and imposing travel restrictions on people from predominantly Muslim countries. Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer and an Anchorage-based immigration lawyer, said the majority of deported veterans, like Barajas-Varela, were green-card holders who were honorably discharged from service but were convicted of a crime after returning to civilian life. Barajas-Varela\u2019s case is unusual, however: Only a handful of deported veterans have managed to make it back to the United States legally, Stock said. \u201cIt\u2019s extremely rare because it takes an enormous amount of legal resources to convince the government to approve a naturalization case for somebody who\u2019s been deported,\u201d said Stock, whom Barajas-Varela consulted about his case years earlier. Most deported veterans are charged with an aggravated felony, a blanket term that runs the gamut, from violent crimes such as murder and rape to nonviolent ones such as theft and tax evasion, Stock said. People with that type of conviction are ineligible for American citizenship \u2014 unless the governor of the state where they were convicted decides to grant a pardon. Barajas-Varela is one of at least three deported veterans who received gubernatorial pardons from Brown last year. Another is Marco Chavez, a Marine Corps veteran who regained his lawful residency and was allowed to come back to California in December. He had been deported to Mexico 15 years earlier over an animal cruelty conviction. The other is Erasmo Apodaca Mendizabal, another Marine Corps veteran who was convicted in 1996 of burglary. In April 2016, Daniel Torres became a U.S. citizen after living in The Bunker in Tijuana for five years. Torres was brought to the United States illegally as a child and enlisted in the Marine Corps using a fake birth certificate. He joined the Marines in 2007 and served in Iraq. Barajas-Varela said he plans to eventually move back to"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Cameras surrounded a smiling Hector Barajas-Varela as he stood outside a small building known as \u201cThe Bunker,\u201d a support house for deported U.S. military veterans in Tijuana, Mexico, not far from the California border.\nTucked\u00a0in his left arm was a blue folder\u00a0with a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, delivering the good news he had waited more than a decade to hear. As cameras clicked, Barajas-Varela held a cellphone\u00a0in his right hand, telling his mother in Southern California that he\u2019s coming home. Then he turned to a friend and gave him a high five and a hug.\n\u201cI got it,\u201d he said, laughing. \u201cI got it, bro. Two weeks.\u201d\nBarajas-Varela, an Army veteran, learned Thursday that he has been granted U.S. citizenship, 14 years after he\u00a0was deported to Mexico because\u00a0he committed a crime. In two weeks, on April 13, he will attend a naturalization ceremony in San Diego, the last step in the process of becoming an American.\n\u201cOn paper, it\u2019s nice to be validated,\u201d he told The Washington Post on Saturday. \u201cIt\u2019s the government validating what most of us already feel.\u201d\n\u201cThis is our country,\u201d he said of the United States. \u201cNothing is going to change about what we feel and who we are and what we\u2019re willing to risk our lives for.\u201d\nBarajas-Varela was born in Mexico, but he grew up in the Los Angeles area. He became a permanent resident, or a green-card holder, in 1992. Three years later, he joined the Army\u00a0and was honorably discharged\u00a0in 2001.\u00a0But not long after, Barajas-Varela lost his legal residency because he was convicted of shooting at an occupied vehicle in the Los Angeles area. Nobody was hurt, and Barajas-Varela spent 13 months in prison and\u00a0another month on parole.\nHe was deported to Mexico in 2004.\nHe\u00a0has lived in Tijuana since, in a small shelter he had turned into a haven for people like himself: veterans who lost the right to live in the United States because of criminal convictions. The Deported Veterans Support House has\u00a0served\u00a0about 20 people since 2013. The Bunker provides services and legal resources to deportees adjusting to a life outside the United States. The support house also has identified and made contact with more than 300 deported men and women from more than three dozen countries, Barajas-Varela said.\nBarajas-Varela could have applied for citizenship before he was discharged\u00a0from the Army, but he had mistakenly believed that serving in the military automatically guaranteed it.\nHe finally\u00a0applied while he was\u00a0living in Mexico, and in 2016, passed the English and civics portions of the naturalization process. Applicants are required to pass oral and written English tests and another on U.S. government and history.\nLast April, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D)\u00a0pardoned Barajas-Varela for the crime that led to his deportation, removing a potential barrier from his path to citizenship.\n\u201cHe has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law-abiding citizen,\u201d according to the pardon, which also cites medals that Barajas-Varela received while in the Army.\nIn December 2017, Barajas-Varela filed a federal lawsuit to compel the USCIS to make a decision on his citizenship application, according to the American Civil Liberties Union\u00a0of San Diego and Imperial counties. The lawsuit was dismissed after the agency agreed to make a decision by Thursday.\nDespite gaining his citizenship, Barajas-Varela said, he plans to stay in Mexico and live in The Bunker for another year to continue his work supporting deported veterans.\n\u201cTo make sure that if I leave, it doesn\u2019t close down. \u2026 I got a commitment to these guys,\u201d he said.\nTwo deported veterans are now living in The Bunker, Barajas-Varela said. The support house opened a second location last year in Juarez, Mexico,\u00a0near the Texas border, and another one is in the works in the Dominican Republic.\nFor years, deported veterans have received little to no attention in Washington because politicians are unlikely to support\u00a0convicted criminals. The Trump administration\u2019s hard-line immigration policy has steered the debate toward cutting legal immigration, creating a border wall and imposing travel restrictions on people from predominantly Muslim countries.\nMargaret Stock, a retired Army officer and an Anchorage-based immigration lawyer, said the majority of deported veterans, like Barajas-Varela, were green-card holders who were honorably discharged from service but were convicted of a crime after returning to civilian life.\nBarajas-Varela\u2019s case is unusual, however: Only a handful of deported veterans have managed to make it back to the United States legally, Stock said.\n\u201cIt\u2019s extremely rare because it takes an enormous amount of legal resources to convince the government to approve a naturalization case for somebody who\u2019s been deported,\u201d\u00a0said Stock, whom Barajas-Varela consulted about his case years earlier.\nMost deported veterans are charged with an aggravated felony, a blanket term that runs the gamut, from violent crimes such as murder and rape to nonviolent ones such as theft and tax evasion, Stock said. People with that type of conviction are ineligible for American citizenship \u2014 unless the governor\u00a0of the state where they were convicted decides to grant a pardon.\nBarajas-Varela is one of at least three deported veterans who received gubernatorial pardons from Brown last year. Another is\u00a0Marco Chavez, a Marine Corps veteran who\u00a0regained his lawful residency\u00a0and was allowed to come back\u00a0to California in December. He had been deported to Mexico 15 years earlier over an animal cruelty conviction. The other is Erasmo Apodaca Mendizabal, another Marine Corps veteran who was convicted in 1996 of burglary.\nIn April 2016, Daniel Torres\u00a0became a U.S. citizen\u00a0after living in The Bunker in Tijuana for five years. Torres was brought to the United States illegally as a child and enlisted in the Marine Corps using a fake birth certificate. He joined the Marines in 2007 and served in Iraq.\nBarajas-Varela said he plans to eventually move back\u00a0to the Los Angeles area to be with his family, to have a house and to find a job there. He has an 11-year-old daughter who was born after he was deported.\n\u201cI have a responsibility to my daughter, to make sure she gets to college,\u201d he said.\nTheresa Vargas contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nDeported veterans: Banished for committing crimes after serving in U.S. military\nThe Pentagon promised citizenship to immigrants who served. Now it might help deport them.\n\u2018It looks like we\u2019re afraid of foreigners\u2019: Army turns away some green-card holders"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "SO6D7CQQE4I6TBH42WGDHVWIY4_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "SO6D7CQQE4I6TBH42WGDHVWIY4_1", "title": "Restriction on transgender troops serving in military can stand for now, D.C. federal appeals court rules", "text": "when it comes to policy decisions about standards for service. Attorney Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD\u2019s transgender rights project, said the decision is \u201cbased on the absurd idea that forcing transgender people to suppress who they are in order to serve is not a ban. It ignores the reality of transgender people\u2019s lives, with devastating consequences, and rests on a complete failure to understand who transgender people are.\u201d GLAD is an acronym for GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders. President Trump announced a sweeping ban on transgender people\u2019s military service via Twitter in July 2017, citing what he viewed as the \u201ctremendous medical costs and disruption.\u201d The administration\u2019s order reversed President Barack Obama\u2019s policy of allowing transgender men and women to serve openly and receive funding for sex-reassignment surgery. Attorneys for active-duty service members went to court to block the policy shift, which could subject current transgender service members to discharge and deny them certain medical care. The court rulings were met with another policy revision this year from then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, who issued a plan to bar men and women from the military who identify with a gender different from their birth gender and who are seeking to transition. Mattis\u2019s plan makes exceptions, for instance, for about 900 transgender individuals who are already serving openly and for others who would serve in accordance with their birth gender. The order Friday said the lower-court erred by not giving sufficient weight to the administration\u2019s effort to revise its policy in response to the initial court ruling. The appeals court specifically mentioned the creation of a panel of military and medical experts for input. \u201cIt was clear error to say there was no significant change,\u201d on the administration\u2019s part, the appeals court said. \u201cThe government took substantial steps to cure the procedural deficiencies the court identified,\u201d according to the order. \u201cAlthough the Mattis Plan continues to bar many transgender persons from joining or serving in the military, the record indicates that the plan allows some transgender persons\u201d previously barred to join and serve. The policy is not a \u201cblanket ban,\u201d the court concluded, because \u201cnot all transgender persons seek to transition to their preferred gender or have gender dysphoria.\u201d Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, called the decision \u201ccursory and misinformed\u201d and said it \u201crests on the utter fiction that this ban is not a ban."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A federal appeals court in Washington sided with the Trump administration Friday, saying restrictions on transgender men and women serving in the military can stand.\nThe decision lifted an injunction that had barred the government from limiting transgender people\u2019s service.\nThe unsigned order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has no immediate impact on transgender troops because federal judges in three other cases have temporarily prevented the administration from implementing its policy.\nThe Defense Department is continuing to abide by the other court orders that allow transgender men and women to enlist and serve, the Pentagon said Friday.\nEven so, the five-page ruling was a blow to the civil rights and gay rights organizations challenging the policy nationwide. In reversing a lower-court ruling, the appeals court wrote, \u201cthe District Court made an erroneous finding that the [administration\u2019s policy] was the equivalent of a blanket ban on transgender service.\u201d\nThe appeals court order came after oral argument last month before Judges Thomas B. Griffith, Robert L. Wilkins and Stephen F. Williams.\nThe court noted that its order was not a final ruling on the merits of the challenge, but that judges must give deference to military leaders when it comes to policy decisions about standards for service.\nAttorney Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD\u2019s transgender rights project, said the decision is \u201cbased on the absurd idea that forcing transgender people to suppress who they are in order to serve is not a ban. It ignores the reality of transgender people\u2019s lives, with devastating consequences, and rests on a complete failure to understand who transgender people are.\u201d GLAD is an acronym for GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders.\nPresident Trump announced a sweeping ban on transgender people\u2019s military service via Twitter in July 2017, citing what he viewed as the \u201ctremendous medical costs and disruption.\u201d The administration\u2019s order reversed President Barack Obama\u2019s policy of allowing transgender men and women to serve openly and receive funding for sex-reassignment surgery.\nAttorneys for active-duty service members went to court to block the policy shift, which could subject current transgender service members to discharge and deny them certain medical care.\nThe court rulings were met with another policy revision this year from then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, who issued a plan to bar men and women from the military who identify with a gender different from their birth gender and who are seeking to transition. Mattis\u2019s plan makes exceptions, for instance, for about 900 transgender individuals who are already serving openly and for others who would serve in accordance with their birth gender.\nThe order Friday said the lower-court erred by not giving sufficient weight to the administration\u2019s effort to revise its policy in response to the initial court ruling. The appeals court specifically mentioned the creation of a panel of military and medical experts for input.\n\u201cIt was clear error to say there was no significant change,\u201d on the administration\u2019s part, the appeals court said.\n\u201cThe government took substantial steps to cure the procedural deficiencies the court identified,\u201d according to the order. \u201cAlthough the Mattis Plan continues to bar many transgender persons from joining or serving in the military, the record indicates that the plan allows some transgender persons\u201d previously barred to join and serve.\nThe policy is not a \u201cblanket ban,\u201d the court concluded, because \u201cnot all transgender persons seek to transition to their preferred gender or have gender dysphoria.\u201d\nShannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, called the decision \u201ccursory and misinformed\u201d and said it \u201crests on the utter fiction that this ban is not a ban. Every other court has immediately understood that when you say you can serve only if you serve in your birth sex, that is a ban. It is dangerous and irresponsible.\u201d\nPentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell said Friday the department would continue to \u201cpress our case in the courts.\u201d\n\u201cAs always, we treat all transgender persons with respect and dignity,\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cIt is critical that the Department be permitted to formulate personnel policies that it determines are necessary to ensure the most lethal and combat effective fighting force in the world.\u201d\nThe administration has separately asked the Supreme Court to intervene to allow the government to have the policy take effect. The high court has not yet acted on the administration\u2019s request.\nann.marimow@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "U4PQHDBLHJHWHNQJ7G2HD4F6CI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "U4PQHDBLHJHWHNQJ7G2HD4F6CI_0", "title": "Pentagon developing plan to scrutinize recruits with green cards and other foreign ties, memos show", "text": "The Pentagon, citing terrorism and espionage fears, is developing a plan to scrutinize prospective recruits with foreign ties, including some U.S. citizens, after a related effort targeting thousands of green-card holders was blocked by a federal judge last year. The new policy, still in development, will be distributed to the military services by no later than Feb. 15, according to two Defense Department officials and several department memos obtained by The Washington Post. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the issue\u2019s sensitivity. The new vetting is likely to screen thousands of recruits per year who have what the Pentagon considers \u201cforeign nexus\u201d risks, including some Americans who marry a foreign spouse or who have family members with dual citizenship, the memos said. Anyone identified for the screening would not be allowed to attend recruit training until they are cleared, a process that could take days for some but drag on much longer for others. One draft document, labeled \u201cpredecisional,\u201d has circulated in recent weeks among senior officials and others who oversee recruiting. It is attributed to Joseph D. Kernan, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, and James N. Stewart, who performs the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, a post President Trump has left without a permanent political appointee since Robert Wilkie left it to run the Department of Veterans Affairs. \u201cOne primary concern associated with qualifying for these positions relates to the potential counterintelligence or terrorism risks,\u201d the memo says. \" . . . The Department must implement expanded foreign vetting and screening protocols to identify and mitigate the foreign nexus risks.\u201d Defense officials declined to comment on the memos, saying the new policy is undergoing legal reviews and that some changes could be made. The documents show the Pentagon to be grappling with the dual challenge of thoroughly screening prospective recruits for potential security threats and finding enough men and women willing to join the military. The armed forces have long sought green-card holders as recruits, marketing such jobs as a chance to attain U.S. citizenship. The initiative comes as the Trump administration continues to take unprecedented steps to curb immigration to the United States. Many of its efforts have been halted by federal courts, including the president\u2019s efforts to bar Central Americans from seeking asylum in the United States, end a deferred-action program for young, undocumented immigrants and withhold funds"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The Pentagon, citing terrorism and espionage fears, is developing a plan to scrutinize prospective recruits with foreign ties, including some U.S. citizens, after a related effort targeting thousands of green-card holders was blocked by a federal judge last year.\nThe new policy, still in development, will be distributed to the military services by no later than Feb. 15, according to two Defense Department officials and several department memos obtained by The Washington Post. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the issue\u2019s sensitivity.\nThe new vetting is likely to screen thousands of recruits per year who have what the Pentagon considers \u201cforeign nexus\u201d risks, including some Americans who marry a foreign spouse or who have family members with dual citizenship, the memos said. Anyone identified for the screening would not be allowed to attend recruit training until they are cleared, a process that could take days for some but drag on much longer for others.\nOne draft document, labeled \u201cpredecisional,\u201d has circulated in recent weeks among senior officials and others who oversee recruiting. It is attributed to Joseph D. Kernan, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence, and James N. Stewart, who performs the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, a post President Trump has left without a permanent political appointee since Robert Wilkie left it to run the Department of Veterans Affairs.\n\u201cOne primary concern associated with qualifying for these positions relates to the potential counterintelligence or terrorism risks,\u201d the memo says. \" . . . The Department must implement expanded foreign vetting and screening protocols to identify and mitigate the foreign nexus risks.\u201d\nDefense officials declined to comment on the memos, saying the new policy is undergoing legal reviews and that some changes could be made.\nThe documents show the Pentagon to be grappling with the dual challenge of thoroughly screening prospective recruits for potential security threats and finding enough men and women willing to join the military. The armed forces have long sought green-card holders as recruits, marketing such jobs as a chance to attain U.S. citizenship.\nThe initiative comes as the Trump administration continues to take unprecedented steps to curb immigration to the United States. Many of its efforts have been halted by federal courts, including the president\u2019s efforts to bar Central Americans from seeking asylum in the United States, end a deferred-action program for young, undocumented immigrants and withhold funds from \u201csanctuary cities\u201d that refuse to cooperate with certain immigration enforcement efforts.\nAmong the people who could be targets of the foreign-nexus screening are people who have foreign contacts, foreign citizenship, dual citizenship, a birthplace outside the United States if born to foreign parents, family members who are not U.S. citizens, and immediate family members who have dual citizenship, according to one of the memos.\nOther factors that could require such screening include possessing a non-U.S. passport, having financial interests abroad, residing outside the United States for more than three of the previous 10 years and living in the country for less than the last five consecutive years unless the circumstances involved work related to the U.S. government.\nA Dec. 21 memo prepared by Stephanie P. Miller, who oversees recruitment policy for the Pentagon, says the Defense Department recognized gaps associated with its screening of individuals with foreign ties \u201csince the receipt of specific reporting beginning of 2016,\u201d though the memo does not specify what that information covers. But the concern stretches to some American citizens, too, she argued.\n\u201cDoD recognizes that some U.S. citizens pose a similar risk by virtue of their foreign associations, foreign travel, marriage to a foreign spouse, or dual citizenship,\u201d she wrote. \u201cIt is imperative to treat the risk related to a foreign nexus in a similar fashion for any recruit or Service member, regardless of citizenship.\u201d\nThe Pentagon is preparing the new policy after Kernan\u2019s office and the Army combined in the summer of 2018 to screen green-card holders already in the military through a new process that relies on dozens of existing intelligence databases, one Defense Department memo said. The screening detected more derogatory information about the service members in less time than traditional background checks managed by the Office of Personnel Management, the memo said.\nThe memo promised that the new process \u2014 called foreign nexus screening and vetting, or FNSV \u2014 \u201ccan be completed in a matter of days or, depending on the analysis required for detected anomalies, in a few weeks, as compared to the months and years\u201d required under traditional background checks. The new screening process, the memo said, \u201ccan process up to 1,600 cases per day.\u201d\nHistorically, about 70 percent of all recruits with green cards are processed quickly, defense officials said in the memo. Under the new policy, the other 30 percent would still be withheld from recruit training until their screening has been completed, but the process would in theory be faster.\nThe new screening process still faces a major hurdle: another court injunction.\nIn November, Judge Jon S. Tigar of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that it was unreasonable for the Pentagon to require all green-card holders to undergo a full background check and receive a favorable determination in a security review. He issued a preliminary injunction, forcing the Pentagon to begin shipping a backlog of thousands of green-card holders to recruit training.\nThe Defense Department has continued to fight the case in court. Miller argued in a Dec. 14 declaration that if the court does not stay its order, \u201cthe harm to the military and national security could be significant and irreparable.\u201d\n\u201cForeign nationals, including those with [green-card] status, raise unique counterintelligence and counterterrorism concerns because of the heightened susceptibility to influence by foreign governments and organizations and because of the difficulty in verifying information about them that is maintained overseas,\u201d Miller\u2019s declaration said.\nThe injunction has not been lifted, but the Defense Department memo from Kernan and Stewart said the Pentagon is preparing to put in place its new policy within 30 days of the court\u2019s approving it. It is unclear whether the court will do so.\nSeparately, the Pentagon faces litigation after ending in 2017 another program known as Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest, or MAVNI. It promised expedited citizenship to immigrants the Army recruited to take hard-to-fill language and medical jobs, but was ended as defense officials cited security concerns.\nMore than 10,400 immigrants entered the military through the MAVNI program. Last year, the Army sought to force out some soldiers recruited this way while citing security concerns. The service paused that process after several lawsuits were filed."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "UNYADXYATBC43GXD4GF7GEB3YY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "UNYADXYATBC43GXD4GF7GEB3YY_0", "title": "Pentagon faces internal questions about program to screen recruits with foreign ties, emails show", "text": "A Pentagon program designed to screen potential recruits with foreign ties, including green-card holders and some U.S. citizens, has prompted questions from military officials about whether it will have detrimental effects on the services, according to emails and documents obtained by The Washington Post. Defense officials touted the program as a way to speed up vetting of recruits who have what the Pentagon considers \u201cforeign nexus\u201d risks. The process could be completed \u201cin a matter of days or . . . in a few weeks, as compared to months and years\u201d required under traditional background checks, according to one Defense Department memo. The program, which was tested by the Army last summer but has not been implemented, would rely on mining several government databases for information. But the plan also may come with complications, according to emails obtained by The Post. That would be a concern for a military that has long sought to attract immigrants to meet its recruiting goals in part by promoting the possibility of U.S. citizenship. Discussions about the program began in earnest after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in November ordering the Pentagon to begin sending a backlog of thousands of green-card recruits to initial training. The order came after two prospective recruits \u2014 one born in China and interested in joining the Navy and one originally from Jamaica who planned to join the Air Force \u2014 sued the Pentagon, arguing that months-long delays in screening had caused them harm. The two men were among thousands who were left in limbo after the Trump administration, citing security concerns, adopted a policy in October 2017 that called for green-card holders to submit to more stringent background checks before they could go to boot camp. That was in addition to standard requirements for green-card applicants, such as biometrics screening. The program would need approval in court to overcome the injunction. But internally, some defense officials have expressed concern that it also will create some delays. Russ Beland, a senior civilian official in the Navy Department, said in a Feb. 27 email obtained by The Post that the estimates officials were using to determine which recruits needed additional screening \u201cmay be far too low.\u201d After assessing its pool of recruits waiting to go to initial training, the Navy determined that \u201csomewhere between a third and half\u201d could require new screening, he wrote. \u201cI recognize there are"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "A Pentagon program designed to screen potential recruits with foreign ties, including green-card holders and some U.S. citizens, has prompted questions from military officials about whether it will have detrimental effects on the services, according to emails and documents obtained by The Washington Post.\nDefense officials touted the program as a way to speed up vetting of recruits who have what the Pentagon considers \u201cforeign nexus\u201d risks. The process could be completed \u201cin a matter of days or .\u2009.\u2009. in a few weeks, as compared to months and years\u201d required under traditional background checks, according to one Defense Department memo.\nThe program, which was tested by the Army last summer but has not been implemented, would rely on mining several government databases for information.\nBut the plan also may come with complications, according to emails obtained by The Post. That would be a concern for a military that has long sought to attract immigrants to meet its recruiting goals in part by promoting the possibility of U.S. citizenship.\nDiscussions about the program began in earnest after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in November ordering the Pentagon to begin sending a backlog of thousands of green-card recruits to initial training. The order came after two prospective recruits \u2014 one born in China and interested in joining the Navy and one originally from Jamaica who planned to join the Air Force \u2014 sued the Pentagon, arguing that months-long delays in screening had caused them harm.\nThe two men were among thousands who were left in limbo after the Trump administration, citing security concerns, adopted a policy in October 2017 that called for green-card holders to submit to more stringent background checks before they could go to boot camp. That was in addition to standard requirements for green-card applicants, such as biometrics screening.\nThe program would need approval in court to overcome the injunction. But internally, some defense officials have expressed concern that it also will create some delays.\nRuss Beland, a senior civilian official in the Navy Department, said in a Feb. 27 email obtained by The Post that the estimates officials were using to determine which recruits needed additional screening \u201cmay be far too low.\u201d After assessing its pool of recruits waiting to go to initial training, the Navy determined that \u201csomewhere between a third and half\u201d could require new screening, he wrote.\n\u201cI recognize there are risks from inadequate screening, but there are also risks from gapped billets,\u201d Beland said, using military parlance for empty slots in training.\nIn response, Lernes Hebert, a senior defense official overseeing personnel issues, said he was committed to working with the Navy Department on exceptions to the policy \u201cif class seats are at risk of going vacant.\u201d In that case, he wrote, the Pentagon would require tracking recruits who are identified for additional screening to be completed \u201cas soon as possible\u201d while they make their way through initial stages of training.\nSuch exceptions would be rare, Hebert predicted, and would require Pentagon approval.\nBeland said he had concerns about that, too. By the time a recruiting command became aware of concerns about a recruit, it could be too late, he wrote. If every case must go up to that level at the Pentagon, he added, it \u201cdoes not sound workable to me if we encounter widespread delays.\u201d\nBeland, in an email, said that he could not comment on the messages because the policy is \u201cin a pre-decisional state.\u201d\nHebert referred comment to the Pentagon\u2019s public affairs office.\nAir Force Lt. Col. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said that she was unable to address questions but that the Defense Department needs \u201cevery qualified patriot who is willing and able to serve.\u201d As of May 2018, about 19,800 noncitizens were among the nation\u2019s 1.2 million active-duty service members.\nThe Trump administration\u2019s new restrictions on service members with foreign ties also has included the end of a program begun in 2008 to attract foreign recruits with key medical and language skills. That effort, known as the Military Accessions Vital to National Interests (MAVNI) program, offered a path to citizenship but ended in 2017 after U.S. officials concluded it was vulnerable to insider threats.\nThe Pentagon began discharging some service members who joined the military under MAVNI, but suspended the process in 2018. In a lawsuit brought by 17 U.S. service members who became U.S. citizens through MAVNI, lawyers argued during a trial late last year that the Pentagon was treating them differently from other citizens by requiring them to undergo extensive biannual screening.\nIn January, U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly found in the MAVNI troops\u2019 favor, ruling that the Pentagon had not met its burden of proof to require the screening.\nDuring the trial, Stephanie Miller, a senior Pentagon official involved in recruiting, said the Defense Department Inspector General and intelligence agencies had warned defense officials that \u201cdirect threats for espionage\u201d had been identified in the MAVNI program and that \u201chostile governments\u201d were targeting it.\nUnder questioning, Miller said that in the program\u2019s nearly 10-year history, one person who attempted to join through MAVNI had been charged in an espionage case. That person had not yet obtained U.S. citizenship or a security clearance. More than 10,000 U.S. troops joined the military through the program.\nMiller referred questions to the Pentagon\u2019s public affairs office.\nIn the other pending case, the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Latham & Watkins have argued in federal court that obtaining a green card already requires significant screening and that requiring even more is not only discriminatory but also harms the Armed Forces by withholding recruits.\nThe Justice Department, arguing on behalf of the Pentagon, has countered that researching the background of someone who was not born in the United States can be difficult and that some recruits had falsified information while seeking security clearances. The case could go to trial this year."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "XB6JD7OLAJEN3AFJQJEYYWZMUA_3", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XB6JD7OLAJEN3AFJQJEYYWZMUA_3", "title": "Trump is losing military voters. Here\u2019s how Democrats can win them over.", "text": "see white nationalism as more of a national security threat than Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. This finding indicates that many service members are likely to join progressives in their fight against bigotry, provided they are encouraged to do so. It might also signify an awareness of racist elements in the military, something Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), along with ProPublica, Frontline PBS and the historian Kathleen Belew, have attempted to bring to light. It would be wise for Democrats, both as a matter of principle and strategy, to devote more energy to confronting this reality. Similar consideration should be directed to Islamophobia within the ranks, which has already led to the death of at least one Marine recruit. And this must be accompanied by continued advocacy on behalf of green-card holders in the uniformed services, especially in the face of persistent attacks from the Trump administration. Plenty of other issues could be mentioned, like the fact that the military spouse unemployment rate floats around 20 percent, or that veterans make up an overrepresented 11 percent of all homeless adults and commit suicide at 1.5 times the rate of their non-veteran adult counterparts. Even when it comes to countering Trump\u2019s \u201cAmerica First\u201d posturing with a genuinely left internationalist (as opposed to imperialist) foreign policy, centering the perspectives of service-members and veterans makes sense, since their inordinate support for presidential candidates such as Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, Bernie Sanders and Trump have been driven in large part by disillusion with American interventionism abroad. Polling There is no doubt Trump wins the award for most mendacious pandering when it comes to his interactions with the troops. But Democrats have yet to offer a clear alternative. They have yet to speak in a progressive voice that conceptualizes the military not just as a special interest looking for a pay raise, but as a unique community that has constituted ground zero for many of America\u2019s most pressing injustices and challenges. Such a shift in mind-set bears a small chance of winning over the bulk of service members or veterans, but the imaginative outreach it might inspire could certainly help in mobilizing the activist energies of (and turning out the vote for) a number of citizens who would otherwise remain aloof from electoral politics. Just as important, such a shift would provide freshly compelling ways to speak to a self-consciously patriotic citizenry about dire problems affecting everyone."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "On Wednesday, at the al-Asad Air Base in Iraq, the president of the United States claimed responsibility for passing a 10 percent pay raise for military employees while implying this was the first time in a decade that service members had seen a raise. That both declarations proved wildly false isn\u2019t surprising, given President Trump\u2019s well-documented tendency to lie, even to the troops. This tendency, among other things, might have contributed to active-duty personnel\u2019s vanishing 9-percent margin of support for the president since the fall of 2016 \u2014 today\u2019s troops are now evenly split over Trump\u2019s performance.\nTrump\u2019s latest bumbling conduct, regardless, marks an opportunity for the left to reassess its own approach to service members and veterans, an approach that ought to signal a distinctive contrast to Trumpian showboating.\nDemocrats already intuit that the military embodies a crucial battleground in the culture war, at least as it pertains to the rights of gay or transgender people. President Barack Obama understood this when he overturned the \u201cDon\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u201d policy on gay troops in 2011, and opponents of Trump\u2019s transgender ban understand that today. But it is high time for liberals and progressives to expand on this intuition, come to grips with the countless (and emblematic) difficulties of those in uniform and, in due course, perhaps change the ideological or partisan contours of a reliably Republican constituency.\nA report came out this month, for example, that infertility for military women is three times higher than for their civilian counterparts, and that TRICARE, the health-care system for the Department of Defense, continues to refuse coverage for in vitro fertilization and related services. This despite convincing evidence that such widespread infertility has been caused by work-related contact with chemicals, toxins and air pollution resulting from burn pits on bases in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.\nNumerous\nPotential openings lie elsewhere as well. Polling of military opinion suggests stark gendered fault lines when it comes to Trump and party affiliation, and accounts of sexist behavior, including sexual misconduct, abound. Sixty-nine percent of military women have an unfavorable view of Trump, compared to only 38 percent of military men. In the lead-up to the midterms, 53.5 percent of military women said they planned to vote for Democrats while only 23.6 percent of military men did. A survey published a few years ago by The Washington Post, in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that about half of female veterans believed the military is not doing enough to prevent sexual assault. About 40 percent of the men surveyed believed the same. Another review by VA, involving 1,500 female veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, concluded that a quarter had been sexually assaulted during deployment.\nThese numbers provide quite a few reasons for Democrats to join Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and others in elevating the testimonies of relevant service members and veterans while pushing for legislation to wrest control of investigations and prosecutions from male-dominated chains of command. But similar attention to the racialized aspects of the military experience is also warranted.\nFor instance, only 29 percent of nonwhite active-duty personnel have a favorable view of Trump, compared to almost 44 percent for the active-duty population as a whole. Despite the military being a disproportionately white institution, a poll last year revealed its members see white nationalism as more of a national security threat than Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. This finding indicates that many service members are likely to join progressives in their fight against bigotry, provided they are encouraged to do so. It might also signify an awareness of racist elements in the military, something Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), along with ProPublica, Frontline PBS and the historian Kathleen Belew, have attempted to bring to light. It would be wise for Democrats, both as a matter of principle and strategy, to devote more energy to confronting this reality.\nSimilar consideration should be directed to Islamophobia within the ranks, which has already led to the death of at least one Marine recruit. And this must be accompanied by continued advocacy on behalf of green-card holders in the uniformed services, especially in the face of persistent attacks from the Trump administration.\nPlenty of other issues could be mentioned, like the fact that the military spouse unemployment rate floats around 20 percent, or that veterans make up an overrepresented 11 percent of all homeless adults and commit suicide at 1.5 times the rate of their non-veteran adult counterparts. Even when it comes to countering Trump\u2019s \u201cAmerica First\u201d posturing with a genuinely left internationalist (as opposed to imperialist) foreign policy, centering the perspectives of service-members and veterans makes sense, since their inordinate support for presidential candidates such as Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, Bernie Sanders and Trump have been driven in large part by disillusion with American interventionism abroad.\nPolling\nThere is no doubt Trump wins the award for most mendacious pandering when it comes to his interactions with the troops. But Democrats have yet to offer a clear alternative. They have yet to speak in a progressive voice that conceptualizes the military not just as a special interest looking for a pay raise, but as a unique community that has constituted ground zero for many of America\u2019s most pressing injustices and challenges.\nSuch a shift in mind-set bears a small chance of winning over the bulk of service members or veterans, but the imaginative outreach it might inspire could certainly help in mobilizing the activist energies of (and turning out the vote for) a number of citizens who would otherwise remain aloof from electoral politics. Just as important, such a shift would provide freshly compelling ways to speak to a self-consciously patriotic citizenry about dire problems affecting everyone."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "YQDOGGBZTRFCXNSEWFWB5GPSZI_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "YQDOGGBZTRFCXNSEWFWB5GPSZI_1", "title": "The military provides a model for how institutions can address racism", "text": "mirrored broader social issues in the United States. But military institutions also had particular problems, notably a racially biased military justice system. African American soldiers pointed to the administration of \u201cArticle 15\u201d punishments, which did not require judicial review. Officers had full discretion to punish soldiers with no oversight and without thorough investigations. African American soldiers received these nonjudicial punishments at much higher rates than their white counterparts, often with more severe consequences. This system paired with lower rates of promotion and a reluctance to recognize structural discrimination eventually prompted uprisings in 1971. Of all the protests that year, the most severe was one at Fort McClellan, Ala., located outside the town notorious for being the site where white supremacists had bombed a bus full of Freedom Riders in 1961. Over the course of two weeks in November 1971, African American soldiers gathered to protest local bus drivers who had hurled racial slurs at them. But soon their grievances expanded to include practices within the military: unfair discipline practices, unequal rates of promotion and inaction of command when soldiers reported incidents of discrimination and abuse. Fort McClellan command responded to mass gatherings with blanket arrests, resulting in military police detaining over 100 military service members. In the wake of the uprising, the commander blamed \u201ctroublemaking\u201d militant soldiers, rather than the institution\u2019s failure to address racism within the installation. But the protest garnered national attention, and the Congressional Black Caucus launched ad hoc hearings to investigate racism in the military. Many black officers and enlistees warned that the situation was explosive. They testified that the military failed to enforce off-base housing regulations, which resulted in white enlisted men finding better housing than black officers. Across the military, Congress learned, when soldiers reported discrimination, complaints were swept under the rug and officers refused to take action. The Department of Defense responded to increased congressional scrutiny by creating the Defense Race Relations Institute (DRRI), which was tasked with developing educational programs for enlistees and officers throughout all military branches. It trained instructors to lead conversations about race at all military installations. These rap sessions served as a way for African American soldiers to speak out without fear of retaliation and provide an avenue to solve conflict. While it seemed to be a step in the right direction, it neither solved the problem for black soldiers nor did it lessen the frequency of their"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "George Floyd\u2019s killing on Memorial Day has led to demonstrations in all 50 states and across the world, all calling for officials to fundamentally restructure the police state.\nBut what will this look like?\nEfforts to reform the U.S. military in the 1960s and \u201970s provide some lessons. Over 40 years ago, protests combined with pressure from a wide coalition of civilians, politicians and soldiers to push an institution to promote meaningful cultural change and to examine an unfair justice system. Change happened from vigilant activism, congressional support and a refusal to accept mere symbolism.\nEven though African Americans have always served in the U.S. military during war, it was not until 1948 that segregated units were abandoned. But integration did not mean that discrimination and racism disappeared, and during the Vietnam War, racial tensions escalated. In the span of several weeks in October 1968, two African American majors in the Army resigned because of their assessment of racial discrimination in the military. Maj. Lavell Merritt called the military one of \u201cthe strongest citadels of racism on earth.\u201d African American officer Maj. John B. Jones would later say that \u201cthe war [was] still in the barracks.\u201d\nProblems within the military mirrored broader social issues in the United States. But military institutions also had particular problems, notably a racially biased military justice system. African American soldiers pointed to the administration of \u201cArticle 15\u201d punishments, which did not require judicial review. Officers had full discretion to punish soldiers with no oversight and without thorough investigations. African American soldiers received these nonjudicial punishments at much higher rates than their white counterparts, often with more severe consequences. This system paired with lower rates of promotion and a reluctance to recognize structural discrimination eventually prompted uprisings in 1971.\nOf all the protests that year, the most severe was one at Fort McClellan, Ala., located outside the town notorious for being the site where white supremacists had bombed a bus full of Freedom Riders in 1961. Over the course of two weeks in November 1971, African American soldiers gathered to protest local bus drivers who had hurled racial slurs at them. But soon their grievances expanded to include practices within the military: unfair discipline practices, unequal rates of promotion and inaction of command when soldiers reported incidents of discrimination and abuse.\nFort McClellan command responded to mass gatherings with blanket arrests, resulting in military police detaining over 100 military service members. In the wake of the uprising, the commander blamed \u201ctroublemaking\u201d militant soldiers, rather than the institution\u2019s failure to address racism within the installation.\nBut the protest garnered national attention, and the Congressional Black Caucus launched ad hoc hearings to investigate racism in the military. Many black officers and enlistees warned that the situation was explosive. They testified that the military failed to enforce off-base housing regulations, which resulted in white enlisted men finding better housing than black officers. Across the military, Congress learned, when soldiers reported discrimination, complaints were swept under the rug and officers refused to take action.\nThe Department of Defense responded to increased congressional scrutiny by creating the Defense Race Relations Institute (DRRI), which was tasked with developing educational programs for enlistees and officers throughout all military branches. It trained instructors to lead conversations about race at all military installations. These rap sessions served as a way for African American soldiers to speak out without fear of retaliation and provide an avenue to solve conflict.\nWhile it seemed to be a step in the right direction, it neither solved the problem for black soldiers nor did it lessen the frequency of their complaints. Yes, the DDRI did facilitate hard conversations about race, ones that extended around the world. But racial sensitivity training and informal conversations without policy reforms resulted in symbolic, not structural change. While the DDRI brought some issues to the surface, many soldiers insisted that there were not enough significant reforms.\nSo the uprisings continued and black officers continued to resign. Under pressure from the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP, the Department of Defense conducted a study on military justice and race in 1972. The report was deeply flawed. While it uncovered a pattern of disproportionate punishments and more severe consequences for African American soldiers, it refused to acknowledge that the military itself had institutional problems and instead blamed this discrimination on \u201csocial\u201d forces. But the report did make some meaningful suggestions to address discrimination, including allocating African American seats on administrative review boards handling discharges, requiring the exhaustion of preliminary rehabilitative measures before imposing an \u201cArticle 15\u201d punishment, and granting soldiers the right to a personal hearing before commanders when accused of an infraction.\nThe combined efforts of the Black Caucus, soldiers and the task force for military justice resulted in significant changes, including guaranteeing defendants\u2019 access to free legal aid, even for trivial offenses, and making public all punishments imposed on soldiers below the rank of staff sergeant. However, military leadership hid behind their reforms as progress and blamed the DDRI for racial tensions remaining high on installations where white soldiers and officers resented black soldiers speaking freely about discrimination. Black unrest boiled to the surface at the Pentagon by the mid 1970s, when DDRI faced budget cuts that resulted in the number of instructors dropping significantly.\nThe move toward an all-volunteer force after 1973 introduced new challenges linked to minority recruitment. While recruiters celebrated individuality of enlistees and officers in sales pitches, in reality, white officers looked suspiciously at black soldiers\u2019 wearing bracelets and sporting hair styles that echoed black power activism.\nYet, after the Vietnam War ended, the Army intensified its efforts to appeal to African Americans because its research showed that they were more likely to be motivated by military benefits than white Americans, who benefited from privileges in civilian society. This push succeeded in that minorities volunteered at higher rates, especially young African Americans. Between 1972 and 1981, African American representation in the military doubled from 11 percent to 22 percent, and the Army\u2019s ranks were 33 percent black in 1981. Over time, the military\u2019s officer ranks became slightly more diverse as well: While in 1980, 91 percent of new officers were white and 7 percent were black, by 2009, 76 percent were white and 9 percent were black. Military efforts to strengthen African American representation in the officer corps, however, were stymied by federal courts that struck down the practice of allowing promotion boards to consider race in an officer\u2019s record (Saunders v. White 2002).\nTrue change, then, if we look to the military as an example, will require pressure on the institution itself, but perhaps more important, pressure on the courts and the federal government, which set guidelines and rules that shape local policing. Any progress within policing practices will be susceptible to the whims of the courts and the federal government. Racism is systemic, and transforming our institutions will require constant vigilance.\nCorrection: An earlier version of this story mistakenly stated that Floyd was killed in Wisconsin. He was killed in Minnesota, and the story has been corrected."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "a0e47548-6c8b-11e1-b6cb-8f400698f97c_0", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a0e47548-6c8b-11e1-b6cb-8f400698f97c_0", "title": "Fraud investigation targets recruiting program for Army National Guard, Reserves", "text": "A recruitment campaign to boost the Army National Guard and Reserve at a difficult time in Iraq and Afghanistan is the focus of a wide-ranging Pentagon fraud investigation, including allegations of kickback schemes involving military personnel, internal documents show. The alleged fraud involves programs that paid $2,000 bounties to soldiers or civilians who signed up as \u201crecruiting assistants\u201d and brought in new enlistees. Investigators have found evidence that recruiters for the Guard and Reserve who were not eligible for the bounties worked with some recruiting assistants to secretly secure and split up the money. More than 1,700 recruiters and hundreds of recruiting assistants are under scrutiny for $92 million in potentially fraudulent transactions \u2014 more than a quarter of all the bounty money paid, according to an internal Army Audit Agency document. Investigators have found that dozens of the recruiters apparently shared bank accounts with individuals who received bounties. Faced with a report on the abuses, Army Secretary John McHugh canceled the programs and ordered a probe of \u201csystemic weaknesses and shortfalls, some of a potentially criminal nature,\u201d according to an internal memo signed by McHugh on Feb. 9. In response to questions from The Washington Post, an Army spokesman said the investigation is ongoing. \u201cIf additional allegations of criminal conduct are found, the Army will take appropriate action,\u201d spokesman George Wright said. \u201cBecause of the sensitivity of the criminal investigation, providing any further details or comment would be inappropriate.\u201d The Recruiting Assistance Programs, launched in 2005, were billed as an innovative way to supplement active-duty units strained by the demands of the two wars. At the time, tens of thousands of servicemen and women were required to serve extended tours of duty because of the shortfall of troops to relieve them. The campaign offered bounties of up to $2,000 per recruit to soldiers or civilians who referred enlistees to the Guard or Reserve. Pentagon investigators started hearing allegations that some recruiters for the Guard and Reserve were taking advantage of the program. Over the past several years, investigators have opened at least 17 criminal cases and have called for a broader audit. A subsequent Army Audit Agency investigation showed that more than a quarter of the $339 million in bounties paid over the past six years \u201cwere at risk for fraud,\u201d according to an audit briefing given to McHugh on Feb. 2. The transactions involved at least 1,706 recruiters"}], "old": [{"_id": "a0e47548-6c8b-11e1-b6cb-8f400698f97c_0", "title": "Fraud investigation targets recruiting program for Army National Guard, Reserves", "text": "A recruitment campaign to boost the Army National Guard and Reserve at a difficult time in Iraq and Afghanistan is the focus of a wide-ranging Pentagon fraud investigation, including allegations of kickback schemes involving military personnel, internal documents show. The alleged fraud involves programs that paid $2,000 bounties to soldiers or civilians who signed up as \u201crecruiting assistants\u201d and brought in new enlistees. Investigators have found evidence that recruiters for the Guard and Reserve who were not eligible for the bounties worked with some recruiting assistants to secretly secure and split up the money. In response to questions from The Washington Post, an Army spokesman said the investigation is ongoing. \u201cIf additional allegations of criminal conduct are found, the Army will take appropriate action,\u201d spokesman George Wright said. \u201cBecause of the sensitivity of the criminal investigation, providing any further details or comment would be inappropriate.\u201d A subsequent Army Audit Agency investigation showed that more than a quarter of the $339 million in bounties paid over the past six years \u201cwere at risk for fraud,\u201d according to an audit briefing given to McHugh on Feb. 2. The transactions involved at least 1,706 recruiters and hundreds of the recruiting assistants \u2014 individuals who allegedly made the referrals and applied for the bounties. The alleged schemes involved the sharing of bank accounts between recruiters and recruiting assistants, who sometimes took credit for referring individuals who had already decided to enlist. In one case, dozens of recruiters and recruiting assistants shared a single bank account. \u201cRecruiters potentially stole the identity of personnel to circumvent controls or many have colluded with recruiting assistants to bypass controls,\u201d auditors told McHugh. The document lists several breakdowns in internal control, including a failure to verify relationships between enlistees and recruiting assistants and to determine whether the two had ever met. \u201cOur evaluation showed that for 88 percent of enlistments one or more key internal controls weren\u2019t operating as intended,\u201d auditors reported. Auditors found that the company did not report all instances of \u201cpotential fraud or collusion\u201d listed in the firm\u2019s internal records. Company officials referred 25 recruiting assistants to Pentagon criminal investigators, even though Docupak had fired 245 for such conduct, the briefing document states. Docupak President Philip Crane said his company officials reported to Pentagon investigators the wrongdoing that they felt needed to be addressed. He said some of those reports led to criminal prosecutions. He said"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A recruitment campaign to boost the Army National Guard and Reserve at a difficult time in Iraq and Afghanistan is the focus of a wide-ranging Pentagon fraud investigation, including allegations of kickback schemes involving military personnel, internal documents show.\nThe alleged fraud involves programs that paid $2,000 bounties to soldiers or civilians who signed up as \u201crecruiting assistants\u201d and brought in new enlistees. Investigators have found evidence that recruiters for the Guard and Reserve who were not eligible for the bounties worked with some recruiting assistants to secretly secure and split up the money.\nMore than 1,700 recruiters and hundreds of recruiting assistants are under scrutiny for $92 million in potentially fraudulent transactions \u2014 more than a quarter of all the bounty money paid, according to an internal Army Audit Agency document. Investigators have found that dozens of the recruiters apparently shared bank accounts with individuals who received bounties.\nFaced with a report on the abuses, Army Secretary John McHugh canceled the programs and ordered a probe of \u201csystemic weaknesses and shortfalls, some of a potentially criminal nature,\u201d according to an internal memo signed by McHugh on Feb. 9.\nIn response to questions from The Washington Post, an Army spokesman said the investigation is ongoing.\n\u201cIf additional allegations of criminal conduct are found, the Army will take appropriate action,\u201d spokesman George Wright said. \u201cBecause of the sensitivity of the criminal investigation, providing any further details or comment would be inappropriate.\u201d\nThe Recruiting Assistance Programs,\u2009launched in 2005, were billed as an innovative way to supplement active-duty units strained by the demands of the two wars. At the time, tens of thousands of servicemen and women were required to serve extended tours of duty because of the shortfall of troops to relieve them.\nThe campaign offered bounties of up to $2,000 per recruit to soldiers or civilians who referred enlistees to the Guard or Reserve. Pentagon investigators started hearing allegations that some recruiters for the Guard and Reserve were taking advantage of the program. Over the past several years, investigators have opened at least 17 criminal cases and have called for a broader audit.\nA subsequent Army Audit Agency investigation showed that more than a quarter of the $339 million in bounties paid over the past six years \u201cwere at risk for fraud,\u201d according to an audit briefing given to McHugh on Feb. 2.\nThe transactions involved at least 1,706 recruiters and hundreds of the recruiting assistants \u2014 individuals who allegedly made the referrals and applied for the bounties. The alleged schemes involved the sharing of bank accounts between recruiters and recruiting assistants, who sometimes took credit for referring individuals who had already decided to enlist. In one case, dozens of recruiters and recruiting assistants shared a single bank account.\n\u201cRecruiters potentially stole the identity of personnel to circumvent controls or many have colluded with recruiting assistants to bypass controls,\u201d auditors told McHugh.\nThe document lists several breakdowns in internal control, including a failure to verify relationships between enlistees and recruiting assistants and to determine whether the two had ever met.\n\u201cOur evaluation showed that for 88 percent of enlistments one or more key internal controls weren\u2019t operating as intended,\u201d auditors reported.\nAn Alabaster, Ala.-based contractor, Document and Packaging Brokers, also known as Docupak, ran the program for the Pentagon. For more than a decade, the company has handled recruiting programs and other promotions for the Guard and Reserve, under contracts totaling $1.3 billion. Docupak received a $345 \u201cadministration fee\u201d for each recruit who enlisted under the bounty program.\nAuditors found that the company did not report all instances of \u201cpotential fraud or collusion\u201d listed in the firm\u2019s internal records. Company officials referred 25 recruiting assistants to Pentagon criminal investigators, even though Docupak had fired 245 for such conduct, the briefing document states.\nDocupak President Philip Crane said his company officials reported to Pentagon investigators the wrongdoing that they felt needed to be addressed. He said some of those reports led to criminal prosecutions.\nHe said the company had a \u201cvery thorough risk-mitigation program\u201d that checked enlistee identities and payments against National Guard databases.\n\u201cWe have been as transparent as we possibly can,\u201d Crane said.\nOne case of fraud involved Thomas Kaszas\nOver nine months in 2007, Kaszas\u2019s partner claimed credit for more than a dozen new recruits and deposited $24,000 in bounties into the joint account. Virtually all of it was later wired to another bank account controlled by Kaszas, the indictment stated. Kaszas pleaded guilty in September 2010 to five counts of wire fraud and was ordered to repay $26,000 to Docupak.\nMore national security coverage:\nPanetta discusses Kyrgyz air base\nMilitants attack delegation at site of Afghan killings\nAfghan shootings refocus attention on Fort Lewis-McChord\nRead more of the latest national security news"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "a7250a20ec93262eb970c53d44ca7fbb_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "a7250a20ec93262eb970c53d44ca7fbb_1", "title": "The most satisfied military employees? Black women. Least satisfied? White men.", "text": "on a mission in Ramadi, Iraq, on Oct. 26, 2004. Senior defense officials say Pentagon chief Leon Panetta is removing the military\u2019s ban on women serving in combat. With all the risk and sacrifice, the military does not seem like an institution that would top career satisfaction surveys. But a study of 30,000 active-duty personnel, published in the American Sociological Review, showed that women consistently reported higher job satisfaction in the military than male counterparts of the same ethnicity. This trend held true for African Americans, Hispanics and Whites, and is the exact opposite of what sociologists see in the private sector. University of Massachusetts' Jennifer Hickes Lundquist used five measurements of career satisfaction, metrics like overall quality of life, opportunities for advancement and whether they believe they will soon get promoted. Using that data, she found that African-American women were the most satisfied with their jobs, followed by African-American men. Latinas came next, followed by Latinos, and then white women. White men came in as the least satisfied with their careers, with the lowest rankings by these metrics. Lundquist thinks this has a lot to do with the structure of the military, where the social hierarchy rests on rank rather than class or gender. \"For women,\" Lundquist writes, \"pay and job benefits are more equal in the military than in the civilian labor.\" Separate research has found that male and female promotion rates in the military tend to be similar, erasing a gender gap that exists in the private sector. Women are still, however, \"grossly underrepresented\" among those promoted to higher military ranks such as captain or lieutenant colonel. A more fair playing field, at least at lower military ranks, would be a boost for minorities and women. It would also be a potential drawback for white males. \"It's not that the military environment treats white males less fairly; it's simply that, compared to their peers in civilian society, white males lose many of the advantages that they had,\" Lundquist said when we spoke about her research. \"There's a relative deprivation when you compare to satisfaction of peers outside of the military.\" Lundquist does not dismiss the impact that other factors could have to mitigate women's job satisfaction in the military, especially sexual harassment. She acknowledges that, while negative factors exist, the more positive influence of a level playing field ultimately results in better job satisfaction for military women."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The\u00a0Pentagon's decision\u00a0to lift the ban on women in combat roles might be more than a boost to gender equality. It might also prove a boon, surprisingly, to women's job satisfaction.\nPATRICK BAZ/AFP/GETTY IMAGES - U.S. Army soldiers listen to a briefing as they prepare to leave on a mission in Ramadi, Iraq, on Oct. 26, 2004. Senior defense officials say Pentagon chief Leon Panetta is removing the military\u2019s ban on women serving in combat.\nWith all the risk and sacrifice, the military does not seem like an institution that would top career satisfaction surveys. But a study of 30,000 active-duty personnel, published in the American Sociological Review, showed that women consistently reported higher job satisfaction in the military than male counterparts of the same ethnicity. This trend held true for African Americans, Hispanics and Whites, and is the exact opposite of what sociologists see in the private sector.\nUniversity of Massachusetts' Jennifer Hickes Lundquist used five measurements of career satisfaction, metrics like overall quality of life, opportunities for advancement and whether they believe they will soon get promoted. Using that data, she found that African-American women were the most satisfied with their jobs, followed by African-American men. Latinas came next, followed by Latinos, and then white women.\nWhite men came in as the least satisfied with their careers, with the lowest rankings by these metrics.\nLundquist thinks this has a lot to do with the structure of the military, where the social hierarchy rests on rank rather than class or gender. \"For women,\" Lundquist writes, \"pay\u00a0and job benefits are more equal in the military than in the civilian labor.\"\nSeparate research has found that male and female promotion rates in the military tend to be similar, erasing a gender gap that exists in the private sector. Women are still, however, \"grossly underrepresented\" among those promoted to higher military ranks such as captain or lieutenant colonel.\nA more fair playing field, at least at lower military ranks, would be a boost for minorities and women. It would also be a potential drawback for white males.\n\"It's not that the military environment treats white males less fairly; it's simply that, compared to their peers in civilian society, white males lose many of the advantages that they had,\" Lundquist said when we spoke about her research. \"There's a relative deprivation when you compare to satisfaction of peers outside of the military.\"\nLundquist does not dismiss the impact that other factors could have to mitigate women's job satisfaction in the military, especially sexual harassment. She acknowledges that, while negative factors exist, the more positive influence of a level playing field ultimately results in better job satisfaction for military women."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "af489246104b24674de250d632fd013d_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "af489246104b24674de250d632fd013d_1", "title": "MacArthur fellow Margaret Stock: The public \u2018doesn\u2019t understand\u2019 illegal immigration", "text": "keeping people out of America to make us safer. We didn\u2019t realize we were undercutting our security, our civil liberties, and our ability to attract the best and brightest to America. I tried to explain that we need to bring in people who have skills that grow our economy and strengthen our families. The MAVNI program came out of an idea that you presented in a PowerPoint at a brainstorming conference for the army. What was that idea? The army was having a huge recruiting crisis. I was invited to a conference to brainstorm ways to improve military recruitment. I pitched the idea to give legal immigrants without green cards a chance at naturalization through military service. In prior wars, we had always enlisted immigrants regardless of their citizenship status. I thought it was a great idea but was told that the Pentagon crushes great ideas, and it might take five years to get the idea approved. I was a little discouraged but I charged ahead. It became clear to everyone that it was just a policy decision; the legal authority already existed. People always came to a dead end because no one understood immigration law. By May 2008, I got the Secretary of the Army to sign off, which took five months, and by November 2008, it was approved by the Secretary of Defense. So it took less than a year to get the project through the Pentagon. Did the end result match your expectations? There was a lot of opposition but not reasoned opposition. A lot of \u201cWe have never done it this way before.\u201d When Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced the program and said that we could do a one-year pilot program, his office limited it to compromise with the bureaucracy. We had no budget to market it or advertise it, and there was a cap at 1,000 people. The army could get 890 recruits; the navy, 100, and the air force, 10. What was the turnout like? There was one guy that called me and\u2026 he said \u201cI get you 40,000 Koreans and we all go to Afghanistan to fight for America.\u201d I told him it wasn\u2019t the French Foreign Legion. The program was for immigrants who were health-care professionals or language experts. It was taking ten or fifteen years for them to get green cards. Many were already working for the military, but on"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Margaret Stock (Courtesy of the MacArthur Foundation)\nTo Pentagon staffers, Anchorage-based immigration lawyer Margaret Stock has always been \u201cscary smart.\u201d But as of this week, Stock enters a select group of \u201cgeniuses,\u201d more formally known as MacArthur fellows. The MacArthur Foundation awards each recipient a \u201cgenius grant\u201d of $625,000 over five years for their past achievements and future projects. Stock\u2019s passion happens to be a combination of two issues that the country is grappling with: immigration law and national security. Drawing upon her experience as an attorney, a lieutenant colonel in the Military Police Corps\u00a0and a professor at West Point, Stock has dedicated herself to finding simple solutions for the nation\u2019s millions of immigrants. She is best known for the successful implementation of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program (MAVNI). We spoke with her on the phone.\nYou\u2019re known for your work that ties immigration policy to national security. When did you start linking the two together?\nI\u2019ve been doing immigration law since 1993 when I took on a pro bono case. My theoretical work linking immigration policy to national security rose after 9-11 when we were focusing on toughening up the borders, registering immigrants and keeping people out of America to make us safer. We didn\u2019t realize we were undercutting our security, our civil liberties, and our ability to attract the best and brightest to America. I tried to explain that we need to bring in people who have skills that grow our economy and strengthen our families.\nThe MAVNI program came out of an idea that you presented in a PowerPoint at a brainstorming conference for the army. What was that idea?\nThe army was having a huge recruiting crisis. I was invited to a conference to brainstorm ways to improve military recruitment. I pitched the idea to give legal immigrants without green cards a chance at naturalization through military service. In prior wars, we had always enlisted immigrants regardless of their citizenship status.\nI thought it was a great idea but was told that the Pentagon crushes great ideas, and it might take five years to get the idea approved. I was a little discouraged but I charged ahead. It became clear to everyone that it was just a policy decision; the legal authority already existed. People always came to a dead end because no one understood immigration law. By May 2008, I got the Secretary of the Army to sign off, which took five months, and by November 2008, it was approved by the Secretary of Defense. So it took less than a year to get the project through the Pentagon.\nDid the end result match your expectations?\nThere was a lot of opposition but not reasoned opposition. A lot of \u201cWe have never done it this way before.\u201d When Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced the program and said that we could do a one-year pilot program, his office limited it to compromise with the bureaucracy. We had no budget to market it or advertise it, and there was a cap at 1,000 people. The army could get 890 recruits; the navy, 100, and the air force, 10.\nWhat was the turnout like?\nThere was one guy that called me and\u2026 he said \u201cI get you 40,000 Koreans and we all go to Afghanistan to fight for America.\u201d I told him it wasn\u2019t the French Foreign Legion. The program was for immigrants who were health-care professionals or language experts. It was taking ten or fifteen years for them to get green cards. Many were already working for the military, but on a slow track to getting a green card. You have to have a 15-year relationship with a lawyer if you want to get through. I got a ton of thank you cards from immigrant doctors and nurses afterward. The only problem was there was a quota, and there were around 15,000 applying for 890 Army slots. As an immigration lawyer, I was really struck by this. The reason it was so popular was because the legal immigration system is broken. There\u2019s an enormous amount of work and the bureaucracy and paperwork is incredible. MAVNI seemed like a gift from heaven, and we had a huge demand.\nWill simplifying the process for immigrants to join the military make the U.S. vulnerable to terrorists infiltrating the armed forces?\nThe U.S. is already vulnerable to terrorists infiltrating the Armed Forces.\u00a0 Timothy McVeigh, Nidak Malik Hassan, and Aaron Alexis were all native-born Americans whom I suppose one could say \u201cinfiltrated\u201d the armed forces and later committed horrific murders. While one can\u2019t ever make a system perfect, the risk factor from immigrants is lower because they undergo much more extensive security checks to join the military than native-born enlistees. \u00a0Simplification of the process does not include eliminating those checks. You\u2019re making two wrong assumptions\u2014first, that immigrants are more likely to be terrorists than native-born Americans, and there\u2019s no evidence of that; and second, that making a process simpler must mean eliminating some security checks, which is also not the case.\nThe Foundation highlighted two more of your programs when they notified you of the grant. What were the ideas behind them?\nThe Department of Homeland Security was under fire for not processing military naturalizations fast enough. I said, \u2018Why don\u2019t you naturalize everyone at basic training like we did during the Korean and Vietnam War?\u2019 I went back to the military and told them we could save money, improve morale and not have legal problems. I got Homeland Security to test soldiers and naturalize them at basic training in April 2009. It became a formal program by August 2009, and it\u2019s still in place today. Now all the services except the Coast Guard are doing naturalization at basic training.\nAlso, in 2007, I was getting inundated with immigration questions from the military. I called the president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) to match pro bono lawyers with military members, veterans and their families who have immigration problems. He assigned someone at AILA National to develop the American Immigration Lawyers Association Military Assistance Program (AILAMAP). I screened cases and assigned them to lawyers. We\u2019ve made the program more formalized now. We have a listserv, a Web site, there\u2019s outreach. We have a pro bono associate at the Washington office. That started six years ago, and it\u2019s been very successful.\nHow did the Pentagon overlook the legal precedent they had to simplify both the immigration and the military recruitment process?\nI think people just forgot history, and they didn\u2019t have immigration lawyers at the Pentagon. In World War One, immigrants were 20 percent of the force. During World War Two, we declared war on Germany, and the Germans in the country were supposed to be deported. But instead, we turned them into citizens and drafted them. After the Vietnam War, they created a regulation requiring people to get a green card before they joined the military, and that prevented people from joining.\u00a0People are power. You don\u2019t want to deport your manpower. But we\u2019ve forgotten about that.\nDid you play a part in the Senate\u2019s immigration reform bill?\nI did work on it a little bit, but they asked me to comment on it when they had already drafted the bill. I think it\u2019s great but they\u2019re continuing in the trend of making things very complicated. Even people who benefit from the bill will have to have a close relationship with a lawyer for ten to fifteen years. That\u2019s troubling. I think I plan on advocacy to simplify the system.\nIn the bill, swifter naturalization is commensurate with stronger border security. What do you think about the philosophy behind that?\nThe bill shows the people don\u2019t understand what\u2019s driving unauthorized immigration. If they make a pathway that allows people to come legally, they\u2019re not going to need as much border security. They\u2019re not going to need the wall, but they\u2019re going to build it because of a compromise measure. It\u2019s going to waste a lot of money.\nYour work tends to ask people in power to simplify existing policies. What are things President Obama can do but hasn\u2019t yet?\nIt\u2019s similar to the MAVNI program where people don\u2019t realize they have the authority to do things. Here\u2019s a big example: Right now there\u2019s a policy that allows Cubans to adjust their status because it\u2019s in our interest for Cubans to not go back and stay in the U.S., but there\u2019s no policy like that for immigrant military families. I think it\u2019s crazy that we have a policy that can deport military families to where they might be hurt.\nAlso, they\u2019re not letting the youth who benefit from the Childhood Arrivals Program join the military. Obama could issue a memo saying they can join the military but no one\u2019s done that. There\u2019s also the banished veterans issue. They deport veterans all the time for technical violations of immigration law. I\u2019m working on legislation to fix that problem.\nHow has all your work with the military affected your professional and personal life in Alaska?\nMy husband was complaining about it because I was getting lots of phone calls. For MAVNI, I spent all my waking hours on it, and I wasn\u2019t paid for a good majority of it. He would joke, \u201cYou got three Harvard degrees and can\u2019t you figure out for them to pay for this?\u201d When we were doing taxes, my income was miserably low for a lawyer doing the amount of work I did. I think my husband realized I was passionate about what I was doing, and he should put up with it.\nThe grant really is gratifying. I can\u2019t explain it well. I didn\u2019t think the MacArthur Foundation gave grants to people like me who work in bureaucratic trenches. The coolest project I\u2019ve done in my life is MAVNI, but I didn\u2019t think the MacArthur Foundation would ever find out about it. I did all the press for it, but I never wanted to be quoted.\nWhat\u2019s next for you?\nI\u2019ve worked with Rep. Mike Thompson\u2019s office in California on a bill for military families and have been working with Rep. Mike Coffman in Colorado on the Military Enlistment Opportunity Act. He\u2019s a Republican, a tea party guy. His bill basically puts MAVNI into statute, and it includes more than just medical professionals but other people who are highly qualified.\nDoes this grant change anything?\nI think the great thing about this is not feeling bad about this pro bono stuff. I don\u2019t have to worry about that. I have a really nice husband who\u2019s been supportive, but he\u2019s been tired of me having this hobby. I don\u2019t have to feel guilty about helping even though though I\u2019m not being paid for it. It\u2019s been fairly exhausting at times. The journalists should see my inbox. The e-mails are unbelievable.\nThis interview has been edited and condensed."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "b9b1b2dcb247fb4b41817311db78d8e8_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "b9b1b2dcb247fb4b41817311db78d8e8_1", "title": "Republicans defeat proposal that would cast undocumented immigrants as patriotic Americans", "text": "So it would mean only a few thousand potential enlistees. That\u2019s not to mention that the measure wouldn\u2019t have allowed them to join, it would have just instructed the Department of Defense to look into it. Republicans may be concerned that if you allow undocumented immigrants to serve in the military, then it will be a short hop to granting them citizenship in some future legislation. After all, if someone is willing to put their life on the line in service to this country, it would be hard to argue against making them a citizen, and there\u2019s already an expedited process for legal immigrants who serve to gain citizenship. But why would that be something to be afraid of? The reason can be found in the fundamentally different ways Democrats and Republicans would like people to see undocumented immigrants. Republicans would rather they be thought of as an undifferentiated horde that only takes from America, stealing jobs from the native-born and sucking up social services. That\u2019s not true of every Republican, but the ones who express any kind of human compassion toward undocumented immigrants (as Rick Perry found out in 2012 and Jeb Bush is discovering now) quickly get accused of being insufficiently \u201ctough\u201d on the issue. Democrats, on the other hand, want undocumented immigrants to be seen as individuals who want to contribute to America. And there are few better ways to tell that story than to highlight people who were brought here as children, grew up American, and are now willing to serve in the military. If the Republican view prevails, the logical policy solutions center around border security and deportations. If the Democratic view prevails, then comprehensive immigration reform including a path to citizenship seems like the solution to the problem. You can see those competing visions in the way the amendment that passed yesterday has been discussed by the two parties. Its sponsor, Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, tried to characterize DREAMers who want to join the military as takers and military service as some kind of gift we generously bestow on the right people. \u201cTo take military service jobs from Americans and from lawful immigrants in order to give them to illegal aliens is outrageous and unconscionable,\u201d he said. Which is strange, because last time I checked, the military wasn\u2019t turning people away because all the slots had been filled; go down to your local"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Every time the GOP gets ready to do some \u201creaching out\u201d to Hispanics, Republicans in Congress have to come along and mess everything up. The latest vivid example comes in an amendment passed yesterday by the House to strip out a provision of the defense authorization bill that would have encouraged the Pentagon to explore allowing DREAMers \u2014 young undocumented immigrants who had been brought to America as children \u2014 to join the military.\nUnder current law, only citizens and legal immigrants are permitted to join. This measure had passed the Armed Services Committee with the votes of both Democrats and Republicans.\nBut the House majority said No. Why would they do that? The answer lies in the symbolism this measure would represent.\nIn practical terms, letting DREAMers join the military wouldn\u2019t be all that consequential, since we\u2019re probably talking about a limited number of people. There are an estimated 1.8 million undocumented immigrants who would be eligible for deferred status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. How many of them want to join the military? If they\u2019re like other American young people, the number is probably pretty small, on the order of one or two percent. So it would mean only a few thousand potential enlistees. That\u2019s not to mention that the measure wouldn\u2019t have allowed them to join, it would have just instructed the Department of Defense to look into it.\nRepublicans may be concerned that if you allow undocumented immigrants to serve in the military, then it will be a short hop to granting them citizenship in some future legislation. After all, if someone is willing to put their life on the line in service to this country, it would be hard to argue against making them a citizen, and there\u2019s already an expedited process for legal immigrants who serve to gain citizenship. But why would that be something to be afraid of?\nThe reason can be found in the fundamentally different ways Democrats and Republicans would like people to see undocumented immigrants. Republicans would rather they be thought of as an undifferentiated horde that only takes from America, stealing jobs from the native-born and sucking up social services. That\u2019s not true of every Republican, but the ones who express any kind of human compassion toward undocumented immigrants (as Rick Perry found out in 2012 and Jeb Bush is discovering now) quickly get accused of being insufficiently \u201ctough\u201d on the issue.\nDemocrats, on the other hand, want undocumented immigrants to be seen as individuals who want to contribute to America. And there are few better ways to tell that story than to highlight people who were brought here as children, grew up American, and are now willing to serve in the military.\nIf the Republican view prevails, the logical policy solutions center around border security and deportations. If the Democratic view prevails, then comprehensive immigration reform including a path to citizenship seems like the solution to the problem.\nYou can see those competing visions in the way the amendment that passed yesterday has been discussed by the two parties. Its sponsor, Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, tried to characterize DREAMers who want to join the military as takers and military service as some kind of gift we generously bestow on the right people. \u201cTo take military service jobs from Americans and from lawful immigrants in order to give them to illegal aliens is outrageous and unconscionable,\u201d he said.\nWhich is strange, because last time I checked, the military wasn\u2019t turning people away because all the slots had been filled; go down to your local recruiting center and they\u2019ll be happy to sign you up.\nDemocrats will try to draw as much attention to this vote as they can, because it sends the message that not only do Republicans not want these young people here, they don\u2019t even think they\u2019re good enough to fight and die for America. Which is why Hillary Clinton\u2019s campaign was quick to condemn the passage of the amendment, and why the Republican presidential contenders have yet to weigh in.\nWhenever they do, they\u2019ll probably feel compelled to support the congressional Republicans. After all, GOP primary voters aren\u2019t particularly interested in what their candidates want to do for DREAMers.\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "d9fe7e56-19c6-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d9fe7e56-19c6-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_1", "title": "Military services seeking innovative ways to attract highly skilled recruits", "text": "\u2014 need not be punitive in the advancement of our future airmen.\u201d Maj. Gen. David W. Allvin, director of strategic planning in the office of the Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, expanded on that in a New York Times interview. \u201cWhat if you entered the Air Force knowing you could serve for a few years, then go to work for an innovative tech company, and then return to the Air Force?\u201d he said. \u201cWe could enter into partnerships with cutting-edge companies and allow our workforce the opportunity of a more flexible retirement system that allows you to do two different jobs and still get to a 20-year retirement. It might take 35 years, but you would get here.\u201d Another route in the Air Force\u2019s \u201cCall to the Future\u201d report described \u201ca career development model that provides those in specialized career fields with incentives and promotion opportunities on par with those in more mainstream disciplines.\u201d The Defense Department has long had a few special programs to attract people who might otherwise not enlist for military service. Doctors have always been a special category. More recently, programs have been developed for foreign health-care workers and language and cultural specialists who have visas and work permits. Their time in service, which could be a mixture of four years active duty and four years in the reserves, would also lead to U.S. citizenship. One of the least publicized of such programs has existed for years with military bands, which recognized the need to recruit experienced musicians and start them at a higher rank. Take, for example, the U.S. Marine Band, \u201cThe President\u2019s Own.\u201d Its Web site recently advertised for a bassoonist. The notice says the \u201cplaying ability and expertise required are equivalent to those of any major professional musical organization.\u201d The auditions, which will take place Nov. 1 in the John Philip Sousa Band Hall at Marine Barracks in Washington, \u201care conducted much like those of major symphony orchestras,\u201d the Web site says. The person chosen will have the standard four-year enlistment, but unlike most other recruits it will be \u201cfor duty with the U.S. Marine Band only.\u201d More important, the Web site says, \u201c \u2018The President\u2019s Own\u2019 musicians are permanently assigned and may not be transferred to any other unit or location. Upon enlistment, new members are appointed to the rank of Staff Sergeant (pay grade E-6)"}], "old": [{"_id": "d9fe7e56-19c6-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_1", "title": "Military services seeking innovative ways to attract highly skilled recruits", "text": "Air Force?\u201d he said. \u201cWe could enter into partnerships with cutting-edge companies and allow our workforce the opportunity of a more flexible retirement system that allows you to do two different jobs and still get to a 20-year retirement. It might take 35 years, but you would get here.\u201d Another route in the Air Force\u2019s \u201cCall to the Future\u201d report described \u201ca career development model that provides those in specialized career fields with incentives and promotion opportunities on par with those in more mainstream disciplines.\u201d The Defense Department has long had a few special programs to attract people who might otherwise not enlist for military service. Doctors have always been a special category. More recently, programs have been developed for foreign health-care workers and language and cultural specialists who have visas and work permits. Their time in service, which could be a mixture of four years active duty and four years in the reserves, would also lead to U.S. citizenship. One of the least publicized of such programs has existed for years with military bands, which recognized the need to recruit experienced musicians and start them at a higher rank. Take, for example, the U.S. Marine Band, \u201cThe President\u2019s Own.\u201d Its Web site recently advertised for a bassoonist. The notice says the \u201cplaying ability and expertise required are equivalent to those of any major professional musical organization.\u201d The auditions, which will take place Nov. 1 in the John Philip Sousa Band Hall at Marine Barracks in Washington, \u201care conducted much like those of major symphony orchestras,\u201d the Web site says. The person chosen will have the standard four-year enlistment, but unlike most other recruits it will be \u201cfor duty with the U.S. Marine Band only.\u201d More important, the Web site says, \u201c \u2018The President\u2019s Own\u2019 musicians are permanently assigned and may not be transferred to any other unit or location. Upon enlistment, new members are appointed to the rank of Staff Sergeant (pay grade E-6) in the U.S. Marine Corps and receive all pay and benefits commensurate with that grade.\u201d What about basic training? The band\u2019s Web site\u2019s answer: \u201cUnlike other Marine Corps musical units [and the rest of the Marine Corps], \u2018The President\u2019s Own\u2019 has no secondary combat role, and its members are exempt from all such training. \u2018The President\u2019s Own\u2019 musicians report to Washington fully trained to perform their primary duties in the accomplishment of the band\u2019s unique"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Military personnel salute Air Force One, with President Obama aboard, before its departure from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on July 17. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)\nThe military services are looking at innovative ways to change their personnel systems to boost the recruitment and retention of skilled people. The services are considering steps such as starting people at higher ranks and providing career paths that might include going in and out of the service.\nOn Thursday, the National Defense Panel \u2014 co-chaired by former defense secretary William Perry and retired Army Gen. John P. Abizaid \u2014 delivered its review of the Defense Department\u2019s 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review and picked up on that idea.\nAmong its recommendations: \u201cImplementing a continuum-of-service model that allows service members to move fluidly between components and between the military, private sector, civil service and other employment.\u201d\nA day earlier, the Air Force released a report titled \u201cA Call to the Future,\u201d which described today\u2019s traditional military personnel model of 20 years of continual service as \u201ca 20th century construct that is not widely replicated in the private sector.\u201d\nIt talked of a possible new approach noting that \u201cbreaks in service \u2014 or transitions between full and part-time \u2014 need not be punitive in the advancement of our future airmen.\u201d\nMaj. Gen. David W. Allvin, director of strategic planning in the office of the Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, expanded on that in a New York Times interview.\n\u201cWhat if you entered the Air Force knowing you could serve for a few years, then go to work for an innovative tech company, and then return to the Air Force?\u201d he said. \u201cWe could enter into partnerships with cutting-edge companies and allow our workforce the opportunity of a more flexible retirement system that allows you to do two different jobs and still get to a 20-year retirement. It might take 35\u00a0years, but you would get here.\u201d\nAnother route in the Air Force\u2019s \u201cCall to the Future\u201d report described \u201ca career development model that provides those in specialized career fields with incentives and promotion opportunities on par with those in more mainstream disciplines.\u201d\nThe Defense Department has long had a few special programs to attract people who might otherwise not enlist for military service.\nDoctors have always been a special category. More recently, programs have been developed for foreign health-care workers and language and cultural specialists who have visas and work permits. Their time in service, which could be a mixture of four years active duty and four years in the reserves, would also lead to U.S. citizenship.\nOne of the least publicized of such programs has existed for years with military bands, which recognized the need to recruit experienced musicians and start them at a higher rank.\nTake, for example, the U.S. Marine Band, \u201cThe President\u2019s Own.\u201d Its Web site recently advertised for a bassoonist. The notice says the \u201cplaying ability and expertise required are equivalent to those of any major professional musical organization.\u201d\nThe auditions, which will take place Nov. 1 in the John Philip Sousa Band Hall at Marine Barracks in Washington, \u201care conducted much like those of major symphony orchestras,\u201d the Web site says.\nThe person chosen will have the standard four-year enlistment, but unlike most other recruits it will be \u201cfor duty with the U.S. Marine Band only.\u201d\nMore important, the Web site says, \u201c\u200a\u2018The President\u2019s Own\u2019 musicians are permanently assigned and may not be transferred to any other unit or location. Upon enlistment, new members are appointed to the rank of Staff Sergeant (pay grade E-6) in the U.S. Marine Corps and receive all pay and benefits commensurate with that grade.\u201d\nWhat about basic training? The band\u2019s Web site\u2019s answer: \u201cUnlike other Marine Corps musical units [and the rest of the Marine Corps], \u2018The President\u2019s Own\u2019 has no secondary combat role, and its members are exempt from all such training. \u2018The President\u2019s Own\u2019 musicians report to Washington fully trained to perform their primary duties in the accomplishment of the band\u2019s unique musical mission. Therefore, there is no requirement for \u2018The President\u2019s Own\u2019 musicians to undergo recruit training.\u201d\nThe Army Band \u2014 \u201cPershing\u2019s Own\u201d \u2014 as well as the Air Force Band and the Navy Band have similar programs, though they require their specially skilled recruits to take basic training before coming to Washington to join their respective organizations.\nThe recent talk about new pay and career paths is not just an exercise. Budgetary pressures have focused increased attention on rising Pentagon personnel costs, which have forced cuts in training \u2014 and thus readiness \u2014 and even delayed weapon modernization programs.\nThe Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, appointed in 2013 to come up with new approaches, recently released an interim report identifying 65 special and incentive-pay categories within the services along with more than 40 health-benefit programs and more than 200 programs and benefits administered by eight federal agencies that support military, veteran, retiree and family member quality of life.\nThe commission is exploring whether this compensation system could provide valued benefits to service members as well as the job flexibility needed to recruit and retain highly skilled people.\nThe panel\u2019s recommendations are due by Feb. 1. They are to be made public at the same time they are sent to President Obama and Congress.\nHere\u2019s a public discussion worth having.\nFor previous Fine Print columns, go to washingtonpost.com/fedpage."}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "ec5e919c446980bde40306f4707d1bfa_3", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ec5e919c446980bde40306f4707d1bfa_3", "title": "Elite U.S. troops fear PMS? A deeper look at the Special Operations gender study", "text": "more agile.\u201d The Army Ranger School is set to graduate its first two female students, 1st Lts. Kristen Griest and Shaye Haver. The women started school April 20 alongside 380 men and 17 other women. The Associated Press previously reported on the overall findings. But the release of the full gender integration report now provides a fascinating window into what some of those polled said. It\u2019s clear they didn\u2019t pull many punches, based on the commentary. Some of the remarks here, separated by category: Facility concerns \u2014 \u201cAt Ft. Bliss, three women shared their own barracks. Men were stacked. Women had time in the shower, in the bathroom. Guys had to wait 20 minutes for a shower. It breeds dissension.\u201d A sergeant first class in the Special Forces Context: The most significant facilities concern, according to the study: \u201cHow do you build a cohesive team when you separate and treat some of the team members differently?\u201d Fears of women premenstrual syndrome \u2013 \u2014 \u201cI have a wife. She\u2019s very independent. But when that time of her month comes, she\u2019s weaker.\u201d \u2014 A Navy SEAL who is a petty officer second class Context: The report adds that participants discussing menstrual concerns were in the minority. But there were still at least several of them, underscoring the cultural issues the military will deal with as it integrates women. Pregnancy concerns \u2014 \u201cNow you\u2019re taking someone we rely on. She decides to go out and get pregnant\u2026 If she even comes back after that \u2014 because now she has a child to take care of \u2014 I have lost an asset to the team who is not a one-to-one replacement. There is no one-to-one replacement.\u201d \u2014 A staff sergeant in Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Context: This issue has some more practical concerns than PMS, but it also shows certain level of suspicion about when women might not be able to do their jobs. Concerns about how wives will handle it Context: \u201cLiving in close quarters, working long hours and physical contact that is required during training were were cited as problems for many of the spouses, the study said. Army cultural support teams get a better reception \u2014 \u201cThe intel role (18F) might be viable. I\u2019ve had both good and bad experiences with the CSTs. But when they were good, they were very good.\u201d \u2014 Special Forces sergeant first class"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Green Berets assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) clear rooms inside a compound during a training mission held Feb. 20, 2015, at Eglin Air Force Base in Northwest Florida. (Photo by Capt. Thomas Cieslak/ U.S. Army)\nAs the U.S. military moves forward with integrating women in elite combat units, there is still a fair amount of opposition. That remains clear, based on a study newly released by the Pentagon following Defense Ashton B. Carter\u2019s decision this month to begin full gender integration by no later than April 1.\nThe study, alluded to here in a lengthy new examination of the gender integration effort, found that 85 percent of those surveyed in U.S. Special Operations Command opposed letting women into their jobs, and 71 percent opposed letting women into their unit. The interviews were carried out in summer 2014, but it seems unlikely that views have shifted dramatically since.\nOpposition existed in all Special Operations forces, jobs and ranks, with Navy SEALs, Air Force special tactics team members and mid-ranking enlisted troops \u2014 non-commissioned officers, or NCOs \u2014 generally the most opposed, the study said. It was carried out by the Rand National Defense Research Institute, with interviews completed in 2014 and captured in a reported dated May 2015.\n[As the Pentagon opens combat jobs to women, \u2018deep-seated\u2019 opposition and a checkered past]\nJeff Butler, a former Navy SEAL who left the military in 2003, said that the majority of the concerns he has heard from his colleagues is that adding women to elite units will alter unit cohesion and cause social disruption.\n\u201cThe worry is that politicians and military leaders, by pushing this integration, and by drastically changing the social make-up of these all-male units, risk throwing a wrench into a finely operating war machine,\u201d Butler said. \u201cThe fear is that the community will have to place so much focus on getting women through the training, dealing with women joining the small units, and all that will come with such a change, that it will detract from their operational focus in a time of war.\u201d\nButler said he believes it can work, but that there will be a period of adjustment. The Pentagon, he added, should listen to the concerns of Special Operations Forces (SOF) leaders at all ranks.\nNavy SEALs conduct training in a remote area in California. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Martin L. Carey/ U.S. Navy)\n\u201cSome of these concerns will no doubt be more important than others, but all will stem from what SOF operators and leadership believe is in the best interests of the community, and its operational effectiveness,\u201d Butler said. \u201cNo one should demonize the community for expressing its concerns with the integration. They want what is best for the special operations community, not to hold women back.\u201d\nArmy Maj. Lisa Jaster, who became one of the first three women ever to graduate from the Army\u2019s Ranger School, argued in an opinion piece published by The Washington Post on Friday that women will overcome the concerns that have long been raised about full gender integration.\n\u201cNone of these arguments is new,\u201d she wrote. \u201cAnd all of them ignore the fundamental fact that brute strength is not the only, or even the most important, factor in a successful combat mission. Courage, ingenuity, strategic thinking, levelheadedness, marksmanship and an ability to read people all factor into whether a unit succeeds or a mission goes south. Yes, we will maintain physical standards, and some women will fail, but the ones who succeed will bring new strengths as well, making their units stronger and more agile.\u201d\nThe Army Ranger School is set to graduate its first two female students, 1st Lts. Kristen Griest and Shaye Haver. The women started school April 20 alongside 380 men and 17 other women.\nThe Associated Press previously reported on the overall findings. But the release of the full gender integration report now\u00a0provides a fascinating window into what some of those polled said. It\u2019s clear they didn\u2019t pull many punches, based on the commentary.\nSome of the remarks here, separated by category:\nFacility concerns\n\u2014 \u201cAt Ft. Bliss, three women shared their own barracks. Men were stacked. Women had time in the shower, in the bathroom. Guys had to wait 20 minutes for a shower. It breeds dissension.\u201d A sergeant first class in the Special Forces\nContext: The most significant facilities concern, according to the study: \u201cHow do you build a cohesive team when you separate and treat some of the team members differently?\u201d\nFears of women premenstrual syndrome\n\u2013\n\u2014 \u201cI have a wife. She\u2019s very independent. But when that time of her month comes, she\u2019s weaker.\u201d \u2014 A Navy SEAL who is a petty officer second class\nContext: The report adds that participants discussing menstrual concerns were in the minority. But there were still at least several of them, underscoring the cultural issues the military will deal with as it integrates women.\nPregnancy concerns\n\u2014 \u201cNow you\u2019re taking someone we rely on. She decides to go out and get pregnant\u2026 If she even comes back after that \u2014 because now she has a child to take care of \u2014 I have lost an asset to the team who is not a one-to-one replacement. There is no one-to-one replacement.\u201d \u2014 A staff sergeant in Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)\nContext: This issue has some more practical concerns than PMS, but it also shows certain level of suspicion about when women might not be able to do their jobs.\nConcerns about how wives will handle it\nContext: \u201cLiving in close quarters, working long hours and physical contact that is required during training were were cited as problems for many of the spouses, the study said.\nArmy cultural support teams get a better reception\n\u2014 \u201cThe intel role (18F) might be viable. I\u2019ve had both good and bad experiences with the CSTs. But when they were good, they were very good.\u201d \u2014 Special Forces sergeant first class\n\u2014 \u201cIn certain aspects, I defaulted to FET because they have the medical, intel piece. If you had something similar to those units, once again appeasing both sides, not jeopardizing standards of SEAL teams, we call them the enablers\u2026 I think if we utilized nurses, intel, linguists, maybe come up with a pool of certain enablers, I think that could help out SOCOM.\u201d \u2014 Navy SEAL master chief\n\u2014 \u201cWe already have CST. It\u2019s a good capability, but it already exists. Don\u2019t force me to take something I don\u2019t need. Don\u2019t evolve CST to ODA.\u201d \u2014 Special Forces staff sergeant\nContext: The comments show that Special Operations troops who have deployed in combat alongside women in the past, in some cases would welcome doing so again in similar circumstances. But even then many of them are still opposed to women serving as SEALs or in the \u201cODA\u201d \u2014 an Operational Detachment-Alpha, or Special Forces team.\nPrevious coverage:\nNavy secretary criticizes controversial Marine Corps gender integration study\nWhy the Pentagon opening all combat roles to women could subject them to a military draft"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "f1dbccb8-3e04-11e1-861f-2c3eff5ce2df_1", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "f1dbccb8-3e04-11e1-861f-2c3eff5ce2df_1", "title": "Obama\u2019s military strategy should focus on troops, not technology", "text": "does not stop the development of technology useful to the military, though it is an unwise and dangerous strategy. Indeed, every major war of the past hundred years has prompted, in months, technological innovations that in peacetime would have required years. Even the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan \u2014 which were not supported by any significant technological or industrial mobilization \u2014 spurred the rapid fielding of systems and vehicles to counter improvised explosive devices, the primary technological challenge to our soldiers. It is easier, of course, to build mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles than an F-35 fighter jet. But it need not take two decades to build a stealth fighter or even to refurbish an aircraft carrier, if the equipment is urgently needed. There is, on the other hand, no way to accelerate the fielding of good military leaders. Certainly soldiers can be recruited rapidly and their training courses shortened. Junior officers can be swiftly promoted, skipping the career steps and educational requirements of peacetime. More senior officers can be drawn from reserves and staff positions. During World War II, entire divisions were recruited, trained and deployed within a year. But the brigade and battalion commanders in those divisions did not know how to command brigades and battalions. The company commanders might not have seen combat. They learned awfully fast in North Africa, Europe and the Pacific \u2014 at a very high price in lives. The development of military leaders cannot be accelerated beyond a certain point without seriously degrading quality. People can learn, adapt and assimilate experiences only so rapidly. Good software or other distributed learning tools help individuals master enormous amounts of information, but there are innate limits. Military leadership is more than knowledge and technique. It requires fundamental changes in personality, patterns of thought and perception, emotional control and interactions with others. That is as true for fighter pilots as battalion commanders. Inexperienced leaders panic when seasoned veterans would calmly carry on; unseasoned commanders leap to conclusions where salted warriors comprehend the entire situation. Advanced technology generally exacerbates these problems by flooding hastily promoted officers and noncommissioned officers with information as they fight to retain or regain emotional balance and rational perception. And there can be no real preparation for the loss of soldiers under one\u2019s authority except to live through that horrible experience. The U.S. military is overwhelmingly composed of officers and noncommissioned officers who have developed these"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Frederick W. Kagan is director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute.\nPresident Obama\u2019s new defense strategy champions the same arguments military downsizers have invoked since 1991: The United States must invest in technology and disinvest in active-duty military personnel. The plan unveiled Thursday by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is based on two such tenets: It must \u201cprotect key investments in the technologically advanced capabilities most needed for the future .\u2009.\u2009. [and] no longer size active forces to conduct large and protracted stability operations while retaining the expertise of a decade of war.\u201d The budget thus eliminates 92,000 soldiers and Marines on the premise that future wars will require new weapons systems but not large numbers of troops. Should America need more troops, this thinking holds, it will be easy enough to find them. Technology takes longer to develop and field.\nThese well-worn syllogisms are the reverse of reality. Technology development can be accelerated in wartime. The development of capable military leaders cannot.\nMilitary technology rests on the technological status of society at large, especially today, when our military increasingly prefers modifying off-the-shelf solutions to building its own. A failure to invest in military technology does not stop the development of technology useful to the military, though it is an unwise and dangerous strategy.\nIndeed, every major war of the past hundred years has prompted, in months, technological innovations that in peacetime would have required years. Even the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan \u2014 which were not supported by any significant technological or industrial mobilization \u2014 spurred the rapid fielding of systems and vehicles to counter improvised explosive devices, the primary technological challenge to our soldiers. It is easier, of course, to build mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles than an F-35 fighter jet. But it need not take two decades to build a stealth fighter or even to refurbish an aircraft carrier, if the equipment is urgently needed.\nThere is, on the other hand, no way to accelerate the fielding of good military leaders. Certainly soldiers can be recruited rapidly and their training courses shortened. Junior officers can be swiftly promoted, skipping the career steps and educational requirements of peacetime. More senior officers can be drawn from reserves and staff positions. During World War II, entire divisions were recruited, trained and deployed within a year. But the brigade and battalion commanders in those divisions did not know how to command brigades and battalions. The company commanders might not have seen combat. They learned awfully fast in North Africa, Europe and the Pacific \u2014 at a very high price in lives.\nThe development of military leaders cannot be accelerated beyond a certain point without seriously degrading quality. People can learn, adapt and assimilate experiences only so rapidly. Good software or other distributed learning tools help individuals master enormous amounts of information, but there are innate limits.\nMilitary leadership is more than knowledge and technique. It requires fundamental changes in personality, patterns of thought and perception, emotional control and interactions with others. That is as true for fighter pilots as battalion commanders. Inexperienced leaders panic when seasoned veterans would calmly carry on; unseasoned commanders leap to conclusions where salted warriors comprehend the entire situation.\nAdvanced technology generally exacerbates these problems by flooding hastily promoted officers and noncommissioned officers with information as they fight to retain or regain emotional balance and rational perception. And there can be no real preparation for the loss of soldiers under one\u2019s authority except to live through that horrible experience. The U.S. military is overwhelmingly composed of officers and noncommissioned officers who have developed these human skills in ordered progression of promotions and schooling (which were wisely not seriously disrupted during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq despite strains on the force) and in \u00adcombat.\nThe president proposes to let some 92,000 of them go in favor of preserving investments in technology. Those military personnel are a repository of knowledge about how to conduct complex, lethal operations across a wide area in distributed formations. They are not merely the world\u2019s leading experts on counterinsurgency but also the leading experts on exactly the kind of targeted operations Obama\u2019s strategy envisions. There is no more precise weapons system than a highly trained soldier who can hit whatever he aims at but also knows when not to shoot. Over a decade of conflict, our troops have refined formations, doctrine, techniques and theory to the highest level ever. Rapidly reducing the force will flush away much of that expertise before it can be institutionalized.\nAdvocates of the president\u2019s strategy say that we do not need that human capital or expertise in ground operations because we will never again fight wars that put large numbers of our soldiers at risk. Technology, they say, will make future wars precise, rapid and decisive. We have heard this argument many times since the Cold War ended, from George W. Bush as enthusiastically as Bill Clinton. Yet every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan has ordered tens of thousands of troops into ground combat. Obama himself sent 70,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops have been deployed abroad to wars or peacekeeping operations for 38 of the past 70 years \u2014 and nearly continuously since 1989. The argument that next time will be different is unpersuasive.\nThe question is not whether the United States will again send troops to fight in far-off lands. The question that should weigh most heavily on Congress as it considers the defense budget is what kind of leaders those troops will have and how well prepared they will be.\nMore opinions on Obama\u2019s defense strategy:\nBuck McKeon: Obama\u2019s damaging blow to our military\nThe Post\u2019s View: Obama\u2019s defense strategy rests on shaky assumptions\nDavid Ignatius: Obama closes the book on the 9/11 era"}
{"qid": 951, "pid": "fe9b054a-298d-11e5-a5ea-cf74396e59ec_3", "query_info": {"_id": 951, "text": "Issues with US military recruitment", "instruction_og": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters.", "instruction_changed": "A current issue with US military recruitment is the 2016 suspension of the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI), a recruitment program for non-permanent residents with high-demand skills from medicine to languages. Critics state that America has not kept its promise of service in exchange for US citizenship and that scrutiny of immigrants' background checks are unfairly keeping them from serving. As more women enlist, their roles in the US military are ever evolving as policies change allowing them to serve in combat roles.  A loss of trade-related jobs is increasing the number of applicants for US military recruiters. Documents discussing legal action directly attributed to a US President (such as Trump) are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find an article addressing this question on military policies.", "keywords": "military policies"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "fe9b054a-298d-11e5-a5ea-cf74396e59ec_3", "title": "Military to allow transgender members to serve openly", "text": "are certain missions or assignments in war zones where allowing transgender troops to serve might be problematic. \u201cIt has to be an honest review,\u201d said a congressional aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. \u201cIt just can\u2019t be \u2018We took a look and there will be no challenges with this.\u2019 \u201d The decision drew immediate rebukes from groups that said it was evidence of the Obama adminstration\u2019s misplaced priorities. \u201cIt\u2019s time that we allow the military to focus on its only job \u2014 defending our country against its enemies,\u201d Jerry Boy\u00adkin, a retired Army lieutenant general and executive vice president of the Family Research Council, said in a statement. But Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, welcomed the change and its stated presumption that allowing transgender troops to serve would not harm the effectiveness of military units. \u201cIt is long past time that we definitively and affirmatively make it clear that gender identity should have no bearing on an individual\u2019s ability to serve,\u201d he said. The military banned service members with gender issues as early as the 1960s, said Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a gay rights group. By the 1980s, he said, the military was applying its medical regulations more forcefully against people who identified as transgender. Gay rights groups have aggressively pushed back in recent years, pointing to studies and reports that show open transgender service would not be harmful. Among them was a report last year co-authored by former U.S. surgeon general Joycelyn Elders. \u201cThere is no compelling medical reason for the ban,\u201d the report concluded. In recent months, there were signs that the military was changing course on the issue, with the Army, Navy and Air Force adjusting their policies to make it more difficult to discharge transgender members. Shortly after Carter was sworn in as defense secretary this year, he suggested at a town hall meeting with troops in Afghanistan that he was \u201copen-minded\u201d about transgender service. In addition, last month, a senior airman attended the White House\u2019s gay pride celebration in the uniform of his preferred gender, which is a departure from current Air Force policy, groups said. The policy change announced Monday, which was first reported by the Associated Press, comes two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Army"}], "old": [{"_id": "fe9b054a-298d-11e5-a5ea-cf74396e59ec_3", "title": "Military to allow transgender members to serve openly", "text": "\u2018We took a look and there will be no challenges with this.\u2019 \u201d The decision drew immediate rebukes from groups that said it was evidence of the Obama adminstration\u2019s misplaced priorities. \u201cIt\u2019s time that we allow the military to focus on its only job \u2014 defending our country against its enemies,\u201d Jerry Boy\u00adkin, a retired Army lieutenant general and executive vice president of the Family Research Council, said in a statement. But Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, welcomed the change and its stated presumption that allowing transgender troops to serve would not harm the effectiveness of military units. \u201cIt is long past time that we definitively and affirmatively make it clear that gender identity should have no bearing on an individual\u2019s ability to serve,\u201d he said. The military banned service members with gender issues as early as the 1960s, said Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a gay rights group. By the 1980s, he said, the military was applying its medical regulations more forcefully against people who identified as transgender. Gay rights groups have aggressively pushed back in recent years, pointing to studies and reports that show open transgender service would not be harmful. Among them was a report last year co-authored by former U.S. surgeon general Joycelyn Elders. \u201cThere is no compelling medical reason for the ban,\u201d the report concluded. In addition, last month, a senior airman attended the White House\u2019s gay pride celebration in the uniform of his preferred gender, which is a departure from current Air Force policy, groups said. The policy change announced Monday, which was first reported by the Associated Press, comes two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Army Capt. Jacob Eleazer, who joined as a woman and now identifies as a man, greeted the news Monday with relief. For years he has gone back and forth with leadership over his gender identity, at times fearing he would be dismissed. Most recently, he said, he was admonished for allowing officer candidates to address him as \u201csir.\u201d He said he hopes the decision announced Monday will end the standoff and allow him to serve in the military longer than he expected. \u201cBasically, it means I\u2019m going to have an opportunity to have a career I never thought I would,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is really good news.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, seen here testifying on Capitol Hill, has directed the Pentagon to lift the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The military will have six months to determine the impact and work out details. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)\nThe Pentagon announced Monday that it will allow transgender members of the military to serve openly starting next year, marking an end to a long-standing policy that barred them from the armed forces.\nIn an echo of the Defense Department\u2019s repeal of the ban on gays in uniform four years ago, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said he had directed the armed forces to devise new rules over the next six months that would allow transgender troops to serve, except in situations \u201cwhere objective, practical impediments are identified.\u201d\n\u201cWe must ensure that everyone who\u2019s able and willing to serve has the full and equal opportunity to do so, and we must treat all our people with the dignity and respect they deserve,\u201d Carter said in a statement. He called the military\u2019s current regulations \u201coutdated\u201d and said they were \u201ccausing uncertainty that distracts commanders from our core missions.\u201d\nCarter also issued a directive that would make it more difficult to discharge transgender personnel over the next six months while the new rules are being established, requiring all such cases to be reviewed by a senior Pentagon official. The Pentagon took a similar interim approach to freeze the discharges of gay troops while it was preparing to lift that ban five years ago.\nAn estimated 15,500 transgender people serve in the military, but they have been forced to conceal that identity, according to the Williams Institute, a center at the University of California at Los Angeles that studies the gay and transgender populations. Some have found themselves in a precarious position \u2014 open to sympathetic peers and superiors but at risk of being discharged if someone who disapproves finds out.\nOver the years, military officials have said the ban was necessary to protect troops in \u201caustere environments\u201d where they may not have easy access to medical care. Supporters of the ban have also suggested that transgender people may have mental deficiencies and be at ri sk of suicide.\nBut pressure has mounted on the military and the Obama administration in recent years as societal views of transgender people have changed, and since the relatively smooth transition after the 2011 lifting of \u201cdon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell,\u201d the policy that barred gays from openly serving.\nGay rights groups praised the decision, which they said was long overdue. They noted that several other countries, including Israel, Canada, Britain and Australia, have successfully incorporated transgender members in their ranks and predicted that a policy change in the United States would be relatively simple.\n\u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be complicated,\u201d said Allyson Robinson, an Army veteran and director of policy for SPARTA, a group that advocates for transgender troops. In these countries, transgender troops \u201chave served openly for some time, and they\u2019ve already proven that questions about ability or physical capabilities aren\u2019t rooted in practicalities, they are rooted in ignorance and bias.\u201d\nThe review will include a look at the impact on troops serving in close quarters and how a change in policy might play out in combat zones. At the moment, the Defense Department is also grappling with more general questions about the extent to which women can serve in direct combat roles \u2014 an issue that could be complicated by adding transgender members to the mix.\nSome in Congress said they want to ensure that the Pentagon carefully considers over the next six months whether there are certain missions or assignments in war zones where allowing transgender troops to serve might be problematic.\n\u201cIt has to be an honest review,\u201d said a congressional aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. \u201cIt just can\u2019t be \u2018We took a look and there will be no challenges with this.\u2019\u2009\u201d\nThe decision drew immediate rebukes from groups that said it was evidence of the Obama adminstration\u2019s misplaced priorities.\n\u201cIt\u2019s time that we allow the military to focus on its only job \u2014 defending our country against its enemies,\u201d Jerry Boy\u00adkin, a retired Army lieutenant general and executive vice president of the Family Research Council, said in a statement.\nBut Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, welcomed the change and its stated presumption that allowing transgender troops to serve would not harm the effectiveness of military units. \u201cIt is long past time that we definitively and affirmatively make it\u00a0clear that gender identity should have no bearing on an individual\u2019s ability to serve,\u201d he said.\nThe military banned service members with gender issues as early as the 1960s, said Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a gay rights group. By the 1980s, he said, the military was applying its medical regulations more forcefully against people who identified as transgender.\nGay rights groups have aggressively pushed back in recent years, pointing to studies and reports that show open transgender service would not be harmful. Among them was a report last year co-authored by former U.S. surgeon general Joycelyn Elders. \u201cThere is no compelling medical reason for the ban,\u201d the report concluded.\nIn recent months, there were signs that the military was changing course on the issue, with the Army, Navy and Air Force adjusting their policies to make it more difficult to discharge transgender members. Shortly after Carter was sworn in as defense secretary this year, he suggested at a town hall meeting with troops in Afghanistan that he was \u201copen-minded\u201d about transgender service.\nIn addition, last month, a senior airman attended the White House\u2019s gay pride celebration in the uniform of his preferred gender, which is a departure from current Air Force policy, groups said.\nThe policy change announced Monday, which was first reported by the Associated Press, comes two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.\nArmy Capt. Jacob Eleazer, who joined as a woman and now identifies as a man, greeted the news Monday with relief. For years he has gone back and forth with leadership over his gender identity, at times fearing he would be dismissed. Most recently, he said, he was admonished for allowing officer candidates to address him as \u201csir.\u201d\nHe said he hopes the decision announced Monday will end the standoff and allow him to serve in the military longer than he expected.\n\u201cBasically, it means I\u2019m going to have an opportunity to have a career I never thought I would,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is really good news.\u201d"}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "021496b9e48cd3d483d0c7a15a369316_1", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "021496b9e48cd3d483d0c7a15a369316_1", "title": "When geoengineering goes rogue", "text": "U.S. agencies like NASA and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. He told the Guardian that it is the \"most substantial ocean restoration project in history,\" and has collected a \"greater density and depth of scientific data than ever before\". \"We've gathered data targeting all the possible fears that have been raised [about ocean fertilization],\" George said. \"And the news is good news, all around, for the planet.\" ... International legal experts say George's project has contravened the UN's convention on biological diversity (CBD) and London convention on the dumping of wastes at sea, which both prohibit for-profit ocean fertilization activities. As zany geoengineering schemes to slow global warming go, lacing the ocean with iron isn't a terrible one. Back in July, a research group at Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research found that the technique has potential to bury carbon in the deep ocean. Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution estimates that large-scale iron-seeding could help the world sequester around 1 percent of its emissions. That's not nothing. But scientists still worry about the consequences of artificially mucking with ocean ecology. In 2009, an op-ed in Nature by four researchers warned about possible unexpected side effects from large-scale iron fertilization \u2014 for instance, the dead plankton could pull key nutrients out of the ecosystem. Victor Smetacek, a researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute, has said he doesn\u2019t favor large-scale fertilization without further testing. That's why George's experiment has some people alarmed. And it highlights one of the more subtle risks of geoengineering. Many of the ideas on offer to cool the planet are remarkably cheap. A single nation can't cut the world's carbon emissions on its own. But a single businessman can start seeding the world's oceans with iron. Someday, individual nations or even concerned environmental groups might be able to spend a couple million dollars to spray sulfates into the air to cool down the planet. The consequences of artificially altering the climate would be hard to predict, but if the techniques are cheap enough, rogue geoengineering will remain a distinct possibility. Further reading: --A primer on geoengineering, the techniques, the possible unintended consequences. --A closer look at the science behind lacing the ocean with iron in order to create plankton blooms. --Scientists have also found that it's possible for cities to block heat waves with artificial volcanoes. But the side effects could be worrisome."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Guardian has a fascinating story today about Russ George, a California businessman who has been seeding the Pacific Ocean with iron in order to trigger a 3,800-square-mile plankton bloom. The idea has some promise as a geoengineering scheme to mitigate global warming\u2014in theory, the plankton can suck carbon-dioxide out of the air and bury it down in the deep ocean when they die.\nYellow and brown colors show relatively high concentrations of chlorophyll in August 2012, after iron sulphate was dumped into the Pacific Ocean as part of a controversial geoengineering scheme. Photograph: Giovanni/Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center/NASA\nThe only problem? George appears to be carrying out this scheme on his own, apparently without permission:\nGeorge says his team of unidentified scientists has been monitoring the results of the biggest ever geoengineering experiment with equipment loaned from U.S. agencies like NASA and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. He told the Guardian that it is the \"most substantial ocean restoration project in history,\" and has collected a \"greater density and depth of scientific data than ever before\".\n\"We've gathered data targeting all the possible fears that have been raised [about ocean fertilization],\" George said. \"And the news is good news, all around, for the planet.\" ...\nInternational legal experts say George's project has contravened the UN's convention on biological diversity (CBD) and London convention on the dumping of wastes at sea, which both prohibit for-profit ocean fertilization activities.\nAs zany geoengineering schemes to slow global warming go, lacing the ocean with iron isn't a terrible one. Back in July, a research group at Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research found that the technique has potential to bury carbon in the deep ocean. Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution estimates that large-scale iron-seeding could help the world sequester around 1 percent of its emissions. That's not nothing.\nBut scientists still worry about the consequences of artificially mucking with ocean ecology. In 2009,\u00a0an op-ed\u00a0in Nature by four researchers warned about possible unexpected side effects from large-scale iron fertilization \u2014 for instance, the dead plankton could pull key nutrients out of the ecosystem. Victor Smetacek, a researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute,\u00a0has said\u00a0he doesn\u2019t favor large-scale fertilization without further testing.\nThat's why George's experiment has some people alarmed. And it highlights one of the more subtle risks of geoengineering. Many of the ideas on offer to cool the planet are remarkably cheap. A single nation can't cut the world's carbon emissions on its own. But a single businessman can start seeding the world's oceans with iron. Someday, individual nations or even concerned environmental groups might be able to spend a couple million dollars to spray sulfates into the air to cool down the planet.\nThe consequences of artificially altering the climate would be hard to predict, but if the techniques are cheap enough, rogue geoengineering will remain a distinct possibility.\nFurther reading:\n--A primer on geoengineering, the techniques, the possible unintended consequences.\n--A closer look at the science behind lacing the ocean with iron in order to create plankton blooms.\n--Scientists have also found that it's possible for cities to block heat waves with artificial volcanoes. But the side effects could be worrisome."}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "0b5ab88024ea4ebaa77ac46bd0b810aa_0", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "0b5ab88024ea4ebaa77ac46bd0b810aa_0", "title": "One problem with geoengineering: Once you start, you can\u2019t really stop", "text": "Many of the world's nations show few signs of cutting their greenhouse gas emissions anytime soon. That's why, in recent years, more and more climate scientists have been pondering the concept of \"geoengineering\" as a way to slow the pace of global warming. When Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it cooled the planet nearly 1 degree Fahrenheit. Geoengineering would work a lot like that. (Arlan N.Aeg/AFP/Getty Images) One popular idea involves spraying reflective particles into the atmosphere to deflect a small portion of Earth's sunlight. Harvard scientist David Keith discussed the pros and cons of the idea at length in a recent interview. Pros: But there's one other concern we didn't really touch on in that interview: Once the world starts geoengineering, we can't really ever stop \u2014 especially if everyone keeps pumping carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere at the same time. Why? Because as soon as we quit spraying those reflective particles into the atmosphere, the Earth will heat up very, very, very rapidly. And sudden climate change is even worse than the kind we already know about. David Appell Once they stopped the solar geoengineering in the models, global temperatures rose by 1.5 degrees Celsius within a decade, and over 2 degrees Celsius (or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in two decades. (This jibes with the results of a 2009 study on the same topic.) Why is that so bad? It's worth noting that the speed of climate change matters almost as much as the total temperature swings. Plenty of climate policy experts think a 2-degree Celsius rise in global temperatures between now and the end of the century would prove tricky to adapt to. But a 2-degree rise in the span of just a few decades would be even harder. Many species would have difficulty moving to suitable climates. Farmers would struggle to adapt crops to the heat. Building seawalls to fend off rising oceans is much harder when you have less time to build. For the record, the JGR researchers also found that global rainfall patterns could go haywire if solar geoengineering was stopped: So, yes. In theory we could set up a giant hose to spray sulfate particles into the air and cool the planet. We just have to hope that nothing ever happens to the hose. Or, if we start spraying and then discover some horrid unanticipated side effects a few decades out, it"}], "old": [{"_id": "0b5ab88024ea4ebaa77ac46bd0b810aa_0", "title": "One problem with geoengineering: Once you start, you can\u2019t really stop", "text": "Many of the world's nations show few signs of cutting their greenhouse gas emissions anytime soon. That's why, in recent years, more and more climate scientists have been pondering the concept of \"geoengineering\" as a way to slow the pace of global warming. When Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it cooled the planet nearly 1 degree Fahrenheit. Geoengineering would work a lot like that. (Arlan N.Aeg/AFP/Getty Images) Pros: David Appell So, yes. In theory we could set up a giant hose to spray sulfate particles into the air and cool the planet. We just have to hope that nothing ever happens to the hose. Or, if we start spraying and then discover some horrid unanticipated side effects a few decades out, it will be a lot harder to stop. Further reading:"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Many of the world's nations show few signs of cutting their greenhouse gas emissions anytime soon. That's why, in recent years, more and more climate scientists have been pondering the concept of \"geoengineering\"\u00a0as a way to slow the pace of global warming.\nWhen Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it cooled the planet nearly 1 degree Fahrenheit. Geoengineering would work a lot like that. (Arlan N.Aeg/AFP/Getty Images)\nOne popular idea involves spraying reflective particles into the atmosphere to deflect a small portion of Earth's sunlight. Harvard scientist David Keith discussed the pros and cons of the idea at length in a recent interview.\nPros:\nBut there's one other concern we didn't really touch on in that interview: Once the world starts geoengineering, we can't really ever stop\u00a0\u2014 especially if everyone keeps pumping carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere at the same time. Why? Because as soon as we quit spraying those reflective particles into the atmosphere, the Earth will heat up very, very, very rapidly. And sudden climate change is even worse than the kind we already know about.\nDavid Appell\n\nOnce they stopped the solar geoengineering in the models, global temperatures rose by\u00a01.5 degrees Celsius\u00a0within a decade, and over 2 degrees Celsius (or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit)\u00a0in two decades. (This jibes with the results of a 2009 study on the same topic.)\nWhy is that so bad? It's worth noting that the speed of climate change matters almost as much as the total temperature swings. Plenty of climate policy experts think a\u00a02-degree Celsius rise in global temperatures between now and the end of the century would prove tricky to adapt to. But a\u00a02-degree rise in the span of just a few decades would be even harder.\u00a0Many species would have difficulty moving to suitable climates. Farmers would struggle to adapt crops to the heat. Building seawalls to fend off rising oceans is much harder when you have less time to build.\nFor the record, the JGR\u00a0researchers also found that global rainfall patterns could go haywire if solar geoengineering was stopped:\n\nSo, yes. In theory we could set up a giant hose to spray sulfate particles into the air and cool the planet. We just have to hope that nothing ever happens to the hose. Or, if we start spraying and then discover some horrid unanticipated side effects a few decades out, it will be a lot harder to stop.\nThis is one reason why many geo-engineering proponents, like Harvard's David Keith (who wasn't involved in this JGR study), argue that the technique would need to be done alongside reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions. \"Nothing changes the fact that in the long run, the only way to manage carbon risk is to stop emitting carbon-dioxide,\" Keith\u00a0told me in October. \"But, similarly, nothing we know about cutting carbon-dioxide emissions says that's going to help us deal with the risk of CO2 that's already in the atmosphere, or deal with climate risks in the very short term.\" In other words, he sees geoengineering as complementary, not a substitute for cutting emissions.\n(And yes, the JGR study came out a little while ago\u2014I just missed it at the time. Thanks to David Appell for the recent pointer.)\nFurther reading:"}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "2774bab8cb50685aa29db5958ca0516d_1", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2774bab8cb50685aa29db5958ca0516d_1", "title": "Geoengineering and the folly of playing God with the planet", "text": "some areas, and bring floods to others. Our climate models cannot, with reliability, predict the manifestation of regional precipitation changes induced by altering the composition of the atmosphere. Applying this type of geoengineering plan would require the global community to effectively sign-up for unpredictable climate changes that could benefit some areas at the expense of others. It\u2019s akin to seeking global agreement on the mechanics of playing God with the planet \u2013 establishing a world government to set and control a thermostat for Earth, and amicably living with whatever consequences. Not to mention injecting particles into the atmosphere would not remove the carbon pollution that can persist in the air for decades to centuries with consequences beyond warming, including the acidification of the oceans. It\u2019s such a scientifically and politically thorny idea that voices on both sides of the climate change debate have passionately expressed opposition to it. \u201c[T]he geoengineering options most often discussed, like putting sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere or orbiting tinfoil strips \u2014 these are simply nuts,\u201d Al Gore \u2013 one of the most fervent advocates for climate action \u2013 told the Post\u2019s Ezra Klein in 2013. \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t waste a lot of time talking about them. Some people will anyway, but they\u2019re just crazy.\u201d \u201cGeoengineering schemes seem like really bad ideas full of nasty consequences (unintentional and otherwise),\u201d writes Chip Knappenberger, who pens frequent columns for the Cato Institute about how the threat of climate change is exaggerated. The best way to confront climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the root cause of the problem, and better understand and cope with the climate changes we are dealt. We need not introduce new ways to alter our climate and further tinker with our one and only livable planet. If we can\u2019t reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to sufficiently slow climate change, we may even have another way out. The National Academy of Sciences also issued a companion report that discusses \u201cclimate interventions\u201d that would directly remove carbon from the atmosphere. To me, those are much more promising than other particle-injecting geoengineering schemes. Advocates for particle-injecting geoengineering say it is wise to research it in case climate change accelerates so much, we need to employ it to fend off a planetary catastrophe. I\u2019m not against expending a limited amount of effort to better understand its risks and opportunities but am unconvinced it will ever be a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "\nThere\u2019s this wild, grandiose idea \u2013 mostly discussed in academic circles \u2013 that we could offset and reverse the effects of global warming by intentionally spraying reflective particles high into the atmosphere.\n\u201c[It] would mimic the effects of a volcanic eruption,\u201d writes the Post\u2019s Joel Achenbach. \u201cThe thin haze would reflect sunlight, cooling Earth\u2019s surface. Our planet would literally be shinier when seen from space.\u201d\nThe idea is taken seriously enough that the National of Academy of Sciences released a report today evaluating its merits. The report prudently concludes such geoengineering schemes \u201cpose considerable risks and should not be deployed at this time.\u201d\nBut I\u2019d go a step further and say it\u2019s an idea that almost certainly will never be practical and could be more dangerous than the problem it\u2019s trying to solve\nWe do not understand the climate system well enough to predict\u00a0the disruptive impacts injecting particles would likely have. Although we know with certainty they would result in a net cooling of the climate \u2014 just as adding greenhouse gases would ensure net warming \u2014 how the effects would play out at the local and regional scale is a huge wild card. It might cause drought in some areas, and bring floods to others.\nOur climate models cannot, with reliability, predict the manifestation of regional precipitation changes induced by altering the composition of the atmosphere.\nApplying this type of geoengineering plan\u00a0would require the global community to effectively sign-up for unpredictable climate changes that could benefit some areas at the expense of others. It\u2019s akin to seeking global agreement on the mechanics of playing God with the planet \u2013 establishing a world government to set and control a thermostat for Earth, and amicably living with whatever consequences.\nNot to mention injecting particles into the atmosphere would not remove the carbon pollution that can persist in the air for decades to centuries with consequences beyond warming, including the acidification of\u00a0the oceans.\nIt\u2019s such a scientifically and politically thorny idea that voices on both sides of the climate change debate have passionately expressed opposition to it.\n\u201c[T]he geoengineering options most often discussed, like putting sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere or orbiting tinfoil strips \u2014 these are simply nuts,\u201d Al Gore \u2013 one of the most fervent advocates for climate action \u2013 told the Post\u2019s Ezra Klein in 2013. \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t waste a lot of time talking about them. Some people will anyway, but they\u2019re just crazy.\u201d\n\u201cGeoengineering schemes seem like really bad ideas full of nasty consequences (unintentional and otherwise),\u201d writes Chip Knappenberger, who pens frequent columns for the Cato Institute about how the threat of climate change is exaggerated.\nThe best way to confront climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the root cause of the problem, and better understand and cope with the climate changes we are dealt. We need not introduce new ways to alter our climate and further tinker with our one and only livable planet.\nIf we can\u2019t reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to sufficiently slow climate change, we may even have another way out. The National Academy of Sciences also issued a companion report that discusses \u201cclimate interventions\u201d that would directly remove carbon from the atmosphere. To me, those are much more promising than other particle-injecting geoengineering schemes.\nAdvocates for particle-injecting geoengineering say it is wise to research it in case climate change accelerates so much, we need to employ it to fend off a planetary catastrophe. I\u2019m not against expending a limited amount of effort to better understand its risks and opportunities but am unconvinced it will ever be a good idea scientifically or politically feasible.\nAdditional reading:\nShort-term fixes for long-term climate problems? Not so fast, experts say\nElite science panel calls on U.S. to study climate modification\nIn Geoengineering Study, Science Academy Sees Merit in CO2 Removal, Risk in Reflecting Sunlight\nClimate Tools Seek to Bend Nature\u2019s Path"}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "5087295e815af5a15fb0ca9f38a19c1c_2", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5087295e815af5a15fb0ca9f38a19c1c_2", "title": "You can change the minds of climate change skeptics. Here\u2019s how.", "text": "on nations worldwide to adopt stricter carbon dioxide emissions. In the third condition, people first read a news report announcing that a leading scientific body \u2014 very much like the NAS \u2014 had called for more research into geoengineering. Logically speaking, the information in the second and third conditions was no more relevant to assessing the validity of the climate change study than was the information in first condition. But psychologically, the news reports mattered a great deal. In the first condition, there was predictable evidence of cultural cognition: People with egalitarian and communitarian worldviews readily credited the climate change study, while those with more hierarchical and individualistic worldviews dismissed it. The call for stricter carbon dioxide restrictions featured in the anti-pollution news report made these tendencies even worse. By triggering antagonistic associations between climate change and free markets, this news report increased polarization among people with different world views. The call for geoengineering, however, had a very different effect. The idea that human ingenuity is itself up to the task of managing the environmental risks that human ingenuity creates is a historical theme that powerfully resonates with persons who have individualistic and hierarchical outlooks. And so we predicted that substituting this identity-affirming \u201cyes we can\u201d narrative for the denigrating \u201cwe told you so\u201d one, which animates many climate change policy messages, would mitigate rejection of the evidence among the people most predisposed to do so. That\u2019s what we found. The call for geoengineering made subjects with hierarchical and individualistic values react less dismissively toward the study. As a result, polarization decreased among people who read the anti-pollution news report. Our study, therefore, calls into doubt the argument of commentators who warn that exploring geoengineering could lull the public into a sense of complacency on climate change. We found that those who first read about geoengineering were the most concerned about the dangers of global warming. Of course, there is no guarantee that the effects we observed in this experiment would emerge if we could confront people with similar messages. (We are working on this, however.) Nevertheless, our study suggests that it would be foolish \u2014 not to mention awkward \u2014 for those who care about climate change to deny that geoengineering research is exactly what scientific consensus recommends. Dan M. Kahan This post is part of our series on science and politics. The introduction to the series is here."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "\nLast week the National Academy of Sciences made headlines by calling for stepped-up research into geoengineering.\nGeoengineering comprises technologies designed to counteract human-caused climate change: towering \u201ccarbon scrubbers\u201d that would suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; the injection of iron pellets into the ocean to stimulate growth of carbon-consuming phytoplankton blooms; or \u2014 my personal favorite\u2014 deploying zillions of mirror-coated nanotechnology flying saucers to form a stratospheric solar reflector.\nWould such technologies cool the planet enough to stave off the devastating consequences scientists predict if global warming is not contained?\nBeats me.\nBut the NAS proposal might help reduce the simmering temperature of the U.S. climate debate enough to enable constructive public deliberations. The reason is in another study that appeared last week, this one in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.\nIn this study, my collaborators Hank Jenkins-Smith, Tor Tarantola, Carol Silva, Donald Braman and I examined how information about geoengineering might counteract the impact of cultural cognition.\nCultural cognition refers to the tendency of individuals to selectively credit all manner of information \u2014 from logical arguments to empirical data; from expert opinion to their own sense impressions \u2014 in patterns that support their values.\nFor example, citizens who prize individual self-sufficiency tend to dismiss claims of environmental risk because accepting these claims would license restrictions on free markets. Citizens who favor stable and clearly defined social rankings tend to see environmentalism as an implicit indictment of social elites.\nBy contrast, citizens with more egalitarian and communitarian commitments tend to be suspicious of commerce and industry, which they blame for unjust social disparities. They will believe evidence that industries threaten public health and should be regulated on that basis.\nIn our research\nScary stuff.\nIn the first condition of the experiment, people examined the climate-change study after first reading an unrelated news report about a city council meeting on traffic signals.\nIn the second condition, people first read a news report that suggested leading scientists had called on nations worldwide to adopt stricter carbon dioxide emissions.\nIn the third condition, people first read a news report announcing that a leading scientific body\u00a0\u2014 very much like the NAS\u00a0\u2014 had called for more research into geoengineering.\nLogically speaking, the information in the second and third conditions was no more relevant to assessing the validity of the climate change study than was the information in first condition. But psychologically, the news reports mattered a great deal.\nIn the first condition, there was predictable evidence of cultural cognition: People with egalitarian and communitarian worldviews readily credited the climate change study, while those with more hierarchical and individualistic worldviews dismissed it.\nThe call for stricter carbon dioxide restrictions featured in the anti-pollution news report made these tendencies even worse. By triggering antagonistic associations between climate change and free markets, this news report increased polarization among people with different world views.\nThe call for geoengineering, however, had a very different effect. The idea that human ingenuity is itself up to the task of managing the environmental risks that human ingenuity creates is a historical theme that powerfully resonates with persons who have individualistic and hierarchical outlooks. And so we predicted that substituting this identity-affirming \u201cyes we can\u201d narrative for the denigrating \u201cwe told you so\u201d one, which animates many climate change policy messages, would mitigate rejection of the evidence among the people most predisposed to do so.\nThat\u2019s what we found. The call for geoengineering made subjects with hierarchical and individualistic values react less dismissively toward the study. As a result, polarization decreased among people who read the anti-pollution news report.\nOur study, therefore, calls into doubt the argument of commentators who warn that exploring geoengineering could lull the public into a sense of complacency on climate change.\u00a0 We found that those who first read about geoengineering were the most concerned about the dangers of global warming.\nOf course, there is no guarantee that the effects we observed in this experiment would emerge if we could confront people with similar messages. (We are working on this, however.)\nNevertheless, our study suggests that it would be foolish \u2014 not to mention awkward \u2014 for those who care about climate change to deny that geoengineering research is exactly what scientific consensus recommends.\nDan M. Kahan\nThis post is part of our series on science and politics.\u00a0 The introduction to the series is here."}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "52781c3cf8f02368473d87b501ea18b6_0", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "52781c3cf8f02368473d87b501ea18b6_0", "title": "How a group of conspiracy theorists could derail the debate over climate policy", "text": "Two commercial airliners appear to fly close together as the pass over London on March 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) As governments\u2019 efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions continue to sputter, some researchers have discussed another possible tool for combating climate change: \u201cgeoengineering\u201d the climate. One particular form of it, \u201csolar geoengineering,\u201d would involve reflecting sunlight away from the Earth to reduce future warming, possibly by deploying an army of mirrors or spraying the air with reflective aerosols that would function like a chemical sunscreen. But as it turns out, some people believe that a global campaign is already underway to have aircraft spray the air with chemicals \u2014 whether to control climate change or for other, more sinister purposes. Meet the \u201cchemtrails\u201d crowd, who posit that governments, scientists and other institutions are using airplanes\u2019 \u201cchemtrails\u201d \u2014 basically contrails that are allegedly laced with chemicals \u2014 to alter the climate, create extreme weather, poison people, or even control our minds. The chemtrails movement has gained a small but passionate following on the Internet, with people across the ideological spectrum \u2014 from left-wingers worried about the environment to right-wingers concerned about abuses of government power. We don\u2019t know the size of the community, but followers generally point to seeming irregularities in aircraft contrails as indisputable proof that illicit weather or climate modification is already happening, right now, and being used to control people and nations, especially poor ones. Chemtrails activist Dane Wigington, for instance, points to videos of an airplane spewing out multiple exhaust trails of different lengths, or airplanes spewing trails of different colors. \u201cThis amounts to weather warfare \u2014 period,\u201d he charges. As farfetched (and baseless) as these claims may be, a recent scholarly analysis of the chemtrails movement suggests we can\u2019t write off its relevance entirely \u2014 not because its proponents are right, but because of the insights they may offer about a future debate over geoengineering. It might be many years, after all, before any geoengineering proposal seriously enters the policy realm. Still, writes science and technology policy researcher Rose Cairns of the University of Sussex in The Geographical Journal, \u201cIgnoring or dismissing these discourses out of hand as pathological or paranoid is to ignore potentially revealing insights about the emerging politics of geoengineering.\u201d Solar geoengineering \u2014 more formally known as solar radiation management (SRM) \u2014 is merely an idea right now, and"}], "old": [{"_id": "52781c3cf8f02368473d87b501ea18b6_0", "title": "How a group of conspiracy theorists could derail the debate over climate policy", "text": "Two commercial airliners appear to fly close together as the pass over London on March 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) But as it turns out, some people believe that a global campaign is already underway to have aircraft spray the air with chemicals \u2014 whether to control climate change or for other, more sinister purposes. Agreeing with Cairns, SRM researcher David Keith of Harvard University argues that we can\u2019t simply dismiss the concerns that drive this emotionally charged movement. \u201cThe strength of the concern about chemtrails no doubt reflects very real and much more widespread concerns about high-leverage [technologies] in general, and about solar geoengineering in particular,\u201d he explained in an email. Then there are more-general political concerns; chemtrails activists may simply not trust institutions, particularly on a global scale. Cairns notes that the chemtrails discourse seems to resonate with elements of both the right and left wings, albeit for different reasons. Adherents on the left worry about the potential for corporations and other institutions to use chemtrails to harm people and the environment. On the right, meanwhile, are those who worry about individual freedoms and state power or dispute the idea that humans are changing the climate. She argues that these issues of trust aren\u2019t entirely irrational or paranoid and could easily manifest in mainstream debates over geoengineering. \u201cIs it necessarily more irrational to believe that the climate is being controlled, than to believe that one can control the climate?\u201d Cairns asks. Nor should we ignore the chemtrails activists themselves. For the longest time, researchers were aware of the chemtrails narrative, but it hadn\u2019t received much attention in the academic literature. Keith hopes that\u2019s about to change. \u201cI have been urging academic researchers to pay some attention to chemtrails and I am very glad that Rose did so,\u201d Keith says. Unfortunately, Cairns suggests, the potential for the geoengineering research community to publicly engage with chemtrails activists \u201cappears limited\u201d \u2014 they may simply not be receptive. As she argues, chemtrails believers\u2019 longtime distrust of the alleged conspirators has reached outright disgust \u2014 to the point where unbelievers are labeled as paid liars (or even \u201cmentally retarded,\u201d as she quotes one chemtrails activist). A very tiny subset of the chemtrails activists could have a more chilling effect on the field of geoengineering, Keith worries. He notes that he continually receives nasty emails and voice messages from"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Two commercial airliners appear to fly close together as the pass over London on March 12, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)\nAs governments\u2019 efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions continue to sputter, some researchers have discussed another possible tool for combating climate change:\u00a0\u201cgeoengineering\u201d the climate. One particular form of it, \u201csolar geoengineering,\u201d would involve reflecting sunlight away from the Earth to reduce future warming, possibly by deploying an army\u00a0of mirrors or\u00a0spraying the air with reflective aerosols that would function like a chemical sunscreen.\nBut as it turns out, some people believe that a global campaign is already underway to have aircraft spray the air with chemicals \u2014 whether to control climate change or for other, more sinister purposes.\nMeet the \u201cchemtrails\u201d crowd, who posit that governments, scientists and other institutions are using airplanes\u2019 \u201cchemtrails\u201d \u2014 basically contrails that are allegedly laced with chemicals \u2014 to alter the climate, create extreme weather, poison people, or even control our minds. The chemtrails movement has gained a small but passionate following on the Internet, with people across the ideological spectrum \u2014 from left-wingers worried about the environment to right-wingers concerned about abuses of government power. We don\u2019t know the size of the community, but followers\u00a0generally point to seeming irregularities in aircraft contrails\u00a0as indisputable proof that illicit weather or climate modification is already happening, right now, and being used to control people and nations, especially poor ones.\u00a0Chemtrails activist Dane Wigington, for instance,\u00a0points to videos\u00a0of\u00a0an airplane spewing out multiple exhaust trails of different lengths, or airplanes spewing trails of different colors.\u00a0\u201cThis amounts to weather warfare \u2014 period,\u201d he charges.\nAs farfetched (and baseless) as these claims may be, a recent scholarly analysis of the chemtrails movement suggests we can\u2019t write off its relevance entirely \u2014 not because its proponents are right, but because of the insights they may offer about a future debate over geoengineering.\u00a0It might be many years, after all, before any geoengineering proposal seriously\u00a0enters the policy realm. Still, writes science and technology policy researcher Rose Cairns of the University of Sussex in\u00a0The Geographical Journal, \u201cIgnoring or dismissing these discourses out of hand as pathological or paranoid is to ignore potentially revealing insights about the emerging politics of geoengineering.\u201d\nSolar geoengineering \u2014 more formally known as solar radiation management (SRM) \u2014 is merely an idea right now, and\u00a0many scholars aren\u2019t convinced that it\u2019d actually be worth it. But with the National Research Council set to weigh in on various forms of geoengineering\u00a0very soon, it \u2014 and the conspiracy theories involving it \u2014 stands to gain more of the public spotlight.\nThere\u2019s\u00a0no evidence that the alleged chemtrails are any different than normal contrails, much less that thousands of scientists, companies and bureaucrats have engaged in a global conspiracy that they\u2019ve managed to keep secret this whole time. But the more general concerns that chemtrails believers have about technology\u2019s potential impacts on the climate and the environment, and about government and institutional power, shouldn\u2019t be dismissed so easily, Cairns suggests.\nAgreeing with Cairns, SRM\u00a0researcher David Keith of Harvard University argues that we can\u2019t simply dismiss the concerns that drive this emotionally charged movement. \u201cThe strength of the concern about chemtrails no doubt reflects very real and much more widespread concerns about high-leverage [technologies] in general, and about solar geoengineering in particular,\u201d he explained in an email.\nEnvironmental concerns could naturally become central to any mainstream debate over whether to actually use aerosols to undertake SRM. Some scientists have suggested\u00a0that putting additional aerosols in the air could increase deadly air pollution or damage the ozone layer. It\u00a0also wouldn\u2019t address emissions of the most important greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. Thus, not only would it do nothing to slow down CO2-driven ocean acidification; it also would mean that if you were ever to stop injecting aerosols into the air, global warming would resume\u00a0\u2014 and quickly.\nThen there are more-general political concerns; chemtrails activists may simply not trust institutions, particularly on a global scale. Cairns notes that the chemtrails discourse seems to resonate with elements of both the right and left wings, albeit for different reasons. Adherents on the left worry about the potential for corporations and other institutions to use chemtrails to harm people and the environment. On the right, meanwhile, are those who worry about individual freedoms and state power or dispute the idea that humans are changing the climate.\nShe argues that these issues of trust aren\u2019t entirely irrational or paranoid and could easily manifest in mainstream debates over geoengineering. \u201cIs it necessarily more irrational to believe that the climate is being controlled, than to believe that one can control the climate?\u201d Cairns asks.\nNor should we ignore the chemtrails activists themselves. For the longest time, researchers were aware of the chemtrails narrative, but it hadn\u2019t received much attention in the academic literature. Keith hopes that\u2019s about to change. \u201cI have been urging academic researchers to pay some attention to chemtrails and I am very glad that Rose did so,\u201d Keith says.\nLeft ignored, the chemtrails narrative could poison legitimate debate over geoengineering\u2019s merits. Right now the public is\u00a0still learning what geoengineering is, and people\u2019s opinions about it have yet to fully form, making them vulnerable to misinformation. But how, exactly, geoengineering researchers should address the chemtrails narrative without outright ignoring it isn\u2019t clear.\nUnfortunately, Cairns suggests, the potential for the geoengineering research community to publicly engage with chemtrails activists \u201cappears limited\u201d \u2014 they may simply not be receptive. As she argues, chemtrails believers\u2019 longtime distrust of the alleged conspirators has reached outright disgust \u2014 to the point where unbelievers are labeled as paid liars (or even \u201cmentally retarded,\u201d as she quotes one chemtrails activist).\nA very tiny subset of the chemtrails activists could have a more chilling effect on the field of geoengineering, Keith worries. He notes that he continually receives nasty emails and voice messages from chemtrails believers, and he has even received multiple threats of violence that have prompted him to contact the police.\nIn short, chemtrails itself is\u00a0a conspiracy theory. But the environmental and political concerns underlying the theory can\u2019t be ignored, as they certainly would arise in any mainstream debate over whether to proceed with geoengineering. And chemtrails believers themselves could become a thorn in geoengineering researchers\u2019 and proponents\u2019 sides for many years to come."}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "EXDEQJC76VDO5EP23CJ4DLQJUM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "EXDEQJC76VDO5EP23CJ4DLQJUM_0", "title": "This climate-change hack would reflect more sunlight. Not such a bright idea, study says.", "text": "Scientists are pondering what might be called the volcanic solution to global warming. It would be the ultimate desperate measure, a climatological Hail Mary and, possibly, a very bad idea. The only reason it's an actual subject of research is that human civilization has failed to take steps to stave off dangerous levels of climate change. In 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted in spectacular fashion. The ash fall and lahars killed hundreds of people in the central Luzon region of the Philippines. Molten-hot ash and gas shot into the upper atmosphere, spread out across the globe, reflected sunlight and naturally cooled the planet for more than a year. Researchers say nature may be offering an example of a possible technique for limiting global warming. People can't command volcanoes to erupt, but they can more or less mimic the effects of a volcano through technology. The basic idea is to use aircraft, or some other means, to spew sunlight-reflecting aerosols into the stratosphere and change the albedo \u2014 the reflectivity \u2014 of the planet. It goes by many names: solar geoengineering, solar radiation management, albedo management, albedo hacking. One hypothesized reason for doing something so audacious is that it might benefit agriculture by preventing heat stress on food crops. But a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature came to a different and surprising conclusion. Using historical data from two volcanic eruptions, the researchers concluded that tampering with the atmosphere would have no net effect on crop yields. The food crops wouldn't suffer as much heat stress as they would without the intervention in the atmosphere, but they also wouldn't receive as much photosynthesis-powering sunlight. The pluses would be offset by the minuses. \u201cIf we think of geoengineering as experimental surgery, our findings suggest that the side effects of treatment are as bad as the original disease,\u201d said Jonathan Proctor, an agricultural economist at the University of California at Berkeley and the lead author of the paper. But David Keith, a professor of applied physics at Harvard University who was not involved in the new research, said the paper by Proctor and his colleagues should not be interpreted as evidence that solar geoengineering is a bad idea. \"Reducing crop damage is but one of many reasons why geoengineering might make sense as a tool to limit climate risks in conjunction with emissions cuts,\" Keith wrote in an email. \"There are \u2014 of"}], "old": [{"_id": "EXDEQJC76VDO5EP23CJ4DLQJUM_0", "title": "This climate-change hack would reflect more sunlight. Not such a bright idea, study says.", "text": "Read More: Short-term fixes for long-term climate problems? Not so fast, experts say."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Scientists are pondering what might be called the volcanic solution to global warming. It would be the ultimate desperate measure, a climatological Hail Mary and, possibly, a very bad idea. The only reason it's an actual subject of research is that human civilization has failed to take steps to stave off dangerous levels of climate change.\nIn 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted in spectacular fashion. The ash fall and lahars killed hundreds of people in the central Luzon region of the Philippines. Molten-hot ash and gas shot into the upper atmosphere, spread out across the globe, reflected sunlight and naturally cooled the planet for more than a year. Researchers say nature may be offering an example of a possible technique for limiting global warming.\nPeople can't command volcanoes to erupt, but they can\u00a0more or less mimic the effects of a volcano through technology. The basic idea is to use aircraft, or some other means, to spew sunlight-reflecting aerosols into the stratosphere and change the albedo \u2014 the reflectivity \u2014 of the planet.\u00a0It goes by many names:\u00a0solar geoengineering, solar radiation management, albedo management, albedo hacking.\nOne hypothesized reason for doing something so audacious is that it might benefit agriculture by preventing heat stress on food crops. But a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature came to a different and surprising conclusion. Using historical data from two volcanic eruptions, the researchers concluded that tampering with the atmosphere would have no net effect on crop yields.\nThe food crops wouldn't suffer as much heat stress as they would without the intervention in the atmosphere, but they also wouldn't receive as much photosynthesis-powering sunlight. The pluses would be offset by the minuses.\n\u201cIf we think of geoengineering as experimental surgery, our findings suggest that the side effects of treatment are as bad as the original disease,\u201d said Jonathan Proctor, an agricultural economist at the University of California at Berkeley and the lead author of the paper.\nBut David Keith, a professor of applied physics at Harvard University who was not involved in the new research, said the paper by Proctor and his colleagues should not be interpreted as evidence that solar geoengineering is a bad idea.\n\"Reducing crop damage is but one of many reasons why geoengineering might make sense as a tool to limit climate risks in conjunction with emissions cuts,\" Keith wrote in an email. \"There are \u2014 of course \u2014 also many reasons why solar geoengineering may not make sense. Too risky. Too hard to govern. Etc.\"\nHe said there's a difference between solar geoengineering and volcanic eruptions. Solar geoengineering would not involve a one-time pulse of material in a single location but rather would be a continuous operation in many places.\nNo one is preparing to inject aerosols into the stratosphere. Scientists and political leaders don't know nearly enough about the consequences, good and bad, intended and unintended, of such an effort.\nThe technology doesn't even exist yet. Planes that spew sulfur dioxide exist only in PowerPoint presentations.\nThere's also the non-trivial question of who, exactly, has the authority and responsibility for changing the sky everywhere on Earth. The planet has seen a rise in nationalism and a fraying of partnerships. President Trump has repeatedly attacked trade agreements and pushed a more isolationist agenda, and he has a history of calling global warming a hoax.\nAlbedo modification would not be a one-shot deal. It would have to be done constantly. Human civilization continues to pump increasing amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The Paris climate agreement, signed by nearly 200 countries in 2015, commits nations to lowering their emissions, but compliance is questionable and Trump has said he will pull the United States out of the accord as soon as that is legally possible, in 2020.\nIf and when aerosols are pumped into the atmosphere, by a volcano or some technological gambit, they do not stay there forever. Much of that material migrates to polar latitudes and gradually coalesces into bigger droplets before falling to Earth. To replenish the supply of sunlight-blocking aerosols, future generations would have to be fully committed to the project without interruption. Otherwise the planet's temperature would spike virtually overnight.\n\u201cIf there is a sudden termination, then it\u2019s like being hit by a heat wave without having made the adaptations,\u201d said Raymond Pierrehumbert, a University of Oxford climate physicist.\nThree years ago, the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences\u00a0released a report saying that albedo modification is far too risky to attempt at this time. The authors of the report concluded that any intervention in Earth's climate \u201cshould be informed by a far more substantive body of scientific research, including ethical and social dimensions, than is presently available.\u201d\n\u201cWe haven\u2019t researched it adequately,\u201d Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academies, said this week in an interview with The Washington Post. \u201cThere have been models done. There just haven\u2019t been any field experiments done to anyone\u2019s satisfaction.\u201d\nShe said that efforts to mitigate climate change have been too feeble and that it's past time to understand what options we have in a rapidly warming world.\n\u201cIt's too late to wait,\u201d she said. \"We can\u2019t be this seriously far down the global-warming curve and not be ready to do something about it.\u201d\nThere might be other benefits or harms from albedo modification. Proctor and his co-authors looked at only one economic sector: food crops. What's unique about this research is that it's based on nature's own experiments with albedo modifications \u2014 the two big volcanic eruptions in the past 40 years that had enough oomph to change the global climate. The first was in 1982, when El Chichon erupted in Mexico. The second was Pinatubo nine years later.\nThe researchers had reason to expect a different result, because the scientific literature previously has suggested that crop yields would benefit from stratospheric aerosols. The tiny particles scatter sunlight and create more diffuse light at ground level. Such diffuse light can penetrate beneath a forest canopy and reach leaves on a plant normally heavily shaded on a sunny day.\nBut Proctor and his colleagues examined crop yield reports from around the globe and found that soy, wheat, rice and corn yields dropped after Pinatubo's eruption, with corn \u2014 which is more responsive to direct rather than diffuse sunlight \u2014 affected the most. The researchers used this information to estimate the effects on crop yields in 2050 if albedo modification is used in an attempt to limit global warming.\n\u201cIn all of this, there are many, many more unknowns than knowns,\u201d Proctor said. \u201cThe goal is to chip away at these unknowns one at a time.\u201d\nAnother form of geoengineering would involve directly removing carbon from the atmosphere. This includes capturing carbon as it is emitted at smokestacks and sequestering it underground. The technologies for doing this are immature and limited by cost, the National Research Council found in 2015, but could be part of a portfolio of responses to global warming.\nBy contrast, albedo modification is relatively cheap, in theory. It might be done with a large fleet of planes flying at something like 70,000 feet. The fuel in the planes could be modified to burn a high percentage of sulfur, though the planes would probably use special furnaces to burn sulfur and spew it into the air, Pierrehumbert said.\nSuch a system would require, among other things, public acceptance of the idea of using air pollution to fight global warming.\n\u201cIt\u2019s just barking mad,\u201d Pierrehumbert said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a lunatic idea to think that this is a good thing to have in our portfolio of responses to global warming.\u201d\nA better idea, said Alan Robock, a climate scientist at Rutgers University, is to stop pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.\n\u201cWe all know the solution to global warming is \u2014 stop using the atmosphere as a sewer for our greenhouse gases,\u201d he said.\nRead More:\nShort-term fixes for long-term climate problems? Not so fast, experts say."}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "VBWVSL7HFZHNPA4QKDAOAGHYHQ_0", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "VBWVSL7HFZHNPA4QKDAOAGHYHQ_0", "title": "The Energy 202: Study renews debate about a radical climate solution \u2013 geoengineering", "text": "THE LIGHTBULB The idea of artificially modifying the Earth\u2019s climate to reverse human-driven global warming has gotten a pretty bad rap. There\u2019s the worry that geoengineering is a \u201cmoral hazard\u201d \u2014 because just knowing there\u2019s a technological fix available could induce us to pollute even more. And there\u2019s the concern that one prominent geoengineering technique \u2014 filling the Earth\u2019s stratosphere with special particles such as sulfate that cool the planet by reflecting back some sunlight into space \u2014 could trigger other unwanted consequences. Critics say it could, for instance, reduce rainfall in some locations. New research released this week, though, could assuage some of these concerns enough to spark renewed interest in geoengineering. But at the same time, it\u2019s reawakening a fraught debate over the wisdom of using technological interventions \u2014 rather than simple cuts in greenhouse gas emissions \u2014 to reduce global warming. A Harvard University study led by Peter Irvine found that geoengineering the climate to cut global warming in half \u2014 by managing how much sunlight reaches the Earth \u2014 would not lead to disproportionate or unjust impacts around the globe. The study in Nature Climate Change uses a high-resolution climate model called HiFLOR from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. This model has recently produced some concerning results about hurricanes, which it finds are intensifying more rapidly in the Atlantic region because of human-caused climate change. In this high-powered model, the study found, geoengineering the climate by reducing the sunlight reaching the Earth didn\u2019t seem to produce many significant disparities between different regions, such as a higher occurrence of droughts in some parts of the globe. \u201cThe big conclusion is that, with a model that really should do a better job on regional climate, that the level of inequality is really stunningly low,\u201d said David Keith, a Harvard geoengineering researcher who co-wrote the paper. Keith is not proposing that we actually geoengineer the climate based on this or any other study \u2014 just that the idea warrants more research. \u201cWhat I think it says is there is enough reason to believe there might be something worthwhile here, that the world should take a much more serious look,\u201d he said. Ken Caldeira, a scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Stanford, Calif., is another geoengineering expert who was not involved in the study. He said the findings are consistent with other work."}], "old": [{"_id": "VBWVSL7HFZHNPA4QKDAOAGHYHQ_0", "title": "The Energy 202: Study renews debate about a radical climate solution \u2013 geoengineering", "text": "THE LIGHTBULB \u2014 Trump signs major public lands legislation: \u2014Darryl Fears More reaction: \u2014 Corn wars: \u2014 Top labor group criticizes the Green New Deal: \u2014 Trump challenges climate science in yet another tweet: \u2014 Zinke cleared of accusation he tried to interfere with Pennsylvania election: \u2014 Food stamp cuts in hurricane-stricken Puerto Rico: \u2014 Stormy weather ahead in the Central U.S.: Today Coming Up \u2014 \u201cUnprecedented\u201d avalanche onslaught in Colorado:"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "THE LIGHTBULB\nThe idea of artificially modifying the Earth\u2019s climate to reverse human-driven global warming has gotten a pretty bad rap.\nThere\u2019s the worry that geoengineering is a \u201cmoral hazard\u201d \u2014 because just knowing there\u2019s a technological fix available could induce us to pollute even more.\nAnd there\u2019s the concern that one prominent geoengineering technique \u2014 filling the Earth\u2019s stratosphere with special particles such as sulfate that cool the planet by reflecting back some sunlight into space \u2014 could trigger other unwanted consequences. Critics say it could, for instance, reduce rainfall in some locations.\nNew research released this week, though, could assuage some of these concerns enough to spark renewed interest in geoengineering.\nBut at the same time, it\u2019s reawakening a fraught debate over the wisdom of using technological interventions \u2014 rather than simple cuts in greenhouse gas emissions \u2014 to reduce global warming.\nA Harvard University study led by Peter Irvine found that geoengineering the climate to cut global warming in half \u2014 by managing how much sunlight reaches the Earth \u2014 would not lead to disproportionate or unjust impacts around the globe.\nThe study in Nature Climate Change uses a high-resolution climate model called HiFLOR from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. This model has recently produced some concerning results about hurricanes, which it finds are intensifying more rapidly in the Atlantic region because of human-caused climate change.\nIn this high-powered model, the study found, geoengineering the climate by reducing the sunlight reaching the Earth didn\u2019t seem to produce many significant disparities between different regions, such as a higher occurrence of droughts in some parts of the globe.\n\u201cThe big conclusion is that, with a model that really should do a better job on regional climate, that the level of inequality is really stunningly low,\u201d said David Keith, a Harvard geoengineering researcher who co-wrote the paper.\nKeith is not proposing that we actually geoengineer the climate based on this or any other study \u2014 just that the idea warrants more research.\n\u201cWhat I think it says is there is enough reason to believe there might be something worthwhile here, that the world should take a much more serious look,\u201d he said.\nKen Caldeira, a scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Stanford, Calif., is another geoengineering expert who was not involved in the study. He said the findings are consistent with other work.\n\u201cThe climate models project that for \u2018reasonable amounts\u2019 of aerosols injected into the stratosphere, most climate change can be offset for most people most of the time,\u201d Caldeira\u00a0said in an email.\nBut that\u2019s different, he noted, from whether we should trust these models to make big decisions about geoengineering actions.\n\u201cDo we believe the physical climate models enough to want to intentionally tinker in very complicated natural systems?\u201d Caldeira asked.\nOther scientists had similar reactions:\nBut though the study is being used to support more research rather than immediate intervention, it has still prompted critical reactions.\nAlan Robock, a Rutgers University researcher who has also studied geoengineering, argued that since the study presents an idealized version of geoengineering in a climate model \u2014 reducing solar radiation affecting the Earth directly, rather than injecting any substance in the atmosphere to accomplish this effect \u2014 it avoids some more concerning implications.\n\u201cThere is no way to do what they modeled, as we cannot turn down the Sun,\u201d Robock wrote in an email. \u201cThe technology to create an aerosol cloud in the stratosphere does not currently exist. Various designs have been described that would cost $50,000,000,000 to $200,000,000,000 (50-200 billion dollars) per year to implement, and which would result in significant increases in acid rain as well as a host of other possible risks.\u201d\nRobock wasn\u2019t the only one to point this out.\nThose who want to keep researching geoengineering do have this in their favor \u2014 the fact that few other big solutions seem on the horizon.\nGlobal warming has been on a tear lately and significant global emissions cuts have still not materialized. If anything, a number of countries, such as the United States and Brazil, have been moving away from promises.\nSolar and wind are growing fast, but no one thinks they\u2019re growing fast enough. And although\u00a0technologies exist to remove carbon from the atmosphere, they would require an extreme scale-up to make a difference. They\u2019re still very far away, in other words.\nAs global warming continues to advance and nears the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius \u2014 and as more people grasp the implications of that \u2014 geoengineering probably will continue to come up for discussion.\n\u2014 Trump signs major public lands legislation:\nThe John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, named after the longest-serving congressman, a Michigan Democrat, also creates monuments to civil rights heroes and an icon of the civil rights movement, Medgar Evers. According to the Interior Department, which oversees most of the nation\u2019s public lands, the 650-page act is composed of 100 individual bills introduced by half of the Senate and a few House members.\n\u201cThis law will benefit every state, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Her optimism was shared by an opponent, Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.). \u201cThis legislation is an important reminder that when we work in a bipartisan way, the American people come out on top.\u201d\n\u2014Darryl Fears\nMore reaction:\nIn a statement, the National Wildlife Federation reiterated the importance of the package but challenged the administration\u2019s commitment to public lands, pointing to Trump\u2019s proposed budget.\u00a0\u201cThis milestone ironically coincides with the release of the administration\u2019s budget, which shows the president is not putting his money where his mouth is,\u201d Tracy Stone-Manning,\u00a0associate vice president for public lands at the federation, said in a statement. \u201cHe recommended just $8 million for land purchase \u2014 a pittance of what is needed to provide public access and protect our resources.\u201d\nThe Center for Western Priorities called it \u201csomething every American can celebrate\u201d but also pointed to the administration\u2019s other actions:\nSen.\u00a0Steve Daines\u00a0(R-Mont.) :\nTrump\u2019s son\u00a0Donald Trump Jr.:\n\u2014 Corn wars:\nSen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) praised the proposal:\n\u2014 Top labor group criticizes the Green New Deal:\nIn a letter to Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, and Lonnie Stephenson, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, called the deal \u201cnot achievable or realistic.\u201d \u201cWe will not stand by and allow threats to our members\u2019 jobs and their families\u2019 standard of living go unanswered,\u201d they wrote.\nSen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) tweeted his agreement:\nIn a tweet, Markey pushed back:\n\u2014 Trump challenges climate science in yet another tweet:\nGreenpeace also said Moore is not a co-founder but a \u201c\u2018a paid spokesman for a variety of polluting industries for more than 30 years,\u2019\u201d CNN reports. \u201cMoore, who is not a climate scientist but who has degrees in forest biology and ecology, played a significant role in Greenpeace Canada for several years early in the organization\u2019s existence, according to Greenpeace\u2019s website, but he did not help found it.\u201d\n\u2014 Zinke cleared of accusation he tried to interfere with Pennsylvania election:\n\u2014 Food stamp cuts in hurricane-stricken Puerto Rico:\n\u2014 Stormy weather ahead in the Central U.S.:\nToday\nComing Up\n\u2014 \u201cUnprecedented\u201d avalanche onslaught in Colorado:"}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "a7c4bd5b5bc09533f1d3e3d124e4865c_1", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "a7c4bd5b5bc09533f1d3e3d124e4865c_1", "title": "How technology is fighting to prevent a climate-change apocalypse", "text": "of carbon-free power that will wean humanity off fossil fuels. That\u2019s just the tip of the (melting) iceberg, though, when it comes to what innovators are dreaming up to reduce the impact of global greenhouse gases. One of the most talked-about ideas in the energy sector includes carbon capture and storage \u2014 a largely unproven technology that essentially takes some of the carbon being burned from traditional fossil fuels such as coal, and converts it into a harmless gas underground so that it doesn\u2019t enter the atmosphere. And there\u2019s always carbon recycling \u2013 an outrageous scheme to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and recycle it for fuel, the same way you might recycle plastic bottles or paper. Where things get really interesting \u2013 and extremely controversial \u2013 is when you start talking about geoengineering, which is essentially the ability to change the earth\u2019s climate using man-made means. Up until a few years ago, even mentioning geoengineering could get you branded as an irresponsible scientist. Just consider some of the schemes that have been proposed: arraying giant mirrors in outer space to reflect solar rays, sprinkling the Arctic with a layer of dust, embracing volcanic ash as a cooling mechanism for the planet, and spraying the stratosphere with sulfur dioxide particles. Yes, there\u2019s a reason why geoengineering is usually referred to as \u201cPlanet Hacking\u201d \u2013 people are trying to hack the planet in search of better solutions. Unlike a Silicon Valley hackathon, though, an extended planet hackathon could end up wrecking the Earth. Yet, that doesn\u2019t stop the military scientists at DARPA from coming up with big ideas that might just save the planet. At the end of the day, are these \u201cplanet hacking\u201d schemes any more fanciful than some of the ideas being espoused by NASA for terraforming alien planets? At this point, of course, it\u2019s easy to throw one\u2019s hands up and conclude that nothing much can be done to prevent the apocalypse. Either the plans to save the planet are too gradual and won\u2019t save us in time \u2013 or they are too speculative and untested and may end up wrecking the planet in the process. And, given the global nature of the problem, that means that even if Elon Musk\u2019s Teslas are the only cars on American highways and every American house has a few solar panels on the roof, it won\u2019t do much if America\u2019s"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "(Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg)\nOn Monday, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change\u00a0released an apocalyptic report about the impact of global climate change\u00a0\u2014 suggesting that a hotter, drier Earth brought about by global climate change could lead to everything from famine and civil war to the acidification of the earth\u2019s oceans, ecological crises and disappearing coastal cities. That begs the question, of course: What can Silicon Valley and other tech innovators do to slow or reverse the climate-change apocalypse?\nFor now, Silicon Valley has focused on the search for a relatively cheap, reliable clean energy solution that can slow down the planet\u2019s consumption of fossil fuels \u2013 and by extension, slow down the impact of global climate change. Venture capitalists are still investing hundreds of millions of dollars in \u201ccleantech\u201d companies. Some of the leading minds \u2013 such as\u00a0Elon Musk and Bill Gates \u2013 are backing innovative projects and companies to make clean energy mainstream. Innovative companies like Google are looking into ways to power themselves with the sun and the wind. The hope, of course, is that one of the most popular clean energy options \u2013 solar, wind or nuclear \u2013 can ultimately become a cheap, reliable source of carbon-free power that will wean humanity off fossil fuels.\nThat\u2019s just the tip of the (melting) iceberg, though, when it comes to what innovators are dreaming up to reduce the impact of global greenhouse gases. One of the most talked-about ideas in the energy sector includes carbon capture and storage\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a largely unproven technology that essentially takes some of the carbon being burned from traditional fossil fuels such as coal, and converts it into a harmless gas underground so that it doesn\u2019t enter the atmosphere. And there\u2019s always carbon recycling \u2013 an outrageous scheme to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and recycle it for fuel, the same way you might recycle plastic bottles or paper.\nWhere things get really interesting \u2013 and extremely controversial \u2013 is when you start talking about geoengineering, which is essentially the ability to change the earth\u2019s climate using man-made means. Up until a few years ago, even mentioning geoengineering could get you branded as an irresponsible scientist. Just consider some of the schemes that have been proposed: arraying giant mirrors in outer space to reflect solar rays, sprinkling the Arctic with a layer of dust, embracing volcanic ash as a cooling mechanism for the planet, and spraying the stratosphere with sulfur dioxide particles.\nYes, there\u2019s a reason why geoengineering is usually referred to as \u201cPlanet Hacking\u201d \u2013 people are trying to hack the planet in search of better solutions. Unlike a Silicon Valley hackathon, though, an extended planet hackathon could end up wrecking the Earth. Yet, that doesn\u2019t stop the military scientists at DARPA from coming up with big ideas that might just save the planet. At the end of the day, are these \u201cplanet hacking\u201d schemes any more fanciful than some of the ideas being espoused by NASA for terraforming alien planets?\nAt this point, of course, it\u2019s easy to throw one\u2019s hands up and conclude that nothing much can be done to prevent the apocalypse. Either the plans to save the planet are too gradual and won\u2019t save us in time \u2013 or they are too speculative and untested and may end up wrecking the planet in the process. And, given the global nature of the problem, that means that even if Elon Musk\u2019s Teslas are the only cars on American highways and every American house has a few solar panels on the roof, it won\u2019t do much if America\u2019s friends around the world aren\u2019t also doing their fair share.\nAs long as many people continue to doubt the science behind global warming and as long as most people don\u2019t believe that the planet could suffer a Sixth Extinction, then it\u2019s likely we\u2019ll muddle through with a bunch of expensive technology patches. They can be thought of as \u201cadaptation strategies\u201d \u2013 short-term solutions that help humanity win the \u201csurvival of the fittest\u201d while the planet steadily warms. Rising sea levels? No problem, just build new types of sea walls. Crops failing and a lack of food? Just bio-engineer new foods in the lab or create them with 3D food printers. Species disappearing? Just bring them back via de-extinction.\nBut there is hope for a brighter future than just accepting a slow, steady march to extinction. In a best-case scenario, many of the developing countries that are growing rapidly will actually skip fossil fuels altogether and shift immediately into clean energy. That could have a tremendous impact in places like China and India, where billions of new people will need a cheap source of clean power. At the same time, one of the big ideas for dealing with greenhouse gases in the atmosphere might actually pay off. And that might buy us enough time so that we don\u2019t have to resort to the really innovative solution that nobody want\u00a0 to discuss \u2014 and that\u2019s leaving the planet forever in search of another Earth-like planet that we can colonize."}
{"qid": 952, "pid": "daed423522d33dc5861fdea059acf7d6_0", "query_info": {"_id": 952, "text": "Describe a specific geoengineering technique to manage climate change.", "instruction_og": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Describe solar radiation management as a technique to reduce global warming.  Other geoengineering techniques, such as carbon dioxide reduction, are not relevant. Documents related to temperature are also not relevant.", "short_query": "Explain a specific geoengineering method related to this question.", "keywords": "geoengineering method"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "daed423522d33dc5861fdea059acf7d6_0", "title": "Elite science panel calls on U.S. to study climate modification", "text": "X-rays stream off the sun showing observations from NASA\u2019s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA\u2019s Solar Dynamics Observatory. (AFP/NASA/JPL-Caltech) The first thing to understand about geoengineering \u2014 intentional modification of the climate system to counter the effects of global warming \u2014 is that we shouldn\u2019t even be having a conversation about geoengineering. Just convening that conversation \u2014 which has gained a new megaphone, thanks to a report just released by an expert panel assembled by the National Research Council of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences \u2014 in a sense means that we\u2019ve failed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions enough to prevent the risk of dangerous climate change. And thus, we\u2019ve also failed to take geoengineering off the table. The committee was chaired by Marcia McNutt, the editor-in-chief of Science and formerly the director of the U.S. Geological Survey, who said in a released statement, \u201cThat scientists are even considering technological interventions should be a wake-up call that we need to do more now to reduce emissions, which is the most effective, least risky way to combat climate change.\u201d The National Research Council recommends \u2014 very reluctantly, and only for purposes of increasing our knowledge \u2014 government-sponsored research into so-called albedo modification, sometimes also called solar radiation management (a term the committee preferred not to use). \u201cAlbedo\u201d is a scientific term that refers to reflectivity \u2014 in this context, how much the Earth bounces light away and back to space. Thus albedo modification means altering reflectivity of the planet, for instance by injecting large volumes of sulfate particles into the middle atmosphere, so as to deflect sunlight away before it gets to us here at the surface, and thereby induce a global cooling. In effect, this would be like installing an artificial thermostat to turn down the Earth\u2019s dangerously rising temperature \u2014 last year was the hottest on record \u2014 by banishing some of the energy streaming to us from the sun. We know that it would work, researchers say, because we know that large volcanic eruptions cool down the planet by physically similar means. Tens of millions of tons of sulfate aerosol, for instance, could offset a doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But there would be unknown knock-on effects, ranging from changing global precipitation patterns to ozone depletion. And they would be unevenly distributed across the world, the panel noted,"}], "old": [{"_id": "daed423522d33dc5861fdea059acf7d6_0", "title": "Elite science panel calls on U.S. to study climate modification", "text": "X-rays stream off the sun showing observations from NASA\u2019s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA\u2019s Solar Dynamics Observatory. (AFP/NASA/JPL-Caltech) The first thing to understand about geoengineering \u2014 intentional modification of the climate system to counter the effects of global warming \u2014 is that we shouldn\u2019t even be having a conversation about geoengineering. Just convening that conversation \u2014 which has gained a new megaphone, thanks to a report just released by an expert panel assembled by the National Research Council of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences \u2014 in a sense means that we\u2019ve failed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions enough to prevent the risk of dangerous climate change. And thus, we\u2019ve also failed to take geoengineering off the table. The National Research Council recommends \u2014 very reluctantly, and only for purposes of increasing our knowledge \u2014 government-sponsored research into so-called albedo modification, sometimes also called solar radiation management (a term the committee preferred not to use). Tens of millions of tons of sulfate aerosol, for instance, could offset a doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But there would be unknown knock-on effects, ranging from changing global precipitation patterns to ozone depletion. And they would be unevenly distributed across the world, the panel noted, potentially sparking controversy over inequitable consequences, much as global warming itself does now. Here\u2019s a visualization of some possible strategies for albedo modification: \u201cThey don\u2019t want any deployment right now, but the fact that they think there\u2019s a need to do the research, and get organized, to me is the most important thing,\u201d says Rafe Pomerance, a former Clinton administration State Department official on environment and development and a current member of the National Academies\u2019 Polar Research Board. \u201cThe issue is getting a lot more attention.\u201d The scientists make clear that they would consider any deployment of geoengineering techniques like albedo modification to be reckless, given inadequate knowledge of the downstream consequences. Indeed, they write, artificially changing the Earth\u2019s reflectivity at all would be \u201cirrational\u201d without trying to cut down on carbon dioxide, as well. That is especially the case in that albedo modification is only a bandage that doesn\u2019t make the underlying problem \u2014 carbon dioxide \u2014 go away. If you were to ever stop geoengineering after starting it, global warming would snap right back. Nonetheless, the committee did recommend U.S. government-sponsored research on the matter to learn"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "X-rays stream off the sun showing observations from NASA\u2019s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA\u2019s Solar Dynamics Observatory. (AFP/NASA/JPL-Caltech)\nThe first thing to understand about geoengineering\u00a0\u2014 intentional modification of the climate system to counter the effects of global warming \u2014\u00a0is that we shouldn\u2019t even be having a conversation about geoengineering.\nJust convening that conversation \u2014 which has gained a new megaphone, thanks to a report just released by an expert panel assembled by the National Research Council of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences \u2014 in a sense means that we\u2019ve failed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions enough to prevent the risk of dangerous climate change. And thus, we\u2019ve also failed to take geoengineering off the table.\nThe committee was chaired by Marcia McNutt, the editor-in-chief of Science\u00a0and formerly the director of the U.S. Geological Survey, who said in a released statement,\u00a0\u201cThat scientists are even considering technological interventions should be a wake-up call that we need to do more now to reduce emissions, which is the most effective, least risky way to combat climate change.\u201d\nThe National Research Council recommends \u2014 very reluctantly, and only for purposes of increasing our knowledge \u2014 government-sponsored research into so-called albedo modification, sometimes also called solar radiation management (a term the committee preferred not to use).\n\u201cAlbedo\u201d is a scientific term that refers to reflectivity \u2014 in this context, how much the Earth bounces light away and back to space. Thus albedo modification means altering reflectivity of the planet, for instance by injecting large volumes of sulfate particles into the middle atmosphere, so as to deflect sunlight away before it gets to us here at the surface, and thereby induce a global cooling.\nIn effect, this\u00a0would be like installing an artificial thermostat to turn down the Earth\u2019s dangerously rising temperature \u2014 last year was the hottest on record \u2014 by banishing some of the energy streaming to us from the sun. We know that it would work, researchers say, because we know that large volcanic eruptions cool down the planet by physically similar means.\nTens of millions of tons of sulfate aerosol, for instance, could offset a doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But there would be unknown knock-on effects, ranging from changing global precipitation patterns to ozone depletion. And they would be unevenly distributed across the world, the panel noted, potentially sparking controversy over inequitable consequences, much as global warming itself does now.\nHere\u2019s a visualization of some possible strategies for albedo modification:\n\n\u201cThey don\u2019t want any deployment right now, but the fact that they think there\u2019s a need to do the research, and get organized, to me is the most important thing,\u201d says Rafe Pomerance, a\u00a0former Clinton administration State Department official on environment and development and a current member of the National Academies\u2019 Polar Research Board. \u201cThe issue is getting a lot more attention.\u201d\nThe scientists make clear that they would consider any deployment of geoengineering techniques like albedo modification\u00a0to be reckless, given inadequate knowledge of the downstream consequences. Indeed, they write, artificially changing the Earth\u2019s reflectivity at all would be \u201cirrational\u201d without trying to cut down on carbon dioxide, as well. That is especially the case in that albedo modification is only a bandage that doesn\u2019t make the underlying problem \u2014 carbon dioxide \u2014 go away. If you were to ever stop geoengineering after starting it, global warming would snap right back.\nNonetheless, the committee did\u00a0recommend U.S. government-sponsored research on the matter to learn more about its \u201crisks and benefits.\u201d It pivoted toward doing so with a crucially hesitant sentence that bears parsing and rereading: \u201cThe Committee argues that, as a society, we have reached a point where the severity of the potential risks from climate change appears to outweigh the potential risks from the moral hazard associated with a suitably designed and governed research program.\u201d\nFor a long time, even discussing geoengineering had been considered a \u201cmoral hazard\u201d by some, because it could undermine actions to address the root causes of the problem \u2014 carbon dioxide emissions.\nOverall, the report represents a \u201cbig tent\u201d approach, notes Raymond Pierrehumbert, a geophysicist at the University of Chicago who served on the committee, suggesting a range of views among the participating scientists (there were 16 committee members).\n\u201cOne of the best things that could come out of the NRC report is to just alert people to the fact that unrestrained emissions could make the world so bad that we might do something like albedo modification just out of desperation,\u201d says Pierrehumbert.\nReasoning that there are many scenarios in which we would need to know more about artificially changing the Earth\u2019s reflectivity\u00a0\u2014 for instance, if a rogue state decides to try it \u2014 the committee recommended that the U.S. Global Change Research Program head up studies on the matter, and that the research\u00a0be performed in such a way as to simultaneously increase our basic knowledge of the climate system.\nThe recommendation includes conducting \u201csmall-scale field experiments\u201d with \u201ccontrolled emissions\u201d \u2014 provided it is clear that they are too localized and minuscule in scale to have any significant climatic effect.\u00a0All of this would need to occur, notes the committee, under the aegis of a deliberative process about how to govern geoengineering research, to ensure ethical considerations are weighed and to balance risks and benefits.\nThe National Research Council report was sponsored by a number of U.S. science agencies and also the U.S. intelligence community. In a separate report, the National Research Council explored the subject of carbon dioxide removal, which is considerably less controversial, and is mainly held back at the moment by technological and cost considerations. Here, the idea is deploying technologies to actively remove the carbon dioxide that is in the atmosphere as a result of human emissions, which would also induce a cooling effect if deployed at adequate scale:\n\nThe two reports arrive following a dramatic growth in scientific publications and discussion about geoengineering over the past decade \u2014 fanned by climate concerns. The British Royal Society also recommended government-sanctioned and organized research into geoengineering in a report in 2009.\nUp until now, the research studies on geoengineering published in scientific journals have generally relied upon computer simulations to study the hypothetical effects of various kinds of interventions. True outdoor experiments that change the world, rather than a simulacrum of it, are another matter \u2014 but if the framework outlined by the National Research Council were to be adopted, they could go carefully forward.\nOne researcher who has been thinking about such experiments is Jane Long, who was an associate director at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and co-chaired the Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s\u00a0study of geoengineering\u00a0in 2011. In particular, she has considered small-scale experiments to explore marine cloud brightening, another albedo modification technique.\nThe idea here is that if clouds over the ocean were more white in color, they\u2019d bounce back more solar radiation. So how would you conduct a field study of this idea?\n\u201cYou might inject some salt particles in a coastal cloud belt and try to measure a change in albedo,\u201d says Long. This modification could be done from shore, and then the cloud changes could be measured by aircraft from above.\nLong, like the authors of the new report, is motivated by climate change concern. \u201cWe pretty accurately know that things are going to potentially be very bad in mid-century if we don\u2019t get on top of the problem,\u201d she says."}
{"qid": 954, "pid": "3MYP5PTWYEI6RNFXGCCAAJBMFY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 954, "text": "I'm looking for information pertaining to Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize.", "instruction_og": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well.", "instruction_changed": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well. Documents must include context that mentions death.", "short_query": "Find background information online to answer this question.", "keywords": "background online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3MYP5PTWYEI6RNFXGCCAAJBMFY_0", "title": "At least 1 dead, over 150 hurt in Ethiopia after grenade attack at massive rally for new reformist leader", "text": "ADDIS ABABA, Ethi\u00ado\u00adpia \u2014 A grenade was thrown Saturday at a massive rally in support of Ethiopia\u2019s young new reformist leader, killing one and wounding dozens, but leaving the prime minister unharmed. Abiy Ahmed, 42, had just finished speaking to a rapturous audience of tens of thousands of supporters in the capital\u2019s iconic Meskel square in the heart of the city when there was a sound of a bang. Footage shows the prime minister, who was wearing a yellow T-shirt with Nelson Mandela and the African continent on it, standing up and looking in the direction of the sound before being ushered away by security guards. Shortly after the attack, Abiy appeared grim-faced on television to say that \u201ca few people\u201d were killed and that the \u201cwell-orchestrated attack\u201d was \u201ccheap and unacceptable.\u201d Health Minister Amir Aman later tweeted that one person had died of his wounds among the 155 reported wounded. \u201cLove will win. Forgiveness will win. Killing is a sign of defeat. They failed yesterday. They failed today. They will fail tomorrow,\u201d Abiy said. Rally organizer Seyoum Teshome told The Washington Post that he saw the attack unfold, and that the prime minister was saved by one of the demonstration\u2019s participants. \u201cSomeone was trying to throw the grenade and then another person touched his hand so he missed the target and the grenade fell without reaching the stage,\u201d he said. The blast came just as the master of ceremonies was welcoming viewers from abroad and said in English that \u201cthis is the day that Ethi\u00ado\u00adpia has become proud.\u201d The sound of the live broadcast on state television cut after the blast, and people in the crowd could be seen craning their heads in the direction of the sound. Photos on social media after the attack showed scattered clothes on the ground, a few motionless bodies and people crying. Local media have quoted police in saying the incident is being treated as an assassination attempt. In a tweet following the attack, Abiy\u2019s chief of staff Fitsum Arega promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. \u201cWe will overcome hate with love. Some whose heart is filled with hate attempted a grenade attack,\u201d he said. \u201cAll the casualties are martyrs of love & peace.\u201d In the aftermath of the attack, police scuffled with angry protesters and then cleared the square with tear gas, according to Agence France-Presse. The Associated Press"}], "old": [{"_id": "3MYP5PTWYEI6RNFXGCCAAJBMFY_0", "title": "At least 1 dead, over 150 hurt in Ethiopia after grenade attack at massive rally for new reformist leader", "text": "paul.schemm@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "ADDIS ABABA, Ethi\u00ado\u00adpia \u2014\nA grenade was thrown Saturday at a massive rally in support of Ethiopia\u2019s young new reformist leader, killing one and wounding dozens, but leaving the prime minister unharmed.\nAbiy Ahmed, 42, had just finished speaking to a rapturous audience of tens of thousands of supporters in the capital\u2019s iconic Meskel square in the heart of the city when there was a sound of a bang.\nFootage shows the prime minister, who was wearing a yellow T-shirt with Nelson Mandela and the African continent on it, standing up and looking in the direction of the sound before being ushered away by security guards.\nShortly after the attack, Abiy appeared grim-faced on television to say that \u201ca few people\u201d were killed and that the \u201cwell-orchestrated attack\u201d was \u201ccheap and unacceptable.\u201d\nHealth Minister Amir Aman later tweeted that one person had died of his wounds among the 155 reported wounded.\n\u201cLove will win. Forgiveness will win. Killing is a sign of defeat. They failed yesterday. They failed today. They will fail tomorrow,\u201d Abiy said.\nRally organizer Seyoum Teshome told The Washington Post that he saw the attack unfold, and that the prime minister was saved by one of the demonstration\u2019s participants.\n\u201cSomeone was trying to throw the grenade and then another person touched his hand so he missed the target and the grenade fell without reaching the stage,\u201d he said.\nThe blast came just as the master of ceremonies was welcoming viewers from abroad and said in English that \u201cthis is the day that Ethi\u00ado\u00adpia has become proud.\u201d\nThe sound of the live broadcast on state television cut after the blast, and people in the crowd could be seen craning their heads in the direction of the sound.\nPhotos on social media after the attack showed scattered clothes on the ground, a few motionless bodies and people crying.\nLocal media have quoted police in saying the incident is being treated as an assassination attempt.\nIn a tweet following the attack, Abiy\u2019s chief of staff Fitsum Arega promised that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.\n\u201cWe will overcome hate with love. Some whose heart is filled with hate attempted a grenade attack,\u201d he said. \u201cAll the casualties are martyrs of love & peace.\u201d\nIn the aftermath of the attack, police scuffled with angry protesters and then cleared the square with tear gas, according to Agence France-Presse.\nThe Associated Press said that nine police officials were later arrested, including the deputy head of the capital\u2019s police commission, citing state broadcaster ETV.\nThe man with the grenade was wearing a police uniform, witness Abraham Tilahun told the AP. Police officers nearby quickly restrained him, he said. \u201cThen we heard the explosion.\u201d\nAbiy, who was inaugurated in April, has embarked on a string of rapid reforms that have stunned the nation, including releasing tens of thousands of prisoners, replacing key generals in the army, dampening ethnic tensions in the country and promising to liberalize the economy.\nThe rally was in part to express popular support for the prime minister's reforms, such as peace overtures to its once bitter enemy Eritrea, including promises to give up territory now held by Ethi\u00ado\u00adpia.\nThe Eritrean ambassador to Japan, Estifanos Afwerki, said his country \u201cstrongly condemns the attempt to incite violence\u201d at what he described as the first demonstration for peace in the history of Ethi\u00ado\u00adpia.\nDespite the tragedy at Meskel Square, spirits were high elsewhere in the city where crowds streaming away from the hours-long rally were cheering and wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Abiy\u2019s face.\npaul.schemm@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 954, "pid": "4GHIXZUVSII6TAYKEG43G23EVU_1", "query_info": {"_id": 954, "text": "I'm looking for information pertaining to Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize.", "instruction_og": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well.", "instruction_changed": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well. Documents must include context that mentions death.", "short_query": "Find background information online to answer this question.", "keywords": "background online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "4GHIXZUVSII6TAYKEG43G23EVU_1", "title": "Ethiopia\u2019s army chief, 3 other officials killed in renegade general\u2019s coup attempt, government says", "text": "views by the previous government several years before. \u201cThe coup attempt and attack was orchestrated by Brig. Gen. Asaminew Tsige, the Amhara peace and security head with other agents,\u201d she told journalists. \u201cHe and his colleagues were given amnesty over the last year by the new administration amid efforts to integrate them back to regular life.\u201d She said most of the perpetrators, including Seare\u2019s bodyguard, were in custody and operations were underway to sweep up the remaining accomplices. The Amhara region was \u201ccurrently under 100 percent control,\u201d she said. Ethiopia, Africa\u2019s second-largest country by population, is a key U.S. ally in the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa and an important source of stability in the restive region. The country\u2019s politics have undergone a dramatic change over the past year with the arrival of a new reformist prime minister who has invited back exiled opposition politicians and guerrilla groups and freed thousands of political prisoners. Asaminew was imprisoned by the previous regime for his opposition to the government, and his release and appointment to head of security was part of the larger reconciliation process. The new freedoms, however, have allowed long-simmering tensions to rise to the surface, and millions have been displaced in ethnic-based land conflicts around the country. In 2018, with some 3 million driven from their homes, Ethiopia had the largest number of newly displaced people in the world. There has also been a great deal of political ferment in the ethnic-based regions that make up the country, with the rise of nationalist ethnic groups pushing for greater regional autonomy from the central government. As news of the coup attempt in Bahir Dar and the attack on the chief of staff\u2019s home in the heart of the capital spread late Saturday, social media exploded with rumors and speculation over what was taking place. Within a few hours, access to the Internet was shut down, and army and police checkpoints were installed around the capital. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appeared on television at midnight dressed in military fatigues to call for calm and reassure the country that the situation was under control. Since coming to power, Abiy has made peace with longtime rival Eritrea and has been active in brokering peace deals between fractious neighbors in the region. Most recently, he has been active in mediating between the military transitional rulers in Sudan and protesters there. paul.schemm@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia \u2014\nA coup attempt by a renegade general in one of Ethiopia\u2019s largest regional states resulted in the death of four officials, including the national army\u2019s chief of staff and the president of the region, the government announced Sunday.\nGunmen attacked an executive meeting of the Amhara regional state in the city of Bahir Dar on Saturday evening, killing its president, Ambachew Mekonnen, and his top adviser and grievously injuring the regional attorney general. Hours later, in the capital Addis Ababa, the bodyguard of army chief of staff Gen. Seare Mekonnen opened fire on him, killing the general and an associate.\nGovernment spokeswoman Bilene Seyoum blamed the attacks on a recently amnestied brigadier general who had been imprisoned for his political views by the previous government several years before.\n\u201cThe coup attempt and attack was orchestrated by Brig. Gen. Asaminew Tsige, the Amhara peace and security head with other agents,\u201d she told journalists. \u201cHe and his colleagues were given amnesty over the last year by the new administration amid efforts to integrate them back to regular life.\u201d\nShe said most of the perpetrators, including Seare\u2019s bodyguard, were in custody and operations were underway to sweep up the remaining accomplices.\nThe Amhara region was \u201ccurrently under 100 percent control,\u201d she said.\nEthiopia, Africa\u2019s second-largest country by population, is a key U.S. ally in the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa and an important source of stability in the restive region.\nThe country\u2019s politics have undergone a dramatic change over the past year with the arrival of a new reformist prime minister who has invited back exiled opposition politicians and guerrilla groups and freed thousands of political prisoners.\nAsaminew was imprisoned by the previous regime for his opposition to the government, and his release and appointment to head of security was part of the larger reconciliation process.\nThe new freedoms, however, have allowed long-simmering tensions to rise to the surface, and millions have been displaced in ethnic-based land conflicts around the country.\nIn 2018, with some 3 million driven from their homes, Ethiopia had the largest number of newly displaced people in the world.\nThere has also been a great deal of political ferment in the ethnic-based regions that make up the country, with the rise of nationalist ethnic groups pushing for greater regional autonomy from the central government.\nAs news of the coup attempt in Bahir Dar and the attack on the chief of staff\u2019s home in the heart of the capital spread late Saturday, social media exploded with rumors and speculation over what was taking place. Within a few hours, access to the Internet was shut down, and army and police checkpoints were installed around the capital.\nPrime Minister Abiy Ahmed appeared on television at midnight dressed in military fatigues to call for calm and reassure the country that the situation was under control.\nSince coming to power, Abiy has made peace with longtime rival Eritrea and has been active in brokering peace deals between fractious neighbors in the region.\nMost recently, he has been active in mediating between the military transitional rulers in Sudan and protesters there.\npaul.schemm@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 954, "pid": "74MOLXV3OYI6VF6BNTYRN77CNQ_1", "query_info": {"_id": 954, "text": "I'm looking for information pertaining to Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize.", "instruction_og": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well.", "instruction_changed": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well. Documents must include context that mentions death.", "short_query": "Find background information online to answer this question.", "keywords": "background online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "74MOLXV3OYI6VF6BNTYRN77CNQ_1", "title": "Ethiopia protests spark Internet shutdown and fears of high death toll after popular singer killed", "text": "said six people were killed by security forces in Ambo on Wednesday. Roads across Oromia were closed, many blocked by protesters chanting \"Abiy is our enemy,\" according to witnesses. The demonstrations in Oromia as well as the capital were the latest indication of seething ethnic grievances that have repeatedly threatened to derail Ethiopia's transition to multiparty democracy. The government shut down the country's Internet on Tuesday \u2014 a common tactic during unrest \u2014 and has not yet restored the service. Hachalu, 34, belonged to the Oromo ethnic group, the country\u2019s largest, and was shot in his car on the outskirts of Addis Ababa on Monday night. He died hours later in a hospital. Police said his assailants and their motives are unknown. His songs had galvanized a movement that succeeded in pushing Ethiopia\u2019s previous prime minister to step down and opening the way for democratic reforms. Abiy, himself an Oromo, has released political prisoners, allowed greater freedom of speech and lifted a ban on several opposition groups, but many Oromos say they continue to be marginalized in the nation-building process. Abiy won last year\u2019s Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in brokering an end to a decades-long standoff with Ethiopia\u2019s northern neighbor, Eritrea. Domestic conflicts have proved harder to smooth over, and millions of Ethiopians remain internally displaced. \u201cThis is an act committed and inspired by domestic and foreign enemies in order to destabilize our peace and to stop us from achieving things that we started,\u201d Abiy said Tuesday, in reference to Hachalu\u2019s killing, without providing evidence. Long before the pandemic delayed parliamentary elections, which were scheduled for August, analysts had warned that simmering discontent in Oromia ahead of the vote could lead to large-scale bloodshed. A prominent Oromo media outlet reported that its founder, Jawar Mohammed, and Bekele Gerba, two of the country\u2019s most prominent Oromo politicians, were arrested in connection with an argument over the burial of Hachalu\u2019s body. Dozens of others were also arrested, the outlet said on Facebook. In a Facebook post just before the Internet was shut off, Jawar posted an impassioned tribute to Hachalu. \u201cThey did not just kill Hachalu. They shot at the heart of the Oromo Nation, once again !! . . . You can kill us, all of us, you can never ever stop us!! NEVER !!\u201d he wrote. In October, Jawar warned on social media about government moves against him,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "NAIROBI \u2014\nA large death toll was feared as protests rocking Ethiopia's largest ethnic region continued Wednesday following the slaying of a popular singer, but details were scarce because of an Internet shutdown that made communication difficult.\nA police chief from the Oromia region, where most of the unrest took place, told Agence France-Presse that 81 people were killed in the past two days, including protesters and security forces. In a speech, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said only that \"several\" died.\nThree explosions were also reported Tuesday in the capital, Addis Ababa, with unspecified injuries and deaths.\nAccording to residents of multiple cities, protests over the death of Hachalu Hundessa continued across the region Wednesday. According to Hachalu's cousin Moti Hundessa, security forces in the town of Ambo, west of the capital, attempted to take Hachalu's body from his house, provoking a clash in which Hachalu's uncle was killed.\n\"Security forces tried to grab the body, and we fought with them to prevent them,\" Moti Hundessa said. \"Then they began shooting at us.\"\nThe medical director of the main hospital in Ambo confirmed the death and said he had seen multiple people with gunshot wounds come in Wednesday. Moti Hundessa said six people were killed by security forces in Ambo on Wednesday. Roads across Oromia were closed, many blocked by protesters chanting \"Abiy is our enemy,\" according to witnesses.\nThe demonstrations in Oromia as well as the capital were the latest indication of seething ethnic grievances that have repeatedly threatened to derail Ethiopia's transition to multiparty democracy. The government shut down the country's Internet on Tuesday \u2014 a common tactic during unrest \u2014 and has not yet restored the service.\nHachalu, 34, belonged to the Oromo ethnic group, the country\u2019s largest, and was shot in his car on the outskirts of Addis Ababa on Monday night. He died hours later in a hospital. Police said his assailants and their motives are unknown. His songs had galvanized a movement that succeeded in pushing Ethiopia\u2019s previous prime minister to step down and opening the way for democratic reforms.\nAbiy, himself an Oromo, has released political prisoners, allowed greater freedom of speech and lifted a ban on several opposition groups, but many Oromos say they continue to be marginalized in the nation-building process.\nAbiy won last year\u2019s Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in brokering an end to a decades-long standoff with Ethiopia\u2019s northern neighbor, Eritrea. Domestic conflicts have proved harder to smooth over, and millions of Ethiopians remain internally displaced.\n\u201cThis is an act committed and inspired by domestic and foreign enemies in order to destabilize our peace and to stop us from achieving things that we started,\u201d Abiy said Tuesday, in reference to Hachalu\u2019s killing, without providing evidence.\nLong before the pandemic delayed parliamentary elections, which were scheduled for August, analysts had warned that simmering discontent in Oromia ahead of the vote could lead to large-scale bloodshed.\nA prominent Oromo media outlet reported that its founder, Jawar Mohammed, and Bekele Gerba, two of the country\u2019s most prominent Oromo politicians, were arrested in connection with an argument over the burial of Hachalu\u2019s body. Dozens of others were also arrested, the outlet said on Facebook.\nIn a Facebook post just before the Internet was shut off, Jawar posted an impassioned tribute to Hachalu.\n\u201cThey did not just kill Hachalu. They shot at the heart of the Oromo Nation, once again !! .\u2009.\u2009. You can kill us, all of us, you can never ever stop us!! NEVER !!\u201d he wrote.\nIn October, Jawar warned on social media about government moves against him, prompting widespread protests across Oromia that left at least 100 dead.\nOfficials in Abiy\u2019s government have accused Jawar of using popular social media platforms to incite protests that turn violent, but Jawar has insisted that the government is always the instigator.\n\u201cIf the army is deployed, there will be blood. And that, well, it comes down to Abiy. If there is violence, it will begin at his command,\u201d Jawar said in an interview with The Washington Post in March."}
{"qid": 954, "pid": "JFOWFQ5IZVFYXE2PA2MPAB6Y3E_4", "query_info": {"_id": 954, "text": "I'm looking for information pertaining to Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize.", "instruction_og": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well.", "instruction_changed": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well. Documents must include context that mentions death.", "short_query": "Find background information online to answer this question.", "keywords": "background online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "JFOWFQ5IZVFYXE2PA2MPAB6Y3E_4", "title": "The Daily 202: Trump\u2019s compulsion to take credit deepens his credibility gap amid questions about Iran intelligence", "text": "stop smoking over the past few decades, as well as more advanced treatments. The cancer death rate has fallen 29 percent overall since its 1991 peak, with declines every year from 1991 through 2017. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), a breast cancer survivor, noted that Trump\u2019s budget for the current fiscal year proposed cutting more than $4.5 billion in funding from the National Institutes of Health, but a bipartisan coalition in Congress blocked his request and instead appropriated a $2.6 billion increase in support. Chris Lu, a senior fellow at the University of Virginia\u2019s Miller Center who worked in the Obama White House, said the president is trying to have it both ways. Lu said that, if Trump wants to take credit for the cancer rate falling, \u201che also needs to own\u201d that income inequality is the highest ever recorded, that the United States has suffered the most mass killings since at least the 1970s, that hate crimes are at a 16-year high, that July 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded and that air pollution is getting worse. -- Trump taking credit for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed earning the Nobel Peace Prize apparently stemmed from confusion about African affairs. Ahmed was recognized for his work securing a peace treaty with Eritrea after decades of hostilities. \u201cTrump played no apparent role in the Eritrea peace deal, but Washington has played a convening role in another deal [Ahmed] is seeking with Egypt that will regulate how quickly Ethiopia can fill a new dam it has built in the upper reaches of the Nile River that has major implications for the flow of water Egypt relies on economically,\u201d our Nairobi bureau chief Max Bearak explains. \u201cThe apparent conflation of the two led to widespread befuddlement on social media in Ethiopia and elsewhere, though by and large the comments were not taken seriously.\u201d \u201cHe was talking about Egypt and Ethiopia,\u201d a senior Ethiopian government official told the Associated Press. \u201cPresident Trump really believes he avoided a war as such \u2026 but that was not the case.\u201d MORE ON IRAN: -- The only woman to ever win an Olympic medal for Iran has defected to the West. \u201cAlizadeh is not the only notable Iranian athlete to defect in recent months: Olympian and judoka world champion Saeid Mollaei left Iran and ultimately became a Mongolian citizen after Iranian officials allegedly pressured him to throw"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "THE BIG IDEA: President Trump boasted on Thursday morning about the declining cancer death rate in the United States. \u201cA lot of good news coming out of this Administration,\u201d he tweeted.\nTrump had nothing at all to do with either development.\n-- The president claiming credit for good news that he had little or nothing to do with has become a running joke over the past three years.\nTrump said over the holidays that people are proudly wishing each other \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d again because of his leadership.\nIn November, Trump took credit for Apple opening a Texas plant to assemble Mac Pros. In fact, the facility has been operational since 2013. He\u2019s made similar declarations, from Pennsylvania to Louisiana.\nThat same month, Trump signed a bipartisan act to mint a commemorative coin for the centennial of women gaining the right to vote under the Constitution. \u201cI\u2019m curious: Why wasn\u2019t it done a long time ago?\u201d he said during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office. \u201cI guess the answer to that is because now I\u2019m president. We get things done.\u201d Another plausible explanation: The centennial wasn\u2019t until now.\nTrump has taken credit for the success of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea and for North America\u2019s winning bid to host the 2026 World Cup. In May, the Boston Red Sox came to the White House to celebrate winning the World Series. After the team swept the Seattle Mariners in a subsequent three-game series, Trump hinted that their visit might have something to do with it:\nBut Boston tanked again after the tweet. They finished the season with an 84-78 record, 19 games behind and a distant third in the American League East.\nThe president has claimed that one of his proudest moments was getting a Veterans Choice program approved. In fact, the plan was sponsored by Bernie Sanders and John McCain, then signed into law by Barack Obama, in 2014. He\u2019s taken credit for border barriers that existed before he took office. He\u2019s claimed credit for getting countries to contribute to NATO what they had already planned to spend on their own militaries.\nTrump has also taken credit for fixing things that aren\u2019t fixed. For instance, he touted North Korea\u2019s denuclearization when it was not happening. Another Trump M.O. is to take credit for addressing crises he created. He has said it was his idea to bail out farmers suffering from Chinese tariffs, not mentioning that he started the trade war. The president has also said he deserves credit for reuniting families who were torn apart because of his own immigration policies.\nIt\u2019s often situational. Trump demands credit when stocks go up, but he said it was not his fault when markets corrected. He\u2019s also taken credit for coming up with words and phrases such as \u201ccaravan,\u201d \u201cfake\u201d and \u201cprime the pump\u201d that long predate him.\n-- Trump\u2019s fusillade of falsehoods on so many topics casts a shadow of doubt over his claims that he says are based on top secret intelligence.\nThe Sunday shows starkly displayed the consequences of the president\u2019s decision to squander his credibility by playing so fast and loose with the truth throughout his tenure. Trump\u2019s own top aides declined to confirm his declaration on Friday that intelligence showed the Iranians were looking to \u201cblow up\u201d four U.S. embassies.\n\u201cI didn\u2019t see one with regard to four embassies,\u201d Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on CBS, referring to intelligence reports. \u201cWhat I\u2019m saying is I share the president\u2019s view that probably \u2014 my expectation was \u2013 they were going to go after our embassies.\u201d\nNational security adviser Robert O\u2019Brien said on Fox that it\u2019s difficult \u201cto know exactly what the targets are,\u201d but it\u2019s not unreasonable to anticipate a future Iranian attack \u201cwould have hit embassies in at least four countries.\u201d\nOn CNN, Esper said \u201cthere was intelligence that \u2026 there was an intent to target the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.\u201d He said the details been shared with the Gang of Eight. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the group, said that\u2019s not true.\nO\u2019Brien acknowledged on NBC that that the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was not informed of an imminent threat against it, something that would be standard operating procedure. \u201cAs soon as it looked like there was going to be some sort of action against a U.S. Embassy,\u201d he said, \u201cthe president was decisive and bold in his action.\u201d\n-- When Trump appeared to take credit for fewer people dying of cancer, the American Cancer Society said\nThe cancer death rate fell in the United States in 2017 \u2013 the last year for which data is available \u2013 by 2.2 percent, and experts said it\u2019s largely because of fewer lung cancer deaths. This is the result of people choosing to stop smoking over the past few decades, as well as more advanced treatments. The cancer death rate has fallen 29 percent overall since its 1991 peak, with declines every year from 1991 through 2017.\nRep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), a breast cancer survivor, noted that Trump\u2019s budget for the current fiscal year proposed cutting more than $4.5 billion in funding from the National Institutes of Health, but a bipartisan coalition in Congress blocked his request and instead appropriated a $2.6 billion increase in support.\nChris Lu, a senior fellow at the University of Virginia\u2019s Miller Center who worked in the Obama White House, said the president is trying to have it both ways. Lu said that, if Trump wants to take credit for the cancer rate falling, \u201che also needs to own\u201d that income inequality is the highest ever recorded, that the United States has suffered the most mass killings since at least the 1970s, that hate crimes are at a 16-year high, that July 2019 was the hottest month ever recorded and that air pollution is getting worse.\n-- Trump taking credit for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed earning the Nobel Peace Prize apparently stemmed from confusion about African affairs.\nAhmed was recognized for his work securing a peace treaty with Eritrea after decades of hostilities. \u201cTrump played no apparent role in the Eritrea peace deal, but Washington has played a convening role in another deal [Ahmed] is seeking with Egypt that will regulate how quickly Ethiopia can fill a new dam it has built in the upper reaches of the Nile River that has major implications for the flow of water Egypt relies on economically,\u201d our Nairobi bureau chief Max Bearak explains. \u201cThe apparent conflation of the two led to widespread befuddlement on social media in Ethiopia and elsewhere, though by and large the comments were not taken seriously.\u201d\n\u201cHe was talking about Egypt and Ethiopia,\u201d a senior Ethiopian government official told the Associated Press. \u201cPresident Trump really believes he avoided a war as such \u2026 but that was not the case.\u201d\nMORE ON IRAN:\n-- The only woman to ever win an Olympic medal for Iran has defected to the West.\n\u201cAlizadeh is not the only notable Iranian athlete to defect in recent months: Olympian and judoka world champion Saeid Mollaei left Iran and ultimately became a Mongolian citizen after Iranian officials allegedly pressured him to throw a match to avoid competing against Israelis; Pourya Jalalipour, an Iranian para-archer who qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, left Iran in July to seek asylum in the Netherlands. \u2026 Alizadeh did not disclose to where she had defected, mentioning only that \u2018no one invited to me to Europe.\u2019 Radio Free Europe cited her past remarks, indicating she may have gone to the Netherlands. \u2026 Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh, a member of parliament, accused \u2018incompetent officials\u2019 of allowing Iran\u2019s \u2018human capital to flee\u2019 the country, Agence France-Press reports.\u201d\n-- Thousands of Iranian protesters hit the streets again on Sunday night to condemn Iranian authorities.\n\"Protests have spread to other cities, including Shiraz, Esfahan, Hamedan and Orumiyeh,\n\u201cFresh criticism was also leveled at Iran for the temporary arrest Saturday of British Ambassador Rob Macaire. [State television said] Macaire was arrested while in the middle of a crowd of protesters in front of Tehran\u2019s Amir Kabir University. He was accused of instigating and directing radical and destructive demonstrations, and later released. Macaire said on Twitter that he wasn\u2019t taking part in any demonstrations -- and was instead paying respect to victims of the downed Ukrainian plane.\u201d\n-- Trump authorized Soleimani\u2019s killing seven months ago if Iran\u2019s increased aggression resulted in the death of an American.\n-- Ukraine knew Flight 752 had been shot down, but the country chose not to antagonize Iran.\n-- Rockets hit a military base outside Baghdad, injuring at least four Iraqi soldiers.\n-- A majority of Americans said they disapprove of Trump\u2019s handling of the Iran situation and feel less safe, according to a new\n-- Soleimani\u2019s killing reflected a more aggressive national security team that doesn\u2019t feel strongly inclined to curb Trump.\n2020 WATCH:\n-- After a Des Moines Register poll showed him leading in Iowa with three weeks until the caucuses, Bernie Sanders clashed on Sunday with Joe Biden on Iraq, tussled with Elizabeth Warren on electability and found himself being attacked by Trump on Twitter as \"crazy.\"\n\u201cSanders\u2019s top aides have long encouraged him to be more aggressive with Biden, and for much of last year, he did not heed their advice. \u2026 That posture changed in recent weeks, and dramatically so over the weekend, when Nina Turner, a national co-chair of the Sanders campaign, wrotean op-ed published Sundayin a South Carolina newspaper claiming that Biden \u2018has repeatedly betrayed black voters to side with Republican lawmakers and undermine our progress.\u2019 \u2026 The increasingly intense fight between Sanders and Biden reflects their ideological disagreements and a sharp political reality: Sanders\u2019s top staffers have argued for months that they compete for many of the same working-class voters and that Biden is the only candidate who performs better than Sanders among minorities.\n\u201cThe new dispute with Warren operates on another plane, as the two have been allies on some of the more contested proposals of the campaign, including Medicare-for-all, until she tweaked her proposal after sustained criticism. Recently, Sanders has not shied away from contrasting their positions, portraying his Medicare-for-all proposal as superior to her approach. \u2026 A script first reported by Politicotold Sanders\u2019s volunteers to tell voters they called on Sanders\u2019s behalf who had indicated support for her that Warren\u2019s popularity was limited to the rich and educated\u00a0\u2014 effectively denigrating her electability. \u2026 A Trump campaign aide said to expect the president to mount a full-throttle attack on Sanders in coming days.\u201d\n-- At Las Vegas events, Biden and Pete Buttigieg tried to woo Hispanic voters.\n-- Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is behind in the Iowa polls and has not raised as much money as the top-tier candidates, but she could benefit from clashes between Sanders, Warren and Biden.\n-- Sanders picked up the endorsement of one of New Hampshire\u2019s largest and most influential unions.\n-- Democratic strategist James Carville endorsed Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) for president this morning.\n-- House Democrats who have picked sides in the 2020 primary plan to announce jointly that they will back the eventual Democratic nominee, no matter who it is.\n-- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) created a PAC to challenge the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee\u2019s policy to \u201cblacklist\u201d vendors and firms that work with candidates mounting primary challenges against incumbents.\n-- The Women\u2019s March organization is gasping for relevance three years after it drew millions to the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.\nDOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS THAT SHOULDN\u2019T BE OVERSHADOWED:\n-- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell\u2019s efforts to wire the Senate impeachment trial for Trump\u2019s advantage is helping him politically back home in Kentucky, where he\u2019s up for reelection this fall.\n-- \u201cChallenging McConnell to hold a serious trial that includes testimony from witnesses, [Nancy] Pelosi did not rule out the possibility that the House would subpoena former national security adviser John Bolton if the Senate chooses not to,\u201d Elise Viebeck and Juliet Eilperin report. \u201cPelosi said she will meet with House Democrats on Tuesday morning to discuss the timing of a vote on impeachment managers \u2014 the half-dozen lawmakers who will prosecute the case and transmit the charges to the Senate. A trial could start as early as Wednesday, if the House acts quickly, though lawmakers and aides have speculated that it will not begin in earnest until the following week. \u2026 In a Sunday afternoon tweet, Trump called for dismissal with no trial. \u2026 Senate Republicans have rallied behind the precedent set during President Bill Clinton\u2019s 1999 impeachment trial, in which the case for removal was presented and rebutted before decisions were made about calling witnesses or seeking further evidence. Pelosi dismissed comparisons to 1999 for \u2018at least six reasons .\u2009.\u2009. the biggest one is that the witnesses [who eventually testified] were all deposed\u2019 before their public testimony. \u2026 Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has said that she is working with a small group of Republicans to ensure that the trial includes witnesses.\u201d\n-- Trump attacked a former Justice Department senior official who was appointed by a federal judge to review the FBI\u2019s proposed wiretap application reforms.\n-- Trump\u2019s impeachment defense team is coming together.\n-- Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-N.Y) might get the last laugh on the impeachment trial.\n-- As remote telework rises at U.S. companies, Trump is calling federal employees back to their offices.\n-- Five years after an abortion, most women say they made the right decision.\n-- American history textbooks for high school students differ significantly from Texas to California in ways that are shaded by partisan politics,\n-- The Jussie Smollett case looms over the reelection campaign for Chicago\u2019s chief prosecutor.\nSOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:\nA Republican-turned-independent congressman highlighted one of the more remarkable statements Trump made in his Fox News interview:\nBernie Sanders responded to a Trump taunt:\nOn a balmy night, with temperatures in D.C. around 70 degrees on Sunday, the White House shared an image of snow falling from last Tuesday:\nAn Italian astronaut who is currently on the International Space Station shared an image of the fires in Australia from above:\nAnd the U.S. embassy in Seoul congratulated a NASA astronaut who might be one of the most accomplished men alive:\nVIDEOS OF THE DAY:\nThe Taal volcano in the Philippines erupted over the weekend, spewing lava and ash across the country and forcing thousands to evacuate:\nIn Australia, officials made it rain carrots and sweet potatoes for the wildlife affected by fire:\n\u201cThe Daily Show\u201d went to Arizona to talk about how climate change has hurt the state:"}
{"qid": 954, "pid": "f637bf62-e7b2-11e1-936a-b801f1abab19_3", "query_info": {"_id": 954, "text": "I'm looking for information pertaining to Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize.", "instruction_og": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well.", "instruction_changed": "Please provide details explaining what accomplishments and expectations led to Abiy Ahmed being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Background information regarding the history of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict are relevant. Eritrean reaction to the award and information about current relations between the two countries is relevant as well. Documents must include context that mentions death.", "short_query": "Find background information online to answer this question.", "keywords": "background online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "f637bf62-e7b2-11e1-936a-b801f1abab19_3", "title": "Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi dies at 57", "text": "Meles represented Africa at Group of Eight, G-20 and climate change meetings. But his reputation quickly soured among human rights groups that documented killings of political opponents and the jailing of reporters. Mr. Meles also repeatedly broke promises to let others have a chance at governing. \u201cI would love to be the African leader that steps down, that overthrows this idea of a Big Man ruler. I don\u2019t want to stay in office forever,\u201d he told The Washington Post in the aftermath of Ethiopia\u2019s May 2005 election, when 193 political protesters and seven police officers were killed during street demonstrations. That week, top leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, the opposition party that had made significant gains during the election, were imprisoned along with an estimated 30,000 people in a vast crackdown. Mr. Meles defended the arrests in the interview. \u201cIt was insurrection, and in my view that\u2019s treason,\u201d he said. \u201cDemocracy is about having the rule of law.\u201d In 2010, Mr. Meles and his party won reelection in a landslide, capturing all but two of 547 parliamentary seats. The European Union and the United States contended that the poll was flawed. Mr. Meles described an E.U. monitoring report as \u201ctrash that deserves to be thrown in the garbage.\u201d Meles Zenawi was born Legesse Zenawi on May 8, 1955,in the northern town of Adwa. As a young rebel \u00adlater, he took the nom de guerre Meles to honor Meles Tekle, a Tigrayan nationalist student killed by Mengistu\u2019s ethnic Amhara-dominated government. Mr. Meles married Azeb Mesfin, a former rebel fighter in the liberation struggle. In addition to his wife, survivors include three children. Even his critics acknowledged that Mr. Meles oversaw some of the fastest growth in sub-Saharan Africa, including the construction of roads and bridges, built in part with extensive foreign investment and the long-term leasing of large tracts of farmland to China and India, said John Harbeson, an African studies lecturer at Johns Hopkins University\u2019s School of Advanced International Studies. At the same time, \u201cthere has been significant displacement of rural populations,\u201d Harbeson said. Mr. Meles once hinted at the personal stress of ruling when an Ethio\u00adpian journalist asked whether he thoughts his eldest daughter should go into politics. \u201cIf you have the fire, go for it,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you do not, stay as far away from it as you possibly can, for your own health.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Ethio\u00adpian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who was once hailed as a major U.S. ally against terrorism but whose 21-year rule was tarnished by the killing and jailing of political protesters and a grisly border war with former ally Eritrea, died Aug. 20 of an undisclosed illness. He was 57.\nEthio\u00adpian officials said Mr. Meles died in a Belgian hospital after contracting an infection, the Associated Press reported. But the circumstances of his death remained laced with intrigue.\nThe highly active prime minister attended the Group of 20 summit in Mexico in June but had not been seen in public for about two months. Government officials were vague about his whereabouts, saying he was suffering from an illness after receiving medical treatment in an unspecified hospital in Europe.\nMr. Meles, a onetime Marxist guerrilla who redefined himself as an economic reformer, was a strategic U.S. military ally in the Horn of Africa. He allowed the United States to send drones from Ethio\u00adpian territory into neighboring Somalia. With Washington\u2019s backing, he sent Ethio\u00adpian troops into Somalia to fight Islamist and other anti-American militants between 2006 and 2009.\nHis death plunged his impoverished nation of 75\u00a0million people into political uncertainty. Developments were being watched closely in Washington, which has provided \u00ad\u00admore than $2\u00a0billion in aid to Ethi\u00ado\u00adpia since 2010. The Washington area is home to more than 200,000 Ethio\u00adpian immigrants, the largest population of Ethiopians outside the country.\nHistorically known as Abyssinia, Ethi\u00ado\u00adpia was a monarchy for much of its history and was ruled from from 1930 to 1974 by Emperor Haile Selassie I. He was replaced by Soviet-backed dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, who ruled from 1974 to 1991. The country has suffered droughts, famines and grinding poverty that led to violent dissent.\nLike many modern African leaders, Mr. Meles began his dramatic rise to power when he joined an armed rebel group. He quit medical school at Addis Ababa University in 1974 and went to the bush to wage a revolution against Mengistu\u2019s repressive communist regime.\nAt first, Mr. Meles fought briefly on the front lines with the Tigrayan People\u2019s Liberation Front, which he helped mobilize when he was 20. He rose quickly to take over the leadership in 1989.\nBy that time, the Mengistu regime was deeply unpopular at home and abroad. Mengistu\u2019s policies \u2014 neglecting regions and ethnic groups that did not support him \u2014 were said to have worsened a famine that claimed 1.5\u00a0million lives from 1983 to 1985.\nMr. Meles and a slew of united rebel groups, including those fighting to found a new Eritrean nation, finally overthrew Mengistu in 1991. Mr. Meles became Ethiopia\u2019s president in 1991 and prime minister four year later. Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia once Mengistu had fallen.\nMr. Meles quickly backed away from his self-described \u201cintellectual communist views\u201d and became what the Ethio\u00adpian and foreign news media described as a \u201cmellowed Marxist\u201d pragmatic in courting Western donors.\nMr. Meles was hailed as part of a \u201cnew breed\u201d of African leaders who would enforce term limits and allow political opposition and civil society to flourish.\nIn March 1998, President Bill Clinton met with Mr. Meles during a diplomatic trip to Africa. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Meles led his country to war with Eritrea. The brief but bloody 1998-2000 border war cost an estimated 100,000 lives.\nMr. Meles represented Africa at Group of Eight, G-20 and climate change meetings. But his reputation quickly soured among human rights groups that documented killings of political opponents and the jailing of reporters. Mr. Meles also repeatedly broke promises to let others have a chance at governing.\n\u201cI would love to be the African leader that steps down, that overthrows this idea of a Big Man ruler. I don\u2019t want to stay in office forever,\u201d he told The Washington Post in the aftermath of Ethiopia\u2019s May 2005 election, when 193 political protesters and seven police officers were killed during street demonstrations.\nThat week, top leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, the opposition party that had made significant gains during the election, were imprisoned along with an estimated 30,000 people in a vast crackdown.\nMr. Meles defended the arrests in the interview. \u201cIt was insurrection, and in my view that\u2019s treason,\u201d he said. \u201cDemocracy is about having the rule of law.\u201d\nIn 2010, Mr. Meles and his party won reelection in a landslide, capturing all but two of 547 parliamentary seats. The European Union and the United States contended that the poll was flawed. Mr. Meles described an E.U. monitoring report as \u201ctrash that deserves to be thrown in the garbage.\u201d\nMeles Zenawi was born Legesse Zenawi on May 8, 1955,in the northern town of Adwa. As a young rebel \u00adlater, he took the nom de guerre Meles to honor Meles Tekle, a Tigrayan nationalist student killed by Mengistu\u2019s ethnic Amhara-dominated government.\nMr. Meles married Azeb Mesfin, a former rebel fighter in the liberation struggle. In addition to his wife, survivors include three children.\nEven his critics acknowledged that Mr. Meles oversaw some of the fastest growth in sub-Saharan Africa, including the construction of roads and bridges, built in part with extensive foreign investment and the long-term leasing of large tracts of farmland to China and India, said John Harbeson, an African studies lecturer at Johns Hopkins University\u2019s School of Advanced International Studies.\nAt the same time, \u201cthere has been significant displacement of rural populations,\u201d Harbeson said.\nMr. Meles once hinted at the personal stress of ruling when an Ethio\u00adpian journalist asked whether he thoughts his eldest daughter should go into politics. \u201cIf you have the fire, go for it,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you do not, stay as far away from it as you possibly can, for your own health.\u201d"}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "06e916a783e646f83c2b81fb51c500de_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "06e916a783e646f83c2b81fb51c500de_0", "title": "Why you\u2019ll be able to pay for things on your phone in lots of ways for a long time", "text": "One of the biggest themes at last week's retail confab in New York City -- besides the intense gravitational force of Amazon.com ripping the industry from its moorings -- concerned mobile payments. In the future, everyone will just pay for stuff on their phones, right? What does that mean for how retail is set up? And whose payment system will ultimately triumph? And that's exactly how the question is usually framed: as a war of digital wallets, in which one winner must eventually take all. Indeed, the modern Internet economy tends to function that way, with some services gaining widespread adoption through network effects -- see Twitter, Facebook -- and crowding out the rest. It's not clear, however, that mobile payments will work the same way. The space is big enough, the market is fragmented enough, and the barriers to entry low enough that a huge number of options might stick around for some time to come. Let's break this down. 1. The market is still wide open. Even though digital wallets have been around for years, consumers have been slow to start using them, for many reasons. That leaves a huge chunk of commerce that could be converted from cash and cards to phones -- especially if they can be used in physical stores and restaurants, as well, since that's where most purchases are likely to take place for some time. It's going to take a lot of marketing to reach all those consumers, and it's unlikely that one or even a few big players will be able to do it on their own. According to Forrester Research: We still don't buy much online, and mobile payments can be used in physical stores, too. (Forrester) 2. No one mobile payments operator can give consumers everything. There are three kinds of entities that offer ways to pay for things with a smartphone: tech companies, financial institutions and the merchants themselves. Each of them has different interests and capabilities. Tech companies like Google, for example, can integrate their wallet with all the other services you might use -- like sending special offers for locations you might search on Google Maps, or allowing you to send money to your Gmail contacts. The advantage of Google Wallet and others, like Dwolla, PayPal, Paydiant and LevelUp, comes in removing friction from the commercial experience and integrating payments with the rest of your digital life."}], "old": [{"_id": "06e916a783e646f83c2b81fb51c500de_0", "title": "Why you\u2019ll be able to pay for things on your phone in lots of ways for a long time", "text": "It's not clear, however, that mobile payments will work the same way. The space is big enough, the market is fragmented enough, and the barriers to entry low enough that a huge number of options might stick around for some time to come. Let's break this down. 1. The market is still wide open. Even though digital wallets have been around for years, consumers have been slow to start using them, for many reasons. That leaves a huge chunk of commerce that could be converted from cash and cards to phones -- especially if they can be used in physical stores and restaurants, as well, since that's where most purchases are likely to take place for some time. It's going to take a lot of marketing to reach all those consumers, and it's unlikely that one or even a few big players will be able to do it on their own. According to Forrester Research: We still don't buy much online, and mobile payments can be used in physical stores, too. (Forrester) 2. No one mobile payments operator can give consumers everything. There are three kinds of entities that offer ways to pay for things with a smartphone: tech companies, financial institutions and the merchants themselves. Each of them has different interests and capabilities. Tech companies like Google, for example, can integrate their wallet with all the other services you might use -- like sending special offers for locations you might search on Google Maps, or allowing you to send money to your Gmail contacts. The advantage of Google Wallet and others, like Dwolla, PayPal, Paydiant and LevelUp, comes in removing friction from the commercial experience and integrating payments with the rest of your digital life. Financial institutions, like banks and credit card companies, are better at integrating payments with whatever you do to manage your money already. Visa's V.me, Mastercard's Masterpass and Barclays' Barclaycard keep all your financial information within one system that you might trust more as a guardian of your account balance than another app that might get hacked. Some of them have partnered with wireless companies, including Verizon and AT&T, to form a mobile payments company called ISIS that uses \"near field communications\" technology, allowing you to tap your phone against a special terminal to pay. The crazy proliferation of payment options right now. (Forrester) 3. Merchants don't have to stick to one kind of payment."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "One of the biggest themes at last week's retail confab in New York City -- besides the intense gravitational force of Amazon.com ripping the industry from its moorings -- concerned mobile payments. In the future, everyone will just pay for stuff on their phones, right? What does that mean for how retail is set up? And whose payment system will ultimately triumph?\nAnd that's exactly how the question is usually framed: as a war of digital wallets, in which one winner must eventually take all. Indeed, the modern Internet economy tends to function that way, with some services gaining widespread adoption through network effects -- see Twitter, Facebook -- and crowding out the rest.\nIt's not clear, however, that mobile payments will work the same way. The space is big enough, the market is fragmented enough, and the barriers to entry low enough that a huge number of options might stick around for some time to come. Let's break this down.\n1. The market is still wide open.\nEven though digital wallets have been around for years, consumers have been slow to start using them, for many reasons. That leaves a huge chunk of commerce that could be converted from cash and cards to phones -- especially if they can be used in physical stores and restaurants, as well, since that's where most purchases are likely to take place for some time. It's going to take a lot of marketing to reach all those consumers, and it's unlikely that one or even a few big players will be able to do it on their own. According to Forrester Research:\nWe still don't buy much online, and mobile payments can be used in physical stores, too. (Forrester)\n2. No one mobile payments operator can give consumers everything.\nThere are three kinds of entities that offer ways to pay for things with a smartphone: tech companies, financial institutions and the merchants themselves.\u00a0Each of them has different interests and capabilities.\nTech companies like Google, for example, can integrate their wallet with all the other services you might use -- like sending special offers for locations you might search on Google Maps, or allowing you to send money to your Gmail contacts. The advantage of Google Wallet and others, like Dwolla, PayPal, Paydiant and LevelUp, comes in removing friction from the commercial experience and integrating payments with the rest of your digital life.\nFinancial institutions, like banks and credit card companies, are better at integrating payments with whatever you do to manage your money already. Visa's V.me, Mastercard's Masterpass and Barclays' Barclaycard keep all your financial information within one system that you might trust more as a guardian of your account balance than another app that might get hacked. Some of them have partnered with wireless companies, including Verizon and AT&T, to form a mobile payments company called ISIS that uses \"near field communications\" technology, allowing you to tap your phone against a special terminal to pay.\nFinally, some of the biggest retailers -- like Amazon, for example, but also fast-food restaurants and other stores that people visit often -- like to use their own payment options as a way of sucking in customer data and giving them incentives to buy frequently. A number of very large retailers are working on a compromise approach -- the forthcoming Merchant Customer Exchange\u00a0--\u00a0which will allow customers to use one app for retailers from Sheetz to Walmart.\nNone of those kinds of companies offer the advantages of all three, so consumers will either have to choose among them or use all of them at once. That is, if they play nicely together: Verizon, for example, decided to ban Google Wallet from its smartphones, to clear the decks for ISIS.\nThe crazy proliferation of payment options right now. (Forrester)\n3. Merchants don't have to stick to one kind of payment.\nIn the typical model of consumer technology adoption, you want to be on the platform that everybody else is on, because the size of the network is its value proposition. There's no point in using something like Snapchat if no one else is around to receive your ephemeral messages.\nMobile payment platforms are different. With the exception of those that are primarily meant for individuals exchanging money, like Dwolla and eBay's Venmo, it doesn't matter to a consumer how many other consumers are using the service -- just that the merchants you want to buy from use it. For the merchants, it's not that difficult to integrate payment methods, and they have the incentive to let you pay in whatever way you want (while offering rewards for people using their own method, if they have one). There are a number of scanners that can accommodate apps that use barcodes. And, as tap-to-pay technology gets integrated into more points of sale -- which it will over the next few years, for credit card security\u00a0reasons\u00a0-- retailers will be able to accept whatever payment mechanism designed for it (the big ones now are Google Wallet and ISIS).\nAll of which means that an already crowded marketplace is just likely to get more so.\u00a0\"In the short term, were going to see more wallet solutions, not fewer,\" says Forrester Research's Denee Carrington. And because of how the market is structured, with so many players and divergent interests, it may not consolidate in the way that so many other markets have."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "0f20a930-a438-11e1-9e73-f4e3879b34a3_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "0f20a930-a438-11e1-9e73-f4e3879b34a3_0", "title": "Consumer agency to target prepaid cards", "text": "The new federal consumer watchdog agency is considering drafting new rules governing transparency and safety in the rapidly growing market for prepaid cards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray said the cards have fewer regulatory protections than bank accounts and debit cards. The agency said it will focus rule-making on three key areas: disclosure of fees and terms, liability for unauthorized transactions and niche product features, such as overdrawing an account. The agency is holding a field hearing on the cards Wednesday in North Carolina. \u201cThe people who use prepaid cards are, in many instances, the most vulnerable among us,\u201d Cordray said. \u201cAll consumers need, and deserve, products which are safe and whose costs and risks are clear upfront.\u201d The rules would apply specifically to prepaid cards that can be reloaded and used at an array of locations. Many consumers are using these cards as replacements for traditional checking accounts. According to a recent focus group convened by the Pew Health Group, consumers said the cards help them avoid costly bank overdraft fees and are a useful budgeting tool. Generally, consumers can only spend the money they have loaded onto the card. But the Pew focus group found that consumers were concerned about the number of fees associated with prepaid cards. They include charges to buy the card, reload money, withdraw money from an ATM and call customer service. The CFPB said there is no industry-wide standard on disclosures, making it hard for consumers to comparison shop. In addition, some cards offer features allowing customers to overdraw their accounts or build their credit. The agency is seeking feedback on the costs, benefits and consumer-protection issues associated with those features. Terry Maher, general counsel at the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, said the trade group supports transparent disclosures. Several of its members have been working with advocacy groups on test forms, he said. Maher said the group is also open to requiring prepaid card providers that offer overdraft to comply with the same regulations for those fees as banks. But he said it \u201cwould be a mistake\u201d to ban the product all together. \u201cWe\u2019re in favor of consumers being able to choose the product that\u2019s right for them after they get clear and transparent disclosures,\u201d Maher said. More of the latest business news: CBO report: Taxmageddon would throw U.S. back into recession Generic-drug makers: Brand-name rivals are exploiting loopholes Energy"}], "old": [{"_id": "0f20a930-a438-11e1-9e73-f4e3879b34a3_0", "title": "Consumer agency to target prepaid cards", "text": "\u201cThe people who use prepaid cards are, in many instances, the most vulnerable among us,\u201d Cordray said. \u201cAll consumers need, and deserve, products which are safe and whose costs and risks are clear upfront.\u201d But the Pew focus group found that consumers were concerned about the number of fees associated with prepaid cards. They include charges to buy the card, reload money, withdraw money from an ATM and call customer service. The CFPB said there is no industry-wide standard on disclosures, making it hard for consumers to comparison shop. In addition, some cards offer features allowing customers to overdraw their accounts or build their credit. The agency is seeking feedback on the costs, benefits and consumer-protection issues associated with those features. Terry Maher, general counsel at the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, said the trade group supports transparent disclosures. Several of its members have been working with advocacy groups on test forms, he said. Maher said the group is also open to requiring prepaid card providers that offer overdraft to comply with the same regulations for those fees as banks. But he said it \u201cwould be a mistake\u201d to ban the product all together. \u201cWe\u2019re in favor of consumers being able to choose the product that\u2019s right for them after they get clear and transparent disclosures,\u201d Maher said. More of the latest business news: CBO report: Taxmageddon would throw U.S. back into recession Generic-drug makers: Brand-name rivals are exploiting loopholes Energy Department seeks to help USEC"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The new federal consumer watchdog agency is considering drafting new rules governing transparency and safety in the rapidly growing market for prepaid cards.\nConsumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray said the cards have fewer regulatory protections than bank accounts and debit cards. The agency said it will focus rule-making on three key areas: disclosure of fees and terms, liability for unauthorized transactions and niche product features, such as overdrawing an account. The agency is holding a field hearing on the cards Wednesday in North Carolina.\n\u201cThe people who use prepaid cards are, in many instances, the most vulnerable among us,\u201d Cordray said. \u201cAll consumers need, and deserve, products which are safe and whose costs and risks are clear upfront.\u201d\nThe rules would apply specifically to prepaid cards that can be reloaded and used at an array of locations. Many consumers are using these cards as replacements for traditional checking accounts. According to a recent focus group convened by the Pew Health Group, consumers said the cards help them avoid costly bank overdraft fees and are a useful budgeting tool. Generally, consumers can only spend the money they have loaded onto the card.\nBut the Pew focus group found that consumers were concerned about the number of fees associated with prepaid cards. They include charges to buy the card, reload money, withdraw money from an ATM and call customer service.\nThe CFPB said there is no industry-wide standard on disclosures, making it hard for consumers to comparison shop. In addition, some cards offer features allowing customers to overdraw their accounts or build their credit. The agency is seeking feedback on the costs, benefits and consumer-protection issues associated with those features.\nTerry Maher, general counsel at the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, said the trade group supports transparent disclosures. Several of its members have been working with advocacy groups on test forms, he said.\nMaher said the group is also open to requiring prepaid card providers that offer overdraft to comply with the same regulations for those fees as banks. But he said it \u201cwould be a mistake\u201d to ban the product all together.\n\u201cWe\u2019re in favor of consumers being able to choose the product that\u2019s right for them after they get clear and transparent disclosures,\u201d Maher said.\nMore of the latest business news:\nCBO report: Taxmageddon would throw U.S. back into recession\nGeneric-drug makers: Brand-name rivals are exploiting loopholes\nEnergy Department seeks to help USEC"}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "428928e17844190a9daba8a8e69caff2_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "428928e17844190a9daba8a8e69caff2_0", "title": "Why the mobile payments space is the most exciting space in tech right now", "text": "Innovations such as Apple Pay \u2014 introduced during an Apple event in Cupertino in September \u2014 could be the key to reaching the nation\u2019s unbanked. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) It seems as if every big player in the tech sector is developing a mobile payment solution. It\u2019s not just Apple Pay, which was announced with much fanfare at the big Apple launch event in early September, and reportedly could go live as early as Oct. 20. There are now rumors that Facebook is working on mobile payments. Add to the mix PayPal, Square and Google and it\u2019s clear that some of the smartest innovators in the tech world are on the cusp of breaking the mobile payments space wide open. The reason why the mobile payments space is so exciting right now is not because of all the money to be made \u2013 the real reason is because of what the explosion of mobile payment alternatives means for the nation\u2019s \u201cunbanked\u201d \u2013 the nearly 10 million American households that don\u2019t use banks, don\u2019t use checking accounts, and basically depend on cash and financial alternatives \u2013 like payday lenders and prepaid cards \u2013 for their financial transactions. What\u2019s interesting is to drill down on the data about the nation\u2019s unbanked to find out how mobile banking could help them become part of the financial system. According to a Federal Reserve bulletin released in September 2012, 63 percent of the unbanked have a mobile phone, and of these, 26 percent have smartphones. And, once these unbanked Americans get smartphones, says the Fed, they are more likely to use them for banking. Putting it all together, the Federal Reserve highlighted the significance of this for the future of the nation\u2019s financial system, \u201cThe increased use of these devices coupled with the evolution of technologies that enable consumers to conduct financial transactions using their mobile phones has the potential to change how consumers manage their finances as new services and tools emerge.\u201d The results are pretty clear: Get smartphones with mobile payment capabilities into the hands of unbanked consumers and they will use them. They may not have bank accounts, but they have smartphones. They may not have checkbooks, but they have apps. That\u2019s why Bill Gates, in a recent interview with Bloomberg, called Apple Pay a \u201cfantastic\u201d idea \u2014 it\u2019s going to make mobile banking easier and cheaper to use for transactions involving small amounts"}], "old": [{"_id": "428928e17844190a9daba8a8e69caff2_0", "title": "Why the mobile payments space is the most exciting space in tech right now", "text": "Innovations such as Apple Pay \u2014 introduced during an Apple event in Cupertino in September \u2014 could be the key to reaching the nation\u2019s unbanked. (Stephen Lam/Reuters) The results are pretty clear: Get smartphones with mobile payment capabilities into the hands of unbanked consumers and they will use them. They may not have bank accounts, but they have smartphones. They may not have checkbooks, but they have apps. However, if mobile payments are ever going to capitalize on their promise to change America\u2019s financial system, they will still have to convince unbanked Americans to pull out a smartphone every time they\u2019re willing to make a transaction instead of using cash. And, even in 2014, that\u2019s still asking a lot. For one, it\u2019s not always clear how well these new mobile payment mechanisms will actually work. And, secondly, even if you figure out how to use them, it\u2019s not clear that your merchant of choice will actually accept them. This doesn\u2019t look like financial disintermediation, does it? (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP) But take a look at what\u2019s happening with Apple Pay \u2013 there\u2019s not a disintermediation, but, if anything, a re-intermediation. Look at all the major credit card issuers and banks that have signed up for Apple Pay. They may not like it, but they realize that mobile payments are the future."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Innovations such as\u00a0Apple Pay \u2014 introduced during an Apple event in Cupertino in September\u00a0\u2014 could be the key to reaching the nation\u2019s unbanked. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)\nIt seems as if every big player in the tech sector is developing a mobile payment solution. It\u2019s not just Apple Pay, which was announced with much fanfare at the big Apple launch event in early September, and reportedly could\u00a0go live as early as Oct. 20. There are now rumors that Facebook is working on mobile payments. Add to the mix PayPal, Square and Google and it\u2019s clear that some of the smartest innovators in the tech world are on the cusp of breaking the mobile payments space wide open.\nThe reason why the mobile payments space is so exciting right now is not because of all the money to be made \u2013 the real reason is because of what the explosion of mobile payment alternatives means for the nation\u2019s \u201cunbanked\u201d \u2013 the nearly 10 million American households that don\u2019t use banks, don\u2019t use checking accounts, and basically depend on cash and financial alternatives \u2013 like payday lenders and prepaid cards \u2013 for their financial transactions.\nWhat\u2019s interesting is to drill down on\u00a0the\u00a0data about the nation\u2019s unbanked to find out how mobile banking could help them become part of the financial system. According to a Federal Reserve bulletin released in September 2012, 63 percent of the unbanked have a mobile phone, and of these, 26 percent have smartphones. And, once these unbanked Americans get smartphones, says the Fed, they are more likely to use them for banking. Putting it all together, the Federal Reserve highlighted the significance of this for the future of the nation\u2019s financial system, \u201cThe increased use of these devices coupled with the evolution of technologies that enable consumers to conduct financial transactions using their mobile phones has the potential to change how consumers manage their finances as new services and tools emerge.\u201d\nThe results are pretty clear: Get smartphones with mobile payment capabilities into the hands of unbanked consumers and they will use them.\u00a0They may not have bank accounts, but they have smartphones. They may not have checkbooks, but they have apps.\nThat\u2019s why Bill Gates, in a recent interview with Bloomberg, called Apple Pay a \u201cfantastic\u201d idea\u00a0\u2014\u00a0it\u2019s going to make mobile banking easier and cheaper to use for transactions involving small amounts of money. He\u2019s thinking of Apple Pay\u2019s potential in terms of micropayments and developing markets like Africa, where innovations like M-PESA are hugely successful. But there\u2019s a U.S. equivalent \u2014 and that\u2019s America\u2019s \u201cunbanked.\u201d According to the latest FDIC survey, 8.2% of all U.S. households are \u201cunbanked\u201d\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and millions more are \u201cunderbanked.\u201d\nThe good news is that Apple Pay has the potential to make mobile payments a de facto standard on every single smartphone going forward. Apple may have the premium end of the market in mind, but Apple Pay is still going to open up cheap and accessible mobile payments to people in urban cities and the rural poor, even if only indirectly. As Gates noted in the Bloomberg interview: \u201cAnd all the platforms, whether it\u2019s Apple\u2019s or Google\u2019s or Microsoft, you\u2019ll see this payment capability get built in. That\u2019s built on industry standard protocols, NFC. And these companies have all participated in getting those going. Apple will help make sure it gets to critical mass for all the devices.\u201d\nHowever, if mobile payments are ever going to capitalize on their promise to change America\u2019s financial system, they will still have to convince unbanked Americans to pull out a smartphone every time they\u2019re willing to make a transaction instead of using cash. And, even in 2014, that\u2019s still asking a lot. For one, it\u2019s not always clear how well these new mobile payment mechanisms will actually work. And, secondly, even if you figure out how to use them, it\u2019s not clear that your merchant of choice will actually accept them.\nThe good news is that new mobile payment solutions may help unbanked Americans get over their aversion to dealing with banks, which was cited as the No. 1 reason why the unbanked are unbanked.\nIn fact, they might prefer\u00a0Wal-Mart to\u00a0banks. The\u00a0retailer is also getting into the game of providing financial services to the nation\u2019s unbanked. FiveThirtyEight looked\u00a0at the states with the greatest concentration\u00a0of Wal-Marts and compared that with the states with the highest percentage of unbanked households, finding\u00a0a pretty clear correlation. There\u2019s a real market opportunity here.\nThis doesn\u2019t look like financial disintermediation, does it?\u00a0(Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)\nFor a long time, financial disintermediation was one of the greatest fears in the old-school banking industry \u2013 that a bunch of really smart tech innovators would find a way to \u201cdisintermediate\u201d the whole financial industry and deal directly with consumers, who would no longer need banks as the \u201cmiddlemen.\u201d In many ways, this was happening with innovations such as\u00a0P2P lending, crowdfunding and branchless Internet banking.\nBut take a look at what\u2019s happening with Apple Pay \u2013 there\u2019s not a disintermediation, but, if anything, a re-intermediation. Look at all the major credit card issuers and banks that have signed up for Apple Pay. They may not like it, but they\u00a0realize that mobile payments are the future.\nThink about the number of $10 billion market opportunities available to the big tech companies. You can continue to come up with world-changing innovations that people may \u2013 or may not \u2013 actually want. You could search for big markets \u2013 such as\u00a0China \u2013 and double down on foreign growth. Or, you can tap into the growth prospects here in America. In this case, it\u2019s the 10 million unbanked American households who might just see mobile payments as their secret\u00a0to prosperity."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "50b645321a18d25baf4c7f0713248759_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "50b645321a18d25baf4c7f0713248759_0", "title": "Too big to innovate: Get excited for the coming disruption of banks", "text": "Don\u2019t worry, banks. Video stores, newspapers and film cameras can offer a shoulder to cry on. They know how you are about to feel. Welcome to the world of disruption, where businesses get upended. The race is now on to chip away at banks\u2019 businesses with cheaper and superior services that customers love. As the full impact of software and the Internet washes over the global economy, more casualties will fall. A reminder of a teetering domino came Sunday night when London start-up TransferWise announced it raised $58 million from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent venture capital firm. TransferWise lets users send money internationally without paying the hefty fees traditional banks have charged for such transfers. Its founders, two Estonian friends, got the idea after wanting to exchange Euros and British pounds. They soon realized the potential of a decentralized, peer-to-peer financial network. Why pay 7.99 percent \u2014 the global average for remittance \u2014 to some bank when TransferWise will charge only 1 percent for the first $5,000 and 0.7 percent for any additional money? It\u2019s a no-brainer for anyone sending money across borders. TransferWise says it has saved its customers over $200 million in fees since launching four years ago. It plans to use its new funding to continue to grow around the globe. TransferWise says it is growing 15 to 20 percent a month. The truth is, moving money shouldn\u2019t be very expensive given today\u2019s technology. \u201cIn the modern day, money is really just data,\u201d Seth Priebatsch, chief executive of a similar type of financial service company, told me last year. \u201cAnything that is data eventually moves to the medium that can move it with the least friction, the most quickly and at the least cost.\u201d Priebatsch leads another company leveraging the latest technology to try to disrupt the traditional financial world. LevelUp processes restaurant payments for 1.95 percent, significantly less than what the Visas and Mastercards of the world offer. For businesses, small transactions such as a cup of coffee can be unprofitable because of fees to process the credit card transactions. (This is why many demand a minimum payment to use a credit card.) The problem for traditional financial players is that their business models rely on expensive fees. \u201cThey\u2019re in a pretty difficult situation with their balances sheets and income. In that sense it\u2019s very hard for them to say, \u2018Hey we\u2019ve been overcharging"}], "old": [{"_id": "50b645321a18d25baf4c7f0713248759_0", "title": "Too big to innovate: Get excited for the coming disruption of banks", "text": "Don\u2019t worry, banks. Video stores, newspapers and film cameras can offer a shoulder to cry on. They know how you are about to feel. Welcome to the world of disruption, where businesses get upended. The race is now on to chip away at banks\u2019 businesses with cheaper and superior services that customers love. TransferWise lets users send money internationally without paying the hefty fees traditional banks have charged for such transfers. Its founders, two Estonian friends, got the idea after wanting to exchange Euros and British pounds. They soon realized the potential of a decentralized, peer-to-peer financial network. It\u2019s a no-brainer for anyone sending money across borders. TransferWise says it has saved its customers over $200 million in fees since launching four years ago. It plans to use its new funding to continue to grow around the globe. TransferWise says it is growing 15 to 20 percent a month. The truth is, moving money shouldn\u2019t be very expensive given today\u2019s technology. \u201cIn the modern day, money is really just data,\u201d Seth Priebatsch, chief executive of a similar type of financial service company, told me last year. \u201cAnything that is data eventually moves to the medium that can move it with the least friction, the most quickly and at the least cost.\u201d Priebatsch leads another company leveraging the latest technology to try to disrupt the traditional financial world. LevelUp processes restaurant payments for 1.95 percent, significantly less than what the Visas and Mastercards of the world offer. For businesses, small transactions such as a cup of coffee can be unprofitable because of fees to process the credit card transactions. (This is why many demand a minimum payment to use a credit card.) The problem for traditional financial players is that their business models rely on expensive fees. \u201cThey\u2019re in a pretty difficult situation with their balances sheets and income. In that sense it\u2019s very hard for them to say, \u2018Hey we\u2019ve been overcharging our customers. Why don\u2019t we slash our hidden exchange rates by five times or 10 times to be competitive with TransferWise,'\u201d said TransferWise co-founder Kristo Kaarmann. \u201cBecause they also have this legacy technology to keep up, the branch network, all the products that are costly to maintain.\u201d For the incumbents, there\u2019s little incentive to innovate. Why disrupt your profitable business and its rich profit margins? Max Levchin, the chief executive of Affirm and PayPal co-founder, gave a reminder"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Don\u2019t worry, banks. Video stores, newspapers and film cameras can offer a shoulder to cry on. They know how you are about to feel. Welcome to the world of disruption, where businesses get upended. The race is now on to chip away at banks\u2019 businesses\u00a0with cheaper and superior services\u00a0that customers love.\nAs the full impact of software and the Internet washes over the global economy, more casualties will fall.\u00a0 A reminder of a teetering domino came Sunday night when London start-up TransferWise announced it raised $58 million from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent venture capital firm.\nTransferWise lets users send money internationally without paying the hefty fees traditional banks have charged for such transfers. Its founders, two Estonian friends, got the idea after wanting to exchange Euros and British pounds. They soon realized the potential of a decentralized, peer-to-peer financial network.\nWhy pay 7.99 percent \u2014 the global average for remittance \u2014 to some bank when TransferWise will charge only 1 percent for the first $5,000 and 0.7 percent for any additional money?\nIt\u2019s a no-brainer for anyone sending money across borders. TransferWise says it has saved its customers over $200 million in fees since launching four years ago. It plans to use its new funding to continue to grow around the globe. TransferWise says it is growing 15 to 20 percent a month.\nThe truth is, moving money shouldn\u2019t be very expensive given today\u2019s technology.\n\u201cIn the modern day, money is really just data,\u201d Seth Priebatsch, chief executive of a similar type of financial service company,\u00a0told me last year. \u201cAnything that is data eventually moves to the medium\u00a0that can move it with the least friction, the most quickly and at the least cost.\u201d\nPriebatsch leads another company leveraging the latest technology to try to disrupt the traditional financial world. LevelUp processes restaurant payments for 1.95 percent, significantly less than what the Visas and Mastercards of the world offer. For businesses, small transactions such as a cup of coffee can be unprofitable because of fees to process the credit card transactions. (This is why many demand a minimum payment to use a credit card.)\nThe problem for traditional financial players is that their business models rely on expensive fees.\n\u201cThey\u2019re in a pretty difficult situation with their balances sheets and income. In that sense it\u2019s very hard for them to say, \u2018Hey we\u2019ve been overcharging our customers. Why don\u2019t we slash our hidden exchange rates by five times or 10 times to be competitive with TransferWise,'\u201d said TransferWise co-founder Kristo Kaarmann. \u201cBecause they also have this legacy technology to keep up, the branch network, all the products that are costly to maintain.\u201d\nFor the incumbents, there\u2019s little incentive to innovate. Why disrupt your profitable business and its\u00a0rich profit margins?\nMax Levchin, the chief executive of Affirm and PayPal co-founder, gave a reminder of banks\u2019 troubles at the Digital-Life-Design conference earlier this month. He noted that American Express is hiring software engineers to program with Cobol, a dated programming language.\n\u201cSeventy percent of computer science departments worldwide do not even teach Cobol. The top 10 computer science departments do not offer Cobol pretty much in any form,\u201d Levchin said. \u201cI guarantee people going straight out of school to work for AmEx to write some awesome Cobol code are not from the top 10 computer science departments. Basically we\u2019re going to hire dummies \u2014 well not really \u2014 but not the creme de la creme. The creme de la creme is going to go disrupt Cobol.\u201d"}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "521fa0aa-9560-11e2-ae32-9ef60436f5c1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "521fa0aa-9560-11e2-ae32-9ef60436f5c1_0", "title": "Wal-Mart and American Express prepaid card gets FDIC insurance", "text": "American Express announced Tuesday that its prepaid debit cards will now be backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the latest indication that a market once shunned by established financial institutions is gaining ground. The use of reloadable prepaid cards has exploded in the wake of the credit crisis that left millions of Americans outside the traditional banking system. But reloadable prepaid cards do not offer the same financial protections for consumers as checking accounts. They also operate with fewer regulatory constraints. Facing increasing scrutiny from consumer advocates, the vast majority of card operators have opted in the past few years to carry up to $250,000 in mandatory deposit insurance per customer offered through the FDIC. American Express is one of the last major providers to sign on to that government backstop. The coverage will apply to Bluebird cards sold at Wal-Mart stores. The card carries the American Express insignia and operates much like a debit or credit card, with features such as roadside assistance and mobile banking. Customers also can write checks with the account and load up to $100,000 a year. \u201cThis product is really designed to be an alternative to traditional banking,\u201d said Dan Schulman, group president of enterprise growth at American Express. \u201cTechnology is beginning to blur the distinction between those lines.\u201d This move could expand American Express\u2019s customer base. Bluebird customers will now be able to have government payments, such as Social Security, military pay and tax refunds, deposited directly onto their cards. Government funds can be deposited only into federally insured accounts. Demand for the cards exploded as nearly 1 million households exited the banking system between 2009 and 2011. The industry is expected to reach nearly $202 billion in revenue this year, compared with $28.6 billion in 2009, according to consulting firm Mercator Advisory Group. In the six months since Bluebird debuted, more than 575,000 customers have signed up, placing more than $275 million into their accounts. Many of these customers either had no desire for a traditional credit or debit card or could not apply for such products because of their poor credit histories, Schulman said. But consumer advocates have warned that prepaid card operators are not always forthcoming about their fees, including charges to load money, activate the card, speak to customer service or check a balance at an automated teller machine. They worry that card operators are steering lower-income consumers"}], "old": [{"_id": "521fa0aa-9560-11e2-ae32-9ef60436f5c1_0", "title": "Wal-Mart and American Express prepaid card gets FDIC insurance", "text": "The use of reloadable prepaid cards has exploded in the wake of the credit crisis that left millions of Americans outside the traditional banking system. But reloadable prepaid cards do not offer the same financial protections for consumers as checking accounts. They also operate with fewer regulatory constraints. Facing increasing scrutiny from consumer advocates, the vast majority of card operators have opted in the past few years to carry up to $250,000 in mandatory deposit insurance per customer offered through the FDIC. American Express is one of the last major providers to sign on to that government backstop. The coverage will apply to Bluebird cards sold at Wal-Mart stores. The card carries the American Express insignia and operates much like a debit or credit card, with features such as roadside assistance and mobile banking. Customers also can write checks with the account and load up to $100,000 a year. \u201cThis product is really designed to be an alternative to traditional banking,\u201d said Dan Schulman, group president of enterprise growth at American Express. \u201cTechnology is beginning to blur the distinction between those lines.\u201d This move could expand American Express\u2019s customer base. Bluebird customers will now be able to have government payments, such as Social Security, military pay and tax refunds, deposited directly onto their cards. Government funds can be deposited only into federally insured accounts. Demand for the cards exploded as nearly 1 million households exited the banking system between 2009 and 2011. The industry is expected to reach nearly $202 billion in revenue this year, compared with $28.6 billion in 2009, according to consulting firm Mercator Advisory Group. But consumer advocates have warned that prepaid card operators are not always forthcoming about their fees, including charges to load money, activate the card, speak to customer service or check a balance at an automated teller machine. They worry that card operators are steering lower-income consumers into these products without fully disclosing the terms. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to issue rules this year to address some of the consumer advocates\u2019 concerns, including fee disclosure policies. \u201cIf used correctly, prepaid cards can be far more cost effective than a regular checking account, particularly if you are someone who doesn\u2019t have the money to set aside for a minimum monthly balance,\u201d Rust said. But Susan Weinstock of Pew Charitable Trusts is concerned that the FDIC insurance is not being extended to"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "American Express announced Tuesday that its prepaid debit cards will now be backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the latest indication that a market once shunned by established financial institutions is gaining ground.\nThe use of reloadable prepaid cards has exploded in the wake of the credit crisis that left millions of Americans outside the traditional banking system. But reloadable prepaid cards do not offer the same financial protections for consumers as checking accounts. They also operate with fewer regulatory constraints.\nFacing increasing scrutiny from consumer advocates, the vast majority of card operators have opted in the past few years to carry up to $250,000 in mandatory deposit insurance per customer offered through the FDIC. American Express is one of the last major providers to sign on to that government backstop.\nThe coverage will apply to Bluebird cards sold at Wal-Mart stores. The card carries the American Express insignia and operates much like a debit or credit card, with features such as roadside assistance and mobile banking. Customers also can write checks with the account and load up to $100,000 a year.\n\u201cThis product is really designed to be an alternative to traditional banking,\u201d said Dan Schulman, group president of enterprise growth at American Express. \u201cTechnology is beginning to blur the distinction between those lines.\u201d\nThis move could expand American Express\u2019s customer base. Bluebird customers will now be able to have government payments, such as Social Security, military pay and tax refunds, deposited directly onto their cards. Government funds can be deposited only into federally insured accounts.\nDemand for the cards exploded as nearly 1 million households exited the banking system between 2009 and 2011. The industry is expected to reach nearly $202\u00a0billion in revenue this year, compared with $28.6 billion in 2009, according to consulting firm Mercator Advisory Group.\nIn the six months since Bluebird debuted, more than 575,000 customers have signed up, placing more than $275\u00a0million into their accounts. Many of these customers either had no desire for a traditional credit or debit card or could not apply for such products because of their poor credit histories, Schulman said.\nBut consumer advocates have warned that prepaid card operators are not always forthcoming about their fees, including charges to load money, activate the card, speak to customer service or check a balance at an automated teller machine. They worry that card operators are steering lower-income consumers into these products without fully disclosing the terms.\nThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to issue rules this year to address some of the consumer advocates\u2019 concerns, including fee disclosure policies.\n\u201cIf used correctly, prepaid cards can be far more cost effective than a regular checking account, particularly if you are someone who doesn\u2019t have the money to set aside for a minimum monthly balance,\u201d Rust said.\nBut Susan Weinstock of Pew Charitable Trusts is concerned that the FDIC insurance is not being extended to all American Express prepaid products, including a similar prepaid card offered through Target.\n\u201cDoes it set a precedent that allows other companies to get into this space and avoid FDIC insurance?\u201d Weinstock said. \u201cShould those companies go under, the big question is what will happen to consumers and their money?\u201d\nAmerican Express officials said the company is considering deposit insurance for its entire suite of prepaid cards."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "5RR4LXUM6BCZJCWKQYVRXQTZX4_5", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5RR4LXUM6BCZJCWKQYVRXQTZX4_5", "title": "Postal banking is making a comeback. Here\u2019s how to ensure it becomes a reality.", "text": "After more than a century of frequent bank failures, such traumatic events practically disappeared. In another departure from the past, the banks stopped magnifying, and sometimes causing, economic depressions. Americans began taking this more stable economic order for granted, and public interest in banking policy waned. As a result, in the mid-1960s, bankers encountered little public opposition when they successfully lobbied to shutter the Postal Savings System. As voters paid less attention to finance, industry promoted a deregulatory political agenda that made the economy less stable and banking services less accessible. Banking \u201cdeserts\u201d developed in poor urban and rural areas where scarce branches are insufficient to meet community needs. Because of high and unpredictable fees, alongside steep minimum balance requirements, maintaining a bank account is difficult for low-income Americans. A $90 billion payday loan industry emerged as an alternative to banks for millions of \u201cunbanked\u201d consumers who spend hundreds \u2014 and even thousands \u2014 of dollars annually to obtain small, short-term loans. The increasingly pressing question of the unbanked \u2014 and financial access more broadly \u2014 has become inescapable in light of the recent obstacles to delivering stimulus checks. Faced with the economic challenges of covid-19, the federal government attempted to provide struggling Americans with some income \u2014 and the broader economy with much-needed stimulus \u2014 by issuing $1,200 payments to many people. But because the banking system effectively excludes 9 million American households, the straightforward matter of getting this money to its recipients posed a problem, in many cases for the very people who most needed this income. This disaster presents the Federal Reserve and the Postal Service with a critical opportunity to make financial services more accessible. The Biden campaign\u2019s endorsement of government banking aligns with a long American tradition of advocacy for public banks. This change would expand access to affordable financial services, thereby raising the bar for existing banks, as well. Taking this stand with working people instead of Wall Street will appeal to many Americans, including key Midwestern voters who felt abandoned by the Democrats in 2016. Still, parties produce aspirational policy statements every election cycle. Once in office, presidential administrations must establish their legislative priorities. The New Deal experience reveals that political momentum toward government banking can be stymied when an administration lacks enthusiasm for the idea. After the votes have been counted, transforming party planks into laws requires sustained advocacy by organized citizens."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Last week, the joint task forces put together by former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to heal the Democratic Party at the end of a bruising primary revealed their policy proposals.\nAmong the most compelling suggestions was to make bank accounts and payment services more accessible to middle- and low-income Americans by creating new consumer banking roles for the Federal Reserve System and Postal Service.\nThe task force's endorsement of this change represents a homecoming for Democrats, pushing the party to the left and turning toward the economic ideas that Sanders has advocated throughout his career. But the history of this kind of banking policy reveals that only a concerted push from the grass roots will make it reality.\nAlthough government banking represents a major departure from recent policy, the idea has ample precedent in American history. It rose to prominence during the Populist movement of the 1890s. As a counterweight to the inequality of the Gilded Age, Populists advocated offering bank accounts at local post offices, making direct federal loans to farmers and placing the supply of money and credit under the control of government officials.\nThese ideas bore fruit in the early 20th century. Between 1910 and 1916, a postal savings bank opened for business, government launched a federal agricultural lending system and the first central bank since the days of Andrew Jackson was established \u2014 the Federal Reserve System, which, unlike its predecessor, was placed under government authority.\nAlthough working people benefited from these new policies, grass-roots interest in broadening access to public banking persisted into the 1920s, before becoming a subject of intense concern after the Great Crash of 1929. Over the next few years, Americans watched in despair as a banking crisis took hold across the country.\nIn a period before the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) was created to protect depositors, bank failures became so commonplace that the possibility of losing one\u2019s life savings haunted the national imagination. In 1930, more than 1,000 banks closed their doors. More than 2,000 bank failures occurred in the following year. People whose savings were held in these institutions risked losing everything. By 1932, many smaller cities resorted to the drastic step of suspending all local business activity for days at a time \u2014 bank holidays \u2014 to stanch this ongoing disaster.\nThe continuing deterioration of the economy created difficult conditions for banks in the early 1930s, but the incompetence of bankers \u2014 and even frequent episodes of white-collar crime \u2014 exacerbated this debacle. \u201cWe have seen millions of dollars of savings lost through inexpert and fraudulent management of banks,\u201d admitted the president of New York City\u2019s famed Bowery Savings Bank. The Depression had inflicted widespread joblessness and hunger on the nation, and the severe banking crisis was deeply worsening this agonizing economic downturn.\nThe disintegration of the privately owned and operated banking system persuaded large numbers of Americans that bankers were blundering at best and criminal at worst. They saw public banking as the solution \u2014 with working people at the forefront.\nAn organization of farmers in Washington state declared that \u201cthe private ownership and control of the financial and banking system of the United States has failed.\u201d Similarly, organized labor in the state denounced the \u201cgross mismanagement and oftentimes criminal handling of the people\u2019s savings.\u201d\nThe possibility of expanding the Postal Savings System garnered a great deal of public attention. The government\u2019s savings bank required patrons to withdraw money at their local post offices, since it did not offer checking accounts. Accordingly, legislation to add checking accounts was introduced in Congress with the backing of labor organizations across the country.\nSimultaneously, there was a grass-roots push to establish government banks and frequent calls to nationalize the entire private banking system outright. Labor unions and farmer organizations also supported such plans. The idea became so common during the Depression that a chemical worker claimed \u201cnationalizing banks is nothing radical in any way.\u201d\nEven as thousands of banks failed, however, President Herbert Hoover resisted financial change.\nThe inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt in March 1933 ushered in new leadership as the banking system spiraled into collapse. Acting swiftly, Roosevelt declared a national bank holiday until government intervention \u2014 loans and reorganization \u2014 permitted banks to operate safely again.\nThis action saved the banks, but it did not make the public any more forgiving about the suffering they had caused. Continuing grass-roots demands for public banking kept bankers on their heels as Congress debated further change.\nAnd the bankers lost. Thanks to overwhelming public support, in the Banking Act of 1933, Congress separated commercial and investment banking and created the FDIC, over the objections of the banking industry. New Deal policies also made credit more available to farmers and homeowners, expanded the money supply and aided the formation of credit unions.\nBut Roosevelt accepted the private banking system. In the face of a national crisis, he opted to save existing banks, rather than venturing into the uncharted waters of public banking. As one prominent banker acknowledged, \u201cWe bankers got off pretty light in the Banking Act of 1933.\u201d\nBecause these measures addressed a number of financial weak points and stabilized the economy, they dampened demands for further change. After more than a century of frequent bank failures, such traumatic events practically disappeared. In another departure from the past, the banks stopped magnifying, and sometimes causing, economic depressions.\nAmericans began taking this more stable economic order for granted, and public interest in banking policy waned. As a result, in the mid-1960s, bankers encountered little public opposition when they successfully lobbied to shutter the Postal Savings System.\nAs voters paid less attention to finance, industry promoted a deregulatory political agenda that made the economy less stable and banking services less accessible. Banking \u201cdeserts\u201d developed in poor urban and rural areas where scarce branches are insufficient to meet community needs. Because of high and unpredictable fees, alongside steep minimum balance requirements, maintaining a bank account is difficult for low-income Americans. A $90 billion payday loan industry emerged as an alternative to banks for millions of \u201cunbanked\u201d consumers who spend hundreds \u2014 and even thousands \u2014 of dollars annually to obtain small, short-term loans.\nThe increasingly pressing question of the unbanked \u2014 and financial access more broadly \u2014 has become inescapable in light of the recent obstacles to delivering stimulus checks. Faced with the economic challenges of covid-19, the federal government attempted to provide struggling Americans with some income \u2014 and the broader economy with much-needed stimulus \u2014 by issuing $1,200 payments to many people.\nBut because the banking system effectively excludes 9 million American households, the straightforward matter of getting this money to its recipients posed a problem, in many cases for the very people who most needed this income. This disaster presents the Federal Reserve and the Postal Service with a critical opportunity to make financial services more accessible.\nThe Biden campaign\u2019s endorsement of government banking aligns with a long American tradition of advocacy for public banks. This change would expand access to affordable financial services, thereby raising the bar for existing banks, as well. Taking this stand with working people instead of Wall Street will appeal to many Americans, including key Midwestern voters who felt abandoned by the Democrats in 2016.\nStill, parties produce aspirational policy statements every election cycle. Once in office, presidential administrations must establish their legislative priorities. The New Deal experience reveals that political momentum toward government banking can be stymied when an administration lacks enthusiasm for the idea. After the votes have been counted, transforming party planks into laws requires sustained advocacy by organized citizens."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "635463be-da15-11e4-bf0b-f648b95a6488_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "635463be-da15-11e4-bf0b-f648b95a6488_0", "title": "Private sector lenders aren\u2019t helping those underserved by banks", "text": "Charles Lane asked the right question in his April 2 op-ed, \u201cCan the post office be a bank?\u201d He just got the answer wrong. Mr. Lane asked \u201cwhat\u2019s the practical alternative?\u201d to payday lending, an industry with a business model that often traps users into vicious cycles of debt. Mr. Lane wrote that lenders are a better alternative than loan sharks. He failed to report that payday lenders charge annual interest rates of 300 percent to 400 percent! They are \u201clegal\u201d loan sharks. Nearly 100 million Americans are underserved by traditional banks. Many are seniors who cannot travel very far. Postal banking is a practical, public alternative to the great need for financial services. It offers a business model to protect consumers from abusive practices with control over their financial lives. The arguments in favor are many: location and accessibility of post offices, experience with financial services, a popular and trusted public institution, and proven success around the world. Mr. Lane\u2019s major concern is that postal banking \u201cwould short-circuit potentially beneficial innovation by the private sector.\u201d Given the track record of the existing private-sector options \u2014 from banks \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d to payday lending \u2014 the time is now to institute a proven solution: postal banking. Richard Fiesta, Washington The writer is executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans."}], "old": [{"_id": "635463be-da15-11e4-bf0b-f648b95a6488_0", "title": "Private sector lenders aren\u2019t helping those underserved by banks", "text": "The arguments in favor are many: location and accessibility of post offices, experience with financial services, a popular and trusted public institution, and proven success around the world. Mr. Lane\u2019s major concern is that postal banking \u201cwould short-circuit potentially beneficial innovation by the private sector.\u201d Given the track record of the existing private-sector options \u2014 from banks \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d to payday lending \u2014 the time is now to institute a proven solution: postal banking. Richard Fiesta, Washington The writer is executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Charles Lane asked the right question in his April\u20092 op-ed, \u201cCan the post office be a bank?\u201d He just got the answer wrong.\nMr.\u00a0Lane asked \u201cwhat\u2019s the practical alternative?\u201d to payday lending, an industry with a business model that often traps users into vicious cycles of debt. Mr.\u00a0Lane wrote that lenders are a better alternative than loan sharks. He failed to report that payday lenders charge annual interest rates of 300\u00a0percent to 400\u00a0percent! They are \u201clegal\u201d loan sharks.\nNearly 100\u00a0million Americans are underserved by traditional banks. Many are seniors who cannot travel very far. Postal banking is a practical, public alternative to the great need for financial services. It offers a business model to protect consumers from abusive practices with control over their financial lives.\nThe arguments in favor are many: location and accessibility of post offices, experience with financial services, a popular and trusted public institution, and proven success around the world. Mr.\u2009Lane\u2019s major concern is that postal banking \u201cwould short-circuit potentially beneficial innovation by the private sector.\u201d\nGiven the track record of the existing private-sector options \u2014 from banks \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d to payday lending \u2014 the time is now to institute a proven solution: postal banking.\nRichard Fiesta, Washington\nThe writer is executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "6M3RX4W5EJHUVB5LGHSC6GV77E_2", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6M3RX4W5EJHUVB5LGHSC6GV77E_2", "title": "Facebook\u2019s Libra cryptocurrency is part of a disturbing financial trend", "text": "from community banks, consumer groups and labor unions. In the lead-up to the financial crisis, giant commercial lenders GMAC and GE Capital used their banks to access cheap deposits to fund some of their risky activities, like packaging securities backed by risky mortgages, leading to billions of dollars in taxpayer bailouts. Unfortunately, instead of eliminating this loophole, the 2010 Wall Street reform law called only for a three-year pause to study industrial bank charters. While there were no industrial charter applications from 2011 to 2016, Big Tech is now looking to come through the door that Congress left open, and regulators in the Trump administration have signaled willingness to entertain their applications. So far, these applications have largely been limited to firms that already offer financial services, such as the $28 billion payment company Square. But companies like Facebook and Amazon probably aren\u2019t far behind. (Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Meanwhile, the 1999 law that repealed the Depression-era Glass-Steagall Act also allowed banks to own and operate commercial businesses. In congressional testimony, a JPMorgan executive argued that becoming a diversified financial holding company would allow it to offer new conveniences such as opening an in-house travel agency to serve its credit card customers. It\u2019s one thing for a bank to make a loan to, or hold publicly traded shares in, a company with millions of shareholders. But things get more treacherous when a bank is the owner and operator of a company that gives it special insights, market advantages, and the ability to influence nonfinancial businesses in a way that benefits its own financial positions but costs everyone else. For example, a bank that owns an oil terminal could give its commodity traders special insights on regional oil supplies or even seek to control the flow of oil, depending upon its bets in the oil futures markets. That is why banks are supposed to keep the businesses they own at arm\u2019s length through financial and management firewalls, such as limits on the amount of capital a bank can commit to these businesses and prohibitions against involvement in day-to-day operations. But investigations in 2013 and 2014 by two Senate committees revealed that banks were regularly exceeding legal limits on ownership and control. Businesses that rely on aluminum, for instance, reported that a metals warehouse owned by Goldman Sachs was driving up the cost of that"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In June, Facebook announced plans to effectively create its own currency, called Libra \u2014 and eventually a financial system to go with it. Libra was, of course, cloaked in corporate-speak that promised lower costs and more freedom for consumers and businesses through \u201cinnovation\u201d or \u201cinclusion\u201d or \u201cscalability.\u201d But the hubris, from a company with such a mottled record complying with privacy, data and other laws, was so galling that it sparked something rare these days: bipartisan condemnation.\nWhat should really concern critics, though, is that Libra is a small part of a larger, more troubling trend: the blurring line between finance and commerce. This trend, now a few decades old, has significant implications for customer privacy, competition, financial risk, and concentrated economic and political power. Stopping Libra would be a sign that policymakers are starting to take these issues seriously, but unwinding the threat of the industry-finance colossus will be much harder.\nIn his 1936 message to Congress, President Franklin Roosevelt warned of the risks from \u201cdomination of government by financial and industrial groups, numerically small but politically dominant.\u201d With such concerns in mind, our nation has held that it\u2019s critical to separate banking from commercial business \u2014 even enshrining this principle in policy. In practice, however, legal loopholes created by lawyers and lobbyists let financial and commercial companies combine under the same corporate structure.\nFirst, industrial companies opened their own banks because, as the robber Willie Sutton once put it, \u201cThat\u2019s where the money is.\u201d These \u201cindustrial loan\u201d companies are state-chartered banks owned by nonfinancial corporations like Harley-Davidson and Target to make loans, offer credit cards or process transactions. They are allowed to take customer deposits without the same oversight that applies to most banks. For example, their nonfinancial parent companies are not subject to oversight by a banking agency, regulators have fewer tools to address solvency issues, and these banks have fewer restrictions on their activities in the event that they fail to serve the credit needs of their communities. It\u2019s an attractive proposition because deposits are a cheap source of funding, government-provided deposit insurance covers losses up to a certain amount, and retailers are able to drum up business by financing customer purchases.\nIndustrial loan companies were a sleepy part of the financial marketplace until big retailers like Walmart and Home Depot saw an opportunity and applied to open their own banks, in the face of opposition from community banks, consumer groups and labor unions. In the lead-up to the financial crisis, giant commercial lenders GMAC and GE Capital used their banks to access cheap deposits to fund some of their risky activities, like packaging securities backed by risky mortgages, leading to billions of dollars in taxpayer bailouts.\nUnfortunately, instead of eliminating this loophole, the 2010 Wall Street reform law called only for a three-year pause to study industrial bank charters. While there were no industrial charter applications from 2011 to 2016, Big Tech is now looking to come through the door that Congress left open, and regulators in the Trump administration have signaled willingness to entertain their applications. So far, these applications have largely been limited to firms that already offer financial services, such as the $28 billion payment company Square. But companies like Facebook and Amazon probably aren\u2019t far behind. (Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)\nMeanwhile, the 1999 law that repealed the Depression-era Glass-Steagall Act also allowed banks to own and operate commercial businesses. In congressional testimony, a JPMorgan executive argued that becoming a diversified financial holding company would allow it to offer new conveniences such as opening an in-house travel agency to serve its credit card customers.\nIt\u2019s one thing for a bank to make a loan to, or hold publicly traded shares in, a company with millions of shareholders. But things get more treacherous when a bank is the owner and operator of a company that gives it special insights, market advantages, and the ability to influence nonfinancial businesses in a way that benefits its own financial positions but costs everyone else. For example, a bank that owns an oil terminal could give its commodity traders special insights on regional oil supplies or even seek to control the flow of oil, depending upon its bets in the oil futures markets. That is why banks are supposed to keep the businesses they own at arm\u2019s length through financial and management firewalls, such as limits on the amount of capital a bank can commit to these businesses and prohibitions against involvement in day-to-day operations.\nBut investigations in 2013 and 2014 by two Senate committees revealed that banks were regularly exceeding legal limits on ownership and control. Businesses that rely on aluminum, for instance, reported that a metals warehouse owned by Goldman Sachs was driving up the cost of that commodity, raising the price of products such as canned beer and soda. JPMorgan used its energy trading business to manipulate energy markets, making consumers pay higher electricity rates. After these scandals, regulators promised reforms, but five years later, they have done nothing.\nThis is the real threat of Libra. Facebook could eventually open its own bank and provide a full suite of credit and payment services. Under that arrangement, it could offer favorable credit terms and faster transactions to customers who use its banking services at affiliated retailers. Conversely, Citigroup could open an online retailer, offering lower prices to its bank customers. Either of these scenarios would spell trouble for small banks and retailers forced to compete on an unlevel playing field against big businesses with outsize market power.\nThen there\u2019s the question of privacy. Commingling a digital marketplace with all of a customer\u2019s financial information, including purchases and deposits, is bad for consumers and taxpayers. First, it centralizes sensitive information \u2014 contradicting the supposed purpose of decentralized cryptocurrencies \u2014 giving banks and tech companies the ability to mine customers\u2019 data and determine the maximum price that each is willing or able to pay. Second, concentrating so much customer information in a single entity also makes it extra vulnerable to data breaches and abuse. Third, combining a merchant with banking, payment and credit services has the potential to undermine important consumer protections, including credit reporting, debt collection and wage garnishment, giving a single company powerful leverage over its customers by reporting negative information about them, denying their transactions, accessing their bank account funds and so on.\nFinally, allowing nonfinancial businesses access to the federal financial support programs that backstop our banking system could lead to taxpayer-funded bailouts for troubled retailers, tech companies and others. There are supposed to be firewalls preventing this, but those contain holes of their own.\nConsider how all of this is already playing out: The largest Japanese online marketplace, Rakuten, has applied for a U.S. industrial loan company charter, prompting the banking industry\u2019s largest trade association to raise concerns about \u201cthe free flow of credit, consumer privacy and possible conflicts of interest.\u201d Walmart recently filed a patent application to create its own cryptocurrency, and Amazon is targeting its less-creditworthy customers with a subprime credit card, which has higher rates, that can be used only on its platforms.\nLouis Brandeis said of the early-20th-century trusts that \u201cboth the financial concentration and the combinations which they have served were, in the main, against the public interest.\u201d Big banks and big tech may rely on fancy algorithms and apps instead of railroads, but his words are just as true today.\nRegardless of whether Facebook backs away from its proposal voluntarily or is forced to do so, public officials need to send a clear message that any other companies contemplating a similar scheme should think again. It wasn\u2019t the first company to have this idea, and it surely won\u2019t be the last."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "6b2d3908-c62f-11e3-8b9a-8e0977a24aeb_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6b2d3908-c62f-11e3-8b9a-8e0977a24aeb_0", "title": "Wal-Mart introduces money-transfer service", "text": "Wal-Mart is launching a new domestic money transfer service called \"Walmart-2-Walmart\" to compete directly with Western Union. (John Gress/Reuters) Wal-Mart introduced its own money-transfer service Thursday, moving one step closer to becoming one of the biggest financial services providers in the nation. The service, called Walmart-2-Walmart, allows customers to transfer funds between any of its 4,000 U.S. locations, enabling the big-box retailer to claim a cut of the market now served by Western Union and MoneyGram. The recipient can access the money with a personal identification number. Wal-Mart will charge $4.50 for any transaction under $50 and $9.50 for larger transfers up to $900. That\u2019s substantially cheaper than MoneyGram, which has branches inside Wal-Mart stores across the country. \u201cWe are leveraging our size and our scale to make a difference for our customers,\u201d Daniel Eckert, vice president of financial services for Wal-Mart U.S., said in a call with reporters. Officials at Wal-Mart say the new service will have broad appeal among the \u201cunbanked\u201d and \u201cunderbanked,\u201d the 28 percent of Americans with limited or no access to the traditional banking system. That population tends to use alternative financial firms such as check cashers that also offer bill pay and money order services. Over the years, Wal-Mart has tried to siphon off those customers by providing the same products at lower rates. \u201cWalmart-2-Walmart is really an extension of our broad assortment of everyday financial services that we offer to our customers,\u201d Eckert said. \u201cThis is about providing those everyday financial services for less and making sure that they can save a little here and there.\u201d The company broadened its reach two years ago with the introduction of Bluebird, a prepaid American Express card that functions like a bank account. Wal-Mart aimed the card squarely at customers of the banking industry, which has fought vigorously to keep the retailer from obtaining a bank charter. Company executives have said Wal-Mart is no longer interested in delving into banking, especially when its current strategy affords many of the same benefits without the regulatory headaches. Indeed, the retailer capped the transfer amount at $900 to avoid triggering regulations that require companies to file activity reports. \u201cBy capping the amount at $900, we could reduce some of the additional complexities that come with sending and receiving money in the U.S.,\u201d Eckert said. \u201cIf you could structure your service in a way to operate for less at a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Wal-Mart is launching a new domestic money transfer service called \"Walmart-2-Walmart\" to compete directly with Western Union. (John Gress/Reuters)\nWal-Mart introduced its own money-transfer service Thursday, moving one step closer to becoming one of the biggest financial services providers in the nation.\nThe service, called Walmart-2-Walmart, allows customers to transfer funds between any of its 4,000 U.S. locations, enabling the big-box retailer to claim a cut of the market now served by Western Union and MoneyGram.\nThe recipient can access the money with a personal identification number. Wal-Mart will charge $4.50 for any transaction under $50 and $9.50 for larger transfers up to $900. That\u2019s substantially cheaper than MoneyGram, which has branches inside Wal-Mart stores across the country.\n\u201cWe are leveraging our size and our scale to make a difference for our customers,\u201d Daniel Eckert, vice president of financial services for Wal-Mart U.S., said in a call with reporters.\nOfficials at Wal-Mart say the new service will have broad appeal among the \u201cunbanked\u201d and \u201cunderbanked,\u201d the 28 percent of Americans with limited or no access to the traditional banking system. That population tends to use alternative financial firms such as check cashers that also offer bill pay and money order services. Over the years, Wal-Mart has tried to siphon off those customers by providing the same products at lower rates.\n\u201cWalmart-2-Walmart is really an extension of our broad assortment of everyday financial services that we offer to our customers,\u201d Eckert said. \u201cThis is about providing those everyday financial services for less and making sure that they can save a little here and there.\u201d\nThe company broadened its reach two years ago with the introduction of Bluebird, a prepaid American Express card that functions like a bank account. Wal-Mart aimed the card squarely at customers of the banking industry, which has fought vigorously to keep the retailer from obtaining a bank charter.\nCompany executives have said Wal-Mart is no longer interested in delving into banking, especially when its current strategy affords many of the same benefits without the regulatory headaches. Indeed, the retailer capped the transfer amount at $900 to avoid triggering regulations that require companies to file activity reports.\n\u201cBy capping the amount at $900, we could reduce some of the additional complexities that come with sending and receiving money in the U.S.,\u201d Eckert said. \u201cIf you could structure your service in a way to operate for less at a certain break point, it allows us to provide a simple and straightforward architecture at an everyday low price.\u201d\nWalmart-2-Walmart will be available starting next Thursday. The company, despite its global reach, will limit the service to the United States. Ria, a subsidiary of Euronet, is the licensed money-transfer operator for Wal-Mart transactions."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "80488e3e-8442-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_2", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "80488e3e-8442-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_2", "title": "Growth of prepaid could be boon for banks on the back end", "text": "purpose products might be a bit more profitable on the front end, but it\u2019s difficult to retain those consumers because often there\u2019s not a consistent stream of income tied to the card.\u201d Barbella said the industry has benefited from an explosion in the use of prepaid cards since the credit crisis. Consumers made 2.78 billion prepaid Visa and MasterCard transactions totaling $99.5 billion in 2012, up 19 percent from the prior year, according to the most recent data from Nilson Report, a trade publication. Bancorp Bank is the largest prepaid sponsor, with nearly 25 percent of the market share, according to Nilson. The firm, along with its main competitor MetaBank, has held top rank in the sponsorship business during continued consolidation. As government regulators raise concerns about safeguards and fees tied to benefit and payroll cards, some banks have exited the market. Earlier this month, JPMorgan Chase said it planned to stop issuing prepaid cards for corporations and the government, in light of a New York state probe into the fees workers encounter for using the cards. \u201cThe barriers to entry are so much more significant now than they were eight or 10 years ago,\u201d Barbella said. Banks have to ask themselves: \u201cCan you really afford to comply at the levels required when you don\u2019t have a portfolio in place to generate the revenues to offset that expense?\u201d McBride contends that regulatory and reputation risk are a part of the calculation in every service that banks offer, and the growth opportunities in sponsorship may be enough to offset that gamble. \u201cPayment transactions have been an area that banks have identified as a potential for revenue stream where if they\u2019re not careful,\u201d they can be pushed out of the business altogether, he said. \u201cThey understand the risks.\u201d There is more than one avenue for banks to participate in the prepaid market, McBride said, noting that more banks are offering their own cards to existing customers and people who might not qualify for a checking account. About a dozen of the country\u2019s largest banks, including JPMorgan and PNC Bank, offer their own prepaid cards. It is unclear how much banks are making from these cards, as they don\u2019t break out the revenue in their earnings. But the cards are attractive because they are exempt from an amendment in Dodd-Frank that restricts the amount banks can earn from debit and credit card fees."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Prepaid cards are attractive for banks because they are exempt from an amendment in Dodd-Frank that restricted the amount banks could earn from debit and credit card fees. (John Terhune)\nThe entrance of more retailers such as T-Mobile into the prepaid debit card market could entice more retailers to launch their own cards and more banks to back them.\nBehind every prepaid card is a bank that routes transactions and holds deposits in exchange for fee income. A handful of regional banks have dominated this niche market, but as the industry grows, more institutions could latch onto the service to offset diminishing revenue.\nGaining a foothold as a sponsor, however, entails a level of management and regulatory compliance that few banks can handle or afford. And as government agencies crack down on banks for failing to oversee their third-party partners, the risks of the business could outweigh the rewards.\n\u201cThere\u2019s great demand for bank sponsors,\u201d said Karen L. Garrett, a partner in the banking and financial services division of Stinson Leonard Street. \u201cBut it\u2019s not something to be done without an enormous investment into the infrastructure to manage the whole thing.\u201d\nStill, in the age of the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul, banks have become adept at dealing with regulation and are better equipped to comply with government demands than other financial institutions are, said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.\nBanks back a variety of prepaid products, including ones used for general purchases, corporate payroll and government tax refunds or benefits. Prepaid card sponsors make money off deposits, the charges consumers incur for using the card and interchange \u2014 the fees merchants pay when people purchase goods with plastic.\n\u201cOur goal is to balance our portfolio,\u201d said John Barbella, senior vice president at Bancorp Bank, which sponsors the Visa prepaid card that T-Mobile introduced on Wednesday. \u201cWith benefit cards, there are significant dollars being spent at much lower margins. General purpose products might be a bit more profitable on the front end, but it\u2019s difficult to retain those consumers because often there\u2019s not a consistent stream of income tied to the card.\u201d\nBarbella said the industry has benefited from an explosion in the use of prepaid cards since the credit crisis. Consumers made 2.78 billion prepaid Visa and MasterCard transactions totaling $99.5 billion in 2012, up 19 percent from the prior year, according to the most recent data from Nilson Report, a trade publication.\nBancorp Bank is the largest prepaid sponsor, with nearly 25\u2007percent of the market share, according to Nilson.\nThe firm, along with its main competitor MetaBank, has held top rank in the sponsorship business during continued consolidation. As government regulators raise concerns about safeguards and fees tied to benefit and payroll cards, some banks have exited the market.\nEarlier this month, JPMorgan Chase said it planned to stop issuing prepaid cards for corporations and the government, in light of a New York state probe into the fees workers encounter for using the cards.\n\u201cThe barriers to entry are so much more significant now than they were eight or 10 years ago,\u201d Barbella said. Banks have to ask themselves: \u201cCan you really afford to comply at the levels required when you don\u2019t have a portfolio in place to generate the revenues to offset that expense?\u201d\nMcBride contends that regulatory and reputation risk are a part of the calculation in every service that banks offer, and the growth opportunities in sponsorship may be enough to offset that gamble.\n\u201cPayment transactions have been an area that banks have identified as a potential for revenue stream where if they\u2019re not careful,\u201d they can be pushed out of the business altogether, he said. \u201cThey understand the risks.\u201d\nThere is more than one avenue for banks to participate in the prepaid market, McBride said, noting that more banks are offering their own cards to existing customers and people who might not qualify for a checking account.\nAbout a dozen of the country\u2019s largest banks, including JPMorgan and PNC Bank, offer their own prepaid cards. It is unclear how much banks are making from these cards, as they don\u2019t break out the revenue in their earnings. But the cards are attractive because they are exempt from an amendment in Dodd-Frank that restricts the amount banks can earn from debit and credit card fees."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "81d8540c-670f-11e1-a31f-43bfba6ff045_2", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "81d8540c-670f-11e1-a31f-43bfba6ff045_2", "title": "The pros and cons of ditching cash for electronic currency", "text": "in my cash. I see the value in using it over electronic means such as credit and debit cards. Studies show that using plastic influences people to overspend. Paying with plastic doesn\u2019t register in people\u2019s brains the same way as when they use cash. I don\u2019t trust that the minds behind electronic money will not manipulate people into spending more than they can afford. With cash, you have limitations. If you go to a store and have only $100 on you and no other form of payment, you can only spend up to that amount. Cash is a stopgap. Wolman shares my concern about credit and how it can be a catalyst for personal debt. But don\u2019t use the problems with plastic to dismiss the argument that we should get rid of cash, he says. He wants to see someone build an app that will \u201csimulate the pain in spending currently only associated with cash.\u201d What about the people who rely on cash for tips, you might ask? Perhaps soon you will be able to tip by aiming your electronic device at the tip receiver\u2019s smartphone, Wolman says. The most compelling argument for getting rid of cash comes when Wolman talks about the poor, whose lives are financially marginalized because they don\u2019t have easy and affordable access to basic banking services. He visits Kenya and India to look at ways some are helping the poor transact without cash by using cellphones. \u201cWhen your only option is cash, your assets are stuck in the material world,\u201d he writes. \u201cThe poorer you are, the more crushing the costs and risks of cash become. . . . A fire or natural disaster can obliterate your meager savings.\u201d Wolman is probably right that someday we will transition from physical money to electronic currency. I\u2019m not ready to embrace his futuristic digital world, but he did come closer to convincing me that we are coming to an end of money. I\u2019ll be hosting a live online discussion about \u201cThe End of Money\u201d on April 5 at 1 p.m. at washingtonpost.com/conversations. Wolman will join me to talk about his hope for a cashless society. For a chance to win a copy of this month\u2019s book club selection, send an e-mail to colorofmoney@washpost.com with your name and address. Readers can write to Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071, or singletarym@washpost.com."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "David Wolman can envision a time when we won\u2019t need to use cash. In his cashless society, people can text money.\nBut I\u2019m not buying it. Didn\u2019t we learn something from the Great Recession, when an over-reliance on all things not cash nearly took down our economy?\nNonetheless, I was quite intrigued by the mobile money world Wolman advocates in his book \u201cThe End of Money: Counterfeiters, Preachers, Techies, Dreamers \u2014 and the Coming Cashless Society.\u201d\nI\u2019ve selected \u201cThe End of Money\u201d for this month\u2019s Color of Money Book Club \u2014 not because I agree with Wolman that we ought to ditch our dollar bills and coins but because he presents a fascinating and engaging thesis.\nWolman, a contributing editor at Wired magazine, writes: \u201cAlthough predictions about the end of cash are as old as credit cards, a number of developments are ganging up on paper and metal money like never before: mistrust of national currencies, novel payment tools, anxiety about government debt, the triumph of mobile phones, the rise of virtual and alternative currencies, environmental concerns, and a wave of evidence showing that physical money is the most harmful to the billions of people who have so little of it.\u201d\nWolman provides a crucial look at the role of cash starting with the Yuan Dynasty in 13th-century China, when coins were replaced with paper money. He introduces a Georgia pastor who believes the end of cash will signal the beginning of Armageddon.\nFrom the start, Wolman knows it\u2019s going to be tough to get people to part with their cash. But, he writes, \u201cThe challenge of convincing people that a technology is trustworthy is nothing new. .\u2009.\u2009. Luckily, humanity has a solid track record of warming to innovations, including money-related ones.\u201d\nI\u2019ll concede that point. It was only recently that I felt comfortable depositing checks at an ATM.\nWolman describes meeting electronic experts in Japan who are developing biometric technology to make our easy plastic payments even easier. \u201cOne of these technologies uses the unique three-dimensional pattern of veins within every person\u2019s fingertip. Touch your finger to a register, vending machine or subway turnstile and you can instantly settle up without having to break your stride. .\u2009.\u2009. I have a hard time seeing this kind of technology as negative,\u201d he says.\nYet, the technophobe that I am, I see so many negatives.\nI have faith in my cash. I see the value in using it over electronic means such as credit and debit cards. Studies show that using plastic influences people to overspend. Paying with plastic doesn\u2019t register in people\u2019s brains the same way as when they use cash.\nI don\u2019t trust that the minds behind electronic money will not manipulate people into spending more than they can afford. With cash, you have limitations. If you go to a store and have only $100 on you and no other form of payment, you can only spend up to that amount. Cash is a stopgap.\nWolman shares my concern about credit and how it can be a catalyst for personal debt. But don\u2019t use the problems with plastic to dismiss the argument that we should get rid of cash, he says. He wants to see someone build an app that will \u201csimulate the pain in spending currently only associated with cash.\u201d\nWhat about the people who rely on cash for tips, you might ask?\nPerhaps soon you will be able to tip by aiming your electronic device at the tip receiver\u2019s smartphone, Wolman says.\nThe most compelling argument for getting rid of cash comes when Wolman talks about the poor, whose lives are financially marginalized because they don\u2019t have easy and affordable access to basic banking services. He visits Kenya and India to look at ways some are helping the poor transact without cash by using cellphones.\n\u201cWhen your only option is cash, your assets are stuck in the material world,\u201d he writes. \u201cThe poorer you are, the more crushing the costs and risks of cash become. .\u2009.\u2009. A fire or natural disaster can obliterate your meager savings.\u201d\nWolman is probably right that someday we will transition from physical money to electronic currency. I\u2019m not ready to embrace his futuristic digital world, but he did come closer to convincing me that we are coming to an end of money.\nI\u2019ll be hosting a live online discussion about \u201cThe End of Money\u201d on April 5 at 1 p.m. at washingtonpost.com/conversations. Wolman will join me to talk about his hope for a cashless society. For a chance to win a copy of this month\u2019s book club selection, send an e-mail to colorofmoney@washpost.com with your name and address.\nReaders can write to Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071, or singletarym@washpost.com. Personal responses may not be possible, and comments or questions may be used in a future column, with the writer\u2019s name, unless otherwise requested. To read previous Color of Money columns, go to postbusiness.com."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "9584295234e46a836dfde4f42ba2ca09_1", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "9584295234e46a836dfde4f42ba2ca09_1", "title": "Say goodbye to your neighborhood bank branch", "text": "the number of bank branches could be cut in half over the next decade. A separate survey from Accenture, the management consulting company, shows why: Shifting consumer behavior. \"We believe the consumer banks in the US and Europe are at a tipping point,\" wrote the authors of the Citi report, which was published late last month. The number of bank branches in the United States \u2014 represented by the dashed blue line in the chart below \u2014 could shrink by a third within the decade, according to their forecasts. Banks per capita. (Citi) Branches just don't matter as much to customers Customer preferences are key to that industry transformation. What they want and expect from banks has changed dramatically in just a few years. In 2013, Accenture found that 48 percent of Americans surveyed said they would switch banks if their current provider's local branch closed. In last year's survey, that share shrank to just 19 percent. In just two years, the local branch went from being a concern of half of banking customers to just a fifth. Results from a banking consumer survey. (Accenture) Separate data, from industry analysts Mercator Advisory Group and cited by Citi, paints the same picture: The share of customers who reported going to a branch to speak to a teller at least once in the previous year fell from 79 percent to 70 percent from 2011 to 2014. The share that reported visiting a branch to speak with a customer service representative fell from 62 percent to 45 percent. The rising importance of Internet services As branches matter less, online banking matters more. For the first time in Accenture's research, good online services ranked as the top reason to stick with a bank. Some 38 percent of consumers surveyed last year cited that as a reason to stay with their bank, while just 28 percent cited branch location. Twenty-eight percent also cited low fees. That holds true for populations that have long been used to visiting branches, too: Among customers over the age of 55, the preference for online banking leads the desire for convenient branch locations by a similar 10-percentage-point margin. \"This evolution in consumer preference signals a redefinition of banking convenience,\" the report's authors wrote. \"It is no longer always measured in miles to the branch or extra service hours \u2014 it is increasingly measured in clicks and apps.\" A deeper dive"}], "old": [{"_id": "9584295234e46a836dfde4f42ba2ca09_1", "title": "Say goodbye to your neighborhood bank branch", "text": "report, which was published late last month. The number of bank branches in the United States \u2014 represented by the dashed blue line in the chart below \u2014 could shrink by a third within the decade, according to their forecasts. Banks per capita. (Citi) Branches just don't matter as much to customers Customer preferences are key to that industry transformation. What they want and expect from banks has changed dramatically in just a few years. In just two years, the local branch went from being a concern of half of banking customers to just a fifth. Results from a banking consumer survey. (Accenture) Separate data, from industry analysts Mercator Advisory Group and cited by Citi, paints the same picture: The share of customers who reported going to a branch to speak to a teller at least once in the previous year fell from 79 percent to 70 percent from 2011 to 2014. The share that reported visiting a branch to speak with a customer service representative fell from 62 percent to 45 percent. The rising importance of Internet services As branches matter less, online banking matters more. For the first time in Accenture's research, good online services ranked as the top reason to stick with a bank. Some 38 percent of consumers surveyed last year cited that as a reason to stay with their bank, while just 28 percent cited branch location. Twenty-eight percent also cited low fees. That holds true for populations that have long been used to visiting branches, too: Among customers over the age of 55, the preference for online banking leads the desire for convenient branch locations by a similar 10-percentage-point margin. \"This evolution in consumer preference signals a redefinition of banking convenience,\" the report's authors wrote. \"It is no longer always measured in miles to the branch or extra service hours \u2014 it is increasingly measured in clicks and apps.\" A deeper dive into the Accenture data, represented in the Citi chart below, shows how little branches factor into most bank interactions. Overall, customers engage with their banks an average of 17 times a month. Yet only two of those interactions involve human contact. In the United States, only two out of 15 monthly bank interactions involves a branch. \"Banks will follow consumer behavior and close branches as they see their consumers shift away from branches to digital,\" the authors of the Citi report write."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "A customer uses an ATM in Athens\u00a0in this\u00a02012 file photo. (Angelos Tzortzinis/Bloomberg)\nThat bank branch on\u00a0the corner \u2014 and the one on the\u00a0way to work \u2014\u00a0may not be there\u00a0much longer.\nAs technology transforms\u00a0banking,\u00a0like\u00a0it has so many other sectors, the consequence\u00a0could\u00a0be a\u00a0dramatic decline in the industry's\u00a0outposts over the next decade, experts say.\nFormer Barclays chief executive Antony Jenkins laid it out in particularly stark terms in a\u00a0speech last fall: The\u00a0global industry, under pressure to meet\u00a0customer demands for automation and cheaper services, will slash employment and branches by\u00a020 percent to 50 percent\u00a0over the next decade, he estimated.\n\"I have no doubt that the financial industry will face a series of Uber moments,\" he said in the late-November speech in London, referring to the way that Uber and other ride-hailing companies have rapidly unsettled\u00a0the taxi industry.\nAnd that's\u00a0not just the opinion\u00a0of one well-informed man.\nA sharp drop in fixed-income trading slammed results at Bank of America. Profit also fell at Wells, but the bank managed to grow revenue.\nIn a recent report, analysts with Citi said they agreed\u00a0with Jenkins's view that the number of bank branches could be\u00a0cut in half\u00a0over the next decade. A separate\u00a0survey from Accenture, the management consulting company, shows why: Shifting consumer behavior.\n\"We believe the consumer banks in the US and Europe are at a tipping point,\" wrote the authors of the Citi report, which was published late last month.\nThe number of bank branches in the United States \u2014 represented by the dashed blue line in the\u00a0chart below \u2014 could shrink by a third within the decade, according to their forecasts.\nBanks per capita. (Citi)\nBranches just don't matter as much to customers\nCustomer preferences are key to that industry transformation. What\u00a0they\u00a0want and expect from banks has changed dramatically in just a few years.\nIn 2013, Accenture found that 48 percent of\u00a0Americans surveyed said they would switch\u00a0banks if their current provider's local branch closed. In last year's survey, that share shrank to just 19 percent.\nIn just two years, the local branch went from being a concern of half of banking customers to just a fifth.\nResults from a banking consumer survey. (Accenture)\nSeparate data, from industry analysts\u00a0Mercator Advisory Group and cited by Citi, paints the same picture: The share of customers who reported going to a\u00a0branch\u00a0to speak\u00a0to a teller at least once in the previous year fell from 79 percent to 70 percent from 2011 to 2014. The share that reported\u00a0visiting\u00a0a branch to speak with\u00a0a customer service representative fell from 62 percent to 45 percent.\nThe rising importance of Internet services\nAs\u00a0branches matter less, online banking matters more.\nFor the first time in Accenture's research, good online services ranked as the top reason to stick with a bank. Some\u00a038 percent of consumers surveyed last year cited that as a reason to stay with their bank, while just 28 percent cited branch location. Twenty-eight percent also cited low fees.\nThat\u00a0holds true\u00a0for\u00a0populations\u00a0that have long been\u00a0used to visiting branches, too: Among customers\u00a0over the age of 55, the preference for online banking leads\u00a0the desire for convenient branch locations by a similar 10-percentage-point margin.\n\"This evolution in consumer preference signals a redefinition of banking convenience,\" the report's authors wrote. \"It is no longer always measured in miles to the branch or extra service hours \u2014 it is increasingly measured in clicks and apps.\"\nA deeper dive into the Accenture data, represented in the Citi chart below, shows how little branches factor into most bank interactions.\nOverall, customers engage\u00a0with their banks an average of 17 times a month. Yet only two of those interactions involve human contact.\u00a0In the United States, only two out of 15 monthly bank interactions involves a branch.\n\"Banks will follow consumer behavior and close branches as they see their consumers shift away from branches to digital,\" the authors of the Citi report write.\nHow consumers interact with their banks. (Citi)\nBut geography matters\nWhile Citi expects an industrywide decline, it expects the transformation to\u00a0play out differently both globally and within countries.\nGenerally, developed markets can expect branch numbers to dwindle, while emerging markets can expect the opposite, the authors write. That applies to the United States, too, even though it seems to lag its European and Nordic peers by about five and 10 years, respectively.\nWhile the number of branches per capita remained\u00a0unchanged in the United States from 2004 to 2014, it dropped 30 percent in Nordic countries, 22 percent in East Asia and the Pacific and 17 percent in the Euro zone, according to World Bank and Citi data. The number of branches per capita rose 26 percent in Latin American and the Caribbean.\nDespite the \"massive pressure\" that\u00a0Barclays's Jenkins predicts, there will be regional variation in the trend toward closing branches even within countries.\u00a0Wealthy cities, such as New York, and fast-growing suburbs may see an increase, even as\u00a0branches are\u00a0shuttered elsewhere in the country."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "9e8bdf9a-a13f-11e2-be47-b44febada3a8_1", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "9e8bdf9a-a13f-11e2-be47-b44febada3a8_1", "title": "The basics of chip-and-PIN credit cards", "text": "unattended kiosks, such as at train stations or gas pumps. Merchants on a chip-and-PIN system can still process our dowdy strip cards, but you may need to press them to do so. Why have American cards been slow to adopt chip-and-PIN technology? There are costs \u2014 new cards, new equipment, etc. \u2014 associated with implementing the chip system, for both companies and merchants. Also, priorities have been different over the past few decades, credit card companies say. Europe invested in chip technology early on so that transactions could be approved at the point of purchase instead of over telecommunications networks. Using those networks is cheaper in the United States. Why does it seem as if American chip-and-PIN cards are targeted to more elite customers? Credit card companies figure that their top-tier cardholders are the ones mostly likely to be traveling abroad, where chip-and-PIN technology is widespread. If you\u2019re not sure whether your card has a chip, it never hurts to ask. Sekar says that Citi MasterCard will offer customers a chip card upon request. Some Bank of America cards offer chip-and-signature technology. Wait, what? Now there\u2019s chip-and-signature? You bet. It has the same embedded chip, but instead of entering a PIN on a machine to verify your purchase, you sign a receipt, just as you\u2019re accustomed to doing here. Of course, this may not be much better than a traditional magnetic strip card if the terminal you\u2019re at is PIN-only. How are chip-and-PIN cards different from RFID credit cards? RFID, or radio-frequency identification, cards are contactless. They have a chip and radio antenna that transmit account information, raising concerns (which people are still arguing about years after the cards were introduced) that criminals may use readers to skim consumer details. Chip-and-PIN cards work only when inserted into a merchant\u2019s reader. So when will we see more American cards with chips? American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard plan to introduce widespread chip technology in the next two to three years, Sekar says. \u201cAll of them will hold merchants liable for fraudulent transactions if the merchant doesn\u2019t accept EMV technology beginning in 2015-2017, depending on the card network and the type of transaction.\u201d What should we do in the meantime? Check with your credit card company to see if you can get a chip card. If you travel a lot, you might consider applying for a new one with the technology. The"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "We\u2019ve gotten a lot of questions from readers lately about chip-and-PIN credit cards, also known as EMV cards (for Europay, MasterCard and Visa, the originators of the technology). Although they\u2019re almost universal in Europe, credit card companies have yet to widely offer them to American customers. For travelers headed around the globe, here are the basics:\nWhat is a chip-and-PIN card?\nA chip-and-PIN card looks pretty much like the plastic you\u2019re used to. But it\u2019s embedded with a special chip that contains the same information that has traditionally been contained in the magnetic strip along the top of a standard card (some cards have both). When you swipe a chip-and-PIN card, you must enter a PIN to complete your purchase, the way you do with a debit card.\nWhy the move to chip-and-PIN?\n(MARCO GORAN ROMANO)\nChip-and-PIN cards are more secure, says Anisha Sekar, vice president of credit and debit products for the consumer site NerdWallet. The chips are harder to clone, reducing the likelihood of fraud. Europe and Canada are much farther along in adopting a chip-and-PIN system.\nWhat\u2019s the impact on travelers?\nAmericans carrying cards equipped with magnetic strips may encounter problems when making purchases abroad, especially at unattended kiosks, such as at train stations or gas pumps. Merchants on a chip-and-PIN system can still process our dowdy strip cards, but you may need to press them to do so.\nWhy have American cards been slow to adopt chip-and-PIN technology?\nThere are costs \u2014 new cards, new equipment, etc. \u2014 associated with implementing the chip system, for both companies and merchants. Also, priorities have been different over the past few decades, credit card companies say. Europe invested in chip technology early on so that transactions could be approved at the point of purchase instead of over telecommunications networks. Using those networks is cheaper in the United States.\nWhy does it seem as if American chip-and-PIN cards are targeted to more elite customers?\nCredit card companies figure that their top-tier cardholders are the ones mostly likely to be traveling abroad, where chip-and-PIN technology is widespread.\nIf you\u2019re not sure whether your card has a chip, it never hurts to ask. Sekar says that Citi MasterCard will offer customers a chip card upon request. Some Bank of America cards offer chip-and-signature technology.\nWait, what? Now there\u2019s chip-and-signature?\nYou bet. It has the same embedded chip, but instead of entering a PIN on a machine to verify your purchase, you sign a receipt, just as you\u2019re accustomed to doing here. Of course, this may not be much better than a traditional magnetic strip card if the terminal you\u2019re at is PIN-only.\nHow are chip-and-PIN cards different from RFID credit cards?\nRFID, or radio-frequency identification, cards are contactless. They have a chip and radio antenna that transmit account information, raising concerns (which people are still arguing about years after the cards were introduced) that criminals may use readers to skim consumer details. Chip-and-PIN cards work only when inserted into a merchant\u2019s reader.\nSo when will we see more American cards with chips?\nAmerican Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard plan to introduce widespread chip technology in the next two to three years, Sekar says. \u201cAll of them will hold merchants liable for fraudulent transactions if the merchant doesn\u2019t accept EMV technology beginning in 2015-2017, depending on the card network and the type of transaction.\u201d\nWhat should we do in the meantime?\nCheck with your credit card company to see if you can get a chip card. If you travel a lot, you might consider applying for a new one with the technology. The State Department Federal Credit Union, which anyone can join through its partnership with the American Consumer Council, is a good option. (Bonus: The SDFCU cards also have no foreign transaction fees.) In addition to credit cards, SDFCU offers chip-enabled prepaid cards.\nAnd be prepared to gently insist that foreign merchants swipe your magnetic-strip card.\nDo your research, because it\u2019s not just chips that you need to worry about. Certain cards aren\u2019t accepted in certain parts of the world, period. Sekar says that Africa, for example, is a dark zone when it comes to Discover cards. One reader reported to us that she hasn\u2019t been able to use her Visa card at some locations in Germany, where she has moved for six months.\nWhen in doubt, carry a little extra cash.\nMore from Travel:\nTravel Guide\nSki Guide\nCaribbean Guide"}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "BWEPPBVJARDLHCHI4Z3FB4LHBU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "BWEPPBVJARDLHCHI4Z3FB4LHBU_0", "title": "Facebook\u2019s cryptocurrency won\u2019t help the poor access banks. Here\u2019s what would.", "text": "When Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress to advocate for Libra, Facebook\u2019s new venture in blockchain currency, he cast it as a way to alleviate global poverty. Millions of people in the United States, and billions worldwide, lack access to basic banking services in what he characterized as a \u201cstagnant\u201d and exclusionary financial system. \u201cIt\u2019s failing them,\u201d said the Facebook chief executive, later adding, \u201cThe Libra project is about promoting financial inclusion through a safe, low-cost and efficient way of sending and receiving payments around the world.\u201d Zuckerberg is absolutely right: Banks no longer serve low-profit customers and communities. Deregulation and waves of mergers and consolidations have created banking deserts across the country, where the only ATM in town can charge up to $7 per transaction, and check cashers and payday lenders have filled the void. Even when they make branches available, banks repel low-income depositors with charges and fees, or with three- to five-day payment processing delays that overburden those who need their weekly paychecks to cover their immediate expenses. As a result, 1 in 4 Americans is unbanked or underbanked. Low-income families spend billions of dollars and valuable time paying for checks to be cashed, refilling prepaid debit cards and paying bills in person. But the solution won\u2019t come from a new, privately controlled cryptocurrency system, one rife with potential risks. Financial technology The blockchain ledger may represent a big technological leap forward, but our financial system\u2019s problems with exclusion and inefficiency don\u2019t result from faulty technology. Our current payments system already can provide services to the underbanked and fulfill Libra\u2019s promise to allow users to send money as fast as one sends a text: Venmo, Square, PayPal, credit card apps and other mobile banking platforms perform that function. But all require users to have bank accounts. Public policy dictates that only banks can access the payments system, and the banks made a business decision to drop their least profitable consumers while regulators have stood by. In many ways, cryptocurrency is a solution in search of a problem. Or, rather, it solves one particular problem \u2014 making fast and anonymous transactions at the touch of a button \u2014 and does that only by bypassing regulatory controls. The Know Your Customer requirements, for example, mandate that banks verify the identity of their customers and stop suspicious activity, which might include funding terrorist groups or sex or drug trafficking. Further restrictions"}], "old": [{"_id": "BWEPPBVJARDLHCHI4Z3FB4LHBU_0", "title": "Facebook\u2019s cryptocurrency won\u2019t help the poor access banks. Here\u2019s what would.", "text": "Financial technology Read more: Facebook\u2019s Libra cryptocurrency is part of a disturbing financial trend"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "When Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress to advocate for Libra, Facebook\u2019s new venture in blockchain currency, he cast it as a way to alleviate global poverty. Millions of people in the United States, and billions worldwide, lack access to basic banking services in what he characterized as a \u201cstagnant\u201d and exclusionary financial system. \u201cIt\u2019s failing them,\u201d said the Facebook chief executive, later adding, \u201cThe Libra project is about promoting financial inclusion through a safe, low-cost and efficient way of sending and receiving payments around the world.\u201d\nZuckerberg is absolutely right: Banks no longer serve low-profit customers and communities. Deregulation and waves of mergers and consolidations have created banking deserts across the country, where the only ATM in town can charge up to $7 per transaction, and check cashers and payday lenders have filled the void. Even when they make branches available, banks repel low-income depositors with charges and fees, or with three- to five-day payment processing delays that overburden those who need their weekly paychecks to cover their immediate expenses. As a result, 1 in 4 Americans is unbanked or underbanked. Low-income families spend billions of dollars and valuable time paying for checks to be cashed, refilling prepaid debit cards and paying bills in person.\nBut the solution won\u2019t come from a new, privately controlled cryptocurrency system, one rife with potential risks.\nFinancial technology\nThe blockchain ledger may represent a big technological leap forward, but our financial system\u2019s problems with exclusion and inefficiency don\u2019t result from faulty technology. Our current payments system already can provide services to the underbanked and fulfill Libra\u2019s promise to allow users to send money as fast as one sends a text: Venmo, Square, PayPal, credit card apps and other mobile banking platforms perform that function. But all require users to have bank accounts. Public policy dictates that only banks can access the payments system, and the banks made a business decision to drop their least profitable consumers while regulators have stood by.\nIn many ways, cryptocurrency is a solution in search of a problem. Or, rather, it solves one particular problem \u2014 making fast and anonymous transactions at the touch of a button \u2014 and does that only by bypassing regulatory controls.\nThe Know Your Customer requirements, for example, mandate that banks verify the identity of their customers and stop suspicious activity, which might include funding terrorist groups or sex or drug trafficking. Further restrictions on money transfer attempt to combat the trillions of money laundered annually. Other regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act, force banks to closely monitor all transactions. All of these laws make the banking system less agile than a new Facebook currency could be, but that built-in friction prevents crime, protects consumers and reduces systemic risk.\nIn attempting to circumvent other important safeguards, Libra could create liquidity or systemic risks that the entire federal banking framework was set up to prevent. The banking system is insured and protected by a massive federal infrastructure, including Federal Reserve liquidity support, FDIC insurance and a secure payments system. These restrictions, the product of centuries of trial and error, were designed to prevent specific historic harms like constant bank runs, liquidity crises and monetary instability. They are designed to protect customer deposits and the integrity of the payments system. Private companies shouldn\u2019t be allowed to bypass these safeguards in the name of international competition. Zuckerberg has warned that China is \u201cmoving quickly to launch similar ideas,\u201d but even the Chinese government prefers to invest in U.S. Treasurys over other options: The U.S. dollar is the world\u2019s preferred currency because of these safeguards \u2014 not despite them. Facebook has yet to demonstrate that it can be trusted not to compromise and manipulate our personal information \u2014 do we really want to trust them with our money?\nBy creating and controlling a currency system, Facebook will be positioned to make decisions that will affect the entire economy. (Facebook has promised that it is not trying to compete with the U.S. dollar or create an alternative currency, but that\u2019s exactly what Libra is: a form of value that can be exchanged among businesses and individuals. That is the definition of currency.) Outsourcing important monetary policy decisions to any private company, but especially one as large and reckless as Facebook, carries huge risks. If Libra succeeds in dominating the payments system as it already has in so many other sectors, the Libra will be an independent form of currency, one not issued by the Treasury. Any new currency is inherently volatile, but because Libra is pegged to the U.S. dollar, Libra\u2019s risks will affect the dollar\u2019s risks. Libra also links the dollar to a basket of other currencies, which creates openings for currency speculation, liquidity crises or a situation where the Libra association (a group of tech insiders unlikely to exert any independent control) makes de facto decisions that affect the currency decisions of sovereign nations.\nIt\u2019s true that financial inclusion would help millions of Americans and benefit the economy. But it can be achieved through time-tested and democratic institutions. In fact, the United States already has a public payments system: the Federal Reserve. Congress created the Federal Reserve in 1913 as a people\u2019s central bank, with a mandate to establish payments markets with an \u201coverall concern for safety and soundness, promotion of operating efficiency, and equitable access.\u201d The Fed\u2019s charter explicitly states that it exists \u201cto serve the public interest\u201d and to increase the integrity, efficiency and equity of U.S. payments. It was a public institution by design and has remained the most secure and trusted network worldwide.\nThus far, the Fed has made its payments system available only to banks, but it could open that system to all Americans with a few easy reforms. FedAccounts, for example, would enable any individual or business to access the payments system. Real-time payments would remove the unnecessary delay in payments processing. Then there\u2019s my personal favorite: retail point of contact operations such as a post office checking account. These would allow the unbanked or underbanked to have a simple checking account at their local post office, to get their paychecks cashed immediately and then to use whatever mobile app they prefer to send and receive money. Such simple policy changes could increase savings, ease access to funds, and help many individuals and communities cross the cash-digital divide.\nZuckerberg says Libra will help the disadvantaged, a highly dubious claim for a massive private corporation that mainly aims to create shareholder profits. It is ironic for \u201cthe richest man in the world to come here and hide behind the poorest people,\u201d as Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) pointed out. That\u2019s because the financial system\u2019s issues are not problems with technology: They are problems of policy. They should be addressed in Congress and the people\u2019s bank, not in Facebook\u2019s boardroom.\nRead more:\nFacebook\u2019s Libra cryptocurrency is part of a disturbing financial trend\nInside the unscrupulous world of social media manipulation with a penitent whistleblower"}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "G4MEKI3BCJGDLGNWMD6ODMEOPU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "G4MEKI3BCJGDLGNWMD6ODMEOPU_0", "title": "What\u2019s behind Virginia\u2019s latest move to fix lending laws and protect borrowers", "text": "Under current law, Virginians pay up to three times as much as borrowers in other states for the payday and similar high-cost loans that are often used by cash-strapped households. But a reform bill on which the state Senate will vote Monday would bring down the price to match what lenders charge in states with recently updated laws, such as Ohio and Colorado, while closing loopholes that high-cost lenders use to avoid regulation. It would also enable installment lenders, who offer lower-cost small-dollar credit, to serve Virginia households. Virginia used to have workable small-dollar lending laws. But over the past four decades, piecemeal changes slowly eroded state consumer protections and introduced loopholes that allowed lenders to charge much higher prices. And it is Virginians who have paid the price. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Virginia households use payday and other forms of high-cost credit, paying fees that can exceed the amount they originally borrowed. Although many Americans use small-dollar loans, regulations vary widely from state to state \u2014 meaning that borrowers in some states have access to affordable credit while others enjoy few protections from lender overreaching. Proposed federal regulations could have established protections for payday borrowers nationwide, but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau retracted the rules before they came into effect. As a result, cash-strapped households still depend on state legislatures to protect them from harmful credit terms. That\u2019s what the latest reform bill aims to do. Virginia first confronted the problem of high-cost, small-dollar lending more than a century ago. By the early 1900s, various \u201csalary loan\u201d and \u201cchattel loan\u201d companies had sprung up across the country to lend to working-class households. As one Virginia newspaper account described the situation, these lenders served those \u201cwhom dire necessity has driven to them for small sums of money.\u201d Unable to obtain credit from banks, industrial workers instead sought quick cash from salary and chattel lenders, who operated under the radar and charged high prices. Although Virginia capped interest rates at 6 percent under its general usury law, the law failed to stop the spread of high-rate, small-sum lending. Even if the state shut down one lender, another would appear in its place. Rather than allow unregulated lending to grow quietly in the shadows, Virginia social welfare groups concerned about the plight of the poor \u2014 such as the Legal Aid Society of Richmond and the Associated Charities \u2014 urged"}], "old": [{"_id": "G4MEKI3BCJGDLGNWMD6ODMEOPU_0", "title": "What\u2019s behind Virginia\u2019s latest move to fix lending laws and protect borrowers", "text": "The bill\u2019s sponsor"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Under current law, Virginians pay up to three times as much as borrowers in other states for the payday and similar high-cost loans that are often used by cash-strapped households. But a reform bill on which the state Senate will vote Monday would bring down the price to match what lenders charge in states with recently updated laws, such as Ohio and Colorado, while closing loopholes that high-cost lenders use to avoid regulation. It would also enable installment lenders, who offer lower-cost small-dollar credit, to serve Virginia households.\nVirginia used to have workable small-dollar lending laws. But over the past four decades, piecemeal changes slowly eroded state consumer protections and introduced loopholes that allowed lenders to charge much higher prices. And it is Virginians who have paid the price. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Virginia households use payday and other forms of high-cost credit, paying fees that can exceed the amount they originally borrowed.\nAlthough many Americans use small-dollar loans, regulations vary widely from state to state \u2014 meaning that borrowers in some states have access to affordable credit while others enjoy few protections from lender overreaching. Proposed federal regulations could have established protections for payday borrowers nationwide, but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau retracted the rules before they came into effect. As a result, cash-strapped households still depend on state legislatures to protect them from harmful credit terms. That\u2019s what the latest reform bill aims to do.\nVirginia first confronted the problem of high-cost, small-dollar lending more than a century ago. By the early 1900s, various \u201csalary loan\u201d and \u201cchattel loan\u201d companies had sprung up across the country to lend to working-class households. As one Virginia newspaper account described the situation, these lenders served those \u201cwhom dire necessity has driven to them for small sums of money.\u201d Unable to obtain credit from banks, industrial workers instead sought quick cash from salary and chattel lenders, who operated under the radar and charged high prices. Although Virginia capped interest rates at 6 percent under its general usury law, the law failed to stop the spread of high-rate, small-sum lending. Even if the state shut down one lender, another would appear in its place.\nRather than allow unregulated lending to grow quietly in the shadows, Virginia social welfare groups concerned about the plight of the poor \u2014 such as the Legal Aid Society of Richmond and the Associated Charities \u2014 urged legislators to place the business under state oversight. In 1918, Virginia was among the first states to adopt comprehensive rules to govern small-dollar loans, based on a bill drafted by a national coalition of small-sum lenders and philanthropists from the Russell Sage Foundation. The drafters designed the bill, known as the Uniform Small Loan Law, to serve as a blueprint for states such as Virginia seeking to legalize and regulate small-dollar lending.\nThe 1918 law aimed to help working-class families by enabling reputable companies to lend legally, \u201cupon fair and lawful terms.\u201d It granted licensed companies an exemption from the general usury law, allowing them to make loans up to $300 and to charge up to 3.5 percent per month on unpaid balances. The legal rate was high enough to permit lenders to make a profit, while protecting borrowers from sky-high prices.\nAnd the law was a success, increasing the supply of affordable small-dollar credit to meet borrower demand. Within 20 years, licensed small-dollar lending in Virginia surpassed $5 million a year.\nVirginia updated and expanded its laws over the ensuing decades as new forms of credit developed, to protect borrowers against unaffordable prices while ensuring that lenders could still operate profitably. For example, in the 1950s, stores began offering \u201copen-ended\u201d credit plans that permitted customers to pay for goods in irregular amounts rather than according to a set payment schedule. So, in the 1970s, Virginia established maximum rates for store charge accounts and other forms of \u201copen-ended\u201d credit.\nFrom time to time, Virginia also adjusted the maximum loan amount and interest rates that small-sum lenders could legally charge, as the cost of living rose and consumers demanded larger loans.\nBut cracks in this regime emerged in the 1980s and \u201990s. In 1982, when interest rates were rising rapidly nationwide, Virginia repealed its rate caps for department stores and other lenders that made \u201copen-ended\u201d loans, permitting them to charge whatever the customer would agree to pay. In 1995, the state also removed rate caps on loans made by finance companies and other licensed lenders for more than $2,500 and set a flat rate cap of 36 percent per year on loans below that amount.\nThe bill\u2019s sponsor\nCheck-cashing stores filled this void, charging much higher rates than licensed small-sum lenders. In the mid-1990s, some check-cashing stores in the Hampton Roads region began offering \u201ccheck-advancement\u201d services \u2014 better known today as payday loans. A customer would provide the store with a postdated check for a few hundred dollars and would receive, in exchange, the cash value of the check minus a service fee. One group of check-cashers charged more than 20 percent of the check value \u2014 amounting to a $60 fee for a $200 loan that had to be repaid in just a couple of weeks.\nThe Virginia Attorney General\u2019s Office sued the check-cashers for violating state lending laws and scored a string of court victories that temporarily shut down the scheme. But some payday lenders found a loophole. They partnered with out-of-state, federally chartered banks, which are exempt from compliance with Virginia lending laws.\nRather than allow lenders to operate without oversight through these \u201crent-a-bank\u201d arrangements, Virginia decided to legalize payday loans in 2002 by setting limits on the rates charged for them. But lenders continued to find loopholes.\nAs a result of this piecemeal process of amendment and repeal, payday and other high-cost lenders in Virginia today charge far more than they do in other states. For example, borrowing $500 for four months from a payday lender in Virginia costs $480, while the same credit costs $160 in Ohio after that state successfully overhauled its lending laws in 2018.\nIn the past, Virginia was a national leader in consumer credit regulation, thanks in part to the efforts of the alliance of reformers that championed passage of the Uniform Small Loan Law in 1918. Today, over a century later, a new coalition of leaders from business, community groups and government has urged Virginia to reform and update its lending laws once more to restore affordability for consumers. After decades of falling behind, this fight will determine whether Virginia reclaims its national standing on fair lending by enacting tried-and-true reforms that are projected to save borrowers more than $100 million annually while expanding access to lower-cost credit for those who need it, or whether special interests will win out."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "MN4LE3WKTRE5BBYAT47BMW45L4_3", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "MN4LE3WKTRE5BBYAT47BMW45L4_3", "title": "Fed says it will develop faster digital banking system. But Wall Street fears tech incursion.", "text": "there is still often a delay of a couple of days before the money is deposited into an account, a frustrating feature of America\u2019s antiquated payment system, industry experts say. The current electronic payment system was built in the 1960s with physical checks in mind, not splitting a dinner bill with friends on a mobile phone app, they say. Retailers bundled physical checks into batches before taking them to the bank to be processed. That same type of process is now used for electronic payments. The Fed decision to develop its own service was cheered by community banks, credit unions and big tech companies that were weary of depending on a system developed by big banks. \u201cCommunity bankers, we did it!,\u201d Rebeca Romero Rainey, chief executive of the Independent Community Bankers of America said in a blog post Monday, adding that the decision would \u201cavoid a megabank monopoly.\u201d \"I\u2019m glad to see the Fed is heeding our calls to act, and that the American people will soon have a payments system that works for them,\u201d said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who co-sponsored legislation directing the Federal Reserve to develop a real-time payments system. The Federal Reserve is requesting comments on how its service, FedNow, should be designed. It is unclear how much it will cost to build. The Fed will probably meet resistance from the big banks as it develops its service. The Clearing House, which is owned by 24 of the country\u2019s largest financial institutions, already spent millions of dollars building a system that brings the typical processing time from a few days to less than five seconds, said Steve Ledford, a senior vice president at the company. Launched in 2017, the real-time payments system is used in 16 of the 10,000 banks and credit unions across the country. If the Fed develops a rival technology that could slow adoption across the industry, Ledford said in an interview before the announcement Monday. \u201cThe numbers are ramping up,\u201d he said, but \u201cone of the complicating factors has been this Fed potential to move into the market.\u201d The Fed\u2019s Vice Chair of Supervision, Randal Quarles, the lone dissenting vote on the board, appeared to side with the big banks. \u201cI do not see a strong justification for the Federal Reserve to move into this area and crowd out innovation when viable private-sector alternatives are available,\u201d Quarles said in a statement."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The Federal Reserve announced Monday it will develop a service to eliminate the frustrating delay many Americans face between when they deposit a check and when it\u2019s recognized in their account.\nSuch delays costs billions of dollars in late fees and overdraft charges for millions of people living paycheck-to-paycheck, industry experts and regulators say.\n\u201cImmediate access to funds could be especially important to households with fixed incomes or living paycheck to paycheck,\u201d said Federal Reserve Gov. Lael Brainard during a speech before the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.\nThe new service, FedNow, is expected to launch by 2024 and would allow banks to nearly instantaneously move money into customers\u2019 accounts, she said. The Fed board approved the decision by a 4-to-1 vote Friday, but it wasn\u2019t announced until Monday.\nThe announcement could pit the Fed against some of the country\u2019s biggest banks, including Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, who have already developed rival technology and fear that Silicon Valley companies could use the Fed system to push their way further into the banking world.\nAmerica\u2019s payment system lags behind many parts of the world, and U.S. banks are concerned about being left behind, said Aaron Klein, the policy director for the Center on Regulation and Markets at the Brookings Institution. \u201cI think some of the large banks don\u2019t want to be the taxi medallions and be uberized,\u201d he said, a reference to the impact of ride hailing on taxi owners. \u201cThe rest of the world went to real-time payments a long time ago.\u201d\nThe Fed\u2019s announcement comes at a time when big technology companies are finding other ways into the banking world. Wall Street has raised concerns about Facebook\u2019s efforts to create an alternate global currency system, known as Libra. Meanwhile, Square, the mobile payment company, and Rakuten, known as the Amazon of Japan and operator of U.S. rewards program Ebates, have applied for a special banking license that would allow the companies to offer checking and savings accounts.\nIn 2005, Walmart waged a two-year battle for a similar bank charter but withdrew its application after small banks objected. But more than a decade later, Silicon Valley may pose a bigger threat to the stranglehold banking industry holds on key parts of the financial world.\nBig tech companies could use the Federal Reserve\u2019s new service to gain direct access to the payment system, bypassing banks that currently act as a gatekeeper, said Greg Baer, chief executive of the Bank Policy Institute, which represents the country\u2019s biggest banks.\nThe tech industry would like the Federal Reserve to give non-banks more access to the payment system, said Brian Peters, executive director of Financial Innovation Now, a lobbying group that includes Apple, Amazon and Google. But that is not likely to happen without congressional approval and is not why the industry supports the Fed developing its own service, he said.\n\u201cAt this point, we just want to make our payment system work faster,\u201d Peters said.\nFor decades, banks flew planes across the country filled with paper checks ready to be processed. Now, depositing a check is as simple as snapping a photo with your phone.\nBut there is still often a delay of a couple of days before the money is deposited into an account, a frustrating feature of America\u2019s antiquated payment system, industry experts say.\nThe current electronic payment system was built in the 1960s with physical checks in mind, not splitting a dinner bill with friends on a mobile phone app, they say. Retailers bundled physical checks into batches before taking them to the bank to be processed. That same type of process is now used for electronic payments.\nThe Fed decision to develop its own service was cheered by community banks, credit unions and big tech companies that were weary of depending on a system developed by big banks.\n\u201cCommunity bankers, we did it!,\u201d Rebeca Romero Rainey, chief executive of the Independent Community Bankers of America said in a blog post Monday, adding that the decision would \u201cavoid a megabank monopoly.\u201d\n\"I\u2019m glad to see the Fed is heeding our calls to act, and that the American people will soon have a payments system that works for them,\u201d said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who co-sponsored legislation directing the Federal Reserve to develop a real-time payments system.\nThe Federal Reserve is requesting comments on how its service, FedNow, should be designed. It is unclear how much it will cost to build.\nThe Fed will probably meet resistance from the big banks as it develops its service. The Clearing House, which is owned by 24 of the country\u2019s largest financial institutions, already spent millions of dollars building a system that brings the typical processing time from a few days to less than five seconds, said Steve Ledford, a senior vice president at the company.\nLaunched in 2017, the real-time payments system is used in 16 of the 10,000 banks and credit unions across the country.\nIf the Fed develops a rival technology that could slow adoption across the industry, Ledford said in an interview before the announcement Monday. \u201cThe numbers are ramping up,\u201d he said, but \u201cone of the complicating factors has been this Fed potential to move into the market.\u201d\nThe Fed\u2019s Vice Chair of Supervision, Randal Quarles, the lone dissenting vote on the board, appeared to side with the big banks.\n\u201cI do not see a strong justification for the Federal Reserve to move into this area and crowd out innovation when viable private-sector alternatives are available,\u201d Quarles said in a statement."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "PDGP6MJNLRCUJICRE33WU4ST4Q_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "PDGP6MJNLRCUJICRE33WU4ST4Q_0", "title": "The global cashless movement meets its foe: Local government", "text": "Lawmakers in New Jersey recently advanced a bill that would ban businesses from going cashless \u2014 a move that would put the state at odds with the global trend toward electronic payments but would bolster resistance from local officials who see no-cash policies as discriminatory. Almost 1 of 3 Americans in 2018 say they don\u2019t use cash during a typical week of purchases, according to a Pew Research Center study released this week. The findings reveal that Americans are becoming less reliant on paper currency, mirroring shifts in Sweden, India and China. But state and local officials say that restaurants and shops that adopt cashless policies have left some members of the community behind \u2014\u2014 individuals without the means to open a bank account or who lack access to lines of credit or the mobile apps that power digital payments. The New Jersey measure, which would apply only to face-to-face sales and would exclude Internet and phone purchases, comes as officials push similar efforts to bar no-cash rules in New York, Philadelphia and the District. While cashless policies offer consumers the promise of convenience and provide businesses greater protection against theft and shoddy record-keeping, they also can exclude low-income consumers or undocumented immigrants, critics say. According to FDIC estimates, 6.5 percent of American households were unbanked in 2017, meaning they did not have an account with an insured financial institution. Another 18.7 percent of households in the United States have a checking or savings account but still relied on financial services outside of a traditional bank \u2014 such as payday loans or check-cashing businesses \u2014 the estimate showed. \u201cCash-free businesses are discriminatory by design and pose challenges to low-income communities that may not have access to credit/debit,\u201d New York City Council member Ritchie Torres said on Twitter last month when he introduced a bill that would ban the practice. According to the Pew study, the decline in the use of physical currency is uneven among the population when race, age and income are accounted for. Pew found a significant gap in cashless adoption tied to annual household income, with adults making at least $75,000 more than twice as likely to make all their purchases without using cash in a typical week, compared with people who make less than $30,000. The Pew findings suggest that the benefits of going cashless may come with a cost that only some groups of people"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Lawmakers in New Jersey recently advanced a bill that would ban businesses from going cashless \u2014 a move that would put the state at odds with the global trend toward electronic payments but would bolster resistance from local officials who see no-cash policies as discriminatory.\nAlmost 1 of 3 Americans in 2018 say they don\u2019t use cash during a typical week of purchases, according to a Pew Research Center study released this week. The findings reveal that Americans are becoming less reliant on paper currency, mirroring shifts in Sweden, India and China.\nBut state and local officials say that restaurants and shops that adopt cashless policies have left some members of the community behind \u2014\u2014 individuals without the means to open a bank account or who lack access to lines of credit or the mobile apps that power digital payments.\nThe New Jersey measure, which would apply only to face-to-face sales and would exclude Internet and phone purchases, comes as officials push similar efforts to bar no-cash rules in New York, Philadelphia and the District.\nWhile cashless policies offer consumers the promise of convenience and provide businesses greater protection against theft and shoddy record-keeping, they also can exclude low-income consumers or undocumented immigrants, critics say.\nAccording to FDIC estimates, 6.5 percent of American households were unbanked in 2017, meaning they did not have an account with an insured financial institution. Another 18.7 percent of households in the United States have a checking or savings account but still relied on financial services outside of a traditional bank \u2014 such as payday loans or check-cashing businesses \u2014 the estimate showed.\n\u201cCash-free businesses are discriminatory by design and pose challenges to low-income communities that may not have access to credit/debit,\u201d New York City Council member Ritchie Torres said on Twitter last month when he introduced a bill that would ban the practice.\nAccording to the Pew study, the decline in the use of physical currency is uneven among the population when race, age and income are accounted for. Pew found a significant gap in cashless adoption tied to annual household income, with adults making at least $75,000 more than twice as likely to make all their purchases without using cash in a typical week, compared with people who make less than $30,000.\nThe Pew findings suggest that the benefits of going cashless may come with a cost that only some groups of people will bear. Americans with lower incomes are roughly four times as likely than higher earners to make all or almost all of their purchases with cash, according to the study.\nAs CNBC has noted, business leaders such as Shake Shack founder Daniel Meyer have defended cashless policies by pointing to higher security and improved customer service and efficiency, even as they acknowledge their critics. \u201cWe know that some have raised concerns about the socioeconomic implications of operating a cashless business\u201d Meyer wrote in a blog post earlier this year. \u201cThat\u2019s certainly not our aim.\u201d\nSome advocates have focused on providing people who are underserved by the traditional banking system with more affordable options, attacking the root cause behind the criticisms of cashless payments. A partnership program between D.C. government and financial groups, for instance, has helped open 11,000 bank accounts for people since 2010."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "RHZ7DWEATAI6RMHP776KX37ZIY_6", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "RHZ7DWEATAI6RMHP776KX37ZIY_6", "title": "As restaurants go cashless, a backlash is building. Will D.C. intervene?", "text": "nation\u2019s capital in the long war against cash waged by the card brands.\u201d \u201cWhen card brands diminish human choice in the payments sector, they corrode a part of freedom itself in the wider economy,\u201d said Mike Lee, the ATM group\u2019s chief executive. Advocates for poor people and immigrants say keeping cash as an option is essential for people without bank accounts. Nationwide, 7 percent of households had no checking or savings accounts in 2015, according to the most recent federal survey. It was more than twice as high for black people and Latinos. The most common reason for not having a bank account is the fees imposed on customers who can\u2019t meet a minimum balance or other requirements. Some don\u2019t trust financial institutions, and others don\u2019t have a choice. Leonard Edwards, a 58-year-old resident of Petworth in Northwest Washington, said he lost access to his bank account when arthritis prevented him from working and he fell behind on child-support payments. Instead, he pays high fees to cash checks and use temporary debit cards. He does not go out to eat much, but when he does he pays cash and was surprised some restaurants wouldn\u2019t take his money. \u201cIt\u2019s just a way to keep low-income and poor people out,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have credit cards or money in the bank just sitting around. It\u2019s just another hurdle for poor people to maneuver around in the system we live in.\u201d About 11 percent of District residents did not have bank accounts in 2015 and an additional quarter were considered underbanked \u2014 meaning they use services such as payday loans, check cashing or pawnshops for money. Some advocates for the \u201cunbanked\u201d say the focus should be on giving them more payment options. A partnership between D.C. government and financial groups called Bank on DC has helped open 11,000 accounts since 2010, said Tanya Bryant, a spokeswoman for the city\u2019s financial-regulation agency. The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund works with Bank on DC and other groups to provide low-cost checkings accounts. \u201cIf someone is buying a salad or something, and it\u2019s $6, and they need to swipe instead of using cash, the real underlying issue is they don\u2019t have a bank account with debit-card functionality,\u201d said David Rothstein a principal with the fund. \u201cThat\u2019s where the real problem is. It\u2019s less about the use of cash, and it\u2019s more about financial inclusion.\u201d fenit.nirappil@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Aaron Bateman pulled out a few bills to pay for a taco lunch in the nation\u2019s capital. To his surprise, his money was no good in the city where money is printed.\nSurfside, a 24-hour Mexican eatery in Dupont Circle, doesn\u2019t take cash. No cash means no register for robbers to empty out, no bills for workers to slip into their pockets and no change-counting holding up lines.\nThe global cashless movement has reached Washington, where a growing number of fast-casual establishments and other spots are saying no to greenbacks in favor of plastic and mobile payments. Sweetgreen, the national salad chain founded by Georgetown University graduates, went cashless in most of its locations last year. Other cashless spots include a Menchie\u2019s frozen-yogurt shop downtown, the posh Barcelona Wine Bar on 14th Street NW and the Bruery beer store at Union Market.\nSoon, they may be breaking the law.\nCritics of no-cash policies say they shut out the 1 in 10 District residents who don\u2019t have bank accounts and undocumented immigrants who can\u2019t easily sign up for cards. Some people also pay in cash so they can better track their spending or to avoid having their card information stolen.\nHeeding these concerns, several lawmakers in the District have introduced a bill to require retailers to accept cash.\n\u201cBy denying the ability to use cash as a payment, businesses are effectively telling lower-income and younger patrons that they are not welcome,\u201d said D.C. Council member David Grosso (I-At Large).\nHis bill is among the pockets of resistance forming against the cashless trend, which has taken hold in countries such as Sweden and India where mobile payments are gaining popularity.\nSimilar legislation was unsuccessfully introduced in Chicago last year. Massachusetts has an obscure 1978 pro-cash law on the books, but the state retailers association says it doesn\u2019t seem to be enforced and state officials haven\u2019t offered guidance.\nCompanies going card-only say it makes good business sense.\nWashington restaurateur Bo Blair, whose company Georgetown Events operates eight fast-casual and three sit-down restaurants in the District, decided to experiment going cashless when opening Surfside in Dupont Circle in 2015.\nUsually, cost-conscious small businesses operate cash-only to avoid card processing fees.\nBut cash also has hidden costs, Blair said: Armored vehicles taking money to banks. An extra hour for workers to close out the register. Employees swiping money from the till. And some of his places had been robbed.\n\u201cNot having to worry about employees stealing or getting robbed is a huge lift off our minds,\u201d Blair said.\nFew Surfside customers complained and long lunch lines moved quickly, so Georgetown Events stopped taking cash at its seven other fast-casual spots, including the Jetties sandwich shop, where about 80\u00a0percent of customers were already paying with their cards. The company did not make the shift at full-service restaurants where bartenders and servers like taking their cash tips home at the end of a shift.\nBateman, who tried to pay in cash at Surfside, said he was lucky his girlfriend brought her debit card with her so they could pay. The 22-year-old Norfolk cook, who was on vacation, said he likes paying in cash so he doesn\u2019t have to constantly check his bank account to avoid overdrafts.\n\u201cYou have your money in your hand and know what you can do with it,\u201d Bateman said. \u201cIt\u2019s a little bit better money management, unless you are on top of your account like every five minutes.\u201d\nAfter placing his order at Surfside, Richard Selgado said he prefers paying with his debit card.\n\u201cSome places, you don\u2019t know your surroundings. I\u2019ve been in situations where I dropped money and people pick it up and don\u2019t tell you,\u201d said Selgado, a 26-year-old Prince George\u2019s County resident. \u201cI wish a lot of places are like this.\u201d\nSweetgreen, with a dozen locations in the District and scores more in Maryland, Virginia, New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Massachusetts, is perhaps the most high-profile business to go cashless. The company has declined requests for comment on the District bill that would force it to accept cash, but officials previously said going cashless helped process as many as 15\u00a0percent more sales an hour and led to more people paying with the company\u2019s app.\n\u201cWe believe digital payments are the future, and we want to help lead that charge, not lag behind,\u201d Sweetgreen founders wrote in a 2016 Medium post announcing the cashless switch.\nOther restaurateurs say refusing to take cash is disrespectful to their customers.\n\u201cNot everybody is able to buy a smartphone,\u201d Amsterdam Falafelshop owner Arianne Bennett said in an email. \u201cNot everybody is in a position where they can get a credit card. Not everybody is even in a position where they have a stable bank account to be able to use the debit card. But they are hungry too, and have $10 in their pockets and they would like to spend their legal American form of tender, known as cash, with you.\u201d\n\u201cAs society and technology evolves,\u201d she said, \u201cwe must ask ourselves always, not just \u2018can we\u2019? But \u2018should we\u2019?\u201d\nAn Amsterdam Falafelshop franchise in the Boston area went cashless in 2016, but the company intervened a month in. Instead, the franchise put up signs on its counter advising, \u201cWhile we prefer digital methods of payment, we will of course accept your cash.\u201d\nCava, a fast-growing Mediterranean chain with roots in the Washington region, has debuted a number of cashless options including preordering online and paying in the store with an app. But the company\u2019s leadership says the costs of continuing to take cash are worth it to avoid frustrated customers.\n\u201cWhether it\u2019s for underbanked reasons, for privacy reasons or for budgetary tracking reasons, we want to accommodate them,\u201d said Cava chief executive Brett Schulman.\nThe decision to go cashless also has broader implications in the global battle between the credit-card and ATM industries.\nPerhaps unsurprisingly, Visa has been a major booster of the cashless movement. The credit card company in March awarded 50 businesses $10,000 each for rejecting cash payments and has released reports touting the benefits of a cashless society.\nThe International Currency Association launched a \u201cCash Matters\u201d initiative last year to push back against cashless policies, mostly in Europe. The initiative is also supported by the ATM Industry Association, which declared the bill before the D.C. Council \u201ca historic development in the nation\u2019s capital in the long war against cash waged by the card brands.\u201d\n\u201cWhen card brands diminish human choice in the payments sector, they corrode a part of freedom itself in the wider economy,\u201d said Mike Lee, the ATM group\u2019s chief executive.\nAdvocates for poor people and immigrants say keeping cash as an option is essential for people without bank accounts.\nNationwide, 7\u00a0percent of households had no checking or savings accounts in 2015, according to the most recent federal survey. It was more than twice as high for black people and Latinos.\nThe most common reason for not having a bank account is the fees imposed on customers who can\u2019t meet a minimum balance or other requirements. Some don\u2019t trust financial institutions, and others don\u2019t have a choice.\nLeonard Edwards, a 58-year-old resident of Petworth in Northwest Washington, said he lost access to his bank account when arthritis prevented him from working and he fell behind on child-support payments. Instead, he pays high fees to cash checks and use temporary debit cards.\nHe does not go out to eat much, but when he does he pays cash and was surprised some restaurants wouldn\u2019t take his money.\n\u201cIt\u2019s just a way to keep low-income and poor people out,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have credit cards or money in the bank just sitting around. It\u2019s just another hurdle for poor people to maneuver around in the system we live in.\u201d\nAbout 11\u00a0percent of District residents did not have bank accounts in 2015 and an additional quarter were considered underbanked \u2014 meaning they use services such as payday loans, check cashing or pawnshops for money.\nSome advocates for the \u201cunbanked\u201d say the focus should be on giving them more payment options. A partnership between D.C. government and financial groups called Bank on DC has helped open 11,000 accounts since 2010, said Tanya Bryant, a spokeswoman for the city\u2019s financial-regulation agency.\nThe Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund works with Bank on DC and other groups to provide low-cost checkings accounts. \u201cIf someone is buying a salad or something, and it\u2019s $6, and they need to swipe instead of using cash, the real underlying issue is they don\u2019t have a bank account with debit-card functionality,\u201d said David Rothstein a principal with the fund. \u201cThat\u2019s where the real problem is. It\u2019s less about the use of cash, and it\u2019s more about financial inclusion.\u201d\nfenit.nirappil@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "WA73OP5WTBDK3LOZI7WELS25BY_2", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "WA73OP5WTBDK3LOZI7WELS25BY_2", "title": "The government move that threatens to keep Americans trapped in debt", "text": "next payday. Although the stores initially argued these transactions were not loans, their claims ran into legal challenges. So the industry launched a state-by-state campaign for new laws to legalize payday lending. This approach has led to a patchwork of regulations, under which some states allow payday lending with few restrictions, some regulate it closely and others ban it entirely. This is a throwback to the situation in the early 20th century. Then, as now, state-by-state variations created opportunities for lenders to evade restrictive state laws by lending across state lines. In the past, lenders congregated in states that either failed to regulate lending or that adopted rules which were easily evaded. In the early 20th century, for example, \u201csalary\u201d lenders based their operations in Maine and Rhode Island, two states without strong usury laws. The salary lenders then extended credit through the mail to borrowers in states with more protective laws, such as New York and Pennsylvania, in an attempt to evade state-level restrictions. More recently, payday lenders have partnered with Native American tribes to evade state lending laws, claiming sovereign immunity from enforcement of state consumer protection rules. Several states have challenged the validity of these arrangements in ongoing litigation. That\u2019s why the CFPB regulations are so important. The CFPB was created in 2010 to enforce federal consumer financial laws and to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive or abusive acts and practices. Federal law already requires credit card issuers and mortgage lenders to assess a borrower\u2019s ability to repay. The proposed CFPB rule extends this requirement to lenders offering high-cost loans that must be repaid in a short time period (45 days or less) or that require a final \u201cballoon\u201d payment, meaning a lump-sum payment that is more than twice the size of the other required installment payments. The proposed CFPB rule innovates in several ways: First, compared with state-level lending laws, the CFPB\u2019s proposed rule adopts an entirely new regulatory approach for small-dollar loans. Rather than control the price of credit, the CFPB rule would require lenders to assess the borrower\u2019s ability to repay the debt. Regardless of the cost of credit, the rule would require payments to be affordable so that the borrower would not end up in a long-term cycle of taking on new debt to pay off the old one. In explaining the agency\u2019s rationale for attempting to rescind the 2017 rule, the CFPB"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "In November 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a rule requiring payday lenders to assess a borrower\u2019s ability to repay before making a loan. Then, in February, the agency reversed course and announced a plan to rescind the core features of the rule.\nThe hundreds of pages of evidence supporting the 2017 rule, amassed over five years, did not change in the interim. The CFPB\u2019s leadership did, and its new proposal threatens to continue a regime of ineffectual regulation, led by states, that has left many Americans trapped in a cycle of debt.\nFor more than a century, the states have regulated small-dollar, high-cost loans primarily through controls on the price of credit and limits on other loan terms. In the early 20th century, state usury laws capped how much lenders could charge for credit, and most set fees too low for small-sum lenders to operate profitably. Raising rate ceilings was the first step to creating a functioning and legal market for small-sum credit.\nMany states adopted a model lending law, known as the Uniform Small Loan Law, that allowed licensed lenders to make loans up to $300, repayable in regular installments, with fees capped at 3.5 percent per month. Where enacted, the Uniform Law succeeded in spurring the entry of legitimate companies offering reasonably priced loans into the lending industry during the 1920s and 1930s.\nBut over time, as market conditions changed, the Uniform Law fell out of step with the needs of many lenders and borrowers. Its loan limits and maximum rates of charge did not reflect the commercial realities of post-World War II America. Many states failed to update their laws to keep pace. This made it harder for lenders to make these small sum loans profitably. With the deregulation of various financial service markets in the 1970s and 1980s, some licensed small-sum lenders moved into other, more profitable lines of business.\nAs a result, while traditional installment lenders licensed under state small-loan laws still operate today, they generally do not serve consumers who need loans of only a few hundred dollars. The legal limitations make it too unprofitable.\nEnter payday lenders. Beginning in the early 1990s, some check-cashing stores began offering \u201cdeferred presentment\u201d transactions, which are better known as payday loans. The check casher would give the customer immediate cash and, in exchange, would accept a postdated check to be cashed after the customer\u2019s next payday.\nAlthough the stores initially argued these transactions were not loans, their claims ran into legal challenges. So the industry launched a state-by-state campaign for new laws to legalize payday lending. This approach has led to a patchwork of regulations, under which some states allow payday lending with few restrictions, some regulate it closely and others ban it entirely.\nThis is a throwback to the situation in the early 20th century. Then, as now, state-by-state variations created opportunities for lenders to evade restrictive state laws by lending across state lines.\nIn the past, lenders congregated in states that either failed to regulate lending or that adopted rules which were easily evaded. In the early 20th century, for example, \u201csalary\u201d lenders based their operations in Maine and Rhode Island, two states without strong usury laws. The salary lenders then extended credit through the mail to borrowers in states with more protective laws, such as New York and Pennsylvania, in an attempt to evade state-level restrictions.\nMore recently, payday lenders have partnered with Native American tribes to evade state lending laws, claiming sovereign immunity from enforcement of state consumer protection rules. Several states have challenged the validity of these arrangements in ongoing litigation.\nThat\u2019s why the CFPB regulations are so important. The CFPB was created in 2010 to enforce federal consumer financial laws and to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive or abusive acts and practices.\nFederal law already requires credit card issuers and mortgage lenders to assess a borrower\u2019s ability to repay. The proposed CFPB rule extends this requirement to lenders offering high-cost loans that must be repaid in a short time period (45 days or less) or that require a final \u201cballoon\u201d payment, meaning a lump-sum payment that is more than twice the size of the other required installment payments.\nThe proposed CFPB rule innovates in several ways: First, compared with state-level lending laws, the CFPB\u2019s proposed rule adopts an entirely new regulatory approach for small-dollar loans. Rather than control the price of credit, the CFPB rule would require lenders to assess the borrower\u2019s ability to repay the debt. Regardless of the cost of credit, the rule would require payments to be affordable so that the borrower would not end up in a long-term cycle of taking on new debt to pay off the old one.\nIn explaining the agency\u2019s rationale for attempting to rescind the 2017 rule, the CFPB emphasized the importance of access to credit. But access to unaffordable credit does not benefit consumers. As the CFPB concedes, many borrowers are already \u201cin financial distress\u201d when they take out a payday loan.\nAn affordable small loan can offer these borrowers a lifeline. But a loan that the borrower cannot repay makes the struggle to stay above water longer and harder. The CFPB\u2019s 2017 rule would eliminate loans that drag struggling families deeper into distress, while keeping affordable small-dollar loans available.\nSecond, the CFPB\u2019s 2017 rule would create national minimum standards for payday loans, thereby shifting some of the burden of regulating them from the states to the federal government. It would provide a floor applicable everywhere \u2014 and therefore harder to evade \u2014 without setting a ceiling on state-level consumer protections.\nIn the past, federal law has imposed ceilings on state efforts to protect consumers, with poor results. Before the mortgage crisis of 2008, federal regulators preempted the application of state anti-predatory lending laws to federally charted banks, allowing those lenders to make risky loans that were more likely to default. Likewise, since 1978, federal law has preempted state interest rate laws from being applied to out-of-state national banks, opening the door to high-rate lending even in states with strong rules on the books.\nIn the early 2000s, payday lenders seized on the opportunity to evade state laws by partnering with national banks \u2014 until federal regulators clamped down on the practice, demonstrating the need for federal action.\nIn contrast, the CFPB proposed rule does something different. The CFPB rule would leave states free to adopt additional consumer protections, such as caps on interest rates or limits on other loan terms. Ohio, for example, amended its lending laws in 2018 to close existing loopholes and to allow lenders to offer affordable products with total fees and interest not exceeding 60 percent of the amount borrowed. The CFPB rule complements Ohio\u2019s regulations instead of preempting them.\nIf the CFPB rolls back its payday lending rule, however, it will shift the full burden of regulation back to the states. The federal floor will fall away, leaving state law as the only safeguard against unfair and deceptive business practices. States such as Ohio will need to rely solely on their own laws and already stretched state enforcement budgets to protect small-dollar borrowers.\nFor more than a century\nThe demand for small loans is real and driven by forces outside the CFPB\u2019s control. The agency cannot reduce the need for small-dollar credit or the number of financially fragile Americans. It can, however, try to prevent struggling families from being dragged down by unaffordable debts that exacerbate their economic suffering."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "WI5MKI53SFFVLN27EWMUDWB5SI_8", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "WI5MKI53SFFVLN27EWMUDWB5SI_8", "title": "As stimulus payments begin, a rural pawnshop keeps an already-struggling town afloat", "text": "came well before New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) started broadcasting live updates about the outbreak; it was when the travel industry began to bleed. A worker at a nearby Times Square hotel came into Modell\u2019s 47th Street location saying his hours and pay had been cut. The man pawned a watch and gold items for several thousand dollars. One day last month, a high-end jewelry manufacturer whom Modell has known for years brought in his entire product line. The jeweler told Modell he didn\u2019t know how he would make rent or pay his employees. \u201cIt was a hard thing to see,\u201d Modell said. \u201cHe was trying to be proactive, but he knew he needed a significant amount of money. I think I gave him half of what he needed, but that\u2019s all I could do.\u201d The full weight of the coronavirus recession may have yet to hit Sharp County, but any support would be welcome. Under the federal relief package, small businesses of fewer than 500 employees can apply for loans. In rural Arkansas, \u201csmall businesses can be one, two or three employees \u2014 mom and dad and son and daughter running the business,\u201d Barnes said. He added that the individual stimulus checks of $1,200 would be a \u201cblessing from the sky\u201d for many families. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to see how long we have until we, unfortunately, exhaust our other resources to get by, to even buy groceries,\u201d Barnes said, \u201cmaybe buy a few extra cleaning supplies.\u201d Triple R Pawn will be there. On weekdays, Rowland closes the shop around 4:30 p.m., though the phones ring for hours beyond that. He might fill evenings or weekends scrolling through Twitter and TikTok, or taking his boat out to \u201csocial distance in the middle of the lake.\u201d Pamela has been trying to prepare and pack healthy dinners for Jeremy, though she\u2019s still satisfying his sweet tooth with his favorite German chocolate cake. For the Rowlands, the test of these times \u2014 the pandemic, living apart, hauling generators out of peoples\u2019 trunks \u2014 briefly fades away sometime after 9 p.m. Jeremy settles into the brown recliner in his makeshift home. And once more, his cellphone lights up, this time with a FaceTime call from Pamela and Ty, their 18-year-old son. Photography by Terra Fondriest for The Washington Post. Photo editing by Annaliese Nurnberg. Design by Audrey Valbuena. Copy editing by Karen Funfgeld."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Jeremy Rowland woke up alone, away from his wife and teenage son, in the back office of the pawnshop he now calls home.\nHe pulled himself out of his brown recliner, counted the cash in his register and posted the day\u2019s deals on Instagram. Lysol and hand sanitizer within reach, he perched beside the shop\u2019s new drive-through  window. In the thick of a global pandemic, Triple R Pawn was still open.\nRowland had closed the store for 10 days in March, fearful he would bring the coronavirus home. Then came the questions from concerned customers who had already secured loans against their property, and who would need him in the months to come. Rowland needed them, too.\n\u201cI can\u2019t go home,\u201d he said, fielding calls from three cellphones. \u201cWe have bills to pay, we have a livelihood. We discussed it as a family, and we made the decision that I\u2019m the sacrificial lamb.\u201d\nIn Ash Flat, Ark. \u2014 a city of 1,082 where more than a quarter live in poverty \u2014 the coronavirus first felt like a distant threat. The abrupt recession that has since catapulted more than 17 million Americans out of work didn\u2019t immediately register in this rural outpost near the Missouri border.\nBut Rowland\u2019s pawnshop has long been indispensable for customers just getting by. And it was only a matter of time before the economic pain rippling across the nation exacerbated the hardship many in town knew all too well.\nWhen the recession did touch down, the residents of Ash Flat and surrounding Sharp County wouldn\u2019t only wonder whether they should stock up on essentials. They\u2019d worry how to pay for them.\n\u201cA lot of people think it\u2019s a choice to just go to the grocery store,\u201d said Jeremy\u2019s wife, Pamela, who\u2019s managing the business from home. \u201cIt\u2019s not here.\u201d\nThe coronavirus has unleashed an unprecedented economic crisis, one so pervasive that Washington is rolling out trillions of dollars to support individuals and businesses. But pawnshops operate in a slice of the economy that was bypassed by the nation\u2019s prosperity of recent years. Many of their of customers don\u2019t have bank accounts and would be hard-pressed to borrow from more mainstream lenders. They could also face longer waits for their stimulus checks \u2014 $1,200 for millions of adults \u2014 because the program prioritizes direct deposit.\nPawnshops allow people with few alternatives to borrow against their possessions. In Ash Flat, where the median household income of $19,837 is less than one third of the national average, it can be the only option. Pawning a generator for $300 could cover a car payment. A 12-gauge shotgun might command $100, and provide a cushion until Social Security comes through.\n\u201cYou have a lot of individuals that do live paycheck to paycheck,\u201d said Ethan Barnes, president of the Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce, who like Rowland, is a lifelong resident of Sharp County. \u201cJeremy\u2019s business may be that lifeline that helps somebody put an extra pound of ground beef on the table for their family.\u201d\nEarlier in the outbreak, Pamela joked that her husband of 23 years could move into the pawnshop. But they quickly recognized just how stark their choices were: close the store and cut off those who depend on it, or accept the health risks of staying open.\nTo close would mean turning away the man who pawns firearms to care for his cancer-stricken wife, Pamela said. Or the woman who regularly comes in at the end of the month, after her money has dried up but the bills have not.\nSo the Rowlands began mapping out how to safely reopen. They installed a shower and washer and dryer in the back office and set up a recliner for Jeremy to sleep. They built a drive-through window so he could limit his exposure to customers. And they now ask clients with large items to pull up to the main entrance and stay in their cars while Jeremy unloads their haul.\nIt\u2019s all so that when the phones do ring, Rowland is there to answer.\n\u201cTriple R Pawn, this is Jeremy. How can I help you?\u201d\nFor the Rowlands, the decision to stay open was less about serving the newly afflicted than wanting to stand behind those who had depended on the pawnshop for years.\nSharp County is so rural, Barnes said, that it initially was insulated from the sweeping layoffs and economic tidal wave roiling the nation. One of the county\u2019s top employers is a Walmart Supercenter that opened 25 years ago. Triple R sits nearby, at the only stoplight in Ash Flat.\nSome local businesses never reopened after deadly tornadoes ripped through Arkansas in 2008. Much of the state budget relies on tourism sales tax dollars, which will dry up as the industry sputters.\nBarnes has worked for years to attract investors and new businesses, pitching the area\u2019s affordable real estate and deep sense of community. \u201cIt\u2019s just a matter of people coming here and realizing the potential,\u201d he said.\nBut in the past week, the coronavirus and its repercussions have started slipping through. When Sharp County reported its first confirmed case earlier this month, retailers, restaurants and other businesses couldn\u2019t ignore it, even though Arkansas is among the few states without a stay-at-home order.\n\u201cIf you drive down the main strip in Sharp County, you\u2019ll see a lot of signs saying \u2018closed,\u2019 \u201d Barnes said.\nSoon Rowland\u2019s services could take on new urgency. In places as secluded as Ash Flat and as bustling as New York City, the majority of pawnshop customers are among the nation\u2019s 63 million unbanked or underbanked adults, according to 2017 figures from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. That means scores of U.S. households don\u2019t have a checking or savings account, or that they had an account but also sought financial services outside the banking system.\nAs the federal government scrambles to issue loans and stimulus checks under what\u2019s known as the Cares Act, those on the economy\u2019s margins may not get relief.\nTracy Harrison, a freelance makeup artist in Homestead, Fla., near Miami, said she hasn\u2019t been able to meet with clients since the outbreak. For years she has relied on the employees at Naranja Trading Post & Pawn to get through hard times when \u201cends don\u2019t quite meet. They may be looking at each other, but they can\u2019t quite shake hands.\u201d\nPawn brokers provide short-term loans to people who offer their belongings as collateral. The average loan is small \u2014 around $150 \u2014 and has no effect on a customer\u2019s credit history.\nHarrison knew that stocking up on toilet paper, cleaning supplies and extra groceries during the pandemic would bust her budget. So she pawned her flat-screen TV and a necklace with a pendant for $350.\n\u201cIf it had not been for them being open, I wouldn\u2019t have been able to get what I needed,\u201d Harrison said. \u201cI can\u2019t go to the bank and say \u2018I need to borrow $300.\u2019 They\u2019re like, \u2018Yeah, right, get out of here.\u2019 \u201d\nEconomic downturns always give rise to businesses offering loans to those in urgent need \u2014 and at a high premium, said Ellen Harnick, an executive vice president at the Center for Responsible Lending. But unlike car-title or payday loans, pawn customers don\u2019t risk falling further into debt if they can\u2019t make a payment.\n\u201cWhen the bill comes due and the person can\u2019t afford it, if you have a pawn loan, the consequence is that you lose the thing you pawned,\u201d Harnick said. \u201cWith these other lenders, you don\u2019t have that out, so your debt mounts. And once it starts compounding, it can be pretty catastrophic.\u201d\nAt Daddy\u2019s Cash in Miami, Andres Arcila served a customer who worked at AmericanAirlines Arena \u2014 home of the Miami Heat \u2014 who wasn\u2019t sure he\u2019d get a full paycheck after the NBA suspended its season. Another told Arcila, the store\u2019s manager, that he depended on contracts with Chinese customers who were behind on their payments.\n\u201cFor a lot of people, in this moment, who\u2019s going to lend you money for jewelry? For a computer? TV?\u201d Arcila said. \u201cBanks are not going to help you with that. We are their only hope.\u201d\nEric Modell, a fourth-generation pawn broker in New York City, has had to accept the limits of what he can offer, even for customers with whom he has long-standing relationships. His business, Modell Collateral Loans, offers loans on jewelry and serves as a secondhand dealer.\nModell\u2019s first sense that the economy was cracking came well before New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) started broadcasting live updates about the outbreak; it was when the travel industry began to bleed. A worker at a nearby Times Square hotel came into Modell\u2019s 47th Street location saying his hours and pay had been cut. The man pawned a watch and gold items for several thousand dollars.\nOne day last month, a high-end jewelry manufacturer whom Modell has known for years brought in his entire product line. The jeweler told Modell he didn\u2019t know how he would make rent or pay his employees.\n\u201cIt was a hard thing to see,\u201d Modell said. \u201cHe was trying to be proactive, but he knew he needed a significant amount of money. I think I gave him half of what he needed, but that\u2019s all I could do.\u201d\nThe full weight of the coronavirus recession may have yet to hit Sharp County, but any support would be welcome. Under the federal relief package, small businesses of fewer than 500 employees can apply for loans.\nIn rural Arkansas, \u201csmall businesses can be one, two or three employees \u2014 mom and dad and son and daughter running the business,\u201d Barnes said. He added that the individual stimulus checks of $1,200 would be a \u201cblessing from the sky\u201d for many families.\n\u201cWe\u2019ll have to see how long we have until we, unfortunately, exhaust our other resources to get by, to even buy groceries,\u201d Barnes said, \u201cmaybe buy a few extra cleaning supplies.\u201d\nTriple R Pawn will be there. On weekdays, Rowland closes the shop around 4:30 p.m., though the phones ring for hours beyond that. He might fill evenings or weekends scrolling through Twitter and TikTok, or taking his boat out to \u201csocial distance in the middle of the lake.\u201d Pamela has been trying to prepare and pack healthy dinners for Jeremy, though she\u2019s still satisfying his sweet tooth with his favorite German chocolate cake.\nFor the Rowlands, the test of these times \u2014 the pandemic, living apart, hauling generators out of peoples\u2019 trunks \u2014 briefly fades away sometime after 9 p.m. Jeremy settles into the brown recliner in his makeshift home. And once more, his cellphone lights up, this time with a FaceTime call from Pamela and Ty, their 18-year-old son.\nPhotography by Terra Fondriest for The Washington Post. Photo editing by Annaliese Nurnberg. Design by Audrey Valbuena. Copy editing by Karen Funfgeld."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "a58bc44d291cf33819140337b433f9de_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a58bc44d291cf33819140337b433f9de_0", "title": "A court ruled swipe fees are still too high. But they\u2019re probably going away anyway.", "text": "Really, these still? (Andrew Harrer/BLOOMBERG) The credit card companies lost a round in the payment wars on Wednesday: A judge ruled that the Federal Reserve's 21-cent cap on swipe fees for debit card transactions was too high, and should be reconsidered. The retail industry cheered, since it either has to eat the cost of those fees or pass them on to consumers. But here's the question: If swipe fees are such a burden on merchants, why are they still paying them? There are a bunch of different ways to evade the system, after all. With its cute iPhone-mounted card reader, Square has much lower start-up costs. Dwolla charges 25 cents for transactions over $10. Then there's Paypal's mobile system, Google's Wallet, Groupon's Breadcrumb, and a few smaller players. They all transfer money through the Automated Clearing House, which is also used for big transactions like direct deposit of paychecks, enabling relatively friction-free movement of money. Electronic payments are growing fast--several percentage points per quarter, according to the Electronic Payments Association. The highest-profile success has been Starbucks, which now takes in 10 percent of sales via a smartphone. But there are a few reasons why they haven't yet taken over the consumer market: - Too many services: - America is too used to credit cards: - Retailers would rather keep your data: - The legal landscape is still unsettled: Meanwhile, big banks are getting worried about all the new non-bank payment options proliferating in the marketplace, and are urging the authorities to address regulatory gaps. \"Failure to do so runs the risk of incentivizing the creation of a 'shadow payments system outside of existing consumer protection and system integrity schemes, with enormous implications for consumers and the overall economy,\" wrote the American Banking Association in a recent report. Light regulation might give the marketplace some certainty and security, but not if it forces decent services out of the running. \"We're in a period with mobile right now where there are lots of green shoots of competition developing,\" says Duncan. \"The goal here is for everyone to stand back and not stomp on them before they have a chance to grow.\" - Big retailers are cooking up their own mobile payment system: So it may be odd that we're still talking about high swipe fees. But it's still possible that within a few years, yesterday's big settlement won't matter much anyway."}], "old": [{"_id": "a58bc44d291cf33819140337b433f9de_0", "title": "A court ruled swipe fees are still too high. But they\u2019re probably going away anyway.", "text": "Really, these still? (Andrew Harrer/BLOOMBERG) - Too many services: - America is too used to credit cards: - Retailers would rather keep your data: - The legal landscape is still unsettled: - Big retailers are cooking up their own mobile payment system: So it may be odd that we're still talking about high swipe fees. But it's still possible that within a few years, yesterday's big settlement won't matter much anyway."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Really, these still? (Andrew Harrer/BLOOMBERG)\nThe credit card companies lost a round in the payment wars on Wednesday: A judge ruled that the Federal Reserve's 21-cent cap on swipe fees for debit card transactions was too high, and should be reconsidered. The retail industry cheered, since it either has to eat the cost of those fees or pass them on to consumers. But here's the question: If swipe fees are such a burden on merchants, why are they still paying them?\nThere are a bunch of different ways to evade the system, after all. With its cute iPhone-mounted card reader, Square has much lower start-up costs. Dwolla charges 25 cents for transactions over $10. Then there's Paypal's mobile system, Google's Wallet, Groupon's Breadcrumb, and a few smaller players. They all transfer money through the Automated Clearing House, which is also used for big transactions like direct deposit of paychecks, enabling relatively friction-free movement of money.\nElectronic payments are growing fast--several percentage points per quarter, according to the Electronic Payments Association. \u00a0The highest-profile success has been Starbucks, which now takes in 10 percent of sales via a smartphone. But there are a few reasons why they haven't yet taken over the consumer market:\n- Too many services:\n- America is too used to credit cards:\n- Retailers would rather keep your data:\n- The legal landscape is still unsettled:\nMeanwhile, big banks are getting worried about all the new non-bank payment options proliferating in the marketplace, and are urging the authorities\u00a0to address regulatory gaps. \"Failure to do so runs the risk of incentivizing the creation\u00a0of a 'shadow payments system outside of existing consumer protection and system integrity\u00a0schemes, with enormous implications for consumers and the overall economy,\" wrote the American Banking Association in a recent report. Light regulation might give the marketplace some certainty and security, but not if it forces decent services out of the running. \"We're in a period with mobile right now where there are lots of green shoots of competition developing,\" says Duncan. \"The goal here is for everyone to stand back and not stomp on them before they have a chance to grow.\"\n- Big retailers are cooking up their own mobile payment system:\nSo it may be odd that we're still talking about high swipe fees. But it's still possible that within a few years, yesterday's big settlement won't matter much anyway."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "ab06e966e40594dd90ede33d9fab92f3_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ab06e966e40594dd90ede33d9fab92f3_0", "title": "How Wal-Mart and Google could steal young customers from traditional banks", "text": "It used to be that the JPMorgans of the world only worried about losing customers to Wells Fargo or Bank of America. But that universe of competitors has grown to include T-Mobile, Wal-Mart, Google and a host of other retail, tech and telecom companies that are now operating like banks. These upstarts are gaining footing in the banking world with prepaid debit cards that customers can use to pay bills, make purchases and deposit checks via a smartphone camera -- pretty much all the things you can do with your traditional checking account. And they are piquing the interest of a highly coveted group that traditional banks have struggled to attract: young people. A new survey of nearly 4,000 Americans by Accenture found that 72 percent of people ages 18 to 34 would bank with such companies as Wal-Mart, Google or T-Mobile if they offered banking services. Of the nearly two dozen companies that researchers asked about, people were most willing to sign up with Square or PayPal because of the relationships they already have with the companies. Nearly one-third of those polled said the same about T-Mobile, Costco, Apple and Google. These companies possess a few things that could really pose a threat to banks: an existing customer base, scale and an ability to quickly adopt new technology. Take T-mobile, which has 49.1 million wireless customers, an established base for the telecom to pitch its prepaid debit card. Many of these folks use T-Mobile's prepaid wireless phones (15.5 million) for the same reasons that make prepaid cards attractive: There's no credit check and no long-term contract. And with more people using their mobile phones to transfer money or take pictures of their checks for deposit, having the same provider manage most of the steps in that process could be appealing. The biggest game-changer for traditional banks is Wal-Mart's incremental expansion into consumer banking. The world's largest retailer has rolled out everyday low prices on check cashing, money-transfer and checking accounts in the last few years. When Wal-Mart teamed with American Express to launch the prepaid Bluebird card as a low-cost alternative to checking accounts, the pair attracted one million customers in less than a year. Wal-Mart fought to get a bank charter years ago, only to be foiled by lobbyists who were dead set against having the retailer go head to head with traditional banks. But Wal-Mart may be"}], "old": [{"_id": "ab06e966e40594dd90ede33d9fab92f3_0", "title": "How Wal-Mart and Google could steal young customers from traditional banks", "text": "These upstarts are gaining footing in the banking world with prepaid debit cards that customers can use to pay bills, make purchases and deposit checks via a smartphone camera -- pretty much all the things you can do with your traditional checking account. And they are piquing the interest of a highly coveted group that traditional banks have struggled to attract: young people. These companies possess a few things that could really pose a threat to banks: an existing customer base, scale and an ability to quickly adopt new technology. Wal-Mart fought to get a bank charter years ago, only to be foiled by lobbyists who were dead set against having the retailer go head to head with traditional banks. But Wal-Mart may be getting the last laugh as it reaps the benefits of being a bank without the headaches of being regulated like one. Banks still have a leg up in the digital world, with vast amounts of customer and transaction data and experience in security, regulatory compliance and payment processing -- all of which are difficult to replicate, Accenture said. But the pedestals that once held the industry high off the ground and away from outside competitors are starting to crumble."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "It used to be that the JPMorgans of the world only worried about losing customers to Wells Fargo or Bank of America. But that universe of competitors has grown to include T-Mobile, Wal-Mart, Google and a host of other retail, tech and telecom companies that are now operating like banks.\nThese upstarts are gaining footing in the banking world with prepaid debit cards that customers can use to pay bills, make purchases and deposit checks via a smartphone camera -- pretty much all the things you can do with your traditional checking account. And they are piquing the interest of a highly coveted group that traditional banks have struggled to attract: young people.\nA new survey of nearly 4,000 Americans by Accenture found that 72 percent of people ages 18 to 34 would bank with such companies as Wal-Mart, Google or T-Mobile if they offered banking services.\u00a0Of the nearly two dozen companies that researchers asked about, people were most willing to sign up with Square or PayPal because of the relationships they already have with the companies. Nearly one-third of those polled said the same about T-Mobile, Costco, Apple and Google.\n\nThese companies possess a few things that could really pose a threat to banks: an existing customer base, scale and an ability to quickly adopt new technology.\nTake T-mobile, which has 49.1 million wireless customers, an established base for the telecom to pitch its prepaid debit card. Many of these folks use T-Mobile's prepaid wireless phones (15.5 million) for the same reasons that make prepaid cards attractive: There's no credit check and no long-term contract. And with more people using their mobile phones to transfer money or take pictures of their checks for deposit, having the same provider manage most of the steps in that process could be appealing.\nThe biggest game-changer for traditional banks is Wal-Mart's incremental expansion into consumer banking. The world's largest retailer has rolled out everyday low prices on check cashing, money-transfer and checking accounts in the last few years. When Wal-Mart teamed with American Express to launch the prepaid\u00a0Bluebird\u00a0card as\u00a0a low-cost alternative to checking accounts, the pair attracted one million customers in less than a year.\nWal-Mart fought to get a bank charter years ago, only to be foiled by lobbyists who were dead set against having the retailer go head to head with traditional banks. But Wal-Mart may be getting the last laugh as it reaps the benefits of being a bank without the headaches of being regulated like one.\n\nThese outside threats are coming at a bad time for banks. Slow growth and high regulatory costs continue to put pressure on banks' return on equity,\u00a0a measure of the bank's ability to squeeze profits out of shareholders' money. And while alternative payment technology may appeal to the digital unit at a bank, the folks in the card division may worry that it could cannibalize revenue, researchers at Accenture said.\nBanks still have a leg up in the digital world, with vast amounts of customer and transaction data and experience in security, regulatory compliance and payment processing -- all of which are difficult to replicate, Accenture said. But the pedestals that once held the industry high off the ground and away from outside competitors are starting to crumble."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "aede55b30895a38e77493dd18c2a2837_1", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "aede55b30895a38e77493dd18c2a2837_1", "title": "Wal-Mart will cash your tax refund \u2014 in hopes that you\u2019ll spend it there", "text": "refunds are available. Taxpayers would then be able to pick up the cash \u2014 up to a maximum $7,500 \u2014 at any store through the Wal-Mart MoneyCenter or customer service desk. Wal-Mart isn\u2019t releasing a full list of the tax preparers participating and says consumers will need to ask their tax preparers if the program, called Wal-Mart Direct2Cash, is available. People who use online tax software, or who do their own taxes, wouldn\u2019t qualify. The tax preparer may charge a fee of up to $7 for the service, and Wal-Mart says it isn\u2019t charging a fee for people to pick up the cash in store. The company acknowledged Tuesday that the new program could make it easier for people receiving sizable checks \u2014 the average refund issued last year was about $2,800 \u2014 to spend some of that money in Wal-Mart. \u201cIt\u2019s always a good thing, we believe, to have customers in our stores who have jingle in their purses and in their wallets,\u201d Eckert said during a conference call. Wal-Mart is going after a very particular type of customer. Because the option is only available through roughly 25,000 tax preparation locations partnering with the company, it excludes the millions of people who might file their tax returns online using tax preparation software. And while about two-thirds of taxpayers receive tax refunds, the company is targeting the minority of taxpayers who still depend on snail mail to receive that cash. Of the 109 million tax refunds issued last year, about 77 percent were direct deposited, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Consumers wouldn\u2019t access the cash any sooner than they would if they had the money directly deposited into their bank accounts \u2014 which the IRS does at no cost. Wal-Mart has rolled out a slew of banking related services in recent years. In October, thousands of stores began serving as bank branches for GoBank, allowing people to make deposits or to open an account with the otherwise mobile banking platform. By then, Wal-Mart already offered a prepaid debit card, credit card, check cashing and money transfers. The latest option is separate from the tax preparation services Wal-Mart already offers in 3,000 stores through a partnership with Jackson Hewitt. But Wal-Mart is looking beyond banking in its efforts to get people to come into its stores. Last year, the Bentonville, Ark.-based company partnered with an online insurance Web site to"}], "old": [{"_id": "aede55b30895a38e77493dd18c2a2837_1", "title": "Wal-Mart will cash your tax refund \u2014 in hopes that you\u2019ll spend it there", "text": "refunds are available. Taxpayers would then be able to pick up the cash \u2014 up to a maximum $7,500 \u2014 at any store through the Wal-Mart MoneyCenter or customer service desk. Wal-Mart isn\u2019t releasing a full list of the tax preparers participating and says consumers will need to ask their tax preparers if the program, called Wal-Mart Direct2Cash, is available. People who use online tax software, or who do their own taxes, wouldn\u2019t qualify. The tax preparer may charge a fee of up to $7 for the service, and Wal-Mart says it isn\u2019t charging a fee for people to pick up the cash in store. The company acknowledged Tuesday that the new program could make it easier for people receiving sizable checks \u2014 the average refund issued last year was about $2,800 \u2014 to spend some of that money in Wal-Mart. \u201cIt\u2019s always a good thing, we believe, to have customers in our stores who have jingle in their purses and in their wallets,\u201d Eckert said during a conference call. Wal-Mart is going after a very particular type of customer. Because the option is only available through roughly 25,000 tax preparation locations partnering with the company, it excludes the millions of people who might file their tax returns online using tax preparation software. And while about two-thirds of taxpayers receive tax refunds, the company is targeting the minority of taxpayers who still depend on snail mail to receive that cash. Of the 109 million tax refunds issued last year, about 77 percent were direct deposited, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Consumers wouldn\u2019t access the cash any sooner than they would if they had the money directly deposited into their bank accounts \u2014 which the IRS does at no cost. The latest option is separate from the tax preparation services Wal-Mart already offers in 3,000 stores through a partnership with Jackson Hewitt. With the tax season launching Tuesday, consumer advocates are warning about programs that charge people fees to receive tax refund checks they could otherwise access for free. For instance, the National Consumer Law Center cautioned that some paid tax preparers charge $25 to $60 for refund anticipation checks, which make it possible for people to deduct tax preparation fees from their tax refunds. Wal-Mart says that for people who opt to get a paper check, its new program removes the worry over having a check get lost in"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "(Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)\nFor the majority of taxpayers, the tax refund is a bonus that seamlessly shows up in their bank account each spring.\nBut Wal-Mart is giving another option to the minority of taxpayers who might\u00a0otherwise wait for a check to hit their mailbox: pick up the refund, in cash, at any Wal-Mart\u00a0store.\nThe move is the latest\u00a0effort by Wal-Mart to target consumers who may not have a bank, who work mostly in cash, and for whom a tax refund is probably the biggest windfall they\u2019ll see all year. \u201cWe know tax refunds can be one of the largest financial payouts of the year for many of our customers,\u201d\u00a0Daniel Eckert, senior vice president of services for\u00a0Wal-Mart U.S., said in a statement.\nHere\u2019s how it would work. Taxpayers filing their tax returns at one of the 25,000 participating tax preparation locations could choose to pick up their refunds inside a Wal-Mart store.\u00a0When the return\u00a0is processed, refunds will get released to Tax Products Group (TPG)\u00a0or\u00a0Republic Bank & Trust Company, the banks\u00a0Wal-Mart is partnering with for the program.\nThe banks will e-mail taxpayers to let them know that their state and federal refunds are available.\u00a0Taxpayers would then be able to pick up\u00a0the cash\u00a0\u2014 up to a maximum $7,500\u00a0\u2014 at any store through the\u00a0Wal-Mart MoneyCenter or customer service desk.\nWal-Mart isn\u2019t releasing a full list of the tax preparers participating and says consumers will need to ask their tax preparers if the program, called Wal-Mart Direct2Cash, is available. People who use online tax software, or who do their own taxes, wouldn\u2019t qualify.\u00a0The tax preparer may charge a fee of up to $7 for the service, and Wal-Mart says it isn\u2019t charging a fee for people to pick up the cash in store.\nThe company acknowledged Tuesday that the new program could make it easier for\u00a0people receiving sizable checks\u00a0\u2014 the average refund issued last year was about $2,800\u00a0\u2014 to spend some of that money in Wal-Mart. \u201cIt\u2019s always a good thing, we believe, to have customers in our stores who have jingle in their purses and in their wallets,\u201d Eckert said during a conference call.\nWal-Mart is going after a very particular type of customer. Because the option is only available through roughly\u00a025,000 tax preparation locations partnering with the company, it excludes the millions of people who might file their tax returns online using\u00a0tax preparation software.\nAnd while about two-thirds of taxpayers receive tax refunds, the company is targeting the minority of taxpayers who still depend on snail mail to receive that cash. Of the\u00a0109 million tax refunds issued last year, about\u00a077 percent were direct deposited, according to the Internal Revenue Service.\nConsumers wouldn\u2019t access the cash any sooner than they would if they had the money directly deposited into their bank accounts\u00a0\u2014 which the IRS does at no cost.\nWal-Mart has rolled out a slew of banking related services in recent years. In October, thousands of stores began serving as bank branches for GoBank, allowing\u00a0people to make deposits or to open an account with\u00a0the otherwise mobile banking platform. By then, Wal-Mart already offered a\u00a0prepaid debit card, credit card, check cashing and money transfers.\nThe latest option\u00a0is separate from the tax preparation services Wal-Mart already offers in 3,000\u00a0stores through a partnership with Jackson Hewitt.\nBut\u00a0Wal-Mart is looking beyond banking in its efforts to get people to come into its stores. Last year, the\u00a0Bentonville, Ark.-based company partnered\u00a0with an online insurance Web site to help customers compare and enroll in\u00a0health insurance plans. Earlier in the year, it began\u00a0opening primary care centers inside of its stores.\nWith the tax season launching Tuesday, consumer advocates are warning about programs that charge people fees to receive tax refund checks they could otherwise access for free. For instance, the National Consumer Law Center cautioned that some paid tax preparers charge $25 to $60 for refund anticipation checks, which\u00a0make it possible for people to deduct tax preparation fees from their tax refunds.\nWal-Mart says that for people who opt to get a paper check, its new\u00a0program removes the worry over having a check get\u00a0lost in the mail and that it can\u00a0help reduce the\u00a0steep fees some might face to cash in their refund checks.\nFor instance, some people may have to pay a check cashing fee of between 1 percent and 2 percent of the check account. On the average $2,800 refund, that would amount to a fee of $28 to $56. Some tax preparers may also charge a processing fee for issuing a refund check.\nStill, the service isn\u2019t faster\u00a0\u2014 or cheaper\u00a0\u2014 than having the money directly deposited into your bank."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "c3be0110-1159-11e2-a16b-2c110031514a_2", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "c3be0110-1159-11e2-a16b-2c110031514a_2", "title": "Wal-Mart going head-to-head with banks with prepaid American Express card", "text": "who are waking up and saying, \u2018The value that I used to get from my traditional checking account just isn\u2019t there given the complex maze of fees I have to navigate,\u2019 \u201d Daniel Eckert, vice president of financial services for Wal-Mart U.S., said in an interview. \u201cWe\u2019ve put out a product that offers them an alternative.\u201d Wal-Mart is among several big box retailers, including Target and Office Depot, that are trying to peel off bank customers with prepaid cards. Banks are also pushing such prepaid products, but many of these institutions cannot match the ubiquitous Wal-Mart\u2019s ability to sell credit products to consumers. Over the past decade or so, Wal-Mart has tried on several occasions to obtain a bank charter but has been repeatedly beaten back by the banking industry. Now, with Bluebird, Wal-Mart customers could conceivably cut banks out of their lives, some analysts said. \u201cWhat\u2019s interesting about this product is that anybody can manage their money on a day-to-day basis without ever really having to step foot in a bank branch,\u201d said Jennifer Teshcer, president and chief executive at the Center for Financial Services Innovation, a think tank. \u201cBanks will continue to play an important role in safeguarding our funds,\u201d she added, \u201cbut whether they will continue to be the front door for the mass market is what\u2019s at stake.\u201d According to a recent government survey, nearly 1 million households exited the banking system from 2009 to 2011. One in four American households, or 28.3 percent, had one bank account or no bank accounts as of last year. A third of these households told researchers that they did not have enough money to open and fund an account. Consumers have been hit with a flurry of fee hikes as banks try to offset the loss of revenue from a government-imposed cap on debit card transaction fees. The average monthly service fee on checking accounts, for instance, topped $5.48 in September, up 25 percent from the prior year, according to Bankrate.com. As these fees mount, more consumers are turning to prepaid cards. Consulting firm Mercator Advisory Group estimates that the market for prepaid debit cards may reach $150 billion this year. Wal-Mart already offers a MoneyCard in a partnership with a company called Green Dot, and officials said that initiative would continue. But on Monday, after Wal-Mart\u2019s announcement with American Express, Green Dot\u2019s stock plummeted more than 20 percent."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Wal-Mart\nThe card will act much like debit or credit cards \u2014 except those products are covered by much stricter consumer protection laws. Customers can use the new card to get roadside assistance, bank from their smartphones and, eventually, write checks out of an account linked to the card.\nSuch prepaid cards have grown in popularity in the wake of the credit crisis that left millions of Americans outside the traditional banking system. Yet consumer advocates warn that issuers of prepaid cards do not always explain the fees or rules associated with their products. Some of those products, the advocates argue, are used to prey on the financially vulnerable.\nThe U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is examining whether new rules need to be written for prepaid cards.\nWal-Mart officials said the new card, called Bluebird, will have broad appeal beyond the \u201cnon-banked\u201d or \u201cunderbanked.\u201d They are aiming the card squarely at customers of the banking industry, which has fought vigorously to keep Wal-Mart from obtaining a bank charter.\nThis undated image provided by American Express shows the Bluebird prepaid card that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and American Express announced Monday. The companies say users of the new card will not face a minimum balance requirement, overdraft charges or other fees typically imposed by banks. (AP)\nCompany executives said users of the new card will not face a minimum balance requirement, overdraft charges or other fees typically imposed by banks.\nThey can use the card to withdraw cash from a network of 22,000 ATMs and can use it where American Express cards are accepted, Wal-Mart officials said. The card would carry fraud protections similar to those with traditional credit card products and, officials argued, would be more transparent than other prepaid cards.\nWal-Mart and American Express will not conduct credit checks on applicants.\n\u201cThere are consumers who are waking up and saying, \u2018The value that I used to get from my traditional checking account just isn\u2019t there given the complex maze of fees I have to navigate,\u2019\u200a\u201d Daniel Eckert, vice president of financial services for Wal-Mart U.S., said in an interview. \u201cWe\u2019ve put out a product that offers them an alternative.\u201d\nWal-Mart is among several big box retailers, including Target and Office Depot, that are trying to peel off bank customers with prepaid cards.\nBanks are also pushing such prepaid products, but many of these institutions cannot match the ubiquitous Wal-Mart\u2019s ability to sell credit products to consumers. Over the past decade or so, Wal-Mart has tried on several occasions to obtain a bank charter but has been repeatedly beaten back by the banking industry.\nNow, with Bluebird, Wal-Mart customers could conceivably cut banks out of their lives, some analysts said.\n\u201cWhat\u2019s interesting about this product is that anybody can manage their money on a day-to-day basis without ever really having to step foot in a bank branch,\u201d said Jennifer Teshcer, president and chief executive at the Center for Financial Services Innovation, a think tank. \u201cBanks will continue to play an important role in safeguarding our funds,\u201d she added, \u201cbut whether they will continue to be the front door for the mass market is what\u2019s at stake.\u201d\nAccording to a recent government survey, nearly 1\u00a0million households exited the banking system from 2009 to 2011. One in four American households, or 28.3\u00a0percent, had one bank account or no bank accounts as of last year. A third of these households told researchers that they did not have enough money to open and fund an account.\nConsumers have been hit with a flurry of fee hikes as banks try to offset the loss of revenue from a government-imposed cap on debit card transaction fees. The average monthly service fee on checking accounts, for instance, topped $5.48 in September, up 25\u00a0percent from the prior year, according to Bankrate.com.\nAs these fees mount, more consumers are turning to prepaid cards. Consulting firm Mercator Advisory Group estimates that the market for prepaid debit cards may reach $150\u00a0billion this year.\nWal-Mart already offers a MoneyCard in a partnership with a company called Green Dot, and officials said that initiative would continue. But on Monday, after Wal-Mart\u2019s announcement with American Express, Green Dot\u2019s stock plummeted more than 20\u00a0percent."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "d48f46bc-c166-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_3", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d48f46bc-c166-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_3", "title": "Reston firm turns to decades-old technology to set up mobile banking in Central Asia", "text": "which even the simplest of mobile phones can access. The first outpost The small population of Kyrgyzstan \u2014 roughly 5.5 million \u2014 and the prevalence of pay-as-you-go cellphone services there made it a particularly good place to start, Feeley said. In August 2011, the company opened an outpost in Kyrgyzstan and hired nine employees to oversee the marketing and management of GeoPay. \u201cWe wanted to start in a market that was smaller so we could turn the dials and fine-tune the product, the marketing and the consumer experience before we go to the next level,\u201d Feeley said. By the end of this year, the company plans to expand to Kazakhstan, Russia and the United States, where 20 percent of adults do not have bank accounts, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data. For now, funds from all GeoPay accounts are pooled behind-the-scenes into one aggregate bank account. Eventually, Feeley said, users will be able to link individual checking accounts to their mobile phones. \u201cThat would provide a true mobile wallet for people who do have bank accounts,\u201d Feeley said, \u201cand also provide traditional financial institutions the ability to sell to our consumers or promote their products and graduate that consumer up into a financial facility.\u201d The company is constantly updating its platform, Feeley said. He plans to add loyalty programs for frequent users and to partner with daily deals sites to offer location-based deals to GeoPay users. Feeley would not discuss revenue figures, but he said he and others had invested more than $1 million in the company to date. The biggest challenge The biggest challenge, he said, is marketing the system to customers and merchants who may be wary of financial institutions and traditional fee structures. There are other limitations, too. Phone lines can go down. Kiosks can stop working. \u201cNo matter how you\u2019re trying to connect to something, there are third parties, and you\u2019re sometimes only as good as they are,\u201d Feeley said. \u201cThat could be a mobile operator, that could be an Internet provider, that could be a banking system or a kiosk. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong.\u201d But, he added, there is plenty of room to grow, particularly given that one-third of the world\u2019s population does not have bank accounts, according to the World Bank. \u201cThis is going to evolve,\u201d Feeley said. \u201cWe\u2019re only in the infant stages of mobile banking.\u201d"}], "old": [{"_id": "d48f46bc-c166-11e2-8bd8-2788030e6b44_3", "title": "Reston firm turns to decades-old technology to set up mobile banking in Central Asia", "text": "pretty straightforward.\u201d The company offers more complex programs for tablet and Internet users, and it has an intricate cloud-based system for processing and securing transactions. But for the most part, GeoPay relies on text messages, which even the simplest of mobile phones can access. The first outpost The small population of Kyrgyzstan \u2014 roughly 5.5 million \u2014 and the prevalence of pay-as-you-go cellphone services there made it a particularly good place to start, Feeley said. In August 2011, the company opened an outpost in Kyrgyzstan and hired nine employees to oversee the marketing and management of GeoPay. \u201cWe wanted to start in a market that was smaller so we could turn the dials and fine-tune the product, the marketing and the consumer experience before we go to the next level,\u201d Feeley said. For now, funds from all GeoPay accounts are pooled behind-the-scenes into one aggregate bank account. Eventually, Feeley said, users will be able to link individual checking accounts to their mobile phones. \u201cThat would provide a true mobile wallet for people who do have bank accounts,\u201d Feeley said, \u201cand also provide traditional financial institutions the ability to sell to our consumers or promote their products and graduate that consumer up into a financial facility.\u201d The company is constantly updating its platform, Feeley said. He plans to add loyalty programs for frequent users and to partner with daily deals sites to offer location-based deals to GeoPay users. Feeley would not discuss revenue figures, but he said he and others had invested more than $1 million in the company to date. The biggest challenge The biggest challenge, he said, is marketing the system to customers and merchants who may be wary of financial institutions and traditional fee structures. There are other limitations, too. Phone lines can go down. Kiosks can stop working. \u201cNo matter how you\u2019re trying to connect to something, there are third parties, and you\u2019re sometimes only as good as they are,\u201d Feeley said. \u201cThat could be a mobile operator, that could be an Internet provider, that could be a banking system or a kiosk. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong.\u201d But, he added, there is plenty of room to grow, particularly given that one-third of the world\u2019s population does not have bank accounts, according to the World Bank. \u201cThis is going to evolve,\u201d Feeley said. \u201cWe\u2019re only in the infant stages of mobile banking.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Not all new ideas for technology have to be, well, new.\nAs the start-ups around it tinkered with the cutting edge, a Reston company called GeoPay stuck by decades-old technology \u2014 the same used in messaging systems that led to the earliest cellphones \u2014 to create a mobile-banking platform.\nThe start-up, founded in 2011, provides cellphone-based banking services for people who might not otherwise have accounts at financial institutions. The simpler the interface, the more people the system could reach in the developing world, GeoPay said.\n\u201cRight away, we wanted to take advantage of older, but extremely well-deployed technology,\u201d said Sean Kidder, chief technology officer of GeoPay. \u201cFor us, it\u2019s about how many customers we can reach, not whether someone who\u2019s hip and cool may turn their nose up at the technology we\u2019re using.\u201d\nGeoPay introduced mobile banking to Kyrgyzstan, in central Asia, in October. Since then, more than 40,000 people, 2,000 merchants and 80 bank branches have signed up.\nThis is how the system works: Consumers add money to their online accounts using existing kiosks \u2014 the same machines they would use to add funds to pay-as-you-go cellphone plans. The money is associated with an individual\u2019s mobile-phone number, and it can be used to pay bills or buy goods and services using a messaging-based system.\n\u201cIt\u2019s essentially like text-messaging the transaction to a merchant or to a peer,\u201d said Darren Feeley, founder and chief executive of GeoPay. \u201cThe beauty of this is that it provides lightweight, basic financial services for those who ordinarily would not have them.\u201d\nMost transactions are $10 to $20, Feeley said. There is no charge for mobile-to-mobile transfers, but cash withdrawals, which typically take place at banks, carry a 1.5\u00a0percent fee.\nFeeley said GeoPay not only ensures that a person\u2019s money is safe \u2014 funds are insured \u2014 but also acclimates users to the idea of leaving their money with financial institutions.\n\u201cIf you lose your wallet with cash, it\u2019s gone,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you lose your phone, we can always reverse the transaction or credit it to your new phone number, or whatever it is. There\u2019s a lot more flexibility in the digital world.\u201d\nPrograms similar to GeoPay have been introduced in other countries, as well. Standard Bank of South Africa and Dutch-Bangla Bank in Bangladesh have created mobile-banking apps, and the British Department for International Development has ongoing efforts to encourage the rise of phone-based banking.\nFeeley, who used to work for AOL\u2019s payments and acquisitions group, said he got the idea for GeoPay a few years ago. He recruited a team that consisted largely of former AOL colleagues and got to work.\nIt took about a year to develop and test a prototype for GeoPay. The first step, Kidder said, was to establish the app\u2019s core functions: How would money be deposited? Where would the funds go? What would a phone-to-phone transfer look like?\n\u201cWe had a lot of strong plumbing to build,\u201d Kidder said. \u201cAfter that, we just layered new user interfaces on top. In terms of the coding, it\u2019s pretty straightforward.\u201d\nThe company offers more complex programs for tablet and Internet users, and it has an intricate cloud-based system for processing and securing transactions. But for the most part, GeoPay relies on text messages, which even the simplest of mobile phones can access.\nThe first outpost\nThe small population of Kyrgyzstan \u2014 roughly 5.5 million \u2014 and the prevalence of pay-as-you-go cellphone services there made it a particularly good place to start, Feeley said. In August 2011, the company opened an outpost in Kyrgyzstan and hired nine employees to oversee the marketing and management of GeoPay.\n\u201cWe wanted to start in a market that was smaller so we could turn the dials and fine-tune the product, the marketing and the consumer experience before we go to the next level,\u201d Feeley said.\nBy the end of this year, the company plans to expand to Kazakhstan, Russia and the United States, where  20 percent of adults do not have bank accounts, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data.\nFor now, funds from all GeoPay accounts are pooled behind-the-scenes into one aggregate bank account. Eventually, Feeley said, users will be able to link individual checking accounts to their mobile phones.\n\u201cThat would provide a true mobile wallet for people who do have bank accounts,\u201d Feeley said, \u201cand also provide traditional financial institutions the ability to sell to our consumers or promote their products and graduate that consumer up into a financial facility.\u201d\nThe company is constantly updating its platform, Feeley said. He plans to add loyalty programs for frequent users and to partner with daily deals sites to offer location-based deals to GeoPay users. Feeley would not discuss revenue figures, but he said he and others had invested more than $1\u00a0million in the company to date.\nThe biggest challenge\nThe biggest challenge, he said, is marketing the system to customers and merchants who may be wary of financial institutions and traditional fee structures. There are other limitations, too. Phone lines can go down. Kiosks can stop working.\n\u201cNo matter how you\u2019re trying to connect to something, there are third parties, and you\u2019re sometimes only as good as they are,\u201d Feeley said. \u201cThat could be a mobile operator, that could be an Internet provider, that could be a banking system or a kiosk. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong.\u201d\nBut, he added, there is plenty of room to grow, particularly given that one-third of the world\u2019s population does not have bank accounts, according to the World Bank.\n\u201cThis is going to evolve,\u201d Feeley said. \u201cWe\u2019re only in the infant stages of mobile banking.\u201d"}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "d65172e8-5cb0-11e1-8c28-8f1c9e65d2ac_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d65172e8-5cb0-11e1-8c28-8f1c9e65d2ac_0", "title": "Consumer watchdog launches overdraft inquiry", "text": "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to launch an inquiry Wednesday into banks\u2019 overdraft practices, which have been in regulatory crosshairs in recent years. The bureau said it will look into whether banks are reordering customers\u2019 debit-card charges to maximize overdraft fees. Reordering transactions can double or triple penalties, and the practice has been the target of several class-action lawsuits against the nation\u2019s biggest banks. The CFPB\u2019s inquiry also will focus on bank overdraft policies, how they market the plans, and their impact on low-income and young consumers. The agency will solicit feedback from the public. \u201cOverdraft practices have the capacity to inflict serious economic harm on the people who can least afford it,\u201d CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement. \u201cWe want to learn how consumers are affected, and how well they are able to anticipate and avoid paying penalty fees.\u201d Overdraft fees have long irked consumers, who have complained that withdrawals of as little as $3 from their bank accounts have resulted in penalties as high as $37. As the recession squeezed Americans\u2019 budgets and anger at the financial industry reached fever pitch, regulators and lawmakers began moving to curtail banks\u2019 fees. In 2010, the Federal Reserve began prohibiting banks from imposing overdraft charges unless a customer had signed up for the service. The rule only applies to debit-card transactions, not to checks or recurring withdrawals such as automatic bill pay. Meanwhile, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued guidelines calling for the smaller banks it oversees to set limits on the number of times customers can be charged overdraft fees in one day and offer alternatives to those who overdraw their accounts more than six times in a year. Its guidelines encompass checks and recurring payments. As a result of the new regulations and consumer uproar, several banks, including Bank of America, ended their overdraft programs all together. A poll by Consumer Reports shortly after the Fed\u2019s ban went into effect found that only 22 percent of customers had opted into the service. Of those customers, more than half had experienced an overdraft in the past six months, the poll found. One thing regulators left unaddressed, however, was the order that banks processed charges. That issue has been winding its way through the nation\u2019s court system instead. In 2010, a California judge ordered Wells Fargo to return $203 million in overdraft fees to customers whose transactions"}], "old": [{"_id": "d65172e8-5cb0-11e1-8c28-8f1c9e65d2ac_0", "title": "Consumer watchdog launches overdraft inquiry", "text": "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to launch an inquiry Wednesday into banks\u2019 overdraft practices, which have been in regulatory crosshairs in recent years. The CFPB\u2019s inquiry also will focus on bank overdraft policies, how they market the plans, and their impact on low-income and young consumers. The agency will solicit feedback from the public. \u201cOverdraft practices have the capacity to inflict serious economic harm on the people who can least afford it,\u201d CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement. \u201cWe want to learn how consumers are affected, and how well they are able to anticipate and avoid paying penalty fees.\u201d Overdraft fees have long irked consumers, who have complained that withdrawals of as little as $3 from their bank accounts have resulted in penalties as high as $37. As the recession squeezed Americans\u2019 budgets and anger at the financial industry reached fever pitch, regulators and lawmakers began moving to curtail banks\u2019 fees. Meanwhile, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued guidelines calling for the smaller banks it oversees to set limits on the number of times customers can be charged overdraft fees in one day and offer alternatives to those who overdraw their accounts more than six times in a year. Its guidelines encompass checks and recurring payments. One thing regulators left unaddressed, however, was the order that banks processed charges. That issue has been winding its way through the nation\u2019s court system instead. In 2010, a California judge ordered Wells Fargo to return $203 million in overdraft fees to customers whose transactions were reordered. Chase, Bank of America and several other banks have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to settle a separate class-action lawsuit over the practice. The CFPB said it is seeking information on how prevalent the practice remains and how it affects consumers. It is also concerned about a 2008 FDIC report that found that 9 percent of checking account customers made up about 84 percent of overdraft charges, suggesting that the fees were concentrated among low-income customers. The bureau said it also hopes to educate consumers about the overdraft rules. It is launching a campaign called \u201cWhat\u2019s your overdraft status?\u201d and has developed a \u201cpenalty fee box\u201d that would appear on checking account statements to help consumers understand any overdraft charges."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to launch an inquiry Wednesday into banks\u2019 overdraft practices, which have been in regulatory crosshairs in recent years.\nThe bureau said it will look into whether banks are reordering customers\u2019 debit-card charges to maximize overdraft fees. Reordering transactions can double or triple penalties, and the practice has been the target of several class-action lawsuits against the nation\u2019s biggest banks.\nThe CFPB\u2019s inquiry also will focus on bank overdraft policies, how they market the plans, and their impact on low-income and young consumers. The agency will solicit feedback from the public.\n\u201cOverdraft practices have the capacity to inflict serious economic harm on the people who can least afford it,\u201d CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement. \u201cWe want to learn how consumers are affected, and how well they are able to anticipate and avoid paying penalty fees.\u201d\nOverdraft fees have long irked consumers, who have complained that withdrawals of as little as $3 from their bank accounts have resulted in penalties as high as $37. As the recession squeezed Americans\u2019 budgets and anger at the financial industry reached fever pitch, regulators and lawmakers began moving to curtail banks\u2019 fees.\nIn 2010, the Federal Reserve began prohibiting banks from imposing overdraft charges unless a customer had signed up for the service. The rule only applies to debit-card transactions, not to checks or recurring withdrawals such as automatic bill pay.\nMeanwhile, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued guidelines calling for the smaller banks it oversees to set limits on the number of times customers can be charged overdraft fees in one day and offer alternatives to those who overdraw their accounts more than six times in a year. Its guidelines encompass checks and recurring payments.\nAs a result of the new regulations and consumer uproar, several banks, including Bank of America, ended their overdraft programs all together. A poll by Consumer Reports shortly after the Fed\u2019s ban went into effect found that only 22 percent of customers had opted into the service. Of those customers, more than half had experienced an overdraft in the past six months, the poll found.\nOne thing regulators left unaddressed, however, was the order that banks processed charges. That issue has been winding its way through the nation\u2019s court system instead. In 2010, a California judge ordered Wells Fargo to return $203\u00a0million in overdraft fees to customers whose transactions were reordered. Chase, Bank of America and several other banks have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to settle a separate class-action lawsuit over the practice.\nThe CFPB said it is seeking information on how prevalent the practice remains and how it affects consumers. It is also concerned about a 2008 FDIC report that found that 9\u00a0percent of checking account customers made up about 84\u00a0percent of overdraft charges, suggesting that the fees were concentrated among low-income customers.\nThe bureau said it also hopes to educate consumers about the overdraft rules. It is launching a campaign called \u201cWhat\u2019s your overdraft status?\u201d and has developed a \u201cpenalty fee box\u201d that would appear on checking account statements to help consumers understand any overdraft charges."}
{"qid": 956, "pid": "e8dee53a-837d-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_0", "query_info": {"_id": 956, "text": "What issues face the approximately 28% of Americans with limited or no access to traditional banks?", "instruction_og": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances.", "instruction_changed": "Granting retail stores like Walmart, Target, and Safeway bank charters will help the 10 million underbanked Americans unable to afford the costs associated with traditional banks. Studies indicate that the unbanked depend on lower fees offered by prepaid debit cards and/or money orders to pay bills or cash checks instead of the using payday loans or cash checking services. Eliminating some government regulations and having more retail stores offer prepaid debit cards such as Walmart's successful Bluebird American Express card which does not require credit checks will help the underbanked better manage their finances. Exclude documents related to loans.", "short_query": "Find research that supports this financial question.", "keywords": "research financial"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "e8dee53a-837d-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_0", "title": "T-Mobile enters prepaid card market", "text": "John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile, speaks at T-Mobile's Un-carrier 4.0 press event at International CES on Jan. 8 in Las Vegas. (Jeff Bottari/AP Images for T-Mobile) T-Mobile on Wednesday became the latest retailer to barrel into the banking world with the introduction of a prepaid card, entering the market just as lawmakers and regulators move to impose tougher consumer protections on such products. The use of prepaid cards has exploded in the wake of the credit crisis that pushed millions of Americans outside of the traditional banking system. Chain stores, including Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Target, have entered the marketplace with broad access to those consumers left on the sidelines. Advocacy groups, however, have raised concerns that issuers of prepaid cards are not always transparent about the fees or rules associated with their products. And while the cards act much like debit or credit cards, they are not covered by the same strict consumer-protection laws. But Michael Goo, vice president of marketing at T-Mobile, said that the telecom company is offering Americans an affordable way to manage their money through its Mobile Money service. Customers can use the Visa-branded card to pay bills, deposit checks via a smartphone camera and make purchases. There are no overdraft fees, no minimum balance requirements and no charges for withdrawing cash from 42,000 ATMs across the country, he said. \u201cThere is a significant portion of Americans, 68 million adults, that rely on alternative financial services or don\u2019t have traditional accounts, and this product will help free them in terms of time savings and cost savings,\u201d Goo said. \u201cOur product is in\u00adcred\u00adibly consumer-friendly.\u201d On its Mobile Money Web page, T-Mobile said there will be charges for \u201cnon-typical use,\u201d such as using an out-of-network ATM or putting rush demands on checks to be cashed. Company officials said in an e-mail it would charge $2 for such services, but the cost is not explained on its Web site. The inability of consumers to get clear information about the terms of such products has riled lawmakers and regulators. Within the past month, Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) introduced separate legislation to require prepaid card issuers to fully disclose all fees tied to the product. Disclosure is at the heart of the rules the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to write before the end of the year. The bureau has said it will work on"}], "old": [{"_id": "e8dee53a-837d-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_0", "title": "T-Mobile enters prepaid card market", "text": "John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile, speaks at T-Mobile's Un-carrier 4.0 press event at International CES on Jan. 8 in Las Vegas. (Jeff Bottari/AP Images for T-Mobile) Advocacy groups, however, have raised concerns that issuers of prepaid cards are not always transparent about the fees or rules associated with their products. And while the cards act much like debit or credit cards, they are not covered by the same strict consumer-protection laws. But Michael Goo, vice president of marketing at T-Mobile, said that the telecom company is offering Americans an affordable way to manage their money through its Mobile Money service. Customers can use the Visa-branded card to pay bills, deposit checks via a smartphone camera and make purchases. There are no overdraft fees, no minimum balance requirements and no charges for withdrawing cash from 42,000 ATMs across the country, he said. \u201cThere is a significant portion of Americans, 68 million adults, that rely on alternative financial services or don\u2019t have traditional accounts, and this product will help free them in terms of time savings and cost savings,\u201d Goo said. \u201cOur product is in\u00adcred\u00adibly consumer-friendly.\u201d On its Mobile Money Web page, T-Mobile said there will be charges for \u201cnon-typical use,\u201d such as using an out-of-network ATM or putting rush demands on checks to be cashed. Company officials said in an e-mail it would charge $2 for such services, but the cost is not explained on its Web site. The inability of consumers to get clear information about the terms of such products has riled lawmakers and regulators. Within the past month, Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) introduced separate legislation to require prepaid card issuers to fully disclose all fees tied to the product. Disclosure is at the heart of the rules the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to write before the end of the year. The bureau has said it will work on an industry-wide standard on fee disclosure, overdraft and other issues, such as limits to consumer liability in the event of cards being stolen. \u201cThese cards can be a substitute for a checking account and help usher people into the financial system, but unlike a checking account, the terms can change at any time,\u201d said Susan K. Weinstock, director of the Safe Checking in the Electronic Age Project at the Pew Charitable Trusts. In the past, proponents of prepaid cards cautioned that new disclosure"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile, speaks at T-Mobile's Un-carrier 4.0 press event at International CES on  Jan. 8 in Las Vegas. (Jeff Bottari/AP Images for T-Mobile)\nT-Mobile on Wednesday became the latest retailer to barrel into the banking world with the introduction of a prepaid card, entering the market just as lawmakers and regulators move to impose tougher consumer protections on such products.\nThe use of prepaid cards has exploded in the wake of the credit crisis that pushed millions of Americans outside of the traditional banking system. Chain stores, including Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Target, have entered the marketplace with broad access to those consumers left on the sidelines.\nAdvocacy groups, however, have raised concerns that issuers of prepaid cards are not always transparent about the fees or rules associated with their products. And while the cards act much like debit or credit cards, they are not covered by the same strict consumer-protection laws.\nBut Michael Goo, vice president of marketing at T-Mobile, said that the telecom company is offering Americans an affordable way to manage their money through its Mobile Money service. Customers can use the Visa-branded card to pay bills, deposit checks via a smartphone camera and make purchases. There are no overdraft fees, no minimum balance requirements and no charges for withdrawing cash from 42,000 ATMs across the country, he said.\n\u201cThere is a significant portion of Americans, 68 million adults, that rely on alternative financial services or don\u2019t have traditional accounts, and this product will help free them in terms of time savings and cost savings,\u201d Goo said. \u201cOur product is in\u00adcred\u00adibly consumer-friendly.\u201d\nOn its Mobile Money Web page, T-Mobile said there will be charges for \u201cnon-typical use,\u201d such as using an out-of-network ATM or putting rush demands on checks to be cashed. Company officials said in an e-mail it would charge $2 for such services, but the cost is not explained on its Web site.\nThe inability of consumers to get clear information about the terms of such products has riled lawmakers and regulators. Within the past month, Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) introduced separate legislation to require prepaid card issuers to fully disclose all fees tied to the product.\nDisclosure is at the heart of the rules the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to write before the end of the year. The bureau has said it will work on an industry-wide standard on fee disclosure, overdraft and other issues, such as limits to consumer liability in the event of cards being stolen.\n\u201cThese cards can be a substitute for a checking account and help usher people into the financial system, but unlike a checking account, the terms can change at any time,\u201d said Susan K. Weinstock, director of the Safe Checking in the Electronic Age Project at the Pew Charitable Trusts.\nIn the past, proponents of prepaid cards cautioned that new disclosure requirements would increase compliance costs that would be passed on to consumers. That apprehension has waned as regulators have warmed to the idea of a simple fee disclosure box, said Jennifer Tescher, president and chief executive of the Center for Financial Services Innovation, a think tank.\n\u201cThere is very little fear and trepidation around the prepaid rules that the CFPB might issue,\u201d she said. \u201cIf anything, the industry is waiting for rules and will welcome them because it will help to further legitimize the product. \u201d\nThe high fees once associated with prepaid cards have largely declined as well-heeled firms, such as Wal-Mart and JPMorgan Chase, have entered the market. To remain competitive, more companies have lowered their costs or waived charges altogether.\nT-Mobile will automatically waive monthly fees for its wireless customers. Analysts say the move into prepaid debit cards is a natural fit for the company, considering its established base of prepaid wireless customers.\n\u201cPrepaid wireless customers usually fall into a few categories: very budget-conscious, young or credit issues prevent them from getting a [traditional] wireless plan,\u201d said Terrence P. Maher, corporate counsel at the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association, a trade group. \u201cThese demographics also may be interested in a general-purpose, reloadable card, for the very same reasons.\u201d"}
{"qid": 957, "pid": "1de0c550-ecc4-11e3-b98c-72cef4a00499_3", "query_info": {"_id": 957, "text": "Find information about increasing numbers of coyotes in suburban Maryland and any impacts on other species.", "instruction_og": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species.", "instruction_changed": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species. Relvant documents must include references to Virginia.", "short_query": "Research the impact of a growing animal population on local ecosystems for this question.", "keywords": "animal population ecosystems"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "1de0c550-ecc4-11e3-b98c-72cef4a00499_3", "title": "USDA\u2019s Wildlife Services killed 4 million animals in 2013; seen as an overstep by some", "text": "each kill of a native animal, for whose benefit and the methods used. The petition called Wildlife Services \u201ca rogue agency\u201d that was \u201cout of control.\u201d At the time, a Wildlife Services spokeswoman, Lyndsay Cole, responded that it kills birds at 800 airports nationwide so they won\u2019t gum up the works of airplanes. Cole said the department kills some animals that are a threat to endangered animals. Other animals, such as raccoons, are eliminated as part of the National Rabies Management Program. Cole said the agency is guided by a science-based decision-making model. For example, wolves are killed to \u201clessen the negative impacts of expanding wolf populations,\u201d even though those populations are still recovering from earlier government programs that aimed to exterminate them. Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) has railed against the secret methods of Wildlife Services, at one time calling it \u201cone of the most opaque and obstinate departments I\u2019ve dealt with.\u201d DeFazio has asked to know what goes into poisons used by the agency that are a danger to people and harmless animals but hasn\u2019t gotten an answer. \u201cWe\u2019re really not sure what they\u2019re doing.\u201d Wildlife Services has been around under different government names for more than a century. It essentially cleared away wildlife for America\u2019s westward expansion. In a 2012 report, Wildlife Services relied on a National Agricultural Statistics Service survey to show that wildlife caused $944 million in agricultural damage in 2001. Atwood dismissed the \u201cscience-based model\u201d Cole mentioned as a document that \u201cbasically says they can use whatever methods at their disposal whenever they want.\u201d Her organization\u2019s petition called on the USDA and the Obama administration to develop a policy based on ecological science, showing how removing animals from the wild affects the natural balance of the habitats. In the Northeast, for example, the elimination of red wolves led to a proliferation of coyotes, which the wolves rarely tolerate in their range. Coyotes push away foxes, which prey on deer mice, which spread ticks. The execution of wolves and other predators, such as bears, allows deer to proliferate across the country, destroying trees that serve as habitat for other animals. Atwood described Wildlife Services\u2019 work as \u201ca staggering killing campaign, bankrolled by taxpayers\u201d and happening \u201cbeyond the view of most Americans.\u201d Related: Petition targets \u2018rogue\u2019 killings by Wildlife Services Officials give up on evicting pythons from Everglades Virginia acts to reduce population of feral pigs"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A coyote keeps pace with a car (not seen) as it runs down the road in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)\nFor years, the massive toll of wild animals exterminated by the federal government as a service to everything from airports to ranches has bounced up and down like a yo-yo. Last year it was up again.\nThe more than 4 million animals shot, poisoned, snared or trapped by the Department of Agriculture\u2019s Wildlife Services in fiscal year 2013 included 75,326 coyotes, 866 bobcats, 528 river otters, 3,700 foxes, 12,186 prairie dogs, 973 red-tailed hawks, 419 black bears and at least three eagles, golden and bald.\nThough there\u2019s a list of animals killed, there\u2019s little data showing the cause for each killing, the methods used and the reasons behind mistakes that lead to massive kills of animals that aren\u2019t targeted.\nAt least two members of Congress have called Wildlife Services secret and opaque for failing to provide more information, and there are mounting calls for an investigation into how it operates.\nWildlife Services says that it responds to requests by government agencies nationwide and works to \u201cresolve human/wildlife conflicts\u201d in a strategic way. \u201cAs wildlife damage increases, requests for assistance also increase,\u201d said spokeswoman Carol Bannerman. Ranchers and farmers pay half the agency\u2019s costs of killing animals that they view as a threat.\nIn 2012, the USDA Wildlife Services reports the number of wild animals terminated, freed, released, relocated or dispersed. Here are the top 10 killed or euthanized.\nBut the agency provided no explanation for why the kill total can be 1.5\u00a0million in one year and 5\u00a0million the next.\nNear the turn of the century, it hit a staggering 4\u00a0million. Two years later, in 2001, it fell to about 1.5\u00a0million and stayed relatively low for six years. But in 2008, the number of kills rocketed to 5\u00a0million before trending downward to 3\u00a0million over the next four years.\nNow it\u2019s back up, well past 4 million in the most recent count, and critics are pressing for a better explanation for why.\nWildlife Services\u2019 primary purpose is to eradicate invasive creatures introduced from other parts of the world. They include greedy feral hogs, giant swamp rats called nutria, big aggressive Argentine lizards called tegus and swarms of hungry starlings that destroy the habitats of animals native to the United States.\nBut the agency also kills native animals en masse, sometimes based solely on a homeowner\u2019s or farmer\u2019s perception of a threat.\nBirds that invade airports and swipe cattle feed at farms contribute to the high totals. Non-native European starlings, sparrows, pigeons and such accounted for 87 percent of animals killed. Birds in general are singled out as a nuisance.\nThe rise in the number of exterminated animals came despite growing scrutiny and protest.\n\nLast December, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition demanding that the agency explain the exact reasons why it makes each kill of a native animal, for whose benefit and the methods used. The petition called Wildlife Services \u201ca rogue agency\u201d that was \u201cout of control.\u201d\nAt the time, a Wildlife Services spokeswoman, Lyndsay Cole, responded that it kills birds at 800 airports nationwide so they won\u2019t gum up the works of airplanes. Cole said the department kills some animals that are a threat to endangered animals. Other animals, such as raccoons, are eliminated as part of the National Rabies Management Program.\nCole said the agency is guided by a science-based decision-making model. For example, wolves are killed to \u201clessen the negative impacts of expanding wolf populations,\u201d even though those populations are still recovering from earlier government programs that aimed to exterminate them.\nRep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) has railed against the secret methods of Wildlife Services, at one time calling it \u201cone of the most opaque and obstinate departments I\u2019ve dealt with.\u201d DeFazio has asked to know what goes into poisons used by the agency that are a danger to people and harmless animals but hasn\u2019t gotten an answer. \u201cWe\u2019re really not sure what they\u2019re doing.\u201d\nWildlife Services has been around under different government names for more than a century. It essentially cleared away wildlife for America\u2019s westward expansion.\nIn a 2012 report, Wildlife Services relied on a National Agricultural Statistics Service survey to show that wildlife caused $944\u00a0million in agricultural damage in 2001.\nAtwood dismissed the \u201cscience-based model\u201d Cole mentioned as a document that \u201cbasically says they can use whatever methods at their disposal whenever they want.\u201d\nHer organization\u2019s petition called on the USDA and the Obama administration to develop a policy based on ecological science, showing how removing animals from the wild affects the natural balance of the habitats.\nIn the Northeast, for example, the elimination of red wolves led to a proliferation of coyotes, which the wolves rarely tolerate in their range. Coyotes push away foxes, which prey on deer mice, which spread ticks.\nThe execution of wolves and other predators, such as bears, allows deer to proliferate across the country, destroying trees that serve as habitat for other animals.\nAtwood described Wildlife Services\u2019 work as \u201ca staggering killing campaign, bankrolled by taxpayers\u201d and happening \u201cbeyond the view of most Americans.\u201d\nRelated:\nPetition targets \u2018rogue\u2019 killings by Wildlife Services\nOfficials give up on evicting pythons from Everglades\nVirginia acts to reduce population of feral pigs"}
{"qid": 957, "pid": "2c0b3b6b1436552253988239f9699436_1", "query_info": {"_id": 957, "text": "Find information about increasing numbers of coyotes in suburban Maryland and any impacts on other species.", "instruction_og": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species.", "instruction_changed": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species. Relvant documents must include references to Virginia.", "short_query": "Research the impact of a growing animal population on local ecosystems for this question.", "keywords": "animal population ecosystems"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "2c0b3b6b1436552253988239f9699436_1", "title": "Why you really need to stop driving on beaches", "text": "better chance against vehicles on the beach. New chicks can easily fall into the ruts made by tire tracks along the shoreline and get stuck, says Lindsay Addison, a coastal biologist with Audubon North Carolina. At the very least, they risk becoming separated from their parents this way \u2014 worst case scenario, another vehicle may come along and run them over while they\u2019re trapped. Vehicles pose some less direct threats as well. Off-roading vehicles can be frightening and disruptive to adult birds, who may be inclined to fly away any time a vehicle comes down the beach. \u201cIf you\u2019re repeatedly flushing birds away from young chicks, you have a lot of different things happening,\u201d Addison says. \u201cChicks and eggs are exposed to temperature stress if parents aren\u2019t able to be with them. They\u2019re exposed to predators \u2014 crows, gulls, raccoons, foxes, coyotes. And also, if adults are stressed out really badly at a colony by too much chronic disruption, they may choose to abandon the site.\u201d Too much driving on the beach can contribute to habitat degradation as well, says Comins. \u201cIt tends to really greatly contribute to beach erosion and certainly to the detriment of dune vegetation, which is important for stabilizing these beaches,\u201d he says. In parts of the country where off-roading is allowed, Addison recommends local authorities at least establish a buffer zone around prime nesting areas to keep disturbances at a minimum. But these type of measures have become highly contentious in some places. At North Carolina\u2019s Cape Hatteras National Seashore, for instance, debates over off-roading on the beach have been a source of bad blood for years. In February 2012, the National Park Service restricted off-road vehicle access to the beach to certain times and places after environmentalists filed a lawsuit calling for better protections on local wildlife. In response, a group of outraged community members created the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance and filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the new regulations. The group argued that the National Park Service overlooked any compromises that would have maintained vehicle access to the beach and protected wildlife at the same time. The new regulations are also potentially damaging to the tourist-oriented local economy, the group said. The lawsuit was unsuccessful. But tensions are running high again this spring, after the National Park Service proposed scaling back some of the restrictions it put in place for both"}], "old": [{"_id": "2c0b3b6b1436552253988239f9699436_1", "title": "Why you really need to stop driving on beaches", "text": "them over while they\u2019re trapped. Vehicles pose some less direct threats as well. Off-roading vehicles can be frightening and disruptive to adult birds, who may be inclined to fly away any time a vehicle comes down the beach. \u201cIf you\u2019re repeatedly flushing birds away from young chicks, you have a lot of different things happening,\u201d Addison says. \u201cChicks and eggs are exposed to temperature stress if parents aren\u2019t able to be with them. They\u2019re exposed to predators \u2014 crows, gulls, raccoons, foxes, coyotes. And also, if adults are stressed out really badly at a colony by too much chronic disruption, they may choose to abandon the site.\u201d Too much driving on the beach can contribute to habitat degradation as well, says Comins. \u201cIt tends to really greatly contribute to beach erosion and certainly to the detriment of dune vegetation, which is important for stabilizing these beaches,\u201d he says. In parts of the country where off-roading is allowed, Addison recommends local authorities at least establish a buffer zone around prime nesting areas to keep disturbances at a minimum. But these type of measures have become highly contentious in some places. At North Carolina\u2019s Cape Hatteras National Seashore, for instance, debates over off-roading on the beach have been a source of bad blood for years. In February 2012, the National Park Service restricted off-road vehicle access to the beach to certain times and places after environmentalists filed a lawsuit calling for better protections on local wildlife. In response, a group of outraged community members created the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance and filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the new regulations. The group argued that the National Park Service overlooked any compromises that would have maintained vehicle access to the beach and protected wildlife at the same time. The new regulations are also potentially damaging to the tourist-oriented local economy, the group said. The lawsuit was unsuccessful. Many of these looser restrictions are viewed as a step in the right direction by the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance. But the proposal has environmentalists worried that the National Park Service could \u201cpotentially roll back the gains that birds and sea turtles have made since the better management has been implemented,\u201d says Addison, from Audubon North Carolina. According to Addison, these gains have included an increase in the number of sea turtle and shorebird nests on the beach, as well as greater success for"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "American oystercatcher at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. (Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr)\nFor off-roading enthusiasts, a relaxing drive on the beach in warm weather may seem like an innocent enough activity. For the nesting shorebirds who make their home along the coastline this time of year, it\u2019s another story.\nWhether vehicles are allowed on beaches varies\u00a0from one state \u2014 and, in some cases, from one city \u2014 to the next. But in places where the practice is allowed, driving along\u00a0the beach may be\u00a0causing\u00a0all kinds of problems for coastal birds, such as piping plovers and oystercatchers, especially in the spring and summer months when they\u2019re nesting and raising chicks, according to environmentalists. The most obvious of these is the risk of crushing delicate eggs.\nAccording to Patrick Comins, director of bird conservation for Audubon Connecticut, many shorebirds do a great job of camouflaging their nests, scraping shallow indentations in the beach and laying their sandy-colored eggs inside. \u201cYou can be five feet away from a nest, see it, take your eyes off of it, and then you can\u2019t find it again,\u201d Comins says.\nBut once the chicks hatch, they don\u2019t stand a much better chance against vehicles on the beach.\nNew chicks can easily fall into the ruts made by tire tracks along the shoreline and get stuck, says Lindsay Addison, a coastal biologist with Audubon North Carolina. At the very least, they risk becoming separated from their parents this way \u2014 worst case scenario, another vehicle may come along and run them over while they\u2019re trapped.\nVehicles pose some less direct threats as well. Off-roading vehicles can be frightening and disruptive to adult birds, who may be inclined to fly away any time a vehicle comes down the beach. \u201cIf you\u2019re repeatedly flushing birds away from young chicks, you have a lot of different things happening,\u201d Addison says. \u201cChicks and eggs are exposed to temperature stress if parents aren\u2019t able to be with them. They\u2019re exposed to predators \u2014 crows, gulls, raccoons, foxes, coyotes. And also, if adults are stressed out really badly at a colony by too much chronic disruption, they may choose to abandon the site.\u201d\nToo much driving on the beach can contribute to habitat degradation as well, says Comins. \u201cIt tends to really greatly contribute to beach erosion and certainly to the detriment of dune vegetation, which is important for stabilizing these beaches,\u201d he says.\nIn parts of the country where off-roading is allowed, Addison recommends local authorities at least establish a buffer zone around prime nesting areas to keep disturbances at a minimum. But these type of measures have\u00a0become highly contentious in some places.\nAt North Carolina\u2019s Cape Hatteras National Seashore, for instance, debates over off-roading on the beach have been a source of bad blood for years. In February 2012, the National Park Service restricted\u00a0off-road vehicle access to the beach to\u00a0certain times and places after environmentalists filed a lawsuit calling for better protections on local wildlife.\nIn response, a group of outraged community members created the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance and filed a lawsuit seeking to\u00a0overturn the new regulations. The group argued that the National Park Service overlooked any compromises that would have maintained vehicle access to the beach and protected wildlife at the same time. The new regulations are also potentially damaging to the tourist-oriented local economy, the group said. The lawsuit was unsuccessful.\nBut tensions are running high again this spring, after\u00a0the National Park Service proposed scaling back some of the restrictions it put in place for both vehicles and pedestrians on the beach, such as\u00a0reducing buffer zones between beach-goers and nesting sites.\nMany of these looser restrictions are viewed as a step in the right direction by the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance. But the proposal has environmentalists worried that the National Park Service\u00a0could \u201cpotentially roll back the gains that birds and sea turtles have made since the better management has been implemented,\u201d says Addison, from Audubon North Carolina. According to Addison, these gains have included an increase in the number of sea turtle and shorebird nests on the beach, as well as greater success for shorebirds in raising their young.\nThe numbers appear to back her up, at least in part: In 2012, the year the beach management practices were implemented, biologists counted 17 waterbird colonies, and in 2013 they counted 19 \u2014 up from 12 colonies in 2011 and 10 in 2010. And the gains extend to other wildlife as well, such as sea turtles, which also lay their delicate eggs in the sand. In 2010 and 2011, biologists counted only 153 and 147 nests respectively, while these numbers rose to 222 nests in 2012 and 254 in 2013. (The number of colonial waterbirds and sea turtles both took a dive in 2014, the most recent year that data is available. Environmentalists say they still don\u2019t know what is behind the drop, but extreme weather events, predators and human disturbances, including foot traffic, may\u00a0all have played a role.)\nBiologists pay attention to these numbers because so many shorebirds species are experiencing declines or have low populations as it is. One prime example, according to Comins, is the piping plover, a favorite among shorebird enthusiasts. Populations throughout the U.S. are listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and its protection is a high priority among coastal conservationists.\nOther declining shorebirds include the American oystercatcher and several species of tern, says Comins, and there are many other species that also nest on the shoreline and can benefit from traffic restrictions on beaches.\nCape Hatteras isn\u2019t the only place with these kinds of regulations in place. In Cape Cod, officials have been known to limit or close certain off-roading corridors on the beach to protect nesting shorebirds, particularly piping plovers. On parts of Long Island, driving restrictions are put in place during nesting season as well.\nAnd even in places like Comins\u2019 state of Connecticut, where driving on the beach is not permitted, certain areas of the beach are fenced off during nesting season to protect shorebirds from pedestrians. The key in these situations, Comins says, is to foster community awareness about the plight of shorebirds and balance beach recreation with the welfare of the birds. \u201cIt\u2019s a goal of ours to make sure that people have access to the shore and that the birds also have a chance for success,\u201d he says."}
{"qid": 957, "pid": "73d1a284-77a5-11e3-a647-a19deaf575b3_0", "query_info": {"_id": 957, "text": "Find information about increasing numbers of coyotes in suburban Maryland and any impacts on other species.", "instruction_og": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species.", "instruction_changed": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species. Relvant documents must include references to Virginia.", "short_query": "Research the impact of a growing animal population on local ecosystems for this question.", "keywords": "animal population ecosystems"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "73d1a284-77a5-11e3-a647-a19deaf575b3_0", "title": "Keeping cats inside for their \u2014 and other animals\u2019 \u2014 safety", "text": "Courtland Milloy\u2019s Jan. 1 Metro column, \u201cThis tabby could teach dogs a thing or two,\u201d started well with the adoption of a stray cat but then delivered the wrong message about cat ownership. Milloy noted that the cat captured the family\u2019s love but added that they \u201clet the cat come indoors, then go back out as she pleased.\u201d He said that, \u201cOutdoors, she behaves like a tiger. . . . She is, quite frankly, awesome \u2014 except for the times when she brings her kill home to show off and play with.\u201d This perpetuates the notion that it is natural and normal to allow cats to hunt outdoors. Yes, the Milloy cat behaves like a tiger: Cats, both domestic and strays, are particularly devastating to native birds and mammals, killing an average of 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals a year. In fact, cats are one of the single greatest human-linked threats to wildlife in the nation. Granted, many cats are feral, and there are mixed arguments about how to address that population. But pet owners should not add to the problem by allowing their cats to prowl around neighborhoods to prey on wildlife. Cats also face dangers: cars, dogs, coyotes and even licking antifreeze and sewer sludge. Fortunately, Milloy\u2019s cat can learn to enjoy life as an indoor-only pet. I love cats and have converted outdoor felines to be happy inside dwellers. And the birds and other wildlife are luckier for it. Kasha Helget, Alexandria The writer is a member of the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists. \u25cf In his Jan. 1 Metro column, Courtland Milloy mentioned that his son gave a stray cat a bowl of milk. Other than kittens, cats cannot properly digest milk. It makes them sick. Peter Miller, Martinsburg, W.Va."}], "old": [{"_id": "73d1a284-77a5-11e3-a647-a19deaf575b3_0", "title": "Keeping cats inside for their \u2014 and other animals\u2019 \u2014 safety", "text": "Granted, many cats are feral, and there are mixed arguments about how to address that population. But pet owners should not add to the problem by allowing their cats to prowl around neighborhoods to prey on wildlife. Cats also face dangers: cars, dogs, coyotes and even licking antifreeze and sewer sludge. Fortunately, Milloy\u2019s cat can learn to enjoy life as an indoor-only pet. I love cats and have converted outdoor felines to be happy inside dwellers. And the birds and other wildlife are luckier for it. Kasha Helget, Alexandria \u25cf Peter Miller, Martinsburg, W.Va."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Courtland Milloy\u2019s Jan. 1 Metro column, \u201cThis tabby could teach dogs a thing or two,\u201d started well with the adoption of a stray cat but then delivered the wrong message about cat ownership. Milloy noted that the cat captured the family\u2019s love but added that they \u201clet the cat come indoors, then go back out as she pleased.\u201d He said that, \u201cOutdoors, she behaves like a tiger. .\u2009.\u2009. She is, quite frankly, awesome \u2014 except for the times when she brings her kill home to show off and play with.\u201d\nThis perpetuates the notion that it is natural and normal to allow cats to hunt outdoors. Yes, the Milloy cat behaves like a tiger: Cats, both domestic and strays, are particularly devastating to native birds and mammals, killing an average of 2.4\u2009billion birds and 12.3\u2009billion mammals a year. In fact, cats are one of the single greatest human-linked threats to wildlife in the nation.\nGranted, many cats are feral, and there are mixed arguments about how to address that population. But pet owners should not add to the problem by allowing their cats to prowl around neighborhoods to prey on wildlife. Cats also face dangers: cars, dogs, coyotes and even licking antifreeze and sewer sludge.\nFortunately, Milloy\u2019s cat can learn to enjoy life as an indoor-only pet. I love cats and have converted outdoor felines to be happy inside dwellers. And the birds and other wildlife are luckier for it.\nKasha Helget, Alexandria\nThe writer is a member of the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists.\n\u25cf\nIn his Jan. 1 Metro column, Courtland Milloy mentioned that his son gave a stray cat a bowl of milk. Other than kittens, cats cannot properly digest milk. It makes them sick.\nPeter Miller, Martinsburg, W.Va."}
{"qid": 957, "pid": "88ff4cda-da3e-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_3", "query_info": {"_id": 957, "text": "Find information about increasing numbers of coyotes in suburban Maryland and any impacts on other species.", "instruction_og": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species.", "instruction_changed": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species. Relvant documents must include references to Virginia.", "short_query": "Research the impact of a growing animal population on local ecosystems for this question.", "keywords": "animal population ecosystems"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "88ff4cda-da3e-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_3", "title": "How officials will try to figure out what killed 13 bald eagles on a Maryland farm", "text": "birds, they didn\u2019t get far, and that means it was extremely toxic,\u201d Clark said. Eagle experts recalled other cases involving large-scale deaths of eagles. In 2008, authorities tried to get rid of a hefty rat population on an island in Alaska by using poison. But gulls and eagles were attracted by the scent of the dying rodents, and 46 eagles ended up dead, according to Ellen Paul, executive director of the Ornithological Council. Another theory is there could be something like botulism or a naturally occurring blue-green algal toxin that got into area vegetation. Waterfowl eat that vegetation and then the eagles may have eaten the waterfowl and died. \u201cThirteen [eagles dead] in one spot is either something natural occurring, or there was some type of poison involved,\u201d said Bill Bowerman, an eagle expert and head of the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland. Experts say that vehicles are one of the biggest killers of bald eagles these days. As development has encroached on their habitat, eagles are eating less fish and are scavenging more. They often are hit by vehicles as they eat carcasses on roads or are sickened from eating out of dumps or landfills, experts said. In Maryland, there is a $10,000 reward being offered from several agencies and groups for any information in the recent Eastern Shore case. The 13 dead bald eagles that were found this weekend included at least three mature birds, with the signature white heads and brown bodies. Two of the birds were close to maturity, officials said, and the rest were considered immature, with no white feathers. Bald eagles are no longer on the endangered species list, but they are considered a protected species, according to the Natural Resources Police. Last year, 18 raptors died from gunshot, poisoning or getting entangled in fishing lines or landscape netting, according to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. Raptors include eagles, hawks and owls. An official with the organization said that 13 other raptors who suffered similar incidents were rehabilitated and returned to the wild. Thirty years ago, eight bald eagles were found dead in Maryland. Officials said they think those birds may have been poisoned. And two years ago, two bald eagles were shot and killed in one week in Montgomery County. It is illegal to shoot eagles without a permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior."}], "old": [{"_id": "88ff4cda-da3e-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_3", "title": "How officials will try to figure out what killed 13 bald eagles on a Maryland farm", "text": "a practice that Clark said is illegal. \u201cWhatever killed those birds, they didn\u2019t get far, and that means it was extremely toxic,\u201d Clark said. In 2008, authorities tried to get rid of a hefty rat population on an island in Alaska by using poison. But gulls and eagles were attracted by the scent of the dying rodents, and 46 eagles ended up dead, according to Ellen Paul, executive director of the Ornithological Council. Another theory is there could be something like botulism or a naturally occurring blue-green algal toxin that got into area vegetation. Waterfowl eat that vegetation and then the eagles may have eaten the waterfowl and died. \u201cThirteen [eagles dead] in one spot is either something natural occurring, or there was some type of poison involved,\u201d said Bill Bowerman, an eagle expert and head of the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland. Experts say that vehicles are one of the biggest killers of bald eagles these days. As development has encroached on their habitat, eagles are eating less fish and are scavenging more. They often are hit by vehicles as they eat carcasses on roads or are sickened from eating out of dumps or landfills, experts said. In Maryland, there is a $10,000 reward being offered from several agencies and groups for any information in the recent Eastern Shore case. The 13 dead bald eagles that were found this weekend included at least three mature birds, with the signature white heads and brown bodies. Two of the birds were close to maturity, officials said, and the rest were considered immature, with no white feathers. Bald eagles are no longer on the endangered species list, but they are considered a protected species, according to the Natural Resources Police. Last year, 18 raptors died from gunshot, poisoning or getting entangled in fishing lines or landscape netting, according to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. Raptors include eagles, hawks and owls. An official with the organization said that 13 other raptors who suffered similar incidents were rehabilitated and returned to the wild. Thirty years ago, eight bald eagles were found dead in Maryland. Officials said they think those birds may have been poisoned. And two years ago, two bald eagles were shot and killed in one week in Montgomery County. It is illegal to shoot eagles without a permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "One of the bald eagles found dead in a farm field on Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore over the weekend. A total of 13 were found. (Courtesy of Maryland Natural Resources Police)\nThe carcasses of 13 bald eagles that were found over the weekend in a field on Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore have been sent to a forensic laboratory in Oregon that\u2019s been dubbed the CSI lab for animals, where they will undergo a thorough analysis to figure out what caused their deaths.\nThe eagles were discovered Saturday by a man who told authorities he was out on the property looking for antlers deer had shed when he saw what he thought was a dead turkey. Turns out it wasn\u2019t.\nIt was four dead eagles, and after wildlife officials searched the area, they found nine more dead eagles in the field near the intersection of Richardson and Laurel Grove roads in Federalsburg.\nThere were no obvious signs of trauma to the birds. And it was not immediately known what exactly killed them, said investigators from the Maryland Natural Resources Police and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But there are several theories, including that they died from some sort of poison. It is the largest single such incident of dead eagles in 30 years in the state, experts said.\nThe 13 dead bald eagles found in a field on Maryland's Eastern Shore have been sent for analysis to the National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Lab, the CSI of labs for animals, in Ashland, Ore. (Courtesy of National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory)\nThe carcasses were sent Monday night to the National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory in Ashland, Ore., , officials said. The federal lab has been dubbed the \u201cCSI for Animals\u201d in an article by Boston\u2019s NPR station. In its promotional information, the lab bills itself as a crime lab that is \u201cvery much like a \u2018typical\u2019 police lab, except the victim is an animal.\u201d\nThe rare forensic lab was founded in the 1980s. Officials there have told of how they often get a wide range of evidence from eagle talons to decomposed boa constructors, wolves and skunk carcasses.\nOfficials at the lab said the 13 eagles from Maryland will go through the same process as other carcasses: They\u2019ll be physically examined by vet pathologists, X-ray images will be taken, and samples of liver, stomach, kidney, urine and blood will be collected and analyzed. Screenings will also be done to look for possible poisons, and a necropsy will be conducted.\nThe lab has about 30 employees and a $5 million annual budget. It examines 100 to 1,000 cases a year that involve about 15,000 items ranging from feathers to carcasses.\nIn Maryland, there are theories \u2014 lots of them.\nOne is they were poisoned. An area landowner may have sprayed a chemical on a field and that could have adversely impacted the eagles. Or poison used to kill rodents could be the culprit. The rodents may have died outdoors, then the eagles ate the carcasses and were poisoned in turn.\nEd Clark, president and founder of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, said there are two most likely scenarios of how the eagles died. They may have eaten carcasses left from a euthanized horse or cow. Or they ate bait that was laced with poison that was intended for coyotes or other predators \u2014 a practice that Clark said is illegal.\n\u201cWhatever killed those birds, they didn\u2019t get far, and that means it was extremely toxic,\u201d Clark said.\nEagle experts recalled other cases involving large-scale deaths of eagles.\nIn 2008, authorities tried to get rid of a hefty rat population on an island in Alaska by using poison. But gulls and eagles were attracted by the scent of the dying rodents, and 46 eagles ended up dead, according to Ellen Paul, executive director of the Ornithological Council.\nAnother theory is there could be something like botulism or a naturally occurring blue-green algal toxin that got into area vegetation. Waterfowl eat that vegetation and then the eagles may have eaten the waterfowl and died.\n\u201cThirteen [eagles dead] in one spot is either something natural occurring, or there was some type of poison involved,\u201d said Bill Bowerman, an eagle expert and head of the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland.\nExperts say that vehicles are one of the biggest killers of bald eagles these days. As development has encroached on their habitat, eagles are eating less fish and are scavenging more. They often are hit by vehicles as they eat carcasses on roads or are sickened from eating out of dumps or landfills, experts said.\nIn Maryland, there is a $10,000 reward being offered from several agencies and groups for any information in the recent Eastern Shore case.\nThe 13 dead bald eagles that were found this weekend included at least three mature birds, with the signature white heads and brown bodies. Two of the birds were close to maturity, officials said, and the rest were considered immature, with no white feathers.\nBald eagles are no longer on the endangered species list, but they are considered a protected species, according to the Natural Resources Police.\nLast year, 18 raptors died from gunshot, poisoning or getting entangled in fishing lines or landscape netting, according to the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research. Raptors include eagles, hawks and owls. An official with the organization said that 13 other raptors who suffered similar incidents were rehabilitated and returned to the wild.\nThirty years ago, eight bald eagles were found dead in Maryland. Officials said they think those birds may have been poisoned.\nAnd two years ago, two bald eagles were shot and killed in one week in Montgomery County. It is illegal to shoot eagles without a permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior."}
{"qid": 957, "pid": "97df78be-d5ad-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_4", "query_info": {"_id": 957, "text": "Find information about increasing numbers of coyotes in suburban Maryland and any impacts on other species.", "instruction_og": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species.", "instruction_changed": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species. Relvant documents must include references to Virginia.", "short_query": "Research the impact of a growing animal population on local ecosystems for this question.", "keywords": "animal population ecosystems"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "97df78be-d5ad-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_4", "title": "Bald eagles are adapting to city living", "text": "Jersey needed, so we were thinking, where else are these great forests?\u201d said Kathleen Clark, leader of the state\u2019s eagle project, which released 60 young birds between 1983 and 1991. \u201cBut nest number 2 was on the edge of a farm field,\u201d she said. \u201cWith nests 2, 3 and 4, we started seeing they were keying into where there was food and not exclusively large tracts of forests.\u201d New Jersey\u2019s efforts have resulted in the establishment of 161 nests today, many in densely populated suburbs close to New York City. Clark and other eagle researchers said it would be a mistake to assume that all bald eagles have become tolerant of people; in fact, many shy away from human activity, and the Fish & Wildlife Service recommends keeping away from nests to avoid disturbing them. Watts, meanwhile, said the growing number of eagles has meant that he and his team have been able to observe aspects of eagle behavior that weren\u2019t evident in the past. \u201cIt used to be, when I started flying in the early \u201990s, you rarely would see birds that were guarding\u201d against intrusions by other eagles, he said. Now, there is real competition for prime nesting locations on the Chesapeake. He has been observing more and more fights within the population, and more of the birds are being admitted to rehab centers for injuries. An American bald eagle bags a fish in the prime fishing grounds below Conowingo Dam in Harford County, Md. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) Watts said the birds spend less time foraging, which causes an increase in the adult mortality rate, bringing population stability. Stable numbers, he said, are a sign that the bald eagle community has reached a healthy point. Watts and Clark said the growing Chesapeake Bay eagle population has helped increase numbers in nearby states as the birds move there to set up nests. McGowan said he realized that bald eagles had begun to adjust to humans when he came across a nest in Virginia\u2019s Norfolk Botanical Garden a few years ago. \u201cYou could walk right up to it, and it\u2019s in the middle of the . . . [garden] with sidewalks all around it,\u201d McGowan said. \u201cThis is not a scared wild bird that we have to worry about disturbing a nest. Here it is, right in the middle of fairly heavy traffic.\u201d The nest proved to be a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A bald eagle perched in a tall tree along Fones Cliffs in Singerly, Va. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)\nIf there\u2019s a time of year to see a bald eagle, this is it. But those who spot one during the current nesting season won\u2019t be observing quite the same national bird as in decades past.\n\u201cThe main thing is they just don\u2019t really care as much about people anymore\u201d and now can be found nesting in residential areas, said Kevin McGowan of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, based in Ithaca, N.Y.\nAccording to scientists, changes in the behavior of the bald eagle \u2014 from a bird once found only deep in the wild to one willing to cohabitate with humans \u2014 are the result of laws that protect the bird and have helped the species recover after nearly dying out in the early 1960s. The government is empowered to go after those responsible for the death of bald eagles \u2014 even if it\u2019s unintentional (such as in the case of a New York farmer who received a fine and probation last year after several eagles died from poisoned meat he had set out to kill coyotes). Federal and state officials are investigating what happened to 13 bald eagles found dead recently near a farm on Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore.\nBald eagles \u201care coming in on their own and putting their nests in people\u2019s front yards, and in parks and in gardens and things like that. That just didn\u2019t happen in the \u201960s and \u201970s,\u201d McGowan said. \u201cThey\u2019d pick a big tree that was way the heck away from all the people.\u201d\nTwo bald eagles perch near their nest just south of Alexandria, Va. (John Mcdonnell/The Washington Post)\nWhile bald eagles are still rare in large cities, researchers have documented eagle nests recently not just in the Washington area, which boasts the largest numbers on the East Coast, but also in New York \u2014 where in 2015 the first nesting pair was spotted in more than 100 years \u2014 Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Miami, where a pair built a nest atop a cellphone tower.\nThe bald eagle\u2019s historical range covers most of North America. The bird was hunted for sport before the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 outlawed the practice; that ban was reinforced by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act in 1962. The pesticide DDT was found to cause eagle and other species significant difficulties with reproduction. By 1963 America\u2019s iconic bird was on the verge of dying out in the nation\u2019s 48 contiguous states. But with the banning of DDT in 1972,combined with more federal and state protection and recovery efforts, the species has made a steady rise.\nThe number of breeding pairs in the 48 contiguous states increased from a low of 487 in 1963 to 9,789 in 2006, according to data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which removed the species from the endangered list in 2007.\nWhile that federal agency no longer publishes regular national figures on the bird\u2019s status, Bryan Watts, director of the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., said that a conservative estimate would put the number of pairs in the Lower 48 states today at around 24,000. Watts said that the Chesapeake Bay region has the largest bald eagle population along the Atlantic Coast, with about 2,000 nesting pairs, although Florida also has a large population.\nA bald eagle grabs a fish from the Haw River. (Gerry Broome/AP)\nOther areas with large numbers of bald eagles include Alaska (where the bird was never threatened), the Great Lakes, the Pacific Northwest and the Yellowstone area.\nEvery winter, Watts and a small team of researchers estimate the bald eagle\u2019s Chesapeake Bay population, using a small airplane to survey established nests.\nThe species\u2019s growth, particularly on the bay, has been remarkable, he said. \u201cIf you go back to the 1980s and early 1990s, we had virtually no eagles in urban areas,\u201d he said, \u201cand our perception of eagles was that they needed fairly remote places away from humans \u2014 and they probably did at that time.\u201d\nBut now, researchers say, as eagle populations have expanded and the birds may no longer consider humans to be predators, suburbs and urban areas near waterways provide attractive nesting areas. In the Washington area, it\u2019s not just the Chesapeake Bay that provides a good home; in recent years nests have been seen near Ronald Reagan National Airport and the Beltway, and recently one couple has made a home at the National Arboretum in Northeast Washington.\nIn New Jersey, scientists reported only one active bald eagle nest in 1982 \u2014 in the middle of a remote swamp.\n(Gerry Broome/AP)\n\u201cWe had this now naive idea that this is what eagles in New Jersey needed, so we were thinking, where else are these great forests?\u201d said Kathleen Clark, leader of the state\u2019s eagle project, which released 60 young birds between 1983 and 1991. \u201cBut nest number 2 was on the edge of a farm field,\u201d she said. \u201cWith nests 2, 3 and 4, we started seeing they were keying into where there was food and not exclusively large tracts of forests.\u201d New Jersey\u2019s efforts have resulted in the establishment of 161 nests today, many in densely populated suburbs close to New York City.\nClark and other eagle researchers said it would be a mistake to assume that all bald eagles have become tolerant of people; in fact, many shy away from human activity, and the Fish & Wildlife Service recommends keeping away from nests to avoid disturbing them.\nWatts, meanwhile, said the growing number of eagles has meant that he and his team have been able to observe aspects of eagle behavior that weren\u2019t evident in the past.\n\u201cIt used to be, when I started flying in the early \u201990s, you rarely would see birds that were guarding\u201d against intrusions by other eagles, he said. Now, there is real competition for prime nesting locations on the Chesapeake. He has been observing more and more fights within the population, and more of the birds are being admitted to rehab centers for injuries.\nAn American bald eagle bags a fish in the prime fishing grounds below Conowingo Dam in Harford County, Md. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)\nWatts said the birds spend less time foraging, which causes an increase in the adult mortality rate, bringing population stability. Stable numbers, he said, are a sign that the bald eagle community has reached a healthy point.\nWatts and Clark said the growing Chesapeake Bay eagle population has helped increase numbers in nearby states as the birds move there to set up nests.\nMcGowan said he realized that bald eagles had begun to adjust to humans when he came across a nest in Virginia\u2019s Norfolk Botanical Garden a few years ago.\n\u201cYou could walk right up to it, and it\u2019s in the middle of the .\u2009.\u2009. [garden] with sidewalks all around it,\u201d McGowan said. \u201cThis is not a scared wild bird that we have to worry about disturbing a nest. Here it is, right in the middle of fairly heavy traffic.\u201d\nThe nest proved to be a little too close to humanity, though. One of the eagles using that nest was killed after it was hit by a plane at a nearby airport. The nest was relocated to a more placid spot.\nWhile it\u2019s still nesting season, McGowan said he encourages people to get out of their warm houses with a pair of binoculars and catch a glimpse of an eagle for themselves.\n\u201cThey have a wingspan bigger than your arms. They have toes about the same size as your fingers, only they\u2019ve got giant claws on them. You don\u2019t have to be a birder to appreciate a bald eagle. They\u2019re an impressive freaking animal.\u201d\nBut don\u2019t get too close, he said. \u201cThere are inevitably going to be human-wildlife conflicts as wildlife comes back,\u201d McGowan said. \u201cBut to me, what a good problem to have.\u201d\nThe return of the bald eagle is \u201carguably one of the greatest success stories that our nation has seen,\u201d Watts said. \u201cIt\u2019s a really rare situation where we as a culture can say that we changed the trajectory of an entire species. That\u2019s what happened.\u201d"}
{"qid": 957, "pid": "Q2LEFWDEBMI6RJU4XFCN4ZWZ44_1", "query_info": {"_id": 957, "text": "Find information about increasing numbers of coyotes in suburban Maryland and any impacts on other species.", "instruction_og": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species.", "instruction_changed": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species. Relvant documents must include references to Virginia.", "short_query": "Research the impact of a growing animal population on local ecosystems for this question.", "keywords": "animal population ecosystems"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "Q2LEFWDEBMI6RJU4XFCN4ZWZ44_1", "title": "Small dog attacked and killed by coyote in Northern Virginia", "text": "But the dog went into the woods and was attacked, apparently by the coyote. Police said no humans were hurt. Officials said wildlife specialists are \u201cmonitoring coyote activity\u201d in the area and warned \u201cdogs are vulnerable to coyote confrontations, especially when unattended.\u201d Officials with the Fairfax County Police said that although the animals may be considered a nuisance, experts will not catch coyotes because it is illegal in Virginia to capture and relocate animals. The county\u2019s Animal Services Division said it will use searches and cameras to monitor coyotes in the area. It is also working with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to determine whether more needs to be done. Experts said coyotes will only attack humans if provoked. \u201cIt is extremely rare for a coyote to attack a human unprovoked,\u201d said Officer Tara Gerhard, a spokeswoman for Fairfax County Police. Coyotes have expanded from the plains areas of the western United States as their competitors have gradually disappeared. They now can be found in parts of Rock Creek Park in the District. And, they have been found in New York\u2019s Central Park. On rare occasions, they attack people. Authorities said while it is not uncommon for coyotes to have run-ins with dogs, they are more likely to occur at certain times, particularly in coyote mating season, from January to March, and when coyotes are caring for their young between March and August. But officials said \u201cunprovoked conflicts between humans and coyotes are extremely rare.\u201d Experts said coyotes are \u201can established part of the local wildlife community\u201d in the county and that \u201cthe mere presence of coyotes should not alarm you.\u201d Still, they offered tips on how to prevent contact with a coyote, including never feeding one, securely covering trash bins and never leaving cats outdoors or dogs unattended \u2014 even in a fenced yard. Officials also suggested installing sensor lights or motion-activated sprinklers around a home to ward off wildlife. In December, authorities said a dog was killed by a coyote in the Annandale area of Fairfax County. There was a report in 2012 of coyotes attacking a dog in Daniels Run Park in Fairfax City, and a cat being hurt after coyotes attacked it in the Pasadena area of Anne Arundel County. Correction: This story was updated to reflect that officials believe one coyote was involved in the attack, not a pair of coyotes. dana.hedgpeth@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A coyote attacked and killed a small dog in Fairfax County, and authorities are warning area residents to be cautious with their pets.\nThe incident occurred in the midafternoon on May 5 in a forested area near the 6100\u00a0block of Yellowstone Drive, which sits in the Parklawn community in the Alexandria section of the county.\nThe dog was a 5-year-old Jack Russell. On that day, the dog was outside with its owner and playing with a toy. Police said they did not have the dog\u2019s name.\nThe toy, police said, went over a fence, and the owner let the dog out of the yard to go get it. But the dog went into the woods and was attacked, apparently by the coyote.\nPolice said no humans were hurt.\nOfficials said wildlife specialists are \u201cmonitoring coyote activity\u201d in the area and warned \u201cdogs are vulnerable to coyote confrontations, especially when unattended.\u201d\nOfficials with the Fairfax County Police said that although the animals may be considered a nuisance, experts will not catch coyotes because it is illegal in Virginia to capture and relocate animals.\nThe county\u2019s Animal Services Division said it will use searches and cameras to monitor coyotes in the area. It is also working with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to determine whether more needs to be done.\nExperts said coyotes will only attack humans if provoked. \u201cIt is extremely rare for a coyote to attack a human unprovoked,\u201d said Officer Tara Gerhard, a spokeswoman for Fairfax County Police.\nCoyotes have expanded from the plains areas of the western United States as their competitors have gradually disappeared. They now can be found in parts of Rock Creek Park in the District. And, they have been found in New York\u2019s Central Park. On rare occasions, they attack people.\nAuthorities said while it is not uncommon for coyotes to have run-ins with dogs, they are more likely to occur at certain times, particularly in coyote mating season, from January to March, and when coyotes are caring for their young between March and August.\nBut officials said \u201cunprovoked conflicts between humans and coyotes are extremely rare.\u201d\nExperts said coyotes are \u201can established part of the local wildlife community\u201d in the county and that \u201cthe mere presence of coyotes should not alarm you.\u201d\nStill, they offered tips on how to prevent contact with a coyote, including never feeding one, securely covering trash bins and never leaving cats outdoors or dogs unattended \u2014 even in a fenced yard. Officials also suggested installing sensor lights or motion-activated sprinklers around a home to ward off wildlife.\nIn December, authorities said a dog was killed by a coyote in the Annandale area of Fairfax County. There was a report in 2012 of coyotes attacking a dog in Daniels Run Park in Fairfax City, and a cat being hurt after coyotes attacked it in the Pasadena area of Anne Arundel County.\nCorrection: This story was updated to reflect that officials believe one coyote was involved in the attack, not a pair of coyotes.\ndana.hedgpeth@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 957, "pid": "c0be36ac2cb3550e07f5edef90b53e96_1", "query_info": {"_id": 957, "text": "Find information about increasing numbers of coyotes in suburban Maryland and any impacts on other species.", "instruction_og": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species.", "instruction_changed": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species. Relvant documents must include references to Virginia.", "short_query": "Research the impact of a growing animal population on local ecosystems for this question.", "keywords": "animal population ecosystems"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "c0be36ac2cb3550e07f5edef90b53e96_1", "title": "Coywolves, coyote-wolf hybrids, are prowling Rock Creek Park and D.C. suburbs", "text": "Stony Brook University in New York. Regular coyotes, which are native to the American Southwest and the Great Plains area, tend to be tawny-colored and weigh around 25 pounds. Coywolves run upward of 45 pounds and come in an array of hues, including gray and black. \u201cWe\u2019ve known for a while that most Eastern coyotes are hybrids to some degree, and now we\u2019re finding a greater degree of hybridization than anyone expected,\u201d Monzon says. In lay terms: The coyotes in Rock Creek Park are probably coywolves. Just a few hundred years ago, coyotes stuck to the plains between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River. As humans killed off wolves, coyotes took over their territory. The coyotes that pressed north into Canada came across the remnants of wolf populations and interbred, creating a hybrid creature that\u2019s small enough to live undetected among humans, but large enough to feast on fawns (though perhaps not full-sized deer). In other words, they are perfectly adapted to the I-95 corridor, Monzon says. \u201cThe more deer there are around, the more wolf-like the coywolves tend to be,\u201d he says. Coywolves are about 62 percent coyote, 27 percent wolf and 11 percent dog, according to a 2013 paper by Monzon published in Molecular Ecology. Researchers have found them as close as Quantico, Va., and surrounding Prince William County, and game-management officials have confirmed their presence in Laytonsville, Md., in Montgomery County. A Rock Creek Park spokesman denies their existence in D.C., however. \u201cWe don\u2019t have any evidence to suspect that our coyotes here in Rock Creek Park are anything other than just normal coyotes,\u201d says the park\u2019s acting deputy superintendent, Jeremy Sweat. Game officials tend to shy away from the term \u201ccoywolf,\u201d since it sounds scary, like \u201cwerewolf,\u201d says Megan Draheim, a professor at Virginia Tech\u2019s College of Natural Resources, National Capital Region. \u201cIt\u2019s not my favorite term either,\u201d she says. \u201cTo be a coywolf sounds like half-coyote, half-wolf, and that\u2019s not really what we\u2019re talking about. We are talking about coyotes that have interbred with timber wolves and have some wolf genes in them. It can be fairly negligible or it can be more,\u201d she says. Wolf genes seem to be spreading quickly and thoroughly through the Eastern coyote population, Monzon says. His 2013 study found that even Ohio coyotes had wolf genes, a surprising finding that suggests coywolves are moving south from New England"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Perfectly adapted to living among humans, coywolves eat just about anything, including deer, mice, feral cats and last night\u2019s leftovers from your garbage can. (Photo by Jonathan Way)\nOn an overcast morning in May, Melissa Farley, 25, and her dog, Kai, went for a hike in Rock Creek Park. They were walking on the outskirts of the public golf course when two creatures emerged from the woods.\n\u201cAt first, I thought they were stray dogs or lost dogs,\u201d Farley says. \u201cThey were really beautiful, kind of grayish and cool in color, and almost as big as Kai.\u201d\nKai, a 60-pound German shepherd mix, took off after them. Farley listened helplessly as the animals fought in the underbrush. When Kai returned, dog and owner sprinted back to their Brightwood condo.\nWhen Farley reported the incident to rangers the next day, they told her she\u2019d had a run-in with Rock Creek Park\u2019s resident coyotes.\nFarley, however, isn\u2019t so sure.\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of coyotes out west,\u201d says Farley, who recently returned to D.C. after six years in Los Angeles. \u201cThis was no average coyote.\u201d\nFarley probably saw a coywolf \u2014 a coyote-wolf hybrid \u2014 says Javier Monzon, a genetics researcher at Stony Brook University in New York.\nRegular coyotes, which are native to the American Southwest and the Great Plains area, tend to be tawny-colored and weigh around 25 pounds. Coywolves run upward of 45 pounds and come in an array of hues, including gray and black.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve known for a while that most Eastern coyotes are hybrids to some degree, and now we\u2019re finding a greater degree of hybridization than anyone expected,\u201d Monzon says.\nIn lay terms: The coyotes in Rock Creek Park are probably coywolves.\n\nJust a few hundred years ago, coyotes stuck to the plains between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River. As humans killed off wolves, coyotes took over their territory. The coyotes that pressed north into Canada came across the remnants of wolf populations and interbred, creating a hybrid creature that\u2019s small enough to live undetected among humans, but large enough to feast on fawns (though perhaps not full-sized deer).\nIn other words, they are perfectly adapted to the I-95 corridor, Monzon says.\n\u201cThe more deer there are around, the more wolf-like the coywolves tend to be,\u201d he says.\nCoywolves are about 62 percent coyote, 27 percent wolf and 11 percent dog, according to a 2013 paper by Monzon published in Molecular Ecology. Researchers have found them as close as Quantico, Va., and surrounding Prince William County, and game-management officials have confirmed their presence in Laytonsville, Md., in Montgomery County.\nA Rock Creek Park spokesman denies their existence in D.C., however.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have any evidence to suspect that our coyotes here in Rock Creek Park are anything other than just normal coyotes,\u201d says the park\u2019s acting deputy superintendent, Jeremy Sweat.\nGame officials tend to shy away from the term \u201ccoywolf,\u201d since it sounds scary, like \u201cwerewolf,\u201d says Megan Draheim, a professor at Virginia Tech\u2019s College of Natural Resources, National Capital Region.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not my favorite term either,\u201d she says. \u201cTo be a coywolf sounds like half-coyote, half-wolf, and that\u2019s not really what we\u2019re talking about. We are talking about coyotes that have interbred with timber wolves and have some wolf genes in them. It can be fairly negligible or it can be more,\u201d she says.\nWolf genes seem to be spreading quickly and thoroughly through the Eastern coyote population, Monzon says. His 2013 study found that even Ohio coyotes had wolf genes, a surprising finding that suggests coywolves are moving south from New England through the D.C. area and circling back westward.\nWe won\u2019t know the precise genetic makeup of Rock Creek Park\u2019s canids until someone conducts a study, but they look pretty wolf-y to D.C. resident Gareth Wishart.\nThe 28-year-old conservationist, who\u2019s tracked coyotes in Montana and wolves in Spain, says he\u2019s seen coywolves in Rock Creek Park on two different occasions, most recently in January.\n\u201cIt came to within about 8 yards of us,\u201d says Wishart, who took a friend to the park for some wildlife spotting one evening.\n\u201cTheir size is really noticeable \u2014 how much bigger they are than coyotes out west. They are much stockier and you can notice the difference in the size of their skull.\u201d\nWishart, who wrote about an earlier coywolf encounter for Gizmodo.com, was thrilled to find the apex predators in such an urban park.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a presence you can really feel when you\u2019re out in the woods I think,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s one that I appreciate, at least, and I hope others do as well.\u201d\nFarley has a different perspective. Though Kai escaped with just two puncture wounds on his hindquarters, both dog and human are wary of the woods these days.\n\u201cI liked it better when I was growing up in D.C., and we didn\u2019t have any coyotes or coywolves or whatever,\u201d she says. \u201cBut they\u2019re here now, so what are you going to do?\u201d\nAre they dangerous?\nNot to humans, though outdoor cats and unattended dogs have reason to be concerned.\nThe most important thing is to walk your dog with a leash, says Rock Creek Park\u2019s acting deputy superintendent, Jeremy Sweat. Coyotes have been living in Rock Creek Park since at least 2004, and there have been only two reported attacks, both on dogs that were running through the woods off-leash, he says.\n\u201cEspecially in the spring and early summer, a lot of these coyotes might have dens in the park. They might have young pups. If a dog approaches them off leash, they are much more likely to act aggressively to protect their young or protect their territory,\u201d Sweat says.\nIf the presence of coyotes or coywolves makes D.C. slightly scarier for pets, that goes double for rodents, says Megan Draheim, a professor at Virginia Tech\u2019s College of Natural Resources, National Capital Region.\n\u201cThey eat a lot of rats and mice,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s something we can all appreciate.\u201d\n\nMore stories about animals in D.C.:\nThere\u2019s more to wildlife in D.C. than street rats\nBao Bao\u2019s going to be big in 2014\nRusty vs. Bao Bao in song"}
{"qid": 957, "pid": "de9c86d4-1407-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_5", "query_info": {"_id": 957, "text": "Find information about increasing numbers of coyotes in suburban Maryland and any impacts on other species.", "instruction_og": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species.", "instruction_changed": "As coyotes have moved into the area other animals such as feral cats have been driven out. This can lead to the downturn of the number of birds killed by the cats. While coyotes are natural predators, which get rid of rodents, they also have an impact by attacking people and their pets.  Find information on the growing coyote population in Maryland and its impact on other species. Relvant documents must include references to Virginia.", "short_query": "Research the impact of a growing animal population on local ecosystems for this question.", "keywords": "animal population ecosystems"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "de9c86d4-1407-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_5", "title": "For rare species, the future is in the freezer as zoos manage a conservation effort", "text": "so-called Frozen Zoo of semen and biological material of 9,000 birds, reptiles, mammals and other animals. What happened in Copenhagen is extremely rare, where an animal was put down even as other zoos in Europe wanted to take it. That death is nothing compared with the countless animals that have disappeared from wildlands everywhere from Africa to Idaho due to habitat loss caused by humans, biologists said. A special issue of Science, published Thursday online, is devoted to what it calls the startling rates of animal declines and extinctions \u201cthrough the destruction of wild lands, consumption of animals as a resource or a luxury, and persecution of species we see as threats or competitors.\u201d \u201cCurrent research . . . suggests that if we are unable to end or reverse the rate of their loss, it will mean more for our own future than a broken heart or an empty forest,\u201d wrote Sacha Vignieri in the introduction. Zoos aim to be part of the solution. \u201cWe\u2019re correcting what human interference has caused,\u201d Durrant said firmly. \u201cThat\u2019s not God\u2019s plan.\u201d Zoos in America haven\u2019t always been this enlightened. When they need animals to keep family members in their populations from inbreeding, risking some type of genetic mutation, they often simply grabbed them from the wild. In the 1970s, when the new Endangered Species Act limited such captures, zoos in the United States increased their efforts to trade animals to keep sex out of the family. That\u2019s how Amani wound up at the National Zoo in Rock Creek Park, where the population of cheetahs was thinning, nearly 30 years later. She was born at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Ore., the daughter of Bryden, imported to the United States from Namibia, and Missy, imported from South Africa, both carrying genes that had not been introduced at the zoo in Rock Creek. Amani arrived in 2007 with her spotted honey-colored coat and big caramel cat eyes, and soon biologists were salivating over her potential to diversify the cheetah gene pool. Within two years, she was ushered to the institute nearly 100 miles west in the mountains where the breeding program is run. Getting cheetahs to couple is often a nightmare, and so it was with Amani. Artificial insemination isn\u2019t an option because biologists haven\u2019t figured out the ovarian cycle of females; only one artificial insemination in Cincinnati has been successful in a long list of"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute is at the forefront of an ambitious attempt to save animals threatened with extinction by studying them relentlessly, putting information in a \u201cstud book\u201d that follows them from birth.\nShe\u2019s not just another girl with a pretty face living in the District\u2019s outermost exurbs.\nAmani, an eye-catching cheetah feline, has a proud name that means aspiration and a strong family line that traces to Namibia and South Africa. Her rich genes make her one of the most important individuals in her small community just outside Front Royal, Va. Unlike people who pay up to $2,000 for ancestral DNA tests, Amani got hers free, courtesy of biologists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute who study her every move, hoping her cubs will help increase the thinning cheetah populations at zoos across the country.\nNestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, the 3,200-acre institute is at the forefront of an ambitious attempt by American zoos to save animals threatened with extinction by studying them relentlessly. Like zoos across the world, every animal at the institute and the zoo in the District is assigned a name that goes into a giant family album called a \u201cstud book\u201d that follows them from birth.\n\u201cWe take data from every single animal in a population that\u2019s being managed,\u201d said Sarah Long, director of the Population Management Center at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which guides animal management at 220 accredited zoos.\nZoos are taking extraordinary steps to overcome three key challenges: sustaining their populations without allowing breeding between animals with similar genes, replacing animals without taking too many from the wild, and replenishing hundreds of species of threatened and endangered wild animals that are disappearing throughout the world.\nSeven newborn black-footed ferrets at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, July 24, 2014. The black-footed ferret is one of the most endangered animals in the world. (Evelyn Hockstein for The Washington Post)\nMore than 400 biologists and researchers volunteer for stud book duty, laboriously pecking data into a computerized tome for every species. \u201cThey write down who the parents were, where they came from in the wild, tracking the pedigree, the family tree,\u201d Long said. \u201cWe look at all the events in the animal\u2019s life, if they\u2019ve been transferred from another zoo, if they\u2019ve given birth, if they\u2019ve moved into an exhibit.\n\u201cWe analyze the .\u2009.\u2009. birth rate and death rate to predict how many offspring they\u2019ll have in a given year. We need to plan for that and produce more births. We do the family tree to determine who should mate with whom to avoid inbreeding.\u201d\nIt\u2019s actually much deeper than that. Zookeepers not only encourage every animal from ferrets to rhinoceros to breed naturally, they\u2019re in the middle of an all-out effort to cryogenically freeze and preserve semen, even taking samples from animals a few days after they\u2019ve died, so that it can be resurrected in a way with the birth of offspring through insemination as much as 10 years later.\nThat happened just last month, when the frozen semen of Jimmy, an Asian rhinoceros, was rushed from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden to the Buffalo Zoo in a Volkswagen to inseminate Tashi, who gave birth nine years and change after the father\u2019s death. It worked, to the amazement of biologists, because even though an animal\u2019s cells don\u2019t die at the instant they do, freezing semen and preserving living cells is a tricky business that has resulted in scores of failures.\nOne remarkable success is panda bears. A study released last week attributed a combination of artificial insemination and natural mating to \u201chigh levels of genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding\u201d among captive giant pandas. Pandas no longer have to be captured in the wild for breeding, according to the study published in the online journal of Molecular Biology and Evolution.\nThe National Zoo has its own example, Bao Bao, a female panda cub conceived \u201cas the result of a precisely-timed artificial insemination .\u2009.\u2009. by scientists from the Conservation Biology Institute and China,\u201d the zoo\u2019s Web site says. The zoo is expected to celebrate her birth in less than a month, on Aug. 23.\nThe institute near Front Royal is studying and breeding 22 species, as small as the endangered American black-footed ferret \u2014 800 of which have been bred through artificial insemination \u2014 and as big as the Mongolian Przewalski\u2019s horse, which bears an eerie resemblance to horses in ancient cave paintings.\n\u201cThis species was extinct in the wild in the 1960s,\u201d said their caretaker, Budhan Pukazhenthi, a research scientist. Scientists started breeding the few captive horses that remained in that decade. Now there are 1,600 globally mostly due to artificial insemination with frozen and thawed semen, and nearly a third have been reintroduced in the wild.\nAbout 300 ferrets bred at the institute are now roaming the American plains, eating prairie dogs, their staple diet, and trying not to get eaten by coyotes. That\u2019s nothing compared with the 100,000 that should be there, said Paul Marinari, the institute\u2019s senior curator and stud book keeper for the species.\nThe issue of not allowing unrelated animals to breed exploded into the public realm in February when the Copenhagen Zoo slaughtered a healthy 18-month-old giraffe, Marius, because he could not be used in the zoo\u2019s breeding program.\nMarius\u2019s genes were already well represented in that zoo\u2019s population. So the managers fed Marius a last meal of rye bread, his favorite, and killed him with a shot from a bolt gun. In a step that drew worldwide condemnation, they butchered his corpse in front of zoo visitors, many of them children, and fed it to lions.\nSome critics accused zoos of trying to play God in the animal kingdom, but American scientists have heard enough of that jab. \u201cCertainly I don\u2019t think we\u2019re playing God,\u201d said Barbara Durrant, the reproductive physiologist who oversees the research arm that houses the so-called Frozen Zoo of semen and biological material of 9,000 birds, reptiles, mammals and other animals.\nWhat happened in Copenhagen is extremely rare, where an animal was put down even as other zoos in Europe wanted to take it. That death is nothing compared with the countless animals that have disappeared from wildlands everywhere from Africa to Idaho due to habitat loss caused by humans, biologists said.\nA special issue of Science, published Thursday online, is devoted to what it calls the startling rates of animal declines and extinctions \u201cthrough the destruction of wild lands, consumption of animals as a resource or a luxury, and persecution of species we see as threats or competitors.\u201d\n\u201cCurrent research .\u2009.\u2009. suggests that if we are unable to end or reverse the rate of their loss, it will mean more for our own future than a broken heart or an empty forest,\u201d wrote Sacha Vignieri in the introduction.\nZoos aim to be part of the solution.\n\u201cWe\u2019re correcting what human interference has caused,\u201d Durrant said firmly. \u201cThat\u2019s not God\u2019s plan.\u201d\nZoos in America haven\u2019t always been this enlightened. When they need animals to keep family members in their populations from inbreeding, risking some type of genetic mutation, they often simply grabbed them from the wild.\nIn the 1970s, when the new Endangered Species Act limited such captures, zoos in the United States increased their efforts to trade animals to keep sex out of the family.\nThat\u2019s how Amani wound up at the National Zoo in Rock Creek Park, where the population of cheetahs was thinning, nearly 30 years later. She was born at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Ore., the daughter of Bryden, imported to the United States from Namibia, and Missy, imported from South Africa, both carrying genes that had not been introduced at the zoo in Rock Creek.\nAmani arrived in 2007 with her spotted honey-colored coat and big caramel cat eyes, and soon biologists were salivating over her potential to diversify the cheetah gene pool. Within two years, she was ushered to the institute nearly 100 miles west in the mountains where the breeding program is run.\nGetting cheetahs to couple is often a nightmare, and so it was with Amani. Artificial insemination isn\u2019t an option because biologists haven\u2019t figured out the ovarian cycle of females; only one artificial insemination in Cincinnati has been successful in a long list of failures.\nSo cheetah biologist Adrienne Crosier undertook a painstaking process to mate Amani. Males that are kept far from pens holding females were brought close. Biologists know a female is in heat, ready to breed, when males smell her and bark in a chirplike stutter.\nIf barking happens, they\u2019re brought face to face. If they like each other, it\u2019s on. Often, they don\u2019t. Amani rejected several males before finally mating and bearing a single cub, Nick. A lone cub is a problem because cheetahs normally abandon single cubs, who don\u2019t feed enough for their mothers to keep producing milk.\nCrosier thought Nick was doomed. In desperation, she took Nick from his inattentive mother and gave him Zazi, a second mother that birthed a single cub at the same as Amani.\n\u201cI was nervous. It was a big risk,\u201d Crosier said. Zazi might have killed a cub that wasn\u2019t her own. Crosier slept in a cramped shed near Zazi\u2019s pen to monitor her, and when that got old, slept in four-hour shifts at home between racing to the sanctuary.\n\u201cI think she knew right away he was different,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd you know, she picked up both, groomed them both, fed them both. She was amazing.\u201d\nAmani has had three litters since Nick, and she was seen frolicking with members of the third litter last week. Cubs from the first two litters are now at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the Dallas Zoo, and two females from the third litter have been assigned to an exhibit at the Walt Disney World Resort.\nCrosier watched as the big cat stretched and twisted her body to lick an adoring cub. \u201cAmani has been an excellent mother,\u201d she said.\nMore from The Washington Post:\nAfraid of 150,000 pythons? Visitors have nothing to worry about\nPaddle the Potomac lures millenials with promises of adventure\nThese sounds cause mud crabs to cringe with fear"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "089f7c9d-a2a6-435c-9ed2-2cc5ab9ee417_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "089f7c9d-a2a6-435c-9ed2-2cc5ab9ee417_0", "title": "With possible meat shortages looming, a dietitian talks substitutes", "text": "Customers in some parts of the country are finding empty meat cases when they go grocery shopping. It\u2019s not because people are hoarding hamburger along with toilet paper (though there is some of that going on), but because there are disruptions in the meat supply chain. Meat-processing plants around the nation have had to close temporarily because of coronavirus outbreaks, meaning meat could be less available and more expensive throughout the summer. On May 8, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) reported a 40 percent drop in pork production capacity and a 25 percent drop in beef production capacity. It said at least 10,000 workers at meat-processing plants had been infected or exposed to the coronavirus, and at least 30 had died. Millions of animals have been euthanized because of the bottleneck in processing. Whether you\u2019re having trouble sourcing or paying for meat, or you\u2019ve been thinking about exploring a more plant-based diet, now is a good time to pivot to some meatless meals or try out strategies for stretching out the meat you do buy. Here\u2019s some information about beans, soy and mock meats to keep in mind. Check out the links for recipe ideas. Beans Although beef, chicken and pork provide protein, iron and zinc, these nutrients can be found in a wide variety of other foods, such as low-cost legumes like beans, lentils and soy. These environmentally sustainable options are also rich in fiber, which many Americans fall short of. (There\u2019s no fiber in meat.) Studies show that people who eat more beans and soy may have a lower risk of heart disease than people who consume fewer legumes. According to the U.S. Dry Beans Council, the most popular beans among Americans are pinto, navy, great northern, red kidney and black beans. I add garbanzo beans (chickpeas) to my list, too. All of these varieties have about 11 to 14 grams of protein per 6-ounce serving (cooked) and can be purchased canned or dry depending on your budget and cooking skills. [Taking care of yourself during the pandemic, from head to toe] Canned beans cost about 9 cents per ounce and can be used right out of the can \u2014 no cooking skills required! Dry beans, which are less expensive at about 7 cents per ounce, require more finessing. They need to be soaked and boiled before eating (see instructions here), which can take"}], "old": [{"_id": "089f7c9d-a2a6-435c-9ed2-2cc5ab9ee417_0", "title": "With possible meat shortages looming, a dietitian talks substitutes", "text": "Beans [Taking care of yourself during the pandemic, from head to toe] Soy [There are lots of yogurts out there, but which ones are healthy?] Mock meats Dairy Meat extenders Registered dietitian Cara Rosenbloom is president of Words to Eat By and specializes in writing, nutrition education and recipe development. She is the co-author of \u201cNourish: Whole Food Recipes Featuring Seeds, Nuts and Beans.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "\nCustomers in some parts of the country are finding empty meat cases when they go grocery shopping. It\u2019s not because people are hoarding hamburger along with toilet paper (though there is some of that going on), but because there are disruptions in the meat supply chain. Meat-processing plants around the nation have had to close temporarily because of coronavirus outbreaks, meaning meat could be less available and more expensive throughout the summer.\nOn May 8, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) reported a\u00a040\u00a0percent drop in pork production capacity and a 25\u00a0percent drop in beef production capacity.\u00a0It said at least 10,000 workers at meat-processing plants had been infected or exposed to the coronavirus, and at least 30 had died. Millions of animals have been euthanized because of the bottleneck in processing.\nWhether you\u2019re having trouble sourcing or paying for meat, or you\u2019ve been thinking about exploring  a more plant-based diet, now is a good time to pivot to some meatless meals or try out strategies for stretching out the meat you do buy. Here\u2019s some information about beans, soy and mock meats to keep in mind. Check out the links for recipe ideas.\nBeans\nAlthough beef, chicken and pork provide protein, iron and zinc, these nutrients can be found in a wide variety of other foods, such as low-cost legumes like beans, lentils and soy. These environmentally sustainable options are also rich in fiber, which many Americans fall short of. (There\u2019s no fiber in meat.) Studies show that people who eat more beans and soy may have a lower risk of heart disease than people who consume fewer legumes.\nAccording to the U.S. Dry Beans Council, the most popular beans among Americans are pinto, navy, great northern, red kidney and black beans. I add garbanzo beans (chickpeas) to my list, too. All of these varieties have about 11 to 14\u00a0grams of protein per 6-ounce serving (cooked) and can be purchased canned or dry depending on your budget and cooking skills.\n\n\n[Taking care of yourself during the pandemic, from head to toe]\nCanned beans cost about 9 cents per ounce and can be used right out of the can \u2014 no cooking skills required! Dry beans, which are less expensive at about 7\u00a0cents per ounce, require more finessing. They need to be soaked and boiled before eating (see instructions here), which can take a few hours\n. Once cooked, beans can then be used in soups, dips (such as hummus or spicy black bean dip), atop salads, in burger patties, as a filling for burritos and stuffed peppers, in curries or mixed with pasta, quinoa or rice.\nIf you are new to cooking legumes from scratch, start with dry lentils. They don\u2019t require soaking and are faster to cook than dry beans. Split red lentils have 13\u00a0grams of protein per 6-ounce serving (cooked) and cook to an oatmeal-like consistency in about 15 minutes. They are ideal for lentil soup, stew or curry.\nGreen, brown or black lentils have 14\u00a0grams of protein per 6 ounces (cooked) and can be prepared in 20 to 30 minutes. Unlike split red lentils, they hold their disc shape when cooked, so don\u2019t use them when recipes specifically call for red lentils. These varieties are great for salads, pasta dishes, curries and tacos, or they can be roasted for maximum crunch.\nNo article that includes beans is complete without mentioning the bothersome gas and bloating that may accompany bean-based meals. This unpleasant side effect is caused by beans naturally fermenting in the gut, which is a good thing! It feeds the growth of probiotics, which aid digestion and enhance immunity. But yep, it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing.\nIf you are new to beans, start by adding a just few tablespoons to meals, and work up to eating larger amounts. Your digestive system will slowly adjust and gas will be reduced. In one small study, about half of bean-eaters reported increased gas when eating pinto beans, but only 19\u00a0percent had gas with black-eyed peas \u2014 so maybe try those first. There are many cooking tips for reducing gas, such as adding fennel seeds or kombu seaweed to the cooking water, or soaking beans in baking soda. These methods have not been scientifically proven to reduce gas, but it can\u2019t hurt to try.\nSoy\nSoy products are another option that people might be wary of because soy has been erroneously linked to increased cancer risk. Marji McCullough, a dietitian and the senior scientific director of epidemiology research at the American Cancer Society, says soy foods have actually been associated with reduced risk of breast and prostate cancer in recent studies. \u201cSoy foods like tofu and edamame are an excellent source of high-quality protein and are a healthy alternative to meat,\u201d says McCullough.\n\n\n[There are lots of yogurts out there, but which ones are healthy?]\nIf you\u2019re new to soy, start with tofu. When crumbled, firm tofu resembles ground meat and is great to use for chili, burgers and tacos. Cubed firm tofu can be stir-fried, but I prefer baking or pan-frying it until it\u2019s super-crispy. Its neutral flavor is a blank canvas, so you\u2019ll need to add sauce or spices. Firm tofu contains 28\u00a0grams of protein per 6-ounce serving, at 16 cents per ounce.\nSoft or silken tofu has a consistency closer to yogurt or jelly and is perfect for dips and smoothies. It has 16 grams of protein per 6 ounces (18 cents per ounce). You can also try edamame (whole immature soybeans from the pod), which have 23\u00a0grams of protein per cup and cost 14\u00a0cents per ounce. For those who are concerned about genetically modified foods (which is too complicated a topic to cover here), you can choose non-GMO or organic soy.\nMock meats\nYou may also consider using mock meats, such as Beyond Burger made from pea protein or Impossible burgers, deli meats and veggie dogs made from soy. But these foods are highly processed, and McCullough says it\u2019s better to eat whole foods in their natural form. Plus, these mock meats come with a steep price tag: Beyond Burgers cost about $1 per ounce \u2014 that\u2019s more expensive than ground beef at 26\u00a0cents per ounce!\nDairy\nIf protein is your goal and you\u2019re not opting for plant-based meals, try dairy products. Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are both high in protein, with 17 to 20\u00a0grams of protein in 6 ounces. They cost 11\u00a0cents per ounce.\nMeat extenders\nRather than replacing meat, some people may be looking for ways to stretch a small amount of ground beef, pork or poultry to feed a large family. You can substitute a quarter, third or half of your ground meat for crumbled firm tofu, cooked lentils or mashed beans. Known as \u201cmeat extenders,\u201d these nutritious ingredients work well when mixed with meat in chili, burgers, Shepherd\u2019s pie, casseroles, lasagna and burritos. Beans and lentils won\u2019t noticeably change the taste or texture of the recipe, and they keep lean meat juicy by adding moisture.\nWhole grains are another popular meat extender. Add one cup of raw quick oats (13\u00a0grams of protein) or cooked quinoa (9\u00a0grams of protein) per pound of raw ground meat, then cook as usual. Some people like adding chopped raw or saut\u00e9ed mushrooms, because their already meaty texture and matching umami flavor is the perfect foil for meat. Keep in mind that while these are an inexpensive meat substitute, mushrooms are not a good source of protein at just 2\u00a0grams per cup.\nWant to keep your culinary color palette consistent when including extenders? Use white beans, chickpeas, oats or button mushrooms with chicken and turkey, and pair brown lentils, black beans and portobello mushrooms with red meat.\n\nRegistered dietitian Cara Rosenbloom is\u00a0president of\n\nWords to Eat By\n\nand specializes in writing, nutrition education and recipe development. She is the co-author of\n\n\u201cNourish: Whole Food Recipes Featuring Seeds, Nuts and Beans.\u201d"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "146fe54fe19bf941914d2b8c79ffa8a1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "146fe54fe19bf941914d2b8c79ffa8a1_0", "title": "Got milk? From a cow or a plant?", "text": "Our milk doesn't just come from animals anymore. (June 2011 file photo by James Buck/The Washington Post) Just a few years ago, the term \u201cmilk\u201d was synonymous with the stuff that came from cows. But now, the dairy market is awash in plant-based alternatives, made from soy, rice, almonds, coconut and hemp, driven largely by consumers\u2019 hunger for low-calorie, low-sugar, lactose-free companions for their morning cereal and coffee. Milk alternatives control just eight percent of overall milk sales in the United States, but for the past few years, they've represented the fastest-growing part of the dairy market, according to Mintel, Inc., a Chicago-based research firm. Sales of milk alternatives rose to nearly $2 billion in 2013, up 30 percent since 2011, driven in large part by the popularity of almond milk. In that same time period, the entire milk category grew by just 1.8 percent, to $24.5 billion, according to Mintel. Non-dairy milk's growth is expected to continue outpacing dairy milk's at least through 2018. Plant-based alternatives can be a saving grace for anyone with food allergies or lactose intolerance, or those who follow vegan diets. (While the true prevalence of lactose intolerance is unknown, an estimated 12 percent of Americans suffer from the condition, according to the National Institutes of Health.) Probably the more powerful factor driving the popularity of milk substitutes is a consumer group that Sandy Krueger, executive and practice leader at IRI Worldwide, a Chicago-based market research firm, calls the \u201chealthy chic\u201d -- people who look at labels and are drawn to new products with attributes that promise to improve health and wellness. \u201cThere\u2019s a sort of health halo\u201d to plant-based milks, says Krueger. \u201cThere\u2019s a general perception that they\u2019re healthier than cow\u2019s milk, and taste better.\u201d (By Nate Parsons/The Washington Post) With the proliferation of new flavors and varieties \u2013 some 52 new milk-substitute products have been rolled out so far in 2014 -- the growth is sure to continue, she says. The nutrition profile of each milk substitute varies widely, so different products appeal to people with different health priorities, says Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. People counting calories might reach for almond milk, which has less than half the calories of a glass of skim milk, and no sugar. Those who want to boost protein intake may choose soy milk, which has 8 grams"}], "old": [{"_id": "146fe54fe19bf941914d2b8c79ffa8a1_0", "title": "Got milk? From a cow or a plant?", "text": "Our milk doesn't just come from animals anymore. (June 2011 file photo by James Buck/The Washington Post) Just a few years ago, the term \u201cmilk\u201d was synonymous with the stuff that came from cows. Milk alternatives control just eight percent of overall milk sales in the United States, but for the past few years, they've represented the fastest-growing part of the dairy market, according to Mintel, Inc., a Chicago-based research firm. Sales of milk alternatives rose to nearly $2 billion in 2013, up 30 percent since 2011, driven in large part by the popularity of almond milk. In that same time period, the entire milk category grew by just 1.8 percent, to $24.5 billion, according to Mintel. Non-dairy milk's growth is expected to continue outpacing dairy milk's at least through 2018. Probably the more powerful factor driving the popularity of milk substitutes is a consumer group that Sandy Krueger, executive and practice leader at IRI Worldwide, a Chicago-based market research firm, calls the \u201chealthy chic\u201d -- people who look at labels and are drawn to new products with attributes that promise to improve health and wellness. \u201cThere\u2019s a sort of health halo\u201d to plant-based milks, says Krueger. \u201cThere\u2019s a general perception that they\u2019re healthier than cow\u2019s milk, and taste better.\u201d (By Nate Parsons/The Washington Post) With the proliferation of new flavors and varieties \u2013 some 52 new milk-substitute products have been rolled out so far in 2014 -- the growth is sure to continue, she says. But just because a milk is plant-based, doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s healthful. While many of the plant-based milks are fortified, some don\u2019t contain as much calcium or vitamin D as cow's milk, which is important in preventing osteoporosis. Crandall says you can supplement with foods like cottage cheese, kale, chia seeds, edamame and sardines, which are packed with calcium and Vitamin D. Stick with pasteurized, unsweetened varieties of milk alternatives, says Crandall. Almond Breeze Chocolate milk, for instance, has 20 grams of sugar, as much as there is in a Cadbury Cr\u00e8me Egg. The Center for Science in the Public Interest cautions consumers to read labels closely and beware of milk substitutes that ride the health benefits of the plant they\u2019re derived from, even if the milk isn\u2019t as nutritious as the whole food. For instance, while an ounce of almonds has about 6 grams of protein, the actual milk product has only 1 gram"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Our milk doesn't just come from animals anymore. (June 2011 file photo by James Buck/The Washington Post)\nJust a few years ago, the term \u201cmilk\u201d was synonymous with the stuff that came from cows.\nBut now, the dairy market is awash in plant-based alternatives, made from soy, rice, almonds, coconut and hemp, driven largely by consumers\u2019 hunger for low-calorie, low-sugar, lactose-free companions for their morning cereal and coffee.\nMilk alternatives control just \u00a0eight percent of overall milk sales in the United States, but for the past few years, they've represented the fastest-growing part of the dairy market, according to Mintel, Inc., a Chicago-based research firm. Sales of milk alternatives rose to nearly $2 billion in 2013, up 30 percent since 2011, driven in large part by the popularity of almond milk. In that same time period, the entire milk category grew by just 1.8 percent, to $24.5 billion, according to Mintel. Non-dairy milk's growth is expected to continue outpacing dairy milk's at least through 2018.\nPlant-based alternatives can be a saving grace for anyone with food allergies or lactose intolerance, or those who follow vegan diets. \u00a0(While the true prevalence of lactose intolerance is unknown, an estimated 12 percent of Americans suffer from the condition, according to the National Institutes of Health.)\nProbably the more powerful factor driving the popularity of milk substitutes is a consumer group that Sandy Krueger, executive and practice leader at IRI Worldwide, a Chicago-based market research firm, calls the \u201chealthy chic\u201d -- people who look at labels and are drawn to new products with attributes that promise to improve health and wellness.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a sort of health halo\u201d to plant-based milks, says Krueger. \u201cThere\u2019s a general perception that they\u2019re healthier than cow\u2019s milk, and taste better.\u201d\n(By Nate Parsons/The Washington Post)\nWith the proliferation of new flavors and varieties \u2013 some 52 new milk-substitute products have been rolled out so far in 2014 -- the growth is sure to continue, she says.\nThe nutrition profile of each milk substitute varies widely, so different products appeal to people with different health priorities, says Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.\nPeople counting calories might reach for almond milk, which has less than half the calories of a glass of skim milk, and no sugar. Those who want to boost protein intake may choose soy milk, which has 8 grams of protein per serving, as much as a glass of cow\u2019s milk. \u00a0Some drink kefir\u00a0-- a fermented, fortified dairy drink -- because it contains probiotics, which help digestion and\u00a0 defend against GI distress. Hemp milk, made from the hemp seed, can be a good option for kids with food allergies who need a source of calcium or protein, says Crandall. \u00a0It also has essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6, which help build healthy cells and reduce risk of heart disease.\nBut just because a milk is plant-based, doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s healthful.\nWhile many of the plant-based milks are fortified, some don\u2019t contain as much calcium or vitamin D as cow's milk, which is important in preventing osteoporosis. Crandall says you can supplement with foods like cottage cheese, kale, chia seeds, edamame and sardines, which are packed with calcium and Vitamin D.\nStick with pasteurized, unsweetened varieties of milk alternatives, says Crandall. Almond Breeze Chocolate milk, for instance, has 20 grams of sugar, as much as there is in a Cadbury Cr\u00e8me Egg.\nThe Center for Science in the Public Interest cautions consumers to read labels closely and beware of milk substitutes that ride the health benefits of the plant they\u2019re derived from, even if the milk isn\u2019t as nutritious as the whole food. For instance, while an ounce of almonds has about \u00a06 grams of protein, the actual milk product has only 1 gram per one-cup serving.\nAnd in the kitchen, each milk substitute is suited for different uses. Hemp milk, for instance, is a good choice for cappuccinos and lattes, because it froths better than other plant-based varieties, says Megan Roosevelt, a Portland, Ore.,-based registered dietitian who runs Healthy Grocery Girl. Because of its thick, creamy consistency, soy milk is ideal in smoothies and for cooking and baking. Almond milk, milder in flavor and thinner in texture, tastes good in coffee, tea, smoothies or on its own. Rice milk has the thinnest consistency of all non-dairy milks and can be a good accompaniment for cereal or smoothies.\nThe\u00a0proliferation of milk substitutes hasn\u2019t gone unnoticed by the marketers of cow\u2019s milk. A variety of dairy-milk products with added protein and probiotics have recently hit store shelves. In February, the dairy-milk processors rolled out a $50 million ad campaign that promotes milk\u2019s high protein content.\nCalcium has been milk's traditional nutritional advantage over other beverages. But by focusing on protein and all of its implicit benefits -- protein increases satiety, assists in weight management and builds muscle mass -- dairy-milk producers have seized on a way to stay culturally relevant for parents, aging boomers and seniors.\nThe so-called Milk Life campaign replaces the \u201cGot Milk?\u201d campaign, which began in 1995. \u00a0New commercials feature kids, teens and adults drinking milk to power everything from breakdancing to dogwalking, and the promise, \u201cThis is what eight grams of protein can do.\u201d\nIn consumer research, the message about milk\u2019s high-protein content was the one most likely to win over consumers now drinking juice, water, or soda, says Victor Zaborsky, marketing director for the Milk Processor Education Association, which represents 200 dairy milk companies. \u201cIt really emphasized the benefits that dairy milk had over alternative beverages,\u201d he says.\n\u201cTraditionally milk been an unconscious choice \u2013 just something you put in your coffee or cereal,\u201d Zaborsky said. \u201cNow we\u2019re trying to shift it so that dairy milk is a conscious choice consumers routinely make to improve their quality of life for the long term.\u201d"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "2LMOO272DBDJXLJMUAQP2DKBIE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2LMOO272DBDJXLJMUAQP2DKBIE_2", "title": "Why cattle ranchers and tech start-ups are beefing over the meaning of \u2018meat\u2019", "text": "of animal agriculture. Beef producers say they are worried that consumers will not fully understand the difference between their products and those of their new competitors. The leading meat alternatives currently on the market, such as Beyond Meat\u2019s Beyond Burger and Impossible Foods\u2019 Impossible Burger, typically use terms such as \u201cplant-based.\u201d Those products, which use isolated plant proteins to mimic beef, are essentially the second generation of the soy- and bean-based veggie burgers that became popular in the 1980s and '90s. Cultured meat will go one step further still, and it's unclear how those products will brand and differentiate themselves. Ranchers have already begun bristling at the aggressive branding of \u201cclean meat\u201d over \u201ccultured\u201d or \u201clab-grown\u201d meat that more clearly declare its products\u2019 origins. \u201cWe have a big problem with that,\u201d said Beck, of the NCBA. \u201cIt implies something negative about our own product, and we don\u2019t believe that has a basis in science or fact.\u201d But \u201cclean meat\u201d has no intention of giving up its name, said Jessica Almy, policy director at the Good Food Institute, which advocates for alternatives to conventional animal meat. Almy argues that regulators don't have the power to selectively regulate the use of common food names. And even if they did, she added, there's no compelling reason to do so here, since there's not yet any evidence that consumers feel deceived by the use of words like \u201cmeat\u201d and \u201cbeef\u201d to describe lab-grown proteins. The term clean meat, in particular, is intended to communicate the environmental benefits of cultured meat products, Almy said. \u201cI think the Cattlemen\u2019s Association should face the competition head on,\u201d Almy said. \u201cIf they really believe in their product, they should let consumers decide in the marketplace for themselves.\u201d Of course, the name that's eventually given to \u201cclean meat\u201d could have a dramatic effect on its performance in the market \u2014 a fact that is not lost on cattle ranchers. Food label disclosures always carry a cost for someone, said Glynn Tonsor, a Kansas State agricultural economist. Right now, Tonsor added, clean meat is a niche market that does not threaten beef sales. To become a threat, clean meat will have to win over mainstream meat-eaters \u2014 and the label it sells under will affect that. \u201cThere are already a lot of alternative proteins out there,\u201d Tonsor said \u2014 from chicken to Boca Burgers. \u201cBut this is the first one"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "It may be years before consumers can buy burgers grown in labs or tenderloins cultured in test tubes.\u00a0But as investors pour funds into the \u201cclean meat\u201d industry, beef producers are petitioning regulators to ensure the new products can't bear \u201cmeat\u201d or \u201cbeef\u201d labels.\nBeef producers say such labels risk obscuring the origins of these new\u00a0products \u2014 meats that are grown from cell cultures in a lab, not on animals. And while\u00a0producers claim they aren't concerned about future competition, the names that these products carry could ultimately\u00a0determine their success.\n\u201cClean meat\u201d has a certain ring to it, after all. \u201cLab-grown cultured meat product\u201d sounds like\u00a0a cousin of pink slime. It's the reason beef producers and clean meat\u00a0advocates are committed to a long-term battle over the terms used to describe cultured meat, and how those terms are defined.\n\u201cWe are very concerned about truthful labeling,\u201d\u00a0said Lia Biondo, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Cattlemen\u2019s Association. \u201cOur members want to give consumers all of the information they need to make decisions.\u201d\nBiondo's group is not alone in this, though it did fire the first shots in the clean meat wars. Last month, the Cattlemen's Association\u00a0filed a petition\u00a0asking the Agriculture Department to prevent cultured and plant-based meat companies from using the terms \u201cbeef\u201d and \u201cmeat.\u201d While USDA has acknowledged the petition, it could be years before the agency responds formally, if\u00a0it responds at all.\nSeparately, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a larger industry group, has begun meeting with the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration to discuss the regulation of cultured meat and future product labels.\nThe organization is concerned not only about use of the term \u201cclean meat\u201d but also about the potential use of USDA quality seals and the disclosure of the fact that cultured meat products don\u2019t come from conventional animals, said Danielle Beck, NCBA's\u00a0director of governmental affairs. Beef producers don't want consumers to\u00a0get the impression that cultured meat undergoes the same food safety and quality inspections as conventional beef, Beck added.\nBoth organizations are reacting to the rapid growth of a\u00a0handful of buzzy, well-funded start-ups seeking to clone meat from animal tissue samples. While the field is still small, recent investments by\u00a0the big-meat firms Tyson and Cargill have solidified the impression that it could become a major force, propelled by growing concerns about the environmental costs of animal agriculture.\nBeef producers say they are\u00a0worried that consumers will not\u00a0fully understand the difference between their products and those of\u00a0their new competitors.\nThe leading meat alternatives currently on the market, such as\u00a0Beyond Meat\u2019s Beyond Burger and Impossible Foods\u2019 Impossible Burger, typically use terms such as \u201cplant-based.\u201d Those products, which use isolated plant proteins to mimic beef, are essentially the second generation of the soy- and bean-based veggie burgers that became popular in the 1980s and '90s.\nCultured meat will go one step further still, and it's unclear how those products will brand and differentiate themselves.\u00a0Ranchers have already begun bristling at the aggressive branding of\u00a0 \u201cclean meat\u201d over \u201ccultured\u201d or \u201clab-grown\u201d meat that more clearly declare its products\u2019 origins.\n\u201cWe have a big problem with that,\u201d said Beck, of the NCBA. \u201cIt implies something negative about our own product, and we don\u2019t believe that has a basis in science or fact.\u201d\nBut \u201cclean meat\u201d has no intention of giving up its name, said\u00a0Jessica Almy, policy director at the Good Food Institute, which advocates for alternatives to conventional animal meat. Almy argues that regulators don't have the power to selectively regulate the use of common food names. And even if they did, she added, there's no compelling reason to do so here, since there's not yet any evidence that consumers feel deceived by the use of words like \u201cmeat\u201d and \u201cbeef\u201d to describe lab-grown proteins.\nThe term clean meat, in particular, is intended to communicate the environmental benefits of cultured meat products, Almy said.\n\u201cI think the Cattlemen\u2019s Association should face the competition head on,\u201d\u00a0Almy said. \u201cIf they really believe in their product, they should let consumers decide in the marketplace for themselves.\u201d\nOf course, the name that's eventually given to \u201cclean meat\u201d\u00a0could have a dramatic effect on its performance in the market \u2014 a\u00a0fact that is not lost on cattle ranchers. Food label disclosures always carry a cost for someone, said\u00a0Glynn Tonsor, a Kansas State agricultural economist.\nRight now, Tonsor added, clean meat is a niche market that does not threaten beef sales. To become a threat, clean meat will have to win over mainstream meat-eaters \u2014 and\u00a0the label it sells under will affect that.\n\u201cThere are already a lot of alternative proteins out there,\u201d Tonsor said \u2014 from chicken to Boca Burgers. \u201cBut this is the first one that's using the term 'meat' in its marketing and on its labels.\u201d\nRead more:\nThe Silicon Valley food start-up best known for its vegan mayo thinks it can cure malnutrition in Africa\nMost meat producers use antibiotics. Now consumers can see how much.\nIs a vegetarian diet really better for the environment? Science takes aim at the conventional wisdom."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "33c7147e-b50f-11e3-b899-20667de76985_3", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "33c7147e-b50f-11e3-b899-20667de76985_3", "title": "Is a paleo vegetarian diet possible?", "text": "acids make them a perfect nutritional match. Nutrition pitfalls: Vegetarian diet defined The spectrum of vegetarian eating runs from the most restrictive, vegan, to lacto-ovo (eating eggs and dairy-based foods but no animals). All plant-based eaters generally consume fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and grains. Research rundown: Among the largest and longest research projects are the Adventist Health Studies, conducted over the past 40 years. The largest study in the series was conducted among nearly 100,000 Seventh-day Adventists. The researchers, based at Loma Linda University in California, use periodic questionnaires to gather data about participants\u2019 health status, disease risk factors, eating and lifestyle habits and more. Results show that Adventist vegetarians have a lower risk of overweight, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes than non-vegetarians in this population. And the closer people abide by a vegan diet, vs. the least-restrictive lacto-ovo vegetarian plan, the healthier they are. The Adventist Health Study and several other large observational studies have drawn a link between reduced red-meat and processed-meat consumption and lower chronic disease risk. Turner-McGrievy points out that the more people choose plant-based foods over animal-based foods, the more they can cut down on saturated fat and cholesterol. That\u2019s a healthy move. But it\u2019s not just plants that keep vegetarians healthier. Studies show they also tend to practice other healthful behaviors such as not smoking, being physically active, watching less television and getting sufficient sleep. That might turn out to be true for long-term paleo followers, but we don\u2019t have the research yet. Nutrition pitfalls: Paleo vegetarian? The only foods that overlap in the paleo and vegetarian plans are fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Translated, this would be a vegan eating plan, plus eggs, minus grains and legumes. \u201cFollowing this eating plan could make it difficult to get enough protein, dietary fibers, iron, zinc and B vitamins,\u201d Turner-McGrievy says. Research shows most people can follow a regimented eating plan for a short time. That\u2019s not the challenge. The challenge is finding a healthful eating plan you can follow day after day and achieve your long-term health goals. At this point, it doesn\u2019t appear that the paleo eating plan meets these objectives for most people. Warshaw, a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator, is the author of numerous books published by the American Diabetes Association and the blog EatHealthyLiveWell found on her Web site, www.hopewarshaw.com. Have a nutrition question?"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Trail Mix. (Bigstock Photo)\nQuestion: Is it possible to follow a paleo vegetarian eating plan?\nAnswer:\nLet\u2019s unpack each part of the plan and look at the research and the nutritional pluses and minuses.\nPaleo diet defined\nThis diet, also called the caveman or Stone Age diet, has recently become popular, mainly through books, the Internet and social media buzz. The premise: It\u2019s our highly processed, grain-focused food choices that are causing our rampant rate of chronic diseases. Eating like our hunter-gatherer ancestors in the Paleolithic time will help us lose weight, minimize heart disease and Type 2 diabetes and live longer.\nIn: Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits.\nOut: Grains, dairy foods, legumes (beans and peas), processed foods and foods containing refined sugars.\nResearch rundown:\nIn U.S. News and World Report\u2019s 2014 ranking of Best Diets Overall (compiled with the help of top health and nutrition experts), paleo tied for last in a group of 32 diets, with this comment: \u201cExperts took issue with the diet on every measure. Regardless of the goal \u2014 weight loss, heart health, or finding a diet that\u2019s easy to follow \u2014 most experts concluded that it would be better for dieters to look elsewhere.\u201d No. 1? The government-developed DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet.\nPaleo advocates recommend eating meat and avoiding all grains, saying the grains we eat today have been dramatically changed with modern agricultural techniques. One problem they cite is greater gluten content. \u201cThe notion that our ancestors ate more meat than grains is not based in fact. Our ancestors were constantly gathering grain-based foods,\u201d says Julie Miller Jones, a professor emeritus in nutrition at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn., who has studied grains extensively. Jones adds, \u201cThough the hunt for meat was pretty constant, the kill was rare. They didn\u2019t sit down to Tyrannosaurus steaks every day.\u201d\nAs for the gluten claim, Jones points to research sampling century-old wheat showing that the amount of gluten hasn\u2019t changed. But she acknowledges a small increase in the population of people with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease, as well as other autoimmune diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes. \u201cA lot has changed in our environment. Perhaps it\u2019s changes in our grains, the gut, use of antibiotics or countless other factors,\u201d Jones says.\nIs it wise to omit grains? \u201cAbsolutely not. We need a variety of whole grains, as well as legumes, fruits and vegetables, to get the gamut of dietary fibers for their unique effects on the heart, digestive system and insulin and glucose control.\u201d Plus, Jones adds, grains\u2019 and legumes\u2019 different types of fibers and amino acids make them a perfect nutritional match.\nNutrition pitfalls:\nVegetarian diet defined\nThe spectrum of vegetarian eating runs from the most restrictive, vegan, to lacto-ovo (eating eggs and dairy-based foods but no animals). All plant-based eaters generally consume fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and grains.\nResearch rundown:\nAmong the largest and longest research projects are the Adventist Health Studies, conducted over the past 40 years. The largest study in the series was conducted among nearly 100,000 Seventh-day Adventists. The researchers, based at Loma Linda University in California, use periodic questionnaires to gather data about participants\u2019 health status, disease risk factors, eating and lifestyle habits and more. Results show that Adventist vegetarians have a lower risk of overweight, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes than non-vegetarians in this population. And the closer people abide by a vegan diet, vs. the least-restrictive lacto-ovo vegetarian plan, the healthier they are.\nThe Adventist Health Study and several other large observational studies have drawn a link between reduced red-meat and processed-meat consumption and lower chronic disease risk. Turner-McGrievy points out that the more people choose plant-based foods over animal-based foods, the more they can cut down on saturated fat and cholesterol. That\u2019s a healthy move.\nBut it\u2019s not just plants that keep vegetarians healthier. Studies show they also tend to practice other healthful behaviors such as not smoking, being physically active, watching less television and getting sufficient sleep. That might turn out to be true for long-term paleo followers, but we don\u2019t have the research yet.\nNutrition pitfalls:\nPaleo vegetarian?\nThe only foods that overlap in the paleo and vegetarian plans are fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Translated, this would be a vegan eating plan, plus eggs, minus grains and legumes. \u201cFollowing this eating plan could make it difficult to get enough protein, dietary fibers, iron, zinc and B vitamins,\u201d Turner-McGrievy says.\nResearch shows most people can follow a regimented eating plan for a short time. That\u2019s not the challenge. The challenge is finding a healthful eating plan you can follow day after day and achieve your long-term health goals. At this point, it doesn\u2019t appear that the paleo eating plan meets these objectives for most people.\nWarshaw, a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator, is the author of numerous books published by the American Diabetes Association and the blog EatHealthyLiveWell found on her Web site, www.hopewarshaw.com.\nHave a nutrition question?"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "35d5bb2a-0884-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_3", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "35d5bb2a-0884-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_3", "title": "Why this chef is turning mushrooms into \u2018bacon\u2019 and tofu into \u2018blue cheese\u2019", "text": "like cream in my coffee, and I love oysters\u201d \u2014 Kassoff became interested in plant-based cuisine after spending several years working as a sales rep for Sysco. She sold foie gras, ducks and geese to Washington-area restaurants, meeting the chef who would become her husband while on a sales call. However, one day, she says, \u201cI had an eye-opener into the world of meat production, and the way things were raised really got to me. And I just said, \u2018That\u2019s it.\u2019 \u201d Kassoff\u2019s move toward part-time veganism was not a turnoff for Gray, trained in classical French and Italian cooking, where proteins are often considered more of a condiment than a centerpiece. And he was already well versed in seasonal cooking after working in his early career with chefs Roberto Donna and Jean-Louis Palladin. While Gray began seriously playing with vegan dishes as early as 2002, he and Kassoff had a sense that a plant-based diet was, as she puts it, \u201csomething for smelly hippies . . . and we did go to a lot of Grateful Dead concerts.\u201d \u201cIf anyone had told me 10 years ago that I\u2019d be flirting with making dashi with local mushrooms,\u201d says Gray, \u201cI would\u2019ve said, \u2018You\u2019re out of your freaking mind.\u2019 But that\u2019s the evolution, and it\u2019s exciting for me.\u201d (T.J. Kirkpatrick/For The Washington Post) When in 2011 they opened Todd Gray\u2019s Muse at the Corcoran, Kassoff saw a chance to experiment: \u201cI always wanted to have my own little hippy-dippy vegan cafe, so Todd agreed we could try it \u2014 once a month.\u201d They decided to offer a completely vegan brunch, advertising only by word of mouth, and it filled up completely the first time. By the third month, there was a waiting list to get in, and demand was so high that they decided to have it every Sunday rather than once a month. \u201cWe had no proper kitchen,\u201d remembers Gray, \u201cjust a panini press and two induction burners. It was like someone had opened the floodgates.\u201d For Kassoff, it was a chance to connect with other people who were \u201cvegan-curious.\u201d \u201cThe stories of who these diners were was fascinating,\u201d she says. \u201cWe spent a lot of time just talking to people and finding out why they were there. Some people were actually vegetarian or vegan, but others were their non-vegan spouses or people who were health- or environmentally conscious and"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Chef Todd Gray of Equinox created BBQ\u2019d Oysters \u2018Roosevelt Island\u2019 Style as a vegan answer to the Hog Island Style BBQ\u2019d Oysters served by chef Jamie Leeds of Hank\u2019s Oyster Bar. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/For The Washington Post)\nIn Gray\u2019s monthly Vegan Smackdown Challenge, a local chef provides a meat-based recipe and Gray creates a vegan version that\u2019s featured on Equinox's menu that month. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/For The Washington Post)\nTo some chefs, \u201cvegan\u201d is a dirty word, representing an expletive-punctuated scramble in the kitchen to pull together a vegetable plate for a diner who eschews meat, eggs and dairy. Todd Gray, however, sees things a little differently.\nAs chef-owner of Equinox, just a stone\u2019s throw from the White House, Gray \u2014 who is neither vegan nor vegetarian \u2014 has found the process of creating fine-dining vegan dishes (a rarity in Washington) to be a challenge and a delight. \u201cThere\u2019s a tremendous world of great vegetables,\u201d enthuses Gray. \u201cI love my local soft-shell crabs, beef, pork and duck, but, once you get past those four items, there are actually 60 vegetables on our menu right now.\u201d\nAs the vegan options at Equinox have grown over the past decade or more to include a brunch, originally served on Sundays at the now-defunct Corcoran Gallery of Art, and a tasting menu complete with wine pairings, Gray got itchy to play around with some other ideas, leading to this year\u2019s Vegan Smackdown Challenge. If you never thought you\u2019d hear the word \u201csmackdown\u201d associated with a white-linen-tablecloth restaurant, then you probably also never thought you\u2019d eat an edible \u201coyster\u201d shell. \u201cIf anyone had told me 10 years ago that I\u2019d be flirting with making dashi with local mushrooms,\u201d says Gray, \u201cI would\u2019ve said, \u2018You\u2019re out of your freaking mind.\u2019 But that\u2019s the evolution, and it\u2019s exciting for me.\u201d\nThe concept of the smackdown is simple: Unlike most such challenges, it\u2019s really an exhibition, not a competition. Gray asked several prominent chefs, including Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, Todd English and Carla Hall, to give him a meat-based recipe of theirs that he could convert into a vegan version, featuring one on the Equinox menu each month. The smackdown began in April with Spike Mendelsohn\u2019s Prez Obama Burger, the most popular burger at his Good Stuff Eatery restaurants, which Mendelsohn says he thought would be a \u201cfun challenge\u201d for Gray. The original is laden with applewood bacon, Roquefort cheese and horseradish mayo, but Gray took on the challenge with gusto, using leek ash to simulate veining in a tofu-based \u201cblue cheese\u201d and creating a smoky \u201cbacon\u201d out of oven-dried royal trumpet mushrooms for his quinoa-black bean patty, calling it, cheekily, the FLOTUS Burger.\nThe FLOTUS Burger, with mushroom \u201cbacon\u201d and vegan \u201cblue cheese,\u201d was Gray\u2019s April dish, inspired by Spike Mendelsohn\u2019s Prez Obama Burger. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\nMendelsohn says he found the smackdown concept intriguing, particularly now that he\u2019s cooking more vegan-friendly dishes for his vegetarian fianc\u00e9e and exploring adding such plant-based options as a savory mushroom tartine to the menu at his meat-focused, Montreal-inspired bistro, B\u00e9arnaise. \u201cI\u2019ve stumbled on some really delicious flavors,\u201d Mendelsohn says. \u201cTodd\u2019s vegan challenge is definitely another push of creative inspiration.\u201d\nThat kind of response from other chefs is exactly the point of the challenge for Gray\u2019s wife and Equinox co-owner, Ellen Kassoff, who has been the driver of the vegan experimentation at their restaurant since they opened 16 years ago. \u201cChefs, being at the top of the food chain,\u201d says Kassoff, \u201ccan effect change. Conscientious living provides a balance for mass consumption.\u201d\nDescribing her current diet as 80 percent vegan \u2014 \u201cI like cream in my coffee, and I love oysters\u201d \u2014 Kassoff became interested in plant-based cuisine after spending several years working as a sales rep for Sysco. She sold foie gras, ducks and geese to Washington-area restaurants, meeting the chef who would become her husband while on a sales call. However, one day, she says, \u201cI had an eye-opener into the world of meat production, and the way things were raised really got to me. And I just said, \u2018That\u2019s it.\u2019\u2009\u201d\nKassoff\u2019s move toward part-time veganism was not a turnoff for Gray, trained in classical French and Italian cooking, where proteins are often considered more of a condiment than a centerpiece. And he was already well versed in seasonal cooking after working in his early career with chefs Roberto Donna and Jean-Louis Palladin. While Gray began seriously playing with vegan dishes as early as 2002, he and Kassoff had a sense that a plant-based diet was, as she puts it, \u201csomething for smelly hippies .\u2009.\u2009. and we did go to a lot of Grateful Dead concerts.\u201d\n\u201cIf anyone had told me 10 years ago that I\u2019d be flirting with making dashi with local mushrooms,\u201d says Gray, \u201cI would\u2019ve said, \u2018You\u2019re out of your freaking mind.\u2019 But that\u2019s the evolution, and it\u2019s exciting for me.\u201d (T.J. Kirkpatrick/For The Washington Post)\nWhen in 2011 they opened Todd Gray\u2019s Muse at the Corcoran, Kassoff saw a chance to experiment: \u201cI always wanted to have my own little hippy-dippy vegan cafe, so Todd agreed we could try it \u2014 once a month.\u201d They decided to offer a completely vegan brunch, advertising only by word of mouth, and it filled up completely the first time. By the third month, there was a waiting list to get in, and demand was so high that they decided to have it every Sunday rather than once a month. \u201cWe had no proper kitchen,\u201d remembers Gray, \u201cjust a panini press and two induction burners. It was like someone had opened the floodgates.\u201d\nFor Kassoff, it was a chance to connect with other people who were \u201cvegan-curious.\u201d\n\u201cThe stories of who these diners were was fascinating,\u201d she says. \u201cWe spent a lot of time just talking to people and finding out why they were there. Some people were actually vegetarian or vegan, but others were their non-vegan spouses or people who were health- or environmentally conscious and wanted to try it out.\u201d\nThrough those conversations, Gray began to notice something. \u201cThe vegans were a little wistful for something of their own, and their friends and families wanted to be able to participate in their veganism,\u201d he said. The smackdown has become Gray\u2019s response, a search to create a series of signature dishes for vegans, and the vegan-curious, and have a little fun at the same time with original dishes from his peers.\nWhile diners in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and even Asheville, N.C., can sit down to first-class vegan and vegetarian meals in some of the country\u2019s best restaurants, Washington has so far lagged behind in dedicated plant-based fine dining, despite the fact that vegetable-centric cooking and eating generally have been on the rise. Equinox is picking up the slack, recently impressing Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema with what he called \u201ca meatless meal with pomp .\u2009.\u2009. spreading the message that you don\u2019t need fish, fowl or flesh to draw people to the table.\u201d In fact, Sietsema gave Equinox 2 \n \n1/ \n  2 \nstars in his Spring Dining Guide for just that reason; it was a 1 \n\n1/ \n 2\n-star increase from its previous rating.\nFor the smackdown, chef Jamie Leeds of Hank\u2019s Oyster Bar dared Gray to rethink her Hog Island Style BBQ\u2019d Oysters, a delectation of broiled oysters in a spicy beurre blanc sauce. \u201cI was interested to see how this particular recipe could become vegan,\u201d she says. Undaunted, Gray started by thinking about the oyster shell itself, creating an edible vessel from a deep-fried round of nori, then considering the combination of ingredients that would nestle into that shell to provide just the right bite for his version: BBQ\u2019d Oyster Mushrooms \u201cRoosevelt Island\u201d Style.\nBBQ\u2019d Oysters \u2018Roosevelt Island\u2019 Style. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\n\u201cI\u2019m not trying to emulate the flavor of the oyster,\u201d he says, \u201cbut there are elements you want.\u201d He naturally gravitated to salsify, a little-known vegetable also called \u201coyster root,\u201d as the first flavor element he placed inside the nori shell. \u201cIt has that little bit of oyster sweetness, so it was perfect for this dish,\u201d notes Gray. He then added grilled oyster mushrooms \u2014 \u201cIt seemed like the obvious choice\u201d \u2014 but later revised the recipe to use maitakes, which he thought had a better overall texture.\nIt\u2019s clear that Gray is having fun in the kitchen, thinking through textures and flavors down to the tiniest detail: \u201cFor instance, I thought about that burst of juice that you get when you bite into an oyster, and I knew I had to come up with that experience.\u201d His solution? A few drops of fresh cucumber-melon juice strategically placed on the grilled mushrooms, which are then topped with a spicy cashew cream sauce and, finally, tiny leaves of red-veined sorrel for a lemony note of freshness. \u201cThis dish is probably the quintessential example of where I want to take my vegan cooking,\u201d says Gray.\nIn the coming months, the Vegan Smackdown Challenge will continue as Gray tackles a cheesy frittata recipe from Cat Cora; Mary Sue Milliken\u2019s cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish from the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula; and a chicken and mushroom paella by Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, among others. \u201cTaking other chef\u2019s ideas is challenging,\u201d says Gray. \u201cOur goal is not to replicate the taste of meat; that\u2019s not the point. It\u2019s about arriving at a creative destination that you didn\u2019t even think you could get to.\u201d\nEquinox: 818 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-331-8118. equinoxrestaurant.com.\nHartke is a Washington-based food writer and editor. On Twitter: @khartke.\nRecipes:\nFLOTUS Burgers\nRed Onion Marmalade. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\nRed Onion Marmalade\nMushroom \u201cBacon.\u201d (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\nMushroom \u2018Bacon\u2019\nBBQ\u2019d Oysters \u2018Roosevelt Island\u2019 Style\nComing in the smackdown: Gray\u2019s Artichoke, Oven-Dried Tomato and Green Onion Frittata, based on a frittata recipe by \u201cIron Chef\u201d star Cat Cora. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\nArtichoke, Oven-Dried Tomato and Green Onion Frittata\nMore from Food:\nVedge duo translates vegan dishes for home cooks\nBryant Terry marries vegan cooking and African traditions"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "3fd9943145d8ff7f7be51415a667beb8_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3fd9943145d8ff7f7be51415a667beb8_0", "title": "The profound planetary consequences of eating less meat", "text": "(iStock) This story has been updated. A striking new study \u2014 but one that is bound to prove controversial \u2014 has provided a calculation of both the health benefits and the reductions in planetary greenhouse gases that might be achieved if the world shifted away from meat-based diets. The results, while theoretical in nature, certainly make a strong case for treating the food system, and animal agriculture in particular, as a key part of the climate change issue. Namely, the researchers find that shifting diets toward eating more plant-based foods on a global scale could reduce between 6 and 10 percent of mortality \u2014 saving millions of lives and billions of dollars \u2014 even as it also cuts out 29 to 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions linked to food by the year 2050. \u201cDietary change could have large health and environmental benefits,\u201d says Marco Springmann, the lead author of the new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and a sustainability researcher at Oxford University (all four researchers involved in the work were from Oxford). But the study itself acknowledges that the research in some ways represents an idealized experiment, and changing food systems as dramatically as envisioned in the study would be a momentous task. The researchers say it is \u201cthe first time, to our knowledge,\u201d that health models and emissions models have been joined together in this way. Much recent research has highlighted how agriculture, and especially eating meat, contributes to climate change. Ruminant animals, like cattle, belch methane into the air as part of their process of digestion. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, especially over short time frames of several decades \u2014 which is when the key decisions about mankind\u2019s steps to address climate change will be made. In addition, if tropical zones are deforested to make way for ranching, then animal agriculture can drive climate change in another way, since the planet\u2019s forests are major storage areas for carbon that might otherwise end up in the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has recently charged that eating processed meats can be a risk factor for cancer, and a large body of health research points to the importance of consuming adequate fruits and vegetables in your diet to stave off a number of deleterious health outcomes. Taking all of this as a premise, the new study uses a computerized model to examine"}], "old": [{"_id": "3fd9943145d8ff7f7be51415a667beb8_0", "title": "The profound planetary consequences of eating less meat", "text": "(iStock) This story has been updated. The results, while theoretical in nature, certainly make a strong case for treating the food system, and animal agriculture in particular, as a key part of the climate change issue. Namely, the researchers find that shifting diets toward eating more plant-based foods on a global scale could reduce between 6 and 10 percent of mortality \u2014 saving millions of lives and billions of dollars \u2014 even as it also cuts out 29 to 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions linked to food by the year 2050. \u201cDietary change could have large health and environmental benefits,\u201d says Marco Springmann, the lead author of the new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and a sustainability researcher at Oxford University (all four researchers involved in the work were from Oxford). But the study itself acknowledges that the research in some ways represents an idealized experiment, and changing food systems as dramatically as envisioned in the study would be a momentous task. The researchers say it is \u201cthe first time, to our knowledge,\u201d that health models and emissions models have been joined together in this way. Much recent research has highlighted how agriculture, and especially eating meat, contributes to climate change. Ruminant animals, like cattle, belch methane into the air as part of their process of digestion. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, especially over short time frames of several decades \u2014 which is when the key decisions about mankind\u2019s steps to address climate change will be made. In addition, if tropical zones are deforested to make way for ranching, then animal agriculture can drive climate change in another way, since the planet\u2019s forests are major storage areas for carbon that might otherwise end up in the atmosphere. Taking all of this as a premise, the new study uses a computerized model to examine four different dietary scenarios, for regions of the world and the planet as a whole, out to the year 2050. One is a standard \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d outlook for our global diet, based on projections by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. The second study scenario, by contrast, assumed a nation-by-nation implementation of a healthier diet in which people, on average, get adequate calories based on eating required amounts of fruits and vegetables, and consuming less meat and sugar (and not over-eating). That diet, says Springmann, consists of"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "(iStock)\nThis story has been updated.\nA striking\u00a0new study\u00a0\u2014 but one that is bound to prove controversial \u2014 has provided a calculation of both the health benefits and the reductions in planetary greenhouse gases that might be achieved if the world shifted away from meat-based diets.\nThe results, while theoretical in nature, certainly make a strong case for\u00a0treating the food system, and animal agriculture in particular, as a key part of the climate change issue. Namely, the researchers find that shifting diets toward eating more plant-based foods on a global scale could reduce between 6 and 10 percent of mortality \u2014 saving millions of lives and billions of dollars \u2014 even as it also cuts out 29 to 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions linked to food by the year 2050.\n\u201cDietary change could have large health and environmental benefits,\u201d says Marco Springmann, the lead author of the new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and a sustainability researcher at Oxford University (all four researchers involved in the work were from Oxford). But the study itself acknowledges that the research in some ways represents an idealized experiment, and changing food systems as dramatically as envisioned in the study would be a momentous task.\nThe researchers say it is \u201cthe first time, to our knowledge,\u201d that health models and emissions models have been joined together in this way.\nMuch recent research has highlighted how agriculture, and especially eating meat, contributes to climate change. Ruminant animals, like cattle, belch methane into the air as part of their process of digestion. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, especially over short time frames of several decades \u2014 which is when the key decisions about mankind\u2019s steps to address climate change will be made.\nIn addition, if tropical zones are deforested to make way for ranching, then animal agriculture can drive climate change in another way, since the planet\u2019s forests are major storage areas for carbon that might otherwise end\u00a0up in the atmosphere.\nMeanwhile, the World Health Organization has\u00a0recently charged\u00a0that eating processed meats can be a risk factor for cancer, and a large body of health research points to the importance of consuming adequate fruits and vegetables in your diet to stave off a number of deleterious health outcomes.\nTaking all of this as a premise, the new study uses a computerized model to examine four different dietary scenarios, for regions of the world and the planet as a whole, out to the year 2050. One is a\u00a0standard \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d outlook for our global diet, based on projections by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.\nThe second study scenario, by contrast, assumed a nation-by-nation implementation of a healthier diet in which people, on average, get adequate calories based on eating required amounts of fruits and vegetables, and consuming less meat and sugar (and not over-eating). That diet, says Springmann, consists of a \u201cminimum 5 portions of fruit and veg, and half a portion of red meat per day.\u201d It was based on expert assessments of a healthier diet and required energy intake by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization.\nIn another scenario, the study also considered an even stronger dietary shift toward vegetarianism; and, finally, a shift of diets toward full veganism. In both of those diets, the food eaten was consistent with dietary guidance from the World Health Organization.\nThe research\u00a0notes that these diets, as modeled in the study, are \u201cnot intended to be realizable\u00a0dietary outcomes on a global level but are designed to explore the range of possible environmental and health outcomes of progressively excluding more animal-sourced foods from human diets.\u201d It acknowledges that \u201clarge changes in the food system would be necessary to achieve\u201d them and that, in truth, it is not expected that the world\u2019s human population will get enough fruits and vegetables, or even food as a whole, over the first half of this century. (795 million people don\u2019t get enough food in the world at present, according to the U.N. World Food Programme.)\nJust to underscore this point, the healthy-eating diet alone would require 25 percent more fruits and vegetables consumed globally, and 56 percent less meat. The vegetarian and vegan diets require even larger\u00a0shifts.\nSpringmann acknowledges that the changes that would be required \u2014 not just political or industrial, but cultural \u2014 would be massive. \u201cWe first want to show, is it actually worth thinking about it,\u201d says Springmann. \u201cAnd we show, yeah, it\u2019s definitely worth thinking about it, and we hope with those numbers, we encourage more research and action to see how we get there.\u201d\nCertainly, the changes are striking \u2014 the healthy diet led to 5.1 million fewer global deaths per year in the model by 2050, from conditions like heart diseases, stroke, and cancer, especially in developing countries. The researchers said that more than half of the effect was from reductions in meat consumption (other factors included less over-eating). The other diets, in the model, saved even more lives.\nAt the same time, implementing these diets greatly cut greenhouse gas emissions from the food and agriculture sector. With the healthy diet that still contained some meat, global greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector only increased 7 percent by 2050, compared with an expectation of a 51 percent increase under business as usual. Again, the vegetarian and vegan diets had even sharper effects on emissions.\nAnd as the study notes, \u201cwe did not account for the beneficial impacts of dietary change on land use through avoided deforestation,\u201d meaning that the theoretical reductions in greenhouse gases could be even higher.\n\u201cWe disagree with the premise of the study,\u201d said Janet Riley, senior vice president for public affairs at the \u00a0North American Meat Institute, by email, noting that the institute had not yet had the opportunity to review the research in detail.\n\u201cThe authors suggest that somehow consensus exists that a diet that is lower in meat is healthier and we would argue that no such consensus exists.\u00a0 In fact, recent research is actually pointing to the health benefits of a balanced diet that includes meat in ensuring brain development in children, maintaining brain function later in live, preventing sarcopenia and anemia and so on,\u201d Riley said.\nFrank Mitloehner, a professor in the department of animal science at the University of California at Davis, pointed out that in the U.S., livestock related emissions only amount to 4.2 percent of the overall total. \u201cComparing the 4.2% GHG contribution from livestock to the 27% from the\u00a0transportation sector, or the 31% from the energy sector in the United States, puts all contributors into\u00a0perspective,\u201d Mitloehner wrote in a document sent in response to a query about the new study.\nBut Mitloehner added that in other countries, the percentage of total emissions coming from livestock can be much higher.\nOverall, the ability to cut emissions from the food sector could still be significant,\u00a0because of the urgent quest, embraced by the nations of the world, to ramp down greenhouse gases quickly in the next few decades\u00a0 to avoid warming more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.\nAnd as if that\u2019s not enough, the research finds that these dietary shifts could reduce healthcare costs \u2014 in the U.S. more than any other nation, in fact.\n\u201cIn terms of healthcare benefits, because the health expenditure is so large in the U.S., we find that the pure healthcare savings that would be associated with dietary shifts would be the largest actually of all countries,\u201d says Springmann. By contrast, two-thirds of the actual health benefits of the dietary\u00a0shifts would occur in developing nations, the research found.\nGranted, any major shift of global diets would implicate huge changes in government policy and in industry \u2014 and might trigger some major resistance, not only from food producers, but also from individuals who, to put it bluntly, like to eat meat.\nBut Springmann says that over time, he thinks cultural change will push the world in this direction. \u201cWe\u00a0already see a plateauing of meat consumption in\u00a0higher income countries, like Europe,\u201d he says. \u201cSo I wouldn\u2019t say that the cultures now are prescribed to be the same cultures that we have in 2050.\u201d"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "5fb49fc84d6768b60cf7e12916513822_3", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5fb49fc84d6768b60cf7e12916513822_3", "title": "Transcript: Transformers Food", "text": "and projections that the world as it develops increases meat consumption in really big ways\u2014that\u2019s going to have profound impacts on our planetary health, so what kinds of alternative plant-based proteins might be a substitute. I don\u2019t know, clean labels. People are very concerned when they see all the scientific language that they\u2014those big words on labels that they don\u2019t understand, and so there\u2019s a sense that they want fresh, they want as close as possible that connect to the farmer, to the table. There\u2019s a lot more interest in flavor, a lot more interest in ethnic food as our country demographics change. Go ahead, Mary. There\u2019s a few I could add. Bohman: Well, I think you bring up a lot of things that, while they\u2019re a current interest, they draw on long-term trends in food and agriculture, and things that we\u2019ve been monitoring at the Economic Research Service. One is that in 1970, about a quarter of the food Americans bought\u2014a quarter of our food dollar went to food away from home. It\u2019s now almost 50%. That\u2019s a big transformation. Half of what we buy in the grocery store is food that\u2019s almost ready to eat or ready to eat. So we\u2019re really driven a lot by changing income, changing family structure, smaller families, that the way we eat is very different, and some of these trend\u2014these newer things really play to this desire to have more novel foods, more ready-to-eat, things that make food more something that\u2019s part of our experience. But we\u2019re really a diverse country, and we monitor at ERS the food security of the nation, and about 13% of Americans are food insecure, and their purchasing is so different from people who are in the top 20% of income. They spend about three thousand a year on food; it\u2019s 30% of their total income. People like me who are in the top 20%, we spend almost twelve thousand a year on food and it\u2019s, what, about 10 or 11% of our income that we have. So it\u2019s a really interesting picture that\u2019s supporting these kind of trends. Casey: I\u2019d like to follow up on that in just a moment, but I\u2019d like to remind our audience that you can join this conversation if you\u2019d like to weigh in; you can join us on Twitter. Use the hashtag #postlive, or you can post comments in our"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "On June 13, The Washington Post brought entrepreneurs, food industry executives, scientists and farmers together to discuss how technology and science are changing our modern food systems. They discussed the business practices that are driving consumer demand, the innovations and new ideas that are shaping the future of what \u2013 and how \u2013 we eat and consider the policies that will regulate an increasingly complex global food market.\nCoratti:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hi.\u00a0 Hi, good afternoon, everyone.\u00a0 My name is Kris Coratti; I\u2019m vice president of communications and events at The Washington Post.\u00a0 Thank you for joining us here this afternoon for \u201cTransformers: Food.\u201d\u00a0 Today, we\u2019ve assembled top names in the industry to discuss how technology, science, and new thinking are changing our modern food systems.\u00a0 With the global food market growing increasingly complex, this afternoon\u2019s conversations will take a closer look at the innovation and change that are shaping what and how we eat.\nToday\u2019s program is actually part of our Transformers series, and if you haven\u2019t heard of it, it\u2019s actually a live journalism series where we explore how technological advances and business trends are upending industries and changing everyday life.\u00a0 We started this about a year ago, and it\u2019s really incredible the conversations that we\u2019ve been able to put together that sort of change your thinking about everyday things like food, and we have our marquee Transformers event coming up this September, as well as others like this one, around things like artificial intelligence, health, and other topics, so stay tuned for more on that.\nI\u2019d like to thank our presenting sponsor, Bayer, and as well as our contributing sponsor Samsung and the University of Maryland\u2019s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and we\u2019ll actually hear more from Bayer later.\nI\u2019d now like to get the program started, not keep you guys waiting any more, and introduce Libby Casey.\u00a0 She\u2019s the Washington Post journalist who\u2019s going to lead our first discussion.\u00a0 Thank you so much.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 Well, good afternoon.\u00a0 I\u2019m Libby Casey with The Washington Post, and it\u2019s really a privilege to be on stage with these two Transformers and leaders in food and sustainability.\u00a0 We\u2019re talking about market forces, and as we look at consumption, production, sustainability, they all play a role.\u00a0 So I\u2019m very pleased to introduce Dr. Kathleen Merrigan, executive director of sustainability at George Washington University.\u00a0 She also served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture from 2009 to 2013.\u00a0 We\u2019re also joined by Dr. Mary Bohman, administrator of the Economic Research Service, USDA\u2019s Intramural Social Science Research and Statistical Agency.\u00a0 A lot of words to say that you two have been spending decades working on these issues at a time when it wasn\u2019t in the public eye as much as it certainly is now.\u00a0 So to get our conversation started, let\u2019s just talk about what is transformative right now in food and as we look to the future.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You\u2019re asking me?\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I am.\u00a0 [LAUGHTER] The eyes weren\u2019t enough.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So there are all kinds of things shaking up the system right now.\u00a0 Lots of mergers and acquisitions.\u00a0 There\u2019s a sense that it\u2019s very hard to be an old, stable, big brand.\u00a0 People are very interested in new products, new companies.\u00a0 There\u2019s a flood of venture capital coming into the food space.\u00a0 A lot of the venture capitalists are coming from the tech world; they\u2019re actually not all that informed about food, and they\u2019re looking to become experts and invest in ways that disrupt the current enterprise.\u00a0 Lot of interest in transparency.\u00a0 A lot of interest in alternative proteins.\u00a0 Concern about meat consumption and projections that the world as it develops increases meat consumption in really big ways\u2014that\u2019s going to have profound impacts on our planetary health, so what kinds of alternative plant-based proteins might be a substitute.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know, clean labels.\u00a0 People are very concerned when they see all the scientific language that they\u2014those big words on labels that they don\u2019t understand, and so there\u2019s a sense that they want fresh, they want as close as possible that connect to the farmer, to the table.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot more interest in flavor, a lot more interest in ethnic food as our country demographics change.\u00a0 Go ahead, Mary.\u00a0 There\u2019s a few I could add.\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I think you bring up a lot of things that, while they\u2019re a current interest, they draw on long-term trends in food and agriculture, and things that we\u2019ve been monitoring at the Economic Research Service.\u00a0 One is that in 1970, about a quarter of the food Americans bought\u2014a quarter of our food dollar went to food away from home.\u00a0 It\u2019s now almost 50%.\u00a0 That\u2019s a big transformation.\u00a0 Half of what we buy in the grocery store is food that\u2019s almost ready to eat or ready to eat.\u00a0 So we\u2019re really driven a lot by changing income, changing family structure, smaller families, that the way we eat is very different, and some of these trend\u2014these newer things really play to this desire to have more novel foods, more ready-to-eat, things that make food more something that\u2019s part of our experience.\nBut we\u2019re really a diverse country, and we monitor at ERS the food security of the\u00a0 nation, and about 13% of Americans are food insecure, and their purchasing is so different from people who are in the top 20% of income.\u00a0 They spend about three thousand a year on food; it\u2019s 30% of their total income.\u00a0 People like me who are in the top 20%, we spend almost twelve thousand a year on food and it\u2019s, what, about 10 or 11% of our income that we have.\u00a0 So it\u2019s a really interesting picture that\u2019s supporting these kind of trends.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019d like to follow up on that in just a moment, but I\u2019d like to remind our audience that you can join this conversation if you\u2019d like to weigh in; you can join us on Twitter.\u00a0 Use the hashtag #postlive, or you can post comments in our Facebook Live feed; put them in the comments section, and we\u2019ll be able to hopefully run a couple by our guests.\nYou know, as we look at that disparity, it\u2019s so fascinating.\u00a0 Many Americans are trying to get more in touch with where their food comes from\u2014we think of the farm to table movement\u2014but it does seem that we are getting more and more removed from our food sources when you just don\u2019t have the time and the money to almost have the luxury to trace that back.\u00a0 I\u2019d be curious to hear what you have to think about that disparity that we\u2019re seeing at the income levels.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, one thing I\u2019ll say, and this is based on Economic Research Service data: there is a difference in terms of what people eat from high income, but lower income and middle income people, especially in terms of fruits and vegetables\u2014which we\u2019re all pushing, right?\u00a0 The rule is half a plate of fruits and vegetables, that\u2019s our new dietary guidance?\u00a0 There\u2019s not a huge difference between low income and middle income people.\u00a0 So I think that\u2019s an important thing to know, because in the political climate, with a lot of people focused on potential cuts or reforms to the SNAP program, I think that there is this idea that low income people eat very differently than the rest of Americans, and the data just doesn\u2019t support that.\nI think people are really looking for authenticity in their food, to go to your point about that real distance between where food is produced and where it\u2019s consumed, and that\u2019s why they\u2019re really looking for food with a story.\u00a0 And when you see a lot of these new companies, they\u2019re really very focused on their storyline, their niche.\u00a0 Being big is not necessarily good anymore, and I think that\u2019s been something that has been challenging to the organic industry, which I have a lot of my soul in over the years.\u00a0 As the organic industry has grown to huge, huge proportions, the good news is you can buy organic in almost every place across the country in all kinds of stores, from Target to Walmart to the specialty mom-and-pop organic co-op; it means that it\u2019s accessible to many more people, but it has also in some ways confused the storyline of organic being little, kind of fighting against the Man, if you will, you know, it\u2019s a resistance movement\u2014it is now mainstream.\u00a0 And so what does that mean?\u00a0 So I think people are looking for that connect, that story, that direct marketing connection if at all possible.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is it a real connection to our food, or are we looking for something to make us feel like we\u2019re connected to our food?\u00a0 Are we more connected now than we were 20 years ago?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20 years ago?\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure there\u2019s such a huge difference, but one thing that is difference is the change in who are farmers.\u00a0 At the post-World War II, people in rural areas were a much higher percentage of our total population, there are a lot more farmers.\u00a0 You know, I started out teaching agriculture.\u00a0 In 1990, if you asked students in the class who grew up on a farm, you\u2019d see half the hands.\u00a0 Even a decade later, it would be ones or twos.\u00a0 So my farmer grew up on a farm, but I\u2019m probably atypical, and you have fewer people who have that direct background and that connection.\u00a0 But nonetheless, most of America\u2019s farms are family farms.\u00a0 We have over two million farms in the U.S.; 99% are families.\u00a0 That means they\u2019re owned by people who are related to each other.\u00a0 One percent is non-family farm, and these family farms produce most of what we eat.\u00a0 It can be\u201490% of what we eat comes from family farms that\u2019s produced in the U.S., so I think that\u2019s a story people don\u2019t really know fully.\u00a0 They may be large businesses\u2014cousins, aunts, uncles, fathers, sons\u2014but they\u2019re still family organizations, and they are in the scheme of big businesses not that huge.\u00a0 As Kathleen mentioned, there are big businesses more on the food company side, but our farms are largely family-owned businesses, and that\u2019s been true\u201420 years ago, it looked very similar.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And Dr. Bohman, what is the influencing factor, what are the factors on those family farms?\u00a0 Is it technology, is it trying to form collectives, is it the opportunity to sell organic or the challenges of getting certified and labeling?\u00a0 What\u2019s affecting their businesses right now?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Farming\u2019s always been a hard business.\u00a0 You have to deal with weather, they tend to have a lot of capital\u2014\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I left out the obvious one, weather, right?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2014land, equipment\u2014so you know, then, have to follow the markets and what to produce, technology advances.\u00a0 So I think that really\u2014people find their niche, and some of it depends on where you live, some of it depends on the interest.\u00a0 We see big farms, maybe they want one of their children to come, they might form a small part that\u2019s organic.\u00a0 You can\u2019t tell one story about farming in the U.S.; it\u2019s just a very diverse sector.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So right now we\u2019re facing a lot of challenges at the farm.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got climate change\u2014now, not everybody likes that language; we can soften, we can change out the words, but the reality is, weather has always been a challenge for farmers, but it\u2019s becoming much more volatile and challenging.\u00a0 Immigration: there\u2019s no\u2014especially if you put it under the whole banner of \u201cfood sector,\u201d there\u2019s not an industry more dependent on undocumented workers, and right now we\u2019re in free fall because people can\u2019t get the labor.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve talked to a lot of company leaders who are saying, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I\u2019ve got to leave the U.S.\u00a0 I can\u2019t get the people I need to harvest the crops.\u201d\u00a0 And then you have this huge transition of our working lands, where the average age of farmers is about 60 years of age; we\u2019ve got a lot of farmers over the age of 80.\u00a0 Some of them still milking, if you can believe it.\u00a0 And part of that is because they\u2019re searching for that next generation to come and take over those farms.\u00a0 And when that doesn\u2019t happen, sometimes that land\u2019s developed or it goes into foreclosure, but we need to get that next generation trained.\u00a0 And as Mary said, many of them are not coming from farm backgrounds, so the capital cost that they confront is just unbearable, and then on top of it, they need the training, they haven\u2019t grown up with the hands-on helping mom and dad all their lives training, and then they\u2019re thrust out of college into these rural areas where they may not have broadband access.\u00a0 Who leaves college and goes somewhere where they can\u2019t use their iPhone?\u00a0 I mean, come on.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Right.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So for us to transition our working lands, we also have to think about it under the broader banner of rural development.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How are we comparing globally when it comes to looking forward to the future, to the next generation of where our food comes from?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, the U.S. is a wealthy country in agriculture.\u00a0 We have rich land, we have overall good rainfall, good climate, and we are competitive in most export markets.\u00a0 So I think so far I think we\u2019ve been able to attract the capital to have research developed in the U.S. that\u2019s fueled technology and had people to do farming.\u00a0 So I think right now we are a very competitive sector.\u00a0 Other countries are investing: you see Brazil expanding, China\u2019s spending more on research, so it\u2019s a dynamic environment. But through past investments and the good business sense of people, U.S. farming is quite competitive.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And of course you saw rural America with a significant amount of anxiety when the new administration came on, saying maybe we need to rethink NAFTA, maybe we don\u2019t want TPP, maybe we have to rethink all of our trade agreements.\u00a0 And American agriculture, a lot of the profit is really coming from global trade, so you have this\u2014some people have described it as the disappearing middle, those sort of mid-size family farms and ERS\u2014if you\u2019ve never gone to ERS\u2019s website\u2014I\u2019m going to do your advertisement for you\u2014there\u2019s such an incredible wealth of information, and one of my favorite things I do is called charts of note.\u00a0 You can sign up, and you get a chart every day in your email that gives you a nice little snapshot of American agriculture.\u00a0 Good advertisement?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, I\u2019ll pay you afterwards, yeah.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So there\u2019s just this kind of\u2014the small size, diversified, often-times young people interested in sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, alternative ways of production, and the very large and getting larger size operation, but that middle is shrinking.\u00a0 And so those larger guys are really in many cases very much in the export market.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Were we underplaying during the political season the importance of agriculture exports?\u00a0 There\u2019s so much focus on trying to shore up the borders and think about where we\u2019re bringing in imports and goods from, but were we ignoring where we\u2019re sending things like agricultural products to?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not in the ag community.\u00a0 Agriculture has, for as long as I\u2019ve been working in the sector, since the late seventies, about 20% of what we produce is exported.\u00a0 It varies from year to year, but that number overall doesn\u2019t change very much\u2014\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Did you feel like that was part of the political discussion?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Was agriculture part of the political discussion?\u00a0 So, I\u2019m a co-chair of aGree, which is an organization trying to build consensus around food and agriculture policy reform.\u00a0 Former\u2014it\u2019s two Democrats, two Republicans who lead aGree, and we put out a paper during the campaign saying, \u201cHello, world, agriculture, food and agriculture,\u201d as we say in Massachusetts, \u201cwicked important, hello.\u201d\u00a0 There was really\u2014and I was a big support of Hillary Clinton, I think people know that\u2014but I think all of the candidates were rather mute on food and agriculture, given its importance in our country\u2019s livelihood.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We have a question coming in from Twitter.\u00a0 David is asking, \u201cHow can we reconcile the policy of \u2018America First\u2019 from the White House and the increased dependency on produce imports from Latin America?\u201d\u00a0 And we can certainly also extend that out to the question of undocumented workers.\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So we are importing more produce.\u00a0 I think consumers want year-round fresh things like berries, which has been one of the biggest increases, but we\u2019ve always imported a lot from Latin America off-season, and things we can\u2019t grow, like coffee and bananas.\u00a0 So I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 In the scheme of things it\u2019s not hugely new, but there are some products where the growth is quite dramatic, and berries are the one that stick out in the data.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, you see over the last several years the trend line for imports and produce, and it\u2019s just like this, and it\u2019s not anything new with this administration; it\u2019s been going on for some time.\u00a0 I think it screams out opportunity for young American farmers, because when you\u2019re doing produce, doing fresh product, you can do it on smaller parcels of land, it\u2019s a higher value crop, but you need a business plan, you need a market, you need a foot in the door.\u00a0 That\u2019s why in the Obama administration, one of the things that we really put a lot of effort on was this initiative we called \u201cKnow Your Farmer, Know Your Food,\u201d and trying to look across the many agencies at USDA and the hundreds of programs and figure out how can we help make America great again\u2014shall I say it?\u2014by helping these smaller farmers get into, among other things, the produce business.\u00a0 And some of those programs are proposed by the President\u2019s budget to be zeroed out.\u00a0 I think they have a lot of support in Congress, and we\u2019ll see if we really have to worry at the end of the day, but yeah.\u00a0 I think that there is a lot of opportunity to rebuild the farm sector here, and maybe this will resonate with our new President.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Agriculture has seemed to transcend political parties in many ways, you know, you\u2019re from a state that thinks about agriculture issues and you vote accordingly or you don\u2019t.\u00a0 Is that still the case?\u00a0 Are we seeing different divisions play out in politics and policy right now?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From where we sit, the Economic Research Service, we think about what are the big issues coming up, and there\u2019s a large set that doesn\u2019t change from party to party.\u00a0 Interest in technology, interest in risk management for farmers, you see some consensus.\u00a0 But there are issues where things differ, and we see that in some of the discussions that are beginning around the next farm legislation that\u2019ll take place in 2018 around USDA\u2019s largest program, which is SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let me ask you about the politics before we move on.\u00a0 Do you see the political landscape changing and shifting?\u00a0 Are we still in that model where red state, blue state, if you\u2019re an agriculture state you tend to vote together, you tend to think about things as a block\u2014is that shifting?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s only been recently that it\u2019s shifted.\u00a0 I worked for a lot of years on the Hill, and you really hung out with the people who are in your region, because you were, you know, representing similar crops, similar issues on the farms and ranches.\u00a0 So the Southerners\u2014there were definitely caucuses, and it wasn\u2019t D versus R.\u00a0 But what\u2019s happening now I think is just more taste of the day, the politics where we have leaders on the floor of the Senate name-calling each other.\u00a0 I mean, I worked there back then when women weren\u2019t allowed to wear anything but a dress and there was decorum, and so I think it\u2019s just\u2014part of it is just sort of the, you know, dissolution of civil discourse.\u00a0 And so maybe those parties loom larger in all aspects.\u00a0 But it has\u2014the bipartisan nature of agriculture has been lost a little bit.\u00a0 And I\u2019m not just talking since the last election, but over the last few years.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Helena\u2019s [ph] asking on Twitter, \u201cWhat can the U.S. do to combat food deserts?\u201d\u00a0 Dr. Bohman, do you want to start with that one?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, at ERS, we measure where food deserts are located, and it was\u2014in terms of a food desert, you have to think about what\u2019s important.\u00a0 So it\u2019s location to a store, but it\u2019s also do people have cars or access to a vehicle to be able to shop.\u00a0 We did a survey a couple of years ago, and we found that most Americans shop at not the store closest to them, but second or third closest.\u00a0 And so this\u2014a food desert may mean that you don\u2019t have anything nearby, but it also depends on your access to shop, and we don\u2019t see huge differences in the type of stores that low income and high income Americans shop at.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rural versus urban food deserts, basic differences there?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, you have to think about, you know, in a rural setting, people are used to driving longer distances, so we measure a food desert at like a mile in an urban setting, ten miles in a rural setting, and I think the issues are very different in terms of access in those two areas.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Merrigan?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In fact, if I could refer to one of the charts of note recently [AUDIO DROP] school adoption in rural versus urban communities, and you might think, \u201cWell, having local food in the school system, in the school lunch program, would be more prominent in the rural areas where food is grown more than in the urban areas.\u00a0 Well, in fact, the charts of note tells you quite the opposite story.\u00a0 And part of that is, I believe, because if you live in certain parts of this country, you can go for miles and miles and just see corn and beans, or areas where it\u2019s not very diverse, where in a more peri-urban area you might get a lot of mixed fruit and vegetable operations and they might be doing a little bit of wheat, who knows\u2014but the food desert issue is a tough one, and it\u2019s a work in progress.\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And I just had one final thing that we found in our research, is that health\u2014getting people to eat healthier diets is a challenge.\u00a0 All Americans, regardless of income, eat too much meat protein and too many grains and fats and not enough dairy or fruits and vegetables.\u00a0 So that\u2019s everybody.\u00a0 So it\u2019s not easy to get people to eat better; there\u2019s no one solution, such as food access.\u00a0 There\u2019s education information, it\u2019s an important but hard problem.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You brought up meat.\u00a0 Is the rest of the world still thinking about the American diet and the heavy meat consumption here in America as something to strive for, and what is that meaning in terms of agriculture and of course sustainability?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There was a great article\u2014okay, I\u2019ll be the nerdy professor now\u2014it was in Nature in 2014 by Tomilyn Clark\u2014but what they did was they did the projections of what the world will look like, and they looked at it in different dietary ways, like the current diet, a pescetarian diet, a vegetarian diet, that sort of thing.\u00a0 And what they\u2014they did life cycle analysis, but what they did is they really showed a shockingly scary picture of what\u2014of where we\u2019re headed, because I think as most people agree, as countries\u2019 economies improve, meat consumption goes up quite a bit.\u00a0 And so while we are pushing in our country to lower meat consumption to make it not always the center of the plate, as our wonderful chef Dan Barber would say, make it more of a side line to the main meal, the rest of the world\u2019s going a different way if they can.\u00a0 So it\u2019s concerning.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Bohman, what does that picture look like in terms of sustainability and agriculture?\u00a0 Everything from providing the crops to raise animals that eventually become meat to the environmental impact and cost.\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, one thing we know is that the world\u2019s population is growing, and that\u2019s estimated to be around nine billion people by 2050, so what is that, growing by about a third.\u00a0 So we\u2019ll have to on roughly the same amount of land and the same resources produce food to feed that hired population.\u00a0 And it won\u2019t be in\u2014one country\u2019s going to produce all the food, there\u2019ll be some trade, increase in production in different places, and it\u2019ll take investments in research for new technology.\u00a0 There\u2019s a word out there that some people like, some don\u2019t, but I think captures this idea of sustainable intensification.\u00a0 We\u2019ll have to be able to use better the resources we have and make them sustainable or able to continue producing over time to meet this food security goal.\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And can I jump on there?\u00a0 I want to really underscore Mary\u2019s point about the need for research investments, and I know we\u2019re going to go through some rough and tumble times on the budget, but when I look at the challenges in agriculture, they\u2019re really profound when you go beyond a couple-year timeline.\u00a0 There\u2019s real excitement about the potential of capture of carbon in soil; we need more research on that.\u00a0 We want to figure all of that out.\u00a0 We have new genome editing tools; some people refer to one aspect of it as CRISPR.\u00a0 There\u2019s a whole regulatory side of that we could talk about that I think we need to do.\u00a0 But really exciting opportunities.\u00a0 You\u2019ve even got people making test tube meat.\u00a0 So we don\u2019t want to assume that the status quo is always going to be the case, but we do know that as a country, we have underinvested in food and agriculture research, particularly when you look at some of our competitor countries: China, India, where have you.\u00a0 And I think that there\u2019s a growing consensus among agricultural leaders that we need to do something about it, and hopefully that will happen here in the next funding bill or two.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I guess hard to say, though.\u00a0 I mean you say that with an optimistic, \u201cHopefully it may happen,\u201d but certainly we\u2019re not\u2014I guess there would be a real question as to what the administration wants to invest in, what a Republican-led Congress wants to invest in, and then whether they can come to a meeting of the minds on budgets generally, much less for something like this.\u00a0 Do you get the sense that the Trump administration is willing to invest in agriculture and in new technologies, new developments along those lines?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I certainly thought it was interesting that our new Secretary, Sonny Purdue, disowned his own budget proposal, having the budget director say it was compiled, composed before he was confirmed\u2014which is true.\u00a0 So he\u2019s already signally a discomfort with what was proposed, so I know that the Secretary is a doctor of veterinary science, he is a governor, and he must have had lots of interaction with some great schools down in Georgia, some great researchers, so I am optimistic.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s that important that I\u2019m not going to be anything else.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do we have a sense of where the United States will be in terms of global leadership in agriculture, development sustainability over the next ten years?\u00a0 We\u2019re certainly seeing the Trump administration pull back on some leadership roles in the international sphere in other realms.\u00a0 What\u2019s the future for our relationship with the developing world and also big agriculture countries that are pushing forward with technology?\u00a0 Dr. Bohman, do you have a sense of that?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I won\u2019t speak about the politics, but we do see that it\u2019s a global world for food and agriculture.\u00a0 Technologies developed in one country are quickly spread to another, and people observe how things are working and not working.\u00a0 Now, there\u2019s still a great disparity in the yields, like how much corn you get per acre in Africa versus the U.S., so there\u2019s a lot of room for technical assistance, including colleagues that I have in the ag research service are working with countries around the world to improve their technology and learn things that\u2019ll help us better manage pests and diseases in the U.S.\u00a0 So right now, we\u2019re part of a global ag system, and I do think the nature of food and agriculture and the crops we grow around the world are a big driver of keeping an international focus.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Merrigan?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I will say, one of the heartbreaking things for me in the President\u2019s budget proposal was zeroing out the McGovern-Dole Program.\u00a0 That to me was a perfect moment of bipartisanship, of great men who had visions, and it\u2019s a really important program around the world, particularly for girls\u2014\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What does the program do?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sorry.\u00a0 It helps\u2014it\u2019s a school lunch program for other countries that we invest in.\u00a0 And so I think that as we move forward in a new administration, I was in an international meeting the day the Paris decision was announced\u2014I was one of three or four Americans in a room full of 50 people from around the world\u2014we do need to be thinking about our stature as a global leader and what\u2019s really at jeopardy when we make some of these one-off decisions.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I can\u2019t let you go without addressing some news of the day.\u00a0 Our colleague Caitlin Dewey who you\u2019ll see on stage in just a few minutes reported earlier today that the FDA has announced it\u2019s delaying indefinitely the launch of these nutrition fact labels, which are showing calorie count in big bold letters, giving information about added sugars.\u00a0 What happens next with this?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s just kicking the can down the road, as I understand it, in terms of the implementation date.\u00a0 There\u2019s no news from FDA as to when it will have to finally go into effect, the new nutrition fact label, but the reality is there are big companies and grocery manufacturers association that are ready to meet the 2018 deadline that was originally expected, and they may go forward and do it.\u00a0 Right now is a time when we\u2019re seeing industry step up in a way that we\u2019ve never seen before.\u00a0 They\u2019re hearing from their consumers, their customers, that they want different products in the marketplace, different levels of transparency and identity preservation, and the companies want to deliver for them.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Bohman?\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I think Kathleen talked about a lot of the issues.\u00a0 We see information that consumers want, and what should be on a label and what role should the government play I think is an emerging issue.\u00a0 We saw that last year with the legislation to have some disclosure on genetically engineered seeds.\u00a0 So I see that as a really interesting research issue that we\u2019ll be working on for several years.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Merrigan, do you think that GMO could be rolled into this in some way?\u00a0 Do you think that this gives big companies more time to fight labeling?\u00a0 What is this window\u2014who does this window give an opportunity to?\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good thing, I don\u2019t think\u2014yes, there is some thought that maybe part of the logic to this is providing enough window to USDA to figure out how they\u2019re going to implement the GMO labeling rule.\u00a0 I know Secretary Vilsack and his top staff were working really as much as they could on that in the last administration, but they didn\u2019t get across the finish line, so maybe part of this is they sync up and maybe it all comes together in 2021 or something like that.\u00a0 But we\u2019re all just betting people right now, speculating until we hear more from FDA.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Merrigan, Dr. Bohman, thank you so much; that\u2019s all we have time for.\n[APPLAUSE]\nMerrigan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you.\nBohman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you.\nCasey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And we\u2019ll have my colleague Caitlin Dewey up next.\u00a0 Thank you.\n[AUDIO BREAK]\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All right, are we ready?\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If we\u2019re here, we\u2019re ready.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hello everyone, my name is Caitlin Dewey; I\u2019m the food policy reporter here at The Washington Post, and with me on stage today we have some really wonderful guests.\u00a0 We have Ken Cook, who is the President and Co-founder, Environmental Working Group; Dr. Marty Matlock, who\u2019s in the middle there: he is the \u00a0executive director of the University of Arkansas\u2019 Office for Sustainability; he is also a professor of ecological engineering in the University\u2019s Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department; and on the end we have Veronica Nigh; she\u2019s an economist at the American Farm Bureau Foundation\u2014Federation\u2014what is it?\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Federation, but we do have a Foundation, so it\u2019s fair.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Federation, thank you.\u00a0 I work with you guys all the time, so it\u2019s shameful that I don\u2019t know what your acronym stands for.\u00a0 A reminder to everyone that you can tweet your questions and comments to us using the hashtag #postlive; I have this handy iPad here, so I\u2019ll be checking that, and we\u2019ll be sure to ask the panelists any of the questions you guys may have.\nSo here we are, we\u2019re talking about food security and sustainability over the next 30, 50, 100 years.\u00a0 A figure that we tend to see all the time in our field, right, is that by 2050 we\u2019ll need to feed nine billion people; how in the world are we going to do that with all of these enormous challenges that we face?\u00a0 And you guys represent some different perspectives and disciplines looking at that question.\u00a0 So I wanted to ask each of you to kick off what you would sort of consider to be a top policy priority for addressing those challenges, you know, how are we going to sustainably feed so many new people.\u00a0 Veronica, you want to start?\u00a0 Ladies first.\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 [LAUGHS]\u00a0 Well, I think from the farmers\u2019 perspective, we represent about six million members; we\u2019re a general farm organization that has membership in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.\u00a0 I think from the overarching wish or our members is for there to be enough policy room for multiple food systems to be able to work together.\u00a0 You can\u2019t solve all food issues with one particular policy perspective; it\u2019s going to take a lot of different systems working together, I think, in order to solve some of the issues that we have in the United States, which are different than issues we have in other countries.\u00a0 And then there\u2019s issues that sort of run the gauntlet across all countries.\u00a0 So making sure that we aren\u2019t so proscribed in how we do things that we lose the ability to be flexible and serve different consumers.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A very Farm Bureau view, I like it.\n[LAUGHTER]\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Very Farm Bureau.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We\u2019ll go to the good doctor next.\nMatlock:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Certainly.\u00a0 When we talk about food security, we\u2019re really talking about access\u2014persistent access, reliable access to nutritious, quality food in a way that is valuable to the community, to the family, to the people who are consuming it.\u00a0 So we have to separate\u2014I think we need to separate affluent food consumption from what I will call subsistent food consumption, the food that\u2019s necessary to sustain the body.\u00a0 And we have to recognize that we still have 890 million of our brothers and sisters who are chronically malnourished in the world today.\u00a0 And the prospect that that\u2019s going to get lower as a number in the next 30 years is pretty dim.\u00a0 We\u2019re now experiencing one of the worst famines in Sudan and Somalia and other parts of Africa that we\u2019ve seen since World War II, yet we are mostly blissfully ignorant of it, unlike [ph] previous famines.\u00a0 Famine is amongst us now, and it is expanding, as a function of policy, political action dysfunction as well as climate change; the fact is, climate change is driving food scarcity around the planet and will continue to disrupt food supplies around the planet.\nSo let\u2019s separate prosperity food consumption, because those of us who have money can always buy from those who are on the edge, on the margins.\u00a0 So when we talk about food security, we really need to focus there, because that\u2019s where children die.\u00a0 That\u2019s where people suffer.\u00a0 Our challenge, I think, is to understand that those of us who live in the prosperous economies of the world don\u2019t understand the difficulties of what it means to go to bed hungry, to wake up with your children hungry and not know where their food\u2019s going to come from.\u00a0 Aldo Leopold, in the introduction to San County Almanac said, \u201cWe could little about conservationism, we could little worry about these things natural until we didn\u2019t have to worry about where our breakfast came from.\u201d\u00a0 So if we care about the natural world, if we care about biodiversity, we have to care about making sure that those least among us are fed, and that\u2019s the challenge of food security in the 21st century.\nCook:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I agree with my colleagues on the panel, and just to weave it together maybe a little bit, you do need a diverse approach into thinking about policy, in part because of the two\u2014at least two very different perspectives on sustainability, and you know, if you had to put your finger on one issue that would probably be central to attacking the general problem of hunger now in the world, it\u2019s income inequality; it\u2019s not the fact that we don\u2019t have the food, we have excessive amounts of certain grains and other commodities now, we have petitioners before Congress asking for income transfers from taxpayers to farmers because we\u2019ve grown too much of certain things, produced too much of certain things in this country, and there are examples of that elsewhere in the developed world.\u00a0 But in those countries where poverty makes it impossible for people to have the power to purchase food, that requires something more than just technology or even food policy per se; it really requires economic policy and an understanding that we have an integrated economy around the world, to a degree, but we have these vast populations in developing countries, and they really are not going to be able to take advantage of the type of food supply that is being built even now if they don\u2019t have the income to do it.\u00a0 I mean, famines\u2014you know, Nobel Prize was awarded for this\u2014famines are caused by not the unavailability of food but by hoarding and other practices that come about because of income inequality, and famines\u2014at least in India and elsewhere\u2014tend to happen in rural areas where there\u2019s food.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Interesting.\u00a0 Yeah, I think Mark Bittman put it best: he said, \u201cThe question isn\u2019t how to feed the nine billion, it\u2019s how to end poverty.\u201d\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 It sounds like what you guys are saying, yeah.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s exactly right.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\nMatlock:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Could I just clarify that I agree absolutely with what my colleague said, but we have to recognize in every county in the United States, we have food insecurity.\u00a0 And in our southern states, other than Arkansas, in our southern states, we have some counties where we have 30% of the households who are food insecure, based on the definition I gave, which we would apply generally to a developing country.\u00a0 That\u2019s in the United States.\nCook:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Quite so.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s incredible.\u00a0 You know, I know you guys mentioned climate change in passing.\u00a0 We have a question from the Good Food Institute on Twitter.\u00a0 They said, \u201cHow do you guys think technology can be used to address the environmental problems of animal agriculture,\u201d is what they said, since that\u2019s their interest issue, but I\u2019m going to say, how about agriculture, industrial agriculture more generally?\u00a0 I mean, what sort of solutions does technology offer for things like greenhouse gas emissions, runoff, all those things?\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ll start again, if you guys let me.\u00a0 It\u2019s always dangerous to give someone a microphone in D.C.\u00a0 But I think what we\u2019ve been seeing the last several\u2014well, actually since the beginning of agriculture, is that we\u2019re always striving to improve technology, to use our resources better.\u00a0 And that continues today.\u00a0 Think about irrigation is an excellent example.\u00a0 A few decades ago, we did a lot of overhead spray irrigation, and today you see increased adoption of drip irrigation line to utilized those scarce resources better and to grow more with the resources that we have.\u00a0 And what I\u2019d mention in that space, though, is that a lot of the technologies that have come out over the past some-odd years are quite expensive.\u00a0 And it takes a certain\u2014it takes a certain level of income and revenues from a farm to be able to support the purchase of those type of technologies.\u00a0 It was mentioned in the last panel that we need to continue to increase agricultural research, and I think you see that as a need both in the small holder space in the United States and around the world.\u00a0 The different technologies don\u2019t fit every farm the same. So, continuing to address additional research in all of those spaces is helpful.\nPrecision technology is something that our members have been very excited about over the years, things like GPS tracking, which is more precise on our tractors than it is on our phone\u2014and it got me to the Post today really easy, so imagine how good that tractor is\u2014that it allows us to make sure that we\u2019re applying the right amount of product to the correct soil, to understand really all the agronomic needs of an individual plant, individual rows, rather than doing sort of this broad stroke application of resources. So that\u2019s something that we\u2019re going to try to continue to do. We need public research, we need private research in order to meet the needs all across the space.\nMatlock:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you want to see how technology has dramatically changed agriculture since 1984\u2014I\u2019m quite a bit older than that, so well into my lifetime and my professional career\u2014go to FieldtoMarket.com, the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.\u00a0 Field to Market\u2019s a multi-stakeholder collection of conservation organizations and agricultural producers and allied industries.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been analyzing these processes using life cycle assessment for the last several years.\u00a0 Look at their national report, and you\u2019ll see that in many cropping systems, we\u2019ve reduced erosion by 30 to 40%, in some case 60%, over the 40 years, 35, 40 years.\u00a0 We\u2019ve reduced greenhouse gas emissions per unit of area and per unit crop produced. \u00a0We\u2019ve gotten a lot better, largely because the things that we\u2019re trying to make better, we have to pay for. \u00a0They have value, they have economic value. What\u2019s happening now is that our agriculture community is engaging with her conservation organizations and other civil society organizations to identify what other things that are non-monetized we need to make better.\nI work with the metrics group for the U.S. roundtable for sustainable beef production, and we\u2019re looking at how beef producers can manage water quality on the lands, can manage biodiversity on the lands, can reduce soil erosion on the land, and increase efficiency in production. \u00a0So that\u2019s happening today, and it\u2019s not a federal agency leading this, it\u2019s not a federal government initiative; this is all farmer-led, producer-led, supply chain-led initiatives. \u00a0But to give a foreshadow, a shout out to the coming panel, the one that comes up after us in the next 20 minutes, it doesn\u2019t matter how efficient you are at the production in getting products to the consumers table, if they throw 40% of it away once they get it. \u00a040%. \u00a0So I don\u2019t care how technologically advanced we become, if we throw almost half of it away at the end. It\u2019s all a waste.\nCook:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No, again, I think that\u2019s right.\u00a0 You know, it is difficult to talk about climate change in some agricultural settings; just the politics have bled into it and it\u2019s become a topic that unfortunately is not seen at this stage in some circles as a scientific or environmental discussion, as a political one.\u00a0 So I hope we can continue to make progress there, and I think probably the best way to make progress might be to talk about the other benefits of the technologies we\u2019re talking about, whether it\u2019s improving yields, reducing the area that we need; whether it\u2019s food waste, which, some of it\u2019s a technological fix; some of it\u2019s a behavioral changes that we need to get used to, and if we have a tightening of the economy, that\u2019s the fastest way for people to learn how to not waste food.\u00a0 But I think from the technology standpoint, the place where I feel like we\u2019re investing poorly is in the technologies that will help some of these developing countries make a difference where they are in providing food production.\u00a0 We\u2019re just not on the same path we were some decades ago.\nThere have been criticisms of the green revolution, and I agree with some of them, but there was a much stronger presence in international agricultural research for small holder and large operations alike a couple of decades ago, and that has withered for lack of support, beyond the point where I think we have the ability we need to have to develop not necessarily, you know, very highly sophisticated and expensive technology, but some basic things like plant breeding for localized conditions and education of farmers in proper soil nutrition and so forth.\u00a0 So we\u2019ve really short-changed ourselves there; that\u2019s going to hamper us.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is sort of fascinating, and maybe it\u2019s a product of how I framed the question, but I have three agricultural people up here, and none of you mentioned biotechnology.\u00a0 I mean, is it going to be possible to address some of these environmental challenges while increasing yields without the help of genetically engineered and genetically edited crops.\u00a0 You\u2019re already shaking your head; jump in for me.\nMatlock:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We\u2019ve been biotechnologically modifying crops by selective breeding for 10,000 years.\u00a0 We are using\u2014we used pretty crude tools in the nineties; we now have very explicit tools now.\u00a0 And there\u2019s risks with every change we make, whether it\u2019s cross-breeding a plant, whether it\u2019s hybridizing a plant\u2014hybrid corn was a disruption in agricultural production in the 1920s and \u201830s.\u00a0 The notion that you couldn\u2019t save your seed corn from hybrid corn and grow them the next year because they wouldn\u2019t; they\u2019re of two hybrids, they won\u2019t produce.\u00a0 So that was an absolute abomination until the benefits of hybrid corn emerged for the producers.\u00a0 So we are facing an opportunity and a challenge with understanding and communicating the benefits and the risks and managing the benefits and risks\u2014and Dr. Merrigan addressed this in the previous panel\u2014of this new technology, CRISPR technology among others, of gene editing.\u00a0 We\u2019re not going to be able to create crop that can grow food without water.\u00a0 That\u2019s just silly.\u00a0 Or without nutrients.\u00a0 That\u2019s just silly.\u00a0 But we can do is we can increase disease resistance, we can increase drought resistance so their yield penalties are less.\u00a0 We can do things in the margin that take the edge off the risk for the producers.\nBut let\u2019s go back to this issue also of the small-scale producer in eastern Africa.\u00a0 If we can take her farm\u2014it\u2019s almost always \u201cher\u201d\u2014if we can take her two hectares of corn and we can double her yield\u2014double her yield\u2014we have made her now transition from a subsistence producer to an economic marketplace producer, which means she has extra.\u00a0 Extra so that her children can go to school.\u00a0 Extra so that she can buy equipment, irrigation equipment perhaps, or better heating, a different stove for cooking in the house.\u00a0 That\u2019s the way you move people from\u2014using land-based prosperity from poverty to prosperity\u2014from the land.\u00a0 You don\u2019t do it by vilifying the technology in the toolbox.\u00a0 The toolbox is just a toolbox.\u00a0 A hammer is an incredibly good tool or a weapon, depending on how it\u2019s used.\nCook:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I mean I think that\u2019s right.\u00a0 Just as the tools that were fashioned in the first generation of agricultural biotechnology were pretty coarse, pretty crude, so is the policy framework that we erected around it, and it still is.\u00a0 CRISPR\u2019s come along, but it\u2019s operating fundamentally in that same dilapidated, outmoded, to me underregulated policy environment.\u00a0 That, I think, has led to some unnecessary debates, problems, questions about technologies that could be resolved\u2014maybe not to everybody\u2019s satisfaction\u2014if we had, I think, the regulatory framework we need for agricultural biotechnology.\u00a0 You know, the debate of recent years has been over a very narrow question, fundamentally, of whether you should label, but to me the deeper question is, are we really being as responsible as we need to be, knowing that these technologies are coming online, and from what we look like at Environmental Working Group, we\u2019ve concluded that the regulatory system really comes up short.\u00a0 But there\u2019s not much support right now for upgrading it in a significant way.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But it\u2019s a new world, isn\u2019t it.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s a very new world.\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To that point, obviously we have a lot of members who are producing biotechnology\u2014crops from biotechnology.\u00a0 We have a lot of members who aren\u2019t producing crops from biotechnology.\u00a0 But\u2014and there\u2019s been a lot of environmental benefits that have come as a result of biotech; we\u2019re applying different, softer chemicals than we used to; we\u2019re applying lower levels of lots of them.\u00a0 And as science continually is pretty conclusive that biotechnology is\u2014crops produced with biotechnology are just as safe as those that are not produced with biotechnology, but I think we spend a lot of time in that space, and for good reason: safety\u2019s important, and I\u2019m glad we reiterate that message, but something that\u2019s really important that gets lost in that is all the opportunity to solve issues that are still out there that we haven\u2019t been able to fix with other technologies or with other practices.\nI\u2019ll give the example of papayas in Hawaii, that were almost wiped out before biotechnology allowed that to continue to grow to fight off the natural bug and pressures it was under.\u00a0 Or think about oranges in Florida that are currently under significant pressure because of citrus greening.\u00a0 We\u2019ve tried the tools that we already have.\u00a0 Certainly farmers are very aware of the tools that they have at their disposal, and they\u2019ve been trying them on their own, they\u2019ve been funding research at their universities, we\u2019ve certainly been trying.\u00a0 So why not look at this new technology as a mean to solve some of these longstanding issues that we have.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let me pivot away from the policy for a minute and ask you guys something that I think is on the minds of a lot of consumers who are concerned about these issues, and that is, \u201cHow do I need to change my diet to benefit the environment?\u00a0 If I want to support a sort of sustainable food system, agricultural model, should I be subsisting entirely on cricket flour right now, I mean, what are the sort of prospects that\u2014\u201d\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Okay\u2014[LAUGHS]\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, there are other bugs, so\u2014[LAUGHTER]\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What else do we got?\nCook:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No, no.\u00a0 [LAUGHTER]\u00a0 Well, I mean I think the advice that benefits the environment is in many ways the same advice that benefits your health.\u00a0 Eating less, eating lower on the food chain, basically\u2014more of your diet coming from plants\u2014seems to me to be eminently sensible and better for the environment.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t guarantee we\u2019ll solve environmental problems; it doesn\u2019t guarantee it will solve health problems for an individual, but most of the evidence lines up pretty well that if you do that, you\u2019re going to be a healthier person.\u00a0 I think most people, if they have the biometric profile of the average American and they have a doctor who says you\u2019re eating just the right amount of meat, they need a new doctor.\u00a0 We really do need to understand that and embrace that.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot of cultural history and behavioral momentum to continue the diets we have, and that\u2019s continuing to cause problems, but I think if we step back\u2014I know growing up I had two uncles who were cattlemen, we always had a freezer full of beef, I loved it.\u00a0 I still do.\u00a0 Yes, I eat meat.\u00a0 But I eat a lot less of it\u2014a lot less of it than I used to, and I think that kind of moderation is exactly the direction that probably we need to be headed as a society.\nMatlock:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Grow your own food.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care if you live in an apartment; put a window box in with some herbs.\u00a0 Grow your own food.\u00a0 You\u2019ll find out a couple of things: how hard it is; how frustrating it is, especially when the squirrels take those green tomatoes that you\u2019ve been watching just before they\u2019re ready to harvest; you find out just how hard those producers who give you that bounty in your grocery store that you take for granted work to put it there and recognize that the stuff in the grocery store is about 40% of what came off the field\u2014that\u2019s how much waste we have before it gets to your grocery store, especially in fresh produce.\u00a0 And so you realize just how hard it is, how valuable it is, how much time and effort it takes, and you\u2019ll be a little more forgiving of that blemish on the squash, because you\u2019ve grown it yourself, and you know that blemish doesn\u2019t mean a thing; it\u2019s still incredibly good food.\u00a0 So grow your own food.\u00a0 If you\u2019re not growing your own food, shut up.\n[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]\nNigh: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t grow my own food, but can I go?\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes.\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Because I can\u2019t grow anything.\u00a0 I\u2019ve tried.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She\u2019s an economist.\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 One\u2014something that I would mention in this space is that there\u2019s no unicorns and there\u2019s no unicorn food.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing\u2014there\u2019s no food system out there that\u2019s going to do everything for you that you want.\u00a0 I would make a list of the things that are important to you.\u00a0 I would make a list of\u2014I want this, I want it to this, I want it to that.\u00a0 Some of it might be in the environmental space, some of it might be on the animal welfare side, some of it might be more along who\u2019s growing my food.\u00a0 And make a list there, and then try to sort of source your food that meets those goals, because I think oftentimes what we have a tendency to do is to conflate issues, that because something is\u2014eggs are cage-free they\u2019re somehow healthier, or because it\u2019s organic it\u2019s somehow this or that, and I think Dr. Merrigan last panel said there\u2019s this sort of push and pull of organic has to mean small.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t, but making a list of all of those things, I think will actually help you\u2014help consumers figure out what they actually want their food to achieve.\u00a0 And then realize that\u2014I am an economist\u2014there are tradeoffs in all things, and that that unicorn food probably doesn\u2019t exist, so figuring out that you yourself have to give and take would go a long way to us all figuring out how our food systems can all interact.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But if you find a unicorn, I think cricket flour would be the way to go.\n[LAUGHTER]\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s pretty tasty too.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I think Starbucks has invented a Unicorn Frappuccino, if I\u2019m not mistaken.\u00a0 [LAUGHTER]\u00a0 So the last thing I wanted to ask you guys about, you know, we\u2019re obviously at a very, let\u2019s say interesting political moment right now, policy moment.\u00a0 And I\u2019m sort of curious, and you can diverge from the topic of food security sustainability, what have you\u2014what, from your perspective, is going to be the biggest food and agricultural storyline of the next four years?\u00a0 What\u2019s an issue that you\u2019re watching really closely.\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m going to let someone else start; I\u2019m going cleanup on this one.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ll start.\u00a0 All right.\u00a0 The biggest storyline is that governments aren\u2019t driving the changes and innovations we\u2019re seeing in agriculture.\u00a0 That civil society organizations working with producers are, the supply chains are, that retailers are, that the entire agricultural supply chain has an awareness that it\u2019s all connected and it\u2019s all changing, and that the risks are all interconnected.\u00a0 And so supply chains, branded consumer product companies recognize that that box that they sell you with their brand on it may have sourcing from 72 different countries, and they may not know what\u2019s all going into that box, but their reputation is tied to it, and so they\u2019re learning, because they\u2019ve got to manage their reputation.\u00a0 And so what that means is there\u2019s an opportunity to have a supply chain wide full scale sustainability discussion about our food and its implications on people\u2019s health when they produce it, when they process it, when they consume it.\u00a0 And on ecosystem services, ecosystem processes as well as on economic, the profitability of our farmers.\u00a0 That\u2019s all driven by an awareness of risk at the consumer packaged goods company and throughout the supply chain, not by governments.\u00a0 So the good news is, the government doesn\u2019t matter in this space.\u00a0 It will continue in spite of what happens in the government.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That is good news; thank you.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do you want to go second?\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ll go third.\u00a0 Thanks.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fair enough.\u00a0 Now there\u2019s no question\u2014and our previous panelists spoke to it too, I thought very well\u2014there\u2019s no question that the rules of the game are changing.\u00a0 I mean, policy\u2019s not made it used to be made.\u00a0 There\u2019s also no question, I think, that the private sector, for the companies that are consumer-facing, which many farmers, I think, this is one of the issues we have to work on together to fix\u2014many farmers are not consumer-facing and haven\u2019t been for generations now.\u00a0 That didn\u2019t used to be the case, but it became the case with commodity agriculture.\u00a0 That\u2019s a missed opportunity, I think, for\u2014and a great source of misunderstanding\u2014that\u2019s hard to fix as long as farmers don\u2019t have that interaction.\u00a0 Consumers don\u2019t either; I think it goes both ways.\u00a0 I do think policy\u2019s more important in some areas, though.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s\u2014I\u2019m looking at the upcoming Farm Bill debate that\u2019s already underway; I\u2019m very worried about the overall dimensions of our budget situation, some of the proposals that are out there.\u00a0 I mean, some that came from the Administration were declared dead by the Administration within 48 hours.\u00a0 So I\u2019m not sure why we went through that exercise, but if you look at some of the ideas embedded in it, they\u2019re worrisome. \u00a0I think big cuts to the SNAP program is a big deal.\u00a0 I think the fact that we\u2019re a couple billion dollars short in the money that we would need to continue some very important farm bills forward, a lot of which\u2014Kathleen alluded to it, a lot of which deal with sustainable agriculture\u2014these are big issues, and we\u2019re going to have to work together to try and resolve them.\u00a0 And there have been times when we\u2019ve worked together well, if you will, the agriculture community and folks in civil society, non-profits, and there have been times when we haven\u2019t worked together so well.\u00a0 I\u2019m hoping this is going to be a time where for a variety of reasons we come together and recognize that we\u2019ve got a lot more to lose than if we work together we can turn that loss into some gain.\nNigh:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thanks.\u00a0 And I\u2019d point out that we are the middle panel of this whole dialogue, and what we heard in the first panel was very much policy-driven, and I think what we\u2019re going to hear in the third panel is very much from the business perspective, and we very much operate in the space of being\u2014my members are those who are operating businesses that are impacted both by consumer driven policy and by government policy.\u00a0 At the same time, over the last three years, net farm income has fallen by almost half.\u00a0 So there\u2019s a lot of constraints going on in our industry as far as the ability to respond to trends and to consumer demands, government demands, and then also having the end that farm agriculture can\u2019t be sustainable if farmers aren\u2019t sustainable, and part of farmers being sustainable is staying in business.\u00a0 And I think we\u2014that\u2019s always been the problem, that\u2019s always been the agricultural problem.\u00a0 We have ups and downs in our prices.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t go away, unfortunately, but moving into the next decade and beyond, it\u2019s how do we do a better job of getting closer to a solution where we\u2019re moving towards the social and the consumer changes but also making sure that farmers are also there at the table and helping to solve the problem and staying in business in the short, medium, and long term.\nDewey:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, Veronica, you got the last word there, and it was a good one.\u00a0 That\u2019s all the time we have for today, but thank you so much to all three of you for being part of this conversation.\n[APPLAUSE]\n[AUDIO BREAK]\nWyant:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, good afternoon.\u00a0 I\u2019m Sara Wyant; I\u2019m the editor and president of Agri-Pulse Communications, and I\u2019d like to thank The Washington Post \u00a0and Bayer for sponsoring this portion of the event.\u00a0 I know we\u2019ve had a lot of discussions so far about food systems and transformations, and I thought it would be really, really wonderful for you all to hear from somebody who is at the heart of any food system, and that is a farmer.\u00a0 So we have an eighth generation farmer here with us, Kyle Tom [ph] from Indiana, and he\u2019s here to share with you some of the different transformations that have occurred in his farming operation.\u00a0 But before we do that, and I know the lights might make this a little difficult, so you have to raise your hand high, but I want to build on something that Marty even mentioned, because whenever we start talking about food systems and food and farm policy, I find it quite unique to discover how many people have actually tried to grow a crop that you can eat or grow a crop that can be fed to chickens or hogs or cattle so that we can all have high-quality protein.\u00a0 So if any of you in the room have done that, would you raise your hand?\u00a0 Good mix.\u00a0 Excellent.\nWell, so you all already have a head start on this, but one of the things that I found interesting as Kyle and I were having our discussions is how much transformation has already taken place in agriculture, especially between our generations.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to be his generation, but let\u2019s face it, I\u2019ve got a couple of generations on him or so, and when I grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa, we had a lot different experience.\u00a0 My dad didn\u2019t have even a cab on his tractor or his combine, so there was a lot of sweat, there was a lot of dust.\u00a0 I have less than fond memories of some summers with my brother and two sisters with a hoe and a corn knife trying to hack weeds out of a soybean field.\u00a0 And our livestock certainly weren\u2019t in climate-controlled sorts of facilities.\u00a0 And so heaven forbid there\u2019s a day like today when it\u2019s so incredibly hot outside or a blizzard that might show up.\nAnd I travel around the country a lot, and so I\u2019m blessed to see the different advances that have been made in farming and how technology\u2014this is a friend of mine in Iowa, Mark Jackson, who\u2019s planting his soybeans into a rye [ph] cover crop.\u00a0 We\u2019re seeing a lot of different changes, and so what I\u2019d like to do is show you about the time that Kyle was starting farming, he just has an incredible photo that his folks found not too long ago\u2014just a cute little blonde there\u2014he had hair and his dad, to my folks\u2019 envy had a cab on his tractor, so you were starting out then and Kyle, just tell our group about how technology has changed in your career.\nTom:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, if you look at where we came from and where we\u2019re going to in the future, yeah, like Sara said, cabs weren\u2019t exactly prominent in the era of the forties and fifties\u2014finally got into the sixties.\u00a0 And now we have tractors that actually drive themselves; we have planters that can actually detect the soil and will put the correct seed into the soil approximately an inch and a half to two inches, just to find that right water mark and the right density of the soil.\u00a0 So when we\u2019re doing\u2014building all of our algorithms to determine the best placement of the seed and of the fertilizers, we\u2019re looking at all these different advancements, we\u2019re doing soil testing and whatnot, so we\u2019re looking at thirteen different levels and we\u2019re building our algorithms accordingly so we can inject those into the tractor software, and the tractor automatically\u2014by itself, no touching of anybody\u2014will automatically put it into the ground.\u00a0 And where we used to have to go four and a half miles an hour, we now have high-speed planters we can run ten miles an hour, and that is unheard of, and it puts in the seed exactly where it needs to be.\u00a0 It needs to be about six to eight inches from each other; that way the roots get the soil and they\u2019re not competing against each other.\u00a0 So it is spot-on, and when everybody talks about, we\u2019re doing this per acre, well, what we look at, at Tom Farms is per inch.\u00a0 So we\u2019re very technology proficient in what we\u2019re doing.\nWyant:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s just an amazing change that we\u2019ve seen in the last couple of decades.\u00a0 There\u2019s a photo that you can see of the operation, and then this is Kyle driving in his tractor part of the time, because it\u2019s so automated, but the technology is so advanced now, it\u2019s almost like you\u2019re a space-age food pilot out there.\u00a0 Tell us, how many acres can you plant of corn and soybeans in a day?\nTom:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, on average, it takes 21 days for our farming operation to plant an entire crop.\u00a0 This year, with the rain that we had, it took 37.\u00a0 But on average, we can plant anywhere from 13- to 1400 acres of corn a day, and roughly about six to seven hundred acres of soybeans.\u00a0 So we try to get things done very quick, very efficiently, so we have minimal downtime.\u00a0 But like you said, according to the weather, it doesn\u2019t always work out.\nWyant:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 And certainly this was a year for the record books in terms of strange weather, a lot of moisture that you faced there.\u00a0 Do you think people understand that farming is really a business now and just a lifestyle?\nTom:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I wish I could say it\u2019s a lifestyle, but it\u2019s not.\u00a0 It\u2019s a business right now, and what we\u2019re looking at, I\u2019m looking at my three boys that are wanting to come back to the farm, the next generation, that ninth generation to come back.\u00a0 We have to look at, we are no different than, say, The Washington Post.\u00a0 It changes constantly.\u00a0 The technology in advertising changes constantly, so why shouldn\u2019t farming and the technology in farming change as well?\nWyant:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Absolutely.\u00a0 So tell us a little bit about your application not only of seeds, nutrients, and crop protection chemicals, how that has changed.\u00a0 As you mentioned, it\u2019s not really an acre, it\u2019s such a minute amount, so I think people maybe overestimate what\u2019s happening.\nTom:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Okay, so we do put chemicals on the ground, on the plants.\u00a0 Bare crop science, they have a chemical called Stratego YLD, it\u2019s a fungicide.\u00a0 It takes two ounces per acre.\u00a0 Can you imagine that?\u00a0 Think of your 16-ounce drink.\u00a0 Imagine spreading that over an acre, how minimal that is.\u00a0 So we as farmers are not dousing chemicals\u2014dousing these plants in chemicals.\u00a0 We are\u2014we do farm GMOs at Tom Farms, but there are so many different farmers out there that are non-GMO that are all organic; we need them as well to help grow and feed this growing world.\nWyant:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And you also shared with us some photos of different varieties of corn that you have raised, both those that are non-GMO versus GMO; tell us a little bit about why you see advantages in genetic modification, that, as Marty pointed out, has been going on for years with less technology.\nTom:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 So if you look back into the fifties and sixties, if you said you had 70-bushel yield, that was almost unheard-of.\u00a0 Now we\u2019re pushing the envelope, due to GMOs, we\u2019re pushing three- to three hundred and fifty bushels per acre for the yield, and that\u2019s what we get paid on, is per yield.\u00a0 And so we want the biggest ear of corn, and on 40,000 population plants per acre, so because that\u2019s what we get paid on, we are looking for the biggest ear.\u00a0 And so if you farm a non-GMO product or an organic product, most likely the ear\u2019s not going to be near as large, and so there is a market out there for it, but where we\u2019re at in Indiana, there\u2019s no market.\nWyant:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, certainly there\u2019s tradeoffs.\u00a0 I think some of the previous speakers mentioned that, between price and yield and what you can get from unique crops versus others, but it does come down to be economically sustainable in order to be sustainable in a lot of other ways.\u00a0 Tell us a little bit about how federal regulations have impacted your ability to not only access these new technologies, but to move ahead with advancements on your operation.\nTom:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [SIGHS] Okay.\u00a0 So if you look at Bayer, they invest a little bit, a little bit less than two billion dollars per year on R&D.\u00a0 Monsanto does right at two billion dollars.\u00a0 If you take all of the R&D in the agriculture business in the agriculture sector, that\u2019s still less than Samsung does globally.\u00a0 And so it takes ten years from thought to conception to birth\u2014ten years for that product to come out, if it gets approved worldwide.\u00a0 There\u2019s 500 different regulatory agencies that have to approve of a single gene to be signed off, and for us as farmers to use it so we can then feed, clothe, and fuel the world.\nWyant: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And that\u2019s an immense [ph]\u2014because it\u2019s not just the United States you need regulatory approval, right?\u00a0 All these other countries around the globe, and as we\u2019ve found, they don\u2019t always do it at the same time.\nTom:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Correct.\nWyant:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So I think it\u2019s been interesting to see just the changes that you\u2019ve made and for everybody to appreciate that we should be thanking not only those of you who are growing your own food but thanking farmers like Kyle every day and appreciating the fact that there have been great transformations in U.S. and global agriculture, so thank you Kyle for your time, and it\u2019s our time now to turn it back over to The Washington Post for the next panel discussion.\u00a0 Thank you.\n[APPLAUSE]\n[AUDIO BREAK]\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So welcome.\u00a0 Wow, that\u2019s loud.\u00a0 I am Tim Carman.\u00a0 I\u2019m a food writer with The Washington Post, and I\u2019m honored to moderate this panel.\u00a0 We have a very distinguished panel.\u00a0 On my far left it\u2019s Spike Mendelsohn.\u00a0 He\u2019s a chef, restaurateur, author.\u00a0 He is also chair of the D.C. Food Policy Council, an organization that works with regulatory and private organizations involved in the local food economy.\u00a0 Next to Spike is Evan Lutz, the CEO and cofounder of Hungry Harvest and also the other one to wear a jacket today.\u00a0 [LAUGHTER]\u00a0 Hungry Harvest is a fresh produce delivery service committed to tackling food waste and hunger.\u00a0 And to my immediate left is Seth Goldman.\u00a0 He is the cofounder and current\u2014let me, if I get this correct\u2014TEO [ph] emeritus of Honest Tea.\u00a0 Groan.\u00a0 [LAUGHTER]\u00a0 He also serves as the executive chairman of Beyond Meat\u2014we\u2019ll talk about that later\u2014a company committed to replacing animal protein with plant protein.\nSo our subject, as you know, is the future of food, and, Seth, let\u2019s turn straight to you.\u00a0 You are dealing with it with your new company, Beyond Meat, which we\u2019ve written about.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve tasted Beyond Meat.\u00a0 It\u2019s amazing.\u00a0 I mean, it is a plant-based product that mimics a hamburger, and it has juices, and it tastes beefy.\u00a0 It has a texture, like if\u2014most vegetarian burgers, they don\u2019t have the texture.\u00a0 And you managed to create this.\u00a0 Tell us a little bit about the product.\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 So, yeah, I\u2019ve been a vegetarian for 13 years.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve always felt like the veggie burger was the consolation prize, kind of the\u2014in fact, if you had wanted to come up with a strategy to discourage people from being vegetarian, the veggie burger would be a great strategy, because it\u2019s consistently dissatisfying.\u00a0 [LAUGHTER] And so at Beyond Meat we started, we did an MRI of a hamburger and said, \u201cLet\u2019s understand the structure at a deeper level,\u201d rather than just put a bunch of plants together.\u00a0 And, \u201cHow are the fats connected to the proteins?\u00a0 And how are they interlaced in a way that preserves the moisture of it?\u201d\u00a0 So it\u2019s really very science-driven.\u00a0 But then we use all the components that are from the plant kingdom.\nSo, you know, meat is basically an assembly of fats, proteins, water, and some minerals.\u00a0 All of those exist in the plant kingdom.\u00a0 And through lots of trial and error and science, we managed to put them together in a way that still meets Whole Foods [ph] standards around natural ingredients.\u00a0 And it\u2019s the first product that is able to be merchandized in the meat section at Whole Foods.\u00a0 And that\u2019s really the change.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 So if you want to sell to vegetarians, the 5% of the population that are the committed folks, you sell in the freezer.\u00a0 If you want to reach everybody else, you sell in the meat section.\u00a0 And if the product warrants that then it\u2019s a great opportunity to change the diet, to expose more people to plant protein, and to be part of the spectrum of choice when people are thinking about a cookout.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, and let me remind\u2014I know we\u2019ve got a short amount of time, but if you do have questions, please send them to the hashtag #PostLive and we\u2019ll try to get to them.\u00a0 I wanted to follow up, because I think it\u2019s interesting and I think the whole conference this afternoon has given you people plenty of reasons not to eat red meat given the damage to the environment and to health to a certain degree.\u00a0 But does it take a processed vegetable product to get people to eat our vegetables?\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 Well, it was funny.\u00a0 So when I told my cofounder from Honest Tea, Barry Nalebuff, I told him I was going to get more involved with Honest Tea, he said, \u201cWell, wouldn\u2019t it be better if people just ate lentil salads and sort of made their own food?\u201d\u00a0 And I said, \u201cWell, Barry, yes.\u00a0 And of course it would be ideal if everyone could brew their own tea at home and bring it around in thermoses, but we\u2019ve made a pretty viable business around brewing tea, organic tea, for them.\u201d\u00a0 And so you have to\u2014when we\u2019re talking about changing the diet, you\u2019ve got to meet people where they are.\u00a0 And so people right now are\u2014the burger is the single biggest protein occasion there is for people, American consumers.\u00a0 So let\u2019s meet that occasion, and let\u2019s perfectly replicate it so that there isn\u2019t a\u2014\nThe more you ask people to change their behavior, the harder you are going to have being able to access them.\u00a0 So let\u2019s make it as accessible as we can.\u00a0 And, yes, there is a process to it.\u00a0 But, frankly, hamburger meat goes through a process as well.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 The cow has two different acid tanks.\u00a0 It\u2019s got a lot of other compounds and chemicals that go into it.\u00a0 So it\u2019s a question of which process you are willing to go with.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You know, I guess I would wonder what\u2019s the energy amount necessary to make like a pound of Beyond Meat versus\u2014\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So we are in the process of looking at that in a really systematic way.\u00a0 But just think about it this way.\u00a0 What it takes to feed\u2014to create a pound of beef is 14 months\u2019 worth of grains and water to feed a cow.\u00a0 And of the cow, maybe 40% of it is usable and convertible into that final product, so there\u2019s a lot of waste.\u00a0 With our plants, we\u2019re using probably less than what a cow eats in a week or maybe even in a day and converting that into protein, so a dramatically different environmental footprint.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, speaking of waste, that leads into actually both Evan and Spike are dealing with food waste.\u00a0 But, Evan, let\u2019s start with you.\u00a0 You\u2019ve started a company dedicated to it.\u00a0 And I understand this grew out of sort of a college experience for you.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It did.\u00a0 Yeah, so I went to the University of Maryland.\u00a0 Both of my parents went to Maryland, my aunts, my uncles; even my grandma went to Maryland, so it runs really deep in my family.\u00a0 And when I was there I started working for this organization called Food Recovery Network.\u00a0 And basically they take leftover dining hall food that would normally get thrown away at the end of the day, use student volunteers to drive down to a partner agency such as a food bank or another nonprofit.\nWe got approached by a supplier of surplus fruits and vegetables, which I had no idea that they were really going to waste at the time.\u00a0 I was a senior in college.\u00a0 This was October 2013.\u00a0 They had the supply of excess products from farms, and they wanted us to sell them to college students.\u00a0 I said, \u201cSure.\u00a0 Why not?\u201d\u00a0 I did it for an internship for Food Recovery Network.\u00a0 I also used it as a class project.\u00a0 It was this little farm stand I set up in the basement of my dorm and sold five pounds of product for five bucks.\u00a0 All of it otherwise would have gone to waste.\nThe first week I started, we had 10 students come up and buy from us.\u00a0 And the next week it was 20.\u00a0 The next week it was 30, and then it was 40.\u00a0 The weather got nice; we moved outside to stamp [ph].\u00a0 Then it was 50, 100, 300, 500, so it was really becoming a viable business.\u00a0 This was May 2014.\u00a0 My entire life all I\u2019ve ever wanted to do was start a social business and a business that not only made money but also gave back to the community in some way.\u00a0 So May 2014 I turned that model of that little farm stand that we started just basically in my dorm into Hungry Harvest.\u00a0 And today we deliver all over the Mid-Atlantic surplus or ugly or recovered produce that would otherwise be thrown away because of its odd size or shape or because of logistical inefficiencies.\nI can go on and on about why produce goes to waste.\u00a0 The reasons are absolutely ludicrous.\u00a0 So, for example, blueberries that a grocery store orders in six-ounce cases actually arrive in 4.4-ounce cases, and they\u2019ll kick [ph] the entire load.\u00a0 And then all of a sudden whoever contracted the freight has to get rid of that produce somewhere.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 Oftentimes it\u2019ll either wind up in the landfill or be sold as animal feed.\u00a0 It\u2019s just not a proper use of produce when it was just a 1.6-ounce difference in the case.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a really proper reason for food to go to waste.\nOther reasons are kale stems.\u00a0 We have a farmer down in Florida who the first crop of kale that he grows every single year actually the stems are way too soft to sell.\u00a0 And so normally he would just leave them in the field or actually, even worse, just leave them on the side of a road somewhere.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 But we were able to procure them and actually rescue them from going to waste.\nSo there are ridiculous reasons why produce goes to waste, and it\u2019s not because it\u2019s bad or moldy or rotten.\u00a0 It gets that way because nobody eats it.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 And so we\u2019re working towards the way-back end of the value chain right where it\u2019s grown and right in the wholesalers where we can cover [ph] it, sell it to our customers, and also subsidize and donate produce for those in need.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So your model is to take this produce, or \u201cseconds\u201d [ph] as it\u2019s often called in the business, and try to sell them at a discounted price to consumers who typically don\u2019t buy this because it\u2019s not pretty enough.\u00a0 How do you convince them?\u00a0 Because I\u2019m that way too.\u00a0 It\u2019s like, you know, if I see an apple that has a clear hole in it that looked like maybe there was some sort of animal living in it, I\u2019m not going to buy it.\u00a0 How do you convince people to think, \u201cOkay, I\u2019m going to give you my money for something that I wouldn\u2019t go buy at the local store\u201d?\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 So a couple of things.\u00a0 One, if you compare our box of produce to something you\u2019d randomly pick out at a farmers market or a grocery store, you wouldn\u2019t be able to tell the difference.\u00a0 I mean, we sold apples a couple of weeks ago that had very, very small brown dots.\u00a0 I forgot what the term was, but small brown dots.\u00a0 And to the naked eye, to the untrained eye, you wouldn\u2019t even know they would go to waste.\u00a0 Right?\nThe second thing is if you walk down a grocery store aisle, you see everything that\u2019s the same size, the same shape, the same color.\u00a0 And you might wonder how did they get everything to grow the same exact way.\u00a0 Well, the fact is it doesn\u2019t.\u00a0 There is weather; there\u2019s different natural forces that make things grow different ways.\u00a0 And so if you\u2019ve ever been to a farm, you realize that things are all different shapes and sizes.\u00a0 And I don\u2019t think we should discriminate produce based on how it looks.\u00a0 I think that we should discriminate on how it tastes.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not just produce.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 And not just produce.\u00a0 Yeah, exactly.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So bite into the worm.\n[LAUGHTER]\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And how is that argument working?\u00a0 Do people buy it?\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 People love it.\u00a0 You know, my true mission in life is to democratize healthy food.\u00a0 That means, democratize, is make accessible to everybody.\u00a0 So I want to make sure that everybody can have access, everybody\u2014you know, eating healthy should be a right in this country, not a privilege.\u00a0 And in a county where we\u2019re wasting six billion pounds of produce every single year, you\u2019ve got to be kidding me that you might walk\u2014you know, where in The Washington Post building today.\u00a0 If you walk three miles that way into Anacostia, you\u2019ll see kids that have never even tasted a strawberry.\u00a0 And that\u2019s a travesty to me.\u00a0 I think that\u2019s a travesty.\u00a0 And I\u2019ve devoted my life to making sure that we can try and solve this problem through supply and demand, through entrepreneurship.\u00a0 And I want to see other companies that are starting\u2014and we are seeing other companies that are starting to jump on this ugly-produce trend and starting to sell in their grocery stores and starting to sell to consumers, which I think is a great thing that people are finally waking up and realizing that produce, it shouldn\u2019t go to waste for these reasons I just listed.\u00a0 And I can go on and on about other reasons why it would go to waste.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I know, Spike, you\u2019re also involved with an app, I believe, that is dealing with food waste.\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, so recently, last year I got involved with Food Rescue, which I\u2019d like to describe them as the Uber of food waste.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot of ownership to take as small business owners, whether in your restaurants where a lot of food may go to waste if there is some leftover food or the night is over and you don\u2019t know what to do with it.\u00a0 There\u2019s a place for that food.\u00a0 And I think a lot of small business owners were scared of the liabilities of donating food to people that need it.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 But I think the interesting part is in, I think, 1995 we passed the Bill Emerson Act, which actually kind of states you\u2019re not liable if you\u2019re gracious enough to donate your food to somebody else.\u00a0 So I think that\u2019s a piece of legislation we need to revive a little bit and make a little bit more, maybe even adjust, amend, you know, to make it a little bit better.\nBut Food Recue app works really easy.\u00a0 Basically it\u2019s volunteer based, which I really enjoy.\u00a0 Anybody in this room today can actually sign up, get on the app, and go do a food rescue.\u00a0 And they make it very easy.\u00a0 You know, if you have 20 minutes to spare or an hour to spare, you log onto this app, you look where there\u2019s a food rescue available.\u00a0 It\u2019s usually at a small business.\u00a0 We, the Pizza partake.\u00a0 So all of our leftover pizza we donate at the end of the day.\u00a0 Some volunteer comes and picks it up and takes it directly to somewhere where it\u2019s in need where people eat it.\nI participate as well.\u00a0 My restaurants participate in the Food Rescue app, but I as well do runs myself.\u00a0 You know, I find myself many times in the city where it\u2019s five o\u2019clock and I don\u2019t want to drive back home because of all the traffic.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got maybe 20 or half an hour to spare.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just log onto the app and look for food rescue.\u00a0 And it\u2019s amazing, the people on the receiving end, their smiles when you\u2019re walking into the door with warm food that\u2019s packaged well.\u00a0 And these guys are getting a really, really good meal, and it\u2019s getting donated where otherwise it would have probably went to waste in some shape or another.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So, I\u2019m just curious.\u00a0 How does food rescue subsidize its services?\u00a0 Where does it get its money from?\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Well, that is probably not a question for me to answer, because I\u2019m solely an advisor of the Food Rescue and a participator.\u00a0 So, you know, I would probably ask them.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To find out?\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No, that\u2019s my job.\u00a0 So I have a question from Twitter.\u00a0 It says, \u201cCan waste if unfit for human consumption be a valuable asset for feeding livestock?\u201d\u00a0 This may be also above our pay grade.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, actually a little bit of a\u2014\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I don\u2019t know about yours\u2013.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, no, I mean, we don\u2019t deal with really livestock feed.\u00a0 What I\u2019m going to say is our mission shouldn\u2019t be on\u2014we shouldn\u2019t be focused on reducing food waste and feeding it to livestock.\u00a0 We shouldn\u2019t [ph] look further up the value chain and say, \u201cHow can we reduce it from going to waste in the first place?\u201d\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 So it doesn\u2019t become livestock feed.\u00a0 That\u2019s where our focus should be.\u00a0 In the unfortunate situation that it does have to go into compost or livestock feed, I think that\u2019s a perfectly appropriate thing for it to do if it is moldy or bad or unfit for human consumption.\u00a0 But our focus shouldn\u2019t be on what to do when it gets moldy, it should be on how to prevent it from getting moldy.\u00a0 Right?\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 I mean, I always say the cure to food waste is going to be the sum of a lot of small, gracious acts and small ideas that end up really being big and making a big impact.\u00a0 So for instance, like, I always challenge to people to go in their refrigerator at the end of the week and just challenge yourself to come out with\u2014instead of ordering on an app or UberEATS or getting something delivered or going out, just challenge yourself to as a competition with family or friends, what you can create out of the fridge to make those ingredients go a long way.\u00a0 Because we all know, like, you pull out the drawers, you\u2019ll get some kale that\u2019s looking a little wilted, or you\u2019ll get some carrots that are starting to sour or something like that.\u00a0 But we\u2019ve got to prevent that, so making more use and being creative out of your refrigerator, I think, is a really great place that every single one of you can start.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yep.\u00a0 I like to call it the produce coffin, you know, that drawer you open up and after a couple of weeks everything is moldy inside.\u00a0 Not everything is supposed to be stored in there.\u00a0 Right?\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Right, yeah.\n[LAUGHTER]\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There\u2019s lettuce, for example, everybody puts in the fridge, but actually if you put it in a vase like flowers it will actually stay a lot fresher for a couple of weeks even.\u00a0 And don\u2019t even refrigerator it.\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 And I think that\u2019s another part, like, the education process of what good food is and spoilage, and really having a little bit more of an idea of what all that is, is important as well.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, and Spike let me ask you, because we were talking yesterday about another initiative that you have been dealing with.\u00a0 It was like trying to get younger people involved with farming.\u00a0 And I was looking at some numbers today, and it\u2019s really astounding.\u00a0 The age, the average age of an American farmer, it\u2019s like\u2014the average age is 58 years old.\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s a dying breed right now, and that\u2019s something that we have to fix.\u00a0 We have this bigger agro-farming happening.\u00a0 And what happened is it uninspired a lot of young farmers that came from farming families.\u00a0 And, you know, you grew up learning how to farm, and you look at your future and there\u2019s no farming to do.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 So what do you do?\u00a0 You move to a little bit more urban areas, you take a job that maybe wasn\u2019t really on your path or what you wanted to do, but there\u2019s a lot of talented people in these urban areas.\nSo what I was saying with you is, I feel since we\u2019re growing more urban farms, and there\u2019s greenhouses and there\u2019s more plots of land to use, and we\u2019re really trying to take advantage of all these spaces in the city, I think we need to revive young farmers.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 There is so much great technology coming out on how to grow produce at a rate 1,000 times faster, more nutritional, and I think we really need to get some grants going and inspire some young farmers, because I think that\u2019s, at the end of the day, is going to be our future.\u00a0 The world has a funny way of just going in circles, and I think we\u2019re really going to go back to farming.\u00a0 And whether it\u2019s in rural areas or urban areas, I think it\u2019s going to be something that\u2019s very important.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If I can just make a comment here.\u00a0 Farmers are often seen as narrow-minded and just simple people.\u00a0 They\u2019re actually business owners, they\u2019re scientists, they\u2019re meteorologists.\u00a0 They have to pay attention to the weather; they pay attention to the landscape and figure out how to sell it.\u00a0 You know, it\u2019s not a simple profession.\u00a0 It\u2019s very, very complicated.\u00a0 And once young people realize that, there\u2019s a huge opportunity actually in farming that how interesting it is, there\u2019s science, there\u2019s math, there\u2019s business principles that are involved with farming, instead of just this like, \u201cOh, we\u2019re going to grow some crops.\u201d\u00a0 I think once people realize that then a lot more young people will start to go into farming.\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 I love that you brought that up.\u00a0 I mean, some of the most educated people that I\u2019 have ever dealt with or had the liberty of having conversations with have been farmers that are like covered in shit and wearing boot [LAUGHTER] and like doing all of this stuff.\u00a0 And you go out there and you meet them and you talk to them, and you\u2019re like, \u201cOh, my God.\u00a0 Like, we\u2019ve got to tell these stories.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got to let people know what\u2019s going on.\u201d\u00a0 People don\u2019t see this, and they need to.\u00a0 So I love that you brought that up.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I mean, I\u2019m wondering.\u00a0 So 6% of farmers today are under 35 years old.\u00a0 That does not seem like we\u2019ve got a future generation of farmers lined up.\u00a0 How do you even get them interested in it?\u00a0 And does there have to be a public investment in this to convert old structures into vertical farms?\u00a0 Or, I mean, what is it going to take to get people to get back into farming?\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I mean, one of the things that I\u2019m enjoying right now with the Food Policy Council here in D.C., which is awesome\u2014and for those who don\u2019t know, it\u2019s a piece of legislation that it\u2019s for the bettering of food policy on a local [ph].\u00a0 And what we do is we find little pieces of legislations or amendments that we need to make, to make better food policy.\u00a0 And one of these things are finding plots of land and making them available to grow stuff or passing a legislation that allows farms on rooftops or chicken coups here in D.C., which we\u2019re still not allowed to have.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 We want eggs; we want fresh eggs in our backyard.\u00a0 So I think that\u2019s an interesting part where we can start, is with small pieces of legislations with food policy councils and pushing those forward.\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I would say also you want to create demand for value-added crops.\u00a0 I mean, probably what you described is an industrialization of agriculture that\u2019s not very attractive.\u00a0 But, you know, at Beyond Meat one of our main feedstocks is the Canadian yellow pea.\u00a0 It\u2019s a value-added crop, and we can help create\u2014you know, if we can get consumers to demand that, then we\u2019ll be able to have farmers take an interest in it.\u00a0 And, you know, I don\u2019t think any farmer\u2014nobody wants to be just a cog in a machine.\u00a0 So if you can gain a premium for a crop, that becomes more interesting.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do you want to give a quick description of what a value-added product is?\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So a value-added as opposed to a commodity.\u00a0 A commodity means there is no price competitive [ph], or basically you\u2019re buying whatever is at market.\u00a0 A value-added crop means that you can\u2014for example, at Honest Tea we buy organic and fair trade so that the farmers we buy from don\u2019t have\u2014you know, aren\u2019t basically selling at the very low, kind of lowest price in the market.\u00a0 And when you can buy that, when you can create a product that warrants a value-added crop, you allow your suppliers then to be able to rise above subsistence farming.\u00a0 And even in the United States we can think about industrial agriculture as closer to subsistence farming just because it\u2019s harder to make a real living out of it.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I also think it comes down to storytelling. \u00a0So back in the late \u201990s and early 2000s [ph], I mean, nobody was really starting businesses.\u00a0 You know, entrepreneurship has really taken hold in the past 10 years, where everybody wants to start a new business.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 And I think the reason for that is people heard about Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook and realized, \u201cOh, my God.\u00a0 I could start a business just online in my dorm and make a billion dollars.\u201d\u00a0 But I think there are farming examples where people can make a really good living and people can really start an amazing farm and find a lot of fulfillment.\u00a0 So if we tell those stories, then we can make farming cool again.\u00a0 Yeah.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Farming cool again.\u00a0 Make farming cool again.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If there\u2019s one line to take away from today\u2019s session, make farming cool again.\u00a0 [LAUGHS]\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So we have a question from Twitter.\u00a0 It\u2019s for Seth, and it says, \u201cHonest Tea was a big leader and one of the first mainstream organic brands.\u00a0 Tell us a bit about changing and overcoming consumer behavior.\u00a0 And what lessons do you think the other two panelists could benefit from?\u201d\n[LAUGHTER]\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Damn.\u00a0 Woo.\u00a0 Well, I\u2019m in the burger business.\u00a0 So I don\u2019t know if Seth is going to have anything really great for me.\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m going to sell you some burgers.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 Right.\n[LAUGHTER]\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, you know, Honest Tea started in the smallest possible means by which it started, you know, at my house with five thermoses and an empty Snapple bottle that we pasted a label on.\u00a0 So we managed to sell it into Whole Foods, but, you know, those\u2014and that was 19 years ago, back when nobody was thinking about drinks with one or two teaspoons of sugar per bottle.\u00a0 And so it was tough.\u00a0 It was a little\u2014we did well in Whole Foods.\u00a0 We\u2019re still thankful to Whole Foods for giving us that opportunity.\u00a0 But to be able to get into more mainstream channels it was just a lot of lean years, a lot of tough, tough moments of trying to basically beg distributors to carry the product.\u00a0 My cofounder, Barry, did get down on knees.\u00a0 [LAUGHTER]\u00a0 And then, you know, just sort of finding the right way.\u00a0 And obviously consumers evolved as well.\u00a0 And I\u2019d like to think that we also developed a package and a brand and a way of doing business that made people open to trying it.\u00a0 And so I always think making what you\u2019re selling as accessible\u2014and obviously these two don\u2019t need lectures on marketing, but making your product accessible and transparent are principles that I think we\u2019ve all embraced.\nOf course, Honest Tea now has grown, and we got acquired by Coca-Cola in 2011.\u00a0 And we share that goal of trying to democratize organic and healthy products.\u00a0 And for me it\u2019s been really exciting to see a product like Honest Kids, which is our kids drink, now carried in places like Subway and Wendy\u2019s and Chick-fil-A.\u00a0 And, you know, those aren\u2019t channels where people go to buy organic food, and so to be often an introductory product.\u00a0 And so we talk about this context of how to change people\u2019s diets.\u00a0 I think it starts with a small effort in a niche, and then it sort of expands as you are able to get some traction in one particular channel.\u00a0 And then you just keep doubling down [ph].\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do you feel like brands like\u2014and I\u2019m sorry I\u2019m taking one of you guys\u2019 questions here.\u00a0 Do you feel like brands like Subway, when you finally get an organic product in that store, do you feel like you have somewhat of an impact in their future?\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, because not just Subway but so many restaurants and retailers and big companies are\u2014yeah, things are changing.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 You know, I think the head of Campbell\u2019s talked about it as like the row [ph], you know, that there\u2019s an earthquake going on.\u00a0 And so when they\u2019re not growing, they\u2019ve got to find other ways, other opportunities.\u00a0 And so to find something like an organic drink or a low-calorie drink or a fair-trade drink that attracts new customers and helps create a halo effect for the rest of what they\u2019re offering absolutely does help.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So I\u2019m wondering.\u00a0 You know, getting back to the food waste question.\u00a0 Like, I think I\u2019d read, Evan, that your first year you had rescued about 300,000 pounds of food.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mm-hmm.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Which seems like a lot, until you see the total number, which you mentioned earlier.\u00a0 It\u2019s what, six billion a year?\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Six billion.\u00a0 To visualize that, that\u2019s enough to fill up an NFL-size stadium to the brim, so from the field to the brim, four times.\u00a0 That\u2019s a lot of produce going to waste every year.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So are we even making a dent in this yet?\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I think the momentum is getting there.\u00a0 I think if we keep on this path of showing that there is a business opportunity for large companies and entrepreneurs alike to get into the movement of fighting food waste through business, then teaching consumers to stop wasting food in their home, I think we will make a dent.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think the numbers have really changed much from 2010 to 2015, but I think by 2030, say, the numbers are going to be a lot less then.\u00a0 You know, we just surpassed\u2014in total we\u2019ve reduced, this week actually, three million pounds of produce from going to waste, which is great, but that compares\u2014that\u2019s a tiny, tiny little portion of the six billion.\nAn interesting statistic is we waste $165 billion.\u00a0 We spend $165 billion on food we throw away every single year.\u00a0 So that means that every single American man, woman, and child spends $1.50 per day on food that we\u2019re throwing away.\u00a0 And once we get that in our heads about how much food that\u2019s affecting our wallets, then we can really start to see, like, \u201cMan, we should really take something home from the restaurant,\u201d or we should really start cooking with all the food scraps, or we should make a broth out of all of our vegetable scraps.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 Once we get consumers to start thinking that and really start to help business and show businesses that there is an economic opportunity here, I think the momentum is there.\nGoldman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But what\u2019s key is there\u2019s no big way this is going to change.\u00a0 I mean, it\u2019s every small interaction.\u00a0 And so what\u2019s so amazing about food is all of us, everyone in this room, has at least three opportunities a day to make a change.\u00a0 And when you accumulate that, when you have entrepreneurs who can commercialize it, then it leads to real change.\u00a0 So I think the flaw with the question is to ask is there something bigger that\u2019s now going to happen [ph].\u00a0 Whatever we\u2019re waiting for, it\u2019s not going to happen.\u00a0 It\u2019s only going to be when everybody makes those individual choices.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, it\u2019s such a big number.\u00a0 I wonder how the math works out.\u00a0 Like, if 40% of our food that we produce goes to waste, is there enough consumers like us to buy this, or do we have to kind of go to your version of it where you\u2019re giving it to people who don\u2019t have food?\u00a0 Does there have to be more of that model?\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I mean, what we have all kind of said, I think there is going to be hundreds of models to kind of cure food waste.\u00a0 And I feel like we\u2019re just scratching the surface of it.\u00a0 And I feel the more we invest in science like technology and apply that to food waste, I bet you 10 years from now people are going to be paying you for your food waste.\u00a0 They\u2019ll actually be giving you money to collect your food waste for you because it\u2019s so profitable in some shape or form, with how waste has happened in many different forms right now.\u00a0 Even like the oils now.\u00a0 Like or oil, frying oil, gets picked up.\u00a0 You know, people pay us for our oil.\u00a0 So I think you\u2019ll see many different\u2014I mean, I\u2019m no scientist, but I bet that those are going to come out.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And I think that\u2019s the beauty of\u2014capitalism is a beautiful thing and it\u2019s a terrible thing.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 But the beautiful thing is that if you prove there is an economic opportunity for almost anything, including solving a societal issue such as food waste, then I think the problem will be solved eventually by both consumers who will demand it and businesses who will see that opportunity.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mm-hmm.\u00a0 Well, we have a question for Twitter, wondering how do we get people who are food insecure involved in some of these conversations about food waste or protein alternatives.\u00a0 You know, I think there is a whole audience out there that maybe could benefit from the food waste, could be educated.\u00a0 Like, how do you get them involved in these conversations?\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Well, for my peers, which are the foodies of the world and the chefs, and, you know, food policy action that was started from Ken Cook and Tom Colicchio, for instance, they onboarded hundreds of chefs and made them advocates.\u00a0 And whether it was sustainable seafood or food waste or what have you, I think that was really important.\u00a0 And the other part of it, I think, is really keeping our legislators honest and transparent.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 You know, votes in Congress actually really, really do count.\u00a0 And the more lobbying we can do on lobby days for good food policy I think goes a long way.\u00a0 So onboarding people like that.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, it\u2019s been interesting because I know D.C. has tried to deal with food insecurity and tried to attract business.\u00a0 And, as Evan said, it\u2019s a business and it\u2019s capitalism, and people have to make money.\u00a0 And I think we saw a major defeat in Southeast where Walmart said they were going to come in, and they didn\u2019t.\u00a0 And there was some decision there that they made that it wasn\u2019t going to be economically beneficial to them.\u00a0 How do you begin to change that, the economics, so that people can make a profit?\nMendelsohn:\u00a0\u00a0 Well, I think creating some more incentives for those big businesses.\u00a0 Mayor Gray [ph] just put in three pieces of legislation, some that ties into the hospital and the funding for the hospital, equal funding for better food in Southwest [ph].\u00a0 So, you know, I think small pieces of legislation can fix that as well.\nLutz:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And I think\u2014and if you\u2019re getting a trend here, that I believe that there is a business opportunity in almost everything.\u00a0 I\u2019m not a greedy capitalist, but I think it\u2019s conscious capitalism.\u00a0 Right?\u00a0 So if we stop looking at hunger as a charity problem and we start looking at it as a business problem.\u00a0 How can we solve this through supply and demand?\u00a0 How can we introduce a product into food deserts that people will actually want, people will demand, people will have access to, so people can access healthy produce, purchase it, and get educated by it?\u00a0 And that\u2019s one of the things we\u2019re doing with produce in the SNAP [ph].\nWe just started this program about seven months ago where we\u2019re actually partnering with schools, public schools in Baltimore City that are located in food deserts and setting up the same farm stands that I started at the University of Maryland and selling our produce instead of for $15 it\u2019s selling for seven and also accepting food stamps at point of sale.\u00a0 Which is a whole different topic that we can get into, accepting food stamps online, but I don\u2019t think we have time today.\u00a0 But, like I said, I think if businesses see the opportunity as not like\u2014people see the opportunity not as a charity problem but that it\u2019s a business problem and we need to solve this through supply and demand, I think the answer is pretty straightforward.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And you are correct; we are out of time.\u00a0 I see the flashing red light.\u00a0 Well, thank you all for your conversation here.\nM:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you very much.\nCarman:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s all the time we have.\u00a0 And I\u2019d like to thank you for joining us as well as those in the audience and watching online, wherever that camera is at.\u00a0 And if you want to see a video of today\u2019s conversation or more upcoming programs, visit WashingtonPostLive.com.\u00a0 And thank you again for your participation.\n[APPLAUSE]\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "648fdbe8-a495-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_5", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "648fdbe8-a495-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_5", "title": "Vegetarian or omnivore: The environmental implications of diet", "text": "most efficient niche producers were pretty comparable to the average conventional producers.\u201d There\u2019s less research on poultry, but what has been done indicates that chickens raised in confinement also use fewer resources. Confinement equals efficiency, but confinement also equals, well, confinement. Although no farmers I\u2019ve ever spoken with believe their animals are unhappy, many welfare-minded meat consumers (including me) prefer to support a system in which animals have elbow room and outdoor access; where cages aren\u2019t used, tails aren\u2019t docked and antibiotics aren\u2019t routinely administered. There are other arguments, on both sides \u2014 so many that it\u2019s easy to pick the ones that make the case for whichever kind of agriculture you\u2019re inclined to support. Grass-fed cows don\u2019t compete for plants humans can eat, and animals grazing on non-irrigated pasture don\u2019t compete for water that could be used to grow food (true!), but grass digestion creates more methane than grain digestion (also true!). Grazing cattle on grasslands can sequester carbon in the soil, but improperly managed grazing can make things worse rather than better. Pollution from manure reservoirs on conventional farms can threaten water and crops, but manure in reservoirs, from animals in confinement, can be converted to energy by methane digesters. Then there\u2019s the price of meat, inevitably higher in less efficient systems. The meat-vs.-other-meat debate is irrelevant to the committed vegetarian, but there are issues other than greenhouse gases in the meat-vs.-plant debate, too. The case for meat includes the ability of an animal to contribute constructively on an integrated farm (chickens help with pest control), the potential for turning food waste (spent grain, whey, expired dairy) into high-quality protein, and the ability to use grasslands, inappropriate for row crops, to produce human food (with grazing cows or goats). The case for plants has to include their nutritional value. Carbon aside, broccoli beats pork, hands down. And it has to consider killing, which many plant eaters find unacceptable. While the moral implications are beyond the brief of a column devoted to matters of fact, we all have to acknowledge that agriculture is an animal-killing enterprise. Does the rat, poisoned because it\u2019s a threat to the grain stores, count for less than the pig, raised and slaughtered with care? But let\u2019s go back to where we began, with greenhouse gases. Even if climate impact is your top priority, it\u2019s important to look at the food data in the context"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The argument that a vegetarian diet is more planet-friendly than a carnivorous one is straightforward: If we feed plants to animals, and then eat the animals, we use more resources and produce more greenhouse gases than if we simply eat the plants. As with most arguments about our food supply, though, it\u2019s not that simple. Although beef is always climatically costly, pork or chicken can be a better choice than broccoli, calorie for calorie.\nMuch of the focus on the climate impact of meat has been on cattle, and with good reason. Any way you slice it, beef has the highest environmental cost of just about any food going, and the cow\u2019s digestive system is to blame. Ruminants \u2014 cows, sheep, goats and also yaks and giraffes \u2014 have a four-chambered stomach that digests plants by fermentation. A byproduct of that fermentation is methane, a greenhouse gas with some 20 times the heat-trapping ability of carbon. One cow\u2019s annual output of methane \u2014 about 100 kilograms \u2014 is equivalent to the emissions generated by a car burning 235 gallons of gasoline.\nMethane isn\u2019t the only strike against ruminants. There\u2019s also fertility. Cows can have one calf per year, which means the carbon cost of every cow destined for beef includes the cost of maintaining an adult for a year. Pigs, by contrast, can have two litters a year, with 10 or more pigs per litter.\nThen there\u2019s feed conversion. It takes six pounds of feed to make one pound of beef, but only 3.5 pounds for pork and two pounds for chicken. Considering the methane, the babies and the feed, it\u2019s clear that the ruminants do more damage than their one-stomached barnyard compatriots (monogastrics, they\u2019re called).\nComparing cows with pigs, and meat with plants, is often done using data from the Environmental Working Group, which produced a report in 2011 that detailed the environmental cost of meat. The report includes a chart that ranks various foods according to the amount of emissions generated in the course of production. Ruminants are the worst offenders, with lamb generating 39 kilograms of carbon dioxide (or its equivalent) for each kilogram of meat, and beef generating 27. Then come pork (12), turkey (11) and chicken (7). Plants are all lower, ranging from potatoes (3) to lentils (1).\nWhen a food\u2019s carbon footprint is measured in terms of weight \u2014 how many kilograms of greenhouse gases are generated to produce every kilogram of the food \u2014 vegetables and legumes look good. But when the focus is changed to measure climate impact by calorie, some results are quite different; tomatoes, broccoli and cheese are reordered most significantly. (washington post graphic)\nBut there\u2019s another way to look at the same information. If you stop eating beef, you can\u2019t replace a kilogram of it, which has 2,280 calories, with a kilogram of broccoli, at 340 calories. You have to replace it with 6.7 kilograms of broccoli. Calories are the great equalizer, and it makes sense to use them as the basis of the calculation.\nWhen you reorder the chart to look at climate impact by calorie, the landscape looks different. The ruminants still top the chart, but the monogastrics look a whole lot better. Low-calorie crops like broccoli don\u2019t do so well. Although beef still looks bad and beans still look good, pork and poultry are on a par with green vegetables. (Which means that a beef-and-leaf paleo diet is the worst choice going, environmentally speaking.)\nThe claim that vegetarianism is kinder to the planet also fails to consider a couple of kinds of meat that aren\u2019t on the Environmental Working Group\u2019s chart. Deer and Canada geese do active damage in the areas where they\u2019re overpopulated, and wild pigs leave destruction in their path wherever they go. Eat one of those, and do the planet a favor.\nMost people, though, are most likely to get their food from the farm, and it\u2019s important to note that, although the chart attaches one number to each kind of food, farming styles vary widely and not all pork chops \u2014 or tomatoes, or eggs \u2014 are created equal. Unfortunately, it\u2019s all but impossible for us consumers to figure out the climate impact of the particular specimens on our dinner table, whether they\u2019re animal or vegetable.\nAccording to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, organic agriculture\u2019s CO2 emissions per acre are significantly less than those of conventional agriculture. But yields per acre are also generally lower, and that mitigates the savings. Counterintuitively, the strawberry you buy from the farmer down the road might have a bigger environmental footprint than the strawberry you buy from far away, where a large farm in an ideal climate may grow it more efficiently. But it might not. You can\u2019t know. It\u2019s maddening.\nWhen it comes to meat, trying to eat responsibly presents a genuine conundrum: What\u2019s best for the planet is often what\u2019s worst for the animal. The efficiencies of modern conventional livestock farming do indeed decrease greenhouse gases, but they also require the confinement and high density that draw the ire of animal welfare advocates.\nGrowing an animal as quickly as possible decreases climate impact because it\u2019s that many fewer days (or weeks or months) the animal is here to pollute. Increasing feed efficiency likewise decreases the acreage devoted to growing the animal\u2019s food. Rich Pirog, senior associate director of the Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University, has studied the environmental impact of various ways of raising livestock; he has co-authored studies of Iowa cattle and pigs. For beef, he found that feedlots, where cattle are kept at high densities and fed grain, beat pastures, where animals are allowed to graze, in the tally of environmental impact. (A study just published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science reached a similar conclusion.)\nFor pigs, there was some overlap in conventional farming and \u201cniche\u201d systems, in which pigs have deep bedding and outdoor access. Pirog says that \u201cthe most efficient niche producers were pretty comparable to the average conventional producers.\u201d There\u2019s less research on poultry, but what has been done indicates that chickens raised in confinement also use fewer resources.\nConfinement equals efficiency, but confinement also equals, well, confinement. Although no farmers I\u2019ve ever spoken with believe their animals are unhappy, many welfare-minded meat consumers (including me) prefer to support a system in which animals have elbow room and outdoor access; where cages aren\u2019t used, tails aren\u2019t docked and antibiotics aren\u2019t routinely administered.\nThere are other arguments, on both sides \u2014 so many that it\u2019s easy to pick the ones that make the case for whichever kind of agriculture you\u2019re inclined to support. Grass-fed cows don\u2019t compete for plants humans can eat, and animals grazing on non-irrigated pasture don\u2019t compete for water that could be used to grow food (true!), but grass digestion creates more methane than grain digestion (also true!). Grazing cattle on grasslands can sequester carbon in the soil, but improperly managed grazing can make things worse rather than better. Pollution from manure reservoirs on conventional farms can threaten water and crops, but manure in reservoirs, from animals in confinement, can be converted to energy by methane digesters. Then there\u2019s the price of meat, inevitably higher in less efficient systems.\nThe meat-vs.-other-meat debate is irrelevant to the committed vegetarian, but there are issues other than greenhouse gases in the meat-vs.-plant debate, too. The case for meat includes the ability of an animal to contribute constructively on an integrated farm (chickens help with pest control), the potential for turning food waste (spent grain, whey, expired dairy) into high-quality protein, and the ability to use grasslands, inappropriate for row crops, to produce human food (with grazing cows or goats).\nThe case for plants has to include their nutritional value. Carbon aside, broccoli beats pork, hands down. And it has to consider killing, which many plant eaters find unacceptable. While the moral implications are beyond the brief of a column devoted to matters of fact, we all have to acknowledge that agriculture is an animal-killing enterprise. Does the rat, poisoned because it\u2019s a threat to the grain stores, count for less than the pig, raised and slaughtered with care?\nBut let\u2019s go back to where we began, with greenhouse gases. Even if climate impact is your top priority, it\u2019s important to look at the food data in the context of other lifestyle factors. Eating beans is definitely better than eating beef. Driving a Prius is better than driving a Hummer. But one decision trumps every other \u2014 potentially by orders of magnitude \u2014 and that\u2019s how many children you have. No amount of bean-eating or Prius-driving will compensate for reproducing, and it\u2019s the childless, not the vegetarians, who are more likely to save the planet. Which doesn\u2019t mean that we should ignore the benefits of beans and Prii \u2014 or that we shouldn\u2019t have kids \u2014 it just means that we should acknowledge that human survival takes a climatic toll. Our obligation isn\u2019t to minimize our carbon footprint at the expense of all other considerations; it\u2019s to try to be prudent, taking those considerations into account.\nThere are many ways to do that, but no one label \u2014 vegetarian, local, organic \u2014 has the corner on responsibility. For me, animal welfare is important, and my take on meat is that we should eat less of it, pay more for it, use all of it, and know where it\u2019s from. But that\u2019s not the last word. There isn\u2019t a last word, which means there\u2019s not a lot of room for sanctimony. While I think we all need to pay attention, vegetarians shouldn\u2019t tell omnivores to eat quinoa instead of pork any more than omnivores should tell vegetarians to eat venison instead of quinoa.\nHaspel, a freelance writer, farms oysters on Cape Cod and writes about food and science. On Twitter: @TamarHaspel. She\u2019ll join today\u2019s Free Range chat at noon: live.washingtonpost.com.\nMore from Food:\nWeeknight Vegetarian\nThe Immigrant\u2019s Table\nSmoke Signals\nSpirits Column\nBeer Column"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "6MMYSEEXT5CL7C6ODQMXZ7M44M_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "6MMYSEEXT5CL7C6ODQMXZ7M44M_0", "title": "Impossible Burger: Here\u2019s what\u2019s really in it ", "text": "Plant-based meat burst onto the international stage this year, with a dramatic IPO from Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger making its way into 17,000 restaurants in the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and Macao, and retail outlets such as Wegmans, Gelson\u2019s and Fairway Market. The product label is a long list of tough-to-pronounce ingredients \u2014 which meat advocates have seized on to assert that plant-based meat is highly processed. This month, the Center for Food Safety, a watchdog group that opposes genetically engineered foods, called on the Food and Drug Administration to recall the Impossible Burger product from grocery stores, citing safety concerns because of its use of genetically engineered heme, an iron-rich molecule found in meat and plants, for use as a color additive. Impossible Foods\u2019 chief communications officer, Rachel Konrad, called the allegations \u201cfalse and frankly ridiculous.\u201d She added: \u201cThe FDA has acknowledged multiple times that the Impossible Burger\u2019s key ingredient is safe to eat. The FDA has also acknowledged multiple times that Impossible Foods\u2019 rigorous safety testing meets or exceeds extensive federal requirements.\u201d There seems to be consensus that a pivot to plant-based meat would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the animal cruelty associated with traditional animal agriculture. But is the Impossible Burger, which is kosher- and halal-certified but not organic, good for you? Here\u2019s how it compares to an average same-size beef hamburger that is 80 percent lean beef and 20 percent fat. Price: Financials: Greg Wank, leader of the Food and Beverage Industry Practice of the accounting firm Anchin, Block & Anchin, does some back-of-the-envelope math, estimating Impossible Foods probably spent over $100 million in research and development. \u201cWhen you\u2019re innovating from scratch a brand new product that\u2019s never existed before, that in and of itself takes years and countless millions. Then you\u2019ve got to mass produce it, you\u2019ve got to figure out what machines can make it and then you\u2019ve got to train employees how to do it \u2014 that\u2019s many millions more.\u201d Top five ingredients: Calories: Cholesterol: Fat: Sodium: Protein: Heme: The rest: Read More Impossible vs. Beyond: We tested cook-at-home versions to see who make a better vegan burger Veggie burgers were living an idyllic little existence. Then they got caught in a war over the future of meat. Shalt thou eat an Impossible Burger? Religious doctrine scrambles to catch up to new food technology."}], "old": [{"_id": "6MMYSEEXT5CL7C6ODQMXZ7M44M_0", "title": "Impossible Burger: Here\u2019s what\u2019s really in it ", "text": "Price: Financials: Top five ingredients: Calories: Cholesterol: Fat: Sodium: Protein: Heme: The rest: Read More Veggie burgers were living an idyllic little existence. Then they got caught in a war over the future of meat."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "\nPlant-based meat burst onto the international stage this year, with a dramatic IPO from Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger making its way into 17,000 restaurants in the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore and Macao, and retail outlets such as Wegmans, Gelson\u2019s and Fairway Market.\nThe product label is a long list of tough-to-pronounce ingredients \u2014 which meat advocates have seized on to assert that plant-based meat is highly processed.\nThis month, the Center for Food Safety, a watchdog group that opposes genetically engineered foods, called on the Food and Drug Administration to recall the Impossible Burger product from grocery stores, citing safety concerns because of its use of genetically engineered heme, an iron-rich molecule found in meat and plants, for use as a color additive.\nImpossible Foods\u2019 chief communications officer, Rachel Konrad, called the allegations \u201cfalse and frankly ridiculous.\u201d She added: \u201cThe FDA has acknowledged multiple times that the Impossible Burger\u2019s key ingredient is safe to eat. The FDA has also acknowledged multiple times that Impossible Foods\u2019 rigorous safety testing meets or exceeds extensive federal requirements.\u201d\nThere seems to be consensus that a pivot to plant-based meat would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the animal cruelty associated with traditional animal agriculture. But is the Impossible Burger, which is kosher- and halal-certified but not organic, good for you? Here\u2019s how it compares to an average same-size beef hamburger that is 80 percent lean beef and 20 percent fat.\nPrice:\nFinancials:\nGreg Wank, leader of the Food and Beverage Industry Practice of the accounting firm Anchin, Block & Anchin, does some back-of-the-envelope math, estimating Impossible Foods probably spent over $100 million in research and development. \u201cWhen you\u2019re innovating from scratch a brand new product that\u2019s never existed before, that in and of itself takes years and countless millions. Then you\u2019ve got to mass produce it, you\u2019ve got to figure out what machines can make it and then you\u2019ve got to train employees how to do it \u2014 that\u2019s many millions more.\u201d\nTop five ingredients:\nCalories:\nCholesterol:\nFat:\nSodium:\nProtein:\nHeme:\nThe rest:\nRead More\nImpossible vs. Beyond: We tested cook-at-home versions to see who make a better vegan burger\nVeggie burgers were living an idyllic little existence. Then they got caught in a war over the future of meat.\nShalt thou eat an Impossible Burger? Religious doctrine scrambles to catch up to new food technology."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "769884e6-0e9b-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "769884e6-0e9b-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_1", "title": "The meat-mushroom blend makes sense", "text": "cheaper by putting soy in it,\u201d Minor says. \u201cThis is revolutionary because it\u2019s so simple. It\u2019s meat and mushrooms. They go together like peanut butter and jelly.\u201d Clearly, Minor has skin in the game. If chefs and restaurant operators see what the industry calls \u201cblendability\u201d as an easy way to serve more-healthful food, his members are going to sell a lot more mushrooms. But then, the man does have a point. In an industry that thrives on giving customers what they want, the best way to get people to improve their diets is to find healthful foods that don\u2019t taste like a sacrifice. No wonder, then, that the Cheesecake Factory and Seasons 52 restaurant chains recently added meat-mushroom burgers to their menus. Institutions including Yale, Harvard and the University of Southern California use mushrooms in Bolognese sauces, taco fillings and chilies. Compass Group, one of the world\u2019s largest food-service operators, is encouraging its cafes to do the same; more than 300 locations have already signed on. Mixing meat and mushrooms, Minor admits, is hardly a novel idea. Beef dishes such as Wellington and stroganoff are classics because the pairing with mushrooms is a natural one. But positioning blends as a healthful and more eco-friendly alternative is new. The evidence is compelling: Substituting mushrooms for just one-quarter of a recipe\u2019s beef content reduces calories, fat and sodium by about a third. Because livestock production and distribution accounts for an estimated 14.5 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide, eating less meat is also environmentally responsible. The push for blending started in 2011, when the Mushroom Council, an industry trade group, joined a Culinary Institute of America initiative called the Healthy Menus R&D Collaborative. Participants, which include McDonald\u2019s, Panera, Compass and Cargill, aim to develop practical ways to expand healthful dining choices. Chefs at the CIA in Napa, Calif., worked to develop recipes that substituted mushrooms for ground beef. At an early tasting, Minor says, the dishes \u201ctasted good, but the texture was wrong.\u201d For a follow-up, chefs quartered button mushrooms, cooked them, then minced them to mimic the texture of ground beef. \u201cThat,\u201d he says, \u201cwas the aha moment.\u201d The technique can be applied in any kitchen. Among the most enthusiastic adopters have been school cafeterias. In 2010, Congress passed tougher federal nutrition guidelines governing school meals, and food-service directors have been scrambling to find ways to cut back on calories and fat"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A mix of mushrooms, vegetables and spices adds moisture and flavor to the ground beef in Mushroom-Blended Graffiti Burgers. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)\nIf you have a question about mushrooms, Bart Minor is your guy. As the president and chief executive of the Mushroom Council for 16 years, he has a stunning depth of knowledge about edible fungi and an alarming enthusiasm about them. Minor could talk forever about enokis (did you know they are grown in plastic bottles?), industry sales (a record $1.1 billion for 2012-13 in the United States) or nutrition (mushrooms are the only item in the produce aisle containing vitamin D).\nBut Minor is particularly excited about what he sees as the latest miracle of mushrooms: their ability to mix with and boost the flavors of ground meat in foods such as burgers and chili, while simultaneously cutting calories, fat and costs. A sensory study funded by the council, to be published in the Journal of Food Science this fall, showed that consumers generally preferred meat-mushroom blends in tacos over a 100 percent beef filling, citing increased aromas, flavors and moisture.\n\u201cYou can make things healthier by putting broccoli in it. You can make things cheaper by putting soy in it,\u201d Minor says. \u201cThis is revolutionary because it\u2019s so simple. It\u2019s meat and mushrooms. They go together like peanut butter and jelly.\u201d\nClearly, Minor has skin in the game. If chefs and restaurant operators see what the industry calls \u201cblendability\u201d as an easy way to serve more-healthful food, his members are going to sell a lot more mushrooms. But then, the man does have a point. In an industry that thrives on giving customers what they want, the best way to get people to improve their diets is to find healthful foods that don\u2019t taste like a sacrifice.\nNo wonder, then, that the Cheesecake Factory and Seasons 52 restaurant chains recently added meat-mushroom burgers to their menus. Institutions including Yale, Harvard and the University of Southern California use mushrooms in Bolognese sauces, taco fillings and chilies. Compass Group, one of the world\u2019s largest food-service operators, is encouraging its cafes to do the same; more than 300 locations have already signed on.\nMixing meat and mushrooms, Minor admits, is hardly a novel idea. Beef dishes such as Wellington and stroganoff are classics because the pairing with mushrooms is a natural one. But positioning blends as a healthful and more eco-friendly alternative is new. The evidence is compelling: Substituting mushrooms for just one-quarter of a recipe\u2019s beef content reduces calories, fat and sodium by about a third. Because livestock production and distribution accounts for an estimated 14.5 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide, eating less meat is also environmentally responsible.\nThe push for blending started in 2011, when the Mushroom Council, an industry trade group, joined a Culinary Institute of America initiative called the Healthy Menus R&D Collaborative. Participants, which include McDonald\u2019s, Panera, Compass and Cargill, aim to develop practical ways to expand healthful dining choices.\nChefs at the CIA in Napa, Calif., worked to develop recipes that substituted mushrooms for ground beef. At an early tasting, Minor says, the dishes \u201ctasted good, but the texture was wrong.\u201d For a follow-up, chefs quartered button mushrooms, cooked them, then minced them to mimic the texture of ground beef. \u201cThat,\u201d he says, \u201cwas the aha moment.\u201d\nThe technique can be applied in any kitchen. Among the most enthusiastic adopters have been school cafeterias. In 2010, Congress passed tougher federal nutrition guidelines governing school meals, and food-service directors have been scrambling to find ways to cut back on calories and fat and to add more vegetables. With uncharacteristic speed, institutional suppliers brought meat-mushroom patties to the market. Next fall, the patties will be available in cafeterias that serve more than 4 million children in five states, including Maryland.\nCorporate cafeterias are embracing the strategy as well. The Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna Va., feeds 1,800 people a day. Its customers are looking for comfort food, something they can eat quickly or take back to their desks that they know will satisfy them. At the same time, \u201cthey are constantly being told to eat healthier. And most of the time, they don\u2019t know how,\u201d saysthe cafeteria\u2019s executive chef, James Foley, who works for Compass Group. \u201cThey think \u2018healthy\u2019 is low-fat cottage cheese.\u201d\nAnd so several months ago, Foley began replacing about 25 percent of ground beef with mushrooms in recipes such as meatloaf. \u201cMushrooms introduce moisture and a lighter texture. It\u2019s all the things you want in a nice meatloaf, with less calories.\u201d\nEven though the Mushroom Council study found that consumers preferred a 50-50 blend of beef and mushrooms over the all-beef taco filling, some fine-dining chefs \u2014 many of whom have been using that technique for years \u2014 say 20 percent mushrooms is about the limit before the dish starts to taste too much of mushrooms. \u201cAt 20 percent, people don\u2019t realize,\u201d Jehangir Mehta, executive chef of Graffiti in New York, says of his signature burger \u2014 although the recipe he provided for it uses 6 ounces of mushrooms for 1 pound of beef, or about 27 percent. \u201cIt just tastes like a very flavorful burger.\u201d\nDwayne Motley, executive chef of Nage in the District, agrees that the 80-20 ratio provides the right balance: \u201cIt gives you a depth of flavor, but you still taste the meat, the cheese, the garlic, everything.\u201d\nTo make his Angus Burgers, Motley first makes duxelles, the classic French mixture of mushrooms, aromatics and seasonings; he uses a blend of creminis and portobellos, plus morels when they are in season. He finely chops the mushrooms and cooks the mixture twice to release any remaining liquid. Then he combines it with Parmigiano- Reggiano\u00ad cheese, Worcestershire sauce, oregano and ground beef. The resulting burgers are served with cheese and a few drops of truffle oil.\nNeither Motley nor Mehta says he uses mushrooms to make his food more healthful: That\u2019s just a bonus. And that, says Minor, is the beauty of blendability: \u201cThe bottom line is that people in America love burgers. People know they are supposed to eat more fruits and vegetables. If we are actually going to change things for them, we need to improve the things they eat most often.\u201d\nRecipes:\nBasic Mushroom Meat Blend\nMushroom-Blended Graffiti Burgers\nMore from Food:\nOne fish, three meals"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "7GKANNYJJZFLNNWLJB6PXQM5N4_3", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "7GKANNYJJZFLNNWLJB6PXQM5N4_3", "title": "Can a vegan hot dog compete with the real thing? This company is banking on it.", "text": "\u201cThe reason why we\u2019ve made it so identical [to a classic hot dog sausage] is to appeal to people that love hot dogs,\u201d he says. \u201cWe want to create a product that everybody can eat without that label on there of \u2018vegan,\u2019 which can deter people from trying food. This is something that everyone can eat.\u201d Having launched Britain\u2019s first meatless \u201cbleeding\u201d burger, which oozes beet juice when cut into, in September 2018, Moving Mountains has had a busy few months. The burger is now on sale at more than 2,000 restaurants in Britain, including the Hard Rock Cafe and Unity Diner (home of the Moving Mountains hot dog launch). In a city where the world\u2019s first \u201cVegeburger\u201d was created in 1982 by entrepreneur Gregory Sams, it\u2019s currently leading the way, but, globally, competition is heating up. California-based Beyond Meat saw its value rise by more than 200 percent after launching on the Nasdaq composite index last week, while Impossible Foods in January updated the recipe of its Impossible Burger, which is now sold at Burger King. The plan is to make it available in 7,200 restaurants by the end of 2019. Work on the hot dog began over a year ago and has been driven by Van Der Molen\u2019s evident perfectionism. He says he is delighted with the result. \u201cI took it around to a cousin\u2019s barbecue, and they served it up as a pork hot dog, and nobody knew the difference until I said, \u2018Oh, by the way, that hot dog you\u2019ve just eaten and demolished was actually made from plants,\u2019 \u201d he says. Americans will soon have the opportunity to try these hot dogs. The product will launch in Zurich later this month, with the U.S. debut penciled in for mid-June. And after that? Van Der Molen says he and his team are working on \u201call types of different meats,\u201d including poultry, a plant-based cheese dog, and something he\u2019s calling a brat-dog: \u201cIt\u2019s got the nutmeg flavor you get with a bratwurst, but not the texture. I want to do something different this time.\u201d If any of these upcoming projects are anywhere as good as his most recent creation, consider us intrigued. Hawkes is a UK-based food, drink and travel writer. More from Voraciously: How \u2018plant-based\u2019 rebranded vegan eating for the mainstream What\u2019s in a name? The battle over alternative meat, milk and rice labeling rages on."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "It\u2019s the sort of boast that starts bar fights. A vegan hot dog, launched in London on May 10, \u201cis identical to its pork counterpart in taste, smell and texture,\u201d its creators claim. But does it live up the billing?\nWell, as I learned when I tried the hot dog at the launch, with that classic red-brown sheen, and an appealingly authentic smokiness, it certainly looks right and it smells right. And the flavor? Put it this way: If you didn\u2019t know this was a meat-free product, you probably wouldn\u2019t guess. It\u2019s miles ahead of most vegan hot dogs \u2014 heck, it\u2019s better than most pork (and beef-based) hot dogs, even down to the texture and the snap when you first bite into it.\n\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly important, that first bite,\u201d says Simeon Van Der Molen, founder of Moving Mountains, the company behind the dog. Although this hot dog doesn\u2019t have a skin\u00a0\u2014 in common with classic hot dogs like the \u201cskinless beef Franks\u201d made by Nathan\u2019s of Coney Island, for example \u2014 there\u2019s a tautness to the surface, a perceptible resistance when you bite into it, that feels right.\n\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be able to separate between what is the bread and what is the \u2018meat,\u2019\u2009\u201d Van Der Molen says. \u201cWe\u2019ve worked with sensory analysts to develop the product: It\u2019s not just about making it look the same and smell the same, it\u2019s got to have that whole chew, mouthfeel, everything.\u201d\nMoving Mountains chose Unity Diner, a vegan restaurant in the heart of Hoxton, east London, to launch its hot dog. Served with caramelized onions, mustard and ketchup in a hot dog bun, it costs 12 pounds ($15.50), a price that, while on the steep side, might even tempt a few committed meat-eaters to cross the square from Meat Mission, a burger restaurant where a more unreconstructed hot dog, called the Ripper \u2014 made from beef and wrapped in deep-fried bacon \u2014 is on the menu.\nThe Moving Mountains hot dog is different from that, and from other vegan hot dogs, in terms of ingredients. Historically, vegan dogs have been made from a diverse array of base ingredients: soy protein, falafel or, in the case of Beyond Meat\u2019s Brat Original, pea protein. Moving Mountains\u2019s effort is based on sunflower seeds and coconut oil, a mixture that \u201creacts in a very similar way\u201d to animal flesh during the production process, which involves a bowl cutter to grind the combination down into a paste.\nThe hot dog is entirely plant-based, Van Der Molen says, with additional ingredients including onions (for texture and flavor), carrots (for color) and paprika. The ingredients are mixed into a paste, then shaped into a hot dog and cooked. Finally, it is smoked in a smokehouse \u2014 there\u2019s no fake flavoring here. Sunflower seeds work well for the paste, Van Der Molen says, but they\u2019re also nutritious: high in B complex vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin E and protein.\nThe resulting dog is a pretty healthy proposition (depending, of course, on how much ketchup you add): Each 10-inch, 5\u00bd-ounce frankfurter clocks in at 146 calories and is gluten-free. Despite its launch in a vegan restaurant, the product is aimed at meat-eaters who want \u201csomething a bit healthier,\u201d says Van Der Molen.\n\u201cThe reason why we\u2019ve made it so identical [to a classic hot dog sausage] is to appeal to people that love hot dogs,\u201d he says. \u201cWe want to create a product that everybody can eat without that label on there of \u2018vegan,\u2019 which can deter people from trying food. This is something that everyone can eat.\u201d\nHaving launched Britain\u2019s first meatless \u201cbleeding\u201d burger, which oozes beet juice when cut into, in September 2018, Moving Mountains has had a busy few months. The burger is now on sale at more than 2,000 restaurants in Britain, including the Hard Rock Cafe and Unity Diner (home of the Moving Mountains hot dog launch). In a city where the world\u2019s first \u201cVegeburger\u201d was created in 1982 by entrepreneur Gregory Sams, it\u2019s currently leading the way, but, globally, competition is heating up. California-based Beyond Meat saw its value rise by more than 200 percent after launching on the Nasdaq composite index last week, while Impossible Foods in January updated the recipe of its Impossible Burger, which is now sold at Burger King. The plan is to make it available in 7,200 restaurants by the end of 2019.\nWork on the hot dog began over a year ago and has been driven by Van Der Molen\u2019s evident perfectionism. He says he is delighted with the result. \u201cI took it around to a cousin\u2019s barbecue, and they served it up as a pork hot dog, and nobody knew the difference until I said, \u2018Oh, by the way, that hot dog you\u2019ve just eaten and demolished was actually made from plants,\u2019\u2009\u201d he says.\nAmericans will soon have the opportunity to try these hot dogs. The product will launch in Zurich later this month, with the U.S. debut penciled in for mid-June. And after that? Van Der Molen says he and his team are working on \u201call types of different meats,\u201d including poultry, a plant-based cheese dog, and something he\u2019s calling a brat-dog: \u201cIt\u2019s got the nutmeg flavor you get with a bratwurst, but not the texture. I want to do something different this time.\u201d If any of these upcoming projects are anywhere as good as his most recent creation, consider us intrigued.\nHawkes is a UK-based food, drink and travel writer.\nMore from Voraciously:\nHow \u2018plant-based\u2019 rebranded vegan eating for the mainstream\nWhat\u2019s in a name? The battle over alternative meat, milk and rice labeling rages on."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "8026894e3011c55c0432dadc736bb0f2_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "8026894e3011c55c0432dadc736bb0f2_1", "title": "The next frontier for vegan restaurants? Not calling yourself a vegan restaurant.", "text": "speak for itself.\" Nussb\u00e4cher grew up in Israel, which he said exposed him to a diet that naturally leans toward fresh produce and legumes -- the stars of the pitas, rice and lentil bowls and salads at Shouk. A mushroom pita and house-made almond drink at Shouk. (Becky Krystal/The Washington Post) \"It wasn't about being a vegan business,\" Nussb\u00e4cher said of his offerings. \"It wasn't about veganizing dishes.\" The only thing that comes close to imitating a dairy product is the cashew labneh, a Lebanese yogurt cheese, made here with only cashews, water and salt. \"We're not using any quirky ingredients to make it taste like cheese,\" Nussb\u00e4cher said. Sticky Fingers bakery proprietor Doron Petersan knows something about vegan cheese, too. She'll be incorporating cashew, coconut and almond variations into some dishes at her pending diner, Fare Well, on H Street NE. She's taking a similar approach to marketing as Nussb\u00e4cher. \"I'm not using the term vegan at all,\" she said. \"I really want people to focus on the veggie- and plant-based aspect of what we're doing.\" \"I think that while people are becoming more and more open to trying plant-based foods,\" she said, the vegan label \"does a disservice.\" Nussb\u00e4cher said he thinks D.C. is particularly receptive to these kinds of concepts, and \"there's no question that the market is right and the time is right,\" for him to be opening Shouk, especially following the success of such establishments as Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s's vegetable-focused, fast-casual Beefsteak. Nussb\u00e4cher said the key was not to just put his food on a level playing field with non-vegan dishes, but make it better to counter any skepticism. (Allow us to chime in: No need to be skeptical of the food at Shouk, which is, overall, well-executed.) The occasional diner will ask where the chicken is, but \"I feel that we have been very, very warmly received,\" Nussb\u00e4cher said. \"I didn't know what to expect.\" Some of the reaction is best described as \"pleasant surprise,\" he said. No matter the label, Petersan said, \"People are really just looking for good food.\" Shouk, 655 K St. NW. 202-652-1464. shouk.com. Related items: Can vegetarians dine in meat-centric D.C. restaurants? Why this chef is turning mushrooms into 'bacon' and tofu into 'blue cheese' What D.C. restaurants have finally changed about the way they treat vegetables Vegetables: Are they the new bacon? Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s and other chefs think so."}], "old": [{"_id": "8026894e3011c55c0432dadc736bb0f2_1", "title": "The next frontier for vegan restaurants? Not calling yourself a vegan restaurant.", "text": "is 100% plant-based. It is (whatever your diet is) \u2013 friendly.\" Nussb\u00e4cher began dropping animal products from his own diet and for the last four or five years has been adhering to what he calls a \"compassionate lifestyle.\" He doesn't like the word \"vegan.\" He knows it can be an off-putting word to some diners. Often, the perception \"is that we're giving up a whole lot.\" That being said, not using the V-word wasn't necessarily a specific marketing strategy. Instead, Nussb\u00e4cher said it was about \"letting the product speak for itself.\" Nussb\u00e4cher grew up in Israel, which he said exposed him to a diet that naturally leans toward fresh produce and legumes -- the stars of the pitas, rice and lentil bowls and salads at Shouk. A mushroom pita and house-made almond drink at Shouk. (Becky Krystal/The Washington Post) \"It wasn't about being a vegan business,\" Nussb\u00e4cher said of his offerings. \"It wasn't about veganizing dishes.\" The only thing that comes close to imitating a dairy product is the cashew labneh, a Lebanese yogurt cheese, made here with only cashews, water and salt. \"We're not using any quirky ingredients to make it taste like cheese,\" Nussb\u00e4cher said. \"I'm not using the term vegan at all,\" she said. \"I really want people to focus on the veggie- and plant-based aspect of what we're doing.\" \"I think that while people are becoming more and more open to trying plant-based foods,\" she said, the vegan label \"does a disservice.\" Nussb\u00e4cher said the key was not to just put his food on a level playing field with non-vegan dishes, but make it better to counter any skepticism. (Allow us to chime in: No need to be skeptical of the food at Shouk, which is, overall, well-executed.) The occasional diner will ask where the chicken is, but \"I feel that we have been very, very warmly received,\" Nussb\u00e4cher said. \"I didn't know what to expect.\" Some of the reaction is best described as \"pleasant surprise,\" he said. No matter the label, Petersan said, \"People are really just looking for good food.\" Shouk, 655 K St. NW. 202-652-1464. shouk.com. Related items: Can vegetarians dine in meat-centric D.C. restaurants? Why this chef is turning mushrooms into 'bacon' and tofu into 'blue cheese' What D.C. restaurants have finally changed about the way they treat vegetables Vegetables: Are they the new bacon? Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s and other chefs think so."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Shouk is a new plant-based, fast-casual spot near Mount Vernon Square. (Becky Krystal/The Washington Post)\nStep into the new Shouk and you'll see a number of things: Shelves of Middle Eastern products such as date syrup and za'atar, exposed brick walls and customers chowing down on house-made pitas stuffed with fillings that include roasted cauliflower, sauteed mushrooms and lentil patties.\nWhat you most definitely will not see: meat, dairy or eggs.\nYou also won't see the word \"vegan.\" Anywhere.\nInstead, your only tip-off to the overriding philosophy governing this new fast-casual spot from first-time restaurateur\u00a0Ran Nussb\u00e4cher is an understated line\u00a0on the bottom of the wall-mounted menu: \"Shouk food is 100% plant-based. It is (whatever your diet is) \u2013 friendly.\"\nNussb\u00e4cher began dropping animal products from his own diet and for the last four or five years has been adhering to what he calls a \"compassionate lifestyle.\"\nHe doesn't like the word \"vegan.\"\u00a0He knows it can be an off-putting word to some diners. Often, the perception \"is that we're giving up a whole lot.\"\nThat being said, not using the V-word wasn't necessarily a specific marketing strategy. Instead,\u00a0Nussb\u00e4cher said it was about \"letting the product speak for itself.\"\nNussb\u00e4cher grew up in Israel, which he said exposed him to a diet that naturally leans toward fresh produce and legumes -- the stars of the pitas, rice and lentil bowls and salads at Shouk.\nA mushroom pita and house-made almond drink at Shouk. (Becky Krystal/The Washington Post)\n\"It wasn't about being a vegan business,\" Nussb\u00e4cher said of his offerings. \"It wasn't about veganizing dishes.\"\nThe only thing that comes close to imitating a dairy product is the cashew labneh, a Lebanese yogurt cheese, made here with only cashews, water and salt.\n\"We're not using any quirky ingredients to make it taste like cheese,\"\u00a0Nussb\u00e4cher said.\nSticky Fingers bakery proprietor Doron Petersan knows something about vegan cheese, too. She'll be incorporating cashew, coconut and almond variations into some dishes at her pending diner, Fare Well, on H Street NE.\u00a0She's taking a similar approach to marketing as\u00a0Nussb\u00e4cher.\n\"I'm not using the term vegan at all,\" she said. \"I really want people to focus on the veggie- and plant-based aspect of what we're doing.\"\n\"I think that while people are becoming more and more open to trying plant-based foods,\" she said, the vegan label \"does a disservice.\"\nNussb\u00e4cher said he thinks D.C. is particularly receptive to these kinds of concepts, and \"there's no question that the market is right and the time is right,\" for him to be opening Shouk, especially following the success of such establishments as Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s's vegetable-focused, fast-casual Beefsteak.\nNussb\u00e4cher said the key was not to just put his food on a level playing field with non-vegan dishes, but make it better to counter any skepticism. (Allow us to chime in: No need to be skeptical of the food at Shouk, which is, overall, well-executed.) The occasional diner will ask where the chicken is, but \"I feel that we have been very, very warmly received,\"\u00a0Nussb\u00e4cher said. \"I didn't know what to expect.\" Some of the reaction is best described as \"pleasant surprise,\" he said.\nNo matter the label, Petersan said, \"People are really just looking for good food.\"\nShouk, 655 K St. NW.\u00a0202-652-1464.\u00a0shouk.com.\nRelated items:\nCan vegetarians dine in meat-centric D.C. restaurants?\nWhy this chef is turning mushrooms into 'bacon' and tofu into 'blue cheese'\nWhat D.C. restaurants have finally changed about the way they treat vegetables\nVegetables: Are they the new bacon? Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s and other chefs think so."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "89258445c28f7228ca82fbdb36148925_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "89258445c28f7228ca82fbdb36148925_0", "title": "Is this the beginning of the end of meat?", "text": "The Impossible Burger, which is made largely from potato and wheat proteins. (Impossible Foods) Patrick Brown founded Impossible Foods with the goal of supplanting the meat industry. He believes America\u2019s 230 million omnivores can be made to trade their hamburgers and steaks for a plant-based equivalent, scienced into being. That vision may yet be a long way off -- even Brown admits as much. But next week the concept will get an important early test: Impossible Foods is opening its first large-scale facility in Oakland. The Oakland plant, which will begin to produce burgers this summer, is the first concrete sign that Impossible Foods and flagship offering are anything more than utopic moonshots. The plant will prove whether or not the concept can scale, which has implications for public health and the environment. It also has consequences for the emerging clean-meat industry, of which Impossible Foods is an early (and highly visible) player. Unlike Boca or Morningstar before them, which sought to corner the vegetarian market, these companies aim to appeal to hardcore meat-eaters by creating a meaty plant-based product. Beyond Meat, a popular vegetarian brand, has dipped a toe in those mainstream waters with its beet-juice \"bleeding\" Beyond Burger. And earlier this week, the start-up Memphis Meats announced that it had successfully created a lab-grown chicken strip -- at a whopping price per pound of $9,000. But few of these companies have proved that they can commercialize yet, and even those that have, like the Beyond Burger, still only sell at Whole Foods. With this new facility, a spokesperson for Impossible Foods said, the company\u2019s production capacity will increase 250-fold -- allowing it to supply 1,000 restaurants by the end of this year. \u201cThe mission of the company is to making the existing method for producing meat obsolete,\u201d said Brown on the phone from California, several weeks before the factory\u2019s ribbon-cutting. \u201cThat means we need to be competitive everywhere. And soon we will be.\u201d Proclamations like this one have earned Brown and his six-year-old company constant attention almost since its founding. A former biochemistry professor at Stanford, Brown became interested in industrial meat production after learning that it\u2019s a major contributor to climate change: livestock account for nearly 15 percent of all greenhouse gasses, according to the United Nations. Brown became convinced that, given enough time and resources, science could essentially solve that problem by engineering plant-based \u201cmeats\u201d that"}], "old": [{"_id": "89258445c28f7228ca82fbdb36148925_0", "title": "Is this the beginning of the end of meat?", "text": "The Impossible Burger, which is made largely from potato and wheat proteins. (Impossible Foods) That vision may yet be a long way off -- even Brown admits as much. But next week the concept will get an important early test: Impossible Foods is opening its first large-scale facility in Oakland. The Oakland plant, which will begin to produce burgers this summer, is the first concrete sign that Impossible Foods and flagship offering are anything more than utopic moonshots. The plant will prove whether or not the concept can scale, which has implications for public health and the environment. It also has consequences for the emerging clean-meat industry, of which Impossible Foods is an early (and highly visible) player. Unlike Boca or Morningstar before them, which sought to corner the vegetarian market, these companies aim to appeal to hardcore meat-eaters by creating a meaty plant-based product. Beyond Meat, a popular vegetarian brand, has dipped a toe in those mainstream waters with its beet-juice \"bleeding\" Beyond Burger. And earlier this week, the start-up Memphis Meats announced that it had successfully created a lab-grown chicken strip -- at a whopping price per pound of $9,000. But few of these companies have proved that they can commercialize yet, and even those that have, like the Beyond Burger, still only sell at Whole Foods. With this new facility, a spokesperson for Impossible Foods said, the company\u2019s production capacity will increase 250-fold -- allowing it to supply 1,000 restaurants by the end of this year. \u201cThe mission of the company is to making the existing method for producing meat obsolete,\u201d said Brown on the phone from California, several weeks before the factory\u2019s ribbon-cutting. \u201cThat means we need to be competitive everywhere. And soon we will be.\u201d Brown became convinced that, given enough time and resources, science could essentially solve that problem by engineering plant-based \u201cmeats\u201d that look and taste like the original artifact. Since 2011, he has received more than $180 million in investments from the likes of Bill Gates and Google Ventures to pursue the project. David Chang's take on the Impossible Burger, which he serves at two of his Momofuku restaurants. (Impossible Foods) But even as the burger earned rave reviews from curious patrons, its central tenet has remained unproven. Namely, Brown still has to show that he can churn out burgers en masse -- and that red-blooded meat-eaters will buy them. That could"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The Impossible Burger, which is made largely from potato and wheat proteins. (Impossible Foods)\nPatrick Brown founded Impossible Foods with the goal of supplanting the meat industry. He believes America\u2019s 230 million omnivores can be made to trade their hamburgers and steaks for a plant-based equivalent, scienced into being.\nThat vision may yet be a long way off -- even Brown admits as much. But next week\u00a0the concept will get an important early test: Impossible Foods is opening its first large-scale facility in Oakland.\nThe Oakland plant, which will begin to produce burgers this summer, is the first concrete sign that Impossible Foods and\u00a0flagship offering\u00a0are anything more than utopic moonshots. The plant will prove whether or not the concept can scale, which has implications for public health and the environment.\nIt also has consequences for the emerging clean-meat industry, of which Impossible Foods is an early (and highly visible) player. Unlike Boca or Morningstar before them, which sought to corner the vegetarian market, these companies aim to appeal to hardcore meat-eaters by creating a meaty plant-based product. Beyond Meat, a popular vegetarian brand, has dipped a toe in those mainstream waters\u00a0with its beet-juice \"bleeding\" Beyond Burger. And earlier this week, the start-up Memphis Meats announced that it had successfully created a lab-grown chicken strip -- at a whopping price per pound of $9,000.\nBut few of these companies have proved that they can commercialize yet, and even those that have, like the Beyond Burger, still only sell at Whole Foods. With this new facility, a\u00a0spokesperson for Impossible Foods said, the company\u2019s production capacity will increase 250-fold -- allowing it to supply 1,000 restaurants by the end of this year.\n\u201cThe mission of the company is to making the existing method for producing meat obsolete,\u201d said Brown on the phone from California, several weeks before the factory\u2019s ribbon-cutting. \u201cThat means we need to be competitive everywhere. And soon we will be.\u201d\nProclamations like this one have earned Brown and his six-year-old company constant attention almost since its founding. A former biochemistry professor at Stanford, Brown became interested in industrial meat production after learning that it\u2019s a major contributor to climate change: livestock account for nearly 15 percent of all greenhouse gasses, according to the United Nations.\nBrown became convinced that, given enough time and resources, science could essentially solve that problem by engineering plant-based \u201cmeats\u201d that look and taste like the original artifact. Since 2011, he has received more than $180 million in investments from the likes of Bill Gates and Google Ventures to pursue the project.\nHis first offering is the Impossible Burger: a patty composed largely of wheat and potato proteins that -- thanks to a iron-containing molecule called heme -- looks, handles and (reportedly!) tastes quite a lot like ground beef. The burger has caught the eye of several high-end chefs, including New York's David Chang and San Francisco's Traci Des Jardins, who have put the burger on their respective menus for roughly $15 apiece.\nDavid Chang's take on the Impossible Burger, which he serves at two of his Momofuku restaurants. (Impossible Foods)\nBut even as the burger earned rave reviews from curious patrons, its central tenet has remained unproven. Namely, Brown still has to show that he can churn out burgers en masse -- and that red-blooded meat-eaters will buy them.\nThat could prove difficult in two respects, say analysts and advocates who know the industry. First, Brown and his team will need to optimize their supply chain and manufacturing process to bring the price of the Impossible Burger on par with conventional beef.\nSome of that will happen naturally, said Bruce Friedrich, the executive director of the Good Food Institute: all food startups, regardless of what they make, benefit from economies of scale as they standardize and mechanize the way they make their food. Prices will also come down once Impossible Foods has a reliable distribution network. And the company has another advantage, as well: Compared to conventional livestock slaughter, its methods are inherently more efficient.\nBut sourcing has still provided challenges -- such as the question of heme. The iron-containing molecule is what makes the Impossible Burger taste like meat. Brown initially extracted it from the root nodules of soybeans, but that process, at scale, costs a fortune and releases a lot of greenhouse gasses. Impossible Foods eventually skirted the issue by engineering yeast that produce heme, meaning that the company no longer needs to extract the molecule from soybeans. It can be produced in vats.\nIt's also not the only uncertainty\u00a0that faces Impossible Foods.\u00a0The company's biggest challenge may be getting it to\u00a0catch on not only with the coastal Whole Foodies who have flocked to Manhattan or Los Angeles to try it thus far, but with average and middle-income Americans. Brown is adamant\u00a0that his product is not designed to appeal to vegetarians; he's after the old-school meat-eater, who is motivated largely by price, taste and convenience.\nJohn Coupland, a professor of food science at Penn State and the president of the Institute of Food Technologists, believes this type of consumer might prove difficult to convince, even if plant-based meats are priced on par with their conventional equivalents. Some focus-groups and studies have suggested that consumers aren't entirely comfortable with\u00a0the idea of meat that doesn't technically have any animal in it.\n\u201cSo much is going to play out in psychology, more even than in chemistry,\u201d Coupland said. \u201cMeat is an incredibly gendered thing to eat. How is that going to play out? Are you picking the light beer by having this stuff? It\u2019s too early to tell if it\u2019s really going to take off.\u201d\nThe components of an Impossible Burger (Impossible Foods)\nWe may find out very shortly. While Impossible Foods is not releasing any details on the new plant\u2019s exact capacity, cost or headcount until after the March 22 launch, it\u2019s already clear that the facility represents a significant ramp-up from what the company has produced thus far.\nBy the end of the year, Brown said, the burger will be in multiple restaurants, including some chains like Bareburger, which debuted the Impossible Burger at its flagship location in February. Those restaurants won\u2019t all be coastal hotspots, Brown added\u00a0-- they\u2019re pursuing deals in the heartland, as well. Brown has also reportedly\u00a0been in talks with McDonald\u2019s, though the company doesn\u2019t have that capacity yet.\nSuch a coup could move the whole industry much closer to dinner tables across America. And other plant-based and clean meat companies are watching the experiences of Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat closely, Friedrich said. Their success or failure in scaling could inform the whole market.\n\"This is brand-new for the plant-based meat industry,\" he said. \"It's lifting the whole sector and inspiring other entrepreneurs and food scientists to get involved with it.\"\nMore from Wonkblog:\nI tried to figure out how many cows are in a single hamburger. It was really hard\nIs a vegetarian diet really better for the environment? Science takes aim at the conventional wisdom.\nThe American diet hasn\u2019t changed in years \u2014 except for this one thing"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "94e77a0e-03b1-11e5-a428-c984eb077d4e_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "94e77a0e-03b1-11e5-a428-c984eb077d4e_0", "title": "Cutting down on meat? Be careful what you replace it with.", "text": "To add protein to a meatless diet, sprinkle chickpeas onto a salad. (Gil Guelfucci/GETTY IMAGES/FLICKR) If you are trying to eat less meat, you have plenty of company. Our cultural tide is flowing steadily in that direction. Just look around \u2014 there are multiple best-selling books touting the benefits of plant-based eating; the Meatless Monday campaign has gone mainstream, with awareness and participation climbing rapidly over the past decade; and the word \u201cflexitarian\u201d is now in the Merriam-Webster dictionary (meaning \u201cone whose normally meatless diet occasionally includes meat or fish\u201d). Americans still eat about triple the global average of meat, but consumption trends show we are starting to back off. And people no longer consider beef-, pork- and poultry-free meals a fringe idea: 47 percent of those polled by the Vegetarian Resource Group said they eat at least one vegetarian meal each week, and the group reports one in four people says he or she is a \u201cmeat reducer,\u201d actively trying to eat less of it. It\u2019s a trend supported by our country\u2019s top nutrition advisory committee which, in its recent report for the Dietary Guidelines update, recommended we cut back on meat for the sake of our health and the environment. But simply eating less meat is not a solid plan in and of itself. What you decide to pile on your plate instead of that steak, chop or cutlet is equally, if not more, important. If less meat translates to more stuffed-crust pizza or boxed mac and cheese for dinner, you could be doing yourself more harm than good. Even those committed to healthful vegetarian options often don\u2019t strike the right balance. Many turn to dairy, particularly cheese, as their default protein, which can certainly make for nutrient-packed and delicious meals. But if you are eating meatlessly a lot, and dairy is your only go-to, you could be missing out on some important nutrients and getting more unhealthful fat than you realize. Meat is more than just protein \u2014 it is incredibly rich in several essential minerals and vitamins, particularly B vitamins, zinc, iron and selenium. While dairy packs many B vitamins, selenium, and other nutrients in spades, it doesn\u2019t have zinc, iron, or much B6. And while options such as low-fat yogurt and milk are lean, a piece of cheddar cheese the size of your thumb has about double the saturated fat of three ounces of lean"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "To add protein to a meatless diet, sprinkle chickpeas onto a salad. (Gil Guelfucci/GETTY IMAGES/FLICKR)\nIf you are trying to eat less meat, you have plenty of company. Our cultural tide is flowing steadily in that direction. Just look around \u2014 there are multiple best-selling books touting the benefits of plant-based eating; the Meatless Monday campaign has gone mainstream, with awareness and participation climbing rapidly over the past decade; and the word \u201cflexitarian\u201d is now in the Merriam-Webster dictionary (meaning \u201cone whose normally meatless diet occasionally includes meat or fish\u201d).\nAmericans still eat about triple the global average of meat, but consumption trends show we are starting to back off. And people no longer consider beef-, pork- and poultry-free meals a fringe idea: 47 percent of those polled by the Vegetarian Resource Group said they eat at least one vegetarian meal each week, and the group reports one in four people says he or she is a \u201cmeat reducer,\u201d actively trying to eat less of it. It\u2019s a trend supported by our country\u2019s top nutrition advisory committee which, in its recent report for the Dietary Guidelines update, recommended we cut back on meat for the sake of our health and the environment.\nBut simply eating less meat is not a solid plan in and of itself. What you decide to pile on your plate instead of that steak, chop or cutlet is equally, if not more, important. If less meat translates to more stuffed-crust pizza or boxed mac and cheese for dinner, you could be doing yourself more harm than good.\nEven those committed to healthful vegetarian options often don\u2019t strike the right balance. Many turn to dairy, particularly cheese, as their default protein, which can certainly make for nutrient-packed and delicious meals. But if you are eating meatlessly a lot, and dairy is your only go-to, you could be missing out on some important nutrients and getting more unhealthful fat than you realize.\nMeat is more than just protein \u2014 it is incredibly rich in several essential minerals and vitamins, particularly B vitamins, zinc, iron and selenium. While dairy packs many B vitamins, selenium, and other nutrients in spades, it doesn\u2019t have zinc, iron, or much B6. And while options such as low-fat yogurt and milk are lean, a piece of cheddar cheese the size of your thumb has about double the saturated fat of three ounces of lean beef.\nTo eat healthfully with less meat, it\u2019s important to include more plant protein: nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas and whole grains. While these are incomplete proteins, lacking the full spectrum of essential amino acids in sufficient amounts on their own, the amino acids in grains complement those in the nuts and legumes, so together they are complete. You don\u2019t have to eat them at the same time, as was once thought. Just getting a variety throughout the day will help cover you, not only for the protein you\u2019d otherwise be getting from meat, but for iron, zinc, and B6 as well. Plus, they contain healthful fats, fiber and a spectrum of protective antioxidants.\nEnjoying them is as easy as opening a can of chickpeas to sprinkle on your salad, tossing some frozen shelled edamame and/or almonds into a vegetable stir-fry to serve over brown rice, slapping together a peanut butter sandwich on whole grain bread, making some lentil soup or buying a container of hummus. Thanks to the meatless trend\u2019s popularity, there are more plant protein options than ever in restaurants and fast-casual spots, from bean burritos to salads with topping options like quinoa and sunflower seeds.\nIt would also be a step in the right direction if eating less meat got you hooked on more seafood. The average American gets less than half the recommended 8 ounces a week, an amount that studies show can reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack by about a third. That benefit is mostly due to protective omega-3 fats, but seafood is a total package with high-quality protein, many of the minerals and vitamins that meat has, and other nutrients.So toss some shrimp or a salmon fillet on the grill, flake some tuna on your salad, or toss some chopped sardines into your pasta.\nEggs can also be a stellar way to get some of the protein and nutrients meat would provide. For just 140 calories, two large eggs give you 8 percent of the daily value for zinc, iron and B6, plus choline, vitamin D and many other nutrients. It is worth keeping in mind, though, that those two eggs have about the same amount of saturated fat as a three-ounce serving of T-bone steak. Nonetheless, eggs are so easy and economical it\u2019s not surprising they are the latest darling of the culinary world. Add an egg to just about anything from a salad to a rice pilaf and it becomes a main course. If you need inspiration, search #PutanEggonIt on Instagram and you will find 21,000 entries. Whatever protein you choose, the bottom line is don\u2019t blindly take the meat off your plate: Think, instead, about the quality and variety of what to fill it with.\nKrieger is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author. She blogs and offers a biweekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com. She also writes weekly Nourish recipes in The Washington Post\u2019s Food section.\nChat June 4 at 1 p.m."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "9d2610aa-3d57-11e6-80bc-d06711fd2125_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "9d2610aa-3d57-11e6-80bc-d06711fd2125_1", "title": "Can\u2019t do vegetarian? How about flexitarian?", "text": "\u201cDiet for a Small Planet.\u201d If you\u2019re 27 these days, you\u2019re considered a millennial, the generation known for being socially aware, civic-minded and environmentally conscious. Their buying power is affecting what we see on restaurant menus and in supermarkets. Sales are soaring for once-fringe items such as veggie burgers and almond milk. The number of new vegetarian product launches has doubled over the past five years. The trend toward avoiding meat occurs at a time when the toll that meat production takes on the planet is becoming clearer. As people become aware that meat production requires unsustainable levels of water, land and energy use, more Americans are choosing to leave meat off their plates. Annual meat consumption per person has fallen 15 percent in the past 10 years, and when we do eat meat, it\u2019s often environmentally friendly, organic, grass-fed, antibiotic-free and hormone-free (all areas in which sales have increased). The flexitarian solution But let\u2019s face it. If you love perfectly seared steaks or covet your beer-can chicken, the idea of eating tofu hotdogs may not be all that appealing. What if you\u2019re concerned about the environment but still want to eat a burger once in a while? Meat-free eating has expanded into something more flexible and inclusive, giving everyone a chance to choose healthful and sustainable meals without giving up meat entirely. It\u2019s called the \u201cflexitarian\u201d diet. While 7.3 million Americans are vegetarian, an additional 22.8 million are flexitarian, meaning they primarily eat a vegetarian diet, but enjoy meat occasionally. This part-time vegetarian diet has broader appeal because it helps us balance food cravings with health and global sustainability. There are no rules for flexitarianism, which is part of the appeal. The basic idea is to eat more vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, while reducing intake of animal-based foods such as meat, poultry and dairy. And it\u2019s easier to choose meatless meals when food tastes so good! Tasty dishes such as chickpea fritters and lentil soup add mass appeal to the semi-vegetarian lifestyle. The health and environmental benefits of flexitarianism aren\u2019t as pronounced as they are with strict vegetarian diets, but there is still merit in eating meatless meals more often. A study published last month found that although a strict vegetarian diet can help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 34 percent, a flexitarian diet is associated with a 20 percent reduced risk."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Experiment with vegetarian meals by starting with Meatless Monday, since skipping meat one day a week is an easy transition. If you\u2019re feeling inspired, try adding Black Bean Salad with Mango Sauce, available in the Washington Post Recipe Finder. (Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post)\nFrom black bean burgers on restaurant menus to eight varieties of hummus at the supermarket, the meatless movement shows no signs of slowing down.\nThe first real blip of vegetarianism in the United States started in 1971 when Frances Moore Lapp\u00e9 published \u201cDiet for a Small Planet,\u201d and explained that meat-based diets can be harmful for our planet and our health. Lapp\u00e9 wrote about ways to reduce food waste and enhance sustainability, but her ideas weren\u2019t widely acted upon; she was ahead of her time.\nFast-forward 45 years, and these same issues routinely make headline news as worries about our food supply escalate. Lapp\u00e9\u2019s ideas are now being recycled as a new wave of concerned citizens, especially millennials, turn to meat-free eating for better health \u2013 both for ourselves and the planet. But this time, the momentum may be strong enough to make some changes.\nMillennials on board\nLapp\u00e9 was only 27 when she wrote \u201cDiet for a Small Planet.\u201d If you\u2019re 27 these days, you\u2019re considered a millennial, the generation known for being socially aware, civic-minded and environmentally conscious. Their buying power is affecting what we see on restaurant menus and in supermarkets.\nSales are soaring for once-fringe items such as veggie burgers and almond milk. The number of new vegetarian product launches has doubled over the past five years.\nThe trend toward avoiding meat occurs at a time when the toll that meat production takes on the planet is becoming clearer. As people become aware that meat production requires unsustainable levels of water, land and energy use, more Americans are choosing to leave meat off their plates. Annual meat consumption per person has fallen 15 percent in the past 10 years, and when we do eat meat, it\u2019s often environmentally friendly, organic, grass-fed, antibiotic-free and hormone-free (all areas in which sales have increased).\nThe flexitarian solution\nBut let\u2019s face it. If you love perfectly seared steaks or covet your beer-can chicken, the idea of eating tofu hotdogs may not be all that appealing. What if you\u2019re concerned about the environment but still want to eat a burger once in a while? Meat-free eating has expanded into something more flexible and inclusive, giving everyone a chance to choose healthful and sustainable meals without giving up meat entirely. It\u2019s called the \u201cflexitarian\u201d diet.\nWhile 7.3 million Americans are vegetarian, an additional 22.8 million are flexitarian, meaning they primarily eat a vegetarian diet, but enjoy meat occasionally. This part-time vegetarian diet has broader appeal because it helps us balance food cravings with health and global sustainability.\nThere are no rules for flexitarianism, which is part of the appeal. The basic idea is to eat more vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, while reducing intake of animal-based foods such as meat, poultry and dairy. And it\u2019s easier to choose meatless meals when food tastes so good! Tasty dishes such as chickpea fritters and lentil soup add mass appeal to the semi-vegetarian lifestyle.\nThe health and environmental benefits of flexitarianism aren\u2019t as pronounced as they are with strict vegetarian diets, but there is still merit in eating meatless meals more often.\nA study published last month found that although a strict vegetarian diet can help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 34\u00a0percent, a flexitarian diet is associated with a 20\u00a0percent reduced risk. Other studies show that a flexitarian diet can help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as the risk of becoming overweight or obese. Bottom line: You don\u2019t need to eliminate meat entirely to reap the health benefits of a vegetarian diet.\nMixing the advantages of environmental and personal health is a big driver of the flexitarian movement. A recent study predicted that a flexitarian diet could reduce global mortality by up to 10\u00a0percent and food-related greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70\u00a0percent. And because this diet is more flexible, there\u2019s a good chance that people can stick to it in the long run. So maybe the part-time vegetarian movement is here to stay.\nAre you new to tempeh and falafel? Experiment with vegetarian meals by starting with Meatless Monday, because skipping meat one day a week is an easy transition. If you\u2019re feeling inspired, try adding black bean salad with mango sauce and Korean-style tofu, vegetable and noodle stir-fry to your menu.\nRegistered dietitian Cara Rosenbloom is president of Words to Eat By, a nutrition communications company specializing in writing, nutrition education and recipe development. She is the co-author of \u201cNourish: Whole Food Recipes featuring Seeds, Nuts and Beans.\u201d\nMore from Lifestyle:\nDo you know the difference between a snack and a treat?\nHow to beat the bloat (a.k.a. food baby)\nWhy increasing exercise and cutting carbs is a recipe for disaster\nGrading the costs and benefits of acai, chia and other \u2018superfoods\u2019"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "9d3b5792307ed0e87a7cb7406d2c8c6e_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "9d3b5792307ed0e87a7cb7406d2c8c6e_0", "title": "Stop eating so much meat, top U.S. nutritional panel says", "text": "(AP Photo/The Register-Guard, Kevin Clark) The country's foremost nutrition advisory panel is taking a stand against meat: Americans should eat less of it, top experts say, in order to protect the environment. The recommendation could have a significant impact on the amount of meat people eat --- as well as the environmental impact of a carnivorous nation. \"We're not saying that people need to become vegans,\" said Miriam Nelson, a professor at Tufts University and one of the committee's members. \"But we are saying that people need to eat less meat.\" The panel's findings, which were released to the public in the form of a 571 page report this afternoon, specifically recommend that Americans be kinder to the environment by eating more plant-based foods and fewer animal-based foods. The panel is confident that the country can align both health goals and environmental aims, but warns that the U.S. diet, as currently constructed, could improve. \"Consistent evidence indicates that, in general, a dietary pattern that is higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with lesser environmental impact than is the current average U.S. diet,\" the report says. Americans, though they are eating less meat than they have in the past, are still eating too much. The problem, which the committee's findings reflect, is that all that meat eating is still having too much of an impact on the environment. Meat eaters have been linked to considerably larger carbon footprint than vegetarians. And the livestock industry has been associated with a considerably larger carbon footprint than any other food industry. The combination of those two realities, along with the committee's understanding that diets lower in meat consumption, especially red and processed meat consumption, tend to be more healthful, has forced the committee's hand. The group, which has been mulling a number of changes to the dietary guidelines, has traditionally advised the government about healthy eating choices which, until now, have only reflected what the group views as a diet that is healthy for humans. The new recommendations mark a major break from the past, and offer a glimpse into what the guidelines might look like in the decades to come. \"If we're thinking about the foods that are culturally appropriate, we need to start thinking about what's sustainable,\" said Nelson,. \"Other countries have"}], "old": [{"_id": "9d3b5792307ed0e87a7cb7406d2c8c6e_0", "title": "Stop eating so much meat, top U.S. nutritional panel says", "text": "(AP Photo/The Register-Guard, Kevin Clark) The country's foremost nutrition advisory panel is taking a stand against meat: Americans should eat less of it, top experts say, in order to protect the environment. The recommendation could have a significant impact on the amount of meat people eat --- as well as the environmental impact of a carnivorous nation. The panel's findings, which were released to the public in the form of a 571 page report this afternoon, specifically recommend that Americans be kinder to the environment by eating more plant-based foods and fewer animal-based foods. The panel is confident that the country can align both health goals and environmental aims, but warns that the U.S. diet, as currently constructed, could improve. \"Consistent evidence indicates that, in general, a dietary pattern that is higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with lesser environmental impact than is the current average U.S. diet,\" the report says. The group, which has been mulling a number of changes to the dietary guidelines, has traditionally advised the government about healthy eating choices which, until now, have only reflected what the group views as a diet that is healthy for humans. The new recommendations mark a major break from the past, and offer a glimpse into what the guidelines might look like in the decades to come. \"If we're thinking about the foods that are culturally appropriate, we need to start thinking about what's sustainable,\" said Nelson,. \"Other countries have already started doing this\u2014including sustainability in their recommendations. We should be doing it too.\" The meat industry, for its part, vehemently objects to the notion that Americans should be eating less meat. The North American Meat Institute has repeatedly questioned whether the nutrition panel should be allowed to include sustainability concerns in its recommendations, and challenged the notion that meat negatively impacts the environment. \"If our government believes Americans should factor sustainability into their choices, guidance should come from a panel of sustainability experts that understands the complexity of the issue,\" Barry Carpenter, the chief executive of The North American Meat Institute, said in a statement. The official dietary guidelines, which are updated every five years, won't be released until later this year, after the department of Health and Human Services mulls over the advisory committee's recommendations. The panel's"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "(AP Photo/The Register-Guard, Kevin Clark)\nThe country's foremost nutrition advisory panel is taking a stand against meat: Americans should eat less of it, top experts say, in order to protect the environment.\nThe recommendation could have a significant impact on the amount of meat people eat --- as well as the environmental impact of a carnivorous nation.\n\"We're not saying that people need to become vegans,\" said Miriam Nelson, a professor at Tufts University and one of the committee's members. \"But we are saying that people need to eat less meat.\"\nThe panel's\u00a0findings, which were\u00a0released to the public in the form of a 571 page report this afternoon, specifically recommend that Americans be kinder to the environment by eating more plant-based foods and fewer\u00a0animal-based foods.\u00a0The panel is confident that the country can align both health goals and environmental aims,\u00a0but warns that the U.S. diet, as currently constructed, could improve.\n\"Consistent evidence indicates that, in general, a dietary pattern that is higher in plant-based\u00a0foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with lesser environmental impact than is the current average U.S. diet,\" the report says.\nAmericans, though they are eating less meat than they have in the past, are still eating too much. The problem, which the committee's findings reflect, is that all that meat eating is still having too much of an impact on the environment.\nMeat eaters\u00a0have \u00a0been linked to\u00a0considerably larger carbon footprint\u00a0than vegetarians. And the livestock industry has been associated with a\u00a0considerably larger\u00a0carbon footprint than any other food industry.\u00a0The combination of those two realities, along with the committee's\u00a0understanding that diets lower in meat consumption, especially red and processed meat consumption, tend to be more healthful,\u00a0has forced the committee's hand.\nThe group, which has been mulling a number of changes to the dietary guidelines,\u00a0has\u00a0traditionally advised the government\u00a0about healthy eating choices which, until now, have only reflected what the group views\u00a0as a diet that is healthy for humans. The new recommendations \u00a0mark a major break from the past, and offer\u00a0a glimpse into\u00a0what\u00a0the guidelines might look like in the decades\u00a0to come.\n\"If we're thinking about the foods that are culturally appropriate, we need to start thinking about what's sustainable,\" said Nelson,. \"Other countries have already started doing this\u2014including sustainability in their recommendations. We should be doing it too.\"\nThe meat industry, for its part, vehemently objects to the notion that Americans should be eating less meat. The North American Meat Institute has repeatedly questioned whether the nutrition panel should be allowed to include sustainability concerns in its recommendations, and challenged the notion that meat negatively impacts the environment.\n\"If our government believes Americans should factor sustainability into their choices, guidance should come from a panel of sustainability experts that understands the complexity of the issue,\" Barry Carpenter, the chief executive of The North American Meat Institute, said in a statement.\nThe official dietary guidelines, which are updated every five years, won't be released until later this year, after the department of Health and Human Services mulls over the advisory committee's recommendations.\u00a0The panel's suggestions are, ultimately, suggestions, which the government doesn't have to act upon. But historically, the government has incorporated the panel's suggestions, especially those that recommend changes and updates, into its guidance.\nIf the government acts upon the panel's recommendations to suggest\u00a0lower meat intake, the impact on the meat industry will be significant. While Americans don't necessarily heed the dietary guidelines ahead of each meal, the guidelines do influence prevalent health narratives. They also help dictate what is on the menu of federal feeding programs,\u00a0like\u00a0the school lunch program."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "9d3d6d0e2ef55ac225f812c056a57408_2", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "9d3d6d0e2ef55ac225f812c056a57408_2", "title": "The meat industry\u2019s worst nightmare could soon become a reality", "text": "battles have largely been waged on the nutritional health front, and the evidence is mixed on whether meat is actually harmful to your health. As a result, the government now recommends that people opt for leaner meat, instead of less meat. Defending meat on environmental grounds, however, could be much tougher for the industry. Several international and government agencies, including the United Nations, have spelled out the meat industry's massive footprint. And now the USDA could be next with new, government-backed dietary guidelines. For that reason, several industry players have responded critically to the consideration, both attacking the notion that meat production is environmentally unfriendly and discrediting the idea that environmental concerns should influence the dietary guidelines issued by the government. The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and National Cattlemen's Beef Association have each issued statements insisting that lean meat should be part of healthy diets and denouncing any suggestion that environmental impact should dictate the recommendations. \"The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee\u2019s focus on sustainability is objectionable because it is not within the committee\u2019s expertise,\" NAMI said in a statement. A draft of the government panel's advice, which was released last month, calls for the consumption of more plant-based foods and less animal-based ones, because it's \"associated with lesser environmental impact than is the current average U.S. diet.\" Specifically, the draft advises less \"red meats\" and \"processed meats.\" Just because the USDA's advisory committee is discussing such recommendations doesn't mean it will ultimately include them in its official findings, which are expected to be delivered to the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments later this month. Nor does a recommendation by the panel mean the departments will ultimately heed the advice in determining the final guidelines, which are expected to be released later this year. But the they might. And if they do, the impact would be significant. \"Americans don't necessarily heed dietary recommendations,\" said Janet Riley, the senior vice president of public affairs for the North American Meat Institute. \"But where this could have a huge impact is on purchasing programs. The federal feeding programs are significantly impacted by the federal dietary guidelines.\" Indeed, the immediate impacts would be substantial. Reducing the recommended amount of meat consumption would reduce, among other things, the amount of meat the industry provides as part of the school lunch program. And overnight, the diets of millions of Americans would have less meat."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Less is more? (Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg News)\nThe U.S.\u00a0Department of Agriculture is preparing to release the latest version of the government's influential dietary guidelines this year, and there could be a major change that accelerates the trend of Americans eating less meat.\nThe guidelines, which are updated every\u00a0five years, have traditionally advised Americans\u00a0about healthy eating choices,\u00a0eating choices which, until now, have only reflected what the government views as a diet that is healthy for humans. But the panel that advises the government is pushing for the recommendations to reflect what is\u00a0healthy for the environment, too. Given the huge carbon footprint of meat production, making this change\u00a0would almost certainly\u00a0entail lowering the official, government-recommended intake of meat.\nAmericans, though they are eating less meat than they have in the past, are still fond of steaks, hamburgers, and chicken wings. And the environmental impact of that diet is significant.\u00a0Carnivores\u00a0contribute far more to environmental decay than do vegetarians. The livestock industry\u00a0is responsible for an estimated 15 percent of total global carbon emissions, roughly two-thirds of which is\u00a0the result of beef production.\u00a0On a per kilogram basis, the carbon footprint of lamb and beef production is unparalleled.\nSource: Environmental Working Group\nMeat industry advocates have been\u00a0battling the prospect of lowered meat intake recommendations for decades. But those battles have largely been waged on the nutritional health front, and the evidence is mixed on whether meat is actually harmful to your health. As a result,\u00a0the government now\u00a0recommends that people opt for\u00a0leaner meat, instead of less meat.\nDefending meat on environmental grounds, however, could be much tougher for the industry.\u00a0Several\u00a0international and government agencies, including the United Nations, have spelled out the meat industry's massive footprint. And now the USDA could be next with\u00a0new, government-backed dietary guidelines.\nFor that reason, several industry players have responded critically to the consideration, both attacking the notion that meat production is environmentally unfriendly and\u00a0discrediting the idea\u00a0that environmental concerns should influence\u00a0the dietary guidelines issued by the government. The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and National Cattlemen's Beef Association have each issued statements insisting that lean meat should be part of healthy diets and denouncing any suggestion that environmental impact should dictate the recommendations.\n\"The Dietary\u00a0Guidelines Advisory Committee\u2019s\u00a0focus on sustainability is objectionable because it is not within the committee\u2019s expertise,\" NAMI said in a statement.\nA draft of the government panel's advice, which was released last month, calls for the consumption of more plant-based foods and less animal-based ones, because it's\u00a0\"associated with lesser environmental impact than is the current average U.S. diet.\" Specifically, the draft advises less \"red meats\" and \"processed meats.\"\nJust because the USDA's advisory committee is discussing such recommendations doesn't mean it\u00a0will ultimately include them\u00a0in its official findings, which are expected to be delivered to the\u00a0Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments later this month. Nor does a recommendation by the panel mean the departments will ultimately heed the advice\u00a0in\u00a0determining the final guidelines, which are expected to be released later this year. But the they\u00a0might. And if they\u00a0do, the impact would be significant.\n\"Americans don't necessarily heed dietary recommendations,\" said Janet Riley, the senior vice president of public affairs for the North American Meat Institute. \"But where this could have a huge impact is on purchasing programs. The federal feeding programs are significantly impacted by the federal dietary guidelines.\"\nIndeed, the immediate impacts would be substantial. Reducing the recommended amount of meat consumption would\u00a0reduce, among other things, the amount of meat the industry provides as part of the school lunch program. And overnight, the diets of millions of Americans would have less meat."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "APFI3XSOHFE7TEQKYF6XS3MABU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "APFI3XSOHFE7TEQKYF6XS3MABU_0", "title": "Impossible Foods is finally making a new fake meat: Pork", "text": "LAS VEGAS \u2014 Trade tariffs and the specter of African Swine Fever made 2019 a harrowing year for pork producers. And there may be more bad news on the horizon: The makers of the Impossible Burger announced Monday they will launch two plant-based pork products, which they claim will taste authentic enough to woo some of the world\u2019s billions of pork eaters. Impossible Foods\u2019 new faux ground pork and breakfast sausage will be the first products mimicking a non-beef protein that the company has sold since it launched its first burger in 2016. The Impossible Sausage will be available at 139 U.S. Burger King locations starting at the end of this month, where it will be served in the restaurant\u2019s \u201cCroissan\u2019wich\u201d breakfast sandwich. The Impossible Pork doesn\u2019t yet have a release date. Meatless replicas of the real thing have taken off in popularity in recent years, as more people choose vegetarian options due to environmental, ethical and health concerns. Tyson Foods recently announced it invested in a San Francisco-based company creating plant-based shellfish, while companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Burger have focused on recreating the texture and taste of meat with plant-based ingredients. Pork could be a particularly good bet for Impossible Foods. It is the most consumed meat in the world and is particularly popular across Asia. The industry is also facing a crisis as the African Swine Fever epidemic has decimated pork supplies around the world, killing nearly a quarter of all pigs globally since August 2018. While the California-based company wasn\u2019t motivated by African Swine Fever specifically when it started working on the product last year, it was motivated in part by health concerns with how animals are raised for food in general, said Celeste Holz-Schietinger, Impossible Food\u2019s director of research. The primary ingredients in the Impossible pork products are mostly the same as what\u2019s in the Impossible Burgers \u2014 water, soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, sunflower oil and natural flavors. The differences between the ground Impossible Burger and Impossible Pork and Sausage product are all in the details, like how the sausage has a bit of springiness to and the pork is fatty. \u201cThe first things you would notice is the release of juices, the juiciness in the mouth, the coating on the palate, followed by the flavor,\u201d said Holz-Schietinger. \u201cYou\u2019re going to taste the fat and the umami.\u201d The company chose to reveal the"}], "old": [{"_id": "APFI3XSOHFE7TEQKYF6XS3MABU_0", "title": "Impossible Foods is finally making a new fake meat: Pork", "text": "Laura Reiley contributed to this report."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "LAS VEGAS \u2014 Trade tariffs and the specter of African Swine Fever made 2019 a harrowing year for pork producers. And there may be more bad news on the horizon: The makers of the Impossible Burger announced Monday they will launch two plant-based pork products, which they claim will taste authentic enough to woo some of the world\u2019s billions of pork eaters.\nImpossible Foods\u2019 new faux ground pork and breakfast sausage will be the first products mimicking a non-beef protein that the company has sold since it launched its first burger in 2016. The Impossible Sausage will be available at 139 U.S. Burger King locations starting at the end of this month, where it will be served in the restaurant\u2019s \u201cCroissan\u2019wich\u201d breakfast sandwich. The Impossible Pork doesn\u2019t yet have a release date.\nMeatless replicas of the real thing have taken off in popularity in recent years, as more people choose vegetarian options due to environmental, ethical and health concerns. Tyson Foods recently announced it invested in a San Francisco-based company creating plant-based shellfish, while companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Burger have focused on recreating the texture and taste of meat with plant-based ingredients.\nPork could be a particularly good bet for Impossible Foods. It is the most consumed meat in the world and is particularly popular across Asia. The industry is also facing a crisis as the African Swine Fever epidemic has decimated pork supplies around the world, killing nearly a quarter of all pigs globally since August 2018.\nWhile the California-based company wasn\u2019t motivated by African Swine Fever specifically when it started working on the product last year, it was motivated in part by health concerns with how animals are raised for food in general, said Celeste Holz-Schietinger, Impossible Food\u2019s director of research.\nThe primary ingredients in the Impossible pork products are mostly the same as what\u2019s in the Impossible Burgers \u2014 water, soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, sunflower oil and natural flavors. The differences between the ground Impossible Burger and Impossible Pork and Sausage product are all in the details, like how the sausage has a bit of springiness to and the pork is fatty.\n\u201cThe first things you would notice is the release of juices, the juiciness in the mouth, the coating on the palate, followed by the flavor,\u201d said Holz-Schietinger. \u201cYou\u2019re going to taste the fat and the umami.\u201d\nThe company chose to reveal the faux pork in an unusual place: CES 2020 in Las Vegas, the massive consumer electronics show more known for robots, televisions and internet-connected everything, from doorknobs to littler boxes. At a press event Monday at Kumi Restaurant in the Mandalay Bay hotel, Impossible Foods cooked up a number of Asian dishes using the ground pork at its launch, including bahn mi, char siu buns, and Impossible Pork Katsu. At its booth on the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center, sandwiched between car tech companies, the company planned to hand out bahn mi samples to conference attendees.\nIt wasn\u2019t the only food company at the show touting a replacement for traditional animal products. Eclipse Foods was at the event promoting its plant-based ice cream alternative. Dutch start-up Meatable had a booth at CES to show off the progress it has made turning pig stem cells into fat and muscle cells for edible products. If successful, the company could make actual meat without entire living animals. It says it will have a testable product by next year.\nImpossible Foods is sticking with plant-based products, and is already working on other replacements for fish, chicken, cheese and milk, according to the company. It has said its primary motivation is to decrease meat\u2019s impact on the environment, which is why it started with beef products, and eliminate animal farming all together by 2035.\nLaura Reiley contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "BK3XSKHMKYI6TEYGI7FQGJH5IQ_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "BK3XSKHMKYI6TEYGI7FQGJH5IQ_1", "title": "Schools in meat-loving rural Brazil went vegan. The community revolted.", "text": "a party without a barbecue \u2014 also has one of the highest rates of vegetarianism. In the past decade, amid mounting awareness of the repercussions of humanity\u2019s meat addiction \u2014 from growing rates of obesity to the deforestation of the Amazon \u2014 the number of Brazilians who consider themselves vegetarian has nearly doubled, from 8 percent of the population to 14 percent in 2018, according to surveys. By some measures, only India, with its cultural and religious traditions of vegetarianism, has a higher rate. The carnivores and the herbivores mostly coexist harmoniously, if discordantly. Near the churrascaria sits the vegan sushi shop. In Rio de Janeiro, Burger King rents billboards to tout its newest offering: A plant-based patty with the \u201cflavor and texture of meat.\u201d But the meeting of meat and health food, conservative tradition and liberal environmentalism would play out differently here in the northeastern state of Bahia, where people eat meat because that\u2019s what people have always eaten. There would be threats. Furious parents. A battle over science. Eventually, the federal government would get involved. But before all of that, there was Baird, trying to establish the consequences of inaction before hundreds of parents. The health of children was on the line. The planet was facing an ecological crisis. \u201cHow are we going to resolve this?\u201d she asked. An exotic food had been set out on a table: Jars of organic peanut butter. Parents inspected it with suspicion. There\u2019s a question that Baird won\u2019t stop asking. \u201cWhy not? Why not try?\u201d she asked. \u201cThe forest is burning, and the water is harder to get to, and the public health \u2014 these are very big things. So why not?\u201d Driving to a nut-butter producer offering an alternative protein source for schools, she shook her head. In a rural environment, she asked, with little money and even less water, why not remove meat, a product that required a lot of both? In a region where kids suffered from high rates of obesity, why not help them become a bit healthier? Why not save the community some money in medical costs? She stared out the window at the desolate expanse of endless brown and tan. She was from Mato Grosso do Sul in southern Brazil, which unfurled like a green blanket, but this was home now. After moving to Bahia in 2011, she met her husband, took a prosecutor job monitoring"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "SERRINHA, Brazil \u2014\nSqueezed into plastic chairs, hand fans going full tilt, hundreds of parents listened in the summer heat. The planet was in big trouble, they were told, and the time had come for their community in rural Brazil to do something about it.\nThe messenger wasn\u2019t one of their own. She spoke with the hard r\u2019s of the wealthier southeast, not the lilting cadence of Bahia, one of the poorest states in Brazil. But what Leticia Baird had to tell the parents was even more striking: Here in meat-producing, meat-eating, meat-loving Brazil, the schools were going vegan.\nBaird, a prosecutor in the Bahia state public ministry, had persuaded four municipalities anchoring this dusty landscape of cactuses and farmland to swap out animal protein for plant protein at all public schools. By the end of 2019, only plant-based meals would be served to the area\u2019s more than 33,000 students.\n\u201cTo preserve the environment for the present and for future generations, we need to take additional measures,\u201d she declared. \u201cIncluding changing our own habits.\u201d\nIt\u2019s a surprising paradox of life here: Brazil, the world\u2019s No. 1 exporter of beef \u2014 a country where cows outnumber people, and a party isn\u2019t a party without a barbecue \u2014 also has one of the highest rates of vegetarianism.\nIn the past decade, amid mounting awareness of the repercussions of humanity\u2019s meat addiction \u2014 from growing rates of obesity to the deforestation of the Amazon \u2014 the number of Brazilians who consider themselves vegetarian has nearly doubled, from 8\u00a0percent of the population to 14\u00a0percent in 2018, according to surveys. By some measures, only India, with its cultural and religious traditions of vegetarianism, has a higher rate.\nThe carnivores and the herbivores mostly coexist harmoniously, if discordantly. Near the churrascaria sits the vegan sushi shop. In Rio de Janeiro, Burger King rents billboards to tout its newest offering: A plant-based patty with the \u201cflavor and texture of meat.\u201d\nBut the meeting of meat and health food, conservative tradition and liberal environmentalism would play out differently here in the northeastern state of Bahia, where people eat meat because that\u2019s what people have always eaten.\nThere would be threats. Furious parents. A battle over science. Eventually, the federal government would get involved.\nBut before all of that, there was Baird, trying to establish the consequences of inaction before hundreds of parents. The health of children was on the line. The planet was facing an ecological crisis.\n\u201cHow are we going to resolve this?\u201d she asked.\nAn exotic food had been set out on a table: Jars of organic peanut butter. Parents inspected it with suspicion.\nThere\u2019s a question that Baird won\u2019t stop asking.\n\u201cWhy not? Why not try?\u201d she asked. \u201cThe forest is burning, and the water is harder to get to, and the public health \u2014 these are very big things. So why not?\u201d\nDriving to a nut-butter producer offering an alternative protein source for schools, she shook her head.\nIn a rural environment, she asked, with little money and even less water, why not remove meat, a product that required a lot of both? In a region where kids suffered from high rates of obesity, why not help them become a bit healthier? Why not save the community some money in medical costs?\nShe stared out the window at the desolate expanse of endless brown and tan. She was from Mato Grosso do Sul in southern Brazil, which unfurled like a green blanket, but this was home now. After moving to Bahia in 2011, she met her husband, took a prosecutor job monitoring community health and discovered what she thought was the key to sustainable living.\nShe\u2019d always eaten like a southern Brazilian \u2014 lots of breads, meats and cakes. But after coming to Bahia, where the culture was defined by descendants of West African slaves, she found a completely different cuisine, one based on roots such as yuca and yam. All the nutrients she\u2019d ever need were right there, from vegetables \u2014 and she wanted to share the news with others.\n\u201cI\u2019m now trying to cut out gluten, too,\u201d she said.\nWhile she navigated a personal journey to a healthier lifestyle, Brazil was in the midst of its own. By 2015 \u2014 even as obesity and diabetes surged \u2014 it had become the fifth-largest market for healthful food in the world. Surveys showed 3 out of 4 people not only wanted to reduce their animal-product consumption, they also admired those who did. That set Brazil apart from most Western countries, where, among groups that face prejudice, only drug addicts are liked less than vegans and vegetarians, according to at least one study.\n\u201cAt first I couldn\u2019t believe [the numbers] because there wasn\u2019t any public policy promoting vegans,\u201d said M\u00f4nica Buava, campaign manager at the Brazilian Vegetarian Society. \u201cBut this isn\u2019t some fad. It\u2019s happening.\u201d\nIt\u2019s happening in the business community: \u201cThere is still unmet demand,\u201d the Good Food Institute reported recently.\nIt\u2019s happening in the country\u2019s urban enclaves: \u201cThere is a growing perception,\u201d said Semiramis Domene, a professor of public policy and health at the Federal University of Sao Paulo, \u201cthat food choices are a political act \u2014 as in, \u2018I can influence food product chains.\u2019\u2009\u201d\nAnd it was happening in the rural northeast, where Baird was puttering down dusty roads outside Serrinha, closing in on the home-run operation of an organic peanut butter producer.\n\u201cWhy not?\u201d she repeated.\nAriane Souza Santiago Silva could think of a few reasons why not. An intense 32-year-old woman, she directs the Serrinha chapter of the Council of School Food, and from the start, Baird\u2019s sustainable eating program had irritated her. To Santiago, it hadn\u2019t been a choice, but \u201can imposition.\u201d\nThere had been no public debate. No vote. Just an announcement: The old school menu \u2014 with its pastas and meats and margarine \u2014 would be replaced with one that featured oatmeal, vegan bread and meat-free kibbe.\nIt wasn\u2019t that Santiago didn\u2019t want children to eat more healthfully, or to save public money. It was a question of identity. What Serrinha is and what it is not. And this food, with its exotic ingredients and protein alternatives, wasn\u2019t Serrinha.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a culture here,\u201d Santiago said. \u201cAnd this shows a lack of respect for our culture. [Baird] isn\u2019t of Bahia. She\u2019s not of the Northeast.\u201d\nSantiago started to investigate. As vegan food overtook the schools \u2014 first one, then two, then three days a week \u2014 she and four other women fanned out across the region. They visited 48 schools and day-care centers, she says, snapping photographs and interviewing 55 students, 25 parents and numerous lunchroom cooks.\nThey found school cooks churning out meals that were barely edible. Trash bins filled with uneaten vegan food. Children refusing to eat and going home hungry. Students bringing meat from their own kitchens. The menus being unilaterally altered back to traditional food.\n\u201cIt\u2019s an absurdity!\u201d said Jucineide Santos, 42, a chicken and sheep farmer. She says her 12-year-old daughter often returned home from school hungry, having refused to eat.\n\u201cMost of the products are peanuts! They make milk with peanuts. What is that?\u201d\nFood wasted, kids hungry: An attempt to save public resources, Santiago said, seemed only to be wasting more of them. She typed out a report declaring the new food hadn\u2019t been \u201caccepted by the school community.\u201d\nBy then, she\u2019d alerted the local Regional Council of Nutritionists in the state capital of Salvador, which also came down hard on the program. \u201cRisky,\u201d it called the initiative. \u201cNot compatible with the regional reality.\u201d\nThe Federal Council of Nutritionists took it even further: \u201cIt could compromise the development of schoolchildren.\u201d\nBaird produced a lengthy rebuttal to the criticisms, enumerating the benefits of a vegan diet, listing the dozens of studies that she believed would prove her points. But it was too late. The National Fund for Educational Development, the agency that oversees school meals, was threatening to suspend funding if local mayors removed animal products every day of the week.\nThe battle of vegan food had reached a stalemate.\nWas it too much, too soon? Was it the flavor of the food?\nBaird drove deep into the countryside one recent day to inspect the quality of the vegan meals at a rural school. Until recently, the cafeteria had been serving vegan food three days a week. But it scaled back to two days after the federal threat.\nOn the menu were soy-based sloppy joes and oranges, and students were lining up to get their share. The children tore into the food, eating all of the sandwiches, laughing and joking. It wasn\u2019t the hellish experience that the program\u2019s critics described.\nBut it still wasn\u2019t ideal, some young food critics said.\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have much flavor, soy,\u201d said one student, Alan Delon.\n\u201cIt\u2019s good,\u201d insisted Leticia Silva Santos, a schoolmate. \u201cIt\u2019s healthy, and I eat everything. It\u2019s better for nature, too.\u201d\nBaird walked past the throng of students eating, proud of what she saw. The teachers had told her they were on her side. So were the school\u2019s administrators. And the mayors. Even the students seemed to be coming around.\nPeople here \u2014 they wanted kids to be healthy. They wanted to do what they could to save nature. She just knew it.\nEven if the rollout had been delayed, vegan food was the way forward. By the end of next year, she vowed, the students would be eating vegan food four out of five school days. She hoped that would keep the feds happy.\nIt wasn\u2019t over yet.\n\u201cA good fight is a good one,\u201d she said.\nterrence.mccoy@washpost.com\nPercentage of Brazilians who consider themselves vegetarian  in 2018, which has nearly doubled, from 8 percent, according to surveys"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "CVJZCJ7RTNBPJIXIISQOMP2RSA_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "CVJZCJ7RTNBPJIXIISQOMP2RSA_0", "title": "Who are you calling chicken? Tyson Foods is getting into the business of plant-based meat.", "text": "Tyson Foods entered the crowded fray of alt-meat Thursday, with the country\u2019s largest meat producer announcing it will produce plant-based meat products under the Raised & Rooted brand. They intend to release nuggets to retailers this summer, with a blended burger product to follow in the fall. The move shows traditional meat companies are eager to get in on plant-based alternatives heralded as the next big thing. The entry of these heavy hitters presents a challenge to start-ups and other fledgling companies that have centered their whole business on plant-based meat. After the announcement, shares of Beyond Meat plummeted about 4 percent in premarket trading. Until recently, Tyson held a 6.52 percent share in the El Segundo, Calif.-based Beyond Meat, but Tyson sold its stake in April in anticipation of launching its own alternative-meat company. As has been widely publicized, Beyond Meat had the strongest initial public offering of the year, with stocks soaring 468 percent and a market value of about $8.3 billion, but Thursday\u2019s fall in share prices may indicate that the market perceives Tyson as a challenge to the younger, smaller company. Tyson is not the only big player entering this heated market. Nestl\u00e9 announced this month that it will launch a pea-protein-based burger this fall in the United States under the brand Sweet Earth. (Beyond Meat uses pea protein and canola oil, while major competitor Impossible Foods uses a soy-based protein and coconut oil.) Other meat giants such as Cargill have made investments in cell-cultured-meat companies such as Memphis Meats, which is said to be close to launching products. While many of these companies are a rebuke to traditional animal agriculture, it makes sense that key players in traditional ag are angling for a slice of this new pie. It\u2019s a big pie. This country dispatches 50 billion hamburgers annually, three every week for each American. But there is mounting evidence that a diet high in processed and red meat may be harmful. A Lancet study of global diet and health this spring made waves when it called out processed and red meat as \u201cunhealthy items,\u201d along with sugary beverages and sodium. And a study in the peer-reviewed British Medical Journal on the topic released Thursday said red meat was associated with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer, including colorectal. Still other recent studies indicate that red meat is"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Tyson Foods entered the crowded fray of alt-meat Thursday, with the country\u2019s largest meat producer announcing it will produce plant-based meat products under the Raised & Rooted brand. They intend to release nuggets to retailers this summer, with a blended burger product to follow in the fall.\nThe move shows traditional meat companies are eager to get in on plant-based alternatives heralded as the next big thing. The entry of these heavy hitters presents a challenge to start-ups and other fledgling companies that have centered their whole business on plant-based meat.\nAfter the announcement, shares of Beyond Meat plummeted about 4 percent in premarket trading. Until recently, Tyson held a 6.52 percent share in the El Segundo, Calif.-based Beyond Meat, but Tyson sold its stake in April in anticipation of launching its own alternative-meat company.\nAs has been widely publicized, Beyond Meat had the strongest initial public offering of the year, with stocks soaring 468 percent and a market value of about $8.3 billion, but Thursday\u2019s fall in share prices may indicate that the market perceives Tyson as a challenge to the younger, smaller company.\nTyson is not the only big player entering this heated market. Nestl\u00e9 announced this month that it will launch a pea-protein-based burger this fall in the United States under the brand Sweet Earth. (Beyond Meat uses pea protein and canola oil, while major competitor Impossible Foods uses a soy-based protein and coconut oil.) Other meat giants such as Cargill have made investments in cell-cultured-meat companies such as Memphis Meats, which is said to be close to launching products.\nWhile many of these companies are a rebuke to traditional animal agriculture, it makes sense that key players in traditional ag are angling for a slice of this new pie.\nIt\u2019s a big pie.\nThis country dispatches 50 billion hamburgers annually, three every week for each American. But there is mounting evidence that a diet high in processed and red meat may be harmful.\nA Lancet study of global diet and health this spring made waves when it called out processed and red meat as \u201cunhealthy items,\u201d along with sugary beverages and sodium. And a study in the peer-reviewed British Medical Journal on the topic released Thursday said red meat was associated with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer, including colorectal. Still other recent studies indicate that red meat is no worse than white meat in terms of cholesterol.\nIn light of this new research, many \u201cflexitarians\u201d and even die-hard carnivores are considering swapping in a plant-based burger occasionally.\nQuestions remain about whether plant-based burgers such as those from Beyond Meat or Impossible are healthier than animal-based burgers. While they have zero cholesterol, they are calorically similar, similar in saturated fat and frequently slightly higher in sodium. And in a recent study by the Detox Project, many commercial organic pea proteins tested positive for high levels of glyphosate, an herbicide that has been linked to cancer.\nThe research firm Euromonitor International expects that the market for meat alternatives will hit $22.9 billion globally by 2023. By comparison, traditional animal agriculture has a global worth of $1.4 trillion. What goliaths such as Tyson and Nestl\u00e9 can bring to the table are deep pockets for research and development.\nMiles from the veggie burgers of yore, these new alt-meats chew, sizzle and even bleed like traditionally farmed meat. Rather than aiming at a target audience of vegans and vegetarians, many of the companies marketing these new products see their customers as carnivores concerned about the sustainability of traditional animal agriculture.\nImpossible and Beyond Meat recently reformulated their product to be \u201cmeatier,\u201d and cell-cultured-meat companies plan to enter the arena with products that are nutritionally identical to traditionally raised meats. At least initially, alt-meat companies are aiming for verisimilitude to attract meat-eating consumers. Moving forward, according to Kristopher Gasteratos, founder of the Cellular Agriculture Society, nutrient density and nutritional improvements are a matter of formulation."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "DFHMGCQSH4I6XISYMFFM6K4QNU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "DFHMGCQSH4I6XISYMFFM6K4QNU_0", "title": "E.U. considering ban on veggie \u2018burger\u2019 and other meaty terms for plant-based food", "text": "Veggie burgers and vegetarian sausages could face an unappetizing rebranding in the European Union as discs and fingers, with the European Parliament set to vote Wednesday on a proposal that would keep meat labels off non-meat alternatives. The potential ban on terms that suggest vegetarian alternatives to meat products has been pushed by Europe\u2019s meat industry. Proponents have already won battles to curtail some vegetarian labels in the vast European market: Soy \u201cmilk\u201d is illegal across the 27-nation bloc. Veggie \u201cburgers\u201d have been outlawed in France. The measure has drawn an outcry from European environmentalists, who say that the rebranding could dissuade veggie-curious meat eaters from substituting a plant-based patty between their hamburger buns next time they fire up the grill. Proponents of the ban say that labels\u2019 meanings should be clear and that consumers should not be lulled into thinking that processed veggie sausages are any more healthful than the porky originals. Some of them also say that people can accidentally buy vegetarian products while meaning to buy the meat-based ones when the packaging is unclear. Similar bans have been enacted in several U.S. states \u201cReplacing meat with a cocktail of chemicals, an ultra-processed product, this is unacceptable,\u201d said Pekka Pesonen, secretary general of COPA-COGECA, an industry group representing European farmers. Opponents say that such a ban would actually cause more consumer confusion because the term \u201cveggie burger\u201d has been established for decades, and those who buy them actively seek them out. They fear that if meat alternatives are stripped of their cutlet-y labels, they could be exiled to the specialty diet sections of grocery stores, farther from the meat they aim to supplant. Further vegetarian innovation might be stifled, some say. Veggie burger labels are \u201cfor consumers who like meat, who want to eat products that they can eat on a bun, that they can put on a barbecue,\u201d said Alex Holst, policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, which has been fighting the ban. \u201cFor them, it\u2019s important to have a name that indicates how they can use the product.\u201d The measure being considered by the European Parliament would ban terms such as \u201csteak,\u201d \u201cescalope\u201d and \u201chamburger\u201d for products that aren\u2019t made of meat. A separate measure would extend the ban to any term that likens vegetarian products such as plant-based milks, creams and cheeses to dairy ones, like \u201cbutter substitute\u201d or \u201ccream-style.\u201d \u201cI think a"}], "old": [{"_id": "DFHMGCQSH4I6XISYMFFM6K4QNU_0", "title": "E.U. considering ban on veggie \u2018burger\u2019 and other meaty terms for plant-based food", "text": "Similar bans have been enacted in several U.S. states"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Veggie burgers and vegetarian sausages could face an unappetizing rebranding in the European Union as discs and fingers, with the European Parliament set to vote Wednesday on a proposal that would keep meat labels off non-meat alternatives.\nThe potential ban on terms that suggest vegetarian alternatives to meat products has been pushed by Europe\u2019s meat industry. Proponents have already won battles to curtail some vegetarian labels in the vast European market: Soy \u201cmilk\u201d is illegal across the 27-nation bloc. Veggie \u201cburgers\u201d have been outlawed in France.\nThe measure has drawn an outcry from European environmentalists, who say that the rebranding could dissuade veggie-curious meat eaters from substituting a plant-based patty between their hamburger buns next time they fire up the grill. Proponents of the ban say that labels\u2019 meanings should be clear and that consumers should not be lulled into thinking that processed veggie sausages are any more healthful than the porky originals. Some of them also say that people can accidentally buy vegetarian products while meaning to buy the meat-based ones when the packaging is unclear.\nSimilar bans have been enacted in several U.S. states\n\u201cReplacing meat with a cocktail of chemicals, an ultra-processed product, this is unacceptable,\u201d said Pekka Pesonen, secretary general of COPA-COGECA, an industry group representing European farmers.\nOpponents say that such a ban would actually cause more consumer confusion because the term \u201cveggie burger\u201d has been established for decades, and those who buy them actively seek them out. They fear that if meat alternatives are stripped of their cutlet-y labels, they could be exiled to the specialty diet sections of grocery stores, farther from the meat they aim to supplant. Further vegetarian innovation might be stifled, some say.\nVeggie burger labels are \u201cfor consumers who like meat, who want to eat products that they can eat on a bun, that they can put on a barbecue,\u201d said Alex Holst, policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, which has been fighting the ban. \u201cFor them, it\u2019s important to have a name that indicates how they can use the product.\u201d\nThe measure being considered by the European Parliament would ban terms such as \u201csteak,\u201d \u201cescalope\u201d and \u201chamburger\u201d for products that aren\u2019t made of meat. A separate measure would extend the ban to any term that likens vegetarian products such as plant-based milks, creams and cheeses to dairy ones, like \u201cbutter substitute\u201d or \u201ccream-style.\u201d\n\u201cI think a sausage should be a sausage. Anything else is just sausage talk,\u201d Pernille Weiss, a Danish center-right lawmaker and proponent of the ban, said during parliamentary debate Tuesday.\nAdvocates on both sides of the issue say that the 705-member Parliament appears closely split on the ban. Any decision would be subject to further negotiation with representatives of E.U. member states.\nBut environmentalists say it makes little sense for the European Parliament to start the month by approving a world-leading effort to reduce carbon emissions by 60\u2009percent by 2030, only to turn around two weeks later to enact a ban on low-emissions alternatives to meat. Meat consumption is among the highest-emitting activities in industrialized countries at an individual level. The European Union, meanwhile, has prided itself in green-friendly environmental policies, devoting billions to fight climate change and reduce emissions. The bloc aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 and is racing to implement what it has called a \u201cEuropean Green Deal.\u201d\n\u201cThe meat and dairy sector are so scared that they are starting a fight on food denominations,\u201d a Portuguese Green lawmaker, Francisco Guerreiro, said during parliamentary debate Tuesday. \u201cBut if we care about the environment, the animals and public health, we should facilitate the choice of European consumers.\u201d\nMeat alternatives have been gaining in popularity in recent years, with manufacturers of products such as the Impossible Burger boasting that they are far closer in taste and texture to meat than the taupe, tough veggie patties of years past.\n\u201cIt\u2019s easier to replace pork sausage on your plate with a plant-based sausage than to go from pork-based sausage to a bowl of lentils,\u201d said Vinciane Patelou, director of the European Plant-Based Foods Association, an industry group for producers of dairy and meat alternatives.\nThe European Union has sometimes been subject to mockery for a perception that it is overly involved in food-labeling issues. Proponents of Britain\u2019s split from the bloc mocked supposed rules about \u201cbendy bananas\u201d \u2014 a complaint that had little basis in reality. E.U. food producers cheerfully adhere to a system of food-labeling rules that sets strict rules about how and where delicacies such as Parmesan cheese and champagne can be produced.\nBut some of the terms on the do-not-label list seem a bit arbitrary, opponents say. Hamburgers are named not after a style of meat but after the German city of Hamburg, for example. And if steaks can be made of tuna, why can\u2019t they be made of tofu? Nor is there dairy butter in peanut butter.\n\u201cThere is part of the existing animal agricultural industry that just sees these plant-based products succeeding, and sees it as competition,\u201d said Holst, himself a Hamburg native, or Hamburger."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "DW3ZDKS2H4I6VK3ICAPM73BFGI_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "DW3ZDKS2H4I6VK3ICAPM73BFGI_1", "title": "Local food mogul\u2019s PLNT Burger builds on success of Beyond Meat", "text": "owned by Amazon, whose founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos also owns The Washington Post.) The start-up, known as PLNT Burger, \u201cis a bit of a blend of Honest Tea and Beyond Meat,\u201d Goldman said. \u201cWe are incorporating organic ingredients, such as our mushrooms and drinks, along with Beyond Meat, into our recipes.\u201d The menu includes the Crispy Chik N\u2019 Funguy sandwich, \u201cmade from the fruiting body of an organic oyster mushroom.\u201d The sandwich was inspired by a visit to a mushroom farm, where Goldman noticed that parts of the mushroom were being thrown away. \u201cInstead of waste, we are turning it into food that people can consume,\u201d he said. Goldman is the lead investor in PLNT Burger along with his wife, Julie Farkas, and son Jonah Goldman. They have created a holding company called Eat the Change that will produce a broad line of similar, plant-based food that they hope to sell across the country. PLNT Burger opened its first location at the Whole Foods in downtown Silver Spring in August. Goldman said the restaurant has been successful enough that he and his partners are planning to open more locations. On a good day, \u201cwe are making as much as the previous concept was making in a week,\u201d said Goldman, who kept the menu items below $10 to reach a wide audience. \u201cWe have our sights set on at least four more locations around Washington this year.\u201d Sales of plant-based foods have surged as more Americans move to reduce their meat intake on health and environmental grounds. Piper Sandler reported plant-based meat could be a $6 billion to $8 billion market by 2025, while Goldman Sachs estimates that the plant-based category will grow to $15 billion in the United States and $47 billion globally by 2029. Driving Goldman\u2019s business plan, in part, is an American Psychological Association study that cited a condition known as \u201cecoanxiety.\u201d \u201cPeople are scared and unsure whether their choices are contributing to climate change,\u201d he said. Beyond Meat and PLNT Burger are businesses designed to assuage that guilt by having minimal impact on the environment while also serving popular products. \u201cThe climate crisis has broken through to people\u2019s consciousness,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is no longer a problem we will have to worry about 10 years from now, or when our kids grow up. This is more than \u2018good business.\u2019 It is urgently needed business.\u201d thomas.heath@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Washington entrepreneur Seth Goldman took on the beverage industry with Honest Tea,  a low-sugar drink he created out of his home in 1998. Honest Tea put him on the food map, was purchased by Coca-Cola and made the Chevy Chase, Md., resident a millionaire.\nThen he helped shake up the beef industry with Beyond Meat, the plant-based meat substitute that has upended taste buds and Americans\u2019 food habits.\nBeyond Meat\u2019s success has made Goldman a food mogul. His family owns more than 1\u00a0million shares of the company, which as of Friday\u2019s stock market close is worth about $100\u00a0million.\nNow he is taking on the food service industry.\nGoldman has teamed up with Washington restaurateur Spike Mendelsohn and others to launch a quick-serve concept at a Whole Foods Market in Maryland that offers food that is free of animal products. (Whole Foods is owned by Amazon, whose founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos also owns The Washington Post.)\nThe start-up, known as PLNT Burger, \u201cis a bit of a blend of Honest Tea and Beyond Meat,\u201d Goldman said. \u201cWe are incorporating organic ingredients, such as our mushrooms and drinks, along with Beyond Meat, into our recipes.\u201d\nThe menu includes the Crispy Chik N\u2019 Funguy sandwich, \u201cmade from the fruiting body of an organic oyster mushroom.\u201d The sandwich was inspired by a visit to a mushroom farm, where Goldman noticed that parts of the mushroom were being thrown away.\n\u201cInstead of waste, we are turning it into food that people can consume,\u201d he said.\nGoldman is the lead investor in PLNT Burger along with his wife, Julie Farkas, and son Jonah Goldman. They have created a holding company called Eat the Change that will produce a broad line of similar, plant-based food that they hope to sell across the country.\nPLNT Burger opened its first location at the Whole Foods in downtown Silver Spring in August. Goldman said the restaurant has been successful enough that he and his partners are planning to open more locations.\nOn a good day, \u201cwe are making as much as the previous concept was making in a week,\u201d said Goldman, who kept the menu items below $10 to reach a wide audience. \u201cWe have our sights set on at least four more locations around Washington this year.\u201d\nSales of plant-based foods have surged as more Americans move to reduce their meat intake on health and environmental grounds. Piper Sandler reported plant-based meat could be a $6\u00a0billion to $8\u00a0billion market by 2025, while Goldman Sachs estimates that the plant-based category will grow to $15\u00a0billion in the United States and $47\u00a0billion globally by 2029.\nDriving Goldman\u2019s business plan, in part, is an American Psychological Association study that cited a condition known as \u201cecoanxiety.\u201d\n\u201cPeople are scared and unsure whether their choices are contributing to climate change,\u201d he said. Beyond Meat and PLNT Burger are businesses designed to assuage that guilt by having minimal impact on the environment while also serving popular products.\n\u201cThe climate crisis has broken through to people\u2019s consciousness,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is no longer a problem we will have to worry about 10\u00a0years from now, or when our kids grow up. This is more than \u2018good business.\u2019  It  is urgently needed business.\u201d\nthomas.heath@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "FHN6CNCJAZDEJOFTQPNXIUJMTY_3", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "FHN6CNCJAZDEJOFTQPNXIUJMTY_3", "title": "As the Impossible and Beyond burgers take off, will real veggie burgers go extinct?", "text": "and burgers. Ours is made with beer-battered and caramelized onion, delicious Chao cheddar and our homemade barbecue sauce.\u201d Nitehawk Cinema, which has two locations in Brooklyn, also serves both a Beyond Meat patty and a traditional veggie burger. Michael Franey, executive chef at the Williamsburg location, says he likes having the option on the menu. \u201cI know there are a lot of vegetarians and vegans who don\u2019t like the texture of ground meat,\u201d he says. \u201cThey\u2019re both called a veggie burger, but they\u2019re very different experiences,\u201d adds Blessing Schuman-Strange, executive chef at the Prospect Park location. Still more chefs are choosing to continue making veggie burgers in-house. In Nashville, at Hugh-Baby\u2019s, run by pitmaster Pat Martin, they blend black beans, onions, cashews and smoked mushrooms to create a hearty patty with an umami essence. \u201cAs much as I love meat, I personally love veggie burgers,\u201d Martin says. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to find a really good one, so I wanted to make one that I loved. As a society, we\u2019re moving more towards plant-based eating, so it was important for me to have a veggie option on the menu.\u201d As for why he continues to make it in-house rather than outsource to Beyond or Impossible, it\u2019s about having his fingerprint on everything he serves, and the financials bear that out. Tal says the only con about serving the premade patties is that the much slimmer margins drive up the cost for customers. At Bird and Cleaver in Fort Wayne, Ind., an omnivorous restaurant that heavily features vegan options, Lindsay Cheesebrew serves only a housemade veggie burger made from quinoa, walnuts, mushrooms and white beans. \u201cI think it\u2019s just not as special if you can get it everywhere,\u201d she says of the tech burger patties. \u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s still a processed burger.\u201d Amanda Cohen, chef at New York\u2019s Dirt Candy, will be launching her own veggie burger restaurant \u2014 \u201cthe market demands it,\u201d she says \u2014 come fall and will reach far back into history for her take: a 900-year-old recipe from the Ming Dynasty of China that uses 10 all-natural ingredients. She has resisted veggie burgers in the past, despite serving broccoli dogs and carrot sliders at her restaurant. While she recognizes that tech burgers fill a need for those who would like to eat less meat or were never able to eat a burger for religious reasons,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "There was a strange thrill in finding a veggie burger advertised on the menu of a beer bar in my hometown on Long Island. For years, I had to drive to far corners for explicitly vegetarian restaurants or pick up something frozen from the supermarket to enjoy what would usually be a blend of grains, beans and cheap vegetables. Here was a sign that times were truly changing, yet when it arrived and I took a bite, I immediately began to tear up, looking at my sister with terror: I was so sure I\u2019d just eaten beef, for the first time in years. When the waitress returned, I asked, \u201cIs this a veggie burger?\u201d She replied, \u201cYes, it\u2019s a Beyond burger.\u201d I couldn\u2019t finish it, so uncanny was its resemblance to actual ground beef. My appetite was lost, and I pined for the days of driving 20 miles for something recognizable as food \u2014 as vegetables.\nThat was my first experience with the new wave of tech burgers, which were brought into the world by Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. The former has a base of pea protein, while the latter is soy based. Both have been engineered to resemble beef as closely as possible to entice carnivores to cut more beef from their diets because of its destructive impact on the environment. These were never food for vegetarians and vegans. The Impossible Burger launched itself through chefs such as David Chang, a previously vocal anti-vegetarian, and has now landed on menus at Burger Kings, White Castles and Little Caesars across the nation. These aren\u2019t spaces known for a vegetarian-friendly ethos.\nBut the increasing ubiquity of these meat facsimiles on menus has created a strange moment for those of us who long ago chose to eschew the consumption of animal flesh: Where are the burgers for people who don\u2019t want to eat anything that tastes like meat? What was once the most reliable menu item for non-meat-eaters has become almost overtaken by these tech options, appearing with trademark symbols on menus, and a fear pervades: Will true veggie burgers go extinct? For now, although many restaurants are choosing to put only tech burgers on their menus, others are sticking to their housemade versions or running them side by side.\nFor Ruth Tal, owner of the vegan chain Fresh \u2014 which has locations in Toronto and, soon, Los Angeles \u2014 their Beyond burger has been a smashing success, but it still hasn\u2019t made sense to take their veggie burger off the menu. The latter is composed of almonds, tofu, millet, beets, carrots, parsley, spices and herbs. In June, they sold 6,500 Beyond burgers and 6,000 of their veggie.\n\u201cIf sales of our original burger patty were cannibalized, we would have listened and stopped serving it,\u201d Tal says. \u201cBut the good news is that they are just as strong as ever. I believe the Beyond stands apart because of the pea protein, the meaty texture, and our housemade \u2018special\u2019 sauce.\u201d To her, the customers who opt for each are very different, and the options complement each other.\nHoneybee\u2019s, a new vegan barbecue restaurant in New York\u2019s East Village, serves just the Impossible Burger, for reasons of consistency, ease and flavor. But chef Amira Gharib tries to make it her own. \u201cI mix [the Impossible meat] with a couple things just to give it our own touch and to throw in a couple of classic flavors: shallots, vegan Worcestershire sauce,\u201d Gharib says. \u201cI think Impossible Burger did a great job with the base, now it\u2019s up to chefs to create their own blends and burgers. Ours is made with beer-battered and caramelized onion, delicious Chao cheddar and our homemade barbecue sauce.\u201d\nNitehawk Cinema, which has two locations in Brooklyn, also serves both a Beyond Meat patty and a traditional veggie burger. Michael Franey, executive chef at the Williamsburg location, says he likes having the option on the menu. \u201cI know there are a lot of vegetarians and vegans who don\u2019t like the texture of ground meat,\u201d he says. \u201cThey\u2019re both called a veggie burger, but they\u2019re very different experiences,\u201d adds Blessing Schuman-Strange, executive chef at the Prospect Park location.\nStill more chefs are choosing to continue making veggie burgers in-house. In Nashville, at Hugh-Baby\u2019s, run by pitmaster Pat Martin, they blend black beans, onions, cashews and smoked mushrooms to create a hearty patty with an umami essence.\n\u201cAs much as I love meat, I personally love veggie burgers,\u201d Martin says. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to find a really good one, so I wanted to make one that I loved. As a society, we\u2019re moving more towards plant-based eating, so it was important for me to have a veggie option on the menu.\u201d\nAs for why he continues to make it in-house rather than outsource to Beyond or Impossible, it\u2019s about having his fingerprint on everything he serves, and the financials bear that out. Tal says the only con about serving the premade patties is that the much slimmer margins drive up the cost for customers. At Bird and Cleaver in Fort Wayne, Ind., an omnivorous restaurant that heavily features vegan options, Lindsay Cheesebrew serves only a housemade veggie burger made from quinoa, walnuts, mushrooms and white beans. \u201cI think it\u2019s just not as special if you can get it everywhere,\u201d she says of the tech burger patties. \u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s still a processed burger.\u201d\nAmanda Cohen, chef at New York\u2019s Dirt Candy, will be launching her own veggie burger restaurant \u2014 \u201cthe market demands it,\u201d she says \u2014 come fall and will reach far back into history for her take: a 900-year-old recipe from the Ming Dynasty of China that uses 10 all-natural ingredients. She has resisted veggie burgers in the past, despite serving broccoli dogs and carrot sliders at her restaurant. While she recognizes that tech burgers fill a need for those who would like to eat less meat or were never able to eat a burger for religious reasons, they don\u2019t appeal to her vegetable-forward sensibilities.\n\u201cIf the idea is to make people healthier and change the way we look at food and how we eat, we should celebrate the things we have instead of making things in a lab,\u201d she says, which calls to mind how forcefully Impossible and Beyond are targeting fast food over small, local restaurants. Cohen says that perhaps this isn\u2019t the most sustainable way to get the population to consume less meat. \u201cLet\u2019s eat vegetables and put farmers to work,\u201d she says, \u201cand eat the things we already know are healthy.\u201d\nMore from Voraciously:\n5 recipes that will help change your mind about veggie burgers\nBurger King\u2019s Impossible Whopper tastes even better than the real thing\nBeyond Meat\u2019s latest plant-based burger is meatier, juicier and a big step closer to beef"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "JHA4XU7C65H2NK2NB75WD2PV6A_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "JHA4XU7C65H2NK2NB75WD2PV6A_1", "title": "Beyond Meat, a plant-based food company, surges 163 percent after IPO ", "text": "public before any other competitor. The Beyond Meat Burger debuted in October 2016 in the meat section at 51 Whole Foods Markets stretching from Pennsylvania to Ohio, south to Kentucky and east to Maryland and the District of Columbia. Founded by Washington-area native Ethan Brown, the company has such big name-investors as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Seth Goldman, the creator of Honest Tea and the executive chairman of Beyond Meat. The products are targeted to both vegans and those trying to reduce their meat intake, giving the company a unique position within the $1.4 trillion meat industry. Pea protein is the main ingredient of Beyond Meat products, which are designed to replicate the taste and texture of animal-based foods. \u201cWe are focused on continually improving our products so that they are, to the human sensory system, indistinguishable from their animal-based counterparts,\u201d the company said in a recent filing with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Its foods are sold at about 30,000 locations, mostly in the United States and Canada. The company says it is tapping into broader public awareness about personal health, animal welfare, climate change and environmental conservation. But its reliance on pea protein is seen as a risk factor. Beyond Meat depends on a limited number of raw material suppliers, according to the SEC filing, which could hurt the business if those partners\u2019 operations are delayed or disrupted. Intense market competition, a failure to develop new products and to expand its list of customers are also included among Beyond Meat\u2019s business risks. Later this year, the world\u2019s largest meat producer, Tyson, is expected to release a line of animal-free products. Beyond Meat also faces competition from other plant-based companies like Impossible Foods, which is partnering with Burger King, and those developing meat products from animal cells, like Memphis Meats. Goldman, 53, the executive chairman of the Beyond Meat board of directors, owned a 2 percent stake in the company going into Thursday\u2019s public offering. He is still involved in Honest Tea, which he sold to Coca Cola in 2011. \u201cI bet on this really early,\u201d he said, \u201cwhen it was doing less than $1 million in annual sales.\u201d Goldman, whose family has been vegetarian for years, invested in the company in 2012 after his wife read an article about Beyond Meat. \u201cI sent an email to info@beyondmeat.com, and I said I loved the idea of"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "California-based Beyond Meat skyrocketed in first-day trading, chalking up one of the best market debuts in an IPO-heavy year.\nThe maker of plant-based beef and pork substitutes opened Thursday on the Nasdaq stock market at $46, after pricing its shares at $25. The stock closed at $65.75, a premium of 163 percent.\nBeyond Meat represents a food version of alternative energy, with traditional meat companies such as Tyson Foods hedging its bets as consumer demand grows for more healthful, plant-based alternatives to meat protein. Beyond Meat generated nearly $88 million in revenue last year, more than twice its 2017 output, but it has yet to turn a profit. It has lost roughly $30 million in the past two years.\nThe company intends to use the more than $240 million raised in the IPO to invest in manufacturing, expand research and development, and bolster marketing.\n\u201cFrom the Wall Street standpoint, it\u2019s all about this really fast growth that is going to translate to strong profitability in the next several years,\u201d said Kathleen Smith, a principal at Renaissance Capital. She attributed the robust demand for the stock to the disruptive nature of the company\u2019s focused product line and the advantage of going public before any other competitor.\nThe Beyond Meat Burger debuted in October 2016 in the meat section at 51 Whole Foods Markets stretching from Pennsylvania to Ohio, south to Kentucky and east to Maryland and the District of Columbia. Founded by Washington-area native Ethan Brown, the company has such big name-investors as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Seth Goldman, the creator of Honest Tea and the executive chairman of Beyond Meat.\nThe products are targeted to both vegans and those trying to reduce their meat intake, giving the company a unique position within the $1.4 trillion meat industry. Pea protein is the main ingredient of Beyond Meat products, which are designed to replicate the taste and texture of animal-based foods.\n\u201cWe are focused on continually improving our products so that they are, to the human sensory system, indistinguishable from their animal-based counterparts,\u201d the company said in a recent filing with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Its foods are sold at about 30,000 locations, mostly in the United States and Canada.\nThe company says it is tapping into broader public awareness about personal health, animal welfare, climate change and environmental conservation. But its reliance on pea protein is seen as a risk factor. Beyond Meat depends on a limited number of raw material suppliers, according to the SEC filing, which could hurt the business if those partners\u2019 operations are delayed or disrupted. Intense market competition, a failure to develop new products and to expand its list of customers are also included among Beyond Meat\u2019s business risks.\nLater this year, the world\u2019s largest meat producer, Tyson, is expected to release a line of animal-free products. Beyond Meat also faces competition from other plant-based companies like Impossible Foods, which is partnering with Burger King, and those developing meat products from animal cells, like Memphis Meats.\nGoldman, 53, the executive chairman of the Beyond Meat board of directors, owned a 2 percent stake in the company going into Thursday\u2019s public offering. He is still involved in Honest Tea, which he sold to Coca Cola in 2011. \u201cI bet on this really early,\u201d he said, \u201cwhen it was doing less than $1 million in annual sales.\u201d\nGoldman, whose family has been vegetarian for years, invested in the company in 2012 after his wife read an article about Beyond Meat.\n\u201cI sent an email to info@beyondmeat.com, and I said I loved the idea of transforming the meat case into the plants protein case in the grocery,\u201d he said.\nGoldman, who lives in Chevy Chase, Md., said the company\u2019s investors include a wide range of professional athletes, business people and celebrities: Twitter founders Biz Stone and Evan Williams; former McDonald\u2019s chief executive Don Thompson; actor Leonardo DiCaprio; rapper-actor Snoop Dogg; NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul; NFL wide receiver Deandre Hopkins; and free climber Alex Honnold, star of the Oscar-winning documentary \u201cFree Solo.\u201d\nGoldman said guidance for sales for the first quarter of 2019 were around $40 million, triple the same quarter last year.\n\u201cWe are entering into a commodity category, the largest in food, which is meat,\u201d Goldman said. \u201cWe are bringing a proprietary branded offering to the largest category of food. It\u2019s a category that hasn\u2019t seen any innovation in decades.\u201d\nThe company is one in a line of high-profile IPOs this year, including Lyft, Pinterest and Slack. Offerings are expected this year from Uber and Airbnb, among others."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "K7BE3INSBZDJXOLHP4MEAN3JA4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "K7BE3INSBZDJXOLHP4MEAN3JA4_0", "title": "What\u2019s in a name? The battle over alternative meat, milk and rice labeling rages on.", "text": "If you\u2019ve had any \u201calmond drink\u201d lately, you might have noticed that there\u2019s a semantics battle happening among America\u2019s food producers, politicians and public. At its heart are the questions: How should we label products that imitate other products? Who has the right to use certain words? What do those words truly mean? Culinary innovation and the lightening of the American diet has given us an abundance of options. If we\u2019re cutting carbohydrates, we can have cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. Folks with dairy allergies can opt for soy milk instead of dairy milk. And vegans and vegetarians \u2014 as well as people trying to scale back their meat consumption for health or the environment \u2014 have been delighted by the arrival of plant-based burgers that more closely replicate meat than veggie burgers. But legislation around the country and world aims to block newcomers from being able to use some of those words to describe their products. It\u2019s all in service of reducing consumer confusion and protecting their businesses, say proponents of the milk and meat industries \u2014 and recently, the rice industry has joined the fight. The people who make and advocate for plant-based meats and milks, and veggie-based rices, counter that consumers aren\u2019t buying these products because they\u2019re confused and think they\u2019re something else; they\u2019re buying them because they know the products are alternatives, and these consumers want them. Here\u2019s a briefing on the latest in the linguistic fight for your dinner plate. Rice Non-rice \u201crices\u201d have proliferated in recent years, thanks to the Paleo diet, which popularized cauliflower rice. Other vegetables soon followed: Now, if you walk down the frozen aisle of a grocery store, you can buy rices made of broccoli, sweet potato, beets and butternut squash. A new form of alternative rices has popped up in recent months, too: Legume and chickpea rices are a high-protein alternative rice, from the companies Banza and RightRice. They\u2019re made in a similar manner as chickpea pasta but cut to be rice-shaped \u2014 so they\u2019re very similar to orzo. But in Arkansas, beginning in August, these products can no longer be called \u201crice.\u201d Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill last month that aims to protect the state\u2019s meat and rice producers. Most of America\u2019s domestically grown rice comes from Arkansas, and producers fear that rice alternatives will harm their businesses. \u201cThis law only affects people who want"}], "old": [{"_id": "K7BE3INSBZDJXOLHP4MEAN3JA4_0", "title": "What\u2019s in a name? The battle over alternative meat, milk and rice labeling rages on.", "text": "Rice Dairy Meat Correction: A previous version of this story said that the Missouri lawsuit was settled, as per a St. Louis Post-Dispatch report. The lawsuit is in the process of being settled. More from Voraciously: These \u2018eggs\u2019 are made from mung beans. Could they pass for the real thing? Sorry, vegans. If you don\u2019t eat honey, avocados might be off-limits, too."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "If you\u2019ve had any \u201calmond drink\u201d lately, you might have noticed that there\u2019s a semantics battle happening among America\u2019s food producers, politicians and public. At its heart are the questions: How should we label products that imitate other products? Who has the right to use certain words? What do those words truly mean?\nCulinary innovation and the lightening of the American diet has given us an abundance of options. If we\u2019re cutting carbohydrates, we can have cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. Folks with dairy allergies can opt for soy milk instead of dairy milk. And vegans and vegetarians \u2014 as well as people trying to scale back their meat consumption for health or the environment \u2014 have been delighted by the arrival of plant-based burgers that more closely replicate meat than veggie burgers.\nBut legislation around the country and world aims to block newcomers from being able to use some of those words to describe their products. It\u2019s all in service of reducing consumer confusion and protecting their businesses, say proponents of the milk and meat industries \u2014 and recently, the rice industry has joined the fight. The people who make and advocate for plant-based meats and milks, and veggie-based rices, counter that consumers aren\u2019t buying these products because they\u2019re confused and think they\u2019re something else; they\u2019re buying them because they know the products are alternatives, and these consumers want them.\nHere\u2019s a briefing on the latest in the linguistic fight for your dinner plate.\nRice\nNon-rice \u201crices\u201d have proliferated in recent years, thanks to the Paleo diet, which popularized cauliflower rice. Other vegetables soon followed: Now, if you walk down the frozen aisle of a grocery store, you can buy rices made of broccoli, sweet potato, beets and butternut squash. A new form of alternative rices has popped up in recent months, too: Legume and chickpea rices are a high-protein alternative rice, from the companies Banza and RightRice. They\u2019re made in a similar manner as chickpea pasta but cut to be rice-shaped \u2014 so they\u2019re very similar to orzo.\nBut in Arkansas, beginning in August, these products can no longer be called \u201crice.\u201d Arkansas Gov.\u00a0Asa Hutchinson signed a bill last month that aims to protect the state\u2019s meat and rice producers. Most of America\u2019s domestically grown rice comes from Arkansas, and producers fear that rice alternatives will harm their businesses.\n\u201cThis law only affects people who want to deceive the public about how their food originated,\u201d Arkansas state Rep. David Hillman, who introduced the legislation,\u00a0told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. \u201cAnd if you\u2019re not trying to deceive the public, this will not affect you or any of the outlets who sell these products.\u201d\nHowever, \u201cricing\u201d is also a verb \u2014 \u201cto reduce to a form resembling\u00a0rice\u201d \u2014 and the products are permitted to be labeled in this way. So Arkansans won\u2019t be buying cauliflower rice, but they can purchase \u201criced cauliflower.\u201d Many large companies, such as Green Giant, already label their vegetable rices this way. Manufacturers selling \u201ccauliflower rice\u201d after the deadline will be fined $1,000 for each mislabeled product. Restaurant labeling was not included in the bill.\nDairy\nThe dairy industry has long fought against plant-based beverage producers calling their drinks \u201cmilk.\u201d As the number of alternative milks continues to proliferate \u2014 beyond soy and almond, we\u2019re now seeing oat, hemp, flax, pea, hazelnut, buckwheat, tiger nut and peanut milk \u2014 more states have adopted \u201ctruth in labeling\u201d requirements that prevent these products from calling themselves milk. Last month, Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and James E. Risch (R-Idaho) reintroduced labeling legislation called the Dairy Pride Act, which failed to advance in 2017. A common slogan among supporters of these bills: \u201cAlmonds don\u2019t lactate.\u201d But producers of nondairy milks say that customers know the difference between dairy and nondairy products. Nondairy milk sales increased\u00a061 percent between 2012 and 2017.\nLouisiana is considering such a bill. Shreveport, La.\u2019s KSLA News reported that the state used to have more than 1,000 dairies, but there are now fewer than 100. \u201cIf we don\u2019t protect our industry, we won\u2019t have an industry to protect,\u201d Louisiana state Sen. Francis Thompson told the station.\nThe Maryland Senate recently gave its approval for the state to join North Carolina in a compact to enforce nondairy labeling standards. The legislation still needs to be approved by the governor and House of Delegates \u2014 and even then, it won\u2019t be enforceable until other states sign on.\nProposed dairy labeling legislation is \u201cgood old-fashioned protectionism,\u201d wrote\u00a0Paul Shapiro, the author of \u201cClean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World,\u201d in an opinion piece for The Post.\nMeat\nMeat producers aren\u2019t too happy with the Beyond Burger and the Impossible Burger. The two plant-based burgers are famous for how well they can substitute for meat \u2014 they even \u201cbleed\u201d thanks to ingredients such as beets, which replicate the color of a burger\u2019s juices. But industry lobbyists are ramping up their efforts to prevent these companies from being able to use the word \u201cburger.\u201d Last year, Missouri passed a law that penalizes companies that label plant-based products with certain animal meat descriptions, such as \u201cground beef style,\u201d with fines or jail time. Vegetarian protein companies sued the state, and the lawsuit is in the process of being settled. In February, the New York Times reported that \u201cbeef and farming industry groups have persuaded legislators in more than a dozen states to introduce laws that would make it illegal to use the word meat to describe burgers and sausages that are created from plant-based ingredients or are grown in labs.\u201d\n\u201cFive or 10 years from now, fake meat will have a product that is viable from a cost standpoint,\u201d Kevin Kester, the former president of the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association, told The Post. \u201cWe have to make sure that everyone plays by the same rules.\u201d\nIt\u2019s not just an American thing. Last week, a committee in the European Parliament passed an amendment prohibiting plant-based products from being labeled as\u00a0steak, sausage, escalope, burger and hamburger.\u00a0The measure will be voted on by the full Parliament after its elections, before being put to member states and the European Commission, the\u00a0Guardian reports. The measure was opposed by environmental groups, who feared it could discourage plant-based eating.\n\u201cWe felt that steak should be kept for real steak with meat and come up with a new moniker for all these new products. There is a lot to be done in this front, a lot of creativity will be needed,\u201d Eric Andrieu, a French member of the European Parliament, told the Guardian.\nIt\u2019s led to a lot of jokes this week about what plant-based burgers in Europe will be called. \u201cVeggie discs\u201d has become the running gag, and it does have a certain ring to it.\nCorrection: A previous version of this story said that the Missouri lawsuit was settled, as per a St. Louis Post-Dispatch report. The lawsuit is in the process of being settled.\nMore from Voraciously:\nThese \u2018eggs\u2019 are made from mung beans. Could they pass for the real thing?\nSorry, vegans. If you don\u2019t eat honey, avocados might be off-limits, too."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "KMSSA4IIGZB6FHWW3UD5LZ66GQ_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "KMSSA4IIGZB6FHWW3UD5LZ66GQ_0", "title": "Inside the little-known world of flavorists, who are trying to make plant-based meat taste like the real thing", "text": "CRANBURY, N.J. \u2014 Marie Wright dips four long strips of paper, the kind you\u2019d sniff a perfume sample from in Sephora, into bottles of clear liquid marked Methyl Cinnamate, Ethyl Butyrate, y-decalactone and Furaneol. She holds the four strips together and wafts them, fanlike, under her nose. Suddenly, the lab smells of strawberries. Wright is the vice president and chief global flavorist for Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world\u2019s largest food processors and suppliers. She\u2019s a former French perfume industry chemist who has created more than 1,000 individual flavors for major food and beverage companies, and she\u2019s now facing one of the biggest challenges of her career. Consumers are seduced and beguiled by flavorists without even being aware of it. Flavorists are the people who tinker with nacho cheese dust, Hot Pockets and pumpkin spice lattes. They are the tastemakers, driving consumer trends and making food craveable. Wright and the planet\u2019s 200 or so other flavorists are bringing their alchemy to plant-based meat. It\u2019s the biggest craze the food industry has seen in a long time, driven by concerns about climate change, animal welfare and human health. It is still dwarfed by the $49 billion beef industry; however, the Swiss investment firm UBS predicts growth of plant-based protein and meat alternatives will increase from $4.6 billion in 2018 to $85 billion by 2030. Despite its swift ascent, plant-based meat is the antithesis of recent trends such as local and farm-to-table dining, representing an embrace of highly processed foods made palatable in a laboratory by technicians such as Wright. \u201cThese are great proteins from a nutritional perspective, but plant-based presents some challenges with tastes that can be unpleasant,\u201d Wright says. First, there is the masking of the vegetal \u201cgreen\u201d notes in pea protein and the \u201cbeany\u201d notes in soy, often by adding other ingredients and chemicals. \u201cThere isn\u2019t one magic bullet, not one molecule or extract. It tends to be common pantry items like salt, spices, molasses, honey,\u201d Wright says. Vanilla extract is often used for masking because it is known for how it binds to a protein, rendering its own distinctive taste undetectable. \u201cIt sacrifices itself,\u201d she says. She describes vegetal notes that are more about aromatics. The goal is not to remove these aromas, but to prevent them from being perceived. \u201cSmell and taste are closely linked in the appreciation of flavor but are independently triggered,\u201d she says."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "CRANBURY, N.J. \u2014 Marie Wright dips four long strips of paper, the kind you\u2019d sniff a perfume sample from in Sephora, into bottles of clear liquid marked Methyl Cinnamate, Ethyl Butyrate, y-decalactone and Furaneol. She holds the four strips together and wafts them, fanlike, under her nose. Suddenly, the lab smells of strawberries.\nWright is the vice president and chief global flavorist for Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world\u2019s largest food processors and suppliers. She\u2019s a former French perfume industry chemist who has created more than 1,000 individual flavors for major food and beverage companies, and she\u2019s now facing one of the biggest challenges of her career.\nConsumers are seduced and beguiled by flavorists without even being aware of it. Flavorists are the people who tinker with nacho cheese dust, Hot Pockets and pumpkin spice lattes. They are the tastemakers, driving consumer trends and making food craveable.\nWright and the planet\u2019s 200 or so other flavorists are bringing their alchemy to plant-based meat. It\u2019s the biggest craze the food industry has seen in a long time, driven by concerns about climate change, animal welfare and human health. It is still dwarfed by the $49 billion beef industry; however, the Swiss investment firm UBS predicts growth of plant-based protein and meat alternatives will increase from $4.6 billion in 2018 to $85 billion by 2030.\nDespite its swift ascent, plant-based meat is the antithesis of recent trends such as local and farm-to-table dining, representing an embrace of highly processed foods made palatable in a laboratory by technicians such as Wright.\n\u201cThese are great proteins from a nutritional perspective, but plant-based presents some challenges with tastes that can be unpleasant,\u201d Wright says.\nFirst, there is the masking of the vegetal \u201cgreen\u201d notes in pea protein and the \u201cbeany\u201d notes in soy, often by adding other ingredients and chemicals.\n\u201cThere isn\u2019t one magic bullet, not one molecule or extract. It tends to be common pantry items like salt, spices, molasses, honey,\u201d Wright says. Vanilla extract is often used for masking because it is known for how it binds to a protein, rendering its own distinctive taste undetectable.\n\u201cIt sacrifices itself,\u201d she says.\nShe describes vegetal notes that are more about aromatics. The goal is not to remove these aromas, but to prevent them from being perceived.\n\u201cSmell and taste are closely linked in the appreciation of flavor but are independently triggered,\u201d she says. \u201cTaste is composed of the taste sensations perceived in the mouth and odor compounds perceived by the receptors in the nose linked to the olfactory lobe.\u201d\nThen comes the insertion of the mineral, musky, charry, \u201cumami\u201d flavors that we associate with meat.\nWright huddles with fellow flavorist Ken Kraut, who works only on the savory side. They swirl little plastic cups of clear liquid, sniffing and tasting. Too yeasty, they say. They want a little less soy and a bit more umami \u2014 that elusive, savory monosodium glutamate flavor. Mushrooms provide that, as does Japanese green tea. Meat\u2019s mineralized note can be mimicked by concentrated extracts of broccoli and spinach.\nThey\u2019ve got a deadline. A big client is coming in the following week to test blended veggie-chicken meatballs, a plant-based burger and a few other proprietary products. Everyone is launching a plant-based burger these days, and as quickly as possible.\n\u201cThey want to do it in anywhere from six weeks to three months \u2014 there\u2019s an urgency, a panic,\u201d Wright says. \u201cUsually, a product is a year to 18 months to complete.\"\nWright says an ordinary product \u2014 a snack bar or a protein drink \u2014 might cost a client $10,000 to $200,000 to have ADM formulate a recipe, which the company can then produce in its own processing facilities. Plant-based meat is different.\n\u201cThis whole area is expensive because it\u2019s fairly high-tech, with a lot of dollars involved in research,\u201d she says. \u201cSomething like this, you\u2019re talking $100,000 to $1 million.\u201d\nThere\u2019s a lot of heavy lifting that goes into making vegan sea urchins out of soy and vegetable oils or sausage links out of lupin beans, a yellow and occasionally bitter legume. The world is agog at plant-based meats that taste uncannily like the real thing, but nutritionists warn that if companies increasingly rely on chemists to insert desirable flavors into food, consumers might temper their enthusiasm for this new raft of better-living-through-science processed foods.\nWith their pea protein isolates, their gum arabic and yeast extracts, these new foods are the opposite of whole foods, the obverse of transparent sourcing. Some nutritionists and food industry leaders are wondering if the food system is being led astray by foods that need their flavor and appeal inserted industrially.\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t resemble the foods from which it came; it has a vast number of ingredients. It fully meets the definition of ultra-processed food,\u201d says Marion Nestle, author and nutrition professor at New York University, about these new plant-based meats. \u201cAre flavorists complicit? They always have been. These are industrially produced food to which flavors and textures and colors are added so it\u2019s attractive. What they do is cosmetics.\u201d\nBack at the lab, Wright and the team nudge the burger formula, trying to achieve the aroma and flavors resulting from the Maillard reaction, a chemical process between amino acids and sugars as they reduce that gives caramelizing meat its distinctive seared flavor.\nThey dry liquids in a spray dryer, tiny droplets sent through a hot chamber in a stainless-steel box, the water driven off to produce powders. They consider the protein, the flavorings and the binders, looking for a mineral, bloody note and seeking appealing top notes that mimic seared sirloin. They go beyond sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness and umami, reaching for a lesser-known \u201csixth taste\u201d sensation that the Japanese call kokumi, which translates as something like \u201cheartiness\u201d or \u201cmouthfulness.\u201d\nThen they take their thoughts into the kitchen.\nJohn Stephanian, ADM\u2019s culinary director, went to culinary school but considers himself a culinologist, where the culinary arts and the science of food meet. He\u2019s plating the plant-based burgers as the flavorists arrive, deep ruddy patties with charry grill marks, tucked onto glossy brioche buns with delicate Parmesan crisps. Wright tastes, appraising. How is the chew? Is it meaty enough?\n***\nWright grew up east of London and studied chemistry at King\u2019s College London. She worked in Europe for years, moved to New Jersey and commuted back and forth to South America to set up flavor labs. Salaries for flavorists vary widely, she says, from $50,000 to $500,000. Flavorist is a mentoring profession, with trainees spending years as underlings in places such as ADM\u2019s Academy of Future Flavorists program. It takes seven to 10 years to achieve flavorist status, and 20 to be a senior flavorist, Wright says.\n\u201cLearning the materials takes three to four years. Like being a pianist, you have to practice. A trainee may do 20 to 30 versions of a flavor,\u201d she says.\nFlavorists work with beakers and magnetic stir bars. They work with gas chromatography mass spectrometry instruments that separate chemical mixtures and identify the components at a molecular level. They paint their pictures with essential oils, resinoids, concretes and absolutes, the building blocks of fragrance and flavor. But mostly, they use their noses and skills of prognostication.\nDesigning an average of 300 new products a year, flavorists have tens of millions of dollars riding on their senses and gut instincts about the next big thing in the food industry.\n\u201cThere are so many influences from all over the world. If you\u2019re going to hang your hat on a flavor for next year, you may be wrong,\u201d Wright says.\nIt\u2019s about reverse engineering, listening to clients\u2019 visions while tracking trends and predicting consumer fetishes and preoccupations.\n\u201cConsumers are driving trends. Trends only used to come from high-end restaurants. Now, a lot of trends are coming from street foods,\u201d she says. \u201cThe consumer has changed. They\u2019re saying, \u2018I\u2019m not going to eat that, and I have a say.\u2019 \u201d\nShe points to smaller food companies such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, which have pushed food giants such as Cargill, Tyson Foods, Kellogg and Smithfield Foods into a headlong race to produce signature plant-based meats.\nBefore the day is over, Wright checks in with a flavorist working on an energy bar flavored with salted caramel, then with a team in the mint lab working on a gum that both cools and tingles. She tastes a nitro coffee, deciding whether it should be flavored with Madagascar or Ugandan vanilla \u2014 the former classic and beany, the latter sweeter with a hint of milk chocolate.\nAnd about that burger. Nondisclosure agreements prevent her from naming the company behind this plant-based burger, but the meeting is a success, the company\u2019s team staying for two days to hash out the details.\n\u201cThey liked aspects of it, and they also wanted some changes in the fat delivery. They wanted a bit more of that bloody, minerally note and more of that seared taste, as well as that melty quality you get with animal fat,\u201d Wright says.\n\u201cA few years ago, they didn\u2019t have to taste so fantastic, but now we can really replicate a meat product without meat,\" she says.\nClients often provide nutritional and price guidelines, with the ADM team working within constraints such as calorie counts or projected retail cost. Once the formulation has been approved, the client gets the recipe, frequently having it produced and packaged by a co-manufacturing facility. Wright and her group don\u2019t produce the finished, packaged product. They invent the formula.\nWith food technology and the culinary zeitgeist moving so swiftly, predicting what will resonate with consumers is tricky \u2014 even with Wright\u2019s expanding toolbox of ingredients and food technologies.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a huge area of investment,\u201d Wright says. \u201cIf it doesn\u2019t taste delicious, people are not going to buy it.\u201d"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "ME4QMYBC3ZCP5KRCR2Y4P3KZWI_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ME4QMYBC3ZCP5KRCR2Y4P3KZWI_1", "title": "In a crowded field of big-name IPOs, Beyond Meat emerges as the surprise MVP", "text": "Founded in 2009 by vegan and Washington-area native Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat strives to make products that are \u201cindistinguishable from their animal-based counterparts,\u201d according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. But its appeal is about more than just creating a believable meat substitute, the company says. Beyond Meat is positioning itself as an ethical alternative for the climate-concerned and health-conscious in the $1.4 trillion meat industry. Though skeptics question whether mass-market demand for fake meat can be sustained, the projections are optimistic: Barclays recently predicted meat alternatives could capture as much as 10 percent of the global protein market. The appetite is strongest in Europe, which accounted for nearly 40 percent of global sales for plant-based meats in 2017, according to Allied Market Research. \u201cBy eating our plant-based meats, consumers can enjoy more, not less, of their favorite meals, and by doing so, help address concerns related to human health, climate change, resource conservation and animal welfare,\u201d the company said in its SEC filing. \u201cThe success of our breakthrough innovation model and products has allowed us to appeal to a broad range of consumers, including those who typically eat animal-based meats.\u201d A possible partnership with McDonald\u2019s could catapult Beyond Meat further. The fast-food chain is looking to include a vegan burger on its menu, and its chief executive, Steve Easterbrook, told CNBC on Wednesday that McDonald\u2019s is already testing meat alternatives in Europe. Beyond Meat\u2019s stock spiked 13.4 percent after his comments, closing at $97.50 that day. Jefferies analysts told investors this week that Beyond Meat is well-positioned to partner with McDonald\u2019s and that a deal could boost its stock price by as much as 30 percent. Goldman, the JPMorgan analyst, expects Beyond Meat to sign up with a major fast-food chain by year\u2019s end. He noted that Don Thompson, former chief executive of McDonald\u2019s, now sits on Beyond Meat\u2019s board. The Beyond Burger, a plant-based burger primarily made of pea protein, debuted in the meat section of 51 Whole Foods markets in October 2016. Today it\u2019s carried in 30,000 locations, mostly in the United States and Canada, and the product line has expanded to include \u201ccrumbles\u201d akin to ground beef and sausage. But deals with three European distributors will soon take its products overseas, and the company announced Tuesday it is partnering with Zandbergen to build a manufacturing plant in the Netherlands by early 2020."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "As investors eagerly watched a crowd of tech unicorns rush toward initial public offerings this year, few could have predicted that A-list brands such as Uber and Lyft would be eclipsed by a company that makes mock meat out of peas.\nBeyond Meat, whose plant-based versions of beef and pork can be found at Whole Foods Markets and T.G.I. Friday\u2019s, has seen its stock shoot up 250 percent since its Nasdaq opener on May 2. Its rise is all the more stunning against the turbulence that has gripped U.S. markets for weeks. By comparison, the two ride-hailing companies \u2014 the most anticipated debuts of the year \u2014 have lost billions in valuation since their launches. Uber stock is down nearly 12 percent since its May 10 debut, and Lyft is off 22 percent since March 29.\nNow, nearly a month after its market debut, Beyond Meat is valued at $5 billion, and analysts seem to think this is just the start.\n\u201cBeyond Meat is a true disrupter and innovator,\u201d JPMorgan Chase analyst Ken Goldman wrote in a note to investors this week. \u201cWe think plant-based meat can exceed $100 billion in sales in 15 years, with Beyond taking 5 percent.\u201d\nFounded in 2009 by vegan and Washington-area native Ethan Brown, Beyond Meat strives to make products that are \u201cindistinguishable from their animal-based counterparts,\u201d according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. But its appeal is about more than just creating a believable meat substitute, the company says. Beyond Meat is positioning itself as an ethical alternative for the climate-concerned and health-conscious in the $1.4 trillion meat industry.\nThough skeptics question whether mass-market demand for fake meat can be sustained, the projections are optimistic: Barclays recently predicted meat alternatives could capture as much as 10 percent of the global protein market. The appetite is strongest in Europe, which accounted for nearly 40 percent of global sales for plant-based meats in 2017, according to Allied Market Research.\n\u201cBy eating our plant-based meats, consumers can enjoy more, not less, of their favorite meals, and by doing so, help address concerns related to human health, climate change, resource conservation and animal welfare,\u201d the company said in its SEC filing. \u201cThe success of our breakthrough innovation model and products has allowed us to appeal to a broad range of consumers, including those who typically eat animal-based meats.\u201d\nA possible partnership with McDonald\u2019s could catapult Beyond Meat further. The fast-food chain is looking to include a vegan burger on its menu, and its chief executive, Steve Easterbrook, told CNBC on Wednesday that McDonald\u2019s is already testing meat alternatives in Europe. Beyond Meat\u2019s stock spiked 13.4 percent after his comments, closing at $97.50 that day.\nJefferies analysts told investors this week that Beyond Meat is well-positioned to partner with McDonald\u2019s and that a deal could boost its stock price by as much as 30 percent.\nGoldman, the JPMorgan analyst, expects Beyond Meat to sign up with a major fast-food chain by year\u2019s end. He noted that Don Thompson, former chief executive of McDonald\u2019s, now sits on Beyond Meat\u2019s board.\nThe Beyond Burger, a plant-based burger primarily made of pea protein, debuted in the meat section of 51 Whole Foods markets in October 2016. Today it\u2019s carried in 30,000 locations, mostly in the United States and Canada, and the product line has expanded to include \u201ccrumbles\u201d akin to ground beef and sausage. But deals with three European distributors will soon take its products overseas, and the company announced Tuesday it is partnering with Zandbergen to build a manufacturing plant in the Netherlands by early 2020.\nLast year, Beyond Meat generated nearly $88 million in revenue, more than doubling its output from 2017. Now, with the $240 million raised by its IPO, the company said it plans to boost manufacturing, research and marketing. It also hopes to replicate the success of the nondairy milk industry, which has grown 61 percent in the past five years and commands 13 percent of the traditional milk market with almond, soy, oat and other offerings. In 2017, nondairy milk sales surpassed $2 billion.\n\u201cThe success of the plant-based dairy industry was based on a strategy of creating plant-based dairy products that tasted better than previous nondairy substitutes, packaged and merchandised adjacent to their dairy equivalents,\u201d Beyond Meat wrote in the filing. \u201cWe believe that by applying the same strategy to the plant-based meat category, it can grow to be at least the same proportion of the approximately $270 billion meat category in the United States.\u201d\nBut the meat-alternative field has become crowded of late. There\u2019s a glut of plant-based protein companies, including Impossible Foods, which garnered attention after the success of the Impossible Whopper, a vegetarian version of Burger King\u2019s headline sandwich. Even meat and poultry companies are making the leap, with juggernauts such as Tyson preparing to release a line of animal-free products.\nBeyond Meat\u2019s reliance on pea protein also presents a potential threat to the company: It has just one supplier of the protein, and supply interruptions have already caused delivery delays. And the price of the protein could fluctuate based on environmental factors, such as weather and farming conditions, that would force Beyond Meat to raise prices.\nAs of now, Beyond Meat has no written contracts with its co-manufacturers, which take the pea protein and turn it into beeflike products, meaning the partnership has no legal backing. But the company says it is taking steps to nail down formal contracts with manufacturers, diversify its supply chain and lock in prices.\nThe company has enjoyed ample time in the limelight, thanks in part to a number of high-profile investors: Twitter founders Biz Stone and Evan Williams; Thompson, the former McDonald\u2019s CEO; actor Leonardo DiCaprio; Snoop Dogg; NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul; NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins; and free climber Alex Honnold, star of the Oscar-winning documentary, \u201cFree Solo.\u201d"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "O3G6SE2TP5FFLPNYIGKJQMMATM_4", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "O3G6SE2TP5FFLPNYIGKJQMMATM_4", "title": "Veggie burgers were living an idyllic little existence. Then they got caught in a war over the future of meat.", "text": "be able to live your values. What we\u2019re seeing with plant-based is the conversation shifting from \u2018why\u2019 to \u2018why not.\u2019 \u201d There are reasons for Athos to be sanguine. Tofurky has seen year-over-year double-digit growth that has been limited only by production capacity, he said. \u201cThere\u2019s no question we\u2019re seeing more attention to the category,\u201d said Michele Simon, executive director of the Plant Based Food Association, which advocates for the leading plant-based food companies. \u201c \u2026 To have a company like Tofurky have an easy time talking to Walmart? This wasn\u2019t the case five or 10 years ago.\u201d Morningstar Farms, which has been around for more than 40 years, has shifted from being just in grocery stores to being in restaurants, universities, schools, cafeterias and hospitals, with nearly 25,000 locations and with 7,500 new restaurants projected by 2020. While parent company Kellogg doesn\u2019t disclose specific sales data, it issued a statement saying the plant-based surge led by Impossible and Beyond has been beneficial, driving more consumers to meat alternatives. Morningstar has announced its entire portfolio will be vegan by 2021 (plant-based cheese and egg will be added into the mix), while Boca, owned by Kraft Heinz, went through a major brand refresh with new recipes and retro-cool packaging updates in 2018. For Jan Dutkiewicz, a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University who teaches a class titled \u201cModernity and the Slaughter House,\u201d these first- and second-generation plant-based companies make strange bedfellows, with widely discrepant agendas. \u201cTofu and seitan have been around for centuries. These were not on the mainstream radar \u2014 the stuff hippies eat. For Tofurky and Morningstar, customers were more vegans and vegetarians, not mainstream consumers. They weren\u2019t trying to compete with meat on taste,\u201d he said. \u201cImpossible and Beyond are not an outgrowth of Tofurky. Their aim is to mimic meat as closely as possible. They are trying to supplant meat entirely.\u201d The investment capital involved is different, too, Dutkiewicz said, \u201cby orders of magnitude.\u201d Plant-based items that closely mimic meat are seen as a promising new revenue stream for most big meat and food companies. These giants are beginning to reposition themselves as \u201cprotein companies.\u201d Earlier this month, Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the world, announced it would launch a plant-protein line under the Pure Farmland brand. Maple Plant-Based Breakfast Patties, Simply Seasoned Plant-Based Protein Starters and six other products will debut in stores in"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Tofurky wasn\u2019t keeping cattle ranchers awake at night.\nFor decades, veggie burgers were the token offering to vegans at the backyard barbecue, and Tofurky was the Thanksgiving benediction to the meat-free loved ones in our lives.\nBut as plant-based meat goes from an afterthought to a financial juggernaut that aims to change how most people eat, the opposition has suddenly awakened: Many of the country\u2019s 800,000 cattle ranchers have declared war on newcomers Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, which use technology to make products that hew closely to the taste and texture of meat, and now \u201cfirst-generation\u201d veggie burgers and similar products are caught in the crossfire.\nIn 2019, officials in nearly 30 states have proposed bills to prohibit companies from using words such as meat, burger, sausage, jerky or hot dog unless the product came from an animal that was born, raised and slaughtered in a traditional way. Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Wyoming have already enacted such laws. In Missouri, the first state where the ban took effect, violators incur a $1,000 fine and as much as a year in prison. Mississippi\u2019s new law is sweeping: \u201cAny food product containing cell-cultured animal tissue or plant-based or insect-based food shall not be labeled meat or as a meat product.\u201d\nThe states, in most cases backed by cattlemen\u2019s associations, claim consumer confusion as the driving force for the laws. The newest offerings, they say, cross a line when they make unsubstantiated health claims (many have long lists of processed ingredients and are high in sodium) and when the packaging is unclear.\n\u201cBeyond Meat Beefy Crumbles has a picture of a cow on the front and says \u2018plant-based\u2019 in very small lettering at the bottom,\u201d said Mike Deering, a cattle rancher and the executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen\u2019s Association. \u201cI\u2019m a dad and I\u2019m going through the grocery store before one of my boys has a meltdown, and [if] I pick up that package that says beef with a picture of a cow on it, I\u2019m going to buy it.\u201d\nThis isn\u2019t quite a David vs. Goliath fight. The cattle associations have enormous political power, and several of the top veggie brands such as Morningstar Farms and Boca are owned by food giants such as Kellogg and Kraft Heinz. Notably, the major meat processors \u2014 Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods, for instance \u2014 aren\u2019t taking sides, relying on the ranchers for traditional meat but also investing heavily in these new alternatives they believe consumers increasingly desire.\nThe future of ranching faces a big threat if plant-based meat, thought to be much better for the environment, becomes a mainstay of the American diet.\nTraditional animal agriculture is looking to the lessons learned by the dairy industry, which saw cow\u2019s milk sales dwindle by $1.1 billion last year, much of that business scooped up by alternative milks such as almond and oat. And as the stock price of Beyond Meat, which went public this year, has soared, some of the biggest retailers and restaurants in America have got on board with plant-based alternatives.\nIn September, Impossible Burgers roll out in grocery stores. Subway has announced meatless meatballs, Carl\u2019s Jr. and sister company Hardee\u2019s have gotten on the meatless meat wagon, Dunkin\u2019 introduced its Beyond Sausage breakfast sandwich and Burger King expanded the reach of its Impossible Whopper to all franchises.\nOn July 22, Tofurky joined forces with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Good Food Institute (a nonprofit that promotes plant-based meat) and the Animal Legal Defense Fund to file a lawsuit claiming Arkansas\u2019 new labeling law, which went into effect July 24, violates the First and Fourteenth amendments.\n\u201cIf we lose, there\u2019s something wrong with our judicial system,\u201d said Tofurky chief executive Jaime Athos. \u201cThe first thing to get out of the way is that people are confused. It\u2019s all [the cattlemen\u2019s associations] can come up with to censor speech.\u201d\nHe said there is mandatory court-ordered mediation because the two sides have failed to reach an agreement. If Tofurky loses, plant-based meats will have to be repackaged to reflect approved nomenclature, an expensive endeavor for a national company that sells to all 50 states. The bigger issue, Athos said, should focus on the emerging science about the benefits of a plant-based diet.\n\u201cThe meat industry\u2019s chickens are coming home to roost. Their industry was propped up by agricultural subsidies and misrepresented the true nutritional value and necessity of meat in the American diet,\u201d he said. \u201cWe know better. These are not healthy things.\u201d\nDespite being dragged into the fight, Athos said he\u2019s not miffed at what\u2019s transpired.\n\u201cWhen it comes down to it, we\u2019ve undertaken a monumental task and we now have partners to help us achieve those goals,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat a great thing to be able to live your values. What we\u2019re seeing with plant-based is the conversation shifting from \u2018why\u2019 to \u2018why not.\u2019 \u201d\nThere are reasons for Athos to be sanguine. Tofurky has seen year-over-year double-digit growth that has been limited only by production capacity, he said.\n\u201cThere\u2019s no question we\u2019re seeing more attention to the category,\u201d said Michele Simon, executive director of the Plant Based Food Association, which advocates for the leading plant-based food companies. \u201c \u2026 To have a company like Tofurky have an easy time talking to Walmart? This wasn\u2019t the case five or 10 years ago.\u201d\nMorningstar Farms, which has been around for more than 40 years, has shifted from being just in grocery stores to being in restaurants, universities, schools, cafeterias and hospitals, with nearly 25,000 locations and with 7,500 new restaurants projected by 2020.\nWhile parent company Kellogg doesn\u2019t disclose specific sales data, it issued a statement saying the plant-based surge led by Impossible and Beyond has been beneficial, driving more consumers to meat alternatives. Morningstar has announced its entire portfolio will be vegan by 2021 (plant-based cheese and egg will be added into the mix), while Boca, owned by Kraft Heinz, went through a major brand refresh with new recipes and retro-cool packaging updates in 2018.\nFor Jan Dutkiewicz, a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University who teaches a class titled \u201cModernity and the Slaughter House,\u201d these first- and second-generation plant-based companies make strange bedfellows, with widely discrepant agendas.\n\u201cTofu and seitan have been around for centuries. These were not on the mainstream radar \u2014 the stuff hippies eat. For Tofurky and Morningstar, customers were more vegans and vegetarians, not mainstream consumers. They weren\u2019t trying to compete with meat on taste,\u201d he said. \u201cImpossible and Beyond are not an outgrowth of Tofurky. Their aim is to mimic meat as closely as possible. They are trying to supplant meat entirely.\u201d\nThe investment capital involved is different, too, Dutkiewicz said, \u201cby orders of magnitude.\u201d\nPlant-based items that closely mimic meat are seen as a promising new revenue stream for most big meat and food companies. These giants are beginning to reposition themselves as \u201cprotein companies.\u201d\nEarlier this month, Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the world, announced it would launch a plant-protein line under the Pure Farmland brand. Maple Plant-Based Breakfast Patties, Simply Seasoned Plant-Based Protein Starters and six other products will debut in stores in September. Tyson Foods is debuting its own meatless-protein line. Perdue has launched blended meat-and-veg chicken nuggets, tenders and patties. Nestl\u00e9 is rolling out a plant-based line, and Hormel\u2019s Applegate has debuted blended meat-and-mushroom burgers.\nThe top item on the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association\u2019s list of 2019 policy priorities is to hash out a regulatory framework for plant-based and cell-based meat, a responsibility that will slide back and forth between the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.\nAccording to Deering, some of the hubbub really relates to the anticipated launch next year of cell-based meat, that is meat, poultry and seafood products derived from muscle tissue grown in a lab with cells harvested from a living animal. Ranchers fear that insufficient labeling will not distinguish between traditional animal agriculture and these products that do not yet have a track record for safety and human health.\n\u201cWe are at the mercy of the market, at the mercy of the weather,\u201d Deering said. \u201cWe represent some of the most resilient people on the planet who can compete any day of the week and twice on Sunday. This is about consumer protection.\u201d\nAlso earlier this month, the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), a nonprofit that lobbies on behalf of the fast food, meat, alcohol and tobacco industries, placed ads in the Wall Street Journal and New York Post highlighting many of the ingredients in fake bacon and fake sausage, pointing out that many of the plant-based meat options are highly processed and suggesting this might fly in the face of what folks think of as \u201chealthy.\u201d\n\u201cPeople see veggie burgers on the menu and think it sounds like it\u2019s chopped-up salad,\u201d said Will Coggin, managing director of CCF. \u201cDespite what the name leads people to believe, \u2018plant-based\u2019 meats are made in industrial facilities, not gardens. Fake meat companies are trying to promote a \u2018health halo\u2019 over their products, but consumers should know that imitation meat is highly processed and in some cases has more calories and sodium than the real thing.\u201d\nDig deeper: Wellness + Marketing\nWant to explore how the concept of wellness has been marketed into a lifestyle? Check out our curated list of stories below.\nGet smart about fitness science\nThe 10,000-steps-a-day mantra is not based in science. It was born from a marketing campaign for a pedometer invented in 1965 by a Japanese professor of health science.\nDebunking\nMany trainers and exercise brands promote exercise myths that distort how people should think about caloric intake and exercise.\nContext matters: What shapes our ideas\nThe nutritional hierarchy of what animal protein is best for us isn\u2019t always inclusive of differences in how it is raised, caught or processed.\nContext Matters: Understanding pain management in the U.S.\nThe Department of Health and Human Services is examining acupuncture as an alternative pain management treatment that could help prevent opioid abuse."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "ONARBDVTNYI6RGTKKZOZFI2YLU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ONARBDVTNYI6RGTKKZOZFI2YLU_0", "title": "Plant-based \u2018dairy\u2019 products aren\u2019t new. Neither is the U.S. dairy industry\u2019s hostility.", "text": "Paul Shapiro is the author of \u201cClean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World.\u201d Stroll through your local supermarket and it won't be hard to see why some in the dairy industry are, well, having a cow. Milks and cheeses from soy, almonds, coconuts, cashews and even flaxseeds are decidedly in. Cow's milk isn't in danger of being put out to pasture, but consumption in the United States has been in a steady slide since the 1970s and the dairy aisle is getting crowded. With interest in drinking cows' milk waning, especially in Western Europe and the United States, and the popularity of plant-based milk rising, the Netherlands-based Rabobank in May advised dairy producers to diversify with investments in their alternative-dairy competitors. The major agribusiness lender noted: \"Global retail sales growth for dairy alternatives has soared at a rate of 8 percent annually over the last ten years.\" The dairy industry is fighting back against the plant-based competition. One weapon is a campaign to prevent Big Dairy's rivals from using coveted terms such as \"milk\" and \"cheese\" on product packaging. Under intense industry lobbying, the Food and Drug Administration may soon issue new guidance \u2014 the agency on Sept. 28 issued a request for comments \"on the labeling of plant-based products with names that include the names of dairy foods such as 'milk,' 'cultured milk,' 'yogurt,' and 'cheese.'\" Last year Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the Dairy Pride Act \"to require enforcement against misbranded milk alternatives.\" Critics of employing the words \"cheese\" and \"milk\" to describe plant-based products would maintain they are simply defending the traditional understanding of what those terms mean. Tell that to Benjamin Franklin. In 1770, according to Smithsonian.com, Franklin sent to America from London a few dried beans that he said were used by the Chinese to make \"a cheese.\" The beans were almost certainly soy, the magazine said in March, and \"cheese\" was likely the translation of what a Spanish traveler to China, according to Franklin, had described seeing: \"tau-fu.\" (Francis Bacon was nearly a century and a half ahead of Franklin in describing nondairy milk, writing in 1626 that \"there be plants, that have a Milk in them when they are Cut.\") By the mid-19th century, soybeans were being introduced for cultivation in the United States, and in 1897 the term \"soy-bean milk\" appeared for the first time in"}], "old": [{"_id": "ONARBDVTNYI6RGTKKZOZFI2YLU_0", "title": "Plant-based \u2018dairy\u2019 products aren\u2019t new. Neither is the U.S. dairy industry\u2019s hostility.", "text": "Paul Shapiro is the author of \u201cClean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Paul Shapiro is the author of \u201cClean Meat: How Growing Meat Without Animals Will Revolutionize Dinner and the World.\u201d\nStroll through your local supermarket and it won't be hard to see why some in the dairy industry are, well, having a cow. Milks and cheeses from soy, almonds, coconuts, cashews and even flaxseeds are decidedly in. Cow's milk isn't in danger of being put out to pasture, but consumption in the United States has been in a steady slide \nsince the 1970s and the dairy aisle is getting crowded.\nWith interest in drinking cows' milk waning, especially in Western Europe and the United States, and the popularity of plant-based milk rising, the Netherlands-based Rabobank in May advised dairy producers to diversify with investments in their alternative-dairy competitors. The major agribusiness lender noted: \"Global retail sales growth for dairy alternatives has soared at a rate of 8 percent annually over the last ten years.\"\nThe dairy industry is fighting back against the plant-based competition. One weapon is a campaign to prevent Big Dairy's rivals from using coveted terms such as \"milk\" and \"cheese\" on product packaging. Under intense industry lobbying, the Food and Drug Administration may soon issue new guidance \u2014 the agency on Sept. 28 issued a request for comments \"on the labeling of plant-based products with names that include the names of dairy foods such as 'milk,' 'cultured milk,' 'yogurt,' and 'cheese.'\" Last year Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the Dairy Pride Act \"to require enforcement against misbranded milk alternatives.\"\nCritics of employing the words \"cheese\" and \"milk\" to describe plant-based products would maintain they are simply defending the traditional understanding of what those terms mean. Tell that to Benjamin Franklin. In 1770, according to Smithsonian.com, Franklin sent to America from London a few dried beans that he said were used by the Chinese to make \"a cheese.\" The beans were almost certainly soy, the magazine said in March, and \"cheese\" was likely the translation of what a Spanish traveler to China, according to Franklin, had described seeing: \"tau-fu.\" (Francis Bacon was nearly a century and a half ahead of Franklin in \ndescribing\n nondairy milk, writing in 1626 that \"there be plants, that have a Milk in them when they are Cut.\")\nBy the mid-19th century, soybeans were being introduced for cultivation in the United States, and in 1897 the term \n\"soy-bean milk\" appeared for the first time in a U.S. government publication. Also in the late 19th century, the physician and inventor John Harvey Kellogg (yes, that Kellogg) began experimenting with making vegetarian foods, including using nuts for meat substitutes. In the 1940s, the term \"soy meats\" began appearing in U.S. food industry publications.\nStill, America was slow to embrace plant-based meats and milk products. The 20th century was replete with hopeful introductions of alternatives that never quite caught on. In recent decades, though, food-production processes have steadily improved, turning out cow-free products that are ever more appealing to the American palate. Whether out of concern about health, climate change or animal welfare, people are finding manifold reasons to eat lower on the food chain.\nYet no change in the status quo comes without incumbent pushback. Beyond the FDA's contemplated action and Baldwin's Dairy Pride Act (longer version: Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act), which is still in a Senate committee, state lawmakers are also seeking to protect the barnyard lobby. This year, North Carolina moved to \"prohibit the sale of plant-based products mislabeled as milk.\" Missouri recently enacted a state law requiring that only \"harvested production livestock or poultry\" can be marketed as \"meat.\"\nTo hear these lawmakers tell it, American consumers must be awfully confused. Or dim. Do shoppers really need to be protected from the mistaken belief that almond cheese comes from cows or that a veggie burger involves ground beef?\nThe dairy industry's hostility to plant-based foods has a long tradition. In a Depression-era protest in Wisconsin against margarine, which was sometimes made from coconut oil, one demonstrator held up a sign that said: \"Don't look for prosperity if you expect the American farmer to compete with the cocoanut cow.\" The battle against margarine had been going on for decades: Rose Eveleth, writing for Slate in July, noted that, in 1869, American dairy farmers sounded the alarm about \"counterfeit butter,\" as one Wisconsin congressman put it while proposing to tax margarine producers into oblivion. By 1900, 30 states had made it illegal to dye margarine yellow. Some stipulated that it be dyed pink.\nAs foolish as mandatory pink margarine sounds in 2018, similar ill-conceived efforts to thwart plant-based foods abound today by appealing to tradition. But you don't have to be as smart as Ben Franklin to recognize that these efforts are in keeping with a rather different American tradition: good, old-fashioned protectionism."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "SKFBGN6EYRBARDEEJLH3NYYKQU_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "SKFBGN6EYRBARDEEJLH3NYYKQU_1", "title": "Tyson, America\u2019s biggest chicken producer, now makes a plant-based \u2018nugget.\u2019 Is it any good?", "text": "household one. The phrase pops up here and there in the annals of chicken history: A 1967 promotion by the National Broiler Council (now the National Chicken Council) introduced a recipe for nuggets that called for boning breasts and cutting them into pieces to \u201croll in seasoned crumbs.\u201d And a Mrs. Thomas Young of Searcy, Ark., won the 1971 National Chicken Cooking Contest with a concoction called \u201cDipper\u2019s Nuggets.\u201d But the nugget turned juggernaut only after McDonald\u2019s named its battered poultry product the McNugget. (The inventor of the snack that came to be known as the nugget, a Cornell professor named Robert Baker, actually called it a \u201cChicken Crispie\u201d or a \u201cchicken stick.\u201d) By 1986, America was full-throttle nuts for nugs. A Washington Post story about the craze was headlined \u201cNugget Mania\u201d and described the chicken chunks as \u201cthe hot dog of the \u201980s.\u201d And they\u2019re still popular, with countless variations (dinosaur-shaped! air-fried! maple-waffle seasoned!) to be found in grocery freezer cases. Not that they are universally loved \u2014 along the way, they\u2019ve taken more hits to their reputation than Lindsay Lohan. They\u2019re often made a symbol of the obesity epidemic and America\u2019s dysfunctional relationship with food. And urban legends about what\u2019s actually inside that crust has prompted the National Chicken Council to post a defense of the product. (Anytime you have to remind people that \u201cthere is no pink slime\u201d in your product, you know there\u2019s a PR problem.) Which brings us to the nugget\u2019s latest chapter: the plant-based option. Now that Big Chicken is going meatless, we set out to try the new guy on the plant-based block. We tasted the new nuggets along with a few other veggie options for comparison \u2014 and for the poultri-vores among us, there also were Tyson\u2019s classic, real chicken nuggets to remind us of the Platonic ideal. So are Tyson\u2019s newest nuggets up to scratch? In short, cluck no. Here\u2019s what our panel had to say: Raised & Rooted Nuggets Alas, the hyped newbie was most of our testers\u2019 least favorite \u2014 even at first sight. \u201cHe\u2019s so pale,\u201d lamented one. Several pointed out a strange chemical flavor that had us canceling this wannabe bird. \u201cFake smoke? No, just no,\u201d opined another. \u201cIs something burning?\u201d someone asked. And its consistency, which included a couple of nuggets with chunks inside them that popped out from the rest of the filling (\u201ca nugget"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "First there was the egg, then the chicken (or was it the other way around?). Whichever it was, the chicken nugget \u2014 that crust-enveloped chunk of bird that\u2019s become a staple of dinners served on high chairs and in fast-food clamshells across the land \u2014 definitely came after that. And now, like a rapper shortening his name, there\u2019s just the nugget, the plant-based version of the familiar, dunkable finger food.\nVegetarian nuggets have been around for years, of course, but there\u2019s a potential disrupter in the game: Tyson Foods, the world\u2019s second-largest poultry processor, recently introduced a new chicken-less line called Raised & Rooted. The nuggets are made with pea protein, the coolest kid at the veggie party these days, and the company claims they\u2019ve got both a \u201ccravingly crispy batter\u201d and a great taste.\nThe decision to dub such veggie-based products simply \u201cnuggets\u201d is an interesting one. \u201cNugget\u201d is practically synonymous with chicken \u2014 and McDonald\u2019s is the reason.\nAllow me to drag you down an etymological rabbit hole for a moment, will you?\nThe term \u201cchicken nugget\u201d seems to have been in occasional use before the fast-food giant debuted its McNuggets in 1983, but it was hardly a household one. The phrase pops up here and there in the annals of chicken history: A 1967 promotion by the National Broiler Council (now the National Chicken Council) introduced a recipe for nuggets that called for boning breasts and cutting them into pieces to \u201croll in seasoned crumbs.\u201d And a Mrs. Thomas Young of Searcy, Ark., won the 1971 National Chicken Cooking Contest with a concoction called \u201cDipper\u2019s Nuggets.\u201d\nBut the nugget turned juggernaut only after McDonald\u2019s named its battered poultry product the McNugget. (The inventor of the snack that came to be known as the nugget, a Cornell professor named Robert Baker, actually called it a \u201cChicken Crispie\u201d or a \u201cchicken stick.\u201d)\nBy 1986, America was full-throttle nuts for nugs. A Washington Post story about the craze was headlined \u201cNugget Mania\u201d and described the chicken chunks as \u201cthe hot dog of the \u201980s.\u201d\nAnd they\u2019re still popular, with countless variations (dinosaur-shaped! air-fried! maple-waffle seasoned!) to be found in grocery freezer cases. Not that they are universally loved \u2014 along the way, they\u2019ve taken more hits to their reputation than Lindsay Lohan. They\u2019re often made a symbol of the obesity epidemic and America\u2019s dysfunctional relationship with food. And urban legends about what\u2019s actually inside that crust has prompted the National Chicken Council to post a defense of the product. (Anytime you have to remind people that \u201cthere is no pink slime\u201d in your product, you know there\u2019s a PR problem.)\nWhich brings us to the nugget\u2019s latest chapter: the plant-based option. Now that Big Chicken is going meatless, we set out to try the new guy on the plant-based block. We tasted the new nuggets along with a few other veggie options for comparison \u2014 and for the poultri-vores among us, there also were Tyson\u2019s classic, real chicken nuggets to remind us of the Platonic ideal.\nSo are Tyson\u2019s newest nuggets up to scratch? In short, cluck no. Here\u2019s what our panel had to say:\nRaised & Rooted Nuggets\nAlas, the hyped newbie was most of our testers\u2019 least favorite \u2014 even at first sight. \u201cHe\u2019s so pale,\u201d lamented one.\nSeveral pointed out a strange chemical flavor that had us canceling this wannabe bird. \u201cFake smoke? No, just no,\u201d opined another. \u201cIs something burning?\u201d someone asked. And its consistency, which included a couple of nuggets with chunks inside them that popped out from the rest of the filling (\u201ca nugget inside a nugget \u2014 whoa and ew\u201d), was just as unpopular. \u201cThe \u2018chicken\u2019 looks like some kind of brain foam.\u201d\nBut not everyone was a hater; the nugget did get one first-place rating from a taster who praised its \u201cpeppery breading\u201d and \u201cnice and crispy\u201d character. Just be careful not the sleep on this one \u2014 even its fan didn\u2019t enjoy the Raised & Rooted version when its temperature dropped: \u201cIt\u2019s gnarly when it cools.\u201d\nMorningstar Farms Chik\u2019n Nuggets\nFrom the company that\u2019s been making faux, soy-based meats for 40-plus years, this nugget didn\u2019t elicit strong opinions from many of our tasters, who collectively gave this an \u201ceh, pretty good.\u201d Most found this to be a little softer than the real thing, but it was generally tepidly liked.\n\u201cOkay,\u201d one taster summed up. \u201cWould eat again,\u201d said another.\nQuorn Meatless Nugget\nThis was the breakout star of our tasting, the Beyonc\u00e9 to Tyson\u2019s Kelly Rowland. Which seemed unlikely, since the first ingredient in this product is something called \u201cmycoprotein,\u201d which is a more palatable moniker for \u201cfungal protein.\u201d\nThis nugget did turn out to be the fungi at the party, though, with tasters liking its pepper-flecked crust (\u201calmost homemade\u201d) and its \u201cmeat-like attack\u201d on the palate. Some faulted the texture as \u201cgummy,\u201d but that\u2019s actually pretty much the way a real chicken nugget goes down, as we were reminded by the original version we tasted (shown below). \u201cHonestly, the interior texture is better than real chicken,\u201d said one.\nAlice Crites and Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.\nMore from\u00a0Voraciously:\nMcDonald\u2019s gets into the veggie burger game, testing a Beyond Meat patty in Canada\nThe key to White Claw\u2019s surging popularity: Marketing to a post-gender world\nWe did it, America. We ate Popeyes out of chicken sandwiches."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "TKLA3Y6OLBGU3CDWFRVBCX45AE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "TKLA3Y6OLBGU3CDWFRVBCX45AE_1", "title": "E.U. rejects proposal to ban labeling plant-based foods as veggie \u2018burgers\u2019", "text": "as burger, steak and sausage \u2014 off non-meat substitutes in the 27-nation European Union. Europe\u2019s meat industry backed the ban, arguing that consumers could be confused by the messaging and mistakenly buy a vegan rather than animal-based box of burgers. The E.U. has already banned labeling as \u201cmilk\u201d or \u201cbutter\u201d nondairy products based on alternatives such as soy. COPA-COGECA But European environmentalists pushed back, arguing that using terms such as veggie \u201cdiscs\u201d or \u201cfingers\u201d could deter would-be consumers looking to reduce their meat consumption. \u201cConsumers are in no way confused by a soy steak or chickpea-based sausage, so long as it is clearly labeled as vegetarian or vegan,\u201d Camille Perrin, senior food policy officer at the Brussels-based European Consumer Organization, said in a statement. \u201cTerms such as \u2018burger\u2019 or \u2018steak\u2019 on plant-based items simply make it much easier for consumers to know how to integrate these products within a meal.\u201d She continued: \u201cThere is no doubt Europeans need to shift to more plant-based diets, both for their health and the planet. The best would be for consumers to cook more with legumes such as beans and peas instead of meat, but not all have the time and skills to do so.\u201d The proposal was one amendment within a package of agricultural measures. Another that did pass bans terms such as \u201cyogurt-style\u201d or \u201ccheese-style\u201d for nondairy imitation replacements. The larger farm bill was to be voted on later Friday. Elena Walden, Europe\u2019s policy manager for the Good Food Institute, a U.S.-based organization that promotes plant-based alternatives, criticized the latter ban in a statement as \u201cfurther undermining the E.U.\u2019s sustainability commitments.\u201d The European Parliament has issued an array of regulations around food labels, from Parmesan cheese to champagne, that European producers must follow. ING Think, a global research firm, published a report Thursday estimating that sales of meat and dairy alternatives in Europe grew by nearly 10 percent over the past decade. The study estimated the market\u2019s share would rise to 7.5 billion euros ($8.8 billion) by 2025, up from 4.4 billion euros ($5.2 billion) in 2019. \u201cThe sheer size of the meat and dairy market and the small base for plant-based alternatives mean that, even at the current growth rate, it would take until the mid-2050s before sales of \u2018plant-based meat and dairy\u2019 could surpass sales of meat and dairy,\u201d the report concluded. Michael Birnbaum in Brussels contributed to this report."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Veggie burger enthusiasts can rejoice after the European Parliament on Friday rejected a measure to ban use of the term \u201cburger\u201d for plant-based alternatives.\nWhile a seemingly small-world debate \u2014 among vegetarians, whether a mushroom in place of a patty counts as a veggie burger on a menu is itself another controversy \u2014 the ruling could have big implications for the businesses feeding a burgeoning appetite for plant-based meat alternatives.\nOn Friday\u2019s table was a proposal to keep meat labels \u2014 such as burger, steak and sausage \u2014 off non-meat substitutes in the 27-nation European Union.\nEurope\u2019s meat industry backed the ban, arguing that consumers could be confused by the messaging and mistakenly buy a vegan rather than animal-based box of burgers. The E.U. has already banned labeling as \u201cmilk\u201d or \u201cbutter\u201d nondairy products based on alternatives such as soy.\nCOPA-COGECA\nBut European environmentalists pushed back, arguing that using terms such as veggie \u201cdiscs\u201d or \u201cfingers\u201d could deter would-be consumers looking to reduce their meat consumption.\n\u201cConsumers are in no way confused by a soy steak or chickpea-based sausage, so long as it is clearly labeled as vegetarian or vegan,\u201d Camille Perrin, senior food policy officer at the Brussels-based European Consumer Organization, said in a statement. \u201cTerms such as \u2018burger\u2019 or \u2018steak\u2019 on plant-based items simply make it much easier for consumers to know how to integrate these products within a meal.\u201d\nShe continued: \u201cThere is no doubt Europeans need to shift to more plant-based diets, both for their health and the planet. The best would be for consumers to cook more with legumes such as beans and peas instead of meat, but not all have the time and skills to do so.\u201d\nThe proposal was one amendment within a package of agricultural measures. Another that did pass bans terms such as \u201cyogurt-style\u201d or \u201ccheese-style\u201d for nondairy imitation replacements. The larger farm bill was to be voted on later Friday.\nElena Walden, Europe\u2019s policy manager for the Good Food Institute, a U.S.-based organization that promotes plant-based alternatives, criticized the latter ban in a statement as \u201cfurther undermining the E.U.\u2019s sustainability commitments.\u201d\nThe European Parliament has issued an array of regulations around food labels, from Parmesan cheese to champagne, that European producers must follow.\nING Think, a global research firm, published a report Thursday estimating that sales of meat and dairy alternatives in Europe grew by nearly 10 percent over the past decade. The study estimated the market\u2019s share would rise to 7.5 billion euros ($8.8 billion) by 2025, up from 4.4 billion euros ($5.2 billion) in 2019.\n\u201cThe sheer size of the meat and dairy market and the small base for plant-based alternatives mean that, even at the current growth rate, it would take until the mid-2050s before sales of \u2018plant-based meat and dairy\u2019 could surpass sales of meat and dairy,\u201d the report concluded.\nMichael Birnbaum in Brussels contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "TPAMY5HZNII6RDE2QYGOFKAUR4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "TPAMY5HZNII6RDE2QYGOFKAUR4_0", "title": "Coming to grocery shelves in 2019: Mushroom/meat mixes, pea protein and banana milk", "text": "Banana milk, cassava flour and pea yogurt may sound exotic, but I predict they\u2019re going to be in your shopping cart in 2019. These are just a few of the items that caught my attention at the annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, an event that brings together more than 13,000 nutrition and food professionals to learn about new research and product innovations. As consumers look for more creative and convenient ways to enjoy a plant-based diet, we\u2019re going to see more products in that category. Plus, diets such as paleo, Whole30 and low-FODMAP will become mainstream. Here are the nutrition and food trends you\u2019ll see in the new year. Plants in animal-based foods Consumers are craving more plant-based foods for their health and a desire to help the environment, but not everyone wants to go vegetarian or vegan. That\u2019s why working plant-based ingredients into animal-based dishes is a trend to watch. One example is combining mushrooms with ground meat for flavorful, healthier and more environmentally friendly recipes. Earlier this year, more than 350 independent restaurants developed their mushroom-blended take on the classic burger in the James Beard Foundation\u2019s Blended Burger Project. Sonic Drive-In became the first fast food restaurant to serve a blended burger made with 35 percent mushrooms, resulting in a burger that\u2019s less than 350 calories and offers phytochemicals and antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of chronic disease. The Sonic Slinger was offered for a limited time in the spring and proved so popular it was served for a limited time in the fall and is back as part of a new promotion, according to Scott Uehlein, Sonic\u2019s vice president of product innovation and development. In 2019, expect to see more restaurants offering up mushroom-and-meat blends, as well as more recipes for the home cook that combine plant-based ingredients with meat. Bone broth as a base for plant-based soups is another example of the animal-based and plant-based worlds combining to offer the best of both worlds. Bone broth has been trending upward for the past couple of years as a key component of both the paleo and Whole30 diets. It\u2019s thought to have potential benefits for digestive health, and at the very least, contains some protein. Instead of sipping on straight bone broth as in years past, this year you\u2019ll see it used as a base for classic and creative soups. Companies such as"}], "old": [{"_id": "TPAMY5HZNII6RDE2QYGOFKAUR4_0", "title": "Coming to grocery shelves in 2019: Mushroom/meat mixes, pea protein and banana milk", "text": "Enjoy Life Foods Lo-Fo Pantry Paleo and Whole30 labels localliving@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Banana milk, cassava flour and pea yogurt may sound exotic, but I predict they\u2019re going to be in your shopping cart in 2019. These are just a few of the items that caught my attention at the annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, an event that brings together more than 13,000 nutrition and food professionals to learn about new research and product innovations. As consumers look for more creative and convenient ways to enjoy a plant-based diet, we\u2019re going to see more products in that category. Plus, diets such as paleo, Whole30 and low-FODMAP will become mainstream. Here are the nutrition and food trends you\u2019ll see in the new year.\nPlants in animal-based foods\nConsumers are craving more plant-based foods for their health and a desire to help the environment, but not everyone wants to go vegetarian or vegan. That\u2019s why working plant-based ingredients into animal-based dishes is a trend to watch.\nOne example is combining mushrooms with ground meat for flavorful, healthier and more environmentally friendly recipes. Earlier this year, more than 350 independent restaurants developed their mushroom-blended take on the classic burger in the James Beard Foundation\u2019s Blended Burger Project. Sonic Drive-In became the first fast food restaurant to serve a blended burger made with 35 percent mushrooms, resulting in a burger that\u2019s less than 350 calories and offers phytochemicals and antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of chronic disease. The Sonic Slinger was offered for a limited time in the spring and proved so popular it was served for a limited time in the fall and is back as part of a new promotion, according to Scott Uehlein, Sonic\u2019s vice president of product innovation and development. In 2019, expect to see more restaurants offering up mushroom-and-meat blends, as well as more recipes for the home cook that combine plant-based ingredients with meat.\nBone broth as a base for plant-based soups is another example of the animal-based and plant-based worlds combining to offer the best of both worlds. Bone broth has been trending upward for the past couple of years as a key component of both the paleo and Whole30 diets. It\u2019s thought to have potential benefits for digestive health, and at the very least, contains some protein. Instead of sipping on straight bone broth as in years past, this year you\u2019ll see it used as a base for classic and creative soups. Companies such as Pacific Foods have introduced bone broth-based organic soups with the addition of plant-based ingredients such as kale and beans for more staying power and nutrition.\nPea protein\nPeople who prefer plant-based protein would like higher amounts that are quick and easy to prepare and eat. Vegetarian Traveler has introduced portable, shelf-stable blends of roasted peas, soybeans and chickpeas to easily add 15 to 17 grams of protein to salads, stir-fries and more.\nCompanies such as Dr. Praeger\u2019s have created protein-rich veggie burgers, nuggets and meatless sausage by using pea protein, along with other simple ingredients such as vegetables and avocado oil. Their All American Veggie Burger serves up an impressive 28 grams of protein and four grams of fiber.\nSpecial diets\nWe\u2019ve reached the point where what was once referred to as a \u201cspecial diet\u201d seems to be the norm. Products that are \u201cfree from\u201d certain ingredients and that carry diet claims will be even more commonplace in brick-and-mortar and online grocery stores.\nLow-FODMAP products\nFor the estimated 12 percent of American adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, a low-FODMAP diet may help manage symptoms. \u201cFODMAP\u201d stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, types of carbohydrates that for a minority of people can cause gas, bloating and other digestive issues. The list of potentially problematic foods includes commonly eaten items such as apples, dairy, beans, wheat, garlic and onions.\nStarting a low-FODMAP diet used to mean closely reading labels, but now there are low-FODMAP third-party certifications from Monash University and the FODMAP Friendly Food Program, both based in Australia.\nEnjoy Life Foods\nLo-Fo Pantry\nEven large brands such as Campbell Soup are getting in on the low-FODMAP trend. They\u2019ve introduced Prego Sensitive Recipe\n Italian sauce which doesn\u2019t contain high-FODMAP onions and garlic.\nPaleo and Whole30 labels\nMore products are carrying special diet claims on their labels such as \u201cpaleo\u201d and \u201cWhole30 friendly.\u201d Although almond flour and coconut flour will continue to be popular for both diets, consumers are looking for the next grain-free flour \u2014 and some want a nut-free option because of allergies. That\u2019s why Bob\u2019s Red Mill Natural Foods has introduced cassava flour made from whole cassava root. Cassava flour has a neutral flavor and fine texture, so it works well in a variety of cooking and baking applications. Expect to see more recipes featuring cassava flour on Pinterest and your favorite cooking blogs.\nMore dairy-free alternatives\nDairy-free milk alternatives such as almond milk, oat milk and pea milk continue to be popular.\nIn 2019, I think, banana milk will be a top choice. Not only is banana milk naturally sweet, meaning there\u2019s no added sugars, a cup of banana milk has as much potassium as a small banana. Brands such as Mooala Bananamilk are also going to be fortified with calcium to match the amount in cow\u2019s milk.\nThe dairy-free yogurt category will continue to experience significant growth this year, according to a market research report from Packaged Facts. In 2019, you\u2019ll see a wider selection of yogurt alternatives made from peas, soy, coconut, almonds, cashews and more.\nlocalliving@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "Z2Y5ZLGIAYI6TIP6ZJDORVLTYA_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "Z2Y5ZLGIAYI6TIP6ZJDORVLTYA_0", "title": "Is it really possible that plant-based foods such as the Impossible Whopper are healthful?", "text": "With many American consumers interested in reducing their consumption of animal products without becoming vegetarian or vegan, the food industry has come up with a new craze: plant-based. Look around your grocery store, and you\u2019ll see a growing number of dairy, egg and meat substitutes bearing this label. But the industry has taken liberties with the definition of \u201cplant-based.\u201d Rather than focusing on whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts, which is what health professionals mean when they recommend \u201cplant-based eating,\u201d food manufacturers are developing \u00adultra-processed burgers out of pea or soy protein, methylcellulose and maltodextrin, and liquid \u201ceggs\u201d out of mung bean protein isolate and gellan gum. Then they crown this ultra-processed food with an undeserved health halo. Fast-food companies have joined forces with the manufacturers. Impossible Foods veggie burgers are on the menu at Burger King and White Castle; Beyond Meat is offering options for Subway\u2019s meatless meatball subs, Dunkin\u2019s meatless sausages, Del Taco\u2019s burritos and Carl\u2019s Jr.\u2019s meatless burger, and has just partnered with KFC to test out vegan fried \u201cchicken\u201d; and vegan JUST Eggs are being used in breakfast sandwiches at Tim Hortons. (Note: These items might not be available at all locations.) Plant-based ultra-processed products such as these are formulated to taste like the real deal. Thus, consumers can feel virtuous or principled for choosing plants over meat without sacrificing too much flavor. But is there any value to plant-based products that have been crushed, extruded and shaped into facsimiles of the foods they are replacing? Let\u2019s look at that question through several lenses \u2014 considering nutrients, how processed the food is and how producing the food affects the planet. When I was in nutrition school, the health value of food was mostly calculated based on the presence of desirable nutrients, such as fiber and vitamins, and on the absence of negative nutrients, such as sodium or trans fat. If you compare ultra-processed plant-based foods and similar animal-based foods solely on their nutrients, you\u2019ll find they are roughly the same. Plant-based foods are purposely formulated to mimic animal-based foods, so plant-based milk is enriched with calcium and vitamin D to mimic cow\u2019s milk, while veggie burgers are rich in protein and made with iron and zinc to imitate beef. But they aren\u2019t always made to reduce the presence of less-healthy nutrients. Sometimes, the processed plant-based food will have more sodium than the processed"}], "old": [{"_id": "Z2Y5ZLGIAYI6TIP6ZJDORVLTYA_0", "title": "Is it really possible that plant-based foods such as the Impossible Whopper are healthful?", "text": "localliving@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "With many American consumers interested in reducing their consumption of animal products without becoming vegetarian or vegan, the food industry has come up with a new craze: plant-based. Look around your grocery store, and you\u2019ll see a growing number of dairy, egg and meat substitutes bearing this label.\nBut the industry has taken liberties with the definition of \u201cplant-based.\u201d Rather than focusing on whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts, which is what health professionals mean when they recommend \u201cplant-based eating,\u201d food manufacturers are developing \u00adultra-processed burgers out of pea or soy protein, methylcellulose and maltodextrin, and liquid \u201ceggs\u201d out of mung bean protein isolate and gellan gum. Then they crown this ultra-processed food with an undeserved health halo.\nFast-food companies have joined forces with the manufacturers. Impossible Foods veggie burgers are on the menu at Burger King and White Castle; Beyond Meat is offering options for Subway\u2019s meatless meatball subs, Dunkin\u2019s meatless sausages, Del Taco\u2019s burritos and Carl\u2019s Jr.\u2019s meatless burger, and has just partnered with KFC to test out vegan fried \u201cchicken\u201d; and vegan JUST Eggs are being used in breakfast sandwiches at Tim Hortons. (Note: These items might not be available at all locations.)\nPlant-based ultra-processed products such as these are formulated to taste like the real deal. Thus, consumers can feel virtuous or principled for choosing plants over meat without sacrificing too much flavor. But is there any value to plant-based products that have been crushed, extruded and shaped into facsimiles of the foods they are replacing? Let\u2019s look at that question through several lenses \u2014 considering nutrients, how processed the food is and how producing the food affects the planet.\nWhen I was in nutrition school, the health value of food was mostly calculated based on the presence of desirable nutrients, such as fiber and vitamins, and on the absence of negative nutrients, such as sodium or trans fat. If you compare ultra-processed plant-based foods and similar animal-based foods solely on their nutrients, you\u2019ll find they are roughly the same.\nPlant-based foods are purposely formulated to mimic animal-based foods, so plant-based milk is enriched with calcium and vitamin D to mimic cow\u2019s milk, while veggie burgers are rich in protein and made with iron and zinc to imitate beef. But they aren\u2019t always made to reduce the presence of less-healthy nutrients. Sometimes, the processed plant-based food will have more sodium than the processed animal-based food, and sometimes the animal food will be higher in calories or saturated fat. And vice versa So, it\u2019s sort of a tie. Consider this: A Burger King Whopper has 660 calories and 980 mg sodium, while the virtuous vegan version has 630 calories and 1080 mg sodium. Not much of a difference, right? You\u2019d be better off making a burger at home, where it can be prepared to yield fewer calories and less sodium \u2014 whether it\u2019s vegan or not.\nInterestingly, this nutrient-focused method of evaluating foods has fallen out of favor, because it doesn\u2019t give us the big picture. Health practitioners spent years vilifying fat, then sodium, and most recently sugar, and none of these factors alone seem to be the problem. It\u2019s the whole diet that matters. Instead of a singular nutrient focus, many researchers evaluate the healthfulness of diets based on how processed their foods are, because studies show that\u2019s what has the greatest impact on human health.\nTo determine how processed a food is, researchers use the Nova food classification system, which separates foods into four categories: unprocessed or minimally processed foods (fruits or eggs, for example); processed culinary ingredients (such as salt or butter); processed foods (usually two or three ingredients, such as in canned vegetables or salted nuts); and ultra-processed foods (industrial formulations with five or more ingredients, including sugar, fat, salt, protein isolates, flavor enhancers, stabilizers and preservatives). Thus, a whole apple is unprocessed, applesauce with sugar is processed, and apple cereal bars are ultra-processed. Note: All are \u201cplant-based foods.\u201d\nThe average American consumes 58 percent of daily calories from ultra-processed foods. This high intake \u2014 even of foods that originally came from plants \u2014 is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer. On the other hand, plant-based diets composed of whole foods (and specifically not ultra-processed plant-based foods) are associated with a lower risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. It\u2019s always better to choose whole foods when possible.\nFinally, some people opt for plant-based foods because they abhor animal cruelty or want to help decrease their environmental impact, especially with respect to greenhouse gas emissions and water use. Studies show greenhouse gas emissions are highest for meat and other animal products and lowest for most grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes. Pundits are quick to point out that food is a tiny contributor to greenhouse gases overall and that most studies don\u2019t take recent efficiency improvements by animal farmers or organic farmers into account. But overall, the weight of the research supports the notion that plant-based eating is better for the environment. Once you take food processing into account, the advantage becomes less clear. Bottom line: It\u2019s better to choose whole foods rather than ultra-processed foods, even when both come from plants.\nUsing the term \u201cplant-based\u201d on fast food labels is just another attempt by marketers to re-brand junk food. True plant-based eating doesn\u2019t mean opting for an Impossible Whopper in the drive-through or scrambling up some 15-ingredient \u201cegg alternative.\u201d It means a diet that includes nourishing options such as black beans, broccoli and brown rice. We\u2019re always looking for some magical way to eat junky food and achieve health. Don\u2019t be fooled by this plant-based pretense.\nlocalliving@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "ZIDCRO7SZ5EC5EV44IFXBKJ7FU_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ZIDCRO7SZ5EC5EV44IFXBKJ7FU_1", "title": "From lab to table: Will cell-cultured meat win over Americans? ", "text": "and vegans. If lab meats can replicate the taste and texture of traditional meat \u2014 at a lower cost and with fewer downsides \u2014 it would be a game-changer for global nutrition. \u201cIf only half of it becomes remotely true, it will be one of the most important advancements of the century,\u201d said Kristopher Gasteratos, founder of the Cellular Agriculture Society, an international nonprofit organization using donations to advance cellular agriculture. This prospect is launching a three-way battle over the future of meat, with factions jockeying to shape government regulation, consumer tastes and the debate over the social and environment implications of widespread adoption of alternative meats. Traditional American animal agriculture, a $176 billion business in 2017, wants to preserve its fundamental business while, in some cases, it dabbles in the future. (Giants such as Cargill and Tyson have invested in alt-meat companies.) The plant-based meat companies, currently getting all the buzz, must convince the world they\u2019re not just for vegans and vegetarians. And the futuristic lab-based meat companies, which perhaps hold the most promise to disrupt the food industry, have to unpack the science for consumers and nudge people past the ick factor. The recent burst in enthusiasm for alternative meat products is striking because industry experts for years have been skeptical about whether they would find acceptance. \u201cWhen they introduced plant-based products, restaurateurs said it looked really promising, but the reorder rate is really slow,\u201d Don Close, senior animal protein analyst in North America for Rabo AgriFinance, said in an phone interview. \u201cIt\u2019s a negligible percentage of overall sales, and the amount of traction they are getting from the public is small compared to the media attention.\u201d Beyond Meat\u2019s lively IPO was a strong indication of public sentiment; so too was this week\u2019s announcement that Impossible was experiencing a shortage of the ingredients it uses to make its plant-based meat and probably would not be able to meet demands at restaurant chains including White Castle and Red Robin. Plant-based meat alternatives have exploded as a result of two conflicting trends: growing demand for meat and growing fears about meat. Animal agriculture is an expanding economic powerhouse worldwide driven by growing demand in developed and developing countries. But it is also a source of great concern about public health, worker safety, animal cruelty and climate change. The World Health Organization and the British medical journal the Lancet this year"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Alt-meat is having quite a moment.\nCalifornia-based Beyond Meat, one of the world\u2019s biggest plant-based meat companies, this week had the strongest stock market debut of any company this year. Ikea announced a meatless version of its Swedish meatballs. And Burger King said it will roll out a version of its signature Whopper made with Impossible Burger, Beyond Meat\u2019s chief competitor, nationwide by the end of the year.\nBut conventional animal agriculture faces an even bigger threat than plant-based patties. This one comes from petri dishes.\nCompanies in the United States and abroad are moving quickly to bring to market hamburgers and other meat, poultry and seafood products derived from muscle tissue grown in a lab with cells harvested from a living animal.\nU.S. regulators will introduce rules for such products later this year, and companies say they are poised to launch their first commercial products within the same time frame.\nLike the introduction of genetically modified foods before it, cell-cultured meat has the potential to transform how the world eats. And as with genetically modified foods, there probably will be pushback.\nPlant-based meat, while growing in popularity, still largely appeals to the tiny fraction of Americans who are vegetarians and vegans. If lab meats can replicate the taste and texture of traditional meat \u2014 at a lower cost and with fewer downsides \u2014 it would be a game-changer for global nutrition.\n\u201cIf only half of it becomes remotely true, it will be one of the most important advancements of the century,\u201d said Kristopher Gasteratos, founder of the Cellular Agriculture Society, an international nonprofit organization using donations to advance cellular agriculture.\nThis prospect is launching a three-way battle over the future of meat, with factions jockeying to shape government regulation, consumer tastes and the debate over the social and environment implications of widespread adoption of alternative meats.\nTraditional American animal agriculture, a $176 billion business in 2017, wants to preserve its fundamental business while, in some cases, it dabbles in the future. (Giants such as Cargill and Tyson have invested in alt-meat companies.)\nThe plant-based meat companies, currently getting all the buzz, must convince the world they\u2019re not just for vegans and vegetarians.\nAnd the futuristic lab-based meat companies, which perhaps hold the most promise to disrupt the food industry, have to unpack the science for consumers and nudge people past the ick factor.\nThe recent burst in enthusiasm for alternative meat products is striking because industry experts for years have been skeptical about whether they would find acceptance.\n\u201cWhen they introduced plant-based products, restaurateurs said it looked really promising, but the reorder rate is really slow,\u201d Don Close, senior animal protein analyst in North America for Rabo AgriFinance, said in an phone interview. \u201cIt\u2019s a negligible percentage of overall sales, and the amount of traction they are getting from the public is small compared to the media attention.\u201d\nBeyond Meat\u2019s lively IPO was a strong indication of public sentiment; so too was this week\u2019s announcement that Impossible was experiencing a shortage of the ingredients it uses to make its plant-based meat and probably would not be able to meet demands at restaurant chains including White Castle and Red Robin.\nPlant-based meat alternatives have exploded as a result of two conflicting trends: growing demand for meat and growing fears about meat.\nAnimal agriculture is an expanding economic powerhouse worldwide driven by growing demand in developed and developing countries. But it is also a source of great concern about public health, worker safety, animal cruelty and climate change.\nThe World Health Organization and the British medical journal the Lancet this year warned of the dangers of red meat. On Friday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said that, for environmental reasons, he wanted to phase out processed and red meat served from city hospitals, schools and correctional facilities.\nGardenburger and Tofurky launched their veggie burgers in the early 1980s. But the concept leaped forward over the past decade with innovations such as Impossible Burger\u2019s introduction of \u201cheme,\u201d a protein from the roots of soy plants that provides a meaty taste.\nThe result is a patty with the mouth-feel of the real deal, something to which earlier plant-based burgers could only aspire.\nThe changes to meat could be even more sweeping once cell-based meat arrives on the market \u2014 but like plant-based meat, it will take time.\nGasteratos talks about a revolution \u2014 but he is patient in his time frame. He predicts lab-grown meat will replace 50 percent of the global meat consumption by the middle of this century.\nBy the end of the century, Gasteratos predicts, intensive animal agriculture will be phased out entirely and all meat will be grown in factories.\nSpeaking at a recent conference of ranchers and meat experts in College Station, Tex., Gasteratos cited global population growth projections and increasing per capita meat consumption among countries with growing middle classes against a backdrop of climate-related changes likely to shift or shrink arable land.\n\u201cI don\u2019t believe plant-based has any revolutionary capacity,\u201d he said. \"I don\u2019t support it. People like eating animal flesh; they have a psychological disinterest in eating plant-based. And I have yet to meet someone who can make a cell from another kingdom that can taste like an animal cell.\u201d\nAccording to Gasteratos, cell-based production uses a live animal\u2019s adult muscle stem cells, raising them in a nutrient-rich environment until they take on the look and shape of the desired meat.\nThe first lab-grown burger was presented at a news conference in London in 2013, its tissue grown in a lab at Maastricht University in the Netherlands at an estimated cost of $1.2 million per pound. Now the United States has at least nine cell-culturing companies, among 26 worldwide and with potentially more shadow companies gearing up in China.\nThis year, Israeli-based company Aleph Farms said it had gotten the cost down to $100 per pound, and industry insiders say American companies are getting the cost to $50 per pound.\nLeading American companies now say they plan to launch their products before the end of 2019, slightly ahead of schedule. The Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are expected to finalize rules regarding inspection and labeling this fall.\nEighty percent of early products will be \u201cunstructured meat\u201d \u2014 ground beef and the insides of a chicken nugget as opposed to a T-bone or chicken wing. With this country dispatching 50 billion hamburgers annually, wresting one of those away from traditional agriculture, or from plant-based companies, would be big business.\nThe barnyard lobby \u2014 representing the meat, livestock and poultry industries \u2014 has moved swiftly, launching lawsuits in 20 states to restrict the use of the term \u201cbeef.\"\n\u201cCell-cultured meat manufacturers must not be permitted to use the term \u2018beef\u2019 or any nomenclature associated with traditional livestock production,\u201d the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association wrote last year in a letter to the USDA.\nDanielle Beck, senior director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association, said Big Beef is eager to avoid the dairy industry\u2019s ongoing kerfuffle over milk. The FDA has chosen not to take enforcement action against the proliferation of nut milks, soy milks, oat milks, among others, using the term milk on their labels. From Beck\u2019s perspective, these products should be labeled as \u201cimitation milk.\u201d\n\u201cOur producers are looking at the struggles of the dairy industry, and they are being proactive because we don\u2019t want to end in the same way. Every single product needs to be distinctly identified in the marketplace,\u201d she said.\nCell-based meat producers could also face resistance from consumers \u2014 although Erlinde Cornelis, a marketing professor at the business school at San Diego State University who studies consumer psychology, argues that younger diners are unlikely to be queasy about alt-proteins\u2019 fabrication.\nFor people who have grown up with the specter of climate change, adoption of plant-based or cell-based meat over traditional animal agriculture is easy. Though there are bound to be skeptics, she said the overall appeal of moving from land-based animal agriculture to the lab was undeniable.\n\u201cPlant- and cell-based will appeal to different markets,\u201d Cornelis said. \u201cActual meat is an old technology. It\u2019s almost ignorant, if you know how much of our resources it takes; it\u2019s like typing on a typewriter when you have speech-to-text technology.\u201d"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "ZYG37TDVLFEFZHJ7EAG7DSQJXU_2", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ZYG37TDVLFEFZHJ7EAG7DSQJXU_2", "title": "Burger King\u2019s Impossible Whopper tastes even better than the real thing", "text": "operate that way. No company will invest in a product that consumers don\u2019t want, even one with such a potential upside for the environment. The early word from St. Louis, however, is encouraging for both Burger King and, at least in this particular instance, the future of planet Earth. Consumer demand is high for the Impossible Whopper, according to several employees I spoke with over the counter. Some locations have sold out of their supply and have had to reorder cases of the patties produced by Impossible Foods. At a Burger King in the Academy neighborhood, the store has already sold out of its supply, twice, in the week or so since the Impossible Whopper was introduced, said assistant manager Nikiesha Harvey. People have been calling and coming in from all parts of the country to order one, or a dozen, some as far away as California and Florida, she said. \u201cI couldn\u2019t tell the difference, and I was shocked myself,\u201d Harvey said about the Impossible Whopper (which runs $5.59 in the St. Louis market, a full dollar more than the standard Whopper). She even served one to her husband and son, who couldn\u2019t taste the difference, either. Part of this trickeration can be attributed to Impossible Foods, the San Francisco Bay-area start-up that this year rolled out a new formula for its plant-based patties. The company has substituted soy protein for wheat protein to give the patty a more beeflike texture. It has also added methyl cellulose, a plant-based binder, to make the burger juicier. And this is in addition to the not-so-secret ingredient, heme, which Impossible Foods produces by injecting the DNA of a soy plant into genetically engineered yeast, which is then fermented. All this science is concealed in a patty that doesn\u2019t look too far removed from the ground-beef version, especially after both are run under Burger King\u2019s signature charbroiler. Both beef and plant-based patties are branded with black parallel stripes, the grill marks that are as much a part of Burger King\u2019s identity as that royal mascot with the perpetually creepy smile. I should note the chain also offers a vegan, mayo-less Impossible Whopper, whose patty is cooked in a microwave to ensure no meat particles from the charbroiler contaminate it. It\u2019s an ashen-looking patty, unappetizing on its face, though tasty enough within its Whopper confines. It may take a genius to create an Impossible"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "ST. LOUIS \u2014 The Gateway Arch, that soaring stainless-steel rainbow hard by the Mississippi River, stands as a 630-foot monument to an idea that was controversial even in 19th-century America: that this Midwestern city would serve as a starting point to a new life out West, where people could escape the problems of their past.\nIf all goes according to Burger King\u2019s master plan, St. Louis could again serve as a gateway to a new life, this one with less beef in the American diet, which in turn could help reduce the many environmental impacts that raising cattle has on our vulnerable planet. The fast-food chain is testing its Impossible Whopper in the greater metro area here, and if the meatless hamburger proves a success in St. Louis, Burger King will roll out the sandwich to all of its 7,200 locations\u00a0nationwide.\nSuch an expansion would make mock-meat hamburgers available in almost every corner of the country, far more available than they are now at smaller chains such as Red Robin, White Castle and Carl\u2019s Jr. Burger King could give millions of Americans who crave a hamburger the option of purchasing one that, unlike the crumbly vegetarian patties of the past, reportedly looks and tastes much more like beef.\nSo is the Impossible Whopper any good? Answering this question\u00a0was my mission in St. Louis, a city (perhaps) selected as a test market precisely because it\u2019s not located on the East or West coasts, where a large segment of the population is already attuned to the environmental and animal welfare issues animating meat alternatives like the Impossible Burger. That was Adam Kreger\u2019s theory, at least. He\u2019s a student at the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis, where he\u2019s studying animal rights. He was, like me, waiting on an Impossible Whopper.\nI was there, of course, to sample the burger and decide whether Burger King has a hit on its hands, one worth replicating in stores across the land. It\u2019s admittedly an odd, illogical task: judging whether a company should do its part to save Earth based on how good a product tastes. It\u2019s sort of like deciding whether you should recycle plastic based on your opinion of a bottle\u2019s design.\u00a0That thing is uuug-ly. Toss it on the streets!\nThe choice should be obvious, right? You pick the option that does the most good.\nBut business doesn\u2019t operate that way. No company will invest in a product that consumers don\u2019t want, even one with such a potential upside for the environment. The early word from St. Louis, however, is encouraging for both Burger King and, at least in this particular instance, the future of planet Earth. Consumer demand is high for the Impossible Whopper, according to several employees I spoke with over the counter. Some locations have sold out of their supply and have had to reorder cases of the patties produced by Impossible Foods.\nAt a Burger King in the Academy neighborhood, the store has already sold out of its supply, twice, in the week or so since the Impossible Whopper was introduced, said assistant manager Nikiesha Harvey. People have been calling and coming in from all parts of the country to order one, or a dozen, some as far away as California and Florida, she said.\n\u201cI couldn\u2019t tell the difference, and I was shocked myself,\u201d Harvey said about the Impossible Whopper (which runs $5.59 in the St. Louis market, a full dollar more than the standard Whopper).\u00a0She even served one to her husband and son, who couldn\u2019t taste the difference, either.\nPart of this trickeration can be attributed to Impossible Foods, the San Francisco Bay-area start-up that this year rolled out a new formula for its plant-based patties. The company has substituted soy protein for wheat protein to give the patty a more beeflike texture. It has also added methyl cellulose, a plant-based binder, to make the burger juicier. And this is in addition to the not-so-secret ingredient, heme, which Impossible Foods produces by injecting the DNA of a soy plant into genetically engineered yeast, which is then fermented.\nAll this science is concealed in a patty that doesn\u2019t look too far removed from the ground-beef version, especially after both are run under Burger King\u2019s signature charbroiler. Both beef and plant-based patties are branded with black parallel stripes, the grill marks that are as much a part of Burger King\u2019s identity as that royal mascot with the perpetually creepy smile. I should note the chain also offers a vegan, mayo-less Impossible Whopper, whose patty is cooked in a microwave to ensure no meat particles from the charbroiler contaminate it. It\u2019s an ashen-looking patty, unappetizing on its face, though tasty enough within its Whopper confines.\nIt may take a genius to create an Impossible burger, but it doesn\u2019t take one to understand why the mock meat fools so many: The bar is set extremely low. As I\u2019ve noted before, the beef in fast-food burgers represents only a fraction of the sandwich\u2019s total weight, about 30 percent for the Whopper. Most of what you taste in a Whopper is not ground beef. It\u2019s a combination of sweet bun, fatty mayo, ripe tomato, raw onions and that famous \u201cgrill flavor,\u201d which a Burger King representative told me last year was natural to the flame-grilling process, not artificially added.\nFew Whopper devotees probably do this, but the next time you try one, break off a hunk of the ground beef and taste it. The meat is so overcooked and juiceless that, if not for the grill flavor, the patty wouldn\u2019t have much to recommend it. Whatever beef flavor remains is residual, an echo of the animal fat that\u2019s all but rendered out. It\u2019s a grill-flavored protein disc, which the Impossible version has no problem mimicking. In fact, I\u2019d argue the Impossible Whopper patty, all by itself, has more flavor than the meaty one.\nI was reminded of this during a side trip to White Castle, where the chain sells an Impossible Slider. At a location in the St. Louis suburbs, I placed an order of four original sliders and four of the Impossible knockoffs, each slipped into a tiny branded cardboard sleeve, generating the kind of waste usually reserved for family picnics. I ordered the sliders with griddled onions and pickles only, no cheese, to better taste the patties.\nThe White Castle crew told me three times that it would take an extra 10 minutes to prepare the Impossible Sliders\u00a0\u2014 \u201cmaybe longer,\u201d noted the cashier\u00a0\u2014 because they were understaffed. I said that wasn\u2019t a problem, but when the mini-burgers were ready, the Impossible Sliders were almost naked underneath their pillowy buns. A few lonely caramelized onions clung to the bottom of the patties. Without the sweet pungency of those browned onions\u00a0\u2014 and, obviously, without Burger King\u2019s grill flavor\u00a0\u2014 the Impossible patties were the main attraction, a mixed blessing. The mock meat is thicker than the original White Castle patty, this thin, sickly slab that looks as if it was sliced off a processed loaf. The Impossible patty is also an umami bomb, like soy sauce in solid form.\nThe Impossible Slider is a stark reminder that, no matter how savory the plant-based patty may be, it\u2019s still not beef.\nAfter eating more than a dozen Impossible-branded burgers in St. Louis \u2014 including Red Robin\u2019s thick-cut version, which had none of the chin-dribbling juices you desire from a big, sloppy grilled hamburger\u00a0\u2014 I\u2019ve come to the conclusion that the producer of this meat alternative is a master illusionist. After one bite, you swear the Impossible patty tastes just like beef. After a second bite, you begin to sense the illusion behind the science. After a third, you\u2019re ready to invest in the whole enterprise. With time, the illusion becomes its own alternative reality: The product is close enough to beef that your brain is willing to fill in the rest of the flavors, even if somewhere in the dark recesses of your cerebral cortex, you know it\u2019s all a lie.\nAmerica, get ready for the Impossible Whopper. I suspect it will be coming your way soon, once it passes through St. Louis.\nMore from Voraciously:\nThe best way to grill a burger keeps it off the grate\nAmericans are drinking more \u2018gourmet\u2019 coffee. This doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re drinking great coffee\nWhat\u2019s in a name? The battle over alternative meat, milk and rice labeling rages on."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "b3aab734-b876-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_4", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "b3aab734-b876-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_4", "title": "Think of Earth, not just your stomach, panel advises", "text": "added that the recommendations \u201cappear to be based on personal opinions or social agendas.\u201d In the past, federal bureaucrats have come under lobbying pressure from groups that discovered their particular product had been targeted for opprobrium by the Dietary Guidelines. Americans are eating less meat than they have in the past, but they are still eating too much, according to the panel\u2019s experts, and all that meat consumption is having detrimental effects on the environment. Many scientists say animal-based foods are a poorer choice for the environment because they are associated with significantly larger carbon emissions than their plant-based counterparts. Animals generate a lot of methane, and the production of meat products requires large amounts of feed, fertilizer and fuel, all of which put stress on the environment. Numerous studies have documented the outsize impact. A study published last year in the journal Climatic Change reported that meat eaters contributed more to global warming than do fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Red meat in particular, which the committee says Americans need to scale back on for health reasons, has been linked to a larger carbon footprint than other meats. For instance, on a per-kilogram basis, beef is associated with more than twice the carbon emissions of pork, nearly three times that of turkey and almost four times that of chicken, according to the Environmental Working Group. Red meat is also a comparatively inefficient source of calories and protein. The World Resources Institute has estimated that poultry, pork, shrimp, fish and eggs are all much better sources of those two nutrients relative to the amount of feed and land required to produce them. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty much a consensus view among global environmental scientists that we would be better off if we ate less meat,\u201d said Timothy Searchinger, a research scholar at Princeton University who focuses on agriculture and climate change. Miriam Nelson, a professor at Tufts University and one of the committee\u2019s members, said the panel is not saying that people should become vegans. \u201cBut we are saying that people need to eat less meat,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cWe need to start thinking about what\u2019s sustainable. . . . Other countries have already started doing this \u2014 including sustainability in their recommendations. We should be doing it, too.\u201d Read more: How cholesterol went from \u2018public menace\u2019 to \u2018not a nutrient of concern\u2019 How many eggs a day is okay? Your questions, answered."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The nation\u2019s top nutritional panel is recommending for the first time that Americans consider the impact on the environment when they are choosing what to eat, a move that defied a warning from Congress and, if enacted, could discourage people from eating red meat.\nMembers of Congress had sought in December to keep the group from even discussing the issue, asserting that while advising the government on federal dietary guidelines, the committee should steer clear of extraneous issues and stick to nutritional advice.\nBut the panel\u2019s findings, issued Thursday in the form of a 571-page report, recommended that Americans be kinder to the environment by eating more foods derived from plants and fewer foods that come from animals. Red meat is deemed particularly harmful because of, among other things, the amount of land and feed required in its production.\n\u201cConsistent evidence indicates that, in general, a dietary pattern that is higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with lesser environmental impact than is the current average U.S. diet,\u201d the report says.\n[ Top nutrition panel: The American diet is killing us ]\nMany scientists say animal-based foods are a poorer choice for the environment because they are associated with significantly larger carbon emissions than their plant-based counterparts. (Jayme Halbritter/AP)\nThe environmental recommendations are part of a report meant to provide the scientific basis for the next version of the Dietary Guidelines, the federal government\u2019s publication on what to eat. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Agriculture Department will issue the guidelines later this year.\nThose agencies could ignore the panel\u2019s recommendations, but major deviations are rare, experts and former panel members said.\nOverall, the committee\u2019s report amounts to a scientific update regarding what is known about healthy eating. Although Americans don\u2019t necessarily heed the dietary guidelines ahead of each meal, the guidelines are influential and can help dictate what is on the menu of school lunches and how foods are labeled.\nThe panel found that Americans are consuming too much salt, added sugars and foods rich in saturated fats. And for the first time, the panel addressed concerns about coffee, saying that there is strong evidence that moderate consumption is not associated with long-term health risks. The panel also reversed decades of warnings about eating foods high in cholesterol, such as eggs and liver.\n[ So can I binge on eggs now? Here\u2019s what you need to know. ]\nBut the decision by the advisory panel to link the dietary guidelines to the environment will probably stir the most controversy.\nIn December, Congress approved language that expressed \u201cconcern\u201d that the advisory committee was \u201cconsidering issues outside of the nutritional focus of the panel\u201d \u2014 alluding to the environmental discussions.\nThe nation's top nutritional panel released its report recommending changes to the U.S. dietary guidelines. Here are the main takeaways of what you should and should not eat.\nMoreover, Congress said at the time, the final Dietary Guidelines should \u201conly include nutrition and dietary information.\u201d\nThe advisory panel\u2019s report prompted immediate criticism from Congress \u2014 as well as a warning from Rep. Robert B. Aderholt (R-Ala.), chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the budget for the Agriculture Department.\n\u201cChairman Aderholt is skeptical of the panel\u2019s departure from utilizing sound science as the criteria for the guidelines,\u201d according to Brian Rell, a spokesman. \u201cPolitically motivated issues such as taxes on certain foods and environmental sustainability are outside their purview.\u201d\nHe warned that the panel committee would \u201ckeep this in mind\u201d as it considers funding the agencies this spring.\nMeat industry lobbyists also attacked the recommendation, asserting that the panel was stacked with health experts who know too little about environmental science.\n\u201cThe Committee\u2019s foray into the murky waters of sustainability is well beyond its scope and expertise. It\u2019s akin to having a dermatologist provide recommendations about cardiac care,\u201d Barry Carpenter, the chief executive of the North American Meat Institute, said in a statement.\nHe added that the recommendations \u201cappear to be based on personal opinions or social agendas.\u201d\nIn the past, federal bureaucrats have come under lobbying pressure from groups that discovered their particular product had been targeted for opprobrium by the Dietary Guidelines.\nAmericans are eating less meat than they have in the past, but they are still eating too much, according to the panel\u2019s experts, and all that meat consumption is having detrimental effects on the environment.\nMany scientists say animal-based foods are a poorer choice for the environment because they are associated with significantly larger carbon emissions than their plant-based counterparts. Animals generate a lot of methane, and the production of meat products requires large amounts of feed, fertilizer and fuel, all of which put stress on the environment.\nNumerous studies have documented the outsize impact. A study published last year in the journal Climatic Change reported that meat eaters contributed more to global warming than do fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans.\nRed meat in particular, which the committee says Americans need to scale back on for health reasons, has been linked to a larger carbon footprint than other meats. For instance, on a per-kilogram basis, beef is associated with more than twice the carbon emissions of pork, nearly three times that of turkey and almost four times that of chicken, according to the Environmental Working Group.\nRed meat is also a comparatively inefficient source of calories and protein. The World Resources Institute has estimated that poultry, pork, shrimp, fish and eggs are all much better sources of those two nutrients relative to the amount of feed and land required to produce them.\n\u201cIt\u2019s pretty much a consensus view among global environmental scientists that we would be better off if we ate less meat,\u201d said Timothy Searchinger, a research scholar at Princeton University who focuses on agriculture and climate change.\nMiriam Nelson, a professor at Tufts University and one of the committee\u2019s members, said the panel is not saying that people should become vegans.\n\u201cBut we are saying that people need to eat less meat,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cWe need to start thinking about what\u2019s sustainable. .\u2009.\u2009. Other countries have already started doing this \u2014 including sustainability in their recommendations. We should be doing it, too.\u201d\nRead more:\nHow cholesterol went from \u2018public menace\u2019 to \u2018not a nutrient of concern\u2019\nHow many eggs a day is okay? Your questions, answered."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "bc3c8058b5400b70ee4a5fa9dda1d234_0", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "bc3c8058b5400b70ee4a5fa9dda1d234_0", "title": "A meatless burger that bleeds vegetable juices just debuted at Whole Foods", "text": "It was the steak dinners, Ethan Brown says, that changed his life. He had embarked on a career in the clean-energy industry, a path befitting an environmentalist out to save the world. But the incongruity he perceived among his colleagues, who would lament environmental problems while eating beef, pushed Brown \u2014 a vegetarian since age 18 \u2014 in a different direction. \u201cWe would go to conferences and sit there wringing our hands over all these [energy] issues, and then we\u2019d go to dinner and people would order huge steaks,\u201d Brown told Popular Science in 2013. Brown left the energy industry and founded a start-up called Beyond Meat in 2009, building on the work of University of Missouri food scientist Fu-hung Hsieh, a pioneer in \u201chigh moisture extrusion of fibrous meat analog\u201d \u2014 making fake meat taste more like flesh, in other words. Beyond Meat achieved early hype with its Beyond Chicken strips, designed to obliterate memories of limp tofu dogs or crumbly veggie burgers. Observing the strips shred into ligament-like strands at Beyond Meat\u2019s factory in Columbus, Mo., Food Network star and author Alton Brown remarked to Wired in 2013, \u201cIt\u2019s more like meat than anything I\u2019ve ever seen that wasn\u2019t meat.\u201d Beyond Meat bills its latest creation, the Beyond Burger, as the most meat-like non-meat feat yet. It has been on sale for a single day \u2014 on Monday, in a Whole Foods in Boulder, Colo. \u2014 and is already being compared to, as the New York Times puts it, the \u201choly grail\u201d of ersatz animal protein: A plant burger upon which a human carnivore would happily snack. A Beyond Burger patty contains 20 grams of vegetable protein, mostly from peas, while lacking gluten and soy. If you prick a Beyond Burger, does it bleed? Yes, the company says, though its blood is pulverized beet juice. Beyond Meat took a completionist approach to its hamburger doppelganger: The Beyond Burger had to look, smell and feel like meat. Humans have been genetically manipulating fruits and vegetables for thousands of years through selective cultivation. Once we started cultivating wild plants, fruits and vegetables got a lot more colorful. This was no easy task. Animal meat is not a uniform product, but plants, on the other hand, don\u2019t come marbled with fat or sprout gristly connective tissues. (Even lab-grown beef patties, a different beast from Beyond Meat\u2019s burger, have struggled to mirror"}], "old": [{"_id": "bc3c8058b5400b70ee4a5fa9dda1d234_0", "title": "A meatless burger that bleeds vegetable juices just debuted at Whole Foods", "text": "It was the steak dinners, Ethan Brown says, that changed his life. He had embarked on a career in the clean-energy industry, a path befitting an environmentalist out to save the world. But the incongruity he perceived among his colleagues, who would lament environmental problems while eating beef, pushed Brown \u2014 a vegetarian since age 18 \u2014 in a different direction. A Beyond Burger patty contains 20 grams of vegetable protein, mostly from peas, while lacking gluten and soy. If you prick a Beyond Burger, does it bleed? Yes, the company says, though its blood is pulverized beet juice. Beyond Meat took a completionist approach to its hamburger doppelganger: The Beyond Burger had to look, smell and feel like meat. Humans have been genetically manipulating fruits and vegetables for thousands of years through selective cultivation. Once we started cultivating wild plants, fruits and vegetables got a lot more colorful."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "It was the steak dinners, Ethan Brown says, that changed his life. He had embarked on a career in the clean-energy industry, a path befitting an environmentalist out to save the world. But the incongruity he perceived among his colleagues, who would lament environmental problems while eating beef, pushed Brown \u2014\u00a0a vegetarian since age 18 \u2014\u00a0in a different direction.\n\u201cWe would go to conferences and sit there wringing our hands over all these [energy] issues, and then we\u2019d go to dinner and people would order huge steaks,\u201d Brown told Popular Science in 2013.\nBrown left the energy industry and founded a start-up called Beyond Meat in 2009, building on the work of University of Missouri food scientist Fu-hung Hsieh, a pioneer in \u201chigh moisture extrusion of fibrous meat analog\u201d \u2014\u00a0making fake meat taste more like flesh, in other words. Beyond Meat achieved early hype with its Beyond Chicken strips, designed to obliterate memories of limp tofu dogs or crumbly veggie burgers. Observing the strips shred into ligament-like strands at Beyond Meat\u2019s factory in Columbus, Mo., Food Network star and author Alton Brown remarked\u00a0to Wired in 2013, \u201cIt\u2019s more like meat than anything I\u2019ve ever seen that wasn\u2019t meat.\u201d\nBeyond Meat bills its latest creation, the Beyond Burger, as the most meat-like non-meat feat yet. It has been on sale for a single day \u2014\u00a0on Monday, in a Whole Foods in Boulder, Colo. \u2014\u00a0and is already being compared to, as the New York Times puts it, the \u201choly grail\u201d of ersatz animal protein: A plant burger upon which a human carnivore would happily snack.\nA Beyond Burger patty contains 20 grams of vegetable protein, mostly from peas, while lacking gluten and soy. If you prick a Beyond Burger, does it bleed? Yes, the company says, though its blood is pulverized beet juice. Beyond Meat took a completionist approach to its hamburger doppelganger: The Beyond Burger had to look, smell and feel like meat.\nHumans have been genetically manipulating fruits and vegetables for thousands of years through selective cultivation. Once we started cultivating wild plants, fruits and vegetables got a lot more colorful.\nThis was no easy task. Animal meat is not a uniform product, but plants, on the other hand, don\u2019t come marbled with fat or sprout gristly connective tissues. (Even lab-grown beef patties, a different beast from Beyond Meat\u2019s burger, have struggled to mirror the heterogeneous chow you\u2019d buy from a butcher.) It was up to researchers like Stanford University structural biologist Joseph D. Puglisi, a scientific adviser to Beyond Meat, to devise a way to deposit plant fat in layers. \u201cWe were able to get fat distributed throughout a patty \u2014 but in meat, fat is distributed in sheets,\u201d he told the New York Times.\nBeyond Meat\u2019s ability to replicate meaty layers out of plant matter is among the company\u2019s greatest trade secrets \u2014\u00a0what puts it in a different category, perhaps, than the long line of faux meats that have come before. Biz Stone, one of Twitter\u2019s founders and a Beyond Meat backer, described the company\u2019s fake chicken to Fast Company as having a meaty mouth feel. \u201cIt feels fatty and muscly and like it\u2019s not good for you when you\u2019re chewing it,\u201d Stone said\u00a0in 2012. \u201cFor a long-time vegan, it\u2019s a little bit freaky.\u201d\n(How closely a bite of the fake chicken, au naturel, mimics the real bird is a matter of debate; when tucked in a wrap, however, the game seems to change. New York Times\u2019s Mark Bittman wrote in 2012 that Beyond Meat\u2019s Brown fooled the food columnist \u201cbadly\u201d in a taste test.)\nThis may seem like a lot of noise over mashed peas, unless you care about what Brown described in an interview with Business Insider last year as his four horsemen: animal welfare, climate change, human health and natural resources. Livestock \u2014\u00a0thanks to factors like cow burps\u00a0\u2014 are a significant contributor of the greenhouse gas methane. Because crops take up about half as much space as livestock, a recent study in the journal Nature Communications concluded that a global vegetarian diet would be the most feasible way to feed 2050\u2019s estimated population without expanding today\u2019s farmland.\nLivestock farms have direct detrimental impacts on human health as well. Due to widespread antibiotic use in livestock, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 20 percent of antibiotic resistant infections originate from food. The demand for meat produced cheaply and quickly, too, may lead to poor working conditions; as one worker in the poultry industry told Oxfam America, the individual allegedly had to wear diapers on the job because bathroom breaks were verboten.\nBrown says his goal with the Beyond Burger is nothing less than redefining meat to include plant protein, urging Whole Foods to sell the vegetable patties alongside their flesh-and-blood equivalents. On Facebook, some vegetarians expressed discomfort about the Beyond Burgers\u2019s close proximity to what one commenter described as \u201clittle cellophaned packets of death.\u201d The company defended its power play for the meat aisle, as it wrote on Facebook, as \u201cthe opening shot in our bid to transform the meat case into the protein case.\u201d\nIf such a complete transformation is the goal, the company will need to send in reinforcement burgers \u2014\u00a0the first batch sold out in an hour, according to Beyond Meat\u2019s Twitter feed.\nThe burgers cost $5.99 for a pack of two patties. Beyond Meat says it plans to expand to Denver and Washington, D.C., soon, and beyond Colorado over the summer."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "be53af864bbf928f64671de4246eebb5_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "be53af864bbf928f64671de4246eebb5_1", "title": "Big Food\u2019s weird war over the meaning of mayonnaise, America\u2019s top condiment", "text": "dominates 45 percent of the mayo market, data from industry researcher Euromonitor shows. But market watchers say it highlights the fears from traditional food conglomerates facing unexpected competition from crafty start-ups. It\u2019s perhaps no coincidence that the biggest battleground is mayonnaise: Americans buy $2 billion of the stuff every year \u2014 more even than ketchup, salsa or soy sauce. \u201cIt\u2019s not about using the (mayo) word,\u201d said Michele Simon, a public health attorney who wrote about the suit. \u201cIt\u2019s about the fact that this company is taking market share away. And now it\u2019s like they\u2019ve awakened the giant.\u201d That the plant-based Just Mayo is a new type of food will lend an interesting dimension to the legal proceedings: Brand disputes typically quibble over words, not the definition of the product itself. But the very modern legal battle will be fought on regulatory territory that is decades old. The FDA\u2019s definition of mayonnaise was set in 1957, decades before the phrase \u201cvegan mayo\u201d ever made sense. (Maintaining that \u201cstandard of identity\u201d is important: Kraft Foods\u2019 Miracle Whip, which doesn\u2019t meet the FDA\u2019s standard, is technically a salad dressing.) Unilever doesn\u2019t just call out Just Mayo for what it calls confusing branding \u2014 advertisements have called the stuff \u201cmayo,\u201d and its logo resembles an egg \u2014 it also says the company has no proof in its claims of beating Hellmann\u2019s in a taste test. So what\u2019s spooking Big Food? Hampton Creek has some big backers, including Bill Gates, and in a matter of months has spread rapidly to more than 20,000 Walmarts, Costcos and other stores across the country. While other organic spreads like Vegenaise play up their place in the vegan niche, Hampton Creek has widely promoted Just Mayo as a mainstream brand: healthy, cheap and good for everybody. (Company ads rarely call it \u201cvegan.\u201d) \u201cWe don\u2019t market our product to tree-hugging liberals in San Francisco, even though I\u2019m in the middle of nine of them right now,\u201d said Josh Tetrick, Hampton Creek\u2019s founder and chief executive. \u201cWe built the company to try to really penetrate the places where better-for-you food hasn\u2019t gone before, and that means right in the condiment aisle of Walmart.\u201d The fate of Just Mayo, which swapped out eggs for Canadian yellow peas, will be watched closely by other food conglomerates. Hampton Creek also sells Just Cookies, a line of egg- and milk-free cookie dough, and is"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Mayonnaise\u2019s identity crisis goes to court. Courtesy of Hampton Creek.\nA big-money\u00a0war is brewing over the meaning of America\u2019s best-selling\u00a0condiment: mayonnaise.\nThe maker of Hellmann\u2019s mayo, food giant Unilever, has\u00a0sued\u00a0the San Francisco start-up behind\u00a0Just Mayo, an egg-less, mayonnaise-like sandwich spread giving Big Mayo a run for its money.\nThe global food giant argues that Hampton Creek\u2019s Just Mayo\u00a0is not, as Unilever\u00a0lawyers wrote, \u201cexactly, precisely, only and simply mayonnaise,\u201d as\u00a0defined by\u00a0the dictionary and the Food and Drug Administration, which says\u00a0mayo\u00a0must include \u201cegg yolk-containing ingredients.\u201d\nThe Just Mayo\u00a0identity crisis, Unilever lawyers said, has hurt Hellmann\u2019s\u00a0market share, \u201ccaused consumer deception and serious, irreparable harm to Unilever\u201d and the mayo industry as a whole. The firm wants Hampton Creek\u00a0to\u00a0stop calling it\u00a0Just Mayo, yank the product\u00a0off\u00a0store shelves and pay Unilever damages worth\u00a0three times the startup\u2019s\u00a0profits.\nIt is a strangely defensive stance for Unilever, a Big Food titan that\u00a0made more than $64 billion last year\u00a0selling foodstuffs\u00a0in nearly 200 countries (including\u00a0\u201cI Can\u2019t Believe It\u2019s Not Butter!\u201d, a spread that is not butter). Hellmann\u2019s, which is branded\u00a0Best Foods west of the Rocky Mountains, dominates\u00a045 percent of the mayo market, data from industry researcher\u00a0Euromonitor shows.\nBut\u00a0market watchers say it\u00a0highlights the fears from traditional food conglomerates facing unexpected competition from crafty start-ups. It\u2019s perhaps no coincidence that\u00a0the biggest\u00a0battleground is mayonnaise: Americans buy $2 billion\u00a0of the stuff\u00a0every\u00a0year \u2014 more even than ketchup, salsa or soy sauce.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not about using the (mayo) word,\u201d said\u00a0Michele Simon, a public health attorney who\u00a0wrote\u00a0about the suit. \u201cIt\u2019s about the fact that this company is taking market share away. And now it\u2019s like they\u2019ve awakened the giant.\u201d\n\nThat the plant-based Just Mayo is a new\u00a0type of food will lend\u00a0an interesting dimension to the legal proceedings: Brand disputes typically quibble over words, not the definition of the product itself.\nBut the\u00a0very modern legal battle will be fought on regulatory territory that is decades old. The FDA\u2019s definition of mayonnaise was set\u00a0in\u00a01957, decades before the phrase \u201cvegan mayo\u201d ever made sense. (Maintaining that \u201cstandard of identity\u201d is important: Kraft Foods\u2019 Miracle Whip, which\u00a0doesn\u2019t meet the FDA\u2019s standard, is technically\u00a0a\u00a0salad dressing.)\nUnilever doesn\u2019t just call out Just Mayo for\u00a0what it calls confusing branding \u2014 advertisements have called the stuff \u201cmayo,\u201d and its logo resembles an egg \u2014 it also says\u00a0the company has no proof in its claims of beating Hellmann\u2019s in a taste test.\nSo what\u2019s spooking\u00a0Big Food? Hampton Creek has some big backers, including Bill Gates, and in a matter of\u00a0months\u00a0has\u00a0spread rapidly to more than 20,000 Walmarts, Costcos and other\u00a0stores across the country.\nWhile other organic spreads like Vegenaise play up their place\u00a0in the vegan niche, Hampton Creek has widely promoted Just Mayo as a mainstream brand: healthy, cheap and good for everybody. (Company ads\u00a0rarely\u00a0call it\u00a0\u201cvegan.\u201d)\n\u201cWe don\u2019t market our product to tree-hugging liberals in San Francisco, even though I\u2019m\u00a0in the middle of nine\u00a0of them right now,\u201d\u00a0said Josh Tetrick, Hampton Creek\u2019s founder and chief executive. \u201cWe built the company to try to really penetrate the places where better-for-you food hasn\u2019t\u00a0gone before, and that means right in the condiment aisle of Walmart.\u201d\nThe fate of Just Mayo, which swapped out eggs for Canadian yellow peas, will be watched closely by other food conglomerates. Hampton Creek\u00a0also sells\u00a0Just Cookies, a line of egg- and milk-free cookie dough, and is working on a gooey egg-free mix, Just Scramble.\nThe suit\u00a0comes at a touchy time for Unilever, which just launched\u00a0an ad campaign promoting\u00a0itself as devoted to\u00a0sustainability, and which\u00a0backed\u00a0its\u00a0own soy-based egg alternative, Alleggra Foods, nearly ten years ago.\n\u201cOur concern here is not about innovation, it is about misleading labelling,\u201d a Unilever spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. \u201cWe simply wish to protect both consumers from being misled and also our brand.\u201d\nJust Mayo\u00a0has fought back with the help of celebrity chefs including\u00a0Andrew Zimmern, who launched a petition, \u201cStop Bullying Sustainable Food Companies,\u201d that has more than 11,000\u00a0signers. The firm tweeted\u00a0Unilever\u2019s chief executive\u2019s own words against him (he called for \u201ctransformational innovation\u201d) and\u00a0was less than\u00a0subtle on its Facebook\u00a0about its\u00a0David-vs.-Goliath status\u00a0(though the illustration has since been deleted):\n\nTetrick, the start-up\u2019s chief executive, said his\u00a0firm is looking at\u00a0the lawsuit as a chance to not just expand\u00a0their corporate profile, but to lift up\u00a0their egg-free\u00a0sandwich spread as\u00a0the touchpoint for\u00a0a larger food-based cultural movement.\n\u201cA lawsuit gives us the opportunity to talk about the things that matter,\u201d he said. \u201cSo we\u2019ll take it.\u201d"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "d33322f0-e3b2-11e4-81ea-0649268f729e_5", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "d33322f0-e3b2-11e4-81ea-0649268f729e_5", "title": "Eat less meat, a government panel says. Is science on their side?", "text": "between diet and disease from population data is tough, because people who eat meat (or almost anything else) are likely to be different from people who don\u2019t in all kinds of ways. And controlled trials, where we feed some people Diet X and some other people Diet Y, can go on for only so long. We can\u2019t hold subjects hostage until they begin to die (or not) of heart disease. Nor can we kill them and autopsy their livers. Which means that all the research on meat, or on just about any other aspect of human nutrition, is necessarily limited. What are public health professionals supposed to do in the face of imperfect information? \u201cThe best we can,\u201d says Lichtenstein. \u201cYou have an entire panel of scientists with no vested interest trying to look at all the evidence.\u201d And so the answer to the question \u201chow much meat should I eat?\u201d is maddeningly elusive. Mozaffarian says two servings a week. Willett says one, or maybe none. The dietary guidelines committee recommends an overall pattern that includes 3.3 ounces per day of meat and poultry. But there is no optimal level. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not just meat,\u201d says Lichtenstein. \u201cWe can\u2019t know optimal levels of anything.\u201d Customers shop for produce at a Whole Foods market in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) We need to reconcile ourselves to the idea that we simply can\u2019t expect dietary recommendations that are both science-based and very specific. Although the committee looked at all the evidence and concluded that we would be better off if we ate less meat, Lichtenstein emphasizes that that isn\u2019t the top dietary priority (as does Mozaffarian). Two things we do know, from decades of research all pointing in the same direction, is that if you really want to improve your diet, keep your calories in balance and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Beyond that, cut your sugar intake. Substitute whole grains for refined. Get some exercise. The evidence on meat isn\u2019t iron-clad, but \u201cless meat\u201d seems reasonable given that people need to eat more vegetables and fruits, and less overall. The calories need to come from somewhere, and we\u2019re pretty sure meat \u2014 especially processed and fatty meat \u2014 isn\u2019t doing us any good, so it makes sense to cut back. That\u2019s the upshot. The reason the dietary guideline committee\u2019s \u201cless meat\u201d recommendation makes sense is not that meat\u2019s so very"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A recommendation to eat more calories from fruits and vegetables resulted in a suggestion to eat less meat. Some researchers suggest eating no meat at all. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)\nA modest suggestion that American diets should be lower in meat has galvanized the debate about carnivorousness. In February, the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee issued its recommendations on improving the government\u2019s official nutritional advice. Although the report is 571 pages, the executive summary distills it to one pithy sentence: A \u201chealthy dietary pattern is higher in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy, seafood, legumes, and nuts; moderate in alcohol (among adults); lower in red and processed meat, and low in sugar-sweetened foods and drinks and refined grains.\u201d A footnote about meat says, \u201cLean meats can be part of a healthy dietary pattern.\u201d\nIt wasn\u2019t a hard line against meat, but it was enough to make the industry come out swinging. The North American Meat Institute launched a Change.org petition, Hands Off My Hot Dog, that called the recommendations \u201cextreme and ill-considered\u201d and rallied supporters to stand with the industry in asking the Department of Agriculture to reject them. At last count, the petition had 2,472 signers.\n(In other parts of the report, the committee discussed the important issue of meat\u2019s environmental impact, but the \u201cless meat\u201d recommendation was based solely on nutrition considerations, and that\u2019s what I\u2019ll tackle here.)\nBeyond the idea that a dietary recommendation to eat less meat is an assault on liberty is the position, expressed to me by Meat Institute chief executive Barry Carpenter both on Twitter and in a Washington Post Live forum I moderated , that a pro-meat stand is evidence-based: Meat is a nutrient-dense, healthful food, and we reduce intake at our peril. The institute has science on its side.\nBut wait! The Physician\u2019s Committee for Responsible Medicine, advocate of a plant-based diet, recommends reducing our meat intake all the way to none. \u201cMultitudes of studies have demonstrated the remarkable health benefits of a vegetarian diet,\u201d the committee says. Science \u201cis on the side of vegetarianism.\u201d\nScience, she\u2019s a fickle mistress.\nA recommendation to eat less meat was met with an immediate campaign by the meat industry. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)\nYou don\u2019t have to spend much time on PubMed, the repository of journal articles, to figure out that, when it comes to the question of meat-eating and health, there\u2019s something for everyone. If you\u2019re looking for evidence that meat eaters die earlier, you can find that. If you\u2019re looking for evidence that they don\u2019t, you can find that, too. Just to make it harder, the debate on meat incorporates two other nutrition debates: those surrounding sodium (high in processed meats) and saturated fat (high in fatty meats).\nSo, is meat good or bad? Nutrient-rich essential or dietary enemy? It\u2019s neither, and that\u2019s why the \u201cless meat\u201d recommendation makes sense.\nDariush Mozaffarian, dean of Tufts University\u2019s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, points out that, although different studies of meat show different results, the range of those results is actually quite narrow. \u201cIf you look at every possible study with every population around the world, you see that meat-eating is neutral or is associated with slight harm,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen a benefit.\u201d\nMozaffarian says that two of the main arguments \u2014 one for, one against \u2014 are flawed because we shouldn\u2019t be talking about individual nutrients, whether they\u2019re theorized to be healthful (like the minerals in meat) or dangerous (like the saturated fat). We should be talking about food.\n\u201cWhat the meat industry is doing is a major mistake,\u201d he says. Basing dietary guidelines on nutrients is completely invalid, and we\u2019ve learned that again and again.\u201d As for saturated fats, \u201cthe sources of saturated fat are so diverse, and the health effects are so diverse, that it doesn\u2019t make sense to combine them. Butter, cheese, milk, meat, nuts \u2014 they all have different health effects.\u201d\nMozaffarian says he supports the dietary guidelines because they talk about food rather than nutrients, but he would have preferred the committee to have tackled meat differently. The meat to reduce, he says, is processed meat: bacon, sausage, deli meats. A review of the evidence that Mozaffarian co-authored in 2012 links processed meat to higher risk of heart disease and diabetes (the primary \u2014 although not the only \u2014 culprit appears to be sodium), and other  studies have also found a stronger link between mortality and processed meats than between mortality and unprocessed ones.\nProcessed meats, such as bacon, have the strongest link to heart disease and mortality. (Sarah A. Miller/AP)\nNot everyone agrees with that assessment. Walter Willett, chairman of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health, isn\u2019t ready to exonerate saturated fat and says that one serving of red meat a week is low-risk, but none or almost none is even lower. He also makes the case that what\u2019s important is what you replace the meat with. Replace it with sugar or refined grains, and it\u2019s a health loser. Replace it with polyunsaturated fat, and it\u2019s a win.\nWhich goes back to the idea that it\u2019s your diet in total that matters, and parsing it food by food isn\u2019t terribly helpful.\nAlice H. Lichtenstein, vice chairwoman of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and professor of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, says she is frustrated by the debate over the meat recommendation. \u201cPeople are making more of this than they should,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen we talk about individual foods within a dietary pattern, we frequently cause problems. We forget what else happens to the diet. If you increase or decrease meat intake, something else is going to change.\u201d\nThere\u2019s no magic number of optimal servings. And looking for very specific recommendations on diet is likely to be the wrong approach, because there\u2019s a great deal about nutrition that we don\u2019t know, and there are limits on how effectively we can find it out. Trying to tease out links between diet and disease from population data is tough, because people who eat meat (or almost anything else) are likely to be different from people who don\u2019t in all kinds of ways. And controlled trials, where we feed some people Diet X and some other people Diet Y, can go on for only so long. We can\u2019t hold subjects hostage until they begin to die (or not) of heart disease. Nor can we kill them and autopsy their livers.\nWhich means that all the research on meat, or on just about any other aspect of human nutrition, is necessarily limited. What are public health professionals supposed to do in the face of imperfect information? \u201cThe best we can,\u201d says Lichtenstein. \u201cYou have an entire panel of scientists with no vested interest trying to look at all the evidence.\u201d\nAnd so the answer to the question \u201chow much meat should I eat?\u201d is maddeningly elusive. Mozaffarian says two servings a week. Willett says one, or maybe none. The dietary guidelines committee recommends an overall pattern that includes 3.3 ounces per day of meat and poultry. But there is no optimal level. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not just meat,\u201d says Lichtenstein. \u201cWe can\u2019t know optimal levels of anything.\u201d\nCustomers shop for produce at a Whole Foods market in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\nWe need to reconcile ourselves to the idea that we simply can\u2019t expect dietary recommendations that are both science-based and very specific. Although the committee looked at all the evidence and concluded that we would be better off if we ate less meat, Lichtenstein emphasizes that that isn\u2019t the top dietary priority (as does Mozaffarian). Two things we do know, from decades of research all pointing in the same direction, is that if you really want to improve your diet, keep your calories in balance and eat lots of fruits and vegetables.\nBeyond that, cut your sugar intake. Substitute whole grains for refined. Get some exercise.\nThe evidence on meat isn\u2019t iron-clad, but \u201cless meat\u201d seems reasonable given that people need to eat more vegetables and fruits, and less overall. The calories need to come from somewhere, and we\u2019re pretty sure meat \u2014 especially processed and fatty meat \u2014 isn\u2019t doing us any good, so it makes sense to cut back.\nThat\u2019s the upshot. The reason the dietary guideline committee\u2019s \u201cless meat\u201d recommendation makes sense is not that meat\u2019s so very bad for you. It probably isn\u2019t. But you need to make room in your diet for the things that are actively good for you, and something\u2019s gotta give.\nHaspel, a freelance writer, farms oysters on Cape Cod and writes about food and science. On Twitter: @TamarHaspel. She\u2019ll join Wednesday\u2019s Free Range chat at noon: live.washingtonpost.com.\nMore from Food:\nIs grass-fed beef really better for you, the animal and the planet?\nCan a soda tax help solve America\u2019s obesity problem?\nThe problem with processed foods isn\u2019t what\u2019s in them."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "d6c5b674-7949-11e7-8839-ec48ec4cae25_3", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d6c5b674-7949-11e7-8839-ec48ec4cae25_3", "title": "Plant-based diet? Sure, but first understand what that really means.", "text": "increased risk of heart disease. Those eating a nutritious plant-based diet while also being more physically active fare even better. In a 2016 study, the researchers found similar results for the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study also supports the value of a plant-rich diet even for omnivores. Individuals who ate the least plant foods were eating about five or six servings of animal foods per day, while those with the most plant foods were eating three servings of animal foods. This means that reducing \u2014 not eliminating \u2014 animal foods even slightly while increasing healthy plant foods has benefits for preventing heart disease and diabetes. This allows a lot of flexibility with eating. The traditional Mediterranean diet follows this pattern, as do other healthful dietary patterns from around the globe. Putting the research on your plate While association does not prove cause and effect, there are various physiological mechanisms that may explain the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Whole and minimally processed plant foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants, along with heart-healthy unsaturated fats and dietary fiber. Together, this can promote healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, while lowering inflammation and nourishing your gut microbiota. To reap these benefits, here\u2019s what to eat more of: \u2022Whole grains and foods made from whole grain flour \u2022Fruits and vegetables \u2022Nuts, beans and lentils \u2022Vegetable oils (olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil) in dressings and for cooking \u2022Tea and coffee \u2022Healthy animal foods like fish, dairy (other than ice cream) and eggs At the same time, here\u2019s what to eat less of: \u2022Fruit juices and sugar-sweetened beverages \u2022Refined grains and foods made from white flour \u2022French fries, potato or corn chips, and baked or mashed potatoes \u2022Sweets (candy, pastries, desserts) \u2022Less-healthful animal foods (butter, lard, meat, ice cream) Bottom line In this era of \u201cfree-from\u201d foods (lactose-free, gluten-free, GMO-free), this study is a reminder that for nutrition and health, what you do eat matters as much as, if not more than, what you don\u2019t eat. Dennett is a registered dietitian-nutritionist and owner of Nutrition by Carrie. More from Lifestyle: 10 ways to save money on organic groceries Pro tennis players\u2019 good habits are prolonging their careers. The average athlete can learn from them. They offered to pay people to go to the gym. Guess what happened? Trying to conceive? Think about what you\u2019re eating."}], "old": [{"_id": "d6c5b674-7949-11e7-8839-ec48ec4cae25_3", "title": "Plant-based diet? Sure, but first understand what that really means.", "text": "a plant-based diet that emphasizes less-healthful plant foods is associated with increased risk of heart disease. Those eating a nutritious plant-based diet while also being more physically active fare even better. In a 2016 study, the researchers found similar results for the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study also supports the value of a plant-rich diet even for omnivores. Individuals who ate the least plant foods were eating about five or six servings of animal foods per day, while those with the most plant foods were eating three servings of animal foods. This means that reducing \u2014 not eliminating \u2014 animal foods even slightly while increasing healthy plant foods has benefits for preventing heart disease and diabetes. This allows a lot of flexibility with eating. The traditional Mediterranean diet follows this pattern, as do other healthful dietary patterns from around the globe. Putting the research on your plate While association does not prove cause and effect, there are various physiological mechanisms that may explain the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Whole and minimally processed plant foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants, along with heart-healthy unsaturated fats and dietary fiber. Together, this can promote healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, while lowering inflammation and nourishing your gut microbiota. To reap these benefits, here\u2019s what to eat more of: \u2022Whole grains and foods made from whole grain flour \u2022Fruits and vegetables \u2022Nuts, beans and lentils \u2022Vegetable oils (olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil) in dressings and for cooking \u2022Tea and coffee \u2022Healthy animal foods like fish, dairy (other than ice cream) and eggs At the same time, here\u2019s what to eat less of: \u2022Fruit juices and sugar-sweetened beverages \u2022Refined grains and foods made from white flour \u2022French fries, potato or corn chips, and baked or mashed potatoes \u2022Sweets (candy, pastries, desserts) \u2022Less-healthful animal foods (butter, lard, meat, ice cream) Bottom line In this era of \u201cfree-from\u201d foods (lactose-free, gluten-free, GMO-free), this study is a reminder that for nutrition and health, what you do eat matters as much as, if not more than, what you don\u2019t eat. More from Lifestyle: 10 ways to save money on organic groceries Pro tennis players\u2019 good habits are prolonging their careers. The average athlete can learn from them. They offered to pay people to go to the gym. Guess what happened? Trying to conceive? Think about what you\u2019re eating."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": " (iStock)\nThe concept of eating a \u201cplant-based\u201d diet is tossed around frequently, but it\u2019s a label that can be confusing. Some people shy away from the notion because they assume that plant-based is code for vegan. On the other hand, it\u2019s easy to think that eating all plants and no animals guarantees that your diet is healthful and nutritious. But does it?\nThe research in support of plant-based diets is bountiful, which is likely because of what they include \u2014 vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and fiber \u2014 as much as what they don\u2019t \u2014 excess saturated fat. But one limitation of much of that research is that it defines \u201cplant-based\u201d as vegetarian. Plant-based diets can take many forms, from vegan to vegetarian to flexitarian to omnivore. The common denominator is that they make plant foods the focal point of the plate. If you choose to eat animal foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs or dairy, they play smaller, supporting roles.\nThe other limitation is that the research tends to treat all plant-based diets equally, without regard to food quality. The fact is that many people focus on avoiding certain foods but are blind to whether the rest of their diet is nutritionally adequate. This is one of the perils of demonizing specific foods \u2014 no one food makes or breaks a diet, and it\u2019s your overall eating pattern that matters most for health and well-being.\nThat\u2019s not the message you get from many of the recent plant-based diet \u201cdocumentary\u201d (in other words, propaganda) films. The latest, \u201cWhat the Health,\u201d blames animal foods for every ill known to man and woman. While excessive amounts of animal protein and fat aren\u2019t good for us, that doesn\u2019t mean that moderate amounts in the context of a plant-rich diet are harmful. An excessive amount of anything isn\u2019t good \u2014 even water \u2014 and a cupcake is a cupcake, even if it\u2019s vegan.\nA recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology seems to agree. It found that when it comes to the plants you eat, quality does count \u2014 and omnivores have a place at the plant-based table, too.\nDietitian Ellie Krieger, Nourish Schools co-founder Casey Seidenberg and\u00a0certified health education specialist Elaine Gordon offer picks for meals from breakfast to dessert.\nNot all plants are created equal\nThe study, which came from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, included more than 200,000 women and men from the Nurses\u2019 Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, aimed to get a clearer answer on both quantity and quality of plant foods needed to see a benefit for health. This included the role of animal foods. Researchers measured what proportion of each participant\u2019s diet was plant-based, and whether those plant foods were healthful \u2014 vegetables, fruits, whole grains \u2014 or unhealthful \u2014 sweetened beverages, refined grains, sweets.\nThey found that a diet rich in healthful plant foods is associated with a substantially lower risk of developing heart disease, while a plant-based diet that emphasizes less-healthful plant foods is associated with increased risk of heart disease. Those eating a nutritious plant-based diet while also being more physically active fare even better. In a 2016 study, the researchers found similar results for the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.\nThe study also supports the value of a plant-rich diet even for omnivores. Individuals who ate the least plant foods were eating about five or six servings of animal foods per day, while those with the most plant foods were eating three servings of animal foods. This means that reducing \u2014 not eliminating \u2014 animal foods even slightly while increasing healthy plant foods has benefits for preventing heart disease and diabetes. This allows a lot of flexibility with eating. The traditional Mediterranean diet follows this pattern, as do other healthful dietary patterns from around the globe.\nPutting the research on your plate\nWhile association does not prove cause and effect, there are various physiological mechanisms that may explain the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Whole and minimally processed plant foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants, along with heart-healthy unsaturated fats and dietary fiber. Together, this can promote healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, while lowering inflammation and nourishing your gut microbiota. To reap these benefits, here\u2019s what to eat more of:\n\u2022Whole grains and foods made from whole grain flour\n\u2022Fruits and vegetables\n\u2022Nuts, beans and lentils\n\u2022Vegetable oils (olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil) in dressings and for cooking\n\u2022Tea and coffee\n\u2022Healthy animal foods like fish, dairy (other than ice cream) and eggs\nAt the same time, here\u2019s what to eat less of:\n\u2022Fruit juices and sugar-sweetened beverages\n\u2022Refined grains and foods made from white flour\n\u2022French fries, potato or corn chips, and baked or mashed potatoes\n\u2022Sweets (candy, pastries, desserts)\n\u2022Less-healthful animal foods (butter, lard, meat, ice cream)\nBottom line\nIn this era of \u201cfree-from\u201d foods (lactose-free, gluten-free, GMO-free), this study is a reminder that for nutrition and health, what you do eat matters as much as, if not more than, what you don\u2019t eat.\nDennett is a registered dietitian-nutritionist and owner of Nutrition by Carrie.\nMore from Lifestyle:\n10 ways to save money on organic groceries\nPro tennis players\u2019 good habits are prolonging their careers. The average athlete can learn from them.\nThey offered to pay people to go to the gym. Guess what happened?\nTrying to conceive? Think about what you\u2019re eating."}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "e13ac7ce-51e1-11e1-8973-35d66bdb2cb8_3", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "e13ac7ce-51e1-11e1-8973-35d66bdb2cb8_3", "title": "Eating meat, with a side order of conflicting emotions", "text": "Barnard, a physician and president of the PCRM, make no apologies for it. He compares current anti-meat campaigns to those that discourage underage smoking: It\u2019s important to hit \u2019em while they\u2019re young. \u201cIf a kid, like me, found a pack of cigarettes when he was 11,\u201d Barnard says, \u201cthat kid is more likely to grow up as a smoker as opposed to a kid who never encountered them at all.\u201d Hitting the youth market PETA, in particular, has actively targeted young eaters with its Peta2.com Web site, which launched in 2002 and has more than 500,000 e-news subscribers. The site has little interest in promoting the health-care savings or potential long-term health benefits of a vegetarian diet. Instead, it adopts a pop-culture approach to make meat-free eating seem cool and \u201ccruelty-free\u201d to animals \u2014 or, at the very least, contrarian to the adult world, which in itself might appeal to the more rebellious. The idea, says Dan Mathews, senior vice president of campaigns for PETA, is not to take an elevated intellectual approach in trying to appeal to youth, but to play up factors important to young eaters. Like looking good, or sex, or celebrities. PETA even works with television producers to insert anti-meat messages into various programs, such as an episode of last season\u2019s \u201cReal Housewives of Miami\u201d in which Lea Black annoys her fellow South Beach sun-bunnies by pooh-poohing a pig roast. \u201cBeing realistic, we realized we had to go to a lower common denominator\u201d to hit the youth market, says Mathews. \u201cThey want to look good. They don\u2019t care about something that will take decades to affect them,\u201d like heart disease. But the anti-meat and reduced-meat messages are not coming just from animal-rights organizations with an agenda. Cookbook authors, activists and even the federal government have embraced an idea that might have seemed radical a generation or two ago: We don\u2019t need to eat as much meat as we used to. Pollan, in his \u201cIn Defense of Food\u201d (Penguin, 2008), famously wrote that we should \u201cEat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.\u201d The following year, author Mark Bittman espoused essentially the same idea in \u201cFood Matters\u201d (Simon & Schuster, 2009) by noting that we should \u201ceat less meat and junk food, eat more vegetables and whole grains.\u201d More than two years later, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Last month, McDonald\u2019s devised a plan to wedge itself into the dense flow of self-promotion and micro-conversations that constitute Twitter. The fast-food giant had hoped to introduce some of the real-life farmers and producers who supply McDonald\u2019s with potatoes, beef and other products under the organizing hashtags of #MeetTheFarmers and #McDStories.\nBut within the hour, the company had a social-media disaster on its hands. Tweeters quickly hijacked the #McDStories hashtag to offer their own anecdotes and propaganda, some of it attacking McDonald\u2019s long history of selling cheap meat to Americans, millions of patties and nuggets a day.\nOne person, under the Twitter handle @MichelleVegan, wrote, \u201cMcDonalds scalds baby chicks alive for nuggets.\u201d The Twitter feed for Vegan.com chimed in: \u201cMy memories of walking into a McDonald\u2019s: the sensory experience of inhaling deeply from a freshly-opened can of dog food.\u201d Then, of course, PETA entered the fray with a photo of a coil of pink goop, implying that McNuggets were made from \u201cmechanically separated chicken,\u201d an allegation that McDonald\u2019s immediately denied.\nRegardless of the veracity of those claims, the episode underscored a new truth: Meat eating is not the simple pleasure it was in previous generations, and not just for those frequenting fast-food joints.\nEven as millions of Americans continue to gobble down gourmet burgers, dry-aged steaks, chef-driven charcuterie and bacon-wrapped everything, they\u2019re regularly forced to consider the potential consequences of their actions. Environmentalists want us to think about the greenhouse gases that meat production creates. Humane advocates want us to consider the suffering of animals. Doctors want us to ponder the health implications. And the medical community would like us to understand the potential fallout \u2014 otherwise known as antibiotic resistance \u2014 of pumping farm animals full of drugs.\n(Dan Page for The Washington Post)\nIt\u2019s as if America has become schizophrenic about meat: As the reasons to reduce or eliminate meat consumption increase, so do the sources of particularly tasty morsels of animal flesh.\nWashington is the prime example. In recent years, the Expense-Account Steakhouse Capital of America has practically become the center of the burger universe. We can secure a premium patty in countless outlets, including Shake Shack, Elevation Burger, Good Stuff Eatery,  Ray\u2019s Hell-Burger, Big Buns Gourmet Grill, Thunder Burger & Bar and BGR: The Burger Joint. Shall we count the number of barbecue outlets that have opened in the past few years, too? Does this sound like a sign that Washington, home to some of the most well-educated people in the country, has absorbed the message on meat eating?\n\u201cWe\u2019re schizoid, as a culture, on meat eating,\u201d notes writer Michael Pollan, who has grappled with this own internal conflicts on the consumption of animal flesh. \u201cWe love the taste and what having lots of meat has always signified \u2014 status, wealth \u2014 but at the same time it\u2019s hard to overlook the high cost of meat-eating: to the environment, to the workers, to the animals and to our own health. It\u2019s no wonder we\u2019d be conflicted.\u201d\nIt\u2019s perhaps not surprising that we\u2019ve reached this point at which meat eating has become almost as polarizing as religion. Groups such as PETA, Compassion Over Killing and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine have been promoting vegetarian or vegan diets for years, if not decades. An entire generation of eaters, many of them Twitter-savvy, has grown up with the idea that not eating meat is better for them and the world they live in.\nWhat\u2019s more, some of those groups have been targeting kids almost from the moment they started to make decisions about their diets. People such as Neal Barnard, a physician and president of the PCRM, make no apologies for it. He compares current anti-meat campaigns to those that discourage underage smoking: It\u2019s important to hit \u2019em while they\u2019re young.\n\u201cIf a kid, like me, found a pack of cigarettes when he was 11,\u201d Barnard says, \u201cthat kid is more likely to grow up as a smoker as opposed to a kid who never encountered them at all.\u201d\nHitting the youth market\nPETA, in particular, has actively targeted young eaters with its Peta2.com Web site, which launched in 2002 and has more than 500,000 e-news subscribers. The site has little interest in promoting the health-care savings or potential long-term health benefits of a vegetarian diet. Instead, it adopts a pop-culture approach to make meat-free eating seem cool and \u201ccruelty-free\u201d to animals \u2014 or, at the very least, contrarian to the adult world, which in itself might appeal to the more rebellious.\nThe idea, says Dan Mathews, senior vice president of campaigns for PETA, is not to take an elevated intellectual approach in trying to appeal to youth, but to play up factors important to young eaters. Like looking good, or sex, or celebrities. PETA even works with television producers to insert anti-meat messages into various programs, such as an episode of last season\u2019s \u201cReal Housewives of Miami\u201d in which Lea Black annoys her fellow South Beach sun-bunnies by pooh-poohing a pig roast.\n\u201cBeing realistic, we realized we had to go to a lower common denominator\u201d to hit the youth market, says Mathews. \u201cThey want to look good. They don\u2019t care about something that will take decades to affect them,\u201d like heart disease.\nBut the anti-meat and reduced-meat messages are not coming just from animal-rights organizations with an agenda. Cookbook authors, activists and even the federal government have embraced an idea that might have seemed radical a generation or two ago: We don\u2019t need to eat as much meat as we used to.\nPollan, in his \u201cIn Defense of Food\u201d (Penguin, 2008), famously wrote that we should \u201cEat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.\u201d The following year, author Mark Bittman espoused essentially the same idea in \u201cFood Matters\u201d (Simon & Schuster, 2009) by noting that we should \u201ceat less meat and junk food, eat more vegetables and whole grains.\u201d\nMore than two years later, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommended that we \u201creduce the intake of calories from solid fats.\u201d Translation: Eat less meat.\nIt\u2019s not easy to quantify how those messages have influenced meat eating in the United States. According to a poll conducted last year by Harris Interactive for the Vegetarian Resource Group, about 5 percent of Americans identified themselves as vegetarian, and another 33 percent are \u201ceating vegetarian meals a significant amount of the time.\u201d In 1994, a poll conducted for the Vegetarian Resource Group led the organization to estimate that \u201c0.3 to 1 percent of the population is vegetarian.\u201d\nPerhaps more telling are numbers culled by the America Meat Institute from Agriculture Department data. They show that consumption of red meat is down across the board. Americans, for example, ate 56.9 pounds of beef per capita in 2010, compared with 62.4 pounds in 2005. Our pork consumption per person also dropped, from 46.5 pounds in 2005 to 44.8 in 2010. Even our taste for chicken has dulled: We ate 55.5 pounds of chicken per person in 2010, off from 60.5 pounds five years earlier.\nThe numbers might trend toward a vegetarian lifestyle, but the fact is, Americans still down an estimated one-sixth of the meat eaten in the world. Where does this drive come from? (Aside from the intoxicating scent of those burgers sizzling on the grill at Ray\u2019s?)\nBarnard of the PCRM suggests in his book \u201cBreaking the Food Seduction\u201d (St. Martin\u2019s, 2003) that meat eating has an addictive quality. \u201cScientific tests suggest that meat has subtle drug-like qualities, just as sugar, chocolate, and cheese do,\u201d Barnard writes. \u201cWhen researchers use the drug naloxone to block opiate receptors in volunteers, meat loses much of its appeal.\u201d\nNew York University professor and noted nutritionist Marion Nestle says the addiction theory is bunk.\n\u201cHumans are omnivores and lots of animals eat meat,\u201d she wrote via e-mail. \u201cPeople eat because they have to (a drive). Taste drives food choices. We get nutrients (Vitamin B12, among others) from meat and dairy foods that we can\u2019t get enough of from vegetable sources. Our ancestors had no choice. Survival depended on eating meat. We do have a choice, and people and the planet would be healthier if we ate less meat, but I wouldn\u2019t call meat-eating an addiction.\u201d\nWhether its product is addictive or not, the meat industry is not sitting back idly and watching America transform into Veg Nation. The American Meat Institute, a trade association that represents red meat and turkey processors, launched a Web site about a year ago called Meat MythCrushers with the idea that it would counter many of the arguments against meat eating. Via studies and video interviews with industry experts, the site tackles what it says are \u201cmyths,\u201d such as the belief that antibiotic use in livestock production contributes to antibiotic resistance in humans, or that there\u2019s a concrete connection between meat eating and heart disease.\nJanet M. Riley, senior vice president of public affairs for the AMI, acknowledges that lower consumption rates and increased attacks on meat eating led the organization to create the site. But she also says the statistics showing declining meat-eating are deceptive: Between higher meat prices and the poor economy, Americans have naturally started to eat less meat.\nOn the defense\nThe videos on the site were particularly important to Riley, who serves as the interviewer in each. She says she wanted to humanize an industry that has become increasingly viewed as cold and mechanical via films such as \u201cFood, Inc.\u201d and books such as Eric Schlosser\u2019s \u201cFast Food Nation.\u201d When people visit processing plants these days, she says, they\u2019re surprised by the improvements in animal welfare and safety.\nThat statement might come as a surprise to PETA\u2019s Mathews, who notes that the agriculture industry continues to try to push bills through state legislatures to prevent undercover videos and photographs at slaughterhouses and other facilities, which could potentially turn off more meat eaters. \u201cThey\u2019re very threatened,\u201d Mathews says. \u201cThis is why they got these bills sponsored.\u201d\nIt would seem clear, whether it\u2019s McDonald\u2019s on Twitter or slaughterhouses in Iowa, that meat producers, retailers and eaters have assumed a defensive position. Will some of those defenses eventually crumble under more pressure to decrease meat consumption? One former hard-core meat eater found she could no longer justify her habits after doing pro-bono legal work for the Humane Society of the United States and its anti-puppy-mill campaign.\nOne day, more than three years ago, antitrust lawyer Amber McDonald of the District \u201cmade the connection that industrialized agriculture is run a lot like a puppy mill.\u201d She gradually weaned herself from meat and dairy products, a move that came as a shock to her friends, colleagues and family. McDonald grew up in Wisconsin, eating brats and cheese. She used to judge people who ate fish in a steakhouse as not aggressive enough for employment in the legal profession. She laughs at the memory of it now.\nFour years ago, McDonald might have been a happy participant in the eight-day barbecue orgy known as Meat Week. But this year, for the third consecutive year, she was organizing her own little counterproposal: Meat-Free Week, which ended Monday. She\u2019s the founder of the event. Is she also a harbinger of things to come in America?"}
{"qid": 958, "pid": "ead326ac-ac2a-11e6-8b45-f8e493f06fcd_1", "query_info": {"_id": 958, "text": "How have plant-based foods been re-branded and positioned for mainstream grocery stores?", "instruction_og": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors have contributed to the current plant-based trend, formerly vegan. Among them are the rise in wellness culture, scientific findings of increased cancers from eating too much red and processed meats, environmental concerns, and marketing tools used by the vegan community. Concern for the future of world's food supply and the impact of climate change are other factors which have contributed to the plant-based trend. Only documents related to plant-based products are relevant.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific dietary trend for this question.", "keywords": "dietary trend research"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ead326ac-ac2a-11e6-8b45-f8e493f06fcd_1", "title": "Plant proteins, healthy fats and more 2017 food trends", "text": "even make its way into your bar as it\u2019s also used to make spirits. Sprouting everything The \u201970s are back! Another trend for 2017 is sprouting just about everything: seeds, nuts, beans and grains. Do-it-yourself sprouting is an option if you have patience and aren\u2019t worried about food safety, but sprouted foods will also be available in a variety of packaged foods this year. Why it will be a trend: Another bonus: Sprouting helps deactivate \u201canti-nutrients\u201d such as phytic acid, making the protein and minerals easier to absorb. For example, sprouting rye can increase its folate content almost four times. Do the nutritional benefits remain once sprouts are heated? No, but they do offer benefits vs. un-sprouted versions when in comes to grains. Compared with whole-grain bread, eating sprouted-grain bread increases satiety-promoting hormones and lowers the blood sugar response. Where you\u2019ll see it: Plant-based protein sources reinvented With the United Nations declaring 2016 the International Year of Pulses (another word for legumes), cooking with beans, lentils and peas is nothing new. What is a fresh take for 2017 is the movement to go beyond hummus and lentil soup to find creative new ways to incorporate legumes throughout your day. Nuts and seeds will continue to be featured as healthy go-to snacks. Why it will be a trend: Plant-based proteins are sustainable, affordable and nutritious. They\u2019re also incredibly versatile, and healthy food companies are taking advantage of that aspect to bring vegetarian proteins to every meal and snack. Where you\u2019ll see it: Beans and lentils are now being used to make pasta that\u2019s higher in protein and fiber than wheat-based varieties. Legumes are going to dominate the snacking market in the new year with more roasted chickpea companies expanding nationwide and offering enticing flavors from mesquite barbecue to Thai coconut. New on the scene are roasted broad beans from companies such as Enlightened that are high in fiber and offer seven grams of protein for only 100 calories. Good fats Low-fat, carbohydrate and sugar-rich foods are the food villains of 2016. It follows that 2017 will be all about embracing the health benefits of a nutrient we once feared, fat. Why it will be a trend: Why now? KIND Snacks filed a Citizen Petition in December 2015 requesting that the FDA update what it allows to be called \u201chealthy.\u201d This change will mean that whole foods such as vegetables, seafood, nuts"}], "old": [{"_id": "ead326ac-ac2a-11e6-8b45-f8e493f06fcd_1", "title": "Plant proteins, healthy fats and more 2017 food trends", "text": "food trends will we be seeing in 2017? If I had to summarize the overall theme for food trends next year, I would say: plant proteins, healthy fats and whole foods made convenient. Here are my predictions: The new quinoa Why it will be a trend: With demand for fiber-rich gluten-free options and local food continuing to grow into 2017, this whole grain is one to watch. Where you\u2019ll see it: This gluten-free grain will also be popping up in protein bars, crackers and gluten-free bread. Sorghum may even make its way into your bar as it\u2019s also used to make spirits. Sprouting everything The \u201970s are back! Another trend for 2017 is sprouting just about everything: seeds, nuts, beans and grains. Do-it-yourself sprouting is an option if you have patience and aren\u2019t worried about food safety, but sprouted foods will also be available in a variety of packaged foods this year. Why it will be a trend: Where you\u2019ll see it: Plant-based protein sources reinvented What is a fresh take for 2017 is the movement to go beyond hummus and lentil soup to find creative new ways to incorporate legumes throughout your day. Nuts and seeds will continue to be featured as healthy go-to snacks. Why it will be a trend: Plant-based proteins are sustainable, affordable and nutritious. They\u2019re also incredibly versatile, and healthy food companies are taking advantage of that aspect to bring vegetarian proteins to every meal and snack. Where you\u2019ll see it: Beans and lentils are now being used to make pasta that\u2019s higher in protein and fiber than wheat-based varieties. Good fats Low-fat, carbohydrate and sugar-rich foods are the food villains of 2016. It follows that 2017 will be all about embracing the health benefits of a nutrient we once feared, fat. Why it will be a trend: We need fat to feel satisfied and for palatability, and as an energy source and to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. We know that healthy fats such as omega-3s and monounsaturated fats promote brain and heart health. Where you\u2019ll see it: Dairy companies will increasingly offer milk products that are organic or from grass-fed cows to meet consumer demand for healthier fat profiles and better treatment of animals. More from Lifestyle: How to eat for an energy boost The best reason to eat beans and grains together: They\u2019re delicious Rice that cauliflower and spiralize that zucchini all you want"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Sorghum is an excellent source of fiber and rich in protein. (iStockphoto)\nIf the food trends of 2016 could be summed up in three words, they would be: protein, paleo and local. What food trends will we be seeing in 2017?\nAt the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Boston in October, I was among more than 10,000 nutrition professionals who got an inside scoop on the latest nutrition information and products from 416 exhibitors and more than 130 research and educational presentations, lectures, panel discussions and culinary demonstrations.\nIf I had to summarize the overall theme for food trends next year, I would say: plant proteins, healthy fats and whole foods made convenient.\nHere are my predictions:\nThe new quinoa\nStep aside, quinoa. There\u2019s a new gluten-free whole grain gaining traction among the health-savvy. It\u2019s called sorghum and it\u2019s homegrown: The \u201csorghum belt\u201d runs between South Dakota and southern Texas.\nWhy it will be a trend:\nWith demand for fiber-rich gluten-free options and local food continuing to grow into 2017, this whole grain is one to watch.\nWhere you\u2019ll see it:\nThis gluten-free grain will also be popping up in protein bars, crackers and gluten-free bread. Sorghum may even make its way into your bar as it\u2019s also used to make spirits.\nSprouting everything\nThe \u201970s are back! Another trend for 2017 is sprouting just about everything: seeds, nuts, beans and grains.\nDo-it-yourself sprouting is an option if you have patience and aren\u2019t worried about food safety, but sprouted foods will also be available in a variety of packaged foods this year.\nWhy it will be a trend:\nAnother bonus: Sprouting helps deactivate \u201canti-nutrients\u201d such as phytic acid, making the protein and minerals easier to absorb. For example, sprouting rye can increase its folate content almost four times.\nDo the nutritional benefits remain once sprouts are heated? No, but they do offer benefits vs. un-sprouted versions when in comes to grains. Compared with whole-grain bread, eating sprouted-grain bread increases satiety-promoting hormones and lowers the blood sugar response.\nWhere you\u2019ll see it:\nPlant-based protein sources reinvented\nWith the United Nations declaring 2016 the International Year of Pulses (another word for legumes), cooking with beans, lentils and peas is nothing new.\nWhat is a fresh take for 2017 is the movement to go beyond hummus and lentil soup to find creative new ways to incorporate legumes throughout your day. Nuts and seeds will continue to be featured as healthy go-to snacks.\nWhy it will be a trend:\nPlant-based proteins are sustainable, affordable and nutritious. They\u2019re also incredibly versatile, and healthy food companies are taking advantage of that aspect to bring vegetarian proteins to every meal and snack.\nWhere you\u2019ll see it:\nBeans and lentils are now being used to make pasta that\u2019s higher in protein and fiber than wheat-based varieties.\nLegumes are going to dominate the snacking market in the new year with more roasted chickpea companies expanding nationwide and offering enticing flavors from mesquite barbecue to Thai coconut. New on the scene are roasted broad beans from companies such as Enlightened that are high in fiber and offer seven grams of protein for only 100 calories.\nGood fats\nLow-fat, carbohydrate and sugar-rich foods are the food villains of 2016. It follows that 2017 will be all about embracing the health benefits of a nutrient we once feared, fat.\nWhy it will be a trend:\nWhy now? KIND Snacks filed a Citizen Petition in December 2015 requesting that the FDA update what it allows to be called \u201chealthy.\u201d This change will mean that whole foods such as vegetables, seafood, nuts and seeds won\u2019t be penalized for their natural, healthy fat content.\nWe need fat to feel satisfied and for palatability, and as an energy source and to absorb fat-soluble vitamins. We know that healthy fats such as omega-3s and monounsaturated fats promote brain and heart health.\nEven fats we once viewed as unhealthy, such as saturated fats in dairy, will be reframed in 2017. Dairy fat contains naturally occurring trans-fatty acids such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Research suggests that CLA in milk could lower the risk of coronary heart disease and prevent cancer cells from growing.\nWhere you\u2019ll see it:\nDairy companies will increasingly offer milk products that are organic or from grass-fed cows to meet consumer demand for healthier fat profiles and better treatment of animals.\nChristy Brissette is a dietitian, foodie and president of 80TwentyNutrition.com. Follow her on Twitter @80twentyrule.\nMore from Lifestyle:\nHow to eat for an energy boost\nThe best reason to eat beans and grains together: They\u2019re delicious\nRice that cauliflower and spiralize that zucchini all you want"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "36O5IOUN4YI6TLPT64HXRQKW5A_0", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "36O5IOUN4YI6TLPT64HXRQKW5A_0", "title": "Baltimore Symphony musicians rally for state funding to save the orchestra", "text": "Wearing tuxedos with tails and lugging brass horns and metal music stands, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians rallied in Annapolis on Thursday to urge Gov. Larry Hogan (R) to release funding to help save the orchestra \u2014 and their jobs. The orchestra is one of about three dozen programs and projects waiting for the governor to make available money that the General Assembly \u201cfenced off\u201d in the state\u2019s $46.6 billion budget \u2014 meaning Hogan could not reroute it to other priorities. The orchestra announced last month that it was canceling its summer programming to reduce costs, cutting the season from 52 to 40 weeks per year. \u201cGovernor Hogan, we are the Baltimore Symphony musicians,\u201d Michael Lisicky, a second-chair oboist, yelled into a white megaphone while a half-dozen musicians played \u201cThat\u2019s a Plenty\u201d across the street from the statehouse. \u201cWe urge you to release the funds.\u201d In addition to $1.6 million specifically to help keep the orchestra afloat, the General Assembly set aside $127 million for school construction, $3.5 million to launch a grant fund to pay for testing a backlog of rape kits and $1 million for a summer youth jobs program in Baltimore, among other things. \u201cThese are not frivolous items,\u201d said Del. Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City), the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, adding that the legislative priorities are a \u201csmall, tiny, fraction\u201d of the state budget. \u201cThey are of major importance to our constituents.\u201d The back-and-forth is part of an annual budget battle between the Democratic majority legislature and Hogan that essentially pits the governor\u2019s budget priorities against the General Assembly\u2019s. In past years, Hogan has at times refused to release money for the General Assembly\u2019s priorities, instead placing the money in the state\u2019s rainy day fund. House Democrats this week began waging a social media campaign against that practice, using the hashtag #FreeTheFunds and urging followers to contact the governor\u2019s office to ask him to do so. Hogan on Thursday accused the legislature of playing \u201cpolitical games\u201d by fencing off money for its priorities instead of requesting supplemental funding for them. \u201cWe\u2019ve said repeatedly that we\u2019re not going to let them play those kinds of games,\u201d he said. The General Assembly cannot add money to the spending plan that the governor introduces during the budget process but can shift money from one fund to another to pay for programs it prioritizes. Setting aside the money restricts it"}], "old": [{"_id": "36O5IOUN4YI6TLPT64HXRQKW5A_0", "title": "Baltimore Symphony musicians rally for state funding to save the orchestra", "text": "ovetta.wiggins@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Wearing tuxedos with tails and lugging brass horns and metal music stands, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians rallied in Annapolis on Thursday to urge Gov. Larry Hogan (R) to release funding to help save the orchestra \u2014 and their jobs.\nThe orchestra is one of about three dozen programs and projects waiting for the governor to make available money that the General Assembly \u201cfenced off\u201d in the state\u2019s $46.6 billion budget \u2014 meaning Hogan could not reroute it to other priorities. The orchestra announced last month that it was canceling its summer programming to reduce costs, cutting the season from 52 to 40 weeks per year.\n\u201cGovernor Hogan, we are the Baltimore Symphony musicians,\u201d Michael Lisicky, a second-chair oboist, yelled into a white megaphone while a half-dozen musicians played \u201cThat\u2019s a Plenty\u201d across the street from the statehouse. \u201cWe urge you to release the funds.\u201d\nIn addition to $1.6 million specifically to help keep the orchestra afloat, the General Assembly set aside $127 million for school construction, $3.5 million to launch a grant fund to pay for testing a backlog of rape kits and $1 million for a summer youth jobs program in Baltimore, among other things.\n\u201cThese are not frivolous items,\u201d said Del. Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City), the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, adding that the legislative priorities are a \u201csmall, tiny, fraction\u201d of the state budget. \u201cThey are of major importance to our constituents.\u201d\nThe back-and-forth is part of an annual budget battle between the Democratic majority legislature and Hogan that essentially pits the governor\u2019s budget priorities against the General Assembly\u2019s. In past years, Hogan has at times refused to release money for the General Assembly\u2019s priorities, instead placing the money in the state\u2019s rainy day fund.\nHouse Democrats this week began waging a social media campaign against that practice, using the hashtag #FreeTheFunds and urging followers to contact the governor\u2019s office to ask him to do so.\nHogan on Thursday accused the legislature of playing \u201cpolitical games\u201d by fencing off money for its priorities instead of requesting supplemental funding for them. \u201cWe\u2019ve said repeatedly that we\u2019re not going to let them play those kinds of games,\u201d he said.\nThe General Assembly cannot add money to the spending plan that the governor introduces during the budget process but can shift money from one fund to another to pay for programs it prioritizes. Setting aside the money restricts it from being used elsewhere. The state constitution also gives the governor the authority to decide whether he wants to comply with the changes.\nHogan hinted during a Thursday morning news conference that he does \nnot plan to provide the additional funds to the orchestra.\n\u201cWe put $8 million into the BSO,\u201d Hogan said. \u201cThey received the most money of any arts group in the state, 74 percent higher than any other arts group. .\u2009.\u2009. We continue to pour millions and millions of dollars into the BSO, but they\u2019ve got real serious issues and problems with the management, with losing the support of their donor base.\u201d\nHogan spokesman Michael Ricci said the legislature chose to \u201cfence off\u201d the money for the BSO instead of working with the governor and the administration to provide supplemental funding for the orchestra.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a classic example of how this tactic puts important projects in the middle of the back-and-forth,\u201d he said.\nThe state is facing a structural budget shortfall of $961 million, Ricci said, and the governor \u201chas to make these decisions with that budget picture in mind.\u201d\nRicci said he expects the governor to make a budget announcement in coming weeks. He would not say whether the governor will release any of the funds.\nState Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery), chairwoman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, said the governor should release the funds to help the orchestra \u201cget on its feet.\u201d She said she hopes Hogan also considers the funding of the other programs.\n\u201cWe were careful about what we fenced off,\u201d King said. \u201cNone of this was looked at lightly.\u201d\novetta.wiggins@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "56XOMHUJOQI6TKDQXHCBDXCDCI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "56XOMHUJOQI6TKDQXHCBDXCDCI_0", "title": "BSO bids a reluctant farewell with Mahler\u2019s Ninth Symphony at Strathmore", "text": "Marin Alsop led an expansive, complicated rendition of Mahler\u2019s Ninth Symphony under difficult conditions Saturday night in the Music Center at Strathmore. The last time she conducted the work, in 2009, she made the mistake of pairing it with an inferior work by Leonard Bernstein. This time around it stood alone, suffused with regret and nostalgia. Anxiety about the future has hovered over the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra all season. Management has insisted the orchestra become a part-time ensemble by cutting back the season from 52 weeks to 40 weeks. At the end of May, after an extended contract dispute, management abruptly canceled the orchestra\u2019s summer season, suspending musicians\u2019 pay as of June 16. Mahler\u2019s Ninth Symphony is a leave-taking, composed after the death of the composer\u2019s young daughter. Much of the first movement obsesses over the three-note motif \u201cLebewohl\u201d (Farewell), taken from Beethoven\u2019s piano sonata \u201cLes Adieux.\u201d After an ethereal opening in cello and harp, Alsop wrung as much pathos and urgency as she could from this music \u2014 and those emotions seemed to resonate with the orchestra\u2019s situation. The rough-hewed second movement plodded along somewhat rudely, the second violins hacking away unceremoniously at the first statement of the L\u00e4ndler. The third movement darted and bit even more bitterly, the viciously maintained counterpoint interrupted by a crystalline, mournful trumpet solo around the midpoint. The entire violin section, one of the BSO\u2019s greatest assets, sang their hearts out in the opening of the concluding Adagio, marked \u201cgrosser Ton\u201d (with big tone) in the score. The plush string section, including heart-melting solos from concertmaster Jonathan Carney, sustained the time-stopping tempo set by Alsop, complemented by gorgeous horn solos. One early flute entrance aside, quickly righted, it was a moment to glory in the sound of the BSO, just before its likely dismantlement at the hands of its own management. At the start of the concert, the entire orchestra took the stage together, in a gesture of solidarity. The devoted Strathmore audience responded with standing ovations both at the beginning and end of the concert. The affection in the hall was palpable, but it may not be enough to save this esteemed ensemble from diminishment. style@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "56XOMHUJOQI6TKDQXHCBDXCDCI_0", "title": "BSO bids a reluctant farewell with Mahler\u2019s Ninth Symphony at Strathmore", "text": "style@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Marin Alsop led an expansive, complicated rendition of Mahler\u2019s Ninth Symphony under difficult conditions Saturday night in the Music Center at Strathmore. The last time she conducted the work, in 2009, she made the mistake of pairing it with an inferior work by Leonard Bernstein. This time around it stood alone, suffused with regret and nostalgia.\nAnxiety about the future has hovered over the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra all season. Management has insisted the orchestra become a part-time ensemble by cutting back the season from 52 weeks to 40 weeks. At the end of May, after an extended contract dispute, management abruptly canceled the orchestra\u2019s summer season, suspending musicians\u2019 pay as of June 16.\nMahler\u2019s Ninth Symphony is a leave-taking, composed after the death of the composer\u2019s young daughter. Much of the first movement obsesses over the three-note motif \u201cLebewohl\u201d (Farewell), taken from Beethoven\u2019s piano sonata \u201cLes Adieux.\u201d After an ethereal opening in cello and harp, Alsop wrung as much pathos and urgency as she could from this music \u2014 and those emotions seemed to resonate with the orchestra\u2019s situation.\nThe rough-hewed second movement plodded along somewhat rudely, the second violins hacking away unceremoniously at the first statement of the L\u00e4ndler. The third movement darted and bit even more bitterly, the viciously maintained counterpoint interrupted by a crystalline, mournful trumpet solo around the midpoint.\nThe entire violin section, one of the BSO\u2019s greatest assets, sang their hearts out in the opening of the concluding Adagio, marked \u201cgrosser Ton\u201d (with big tone) in the score. The plush string section, including heart-melting solos from concertmaster Jonathan Carney, sustained the time-stopping tempo set by Alsop, complemented by gorgeous horn solos. One early flute entrance aside, quickly righted, it was a moment to glory in the sound of the BSO, just before its likely dismantlement at the hands of its own management.\nAt the start of the concert, the entire orchestra took the stage together, in a gesture of solidarity. The devoted Strathmore audience responded with standing ovations both at the beginning and end of the concert. The affection in the hall was palpable, but it may not be enough to save this esteemed ensemble from diminishment.\nstyle@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "7YSGKTHC34I6TNAD644ITGMC2I_0", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "7YSGKTHC34I6TNAD644ITGMC2I_0", "title": "BSO, after choppy summer, embraces fate and voodoo in exuberant opener", "text": "The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra opened its season at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, its home house, on Friday night. This sounds like a routine statement, yet it contains a world of news: As recently as last week \u2014 after the musicians had been locked out by management all summer, and in the midst of negotiations that didn\u2019t seem to be bringing the two sides any closer together \u2014 it seemed highly likely that the performance, if not, indeed, the season, would be postponed. So when conductor Marin Alsop and the musicians took the stage in this warm and homey auditorium, they were greeted with a long ovation. \u201cI\u2019m not sure I can talk,\u201d said a visibly moved Alsop, after leading the national anthem that orchestras around the country play at the start of their seasons. The issue has been whether the orchestra can afford to continue in its current form. The management avers that a 52-week season is no longer viable, and that the orchestra needs to reduce to a 40-week season to survive. Musicians argue that cutting back the season would lower prestige and drive away players. This put management in the odd position of trying to prove to the world just how badly it had managed its money so far, canceling its summer season only weeks after announcing the program, and then locking out its musicians for the 10-week duration. The new agreement is a one-year contract extension that simply kicks the problems down the road. The contract is for 50 weeks (the lockout accounts for the two missed weeks), but provides pay for a 40-week season; the other 10 weeks are being covered by a $1.6 million donation from \u201cspecial friends of the BSO.\u201d There is no guarantee that those special friends are going to come forward next year. The contract stipulates that management will hire new musicians to fill existing vacancies; the board will create a Vision Committee with musicians to plan for the orchestra\u2019s future; and there will be no strike and no lockout through next September. Negotiations, one presumes, will continue. All of this background puts any concert under a kind of existential filter. What is the purpose of the orchestra? How necessary is it to the city? How glad are people that it\u2019s back? The answer to the last seemed to be \u201cvery\u201d: The Baltimore audience, which always seems to me more relaxed and"}], "old": [{"_id": "7YSGKTHC34I6TNAD644ITGMC2I_0", "title": "BSO, after choppy summer, embraces fate and voodoo in exuberant opener", "text": "anne.midgette@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra opened its season at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, its home house, on Friday night.\nThis sounds like a routine statement, yet it contains a world of news: As recently as last week \u2014 after the musicians had been locked out by management all summer, and in the midst of negotiations that didn\u2019t seem to be bringing the two sides any closer together \u2014 it seemed highly likely that the performance, if not, indeed, the season, would be postponed.\nSo when conductor Marin Alsop and the musicians took the stage in this warm and homey auditorium, they were greeted with a long ovation.\n\u201cI\u2019m not sure I can talk,\u201d said a visibly moved Alsop, after leading the national anthem that orchestras around the country play at the start of their seasons.\nThe issue has been whether the orchestra can afford to continue in its current form. The management avers that a 52-week season is no longer viable, and that the orchestra needs to reduce to a 40-week season to survive. Musicians argue that cutting back the season would lower prestige and drive away players. This put management in the odd position of trying to prove to the world just how badly it had managed its money so far, \ncanceling its summer season only weeks after announcing the program, and then locking out its musicians for the 10-week duration.\nThe new agreement is a one-year contract extension that simply kicks the problems down the road. The contract is for 50 weeks (the lockout accounts for the two missed weeks), but provides pay for a 40-week season; the other 10\u00a0weeks are being covered by a $1.6\u00a0million donation from \u201cspecial friends of the BSO.\u201d There is no guarantee that those special friends are going to come forward next year. The contract stipulates that management will hire new musicians to fill existing vacancies; the board will create a Vision Committee with musicians to plan for the orchestra\u2019s future; and there will be no strike and no lockout through next September. Negotiations, one presumes, will continue.\nAll of this background puts any concert under a kind of existential filter. What is the purpose of the orchestra? How necessary is it to the city? How glad are people that it\u2019s back? The answer to the last seemed to be \u201cvery\u201d: The Baltimore audience, which always seems to me more relaxed and familial than the Kennedy Center\u2019s, filled the hall, while members of the players\u2019 committee greeted them in the lobby.\nTo add another existential touch, fate was the theme of the program, with numbers such as the overture to Verdi\u2019s \u201cForza del Destino;\u201d Tchaikovsky\u2019s Fourth Symphony (which winds around a \u201cfate\u201d theme from the start); and the Voodoo Violin Concerto written in 2002 by the dynamic Daniel Bernard Roumain, a piece shot through with otherworldly implications, from the spiritlike voices of high flutes to an admixture of vernaculars from other genres, as if the orchestra were speaking in tongues.\nAfter the initial outburst of love, the night started on a sober note with a short piece by Christopher Rouse, the Baltimore-based composer and Pulitzer Prize winner who was BSO composer-in-residence in the 1980s and who died this month at the age of 70. Alsop offered a few reminiscences of him and the time she spent with him in his final days as he was dying of cancer (his only two regrets, she said, were his concern that the BSO might not play opening night, and that he might not see the Baltimore Orioles win). \u201cProcessional: Death of Poe\u201d was one of the works the orchestra commissioned for its centenary in 2016, a big dark piece growing to a powerful growl and then dying away \u2014 passing, as it were, before our ears and eyes.\nThe other contemporary composer on the program was bursting with life: Roumain, also known as DBR, was engaging both as composer and performer. His concerto marshals familiar tropes from jazz, blues and folk music in an exuberant synthesis that is neither forced nor hackneyed, as such quotes too often are. Fiddling on his amplified instrument, or taking his bow in his teeth to pluck the strings like a guitar, and even singing into the mic at one point, he drew the orchestra after him in call-and-response episodes, and the audience into enthusiastic applause, a response to this welcome jolt of musical reality in a normally rarefied world.\nAlsop\u2019s Verdi was overcharged and not altogether idiomatic, lacking Verdian flow in the interest of trying to land points at big moments. And the evening overall had a slightly raucous quality, the sound of energy funneling itself into a small space. This wasn\u2019t a bad thing, though it gave the Tchaikovsky the sense of a jigsaw puzzle, with the joins apparent between the pieces of the picture. But the piece also crested to a great crashing wave of a finale, and the evening overall gave several perspectives to the issue of why an orchestra is, after all, worth it.\nanne.midgette@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "FLIBAMBZDEI6TIDMH3EO2UE5CU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "FLIBAMBZDEI6TIDMH3EO2UE5CU_0", "title": "Baltimore Symphony Orchestra plays on, and with gusto, despite no new contract", "text": "The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra continues to perform, even though the musicians and management still haven\u2019t agreed to a new contract. At issue is the length of the BSO\u2019s season, which management wants to cut drastically. The musicians have made it clear that they want to play, for a full season, and play they did Sunday afternoon in the Music Center at Strathmore. On the podium was Nicholas Hersh, who joined the BSO as associate conductor in 2014. This regular subscription program was a step up from the normal assignments for the position, such as holiday and kids concerts. It opened with \u201cRondes de printemps,\u201d a movement from Debussy\u2019s \u201cImages,\u201d which Hersh gave an active, almost breathless propulsion. For much of the time, he uses both arms to give the beat, a style that leaves little room for providing cues or other direction. Cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, winner of the gold medal at the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition, returned to the BSO to play Elgar\u2019s Cello Concerto. He attacked the piece with a beefy, full sound, and luxuriated over rubato slow passages with yearning phrasing. But the playing was not without a few blemishes, including in double-stops and on harmonic notes here and there. Perhaps his finest moment came in a rarefied, heartfelt encore, \u201cEl cant dels ocells\u201d as arranged by Pablo Casals. Crisp, raucous low brass introduced Prokofiev\u2019s Sixth Symphony, given a competent reading by Hersh and the orchestra. A few intonation issues unsettled the flute solos in the first movement, but the menacing horn notes, on wailing siren-like crescendos, drove the music to a fever pitch. Both the swooning romantic melody and the military march of the second movement were powerful and full-throated. The gallop-style theme of the finale moved progressively from insipid to threatening, making for a satisfying conclusion. style@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "FLIBAMBZDEI6TIDMH3EO2UE5CU_0", "title": "Baltimore Symphony Orchestra plays on, and with gusto, despite no new contract", "text": "style@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra continues to perform, even though the musicians and management still haven\u2019t agreed to a new contract. At issue is the length of the BSO\u2019s season, which management wants to cut drastically. The musicians have made it clear that they want to play, for a full season, and play they did Sunday afternoon in the Music Center at Strathmore.\nOn the podium was Nicholas Hersh, who joined the BSO as associate conductor in 2014. This regular subscription program was a step up from the normal assignments for the position, such as holiday and kids concerts. It opened with \u201cRondes de printemps,\u201d a movement from Debussy\u2019s \u201cImages,\u201d which Hersh gave an active, almost breathless propulsion. For much of the time, he uses both arms to give the beat, a style that leaves little room for providing cues or other direction.\nCellist Narek Hakhnazaryan, winner of the gold medal at the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition, returned to the BSO to play Elgar\u2019s Cello Concerto. He attacked the piece with a beefy, full sound, and luxuriated over rubato slow passages with yearning phrasing. But the playing was not without a few blemishes, including in double-stops and on harmonic notes here and there. Perhaps his finest moment came in a rarefied, heartfelt encore, \u201cEl cant dels ocells\u201d as arranged by Pablo Casals.\nCrisp, raucous low brass introduced Prokofiev\u2019s Sixth Symphony, given a competent reading by Hersh and the orchestra. A few intonation issues unsettled the flute solos in the first movement, but the menacing horn notes, on wailing siren-like crescendos, drove the music to a fever pitch. Both the swooning romantic melody and the military march of the second movement were powerful and full-throated. The gallop-style theme of the finale moved progressively from insipid to threatening, making for a satisfying conclusion.\nstyle@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "FYF4CJQVKEI6VEIQHM2M4HMSWE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "FYF4CJQVKEI6VEIQHM2M4HMSWE_0", "title": "In classical music it was a year of building, deconstructing and, occasionally, rescuing", "text": "Every year has highs and lows. Sometimes they\u2019re even connected. In 2019, classical music wrestled with topical issues and economic concerns that were reflected in some of the year\u2019s most significant triumphs. It was the year of new flexible, multiuse performance spaces. In New York, the Shed debuted with a goal of bringing a culture of new art to offset the gleaming consumerism of Hudson Yards. In Lenox, Mass., the Linde Center expanded Tanglewood\u2019s offerings to a year-round calendar. And in Washington, the Kennedy Center\u2019s $250 million Reach annex, which opened with a 16-day festival, prompted debate about whether \u201cthey will come\u201d is always what follows \u201cif you build it.\u201d Waking up at last to the lack of people of color both on and behind the stage, classical music is attempting, sometimes clumsily, to tackle the problem. This year saw world premieres of operas about race and injustice (\u201cThe Central Park Five,\u201d Long Beach Opera) and white cops shooting black youths (\u201cBlue,\u201d Glimmerglass Festival opera company, coming to Washington National Opera next year), which is good, but there was also more pigeonholing of black artists such as the tenor Russell Thomas, in WNO\u2019s \u201cOtello\u201d this fall. Epitomizing the problem was the Metropolitan Opera\u2019s lavish \u201cPorgy and Bess.\u201d Maybe next year we\u2019ll see more works that truly spotlight and celebrate black culture. The Baltimore Symphony pump-faked fans by announcing a summer season and then locking out its musicians for nine weeks, citing steep revenue losses. But the two sides managed to find a way forward, and the musicians are now playing under a one-year contract. Meanwhile, the announced demise of the National Philharmonic, based at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md., prompted hand-wringing and an 11th-hour bailout. Will it last? Stay tuned. The countertenor Iestyn Davies, always a source of dazzling and thoughtful music, offered not one but two programs in Washington this calendar year: the first at the Library of Congress with the ensemble Fretwork and the second at the Kennedy Center with his longtime collaborator, lutenist Thomas Dunford. The beauty of \u201cAkhnaten,\u201d in Phelim McDermott\u2019s production, marked a moment when the beleaguered and often mediocre Metropolitan Opera had a chance to turn things around. At least the company took a step toward a much-overdue housecleaning by announcing the impending departure of Jonathan Friend, the longtime casting director, who will be succeeded by Michael Heaston, formerly of the Washington National Opera. The"}], "old": [{"_id": "FYF4CJQVKEI6VEIQHM2M4HMSWE_0", "title": "In classical music it was a year of building, deconstructing and, occasionally, rescuing", "text": "Read more: style@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Every year has highs and lows. Sometimes they\u2019re even connected. In 2019, classical music wrestled with topical issues and economic concerns that were reflected in some of the year\u2019s most significant triumphs.\nIt was the year of new flexible, multiuse performance spaces. In New York, the Shed debuted with a goal of bringing a culture of new art to offset the gleaming consumerism of Hudson Yards. In Lenox, Mass., the Linde Center expanded Tanglewood\u2019s offerings to a year-round calendar. And in Washington, the Kennedy Center\u2019s $250 million Reach annex, which opened with a 16-day festival, prompted debate about whether \u201cthey will come\u201d is always what follows \u201cif you build it.\u201d\nWaking up at last to the lack of people of color both on and behind the stage, classical music is attempting, sometimes clumsily, to tackle the problem. This year saw world premieres of operas about race and injustice (\u201cThe Central Park Five,\u201d Long Beach Opera) and white cops shooting black youths (\u201cBlue,\u201d Glimmerglass Festival opera company, coming to Washington National Opera next year), which is good, but there was also more pigeonholing of black artists such as the tenor Russell Thomas, in WNO\u2019s \u201cOtello\u201d this fall. Epitomizing the problem was the Metropolitan Opera\u2019s lavish \u201cPorgy and Bess.\u201d Maybe next year we\u2019ll see more works that truly spotlight and celebrate black culture.\nThe Baltimore Symphony pump-faked fans by announcing a summer season and then locking out its musicians for nine weeks, citing steep revenue losses. But the two sides managed to find a way forward, and the musicians are now playing under a one-year contract. Meanwhile, the announced demise of the National Philharmonic, based at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md., prompted hand-wringing and an 11th-hour bailout. Will it last? Stay tuned.\nThe countertenor Iestyn Davies, always a source of dazzling and thoughtful music, offered not one but two programs in Washington this calendar year: the first at the Library of Congress with the ensemble Fretwork and the second at the Kennedy Center with his longtime collaborator, lutenist Thomas Dunford.\nThe beauty of \u201cAkhnaten,\u201d in Phelim McDermott\u2019s production, marked a moment when the beleaguered and often mediocre Metropolitan Opera had a chance to turn things around. At least the company took a step toward a much-overdue housecleaning by announcing the impending departure of Jonathan Friend, the longtime casting director, who will be succeeded by Michael Heaston, formerly of the Washington National Opera.\nThe most creative operatic work is still happening at smaller opera companies. In Washington, the In Series, under Tim Nelson, offered some memorable small takes on big works, and Urban Arias and WNO\u2019s festival of 20-minute operas kept going strong. In New York, the Prototype Festival presented Ellen Reid\u2019s \u201cPrism,\u201d an opera about sexual harassment, which premiered in Los Angeles and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. And at year\u2019s end, the Long Beach Opera announced that MacArthur fellow Yuval Sharon \u2014 whose company, The Industry, in Los Angeles has brought him international attention \u2014 would take over as interim director, showing the appeal small companies hold for creative artists.\nSlowly but surely, the field is waking up to the idea that 50 percent of the population deserves better representation on the concert stage. The New York Philharmonic announced its multi-season Project 19, commissioning 19 works by 19 female composers to celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment. Washington got a brand-new festival of women\u2019s music, courtesy of the Boulanger Initiative, as well as recitals by mezzo powerhouse Jamie Barton and pianist Lara Downes. Should women\u2019s music be segregated this way? There are a lot of strong feelings on the subject, but advocacy is needed to give more people a chance to recognize the quality of what\u2019s out there.\nA three-part series of the complete quartets by Mieczyslaw Weinberg, a composer you might not have heard of, sounds like an obscure attraction. But the Phillips Collection gambled on quality and gave D.C. audiences a chance to hear the quirky Quatour Danel in a rich tapestry of work that deserves to be much better known.\nPeople often ask: Why can\u2019t we update old operas for our time? With \u201cPrisoner of the State,\u201d David Lang has done just that. He remakes Beethoven\u2019s only opera, \u201cFidelio,\u201d a problem child of the repertory, into a new work that hews to the original in form while underscoring its relevance to today\u2019s society. Watching Lang blossom into one of the heavyweights of the field over the past couple of decades has been a pleasure, and his opera stayed with me and is one I look forward to seeing again.\nWhen I looked back over my concert-going experiences in 2019, I found that Gianandrea Noseda\u2019s concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra were among the ones that remained most vivid in my mind. Noseda has created a narrative at an orchestra that didn\u2019t have one, offering hopes of better things to come.\nRead more:\nstyle@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "QJO53IUDDAI6TFNJ4LEDBL7CJ4_2", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "QJO53IUDDAI6TFNJ4LEDBL7CJ4_2", "title": "Baltimore Symphony Orchestra unexpectedly cancels summer season", "text": "the season the major issue in the stalled negotiations. The players were blindsided by Thursday\u2019s announcement, said Greg Mulligan, a first violinist and co-chairman of the orchestra committee that represents the players in negotiations. \u201cWe\u2019re very disappointed,\u201d he said. \u201cAfter the citizens of Maryland and the legislature and governor advocated for us by eventually passing the bill, we cannot understand why they\u2019re taking this action.\u201d The next bargaining session is scheduled for Tuesday. Mulligan said that at a hastily convened meeting Thursday, the players asked management to put off the announcement until after that session but that management declined. Players see the threat as existential. \u201cWhen you change an orchestra from 52 weeks to 40, and cut pay by that much, it\u2019s going to change the kind of players who come here,\u201d Brian Prechtl, a percussionist and the other chairman of the orchestra committee, said in a conversation last fall about the ongoing contract negotiations. \u201cSome great players will leave.\u201d Baltimore\u2019s situation epitomizes the basic conflict that has marked orchestral labor struggles across the country: musicians\u2019 claims to a fair and regular salary for a highly skilled job against the decrease in demand for concerts. This season, Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians staged a strike for almost seven weeks, the longest in the orchestra\u2019s history, over proposed changes to their pension plans, which ultimately went through largely as management had proposed. The Minnesota Orchestra and Detroit Symphony Orchestra have both emerged remarkably rejuvenated after long and bitter labor disputes \u2014 in the case of the Minnesota Orchestra, not a strike but a lockout. The BSO, which is based in a city that is not wealthy and has no great depth of industry to provide corporate funding, has long struggled financially. (The Cleveland Orchestra, faced with a similar predicament, has introduced an annual residency in Florida, enabling it to tap into a second donor base.) In 2009 and 2010, the BSO musicians agreed to voluntary salary reductions, which they had earned back by 2016. For the past two years, they have played on one-year extensions of the previous contract; the second of those expired in September. \u201cAs long as they pay us, we\u2019re going to play,\u201d Mulligan said. \u201cThey\u2019ve said they\u2019re going to pay us through concerts on June 16, and after that they\u2019re not going to pay us. It\u2019s not going to be a strike; it\u2019s going to be lockout.\u201d anne.midgette@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra announced Thursday that it is eliminating this year\u2019s summer programming.\nSeven months after putting forth a contract proposal to musicians that would cut the season from 52 to 40 weeks a year, the orchestra said it was advancing aggressively in that direction, first by canceling its promising New Music Festival, a pet project of Music Director Marin Alsop that this year was to celebrate female composers, as well as much of the popular summer programming, including a concert with Leslie Odom Jr., live accompaniment to \u201cHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,\u201d and the annual Fourth of July concert.\nThe decision comes just a little over a month after the summer season was announced and only six days after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) approved a bill providing $3.2\u00a0million in state funding for the orchestra, the result of a request by a musician-led consortium for state aid.\nIn its announcement, the orchestra cited $16\u00a0million in losses over the past decade.\n\u201cIf the BSO is going to survive,\u201d said orchestra president and chief executive Peter Kjome, \u201cour business model needs to change.\u201d\n\u201cLegislation passed this session in Annapolis sought to provide some immediate funding to address short-term financial issues,\u201d the statement said. But, it continued, \u201cthe legislation did not fully address the long-term, systemic issues or reform the BSO business model.\u201d\nThe orchestra\u2019s musicians have been playing without a contract since Sept. 9, with the proposed cuts to the season the major issue in the stalled negotiations. The players were blindsided by Thursday\u2019s announcement, said Greg Mulligan, a first violinist and co-chairman of the orchestra committee that represents the players in negotiations.\n\u201cWe\u2019re very disappointed,\u201d he said. \u201cAfter the citizens of Maryland and the legislature and governor advocated for us by eventually passing the bill, we cannot understand why they\u2019re taking this action.\u201d\nThe next bargaining session is scheduled for Tuesday. Mulligan said that at a hastily convened meeting Thursday, the players asked management to put off the announcement until after that session but that management declined.\nPlayers see the threat as existential. \u201cWhen you change an orchestra from 52 weeks to 40, and cut pay by that much, it\u2019s going to change the kind of players who come here,\u201d Brian Prechtl, a percussionist and the other chairman of the orchestra committee, said in a conversation last fall about the ongoing contract negotiations. \u201cSome great players will leave.\u201d\nBaltimore\u2019s situation epitomizes the basic conflict that has marked orchestral labor struggles across the country: musicians\u2019 claims to a fair and regular salary for a highly skilled job against the decrease in demand for concerts. This season, Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians staged a strike for almost seven weeks, the longest  in the orchestra\u2019s history, over proposed changes to their pension plans, which ultimately went through largely as management had proposed. The Minnesota Orchestra and Detroit Symphony Orchestra have both emerged remarkably rejuvenated after long and bitter labor disputes \u2014 in the case of the Minnesota Orchestra, not a strike but a lockout.\nThe BSO, which is based in a city that is not wealthy and has no great depth of industry to provide corporate funding, has long struggled financially. (The Cleveland Orchestra, faced with a similar predicament, has introduced an annual residency in Florida, enabling it to tap into a second donor base.) In 2009 and 2010, the BSO musicians agreed to voluntary salary reductions, which they had earned back by 2016. For the past two years, they have played on one-year extensions of the previous contract; the second of those expired in September.\n\u201cAs long as they pay us, we\u2019re going to play,\u201d Mulligan said. \u201cThey\u2019ve said they\u2019re going to pay us through concerts on June 16, and after that they\u2019re not going to pay us. It\u2019s not going to be a strike; it\u2019s going to be lockout.\u201d\nanne.midgette@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "US7JJXUSCAI6TKW3OTTLFNDPNI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "US7JJXUSCAI6TKW3OTTLFNDPNI_0", "title": "BSO musicians try to keep summer schedule, without the orchestra", "text": "Fiddling while Rome burns: It\u2019s used as an image of leaders ignoring serious problems for their own amusement. In the case of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians, though, fiddling through a crisis represents an attempt to save their orchestra. Faced with a lockout that began June 17, weeks after management announced cancellation of the summer season, BSO musicians are trying to figure out how to pay mortgages, afford health insurance and make it through the summer. Some have already departed to substitute with other orchestras \u2014 Ivan Stefanovic, the associate principal second violin, left Monday morning for the Atlanta Symphony. But most are staying here and planning to perform at the annual Independence Day event July 3 \u2014 one of the events that the BSO announced it was canceling but which Baltimore County is going ahead with anyway. The orchestra members were going to pitch in free, but a grant from the Music Performance Trust Fund, an independent public service organization, and the Film Funds, will make it possible for them to be paid. The county is arranging the fireworks, food vendors, security and parking \u2014 using money that would otherwise have gone to the BSO. \u201cWe were in a position to use existing funding through a grant we provide the BSO,\u201d said T.J. Smith, the press secretary for Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. \u201cPart of the grant is the Independence Day extravaganza. Considering that\u2019s not happening, we were able to use the funding that already existed to put on a portion of it.\u201d The concert will go off \u201cessentially as planned,\u201d Smith said, though \u201cthere are a few logistical things that will be different.\u201d It will also be on a slightly smaller scale, with an audience of about 5,000. The Independence Day concert is usually a moneymaker for the orchestra, says Brian Prechtl, a percussionist and member of the orchestra committee. This year, for the first time, it will be free to the public, though it remains a ticketed event. The free tickets were all snapped up last week. The musicians are trying to maintain continuity in other ways. The popular Academy Week, which allows amateur musicians to play side by side with orchestra players, was among the canceled events, but players are trying to continue it in some modified form, emphasizing mainly chamber music, between July 12 and 21. What the musicians aren\u2019t trying to replace are some of"}], "old": [{"_id": "US7JJXUSCAI6TKW3OTTLFNDPNI_0", "title": "BSO musicians try to keep summer schedule, without the orchestra", "text": "anne.midgette@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Fiddling while Rome burns: It\u2019s used as an image of leaders ignoring serious problems for their own amusement. In the case of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians, though, fiddling through a crisis represents an attempt to save their orchestra.\nFaced with a lockout that began June 17, weeks after management announced cancellation of the summer season, BSO musicians are trying to figure out how to pay mortgages, afford health insurance and make it through the summer. Some have already departed to substitute with other orchestras \u2014 Ivan Stefanovic, the associate principal second violin, left Monday morning for the Atlanta Symphony. But most are staying here and planning to perform at the annual Independence Day event July 3 \u2014 one of the events that the BSO announced it was canceling but which Baltimore County is going ahead with anyway.\nThe orchestra members were going to pitch in free, but a grant from the Music Performance Trust Fund, an independent public service organization, and the Film Funds, will make it possible for them to be paid. The county is arranging the fireworks, food vendors, security and parking \u2014 using money that would otherwise have gone to the BSO.\n\u201cWe were in a position to use existing funding through a grant we provide the BSO,\u201d said T.J. Smith, the press secretary for Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. \u201cPart of the grant is the Independence Day extravaganza. Considering that\u2019s not happening, we were able to use the funding that already existed to put on a portion of it.\u201d\nThe concert will go off \u201cessentially as planned,\u201d Smith said, though \u201cthere are a few logistical things that will be different.\u201d It will also be on a slightly smaller scale, with an audience of about 5,000.\nThe Independence Day concert is usually a moneymaker for the orchestra, says Brian Prechtl, a percussionist and member of the orchestra committee. This year, for the first time, it will be free to the public, though it remains a ticketed event. The free tickets were all snapped up last week.\nThe musicians are trying to maintain continuity in other ways. The popular Academy Week, which allows amateur musicians to play side by side with orchestra players, was among the canceled events, but players are trying to continue it in some modified form, emphasizing mainly chamber music, between July 12 and 21.\nWhat the musicians aren\u2019t trying to replace are some of the summer\u2019s other big events, including a showing of a Harry Potter film with live orchestral accompaniment, and a concert with the popular Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. Both of these concerts are the kinds of things that orchestras often put on to expand their audience base and make money.\nMany of the locked-out musicians are or will be applying for unemployment. \u201cIt\u2019s very hard to get a summer festival gig on short notice,\u201d Prechtl said. Most musicians cling to a prized summer festival post, which allows them to work in beautiful surroundings; Prechtl has been playing with the Grand Teton Music Festival in Wyoming for 27 years.\nOrchestras do, however, sometimes need a substitute at short notice, and many are eager to help out the Baltimore musicians with work. The Seattle Symphony called Prechtl asking about violists who might be available.\nPrechtl, for his part, has had to turn down paying work, because his position as players\u2019 committee\n spokesman is keeping him so busy during the lockout. All members of the committee, he says, feel they have a commitment to the players and shouldn\u2019t leave until things are more settled.\nFor some musicians, there\u2019s a more immediate logistical problem: Their larger instruments are inside Meyerhoff Hall, which the orchestra is locked out of, and they have no way to get them out for the concert \u2014 nor is there a crew available to move them. Musicians will have to use their personal instruments, which in Prechtl\u2019s case include timpani and a bass drum.\n\u201cWe might have to rent a truck,\u201d he said.\nanne.midgette@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "VX44LLDMYEI6RP4GUI2RWXWOTE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "VX44LLDMYEI6RP4GUI2RWXWOTE_0", "title": "Under Alsop, BSO offers new look to end the season", "text": "Happy orchestras are all alike; every struggling orchestra is struggling in its own way. These days, most orchestras are struggling, but on Saturday night at Strathmore, at the end of its subscription season, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra certainly looked like a happy and unified family in a well-conceived and well-performed program. The Baltimore orchestra\u2019s struggles have mainly been financial \u2014 this group is Exhibit A in terms of the challenges of maintaining a national-level orchestra in a midsize city without major industry and with plenty of financial problems of its own. The orchestra has responded consistently with pluck and determination. Where Washington\u2019s National Symphony Orchestra has seen four music directors in the past 10 years (one of them, Ivan Fischer, technically a principal conductor), Marin Alsop has been in Baltimore that whole time, developing a distinctive approach, with the flourishing OrchKids program in inner-city schools and energetic programming with a strong American flavor. But the organization had a solid profile even before Alsop got there, after its years under David Zinman and the curiously underrated legend Yuri Temirkanov. All of this was reflected in the refreshing energy and athleticism of Saturday\u2019s performance, from the first bright, crisp note of Leonard Bernstein\u2019s \u201cSlava! A political overture,\u201d a humorous and amiable burlesque with some lively music. Unlike the NSO, where the struggles have to do with motivation and ensemble playing, this is an orchestra speaking with one voice and having something to say. The program focused on two tortured titans of the 20th century: Bernstein and Shostakovich. Bernstein was Alsop\u2019s mentor when she was starting out, and I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a conductor in the United States who does a better job with his music. Time and again, Alsop focuses on Bernstein\u2019s large serious scores \u2014 on Saturday, it was his second symphony-cum-piano concerto, \u201cThe Age of Anxiety\u201d \u2014 and each time she makes a persuasive case for music to which not everyone can find the key. Bernstein\u2019s musical language veers from lush, keening Romantic phrases from sad clarinets to manic jazzy syncopations, and Alsop effortlessly found a through line on Saturday that linked them without grandstanding, supported by Jon Kimura Parker, the fluid, mellifluous piano soloist. The counterweight to this was the Shostakovich Fifth, which at first sounded a little bit too much like the Bernstein: attractive and appealing and polished in a way that took the edges off this rugged"}], "old": [{"_id": "VX44LLDMYEI6RP4GUI2RWXWOTE_0", "title": "Under Alsop, BSO offers new look to end the season", "text": "anne.midgette@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Happy orchestras are all alike; every struggling orchestra is struggling in its own way. These days, most orchestras are struggling, but on Saturday night at Strathmore, at the end of its subscription season, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra certainly looked like a happy and unified family in a well-conceived and well-performed program.\nThe Baltimore orchestra\u2019s struggles have mainly been financial \u2014 this group is Exhibit A in terms of the challenges of maintaining a national-level orchestra in a midsize city without major industry and with plenty of financial problems of its own. The orchestra has responded consistently with pluck and determination. Where Washington\u2019s National Symphony Orchestra has seen four music directors in the past 10 years (one of them, Ivan Fischer, technically a principal conductor), Marin Alsop has been in Baltimore that whole time, developing a distinctive approach, with the flourishing OrchKids program in inner-city schools and energetic programming with a strong American flavor. But the organization had a solid profile even before Alsop got there, after its years under David Zinman and the curiously underrated legend Yuri Temirkanov.\nAll of this was reflected in the refreshing energy and athleticism of Saturday\u2019s performance, from the first bright, crisp note of Leonard Bernstein\u2019s \u201cSlava! A political overture,\u201d a humorous and amiable burlesque with some lively music. Unlike the NSO, where the struggles have to do with motivation and ensemble playing, this is an orchestra speaking with one voice and having something to say.\nThe program focused on two tortured titans of the 20th century: Bernstein and Shostakovich. Bernstein was Alsop\u2019s mentor when she was starting out, and I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a conductor in the United States who does a better job with his music. Time and again, Alsop focuses on Bernstein\u2019s large serious scores \u2014 on Saturday, it was his second symphony-cum-piano concerto, \u201cThe Age of Anxiety\u201d \u2014 and each time she makes a persuasive case for music to which not everyone can find the key. Bernstein\u2019s musical language veers from lush, keening Romantic phrases from sad clarinets to manic jazzy syncopations, and Alsop effortlessly found a through line on Saturday that linked them without grandstanding, supported by Jon Kimura Parker, the fluid, mellifluous piano soloist.\nThe counterweight to this was the Shostakovich Fifth, which at first sounded a little bit too much like the Bernstein: attractive and appealing and polished in a way that took the edges off this rugged music, so that while it was large and powerful, it was never really anguished. It was, however, dramatic and muscular and propulsive, and the slight restraint in the first movement meant that Alsop left herself somewhere to go in the fourth, which after the pathos of the slow third movement was the largest and most dramatic of all. If it wasn\u2019t the most idiomatic Shostakovich, it certainly was a respectable showing, winning a roar from the audience at the close and nicely setting the orchestra up for the BBC Proms, the highlight of the British summer season, where they will play the same program as part of their tour in August.\nThe orchestra aired its family business with a sincere tribute to five players retiring after a combined 148 years of service, two of whom were on the stage with Alsop and Peter Kjome, the orchestra\u2019s president. It also showed a new face. A four-year collaboration with the Parsons School of Design has yielded prototypes for new concert clothing, elegant modifications of standard tails-and-black-dress concert wear, executed in more breathable and flexible fabrics (donated by Under Armour, the Baltimore athletic-wear titan). A group of musicians came out at the front of the stage at the start of the show to model the new look: a range of asymmetric dresses and modified tails that didn\u2019t trumpet their differences \u2014 you might not notice if you didn\u2019t know to look \u2014 but whose stylish athleticism proved a perfect fit for this ensemble, in more ways than one.\nanne.midgette@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 959, "pid": "ZHGO3DURIMI6TNLQMQLO7XAIAM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 959, "text": "Tell me about the situation pertaining to the lock out of musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.", "instruction_og": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra.", "instruction_changed": "Musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra have been officially locked out. I'm looking for details about the possible causes of the orchestra's financial troubles. What specifically led to the lock out, negotiation efforts, and state funding issues are all relevant. Actions and reactions of the musicians, donors and community also are relevant. I am also interested in any plans or actions to rescue the ailing orchestra. I am not interested in any document discussing the name of the director or concert master of the orchestra.", "short_query": "Research the reasons behind a specific organization's financial crisis to answer this question.", "keywords": "financial crisis organization"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ZHGO3DURIMI6TNLQMQLO7XAIAM_0", "title": "Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians officially locked out", "text": "It\u2019s official: It\u2019s a lockout. On Sunday night, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra confirmed what it effectively announced on May 30: The musicians of the orchestra are locked out. On May 30, the orchestra announced that it would be canceling its summer season and ceasing to pay its musicians as of June 16. The musicians have been playing without a contract since September; still, the only way that the orchestra can legally stop paying them is to announce a lockout. The orchestra\u2019s news release went out late Sunday night, only hours before the end of the last day the musicians were to draw pay, and only a short time after the players themselves had been informed, according to Peter Kjome, the orchestra\u2019s president and CEO. Players and management are returning to the negotiating table Friday, in the presence of federal mediators, although the negotiations are not yet officially in mediation. Whatever the outcome, Kjome says that the lockout will end on Sept. 9, when the orchestra is scheduled to reconvene for the fall season. Musicians, however, are highly unlikely to resume work unless a contract agreement has been reached. \u201cTo be out for 12 weeks and then come back and take the 20 percent cut they wanted to give us in the first place, would you be willing to do that?\u201d said Brian Prechtl, a percussionist and co-chair of the BSO\u2019s orchestra committee. The lockout effectively achieves a goal that management announced it was seeking as early as October, when it proposed cutting the BSO\u2019s season from 52 weeks to 40 weeks. On May 24, House Bill 1404, which included provisions for $3.2 million for the orchestra over two years, and which had passed both houses of Maryland\u2019s state assembly, was not among the bills vetoed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R), and the orchestra breathed a sigh of relief. However, according to Kjome, the money was not immediately forthcoming; he could not get a letter of intent from the legislature to present to the bank for a short-term loan. The orchestra\u2019s $60 million endowment, Kjome says, is already drawn to capacity, at a rate of 5.75 percent as well as a $5 million loan. \u201cOur endowment trust,\u201d he says, \u201cviews that further support without having significant changes to improve our business model is not fiduciarially responsible.\u201d Kjome asserts that the orchestra has lost $16 million in the past decade, and blames"}], "old": [{"_id": "ZHGO3DURIMI6TNLQMQLO7XAIAM_0", "title": "Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians officially locked out", "text": "anne.midgette@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "It\u2019s official: It\u2019s a lockout. On Sunday night, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra confirmed what it effectively announced on May 30: The musicians of the orchestra are locked out.\nOn May 30, the orchestra announced that it would be canceling its summer season and ceasing to pay its musicians as of June 16. The musicians have been playing without a contract since September; still, the only way that the orchestra can legally stop paying them is to announce a lockout.\nThe orchestra\u2019s news release went out late Sunday night, only hours before the end of the last day the musicians were to draw pay, and only a short time after the players themselves had been informed, according to Peter Kjome, the orchestra\u2019s president and CEO.\nPlayers and management are returning to the negotiating table Friday, in the presence of federal mediators, although the negotiations are not yet officially in mediation. Whatever the outcome, Kjome says that the lockout will end on Sept. 9, when the orchestra is scheduled to reconvene for the fall season. Musicians, however, are highly unlikely to resume work unless a contract agreement has been reached.\n\u201cTo be out for 12 weeks and then come back and take the 20\u00a0percent cut they wanted to give us in the first place, would you be willing to do that?\u201d said Brian Prechtl, a percussionist and co-chair of the BSO\u2019s orchestra committee.\nThe lockout effectively achieves a goal that management announced it was seeking as early as October, when it proposed cutting the BSO\u2019s season from 52 weeks to 40 weeks.\nOn May 24, House Bill 1404, which included provisions for $3.2\u00a0million for the orchestra over two years, and which had passed both houses of Maryland\u2019s state assembly, was not among the bills vetoed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R), and the orchestra breathed a sigh of relief. However, according to Kjome, the money was not immediately forthcoming; he could not get a letter of intent from the legislature to present to the bank for a short-term loan.\nThe orchestra\u2019s $60\u00a0million endowment, Kjome says, is already drawn to capacity, at a rate of 5.75 percent as well as a $5\u00a0million loan. \u201cOur endowment trust,\u201d he says, \u201cviews that further support without having significant changes to improve our business model is not fiduciarially responsible.\u201d\nKjome asserts that the orchestra has lost $16 million in the past decade, and blames previous administrations for having drawn down the endowment \u00adsignificantly in the past. In 2006, he said, more than $20 million was taken out of the endowment at another critical juncture. \u201cAt that time,\u201d he said, \u201cthe endowment was restructured to protect assets so that this would not happen again.\u201d He added, \u201cI think about where we would be today if we had those additional funds.\u201d\nOthers say that Baltimore\u2019s management and board have not done all they could to maximize donations and income, including an entire year during which the orchestra operated without a director of development, the organization\u2019s chief fundraiser. The BSO is rare among American orchestras in having a full-fledged second home at Strathmore, in Montgomery County, one of the richest parts of the state.\n\u201cThe orchestra management over a number of years has never fully tapped the significant potential that Strathmore represents,\u201d said Greg Tucker, a strategic communications consultant who is a former PR director for the orchestra and was for four years a board member, until 2018.\nAnd players believe the orchestra could still lean more heavily on the endowment. \u201cThey could be taking up to 7\u00a0percent by law,\u201d Prechtl says.\nAs it is, Prechtl says, the orchestra will be saving $2.5\u00a0million on musicians\u2019 wages and health care if it sticks with its plan of continuing the lockout until September. \u201cThat\u2019s all \u00adcoming out of musicians\u2019 pockets,\u201d he says. \u201cOur line of the budget has remained flat for the last 10 years.\u201d The musicians made several significant concessions over a decade of contract negotiations; their contracts have only recently returned to 2008 levels.\nThere is much debate about the 52-week season these days. Several orchestras, including \u00adDetroit, St. Louis and Atlanta, have cut back their seasons \u2014 Detroit, in the wake of a painful six-month strike in 2010 to 2011; Atlanta, after a lockout in 2012. (The orchestra was locked out again in 2014). The 52-week season is, in fact, a relatively recent development, dating from the 1970s and 1980s; before that, many orchestral musicians worked second jobs in the off\u00adseason.\nAccording to Prechtl, Detroit\u2019s success is because it  turned to best practices in marketing and development, and showed \u201ca \u00advision for what the orchestra can be.\u201d Detroit, which has balanced its budget for the past six years, is doing well \u201cnot because of the 40-week season; it\u2019s in spite of it.\u201d\n\u201cThe problem,\u201d Prechtl added, \u201cis the people here making these decisions are not showing us their bright vision for the future. They seem to be reacting to the balance sheet. That\u2019s not the way to run an institution. People don\u2019t give you money because you need it; they give you money because you inspire them.\u201d\nThe musicians will return to the picket lines Tuesday.\nanne.midgette@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "0c8e838d35f916378919158727541b15_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "0c8e838d35f916378919158727541b15_0", "title": "4-year-old\u2019s death in September was caused by Enterovirus 68, which is sweeping U.S.", "text": "Eli Waller went to sleep one night late last month and never woke up. The 4-year-old from Hamilton, N.J., stayed home from preschool that day, when his parents thought he might have pink eye and didn\u2019t want him to infect his classmates. He had no other symptoms of the respiratory virus sweeping the country \u2014 no fever, no coughing or sneezing, no muscle aches and no problems breathing. But sometime after they tucked him into bed Sept. 24 and before they tried to wake him the next morning, he died. Eli\u2019s death is believed to be the first in the United States directly linked to Enterovirus 68, or EV-D68, health officials ruled Oct. 3. Since August, the virus has hit nearly 600 people, most of them children, across 43 states and District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Four others who died were infected with the disease, but it\u2019s not clear what role it played in their deaths. Eli\u2019s pink eye was unrelated. \u201cI think Eli\u2019s case is the exception to the other cases around the country,\u201d Hamilton Township health officer Jeff Plunkett told ABC News. \u201cHe had no signs of any illness that night, and his passing was sudden and shocking.\u201d Last month, several children in Colorado, including some who tested positive for the illness, also experienced neurological symptoms such as muscle weakness and paralysis. Eli, the youngest of triplets, was \u201csmaller and lighter than his sisters,\u201d his father, Andy Waller, said in a statement. Although some children are more susceptible to the virus because of preexisting conditions, the medical examiner said this was not the case with Eli. The medical examiner determined Eli had brain and lymph node swelling that were a result of the disease, according to news reports. On Sunday, Andy Waller released a tribute to his son. Here\u2019s an excerpt: My words probably won\u2019t capture him well, but everyone who met Eli knows how he made people feel; imagine a shy little puppy who wants only to make people proud and happy, maybe tripping a bit over his own paws, but truly full of unconditional love. He was a beautiful mix of eagerness and hesitancy, need and striving, caution and surprise, all of which were grounded in a pure, unconditional love. The youngest of a set of triplets, born much smaller and lighter than his sisters, Eli nevertheless persevered through"}], "old": [{"_id": "0c8e838d35f916378919158727541b15_0", "title": "4-year-old\u2019s death in September was caused by Enterovirus 68, which is sweeping U.S.", "text": "Eli Waller went to sleep one night late last month and never woke up. My words probably won\u2019t capture him well, but everyone who met Eli knows how he made people feel; imagine a shy little puppy who wants only to make people proud and happy, maybe tripping a bit over his own paws, but truly full of unconditional love. He was a beautiful mix of eagerness and hesitancy, need and striving, caution and surprise, all of which were grounded in a pure, unconditional love. The youngest of a set of triplets, born much smaller and lighter than his sisters, Eli nevertheless persevered through all the difficulties that came his way. Eli was not the type to give up, and even though things never really came easily to him, he would just plug away, day after day, practicing sounds, or movements, or skills, until he would eventually get them. He did this entirely in an effort to make his Mom and Dad proud, and we can unequivocally say that we were, and will continue to be, so very proud of our little Eli. Another child at Eli\u2019s school, Yardville Elementary School in Trenton, N.J., was being tested Monday for a possible Enterovirus 68 infection. But Plunkett said its unlikely for a child to pick up the virus from surfaces. School officials have disinfected all classrooms, water fountains and buses. \u201cWe have procedures in place to make sure kids wash their hands before lunch, after lunch,\u201d school superintendent James Parla told the station. Enterovirus 68"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Eli Waller went to sleep one night late last month and never woke up.\nThe 4-year-old from Hamilton, N.J., stayed home from preschool that day, when his parents thought he might have pink eye and didn\u2019t want him to infect his classmates. He had no other symptoms of the respiratory virus sweeping the country\u00a0\u2014 no fever, no coughing or sneezing, no muscle aches and no problems breathing. But sometime after they tucked him into bed Sept. 24 and before they tried to wake him the next morning, he died.\nEli\u2019s death is believed to be the first in the United States directly linked to Enterovirus 68, or EV-D68, health officials ruled Oct. 3. Since August, the virus has hit nearly 600 people, most of them children, across 43 states and District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Four others who died were infected with the disease, but it\u2019s not clear what role it played in their deaths. Eli\u2019s pink eye was unrelated.\n\u201cI think Eli\u2019s case is the exception to the other cases around the country,\u201d Hamilton Township health officer Jeff Plunkett told ABC News. \u201cHe had no signs of any illness that night, and his passing was sudden and shocking.\u201d\nLast month, several children in Colorado, including some who tested positive for the illness, also experienced neurological symptoms such as muscle weakness and paralysis.\nEli, the youngest of triplets, was \u201csmaller and lighter than his sisters,\u201d his father, Andy Waller, said in a statement. Although some children are more susceptible to the virus because of preexisting conditions, the medical examiner said this was not the case with Eli. The medical examiner determined Eli had brain and lymph node swelling that were a result of the disease, according to news reports.\nOn Sunday, Andy Waller released a tribute to his son. Here\u2019s an excerpt:\nMy words probably won\u2019t capture him well, but everyone who met Eli knows how he made people feel; imagine a shy little puppy who wants only to make people proud and happy, maybe tripping a bit over his own paws, but truly full of unconditional love. He was a beautiful mix of eagerness and hesitancy, need and striving, caution and surprise, all of which were grounded in a pure, unconditional love.\nThe youngest of a set of triplets, born much smaller and lighter than his sisters, Eli nevertheless persevered through all the difficulties that came his way. Eli was not the type to give up, and even though things never really came easily to him, he would just plug away, day after day, practicing sounds, or movements, or skills, until he would eventually get them. He did this entirely in an effort to make his Mom and Dad proud, and we can unequivocally say that we were, and will continue to be, so very proud of our little Eli.\nAnother child at Eli\u2019s school, Yardville Elementary School in Trenton, N.J., was being tested Monday for a possible Enterovirus 68 infection. But Plunkett said its unlikely for a child to pick up the virus from surfaces.\n\u201cIt\u2019s possible surface contact, but I think that\u2019s remote how the teachers and the custodial staff handle that classroom and that school, but nothing has been eliminated,\u201d he told CBS New York.\nSchool officials have disinfected all classrooms, water fountains and buses.\n\u201cWe have procedures in place to make sure kids wash their hands before lunch, after lunch,\u201d school superintendent James Parla told the station.\nEnterovirus 68\n\u201cThere is no specific treatment for people with respiratory illness caused by EV-D68,\u201d according to the CDC\u2019s Web site. In addition: \u201cThere are no antiviral medications currently available for people who become infected with EV-D68.\u201d"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "1afddfb3d98605cbe1ee6eacefd02f70_2", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "1afddfb3d98605cbe1ee6eacefd02f70_2", "title": "Rhode Island child dies of infection associated with rare respiratory virus", "text": "who have died so far this year, but it is not known how much of a factor the infection was, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. \u201cThe role that EV-D68 infection played in these deaths is unclear at this time,\u201d Karen Mason of the CDC\u2019s viral diseases division wrote in an e-mail. She said that state and local health departments are still investigating what happened. There have been more than 470 cases confirmed across the country so far this year, almost all of them affecting children. The likely number of actual cases is much, much larger, as health officials in many states suspect that there are many cases that have not been formally diagnosed yet. (One hospital in Kansas City, Mo., told us that they believe that up to 450 children with this virus were treated there last month.) Still, the CDC says that since enteroviruses are more common in the summer and fall, the number of infections is expected to drop later in the fall. The official cause of death in Rhode Island is the staph infection associated with the enterovirus, said Christina Batastini, a spokeswoman for the department. But again, the precise role the enterovirus played in this child\u2019s death is not settled, she said. \u201cAs of now, it\u2019s unclear which one caused the death,\u201d she told The Post on Wednesday. The child\u2019s age and hometown have not been released yet, Batastini said. A child in New Jersey died last week of an undetermined respiratory illness, according to the Times of Trenton, but it is not known if the enterovirus strain played a role. The New Jersey Department of Health said Tuesday that it is awaiting test results seeing if this child had the rare EV-D68 strain. Doctors in Colorado reported last week that several children who tested positive for this strain have experienced paralysis or limb weakness, causing the CDC to ask health officials nationwide to watch for similar symptoms. A report authored by neurologists earlier this year found that up to 25 children in California may have suffered from a polio-like illness that caused the paralysis of some limbs. Some of these children were found to have had the rare enterovirus 68 strain. [This post has been updated to note that the virus has been found in four deaths, rather than three; the CDC had said three deaths and increased the number Wednesday.]"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A Rhode Island child died last week of an infection associated with the rare respiratory virus that has been sickening children around the country, health officials said on\u00a0Wednesday.\nThe child died of a staph infection associated with an infection of enterovirus 68, or EV-D68, the uncommon viral strain that has been found in hundreds of children in 41 states and the District of Columbia.\n\u201cWe are all heartbroken to hear about the death of one of Rhode Island\u2019s children,\u201d Michael Fine, director of the\u00a0the Rhode Island Department of Health, said in a statement. \u201cMany of us will have EV-D68. Most of us will have very mild symptoms and all but very few will recover quickly and completely. The vast majority of children exposed to EV-D68 recover completely.\u201d\nEnteroviruses are incredibly common, as more than 100 strains cause between 10 and 15 million infections each year. Many people who are infected with enteroviruses don\u2019t get sick or only develop a cold. This particular strain, which can cause severe breathing problems, has not been seen very often since it was first identified in 1962 in California.\nBut this year, it has cropped up across the country, sending children as young as six weeks old to the hospital and leading to concerns over\u00a0how far this virus would ultimately spread. No vaccination is available for this virus, which spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes.\nThis rare virus was found in four\u00a0people who have died so far this year, but it is not known how much of a factor the infection was, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\n\u201cThe role that EV-D68 infection played in these deaths is unclear at this time,\u201d Karen Mason of the CDC\u2019s viral diseases division wrote in an e-mail. She said that state and local health departments are still investigating what happened.\nThere have been more than 470 cases confirmed across the country so far this year, almost all of them affecting\u00a0children. The likely number of actual cases is much, much larger, as health\u00a0officials in many states suspect\u00a0that there are many cases that have not been formally diagnosed yet. (One hospital in Kansas City, Mo., told us that they believe that up to\u00a0450 children with this virus were treated there last month.) Still, the CDC says that since enteroviruses are more common in the summer and fall, the number of infections is expected to drop later in the fall.\nThe official cause of death in Rhode Island is\u00a0the staph infection associated with the enterovirus, said\u00a0Christina Batastini, a spokeswoman for the department. But again, the precise role the enterovirus played in this child\u2019s death is not settled, she said.\n\u201cAs of now, it\u2019s unclear which one caused the death,\u201d she\u00a0told The Post on Wednesday.\nThe child\u2019s age and hometown have not been released yet, Batastini\u00a0said.\nA child in New Jersey died last week of an undetermined respiratory illness, according to the Times of Trenton, but it is not known if the enterovirus strain played a role. The New Jersey Department of Health said Tuesday that it is awaiting test results seeing if this child had the rare EV-D68 strain.\nDoctors in Colorado reported last week that several children who tested positive for this strain have experienced paralysis or limb weakness, causing the CDC to ask health officials nationwide to watch for similar symptoms.\nA report authored by neurologists earlier this year found that up to 25 children in California may have suffered from a polio-like illness that caused the paralysis of some limbs. Some of these children were found to have had the rare enterovirus 68 strain.\n[This post has been updated to note that the virus has been found in four deaths, rather than three; the CDC had said three deaths and increased the number Wednesday.]"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "20e1113a-b69d-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "20e1113a-b69d-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_0", "title": "Mystery paralysis in children is perplexing parents \u2014 and researchers", "text": "BALTIMORE \u2014 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers Aaron Milstone and Priya Duggal are leading a study to help children who have been paralyzed after contracting enterovirus. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) But then there was this mystery: More than 100 kids suffered an unexplained, polio-like paralysis that struck quickly but even now continues to stump researchers and upend the lives of the families across the country. For Priya Duggal and her colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, the biggest puzzle is why those children became paralyzed while their brothers and sisters, who also were exposed to the virus, escaped largely unscathed. \u201cIs there something in these [paralyzed] kids that is different than the kids that are fine?\u201d said Duggal, a genetic epidemiologist. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s the host, and the virus is a trigger that sets off the paralysis. . . . Maybe it\u2019s something in their genetic makeup.\u201d Duggal and fellow researchers Aaron Milstone and David Thomas, who are gathering DNA from patients around country, are among the experts trying to find answers for families affected by the paralysis. Doctors believe the condition, known as \u201cacute flaccid myelitis,\u201d is linked to last year\u2019s nationwide outbreak of enterovirus D68, or EV-D68 \u2014 part of a family of viruses that appears in summer and fall \u2014 but they haven\u2019t proved a connection. The outbreak probably sickened millions of children and sent thousands to doctors\u2019 offices and emergency rooms with severe respiratory problems. [What is Enterovirus 68?] Many of the children with paralysis also got the virus, but initially they weren\u2019t any sicker than their siblings or peers \u2014 until they experienced sudden muscle weakness days later. Some of the children, whose average age is a little younger than 8, have lost the use of an arm or a leg. Some have ended up in wheelchairs or on breathing machines. Although some have improved, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost none have fully recovered. When viruses mutate, scientists try to stay one step ahead. Columbia University virologist Vincent Racaniello explains the different ways that viruses like Enterovirus D68 can change. Doctors flummoxed Recently, as part of the Hopkins genetic study, Duggal sent DNA kits to some of the families wrestling with their new reality. One of the kits arrived at the Sheehan residence in Welches, Ore., a hamlet near Mount Hood. Bailey Sheehan, then 7, had woken up Oct."}], "old": [{"_id": "20e1113a-b69d-11e4-aa05-1ce812b3fdd2_0", "title": "Mystery paralysis in children is perplexing parents \u2014 and researchers", "text": "BALTIMORE \u2014 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers Aaron Milstone and Priya Duggal are leading a study to help children who have been paralyzed after contracting enterovirus. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) But then there was this mystery: More than 100 kids suffered an unexplained, polio-like paralysis that struck quickly but even now continues to stump researchers and upend the lives of the families across the country. For Priya Duggal and her colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, the biggest puzzle is why those children became paralyzed while their brothers and sisters, who also were exposed to the virus, escaped largely unscathed. [What is Enterovirus 68?] Many of the children with paralysis also got the virus, but initially they weren\u2019t any sicker than their siblings or peers \u2014 until they experienced sudden muscle weakness days later. Some of the children, whose average age is a little younger than 8, have lost the use of an arm or a leg. Some have ended up in wheelchairs or on breathing machines. Although some have improved, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost none have fully recovered. When viruses mutate, scientists try to stay one step ahead. Columbia University virologist Vincent Racaniello explains the different ways that viruses like Enterovirus D68 can change. Doctors flummoxed Recently, as part of the Hopkins genetic study, Duggal sent DNA kits to some of the families wrestling with their new reality. One of the kits arrived at the Sheehan residence in Welches, Ore., a hamlet near Mount Hood. Bailey Sheehan, then 7, had woken up Oct. 21 with a headache and pain in her neck and back. She soon developed a respiratory infection. The rest of the family \u2014 her parents; brother Caleb, 5; and sister Andi, 4 months \u2014 also came down with flu-like symptoms. Everyone but Bailey recovered. Her respiratory problems cleared up, but the nerve pain got worse. One morning she had trouble lifting her arms. She later collapsed while trying to get up from the couch. \u201cMom,\u201d she shouted, \u201cmy leg\u2019s not working!\u201d Mikell Sheehan rushed her daughter to Randall Children\u2019s Hospital in Portland, an hour\u2019s drive away. Bailey\u2019s right arm had grown weak from shoulder to elbow; her right leg was numb from ankle to knee. She underwent tests, including for West Nile virus and Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome. Physicians determined that Bailey had been infected by enterovirus D68, but they"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "BALTIMORE \u2014\nJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers Aaron Milstone and Priya Duggal are leading a study to help children who have been paralyzed after contracting enterovirus. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)\nBut then there was this mystery: More than 100 kids suffered an unexplained, polio-like paralysis that struck quickly but even now continues to stump researchers and upend the lives of the families across the country.\nFor Priya Duggal and her colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, the biggest puzzle is why those children became paralyzed while their brothers and sisters, who also were exposed to the virus, escaped largely unscathed.\n\u201cIs there something in these [paralyzed] kids that is different than the kids that are fine?\u201d said Duggal, a genetic epidemiologist. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s the host, and the virus is a trigger that sets off the paralysis. .\u2009.\u2009. Maybe it\u2019s something in their genetic makeup.\u201d\nDuggal and fellow researchers Aaron Milstone and David Thomas, who are gathering DNA from patients around country, are among the experts trying to find answers for families affected by the paralysis.\nDoctors believe the condition, known as \u201cacute flaccid myelitis,\u201d is linked to last year\u2019s nationwide outbreak of enterovirus D68, or EV-D68 \u2014 part of a family of viruses that appears in summer and fall \u2014 but they haven\u2019t proved a connection. The outbreak probably sickened millions of children and sent thousands to doctors\u2019 offices and emergency rooms with severe respiratory problems.\n[What is Enterovirus 68?]\nMany of the children with paralysis also got the virus, but initially they weren\u2019t any sicker than their siblings or peers \u2014 until they experienced sudden muscle weakness days later.\nSome of the children, whose average age is a little younger than 8, have lost the use of an arm or a leg. Some have ended up in wheelchairs or on breathing machines. Although some have improved, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost none have fully recovered.\nWhen viruses mutate, scientists try to stay one step ahead. Columbia University virologist Vincent Racaniello explains the different ways that viruses like Enterovirus D68 can change.\nDoctors flummoxed\nRecently, as part of the Hopkins genetic study, Duggal sent DNA kits to some of the families wrestling with their new reality. One of the kits arrived at the Sheehan residence in Welches, Ore., a hamlet near Mount Hood.\nBailey Sheehan, then 7, had woken up Oct. 21 with a headache and pain in her neck and back. She soon developed a respiratory infection. The rest of the family \u2014 her parents; brother Caleb, 5; and sister Andi, 4\u00a0months \u2014 also came down with flu-like symptoms.\nEveryone but Bailey recovered. Her respiratory problems cleared up, but the nerve pain got worse. One morning she had trouble lifting her arms. She later collapsed while trying to get up from the couch. \u201cMom,\u201d she shouted, \u201cmy leg\u2019s not working!\u201d\nMikell Sheehan rushed her daughter to Randall Children\u2019s Hospital in Portland, an hour\u2019s drive away. Bailey\u2019s right arm had grown weak from shoulder to elbow; her right leg was numb from ankle to knee. She underwent tests, including for West Nile virus and Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome. Physicians determined that Bailey had been infected by enterovirus D68, but they couldn\u2019t say for sure whether that caused the paralysis.\n[How virus sleuths and officials are tracking the mysterious illness]\n\u201cThe doctors just tell us they don\u2019t know [the cause],\u201d Sheehan said. \u201cIt\u2019s the most terrible feeling to have to tell your little girl, who\u2019s in so much pain and whose leg won\u2019t work, \u2018I don\u2019t know how to fix it and neither do the doctors.\u2019\u00a0\u201d\nIn her hunt for answers, Sheehan has scoured medical literature, called experts at the CDC and traded information online with other parents whose children have been affected. She has written to President Obama and other elected officials, talked to reporters, and enrolled her daughter in studies like the one at Johns Hopkins.\nNearly four months after her ordeal began, Bailey, now 8, still undergoes intense physical therapy six days a week. She\u2019s learning to ride a bike again; her paralyzed foot must be strapped to the pedals. She recently returned to second grade but still uses a leg brace and a walker.\nOther children are having similar struggles.\nThirteen-year-old Billy Sticklen of Joplin, Mo., developed polio-like paralysis this summer during an outbreak of the respiratory virus EV-D68. Billy's family moved from Joplin to Kansas City, Mo., to access physical therapy at Children's Mercy Hospital. Occupational therapist Kelly Grabendike works with Billy in the therapy pool on Jan. 28. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star)\nA 13-year-old boy from Joplin, Mo., spent months in a wheelchair after he became paralyzed in September; he still uses a cane to walk. A first-grade boy in Tennessee lost the use of his right arm. Another girl in Oregon was almost completely paralyzed from the neck down.\nIn Seabrook, N.H., Dan Dugan, 13, spent nearly 50 days in Boston hospitals last fall after he had paralysis in his left arm and leg. Friends and businesses organized fundraisers. A store posted a sign saying, \u201cPray for Danny.\u201d After months of rehabilitation, Dan, the youngest of six children, was able to move from a wheelchair to a walker and he recently began using special crutches.\n\u201cHe\u2019s got a good attitude,\u201d said his father, Patrick Dugan, a mechanic who owns Pat\u2019s Towing in Seabrook. \u201cHe\u2019s not down about what happened. He has kind of accepted everything.\u201d\nNo direct link to virus found\nMary Anne Jackson, chief of infectious diseases at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the researchers trying to explain the inexplicable condition.\nWhen several cases surfaced at her hospital last year in children between the ages of 4 and 13, she and other doctors suspected that enterovirus was the culprit.\n\u201cWe looked at blood, spinal fluid, stool \u2014 thinking we\u2019d find [the EV-D68] virus,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cIt just wasn\u2019t there.\u201d\nThey also saw on MRIs what other doctors nationwide were noticing: distinctive damage to a specific part of the spinal cord. \u201cThat\u2019s the classic feature of polio,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cOn the scan, it looks like polio.\u201d\nDoctors in Kansas City and at other children\u2019s hospitals are examining hundreds of old MRIs of children who had suffered from limb weakness to see if the same pattern on the images may have been overlooked in the past.\nResearchers at the CDC are equally perplexed.\nIn any given year, it\u2019s not uncommon for several cases of acute flaccid paralysis to occur, said Jim Sejvar, a CDC neuroepidemiologist. But when the agency queried doctors around the country, he said, \u201calmost unanimously, you get a response that they\u2019ve really never seen anything like this.\u201d\nLike other specialists, Sejvar thinks there\u2019s a striking association between EV-D68 and the sudden onset of paralysis. \u201cIf you overlay the epidemiological curves,\u201d he said, \u201cthey are almost identical.\u201d\nCDC scientists haven\u2019t had any more luck than other researchers in finding a direct link. They recently developed a test for antibodies in the blood that was designed to show whether children who became paralyzed were more likely to have had EV-D68 than other children.\nBut when officials tested the blood of children who had experienced severe respiratory problems and other flu-like symptoms from last fall and from previous years, nearly all of them possessed antibodies to the virus, offering no new evidence that EV-D68 was the cause of the paralysis cases. It was another dead end.\n\u201cWe were really hoping that would pan out,\u201d Sejvar said. \u201cEverybody wants an answer.\u201d\nThe CDC is putting together a long-term study to track the 112\u00a0children it has identified so far with the condition \u2014 how their paralysis progresses, whether they improve over time, which treatments work.\nKevin Messacar, an infectious-diseases physician at Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, will be part of that effort. He and several colleagues recently published a study in the Lancet describing a dozen children with the disease who were treated at the hospital. Their findings suggested \u201cthe possibility of an association\u201d between EV-D68 and the neurological problems that followed, saying it could represent a newly emerged strain or a viral mutation. \u201cWe don\u2019t have an answer, but I think science progresses by generating hypotheses and theories that get further tested,\u201d Messacar said.\nHe and others have been helping set up a multidisciplinary clinic where paralyzed children and their families can receive medical care but also can come together for emotional support while they wait for answers.\n\u201cIt\u2019s got to be very frustrating as a parent to not know,\u201d Messa\u00adcar said. \u201cOur obligation is to be honest with them. At this time, there\u2019s so much that\u2019s unknown about a new condition like this. Our job is to provide physical and psychological support to help them deal with this.\u201d\nGenetic fears\nHopkins researchers are eager to compare the DNA of children who experienced paralysis with that of their siblings who didn\u2019t. \u201cIt\u2019s highly likely that children in the same family got the same virus. .\u2009.\u2009. But one got this severe outcome, and one only got a viral infection,\u201d Duggal said. \u201cIt raised flags to us that it potentially could be something genetic.\u201d\nSheehan thinks that theory makes sense. On Feb. 17, in between Bailey\u2019s doctors\u2019 visits and physical therapy sessions, she collected saliva samples from Bailey and Caleb in two plastic tubes from Hopkins. She slipped them into a pre-addressed envelope and dropped it off at a post office.\nShe knows it could take a year or longer for the study to produce results, and even then the answers might remain elusive. But knowing that experts are working on the mystery helps soothe what has become her biggest fear.\n\u201cI\u2019m scared,\u201d she said, \u201cthat Bailey and these other kids are going to be forgotten.\u201d\nResearchers hope parents of children who contracted the virus will contact them to participate in the study. Participants are sent this tube as part of a saliva sample kit. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "34e433057f746e614afd54f1eb898060_3", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "34e433057f746e614afd54f1eb898060_3", "title": "Severe respiratory virus afflicting children confirmed in at least six states, as others investigate possible cases", "text": "The only confirmed cases of this rare strain have been found in children, she said. More than half of the children confirmed to have this enterovirus strain in Kansas City and Chicago have a history of asthma or wheezing, which is why public health officials are urging extra care with children who have asthma. On Monday, other states confirmed cases of the rare strain. Ann Garvey of the Iowa Department of Public Health said that the CDC confirmed samples sent from the state showed the strain. \u201cIt\u2019s leading us to believe that we likely have some transmission statewide,\u201d Garvey said, though she noted that so far health-care providers have not reported an overwhelming number of cases. Health care officials in Colorado and Kentucky also told The Post on Monday that CDC testing had revealed that the virus was appearing in those states. In Illinois, nearly a dozen specimens from a Chicago hospital tested positive for this strain. There have been increased reports of respiratory illnesses elsewhere in the state, but they have not been tested for the enterovirus strain, according to Melaney Arnold of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Last month, 141 children from Kansas were treated at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Missouri and tested positive for either a rhinovirus or enterovirus; some of these children also tested positive for the rare strain of enterovirus, Aimee Rosenow, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told The Post. States without any confirmed cases also remain on the lookout. While Ohio had no confirmed cases as of Monday, it did have potential cases across the state that required hospitalizing children, said Melanie Amato, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health. The department is working with children\u2019s hospitals in Cleveland and Cincinnati to send samples to the CDC and expects that some could come back positive. \u201cSo far, we have not had any confirmed cases,\u201d said Zack Moore, medical epidemiologist with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. \u201cBut we don\u2019t know what the future will hold, so we\u2019re monitoring it very closely.\u201d Moore said that the reason this strain is worrisome is because it has been linked to clusters of illnesses, popping up in groups of infections. The enterovirus 68 strain was first isolated in 1962 in California. While it has been rarely seen since then, it has cropped up in clusters and has been"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Will Cornejo, 13, recovers\u00a0at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke\u2019s Medical Center in Denver from what\u00a0doctors suspect is enterovirus 68. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post)\nScores of children in at least a\u00a0dozen states are afflicted by a severe respiratory illness, with at least six\u00a0states confirming the presence of a rare virus strain in children as young as six weeks old, public health officials say.\nHospital officials\u00a0in Chicago and Kansas City, Mo., reached out to the CDC last month after the number of people needing care for severe respiratory illnesses was\u00a0\u201chigher than expected for this time of year,\u201d Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said\u00a0Monday.\nTesting confirmed that patients in several of these states had a rare enterovirus strain that primarily leads to difficulty breathing,\u00a0rather than rashes or neurological issues.\u00a0Enteroviruses are incredibly common, with more than 100 strains leading to between 10 and 15 million infections each year, the CDC said.\u00a0This rare\u00a0strain, known as enterovirus 68, has been identified before in the U.S. and other countries, but it is fairly uncommon, Schuchat said during a conference call with reporters.\nOther states are also investigating clusters of severe respiratory illness reports to see if this same strain is cropping up, the CDC said. About a dozen states in total had contacted the CDC by Monday, Schuchat said. The virus was confirmed to be in at least six\u00a0states, according to the CDC and state health officials:\u00a0Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Colorado and Kansas. There are also suspected cases\u00a0in Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio and Utah, the CDC said Monday.\n\u201cWe\u2019re in a\u00a0stage where it\u2019s difficult to say just how big this is, how long it will go on for and how widespread it will be,\u201d Schuchat said during a conference-call with reporters.\nCenters for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country.\nOne hospital in Kansas City, Mo., reported treating\u00a0nearly 500 children \u2014 ranging from six weeks old to 16 years old \u2014 for respiratory illnesses.\u00a0Mary Anne Jackson, director of the infections diseases division at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital, said the \u201cunusually severe outbreak\u201d saw a surge that included dozens of children requiring care each day and required the hospital to open up new beds to treat everyone.\n\u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting to see what happens over time, because\u00a0the way this virus spreads, kid to kid, it\u2019s likely if it\u2019s in 12 states it will be in more than 12 states over the next several weeks,\u201d she said.\nJackson said that she believes that between 70 and 90 percent of the children treated at Children\u2019s Mercy had this particular strain. Still, she said there is no need for public panic, because the majority of illnesses that will crop up will be like a \u201clow-grade, common cold.\u201d\nThere is no vaccination for this virus.\n\u201cMany people\u00a0with this kind of respiratory virus will do well with time,\u201d Schuchat said, adding that the virus typically lasts for about a week.\nMost enterovirus infections in the U.S. occur in the summer and fall, so the timing of these infections are not unusual, Schuchat said. But the particular strain and the number of infections is unusual. In addition, children facing this strain could be wheezing or having difficulty breathing, a fairly clear sign that they need medical help.\n\u201cMost of the runny noses out there are not going to be turning into this,\u201d she said\nThe only confirmed cases of this rare strain have been found in children, she\u00a0said. More than half of the children confirmed to have this enterovirus strain in Kansas City and Chicago have a history of asthma or wheezing, which is why public health officials are urging extra care with children who have asthma.\nOn Monday, other states confirmed cases of the rare strain.\u00a0Ann Garvey of the Iowa Department of Public Health said that the CDC confirmed samples sent from the state showed the strain.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s leading us to believe that we likely have some transmission statewide,\u201d Garvey said, though she noted that so far health-care providers have not reported an overwhelming number of cases.\nHealth care officials in Colorado and Kentucky also told The Post on Monday that CDC testing had revealed\u00a0that the virus was appearing in those states.\nIn Illinois, nearly a dozen specimens from a Chicago hospital tested positive for this strain. There have been increased reports of respiratory illnesses elsewhere in the state, but they have not been tested for the enterovirus strain, according to\u00a0Melaney Arnold of the Illinois Department of Public Health.\nLast month, 141 children from Kansas were treated at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Missouri and tested positive for either a rhinovirus or enterovirus; some of these children also tested positive for the rare strain of enterovirus, Aimee Rosenow, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told The Post.\nStates without any confirmed cases also remain on the lookout. While Ohio had\u00a0no confirmed cases as of Monday, it did have potential cases across the state that required hospitalizing children, said Melanie Amato, a spokeswoman for the state\u00a0Department of Health. The department is working with children\u2019s hospitals in Cleveland and Cincinnati to send samples to the CDC and expects that some could come back positive.\n\u201cSo far, we have not had any confirmed cases,\u201d said Zack Moore, medical epidemiologist with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. \u201cBut we don\u2019t know what the future will hold, so we\u2019re monitoring it very closely.\u201d\nMoore said that the reason this strain is worrisome is because it has been linked to clusters of illnesses, popping up in groups of infections.\nThe enterovirus 68 strain was first isolated in 1962 in California. While it has been rarely seen since then, it has\u00a0cropped up in clusters and has been blamed for three deaths in the Philippines and Japan in recent years. Between 2009 and 2013, the National Enterovirus Surveillance System showed 79 reports of this strain, the CDC said.\nEarlier this year, up to two dozen children in California were believed\u00a0to be suffering from a polio-like illness. A report found that two of the five children tested positive for enterovirus 68; doctors noted that the exact symptoms varied in the five children.\nRelated:\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "38bdbf90732cd96ebe16ec9d45297a98_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "38bdbf90732cd96ebe16ec9d45297a98_0", "title": "Could polio drugs treat children with a mysterious paralyzing disease?", "text": "A child receives an oral polio vaccine. (Yahya Arhab/European Pressphoto Agency) Researchers developing drugs against polio and other polio-like viruses say those drugs could potentially be effective against a mysterious, polio-like condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 89 cases of the paralyzing disease in the United States through September. A 6-year-old boy suspected of having AFM died in Seattle on Sunday, the first death believed to be caused by the disease. One of the drugs in development, pocapavir, was used briefly on a few patients during a 2014 outbreak of AFM under a compassionate-use exception that allows extremely sick patients to be given unapproved drugs without the usual kinds of placebo-controlled trials required by the Food and Drug Administration. \u201cThere were a couple of kids who got pocapavir in the Colorado outbreaks,\u201d said Benjamin Greenberg, a neurologist who has treated children with AFM at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. \u201cIt had relatively weak but measurable impact on viral replication. A larger study would definitely be warranted. We'll take anything we can get.\u201d Although the CDC says no cause has been conclusively linked to AFM, many researchers suspect a family of viruses known as enteroviruses. \u201cI have been studying enteroviruses for 40 years now,\u201d said John Modlin, deputy director of the polio eradication program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. \u201cIf I had a child with acute flaccid myelitis, I would be on the phone in a second to the companies making these drugs.\u201d None of the drugs is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Even pocapavir is currently unavailable on any basis because the FDA has required the small company studying it to submit a New Drug Application before it would consider allowing the drug to be offered on a compassionate-use basis again, said Marc Collett, president of the company, ViroDefense of Chevy Chase, Md. Even if the drugs could reach patients, Modlin said, they would be effective \u2014 if they work at all \u2014 only in the few days or hours when the condition first strikes. Despite those considerable drawbacks, not to mention the fact that no enterovirus has been proved to cause AFM, the CDC official in charge of its polio research says he understands the logic in trying to make the drugs available on a compassionate-use basis. \u201cIt is true there are a number"}], "old": [{"_id": "38bdbf90732cd96ebe16ec9d45297a98_0", "title": "Could polio drugs treat children with a mysterious paralyzing disease?", "text": "A child receives an oral polio vaccine. (Yahya Arhab/European Pressphoto Agency) Researchers developing drugs against polio and other polio-like viruses say those drugs could potentially be effective against a mysterious, polio-like condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). One of the drugs in development, pocapavir, was used briefly on a few patients during a 2014 outbreak of AFM under a compassionate-use exception that allows extremely sick patients to be given unapproved drugs without the usual kinds of placebo-controlled trials required by the Food and Drug Administration. \u201cThere were a couple of kids who got pocapavir in the Colorado outbreaks,\u201d said Benjamin Greenberg, a neurologist who has treated children with AFM at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. \u201cIt had relatively weak but measurable impact on viral replication. A larger study would definitely be warranted. We'll take anything we can get.\u201d Although the CDC says no cause has been conclusively linked to AFM, many researchers suspect a family of viruses known as enteroviruses. \u201cI have been studying enteroviruses for 40 years now,\u201d said John Modlin, deputy director of the polio eradication program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. \u201cIf I had a child with acute flaccid myelitis, I would be on the phone in a second to the companies making these drugs.\u201d None of the drugs is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Even pocapavir is currently unavailable on any basis because the FDA has required the small company studying it to submit a New Drug Application before it would consider allowing the drug to be offered on a compassionate-use basis again, said Marc Collett, president of the company, ViroDefense of Chevy Chase, Md. Even if the drugs could reach patients, Modlin said, they would be effective \u2014 if they work at all \u2014 only in the few days or hours when the condition first strikes. Despite those considerable drawbacks, not to mention the fact that no enterovirus has been proved to cause AFM, the CDC official in charge of its polio research says he understands the logic in trying to make the drugs available on a compassionate-use basis. \u201cIt is true there are a number of drugs that have been through safety trials,\u201d said Steve Oberste, chief of the CDC's Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch. \u201cSome have been through phase 2 efficacy trials, and some have previously been used in other compassionate-use cases. But in those cases, at"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "A child receives an oral polio vaccine. (Yahya Arhab/European Pressphoto Agency)\nResearchers developing drugs against polio and other polio-like viruses say those drugs could potentially be effective against a mysterious, polio-like condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM).\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 89 cases of the paralyzing disease in the United States through September. A 6-year-old boy suspected of having AFM died in Seattle on Sunday, the first death believed to be caused by the disease.\nOne of the drugs in development, pocapavir, was used briefly on a few patients during a 2014 outbreak of AFM under a compassionate-use exception that allows extremely sick patients to be given unapproved drugs without the usual kinds of placebo-controlled trials required by the Food and Drug Administration.\n\u201cThere were a couple of kids who got pocapavir in the Colorado outbreaks,\u201d said Benjamin Greenberg, a neurologist who has treated children with AFM at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. \u201cIt had relatively weak but measurable impact on viral replication. A larger study would definitely be warranted. We'll take anything we can get.\u201d\nAlthough the CDC says no cause has been conclusively linked to AFM, many researchers suspect a family of viruses known as enteroviruses.\n\u201cI have been studying enteroviruses for 40 years now,\u201d said John Modlin, deputy director of the polio eradication program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. \u201cIf I had a child with acute flaccid myelitis, I would be on the phone in a second to the companies making these drugs.\u201d\nNone of the drugs is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Even pocapavir is currently unavailable on any basis because the FDA has required the small company studying it to submit a New Drug Application before it would consider allowing the drug to be offered on a compassionate-use basis again, said Marc Collett, president of the company, ViroDefense of Chevy Chase, Md.\nEven if the drugs could reach patients, Modlin said, they would be effective \u2014 if they work at all \u2014 only in the few days or hours when the condition first strikes.\nDespite those considerable drawbacks, not to mention the fact that no enterovirus has been proved to cause AFM, the CDC official in charge of its polio research says he understands the logic in trying to make the drugs available on a compassionate-use basis.\n\u201cIt is true there are a number of drugs that have been through safety trials,\u201d said Steve Oberste, chief of the CDC's Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch. \u201cSome have been through phase 2 efficacy trials, and some have previously been used in other compassionate-use cases. But in those cases, at least we knew there was an infectious agent, we knew what it was, so it was easier to justify. Still, I can certainly understand why someone might say, well, this drug is proven safe, what have I got to lose?\u201d\nMarijo De Guzman, whose son Daniel died Sunday following a tentative diagnosis of AFM, said that if her child had been offered the opportunity to receive one of the experimental drugs, \u201cI would have said, let's try it, whatever we can do to try to save my son.\u201d\nCenters for Disease Control and Prevention\nOne of the drugs, pleconaril, was tested in newborns for the treatment of sepsis caused by enterovirus. In the study published in March, the drug was found to cut the risk of death from 42 percent in the placebo group to 23 percent in the group that received the drug. It is now under development as a treatment for enterovirus sepsis.\nPleconaril was rejected a decade ago by the FDA as a treatment for rhinovirus, the cause of the common cold. Despite evidence from randomized clinical trials that it shortened the duration and severity of the cold, it appeared to increase the possibility that women taking birth control pills would get pregnant. Because the common cold is relatively benign and self-limiting, the side effect was considered too much to justify approval.\nThe other two drugs, pocapavir and V7404, are under study by ViroDefense, a company that consists of Collett and two other employees. With funding or assistance from the CDC, the World Health Organization, the Gates Foundation, Rotary International and the FDA, they are developing the drugs as possible treatments for polio and other enterovirus infections.\nAlthough vaccines against polio were first developed in the 1950s and have remained the backbone of eradication efforts, these drugs are being developed for people with immune deficiencies who can excrete the modified version of the virus contained in the vaccine for months following inoculation. Once excreted, the virus can continue to mutate in the environment and regain enough strength to infect other, non-vaccinated people.\nBy stopping replication of the virus in those people with immune deficiencies, therefore, the drugs are considered a necessary final nail to shut the coffin on polio forever. But the drugs also look to be effective against other non-polio enteroviruses, which can cause sepsis in newborns and brain inflammation in children or adults as well as, possibly, AFM. Even type 1 diabetes has been linked in many studies to exposure to enteroviruses.\n\u201cWe're contemplating a combination product with the two compounds that would have broad spectrum, high potency,\u201d said Collett, a molecular biologist.\nLike the drugs used to control HIV infection, V7404 is a protease inhibitor, which prevents an enterovirus from replicating inside a cell. Pocapavir, on the other hand, is a capsid inhibitor, blocking formation of the shell that houses the virus's nucleic acid.\n\u201cWe do get compassionate-use request periodically,\u201d Collett said. \u201cWe currently are allowed to do it only for patients outside the United States.\u201d The company hopes to have a New Drug Application ready to submit to the FDA by early in 2017, he said. Only then would the FDA consider allowing the drug to be offered again on a compassionate-use basis.\nIf AFM is caused by an enterovirus, he said, \u201cI think the drugs will be useful. We're treating a polio case right now [in Argentina]. Pocapavir has been in a phase 1 study involving 114 patients, a phase 2 study, and was given on a compassionate-use basis to 23 infants, children and adults in the United States. No adverse events have been seen above and beyond the control-study levels. We're pretty hopeful. I don't think anyone would doubt the urgency or the need. But then there's the reality of clinical development. Trying to raise the money to lead to the drug getting to these very sick patients remains a significant challenge.\u201d\nCurrent treatments for AFM include the use of intravenous gamma globulin \u2014 antibodies obtained from the blood serum of many people and given in an attempt to boost a patient's ability to fight infections. Prozac has also been used, based on studies in animals suggesting it might have an effect. None of the therapies has yet been shown to have a significant benefit on patients.\nDespite the uncertainties, Modlin at the Gates Foundation said, \u201cThere is a far greater likelihood that these drugs would work better than existing therapies for AFM.\u201d"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "3dcd41d81c99457999d758e1871bce0d_2", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3dcd41d81c99457999d758e1871bce0d_2", "title": "Faster lab test will check for rare respiratory virus, which means a surge in confirmed cases is coming", "text": "Immunization and Respiratory diseases, said in a statement Tuesday. The older test, which had been used by the CDC for nearly a decade, required more time and labor, and it only allowed about 40 tests to be conducted each day. This also took several weeks, Schuchat said. The new test is shorter, has fewer steps and actually lets the CDC check out multiple samples at the same time. The CDC said it will now be able to conduct about 180 tests each day and have results in just a few days. The rare enterovirus was first identified as a growing problem for children late in the summer. Enteroviruses are quite common and are responsible for between 10 and 15 million infections each year, typically in the summer and fall, according to the CDC. This particular strain, which causes breathing problems, was first isolated in California in 1962 and has only been seen occasionally since the. There is no vaccination. Between 2009 and 2013, the National Enterovirus Surveillance System received 79 reports of this strain, the CDC says. It has been blamed for three deaths in the Philippines and Japan, while researchers said earlier this year that some children suffering from polio-like symptoms in California had tested positive for this strain. This year, hospitals have reported a significant number of cases of this strain over the last two months. Hospitals in Chicago and Kansas City, Mo., reached out to the CDC in August after they saw a higher number of children with breathing problems. Cases were identified in six states by early September, at which point Schuchat said it was difficult to know \u201cjust how big\u201d the outbreak was going to be. Centers for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country. The rare strain spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches some kind of surface that other people touch. Almost all of the confirmed cases so far this year involved children, who do not have the immunity that adults have developed, and children with asthma or preexisting breathing issues are at a particular risk. However, while hospitals are able to test for enteroviruses, most are not able to check for a specific strain, which is why states are sending their samples to the CDC and waiting. The official"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Jayden Broadway, 9, was treated for the rare virus at\u00a0Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo., before being released. (Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via AP)\nAs a\u00a0rare respiratory virus continues to sicken\u00a0children\u00a0around the country, spreading to hundreds in almost\u00a0every state in a matter of weeks, the actual number of infections has remained a mystery. That is because the\u00a0volume of possible cases requiring testing has been so large \u2014 and the testing process so,\u00a0so\u00a0slow\u00a0\u2014 that public health officials are still working through a backlog that stretches back about a month.\nThis is about to change,\u00a0as a new form of testing\u00a0announced Tuesday\u00a0by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should\u00a0provide an up-to-date number of people infected with enterovirus 68, the rare virus strain, which is also known as EV-D68..\nOf course, this means the number of confirmed infections is about to surge, which will only increase anxiety about a virus that has been linked to at least six deaths.\u00a0Still, even as the CDC acknowledged that the number of cases \u201cwill likely increase substantially in the coming days,\u201d the agency stressed\u00a0that this didn\u2019t mean there was a sudden surge in enterovirus infections.\n\u201cThese increases will not reflect changes in real time or mean that the situation is getting worse,\u201d the CDC said in a statement.\nRather, the higher numbers expected sometime next week will be due to the new testing, which will screen\u00a0more than four times as many samples each day as the older lab tests.\nSo far, about half of the samples sent to the CDC for testing have been checked. These tests have found\u00a0nearly\u00a0700 confirmed cases in 46 states and Washington, D.C., since the virus began sickening\u00a0children in mid-August, according to the CDC.\nThe positive test results were found in\u00a0about\u00a060\u00a0percent of the 1,100 samples that have been tested from August through Oct. 10. And there are still about 1,000 samples that need to be tested, many of them received over the last month.\nColumbia University virologist Vincent Racaniello explains how viruses like Enterovirus D68, influenza and Ebola mutate, and why it\u2019s hard for doctors to keep up.\n\u201cCDC has received substantially more specimens for enterovirus lab testing than usual this year, due to the large outbreak of EV-D68 and related hospitalizations,\u201d Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory diseases, said\u00a0in a statement\u00a0Tuesday.\nThe older test, which had been used by the CDC for nearly a decade, required more time and labor, and it only allowed about 40 tests to be conducted each day. This also took several weeks, Schuchat said. The new test is shorter, has fewer steps and actually lets the CDC check out multiple samples at the same time. The CDC said it will now be able to conduct about 180 tests each day and have results in just a few days.\nThe rare enterovirus was first identified as a growing problem for children late in the summer.\u00a0Enteroviruses are quite common and are responsible for between 10 and 15 million infections\u00a0each year, typically in the summer and fall, according to the CDC.\u00a0This particular\u00a0strain, which causes breathing problems, was first isolated in California in 1962 and has only been seen occasionally\u00a0since the. There is no vaccination.\nBetween 2009 and 2013, the National Enterovirus Surveillance System received 79 reports of this\u00a0strain, the CDC says. It\u00a0has been\u00a0blamed for three deaths in the Philippines and Japan, while researchers said earlier this year that some\u00a0children suffering from polio-like symptoms in California\u00a0had tested positive for this strain.\nThis year, hospitals have reported a significant number of cases of this strain over the last two months. Hospitals in Chicago and Kansas City, Mo., reached out to the CDC in August after they saw\u00a0a higher number of children with breathing problems. Cases were identified in six states by early September, at which point Schuchat said it was difficult to know \u201cjust how big\u201d the outbreak was going to be.\nCenters for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country.\nThe rare strain spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches some kind of surface that other people touch. Almost all of the confirmed cases so far this year involved children, who do not have the immunity that adults have developed, and children with\u00a0asthma or preexisting breathing issues are at a particular risk.\nHowever, while hospitals are able to test for enteroviruses, most are not able to check for a specific strain, which is why states are sending their samples to the CDC and waiting. The official numbers grew and grew and kept on growing\u00a0as the CDC tested more and more samples.\nMeanwhile, there have been six known cases where a patient with this enterovirus died. A Rhode Island child died of a staph infection associated with the enterovirus infection, but at the time it\u00a0was unclear exactly how much of a role the enterovirus played. Authorities directly blamed the enterovirus for the death of a four-year-old in New Jersey late last month, while a child in Michigan died last week while battling the enterovirus infection.\nThe CDC also said Tuesday it has heard \u201cinformal reports\u201d from hospitals and states suggesting that fewer enterovirus 68 infections were seen, but it does not know yet if there is any sort of national decrease occurring.\nA 21-month-old girl is the second child in the U.S. to die this year from a strain of the enterovirus that has infected more than 500 people.\nRelated:\nWhat is Enterovirus 68?\nNew Jersey child dies of Enterovirus\nMichigan toddler dies of Enterovirus\nHow viruses like Enterovirus, Ebola mutate\nRhode Island child dies of infection associated with virus"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "46IYEGULQZGI7D264POQ2VTC7I_3", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "46IYEGULQZGI7D264POQ2VTC7I_3", "title": "Paralyzing polio-like illness mainly affecting children confirmed in 22 states, CDC says", "text": "said. After testing patients\u2019 stool specimens, the CDC determined poliovirus is not the cause of the AFM cases. Messonnier said West Nile virus, which had been listed as a possible cause on CDC\u2019s website, is also not causing the illnesses. In some individuals, health officials have determined that the condition was from infection with a type of virus that causes severe respiratory illness. So far, the CDC has found no relationship between vaccines and children diagnosed with AFM from the 2014 cases. Officials said they will be conducting additional analysis on this year\u2019s cases. \u201cOur medical team has been reviewing vaccine records when available during this year\u2019s investigation and do not see a correlation,\u201d said CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund. The disorder has been diagnosed in unvaccinated children and also in children who have received some of their recommended vaccinations, she said. The agency doesn\u2019t know who may be at higher risk for developing this condition or the reasons they may be at higher risk. The CDC has tested many different specimens from patients with this condition for a wide variety of pathogens, or germs, that can cause AFM. No pathogen has been consistently detected in the patients' spinal fluid. There appears to be no geographical clustering of the U.S. cases and no other country has reported the pattern seen here so far of cases spiking every two years, Messonnier said. Parents can best protect their children from serious diseases by taking prevention steps, such as washing their hands, staying up to date on recommended vaccines and using insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites. Neurologists who specialize in treating brain and spinal cord illnesses may recommend certain interventions, such as physical or occupational therapy, on a case-by-case basis. Benjamin Greenberg, a neurologist who has treated children with AFM at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, said AFM is \u201cexquisitely rare.\u201d But, if their child is diagnosed, parents should prepare for extensive physical therapy \u2014 therapy that isn\u2019t always covered by insurance, he said. Some children paralyzed by AFM have eventually regained their ability to walk, but need time. \u201cFamilies really sticking with it are seeing slow but steady recovery,\u201d he said. CDC is not releasing a list of the 22 states with confirmed and suspected cases because of privacy issues. But some state health departments have been making public their reported cases. States are not required to provide this information"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Federal health officials took the unusual step on Tuesday of warning the public about an increase in a mysterious and rare condition that mostly affects children and can cause paralysis.\nSo far this year, 127 confirmed or suspected cases of acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention \u2014 a significant increase over 2017 and a worrying perpetuation of a disease for which there is little understanding.\nOf the cases announced Tuesday, 62 have been confirmed in 22 states, according to Nancy Messonnier, a top official at the CDC. More than 90 percent of the confirmed cases have been in children 18 and younger, with the average age being 4 years old.\nThe surge has baffled health officials, who on Tuesday announced a change in the way the agency is counting cases. They also wanted to raise awareness about the condition so parents can seek medical care if their child develops symptoms, and so physicians can quickly relay reports of the potential illness to the CDC.\n\u201cWe understand that people, particularly parents, are concerned about AFM,\u201d said Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Despite extensive laboratory and other testing, CDC has not been able to find the cause for the majority of the cases. \u201cThere is a lot we don\u2019t know about AFM, and I am frustrated that despite all of our efforts, we haven\u2019t been able to identify the cause of this mystery illness.\"\nThe increase in cases appeared to begin in 2014, when the CDC started tracking the illness. Each year since then, usually in August or September, the CDC has logged a spike in the illness. The spikes were significantly higher in 2014, 2016 and 2018-to-date than in 2015 or 2017. The CDC knows of one child who died with the disorder in 2017.\nSince officials have been unable so far to determine how the disease spreads, they are starting to count suspected cases as well as confirmed to better anticipate increases over the coming months. It\u2019s too early to know whether the total for 2018 will surpass those previous years. But the data reported Tuesday represents \u201ca substantially larger number than in previous months this year,\u201d Messonnier said.\nThere is no specific treatment for the disorder, and long-term outcomes are unknown. The rare but serious disorder affects a person\u2019s nervous system, specifically the spinal cord. Neurological conditions like it have a variety of causes, such as viruses, environmental toxins and genetic disorders.\nAmong the cases under investigation are five reported to Maryland health officials in recent weeks, a health department spokeswoman said Tuesday. Maryland\u2019s first case was reported Sept. 21. No known cases have been reported in Virginia or the District this year, but there were three confirmed cases in Virginia in 2016, health department officials said.\nMessonnier said it was important for parents and clinicians to remember that this is a rare condition, affecting less than 1 in 1 million children under 18. \u201cAs a parent myself, I understand what it\u2019s like to be scared for your child,\u201d she said. \u201cParents need to know that AFM is rare even with the increase in cases we are seeing now.\u201d\nStill, because this is a \u201cpretty dramatic disease,\u201d Messonnier said health officials want to raise awareness about the symptoms to make sure parents seek medical care immediately if their children show a sudden onset of weakness or loss of muscle tone in their arms and legs.\nOnce diagnosed, some patients have recovered quickly, but some continue to have paralysis and require ongoing care, Messonnier said.\nAfter testing patients\u2019 stool specimens, the CDC determined poliovirus is not the cause of the AFM cases. Messonnier said West Nile virus, which had been listed as a possible cause on CDC\u2019s website, is also not causing the illnesses. In some individuals, health officials have determined that the condition was from infection with a type of virus that causes severe respiratory illness.\nSo far, the CDC has found no relationship between vaccines and children diagnosed with AFM from the 2014 cases. Officials said they will be conducting additional analysis on this year\u2019s cases. \u201cOur medical team has been reviewing vaccine records when available during this year\u2019s investigation and do not see a correlation,\u201d said CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund. The disorder has been diagnosed in unvaccinated children and also in children who have received some of their recommended vaccinations, she said.\nThe agency doesn\u2019t know who may be at higher risk for developing this condition or the reasons they may be at higher risk. The CDC has tested many different specimens from patients with this condition for a wide variety of pathogens, or germs, that can cause AFM. No pathogen has been consistently detected in the patients' spinal fluid.\nThere appears to be no geographical clustering of the U.S. cases and no other country has reported the pattern seen here so far of cases spiking every two years, Messonnier said.\nParents can best protect their children from serious diseases by taking prevention steps, such as washing their hands, staying up to date on recommended vaccines and using insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites.\nNeurologists who specialize in treating brain and spinal cord illnesses may recommend certain interventions, such as physical or occupational therapy, on a case-by-case basis.\nBenjamin Greenberg, a neurologist who has treated children with AFM at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, said AFM is \u201cexquisitely rare.\u201d But, if their child is diagnosed, parents should prepare for extensive physical therapy \u2014 therapy that isn\u2019t always covered by insurance, he said. Some children paralyzed by AFM have eventually regained their ability to walk, but need time.\n\u201cFamilies really sticking with it are seeing slow but steady recovery,\u201d he said.\nCDC is not releasing a list of the 22 states with confirmed and suspected cases because of privacy issues. But some state health departments have been making public their reported cases. States are not required to provide this information to CDC, but they have been voluntarily reporting their data.\nDana Hedgpeth and Justin Wm. Moyer contributed to this report.\nRead more:\nA toddler couldn\u2019t move his arm. Doctors discovered a polio-like condition.\nPercentage of young U.S. children who don\u2019t receive any vaccines has quadrupled since 2001\nFlu broke records for deaths, illnesses in 2017-2018, new CDC numbers show"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "4e4704dfbcacca073dc3f0acbda61b8d_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "4e4704dfbcacca073dc3f0acbda61b8d_0", "title": "Spread of enterovirus D68 takes an alarming turn with reports of paralysis: What we know and don\u2019t know", "text": "Since doctors in Denver reported last week that several children who tested positive for the respiratory virus experienced limb weakness or paralysis, there\u2019s been a lot of confusion about what that means. Here\u2019s the latest on what we do and don\u2019t know about the mystery symptom: *Ten children at Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado who were admitted between Aug. 9-Sept. 28 have experienced \u201cparalysis-like symptoms,\u201d according to the Denver Post. The affected children were ages 1 to 18 with the average age being 8. *None of the children are completely unable to move but have \u201cvarying degrees of muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, weakness in the neck and trunk, and difficulty walking,\u201d Joyce Oleszek, a pediatric rehabilitation specialist, told the Denver Post. *It\u2019s too early to say whether the symptoms are permanent,\" hospital officials said. *Four of the children in Colorado tested positive for enterovirus D68. *Their symptoms are probably not related to polio. Eight of the 10 children affected were up to date on their polio vaccinations. (D68 is related to the virus that causes polio but D68 and other viruses in the enterovirus family typically do not cause these types of symptoms.) *They don't seem to be due to West Nile either. Tests of the children\u2019s spinal fluid came back negative for the mosquito-borne virus. *Doctors at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. are investigating three cases of children with similar symptoms, according to Bloomberg. *The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labs are backlogged with samples, but so far at least 443 people in 40 states and the District of Columbia have been confirmed as having been infected with the virus. It\u2019s unclear how many of the children in that group are experiencing muscle weakness or paralysis symptoms as the CDC is still in the process of collecting that data. *There have been no deaths definitively linked to D68 although the New Jersey Department of Health on Monday said the CDC took samples from a four-year-old who died at home with suspicious symptoms. *A cluster of five children in California who also experienced paralysis-like symptoms was identified last year, and two of those children tested positive for EV-D68, according to CNN. *A similar cluster was reported in Victoria, Australia in 2013. The Age reported that the enterovirus they were infected with was EV71, which is different from D68 but related to it. *Since 2012, Stanford University researchers"}], "old": [{"_id": "4e4704dfbcacca073dc3f0acbda61b8d_0", "title": "Spread of enterovirus D68 takes an alarming turn with reports of paralysis: What we know and don\u2019t know", "text": "Since doctors in Denver reported last week that several children who tested positive for the respiratory virus experienced limb weakness or paralysis, there\u2019s been a lot of confusion about what that means. Here\u2019s the latest on what we do and don\u2019t know about the mystery symptom: *None of the children are completely unable to move but have \u201cvarying degrees of muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, weakness in the neck and trunk, and difficulty walking,\u201d Joyce Oleszek, a pediatric rehabilitation specialist, told the Denver Post. *It\u2019s too early to say whether the symptoms are permanent,\" hospital officials said. *Four of the children in Colorado tested positive for enterovirus D68. *Their symptoms are probably not related to polio. Eight of the 10 children affected were up to date on their polio vaccinations. (D68 is related to the virus that causes polio but D68 and other viruses in the enterovirus family typically do not cause these types of symptoms.) *They don't seem to be due to West Nile either. Tests of the children\u2019s spinal fluid came back negative for the mosquito-borne virus. *The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labs are backlogged with samples, but so far at least 443 people in 40 states and the District of Columbia have been confirmed as having been infected with the virus. It\u2019s unclear how many of the children in that group are experiencing muscle weakness or paralysis symptoms as the CDC is still in the process of collecting that data. *There have been no deaths definitively linked to D68 although the New Jersey Department of Health on Monday said the CDC took samples from a four-year-old who died at home with suspicious symptoms."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Since doctors in Denver reported last week that several children who tested positive for the respiratory virus experienced limb weakness or paralysis, there\u2019s been a lot of confusion about what that means. Here\u2019s the latest on what we do and don\u2019t know about the mystery symptom:\n*Ten children at Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado who were admitted between Aug. 9-Sept. 28 have experienced \u201cparalysis-like symptoms,\u201d according to the Denver Post. The affected children were ages 1 to 18 with the average age being 8.\n*None of the children are completely unable to move but have \u201cvarying degrees of muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, weakness in the neck and trunk, and difficulty walking,\u201d Joyce Oleszek, a pediatric rehabilitation specialist, told the Denver Post.\n*It\u2019s too early to say whether the symptoms are permanent,\" hospital officials said.\n*Four of the children in Colorado tested positive for enterovirus D68.\n*Their symptoms are probably not related to polio. Eight of the 10 children affected were up to date on their polio vaccinations. (D68 is related to the virus that causes polio but D68 and other viruses in the enterovirus family typically do not cause these types of symptoms.)\n*They don't seem to be due to\u00a0West Nile either. Tests of the children\u2019s spinal fluid came back negative for the mosquito-borne virus.\n*Doctors at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. are investigating three cases of children with similar symptoms, according to Bloomberg.\n*The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labs are backlogged with samples, but so far at least 443 people in 40 states and the District of Columbia have been confirmed as having been infected with the virus. It\u2019s unclear how many of the children in that group are experiencing muscle weakness or paralysis symptoms as the CDC is still in the process of collecting that data.\n*There have been no deaths definitively linked to D68 although the New Jersey Department of Health on Monday said the CDC took samples from a four-year-old who died at home with suspicious symptoms.\n*A cluster of five children in California who also experienced paralysis-like symptoms was identified last year, and two of those children tested positive for EV-D68, according to CNN.\n*A similar cluster was reported in Victoria, Australia in 2013. The Age reported that the enterovirus they were infected with was EV71, which is different from D68 but related to it.\n*Since 2012, Stanford University researchers have been tracking at least 20 cases of childhood paralysis that appears to be similar to polio and began with respiratory symptoms. In a news release earlier this year, pediatric neurologist\u00a0Keith Van Haren warned of a possible new threat.\n\"In the past decade, newly identified strains of enterovirus have been linked to polio-like outbreaks among children in Asia and Australia. These five new cases highlight the possibility of an emerging infectious polio-like syndrome in California,\u201d Van Haren said."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "55ff1ae9e9cadbe7d3f5d45f14426da2_3", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "55ff1ae9e9cadbe7d3f5d45f14426da2_3", "title": "What is Enterovirus 68, the mysterious illness that is sickening hundreds of children?", "text": "it is spread has also changed, said Rafal Tokarz, a scientist at Columbia University's Center for Infection and Immunity who has studied the spread of Enterovirus 68. \"We speculate that this virus in the past 10 to 15 years has sort of evolved into different sub types and has allowed it to become more prevalent worldwide,\" he said. \"Maybe it has mutated into something that is more easily transmissible, I don\u2019t know if that is the case but it's certainly possible.\" Why are children getting sick but not adults? So far, all of the confirmed cases of this virus have been in children, the CDC said, but the Enterovirus can also affect adults. According to the CDC, approximately a quarter of all Enterovirus 68 cases before 2005 were adults. It is possible that the respiratory symptoms are more acute among children than adults. Kids, particularly if they suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems, might become so sick that they require a trip to the emergency room where they can be treated with breathing aids. \"It was initially believed to be associated mostly with kids, but there have been reports that it can also appear in adults,\" said Tokarz. \"In adults, the symptoms may not be as severe, which is why in some cases the symptoms may be missed.\" How do I know if my child has it? Enterovirus 68 is just one of many potential causes of respiratory illness. And the only way to know if someone has this particular type of virus is through a form of testing that sequences the virus. If a child reports severe difficulty breathing, and especially if that child also suffers from asthma, parents should consult a health care professional. Many hospitals are able to do this kind of testing, but if they cannot, they can send samples to the CDC, which has the ability to conduct more advanced testing and confirm an infection. Is there treatment or a cure? There is no treatment that is specific to the virus, and there are no anti-viral medications. But most cases of the virus are not fatal. Intensive treatment and supportive care, including oxygen provided in a hospital setting help. And in the confirmed cases of Enterovirus 68 from 2008 to 2010, the median length of time patients were hospitalized ranged from 1.5 to five days. How do we stop it from spreading? Other than"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Centers for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country.\nThere have now been 153 confirmed cases in 18 states of a respiratory illness\u00a0that has sent scores of children to emergency rooms and, in some cases, even to intensive care units.\nCases have now been confirmed in Minnesota and New Jersey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. Public health officials had previously confirmed cases in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia.\nThe culprit is Enterovirus 68 (also known as EVD-68 or Eentrovirus D68), a rare viral infection that can cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and low blood oxygen levels\u00a0(also known as\u00a0hypoxemia). In some cases, however, the symptoms can be severe \u2014 particularly for children who already suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems.\nJennifer Cornejo of Colorado told Denver's ABC affiliate that her 13-year-old son, William, had cold symptoms that developed overnight into a life-threatening illness. \"He was in really bad shape,\" she told the station. \"He came really close to death. He was unconscious at our house and white as a ghost with blue lips \u2014 he just passed out.\"\nHere is how William Cornejo described it: \"My head started hurting. And after that my lungs started closing up. It felt different.\"\nUntil recently, Enterovirus 68 was only thought to cause sporadic infections, but there have been reports of more widespread outbreaks in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Arizona between 2008 and 2010.\nOnly Missouri and Illinois have confirmed cases of EV-D68, but cases with similar symptoms have been reported in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Oklahoma, as well. Cases of EV-D68 have also been confirmed in Canada.\nThe outbreak, though worse than usual, is typical for this time of year, and the CDC expects that cases will decline in the fall. In the mean time, here is what you should know now:\nWhy is it called Enterovirus 68?\nEnterovirus is the name used to describe a group of more than 100 of the\u00a0most common\u00a0viruses that affect humans and other mammals. Most people might interact with an enterovirus by way of the\u00a0common cold, which can be caused by enteroviruses as well as rhinoviruses.\nEnterovirus 68 got its number based on the order in which it was discovered.\u00a0The first cases were identified in California in 1962 in four children who had bronchitis and pneumonia. Since it was discovered, and through 2005, there were only 26 confirmed reports of the virus to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\nHow did it spread so quickly?\nEnterovirus 68 spreads like the common cold: coughing, sneezing, or touching people or things infected with the virus and coming into contact with the nose or mouth.\nWith the start of school in late August and early September\u00a0for most children in the United States, spreading the disease is\u00a0more likely than ever.\n\"This is the right time of year for enterovirus infections,\" said\u00a0Anne Schuchat,\u00a0Assistant Surgeon General\u00a0and\u00a0Director, of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases\u00a0with the CDC. But she added that the number of potential cases is \"higher than expected for this time of year.\"\nBut because there isn't much known about this virus, it is possible that Enterovirus 68 is more contagious than it was believed to be.\nSince it was discovered in the 1960s, the virus has\u00a0evolved, making\u00a0it likely that how it is spread has also changed, said Rafal Tokarz, a scientist at Columbia University's Center for Infection and Immunity who has studied the spread of Enterovirus 68.\n\"We speculate that this virus in the past 10 to 15 years has sort of evolved into different sub types and has allowed it to become more prevalent worldwide,\" he said. \"Maybe it has mutated into something that is more easily transmissible, I\u00a0don\u2019t know if that\u00a0is\u00a0the case but it's certainly possible.\"\nWhy are children getting sick but not adults?\nSo far, all of the confirmed cases of this virus have been in children, the CDC said, but the\u00a0Enterovirus can also affect adults. According to the CDC, approximately a quarter of all Enterovirus 68 cases before 2005 were adults.\nIt is possible that the respiratory symptoms are more acute among children than adults. Kids, particularly if they suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems, might become so sick that they require a trip to the emergency room where they can be treated with breathing aids.\n\"It was initially believed to be associated mostly with kids, but there have been\u00a0reports that it can also appear in adults,\" said Tokarz. \"In adults, the symptoms may not be as severe, which is why in some cases the symptoms\u00a0may be\u00a0missed.\"\nHow do I know if my child has it?\nEnterovirus 68 is just one of many potential causes of\u00a0respiratory\u00a0illness. And the only way to know if someone has this particular type of virus is through\u00a0a form of testing that sequences the virus. If a child reports severe difficulty breathing, and especially if that child also suffers from asthma, parents should consult a health care professional.\nMany hospitals are able to do this kind of testing, but if they cannot, they can send samples to the CDC, which has the ability to conduct more advanced testing and confirm an infection.\nIs there treatment or a cure?\nThere is no treatment that is specific to the virus, and there are no anti-viral medications. But most cases of the virus are not fatal. Intensive treatment and supportive care, including oxygen provided in a hospital setting help. And in the confirmed cases of Enterovirus 68\u00a0from 2008 to 2010, the median length of time patients were hospitalized ranged from 1.5 to five days.\nHow do we stop it from spreading?\nOther than treating the symptoms of patients who have contracted the virus, there is very little that can be done to stop the spread of EV-D68.\nBut practicing normal, good\u00a0hygiene is more important now than ever. Washing hands, disinfecting surfaces, avoiding touching eyes, mouths, and noses with dirty hands can all help stop the spread of the virus. And if you or your child feels sick, stay home rather than risking further spreading the virus at work or at school.\nSarah Kaplan contributed to this report.\n[This post has been updated.]\nRelated:\nRespiratory virus Enterovirus D68 hits the Northeast\nVirginia has 7 confirmed cases of rare respiratory illness\nThe rare respiratory virus sickening children has been confirmed in 16 states across the country\nTracking a rare polio-like illness affecting children"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "56644c7a749b1b28da48a6f2fd0e0575_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "56644c7a749b1b28da48a6f2fd0e0575_0", "title": "Respiratory virus Enterovirus D68 hits the Northeast", "text": "Hundreds of children in several states have been stricken by a potentially deadly strain of enterovirus that is spreading across the United States. Connecticut and New York are the two latest states to report possible cases of Enterovirus D68, the respiratory illness suspected of hospitalizing hundreds of children in 21 states in the South, Midwest and now Northeast. New York became the first state on the East Coast to report cases of the virus that has been attacking children, especially those with asthma. On Friday, the New York State Department of Health announced the virus has been confirmed in more than a dozen children in the capital region and central New York. Onondaga County Health Department\u2019s Medical Director Quoc Nguyen said two patients were in Onondaga County. Although Enterovirus D68 has caused concern, particularly among parents of young children, enteroviruses themselves are common. The CDC estimated that 10 to 15 million people are infected with them each year. The Enterovirus D68 strain, in particular, dates to 1962 and hasn\u2019t been widely reported in years, which experts said could be part of the problem. \u201cWhat\u2019s unusual this time is this strain is causing severe respiratory disease,\u201d Kennedy University Hospital Chief of Infectious Diseases David Condoluci told NJ.com. \u201cWe haven\u2019t seen this strain for a long time, so a lot of kids don\u2019t have the immunity for it.\u201d In addition, there are no available vaccines or specific treatments for the virus, according to the CDC. Mild symptoms typically look like those of a common cold: fever, runny nose, couching and sneezing, body and muscle aches. Many who became severely ill had asthma and experienced difficulty breathing and wheezing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a health advisory stating it was working with hospitals and health departments to investigate such cases. The CDC has not yet confirmed the cases in New York State. On Saturday, the Connecticut Department of Public Health said in a statement two hospitals in different parts of the state reported suspected cases of Enterovirus D68. The state health department said it is working with those hospitals and the CDC to facilitate laboratory testing. Nicholas Bennett, head of the infectious disease department at Connecticut Children\u2019s Medical Center, told FOXCT last week he saw a handful of patients whom he \u201chighly suspects\u201d have the fast-spreading virus. \u201cWe\u2019re starting to see a few just in the last day or"}], "old": [{"_id": "56644c7a749b1b28da48a6f2fd0e0575_0", "title": "Respiratory virus Enterovirus D68 hits the Northeast", "text": "Hundreds of children in several states have been stricken by a potentially deadly strain of enterovirus that is spreading across the United States. Mild symptoms typically look like those of a common cold: fever, runny nose, couching and sneezing, body and muscle aches. Many who became severely ill had asthma and experienced difficulty breathing and wheezing. \u201cWe\u2019re starting to see a few just in the last day or so, where I\u2019m really suspicious that\u2019s what\u2019s happening,\u201d he told the station. He said at least one was treated in the Intensive Care Unit at the medical center. According to the CDC, Enterovirus D68 is spread by coughing, sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces. Although the virus could potentially infect adults, most cases have been reported in children."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Hundreds of children in several states have been stricken by a potentially deadly strain of enterovirus that is spreading across the United States.\nConnecticut and New York are the two latest states to report possible cases of Enterovirus D68, the respiratory illness suspected of hospitalizing hundreds of children in 21 states in the South, Midwest and now Northeast.\nNew York became the first state on the East Coast to report cases of the virus that has been attacking children, especially those with asthma. On Friday, the New York State Department of Health announced\u00a0the virus has been confirmed in more than a dozen children in the capital region and central New York. Onondaga County Health Department\u2019s Medical Director Quoc Nguyen said two patients were in Onondaga County.\nAlthough Enterovirus D68 has caused\u00a0concern, particularly among parents of young children, enteroviruses themselves are common. The CDC estimated that 10 to 15 million people are infected with them each year. The Enterovirus D68 strain, in particular, dates to 1962 and hasn\u2019t been widely reported in years, which experts said could be part of the problem.\n\u201cWhat\u2019s unusual this time is this strain is causing severe respiratory disease,\u201d Kennedy\u00a0University Hospital Chief of Infectious Diseases David Condoluci told NJ.com. \u201cWe haven\u2019t seen this strain for a long time, so a lot of kids don\u2019t have the immunity for it.\u201d In addition, there are no available vaccines or specific treatments for the virus, according to the CDC.\nMild symptoms typically look like those of a common cold: fever, runny nose, couching and sneezing, body and muscle aches. Many who became severely ill had asthma and experienced difficulty breathing and wheezing.\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a health advisory stating it was working with hospitals and health departments to investigate such cases. The CDC has not yet confirmed the cases in New York State.\nOn Saturday, the Connecticut Department of Public Health said in a statement\u00a0two hospitals in different parts of the state reported suspected cases of Enterovirus D68. The state health department said it is working with those hospitals and the CDC to facilitate laboratory testing.\nNicholas Bennett, head of the infectious disease department at Connecticut Children\u2019s Medical Center, told FOXCT last week he saw a handful of patients whom he \u201chighly suspects\u201d have the fast-spreading virus.\n\u201cWe\u2019re starting to see a few just in the last day or so, where I\u2019m really suspicious that\u2019s what\u2019s happening,\u201d he told the station. He said at least one was treated in the Intensive Care Unit at the medical center.\nAfter a surge in cases of severe respiratory illnesses last month popped up in Illinois and Missouri, the CDC ran tests and determined dozens of the children who were hospitalized there tested positive for a rare enterovirus strain. Most recently, Alabama and Washington state hospitals have seen an influx of sick children. Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah are also now investigating cases of respiratory illnesses, CNN reported.\nThe CDC since confirmed nearly 100 cases in six states: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. Some state laboratories may have confirmed cases too, but those were not included in the CDC\u2019s total.\nAccording to the CDC, Enterovirus D68 is spread by coughing, sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces. Although the virus could potentially infect adults, most cases have been reported in children.\n\u201cIt is important that we follow common sense rules to prevent the spread of this virus, as we do for flu and other contagious illnesses,\u201d New York State\u2019s State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said in a statement. \u201cBecause there is no specific treatment or vaccination against this virus, our best defense is to prevent it by practicing proper hygiene.\u201d\nRelated: What is Enterovirus 68?"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "5e84ffd7dd308cb8bdd059576276076d_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "5e84ffd7dd308cb8bdd059576276076d_0", "title": "Virus hospitalizes hundreds of kids in Midwest and South", "text": "Centers for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country. Preston Sheldon\u2019s mother said he seemed fine when she took him to preschool on Tuesday. Minutes later, according to News Channel 4, the Kansas City mom got a call that her 3-year-old was having trouble breathing. \u201cYou could see his ribs and his stomach was pushing out really hard. I thought it was an asthma attack,\u201d Pam Sheldon told the station. Jennifer Cornejo of Lone Tree in Colorado told News7 in Denver her 13-year-old son William had cold symptoms that developed overnight into a life-threatening respiratory illness. \u201cHe was in really bad shape,\u201d she said. \u201cHe came really close to death. He was unconscious at our house and white as a ghost with blue lips \u2014 he just passed out.\u201d \u201cMy head started hurting,\u201d William said. \u201cAnd after that my lungs started closing up. It felt different.\u201d Hospitals in Colorado, Missouri and potentially eight other states are admitting hundreds of children for treatment of an uncommon but severe respiratory virus. The virus, called Enterovirus D68, causes similar symptoms to a summer cold or asthma: a runny nose, fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. But the illness can quickly escalate, and there are no vaccines or antiviral medications to prevent or treat it. Though only Missouri has confirmed cases of EV-D68, cases with similar symptoms have been reported throughout the Midwest and South. According to news reports, Missouri, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Oklahoma have sent samples to the Centers for Disease Control for identification. Hospitals usually aren\u2019t able to perform testing required to identify specific types of enteroviruses on their own. This particular outbreak is associated with an unusually high number of hospitalizations \u2014 Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado has reported more than 900 cases since Aug. 18, while Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., has seen about 30 children per day with the illness, the Denver Post reported. 13-year-old Will Cornejo is recovering at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke\u2019s Medical Center in Denver on Sept. 5 from what doctors suspect is the respiratory virus, human enterovirus 68 that has come to Colorado. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post) Mark Pallansch, director of the CDC\u2019s Division of Viral Diseases, said that the recent hospitalizations may be \u201cjust"}], "old": [{"_id": "5e84ffd7dd308cb8bdd059576276076d_0", "title": "Virus hospitalizes hundreds of kids in Midwest and South", "text": "Centers for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country. \u201cYou could see his ribs and his stomach was pushing out really hard. I thought it was an asthma attack,\u201d Pam Sheldon told the station. \u201cMy head started hurting,\u201d William said. \u201cAnd after that my lungs started closing up. It felt different.\u201d Hospitals in Colorado, Missouri and potentially eight other states are admitting hundreds of children for treatment of an uncommon but severe respiratory virus. Though only Missouri has confirmed cases of EV-D68, cases with similar symptoms have been reported throughout the Midwest and South. According to news reports, Missouri, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Oklahoma have sent samples to the Centers for Disease Control for identification. Hospitals usually aren\u2019t able to perform testing required to identify specific types of enteroviruses on their own. 13-year-old Will Cornejo is recovering at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke\u2019s Medical Center in Denver on Sept. 5 from what doctors suspect is the respiratory virus, human enterovirus 68 that has come to Colorado. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post) Mark Pallansch, director of the CDC\u2019s Division of Viral Diseases, said that the recent hospitalizations may be \u201cjust the tip of the iceberg in terms of severe cases.\u201d EV-D68, which is likely causing this most recent outbreak, almost exclusively affects the upper respiratory tract and is especially severe in people who already experience breathing difficulties. Of the 90 confirmed cases described in the report, three were fatal, none of which occurred in the United States. But an editorial note warns that the virus is \u201cincreasingly recognized\u201d for causing severe \u2014 and potentially deadly \u2014 respiratory illness. This year\u2019s outbreak has hospitals scrambling to deal with the large number of cases. But early September is peak season for enteroviruses, and doctors say they expect the number of infections to begin leveling off."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Centers for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country.\nPreston Sheldon\u2019s mother said he seemed fine when she took him to preschool on Tuesday.\u00a0Minutes later, according to News Channel 4, the Kansas City mom got a call that her 3-year-old was having trouble breathing.\n\u201cYou could see his ribs and his stomach was pushing out really hard. I thought it was an asthma attack,\u201d Pam Sheldon told the station.\nJennifer Cornejo of Lone Tree in Colorado told News7 in Denver\u00a0her 13-year-old son William had cold symptoms that developed overnight into a life-threatening respiratory illness.\u00a0\u201cHe was in really bad shape,\u201d she said. \u201cHe came really close to death. He was unconscious at our house and white as a ghost with blue lips\u00a0\u2014 he just passed out.\u201d\n\u201cMy head started hurting,\u201d William said. \u201cAnd after that my lungs started closing up. It felt different.\u201d\nHospitals in Colorado, Missouri and potentially eight other states are admitting hundreds of children for treatment of\u00a0an uncommon\u00a0but severe respiratory virus.\nThe virus, called Enterovirus D68, causes similar symptoms to a summer cold or asthma: a runny nose, fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. But the illness can quickly escalate, and there are no vaccines or antiviral medications to prevent or treat it.\nThough only Missouri has confirmed cases of\u00a0EV-D68, cases with similar symptoms have been reported throughout the Midwest and South.\nAccording to news reports, Missouri, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Oklahoma have sent samples to the Centers for Disease Control for identification. Hospitals usually aren\u2019t able to perform testing required to identify specific types of enteroviruses on their own.\nThis particular outbreak is associated with an unusually high number of hospitalizations \u2014 Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado has reported\u00a0more than 900 cases since Aug. 18, while Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital\u00a0in Kansas City, Mo., has seen\u00a0about 30 children per day with the illness, the Denver Post reported.\n13-year-old Will Cornejo is recovering at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke\u2019s Medical Center in Denver on Sept. 5 from what doctors suspect is the respiratory virus, human enterovirus 68 that has come to Colorado. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post)\nMark Pallansch, director of the CDC\u2019s Division of Viral Diseases, said that the recent hospitalizations may be \u201cjust the tip of the iceberg in terms of severe cases.\u201d\n\u201cWe\u2019re in the middle of looking into this,\u201d he told CNN on Sunday. \u201cWe don\u2019t have all the answers yet.\u201d\nEnteroviruses are common in the United States, causing 10 to 15 million infections per\u00a0year, most of which are mild or asymptomatic. Infections usually occur in the summer and fall, coinciding with the start of the school year, and the viruses are most often found in infants, children and teenagers, who haven\u2019t yet built up an immunity.\nEV-D68, which is likely causing this most recent outbreak, almost exclusively affects the upper respiratory tract and is especially severe in people who already experience breathing difficulties.\nThe virus was first identified in 1962, but has been relatively rare until recently. Between 1987 and 2005, 26 cases were reported worldwide \u2014 in the past month,\u00a019 have been confirmed from Kansas City alone.\nIdentifying\u00a0particular types of enteroviruses is difficult, but a\u00a02011 CDC report on EV-D68 pinpointed\u00a0clusters of the disease in the Philippines, Japan, the Netherlands and three U.S. states since 2008.\nOf the 90 confirmed cases described in the report, three were fatal, none of which occurred in the United States. But an editorial note warns that the virus is \u201cincreasingly recognized\u201d for\u00a0causing severe \u2014 and potentially deadly \u2014 respiratory illness.\nThis year\u2019s outbreak has hospitals scrambling to deal with the large number of cases.\n\u201cIt\u2019s worse in terms of scope of critically ill children who require intensive care. I would call it unprecedented,\u201d Mary Anne Jackson, division director for infectious diseases at Kansas City\u2019s Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital, told CNN. She said the facility has had to call in help from other providers.\nSome hospitals, including Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Ill., are barring children \u2014 who are most vulnerable to the virus \u2014 from visiting as a result of the outbreak. Though it is still unclear whether EV-D68 is present at the facility, Blessing\u2019s emergency center saw 70 pediatric patients with breathing difficulties since Labor Day weekend, seven of whom were admitted for treatment.\nBut early September is peak season for enteroviruses, and doctors say they expect the number of infections to begin leveling off.\n\u201cThe vast majority of these kids will get better,\u201d William Schaffner, chair of Vanderbilt University\u2019s Department of Preventative Medicine, told NBC.\nIn the meantime, an alert from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services advises residents to take standard precautionary measures, including\u00a0washing hands frequently and avoiding contact with people who are sick, and warns clinicians to be on the lookout for unexplained respiratory illnesses."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "5eb4f81d6981daa517997105f38a28bb_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "5eb4f81d6981daa517997105f38a28bb_0", "title": "Rare respiratory illness confirmed in 10 states, expands to New York and Alabama", "text": "Will Cornejo, 13, recovers at a Denver hospital. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post) The rare and severe respiratory illness sickening children around the country has expanded to new states, and health officials believe there could also be unconfirmed cases in other places. These children \u2014 and it has only affected children so far, for reasons we explain here \u2014 are suffering from enterovirus 68, an uncommon virus strain that can cause severe breathing problems. Alabama and New York are among the newest states with confirmed cases of the virus. The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed Monday that four of six specimens from Mobile County positive for the virus. That follows the New York State Department of Health\u2019s confirmation Friday that more than a dozen children in two parts of the state have enterovirus 68. As of Monday, there are now 10 states with confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to Alabama and New York, there are now confirmed cases in Indiana and Louisiana, with those four states joining Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. Health officials in New York say samples from around the state are being sent to a laboratory in Albany for testing to see if there are cases in other parts of the state. Unlike New York, which has a laboratory that can test for the strain, most other states have sent their samples to the CDC, and they are awaiting responses to see whether they have the strain. Connecticut has also joined the list of states with possible cases. The state\u2019s Department of Public Health said over the weekend that it has received reports of clusters of children in two different areas who may be suffering from this virus; it is awaiting confirmation from the CDC. The precise number of children with this virus, along with the number of states where it has occurred, is unknown. But one hospital in Kansas City, Mo., is believed to have seen hundreds of cases, which suggests that the national number could be significantly higher. There is no vaccine for this virus strain. Enteroviruses are actually very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections a year (many people who get them just wind up with a cold or don\u2019t even get sick). But this strain is fairly rare \u2014 not appearing very often since it was first isolated in California in"}], "old": [{"_id": "5eb4f81d6981daa517997105f38a28bb_0", "title": "Rare respiratory illness confirmed in 10 states, expands to New York and Alabama", "text": "Will Cornejo, 13, recovers at a Denver hospital. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post) Alabama and New York are among the newest states with confirmed cases of the virus. The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed Monday that four of six specimens from Mobile County positive for the virus. That follows the New York State Department of Health\u2019s confirmation Friday that more than a dozen children in two parts of the state have enterovirus 68. Connecticut has also joined the list of states with possible cases. The state\u2019s Department of Public Health said over the weekend that it has received reports of clusters of children in two different areas who may be suffering from this virus; it is awaiting confirmation from the CDC. The precise number of children with this virus, along with the number of states where it has occurred, is unknown. But one hospital in Kansas City, Mo., is believed to have seen hundreds of cases, which suggests that the national number could be significantly higher. There is no vaccine for this virus strain. Enteroviruses are actually very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections a year (many people who get them just wind up with a cold or don\u2019t even get sick). But this strain is fairly rare \u2014 not appearing very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962 \u2014 and it has caused concern for health officials, particularly since it can lead to breathing problems for children. Authorities in some states that are awaiting word from the CDC, including Utah and Ohio, have said they expect to be told they have cases of the virus. This post has been updated with the full list of states that have confirmed cases now that the CDC revealed that there are cases in Louisiana and Indiana."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Will Cornejo, 13, recovers at a Denver hospital. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post)\nThe rare and severe respiratory illness sickening children around the country has expanded to new\u00a0states, and health officials believe there could also be unconfirmed cases in other places.\nThese children \u2014 and it has only affected children so far, for reasons we explain here \u2014 are suffering from enterovirus 68, an uncommon virus strain that can cause severe breathing problems.\nAlabama and New York are among the newest states with confirmed cases of the virus. The Alabama\u00a0Department of Public Health confirmed Monday that four of six specimens from Mobile County positive for the virus. That follows the\u00a0New York State Department of Health\u2019s confirmation Friday that more than a dozen children in two parts of the state\u00a0have enterovirus 68.\nAs of Monday, there are now 10 states with confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to Alabama and New York, there are now confirmed cases in Indiana and Louisiana, with those four states joining Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri.\nHealth officials in New York say\u00a0samples from around the state\u00a0are being sent to a laboratory in Albany for testing to see if there are cases in other parts of the state.\u00a0Unlike New York, which has a laboratory that can test for the strain, most other states have sent their samples to the CDC, and they are awaiting responses to see whether they have the strain.\nConnecticut has also\u00a0joined the list of states with possible cases. The state\u2019s Department of Public Health said over the weekend that it has received reports of clusters of children in two different areas who may be suffering from this virus; it is awaiting confirmation from the CDC.\nThe precise number of children with this virus, along with the number of states where it has occurred, is unknown. But one hospital in Kansas City, Mo., is believed to have seen hundreds of cases, which suggests that the national number could be significantly higher.\nThere is no vaccine for this virus strain. Enteroviruses are actually very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections a year (many people who get them just wind up with a cold or don\u2019t even get sick). But this strain is fairly rare \u2014 not appearing very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962 \u2014 and it has caused concern for\u00a0health officials, particularly since it can lead to breathing problems for children.\nAuthorities in some states that are awaiting word from the CDC, including Utah and Ohio, have said they expect to be told they have cases of the virus.\nThis post has been updated with the full list of states that have\u00a0confirmed cases now that the CDC revealed that there are cases in Louisiana and Indiana."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "668cdfb11e81a22cbe8265f9b9c4aad3_1", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "668cdfb11e81a22cbe8265f9b9c4aad3_1", "title": "CDC probing reports of paralysis in 9 Colorado children, including some with Enterovirus 68", "text": "District of Columbia and all but 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it has sickened more than 277 people, mostly children. The CDC said it is investigating the cases in Colorado and has called on health officials nationwide to be on the lookout for similar symptoms. They do not believe that the symptoms are related to polio, which is caused by a viral infection that leads to paralysis, because most of the children -- eight out of nine -- are fully up to date on their polio vaccinations. Of the eight that were tested by the CDC, four tested positive for Enterovirus 68, and two others were positive for different unidentified strains of an enterovirus. \"This is a very small number of patients,\" Larry Wolk, director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment told the Denver Post. \"That's why we're asking if there are other cases. People shouldn't panic.\" The children are from the Denver area and are being treated at Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo., and they all reported symptoms of fever and breathing problems two weeks before developing limb weakness, according to the CDC. None have fully recovered from their symptoms, Wolk said. Outbreaks of enteroviruses and rhinoviruses, which cause the common cold, are common in the fall, and the often go undiagnosed if the symptoms are not severe. But this year, the outbreak has been worse than usual and children with asthma or other pre-existing breathing problems have been particularly hard hit. The CDC said that it expects the number of cases to wane later in the fall. The CDC's advisory asked doctors to be watchful for any acute onset of limb weakness and evidence an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test of the spinal cord that shows large lesions on the gray matter of the spinal cord. None of the children experienced seizures or an altered mental state. While it isn't necessarily common for non-respiratory symptoms to occur with Enterovirus 68 infections, Wolk told the Denver Post that myelitis, or the infection of gray matter of the spinal cord, can occur as a complication of viral infections. \"We've seen this in the past and have studied these kinds of clusters in the past,\" Wolk said. Earlier this year, health officials in California investigated 25 cases of polio-like symptoms in children, some of whom tested positive for Enterovirus 68."}], "old": [{"_id": "668cdfb11e81a22cbe8265f9b9c4aad3_1", "title": "CDC probing reports of paralysis in 9 Colorado children, including some with Enterovirus 68", "text": "illness more difficult to fight. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Cyrus McCrimmon) Colorado health officials say nine children were identified between Aug. 8 and Sept. 17 after they developed neurological symptoms that are not commonly associated with Enterovirus 68, which causes severe breathing problems particularly in children with pre-existing asthma or respiratory problems. That virus has been confirmed in the District of Columbia and all but 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it has sickened more than 277 people, mostly children. The CDC said it is investigating the cases in Colorado and has called on health officials nationwide to be on the lookout for similar symptoms. They do not believe that the symptoms are related to polio, which is caused by a viral infection that leads to paralysis, because most of the children -- eight out of nine -- are fully up to date on their polio vaccinations. Of the eight that were tested by the CDC, four tested positive for Enterovirus 68, and two others were positive for different unidentified strains of an enterovirus. The children are from the Denver area and are being treated at Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo., and they all reported symptoms of fever and breathing problems two weeks before developing limb weakness, according to the CDC. None have fully recovered from their symptoms, Wolk said. Outbreaks of enteroviruses and rhinoviruses, which cause the common cold, are common in the fall, and the often go undiagnosed if the symptoms are not severe. But this year, the outbreak has been worse than usual and children with asthma or other pre-existing breathing problems have been particularly hard hit. The CDC said that it expects the number of cases to wane later in the fall. The CDC's advisory asked doctors to be watchful for any acute onset of limb weakness and evidence an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test of the spinal cord that shows large lesions on the gray matter of the spinal cord. None of the children experienced seizures or an altered mental state. While it isn't necessarily common for non-respiratory symptoms to occur with Enterovirus 68 infections, Wolk told the Denver Post that myelitis, or the infection of gray matter of the spinal cord, can occur as a complication of viral infections. \"We've seen this in the past and have studied these kinds of clusters in the past,\" Wolk said."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In this Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 photo, Melissa Lewis, of Denver, helps her son, Jayden Broadway, 9, as he coughs in his bed at the Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo. He was treated for the enterovirus 68 and released, but his asthma made the illness more difficult to fight. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Cyrus McCrimmon)\nSeveral children in Colorado, including some that have tested positive for the Enterovirus 68 respiratory illness, also reported neurological symptoms including muscle weakness and paralysis.\nColorado health officials say nine children were identified\u00a0between\u00a0Aug. 8 and Sept. 17 after they developed neurological symptoms that are not commonly associated\u00a0with Enterovirus 68, which causes severe breathing problems particularly in children with pre-existing asthma or respiratory problems.\nThat virus has been confirmed in the District of Columbia and all but 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it has sickened more than 277 people, mostly children.\nThe CDC said it is investigating\u00a0the cases in Colorado and has called on health officials nationwide to be on the lookout for similar symptoms.\nThey do not believe that the symptoms are related to polio, which is caused by a viral infection that leads to paralysis, because\u00a0most of the children -- eight out of nine -- are fully up to date on their polio vaccinations. Of the eight that were tested by the CDC, four tested positive for Enterovirus 68, and two others were positive for different unidentified strains of an enterovirus.\n\"This is a very small number of patients,\" Larry Wolk, director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment told the Denver Post. \"That's why we're asking if there are other cases. People shouldn't panic.\"\nThe children are from the Denver area and are being treated at\u00a0Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo., and they all reported symptoms of fever and breathing problems two weeks before developing limb weakness, according to the CDC. None have fully recovered from their symptoms, Wolk said.\nOutbreaks of enteroviruses and rhinoviruses, which cause the common cold, are common in the fall, and the often go undiagnosed if the symptoms are not severe. But this year, the outbreak has been worse than usual and children with asthma or other pre-existing breathing problems have been particularly hard hit. The CDC said that it expects the number of cases to wane later in the fall.\nThe CDC's advisory asked doctors to be watchful for\u00a0any acute onset of limb weakness and evidence an\u00a0magnetic resonance imaging\u00a0(MRI) test of the spinal cord that shows large lesions on the\u00a0gray matter of the spinal cord.\nNone of the children experienced seizures or an altered mental state.\nWhile it isn't necessarily common for non-respiratory symptoms to occur with Enterovirus 68 infections, Wolk\u00a0told the Denver Post that myelitis, or the infection of\u00a0gray matter of the spinal cord, can occur as a complication of viral infections.\n\"We've seen this in the past and have studied these kinds of clusters in the past,\" Wolk said.\nEarlier this year, health officials in California investigated 25 cases of polio-like symptoms in children, some of whom tested positive for\u00a0Enterovirus 68."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "6aef4e071bc3fa26e982fee6ad7a72c9_1", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "6aef4e071bc3fa26e982fee6ad7a72c9_1", "title": "States await word on whether they have cases of rare respiratory virus that has cropped up around the country", "text": "children are affected,\u201d Anne Schuchat, head of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, said Monday. The suspected cases are scattered in clusters around the country, and authorities have said they are ultimately not sure how many infections this strain could cause or how widely it could spread. Only children have been confirmed to have been infected so far, as adults are unlikely to get diagnosed with this type of virus, Schuchat said during a conference call with reporters. (Children lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease.) \u201cWe\u2019re in a stage where it\u2019s difficult to say just how big this is, how long it will go on for and how widespread it will be,\u201d she said. No vaccination is available for this strain. The CDC said Monday that a dozen states had suspected cases of the strain. Half of those states had confirmed cases of the rare enterovirus, according to the CDC and state health officials: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Colorado and Kansas. In addition, there are suspected cases in Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio and Utah, the CDC said Monday. For states with suspected clusters but no confirmation, and for public health officials wondering about the breadth of the situation, they must now wait for the CDC\u2019s test results. (While hospitals are able to test for enteroviruses, most are not able to check which particular strain they are facing, so states are sending samples from children to the CDC.) Utah has no confirmed cases yet, but authorities suspect that the virus is likely there, said Tom Hudachko, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Health. Primary Children\u2019s Hospital in Salt Lake City said it has seen an increase in children admitted with symptoms of serious respiratory diseases. Samples from this hospital will be sent to the CDC for testing, Hudachko said. There are also no confirmed cases in Ohio, but health officials are working with children\u2019s hospitals in Cleveland and Cincinnati to send samples to the CDC. Similarly, authorities expect that some of the test could come back positive, said Melanie Amato, a Health Department spokeswoman. The Michigan Department of Community Health reported an increase in children with respiratory illnesses across the state and is sending samples for testing. In Alabama, the state Department of Public Health has received multiple reports of suspected cases of this strain, but nobody has tested positive for"}], "old": [{"_id": "6aef4e071bc3fa26e982fee6ad7a72c9_1", "title": "States await word on whether they have cases of rare respiratory virus that has cropped up around the country", "text": "or how widely it could spread. Only children have been confirmed to have been infected so far, as adults are unlikely to get diagnosed with this type of virus, Schuchat said during a conference call with reporters. (Children lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease.) \u201cWe\u2019re in a stage where it\u2019s difficult to say just how big this is, how long it will go on for and how widespread it will be,\u201d she said. No vaccination is available for this strain. For states with suspected clusters but no confirmation, and for public health officials wondering about the breadth of the situation, they must now wait for the CDC\u2019s test results. (While hospitals are able to test for enteroviruses, most are not able to check which particular strain they are facing, so states are sending samples from children to the CDC.) Utah has no confirmed cases yet, but authorities suspect that the virus is likely there, said Tom Hudachko, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Health. Primary Children\u2019s Hospital in Salt Lake City said it has seen an increase in children admitted with symptoms of serious respiratory diseases. Samples from this hospital will be sent to the CDC for testing, Hudachko said. There are also no confirmed cases in Ohio, but health officials are working with children\u2019s hospitals in Cleveland and Cincinnati to send samples to the CDC. Similarly, authorities expect that some of the test could come back positive, said Melanie Amato, a Health Department spokeswoman. The Michigan Department of Community Health reported an increase in children with respiratory illnesses across the state and is sending samples for testing. In Alabama, the state Department of Public Health has received multiple reports of suspected cases of this strain, but nobody has tested positive for it yet. The state is looking into two clusters of respiratory illnesses \u2014 one centered in Mobile, the other in the northern part of the state \u2014 and half a dozen samples have been sent for testing. They don\u2019t expect test results for between one and two weeks. Officials in other states said they had already heard back from the CDC that they had children stricken with this strain. Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado sent 25 samples to the CDC, and 19 of them tested positive, according to the state Department of Public Health and Environment. Specimens sent to the CDC from central Iowa"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Will Cornejo, 13, recovers at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/St. Luke\u2019s Medical Center in Denver. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post)\nAs hospitals\u00a0across the country see an increase in\u00a0children dealing with\u00a0respiratory illnesses, public health officials in several states say they are awaiting test results to see if they are indeed facing a rare virus strain that has been confirmed in six states.\nAfter a surge in children with severe respiratory illnesses were treated at hospitals in Missouri and Illinois,\u00a0the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ran tests and determined that dozens of the children tested positive for a rare enterovirus strain. It is possible that just one hospital in Kansas City, Mo., has seen hundreds of cases, which hints at a potentially large\u00a0number nationwide.\nEnteroviruses are very common, causing between 10 and 15 million infections a year; many people who are infected with such a virus don\u2019t get sick, or only develop a cold, the CDC says. But this uncommon\u00a0strain, known as enterovirus 68, can cause severe\u00a0breathing\u00a0problems\u00a0and has not\u00a0appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962.\n\u201cSevere respiratory\u00a0illness is always a concern\u00a0to us, especially\u00a0when children are affected,\u201d\u00a0Anne Schuchat, head of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunizations\u00a0and Respiratory Diseases, said Monday.\nThe suspected cases are scattered in clusters around the country, and authorities have said they are ultimately not sure how many infections this strain\u00a0could cause or how widely it could spread.\u00a0Only children have been confirmed to have been infected so far, as adults are unlikely to get diagnosed with this type of virus,\u00a0Schuchat said during a conference call with reporters. (Children lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease.)\n\u201cWe\u2019re in a stage where it\u2019s difficult to say just how big this is, how long it will go on for and how widespread it will be,\u201d she\u00a0said.\nNo vaccination is available for this strain.\nThe CDC said Monday that a dozen states had suspected cases of the\u00a0strain. Half of those states had confirmed cases of the rare enterovirus, according to the CDC and state health officials: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Colorado and Kansas. In addition, there are suspected cases in Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio and Utah, the CDC said Monday.\nFor states with suspected clusters but no confirmation, and for public health officials wondering about the breadth of the situation, they must now wait for the CDC\u2019s test results. (While hospitals are able to test for enteroviruses, most are not able to check which particular strain they are facing, so states are sending samples from children to the CDC.)\nUtah has no confirmed cases yet, but authorities suspect that the virus is likely there,\u00a0said Tom Hudachko, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Health.\u00a0Primary Children\u2019s Hospital in Salt Lake City said it has\u00a0seen an increase in children admitted with symptoms of serious respiratory diseases. Samples from this hospital will be sent to the CDC for testing, Hudachko said.\nThere are also no confirmed cases in Ohio, but health officials are working with children\u2019s hospitals in Cleveland and Cincinnati to send samples to the CDC. Similarly, authorities expect that some of the test could come back positive, said Melanie Amato, a Health Department spokeswoman.\nThe Michigan Department of Community Health reported an increase in children with respiratory illnesses across the state and is sending samples for testing. In Alabama, the state Department of Public Health has received multiple reports of suspected cases of this strain, but nobody has tested positive for it yet. The state is looking into two clusters of respiratory illnesses \u2014 one centered in Mobile, the other in the northern part of the state \u2014 and half a dozen samples have been sent for testing. They don\u2019t expect test results for between one and two weeks.\nOfficials in other states said they had already heard back from the CDC that they had children stricken with this strain. Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado sent 25 samples to the CDC, and 19 of them tested positive, according to the state Department of Public Health and Environment. Specimens sent to the CDC from central Iowa tested positive, and reports of respiratory illnesses elsewhere in the state suggested \u201csome activity statewide,\u201d said Ann Garvey, the deputy state\u00a0epidemiologist.\nThere were 11 positive tests from 14 samples sent by a Chicago hospital, a\u00a0spokeswoman for the\u00a0Illinois Department of Public Health said. And there are\u00a0more reports of respiratory illnesses around the state, she said. Kentucky sent 10 samples to the CDC after a surge in respiratory illnesses in the central part of the state and half of them tested positive, the state\u2019s Cabinet for Health and Family Services said.\nLast month, 141 children from Kansas were treated at Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. Some of these children were found to have the rare strain, said a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.\nChildren\u2019s Mercy\u00a0saw nearly 500 children for respiratory problems, said Mary Anne Jackson, director of the hospital\u2019s infectious diseases division. These children ranged in age from six weeks to old to 16 years.\nThe CDC said that 19 of the 22 samples sent from Children\u2019s Mercy tested positive for the rare virus strain. But Jackson said that she thinks between 70 and 90 percent of the children they are treating will be confirmed for this strain, which would mean hundreds of infections.\n\u201cWe definitely\u00a0feel like we have an outbreak in our community in region,\u201d she said in a telephone interview Monday. \u201cCertainly I think we\u2019ll be calling this an outbreak if all these\u00a0other states have it.\u201d"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "80be13aee31004b0340d36a835cea303_1", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "80be13aee31004b0340d36a835cea303_1", "title": "Michigan toddler dies after becoming infected with Enterovirus", "text": "when sick are all easy ways we can help stop the spread of illness.\" Madeline Reid died Friday, her family and friends said in a statement on a GoFundMe page, which is raising money for the 21-month-old's \"departing ceremonies.\" A ribbon decorates a tree in front of Yardville Elementary School in Hamilton Township, N.J., after the Enterovirus-connected death of Eli Waller in September. Enterovirus patient Madeline Reid died less than three weeks later in a Detroit suburb. (Scott Ketterer/The Trentonian via Associated Press) According to the family, from Clinton Township, Reid died from complications of Enterovirus infection, including \"failure in all of Maddie's organs, along with congestive heart failure and myocarditis.\" Although the outbreak of Enterovirus 68 has garnered a lot less attention than the handful of suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola in the United States, the respiratory illness is spreading rapidly across the country: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been at least 691 confirmed Enterovirus cases in 46 states this year. Many of those who have become ill from the seasonal virus are children, some of whom are being swept into emergency rooms by frantic parents. Reid is the second child to die while infected with the particularly severe strain of the virus this year. In New Jersey, 4-year-old Eli Waller died in his sleep late last month, and officials determined that his death was the first one directly connected to Enterovirus 68, despite his having a lack of symptoms. Four others infected with the virus also died, the CDC previously announced. But officials aren't sure what role EVD-68 played in those deaths, the AP reported. Enterovirus symptoms are usually cold-like: runny nose, fever, body aches and skin rash, according to the CDC. Rare cases cause more severe symptoms; Enterovirus D68 is known to produce breathing problems in children, particularly those with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma. While unconfirmed, health officials are looking into a litany of other severe symptoms found in those who tested positive for Enterovirus 68. Those include reports of paralysis among a small group of Colorado children who had D86 and other strains of the virus. Of a group of five children who reported paralysis-like symptoms in California last year, two also tested positive for Enterovirus 68. Related: What is Enterovirus 68? New Jersey child dies of Enterovirus Rhode Island child dies of infection associated with virus"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "A 21-month-old girl is the second child in the U.S. to die this year from a strain of the enterovirus that has infected more than 500 people.\nA Michigan toddler died late last week while battling an Enterovirus D68 infection, and health officials in the state are now warning parents to take precautions against the mysterious virus that's sickening hundreds of children across the United States.\n\"While severe illness in children is always a concern, it's important to remember that very few people who contract EV-D68 will develop anything beyond mild flu-like symptoms,\" Jennifer Smith, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Community Health, said in a statement to the Detroit News.\nShe added: \"Residents should continue to lead their daily lives, practice good hygiene and vaccinate against illnesses that are vaccine-preventable, like the flu. Washing hands often with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, and staying home from work or school when sick are all easy ways we can help stop the spread of illness.\"\nMadeline Reid died Friday, her family and friends said in a statement on a GoFundMe page, which is raising money for the 21-month-old's \"departing ceremonies.\"\nA ribbon decorates a tree in front of Yardville Elementary School in Hamilton Township, N.J., after the Enterovirus-connected death of Eli Waller in September. Enterovirus patient Madeline Reid died less than three weeks later in a Detroit suburb. (Scott Ketterer/The Trentonian via Associated Press)\nAccording to the family, from Clinton Township, Reid died from complications of Enterovirus infection, including \"failure in all of\u00a0Maddie's organs,\u00a0along with\u00a0congestive heart failure\u00a0and myocarditis.\"\nAlthough the outbreak of Enterovirus 68 has garnered a lot less attention than the handful of suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola in the United States, the respiratory illness is spreading rapidly across the country: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been at least 691 confirmed Enterovirus cases in 46 states this year.\nMany of those who have become ill from the seasonal virus are children, some of whom are being swept into emergency rooms by frantic parents.\nReid is the second child to die while infected with the particularly severe strain of the virus this year. In New Jersey, 4-year-old\u00a0Eli Waller died in his sleep late last month, and officials determined that his death was the first one directly connected to Enterovirus 68, despite his having a lack of symptoms.\nFour others infected with the virus also died, the CDC previously announced. But officials aren't sure what role EVD-68 played in those deaths, the AP reported.\nEnterovirus symptoms are usually cold-like: runny nose, fever, body aches and skin rash, according to the CDC.\nRare cases cause more severe symptoms; Enterovirus D68 is known to produce breathing problems in children, particularly those with existing respiratory conditions such as\u00a0asthma.\nWhile unconfirmed, health officials are looking into a litany of other severe symptoms found in those who tested positive for Enterovirus 68. Those include reports of paralysis among a small group of Colorado children who had D86 and other strains of the virus.\nOf a group of five children who reported paralysis-like symptoms in California last year, two also tested positive for Enterovirus 68.\nRelated:\nWhat is Enterovirus 68?\nNew Jersey child dies of Enterovirus\nRhode Island child dies of infection associated with virus"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "9e9402dafaef2c009a925d8bb0edbb73_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "9e9402dafaef2c009a925d8bb0edbb73_0", "title": "A mysterious polio-like illness that paralyzes people may be surging this year", "text": "McKenzie Anderson, before and after she came down with a mysterious disease called acute flaccid myelitis, which is a lot like polio. (Family photos) Before dinner on July 29, 3-year-old Carter Roberts of Chesterfield, Va., seemed perfectly healthy. That evening, he vomited. When he woke up the next morning with a slight fever of 99 degrees, his mother, Robin Roberts, figured that he was coming down with a cold. The next morning, she found him collapsed on his bedroom floor. \u201cMommy,\u201d she recalls him saying. \u201cHelp me, help me.\u201d Carter could barely stand when she picked him up, and his neck was arched backward. \u201cWhat was most alarming,\u201d she said, \u201cis he had no control over his right arm whatsoever.\u201d In the hospital, Carter lost control of his right arm, then over his legs and other muscles within a few days. He now can only wiggle a toe and move the left side of his face. He has been diagnosed with a mysterious, polio-like illness called acute flaccid myelitis, a condition that seems to be surging this year. Through July, 32 new cases of AFM have been confirmed across the United States this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sharp rise compared with last year, when just seven cases had been confirmed by that month. The numbers have risen steadily since April. In past years, most cases have occurred between August and December, with a peak in October. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Among the many unanswered questions about the condition are what causes it, how best to treat it and how long the paralysis lasts. Although most cases occur in children, AFM occasionally affects adults. The CDC official who leads the surveillance efforts said that confirmed numbers for August will not be available until the end of this month, but the number of reports she is receiving from doctors around the country continues to rise. \u201cCDC is looking at these trends very carefully,\u201d Manisha Patel said. \u201cWe have sent out several health alerts to states to let them know we are seeing an increase in reporting and to encourage them to communicate with doctors to report these cases in a timely fashion.\u201d The CDC began tracking AFM in 2014, when 121 cases were confirmed. That year, the CDC counted only children affected by the disease. Their average age was 7. Most had a"}], "old": [{"_id": "9e9402dafaef2c009a925d8bb0edbb73_0", "title": "A mysterious polio-like illness that paralyzes people may be surging this year", "text": "McKenzie Anderson, before and after she came down with a mysterious disease called acute flaccid myelitis, which is a lot like polio. (Family photos) Before dinner on July 29, 3-year-old Carter Roberts of Chesterfield, Va., seemed perfectly healthy. That evening, he vomited. When he woke up the next morning with a slight fever of 99 degrees, his mother, Robin Roberts, figured that he was coming down with a cold. The next morning, she found him collapsed on his bedroom floor. \u201cMommy,\u201d she recalls him saying. \u201cHelp me, help me.\u201d Carter could barely stand when she picked him up, and his neck was arched backward. \u201cWhat was most alarming,\u201d she said, \u201cis he had no control over his right arm whatsoever.\u201d In the hospital, Carter lost control of his right arm, then over his legs and other muscles within a few days. He now can only wiggle a toe and move the left side of his face. He has been diagnosed with a mysterious, polio-like illness called acute flaccid myelitis, a condition that seems to be surging this year. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Among the many unanswered questions about the condition are what causes it, how best to treat it and how long the paralysis lasts. Although most cases occur in children, AFM occasionally affects adults. The CDC official who leads the surveillance efforts said that confirmed numbers for August will not be available until the end of this month, but the number of reports she is receiving from doctors around the country continues to rise. \u201cCDC is looking at these trends very carefully,\u201d Manisha Patel said. \u201cWe have sent out several health alerts to states to let them know we are seeing an increase in reporting and to encourage them to communicate with doctors to report these cases in a timely fashion.\u201d Five-year-old Braden Scott sits up unassisted at a rehab facility two months after he was struck with acute flaccid myelitis. It's a major improvement for someone with this polio-like illness. Health officials and physicians around the country said they are concerned that the rising number of cases through July could foretell a repeat of 2014. \u201cYou hate to be an alarmist, but there\u2019s reason to have some concern,\u201d said Avindra Nath, chief of the section of infections of the nervous system at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. \u201cWhat we don't know is"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "McKenzie Anderson, before and after she came down with a mysterious disease called acute flaccid myelitis, which is a lot like polio. (Family photos)\nBefore dinner on July 29, 3-year-old Carter Roberts of Chesterfield, Va., seemed perfectly healthy. That evening, he vomited. When he woke up the next morning with a slight fever of 99 degrees, his mother, Robin Roberts, figured that he was coming down with a cold. The next morning, she found him collapsed on his bedroom floor.\n\u201cMommy,\u201d she recalls him saying. \u201cHelp me, help me.\u201d\nCarter could barely stand when she picked him up, and his neck was arched backward. \u201cWhat was most alarming,\u201d she said, \u201cis he had no control over his right arm whatsoever.\u201d\nIn the hospital, Carter lost control of his right arm, then over his legs and other muscles within a few days. He now can\u00a0only wiggle a toe and move the left side of his face. He has been diagnosed with a mysterious, polio-like illness called acute flaccid myelitis, a condition that seems to be surging this year.\nThrough July, 32 new cases of AFM have been confirmed across the United States this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sharp rise compared with last year, when just seven cases had been confirmed by that month. The numbers have risen steadily since April. In past years, most cases have occurred between August and December, with a peak in October.\nSource: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\nAmong the many unanswered questions about\u00a0the condition are what causes it, how best to treat it and how long the paralysis lasts. Although most cases occur\u00a0in children, AFM occasionally affects adults.\nThe CDC official who leads the surveillance efforts said that confirmed numbers for August will not be available until the end of this month, but the number of reports she is receiving from doctors around the country continues to rise.\n\u201cCDC is looking at these trends very carefully,\u201d Manisha Patel said. \u201cWe have sent out several health alerts to states to let them know we are seeing an increase in reporting and to encourage them to communicate with doctors to report these cases in a timely fashion.\u201d\nThe CDC began tracking AFM in 2014, when 121 cases were confirmed. That year, the CDC counted only children affected by the disease. Their average age was 7. Most had a fever or a respiratory illness a few days before developing paralysis. Many had to be placed on respirators. Although 85 percent of the children recovered partially, only three of them recovered fully.\nFive-year-old Braden Scott sits up unassisted at a rehab facility two months after he was struck with acute flaccid myelitis. It's a major improvement for someone with this polio-like illness.\nHealth officials and physicians around the country said they are concerned that the rising number of cases through July could foretell a repeat of 2014.\n\u201cYou hate to be an alarmist, but there\u2019s reason to have some concern,\u201d said Avindra Nath, chief of the section of infections of the nervous system at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. \u201cWhat we don't know is where are these cases. Are they clustered? Do they all look alike?\u00a0 Getting more information on these cases would be helpful.\u201d\nBeyond saying that confirmed cases have been reported in 17 states through July, Patel declined to reveal which states have been involved. But conversations and emails with physicians around the country indicate that at least four cases have occurred in California and at least three in Massachusetts, and that others have been seen in Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania and New York, as well as Virginia.\n\u201cWe are definitely hearing of cases from our colleagues across the country,\u201d said Teri Schreiner, a neurologist at the University of Colorado and Children's Hospital Colorado.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a trend that\u2019s worrisome \u2026 what I'm hearing from others seems to be coming at a tempo similar to what happened in 2014.\u201d\nJean-Baptiste Le Pichon of Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., said that doctors on a\u00a0U.S. email list\u00a0for pediatric neurologists reported five new cases of AFM in just the past few days. \u201cThere is definitely an explosion of cases,\u201d Le Pichon said.\nNo treatment other than physical therapy has yet been shown\u00a0to markedly improve outcomes, although some doctors have reported that treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), used to treat some other viral infectious diseases afflicting the nervous system, might help. It\u2019s also been suggested that Prozac could prove beneficial. The degree of paralysis in the first month has generally improved only slightly over the course of a year.\n\u201cAfter about a year or so, what you\u2019ve got is what you\u2019ve got,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Max Wiznitzer, a pediatric neurologist at Case Western Reverse University in Cleveland.\nMost perplexing is what causes the disease. The 2014 outbreak of AFM occurred at the same time as a far larger outbreak of enterovirus D68 across the United States. The vast majority of patients infected with the virus developed only a respiratory illness. Some physicians were convinced that EV-D68 was the cause, not only because both outbreaks occurred at the same time but also because of a study that identified a particular strain of EV-D68 in the airways of children with AFM. But officials at the CDC and some doctors, including Wiznitzer, insist that the cause remains unproved.\nSo far this year, no similarly widespread outbreak of EV-D68 respiratory infections has been reported, although cases of it and other enteroviruses have been seen in some areas.\nOn Friday, Le Pichon, in Kansas City, said, \u201cI just got confirmation that we have an epidemic of enterovirus breaking out here and at least a few cases [of enterovirus] have typed positive for EV-D68.\u201d\nCarol Glaser, a pediatric infectious-disease specialist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif., said: \u201cIf the theory is right that it\u2019s caused by EV-D68, which some of us believe more than others, this would be the time of year we start seeing it. It\u2019s an enterovirus, and they tend to peak in late summer and early fall.\u201d\nBecause the CDC\u2019s surveillance of AFM is less than two years old, it remains unclear if some of this year\u2019s apparent rise in confirmed cases is due simply to more doctors sending in case reports, Patel said. And\u00a0Wiznitzer emphasized that with just 32 confirmed cases across the United States\u00a0so far, AFM remains extremely rare\nGlaser, however, said she is convinced that the condition is new. She worked at the California Department of Public Health when, in 2012, some of the first reports of AFM anywhere in the country came in from physicians there.\n\u201cI was there for 15 years and talked to neurologists every single day,\u201d she said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until the fall of 2012 when the first physician called in and wanted a test for polio on one of his patients. One of my colleagues in the office chuckled and said to me, \u2018We don't have polio in the United States.\u2019 But in the next two weeks, I got two very similar phone calls. We had never had a report like that. I do think there was something new going on. Fortunately, it\u2019s still rare.\u201d\nIf EV-D68 does somehow cause AFM, studying the virus may lead to prevention or treatment. One glimmer of good news came from Kenneth Tyler, chair of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He and his colleagues have been conducting experiments to infect mice with EV-D68 and have them\u00a0develop loss of muscle control like that seen in AFM. He says he has submitted a paper to a peer-reviewed medical journal describing his success in doing so.\nThe goal, he said, is to use mice to study how EV-D68 causes harm to the spinal cord and muscles, and to test potential therapies, such as IVIG.\n\u201cIt looks like we\u2019re seeing protection with IVIG in the mouse model,\u201d he said.\nRobin Roberts\u00a0said she wishes more was\u00a0known about the condition that has harmed her son. \u201cIn this day and age to not have information about something like this is very frustrating. There needs to be more done about it, and for more parents and doctors to know about it,\u201d she said.\nAngie Andersen said that her daughter McKenzie was sent home from the hospital twice in the first two weeks of her illness because doctors did not understand the severity of what was happening. Finally her pediatrician told Andersen to bring McKenzie to another hospital.\nMcKenzie was 6\u00a0years old when she developed sniffles in December 2014. \u201cWithin 12 days,\u201d Andersen said, \u201cshe was paralyzed from the neck down, on a ventilator to breathe for her. She was left with her left hand and her feet and toes that move.\u201d\n\u201cYou know you could understand the bad that comes from a car wreck, or if she got cancer,\u201d Andersen said. \u201cHow do you ever wrap your brain around the fact that she got a cold, and now she\u2019s a quadriplegic on a ventilator? It\u2019s a nightmare you never wake up from.\u201d\nStill, she said, McKenzie can now speak and even sing softly despite having a tracheotomy. \u201cShe has a lot of spunk, and that is helping her through,\u201d Andersen said.\nCorrection: This article originally misnamed Robin Roberts as Robin Carter.\nFrom a daily afternoon fever to a debilitating reaction to chemotherapy, here\u2019s a look at perplexing medical mystery cases.\nRead more:\nDoctors are stumped by toddler's painful legs, rash and bleeding gums\nLifelong care, heartaches ahead for babies born with Zika in the U.S.\nOdd teeth: A mother's Internet sleuthing led to her daughter's troubling diagnosis"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "a0cb0b175fc971f5b23ec4c813727201_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a0cb0b175fc971f5b23ec4c813727201_0", "title": "What does it look like when children might have Enterovirus 68?", "text": "Will Cornejo, recovering at Denver's Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children on Sept. 5. (Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post) A total of 220 people in 32 states have been diagnosed with Enterovirus 68, a viral infection that can cause symptoms such as wheezing and low blood oxygen levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The respiratory illness \u2014 which is also known as Enterovirus D68 or EVD-68 \u2014 has been particularly challenging for children, many of whom are being swept into emergency rooms by frantic parents. What has mothers and fathers so worried? Here's what a few of them reported: 'Like a goldfish gasping for breath' Rachel and Rodney Nash's young son started to develop cold-like symptoms in late August, according to CNN. His condition worsened a few days later, they said. The parents told CNN \"You could see him trying to pull the air in,\" Rachel Nash recalls. \"His nostrils flared as he inhaled, and you could see the muscles in his neck and collarbone working extra hard.\" Rodney Nash adds, \"I remember as a kid my goldfish jumped out of the bowl. That's how he looked to me -- like a goldfish gasping for breath.\" 'I was really scared' Maryland mother Brandi Ratajczak told WBAL-TV that she grew concerned after her son started to have difficulty breathing. \"I heard these kids ending up in the ICU with it, and I was really scared,\" Ratajczak said. Her son, who also has asthma, made two trips to the ER, and was eventually tested for entrovirus, she said. It was unclear if the boy was battling the D68 strain, although the symptoms seemed to match, according to Ratajczak. \"He was wheezing and coughing so bad he was turning blue around the mouth,\" she told the station. \"We had some great paramedics who helped him out.\" 'He just passed out' Jennifer Cornejo of Colorado told Denver's ABC affiliate that her 13-year-old son, William, had cold symptoms that developed overnight into a life-threatening illness. \"He was in really bad shape,\" she told the station. \"He came really close to death. He was unconscious at our house and white as a ghost with blue lips \u2014 he just passed out.\" Here is how William Cornejo described it: \"My head started hurting. And after that my lungs started closing up. It felt different.\" 'It came on very, very fast' \"This was a lot more"}], "old": [{"_id": "a0cb0b175fc971f5b23ec4c813727201_0", "title": "What does it look like when children might have Enterovirus 68?", "text": "Will Cornejo, recovering at Denver's Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children on Sept. 5. (Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post) What has mothers and fathers so worried? Here's what a few of them reported: 'Like a goldfish gasping for breath' Rachel and Rodney Nash's young son started to develop cold-like symptoms in late August, according to CNN. His condition worsened a few days later, they said. The parents told CNN \"You could see him trying to pull the air in,\" Rachel Nash recalls. \"His nostrils flared as he inhaled, and you could see the muscles in his neck and collarbone working extra hard.\" Rodney Nash adds, \"I remember as a kid my goldfish jumped out of the bowl. That's how he looked to me -- like a goldfish gasping for breath.\" 'I was really scared' \"I heard these kids ending up in the ICU with it, and I was really scared,\" Ratajczak said. Her son, who also has asthma, made two trips to the ER, and was eventually tested for entrovirus, she said. It was unclear if the boy was battling the D68 strain, although the symptoms seemed to match, according to Ratajczak. \"He was wheezing and coughing so bad he was turning blue around the mouth,\" she told the station. \"We had some great paramedics who helped him out.\" 'He just passed out' \"He was in really bad shape,\" she told the station. \"He came really close to death. He was unconscious at our house and white as a ghost with blue lips \u2014 he just passed out.\" Here is how William Cornejo described it: \"My head started hurting. And after that my lungs started closing up. It felt different.\" 'It came on very, very fast' Glen told the Toronto Star that her 7-year-old daughter, who suffers from seasonal asthma, was weak, and coughing up a \"nasty green phlegm.\" Glen took her daughter to a hospital, where she began to vomit. \"When you have a child, you can tell how pale their skin is and how tired they look,\" Glen told the newspaper. \"In any case you are just hoping and praying she\u2019s breathing and that she\u2019s got a pulse.\" A Windsor Regional Hospital spokesman told the paper that Glen's daughter had a suspected case of EV-D68. Tests would confirm whether she has the infection. RELATED: Centers for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Will Cornejo, recovering at Denver's Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children on Sept. 5. (Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post)\nA total of 220 people in 32 states have been diagnosed with Enterovirus 68, a viral infection that can cause symptoms such as wheezing and low blood oxygen levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\nThe respiratory illness \u2014 which is also known as Enterovirus D68 or EVD-68 \u2014 has been particularly challenging for children, many of whom are being swept into emergency rooms by frantic parents.\nWhat has mothers and fathers so worried?\nHere's what a few of them reported:\n'Like a goldfish gasping for breath'\nRachel and Rodney Nash's young son started to develop cold-like symptoms in late August, according to CNN. His condition worsened a few days later, they said.\nThe parents told CNN\n\"You could see him trying to pull the air in,\" Rachel Nash recalls. \"His nostrils flared as he inhaled, and you could see the muscles in his neck and collarbone working extra hard.\"\nRodney Nash adds, \"I remember as a kid my goldfish jumped out of the bowl. That's how he looked to me -- like a goldfish gasping for breath.\"\n'I was really scared'\nMaryland mother Brandi Ratajczak told WBAL-TV that she grew concerned after her son started to have difficulty breathing.\n\"I heard these kids ending up in the ICU with it, and I was really scared,\" Ratajczak said.\nHer son, who also has asthma, made two trips to the ER, and was eventually tested for entrovirus, she said. It was unclear if the boy was battling the D68 strain, although the symptoms seemed to match, according to Ratajczak.\n\"He was wheezing and coughing so bad he was turning blue around the mouth,\" she told the station. \"We had some great paramedics who helped him out.\"\n'He just passed out'\nJennifer Cornejo of Colorado told Denver's ABC affiliate that her 13-year-old son, William, had cold symptoms that developed overnight into a life-threatening illness.\n\"He was in really bad shape,\" she told the station. \"He came really close to death. He was unconscious at our house and white as a ghost with blue lips \u2014 he just passed out.\"\nHere is how William Cornejo described it: \"My head started hurting. And after that my lungs started closing up. It felt different.\"\n'It came on very, very fast'\n\"This was a lot more severe than a normal asthma attack,\" Ontario mother Joanna Glen said. \"It came on very, very fast.\"\nGlen told the Toronto Star that her 7-year-old daughter, who suffers from seasonal asthma, was weak, and coughing up a \"nasty green phlegm.\" Glen took her daughter to a hospital, where she began to vomit.\n\"When you have a child, you can tell how pale their skin is and how tired they look,\" Glen told the newspaper. \"In any case you are just hoping and praying she\u2019s breathing and that she\u2019s got a pulse.\"\nA Windsor Regional Hospital spokesman told the paper that Glen's daughter had a suspected case of EV-D68. Tests would confirm whether she has the infection.\nRELATED:\nCenters for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "a4f0453b5dd1e3c861639de44cb2b4df_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a4f0453b5dd1e3c861639de44cb2b4df_0", "title": "The rare respiratory virus sickening children has been confirmed in 16 states across the country", "text": "A 13-year-old being treated in Denver for the virus. (Denver Post/Cyrus McCrimmon) The rare respiratory illness that cropped up in multiple states recently has been confirmed in four new states, public health officials said Wednesday. Cases have been confirmed in Connecticut, Montana, Nebraska and Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which means that 16 states now have confirmed cases of the virus. The others are: Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and New York. The rare virus strain, enterovirus 68, can cause severe breathing problems. There have been 140 cases confirmed by laboratory tests, the CDC said, but it is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will continue to appear in additional states in the near future. Enteroviruses are very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year. But this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962. Public health officials have said that other states are presumably going to join this list, with cases expected to be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. There are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan, while health officials in Ohio and Utah have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus. The CDC expects that the number of infections is going to drop later in the year. Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these are coming at a typical time, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters last week. Only children have been confirmed to have the virus so far, as they lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease, according to the CDC. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so health officials are encouraging people to wash their hands and avoid excessive contact with those already sick. (Here\u2019s the advice in infographic form.) Here\u2019s more information on the virus itself. And here is some background on why we are only gradually learning how many states have this virus."}], "old": [{"_id": "a4f0453b5dd1e3c861639de44cb2b4df_0", "title": "The rare respiratory virus sickening children has been confirmed in 16 states across the country", "text": "A 13-year-old being treated in Denver for the virus. (Denver Post/Cyrus McCrimmon) Cases have been confirmed in Connecticut, Montana, Nebraska and Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which means that 16 states now have confirmed cases of the virus. The others are: Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and New York. The rare virus strain, enterovirus 68, can cause severe breathing problems. There have been 140 cases confirmed by laboratory tests, the CDC said, but it is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will continue to appear in additional states in the near future. Enteroviruses are very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year. But this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A 13-year-old being treated in Denver for the virus. (Denver Post/Cyrus McCrimmon)\nThe\u00a0rare respiratory illness\u00a0that cropped up in multiple\u00a0states recently has been confirmed in four new states, public health officials said Wednesday.\nCases have been confirmed in Connecticut, Montana, Nebraska and Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which means that 16 states now have confirmed cases of the virus. The others are: Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and New York.\nThe rare virus strain, enterovirus 68, can cause severe\u00a0breathing problems. There have been 140 cases confirmed by laboratory tests, the CDC said, but it is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will continue to appear in additional states in the near future.\nEnteroviruses are very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year. But this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962.\nPublic health officials have said that other states are presumably going to join this list,\u00a0with cases expected to be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. There are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan, while health officials in Ohio and Utah have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus.\nThe CDC expects that the number of infections is going to drop later in the year.\u00a0Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these are coming at a typical time, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters last week.\nOnly children have been confirmed to have the virus so far, as they lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease, according to the CDC. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so health officials are encouraging\u00a0people to wash their\u00a0hands and avoid excessive contact with those already sick. (Here\u2019s the advice in infographic form.)\nHere\u2019s more information on the virus itself. And here is some background on why we are only gradually learning how many states have this virus."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "d31d288172d5914ae7baf82d48f4edcc_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d31d288172d5914ae7baf82d48f4edcc_0", "title": "The mysterious polio-like illness that has afflicted more than 100 children", "text": "Last September, Melissa Lewis, of Denver, helps her son, Jayden Broadway, 9, his bed at the Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo. He was treated for the enterovirus 68 and released. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post via AP) Since last summer, public-health officials have been trying to figure out why more than 100 children in dozens of states have suffered from a polio-like weakness in their limbs. And while authorities have not found a direct link to the severe respiratory illness that affected children across the country last year, they are exploring whether that nationwide outbreak may be tied to this mysterious situation. There have been 103 confirmed reports of children who have developed the illness, which is called \u201cacute flaccid myelitis,\u201d according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These cases, which span 34 states, have almost all led to the hospitalization of the affected children, with some of them put on breathing machines. Last fall, the CDC began testing cases that occurred after Aug. 1. They had tested 88 cases by mid-November and found some possible trends, but the ultimate cause of the illnesses were still unclear. A handful of cases involved children who had been affected by the enterovirus D68 outbreak, but the CDC cautioned that no causal relationship between the illness could be confirmed by that time. There are also other viruses that can cause illnesses with symptoms like the ones currently being seen, the CDC noted. The possible tie to the enterovirus D68 (or EV-D68) outbreak is particularly worrisome, given how widespread this virus became. More than 1,100 people \u2014 again, most of them children \u2014 have been affected since last August. This number is likely severely underestimating how many were infected, as the CDC says there were presumably \u201cmillions\u201d of mild infections in people who did not get tested. The virus was ultimately confirmed in 49 states and the District of Columbia. In September, as the enterovirus outbreak continued, health officials in Colorado explored a cluster of nine children suffering from weakness and paralysis. Some of these children tested positive for the enterovirus. Still, another concern in this latest illness is how many children have not seen any improvement since developing symptoms. Two out of three have said they had some improvement, compared to one in three who showed none. So far, only one child with the illness had fully recovered, the CDC says. Nearly"}], "old": [{"_id": "d31d288172d5914ae7baf82d48f4edcc_0", "title": "The mysterious polio-like illness that has afflicted more than 100 children", "text": "Last September, Melissa Lewis, of Denver, helps her son, Jayden Broadway, 9, his bed at the Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo. He was treated for the enterovirus 68 and released. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post via AP) Since last summer, public-health officials have been trying to figure out why more than 100 children in dozens of states have suffered from a polio-like weakness in their limbs. Still, another concern in this latest illness is how many children have not seen any improvement since developing symptoms. Two out of three have said they had some improvement, compared to one in three who showed none. So far, only one child with the illness had fully recovered, the CDC says."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Last September,\u00a0Melissa Lewis, of Denver, helps her son, Jayden Broadway, 9, his bed at the Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colo. He was treated\u00a0for\u00a0the enterovirus 68 and released. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post via AP)\nSince last summer, public-health officials have been trying to figure out why more than 100 children in dozens of states have suffered\u00a0from a polio-like weakness in their limbs.\nAnd while authorities have not found a direct link to the severe respiratory illness that affected children across the country last year, they are exploring whether that nationwide outbreak may be tied to this mysterious situation.\nThere have been 103 confirmed reports of children who have developed the illness, which is called \u201cacute flaccid myelitis,\u201d according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These cases, which span 34 states, have almost all led to the hospitalization of the affected children, with some of them put on breathing machines.\nLast fall, the CDC began testing cases that occurred after Aug. 1. They had tested\u00a088\u00a0cases by mid-November and found\u00a0some possible trends, but the ultimate cause of the illnesses were still unclear. A handful\u00a0of cases involved children who had been affected by the enterovirus D68 outbreak, but the CDC cautioned that no causal relationship between the illness could be confirmed by that time. There are also other viruses that can cause illnesses with symptoms like the ones currently being seen, the CDC noted.\nThe possible tie to the enterovirus D68 (or EV-D68) outbreak is particularly worrisome, given how widespread this virus became.\u00a0More than 1,100 people \u2014 again, most of them children \u2014 have been affected\u00a0since last August. This number is likely severely underestimating how many were infected, as the CDC says there were presumably \u201cmillions\u201d of mild infections in people who did not get tested. The virus\u00a0was ultimately confirmed in 49 states and the District of Columbia.\nIn September, as the enterovirus outbreak continued, health officials in Colorado explored a cluster of nine children suffering from weakness and paralysis. Some of these children tested positive for the enterovirus.\nStill, another concern in this latest\u00a0illness is how many children have not seen any improvement since developing symptoms. Two out of three have said they had some improvement, compared to one in three who showed none. So far, only\u00a0one child with the illness had fully recovered, the CDC says.\nNearly a year ago, another polio-like illness may have affected up to 25 children in California, leading to some limb paralysis. Enterovirus D68, which at that time was still considered a rare virus and had not become as widespread as it was later in the year, was cited as one possible factor."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "d36c924135a8348a39a16f99a383a21a_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d36c924135a8348a39a16f99a383a21a_0", "title": "Rare respiratory illness has spread to a dozen states", "text": "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (David Goldman/AP) The rare respiratory illness affecting children has now been confirmed in a dozen states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. The two newest states with confirmed cases: Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, which join a growing roster of states that officially have cases of enterovirus 68, a rare virus strain that can cause severe breathing problems. Hospitals around the country are seeing an increase in the number of children dealing with respiratory illnesses. Testing has shown that many of these children are suffering from this enterovirus strain. Enteroviruses are quite common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year, but this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962. So far, the other states with confirmed cases are Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and New York. There have been 130 confirmed cases, the CDC says, but the number of actual cases is likely much higher. Public health officials continue to warn that other states are presumably going to join this list, with cases expected to be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. There are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan. At least two other states \u2014 Ohio and Utah \u2014 have no confirmed cases yet, but health officials have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus. The CDC expects that the number of infections is going to drop later in the year. Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these infections are coming at a typical time for enteroviruses, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters. Only children have been confirmed to have the virus so far, as they lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease, according to the CDC. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. (There is no vaccine, so health officials encourage people to follow the usual common-sense guidelines: Wash your hands, avoid excessive contact with sick people, that sort of thing. Here\u2019s the advice in infographic form.) As for why it is taking so long to confirm all of the places seeing this virus, that stems from issues with the testing that is required."}], "old": [{"_id": "d36c924135a8348a39a16f99a383a21a_0", "title": "Rare respiratory illness has spread to a dozen states", "text": "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (David Goldman/AP) So far, the other states with confirmed cases are Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and New York. There have been 130 confirmed cases, the CDC says, but the number of actual cases is likely much higher. As for why it is taking so long to confirm all of the places seeing this virus, that stems from issues with the testing that is required. Health officials say testing for this particular strain can only be done by the CDC and at a certain number of other laboratories. States are sending their specimens to the CDC for testing, which has created a backlog. Still, even as the number of states with confirmed cases rises, it\u2019s important to remember that these confirmations don\u2019t necessarily mean the virus has suddenly cropped up in these places without warning. Some states told us after submitting specimens to the CDC for testing that they expected it could take weeks to hear results. And cases may be confirmed after the number of afflicted children seeking treatment has decreased. Consider Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., which reported treating nearly 500 children for respiratory illnesses since last month. Mary Anne Jackson, director of the hospital\u2019s infectious diseases division, said she believes between 70 and 90 percent of these children had the rare strain. Jackson said that the number of children coming in with respiratory illnesses peaked during the latter third of August. \u201cWe really were inundated with cases at that point,\u201d she said. The daily number of cases began declining in September. She said there is no need for public panic, because most illnesses relating to this strain will be akin to a common cold. But as Jackson pointed out, it is still likely the number of states with cases will increase. \u201cThe way this virus spreads, kid to kid, it\u2019s likely if it\u2019s in 12 states it will be in more than 12 states over the next several weeks,\u201d she said last week."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The\u00a0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (David Goldman/AP)\nThe rare respiratory illness affecting children has now been confirmed in a dozen states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday.\nThe two newest states with confirmed cases: Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, which join a growing roster of states\u00a0that officially have cases of enterovirus 68, a rare virus strain that can cause severe breathing problems.\nHospitals around the country are seeing an increase in the number of children dealing with respiratory illnesses. Testing has shown that many of these children are suffering from this enterovirus strain. Enteroviruses are quite common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year, but this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962.\nSo far, the other states with confirmed cases are Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and New York. There have been 130 confirmed cases, the CDC says, but the number of actual cases is likely much higher.\nPublic health officials continue to warn that other states are presumably going to join this list,\u00a0with cases expected to be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. There are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan.\u00a0At least two other states \u2014 Ohio and Utah \u2014 have no confirmed cases yet, but health officials have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus.\nThe CDC expects that the number of infections is going to drop later in the year.\u00a0Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these infections are coming at a typical time for enteroviruses, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters.\nOnly children have been confirmed to have the virus so far, as they lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease, according to the CDC. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. (There is no vaccine, so health officials encourage people to follow the usual common-sense guidelines: Wash your hands, avoid excessive contact with sick people, that sort of thing. Here\u2019s the advice in infographic form.)\nAs for why it is taking so long to confirm all of the places seeing\u00a0this virus, that stems from issues with the testing that is required. Health officials say testing\u00a0for this particular strain can only be done by the CDC and at a certain number of other laboratories. States are sending\u00a0their specimens to the CDC for testing, which has created a backlog.\nStill, even as the number of states with confirmed cases rises, it\u2019s important to remember that these confirmations don\u2019t necessarily mean the virus has suddenly cropped up in these places without warning. Some states told us after submitting specimens to the CDC for testing that they expected it could take weeks to hear results.\nAnd cases may be confirmed after the number of afflicted children seeking treatment has decreased.\u00a0Consider Children\u2019s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., which reported treating nearly 500 children for respiratory illnesses since last month. Mary Anne Jackson, director of the hospital\u2019s infectious diseases division, said she believes between 70 and 90 percent of these children had the rare strain.\nJackson said that the number of children coming in with respiratory illnesses\u00a0peaked\u00a0during the latter third of August. \u201cWe really were inundated with cases at that point,\u201d she said. The daily number of cases began declining in September.\nShe said there is no need for public panic, because most illnesses relating to this strain will be akin to a common cold.\u00a0But as Jackson pointed out, it is still likely the number of states with cases will increase.\n\u201cThe way this virus spreads, kid to kid, it\u2019s likely if it\u2019s in 12 states it will be in\u00a0more than 12 states over the next several weeks,\u201d she said last week.\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "dd1071db8ee3814f446d95798e774071_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "dd1071db8ee3814f446d95798e774071_0", "title": "Rare respiratory virus spreads to 22 states", "text": "That rare respiratory illness sickening children around the country continues to crop up in new places. It has been confirmed in 22 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday, appearing in three states where it had not been previously: Georgia, Michigan and Washington state. These children are facing an uncommon enterovirus strain. While enteroviruses in general are quite common, this particular strain \u2014 enterovirus 68 \u2014 has not cropped up terribly often since it was first identified in 1962. It can cause severe breathing problems, a particular danger for children who may suffer from asthma or other respiratory issues. Testing has found 160 cases spread across these states that span from coast to coast, though public health officials have warned that the actual number of cases is likely much higher. In addition, there are other states where clusters of children are facing similar respiratory illnesses that could turn out to be this virus. (Health officials in Ohio and Utah have told The Post that they suspect they have cases of the strain.) Head here for a list of the other states with this virus. Here is more information on the enterovirus and how it was first identified as part of this recent surge. And here is why we are only gradually learning about how many states have this virus."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "That\u00a0rare respiratory illness sickening children around the country continues to crop up in new places. It has been confirmed in 22 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday, appearing in three states where it had not been previously: Georgia, Michigan and Washington state.\nThese children are facing an uncommon enterovirus strain. While enteroviruses in general are quite common, this particular strain \u2014 enterovirus 68 \u2014 has not cropped up terribly often since it was first identified in 1962. It can cause severe breathing problems, a particular danger for children who may suffer from asthma or other respiratory issues.\nTesting has found 160 cases spread across these states that span from coast to coast, though public health officials have warned that the actual number of cases is likely much higher. In addition, there are other states where clusters of children are facing similar respiratory illnesses that could turn out to be this virus. (Health officials in Ohio and Utah have told The Post that they suspect they have cases of the strain.)\nHead here for a list of the other states with this virus. Here is more information on the enterovirus and how it was first identified as part of this recent surge. And here is why we are only gradually learning about how many states have this virus."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "de430471f5aaa3fc05566413b4d4a8b6_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "de430471f5aaa3fc05566413b4d4a8b6_0", "title": "More cases reported of a mysterious polio-like illness that killed a 6-year-old", "text": "(Courtesy of Marijo De Guzman via Facebook) On Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6-year-old Jonathan Daniel Ramirez Porter woke up with a fever. His mother, Marijo De Guzman, decided to keep him home from kindergarten in Ferndale, Wash., a small town less than an hour south of the Canadian border. Instead of getting better, Daniel complained of a severe headache the next day. By Saturday, Oct. 15, he was stumbling and drooling, unable to keep food in his mouth or to speak clearly. De Guzman and Daniel\u2019s father, Jose Ramirez, brought him to Seattle Children\u2019s Hospital, where his condition at first baffled physicians there, his mother said. \u201cThey had no clue what it was,\u201d said De Guzman, 33. \u201cAt first they thought it was a bacteria, so they were giving him antibiotics. That didn\u2019t work, and they figured out it was a virus. They were giving him pain medicine, blood pressure medicine and steroids to help with swelling in his brain.\u201d With local news reports describing other children in Washington state as having a polio-like condition called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, De Guzman said, \u201cI asked the doctor if it\u2019s possible he could have this, because a lot of the symptoms sounded the same.\u201d As his condition worsened,Daniel was given a tentative diagnosis of AFM. \u201cThey said they could try to put him in an induced coma to let his body fight the virus,\u201d De Guzman said. \u201cAll Daniel wanted to do when he got this was to rest, so we chose the coma.\u201d Despite the efforts of some 30 doctors treating him, Daniel died Oct. 30. Daniel is one of nine children tentatively diagnosed in recent weeks with AFM across Washington state, and the first person known to have died of the mysterious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking the disease in 2014, when 120 cases were confirmed between August and December. The condition mimics polio but is not caused by the polio virus. It affects primarily children, causing sudden loss of control of the muscles in limbs and other parts of the body. It\u2019s not clear what causes the disease, and no medical treatment has proved effective. This year, reports of new cases in the United States doubled in September compared with August, the CDC reported Monday, with the year-to-date total of 89 cases in 33 states on track to match or exceed the 120"}], "old": [{"_id": "de430471f5aaa3fc05566413b4d4a8b6_0", "title": "More cases reported of a mysterious polio-like illness that killed a 6-year-old", "text": "(Courtesy of Marijo De Guzman via Facebook) On Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6-year-old Jonathan Daniel Ramirez Porter woke up with a fever. His mother, Marijo De Guzman, decided to keep him home from kindergarten in Ferndale, Wash., a small town less than an hour south of the Canadian border. Instead of getting better, Daniel complained of a severe headache the next day. By Saturday, Oct. 15, he was stumbling and drooling, unable to keep food in his mouth or to speak clearly. De Guzman and Daniel\u2019s father, Jose Ramirez, brought him to Seattle Children\u2019s Hospital, where his condition at first baffled physicians there, his mother said. \u201cThey had no clue what it was,\u201d said De Guzman, 33. \u201cAt first they thought it was a bacteria, so they were giving him antibiotics. That didn\u2019t work, and they figured out it was a virus. They were giving him pain medicine, blood pressure medicine and steroids to help with swelling in his brain.\u201d With local news reports describing other children in Washington state as having a polio-like condition called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, De Guzman said, \u201cI asked the doctor if it\u2019s possible he could have this, because a lot of the symptoms sounded the same.\u201d As his condition worsened,Daniel was given a tentative diagnosis of AFM. \u201cThey said they could try to put him in an induced coma to let his body fight the virus,\u201d De Guzman said. \u201cAll Daniel wanted to do when he got this was to rest, so we chose the coma.\u201d Despite the efforts of some 30 doctors treating him, Daniel died Oct. 30. Daniel is one of nine children tentatively diagnosed in recent weeks with AFM across Washington state, and the first person known to have died of the mysterious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking the disease in 2014, when 120 cases were confirmed between August and December. The condition mimics polio but is not caused by the polio virus. It affects primarily children, causing sudden loss of control of the muscles in limbs and other parts of the body. It\u2019s not clear what causes the disease, and no medical treatment has proved effective. In Philadelphia, nine children were treated for AFM in August and September, said Sarah Hopkins, a pediatric neurologist at Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia. Although the average age of children treated during the 2014 outbreak was 7, the average"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "(Courtesy of Marijo De Guzman via Facebook)\nOn Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6-year-old Jonathan Daniel Ramirez Porter woke up with a fever. His mother, Marijo De Guzman, decided to keep him home from kindergarten in Ferndale, Wash., a small town less than an hour south of the Canadian border.\nInstead of getting better, Daniel complained of a severe headache the next day. By Saturday, Oct. 15, he was stumbling and drooling, unable to keep food in his mouth or to speak clearly.\nDe Guzman and Daniel\u2019s father, Jose Ramirez, brought him to Seattle Children\u2019s Hospital, where his condition at first baffled physicians there, his mother said.\n\u201cThey had no clue what it was,\u201d said De Guzman, 33. \u201cAt first they thought it was a bacteria, so they were giving him antibiotics. That didn\u2019t work, and they figured out it was a virus. They were giving him pain medicine, blood pressure medicine and steroids to help with swelling in his brain.\u201d\nWith local news reports describing other children in Washington state as having a polio-like condition called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, De Guzman said, \u201cI asked the doctor if it\u2019s possible he could have this, because a lot of the symptoms sounded the same.\u201d\nAs his condition worsened,Daniel was given a tentative diagnosis of AFM.\n\u201cThey said they could try to put him in an induced coma to let his body fight the virus,\u201d De Guzman said. \u201cAll Daniel wanted to do when he got this was to rest, so we chose the coma.\u201d\nDespite the efforts of some 30 doctors treating him, Daniel died Oct. 30.\nDaniel is one of nine children tentatively diagnosed in recent weeks with AFM across Washington state, and the first person known to have died of the mysterious disease.\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began tracking the disease in 2014, when 120 cases were confirmed between August and December. The condition mimics polio but is not caused by the polio virus. It affects primarily children, causing sudden loss of control of the muscles in limbs and other parts of the body. It\u2019s not clear what causes the disease, and no medical treatment has proved effective.\nThis year, reports of new cases in the United States doubled in September compared with August, the CDC reported\u00a0Monday, with the year-to-date total of 89 cases in 33 states on track to match or exceed the 120 cases confirmed in all of 2014.\nLocally clustered cases of AFM have been reported in Philadelphia and, for the first time, in Europe. The first cluster of European cases of the polio-like condition was described in British\u00a0news reports last month, involving four cases being treated at the Royal Hospital\u00a0for Sick Children in Edinburgh, Scotland. Two cases of AFM have also been reported in Canada.\nIn Philadelphia, nine children were treated for AFM in August and September, said Sarah Hopkins, a pediatric neurologist at Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia. Although the average age of children treated during the 2014 outbreak was 7, the average age of the nine children seen this year by Hopkins has been closer to 5.\nMost of the children treated in 2014 have made a modest recovery, she added, although none is back to their original strength.\nThe CDC defines AFM as the sudden onset of flaccid paralysis, in which muscles controlling the limbs, face or other body parts become droopy (not stiff), and in which an MRI exam shows damage to the gray matter of the spinal cord. The condition is often preceded by a fever or severe headache. Although some cases involve only a mild paralysis of a single limb, others affect the muscles that control breathing, and patients require mechanical ventilation to survive.\nAs the number of cases rises this year, researchers at the CDC say they are more mystified than ever by what is causing the condition.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a complete puzzle,\u201d said Steve Oberste, chief of the CDC\u2019s Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on now is really odd. I hope we can assure the public that people are working on it, not just the CDC but many others. There are so many things about this outbreak that are puzzling, and the pieces aren\u2019t fitting together yet. Eventually we\u2019ll know more, but right now it\u2019s pretty difficult.\u201d\nDuring the 2014 outbreak, a growing line of evidence suggested that the condition may be a rare but serious complication of infection with enterovirus D68. That year, more than 1,000 children across the country were treated for serious respiratory illnesses linked to D68, which is in the same viral family as the polio virus.\nThe problem with that hypothesis was that D68 was never found in the spinal fluid of infected children. Even so, many doctors remain convinced by studies showing a strong geographic and chronological association between D68 and AFM, and by the fact that D68 is related to polio.\nThis year, however, the case for D68 has weakened, because no similar outbreak of respiratory illnesses associated with D68 or any other enterovirus has been seen in the United States, leaving researchers desperately searching for answers. (Both children affected by AFM in Canada, however, tested positive for exposure to D68.)\n\u201cWhat we saw in 2014 was a temporal relationship between D68 and AFM,\u201d said Manisha Patel, who leads 10 researchers working full time at the CDC investigating the AFM outbreak. \u201cThis year, we don\u2019t have that. So we are not ruling anything out. We\u2019re looking at not just viral causes but environmental causes. Yes, enteroviruses are biologically plausible, but there are also other things that could cause this.\u201d\nSome of the apparent rise in cases, Patel said, may be due to increased surveillance by the CDC and rising awareness among physicians and the public. And despite the higher numbers, she emphasized, the condition remains extremely rare.\nIn the two years and three months since the CDC began tracking the condition, she said, \u201cless than one in a million people have developed AFM. It\u2019s a very serious illness that CDC is taking very, very seriously. But what remains consistent is that AFM is still rare.\u201d\nFor all the CDC\u2019s efforts, some doctors think the agency still is not doing enough and should make it mandatory for doctors to report all new cases of AFM and other cases of sudden paralysis to health authorities.\n\u201cA mandatory reporting for non-traumatic paralytic disease should be urgently considered nationwide,\u201d said Benjamin M. Greenberg, a neurologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, who has treated some of the children afflicted by the disease. Mandatory reporting, he said, would pick up paralysis due not only to AFM but also to Zika, West Nile, Guillain-Barr\u00e9 and a variety of other paralyzing conditions.\n\u201cWe need to be proactive, not reactive,\u201d he said.\nAfter losing her child, De Guzman said, \u201cwe\u2019re still fighting to figure out what happened to Daniel and to warn people about this. He wouldn\u2019t want this to happen to any other kid.\u201d\nAs of Thursday morning, a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for Daniel\u2019s medical care had raised $14,317 from 295 people.\nRead more:\nCould polio drugs treat children with a mysterious paralyzing disease?\nPain kept this young woman from eating for five years, and doctors didn't know why\nNew data shows a deadly measles complication is more common than thought\nOpioid pills \u201care like guns\u201d: More than 13,000 children were poisoned during six years\nCorrection: This article originally misspelled the name of Jonathan Daniel Ramirez Porter's mother. She is Marijo De Guzman, not Marijo Ceguzman."}
{"qid": 960, "pid": "faab10a20a6919ec0e399138df0b7417_0", "query_info": {"_id": 960, "text": "Find information about a new disease that seems to be emerging with polio-like symptoms.", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in the states that have children who have been diagnosed with the polio like disease (PLD).  I'm not interested with any other country who has identified children with the PLD, nor information solely from any one individual state - it must reference multiple states or the broader USA.  Interested in experimental trials and research on PLD.  What do we know about this disease?", "short_query": "Find research or data on a specific disease's impact within a region to answer this question.", "keywords": "disease region"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "faab10a20a6919ec0e399138df0b7417_0", "title": "Rare respiratory illness now in 19 states as cases are confirmed in California, Minnesota and New Jersey", "text": "The rare respiratory illness affecting children across the country has now spread to at least 19 states, with confirmed cases in California, Minnesota and New Jersey, public health officials confirmed Thursday. This rare virus strain, known as enterovirus 68, can cause severe breathing problems. There have now been 153 confirmed cases across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will appear in additional states in the near future. Minnesota and New Jersey are just the latest places with this virus, joining a list of states that has lengthened as testing confirms cases. The other states are Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. Public health officials say other states are expected to join this list, as cases could likely be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. There are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan, while health officials in Ohio and Utah have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus. Enteroviruses are very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year. Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these are coming at a typical time, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters last week. But this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962. The CDC expects that the number of infections will drop later in the year. Here\u2019s more information on the virus itself and how it is treated. And here is some background on why we are only gradually learning how many states have this virus. This post has been updated to note the confirmed cases in California. First published: 1:04 p.m. Last updated: 4:28 p.m."}], "old": [{"_id": "faab10a20a6919ec0e399138df0b7417_0", "title": "Rare respiratory illness now in 19 states as cases are confirmed in California, Minnesota and New Jersey", "text": "This rare virus strain, known as enterovirus 68, can cause severe breathing problems. There have now been 153 confirmed cases across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will appear in additional states in the near future. Minnesota and New Jersey are just the latest places with this virus, joining a list of states that has lengthened as testing confirms cases. The other states are Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. But this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962. The CDC expects that the number of infections will drop later in the year. This post has been updated to note the confirmed cases in California. First published: 1:04 p.m. Last updated: 4:28 p.m."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The\u00a0rare respiratory illness\u00a0affecting children across the country has now spread to at least 19\u00a0states, with confirmed cases in California, Minnesota and New Jersey, public health officials confirmed Thursday.\nThis rare virus strain, known as enterovirus 68, can cause severe\u00a0breathing problems. There have now been 153 confirmed cases across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will appear in additional states in the near future.\nMinnesota and New Jersey are just the latest places with this virus, joining a list of states that has lengthened as testing confirms cases.\u00a0The other states are Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia.\nPublic health officials say\u00a0other states are expected\u00a0to join this list, as\u00a0cases could likely be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses.\nThere are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan, while health officials in Ohio and Utah have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus.\nEnteroviruses are very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year.\u00a0Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these are coming at a typical time, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters last week.\nBut this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962. The CDC expects that\u00a0the number of infections will drop later in the year.\nHere\u2019s more information on the virus itself and how it is treated. And here is some background on why we are only gradually learning how many states have this virus.\nThis post has been updated to note the confirmed cases in California. First published: 1:04 p.m. Last updated: 4:28 p.m."}
{"qid": 961, "pid": "624c52194a3d595d3b63180c13f9bb88_0", "query_info": {"_id": 961, "text": "I'm interested in details about panda cub Bao Bao's upcoming departure to China.", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo's panda cub, Bao Bao, will be sent to China. I'm looking for information regarding the reasons and timing of her departure. Events planned by the Zoo to celebrate the cub's departure are relevant. Community and media reactions to her leaving are relevant as well.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo's panda cub, Bao Bao, will be sent to China. I'm looking for information regarding the reasons and timing of her departure. Events planned by the Zoo to celebrate the cub's departure are relevant. Community and media reactions to her leaving are relevant as well. Documents related to the Smithsonian Institute are not related.", "short_query": "Find details online to answer this question about an event.", "keywords": "online event"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "624c52194a3d595d3b63180c13f9bb88_0", "title": "All that traffic near the National Zoo is for Bao Bao", "text": "Born at the National Zoo in 2013, Bao Bao leaves her parents and little brother to move to China as part of a breeding program. Don\u2019t be alarmed if you hit a standstill in portions of Northwest Washington this weekend. It\u2019s likely the back up from everyone wanting to say bye bye to Bao Bao. Traffic cameras Sunday morning show heavy traffic along Connecticut Avenue NW near the National Zoo as scores of people were paying a final visit to the zoo\u2019s 3-year-old female giant panda before she leaves Tuesday for a new home in China. (screenshot of Zoo traffic Sunday morning). No, there are no crashes reported, D.C. police said. No calls about stranded cars either. And, with temperatures in the mid-60s and sunny, certainly no weather-related troubles on the road. \u201cPeople are just trying to get into the zoo,\u201d a National Zoo police spokeswoman said. \u201cEverything is good. It\u2019s a lot of traffic due to Bao Bao leaving.\u201d The traffic was slow in both directions Sunday morning between Van Ness Street NW and Calvert St. NW. The traffic app Waze was telling drivers in the area to add up to 30 minutes to their drive. Remember that if you are driving in that area, portions of Beach Drive near the Zoo remain closed for a reconstruction project. UPDATE: Connecticut Ave NW still jammed. Will add 34m to your drive #DCTraffic https://t.co/BYtVe2Kor3 https://t.co/pIYl50jNFR The 3-year-old panda is leaving Tuesday morning for the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. She leaves her family behind, including younger brother Bei Bei, but she has older brother Tai Shan waiting for her. Drivers in the area should expect delays Sunday and Monday near the zoo. With spring-like temperatures in the area, the crowds are expected to be even bigger."}], "old": [{"_id": "624c52194a3d595d3b63180c13f9bb88_0", "title": "All that traffic near the National Zoo is for Bao Bao", "text": "Born at the National Zoo in 2013, Bao Bao leaves her parents and little brother to move to China as part of a breeding program. Don\u2019t be alarmed if you hit a standstill in portions of Northwest Washington this weekend. It\u2019s likely the back up from everyone wanting to say bye bye to Bao Bao. Traffic cameras Sunday morning show heavy traffic along Connecticut Avenue NW near the National Zoo as scores of people were paying a final visit to the zoo\u2019s 3-year-old female giant panda before she leaves Tuesday for a new home in China. (screenshot of Zoo traffic Sunday morning). No, there are no crashes reported, D.C. police said. No calls about stranded cars either. And, with temperatures in the mid-60s and sunny, certainly no weather-related troubles on the road. \u201cPeople are just trying to get into the zoo,\u201d a National Zoo police spokeswoman said. \u201cEverything is good. It\u2019s a lot of traffic due to Bao Bao leaving.\u201d UPDATE: Connecticut Ave NW still jammed. Will add 34m to your drive #DCTraffic https://t.co/BYtVe2Kor3 https://t.co/pIYl50jNFR The 3-year-old panda is leaving Tuesday morning for the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. She leaves her family behind, including younger brother Bei Bei, but she has older brother Tai Shan waiting for her. Drivers in the area should expect delays Sunday and Monday near the zoo. With spring-like temperatures in the area, the crowds are expected to be even bigger."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Born at the National Zoo in 2013, Bao Bao leaves her parents and little brother to move to China as part of a breeding program.\nDon\u2019t be alarmed if you hit a standstill in portions of Northwest Washington this weekend. It\u2019s likely the back up from everyone wanting to say bye bye to Bao Bao.\nTraffic cameras Sunday morning show heavy traffic along Connecticut Avenue NW near the National Zoo as scores of people were paying a final\u00a0visit to the zoo\u2019s\u00a03-year-old female giant panda before she leaves Tuesday for a new home in China.\n(screenshot of Zoo traffic Sunday morning).\nNo, there are no crashes reported, D.C. police said. \u00a0No calls about stranded cars either. And, with temperatures in the mid-60s and sunny, certainly no weather-related troubles on the road.\n\u201cPeople are just trying to get into the zoo,\u201d a National Zoo police spokeswoman said. \u201cEverything is good. It\u2019s a lot of traffic due to Bao Bao leaving.\u201d\nThe traffic was slow in both directions Sunday morning between Van Ness Street NW and Calvert St. NW. \u00a0The traffic app Waze was telling drivers in the area to add up to 30 minutes to their drive. Remember that if you are driving in that area, portions of Beach Drive near the Zoo remain closed for a reconstruction project.\nUPDATE: Connecticut Ave NW still jammed. Will add 34m to your drive #DCTraffic https://t.co/BYtVe2Kor3 https://t.co/pIYl50jNFR\nThe 3-year-old panda is leaving Tuesday morning\u00a0for the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. \u00a0She leaves her family behind, including younger brother Bei Bei, but she has older brother Tai Shan waiting for her.\nDrivers in the area should expect delays Sunday and Monday near the zoo. \u00a0With spring-like temperatures in the area, the crowds are expected to be even bigger."}
{"qid": 961, "pid": "6CPAGMEWZUI6NOZJX4TQDW7AUM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 961, "text": "I'm interested in details about panda cub Bao Bao's upcoming departure to China.", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo's panda cub, Bao Bao, will be sent to China. I'm looking for information regarding the reasons and timing of her departure. Events planned by the Zoo to celebrate the cub's departure are relevant. Community and media reactions to her leaving are relevant as well.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo's panda cub, Bao Bao, will be sent to China. I'm looking for information regarding the reasons and timing of her departure. Events planned by the Zoo to celebrate the cub's departure are relevant. Community and media reactions to her leaving are relevant as well. Documents related to the Smithsonian Institute are not related.", "short_query": "Find details online to answer this question about an event.", "keywords": "online event"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "6CPAGMEWZUI6NOZJX4TQDW7AUM_0", "title": "Bao Bao, the National Zoo\u2019s 3-year-old giant panda, is moving to China next year", "text": "The playful panda cub Bao Bao is leaving the National Zoo for China early next year, zoo officials announced Thursday. As part of a breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all giant pandas born at the Washington zoo move to China by the time they turn 4. Bao Bao will celebrate her fourth birthday August 23. \u201cBao Bao is very special to us at the Smithsonian\u2019s National Zoo,\u201d Brandie Smith, associate director of animal care sciences, said in a statement. \u201cShe was the first surviving cub born at the Zoo since 2005.\u201d \u201cWe are sad to see her go,\u201d she added, \u201cbut excited for the contributions she is going to continue to make to the global giant panda population.\u201d Bao Bao will fly FedEx to Chengdu, in southwestern China, in the first several months of 2017. The zoo said that she was leaving so early in the year because it is better for pandas to travel in the winter months, when it isn\u2019t hot. From Chengdu, Bao Bao will be driven to a base run by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, where she will be part of a breeding program that aims to increase the wild panda population. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently took the giant panda off the endangered species list and classified it as \u201cvulnerable,\u201d estimating that there are about 1,860 pandas in the wild. Bao Bao\u2019s older brother, Tai Shan, moved to China in 2010. With Bao Bao\u2019s departure, the zoo will be down to three pandas: Bao Bao\u2019s mom and dad, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and Tian Tian (t-YEN t-YEN), and her younger brother, Bei Bei, who was born in August 2015. The zoo said that special opportunities for visitors to say goodbye to Bao Bao will be announced soon. For now, we\u2019re left to replay a video of her having fun in the snow. kidspost@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "6CPAGMEWZUI6NOZJX4TQDW7AUM_0", "title": "Bao Bao, the National Zoo\u2019s 3-year-old giant panda, is moving to China next year", "text": "kidspost@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The playful panda cub Bao Bao is leaving the National Zoo for China early next year, zoo officials announced Thursday. As part of a breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, all giant pandas born at the Washington zoo move to China by the time they turn 4.\nBao Bao will celebrate her fourth birthday August 23.\n\u201cBao Bao is very special to us at the Smithsonian\u2019s National Zoo,\u201d Brandie Smith, associate director of animal care sciences, said in a statement. \u201cShe was the first surviving cub born at the Zoo since 2005.\u201d\n\u201cWe are sad to see her go,\u201d she added, \u201cbut excited for the contributions she is going to continue to make to the global giant panda population.\u201d\nBao Bao will fly FedEx to Chengdu, in southwestern China, in the first several months of 2017. The zoo said that she was leaving so early in the year because it is better for pandas to travel in the winter months, when it isn\u2019t hot.\nFrom Chengdu, Bao Bao will be driven to a base run by the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, where she will be part of a breeding program that aims to increase the wild panda population. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently took the giant panda off the endangered species list and classified it as \u201cvulnerable,\u201d estimating that there are about 1,860 pandas in the wild.\nBao Bao\u2019s older brother, Tai Shan, moved to China in 2010.\nWith Bao Bao\u2019s departure, the zoo will be down to three pandas: Bao Bao\u2019s mom and dad, Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) and Tian Tian (t-YEN t-YEN), and her younger brother, Bei Bei, who was born in August 2015.\nThe zoo said that special opportunities for visitors to say goodbye to Bao Bao will be announced soon. For now, we\u2019re left to replay a video of her having fun in the snow.\nkidspost@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "4O5LRQDQSZBB3O4LCYMC2S5ZJM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "4O5LRQDQSZBB3O4LCYMC2S5ZJM_0", "title": "USA Gymnastics calls for postponement of Tokyo Olympics", "text": "With many elite U.S. gymnasts favoring a delay, USA Gymnastics on Monday added its voice to that of USA Swimming and USA Track and Field in calling for the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to start July 24, because of the risk posed by the novel coronavirus. USA Gymnastics President and CEO Li Li Leung said the governing body would ask the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to advocate that the International Olympic Committee delay the Games until they can be safely held. The request won\u2019t specify a preferred timetable. \u201cThis pandemic affects the entire world, and everyone\u2019s health and safety should always be first,\u201d Leung told reporters in a conference call. USA Gymnastics is the United States\u2019 third major sports governing body to call for a delay of the 2020 Games because of the virus\u2019s health risks and the upheaval it has created in athletes\u2019 training. On Friday, USA Swimming asked for a one-year delay; soon after, executives of USA Track and Field requested a delay of unspecified duration. Later Monday, the USOPC called for a postponement as well. Swimming, track and field, and gymnastics are the most watched summer Olympic sports and the most lucrative and influential in IOC decision-making. In raising their voices, the sports\u2019 American governing bodies made a powerful statement that the Games should not be held as scheduled. Before taking a public position on the question, USA Gymnastics polled its men\u2019s and women\u2019s national teams to gauge their sentiments. The athletes were asked whether they favored postponing the Olympics and, if so, how far out they felt they should be postponed. The options presented on the survey were three to four months, one year or \u201cother.\u201d About 80 percent of the roughly 70 national team members responded. Of those, 62 percent were in favor of postponing the Games, while 38 percent wanted them to be held as scheduled, Leung said. Of the 62 percent in favor of a postponement, most favored a one-year delay rather than a three- to four-month delay, while other athletes suggested different timetables. Because the survey was anonymous, there was no way to tell whether the top prospects for making the high-profile U.S. women\u2019s artistic gymnastics team for Tokyo, led by 23-year-old Simone Biles, take a different view than male trampolinists, for example. Leung said that in terms of reasons cited by those favoring a delay, many mentioned health"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "With many elite U.S. gymnasts favoring a delay, USA Gymnastics on Monday added its voice to that of USA Swimming and USA Track and Field in calling for the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to start July 24, because of the risk posed by the novel coronavirus.\nUSA Gymnastics President and CEO Li Li Leung said the governing body would ask the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to advocate that the International Olympic Committee delay the Games until they can be safely held. The request won\u2019t specify a preferred timetable.\n\u201cThis pandemic affects the entire world, and everyone\u2019s health and safety should always be first,\u201d Leung told reporters in a conference call.\nUSA Gymnastics is the United States\u2019 third major sports governing body to call for a delay of the 2020 Games because of the virus\u2019s health risks and the upheaval it has created in athletes\u2019 training. On Friday, USA Swimming asked for a one-year delay; soon after, executives of USA Track and Field requested a delay of unspecified duration. Later Monday, the USOPC called for a postponement as well.\nSwimming, track and field, and gymnastics are the most watched summer Olympic sports and the most lucrative and influential in IOC decision-making. In raising their voices, the sports\u2019 American governing bodies made a powerful statement that the Games should not be held as scheduled.\nBefore taking a public position on the question, USA Gymnastics polled its men\u2019s and women\u2019s national teams to gauge their sentiments.\nThe athletes were asked whether they favored postponing the Olympics and, if so, how far out they felt they should be postponed. The options presented on the survey were three to four months, one year or \u201cother.\u201d\nAbout 80 percent of the roughly 70 national team members responded. Of those, 62 percent were in favor of postponing the Games, while 38 percent wanted them to be held as scheduled, Leung said. Of the 62 percent in favor of a postponement, most favored a one-year delay rather than a three- to four-month delay, while other athletes suggested different timetables.\nBecause the survey was anonymous, there was no way to tell whether the top prospects for making the high-profile U.S. women\u2019s artistic gymnastics team for Tokyo, led by 23-year-old Simone Biles, take a different view than male trampolinists, for example.\nLeung said that in terms of reasons cited by those favoring a delay, many mentioned health and safety concerns as well as the impact that coronavirus restrictions are having on their ability to train as normal.\nAmong the 38 percent who favor starting the Games on July 24 as scheduled, Leung said, age-related issues tended to be cited. Some viewed waiting another year as posing further risk of injury and wear on the body. Others cited financial constraints and the added burden to their families of paying for an additional year of training. Others said a 12-month delay would complicate their plans to start college or enter the job market.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not an easy answer for any of us,\u201d Leung said. \u201cThere are a lot of differing opinions.\u201d\nLeung said if the Olympics are delayed until 2021, the U.S. Olympic team trials, scheduled for June 24-28 in St. Louis, will be canceled. But it\u2019s possible that the 2020 U.S. Olympic championships, scheduled for June 4-7 in Fort Worth, could be held or rescheduled later in the year.\nWhile International Olympic Committee chairman Thomas Bach said Sunday the IOC would issue a decision on the Games\u2019 timing within the next four weeks, several prominent national governing bodies have pushed back, ramping up pressure for a delay. They also want a quicker decision on that delay, which, they argue, would spare athletes needless risk and the mental anguish of continuing to train under difficult and potentially dangerous circumstances for an event that may or may not be held.\nCanada acted first, announcing Sunday night that it would refuse to send its athletes to the Tokyo Olympics if held as scheduled. Australia adopted a similar position.\nOn Monday, Germany\u2019s Olympics chief advocated a quicker resolution and a guarantee that the Olympics would be delayed at least one year.\nAnd in Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe acknowledged for the first time that postponing the Summer Olympics was a possibility."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "5F43M4MQ6RHAFEGI2C3QYZQEIU_2", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5F43M4MQ6RHAFEGI2C3QYZQEIU_2", "title": "Japan says postponing Olympics is \u2018inconceivable,\u2019 but one Tokyo 2020 board member disagrees", "text": "Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) posed a series of questions to Bach, asking for contingency plans, details about the organization\u2019s coordination with agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization and whether the IOC has a response plan prepared in the event that someone contracts the disease during the Tokyo Games. \u201cThis public event, particularly with an exposed population that has a wide distribution geographically, is concerning,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cIf not handled properly, this year\u2019s Olympic Games present a dangerous opportunity for COVID-19 to spread at unprecedented levels throughout the globe.\u201d Earlier in the day Tokyo 2020 Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori said his team was not considering changing plans for the Games and claimed Takahashi had apologized for the comments. But no sooner had those comments been reported, Takahashi doubled-down on his fears for the Olympics taking place as scheduled, telling Kyodo News that he would consider proposing a postponement when the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee meets at the end of this month. \u201cIn light of the reality, we need to respond accordingly,\u201d he said. Takahashi is one voice on the influential executive board. There are 24 others, and he\u2019s the only one who has publicly urged a postponement. Experts say a delay of one or two years would pose logistical problems in terms of the global sporting calendar but would fit in with U.S. broadcasters who provide much of the IOC\u2019s funding and have freer summer schedules. It would also wreak havoc on the schedules for athletes, who have been targeting the summer of 2020 and built their lives and training schedules around peaking competitively this year. U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky, who figures to be one of the biggest American stars in Tokyo, said she has been following coronavirus headlines closely and remaining diligent about washing her hands and limiting her visits to crowded places. She trains at Stanford University, which has canceled in-person classes for the remainder of the quarter and moved all instruction online. \u201cIn terms of how it affects the next couple of months, we\u2019re all preparing like everything will go on as scheduled,\u201d Ledecky said in an interview last week. \u201cI trust USOPC, USA Swimming and everybody above them \u2014 IOC, CDC, World Health Organization \u2014 to make the right decisions. We\u2019ll just follow their guidance and be flexible if we need to be.\" Maese reported from Washington."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "TOKYO \u2014 Japan tried to quash talk of a possible postponement of the Olympics on Wednesday, but at least one member of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee issued another round of warnings saying they need to consider exactly that.\nThe messages were distinctly mixed as senior Japanese officials said one thing and then quite the opposite about the impact of the new coronavirus. Tokyo 2020 executive board member Haruyuki Takashashi told Reuters and the Wall Street Journal Tuesday the financial damage from canceling the Games would be too great and that a postponement of one or two years would be the \u201cmost feasible\u201d option if the virus prevents organizers from going ahead this summer.\nOn Wednesday, Japan\u2019s Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto told a parliamentary committee that canceling or postponing the Games was \u201cinconceivable,\u201d although she said the International Olympic Committee would make the final decision.\nEven as coronavirus fears mount around the globe, IOC officials have been adamant that the Tokyo Games will take place as scheduled this summer. The IOC said it intends to follow advice from the World Health Organization, and IOC President Thomas Bach said the words cancellation and postponement were not even mentioned at an executive board meeting last week in Lausanne.\nThe Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to begin July 24.\n\u201cThe decision is: The Games go ahead,\u201d IOC spokesman Mark Adams said last week. \u201cThat was made some time ago. We see no reason to change that decision. All the advice we have at the moment is, the Games are going ahead, from all the competent authorities.\u201d\nA pair of U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to the IOC Wednesday inquiring about its plan to safeguard athletes, fans, sponsors and journalists in Tokyo this summer, requesting \u201ca transparent, detailed description of protocols in place to deter further spread of the disease.\u201d Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) posed a series of questions to Bach, asking for contingency plans, details about the organization\u2019s coordination with agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization and whether the IOC has a response plan prepared in the event that someone contracts the disease during the Tokyo Games.\n\u201cThis public event, particularly with an exposed population that has a wide distribution geographically, is concerning,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cIf not handled properly, this year\u2019s Olympic Games present a dangerous opportunity for COVID-19 to spread at unprecedented levels throughout the globe.\u201d\nEarlier in the day Tokyo 2020 Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori said his team was not considering changing plans for the Games and claimed Takahashi had apologized for the comments.\nBut no sooner had those comments been reported, Takahashi doubled-down on his fears for the Olympics taking place as scheduled, telling Kyodo News that he would consider proposing a postponement when the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee meets at the end of this month. \u201cIn light of the reality, we need to respond accordingly,\u201d he said.\nTakahashi is one voice on the influential executive board. There are 24 others, and he\u2019s the only one who has publicly urged a postponement.\nExperts say a delay of one or two years would pose logistical problems in terms of the global sporting calendar but would fit in with U.S. broadcasters who provide much of the IOC\u2019s funding and have freer summer schedules.\nIt would also wreak havoc on the schedules for athletes, who have been targeting the summer of 2020 and built their lives and training schedules around peaking competitively this year.\nU.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky, who figures to be one of the biggest American stars in Tokyo, said she has been following coronavirus headlines closely and remaining diligent about washing her hands and limiting her visits to crowded places. She trains at Stanford University, which has canceled in-person classes for the remainder of the quarter and moved all instruction online.\n\u201cIn terms of how it affects the next couple of months, we\u2019re all preparing like everything will go on as scheduled,\u201d Ledecky said in an interview last week. \u201cI trust USOPC, USA Swimming and everybody above them \u2014 IOC, CDC, World Health Organization \u2014 to make the right decisions. We\u2019ll just follow their guidance and be flexible if we need to be.\"\nMaese reported from Washington."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "7GPJPIS5IVDPNP2PUNYBVUAQ2Y_0", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "7GPJPIS5IVDPNP2PUNYBVUAQ2Y_0", "title": "How the Tokyo Olympics delay complicates USA Basketball\u2019s Dream Team plans", "text": "This story has been updated. Rarely has a gold medal felt as trivial as it did this week, when the International Olympic Committee announced that the 2020 Tokyo Games would be postponed because of the novel coronavirus. For USA Basketball, there was plenty at stake this summer. The program\u2019s chase for a fourth straight Olympic gold. A revenge tour following a dismal seventh-place finish at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. A triumphant send-off for Gregg Popovich, the legendary coach seeking a career-capping gold medal. The possibility of a fourth Olympic appearance for LeBron James, basketball\u2019s biggest superstar, and an Olympic debut for Stephen Curry. Like everything else these days, those story lines will have to wait. \u201cUSA Basketball is in full agreement and support of the decision \u2026 to postpone,\u201d American basketball\u2019s governing body said in a statement Tuesday. \u201c \u2026 The health, wellness and safety of the world, as well as our athletes, coaches, staff and fans is USA Basketball\u2019s No. 1 priority and this postponement was necessary to ensure that. As further details become known, USA Basketball will work toward fielding and best preparing its Olympic basketball teams for 2021.\u201d The process of constructing a roster isn\u2019t top of mind right now, with the NBA\u2019s season suspended and the coronavirus\u2019s death toll climbing. But the one-year delay will have major roster implications, at minimum, and it could create a direct schedule conflict if the NBA resumes play this summer. Two pieces that won\u2019t change: Managing Director Jerry Colangelo and Popovich, who both recommitted this week. The good news: Colangelo, who has headed USAB since 2005, need not worry about the impact of aging or retirements, and the one-year delay could buy him some time with notable names who dealt with injury issues this season. James, who will be 36 next summer, is easily the oldest serious candidate in the player pool. He remains one of the NBA\u2019s top talents and is under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers through the 2021-22 season. The rule that would have applied this summer still will apply next summer: If James wants to play, a spot will be waiting. Kevin Durant was weighing the possibility of playing in Tokyo, his business partner, Rich Kleiman, told The Washington Post last month, but he would have been just 13 months out from tearing his Achilles\u2019 tendon. Rather than working his way back"}], "old": [{"_id": "7GPJPIS5IVDPNP2PUNYBVUAQ2Y_0", "title": "How the Tokyo Olympics delay complicates USA Basketball\u2019s Dream Team plans", "text": "This story has been updated."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "This story has been updated.\nRarely has a gold medal felt as trivial as it did this week, when the International Olympic Committee announced that the 2020 Tokyo Games would be postponed because of the novel coronavirus.\nFor USA Basketball, there was plenty at stake this summer. The program\u2019s chase for a fourth straight Olympic gold. A revenge tour following a dismal seventh-place finish at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. A triumphant send-off for Gregg Popovich, the legendary coach seeking a career-capping gold medal. The possibility of a fourth Olympic appearance for LeBron James, basketball\u2019s biggest superstar, and an Olympic debut for Stephen Curry.\nLike everything else these days, those story lines will have to wait.\n\u201cUSA Basketball is in full agreement and support of the decision \u2026 to postpone,\u201d American basketball\u2019s governing body said in a statement Tuesday. \u201c \u2026 The health, wellness and safety of the world, as well as our athletes, coaches, staff and fans is USA Basketball\u2019s No. 1 priority and this postponement was necessary to ensure that. As further details become known, USA Basketball will work toward fielding and best preparing its Olympic basketball teams for 2021.\u201d\nThe process of constructing a roster isn\u2019t top of mind right now, with the NBA\u2019s season suspended and the coronavirus\u2019s death toll climbing. But the one-year delay will have major roster implications, at minimum, and it could create a direct schedule conflict if the NBA resumes play this summer.\nTwo pieces that won\u2019t change: Managing Director Jerry Colangelo and Popovich, who both recommitted this week.\nThe good news: Colangelo, who has headed USAB since 2005, need not worry about the impact of aging or retirements, and the one-year delay could buy him some time with notable names who dealt with injury issues this season.\nJames, who will be 36 next summer, is easily the oldest serious candidate in the player pool. He remains one of the NBA\u2019s top talents and is under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers through the 2021-22 season. The rule that would have applied this summer still will apply next summer: If James wants to play, a spot will be waiting.\nKevin Durant was weighing the possibility of playing in Tokyo, his business partner, Rich Kleiman, told The Washington Post last month, but he would have been just 13 months out from tearing his Achilles\u2019 tendon. Rather than working his way back onto the court for the first time in July 2020, Durant could be close to full health and have a full season under his belt by July 2021.\nKyrie Irving, Durant\u2019s teammate on the Brooklyn Nets, had shoulder surgery in early March. Curry missed most of this season because of a broken hand, and Klay Thompson, his backcourt partner on the Golden State Warriors, has been sidelined all year following an ACL tear. Even Zion Williamson, who returned to the court for the New Orleans Pelicans in January after undergoing minor knee surgery in October, could be in a better position physically to represent his country in 2021.\nJames, Durant, Irving, Curry, Thompson and Williamson would put USAB halfway to a full-fledged Dream Team. Throw in Paul George, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo, all of whom were included in USAB\u2019s 44-man player pool in February, and world domination starts to feel like a foregone conclusion.\nThe central dilemma for Colangelo, though, is this: While the Tokyo Olympics were officially rescheduled for July 23 to Aug. 8 2021 on Monday, the NBA hasn\u2019t decided when or whether it will resume the 2019-20 season. How and when, exactly, the NBA picks up its action will determine whether USAB can count on its top talent for Tokyo.\nImagine if the NBA resumes play in June or July, which would push the 2020 Finals to August or September. That could delay the start of the 2020-21 season and, in turn, push back the end of the 2021 playoffs. That could create a direct conflict with the Olympics. Potential headliners such as James, Durant and Curry might still be chasing the Larry O\u2019Brien Trophy when USAB would need to begin its Olympic preparations. In this scenario, USAB might be able to scrounge up a roster of players from lottery teams.\nFrom USAB\u2019s perspective, the cleanest scenario would be this: The NBA doesn\u2019t resume play this summer, the 2020-21 season starts as planned in October and ends as planned in late June. Even then, there would only be a one-month gap between the end of the Finals and the start of the Olympics. In a normal year, that tight turnaround might turn off some veterans, especially those who are coming off deep playoff runs. Obviously, this is no normal year. Who would blame on-the-fence players for staying home given the accumulated psychological toll of the coronavirus?\nEven before this recent turn of events, USAB was consumed by recruiting problems. A-list stars skipped the World Cup process entirely, and a long list of B-listers withdrew as the competition grew closer. International competition requires top-level, highly paid players to give up a month of their summers, assume extra injury risk, work around their NBA commitments and contract negotiations, and compete in an unforgiving, gold-or-bust environment.\nNow USAB must add schedule conflicts and concerns about international travel, among other virus-related topics, to its long list of hurdles."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "A3DYJFMF2FCLZFCCZCI2MTDYHI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "A3DYJFMF2FCLZFCCZCI2MTDYHI_0", "title": "As Olympics concerns mount amid spreading coronavirus, IOC says \u2018the Games will go ahead\u2019", "text": "What do you want in an Olympics newsletter? Take our 30-second survey. The International Olympic Committee stridently doubled down on its stance that the coronavirus will not affect the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, even after a Japanese official raised the possibility of a postponement during a government hearing. The IOC Executive Board, holding a scheduled meeting at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, released a statement Tuesday expressing \u201cfull commitment to the success\u201d of the Tokyo Olympics taking place from July 24 to Aug. 9 as originally planned. An IOC spokesman later said the organization has not even discussed contingency plans and vowed the Games would begin July 24 despite the global spread of, and unease regarding, the coronavirus. \u201cThe IOC remains fully committed to the success of the Olympic Games #Tokyo2020,\u201d IOC President Thomas Bach said, through the IOC\u2019s Twitter feed. \u201cI encourage all athletes to prepare for the Games with 'full steam.\u2019 \u201d The IOC said it intends to follow advice from the World Health Organization and encouraged athletes to continue training for the Olympics as planned. A suspension or cancellation would be massively disruptive for athletes, many of whom design training schedules years in advance to peak for the Olympics. On Tuesday in Japan, the country\u2019s Olympics minister said its contract with the IOC would allow it to suspend the Games. \u201cThe contract calls for the Games to be held within 2020. That could be interpreted as allowing a postponement,\u201d Seiko Hashimoto said in response to a lawmaker\u2019s question in parliament, Reuters reported. Still, at a news conference Tuesday evening in Lausanne, IOC spokesman Mark Adams dismissed the possibility of the coronavirus affecting the scheduled start of the Olympics, a remarkable show of confidence given the uncertainty surrounding the disease, for which there currently is no vaccine. \u201cFor us, the Games are going ahead on the 24th of July, and we confidently expect to deliver them on that date,\u201d Adams said. \u201cAll the advice we\u2019ve been given is that that can go ahead, from the WHO and other organizations that are competent.\u201d \u201cYou can ask your question many, many ways,\u201d Adams added later. \u201cBut the conclusion from us is the Games are going ahead. The Games will go ahead. We\u2019re confident they will go ahead and we\u2019re confident they will start on the 24th of July. All the rest is speculation.\u201d Adams cited the lack of an international travel"}], "old": [{"_id": "A3DYJFMF2FCLZFCCZCI2MTDYHI_0", "title": "As Olympics concerns mount amid spreading coronavirus, IOC says \u2018the Games will go ahead\u2019", "text": "What do you want in an Olympics newsletter? Take our 30-second survey. Simon Denyer contributed from Tokyo. Read more Dustin Johnson will skip Tokyo Olympics, boosting Tiger Woods\u2019s chances Pita Taufatofua, the shirtless Tongan flag-bearer, qualifies for third straight Olympics Shaun White won\u2019t compete in skateboarding at the Tokyo Olympics this summer Simone Biles blasts USA Gymnastics\u2019 settlement proposal; Aly Raisman assails \u2018massive cover up\u2019"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "What do you want in an Olympics newsletter? Take our 30-second survey.\nThe International Olympic Committee stridently doubled down on its stance that the coronavirus will not affect the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, even after a Japanese official raised the possibility of a postponement during a government hearing.\nThe IOC Executive Board, holding a scheduled meeting at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, released a statement Tuesday expressing \u201cfull commitment to the success\u201d of the Tokyo Olympics taking place from July 24 to Aug. 9 as originally planned. An IOC spokesman later said the organization has not even discussed contingency plans and vowed the Games would begin July 24 despite the global spread of, and unease regarding, the coronavirus.\n\u201cThe IOC remains fully committed to the success of the Olympic Games #Tokyo2020,\u201d IOC President Thomas Bach said, through the IOC\u2019s Twitter feed. \u201cI encourage all athletes to prepare for the Games with 'full steam.\u2019 \u201d\nThe IOC said it intends to follow advice from the World Health Organization and encouraged athletes to continue training for the Olympics as planned. A suspension or cancellation would be massively disruptive for athletes, many of whom design training schedules years in advance to peak for the Olympics.\nOn Tuesday in Japan, the country\u2019s Olympics minister said its contract with the IOC would allow it to suspend the Games.\n\u201cThe contract calls for the Games to be held within 2020. That could be interpreted as allowing a postponement,\u201d Seiko Hashimoto said in response to a lawmaker\u2019s question in parliament, Reuters reported.\nStill, at a news conference Tuesday evening in Lausanne, IOC spokesman Mark Adams dismissed the possibility of the coronavirus affecting the scheduled start of the Olympics, a remarkable show of confidence given the uncertainty surrounding the disease, for which there currently is no vaccine.\n\u201cFor us, the Games are going ahead on the 24th of July, and we confidently expect to deliver them on that date,\u201d Adams said. \u201cAll the advice we\u2019ve been given is that that can go ahead, from the WHO and other organizations that are competent.\u201d\n\u201cYou can ask your question many, many ways,\u201d Adams added later. \u201cBut the conclusion from us is the Games are going ahead. The Games will go ahead. We\u2019re confident they will go ahead and we\u2019re confident they will start on the 24th of July. All the rest is speculation.\u201d\nAdams cited the lack of an international travel ban and the WHO having yet to declare a pandemic as reasons for Bach\u2019s certitude. Adams said he wanted to avoid \u201cmass speculation\u201d and \u201cfevered imaginations\u201d by relying on experts, primarily the WHO.\nAsked whether the IOC had a deadline about whether to postpone or cancel the Olympics, Adams insisted there was no need.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve made a decision,\u201d \u00adAdams said. \u201cThe decision is: The Games go ahead. That was made some time ago. We see no reason to change that decision. All the advice we have at the moment is, the Games are going ahead, from all the competent authorities.\u201d\nSpeculation about the fate of the Games, even five months away from their start, has grown as the coronavirus has spread. Canadian IOC member Dick Pound said in an interview with the Associated Press last week that the IOC would have until late May, about two months before the start of the Games, to decide whether to cancel them. He said moving them would present too many logistical challenges. The IOC quickly asserted Pound\u2019s comments did not reflect its stance.\nPostponing would raise many issues, the thorniest of them coming from financial considerations. The IOC receives the majority of its revenue from its television rights contract with NBC, which would not want to pit Olympic broadcasts against NFL programming in the fall.\nIn interviews last week, multiple health experts said it is too early to know how the coronavirus could affect the Olympics, in part because so little is known about the disease and when possible vaccines or medication will become available. But they cautioned against the IOC\u2019s insistence that everything will be fine.\n\u201cThey should let people know that we are currently in the midst of a pandemic, and social distancing is a significant public response element of pandemics,\u201d said University of Nebraska professor Ali Khan, formerly the director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. \u201cWe should expect that we will have to factor that into the Olympics.\n\u201cI do not like the message that the risk is low and there\u2019s nothing to worry about and things will be fine. I think they should engage their community to say that there\u2019s a possibility if this epidemic is not in check, we will need to make adjustments and cancel the event. That\u2019s what I would want to hear: If they have to cancel the Olympics, what are they going to do?\u201d\nOlympic organizers have said the coronavirus could alter the torch relay, a tradition in which an Olympic flame is carried around the world in advance of the Opening Ceremonies, beginning in Athens. Greek Olympic officials said the lighting will go forward next week as scheduled, according to the Associated Press. Greece has seen seven cases of the coronavirus, all among people who recently traveled to Italy.\nThe coronavirus has already wreaked havoc on international qualifying events. Last week, the International Triathlon Union announced that its qualifying would be moved from China to Spain. On Friday, FINA announced the women\u2019s water polo qualification tournament, hosted in Trieste, Italy, would be delayed from March 8 to May 17. On April 20, it will decide if Trieste can still host the event or if needs to be moved. Baseball\u2019s qualifying tournament, scheduled to be held in Taipei, was pushed from April to July, the sport\u2019s governing body announced Monday.\nAdams acknowledged those challenges and said the IOC would need to be \u201cflexible\u201d to accommodate qualification, but he expressed confidence the events will take place in time.\nThe Olympic men\u2019s soccer qualifying tournament for Concacaf, a federation made up of North American and Central American countries, is scheduled to begin March 20 in Guadalajara, Mexico. It remains on schedule.\n\u201cAt Concacaf we are closely following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in the United States, and monitoring public health developments across the entire region,\u201d Concacaf spokesman Nicholas Noble said in a statement. \u201cBased on the information available to us at this time, we are working on our upcoming tournaments going ahead as planned. We are in ongoing discussions with our member football associations, clubs and other stakeholders in all the countries we operate and will of course follow any new guidance provided by local authorities or relevant government departments.\u201d\nAn Alpine skiing test event for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics has also been canceled.\nSimon Denyer contributed from Tokyo.\nRead more\nDustin Johnson will skip Tokyo Olympics, boosting Tiger Woods\u2019s chances\nPita Taufatofua, the shirtless Tongan flag-bearer, qualifies for third straight Olympics\nShaun White won\u2019t compete in skateboarding at the Tokyo Olympics this summer\nSimone Biles blasts USA Gymnastics\u2019 settlement proposal; Aly Raisman assails \u2018massive cover up\u2019"}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "C7CONKDM3QI6VFVA35GF3EUEV4_3", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "C7CONKDM3QI6VFVA35GF3EUEV4_3", "title": "Tokyo Games postponement appears inevitable as countries grow impatient with IOC", "text": "talking about postponing. A lot of national Olympic committees and countries are calling for a postponement.\" Until Monday, Japan had insisted that the Games must go ahead as scheduled, although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last week that the priority must be to hold the Olympics in a \u201ccomplete manner.\u201d On Monday, he told parliament this might mean the dates would have to change. \u201cIf that is difficult, we would have no choice but to decide to postpone, with athletes as the first priority,\u201d Abe said, underlining that an outright cancellation is not an option. Later Monday, Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori acknowledged it was time to consider alternatives. \u201cWhat we are going to do before anything else is to start by simulating about whether we postpone one month, three months, five months, one year,\u201d Mori said. \u201cWe need to make a simulation about the various \u00adscenarios.\u201d Japan Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto said she was \u201cglad to hear\u201d that the IOC was not considering canceling the Games, and Mori said the IOC and Japan would like to \u201cclosely examine\u201d the various scenarios. For athletes, ambiguity regarding postponement has led to frustration. They have continued to train as facilities have shuttered and governments have imposed restrictions. Over the weekend, USA Swimming and USA Track and Field called for the Games to be postponed, with USA Swimming specifically asking for a delay until 2021. Both federations cited protecting athletes\u2019 physical and mental health. USA Gymnastics joined them Monday after polling athletes over the weekend. Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, responded to Bach\u2019s letter Sunday by writing to him and saying the current schedule is \u201cneither \u00adfeasible nor desirable.\u201d Germany on Monday became the latest country to announce that it would not send athletes to Tokyo this summer. Michael Schirp, a spokesman for the German team, said about 200 German athletes participated in a teleconference Saturday evening with the country\u2019s top Olympic officials to voice their concerns. They were given a survey to complete, gauging their willingness to compete this summer. Their feelings were supposed to guide the German response, Schirp said, but after the IOC said a decision could take another four weeks, Alfons H\u00f6rmann, head of Germany\u2019s Olympic committee, decided he had to act sooner. Britain subsequently joined the chorus. \u201cIf the virus continues as predicted by the Government, I"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Postponement of the Tokyo Olympics appeared increasingly inevitable Monday as a growing number of countries signaled their athletes would not participate if the Games were held as scheduled this summer, the United States advocated for a delay and Japanese officials conceded for the first time that one was possible.\nA whirlwind 24-hour period started Sunday with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach issuing a letter to Olympic athletes, saying the IOC was considering delaying the Summer Games because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Since 1896, the Summer Olympics have taken place every four years except for 1916, 1940 and 1944, when they were canceled because of world wars. Bach said a cancellation had been ruled out and that the IOC would consider different scenarios and make a final decision within the next four weeks.\nThat long timetable led Canada to call for a postponement Sunday night and say it would not send any athletes to Tokyo if the Games began as scheduled July\u00a024. Australia and Germany followed with similar announcements Monday, and other countries, such as the United States, Britain, Brazil, \u00adNorway and Slovenia, either urged a postponement or said conditions must improve if they're to participate.\nOn Monday night, the United States' Olympic governing body issued its strongest statement to date, a gentle vote for postponement. In a joint statement, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee chair Susanne Lyons and USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said that after polling 1,780 athletes, the USOPC had reached the conclusion that postponement was the best option.\nThe USOPC said 68 percent of the athletes it surveyed did not think the Games could be fairly competed this summer, and 65\u00a0percent said their training has been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.\n\"Even if the current significant health concerns could be alleviated by late summer, the enormous disruptions to the training environment, doping controls and qualification process can't be overcome in a satisfactory manner,\" Lyons and Hirshland said in the statement. \"To that end, it's more clear than ever that the path toward postponement is the most promising, and we encourage the IOC to take all needed steps to ensure the Games can be conducted under safe and fair conditions for all competitors.\"\nEarlier Monday, Dick Pound, the longest-serving IOC board member, told USA Today that \"postponement has been decided,\" but the IOC has given no indication that a delay was certain. In a request to comment on Pound's assertion, an IOC spokesman said, \"It is the right of every IOC Member to interpret the decision of the IOC [executive board] which was \u00adannounced yesterday.\"\nPound is one of 100 IOC members, having joined the committee in 1978. He is not one of the 15 members of the IOC's powerful executive board, which plays a pivotal role in all important Olympic matters.\nAruban IOC executive board member Nicole Hoevertsz said in an email Monday afternoon that the board \"discussed and took a decision about\" postponement Sunday, signaling the IOC had not changed its stance. She then pointed to the portion of the IOC's official statement that said it would start discussions about postponement scenarios and was confident those discussions would be completed within four weeks. A postponement of any length would involve many complexities, with global and local ramifications on athletes and residents, sponsors and television networks.\nPound did not return messages Monday. He did speak to the \u00adCanadian Press, striking a less-definitive tone.\n\"You're looking at a postponement,\" Pound said. \"I think that's out there now. .\u2009.\u2009. We're all reading the tea leaves and so on, but the Japanese themselves are talking about postponing. A lot of national Olympic committees and countries are calling for a postponement.\"\nUntil Monday, Japan had insisted that the Games must go ahead as scheduled, although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last week that the priority must be to hold the Olympics in a \u201ccomplete manner.\u201d On Monday, he told parliament this might mean the dates would have to change.\n\u201cIf that is difficult, we would have no choice but to decide to postpone, with athletes as the first priority,\u201d Abe said, underlining that an outright cancellation is not an option.\nLater Monday, Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori acknowledged it was time to consider alternatives.\n\u201cWhat we are going to do before anything else is to start by simulating about whether we postpone one month, three months, five months, one year,\u201d Mori said. \u201cWe need to make a simulation about the various \u00adscenarios.\u201d\nJapan Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto said she was \u201cglad to hear\u201d that the IOC was not considering canceling the Games, and Mori said the IOC and Japan would like to \u201cclosely examine\u201d the various scenarios.\nFor athletes, ambiguity regarding postponement has led to frustration. They have continued to train as facilities have shuttered and governments have imposed restrictions. Over the weekend, USA Swimming and USA Track and Field called for the Games to be postponed, with USA Swimming specifically asking for a delay until 2021. Both federations cited protecting athletes\u2019 physical and mental health. USA Gymnastics joined them Monday after polling athletes over the weekend. Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, responded to Bach\u2019s letter Sunday by writing to him and saying the current schedule is \u201cneither \u00adfeasible nor desirable.\u201d\nGermany on Monday became the latest country to announce that it would not send athletes to Tokyo this summer. Michael Schirp, a spokesman for the German team, said about 200 German athletes participated in a teleconference Saturday evening with the country\u2019s top Olympic officials to voice their concerns. They were given a survey to complete, gauging their willingness to compete this summer. Their feelings were supposed to guide the German response, Schirp said, but after the IOC said a decision could take another four weeks, Alfons H\u00f6rmann, head of Germany\u2019s Olympic committee, decided he had to act sooner.\nBritain subsequently joined the chorus.\n\u201cIf the virus continues as predicted by the Government, I don\u2019t think there is any way we can send a team,\u201d British Olympic Association chair Hugh Robertson told Sky Sports.\nBeyond determining what is feasible from a public health standpoint, postponement would be an enormously complicated undertaking.\nFor each scenario, organizers would have to work out whether they could still secure the Olympic venues for all 33 sports, as well as for the Paralympics, and what the costs would be. There are also doubts about the availability of some sites, including the Olympic Village, where hundreds of apartments have been sold by a consortium of real estate developers for occupancy after the Games had been scheduled to conclude Aug.\u00a09, and the planned media headquarters at Tokyo Big Sight, a tightly booked conference center.\n\u201cWe have to go through each of them one by one,\u201d Mori said. \u201cConsidering just these things alone would take an enormous time.\u201d\nMori hinted that organizers would prefer to keep the Olympics within this calendar year when he said, \u201cWe are 2020, so that is the direction for now.\u201d\nFor athletes, the length of a delay would alter drastically who is able to qualify or excel, with wide varieties depending on the sport. A long delay could mean some aging veterans miss the chance at a final Olympics. Some athletes, particularly female gymnasts, have small windows during which they are the best in the world and might prefer to compete closer to the time at which they had been preparing to peak.\nNBC executives also have been in conversation with Olympic officials, and their wishes carry weight. More than 70\u00a0percent of the IOC\u2019s nearly $6\u00a0billion from the current four-year Olympic cycle comes from TV revenue. Of that, NBC and parent company Comcast pay around half of it.\nOne former NBC executive believed the company would be satisfied with postponing the Games exactly a year. A shorter postponement \u2014 into the fall of this year, for instance, would force the Olympics to compete with football and a number of other events that already have been pushed from this spring, such as the Masters golf tournament.\nFor now, organizers say they will push ahead with the torch relay, which is set to start Thursday in Fukushima in northeastern Japan and is meant to symbolize Japan\u2019s recovery from a 2011 tsunami and nuclear accident in the area. Mori said the prime minister was unsure whether he would attend the start of the relay \u2014 the government wanted to discourage crowds forming \u2014 although Mori said he himself would attend.\nMori acknowledged the relay route may need to be modified and said organizers were studying how it should be held given the fast-changing situation with the virus.\nTens of thousands flocked to a stadium in Sendai north of Tokyo to see the Olympic flame burning in a cauldron over the weekend after it arrived from Greece.\n\u201cWe had a turnout nearly 10 times that we had estimated,\u201d \u00adTokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said.\nMuto said organizers should be happy with the turnout \u201cin and of itself\u201d but had placed risk as their top priority and had changed arrangements so people simply passed by the flame without a crowd forming.\nrick.maese@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "F46FRMDYZZCA5GTKBGRJLUCE24_1", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "F46FRMDYZZCA5GTKBGRJLUCE24_1", "title": "For Tokyo 2020, the IOC is weighing many factors. Are athletes one of them?", "text": "and regimented training program designed to peak for qualifiers that might not take place? Or curtail training in hopes of protecting themselves and others \u2014 but risk falling behind if, against all odds, the show goes on as scheduled? \u201cAthletes are in a no-win situation where they are trying to continue to prepare for the Olympic/Paralympic Games, but they are finding it more difficult to do so and will need to take more and more risks in order to get the appropriate training,\u201d Han Xiao, a table tennis player who serves as the chair of the USOPC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Advisory Council, wrote in an email to The Washington Post. \u201cThey will eventually be endangering both themselves and the public in order to prepare to compete, and it will not be their fault.\u201d Xiao said his council does not have an official position on whether the Olympics should be postponed or canceled, but it has heard from athletes across sports. Right now, he said, athletes are against cancellation, which makes sense. These people aren\u2019t just deciding whether to go for a run after work. These runs are their whole lives. Players in the NBA or Major League Baseball will have another season if this one is canceled. An athlete preparing for the Tokyo Games has been building to this point for four years \u2014 and more. The idea of cancellation makes the brain hurt and the heart fall. But Xiao said more athletes are open to the idea of postponement. Internationally, some are calling for it. Their training already has been disrupted. Like the rest of us, they\u2019re concerned for their safety. They deserve clear and transparent messaging about contingency plans should the Games not be able to start as scheduled July 24. \u201cI would like to encourage all the athletes to continue their preparation for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 with great confidence and full steam,\u201d IOC President Thomas Bach said March 3. Think about how long ago that feels and how much has changed since. Yet the IOC hasn\u2019t backed down from that stance, as absurd as it seems. How is an athlete to train \u201cwith great confidence and full steam\u201d in the current environment? Spain and Italy, for instance, are completely shut down. Try finding great confidence and full steam there. \u201cWe want the Olympics to take place, but with security,\u201d Spanish Olympic Committee President Alejandro Blanco said in"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The International Olympic Committee claimed Tuesday that it is \u201cfully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counterproductive.\u201d On Wednesday, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee closed its training facilities and sent athletes home, their preparation \u2014 like their lives \u2014 in complete upheaval.\nYou know what\u2019s counterproductive? Forcefully claiming that the Olympics will be contested on schedule and unhindered in a world that is in complete and utter crisis. Perhaps, in the near term, that serves Japan, which desperately wants to stage the Games to boost both its economy and its morale. Perhaps it serves NBC, which invested $12 billion to broadcast 10 Winter and Summer Games between 2012 and 2032.\nYou know who it doesn\u2019t serve? The athletes, on whose backs the Olympics are built but whose thoughts too frequently don\u2019t matter enough. Nor does it serve public health, given the coronavirus pandemic that has parts of the world paralyzed.\nThe athletes are caught in the middle and have no clear idea how to proceed. Continue a strict and regimented training program designed to peak for qualifiers that might not take place? Or curtail training in hopes of protecting themselves and others \u2014 but risk falling behind if, against all odds, the show goes on as scheduled?\n\u201cAthletes are in a no-win situation where they are trying to continue to prepare for the Olympic/Paralympic Games, but they are finding it more difficult to do so and will need to take more and more risks in order to get the appropriate training,\u201d Han Xiao, a table tennis player who serves as the chair of the USOPC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Advisory Council, wrote in an email to The Washington Post. \u201cThey will eventually be endangering both themselves and the public in order to prepare to compete, and it will not be their fault.\u201d\nXiao said his council does not have an official position on whether the Olympics should be postponed or canceled, but it has heard from athletes across sports. Right now, he said, athletes are against cancellation, which makes sense. These people aren\u2019t just deciding whether to go for a run after work. These runs are their whole lives. Players in the NBA or Major League Baseball will have another season if this one is canceled. An athlete preparing for the Tokyo Games has been building to this point for four years \u2014 and more. The idea of cancellation makes the brain hurt and the heart fall.\nBut Xiao said more athletes are open to the idea of postponement. Internationally, some are calling for it. Their training already has been disrupted. Like the rest of us, they\u2019re concerned for their safety.\nThey deserve clear and transparent messaging about contingency plans should the Games not be able to start as scheduled July 24.\n\u201cI would like to encourage all the athletes to continue their preparation for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 with great confidence and full steam,\u201d IOC President Thomas Bach said March 3.\nThink about how long ago that feels and how much has changed since. Yet the IOC hasn\u2019t backed down from that stance, as absurd as it seems. How is an athlete to train \u201cwith great confidence and full steam\u201d in the current environment? Spain and Italy, for instance, are completely shut down. Try finding great confidence and full steam there.\n\u201cWe want the Olympics to take place, but with security,\u201d Spanish Olympic Committee President Alejandro Blanco said in a statement reported by Reuters. \u201cWe\u2019re an important country in the world, and four months before the Games, our athletes can\u2019t arrive in equal conditions.\u201d\nThat is plain fact, and Spain is not alone. There are so many health concerns when considering whether to stage an Olympics given there will be more than 11,000 athletes and countless officials, fans, media and workers arriving from all over the globe. But if experts deem it safe enough to pull off, it ought to be done as a fair competition, right? That already seems impossible.\n\u201cI think the IOC insisting this will move ahead, with such conviction, is insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity,\u201d Hayley Wickenheiser, a Canadian hockey player who is a member of the IOC\u2019s Athletes Commission, wrote Tuesday on Twitter. \u201cWe don\u2019t know what\u2019s happening in the next 24 hours, let alone the next three months.\u201d\nThe head of the French swimming federation, a pharmacist named Gilles Sezionale who is working on the coronavirus impact in his country, was blown away by the IOC\u2019s tone-deafness this week.\n\u201cI can\u2019t explain it,\u201d he said in an interview with the newspaper Le Parisien. \u201cWhat they write is indecent. It\u2019s shocking.\u201d\nEven in their steadfastness, the IOC must be working through alternatives and scenarios. To not do so would be irresponsible. The athletes deserve to be included in that discussion. Short of that, they should at minimum be informed of it. How will officials make a decision? When will officials make a decision?\n\u201cAlthough it\u2019s not correct to speculate, the message that we are going full-steam ahead is speculation,\u201d Xiao wrote in his email. \u201cWe still have no information about when the decision will be made whether to postpone, and how the IOC will make that decision.\n\u201cWhat conditions need to be met, for example, for the Games to proceed? This is the type of information that we would like in order to have certainty that athletes and the general public will be appropriately protected.\u201d\nThat\u2019s exactly right. If, in fact, the IOC is being guided by health experts the world over, then they should share the specifics that are driving their decision-making processes. According to the World Health Organization, Japan had 873 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday. Does the IOC have information that would lead it to believe that number will be, say, zero by July 24? What about the travelers \u2014 athletes, sponsors, fans, all of them \u2014 coming from countries, including the United States, where the worst is yet to come?\nAbout the United States: The USOPC is holding a board meeting via video conference Wednesday and Thursday. It is approaching the first Olympics under the leadership of new CEO Sarah Hirshland. Will Hirshland do what her predecessor, Scott Blackmun, failed to do in spectacular fashion: protect athletes\u2019 safety and well-being above all else?\nOn Wednesday, the IOC said Bach held a conference call with more than 200 athletes from around the world.\n\u201cWe will keep acting in a responsible way in the interest of the athletes,\u201d Bach told an in-house IOC interviewer afterward.\nWill they? The athletes are certainly wondering.\n\u201cThe decisions the IOC is making and the way they communicate those decisions is not just affecting people four months in the future,\u201d Xiao wrote in his email. \u201cIt is impacting them right now.\u201d\nBecoming an Olympian is, at some level, built on hopes and dreams. But staging a safe Olympics must be based on facts and figures that are clearly communicated. There is no room for bravado. The Games may be months off. The decision to deal with a delay that feels inevitable should be made right now."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "GIFU24KLBZATFLP4MRH6AMF6CE_4", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "GIFU24KLBZATFLP4MRH6AMF6CE_4", "title": "Olympic officials concede Tokyo Games may be postponed; Canada won\u2019t send athletes in 2020", "text": "Games can\u2019t be held in July,\u201d Ian Chesterman, the Australian chef de mission for Tokyo, said in a statement. Sarah Hirshland, chief executive of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, issued a joint statement Sunday with Han Xiao, chair of the organization\u2019s athletes advisory council, saying the IOC letter was \u201can important step in providing clarity, but our athlete community continues to face enormous ambiguity surrounding the 2020 Games in Tokyo.\u201d The USOPC officials said they\u2019re \u201ceager to continue to explore alternatives to ensure all athletes have a robust and fulfilling Olympic and Paralympic experience, regardless of when that can safely occur. Together we will find solutions that keep the spirit of the Games alive.\u201d The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency also called for a postponement Sunday. Travis Tygart, USADA\u2019s chief executive, told The Washington Post: \u201cWe agree the Games should be postponed, unfortunately, up to a year in fairness to athletes whose lives have been upended and to ensure they don\u2019t potentially become the dirtiest Games ever due to the significant reduction of anti-doping efforts due to covid-19.\u201d By acknowledging postponement as a possibility, the IOC has relaxed its tone while still holding on to hope that the Tokyo Games can go on as scheduled. \u201cIt is our experience as athletes that you must always be ready to adapt to new situations,\u201d Bach wrote. \u201cFor this reason we have, as indicated before, been thinking in different scenarios and are adapting them almost day by day.\u201d Bach did not outline possible scenarios. A one-year delay appears to be the most likely option, though organizers also could consider a postponement of a few months or perhaps up to two years. While an Olympics has never been postponed, several have taken place later on the calendar, including the 2000 Sydney and 1988 Seoul Games, which both took place in late September, and the 1964 Tokyo and the 1968 Mexico City Games, which took place in October. As concerns over the rapid spread of the disease have grown in recent weeks, pressure has mounted on Olympic officials to make a difficult decision on an event that poses a massive problem for organizers and athletes alike. As they publicly encouraged athletes to continue training for this summer, Olympic officials privately discussed holding the Summer Games without spectators or rescheduling the event for a later date. The Olympics, scheduled to begin July 24, draw together more than"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "After weeks of insisting that the Tokyo Games would take place on schedule this summer, Olympic officials revealed Sunday they are considering a postponement, which could mark the first step in ultimately delaying the world\u2019s largest sporting event because of the novel coronavirus.\nFacing mounting pressure and growing criticism, Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, wrote a letter to Olympic athletes Sunday in which he said canceling the Summer Games altogether is not an option and vowed that a final decision on postponement would be made within the next four weeks.\nThe message prompted a strong backlash Sunday night when the Canadian Olympic Committee said it would not send its athletes to compete in Tokyo this summer, the strongest statement to date against the IOC\u2019s preference to stick to its schedule.\n\u201cThis is not solely about athlete health \u2014 it is about public health,\u201d the committee said in a statement, in which it called for a postponement. \u201cWith COVID-19 and the associated risks, it is not safe for our athletes, and the health and safety of their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training towards these Games. In fact, it runs counter to the public health advice which we urge all Canadians to follow.\u201d\nCanada is the first country to refuse participation in these Summer Olympics, dealing the IOC a devastating blow hours after the international governing body sought to assuage its growing detractors and critics with its message to athletes.\n\u201cTogether with all the stakeholders, we have started detailed discussions today to complete our assessment of the rapid development of the worldwide health situation and its impact on the Olympic Games, including a scenario of postponement,\u201d Bach wrote.\nHours after Bach\u2019s letter but before the Canadian delegation\u2019s announcement, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a parliamentary committee Monday morning that postponing the Tokyo Games may become a consideration if the event cannot be staged in a \u201ccomplete manner,\u201d marking the first time Abe has publicly entertained the idea of a delay.\n\u201cIf that is difficult, we would have no choice but to decide to postpone with athletes in the first priority,\u201d Abe said, adding that canceling the Tokyo Games altogether is not an option.\nLater on Monday, Yoshiro Mori, president of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, said the IOC and Japan would like to \u201cclosely examine\u201d the various scenarios open to them over the next four weeks, although he hinted that organizers would prefer to keep the Olympics within 2020.\n\u201cWhat we are going to do before anything else is to start by simulating about whether we postpone one month, three months, five months, one year,\u201d Mori said. \u201cWe need to make a simulation about the various scenarios.\u201d\nThe public concessions come as the IOC has found itself increasingly under fire, facing heavy criticism from many athletes and sports federations. USA Swimming and USA Track and Field are among the organizations that have publicly called for a one-year postponement in recent days, and athletes from around the world have voiced their concerns about competing in Tokyo this summer. Many have struggled to train and prepare for the Olympics while also abiding by safety warnings from public health officials and government-backed restrictions.\nBach said in his letter that deciding on the fate of the Tokyo Olympics now \u201cwould still be premature.\u201d\n\u201cThis uncertainty rocks our nerves and raises or strengthens doubts about a positive future; it destroys hope,\u201d he wrote. \u201cSome even have to fear for their very existence. This uncertainty stems from the fact that, at this moment, nobody can really make fully reliable statements about the duration of this fight against the virus. This is true for sport, science, the media, politics, and all of society. Therefore also the IOC can unfortunately not answer all your questions.\u201d\nThe letter didn\u2019t stop the calls for an Olympic postponement. Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, wrote a letter of his own to Bach on Sunday and said keeping with a July-August schedule is \u201cneither feasible nor desirable.\u201d\n\u201cNo one wants to see the Olympic Games postponed but as I have said publicly, we cannot hold the event at all cost, certainly not at the cost of athlete safety, and a decision on the Olympic Games may become very obvious very quickly,\u201d Coe wrote in the letter. \u201cI believe that time has come and we owe it to our athletes to give them respite where we can. And in this matter, I believe we can.\u201d\nLate Sunday night, Australia added itself to the chorus. While not as strident as Canada, Australia advised athletes to prepare for an Olympics in 2021 and said a team \u201ccould not be assembled\u201d for 2020 given the global circumstances. \u201cIt\u2019s clear the Games can\u2019t be held in July,\u201d Ian Chesterman, the Australian chef de mission for Tokyo, said in a statement.\nSarah Hirshland, chief executive of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, issued a joint statement Sunday with Han Xiao, chair of the organization\u2019s athletes advisory council, saying the IOC letter was \u201can important step in providing clarity, but our athlete community continues to face enormous ambiguity surrounding the 2020 Games in Tokyo.\u201d\nThe USOPC officials said they\u2019re \u201ceager to continue to explore alternatives to ensure all athletes have a robust and fulfilling Olympic and Paralympic experience, regardless of when that can safely occur. Together we will find solutions that keep the spirit of the Games alive.\u201d\nThe U.S. Anti-Doping Agency also called for a postponement Sunday. Travis Tygart, USADA\u2019s chief executive, told The Washington Post: \u201cWe agree the Games should be postponed, unfortunately, up to a year in fairness to athletes whose lives have been upended and to ensure they don\u2019t potentially become the dirtiest Games ever due to the significant reduction of anti-doping efforts due to covid-19.\u201d\nBy acknowledging postponement as a possibility, the IOC has relaxed its tone while still holding on to hope that the Tokyo Games can go on as scheduled.\n\u201cIt is our experience as athletes that you must always be ready to adapt to new situations,\u201d Bach wrote. \u201cFor this reason we have, as indicated before, been thinking in different scenarios and are adapting them almost day by day.\u201d\nBach did not outline possible scenarios. A one-year delay appears to be the most likely option, though organizers also could consider a postponement of a few months or perhaps up to two years. While an Olympics has never been postponed, several have taken place later on the calendar, including the 2000 Sydney and 1988 Seoul Games, which both took place in late September, and the 1964 Tokyo and the 1968 Mexico City Games, which took place in October.\nAs concerns over the rapid spread of the disease have grown in recent weeks, pressure has mounted on Olympic officials to make a difficult decision on an event that poses a massive problem for organizers and athletes alike. As they publicly encouraged athletes to continue training for this summer, Olympic officials privately discussed holding the Summer Games without spectators or rescheduling the event for a later date.\nThe Olympics, scheduled to begin July 24, draw together more than 11,000 athletes and 25,000 journalists from more than 200 countries \u2014 plus hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists \u2014 running counter to the practice of social distancing advised by public health officials. The Paralympics, scheduled to begin Aug. 25, were expected to attract 4,400 participants from around the world.\nThe coronavirus has disrupted athletic schedules and canceled key qualifying events all over the globe. As gyms and facilities closed down \u2014 including two U.S. Olympic training centers \u2014 many athletes struggled to find a place to train. Still, at an IOC executive board meeting March 3, a spokesman said the organization had not even discussed contingency plans and vowed the Games would begin on time.\nBach spoke with stakeholders last week, sharing the same message, and the IOC issued a communique saying, \u201cThe IOC encourages all athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as best they can.\u201d\nPostponing an Olympics is no easy task; it would involve numerous stakeholders, sponsors, countries, sports federations and national organizing committees. Experts say any sort of delay probably will pose logistical problems in terms of the global sporting calendar and would upend the schedules for athletes, who have been targeting the summer of 2020 and built their lives and training routines around peaking competitively this year.\nIn his letter to athletes, Bach called postponement an \u201cextremely complex challenge.\"\n\u201cA number of critical venues needed for the Games could potentially not be available anymore,\u201d Bach said. \u201cThe situations with millions of nights already booked in hotels is extremely difficult to handle, and the international sports calendar for at least 33 Olympic sports would have to be adapted. These are just a few of many, many more challenges.\u201d\nHayley Wickenheiser, who won four gold medals and a silver in the Winter Olympics with the Canadian women\u2019s ice hockey team, and made an appearance in the 2000 Summer Games on Canada\u2019s softball team, said the Canadian Olympic Committee\u2019s statement Sunday made her \u201cproud\u201d of her country.\nWickenheiser is also a member of the IOC and its Athletes\u2019 Commission, and she had made waves Tuesday by posting comments online in which she accused the organization of being \u201cinsensitive and irresponsible\u201d in continuing with the planned dates this summer for the Tokyo Games. Reached by phone Sunday, she said she heard from \u201csenior leadership\u201d at the IOC who \u201cweren\u2019t very happy\u201d with her remarks, but she pointed to her recent experience \u201con the front lines in emergency rooms\u201d as having dramatically altered her own outlook on the crisis.\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen this virus progress,\u201d said Wickenheiser, 41, who noted she was in her final year of medical school. \u201cQuite honestly, I didn\u2019t give the severity of it the full attention that it deserved until a couple of weeks ago. Seeing a few things in the emergency room quickly changed my perspective on this. \u2026 Looking forward, the medical evidence just doesn\u2019t lend itself to the world being ready to hold an Olympics in four months.\u201d\nWickenheiser asserted that she thought postponement of the Tokyo Olympics was now \u201cinevitable,\u201d but added that the IOC and the Japanese organizing committee deserve some time to make new arrangements.\n\u201cThis is a very complex event with a lot of moving targets and a lot of pieces involved, so to just come out with an answer tomorrow isn\u2019t necessarily fair,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I think they have no choice but to postpone.\u201d\nThe IOC has said it will rely on counsel from the World Health Organization and prioritize health and safety, but there\u2019s also big money at stake, and postponement could require heavy changes over major contracts. The Olympics are a costly undertaking, and these Summer Games were expected to carry a price tag of $12.6 billion \u2014 though some Japanese estimates have suggested the actual costs would ultimately be much higher.\nThe Games also generate big revenue. The IOC, a nonprofit organization, brought in more than $5 billion during the most recent four-year Olympic cycle, nearly three-quarters of which came from broadcast rights. NBC, the rights-holder in the United States, contributes about half of that and thus carries a lot of sway with the IOC. Comcast, NBC\u2019s parent company, has said insurance coverage would ensure the network doesn\u2019t suffer losses, though it would miss out on Olympic-related advertising revenue.\n\u201cThese are extraordinary and unprecedented times, and we fully support the IOC\u2019s decision to step up its scenario-planning for the Tokyo Olympics,\u201d an NBC spokesman said in a statement Sunday. \u201cWe are prepared to stand behind any decision made by the IOC, the Japanese government, and the world health officials with whom they are working regarding the Tokyo Olympics.\u201d\nSimon Denyer in Tokyo and Adam Kilgore in Washington contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "HFYC2GQIEBHNXEBVCZRD7HFGGE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "HFYC2GQIEBHNXEBVCZRD7HFGGE_1", "title": "Olympic gymnastics qualifying, already complicated, further muddled by coronavirus", "text": "add a wild-card spot for an additional gymnast, but those results don\u2019t count toward the country\u2019s points total for Olympic qualification. Sam Mikulak and Shane Wiskus (wild card) will represent the United States in the men\u2019s competition. During the U.S. women\u2019s campaign to earn this Olympic spot, Simone Biles, the 2016 Olympic champion, is expected to represent the United States at the Tokyo event. Fellow U.S. Olympic hopefuls Sunisa Lee (Stuttgart) and Grace McCallum (Birmingham) are on the rosters for the other two events. Hurd said the virus has not affected her preparation, apart from keeping hand sanitizer in her bag. Chinese gymnasts were forced to withdraw from a competition with Olympic qualification implications last month in Melbourne because of the Australian government\u2019s travel restrictions. Some Chinese gymnasts, including Zhang Jin and Hu Xuwei, who will compete Saturday, reportedly had been training in Doha, Qatar, to avoid similar complications with future meets. Giorgia Villa of Italy, one of the countries with thousands of confirmed cases, will compete Saturday and was at Friday\u2019s training session. Russian gymnasts Nikita Nagornyy and Lilia Akhaimova will not compete at the American Cup this weekend in Milwaukee. Nagornyy won the men\u2019s all-around at the 2019 world championships and would have been a favorite to win the American Cup. The 2020 qualification process is far more complex than in previous Olympics. There are many paths to earning Olympic spots, which means the process involves far more competitions that affect qualification, heightening logistical challenges posed by the coronavirus and the uncertainty surrounding it. \u201cThe fast-changing situation related to the covid-19 outbreak is a challenge for the International Gymnastics Federation as well as all sports governing bodies,\u201d the sport\u2019s international organization said in a statement Thursday. \u201cThe FIG is continuously monitoring the evolution of the situation closely with the host federations of upcoming events.\u201d The United States and 11 other countries have qualified four-member teams to the Tokyo Olympics, a change from 2016 when teams had five members. But federations can earn up to two additional individual Olympic spots through a process that involves these World Cup meets. There are eight meets, beginning in November 2018 and ending this month, in which gymnasts can earn points for how well they finish on each apparatus. The gymnast\u2019s best three results count in the final rankings. The winners for each event earn an Olympic spot for themselves, limited to one"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "MILWAUKEE \u2014 The spread of the coronavirus has complicated the qualification process for national gymnastics federations around the world seeking to determine whom they will send to the 2020 Olympics.\nA four-meet series that begins here Saturday at the American Cup is scheduled to continue in Stuttgart, Germany (March 21); Birmingham, England (March 28); and Tokyo (April 4). Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan each have at least 100 confirmed cases of the virus that has infected more than 100,000 people worldwide.\nThe United States plans to send gymnasts to each event and almost certainly will use the results to add a spot to its Olympic roster.\n\u201cWe are taking a proactive stance on that,\u201d Li Li Leung, the president and CEO of USA Gymnastics, said Friday of the upcoming World Cup events. \u201cWe are monitoring the situation closely. \u2026 We are also pushing [the International Gymnastics Federation] to provide us with additional guidance, so we can make the right decisions for our athletes as to whether or not they should be going to these events.\u201d\nMorgan Hurd, the 2017 all-around world champion, is competing here Saturday, as is Kayla DiCello of Boyds, as a wild-card entry. Host nations can add a wild-card spot for an additional gymnast, but those results don\u2019t count toward the country\u2019s points total for Olympic qualification. Sam Mikulak and Shane Wiskus (wild card) will represent the United States in the men\u2019s competition.\nDuring the U.S. women\u2019s campaign to earn this Olympic spot, Simone Biles, the 2016 Olympic champion, is expected to represent the United States at the Tokyo event. Fellow U.S. Olympic hopefuls Sunisa Lee (Stuttgart) and Grace McCallum (Birmingham) are on the rosters for the other two events.\nHurd said the virus has not affected her preparation, apart from keeping hand sanitizer in her bag.\nChinese gymnasts were forced to withdraw from a competition with Olympic qualification implications last month in Melbourne because of the Australian government\u2019s travel restrictions. Some Chinese gymnasts, including Zhang Jin and Hu Xuwei, who will compete Saturday, reportedly had been training in Doha, Qatar, to avoid similar complications with future meets.\nGiorgia Villa of Italy, one of the countries with thousands of confirmed cases, will compete Saturday and was at Friday\u2019s training session.\nRussian gymnasts Nikita Nagornyy and Lilia Akhaimova will not compete at the American Cup this weekend in Milwaukee. Nagornyy won the men\u2019s all-around at the 2019 world championships and would have been a favorite to win the American Cup.\nThe 2020 qualification process is far more complex than in previous Olympics. There are many paths to earning Olympic spots, which means the process involves far more competitions that affect qualification, heightening logistical challenges posed by the coronavirus and the uncertainty surrounding it.\n\u201cThe fast-changing situation related to the covid-19 outbreak is a challenge for the International Gymnastics Federation as well as all sports governing bodies,\u201d the sport\u2019s international organization said in a statement Thursday. \u201cThe FIG is continuously monitoring the evolution of the situation closely with the host federations of upcoming events.\u201d\nThe United States and 11 other countries have qualified four-member teams to the Tokyo Olympics, a change from 2016 when teams had five members. But federations can earn up to two additional individual Olympic spots through a process that involves these World Cup meets.\nThere are eight meets, beginning in November 2018 and ending this month, in which gymnasts can earn points for how well they finish on each apparatus. The gymnast\u2019s best three results count in the final rankings. The winners for each event earn an Olympic spot for themselves, limited to one athlete per country. The United States has only one gymnast who probably will qualify through this route: Jade Carey is in first on both vault and floor with maximum points on each event, meaning she does not need to attend more events to do so.\nThe American Cup is the first competition in a different World Cup series through which nations are awarded points for their athletes\u2019 all-around finishes. The top three countries at the end of the series earn an Olympic spot. Because all four meets count toward the federation\u2019s point total, missing a competition would hurt a country\u2019s chances.\nThe third route for earning Olympic spots is through continental championships. The top two finishers at each earn a spot at the Olympics. If their team already has qualified a team to the Olympics, the spot is rewarded to the country, rather than to the individual.\nThe International Olympic Committee said in a statement it is working with international sport federations and the Tokyo organizing committee to track how qualifying events could be affected by coronavirus.\nLeung said USA Gymnastics has asked FIG for guidance and the organization\u2019s response was about \u201cpreventive measures,\u201d such as washing hands.\n\u201cBut we\u2019re like, \u2018Well, we actually need guidance on are you going to change the Olympic qualification procedures that are currently written,\u2019 \u201d Leung said. \u201cThey said they\u2019re reviewing it.\u201d\nWhen asked whether USA Gymnastics would keep athletes away from international meets that aren\u2019t necessary for Olympic qualification, Leung said: \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say that, because it depends on where that competition is being held. And it depends on the current situation at that time. As you all know, this is a very fluid situation.\u201d\nRead more Olympics coverage:\nSimone Manuel, a surprise at Rio Olympics, could be a full-blown star at the Tokyo Games\nRyan Lochte, 35 and loaded with extra weight and plenty of baggage, has his sights on Tokyo Olympics\nKatie Ledecky\u2019s dominating mile in Des Moines could be preview of this summer in Tokyo\nSally Jenkins: Larry Nassar victims want accountability. Olympic officials offered cash and veiled threats.\nAs Olympics concerns mount amid spreading coronavirus, IOC says \u2018the Games will go ahead\u2019"}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "IG2LFHP54ZFITO7RFGAKW5HPEE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "IG2LFHP54ZFITO7RFGAKW5HPEE_1", "title": "U.S. Olympic training centers close, sending Tokyo hopefuls scrambling", "text": "the athletes were told, \u201cand the duration could be extended.\u201d The center is the largest training hub for athletes training for the Olympics. Several U.S. Olympic teams use the space on a permanent or regular basis, including boxing, cycling, shooting and wrestling. There were about 200 Olympic and Paralympic athletes training there this week, about 75 percent of whom are considered resident athletes, which means they stay in dorms and train at the site full time. Athletes can stay at the training center and access medical and dining services, but all of the training facilities are off-limits. \u201cOut of training for a month,\u201d gymnast Sam Mikulak, a two-time Olympian and six-time national champion, posted on Instagram. \u201cI know I\u2019m not alone on this, how is everyone else dealing with their Olympic preparation in these times?\u201d Many other Olympic hopefuls have been displaced this week, including scores of college athletes targeting Tokyo and those who train at universities\u2019 facilities \u2014 gymnasts, swimmers, divers and track and field athletes among them \u2014 who also had to find new training accommodations after campuses closed down. The athletes who choose to leave Colorado Springs could struggle to find new training bases; facilities across the country have been shuttered in recent days, including private gyms, YMCA sites and many facilities with Olympic-size swimming pools. The Tokyo Games are scheduled to begin July 24. Even as concerns grow that a postponement might have to be considered, the International Olympic Committee has encouraged athletes to keep training and planning to compete this summer. \u201cThe health and well-being of all those involved in the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is our number-one concern,\u201d IOC President Thomas Bach said in a communique issued Tuesday. \u201cAll measures are being taken to safeguard the safety and interests of athletes, coaches and support teams.\u201d The Olympic training center in Lake Placid, N.Y., was similarly closed this week. New York\u2019s Olympic Regional Development Authority announced Sunday that all training facilities, in addition to all ski mountains, must suspend operations. The site is the training base for many athletes who compete in winter sports, including bobsledders, lugers, biathletes and ski jumpers. Their competition seasons had largely wrapped, and many already had left the site. Similar to the Colorado facility, the Lake Placid gyms and training centers are closed, but athletes who remain still have access to dining and medical services and conditioning."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Around 200 athletes training for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics were sent scrambling for new training facilities Wednesday after two U.S. Olympic training sites were largely shut down in response to escalating concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak.\nJust two days after the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced new measures for its training center in Colorado Springs, the site now has to close altogether in response to a directive from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D), who ordered this week that all gyms, restaurants, bars and many other public places must close to slow the spread of the virus.\nAthletes were sent a message via a Team USA communication app Tuesday informing them that the state\u2019s health department had instructed Olympic officials to close their training facilities right away, including the pool, velodrome, gyms and strength and conditioning areas. They won\u2019t reopen for at least 30 days, according to the message.\n\u201cThis is a fluid situation that the State will continue to monitor,\u201d the athletes were told, \u201cand the duration could be extended.\u201d\nThe center is the largest training hub for athletes training for the Olympics. Several U.S. Olympic teams use the space on a permanent or regular basis, including boxing, cycling, shooting and wrestling. There were about 200 Olympic and Paralympic athletes training there this week, about 75 percent of whom are considered resident athletes, which means they stay in dorms and train at the site full time.\nAthletes can stay at the training center and access medical and dining services, but all of the training facilities are off-limits.\n\u201cOut of training for a month,\u201d gymnast Sam Mikulak, a two-time Olympian and six-time national champion, posted on Instagram. \u201cI know I\u2019m not alone on this, how is everyone else dealing with their Olympic preparation in these times?\u201d\nMany other Olympic hopefuls have been displaced this week, including scores of college athletes targeting Tokyo and those who train at universities\u2019 facilities \u2014 gymnasts, swimmers, divers and track and field athletes among them \u2014 who also had to find new training accommodations after campuses closed down.\nThe athletes who choose to leave Colorado Springs could struggle to find new training bases; facilities across the country have been shuttered in recent days, including private gyms, YMCA sites and many facilities with Olympic-size swimming pools.\nThe Tokyo Games are scheduled to begin July 24. Even as concerns grow that a postponement might have to be considered, the International Olympic Committee has encouraged athletes to keep training and planning to compete this summer.\n\u201cThe health and well-being of all those involved in the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is our number-one concern,\u201d IOC President Thomas Bach said in a communique issued Tuesday. \u201cAll measures are being taken to safeguard the safety and interests of athletes, coaches and support teams.\u201d\nThe Olympic training center in Lake Placid, N.Y., was similarly closed this week. New York\u2019s Olympic Regional Development Authority announced Sunday that all training facilities, in addition to all ski mountains, must suspend operations.\nThe site is the training base for many athletes who compete in winter sports, including bobsledders, lugers, biathletes and ski jumpers. Their competition seasons had largely wrapped, and many already had left the site. Similar to the Colorado facility, the Lake Placid gyms and training centers are closed, but athletes who remain still have access to dining and medical services and conditioning."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "IGUT45L2M5HQ7IQAS64PJM5CDU_3", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "IGUT45L2M5HQ7IQAS64PJM5CDU_3", "title": "USA Track & Field calls for Tokyo Olympics postponement, joining USA Swimming", "text": "so athletes can be relieved of stress. She said her races have all been canceled and she can\u2019t find gyms or college tracks to train at because they all have been closed. Meanwhile, members of her family have lost their jobs and fallen into financial distress. \u201cJust because we\u2019re Olympians doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re immune to this disease,\u201d Jones said. \u201cEvery time we\u2019re going out in public and trying to find gyms and places to train, I\u2019m like, \u2018Really?\u2019 The government is telling us to stay in our house, to self-quarantine, but we can\u2019t because the IOC is being adamant the Olympics are going to go on. Every time I saw a statement from the IOC saying, \u2018Hey, the Olympics will go on,\u2019 and my world around me is being so ripped up, it feels like the house is on fire and the IOC is saying: \u2018Don\u2019t worry, it\u2019ll be fine. Stay right inside your house.\u2019 \u201d Former 110-meter hurdle world record holder Renaldo Nehemiah, now an agent who represents several elite runners, agreed with the USATF\u2019s request. Nehemiah, a University of Maryland alum, would understand the competitive fallout of postponing an Olympics more than most. He would have entered the 1980 Summer Olympics as a heavy gold medal favorite, but the United States boycotted amid political tensions with the Soviet Union. \u201cThe uncertainty of when normalcy will return places an extreme burden on the athletes,\u201d Nehemiah wrote in an email to The Washington Post. \u201cAs of this week, most all training facilities have been shut down, outdoors and indoors. Thus, athletes and coaches have to become creative in order to try and simulate their regular training regimen. It\u2019s impossible to replicate at an elite level. And it\u2019s affecting the athletes\u2019 motivation and ultimately their fitness and preparedness. The only sensible thing to do is postpone the games until there\u2019s enough regression of the virus to not place lives in the balance. Life is more precious than games.\u201d Olympic hopeful Drew Hunter, a distance runner from Purcellville who qualified for last year\u2019s world championships, has had his training only slightly affected. Hunter trains with the running team Tinman Elite, and rather than running in a 12-person pack as usual, they split up into smaller groups of runners who live together. But he runs outside and is able to lift weights in a private gym, and he has continued his normal training"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Pressure mounted on the U.S. Olympics governing body as USA Track & Field called on the federation to push for postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, adding to the growing momentum to delay the Games. USATF became the second American sports governing body in two days to urge Olympic officials to halt the Games, which the International Olympic Committee has insisted will go despite the global coronavirus pandemic.\nIn an email dated Friday and made public Saturday morning by track\u2019s governing body, USATF chief executive Max Siegel told U.S. Olympic head Sarah Hirshland that USATF was \u201crespectfully requesting\u201d that the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee advocate to the IOC for the Tokyo Games to be postponed. The USOPC said Friday that it did not have to make a decision now because the Olympics start in four months.\nAthletes must follow a strict regimen to prepare for the Games, and leaders in individual sports have expressed concern. Siegel\u2019s email focused on the welfare of athletes, whom the IOC has told to continue training \u2014 despite massive health risks and widespread government restrictions \u2014 as if the Games will go on as scheduled.\nThe USOPC did not respond Saturday to requests for comment.\n\u201cWhile our world class athletes are willing to push themselves to their athletic limits in pursuit of Olympic success, the likelihood that they will be able to properly train in a safe and adequate environment, and replicate the excellence we have all come to expect, does not appear likely in the midst of this global crisis,\u201d USATF\u2019s statement read. \u201cAs we have learned, our athletes are under tremendous pressure, stress and anxiety, and their mental health and wellness is among our highest priorities.\u201d\nUSATF joined USA Swimming in asking for the postponement, meaning the country\u2019s two biggest sports federations are standing against the IOC\u2019s insistence the Games will go on as scheduled. USA Swimming sent a similar memo to the USOPC on Friday, and coaches explained that swimmers were unable to find places to train, adding another layer of stress as they cope with the coronavirus\u2019s effects on daily life. Before taking an advocacy position, USA Gymnastics is polling its men\u2019s and women\u2019s national teams in all three Olympic disciplines \u2014 artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline \u2014 to gauge athlete sentiment.\n\u201cWe acknowledge that there are no perfect answers, and that this is a very complex and difficult decision, but this position at least provides our athletes with the comfort of knowing that they will have adequate time to properly prepare themselves physically, mentally and emotionally to be able to participate in a safe and successful Olympic Games, and that they can shift their focus toward taking care of themselves and their families,\u201d Siegel wrote to Hirshland. \u201cWe urge the USOPC, as a leader within the Olympic Movement, to use its voice and speak up for the athletes.\u201d\nThe USOPC appeared unmoved Friday evening after USA Swimming\u2019s statement was released. In a statement, the USOPC said that the IOC believes it is premature to make a decision regarding the Tokyo Games and that it wanted to give the IOC the opportunity to gather more information before insisting it makes a call.\n\u201cWe have also heard from athletes that they want \u2026 to ensure that we aren\u2019t prematurely taking away any athletes\u2019 opportunity to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games until we have better clarity,\u201d the USOPC\u2019s statement read.\nOlympic hurdler Lolo Jones, who is training in Louisiana, said the USATF\u2019s stance \u201cbrings you some sense of peace and relief.\u201d She hopes the pressure will mount on the IOC so athletes can be relieved of stress. She said her races have all been canceled and she can\u2019t find gyms or college tracks to train at because they all have been closed. Meanwhile, members of her family have lost their jobs and fallen into financial distress.\n\u201cJust because we\u2019re Olympians doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re immune to this disease,\u201d Jones said. \u201cEvery time we\u2019re going out in public and trying to find gyms and places to train, I\u2019m like, \u2018Really?\u2019 The government is telling us to stay in our house, to self-quarantine, but we can\u2019t because the IOC is being adamant the Olympics are going to go on. Every time I saw a statement from the IOC saying, \u2018Hey, the Olympics will go on,\u2019 and my world around me is being so ripped up, it feels like the house is on fire and the IOC is saying: \u2018Don\u2019t worry, it\u2019ll be fine. Stay right inside your house.\u2019 \u201d\nFormer 110-meter hurdle world record holder Renaldo Nehemiah, now an agent who represents several elite runners, agreed with the USATF\u2019s request. Nehemiah, a University of Maryland alum, would understand the competitive fallout of postponing an Olympics more than most. He would have entered the 1980 Summer Olympics as a heavy gold medal favorite, but the United States boycotted amid political tensions with the Soviet Union.\n\u201cThe uncertainty of when normalcy will return places an extreme burden on the athletes,\u201d Nehemiah wrote in an email to The Washington Post. \u201cAs of this week, most all training facilities have been shut down, outdoors and indoors. Thus, athletes and coaches have to become creative in order to try and simulate their regular training regimen. It\u2019s impossible to replicate at an elite level. And it\u2019s affecting the athletes\u2019 motivation and ultimately their fitness and preparedness. The only sensible thing to do is postpone the games until there\u2019s enough regression of the virus to not place lives in the balance. Life is more precious than games.\u201d\nOlympic hopeful Drew Hunter, a distance runner from Purcellville who qualified for last year\u2019s world championships, has had his training only slightly affected. Hunter trains with the running team Tinman Elite, and rather than running in a 12-person pack as usual, they split up into smaller groups of runners who live together. But he runs outside and is able to lift weights in a private gym, and he has continued his normal training schedule. Even still, Hunter agreed with USATF\u2019s call to postpone.\n\u201cThis is not the time to be selfish about this decision,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cThere\u2019s so much more to it. So, yeah, I was like, \u2018That is 100 percent the right, healthy, mature, well-thought-out decision for the world as a whole.\u2019 I feel like so often distance runners and athletes in general, we\u2019re in this bubble. Our sport is our life. It takes things like the coronavirus to remind us, \u2018No, our life is our life.\u2019 I was bummed, but at the same time, that\u2019s the right call.\u201d\nOther track figures echoed Jones\u2019s sentiments about not finding places to train. One prominent track and field coach, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly about a sensitive issue, also noted training concerns, saying: \u201cEverybody in the world is having issues with training facilities.\n\u201cAll schools and universities are shut down,\u201d the coach said. \u201cIf that\u2019s the case, most people are out of luck because almost everybody trains at colleges and universities. You can look at Instagram \u2014 [U.S. world champion] Grant Holloway is doing hurdles in a grass field out in front of his house. That\u2019s the case in the whole world.\u201d\nIn an anonymous survey distributed Friday afternoon, USA Gymnastics President and CEO Li Li Leung asked whether athletes were in favor of a postponement and, if so, for how long. The survey also allowed gymnasts to explain their positions and share any other concerns. In a cover letter, Leung acknowledged the substantial effect the coronavirus crisis was having on athletes\u2019 ability to train and asked that survey responses be returned by noon Eastern time Monday.\nWhen reached Saturday, USA Basketball said it is monitoring the coronavirus but did not take a position on postponing the Games.\n\u201cUSA Basketball takes the health, wellness and safety of our athletes and coaches extremely seriously,\u201d spokesman Craig Miller said. \u201cThis point will be at the forefront of any decision made by the organization.\u201d\nRick Maese and Liz Clarke contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "IOXTZC6NXZCATG7X7ADM3SSUKI_2", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "IOXTZC6NXZCATG7X7ADM3SSUKI_2", "title": "After Tokyo Games postponement, sports look to shuffle Olympic trials, world championships ", "text": "the organization said. Therein lies the tricky nature of rescheduling around the Olympics. Shuffling events set on biennial schedules could have long-term ramifications for athletes. If World Athletics moves the world championships to 2022 and then reverts to its usual odd-year schedule, track and field leaders could create a stretch in which an Olympics or world championships take place five years in a row. \u201cSome athletes might get burned out,\u201d 200-meter world champion Noah Lyles said. \u201cA lot of athletes do need that year break. Personally, I think it would be a little too much. We do need some break year to do something other than go out for championships.\u201d In addition to world championship events, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field have national Olympic trials to consider. USA Swimming said in a release Tuesday that it is working with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to reschedule the Olympic team trials, originally set for June 21 to June 28 in Omaha. USA Track & Field is starting work on a contingency plan now that the Games\u2019 postponement is official. Its Olympic trials are set for June 19 to June 28 \u2014 also at the University of Oregon \u2014 and have not yet officially been canceled. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be complicated, but a year gives us all a chance to reset,\u201d Tim Hinchey, president and CEO of USA Swimming, said in a phone interview. \u201cRight now we\u2019re looking at the next 100 days and what\u2019s realistic, what\u2019s not. So, really, our national team cycle always starts September 1. That\u2019s kind of our season: September to August. So right now, it\u2019s: How do we put ourselves in position? If it\u2019s healthy and safe, can we reset in our normal time frame and have it start over? That\u2019s what we\u2019re thinking about right now.\u201d It is unclear whether the handful of athletes from both sports who have already qualified for the Tokyo Games will have to secure their spot in the Olympics again, though Han Xiao, a table tennis player who chairs the USOPC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Advisory Council, has signaled that athletes want those who have already qualified to keep their status. USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland addressed that issue in an email sent to U.S. athletes Tuesday but left open how it would be resolved. \u201cI wish I had answers to every question out there, but the reality is this decision is"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "With the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Olympics official, individual sports federations have begun the daunting task of reshuffling long-set event schedules that include Olympic trials and 2021 world championships.\nLongtime International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound expects cooperation from sports\u2019 governing bodies, but the federations\u2019 jobs will not be easy. Like the Games themselves, many world championship events and national Olympic trials have been scheduled for years in advance.\n\u201cOne of the things you have to do is talk to the individual sports federations, many of whom will have their 2021 schedules either penciled in or perhaps even inked in, and say, \u2018This is what we\u2019re thinking of,\u2019 \u201d Pound said in a telephone interview Tuesday. \u201cMy guess is we\u2019d get lots of cooperation, because all the sports know the visibility of the Olympics; it\u2019s multiples of what they get for their stand-alone events. So they\u2019ll try and have their world championships but shift them so they don\u2019t interfere with the Olympics.\u201d\nInternational governing bodies for both track and field and aquatics are already determining the flexibility of dates for their 2021 world championships.\nThe IOC said Tuesday that the Games will be held about one year after the previously scheduled start date of July 24. The 2021 swimming world championships are set for July 16 to Aug. 1 in Fukuoka, Japan, and the 2021 track and field world championships are scheduled for Aug. 6 to Aug. 15 at the University of Oregon in Eugene.\n\u201cFINA will now work closely with the host organising committee of the 2021 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, with the Japan Swimming Federation and with the Japanese public authorities, in order to determine flexibility around the dates of the competition, if necessary and in agreement with the IOC,\u201d a spokesman for swimming\u2019s international governing body said in a statement. \u201cFINA\u2019s main goal is to ensure the success of its showcase event, while considering the importance of athlete wellbeing and maximising opportunities for aquatics stars to compete at the highest level.\u201d\nWorld Athletics, track and field\u2019s international governing body, said in a news release that it has been in discussions with its world championships organizing committee about potentially rescheduling the event.\n\u201cThey have assured us that they will work with all of their partners and stakeholders to ensure that Oregon is able to host the World Athletics Championships on alternative dates, including dates in 2022,\u201d the organization said.\nTherein lies the tricky nature of rescheduling around the Olympics. Shuffling events set on biennial schedules could have long-term ramifications for athletes.\nIf World Athletics moves the world championships to 2022 and then reverts to its usual odd-year schedule, track and field leaders could create a stretch in which an Olympics or world championships take place five years in a row.\n\u201cSome athletes might get burned out,\u201d 200-meter world champion Noah Lyles said. \u201cA lot of athletes do need that year break. Personally, I think it would be a little too much. We do need some break year to do something other than go out for championships.\u201d\nIn addition to world championship events, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field have national Olympic trials to consider.\nUSA Swimming said in a release Tuesday that it is working with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to reschedule the Olympic team trials, originally set for June 21 to June 28 in Omaha. USA Track & Field is starting work on a contingency plan now that the Games\u2019 postponement is official. Its Olympic trials are set for June 19 to June 28 \u2014 also at the University of Oregon \u2014 and have not yet officially been canceled.\n\u201cIt\u2019s going to be complicated, but a year gives us all a chance to reset,\u201d Tim Hinchey, president and CEO of USA Swimming, said in a phone interview. \u201cRight now we\u2019re looking at the next 100 days and what\u2019s realistic, what\u2019s not. So, really, our national team cycle always starts September 1. That\u2019s kind of our season: September to August. So right now, it\u2019s: How do we put ourselves in position? If it\u2019s healthy and safe, can we reset in our normal time frame and have it start over? That\u2019s what we\u2019re thinking about right now.\u201d\nIt is unclear whether the handful of athletes from both sports who have already qualified for the Tokyo Games will have to secure their spot in the Olympics again, though Han Xiao, a table tennis player who chairs the USOPC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Advisory Council, has signaled that athletes want those who have already qualified to keep their status.\nUSOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland addressed that issue in an email sent to U.S. athletes Tuesday but left open how it would be resolved.\n\u201cI wish I had answers to every question out there, but the reality is this decision is unprecedented, and therefore, presents an entirely new process \u2014 for you, for the organizers, for the [national governing bodies] and for the USOPC,\u201d Hirshland wrote.\nIn track and field, only the Olympic marathon trials have been held. In the Feb. 29 event in Atlanta, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Molly Seidel, Sally Kipyego, Abdi Abdirahman, Jacob Riley and three-time Olympian Galen Rupp qualified to represent Team USA.\nIn aquatics, open water swimmers have already qualified for the Olympics. Jordan Wilimovsky became the first American man to book his ticket to the Games at the qualifying event held in Fukuoka in July. Haley Anderson and Ashley Twichell rounded out Team USA\u2019s open water contingent.\nRick Maese contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "J2B3BE6NRRAMZK2XW3HPP236NU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "J2B3BE6NRRAMZK2XW3HPP236NU_0", "title": "Japanese Olympic Committee member breaks with IOC, calls for postponement of Tokyo Games", "text": "A member of the Japanese Olympic Committee said Thursday that the International Olympic Committee is \u201cputting athletes at risk\u201d by continuing to plan on the Tokyo Games unfolding as scheduled, despite the global coronavirus pandemic. Kaori Yamaguchi, a bronze medalist in judo at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, became the first executive committee board member from this year\u2019s host nation to break with the IOC, per reports, in calling for a postponement. \u201cAs far as I can tell from news reports coming out of the U.S. and Europe, I don\u2019t think the situation allows for athletes to continue training as usual,\u201d Yamaguchi told Nikkei. IOC President Thomas Bach stuck firm Thursday to his stance that, as of now, the Tokyo Olympics will take place from late July through early August. \u201cOf course we are considering different scenarios,\u201d Bach told the New York Times, \u201cbut we are contrary to many other sports organizations or professional leagues in that we are four and a half months away from the Games.\u201d \u201cThe 206 national Olympic committees and the international sports federations expressed that the world in this extremely difficult and concerning situation needs a symbol of hope,\u201d Bach added. \u201cSo for us, while not knowing how long this tunnel will be, we would like the Olympic flame to be a light at the end of the tunnel, and to send the message of peace, what we always do, but in this very difficult circumstances a message of hope and community of humankind.\u201d Some would-be Olympic athletes, though, are wondering how responsible it is for the IOC to hold tight to its schedule when coronavirus-related fears and official restrictions in many countries make training difficult, if not dangerous. \u201cThe IOC wants us to keep risking our health, our family\u2019s health and public health to train every day?\u201d Katerina Stefanidi, who won the 2016 Olympic gold medal in women\u2019s pole vault for Greece, said Tuesday on Twitter. \u201cYou are putting us in danger right now, today, not in 4 months.\u201d Noting that France, where she has been training, is \u201cin complete lockdown,\u201d British heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson said Tuesday in a message posted to Twitter, \u201cThe IOC advice \u2018encourages athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games as best as they can\u2019 with the Olympics only four months away, but the government legislation is enforcing isolation at home, with tracks, gyms and public spaces"}], "old": [{"_id": "J2B3BE6NRRAMZK2XW3HPP236NU_0", "title": "Japanese Olympic Committee member breaks with IOC, calls for postponement of Tokyo Games", "text": "What do you want in an Olympics newsletter? Take our 30-second survey."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A member of the Japanese Olympic Committee said Thursday that the International Olympic Committee is \u201cputting athletes at risk\u201d by continuing to plan on the Tokyo Games unfolding as scheduled, despite the global coronavirus pandemic.\nKaori Yamaguchi, a bronze medalist in judo at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, became the first executive committee board member from this year\u2019s host nation to break with the IOC, per reports, in calling for a postponement.\n\u201cAs far as I can tell from news reports coming out of the U.S. and Europe, I don\u2019t think the situation allows for athletes to continue training as usual,\u201d Yamaguchi told Nikkei.\nIOC President Thomas Bach stuck firm Thursday to his stance that, as of now, the Tokyo Olympics will take place from late July through early August.\n\u201cOf course we are considering different scenarios,\u201d Bach told the New York Times, \u201cbut we are contrary to many other sports organizations or professional leagues in that we are four and a half months away from the Games.\u201d\n\u201cThe 206 national Olympic committees and the international sports federations expressed that the world in this extremely difficult and concerning situation needs a symbol of hope,\u201d Bach added. \u201cSo for us, while not knowing how long this tunnel will be, we would like the Olympic flame to be a light at the end of the tunnel, and to send the message of peace, what we always do, but in this very difficult circumstances a message of hope and community of humankind.\u201d\nSome would-be Olympic athletes, though, are wondering how responsible it is for the IOC to hold tight to its schedule when coronavirus-related fears and official restrictions in many countries make training difficult, if not dangerous.\n\u201cThe IOC wants us to keep risking our health, our family\u2019s health and public health to train every day?\u201d Katerina Stefanidi, who won the 2016 Olympic gold medal in women\u2019s pole vault for Greece, said Tuesday on Twitter. \u201cYou are putting us in danger right now, today, not in 4 months.\u201d\nNoting that France, where she has been training, is \u201cin complete lockdown,\u201d British heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson said Tuesday in a message posted to Twitter, \u201cThe IOC advice \u2018encourages athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games as best as they can\u2019 with the Olympics only four months away, but the government legislation is enforcing isolation at home, with tracks, gyms and public spaces closed.\n\u201cI feel under pressure to train and keep the same routine, which is impossible.\u201d\nHayley Wickenheiser, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in women\u2019s ice hockey and a member of the IOC Athletes\u2019 Commission, also criticized the governing body on Tuesday. \u201cI think the IOC insisting this will move ahead, with such conviction, is insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity,\u201d Wickenheiser said in a tweet.\nThe complaints, as well as negative reactions from other athletes, were shared after the IOC released a statement Tuesday in which it said, \u201cThe IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive.\u201d\nThe European Olympic Committees, an umbrella organization for the continent\u2019s national committees, posted a statement of support for the IOC, saying, \u201cIn this time of unprecedented disruption to our daily lives caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, our first priority is to ensure the safety of those around us, in particular our families, communities and wider public. We are living through an unpredictable crisis and as such, it is important that we have one policy, expressed by the IOC, and we follow that policy in unison.\u201d\nYamaguchi told Nikkei that she intends to advocate for a postponement when the JOC holds a meeting next week.\n\u201cBy asking them to train under these conditions, the IOC is opening itself up the criticism that it is not putting athletes first,\u201d she said.\nWhat do you want in an Olympics newsletter? Take our 30-second survey."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "M4N553YABBCI3PP2IF4X5PUFFY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "M4N553YABBCI3PP2IF4X5PUFFY_0", "title": "Several Tokyo 2020 qualifying events rescheduled because of coronavirus concerns", "text": "With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics less than six months away, the fast-spreading coronavirus is wreaking havoc with preparations for the Summer Games, prompting several sports to relocate or cancel events originally scheduled for China. On Wednesday, the Feb. 12-13 World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Nanjing were postponed until 2021 out of concern over the coronavirus. The decision was made by World Athletics, track and field\u2019s international governing body, which issued a statement that read, in part: \u201cThe advice from our medical team, who are in contact with the World Health Organization, is that the spread of the Coronavirus both within China and outside the country is still at a concerning level and no one should be going ahead with any major gathering that can be postponed.\u201d The unchecked coronavirus has killed 132 and infected more than 6,100, including residents of more than a dozen countries. With the death toll growing and no vaccine on the horizon, the World Health Organization on Wednesday voiced \u201cgrave concern\u201d and is weighing whether to declare \u201ca global health emergency.\u201d On Monday, the United States\u2019 leading public-health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommended that travelers avoid all \u201cnonessential\u201d travel to China. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee was said to be studying the CDC recommendation with an eye toward its athletes\u2019 travel. But the organization did not respond to a request to comment about what it is doing to monitor the situation or mitigate danger to its athletes. Han Xiao, chair of the USOPC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Advisory Council, said there had been little conversation with prospective U.S. Olympians about coronavirus safeguards. After canvassing several fellow athletes, Han wrote in an email exchange that they would favor any rescheduling that would safeguard their health. \u201cWe are in favor of moving or rescheduling events in order to protect the health of athletes, as long as there is communication to the athletes and the athletes are included in the decision-making process,\u201d wrote Han, a table tennis athlete. Tokyo, the site of the 2020 Summer Olympics, is nearly 1,600 miles from Wuhan, the central China metropolis that\u2019s the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. But grave concern over the virus\u2019s spread, both within central China and now overseas, is being felt around the world, particularly since health officials have confirmed it can be transmitted human-to-human rather than simply contracted at the point of origin. USA Pentathlon"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics less than six months away, the fast-spreading coronavirus is wreaking havoc with preparations for the Summer Games, prompting several sports to relocate or cancel events originally scheduled for China.\nOn Wednesday, the Feb. 12-13 World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Nanjing were postponed until 2021 out of concern over the coronavirus.\nThe decision was made by World Athletics, track and field\u2019s international governing body, which issued a statement that read, in part: \u201cThe advice from our medical team, who are in contact with the World Health Organization, is that the spread of the Coronavirus both within China and outside the country is still at a concerning level and no one should be going ahead with any major gathering that can be postponed.\u201d\nThe unchecked coronavirus has killed 132 and infected more than 6,100, including residents of more than a dozen countries.\nWith the death toll growing and no vaccine on the horizon, the World Health Organization on Wednesday voiced \u201cgrave concern\u201d and is weighing whether to declare \u201ca global health emergency.\u201d\nOn Monday, the United States\u2019 leading public-health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommended that travelers avoid all \u201cnonessential\u201d travel to China.\nThe U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee was said to be studying the CDC recommendation with an eye toward its athletes\u2019 travel. But the organization did not respond to a request to comment about what it is doing to monitor the situation or mitigate danger to its athletes.\nHan Xiao, chair of the USOPC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Advisory Council, said there had been little conversation with prospective U.S. Olympians about coronavirus safeguards. After canvassing several fellow athletes, Han wrote in an email exchange that they would favor any rescheduling that would safeguard their health.\n\u201cWe are in favor of moving or rescheduling events in order to protect the health of athletes, as long as there is communication to the athletes and the athletes are included in the decision-making process,\u201d wrote Han, a table tennis athlete.\nTokyo, the site of the 2020 Summer Olympics, is nearly 1,600 miles from Wuhan, the central China metropolis that\u2019s the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.\nBut grave concern over the virus\u2019s spread, both within central China and now overseas, is being felt around the world, particularly since health officials have confirmed it can be transmitted human-to-human rather than simply contracted at the point of origin.\nUSA Pentathlon CEO Rob Stull, a five-time Olympian in the sport, explained that at this stage, decisions about whether to proceed with Tokyo 2020 qualifying events scheduled for China are being made by each sport\u2019s international governing body, in consultation with health experts.\n\u201cI can assure you this: The [International Sports Federations] are taking it very seriously and erring on the side of caution,\u201d Stull said in a telephone interview. \u201cWe will put our athletes\u2019 health and safety first. And I feel confident the Olympic movement will seek the guidance of the World Health Organization, the CDCs of the world and the Chinese health ministry, too.\u201d\nLast week, the first qualifying event for the Tokyo 2020 boxing competition, originally scheduled for Wuhan in early February, was rescheduled for Amman, Jordan, in early March because of coronavirus fears.\nFIBA, basketball\u2019s international governing body, decided to move an upcoming Olympic women\u2019s basketball qualifying tournament involving Britain, China, South Korea and Spain from Foshan, about 600 miles south of Wuhan, to Belgrade, Serbia, for the same reason, according to the BBC.\nIn women\u2019s soccer, Olympic qualifying Group B stage matches have been moved twice \u2014 first from Wuhan to Nanjing, roughly 330 miles away, and now a full continent away to Sydney after the Chinese Football Association withdrew as host amid the outbreak\u2019s advance.\n\u201cThe safety of all players, officials and fans is of paramount importance to Football Federation Australia and the Asian Football Confederation, and we are confident we will host a successful tournament here in Sydney,\u201d Football Federation Australia chief executive Chris Nikou said in a statement reported by the Guardian.\nAustralia, China, Taiwan and Thailand are scheduled to compete in the group stage matches in Sydney.\nBut on Wednesday, China\u2019s state-run news agency, Xinhua, reported that four Chinese players, including star striker Wang Shuang, won\u2019t be able to take part, their travel restricted by an in-home quarantine order. None of the athletes show signs of having developed the illness, the Chinese outlet noted.\nEven the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are being affected. The International Ski Federation this week canceled the first Olympic test event for the 2022 Games \u2014 a Feb. 15-16 World Cup event that was scheduled for northwest Beijing \u2014 because of the virus.\nCoronavirus typically affects birds and mammals but causes acute respiratory infection in humans.\nThe current outbreak is believed to have started at a seafood market in Wuhan that also sold slaughtered and live animals, such as donkeys, pigs, dogs, foxes and snakes. That market has been closed by health officials.\nThe city of Wuhan, which has 11 million residents (comparable to the population of New York and Los Angeles combined), has been placed under lockdown to contain the spread.\nThree-time Olympian Gary Hall Jr., who won 10 swimming medals at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Games and has been a vocal advocate for athletes\u2019 safety, urged an abundance of caution regarding coronavirus.\n\u201cThe safety and health of the athletes are of foremost importance,\u201d Hall said in a telephone interview. \u201cIf there are any precautionary steps that can be taken to put them out of harm\u2019s way, we have to do it.\nHall cited cases in which FINA, swimming\u2019s international governing body, was not aggressive enough in protecting its athletes from environmental hazards \u2014 whether excessive heat, pollution or virus.\nSeveral swimmers fell seriously ill after competing in the open-water test event for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games because of pollution in the bay, Hall noted. And a four-time American champion swimmer, Fran Crippen, died during a 2010 open-water World Cup 10K swim in Dubai, held despite dangerously warm temperatures. His death was linked to heat exertion.\n\u201cBoth of those [instance] were preventable,\u201d Hall noted. \u201cFINA could have said, \u2018The water is too polluted in Rio; let\u2019s do it elsewhere.\u2019 But they went ahead anyway and overlooked the health and safety of the athletes, with devastating consequences.\u201d\nThe coronavirus outbreak is reminiscent of the 2002-03 outbreak of SARS in China \u2014 also believed to have started at a live-animal market. SARS, an acute respiratory ailment, led to nearly 800 deaths and infected more than 8,000. It also prompted FIFA to move the 2003 Women\u2019s World Cup from China to the United States on three months\u2019 notice."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "QMK3TLNY6JGDJNGA5QRWP6TZII_0", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "QMK3TLNY6JGDJNGA5QRWP6TZII_0", "title": "Read more on the Long(er) Road to Tokyo", "text": "The Tokyo Games have been postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak. As the virus has spread, training sites have closed and athletes have been separated from coaches. Here\u2019s how American Olympians have adjusted their training during the pandemic. Paralympic running: Open water swimming: Diving: Swimming: Read more:"}], "old": [{"_id": "QMK3TLNY6JGDJNGA5QRWP6TZII_0", "title": "Read more on the Long(er) Road to Tokyo", "text": "Paralympic running: Open water swimming: Diving: Swimming: Read more:"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The Tokyo Games have been postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak. As the virus has spread, training sites have closed and athletes have been separated from coaches.\nHere\u2019s how American Olympians have adjusted their training during the pandemic.\nParalympic running:\nOpen water swimming:\nDiving:\nSwimming:\nRead more:"}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "QPDAOCFF2FD53PK3ZYN2KLMUHE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "QPDAOCFF2FD53PK3ZYN2KLMUHE_2", "title": "USA Swimming calls for postponing Tokyo Olympics one year", "text": "as maybe some others around the world have. \u201cI think there\u2019s an underlying mental health concern here for our best athletes and it\u2019s put them in a place where postponement makes sense.\u201d Earlier in the day, Hirshland said on a conference call with reporters that the USOPC has shared some of the concerns that have been expressed by American athletes about competing in Tokyo this summer, adding, \u201cI can assure you there\u2019s no circumstance when the USOPC would send our athletes into harm\u2019s way if we did not believe it was safe.\u201d The USOPC remarks come as athletes have started to publicly voice their reservations about competing this summer and pressure has increased on the IOC to reconsider holding the Tokyo Games on schedule. One day earlier, a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee became the first executive committee board member to break with the IOC in calling for a postponement. Kaori Yamaguchi, a bronze medalist in judo at the 1988 Olympics, said Thursday that the IOC is \u201cputting athletes at risk.\u201d Olympic hopefuls from several countries have expressed similar concerns about the safety of a Summer Olympics and have said their training has already been compromised. Earlier in the week, gymnast Colin Van Wicklen became the first athlete vying for a spot on U.S. Olympic team to publicly urge for a postponement, posting on Twitter, \u201cWe must put the pressure on the IOC to do the right thing.\u201d \u201cI don't think it's fair to the athletes who have dedicated their whole life to trying to make an Olympic team to have to deal with this,\u201d Van Wicklen told The Washington Post in a phone interview Thursday. \u201cWe deserve to be at our best, to give it our best shot and have the best opportunity to make an Olympic team and have our dreams come true.\u201d The IOC hasn\u2019t wavered in its intention to stage the Tokyo Games on schedule and has urged athletes to continue training with the July 24 start date in mind. But as cities around the world have experienced heightened restrictions, athletes are having an increasingly difficult time finding the gymnasiums, swimming pools and practice facilities needed for training. \u201cThere are just a lot of mixed statements right now, and that really messes with your head,\u201d Van Wicklen said. \u201cYou\u2019re trying to do the best for yourself being safe and stay healthy. You want to listen"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Hours after U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee officials said they are preparing for the Tokyo Games to go ahead as scheduled this July, USA Swimming, arguably the most influential sport national governing body in the country, called for the Games to be postponed until next year because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.\nIn an open letter addressed to USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland, USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey wrote Friday, \u201cThe right and responsible thing to do is to prioritize everyone\u2019s health and safety and appropriately recognize the toll this global pandemic is taking on athletic preparations.\u201d\nHinchey concluded by writing, \u201cThere are no perfect answers, and this will not be easy; however, it is a solution that provides a concrete path forward and allows all athletes to prepare for a safe and successful Olympic Games in 2021.\u201d\nIn response, the USOPC released a statement attributed to Hirshland and board chair Susanne Lyons that read, in part:\n\u201cThe USOPC has complete and total empathy for the athlete community as they manage the terrible stress and anxiety caused by the current lack of certitude regarding the Tokyo Games. We understand that the athletes have concerns about training, qualification and anti-doping controls, and that they want transparency, communication and clarity to the full extent possible.\n\"The USOPC has made it clear that all athletes should put their health and wellness, and the health and wellness of the greater community, above all else at this unprecedented moment. At the same time, and as it relates to the Games, we have also heard from athletes that they want the Olympic and Paralympic community to be very intentional about the path forward \u2014 and to ensure that we aren\u2019t prematurely taking away any athletes\u2019 opportunity to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games until we have better clarity.\u201d\nGreg Meehan, head coach of the U.S. women\u2019s swimming team and women\u2019s coach at Stanford, said coaches and swimmers supported Hinchey\u2019s statement.\n\u201cSwimmers are routine-driven, and training is very much a part of their routine,\u201d Meehan said in a phone interview. \u201cIn a lot of ways, the consistency of our schedule is therapeutic. I worry about the stress and anxiousness right now of our best athletes with the uncertainty of where they\u2019re going to be from day to day, knowing that they would potentially have to compete in an Olympics when they haven\u2019t been able to prepare as maybe some others around the world have.\n\u201cI think there\u2019s an underlying mental health concern here for our best athletes and it\u2019s put them in a place where postponement makes sense.\u201d\nEarlier in the day, Hirshland said on a conference call with reporters that the USOPC has shared some of the concerns that have been expressed by American athletes about competing in Tokyo this summer, adding, \u201cI can assure you there\u2019s no circumstance when the USOPC would send our athletes into harm\u2019s way if we did not believe it was safe.\u201d\nThe USOPC remarks come as athletes have started to publicly voice their reservations about competing this summer and pressure has increased on the IOC to reconsider holding the Tokyo Games on schedule. One day earlier, a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee became the first executive committee board member to break with the IOC in calling for a postponement. Kaori Yamaguchi, a bronze medalist in judo at the 1988 Olympics, said Thursday that the IOC is \u201cputting athletes at risk.\u201d\nOlympic hopefuls from several countries have expressed similar concerns about the safety of a Summer Olympics and have said their training has already been compromised. Earlier in the week, gymnast Colin Van Wicklen became the first athlete vying for a spot on U.S. Olympic team to publicly urge for a postponement, posting on Twitter, \u201cWe must put the pressure on the IOC to do the right thing.\u201d\n\u201cI don't think it's fair to the athletes who have dedicated their whole life to trying to make an Olympic team to have to deal with this,\u201d Van Wicklen told The Washington Post in a phone interview Thursday. \u201cWe deserve to be at our best, to give it our best shot and have the best opportunity to make an Olympic team and have our dreams come true.\u201d\nThe IOC hasn\u2019t wavered in its intention to stage the Tokyo Games on schedule and has urged athletes to continue training with the July 24 start date in mind. But as cities around the world have experienced heightened restrictions, athletes are having an increasingly difficult time finding the gymnasiums, swimming pools and practice facilities needed for training.\n\u201cThere are just a lot of mixed statements right now, and that really messes with your head,\u201d Van Wicklen said. \u201cYou\u2019re trying to do the best for yourself being safe and stay healthy. You want to listen to what everybody is telling you: Stay inside, don\u2019t go anywhere if you don\u2019t need to. But you also hear: \u2018Hey, the Olympics are still happening. Athletes need to prepare.\u2019 \u201d\nThe IOC held phone conversations with Olympic stakeholders and issued a communique Tuesday saying, \u201cThe IOC encourages all athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as best they can.\u201d\nInaki Gomez, a retired Olympic race walker from Canada, called the message \u201cimprudent & reckless.\u201d\n\u201cParticularly in countries where lockdown is in effect,\u201d he posted on Twitter. \u201cMessage should be self-isolate or limit unnecessary contact, & we can worry about sport once situation has been contained.\u201d\nAmerican long-distance runner Kara Goucher, a two-time Olympian, tweeted at the IOC on Thursday night, urging it to postpone. She said in a telephone interview Friday that athletes have been forced into an untenable position.\n\u201cThe people in charge should be making the right decision for them,\u201d she said. \u201cRight now, they can\u2019t find facilities to train in, they\u2019ve put themselves at risk by going out and training and trying to find places, drug testing has been all but suspended in most countries, competitions are canceled everywhere. And we\u2019re expecting them to stay in tiptop shape. To me, it\u2019s so crazy. And it\u2019s putting money and profits above the health of athletes.\u201d\nUSOPC officials have been hearing all week of the many challenges American athletes have faced in recent days, but Hirshland said the overall feedback has been varied. \u201cThe environment even in different parts of our country is quite different,\u201d she said. \u201cThe reaction from people and what they\u2019re feeling is quite different. And we\u2019re seeing that in the feedback we\u2019re getting from the athlete community for certain.\u201d\nWhile some athletes have said training amid the covid-19 outbreak compromises their health and safety, Lyons stressed, \u201cOur No. 1 priority needs to be our health and safety and containment of this virus, period, full stop.\n\u201cThat should not conflict in any way with the decision someone is making about their training,\u201d she added.\nIOC President Thomas Bach participated in a call this week with 220 athlete representatives around the world. Kirsty Coventry, chair of the IOC Athletes\u2019 Commission, posted a video to Twitter afterward in which she noted that athletes have voiced concerns for health and safety, as well as the uncertainty cast on the Tokyo qualification process.\n\u201cWe just implore you to keep doing what you\u2019re doing,\u201d said the retired swimmer from Zimbabwe. \u201cWe heard that athletes did want to see the Games happen in July, and that\u2019s really promising. But we know the landscape is ever-changing.\u201d\nHer summary was not well-received in all corners. Urging an Olympic postponement, Brazilian swimmer Bruno Fratus responded: \u201cI\u2019d urge you to reconsider and consult with some other athletes around the world. Not sure if you\u2019re aware of the many athletes like myself incapable of even training.\n\u201cAlso, the advice of \u2018keep doing what you\u2019re doing\u2019 seems disconnected with reality when we have world leaders daily on television asking people to stay home and isolate ourselves.\u201d\nVan Wicklen said he started to realize that holding an Olympics this summer would be unfair as he struggled to find training space this week. He drove from Oklahoma to Houston and back to Oklahoma. When he was at a gym Wednesday, Van Wicklen said, \u201cI was kind of looking around the gym saying: \u2018There\u2019s no way I can train at this level, the level that I need to, here. This is not going to work.\u2019 \u201d\nWith all competitive events canceled through at least May 10 and his training now compromised, Van Wicklen estimates it will take at least a month to get \u201ceven close to where we were before this all started.\u201d\n\u201cThat leaves us with a month or even maybe less than a month before we have to go try and qualify to an Olympic team,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s not how it should be.\u201d\nEmily Giambalvo contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 962, "pid": "XP64OHJCKZHSZGXTBRYYZSH3TQ_3", "query_info": {"_id": 962, "text": "How did the postponement of the 2020 Olympics affect athletes?", "instruction_og": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant.", "instruction_changed": "For Olympic athletes, a one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics presented numerous challenges in terms of training and eligibility.  During the global pandemic, athletes' training was severely limited as their training sites were closed. Given that the Olympics are every four years meant that in one year, an athlete could blossom, suffer a career-ending injury, an aging veteran could age out, and specifically for female gymnasts whose competitive life span is brief, the impact was significant.  Other effects of postponing the Olympics, such as on construction or businesses, are not relevant. To be sure the article is referencing the correct Olympics, it must mention Tokyo directly.", "short_query": "Find an article discussing the impact of the Olympic delay on athletes' preparation.", "keywords": "Olympic athletes' preparation"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XP64OHJCKZHSZGXTBRYYZSH3TQ_3", "title": "Japan, International Olympic Committee agree to postpone Tokyo Games", "text": "premature\u201d to decide the fate of the Tokyo Games, and as other major sports events and leagues have suspended operations and canceled play, Olympic officials had resisted calls to alter the Games\u2019 schedule. They spent the past several weeks weighing options, as athletes and sports federations began voicing their concerns. The chorus only grew after Bach sent a letter to Olympic athletes Sunday, acknowledging for the first time that postponement was a possibility but refusing to make a decision for the next four weeks. The Canadian Olympic Committee said Sunday it would not send its athletes to Tokyo this summer, delivering a devastating blow to the IOC\u2019s hopes to stick to its schedule. Australia\u2019s national committee also urged its athletes to begin preparing for an Olympics in 2021, and Sebastian Coe, the influential head of World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, called on the IOC to delay the Summer Games by a year. The national Olympic committees of Brazil and Slovenia had called for a one-year postponement, and Norway had balked at sending its athletes to Japan with the current state of the pandemic. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee finally put its weight behind the movement Monday evening, saying that \u201cthe path toward postponement is the most promising.\u201d The committee had surveyed 1,780 of its American athletes and found that nearly 7 in 10 did not feel the Olympics could be fairly contested this summer because of health and safety concerns and training disruptions related to the covid-19 outbreak. The loudest early calls for postponement came from athletes, who faced the closure of training facilities, government restrictions and safety hazards while they continued preparations. Han Xiao, a table tennis player who chairs the USOPC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Advisory Council, said the process could have been smoother had athletes been listened to earlier, but that ultimately officials made the right decision. \u201cThis will give our athletes more certainty and allow them to plan and prepare accordingly moving forward while taking all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their communities,\u201d Xiao said in an email. \u201cThere are still uncertainties we will work to resolve and concerns we will be bringing forward, such as whether athletes and teams who have already qualified will have their quota spots protected.\u201d USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland sent an email to U.S. athletes after the IOC\u2019s decision, telling them that her heart broke for them"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Facing heavy global pressure and rising athlete dissent, the International Olympic Committee and Japanese officials sharply reversed course Tuesday and agreed that the Olympics and Paralympics will not take place this summer in Tokyo in the wake of the growing novel coronavirus pandemic. Organizers say they now hope to stage the Games by the summer of 2021.\nThe Olympics are the biggest event to date scuttled because of the virus, which has now claimed more than 18,000 lives, infected more than 400,000 people on six of the seven continents and upended daily life across the globe.\nJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday proposed a one-year postponement to IOC leadership, including President Thomas Bach. The IOC quickly agreed that the Games would be held about one year after the previously scheduled start date, July 24.\n\u201cI have made a proposal of about a year,\u201d Abe said. \u201cPresident Bach said he agreed 100 percent, and we agreed to hold the Olympics by summer 2021.\u201d\nAbe said he and Bach agreed \u201cto cooperate in order to hold the Olympics in the complete form, as a testament to victory over the infection.\u201d\nAfter Abe and Bach spoke on the phone, Bach participated in a teleconference with the 15-member IOC Executive Board to determine whether to accept Abe\u2019s proposal. The board members, spread out across the globe, discussed Abe\u2019s proposal. Meanwhile, the Japanese government publicized it. Within an hour, the Executive Board had made the decision that had become obvious: It accepted.\n\u201cOur belief is, sport can make a better world,\u201d IOC Executive Board member Anita L. DeFrantz said in a phone interview. \u201cSo we didn\u2019t want sport to make a more sick world.\u201d\n\u201cBut I feel for the athletes,\u201d added DeFrantz, a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic rowing team. \u201cSo many athletes look to the quadrennial games, and they make plans for life thereafter. And this is so disruptive of the normal course of this. But so is this coronavirus.\u201d\nIn a joint statement, the IOC and Japan\u2019s Olympic organizing committee said they made the decision \u201cto safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.\u201d Athletes across the world had been calling for the Olympics to be postponed, saying the lack of a decision forced them to continue training at risk to their physical and mental well-being.\nThe Olympic flame will remain in Japan, and the Olympics still will be labeled Tokyo 2020, even though they will take place in 2021.\n\u201cThe leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present,\u201d the statement said.\nAbe called Bach on Tuesday night in Japan to offer his plan. The proposal came a day after the United States joined a global chorus of Olympic governing bodies advocating for a postponement. Some of the countries had vowed not to send athletes if the Games began in July as scheduled.\n\u201cIn light of the current conditions and for all the athletes, we made a proposal of a postponement of about a year, to hold them securely and safely,\u201d Abe said Tuesday.\nPostponing the Games carries massive political, financial and competitive implications. Abe, who has staked extensive political fortune to the success of the Games, said he expects Japan will pull them off.\n\u201cAs the host country, Japan would like to serve our responsibility thoroughly,\u201d Abe said.\nBach said Sunday it \u201cwould still be premature\u201d to decide the fate of the Tokyo Games, and as other major sports events and leagues have suspended operations and canceled play, Olympic officials had resisted calls to alter the Games\u2019 schedule. They spent the past several weeks weighing options, as athletes and sports federations began voicing their concerns. The chorus only grew after Bach sent a letter to Olympic athletes Sunday, acknowledging for the first time that postponement was a possibility but refusing to make a decision for the next four weeks.\nThe Canadian Olympic Committee said Sunday it would not send its athletes to Tokyo this summer, delivering a devastating blow to the IOC\u2019s hopes to stick to its schedule. Australia\u2019s national committee also urged its athletes to begin preparing for an Olympics in 2021, and Sebastian Coe, the influential head of World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, called on the IOC to delay the Summer Games by a year. The national Olympic committees of Brazil and Slovenia had called for a one-year postponement, and Norway had balked at sending its athletes to Japan with the current state of the pandemic.\nThe U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee finally put its weight behind the movement Monday evening, saying that \u201cthe path toward postponement is the most promising.\u201d The committee had surveyed 1,780 of its American athletes and found that nearly 7 in 10 did not feel the Olympics could be fairly contested this summer because of health and safety concerns and training disruptions related to the covid-19 outbreak.\nThe loudest early calls for postponement came from athletes, who faced the closure of training facilities, government restrictions and safety hazards while they continued preparations. Han Xiao, a table tennis player who chairs the USOPC\u2019s Athletes\u2019 Advisory Council, said the process could have been smoother had athletes been listened to earlier, but that ultimately officials made the right decision.\n\u201cThis will give our athletes more certainty and allow them to plan and prepare accordingly moving forward while taking all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their communities,\u201d Xiao said in an email. \u201cThere are still uncertainties we will work to resolve and concerns we will be bringing forward, such as whether athletes and teams who have already qualified will have their quota spots protected.\u201d\nUSOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland sent an email to U.S. athletes after the IOC\u2019s decision, telling them that her heart broke for them and that plans for a new version of the Games would begin immediately.\n\u201cThis summer was supposed to be a culmination of your hard work and life\u2019s dream, but taking a step back from competition to care for our communities and each other is the right thing to do,\u201d Hirshland said. \u201cYour moment will wait until we can gather again safely. I wish I had answers to every question out there, but the reality is this decision is unprecedented, and therefore, presents an entirely new process \u2014 for you, for the organizers, for the [sport national governing bodies] and for the USOPC. Please know we are committed to working with you in the coming days, weeks, and months to address them together.\u201d\nThe IOC\u2019s stunning decision is without precedent. An Olympics has never been postponed, although several have taken place later on the calendar, including the 2000 Sydney and 1988 Seoul Games, which both took place in late September, and the 1964 Tokyo and the 1968 Mexico City Games, which took place in October. The modern Olympics, which date from 1896, have been canceled three times (1916, 1940 and 1944) because of world wars.\n\u201cIt certainly is the best of a lot of unattractive possibilities,\u201d said Canadian IOC member Dick Pound, the organization\u2019s longest-serving member. \u201cCancellation is forever. And going ahead in really dangerous circumstances is just not an option, never was. The IOC is not going to put all these athletes from around the world into a situation where the risks would be disproportionate.\u201d\nIn the weeks that preceded the IOC\u2019s announcement, major sporting events had been scrapped around the globe, with sports leagues and teams suspending operations while public health authorities continue to grapple with the covid-19 outbreak. But the IOC repeatedly stated its intention to hold the Tokyo Games this summer, even as its torch relay was temporarily aborted and athletes around the world began to publicly express reservations about competing this summer.\nThe torch lighting ceremony was held in Greece without spectators on March 12\n\u201cAbe suggested the torch should remain in Fukushima for now,\u201d Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori said. \u201cI just called the governor to let him know. He was very pleased.\u201d\nThese Tokyo Games have been in the works for nearly seven years, with billions of dollars invested in hosting the 19-day sporting extravaganza that every four years brings together the world\u2019s best athletes. As concerns over the rapid spread of the disease grew, pressure mounted in recent weeks for Olympic officials to make a difficult decision that posed massive problems for organizers and athletes alike. As they publicly encouraged athletes to continue training for this summer, they privately discussed holding the Summer Games without spectators or rescheduling the world\u2019s largest sporting event for a later date, possibly in the fall or the summer of 2021\nThe Olympics draw more than 11,000 athletes and 25,000 journalists from more than 200 countries \u2014 plus hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists \u2014 running counter to the practice of social distancing advised by public health officials. The Paralympics, scheduled to begin on Aug. 25, were expected to attract 4,400 participants from around the world as well.\nConcerns first started to escalate in late February when Pound suggested that a cancellation was possible, saying the IOC likely had only a couple of months to choose a course of action.\n\u201cThis is the new war, and you have to face it,\u201d he told the Associated Press in February. \u201cIn and around that time, I\u2019d say folks are going to have to ask, \u2018Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?\u2019\u201d\nJapan has been among many countries grappling with the disease. There have been 42 deaths related to covid-19 there and more than 1,100 people infected, and the country shut down its schools last month to help slow the spread of the virus.\nAcross the world, coronavirus began to disrupt athletic schedules, causing the cancellation or postponement of several qualifying events. As gyms and facilities closed down \u2014 including two U.S. Olympic training centers \u2014 many athletes struggled to find place to train. Still, at an IOC executive board meeting in March, a spokesman said the organization has not even discussed contingency plans and vowed the Games would begin on time.\nBach earlier issued a letter to athletes reiterating that \u201cthe IOC is fully committed to a successful Olympics Games Tokyo 2020, starting 24 July,\u201d and urged them to continue training accordingly. \u201cPlease go ahead with 'full steam,\u2019\u201d Bach wrote on March 5. He held a series of phone calls with stakeholders 1\u00bd weeks later, sharing the same message.\nWhile Olympic officials often said health and safety are a priority, big money is also at stake. The Olympics are a costly undertaking, and these Summer Games were expected to carry a price tag of $12.6 billion \u2014 although some Japanese estimates have suggested the actual costs would ultimately be much higher. Tokyo was awarded hosting rights in September 2013 and has been prepping ever since, building new venues, repairing infrastructure and preparing to host hundreds of thousands of visitors.\nThe Games also generate big revenue. The IOC, a nonprofit organization, brought in more than $5 billion during the most recent four-year Olympic cycle, nearly three-quarters of which came from broadcast rights. NBC, the rights-holder in the United States, contributes about half of that and thus carries a lot of sway with the IOC. Comcast, NBC\u2019s parent company, has said insurance coverage would ensure the network doesn\u2019t suffer losses, although it would miss out on Olympic-related advertising revenue. The Summer Games are typically a ratings boon during otherwise slow summers. NBC was not eager to pit Olympic broadcasts against NFL or new programming in the fall, making rescheduling a difficult endeavor.\n\u201cThese are extraordinary and unprecedented times, and we fully support the IOC\u2019s decision to step up its scenario-planning for the Tokyo Olympics,\u201d an NBC spokesman said in a statement Sunday, before the IOC changed course. \u201cWe are prepared to stand behind any decision made by the IOC, the Japanese government, and the world health officials with whom they are working regarding the Tokyo Olympics.\u201d\nThe city of Tokyo signed an 81-page \u201cHost City Contract\u201d with the IOC and the Japanese Olympic Committee in 2013. The contract allows the IOC to cancel for a variety of reasons, including war, boycotts or if \u201cthe safety of participants in the Games would be seriously threatened or jeopardized for any reason whatsoever.\u201d\nThe country\u2019s Olympics minister, Seiko Hashimoto, told lawmakers in early March the contract gave Japanese organizers leeway to postpone the Tokyo Games but only if they were held by the end of 2020.\nAccording to the contract, the IOC was required to give at least 60 days notice to cancel, but the governing body gave no indication publicly in recent weeks it was leaning in that direction. The IOC said that while it intended to follow the advice of the World Health Organization, the words postponement or cancellation were never even uttered at its most recent executive board meeting.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve made a decision,\u201d \u00adIOC spokesman Mark Adams told reporters in early March. \u201cThe decision is: The Games go ahead. That was made some time ago. We see no reason to change that decision. All the advice we have at the moment is, the Games are going ahead, from all the competent authorities.\u201d\nExperts say a delay will pose logistical problems\nEven before Tuesday\u2019s decision, the pandemic had already wreaked havoc on the pre-Olympic schedule, forcing the postponement or cancellation of several international qualifying events. Every single sport was impacted, casting uncertainty on the rigid qualification process for the many athletes still trying to make the Olympics.\nDenyer reported from Tokyo."}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "4BQQRJHGCII6TNAD644ITGMC2I_0", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "4BQQRJHGCII6TNAD644ITGMC2I_0", "title": "Allergies, rashes and sinus headaches: U-Md. professors have been dealing with mold for years", "text": "Thurka Sangaramoorthy, a medical anthropologist and associate professor at the University of Maryland\u2019s flagship campus, had to throw away her furniture, her collection of about 1,000 books, invaluable documents and personal mementos collected since she started teaching at the school in 2012. The reason? A combination of mold, mildew and moisture that have plagued her office in Woods Hall, which houses the university\u2019s anthropology department on the College Park campus, Sangaramoorthy said. \u201cSome of those [items] were really near and dear to me,\u201d she said. The expensive regalia she wore when she graduated with her PhD was also destroyed by mold. \u201cI consider my office to be a complete loss.\u201d Fifteen professors in U-Md.\u2019s anthropology department have battled mold, and the health complications that come with it, for years, said department chair Paul Shackel. He started keeping a log of mold-related episodes in 2015. \u201cIt affects teaching, it affects the morale of people, and people are kind of discouraged because this has been going on for a while,\u201d Shackel said. \u201cThe university is taking steps, but the steps, I don\u2019t think, are big enough.\u201d Complaints about mold in the academic building have a familiar ring: A year ago, nearly 600 students were displaced from their on-campus housing at U-Md. because of a mold outbreak \u2014 an outbreak that sparked criticism of the university\u2019s administration. Amid the mold infestation, dozens of students developed adenovirus infections, and an 18-year-old freshman died of complications from the virus. Mold does not cause adenovirus infections but can set the stage for other health problems. The director of the university health center, in emails to administrators last year, acknowledged that \u201cmold can cause respiratory irritation that may increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d Professors in the anthropology department say they regularly carry wipes to clean mold from the walls and furniture in their offices. Some try their best to avoid their offices, opting to work from home. U-Md. in recent years has spent nearly $500,000 on efforts to control moisture in Woods Hall, including waterproofing, dehumidifiers, window sealing and a new drainage system, university spokeswoman Katie Lawson said in an email. \u201cWe care deeply for the well-being of our community, and we are working closely with faculty members in Woods Hall on interim measures and permanent solutions to address moisture control,\u201d Lawson said. \u201cWe are currently finalizing a plan to relocate faculty offices.\u201d Facilities Management, the"}], "old": [{"_id": "4BQQRJHGCII6TNAD644ITGMC2I_0", "title": "Allergies, rashes and sinus headaches: U-Md. professors have been dealing with mold for years", "text": "lauren.lumpkin@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Thurka Sangaramoorthy, a medical anthropologist and associate professor at the University of Maryland\u2019s flagship campus, had to throw away her furniture, her collection of about 1,000 books, invaluable documents and personal mementos collected since she started teaching at the school in 2012.\nThe reason? A combination of mold, mildew and moisture that have plagued her office in Woods Hall, which houses the university\u2019s anthropology department on the College Park campus, Sangaramoorthy said.\n\u201cSome of those [items] were really near and dear to me,\u201d she said. The expensive regalia she wore when she graduated with her PhD was also destroyed by mold. \u201cI consider my office to be a complete loss.\u201d\nFifteen professors in U-Md.\u2019s anthropology department have battled mold, and the health complications that come with it, for years, said department chair Paul Shackel. He started keeping a log of mold-related episodes in 2015.\n\u201cIt affects teaching, it affects the morale of people, and people are kind of discouraged because this has been going on for a while,\u201d Shackel said. \u201cThe university is taking steps, but the steps, I don\u2019t think, are big enough.\u201d\nComplaints about mold in the academic building have a familiar ring: A year ago, nearly 600\u00a0students were displaced from their on-campus housing at U-Md. because of a mold outbreak \u2014 an outbreak that sparked criticism of the university\u2019s administration.\nAmid the mold infestation, dozens of students developed adenovirus infections, and an 18-year-old freshman died of complications from the virus. Mold does not cause adenovirus infections but can set the stage for other health problems. The director of the university health center, in emails to administrators last year, acknowledged that \u201cmold can cause respiratory irritation that may increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d\nProfessors in the anthropology department say they regularly carry wipes to clean mold from the walls and furniture in their offices. Some try their best to avoid their offices, opting to work from home.\nU-Md. in recent years has spent nearly $500,000 on efforts to control moisture in Woods Hall, including waterproofing, dehumidifiers, window sealing and a new drainage system, university spokeswoman Katie Lawson said in an email.\n\u201cWe care deeply for the well-being of our community, and we are working closely with faculty members in Woods Hall on interim measures and permanent solutions to address moisture control,\u201d Lawson said. \u201cWe are currently finalizing a plan to relocate faculty offices.\u201d\nFacilities Management, the department that oversees campus infrastructure and repairs, said in a statement that it has installed rain guards and provided mold remediation services.\nBut the issues persist, faculty members say.\nThe anthropology department\u2019s location in the basement of Woods Hall makes it prone to humidity. Mold thrives in damp conditions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.\nJen Shaffer, an assistant professor in the anthropology department, said she tries to stay away from her office. She has offered to hold Skype meetings with students while she works at home.\n\u201cI feel bad because I prefer a face-to-face meeting,\u201d Shaffer said. \u201cI feel kind of nervous with students coming in and out of my office. I don\u2019t know what their medical histories are, and it could be potentially dangerous.\u201d\nSangaramoorthy also prefers to work at home. She said she reconfigured her teaching schedule this semester to limit her time on campus to two days a week.\nShe and other faculty have experienced health-related issues. Shackel developed skin rashes. For Shaffer, it\u2019s her sinuses.\n\u201cI know when I walk into the building, I can start to feel my sinuses clog up,\u201d Shaffer said. \u201cOverall, my eyes get all gluey, and you just get this pressure building up in your head.\u201d\nShackel, upon visiting a dermatologist three years ago, was prescribed a steroid cream. Only recently did he consider his issues could be attributed to the mold growing in his department.\nSangaramoorthy, who said she had never experienced allergies before coming to U-Md., watched as skin peeled from her fingers when she tried to clean the mold in her office. Her skin got so sensitive it would puff up when she touched it.\nShe went to an allergist who indicated the associate professor\u2019s skin condition was the \u201ccumulative effect of years of being exposed\u201d to mold, Sangaramoorthy said.\nWoods Hall is one of the older buildings on the College Park campus. It was built in 1948, according to the university\u2019s website.\nThe academic building is scheduled to undergo renovations at some point between 2021 and 2030, according to the campus facilities master plan. The document doesn\u2019t provide information on what those renovations will include.\nIn 2014, Facilities Management replaced drywall and caulked window sills with waterproof sealant to address moisture problems, according to a statement from the facilities department. Floor fans and dehumidifiers were installed and more insulation work was done in 2016 and 2017.\nFacilities Management continues to monitor mold growth in the building.\nIn February, the student newspaper, the Diamondback, reported that U-Md. will renovate 16\u00a0dorms to prevent more outbreaks.\nMeanwhile, professors in the basement of Woods Hall will do what they can to stay healthy this school year.\n\u201cI\u2019m owed a very sort of safe workplace environment where I can actually feel comfortable coming to,\u201d Sangaramoorthy said. She just returned from a year-long sabbatical. She said her symptoms disappeared while she was away.\n\u201cThe minute I start having issues again, I\u2019m gone.\u201d\nlauren.lumpkin@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "5ZGFAIU3HFC5FMU34TXOA5QNSE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5ZGFAIU3HFC5FMU34TXOA5QNSE_1", "title": "University of Maryland mold adenovirus", "text": "floor. Sarah and Riley linked arms with Olivia and made their way through the dorm lobby into the cool night of Nov. 8. They watched as Olivia trudged to a parking lot where her dad was waiting in his car. She didn\u2019t turn back to wave goodbye. As Olivia battled her mysterious illness, the University of Maryland was rocked by turmoil. Widespread mold that fall had forced the temporary evacuation of nearly 600 students in Elkton Hall after outraged parents besieged officials at the state\u2019s flagship university. The administration already was dealing with a full-blown scandal over the death of Jordan McNair, a 19-year-old football player who succumbed to heatstroke in June. Athletic trainers had waited more than an hour to call 911 after he showed signs of extreme exhaustion. His death exposed deep problems within the athletic department and led to the dismissal of the football coach, the retirement of the university president and resignation of the chairman of the university system\u2019s governing board. In November and December, the University of Maryland would become the epicenter of an outbreak of adenovirus, which can have symptoms similar to a cold or flu. But certain virulent strains can sicken healthy individuals and be particularly dangerous to people with weakened immune systems \u2014 people like Olivia, who was on medication for Crohn\u2019s disease, a serious digestive tract condition. In these cases, medical experts say, early detection can be key to treating severe adenovirus. But the university waited 18 days to tell the community after learning the virus was present on campus. Officials discussed \u2014 but decided against \u2014 notifying students with compromised immune systems and residents living in Elkton Hall, according to records reviewed by The Washington Post. As the days passed, more and more students fell ill. Many parents and students have denounced the administration\u2019s handling of the viral outbreak and the mold infestation, complaining its actions endangered thousands of students, faculty and staff on campus. In the end, more than 40 students were sickened with adenovirus, and 15 of them treated at hospitals, according to the university. Mold does not cause adenovirus but can set the stage for other health problems. The director of the university health center, in emails to administrators, acknowledged that \u201cmold can cause respiratory irritation that may increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d In recent statements to The Post, university officials defended their actions, saying they"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "I\nNow, the 18-year-old freshman was curled up in the fetal position on the floor of her dorm room at Elkton Hall in College Park, her brown hair resting on the shaggy white rug. She warned her friends, Sarah Hauk and Riley Whelan, to stay away from a plastic bag where she had just vomited.\nThe teenagers hoisted Olivia up and shuffled to the elevator. Once inside, Olivia leaned against the wall and slid to the floor.\n\u201cDon\u2019t sit down,\u201d Riley said. \u201cCome on, it\u2019s just a short ride. You can do this.\u201d\n\u201cI literally can\u2019t,\u201d said Olivia, the words slicing her sore throat like knives. \u201cI have to lay down.\u201d\nOlivia had been sick most of her first semester living in an overcrowded dorm that was infested with mold. But her symptoms now were far worse than a cough and congestion.\nHer skin was pale, and dark circles cupped her eyes. The lymph nodes in her neck\u00a0had swollen so much they felt like golf balls. The freshman \u2014 who turned late-night trips to the dining hall into stargazing adventures, belted out Miley Cyrus songs on demand and easily flipped strangers into friends \u2014 was sprawled across the elevator floor.\nSarah and Riley linked arms with Olivia and made their way through the dorm lobby into the cool night of Nov. 8. They watched as Olivia trudged to a parking lot where her dad was waiting in his car. She didn\u2019t turn back to wave goodbye.\nAs Olivia battled her mysterious illness, the University of Maryland was rocked by turmoil. Widespread mold that fall had forced the temporary evacuation of nearly 600 students in Elkton Hall after outraged parents besieged officials at the state\u2019s flagship university.\nThe administration already was dealing with a full-blown scandal over the death of Jordan McNair, a 19-year-old football player who succumbed to heatstroke in June. Athletic trainers had waited more than an hour to call 911 after he showed signs of extreme exhaustion. His death exposed deep problems within the athletic department and led to the dismissal of the football coach, the retirement of the university president and resignation of the chairman of the university system\u2019s governing board.\n\nIn November and December, the University of Maryland would become the epicenter of an outbreak of adenovirus, which can have symptoms similar to a cold or flu. But certain virulent strains can sicken healthy individuals and be particularly dangerous to people with weakened immune systems \u2014 people like Olivia, who was on medication for Crohn\u2019s disease, a serious digestive tract condition.\nIn these cases, medical experts say, early detection can be key to treating severe adenovirus.\nBut the university waited 18 days to tell the community after learning the virus was present on campus. Officials discussed \u2014 but decided against \u2014 notifying students with compromised immune systems and residents living in Elkton Hall, according to records reviewed by The Washington Post.\nAs the days passed, more and more students fell ill.\nMany parents and students have denounced the administration\u2019s handling of\u00a0the viral outbreak and the mold infestation, complaining its actions endangered\u00a0thousands of students, faculty and staff on campus. In the end, more than 40 students were sickened with adenovirus, and 15 of them treated at hospitals, according to the university.\nMold does not cause adenovirus but can set the stage for other health problems. The director of the university health center, in emails to administrators, acknowledged that \u201cmold can cause respiratory irritation that may\u00a0increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d\nIn recent statements to The Post, university officials defended their actions, saying they hired a remediation company to remove the mold in September and provided guidance to students on how to prevent the spread of viruses. They said they went beyond what was legally required to address the adenovirus outbreak and public health officials advised that it was not necessary to inform the public about the virus. In April, the college hired two outside doctors to review the school\u2019s response. They found the university followed policies and procedures.\n\u201cThe actions we took are in line with CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance on adenovirus outbreaks and were consistent with the University\u2019s strong commitment to the health and safety of our students,\u201d said David McBride, director of the health center.\nIn early November, the virus was quietly spreading through campus. Only days after Olivia had slumped in the elevator at Elkton Hall, she\u00a0was fighting for her life at Johns Hopkins Hospital.\nOn Nov. 13, her father frantically called the university from the intensive care unit in Baltimore.\u00a0When McBride called back, Olivia\u2019s father pleaded for information.\u00a0What\u2019s going on with the mold? Or was there something else on campus making students sick?\nLEFT: Olivia Paregol takes a selfie with her parents, Ian and Meg, at the University of Maryland in September. RIGHT: Students move into Elkton Hall, which would later be evacuated because of mold. (Family photo; photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)\nOlivia, or Livy Shea, as her family and friends called her, grew up in a small community west of Baltimore and considered going to\u00a0college\u00a0in South Carolina. She loved beaches and had a soft spot for country music. Mostly, she wanted a university with a lot of school spirit. She planned to study criminology, inspired by the TV show \u201cCSI.\u201d\nDuring her senior year of high school, Olivia was diagnosed with Crohn\u2019s disease, an incurable condition. She\u00a0began treatment at Hopkins that left her immune system weakened. At college, she would give herself injections of Humira, an anti-inflammatory medication, every two weeks. Olivia\u2019s parents, Ian and Meg Paregol, wanted their daughter,\u00a0the baby of the family, to stay close to home.\nWhen Olivia was accepted at the University of Maryland, it checked all the boxes and was only an hour away. After Olivia learned\u00a0she had been assigned Room 3152 at Elkton Hall, she felt lucky to have landed in a dorm with air conditioning.\nOn Aug. 24,\u00a0Olivia\u2019s family stuffed two cars with dorm supplies and headed to\u00a0College Park. She had coordinated colors with her 18-year-old roommate, Megan Sassaman, and bought a cream-colored tapestry with a map of the world to hang in their third-floor dorm room. Olivia\u2019s parents tucked handwritten notes of encouragement in her dresser drawer before saying goodbye.\nElkton Hall, an\u00a0eight-story, red-brick dorm located in the shadow of the university\u2019s football stadium, was bursting with students. Built in 1966, it was designed to hold\u00a0about 530 students,\u00a0but\u00a0nearly 570 were squeezed into the building because of a large freshman class.\nStudy lounges had been converted to dorm rooms for four students and some rooms for two residents now housed three. Students crammed the narrow halls and communal bathrooms on each floor.\u00a0They waited endlessly for elevators because one of the three was always broken.\nIt was one of the soggiest summers in Maryland history. By the end of September, more than 50 inches of precipitation had fallen. Eventually, 2018 would go down as the region\u2019s wettest year on record.\nOlivia\u2019s room felt like a swamp, so humid that bath towels never dried. The air-conditioning unit in her room stopped working\u00a0in the first week of September and had to be fixed repeatedly. By mid-September, Olivia and her roommate, Megan, had persistent coughs, and it seemed harder than usual to breathe.\nA pungent odor hung thick, and it was impossible to ignore whenever Riley and Sarah, 18-year-old freshmen who lived together on the eighth floor, visited Olivia\u2019s room.\nMold had surfaced earlier that summer in Elkton Hall and other dorms across campus. University officials dispatched housekeeping staff to wipe off visible mold before students arrived in August, according to workers interviewed by The Post. With damp conditions and overcrowding,\u00a0it didn\u2019t take long for the mold to return.\nIt began to invade Elkton \u2014 on the blinds, under the beds, inside sneakers and all over the cooling units. On Sept. 18, a resident assistant sent a message to students on Olivia\u2019s floor instructing them to check their rooms for mold: \u201cBest way to see it is in the dark using a flashlight . . . It\u2019ll probably look fuzzy and green.\u201d\n\u201cwe got mold,\u201d Olivia texted Riley later that day.\n\u201chow bad,\u201d Riley asked.\n\u201clook under ur drawers on ur dresser,\u201d Olivia responded. \u201cthat\u2019s where we have it.\u201d\nThe campus\u00a0again\u00a0sent housekeeping staff, who said that they were untrained in mold removal and without the proper protective gear, to wipe down desks and chairs\u00a0with an all-purpose disinfectant. The workers were beset by scratchy throats, itchy eyes\u00a0and headaches.\u00a0Some called in sick and visited the health center.\nAfter Megan\u2019s mother complained, staff replaced their dressers, blinds and desks.\u00a0But the mold grew back in rooms across Elkton.\u00a0Housing officials hastily called a meeting on Sept. 21 to address the mold in Elkton Hall as parents descended on the campus that Friday for Family Weekend.\n\u201cYou have a sick building with 600 children,\u201d one mother told university officials at the meeting.\u00a0Students cried about being ill.\nMcBride, 50, handed out business cards and told the\u00a0roughly two dozen\u00a0parents and students in attendance to call\u00a0him at the health center if they had concerns.\nHe had spent his early career as a physician at a community health center outside Boston. It was there, he said, that he learned the importance of engaging with people outside of the clinical setting. McBride later led student health services at Boston University before arriving at the University of Maryland in 2014.\nDuring the meeting at Elkton, housing officials\u00a0insisted they only learned of the latest mold outbreak in recent days and blamed it on the unusually\u00a0wet\u00a0weather.\nMold under a desk in Olivia's room and on a sandal belonging to Megan Sassaman, her roommate, from late September. (Photos by Megan Sassaman)\nHours after the meeting, administrators announced they would move students out of the dorm over the coming weeks and pay for them to stay\u00a0in local hotels. They would hire an outside specialist to clean the mold and an engineer to examine the underlying cause.\nThat report would find\nMold outbreaks on campus were not new or confined to Elkton, according to workers; articles in the Diamondback, the student newspaper; and documents reviewed by The Post. Since 2017, the university has received reports of mold at all 38 residence halls in College Park, records show.\nIn recent years, other colleges have\u00a0grappled with\u00a0mold outbreaks.\u00a0In October,\u00a0the University of Tennessee closed a dorm housing roughly 600 students for the rest of the year. Last fall, Montclair State University in New Jersey\u00a0tested mold spore levels before and after remediation even though there are no federal or state requirements to do so.\nThe University of Maryland, where in-state tuition, housing and other costs run about $25,000, took a different approach. It would rotate students out floor by floor while the remediation was ongoing, starting at the top of Elkton, where residents had made more complaints about mold. And, at the recommendation of the campus environmental safety team, the college said it decided against testing the type of mold, noting the Environmental Protection Agency has said such testing is unnecessary.\nRiley and Sarah, who both battled coughs and congestion, on Sept. 23 moved to\u00a0the nearby Cambria Hotel with other\u00a0eighth-floor residents. Contractors\u00a0in hazmat suits and masks began cleanup efforts\u00a0at Elkton.\nA health and safety specialist who inspected Elkton on behalf of the campus labor union said the building\u2019s condition was so bad that it looked as though it were filled with floodwater.\nWorkers placed dehumidifiers in the hallways throughout the building. On Olivia\u2019s floor,\u00a0a tube drained water from a dehumidifier into a drinking fountain. Olivia and her roommate, Megan, weren\u2019t scheduled to move out for another 10 days.\nOlivia, meanwhile, couldn\u2019t stop coughing.\nOn Monday, Megan walked to the student health center, a red-brick building in the heart of campus, for the second time that month. Megan said that during a breathing test a physician assistant asked whether she was trying hard enough because her oxygen levels had dropped.\nMegan complained in an email to university officials about how she had been treated. \u201c[It] made me feel as though my symptoms were pushed under the rug yet again,\u201d Megan wrote on Sept. 25 to University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh and others. She mentioned Olivia\u2019s\u00a0illness\u00a0and said: \u201cI continue to live in an unhealthy environment.\u00a0The lack of communication and lack of acknowledgement of the issue saddens me and comes across as if the University puts student health as a low priority.\u201d\nAfter more than a week of relentless coughing, Olivia now had a sore throat and chest congestion. On Sept. 26, she also visited the student health center\u00a0at the urging of her parents. There, a doctor diagnosed her with an unspecified viral upper respiratory infection with a cough and \u201cexposure to mold,\u201d according to her medical records.\u00a0She was prescribed cough medicine and a nasal saline spray.\nIn an effort to understand the effects of the mold infestation, health center staff, at McBride\u2019s direction, had begun to take note of where students who came for treatment were living and if their respiratory symptoms were worse inside the dorms.\nAfter the relocation plan was announced on Sept. 21, Megan\u2019s parents, Kim and Kevin Sassaman, sent emails to top university officials asking why Megan and Olivia couldn\u2019t be moved to a hotel sooner, given their poor health. With approval\u00a0from a housing official, the two students\u00a0moved into the Cambria on Sept. 26. The roommates stocked up on beauty masks and snacks for their makeshift dorm room.\nTwo days after\u00a0they\u00a0checked into the hotel,\u00a0McBride, the director of the health center, wrote Olivia that a doctor there \u201clet me know that you\u2019re feeling unwell and that mold may be a factor. I know that you\u2019re scheduled to move for cleaning in early October. Do you want for me to advocate for a sooner move to another location on campus until after the cleaning is complete?\u201d\nOlivia responded: \u201cMy roommate actually already had us moved. Thank you for reaching out, but I\u2019m already in a hotel at the moment.\u201d\nAfter\u00a011 days in the hotel, Olivia and Megan moved back into Elkton Hall, where the remediation was winding down.\nParents increasingly took to social media to vent about conditions on campus. On Oct. 8, they started to complain on Facebook that their children were misdiagnosed at the health center, were told they had unspecified viruses or couldn\u2019t even get an appointment.\nIn an interview, Angela Hayes said her son, a freshman who lived in Easton Hall, repeatedly sought help for a sore throat and high temperature. Health center staff told him he had a virus. When he didn\u2019t improve, she said, he went to a nearby urgent care center, where he was diagnosed with acute tonsillitis and prescribed antibiotics.\n\u201cIt was almost like a factory,\u201d Hayes said of the university health center. \u201cThey\u2019d tell students, \u2018You\u2019re fine, you\u2019re fine, you\u2019re fine.\u2019 \u201d\nMcBride told The Post that in October he noticed an uptick of fever-associated illnesses that were not the flu. He scheduled a meeting in early November of the Campus Infectious Disease Management Committee, a group that evaluates\u00a0health threats.\nIn mid-October, Debbra Aiello\u2019s 18-year-old\u00a0son, who lived in La Plata Hall, called her at home in New Jersey complaining of a bad headache, sore throat and high fever. She drove down to College Park and brought him back to a pediatric emergency room in New Jersey. He had a 104-degree fever, and after a battery of tests, doctors determined he had an ear infection and adenovirus.\nAiello said she had never heard of adenovirus and had no clue that it could severely sicken a healthy teenage boy. It took him nearly a week to recover at home.\nWhen his father drove him back to College Park, the son fell ill again, so they headed to the health center.\nBut there was a two-hour wait. They\u00a0left campus and\u00a0drove to an urgent care facility. Had the health center been able to treat the student, the university might have learned much earlier about the dangerous virus snaking its way through campus.\nMidway through the fall semester, the death of Jordan McNair still dominated headlines.\nIn late October, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents huddled behind closed doors to discuss an investigation launched in the wake of his death that revealed poor management of the athletic department. During a May 2018 workout, Jordan had hyperventilated and complained of cramps, but athletic trainers waited for about an hour to seek emergency help. He underwent a liver transplant before dying in June.\n\u201cYou entrusted Jordan to our care and he is never returning home again,\u201d President Loh told the McNair family.\nThe case led to a review of the university\u2019s accreditation, which could threaten the school\u2019s federal funding.\nOn Oct. 30, the Board of Regents recommended that football coach DJ Durkin keep his job, triggering a barrage of criticism, including from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R). The next day, the university reversed course and dismissed Durkin. The chairman of the Board of Regents would also resign amid the turmoil.\nAs this was unfolding, Olivia\u00a0languished. She bailed early from a Halloween party, where she was dressed as one of the Three Blind Mice. She had painted her glasses black,\u00a0dark enough\u00a0to cover her puffy eyes, and told friends it pained her to speak.\n\u201ci can\u2019t swallow my own spit,\u201d Olivia texted Sarah on Oct. 31, \u201cand my neck is so lumpy bc my lymph nodes so swollen.\u201d\nThat day she went to\u00a0her family doctor, where a pediatric nurse practitioner tested her for strep but found none. Two days later, on Nov. 2, as her symptoms worsened, Olivia\u2019s father urged her to visit the campus health center. There, she complained to a physician that she had a fever, fatigue and a sore throat and mentioned that a friend had mono. The doctor ordered a test for mono, but Olivia didn\u2019t have time to wait at the lab.\nThat evening, she was headed to a birthday celebration for her sister. At the dinner, Olivia whispered in between coughs that she was sure she had mono. Her father worried about her weakened immune system and was determined to take her home from school.\u00a0To his surprise, she did not object.\nOlivia soon retreated to her childhood bedroom. Over the weekend, she complained of chills and took hot showers to soothe her shivering body.\n\u201cr u coming back today?\u201d Riley texted her the afternoon of Nov. 4, a Sunday.\nOlivia replied that she didn\u2019t know.\n\u201cmy fever won\u2019t break,\u201d she wrote.\nThe university\u2019s first warning of adenovirus among students came the day before Olivia\u2019s Nov. 2 visit to the health center.\u00a0McBride received an email from a physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, who told him about a College Park student who had been hospitalized there and tested positive for the virus.\n\u201cI thought it best that you know in case there are more,\u201d wrote the physician, James Campbell.\nIn a follow-up phone call that day, Campbell told McBride that the student had been admitted with a high fever and pneumonia, according to records and interviews, and was suffering from \u201can unusual presentation\u201d of adenovirus.\nThe virus was in the news: It had been linked to the deaths of children with weakened immune systems living at a long-term care facility in New Jersey. The outbreak ultimately killed 11 children and sickened more than two dozen others.\n\nCertain strains can severely sicken healthy adults. The military has had multiple fatal outbreaks in barracks. A vaccine is available to military personnel but has not been approved for the general public.\nSoon after the phone call with Campbell, McBride learned\u00a0that a student who had been seen at the health center with a fever and respiratory problems had been admitted to Washington Adventist Hospital in Maryland, according to interviews and records. McBride suspected it was\u00a0a second\u00a0case of adenovirus and asked the hospital to run a test.\nOn Nov. 7, McBride convened the meeting of the Campus Infectious Disease Management Committee, which included about a dozen officials from student affairs, athletics, communications, housing and other departments. They discussed updating the campus plan for disease outbreaks. McBride told them about the increase in fever-associated illnesses on campus and several cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, which causes a mild rash and mouth sores.\nMcBride, however, did not advise the committee of the confirmed case of adenovirus or the second suspected one, according to the minutes. Asked why he didn\u2019t bring up adenovirus, McBride told The Post that it is \u201cnot currently a reportable condition . . . we were more focused on what we knew at that time.\u201d\nUnlike some other infectious diseases, adenovirus is not governed by mandatory state or federal reporting requirements \u2014 doctors or hospitals are not required to alert health officials or the public when the virus is discovered.\nTwo days later, on Nov. 9, Andrew Catanzaro, a physician at Washington Adventist, followed up with McBride and emailed him that he was concerned about \u201cothers coming into the hospital who are quite ill . . . Perhaps you have an outbreak of Adenovirus on the campus.\u201d\nThat day, the campus health center began testing for adenovirus. The nasal swab used to detect adenovirus is significantly more expensive than a flu or strep test, and it is not available at many primary care and urgent care clinics.\nThat Friday evening, McBride sent out a\u00a0campuswide email about flu and virus prevention techniques, such as washing hands, and noted that there had been several cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. He made no mention of adenovirus.\n\u201cThis is no cause for alarm,\u201d he wrote in boldface type, \u201cbut it does give us the opportunity to practice effective prevention techniques for these types of illnesses.\u201d\nBy then, Olivia had been out of school and at home for a week, except for a brief visit to Elkton to pick up her medication. She kept Sarah and Riley in the loop, texting \u201ci just puked blood.\u201d\nShe returned to her pediatric nurse practitioner on Nov. 5. The following day, her parents took her to the emergency room at Howard County General Hospital, where doctors treated her as if she had bacterial pneumonia and sent her home with antibiotics.\nBut the medication wasn\u2019t working, and her chest began to hurt when she coughed.\nThree days later, Olivia\u2019s parents brought her back to Howard County hospital. She was admitted and tested for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis and bacterial blood infections, records show. All came back negative. But physicians did not test for adenovirus.\nThey knew she had pneumonia but it was unclear as to what had caused it and why she wasn\u2019t getting better. They continued to treat her with antibiotics.\nHoward County hospital officials later declined to answer questions about why they did not test Olivia for adenovirus.\nIan and Meg Paregol traded off nights sleeping on a small couch next to Olivia\u2019s hospital bed. Ian, an attorney who represents clients with disabilities, had learned how to advocate for patients under difficult circumstances. He barely slept as he watched his daughter\u2019s oxygen levels dip well below normal on Saturday night.\nOlivia\u2019s left lung was filling with fluid.\nOn Nov. 11, with her condition worsening, Olivia was moved into the intensive care unit. Doctors suggested puncturing her back with a needle to help drain fluid from her lungs.\nOlivia, now struggling to speak, asked: \u201cWill it hurt?\u201d\nSuddenly, her eyes rolled back and she suffered a seizure, thrashing against the bed. Medical staff rushed in, and Ian, fearing she was dying, ran from her bedside into the hallway. He fell to his knees and started to pray. Doctors intubated Olivia and administered sedative drugs.\nThat night, Howard County physicians planned to airlift her to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, where she could undergo a Hail Mary treatment: the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine or ECMO. Tubes circulate and oxygenate the patient\u2019s blood outside of the body, giving the heart and lungs a chance to recover.\nIan and Meg drove to Hopkins. They took the elevator to one of the top floors of the hospital and stood by the window. There, they stared into the night sky and waited for the flashing lights and whirring blades of their daughter\u2019s helicopter.\nBack on campus, Sarah\u2019s text messages to Olivia went unanswered.\n\u201cOkay you\u2019re scaring me,\u201d Sarah wrote. \u201cI just wanna know ur okay/coming home tomorrow.\u201d\nOlivia\u2019s roommate, Megan, was too sick to leave their dorm room.\u00a0Megan had tried to get an appointment at the campus health center, but nothing was available.\nOn. Nov. 12, Megan\u2019s mother, Kim Sassaman, wrote to Loh and\u00a0McBride about her daughter\u2019s illness and questioned whether mold remained in the dorm room.\u00a0She asked for \u201cfull disclosure\u201d on what was making her daughter and other students sick.\n\u201cHer constant illness is not an isolated case in Elkton,\u201d Sassaman wrote. She alluded to Olivia,\u00a0saying that Megan\u2019s roommate was hospitalized with pneumonia and another student \u2014 their 18-year-old friend Humza Mohiuddin \u2014\u00a0had been hospitalized with respiratory issues.\nMcBride responded quickly and traded emails with Megan\u2019s mother. \u201cWe\u2019ve discovered several cases of a particularly nasty strain of adenovirus (a typical cold virus),\u201d McBride wrote in one message. \u201cIf Megan has not been tested for this, we can either perform a swab at the UHC for it or you can ask her current caregiver to test for it.\u201d\nBy then the state Department of Health was aware of the outbreak. On Nov. 12, Catanzaro, the infectious disease physician at Washington Adventist, alerted the state about two students who tested positive for adenovirus. The next day, McBride learned that a student tested at the health center was also positive for adenovirus.\nAt Hopkins, doctors began the ECMO treatment\u00a0for Olivia and ordered dozens of tests, including a screening for respiratory viruses that could detect adenovirus.\nAfter Olivia showed no improvement\u00a0on Nov. 13, Ian, in a panic, called the university.\nWhen McBride returned the call later that day, Ian pressed him about her illness and any connection to mold.\n\u201cI need some answers,\u201d Olivia\u2019s father pleaded. \u201cI need to know what\u2019s going on because she should not be this sick.\u201d\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had a couple of cases of adenovirus appear,\u201d McBride responded, according to Ian. He said he told McBride to immediately call Hopkins to share what he knew.\nLater that afternoon,\u00a0McBride left a voice mail for Ian, saying he had spoken to medical staff at Hopkins: \u201cThe state health department is getting involved as well, so we can try to prevent further spread of the virus called adenovirus, which is actually a pretty common cold virus. But every once in a while it causes a more severe illness. So we suspect that\u2019s what it might be.\u201d\nSuddenly, Ian had a sobering realization: For the past week, doctors had been giving her a cocktail of antibiotics, which would only be effective if a bacterial infection were the underlying cause.\nBut the true culprit had been a virus.\nAlthough many people recover from adenovirus on their own, immunocompromised patients with severe cases, such as Olivia, can benefit from antiviral drugs, such as cidofovir. The drug carries significant risks, including kidney failure, and has not been studied in large-scale trials for use in treating adenovirus.\n\u201cYou want to start it before the patient gets too sick,\u201d said Ivan Gonzalez, a physician at the University of Miami who has studied the use of cidofovir in adenovirus patients with compromised immune systems.\nIn Olivia\u2019s case, doctors didn\u2019t wait. On Nov. 13, hours after tests confirmed she had adenovirus, they began to administer cidofovir.\nThat afternoon, Linda Clement, vice president for student affairs, wrote to Loh, \u201cWe have three cases of adeno .\u2009.\u2009. it is likely [Prince George\u2019s County] will declare an \u2018outbreak.\u2019\u00a0\u201d\nAbout two weeks had passed since McBride learned of the first adenovirus case on campus. The unofficial tally of students with the virus was up to at least five, three of whom required hospitalization. There probably were many others who had not been diagnosed. The University of Maryland was now navigating one of the country\u2019s first\u00a0adenovirus outbreaks on a college campus.\nStill, there was no announcement.\nOn Nov. 14, McBride sent an email to Richard Brooks, a CDC employee assigned to the state health department, and shared the university\u2019s campuswide virus prevention email that was sent on Nov. 9. McBride asked Brooks, who works with state officials on outbreaks, if the CDC wanted the university to do more \u201cadeno specific communication\u201d with people on campus.\nLater that day, Brooks responded by email: \u201cBased on our conversation with CDC, we don\u2019t think additional, more specific messaging about adenovirus is necessary at this point in time.\u201d\nOn Nov. 15, McBride gathered the infectious disease committee \u2014 this time to talk about the growing number of adenovirus cases.\u00a0The university\u2019s plan for responding to low-level health threats states that officials should be \u201cproviding information to the community about the infection in question, increasing prevention measures in resident halls/dining halls/public locations.\u201d\n\nThe group suggested conferring with Katie Lawson, the university\u2019s chief communications officer, about\u00a0sending a message to students who had compromised immune systems and to residents of Elkton Hall given \u201cheightened sensitivity\u201d over the mold, according to minutes of the meeting.\nNo message was sent that day alerting students, but McBride warned his counterparts at Georgetown, George Washington, American, Howard, Towson and other regional colleges. In an email, he told them about a \u201ccluster\u201d of adenovirus cases, noting that three students had been hospitalized, including one in \u201cvery serious condition.\u201d\n\u201cPlease keep your eye out for this on your campuses,\u201d he wrote on Nov. 15.\nAt Hopkins, additional tests soon revealed that Olivia had adenovirus 7, a virulent strain responsible for the deaths of children in New Jersey.\nWhen Angela Crankfield-Edmond, a health official with Prince George\u2019s County, learned on Nov. 16 that preliminary results showed Olivia had the pernicious strain of adenovirus, she wrote to McBride, \u201cPlease do not tell anyone until we get the final result.\u201d\nCrankfield-Edmond later said the state instructed her not to make anything public until final results were available.\nHopkins physicians continued to give Olivia cidofovir and also began a blood treatment designed to boost her immunity.\nBut it made no difference.\nFluid rapidly accumulated in her once slender 130-pound body. By Nov. 16, she had swollen to 232 pounds. Her blood pressure plummeted. Her kidneys and liver were failing.\n\nGlenn Whitman \u2014 an ICU physician at Hopkins\u00a0\u2014 gathered Olivia\u2019s family in a conference room to explain the best chance to save her life.\nAn open abdominal surgery could release fluid and pressure. An adhesive film would temporarily hold Olivia\u2019s organs in place. If she survived, she could face up to a year of recovery in a hospital bed.\nIan and Meg asked him: What would he do?\nWhitman broke down into tears. He had children as well, he told them. And he would do everything to save the Paregols\u2019 daughter, just as if she were his own.\nOn Facebook, Ian asked family and friends to pray as Olivia underwent surgery on Saturday, Nov. 17.\nThe pulse within her feet had become faint. Now doctors were struggling to pick up a pulse in her legs. Amputation was a possible last resort.\nIan and Meg tried to channel Olivia\u2019s mind-set. At what cost would she be willing to live?\n\u201cUltimately what we really need is a miracle,\u201d Ian posted on Facebook.\nEarly Sunday morning, on Nov. 18, the Paregol family made the 45-minute drive home from Hopkins to shower and change clothes. A nurse called with grim instructions: Come back as soon as possible.\nWith permission from Ian and Meg, doctors stopped giving Olivia blood pressure medication. They warned that she could die within minutes.\nCountry music\u00a0\u2014 Olivia\u2019s favorite\u00a0\u2014 played in the room as her parents and two siblings, Zoe and Evan, took turns by the teenager\u2019s bedside. They remembered the vacation to Turks and Caicos and trips in the family Prius with Olivia crammed in the middle seat between her brother and sister.\nOne by one they held her hand for hours that Sunday afternoon and told her how much they loved her.\nAt 10:15 p.m. on Nov. 18, Olivia Shea Paregol was pronounced dead.\nDoctors listed three causes of death: organ failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome and adenovirus.\nLEFT: Meg Paregol stands in her daughter Olivia's bedroom at her home in Glenwood. RIGHT: Ian Paregol sits for a portrait after getting a tattoo in memory of Olivia. (Photos by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)\nEarly the next morning, McBride wrote to Brooks, the CDC employee working with state health officials, saying he had an unconfirmed report that Olivia had died. Given that she had adenovirus 7, he wondered if they should go public.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve discussed internally here, and we don\u2019t feel that this changes our plans to do any messaging,\u201d Brooks responded an hour later. \u201cTo be clear, we are not recommending that you NOT put out any additional communications (i.e. if you feel the need to send any additional messaging, we are fine with that). We just aren\u2019t recommending that you need to do so.\u201d\nAfter\u00a0reaching out to the state,\u00a0McBride faxed the result of Megan\u2019s test at the campus health center to her family doctor \u2014 she also had adenovirus.\nAround 2:30 p.m. that day, Nov. 19, McBride sent out a campuswide email that for the first time publicly acknowledged adenovirus, saying that there were six confirmed cases over the past two weeks. The next day, he revealed in another email to the campus that the virus had killed an unnamed student \u2014 Olivia \u2014 and urged others to take the virus seriously.\nMcBride privately expressed concern that an upcoming news article in the Baltimore Sun about the adenovirus outbreak might suggest that the University of Maryland \u201cshould have done more,\u201d he wrote in an email to Crankfield-Edmond, the Prince George\u2019s County health official.\n\u201cThere was nothing else you could have done,\u201d responded Crankfield-Edmond, who days earlier had told McBride to remain silent. \u201cIt\u2019s a cold virus that is in the community.\u201d\nThe next day, on Nov. 21, McBride appeared on a local television segment and defended the university\u2019s response to the adenovirus outbreak.\n\u201cWhile we want to acknowledge that there are cases on campus, we don\u2019t necessarily want to stir up unnecessary angst,\u201d\u00a0McBride said in the interview.\nThe Paregol family spent Thanksgiving planning a funeral. Two days later, on a rainy Saturday, the ground so wet that heels sunk into the mud, Olivia\u2019s family and friends gathered at the Good Shepherd Cemetery\u00a0in Ellicott City, Md.\nOlivia\u2019s longtime pediatrician, Jacqueline Brown, attended the service. Brown kept revisiting the early days of November, when Olivia had come into her office, ailing without an apparent cause. Brown said she would have recommended an adenovirus test if she had known that the virus was circulating among Maryland students.\n\u201cIf we were looking for it sooner, then maybe the treatment might have worked,\u201d Brown told The Post. \u201cI think by the time that that\u2019s what we realized, she was already very sick.\u00a0And I\u2019m not sure that it started in time to have made a difference.\u201d\nThe following Monday,\u00a0McBride publicly announced that there were three more cases of adenovirus.\nOn Nov. 28, four days after burying Olivia, her father wrote to McBride, accusing the university of a \u201cpattern of indifference\u201d and questioning the failure to alert Olivia about adenovirus.\n\u201cThe information could have saved her life and a proper course of treatment could have been identified well before we were told about Adenovirus on 11/13,\u201d he wrote, referencing his phone call that day with McBride. Ian told McBride that had physicians known what to look for, the antiviral treatment \u201ccould have been initiated long before she became critically ill.\u201d\nThe Paregols wanted to sit face-to-face with the university president and try to understand why their daughter was dead. Two teenagers within six months had lost their lives. Ian and Meg wondered: Had the school learned nothing from Jordan McNair?\nIn early December,\u00a0the Paregols gathered around a coffee table in the president\u2019s office. Ian sat across from Loh, and Meg faced Clement, McBride\u2019s supervisor. By then, the University of Maryland had disclosed that adenovirus had sickened at least 30 students.\n\u201cMy condolences to your family,\u201d Loh said. \u201cThis is such a terrible loss.\u201d\nAfter an uncomfortable silence, Ian began peppering Loh with questions.\nIan wanted Loh to understand the connection he saw between the mold infestation and the adenovirus outbreak. Ian\u00a0said he knew that mold did not cause the virus, but the mold had made Olivia sick all semester. That made her more susceptible to other respiratory infections, such as adenovirus, he said. Her system was already compromised from her Crohn\u2019s medication.\nIan asked Loh who had made the decision to stay quiet about adenovirus since it was discovered on Nov. 1, the day before Olivia visited the health center.\nLoh, according to the Paregols\u2019 recollection, responded that he had many employees and relied on their expertise for advice.\n\u201cYou\u2019re the president,\u201d Ian said. \u201cYou\u2019re the face of this university. You make the decisions. So this is all on you.\u201d\nAfter 30 minutes, the Paregols said an official began to usher them from the room. The family insisted on a few more questions but left unsatisfied with Loh\u2019s responses.\nIn a statement to The Post, Loh, who is planning to retire in 2020, said: \u201cI cannot speak to the medical care that Olivia received at emergency rooms or hospitals, or to whether or not an antiviral medication treatment could have saved her life. We care tremendously about student health and well-being, and we offer our condolences to the Paregol family for this tragic loss.\u201d\nClement, in a recent interview with The Post, said she stood by the decision to take 18 days to publicly disclose the presence of adenovirus and felt reassured after two outside physicians reviewed the response to the outbreak.\u00a0\u201cWe responded as quickly as we could,\u201d she said. \u201cThey confirmed that the way we handled it was well done.\u201d\nA spokeswoman for Johns Hopkins Medicine, which operates both Howard County General Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital, declined to answer specific questions about Olivia\u2019s treatment.\n\u201cWe are deeply saddened about the death of Olivia Paregol,\u201d the spokeswoman said in a statement. \u201cMs. Paregol was diagnosed with an adenoviral infection, for which there is no FDA-approved treatment. Her case was quite complex, and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to summarize it in a brief media statement.\u201d\nAt Elkton Hall, students were skeptical of the university\u2019s efforts to eradicate the mold.\nDays after Olivia\u2019s funeral, her friends Humza and Megan\u00a0returned to the dorm and found mold growing on the shoes in their closets. Housing officials gave Humza a humidity monitor for his room.\nMegan eventually decided she had had enough and transferred to a school in another state.\nIn early January, Sarah and Riley joined Olivia\u2019s family at Elkton Hall to clear out the rest of her belongings. Olivia\u2019s parents and sister pulled up to the dorm on a cold, cloudy morning. They stood silently with housing officials and waited for the elevator, holding empty duffel bags.\nIan asked to go the eighth floor where Sarah and Riley had decorated a bulletin board with red construction paper and photos of Olivia\u2019s brief time on campus. They wanted to feel like she was still a part of Elkton. As he looked at his daughter\u2019s face, Ian broke down in tears.\nIn Room 3152, Sarah and Riley began to sort through Olivia\u2019s clothes. They took some T-shirts, a pillow and folded up the tapestry of the world map. They planned to hang it on the wall of their on-campus apartment in the fall.\nSarah lay down on Olivia\u2019s bed and stared at the ceiling. She wiped tears from her eyes.\nSeveral days later, Sarah returned to Elkton Hall to move in for the spring semester.\nShe walked toward the elevator and looked up at the bulletin board. Olivia\u2019s smiling face was gone. All of it had been taken down.\nHow this story was reported:\nReporters interviewed more than 100 people, including students, parents, university employees, and county, state and federal health officials. Health-care providers and mold and adenovirus experts were also consulted. The reconstruction of events, including conversations, was based on thousands of pages of medical records; hundreds of emails, text messages, voicemails and other reports; and documents provided by sources and through public records requests. The Washington Post requested emails from the University of Maryland that mentioned \u201cmold\u201d or \u201cadenovirus.\u201d The Post also asked the university to waive any fees, arguing that disclosing the documents would be in the public\u2019s interest. Officials denied the fee waiver and estimated it would cost more than $63,000 to produce 25,000 responsive documents. The scope of the request was narrowed to 300 pages and it cost $690. The Post also reviewed emails provided through state and county records requests.\nJulie Tate and Rick Maese contributed to this report. Editing by David Fallis and Jeff Leen. Videos by Patrick Martin. Photo editing by Nick Kirkpatrick. Video editing by Deirdra O\u2019Regan. Copy editing by Matt Schnabel. Design and development by Victoria Adams Fogg. Project management by Julie Vitkovskaya."}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "6N3ESDXRAII6TBUT6SD6IZ4EVI_2", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6N3ESDXRAII6TBUT6SD6IZ4EVI_2", "title": "U-Md. installs sensors to monitor moisture a year after mold infestation", "text": "university spokeswoman Katie Lawson. In November, the sensors will be replaced with \u201csmart sensors\u201d that share readings in real time. Michael Kletz, an allergist and immunologist with practices in the District and Northern Virginia who is not affiliated with U-Md., said the sensors could be a useful mold abatement tool. \u201cIt\u2019s much easier to get rid of mold when it starts than once it\u2019s already grown,\u201d Kletz said. \u201cThe thing about mold is that it tends to increase, or is more likely, when it gets humid. When the humidity is kept to a minimum, there\u2019s less of a chance of the mold growing. But it\u2019s still possible to have mold grow, even in deserts.\u201d The university expects to spend $84,000 a year to keep the sensors working and to monitor the data, Lawson said. The campus purchased 50 additional sensors to keep in reserve in case moisture problems arise in other buildings, university spokeswoman Natifia Mullings said. The introduction of the mold monitoring system follows criticism leveled at the school for its handling of last year\u2019s infestation and for an adenovirus outbreak that left one student dead and more than 40 other students ill. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) called on the university to investigate its response to the adenovirus outbreak. Officials waited 18 days to tell students the virus was present on campus. Olivia Paregol, an 18-year-old freshman with a compromised immune system, died of complications from the virus. A panel assembled in the spring was supposed to deliver a report to the University System of Maryland\u2019s Board of Regents this month, but officials don\u2019t expect it to be complete until November, said Tim McDonough, spokesman for the system. \u201cThe governor demanded a thorough and transparent investigation of the outbreak, and has urged the regents to act quickly for the sake of the Paregol family and the entire campus community,\u201d said Hogan spokeswoman Shareese DeLeaver-Churchill. In a letter to the Paregol family\u2019s attorney, Hogan said he told his staff to \u201cfollow up with the University of Maryland and find out why the investigation has not been completed in a timely manner and to express my disappointment in the time it has taken to be responsive to my request.\u201d In Elkton Hall, where Paregol lived, first-year students said they haven\u2019t seen mold this school year. Nearly 600 students were forced to evacuate the dorm a year ago. \u201cThis building, I"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "As students at the University of Maryland\u2019s flagship campus made their way back to school for the fall semester, officials installed 50 sensors to monitor moisture and humidity in a dozen buildings.\nThe move followed a tumultuous year at the College Park campus. Last fall, sprouting mold and an adenovirus outbreak engulfed the school in controversy. Then, last month, anthropology professors complained that persistent mold in their offices had destroyed belongings and made them sick.\nCarlo Colella, the school\u2019s vice president for administration and finance, said the heightened monitoring of campus facilities has helped officials stay on top of maintenance problems.\n\u201cWe feel very comfortable that only a few of our buildings have persistent atmospheric moisture issues and that\u2019s why we are deploying this moisture watch program, to stay ahead of that as best we can,\u201d Colella said.\nEven as U-Md. moved to improve environmental monitoring, students who live in a cluster of apartment-style residences belonging to the university reported recent episodes of mold and flooding.\nJared Bennett, 19, a sophomore, said he has been battling mold in the bathroom since he moved into Old Leonardtown, a collection of apartment-style residences on the southern end of campus.\n\u201cThey\u2019re just generally very humid, and the air-conditioning [units] are old. In the bathrooms, the shower curtains are hung too low, so everything grows mold,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cIt\u2019s most concerning, the amount of mold that grows, and, no matter how many times we clean it up, it comes back.\u201d\nStudents are expected to permanently move out of Old Leonardtown at the end of this school year, with the 1970s-era structures later being demolished, student newspaper the Diamondback reported. About 225 students live in the complex, according to the university\u2019s website.\nMichael Robidoux, 19, said rain showers Oct. 20 flooded his bedroom, although he did not find mold.\n\u201cWe realized that most of our floor was pretty wet. Rain had come through the walls and soaked our carpet,\u201d the sophomore said. \u201cIt\u2019s been pretty frustrating.\u201d\nA university spokeswoman said Old Leonardtown is not experiencing persistent problems and described mold growth reported in one apartment as an \u201cisolated incident.\u201d\nU-Md. spent $30,000 to purchase and install the sensors. So far, they\u2019ve been planted in three dorms and nine academic buildings. School leaders said they hope to identify mold growth before it leads to infestation.\nData is collected manually from the devices every 48 hours, said university spokeswoman Katie Lawson. In November, the sensors will be replaced with \u201csmart sensors\u201d that share readings in real time.\nMichael Kletz, an allergist and immunologist with practices in the District and Northern Virginia who is not affiliated with U-Md., said the sensors could be a useful mold abatement tool.\n\u201cIt\u2019s much easier to get rid of mold when it starts than once it\u2019s already grown,\u201d Kletz said. \u201cThe thing about mold is that it tends to increase, or is more likely, when it gets humid. When the humidity is kept to a minimum, there\u2019s less of a chance of the mold growing. But it\u2019s still possible to have mold grow, even in deserts.\u201d\nThe university expects to spend $84,000 a year to keep the sensors working and to monitor the data, Lawson said. The campus purchased 50 additional sensors to keep in reserve in case moisture problems arise in other buildings, university spokeswoman Natifia Mullings said.\nThe introduction of the mold monitoring system follows criticism leveled at the school for its handling of last year\u2019s infestation and for an adenovirus outbreak that left one student dead and more than 40 other students ill.\nMaryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) called on the university to investigate its response to the adenovirus outbreak. Officials waited 18 days to tell students the virus was present on campus. Olivia Paregol, an 18-year-old freshman with a compromised immune system, died of complications from the virus.\nA panel assembled in the spring was supposed to deliver a report to the University System of Maryland\u2019s Board of Regents this month, but officials don\u2019t expect it to be complete until November, said Tim McDonough, spokesman for the system.\n\u201cThe governor demanded a thorough and transparent investigation of the outbreak, and has urged the regents to act quickly for the sake of the Paregol family and the entire campus community,\u201d said Hogan spokeswoman Shareese DeLeaver-Churchill.\nIn a letter to the Paregol family\u2019s attorney, Hogan said he told his staff to \u201cfollow up with the University of Maryland and find out why the investigation has not been completed in a timely manner and to express my disappointment in the time it has taken to be responsive to my request.\u201d\nIn Elkton Hall, where Paregol lived, first-year students said they haven\u2019t seen mold this school year. Nearly 600 students were forced to evacuate the dorm a year ago.\n\u201cThis building, I feel a lot safer in it because I know they did a lot of remodeling,\u201d said Michelle Badolov, 18. \u201cWe have air conditioning and dehumidifiers, which a lot of the other buildings don\u2019t have.\u201d\nIsabella Irving, 18, said school leaders emphasized mold prevention when students moved in.\n\u201cThat was a big thing they talked about the first weekend we were here,\u201d she said.\nProfessors in Woods Hall \u2014 a 70-year-old building that houses the Anthropology Department \u2014 have been complaining about mold for years.\nJen Shaffer, an assistant professor, said she stopped meeting with students in her office because she was worried mold might make them sick.\nColella said he wasn\u2019t sure whether the conditions in Woods Hall posed a threat to students.\n\u201cI haven\u2019t spoken to that faculty [member],\u201d he said.\nThe offices Shaffer and her colleagues occupy in the building\u2019s basement will be torn down by next semester to improve air flow, Colella said. The basement will probably be converted into a workspace for graduate students.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve done a number of things over the years,\u201d Colella said. \u201cEach of them have improved but not adequately.\u201d\nSince last year\u2019s mold and adenovirus episodes, U-Md. has started 100 renovation projects in 19 residence halls and 11 sorority and fraternity houses, Colella said. The upgrades include window replacements, dehumidifier installations, heating and air-condition system upgrades, and foundation waterproofing.\nThose improvements come amid broader upgrades on Maryland\u2019s public higher education campuses. The University System of Maryland, which oversees the College Park campus and 11 other higher education institutions, said campus presidents plan to spend more than $1.1\u00a0billion over the next five years to maintain, renovate and replace buildings.\nAbout $640\u00a0million was spent the past five years on building infrastructure in the statewide system.\n\u201cA primary driver of this [University System of Maryland] focus is providing our students, faculty and staff with healthy, functional, attractive and innovative living and learning environments,\u201d McDonough said. \u201cSuch efforts take into account climate change and would include state-of-the-art building systems.\u201d\nUniversity leaders said they are trying to get ahead of problems and respond quicker when they emerge.\n\u201cIn all of our spaces for all of our community members, health and safety is our paramount concern, so if there is a situation in a building, or an office or a room that is requiring us to address it, we are addressing it,\u201d Colella said.\nlauren.lumpkin@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "AVKEFWUC4QI6TPHHIC2BAX34UA_3", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "AVKEFWUC4QI6TPHHIC2BAX34UA_3", "title": "Gov. Hogan calls on regents to probe U-Md.\u2019s handling of deadly adenovirus outbreak", "text": "a \u201ctruly independent body\u201d would examine the circumstances surrounding the outbreak and his daughter\u2019s death, including communication with public health officials and compliance with the college\u2019s infectious disease response policies. The Paregol family, which notified U-Md. on May 20 of a potential wrongful death claim, believes the teenager could still be alive if the university had not withheld information about the presence of adenovirus, giving doctors more time to administer an antiviral treatment. Adenovirus can have symptoms similar to a cold or flu, but some virulent strains can sicken healthy adults and be lethal to individuals with weakened immune systems, such as Olivia Paregol, who was on medication to treat Crohn\u2019s disease, a chronic digestive tract condition. In these cases, early detection can be key to treating severe adenovirus, according to medical experts. David McBride, the director of the university health center, first learned Nov. 1 that a student had been hospitalized with adenovirus. The next day, Paregol visited the university health center complaining of a sore throat, fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes, according to medical records. No one mentioned that adenovirus could be a possible cause of her sickness. Adenovirus was making national headlines because it had been linked to the deaths of children with weakened immune systems living at a long-term care facility in New Jersey. That outbreak killed 11 children and sickened more than two dozen. Paregol languished as doctors struggled to pinpoint the cause of her illness. On Nov. 13, her father called the university pleading for answers while the medical condition of the freshman deteriorated at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. It was only then that McBride disclosed to Paregol\u2019s father that there were adenovirus cases on campus. Paregol tested positive for adenovirus that day and doctors quickly began an antiviral treatment. The teenager died five days later. Ian Paregol said any investigation into U-Md. should also examine overcrowding and mold in the dorms. A mold outbreak sickened College Park students and set the stage for additional health problems. Olivia Paregol had struggled with respiratory problems during the fall semester while living in Elkton Hall, a mold-infested dorm from which students had to be relocated. Mold does not cause adenovirus, but McBride, in emails to administrators, acknowledged that \u201cmold can cause respiratory irritation that may increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d \u201cStudents were at greater risk for adverse health consequences because the university also"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is calling on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents to investigate the handling of an adenovirus outbreak last fall on the flagship College Park campus that killed an 18-year-old freshman and sickened more than 40 other students.\nHogan, in a sharply worded letter sent Thursday morning to the university system\u2019s governing board, said the circumstances surrounding the November death of Olivia Shea Paregol should be investigated immediately with specific attention paid to decision-making by university officials who waited 18 days to tell students about the presence of the virus.\n\u201cIt appears that, at just about every turn, leaders withheld information instead of being open and honest with the student body,\u201d Hogan (R) wrote. \u201cThere should never be a question as to whether the campus community will receive timely and accurate information, especially when it is an urgent matter of public health and safety.\u201d\nHogan\u2019s letter followed a report by The Washington Post that revealed university officials remained quiet for more than two weeks as the virus spread through campus and landed students in hospital emergency rooms. The director of the University of Maryland\u2019s student health center waited until after Paregol\u2019s death to inform students about the viral outbreak.\nIn the coming days, the regents say they will review and discuss the options for meeting the governor\u2019s directive and will work with officials on the College Park campus to see that a \u201cthorough and transparent investigation takes place.\u201d\nThe university said in a statement Thursday it will \u201cbe forthcoming and accessible and will work closely with the Board and the Governor\u2019s office to provide information and understanding about our actions and close coordination\u201d with state, county and federal health officials.\nThe Board of Regents during the past year oversaw two investigations into the death of another U-Md. student, Jordan McNair, a 19-year-old football player who succumbed to heatstroke in June 2018. The investigations, which cost nearly $1.7 million, found various problems, including that athletic trainers waited more than an hour to call 911 after McNair showed signs of exhaustion.\n\u201cMr. McNair\u2019s death rightfully prompted multiple investigations and brought to light numerous inadequacies in how the university dealt with a medical emergency,\u201d Hogan wrote. \u201cUnfortunately, I am deeply concerned that the University learned nothing from that troubling and tragic episode.\u201d\nWhile U-Md. President Wallace D. Loh took \u201clegal and moral responsibility\u201d for the death of McNair, Loh has denied shortcomings in the university\u2019s response to the viral outbreak.\n\u201cOur approach to reporting, testing, cleaning and communicating about the virus was coordinated with health officials, and exceeded\u201d U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Loh said in a statement after The Post published its report May\u00a016.\nA Board of Regents spokesman previously told The Post that the chancellor of the university system has asked all presidents in the University System of Maryland \u201cto review their policies, processes, and communications related to incidents of infectious diseases and environmental hazards to ensure best practices in responding to these matters.\u201d\nHogan, in his letter, pressed the governing board to go further and review the handling of the adenovirus outbreak, including the response by the student health center, and publicly release its findings.\n\u201cThe Paregol family\u2019s grief has been considerably worsened by the lack of urgency \u2014 and lack of transparency \u2014 shown by university officials before and after Olivia\u2019s death,\u201d Hogan wrote. \u201cThere are serious questions about how this happened, and the families who entrust their children to your care deserve your assurance that they will receive answers.\u201d\nIan Paregol, the father of Olivia Paregol, said he hoped a \u201ctruly independent body\u201d would examine the circumstances surrounding the outbreak and his daughter\u2019s death, including communication with public health officials and compliance with the college\u2019s infectious disease response policies.\nThe Paregol family, which notified U-Md. on May 20 of a potential wrongful death claim, believes the teenager could still be alive if the university had not withheld information about the presence of adenovirus, giving doctors more time to administer an antiviral treatment.\nAdenovirus can have symptoms similar to a cold or flu, but some virulent strains can sicken healthy adults and be lethal to individuals with weakened immune systems, such as Olivia Paregol, who was on medication to treat Crohn\u2019s disease, a chronic digestive tract condition. In these cases, early detection can be key to treating severe adenovirus, according to medical experts.\nDavid McBride, the director of the university health center, first learned Nov. 1 that a student had been hospitalized with adenovirus. The next day, Paregol visited the university health center complaining of a sore throat, fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes, according to medical records. No one mentioned that adenovirus could be a possible cause of her sickness.\nAdenovirus was making national headlines because it had been linked to the deaths of children with weakened immune systems living at a long-term care facility in New Jersey. That outbreak killed 11 children and sickened more than two dozen.\nParegol languished as doctors struggled to pinpoint the cause of her illness. On Nov. 13, her father called the university pleading for answers while the medical condition of the freshman deteriorated at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. It was only then that McBride disclosed to Paregol\u2019s father that there were adenovirus cases on campus.\nParegol tested positive for adenovirus that day and doctors quickly began an antiviral treatment. The teenager died five days later.\nIan Paregol said any investigation into U-Md. should also examine overcrowding and mold in the dorms. A mold outbreak sickened College Park students and set the stage for additional health problems. Olivia Paregol had struggled with respiratory problems during the fall semester while living in Elkton Hall, a mold-infested dorm from which students had to be relocated.\nMold does not cause adenovirus, but McBride, in emails to administrators, acknowledged that \u201cmold can cause respiratory irritation that may increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d\n\u201cStudents were at greater risk for adverse health consequences because the university also failed to disclose, test, clean using proper practices, and certify that Elkton Hall was free of mold,\u201d Ian Paregol told The Post. \u201cWe see all of these aspects as demonstrating a reckless pattern of disregard for the health and safety of staff and students, where the university has placed its own public relations needs ahead of the students\u2019 health.\u201d\nParegol, who is weighing whether to file a lawsuit in coming weeks, has called for the resignation or termination of Loh, the U-Md. president. A board of regents spokesman recently said the board is not considering the employment status of Loh, who is planning to step down in 2020.\nThe university in its statement Thursday said it \u201cremains committed to transparency \u2014 and student safety above all \u2014 in the handling of mold and adenovirus on our campus. Transparency has been demonstrated through legislative testimony, briefings to our Board of Regents, and real-time publishing of all actions and communications on mold and adenovirus throughout the fall. In addition, the university has made public the external review by medical experts of our response to adenovirus, and the findings support the university\u2019s approach.\u201d\nAdenovirus, unlike some other infectious diseases such as measles, is not governed by mandatory state or federal reporting requirements. Several public health officials advised U-Md. it was not necessary to disclose the outbreak. Ultimately, college leaders had the authority to decide when and how to share information about adenovirus with students.\nUniversity officials discussed but decided against notifying students with compromised immune systems and residents living in Elkton Hall, according to records reviewed by The Post.\nCampus leaders waited until Nov. 19 \u2014 the day after Paregol\u2019s death \u2014 to acknowledge the virus was present on campus and took an additional day to disclose that a student had died from adenovirus. They say they sent an email to the campus communicating that a student had been diagnosed with adenovirus 7 \u2014 a strain that can result in severe infection \u2013 after they received authorization from state health officials to release the information.\n\u201cIt should not take the death of a student for the university to alert families about an illness spreading through campus, whether it is a common cold or meningitis like the university saw in 2014,\u201d Hogan wrote in his letter to the board of regents. \u201cCaution is sometimes understandable and called for, but common sense should never be overruled by bureaucratic protocol when lives are on the line.\u201d\njenn.abelson@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "DMFQW6U2WUI6TDIKL3OX4IBFWE_4", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "DMFQW6U2WUI6TDIKL3OX4IBFWE_4", "title": "U-Md. at College Park is warned that it could lose accreditation", "text": "accreditation also can find themselves unable to transfer their credits to another, accredited institution. The Middle States commission is one of seven regional accrediting agencies that oversee the country\u2019s colleges and universities. Brian Kirschner, a spokesman for the commission, told The Washington Post in November that the agency sought information from the school that related to two required standards: ethics and integrity and the student experience. Although the warning should be taken seriously, the university is highly unlikely to lose its accreditation, said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, an organization representing the \u00adhigher-education community. \u201cIt is uncommon, but certainly not unknown for accrediting agencies to raise questions about a college or university at any time, but particularly after a widely publicized event or a situation where a university\u2019s handling of an issue might not have been as smooth as it could have been,\u201d Hartle said. Penn State University received a similar warning after the child sexual abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, and the University of North Carolina was warned after news reports of academic violations by athletes, Hartle said. \u201cThis is not good news for a university; it\u2019s something they would prefer not to happen,\u201d he said, adding that the university needs to demonstrate to the commission that it realizes things were \u201cmanaged badly\u201d and that steps have been taken to prevent that from happening again. In its email Sunday, the USM administrators said the board recognized that \u201cits final decisions could have been handled more effectively. Middle States has noted both this lapse as well as the actions taken by the board to prevent a reoccurrence.\u201d This is not the first such warning for the University of Maryland system. In 2016, the commission issued a similar warning to Frostburg State University, saying it needed to improve learning assessment; the university made corrections and announced that its accreditation was reaffirmed the following year. The College Park campus also is reeling from the death last fall of an 18-year-old freshman from adenovirus. In May, the family of Olivia Shea Paregol filed a notice of claim against the school, setting the stage for a possible lawsuit. Paregol\u2019s father said her death could have been prevented if the university had disclosed that the virus was spreading through the campus. The commission\u2019s warning does not appear to be related to that event. tara.bahrampour@washpost.com joe.heim@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The University of Maryland at College Park said it is working to respond to a warning from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that its accreditation is at risk.\nOn Friday, the commission wrote to the institution informing it that its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that it is in compliance with standards on governance, leadership and administration.\nThe commission found this spring that the institution appeared to be out of compliance after its investigation found that personnel actions taken following the June 2018 death of football player Jordan McNair show \u201cthat the Board of Regents and the UMD administration do not have a clearly articulated and transparent governance structure.\u201d\nThe commission has given the university until March 1 to show it has a structure that \u201coutlines roles, responsibilities, and accountability for decision-making.\u201d\nIn a joint statement Friday, University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Chair Linda R. Gooden, USM Chancellor Robert L. Caret and U-Md. College Park President Wallace D. Loh said, \u201cProgress toward full compliance is already underway and will be completed\u201d by the due date.\nUSM administrators said in an email Sunday night that the board has taken a number of steps toward that goal, including appointing Gooden as chair, engaging the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges to conduct a review of the system\u2019s policies relating to governance, and increasing board transparency.\nKatie Lawson, a spokeswoman for U-Md. College Park, said in an email Sunday, \u201cUnder the new Board chair, the university is encouraged by USM changes and increased collaboration.\n\u201cThe renewed commitment to openness and communication will ensure that the necessary actions are taken to secure autonomy and full compliance,\u201d Lawson said.\nIn the meantime, the university remains fully accredited.\nThe warning from the regional accreditation agency follows a tumultuous and tragic year at the state\u2019s flagship campus. McNair, a 19-year-old lineman on the school\u2019s football team, collapsed from heatstroke during a practice on May 29, 2018, and died in a hospital 15 days later. An independent investigation found that school officials failed to properly diagnose and treat McNair, after it emerged that coaches waited an hour after he began showing troubling symptoms to call 911.\nFallout from McNair\u2019s death sparked turmoil on campus and within the university system\u2019s leadership. Following an investigation into the actions of the athletic department and coaching staff, the Board of Regents recommended in late October that football coach DJ Durkin remain at the university. Loh said Durkin would stay, but the president announced he would retire at the end of the school year.\nThe regents\u2019 decision led to anger throughout the state, and the next day, Loh changed his mind and fired Durkin.\nThe turmoil after McNair\u2019s death led James T. Brady, then chair of the Board of Regents, to announce he was stepping down and prompted a public letter from the university\u2019s provost and deans who said the regents\u2019 actions could imperil the school\u2019s accreditation.\n\u201cWe, the academic leaders of the University of Maryland, write to express our dismay and deep concern for the events and the process that has led to the forced retirement of President Wallace D. Loh,\u201d they wrote.\n\u201cWe have been extremely alarmed for weeks by the interference of the University System of Maryland\u2019s Board of Regents into University governance matters. It is the President who is responsible for personnel matters at the University, and it is within the President\u2019s discretion and authority to decide whether to retain athletics staff. Through its intervention, the Board of Regents usurped the President\u2019s authority and intervened in the ability of the President to carry out his full duties and responsibilities.\u201d\nIn February, the university provided the commission with a report \u201cin relation to the series of actions by the Board of Regents, President Loh, and the University Senate that transpired in the aftermath of the tragic death of student athlete Jordan McNair and the subsequent review of UMD\u2019s football program.\u201d\nLawson, the UMD spokeswoman, said the accreditation warning was \u201crelated to whether the Board of Regents was directly involved in personnel decisions at the university last fall, and not to \u201cthe handling of the care of Jordan McNair or his tragic passing.\u201d\nUniversities rely on accreditation because the U.S. Department of Education requires it for a school to be eligible for federal student financial aid. Students at a school that has lost its accreditation also can find themselves unable to transfer their credits to another, accredited institution.\nThe Middle States commission is one of seven regional accrediting agencies that oversee the country\u2019s colleges and universities. Brian Kirschner, a spokesman for the commission, told The Washington Post in November that the agency sought information from the school that related to two required standards: ethics and integrity and the student experience.\nAlthough the warning should be taken seriously, the university is highly unlikely to lose its accreditation, said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, an organization representing the \u00adhigher-education community.\n\u201cIt is uncommon, but certainly not unknown for accrediting agencies to raise questions about a college or university at any time, but particularly after a widely publicized event or a situation where a university\u2019s handling of an issue might not have been as smooth as it could have been,\u201d Hartle said.\nPenn State University received a similar warning after the child sexual abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, and the University of North Carolina was warned after news reports of academic violations by athletes, Hartle said.\n\u201cThis is not good news for a university; it\u2019s something they would prefer not to happen,\u201d he said, adding that the university needs to demonstrate to the commission that it realizes things were \u201cmanaged badly\u201d and that steps have been taken to prevent that from happening again.\nIn its email Sunday, the USM administrators said the board recognized that \u201cits final decisions could have been handled more effectively. Middle States has noted both this lapse as well as the actions taken by the board to prevent a reoccurrence.\u201d\nThis is not the first such warning for the University of Maryland system. In 2016, the commission issued a similar warning to Frostburg State University, saying it needed to improve learning assessment; the university made corrections and announced that its accreditation was reaffirmed the following year.\nThe College Park campus also is reeling from the death last fall of an 18-year-old freshman from adenovirus. In May, the family of Olivia Shea Paregol filed a notice of claim against the school, setting the stage for a possible lawsuit. Paregol\u2019s father said her death could have been prevented if the university had disclosed that the virus was spreading through the campus. The commission\u2019s warning does not appear to be related to that event.\ntara.bahrampour@washpost.com\njoe.heim@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "EXLWLID6OAI6TDW66SV7KIPPC4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "EXLWLID6OAI6TDW66SV7KIPPC4_0", "title": "After a tumultuous year, U-Md. graduates celebrate new beginnings", "text": "There\u2019s a legendary place on the University of Maryland campus, a large circle marking the site of a devastating fire a century ago. Students try to avoid its epicenter, known as the Point of Failure. Michael R. Bloomberg told the Class of 2019 that it\u2019s really the place where people banded together and decided to rebuild the school. \u201cWhen everything burns down around you, don\u2019t walk away,\u201d he said Friday, urging them to seize their own points of failure, when they come, and innovate. The former New York mayor\u2019s commencement speech, which made graduates laugh as he told them about getting fired and other disasters that turned into unanticipated opportunities, came at the end of a year punctuated by losses at U-Md. \u201cI won\u2019t sugarcoat it,\u201d said Jonathan Allen, the outgoing student body president. \u201cIt has definitely been a very difficult year.\u201d On Friday, the school awarded thousands of diplomas: 6,062 bachelor\u2019s degrees, 1,595 master\u2019s degrees, 592 doctoral degrees. Graduates tossed long red metallic streamers overhead like fireworks that showered down slowly, sparkling in the bright lights of the Xfinity Center in College Park. They swayed to the school song. And they looked ahead: to new jobs, new cities, new beginnings. The difficult year began almost immediately after Allen started his term as student president, when 19-year-old football player Jordan McNair died in June. McNair\u2019s death exposed troubling issues in the athletic department and touched off a leadership crisis at the school. In the fall, another student death was mourned on campus, after an outbreak of adenovirus sickened several students. Freshman Olivia Paregol\u2019s death also angered many who said university officials should have warned students sooner about the illness, particularly those with weakened immune systems such as Paregol. \u201cA lot of students right now are able to be proud of their own individual accomplishments,\u201d said senior Olivia Delaplaine, but not proud of a university they feel has let its students down. She did not go to the universitywide commencement ceremony Friday, preferring lunch with her family to speeches by people such as Wallace D. Loh, the university president, whom she said she does not admire. \u201cI don\u2019t want to listen to it. It\u2019s empty words.\u201d But the school year had ended. It was time to look forward. \u201cIt\u2019s bittersweet,\u201d Delaplaine said Friday. Graduates were walking with their families in the sunshine, leaning in for hugs and photos. \u201cEveryone\u2019s really, really"}], "old": [{"_id": "EXLWLID6OAI6TDW66SV7KIPPC4_0", "title": "After a tumultuous year, U-Md. graduates celebrate new beginnings", "text": "susan.svrluga@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "There\u2019s a legendary place on the University of Maryland campus, a large circle marking the site of a devastating fire a century ago. Students try to avoid its epicenter, known as the Point of Failure.\nMichael R. Bloomberg told the Class of 2019 that it\u2019s really the place where people banded together and decided to rebuild the school. \u201cWhen everything burns down around you, don\u2019t walk away,\u201d he said Friday, urging them to seize their own points of failure, when they come, and innovate.\nThe former New York mayor\u2019s commencement speech, which made graduates laugh as he told them about getting fired and other disasters that turned into unanticipated opportunities, came at the end of a year punctuated by losses at U-Md.\n\u201cI won\u2019t sugarcoat it,\u201d said Jonathan Allen, the outgoing student body president. \u201cIt has definitely been a very difficult year.\u201d\nOn Friday, the school awarded thousands of diplomas: 6,062 bachelor\u2019s degrees, 1,595 master\u2019s degrees, 592 doctoral degrees. Graduates tossed long red metallic streamers overhead like fireworks that showered down slowly, sparkling in the bright lights of the Xfinity Center in College Park. They swayed to the school song. And they looked ahead: to new jobs, new cities, new beginnings.\nThe difficult year began almost immediately after Allen started his term as student president, when 19-year-old football player Jordan McNair died in June.\nMcNair\u2019s death exposed troubling issues in the athletic department and touched off a leadership crisis at the school.\nIn the fall, another student death was mourned on campus, after an outbreak of adenovirus sickened several students. Freshman Olivia Paregol\u2019s death also angered many who said university officials should have warned students sooner about the illness, particularly those with weakened immune systems such as Paregol.\n\u201cA lot of students right now are able to be proud of their own individual accomplishments,\u201d said senior Olivia Delaplaine, but not proud of a university they feel has let its students down. She did not go to the universitywide commencement ceremony Friday, preferring lunch with her family to speeches by people such as Wallace D. Loh, the university president, whom she said she does not admire. \u201cI don\u2019t want to listen to it. It\u2019s empty words.\u201d\nBut the school year had ended. It was time to look forward.\n\u201cIt\u2019s bittersweet,\u201d Delaplaine said Friday.\nGraduates were walking with their families in the sunshine, leaning in for hugs and photos. \u201cEveryone\u2019s really, really proud; everyone looks beautiful in all their regalia. That\u2019s really inspiring to see,\u201d she said.\nDespite all the frustration students had felt, she said, \u201cIt\u2019s really happy and joyous.\u201d\nWith the sashes and cords from his student activities fluttering in the breeze, Michael Wijesinghe said the things he would remember are good things, like the student hydroponics club he launched on campus, and sunny afternoons sitting on the porch with his friends, playing guitar.\n\u201cI\u2019m sad to leave, but excited to see what\u2019s next,\u201d he said.\nWijesinghe majored in agricultural science and technology, believing it could help him make the world better by making food more available, he said, and has plans to work for a greenhouse company.\nAfter McNair\u2019s death, conversations changed on campus, Allen said.\n\u201cWe\u2019ll really need to have learned from everything that happened this year,\u201d and ensure some of it will never happen again, he said. \u201cJust as we as individuals strive to be better, I\u2019m sure the university does as well.\u201d\nTwo external investigations examined what had happened and how to prevent future problems.\nOne report concluded that the athletic staff failed to properly diagnose and treat McNair\u2019s heat stroke after a team workout. Athletic trainers did not call 911 for more than an hour after he showed signs of exhaustion. Another investigated allegations of an abusive culture within the football program and recommended the university establish an independent health-care system for athletes.\nOn Thursday, university officials announced steps toward that goal. The university \u2014 not the athletic department \u2014 is launching a national search for a head physician who will oversee the sports medicine staff and athletic trainers. That doctor will report through a chain of command leading to the university president.\nLast fall, in the wake of the athletic scandal, Loh promised to step down at the end of this school year. But the announcement, coupled with the University System of Maryland Board of Regents\u2019 decision to bring back football coach D.J. Durkin after a leave of absence, infuriated many. The following day, Loh fired Durkin, and soon afterward the board\u2019s chairman resigned. Earlier this year, the board decided Loh would stay through another academic year.\nWith all the leadership changes still to come, the university is moving into a new era, Allen said, and those hires will shape the school for the next decade and beyond.\n\u201cI do think many students, myself included, are very proud to have been able to call this university home for the last four years,\u201d Allen said.\nThe university honored its graduates of 50 years ago, and one in particular: Elaine Johnson Coates, who started in 1955, the first year black students were allowed to live on campus. She was frightened when she arrived and endured insults during her years in College Park. \u201cI stand on this podium and look at the diversity in the beautiful faces of the graduation class,\u201d she told the crowd, \u201cand it tells me that my journey mattered.\n\u201cClass of 2019, I say to you: See through the obstacle. Walk past it. And refuse to be defeated.\u201d\nBloomberg had a piece of advice, too, before they all flooded out into the sunshine with their robes streaming behind them. \u201cGo step on the Point of Failure,\u201d he told them. \u201cBecause this really is a turning point.\u201d\nsusan.svrluga@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "GZTJJWHVEUI6RAGQ67QZJDKV6Q_0", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "GZTJJWHVEUI6RAGQ67QZJDKV6Q_0", "title": "More adenovirus cases found at UMd, total rises to 22", "text": "The University of Maryland health center said Friday that it has learned of 22 confirmed cases of students with Adenovirus. In four cases, tests showed the presence of Adenovirus 7, which can cause more severe illness than other strains. The death of one Maryland student has been linked to an Adenovirus infection. According to the health center, the 22 confirmed cases include a number of students who had were sick earlier in November, but have since recovered. In a statement issued Friday, the health center distinguished between Adenoviruses that cause colds and are widely found at this season, and a more dangerous strain, known as Adenovirus 7. It said that strain turned up in four specimens sent for testing. Adenovirus 7 , the statement said, may cause more severe illness particularly for patients with chronic medical problems, or with immune systems compromised by illness, or by medicine. For them, the health center said, \u201cit is vitally important\u201d not to ignore flu-like symptoms and to visit a physician within 48 hours of developing the symptoms. In describing flu-like symptoms, the announcement listed high fever and cough/sore throat and vomiting/diarrhea. Martin.Weil@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "GZTJJWHVEUI6RAGQ67QZJDKV6Q_0", "title": "More adenovirus cases found at UMd, total rises to 22", "text": "Martin.Weil@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The University of Maryland health center said Friday that it has learned of 22 confirmed cases of students with Adenovirus. In four cases, tests showed the presence of Adenovirus 7, which can cause more severe illness than other strains.\nThe death of one Maryland student has been linked to an Adenovirus infection.\nAccording to the health center, the 22 confirmed cases include a number of students who had were sick earlier in November, but have since recovered.\nIn a statement issued Friday, the health center distinguished between  Adenoviruses that cause colds and are widely found at this season, and a more dangerous strain, known as Adenovirus 7. It said that strain turned up in four specimens sent for testing.\nAdenovirus 7 , the statement said,  may cause more  severe illness particularly for patients  with chronic medical problems, or with  immune systems  compromised by illness, or by medicine.\nFor them, the health center said, \u201cit is vitally important\u201d not to ignore flu-like symptoms and to visit a physician within 48 hours of developing the symptoms.\nIn describing  flu-like symptoms, the announcement listed high fever and cough/sore throat and vomiting/diarrhea.\nMartin.Weil@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "JRDQKKDS75DRHFCZF3YUVIZRK4_2", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "JRDQKKDS75DRHFCZF3YUVIZRK4_2", "title": "Virus kills 7 children at New Jersey rehab center", "text": "The department said it is working with the facility on \u201cinfection control issues.\u201d Health officials said the center has been told not to admit any new patients during the outbreak. The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation could not immediately be reached for comment. According to the center\u2019s website, it offers short-term and long-term care, from physical and occupational therapies to hospice care, and has a pediatrics center for \u201cmedically fragile\u201d children. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said that by adulthood, most people in the United States have been sickened by an adenovirus and recovered on their own. In patients with compromised immune systems, however, the viruses can be deadly. Adalja, an infectious-disease physician, said there is a nationwide problem with hospital-acquired infections \u2014 even more so with nursing home and rehabilitation centers, where, he said, \u201cinfection control is not as rigorous\u201d because such facilities are not always set up to help prevent outbreaks. \u201cIt\u2019s not surprising that this ferocious of a spread happened in a nursing-home setting,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cnursing homes are one of the weaker links in the chain of infection control.\u201d Adalja noted that he does not know how the faculty in New Jersey is handling the outbreak, but he said the outbreak is considered \u201cparticularly severe\u201d given the high number of fatalities. There have been similar outbreaks in the past. In 2006 and 2007, adenovirus 14 sickened at least 140 people across four states \u2014 New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington, according to CDC. Nine of them died, CDC said. Adenoviruses have also been a problem in military training centers, where men and women are under extreme physical and emotional stress and live in close quarters. For that reason, Adalja said, a Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine for certain strains is given to members of the military. But when outbreaks occur, he said, it prompts questions about whether vaccines should be available to the general public. To prevent transmission, CDC recommends that people avoid close contact with those who may be ill as well as practice good handwashing techniques and avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. There is no treatment for adenovirus, according to CDC, but the majority of cases clear up on their own. Read more: Can an upper-respiratory infection make you fat? If it\u2019s caused by adenovirus 36, maybe."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Seven children have died and others remain ill from a viral outbreak at a nursing home and rehabilitation center in New Jersey, health department officials said.\nOfficials with the New Jersey Health Department said Wednesday that the seven \u201cmedically fragile children\u201d were among 18 confirmed cases of an adenovirus among pediatric patients this month at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, not far from the New York border. Experts say the outbreak highlights the challenge of controlling infectious diseases in nursing homelike environments.\nAdenoviruses are ubiquitous viruses that can cause a variety of illnesses, from the common cold and conjunctivitis (pinkeye) to more severe diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A spokeswoman for the state\u2019s health department said that at least one of the patients who died was a toddler.\nNew Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said in a statement that he was \u201cheartbroken by the news that several children have lost their lives in an adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and pray for the full recovery of the other children impacted.\"\nThe governor added that he has spoken with the state health commissioner, \u201cwho has assured me that the Department of Health has recommended vital measures to enhance protections against the further spread of infection and will continue its active on-site surveillance. I am confident that the steps being taken by state and local officials will minimize the impact to all those who remain at the facility, including patients and employees.\u201d\nThe strain responsible for the outbreak in the long-term-care facility in New Jersey is adenovirus 7, known for causing pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.\nState health department officials said Wednesday in a statement that the strain \u201cis associated with communal living arrangements and known to cause severe illness.\u201d\nThe state, with help from CDC, is investigating the outbreak. Health officials said in a statement that investigators have found \u201cminor handwashing deficiencies\u201d at the nursing home and rehabilitation center, which has 135 long-term-care beds and 92 pediatric beds, according to the health department. The department said it is working with the facility on \u201cinfection control issues.\u201d\nHealth officials said the center has been told not to admit any new patients during the outbreak.\nThe Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation could not immediately be reached for comment. According to the center\u2019s website, it offers short-term and long-term care, from physical and occupational therapies to hospice care, and has a pediatrics center for \u201cmedically fragile\u201d children.\nAmesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said that by adulthood, most people in the United States have been sickened by an adenovirus and recovered on their own. In patients with compromised immune systems, however, the viruses can be deadly.\nAdalja, an infectious-disease physician, said there is a nationwide problem with hospital-acquired infections \u2014 even more so with nursing home and rehabilitation centers, where, he said, \u201cinfection control is not as rigorous\u201d because such facilities are not always set up to help prevent outbreaks.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not surprising that this ferocious of a spread happened in a nursing-home setting,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cnursing homes are one of the weaker links in the chain of infection control.\u201d\nAdalja noted that he does not know how the faculty in New Jersey is handling the outbreak, but he said the outbreak is considered \u201cparticularly severe\u201d given the high number of fatalities.\nThere have been similar outbreaks in the past.\nIn 2006 and 2007, adenovirus 14 sickened at least 140 people across four states \u2014 New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington, according to CDC. Nine of them died, CDC said.\nAdenoviruses have also been a problem in military training centers, where men and women are under extreme physical and emotional stress and live in close quarters. For that reason, Adalja said, a Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine for certain strains is given to members of the military. But when outbreaks occur, he said, it prompts questions about whether vaccines should be available to the general public.\nTo prevent transmission, CDC recommends that people avoid close contact with those who may be ill as well as practice good handwashing techniques and avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.\nThere is no treatment for adenovirus, according to CDC, but the majority of cases clear up on their own.\nRead more:\nCan an upper-respiratory infection make you fat? If it\u2019s caused by adenovirus 36, maybe."}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "KEM47NXSJMI6RLXKXBP5IRCJ6U_0", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "KEM47NXSJMI6RLXKXBP5IRCJ6U_0", "title": "Three new cases of adenovirus reported at U-Md.\u2019 s College Park campus", "text": "Three more students have been diagnosed with adenovirus at the University of Maryland\u2019s campus in College Park, bringing the number of cases to nine in recent weeks. A letter sent to students indicated the new cases had been diagnosed over the Thanksgiving holiday, university officials said. In the letter, David McBride, director of the University Health Center, wrote that \u201cnone of these new cases has required hospitalization to our knowledge.\u201d University officials said before Thanksgiving that the campus had recorded six cases of students with adenovirus. One student, 18-year-old Olivia Paregol, died Nov. 18 after being diagnosed with the illness. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan this week called Paregol\u2019s death \u201cvery concerning.\u201d A viral outbreak of the illness also left 11 children dead at a health center in New Jersey. Adenoviruses are \u201ccommon causes of colds\u201d and typically \u201cfound in significant numbers of people at this time of year,\u201d McBride said. But certain strains of adenovirus can be more serious, according to the website for the school\u2019s health center. For healthy people, treatment includes rest, fluids and fever-reducing medicine. There is no medication for the infection outside of hospitals. Officials advised those with chronic medical problems, including diabetes or asthma, or those taking medications that weaken the immune system to seek medical help within 48 hours of developing symptoms. University officials said they are working closely with state and local health departments to monitor the illness and test those who may have it. To stop the spread, the university is increasing the cleaning of \u201chigh-touch surfaces and restrooms\u201d on campus. The dining services department is also increasing cleaning. The campus earlier in the fall worked to remove mold in some on-campus dorms, but officials said there is \u201cno consistent connection between mold exposure and the incidents of adenovirus infection affecting UMD students.\u201d The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends other preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing; avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands; and avoiding close contact with those who are ill. dana.hedgpeth@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "KEM47NXSJMI6RLXKXBP5IRCJ6U_0", "title": "Three new cases of adenovirus reported at U-Md.\u2019 s College Park campus", "text": "dana.hedgpeth@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Three more students have been diagnosed with adenovirus at the University of Maryland\u2019s campus in College Park, bringing the number of cases to nine in recent weeks.\nA letter sent to students indicated the new cases had been diagnosed over the Thanksgiving holiday, university officials said. In the letter, David McBride, director of the University Health Center, wrote that \u201cnone of these new cases has required hospitalization to our knowledge.\u201d\nUniversity officials said before Thanksgiving that the campus had recorded six cases of students with adenovirus. One student, 18-year-old Olivia Paregol, died Nov. 18 after being diagnosed with the illness.\nMaryland Gov. Larry Hogan this week called Paregol\u2019s death \u201cvery concerning.\u201d\nA viral outbreak of the illness also left 11 children dead at a health center in New Jersey.\nAdenoviruses are \u201ccommon causes of colds\u201d and typically \u201cfound in significant numbers of people at this time of year,\u201d McBride said. But certain strains of adenovirus can be more serious, according to the website for the school\u2019s health center.\nFor healthy people, treatment includes rest, fluids and fever-reducing medicine. There is no medication for the infection outside of hospitals.\nOfficials advised those with chronic medical problems, including diabetes or asthma, or those taking medications that weaken the immune system to seek medical help within 48 hours of developing symptoms.\nUniversity officials said they are working closely with state and local health departments to monitor the illness and test those who may have it. To stop the spread, the university is increasing the cleaning of \u201chigh-touch surfaces and restrooms\u201d on campus. The dining services department is also increasing cleaning.\nThe campus earlier in the fall worked to remove mold in some on-campus dorms, but officials said there is \u201cno consistent connection between mold exposure and the incidents of adenovirus infection affecting UMD students.\u201d\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends other preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing; avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands; and avoiding close contact with those who are ill.\ndana.hedgpeth@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "MARWCAI7PRHMFDQ22H5I5RRRIM_1", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "MARWCAI7PRHMFDQ22H5I5RRRIM_1", "title": "A dangerous delay", "text": "Sarah and Riley linked arms with Olivia and made their way through the dorm lobby into the cool night of Nov. 8. They watched as Olivia trudged to a parking lot where her dad was waiting in his car. She didn\u2019t turn back to wave goodbye. As Olivia battled her mysterious illness, the University of Maryland was rocked by turmoil. Widespread mold that fall had forced the temporary evacuation of nearly 600 students in Elkton Hall after outraged parents besieged officials at the state\u2019s flagship university. The administration already was dealing with a full-blown scandal over the death of Jordan McNair, a 19-year-old football player who succumbed to heatstroke in June after athletic trainers waited more than an hour to call 911 after he showed signs of extreme exhaustion. His death exposed deep problems within the athletic department and led to the dismissal of the football coach and the resignation of the university president and the chairman of the university system\u2019s governing board. In November and December, the University of Maryland would become the epicenter of an outbreak of adenovirus, which can have symptoms similar to the cold or flu. But certain virulent strains can seriously sicken healthy individuals and be particularly dangerous to people with weakened immune systems \u2014 people like Olivia, who was on medication for Crohn\u2019s disease, a serious digestive tract condition. In these cases, medical experts say early detection can be key to treating severe adenovirus. But it took university officials 18 days to publicly disclose that the virus was present on campus. And as the days passed, more and more students fell ill. At one point, officials discussed notifying students with compromised immune systems and residents living in Elkton Hall but the university waited until they were ready to tell the entire community , according to records reviewed by The Post. Many parents and students have denounced the administration\u2019s handling of the viral outbreak and the mold infestation, complaining their actions endangered the roughly 40,000 students on campus. In the end, more than 40 students were sickened, and at least 15 of them treated at hospitals. Mold does not cause adenovirus, but can set the stage for other health problems. The director of the student health center, in emails to university administrators, acknowledged that mold exposure can cause respiratory irritation and \u201cmay increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d In recent statements to The Post, University"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "I\nNow, the 18-year-old freshman was curled up in the fetal position on the floor of her dorm room at Elkton Hall in College Park, her brown hair resting on the shaggy white rug. She warned her friends, Sarah Hauk and Riley Whelan, to stay away from a plastic bag where she had just vomited.\nThe teenagers hoisted Olivia up and shuffled to the elevator. Once inside, Olivia leaned against the wall and slid to the floor.\n\u201cDon\u2019t sit down,\u201d Riley said. \u201cCome on it\u2019s just a short ride. You can do this.\u201d\n\u201cI literally can\u2019t,\u201d said Olivia, the words slicing her sore throat like knives. \u201cI have to lay down.\u201d\nOlivia had been sick most of her first semester living in an overcrowded dorm that was infested with mold. But her symptoms now were far worse than a cough and congestion.\nHer skin was pale, dark circles cupped her eyes. The lymph nodes in her neck\u00a0had swollen so much they felt like golf balls. The freshman \u2014 who turned late-night trips to the dining hall into stargazing adventures, belted out Miley Cyrus songs on demand and easily flipped strangers into friends \u2014 was sprawled across the elevator floor.\nSarah and Riley linked arms with Olivia and made their way through the dorm lobby into the cool night of Nov. 8. They watched as Olivia trudged to a parking lot where her dad was waiting in his car. She didn\u2019t turn back to wave goodbye.\nAs Olivia battled her mysterious illness, the University of Maryland was rocked by turmoil. Widespread mold that fall had forced the temporary evacuation of nearly 600 students in Elkton Hall after outraged parents besieged officials at the state\u2019s flagship university.\nThe administration already was dealing with a full-blown scandal over the death of Jordan McNair, a 19-year-old football player who succumbed to heatstroke in June after athletic trainers waited more than an hour to call 911 after he showed signs of extreme exhaustion. His death exposed deep problems within the athletic department and led to the dismissal of the football coach and the resignation of the university president and the chairman of the university system\u2019s governing board.\nIn November and December, the University of Maryland would become the epicenter of an outbreak of adenovirus, which can have symptoms similar to the cold or flu. But certain virulent strains can seriously sicken healthy individuals and be particularly dangerous to people with weakened immune systems \u2014 people like Olivia, who was on medication for Crohn\u2019s disease, a serious digestive tract condition.\nIn these cases, medical experts say early detection can be key to treating severe adenovirus.\nBut it took university officials 18 days to publicly disclose that the virus was present on campus. And as the days passed, more and more students fell ill.\nAt one point, officials discussed notifying students with compromised immune systems and residents living in Elkton Hall but the university waited until they were ready to tell the entire community , according to records reviewed by The Post.\nMany parents and students have denounced the administration\u2019s\u00a0handling of\u00a0the viral outbreak and the mold infestation, complaining their actions endangered\u00a0the roughly\u00a040,000\u00a0students on campus. In the end, more than 40 students were sickened, and at least 15 of them treated at hospitals.\nMold does not cause adenovirus, but can set the stage for\u00a0 other health problems. The director of the student health center, in emails to university administrators, acknowledged that mold exposure can cause respiratory irritation and \u201cmay increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d\nIn recent statements to The Post, University officials defended their actions, saying they hired a remediation company to remove the mold in September and provided\u00a0 guidance to students on how to prevent the spread of viruses. They said they went beyond what was legally required to address the adenovirus outbreak and public health officials advised that it was not necessary to inform the public about the virus. In April, the university commissioned a report by outside doctors who found the university had \u201cfrequent, timely, and appropriate\u201d communications on adenovirus.\n\u201cThe actions we took are in line with CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance on adenovirus outbreaks and were consistent with the University\u2019s strong commitment to the health and safety of our students,\u201d said Dr. David McBride, director of the student health center.\nIn early November, the virus was quietly colonizing the campus, but few people outside of McBride knew it. Only days after Olivia had slumped in the elevator at Elkton Hall, she\u00a0was fighting for her life at Johns Hopkins Hospital.\nOn Nov. 13, her father frantically called the university from the intensive care unit in Baltimore.\u00a0When McBride called back, Olivia\u2019s father pleaded for information.\u00a0What\u2019s going on with the mold? Or is there something else on campus making students sick?\nAugust 24: Off to college, but close to home\nOlivia, or Livy Shea as her family and friends called her, grew up in small community west of Baltimore and considered going to\u00a0college\u00a0in South Carolina. She loved beaches and had a soft spot for country music. Mostly, she wanted a university with a lot of school spirit. She planned to study criminology, inspired by the TV show \u201cCSI.\u201d\nDuring her senior year of high school, Olivia was diagnosed with Crohn\u2019s disease, an incurable condition. She\u00a0began treatment at Hopkins that left her immune system weakened. At college, she would give herself injections of Humira, an anti-inflammatory medication, every two weeks. Olivia\u2019s parents, Ian and Meg Paregol, wanted their daughter,\u00a0the baby of the family, to stay close to home.\nWhen Olivia was accepted at the University of Maryland, it checked all the boxes and it was only an hour away. After Olivia learned\u00a0she had been assigned room 3152 at Elkton Hall, she felt lucky to have landed in a dorm with air conditioning.\nOn Aug. 24,\u00a0Olivia\u2019s family stuffed two cars with dorm supplies and headed to\u00a0College Park. She had coordinated colors with her 18-year-old roommate, Megan Sassaman, and bought a cream-colored tapestry with a map of the world to hang in their third-floor dorm room. Olivia\u2019s parents tucked handwritten notes of encouragement in her dresser drawer before saying goodbye.\nElkton Hall, an\u00a0eight-story, red-brick dorm located in the shadow of the university\u2019s football stadium, was bursting with students. Built in 1966, it was designed to hold\u00a0about 530 students,\u00a0but\u00a0nearly 570 were squeezed into the building because of an unusually large freshman class. Study lounges had been converted to dorm rooms for four students and some rooms for two residents now housed three. Students crammed the narrow halls and communal bathrooms on each floor.\nThey waited endlessly for elevators because one of the three was always broken.\nSept. 18: \u201cwe got mold\u201d\nIt was one of the soggiest summers in Maryland history. By the end of September, more than 50 inches of rain had fallen. Eventually, 2018 would go down as the region\u2019s wettest year on record.\nOlivia\u2019s room felt like a swamp, so humid that bath towels never dried. The air conditioning unit in her room stopped working\u00a0in the first week of September and had to be fixed repeatedly. By mid-September, Olivia and her roommate Megan had persistent coughs, and it seemed harder than usual to breathe.\nA pungent odor hung thick, impossible to ignore whenever Riley and Sarah, 18-year-old freshmen who lived together on the eighth floor, came down to visit Olivia\u2019s room.\nMold had surfaced earlier that summer in Elkton Hall and other dorms across campus. Campus officials dispatched housekeeping staff to wipe off visible mold before students arrived in August, according to workers interviewed by The Post. With damp conditions and overcrowding,\u00a0it didn\u2019t take long for the mold to return.\nIt began to invade Elkton \u2014 on the blinds, under the beds, inside sneakers, and all over the cooling units.\u00a0 On Sept. 18, a resident assistant sent a message to students on Olivia\u2019s floor instructing them to check their rooms for mold: \u201cBest way to see it is in the dark using a flashlight \u2026 It\u2019ll probably look fuzzy and green.\u201d\n\u201cwe got mold,\u201d Olivia texted Riley later that day.\n\u201chow bad,\u201d Riley asked.\n\u201clook under ur drawers on ur dresser,\u201d Olivia responded. \u201cthat\u2019s where we have it.\u201d\nThe campus\u00a0again\u00a0sent housekeeping staff, untrained and without protective gear, to wipe down desks and chairs\u00a0with an all-purpose disinfectant. The workers said they were beset by scratchy throats, itchy eyes\u00a0and headaches.\u00a0Some called in sick and visited the health center.\nAfter Megan\u2019s mother complained, staff replaced their dresser, blinds and desk.\u00a0But the mold grew back in rooms across Elkton.\u00a0Housing officials hastily called a meeting on Sept. 21 to address the mold in Elkton Hall as parents descended on the campus that Friday for Family Weekend.\n\u201cYou have a sick building with 600 children,\u201d one mother told university officials at the meeting.\u00a0Students cried about being ill.\nMcBride, 50, handed out business cards and told the\u00a0roughly two dozen\u00a0parents and students to call\u00a0him at the health center if they had concerns.\nHe had spent his early career as a physician at a community health center outside Boston. It was there, he said, that he learned the importance of engaging with people outside of the clinical setting. McBride later led student health services at Boston University before arriving at the University of Maryland in 2014.\nDuring the meeting at Elkton, housing officials\u00a0insisted they only learned of the latest outbreak of the mold in recent days and blamed it on the unusually\u00a0wet\u00a0weather.\nHours after the meeting, administrators announced they would move students out of the dorm over the coming weeks and pay for them to stay\u00a0in local hotels. They would hire an outside specialist to clean the mold and an engineer to examine the underlying cause.\nThat report would find that at Elkton Hall, there were \u201clongstanding concerns for humidity levels.\u201d Cooling systems installed in 2011 were not designed to remove moisture from the air and allowed humidity to rise, making the building susceptible to mold growth, the report said.\nMold outbreaks on campus were not new or confined to Elkton, according to workers, articles in the Diamondback, the student newspaper, and documents reviewed by The Post. Since 2017, the college has received reports of mold at 37 of its 38 residence halls in College Park, records show.\nIn recent years, other colleges have\u00a0grappled with\u00a0mold outbreaks.\u00a0In October,\u00a0the University of Tennessee closed a dorm housing roughly 600 students for the rest of the year. Last fall, Montclair State University in New Jersey\u00a0tested mold spore levels before and after remediation even though there are no federal requirements to do so.\nThe University of Maryland, where in-state tuition, housing and other costs run about $27,000, took a different approach. They would rotate students out floor by floor while the remediation was ongoing, starting at the top of Elkton, where more residents had complained about mold. And, at the recommendation of the campus environmental safety team, the college decided against testing the type of mold or specific levels, noting that the CDC and Environmental Protection Agency have said such testing is unnecessary.\nSept. 23: Hazmat suits and dehumidifiers\nRiley and Sarah, who both battled coughs and congestion, on Sunday, Sept. 23 moved to\u00a0the nearby Cambria Hotel with other\u00a0eighth floor residents. Contractors\u00a0in hazmat suits and masks began cleanup efforts\u00a0at Elkton.\nMold under a bed and in the air conditioning unit in Olivia Paregol and Megan Sassaman's dorm room. (Photos by Megan Sassaman)\nA health and safety specialist who inspected Elkton on behalf of the campus labor union said the building\u2019s condition was so bad that it looked like it had been filled with floodwater.\nWorkers placed dehumidifiers in the hallways throughout the building. On Olivia\u2019s floor,\u00a0a plastic tube drained water from a dehumidifier into a drinking fountain. Olivia and Megan weren\u2019t scheduled to move out for another ten days.\nOlivia, meanwhile, couldn\u2019t stop coughing.\nOn Monday, Olivia\u2019s roommate, Megan, walked to the student health center, a red-brick building in the heart of campus for the second time that month. Megan said that during a breathing test a physician assistant asked whether she was trying hard enough because her oxygen levels had dropped.\nMegan complained in an email to university officials about how she had been treated. \u201c[It] made me feel as though my symptoms were pushed under the rug yet again,\u201d Megan wrote on Sept. 25 to University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh and others. She mentioned Olivia\u2019s\u00a0illness\u00a0and said, \u201cI continue to live in an unhealthy environment.\u00a0The lack of communication and lack of acknowledgementof the mold issue saddens me and comes across as if the University puts student health as a low priority.\u201d\nAfter more than a week of relentless coughing, Olivia now had a sore throat and chest congestion. On Sept. 26, she also visited the student health center\u00a0at the urging of her parents. There, Dr. Chelsea Cosby diagnosed her with an unspecified viral upper respiratory infection with a cough and \u201cexposure to mold,\u201d according to her medical records.\u00a0She was prescribed cough syrup and a nasal saline spray.\nIn an effort to understand the impact of the mold infestation, health center staff, at McBride\u2019s direction, had begun to take note of where students who came for treatment were living and if their respiratory symptoms were worse inside any of the dorms.\nAfter the relocation plan was announced on Sept. 21, Megan\u2019s parents, Kim and Kevin Sassaman, sent emails to top university officials asking why Megan and Olivia couldn\u2019t be moved to a hotel sooner, given their poor health. With approval\u00a0from a\u00a0top housing official, the two students\u00a0moved into the Cambria on Sept. 26 five days after the announcement.\u00a0 The roommates stocked up on beauty masks and snacks for their makeshift dorm room.\nTwo days after\u00a0they\u00a0checked into the hotel,\u00a0McBride, the director of the health center, wrote Olivia: \u201cDr. Cosby let me know that you\u2019re feeling unwell and that mold may be a factor. I know that you\u2019re scheduled to move for cleaning in early October. Do you want for me to advocate for a sooner move to another location on campus until after the cleaning is complete?\u201d\nOlivia responded: \u201cMy roommate actually already had us moved. Thank you for reaching out, but I\u2019m already in a hotel at the moment.\u201d\nAfter\u00a011 days in the hotel, Olivia and Megan moved back into Elkton Hall, where the remediation was winding down.\nOct. 8: \u201cIt was almost like a factory.\u201d\nParents increasingly took to social media to vent about conditions on campus. On Oct. 8, families started to complain on Facebook that their children were misdiagnosed at the student health center, told they had unspecified viruses or couldn\u2019t even get an appointment.\nIn an interview, Angela Hayes said her son, a freshman who lived in Easton Hall, repeatedly sought help for a sore throat and high temperature. Health center staff told him he had a virus. When he didn\u2019t improve, she said, he went to a nearby urgent care center, where he was diagnosed with acute tonsillitis and prescribed antibiotics.\n\u201cIt was almost like a factory,\u201d Hayes said of the health center. \u201cThey\u2019d tell students \u2018you\u2019re fine, you\u2019re fine, you\u2019re fine.\u2019 \u201d\nMcBride told The Post that in October he had noticed an uptick of fever-associated illnesses that were not the flu. He scheduled a meeting in early November of the campus infectious disease management committee, a group that evaluates\u00a0health threats.\nIn mid-October, Debbra Aiello\u2019s 18-year-old\u00a0son, who lived in La Plata Hall, called her at home in New Jersey complaining of a bad headache, sore throat and high fever. She drove down to College Park and brought him back to a pediatric emergency room in New Jersey. He had a 104-degree fever and after a battery of tests, doctors determined he had an ear infection and adenovirus.\nAiello said she had never heard of adenovirus and had no clue that it could severely sicken a healthy teenage boy. It took him nearly a week to recover at home.\nWhen his father drove him back to College Park, the son fell ill again so they headed to the student health center.\nBut there was a two-hour wait. They\u00a0left campus and\u00a0drove to an urgent care facility, where they told the medical staff that the student had tested positive for adenovirus. Had the health center been able to treat the student, the university might have learned much earlier about the dangerous virus snaking its way through campus.\nOct. 31: \u201cI can\u2019t swallow my own spit\u201d\nMidway through the fall semester, the death of Jordan McNair that summer still dominated headlines.\nIn late October, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents huddled behind closed doors to discuss a report launched in the wake of his death that detailed poor management of the athletic department. During a May workout, Jordan had hyperventilated and complained of cramps, but athletic trainers waited for about an hour to seek emergency help. He underwent a liver transplant before dying in June.\n\u201cYou entrusted Jordan to our care and he is never coming home again,\u201d President Loh told the McNair family.\nThe case led to a review of the university\u2019s accreditation, which could threaten the school\u2019s federal funding.\nOn Oct. 30, the Board of Regents recommended that football coach DJ Durkin keep his job, triggering a barrage of criticism, including from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. The next day, the university reversed course and dismissed Durkin. The chairman of the Board of Regents resigned.\nAs this was unfolding, Olivia\u00a0languished. She bailed early from a Halloween party, where she was dressed as one of the Three Blind Mice. She had painted her glasses black,\u00a0dark enough\u00a0to cover her puffy eyes and told friends it pained her to speak.\n\u201ci can\u2019t swallow my own spit,\u201d Olivia texted Sarah on Oct. 31, \u201cand my neck is so lumpy bc my lymph nodes so swollen.\u201d\nThat day she went to\u00a0her family doctor, where a pediatric nurse practitioner tested her for strep, but found none. Two days later, on Nov. 2, as her symptoms worsened, Olivia\u2019s father urged her to visit the campus health center. There, she complained to a physician that she had a fever, fatigue and a sore throat and mentioned that a friend had mono. The doctor, Juliana Aruna, ordered a test for mono, but Olivia didn\u2019t have time to wait at the lab.\nThat evening, she was headed to a birthday celebration for her sister. At the dinner, Olivia whispered in between coughs that she was sure she had mono. Her father worried about her weakened immune system and was determined to take her home from school.\u00a0To his surprise, she did not object.\nOlivia soon retreated to her childhood bedroom. Over the weekend, she complained of chills and took hot showers to soothe her shivering body.\n\u201cr u coming back today?\u201d Riley texted her on Nov. 4, a Sunday afternoon.\nOlivia replied that she didn\u2019t know.\n\u201cmy fever won\u2019t break,\u201d she wrote.\nNov. 9: \u201cThis is no cause for alarm\u201d\nThe university\u2019s first warning of adenovirus among students came the day before Olivia\u2019s Nov. 2 visit to the health center.\u00a0McBride received an email from a physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, who told him about a College Park student who had been hospitalized there and tested positive for the virus.\n\u201cI thought it best that you know in case there are more,\u201d the physician, Dr. James Campbell, wrote.\nIn a follow-up phone call, the physician told McBride that the student had been admitted with a high fever and pneumonia. It was \u201can unusual presentation\u201d of adenovirus, he told McBride.\nThe virus was in the news: It had been linked to the deaths of children with weakened immune systems living at a long-term care facility in New Jersey. The outbreak had sickened 27 children and killed 11. Some of the survivors had been treated with anti-viral medications.\nCertain strains can severely sicken healthy adults. The military has had multiple fatal outbreaks in barracks. A vaccine is available to military personnel, but has not been approved for the general public.\nSoon after the phone call with Campbell, McBride learned\u00a0that a student who had been seen at the health center with a fever and respiratory problems had been admitted to Washington Adventist Hospital in Maryland. McBride suspected it was\u00a0a second\u00a0case of adenovirus and asked the hospital to run a test, he later told The Post.\nOn Nov. 7, McBride convened the meeting of the campus infectious disease management committee, which included about a dozen officials from student affairs, athletics, communications, housing and other departments. They discussed updating the campus plan for disease outbreaks. McBride told them about the increase in fever-associated illnesses on campus and several cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, which causes a mild rash and mouth sores.\nMcBride, however, did not advise the committee of the confirmed case of adenovirus or the second suspected one, according to meeting minutes. Asked why he didn\u2019t bring up adenovirus, McBride told The Post that it is \u201cnot currently a reportable condition \u2026 we were more focused on what we knew at that time.\u201d\nUnlike some other infectious diseases, adenovirus is not governed by mandatory state or federal reporting requirements \u2013 doctors or hospitals are not required to alert health officials or the public when the virus is discovered.\nTwo days later, on Nov. 9, Andrew Catanzaro, a physician at Washington Adventist, followed up with McBride and told him by email he was concerned about \u201cothers coming into the hospital who are quite ill \u2026 Perhaps you have an outbreak of Adenovirus on the campus.\u201d\nThat day the student health center began testing for adenovirus. At 6:31 p.m., McBride sent out a campuswide email about flu and virus prevention techniques, such as washing hands, and noted that there had been several cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease. He made no mention of adenovirus.\n\u201cThis is no cause for alarm,\u201d he wrote in boldfaced type, \u201cbut it does give us the opportunity to practice effective prevention techniques for these types of illnesses.\u201d\nBy then, Olivia had been out of school and at home for a week, except for a brief visit to Elkton to pick up her medication. She kept Sarah and Riley in the loop, texting \u201ci just puked blood.\u201d\nShe visited her family doctor on Nov. 5. The following day, her parents took her to the emergency room at Howard County General Hospital, where doctors treated her as if she had bacterial pneumonia and sent her home with antibiotics.\nBut the medication wasn\u2019t working and her chest began to hurt when she coughed.\nThree days later, she was admitted to Howard County hospital, where physicians tested her for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis and bacterial blood infections, records show. All came back negative. But they did not test for adenovirus.\nThey knew she had pneumonia but it was unclear as to what had caused it and why she wasn\u2019t getting better. They continued to treat her with antibiotics.\nThe nasal swab used to detect adenovirus is significantly more expensive than a flu or strep test and it is not available at many primary care and urgent care clinics. Howard County hospital officials later declined to answer questions about why they did not test Olivia for adenovirus.\nIan and Meg Paregol traded off nights sleeping on a small couch next to Olivia\u2019s hospital bed. Ian, an attorney who represents clients with disabilities, had learned how to advocate for patients under difficult circumstances. He barely slept as he watched his daughter\u2019s oxygen levels dip well below normal into the low 80s on Saturday night.\nHer left lung was filling with fluid.\nNov. 11: A \u201cparticularly nasty\u201d strain\nOn Sunday, Nov. 11, with her condition worsening, Olivia was moved into the intensive care unit. Doctors suggested puncturing her back with a needle to help drain fluid from her lungs.\nOlivia, now struggling to speak, asked: \u201cWill it hurt?\u201d\nSuddenly, her eyes rolled back and she suffered a seizure, thrashing against the bed. Medical staff rushed in, and Ian, fearing she was dying, ran from her bedside into the hallway. He fell to his knees and started to pray. Doctors intubated Olivia and administered sedative drugs.\nThat night, Howard County physicians planned to airlift her to Hopkins in Baltimore, where she could undergo a Hail Mary treatment: the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation machine or ECMO. Tubes circulate and oxygenate the patient\u2019s blood outside of the body, giving the heart and lungs a chance to recover.\nIan and Meg drove to Hopkins. They took the elevator to one of the top floors of the hospital and stood by the window. There, they stared into the night sky and waited for the flashing lights and whirring blades of their daughter\u2019s helicopter.\nBack on campus, Sarah\u2019s text messages to Olivia went unanswered.\n\u201cOkay you\u2019re scaring me,\u201d Sarah wrote. \u201cI just wanna know ur okay/coming home tomorrow.\u201d\nOlivia\u2019s roommate, Megan, was too sick to leave their dorm room.\u00a0Megan had tried to get an appointment at the student health center but nothing was available.\nOn. Nov. 12, Megan\u2019s mother Kim Sassaman wrote to\u00a0President\u00a0Loh and\u00a0McBride about her daughter\u2019s illness and questioned whether mold remained.\u00a0She asked for \u201cfull disclosure\u201d on what was making her daughter and other students sick.\n\u201cHer constant illness is not an isolated case in Elkton,\u201d Sassaman wrote. She alluded to Olivia,\u00a0saying that Megan\u2019s roommate was hospitalized with pneumonia and another student \u2014 their 18-year-old friend Humza Mohiuddin \u2014\u00a0had been hospitalized with respiratory issues.\nMcBride responded quickly and traded emails with Megan\u2019s mother. \u201cWe\u2019ve discovered several cases of a particularly nasty strain of adenovirus (a typical cold virus),\u201d McBride wrote in one message. \u201cIf Megan has not been tested for this, we can either perform a swab at the UHC for it or you can ask her current caregiver to test for it.\u201d\nBy then the state Department of Health was aware of the outbreak. That day \u2014 Nov. 12 \u2014 Catanzaro, the infectious disease physician at Washington Adventist, alerted the state about two students who tested positive for the adenovirus. The next day, McBride learned that a student tested at the health center was also positive for adenovirus.\nAt Hopkins, doctors began the ECMO treatment\u00a0for Olivia and ordered dozens of tests, including a screening for respiratory viruses that included adenovirus.\nAfter Olivia showed no improvement\u00a0on Nov. 13, Ian, in a panic, called the university.\nHours later, when McBride returned the call, Ian pressed him about her illness and any connection to mold.\n\u201cI need some answers,\u201d Olivia\u2019s father pleaded. \u201cI need to know what\u2019s going on because she should not be this sick.\u201d\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had a couple of cases of adenovirus appear,\u201d McBride responded, according to Ian. He said he told McBride to immediately call Hopkins to share what he knew. Although Kim Sassman had alerted McBride the day before that Megan\u2019s roommate was in the hospital, McBride told the Post that Olivia was not mentioned by name and he did not learn about her hospitalization until Nov. 13.\nLater that afternoon,\u00a0McBride left a voicemail for Ian, saying he spoke to an official at Hopkins: \u201cThe state health department is getting involved as well, so we can try to prevent further spread of the virus called adenovirus, which is actually a pretty common cold virus. But every once in a while it causes a more severe illness. So we suspect that\u2019s what it might be.\u201d\nSuddenly, Ian had a sobering realization: For the past week, doctors had been giving her a cocktail of antibiotics, which would only be effective if a bacterial infection was the underlying cause.\nBut the true culprit had been a virus.\nAlthough many people recover from adenovirus on their own, immunocompromised patients with severe cases, such as Olivia, can benefit from anti-viral drugs, such as cidofovir. The drugs carry significant risks, including kidney failure, and have not been approved by the FDA or studied in large-scale trials for use in treating adenovirus.\n\u201cYou want to start it before the patient gets too sick,\u201d said Ivan Gonzalez, a physician at the University of Miami who has studied the use of cidofovir in adenovirus patients with compromised immune systems.\nIn Olivia\u2019s case, doctors didn\u2019t wait. On Nov. 13, hours after tests confirmed she had adenovirus, they began to administer cidofovir.\nNov. 15: Five sick, no disclosure\nTwo weeks had passed since McBride had been told of the first adenovirus case on campus. The unofficial tally of students with the virus was up to at least five, three of whom required hospitalization. There were likely many others who had not been diagnosed. The University of Maryland was now navigating one of the country\u2019s first\u00a0adenovirus outbreaks on a college campus.\nStill, there was no public announcement of its presence.\nOn Nov. 14, McBride sent an email to Richard Brooks, a CDC employee assigned to the state health department, and shared the university\u2019s campuswide virus prevention email that was sent on Nov. 9. McBride asked Brooks, who works with state officials on outbreaks, if the CDC wanted the university to do more \u201cadeno specific communication\u201d with people on campus.\nLater that day, Brooks responded: \u201cBased on our conversation with CDC, we don\u2019t think additional, more specific messaging about adenovirus is necessary at this point in time.\u201d\nOn Nov. 15, McBride gathered the infectious disease committee \u2014 this time to talk about the growing number of adenovirus cases.\u00a0The university\u2019s plan for responding to low-level health threats states that officials should be \u201cproviding information to the community about the infection in question, increasing prevention measures in resident halls/dining halls/public locations.\u201d\nThe group suggested conferring with Katie Lawson, the university\u2019s chief communications officer, about\u00a0sending a message to students who had compromised immune systems and to residents at Elkton Hall given \u201cheightened sensitivity\u201d over the mold, according to minutes of the meeting. McBride emailed the minutes to more than 30 people, including Linda Clement, the vice president for student affairs who reports directly to President Loh.\nOfficials did not send those messages.\nBut later that day, McBride warned his counterparts at Georgetown, George Washington, American, Howard, Towson and other area colleges. In an email, he told them about a \u201ccluster\u201d of adenovirus cases, noting that three students had been hospitalized, including one in \u201cvery serious condition.\u201d\n\u201cPlease keep your eye out for this on your campuses,\u201d he wrote.\nNov. 17: \u201cwhat we really need is a miracle\u201d\nAt Hopkins, additional tests soon revealed that Olivia had adenovirus 7, a virulent strain responsible for the deaths of children in New Jersey.\nWhen Angela Crankfield-Edmond, a health official with Prince George\u2019s County, learned on Nov. 16 that preliminary results showed Olivia had the pernicious strain of adenovirus, she wrote to McBride, \u201cPlease do not tell anyone until we get the final result.\u201d\nCrankfield said the state instructed her not to make anything public until final test results were available.\nHopkins physicians continued to give Olivia cidofovir and also began a blood treatment designed to boost her immunity.\nBut it made no difference.\nFluid rapidly accumulated in her once slender 130-pound body. By Nov. 16, she had swollen to 232 pounds. Her blood pressure plummeted. Her kidneys and liver were failing.\nDr. Glenn Whitman \u2013 an ICU physician at Hopkins \u2013 gathered Olivia\u2019s family in a conference room on Saturday, Nov. 17, to explain the best chance to save her life.\nAn open cavity abdominal surgery could release fluid and pressure. A plastic sheet would temporarily hold Olivia\u2019s organs in place. If she survived, she could face up to a year of recovery in a hospital bed.\nIan and Meg asked him: What would he do?\nWhitman broke down into tears. He had children as well, he told them. And he would do everything to save the Paregols\u2019 daughter, just as if she was his own.\nOn Facebook, Ian asked family and friends to join them in prayers as Olivia underwent surgery.\nThe pulse within her feet had become faint. Now doctors were struggling to pick up a pulse in her legs and asked Ian and Meg if they would consider amputation as a last resort.\nIan and Meg tried to channel Olivia\u2019s mind-set. At what cost would she be willing to live?\n\u201cUltimately what we really need is a miracle,\u201d Ian posted on Facebook.\nEarly Sunday morning, on Nov. 18, the Paregol family made the 45-minute drive home from Hopkins to shower and change clothes. A nurse called with grim instructions: Come back as soon as possible.\nWith permission from Ian and Meg, doctors stopped giving Olivia blood pressure medication. They warned that she could die within minutes.\nCountry music\u00a0\u2013 Olivia\u2019s favorite \u2013 played in the room as her parents and two siblings, Zoe and Evan, took turns by the teenager\u2019s bedside. They remembered the vacation to Turks and Caicos and trips in the family Prius when Olivia crammed in the middle seat between her brother and sister.\nOne by one they held her hand for hours that Sunday afternoon and told her how much they loved her.\nAt 10:15 p.m. on Nov. 18, Olivia Shea Paregol was pronounced dead.\nDoctors listed three causes of death: organ failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome and adenovirus.\nNov. 28: \u201cShould have done more\u201d\nEarly the next morning, McBride wrote to Brooks, the CDC employee working with state health officials, saying he had an unconfirmed report that Olivia had died. Given that she had adenovirus 7, he wondered if they should go public.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve discussed internally here, and we don\u2019t feel that this changes our plans to do any messaging,\u201d Brooks responded an hour later. \u201cTo be clear, we are not recommending that you NOT put out any additional communications (i.e. if you feel the need to send any additional messaging, we are fine with that). We just aren\u2019t recommending that you need to do so.\u201d\nAfter\u00a0reaching out to the state,\u00a0McBride faxed the result of Megan\u2019s test at the student health center to her family doctor \u2014 she also had adenovirus.\nAround 2:30 p.m. that day, Nov. 19, McBride sent out a campuswide email that for the first time publicly acknowledged adenovirus, saying that there were six confirmed cases over the past two weeks. The next day, he revealed in another email to the campus that the virus had killed an unnamed student \u2014 Olivia \u2014 and urged others to take the virus seriously.\nMcBride privately expressed concern that an upcoming news article in The Baltimore Sun might suggest that the University of Maryland \u201cshould have done more,\u201d he wrote in an email to a Prince George\u2019s county health official. The story questioned whether the university could have done more to prevent Olivia\u2019s death.\n\u201cThere was nothing else you could have done,\u201d responded Crankfield-Edmond of the county health department, who days earlier told McBride to remain silent. \u201cIt\u2019s a cold virus that is in the community.\u201d\nThe next day, on Nov. 21, McBride appeared on a local television segment and defended the university\u2019s response to the adenovirus outbreak.\n\u201cWhile we want to acknowledge there are cases on campus, we don\u2019t necessarily want to stir up unnecessary angst,\u201d\u00a0McBride said in the interview.\nThe Paregol family spent Thanksgiving planning a funeral. Two days later, on a rainy Saturday, the ground so wet that heels sunk into the mud, Olivia\u2019s family and friends gathered at the Good Shepherd Cemetery\u00a0in Ellicott City, Md.\nOlivia\u2019s longtime pediatrician, Dr. Jacqueline Brown, attended the service. Brown kept revisiting the early days of November, when Olivia had come into her office, ailing without an apparent cause. Brown said she would have recommended an adenovirus test if she had known that the virus was circulating among Maryland students.\n\u201cIf we were looking for it sooner then maybe the treatment might have worked,\u201d Brown told The Post. \u201cI think by the time that that\u2019s what we realized, she was already very sick. And I\u2019m not sure that it started in time to have made a difference.\u201d\nThe following Monday,\u00a0McBride publicly announced that there were three more cases of adenovirus.\nOn Nov. 28, four days after burying Olivia, her father wrote to McBride, questioning the university\u2019s failure to alert the public earlier about the adenovirus outbreak.\n\u201cThe information could have saved her life and a proper course of treatment could have been identified well before we were told about Adenovirus on 11/13,\u201d he wrote, referencing his phone call that day with McBride. Ian told McBride that had physicians known what to look for, the antiviral treatment \u201ccould have been initiated long before she became critically ill.\u201d\nThe Paregols wanted to sit face-to-face with the university president and try to understand why their daughter was dead. Two teenagers within six months had lost their lives. Ian and Meg wondered: Had the school learned nothing from Jordan McNair?\nIn early December,\u00a0the Paregols gathered around a coffee table in the president\u2019s office. Ian sat across from President Loh and Meg faced Linda Clement, McBride\u2019s supervisor. By then, the University of Maryland had disclosed that adenovirus had sickened at least 30 students.\n\u201cMy condolences to your family,\u201d\u00a0President\u00a0Loh said. \u201cThis is such a terrible loss.\u201d\nAfter an uncomfortable silence, Ian began peppering Loh with questions.\nIan wanted Loh to understand the connection he saw between the mold infestation and the adenovirus outbreak. Ian\u00a0said he knew that mold did not cause the virus, but the mold had made Olivia sick all semester. That made her more susceptible to other respiratory infections, such as adenovirus, he said. Her system was already compromised from her Crohn\u2019s medication.\nIan asked Loh who had made the decision to stay quiet about adenovirus since it was discovered on Nov. 1, the day before Olivia visited the health center.\nPresident Loh, according to the Paregols\u2019 recollection, responded that he had many employees and relied on their expertise for advice.\n\u201cYou\u2019re the president,\u201d Ian said. \u201cYou\u2019re the face of this university. You make the decisions. So this is all on you.\u201d\nAfter 30 minutes, a staff person began to usher the Paregols from the room. The family insisted on a few more questions, but left unsatisfied with Loh\u2019s responses.\nIn a statement to The Post, Loh, who is planning to retire in 2020, said: \u201cI cannot speak to the medical care that Olivia received at emergency rooms or hospitals, or to whether or not an anti-viral medication treatment could have saved her life. We care tremendously about student health and well-being, and we offer our condolences to the Paregol family for this tragic loss.\u201d\nA spokeswoman for Johns Hopkins Medicine, which operates both Howard County General Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital, declined to answer questions about why Howard County did not test Olivia for adenovirus or how the university\u2019s failure to disclose the outbreak may have affected her treatment.\nInstead, Johns Hopkins Medicine provided a statement: \u201cWe are deeply saddened about the death of Olivia Paregol. Our thoughts continue to be with her family and friends as they grieve. Ms. Paregol was diagnosed with an adenoviral infection, for which there is no FDA-approved treatment. Her case was quite complex, and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to summarize it in a brief media statement.\u201d\nJanuary: Olivia\u2019s smiling face was gone.\nAt Elkton Hall, students were skeptical of the university\u2019s efforts to eradicate the mold.\nDays after Olivia\u2019s funeral, her friends Humza and Megan\u00a0returned to the dorm and found mold growing on the shoes in their closets. Housing officials gave Humza a humidity monitor for his room.\nLeft Meg Paregol stands in her daughter Olivia's bedroom at her home in Glenwood, Md. Right, Ian Paregol poses for a photo after getting a tattoo in memory of Olivia.\nMegan eventually decided she had enough and transferred to an out-of-state school.\nIn early January, Olivia\u2019s mom invited Sarah and Riley to join the family at Elkton Hall to clear out the rest of her belongings. Olivia\u2019s parents and sister pulled up to the dorm on a cold, cloudy morning. They stood silently with housing officials and waited for the elevator, holding empty duffel bags.\nIan asked to go the eighth floor where Sarah and Riley had decorated a bulletin board with red construction paper and photos of Olivia\u2019s brief time on campus. They wanted to feel like she was still a part of Elkton. As he looked at his daughter\u2019s face, Ian broke down in tears.\nIn room 3152, Sarah and Riley began to sort through Olivia\u2019s clothes. They took some T-shirts, a pillow and folded up the tapestry of the world map. They planned to hang it on the wall of their off-campus apartment in the fall.\nSarah laid down on Olivia\u2019s bed and stared at the ceiling. She wiped tears from her eyes.\nSeveral days later, Sarah returned to Elkton Hall to move in for the spring semester.\nShe walked toward the elevator and looked up at the bulletin board. Olivia\u2019s smiling face was gone. All of it had been taken down.\nJulie Tate and Rick Maese contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "MTCUDQEDYQI6TFNJ4LEDBL7CJ4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "MTCUDQEDYQI6TFNJ4LEDBL7CJ4_0", "title": "Maryland university board leader pledges review of adenovirus response at College Park campus", "text": "The leader of the University System of Maryland\u2019s governing board on Friday pledged a \u201cthorough, independent and transparent\u201d review of top officials\u2019 response to an adenovirus outbreak last fall at the flagship university in College Park that killed one student and sickened dozens of others. Linda R. Gooden, chair of the system\u2019s Board of Regents, said in a statement that she hoped to meet soon with the parents of the student who died, 18-year-old freshman Olivia Shea Paregol. \u201cOn behalf of the board, I have reached out to Olivia\u2019s parents and soon hope to meet with them and share our condolences, our concern, and our plans for moving forward,\u201d Gooden said. \u201cThose of us who are parents can only imagine the grief and sorrow they must be experiencing.\u201d Gooden\u2019s statement, during a meeting of the board, came a day after Gov. Larry Hogan (R) prodded the regents to take action. In a letter Thursday, the governor sharply questioned why the University of Maryland waited more than two weeks in November to tell the campus about the outbreak. Paregol, who had fallen sick weeks earlier, died Nov. 18. The next day, U-Md. leaders acknowledged that adenovirus was present on campus. \u201cIt appears that, at just about every turn, leaders withheld information instead of being open and honest with the student body,\u201d Hogan wrote in the letter. \u201cThere should never be a question as to whether the campus community will receive timely and accurate information, especially when it is an urgent matter of public health and safety.\u201d Hogan does not have direct authority over the university system, but as governor he is responsible for nominating regents to the board when vacancies arise. The university\u2019s response to the viral outbreak \u2014 and persistent problems with mold in residence halls \u2014 has drawn fresh attention since The Washington Post reported in May that university officials waited 18 days to alert the campus to the presence of adenovirus on campus even as students were falling ill. The virus sickened more than 40 students, the university said, with 15 treated at hospitals. On Friday, a U-Md. spokeswoman reiterated a statement from Thursday: \u201cThe university remains committed to transparency \u2014 and student safety above all \u2014 in the handling of mold and adenovirus on our campus. Transparency has been demonstrated through legislative testimony, briefings to our Board of Regents, and real-time publishing of all actions and communications"}], "old": [{"_id": "MTCUDQEDYQI6TFNJ4LEDBL7CJ4_0", "title": "Maryland university board leader pledges review of adenovirus response at College Park campus", "text": "nick.anderson@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The leader of the University System of Maryland\u2019s governing board on Friday pledged a   \u201cthorough, independent and transparent\u201d review of top officials\u2019 response to an adenovirus outbreak last fall at the flagship university in College Park that killed one student and sickened dozens of others.\nLinda R. Gooden, chair of the system\u2019s Board of Regents, said in a statement that she hoped to meet soon with the parents of the student who died, 18-year-old freshman Olivia Shea Paregol.\n\u201cOn behalf of the board, I have reached out to Olivia\u2019s parents and soon hope to meet with them and share our condolences, our concern, and our plans for moving forward,\u201d Gooden said. \u201cThose of us who are parents can only imagine the grief and sorrow they must be experiencing.\u201d\nGooden\u2019s statement, during a meeting of the board, came a day after Gov. Larry Hogan (R) prodded the regents to take action. In a letter Thursday, the governor sharply questioned why the University of Maryland waited more than two weeks in November to tell the campus about the outbreak.\nParegol, who had fallen sick weeks earlier, died Nov. 18. The next day, U-Md. leaders acknowledged that adenovirus was present on campus.\n\u201cIt appears that, at just about every turn, leaders withheld information instead of being open and honest with the student body,\u201d Hogan wrote in the letter. \u201cThere should never be a question as to whether the campus community will receive timely and accurate information, especially when it is an urgent matter of public health and safety.\u201d\nHogan does not have direct authority over the university system, but as governor he is responsible for nominating regents to the board when vacancies arise.\nThe university\u2019s response to the viral outbreak \u2014 and persistent problems with mold in residence halls \u2014 has drawn fresh attention since The Washington Post reported in May that university officials waited 18 days to alert the campus to the presence of adenovirus on campus even as students were falling ill. The virus sickened more than 40 students, the university said, with 15 treated at hospitals.\nOn Friday, a U-Md. spokeswoman reiterated a statement from Thursday: \u201cThe university remains committed to transparency \u2014 and student safety above all \u2014 in the handling of mold and adenovirus on our campus. Transparency has been demonstrated through legislative testimony, briefings to our Board of Regents, and real-time publishing of all actions and communications on mold and adenovirus throughout the fall. In addition, the university has made public the external review by medical experts of our response to adenovirus, and the findings support the university\u2019s approach.\u201d\nThe Paregol family notified the university on May 20 of a potential wrongful death claim. Olivia\u2019s parents believe the teenager \u2014 who was on medication for a digestive tract condition called Crohn\u2019s disease \u2014 might have survived if her doctors had known sooner about the presence of adenovirus on campus. The virus can produce symptoms similar to cold or flu, but in some cases it can be lethal to those such as Paregol who have weakened immune symptoms.\nGooden said in her statement that the board shares Hogan\u2019s views on the need for a thorough examination of what happened to Paregol. She said the board has received three briefings since December on related safety issues from U-Md. President Wallace D. Loh.\nAs the board was about to enter closed session Friday, Gooden said regents will \u201cstart the process of reviewing and discussing the options for working with President Loh and his executive team to see that there is a thorough, independent and transparent investigation of the work he and his team have done.\u201d\nIan Paregol, Olivia\u2019s father, said he was \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d about the wording of Gooden\u2019s statement, especially her expression of intent to work with Loh. \u201cI don\u2019t know how it\u2019s going to be impartial, how it\u2019s going to be independent if they rely on the administration,\u201d Paregol said.\nBut a spokesman for Hogan praised Gooden\u2019s action.\n\u201cThis is certainly a step in the right direction toward getting answers for the Paregol family and the U-Md. community,\u201d Michael Ricci, Hogan\u2019s communications director, said in a statement. \u201cThe governor believes that the Board of Regents is the appropriate body to conduct this review, and we are encouraged by today\u2019s announcement.\u201d\nnick.anderson@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "P4NT7TGVMRGR5II4LS4FXAFYMQ_1", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "P4NT7TGVMRGR5II4LS4FXAFYMQ_1", "title": "No \u2018consistent connection\u2019 between mold problem and adenovirus infections, U-Md. says", "text": "and the incidents of adenovirus infection affecting UMD students.\u201d Similarly, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said no link exists between mold and adenovirus. That virus usually spreads from one infected person to another, the CDC said. That can happen through touching or shaking hands, or coughing and sneezing. It also spreads when people touch objects or surfaces on which the virus has landed, and proceed to touch their mouth, nose or eyes before washing their hands. The university on Tuesday said a student had died of an adenovirus-associated illness. The student, identified as 18-year-old Olivia Paregol, had lived in Elkton Hall, a dorm on the College Park campus where mold was discovered this year. Paregol, a freshman at the university, was from Howard County, Md. Maryland learned on Nov. 1 that a student was dealing with adenovirus, David McBride, director of the University Health Center, said in a statement this week. University officials worked with the state Department of Health and Prince George\u2019s County Health Department to monitor for cases since that discovery. \u201cThe health center staff has been on high-alert and we have reached out to medical facilities in the area to heighten awareness of this illness,\u201d McBride\u2019s statement said. Since the first case emerged, McBride wrote, five more cases of students with \u201cconfirmed adenovirus-associated illness\u201d have been reported. And one specimen, sent to federal officials for testing, showed an adenovirus strain that can lead to more serious health problems. Adenovirus-related illnesses are usually treated with rest, fluids and medicine to reduce a fever, according to the statement. \u201cHowever, vigilance is extremely important for those with chronic medical problems like asthma, diabetes or illnesses that lower your immune system or if you take medicine that lowers your immune system,\u201d McBride said in the statement. Concerns about mold have lingered this year on the College Park campus, where mold was reported throughout Elkton Hall, home to more than 500 students. The problem, which occurred earlier in the semester, worsened because of \u201csignificant rain and high humidity in our area,\u201d according to a university statement at the time. To deal with the mold concerns, Maryland officials hired contractors, cleaned and replaced furniture and installed \u201ccommercial-grade dehumidifiers\u201d in hallways. Students were temporarily relocated, a decision the university said it made \u201cout of an abundance of caution.\" A university spokeswoman on Wednesday said the Elkton cleanup was completed in mid-October."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The University of Maryland sought this week to assuage concerns that adenovirus infections at the school might be tied to mold exposure, writing that it appeared there was \u201cno consistent connection\u201d between the two health concerns. A U-Md. student died Sunday of an adenovirus-associated illness.\nThe university\u2019s health center on Monday posted online a set of frequently asked questions about adenovirus. Earlier this semester, U-Md. dealt with mold in a campus dormitory \u2014 a problem that forced students to temporarily relocate to hotels. One of the questions posted online addressed concerns of a possible connection between mold and the virus.\n\u201cThe cases of adenovirus-associated illness on campus have been seen both in students living on and off campus and among students in residence halls affected by mold and not,\u201d the website said. \u201cAs such, it appears that there is no consistent connection between mold exposure and the incidents of adenovirus infection affecting UMD students.\u201d\nSimilarly, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said no link exists between mold and adenovirus. That virus usually spreads from one infected person to another, the CDC said. That can happen through touching or shaking hands, or coughing and sneezing. It also spreads when people touch objects or surfaces on which the virus has landed, and proceed to touch their mouth, nose or eyes before washing their hands.\nThe university on Tuesday said a student had died of an adenovirus-associated illness. The student, identified as 18-year-old Olivia Paregol, had lived in Elkton Hall, a dorm on the College Park campus where mold was discovered this year. Paregol, a freshman at the university, was from Howard County, Md.\nMaryland learned on Nov. 1 that a student was dealing with adenovirus, David McBride, director of the University Health Center, said in a statement this week. University officials worked with the state Department of Health and Prince George\u2019s County Health Department to monitor for cases since that discovery.\n\u201cThe health center staff has been on high-alert and we have reached out to medical facilities in the area to heighten awareness of this illness,\u201d McBride\u2019s statement said.\nSince the first case emerged, McBride wrote, five more cases of students with \u201cconfirmed adenovirus-associated illness\u201d have been reported. And one specimen, sent to federal officials for testing, showed an adenovirus strain that can lead to more serious health problems.\nAdenovirus-related illnesses are usually treated with rest, fluids and medicine to reduce a fever, according to the statement.\n\u201cHowever, vigilance is extremely important for those with chronic medical problems like asthma, diabetes or illnesses that lower your immune system or if you take medicine that lowers your immune system,\u201d McBride said in the statement.\nConcerns about mold have lingered this year on the College Park campus, where mold was reported throughout Elkton Hall, home to more than 500 students. The problem, which occurred earlier in the semester, worsened because of \u201csignificant rain and high humidity in our area,\u201d according to a university statement at the time.\nTo deal with the mold concerns, Maryland officials hired contractors, cleaned and replaced furniture and installed \u201ccommercial-grade dehumidifiers\u201d in hallways. Students were temporarily relocated, a decision the university said it made \u201cout of an abundance of caution.\"\nA university spokeswoman on Wednesday said the Elkton cleanup was completed in mid-October."}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "XNAUDQAGIEI6VAUSYRXORSZ5ZY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "XNAUDQAGIEI6VAUSYRXORSZ5ZY_0", "title": "Report finds U-Md. followed protocols in mold, adenovirus outbreaks", "text": "Nearly a year after an adenovirus outbreak killed a freshman at the University of Maryland, an outside review found the college followed protocols in how it responded to the crisis but made numerous recommendations for handling campuswide emergencies. Olivia Paregol, an 18-year-old freshman, died of adenovirus on Nov. 18, 2018, after suffering from health problems during the several months she lived in a mold-infested dorm. A Washington Post report in May revealed that university officials waited 18 days to tell students about the presence of adenovirus that eventually sickened about 45 students. The 141-page report concluded the university\u2019s response to the adenovirus and mold outbreaks at the College Park campus \u201cshould have been viewed and handled as campus-wide emergencies . . . which would have provided earlier opportunities for escalation and more effective emergency management for both incidents.\u201d In the wake of the outbreaks, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) requested an investigation, and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents picked six individuals with \u201csubject matter expertise\u201d to conduct a review. The panel said it examined thousands of documents and interviewed university employees, contractors that worked for the college and Paregol\u2019s father. The report concluded that the university \u201cadhered to the requirements of all local, state and federal regulations and statutes governing reporting and communication concerning infectious diseases\u201d and \u201cthe response to adenovirus was in accordance with the University\u2019s own internal policies and procedures.\u201d But the report identified \u201careas of weakness\u201d and included 14 pages of recommendations. Those included more frequent monitoring of disease trends on campus, sharing health information with regional providers, designating an individual responsible for crisis communications and conducting air sampling after mold remediation. \u201cOur campus works tirelessly on behalf of the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, and we will carefully consider the report\u2019s recommendations,\u201d university President Wallace D. Loh wrote in a campuswide email Wednesday in response to the report. \u201cThe panel unanimously found that university employees prioritized student health and safety above all else. At the same time, our work on campus safety is always ongoing.\u201d Ian Paregol, Olivia\u2019s father, said he appreciated the panel\u2019s efforts but thought the Oct. 22 interview conducted with him was an \u201cafterthought\u201d because he was the last one scheduled and was asked only three questions. \u201cWe do not want another child and family to suffer through this unimaginable pain, and if pushing for an"}], "old": [{"_id": "XNAUDQAGIEI6VAUSYRXORSZ5ZY_0", "title": "Report finds U-Md. followed protocols in mold, adenovirus outbreaks", "text": "jenn.abelson@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Nearly a year after an adenovirus outbreak killed a freshman at the University of Maryland, an outside review found the college followed protocols in how it responded to the crisis but made numerous recommendations for handling campuswide emergencies.\nOlivia Paregol, an 18-year-old freshman, died of adenovirus on Nov. 18, 2018, after suffering from health problems during the several months she lived in a mold-infested dorm. A Washington Post report in May revealed that university officials waited 18 days to tell students about the presence of adenovirus that eventually sickened about 45 students.\nThe 141-page report concluded the university\u2019s response to the adenovirus and mold outbreaks at the College Park campus \u201cshould have been viewed and handled as campus-wide emergencies .\u2009.\u2009. which would have provided earlier opportunities for escalation and more effective emergency management for both incidents.\u201d\nIn the wake of the outbreaks, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) requested an investigation, and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents picked six individuals with \u201csubject matter expertise\u201d to conduct a review. The panel said it examined thousands of documents and interviewed university employees, contractors that worked for the college and Paregol\u2019s father.\nThe report concluded that the university \u201cadhered to the requirements of all local, state and federal regulations and statutes governing reporting and communication concerning infectious diseases\u201d and \u201cthe response to adenovirus was in accordance with the University\u2019s own internal policies and procedures.\u201d\nBut the report identified \u201careas of weakness\u201d and included 14\u00a0pages of recommendations.\nThose included more frequent monitoring of disease trends on campus, sharing health information with regional providers, designating an individual responsible for crisis communications and conducting air sampling after mold remediation.\n\u201cOur campus works tirelessly on behalf of the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, and we will carefully consider the report\u2019s recommendations,\u201d university President Wallace D. Loh wrote in a campuswide email Wednesday in response to the report. \u201cThe panel unanimously found that university employees prioritized student health and safety above all else. At the same time, our work on campus safety is always ongoing.\u201d\nIan Paregol, Olivia\u2019s father, said he appreciated the panel\u2019s efforts but thought the Oct.\u00a022 interview conducted with him was an \u201cafterthought\u201d because he was the last one scheduled and was asked only three questions.\n\u201cWe do not want another child and family to suffer through this unimaginable pain, and if pushing for an investigation to evaluate the university\u2019s responses can prevent that from happening and avoids another unnecessary death, then at least we have made some progress in accountability within the UMD system,\u201d Paregol said.\nOlivia Paregol visited the university health center with a fever and sore throat on Nov. 2, one day after the university learned of the first adenovirus case. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, and it wasn\u2019t until the teenager was fighting for her life at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on Nov. 13 that David McBride, the health center\u2019s director, informed the Paregol family about adenovirus cases on campus.\nAdenovirus, which is not governed by mandatory state or federal reporting requirements, can produce symptoms similar to a cold or flu. Certain virulent strains can sicken healthy individuals and be particularly dangerous to individuals like Olivia Paregol, who had a weakened immune system.\nKatie Lawson, the university\u2019s chief communications officer, told the panel that she was not aware that public health officials had declared an adenovirus outbreak on Nov. 13. At a meeting on Nov. 15, McBride and other college officials discussed sending out an email to students living in Elkton Hall, the dorm where Paregol lived that had been temporarily evacuated because of mold problems.\nThe report noted that the group decided to send a message about adenovirus to the entire campus but that \u201cthere was some delay\u201d and it wasn\u2019t finalized until the following day, on a Friday. The university planned to email it on Monday. Paregol died on Sunday evening, Nov. 18.\n\u201cThroughout the handling of adenovirus notices, Ms. Lawson stated there was tension around wanting to be responsive to the community with more information than usual and guidance from state and county health officials, which was also coming from the CDC,\u201d the report said.\nMcBride, who left his job at the university several weeks after the start of the fall 2019 semester, did not return messages from The Washington Post seeking comment. During his interview with the panel, McBride discussed his efforts to assist students who had health problems related to the mold. He also said the decision not to take air samples before or after the mold remediation was a \u201csubject of controversy.\u201d\nThe mold surfaced in Elkton Hall and other dorms as early as July 2018. During the unusually wet season, the university received more than 1,800 service calls related to mold at dorms across campus, the report said.\nAndrea Crabb, director of residential facilities, told the panel there were \u201ccommunication breakdowns\u201d with residential facilities staff during the cleaning and remediation. Crabb said she was advised by the college\u2019s Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk that air sample testing should not be conducted.\nMold does not cause adenovirus, but McBride, in emails previously reported by The Post, acknowledged that \u201cmold can cause respiratory irritation that may increase susceptibility of any viral infection.\u201d\nThe Paregol family filed a notice of claim against the college in May and said they intend to move ahead with a wrongful-death lawsuit.\nIan Paregol said university officials \u201cstill did withhold the information which caused my daughter\u2019s death. They knew there was an adenovirus outbreak, and they should have told us and her to get checked when she came to the university health center after the first case of the virus.\u201d\njenn.abelson@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 964, "pid": "ZEPL2FH5BEI6RBRKW2TPHTUBTE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 964, "text": "I'm looking for information about an adenovirus outbreak at the University of Maryland and the related death of Olivia Paregol.", "instruction_og": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I'm looking for information regarding the adenovirus infection and subsequent death of Olivia Paregol at the College Park campus of the University of Maryland. I'm interested in how and when the university administration became aware of a possible outbreak and what steps were taken to inform vulnerable students and their parents of the risk. Details about other students' affected by the virus are relevant.  Administrative repercussions and actions and any steps taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of adenovirus also are relevant. Do not include any information directly related to students. ", "short_query": "Find articles online that answer this question comprehensively.", "keywords": "online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ZEPL2FH5BEI6RBRKW2TPHTUBTE_0", "title": "Stepped up disinfecting of UMd dorm rooms is announced to combat viruses", "text": "A total of 30 cases of adenovirus have been confirmed at the University of Maryland, and university officials announced plans to intensify its dormitory cleaning program to help prevent additional infections. An announcement made last week by the university\u2019s department of resident life gave the updated adenovirus infection numbers. Of the 30 confirmed cases, eight of the students have been hospitalized. It said four cases have been confirmed of adenovirus 7, a particularly virulent strain of the virus. One Maryland student has died of what were reported to be adenovirus-related causes. In announcing the disinfecting program, the resident life department said it would go beyond normal winter-break practices, and extend inside rooms to surfaces that are frequently touched inside rooms. Such surfaces include doorknobs, furniture tops, light switches, faucets and bedframes, the department said. The program is to be conducted from January 7 to January 18, the department said. According to the announcement, the aim is to support UMd\u2019s broader effort to prevent the spread of a variety of viruses, \u201cincluding adenovirus.\u201d The university\u2019s health center said adenoviruses can cause typical cold and flu symptoms. But the center emphasized that it is particularly important that these symptoms not be ignored by those with lowered immune systems. Such persons should see a physician within 48 hours of developing symptoms, the health center said. Martin.Weil@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "ZEPL2FH5BEI6RBRKW2TPHTUBTE_0", "title": "Stepped up disinfecting of UMd dorm rooms is announced to combat viruses", "text": "Martin.Weil@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "A total of 30 cases of adenovirus have been confirmed at the University of Maryland, and  university officials announced plans to intensify its dormitory cleaning program to help prevent additional infections.\nAn announcement made last week by the university\u2019s department of resident life  gave the updated adenovirus infection numbers.\nOf the 30 confirmed cases, eight of the students have been hospitalized. It said four cases have been confirmed of adenovirus 7, a particularly virulent strain of the virus.\nOne Maryland student has died of what were reported to be adenovirus-related causes.\nIn announcing the disinfecting  program, the resident life department said it would go beyond normal  winter-break practices, and extend inside rooms  to surfaces that are frequently touched  inside rooms.\nSuch surfaces include doorknobs, furniture tops, light switches, faucets and bedframes, the department said.\nThe program is to be conducted  from January 7 to January 18, the department said.\nAccording to the announcement, the aim is to support UMd\u2019s broader effort to prevent the spread of  a variety of viruses, \u201cincluding adenovirus.\u201d\nThe university\u2019s health center said adenoviruses can cause typical cold and flu symptoms. But the center emphasized that it is particularly important that these symptoms not be ignored by those with lowered immune systems. Such persons should see a physician within 48 hours of developing symptoms, the health center said.\nMartin.Weil@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "3J25QJSGYBBGBKWSZDT66GCIMQ_1", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3J25QJSGYBBGBKWSZDT66GCIMQ_1", "title": "Travel prices are dropping almost everywhere as coronavirus fears take over ", "text": "of the U.S. Travel Association, said in an interview this month. He cautioned that he doesn\u2019t think the low-price stretch will last too long. \u201cI think there is going to be an opportunity for Americans to get some good deals as the marketplace reacts and says: We\u2019re going to price to increase occupancy.\u201d Health experts have said travelers should heed specific travel warnings from the U.S. State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when planning any trip, and prepare in case they get caught up in restrictions or an unexpected quarantine. And they should be cognizant of their own risk factors \u2014 especially age and underlying health issues \u2014 before traveling. Late Wednesday, President Trump announced a ban on foreign travelers from most of Europe \u2014 excluding the United Kingdom \u2014 to the United States for 30 days starting Friday. The U.S. State Department advised U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad altogether, in part because of the potential for quarantines and border restrictions. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned against all nonessential travel to most of Europe. The result of so much upheaval: Travel companies have gotten desperate for customers. Bob Levinstein, CEO of the cruise shopping site CruiseCompete, says that based on the business he\u2019s doing, cancellations in March are way up and bookings are \u201cthrough the floor\u201d \u2014 down 68.5 percent. As a result, he says he\u2019s never seen lower prices or better offers. That included a balcony room for a week-long Caribbean cruise for $250 and another cruise for $599 that includes $400 in onboard credit. Two cruise companies, Viking Cruises and Princess Cruises, have suspended voyages altogether for the near future. \u201cBasically in the cruise business, rule number one is always fill the ship. And that\u2019s because empty cabins don\u2019t spend money at the bar, they don\u2019t buy alcohol, they don\u2019t gamble at the casino, they don\u2019t buy shore excursions,\u201d Levinstein said. \u201cThe ships keep sailing and they just have to keep reducing the prices, and that\u2019s what\u2019s going on. They\u2019ve never been lower, and I suspect over the next couple of months, they will continue to go lower.\u201d Travel data firm STR said in a report Wednesday that U.S. hotel occupancy in the first week of March dropped 7.3 percent compared with about the same time last year, and average daily rates were down 4.6 percent. The biggest drop in"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Matt Hribar likes to travel as much as possible. But the 25-year-old Cleveland resident whose many jobs include DJ, trivia host, podcaster and musician typically can\u2019t swing the price of a flight and hotel to most of his dream spots.\nBut these are not typical times, as the spread of the new coronavirus pummels demand for travel around the world and pushes prices for flights, hotels and cruises down.\nThat\u2019s how Hribar found himself with round-trip plane tickets for this spring to Miami, where he intends to \u201ckind of quarantine myself on the beach,\u201d for about $100 and to Los Angles for about $200.\n\u201cI took a look and I liked what I saw, so I booked,\u201d he says.\nTravel industry observers think there will be a lot for bargain hunters to like in the coming days, especially as they consider the typically expensive summer vacation season. But those travelers will have to navigate a rising number of cancellations, travel restrictions and public-health warnings as they plan vacations.\n\u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen is, the hotels and airlines and especially the cruise lines, when they think they\u2019re going to lose some business, they start offering deals,\u201d Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in an interview this month. He cautioned that he doesn\u2019t think the low-price stretch will last too long. \u201cI think there is going to be an opportunity for Americans to get some good deals as the marketplace reacts and says: We\u2019re going to price to increase occupancy.\u201d\nHealth experts have said travelers should heed specific travel warnings from the U.S. State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when planning any trip, and prepare in case they get caught up in restrictions or an unexpected quarantine. And they should be cognizant of their own risk factors \u2014 especially age and underlying health issues \u2014 before traveling.\nLate Wednesday, President Trump announced a ban on foreign travelers from most of Europe \u2014 excluding the United Kingdom \u2014 to the United States for 30 days starting Friday. The U.S. State Department advised U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad altogether, in part because of the potential for quarantines and border restrictions. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned against all nonessential travel to most of Europe.\nThe result of so much upheaval: Travel companies have gotten desperate for customers.\nBob Levinstein, CEO of the cruise shopping site CruiseCompete, says that based on the business he\u2019s doing, cancellations in March are way up and bookings are \u201cthrough the floor\u201d \u2014 down 68.5 percent. As a result, he says he\u2019s never seen lower prices or better offers. That included a balcony room for a week-long Caribbean cruise for $250 and another cruise for $599 that includes $400 in onboard credit. Two cruise companies, Viking Cruises and Princess Cruises, have suspended voyages altogether for the near future.\n\u201cBasically in the cruise business, rule number one is always fill the ship. And that\u2019s because empty cabins don\u2019t spend money at the bar, they don\u2019t buy alcohol, they don\u2019t gamble at the casino, they don\u2019t buy shore excursions,\u201d Levinstein said. \u201cThe ships keep sailing and they just have to keep reducing the prices, and that\u2019s what\u2019s going on. They\u2019ve never been lower, and I suspect over the next couple of months, they will continue to go lower.\u201d\nTravel data firm STR said in a report Wednesday that U.S. hotel occupancy in the first week of March dropped 7.3 percent compared with about the same time last year, and average daily rates were down 4.6 percent. The biggest drop in rates came from the San Francisco area, where average prices per night fell 30 percent to more than $212.\n\u201cThis is quite likely the beginning of a bad run that will get worse before it gets better,\u201d Jan Freitag, the company\u2019s senior vice president of lodging insights, said in a statement.\nTim Hentschel, CEO and co-founder of the bookings site HotelPlanner, said Europe has seen 50 percent price drops in the past week, and the U.S. has seen prices go down by 30 percent in major cities.\nHe said in an email that travelers looking for the biggest discounts should look in a city where big citywide events have just announced cancellations. If the Summer Olympics are canceled or postponed, he said, that could be a time to find a great deal in Tokyo. The CDC has recommended that travelers \u201cpractice enhanced precautions\u201d in Japan due to the virus.\nAirline prices typically rise this time of year. But the airfare booking app Hopper says domestic fares dropped an average of 14 percent between March 4 and Saturday, though some routes are seeing rates 70 percent lower than average. International fares are down, too, but the company has seen a surge in searches for domestic travel.\n\u201cNot only are we seeing prices are down, but they\u2019re also down across the board,\u201d says Hayley Berg, the company\u2019s economist. \u201cSo these fare sales, they\u2019re not limited to one or two routes. We\u2019re seeing a significant impact across many, many major routes.\u201d\nScott\u2019s Cheap Flights regularly flags flight deals to global destinations, but founder and CEO Scott Keyes says that what stands out now are the typically rare summer deals. He said he\u2019s found round-trip deals from U.S. airports for $260 to London, $500 to Japan, $200 to Vancouver and about $650 to Fiji.\n\u201cThat\u2019s kind of the airlines\u2019 cash cow is the summer travel months \u2014 everybody\u2019s out of school, \u2026 the weather\u2019s nice, everybody wants to travel then, that\u2019s when great deals are least likely to pop up,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd yet, because bookings are down so much, they\u2019re available now.\u201d\nHe says airlines\u2019 \u201cpeace-of-mind\u201d offerings \u2014 more leeway for cancellations and rescheduling \u2014 make it easier for passengers to pull the trigger when they see a good deal.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege that is never afforded to travelers, especially on the cheapest fares, to be able to have that kind of flexibility,\u201d he says.\nJack Ezon, founder and managing partner of the travel agency Embark Beyond, said in an email that he is urging clients to book travel for spring and summer now knowing that they can easily change plans if necessary.\n\u201cWith so many people around the globe reacting strongly to the developments, prime space at hotels all over the world is suddenly available,\u201d he said in an email. \u201cAirline costs have plummeted. Any good buyer knows to buy when a market is weak \u2014 as we like to say, \u2018Don\u2019t waste this crisis.\u2019\"\nJoe DeSimone, 30, of Austin, saw stories about empty flights and figured airlines would be eagerly searching for people to fill some of those seats. So he took advantage of lower prices within the past month to book flights to Toronto two weeks from now, for a little over $200, and London two months from now, for slightly more than $400. Both trips are for upcoming conventions, but, he says, even if the conventions get canceled, he\u2019ll be happy to spend time in both cities.\n\u201cThese were things that I knew I was going to want to do, but was on the fence about,\u201d says DeSimone, who runs an after-school program that teaches game design to high school students and works in food service at Alamo Drafthouse. Plus, friends in London said he could stay with them for up to three months.\nHe says he wouldn\u2019t book a flight anywhere that has severe travel restrictions in place, because that wouldn\u2019t make for a great vacation.\n\u201cOtherwise, if the government\u2019s not on lockdown, and I don\u2019t see like photos that make it look like something out of the Black Plague, \u2026 I\u2019m probably okay,\u201d DeSimone says.\nRead more:\nEverything travelers need to know about being sick overseas\nHow to think about travel as the coronavirus threat evolves\nEverything you should and shouldn\u2019t do to stay healthy on a plane"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "CNYDPMLMZVAIBNEYMOODSXZGC4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "CNYDPMLMZVAIBNEYMOODSXZGC4_0", "title": "Every day for the past two weeks has set a record low for traveler screenings, TSA reports", "text": "The Transportation Security Administration has reported a record low for traveler screenings every day for the past two weeks. TSA agents screened 124,021 travelers at U.S. airports on Thursday, its lowest number in the past decade. On the same day last year, the agency screened 2,411,500 travelers. TSA checkpoint data With many U.S. states issuing stay-at-home orders, Americans have been advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to forgo all nonessential travel to slow the spread of coronavirus. The center has also issued a special travel advisory that urges \u201cresidents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from nonessential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.\u201d The State Department is advising U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel at this time due to the pandemic, and is only offering passport services to people with \u201cqualified life-or-death\u201d emergencies that require immediate international travel. Since the global spread of the coronavirus in January, tens of thousands of flights have been canceled, and the International Air Transport Association estimates that 1.1 million flights will be canceled through June 30, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday. Read more: How coronavirus grounded the airline industry Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d Some airlines and hotels suspend redemption options for loyalty programs"}], "old": [{"_id": "CNYDPMLMZVAIBNEYMOODSXZGC4_0", "title": "Every day for the past two weeks has set a record low for traveler screenings, TSA reports", "text": "TSA checkpoint data Read more:"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Transportation Security Administration has reported a record low for traveler screenings every day for the past two weeks.\nTSA agents screened 124,021 travelers at U.S. airports on Thursday, its lowest number in the past decade. On the same day last year, the agency screened 2,411,500 travelers.\nTSA checkpoint data\nWith many U.S. states issuing stay-at-home orders, Americans have been advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to forgo all nonessential travel to slow the spread of coronavirus. The center has also issued a special travel advisory that urges \u201cresidents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from nonessential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.\u201d\nThe State Department is advising U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel at this time due to the pandemic, and is only offering passport services to people with \u201cqualified life-or-death\u201d emergencies that require immediate international travel.\nSince the global spread of the coronavirus in January, tens of thousands of flights have been canceled, and the International Air Transport Association estimates that 1.1 million flights will be canceled through June 30, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.\nRead more:\nHow coronavirus grounded the airline industry\nWhy outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d\nSome airlines and hotels suspend redemption options for loyalty programs"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "ERUZR3DDWYI6VM74PBAWQ3C4K4_3", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ERUZR3DDWYI6VM74PBAWQ3C4K4_3", "title": "Coronavirus now a global pandemic as U.S., world scramble to control outbreak", "text": "and cargo but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing.\u201d The president corrected himself on Twitter shortly after the Oval Office speech, noting that \u201ctrade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. The restriction stops people not goods.\u201d Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, also tweeted a clarification, saying that the restrictions do not apply \u201cto American citizens or legal permanent residents or their families,\u201d indicating that the restrictions would apply only to foreign nationals. Much of the community transmission of coronavirus in the United States thus far has been linked to U.S. travelers who visited foreign countries or who contracted the disease at gatherings in the United States. Aside from restricting travel from Europe, Trump\u2019s announcement Wednesday night was largely focused on the U.S. economy, which continued to slide amid global economic fears related to the virus. He prodded Congress to provide payroll tax relief and to direct the Small Business Administration to provide low-interest loans to affected small businesses. Trump also instructed the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties. \u201cThis is not a financial crisis,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThis is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.\u201d European fears also heightened as covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, appeared to be picking up pace there, moving northward. More than 600 people have died in Italy, where the government announced it is closing all shops except grocery stores and pharmacies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that as much as 70 percent of her country\u2019s population could be infected if no medications or vaccines to treat or prevent the disease emerge soon. Merkel urged Germans to help slow its spread: \u201cThe virus has arrived.\u201d India has effectively closed its border by suspending existing visas, with some exceptions, and Lebanon has halted travel to four affected countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $2.8 billion relief package to stabilize the economy after requiring everyone arriving in the country to self-quarantine for 14 days. The Trump administration is considering moving all of Europe to a Level 3 travel advisory, discouraging all nonessential travel there. The federal government was developing contingency plans to have employees telework, and it barred State Department and"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the coronavirus a global pandemic as countries and municipalities took increasingly dramatic measures to slow the spread of the deadly contagion, including President Trump\u2019s announcement that he is sharply restricting travel to the United States from Europe for 30 days, beginning Friday at midnight.\nIn an Oval Office address Wednesday night, Trump said that his European travel restrictions will not include the United Kingdom and will include exceptions for Americans who have received \u201cappropriate screenings.\u201d He and administration officials later tweeted that the restrictions apply only to people, not goods and trade, and will not include a bar on U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Trump spoke sternly about what he called a \u201cforeign virus\u201d that \u201cstarted in China and is now spreading throughout the world.\u201d\n\u201cThe virus will not have a chance against us,\u201d Trump said. \u201cNo nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States.\u201d\nThe WHO declaration was a reflection of the alarm that countries are not working quickly and aggressively enough to fight the virus and that the control measures now in place might have come too late. There are now more than 125,000 confirmed cases worldwide, with more than 4,600 deaths.\n\u201cWe are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction,\u201d WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.\nThat message appeared directed squarely at the United States, which saw its first cases in January but where significant steps to help stem the spread were just taking effect within the past 48 hours. The NCAA announced Wednesday that its massively popular March Madness basketball tournament games will be played with nearly no spectators in arenas nationwide, a decision it said was made in the \u201cbest interest of public health.\u201d The National Basketball Association announced Wednesday night that the current season has been suspended indefinitely after a member of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the virus, and actor Tom Hanks said on Instagram that he and wife Rita Wilson tested positive for the coronavirus while in Australia.\nOhio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced he was limiting large gatherings statewide, and schools around the country are closing for deep cleanings and so staff can plan for possible long-term shutdowns.\nAll 12 of Florida\u2019s state universities are closing their dormitories and presenting classes online. Health officials in Wisconsin are warning residents not to engage in nonessential travel. In Seattle, officials told people not to stand or sit shoulder to shoulder in the city\u2019s bars. A New York suburb continued to be under close scrutiny amid a government-imposed containment zone aimed at controlling a cluster of cases there.\nU.S. officials said the worst is yet to come. There are now more than 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in 39 states. More than 30 people, most of them elderly and with underlying respiratory conditions, have died.\n\u201cWe will see more cases,\u201d Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told lawmakers at a congressional hearing Wednesday. He said the virus has proven to be 10 times more lethal than the flu and can no longer be contained nationwide because it is widely spreading in some communities. \u201cAnd things will get worse than they are right now.\u201d\nTrump initially described his restrictions on travel from Europe as a total ban, telling the nation that the United States \u201cwill be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days\u201d and saying that \u201cthese prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing.\u201d\nThe president corrected himself on Twitter shortly after the Oval Office speech, noting that \u201ctrade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. The restriction stops people not goods.\u201d\nKen Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, also tweeted a clarification, saying that the restrictions do not apply \u201cto American citizens or legal permanent residents or their families,\u201d indicating that the restrictions would apply only to foreign nationals. Much of the community transmission of coronavirus in the United States thus far has been linked to U.S. travelers who visited foreign countries or who contracted the disease at gatherings in the United States.\nAside from restricting travel from Europe, Trump\u2019s announcement Wednesday night was largely focused on the U.S. economy, which continued to slide amid global economic fears related to the virus. He prodded Congress to provide payroll tax relief and to direct the Small Business Administration to provide low-interest loans to affected small businesses. Trump also instructed the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties.\n\u201cThis is not a financial crisis,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThis is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.\u201d\nEuropean fears also heightened as covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, appeared to be picking up pace there, moving northward. More than 600 people have died in Italy, where the government announced it is closing all shops except grocery stores and pharmacies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that as much as 70 percent of her country\u2019s population could be infected if no medications or vaccines to treat or prevent the disease emerge soon.\nMerkel urged Germans to help slow its spread: \u201cThe virus has arrived.\u201d\nIndia has effectively closed its border by suspending existing visas, with some exceptions, and Lebanon has halted travel to four affected countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $2.8 billion relief package to stabilize the economy after requiring everyone arriving in the country to self-quarantine for 14 days.\nThe Trump administration is considering moving all of Europe to a Level 3 travel advisory, discouraging all nonessential travel there. The federal government was developing contingency plans to have employees telework, and it barred State Department and USAID employees from all but mission-critical travel. State and local authorities across the United States stepped up social distancing policies to discourage large crowds, where the virus could spread widely and wildly.\nThe crisis continued to cause economic panic, with the Dow Jones industrial average reaching bear-market territory on a nearly 1,500-point skid amid fears of recession. It also continued to affect the U.S. presidential race. Democratic nominee hopeful Joe Biden announced he will hold \u201cvirtual events\u201d in Illinois and Florida at the urging of state health officials.\nWashington state has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States, including a cluster of coronavirus fatalities linked to a nursing home that accounts for about two-thirds of all the deaths nationwide. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) is prohibiting gatherings of more than 250 people in three hard-hit counties until the end of March. Jeffrey Duchin, health officer for Seattle and King County, went a step further, barring all social events \u2014 even those with less than 250 people \u2014 unless organizers can take steps to minimize risks to attendees.\nInslee recommended that businesses allow for employees to telecommute or, if not possible, implement social distancing to the extent possible. He expects the outbreak of the virus to last for weeks or months.\n\u201cWe expect a large-scale outbreak in weeks, and this will be a very difficult time,\u201d Inslee said. \u201cIt\u2019s similar to what you might think of an infectious-disease equivalent of an earthquake that\u2019s going to shake us.\u201d\nIn Ohio, DeWine said on Twitter that he is limiting public gatherings because the United States has the \u201cpotential to become like Italy,\u201d which is in a nationwide lockdown because of the virus. \u201cWe are taking the actions we are taking now to try to avoid that.\u201d\nOfficials in Santa Clara County, Calif., barred all mass gatherings this week.\nNew York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) said all workers in the state will be given two weeks of paid leave if they are quarantined or isolated because of the virus. New York has the second-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country.\nCuomo said the City University of New York and the State University of New York, which together enroll more than half a million students, will shift to online learning for the rest of the semester. But he said he does not plan to bar large public events.\n\u201cLook, you don\u2019t want to shut down society, right, because that\u2019s massively disruptive to the economy, to life, etcetera,\u201d Cuomo said. \u201cBut your main concern here is the public health crisis.\u201d\nCuomo on Tuesday ordered the closure of schools and other gathering places within a one-mile radius in New Rochelle, a New York City suburb where more than 100 people have tested positive for the virus. The goal, he said, is to ensure large groups of people are not congregating. The area is not locked down, and people are free to come and go.\nIn New Rochelle\u2019s commercial center, outside the containment zone, residents said it appeared fewer people were out Wednesday than on a typical weekday.\nThose people who were outside tended to walk briskly. One elderly woman had pieces of tissue smashed into her face, a haphazard attempt at making the kind of face mask that public health officials caution is unwarranted.\nFor local businesses, the ongoing crisis is creating a feast-or-famine economic situation, depending on what goods or services they offer.\nAt Mayflower Cleaners, a local laundry and dry-cleaning service, Byunghun Han said his business has fallen by more than 50 percent this week. Han typically receives 120 pieces of laundry a day. In recent days, he said, he has been lucky to collect \u201c30 or 40.\u201d\n\u201cPeople just are not coming,\u201d said Han, 62. \u201cIt\u2019s just very slow and very sad.\u201d\nHan makes sure he uses a spritz of hand sanitizer after he touches each piece of unwashed clothing to try to protect himself from possible exposure. But he is starting to wonder what his life will be like if the virus continues to spread here in this densely populated corner of Westchester County.\n\u201cMy brother and sister live in South Korea, where there is also the virus, but they live in a very small town and have no problems,\u201d he said. \u201cSmall towns seem safer.\u201d\nA few doors away, the owner of New Rochelle Wines said his business is booming. Sanju Kanam offers more than 1,200 brands of liquor and wines, and sales are up about 30 percent this week.\n\u201cIt\u2019s going up because people are getting panicked,\u201d Kanam, 39, said. \u201cThey don\u2019t know if something is going to go wrong and are now worrying they will be stuck in their homes without liquor.\u201d\nThe uptick in sales comes with potential hazards: Kanam is engaging with more customers. He now stands several feet behind the counter during transactions, and he no longer touches credit cards.\n\u201cI\u2019m just trying to keep myself clean and not touch the people and not the touch the ID cards,\u201d he said.\nBut Kanam\u2019s biggest worry comes when he closes his store at 9 p.m. He has twin 5-year-old boys at home.\n\u201cWhen I reach home, I really know the risks,\u201d Kanam said. \u201cI now go into the garage and take a shower before I even go into the house to touch the kids. I\u2019m handling cash all day, so I can\u2019t go just from the car to the kids because I think the cash may be an issue, because who knows who touches this cash.\u201d\nOscar Salomon, 18, and his mother, Marin, were standing outside his apartment talking about how they planned to stay healthy.\nMarin works as a house cleaner \u2014 her business is also way up this week \u2014 and Oscar was handing her a bin of cleaning wipes that he found at a local supermarket.\n\u201cShe is doing even more jobs now that the virus is outbreaking,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are a lot of people wanting even more deep cleaning.\u201d\nBut Oscar said he believes everything will be okay \u2014 if his neighbors just stay calm.\n\u201cI know a lot more people still die from the flu,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is major to people who overthink it, but other than that, it\u2019s not major to me.\u201d\nkatie.zezima@washpost.com\ntim.craig@washpost.com\nwilliam.wan@washpost.com\nfelicia.sonmez@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "GY2NXGSAU4I6VKTKBA6QDM7NDA_21", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "GY2NXGSAU4I6VKTKBA6QDM7NDA_21", "title": "Coronavirus prompts CDC to expand travel warning to all of China; top U.S. health official urges Beijing to admit disease experts", "text": "the virus. \u201cWe really want to come back [to India] at the earliest,\u201d he said. \u201cAll our families are very worried.\u201d By: Niha Masih 10:27 AM: Outbreak hitting Chinese tourism market BERLIN \u2014 Several Russian tourism operators have halted the sale of package trips to China, following advice from Russia\u2019s federal tourism agency, Rosturizm. The vice president of the Association of Russian Tour Operators, Dmitry Gorin, told Reuters that sales ceased Friday and that customers who had already purchased trips would be reimbursed. The measure came as China announced its own steps to curb tourism, aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus outbreak there. Beijing halted inter-province bus traffic into the capital over the weekend, followed by a nationwide ban on tour groups traveling abroad that took effect on Monday. Hotel and restaurant owners in destinations that rely heavily on Chinese visitors fear the ban could remain in place for months. In China, Shanghai\u2019s Disneyland and Beijing\u2019s Palace Museum will remain closed until further notice. Meanwhile, corporations around the globe moved to restrict business travel to China as a precautionary measure. German manufacturer Schaeffler \u2014 which employs around 90,000 people internationally \u2014 was among the biggest European companies to prohibit business trips to China last week. By: Rick Noack 10:15 AM: Dow falls on fears the outbreak will turn into a pandemic WASHINGTON \u2014 Global markets took a sharp downturn Monday as investors grew increasingly anxious about the swift spread of the coronavirus beyond China. The Dow plunged 450 points, or about 1.5 percent. Standard & Poor\u2019s 500 and Nasdaq futures were also down significantly, 1.5 percent and 2 percent, respectively. \u201cStock markets are selling off this morning on fears that the coronavirus might be harder to contain than previous viral outbreaks,\u201d said Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research. \u201cIf the current outbreak turns into a pandemic that significantly disrupts global commerce, the impact would be bad news for the global economy and corporate earnings.\u201d Read more here. By: Rachel Siegel 10:13 AM: Canada confirms second \u2018presumptive positive\u2019 case of the coronavirus TORONTO \u2014 Canadian public health officials said Monday that the wife of the man who was declared the country\u2019s first \u201cpresumptive positive\u201d case of the coronavirus has also tested positive for the virus at Ontario\u2019s public health laboratory. The woman has been in \u201cself-isolation,\u201d David Williams, Ontario\u2019s chief medical officer of health, said in a statement."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Even as China takes more stringent measures to limit the movement of the vast country\u2019s population during the biggest travel period of the year, and as the United States and other countries move ahead with evacuation plans, there are increasing fears that a quarantine will not be enough to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, which so far has infected at least 4,428 people in China and killed at least 106. Here\u2019s what we know:\n\u25cf\n\u25cf With at least 106 dead so far, Beijing has broadened the extraordinary quarantine to more than 50 million people, but the mayor of Wuhan, the outbreak\u2019s epicenter, said 5 million people have already left his city.\n\u25cf China\u2019s health minister said the coronavirus is increasing in virulence and now could be contagious even before people exhibit symptoms, making apparently healthy people possible carriers.\n\u25cf A scientific assessment of the spread of the disease, assuming an optimistic 90 percent quarantine, still predicted more than 59,000 infections and 1,500 deaths \u2014 twice the toll of the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak.\n\u25cf\n\u25cf In the United States, health officials confirmed five cases of the pneumonia-like illness, while infections also have been confirmed in France, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Canada, Sri Lanka and Germany. We\u2019re mapping the spread here.\nWhat we know about the coronavirus\n9:30 PM: Germany records first confirmed case of coronavirus\nOfficials in Germany confirmed the country\u2019s first case of coronavirus late Monday, the Bavarian Health Ministry announced.\nA man from southern Bavaria, roughly 20 miles south of Munich, is in an isolation ward, where doctors are monitoring him but say he\u2019s in good condition, according to a statement from the agency.\nThe first confirmed case comes as Germany\u2019s leaders urged residents to avoid all unnecessary travel to China and discussed evacuating its citizens from the country.\n\u201cWe are checking and preparing for all options; that means we are also considering a possible evacuation of all those willing to leave,\u201d Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said at a press conference, according to the German outlet Deutsche Welle.\nBy: Reis Thebault\n9:00 PM: Death toll in China rises to more than 100\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Early Tuesday Beijing time, Chinese health agencies announced the country\u2019s death toll had risen overnight to 106 people. The total number of infections also climbed to 4,428 across more than 30 provinces, according to a tally from national and local health commissions. Country-wide, roughly 60 people have recovered from the coronavirus.\nMajor metropolitan areas, including Beijing and Shanghai, recorded their first deaths late Monday local time. In Hubei province, the disease\u2019s epicenter, there have been more than 2,700 confirmed cases and 100 deaths, state media reported.\nBy: Reis Thebault\n8:15 P.M.: U.S. will send more staff for passenger screening to 20 airports\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. government is increasing staff to conduct screenings at 20 airports that handle almost all passengers traveling into the country from China, where a novel coronavirus continues to spread, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Details of the expanded surveillance are still being formulated. The CDC already has quarantine facilities in place at 20 ports of entry, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Anchorage, Honolulu, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Miami and Houston.\nVice President Mike Pence alluded to the expanded screening in public remarks Monday afternoon. He said the 20 airports involved are \u201cthe airports that receive 90 percent of all passengers from China. Any passengers who are ill will receive additional screening.\u201d\n\u201cHere in our country, we\u2019re taking strong steps to see to the health and the wellbeing of the American people,\u201d Pence said. \u201cBut as President Trump made clear today, the United States of America stands ready to assist the people of China and around the world as they deal with this virus.\u201d\nRead more about the staffing surge here.\nBy: Joel Achenbach\n6:00 PM: Canada urges citizens to \u2018avoid all travel\u2019 to China\u2019s Hubei province\nTORONTO \u2014 The Canadian government raised its travel warning Monday for China\u2019s Hubei province to its highest risk level, advising citizens to \u201cavoid all travel\u201d to the area, including the cities of Wuhan, Huanggang and Ezhou.\nThe warning does not cite the coronavirus itself as the reason for the change, but the \u201cimposition of heavy travel restrictions\u201d in the area to prevent the spread of the illness.\nBy: Amanda Coletta\n5:30 PM: Top U.S. health official criticizes China for not admitting outside experts\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that China has been more transparent in the outbreak of the novel coronavirus outbreak than it was in the 2003 SARS outbreak but that U.S. officials are still getting their information through Chinese press briefings rather than from shared scientific data.\nHe noted that China\u2019s health minister, Ma Xiaowei, said Sunday that the virus could be transmitted by an infected person even before symptoms appear. Fauci said he wished China would allow U.S. and international research teams to travel to China to see what\u2019s happening directly.\n\u201cWe really need to know what is the scientific basis of saying the virus is spread by someone who doesn\u2019t have any symptoms,\u201d Fauci told The Washington Post. \u201cThat was a major potential game-changer that gets spoken to us in a press briefing. We should have seen the data.\u201d\nIt matters, he said, because the United States is actively screening people who travel from China.\n\u201cIf people can be transmitting and infecting without any symptoms, that has a major impact on how you screen people,\u201d he added.\nBy: Joel Achenbach\n4:40 PM: CDC issues highest travel warning, urges U.S. citizens to avoid nonessential travel to China\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised its travel warning Monday to a level 3, its highest alert level, urging U.S. citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to China because of the coronavirus outbreak. The warning says those who travel should avoid all contact with sick people, animal markets and products that come from animals. It advises travelers to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Older adults and travelers with underlying health issues may be at risk for more severe effects of the disease and should discuss travel with their health-care provider, the agency said.\nThe warning also advises people who have traveled to China in the last 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough, or have difficulty breathing to seek medical care right away. Before going to a doctor\u2019s office or emergency room, those people are advised to call ahead and tell them about recent travel and symptoms.\nBy: Lena H. Sun\n4:15 PM: State Department urges U.S. citizens to \u2018reconsider travel\u2019 to China and avoid Hubei province\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The State Department raised its China travel warning to a level 3 Monday, urging U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to the country due to the coronavirus outbreak. It also raised the travel warning for Hubei province to level 4, advising against any travel there and noting that U.S. officials have \u201climited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens\u201d in the province.\n\u201cTravelers should be aware that the Chinese government could prevent them from entering or exiting parts of Hubei province,\u201d the warning said, adding that restrictions could \u201cbe put into effect with little or no advance notice.\u201d\nThe warning stated that those who must travel to China should avoid all contact with sick people, animals and animal products.\nBy: Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady\n4:05 PM: U.S. stock markets close sharply lower over fears about coronavirus\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Global markets took a steep drop Monday as investors grew increasingly anxious about the swift spread of the coronavirus beyond China\u2019s borders.\nThe Dow Jones industrial average fell 454 points, or 1.6 percent. The Standard & Poor\u2019s 500 and Nasdaq also slid significantly, 1.6 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively.\nTravel-related companies were hit particularly hard. Shares of American Airlines lost 5.5 percent and Delta fell 3.4 percent. Wynn Resorts, which has a large footprint in Macao, fell 8.1 percent. Las Vegas Sands fell 6.7 percent. Luckin Coffee, a company based in China that manages more than 4,000 locations, saw its stock price fall 9 percent.\n\u201cIf the current outbreak turns into a pandemic that significantly disrupts global commerce, the impact would be bad news for the global economy and corporate earnings,\u201d said Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research.\nRead more about the global stock market shudder here.\nBy: Rachel Siegel\n4:00 PM: Washington officials track more than five dozen contacts of first confirmed U.S. case of novel coronavirus\nSEATTLE \u2014 Washington state health authorities are tracking a growing number of people \u2014 the total has expanded to 64 \u2014 who had contact with the Washington state man who was the first confirmed U.S. case of the novel coronavirus. That patient, a man in his 30s, is still in \u201csatisfactory\u201d condition and is being monitored at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Wash., authorities said. He had reached out to health authorities more than a week ago upon feeling sick after his return from Wuhan.\nTwo of the man\u2019s contacts are considered \u201cpeople under investigation,\u201d said Heather Thomas, a spokeswoman for the Snohomish County Health District. Their specimens are being delivered to the CDC today. In the meantime, they are isolated at home, she said.\nAs to why the contact list keeps expanding, Thomas noted that \u201csometimes, we find one contact that adds on a couple more. For example, if one person was listed, but they had others with them, that initial contact now becomes two or three.\u201d\n\u201cIn a complex case like this one, it is to be expected that we identify others who need to be tested. That is why our disease investigators are doing daily monitoring for potential symptoms,\u201d said Thomas.\nHospital officials said they are working with the CDC and the Washington state health department to treat and monitor the patient, said hospital spokesman Casey Calamusa.\n\u201cWe are working with them on determining when to discharge, but that hasn\u2019t been determined yet,\u201d he said.\nBy: Bonnie Rochman\n3:40 PM: U.S. tech giants battling against disinformation\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The rapid spread of the coronavirus in China and around the world has sent Facebook, Google and Twitter scrambling to prevent a different sort of malady \u2014 a surge of half-truths and outright falsehoods about the deadly outbreak.\nAlready, Facebook and its peers have tried to battle back pervasive conspiracy theories, including a hoax that wrongly claims U.S. government officials secretly created or obtained a patent for the illness. Some of the misinformation has circulated through private Facebook groups \u2014 channels that are hard for researchers to monitor in real time \u2014 that came into existence after news first broke about the coronavirus.\n\u201cOregano Oil Proves Effective Against Coronavirus,\u201d read one post that had been shared at least 2,000 times across multiple groups by Monday. The original post is a decade old, originating on a holistic care website \u2014 and scientists have said there is no such cure for coronavirus.\nNine organizations that partner with Facebook on fact-checking have rated multiple coronavirus claims as false, including those peddling fake treatments, the company said Monday. Facebook said it has labeled the inaccuracies and lowered their rank in users\u2019 daily feeds.\nRead more about how U.S. tech giants are responding here.\nBy: Tony Romm\n3:38 PM: Canadian officials not sure how second case was contracted\nWASHINGTON \u2014 As the infections mount in China, officials in countries with confirmed travel-related cases are trying to better understand how easily the virus spreads and how deadly it is.\nOfficials in Canada said Monday during a news conference in Toronto that they do not know how their presumptive second case, the wife of a man who is Canada\u2019s first confirmed case, was infected. It could have been from human to human spread from her husband, or from exposure in Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the outbreak began.\n\u201cThis individual has been in close proximity to her husband and, having also arrived in Toronto from the area of Wuhan, could also have been exposed to the virus in China,\u201d said David Williams, Ontario\u2019s chief medical officer.\nThe couple, both in their 50s, arrived in Toronto from Wuhan on Jan. 22. Both wore masks on the flight. The man is in isolation in Toronto\u2019s Sunnybrook Hospital, and in stable condition. The wife is not showing symptoms, and is in isolation at home. There are no other family members living in the same household.\n\u201cShe\u2019s not been in need of the same acute hospital care as her husband,\u201d Williams said. Her case shows that the virus causes a range of illness. \u201cNot all people who contract this experience the same severe symptoms,\u201d he said.\nBy: Lena H. Sun\n3:13 PM: Wuhan residents shout message of encouragement\nBERLIN \u2014 In Wuhan, residents sought to encourage one another from their apartments on Monday by chanting a message of support, according to footage that has emerged from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.\nIn videos uploaded to social media on Monday and authenticated by Storyful, a social media verification agency, residents of high-rise buildings could be heard repeatedly shouting the words \u201cWuhan, jiayou\u201d \u2014 the latter being a versatile Chinese term that can be translated as \u201cHang in there\u201d or \u201cDo your best\u201d in an encouraging sense. (Literally translated, \u201cjiayou\u201d means \u201cadd oil.\u201d)\nWuhan has been under a travel lockdown since Jan. 23. Of its around 11 million residents, 5 million have already left Wuhan, according to the city\u2019s mayor. Many residents who are still in the city have tried to stay at home as a precautionary measure.\nBy: Rick Noack\n2:47 PM: Companies and research institutes entering race for a vaccine\nBERLIN \u2014 U.S. pharmaceutical corporation Johnson & Johnson announced on Monday that its researchers are joining the race to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus.\n\u201cMultiple efforts are needed to make sure that at the end, one vaccine or two or three make it \u2014 because we are not sure at all\u201d what will succeed, Paul Stoffels, the corporation\u2019s chief scientific officer, said in an interview.\nHe added that the work began two weeks ago and it would likely take eight to 12 months before the first tests on people.\nThe corporation\u2019s announcement followed a number of similar recent initiatives by international companies, as well as private and governmental research institutes. The National Institutes of Health expects to have a vaccine in human safety tests in three months.\nLast week, the Norway-headquartered Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced that it had initiated several new programs to advance \u201cvaccine candidates into clinical testing as quickly as possible.\u201d Other efforts are testing existing and experimental antiviral drugs to see if they could help patients in the short term.\nJohnson & Johnson sent 100 boxes of an HIV drug, Prezcobix, to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center so that researchers can test whether it has any effect against coronavirus.\nBy: Rick Noack and Carolyn Johnson\n2:11 PM: Turkey and Ukraine join list of countries to issue China travel advisories\nTurkey and Ukraine on Monday recommended against traveling to China\u2019s Hubei province as the new coronavirus continued to spread.\n\u201cIt is highly recommended that our citizens do not travel to China unless it is necessary and if they travel there, they should stay away from the regions where the [coronavirus] cases are seen, especially in Hubei province,\u201d Turkey\u2019s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to Anadolu, the country\u2019s state-run news agency.\nUkraine warned its citizens against nonessential travel as well, Reuters reported.\nBy: Benjamin Soloway\n2:03 PM: U.S. epidemiologist says it is still too soon to make predictions\nA U.S. epidemiologist who helped China respond to the 2003 SARS virus plans to return there Tuesday to assist his Chinese counterparts with their response to the novel coronavirus. W. Ian Lipkin, director of Columbia University\u2019s Center for Infection and Immunity, said that information about this new virus remains preliminary and that it\u2019s still too soon to predict how widespread or deadly the outbreak will turn out to be.\nAmong the unanswered questions, he said, are how long the virus incubates before becoming symptomatic, whether it can be spread before symptoms emerging, how exactly the virus is spread, how likely it is to cause a severe illness and what other factors might contribute to that.\n\u201cUntil we have a handle on all of these issues, it\u2019s very difficult to make predictions about the outbreak,\u201d he said.\nHe added: \u201cIt\u2019s fair to say that every year, there are 30,000 to 40,000 people who die of flu in the United States. It is very unlikely that this will ever reach the level that we annually lose to flu.\u201d\nLipkin said that it will take time to develop drugs and vaccines for the new virus, and that in the meantime officials have to focus on containment \u2014 of halting the spread of the virus.\n\u201cGiven the time frame of developing drugs and vaccines for treatment and prevention of infection, what we have at present is containment. We have to do our best to use what we have. The first step, of course, is to get as much information as we can about transmission,\u201d he said.\nBy: Joel Achenbach\n1:49 PM: China allocates nearly $9 billion to stop outbreak\nWASHINGTON \u2014 China\u2019s Finance Ministry and National Health Commission announced Monday that they had allocated $8.74 billion to help contain the coronavirus outbreak.\nThe 60.33 billion yuan fund, a 10 billion-yuan increase from 50.38 billion already allocated, was announced on the ministry\u2019s website on Monday.\nAccording to the official Xinhua News Agency, the statement said that \u201cany actions related to withholding, diversion, misappropriation and changing the use of the money will not be tolerated.\u201d\nBy: Adam Taylor\n1:29 PM: If Chinese officials control outbreak, it could \u2018beef up their legitimacy,\u2019 expert says\nWASHINGTON \u2014 As Chinese officials widened a travel ban in recent days in an effort to control the virus, concerns emerged that the quarantine may not be effective. Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, said China\u2019s ability to implement such a dramatic ban on movement \u201cmight be an example of resilience of the authoritarian state, especially in a crisis setting, but there is no strong evidence supporting that the approach will be effective.\u201d\nAlthough Chinese leader Xi Jinping said over the weekend that officials \u201ccan win the battle of controlling the epidemic,\u201d Huang cautioned that extreme measures can lead to serious consequences, such as the medical supply shortages now being reported in Hubei province.\nDespite concerns over the efficacy and ethics of a travel ban, Huang said that if China does ultimately control the virus, some officials there may actually see the outbreak as \u201can opportunity to beef up their legitimacy when they portray themselves as being decisive and as being wise.\u201d\nIf the outbreak doesn\u2019t last long, he said, \u201cthey would claim to be the winners.\u201d\nRead more here.\nBy: Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady\n11:59 AM: Sri Lanka confirms first case\nNEW DELHI \u2014 Sri Lanka has reported its first confirmed case of the coronavirus that is sweeping China, making it the latest country to grapple with the rapid spread of the illness.\nA Chinese tourist who was visiting the island nation tested positive for the virus, Anil Jasinghe, the country\u2019s director general of health services, told The Washington Post. He said the woman arrived in Sri Lanka about six days ago.\nAn official Facebook page for Sri Lanka\u2019s Health Promotion Bureau said authorities were working to prevent the spread of the disease and said it was a time for vigilance, not panic. It added that patients would be treated at a hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka\u2019s capital.\nBy: Joanna Slater and Nina Masih\n11:58 AM: CDC says no new confirmed cases of coronavirus\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday there were no new confirmed cases of coronavirus overnight.\nThe United States has five confirmed cases of coronavirus in Southern California, Chicago, Arizona and Washington state. The CDC said it is investigating 110 people in 26 states but added that the virus is not spreading within communities in the United States and that the immediate health risk to the general public is low.\nNancy Messonnier, director of CDC\u2019s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said the agency screened about 2,400 travelers over the weekend as the United States began screening at five airports. She said she expected travel recommendations to change in the coming days.\nBy: Yasmeen Abutaleb\n11:20 AM: Governments introduce restrictions on cross-border travel\nBERLIN \u2014 Malaysia joined several other countries and territories on Monday to restrict travel to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus.\nMalaysian officials halted the issuance of visas to visitors from China\u2019s Wuhan city and the surrounding Hubei province. Four cases of the virus that spread from there had been reported in Malaysia by Saturday.\nThe Chinese semiautonomous region of Macao also announced new travel restrictions Monday. Any visitors who have been to Hubei province less than two weeks before arrival in Macao will be refused access unless they can provide documentation that they are virus-free, officials said.\nHong Kong introduced a similar ban on Sunday.\nMeanwhile, Mongolia planned to \u201crestrict movements of autos and pedestrians at border crossings with China\u201d starting on Tuesday, according to the state media outlet Montsame.\nSome travelers will be exempt from the restrictions, Montsame specified Monday.\nMongolian schools, universities and other educational institutions will also be closed until the beginning of March, according to the official news outlet.\nBy: Rick Noack\n11:01 AM: Evacuation plans move forward for U.S. citizens and others\nBERLIN \u2014 A number of countries moved forward with plans to evacuate their citizens from the coronavirus epicenter Wuhan on Monday, including Japan, France, Sri Lanka and the United States. Others are weighing their options.\nU.S. officials are organizing a plane to fly American citizens out of Wuhan to California as early as Monday night, though some cautioned that the timing of the flight was still fluid. The plane will stop in Anchorage for refueling.\nThe evacuated U.S. citizens will be evaluated before they get on the plane, during the flight and after they arrive in the United States, the official said. Once they arrive in California, they will be monitored for an additional 72 hours. Even after they return to the United States, they will not be able to return home immediately because they are expected to undergo additional monitoring and evaluation.\nIn a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing cautioned that it expects \u201cthere will be limited capacity to transport private U.S. citizens\u201d and said that \u201cpriority will be given to individuals at greater risk from coronavirus.\u201d\nFrance has scheduled a similar flight for midweek, according to French Health Minister Agn\u00e8s Buzyn, while Sri Lankan officials said Monday that they have a plan for their own citizens. Japan also said it would charter at least one plane this week to bring citizens out of Wuhan, which serves as a hub for many Japanese corporations. The German government said Monday it was still \u201cconsidering\u201d an evacuation.\nThe British government is facing mounting pressure to enact an evacuation plan. Emily Thornberry of the opposition Labour Party said Prime Minister Boris Johnson was \u201cnot doing whatever it takes to protect our citizens from harm. They need to get this evacuation sorted now,\u201d according to the Evening Standard newspaper.\nOn Twitter, the British Embassy in Beijing wrote that its officials \u201care working to make available an option for British nationals to leave Hubei province.\u201d\nBy: Rick Noack and Lena H. Sun\n10:50 AM: First death from virus in Beijing announced\nWASHINGTON \u2014 There are eight new confirmed coronavirus cases in Beijing, including the capital\u2019s first death from the outbreak, city authorities announced Monday.\nThe unnamed victim was a 50-year-old man who had visited Wuhan on Jan. 8 and developed a fever after he returned to Beijing seven days later, according to a Weibo post by Beijing\u2019s city health commission.\nThe man had visited a hospital on Jan. 21, was diagnosed the next day and died on Monday of respiratory failure, the commission announced.\nBy: Adam Taylor\n10:37 AM: Indian students in Wuhan describe \u2018ghost town\u2019 atmosphere\nNEW DELHI \u2014 Monika Sethuraman, a PhD student from India, described Wuhan as a \u201cghost town\u201d when she stepped out of her university dormitory for the first time in four days Monday to stock up on supplies.\nShe bought vegetables to last for three weeks, since it was not clear how long the lockdown would last in the central Chinese city. She said the university has asked students to remain confined to their rooms and distributed thermometers.\n\u201cEvery day before noon, we have to check our temperature and register it on a university portal,\u201d she said.\nDebesh Mitra, a postdoctoral scientist at another university in the city, said more than 200 Indians were \u201cstuck\u201d in Wuhan. He described the situation as \u201cgrim.\u201d\nHe said he had avoided leaving the campus for fear of contracting the virus.\n\u201cWe really want to come back [to India] at the earliest,\u201d he said. \u201cAll our families are very worried.\u201d\nBy: Niha Masih\n10:27 AM: Outbreak hitting Chinese tourism market\nBERLIN \u2014 Several Russian tourism operators have halted the sale of package trips to China, following advice from Russia\u2019s federal tourism agency, Rosturizm.\nThe vice president of the Association of Russian Tour Operators, Dmitry Gorin, told Reuters that sales ceased Friday and that customers who had already purchased trips would be reimbursed.\nThe measure came as China announced its own steps to curb tourism, aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus outbreak there. Beijing halted inter-province bus traffic into the capital over the weekend, followed by a nationwide ban on tour groups traveling abroad that took effect on Monday.\nHotel and restaurant owners in destinations that rely heavily on Chinese visitors fear the ban could remain in place for months.\nIn China, Shanghai\u2019s Disneyland and Beijing\u2019s Palace Museum will remain closed until further notice.\nMeanwhile, corporations around the globe moved to restrict business travel to China as a precautionary measure. German manufacturer Schaeffler \u2014 which employs around 90,000 people internationally \u2014 was among the biggest European companies to prohibit business trips to China last week.\nBy: Rick Noack\n10:15 AM: Dow falls on fears the outbreak will turn into a pandemic\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Global markets took a sharp downturn Monday as investors grew increasingly anxious about the swift spread of the coronavirus beyond China.\nThe Dow plunged 450 points, or about 1.5 percent. Standard & Poor\u2019s 500 and Nasdaq futures were also down significantly, 1.5 percent and 2 percent, respectively.\n\u201cStock markets are selling off this morning on fears that the coronavirus might be harder to contain than previous viral outbreaks,\u201d said Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research. \u201cIf the current outbreak turns into a pandemic that significantly disrupts global commerce, the impact would be bad news for the global economy and corporate earnings.\u201d\nRead more here.\nBy: Rachel Siegel\n10:13 AM: Canada confirms second \u2018presumptive positive\u2019 case of the coronavirus\nTORONTO \u2014 Canadian public health officials said Monday that the wife of the man who was declared the country\u2019s first \u201cpresumptive positive\u201d case of the coronavirus has also tested positive for the virus at Ontario\u2019s public health laboratory.\nThe woman has been in \u201cself-isolation,\u201d David Williams, Ontario\u2019s chief medical officer of health, said in a statement. He added that the risk to Ontarians of contracting the virus remains low.\nThe husband and wife returned to Toronto from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak, via Guangzhou on a China Southern Airlines flight that arrived on Jan. 22, authorities said. He was admitted the next day to Toronto\u2019s Sunnybrook Hospital, where he is now in isolation and in stable condition.\nTheresa Tam, Canada\u2019s chief medical officer, said the man had \u201cmild symptoms\u201d of the virus on the plane, although he was not flagged to public health officials upon his arrival. Authorities are contacting passengers who sat within about six feet of him and any flight attendants who might have assisted him.\nBoth cases are considered \u201cpresumptive positive\u201d because officials are awaiting confirmation from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.\nBy: Amanda Coletta\n10:10AM: Trump says he is \u2018strongly on watch\u2019 despite few cases in U.S.\nWASHINGTON \u2014 President Trump tweeted Monday that the United States is \u201cin very close communication with China concerning the virus.\u201d\n\u201cVery few cases reported in USA, but strongly on watch,\u201d he wrote. \u201cWe have offered China and President Xi any help that is necessary. Our experts are extraordinary!\u201d\nThe tweet was his second mention of the virus on social media in recent days. On Friday, he praised China\u2019s response to the outbreak, thanking Xi and saying Chinese officials have \u201cbeen working very hard\u201d to contain the virus and that the United States \u201cgreatly appreciates their efforts and transparency.\u201d\n\u201cIt will all work out well,\u201d he wrote.\nBy: Siobh\u00e1n O\u2019Grady\n9:00 AM: Wuhan mayor says 5 million people left city in recent days\nBEIJING \u2014 The mayor of Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak, announced several stark numbers at a late-night news conference on Sunday, with most focusing on his prediction that there would be at least 1,000 new infections.\nBut Mayor Zhou Xianwang revealed another number that underscored the metastasizing challenge of the accelerating epidemic: 5 million.\nThat was the number of people who had emptied out of Wuhan in recent days \u2014 and scattered all over the world \u2014 as China\u2019s Lunar New Year holiday period approached and authorities announced a lockdown in an urgent bid to contain the outbreak.\nAs of Monday, the virus has infected 2,835 people in China and killed 81, according to data provided by the National Health Commission.\nBy: Gerry Shih and Simon Denyer\n8:40 AM: Experts unsure if Chinese attempts to contain virus can work\nBEIJING \u2014 The effectiveness of an unprecedented quarantine around the viral epicenter in central China\u2019s Hubei province has become a key question, as Chinese and international authorities ponder how to rein in the disease \u2014 and, at this point, whether it could be contained at all.\n\u201cRadical times call for radical measures,\u201d said Dong-Yan Jin, a professor of molecular virology and oncology at Hong Kong University\u2019s School of Biomedical Sciences. \u201cA lot of cities have followed Wuhan in announcing a lockdown, but don\u2019t forget that many potential patients are already out there before such an administrative order. Are we going to shut down the whole country?\u201d\nJin said Chinese authorities had missed the critical moment to control the epidemic: before the New Year\u2019s travel rush began a week ago.\n\u201cThere was a lack of transparency in Hubei and an unwillingness by local governments to face the music; now, they tend to overcompensate,\u201d he said. \u201cYou cannot expect that to work miracles and stop the outbreak.\u201d\nWidespread suspicions on Chinese social media that government officials mishandled the early stages of the crisis were fanned dramatically on Monday by an unlikely player: the Wuhan mayor, Zhou Xianwang.\nIn a remarkable interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Zhou acknowledged that his city did not release \u201ctimely and satisfactory\u201d information at the start of the epidemic, and he appeared to blame higher-ups in his chain of command.\n\u201cI hope everyone can understand that this is an infectious disease, and infectious diseases must be disclosed according to law,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can only disclose information after we receive authorization.\u201d\nBy: Gerry Shih and Simon Denyer\n8:30AM: Number of cases may be higher than reported, experts say\nBEIJING \u2014 Some medical experts warn that the number of cases may be higher than the authorities know or acknowledge. They also say that the mass lockdown and efforts to quarantine patients are too late due to the missteps in December, when reports of a novel virus in Wuhan began to emerge without prompting a response.\nGabriel Leung, an epidemiologist who is chair of public health medicine at Hong Kong University, told reporters in Hong Kong on Monday that his model showed the true number of coronavirus patients to be as high as 44,000.\nHe warned that the epidemic could become global and reach a peak in China in April or May, when 150,000 new cases could be confirmed every day in one Chinese city \u2014 Chongqing \u2014 alone.\nBy: Gerry Shih and Simon Denyer\n8:20AM: Still unclear if patients can infect others without showing symptoms\nEscalating worldwide concerns, Chinese Health Minister Ma Xiaowei said Sunday that people carrying the new coronavirus could infect others even while they do not show any symptoms for as long as 14 days, a period known as incubation. That implies that, unlike SARS, seemingly healthy travelers could have unwittingly infected others.\nBut international experts, including at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, say they are still seeking to confirm Ma\u2019s statement. Australia\u2019s chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, told reporters on Monday that expert panels were not yet convinced that the virus could be spread by people who were still symptom-free.\nSome researchers say that even a small degree of porousness in the quarantine effort could have magnified implications for the epidemic\u2019s toll.\nIn a study published Saturday, Yu Xiaohua, a professor at the University of G\u00f6ttingen in Germany, concluded that the epidemic cannot be controlled if the quarantine rate of the infectious population falls below 90 percent.\nIf 90 percent of patients are quarantined, his modeling suggested, the final number of cases might reach 59,000, with 1,500 deaths. But if only half the infected patients are quarantined, the final number of infected people could approach 5 million, with more than 100,000 deaths.\nAt the same time, experts say they are heartened so far by the low number of reports so far of human-to-human transmission outside of central China.\nIn its update Sunday, the U.S. CDC said it considered the coronavirus to pose a low health risk to the general American public \u201cat this time,\u201d but warned that person-to-person infection will likely occur at some point in the United States.\nBy: Gerry Shih and Simon Denyer"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "H542DOTDVII6VEJN3GADF3EOEU_1", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "H542DOTDVII6VEJN3GADF3EOEU_1", "title": "Coronavirus pandemic tests clout of cruise industry and its long-standing ties to Trump", "text": "week and pitching to the White House a plan to safeguard passengers. But stock value of cruise companies has plummeted as the industry struggled to deal with the infections on the two ships and warnings from health experts about the risks of such travel. Trump appears sympathetic and has said he wants to help the cruise lines. At the donor event Friday, the president brought up the industry and said he did not want it to shut it down or for it to suffer job losses, according to three people familiar with his remarks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door event. A White House spokesman declined to comment. Trump echoed that sentiment publicly Monday, saying at a White House news conference that he was concerned that cruise lines and airlines \u201cwill be hit.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re working with them very, very strongly,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want them to travel.\u201d Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday that the administration was considering emergency assistance for affected industries. \u201cThis is not a bailout. This is considering providing certain things for certain industries. Airlines, hotels, cruise lines,\u201d he said. But at the same time, several top health officials and members of the administration\u2019s coronavirus task force have been pushing for a tougher stance and wanted to impose a temporary ban on Americans going on cruise ships, according to people familiar with the conversations. They included Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma and Surgeon General Jerome Adams, the people said. The advisories from the State Department and the CDC were recommended by the White House coronavirus task force, according to an administration official who said Trump and Vice President Pence knew about them in advance. There has been mounting frustration with the cruise industry\u2019s handling of the crisis among top administration officials, including in the office of Pence, according to people with knowledge of their thinking. The lack of a clear mitigation plan for ships with outbreaks has forced the government to handle the expensive and complicated logistics of evacuating and quarantining thousands of potentially infected passengers this week aboard the Grand Princess in Oakland, an operation that has drawn in the National Guard and the Defense Department, among other agencies. On Thursday, Princess Cruises announced that it was voluntarily canceling trips on its 18 ships worldwide through May 10, following a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Huddled with donors at his private Mar-a-Lago Club on Friday, President Trump told supporters that he was intent on protecting the cruise industry from the fallout of the coronavirus crisis \u2014 even as top health officials and other key advisers were privately pushing him to keep the public off the ships.\nTwo days later, the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned U.S. citizens, particularly those with medical issues, not to travel by cruise ship, sending the industry into a panic, according to people familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private discussions.\nThe administration\u2019s whipsawing posture has led to an intensive behind-the-scenes lobbying effort by cruise executives to mitigate the financial fallout from the virus, which has infected passengers and crew members on at least two Carnival-owned Princess Cruise ships.\nThe coming days will test the clout of the industry, which has long-standing connections to Trump, including through Carnival Corp. chairman Micky Arison, a friend whose company helped sponsor Trump\u2019s reality show franchise \u201cThe Apprentice\u201d over the years.\nThe cruise lines have raced to get ahead of further government action, voluntarily suspending a small number of voyages this week and pitching to the White House a plan to safeguard passengers.\nBut stock value of cruise companies has plummeted as the industry struggled to deal with the infections on the two ships and warnings from health experts about the risks of such travel.\nTrump appears sympathetic and has said he wants to help the cruise lines. At the donor event Friday, the president brought up the industry and said he did not want it to shut it down or for it to suffer job losses, according to three people familiar with his remarks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door event.\nA White House spokesman declined to comment.\nTrump echoed that sentiment publicly Monday, saying at a White House news conference that he was concerned that cruise lines and airlines \u201cwill be hit.\u201d\n\u201cWe\u2019re working with them very, very strongly,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want them to travel.\u201d\nTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday that the administration was considering emergency assistance for affected industries. \u201cThis is not a bailout. This is considering providing certain things for certain industries. Airlines, hotels, cruise lines,\u201d he said.\nBut at the same time, several top health officials and members of the administration\u2019s coronavirus task force have been pushing for a tougher stance and wanted to impose a temporary ban on Americans going on cruise ships, according to people familiar with the conversations.\nThey included Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma and Surgeon General Jerome Adams, the people said.\nThe advisories from the State Department and the CDC were recommended by the White House coronavirus task force, according to an administration official who said Trump and Vice President Pence knew about them in advance.\nThere has been mounting frustration with the cruise industry\u2019s handling of the crisis among top administration officials, including in the office of Pence, according to people with knowledge of their thinking.\nThe lack of a clear mitigation plan for ships with outbreaks has forced the government to handle the expensive and complicated logistics of evacuating and quarantining thousands of potentially infected passengers this week aboard the Grand Princess in Oakland, an operation that has drawn in the National Guard and the Defense Department, among other agencies.\nOn Thursday, Princess Cruises announced that it was voluntarily canceling trips on its 18 ships worldwide through May 10, following a similar temporary suspension by Viking. Carnival, which owns Princess Cruises as well as Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and several other lines, has not announced whether others will follow suit.\nIn its proposal, the industry said it plans to deny boarding to anyone older than 70 unless they have a doctor\u2019s note, said people familiar with the plan. People who are obviously ill won\u2019t be allowed to board. The plan also addresses testing passengers for the virus while they are on ships and how cruise lines will pay for the care of sick passengers or crew members.\nHowever, some administration officials do not think the proposal goes far enough to screen passengers or deal with an outbreak, the people said.\nBari Golin-Blaugrund, a spokeswoman for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the industry\u2019s trade group, said the industry is focused on the health and safety of its guests and crew.\n\u201cCLIA has participated as-invited in briefings with policymakers since the emergence of the crisis which culminated with a meeting with Vice President Pence,\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cWe have submitted an industry-funded plan to the government consistent with input from government officials that doesn\u2019t come with a price tag for taxpayers. Some plan details include more stringent boarding procedures, additional onboard medical protocols, monitoring capabilities, quarantine arrangements and shoreside care for guests and crew in the event of detection of COVID-19.\u201d\nCarnival spokesman Roger Frizzell declined to comment on any discussions executives may have had with the White House, but said the company is not seeking a bailout.\n\u201cWe are working as part of an industry-wide group of cruise line leaders with Vice President Pence to develop proactive initiatives from the cruise industry to enhance our health and safety measures,\u201d he said.\nTwo Princess ships became central characters in the global spread of the disease when they were found to be carrying infected people and forced to quarantine passengers before they were allowed to disembark.\nTrump was infuriated when he learned last month that U.S. authorities had brought coronavirus-infected Americans home from a ship in Japan, as The Washington Post previously reported. He said last week that he would have preferred to leave Americans aboard the second ship docked in California because he did not want the coronavirus numbers to rise in the United States.\nAbout 700 people aboard the Diamond Princess became infected while the ship was moored for weeks off the coast of Japan. Of 3,500 people on a second ship, the Grand Princess, at least 21 have tested positive, and the vessel remains docked in Oakland as tests continue.\nPassengers who have been permitted to leave the ship have been sent to military bases in California, Georgia and Texas\u00a0for quarantine.\nBefore leaving the Grand Princess, two passengers from Florida filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking more than $1\u00a0million in damages for being put at \u201cserious risk of imminent harm.\u201d The company said it is committed to the well-being of its passengers and declined to comment on pending litigation.\nA third ship, the Caribbean Princess, was forced to cut short a voyage Sunday and head back to U.S. waters from Costa Rica to test two crew members for the coronavirus. Their tests came back negative.\nAs the pandemic has grown, health experts have warned that cruise ships could facilitate infections.\n\u201cCruises inherently have conditions that can promote infectious disease spread,\u201d said Henry Wu, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine and director of the Emory TravelWell Center. \u201cShared facilities, such as common bathrooms, cafeterias, are of particular concern. Infected crew members or incomplete environmental cleaning can also lead to continuation of outbreaks on subsequent voyages.\u201d\nSome lawmakers are pushing for an industry shutdown.\nCruise companies should immediately stop launching new voyages, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), adding that \u201cif they won\u2019t do it voluntarily, we should look at mandatory measures.\u201d\n\u201cCruise ships are small cities at sea, isolated from professional medical facilities. They compel people to be in very crowded situations,\u201d he told The Post. \u201cThey seem to bring together people in almost exactly the way we are trying to avoid at the moment.\u201d\nCLIA said that cruise lines work diligently to sanitize ships, screen passengers and train crew members in safety procedures. Ships also undergo inspections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\nThe cruise sector supports about 422,000 jobs in the United States, more than a third of which are in the key political battleground state of Florida, the trade group said.\nBut the major cruise lines are incorporated overseas and pay virtually no federal taxes. A patchwork of weak international laws governs the industry, critics say.\nIn 2016, Princess Cruise Lines agreed to plead guilty to seven felony charges and pay a $40\u00a0million penalty for polluting the ocean and then trying to cover it up \u2014 the largest criminal penalty involving deliberate pollution by a ship at sea. Princess Cruises was ordered to pay an additional $20\u00a0million criminal penalty last year for violating the terms of its probation and deliberately discharging plastic in Bahamian waters. At that time, Arison pledged that his company was \u201ctotally committed\u201d to curbing pollution.\nTrump\u2019s personal connections to the industry date back more than a decade.\nArison, a billionaire and donor to both political parties, has known Trump for years. The two were photographed in 2005 at a game of Arison\u2019s Miami Heat basketball team with their wives, and Trump sent Arison a congratulatory tweet in 2012 when the team won the NBA championship. Arison returned the favor by congratulating Trump on renovations and new steakhouse at the Trump National Doral golf club in Miami, near Carnival\u2019s own headquarters. (One of Arison\u2019s tweets about Trump was deleted Wednesday after a Post reporter highlighted it.)\nTheir franchises joined forces at times. In 2005, Trump presided over the launch of a Carnival \u201cApprentice Legend Cruise\u201d from New York to the Caribbean featuring cast members from \u201cThe Apprentice,\u201d his NBC reality show. And in 2017, shortly after his inauguration, Carnival sponsored the two-part finale of \u201cThe New Celebrity Apprentice\u201d in which the company\u2019s chief executive appeared in one episode.\nTrump has other ties to the cruise industry. His wife, Melania Trump, christened one of the Norwegian Cruise Line\u2019s newest ships in 2005 and was dubbed the vessel\u2019s \u201cgodmother.\u201d The company made a $100,000 donation to Trump\u2019s charitable foundation that year.\nAt a 2017 conference in South Florida, Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings chief executive Frank Del Rio was widely quoted as crediting what he called \u201cthe Trump effect\u201d for a booming stock market, and he said the administration\u2019s pro-business, anti-regulatory posture was good for business.\nAnd some of the president\u2019s top allies have represented the industry, which spent $3.6\u00a0million last year on federal lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.\nBrian Ballard, a major Trump fundraiser, and former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, who helped defend Trump during his impeachment trial, were registered federal lobbyists for Carnival North American from February to August last year, lobbying records show.\nTandy Bondi, Bondi\u2019s sister-in-law, remains registered as a federal lobbyist for Carnival North America, records show, and has tried to help the company deal with the virus fallout, according to a person familiar with her role. Tandy Bondi declined to comment.\nAs the coronavirus crisis unfolded, the industry began a public-relations campaign aimed at reassuring people that cruises are safe and sanitary.\nExecutives scrambled to convince the administration that it could handle the situation. On Saturday, Pence met with corporate leaders at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, including Del Rio of Norwegian, Carnival chief executive Arnold Donald and Royal Caribbean Cruises chief executive Richard Fain.\nA day earlier, two Floridians tested positive for the coronavirus, including one who worked as a guide for cruise companies.\n\u201cWe made it very clear that we needed cruise lines to be safer; to establish and to embrace new protocols; screening onboard, screening off; new medical protocols; shipboard processes for evacuating people that may contract coronavirus or a serious illness,\u201d Pence later told reporters.\nThe stern message came after a number of government agencies have been deployed to help those stuck on the cruise ships, officials said.\nThe Health and Human Services Department has provided health screenings for anyone on the Grand Princess with medical concerns, going door to door on the ship, and is delivering any needed medication to those in quarantine. The Defense Department worked to arrange housing for passengers on four military bases, providing private rooms and bathrooms for the cruise patrons for two weeks while they self-isolated, while also keeping the U.S. military forces separate and protected. In addition, officials are helping to coordinate meals, weather-appropriate clothing and children\u2019s activities.\nThe State Department\u2019s advisory that Americans should not travel by cruise ship a day after the Pence meeting stunned and angered industry executives, according to people familiar with their responses.\nBy Tuesday night, the industry had delivered its proposal, hoping to get the administration\u2019s backing and a green light to keep cruising.\nBut some members of the White House task force are concerned that the cruise lines have not done enough to prepare for more infections, and think the public would be safer staying off the ships, said a senior administration official familiar with the conversations.\nHow the administration responds will be crucial for an industry that considers its future on the line.\nIn the past, the industry has batted down attempts by Congress to better protect the passengers\u2019 health and safety, including proposals that would have required that more crew members be trained in emergency procedures.\nRep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) is co-sponsoring legislation that she said would strengthen requirements for crime reporting and video surveillance on cruise ships, raise medical standards and hold cruise lines responsible for crimes at sea. The bill builds on a 2010 law that mandates that cruise vessels that visit U.S. ports meet certain security and safety requirements, including rail heights of at least 42 inches and reporting certain criminal allegations to the FBI.\nBut Matsui said the industry has largely managed to avoid such strict regulation because most ships are flagged overseas.\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t know how tough it was going to be to fight the cruise lines,\u201d she said. \u201cThe industry has been very successful.\u201d\njosh. dawsey@washpost.com\njonathan.oconnell@washpost.com\nashley.parker@washpost.com\nbeth.reinhard@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "JUF6OHDKHYI6VMMZHKLZTRKFCI_2", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "JUF6OHDKHYI6VMMZHKLZTRKFCI_2", "title": "Much of life comes to a standstill as countries shut themselves off from the rest of the world", "text": "if they don\u2019t do something,\u201d Dur\u00e1n said. The U.S. announcement that it would close its borders with Mexico, as well as Canada, sparked an immediate outcry over the fate of thousands of asylum seekers being held south of the border. \u201cI\u2019ve been preparing for my hearing, but now I don\u2019t know if it will happen,\u201d said Daniel, a 20-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker with HIV who declined to give his full name for fear of repercussions from authorities. Daniel, who was stuck in Piedras Negras, Mexico, has a U.S. asylum hearing scheduled for March 31. \u201cWith my immune system, I need to be very careful.\u201d In continental Europe, leaders rushed guards to reoccupy long-disused border posts to start turning away nonresidents. Trucks backed up for dozens of miles on either side of Poland, which imposed a particularly stringent quarantine on anyone entering the country, leading to fears that other parts of Eastern Europe would soon run out of supplies. \u201cRight now there are two very strong feelings,\u201d said Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, whose country was caught on the isolated side of the Polish blockade. \u201cOne, \u2018Let\u2019s close down everything.\u2019 Another is, \u2018Wait a minute, we have seen we are too interconnected.\u2019 \u201d Live updates: Illinois, California, New York and Florida increase restrictions because of coronavirus E.U. leaders in Brussels moved quickly to allow truck transportation to continue, fearing that shortages of medical supplies could worsen the pandemic. But by week\u2019s end, there were still pileups at borders across the continent. In sub-Saharan Africa, sweeping travel restrictions have gone into effect despite only 353 confirmed cases across its 48 countries as of Friday, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly every country has imposed total or near-total entry restrictions on nonresident foreigners and suspended issuance of new visas. More than a dozen have closed airports to international flights. Karen Mwalo, 34, was planning a marital ceremony with her husband known as an \u201citara\u201d on April 18, in which Mwalo\u2019s family would visit the homestead of her husband\u2019s parents in western Kenya. Some family members were coming from as far as Denmark and the Netherlands. \u201cWe can\u2019t go ahead,\u201d said Mwalo, who said they have postponed their plans until at least July. It is \u201cnot good to be risking people. You never know. It\u2019s already a breeding ground here.\u201d Brazil, which has at least 700 confirmed cases of"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "European truck drivers stuck in miles-long backups. Asylum seekers stranded in Mexico. Cities and states within countries \u2014 from Rio de Janeiro to Tasmania \u2014 sealing themselves off from the rest of their nations.\nIn a world where the once-steady march of globalization hit strong head winds in recent years from nationalist governments, the novel coronavirus pandemic has done more to suddenly halt and reverse the notion of open \u2014 and easily crossed \u2014 borders than perhaps any other event in modern history.\nThe impact to the global economy will be severe. Yet the larger question arising from empty international airports and backed-up land borders may be the long-haul effect of the pandemic on everything from freedom of movement to asylum claims to trade.\n\u201cThe question is, when the health crisis recedes, be that six months, one year, or two years from now, are we going to see the protectionist measures related to the health crisis recede too?\u201d said Stephanie Segal, a former senior economist at the International Monetary Fund and a senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. \u201cCertainly they will, but will they ever go back to precrisis levels?\u201d\nIn the meantime,  the pandemic is stranding travelers and upending everything from refugee flows to wedding rites.\nIn South America, still less impacted than other regions, many nations are striving to keep it that way by imposing some of the strictest border controls in the world. Peru and Bolivia have suspended international flights, restricted crossings at land borders, and deployed police and the military on the streets.\nAs concerns mount about the ability of crisis-plagued Venezuela to control the pandemic, its neighbors have sealed its borders.  The closures have raised fears of a bottleneck that could force migrants \u2014 as well  as Venezuelans who flocked to Colombia to buy or sell food and other supplies to live \u2014 to risk dangerous trips across illegal crossing controlled by armed gangs and guerrilla groups.\nVianney Dur\u00e1n, an unemployed 22-year-old law student living in the Venezuelan border city of La Fr\u00eda, is one of the many who crossed regularly into Colombia to buy food and medicine. He has also survived off remittances from relatives working abroad that he only was able to collect on the other side of the border.\nNow, that lifeline is closed.\n\u201cIf we are not killed by the coronavirus, people will starve to death if they don\u2019t do something,\u201d Dur\u00e1n said.\nThe U.S. announcement that it would close its borders with Mexico, as well as Canada, sparked an immediate outcry over the fate of thousands of asylum seekers being held south of the border.\n\u201cI\u2019ve been preparing for my hearing, but now I don\u2019t know if it will happen,\u201d said Daniel, a 20-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker with HIV who declined to give his full name for fear of repercussions from authorities. Daniel, who was stuck in Piedras Negras, Mexico, has a U.S. asylum hearing scheduled for March 31. \u201cWith my immune system, I need to be very careful.\u201d\nIn continental Europe, leaders rushed guards to reoccupy long-disused border posts to start turning away nonresidents.\nTrucks backed up for dozens of miles on either side of Poland, which imposed a particularly stringent quarantine on anyone entering the country, leading to fears that other parts of Eastern Europe would soon run out of supplies.\n\u201cRight now there are two very strong feelings,\u201d said Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, whose country was caught on the isolated side of the Polish blockade. \u201cOne, \u2018Let\u2019s close down everything.\u2019 Another is, \u2018Wait a minute, we have seen we are too interconnected.\u2019\u2009\u201d\nLive updates: Illinois, California, New York and Florida increase restrictions because of coronavirus\nE.U. leaders in Brussels moved quickly to allow truck transportation to continue, fearing that shortages of medical supplies could worsen the pandemic. But by week\u2019s end, there were still pileups at borders across the continent.\nIn sub-Saharan Africa, sweeping travel restrictions have gone into effect despite only 353 confirmed cases across its 48 countries as of Friday, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly every country has imposed total or near-total entry restrictions on nonresident foreigners and suspended issuance of new visas. More than a dozen have closed airports to international flights.\nKaren Mwalo, 34, was planning a marital ceremony with her husband known as an \u201citara\u201d on April 18, in which Mwalo\u2019s family would visit the homestead of her husband\u2019s parents in western Kenya. Some family members were coming from as far as Denmark and the Netherlands.\n\u201cWe can\u2019t go ahead,\u201d said Mwalo, who said they have postponed their plans until at least July.  It is \u201cnot good to be risking people. You never know. It\u2019s already a breeding ground here.\u201d\nBrazil, which has at least 700 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, by far Latin America\u2019s most, is taking a more relaxed approach that has led local governments to act.  Beginning Saturday, the state of Rio de Janeiro will effectively seal itself off from the rest of the country, and the city of Rio will seal itself off from the rest of the state.\n\u201cIt is a painful process to interfere in this way with people\u2019s lives, but it\u2019s necessary,\u201d said Wilson Witzel, the governor of Rio de Janeiro state.\nIn the Middle East,  Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia halted international flights over the past week and sealed their land borders. Other countries in the region have sharply curtailed the flights, and the United Arab Emirates is allowing entry only to the small number of people who are UAE citizens.\nAfter initially only restricting travel from the most infected parts of the world \u2014 China\u2019s Hubei province and regions in South Korea, Iran and Italy \u2014 Japan suddenly switched gears.\nEarlier this month, Japan canceled 3 million visas issued to Chinese and South Korean visitors, and it said anyone arriving from those countries would be subjected to a 14-day quarantine. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said travelers from Europe, Egypt and Iran would have to self-quarantine for 14 days and refrain from using public transport.\nThe coronavirus makes inroads into the highest echelons of the world\nIndia, the world\u2019s second-most populous nation, has progressively sealed itself off from the world as the crisis has intensified. On Thursday, it became the largest country to announce a one-week total ban, starting March 22, on all arriving commercial flights from abroad.\nFor people such as Rupa Subramanya, 40, the virtual walls coming up around the world have rendered her life unrecognizable. For the past decade, Subramanya and her husband, both economists, have split their time between India and Canada, traveling back and forth about four times a year. But when she attempted to fly from Mumbai to Ottawa on March 19, she encountered a maze of obstacles, including gate agents telling her that she did not meet Canada\u2019s new restrictions on entry, even though she did.\nMumbai\u2019s normally bustling airport was \u201cdesolate,\u201d she said. Standing in a near-empty terminal \u201cwas like being in a zombie movie,\u201d she said. She missed her flight to Canada, but she will try again at the end of March if India does not extend its ban. \u201cWho\u2019s to say [the ban] is not going to last longer?\u201d she asked. \u201cIt sounds ludicrous, but everything that I thought was ludicrous is happening.\u201d\nanthony.faiola@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "QNQUB6DH6II6VMMZHKLZTRKFCI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "QNQUB6DH6II6VMMZHKLZTRKFCI_0", "title": "Chinese citizens abroad seek refuge from the coronavirus pandemic \u2014 at home", "text": "As the coronavirus started spreading across the United States last week, New York University student Jane Zhang knew what she needed to do. She needed to seek shelter from the outbreak. At home. In China. \u201cChina has already contained the situation, and there are no new domestic cases in Beijing,\u201d the 19-year-old sophomore said, \u201cbut I think the number of people with the virus in the United States is going to rise exponentially.\u201d So on Friday, the day the number of cases in New York state rose 30 percent overnight, she boarded a flight home to the Chinese capital. It just feels safer, she said, because authorities there have made more of an effort to ensure public health. \u201cThe Chinese government basically pays for a patient\u2019s recovery, so we don\u2019t have to worry about how much treatment is going to cost,\u201d she said, making a contrast with the U.S. health-care system. Plus, she said, Americans didn\u2019t seem to be taking the outbreak seriously enough. In a matter of weeks, China has gone from being the epicenter of the virus to almost the only refuge from it, prompting hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens abroad to flock home. About 20,000 people a day are arriving on flights into China, while five times as many arrive by land or sea, state media reported. With many flights to China canceled amid the outbreak, seats were already relatively scarce. But the sudden spike in demand means prices have skyrocketed, with the few remaining economy-class seats from U.S. airports going for four or five times the usual rate. Xiangyuan Li, a freshman at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania, had already decided to return home to Chengdu after being told on Thursday that his classes would move online. It would be boring with everyone gone from his college town, and he was worried about not being able to get into China for his summer internship. But the growing outbreak in the United States cemented his decision. \u201cCertainly, China is indeed very safe now,\u201d Li said, while the United States is becoming more dangerous. \u201cThe U.S. can\u2019t test everyone, like in China. Testing an entire planeload of passengers and providing results the next day is impossible in the U.S.,\u201d he said, referring to the entry procedures he went through on arrival in his home country. There has also been a rush of returns from Britain since"}], "old": [{"_id": "QNQUB6DH6II6VMMZHKLZTRKFCI_0", "title": "Chinese citizens abroad seek refuge from the coronavirus pandemic \u2014 at home", "text": "anna.fifield@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "As the coronavirus started spreading across the United States last week, New York University student Jane Zhang knew what she needed to do. She needed to seek shelter from the outbreak. At home. In China.\n\u201cChina has already contained the situation, and there are no new domestic cases in Beijing,\u201d the 19-year-old sophomore said, \u201cbut I think the number of people with the virus in the United States is going to rise exponentially.\u201d\nSo on Friday, the day the number of cases in New York state rose 30 percent overnight, she boarded a flight home to the Chinese capital. It just feels safer, she said, because authorities there have made more of an effort to ensure public health.\n\u201cThe Chinese government basically pays for a patient\u2019s recovery, so we don\u2019t have to worry about how much treatment is going to cost,\u201d she said, making a contrast with the U.S. health-care system.\nPlus, she said, Americans didn\u2019t seem to be taking the outbreak seriously enough.\nIn a matter of weeks, China has gone from being the epicenter of the virus to almost the only refuge from it, prompting hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens abroad to flock home. About 20,000 people a day are arriving on flights into China, while five times as many arrive by land or sea, state media reported.\nWith many flights to China canceled amid the outbreak, seats were already relatively scarce. But the sudden spike in demand means prices have skyrocketed, with the few remaining economy-class seats from U.S. airports going for four or five times the usual rate.\nXiangyuan Li, a freshman at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania, had already decided to return home to Chengdu after being told on Thursday that his classes would move online. It would be boring with everyone gone from his college town, and he was worried about not being able to get into China for his summer internship.\nBut the growing outbreak in the United States cemented his decision.\n\u201cCertainly, China is indeed very safe now,\u201d Li said, while the United States is becoming more dangerous.\n\u201cThe U.S. can\u2019t test everyone, like in China. Testing an entire planeload of passengers and providing results the next day is impossible in the U.S.,\u201d he said, referring to the entry procedures he went through on arrival in his home country.\nThere has also been a rush of returns from Britain since a government adviser there advocated a \u201cherd immunity\u201d strategy, suggesting that it could be helpful if 60\u00a0percent of the population was infected.\nTickets from Britain are eye-wateringly expensive, if they can be found at all. A business-class charter flight from London via Geneva, operated by China Eastern Airlines, was selling seats for more than $25,000 over the weekend, according to the Yicai Global news site.\nBut this mass influx of people has created a problem for Chinese authorities as they trumpet their achievements in containing the coronavirus and reducing infection rates to negligible levels: People are arriving with the disease.\nFor the fourth day in a row, China\u2019s National Health Commission on Tuesday reported that the number of imported cases exceeded domestic transmissions. It said 21 infections had been diagnosed the previous day \u2014 20 of which came from abroad. A total of 143\u00a0people have arrived in the country with the coronavirus, many of them from hot spots such as Iran and Italy.\n\u201cPreventing imported cases has become a key task of China\u2019s epidemic prevention and control work,\u201d Wang Jun, an official with the General Administration of Customs, told reporters in Beijing this week. \u201cWe must resolutely curb the spread across the border.\u201d\nNine of the cases reported Tuesday were detected in Beijing, explaining why authorities in the capital are going to extreme measures to prevent the virus from spreading in the city that is home to the Communist Party\u2019s top officials.\nBeijing\u2019s municipal government on Sunday introduced rules requiring all people arriving in the capital to go into \u201ccentralized quarantine\u201d at hotels for 14\u00a0days upon arrival, at their own expense.\nThe rules came into effect while one American, Jacob Gunter, was in the air on his way to Beijing. He live-tweeted his journey through various checks at the airport and intermediate staging posts before finally arriving at his quarantine hotel a full 12\u00a0hours later.\nOther videos posted on social media showed huge crowds at Beijing Capital International Airport after weeks of it being empty, as multiple packed planes landed.\nAreas across the country, from Inner Mongolia in the north to Sanya on the island of Hainan in the south, have instituted similar measures, requiring stays in quarantine centers rather than trusting people to isolate themselves at home. More local authorities are expected to follow suit.\nAll manner of methods are being employed to track down and punish those caught violating the rules.\nBeijing police have made an example of a 37-year-old Chinese woman who works at Massachusetts biotechnology company Biogen and attended the Boston conference that has been linked to other infections, according to local media reports.\nShe failed to report that she was feeling sick before boarding her flight, took painkillers to suppress her fever and then lied to flight attendants about her condition, local police said.\nUpon arrival, the suspicious attendants reported her to police authorities, who quarantined her and had her tested for the virus. It came back positive. She is under criminal investigation on charges of obstructing infectious-disease prevention.\nanna.fifield@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "QRAJBUDDXQI6VM74PBAWQ3C4K4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "QRAJBUDDXQI6VM74PBAWQ3C4K4_0", "title": "White House suspends travel from most of Europe to the United States beginning Friday", "text": "Nearly all travel from Europe to the United States will be suspended for 30 days in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, President Trump said in an address to the nation Wednesday night. The ban, which takes effect at midnight Friday, will not include Britain. \u201cI am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus,\u201d Trump said. Trump also criticized Europe for not acting to quickly enact travel restrictions for China, as the United States did, saying virus clusters here were \u201cseeded by travel from Europe.\u201d The announcement came on the same day the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, reflecting alarm that countries aren\u2019t working quickly and aggressively enough to fight covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. WHO officials said countries should take a \u201cblended\u201d approach \u2014 focusing on containment to slow the spread, in hopes of buying time for mitigation strategies. Worldwide, there are now more than 121,000 cases of the coronavirus in 114 countries. More than 4,300 people have died. In the United States, there are more than 1,000 cases, and more than 30 people have died. [Live updates: WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic] Earlier in the day, the administration had signaled that the growing number of infections in Europe was prompting it to reexamine its strategy for containing the virus, but Trump had not been expected to announce a ban. At a hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday, Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed that the administration was shifting its focus to Europe. \u201cA real threat right now is Europe,\u201d he told committee members. \u201cThat\u2019s where the cases are coming in. Europe is the new China.\u201d However, some experts question whether Trump\u2019s strategy is the right approach. Such bans can cause people to keep their travel surreptitious, making it harder to do crucial contact tracing of those who are infected. They can also disrupt the movement of health workers, experts and medical supplies. The bans, experts also point out, can cause friction, hampering information-sharing and international efforts \u2014 as has happened between the United States and China \u2014 at a time when coordination and transparency have been crucial to fighting the virus. In Italy, where the number of infections"}], "old": [{"_id": "QRAJBUDDXQI6VM74PBAWQ3C4K4_0", "title": "White House suspends travel from most of Europe to the United States beginning Friday", "text": "[Live updates: WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic] [Sign up for our coronavirus newsletter] lori.aratani@washpost.com joshua.dawsey@washpost.com william.wan@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Nearly all travel from Europe to the United States will be suspended for 30 days in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, President Trump said in an address to the nation Wednesday night.\nThe ban, which takes effect at midnight Friday, will not include Britain.\n\u201cI am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus,\u201d Trump said.\nTrump also criticized Europe for not acting to quickly enact travel restrictions for China, as the United States did, saying virus clusters here were \u201cseeded by travel from Europe.\u201d\nThe announcement came on the same day the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, reflecting alarm that countries aren\u2019t working quickly and aggressively enough to fight covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. WHO officials said countries should take a \u201cblended\u201d approach \u2014 focusing on containment to slow the spread, in hopes of buying time for mitigation strategies.\nWorldwide, there are now more than 121,000 cases of the coronavirus in 114 countries. More than 4,300 people have died. In the United States, there are more than 1,000 cases, and more than 30 people have died.\n[Live updates: WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic]\nEarlier in the day, the administration had signaled that the growing number of infections in Europe was prompting it to reexamine its strategy for containing the virus, but Trump had not been expected to announce a ban.\nAt a hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday, Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed that the administration was shifting its focus to Europe.\n\u201cA real threat right now is Europe,\u201d he told committee members. \u201cThat\u2019s where the cases are coming in. Europe is the new China.\u201d\nHowever, some experts question whether Trump\u2019s strategy is the right approach.\nSuch bans can cause people to keep their travel surreptitious, making it harder to do crucial contact tracing of those who are infected. They can also disrupt the movement of health workers, experts and medical supplies. The bans, experts also point out, can cause friction, hampering information-sharing and international efforts \u2014 as has happened between the United States and China \u2014 at a time when coordination and transparency have been crucial to fighting the virus.\nIn Italy, where the number of infections has grown exponentially, more than 10,000 cases have been reported and there have been more than 600 deaths. This week, the country\u2019s leader took the drastic steps of imposing a nationwide lockdown that will limit the movement of 60 million people in hopes of containing the spread of the virus. On Wednesday, the country announced even more drastic measures, saying it will stop almost all commercial activity aside from supermarkets and pharmacies.\nIn the United States, Trump\u2019s  announcement could also further hobble the airline industry, which is already facing enormous, potentially crippling financial pressures.\n[Sign up for our coronavirus newsletter]\nThis week, Delta Air Lines, for example, announced it may cut as much as a quarter of its international flights and reduce domestic routes by as much as 15 percent due to decreased demand. The carrier has instituted a hiring freeze and is suspending its stock repurchase program. American and United are also cutting back some routes, while Southwest Airlines chief executive Gary Kelly has said he will take a 10 percent pay cut.\nCarriers, including United, American and Southwest, are already dealing with fallout from the grounding of Boeing\u2019s 737 Max following two fatal crashes that killed 346 people.\n\u201cWe are in contact with the federal government to understand and comply with this directive,\u201d American said in a statement. \u201cThe health and safety of our customers and team members remains our highest priority.\u201d\nEven if they are in place for only 30 days, the travel restrictions could cause additional damage not just to airlines but also to airports and other businesses that depend on the aviation sector.\nIn the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, Trump credited sweeping travel restrictions imposed on China by his administration for helping slow the spread of the virus in the United States. In that instance, all flights from China were funneled through one of 11 U.S. airports. Once there, U.S. citizens who had been in China in the past 14 days were required to undergo enhanced screening and were subject to quarantine if they showed signs of the virus; most non-U. S. citizens were barred from entering the country.\n\u201cThe European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe,\u201d Trump said.\nThe president also offered cautions for older Americans, who are most vulnerable to the virus, urging them to \u201cavoid nonessential travel in crowded areas.\u201d\nlori.aratani@washpost.com\njoshua.dawsey@washpost.com\nwilliam.wan@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "RMRB7XPJZJGQRNJFYGVA2SMQ7M_0", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "RMRB7XPJZJGQRNJFYGVA2SMQ7M_0", "title": "CDC drops 14-day self-quarantine recommendation for international and out-of-state travelers", "text": "Since March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days after all international travel, and after domestic travel to states seeing a high rate of coronavirus cases. But the CDC has changed that stance, removing the directions for two-week quarantines from the \u201cAfter You Travel\u201d section of its coronavirus travel guidance. Instead, they share \u201cafter-travel\u201d recommendations based on individual countries. A map of country-specific health information can be found on the CDC website, and includes a map of reported cases in the United States. In an email, CDC spokesman Scott Pauley told The Washington Post: \u201cThis updated guidance is based on risk of exposure during travel, asking travelers to think about what they did, where they were, and who they came into contact with to evaluate their risk of exposure to covid-19.\u201d The CDC\u2019s updated travel guidance states that all returning travelers should social distance, wear a cloth face covering, wash their hands often and watch for symptoms. Notably, those are all basic measures the CDC has highlighted to Americans to follow since the beginning of the pandemic, regardless of whether traveling is involved. Doctors say that quarantines can still be a good idea after traveling to a coronavirus-impacted area, and that quarantines are especially useful in the absence of testing. Plus, if you\u2019re from a state that requires a two-week quarantine, you\u2019ll likely still need to complete one. \u201cBroadly speaking, if someone travels to an area with an active outbreak, it\u2019s reasonable upon return for them to be required to either get tested or to quarantine, a measure that many states now have in place,\u201d Boston University epidemiologist Sandro Galea told The Washington Post. \u201cWe\u2019re all trying to adapt to shifting realities and shifting facts all the time,\u201d he says, but the advice to distance, frequently sanitize and wear a mask in public \u201care guidelines we should all be following all the time, regardless of whether we\u2019ve traveled or not.\u201d The CDC\u2019s travel guidance does still note that travel and being in crowds increases the chance of contracting the virus, and that infected people can be asymptomatic and spread the disease. But CDC quarantine guidelines also now narrowly define those who should isolate for two weeks as \u201cpeople who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 \u2014 excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past three months.\u201d Galea"}], "old": [{"_id": "RMRB7XPJZJGQRNJFYGVA2SMQ7M_0", "title": "CDC drops 14-day self-quarantine recommendation for international and out-of-state travelers", "text": "Read more: \u2019Revenge travel\u2019 is the phenomenon that could bring back tourism with a bang Has your travel bucket list changed during the pandemic? You\u2019re not alone. Traveling may not be safe, but leaving vacation days behind isn\u2019t healthy, either"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Since March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days after all international travel, and after domestic travel to states seeing a high rate of coronavirus cases. But the CDC has changed that stance, removing the directions for two-week quarantines from the \u201cAfter You Travel\u201d section of its coronavirus travel guidance.\nInstead, they share \u201cafter-travel\u201d recommendations based on individual countries. A map of country-specific health information can be found on the CDC website, and includes a map of reported cases in the United States.\nIn an email, CDC spokesman Scott Pauley told The Washington Post: \u201cThis updated guidance is based on risk of exposure during travel, asking travelers to think about what they did, where they were, and who they came into contact with to evaluate their risk of exposure to covid-19.\u201d\nThe CDC\u2019s updated travel guidance states that all returning travelers should social distance, wear a cloth face covering, wash their hands often and watch for symptoms. Notably, those are all basic measures the CDC has highlighted to Americans to follow since the beginning of the pandemic, regardless of whether traveling is involved.\nDoctors say that quarantines can still be a good idea after traveling to a coronavirus-impacted area, and that quarantines are especially useful in the absence of testing. Plus, if you\u2019re from a state that requires a two-week quarantine, you\u2019ll likely still need to complete one.\n\u201cBroadly speaking, if someone travels to an area with an active outbreak, it\u2019s reasonable upon return for them to be required to either get tested or to quarantine, a measure that many states now have in place,\u201d Boston University epidemiologist Sandro Galea told The Washington Post. \u201cWe\u2019re all trying to adapt to shifting realities and shifting facts all the time,\u201d he says, but the advice to distance, frequently sanitize and wear a mask in public \u201care guidelines we should all be following all the time, regardless of whether we\u2019ve traveled or not.\u201d\nThe CDC\u2019s travel guidance does still note that travel and being in crowds increases the chance of contracting the virus, and that infected people can be asymptomatic and spread the disease. But CDC quarantine guidelines also now narrowly define those who should isolate for two weeks as \u201cpeople who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 \u2014 excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past three months.\u201d\nGalea calls the new CDC travel guidance a \u201cdirect contradiction\u201d of what many states are doing \u2014 requiring quarantines. \u201cIn general, the U.S. could have benefited from having specific guidelines at a federal level from the beginning of this pandemic,\u201d he says.\nWondering if you should self-quarantine after travel even if you\u2019re visiting a lower-risk destinations and your state doesn\u2019t require it? Lawrence Mayer, an epidemiologist and visiting fellow at Harvard University, says quarantines can be useful in returning from a high-risk area if you aren\u2019t able to acquire a test and will be around some higher-risk individuals.\n\u201cIf arriving from a high-transmission area, I think testing and quarantining on return would be helpful,\u201d Mayer says. \u201cWithout a test, a 14-day quarantine seems reasonable\u201d to prevent the spread of the virus. Like Galea, Mayer notes that the updated travel guidelines simply restate the standard advice that the CDC has urged everyone in the United States to follow, regardless of travel, since the pandemic began.\nStates mandating two-week quarantines for arrivals in some cases include Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. The CDC\u2019s bottom line that travel elevates the risk of contracting the coronavirus hasn\u2019t changed, even as the quarantine-after-travel advice disappeared.\n\u201cDon\u2019t travel if you are sick or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Don\u2019t travel with someone who is sick,\u201d the CDC\u2019s travel guidance states. \u201cTravel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.\u201d\nRead more:\n\u2019Revenge travel\u2019 is the phenomenon that could bring back tourism with a bang\nHas your travel bucket list changed during the pandemic? You\u2019re not alone.\nTraveling may not be safe, but leaving vacation days behind isn\u2019t healthy, either"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "RQWWXVTFWII6VLGKQDBCXPXJN4_2", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "RQWWXVTFWII6VLGKQDBCXPXJN4_2", "title": "U.S. expands coronavirus travel restrictions to include U.K. and Ireland", "text": "goods or go to work, medical appointments and banks. Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez told the nation in a televised address that the restrictions will remain in place for an initial 15-day period but could be extended. The move was so abrupt that several airplanes en route from England turned around midflight to avoid landing in the country. In Russia, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the nation had closed its land border with Poland and Norway after already closing its border with China. Poland, Denmark and the Czech Republic also sought to seal off their borders, and France ordered all nonessential businesses to close, including restaurants and cafes. The U.K. and Ireland were not included in the initial travel restrictions from Europe that Trump announced Wednesday. But since then, both have seen an increase of cases, and Britian\u2019s death toll nearly doubled Saturday, to 21. The White House said the travel restrictions will go into place at midnight Monday. They do not cover cargo shipments. The effectiveness of such measures continues to be debated, however, and they run counter to the World Health Organization\u2019s recommendations. Critics say they can cause some people to travel more surreptitiously, divert vital resources and hamper the international cooperation needed to fight the virus. \u201cTravel restrictions can cause more harm than good,\u201d World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stressed. Additional travel restrictions will further hit the airline industry, which is facing enormous losses because of the pandemic. White House officials are considering offering low-interest loans or tax deferrals to airlines to help them survive the downturn. In yet another sign that virtually no facet of society \u2014 from museums to sporting events to religious services \u2014 will go unscathed, restaurants across France braced for their last meals and customers as part of the government\u2019s closure order. For a country that thrives on food, wine and leisurely afternoons spent alfresco at sidewalk cafes, the government acknowledged it was an extreme measure. But officials said they had no choice because too many people appeared to be ignoring earlier advice about social distancing and staying home. Israel banned all gatherings of more than 10 people. The United Arab Emirates said it will stop issuing visas to all foreigners except diplomats. And amid the season of Lent, one of the most significant holy seasons for Christians, the Catholic Archdiocese of New York announced it was canceling all"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The White House announced Saturday that its sweeping travel restrictions will be expanded to include the United Kingdom and Ireland, as countries around the globe struggled to intensify efforts to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus.\nThe United States is limiting travel from 28 nations across Europe, though U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are exempted. The announcement came as other countries sought to lock down their borders to contain the pandemic that surged across Asia and now claims Europe as the latest epicenter.\nThe number of confirmed cases climbed past 2,200 in the United States, with more than 50 dead, and health officials scrambled to ramp up testing that they expect will yield thousands of more infections. A day after he declared a national emergency, a designation that could free up $50 billion to fight the outbreak, President Trump said the administration is considering limiting domestic travel.\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t have to travel, I wouldn\u2019t do it,\u201d said Trump, who made a surprise announcement that he was tested for the novel coronavirus Friday night. On Saturday evening, his physician said the test came back negative.\nHealth officials continued to warn Saturday that the worst is yet to come and urged hospitals to prepare for waves of sick patients that could overwhelm the nation\u2019s health-care system.\n\u201cWe have not reached a peak,\u201d Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said during a news conference. \u201cWe will see more cases, and we will see more suffering and death, predominantly \u2026 among the vulnerables in our society.\u201d\nOne stunning new projection from the Kaiser Family Foundation is that 41 percent of U.S. adults \u2014 more than 105 million people \u2014 have a \u201chigher risk of developing serious illness\u201d if infected with the coronavirus because of their age or underlying health conditions.\nAs cases decline in China, the origin of the outbreak, countries in Europe are emerging as the world\u2019s new hot spots, especially Italy and Spain.\nItaly announced that health officials confirmed nearly 3,500 new cases in 24 hours, a 20 percent increase from Friday and that nation\u2019s largest daily increase yet. Italy has more than 21,000 confirmed cases, despite the fact that the country has been in a lockdown since Monday.\nSpain announced 1,500 new cases Saturday, and the government ordered all 47 million residents to stay in their homes except to buy essential goods or go to work, medical appointments and banks. Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez told the nation in a televised address that the restrictions will remain in place for an initial 15-day period but could be extended. The move was so abrupt that several airplanes en route from England turned around midflight to avoid landing in the country.\nIn Russia, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the nation had closed its land border with Poland and Norway after already closing its border with China. Poland, Denmark and the Czech Republic also sought to seal off their borders, and France ordered all nonessential businesses to close, including restaurants and cafes.\nThe U.K. and Ireland were not included in the initial travel restrictions from Europe that Trump announced Wednesday. But since then, both have seen an increase of cases, and Britian\u2019s death toll nearly doubled Saturday, to 21. The White House said the travel restrictions will go into place at midnight Monday. They do not cover cargo shipments.\nThe effectiveness of such measures continues to be debated, however, and they run counter to the World Health Organization\u2019s recommendations. Critics say they can cause some people to travel more surreptitiously, divert vital resources and hamper the international cooperation needed to fight the virus.\n\u201cTravel restrictions can cause more harm than good,\u201d World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stressed.\nAdditional travel restrictions will further hit the airline industry, which is facing enormous losses because of the pandemic. White House officials are considering offering low-interest loans or tax deferrals to airlines to help them survive the downturn.\nIn yet another sign that virtually no facet of society \u2014 from museums to sporting events  to religious services \u2014 will go unscathed, restaurants across France braced for their last meals and customers as part of the government\u2019s closure order. For a country that thrives on food, wine and leisurely afternoons spent alfresco at sidewalk cafes, the government acknowledged it was an extreme measure. But officials said they had no choice because too many people appeared to be ignoring earlier advice about social distancing and staying home.\nIsrael banned all gatherings of more than 10 people. The United Arab Emirates said it will stop issuing visas to all foreigners except diplomats. And amid the season of Lent, one of the most significant holy seasons for Christians, the Catholic Archdiocese of New York announced it was canceling all Masses beginning Sunday.\nAcross the United States, health officials  moved to limit visits to nursing homes because of their extremely vulnerable population. During the news conference Saturday, Vice President Pence urged people to \u201clook after seniors with serious underlying health conditions and make sure that every American around them is practicing the best kind of hygiene, the best kind of measures to ensure that they\u2019re not exposed.\u201d\nThe new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that although \u201cthe majority of people who become infected are expected to be asymptomatic or recover without needing special treatment,\u201d there is an \u201cincreasing concern for adults who have a higher risk of developing serious illness if they are infected.\u201d Prime among them: individuals 60 or older as well as those with underlying health conditions such as heart and lung disease, cancer and diabetes.\nU.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams on Saturday urged hospitals to \u201cPLEASE CONSIDER STOPPING ELECTIVE SURGERIES,\u201d which he said could bring potential cases of the virus into health-care facilities while occupying precious resources and space needed to treat people with the crisis.\nThe day began with a rare showing of bipartisanship in Congress, when House Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allocate billions of dollars for paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, free testing and other steps to help the country grapple with the virus.\nHours after the bill passed the House, 363 to 40, Trump, who on Friday had criticized congressional Democrats for not doing enough on the bill, praised the uncommon demonstration of unity.\n\u201cGood teamwork between Republicans & Democrats as the House passes the big CoronaVirus Relief Bill,\u201d he tweeted. \u201cPeople really pulled together. Nice to see!\u201d\nThe bill now moves to the Senate, which is expected to pass it in coming days.\nThe pandemic\u2019s toll continues to reverberate.\nNew York, which has been hit particularly hard by the virus, reported its first death, as did Virginia and Louisiana. The Pentagon announced that 10 servicemembers had tested positive for the virus along with one Defense Department civilian and two contractors.\nGeorgia became the second state, after Louisiana, to delay its presidential primary for at least two months. Supermarket chains shortened their hours to allow them to sanitize their stores and restock inventories: Harris Teeter said it will close its stores at 9 every night; Publix said it will close its stores daily at 8 p.m.\nApple said it will close stores globally, including more than 250 in the United States, while simultaneously reopening stores in China that had been shuttered for weeks.\n\u201cI think it\u2019s fine if they do it, and I think it\u2019s frankly, it\u2019s good that they do it. I think what Apple did is fine,\u201d Trump said. \u201cAnd we want to keep people away for just a little while, just keep them away.\u201d\nThat appeared to mark a shift from Trump\u2019s tone earlier in the crisis, when he batted away questions about broad economic disruption by saying that the U.S. economy is the world\u2019s mightiest.\nanne.gearan@washpost.com\nkatie.mettler@washpost.com\nmiriam.berger@washpost.com\nchristian.davenport@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "V25JKCS73UI6VMAUJ6X2QZV3QE_6", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "V25JKCS73UI6VMAUJ6X2QZV3QE_6", "title": "Advice for pregnant women, older people and others about travel during coronavirus outbreak", "text": "they don\u2019t wash their hands as well, they touch their face more often, they do not cover their cough and sneezes as well, and they pick their noses and wipe their nasal secretions more often,\u201d he said. If kids need to travel to a high-risk area (as designated by the CDC), Sanborn recommends that they avoid contact with immune-suppressed friends for two weeks post-travel, especially if they were in direct contact with someone subsequently found to be infected. \u201cIf a child traveling internationally becomes sick upon return, it may not be coronavirus, but I would still recommend 14 days of school avoidance if they are coming from an area with covid-19 activity,\u201d he said. Those who have compromised immune systems, perhaps because they are undergoing chemotherapy or are on immunosuppressant medication for a disorder such as Crohn\u2019s disease, are at higher risk of having complications from viral diseases such as coronavirus, Burchett said. The same applies to those with significant poor health, especially chronic lung disease or severe heart failure. \u201cSaying \u2018no travel across the board\u2019 is extreme in my opinion, but I would certainly recommend avoiding places with high incidences of corona,\u201d Burchett said. It\u2019s not uncommon to become sick after traveling. In fact, up to 79 percent of those traveling to low- and middle-income countries experience a travel-related health problem, according to the CDC. Fortunately, most illnesses aren\u2019t serious. But depending on where you were traveling, your risk of infection from the coronavirus could limit your movement back home. The CDC is not allowing foreign nationals who have visited China or Iran within the past two weeks to enter the United States (those returning from other highly affected countries including Iran, South Korea and Italy will be heavily screened and may face quarantine measures). American citizens, permanent residents and their families will be allowed to enter, but will have to undergo a health screening that includes being checked for fever, coughing and trouble breathing. They will also have restrictions on their movement for up to 14 days. Travelers returning from Italy and South Korea are undergoing exit screenings in those countries. If you are returning from any area with an outbreak, avoid close contact with anyone in a nursing home or anyone sick just in case: Even if you don\u2019t have symptoms, you could still potentially be contagious if you were exposed to the virus, Elovitz said. travel@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "This story has been updated.\nInternational travel has slowed to a crawl thanks to the coronavirus \u2014 which is responsible for cancellations across the globe. Airlines are cutting service and furloughing staff. Businesses are restricting trips by their employees, and families are reconsidering spring break plans.\nThe International Air Transport Association, in an analysis released March 5, predicted 2020 global losses involving passengers to reach between $63 billion and $113 billion, depending on the virus\u2019 spread.\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers avoid nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy and that older adults or those who have chronic medical conditions consider postponing trips to Japan. But should other people cancel, postpone or abstain from travel?\nNot necessarily, said Larry Burchett, an ER doctor and board-certified family physician based in Sonoma, Bakersfield and Los Angeles. \u201cThis may be an opportunity for young, healthy people to take advantage of cheap vacations,\u201d Burchett said.\nAccording to CDC guidelines, areas in Watch Level 1 (essentially every spot that shouldn\u2019t specifically be avoided) can be visited as long as getting there doesn\u2019t require a layover in an infected area. In fact, the CDC doesn\u2019t recommend canceling or postponing travel to those areas, because the risk of becoming infected with covid-19 there is believed to be low.\nContrary to popular perception, the risk of getting covid-19 on an airplane also is low, as long as one is not seated within six feet of an infected passenger, according to the CDC. \u00a0\u201cBecause of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes,\u201d it says on its website. Cruises, on the other hand, \u201cput large numbers of people, often from countries around the world, in frequent and close contact with each other,\u201d which can spread respiratory viruses.\nAs potential travelers weigh the pros and cons of going ahead with travel plans, here are specific suggestions based on different health statuses.\nAccording to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women are not at higher risk than the general population of falling victim to coronavirus. But it should be noted that very little is known about the coronavirus as it relates to pregnant women, the developing fetus or infants, said Kecia Gaither, director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in New York City.\nWhat is currently known \u2014 and this information is continually evolving \u2014 is based on knowledge about previous coronavirus outbreaks (MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV) and the small number of covid-19 cases involving pregnant women.\nSince this is so new and unstudied, Gaither said that it\u2019s still not completely known whether pregnant women may be more susceptible to the risk of disease acquisition (despite what the ACOG said) and associated death. It\u2019s also unclear whether transmission to the fetus occurs, either via the placenta or through breast milk, Gaither said.\n\u201cFrom the few case reports out of China, the virus may have adverse effects on the newborns, causing issues such as preterm labor, fetal distress, respiratory distress, low platelets, abnormal liver function tests and thrombocytopenia,\u201d she said.\nDaniel Roshan, director of Rosh Maternal & Fetal Medicine in New York City, personally advises pregnant women not to fly.\n\u201cHowever, if one must fly, I recommend precautions,\u201d Roshan said, suggesting hand washing frequently, hydrating, taking prenatal vitamins and vitamin C, and wearing a mask during the flight.\nIn general, older adults are more susceptible to viral illnesses, including the flu and coronavirus, because their ability to fight off infection is diminished, said Steven Reisman, a cardiologist with New York Cardiac Diagnostic Center. In addition, he said, older adults may also have other underlying health issues such as lung or heart disease, which will result in a more severe outcome with a viral illness.\nBefore traveling, anyone 65 or older should receive a pneumonia vaccination. While coronavirus is only a viral lower respiratory infection, one complication is pneumonia or bacterial infection in the lungs, Burchett said.\nIn case of quarantine, older adults should travel with an extra two weeks\u2019 worth of essential medicine.\nIt\u2019s also essential that older adults (and anyone with a medical condition) travel with their health records, said Reuben Elovitz, internal medicine physician with Private Health Dallas. These will be needed in case you get sick or require medical care. Providing the local medical team with your health information is essential for obtaining optimal treatment and avoiding adverse effects and complications, Elovitz said.\n\u201cYour records are even more crucial if you are not able to communicate with your health care providers due to the severity of your illness,\u201d he said.\nThe CDC is advising those at higher risk of complications from COVID-19 \u2014 older people and those with underlying health conditions -- to avoid crowds and, if they are in an area with an outbreak, to stay at home as much as possible. Vice President Mike Pence has recommended that older people with underlying health conditions not take cruises, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alez Azar advised both older people and those with serious health problems to avoid crowds \u201cespecially in poorly ventilated spaces.\u201d On March 8, the State Department advised U.S. citizens, particularly those with health issues, not to travel by cruise ship.\nAs a rule, young kids touch everything around them with hands that frequently make their way to their mouths, as well as to the faces of their adult companions. This alone makes it easier for them to get infected and to pass along any illnesses \u2014 and it also makes it less safe for them to travel, said Chad Sanborn, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Palm Beach Children\u2019s Hospital. If you do plan on traveling with young children, make sure their vaccines are up to date, and take at least an extra two weeks\u2019 worth of any essential medications with them should they need to be quarantined.\nChildren who are immune-compromised should not get on a plane or go to an airport unless it\u2019s truly necessary, Sanborn said. \u201cYoung children who may be immune-suppressed or with chronic illness, in particular, may not be good travel candidates because they don\u2019t wash their hands as well, they touch their face more often, they do not cover their cough and sneezes as well, and they pick their noses and wipe their nasal secretions more often,\u201d he said.\nIf kids need to travel to a high-risk area (as designated by the CDC), Sanborn recommends that they avoid contact with immune-suppressed friends for two weeks post-travel, especially if they were in direct contact with someone subsequently found to be infected.\n\u201cIf a child traveling internationally becomes sick upon return, it may not be coronavirus, but I would still recommend 14 days of school avoidance if they are coming from an area with covid-19 activity,\u201d he said.\nThose who have compromised immune systems, perhaps because they are undergoing chemotherapy or are on immunosuppressant medication for a disorder such as Crohn\u2019s disease, are at higher risk of having complications from viral diseases such as coronavirus, Burchett said. The same applies to those with significant poor health, especially chronic lung disease or severe heart failure. \u201cSaying \u2018no travel across the board\u2019 is extreme in my opinion, but I would certainly recommend avoiding places with high incidences of corona,\u201d Burchett said.\nIt\u2019s not uncommon to become sick after traveling. In fact, up to 79 percent of those traveling to low- and middle-income countries experience a travel-related health problem, according to the CDC. Fortunately, most illnesses aren\u2019t serious. But depending on where you were traveling, your risk of infection from the coronavirus could limit your movement back home.\nThe CDC is not allowing foreign nationals who have visited China or Iran within the past two weeks to enter the United States (those returning from other highly affected countries including Iran, South Korea and Italy will be heavily screened and may face quarantine measures). American citizens, permanent residents and their families will be allowed to enter, but will have to undergo a health screening that includes being checked for fever, coughing and trouble breathing. They will also have restrictions on their movement for up to 14 days. Travelers returning from Italy and South Korea are undergoing exit screenings in those countries.\nIf you are returning from any area with an outbreak, avoid close contact with anyone in a nursing home or anyone sick just in case: Even if you don\u2019t have symptoms, you could still potentially be contagious if you were exposed to the virus, Elovitz said.\ntravel@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "XA4O3ZVO5ZFBDIRJ7WMAV3MDP4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "XA4O3ZVO5ZFBDIRJ7WMAV3MDP4_0", "title": "ICE said it won\u2019t deport people for seeking medical care. Immigrants won\u2019t believe them. ", "text": "On March 17, President Trump announced plans to close the southern border to asylum seekers. \u201cWe need the Wall more than ever!\u201d Trump tweeted, though the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that physical barriers will not stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, and despite the fact that the United States has more cases per capita than does Mexico. Would the closure stop the spread of the virus? Here\u2019s what we know \u2014 and what to look out for. More of the same at the southern border Trump has treated the coronavirus pandemic as a way to extend his broad anti-immigration platform, characterizing the disease as a \u201cforeign virus.\u201d This week, the State Department warned Americans not to travel abroad, and the White House first closed the border with Canada and then with Mexico for nonessential travel. Last week, Trump announced a 30-day ban on travel from most of Europe and soon added more countries to the banned list. These restrictions on otherwise legal travel \u2014 whether it be for work, leisure or another reason \u2014 use the same legal authority as the series of travel bans started in January 2017. Meanwhile, the United States has announced even stricter policies around stopping immigrants at the southern border, and it continues to detain asylum seekers. Private detention companies hold about 15,000 immigration detainees on any given day, including both recent arrivals and those present in the United States for decades. Those in closed facilities are at particularly high risk should the virus enter the facility, which may happen soon. This week, a corrections officer at a New Jersey jail that houses immigrant detainees tested positive for the coronavirus. To protect detainees nationwide, immigrant advocacy groups have called on the government to close immigration detention facilities. In my own work in the country\u2019s largest family detention center, I have seen families side by side, sharing a space where it would be next to impossible to avoid the virus. I had planned another trip with law students to the detention center this month \u2014 but scrapped it rather than risk bringing the virus in. Yet while public agencies such as the New York City Board of Correction are calling for that city\u2019s jail system to rapidly release detainees who aren\u2019t an immediate danger to reduce the risk of a fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak, the federal government is taking a"}], "old": [{"_id": "XA4O3ZVO5ZFBDIRJ7WMAV3MDP4_0", "title": "ICE said it won\u2019t deport people for seeking medical care. Immigrants won\u2019t believe them. ", "text": "More of the same at the southern border Undocumented immigrants aren\u2019t likely to trust ICE\u2019s announced halt in enforcement With immigration courts and offices closing, more case backlogs and delays Don\u2019t miss anything! Sign up to get TMC\u2019s smart analysis in your inbox, three days a week. Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer Read more: Red states are finally starting to Google \u2018coronavirus\u2019 3 ways the coronavirus could end Trump\u2019s presidency The House moved quickly on a covid-19 response bill. These 4 takeaways explain what\u2019s likely to happen next. Trump declared two different kinds of emergencies for covid-19. There might soon be 52. China is also relying on propaganda to tackle the covid-19 crisis Wuhan officials tried to cover up covid-19 \u2014 and sent it careening outward Covid-19 reveals how China\u2019s internal politics now affect the whole world China\u2019s early warning system didn\u2019t work on covid-19. Here\u2019s the story. Why China\u2019s politics makes it easier \u2014 and harder \u2014 to control disease outbreaks"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "On March 17, President Trump announced plans to close the southern border to asylum seekers. \u201cWe need the Wall more than ever!\u201d Trump tweeted, though the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that physical barriers will not stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, and despite the fact that the United States has more cases per capita than does Mexico.\nWould the closure stop the spread of the virus? Here\u2019s what we know \u2014 and what to look out for.\nMore of the same at the southern border\nTrump has treated the coronavirus pandemic as a way to extend his broad anti-immigration platform, characterizing the disease as a \u201cforeign virus.\u201d This week, the State Department warned Americans not to travel abroad, and the White House first closed the border with Canada and then with Mexico for nonessential travel. Last week, Trump announced a 30-day ban on travel from most of Europe and soon added more countries to the banned list. These restrictions on otherwise legal travel \u2014 whether it be for work, leisure or another reason \u2014 use the same legal authority as the series of travel bans started in January 2017.\nMeanwhile, the United States has announced even stricter policies around stopping immigrants at the southern border, and it continues to detain asylum seekers. Private detention companies hold about 15,000 immigration detainees on any given day, including both recent arrivals and those present in the United States for decades.\nThose in closed facilities are at particularly high risk should the virus enter the facility, which may happen soon. This week, a corrections officer at a New Jersey jail that houses immigrant detainees tested positive for the coronavirus. To protect detainees nationwide, immigrant advocacy groups have called on the government to close immigration detention facilities. In my own work in the country\u2019s largest family detention center, I have seen families side by side, sharing a space where it would be next to impossible to avoid the virus. I had planned another trip with law students to the detention center this month \u2014 but scrapped it rather than risk bringing the virus in.\nYet while public agencies such as the New York City Board of Correction are calling for that city\u2019s jail system to rapidly release detainees who aren\u2019t an immediate danger to reduce the risk of a fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak, the federal government is taking a different tack. Instead of releasing migrants, the administration announced an upcoming policy that all asylum seekers arriving at the southern border will be turned back to Mexico with no due process, purportedly to keep out the virus.\nBut over the past three years, the Trump administration has steadily tightened immigration policy to make it increasingly difficult for refugees to get into the United States. That includes the Migrant Protection Protocols, which force asylum seekers to wait in Mexico, and restricting certain claims that were once accepted reasons for asylum. That makes this latest step appear to be another push toward the goal of eliminating asylum.\nBut the United States has higher rates of the virus than does Central America. Reverse contagion is more likely, with deportations spreading the virus southward. Central American countries are taking measures to protect themselves: Guatemala has suspended flights into the country, including of Guatemalans deported by the United States.\nUndocumented immigrants aren\u2019t likely to trust ICE\u2019s announced halt in enforcement\nOn March 18, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that it would \u201cdelay enforcement actions\u201d of undocumented immigrants, except those who have committed crimes or threaten public safety \u2014 and specifically emphasized that ICE agents would stay away from hospitals and medical care facilities to encourage everyone to seek care.\nNevertheless, undocumented immigrants fear stepping into a hospital, worrying that their status will be identified and tracked \u2014 if not now, then later. They are not likely to believe such reassurances, given the past several years of ever-increasing monitoring and enforcement even of sympathetic noncriminal immigrants. In fact, the day before the announcement, ICE was continuing its immigration raids, with N95 masks on hand. Further, undocumented and lawful immigrants alike have a new reason to fear seeking health care in particular because of the public charge rule that went into effect in February, which assesses whether green card applicants are likely to ever need public benefits. Using Medicaid generally hurts applicants, with an exception for emergency Medicaid \u2014 now including covid-19-related testing and treatment.\nDespite official reassurances, however, the administration\u2019s overall anti-immigrant stance will most likely keep immigrants away from health care, increasing the risk of spread more broadly.\nWith immigration courts and offices closing, more case backlogs and delays\nThe administration has announced that it will close immigration courts and asylum offices in certain cities, with more likely to follow. The court system alone has a backlog of more than 180,000 pending cases, many added during the 2019 partial government shutdown. The longer the courts are closed, the greater the backlog will become \u2014 and immigrants already wait up to four years to have their cases heard in court. As time passes, cases can weaken because of changing conditions, even as immigrants\u2019 lives in the United States become more established. Where courts do remain open, groups of immigrants await hearings in crowded waiting rooms well over the 10-person limit recommended by the CDC, again risking their own and the public\u2019s health.\nMeanwhile, as of March 18, all U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices are closed. These offices handle citizenship interviews, routine fingerprinting for background checks, and other in-person application processing. While some applications may not be time-sensitive, others\u2019 immigration status is at serious risk because of these closures. For example, recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are urgently submitting their renewal paperwork before the upcoming Supreme Court decision that could end the DACA program, expected by June. If a DACA renewal application is filed by the time of the decision, the government may still process it \u2014 no matter what the court does. But with USCIS offices closed for essential public health reasons, DACA applications are stalled.\nThe United States is likely to continue tightening its borders, enforcing at least some immigration violators, and detaining asylum seekers. Meanwhile, the backlogs in immigration court cases and application processing will increase dramatically, putting vulnerable immigrants further at risk of losing protection.\nDon\u2019t miss anything! Sign up to get TMC\u2019s smart analysis in your inbox, three days a week.\nJaclyn Kelley-Widmer\nRead more:\nRed states are finally starting to Google \u2018coronavirus\u2019\n3 ways the coronavirus could end Trump\u2019s presidency\nThe House moved quickly on a covid-19 response bill. These 4 takeaways explain what\u2019s likely to happen next.\nTrump declared two different kinds of emergencies for covid-19. There might soon be 52.\nChina is also relying on propaganda to tackle the covid-19 crisis\nWuhan officials tried to cover up covid-19 \u2014 and sent it careening outward\nCovid-19 reveals how China\u2019s internal politics now affect the whole world\nChina\u2019s early warning system didn\u2019t work on covid-19. Here\u2019s the story.\nWhy China\u2019s politics makes it easier \u2014 and harder \u2014 to control disease outbreaks"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "XYRKASSHX4I6VENLZZBZVJOHYE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XYRKASSHX4I6VENLZZBZVJOHYE_2", "title": "\u2018We\u2019re like refugees\u2019: Americans departing virus-hit Wuhan criticize U.S. government response", "text": "say that the pneumonia-like virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets or fecal matter. There is also concern it may live on surfaces for some time, enabling transmission through contact. The U.S government closed its consulate in Wuhan and evacuated its staff and their dependents last month, but it has been difficult for the other Americans in the city to get out. Those difficulties have been compounded, some Americans in the city say, by a feeling that their government has deserted them. \u201cWe\u2019re like refugees here,\u201d said one woman from New Jersey who was visiting family in Wuhan for the Lunar New Year holiday when she got trapped in the city. She spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her family members there from Chinese government retribution. \u201cIt\u2019s been so frustrating, mainly because of the lack of information,\u201d she said. Others at the airport, while grateful to be getting out, expressed similar sentiments. \u201cI\u2019ve been sitting here with people and trying to encourage them, keep everybody\u2019s spirits as up, but it\u2019s hard,\u201d said John McGrory, a writer from Columbus, Ohio, who has been living in Wuhan for six years. \u201cThe other day it hit me, you know, it hit me hard. I don\u2019t think we really understand the toll that it takes on you.\u201d Acknowledging that the U.S. Embassy in China is under pressure, McGrory echoed concerns that the evacuation of the consulate had made it more difficult for the Americans in the city. \u201cI was a little taken aback by that. I was like, \u2018Okay, you guys leave. What about the 1,000 Americans here? Who\u2019s looking out for our best interests?\u2019 \u201d he said. Furthermore, they described scenes of chaos at the airport, with no officials there to help them and not even a sign indicating where to gather. This was in contrast to the Russian evacuation, where consular officials had set up an information desk with a Russian flag and had provided buses to bring Russian citizens through the checkpoints into the airport. Americans described hours-long delays at the checkpoints to get through Chinese security. Some had been in the airport since 4 a.m. local time on Monday, waiting for information about their flight. They were still there more than 48 hours later, and photos supplied by people at the airport showed vending machines empty except for a couple of juice boxes. Scott Walker, a spokesman for the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "FUZHOU, China \u2014\nSome 530 Americans stuck in the Wuhan area were aboard two evacuation flights en route from China to the United States on Wednesday, after extended delays that appear to be linked to the political frictions between Beijing and Washington.\nThe two planes from Kalitta Air, an American cargo carrier, arrived at Wuhan airport late Tuesday. Photos from the airport at 7 a.m. local time Wednesday showed medical staff in protective equipment carrying out health checks on passengers in masks.\nSome had been in the airport for 48 hours waiting for information, with speculation that flight authorizations had been delayed by Chinese authorities.\n\u201cTwo planes have departed Wuhan en route to the United States,\u201d a State Department spokesperson said.\nFor many of the hundreds of Americans at the airport, the evacuation had been a frustrating experience, compounded by the fact that the U.S. government had evacuated its consulate in Wuhan immediately after the city at the center of the deadly coronavirus outbreak went into lockdown.\n\u201cI think what the U.S. government failed to anticipate is the fact that their consular officers here probably have made a lot of local connections and wish it would have made it easier to coordinate everything,\u201d said Chunlin Leonhard, a law professor at Loyola University who had been in China on a fellowship and had gone to visit relatives 250 miles outside Wuhan when the lockdown began.\n\u201cBecause of their departure, everything is left to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, which is pretty far away and where they really don\u2019t know the local conditions that well. I think that\u2019s part of the reason why things have been so chaotic,\u201d Leonhard said, estimating that she had 10 phone calls asking for the same information.\n\u201cI know they\u2019re shorthanded and they are trying to get everything done,\u201d she said. \u201cBut that they evacuated the Wuhan consulate, which really should have been at the forefront of helping the American citizens who are stuck here in Hubei.\u201d\nAbout 1,000 Americans were in Wuhan and the surrounding area when the city went into lockdown on Jan. 23, part of a Chinese government effort to contain the spread of a new coronavirus that began in the city.\nThe virus has since radiated out from Wuhan, infecting almost 25,000 people in China and killing more than 490. The majority of those have been in Wuhan or surrounding Hubei province.\nDoctors say that the pneumonia-like virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets or fecal matter. There is also concern it may live on surfaces for some time, enabling transmission through contact.\nThe U.S government closed its consulate in Wuhan and evacuated its staff and their dependents last month, but it has been difficult for the other Americans in the city to get out.\nThose difficulties have been compounded, some Americans in the city say, by a feeling that their government has deserted them.\n\u201cWe\u2019re like refugees here,\u201d said one woman from New Jersey who was visiting family in Wuhan for the Lunar New Year holiday when she got trapped in the city. She spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her family members there from Chinese government retribution. \u201cIt\u2019s been so frustrating, mainly because of the lack of information,\u201d she said.\nOthers at the airport, while grateful to be getting out, expressed similar sentiments.\n\u201cI\u2019ve been sitting here with people and trying to encourage them, keep everybody\u2019s spirits as up, but it\u2019s hard,\u201d said John McGrory, a writer from Columbus, Ohio, who has been living in Wuhan for six years. \u201cThe other day it hit me, you know, it hit me hard. I don\u2019t think we really understand the toll that it takes on you.\u201d\nAcknowledging that the U.S. Embassy in China is under pressure, McGrory echoed concerns that the evacuation of the consulate had made it more difficult for the Americans in the city.\n\u201cI was a little taken aback by that. I was like, \u2018Okay, you guys leave. What about the 1,000 Americans here? Who\u2019s looking out for our best interests?\u2019 \u201d he said.\nFurthermore, they described scenes of chaos at the airport, with no officials there to help them and not even a sign indicating where to gather. This was in contrast to the Russian evacuation, where consular officials had set up an information desk with a Russian flag and had provided buses to bring Russian citizens through the checkpoints into the airport.\nAmericans described hours-long delays at the checkpoints to get through Chinese security.\nSome had been in the airport since 4 a.m. local time on Monday, waiting for information about their flight. They were still there more than 48 hours later, and photos supplied by people at the airport showed vending machines empty except for a couple of juice boxes.\nScott Walker, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, said \u201cthe U.S. government is coordinating closely with the PRC government to deliver humanitarian assistance and to evacuate additional U.S. citizens from Wuhan,\u201d using the abbreviation for the People\u2019s Republic of China.\nOn Monday, on a trip to Uzbekistan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that officials were \u201cworking through the details\u201d of the evacuation. \u201cWe\u2019re working closely and hand-in-hand with the Chinese government to try and resolve what is now this global epidemiological challenge,\u201d he said.\nBut the Chinese government, like some of the Americans in the airport, is not impressed with the U.S. government\u2019s decision to pull out staff from Wuhan, calling Washington\u2019s response an \u201coverreaction\u201d that had unnecessarily alarmed people.\n\u201cThe U.S. government hasn\u2019t provided any substantive assistance to us, but it was the first to evacuate personnel from its consulate in Wuhan, the first to suggest partial withdrawal of its embassy staff, and the first to impose a travel ban on Chinese travelers,\u201d Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Monday.\n\u201cWhat it has done could only create and spread fear, which is a very bad example,\u201d she said, citing figures of how many people died in the U.S. each year from influenza, a number that is exponentially higher than the number of coronavirus deaths.\nanna.fifield@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "ZJP52FTBOEI6VLGKQDBCXPXJN4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ZJP52FTBOEI6VLGKQDBCXPXJN4_0", "title": "Governments step up coronavirus response as U.S. cases top 500", "text": "Governments intensified their efforts Sunday to combat the global spread of the novel coronavirus, as Saudi Arabia followed Italy in enacting new travel restrictions, Iran suspended flights to Europe, and the United States, where the number of cases topped 500, warned citizens against cruise travel. Uncertainty continued to permeate the response effort, however, amid muddled directives from the Trump administration and reports of some patients unable to access testing. A virus-stricken cruise ship made its way to California to dock \u2014 only for Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson to decline to discuss the details of the federal response plan during a national television interview. The Department of Health and Human Services said later Sunday that the Grand Princess cruise ship\u2019s more than 3,500 passengers, at least 21 of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus, will be quarantined in California, Texas and Georgia. Some White House officials privately believe the number of U.S. cases will double \u2014 or more \u2014 in the next 48 hours. At least 21 people have died. Officials in Washington said Sunday the city\u2019s first confirmed case is the Rev. Timothy Cole, rector of Christ Church Georgetown. Cole has been hospitalized since Thursday and is in stable condition, officials said. A church spokesman said Cole was present for three services last Sunday attended by 550 people. Virginia announced a second case on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the Washington area to nine. As the number of cases rises nationwide, public health officials are getting a better sense of the scale of the crisis, Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Sunday. The outlook, he said, is worrisome. \u201cUnfortunately, that better sense is not encouraging, because we\u2019re seeing community spread,\u201d Fauci said in an interview on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press.\u201d He echoed the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for older people and those with underlying health conditions to refrain from traveling by cruise ship or air. \u201cIf you\u2019re a person with an underlying condition . . . particularly an elderly person with an underlying condition, you need to think twice about getting on a plane, on a long trip \u2014 and not only think twice, just don\u2019t get on a cruise ship,\u201d he said. The State Department on Sunday afternoon went one step further than Fauci, issuing a statement recommending that"}], "old": [{"_id": "ZJP52FTBOEI6VLGKQDBCXPXJN4_0", "title": "Governments step up coronavirus response as U.S. cases top 500", "text": "felicia.sonmez@washpost.com juliet.eilperin@washpost.com kim.bellware@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Governments intensified their efforts Sunday to combat the global spread of the novel coronavirus, as Saudi Arabia followed Italy in enacting new travel restrictions, Iran suspended flights to Europe, and the United States, where the number of cases topped 500, warned citizens against cruise travel.\nUncertainty continued to permeate the response effort, however, amid muddled directives from the Trump administration and reports of some patients unable to access testing. A virus-stricken cruise ship made its way to California to dock \u2014 only for Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson to decline to discuss the details of the federal response plan during a national television interview.\nThe  Department of Health and Human Services said later Sunday that the Grand Princess cruise ship\u2019s more than 3,500 passengers, at least 21 of whom have tested positive for the coronavirus, will be quarantined in California, Texas and Georgia.\nSome White House officials privately believe the number of U.S. cases will double \u2014 or more \u2014 in the next 48 hours. At least 21 people have died.\nOfficials in Washington said Sunday the city\u2019s first confirmed case is the Rev. Timothy Cole, rector of Christ Church Georgetown. Cole has been hospitalized since Thursday and is in stable condition, officials said. A church spokesman said Cole was present for three services last Sunday attended by 550 people.\nVirginia announced a second case on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the Washington area to nine.\nAs the number of cases rises nationwide, public health officials are getting a better sense of the scale of the crisis, Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Sunday. The outlook, he said, is worrisome.\n\u201cUnfortunately, that better sense is not encouraging, because we\u2019re seeing community spread,\u201d Fauci said in an interview on NBC\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press.\u201d\nHe echoed the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for older people and those with underlying health conditions to refrain from traveling by cruise ship or air.\n\u201cIf you\u2019re a person with an underlying condition .\u2009.\u2009. particularly an elderly person with an underlying condition, you need to think twice about getting on a plane, on a long trip \u2014 and not only think twice, just don\u2019t get on a cruise ship,\u201d he said.\nThe State Department on Sunday afternoon went one step further than Fauci, issuing a statement recommending that all U.S. citizens avoid taking cruises. The agency noted that other countries with strict screening procedures have stopped passengers on cruise ships from disembarking or subjected them to lengthy quarantine periods.\nOver the weekend, some countries took increasingly drastic measures in an effort to contain the virus.\nIn Iran, the epicenter of a wider outbreak of the coronavirus across the Middle East, 49 new deaths and more than 700 new cases were reported Sunday, as authorities urged citizens to stay home and avoid travel between cities.\nThe country\u2019s flagship carrier IranAir suspended flights to Europe because of \u201crestrictions\u201d placed on the airline, state media reported, citing Iran\u2019s Civil Aviation Organization.\nSaudi Arabia suspended travel to and from a key eastern province and ordered businesses and government offices there closed after confirming four new cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 11. Authorities temporarily restricted traffic in and out of Qatif province, state media reported, quoting an official at the Interior Ministry.\nAnd in Italy, authorities have launched a plan to lock down large swaths of the country\u2019s hard-hit north, where virologists said they have traced the epidemic to an outbreak at a car parts manufacturer in Germany. Experts believe an infected employee from Shanghai visited the manufacturer and then a person infected with the virus probably traveled from Germany to the region of Italy hit hardest by the virus in late January.\nEgypt, meanwhile, had its first death related to the virus on Sunday. A 60-year-old German tourist died in a Red Sea hospital after being infected, the country\u2019s health ministry said in a statement.\nHis death came a day after Health Ministry officials announced dozens of new cases of the virus on a Nile cruise ship, although it was not immediately known whether the German tourist was a passenger on the ship.\nSome reports have also emerged of Americans being unable to access coronavirus testing because of decisions made at the local level.\nIn a Facebook post shared widely on Saturday, Maggie McDow, 46, a D.C. resident, said that to her alarm, the D.C. Department of Health overruled an emergency room doctor treating her Friday at George Washington University Hospital, preventing her from being tested for the virus.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really worrisome to me when a doctor feels you should have a test and someone\u2019s overruling them,\u201d McDow said in a phone interview Saturday while self-quarantined with achiness and chills. \u201cTo me that\u2019s just wrong.\u201d\nMcDow had traveled to Thailand and through the airport in Seoul on a recent trip. A top Health Department official said McDow did not qualify for a test because airport exposure, even in a country like Korea with community spread of the disease, does not warrant testing.\nThe response to the crisis at the federal level has also prompted criticism, with some arguing that Trump administration officials \u2014 including the president himself \u2014 have delivered mixed messages.\nIn an appearance Sunday on ABC News\u2019s \u201cThis Week,\u201d Carson declined to discuss the details of the federal plan for quarantining the passengers of the Grand Princess cruise ship. Carson would say only that Vice President  Pence and CEOs of major cruise lines met Saturday and would come up with a plan \u201cwithin 72 hours of that meeting.\u201d\nLater Sunday, HHS identified the four federal facilities to which the passengers will be transferred \u2014 an announcement that prompted concern from some officials in San Antonio, which has hosted more than 100 evacuees since February and is expected to receive even more.\nIn his \u201cThis Week\u201d appearance, Carson also advised Americans to \u201cgo about your normal daily activities if you are healthy,\u201d and \u201cif you are not healthy, think very seriously about attending places where there are crowds.\u201d\nSome experts have advised that limiting exposure to crowds is a smart step for all Americans, not just unhealthy ones, to take, and several  organizations have reassessed their plans for conferences and large-scale events in recent weeks. The AFL-CIO, the largest group of labor unions in the country, announced Sunday that it is canceling its presidential forum, which had been scheduled for later this week in Orlando.\nJosh Michaud, associate director for global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said in a phone interview Sunday that studies of previous large flu outbreaks suggest that major \u201csocial distancing\u201d measures can limit the spread of infectious disease. These steps include closing schools for an extended period, canceling large gatherings such as conferences and having people work from home.\n\u201cThose kinds of social distancing measures, if taken early and of sufficient duration, were very effective in reducing the transmission of and mortality from influenza, and eased the burden on the health system,\u201d Michaud said.\nBut he added that the fact that there\u2019s been a delay in testing is \u201cholding up the decision-making process\u201d on whether to impose such precautions.\nThe  campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former vice president Joe Biden and President Trump have all said they will move ahead with plans to hold public events despite mounting concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Sanders also plans to hold a roundtable Monday with public health experts in Detroit to discuss the virus and how the country should address it.\nMichaud noted that the candidates might soon find themselves facing obstacles, however, if local officials decide to limit crowds from gathering in possible coronavirus hotspots.\n\u201cCampaigns should be considering alternatives for massive campaign rallies, because they might be a victim of these measures,\u201d he said.\nfelicia.sonmez@washpost.com\njuliet.eilperin@washpost.com\nkim.bellware@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 965, "pid": "ZJQDHLJSEFF2XP3M3N23GZ4FOM_1", "query_info": {"_id": 965, "text": "How has foreign travel been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?", "instruction_og": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant.", "instruction_changed": "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign travel is being severely restricted in an attempt to prevent further spread of the disease.  Travel bans are in place for Americans traveling to certain foreign countries, as well as for foreigners who want to travel to the U.S.  According to research, over 93% of the world's population live in countries with sudden new border restrictions.  It is estimated that at least 140 countries have closed their borders to some or all foreign travelers.  Information about current rules and regulations, as well as indications as to what factors influence those decisions, are relevant but anything about air travel is not.", "short_query": "Find current travel restriction information relevant to this question.", "keywords": "travel restriction current"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ZJQDHLJSEFF2XP3M3N23GZ4FOM_1", "title": "State Dept. lifts \u2018do not travel\u2019 advisory for Mexico as border closure is due to expire", "text": "4 (do not travel) nationwide. Some less-visited regions of Mexico remain classified Level 4 for \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d The popular resort areas of Cabo San Lucas, Canc\u00fan and Cozumel have been allowing U.S. travelers who fly into the country to visit without required quarantines or coronavirus tests. Instead, Mexican airports have been carrying out health-screening procedures such as temperature checks, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. \u201cThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Mexico due to COVID-19,\u201d the advisory states. \u201cMexico has lifted stay at home orders in some areas and resumed some transportation and business operations. Visit the Embassy\u2019s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Mexico.\u201d Mexico has seen a total of 668,000 coronavirus cases and more than 70,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with daily new cases peaking in August before lowering and holding steady in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 per day since then. The United States has reported more than 6 million total coronavirus cases and 190,000 deaths, with the peak in daily new cases hitting mid-July, at more than 75,000. The change comes soon after some major tourist sites in Mexico reopened, including Teotihuac\u00e1n, a UNESCO World Heritage Site outside of Mexico City. The only area in Mexico that has a higher covid-19 rate than Mexico City is the tourist-frequented state of Baja California Sur, which includes Los Cabos. Subregions that have earned the World Travel and Tourism Council\u2019s \u201cSafe Travels stamp,\u201d which certifies a locale follows health protocols established by the WTTC, include Los Cabos, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, Yucat\u00e1n, Jalisco and the islands of Cozumel. \u201cCDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Mexico. Travelers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel, to Mexico,\u201d according to the CDC website. \u201cLocal policies at your destination may require you to be tested for COVID-19 before you are allowed to enter the country. If you test positive on arrival, you may be required to isolate for a period of time. You may even be prevented from returning to the United States, as scheduled.\u201d Read more: Where can Americans travel to in the Caribbean? What to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel Miami airport officials seize $490,000 stuffed into an accent chair passing through customs"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The U.S. State Department has lowered its travel advisory for Mexico to a Level 3 from its highest possible Level 4, days before the U.S.-Mexico border closure is due to expire on Sept. 21.\nThe modified travel advisory says U.S. travelers should \u201creconsider travel to Mexico due to covid-19\u201d as well as \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d A border closure restricting nonessential travel has been in place between the United States and Mexico since March 21 in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.\nThe border closure terms only apply to land and water crossings, as flights between the United States and Mexico have largely continued since the early days of the pandemic. Until last week, the State Department\u2019s Mexico advisory was a Level 4 (do not travel) nationwide. Some less-visited regions of Mexico remain classified Level 4 for \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d\nThe popular resort areas of Cabo San Lucas, Canc\u00fan and Cozumel have been allowing U.S. travelers who fly into the country to visit without required quarantines or coronavirus tests. Instead, Mexican airports have been carrying out health-screening procedures such as temperature checks, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.\n\u201cThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Mexico due to COVID-19,\u201d the advisory states. \u201cMexico has lifted stay at home orders in some areas and resumed some transportation and business operations. Visit the Embassy\u2019s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Mexico.\u201d\nMexico has seen a total of 668,000 coronavirus cases and more than 70,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with daily new cases peaking in August before lowering and holding steady in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 per day since then. The United States has reported more than 6 million total coronavirus cases and 190,000 deaths, with the peak in daily new cases hitting mid-July, at more than 75,000.\nThe change comes soon after some major tourist sites in Mexico reopened, including Teotihuac\u00e1n, a UNESCO World Heritage Site outside of Mexico City. The only area in Mexico that has a higher covid-19 rate than Mexico City is the tourist-frequented state of Baja California Sur, which includes Los Cabos. Subregions that have earned the World Travel and Tourism Council\u2019s \u201cSafe Travels stamp,\u201d which certifies a locale follows health protocols established by the WTTC, include Los Cabos, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, Yucat\u00e1n, Jalisco and the islands of Cozumel.\n\u201cCDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Mexico. Travelers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel, to Mexico,\u201d according to the CDC website. \u201cLocal policies at your destination may require you to be tested for COVID-19 before you are allowed to enter the country. If you test positive on arrival, you may be required to isolate for a period of time. You may even be prevented from returning to the United States, as scheduled.\u201d\nRead more:\nWhere can Americans travel to in the Caribbean?\nWhat to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel\nMiami airport officials seize $490,000 stuffed into an accent chair passing through customs"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "0995c27053b64a138e2fe697faae327a_3", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "0995c27053b64a138e2fe697faae327a_3", "title": "These visual aids show you exactly what the eclipse will look like in your location", "text": "the upper rim remains exposed. - If you\u2019re south of the path of totality, the moon covers more of the upper portion of the sun. In the western United States, cities south of the path of totality will typically see the upper and left half of the sun obscured. Here\u2019s how the eclipse will unfold in 10 major cities Below are several images and links to live animations that show how the solar eclipse will progress in Washington and nine other cities across the Lower 48 \u2014 including two in the path of totality. If you\u2019re looking for your specific viewing location not listed below, you\u2019ll probably find it find it here. Note from the graphics that \u201cdirection\u201d indicates the compass-based orientation of the sun in the sky during each phase of the eclipse, while \u201caltitude\u201d is the sun\u2019s height above the horizon. All times shown are local. Washington, D.C. <a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/washington-dc\">Click here for a full animation of the eclipse in D.C. (timeanddate.com)</a> In D.C., the partial solar eclipse begins at 1:17 p.m. The moon will approach the right-hand edge of the sun, then pivot around the center of the sun\u2019s disk. The peak of the eclipse arrives at 2:42 p.m., when 81.1 percent of the sun will be obscured. The eclipse ends as the moon leaves the sun\u2019s center-left edge at 4:01 p.m. Seattle <a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/seattle\">Click here to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a> Seattle lies just north of the path of totality, so residents will see a partial solar eclipse. When the eclipse starts at 9:08 a.m., the moon will approach the upper-right-hand edge of the sun. It will then pivot around the center of the sun\u2019s disk, leaving a crescent of the sun exposed. At the peak of the eclipse (10:20 a.m.), 91.8 percent of the sun will be obscured. The eclipse ends when the moon leaves the sun\u2019s lower left edge at 11:38 a.m. Phoenix <a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/phoenix\">Click here to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a> In Phoenix, the partial solar eclipse begins at 9:13 a.m. The moon will sink down across the sun\u2019s upper edge from nearly straight above, then slide down to cover the center-left portion of the solar disk. At 10:33 a.m. the eclipse reaches its peak, with 63.1 percent of the sun obscured. As the eclipse ends at noon, the moon\u2019s shadow will depart the center and lower-left portion of the sun\u2019s edge. If you\u2019re"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "The percent of sun coverage and the path of totality across the United States during the solar eclipse. (NASA)\nThere\u2019s no shortage of great resources to learn about the highly anticipated total solar eclipse happening on Aug. 21 (now just a few days away!).\u00a0We\u2019ve discussed what to expect both\u00a0here in Washington\u00a0and\u00a0other parts of the country.\nIf you\u2019re just starting to tune in, or are still looking for a\u00a0visual guide to the eclipse at your viewing location, a couple of sites stand above the pack.\nOne is this 3-D eclipse Web application,\u00a0developed by\u00a0NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It allows you to\u00a0run simulations of the eclipse by clicking any location on Earth. A nice feature about NASA\u2019s app is that it shows the perspective of the eclipse from space. By moving your cursor, you can track the path of the moon\u2019s shadow (both the darker umbra and lighter penumbra) as it races across North America.\n(NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)\nIf you\u2019re looking for\u00a0something more streamlined with a more Earth-centric view of the sky, timeanddate.com\u00a0is another great resource.\nCapital Weather Gang\u2019s Angela Fritz explains what could happen to your eyes if you were to watch the Aug. 21 eclipse without special sunglasses and how to spot the ones that work.\nThe Norway-based company is a repository of information on various timekeeping- and astronomy-related topics, including Monday\u2019s solar eclipse. Live animations give a minute-by-minute play\u00a0of how the eclipse will unfold in hundreds of cities and towns across the country. Just enter your location in the search box, and you can watch how the moon\u2019s shadow will track across the sun, as well as start and end times of each phase of the eclipse.\nHow and why the moon\u2019s path across the sun varies\nIf you\u2019re an astronomy geek like myself, you\u2019ve probably noticed that the track of the moon\u2019s shadow across the face of the sun differs\u00a0depending on your location. For example, in Salem, Ore., and Charleston, S.C. \u2014 two cities in the path of totality \u2014 the moon will approach and move away from the sun at different\u00a0angles when the eclipse\u00a0starts and ends.\n\n\nMoon position with respect to the sun 30 minutes after the solar eclipse begins in Salem, Ore. and Charleston, S.C. (timeanddate.com; used with permission)\nEclipse watchers in Salem\u00a0will see the moon take a nearly straight-line path across the sun in an up-down, northeast-southwest trajectory. In Charleston, however, the moon will approach the sun from the upper to center-right\u00a0and swing down across the solar disk in a U-shaped path.\nWhat causes the shape and angle of the moon\u2019s\u00a0trajectory across the sun to differ by location? It\u2019s not the easiest thing to visualize, but it\u2019s mainly influenced by your\u00a0latitude (how far north or south you are from the path of the moon\u2019s shadow), as well as\u00a0the sun\u2019s height and position in the sky with respect to Earth\u2019s horizon when the eclipse begins.\nIf you\u2019re not lucky enough to watch\u00a0the eclipse from within the 70-mile path of totality, the\u00a0orientation of the moon\u2019s maximum sun coverage also depends\u00a0on your latitude and where the sun appears in the sky with respect to Earth\u2019s horizon throughout the eclipse.\nGenerally speaking, here\u2019s what to expect:\n- The greater your distance from the path of totality, the less the sun will be covered \u2014 and the shorter the duration of the partial eclipse from start to finish.\n- If you\u2019re north of the path of totality, the moon covers the lower portion of the sun\u2019s disk, while the upper rim remains exposed.\n- If you\u2019re south of the path of totality, the moon covers more of the upper portion of the sun. In the western United States, cities south of the path of totality will typically see the upper and left half of the sun obscured.\nHere\u2019s\u00a0how the eclipse will unfold in 10\u00a0major\u00a0cities\nBelow are several images and links to live animations that show how the\u00a0solar eclipse will progress in Washington and nine\u00a0other cities across the Lower 48\u00a0\u2014 including two\u00a0in the path of totality.\nIf you\u2019re looking for your specific viewing\u00a0location not listed below, you\u2019ll probably find it\u00a0find it here. Note from\u00a0the graphics that \u201cdirection\u201d indicates the compass-based orientation of the sun in the sky during each phase of the eclipse, while \u201caltitude\u201d is the sun\u2019s height\u00a0above\u00a0the horizon. All times shown\u00a0are local.\nWashington, D.C.\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/washington-dc\">Click here for a full animation of the eclipse in D.C. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nIn D.C., the partial solar eclipse begins at\u00a01:17 p.m. The moon will approach the right-hand edge of the sun, then\u00a0pivot around the center of the sun\u2019s disk. The peak of the eclipse arrives at 2:42 p.m., when 81.1 percent\u00a0of the sun will be obscured. The eclipse ends as the moon leaves the sun\u2019s center-left edge at 4:01 p.m.\nSeattle\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/seattle\">Click here\u00a0to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nSeattle lies just north of the path of totality, so residents will see a partial solar eclipse. When the eclipse starts at 9:08 a.m., the moon will approach the upper-right-hand edge of the sun. It will then\u00a0pivot around the center of the sun\u2019s disk, leaving a crescent of the sun exposed. At the peak of the eclipse (10:20 a.m.),\u00a091.8 percent\u00a0of the sun will be obscured. The eclipse ends when the moon leaves the sun\u2019s lower left edge at 11:38 a.m.\nPhoenix\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/phoenix\">Click here\u00a0to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nIn Phoenix, the partial solar eclipse begins at 9:13 a.m. The moon will sink down across the sun\u2019s upper edge from nearly straight above, then slide down to cover the center-left portion of the solar disk. At 10:33 a.m. the eclipse reaches its peak, with\u00a063.1 percent of the sun obscured. As the eclipse ends at noon, the moon\u2019s shadow will depart the center and lower-left portion of the sun\u2019s edge.\nIf you\u2019re looking for Los Angeles on this list, note that the eclipse in Phoenix will closely resemble\u00a0how it appears\u00a0in Los Angeles. The main difference is that in Los Angeles, the sun will be about 1 percent less obscured. In L.A., the eclipse starts eight minutes earlier and the maximum eclipse occurs at 10:21 a.m.\nSt. Louis\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/st-louis\">Click here to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nSt. Louis is tricky. I\u2019ve included it because many people assume\u00a0the city\u00a0will see a total solar eclipse, when in fact,\u00a0the difference between seeing a partial vs. total eclipse will be a matter of mere miles from the city center. Maps from NASA\u00a0show the path of totality will pass just south of the Gateway City. Note how the\u00a0graphic\u00a0for St. Louis doesn\u2019t mention\u00a0the \u201cfull eclipse\u201d phase, as shown with Nashville and Charleston\u00a0further down this list.\nSt. Louis residents\u00a0debating whether it\u2019s worth driving\u00a0a few extra miles to see\u00a0100 percent coverage vs. only 99 percent,\u00a0consider this: Even though 99 percent sounds impressive, that 1 percent difference in coverage will have an enormous difference on how dark the sky gets. At 99 percent obscuration, the sun\u00a0will still be\u00a010,000 times brighter\u00a0than it would be in the path of totality where the sun is 100 percent obscured.\nChicago\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/chicago\">Click here\u00a0to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nChicago will see a partial solar eclipse, beginning at\u00a011:54 a.m. The moon will approach the upper-right-hand edge of the sun, then slowly rotate\u00a0around the center of the sun\u2019s disk. The peak of the eclipse arrives at 1:19 p.m., when\u00a086.8\u00a0percent\u00a0of the sun will be obscured \u2014 the upper rim of the sun\u2019s disk remaining\u00a0visible. The eclipse ends as the moon leaves the sun\u2019s center-left edge at 2:42 p.m.\nNashville\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/nashville\">Click here\u00a0to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nNashville will have the privilege of witnessing\u00a0a total solar eclipse. The partial eclipse begins at 11:58 a.m., as the moon starts to drift over the upper-right portion of the sun\u2019s disk. Totality begins at 1:27 p.m. and will last one minute and 59 seconds. At that time, viewers will be able to see the sun\u2019s corona, or outer atmosphere. As the eclipse progresses, the sun will gradually reappear from right to left. It\u00a0ends when the moon\u2019s shadow exits the center and upper-right portion of the sun\u2019s disk at 2:54 p.m.\nAtlanta\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/atlanta\">Click here to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nAtlanta lies about 60 miles south of the path of totality, so residents there won\u2019t see a total solar eclipse. The eclipse begins\u00a0at 1:05 p.m., and throughout the event the moon will take a U-shaped path across the sun\u2019s disk, similar to Nashville and Charleston. But\u00a0because Atlanta lies outside the path of totality, a\u00a0small crescent of the sun\u2019s lower disk will remain visible when the eclipse peaks at 2:36 p.m. The maximum sun coverage will be 97.1 percent, which will be a sight to behold, but\u00a0not quite the full experience. As the eclipse ends at 4:01 p.m., the moon will be seen leaving the upper-left edge of the sun.\nCharleston,\u00a0S.C.\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/charleston-sc\">Click here\u00a0to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nAssuming the\u00a0weather cooperates, Charleston will be the only city to witness a total solar eclipse on the East Coast. When the eclipse begins at 1:16 p.m., the moon will drift over the upper-right portion of the sun\u2019s disk. Totality begins at 2:47 p.m. and will last one minute and 38 seconds. As the eclipse continues, the sun will reappear from right to left. The eclipse ends when the moon departs the center/upper-left portion of the sun\u2019s disk at 4:09 p.m.\nNew York City\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/new-york\">Click here\u00a0to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nIn New York, the partial solar eclipse begins at\u00a01:23 p.m. The moon will approach the right-hand edge of the sun, and then\u00a0pivot around the center of the sun\u2019s disk. The peak of the eclipse arrives at 2:44 p.m., when 71.4\u00a0percent\u00a0of the sun will be obscured.\u00a0The eclipse ends as the moon leaves the sun\u2019s left edge at 4 p.m.\nMiami\n<a href=\"https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/miami\">Click here\u00a0to watch the full animation. (timeanddate.com)</a>\nIn Miami, the moon\u2019s shadow will begin to cross the upper-right portion of the sun at 1:26 p.m. The moon will approach the upper-right edge of the sun, then\u00a0pivot around the center of the sun\u2019s disk. At the peak of the eclipse (2:58 p.m.), 78.3\u00a0percent of the sun will be obscured.\u00a0The eclipse ends as the moon leaves the sun\u2019s upper-left edge at 4:20 p.m.\nDon\u2019t see your city listed? Search more locations\u00a0here.\n__\nLink:"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "0d347c598b358c5cea266ea4c84ce5e0_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "0d347c598b358c5cea266ea4c84ce5e0_0", "title": "September begins with a \u2018ring of fire\u2019 solar eclipse over Africa", "text": "(NASA) Nature provides a cosmic gift to open September: A heavenly ring of fire around the moon. The last time an annular eclipse occurred was on April 29, 2014. An annular eclipse is very similar to a total eclipse. The moon glides between the Earth and the sun, but the moon is slightly farther out now, so it does not fully block the sun. Because of this, a ring of fire is created around the moon as it passes in front of the sun. Observers in the central region of Africa can see it in person, but the rest of us will have to watch online. In the United States, you can watch two ways \u2014 Slooh.com and the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube channel. Get a nap and set the alarm \u2014 it\u2019s very early. Slooh.com is a webcasting site specializing in astronomical events. Its broadcast starts at 2:45 a.m. Thursday, Eastern. Astronomer Paul Cox provides the cosmic play-by-play, as other astronomers Bob Berman and Eric Edelman add color. Joining the broadcast will be Fr. James Kurzynski of the Vatican Observatory, Shaykh Abdulbary Yahya of the Al Maghrib Institute, and psychologist Kate Russo \u2014 all of whom will provide a human outlook on the eclipse experience. Meanwhile, the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube stream begins at 3 a.m., where the group will have properly filtered cameras providing visual feeds during the mostly partial phases. Each eclipse belongs to a series \u2014 called a saros \u2014 and this is number 39 out of 71 eclipses in Saros 135. Each eclipse within a saros is separated by 18 years. The first eclipse in the Saros 135 family happened on July 5, 1331, and the last one will be Aug. 17, 2593. This family\u2019s previous eclipse was an annular event on Aug. 22, 1998, and the next one will be annular on Sept. 12, 2034. On Thursday, the eclipse centerline path includes Gabon, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar, while a partial solar eclipse can be seen through most of Africa and the southern part of Saudi Arabia, according to Espenak. For sky gazers in southern Tanzania, the greatest eclipse starts at 09:07 Universal (5:07 a.m. Eastern) when it peaks at 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and the shadowy path is 62 miles wide, says Espenak. If you\u2019re reading this from Africa, always protect your eyes during any type of solar eclipse. In"}], "old": [{"_id": "0d347c598b358c5cea266ea4c84ce5e0_0", "title": "September begins with a \u2018ring of fire\u2019 solar eclipse over Africa", "text": "(NASA) Nature provides a cosmic gift to open September: A heavenly ring of fire around the moon. The last time an annular eclipse occurred was on April 29, 2014. An annular eclipse is very similar to a total eclipse. The moon glides between the Earth and the sun, but the moon is slightly farther out now, so it does not fully block the sun. Because of this, a ring of fire is created around the moon as it passes in front of the sun. Slooh.com is a webcasting site specializing in astronomical events. Its broadcast starts at 2:45 a.m. Thursday, Eastern. Astronomer Paul Cox provides the cosmic play-by-play, as other astronomers Bob Berman and Eric Edelman add color. Joining the broadcast will be Fr. James Kurzynski of the Vatican Observatory, Shaykh Abdulbary Yahya of the Al Maghrib Institute, and psychologist Kate Russo \u2014 all of whom will provide a human outlook on the eclipse experience. Meanwhile, the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube stream begins at 3 a.m., where the group will have properly filtered cameras providing visual feeds during the mostly partial phases. Each eclipse belongs to a series \u2014 called a saros \u2014 and this is number 39 out of 71 eclipses in Saros 135. Each eclipse within a saros is separated by 18 years. The first eclipse in the Saros 135 family happened on July 5, 1331, and the last one will be Aug. 17, 2593. This family\u2019s previous eclipse was an annular event on Aug. 22, 1998, and the next one will be annular on Sept. 12, 2034. On Thursday, the eclipse centerline path includes Gabon, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar, while a partial solar eclipse can be seen through most of Africa and the southern part of Saudi Arabia, according to Espenak. For sky gazers in southern Tanzania, the greatest eclipse starts at 09:07 Universal (5:07 a.m. Eastern) when it peaks at 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and the shadowy path is 62 miles wide, says Espenak. If you\u2019re reading this from Africa, always protect your eyes during any type of solar eclipse. In mid-September, Earth\u2019s sky gazers can enjoy a Harvest Moon penumbral lunar eclipse (the moon gets slightly darker) on Sept. 16. For those of us in North America, we won\u2019t be able to see the eclipse live \u2014 although we can enjoy the romantic, full Harvest Moon. Slooh.com will carry that cosmic action"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "(NASA)\nNature provides a cosmic gift to open September: A heavenly ring of fire around the moon. The last time an annular eclipse occurred was on April 29, 2014.\nAn annular eclipse is very similar to a total eclipse. The moon glides between the Earth and the sun, but the moon is slightly farther out now,\u00a0so it does not fully block the sun.\u00a0Because of this, a ring of fire is created around the moon as it passes in front of the sun.\nObservers in the central region of Africa can see it in person, but the rest of us will have to watch online.\u00a0In the United States, you can watch two ways \u2014\u00a0Slooh.com and the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube channel. Get a nap and set the alarm \u2014\u00a0it\u2019s very early.\nSlooh.com is a webcasting site specializing in astronomical events. Its broadcast starts at 2:45 a.m. Thursday, Eastern. Astronomer Paul Cox provides the cosmic play-by-play, as other astronomers Bob Berman and Eric Edelman add color. Joining the broadcast will be Fr. James Kurzynski of the Vatican Observatory, Shaykh Abdulbary Yahya of the Al Maghrib Institute, and psychologist Kate Russo \u2014 all of whom will provide a human outlook on the eclipse experience.\nMeanwhile, the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube stream begins at 3 a.m., where the group will have properly filtered cameras providing visual feeds during the mostly partial phases.\nEach eclipse belongs to a series \u2014\u00a0called a saros \u2014 and this is number 39 out of 71 eclipses in Saros 135. Each eclipse within a saros is separated by 18 years. The first eclipse in the Saros 135 family happened on July 5, 1331, and the last one will be Aug. 17, 2593.\nThis family\u2019s previous eclipse was an annular event on Aug. 22, 1998, and the next one will be annular\u00a0on Sept. 12, 2034.\nOn Thursday, the eclipse centerline path includes Gabon, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar, while a partial solar eclipse can be seen through most of Africa and the southern part of Saudi Arabia, according to Espenak.\nFor sky gazers in southern Tanzania, the greatest eclipse starts at 09:07 Universal (5:07 a.m. Eastern) when it peaks at 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and the shadowy path is 62 miles wide, says Espenak.\nIf you\u2019re reading this from Africa, always protect your eyes during any type of solar eclipse.\nIn mid-September, Earth\u2019s sky gazers can enjoy a Harvest Moon penumbral lunar eclipse (the moon gets slightly darker) on Sept. 16. For those of us in North America, we won\u2019t be able to see the eclipse live \u2014\u00a0although we can enjoy the romantic, full Harvest Moon.\u00a0Slooh.com will carry that cosmic action starting at 3 p.m. Eastern."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "0fd88533a654f4b35195ccf9ba9bd950_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "0fd88533a654f4b35195ccf9ba9bd950_1", "title": "Solar eclipse play-by-play: Exactly what you\u2019ll see on the big day in the path of totality", "text": "edge of the sun. As the moon rapaciously eats away at the solar disk, the bite will grow, taking just over an hour to reach its maximum extent in any given location. One hour before Assuming you\u2019re in the path of totality, you\u2019ll be going all the way. However, even through about 70 or 80 percent, you won\u2019t notice any sharp drop-off in ambient light. In fact, the only real way you\u2019ll notice something is up is to look through a solar filter or eclipse glasses. 30 minutes Shortly thereafter, a gradual decrease in light will occur until totality. As the unhidden portion of the sun shrinks to a fingernail-like crescent, look in the shade of trees, where images of the sun will be projected onto the ground through the tiny slits between leaves. This effect is the same as you would see in a camera obscura. 5 minutes About five minutes before the eclipse, twilight will begin to form over the western horizon, like a curtain of dusk. As it slowly envelops more land, twilight will begin to fall. 30 seconds You\u2019ll be able to see the entire shadow of the moon cast on the atmosphere. That\u2019s when you\u2019ll understand the true difference between a 99 percent eclipse and a total solar eclipse. If you find yourself in a region treated to a mere 99 percent eclipse, you\u2019ll get to see exactly 99 percent of the sun covered. It sounds pretty neat, but it would be like driving 99 percent of the way to your favorite restaurant \u2014 sure, you can see it, but you\u2019re not going to experience it. The difference is literally night and day. It will get 10,000 times darker as the moon covers that last 1 percent of the sun. With a total eclipse, you have to go big or go home. Capital Weather Gang's Angela Fritz breaks down what will happen when a total solar eclipse crosses the U.S. on Aug. 21. If you\u2019re shooting for the full splendor of totality, the final 30 seconds before the crucial moment will be filled with several beautiful phases as the last rays of light disappear behind the encroaching moon. During this time, several brief monumental sights can be spotted \u2014 but you have to be quick, as they\u2019ll come and go in a flash! 20 seconds First, the oval-shaped shadow will slide eastward, and overspread the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The first coast-to-coast solar eclipse in almost 100 years moved across the U.S. at 2,000 mph on Aug. 21. Here are some highlights.\nIf you\u2019ve made plans to witness the Aug. 21 solar eclipse along the path of totality, congratulations. You are in for a magical, awe-inspiring experience (assuming clouds don\u2019t get in the way).\nThe total solar eclipse itself will be short-lived, but incredibly action-packed. At its longest in parts of southern Illinois and Kentucky, it will last only two minutes and 40 seconds. In other places along the\u00a0path of totality, it will be even more fleeting \u2013 lasting as\u00a0little as a minute or less.\nThe partial eclipse preceding and following the total eclipse, while longer lasting, won\u2019t be nearly as dramatic, but will captivating in its own way,\u00a0representing key features in the science of the spectacle.\n(NASA)\nHere\u2019s a short rundown to help you appreciate what you\u2019re about to see.\n90 minutes before\nThe sun will rise as it always does. Until approximately 90 minutes before totality, nothing will seem out of the ordinary. Shortly after 9:15 a.m.\u00a0Pacific Time, though, those on the West Coast will notice the moon\u00a0slowly expanding into the top-right edge of the sun. As the moon rapaciously eats away at the solar disk, the bite will grow, taking just over an hour to reach its maximum extent in any given location.\nOne hour before\nAssuming you\u2019re in the path of totality, you\u2019ll be going all the way. However, even through about 70\u00a0or 80 percent, you won\u2019t notice any sharp drop-off in ambient light. In fact, the only real way you\u2019ll notice something is up is to look\u00a0through a solar filter or eclipse glasses.\n30 minutes\nShortly thereafter, a gradual decrease in light will occur until totality. As the unhidden portion of the sun shrinks to a fingernail-like crescent, look in the shade of trees, where images of the sun will be projected onto the ground through the tiny slits between leaves. This effect is the same as you\u00a0would see in a camera obscura.\n5 minutes\nAbout five minutes before the eclipse, twilight will begin to form over the western horizon, like a curtain of dusk. As it slowly envelops more land, twilight will begin to fall.\n30 seconds\nYou\u2019ll be able to see the entire shadow of the moon cast on the atmosphere. That\u2019s when you\u2019ll understand the true difference between a 99 percent\u00a0eclipse and a total solar eclipse.\nIf you find yourself in a region treated to a mere 99 percent eclipse, you\u2019ll get to see exactly 99\u00a0percent of the sun covered. It sounds pretty neat, but it would be like driving 99\u00a0percent of the way to your favorite restaurant\u00a0\u2014 sure, you can see it, but you\u2019re not going to experience it.\nThe difference is literally night and day. It will get 10,000 times darker as the moon covers that last 1\u00a0percent of the sun. With a total eclipse, you have to go big or go home.\nCapital Weather Gang's Angela Fritz breaks down what will happen when a total solar eclipse crosses the U.S. on Aug. 21.\nIf you\u2019re shooting for the full splendor of totality, the final 30\u00a0seconds before the crucial moment will be filled with several beautiful phases as the last rays of light disappear behind the encroaching moon. During this time, several brief monumental sights can be spotted\u00a0\u2014 but you have to be quick, as they\u2019ll come and go in a flash!\n20\u00a0seconds\nFirst, the oval-shaped shadow will slide eastward, and overspread the sun. Along either horizon, sunlight will still be seen; since the path of totality is only about 65 miles wide, you may still able to see distant areas basking in full daylight.\nThen, the final few rays of sunlight peaking out behind the bottom-left will slowly converge into one large, concentrated speck, resembling a \u201cdiamond ring\u201d against the otherwise-black silhouette hollowed out by the moon.\nBaily\u2019s beads (fisheye)\n15 seconds\nA\u00a0few seconds later, that spot of sunlight will disintegrate into several minuscule beads streaming down to earth through the peaks and valleys of the moon\u2019s undulating surface. Not only do the patterns of these Baily\u2019s beads reveal information about the moon\u2019s jagged topography, but also the light that makes\u00a0them up becomes collimated. This term is used to describe a beam of light where all the rays are parallel.\nWhen collimated sunlight shines through the chaotic fluid motions of the atmosphere and is subjected to varying air densities, it produces wavelike ripple patterns \u2014 akin to those cast on the bottom of a swimming pool. These \u201cshadow bands\u201d last for about 15 seconds on either side of totality, and can be one the more commonly overlooked treats that comes in the eclipse package.\n5 seconds\nAnd just like that, you\u2019re plunged into darkness.\nMabel Loomis Todd wrote about this moment in her 1894 book \u201cTotal Eclipses of the Sun.\u201d \u201cWith frightful velocity,\u201d Todd wrote, \u201cthe actual shadow of the moon is often seen approaching, a tangible darkness advancing almost like a wall.\u201d\nAs all direct sunlight vanishes and your eyes adjust, the sun\u2019s atmosphere \u2014 the corona \u2014 will emerge. The corona holds the keys to unlocking vital secrets to the sun\u2019s magnetic field. Meanwhile, scores of stars and a handful of planets will dot the sky, including Jupiter below the moon to the left, and Venus above and right. Along the same line will lie Mercury and Mars, both considerably dimmer but still briefly visible.\nTOTALITY\nOnly when the sun is completely obscured is it safe to remove your eclipse glasses; even if only a few pinpricks of sunlight are poking around the sun, harmful ultraviolet rays invisible to us can cause damage to eye tissue.\nAs totality draws to a close, the process will reverse itself \u2014 first Baily\u2019s beads and the shadow bands, then the diamond ring, and eventually the unwinding stages of a partial eclipse. Animals will awaken, roosters will crow, and cattle will return to the fields to graze.\nThough the entire event may persist for only a few hours, it\u2019s guaranteed to be an experience that will last a lifetime.\nPostscript\nMashable has posted a terrific augmented reality video that offers a play-by-play of the eclipse, which is worth a look:\u00a0The Weather Channel shows the value of using mixed reality to explain the solar eclipse"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "1164d6359a41801f9deae639a151b476_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "1164d6359a41801f9deae639a151b476_1", "title": "This week\u2019s penumbral lunar eclipse pairs with a very bright Jupiter", "text": "to see it include Australia, Asia and the Pacific, said noted eclipse expert Fred Espenak. Knowing about the eclipse on Wednesday morning may be more useful than seeing it \u2014 for practical purposes, the shading is so minuscule that it will be nearly indistinct from a regular full moon. In lieu of the eclipse for those on the East Coast, steep some herbal tea and venture out on Tuesday night to behold the pleasantly plump waxing moon and its planetary companion Jupiter above it in the eastern sky. Jupiter will be very bright at -2.5 magnitude, and the moon will be extremely bright at -12.4 magnitude. Jupiter reached opposition on March 8 \u2014 which means that the planet puts on a vibrant show all night long. Those lunar-planetary travel buddies cross the sky together, like a Bob Hope-Bing Crosby road picture, into the morning\u2019s western heavens. Jupiter\u2019s Red Spot up close as imaged by NASA\u2019s Cassini mission. (NASA) Officially speaking, the penumbral lunar eclipse reaches it greatest point on Wednesday at 7:48 a.m. Eastern Time (4:48 a.m. Pacific Time), which is about a half-hour after sunrise in Washington. Earth produces two kinds of shadows: umbral and penumbral. As the moon slides through the dark part of Earth\u2019s shadow (umbral), the moon turns a copper-like red and that event can be quite pronounced. When the moon moves through the outer shadow \u2014 the penumbral shadow \u2014 the eclipse features are less pronounced. In this case, it\u2019s the outer, outer shadow. Eclipses have families, and this one is called lunar eclipse Saros 142, which has been around since 1709. In cosmic terms, this specific eclipse family is quite young, so it is still in ascending node, which means that it will be a few hundred years before this family creates total lunar eclipses. There won\u2019t be a total lunar eclipse in this family for another 200 years, as this is only the 18th out of 73, according to Espenak and NASA. For those keeping score, the last total lunar eclipse in this series will be April 21, 2665 \u2014 that\u2019s 800 years after the American Civil War. The entire series ends in 3007. The next total lunar eclipse of any family will occur on Jan. 31, 2018, in Saros 124. In September, there will be another penumbral lunar eclipse, but North America \u2014 sadly \u2014 will be shut out from seeing it."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "NASA | Understanding Lunar Eclipses\nOn Wednesday morning, the full moon will enter the shadow of Earth and darken ever so slightly in a penumbral eclipse. But potentially\u00a0more interesting, especially for those on the East Coast, will be a very bright Jupiter, which will accompany the moon on Tuesday night.\nFor this eclipse, the central and western United States will be better positioned to catch the slightly \u2014 with an emphasis on slightly \u2014 darkened moon. Other parts of the world to see it include Australia, Asia and the Pacific, said noted eclipse expert Fred Espenak.\u00a0Knowing about the\u00a0eclipse on Wednesday morning\u00a0may be more useful than seeing it \u2014 for practical purposes, the shading is so minuscule\u00a0that it will be nearly\u00a0indistinct from a regular full moon.\nIn lieu of the eclipse for those on the East Coast, steep some herbal tea and venture out on Tuesday night\u00a0to behold the pleasantly plump waxing moon and its planetary companion Jupiter above it in the eastern sky.\nJupiter will be very bright at -2.5 magnitude, and the moon will be extremely bright at -12.4 magnitude.\u00a0Jupiter reached opposition on March 8 \u2014 which means that the planet puts on a vibrant show all night long. Those lunar-planetary travel buddies cross the sky together, like a Bob Hope-Bing Crosby road picture, into the morning\u2019s western heavens.\nJupiter\u2019s Red Spot up close as imaged by NASA\u2019s Cassini mission. (NASA)\nOfficially speaking, the penumbral lunar eclipse reaches it greatest point on Wednesday at 7:48 a.m. Eastern Time (4:48 a.m. Pacific Time), which is about a half-hour after sunrise in Washington.\nEarth produces two kinds of shadows: umbral and penumbral. As the moon slides through the dark part of Earth\u2019s shadow (umbral), the moon turns a copper-like red and that event can be quite pronounced. When the moon moves through the outer shadow \u2014 the penumbral shadow \u2014 the eclipse features are less pronounced. In this case, it\u2019s the outer, outer shadow.\nEclipses\u00a0have families,\u00a0and this one is called lunar eclipse Saros 142,\u00a0which has been around since 1709. In cosmic terms, this specific eclipse family is quite young, so it is still in ascending node, which means that it will be a few hundred years before this family creates total lunar eclipses. There won\u2019t be a total lunar eclipse in this family\u00a0for another 200 years, as this is only the 18th out of\u00a073, according to Espenak and NASA. For those keeping score, the last total lunar eclipse in this series will be April 21, 2665 \u2014 that\u2019s 800 years after the American Civil War. The entire series ends in 3007.\nThe next total lunar eclipse of any family will occur on Jan. 31, 2018, in Saros 124.\nIn September, there will be another penumbral lunar eclipse, but North America \u2014 sadly \u2014 will be shut out from seeing it."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "16a38e702c7414026c0d661c43658d72_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "16a38e702c7414026c0d661c43658d72_0", "title": "Why does the moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?", "text": "If you plan on rising in the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 8 to view the lunar eclipse, here's what you should know ahead of the early morning show in the sky. Early Wednesday morning, just before the sun rises, the full moon will turn red in a total lunar eclipse. But why red? Every month the moon circles Earth in uneventful fashion. However, about twice a year, it passes through the shadow of the Earth \u2014 the umbra \u2014 which prevents direct sunlight from reaching the surface of the moon. This is the total lunar eclipse. Related: The lunar eclipse over the Washington Monument on February 20, 2008. (Kevin Ambrose) Even though the moon is in the Earth\u2019s shadow, some light does manage to hit the lunar surface during the eclipse, and this is what gives the moon its crimson glow, for the same reason that the sky is blue, and sunsets on Earth appear orange, pink, and red. As light passes through the atmosphere of the Earth, it is scattered in all directions. The molecules in the atmosphere are an excellent size for scattering short wavelength blue light, which makes our sky appear blue when the sun is overhead. But as sunlight passes through long, dense portions of the atmosphere, like it does at sunrise and sunset, longer wavelengths of light, which we see as red, are filtered out the least. (NASA) Just like at sunset, during a lunar eclipse the sun\u2019s rays have a lot of atmosphere to pass through around the edges of the Earth. And in addition to the red-colored scattering, the light is also refracted, or bent, sending the red light straight toward the moon. In fact, if you were standing on the surface of the moon during the eclipse, you would see a halo of red around the Earth as it passed in front of the sun, like a 360-degree sunset. While all lunar eclipses end up being some shade of red, the exact color can vary based on the nature of the particles in our atmosphere. Temperature, humidity and dust can all play a role in the intensity of the moon\u2019s redness, which can vary from orange to deep crimson."}], "old": [{"_id": "16a38e702c7414026c0d661c43658d72_0", "title": "Why does the moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?", "text": "If you plan on rising in the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 8 to view the lunar eclipse, here's what you should know ahead of the early morning show in the sky. Every month the moon circles Earth in uneventful fashion. However, about twice a year, it passes through the shadow of the Earth \u2014 the umbra \u2014 which prevents direct sunlight from reaching the surface of the moon. This is the total lunar eclipse. Related: The lunar eclipse over the Washington Monument on February 20, 2008. (Kevin Ambrose) Even though the moon is in the Earth\u2019s shadow, some light does manage to hit the lunar surface during the eclipse, and this is what gives the moon its crimson glow, for the same reason that the sky is blue, and sunsets on Earth appear orange, pink, and red. As light passes through the atmosphere of the Earth, it is scattered in all directions. The molecules in the atmosphere are an excellent size for scattering short wavelength blue light, which makes our sky appear blue when the sun is overhead. But as sunlight passes through long, dense portions of the atmosphere, like it does at sunrise and sunset, longer wavelengths of light, which we see as red, are filtered out the least. (NASA) Just like at sunset, during a lunar eclipse the sun\u2019s rays have a lot of atmosphere to pass through around the edges of the Earth. And in addition to the red-colored scattering, the light is also refracted, or bent, sending the red light straight toward the moon. In fact, if you were standing on the surface of the moon during the eclipse, you would see a halo of red around the Earth as it passed in front of the sun, like a 360-degree sunset. While all lunar eclipses end up being some shade of red, the exact color can vary based on the nature of the particles in our atmosphere. Temperature, humidity and dust can all play a role in the intensity of the moon\u2019s redness, which can vary from orange to deep crimson."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "If you plan on rising in the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 8 to view the lunar eclipse, here's what you should know ahead of the early morning show in the sky.\n\u00a0\nEarly Wednesday morning, just before the sun rises, the full moon will turn red in a total lunar eclipse. But\u00a0why red?\nEvery\u00a0month the moon circles Earth in uneventful fashion. However, about twice a year, it passes through the shadow of the Earth\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the umbra \u2014 which prevents direct sunlight from reaching the surface of the moon. This is the total lunar eclipse.\nRelated:\nThe lunar eclipse over the Washington Monument on February 20, 2008. (Kevin Ambrose)\nEven though the moon is in the Earth\u2019s shadow,\u00a0some light does manage to hit the lunar surface during the eclipse, and this is what gives the moon its crimson glow, for the same reason that the sky is blue, and sunsets on Earth appear orange, pink, and red.\nAs light passes through the atmosphere of the Earth, it is scattered in all directions. The molecules\u00a0in the atmosphere are an excellent size for\u00a0scattering short wavelength blue light, which makes our sky appear blue when the sun is overhead.\nBut as sunlight passes through long, dense portions of the atmosphere, like it does at sunrise and sunset, longer wavelengths of light, which we see as red, are filtered out the least.\n(NASA)\nJust like at sunset, during a lunar eclipse the sun\u2019s rays have a lot of atmosphere to pass through around the edges of the Earth. And in addition to the red-colored scattering, the light is also refracted, or bent, sending the red light straight toward the moon.\nIn fact, if you were standing on the surface of the moon during the eclipse, you would see a halo of red around the Earth as it passed in front of the sun, like a 360-degree sunset.\nWhile all lunar eclipses end up being some shade of red, the exact color can vary based on the nature of the particles in our\u00a0atmosphere. Temperature, humidity and dust\u00a0can all play a role in the intensity of the moon\u2019s redness, which can vary from orange to deep crimson."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "1afbe8a4-654c-11e5-9223-70cb36460919_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "1afbe8a4-654c-11e5-9223-70cb36460919_0", "title": "Are you staying up for the lunar eclipse?", "text": "The moon is shown during a brief total eclipse as it skims the Earth's shadow on April 4, 2015. The next full lunar eclipse will occur Sunday. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Get ready for a rare double feature, starring our very own moon. A total lunar eclipse will share the stage with a so-called supermoon Sunday night or early Monday, depending where you are. That combination hasn\u2019t been seen since 1982 and won\u2019t happen again until 2033. When a full or new moon makes its closest approach to Earth, that\u2019s a supermoon. Although still about 220,000 miles away, this full moon will look bigger and brighter than usual. In fact, it will be the closest full moon of the year, about 30,000 miles closer than the average distance. (The moon\u2019s orbit is far from a perfect circle.) NASA planetary scientist Noah Petro is hoping the celestial event will ignite more interest in the moon. He is deputy project scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, which has been studying the moon from lunar orbit since 2009. \u201cThe moon\u2019s a dynamic place,\u201d Petro said last week. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing changes on the surface of the moon from LRO. We\u2019re seeing that it\u2019s not this static dead body in the sky . . . it\u2019s this great astronomical object that we have in our back yard, essentially. So people should get out and start looking at it.\u201d Many stargazers, professional and amateur alike, don\u2019t like the term \u201csupermoon,\u201d noting that the visible difference between a moon and supermoon is slight to all but the most faithful observers. \u201cIt\u2019s not like the difference between an ordinary man and Superman,\u201d said Alan MacRobert, a senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine. \u201cIt really ought to be called a tiny, slightly little bit bigger moon, rather than the supermoon.\u201d The full eclipse of the moon will last more than an hour and be visible, weather permitting, from North and South America, Europe, Africa and western Asia. Showtime on the U.S. East Coast is 10:11 p.m. EDT; that\u2019s when the moon, Earth and sun will be lined up, with Earth\u2019s shadow totally obscuring the moon. In Europe, the action will unfold before dawn Monday. No matter where, the preshow will begin two hours earlier. There won\u2019t be another total lunar eclipse until 2018. Observatories are marking the celestial event with public telescope viewing, although magnifying devices won\u2019t"}], "old": [{"_id": "1afbe8a4-654c-11e5-9223-70cb36460919_0", "title": "Are you staying up for the lunar eclipse?", "text": "The moon is shown during a brief total eclipse as it skims the Earth's shadow on April 4, 2015. The next full lunar eclipse will occur Sunday. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Get ready for a rare double feature, starring our very own moon. A total lunar eclipse will share the stage with a so-called supermoon Sunday night or early Monday, depending where you are. That combination hasn\u2019t been seen since 1982 and won\u2019t happen again until 2033. When a full or new moon makes its closest approach to Earth, that\u2019s a supermoon. Although still about 220,000 miles away, this full moon will look bigger and brighter than usual. In fact, it will be the closest full moon of the year, about 30,000 miles closer than the average distance. (The moon\u2019s orbit is far from a perfect circle.) NASA planetary scientist Noah Petro is hoping the celestial event will ignite more interest in the moon. He is deputy project scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, which has been studying the moon from lunar orbit since 2009. Many stargazers, professional and amateur alike, don\u2019t like the term \u201csupermoon,\u201d noting that the visible difference between a moon and supermoon is slight to all but the most faithful observers. \u201cIt\u2019s not like the difference between an ordinary man and Superman,\u201d said Alan MacRobert, a senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine. \u201cIt really ought to be called a tiny, slightly little bit bigger moon, rather than the supermoon.\u201d The full eclipse of the moon will last more than an hour and be visible, weather permitting, from North and South America, Europe, Africa and western Asia. Showtime on the U.S. East Coast is 10:11 p.m. EDT; that\u2019s when the moon, Earth and sun will be lined up, with Earth\u2019s shadow totally obscuring the moon. In Europe, the action will unfold before dawn Monday. No matter where, the preshow will begin two hours earlier. There won\u2019t be another total lunar eclipse until 2018. Observatories are marking the celestial event with public telescope viewing, although magnifying devices won\u2019t be necessary; the eclipse will be easily visible with the naked eye. Astronomers are urging stargazers to simply look to the east. NASA will provide a live video feed of the entire eclipse \u2014 an option in case clouds get in the way of your view."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The moon is shown during a brief total eclipse as it skims the Earth's shadow on April 4, 2015. The next full lunar eclipse will occur Sunday. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)\nGet ready for a rare double feature, starring our very own moon.\nA total lunar eclipse will share the stage with a so-called supermoon Sunday night or early Monday, depending where you are. That combination hasn\u2019t been seen since 1982 and won\u2019t happen again until 2033.\nWhen a full or new moon makes its closest approach to Earth, that\u2019s a supermoon. Although still about 220,000 miles away, this full moon will look bigger and brighter than usual. In fact, it will be the closest full moon of the year, about 30,000 miles closer than the average distance. (The moon\u2019s orbit is far from a perfect circle.)\nNASA planetary scientist Noah Petro is hoping the celestial event will ignite more interest in the moon. He is deputy project scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, which has been studying the moon from lunar orbit since 2009.\n\u201cThe moon\u2019s a dynamic place,\u201d Petro said last week. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing changes on the surface of the moon from LRO. We\u2019re seeing that it\u2019s not this static dead body in the sky .\u2009.\u2009. it\u2019s this great astronomical object that we have in our back yard, essentially. So people should get out and start looking at it.\u201d\nMany stargazers, professional and amateur alike, don\u2019t like the term \u201csupermoon,\u201d noting that the visible difference between a moon and supermoon is slight to all but the most faithful observers.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not like the difference between an ordinary man and Superman,\u201d said Alan MacRobert, a senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine. \u201cIt really ought to be called a tiny, slightly little bit bigger moon, rather than the supermoon.\u201d\nThe full eclipse of the moon will last more than an hour and be visible, weather permitting, from North and South America, Europe, Africa and western Asia. Showtime on the U.S. East Coast is 10:11 p.m. EDT; that\u2019s when the moon, Earth and sun will be lined up, with Earth\u2019s shadow totally obscuring the moon.\nIn Europe, the action will unfold before dawn Monday. No matter where, the preshow will begin two hours earlier.\nThere won\u2019t be another total lunar eclipse until 2018.\nObservatories are marking the celestial event with public telescope viewing, although magnifying devices won\u2019t be necessary; the eclipse will be easily visible with the naked eye. Astronomers are urging stargazers to simply look to the east.\nNASA will provide a live video feed of the entire eclipse \u2014 an option in case clouds get in the way of your view."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "3bbacfb8ff259d3cb35ca5aa7fcc1732_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3bbacfb8ff259d3cb35ca5aa7fcc1732_0", "title": "Moon \u201ctakes a bite\u201d out of sun on Thursday in partial solar eclipse", "text": "The moon will pass in front of the sun, off-center, producing a partial solar eclipse visible in most of the United States on Oct. 23. NASA explains where and when the eclipse will be most visible. A partial eclipse will be visible across most of North America on Thursday, weather permitting. In a partial eclipse, when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, light from the sun still reaches our planet. If you didn\u2019t know about it in advance, you may not realize that the eclipse is occurring at all. Unfortunately, the only place in the U.S. that the eclipse will not be visible is far northern New England, where the sun will have set before it starts. But for the rest of the Eastern Seaboard, including the Mid-Atlantic, the eclipse will be visible in the early evening. Sky cover forecast for Thursday at 5 p.m. (NWS) Around New York City, eclipse begins at 5:49 p.m., and maximum eclipse occurs at 6:03 p.m. In Philadelphia, it\u2019s just five minutes later. However, the Thursday evening forecast in the Northeast is cloudy as of Wednesday morning, and there\u2019s nothing worse than a thick cloud deck to ruin a good eclipse. In the Washington, D.C., area, the eclipse starts at 5:52 p.m., and will peak at 6:17 p.m., though the peak will coincide with sunset. At maximum eclipse, Washingtonians will see only about 33 percent partiality and the sun will be very low on the horizon, so you will need a viewing location that is not obscured by hills or trees. The cloud forecast is looking marginal on Thursday evening for D.C. \u2014 definitely a borderline case. Check back with us on Thursday morning for an update. Viewing times get earlier, and the eclipse will last longer, as you travel west across the U.S. \u2014 the peak in St. Louis will occur at 4:41 p.m., Salt Lake City\u2019s will be at 4:26 p.m., and in San Francisco, maximum eclipse will be at 3:15 p.m. More locations and times are listed by NASA. Do not look directly at the sun with your naked eye If you weren\u2019t able to acquire special glasses or filters to view the eclipse, an easy, safe way to watch is through a shoe box pinhole camera. If you don\u2019t have a shoe box handy, you can also crosshatch your fingers and \u201cproject\u201d the sun\u2019s image on the ground"}], "old": [{"_id": "3bbacfb8ff259d3cb35ca5aa7fcc1732_0", "title": "Moon \u201ctakes a bite\u201d out of sun on Thursday in partial solar eclipse", "text": "The moon will pass in front of the sun, off-center, producing a partial solar eclipse visible in most of the United States on Oct. 23. NASA explains where and when the eclipse will be most visible. A partial eclipse will be visible across most of North America on Thursday, weather permitting. In a partial eclipse, when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, light from the sun still reaches our planet. If you didn\u2019t know about it in advance, you may not realize that the eclipse is occurring at all. Unfortunately, the only place in the U.S. that the eclipse will not be visible is far northern New England, where the sun will have set before it starts. But for the rest of the Eastern Seaboard, including the Mid-Atlantic, the eclipse will be visible in the early evening. Sky cover forecast for Thursday at 5 p.m. (NWS) Around New York City, eclipse begins at 5:49 p.m., and maximum eclipse occurs at 6:03 p.m. In Philadelphia, it\u2019s just five minutes later. However, the Thursday evening forecast in the Northeast is cloudy as of Wednesday morning, and there\u2019s nothing worse than a thick cloud deck to ruin a good eclipse. In the Washington, D.C., area, the eclipse starts at 5:52 p.m., and will peak at 6:17 p.m., though the peak will coincide with sunset. At maximum eclipse, Washingtonians will see only about 33 percent partiality and the sun will be very low on the horizon, so you will need a viewing location that is not obscured by hills or trees. The cloud forecast is looking marginal on Thursday evening for D.C. \u2014 definitely a borderline case. Check back with us on Thursday morning for an update. Do not look directly at the sun with your naked eye If you weren\u2019t able to acquire special glasses or filters to view the eclipse, an easy, safe way to watch is through a shoe box pinhole camera. If you don\u2019t have a shoe box handy, you can also crosshatch your fingers and \u201cproject\u201d the sun\u2019s image on the ground or a wall. Slooh.com An image of the sunspost 2192 on October 21. (Geoff Chester, U.S. Naval Observatory) NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center reported earlier today: \u201cRegion 2192 remains a very large spot group with a fairly complex magnetic structure and will continue to be the area of interest for the next several days.\u201d In"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The moon will pass in front of the sun, off-center, producing a partial solar eclipse visible in most of the United States on Oct. 23. NASA explains where and when the eclipse will be most visible.\n\u00a0\nA partial eclipse will be visible across most of North America on Thursday, weather permitting.\nIn a partial eclipse, when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, light from the sun still reaches our planet. If you didn\u2019t know about it in advance, you\u00a0may not realize that the eclipse is occurring at all.\nUnfortunately, the only place in the U.S. that the eclipse will not be visible is far northern New England, where the sun will have set before it starts. But for the rest of the Eastern Seaboard, including the Mid-Atlantic, the eclipse will be visible\u00a0in the early evening.\nSky cover forecast for Thursday at 5 p.m. (NWS)\nAround\u00a0New York City, eclipse begins at 5:49 p.m., and maximum eclipse occurs at 6:03 p.m.\u00a0In Philadelphia, it\u2019s just five minutes later. However, the Thursday evening forecast in the Northeast is cloudy as of Wednesday morning, and there\u2019s nothing worse than a thick cloud deck to ruin a good eclipse.\nIn the\u00a0Washington, D.C., area, the eclipse starts at 5:52 p.m., and will peak at 6:17 p.m., though the peak will coincide with sunset.\u00a0At maximum eclipse, Washingtonians will see only about 33 percent partiality and the sun will be very low on the horizon, so you will need a viewing location that is not obscured by hills or trees. The cloud forecast is looking marginal on Thursday evening for D.C. \u2014 definitely a borderline case. Check back with us on Thursday morning for an update.\nViewing times get earlier, and the eclipse will last longer, as you travel west across the U.S. \u2014 the peak in St. Louis will occur at 4:41 p.m., Salt Lake City\u2019s will be at 4:26 p.m., and in San Francisco, maximum eclipse will be at 3:15 p.m. More locations and times are listed by NASA.\nDo not look directly at the sun with your naked eye\nIf you weren\u2019t able to acquire special glasses or filters to view the eclipse, an easy, safe way to watch is through a shoe box pinhole camera. If you don\u2019t have a shoe box handy, you can also crosshatch your fingers and \u201cproject\u201d the sun\u2019s image on the ground or a wall.\nSlooh.com\nThe sun has been an exciting place recently, as giant solar flares have erupted on the sun\u2019s surface this week. Geoff Chester, an astronomer at the U.S. Naval Observatory, explains that sunspot group 2192 is the largest such group occurring on the sun now \u2013 and it is almost the size of Jupiter.\nAn image of the sunspost 2192 on October 21. (Geoff Chester, U.S. Naval Observatory)\nNOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center reported earlier today: \u201cRegion 2192 remains a very large spot group with a fairly complex magnetic structure and will continue to be the area of interest for the next several days.\u201d\nIn addition to Wednesday morning\u2019s\u00a0X-class flare, the sunspot group 2192 produced its seventh M-class flare in the past two days, a very strong M8 flare that happened last night (Oct. 21) at 9:59 p.m.\nM-class solar flares are moderate in comparison to X-class flares. Over the next two days, the website spaceweather.com puts the chances of another M-class flare at 65 percent and the chances of an X-class flare at 20 percent."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "3d0622885c873bd9d23f9df8909e223b_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3d0622885c873bd9d23f9df8909e223b_1", "title": "For some, eclipse day showcases God\u2019s majesty. For others, it means the Rapture is coming.", "text": "an astronomer and a minister. \u201cI would argue that God on purpose made the universe beautiful, and one of the beauties is a solar eclipse.\u201d Ross is leading a trip to watch the eclipse for about 80 people interested in finding spirituality in science. They\u2019re preparing Monday to travel down a dirt road into a field in Eastern Oregon, where they will wait for the sun to be blotted out. Across the country, other church groups are preparing to do the same. A solar eclipse isn\u2019t all that rare. The moon is always revolving around the Earth, while the Earth revolves around the sun. Usually the moon appears slightly higher or lower than the sunlight hits the Earth. But twice a year, it\u2019s right smack in front of it, and the moon blocks out the sun during the daytime, and that\u2019s at least a partial solar eclipse. When a total eclipse occurs, the shadow falls on just a tiny part of the Earth, about 60 to 100 miles wide, and then moves about a thousand miles over the course of a few hours. Because so much of the Earth is water, this almost always happens over an ocean. The eclipse will cross America, from Oregon to the Carolinas. (Courtesy of NASA) The last total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States was in 1979, and it was only over a corner of the Pacific Northwest. Something like this summer\u2019s event, where so many people on land can see a total solar eclipse, is exceptionally rare \u2014 although the United States actually will experience another one, crossing an opposite diagonal swath of the country, in 2024. The \u201cpath of totality\u201d for the 2017 eclipse cuts across the entire country, and every single spot in the continental United States will see an eclipse up to 60 percent. That means that anyone in the country can step outside and see some darkness. But eclipse-watchers \u2014 including Jay M. Pasachoff, a Williams College astronomer who has traveled around the world to witness an astonishing 65 eclipses \u2014 say that one truly has to see totality to really grasp the awe-inspiring nature of an eclipse. Even 99 percent, Pasachoff said, is nowhere near as dramatic as the moment it totally goes dark, which will last for up to two minutes and 40 seconds. \u201cYou have to be in totality to do it. Basically the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Everyone in the continental United States will need safety glasses for looking at the sky during the August 21 eclipse. (Mark Margolis / Rainbow Symphony)\nIt\u2019s easy to understand why many people will view Monday\u2019s solar eclipse as an act of God.\nAfter all,\u00a0in the middle of the day, the sky will go dark. The temperature will suddenly get several degrees colder. Birds will stop chirping and retreat to their nests. And tens of millions of people who spent the weekend in traffic and are now crammed into a 60-mile-wide path crossing from Oregon to the Carolinas will look at the sky.\nThe total eclipse that will cross America \u2014 an event that last happened 99 years ago \u2014 will be an important moment for scientific observers and a massive nationwide spectator event. It will also, for many people of faith, be evidence of God\u2019s majesty \u2014 and even, to a few, a harbinger of the coming end of the world.\n\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s an accident that God put us human beings here on Earth where we can actually see total solar eclipses. I think God wants us to make these discoveries,\u201d said Hugh Ross, who is both an astronomer and a minister. \u201cI would argue that God on purpose made the universe beautiful, and one of the beauties is a solar eclipse.\u201d\nRoss is leading\u00a0a trip to watch the eclipse for about 80 people interested in finding spirituality in science. They\u2019re preparing Monday to travel down a dirt road into a field in Eastern Oregon, where they will wait for the sun to be blotted out. Across the country, other church groups are preparing to\u00a0do the same.\nA solar eclipse isn\u2019t all that rare. The moon is always revolving around the Earth, while the Earth revolves around the sun. Usually the moon appears slightly higher or lower than the sunlight hits the Earth. But twice a year, it\u2019s right smack in front of it, and the moon blocks out the sun during the daytime, and that\u2019s at least a partial solar eclipse.\nWhen a total eclipse occurs, the shadow falls on just a tiny part of the Earth, about 60 to 100 miles wide, and then moves about a thousand miles over the course of a few hours. Because so much of the Earth is water, this almost always happens over an ocean.\nThe eclipse will cross America, from Oregon to the Carolinas. (Courtesy of NASA)\nThe last total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States was in 1979, and it was only over a corner of the Pacific Northwest.\nSomething like this summer\u2019s event, where so many people on land can see a total solar eclipse,\u00a0is exceptionally rare \u2014 although the United States actually will experience another one, crossing an opposite diagonal swath of the country, in 2024.\nThe \u201cpath of totality\u201d for the 2017 eclipse cuts across the entire country, and\u00a0every single spot in the continental United States will see an eclipse up to 60 percent.\nThat means that anyone in the country can step outside and see some darkness. But eclipse-watchers \u2014 including Jay M. Pasachoff, a Williams College astronomer who has traveled around the world to witness an astonishing 65 eclipses \u2014 say that one\u00a0truly has to see totality to really grasp the awe-inspiring nature of an eclipse. Even 99 percent, Pasachoff said, is nowhere near as dramatic as the moment it totally goes dark, which will last for up to two minutes and 40 seconds.\n\u201cYou have to be in totality to do it.\u00a0Basically the universe gets a million times darker,\u201d Pasachoff said. \u201cIt is absolutely necessary to be in the path of totality.\u00a0It\u2019s a poor second to be off to the side.\u201d\nFor Ross and other clergy planning to showcase the eclipse as both a scientific and a religious event, that stunning experience of seeing totality is an opportunity for discussing God\u2019s handiwork. When Ross was a researcher at the California Institute of Technology, he would take his fellow scientists on hiking trips in the Sierra Nevada, he said.\n\u201cWhen they would say, \u2018Yeah, it\u2019s gorgeous,\u2019 I would say, \u2018Why is it so beautiful?\u2019 It would always lead to a discussion about the Christian faith,\u201d he said. For that reason \u2014 the opportunity to use natural beauty as a tool for evangelism \u2014 this eclipse will be a popular Christian event. \u201cA lot of leaders of churches are going to be encouraging people,\u201d he said, to go see the eclipse.\nIt\u2019s certainly not just church leaders who have that idea. Visitors from as far as Europe and Asia started booking hotel rooms months ago in sleepy little corners of Wyoming and Idaho where they will be able to see the eclipse.\nThe population living in that long path of totality, from Oregon to the Carolinas, is about 12 million people, by the count of Angela Speck, co-chair of the American Astronomical Society\u2019s\u00a0task force on the 2017 eclipse. Speck says another 12 million or many more could easily visit for the eclipse date. Nearly everyone in the continental United States lives within one day\u2019s drive of the eclipse path \u2014 so if 4 percent of the country decided they wanted to drive to the right spot that day and see the sun go dark, 12 million would turn to 24 million overnight.\nThere\u2019s precedent: In 1991, Speck said, so many people tried to enter Mexico to see a total eclipse that the country closed parts of its borders.\nIn certain religious communities, the talk surrounding the eclipse has to do with a different sort of preparation. Gary Ray isn\u2019t worried about just travel plans and adequate eye protection. He\u2019s focused on the Rapture.\nRay, a writer for the evangelical Christian publication Unsealed, views this eclipse as one of several astronomical signs that the day when Christians will be whisked away from the Earth is fast approaching.\n\u201cThe Bible says a number of times that there\u2019s going to be signs in the heavens before Jesus Christ returns to Earth. We see this as possibly one of those,\u201d Ray said about the eclipse.\nHe\u00a0is even more interested in another astronomical event that will occur 33 days after the eclipse, on Sept. 23, 2017.\nThe Book of Revelation, which is full of extraordinary imagery, describes a woman \u201cclothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head\u201d who gives birth to a boy who will \u201crule all the nations with an iron scepter\u201d while she is threatened by a red, seven-headed dragon. The woman then grows the wings of an eagle and is swallowed up by the earth.\nRay says that image will be created in the sky on Sept. 23. The constellation Virgo \u2014 representing the woman \u2014 will be clothed in sunlight, in a position that is over the moon and under nine stars and three planets. The planet Jupiter, which will have been inside Virgo \u2014 in her womb, in Ray\u2019s interpretation \u2014 will move out of Virgo, as if she is giving birth.\nAstronomers don\u2019t see this as a particularly unusual event. But to Ray and others, it could be the sign that the Rapture is ready to happen: \u201cWe think it\u2019s God signaling to us that he\u2019s about to make his next move.\u201d\nAnd\u00a0Ray thinks the two eclipses that are slated to travel across the United States in 2017 and 2024, together marking an X across the nation, could be the starting and ending signs bookmarking a seven-year period of awful tribulations that Revelations says waits in store for nonbelievers who are left behind on Earth when the Rapture occurs.\n\u201cThat time frame is speculative, 2017 to 2024. But it makes a lot of sense. There are a lot of things that really point us to that,\u201d he said.\nTherefore, the eclipse preparation that Ray recommends is a bit different from the scientists\u2019 association\u2019s advice.\n\u201cMy number one encouragement to people would be to just trust God. More importantly, to trust the right God,\u201d he said, warning that those who do not believe when the day of the Rapture comes will be left behind to face the tribulations. \u201cIf people want to be ready, the one thing you can do is accept what He has offered, which is the gift of grace and forgiveness. That\u2019s all we have to do to be ready.\u201d\nUniversity of Redlands astronomer Tyler Nordgren, who is advising the National Park Service on handling this eclipse, looked at prior events. Just a partial eclipse, not a total one, set visitor records in 2012 when it crossed through National Park Service sites in the Southwest. For this summer, he told the Park Service, \u201cImagine the biggest event you\u2019ve ever had, and double it.\u201d\nSo come Monday, even nonbelievers looking out at the crowds on the eclipse path may find themselves comparing it to an apocalyptic event. For one Eastern Oregon park, Nordgren predicts 25,000 to 50,000 sky-watchers.\u00a0The park has one toilet.\nThis story was originally published in March and has been updated.\nWant more stories about faith? Follow Acts of Faith\u00a0on Twitter\u00a0or sign up for our newsletter.\nHillary Clinton\u2019s pastor plagiarized another minister in his new book of messages for her\nMy church taught me my virginity was lost. But I\u2019m re-choosing abstinence.\nThe anxious wait for an undocumented immigrant seeking sanctuary in a church"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "431f7b609201ba2eab907ee7420193ca_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "431f7b609201ba2eab907ee7420193ca_0", "title": "Watch the total solar eclipse sweep across Pacific Ocean tonight", "text": "Slooh Live Update: Watch the total solar eclipse live via Slooh.com in the video above beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. The moon\u2019s shadow will sweep across the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Hawaii this week in the first total solar eclipse in a year. Total solar eclipses occur when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun for a few minutes. The previous total solar eclipse happened on March 20, 2015, over the far North Atlantic Ocean and parts of northern Europe. The next total eclipse will pass squarely over the continental United States on Aug. 21, 2017, and will be visible from the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast. The eclipse occurs on Wednesday, Pacific time, but those in the United States (outside Hawaii) will need to gaze online on Tuesday evening. You can watch in the live stream on this page starting at 6 p.m., Eastern Time, thanks to Slooh.com. From its location, Slooh expects its glorious two-minute portion of totality to occur at 7:37 p.m. Eastern Time. There will be live views from partner observatories in Hawaii during a partial phase of the eclipse.The greatest part of totality lasts for 4 minutes and 9 seconds. Astronomer Paul Cox will guide you through the enchanting stages of the partial eclipse phase, then totality and partiality, again, along with a team from the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands. Special guests will include science communicator Lucie Green. Viewers are invited to ask questions on Twitter during the broadcast using the hashtag #SloohEclipse. Total solar eclipses occur when the moon slides perfectly between the Earth and sun for a few minutes. The March 8 eclipse sweeps across the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Hawaii beginning around 6 p.m., Eastern Time. All eclipses occur in families, and this eclipse is number 52 in the family \u201cSaros 130,\u201d a series that started on Aug. 20, 1096, and it will last until Oct. 25, 2394. Solar eclipses in these series occur every 18 years and 11 days, or one Saros cycle. \u201cWhen two eclipses are separated by a period of one Saros, they share a very similar geometry,\u201d writes NASA. \u201cThe two eclipses occur at the same node with the moon at nearly the same distance from Earth and at the same time of year. Thus, the Saros is useful for organizing eclipses into families or series.\u201d Each Saros begins"}], "old": [{"_id": "431f7b609201ba2eab907ee7420193ca_0", "title": "Watch the total solar eclipse sweep across Pacific Ocean tonight", "text": "Slooh Live Update: Watch the total solar eclipse live via Slooh.com in the video above beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. The moon\u2019s shadow will sweep across the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Hawaii this week in the first total solar eclipse in a year. Total solar eclipses occur when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun for a few minutes. The previous total solar eclipse happened on March 20, 2015, over the far North Atlantic Ocean and parts of northern Europe. The next total eclipse will pass squarely over the continental United States on Aug. 21, 2017, and will be visible from the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast. From its location, Slooh expects its glorious two-minute portion of totality to occur at 7:37 p.m. Eastern Time. There will be live views from partner observatories in Hawaii during a partial phase of the eclipse.The greatest part of totality lasts for 4 minutes and 9 seconds. Astronomer Paul Cox will guide you through the enchanting stages of the partial eclipse phase, then totality and partiality, again, along with a team from the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands. Special guests will include science communicator Lucie Green. Viewers are invited to ask questions on Twitter during the broadcast using the hashtag #SloohEclipse. Total solar eclipses occur when the moon slides perfectly between the Earth and sun for a few minutes. The March 8 eclipse sweeps across the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Hawaii beginning around 6 p.m., Eastern Time. All eclipses occur in families, and this eclipse is number 52 in the family \u201cSaros 130,\u201d a series that started on Aug. 20, 1096, and it will last until Oct. 25, 2394. In Saros 130, there are 73 all together, 43 of which are total eclipses. The first umbral eclipse of this family occurred on March 25, 1475, where totality lasted two minutes, according to noted expert Fred Espenak. The most recent Saros 130 eclipse was Feb. 26, 1998, making a path from the Galapagos Islands to the Caribbean. The next one will be March 20, 2034, cutting a path from Nigeria, through India and then onto China. In 2052, the Saros 130 total eclipse path runs through central Mexico and the southeastern United States, according to Espenak. NASA and the San Francisco Exploratorium team up A team of NASA scientists is preparing to capture data on the innermost"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Slooh Live\nUpdate: Watch the total solar eclipse live via Slooh.com in the video above beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.\nThe moon\u2019s shadow will sweep\u00a0across the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia\u00a0to Hawaii this week in the first total solar eclipse in a year.\nTotal solar eclipses occur when the moon passes directly\u00a0between the Earth and the sun for a few minutes. The previous total solar eclipse happened on March 20, 2015, over the far North Atlantic Ocean and parts of northern Europe. The next total eclipse will pass squarely over the continental United States on Aug. 21, 2017, and will be visible from the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast.\nThe eclipse occurs on Wednesday, Pacific time, but those in the United States (outside Hawaii)\u00a0will need to gaze online\u00a0on Tuesday evening. You can watch in the live stream on this page starting at 6 p.m., Eastern Time,\u00a0thanks to Slooh.com.\nFrom its location, Slooh expects its glorious two-minute portion of totality to occur at 7:37 p.m. Eastern Time. There will be live views from partner observatories in Hawaii during a partial phase of the eclipse.The greatest part of totality lasts for 4 minutes and 9 seconds.\nAstronomer Paul Cox will guide you through\u00a0the enchanting stages of the partial eclipse phase, then totality and partiality, again, along with a team from the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands.\u00a0Special guests will include science communicator Lucie Green. Viewers are invited to ask questions\u00a0on Twitter\u00a0during the broadcast using the hashtag #SloohEclipse.\nTotal solar eclipses occur when the moon slides perfectly between the Earth and sun for a few minutes. The March 8 eclipse sweeps across the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Hawaii beginning around 6 p.m., Eastern Time.\nAll eclipses occur in families, and\u00a0this eclipse is number 52 in the family \u201cSaros 130,\u201d a series that started on Aug. 20, 1096, and it will last until Oct. 25, 2394.\nSolar eclipses in these series occur every\u00a018 years and 11 days, or one Saros cycle. \u201cWhen two eclipses are separated by a period of one Saros, they share a very similar geometry,\u201d writes NASA. \u201cThe two eclipses occur at the same node\u00a0with the moon at nearly the same distance from Earth and at the same time of year. Thus, the Saros is useful for organizing eclipses into families or series.\u201d\nEach Saros begins with partial eclipses at one of the poles, and then produces \u201cseveral dozen central eclipses\u201d before it ends with partial eclipses at the opposite pole, says NASA.\nIn Saros 130, there are 73 all together, 43 of which are total eclipses. The first umbral eclipse of this family occurred on March 25, 1475, where totality lasted two minutes, according to noted expert Fred Espenak.\nThe most recent Saros 130 eclipse was Feb. 26, 1998, making a path from the Galapagos Islands to the Caribbean. The next one will be March 20, \u00a02034, cutting a path from Nigeria, through India and then onto China. In 2052, the Saros 130 total eclipse path runs through central Mexico and the southeastern United States, according to Espenak.\nNASA\u00a0and the San Francisco Exploratorium team up\nThe San Francisco-based Exploratorium\u00a0science museum will join NASA scientists to present a live eclipse webcast beginning at\u00a08 p.m. Eastern Time from the coral isle of Woleai \u2013 about 500 miles north of New Guinea and about 400 miles south of Guam \u2013 in Micronesia.\nRobyn Higdon produced the Exploratorium\u2019s webcast, as she searched for a perfect location and found this nearly invisible, pinpoint island within the eclipse path. This production is made in cooperation with NASA and the National Science Foundation. A Spanish-language version of the webcast is available at the Exploratorium site.\nThe Exploratorium has beamed eclipses around the world for 18 years, according to its blog, written by science writer Eileen Campbell. The museum\u2019s webcast team hauled telescopes, cameras, microphones, laptops and a satellite dish to bring this phenomenal spectacle to your kitchen table. They hold two rehearsals, test data connections and conduct drift-aligning (telescope-tracking) tests.\nA team of NASA scientists is preparing to capture data on the innermost parts of the sun\u2019s volatile core, during a solar eclipse on March 9.\nMore than just cosmic fun, researchers from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center will be testing their polarization camera, capturing data from the sun\u2019s volatile, super-hot atmosphere \u2014 a region that can be observed during total solar eclipses.\nNelson Reginald, one of the NASA scientists, explained that a total solar eclipse provides an opportunity \u201cto see very close to the solar limb.\u201d\nYou can join the Exploratorium on Twitter and Facebook, and NASA at its @NASASunEarth account on Twitter. Viewers can join this conversation and ask questions on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook using\u00a0#eclipse2016.\nEye safety during a solar eclipse\nDuring the totality phase of a solar eclipse, you watch the event with your own eyes, for a few seconds or minutes, according to Espenak. But during partial eclipse, annular eclipses or partial phases of total eclipse, protect your eyes. \u201cDo not attempt to observe the partial or annular phases of any eclipse with the naked eye,\u201d Espenak said, \u201cFailure to use appropriate filtration may result in permanent eye damage or blindness.\u201d\nFind NASA\u2019s eye safety website\nEspenak\u2019s Eclipse web sites: EclipseWise.com, AstroPixels.com and MrEclipse.com \u2014 a site dedicated to eclipse photography."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "449987a15ecc1a32e0f08aeb918487b4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "449987a15ecc1a32e0f08aeb918487b4_0", "title": "The \u2018harvest moon\u2019 rises Friday. And it might be a supermoon. And there\u2019s an eclipse.", "text": "September's full moon is known as the \"harvest moon.\" In this video, NASA explains its origins. The \u201charvest moon\u201d will rise on Friday \u2014 the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which occurs Sept. 22 this year. In Europe, Africa and Asia the full moon will also be a little bit darker, thanks to a penumbral lunar eclipse that begins around 1 p.m. Eastern time. The moon officially becomes full at 3:05 p.m. on Friday. In Washington, the sun sets at 7:14 p.m., and the moon rises at 7:22 p.m. If you need more than a full moon to get you outside with your eyes on the sky, this full moon is also a supermoon. Maybe. It\u2019s kind of a controversy. Astrologer Richard Nolle Long story short, Nolle has a list of all supermoons, and so does the former NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, but their lists disagree. Espenak\u2019s list includes an extra supermoon in 2016 \u2014 this month\u2019s harvest moon. EarthSky has a great explanation on why these lists differ. Strangely enough, Espenak\u2019s list seems to meet Nolle\u2019s original definition more than Nolle\u2019s list does. Go figure. If you need even more of a reason to go sky-gazing, check out the bright Venus (-3.9 magnitude) early in the evening. Look to the west-south; the bright star Spica is under Venus, to the planet\u2019s left. In the same neighborhood, the reddish Mars and the ringed Saturn in the south-southwestern sky. Both are bright, about 25 degrees up from the horizon, around 7:45 p.m. Europe won\u2019t need any more reason to look up at the Friday night sky than the penumbral lunar eclipse. For those in North America, you can still catch all of the shadowy eclipse action on slooh.com, with play-by-play and commentary Friday afternoon. Officially, the eclipse starts at 12:54 p.m. Eastern time and ends at 4:54 p.m., notes Espenak. The deepest part of the eclipse will be at 2:54 p.m. Eastern Time (6:54 p.m. GMT). This is a deep penumbral eclipse, he said, as it has a strong penumbral eclipse magnitude of 0.9080. It will last about a half-minute shy of four hours. What is a penumbral lunar eclipse? It occurs when the moon appears to scoot through the lightest portion of Earth\u2019s shadow. Earthlings must remember that our own planet casts a shadow into space. The center of the shadow is the umbra, so when the moon"}], "old": [{"_id": "449987a15ecc1a32e0f08aeb918487b4_0", "title": "The \u2018harvest moon\u2019 rises Friday. And it might be a supermoon. And there\u2019s an eclipse.", "text": "September's full moon is known as the \"harvest moon.\" In this video, NASA explains its origins. The \u201charvest moon\u201d will rise on Friday \u2014 the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which occurs Sept. 22 this year. In Europe, Africa and Asia the full moon will also be a little bit darker, thanks to a penumbral lunar eclipse that begins around 1 p.m. Eastern time. The moon officially becomes full at 3:05 p.m. on Friday. In Washington, the sun sets at 7:14 p.m., and the moon rises at 7:22 p.m. If you need more than a full moon to get you outside with your eyes on the sky, this full moon is also a supermoon. Maybe. It\u2019s kind of a controversy. Astrologer Richard Nolle Go figure. If you need even more of a reason to go sky-gazing, check out the bright Venus (-3.9 magnitude) early in the evening. Look to the west-south; the bright star Spica is under Venus, to the planet\u2019s left. In the same neighborhood, the reddish Mars and the ringed Saturn in the south-southwestern sky. Both are bright, about 25 degrees up from the horizon, around 7:45 p.m. What is a penumbral lunar eclipse? It occurs when the moon appears to scoot through the lightest portion of Earth\u2019s shadow. Earthlings must remember that our own planet casts a shadow into space. The center of the shadow is the umbra, so when the moon passes through the umbra, we get partial and total lunar eclipses. In this case, the moon sashays through the penumbra; it\u2019s a weaker, lighter shadow. Think archery target: umbra is the center, and the penumbra surrounds it."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "September's full moon is known as the \"harvest moon.\" In this video, NASA explains its origins.\nThe \u201charvest\u00a0moon\u201d will rise on Friday \u2014 the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which occurs Sept. 22 this year. In Europe, Africa and Asia\u00a0the full moon\u00a0will also be a little bit darker, thanks to a penumbral lunar eclipse that begins around 1 p.m. Eastern time.\nThe moon\u00a0officially becomes full at 3:05 p.m. on Friday. In\u00a0Washington, the sun sets at 7:14 p.m., and the moon\u00a0rises at 7:22 p.m.\nIf you need more than a full moon to get you outside with your eyes on the sky, this full moon is also\u00a0a supermoon. Maybe. It\u2019s kind of a controversy.\nAstrologer Richard Nolle\nLong story short, Nolle has a list of all supermoons, and so does the former NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, but their lists disagree. Espenak\u2019s list includes an extra supermoon in 2016 \u2014 this month\u2019s harvest moon. EarthSky has a great explanation on why these lists differ. Strangely enough,\u00a0Espenak\u2019s list seems to meet\u00a0Nolle\u2019s original definition more than Nolle\u2019s list does.\nGo figure.\nIf you need even more of a reason to go\u00a0sky-gazing, check out the bright Venus (-3.9 magnitude) early in the evening. Look to the west-south; the bright star Spica is under Venus, to the planet\u2019s left. In the same neighborhood, the reddish Mars and the ringed Saturn in the south-southwestern sky. Both are bright, about 25 degrees up from the horizon, around 7:45 p.m.\nEurope won\u2019t need any more reason to look up at the Friday night sky than the penumbral lunar eclipse. For those in North America, you can still catch all of the shadowy eclipse action on slooh.com, with play-by-play and commentary Friday afternoon.\nOfficially, the eclipse starts at 12:54 p.m. Eastern time and ends at 4:54 p.m., notes Espenak.\u00a0The deepest part of the eclipse will be at 2:54 p.m. Eastern Time (6:54 p.m.\u00a0GMT). This is a deep penumbral eclipse, he said, as it has a strong penumbral eclipse magnitude of 0.9080. It will last about a half-minute shy of four hours.\nWhat is a penumbral lunar eclipse? It occurs when the moon appears to scoot through the lightest portion of Earth\u2019s shadow.\u00a0Earthlings must remember that our own planet casts a shadow into space. The center of the shadow is the umbra, so when the moon passes through the umbra, we get partial and total lunar eclipses. In this case, the moon sashays through the penumbra; it\u2019s a weaker, lighter shadow. Think archery target: umbra is the center, and the penumbra surrounds it.\nAs all eclipses belong to a family or series of eclipses, this event belongs to Saros 147 \u2014 a fairly young one that started in 1890 \u2014 and the series runs through 3134. Friday\u2019s eclipse will be the eighth among 70 events. This is the last penumbral eclipse in the series for about 1,000 years. For the first totally awesome total lunar eclipse in this series, circle June 6, 2449, on your calendar."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "479422186458ab00ca02928ec5265c8f_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "479422186458ab00ca02928ec5265c8f_1", "title": "Pass the jelly: How to watch the \u2018breakfast\u2019 lunar eclipse Saturday morning", "text": "Hollywood, about 1,134 feet above sea level, the Griffith Observatory presents the eclipse. Find the Griffith Observatory webcast here starting at 2 a.m. Pacific time (5 a.m. Eastern) when the penumbral phase starts. The umbral, or partial, phase \u2013 that is when Earth\u2019s shadow bites chunks from the moon \u2013 starts at 3:15 a.m. (6:15 a.m. Eastern). Timing of Saturday\u2019s total lunar eclipse in Pacific time. (Griffith Observatory) Have a hearty \u2018Breakfast on the Moon\u2019 Over at Slooh.com, they\u2019re calling their webcast \u201cBreakfast on the Moon,\u201d where you will see the eclipse from eastern Australia \u2013 and from their feed partners from other locations around the Pacific Rim. The Slooh webcast starts at 3 a.m. Pacific time (6 a.m. Eastern) just before the partial, umbral phase. Conducting the cosmic play-by-play will be host Eric Edelman and astronomer-journalists Bob Berman and Will Gater. Ask them questions via Twitter while they are live by using the hashtag #Breakfasteclipse. \u201cTotal lunar eclipses, like the one we\u2019re looking forward to \u2026 are a slow, ethereal affair and, as usual, [Slooh will] have cameras around the world bringing us live views,\u201d Gater said. \u201cWhat better way to start the day than tuning in to watch this wonderful event.\u201d All in the family Over the centuries, eclipses fall into families of related events that astronomers call \u201csaros.\u201d Tomorrow\u2019s total lunar eclipse is part of Saros 132, a series that started on May 12, 1492 (months before Christopher Columbus set sail) and it will end June 26, 2754. Saturday\u2019s eclipse is the shortest total eclipse in the series, officially clocked at 4 minutes and 43 seconds, according to NASA. The longest total eclipse in this series \u2013 a little over a century from now \u2013 will be June 9, 2123, at 1 hour, 46 minutes. The Fab Four This total lunar eclipse is the third of four-in-a-row, and that \u2013 to astronomers \u2013 is known as a \u201ctetrad.\u201d Last year, we enjoyed two lunar eclipses on April 15 and Oct. 8. In addition to tomorrow\u2019s eclipse, our next one: Sept. 28, 2015. A total lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014, marked the beginning of a remarkable series of eclipses all visible from North America. Between 1582 and 1908, there were no tetrads, as they are part of a 565-year cycle and they tend to be feast or famine. For this 21st century, we get eight of them."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Time-lapse video captures a total lunar eclipse, also known as a \"blood moon,\" which was visible from the U.S. as it dipped into Earth's shadow.\nButter your toast or toss shrimp on the barbie to enjoy early Saturday morning\u2019s short, total lunar eclipse. This\u00a0astronomy story has a Hollywood ending with a Down Under twist.\nFor East Coast sky-gazers hoping to find the lunar eclipse, forget about it. With the sun rising and the moon setting here, your best bet is catching the event live online \u2013 see one perspective from Los Angeles or another with an Australian view.\nIn Saturday\u2019s total lunar eclipse, the totality phase lasts less than 5 minutes, according to NASA and the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Totality starts at 4:58 a.m. Pacific time\u00a0(or 7:58 a.m. Eastern time). The moon turns an orange-red when engulfed completely in Earth\u2019s shadow, as our planet stands between the sun and the moon. The middle of totality occurs at about 5 a.m. Pacific time\u00a0(8 a.m. Eastern time). Three minutes later, totality finishes and the eclipse enters its second partial phase.\n[Everything you need to know about the \u201cblood moon\" apocalypse debate]\nFrom the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, about 1,134 feet above sea level, the Griffith Observatory presents\u00a0the eclipse. Find the Griffith Observatory webcast here\u00a0starting at 2 a.m. Pacific time\u00a0(5 a.m. Eastern) when the penumbral phase starts. The umbral, or partial, phase \u2013 that is when Earth\u2019s shadow bites chunks from the moon \u2013 starts at 3:15 a.m. (6:15 a.m. Eastern).\nTiming of Saturday\u2019s total lunar eclipse in Pacific time. (Griffith Observatory)\nHave a hearty \u2018Breakfast on the Moon\u2019\nOver at Slooh.com, they\u2019re calling their webcast \u201cBreakfast on the Moon,\u201d where you will see the eclipse from eastern Australia \u2013 and from their feed partners from other locations around the Pacific Rim. The Slooh webcast starts at 3 a.m. Pacific time\u00a0(6 a.m.\u00a0Eastern) just before the partial, umbral phase.\nConducting the cosmic play-by-play will be host Eric Edelman and astronomer-journalists Bob Berman and Will Gater. Ask them questions\u00a0via Twitter while they are live\u00a0by using the hashtag #Breakfasteclipse.\n\u201cTotal lunar eclipses, like the one we\u2019re looking forward to \u2026 are a slow, ethereal affair and, as usual, [Slooh will] have cameras around the world bringing us live views,\u201d Gater said. \u201cWhat better way to start the day than tuning in to watch this wonderful event.\u201d\nAll in the family\nOver the centuries, eclipses fall into families of related events that astronomers call \u201csaros.\u201d Tomorrow\u2019s total lunar eclipse is part of Saros 132, a series that started on May 12, 1492 (months before Christopher Columbus set sail) and it will end June 26, 2754.\nSaturday\u2019s eclipse is the shortest total eclipse in the series, officially clocked at 4 minutes and 43 seconds, according to NASA. The longest total eclipse in this series \u2013 a little over a century from now \u2013 will be June 9, 2123, at 1 hour, 46 minutes.\nThe Fab Four\nThis total lunar eclipse is the third of four-in-a-row, and that \u2013 to astronomers \u2013 is known as a \u201ctetrad.\u201d Last year, we enjoyed two lunar eclipses on April 15 and Oct. 8. In addition to tomorrow\u2019s eclipse, our next one: Sept. 28, 2015.\nA total lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014, marked the beginning of a remarkable series of eclipses all visible from North America.\nBetween 1582 and 1908, there were no tetrads, as they are part of a 565-year cycle\u00a0and they tend to be feast or famine. For this 21st century, we get eight of them. Our previous tetrad occurred in 2003-2004. After this September, the next quartet happens in 2032-2033.\nOther eclipse sources:\nEclipse expert Fred Espenek\u2019s EclipseWise\nNASA\u2019s Eclipse Web page at Goddard Spaceflight Center"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "60bb834509399c3871e6ac5569f392ff_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "60bb834509399c3871e6ac5569f392ff_1", "title": "Spring trifecta ends splendid week \u2014 solar eclipse, supermoon and equinox", "text": "solar eclipse, a supermoon and the vernal equinox. Friday at 6:45 p.m. will mark the vernal equinox and the first day of astronomical spring. At this point, the direct rays of the sun are passing over the equator, perpendicular to Earth. It might not feel like spring with snow still in the forecast for many in the eastern U.S., but it is the first day in the march toward summer as the sun\u2019s direct rays return from their Southern Hemisphere vacation. [Aurora photos from the U.S. and beyond] This animation shows from where the partial and total solar eclipse can be seen. The shadow passing over the North Atlantic, Europe and northern Asia is where you\u2019ll be able to see the partial eclipse. The fleeting black spot that passes within that shadow represents the locations where the total eclipse will be visible. (NASA) But earlier in the day on Friday, a possibly more interesting astronomical event will be occurring \u2014 a total solar eclipse. The eclipse, which reaches its greatest point at 4:45 a.m., can be seen in partial form across northwest Africa, most of Europe and northern Asia. The total eclipse can be seen from points in the North Atlantic, south of Iceland, on the Faroe Islands north of the U.K., and Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago halfway between northern Europe and the North Pole. To make the day triple-noteworthy, the moon will be a \u201csupermoon,\u201d even though it\u2019s in a new phase and not visible. The moon reaches lunar perigee, its orbit\u2019s closest point to Earth, on Thursday afternoon just before entering new. If the moon were visible, it would appear slightly larger in the sky. [Severe geomagnetic storm spurs beautiful aurora] Friday\u2019s solar eclipse won\u2019t be visible in North America, but you can watch it on Slooh.com\u2018s livestream starting at 4:30 a.m. They\u2019re setting up shop on the Faroe Islands, north of the U.K. and close to the point of greatest eclipse. That means anyone with an Internet connection can watch the eclipse in its full, total glory. So how often do solar eclipse and vernal equinoxes occur on the same day? Good question! According to EarthSky, the next time this convergence will happen is in 19 years, on March 20, 2034. They\u2019ve also written a thorough explanation of why they don\u2019t necessarily coincide every 19 years in that story \u2014 recommended reading for any sky-watching enthusiast. (NASA)"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A total solar eclipse. (NASA)\nThe past few days have\u00a0been great for sky-watchers as a beautiful\u00a0aurora sank\u00a0as far south as the Midwest and Northeast on Tuesday night, the result of a severe geomagnetic storm. And Friday will add even more splendor as three astronomical events coincide on one day: a\u00a0total solar eclipse, a supermoon and the vernal equinox.\nFriday at 6:45 p.m. will mark the vernal equinox and the first day of astronomical spring. At this point, the direct rays of the sun are passing over the equator, perpendicular to Earth. It might not feel like spring with snow still in the forecast for many in the eastern U.S., but it is the first day in the march toward\u00a0summer as the sun\u2019s direct rays return\u00a0from their Southern Hemisphere vacation.\n[Aurora photos from the U.S. and beyond]\nThis animation shows from where the partial and total solar eclipse can be seen. The shadow passing over the North Atlantic, Europe and northern Asia is where you\u2019ll be able to see the partial eclipse. The fleeting black spot that passes within that shadow represents the locations where the total eclipse will be visible. (NASA)\nBut earlier in the day on Friday, a possibly more interesting astronomical event will be occurring \u2014\u00a0a total solar eclipse. The eclipse, which reaches its greatest point at 4:45 a.m., can be seen in partial form across northwest Africa, most of Europe and northern Asia.\nThe total eclipse can be seen from points in the North Atlantic, south of Iceland, on the Faroe Islands north of the U.K., and Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago halfway between northern Europe and the North Pole.\nTo make the day triple-noteworthy, the moon will be a \u201csupermoon,\u201d even though it\u2019s in a new phase and not visible. The moon reaches lunar perigee, its orbit\u2019s closest point to Earth, on Thursday afternoon just before entering new. If the moon were visible, it would appear slightly larger in the sky.\n[Severe geomagnetic storm spurs beautiful aurora]\nFriday\u2019s\u00a0solar eclipse won\u2019t be visible in North America,\u00a0but you can watch it on Slooh.com\u2018s livestream starting at 4:30 a.m. They\u2019re setting up shop\u00a0on the Faroe Islands, north of the U.K.\u00a0and close to the point of greatest eclipse. That means anyone with an Internet connection can watch the eclipse in its full, total glory.\nSo how often do solar eclipse and vernal equinoxes occur on the same day? Good question! According to EarthSky, the next time this convergence will happen is in 19 years, on March 20, 2034. They\u2019ve also written a thorough explanation of why they don\u2019t necessarily coincide every 19 years in that story \u2014 recommended reading for any sky-watching enthusiast.\n(NASA)"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "858150ae1e73a1bb030e89afe869b5f0_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "858150ae1e73a1bb030e89afe869b5f0_0", "title": "Everything you need to know about the \u2018blood moon\u2019 apocalypse debate", "text": "Time-lapse video captures a total lunar eclipse, also known as a \"blood moon,\" which was visible from the U.S. as it dipped into Earth's shadow. For a very brief time on Saturday, the moon will turn an orangey-red, depending on conditions, during an Easter weekend lunar eclipse. Although the east coast of the United States will be shut out of this particular \u201cblood moon\u201d in the sky, it\u2019s just the third of four such eclipses spanning a period of a couple years \u2014 an event known as a tetrad. The phrase \u201cblood moon tetrad\u201d is a wonderful phrase that seems to demand its own apocalyptic mythology, which it, in fact, has. A total lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014, marked the beginning of a remarkable series of eclipses all visible from North America. Although not every full lunar eclipse turns a blood red color earning its colloquial name, the current tetrad has become the focus of speculation in some circles about its relationship to the coming end of the world. Something, the theory goes, simply must be coming with the tetrad. [Pass the jelly: How to watch the \u2018breakfast\u2019 lunar eclipse Saturday morning] So, are we two blood moons away from the End Times? Let\u2019s find out! What does the Bible say about blood moons? As Sarah Pulliam Bailey has previously noted, there are two major blood moon references in scripture. They are pretty similar, but in different books: - \u201cThe sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord,\u201d \u2013 Joel 2:31 - \u201cThe sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord.\u201d \u2013 Acts 2:20 So, potentially not a good day for humans. But the authority on what the blood moon means for those who believe really has more to do with a little cottage industry of blood moon-themed books promoting the theory. Okay, so what do those blood moon books say about blood moons? The books are built on a Dan Brown-esque imposition of coded messages and signs on biblical history and the Bible itself, with titles, such as, \u201cFour Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change,\u201d and \u201cBlood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs.\u201d Root Source\u2019s Gidon Ariel has explained why he thinks a tetrad is particularly worth paying attention to: \u201cNot only does"}], "old": [{"_id": "858150ae1e73a1bb030e89afe869b5f0_0", "title": "Everything you need to know about the \u2018blood moon\u2019 apocalypse debate", "text": "Time-lapse video captures a total lunar eclipse, also known as a \"blood moon,\" which was visible from the U.S. as it dipped into Earth's shadow. The phrase \u201cblood moon tetrad\u201d is a wonderful phrase that seems to demand its own apocalyptic mythology, which it, in fact, has. A total lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014, marked the beginning of a remarkable series of eclipses all visible from North America. [Pass the jelly: How to watch the \u2018breakfast\u2019 lunar eclipse Saturday morning] So, are we two blood moons away from the End Times? Let\u2019s find out! What does the Bible say about blood moons? So, potentially not a good day for humans. But the authority on what the blood moon means for those who believe really has more to do with a little cottage industry of blood moon-themed books promoting the theory. Okay, so what do those blood moon books say about blood moons? The books are built on a Dan Brown-esque imposition of coded messages and signs on biblical history and the Bible itself, with titles, such as, \u201cFour Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change,\u201d and \u201cBlood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs.\u201d [Apocalypse now? \u2018Blood moon\u2019 prophet explains what\u2019s behind the doomsday predictions] \u201cI\u2019m just saying there\u2019s a good chance there could be a war with Israel,\u201d Biltz told me in an interview. \u201cI\u2019m also saying there\u2019s a good chance there could be economic calamity. And I\u2019m basing that on the Bible and patterns.\u201d The message of the tetrad, many followers believe, is potentially a bad one for Israel \u2026 The moon glows a red hue during a total lunar eclipse Tuesday, April 15, 2014, as seen from the Milwaukee area. That eclipse was the first of four total lunar eclipses to take place between 2014 to 2015. (AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Mike De Sisti) Is there anything we can do? Let me finish! So there\u2019s more than one person promoting this blood moon theory? There is, in fact, a rivalry. Blitz, quoted above, has recently accused Hagee of ripping off his blood moon theory and claiming too much credit for it, just as Hagee was preparing to release a movie called \u201cFour Blood Moons.\u201d Blitz characterizes himself as the discoverer of the whole blood moon apocalypse idea, after he noted a connection between NASA\u2019s charts of eclipses and the Jewish holiday calender. According to Blitz, he started putting"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Time-lapse video captures a total lunar eclipse, also known as a \"blood moon,\" which was visible from the U.S. as it dipped into Earth's shadow.\nFor a very brief time on Saturday,\u00a0the moon will turn an orangey-red, depending on conditions, during\u00a0an Easter weekend lunar eclipse. Although the east coast of the United States will be shut out\u00a0of this particular \u201cblood moon\u201d in the sky, it\u2019s just the third of four such eclipses spanning a period of a couple years \u2014 an event known as a tetrad.\nThe phrase \u201cblood moon tetrad\u201d is a wonderful phrase that seems to demand its own apocalyptic mythology, which it, in fact, has.\nA total lunar eclipse on April 15, 2014, marked the beginning of a remarkable series of eclipses all visible from North America.\nAlthough not every full lunar eclipse turns a blood red color earning its colloquial name, the current tetrad has become the focus of speculation in some circles about its relationship to the coming end of the world. Something, the theory goes,\u00a0simply\u00a0must be coming with the tetrad.\n[Pass the jelly: How to watch the \u2018breakfast\u2019 lunar eclipse Saturday morning]\nSo, are we two blood moons away from the End Times? Let\u2019s find out!\nWhat does the Bible say about blood moons?\nAs Sarah Pulliam Bailey has previously noted, there are two major blood moon references in scripture. They are pretty similar, but in different books:\n- \u201cThe sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord,\u201d \u2013 Joel 2:31\n- \u201cThe sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord.\u201d \u2013 Acts 2:20\nSo, potentially not a good day for humans.\nBut the authority on what the blood moon means for those who believe really has more to do with a little cottage industry of blood moon-themed books promoting the theory.\nOkay, so what do those blood\u00a0moon books say about blood moons?\nThe books are built on a Dan Brown-esque imposition of coded messages and signs on biblical history and the Bible itself, with titles, such as, \u201cFour Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change,\u201d and \u201cBlood Moons: Decoding the Imminent Heavenly Signs.\u201d\nRoot Source\u2019s Gidon Ariel\u00a0has explained why he thinks a tetrad is particularly worth paying attention to: \u201cNot only does God\u2019s name have four letters, but it was on the fourth day of creation that God created the sun and the moon, establishing them as signs to mark sacred times, such as the Festival of Passover.\u201d\n[Apocalypse now? \u2018Blood moon\u2019 prophet explains what\u2019s behind the doomsday predictions]\nMark Biltz, founder of the Washington State-based El Shaddai Ministries, wrote the latter of those two books mentioned above. He spoke to The Washington Post last year about what he thinks the blood moons are saying:\n\u201cI\u2019m just saying there\u2019s a good chance there could be a war with Israel,\u201d Biltz told me in an interview. \u201cI\u2019m also saying there\u2019s a good chance there could be economic calamity. And I\u2019m basing that on the Bible and patterns.\u201d\nBlitz has told\u00a0World Net Daily,\u00a0where he is a regular interviewee and contributor, that he believes\u00a0Jewish tradition dictates an interpretive difference between solar and lunar eclipses. A solar eclipse, he said, is a message for the entire world. A lunar eclipse is a message for the Jewish people.\nThe message of the tetrad,\u00a0many followers believe, is potentially a bad one for Israel \u2026\nThe moon glows a red hue during a total lunar eclipse Tuesday, April 15, 2014, as seen from the Milwaukee area. That eclipse was\u00a0the first of four total lunar eclipses to\u00a0take place between 2014 to 2015. (AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Mike De Sisti)\nIs there anything we can do?\nLet me finish!\nThe message of the tetrad, some\u00a0believe, is potentially a bad one for Israel unless American Christians continue to stand with Israel and with Jesus. Both Blitz and fellow blood moon believer\u00a0(and Root Source co-founder)\u00a0Bob O\u2019Dell\u00a0have asked Christians to pray for the duration of Saturday\u2019s eclipse.\nOf course, many blood moon believers,\u00a0including megachurch pastor John Hagee,\u00a0believe that this particular blood moon closely precedes the Rapture of Christians,\u00a0Armageddon and the second coming of Christ.\nSo there\u2019s more than one person promoting this blood moon theory?\nThere is, in fact, a rivalry.\nBlitz, quoted above, has recently accused Hagee of ripping off his blood moon theory and claiming too much credit for it, just as Hagee was preparing to release a movie called \u201cFour Blood Moons.\u201d\nBlitz characterizes himself as the discoverer of the whole blood moon apocalypse idea,\u00a0after he noted a connection between NASA\u2019s charts of eclipses and the Jewish holiday calender. According to Blitz, he started putting together his theory in 2008. He\u2019s been a public proponent of the blood moon prophecy ever since, although his book on the topic came out in 2014.\nHagee, meanwhile, published his own popular book about the blood moons in 2013, a year after Blitz says he first talked to Hagee about the theory. Hagee has since become a\u00a0very popular authority\u00a0on the prophecy, and says that he discovered the theory independently based off those same NASA eclipse charts.\nThe feud played out publicly, in part\u00a0on the pages of World Net Daily in recent weeks.\nI read Capital Weather Gang\u2019s great explainer on Saturday\u2019s eclipse and learned that blood moon tetrads happen on the regular, in cycles of boom and bust. What makes this blood moon tetrad different from any other blood moon tetrad?\nWell, while this doesn\u2019t necessarily make the current blood moon tetrad unique for reasons we\u2019ll get to soon enough, those who believe it\u2019s a divine warning of significance have pointed to the alignment of each blood moon with a major Jewish holiday:\n- April 15, 2014 \u2013 Passover\n- October 8, 2014 \u2013 Sukkot\n- April 4, 2015 \u2013 Passover\n- September 28, 2015 \u2013 Sukkot\nAs you\u2019ll remember, there was also recently a solar eclipse, right in the middle of all those blood moons.\nBut there have already been two blood moons! The world\u2019s still here.\nIn fact, Blitz believes that the blood moon prophecy is already coming true. Again from World Net Daily:\n\u201cAfter the first blood moon, we\u2019ve had the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, we\u2019ve had the advance of ISIS, a two-month war between Israel and Gaza, the Ebola plague, the overthrow of Yemen, upheaval in the Middle East, and economic meltdowns coming. We still have over a year to go. More judgment coming anytime in 2016 as well is what these blood moons are referring to.\u201d\nDoes the blood moon tetrad have anything to say to President\u00a0Obama?\nOh,\u00a0does it ever! Last year, Blitz posited that the blood moons were in no small part meant as divine\u00a0warnings to the president about his Middle East policy.\u00a0\u201cThe moons are like flashing red warning lights at a heavenly intersection saying to Israel as well as the nations they will be crossing heavenly red lines,\u201d Blitz wrote, \u201cand if they do, they will understand as Pharaoh did on Passover night 3,500 years ago that the Creator backs up what He says.\u201d\nHow do you explain the alignment of the eclipses with all those Jewish holidays?\nThe Jewish calender, unlike our solar-based 12-month calendar, is primarily based on the lunar cycle. Meaning: it makes sense that every once in a while, an unusual but not unheard of phenomenon, such as a tetrad of full moon eclipses would fall on four holidays that correspond to the moon\u2019s cycle \u2014 especially when some of them, such as Passover, always begin on a full moon.\nInterested in more religion stories? Read more from\u00a0Acts of Faith:\n18 stunning photos of people around the world marking Good Friday\nWhat Passover can teach you about getting rid of clutter and finding joy\nFather, Son and Holy Roast: How coffee became Christians\u2019 acceptable vice"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "908b4060597f54b4c9a277f3413db064_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "908b4060597f54b4c9a277f3413db064_1", "title": "Holiday Puts A Bright Spot On Calendar", "text": "adults around this neighborhood knew better. They were ready with their electric-blue welding glasses and their makeshift pinhole viewers, ready to abandon the comforting warmth of their fireplaces and the lure of their televisions to see the moon sweep across the sun in a partial eclipse. It was a rare Christmas gift from the celestial spheres. It was visible throughout most of North America. The last solar eclipse on Dec. 25 was in 1954. Seen in . . . Africa. The next solar eclipse on Christmas Day won\u2019t take place until . . . 2307 . . . off the western coast of, yet again, Africa. Yesterday was as close to a total eclipse that this area will get for the next decade, according to Astronomy magazine. So it was a precious chance, and families across the Washington region turned off the Internet and their videos and stepped into the cold air to watch nature\u2019s performance. Dozens went to the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory at the Maryland Science Center at Baltimore\u2019s Inner Harbor. The observatory hosted an eclipse-viewing party with filter-equipped telescopes. Many just watched from their front yards. Some had handmade viewers; others had store-bought versions. All week long, Hands On Optics in Damascus was selling solar eclipse viewers. Astronomers caution that looking directly at the sun can cause retinal damage, so many eclipse watchers were careful to use the viewers or welding glasses. Astronomer Fred Espenak, known as \u201cMr. Eclipse\u201d and one of the world\u2019s foremost experts on occultations, posted hundreds of pages of history and tips and trivia on his Web site, sunearth.gsfc. nasa.gov/ eclipse/eclipse.htm. It served as a handy Internet guide for families who wanted to craft the right viewing equipment for spotting the old- fashioned eclipse with newly fashioned technology and data. A scientist in the Lab for Extraterrestial Physics at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Espenak describes the eclipse on his Web site as \u201cone of the most awe inspiring spectacles in all of nature.\u201d People have long feared, honored and respected eclipses. The historian Herodotus recorded that in 585 B.C. an eclipse fell in the midst of a ferocious battle between the Medes and the Lydians. Both sides of the seven-year war were so terrified they laid down their arms, immediately declared peace and sealed it with a marriage between the son and daughter of opposing kings. Today, some worry, with various"}], "old": [{"_id": "908b4060597f54b4c9a277f3413db064_1", "title": "Holiday Puts A Bright Spot On Calendar", "text": "They were ready with their electric-blue welding glasses and their makeshift pinhole viewers, ready to abandon the comforting warmth of their fireplaces and the lure of their televisions to see the moon sweep across the sun in a partial eclipse. It was a rare Christmas gift from the celestial spheres. It was visible throughout most of North America. The last solar eclipse on Dec. 25 was in 1954. Seen in . . . Africa. The next solar eclipse on Christmas Day won\u2019t take place until . . . 2307 . . . off the western coast of, yet again, Africa. Yesterday was as close to a total eclipse that this area will get for the next decade, according to Astronomy magazine. So it was a precious chance, and families across the Washington region turned off the Internet and their videos and stepped into the cold air to watch nature\u2019s performance. Dozens went to the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory at the Maryland Science Center at Baltimore\u2019s Inner Harbor. The observatory hosted an eclipse-viewing party with filter-equipped telescopes. Many just watched from their front yards. Some had handmade viewers; others had store-bought versions. All week long, Hands On Optics in Damascus was selling solar eclipse viewers. Astronomers caution that looking directly at the sun can cause retinal damage, so many eclipse watchers were careful to use the viewers or welding glasses. Astronomer Fred Espenak, known as \u201cMr. Eclipse\u201d and one of the world\u2019s foremost experts on occultations, posted hundreds of pages of history and tips and trivia on his Web site, sunearth.gsfc. nasa.gov/ eclipse/eclipse.htm. It served as a handy Internet guide for families who wanted to craft the right viewing equipment for spotting the old- fashioned eclipse with newly fashioned technology and data. A scientist in the Lab for Extraterrestial Physics at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Espenak describes the eclipse on his Web site as \u201cone of the most awe inspiring spectacles in all of nature.\u201d People have long feared, honored and respected eclipses. The historian Herodotus recorded that in 585 B.C. an eclipse fell in the midst of a ferocious battle between the Medes and the Lydians. Both sides of the seven-year war were so terrified they laid down their arms, immediately declared peace and sealed it with a marriage between the son and daughter of opposing kings. Today, some worry, with various levels of seriousness, that the Christmas"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "\nBy Emily Wax December 26, 2000\nInside his parents\u2019 warm Alexandria home, Richard Wainstein gently poked a pin through a cardboard shoe box, making a tiny hole, smaller than a crumb from his Christmas breakfast.\nThen the 43-year-old lawyer jumped up, calling out to his relatives, \u201cLet\u2019s go. It\u2019s time for the eclipse.\u201d\nAt exactly noon yesterday, they rushed out into the frosty, stinging wind to see the solar eclipse, when part of the moon slides between the Earth and the sun.\nFacing away from the sun, they held the lid of the cream-colored box to capture its rays. Positioning the box a few inches away, they were able to see a silhouette of the moon that was cast onto its surface.\nSuddenly, other neighbors opened their front doors and hurried outside, too.\nThere was Calvin Coolidge\u2013the grandnephew of the nation\u2019s 30th president\u2013and his wife, Joan. Their kids remained inside, snug in their pajamas watching the film \u201cBabes in Toyland.\u201d\nThen there were Rick and Diane Johnston, with their dog Indy, and their chunky welding glasses. But their three children also stayed inside, sprawled in front of video games: \u201cThey don\u2019t know what they are missing,\u201d Dianne Johnston said.\nThe adults around this neighborhood knew better.\nThey were ready with their electric-blue welding glasses and their makeshift pinhole viewers, ready to abandon the comforting warmth of their fireplaces and the lure of their televisions to see the moon sweep across the sun in a partial eclipse.\nIt was a rare Christmas gift from the celestial spheres. It was visible throughout most of North America.\nThe last solar eclipse on Dec. 25 was in 1954. Seen in . . . Africa. The next solar eclipse on Christmas Day won\u2019t take place until . . . 2307 . . . off the western coast of, yet again, Africa.\nYesterday was as close to a total eclipse that this area will get for the next decade, according to Astronomy magazine.\nSo it was a precious chance, and families across the Washington region turned off the Internet and their videos and stepped into the cold air to watch nature\u2019s performance.\nDozens went to the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory at the Maryland Science Center at Baltimore\u2019s Inner Harbor. The observatory hosted an eclipse-viewing party with filter-equipped telescopes.\nMany just watched from their front yards. Some had handmade viewers; others had store-bought versions. All week long, Hands On Optics in Damascus was selling solar eclipse viewers.\nAstronomers caution that looking directly at the sun can cause retinal damage, so many eclipse watchers were careful to use the viewers or welding glasses.\nAstronomer Fred Espenak, known as \u201cMr. Eclipse\u201d and one of the world\u2019s foremost experts on occultations, posted hundreds of pages of history and tips and trivia on his Web site, sunearth.gsfc. nasa.gov/ eclipse/eclipse.htm. It served as a handy Internet guide for families who wanted to craft the right viewing equipment for spotting the old- fashioned eclipse with newly fashioned technology and data.\nA scientist in the Lab for Extraterrestial Physics at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Espenak describes the eclipse on his Web site as \u201cone of the most awe inspiring spectacles in all of nature.\u201d\nPeople have long feared, honored and respected eclipses. The historian Herodotus recorded that in 585 B.C. an eclipse fell in the midst of a ferocious battle between the Medes and the Lydians. Both sides of the seven-year war were so terrified they laid down their arms, immediately declared peace and sealed it with a marriage between the son and daughter of opposing kings.\nToday, some worry, with various levels of seriousness, that the Christmas eclipse signals some coming doom for the universe, or at least our planet.\n\u201cIt\u2019s either a miracle or the end of the world,\u201d joked Tony Addison, sipping coffee in Old Town Alexandria with his family. \u201cWith Christmas, Ramadan and Hanukah and the eclipse all at the same time . . . gotta make you wonder.\u201d\nHis family just laughed. They were driving to North Carolina and hoped to see the eclipse on their way.\nBack in the South Alexandria neighborhood, there were no conspiracy theories. There was just happiness that the eclipse had brought the neighbors together on a day they usually spend apart.\nNeighbors shook hands, joked about what they got for the holidays and shared viewing equipment.\nWith the glasses, Dianne Johnston was able to see a strange sun, one that looked like a piece of cheese that had been munched on from one side. The moon covered about 20 to 60 percent of it, astronomers said.\nRichard Wainstein was able to see an image of a sun that looked like it was being carved away. \u201cIt looks like the sun has a bite taken out of it,\u201d Wainstein explained to his son, Nathan, 12, who came out to take a peek but then scrambled back inside.\nNathan\u2019s grandmother, Eleanor, 76, came out wrapped in a floppy purple hat and camel-colored coat.\n\u201cThis is an eclipse better than any other, since it fell on Christmas and the entire family was gathered,\u201d she said.\nAs she uttered those words, even the skeptical teenagers started to come out of their homes. Some came after the adults had gone in for a sip of hot chocolate and had bragged about the eclipse.\n\u201cI want to see. I want to see,\u201d said Sarah Coolidge, 17.\nHer family and her neighbors peered again at the eclipse through their glasses and their paper viewers. \u201cOhh,\u201d they said in unison.\nAnd for a few minutes, an entire neighborhood spent Christmas together under a partially eclipsed sun.\nCurated by producer Katherine Arcement."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "94cade32badd3c0b2858b34890a5f0ff_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "94cade32badd3c0b2858b34890a5f0ff_0", "title": "Rocking the red: A lunar eclipse bathes the moon in color Wednesday morning", "text": "This picture taken in Manassas, Virginia shows the moon during the peak of a total lunar eclipse on December, 21, 2010. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images) Now, even the moon will rock the red. On Wednesday morning Oct. 8 before sunrise, the moon wraps itself in reddish, copper tones thanks to a total lunar eclipse in the western sky. Lunar eclipses \u2013 unlike solar eclipses \u2013 are safe to watch, says noted eclipse expert Fred Espenak. (Espenak\u2019s EclipseWise website can be found here.) A lunar eclipse can be observed with nothing more than the naked eye, he says. Standing between the sun and the moon, our planet throws a shadow as a result. This shadow has two parts: a penumbra and an umbra. The umbra is the central shadow and the penumbra is the perimeter shadow surrounding the umbra. Entering the partial phase (the penumbral shadow) at 5:15 a.m. EDT, the moon slowly gains a red glow. Our lunar colleague then moves into the umbral shadow by 6:25 a.m., and \u2013 and barring cloudy skies \u2013 consumes itself wholly in crimson. The full moon officially occurs at 6:51 a.m. (EDT), according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. And the middle of the total lunar eclipse occurs at 6:55 a.m., but note the sky will be lightening for sunrise (7:11 a.m.) in the east. The moon sets in the west a mere five minutes later at 7:16 a.m., according to the Naval Observatory. The moon will turn a lovely shade of \"celestial red\" when it passes through the shadow of Earth for a total lunar eclipse in the early morning hours of Oct. 8. Quartet in the cosmos This total lunar eclipse is the second of four total lunar eclipses in a row and that special quartet of events is called a tetrad. The first total lunar eclipse in the tetrad was April 15 and the next one will be April 4, 2015 and then Sept. 28, 2015. Between 1582 and 1908, there were no tetrads. In our modern age, there will be eight tetrads in this century. The last quartet was 2003-04, while the next one will occur in 2032-33. It\u2019s a family affair Lunar eclipses occur in a series \u2013 or a family \u2013 every 18 years, 11 days and 8 hours, and these eclipse families are called \u201csaros,\u201d says NASA. The Oct. 8 eclipse belongs to lunar eclipse Saros 127, a"}], "old": [{"_id": "94cade32badd3c0b2858b34890a5f0ff_0", "title": "Rocking the red: A lunar eclipse bathes the moon in color Wednesday morning", "text": "This picture taken in Manassas, Virginia shows the moon during the peak of a total lunar eclipse on December, 21, 2010. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images) Now, even the moon will rock the red. On Wednesday morning Oct. 8 before sunrise, the moon wraps itself in reddish, copper tones thanks to a total lunar eclipse in the western sky. Standing between the sun and the moon, our planet throws a shadow as a result. This shadow has two parts: a penumbra and an umbra. The umbra is the central shadow and the penumbra is the perimeter shadow surrounding the umbra. Entering the partial phase (the penumbral shadow) at 5:15 a.m. EDT, the moon slowly gains a red glow. Our lunar colleague then moves into the umbral shadow by 6:25 a.m., and \u2013 and barring cloudy skies \u2013 consumes itself wholly in crimson. The full moon officially occurs at 6:51 a.m. (EDT), according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. And the middle of the total lunar eclipse occurs at 6:55 a.m., but note the sky will be lightening for sunrise (7:11 a.m.) in the east. The moon sets in the west a mere five minutes later at 7:16 a.m., according to the Naval Observatory. The moon will turn a lovely shade of \"celestial red\" when it passes through the shadow of Earth for a total lunar eclipse in the early morning hours of Oct. 8. Quartet in the cosmos This total lunar eclipse is the second of four total lunar eclipses in a row and that special quartet of events is called a tetrad. The first total lunar eclipse in the tetrad was April 15 and the next one will be April 4, 2015 and then Sept. 28, 2015. Between 1582 and 1908, there were no tetrads. In our modern age, there will be eight tetrads in this century. The last quartet was 2003-04, while the next one will occur in 2032-33. It\u2019s a family affair Lunar eclipses occur in a series \u2013 or a family \u2013 every 18 years, 11 days and 8 hours, and these eclipse families are called \u201csaros,\u201d says NASA. The Oct. 8 eclipse belongs to lunar eclipse Saros 127, a series that dates back to July 9, 1275. The last eclipse in this family will happen on Sept. 2, 2555. Our ancestors enjoyed this series\u2019 longest total lunar eclipse on July 23, 1888, when it lasted 1 hour and"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "This picture taken in Manassas, Virginia shows the moon during the peak of a total lunar eclipse on December, 21, 2010. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)\nNow, even the moon will rock the red. On Wednesday morning Oct. 8 before sunrise, the moon wraps itself in reddish, copper tones thanks to a total lunar eclipse in the western sky.\nLunar eclipses \u2013 unlike solar eclipses \u2013 are safe to watch, says noted eclipse expert Fred Espenak. (Espenak\u2019s EclipseWise website can be found here.) A lunar eclipse can be observed with nothing more than the naked eye, he says.\nStanding between the sun and the moon, our planet throws a shadow as a result. This shadow has two parts: a penumbra and an umbra. The umbra is the central shadow and the penumbra is the perimeter shadow surrounding the umbra.\nEntering the partial phase (the penumbral shadow) at 5:15 a.m. EDT, the moon slowly gains a red glow. Our lunar colleague then moves into the umbral shadow by 6:25 a.m., and \u2013 and barring cloudy skies \u2013 consumes itself wholly in crimson.\nThe full moon officially occurs at 6:51 a.m. (EDT), according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. And the middle of the total lunar eclipse occurs at 6:55 a.m., but note the sky will be lightening for sunrise (7:11 a.m.) in the east. The moon sets in the west a mere five minutes later at 7:16 a.m., according to the Naval Observatory.\nThe moon will turn a lovely shade of \"celestial red\" when it passes through the shadow of Earth for a total lunar eclipse in the early morning hours of Oct. 8.\n\u00a0\nQuartet in the cosmos\nThis total lunar eclipse is the second of four total lunar eclipses in a row and that special quartet of events is called a tetrad. The first total lunar eclipse in the tetrad was April 15 and the next one will be April 4, 2015 and then Sept. 28, 2015.\nBetween 1582 and 1908, there were no tetrads. In our modern age, there will be eight tetrads in this century. The last quartet was 2003-04, while the next one will occur in 2032-33.\nIt\u2019s a family affair\nLunar eclipses occur in a series \u2013 or a family \u2013 every 18 years, 11 days and 8 hours, and these eclipse families are called \u201csaros,\u201d says NASA. The Oct. 8 eclipse belongs to lunar eclipse Saros 127, a series that dates back to July 9, 1275. The last eclipse in this family will happen on Sept. 2, 2555.\nOur ancestors enjoyed this series\u2019 longest total lunar eclipse on July 23, 1888, when it lasted 1 hour and 46 minutes. The shortest total eclipse in Saros 127 will be Nov. 9, 2068, when it will last just over 18 minutes. Saros 127 continues with its next total lunar eclipse on Oct. 18, 2032.\nView online in case of clouds\nIn case of clouds, look online to Slooh.com, where the eclipse will be webcast live starting at 5 a.m. EDT, on Wednesday.\nIn about two weeks, the Washington gets another cosmic treat: A partial solar eclipse at the end of daylight on Thursday, Oct. 23.\n(Fred Espenak, EclipseWise.com)"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "9bf4d650-5c17-11e7-a9f6-7c3296387341_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "9bf4d650-5c17-11e7-a9f6-7c3296387341_1", "title": "Want to see this summer\u2019s solar eclipse? Here are some viewing options across the U.S.", "text": "time, with the shadow leaving American soil via McClellanville, S.C., at 2:49 p.m., Eastern daylight time. In between, it will cross cities in Oregon, Idaho, a sliver of Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, a sliver of Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Darkness will last anywhere from a few seconds to two minutes 41 seconds, depending on the location. While eclipses are fairly common \u2014 they happen about once a year, sometimes more \u2014 they\u2019re often in remote areas or over water. This will be the first total solar eclipse that has been visible in the continental United States since 1979, and it\u2019s the first to cross the country coast to coast in 99 years. Throughout the country, universities, parks, farms, museums, hotels and other venues are hosting festivals and viewing parties to celebrate the phenomenon. Nichols will be traveling with a team from the Adler Planetarium about 330 miles south of Chicago to Carbondale, Ill., which is located in the path of totality. She ticks off the things she\u2019s excited to see, such as getting a glimpse of the wispy outer atmosphere of the sun, called the corona. \u201cThis is the jewel of a total solar eclipse and the only time on Earth that the corona can be seen with the naked eye,\u201d Nichols says. (Outside of the path of totality, a partial eclipse will be visible, and it will be too bright to see the corona; it will appear more like an ordinary day. You can watch the total solar eclipse on NASA\u2019s website.) And then there are the animals. It will be the first total solar eclipse Nichols has seen from the land \u2014 she watched the eclipse of Aug. 11, 1999, from a ship in the Black Sea \u2014 and she says that she\u2019s curious what will happen. \u201cAnimals think it\u2019s time to go to bed. So cows might start walking toward the barn because they think it\u2019s nighttime. And birds might go to roost because they think it\u2019s nighttime. And crickets might start chirping because they think it\u2019s nighttime,\u201d she says. It\u2019s a reminder of the interconnectedness of the universe. \u201cSomething in space is literally directly affecting stuff here on Earth. That\u2019s the most amazing part to me,\u201d Nichols says. The path of the moon\u2019s umbral shadow across South Carolina during the upcoming total solar eclipse. (Courtesy of NASA) Wherever you"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Many communities across the U.S. are hosting parties and events to celebrate the total solar eclipse on August 21. (Associated Press)\nCorrection:\nMichelle Nichols speaks with such passion and poetry about the moon passing in front of the sun that she can inspire someone with even the smallest sliver of astronomical knowledge (such as this travel writer) to begin planning a trip to see the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21.\n\u201cIt looks like a hole in the sky. In the middle of the day, the sky goes dark and you can see stars and planets,\u201d says Nichols, who is director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. \u201cI\u2019ve seen one total solar eclipse, which was mind-blowing.\u201d\nThe August eclipse is especially exciting for people in the United States because this country will be the only place where something called the \u201cpath of totality\u201d can be seen. That\u2019s where the moon will completely cover the sun, casting the land in darkness. That path is within a day\u2019s driving distance for millions of people.\nThe path of totality will pass over 14 states, starting in the morning on the coast of Oregon, near Newport, at 10:15 a.m. Pacific daylight time, with the shadow leaving American soil via McClellanville, S.C., at 2:49 p.m., Eastern daylight time. In between, it will cross cities in Oregon, Idaho, a sliver of Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, a sliver of Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Darkness will last anywhere from a few seconds to two minutes 41 seconds, depending on the location.\n\nWhile eclipses are fairly common \u2014 they happen about once a year, sometimes more \u2014 they\u2019re often in remote areas or over water. This will be the first total solar eclipse that has been visible in the continental United States since 1979, and it\u2019s the first to cross the country coast to coast in 99 years. Throughout the country, universities, parks, farms, museums, hotels and other venues are hosting festivals and viewing parties to celebrate the phenomenon.\nNichols will be traveling with a team from the Adler Planetarium about 330 miles south of Chicago to Carbondale, Ill., which is located in the path of totality. She ticks off the things she\u2019s excited to see, such as getting a glimpse of the wispy outer atmosphere of the sun, called the corona.\n\u201cThis is the jewel of a total solar eclipse and the only time on Earth that the corona can be seen with the naked eye,\u201d Nichols says. (Outside of the path of totality, a partial eclipse will be visible, and it will be too bright to see the corona; it will appear more like an ordinary day. You can watch the total solar eclipse on NASA\u2019s website.)\nAnd then there are the animals. It will be the first total solar eclipse Nichols has seen from the land \u2014 she watched the eclipse of Aug. 11, 1999, from a ship in the Black Sea \u2014 and she says that she\u2019s curious what will happen.\n\u201cAnimals think it\u2019s time to go to bed. So cows might start walking toward the barn because they think it\u2019s nighttime. And birds might go to roost because they think it\u2019s nighttime. And crickets might start chirping because they think it\u2019s nighttime,\u201d she says.\nIt\u2019s a reminder of the interconnectedness of the universe.\n\u201cSomething in space is literally directly affecting stuff here on Earth. That\u2019s the most amazing part to me,\u201d Nichols says.\nThe path of the moon\u2019s umbral shadow across South Carolina during the upcoming total solar eclipse. (Courtesy of NASA)\nWherever you are, Nichols cautions, never look directly at the sun unless you are within the path of totality and it is completely covered by the moon. She recommends purchasing a pair of eclipse glasses made by one of four companies: Lunt Solar Systems, Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, and Thousand Oaks Optical.\nSome people have been planning for this eclipse since 1979, Nichols says. City officials in the path of totality anticipate heavy traffic and many hotels across the country have been long sold out. (Camping may not be a bad idea.) Still, she encourages people to find a way to see the sky show.\nIf you can\u2019t make it, cheer up: There\u2019s another total solar eclipse coming on April 8, 2024, which will travel the country from southwest to the northeast.\nReady to chase the eclipse? Here are highlights of what\u2019s happening around the country within the path of totality:\n\u25cfCamping spots are still available (five days, $150-$3,500) in Madras, Ore., for Solarfest , a music and camping celebration that\u2019s operating in partnership with NASA for premier eclipse viewing.\n\u25cfOpen spaces and parkland in Wyoming are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors. In Casper, where elevation is 5,000 feet, viewing parties will go on across town, from the fairgrounds and area churches to a distillery \u2014 Backwards Distilling, which is planning distillery tours, live music, food and cocktails. In Jackson Hole, the nonprofit organization Wyoming Stargazing is hosting two pre-eclipse mountain parties that include a chairlift ride, presentations from astronomy experts, mingling with retired astronaut Scott Altman, refreshments and stargazing through telescopes (tickets $375).\n\u25cfOn the day of the eclipse, Spring Creek Ranch is hosting a party in partnership with Wyoming Stargazing, which will include brunch, cocktails, eclipse glasses, and talks and interpretations by experts ($175 per person ; condos are still available at the property starting at $1,600 a night).\n\u25cfIn Weston, Mo., a farm festival is the place to be. Green Dirt Farm and Chef Howard Hanna of the Rieger restaurant in Kansas City will co-host an all-day, adults-only festival, cleverly named \u201cBlack Sheep in the Shadow \u2013 a Total Eclipse of the Farm,\u201d which will include food (roasted pig and lamb), live music and \u201cfreakshow-style\u201d performances.\nRooms are still available at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, where guests can also view the sky from the event space on the 42nd floor (rates start at $221 per night). Columbia, Mo., will be celebrating the darkness with the \u201cShow Me Totality\u201d party including food and music festivals, a run, golf tournament, bicycle ride, a concert and viewing parties at multiple locations.\n\u25cfIn Carbondale, Ill., a festival art and craft fair, eclipse comic-con and more are in the works and a team from Chicago\u2019s Adler Planetarium will be onsite to answer questions and lead events. NASA will be streaming a live feed and the public is invited to Saluki Stadium, where Matt Kaplan of Planetary Radio will act as a guide for the main event (tickets are $25). If you can\u2019t find a room at a local hotel, Southern Illinois University is offering dorm suite rentals \u2014 four single beds for three nights \u2014 for $800 (visit housing.siu.edu/eclipse).\n\u25cfNashville\n\u25cfAs its grand finale, the path of totality will cross South Carolina. In Columbia, the South Carolina State Museum will host a weekend-long celebration with eclipse and astronomy activities, talks and expert appearances , and nearly 100 events are planned in and around Charleston, including a family-friendly viewing party at the Bend on the Ashley River featuring live music, STEM activities (a robotics demonstration, paper airplane building), astronomers on site and a live feed of NASA launching high-altitude balloons in Charleston. There are also events at museums (\u201cEclipse on a Warship\u201d at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum) and yoga gatherings (SunShadow Yoga at Mount Pleasant Pier), and hotels with remaining rooms are offering eclipse packages \u2014 visit charlestoncvb.com/eclipse.\nTo learn more about the eclipse and events surrounding it, visit NASA\u2019s eclipse page at eclipse2017.nasa.gov.\nSilver is a writer based in Chicago. Find her on Twitter: @K8Silver.\nMore from Travel:\nWhy you should visit Columbus, Ohio\nHow many states have you been to?\nThe essential guide to all 59 U.S. national parks"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "a444ec3207c4312947a85731b328ae89_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "a444ec3207c4312947a85731b328ae89_0", "title": "Here\u2019s what will happen to the weather during the total solar eclipse", "text": "Capital Weather Gang's Angela Fritz breaks down what will happen when a total solar eclipse crosses the U.S. on Aug. 21. As skywatchers nationwide unwrap their eclipse glasses Aug. 21 and photographers polish their lenses, weather forecasters will be gearing up for a curveball many have never faced before: the shadow. With a miniature nightfall slated within an hour of lunchtime along the path of the solar eclipse next Monday, the looming darkness beneath the moon will interrupt the steady stream of solar radiation ordinarily delivered to Earth. The result? Temperatures will fall and fall fast. What makes the mercury plummet with such speed during the onset of a total eclipse is just how localized the shadow is, and how quickly it\u2019s moving. After all, imagine someone whipping a blanket across the sky at over 2,400 miles per hour! During ordinary nightfall in the summertime, any given location may transition through an hour or two of twilight en route to darkness. In the case of an eclipse, however, the difference is literally night and day \u2014 jumping between the two in under 90 seconds! This is how the total solar #Eclipse2017 will affect incoming solar radiation on August 21st, 2017. https://t.co/p9MqGqmWGC The common consensus across the meteorological community is that those fully immersed within the umbra \u2014 the darkest part of the moon\u2019s shadow \u2014 will experience a temperature drop of about 10 degrees, maybe more. Along the periphery of the shadow, and in the regions treated only to a partial eclipse, this will likely be on the order of just three to five degrees. Even though incoming sunlight will return in full force after the eclipse, most places will fall short of reaching their average daily high temperatures before sunset, thanks to valuable time lost in the darkness. \u201cWe have certainly been thinking about this,\u201d said Dan Satterfield, chief meteorologist at WBOC, the CBS television affiliate in Salisbury, Md. \u201cSince the eclipse will happen near the time of our max heating, it looks like we\u2019ll need to lower our temperature forecasts somewhat.\u201d Satterfield expects that this could be \u201cat least several degrees, and maybe more.\u201d Mid-afternoon is, on average, our peak time to soak up the sun, but the normal rise in temperature will be interrupted. \u201cTemperatures will certainly stop climbing in the afternoon, and I suspect they\u2019ll drop a few degrees as we approach maximum eclipse,\u201d Satterfield said."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Capital Weather Gang's Angela Fritz breaks down what will happen when a total solar eclipse crosses the U.S. on Aug. 21.\nAs skywatchers nationwide unwrap their eclipse glasses Aug. 21 and photographers polish their lenses, weather forecasters will be gearing up for a curveball many have never faced before: the shadow.\nWith a miniature nightfall slated within an hour of lunchtime along the path of the solar eclipse next Monday, the looming darkness beneath the moon will interrupt the steady stream of solar radiation ordinarily delivered to Earth. The result? Temperatures will fall and fall fast.\nWhat makes the mercury plummet with such speed during the onset of a total eclipse is just how localized the shadow is, and how quickly it\u2019s moving. After all, imagine someone whipping a blanket across the sky at over 2,400 miles per hour! During ordinary nightfall in the summertime, any given location may transition through an hour or two of twilight en route to darkness. In the case of an eclipse, however, the difference is literally night and day \u2014 jumping between the two in under 90 seconds!\nThis is how the total solar #Eclipse2017 will affect incoming solar radiation on August 21st, 2017. https://t.co/p9MqGqmWGC\nThe common consensus across the meteorological community is that those fully immersed within the umbra \u2014 the darkest part of the moon\u2019s shadow \u2014 will experience a temperature drop of about 10 degrees, maybe more. Along the periphery of the shadow, and in the regions treated only to a partial eclipse, this will likely be on the order of just three to five degrees. Even though incoming sunlight will return in full force after the eclipse, most places will fall short of reaching their average daily high temperatures before sunset, thanks to valuable time lost in the darkness.\n\u201cWe have certainly been thinking about this,\u201d said Dan Satterfield, chief meteorologist at WBOC, the CBS television affiliate in Salisbury, Md. \u201cSince the eclipse will happen near the time of our max heating, it looks like we\u2019ll need to lower our temperature forecasts somewhat.\u201d Satterfield expects that this could be \u201cat least several degrees, and maybe more.\u201d\nMid-afternoon is, on average, our peak time to soak up the sun, but the normal rise in temperature will be interrupted. \u201cTemperatures will certainly stop climbing in the afternoon, and I suspect they\u2019ll drop a few degrees as we approach maximum eclipse,\u201d Satterfield said.\nNASA has conducted experiments\n(NASA)\nSpace.com documented\nDuring the total solar eclipse on Dec. 9, 1834, the Gettysburg Republican Banner reported that in some places, the eclipse caused the temperature to drop by as much as 28 degrees Fahrenheit, from 78 degrees F to 50 degrees F (25 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees C). During a total solar eclipse on the Norwegian island of Svalbard in March 2015, temperatures dropped from 8 degrees F to minus 7 degrees F (minus 13 C to minus 21 degrees C).\nNote that a drier atmosphere will lead to more dramatic swings on the thermometer. So less humid locations along the path of totality \u2014 for example, in the Intermountain West \u2014 will tend to witness sharper temperature drops than the muggier places in the Southeast.\nIf you plan on watching the eclipse along the path, bring a light jacket, because you\u2019ll basically be stepping out into the dead of night for a few short, awe-inspiring minutes.\nInterestingly, the coolest temperatures during the eclipse won\u2019t occur when it is darkest. Data obtained by Environment Canada back on Feb. 26, 1979, during a total eclipse that engulfed Hecla Island, Canada, suggest a roughly eight-minute \u201clag\u201d between a reduction in incident solar rays and a subsequent drop in temperature.\nDuring the eclipse, even the radiation we can\u2019t see, such as ultraviolet light, is blocked from penetrating down to the ground. An experiment conducted in the United Kingdom in 1954 illustrated a fall from 500 watts per meter squared of incoming radiation down to a mere 200. This occurred with a 71 percent partial eclipse in London. The watts per meter squared is analogous to suspending a light bulb with the given wattage over each square meter of land surface; while that would seem absurdly bright (for comparison, most of the bulbs that illuminate our homes top out around 75 watts), we must remember that a significant percentage of solar radiation is outside the visible spectrum. The good news? It\u2019ll be tougher to catch a sunburn!\nThat said, even if it looks darker, attempting to directly view the sun during the partial phases of the eclipse is still extremely dangerous! Until the last beads of visible light disappear and totality commences, you are still susceptible to high-energy rays of very short wavelength.\nIn the meantime, meteorologists across the nation will continue preparing for a bit of a plot twist in their temperature forecasts. Nobody seems to mind, though, because the added challenge is just a small price to pay for this celestial spectacle.\nLink:\nFollow Matthew Cappucci on Twitter @MatthewCappucci."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "b8b902346a6ede70096e271d3953bcf9_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b8b902346a6ede70096e271d3953bcf9_0", "title": "Can\u2019t find the protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse? Go old school.", "text": "The first coast-to-coast solar eclipse in almost 100 years moved across the U.S. at 2,000 mph on Aug. 21. Here are some highlights. To savor the solar eclipse, you don\u2019t need special equipment. Go old school. Go low-tech. A partial or total eclipse can still be a memorable experience if you\u2019re crafty and canny. As this Monday\u2019s total solar eclipse will create a ribbon of shadow stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, other locations in the continental United States will see varying degrees of a partial eclipse. You can find your specific circumstances at the U.S. Naval Observatory\u2019s Solar Eclipse Web page. Some places closer to the eclipse path of totality will have over 90 percent of the sun covered by the moon, while other places in the Northeast and Midwest will have less than 85 percent of the sun\u2019s face covered. For the Washington area, this event is a partial eclipse with about 80 percent of the sun obscured, according to the observatory. The eclipse starts at 1:17 p.m. Eastern time, and the middle of the eclipse occurs at 2:42 p.m. It all ends at 4:01 p.m. President Trump speaks at a Make America Great Again rally in Phoenix. The first rule of enjoying the eclipse is to never look directly at the sun, never look at the sun through a telescope or binoculars \u2014 unless these instruments have proper (emphasis on proper!) filters. Retired NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenek gets specific and warns to never look directly at the partial phases of any solar eclipse, or the maximum phases of an annular (ring of fire) solar eclipse with your unprotected or naked eye. He said that even when most of the sun\u2019s surface is blocked during the partial phases of a solar eclipse, the remaining, visible crescent is intensely bright and cannot be safely viewed without eye protection. Here are some old-school, low-tech ideas: Cereal Box Personal Theater The cereal box solar eclipse theater is a good way to safely view the Aug. 21 solar eclipse. Here's how to make one at home. Clear the kitchen table and find the craft scissors. Have the kids make their own cereal box solar eclipse theater. It\u2019s a terrific way to capture the eclipse action and safe for viewing. You\u2019ll need a cereal box, a piece of aluminum foil, tape and a small nail or pushpin. First, eat your Wheaties \u2014"}], "old": [{"_id": "b8b902346a6ede70096e271d3953bcf9_0", "title": "Can\u2019t find the protective glasses to watch the solar eclipse? Go old school.", "text": "The first coast-to-coast solar eclipse in almost 100 years moved across the U.S. at 2,000 mph on Aug. 21. Here are some highlights. To savor the solar eclipse, you don\u2019t need special equipment. Go old school. Go low-tech. A partial or total eclipse can still be a memorable experience if you\u2019re crafty and canny. For the Washington area, this event is a partial eclipse with about 80 percent of the sun obscured, according to the observatory. The eclipse starts at 1:17 p.m. Eastern time, and the middle of the eclipse occurs at 2:42 p.m. It all ends at 4:01 p.m. President Trump speaks at a Make America Great Again rally in Phoenix. Here are some old-school, low-tech ideas: Cereal Box Personal Theater The cereal box solar eclipse theater is a good way to safely view the Aug. 21 solar eclipse. Here's how to make one at home. Clear the kitchen table and find the craft scissors. Have the kids make their own cereal box solar eclipse theater. It\u2019s a terrific way to capture the eclipse action and safe for viewing. You\u2019ll need a cereal box, a piece of aluminum foil, tape and a small nail or pushpin. First, eat your Wheaties \u2014 or whatever toasted grain you prefer \u2014 and keep the box. On a white piece of paper or white cardboard, trace the bottom of the box. Then, clip out the traced rectangle from the paper and put it in the bottom of the opened box. That\u2019s your screen. Cut out two squares (1.5 inches should suffice) on the lid of the box and then tape the lid back together. For one square, cover the hole in foil and tape it down. Gently put a pushpin or small nail hole through it, as that is your lens. The smaller the hole, the sharper the projected image. Millions of people watched as the eclipse cut a path of totality 70 miles wide across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina on Monday. When using your personal box theater, turn away from the sun \u2014 and let the sun\u2019s rays shine through the tiny pin hole. Look through the other hole in the lid to see the eclipse action \u2014 during the eclipse you\u2019ll see the moon biting a chunk from the sun. Other kinds of small boxes \u2014 such as shoe boxes or small package boxes \u2014 work well,"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The first coast-to-coast solar eclipse in almost 100 years moved across the U.S. at 2,000 mph on Aug. 21. Here are some highlights.\nTo savor the solar eclipse, you don\u2019t need special equipment. Go old school. Go low-tech. A partial or total eclipse can still be a memorable experience if you\u2019re crafty and canny.\nAs this Monday\u2019s total solar eclipse will create a ribbon of shadow stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, other locations in the continental United States will see varying degrees of a partial eclipse. You can find your specific circumstances at the U.S. Naval Observatory\u2019s Solar Eclipse Web page.\nSome places closer to the eclipse path of totality will have over 90 percent of the sun covered by the moon, while other places in the Northeast and Midwest will have less than 85 percent of the sun\u2019s face covered.\nFor the Washington area, this event is a partial eclipse with about 80 percent of the sun obscured, according to the observatory. The eclipse starts at 1:17 p.m. Eastern time, and the middle of the eclipse occurs at 2:42 p.m. It all ends at 4:01 p.m.\nPresident Trump speaks at a Make America Great Again rally in Phoenix.\nThe first rule of enjoying the eclipse is to never look directly at the sun, never look at the sun through a telescope or binoculars \u2014 unless these instruments have proper (emphasis on proper!) filters. Retired NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenek gets specific and warns to never look directly at the partial phases of any solar eclipse, or the maximum phases of an annular (ring of fire) solar eclipse with your unprotected or naked eye. He said that even when most of the sun\u2019s surface is blocked during the partial phases of a solar eclipse, the remaining, visible crescent is intensely bright and cannot be safely viewed without eye protection.\nHere are some old-school, low-tech ideas:\nCereal Box Personal Theater\nThe cereal box solar eclipse theater is a good way to safely view the Aug. 21 solar eclipse. Here's how to make one at home.\nClear the kitchen table and find the craft scissors. Have the kids make their own cereal box solar eclipse theater. It\u2019s a terrific way to capture the eclipse action and safe for viewing. You\u2019ll need a cereal box, a piece of aluminum foil, tape and a small nail or pushpin.\nFirst, eat your Wheaties \u2014 or whatever toasted grain you prefer \u2014 and keep the box. On a white piece of paper or white cardboard, trace the bottom of the box. Then, clip out the traced rectangle from the paper and put it in the bottom of the opened box. That\u2019s your screen.\nCut out two squares (1.5 inches should suffice) on the lid of the box and then tape the lid back together. For one square, cover the hole in foil and tape it down. Gently put a pushpin or small nail hole through it, as that is your lens. The smaller the hole, the sharper the projected image.\nMillions of people watched as the eclipse cut a path of totality 70 miles wide across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina on Monday.\nWhen using your personal box theater, turn away from the sun \u2014 and let the sun\u2019s rays shine through the tiny pin hole. Look through the other hole in the lid to see the eclipse action \u2014 during the eclipse you\u2019ll see the moon biting a chunk from the sun.\nOther kinds of small boxes \u2014 such as shoe boxes or small package boxes \u2014 work well, too. And over the weekend, have the kids decorate them for fun.\n(NASA)\nWaffle fingers\nIf you have nothing handy with which to watch, don\u2019t fret. Use your hands. Make waffle fingers! Look away from the sun and crosshatch your fingers, so they make little holes, so you can project the sun\u2019s rays onto the side of a building or sidewalk. Check these suggestions from the American Astronomical Society. Do not look at the sun through your fingers! Let your fingers work for you and project the sun onto a surface.\nEveryday kitchen gadgets work beautifully. Your favorite colander, a flat cheese grater, a serving spoon with small holes all serve to project the sun onto a wall, driveway or cardboard. Do not look at the sun through colanders, graters or slotted spoons! Again, hold up your device and project the sun onto a surface.\nOr, stand under a leafy tree and look to the ground. You can see hundreds of eclipse projections right at your feet.\nCapital Weather Gang\u2019s Angela Fritz explains what could happen to your eyes if you were to watch the Aug. 21 eclipse without special sunglasses and how to spot the ones that work.\nRead more:\nHow to watch today\u2019s solar eclipse in Washington, Va., and Md.\nInteractive: How rare is the Aug. 21 eclipse path?\nThe great American eclipse is finally here: What you need to know\nDuring the solar eclipse, animals (including pets) will be extremely confused\n\u201820 seconds of burning\u2019: Friends partly blinded after watching solar eclipse warn of dangers"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "bf89f6401725fe038144ec9dced96d4c_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "bf89f6401725fe038144ec9dced96d4c_0", "title": "A full moon, lunar eclipse and comet all in one evening? It happens tonight.", "text": "A lunar eclipse, a full moon and a comet all happening in one night. Turn this evening into a cosmic experience \u2014 a full moon, lunar eclipse and the chance to see a pale green comet as it streaks by Earth. Oh, and beg for clear skies. This month\u2019s so-called \u201cSnow Moon\u201d will pass through Earth\u2019s outer shadow just after sunset, turning its face varying shades of grey. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth is optimally placed between the sun and the moon. With an added dose of serendipity, we\u2019re on our planet\u2019s primo dark side with front-row seats. On the East Coast, the full moon climbs above the horizon around 5:30 p.m., just as it enters Earth\u2019s penumbral (outer) shadow and \u2014 ever so slowly \u2014 the lunar disk will start to dim and turn gray. Late afternoon twilight gives way to the evening dark skies. For practical purposes, the Eastern time zone will likely perceive the gray shading around 6:14 p.m., according to Alan MacRobert and Kelly Beatty, senior editors at Sky & Telescope magazine. By the middle of the eclipse, at 7:44 p.m. Eastern time, the northern third of moon will be a noticeably darker gray, said astronomer Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory. After mid-eclipse, the graying begins to yield to the moon\u2019s normal brightness. The moon fully leaves the penumbral shadow at 9:55 p.m. During the lunar eclipse Friday, the moon nicks the outside of Earth\u2019s dark umbral shadow, causing deep gray shading around 7:44 p.m. (Sky & Telescope) But wait \u2014 there\u2019s more! Let the kids stay up late, because Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdus\u00e1kov\u00e1 (don\u2019t ask us how to pronounce all those names) makes its closest approach to Earth Friday night. You\u2019ll be able to see the greenish comet by telescope and binoculars in a dark location, but not with the naked eye. Depending on where you\u2019re located, clouds may also prove to be a hindrance. A fairly large portion of the Northeast is forecast to be shrouded this evening, as well as the Great Lakes region and parts of the Southwest. Fortunately you can still watch, because the great folks at slooh.com will be webcasting the eclipse and the comet. And really, even if the skies were clear, that might be the best option if you want to see both events up-close. Cloud cover forecast for Friday evening. Slooh\u2019s live feed For both live"}], "old": [{"_id": "bf89f6401725fe038144ec9dced96d4c_0", "title": "A full moon, lunar eclipse and comet all in one evening? It happens tonight.", "text": "A lunar eclipse, a full moon and a comet all happening in one night. Turn this evening into a cosmic experience \u2014 a full moon, lunar eclipse and the chance to see a pale green comet as it streaks by Earth. Oh, and beg for clear skies. This month\u2019s so-called \u201cSnow Moon\u201d will pass through Earth\u2019s outer shadow just after sunset, turning its face varying shades of grey. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth is optimally placed between the sun and the moon. With an added dose of serendipity, we\u2019re on our planet\u2019s primo dark side with front-row seats. After mid-eclipse, the graying begins to yield to the moon\u2019s normal brightness. The moon fully leaves the penumbral shadow at 9:55 p.m. During the lunar eclipse Friday, the moon nicks the outside of Earth\u2019s dark umbral shadow, causing deep gray shading around 7:44 p.m. (Sky & Telescope) But wait \u2014 there\u2019s more! Let the kids stay up late, because Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdus\u00e1kov\u00e1 (don\u2019t ask us how to pronounce all those names) makes its closest approach to Earth Friday night. You\u2019ll be able to see the greenish comet by telescope and binoculars in a dark location, but not with the naked eye. Depending on where you\u2019re located, clouds may also prove to be a hindrance. A fairly large portion of the Northeast is forecast to be shrouded this evening, as well as the Great Lakes region and parts of the Southwest. Fortunately you can still watch, because the great folks at slooh.com will be webcasting the eclipse and the comet. And really, even if the skies were clear, that might be the best option if you want to see both events up-close. Cloud cover forecast for Friday evening. Slooh\u2019s live feed This eclipse is Saros 114. It has been around since the year 971 and it will last until June 22, 2233 (at 22:22:33 Universal Time!), according to NASA tables. The previous eclipse in this series occurred on Jan. 31, 1999, and before that, the eclipse occurred in the waning hours of Jimmy Carter\u2019s presidency on Jan. 20, 1981. Facts do not lie, as the next lunar eclipse in this series is Feb. 22, 2035 \u2014 George Washington\u2019s 303rd birthday."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "A lunar eclipse, a full moon and a comet all happening in one night.\nTurn this evening into a cosmic experience\u00a0\u2014 a full moon, lunar eclipse and the chance to see a pale green comet as it streaks by Earth. Oh, and beg for clear skies.\nThis month\u2019s so-called \u201cSnow Moon\u201d will pass through Earth\u2019s outer shadow just after sunset, turning its face varying shades of grey. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth is optimally placed between the sun and the moon. With an added dose of serendipity, we\u2019re on our planet\u2019s primo dark side with front-row seats.\nOn the East Coast, the full moon climbs above the horizon around 5:30 p.m., just as it enters Earth\u2019s penumbral (outer) shadow and \u2014 ever so slowly \u2014 the lunar disk will start to dim and turn gray. Late afternoon twilight gives way to the evening dark skies. For practical purposes, the Eastern time zone will likely perceive the gray shading around 6:14 p.m., according to Alan MacRobert and Kelly Beatty, senior editors at Sky & Telescope magazine.\nBy the middle of the eclipse, at 7:44 p.m. Eastern time, the northern third of moon will be a noticeably darker gray, said astronomer Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory.\nAfter mid-eclipse, the graying begins to yield to the moon\u2019s normal brightness. The moon fully leaves the penumbral shadow at 9:55 p.m.\nDuring the lunar eclipse Friday, the moon nicks the outside of Earth\u2019s dark umbral shadow, causing deep gray shading around 7:44 p.m. (Sky & Telescope)\nBut wait \u2014 there\u2019s more!\nLet the kids stay up late, because Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdus\u00e1kov\u00e1 (don\u2019t ask us how to pronounce all those names) makes its closest approach to Earth Friday night. You\u2019ll be able to see the greenish comet\u00a0by telescope and binoculars in a dark location, but not with\u00a0the naked eye.\nDepending on where you\u2019re located, clouds may also prove to be a hindrance. A fairly large portion of the Northeast is forecast to be shrouded this evening, as well as the Great Lakes region and parts of the Southwest. Fortunately you can still watch, because the great folks at slooh.com will be webcasting the eclipse and the comet. And really, even if the skies were clear, that might be the best option if you want to see both events up-close.\nCloud cover forecast for Friday evening.\nSlooh\u2019s live feed\nFor both live shows, send photos of the eclipse and comet\u00a0to @Slooh on Twitter for a chance to be featured during the webcast.\nThis eclipse is a little like deja vu. Yes, you\u2019ve seen it before \u2014 eclipses are dictated by the Saros cycle, where 6,585.3 days slip in between eclipses, according to retired NASA eclipse expert, Fred Espenak. This eclipse series lasts 12 to 15 centuries.\nThis eclipse is Saros 114. It has been around since the year 971 and it will last until June 22, 2233 (at 22:22:33 Universal Time!), according to NASA tables. The previous eclipse in this series occurred on Jan. 31, 1999, and before that, the eclipse occurred in the waning hours of Jimmy Carter\u2019s presidency on Jan. 20, 1981.\nFacts do not lie, as the next lunar eclipse in this series is Feb. 22, 2035 \u2014 George Washington\u2019s 303rd birthday."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "c16b6aeec70ef3943b556cb1a264788e_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "c16b6aeec70ef3943b556cb1a264788e_0", "title": "Facts about our sun and moon that you\u2019re embarrassed to admit you don\u2019t know", "text": "Capital Weather Gang\u2019s Angela Fritz explains how math is used to determine the timing and location of the total solar eclipse crossing the U.S. on Aug. 21. Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you know by now that the sun and the moon will be the stars of the Great American Eclipse of 2017. It happens Aug. 21, when the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, and, depending on where you are in the United States and a few other countries, the moon can be seen completely, or partially, blocking the sun. But how much do you really know \u2014 or how much do you remember from science class \u2014 about the sun and moon, both of which make life on Earth possible? What is the sun made of? How big and hot is it? How old is it, where did it come from, and when will it die? What is the moon made of? How big and hot (or cold) is it? How old is it, where did it come from, and when will it stop orbiting Earth? Here are some basic facts \u2014 from NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, the James Madison University\u2019s John C. Wells Planetarium, the Smithsonian Institution, Space.com and the Stanford Solar Center \u2014 to remind yourself of what you probably once learned but can\u2019t quite retrieve from your long-term memory: THE SUN This image depicts NASA\u2019s planned Solar Probe Plus spacecraft approaching the sun. (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Associated Press) SIZE: So while it is special to us, our sun is an average-size star in the universe. Its diameter is about 864,000 miles. About 1.3 million Earths could fit into the sun. DISTANCE FROM EARTH: How many Earth's can fit inside the Sun? AGE: HOW IT WAS FORMED: Although it may look empty, space is filled with gas and dust. Most of the material was hydrogen and helium, but some of it was made up of leftover remnants from the violent deaths of stars. Waves of energy traveling through space pressed clouds of such particles closer together, and gravity causes them to collapse in on themselves. As the material drew together, gravity caused it to spin. The spin caused the cloud to flatten into a disk like a pancake. In the center, the material clumped together to form a protostar that would eventually become the sun. The young protostar"}], "old": [{"_id": "c16b6aeec70ef3943b556cb1a264788e_0", "title": "Facts about our sun and moon that you\u2019re embarrassed to admit you don\u2019t know", "text": "Capital Weather Gang\u2019s Angela Fritz explains how math is used to determine the timing and location of the total solar eclipse crossing the U.S. on Aug. 21. But how much do you really know \u2014 or how much do you remember from science class \u2014 about the sun and moon, both of which make life on Earth possible? THE SUN This image depicts NASA\u2019s planned Solar Probe Plus spacecraft approaching the sun. (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Associated Press) SIZE: So while it is special to us, our sun is an average-size star in the universe. Its diameter is about 864,000 miles. About 1.3 million Earths could fit into the sun. DISTANCE FROM EARTH: How many Earth's can fit inside the Sun? AGE: HOW IT WAS FORMED: Although it may look empty, space is filled with gas and dust. Most of the material was hydrogen and helium, but some of it was made up of leftover remnants from the violent deaths of stars. Waves of energy traveling through space pressed clouds of such particles closer together, and gravity causes them to collapse in on themselves. As the material drew together, gravity caused it to spin. The spin caused the cloud to flatten into a disk like a pancake. In the center, the material clumped together to form a protostar that would eventually become the sun. The young protostar was a ball of hydrogen and helium not yet powered by fusion. Over the course of about 50 million years, the temperature and pressure of the material inside increased, jump-starting the fusion of hydrogen that drives the sun today. COMPOSITION: Plasma is known as the fourth state of matter, following solid, which is the first and coldest state. Heat up a solid and you get a liquid, the second state of matter. Heat up liquid and you get gas, the third state of matter. Plasma is created when the atoms in gas become so hot that they separate and the electrons and protons coexist individually. Nearly 75 percent of the charged particles are hydrogen, about 25 percent are helium, and there are trace amounts of oxygen, carbon, neon and iron. TEMPERATURE: WHY IT MATTERS TO EARTH: WILL IT LAST FOREVER? BEST SONGS ABOUT THE SUN: THE MOON The August full moon rises above the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio, south of Athens. (Petros Giannakouris/Associated Press) DISTANCE FROM EARTH: SIZE: AGE: TEMPERATURE:"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Capital Weather Gang\u2019s Angela Fritz explains how math is used to determine the timing and location of the total solar eclipse crossing the U.S. on Aug. 21.\nUnless you have been hiding under a rock, you know by now that the sun and the moon will be the stars of the Great American Eclipse of 2017. It happens Aug. 21, when the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, and, depending on where you are in the United States and a few other countries, the moon can be seen completely, or partially, blocking the sun.\nBut how much do you really know \u2014 or how much do you remember from science class \u2014 about the sun and moon, both of which make life on Earth possible?\nWhat is the sun made of? How big and hot is it? How old is it, where did it come from, and when will it die?\nWhat is the moon made of? How big and hot (or cold) is it? How old is it, where did it come from, and when will it stop orbiting Earth?\nHere are some basic facts\u00a0\u2014 from NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, the James Madison University\u2019s John C. Wells Planetarium, the Smithsonian Institution, Space.com and the Stanford Solar Center \u2014 to remind yourself of what you probably once learned but can\u2019t quite retrieve from your long-term memory:\nTHE SUN\nThis image depicts NASA\u2019s planned Solar Probe Plus spacecraft approaching the sun. (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Associated Press)\nSIZE:\nSo while it is special to us, our sun is an average-size star in the universe. Its diameter is about 864,000 miles. About 1.3 million Earths could fit into the sun.\nDISTANCE FROM EARTH:\nHow many Earth's can fit inside the Sun?\nAGE:\nHOW IT WAS FORMED:\nAlthough it may look empty, space is filled with gas and dust. Most of the material was hydrogen and helium, but some of it was made up of leftover remnants from the violent deaths of stars. Waves of energy traveling through space pressed clouds of such particles closer together, and gravity causes them to collapse in on themselves. As the material drew together, gravity caused it to spin. The spin caused the cloud to flatten into a disk like a pancake. In the center, the material clumped together to form a protostar that would eventually become the sun.\nThe young protostar was a ball of hydrogen and helium not yet powered by fusion. Over the course of about 50 million years, the temperature and pressure of the material inside increased, jump-starting the fusion of hydrogen that drives the sun today.\nCOMPOSITION:\nPlasma is known as the fourth state of matter, following solid, which is the first and coldest state. Heat up a solid and you get a liquid, the second state of matter. Heat up liquid and you get gas, the third state of matter. Plasma is created when the atoms in gas become so hot that they separate and the electrons and protons coexist individually. Nearly 75 percent of the charged particles are hydrogen, about 25 percent are helium, and there are trace amounts of oxygen, carbon, neon and iron.\nThere\u2019s this from a 2012 story in Smithsonian magazine:\nWhen the band They Might Be Giants rerecorded the 1959 song \u201cWhy Does the Sun Shine?\u201d for its 1993 EP, they played to a much-repeated piece of science fiction. The track, subtitled \u201c\nThe Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas,\u201d gets some basic sun science wrong. \u201cA gas is a state of matter in which the material is not ionized, so all of the atoms still have all of their electrons and really the sun\u2019s gas is in a state called plasma,\u201d says Smithsonian astrophysicist Mark Weber.\nThough scientists had known this for quite some time, once it was pointed out to the band, it promptly issued an updated track in 2009, \u201c\nWhy Does the Sun Really Shine? The Sun is a Miasma of Incandescent Plasma.\u201d\nTEMPERATURE:\nWHY IT MATTERS TO EARTH:\nWILL IT LAST FOREVER?\nBEST SONGS ABOUT THE SUN:\nTHE MOON\nThe August full moon rises above the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounio, south of Athens. (Petros Giannakouris/Associated Press)\nDISTANCE FROM EARTH:\nSIZE:\nAGE:\nTEMPERATURE:\nHOW IT WAS FORMED:\nGEOGRAPHY:\nHOW OFTEN IT ORBITS EARTH:\nIF THE MOON DISAPPEARED TOMORROW:\nTHE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON:\nWHY THE MOON SEEMS TO CHANGE SHAPE:\nNUMBER OF HUMANS WHO HAVE WALKED ON THE MOON:\nWHY ASTRONAUTS TOOK LEAPING STRIDES ON THE MOON:\nSTUFF HUMANS LEFT ON THE SURFACE:\nAstronaut Gene Cernan became the last man to walk on the moon during NASA's Apollo 17 mission more than 40 years ago. After a life dedicated to pushing the limits of space travel, he died on Jan. 16, at the age of 82.\nFUTURE:\nBEST SONGS ABOUT THE MOON:\n\nCorrection: Earlier version incorrectly discussed the moon mass and phases.\nRead more:\nWhy some schools are closing for the solar eclipse \u2014 but others are staying open\nInteractive: Travel the path of the solar eclipse\nHow to use your smartphone to photograph the solar eclipse\nYou have questions about the total solar eclipse. And we have answers."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "d140fd5e-7eac-11e7-9d08-b79f191668ed_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d140fd5e-7eac-11e7-9d08-b79f191668ed_1", "title": "Solar eclipse maps are not exact, scientists say", "text": "who routinely consults with NASA, told the Kansas City Star. Students wear eclipse glasses at the Royal Observatory Greenwich during the 2015 solar eclipse in London, England. Only those who are in the path of totality can remove protective eyewear during the short period in which the moon completely blocks the sun. (Rob Stothard/Getty Images) It effectively means that people who assumed, based on the Google maps, that their location was just within the path of totality \u2014 thus expecting to witness a few seconds of total eclipse \u2014 will instead see a partial eclipse. That could turn out to be a total disappointment, according to eclipse experts, who say that observing even a 99.9 percent partial eclipse is not at all the same as viewing a total eclipse. Current maps show the eclipse\u2019s southern edge cutting through downtown Kansas City, Missouri, slicing across buildings. And they do it with great precision, noting the time of total eclipse down to the tenth of a second. But Kentrianakis, who discusses the issue as part of a new documentary, \u201cTotality: The American Eclipse,\u201d said a more accurate line runs about a half-mile north. Current maps also show the path cutting a sharp line through parts of St. Louis, Missouri. \u201cSt. Louis also is wrong,\u201d Kentrianakis said. Indeed, the map\u2019s edges are off along the entire path from Oregon through South Carolina. Xavier Jubier, a French engineer whose calculations have been used to create the interactive Google maps of the eclipse, confirmed by email that the actual path of the totality is slightly narrower than the 70 miles shown on current maps. Ernest Wright, who created maps and other multimedia presentations on the eclipse for NASA, said he thought the map might be narrower by about 110 yards, slightly longer than a football field. He also said it\u2019s possible that Kentrianakis is correct in his estimation that the path is narrower by a half-mile or more. \u201cHe could be,\u201d Wright said. The reason the maps are slightly off has nothing to do with mistakes, all agree. Wright explained that eclipse maps are made based on what is known about the relative sizes and positions of the moon and the sun. \u201cWe have really good information about the orbit of the moon, the positions of the sun, the positions of the Earth. All of that is really well nailed down,\u201d Wright said. \u201cIn order"}], "old": [{"_id": "d140fd5e-7eac-11e7-9d08-b79f191668ed_1", "title": "Solar eclipse maps are not exact, scientists say", "text": "which the moon completely blocks the sun. (Rob Stothard/Getty Images) It effectively means that people who assumed, based on the Google maps, that their location was just within the path of totality \u2014 thus expecting to witness a few seconds of total eclipse \u2014 will instead see a partial eclipse. That could turn out to be a total disappointment, according to eclipse experts, who say that observing even a 99.9 percent partial eclipse is not at all the same as viewing a total eclipse. Current maps show the eclipse\u2019s southern edge cutting through downtown Kansas City, Missouri, slicing across buildings. And they do it with great precision, noting the time of total eclipse down to the tenth of a second. But Kentrianakis, who discusses the issue as part of a new documentary, \u201cTotality: The American Eclipse,\u201d said a more accurate line runs about a half-mile north. Current maps also show the path cutting a sharp line through parts of St. Louis, Missouri. \u201cSt. Louis also is wrong,\u201d Kentrianakis said. Indeed, the map\u2019s edges are off along the entire path from Oregon through South Carolina. Xavier Jubier, a French engineer whose calculations have been used to create the interactive Google maps of the eclipse, confirmed by email that the actual path of the totality is slightly narrower than the 70 miles shown on current maps. Ernest Wright, who created maps and other multimedia presentations on the eclipse for NASA, said he thought the map might be narrower by about 110 yards, slightly longer than a football field. He also said it\u2019s possible that Kentrianakis is correct in his estimation that the path is narrower by a half-mile or more. \u201cHe could be,\u201d Wright said. The reason the maps are slightly off has nothing to do with mistakes, all agree. Wright explained that eclipse maps are made based on what is known about the relative sizes and positions of the moon and the sun. \u201cWe have really good information about the orbit of the moon, the positions of the sun, the positions of the Earth. All of that is really well nailed down,\u201d Wright said. \u201cIn order to get more accuracy, we need to take into account the mountains and valleys on the moon, and the elevations on the Earth. And we\u2019re starting to do that, as well.\u201d The size of the moon, in fact, has been measured to within a meter,"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Maps of the solar eclipse on August 21 show a 70-mile-wide path (in yellow) in which viewers can see the moon completely block the sun. But because current measurements of the sun aren\u2019t exact, that path will actually be a bit smaller. (Michael Zeiler/GreatAmericanEclipse.com /American Astronomical Society)\nAnyone who has been using online maps to decide where they intend to view the historic August 21 total eclipse of the sun may want to take another look.\nThose maps, provided by NASA and others, show a crisply defined, 70-mile-wide path of totality where the moon will block 100 percent of the sun. But they are not as precise as they appear, at least on their edges.\nThe southern edge of the path as shown on the maps could be off by as little as the length of a football field or as much as a half-mile, eclipse mapping experts say. Likewise for the northern edge, meaning the path of totality might be just 69 miles wide.\n\u201cThis is an issue. This is really an issue, but it\u2019s not advertised \u2026 Yeah, all the maps are wrong,\u201d Mike Kentrianakis, who is the solar eclipse project manager for the American Astronomical Society and who routinely consults with NASA, told the Kansas City Star.\nStudents wear eclipse glasses at the Royal Observatory Greenwich during the 2015 solar eclipse in London, England. Only those who are in the path of totality can remove protective eyewear during the short period in which the moon completely blocks the sun. (Rob Stothard/Getty Images)\nIt effectively means that people who assumed, based on the Google maps, that their location was just within the path of totality \u2014 thus expecting to witness a few seconds of total eclipse \u2014 will instead see a partial eclipse. That could turn out to be a total disappointment, according to eclipse experts, who say that observing even a 99.9 percent partial eclipse is not at all the same as viewing a total eclipse.\nCurrent maps show the eclipse\u2019s southern edge cutting through downtown Kansas City, Missouri, slicing across buildings. And they do it with great precision, noting the time of total eclipse down to the tenth of a second.\nBut Kentrianakis, who discusses the issue as part of a new documentary, \u201cTotality: The American Eclipse,\u201d said a more accurate line runs about a half-mile north.\nCurrent maps also show the path cutting a sharp line through parts of St. Louis, Missouri.\n\u201cSt. Louis also is wrong,\u201d Kentrianakis said. Indeed, the map\u2019s edges are off along the entire path from Oregon through South Carolina.\nXavier Jubier, a French engineer whose calculations have been used to create the interactive Google maps of the eclipse, confirmed by email that the actual path of the totality is slightly narrower than the 70 miles shown on current maps.\nErnest Wright, who created maps and other multimedia presentations on the eclipse for NASA, said he thought the map might be narrower by about 110 yards, slightly longer than a football field.\nHe also said it\u2019s possible that Kentrianakis is correct in his estimation that the path is narrower by a half-mile or more.\n\u201cHe could be,\u201d Wright said.\nThe reason the maps are slightly off has nothing to do with mistakes, all agree. Wright explained that eclipse maps are made based on what is known about the relative sizes and positions of the moon and the sun.\n\u201cWe have really good information about the orbit of the moon, the positions of the sun, the positions of the Earth. All of that is really well nailed down,\u201d Wright said. \u201cIn order to get more accuracy, we need to take into account the mountains and valleys on the moon, and the elevations on the Earth. And we\u2019re starting to do that, as well.\u201d\nThe size of the moon, in fact, has been measured to within a meter, and its position in the heavens has been measured to within a centimeter.\n\u201cBut the last sort of uncertainty might surprise you,\u201d Wright said. \u201cIt\u2019s the size of the sun.\u201d\nIt\u2019s a roiling ball of gas. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have a solid surface,\u201d he said, making its size hard to pin down.\nScientists have calculated the sun\u2019s radius at roughly 696,000 kilometers (about 432,500 miles) from edge to center, but they do not know its size with precision.\nA bigger sun would make the moon\u2019s shadow, and thus the path of totality, narrower.\n\u201cYou would think you could send a satellite up there, take a picture of the sun and put a ruler on the picture and decide how big the sun is,\u201d Wright said.\nBut it doesn\u2019t work that way. Scientists have space-based and Earth-based telescopes constantly trained on the sun. Earth-based telescopes must contend with atmospheric interference. Space-based telescopes also have limitations.\nJubier does not think the small difference will change much for the average eclipse viewer, \u201cas usually people don\u2019t go near the edges of the eclipse path.\u201d\nBut for thousands of people who live near the edge, Wright with NASA and Kentrianakis with the American Astronomical Society offer this advice: Do your best to move closer toward the middle of the path of totality.\nThe closer one gets to the middle of the path, the longer the totality will last, up to a maximum of about 2 minutes and 40 seconds. At the edge, totality lasts less than 10 seconds.\n\u201cThere are cool things to see at the edge, too,\u201d Wright said. Some astronomers argue that viewing a solar eclipse from the edge of the path of totality offers wonderful views, including a protracted view of the sun\u2019s rosy-red chromosphere, a layer of atmosphere just above its surface.\n\u201cBut the big show,\u201d Wright said, \u201cis going to be the closer you are to the center. And you don\u2019t have to drive 35 miles. You can go 10 miles and get up to a minute of totality. If you stay at the edge, you\u2019re only going to get a couple of seconds.\u201d\nCorrection: An earlier version of this story misstated the name of the 2017 documentary \u201cTotality: The American Eclipse.\u201d The story has been updated."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "dacb39c6c064827ac4ed8b1bb3a86e92_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "dacb39c6c064827ac4ed8b1bb3a86e92_0", "title": "Fire on high: An annular solar eclipse that only penguins might love", "text": "The sun is obscured by the moon during an annular solar eclipse in Tokyo May 21, 2012. (Tomohiro Ohsumi / Bloomberg) The quest for fire meets the march of the penguins. In a kind of cosmic oddity, the annular solar eclipse late tonight \u2013 or more precisely tomorrow morning, Eastern time \u2013 can be seen by human eyes only in the remote reaches of Antarctica. For this annular eclipse, noted likely by its short-lived \u201cring of fire,\u201d may have but an audience of penguins, since humanity lacks representation. This is the first solar eclipse of 2014. Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between Earth and the sun. Total eclipses, which produce the \u201cdiamond ring\u201d effect, happen when the moon is closer to Earth and precisely covers the sun. For annular eclipses, the moon is a tiny bit further from earth, but still fits within the sun\u2019s disc and has a skosh more room. Thus a \u201cring of fire\u201d forms around moon\u2019s silhouette. Video: Ring of Fire \u2013 May 10 2013 Annular Solar Eclipse, Pilbara, Western Australia Ring of Fire - May 10 2013 Annular Solar Eclipse, Pilbara, Western Australia The northern edge of the antumbral shadow \u2013 that portion of the Moon\u2019s shadow that extends beyond the umbra \u2013 first touches Antarctica at 1:57 a.m. Eastern time (5:57 Universal Time). Greatest eclipse is at 2:03 a.m. Eastern time, according to retired NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenak. At that point the sun appears on the Antarctic horizon for a 49-second annular phase. At 2:09 a.m. Eastern time, the shadow leaves Earth\u2019s surface and the annular eclipse ends. Link But \u2026 you can view the partial phases You can view the partial eclipse phases from Australia live from the comfort of your home computer at Slooh.com. Coverage begins tonight at 2 a.m. Eastern, as the live image stream with discussions led by Slooh host Geoff Fox, with expertise from astronomer Paul Cox and solar researcher Lucie Green. Ask questions during the webcast by using hashtag #Slooh The Slooh webcast is also available via YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/embed/h342KVTsQMg A non-central rarity Espenak says this eclipse is unusual \u201cbecause the central axis of the Moon\u2019s antumbral shadow misses Earth entirely while the shadow edge grazes the planet.\u201d In other words, the central axis just missed landing on Earth, or as a baseball broadcaster might explain, the shadow \u201cis a just a bit outside.\u201d In"}], "old": [{"_id": "dacb39c6c064827ac4ed8b1bb3a86e92_0", "title": "Fire on high: An annular solar eclipse that only penguins might love", "text": "The sun is obscured by the moon during an annular solar eclipse in Tokyo May 21, 2012. (Tomohiro Ohsumi / Bloomberg) The quest for fire meets the march of the penguins. In a kind of cosmic oddity, the annular solar eclipse late tonight \u2013 or more precisely tomorrow morning, Eastern time \u2013 can be seen by human eyes only in the remote reaches of Antarctica. For this annular eclipse, noted likely by its short-lived \u201cring of fire,\u201d may have but an audience of penguins, since humanity lacks representation. This is the first solar eclipse of 2014. Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between Earth and the sun. Total eclipses, which produce the \u201cdiamond ring\u201d effect, happen when the moon is closer to Earth and precisely covers the sun. For annular eclipses, the moon is a tiny bit further from earth, but still fits within the sun\u2019s disc and has a skosh more room. Thus a \u201cring of fire\u201d forms around moon\u2019s silhouette. Video: Ring of Fire \u2013 May 10 2013 Annular Solar Eclipse, Pilbara, Western Australia Ring of Fire - May 10 2013 Annular Solar Eclipse, Pilbara, Western Australia The northern edge of the antumbral shadow \u2013 that portion of the Moon\u2019s shadow that extends beyond the umbra \u2013 first touches Antarctica at 1:57 a.m. Eastern time (5:57 Universal Time). Greatest eclipse is at 2:03 a.m. Eastern time, according to retired NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenak. At that point the sun appears on the Antarctic horizon for a 49-second annular phase. At 2:09 a.m. Eastern time, the shadow leaves Earth\u2019s surface and the annular eclipse ends. Link But \u2026 you can view the partial phases Coverage begins tonight at 2 a.m. Eastern, as the live image stream with discussions led by Slooh host Geoff Fox, with expertise from astronomer Paul Cox and solar researcher Lucie Green. Ask questions during the webcast by using hashtag #Slooh A non-central rarity Espenak says this eclipse is unusual \u201cbecause the central axis of the Moon\u2019s antumbral shadow misses Earth entirely while the shadow edge grazes the planet.\u201d In other words, the central axis just missed landing on Earth, or as a baseball broadcaster might explain, the shadow \u201cis a just a bit outside.\u201d In simple terms, this is a non-central annular eclipse. During the 5,000-year period from 2000 B.C. to 3000 AD, the earth only sees 68 non-central versions out of 3,956 annular"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The sun is obscured by the moon during an annular solar eclipse in Tokyo May 21, 2012. (Tomohiro Ohsumi / Bloomberg)\nThe quest for fire meets the march of the penguins.\nIn a kind of cosmic oddity, the annular solar eclipse late tonight \u2013 or more precisely tomorrow morning, Eastern time \u2013 can be seen by human eyes only in the remote reaches of Antarctica.\u00a0 For this annular eclipse, noted likely by its short-lived \u201cring of fire,\u201d may have but an audience of penguins, since humanity lacks representation.\nThis is the first solar eclipse of 2014. Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between Earth and the sun.\u00a0 Total eclipses, which produce the \u201cdiamond ring\u201d effect, happen when the moon is closer to Earth and precisely covers the sun. For annular eclipses, the moon is a tiny bit further from earth, but still fits within the sun\u2019s disc and has a skosh more room. Thus a \u201cring of fire\u201d forms around moon\u2019s silhouette.\nVideo: Ring of Fire \u2013 May 10 2013 Annular Solar Eclipse, Pilbara, Western Australia\nRing of Fire - May 10 2013 Annular Solar Eclipse, Pilbara, Western Australia\nThe northern edge of the antumbral shadow \u2013 that portion of the Moon\u2019s shadow that extends beyond the umbra \u2013 first touches Antarctica at 1:57 a.m. Eastern time (5:57 Universal Time). \u00a0Greatest eclipse is at 2:03 a.m. Eastern time, according to retired NASA eclipse expert Fred Espenak. \u00a0At that point the sun appears on the Antarctic horizon for a 49-second annular phase. At 2:09 a.m. Eastern time, the shadow leaves Earth\u2019s surface and the annular eclipse ends.\nLink\nBut \u2026 you can view the partial phases\nYou can view the partial eclipse phases from Australia live from the comfort of your home computer at Slooh.com.\nCoverage begins tonight at 2 a.m. Eastern, as the live image stream with discussions led by Slooh host Geoff Fox, with expertise from astronomer Paul Cox and solar researcher Lucie Green. Ask questions during the webcast by using hashtag #Slooh\nThe Slooh webcast is also available via YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/embed/h342KVTsQMg\nA non-central rarity\nEspenak says this eclipse is unusual \u201cbecause the central axis of the Moon\u2019s antumbral shadow misses Earth entirely while the shadow edge grazes the planet.\u201d\nIn other words, the central axis just missed landing on Earth, or as a baseball broadcaster might explain, the shadow \u201cis a just a bit outside.\u201d\u00a0 In simple terms, this is a non-central annular eclipse. During the 5,000-year period from 2000 B.C. to 3000 AD, the earth only sees 68 non-central versions out of 3,956 annular eclipses, according to Espenak.\nA family affair\nEvery eclipse, whether lunar or solar, belongs to a \u201csaros\u201d \u2013 or family of eclipses.\u00a0 After a series of partial solar eclipses for solar Saros 148, dating back to Sept. 21, 1653, the penguins get to witness live the first annular eclipse of the series. From this series, the next eclipse (annular, again) will take place in May 2032.\nIn May 2068, Earth can enjoy the first total eclipse from Saros 148 and that eclipse will be first of 39 consecutive Saros 148 total solar eclipses \u2013 through Aug. 3, 2771.\u00a0 That\u2019s 703 years of total eclipses from one eclipse family.\u00a0 The saros ends Dec. 12, 2987.\nOut of 75 eclipses in this family, this eclipse is the only non-central annular.\nEye safety\nNASA offers instructions on eye safety during solar eclipses: Eye safety during solar eclipses"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "e871a32c837b30f4aaf2a55129a005a5_2", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "e871a32c837b30f4aaf2a55129a005a5_2", "title": "The total solar eclipse is part of a \u2018family.\u2019 Here\u2019s what that means.", "text": "eclipse on Aug. 21, the previous one in this series was Aug. 11, 1999, where the path of totality curved through northern France, Austria, Iran and India. The 2017 American edition shares those shapely characteristics, as the shadow wends its way from Oregon to South Carolina. When two eclipses are separated by a period of one saros, they share similar geometry, Espenak explained. An animation of all the eclipses in Saros 145. (NASA) For the next eclipse in Saros 145, fast forward to Sept. 2, 2035, when that familiar curve saunters from western China through North Korea, into the Sea of Japan, north of Tokyo and then finally sweeping into the Pacific Ocean. On Sept. 12, 2053, the eclipse centerline slices perfectly through the Straight of Gibraltar, curving along the top contour of Africa, through Egypt and Saudi Arabia into Indonesia. Not all solar eclipses are total. Of the 77 eclipses in this Saros 145 family, only 44 are total, 34 are partial, one is annular (a ring of fire eclipse, June 6, 1891), and one hybrid (June 17, 1909) \u2014 which means that in some places, sky gazers saw an annular eclipse while people saw totality in other places. Totality in 1909 lasted 24 seconds. The total solar eclipses of Saros 145. (greatamericaneclipse.com) The first eclipse in this series \u2014 a minuscule partial eclipse in 1639 \u2014 occurred over the North Pole, barely. In 2017, maximum totality will be 2 minutes, 40 seconds. Earth will have 16 more 18-year cycles before we get to four minutes of totality for this family. We will be long-forgotten when our distant descendants will enjoy over 7 minutes of totality in 2504, 2522 and 2540. (In the year 2486, the eclipse will miss the seven-minute mark by a beat, with 6 minutes and 59 seconds of totality.) For North America, there will be a total solar eclipse going from Mexico through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and western New York on April 8, 2024 \u2014 that\u2019s Saros 139. A big fat ribbon of eclipse shadow (Saros 136) \u2014 producing over six minutes of totality \u2014 will cross from Northern California, Nevada, Oklahoma and through most of Florida on Aug. 12, 2045. Between 2666 and the end year 3009, Saros 145 will be a series of partial eclipses. The last total eclipse for Saros 145 occurs in September 2648 in Antarctica. The penguins will love it."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "(Kevin Ambrose)\nAn eclipse is not a singular event. It is\u00a0always one in a family, and all of its kin have a unique personality. Monday\u2019s solar eclipse has 76 cousins\u00a0\u2014 partial, annular, hybrid and total eclipses. The family was born in\u00a01639 and its lineage will end in 3009.\nTo keep track of the families, astronomers assign them a number. In the case of Monday\u2019s eclipse, its familial lineage is Solar Saros 145.\nThese cycles, first identified by the ancient Babylonians and Chinese, last up to 13 centuries and contain 70 or more events. Each saros series\u00a0starts with a partial eclipse. With each successive eclipse, the moon covers more and more of the sun, until \u2014 in the middle of the saros series \u2014 only total eclipses are occurring. As the process continues, the moon will eventually not cover up the sun anymore, and the series will end with partial eclipses.\nSaros 145\u00a0is a\u00a0series of 77 eclipses\u00a0of varying characteristics and lengths.\u00a0Its duration is\u00a018 years, 11 days and eight\u00a0hours,\u00a0according to Fred Espenak, a retired\u00a0NASA eclipse expert. It began in\u00a0January 1639, and it will end on April 17, 3009, making this series 1370 years long. Monday\u2019s eclipse is the 22nd eclipse of this 77-event run.\nCapital Weather Gang\u2019s Angela Fritz explains how math is used to determine the timing and location of the total solar eclipse crossing the U.S. on Aug. 21.\nBefore the solar eclipse on Aug. 21, the previous one in this series was Aug. 11, 1999, where the path of totality\u00a0curved through northern France, Austria, Iran and India. The 2017 American edition shares those shapely characteristics, as the shadow wends its way from Oregon to South Carolina. When two eclipses are separated by a period of one saros, they share similar geometry, Espenak explained.\nAn animation of all the eclipses in Saros 145. (NASA)\nFor the next eclipse in Saros 145, fast forward to Sept. 2, 2035, when that familiar curve saunters from western China through North Korea, into the Sea of Japan, north of Tokyo and then finally sweeping into the Pacific Ocean. On Sept. 12, 2053, the eclipse centerline slices perfectly through the Straight of Gibraltar, curving along the top contour of Africa, through Egypt and Saudi Arabia into Indonesia.\nNot all solar eclipses are total. Of the 77 eclipses in this Saros 145 family, only 44 are total, 34 are partial, one is annular (a ring of fire eclipse, June 6, 1891), and one hybrid (June 17, 1909) \u2014 which means that in some places, sky gazers saw an annular eclipse while people saw totality in other places. Totality in 1909 lasted 24 seconds.\nThe total solar eclipses of Saros 145. (greatamericaneclipse.com)\nThe first eclipse in this series \u2014 a minuscule partial eclipse in 1639 \u2014 occurred over the North Pole, barely. In 2017, maximum totality will be 2 minutes, 40 seconds. Earth will have 16 more 18-year cycles before we get to four minutes of totality for this family. We will be long-forgotten when our distant descendants will enjoy over 7 minutes of totality in 2504, 2522 and 2540. (In the year 2486, the eclipse will miss the seven-minute mark by a beat, with 6 minutes and 59 seconds of totality.)\nFor North America, there will be a total solar eclipse going from Mexico through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and western New York on April 8, 2024 \u2014 that\u2019s Saros 139. A big fat ribbon of eclipse shadow (Saros 136) \u2014 producing over six minutes of totality \u2014 will cross from Northern California, Nevada, Oklahoma and through most of Florida on Aug. 12, 2045.\nBetween 2666 and the end year 3009, Saros 145 will be a series of partial eclipses. The last total eclipse for Saros 145 occurs in September 2648 in Antarctica. The penguins will love it."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "e8bb8b73741b64ccf0652cc75d8699f4_2", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "e8bb8b73741b64ccf0652cc75d8699f4_2", "title": "Dear Science: Is the eclipse moving backward?", "text": "the moon is circling from east to west around our planet. The Hinode spacecraft captured this image of the January 6, 2011 solar eclipse. (NASA) In reality, the moon appears to rise in the east because that's the way the Earth is spinning. If you looked down on Earth from above the North Pole, our planet would be rotating counterclockwise \u2014 or spinning toward the east. That's why you catch sight of the moon first peeping above the eastern horizon, and your last view of it is as it sets in the west. Meanwhile, the moon is actually revolving in the same direction that Earth spins \u2014 and twice as fast. The moon is traveling eastward in its orbit at about 2,100 miles per hour, while the Earth spins at a sluggish 1,040 mph (at the equator). So the path of the moon's shadow will track eastward across the Earth's surface at a speed of about 2,100 minus 1,040 mph \u2014 roughly 1,060 mph. Head still spinning? That's understandable \u2014 this issue is easier to understand if you can visualize it. Take a look at this video of the moon taken by a camera aboard NASA's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite last year. NASA released images July 11 of the moon crossing the face of the Earth for the second time this year. The images were captured by NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite between July 4-5 See how the moon travels quickly from west to east across the globe? The moon doesn't do anything differently during the eclipse. Instead, the eclipse is exposing us to a reality that exists every day of the year. For many of us, for the first time in our lives, the eclipse will let us witness the movement of the moon in its own orbit, and not as a result of the Earth's rotation. That's part of what makes astronomical events like this so cool: they are a reminder of our place in the universe. Have a question for Dear Science? Ask it here. More eclipse coverage: The first solar eclipse to cross America in 99 years is coming. To some, it's an act of God. Don't let clouds ruin your solar eclipse \u2014 here's where it's most likely to be clear Scientists are gearing up to take the longest-ever video of a solar eclipse"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The total solar eclipse in August 2017 will travel across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. But if the moon rises in the east and sets in the west, why does the eclipse shadow travel from west to east? Dear Science is on the case.\nDear Science,\nI'm really excited about the total solar eclipse that's going to happen in the U.S. on Aug. 21. But some of the details have me confused. People say that the eclipse will start on the West Coast, in Oregon, and travel southeast toward South Carolina. But if the moon rises in the east and sets in the west, shouldn't the eclipse go in that direction too? Is the eclipse moving backward?\nHere's what science has to say:\nNo, the moon will not reverse its course around the Earth for a few hours on Aug. 21. But we don't blame you for feeling confused. This definitely falls into the category of Space Questions That Are Really Tough to Wrap Your Mind Around.\n\u201cIt is actually something even astronomers struggle to see,\u201d said C. Alex Young, a heliophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. When the issue came up at a recent conference, \u201cit wound up with a bunch of astronomers sitting around trying to figure out how to explain it.\u201d\nWhen the moon passes in front of the sun on Aug. 21, it will cast a long shadow across the Earth's surface. As the moon moves in its orbit, that shadow will race from the west coast of the U.S. to the east \u2014 the opposite path we're used to watching the moon take.\nThe phenomenon is so difficult to understand because it shifts our perspective. Even though we learned in elementary school that everything in space, including the Earth, is in motion, we are very bad at remembering that we are not standing still at the center of things. When we look up at night and see the moon rising in the east, we assume that's because the moon is circling from east to west around our planet.\nThe Hinode spacecraft captured this image of the January 6, 2011 solar eclipse. (NASA)\nIn reality, the moon appears to rise in the east because that's the way the Earth is spinning. If you looked down on Earth from above the North Pole, our planet would be rotating counterclockwise \u2014 or spinning toward the east. That's why you catch sight of the moon first peeping above the eastern horizon, and your last view of it is as it sets in the west.\nMeanwhile, the moon is actually revolving in the same direction that Earth spins \u2014 and twice as fast. The moon is traveling eastward in its orbit at about 2,100 miles per hour, while the Earth spins at a sluggish 1,040 mph (at the equator). So the path of the moon's shadow will track eastward across the Earth's surface at a speed of about 2,100 minus 1,040 mph \u2014 roughly 1,060 mph.\nHead still spinning? That's understandable \u2014 this issue is easier to understand if you can visualize it. Take a look at this video of the moon taken by a camera aboard NASA's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite last year.\nNASA released images July 11 of the moon crossing the face of the Earth for the second time this year. The images were captured by NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite between July 4-5\nSee how the moon travels quickly from west to east across the globe?\nThe moon doesn't do anything differently during the eclipse. Instead, the eclipse is exposing us to a reality that exists every day of the year. For many of us, for the first time in our lives, the eclipse will let us witness the movement of the moon in its own orbit, and not as a result of the Earth's rotation. That's part of what makes astronomical events like this so cool: they are a reminder of our place in the universe.\nHave a question for Dear Science? Ask it here.\nMore eclipse coverage:\nThe first solar eclipse to cross America in 99 years is coming. To some, it's an act of God.\nDon't let clouds ruin your solar eclipse \u2014 here's where it's most likely to be clear\nScientists are gearing up to take the longest-ever video of a solar eclipse"}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "e8c511a99112e5fd1f1f6feb63788c37_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "e8c511a99112e5fd1f1f6feb63788c37_0", "title": "September begins with a \u2018ring of fire\u2019 solar eclipse over Africa", "text": "(NASA) Nature provides a cosmic gift to open September: A heavenly ring of fire around the moon. The last time an annular eclipse occurred was on Apr. 29, 2014. An annular eclipse is very similar to a total eclipse. The moon glides between the Earth and the sun, but the moon is slightly farther out now, so it does not fully block the sun. Because of this, a ring of fire is created around the moon as it passes in front of the sun. Observers in the central region of Africa can see it in person, but the rest of us will have to watch online. In the U.S., you can watch two ways \u2013 Slooh.com and the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube channel. Get a nap and set the alarm \u2013 it\u2019s very early. Slooh.com is a webcasting site specializing is astronomical events. Their broadcast starts Wednesday night at 2:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Paul Cox provides the cosmic play-by-play, as astronomers Bob Berman and Eric Edelman add color. Joining the broadcast will be Fr. James Kurzynski of the Vatican Observatory, Shaykh Abdulbary Yahya of the Al Maghrib Institute, and psychologist Kate Russo \u2013 as all will share human dimensions to the eclipse experience. Meanwhile, the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube stream begins at 3 a.m., where the group will have properly filtered cameras providing visual feeds during the mostly partial phases. Each eclipse belongs to a series \u2013 called a saros \u2013 and this is number 39 out of 71 eclipses in Saros 135 Each eclipse within a saros is separated by 18 years. The first eclipse in the Saros 135 family happened on July 5, 1331 and the last one will be Aug. 17, 2593. This family\u2019s previous eclipse was an annular event on Aug. 22, 1998 and the next one will be annular on Sept. 12, 2034. On Thursday, the eclipse center line path includes include Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar, while a partial solar eclipse can be seen through most of Africa, including the southern part of Saudi Arabia, according to Espenak. For sky gazers in southern Tanzania, the greatest eclipse starts at 09:07 Universal Time (5:07 a.m. Eastern Time) when it peaks at 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and the shadowy path is 62 miles wide, says Espenak. If you\u2019re reading this from Africa, always protect your eyes during"}], "old": [{"_id": "e8c511a99112e5fd1f1f6feb63788c37_0", "title": "September begins with a \u2018ring of fire\u2019 solar eclipse over Africa", "text": "(NASA) Nature provides a cosmic gift to open September: A heavenly ring of fire around the moon. The last time an annular eclipse occurred was on Apr. 29, 2014. An annular eclipse is very similar to a total eclipse. The moon glides between the Earth and the sun, but the moon is slightly farther out now, so it does not fully block the sun. Because of this, a ring of fire is created around the moon as it passes in front of the sun. Slooh.com is a webcasting site specializing is astronomical events. Their broadcast starts Wednesday night at 2:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Paul Cox provides the cosmic play-by-play, as astronomers Bob Berman and Eric Edelman add color. Joining the broadcast will be Fr. James Kurzynski of the Vatican Observatory, Shaykh Abdulbary Yahya of the Al Maghrib Institute, and psychologist Kate Russo \u2013 as all will share human dimensions to the eclipse experience. Meanwhile, the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube stream begins at 3 a.m., where the group will have properly filtered cameras providing visual feeds during the mostly partial phases. Each eclipse belongs to a series \u2013 called a saros \u2013 and this is number 39 out of 71 eclipses in Saros 135 Each eclipse within a saros is separated by 18 years. The first eclipse in the Saros 135 family happened on July 5, 1331 and the last one will be Aug. 17, 2593. This family\u2019s previous eclipse was an annular event on Aug. 22, 1998 and the next one will be annular on Sept. 12, 2034. On Thursday, the eclipse center line path includes include Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar, while a partial solar eclipse can be seen through most of Africa, including the southern part of Saudi Arabia, according to Espenak. For sky gazers in southern Tanzania, the greatest eclipse starts at 09:07 Universal Time (5:07 a.m. Eastern Time) when it peaks at 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and the shadowy path is 62 miles wide, says Espenak. If you\u2019re reading this from Africa, always protect your eyes during any type of solar eclipse. In mid September, Earth\u2019s sky gazers can enjoy a Harvest Moon penumbral lunar eclipse (the moon gets slightly darker) on Sept. 16. For those of us here in North America, we won\u2019t be able to see the eclipse live \u2013 although we can enjoy the romantic,"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "(NASA)\nNature provides a cosmic gift to open September: A heavenly ring of fire around the moon. The last time an annular eclipse occurred was on Apr. 29, 2014.\nAn annular eclipse is very similar to a total eclipse. The moon glides between the Earth and the sun, but the moon is slightly farther out now,\u00a0so it does not fully block the sun.\u00a0Because of this, a ring of fire is created around the moon as it passes in front of the sun.\nObservers in the central region of Africa can see it in person, but the rest of us will have to watch online.\u00a0In the U.S., you can watch two ways \u2013 Slooh.com and the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube channel. Get a nap and set the alarm \u2013 it\u2019s very early.\nSlooh.com is a webcasting site specializing is astronomical events. Their broadcast starts Wednesday night at 2:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Paul Cox provides the cosmic play-by-play, as astronomers Bob Berman and Eric Edelman add color. Joining the broadcast will be Fr. James Kurzynski of the Vatican Observatory, Shaykh Abdulbary Yahya of the Al Maghrib Institute, and psychologist Kate Russo \u2013 as all will share human dimensions to the eclipse experience.\nMeanwhile, the Astronomical Society Southern Africa\u2019s YouTube stream begins at 3 a.m., where the group will have properly filtered cameras providing visual feeds during the mostly partial phases.\nEach eclipse belongs to a series \u2013 called a saros \u2013 and this is number 39 out of 71 eclipses in Saros 135\u00a0Each eclipse within a saros is separated by 18 years. The first eclipse in the Saros 135 family happened on July 5, 1331 and the last one will be Aug. 17, 2593.\nThis family\u2019s previous eclipse was an annular event on Aug. 22, 1998 and the next one will be annular\u00a0on Sept. 12, 2034.\nOn Thursday, the eclipse center line path includes include Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar, while a partial solar eclipse can be seen through most of Africa, including the southern part of Saudi Arabia, according to Espenak.\nFor sky gazers in southern Tanzania, the greatest eclipse starts at 09:07 Universal Time (5:07 a.m. Eastern Time) when it peaks at 3 minutes and 6 seconds, and the shadowy path is 62 miles wide, says Espenak.\nIf you\u2019re reading this from Africa, always protect your eyes during any type of solar eclipse.\nIn mid September, Earth\u2019s sky gazers can enjoy a Harvest Moon penumbral lunar eclipse (the moon gets slightly darker) on Sept. 16. For those of us here in North America, we won\u2019t be able to see the eclipse live \u2013 although we can enjoy the romantic, full Harvest Moon.\u00a0Slooh.com will carry that cosmic action starting at 3 p.m. Eastern time."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "eae2899c369dc781bf56b08db832b65d_1", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "eae2899c369dc781bf56b08db832b65d_1", "title": "Rare and red supermoon lunar eclipse to present Sunday night spectacle", "text": "last occurred 33 years ago, and won\u2019t happen again for 18 more. On Sept. 27, 2015, there will be a very rare event in the night sky \u2013 a supermoon lunar eclipse. Watch this animated feature to learn more. The eclipse will commence once the Earth comes between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow into space. As the moon moves across that shadow (called an umbra) Sunday evening, we are perfectly placed for the lunar eclipse. (Fred Espenak) For the Eastern time zone, the partial eclipse phase starts at 9:07 p.m., when the moon moves into the Earth\u2019s penumbral shadow, according to NASA. Our lunar neighbor \u2013 over the next hour \u2013 advances into the dark umbral shadow. At 10:11 p.m., the moon reaches totality, completely immersed in the umbral shadow \u2013 and that\u2019s when sky watchers will see a rusty-red or \u201cblood\u201d moon. The reddish totality lasts an hour and 12 minutes, according to noted eclipse expert Fred Espenak, who retired from NASA, going from 10:11 p.m. until 11:23 p.m. Mid-eclipse occurs at 10:47 p.m. Entering the second partial phase, you\u2019ll see the moon lose its red cloak \u2013 and that partial phase ends at 12:27 a.m. Science at NASA released this explainer ahead of super Harvest Moon on the night of Sep. 27. The moon will pass through the shadow of Earth, producing a lovely amber total lunar eclipse. Watching the eclipse To watch the lunar eclipse, it\u2019s easy: Go outside and look up. But there are several places on the web where you can see it live. Griffith Observatory In Virginia, the Shenandoah National Park will host a total lunar eclipse \u201cstar party\u201d on Sunday, September 27 at the Byrd Visitor Center, Stanley, Virginia, as park rangers, local astronomers and Greg Redfern of NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory gather at the Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51, Skyline Drive) for an evening of astronomy presentations and dark-sky viewing. See the lunar eclipse and learn about the importance of protecting dark skies. Redfern will present a talk, \u201cThis Isn\u2019t Your Granddaddy\u2019s Moon\u201d at the Byrd Visitor Center auditorium, 6:30 p.m. At Slooh.com, the online astronomy event website, they\u2019re expecting a few million viewers from around the world, according to Slooh\u2019s Michael Paolucci. Join astronomers Paul Cox and Bob Berman for the cosmic play-by-play. On Sunday, NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center will webcast the eclipse live. Of Saros and"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Stargazers were treated to a rare astronomical phenomenon on the night of Sept. 27 when a total lunar eclipse combined with a \"supermoon,\" the closest full moon of the year, to create a \"blood moon.\"\nWith clear skies on the evening of Sept. 27, the plump Harvest Moon takes on crimson coloring \u2013 during a total lunar eclipse. Don your fall jackets, grab a hot mug of hot chocolate \u2013 with marshmallows, of course \u2013 and meet the neighbors outside for a cosmic chat. Watch heavenly glory unfold.\nTo make matters more interesting, the reddish, eclipsing moon will be in \u201cperigee\u201d phase \u2013 which means it is closest to the Earth for September, and in fact, it is the closest point all year \u2013 what some call a \u201csupermoon.\u201d A so-called supermoon appears 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than when the moon is farthest away from Earth.\n\u201cThere\u2019s no physical difference in the moon,\u201d explains Noah Petro, a NASA scientist. \u201cIt just appears slightly bigger in the sky. It\u2019s not dramatic, but it does look larger.\u201d\n[NASA captures supersonic shockwave of jet eclipsing the sun]\nThe coincidence of a supermoon and lunar eclipse is a rare one. It last occurred 33 years ago, and won\u2019t happen again for 18 more.\nOn Sept. 27, 2015, there will be a very rare event in the night sky \u2013 a supermoon lunar eclipse. Watch this animated feature to learn more.\n\u00a0\nThe eclipse will commence once the Earth comes between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow into space. As the moon moves across that shadow (called an umbra) Sunday evening, we are perfectly placed for the lunar eclipse.\n(Fred Espenak)\nFor the Eastern time zone, the partial eclipse phase starts at 9:07 p.m., when the moon moves into the Earth\u2019s penumbral shadow, according to NASA. Our lunar neighbor \u2013 over the next hour \u2013 advances into the dark umbral shadow. At 10:11 p.m., the moon reaches totality, completely immersed in the umbral shadow \u2013 and that\u2019s when sky watchers will see a rusty-red or \u201cblood\u201d moon.\nThe reddish totality lasts an hour and 12 minutes, according to noted eclipse expert Fred Espenak, who retired from NASA, going from 10:11 p.m. until 11:23 p.m. Mid-eclipse occurs at 10:47 p.m. Entering the second partial phase, you\u2019ll see the moon lose its red cloak \u2013 and that partial phase ends at 12:27 a.m.\nScience at NASA released this explainer ahead of super Harvest Moon on the night of Sep. 27. The moon will pass through the shadow of Earth, producing a lovely amber total lunar eclipse.\n\u00a0\nWatching the eclipse\nTo watch the lunar eclipse, it\u2019s easy: Go outside and look up. But there are several places on the web where you can see it live.\nGriffith Observatory\nIn Virginia, the Shenandoah National Park will host a total lunar eclipse \u201cstar party\u201d on Sunday, September 27 at the Byrd Visitor Center, Stanley, Virginia, as park rangers, local astronomers and Greg Redfern of NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory gather at the Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51, Skyline Drive) for an evening of astronomy presentations and dark-sky viewing. See the lunar eclipse and learn about the importance of protecting dark skies. Redfern will present a talk, \u201cThis Isn\u2019t Your Granddaddy\u2019s Moon\u201d at the Byrd Visitor Center auditorium, 6:30 p.m.\nAt Slooh.com, the online astronomy event website, they\u2019re expecting a few million viewers from around the world, according to Slooh\u2019s Michael Paolucci. Join astronomers Paul Cox and Bob Berman for the cosmic play-by-play.\nOn Sunday, NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center will webcast the eclipse live.\nOf Saros and Tetrads\nAll eclipses belong in a patterned series of eclipses \u2013 a family of them are called \u201csaros.\u201d This Sept. 27-28 total lunar eclipse belongs to Saros 137, and it is eclipse No. 26 out of 78. The series started on Dec. 17, 1564 \u2013 stretching out for 1,389 years \u2013 and slated to end on April 20, 2953.\nThis eclipse is the fourth of four total lunar eclipses-in-a-row, which is called a tetrad. The three previous total lunar eclipses were seen around the world on April 15, 2014; Oct. 8, 2014; and last spring on April 4, 2015.\n[Photos: Lunar eclipse turns moon blood red over Washington, D.C.]\nTetrads are part of a 565-year cycle where our planet enjoys many tetrads \u2013 or none at all. Between 1582 and 1908, there were no tetrads. The next quartet will be 2032-33."}
{"qid": 966, "pid": "fc957b3fff34e91eb64b8d922870ab92_0", "query_info": {"_id": 966, "text": "When will there be a lunar eclipse visible from DC?", "instruction_og": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them.", "instruction_changed": "I'm interested in what opportunities there are to view a lunar eclipse in the next ten years.  I'm less interested in past events except for the most recent last event.  Information on lunar eclipses is relevant, especially about how to best view them. Relevant documents include NASA.", "short_query": "Find upcoming lunar eclipse viewing opportunities for this question.", "keywords": "lunar eclipse viewing opportunities"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "fc957b3fff34e91eb64b8d922870ab92_0", "title": "A \u2018ring of fire\u2019 solar eclipse occurs Sunday morning \u2014 here\u2019s how to watch", "text": "(NASA) You\u2019re gonna need a bigger mug of coffee. This Sunday morning, when the moon gets between Earth and the sun, enjoy breakfast with an annular solar eclipse. This eclipse\u2019s path stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic and Africa, through Chile, Argentina, Angola, Zambia and the Congo, according to Fred Espenak, a retired NASA eclipse expert. Go online to the astronomy website Slooh.com, if you have hopes of catching this \u201cring of fire\u201d cosmic event. The live stream begins at 7 a.m. ET. The \u201cgreatest duration\u201d of the eclipse \u2014 west of Chile in the South Pacific Ocean \u2014 occurs at 8:16 a.m. ET, which lasts about 1 minute and 22 seconds, when the eclipse ribbon is 59 miles wide. The \u201cgreatest eclipse\u201d part, when the moon shadow\u2019s axis passes closest to Earth\u2019s center \u2014 east of Buenos Aires in the Atlantic Ocean \u2014 happens at 9:54 a.m. ET, and that lasts about 44 seconds, according to Espenak. Thanks to perfect celestial mechanics, a total solar eclipse covers the entirety of the sun\u2019s disk. Sunday\u2019s event is an annular eclipse (derived from Latin, the word annular means ring-shaped). Since this eclipse occurs about five days before the moon\u2019s perigee (when it is at its farthest this month away from Earth, March 3) the moon covers most but not all of the sun, leaving a smidgen of the sun uncovered \u2014 the effect is a \u201cring of fire.\u201d In a moment similar to that of the \"double rainbow\" viral video, an astronomer on an Alaska Airlines flight is overcome with glee while witnessing a total solar eclipse on Mar. 8. Alaska Airlines adjusted its flight schedule by 25 minutes to allow 'eclipse chasers' onboard the perfect view. If you are fortunate enough to see it in person, please be cautious. Do not look at the sun directly or through binoculars or a telescope (unless there is proper solar filtration) at the sun. As always, the eclipse has a family. It belongs to Saros 140, a series that started April 16, 1512. We saw an eclipse from this series on Feb. 16, 1999. We are long past the total eclipses from Saros 140, as the last one was Nov. 9, 1836 \u2014 the day after board game maker Milton Bradley was born. The next eclipse in this series will be March 9, 2035 \u2014 another annular eclipse. Of course, this annular"}], "old": [{"_id": "fc957b3fff34e91eb64b8d922870ab92_0", "title": "A \u2018ring of fire\u2019 solar eclipse occurs Sunday morning \u2014 here\u2019s how to watch", "text": "(NASA) You\u2019re gonna need a bigger mug of coffee. This Sunday morning, when the moon gets between Earth and the sun, enjoy breakfast with an annular solar eclipse. The \u201cgreatest duration\u201d of the eclipse \u2014 west of Chile in the South Pacific Ocean \u2014 occurs at 8:16 a.m. ET, which lasts about 1 minute and 22 seconds, when the eclipse ribbon is 59 miles wide. The \u201cgreatest eclipse\u201d part, when the moon shadow\u2019s axis passes closest to Earth\u2019s center \u2014 east of Buenos Aires in the Atlantic Ocean \u2014 happens at 9:54 a.m. ET, and that lasts about 44 seconds, according to Espenak. Thanks to perfect celestial mechanics, a total solar eclipse covers the entirety of the sun\u2019s disk. Sunday\u2019s event is an annular eclipse (derived from Latin, the word annular means ring-shaped). Since this eclipse occurs about five days before the moon\u2019s perigee (when it is at its farthest this month away from Earth, March 3) the moon covers most but not all of the sun, leaving a smidgen of the sun uncovered \u2014 the effect is a \u201cring of fire.\u201d In a moment similar to that of the \"double rainbow\" viral video, an astronomer on an Alaska Airlines flight is overcome with glee while witnessing a total solar eclipse on Mar. 8. Alaska Airlines adjusted its flight schedule by 25 minutes to allow 'eclipse chasers' onboard the perfect view. If you are fortunate enough to see it in person, please be cautious. Do not look at the sun directly or through binoculars or a telescope (unless there is proper solar filtration) at the sun. As always, the eclipse has a family. It belongs to Saros 140, a series that started April 16, 1512. We saw an eclipse from this series on Feb. 16, 1999. We are long past the total eclipses from Saros 140, as the last one was Nov. 9, 1836 \u2014 the day after board game maker Milton Bradley was born. The next eclipse in this series will be March 9, 2035 \u2014 another annular eclipse. Of course, this annular eclipse is a teasing preview. Less than six months from now, the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse will be visible from the Pacific Northwest through the heart of the Midwest to a big chunk of South Carolina. Here's how the Earth, moon and sun move during a solar eclipse."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "(NASA)\nYou\u2019re gonna need a bigger mug of coffee. This Sunday morning, when the moon gets between Earth and the sun, enjoy breakfast with an annular solar eclipse.\nThis eclipse\u2019s path stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic and Africa, through Chile, Argentina, Angola, Zambia and the Congo, according to Fred Espenak, a retired NASA eclipse expert.\nGo online to the astronomy website Slooh.com, if you have hopes of catching\u00a0this \u201cring of fire\u201d cosmic event. The live stream\u00a0begins at 7 a.m. ET.\nThe \u201cgreatest duration\u201d of the eclipse \u2014 west of Chile in the South Pacific Ocean \u2014 occurs at 8:16 a.m. ET, which lasts about 1 minute and 22 seconds, when the eclipse ribbon is 59 miles wide. The \u201cgreatest eclipse\u201d part, when the moon shadow\u2019s axis passes closest to Earth\u2019s center \u2014 east of Buenos Aires in the Atlantic Ocean \u2014 happens at 9:54 a.m. ET, and that lasts about 44 seconds, according to Espenak.\nThanks to perfect celestial mechanics, a total solar eclipse covers the entirety of the sun\u2019s disk. Sunday\u2019s event is an annular eclipse (derived from Latin, the word annular means ring-shaped). Since this eclipse occurs about five days before the moon\u2019s perigee (when it is at its farthest this month away from Earth, March 3) the moon covers most but not all of the sun, leaving a smidgen of the sun uncovered \u2014 the effect is a \u201cring of fire.\u201d\nIn a moment similar to that of the \"double rainbow\" viral video, an astronomer on an Alaska Airlines flight is overcome with glee while witnessing a total solar eclipse on Mar. 8. Alaska Airlines adjusted its flight schedule by 25 minutes to allow 'eclipse chasers' onboard the perfect view.\nIf you are fortunate enough to see it in person, please be cautious. Do not look at the sun directly or through binoculars or a telescope (unless there is proper solar filtration) at the sun.\nAs always, the eclipse has a family. It belongs to Saros 140, a series that started April 16, 1512. We saw an eclipse from this series on Feb. 16, 1999. We are long past the total eclipses from Saros 140, as the last one was Nov. 9, 1836 \u2014 the day after board game maker Milton Bradley was born. The next eclipse in this series will be March 9, 2035 \u2014 another annular eclipse.\nOf course, this annular eclipse is a teasing preview. Less than six months from now, the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse will be visible from the Pacific Northwest through the heart of the Midwest to a big chunk of South Carolina.\nAt the greatest eclipse, you can possibly enjoy 2 minutes, 40 seconds of totality. NASA has devoted a full website to the August eclipse, and it provides detailed maps and general information. The U.S. Naval Observatory\u2019s website also gives details on that eclipse.\nHere's how the Earth, moon and sun move during a solar eclipse."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "2MP4ONJ32FFA7HOUKUKNOU2ASM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "2MP4ONJ32FFA7HOUKUKNOU2ASM_0", "title": "GOP senators protect Trump administration\u2019s plan to lift Russian sanctions", "text": "Republican senators Wednesday successfully defended the Trump administration\u2019s plan to lift sanctions on companies controlled by a Vladimir Putin ally \u2014 despite the defection of nearly a dozen Republicans who broke ranks to vote with the Democrats. The Democratic effort to block the relaxation of sanctions on the companies of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska fell just a few votes shy of the 60 needed to advance the resolution to a final vote, even after attracting the support of eleven Republican senators including Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ben Sasse of Nebraska. The defeat means the Treasury Department is likely to lift the sanctions in the coming days. Treasury, Deripaska and his companies didn\u2019t respond to requests for comment. The U.S. sanctioned Deripaska and his companies in 2018, among a group of Russian elites the U.S. said had furthered \u201cthe Kremlin\u2019s global malign activities, including its attempts to subvert Western democracy.\u201d Some Democrats said they were wary about relaxing sanctions on Deripaska\u2019s companies, in part because of his ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to defraud the United States and obstruct justice in the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Deripaska helped fund consulting work Manafort did for a Ukrainian political party, invested in a Manafort investment fund and lent Manafort millions of dollars, according to court records. The Treasury Department in December proposed lifting sanctions against the companies while leaving those against Deripaska intact, after protests from European countries that the company sanctions were causing havoc in aluminum markets. Treasury notified Congress on Dec. 19 that it intended to lift the sanctions because Deripaska had agreed to reduce his stake in En+ Group, the holding company that controls the aluminum giant Rusal, from about 70 percent to 44.95 percent, and to limit his voting shares to 35 percent. This would protect the companies \u201cfrom the controlling influence of a Kremlin insider,\u201d which had been the goal of punishing the firms, Treasury said. But Senate Democrats balked at the plan, and tried to stop it through a resolution of disapproval. Some Republicans agreed, breaking with the Trump administration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. \u201cI\u2019ll vote to disapprove Treasury\u2019s easing of sanctions on Russian businesses involving oligarch & Putin ally Oleg Deripaska. He still would maintain significant control given his ties to Putin. Easing the sanctions"}], "old": [{"_id": "2MP4ONJ32FFA7HOUKUKNOU2ASM_0", "title": "GOP senators protect Trump administration\u2019s plan to lift Russian sanctions", "text": "Tom Hamburger contributed to this report."}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Republican senators Wednesday successfully defended the Trump administration\u2019s plan to lift sanctions on companies controlled by a Vladimir Putin ally \u2014 despite the defection of nearly a dozen Republicans who broke ranks to vote with the Democrats.\nThe Democratic effort to block the relaxation of sanctions on the companies of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska fell just a few votes shy of the 60 needed to advance the resolution to a final vote, even after attracting the support of eleven Republican senators including Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ben Sasse of Nebraska.\nThe defeat means the Treasury Department is likely to lift the sanctions in the coming days. Treasury, Deripaska and his companies didn\u2019t respond to requests for comment.\nThe U.S. sanctioned Deripaska and his companies in 2018, among a group of Russian elites the U.S. said had furthered \u201cthe Kremlin\u2019s global malign activities, including its attempts to subvert Western democracy.\u201d\nSome Democrats said they were wary about relaxing sanctions on Deripaska\u2019s companies, in part because of his ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to defraud the United States and obstruct justice in the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Deripaska helped fund consulting work Manafort did for a Ukrainian political party, invested in a Manafort investment fund and lent Manafort millions of dollars, according to court records.\nThe Treasury Department in December proposed lifting sanctions against the companies while leaving those against Deripaska intact, after protests from European countries that the company sanctions were causing havoc in aluminum markets.\nTreasury notified Congress on Dec. 19 that it intended to lift the sanctions because Deripaska had agreed to reduce his stake in En+ Group, the holding company that controls the aluminum giant Rusal, from about 70 percent to 44.95 percent, and to limit his voting shares to 35 percent. This would protect the companies \u201cfrom the controlling influence of a Kremlin insider,\u201d which had been the goal of punishing the firms, Treasury said.\nBut Senate Democrats balked at the plan, and tried to stop it through a resolution of disapproval. Some Republicans agreed, breaking with the Trump administration and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.\n\u201cI\u2019ll vote to disapprove Treasury\u2019s easing of sanctions on Russian businesses involving oligarch & Putin ally Oleg Deripaska. He still would maintain significant control given his ties to Putin. Easing the sanctions sends the wrong message to Russia & to Deripaska,\u201d Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) tweeted, before voting with Democrats to try to block the Treasury action.\nSen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said he supported the resolution to \u201ckeep pressure on the Kremlin for their aggressive actions toward Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and around the world.\u201d\nSen. Rubio criticized Treasury\u2019s plan to shift some of Deripaska\u2019s shares to a Russian state-owned bank. Under the Treasury plan to reduce Deripaska\u2019s ownership, Russia\u2019s state-owned VTB Bank or another Treasury-approved entity will take ownership of a block of Deripaska\u2019s shares in En+ that had been pledged against a loan.\nThe Obama administration added VTB Bank to a sanctions list in 2014, as punishment for Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. The Trump administration issued sanctions against VTB\u2019s chairman, Andrey Kostin, last year, as part of the actions against Deripaska and others.\n\u201cUnder this agreement Oleg Deripaska loses shares but not influence or effective control of Rusal,\u201d Sen. Rubio said Wednesday. \u201cBetween his 35 percent of voting shares and those held by others close to him, including 7 percent by Putin\u2019s bank, his control over the company remains.\u201d\nTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin disputed this criticism, saying Deripaska\u2019s influence will be curbed. Mnuchin said career Treasury officials who had worked at the agency more than twenty years negotiated the deal to reduce Deripaska\u2019s ownership, and that it wasn\u2019t a political decision or a favor to Putin to lift the sanctions.\n\u201cThe only reasons why the companies were [sanctioned] is because they meet certain ownership and control by Deripaska,\u201d which will be reduced, Mnuchin told reporters Tuesday.\nSchumer and other Democrats raised concerns about Deripaska\u2019s ties to Manafort. \u201cAt the time when it\u2019s becoming public how deep Deripaska\u2019s ties are to Putin, organized crime, but also Paul Manafort, to do this would be a disgrace,\u201d Schumer said Tuesday.\nThe Treasury Department last year said Deripaska has been \u201cinvestigated for money laundering, and has been accused of threatening the lives of business rivals\u201d and having ties to organized crime.\nDeripaska has denied those allegations in the past. He and his companies did not respond to requests for comment.\nWashington\u2019s sanctions on Rusal and En+ Group clobbered the oligarch financially, sinking the market value of his publicly traded companies. En+ Group lobbied the Trump administration heavily to lift the sanctions. The British chairman of the company, Gregory Barker, hired Mercury Public Affairs and former U.S. senator David Vitter to try to gain the support of the State Department and other agencies.\nTom Hamburger contributed to this report."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "37AYW332DBD5JEBUXMAQT4EK54_11", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "37AYW332DBD5JEBUXMAQT4EK54_11", "title": "The Daily 202: The Koch network donor retreat turns touchy-feely", "text": "totally closed the door on a 2020 campaign. -- Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper (D) returned to Iowa as he nears a final decision on launching a presidential bid. -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is relying on her policy expertise to set herself apart from other presidential candidates. -- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has bragged about his collaboration with Democratic legislators as he eyes a primary challenge against Trump, but his tenure has included moments of divisive partisanship. THERE\u2019S A BEAR IN THE WOODS: -- Roger Stone dodged a question about whether he would consider cooperating with special counsel Bob Mueller after his indictment. \u201cTrump on Saturday night seemed to distance himself from Stone, tweeting: \u2018Roger Stone didn\u2019t even work for me anywhere near the Election!\u2019 \u2018What about the Fake and Unverified \u201cDossier,\u201d a total phony conjob, that was paid for by Crooked Hillary to damage me and the Trump Campaign?\u2019 he tweeted.\u201d -- It remains unclear why several of Trump\u2019s former advisers felt compelled to lie to investigators about their activities during the 2016 campaign, -- Chris Christie claims in his new book the president and Jared Kushner thought firing Michael Flynn would end the \u201cRussia thing.\u201d -- The Treasury Department officially lifted sanctions on three companies owned by Oleg Deripaska, the Russian oligarch and ally of Vladimir Putin. -- \u201cAfter the sanctions were officially lifted, EN+ announced the appointment of seven new directors under the deal, including Christopher Bancroft Burnham, a banker who served on Mr. Trump\u2019s State Department transition team and worked in George W. Bush\u2019s State Department,\u201d THE NEW WORLD ORDER: -- Juan Guaid\u00f3, Venezuela's self-declared interim president, said the opposition is in talks with military and civilian officials to force out President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. -- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he has recently heard Trump weigh military intervention in Venezuela, -- The British Parliament\u2019s maneuvers in reaction to Brexit have been shaped by the unconventional speakership of John Bercow. -- Thousands wearing red scarves took to the streets of Paris to protest the \u201cyellow vest\u201d demonstrators. SOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ: Trump insisted he would build the wall: Meanwhile, the Texas Tribune corrected one of Trump's tweets on immigration: The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee hammered Trump for his Russia connections: Kamala Harris\u2019s communications director loaned her boss something that once belonged to her grandmother Ann Richards, the former governor of Texas: Harris\u2019s husband"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "With Joanie Greve:\nTHE BIG IDEA:\nINDIAN WELLS, Calif. \u2014 Liberal activist Van Jones protested the Koch brothers outside their donor meeting in 2011.\nAt the 2019 Koch seminar, however, there is a giant banner with Jones\u2019s smiling face hanging inside the lobby of the posh hotel that\u2019s hosting the meeting.\n\u201cThe problem is there\u2019s a lot of stuff we do agree on that we aren\u2019t working on together,\u201d Jones says in the video, which organizers played on Sunday for 634 donors who have each agreed to contribute at least $100,000 per year to Koch-sponsored groups. \u201cYou\u2019ve got awesome people and beautiful people on both sides.\u201d\nYou could be forgiven for thinking you accidentally showed up for a No Labels conference. That\u2019s been the vibe here in the Coachella Valley all weekend as the network aggressively seeks to rebrand itself as kinder, gentler and less political.\nWearing purple, the color of bipartisanship, industrialist Charles Koch \u2014 who remains a boogeyman on the left \u2014 declared that his top goal is \u201cuniting with people across the whole spectrum, including those who have been adversaries in the past,\u201d to pursue shared priorities. \u201cThis attitude of holding things against others who have different beliefs is tearing our country apart,\u201d the 83-year-old said during a cocktail reception on Saturday night. \u201cWhat we need to do, and what we\u2019re doing, is bringing people together.\u201d\nHis brother David stepped away from the network last year, citing poor health. Charles has concluded that reaching across the aisle to build coalitions is the best way to maximize his network\u2019s impact with a president in the White House he personally doesn\u2019t like but whom many members of his network do. The network plans to stay out of the presidential race again in 2020, as it did in 2016.\n-- Koch World believes the sentencing bill is its new recipe for success.\nAmericans for Prosperity chief executive Emily Seidel said many Republican lawmakers had the same mentality when they were in the wilderness. \u201cJust a few years ago, Republican after Republican told us they didn\u2019t want to give Obama a win on this issue,\u201d she told donors.\nEven though the president has attacked Koch personally, network officials were still able to work constructively with White House senior adviser Jared Kushner on criminal justice. \u201cIt shows how you can break though the partisan gridlock, and it\u2019s the model for everything else we\u2019ll do going forward,\u201d Seidel said.\nIndeed, the president\u2019s son-in-law appeared in the same video as Jones. \u201cOne of the things that really surprised people, including myself, was how broad the coalition we were able to build was,\u201d Kushner said.\nKoch officials were back at the White House last week for a meeting on a potential immigration deal that could protect \u201cdreamers\u201d in exchange for wall money, and they\u2019re scheduled to return later this week.\n-- In past years, network leaders announced how much money they planned to spend on politics and policy in the upcoming election cycle. This year, they\u2019re not providing a target.\nThe network continues to increase financial support for nonprofits focused on civil society. That\u2019s how Koch wound up hugging Deion Sanders on Saturday night.\nThe discussion that followed over dinner was about the Charles Koch Foundation\u2019s Courageous Collaborations initiative, which was launched to support research on overcoming intolerance.\nDave Isay, the founder of StoryCorps, said his wife recently made him watch a documentary on Netflix about Roger Stone called \u201cGet Me Roger Stone.\u201d In the film, Stone says one of his \u201crules\u201d is that hate is a more powerful motivator than love.\n\u201cWe\u2019re in an existential crisis here,\u201d Isay continued. \u201cDemocracy cannot survive in a swamp of mutual contempt. \u2026 I don\u2019t know that this country can survive if we all despise each other. You don\u2019t have to change your mind about something. You just have to realize the person you\u2019re talking to is a human being. And we\u2019re not doing that.\u201d\n-- To be sure, the Koch network remains a potent political force on the right.\nNetwork officials identified 10 \u201cbarriers\u201d preventing people from realizing their full potential\n-- One big change from past Koch donor seminars is the relative absence of politicians.\nOnly three elected officials are at this seminar, which continues through Monday night, and none are members of the House.\n-- Instead of giving politicians a platform, organizers showcased several regular people with sympathetic personal stories in an effort to humanize the issues they\u2019re focused on.\nThe Koch network also flew in Melony Armstrong, an African American woman from Mississippi who wanted to braid hair but didn\u2019t have a cosmetology license. The Koch network has made her the face of its effort to relax occupational licensing laws across the country. Armstrong received training from the network, and it deployed significant resources to successfully change the laws in her home state in 2017. Nebraska last year and Ohio this month passed similar bills after Koch lobbying.\n-- \u201cWe\u2019re getting much better at storytelling,\u201d Holden said in an interview.\n\u201cIt\u2019s important to put human faces on problems,\u201d added James Davis, who oversees communications for the Koch network. \u201cStats don\u2019t convey empathy.\u201d\n-- One major focus of this meeting has been encouraging attendees to hire more ex-cons to ease their reentry into society.\nKoch, worth somewhere around $50 billion, is one of the 10 richest men in the world. His company \u201cbanned the box,\u201d which means that job applicants aren\u2019t asked about prior criminal convictions anymore. \u201cWhatever we\u2019re doing in business, we haven\u2019t scratched the surface,\u201d Koch said in a speech Sunday. \u201cIf all of us join together, just think about the difference we can make.\u201d\nThe head of the Society for Human Resource Management unveiled a new website at the meeting on Sunday, GettingTalentBacktoWork.com, for corporate leaders to sign a pledge that they will hire more formerly incarcerated people. Richard Branson recorded a video greeting touting his company Virgin\u2019s efforts to hire former convicts. \u201cHello, Charles,\u201d the billionaire said in the taped message. \u201cCheers.\u201d\nAfter lobbying by the Koch network, Weldon Angelos of Utah was released in 2015 after serving 11 years of a 55-year prison term in connection with selling marijuana. His case had become a symbol of excessive mandatory minimums. Once he got out, a Koch donor from Colorado hired him at his company. The two came onstage Sunday afternoon with their arms draped over each other\u2019s shoulders. They departed to \u201cHere Comes the Sun.\u201d There have been many moments like this in the heavily choreographed program.\n\u201cIt\u2019s funny,\u201d said Kevin Gentry, a top Koch aide who works on special projects and fundraising for the network. \u201cA few minutes ago, one of our first-timers grabbed me and said, \u2018I\u2019ve got to tell you. This meeting is nothing like I thought it was going to be. When did you start this new thing?\u2019 I said, \u2018Well, I\u2019ve got to tell you, whenever it was we started it, we should have done it a long time ago.\u2019\u201d\nWHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:\n-- The chief U.S. negotiator in Afghanistan said American and Taliban forces have agreed in principle to a peace framework that could lead to the full removal of U.S. troops.\n-- A new Post-ABC poll found Trump is falling short of the modest expectations voters had when he assumed office two years ago.\n\u201cAnother issue where Trump has performed below initial expectations is on health care, where his positive ratings have fallen from 44 percent to 33 percent. The sharpest falloff came among independents, from 48 percent saying they expected him to do a good job with the issue to the current 22 percent. \u2026 Along with the deficit and healthcare, Americans grade Trump the worst on issues dealing with women and race relations, both areas in which Trump started with low expectations. Roughly one-third say Trump has done an excellent or good job on each in his first two years, with more than 6 in 10 adults calling his performance poor or not so good.\u201d\nGET SMART FAST:\nTHE GOVERNMENT REOPENS \u2014 FOR NOW:\n-- Federal employees will return to work today, but it could take months to sort through the backlog created by the longest shutdown in U.S. history.\n-- With the government reopened, House Democrats and Senate Republicans plan to pivot toward other parts of their agenda.\n-- Federal contractors\u2019 lost wages may never be reimbursed.\n-- Many government workers are still relying on donations to cover basic necessities until they can collect their paychecks later this week.\n-- The bill that reopened the government also extended the Violence Against Women Act through Feb. 15.\n-- Democratic legislators in Maryland are moving forward with a proposal to allow furloughed federal workers to collect state unemployment insurance.\n-- Craft breweries are acutely feeling the\u00a0reverberations of the shutdown.\nTHE IMMIGRATION WARS CONTINUE:\n-- Trump is again considering declaring a national emergency\u00a0to get wall funding by Feb. 15, the next deadline by which the government must be funded.\n\u201cA bipartisan, bicameral congressional committee has been charged with brokering an agreement on border security ...\u00a0In an\u00a0interview with the Wall Street Journal\u00a0on Sunday, Trump said he thinks the committee\u2019s chances of success are \u2018less than 50-50,\u2019 although there are \u2018a lot of very good people\u2019 on it. He also said that another shutdown is \u2018certainly an option\u2019and voiced doubt that he would back any deal with less than $5.7\u00a0billion in border wall funding. \u2026 Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called the prospect of a national-emergency declaration a \u2018terrible idea,\u2019 reflecting widespread conservative unease about using executive powers in sweeping ways to achieve political ends, a tactic they have long criticized Democratic presidents of employing. \u2026 Still, other Republicans said the GOP appetite for using emergency powers was stronger than the remarks of lawmakers on television suggested because of the expectation that the party\u2019s base would applaud Trump for being bold. \u2026\n\u201cSeveral White House officials said privately Sunday that Trump has argued that a national-emergency declaration in the coming weeks could pressure Congress to include wall funding as part of a broader legislative package next month and could signal to the GOP\u2019s core voters that the president is going to extremes to secure funding for his campaign\u2019s biggest pledge. Mulvaney said that if the legislation Congress sends to the president\u2019s desk is unsatisfactory, Trump could veto it. \u2018Yeah. I think he actually is,\u2019 Mulvaney said on CBS\u2019s \u2018Face the Nation\u2019 when asked whether Trump is prepared to bring about a shutdown next month.\u201d\nBehind the scenes:\n-- A senior Border Patrol official emailed agents asking for any information that might be used to back up Trump\u2019s specious claims that human traffickers are gagging women with duct tape after a Post article raised questions about a story the president keeps telling.\n-- The administration is falling well short of Trump\u2019s order to hire 15,000 new border and immigration officers.\n2020 WATCH:\n-- Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) formally launched her presidential campaign on Sunday afternoon with a massive rally in her hometown.\n\u201cHarris, 54, framed her campaign as a response to President Trump, highlighting how he has divided the country and attempting to make the case that she would unite it. \u2018People in power are trying to convince us that the villain in our American story is each other,\u2019 she said. \u2018But that is not our story. That is not who we are. That\u2019s not our America. You see, our United States of America is not about us versus them. It\u2019s about \u2018we, the people.\u2019\u2019 She mocked Trump\u2019s foreign policy: \u2018We have foreign powers infecting the White House like malware.\u2019 She ridiculed his immigration stance: \u2018When we have children in cages, crying for their mothers and fathers, don\u2019t you dare call that border security \u2014 that\u2019s a human rights abuse. And that\u2019s not our America.\u2019 In implicit rebukes to a president known for falsehoods, she repeatedly said she would be an honest broker. \u2018Seek truth, speak truth and fight for the truth,\u2019 she said. \u2026\n\u201cHarris infused her speech with her biography \u2014 the daughter of a mother who emigrated from India and a father who emigrated from Jamaica, the first to research breast cancer and the second an economics professor\u00a0\u2026 Polls have found that many Democratic voters have no clear view of who Harris is or what she stands for. So in addition to delivering a serving of her biography, she also sought to outline some of her agenda. She advocated a Medicare-for-all plan, a tax proposal that would reverse the Republican-passed tax cuts and instead provide middle-class families with tax breaks of up to $500 a month, making pre-K access universal and making college debt-free.\u201d\n-- \u201cHarris has stoked a perception that she is not just an elite candidate, but among the Democratic front-runners \u2014 a designation that is loaded with both upside and danger in this very early stage of presidential jockeying,\u201d\n-- Howard Schultz told \u201c60 Minutes\u201d he is \u201cseriously thinking of running for president\u201d as an independent, stoking Democratic fears the former Starbucks chief executive could inadvertently help reelect Trump.\n-- CNN\u2019s Jeff Zeleny reports that Hillary Clinton has been telling friends she has not totally closed the door on a 2020 campaign.\n-- Former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper (D) returned to Iowa as he nears a final decision on launching a presidential bid.\n-- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is relying on her policy expertise to set herself apart from other presidential candidates.\n-- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has bragged about his collaboration with Democratic legislators as he eyes a primary challenge against Trump, but his tenure has included moments of divisive partisanship.\nTHERE\u2019S A BEAR IN THE WOODS:\n-- Roger Stone dodged a question about whether he would consider cooperating with special counsel Bob Mueller after his indictment.\n\u201cTrump on Saturday night seemed to distance himself from Stone, tweeting: \u2018Roger Stone didn\u2019t even work for me anywhere near the Election!\u2019 \u2018What about the Fake and Unverified \u201cDossier,\u201d a total phony conjob, that was paid for by Crooked Hillary to damage me and the Trump Campaign?\u2019 he tweeted.\u201d\n-- It remains unclear why several of Trump\u2019s former advisers felt compelled to lie to investigators about their activities during the 2016 campaign,\n-- Chris Christie claims in his new book the president and Jared Kushner thought firing Michael Flynn would end the \u201cRussia thing.\u201d\n-- The Treasury Department officially lifted sanctions on three companies owned by Oleg Deripaska, the Russian oligarch and ally of Vladimir Putin.\n-- \u201cAfter the sanctions were officially lifted, EN+ announced the appointment of seven new directors under the deal, including Christopher Bancroft Burnham, a banker who served on Mr. Trump\u2019s State Department transition team and worked in George W. Bush\u2019s State Department,\u201d\nTHE NEW WORLD ORDER:\n-- Juan Guaid\u00f3, Venezuela's self-declared\u00a0interim president, said the opposition is in talks with military and civilian officials to force out President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.\n-- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he has recently heard Trump weigh military intervention in Venezuela,\n-- The British Parliament\u2019s maneuvers in reaction to Brexit have been shaped by the unconventional speakership of John Bercow.\n-- Thousands wearing red scarves took to the streets of Paris to protest the \u201cyellow vest\u201d demonstrators.\nSOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:\nTrump insisted he would build the wall:\nMeanwhile, the Texas Tribune corrected one of\u00a0Trump's tweets on immigration:\nThe chairman of the House Intelligence Committee hammered Trump for his Russia connections:\nKamala Harris\u2019s communications director loaned her boss something that once belonged to her grandmother Ann Richards, the former governor of Texas:\nHarris\u2019s husband tweeted photos from the launch:\nAn LA Times writer noted this of Harris\u2019s launch:\nAnother 2020 candidate emphasized her consistent voting record against Trump:\nHoward Schultz looked ahead to 2020:\nAnd many people asked him to reconsider. From a Democratic congressman:\nFrom an Obama-era NSC spokesman:\nFrom a columnist for Canada\u2019s Globe and Mail:\nFormer NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw apologized after saying that Hispanics need to \u201cwork harder\u00a0at assimilation\u201d in the United States:\nHe later expanded upon the apology:\nBut the National Association of Hispanic Journalists found Brokaw\u2019s remorse to be lacking and applauded his colleague who challenged the remarks:\nFrom the founder of the website Latino Rebels:\nRep. Debbie Wasserman\u00a0Schultz (D-Fla.) added this:\nHillary Clinton appeared in Puerto Rico for a meeting on hurricane recovery efforts:\nA presidential historian looked back on a White House birthday party:\nAnd the pope reflected on social media influencers:\nGOOD READS:\n-- \u201c\u2018Want to see the Lincoln bedroom?\u2019: Trump relishes role as White House tour guide,\u201d by Josh Dawsey:\n-- Vanity Fair, \u201c\u2018Like an Alien Landed in the Middle of Los Angeles\u2019: Hope Hicks, West Wing Alum, Begins her Second Act on the West Coast,\u201d by Emily Jane Fox:\n-- New York Times, \u201cElite Law Firm\u2019s All-White Partner Class Stirs Debate on Diversity,\u201d by Noam Scheiber and John Eligon:\nDAYBOOK:\nTrump\nNEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:\n-- It will be cold today, but temperatures will drop further starting tomorrow with the arrival of an arctic front.\n-- The Wizards lost to the Spurs 132-119.\n-- Virginia teachers plan to march to the Capitol in Richmond today.\n-- A D.C. man was charged with felony dog fighting after authorities discovered 12 dogs and an alligator in his Congress Heights home.\nVIDEOS OF THE DAY:\nSteve Martin appeared on SNL to impersonate Roger Stone:\n\u201cWeekend Update\u201d mocked Trump\u2019s handling of the shutdown:\nKamala Harris released this video about her mother\u2019s influence as she launched her presidential campaign:\nElizabeth Warren shared a clip from a town hall appearance in New Hampshire:\nAnd one freshman congressman asked for dancing tips from one of his freshman classmates:"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "5OZO3W6WRJDRHF65GLLBAZIUCA_7", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5OZO3W6WRJDRHF65GLLBAZIUCA_7", "title": "The Daily 202: Trump voters stay loyal because they feel disrespected", "text": "other non-tariff remedies. But the talks have not been amicable. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been irate about the sanctions on ZTE, and his top economic adviser, Liu He, has told U.S. negotiators that there is no chance of a deal without the United States removing the seven-year ban on ZTE ...\u201d -- Mike Pompeo said the United States is assuring Kim Jong Un that it will not invade North Korea or otherwise seek his ouster during next month\u2019s summit with Trump \u2014 seeking to further incentivize Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons program. -- John Bolton described the types of steps Pyongyang would need to take to comply with a denuclearization process. THERE'S A BEAR IN THE WOODS: -- As Bob Mueller\u2019s probe enters its second year, an increasingly agitated Trump is lashing out against his own team with bluster and defiance \u2014 heightening the risk of a more direct confrontation with federal investigators. -- The Wall Street Journal has more details on how Cohen sought to capitalize on his relationship with Trump to build a consulting business. -- A former Trump campaign aide is helping a firm controlled by Russian oligarch and Vladimir Putin ally Oleg Deripaska try to shed newly imposed U.S. sanctions ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN: -- Fox News host Sean Hannity is on Trump\u2019s list of cleared callers to reach him at the White House, and the pair sometimes speak multiple times a day, -- Former NSC staffer Ezra Cohen-Watnick searched for ways to surveil White House staffers\u2019 communications as a means of preventing leaks. -- Trump\u2019s White House leaks \u201clike there\u2019s no tomorrow.\u201d But why? -- Bolton declined to apologize on the Sunday shows for White House aide Kelly Sadler mocking John McCain's battle with brain cancer. -- White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow has developed a reputation as \u201cthe nicest guy in the West Wing,\u201d TRUMP\u2019S AMERICA: -- Missouri Republican Gov. Eric Greitens\u2019s fight to keep his job points to \u201ca powerful new lesson: The shape of the American sex scandal has shifted,\u201d -- Trump\u2019s presidency may be \u201cthe best thing that ever happened\u201d to George W. Bush, who traveled to D.C. to accept the Atlantic Council\u2019s international leadership award last week. -- California\u2019s new sanctuary state law is dividing residents and lawmakers. THE MIDTERMS: -- Lawmakers who sponsored a bill that critics say hampered the DEA\u2019s enforcement of the opioid industry"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "With Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve.\nTHE BIG IDEA:\u00a0Three new deep dives into Donald Trump\u2019s strength in Midwestern counties that were previously Democratic strongholds \u2014 written by conservatives, liberals and a nonpartisan journalist \u2014 each highlight a deep craving for respect among supporters of the president and an enduring resentment toward coastal elites that buoys his popularity.\nRepublicans and Democrats who have traveled to Macomb County in the Detroit suburbs, which Trump won by 12 points after Barack Obama carried it twice, including by 16 points in 2008, came away struck by these dynamics.\n-- Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, who helped orchestrate Bill Clinton\u2019s 1992 victory, has obsessively studied the \u201cReagan Democrats\u201d in Macomb for more than three decades.\nOne older white working-class woman recalled that, when she first started voting, \u201cThere was so much respect for the president. And I don't care what he did, or what he said, there was always respect. It was always \u2018Mr. President.\u2019\u201d She said she is disgusted by the way people talk about Trump\n\u201cA healthy diet of Fox News is feeding the white working-class men fending off the challenges of Trump\u2019s opponents, including those within their own families,\u201d Greenberg and Zdunkewicz write. \u201cThey \u2026 feel vindicated that a businessman like Trump has produced a strong macro-economy and kept his promises on immigration. They continue to appreciate how he speaks his mind, unlike a typical politician. \u2026 One white working class man shared that he \u2018lost contact with [his] own daughter because of the election.\u2019 Others complain that their children and millennial friends challenge their views and suggest the media manipulates them. \u2026 Families dividing over the 2016 election reflects just how central feelings about Trump have become to people\u2019s identities.\u201d\n-- Respect is also a central undercurrent in \u201cThe Great Revolt,\u201d a new book by Republican operative Brad Todd and conservative columnist Salena Zito.\n\u201cWe voted for President Obama and still we are ridiculed. Still we are considered racists,\u201d said Cindy Hutchins, a store owner and nurse in Baldwin, Mich. \u201cThere is no respect for anyone who is just average and trying to do the right things.\u201d\n\u201cOur culture in Hollywood or in the media gives off the distinct air of disregard to people who live in the middle of the country, as if we have no value or do not contribute to the betterment of society,\u201d said Amy Giles-Maurer of Kenosha, Wis.\n\u201cLive in a small or medium-sized town, and you would think we were dragging the country down,\u201d said Michael Martin of Erie, Pa.\nTodd is a partner at OnMessage, a powerhouse GOP consulting firm, who has helped elect seven senators, five governors and more than two dozen congressmen. Zito is a syndicated columnist from Pittsburgh. Together, they identify seven archetypes of voters who fueled Trump\u2019s victory. The chapters include vignettes about three individual voters who fit each mold.\nSome categories are obvious\n\u201cKing Cyrus Republicans\u201d is what the authors call evangelicals who stuck with Trump after the \u201cAccess Hollywood\u201d tape came out because they wanted a conservative to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. That\u2019s a reference to the sixth-century pagan Persian king who released Jews from bondage in Babylon.\nTrump\u2019s margin was weaker than Mitt Romney\u2019s in 86 of the 100 most educated counties in the country. Trump\u2019s level of support was higher than Romney\u2019s in 1,449 of the 1,500 American counties with the lowest concentration of bachelor\u2019s degrees.\nNotably, people in all seven of their categories expressed frustration, even a year after the election, that they are not understood, respected or valued by the powers that be on the East and West coasts.\n-- Trump appealed to the \u201cforgotten man,\u201d a term his campaign often used, with a message that was infused less with ideology than grievance. He repeatedly benefited from his opponent giving him fodder.\nThe Democratic nominee added that \u201cthe other half\u201d of Trump\u2019s supporters were \u201cpeople who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and they\u2019re just desperate for change.\u201d But this nuance was lost. Many heard Clinton saying they were deplorable, and the gaffe helped galvanized wobbly Republicans. It still stings in some quarters.\n-- Dan Balz, The Washington Post\u2019s chief correspondent, spent the past 16 months interviewing voters in rural areas of the upper Mississippi River valley where Obama won but then broke decisively for Trump\n\u201cOne of the places I would agree with the hardcore Trump people, they\u2019re tired of being treated as the enemy by Barack Obama,\u201d said Dennis Schminke, 65, a retired manager at Hormel\nTrump was the first Republican to carry Mower County, which includes the meatpacking town, since Richard Nixon beat John F. Kennedy there in 1960. Schminke said Trump\u2019s appeal there was born in part of resentment toward the Obama presidency. \u201cHis comment, the whole thing, it\u2019s been worn out to death, that clinging to God and guns, God and guns and afraid of people who don\u2019t look like them, blah, blah, blah. Just quit talking down to me,\u201d he explained. \u201cI despise Barack Obama. I think primarily because I don\u2019t think he thinks very much of people like me. That\u2019s just the long and short of it.\u201d\nAndrew Chesney, 36, a conservative businessman in Freeport, Ill. \u2014 the site of the second Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858 and a county that Obama carried in 2008 \u2014 said Midwesterners feel let down by political leaders from both parties.\n-- Other reporters on our staff routinely hear similar sentiments when interviewing voters.\n-- One reason Balz\u2019s piece is great is that it\u2019s longitudinal:\nThe best illustration is Kurt Glazier, 50, from Sterling, Ill. He\u2019s a state worker, a union member and chairman of the Republican Party in Whiteside County, where Ronald Reagan was born.\nEight days before the inauguration, Glazier lamented the political divisions that had been building for years.\nBy midsummer of 2017, Glazier had growing concerns about Trump\nNear the first anniversary of the president taking office, Glazier worried especially that those who voted for Trump are now viewed by others as therefore being like Trump.\nA few weeks ago, Glazier watched Stormy Daniels\u2019s interview on CBS\u2019s \u201c60 Minutes\u201d and felt \u201ca little saddened\u201d by the steady stream of Trump\u2019s self-inflicted mistakes.\nBut Glazier drew a distinction between the staunchest Trump supporters and other Republicans \u2014 like him.\nWHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:\n-- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi suffered a major setback as influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took a surprise lead in the country\u2019s parliamentary elections.\nGET SMART FAST:\nWATCH WHAT THEY DO, NOT WHAT THEY SAY:\n-- The Education Department is neutering a special team tasked with investigating widespread abuses by for-profit colleges.\nTHE NEW WORLD ORDER:\n-- The Trump administration will formally move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem today, which is expected to trigger another set of violent demonstrations across Palestinian territories\n\u201cBut Israel is not letting the threat of violence dull its party. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gathered 1,000 guests for a celebratory event on the ministry grounds on Sunday. Among them were\u00a0[Steven Mnuchin, Sheldon Adelson\u00a0and Ivanka Trump]. \u2026As guests sipped wine in front of a stage with a backdrop of American and Israeli flags, the mosques in Gaza were urging people to attend protests.\u201d\n-- Gaza officials said that the number of Palestinians killed in border clashes today has reached at least 18, with another 918 wounded.\n-- The Trump administration has reversed its position on the boycott of Qatar, but it has been unable to convince Persian Gulf leaders to relent.\n-- Relaxing penalties on Chinese telecom company ZTE has become a flash point in trade negotiations between the United States and China.\n\u201cThe comment marked a sharp shift in tone for a president who has long accused China of stealing U.S. jobs. The Treasury and Commerce departments had been strongly aligned against ZTE as recently as several days ago in one of the toughest actions to date against a Chinese company. With Trump\u2019s tweet, some officials familiar with the ZTE issue believe a compromise is possible. \u2018A mini-deal is in sight,\u2019 said a person familiar with the matter. \u2018China gets relief for ZTE, and in exchange agrees to return to the status quo for U.S. agriculture,\u2019 easing tariffs and implementing other non-tariff remedies. But the talks have not been amicable. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been irate about the sanctions on ZTE, and his top economic adviser, Liu He, has told U.S. negotiators that there is no chance of a deal without the United States removing the seven-year ban on ZTE ...\u201d\n-- Mike Pompeo said\u00a0the United States is assuring Kim Jong Un that it will not invade North Korea or otherwise seek his ouster during next month\u2019s summit with Trump \u2014 seeking to further incentivize Pyongyang to give up its\u00a0nuclear weapons program.\n-- John Bolton described the types of steps Pyongyang would need to take to comply with a denuclearization process.\nTHERE'S A BEAR IN THE WOODS:\n-- As Bob Mueller\u2019s probe enters its second year, an increasingly agitated Trump is lashing out against his own team with bluster and defiance \u2014\u00a0heightening the risk of a more direct confrontation with federal investigators.\n-- The Wall Street Journal\u00a0has more details on how Cohen sought to capitalize on his relationship with Trump to build a consulting business.\n-- A former Trump campaign aide is helping a firm controlled by Russian oligarch and Vladimir Putin ally Oleg Deripaska\u00a0try to shed newly imposed U.S. sanctions\nALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN:\n-- Fox News host Sean Hannity is on Trump\u2019s list of cleared callers to reach him at the White House, and the pair sometimes speak multiple times a day,\n-- Former NSC staffer Ezra Cohen-Watnick searched for ways to surveil White House staffers\u2019 communications as a means of preventing leaks.\n-- Trump\u2019s White House leaks \u201clike there\u2019s no tomorrow.\u201d But why?\n-- Bolton declined to apologize on the Sunday shows for White House aide Kelly Sadler mocking John McCain's battle with brain cancer.\n-- White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow has developed a reputation as \u201cthe nicest guy in the West Wing,\u201d\nTRUMP\u2019S AMERICA:\n-- Missouri Republican Gov. Eric Greitens\u2019s fight to keep his job points to \u201ca powerful new lesson: The shape of the American sex scandal has shifted,\u201d\n-- Trump\u2019s presidency may be \u201cthe best thing that ever happened\u201d to George W. Bush, who traveled to D.C. to accept the Atlantic Council\u2019s international leadership award last week.\n-- California\u2019s new sanctuary state law is\u00a0dividing residents and lawmakers.\nTHE MIDTERMS:\n-- Lawmakers who sponsored a bill that critics say hampered the DEA\u2019s enforcement of the opioid industry appear vulnerable politically.\n-- Democratic leaders fear they are losing their advantage in the midterms.\n-- Liberals are frustrated with the establishment\u2019s support of more centrist candidates in the Democratic primaries.\n-- Organizational upheaval at the progressive group Wellstone Action underscores the emerging Democratic schism.\n-- Starting early: Mitch McConnell is already hiring staff for his 2020 reelection campaign, and he\u2019s not even in cycle yet.\nSOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:\nIvanka Trump and Jared Kushner arrived in Israel to commemorate the new embassy:\nMitt Romney questioned the choice of pastor to lead the opening prayer at the embassy\u2019s dedication:\nJeffress responded to the criticism:\nTrump defended his decision on the Iran deal:\nAnd he called for \u201c[c]hanges to our thought process on terror\u201d:\nThe top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee criticized Trump\u2019s announcement on ZTE:\nFrom a former CIA analyst:\nFrom a Weekly Standard editor:\nFrom a former British professor:\nStormy Daniels\u2019s lawyer posted an image appearing to show Michael Cohen getting into an elevator at Trump Tower with a Qatari banker accused of bribing Washington officials:\nA Republican senator went after the White House official who made a controversial remark about John McCain:\nA former Democratic presidential candidate had harsh words for Fox News:\nAnd Twitter celebrated Mother\u2019s Day:\nThe president\u2019s son recognized his ex-wife Vanessa, whom he recently divorced:\nGOOD READS FROM ELSEWHERE:\n-- BuzzFeed News, \u201cHow The Congressional Baseball Shooting Didn't Become The Deadliest Political Assassination In American History,\u201d by Kate Nocera and Lissandra Villa:\n-- The New Yorker, \u201cTrump vs. the \u2018Deep State,\u2019\u201d by Evan Osnos:\n-- New York Times, \u201cSurest Way to Face Marijuana Charges in New York: Be Black or Hispanic,\u201d by Benjamin Mueller, Robert Gebeloff and Sahil Chinoy:\n-- Politico Magazine, \u201cThe College That Wants to Take Over Washington,\u201d by Alice Lloyd:\n-- After spending years as a tireless critic of the Iran deal, Washington think tank CEO Mark Dubowitz is insisting he wanted to save it \u2014 earning him scathing criticism from high-minded experts across the country.\nDAYBOOK:\nTrump\nNEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:\n-- It will be muggy in D.C. today, with more storms possible later.\n-- The Capitals defeated the Lightning 6-2.\n-- The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks 6-4,\n-- D.C. Circulator drivers are trying to convince the District to municipalize the bus system.\n-- Percy Ronald Chess, a veteran who was found dead in the Tidal Basin in March, spent 20 years wandering the country,\nVIDEOS OF THE DAY:\nSNL cast members welcomed their moms to the set for Mother\u2019s Day:\nJohn Oliver described the\u00a0\u201cepic mismanagement\u201d of Venezuela for his viewers:\nThe National Retail Federation recreated a scene from \u201cFerris Bueller\u2019s Day Off\u201d to explain the downsides of tariffs:\nNorth Korea detailed plans to destroy its nuclear test site:\nAnd two expecting parents arranged for their baby\u2019s sex to be revealed by the Ferris wheel at the National Harbor:"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "5YVZASXLKVHTDFMZWGB6RDGP4Y_8", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5YVZASXLKVHTDFMZWGB6RDGP4Y_8", "title": "The Daily 202: Kanye West coming to White House, after Trump disses Taylor Swift, underscores celebrification of politics", "text": "Force One to an event in Orlando yesterday. -- Legal experts warn the Trump team\u2019s use of joint defense agreements, known as JDAs, with others caught up in the Mueller probe may push legal boundaries. -- The federal government has frozen the U.S. assets and sprawling Upper East Side mansion of Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch and close ally of Vladimir Putin THE MIDTERMS: -- Trump will announce a pro-ethanol EPA directive at a rally in Iowa tonight as part of a bid to woo rural voters in the Midwest for the midterms. -- A new Post-Schar School poll found GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock has fallen 12 points behind Democrat Jennifer Wexton in their Virginia race. -- During a debate for Indiana\u2019s closely watched Senate race, Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly and Republican Mike Braun attacked each other over their stances on abortion. -- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is planning a nine-day blitz next week for Democratic midterm candidates. -- Sen. Tim Kaine (D) launched his first attack ad against Republican Corey Stewart in Virginia\u2019s Senate race. THE REST OF THE AGENDA: -- House Speaker Paul Ryan predicted a \u201cbig fight\u201d over border wall funding after the midterms. -- Lawyers who work with immigrants say courts are increasingly dealing with the cases of young children. -- Trump encouraged Chicago police to use the controversial \u201cstop and frisk\u201d policy to address the city\u2019s gun violence. SOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ: Trump reiterated his baseless claim that the anti-Kavanaugh protesters were paid actors: Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), the No. 2 in GOP leadership, posted this picture from last night\u2019s cocktail reception to celebrate Kavanaugh at the White House: More color from our man in the room: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a potential 2020 presidential candidate, had this message for his followers after Kavanaugh\u2019s swearing-in: Sarah Huckabee Sanders celebrated Hope Hicks\u2019s new job at Fox: So did on-air talent at Fox: From a New York Post reporter: A New York Magazine reporter added another observation: A Vanity Fair reporter shared this: A writer for The Fix addressed arguments about Senate representation following Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation: Senators from both sides of the aisle expressed concern about Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance: The vice president mourned the journalist\u2019s possible death and emphasized the importance of freedom of the press: A CNN host made this point about Trump\u2019s meeting with Rosenstein: A Post reporter questioned the House speaker\u2019s thoughts on Democratic"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "With Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve\nTHE BIG IDEA:\u00a0President Trump, who lovesfeudingwithfellowcelebrities, appears to be getting right in the middle of maybe the biggest feud in music.\nTrump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are scheduled to eat lunch at the White House on Thursday with the rapper Kanye West\nYesterday, Trump dissed pop star Taylor Swift for endorsing Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen over GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who he\u2019s traveled to Tennessee to campaign for several times.\nJust last week, Trump touted West\u2019s positive comments about him during a rally in Johnson City, Tenn. \u201cHow great was Kanye West?\u201d the president said, to cheers from the crowd.\nAnyone who has engaged with pop culture even a little over the past decade knows about the bad blood between West and Swift, who has stayed famously apolitical \u2014 until this week.\nWhile celebrity endorsements in political campaigns are certainly not new, a president gleefully punching back at one this way is.\nThe previous two occupants of the White House never welcomed West.\u00a0In what he thought was an off-the-record comment, Barack Obama called the rapper a \u201cjackass\u201d in 2009 after he interrupted Swift\u2019s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. West had jumped on stage and grabbed the microphone from the then 19-year-old to say Beyonc\u00e9 deserved to win for her \u201cSingle Ladies\u201d music video, which he insisted was superior to Swift\u2019s \u201cYou Belong to Me.\u201d\nGeorge W. Bush wrote in his 2010 memoir, \u201cDecision Points,\u201d that West\u2019s comment after Hurricane Katrina that \u201cGeorge Bush doesn\u2019t care about black people\u201d was an \u201call-time low\u201d of his presidency that he still resented years later. \u201cIt was a disgusting moment,\u201d Bush said.\nBut Trump has developed a somewhat\u00a0symbiotic relationship with Yeezy, as West prefers to be known.\n-- I\u2019ve written extensively about the celebrification of politics as one of the defining story lines of our time,\n-- Live Nation, a company that typically promotes musical acts like Justin Timberlake or Maroon 5, announced that it is putting on a 13-city tour for Bill and Hillary Clinton.\nIt\u2019s not clear whether any of the money will go to charity \u2014 or if it will just line the pockets of the Clintons. Trump\u2019s raucous campaign-style rallies are free.\nLast week, Billary \u2013 joined by aide-turned-friend Huma Abedin \u2013 went to see Christina Aguilera in concert at Radio City Music Hall.\nNews also broke that a play about the Clinton\u2019s marriage called \u201cHillary and Clinton\u201d will be staged on Broadway next year, starring Tony winners Laurie Metcalf as Hillary and John Lithgow as Bill.\n-- Is life imitating art or is art imitating life? Sometimes it\u2019s hard to answer.\n-- Hope Hicks, who was Trump\u2019s campaign press secretary and later his White House communications director, was named yesterday as the head of corporate communications for New Fox, the successor to Fox News\u2019s parent company, 21st Century Fox.\nIn July, Trump hired former Fox News executive Bill Shine to replace Hicks. The two are part of a growing list of people who have transited through the revolving door between Fox and the Trump administration:\n-- Meanwhile, Jenna Bush Hager broke the news on NBC\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d show that her sister, Barbara, got married on Sunday to screenwriter Craig Louis Coyne at the family\u2019s Maine compound.\n-- And Meghan McCain returned to ABC\u2019s \u201cThe View\u201d for the first time on Monday since her father passed away.\n-- Launching next Tuesday:\nWHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:\n-- Hurricane Michael continues to strengthen and is expected to become a Category 3 storm by the time it reaches Florida tomorrow.\n-- Since March, Google has kept secret its discovery of a bug that imperiled the personal data of hundreds of thousands of Google+ users.\nGET SMART FAST:\nFRESH KAVANAUGH FALLOUT:\n-- Trump continued to politicize\u00a0Brett Kavanaugh\u2019s\u00a0Supreme Court selection during a symbolic\u00a0swearing-in ceremony at the White House last night,\u00a0apologizing\u00a0to Kavanaugh and his family \u201cfor the terrible pain and suffering\u201d he said they were \u201cforced to endure.\u201d\n\u201cThe White House ceremony, which included cocktails and a band, in some ways felt like a cross between a campaign rally and a wedding reception. In addition to all of the high court justices, attendees included conservative commentator Laura Ingraham, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein.\n\u201cSince Kavanaugh was confirmed on Saturday, Trump has seemed more interested in inflaming rather than reducing the tensions over his Supreme Court pick .\u2009.\u2009.\u00a0Trump\u2019s comments came just hours after he said calls to impeach Kavanaugh were an \u2018insult to the American public\u2019\u00a0\u2014 and predicted that they would also provide a boost to Republican candidates in the midterms .\u2009.\u2009. \u2018I think a lot of Democrats are going to vote Republican,\u2019 Trump added. \u2018The main base of the Democrats have shifted so far left that we\u2019ll end up being Venezuela. This country would end up being Venezuela.\u2019\u201d\n-- Flashback:\n-- Mitch McConnell signaled he would push to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2020 \u2014 despite his refusal to consider Barack Obama\u2019s 2016 nomination of Merrick Garland.\n-- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Kavanaugh was treated like a \u201cslut whore drunk\u201d during his confirmation process.\n-- A majority of respondents in a new CNN-SSRS poll oppose\u00a0Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation, but his support has grown among Republicans since last month.\n-- With 28 days until the midterms, Republicans are working hard to recast Democratic protests\u00a0against Kavanaugh as representing \u201cout-of-control anarchy.\u201d\n\u201cThe characterization evokes fear of an unknown and out-of-control mass of people\n-- A number of Maine Democrats are considering running against Susan Collins in 2020 after her \u201cyes\u201d vote for Kavanaugh.\n-- The Alaska Republican Party's central committee is considering reprimanding Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for opposing Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation.\n-- Proposals to change practices for reporting sexual misconduct\u00a0on Capitol Hill have stalled.\nJUSTICE KAVANAUGH\u00a0WILL QUICKLY MAKE HIS MARK:\n-- \"[His]\u00a0first vote as a member of the Supreme Court could come as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday on a Trump administration request testing how much power courts should wield over top executive branch officials,\u201d\n-- Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation could also shift the Supreme Court\u2019s rulings on wartime detainees and presidential powers.\n-- Kavanaugh, whose grandfather went to the new justice's\u00a0alma mater at Yale, could help strike down affirmative action at universities across the country.\n-- Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation also gives Trump the chance to fill another seat on a highly influential federal appeals court.\nWHERE IS JAMAL?\n-- \u201cMissing journalist\u2019s fiancee demands to know: \u2018Where is Jamal?\u2019\u201d\u00a0by Souad Mekhennet and Loveday Morris in Istanbul:\n\u201cKhashoggi, 59, has not been heard from since. Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed inside in a planned murder. A team of 15 Saudis arrived on two planes to carry out the killing, officials have said. Cengiz has not been told whether Khashoggi is alive or dead. On Monday, she was interviewed for the second time by police. They took some of his clothes and other personal items for DNA samples, she said. Saudi officials insist that Khashoggi left the consulate alive, through a back entrance.\n\u201cIf his death is confirmed, it would represent a new level of audacity in Saudi Arabia\u2019s clampdown on dissent under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While painting himself as a reformer, Mohammed has shown himself to be ruthless in confronting any challenge to his power, jailing activists and dissenters. Once close to the Saudi establishment, Khashoggi had in the past year become one of its most high-profile critics, living in Virginia in self-imposed exile and contributing to The Washington Post\u2019s Global Opinions section.\u201d\n-- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded that Saudi Arabia prove their assertion that Khashoggi left the building of\u00a0his own accord\n-- Trump told reporters he was \u201cconcerned\u201d about Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance, while the State Department demanded answers from the Saudi government.\n-- The Post\u2019s Editorial Board demands\u00a0the immediate release of any relevant information on Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance:\n-- According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 43 journalists have been killed for their work so far this year.\nTHE TRADE WAR:\n-- The International Monetary Fund warned last night that Trump\u2019s trade policies\u00a0could undercut economic growth not just in the United States but around the world.\n-- China is trying to boost its slowing economy amid\u00a0the escalating tariffs, which the Trump administration is citing as proof of its successful negotiation strategy.\n-- A professor facing child pornography charges is also being investigated for possible economic espionage on behalf of China.\nTHERE'S A BEAR IN THE WOODS:\n-- As deputy chairman of the Trump campaign, Rick Gates sought online manipulation proposals from an Israeli intelligence firm during the 2016 election, which, among other things, suggested creating fake online profiles to help defeat GOP primary rivals and Hillary Clinton. Robert Mueller's team has reviewed the group\u2019s proposals and questioned its employees as part of the special counsel's ongoing probe.\n--\u00a0The New Yorker\u2019s Dexter Filkins explores whether there was communications between Russia's Alfa Bank and the Trump campaign in 2016.\n-- The Guardian reports that former Cambridge Analytica chief executive Alexander Nix, who earned millions from his work for the Trump campaign in 2016, used the n-word to describe the prime minister of Barbados.\n-- \u201cAfter selling off his father\u2019s properties, Trump embraced unorthodox strategies to expand his empire,\u201d by David A. Fahrenthold and Jonathan O'Connell:\n-- Trump told reporters\u00a0he has no plans to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, saying\u00a0the two had a \u201cgood talk\u201d while traveling together on Air Force One to an event in Orlando yesterday.\n-- Legal experts warn the Trump team\u2019s use of joint defense agreements, known as JDAs, with others caught up in the Mueller probe may push legal boundaries.\n-- The federal government has frozen the U.S. assets and sprawling Upper East Side mansion of Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch and close ally of Vladimir Putin\nTHE MIDTERMS:\n-- Trump will announce a pro-ethanol EPA directive at a rally in Iowa tonight as part of a bid\u00a0to woo rural voters in the Midwest for the midterms.\n-- A new Post-Schar School poll found GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock has fallen 12 points behind Democrat Jennifer Wexton in their Virginia race.\n-- During a debate for Indiana\u2019s closely watched Senate race, Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly and Republican Mike Braun attacked each other over their stances on abortion.\n-- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is planning a nine-day blitz next week for Democratic midterm candidates.\n-- Sen. Tim Kaine\u00a0(D) launched his first attack ad against Republican Corey Stewart in Virginia\u2019s Senate race.\nTHE REST OF THE AGENDA:\n-- House Speaker Paul Ryan predicted a \u201cbig fight\u201d over border wall funding after the midterms.\n-- Lawyers who work with immigrants say courts are increasingly dealing with the cases of young children.\n-- Trump encouraged Chicago police to use the controversial \u201cstop and frisk\u201d policy to address the city\u2019s gun violence.\nSOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:\nTrump reiterated his baseless claim that the anti-Kavanaugh protesters were paid actors:\nSen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), the No. 2 in GOP leadership, posted this picture from last night\u2019s cocktail reception to celebrate Kavanaugh at the White House:\nMore color from our man in the room:\nSen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a potential 2020 presidential candidate, had this message for his followers after Kavanaugh\u2019s\u00a0swearing-in:\nSarah Huckabee Sanders celebrated Hope Hicks\u2019s new job at Fox:\nSo did on-air talent at Fox:\nFrom a New York Post reporter:\nA New York Magazine reporter added another observation:\nA Vanity Fair reporter shared this:\nA writer for The Fix addressed arguments about Senate representation\u00a0following Kavanaugh\u2019s\u00a0confirmation:\nSenators from both sides of the aisle expressed concern about\u00a0Jamal Khashoggi\u2019s disappearance:\nThe vice president mourned\u00a0the journalist\u2019s possible death and emphasized the importance of freedom of the press:\nA CNN host made this point about Trump\u2019s meeting with Rosenstein:\nA Post reporter questioned the House speaker\u2019s thoughts on Democratic health-care proposals:\nA New York Times writer challenged a Republican attack line on Taylor Swift\u2019s political endorsement of two Tennessee Democrats:\nMike Huckabee dismissed any potential impact of Swift\u2019s endorsement:\nA Democratic congressional candidate fired back:\nThe Post\u2019s book critic altered his syllabus to devote time to the New York Times\u2019s tax investigation:\nA co-host of \u201cThe View\u201d welcomed Meghan McCain back to the show:\nAnd a Democratic senator delivered the best pun of the day:\nGOOD READS:\n-- BuzzFeed, \u201cCan Mike Bloomberg Make America Boring Again?\u201d by Ben Smith:\n-- New Yorker, \u201cDaniel Radcliffe and the Art of the Fact-Check,\u201d by Michael Schulman:\nDAYBOOK:\nTrump\nNEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:\n-- Washingtonians should prepare for some morning rain and more summerlike mugginess.\n-- The Redskins lost to the Saints 43-19.\n-- Former D.C. deputy mayor Courtney Snowden has agreed to pay a $3,000 fine to settle an ethics probe into her use of government staffers and interns for babysitting\n-- \u201cMontgomery County executive candidate Nancy Floreen has returned $18,000 in campaign contributions after a county resident filed a complaint alleging that the donations were improper,\u201d\nVIDEOS OF THE DAY:\nLate-night hosts reacted to Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation:\nJimmy Kimmel compared Melania Trump\u2019s public appearances in the United States to her Africa trip:\nThe first lady expressed dismay over the focus on her wardrobe after she was criticized for wearing a colonial-era pith helmet in Kenya:\nAn anti-Ted Cruz group is running an ad with an actor mocking the Republican senator\u2019s slogan, \u201cTough as Texas\u201d:\nAnd The Post asked children to explain tariffs\u00a0\u2014\u00a0using Halloween candy:"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "6KYAXGCBWUI6RMW4WCSAHZDSBI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "6KYAXGCBWUI6RMW4WCSAHZDSBI_0", "title": "Get the facts straight on Syria", "text": "The April 15 front-page article \u201cTrump declares victory after strikes in Syria\u201d deserved four Pinocchios. President Trump never claimed victory in Syria. There were no facts presented in the article to support this claim. The mission was to inflict damage on Syria\u2019s means of producing and delivering chemical weapons. When the president claimed \u201cMission Accomplished,\u201d he was obviously referring to this mission, not a successful victory to end the conflict in Syria. Such a claim may easily be made on the editorial pages. But front-page news should mandate a moral commitment to facts, not vague word manipulation. One of Mr. Trump\u2019s many skills is his uncanny ability to provoke his critics to say and sometimes do things that are more ridiculous and absurd than his own actions. The Post is playing into his hands. Ken Sprinkle At face value, President Trump\u2019s To add insult to injury, the Trump administration has approved only a handful of the innocent Syrian refugees who seek safety and shelter in the United States. This policy sends a horrible mixed message and makes the Trump administration a lightweight in terms of advancing human rights for oppressed Syrian refugees. Arthur L. Mackey Jr. Airstrikes in Syria are Treasury has yet to levy any such sanctions, but mere warnings to British banks (to stop helping oligarchs convert rubles into London real estate) have reportedly led to speculation that risk-averse banks there may simply cancel all of their Russian accounts. And the unspoken threat that Treasury might exercise its discretion with respect to one of them \u2014 Oleg Deripaska \u2014 caused the share price for his giant company Rusal to fall by 50 percent overnight. So the sanctions are already biting. But for secondary sanctions to work, Treasury needs to keep the pressure on, expanding the sanctions\u2019 scope by naming other pals of Russian President Vladi\u00admir Putin and more companies, and sanctioning foreign facilitators, if necessary. Any relapse into Trumpian foot-dragging would be unconscionable. Vincent J. Canzoneri President Trump unleashed Robert Edgar"}], "old": [{"_id": "6KYAXGCBWUI6RMW4WCSAHZDSBI_0", "title": "Get the facts straight on Syria", "text": "Ken Sprinkle At face value, President Trump\u2019s Arthur L. Mackey Jr. Airstrikes in Syria are Vincent J. Canzoneri President Trump unleashed Robert Edgar"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The April 15 front-page article \u201cTrump declares victory after strikes in Syria\u201d deserved four Pinocchios. President Trump never claimed victory in Syria.\u00a0There were no facts presented in the article to support this claim.\u00a0The mission was to inflict damage on Syria\u2019s means of producing and delivering chemical weapons.\u00a0When the president claimed \u201cMission Accomplished,\u201d he was obviously referring to this mission, not a successful victory to end the conflict in Syria.\nSuch a claim may easily be made on the editorial pages.\u00a0But front-page news should mandate a moral commitment to facts, not vague word manipulation.\nOne of Mr. Trump\u2019s many skills is his uncanny ability to provoke his critics to say and sometimes do things that are more ridiculous and absurd than his own actions.\u00a0The Post is playing into his hands.\nKen Sprinkle\nAt face value, President Trump\u2019s\nTo add insult to injury, the Trump administration has approved only a handful of the innocent Syrian refugees who seek safety and shelter in the United States. This policy sends a horrible mixed message\n and makes the Trump administration a lightweight in terms of advancing human rights for oppressed Syrian refugees.\nArthur L. Mackey Jr.\nAirstrikes in Syria are\nTreasury has yet to levy any such sanctions, but mere warnings to British banks (to stop helping oligarchs convert rubles into London real estate) have reportedly led to speculation that risk-averse banks there may simply cancel all of their Russian accounts.\u00a0And the unspoken threat that Treasury might exercise its discretion with respect to one of them \u2014 Oleg Deripaska \u2014 caused the share price for his giant company Rusal to fall by 50 percent overnight.\nSo the sanctions are already biting. But for secondary sanctions to work, Treasury needs to keep the pressure on, expanding the sanctions\u2019 scope by naming other pals of Russian President Vladi\u00admir Putin and more companies, and sanctioning foreign facilitators, if necessary. Any relapse into Trumpian foot-dragging would be unconscionable.\nVincent J. Canzoneri\nPresident Trump unleashed\nRobert Edgar"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "6MIG62WZWZHB3ELY3WFWPDFOVU_1", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6MIG62WZWZHB3ELY3WFWPDFOVU_1", "title": "Treasury lifts sanctions on companies tied to Putin ally", "text": "stake in En+ Group, together with that of his ex-wife, ex-father-in-law and a foundation Deripaska launched years ago will still amount to over 50 percent of the shares. A Russian state-owned bank included on a U.S. sanctions list during the Obama administration will also gain a 14 percent stake in En+ as part of Treasury\u2019s plan to reduce Deripaska\u2019s holdings, a move some members of Congress decried. VTB Bank had previously held the shares as collateral against a loan it made to Deripaska\u2019s empire. Congressional Democrats narrowly failed to pass a measure that would have stopped Treasury from lifting the sanctions, despite attracting the support of many Republicans, in a rare GOP split with the White House. The measure passed in the House, drawing support from 136 Republicans in a significant rebuke to the Trump administration. But the measure fell a few votes shy in the Senate. \u201cThe Trump Administration is working seven days a week with favoritism for Russia. This represents just one more step in undermining the sanctions law, which President Trump has obstructed at every opportunity, while Russian aggression remains unabated.\u201d Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Tex.) said in a statement Sunday, referring to the agreement as a \u201csordid deal.\u201d Some Democrats said they were wary about relaxing sanctions on Deripaska\u2019s companies, in part because of his ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to defraud the United States and obstruct justice in the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Deripaska helped fund consulting work Manafort did for a Ukrainian political party, invested in a Manafort investment fund and lent Manafort millions of dollars, according to court records. When they were imposed last year, the company sanctions caused gyrations in global aluminum prices, sparking criticism from European allies, who have pushed Treasury to lift them. En+ Group\u2019s British chairman has argued that Deripaska\u2019s control is severed by the deal because the agreement limits his voting rights in En+ to 35 percent. The deal also transfers the voting rights of the shares held by Deripaska\u2019s ex-wife, ex-father-in-law and foundation, and the 14 percent stake held by VTB Bank, to third-party trustees with \u201cno personal or professional ties to Deripaska,\u201d according to Treasury and En+ Group. The agreement also mandated a new slate of Treasury-approved board members for En+ Group, whose names the company released Sunday. Several are American or British."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The Treasury Department said Sunday that it has lifted sanctions on three Russian companies tied to an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite sharp objection from both parties in Congress.\nTreasury said it has lifted sanctions it imposed last year on one of the world\u2019s largest aluminum companies, Rusal, and two other firms in which Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska owns large stakes. Sanctions imposed last year against Deripaska himself will remain in force, as punishment for what Treasury has called his support for \u201cthe Kremlin\u2019s global malign activities, including its attempts to subvert Western democracy.\u201d\nTreasury said it agreed to lift the company sanctions because Deripaska has reduced his \u201cdirect and indirect shareholding stake in these companies and severed his control.\u201d Deripaska\u2019s stake in the holding company that controls Rusal \u2014 En+ Group \u2014 has been cut from 70 percent to 44.95 percent, En+ Group said Sunday.\nShares in both companies shot up in early trading in Moscow on Monday. En+ shares rose more than 9 percent, while Rusal was up nearly 7 percent.\nBut congressional Democrats and some Republicans have loudly objected to Treasury\u2019s deal, saying it doesn\u2019t go far enough to sever Deripaska\u2019s control because the businessman\u2019s stake in En+ Group, together with that of his ex-wife, ex-father-in-law and a foundation Deripaska launched years ago will still amount to over 50 percent of the shares.\nA Russian state-owned bank included on a U.S. sanctions list during the Obama administration will also gain a 14 percent stake in En+ as part of Treasury\u2019s plan to reduce Deripaska\u2019s holdings, a move some members of Congress decried. VTB Bank had previously held the shares as collateral against a loan it made to Deripaska\u2019s empire.\nCongressional Democrats narrowly failed to pass a measure that would have stopped Treasury from lifting the sanctions, despite attracting the support of many Republicans, in a rare GOP split with the White House. The measure passed in the House, drawing support from 136 Republicans in a significant rebuke to the Trump administration. But the measure fell a few votes shy in the Senate.\n\u201cThe Trump Administration is working seven days a week with favoritism for Russia. This represents just one more step in undermining the sanctions law, which President Trump has obstructed at every opportunity, while Russian aggression remains unabated.\u201d Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Tex.) said in a statement Sunday, referring to the agreement as a \u201csordid deal.\u201d\nSome Democrats said they were wary about relaxing sanctions on Deripaska\u2019s companies, in part because of his ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to defraud the United States and obstruct justice in the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Deripaska helped fund consulting work Manafort did for a Ukrainian political party, invested in a Manafort investment fund and lent Manafort millions of dollars, according to court records.\nWhen they were imposed last year, the company sanctions caused gyrations in global aluminum prices, sparking criticism from European allies, who have pushed Treasury to lift them.\nEn+ Group\u2019s British chairman has argued that Deripaska\u2019s control is severed by the deal because the agreement limits his voting rights in En+ to 35 percent. The deal also transfers the voting rights of the shares held by Deripaska\u2019s ex-wife, ex-father-in-law and foundation, and the 14 percent stake held by VTB Bank, to third-party trustees with \u201cno personal or professional ties to Deripaska,\u201d according to Treasury and En+ Group.\nThe agreement also mandated a new slate of Treasury-approved board members for En+ Group, whose names the company released Sunday. Several are American or British. They include Christopher Bancroft Burnham, chairman and chief executive of Cambridge Global Capital LLC and former vice chairman of Deutsche Bank Asset Management; Carl Hughes, former vice chairman of Deloitte\u2019s global energy and resources business; Joan MacNaughton, a former U.K. government official and current chair of the Climate Group; and Nicholas Jordan, former co-CEO of Goldman Sachs\u2019s business in Russia, En+ Group said Sunday.\nOther board members will include Igor Lojevsky, former chairman of two Deutsche Bank divisions in Eastern Europe; Alexander Chmel, a senior adviser to executive search firm Spencer Stuart in Russia, and Andrey Sharonov, president of the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo and a Russian economics ministry official from 1996 to 2007, during the Boris Yeltsin and Putin governments."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "BPVNF6OL35BVHBSJAVVQD6ULEE_9", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "BPVNF6OL35BVHBSJAVVQD6ULEE_9", "title": "The Daily 202: Wall fight underscores Trump\u2019s weaknesses", "text": "in past administrations -- Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who will deliver a briefing today to House members on his decision to lift sanctions on companies linked to a Russian oligarch, is attracting more scrutiny from House Democrats. -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he\u2019s looking into whether he could obtain Trump\u2019s tax returns. -- Republican senators promised William Barr would not interfere with Mueller\u2019s investigation if he is confirmed as attorney general. -- But Chuck -- The Center for American Progress has tracked more than 100 contacts between members of Trump\u2019s campaign and transition team and Russian-linked officials. -- The New York Times corrected a story we included in yesterday\u2019s 202: -- Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) asked the FEC to investigate an alleged disinformation campaign by Democratic strategists to help him win his 2017 special election. -- A Russian SOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ: Trump this morning denied that he slammed the table when he left his meeting with Democrats: And he reiterated his claim that the GOP is unified: He also pledged that he won\u2019t cave: Trump complained about his comments in a closed-door meeting being leaked and lashed out against the news media as \u201ctotally bonkers\u201d: The secretary of state arrived in Cairo: A Republican senator expressed her view on the pointlessness of the shutdown: Maryland\u2019s Republican governor accused Washington of playing political games at the expense of average Americans: A Republican congressman explained the reason for the gridlock to a Post reporter: The host of \u201cMorning Joe,\u201d a former Republican congressman, reflected on the future of the GOP: A presidential historian tweeted a famous Trump quote after he walked out of his meeting with Democratic leadership: The libertarian Cato Institute fact-checked Trump\u2019s dire warnings about undocumented immigrants: An energy reporter for the LA Times imagined this scenario: A cab driver told a Post reporter about the personal impact of the shutdown: National Park employees lent a helping hand: A Post reporter obtained this behind-the-scenes detail about Trump\u2019s meeting with Schumer and Pelosi: A House Republican explained his awkward reaction to his Democratic colleagues\u2019 applause for their funding bills: A Senate Republican and House Republican shared this uniquely divisive exchange about Trump\u2019s attorney general nominee: But Barr is refusing to meet with several Democrats on the committee he will appear before next week, with the administration citing the shutdown as the reason. A Daily Beast reporter"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "With Joanie Greve\nTHE BIG IDEA:\u00a0Political fundamentals are shaping the wall fight in ways that aren\u2019t being sufficiently reflected in coverage of the 20-day-old shutdown.\nPresident Trump ran on a wall in 2016, and he lost the popular vote.\nHe tried to make the 2018 midterms a referendum on the wall, seizing on a caravan of migrants as the centerpiece of his closing argument and deploying troops to the southern border. Yet Republicans suffered their biggest losses in the House since Watergate, despite a booming economy with historically low unemployment.\nThe wall has never been a popular idea, a fact known to most Republicans in Congress.\nTrump himself has never been a strong president in conventional terms.\nThat\u2019s as much why Democrats aren\u2019t defecting, or more so, than the left\u2019s growing moral opposition to the very concept of walls.\nTrump has also been checked by the courts on immigration as much as any other issue\nCome Saturday, this partial government shutdown is poised to become the longest in U.S. history.\n-- Trump appears more concerned about losing his base than most people understand.\nHe rejected a deal that his own aides and GOP leaders had negotiated after conservative media personalities got to him \u2014 and Ann Coulter threatened not to vote for him again in 2020. He\u2019s bending over backward to show his base that he\u2019s going to the mat for a wall. That\u2019s why Trump is sitting down with Fox News host Sean Hannity later today when he goes to the border in McAllen, Tex.\n\u201cI think you can\u2019t cave. That\u2019s what the Democrats don\u2019t understand \u2014 it\u2019s all or nothing,\u201d said Trump ally Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. \u201cThe Democrats think that we\u2019re about ready to fold. I think Republicans think that Democrats are ready to fold, and neither of those two things are accurate by any stretch of the imagination.\u201d\n-- Trump has not been the great dealmaker as president that he promised he would be as a candidate.\nThe president walked out of a White House meeting with Democratic leaders yesterday, calling it \u201ca total waste of time,\u201d after Nancy Pelosi said she\u2019s not going to cave on the wall. \u201cI said bye-bye,\u201d the president tweeted, \u201cnothing else works!\u201d Democrats said Trump slammed his hand on the table in anger as he exited the Situation Room. Vice President Pence denied this and said he passed out candy bars to the Democrats.\n-- Trump has said it\u2019s better to be feared than loved, but Democratic leaders simply aren\u2019t scared of him.\n\u201cThe president threw another temper tantrum,\u201d added Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).\nWith the benefit of hindsight, it\u2019s now undeniable that Trump blundered last January and February by turning down Democratic offers that would have given him his wall in exchange for protecting the \u201cdreamers.\u201d Trump caved to the hard-liners in his orbit, specifically Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and nativist policy adviser Stephen Miller, and demanded massive reductions in the number of legal immigrants. It was a poison pill. But elections have consequences, and Democrats now control the House. Of course, they won\u2019t offer the terms they were willing to when they were in the minority. Why would they?\n\u201cTrump\u2019s approach is a hallmark of a president who eschews strategic planning and preparation in favor of day-to-day tactical maneuvering and trusting his gut. But as he digs in against an emboldened Democratic opposition, Trump has found that his go-to arsenal of bluster, falsehoods, threats and theatrics has laid bare his shortcomings as a negotiator \u2014 preventing him from finding a way out of what may be the biggest political crisis of his presidency,\u201d David Nakamura and Seung Min Kim explain in today\u2019s paper.\n\u201cWhite House allies professed confusion over the president\u2019s tactics,\u201d they report. \u201cFor Republicans who have tried to stick with the mercurial president, the shifting goal posts have been frustrating. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he will not allow a vote on any bill to reopen the government unless he receives assurances from the White House that Trump supports it. \u2018It\u2019s always difficult,\u2019 said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), when the person you\u2019re negotiating with is someone who changes their mind.\u2019\u201d\n-- As the difficulty of divided government sinks in, the first president in U.S. history with no prior governing or military experience has changed his tune.\nYesterday, speaking again in the Oval Office, he insisted: \u201cThis is not a fight I wanted.\u201d\n-- Back in 2013, right after the GOP forced a shutdown in a failed effort to defund Obamacare, Trump criticized Barack Obama for allowing it to happen.\n-- A general rule of thumb: Whether in sports or marriages, companies or campaigns, the more often you feel compelled to say publicly that your team is unified, the less likely it\u2019s true.\n\u201cThere was no discussion of anything other than solidarity,\u201d Trump told reporters after privately meeting with GOP senators over lunch at the Capitol.\n\u201cBut inside the meeting with senators Wednesday, there was not unanimity on Trump\u2019s approach,\u201d Erica Werner, Sean Sullivan, Mike DeBonis and Seung Min Kim report. \u201cModerate Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) pleaded with Trump to reopen the government, according to lawmakers present.\u201d\nOn the other side of the Capitol, eight House Republicans broke ranks and voted with every Democrat to advance a bill that would reopen the Treasury Department and ensure that the Internal Revenue Service remains funded through tax season.\n-- Trump also maintained that he has the \u201cabsolute right\u201d to declare an emergency and construct the wall without congressional authorization.\nSeveral conservatives have bristled publicly at this posture. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) warned yesterday, for example, that Trump declaring a national emergency would create a dangerous precedent.\n-- To be sure, many House Democrats who just got elected in districts Trump carried in 2016 are feeling some heat as the shutdown drags on.\nRep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who represents a district Trump won in 2016, said at a closed-door caucus meeting yesterday that Democrats are losing the messaging war in her district and need to be clearer about the border security measures they support.\nGET SMART FAST:\n2020 WATCH:\n-- Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is reportedly tentatively planning to announce her 2020 campaign over MLK weekend in Oakland, the city where she was born and began her legal career.\n-- Billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer announced he would not run for president.\n-- Jeff Weaver, who ran Sen. Bernie Sanders\u2019s 2016 presidential campaign, will take on a diminished role if the Vermont senator runs again.\n-- Robert Becker, who oversaw Sanders\u2019s Iowa campaign in 2016, was accused of forcibly kissing a female subordinate during the Democratic National Convention.\n-- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), another potential 2020 candidate, accused fellow Democrats of \u201creligious bigotry\u201d in their questioning of a Trump judicial nominee.\n-- Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), known for controversial comments on immigration that have been widely criticized as racist, has attracted a 2020 primary challenge.\n-- \u201cRick Scott blindsides DeSantis on his way out,\u201d\n-- Future campaign ad material: Nancy Pelosi held a vote to force House Republicans to go on the record about the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare.\nTHE HUMAN TOLL OF THE SHUTDOWN:\n-- The shutdown has sharply reduced the FDA\u2019s food inspections.\n--\u00a0Customs and Border Protection officers sued the Trump administration over unpaid wages.\n-- Estimates indicate each week of the shutdown is costing the U.S. economy $1.2 billion.\n-- Farmers who have come to rely on government assistance amid Trump\u2019s trade war are struggling to cope without checks.\n-- The shutdown is also holding up government loans to small businesses.\n-- A Coast Guard program offered service employees recommendations for how to get through the shutdown, such as holding a garage sale or babysitting.\nDEBATING THE WALL:\n-- A DHS test of a steel slat prototype of the wall showed it could be sawed through.\n-- Contrary to Trump\u2019s rhetoric in his immigration address, apprehensions at the border are relatively low compared with\u00a0past points in recent U.S. history.\n-- Many lawmakers who represent districts along the border, including some Republicans, are either opposed to a wall or to using emergency powers to build it.\n-- Building the wall could take at least 10 years, even with 10,000 workers.\n-- \u201cThey say it's a medieval solution, a wall. It's true,\u201d Trump said.\n-- In an richly reported meditation on the history of walls, Marc Fisher notes that border walls \u201chave a checkered history of maintaining separation between people\u201d:\n-- \u201cThroughout history, autocratic leaders have relied on walls to control their people,\u201d Nina Khrushcheva, professor of international affairs at the New School, writes in an op-ed for NBC.\n-- Additional commentary in today\u2019s newspaper:\n-- Mark Morgan, a career FBI official who served as Border Patrol chief for the last six months of the Obama administration before being removed once Trump took office, has come out this week in support of a wall.\n-- Some landowners along the border are gearing up to fight the government\u2019s planned construction of the wall.\n-- Trump\u2019s handling of the shutdown has demonstrated how White House Communications Director Bill Shine is not directing the messaging coming out of the West Wing.\nTHERE\u2019S A BEAR IN THE WOODS:\n-- The White House has beefed up its legal team and plans to aggressively invoke executive privilege in a bid to contain the potential fallout of the Mueller report and curtail oversight by House Democrats.\n\u201cThere is a growing sense that the special counsel\u2019s closely held investigation could come to culmination soon. Some Trump advisers think Mueller could deliver the confidential report explaining his findings to senior Justice Department officials next month. Under the rules authorizing the special counsel, the attorney general can then decide whether to share the report or parts of it with Congress and the public. Some House leaders have vowed to immediately seek to obtain a copy of Mueller\u2019s findings. But the White House would resist the release of details describing confidential and sensitive communications between the president and his senior aides, Trump advisers say. It is unclear whether the special counsel\u2019s report will refer to material that the White House views as privileged communications obtained from interviews with senior White House officials. Some Trump advisers anticipate that Mueller may simply write a concise memo laying out his conclusions about the president\u2019s actions.\n\u201cHowever, Rudolph W. Giuliani, one of Trump\u2019s personal attorneys, said the president\u2019s lawyers have made clear to Justice Department officials that they want to see Mueller\u2019s completed report before the department decides what to share with Congress.\u201d\nThe White House Counsel\u2019s Office was down to fewer than 20 lawyers late last year, compared with 40 to 50 in past administrations\n-- Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who will deliver a briefing today to House members on his decision to lift sanctions on companies linked to a Russian oligarch, is attracting more scrutiny from House Democrats.\n-- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he\u2019s looking into whether he could obtain Trump\u2019s tax returns.\n-- Republican senators promised William Barr would not interfere with Mueller\u2019s investigation if he is confirmed as attorney general.\n-- But Chuck\n-- The\u00a0Center for American Progress has tracked more than 100 contacts between members of Trump\u2019s campaign and transition team and Russian-linked officials.\n-- The New York Times corrected a story we included in yesterday\u2019s 202:\n-- Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) asked the FEC to investigate an alleged disinformation campaign by Democratic strategists to help him win his 2017 special election.\n-- A Russian\nSOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:\nTrump this morning denied that he slammed the table when he left his meeting with Democrats:\nAnd he reiterated his claim that the GOP is unified:\nHe also pledged that he won\u2019t cave:\nTrump complained about his comments in a closed-door meeting being leaked and lashed out against the news media as \u201ctotally bonkers\u201d:\nThe secretary of state arrived in Cairo:\nA Republican senator expressed her view on the pointlessness of the shutdown:\nMaryland\u2019s Republican governor accused Washington of playing political games at the expense of average Americans:\nA Republican congressman explained the reason for the gridlock to a Post reporter:\nThe host of \u201cMorning Joe,\u201d a former Republican congressman, reflected on the future of the GOP:\nA presidential historian tweeted a famous Trump quote after he walked out of his meeting with Democratic leadership:\nThe libertarian Cato Institute fact-checked Trump\u2019s dire warnings about undocumented immigrants:\nAn energy reporter for the LA Times imagined this scenario:\nA cab driver told a Post reporter about the personal impact of the shutdown:\nNational Park employees lent a helping hand:\nA Post reporter obtained this behind-the-scenes detail about Trump\u2019s meeting with Schumer and Pelosi:\nA House Republican explained his awkward reaction to his Democratic colleagues\u2019 applause for their funding bills:\nA Senate Republican and House Republican shared this uniquely divisive exchange about Trump\u2019s attorney general nominee:\nBut Barr is refusing to meet with several Democrats on the committee he will appear before next week, with the administration citing the shutdown as the reason. A Daily Beast reporter wondered:\nAn Obama-era DOJ spokesman replied:\nA Democratic senator added this:\nThe House speaker reacted to Trump's threat to withhold federal money to fight wildfires in California:\nJohn Delaney, a Democratic presidential candidate, is on his way to Iowa:\nSen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) continued her book tour as she weighs a 2020 bid. From a CNN reporter:\nNew polling indicates Iowa Democrats are cool on the idea of nominating a business leader:\nRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) expressed frustration with critics seeking\u00a0negative information about her:\nMike Flynn has been allowed some freedom of movement as he awaits his sentencing:\nAnd Mitch McConnell met his colleague\u2019s new puppy:\nGOOD READS FROM ELSEWHERE:\n-- Gizmodo, \u201cHow Cartographers for the U.S. Military Inadvertently Created a House of Horrors in South Africa,\u201d by Kashmir Hill:\nDAYBOOK:\nTrump\nLawmakers and friends will gather at the Capitol to honor the legacy of Jamal Khashoggi. Today marks 100 days since the Post contributing columnist\u2019s death. (New Yorker)\nNEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:\n-- It will be cold and windy in D.C. today, foreshadowing possible weekend snow.\n-- The Wizards beat the 76ers 123-106.\n-- Maryland Senate President Mike Miller is receiving treatment for prostate cancer.\n-- Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) delivered a State of the Commonwealth speech in which he urged Republican legislators to consider his proposed budget.\nVIDEOS OF THE DAY:\nJimmy Fallon scrutinized the opening line of Trump\u2019s immigration address:\nTrevor Noah mocked the Democratic response to Trump\u2019s address:\nThe Daily Show trolled Trump with this 2004 video of him delivering a commencement address at New York\u2019s Wagner College:\nOne federal employee explained how the shutdown is forcing her to continue paying for day care she can\u2019t access:\nThe Fact Checker awarded Trump one Pinocchio for his claim that good jobs numbers were fueled by factories returning to the United States from overseas:\nAnd Trump tried to turn an ABC News reporter\u2019s question back on him (with little success):"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "C76WJ5L525FGNBYHTHNKVOLMG4_4", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "C76WJ5L525FGNBYHTHNKVOLMG4_4", "title": "The Daily 202: VA nominee\u2019s struggles are a consequence of Trump\u2019s vetting failures", "text": "on his personal cellphone to contact outside advisers, a sign of White House Chief of Staff John Kelly\u2019s waning influence. -- Mike Pence named retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, a Trump ally, to serve as his personal national security adviser. -- Charles Kushner took responsibility for the decision to purchase a New York skyscraper at 666 Fifth Avenue, which he called \u201cbad timing and bad judgment.\u201d THERE\u2019S A BEAR IN THE WOODS: -- Trump twice told James Comey that he did not spend the night in Moscow during a 2013 trip to the Miss Universe pageant. But flight records now place him in Russia for Friday and most of Saturday night in a combined total of 45 hours and 43 minutes. -- \u201cA conscious effort by Trump to mislead [Comey] could lend weight to the allegation \u2026 that Trump engaged in compromising activity during the trip that exposed him to Russian government blackmail,\u201d -- The Treasury Department softened its position on Russian metals giant Rusal. The department said it would provide relief from planned sanctions if Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska relinquished control of the company. -- The White House struggled to answer questions about Trump\u2019s weekend Twitter thread denying Michael Cohen would \u201cflip\u201d against him. -- Even if Cohen wanted to flip on Trump, legal obstacles could make doing so difficult. MEN BEHAVING BADLY: -- Rep. Martha McSally, an Arizona Republican running to replace outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake, said she was sexually abused by her track coach in high school. -- \u201cInside A Divisive Fight Over How A Top Progressive Think Tank Handled Sexual Harassment,\u201d -- Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney says she tried to tell a USA Gymnastics coach about Larry Nassar\u2019s sexual abuse THE MIDTERMS: -- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will announce a plan for the federal government to guarantee a job for every American that would pay $15 an hour and provide health-care benefits for every American \u201cwho wants or needs one.\u201d -- Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said in a radio interview she will no longer accept donations from corporate PACs, in a shift from her public position several weeks ago. -- Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) was kicked off the state\u2019s primary ballot after Colorado\u2019s Supreme Court ruled that hundreds of signatures on his candidate petitions were collected by people outside his district -- Arizona\u2019s 8th District will hold its special election today to choose a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "With Breanne Deppisch and Joanie Greve.\nTHE BIG IDEA:\nPresident Trump promises \u201cextreme vetting\u201d of all immigrants, but he has repeatedly failed to hold his own Cabinet picks, senior White House staff and judicial nominees to the same standard. Ronny L. Jackson\u2019s imperiled nomination to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs is just the latest example.\nSenate lawmakers postponed the White House doctor\u2019s confirmation hearing last night after top Republicans and Democrats raised concerns about his qualifications and oversight of the White House medical staff.\nJackson\u2019s Wednesday hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs was set to be brutal because several lawmakers fear he lacks the experience to lead an agency with 360,000 employees and an annual budget of $186 billion. They\u2019re also frustrated that Trump sprung the pick on them without advance consultation, and that Jackson did not go through a formal vetting process. It\u2019s unclear whether it will be rescheduled.\nA lack of due diligence is a feature, not a bug, of Trumpism.\n-- CBS News reports that Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the top Democrat on the Veterans' Affairs committee, is reviewing multiple allegations he's heard from current and former White House medical staff that Jackson created a \u201chostile work environment.\u201d\n-- \u201cThe White House also is assessing whether questions that have been raised about Jackson have validity,\u201d our Seung Min Kim, Lisa Rein and Josh Dawsey report. \u201cThree White House officials said Monday that they worried the nomination was in peril.\u201d\nIn recent days, they scoop, committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) called the White House to express his concern that Jackson was unqualified\n-- The aforementioned allegations, which are apparently coming at least partly from people who literally work at the White House, would normally come out as part of routine vetting for any Cabinet secretary.\nIn his rush to remake the courts, Trump has put up many people for judgeships who would have been very unlikely to get nominated if they went through a more rigorous vetting process.\n-- The Presidential Personnel Office, the White House office responsible for vetting political appointees, has suffered from chaos, dysfunction and nepotism under the leadership of young and inexperienced Trump loyalists who seem to enjoy partying more than working.\n\u201cFrom the start, the office struggled to keep pace with its enormous responsibilities, with only about 30 employees on hand, less than a third of the staffing in prior administrations \u2026 Since the inauguration, most of the staffers in the PPO have been in their 20s, some with little professional experience apart from their work on Trump\u2019s campaign \u2026 Even as the demands to fill government mounted, the PPO offices on the first floor of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building became something of a social hub, where young staffers from throughout the administration stopped by to hang out on couches and smoke electronic cigarettes, known as vaping, current and former White House officials said.\n\u201cPPO leaders hosted happy hours last year in their offices that included beer, wine and snacks \u2026 In January, they played a drinking game in the office called \u2018Icing\u2019 to celebrate the deputy director\u2019s 30th birthday. Icing involves hiding a bottle of Smirnoff Ice, a flavored malt liquor, and demanding that the person who discovers it, in this case the deputy director, guzzle it.\u201d\n-- The disregard for serious vetting can be traced back to the immediate aftermath of the 2016 election.\nChristie lamented earlier this month that people like Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator now embroiled in controversies over his spending and management practices, would never have gotten tapped if he had stuck around.\n\u201cThis was a brutally unprofessional transition,\u201d Christie said. \u201cThis was a transition that didn\u2019t vet people for this type of judgment issues. \u2026 If Mr. Pruitt\u2019s going to go, it\u2019s because he never should\u2019ve been there in the first place.\u201d\nWHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:\n-- A white rental van plowed through a group of pedestrians on a Toronto\u00a0sidewalk, killing 10 people and injuring 15. The vehicle sent people and baby strollers flying in what eyewitnesses described as a deliberate act\nGET SMART FAST:\nALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN:\n-- Secretary of state nominee Mike Pompeo eked out an endorsement from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last night after Trump personally intervened to convince Rand Paul to change his vote\nIf you read between the lines, the senator\u00a0didn't really get much\u00a0for caving.\nPompeo\u2019s confirmation before the full Senate was basically assured when Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) broke with her caucus and endorsed him last Friday\nA bipartisan moment during last night\u2019s markup offered a reminder of what the Senate used to be like in the old days:\n-- White House officials are discouraging Republican lawmakers from vigorously defending EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.\n-- Trump is increasingly relying on his personal cellphone to contact outside advisers, a sign of White House Chief of Staff John Kelly\u2019s waning influence.\n-- Mike Pence named retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, a Trump ally, to serve as his personal national security adviser.\n-- Charles Kushner took responsibility for the decision to purchase a New York skyscraper at 666 Fifth Avenue, which he called \u201cbad timing and bad judgment.\u201d\nTHERE\u2019S A BEAR IN THE WOODS:\n-- Trump twice told James Comey that he did not spend the night in Moscow during a 2013 trip to the Miss Universe pageant. But flight records now place\u00a0him in Russia for Friday and most of Saturday night in a combined total of 45 hours and 43 minutes.\n-- \u201cA conscious effort by Trump to mislead [Comey] could lend weight to the allegation \u2026 that Trump engaged in compromising activity during the trip that exposed him to Russian government blackmail,\u201d\n-- The Treasury Department softened its position on Russian metals giant Rusal. The department\u00a0said\u00a0it would provide relief from planned sanctions if Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska relinquished control of the company.\n-- The White House struggled to answer\u00a0questions about Trump\u2019s weekend Twitter thread denying Michael Cohen would \u201cflip\u201d against him.\n-- Even if Cohen wanted to flip on Trump, legal obstacles could make doing so difficult.\nMEN BEHAVING BADLY:\n-- Rep. Martha McSally, an Arizona Republican running to replace outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake, said she was sexually abused by her track coach in high school.\n-- \u201cInside A Divisive Fight Over How A Top Progressive Think Tank Handled Sexual Harassment,\u201d\n-- Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney says she tried to tell a USA Gymnastics coach about Larry Nassar\u2019s sexual abuse\nTHE MIDTERMS:\n-- Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will announce a plan for the federal government to guarantee a job for every American\u00a0that would pay $15 an hour and provide health-care benefits for every American \u201cwho wants or needs one.\u201d\n-- Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said in a radio interview she will no longer accept donations from corporate PACs, in a shift from her public position several weeks ago.\n-- Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) was kicked off the state\u2019s primary ballot after Colorado\u2019s Supreme Court ruled that hundreds of signatures on his candidate petitions were collected by people outside his district\n-- Arizona\u2019s 8th District will hold its special election today to choose a replacement for Rep. Trent Franks (R).\n-- A new poll found recently imprisoned coal baron Don Blankenship slipping in West Virginia\u2019s GOP Senate primary.\n-- Outside money from both parties is pouring into Wisconsin\u2019s Senate race.\n-- \u201cThe Bros Of The Ultimate Fighting Championship Are All In On Trump,\u201d\n-- The RNC spent more than $224,000 at Trump\u2019s Mar-a-Lago resort last month, according to a newly filed FEC report.\nTRUMP\u2019S AGENDA:\n-- Sanders sought to dismiss criticism of Trump\u2019s use of the term \u201cbreeding concept\u201d in a tweet last week in regard to California's \u201csanctuary areas.\u201d\n-- Scott Pruitt plans to introduce a rule limiting what science can be used to write EPA regulations.\n-- A congressional report found the GOP tax bill will return $17 billion to millionaire owners of \u201cpass-through\u201d businesses.\nSOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:\nTrump returned to the subject of the caravans:\nHe also renewed his threat to tie his immigration demands to the renegotiation of NAFTA:\nAnd he boasted about food-stamp figures:\nFrom The Post\u2019s fact-checking columnist:\nThe son of former national security adviser Michael Flynn defended his father:\nAn NBC News reporter replied:\nA New York Times writer summed up Rand Paul\u2019s progression on Pompeo\u2019s nomination:\nA spokesman for Obama\u2019s Justice Department responded to Paul\u2019s shift:\nFrom a Cook Political Report editor:\nA Senate Republican attacked his Democratic colleagues for their opposition to the nomination:\nFrom Obama\u2019s former NSC spokesman and a Crooked Media founder:\nAnother House Republican called for the EPA administrator\u2019s resignation:\nA Post reporter added this detail:\nSen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) returned home after his recent surgery:\nThe first lady sent her best wishes to George H.W. Bush:\nA presidential historian shared this photo from 1948:\nThe French president took to the streets of D.C.:\nThe two presidents discussed Trump\u2019s poll numbers:\nA Talking Points Memo reporter provided this handy guide for the French president\u2019s D.C. visit:\nAnd a royal family welcomed its\u00a0newest member:\nA former first lady offered her best wishes to the royal family:\nGOOD READS FROM ELSEWHERE:\n-- ProPublica and Mother Jones, \u201cShutdown of Texas Schools Probe Shows Trump Administration Pullback on Civil Rights,\u201d by Annie Waldman:\n-- Bloomberg News, \u201cAmazon Has a Top-Secr\n-- New York Times, \u201cWhen \u2014 if Ever \u2014 Will the Super Bowl Champion Eagles Visit the White House?\u201d by Ken Belson and Michael D. Shear:\nDAYBOOK:\nTrump\nNEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:\n-- Rain will begin today and last through tomorrow in Washington.\n-- The Capitals won their first-round playoff series against the Blue Jackets,\n-- The Nationals lost to the Giants 4-2.\n-- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is enjoying an approval rating of 69 percent, an eight-point boost since February and his highest mark since fall 2016.\n-- The D.C. Council decided against reprimanding member Trayon White Sr. (D) for donating $500 to an event where Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan denounced Jews.\n-- \u201cD.C.\u2019s ride-hailing market has exploded over the past three years, more than quadrupling since late 2015 as Metro and taxi ridership have steadily fallen, statistics show, a sign that Uber and Lyft are probably creating thousands of new vehicle trips in the city,\u201d\nVIDEOS OF THE DAY:\nStephen Colbert reveled in Trump\u2019s weekend tweeting spree:\nThe Trumps and the Macrons planted a tree on the White House\u2019s South Lawn:\nWhite police officers wrestled a black woman to the ground at an Alabama Waffle House, sparking a sit-in and a response from the NAACP:\nCellphone footage captured a tornado ripping through a Florida town:\nA \u201ctown crier\u201d announced the birth of the new royal baby:\nAnd The Post\u2019s video department decided to bring the town crier\u2019s pomp and circumstance to Washington:"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "EZHV2BTUWVB5VJ6F6ZVMOWRQKI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "EZHV2BTUWVB5VJ6F6ZVMOWRQKI_0", "title": "The Kremlin scores a big victory as Davos lets in sanctioned oligarchs", "text": "Last week brought the Kremlin a major victory against Western sanctions. After an intense lobbying campaign by Vladimir Putin\u2019s regime, aided by the government of Switzerland, the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) reversed its decision to ban three Kremlin-connected oligarchs from its upcoming meeting in Davos. \u201cI am pleased that after discussions with all relevant parties, careful consideration of international legal frameworks and strong support from the Swiss government, we are able to host business and political leaders from all G20 countries,\u201d said Alois Zwinggi, the WEF\u2019s managing director. Translated from the euphemistic language of corporate press releases, this means that Russian oligarchs Oleg Deripaska, Viktor Vekselberg and Andrei Kostin will be invited to attend the Davos forum, the world\u2019s premier gathering of political and business leaders, held every winter in a small ski resort in the Swiss Alps. Deripaska, Russia\u2019s principal aluminum magnate; Vekselberg, owner of the Renova industrial conglomerate; and Kostin, head of the state-owned VTB bank, were disinvited from Davos this year after being sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department over their ties to the Kremlin\u2019s \u201cmalign activity around the globe.\u201d \u201cRussian oligarchs and elites who profit from this corrupt system will no longer be insulated from the consequences of their government\u2019s destabilizing activities,\u201d Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at the time. Deripaska was also singled out for reportedly \u201cthreatening the lives of business rivals, illegally wiretapping a government official, and taking part in extortion and racketeering.\u201d A regular at Davos meetings, Deripaska was known as the host of the forum\u2019s most lavish parties, which featured buckets of caviar, free-flowing Dom Perignon champagne, and live performances by the likes of Enrique Iglesias. The list of attendees reads like the who\u2019s-who of world politics and business. It seemed that Davos might have to forgo Deripaska\u2019s hospitality this coming January. The initial decision by the forum\u2019s organizers was caused less by their moral qualms than by the U.S. Treasury Department\u2019s provision that \u201cnon-U.S. persons could face sanctions for knowingly facilitating significant transactions for or on behalf of the [sanctioned] individuals\u201d \u2013 that is, by a fear of facing sanctions themselves. In the end, the Kremlin\u2019s lobbying efforts (which included a personal conversation between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Swiss President Alain Berset) overcame the reservations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the fact that the WEF management \u201cembraced our position\u201d by reversing the ban. The size and composition of"}], "old": [{"_id": "EZHV2BTUWVB5VJ6F6ZVMOWRQKI_0", "title": "The Kremlin scores a big victory as Davos lets in sanctioned oligarchs", "text": "Read more:"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Last week brought the Kremlin a major victory against Western sanctions. After an intense lobbying campaign by Vladimir Putin\u2019s regime, aided by the government of Switzerland, the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) reversed its decision to ban three Kremlin-connected oligarchs from its upcoming meeting in Davos.\n\u201cI am pleased that after discussions with all relevant parties, careful consideration of international legal frameworks and strong support from the Swiss government, we are able to host business and political leaders from all G20 countries,\u201d said Alois Zwinggi, the WEF\u2019s managing director. Translated from the euphemistic language of corporate press releases, this means that Russian oligarchs Oleg Deripaska, Viktor Vekselberg and Andrei Kostin will be invited to attend the Davos forum, the world\u2019s premier gathering of political and business leaders, held every winter in a small ski resort in the Swiss Alps.\nDeripaska, Russia\u2019s principal aluminum magnate; Vekselberg, owner of the Renova industrial conglomerate; and Kostin, head of the state-owned VTB bank, were disinvited from Davos this year after being sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department over their ties to the Kremlin\u2019s \u201cmalign activity around the globe.\u201d \u201cRussian oligarchs and elites who profit from this corrupt system will no longer be insulated from the consequences of their government\u2019s destabilizing activities,\u201d Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at the time. Deripaska was also singled out for reportedly \u201cthreatening the lives of business rivals, illegally wiretapping a government official, and taking part in extortion and racketeering.\u201d A regular at Davos meetings, Deripaska was known as the host of the forum\u2019s most lavish parties, which featured buckets of caviar, free-flowing Dom Perignon champagne, and live performances by the likes of Enrique Iglesias. The list of attendees reads like the who\u2019s-who of world politics and business.\nIt seemed that Davos might have to forgo Deripaska\u2019s hospitality this coming January. The initial decision by the forum\u2019s organizers was caused less by their moral qualms than by the U.S. Treasury Department\u2019s provision that \u201cnon-U.S. persons could face sanctions for knowingly facilitating significant transactions for or on behalf of the [sanctioned] individuals\u201d \u2013 that is, by a fear of facing sanctions themselves. In the end, the Kremlin\u2019s lobbying efforts (which included a personal conversation between Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Swiss President Alain Berset) overcame the reservations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the fact that the WEF management \u201cembraced our position\u201d by reversing the ban. The size and composition of the official Russian delegation to Davos will be determined in the coming days, but the Russian government has already announced that all three U.S.-sanctioned oligarchs will be attending.\nThe Davos forum has long had an outsize resonance in Russian politics, serving as an important platform of international legitimacy for Russian elites. The first official from Moscow to take part in the forum was Alexander Shokhin, then deputy prime minister in the reformist cabinet of Yegor Gaidar, who attended in 1992, signaling Russia\u2019s shift to liberal market reforms after the collapse of the Soviet Union.\nAt the February 1996 forum, the star of the show was Gennady Zyuganov, the head of Russia\u2019s Communist Party, who was leading in the polls for the upcoming election and was widely seen as Russia\u2019s next president. The world\u2019s political and business elites queued up to shake his hand. In his public appearances at Davos, Zyuganov tried to assuage fears of a Soviet restoration, promising to \u201csafeguard private property,\u201d \u201ccreate a climate of confidence\u201d and \u201crecognize political pluralism\u201d in the event of his victory (all while addressing his domestic audience with a mix of Stalinist and nationalist rhetoric). It was at the same meeting in Davos that Russia\u2019s leading businessmen \u2014 the oligarchs of that time \u2014 agreed to put aside their differences and finance the reelection campaign of incumbent president Boris Yeltsin to stave off a Communist comeback. In the end, Yeltsin edged Zyuganov by 35 percent to 32 percent in the first round, defeating him by a convincing 54 percent to 40 percent in the runoff.\nThe famous question about Yeltsin\u2019s successor \u2014 \u201cWho is Mr. Putin?\u201d \u2014 was also asked at Davos. Trudy Rubin, a journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer, posed it to a panel of top Russian politicians, including First Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, in February 2000. To laughter from the audience, not one of the panelists volunteered to respond \u2014 even though the answer, after Putin\u2019s military brutality in Chechnya, his initial attacks on independent media, and his decision to publicly honor the notorious Soviet KGB chief Yuri Andropov, was already clear.\nThe agenda for the upcoming Davos forum is yet to be announced. What matters for the Kremlin, though, are not specific meetings or agreements but the fact that some of its most notorious envoys have once again been accepted by the Western elite; the clearest signal of \u201cbusiness as usual.\u201d This is not the first time in history that the democratic community chose appeasement over principle in dealing with an authoritarian regime \u2014 and it has never ended happily.\nRead more:\nJennifer Rubin: Russia, Russia, Russia\nThe Post\u2019s View: Russia\u2019s support for Trump\u2019s election is no longer disputable\nMichael McFaul: Why Vladimir Putin is a terrible strategist\nChristine Emba: Davos Man is nervous. He should be.\nVladimir Kara-Murza: Putin\u2019s dark cult of the secret police"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "G2A5PDSHKUI6TEHQBTH65SD2ME_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "G2A5PDSHKUI6TEHQBTH65SD2ME_0", "title": "Russian oligarch and Putin ally sues Treasury, demands lifting of U.S. sanctions", "text": "Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska sued the Treasury Department and Secretary Steven Mnuchin in U.S. federal court to demand the lifting of remaining U.S. sanctions against him, alleging the measures were illegal and harmed his finances and reputation. Deripaska, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed that Washington\u2019s 2018 sanctions were \u201ccompletely untethered\u201d from \u201clegal criteria.\u201d The lawsuit, filed in district court in Washington, D.C., said the oligarch\u2019s net worth has fallen by more than $7.5 billion, or 81 percent, since he and some of his companies were sanctioned for what Treasury called his support of \u201cthe Kremlin\u2019s global malign activities.\u201d In January, the Treasury Department lifted sanctions on three Deripaska-connected companies, but left in place the sanctions on Deripaska himself. \u201cTreasury does not generally comment on pending litigation,\u201d an agency spokesman said Friday. Sanctions experts said it is not unusual for sanctioned individuals to sue Treasury. The government usually wins the cases, \u201csince the judiciary is pretty deferential to [Treasury] and the government on issues of national security,\u201d said Peter Harrell, a former State Department official who worked on sanctions policy during the Obama administration. The D.C.-based lawyer representing Deripaska in the case, Erich Ferrari of Ferrari & Associates, didn\u2019t immediately respond to requests for comment. Ferrari\u2019s online profile says he has previously \u201cworked to have names removed\u201d from Treasury sanctions lists. jeanne.whalen@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "G2A5PDSHKUI6TEHQBTH65SD2ME_0", "title": "Russian oligarch and Putin ally sues Treasury, demands lifting of U.S. sanctions", "text": "jeanne.whalen@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska sued the Treasury Department and Secretary Steven Mnuchin in U.S. federal court to demand the lifting of remaining U.S. sanctions against him, alleging the measures were illegal and  harmed his finances and reputation.\nDeripaska, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed that Washington\u2019s 2018 sanctions were \u201ccompletely untethered\u201d from \u201clegal criteria.\u201d\nThe lawsuit, filed in district court in Washington, D.C., said the oligarch\u2019s net worth has fallen by more than $7.5 billion, or 81 percent, since he and some of his companies were sanctioned for what Treasury called his support of \u201cthe Kremlin\u2019s global malign activities.\u201d\nIn January, the Treasury Department lifted sanctions on three Deripaska-connected companies, but left in place the sanctions on Deripaska himself.\n\u201cTreasury does not generally comment on pending litigation,\u201d an agency spokesman said Friday.\nSanctions experts said it is not unusual for sanctioned individuals to sue Treasury. The government usually wins the cases, \u201csince the judiciary is pretty deferential to [Treasury] and the government on issues of national security,\u201d said Peter Harrell, a former State Department official who worked on sanctions policy during the Obama administration.\nThe D.C.-based lawyer representing Deripaska in the case, Erich Ferrari of Ferrari & Associates, didn\u2019t immediately respond to requests for comment. Ferrari\u2019s online profile says he has previously \u201cworked to have names removed\u201d from Treasury sanctions lists.\njeanne.whalen@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "G5W46MYQKRA4LHBNYKYABCXFDE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "G5W46MYQKRA4LHBNYKYABCXFDE_0", "title": "In rebuke to Trump administration, more than 130 Republicans join House Democrats to oppose lifting sanctions against Putin ally", "text": "The 362-53 vote registers formal House disapproval of plans to relax sanctions against companies controlled by Russian President Vladimir Putin ally, Oleg Deripaska, and comes despite last-minute appeals by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. A similar measure narrowly failed in the Senate this week, despite 11 Republicans breaking ranks to vote with Democrats.This is a developing story. It will be updated."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The 362-53 vote registers formal House disapproval of plans to relax sanctions against companies controlled by Russian President Vladimir Putin ally, Oleg Deripaska, and comes despite last-minute appeals by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. A similar measure narrowly failed in the Senate this week, despite 11 Republicans breaking ranks to vote with Democrats.This is a developing story. It will be updated."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "HJP3J3B4XQI6REJNC3E6TM3YAA_1", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "HJP3J3B4XQI6REJNC3E6TM3YAA_1", "title": "Kremlin backers warn of threat of war with U.S. as Syria tensions rise", "text": "is how Russia responds \u2014 both to the sanctions and to any U.S. strike in Syria, where Moscow has military forces aiding Assad\u2019s regime. Putin has said little on both topics in recent days. He visited Russian scientists Tuesday and thanked them for their role in helping develop new Russian nuclear weapons. \u201cThis all strengthens the isolationist, consolidating logic of a besieged fortress,\u201d Andrei Koles\u00adnikov, a domestic policy specialist at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said of the sanctions and Syria developments. \u201cThe regime won\u2019t fall. It will only become more isolationist and aggressive toward the West.\u201d Slides in the Russian stock market this week showed that Friday\u2019s U.S. sanctions were the Trump administration\u2019s most damaging move against Moscow so far. The ruble fell to 63 against the dollar, the Russian currency\u2019s weakest level since December 2016, and government officials said they were preparing to take steps to stabilize the Russian businesses affected. \u201cA blow to any of the groups of companies\u201d affected by the sanctions \u201cis a blow to the economy as a whole,\u201d Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Tuesday. Sanctioned businessman Oleg Deripaska\u2019s company Rusal, an aluminum giant that employs 62,000 people worldwide, has lost more than half its stock market value since the sanctions were announced. Sberbank, Russia\u2019s biggest bank, has lost some 15 percent on the stock market this week even though it was not sanctioned. Monday\u2019s plunge of more than 8 percent in the benchmark MOEX Russia Index was the worst since March 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, though the index recovered some of those losses Tuesday. \u201cIf a very strong sanctions regime spreads to other sectors, this can lead to a financial crisis and certainly a renewed recession,\u201d said economist Alexandre Abramov, a financial-markets expert at Moscow\u2019s Higher School of Economics. The risk, he said, is that investors will shun all Russian company stocks, fearing further sanctions. Even as Russia reeled from the blow to its economy, another crisis was deepening in Syria. The suspected chemical attack in rebel-held Douma brought dire predictions in Moscow that disaster could follow if Washington launched airstrikes in response. Russia denies that its Syrian allies used chlorine or other agents in the Saturday attack, which claimed dozens of lives. The West says overwhelming evidence points to Assad\u2019s forces, with their backers Russia and Iran sharing responsibility. Igor Korotchenko, a Russian military scholar and a member of the Defense"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "MOSCOW \u2014\nIn the Kremlin\u2019s telling, this is a country under siege.\nThe United States is considering strikes on Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria, prompting ominous speculation among people close to the Kremlin that such a move could touch off a wider conflict. One scholar who advises the Russian Defense Ministry even raised the specter of \u201cWorld War III.\u201d\nAt the same time, U.S. sanctions against top Russian business executives wiped billions of dollars off Russian stock market values this week, prompting fears that the country\u2019s already stagnant economy could be thrown back into recession.\nAs if to drive the point home, a new article from a top Kremlin aide declared that Russia must prepare for a century of \u201cgeopolitical solitude\u201d and that its \u201cepic journey toward the West\u201d was over.\nRussian President Vladimir Putin and his supporters have for years been casting their country as one that has to rally around its leader and fight back in the face of an increasingly aggressive West.\nThat \u201cbesieged fortress\u201d narrative has now roared back to the forefront in ways not seen since the height of the Ukraine crisis in 2014 and Russia\u2019s internationally denounced annexation of Crimea.\nThe question now is how Russia responds \u2014 both to the sanctions and to any U.S. strike in Syria, where Moscow has military forces aiding Assad\u2019s regime.\nPutin has said little on both topics in recent days. He visited Russian scientists  Tuesday and thanked them for their role in helping develop new Russian nuclear weapons.\n\u201cThis all strengthens the isolationist, consolidating logic of a besieged fortress,\u201d Andrei Koles\u00adnikov, a domestic policy specialist at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said of the sanctions and Syria developments. \u201cThe regime won\u2019t fall. It will only become more isolationist and aggressive toward the West.\u201d\nSlides in the Russian stock market this week showed that Friday\u2019s U.S. sanctions were the Trump administration\u2019s most damaging move against Moscow so far.\nThe ruble fell to 63 against the dollar, the Russian currency\u2019s weakest level since December 2016, and government officials said they were preparing to take steps to stabilize the Russian businesses affected.\n\u201cA blow to any of the groups of companies\u201d affected by the sanctions \u201cis a blow to the economy as a whole,\u201d Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Tuesday.\nSanctioned businessman Oleg Deripaska\u2019s company Rusal, an aluminum giant that employs 62,000\u00a0people worldwide, has lost more than half its stock market value since the sanctions were announced. Sberbank, Russia\u2019s biggest bank, has lost some 15\u00a0percent on the stock market this week even though it was not sanctioned. Monday\u2019s plunge of more than 8\u00a0percent in the benchmark MOEX Russia Index was the worst since March\u00a02014, when Russia annexed Crimea, though the index recovered some of those losses Tuesday.\n\u201cIf a very strong sanctions regime spreads to other sectors, this can lead to a financial crisis and certainly a renewed recession,\u201d said economist Alexandre Abramov, a financial-markets expert at Moscow\u2019s Higher School of Economics. The risk, he said, is that investors will shun all Russian company stocks, fearing further sanctions.\nEven as Russia reeled from the blow to its economy, another crisis was deepening in Syria.\nThe suspected chemical attack in rebel-held Douma brought dire predictions in Moscow that disaster could follow if Washington launched airstrikes in response.\u00a0Russia denies that its Syrian allies used chlorine or other agents in the Saturday attack, which claimed dozens of lives.\nThe West says overwhelming evidence points to Assad\u2019s forces, with their backers Russia and Iran sharing responsibility.\nIgor Korotchenko, a Russian military scholar and a member of the Defense Ministry\u2019s public advisory council, said a U.S. attack that killed Russians in Syria would compel a military response, potentially against a U.S. plane or ship. That could bring about a chain of events as dangerous as the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, Korotchenko said, and potentially\u00a0\u201cprovoke World War III.\u201d\n\u201cTrump has to understand that we\u2019re going to be talking about the possibility of nuclear escalation if we have a collision of the U.S. and Russian militaries,\u201d Korotchenko said. \u201cEverything can happen very quickly, and the situation can spin out of the control of the politicians.\u201d\nRussian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov said last month that Russia had information that the United States was planning to\u00a0fake a chemical attack in Syria and use it as a pretext for a strike on Assad. If such a strike endangered Russian lives, he warned at the time, Russia would respond by hitting the missiles and their launchers.\nRussia has said the suspected chemical attack in Douma was, indeed, fake \u2014 staged in part to distract from another episode that Moscow has also described as falsely blaming Russia: the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England last month.\n\u201cThe U.S. declared economic war on us, they also declared diplomatic war, and everything now indicates that they want to test our armed forces in a local conflict,\u201d lawmaker Igor Morozov said on a state TV talk show Monday.\nOn another such show, war correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny warned, \u201cRussia has the forces and the means to stop the American groups \u2014 the question is, how far does this conflict, this confrontation, go.\u201d\nRepresentatives of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, as well as Russian specialists, have visited the site of the Douma incident \u201cand found no trace of any use of chemical weapons,\u201d Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.\nHe said Russia would propose a U.N. Security Council resolution later Tuesday that would call on international experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to visit the site, at the invitation of the Syrian government.\nSyria and Russia, he said, would be prepared to guarantee the inspectors\u2019 security.\nIf the West rejected the Russian proposal, Lavrov said, this would be further evidence of its \u00ad\u201canti-Syrian and Russophobic line.\u201d\nAmid the fast-moving developments, a longtime architect of Putin\u2019s rule, Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov, this week published an article in the journal Russia in Global Affairs that presented a theoretical foundation for the estrangement between Russia and the West.\nOnly now is it becoming clear, he wrote, that the year 2014 \u2014 the year of the Ukraine crisis \u2014 for Russia marked \u201cthe end of multiple and fruitless efforts to become part of Western civilization.\u201d\n\u201cA new period of unknown length now spreads before us, the \u201814+\u2019 era, in which we face one hundred (two hundred? three hundred?) years of geopolitical solitude,\u201d Surkov wrote.\nanton.troianovski@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "HQ6TUNQ6RII6TEKFH52AOC55XE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "HQ6TUNQ6RII6TEKFH52AOC55XE_0", "title": "Russian oligarch\u2019s deal for sanctions relief is sweeter than publicly portrayed, document suggests", "text": "A Russian oligarch allied with Vladi\u00admir Putin will, along with close associates, maintain majority control of a major energy company from which the Treasury Department is lifting sanctions despite the Trump administration\u2019s promise to hold him accountable as a key beneficiary of Moscow\u2019s \u201cmalign activity\u201d worldwide. Oleg Deripaska, along with his ex-wife, ex-father-in-law and a foundation Deripaska launched years ago, will together maintain well over 50 percent of the shares in En+ Group, the most influential of three companies from which the Treasury Department is lifting sanctions, according to an agreement outlining the deal\u2019s terms, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post on Tuesday. En+ Group controls Rusal, one of the world\u2019s biggest aluminum suppliers, and EuroSibEnergo, Russia\u2019s largest private power company, which are also addressed in the Treasury deal. The New York Times first reported on aspects of the agreement, which appears to show that Deripaska is being treated more generously than the Trump administration has acknowledged. The Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment, but administration officials, including Secretary Steven Mnuchin, have vigorously defended the deal. The Post was unable to reach a spokesman for Deripaska. The Trump administration sanctioned Deripaska and these three companies in April while taking aim at individuals and businesses with close ties to the Russian state. Before that, he was the subject of intrigue for his ties to President Trump\u2019s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who once worked for Deripaska as an investment consultant. Deripaska has said Manafort owes him millions of dollars. While serving as Trump\u2019s campaign chairman, Manafort offered to give Deripaska \u201cprivate briefings\u201d on the 2016 presidential race \u2014 what Manafort\u2019s spokesman has characterized as an effort to settle past debts. Deripaska\u2019s spokeswoman said he never received briefings from Manafort. Now it appears Deripaska may be the beneficiary of a different arrangement with the Trump administration, as shares in his companies promise to rebound with Treasury\u2019s decision to lift punitive measures against them. Neither Deripaska nor his allies will retain voting rights in En+ Group commensurate with the holdings they will maintain in the company under the deal\u2019s terms, according to the agreement. But the document has revived frustration among Democrats who, earlier this month, were unable to secure enough Republican votes in the Senate to block the deal. \u201cMy concern all along was that Deripaska would retain control over his companies and benefit"}], "old": [{"_id": "HQ6TUNQ6RII6TEKFH52AOC55XE_0", "title": "Russian oligarch\u2019s deal for sanctions relief is sweeter than publicly portrayed, document suggests", "text": "karoun.demirjian@washpost.com jeanne.whalen@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "A Russian oligarch allied with Vladi\u00admir Putin will, along with close associates, maintain majority control of a major energy company from which the Treasury Department is lifting sanctions despite the Trump administration\u2019s promise to hold him accountable as a key beneficiary of Moscow\u2019s \u201cmalign activity\u201d worldwide.\nOleg Deripaska, along with his ex-wife, ex-father-in-law and a foundation Deripaska launched years ago, will together maintain well over 50 percent of the shares in En+ Group, the most influential of three companies from which the Treasury Department is lifting sanctions, according to an agreement outlining the deal\u2019s terms, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post on Tuesday.\nEn+ Group controls Rusal, one of the world\u2019s biggest aluminum suppliers, and EuroSibEnergo, Russia\u2019s largest private power company, which are also addressed in the Treasury deal.\nThe New York Times first reported on aspects of the agreement, which appears to show that Deripaska is being treated more generously than the Trump administration has acknowledged.\nThe Treasury Department did not respond to a request for comment, but administration officials, including Secretary Steven Mnuchin, have vigorously defended the deal. The Post was unable to reach a spokesman for Deripaska.\nThe Trump administration sanctioned Deripaska and these three companies in April while taking aim at individuals and businesses with close ties to the Russian state. Before that, he was the subject of intrigue for his ties to President Trump\u2019s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who once worked for Deripaska as an investment consultant. Deripaska has said Manafort owes him millions of dollars.\nWhile serving as Trump\u2019s campaign chairman, Manafort offered to give Deripaska \u201cprivate briefings\u201d on the 2016 presidential race \u2014 what Manafort\u2019s spokesman has characterized as an effort to settle past debts. Deripaska\u2019s spokeswoman said he never received briefings from Manafort.\nNow it appears Deripaska may be the beneficiary of a different arrangement with the Trump administration, as shares in his companies promise to rebound with Treasury\u2019s decision to lift punitive measures against them.\nNeither Deripaska nor his allies will retain voting rights in En+ Group commensurate with the holdings they will maintain in the company under the deal\u2019s terms, according to the agreement. But the document has revived frustration among Democrats who, earlier this month, were unable to secure enough Republican votes in the Senate to block the deal.\n\u201cMy concern all along was that Deripaska would retain control over his companies and benefit personally from this deal,\u201d said Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. \u201cThis new report suggests that those concerns were valid and that the situation may even have been worse than we thought.\u201d\nLast week, more 130 House Republicans, including the GOP\u2019s entire leadership team, joined House Democrats to deliver a rebuke of the deal \u2014 and, by extension, of the president and his Cabinet.\n\u201cBecause we cannot be sure that we have removed the heavy hand of this Russian oligarch, I cannot support the delisting of these sanctioned entities at this point in time,\u201d Rep. Mike McCaul (Tex.), the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said just before the vote.\nUnder the terms of a sanctions bill Congress passed in 2017, lawmakers have 30 days after the administration announces its intent to reduce or remove Russia-related sanctions to prevent that from happening. That window closed Friday.\nDeripaska\u2019s agreement details how some of his shares will be dispersed without completely divorcing him and former relatives of a controlling interest in En+ Group.\nAlthough his personal holdings will be significantly reduced, from about 70 percent of shares to no more than 44.95 percent, people and entities close to him will control additional shares, meaning Deripaska could continue to have influence over a majority of the company.\nFor instance, he is transferring more than 3 percent of En+ Group shares to a charitable foundation he founded in 2008, while his ex-wife and her father will continue to control at least an additional 5.5 percent of the company\u2019s shares. \nOther Deripaska shares will be transferred to VTB, a Russian bank also under sanctions, and Glencore, a mining firm with ties to the Russian aluminum market, including En+ subsidiary Rusal.\nThe agreement also outlines new ownership stakes for Rusal that appear to largely protect the holdings of another sanctioned Russian oligarch, Viktor Vekselberg, and his business partner Leonard Blavatnik, who holds U.S. citizenship and has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Senate Republicans and a million to Trump\u2019s inaugural committee.\nVekselberg and Blavatnik are co-owners of SUAL Partners Limited, an aluminum company that will keep a 22.5 percent stake of Rusal under the Deripaska deal.\nkaroun.demirjian@washpost.com\njeanne.whalen@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "KWM6XVZKCNCGZPET3XMCGYD5YA_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "KWM6XVZKCNCGZPET3XMCGYD5YA_0", "title": "Rebuking Trump, over 130 House Republicans challenge plans to lift sanctions against Putin ally", "text": "In a rebuke to the Trump administration, 136 Republicans joined House Democrats Thursday to oppose a Treasury Department plan to lift sanctions against companies controlled by an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The overwhelming 362 to 53 vote will not prevent the Trump administration from easing sanctions on three companies connected to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch with ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, as Senate Republicans narrowly blocked a similar measure on Wednesday. But the House vote does mean that a majority of Republicans on Capitol Hill oppose President Trump\u2019s efforts to soften punitive measures on a Russian oligarch \u2014 a rejection with potential implications for the administration\u2019s continued stance on Russia, and for the GOP lawmakers who backed the plan to ease the sanctions. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) both broke with Trump to join Democrats to support the resolution, along with the rest of their leadership team \u2013 a particularly awkward rebellion for the White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). \u201cI don\u2019t believe this issue should divide our two parties. In fact, it should unite us \u2026 Congress must guard against playing partisan politics with sanctions,\u201d said Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who previously served as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, where he led an effort to improve cybersecurity in the wake of Russia\u2019s meddling in the 2016 elections. \u201cI think many members find Treasury\u2019s case for delisting these particular Russia companies to have an argument, but not very compelling,\u201d he added. \u201cBecause we cannot be sure that we have removed the heavy hand of this Russian oligarch, I cannot support the delisting of these sanctioned entities at this point in time and therefore I support this resolution.\u201d Treasury last month said it intended to lift sanctions the U.S. imposed last year against Deripaska\u2019s companies, including a major aluminum producer, while keeping sanctions intact against Deripaska himself. The company sanctions initially caused havoc with global aluminum prices, prompting European allies to complain. Treasury said it was prepared to lift the company sanctions because Deripaska agreed to reduce his ownership below 50 percent. His reduced stake would protect the companies \u201cfrom the controlling influence of a Kremlin insider,\u201d Treasury said, adding that the companies had been sanctioned \"solely because they were majority-owned or controlled by Deripaska.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "In a rebuke to the Trump administration, 136 Republicans joined House Democrats Thursday to oppose a Treasury Department plan to lift sanctions against companies controlled by an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.\nThe overwhelming 362 to 53 vote will not prevent the Trump administration from easing sanctions on three companies connected to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch with ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, as Senate Republicans narrowly blocked a similar measure on Wednesday.\nBut the House vote does mean that a majority of Republicans on Capitol Hill oppose President Trump\u2019s efforts to soften punitive measures on a Russian oligarch \u2014 a rejection with potential implications for the administration\u2019s continued stance on Russia, and for the GOP lawmakers who backed the plan to ease the sanctions.\nHouse Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) both broke with Trump to join Democrats to support the resolution, along with the rest of their leadership team \u2013 a particularly awkward rebellion for the White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).\n\u201cI don\u2019t believe this issue should divide our two parties. In fact, it should unite us \u2026 Congress must guard against playing partisan politics with sanctions,\u201d said Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who previously served as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, where he led an effort to improve cybersecurity in the wake of Russia\u2019s meddling in the 2016 elections.\n\u201cI think many members find Treasury\u2019s case for delisting these particular Russia companies to have an argument, but not very compelling,\u201d he added. \u201cBecause we cannot be sure that we have removed the heavy hand of this Russian oligarch, I cannot support the delisting of these sanctioned entities at this point in time and therefore I support this resolution.\u201d\nTreasury last month said it intended to lift sanctions the U.S. imposed last year against Deripaska\u2019s companies, including a major aluminum producer, while keeping sanctions intact against Deripaska himself. The company sanctions initially caused havoc with global aluminum prices, prompting European allies to complain.\nTreasury said it was prepared to lift the company sanctions because Deripaska agreed to reduce his ownership below 50 percent. His reduced stake would protect the companies \u201cfrom the controlling influence of a Kremlin insider,\u201d Treasury said, adding that the companies had been sanctioned \"solely because they were majority-owned or controlled by Deripaska.\u201d\nUnder a rules change Congress passed in 2017, lawmakers have a 30-day window to block any relaxation of Russia-related sanctions proposed by the Treasury Department. That window closes Friday. Treasury officials didn\u2019t respond to requests for comment Thursday.\nCritics and supporters of the sanctions decision have been scrambling to win votes in Congress, particularly in the last week. Leading House Democrats insisted that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin brief them on the Treasury Department\u2019s plans, which he did last Thursday in a classified setting.\nHouse Democrats emerged from the briefing complaining that it was insufficient, while Mnuchin has since been trying to shore up support among Republicans to keep Treasury\u2019s plans intact.\nFormer senator David Vitter (R-La.) has also been lobbying on behalf of the Deripaska-controlled En+ Group, a holding company that controls the aluminum producer Rusal. Vitter was seen last week in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell\u2019s (R-Ky.) office waiting for a meeting, just days before the measure objecting to lifting the sanctions came to the floor.\nThe lobbying firm of which Vitter is co-chairman, Mercury Public Affairs, has received more than $650,000 since May 2018 from En+ Group\u2019s chairman to press for sanctions relief, the Center for Responsive Politics reported Thursday, citing documents filed with the Justice Department. A Mercury spokesman declined to comment.\nThe measure fell just a few votes shy of the 60 needed to advance it to a final vote in the Senate, even after attracting the support of eleven Republican senators including Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ben Sasse of Nebraska.\n\u201cWith the threat that Russia poses to the United States, to our friends and allies, to democracy around the world, Congress cannot just look the other way when the Administration rushes a decision like this. There are too many open questions about whether Deripaska will still control the companies that these sanctions address,\u201d Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said on the House floor Thursday.\nHouse Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) sent a letter to Mnuchin renewing the request to delay the easing of the sanctions, in light of the votes in the House and the Senate.\nWashington\u2019s sanctions on Rusal and En+ Group clobbered Deripaska financially, sinking the market value of his publicly traded companies. Rusal shares have rebounded somewhat on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since Treasury announced it would lift the sanctions, rising about 18 percent in a boost for Deripaska. But the stock is still down about 65 percent from its pre-sanction levels.\nThe U.S. sanctioned Deripaska and his companies in April 2018, among a group of Russian elites the U.S. said had furthered \u201cthe Kremlin\u2019s global malign activities, including its attempts to subvert Western democracy.\u201d\nIn announcing those sanctions, Treasury also noted that Deripaska had been investigated for money laundering and accused of \u201cthreatening the lives of business rivals\u201d and having ties to organized crime.\nDeripaska has denied those allegations in the past. He and his companies did not respond to requests for comment."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "LN4GGJBQ4NBDDKH6BXNTSFMM4E_3", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "LN4GGJBQ4NBDDKH6BXNTSFMM4E_3", "title": "Is Russia all out of oligarchs? It says it is.", "text": "worth of $14.5 billion. He is the chairman of Renova Group, an investment fund that owns assets in Russia's energy sector. Other notable names include Kirill Shamalov, another major player in Russia's energy sector who is also reported to be Putin's son-in-law, and Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum magnate with alleged ties to President Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort. These men are wealthy, yes, and powerful, but they do not hold the same position as the oligarchs of the 1990s. The first generation of Russia's tycoons not only drew their wealth largely from the state, but they were also able to influence the state dramatically, even using their vast power to save Russian President Boris Yeltsin during his flailing 1996 reelection campaign. In modern Russia, wealthy business executives hold much less influence over the state: They own Russia, but they do not rule it. In fact, they are well aware that their own fortunes can be taken away by the state with little notice. Just last week, construction tycoon Ziyavudin Magomedov \u2014 whose estimated net worth is $1.4 billion \u2014 was arrested on embezzlement charges in a move many saw as a result of political infighting. The U.S. sanctions announced Friday were designed to punish the Russian government and its economic allies for policy moves by Moscow, including interference in Western democracy and Russia's role in Ukraine and Syria. \u201cI think it\u2019s important to see in today\u2019s action a message. And that message is that actions have consequences,\u201d a senior administration official told reporters. Russia's new generation of tycoons may well benefit from the aggressive policies of Putin's Russia and may well deserve punishment. But unlike their predecessors, they do not have real power and do not hold real sway over that policy. Indeed, some analysts argue that sanctioning Russian business executives helps the Kremlin control them. Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote on Twitter that the U.S. sanctions could result in a \u201cwin-win\u201d situation for Washington and Moscow. The Trump administration gets to say it is striking a blow at the Putin regime, Trenin wrote, but \u201cPutin sees his hand strengthened in his effort to 'nationalize' the Russian elites.\u201d More on WorldViews 9 charts that lay out Russia\u2019s uncertain future \u2014 with or without Putin The Russian journalist who helped uncover election interference is confounded by the Mueller indictments \u2018The Kremlin list\u2019: Why Russian oligarchs shrugged"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Newly announced U.S. sanctions on Russia aim to target not only its political elite but also its financial elite: the \u201coligarchs.\u201d\n\u201cRussian oligarchs and elites who profit from this corrupt system will no longer be insulated from the consequences of their government\u2019s destabilizing activities,\u201d\u00a0Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement Friday.\nBut what if Russia doesn't have oligarchs? That may seem like a radical position, but that's the apparent stance of the Russian government.\n\u201cThere are no oligarchs in Russia,\u201d Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday. The term that the Russian presidential spokesman said he would prefer was \u201crepresentatives of big business.\u201d\nPeskov's comments echoed those of Arkady Dvorkovich, Russia's deputy prime minister, in January. The Russian oligarchs of the past are now gone, Dvorkovich told Bloomberg TV while at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. \u201cNowadays, we have good, hard-working businessman who care about their country and earn money through responsible means,\u201d he explained.\nSuch\u00a0remarks\u00a0may cause many in the West to scoff, but there is a kernel of truth to the\u00a0idea. The term \u201coligarch\u201d first came to be used in Russian politics in the 1990s, when enterprising but often corrupt Russian businessmen used a chaotic period of privatization after the collapse of the Soviet Union to acquire vast fortunes.\u00a0With their wealth, these business executives gained serious political influence in Russia's fledgling democracy.\nAs David Hoffman, former Moscow correspondent for The Washington Post, put it in his 2001 book on these men, \u201cas their power grew, the tycoons became known as simply the oligarchs, the men who owned and ruled the new Russia.\u201d\nBut times change. After Vladimir Putin came to power, first as prime minister in 1999 and then as president in 2000, he took to dismantling the power of the oligarchs\u00a0\u2014 using the power of the state to go after the business executives who had used their companies to influence the state. It was one of the major policy threads during the first period of Putin's rule and was largely popular with the Russian public, which was sick of billionaires influencing politics.\nMost of the six tycoons whom Hoffman profiled in his book \u201cThe Oligarchs\u201d\u00a0are no longer in positions of political power. Some ended up stuck in lengthy legal disputes with the Russian state:\u00a0Mikhail Khodorkovsky, perhaps the most famous of all oligarchs, spent 10 years in prison before being released in 2013. Another, Boris Berezovsky, ended up in exile before dying in England in 2013 in unclear circumstances.\nOf the six,\u00a0Anatoly Chubais remains closest to the Kremlin as head of the Russian state nanotechnology company Rusnano. However, when the United States issued a list of politicians and business\u00a0leaders linked to the Russian president in January, Chubais was not included. In response, he issued a mock apology\u00a0on Facebook for failing his nation.\nChubais is not among the Russian business executives sanctioned Friday either, but other wealthy Russians were on that list. Of the seven business executives listed,\u00a0Viktor Vekselberg is probably the wealthiest: According to Forbes Russia, he is in the top 10 most wealthy people in Russia, with a net worth of $14.5 billion. He is the chairman of\u00a0Renova Group, an investment fund that owns assets in Russia's energy sector.\nOther notable names include\u00a0Kirill Shamalov, another major player in Russia's energy sector who is also reported to be Putin's son-in-law, and\u00a0Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum magnate with alleged ties to President Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.\nThese men are wealthy, yes, and powerful, but they do not hold the same position as the oligarchs of the 1990s. The first generation of Russia's tycoons not only drew their wealth largely from the state, but they were also able to influence the state dramatically, even using their vast power to save Russian President Boris Yeltsin during his flailing 1996 reelection campaign.\nIn modern Russia, wealthy business executives\u00a0hold much less influence over the state: They own Russia, but they do not rule it. In fact, they are well aware that their own fortunes can be taken away by the state with little notice. Just last week, construction tycoon Ziyavudin Magomedov\u00a0\u2014 whose estimated net worth is $1.4 billion\u00a0\u2014 was arrested on embezzlement charges in a move many saw as\u00a0a result of political infighting.\nThe U.S. sanctions announced Friday were designed to punish the Russian government and its economic allies for policy moves by Moscow, including\u00a0interference in Western democracy and Russia's role in Ukraine and Syria.\n\u201cI think it\u2019s important to see in today\u2019s action a message. And that message is that actions have consequences,\u201d a senior administration official told reporters.\nRussia's new generation of tycoons may well benefit from the aggressive policies of Putin's Russia and may well deserve punishment. But unlike their predecessors, they do not have real power and do not hold real sway over that policy.\nIndeed, some analysts argue that sanctioning Russian business executives helps the Kremlin control them. Dmitri Trenin,\u00a0director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote on Twitter that the U.S. sanctions could result in a \u201cwin-win\u201d situation for Washington and Moscow. The Trump administration gets to say it is striking a blow at the Putin regime, Trenin wrote, but \u201cPutin sees his hand strengthened in his effort to 'nationalize' the Russian elites.\u201d\nMore on WorldViews\n9 charts that lay out Russia\u2019s uncertain future \u2014 with or without Putin\nThe Russian journalist who helped uncover election interference is confounded by the Mueller indictments\n\u2018The Kremlin list\u2019: Why Russian oligarchs shrugged"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "OA3HYXCYPFGQDFXAT3H7QBXOGI_4", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "OA3HYXCYPFGQDFXAT3H7QBXOGI_4", "title": "The Finance 202: Trump\u2019s trade war is far from over", "text": "crisis. Starting in October 2016, the Fed began allowing a fixed cap of proceeds from those bonds to run off each month, with the level now reaching a ceiling of $50 billion.\u201d \u2014 Fourth-quarter earnings bring hotly anticipated numbers. \u201cOn the whole, the numbers are expected to be solid. Analysts estimate that, when all the results are in for S&P 500 companies, fourth-quarter profits will have risen 15 percent over a year earlier. That would be the fifth-straight period of double-digit profit growth . . . It doesn\u2019t guarantee investors will be happy.\u201d But gloomy signs right off the bat. \u2014 Pelosi slams Mnuchin after classified sanctions briefing. Politico's Martin Matishak: \u201cHouse Democrats excoriated Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday following a classified briefing about the Trump administration\u2019s decision to ease economic sanctions on three companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. \u2018One of the worst classified briefings we\u2019ve received from the Trump administration,\u2019 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters. \u2018The secretary barely testified.\u2019 ... \u201cHouse Democrats called for the briefing after Treasury announced last month that it would lift sanctions on Rusal, one the world\u2019s largest aluminum producers, as well as En+ Group, the holding company that owns roughly half of Rusal, and EuroSibEnergo, a Russian power company. Deripaska \u2014 an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was one of several associates sanctioned last year over Moscow\u2019s interference in the 2016 presidential election \u2014 has a large stake in all three companies... \u2018We\u2019ll see,\u2019 Pelosi replied when asked whether she would consider a resolution of disapproval to block the removal of sanctions.\u201d TRADE FLY-AROUND: \u2014 Top Chinese official to visit Washington this month. WSJ's Lingling Wei: \u201cChina and the U.S. are moving ahead with plans to hold a round of higher-level talks to resolve their continuing trade conflict, with President Xi Jinping\u2019s economic-policy captain scheduled to visit Washington in late January. For now, Vice Premier Liu He is planning to meet with his U.S. counterparts including [Lighthizer] and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for negotiations on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, according to people briefed on the matter. These people caution that the plan could be delayed by the partial U.S. government shutdown. \u201cWe\u2019re negotiating and having tremendous success with China,\u201d Trump told reporters on Thursday. Huawei's headaches spread \u2014 Chamber of Commerce criticizes Trump on trade and shutdown. MELTDOWN WATCH: \u2014 Ford launches major European shakeup. The move"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "THE TICKER\nThe Trump administration\u2019s bid to seize more unilateral tariff power from Congress looks dead on arrival.\nKey lawmakers from both parties are\u00a0throwing cold water on the proposal, which the\u00a0administration is weighing whether to roll out in the State of the Union address later this month, Bloomberg News\u00a0reports. If anything, members of Congress appear inclined to seize some agency back from the Trump team when it comes to trade policy.\nBut the fact that the White House is considering requesting the authority to issue new tariffs, product by product, underlines a bracing reality: Even as Trump officials appear to be making progress in trade negotiations with Beijing, the administration\u2019s wider trade war is far from over.\nThe Commerce Department, for example, is still preparing a recommendation on imposing duties on imports of autos and parts\nTrump trade officials are set to start negotiations with the European Union, and, separately, Japan in the weeks ahead.\nThe administration is still enforcing levies on aluminum and steel coming in from Mexico and Canada, despite having renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement with both countries\nAnd with China, trade experts say any deal would almost certainly include a cease-fire forestalling the imposition of new tariffs in March. But the Trump team is eyeing a process that would force Beijing to hit benchmarks demonstrating they are following through with changes to their trade and economic practices as a condition for gradually lifting duties\u00a0on the books for about $250 billion in imports.\nTrump continues to sound bullish about the prospects of a deal with China (for more on the the status of those talks, see below). He told reporters Thursday the regime there, which his administration has identified as a leading national security threat, is \u201cmore honorable\u201d and a better negotiating partner than Congressional Democrats.\nWatch him here:\nBut Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), a key pro-trade Democrat, made clear he won\u2019t support giving the administration a longer leash for its trade offensive:\nAnd the bill would likely violate World Trade Organization rules, notes Jennifer Hillman, a former commissioner at the U.S. International Trade Commission:\n\u2014 Trump mulls emergency declaration, Army Corps funds. The Post's Erica Werner, Josh Dawsey, Mike DeBonis and Seung Min Kim:\u00a0\u201dThe White House has begun laying the groundwork for a declaration of national emergency to build [Trump\u2019s] border wall, a move certain to set off a firestorm of opposition in Congress and the courts but one that could pave the way for an end to the three-week government shutdown.\n\u201cThe administration is eyeing unused money in the Army Corps of Engineers budget, specifically a disaster spending bill passed by Congress last year that includes $13.9 billion allocated but not spent for civil works projects...\u00a0Trump has urged the Army Corps to determine how fast contracts could be signed and whether construction could begin within 45 days.\u201d\nPence rules out DACA deal.\nBut Congressional GOP support for Trump's position appears to be forming more cracks.\nFederal workers miss paychecks today\nPowell warns of economic damage.\nTrump announced he\u2019s canceling his trip to Davos:\n\u2014 AOC in line for Financial Services seat. Politico's Zachary Warmbrodt: \u201cRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is poised to win a seat on the powerful House Financial Services Committee, in what would be a victory for progressives fighting to curb Wall Street\u2019s clout in Washington and inside the Democratic Party itself. The assignment, which lawmakers say they expect her to receive, would pit the 29-year-old New Yorker not only against banks that make up a major local industry but also potentially against business-friendly Democrats who have backed financial deregulation.\u201d\nThat means she could be questioning Powell as soon as next month\nMeanwhile, some House Dems are trying to rein her in.\n\u2014 Stocks, down early, recover for fifth straight day of gains.\n\u201cThe S&P 500 added 11.68 points, or 0.5%, to 2596.64 after falling nearly 1% earlier in the session. While stocks had been moderating their losses as the day wore on, the S&P 500 got a nudge following Mr. Powell\u2019s speech, helping the index notch its longest winning streak since September.\u201d\n\u2014 Powell says no recession in 2019.\n\u201cSeveral prominent economists and investors have said there\u2019s a heightened chance of a recession by 2020. Lawrence Summers, a Harvard University professor and former treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, said this week that he thinks there\u2019s \u201cbetter than a 50/50 chance\u201d of a recession in 2020. Powell stressed the Fed is \u2018watching\u2019\u00a0the situation closely and monitoring potential cracks in the economy.\u201d\nBut he is 'very worried' about U.S. debt.\nPowell also signals more balance sheet selloffs.\n\u201cThe Fed had been holding about $4.5 trillion worth of mostly Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities that it accrued during three rounds of monetary stimulus during and after the financial crisis. Starting in October 2016, the Fed began allowing a fixed cap of proceeds from those bonds to run off each month, with the level now reaching a ceiling of $50 billion.\u201d\n\u2014 Fourth-quarter earnings bring hotly anticipated numbers.\n\u201cOn the whole, the numbers are expected to be solid. Analysts estimate that, when all the results are in for S&P 500 companies, fourth-quarter profits will have risen 15 percent over a year earlier. That would be the fifth-straight period of double-digit profit growth .\u2009.\u2009.\u00a0It doesn\u2019t guarantee investors will be happy.\u201d\nBut gloomy signs right off the bat.\n\u2014 Pelosi slams Mnuchin after classified sanctions briefing. Politico's Martin Matishak: \u201cHouse Democrats excoriated Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday following a classified briefing about the Trump administration\u2019s decision to ease economic sanctions on three companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. \u2018One of the worst classified briefings we\u2019ve received from the Trump administration,\u2019\u00a0House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters. \u2018The secretary barely testified.\u2019 ...\n\u201cHouse Democrats called for the briefing after Treasury announced last month that it would lift sanctions on Rusal, one the world\u2019s largest aluminum producers, as well as En+ Group, the holding company that owns roughly half of Rusal, and EuroSibEnergo, a Russian power company. Deripaska \u2014 an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was one of several associates sanctioned last year over Moscow\u2019s interference in the 2016 presidential election \u2014 has a large stake in all three companies... \u2018We\u2019ll see,\u2019\u00a0Pelosi replied when asked whether she would consider a resolution of disapproval to block the removal of sanctions.\u201d\nTRADE FLY-AROUND:\n\u2014 Top Chinese official to visit Washington this month. WSJ's Lingling Wei: \u201cChina and the U.S. are moving ahead with plans to hold a round of higher-level talks to resolve their continuing trade conflict, with President Xi Jinping\u2019s economic-policy captain scheduled to visit Washington in late January. For now, Vice Premier Liu He is planning to meet with his U.S. counterparts including [Lighthizer] and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for negotiations on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, according to people briefed on the matter. These people caution that the plan could be delayed by the partial U.S. government shutdown.\n\u201cWe\u2019re negotiating and having tremendous success with China,\u201d Trump told reporters on Thursday.\nHuawei's headaches spread\n\u2014 Chamber of Commerce criticizes Trump on trade and shutdown.\nMELTDOWN WATCH:\n\u2014 Ford launches major European shakeup.\nThe move comes amid broader trouble for automakers in Europe.\n\u2014 Mall-based stores suffered this holiday season.\n\u201cThe negative sentiment even weighed on discounters like Target Corp. and Costco Wholesale Corp., which reported strong holiday sales. Those chains, which are less dependent on apparel, and Amazon.com Inc. have been taking market share from department stores.\u201d (Amazon founder and CEO Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.)\n\u2014 A #MeToo reckoning for economists.\n\u201cLeading male economists offered an unprecedented acknowledgment of harassment and discrimination in the field. \u2018Economics certainly has a problem,\u2019 said Ben Bernanke, the former Federal Reserve chairman, who took over as A.E.A. president this year .\u2009.\u2009.\u00a0Janet L. Yellen, who was the first chairwoman of the Fed and will head the A.E.A. next year, said that addressing the issue \u2018should be the highest priority\u2019\u00a0for economists in the years to come.\u201d\n\u2014 BlackRock cuts 500 jobs. WSJ's Dawn Lim and Justin Baer: \u201cBlackRock Inc. is cutting about 500 jobs as the world\u2019s largest money manager looks to simplify parts of its business and focus more on areas such as technology, retirement and alternative investments. The cuts make up roughly 3% of BlackRock\u2019s more than 14,000 workforce and will take place over the coming weeks. BlackRock began laying off staffers Thursday, said a person familiar with the matter. The cuts will happen broadly across the firm; it isn\u2019t clear which areas will be most affected.\u201d\nIt could be just the start.\nCOMING SOON:\n\u2014 From The New Yorker\u2019s Lila Ash:\nHere\u2019s why some people who think they know it all don\u2019t\nIs your food safe to eat? Shutdown forces FDA to sharply reduce food inspections\nFurloughed employees rally against shutdown: \u2018Stop playing politics with our lives\u2019"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "OHDQR5MAEJAYDFUXUETMMFSHKY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "OHDQR5MAEJAYDFUXUETMMFSHKY_0", "title": "Louise Linton is rebranding herself with a Sundance appearance and two upcoming films", "text": "Just in time for all this talk about taxing the rich, Washington\u2019s favorite Marie Antoinette has resurfaced! Louise Linton \u2014 wearer of designer clothing, owner of expensive jewelry and the wife of uber-rich Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin \u2014 was spotted at Sundance Film Festival this week. Linton appears to be trying very hard to put all her controversies behind her. A brief recap of her let-them-eat cake blunders: Her 2016 self-published memoir about her gap year in Zambia was torched for being a classic \u201cWhite-Savior-in-Africa\u201d account; she was savaged for an Instagram post of herself accompanying Mnuchin on a government plane in which she tagged her pricey designer clothing \u2014 and then clapped back at a critical commenter by boasting about how much she and Mnuchin pay in taxes; later, she posed with him, clutching a newly minted sheet of American currency bearing his signature \u2014 an image that immediately sparked memes and comparisons to Bond villains. But enough rehashing! Linton is trying to turn the page and cast herself as a hustling everywoman \u2014 albeit in the business of Hollywood films. Per an interview she gave the Hollywood Reporter, she has a new production company and is working on two movies: One is the never-released rom-com she filmed in 2014, and the other is a \u201cdark comedy called \u2018Me, You, Madness,\u2019 about a young thief, played by Ed Westwick, who discovers he\u2019s robbing the home of a serial killer.\u201d Which sounds . . . interesting? Linton, who wore a pair of Ugg boots (her go-to \u201cI\u2019m relatable!\u201d footwear) and a Dodgers cap around Sundance, is producing, directing and writing the flick. The former actress also recently refocused her Instagram account away from designer-flaunting and onto her philanthropy, she said in the interview. And she brushed off questions about a congressional investigation into her husband\u2019s department lifting sanctions on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, telling THR, \u201cI\u2019m a filmmaker, I\u2019m not a politician.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Just in time for all this talk about taxing the rich, Washington\u2019s favorite Marie Antoinette has resurfaced! Louise Linton \u2014 wearer of designer clothing, owner of expensive jewelry and the wife of uber-rich Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin \u2014 was spotted at Sundance Film Festival this week.\nLinton appears to be trying very hard to put all her controversies behind her. A brief recap of her let-them-eat cake blunders: Her 2016 self-published memoir about her gap year in Zambia was torched for being a classic \u201cWhite-Savior-in-Africa\u201d account; she was savaged for an Instagram post of herself accompanying Mnuchin on a government plane in which she tagged her pricey designer clothing \u2014 and then clapped back at a critical commenter by boasting about how much she and Mnuchin pay in taxes; later, she posed with him, clutching a newly minted sheet of American currency bearing his signature \u2014 an image that immediately sparked memes and comparisons to Bond villains.\nBut enough rehashing! Linton is trying to turn the page and cast herself as a hustling everywoman \u2014 albeit in the business of Hollywood films. Per an interview she gave the Hollywood Reporter, she has a new production company and is working on two movies: One is the never-released rom-com she filmed in 2014, and the other is a \u201cdark comedy called \u2018Me, You, Madness,\u2019 about a young thief, played by Ed Westwick, who discovers he\u2019s robbing the home of a serial killer.\u201d Which sounds .\u2009.\u2009. interesting?\n\nLinton, who wore a pair of Ugg boots (her go-to \u201cI\u2019m relatable!\u201d footwear) and a Dodgers cap around Sundance, is producing, directing and writing the flick.\nThe former actress also recently refocused her Instagram account away from designer-flaunting and onto her philanthropy, she said in the interview. And she brushed off questions about a congressional investigation into her husband\u2019s department lifting sanctions on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, telling THR, \u201cI\u2019m a filmmaker, I\u2019m not a politician.\u201d"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "OKEFX5A3GYI6THV7YX7NDN5AQE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "OKEFX5A3GYI6THV7YX7NDN5AQE_0", "title": "Business recap: The week of Jan. 14", "text": "Retail U.S. shoppers spent Adobe, which collects its data by measuring 80 percent of all online transactions from the top 100 U.S. Web retailers, said the amount was 16.5 percent higher than last year\u2019s total. Mobile platforms made up 51 percent of traffic to retail websites during the November to December period and were responsible for nearly a third of all online spending. Earnings Netflix reported The company added 8.8 million subscribers, slightly higher than the many analyst estimates of about 8 million. Of those subscribers, 7.3 million were international, nearly a million more than many had forecast. Domestic subscriber additions of 1.5 million were in line with estimates. The company\u2019s revenue, however, was slightly below analyst expectations, coming in at $4.19 billion compared to consensus projections of $4.21 billion. Trade A surprising development The news comes less than two weeks before a high-level delegation from Beijing is scheduled to arrive in Washington for talks. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in recent weeks has proposed a tariff reduction as an incentive for China to sweeten its offer to the United States, according to two people familiar with the discussions who were not authorized to speak publicly. Administration hard-liners are opposed to eliminating the tariffs before China has taken irreversible steps to meet U.S. demands. Sanctions In a rebuke The vote of 362 to 53 on Thursday will not prevent the Trump administration from easing sanctions on three companies connected to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch with ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, as Senate Republicans narrowly blocked a similar measure recently . But the House vote does mean that a majority of Republicans on Capitol Hill oppose President Trump\u2019s efforts to soften punitive measures on a Russian oligarch \u2014 a rejection with potential implications for the administration\u2019s continued stance on Russia and for the GOP lawmakers who backed the plan to ease the sanctions."}], "old": [{"_id": "OKEFX5A3GYI6THV7YX7NDN5AQE_0", "title": "Business recap: The week of Jan. 14", "text": "U.S. shoppers spent Netflix reported A surprising development In a rebuke"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Retail\nU.S. shoppers spent\nAdobe, which collects its data by measuring 80 percent of all online transactions from the top 100 U.S. Web retailers, said the amount was 16.5 percent higher than last year\u2019s total.\nMobile platforms made up 51\u2009percent of traffic to retail websites during the November to December period and were responsible for nearly a third of all online spending.\nEarnings\nNetflix reported\nThe company added 8.8 million subscribers, slightly higher than the many analyst estimates of about 8 million. Of those subscribers, 7.3 million were international, nearly a million more than many had forecast. Domestic subscriber additions of 1.5 million were in line with estimates.\nThe company\u2019s revenue, however, was slightly below analyst expectations, coming in at $4.19 billion compared to consensus projections of $4.21 billion.\nTrade\nA surprising development\nThe news comes less than two weeks before a high-level delegation from Beijing is scheduled to arrive in Washington for talks.\nTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in recent weeks has proposed a tariff reduction as an incentive for China to sweeten its offer to the United States, according to two people familiar with the discussions who were not authorized to speak publicly.\nAdministration hard-liners are opposed to eliminating the tariffs before China has taken irreversible steps to meet U.S. demands.\nSanctions\nIn a rebuke\nThe vote of 362 to 53 on Thursday will not prevent the Trump administration from easing sanctions on three companies connected to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch with ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, as Senate Republicans narrowly blocked a similar measure recently\n.\nBut the House vote does mean that a majority of Republicans on Capitol Hill oppose President Trump\u2019s efforts to soften punitive measures on a Russian oligarch \u2014 a rejection with potential implications for the administration\u2019s continued stance on Russia and for the GOP lawmakers who backed the plan to ease the sanctions."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "OKZG4AFZPQI6TM5UFO3J5DCOHE_9", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "OKZG4AFZPQI6TM5UFO3J5DCOHE_9", "title": "How a McConnell-backed effort to lift Russian sanctions boosted a Kentucky project", "text": "months or years away. On the night of his dinner in Zurich, which was first reported by Time magazine, the outcome of the sanctions debate remained uncertain, with some Republicans expressing concerns about the plan. Over the meal, Bouchard said, he told his Rusal counterpart: \u201cLook, I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen with sanctions. . . . I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s a month or 10 years, but if the day comes and sanctions go away, I\u2019d love to meet again.\u201d EN+ declined to comment on the dinner. In April 2018, after the poisoning of a Russian former spy in England, the United States imposed sanctions on some Russian entities, including Deripaska and his companies. \u201cRussian oligarchs and elites who profit from this corrupt system will no longer be insulated from the consequences of their government\u2019s destabilizing activities,\u201d Mnuchin said in a statement. A U.S. diplomatic cable from 2006, published by WikiLeaks, referred to Deripaska \u2014 who founded Rusal and had financial ties to Paul Manafort, the now-jailed former Trump campaign chairman \u2014 as \u201camong the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis.\u201d In announcing the new sanctions, the Treasury Department noted that Deripaska had been investigated for alleged money laundering and accused of \u201cthreatening the lives of business rivals\u201d and having ties to organized crime. The U.S. government has not accused Deripaska of personal involvement in Russia\u2019s interference in the 2016 election. Deripaska sued the U.S. government earlier this year, alleging that the sanctions relied on \u201cfalse rumors and innuendo and originate from decades-old defamatory attacks by Deripaska\u2019s business competitors\u201d and have led to the \u201cutter devastation\u201d of his reputation and economic well-being. He told CNBC in March that he thought the sanctions represented the \u201cweaponizing of the financial system\u201d and that they crushed \u201call concept of presumption of innocence and fair process.\u201d The sanctions caused Rusal\u2019s stock price to plummet and disrupted the international aluminum market, drawing complaints from some U.S. trading partners. In December, Mnuchin said the Trump administration was prepared to lift sanctions imposed on Deripaska\u2019s companies, while keeping sanctions on Deripaska personally, to restore order to the international aluminum market. He said that Deripaska had agreed as part of the deal to reduce his ownership stake in the companies he once controlled. \u201cThese entities are undergoing significant restructuring and governance changes that sever Deripaska\u2019s control and significantly diminish his ownership,\u201d Mnuchin said"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "In January, as the Senate debated whether to permit the Trump administration to lift sanctions on Russia\u2019s largest aluminum producer, two men with millions of dollars riding on the outcome met for dinner at a restaurant in Zurich.\nOn one side of the table sat the head of sales for Rusal, the Russian aluminum producer that would benefit most immediately from a favorable Senate vote. The U.S. government had imposed sanctions on Rusal as part of a campaign to punish Russia for \u201cmalign activity around the globe,\u201d including attempts to sway the 2016 presidential election.\nOn the other side sat Craig Bouchard, an American entrepreneur who had gained favor with officials in Kentucky, the home state of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Bouchard was trying to build the first new aluminum-rolling mill in the United States in nearly four decades, in a corner of northeastern Kentucky ravaged by job losses and the opioid epidemic \u2014 a project that stood to benefit enormously if Rusal were able to get involved.\nThe men did not discuss the Senate debate that night at dinner, Bouchard said in an interview, describing it as an amicable introductory chat.\nBut the timing of their meeting shows how much a major venture in McConnell\u2019s home state had riding on the Democratic-backed effort in January to keep sanctions in place.\nBy the next day, McConnell had successfully blocked the bill, despite the defection of 11 Republicans.\nWithin weeks, the U.S. government had formally lifted sanctions on Rusal, citing a deal with the company that reduced the ownership interest of its Kremlin-linked founder, Oleg Deripaska. And three months later, Rusal announced plans for an extraordinary partnership with Bouchard\u2019s company, providing $200\u00a0million in capital to buy a 40\u00a0percent stake in the new aluminum plant in Ashland, Ky. \u2014 a project Gov. Matt Bevin (R) boasted was \u201cas significant as any economic deal ever made in the history of Kentucky.\u201d\nA spokesman for McConnell said the majority leader did not know that Bouchard had hopes of a deal with Rusal at the time McConnell led the Senate effort to end the sanctions, citing the recommendation of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.\nMcConnell \u201cwas not aware of any potential Russian investor before the vote,\u201d spokesman David Popp said.\nBouchard said no one from his company, Braidy Industries, told anyone in the U.S. government that lifting sanctions could help advance the project. Rusal\u2019s parent company, EN+, said in a statement that the Kentucky project played no role in the company\u2019s vigorous lobbying campaign to persuade U.S. officials to do away with sanctions.\nBut critics said the timing is disturbing.\n\u201cIt is shocking how blatantly transactional this arrangement looks,\u201d said Michael McFaul, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration and now teaches at Stanford University.\nDemocratic senators have called for a government review of the deal, prompting a Rusal executive in Moscow last week to threaten to pull out of the investment.\nThe Rusal-backed project is one of several issues fueling broader scrutiny of McConnell\u2019s posture toward Russia and its efforts to manipulate American voters.\nIn 2016, McConnell privately expressed skepticism about the intelligence reports on Russia\u2019s activities in the election and resisted a push by the Obama administration to issue a bipartisan statement condemning the Kremlin. Last month, he blocked consideration of election security bills that have bipartisan support, despite warnings from the FBI and the intelligence community about the risks of foreign interference in the 2020 election.\nDemocrats have accused McConnell of being unwilling to stand up to Russian President Vladi\u00admir Putin, taunting him with the moniker \u201cMoscow Mitch.\u201d The critique has drawn an angry response from the usually understated majority leader.\n\u201cI was called unpatriotic, \u2018un-American\u2019 and essentially treasonous by a couple of left-wing pundits on the basis of boldfaced lies,\u201d McConnell said late last month. \u201cI was accused of \u2018aiding and abetting\u2019 the very man I\u2019ve singled out as our adversary and opposed for nearly 20\u00a0years: Vladimir Putin.\u201d\nA McConnell aide declined Tuesday to comment on discussions that occurred in a classified setting in 2016 but noted that the senator signed a bipartisan letter that fall requested by the Obama administration that warned state election officials about the risks of cyberattacks and urged them to be especially vigilant as Election Day approached.\nMcConnell has said since then that he supports efforts to improve election security and has budgeted more money for the effort but does not agree with proposals that would give the federal government control over election issues that traditionally have been handled by states.\nThe controversy shows how Russia\u2019s surreptitious 2016 activities, rather than uniting U.S. officials, have left Democrats and Republicans bitterly divided \u2014 and have triggered heated debate about Russian investments in American businesses.\n\u201cYou just can\u2019t be so picky,\u201d said Bouchard, who sold a Midwestern steel company he previously owned to another Russian company. He now says politics shouldn\u2019t get in the way of a good deal for Kentucky: \u201cWhoever is going to help us go in and rebuild this place that\u2019s been decimated, we just welcome it, with open arms.\u201d\nBut in Kentucky, some leaders are questioning the wisdom of partnering with a Russian company recently punished by the U.S. government.\n\u201cRusal is not okay,\u201d said Kelly Flood, a Democratic state legislator from Lexington who said she regrets a 2017 vote to invest $15\u00a0million of state taxpayer money in the project. \u201cIt\u2019s not okay that we\u2019re turning to Deripaska, given the damage he\u2019s done to our democracy. .\u2009.\u2009. Rusal\u2019s reputation is now ours.\u201d\nAn attorney for Deripaska did not respond to a request for comment. He has denied being beholden to the Kremlin.\n\u201cWhile I realize I\u2019ve involuntarily become a lightning rod for the anger some Americans have about the elections result, they need to look elsewhere for a scapegoat,\u201d Deripaska told The Washington Post in February. \u201cI am nobody\u2019s man, in Russia, the U.S. or anywhere else, for that matter.\u201d\nIn Ashland, a city of 22,000 wedged along Kentucky\u2019s border with West Virginia and Ohio, there has been enthusiasm for the Braidy Industries project, a venture the company says will bring as many as 650 new high-paying jobs to a region hit hard by the impending closure of a major steel mill and the decline of coal mining.\nBouchard said the idea for the mill was his brainstorm: a new environmentally friendly, low-cost, nonunion facility rolling sheets of lightweight aluminum that are increasingly in demand to build cars and airplanes.\nHe said he was leaning toward building the mill in Indiana until an hours-long meeting with Bevin in March 2017 persuaded him to give Kentucky a closer look.\nBevin got the state legislature to agree in the waning hours of its 2017 annual session to make a $15\u00a0million equity investment in the Braidy project.\n\u201cThat\u2019s skin in the game, and that means the state is behind you,\u201d Bouchard said.\nFlood said legislators were informed of the governor\u2019s proposal at 9 one night as they raced to meet a midnight deadline. She said they were told only that the appropriation was needed to create jobs in hard-hit Appalachia, and not how the money would be invested. The bill passed unanimously.\nBevin, who in his bid for reelection is blasting Democrats as socialists, has fielded criticism that he steered the government to buy stock in a private company.\n\u201cThis is a handout. This is a giveaway,\u201d said Jim Waters of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, a free-market think tank. He said he understood the desire to create jobs in a hard-hit region; some impact studies show the mill could indirectly result in thousands of new jobs. But, Waters added, \u201cI think the excitement of that overrode some of the due diligence.\u201d\nA spokeswoman for Bevin did not respond to a request for comment. State officials have said the investment will make Kentucky more competitive to attract high-wage, high-tech jobs in the future.\nIn a 2017 radio interview, Bevin said he thought the Braidy project would be \u201ctransformative.\u201d\n\u201cThat\u2019s going to be one of the best investments the state has ever made,\u201d he said.\nEarly on, the Kentucky project apparently caught the attention of Rusal, which is the world\u2019s second-largest aluminum producer.\nA top Rusal executive told Bloomberg News in an interview in June that the project was \u201cdiscussed long before Rusal was sanctioned.\u201d\n\u201cWe just had to put the talks on hold after sanctions,\u201d he added.\nAn EN+ spokeswoman said the early conversations about the Kentucky project were all internal. She declined to comment further.\nBouchard said he was talking to other possible investors for the project from the time the company first announced it would build in Kentucky in 2017. But he insisted they did not include Rusal \u2014 and said that a partnership with the Russian company was not even on his radar when the Treasury Department announced sanctions about a year later, in April 2018.\n\u201cNot even a thought,\u201d he said.\nThe sanctions allowed the government to freeze any Rusal assets in the United States and made it illegal for Americans to do business with the company.\nAt a groundbreaking for the mill a couple of months after the sanctions were announced, Bouchard and other speakers emphasized that the project would produce American-made aluminum sheets.\n\u201cThis is what hope feels like,\u201d Bevin said at the event, according to a video posted online, adding, \u201cWe are Kentucky.\u201d\nBut Bouchard said he encountered an unexpected problem: With aluminum ore in short supply, he was having trouble finding smelters with the capacity to produce enough raw material for his plant. He said he traveled the world, meeting with Rusal\u2019s competitors, but was able to find only 60,000 tons of raw aluminum to purchase. He needed more.\nIn late December, he said, an aluminum industry consultant alerted him to a new low-carbon smelter that Rusal was building in Siberia. Bouchard said he quickly concluded that the Rusal plant, set to open in 2021, could produce the aluminum Braidy needed.\nAt that point, he said, he became convinced that a partnership with Rusal would be a dream deal, providing his company with much-needed capital and access to raw aluminum. But sanctions, he said, stood in the way.\nBouchard said he contacted his attorneys for advice. They were clear: He could talk to Rusal, but he could not legally conduct negotiations with the company while sanctions were in place.\nThat same month, the Treasury Department announced plans to lift sanctions on Rusal. But Congress still had a chance to block the move.\nBouchard said that by the time of his January meeting with the Rusal executive in Zurich, he knew the sanctions could be ending. Still, he said, he thought the final decision could be months or years away.\nOn the night of his dinner in Zurich, which was first reported by Time magazine, the outcome of the sanctions debate remained uncertain, with some Republicans expressing concerns about the plan.\nOver the meal, Bouchard said, he told his Rusal counterpart: \u201cLook, I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen with sanctions. .\u2009.\u2009. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s a month or 10 years, but if the day comes and sanctions go away, I\u2019d love to meet again.\u201d\nEN+ declined to comment on the dinner.\nIn April 2018, after the poisoning of a Russian former spy in England, the United States imposed sanctions on some Russian entities, including Deripaska and his companies. \u201cRussian oligarchs and elites who profit from this corrupt system will no longer be insulated from the consequences of their government\u2019s destabilizing activities,\u201d Mnuchin said in a statement.\nA U.S. diplomatic cable from 2006, published by WikiLeaks, referred to Deripaska \u2014 who founded Rusal and had financial ties to Paul Manafort, the now-jailed former Trump campaign chairman \u2014 as \u201camong the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis.\u201d\nIn announcing the new sanctions, the Treasury Department \nnoted that Deripaska had been investigated for alleged money laundering and accused of \u201cthreatening the lives of business rivals\u201d and having ties to organized crime. The U.S. government has not accused Deripaska of personal involvement in Russia\u2019s interference in the 2016 election.\nDeripaska sued the U.S. government earlier this year, alleging that the sanctions relied on \u201cfalse rumors and innuendo and originate from decades-old defamatory attacks by Deripaska\u2019s business competitors\u201d and have led to the \u201cutter devastation\u201d of his reputation and economic well-being. He told CNBC in March that he thought the sanctions represented the \u201cweaponizing of the financial system\u201d and that they crushed \u201call concept of presumption of innocence and fair process.\u201d\nThe sanctions caused Rusal\u2019s stock price to plummet and disrupted the international aluminum market, drawing complaints from some U.S. trading partners.\nIn December, Mnuchin said the Trump administration was prepared to lift sanctions imposed on Deripaska\u2019s companies, while keeping sanctions on Deripaska personally, to restore order to the international aluminum market.\nHe said that Deripaska had agreed as part of the deal to reduce his ownership stake in the companies he once controlled.\n\u201cThese entities are undergoing significant restructuring and governance changes that sever Deripaska\u2019s control and significantly diminish his ownership,\u201d Mnuchin said in the statement. \u201cIf these companies fail to comply with the terms, they will face very real and swift consequences.\u201d\nMembers of Congress were skeptical.\n\u201cThere are too many open questions about whether Deripaska will still control the companies,\u201d Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in January. \u201cWith the threat that Russia poses to the United States, to our friends and allies, to democracy around the world, Congress cannot just look the other way when the administration rushes a decision like this.\u201d\nWith strong Republican support, the House on Jan.\u00a014 overwhelmingly rejected the administration plan to lift sanctions, 362 to 53.\nBut the effort failed in the Senate, thanks in part to McConnell and strong lobbying efforts.\nThe effort to lift sanctions was led by Lord Gregory Barker, the new British chief executive of EN+, and included Republican ex-senator David Vitter of Louisiana, now a lobbyist at Mercury Public Affairs, according to public lobbying records.\nVitter and Mercury warned that failure to lift Rusal sanctions would \u201copen the Trump administration up to criticism for harming U.S. manufacturers and consumers,\u201d according to lobbying records. Vitter was spotted in McConnell\u2019s office days before the vote.\nMichael Crittenden, a spokesman for Mercury, said the Braidy project \u201ccategorically\u201d did not figure into the company\u2019s sanctions lobbying. He declined to comment on whether anyone at Mercury knew there was a possibility that Rusal might invest in the project if sanctions were lifted, citing a company policy about not commenting on client matters.\nJust before the vote, Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned the Senate that providing sanctions relief \u201cgives Vladimir Putin exactly what he wants\u201d at a time that \u201cRussia continues to run rampant over international norms, to meddle in democratic elections, and to destabilize the world.\u201d\nMcConnell called Schumer\u2019s resolution \u201ca political stunt.\u201d And he rejected claims that he or others in the GOP were soft on Putin.\n\u201cWe Republicans are hardly strangers to the need for strong policies concerning Russia,\u201d McConnell said on the Senate floor. \u201cWe have long seen Vladimir Putin for the KGB thug that he is.\u201d\nAt McConnell\u2019s urging, the measure was defeated on Jan.\u00a016, falling three votes short of the required three-fifths majority needed to overcome a threatened filibuster.\nJoining in opposition was Kentucky\u2019s junior GOP senator, Rand Paul.\nA spokesman for Paul said the senator was unaware of the prospect of a major Rusal investment in Kentucky at the time and said he voted against the measure because he opposes sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea as a matter of principle.\n\u201cWe were not involved, consulted or aware of any investment discussions with any foreign entity\u201d before the sanctions vote, said Kelsey Cooper, Paul\u2019s communications director.\nSimilarly, McConnell said he was not motivated by any Kentucky interests.\n\u201cIt was completely unrelated to anything that might happen in my home state,\u201d McConnell told reporters at the Capitol in May. \u201cA number of us supported the administration. .\u2009.\u2009. And that\u2019s \u2014 that was how I voted \u2014 the reason I vote the way I did.\u201d\nLess than two weeks after that January vote, the Treasury Department announced that it had accepted Rusal\u2019s plans to limit Deripaska\u2019s control over the company and removed sanctions.\nFour weeks later, Rusal executives were in Ashland, touring Braidy\u2019s mill site. By April, the new partnership was announced. As part of the deal, Barker, the British head of Rusal\u2019s holding company, will become co-chairman of Braidy Atlas, the company that will operate the mill.\nBouchard, who said he had watched the Senate sanctions vote live on television, was thrilled.\n\u201cFor me, to this day, this is one of the greatest things that\u2019s ever happened to northeast Kentucky \u2014 Rusal saying yes to our deal,\u201d Bouchard said. \u201cParticularly if you think about Appalachia and what\u2019s happened there \u2014 you know, those people today are jumping up and down and welcoming them, Rusal, because they\u2019re helping rebuild the community.\u201d\nWith sanctions lifted, EN+ is \u201cexploring and acting on strategically expanding our global partnership and opportunities, including in the United States,\u201d the company said in a statement.\nEN+ is \u201cthe only global producer capable\u201d of supplying Braidy with the low-carbon aluminum it had been seeking, and a result, \u201cthe whole project would not have been possible without Rusal\u2019s investment,\u201d the company said.\nDespite the 2018 groundbreaking, Bouchard agreed that getting the mill open would have been difficult without Rusal. \u201cIt would have imposed upon us a real challenge that would have been tough,\u201d he said.\nBraidy is gathering additional investors and hopes to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq. The company plans to begin producing aluminum sheets by September 2021.\nIn Ashland, Braidy has opened a headquarters in a downtown office building, but it has not yet begun building on its site, city officials said.\nAnd some lawmakers are voicing concern about Rusal\u2019s role, including Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), a McConnell ally who has clashed with Bevin and criticized state investment in a project whose prospects he said appear uncertain.\n\u201cI hope we can get some jobs there. But it\u2019s not looking real good for this business,\u201d Comer said in a television interview in April. \u201cI would have not taken the Russian money if I was a start-up.\u201d\nOn Friday, the chief financial officer of Rusal said during an earnings call reported by Bloomberg News that the company could pull out of the project if U.S. officials continue applying pressure on the company.\nThe comment was an apparent reference to recent efforts by Democratic senators, led by Ron Wyden of Oregon, to secure a review of the Kentucky deal from the U.S. government agency charged with examining national security implications of foreign investments.\nBarker issued a statement from London, saying Rusal\u2019s parent company \u201cremains committed\u201d to the project. Bouchard, in a separate statement, accused the media of \u201ctaking an active role in trying to undermine\u201d a project that could create many jobs.\nWyden rejected such complaints, saying he and several Senate colleagues were pushing ahead on a request for a review of the Russian investment.\n\u201cThe national security of the United States is more important than the preferences of a Russian company,\u201d Wyden said Sunday in a statement. \u201cI\u2019m not going to let up because Rusal finds oversight inconvenient.\u201d\ntom.hamburger@washpost.com\nrosalind.helderman@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "OLCNDD4PDVASFBUNFJ5DADFHW4_2", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "OLCNDD4PDVASFBUNFJ5DADFHW4_2", "title": "Europe urges Congress to support lifting U.S. sanctions on Russian firm controlled by Vladimir Putin ally", "text": "easing the sanctions, as Schumer has done in the Senate, Pelosi said: \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d Treasury has said Deripaska will remain under personal sanctions but sanctions against the three companies could be lifted because the businessman had agreed to reduce his ownership below 50 percent. Mnuchin disputed Pelosi\u2019s description of the briefing, saying he was \u201csomewhat surprised to see the speaker\u2019s comment...We gave them close to an hour and a half and answered all their questions.\u201d In an emailed statement before the briefing, Mnuchin said the sanctions had met their goal. \u201cOne of the goals of sanctions is to change behavior, and the proposed delistings of companies that Deripaska will no longer control show that sanctions can result in positive change,\u201d Mnuchin said. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Tex.), however, said he still has questions about whether Deripaska is really ceding control. \u201cI think there\u2019s a real question about whether he\u2019s effectively divested his stake, and we need more facts about that,\u201d Doggett said after the briefing. Washington\u2019s sanctions on Rusal and two other Deripaska-controlled firms, enacted last year, clobbered the oligarch financially, sinking the market value of his publicly traded companies. They also caused havoc far beyond Russia. Global aluminum prices spiked, battering U.S. and European companies and prompting complaints from European allies. European governments began warning the State Department last summer that the sanctions were hurting European factories. A holding company connected to Deripaska and Rusal lobbied the Trump administration heavily to lift the sanctions. The chairman of the company hired Mercury Public Affairs and former U.S. senator David Vitter to call on the State Department and other officials. The Treasury Department informed Congress on Dec. 19 that it intended to lift the sanctions on Rusal and the other two firms in 30 days because the companies had agreed to reduce Deripaska\u2019s ownership stake below 50 percent. The letter suggested Treasury wanted to lift the sanctions in part because of the havoc they caused in metals markets. The letter noted that aluminum prices soared and that \u201cRusal subsidiaries in the United States, Ireland, Sweden, Jamaica, Guinea and elsewhere faced imminent closure.\u201d Deripaska will not receive any cash as a result of the transactions necessary to reduce his ownership of Rusal or the other companies, Treasury said in the letter. And any future dividends he is entitled to from his reduced ownership stake will be placed into a blocked account, it said."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The European Union is pushing Congress to support Treasury Department plans to lift sanctions on a Russian aluminum company controlled by a Vladimir Putin ally, saying the sanctions have harmed European factories.\nAluminum plants \u201cin Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have faced increased prices and significant challenges in maintaining their daily operations\u201d since the U.S. imposed sanctions last year on companies controlled by Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska, said a Jan. 4 letter signed by ambassadors from the E.U. and the named countries.\nThe E.U. published the letter, sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, on Friday, a day after House Democrats expressed concern about Treasury\u2019s plans to lift the sanctions on Rusal and two additional companies controlled by Deripaska.\nOn Thursday House Democrats said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin failed to convince them in a closed briefing that the United States should lift the sanctions, calling for more information and a delay.\n\u201cThis, with stiff competition, mind you, was one of the worst classified briefings we\u2019ve received from the Trump administration,\u201d House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said after the briefing. \u201cThe secretary barely testified. He answered some questions, but he didn\u2019t give testimony.\u201d\nAsked whether House Democrats were considering introducing a resolution of disapproval to try to stop Treasury from easing the sanctions, as Schumer has done in the Senate, Pelosi said: \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d\nTreasury has said Deripaska will remain under personal sanctions but sanctions against the three companies could be lifted because the businessman had agreed to reduce his ownership below 50 percent.\nMnuchin disputed Pelosi\u2019s description of the briefing, saying he was \u201csomewhat surprised to see the speaker\u2019s comment...We gave them close to an hour and a half and answered all their questions.\u201d\nIn an emailed statement before the briefing, Mnuchin said the sanctions had met their goal. \u201cOne of the goals of sanctions is to change behavior, and the proposed delistings of companies that Deripaska will no longer control show that sanctions can result in positive change,\u201d Mnuchin said.\nRep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Tex.), however, said he still has questions about whether Deripaska is really ceding control.\n\u201cI think there\u2019s a real question about whether he\u2019s effectively divested his stake, and we need more facts about that,\u201d Doggett said after the briefing.\nWashington\u2019s sanctions on Rusal and two other Deripaska-controlled firms, enacted last year, clobbered the oligarch financially, sinking the market value of his publicly traded companies. They also caused havoc far beyond Russia. Global aluminum prices spiked, battering U.S. and European companies and prompting complaints from European allies.\nEuropean governments began warning the State Department last summer that the sanctions were hurting European factories.\nA holding company connected to Deripaska and Rusal lobbied the Trump administration heavily to lift the sanctions. The chairman of the company hired Mercury Public Affairs and former U.S. senator David Vitter to call on the State Department and other officials.\nThe Treasury Department informed Congress on Dec. 19 that it intended to lift the sanctions on Rusal and the other two firms in 30 days because the companies had agreed to reduce Deripaska\u2019s ownership stake below 50 percent.\nThe letter suggested Treasury wanted to lift the sanctions in part because of the havoc they caused in metals markets. The letter noted that aluminum prices soared and that \u201cRusal subsidiaries in the United States, Ireland, Sweden, Jamaica, Guinea and elsewhere faced imminent closure.\u201d\nDeripaska will not receive any cash as a result of the transactions necessary to reduce his ownership of Rusal or the other companies, Treasury said in the letter. And any future dividends he is entitled to from his reduced ownership stake will be placed into a blocked account, it said."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "QAUFMQQTRYI6TNVNTT6WFW5QVA_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "QAUFMQQTRYI6TNVNTT6WFW5QVA_0", "title": "House Democrats demand Treasury explain rollback of sanctions on Russia oligarch", "text": "The Democratic leaders of seven House panels are demanding Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin delay implementing a planned easing of sanctions on businesses tied to a prominent Russian oligarch until the Treasury Department briefs committee members on the matter. The committee chairs told Mnuchin they want the briefing to take place before Friday, as they are working against the clock if they want to stop the administration from acting on its mid-December announcement that it would roll back sanctions. \u201cThere are a number of additional questions that we and other Members of Congress must pursue to fully assess whether the U.S. agreement and the sanctions terminations are justified,\u201d the panel chairs wrote, complaining that the administration had intentionally announced the change in policy right before a holiday and a government shutdown, making it difficult for members to exercise their right to challenge the decision. The Democratic leaders expressed particular alarm about the proposed easement of sanctions because of the oligarch who would benefit from the change: Oleg Deripaska, who has ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and \u201cwho has abetted the Putin Regime\u2019s malign activity against the United States,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. They asked for the Treasury Department to engage in \u201ca full discussion of all aspects of the agreement\u201d the administration reached with Derispaska, \u201cthe sanctions termination, and the impact that these decisions would have on the U.S. effort to end Russia\u2019s malign activities aimed at our country.\u201d In 2017, Congress gave itself the authority to prevent the president from reducing any Russia-related sanctions, but only if lawmakers voted to do so within a 30-day window of the administration announcing its intentions. The Trump administration announced it would lift the sanctions on the businesses in question on Dec. 19. karoun.demirjian@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "QAUFMQQTRYI6TNVNTT6WFW5QVA_0", "title": "House Democrats demand Treasury explain rollback of sanctions on Russia oligarch", "text": "karoun.demirjian@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Democratic leaders of seven House panels are demanding Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin delay implementing a planned easing of sanctions on businesses tied to a prominent Russian oligarch until the Treasury Department briefs committee members on the matter.\nThe committee chairs told Mnuchin they want the briefing to take place before Friday, as they are working against the clock if they want to stop the administration from acting on its mid-December announcement that it would roll back sanctions.\n\u201cThere are a number of additional questions that we and other Members of Congress must pursue to fully assess whether the U.S. agreement and the sanctions terminations are justified,\u201d the panel chairs wrote, complaining that the administration had intentionally announced the change in policy right before a holiday and a government shutdown, making it difficult for members to exercise their right to challenge the decision.\nThe Democratic leaders expressed particular alarm about the proposed easement of sanctions because of the oligarch who would benefit from the change: Oleg Deripaska, who has ties to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and \u201cwho has abetted the Putin Regime\u2019s malign activity against the United States,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\nThey asked for the Treasury Department to engage in \u201ca full discussion of all aspects of the agreement\u201d the administration reached with Derispaska, \u201cthe sanctions termination, and the impact that these decisions would have on the U.S. effort to end Russia\u2019s malign activities aimed at our country.\u201d\nIn 2017, Congress gave itself the authority to prevent the president from reducing any Russia-related sanctions, but only if lawmakers voted to do so within a 30-day window of the administration announcing its intentions. The Trump administration announced it would lift the sanctions on the businesses in question on Dec.\u00a019.\nkaroun.demirjian@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "QMFRDC7UGZH6LNC5XRPLC2O2KI_3", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "QMFRDC7UGZH6LNC5XRPLC2O2KI_3", "title": "The Finance 202: Farmers stick with Trump despite shutdown and trade war. For now.", "text": "at the White House during which he lashed out at critics large and small on Twitter and faced deeper scrutiny of his relationship with Russian leaders.\u201d Poll: Trump's losing. TSA staff spread thin \u201cHouston\u2019s George Bush Intercontinental Airport said it didn\u2019t have enough TSA staff to work all checkpoints and said its Terminal B screening point would remain closed Monday after shutting down Sunday. Meanwhile Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world\u2019s busiest airport by passenger traffic, reported delays of more than an hour at checkpoints early Monday... The TSA\u2019s unplanned absence rate hovered at around 5% the week leading up to Friday, when the agency\u2019s workers missed their first paycheck. On Monday, the rate was 7.6%, up from 3.2% on the same day a year ago.\u201d \u2014 Senate GOP struggles with Russian sanctions vote. CNN's Donna Borak, Ted Barrett and Jeremy Herb: \u201cSenate Republican leaders are facing serious concerns from rank-and-file members about a Democratic bill that would reverse the Trump administration\u2019s plan to ease sanctions on three companies with ties to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a close Kremlin ally. A key vote on the measure, which Minority Leader Chuck Schumer can force under the 2017 Russia sanctions law, is expected at some point Tuesday, and will give Democrats another chance to blast Republicans over [Trump\u2019s] relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2026 \u201cThe growing concerns about potential Republican defections come amid a new wave of questions about Trump\u2019s relationship with Putin in the wake of a bombshell New York Times report that the FBI in 2017 decided to investigate why Trump took actions that seemed to benefit Russia.\u201d \u2014 Stocks fall for just the third time in January For investors, cash is king. Don't fear a recession, Morgan Stanley says. \u201cTo play these next moves, Wilson and the strategists warn investors that the S&P should hit resistance and they should lighten up if it gets to 2,600 to 2,650. But once the market responds to the worsening earnings picture and returns to recent lows in the 2,400 area, investors should jump back in and buy cyclical names.\u201d \u2014 Yellen warns of a slowdown. More Yellen: Fed may be done hiking \u2014 May's Brexit deal faces certain defeat. Bloomberg's Thomas Penny and Robert Hutton: \u201cPrime Minister Theresa May is set to see her Brexit deal rejected in the biggest Parliamentary defeat for a British government in 95 years after her last"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "THE TICKER\nFarmers have remained among the most stalwart of President Trump\u2019s supporters. They helped him oust three red-state Senate Democrats in the midterms, defying November\u2019s blue tide even as they bore the brunt of his trade war.\nNow, with the government shutdown compounding farmers\u2019 pain, Trump on Monday made a special appeal to them to stick with him. The pitch \u2014\u00a0in an address to the American Farm Bureau Federation\u2019s annual convention in New Orleans \u2014 reflects the president\u2019s gamble that his base won\u2019t waver as his confrontations with trading partners abroad and Democrats on Capitol Hill drag on.\nAnecdotal evidence suggests he may be\u00a0right. Sentiment in the crowd appeared to run in the president's favor. Among those in attendance:\n\u2014 Steven McLeod, a livestock and small grain farmer from Kansas, tells my colleagues Annie Gowen and David Nakamura he\u2019s \u201ccautiously optimistic\u201d Trump will conclude his trade offensive soon with a net win for farmers whose crops have been\u00a0the target of retaliatory tariffs.\n\u2014 Bob Schwenke, a Kentucky corn and soybean grower, struck a similar note, reasoning the short-term disruption of the trade war is worth it, because \u201ca better trade deal will benefit the next generation to come.\u201d\n\u2014 Richard Musel, another corn and soybean farmer in the crowd, told the AP\u2019s Jonathan Lemire that his business is \u201cmarginal\u201d but he stands with Trump in the trade fight and blames Democrats for not funding the border wall.\n\u2014 North Carolina farmers Lemuel and Shelby Ricks have endured a double whammy: They need relief from low commodity prices but can\u2019t apply for Trump\u2019s farm bailout because of the shutdown. They\u2019re sticking with Trump anyway and plan to vote for him in 2020. \u201cWe\u2019re not giving up on him now,\u201d Shelby told Lemire.\nIn his speech, Trump\u00a0leaned into his demand for border wall funding and an aggressive immigration crackdown. He also nodded toward the agriculture sector\u2019s reliance on migrant labor by asserting he wants legal changes that \u201cactually make it easier\u201d to hire immigrants as temporary workers. And he said his administration is doing \u201ceverything in its power\u201d to defray the effects of the shutdown on farmers.\nBut farmers are suffering now. The trade wars have crushed prices for their goods to the tune of billions of dollars. And the shutdown is pushing some to a breaking point\nTrump signed an $876 billion farm bill into law last month that provides billions of dollars in aid to farmers. But shuttered Agriculture Department offices can\u2019t implement programs\u00a0included to protect farmers from price swings and other services.\nThe damage is a direct result of Trump policies. China and Europe designed levies they imposed on American exports in response to Trump\u2019s tariffs to target farm states, a bid to hit the president in his base\nYet there\u2019s little evidence so far that Republican senators in those states are feeling pressure from their voters to try to force an end to the shutdown.\n\u201cIn general, rural and ag state voters have stuck with the president even when his policies caused them short-term pain,\u201d\n\u2014 Paralysis grips Washington. The Post's Bob Costa, Sean Sullivan and Erica Werner: \u201cTrump\u2019s dismissals of his own party\u2019s calls for compromise and his seeming indifference to shuttered federal agencies left the snowbound capital paralyzed Monday, with lawmakers in both parties scrambling to jump-start talks but increasingly uncertain about Trump\u2019s interest in ending the longest government shutdown in history...\n\u201cTrump\u2019s unyielding stance and lack of an evident plan to broker an end to the 24-day impasse comes at a fragile moment for his presidency, following a weekend at the White House during which he lashed out at critics large and small on Twitter and faced deeper scrutiny of his relationship with Russian leaders.\u201d\nPoll: Trump's losing.\nTSA staff spread thin\n\u201cHouston\u2019s George Bush Intercontinental Airport said it didn\u2019t have enough TSA staff to work all checkpoints and said its Terminal B screening point would remain closed Monday after shutting down Sunday. Meanwhile Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world\u2019s busiest airport by passenger traffic, reported delays of more than an hour at checkpoints early Monday... The TSA\u2019s unplanned absence rate hovered at around 5% the week leading up to Friday, when the agency\u2019s workers missed their first paycheck. On Monday, the rate was 7.6%, up from 3.2% on the same day a year ago.\u201d\n\u2014 Senate GOP struggles with Russian sanctions vote. CNN's Donna Borak, Ted Barrett and Jeremy Herb: \u201cSenate Republican leaders are facing serious concerns from rank-and-file members about a Democratic bill that would reverse the Trump administration\u2019s plan to ease sanctions on three companies with ties to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a close Kremlin ally. A key vote on the measure, which Minority Leader Chuck Schumer can force under the 2017 Russia sanctions law, is expected at some point Tuesday, and will give Democrats another chance to blast Republicans over [Trump\u2019s] relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2026\n\u201cThe growing concerns about potential Republican defections come amid a new wave of questions about Trump\u2019s relationship with Putin in the wake of a bombshell New York Times report that the FBI in 2017 decided to investigate why Trump took actions that seemed to benefit Russia.\u201d\n\u2014 Stocks fall for just the third time in January\nFor investors, cash is king.\nDon't fear a recession, Morgan Stanley says.\n\u201cTo play these next moves, Wilson and the strategists warn investors that the S&P should hit resistance and they should lighten up if it gets to 2,600 to 2,650. But once the market responds to the worsening earnings picture and returns to recent lows in the 2,400 area, investors should jump back in and buy cyclical names.\u201d\n\u2014 Yellen warns of a slowdown.\nMore Yellen: Fed may be done hiking\n\u2014 May's Brexit deal faces certain defeat. Bloomberg's Thomas Penny and Robert Hutton: \u201cPrime Minister Theresa May is set to see her Brexit deal rejected in the biggest Parliamentary defeat for a British government in 95 years after her last minute pleas for support appeared to fall on deaf ears. The battle now is over not whether May loses, but how badly\u2026 A defeat by more than 220 votes could see sterling fall to $1.225, according to Neil Jones, head of hedge-fund currency sales at Mizuho Bank. Meanwhile, a margin of less than 60 would leave some room for hope, several EU officials said last week, and the bloc may look at fresh ways of making the agreement more palatable to get it across the line.\u201d\n\u2014 DOJ moves to restrict online gambling. The Post's\u00a0Tom Hamburger, Matt Zapotosky and Josh Dawsey: \u201cThe Justice Department late Monday issued a legal opinion that could further restrict online gambling even as some states have been moving to embrace it \u2014 a restriction long sought by GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, who controls one of the world\u2019s largest casino empires.\u00a0The opinion\u00a0from the Justice Department\u2019s Office of Legal Counsel, which will probably be tested in the courts, reversed an Obama-era opinion that declared that the Wire Act applied only to sports gambling.\u201d\nTRADE FLY-AROUND:\n\u2014 China's trade slump means the pressure is on.\n\u201cAt the same time, China\u2019s overall trade surplus with the U.S. hit a record in 2018, underscoring the political imperative to cut a deal ahead of a March 1 deadline after which [Trump] has threatened to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods. The numbers show how the world\u2019s biggest trading nation is being hit by a confluence of slowing global growth and by uncertainty linked to the trade war factors that are expected to linger in the near term, at least.\u201d\nChina ramps up economic support.\nAnd asks state firms to avoid travel to the U.S.\n\u2014 Trump predicts a deal.\nU.S. trade rep, affected by shutdown, will continue with negotiations.\nMELTDOWN WATCH:\n\u2014 Ivanka to help lead World Bank prez search. WSJ's Josh Zumbrun and Alex Leary: \u201cIvanka Trump, [Trump\u2019s] daughter and senior White House adviser, will help Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney lead the process of selecting the next World Bank president. Ms. Trump isn\u2019t a candidate for the position but will \u2018help manage the U.S. nomination process as she\u2019s worked closely with the World Bank\u2019s leadership for the past two years,\u2019\u00a0according a White House representative. The selection is shaping up as a test of the Trump administration\u2019s international clout. The World Bank president\u00a0has always been an American, but this outcome isn\u2019t guaranteed. The\u00a0abrupt resignation of the bank\u2019s\u00a0president Jim Yong Kim has created an opportunity for countries seeking a non-American to lead the World Bank.\u201d\nAEI\u2019s Jim Pethokoukis asks the key question:\n\u2014 PG&E faces collapse.\n\u201cIt was among at least 17 major wildfires that year that California investigators have tied to PG&E. Data from the state firefighting agency, Cal Fire, show the fires together scorched 193,743 acres in eight counties, destroyed 3,256 structures and killed 22 people. California\u2019s largest utility, with a history of safety and maintenance problems, has been scrambling for five years to reduce fire risks. It has been overwhelmed by the threat\u2019s severity and the challenge of shoring up thousands of miles of aging power lines and cutting and trimming millions of trees in a service area larger than Florida .\u2009.\u2009.\u00a0Sunday evening, PG&E announced that Chief Executive Geisha Williams was stepping down and that John Simon, the company\u2019s general counsel, would serve as interim CEO until a replacement is found. On Monday, the company said it plans to file for bankruptcy protection by the end of the month.\u201d\n\u2014 Notorious hedge fund takes aim at Gannett.\n\u2014 Supreme Court rejects CFPB challenge. Reuters's Lawrence Hurley: \u201cThe U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away a Texas bank\u2019s constitutional challenge to the structure of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, passing up a case that could have led to more presidential power over an independent agency that [Trump\u2019s] administration already has weakened.\u00a0The decision by the justices not to hear an appeal by State National Bank of Big Spring may not be the final word on the matter as three other cases involving the CFPB are heading toward the high court.\nCOMING SOON:\n\u2014 From The New Yorker\u2019s\u00a0Ivan Ehlers:\nOpinion | No, collusion is not a crime. But conspiracy is.\nHow do snowflakes form?\n8 unforgettable Super Bowl halftime show moments"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "R2PQTLHWJMI6PPVWZDKIQMGFJU_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "R2PQTLHWJMI6PPVWZDKIQMGFJU_0", "title": "Russian tycoon sues former Trump campaign manager Manafort", "text": "The billionaire Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska filed suit in New York State Court Wednesday against President Trump's former campaign manager Paul J. Manafort and his partner Rick Gates, claiming the two had defrauded him of $18.9 million. The case was filed by Surf Horizon, a firm controlled by Deripaska. It alleged that Manafort and Gates had used as \"their personal piggy banks\" a web of partnerships financed with funds invested by Deripaska in 2007 and 2008. The lawsuit refers often to the indictment brought against Manafort and Gates by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. The lawsuit said that \"the dealings of Manafort and Gates with Surf mirror the pattern of corporate dealings alleged in the Indictment\" and that the special counsel's case \"provided further support\" for the allegations. Deripaska also says that bank records obtained May 2017 in a Cyprus lawsuit showed that Manafort and Gates moved funds in and out of accounts \"without any apparent business reason, but ultimately making payments of millions of dollars to them individually or to their personal vendors or creditors.\" Surf Horizon also alleges that Manafort and Gates gave false testimony in the Cyprus case. The lawsuit asks for legal fees, $1.1 million in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages. A similar case was filed in the Cayman Islands in 2014. \"We are surprised by this filing,\" said Jason Maloni, president of public relations firm JadeRoq and a spokesman for Manafort. \"This is a commercial matter which we thought had been addressed and resolved years ago. We will respond, if we must do so, in the appropriate manner.\" Gates could not be reached for comment. Manafort and Gates in 2006 had wooed Deripaska to invest in a $200 million fund to make private equity deals, primarily in Russia and Ukraine. Manafort and Gates formed a Cayman Islands partnership called Pericles Emerging Market Partners. Deripaska knew Gates, who had helped arrange meetings for him with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). He invested $18.9 million through Surf Horizon and paid $7.35 million in management fees. However, the lawsuit says, there were no other investors and the fund's sole investment was a Ukrainian cable TV station called Black Sea Cable. It adds that Manafort and Gates overstated the cost of the station. The suit says that Manafort and Gates \"had siphoned for themselves millions of dollars.\" During the 2008 credit crunch, Deripaska had asked for"}], "old": [{"_id": "R2PQTLHWJMI6PPVWZDKIQMGFJU_0", "title": "Russian tycoon sues former Trump campaign manager Manafort", "text": "steven.mufson@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The billionaire Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska filed suit in New York State Court Wednesday against President Trump's former campaign manager Paul J. Manafort and his partner Rick Gates, claiming the two had defrauded him of $18.9 million.\nThe case was filed by Surf Horizon, a firm controlled by Deripaska. It alleged that Manafort and Gates had used as \"their personal piggy banks\" a web of partnerships financed with funds invested by Deripaska in 2007 and 2008.\nThe lawsuit refers often to the indictment brought against Manafort and Gates by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. The lawsuit said that \"the dealings of Manafort and Gates with Surf mirror the pattern of corporate dealings alleged in the Indictment\" and that the special counsel's case \"provided further support\" for the allegations.\nDeripaska also says that bank records obtained May 2017 in a Cyprus lawsuit showed that Manafort and Gates moved funds in and out of accounts \"without any apparent business reason, but ultimately making payments of millions of dollars to them individually or to their personal vendors or creditors.\"\nSurf Horizon also alleges that Manafort and Gates gave false testimony in the Cyprus case.\nThe lawsuit asks for legal fees, $1.1 million in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages.\nA similar case was filed in the Cayman Islands in 2014.\n\"We are surprised by this filing,\" said Jason Maloni, president of public relations firm JadeRoq and a spokesman for Manafort. \"This is a commercial matter which we thought had been addressed and resolved years ago. We will respond, if we must do so, in the appropriate manner.\"\nGates could not be reached for comment.\nManafort and Gates in 2006 had wooed Deripaska to invest in a $200 million fund to make private equity deals, primarily in Russia and Ukraine. Manafort and Gates formed a Cayman Islands partnership called Pericles Emerging Market Partners. Deripaska knew Gates, who had helped arrange meetings for him with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). He invested $18.9 million through Surf Horizon and paid $7.35 million in management fees.\nHowever, the lawsuit says, there were no other investors and the fund's sole investment was a Ukrainian cable TV station called Black Sea Cable. It adds that Manafort and Gates overstated the cost of the station. The suit says that Manafort and Gates \"had siphoned for themselves millions of dollars.\"\nDuring the 2008 credit crunch, Deripaska had asked for his money back but never received any of it.\nThe suit adds that Manafort and Gates \"grossly\" mismanaged the investment, \"resulting in a total loss of the amount invested.\"\nSurf Horizon said that it wasn't until one of its affiliates, Adoptol, filed a proceeding in Cyprus that it obtained the partnership records it sought from Manafort and Gates. Those records, it said, \"provided proof for the first time that Manafort and Gates had defrauded Surf.\"\nsteven.mufson@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "S7PSPARZRYI6RNL4SRC4YTP2LY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "S7PSPARZRYI6RNL4SRC4YTP2LY_0", "title": "U.S. sanctions ensnare Russians with ties to Trump world", "text": "The Trump administration imposed new economic sanctions on Russian politicians, tycoons and businesses Friday in its most aggressive response to recurring \u00adcyber offensives and Moscow\u2019s attempts to undermine Western democracies. The measures take aim not only at Russians directly connected to the Kremlin but also several with links to President Trump\u2019s campaign or his associates who have been scrutinized in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III\u2019s investigation. The sanctions continue the Trump administration\u2019s trend of taking increasingly bold moves against Russia under pressure from Congress even as Trump holds out the possibility of warmer relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. \u201cThe Russian government operates for the disproportionate benefit of oligarchs and government elites,\u201d Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. \u201cRussian oligarchs and elites who profit from this corrupt system will no longer be insulated from the consequences of their government\u2019s destabilizing activities.\u201d Russia\u2019s Foreign Ministry vowed a \u201charsh response\u201d and said the measures would be as ineffective as previous rounds of sanctions. The list includes 17 Russian government officials, a state-owned weapons trading company and seven oligarchs. Several of the individuals have close ties to Putin, including the son of a childhood friend of the Russian president, and an energy executive who vacationed in a dacha near the Putin family and married his daughter. Some of the oligarchs, such as natural resources magnates Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, made their fortunes in the 1990s and have looser connections to Putin. Others got rich running some of Russia\u2019s biggest state-controlled energy and financial firms, including the energy giant Gazprom and the state-controlled bank VTB. But what sets Deripaska and Vekselberg apart from the many other Russian tycoons who did not make the list is their connections to the Trump world. Deripaska, for example, was once a business partner of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who is facing money-laundering charges. A top executive at a U.S. company affiliated with Vekselberg donated to the Trump inauguration fund, and Vekselberg attended the inauguration. Other people whose names have surfaced in connection with the Russia investigation also ended up on the Treasury\u2019s list. Konstantin Kosachev, a Russian lawmaker who led soft-power initiatives for the government and surfaced in a now-famous dossier alleging the Trump campaign coordinated with the Kremlin during the 2016 election, was sanctioned Friday. So was Alexander Torshin, a little-known deputy central bank governor who rose to public interest in"}], "old": [{"_id": "S7PSPARZRYI6RNL4SRC4YTP2LY_0", "title": "U.S. sanctions ensnare Russians with ties to Trump world", "text": "john.hudson@washpost.com paul.sonne@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Trump administration imposed new economic sanctions on Russian politicians, tycoons and businesses  Friday in its most aggressive response to recurring \u00adcyber offensives and Moscow\u2019s attempts to undermine Western democracies.\nThe measures take aim not only at Russians directly connected to the Kremlin but also several with links to President Trump\u2019s campaign or his associates who have been scrutinized in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III\u2019s investigation.\nThe sanctions continue the Trump administration\u2019s trend of taking increasingly bold moves against Russia under pressure from Congress even as Trump holds out the possibility of warmer relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.\n\u201cThe Russian government operates for the disproportionate benefit of oligarchs and government elites,\u201d Treasury Secretary Steven  Mnuchin said in a statement. \u201cRussian oligarchs and elites who profit from this corrupt system will no longer be insulated from the consequences of their government\u2019s destabilizing activities.\u201d\nRussia\u2019s Foreign Ministry vowed a \u201charsh response\u201d and said the measures would be  as ineffective as previous rounds of sanctions.\nThe list includes 17 Russian government officials, a state-owned weapons trading company and seven oligarchs. Several of the individuals have close ties to Putin, including the son of  a childhood friend of the Russian president, and an energy executive who vacationed in a dacha near the Putin family and married his daughter.\nSome of the oligarchs, such as natural resources magnates Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, made their fortunes in the 1990s and have looser connections to Putin. Others got rich running some of Russia\u2019s biggest state-controlled energy and financial firms, including the energy giant Gazprom and the state-controlled bank VTB.\nBut what sets Deripaska and Vekselberg apart from the many other Russian tycoons who did not make the list is their connections to the Trump world.\nDeripaska, for example, was once a business partner of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who is facing money-laundering charges. A top executive at a U.S. company affiliated with Vekselberg donated to the Trump inauguration fund, and Vekselberg attended the inauguration.\nOther people whose names have surfaced in connection with the Russia investigation also ended up on the Treasury\u2019s list. Konstantin Kosachev, a Russian lawmaker who led soft-power initiatives for the government and surfaced in a now-famous dossier alleging the Trump campaign coordinated with the Kremlin during the 2016\u00a0election, was sanctioned  Friday. So was Alexander Torshin, a little-known deputy central bank governor who rose to public interest in the United States only after his efforts to promote gun rights in the United States landed him at a table with Donald Trump Jr. during a 2016 National Rifle Association conference.\nThe list of targets also includes Igor Rotenberg, the son of a Russian tycoon who grew up taking martial arts classes with Putin, and Kirill Shamalov, who also grew up in a family close to the Putins and who the Treasury said married Putin\u2019s daughter in 2013.\nThe action also sanctioned top national security officials, including Nikolai Patrushev, a former KGB officer and longtime secretary of the Security Council of Russia, and  Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Russia\u2019s interior minister.\nThe sanctions freeze any assets the individuals or entities named hold in the United States and prohibit U.S. citizens from conducting business with them \u2014 even if they work for international companies outside the United States. The Treasury Department said it would issue guidance to Americans on how to unwind from any business interests they have with them in a way to avoid being punished for violating sanctions.\nThe real power of sanctions is they discourage international financial institutions, which typically conduct business at least partially in U.S. dollars, from doing business with them. The administration explicitly warned that non-Americans may face sanctions themselves for facilitating significant transactions with the people and companies named.\nSenior administration officials on Friday stressed that the sanctions were not aimed at the Russian people. Instead, they were meant to cripple the finances of those elites who have \u201cdisproportionately benefited from the bad decisions made by the Kremlin on their behalf,\u201d one of the officials said.\nThe officials declined to elaborate on why Putin was not directly targeted, but said several people in the Russian leader\u2019s inner circle were being sanctioned.\n\u201cI think it\u2019s important to see in today\u2019s action a message. And that message is that actions have consequences,\u201d said another senior administration official, who spoke to reporters only on the condition of anonymity. \u201cToday\u2019s announcements are the result of a decision that the Russian government has made and continues to make in choosing a path of confrontation.\u201d\nRussia accused Washington of futile scaremongering that has included denying visas and seizing property and financial shares. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the United States had forgotten that the seizure of property and foreign money amounts to \u201cplunder.\u201d\nIn recent weeks, Trump\u2019s top advisers have pushed for tougher actions against the Kremlin after the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain, interference in the 2016\u00a0U.S. election and a cyberattack against Ukraine and other countries last year that was described as the most costly in history.\nThe sanctions won quick support from Congress, which has pushed for tough moves against Putin\u2019s inner circle since last year, when it passed legislation requiring the Treasury Department to publish a list of Russian oligarchs. Trump signed the legislation after it passed with a veto-proof majority, even as he called it a seriously flawed and unconstitutional bill.\n\u201cThese new sanctions send a clear message to Vladimir Putin that the illegal occupation of Ukraine, support for the Assad regime\u2019s war crimes, efforts to undermine Western democracies and malicious cyberattacks will continue to result in severe consequences for him and those who empower him,\u201d said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).\nThe Kremlin has expressed increasing exasperation with  policies under the Trump administration despite hopes that the president would take a softer approach toward Moscow. Last week, the United States expelled 60\u00a0Russian spies and diplomats in response to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy, and his daughter. It was the largest expulsion of Russians in U.S. history. Russia, in turn, expelled 60\u00a0U.S. officials.\nRussian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, meanwhile, tweeted that he is \u201clooking at the new US sanctions list of Russian officials and oligarchs and thinking back of the day when they had champagne celebrating Trump\u2019s victory. I am laughing.\u201d\njohn.hudson@washpost.com\npaul.sonne@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "VJXJJIHAMNHYBPLIWZ7XT5FRK4_2", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "VJXJJIHAMNHYBPLIWZ7XT5FRK4_2", "title": "The Daily 202: Trump hands the Russians more victories with Syria withdrawal, sanctions relief and Ukraine inaction", "text": "year, told Louisa. \u201cIt has real-life consequences. We\u2019re dying for this.\u201d -- Syria isn\u2019t the only reason the Kremlin is celebrating. \u201cThe Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it intends to lift sanctions against the business empire of Oleg V. Deripaska, one of Russia\u2019s most influential oligarchs, after an aggressive lobbying campaign by Mr. Deripaska\u2019s companies,\u201d the New York Times\u2019s Ken Vogel reports. \u201cThe decision by the Treasury Department, which had been postponed for months, was both politically and economically sensitive \u2026 Mr. Deripaska and his businesses \u2014 including the world\u2019s second-largest aluminum company, Rusal \u2014 were hit with sanctions in April in retaliation for Russian interference in the election and other hostile acts by Moscow. \u2026 The companies responded with a sophisticated multimillion-dollar lobbying and legal campaign seeking to delay and ultimately remove the sanctions in exchange for promises from Mr. Deripaska to give up majority ownership and control of EN+, the holding company that controls Rusal. \u2026 \u201cRepresentative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat who has criticized the administration for being soft on Rusal, said the move to lift sanctions amounted to Mr. Trump \u2018sliding another big gift under Vladimir Putin\u2019s Christmas tree.\u2019 Saying that the plan \u2018appears to be a shell game brokered by a sanctioned Russian bank, VTB Bank, involving one of Putin\u2019s closest buddies,\u2019 Mr. Doggett said it \u2018only encourages Putin to pursue his destabilizing activities around the world.\u2019 \u2026 \u201cThe administration appeared to take pains to head off criticism that it was letting up on Moscow or Mr. Deripaska. The decision was disclosed on the same day that the Treasury Department announced new sanctions against a former Russian military intelligence officer who it said works for Mr. Deripaska, as well as several Russian intelligence officers and entities linked to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. In a statement justifying the move, Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, said that the companies had been punished because of Mr. Deripaska\u2019s ownership and control, \u2018not for the conduct of the companies themselves.\u2019\u201d -- Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) also expressed some skepticism of the deal, which they promised to monitor closely. -- This comes just days after the Geneva-based World Economic Forum reversed its decision to ban three Kremlin-connected oligarchs \u2014 including Deripaska \u2014 from its upcoming meeting in Davos, caving to an intense Kremlin campaign that included calls to the"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "With Joanie Greve\nTHE BIG IDEA:\u00a0\u201cDespite what the Fake News says,\u201d President Trump tweeted Thursday morning, Russia is \u201cnot happy\u201d about his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. As a point of fact, he could not be more wrong.\nMoments earlier, Vladimir Putin had praised Trump for retreating. \u201cOn this, Donald is right,\u201d the Russian president said during his year-end news conference in Moscow. \u201cI agree with him.\u201d\nRussia is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad\u2019s most powerful ally. Putin has propped him up since 2015 by stationing more troops inside Syria than the United States ever did, and experts \u2014 including those inside the Trump administration as well as across the ideological spectrum \u2014 agree that the Kremlin will be able to expand its sphere of influence on the ground if America abandons its anti-Assad allies.\n-- \u201cMoscow is celebrating,\u201d said Victoria Nuland, the chief executive of the Center for a New American Security and the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs under Barack Obama.\n\u201cAfter years of pretending to negotiate a diplomatic solution to the Syria crisis with Washington, Putin can ignore the entreaties of Trump\u2019s envoys because the United States will have no military skin in the game to back its diplomacy,\u201d Nuland explains in an op-ed. \u201cThe Kremlin will proceed as it has long planned, consolidating control over the rest of Syria for Assad until 2021 and then rigging an election for a new figurehead. Moscow will be too smart to expand its own ground presence in Syria, and will instead broaden its tacit support for the Iranian-backed militias that already serve as de facto local police forces in western Syria. Maybe it will allow Tehran to split the spoils from the Deir al-Zour oil fields; maybe all that cash will go back to Moscow.\u201d\n-- Six senators signed a letter on Wednesday night \u2014 including Republicans Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio and Joni Ernst \u2014 urging Trump to reconsider pulling out.\nRubio also retweeted a post from the Russian ambassador. \u201cI found someone who is supportive of the decision to retreat from Syria,\u201d he\u00a0quipped\n-- The day before Trump\u2019s announcement, our Beirut bureau chief, Louisa Loveluck,\u00a0reported on the Russian government\u2019s vicious disinformation campaign against Syria\u2019s best-known civilian rescue group:\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t just buzz on the Internet,\u201d one former White Helmet, who was arrested and tortured by Syrian forces this year, told Louisa. \u201cIt has real-life consequences. We\u2019re dying for this.\u201d\n-- Syria isn\u2019t the only reason the Kremlin is celebrating.\n\u201cThe Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it intends to lift sanctions against the business empire of Oleg V. Deripaska, one of Russia\u2019s most influential oligarchs, after an aggressive lobbying campaign by Mr. Deripaska\u2019s companies,\u201d the New York Times\u2019s Ken Vogel reports. \u201cThe decision by the Treasury Department, which had been postponed for months, was both politically and economically sensitive \u2026 Mr. Deripaska and his businesses \u2014 including the world\u2019s second-largest aluminum company, Rusal \u2014 were hit with sanctions in April in retaliation for Russian interference in the election and other hostile acts by Moscow. \u2026 The companies responded with a sophisticated multimillion-dollar lobbying and legal campaign seeking to delay and ultimately remove the sanctions in exchange for promises from Mr. Deripaska to give up majority ownership and control of EN+, the holding company that controls Rusal. \u2026\n\u201cRepresentative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat who has criticized the administration for being soft on Rusal, said the move to lift sanctions amounted to Mr. Trump \u2018sliding another big gift under Vladimir Putin\u2019s Christmas tree.\u2019 Saying that the plan \u2018appears to be a shell game brokered by a sanctioned Russian bank, VTB Bank, involving one of Putin\u2019s closest buddies,\u2019 Mr. Doggett said it \u2018only encourages Putin to pursue his destabilizing activities around the world.\u2019 \u2026\n\u201cThe administration appeared to take pains to head off criticism that it was letting up on Moscow or Mr. Deripaska. The decision was disclosed on the same day that the Treasury Department announced new sanctions against a former Russian military intelligence officer who it said works for Mr. Deripaska, as well as several Russian intelligence officers and entities linked to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. In a statement justifying the move, Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, said that the companies had been punished because of Mr. Deripaska\u2019s ownership and control, \u2018not for the conduct of the companies themselves.\u2019\u201d\n-- Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) also expressed some skepticism of the deal, which they promised to monitor closely.\n-- This comes just days after the Geneva-based World Economic Forum reversed its decision to ban three Kremlin-connected oligarchs \u2014 including Deripaska \u2014 from its upcoming meeting in Davos, caving to an intense Kremlin campaign that included calls to the Swiss president from the prime minister.\n-- Meanwhile, Ukraine\u2019s foreign minister takes to the pages of Politico this morning to plead for more Western support in the face of egregious Russian violations of its sovereignty.\n\u201cWith a level of contempt and disregard for international law with which the world is sadly all too familiar, Russia has sought to present our captured servicemen as \u2018criminals,\u2019\u201d writes Pavlo Klimkin.\n\u201cWith this latest attack, Putin effectively has his hands around Ukraine\u2019s throat and is tightening his grip.\n-- Yet, on what could be remembered as one of the more consequential days of his presidency, Trump himself did not appear publicly.\nThe president stayed up past midnight, approvingly tweeting praise he received from Laura Ingraham on her show:\nHe continued to tweet this morning, emphasizing that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) supports his moves.\n-- But Rand is in the minority. Without explanation, for example, Trump canceled a scheduled afternoon meeting with retiring Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker after the Tennessee Republican had arrived at the White House.\n-- \u201cOver a lunch on Capitol Hill, other GOP senators excoriated Vice President Pence for supporting Trump\u2019s move\nHOW IT WENT DOWN:\n-- Trump\u2019s decision was made on Tuesday following a small meeting attended only by senior White House aides and the secretaries of defense and state, most of whom, if not all, sharply disagreed with the president.\n\u201cA number of close U.S. allies who are members of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State said they were not consulted and were given no prior warning.\n\u201cGen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not participate in the meeting with Trump and was in the dark until after it took place, according to several people familiar with the situation.\n\u201cA State Department official said Wednesday that U.S. diplomats and aid personnel \u2014 their numbers already reduced following Trump\u2019s earlier decision to eliminate American aid to reconstruct towns and cities where most of the anti-Islamic State fighting took place \u2014 would now be evacuated. Mercy Corps, the international aid organization that provides aid to about half the 2.7 million civilian population in U.S.-controlled eastern Syria, said it would probably have to reconsider its operations there.\u201d\n--\n-- DeYoung has additional reporting on the Turkish connection:\n-- Incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi zeroed in on Turkish influence efforts as she decried Trump\u2019s Syria move.\n-- Trump\u2019s decision is a clear rebuke to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.\n\u201cTrump continues to weigh whether he should keep Mattis in the role and tells advisers in the Oval Office that he doesn\u2019t agree with his defense secretary on much, according to current and former administration officials. He rarely sees Mattis these days and does not speak with him as often as he did earlier in the administration. Mattis, for his part, has told colleagues that he wants to stay.\n\u201cMattis is also frustrated that Trump vetoed his choice to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff \u2026 Trump announced this month that he has chosen Gen. Mark A. Milley, the Army\u2019s chief of staff, to replace [Dunford], who is due to step down next fall. Mattis had recommended the Air Force chief of staff, Gen. David L. Goldfein. Trump also sidestepped Mattis\u2019s concern about deploying U.S. forces to the U.S.-Mexico border this fall with only a vague mandate for border security. Mattis is said to be among the strongest skeptics about the pledge of denuclearization that Trump claims he received from Kim Jong Un \u2026\n\u201cIn the beginning of his presidency, Trump often pointed to the military men he brought into his administration as evidence of his seriousness \u2026 But all those retired and current military officers are now gone (former national security advisers Flynn and H.R. McMaster), on the way out (chief of staff John F. Kelly) or, in the case of Mattis, pushed to the sidelines.\u201d\nTHE GROUND TRUTH:\n-- \u201cThe Islamic State remains a deadly insurgent force, analysts say, despite Trump\u2019s claim it has been defeated,\u201d\n\u201cFor many security experts, the depiction of the Islamic State as \u2018defeated\u2019 \u2026 is not only inaccurate, but is also dangerously misleading. Despite its setbacks, the group maintains a formidable presence in Syria and Iraq, commanding cadres of fanatical, highly trained fighters believed to number in the thousands, including many who went into hiding after the fall of the group\u2019s self-declared caliphate. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, continues to fiercely defend its remaining strongholds in Syria against relentless attacks by Kurdish and Syrian ground forces and U.S. warplanes. And in Iraq, its scattered cells are waging a guerrilla campaign that is gaining in intensity in three provinces, judging from the number and lethality of the attacks. \u2026\n\u201cAn abrupt departure of U.S. forces from Syria will almost certainly accelerate the group\u2019s resurgence on both sides of the border, officials and security experts say. Without a significant U.S. military presence \u2014 which until now has included personnel who collect intelligence and coordinate airstrikes from forward operating bases \u2014 the Islamic State could regain its footing in Syria, and from there, direct terrorist operations inside Iraq, and perhaps elsewhere in the region and beyond. \u2026\n\u201cMultiple current and former U.S. intelligence officials echoed the view that the fight against the Islamic State is \u2018unfinished.\u2019 For several security experts, the news of the Trump administration\u2019s decision evoked comparisons to the situation in Iraq after U.S. forces left that country in 2011 under a controversial agreement with Iraq\u2019s Shiite-led government. In 2008, U.S. intelligence officials claimed success against the Islamic State in Iraq \u2014 the predecessor of the group that became ISIS \u2014 declaring that the terrorists had been \u2018operationally defeated\u2019 after a years-long campaign that targeted the group\u2019s leaders and drove its followers into hiding. Just three years after the U.S. withdrawal, the Islamic State took control of a third of Iraq, becoming the largest and best-armed terrorist movement of modern times.\u201d\n-- Bottom line: Those who don\u2019t learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them.\nHOW IT\u2019S PLAYING:\n-- This morning\u2019s clips \u2014 across the mainstream media, the conservative press and overseas \u2014 are just as brutal as they were after Trump\u2019s meeting with Putin in Helsinki.\n-- WaPo commentary:\n-- Elsewhere:\n-- Overseas:\nWHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:\n-- The Senate passed a short-term government funding bill\u00a0denying Trump any new money for the border wall.\n\u201cThe Senate passed the legislation by voice vote late Wednesday, and the House was expected to take it up on Thursday. Congressional leaders said they expected Trump to sign it before the shutdown deadline. But the mercurial president \u2014 who just a week ago declared he would be \u2018proud\u2019 to shut down the government over the wall funding \u2014 did not publicly announce his support for the deal, throwing the outcome into question as Trump\u2019s conservative allies on and off Capitol Hill mounted a furious lobbying campaign to convince the president to reject the deal.\u201d\n-- Trump tweeted about the need for a wall this morning, but he didn\u2019t provide clarity on whether he would veto the spending bill:\n-- The Trump administration is pursuing a plan to enforce stricter work requirements for food stamp recipients.\nGET SMART FAST:\nTHERE\u2019S A BEAR IN THE WOODS:\n-- Special counsel Bob Mueller has formally requested a transcript of Roger Stone\u2019s testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, signaling that prosecutors could be moving to charge him with a crime.\n\u201cIt is unclear what aspect of Stone\u2019s testimony Mueller is scrutinizing. But Stone has given\u00a0conflicting accounts\u00a0about what prompted him to accurately predict during the 2016 race that WikiLeaks was going to unleash material that would hurt Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. In an interview Wednesday, Stone said he had not been notified of Mueller\u2019s request. But he said he is confident that the transcript of his testimony will not provide the special counsel with grounds to charge him. \u2018I don\u2019t think any reasonable attorney who looks at it would conclude that I committed perjury, which requires intent and materiality,\u2019 Stone said.\u201d\n-- Casting doubt on his independence, Trump\u2019s attorney general nominee, William Barr \u2014 who would take charge of overseeing the Mueller probe if confirmed by the Senate \u2014\u00a0sent an unsolicited memo to the Justice Department in June blasting the scope of Mueller\u2019s probe.\n\u201c\u2018As I understand it, his theory is premised on a novel and legally insupportable reading of the law,\u2019 Mr. Barr wrote. \u2018Moreover, in my view, if credited by the Justice Department, it would have grave consequences far beyond the immediate confines of this case and would do lasting damage to the Presidency and to the administration of law within the Executive branch.\u2019 Mr. Barr\u2019s memo is peppered with strongly worded phrases about the peril he sees in Mr. Mueller\u2019s reading of the law, as he understood it. He described Mr. Mueller\u2019s approach as \u2018grossly irresponsible\u2019 with \u2018potentially disastrous implications\u2019 for the executive branch. He also wrote: \u2018Mueller should not be permitted to demand that the President submit to interrogation about alleged obstruction.\u2019\u201d\n-- Past sworn statements from the president indicate a solid knowledge of campaign finance law, which could come into play if he is ever prosecuted for his alleged involvement in Michael Cohen\u2019s hush-money payments to Trump\u2019s alleged mistresses.\n-- BuzzFeed News won a defamation lawsuit over its publication of the Steele dossier.\n-- The District of Columbia's\u00a0attorney general filed a lawsuit against Facebook for allegedly mishandling user data.\n-- During last year\u2019s Alabama Senate race, a group of Democratic tech experts experimented with the disinformation tactics used by Russia in 2016.\n-- With an interview of former attorney general Loretta Lynch, the House GOP's controversial investigation into the FBI\u2019s handling of probes into the Trump campaign's alleged dealings with Russia and Hillary Clinton\u2019s private email server appeared\u00a0to quietly conclude.\n-- Looking ahead, the incoming Democratic chairman of the House Oversight Committee renewed more than 50 requests for information from\u00a0the Trump administration that were ignored over the past two years.\nTHE IMMIGRATION WARS:\n-- A federal judge struck down Trump administration policies\u00a0making it\u00a0more difficult for victims of gang violence and domestic abuse to seek U.S. asylum.\n-- Attorneys for the father of a 7-year-old girl who died in the custody of Border Patrol said the pair were not provided water while they were detained.\n-- A 5-month-old girl detained by the Border Patrol was hospitalized with pneumonia after her mother said they were held in \u201cfreezing\u201d cells.\n-- One of Trump's earliest backers signaled she would not vote for him again in 2020 if he doesn't make good on his promise to build a border wall.\nALL THE PRESIDENT\u2019S MEN:\n-- Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke assumed his office as a rising national star. He\u2019s leaving embroiled in scandal, facing five active investigations.\n-- Mick Mulvaney intends to give Trump more leeway in his decision-making than John Kelly.\n-- \u201cWilbur Ross said he divested a stock holding \u2014 but he didn\u2019t,\u201d\nTHE REST OF THE AGENDA:\n-- The Senate unanimously approved a bill to make lynching a federal hate crime.\n-- A Texas judge\u2019s ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional could force Republicans into the awkward position of defending Barack Obama\u2019s signature piece of legislation.\n-- A last-minute rush of Obamacare enrollments suggests Americans are undeterred by the ruling.\n-- Two U.S. airmen have sued Jim Mattis after they were discharged from the military over their HIV status.\n-- The Senate\u2019s approval of a criminal justice bill aimed at reducing mandatory minimum sentences is the culmination of a significant pivot since the GOP championed the \u201cwar on drugs.\u201d\n-- Paul Ryan delivered his farewell address, emphasizing economic accomplishments while acknowledging unfinished work on several \u201ccomplex problems.\u201d\n2020 WATCH:\n-- Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the only senator to support Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primary, said he would not defer to Sanders as he weighs a White House bid.\n-- Potential 2020\u00a0contender Kamala Harris is well known as the only African American woman currently serving in the Senate, but the Indian American community is also eager to claim her.\n-- Trump has been telling aides he wants Vice President Pence to stick with him on the 2020 ticket.\n-- Recent population shifts could have a major impact on the 2020 presidential race.\n-- Four GOP legislators in Kansas have defected to the Democratic Party.\nSOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:\nA Post reporter spotted a metaphor at the DOJ:\nA former Trump foreign policy adviser\u00a0who just spent two weeks in prison for lying to the FBI and who now plans to run for Congress in California\u00a0posted an update with his wife:\nConservative news outlets expressed frustration with the proposed funding deal:\nSen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of the handful of Republicans to praise Trump for pulling out of Syria, celebrated the demise of the Weekly Standard:\nA founder of the conservative magazine replied:\nA senator who was criticized for a comment about a \u201cpublic hanging\u201d presided over the passage of an anti-lynching bill, per an NBC News reporter:\nOne of the bill\u2019s sponsors marked its historic passage:\nDonald Trump Jr. offered this message to Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) after she disputed a Politico report:\n(Politico said it stood by its reporting.)\nAn MSNBC host quit Facebook:\nThe general manager for the Nationals hung out with senators:\nSen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) celebrated the deal that would streamline the entry of Cuban baseball players to the United States:\nBut one of Flake\u2019s Republican colleagues requested more government scrutiny of the deal:\nAnd Politico\u2019s Capitol bureau chief expressed solidarity with one visitor to the Hill:\nA presidential historian remembered this moment between a president and his vice president:\nGOOD READS:\n-- \u201cBeing a boy: Age 17,\u201d by Ellen McCarthy:\n-- Bloomberg Businessweek, \u201cThe Dallas Mavericks\u2019 New CEO Is Cleaning Up a #MeToo Mess,\u201d by Mary Pilon:\n-- GQ, \u201cThe Fresno Bee and the War on Local News,\u201d by Zach Baron:\nDAYBOOK:\nTrump\nNEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:\n-- Rain will once again return to Washington by midday.\n-- The Capitals fell to the Penguins 2-1.\n-- The Wizards lost to the Rockets 136-118.\n-- Two pedestrians died after they were hit by a tour bus along Pennsylvania Avenue.\n-- Environmentalists and many Maryland residents are opposing Gov. Larry Hogan\u2019s proposal to build a Washington Redskins stadium in Oxon Cove Park.\n-- The population of D.C. surpassed 700,000 residents for the first time since 1975.\nVIDEOS OF THE DAY:\nSamantha Bee hosted an immigration-themed holiday special called \u201cChristmas on ICE\u201d:\nSeth Meyers mocked Trump\u2019s border wall and his shuttered charity as scams:\nBarack Obama surprised a D.C. children\u2019s hospital with gifts:\nGeorge H.W. Bush\u2019s service dog, Sully, is moving on to work with veterans at Walter Reed:\nAnd a tiny home stolen from St. Louis was found more than 30 miles away:"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "VVNGRDQZBVHRDKZDQ5BJ6HSEMI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "VVNGRDQZBVHRDKZDQ5BJ6HSEMI_0", "title": "In rare rebuke of Trump administration, some GOP lawmakers advance measure to oppose lifting Russian sanctions ", "text": "The Senate on Tuesday advanced a resolution to oppose a Treasury Department plan to lift sanctions against Russian companies controlled by a Vladimir Putin ally, with 11 Republicans voting to advance the Democratic measure in a rare example of bipartisanship. The resolution, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), seeks to block the Treasury Department from removing sanctions the Trump administration imposed last year on companies controlled by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, including the aluminum producer Rusal. The Senate voted 57 to 42 to approve a motion to proceed to debate on the resolution. \u201cWhy would we vote to relax sanctions on three essential Russian companies when Putin has not stopped or even curtailed his malign activities? This is sort of a kiss-up to Putin,\u201d Schumer told reporters shortly before the vote. Treasury notified Congress on Dec. 19 that it intended to lift the sanctions because Deripaska has agreed to reduce his stake in En+ Group, the holding company that controls Rusal, from about 70 percent to 44.95 percent. This would protect the companies \u201cfrom the controlling influence of a Kremlin insider,\u201d which had been the goal of punishing the firms, Treasury said. Deripaska will remain under personal sanctions, along with a half-dozen other oligarchs and more than a dozen government officials the Trump administration targeted in April, for furthering \u201cthe Kremlin\u2019s global malign activities, including its attempts to subvert Western democracy, its support for the Assad regime, its malicious cyber activities, its occupation of Crimea, and its instigation of violence in Ukraine,\u201d Treasury said. \u201cThis shouldn\u2019t be a political issue,\u201d Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters after meeting with Republicans shortly before the vote. \u201cWe have been tougher on Russia, with more sanctions than any other administration.\u201d Under the Treasury plan, Russia\u2019s state-owned VTB Bank or another Treasury-approved entity will take ownership of a block of Deripaska\u2019s shares in En+ that had been pledged against a loan. The Obama administration added VTB Bank to a sanctions list in 2014, as punishment for Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. The Trump administration issued sanctions against VTB\u2019s chairman, Andrey Kostin, last year, as part of the actions against Deripaska and others. According to Treasury, Glencore, the Swiss mining and trading company, will swap its shares in Rusal for shares in En+, which will dilute the holdings of all shareholders, including Deripaska. Finally, the Russian businessman will donate about 3 percent of"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The Senate on Tuesday advanced a resolution to oppose a Treasury Department plan to lift sanctions against Russian companies controlled by a Vladimir Putin ally, with 11 Republicans voting to advance the Democratic measure in a rare example of bipartisanship.\nThe resolution, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), seeks to block the Treasury Department from removing sanctions the Trump administration imposed last year on companies controlled by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, including the aluminum producer Rusal. The Senate voted 57 to 42 to approve a motion to proceed to debate on the resolution.\n\u201cWhy would we vote to relax sanctions on three essential Russian companies when Putin has not stopped or even curtailed his malign activities? This is sort of a kiss-up to Putin,\u201d Schumer told reporters shortly before the vote.\nTreasury notified Congress on Dec. 19 that it intended to lift the sanctions because Deripaska has agreed to reduce his stake in En+ Group, the holding company that controls Rusal, from about 70 percent to 44.95 percent. This would protect the companies \u201cfrom the controlling influence of a Kremlin insider,\u201d which had been the goal of punishing the firms, Treasury said.\nDeripaska will remain under personal sanctions, along with a half-dozen other oligarchs and more than a dozen government officials the Trump administration targeted in April, for furthering \u201cthe Kremlin\u2019s global malign activities, including its attempts to subvert Western democracy, its support for the Assad regime, its malicious cyber activities, its occupation of Crimea, and its instigation of violence in Ukraine,\u201d Treasury said.\n\u201cThis shouldn\u2019t be a political issue,\u201d Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters after meeting with Republicans shortly before the vote. \u201cWe have been tougher on Russia, with more sanctions than any other administration.\u201d\nUnder the Treasury plan, Russia\u2019s state-owned VTB Bank or another Treasury-approved entity will take ownership of a block of Deripaska\u2019s shares in En+ that had been pledged against a loan.\nThe Obama administration added VTB Bank to a sanctions list in 2014, as punishment for Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. The Trump administration issued sanctions against VTB\u2019s chairman, Andrey Kostin, last year, as part of the actions against Deripaska and others.\nAccording to Treasury, Glencore, the Swiss mining and trading company, will swap its shares in Rusal for shares in En+, which will dilute the holdings of all shareholders, including Deripaska. Finally, the Russian businessman will donate about 3 percent of his En+ shares to a Russian charity he founded, Volnoe Delo, according to people familiar with the plan.\nSchumer said he thought Deripaska would still have too much sway over the company. \u201cWhen you have 45 percent of a company you basically control it,\u201d he told reporters.\nThe resolution must pass both houses of Congress and survive a presidential veto to block Treasury action. On Tuesday, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) introduced a resolution similar to Schumer\u2019s. A number of House Democrats have voiced skepticism about lifting the sanctions.\n\u201cAmid one disclosure after another about President Trump\u2019s peculiar relationship with Russian interests, now is hardly the time to lift sanctions on the companies of one of Putin\u2019s closest buddies, Oleg Deripaska,\u201d Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Tex.) said Tuesday.\nWashington\u2019s sanctions on Rusal and En+ Group clobbered the oligarch financially, sinking the market value of his publicly traded companies. They caused havoc far beyond Russia. Global aluminum prices spiked, battering U.S. and European companies and prompting complaints from European allies. Soon after announcing the sanctions, Treasury softened its stance, giving Western companies more time to end dealings with the aluminum producer.\nEn+ Group lobbied the Trump administration heavily to lift the sanctions. The British chairman of the company, Gregory Barker, hired Mercury Public Affairs and former U.S. senator David Vitter to try to gain the support of the State Department and other agencies.\nIn a phone interview last week, Barker, a former U.K. energy minister and a member of Britain\u2019s House of Lords, called Treasury\u2019s plan to lift the sanctions \u201ca very strong and robust response, which is unprecedented in the way it removes Deripaska of control of his own business.\u201d\n\u201cIf allowed to proceed, [the deal] will chart a new course for an open, global En+ and Rusal led by an independent international board,\u201d Barker said."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "VZ2A6UFEG5FMHJ2ZR5AGCI4YIY_4", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "VZ2A6UFEG5FMHJ2ZR5AGCI4YIY_4", "title": "A new link between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence that\u2019s more evocative than definitive", "text": "were not particularly sophisticated. There was a late-campaign focus on trying to suppress the black vote to some extent, a focus that Bloomberg News reported in October 2016 was also a focus of the Trump campaign itself. But, as we noted last month, the Russian effort was not particularly robust. There was nothing in the product of the Russian effort that we know of that would suggest any particular inside knowledge. That is beside the point, of course. It\u2019s worth asking why Manafort might have passed polling to Kilimnik. If he wanted Kilimnik to share that information with Russia to influence the campaign, it\u2019s hard to see that as anything less than an effort to collude with Russia. We know, thanks to reporting from the Atlantic, that Manafort in April 2016 emailed Kilimnik to ensure that his colleague had been sharing information about his new position with the Trump campaign to an oligarch named Oleg Deripaska. Manafort and Deripaska, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, worked together for years until they had a falling out. In July 2016, Manafort asked Kilimnik to offer Deripaska private briefings on the campaign, according to Post reporting. Manafort seemed to believe that his position with the campaign offered an opportunity to provide something of value to Deripaska and, further, seemed to believe that offering insight into the inner workings of the campaign might be of interest to the oligarch. It's not hard to extend this train of thought to an obvious place: Perhaps that effort included Manafort passing Kilimnik polling information with the intent that he give it to Deripaska. Update: The Times Why would Deripaska care? Perhaps because he hoped that Trump\u2019s election would result in a relaxation of the sanctions that he faced from the U.S. government. This was an effort that spanned multiple administrations and that involved Manafort for years. Perhaps Manafort hoped to rebuild their business partnership by showing that the candidate for whom he was working might soon be president. If that was the plan, it worked out to a limited degree. Trump is president and sanctions on Deripaska will be eased. How much of that if any is due to Manafort, first fired and then indicted, is not clear. Perhaps there was a conduit for collusion that went from Trump to Manafort to Kilimnik to Russian intelligence. Or perhaps Manafort, ever the hustler, was working a hustle."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Imagine that you had a document that included sensitive information. So, before handing the document to someone, you very carefully cut out pieces of black paper and Scotch-tape them on top of the parts of the document you want to keep private. Foolproof.\nYou probably see the problem here. And yet someone, perhaps attorneys working for Paul Manafort, appears not to have done so. A document filed with the court on Manafort\u2019s behalf tried to obscure important information by overlaying black boxes on the text, giving the appearance of a redacted document but offering all of the security of those little bits of black paper.\nSo what did we learn? Several things, as The Washington Post has reported \u2014 but one particularly evocative connection between Manafort and a man believed to have links to Russian intelligence.\nThe document attempts to defend Manafort from charges of having lied to investigators by arguing that he simply didn\u2019t remember various interactions with a colleague of his named Konstantin Kilimnik \u2014 who, a filing by investigators working for Robert S. Mueller III alleged in March, \u201chas ties to Russian intelligence service and had such ties in 2016.\u201d Manafort, for much of 2016, was working for President Trump\u2019s campaign as its chairman.\nManafort and Kilimnik had worked together on issues related to Ukrainian politics for years before Manafort joined the campaign. Part of the document meant to be redacted asserts that \u201c[i]ssues and communications related to Ukrainian political events simply were not at the forefront of Mr. Manafort\u2019s mind during the period at issue\u201d and, therefore, it\u2019s not surprising that he didn\u2019t recall raising the subject with Kilimnik.\n\"The same is true,\u201d the section continues, \u201cwith regard to the Government\u2019s allegation that Mr. Manafort lied about sharing polling data with Mr. Kilimnik related to the 2016 presidential campaign\".\nThis is evocative.\nThere have been questions from the outset of the investigation into Russian interference about how Russian actors might have directly tried to coordinate campaign activity with the Trump team. We know, for example, that Russian entities targeted Americans on social media in an attempt to influence their political thinking. There were reports, including from McClatchy in July 2016, that investigators were trying to determine if there was direct campaign coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia that might have allowed Russia to better tailor its influence program.\n\u201cOne source familiar with Justice\u2019s criminal probe said investigators doubt Russian operatives controlling the so-called robotic cyber commands that fetched and distributed fake news stories could have independently \u2018known where to specifically target \u2026 to which high-impact states and districts in those states,\u2019\u201d McClatchy reported at the time. But there wasn\u2019t any real evidence that information was moving from Trump\u2019s campaign to Russia.\nUntil this failed redaction emerged.\nSo what does it tell us? The language is vague: Manafort shared \u201cpolling data with Mr. Kilimnik related to the 2016 presidential campaign.\u201d That doesn\u2019t necessarily mean polling data from the Trump campaign. There was certainly a lot of polling done in 2016 but, interestingly, not much by the Trump campaign \u2014 which spent more on promotional hats than on opinion surveys. Manafort might have shared publicly available polling information with Kilimnik, which nonetheless raised questions for Mueller\u2019s team. (It probably goes without saying, but that investigators asked Manafort about the sharing of polling and flagged his response as false indicates that they were interested in this particular exchange.)\nLet\u2019s assume, for the sake of argument, that it was internal Trump campaign polling. The timing on this is iffy; the first polling expense logged by the campaign in 2016 came at the end of August. Earlier that month, Manafort was fired, after allegations of illicit payments from Ukraine became public. But, again, let\u2019s assume that\u2019s what it was.\nWhat might Russia have learned? It's hard to say without knowing what the polling said or was focused on. Perhaps it revealed particular messages that were effective with apathetic or persuadable voters. Perhaps it revealed particular places where the campaign hoped to get a boost.\nWe know something now that we didn\u2019t know in July 2017, when McClatchy first reported on Russia\u2019s interference efforts: They don\u2019t seem to have done much. There were a number of targeted ads and a broad range of campaign pitches, but the ad targeting was fairly scattershot, heavily focused on areas where the presidential contest wasn\u2019t particularly close, and the messages deployed by the Russians were not particularly sophisticated.\nThere was a late-campaign focus on trying to suppress the black vote to some extent, a focus that Bloomberg News reported in October 2016 was also a focus of the Trump campaign itself. But, as we noted last month, the Russian effort was not particularly robust. There was nothing in the product of the Russian effort that we know of that would suggest any particular inside knowledge.\nThat is beside the point, of course. It\u2019s worth asking why Manafort might have passed polling to Kilimnik. If he wanted Kilimnik to share that information with Russia to influence the campaign, it\u2019s hard to see that as anything less than an effort to collude with Russia.\nWe know, thanks to reporting from the Atlantic, that Manafort in April 2016 emailed Kilimnik to ensure that his colleague had been sharing information about his new position with the Trump campaign to an oligarch named Oleg Deripaska. Manafort and Deripaska, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, worked together for years until they had a falling out.\nIn July 2016, Manafort asked Kilimnik to offer Deripaska private briefings on the campaign, according to Post reporting. Manafort seemed to believe that his position with the campaign offered an opportunity to provide something of value to Deripaska and, further, seemed to believe that offering insight into the inner workings of the campaign might be of interest to the oligarch.\nIt's not hard to extend this train of thought to an obvious place: Perhaps that effort included Manafort passing Kilimnik polling information with the intent that he give it to Deripaska.\nUpdate: The Times\nWhy would Deripaska care? Perhaps because he hoped that Trump\u2019s election would result in a relaxation of the sanctions that he faced from the U.S. government. This was an effort that spanned multiple administrations and that involved Manafort for years. Perhaps Manafort hoped to rebuild their business partnership by showing that the candidate for whom he was working might soon be president.\nIf that was the plan, it worked out to a limited degree. Trump is president and sanctions on Deripaska will be eased. How much of that if any is due to Manafort, first fired and then indicted, is not clear.\nPerhaps there was a conduit for collusion that went from Trump to Manafort to Kilimnik to Russian intelligence. Or perhaps Manafort, ever the hustler, was working a hustle."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "WCTM4U6DTRECHN365H6PV3ZQYI_2", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "WCTM4U6DTRECHN365H6PV3ZQYI_2", "title": "Trump confused everyone by canceling North Korea sanctions. The explanation may have been a coverup.", "text": "along with it. It also relies on the great deference that the U.S. legal system pays to the administration\u2019s decisions about sanctions. When the administration says sanctions are in the security interests of the United States, American courts are likely to heed it. These limits are becoming increasingly clear as the Trump administration tests them. On the one hand, the administration is increasingly unwilling to listen to its allies about sanctions policy. It effectively forced SWIFT \u2014 a Belgium-based consortium \u2014 to adhere to the U.S. position on Iran, despite the strong opposition of European states. It is also changing its approach to Cuba sanctions in ways that may \u2014 if it continues on the current path \u2014 have massive repercussions for European firms. This is leading to increasingly organized opposition from America\u2019s European allies, as well as traditional rivals and adversaries such as China and Russia. The Trump administration is also seeing increasing challenges to its sanctions decisions in U.S. courts. The energy giant ExxonMobil is suing the Treasury Department over a sanctions decision punishing it for its dealings with the Russian oil company Rosneft, while the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska announced a lawsuit over sanctions this month. Finally, the OFAC is also seeing significant staff losses as personnel defect to the private sector. Administration inconsistency is undermining its approach to sanctions Trump\u2019s apparent turnabout is only the most recent example of U.S. inconsistency on sanctions. Last year, the president watered down sanctions against Chinese tech company ZTE, apparently as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations. Adam Segal of the Council on Foreign Relations described this as a \u201cflabbergasting\u201d decision. Trump\u2019s ambassador to Russia was willing to share a platform with a sanctioned Russian oligarch. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders\u2019s reasoned defense of last week\u2019s U-turn was that \u201cPresident Trump likes Chairman Kim and he doesn\u2019t think these sanctions will be necessary.\u201d This inconsistency is damaging Washington\u2019s ability to get U.S. allies to respect its sanctions and related policies overseas. European diplomats say in private that one of the reasons European states have not signed onto the effective U.S. embargo against telecommunications equipment made by China\u2019s Huawei Technologies is that they do not know whether the administration will maintain it. They fear that if they change their policies and laws in response to U.S. pressure, Trump may just decide on the spur of the moment to change U.S."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Last week, President Trump announced in a cryptic tweet that he was canceling major sanctions against North Korea. This led to several hours of confusion, because the Treasury Department had just announced sanctions against two Chinese shipping companies that were accused of facilitating trade with North Korea. Canceling sanctions the day after they were announced seemed like an unprecedented step. After several hours of confusion, the administration announced that Trump had not been referring to those sanctions \u2014 but instead had canceled new, as-yet unannounced North Korea sanctions that were in the pipeline.\nToday, Bloomberg News reports that this explanation may have been false. Bloomberg reporters say they have been told by five unnamed sources familiar with the matter that there were no new North Korea sanctions planned and that Trump was indeed referring to the sanctions against the two Chinese shipping companies doing business with North Korea. He was eventually persuaded to change his mind, however. According to Bloomberg, the purported explanation was no more than a \u201ccover story\u201d intended to conceal the erratic policy process in the White House and Trump\u2019s eventual change of mind.\nIn a forthcoming article in the journal International Security, Abraham Newman and I discuss how the United States has used its sanctioning power to build an extensive system of international financial control that has greatly extended the reach of U.S. power. However, recent policy steps by the Trump administration, including overreach in some areas (the threat of sanctions against close allies) and unpredictable decision-making in others (the willingness of the administration to turn sanctions into a bargaining chip in trade diplomacy) is contributing to the undermining of U.S. power. Bloomberg\u2019s reporting is likely to add to a general impression of disarray in White House geopolitical decision-making.\nU.S. power to impose sanctions has limits\nAs Newman and I discuss in our research, the United States has expanded its use of sanctions in the recent past. It has been able to apply new kinds of power, leveraging the central role that the dollar and financial messaging systems such as SWIFT play in the global financial architecture. The United States has been able to rely on a sophisticated administrative apparatus, centered in the Treasury Department\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), to administer sanctions policy. However, this power has its limits. It works best when other countries \u2014 especially U.S. allies \u2014 respect it and go along with it. It also relies on the great deference that the U.S. legal system pays to the administration\u2019s decisions about sanctions. When the administration says sanctions are in the security interests of the United States, American courts are likely to heed it.\nThese limits are becoming increasingly clear as the Trump administration tests them. On the one hand, the administration is increasingly unwilling to listen to its allies about sanctions policy. It effectively forced SWIFT \u2014 a Belgium-based consortium \u2014 to adhere to the U.S. position on Iran, despite the strong opposition of European states. It is also changing its approach to Cuba sanctions in ways that may \u2014 if it continues on the current path \u2014 have massive repercussions for European firms. This is leading to increasingly organized opposition from America\u2019s European allies, as well as traditional rivals and adversaries such as China and Russia.\nThe Trump administration is also seeing increasing challenges to its sanctions decisions in U.S. courts. The energy giant ExxonMobil is suing the Treasury Department over a sanctions decision punishing it for its dealings with the Russian oil company Rosneft, while the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska announced a lawsuit over sanctions this month. Finally, the OFAC is also seeing significant staff losses as personnel defect to the private sector.\nAdministration inconsistency is undermining its approach to sanctions\nTrump\u2019s apparent turnabout is only the most recent example of U.S. inconsistency on sanctions. Last year, the president watered down sanctions against Chinese tech company ZTE, apparently as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations. Adam Segal of the Council on Foreign Relations described this as a \u201cflabbergasting\u201d decision. Trump\u2019s ambassador to Russia was willing to share a platform with a sanctioned Russian oligarch. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders\u2019s reasoned defense of last week\u2019s U-turn was that \u201cPresident Trump likes Chairman Kim and he doesn\u2019t think these sanctions will be necessary.\u201d\nThis inconsistency is damaging Washington\u2019s ability to get U.S. allies to respect its sanctions and related policies overseas. European diplomats say in private that one of the reasons European states have not signed onto the effective U.S. embargo against telecommunications equipment made by China\u2019s Huawei Technologies is that they do not know whether the administration will maintain it. They fear that if they change their policies and laws in response to U.S. pressure, Trump may just decide on the spur of the moment to change U.S. policy on Huawei, leaving Europe out on a limb.\nIt is also probably damaging morale among the administration employees charged with making sanctions determinations. The OFAC relies on a esprit de corps to maintain skilled lawyers, who could be making several times as much money in the private sector. It is improbable that OFAC officials are enthused by Bloomberg\u2019s reporting of a reversal, re-reversal and coverup.\nFinally, it is likely that some officials and administration lawyers are worried that the apparent lack of consistency could damage U.S. credibility in court. In general, courts defer to the administration when it cites the U.S. national interest. However, as in other areas of the law, it is possible that news coverage of apparently inconsistent and erratic decision processes, as well as possible coverups, may lead judges to be more skeptical of administration claims than in the past. It is still very unlikely that judges will overturn the very long established practices of deference, or even modify them significantly, but it is less unlikely than it used to be."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "X2P5UD4PRVDPHE6W63MDQKZPHY_2", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "X2P5UD4PRVDPHE6W63MDQKZPHY_2", "title": "The Finance 202: Trump can probably stop worrying about Fed hikes for now", "text": "one risk emanating from the White House: That the president would try to fire Powell in a fit of pique, a move that is \u201cuniversally regarded as difficult to achieve and likely disruptive if not disastrous for the market.\u201d \u2014 Trump walks out of shutdown negotiations. The Post's Erica Werner and co.: \u201cTalks between [Trump] and congressional Democrats aimed at ending the partial government shutdown collapsed in acrimony and disarray Wednesday, with the president walking out of the White House meeting and calling it \u2018a total waste of time\u2019 after Democrats rejected his demand for border-wall funding. Furious Democrats accused Trump of slamming his hand on the table before he exited, and they said he ignored their pleas to reopen the federal government as they continue to negotiate over his border wall demands. With the shutdown nearing the three-week mark, some 800,000 workers are about to miss their first paycheck. \u2018He thinks maybe they could just ask their father for more money. But they can\u2019t,\u2019 said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), an implicit dig at Trump\u2019s wealthy upbringing.\u201d Some House GOP defect on bill to reopen Treasury Meanwhile, small business owners can't get loans, as the Small Business Administration has stopped processing applications, The Post reports. And the Treasury Department can't cover it\u2019s water bill. \u2014 House Dems seek answers from Mnuchin. NYT's Alan Rappeport and Ken Vogel: \u201cHouse Democrats have summoned Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, to Congress on Thursday to deliver a classified briefing about the Trump administration\u2019s plans to end sanctions on companies linked to the billionaire Russian oligarch Oleg V. Deripaska. The briefing is an early instance of Democratic lawmakers flexing their new oversight muscles after taking control of the House last week... Congress is reviewing the administration\u2019s decision \u2014 announced in December by the Treasury Department \u2014 to lift sanctions against three companies that Mr. Deripaska controls, EN+, Rusal and JSC EuroSibEnergo.\u201d \u2014 Stocks cautiously climbing. \u201cThe S&P 500 Index was up for a fourth consecutive day led by energy producers, reaching the highest level in almost a month. The Nasdaq benchmarks were the strongest performers on strength in semiconductors and technology hardware manufacturers.\u201d Why stocks tanked in December \u201cOn the first day of trading in 2019 last week, Apple warned that its fiscal first-quarter sales wouldn\u2019t be as high as previously projected and said its profit margin would be ever so slightly narrower than"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "THE TICKER\nPresident Trump \u2014 dug in and drumming on his demand \u2014 is prevailing on the most consequential economic front in Washington.\nIt isn\u2019t over the government shutdown, which remains stalemated over Trump\u2019s insistence on money for a border wall. Rather, the Federal Reserve\u00a0looks likely to hold off on further interest rate hikes, as Trump has been insisting since he started inveighing against the central bank last summer.\n\u201cThe final pieces of the puzzle fell into place on Wednesday that essentially ensure it will be months before the Fed contemplates another rate rise,\u201d\nThe Fed\u2019s pause, to the extent it materializes, won\u2019t owe to Trump\u2019s jawboning (which he renewed in a Tuesday tweet). Instead, some central bank policymakers are shifting on the need to continue hiking because inflation appears tame \u2014 and a cloudy economic outlook warrants a go-slow approach.\nTwo of the regional Fed bank presidents who on Wednesday indicated a new willingness to wait \u2014 Eric Rosengren of Boston and Charles Evans of Chicago \u2014 have been relatively hawkish. But given recent uncertainty, including the stock market\u2019s choppiness, \u201ccurrent monetary policy seems appropriate for now,\u201d Rosengren said.\nThe comments came as minutes from the Fed\u2019s December meeting revealing\u00a0central bank policymakers are feeling increasingly cautious about how to proceed.\nAnd Fed Chair Jay Powell confirmed the approach on Friday, when he struck what investors heard as a note more sensitive to financial markets during a question-and-answer session in Atlanta.\nTaken together, the commentary supports the conclusion \u201cnow firmly embedded in markets that the next rate hike will come no sooner than June, if it comes at all,\u201d\nIn his note, Shepherdson predicted that if the United States\u00a0and China strike a trade deal, stocks will rally sharply, smoothing the path for the Fed to resume hiking. \u201cFed officials, we think, will come to regret their knee-jerk reactions to the drop in stocks in the fourth quarter, because the bigger picture hasn\u2019t changed much,\u201d he writes. \u201cIn short, if you believe that the U.S. and China will soon reach a trade agreement, then the risk of further Fed rates hikes later this year is much greater than is currently implied by markets.\u201d\nNevertheless, for the first few months of this year at least, the Fed looks primed to back off the monetary tightening that has been enraging Trump.\nAnd, as CNBC\u2019s Jeff Cox notes, that should reduce one risk\u00a0emanating from the White House: That the president would try to fire Powell in a fit of pique, a move that is \u201cuniversally regarded as difficult to achieve and likely disruptive if not disastrous for the market.\u201d\n\u2014 Trump walks out of shutdown negotiations. The Post's Erica Werner and co.: \u201cTalks between [Trump] and congressional Democrats aimed at ending the partial government shutdown collapsed in acrimony and disarray Wednesday, with the president walking out of the White House meeting and calling it \u2018a total waste of time\u2019\u00a0after Democrats rejected his demand for border-wall funding. Furious Democrats accused Trump of slamming his hand on the table before he exited, and they said he ignored their pleas to reopen the federal government as they continue to negotiate over his border wall demands. With the shutdown nearing the three-week mark, some 800,000 workers are about to miss their first paycheck. \u2018He thinks maybe they could just ask their father for more money. But they can\u2019t,\u2019\u00a0said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), an implicit dig at Trump\u2019s wealthy upbringing.\u201d\nSome House GOP defect on bill to reopen Treasury\nMeanwhile, small business owners can't get loans, as the Small Business Administration has stopped processing applications, The Post reports.\u00a0 And the Treasury Department can't cover it\u2019s water bill.\n\u2014 House Dems\u00a0seek answers from Mnuchin. NYT's Alan Rappeport and Ken Vogel: \u201cHouse Democrats have summoned Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, to Congress on Thursday to deliver a classified briefing about the Trump administration\u2019s\u00a0plans to end sanctions\u00a0on companies linked to the billionaire Russian oligarch Oleg V. Deripaska. The briefing is an early instance of Democratic lawmakers flexing their new oversight muscles after taking control of the House last week... Congress is reviewing the administration\u2019s decision \u2014 announced in December by the Treasury Department \u2014 to lift sanctions against three companies that Mr. Deripaska controls, EN+, Rusal and JSC EuroSibEnergo.\u201d\n\u2014 Stocks cautiously climbing.\n\u201cThe S&P 500 Index was up for a fourth consecutive day led by energy producers, reaching the highest level in almost a month. The Nasdaq benchmarks were the strongest performers on strength in semiconductors and technology hardware manufacturers.\u201d\nWhy stocks tanked in December\n\u201cOn the first day of trading in 2019 last week, Apple warned that its fiscal first-quarter sales wouldn\u2019t be as high as previously projected and said its profit margin would be ever so slightly narrower than forecast. The Nikkei Asian Review reported this week that Apple is cutting its iPhone production by 10 percent for the next three months. It is more of the same for other companies. Beverage giant Constellation Brands said Wednesday that its fiscal 2019 earnings per share would be $9.20 to $9.30, down from the range of $9.60 to $9.75 it forecast earlier. The company said it expects weak sales in its wine and spirits business next quarter.\u201d\nComputers still bearish.\n\u201cFunds that use such strategies likely went from holding net long positions, or betting that prices would rise, in four major asset classes\u2014stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities\u2014in the third quarter of 2017, to being short, or wagering against, everything but bonds by 2019. And even their embrace of bonds is bearish, signaling a flight to haven assets.\u201d\nNew tech stocks on the block.\n\u2014\u00a0May tries again to sell her Brexit deal.\n\u201cMay postponed the vote in mid-December when it became clear lawmakers would resoundingly reject the agreement, a compromise deal that has left both pro-European and pro-Brexit politicians unhappy. Rather than warming to May\u2019s deal since then, lawmakers have tried to wrest control of Brexit from the government and put it in the hands of Parliament. An alliance of governing Conservative and opposition legislators has dealt May two defeats in as many days \u2014 symbolic setbacks that suggest a power shift from the executive to the legislature.\u201d\nTRADE FLY-AROUND:\n\u2014 Beijing talks yield progress. Bloomberg's Andrew Mayeda and Miao Han: \u201cThe Trump administration is pushing for a way to make sure China delivers on its commitments in any deal the two nations reach to defuse a trade war that has roiled financial markets and dimmed the outlook for global growth. The U.S. wrapped up three days of mid-level talks with China in Beijing on Wednesday, noting a commitment by President Xi Jinping\u2019s government to buy more U.S. agricultural goods, energy and manufactured products. For its part, China said the meetings were \u201cextensive, in-depth and detailed,\u201d and laid the foundation for a resolution of the conflict.\u201d\nHigh-level talks may be next.\nBut Trump could skip Davos\n\u2014 Trump, GOP to\u00a0battle on trade powers. Bloomberg's Jenny Leonard: \u201cTrump is setting himself up for a fight with congressional Republicans if he seeks to expand his unilateral tariff powers or proceed with threatened duties on imports of cars and auto parts. Trump is expected to urge Congress in his State of the Union address this month to pass new legislation that would boost his powers to break down tariff and non-tariff barriers to American exports...\n\u201cSen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who now chairs the Finance Committee with jurisdiction over trade, told reporters Wednesday that Trump will not be allowed more power because Congress has already delegated too much authority to the executive branch. \u2018Oh, we aren\u2019t going to give him any greater authority, we\u2019ve already delegated too much,;\u00a0Grassley said in response to a question on the Bloomberg News report.\u201d\nGrassley is also looking into his authority to see Trump's tax returns\nMELTDOWN WATCH:\n\u2014 Bezos's divorce and his stake in Amazon.\n\u201cMr. Bezos is the world\u2019s wealthiest man, with a net worth of about $137 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Ms. Bezos, who was instrumental in helping to launch Amazon, could be entitled to half the couple\u2019s wealth depending on where they divorce, attorneys said. If Ms. Bezos ends up with a chunk of Mr. Bezos\u2019s stake, she could influence shareholder votes on resolutions and press for changes at the company. No matter what, Mr. Bezos is expected to remain one of the company\u2019s largest holders. The next biggest holders are Vanguard Group and BlackRock Group Inc., each with a little more than 5% of the company. In a message Wednesday on Mr. Bezos\u2019s Twitter account, the couple said that after a trial separation, they had chosen to proceed with the divorce.\u201d (Bezos\u00a0owns The Post.)\n\u2014 Sweden is way ahead of AOC on tax rates.\n\u201cCritics of high taxes claim the policy stifles economic growth by reducing the incentive for people to work. But Sweden\u2019s employment rate is 77.5 percent, beating the U.S.\u2019s 71 percent. The Nordic country has also surpassed the U.S. in terms of economic growth this decade, expanding 2.7 percent a year, on average, compared with 2.2 percent for the U.S.\u201d\nLarry Summers: AOC right in spirit.\n\u2014 Ginne Mae chief quits. Bloomberg's Elizabeth Dexheimer: \u201cMichael Bright has stepped down from running\u00a0Ginnie Mae\u00a0to join a trade group, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Bright, who has been chief operating officer of the government-owned mortgage guarantor since July 2017, will be joining the\u00a0Structured Finance Industry Group\u00a0as its president, the person said, asking not to be named because the move hasn\u2019t been announced. Bright was nominated by [Trump] last year to become Ginnie Mae\u2019s president and had bipartisan support on the Senate Banking Committee. He didn\u2019t get a confirmation vote from the full Senate.\u201d\nCOMING SOON:\n\u2014 From The New Yorker\u2019s\u00a0Ivan Ehlers\nJust a few weird tech products we saw at CES 2019\nOne mother\u2019s struggle as the shutdown grinds on\nMeteorologist fired for using racist slur on air says it was an accident"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "Y6L6FFE72YI6RDUHZBU744FHEE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "Y6L6FFE72YI6RDUHZBU744FHEE_2", "title": "Too big to sanction? U.S. struggles with punishing large Russian businesses.", "text": "large energy projects outside Russia if they involve a Russian state-controlled company. Kirkegaard said that would probably complicate investments by German companies and Royal Dutch Shell in Nord Stream 2, a planned pipeline that would ship Russian natural gas to Germany. Deripaska\u2019s camp is dangling the threat of even worse outcomes for the United States if Washington doesn\u2019t lift the Rusal sanctions. Failure to reach a deal could lead the holding company through which Deripaska controls the aluminum producer to seek \u201cother avenues to resolve the current impasse, including a potential acquisition by Chinese interests or the potential nationalization of the company by Russia,\u201d according to Justice Department filings made by a U.S. lobbying firm representing the holding company\u2019s chairman. One former Treasury official said the tumultuous rollout of the Rusal sanctions showed a lack of coordination with U.S. allies and ignorance about the global metals market. \u201cOne lesson we should draw from this is that while folks at Treasury have a pretty good sense of how their sanctions on financial products will play out, they don\u2019t have the same expertise and knowledge of nonfinancial commercial sectors,\u201d said Liz Rosenberg, who handled sanctions policy during the Obama administration and is now a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. The Treasury Department says its strike was well thought out. \u201cWe understand this was a very significant action targeted against Deripaska and the companies he has ownership of,\u201d Sigal Mandelker, undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in an interview. \u201cWe were well aware this was going to be impactful, and are focused on sanctions that have impact.\u201d Deripaska isn\u2019t likely to make a clean escape even if Rusal sanctions are lifted because sanctions on him personally will remain intact. And he is having to make serious concessions as he seeks relief for his aluminum company. To placate Treasury, Deripaska has \u201cagreed in principle\u201d to reduce his shareholding in En+ Group, the holding company that controls Rusal, from 70 percent to below 50 percent, according to En+, which says it is working \u201cwith Mr. Deripaska and his family to transfer their assets to approved organizations or trustees.\u201d Deripaska and his allies have also resigned from the boards of Rusal and En+. Deripaska, Rusal and En+ did not respond to requests for comment. The Deripaska-controlled holding company is leaning on several Western establishment figures to plead"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "When the Treasury Department imposed tough sanctions on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and his companies in April, the fallout for the Putin ally was fast and fierce.\nWestern customers stopped buying from the aluminum company he controls, sinking its share price and shaving Deripaska\u2019s fortune from $6.7\u00a0billion to $3.4\u00a0billion, according to Forbes estimates.\nThe sanctions also caused havoc far beyond Russia. Global aluminum prices spiked, battering U.S. and European companies that use the metal. After an outcry from manufacturers and foreign governments, Treasury softened its stance, giving companies more time to end dealings with the aluminum producer, Rusal, and suggesting it could lift sanctions on the company if Deripaska cedes control.\nThe episode is a cautionary tale as the United States readies more sanctions against Russia, including some beginning Monday that will affect U.S. technology exports, and some under consideration in Congress that could prove painful for European oil and gas companies.\nCompared with other countries that have been under U.S. sanctions, including Iran, Cuba, Myanmar and North Korea, Russia plays a bigger role in global commerce, giving the sanctions more potential to sting \u2014 both their intended targets and unintended bystanders in the United States and Europe, economists and trade experts say.\nRussia \u201cis part of the world economy,\u201d said Richard Sawaya, a sanctions expert at the National Foreign Trade Council, an industry-financed organization that advocates free trade. \u201cIt\u2019s a member of the World Trade Organization,\u201d he said. \u201cIts banks are connected throughout Europe and the U.S.\u201d\nThe sanctions\nAfter an initial ban on some U.S. technology exports to Russia, a second stage of the sanctions could follow later this year with penalties including a ban on Russian airlines landing in the United States.\nRussian lawmakers say\nCongress, meanwhile, is considering additional sanctions to punish Russian \u201caggression,\u201d including its interference in U.S. elections. The bipartisan legislation would ban U.S. investors from buying new shares of Russian government debt. It would also cut some Russian banks\u2019 access to U.S. dollars, a step that would \u201cvery, very seriously hit the Russian financial system,\u201d said Vladimir Milov, economic adviser to Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, a foe of President Vladi\u00admir Putin.\nThe bill\u2019s energy-related sanctions could prove particularly harmful to European companies, said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. Those measures would ban companies from investing in crude-oil infrastructure inside Russia, or in large energy projects outside Russia if they involve a Russian state-controlled company. Kirkegaard said that would probably complicate investments by German companies and Royal Dutch Shell in Nord Stream 2, a planned pipeline that would ship Russian natural gas to Germany.\nDeripaska\u2019s camp is dangling the threat of even worse outcomes for the United States if Washington doesn\u2019t lift the Rusal sanctions. Failure to reach a deal could lead the holding company through which Deripaska controls the aluminum producer to seek \u201cother avenues to resolve the current impasse, including a potential acquisition by Chinese interests or the potential nationalization of the company by Russia,\u201d according to Justice Department filings made by a U.S. lobbying firm representing the holding company\u2019s chairman.\nOne former Treasury official said the tumultuous rollout of the Rusal sanctions showed a lack of coordination with U.S. allies and ignorance about the global metals market.\n\u201cOne lesson we should draw from this is that while folks at Treasury have a pretty good sense of how their sanctions on financial products will play out, they don\u2019t have the same expertise and knowledge of nonfinancial commercial sectors,\u201d said Liz Rosenberg, who handled sanctions policy during the Obama administration and is now a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.\nThe Treasury Department says its strike was well thought out.\n\u201cWe understand this was a very significant action targeted against Deripaska and the companies he has ownership of,\u201d Sigal Mandelker, undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in an interview. \u201cWe were well aware this was going to be impactful, and are focused on sanctions that have impact.\u201d\nDeripaska isn\u2019t likely to make a clean escape even if Rusal sanctions are lifted because sanctions on him personally will remain intact. And he is having to make serious concessions as he seeks relief for his aluminum company.\nTo placate Treasury, Deripaska has \u201cagreed in principle\u201d to reduce his shareholding in En+ Group, the holding company that controls Rusal, from 70\u00a0percent to below 50\u00a0percent, according to En+, which says it is working \u201cwith Mr. Deripaska and his family to transfer their assets to approved organizations or trustees.\u201d Deripaska and his allies have also resigned from the boards of Rusal and En+.\nDeripaska, Rusal and En+ did not respond to requests for comment.\nThe Deripaska-controlled holding company is leaning on several Western establishment figures to plead its case in Washington. Leading that effort is En+ Chairman Gregory Barker, a former U.K. energy minister and a member of Britain\u2019s House of Lords. To help press his agenda, Barker hired Mercury Public Affairs, which assigned an influential lobbyist to the case: former U.S. senator David Vitter (R-La.).\nIn Mercury lobbying documents filed with the Justice Department, Vitter and Mercury warned that failure to lift Rusal sanctions would \u201copen the Trump administration up to criticism for harming U.S. manufacturers and consumers\u201d and \u201ccause significant disruptions to global aluminum and metals markets.\u201d\nIn a May\u00a01 email to State Department officials, Vitter thanked them for a \u201cproductive meeting\u201d and attached media reports about the London Stock Exchange\u2019s plans to halt trading of En+ shares unless the company won a sanctions reprieve. The reports underscored a \u201cdeadline upon us,\u201d Vitter wrote, according to a copy of the email filed with the Justice Department.\nAsked about the email, a State Department spokesperson said: \u201cWe regularly meet with business and other representatives as part of our outreach efforts.\u201d Vitter and Mercury declined to comment. Barker didn\u2019t respond to a request for comment.\nDeripaska started amassing his fortune in the 1990s, when Boris Yeltsin was Russia\u2019s president and rival groups vied for control of previously state-owned industries. In lawsuits, former allies and rivals accused Deripaska and his associates of using fraud and violence to take over aluminum assets, allegations Deripaska denied. Between 1998 and 2000, the United States denied Deripaska visas under a statute deeming foreigners ineligible \u201cbased on security, unlawful activity and related reasons,\u201d Rusal has disclosed in securities filings. Deripaska called those concerns \u201cunwarranted\u201d in the filings.\nBy the early 2000s, his company\u2019s output of aluminum was second only to that of U.S. giant Alcoa Corp. After the 2008 financial crash, Rusal was forced to take a $4.5\u00a0billion bailout loan from a Russian state-owned bank, which political analysts say made Deripaska more reliant on Putin.\nThe oligarch\u2019s business came crashing to a halt when Treasury issued its April\u00a06 sanctions, barring global banks and companies from dealing with him personally or with the companies he controls.\nThe London Metal Exchange, a global clearinghouse for aluminum, announced it would no longer allow Rusal ingots in its warehouses. Share prices for Rusal and En+ collapsed on the Hong Kong and London stock exchanges, and many of their Western board members resigned.\nRusal is a major supplier of alumina, a raw material used to produce aluminum, so global prices for alumina also shot up. Roy Harvey, chief executive of Pittsburgh-based Alcoa, said that the price spikes were \u201cthrowing a lot of the market into an uproar.\u201d\nU.S. allies, including Germany, Ireland, France and Britain, warned the State Department that the move was disrupting global markets and hurting European factories that relied on Rusal, diplomats said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations. Ireland expressed concerns about a Rusal-owned alumina plant in rural Ireland that employs 470 people in a region \u201cwhere there isn\u2019t alternative sources of employment,\u201d Daniel Mulhall, the Irish ambassador to the United States, said in an interview.\nIn an apparent nod to those concerns, Treasury softened its stance 17 days later, giving banks and companies more time to wind down dealings with Rusal and saying it might consider lifting the Rusal sanctions under certain conditions.\n\u201cThe company has petitioned us for delisting. And I\u2019m not going to comment on the specifics of what that would entail, but one of the issues will be selling down the majority interest,\u201d Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in an April 30 interview with Bloomberg TV. \u201cWe\u2019re having conversations with the company.\u201d\nTreasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, has extended the grace period for companies to wind down dealings with Rusal until Oct.\u00a023, giving both sides until then to reach a deal. \u201cThe company has been in continuous communication with OFAC trying to find a solution aimed at its delisting,\u201d Rusal said on Aug.\u00a06.\njeanne.whalen@washpost.com\njohn.hudson@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "YAHX4EA6MEI6TJ2ZFOCUDO56EA_6", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "YAHX4EA6MEI6TJ2ZFOCUDO56EA_6", "title": "\u2018Whatever he wants\u2019: Inside the region Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska runs like a personal fiefdom", "text": "stake in a Siberian smelter, he built one of the world\u2019s largest aluminum conglomerates. Along the way, according to the Treasury notice announcing sanctions against him last year, Deripaska \u201chas been accused of threatening the lives of business rivals, illegally wiretapping a government official, and taking part in extortion and racketeering.\u201d Deripaska has denied those allegations, but he\u2019s been open about his support for Putin \u2014 and the Kremlin has supported him. As recently as 2016, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asked then-Secretary of State John F. Kerry for assistance in getting Deripaska a U.S. visa, The Post reported. In a written statement, Deripaska said that he considered Ust-Labinsk home and that he spent more time there than in Moscow. \u201cOur efforts are a drop in the ocean,\u201d he said. \u201cUntil the residents of the district start to get involved themselves, fundamentally, nothing will change.\u201d The area has come to rely on Deripaska\u2019s money. He paid for the seed and fertilizer for the children\u2019s sugar-beet cultivation contest and for the sand for a village beach volleyball court. When the director of the district history museum heard about a site where the invading Germans may have massacred local Jews in World War II, he asked Deripaska\u2019s foundation for funding to examine it. The museum director, Furkat Baychibayev, said it was a no-brainer to seek money from the foundation rather than the local government. \u201cIt\u2019s a more flexible system,\u201d he said. Although the U.S. Treasury lifted sanctions on his companies, Deripaska himself remains banned from doing business with any Americans. Sanctions helped cut Deripaska\u2019s wealth to $3.6 billion from $6.7 billion in the past year, according to Forbes. The sanctions have been felt in Ust-Labinsk, too. Deripaska\u2019s effort to bring foreign companies into an industrial park he built in the district broke down after the U.S. sanctions were announced, Ryabchenyuk said. So did a deal to buy a combine harvester from John Deere, according to Dreeris, the farm manager. Dreeris said Deripaska has been spending more time on the property lately and has shown interest in expanding his farming operation. It already boasts plums, apricots, 56 varieties of apples, dairy and beef cows, quail, rabbits, a food-safety laboratory and an animal-feed processing plant. Much of what Deripaska doesn\u2019t consume is sold in local markets. \u201cIt\u2019s said that the locals eat what the oligarch eats,\u201d Dreeris said. \u201cIt\u2019s very prestigious for them.\u201d anton.troianovski@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "KHUTOR SOKOLSKY, Russia \u2014\nThe livestock stalls hold around 150 head of cattle. The reservoir contains at least 200 tons of fish. Two geese that managed to survive New Year\u2019s Eve stand sentry over the ducks.\nBut this is no ordinary farm.\nThe food grown on these\u00a0acres\u00a0in southern Russia\u00a0is produced with one main\u00a0customer\u00a0in mind:\u00a0the metals magnate Oleg Deripaska,\u00a0whose power in his home district resonates like that of a modern-day feudal lord.\nHis riches paid for the district\u2019s schools, kindergartens, churches, rural gas pipelines and sports facilities, and\u00a0trips to Paris for his former teachers. He has negotiated\u00a0agreements specifying how his\u00a0tax money is spent.\u00a0The district court consistently rules in his favor.\nHis home \u2014 and the adjoining hotel, offices, employee residences and farm \u2014 occupy an entire village in southern Russia.\n\u201cHe likes domestic, traditional kinds of sausage. They\u2019re fatty, of course,\u201d said Deripaska\u2019s farm manager, Ralf Dreeris.\u00a0The recipe for a Ukrainian-style sausage that Dreeris makes was given to Deripaska by Ukraine\u2019s ousted pro-Moscow president,\u00a0Viktor Yanukovych.\nThe immense wealth and influence of the men known as oligarchs, who won control of assets after the fall of the Soviet Union, is one of the hallmarks of modern Russia.\nHere in the district of Ust-Labinsk \u2014 a swath of plain where Deripaska grew up, and which he still calls home \u2014 the union of riches and privilege in President Vladimir Putin\u2019s Russia may have reached its apogee.\n\u201cThey call this district his property,\u201d said Alexander Savelyev, who also hails from this mostly rural area and works as a journalist and at the regional office of the opposition activist Alexei Navalny. \u201cHe can do whatever he wants here.\u201d\nThe U.S. Senate last month upheld a Trump administration move to lift sanctions on Deripaska\u2019s companies after he reduced his stake and stepped down from their boards, sending share prices back up.\nThe many critics of the deal in Washington claimed that Deripaska, 51, still retained control of the companies, and questioned the propriety of easing the penalty on a figure on the fringes of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.\nDeripaska\u2019s ties to Paul Manafort, President Trump\u2019s now-jailed former campaign chairman and a former consultant to Yanukovych, stoked speculation that Deripaska may have played a role in linking the Kremlin and the Trump campaign.\nIn a statement to The Washington Post, Deripaska called the allegations \u201cbeyond absurd\u201d and said he had no contact with Manafort for more than seven years.\n\u201cWhile I realize I\u2019ve involuntarily become a lightning rod for the anger some Americans have about the elections result, they need to look elsewhere for a scapegoat,\u201d Deripaska said. \u201cI am nobody\u2019s man, in Russia, the U.S., or anywhere else, for that matter.\u201d\nIn April 2018, the United States\u00a0imposed sanctions on him in response to Russia\u2019s \u201cworldwide malign activity,\u201d costing Deripaska billions as his companies\u2019 stock price cratered.\nWeeks earlier, social media posts emerged showing a self-proclaimed sex expert known as Nastya Rybka and Deripaska relaxing on his yacht with a Russian deputy prime minister. Deripaska then sued Rybka \u2014 whose real name is Anastasia Vashukevich \u2014 in the Ust-Labinsk district court. A favorable verdict\u00a0arrived within 29 minutes,\u00a0along with a rare order forcing Instagram to take down the posts that irked Deripaska.\nIn Ust-Labinsk, few people seemed willing to criticize Deripaska. Not even the priest who leads Deripaska\u2019s congregation.\n\u201cIf he did something somewhere that was morally or ethically wrong, then that is his personal problem,\u201d said the Rev. Grigory Gureyev. \u201cThe man takes care of his home region.\u201d\nGureyev preaches at the Deripaska-built Church of St. Vladimir. Deripaska\u2019s father, Vladimir, is buried in the adjacent graveyard. An architect on Deripaska\u2019s staff who specializes in churches designed it as a replica of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, one of Russia\u2019s most famous medieval buildings. Another staff member procured a rare relic of Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki.\nIn the district\u2019s main town, Ust-Labinsk, population 40,000, Deripaska is building a boarding school. The central quad\u2019s columned arcade is already complete, set against the town\u2019s vegetable-oil-extraction plant and the grain elevator.\n\u201cHe believes that classical architecture, in particular, allows schoolchildren, in particular, to study academic subjects more deeply,\u201d said Yury Ryabchenyuk, who heads Deripaska\u2019s economic development fund focused on the region. \u201cThis isn\u2019t a campus. This is an Italian palazzo.\u201d\nThe surrounding small-town roads don\u2019t radiate Roman grace. So Deripaska will also help pay to renovate the streets in the boarding school\u2019s vicinity.\nPublic officials in Ust-Labinsk at times described themselves as stewards and executors of Deripaska\u2019s wishes rather than as decision-makers in their own right. They spoke in interviews set up by Deripaska\u2019s foundation after The Washington Post reached out to the foundation regarding a story about Ust-Labinsk.\n\u201cI\u2019m like the manager, dealing with things like infrastructure,\u201d said Ust-Labinsk\u2019s mayor, Sergey Vyskubov. Referring to Deripaska in the respectful patronymic form, he added: \u201cOleg Vladimirovich thinks much more long-term, in terms of strategic projects.\u201d\nDeripaska has negotiated agreements with regional authorities specifying how his tax money is to be spent. One of his long-term interests is kaizen \u2014 a Japanese business-management approach emphasizing continuous improvement. A kaizen suggestion box greets visitors to City Hall, and even the kindergartens are designed according to the philosophy\u2019s teachings.\nOther projects appear to come together on a whim.\nLast spring, after a meeting with the governor, Deripaska ordered his staff to come up with a comprehensive plan to get children in the Krasnodar region, which includes Ust-Labinsk, to play rugby. He had played the sport growing up.\nOver the summer, Deripaska\u2019s staff brought in professional rugby players to teach the rules to Ust-Labinsk gym teachers. They bought uniforms and equipment. They hired a former member of Russia\u2019s national team to help run the program.\u00a0By the start of the school year in September,\u00a0eight Ust-Labinsk schools were offering rugby classes.\nHe also persuaded his old karate teacher, Pavel Pisarenko, who years ago emigrated to the United States, to come back to Ust-Labinsk from Colorado Springs to head a new martial arts center.\nIn the village of Oktyabrsky, Deripaska had his grandmother\u2019s one-story wooden house preserved to look just like it did when she was alive \u2014 down to the napkins.\nDeripaska moved to Moscow for university and became a metals trader after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Starting out with a stake in a Siberian smelter, he built one of the world\u2019s largest aluminum conglomerates. Along the way, according to the Treasury notice announcing sanctions against him last year, Deripaska \u201chas been accused of threatening the lives of business rivals, illegally wiretapping a government official, and taking part in extortion and racketeering.\u201d\nDeripaska has denied those allegations, but he\u2019s been open about his support for Putin \u2014 and the Kremlin has supported him. As recently as 2016, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asked then-Secretary of State John F. Kerry for assistance in getting Deripaska a U.S. visa, The Post reported.\nIn a written statement, Deripaska said that he considered Ust-Labinsk home and that he spent more time there than in Moscow.\n\u201cOur efforts are a drop in the ocean,\u201d he said. \u201cUntil the residents of the district start to get involved themselves, fundamentally, nothing will change.\u201d\nThe area has come to rely on Deripaska\u2019s money. He paid for the seed and fertilizer for the children\u2019s sugar-beet cultivation contest and for the sand for a village beach volleyball court. When the director of the district history museum heard about a site where the invading Germans may have massacred local Jews in World War II, he asked Deripaska\u2019s foundation for funding to examine it.\nThe museum director, Furkat Baychibayev, said it was a no-brainer to seek money from the foundation rather than the local government.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a more flexible system,\u201d he said.\nAlthough the U.S. Treasury lifted sanctions on his companies, Deripaska himself remains banned from doing business with any Americans. Sanctions helped cut Deripaska\u2019s wealth to $3.6\u00a0billion from $6.7\u00a0billion in the past year, according to Forbes.\nThe sanctions have been felt in Ust-Labinsk, too.\nDeripaska\u2019s effort to bring foreign companies into an industrial park he built in the district broke down after the U.S. sanctions were announced, Ryabchenyuk said. So did a deal to buy a combine harvester from John Deere, according to Dreeris, the farm manager.\nDreeris said Deripaska has been spending more time on the property lately and has shown interest in expanding his farming operation. It already boasts plums, apricots, 56 varieties of apples, dairy and beef cows, quail, rabbits, a food-safety laboratory and an animal-feed processing plant. Much of what Deripaska doesn\u2019t consume is sold in local markets.\n\u201cIt\u2019s said that the locals eat what the oligarch eats,\u201d Dreeris said. \u201cIt\u2019s very prestigious for them.\u201d\nanton.troianovski@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "YYYXZ2SJAJELDLP7BYNBGPE7W4_1", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "YYYXZ2SJAJELDLP7BYNBGPE7W4_1", "title": "Happy Hour Roundup", "text": "him a Powerpoint presentation to try to convince him that the things he\u2019s been saying about Amazon are false, to no avail. * John Hudson and Seung Min Kim report that the administration imposed a new set of sanctions on Russian companies and business leaders, including Oleg Deripaska, the mob-connected billionaire whom Paul Manafort owes millions of dollars, and who for some reason has not had Manafort murdered. * Ariel Edwards-Levy reports on polling that shows voters are saying their top issue is health care, which bodes well for Democrats in November. * Arit John reports that Democrats are planning on using the Affordable Care Act as an issue against their Republican opponents in the fall. * Stocks slid again today, and the New York Times reports that investors are now beginning to take the prospect of a major trade war \u201cseriously.\u201d * A good catch by Steve Benen: Trump let slip that he realizes managing this trade war is not going to be \u201ceasy,\u201d which is an important revelation, given his constant claims that solving problems as president will be a simple matter. * Ari Berman reports that Maryland just became the 12th state to enact automatic voter registration, a big step forward for voting rights. * Allegra Kirkland reports that Democrats in blue states are being unusually aggressive in passing legislation this year. * Yardena Schwartz reports that women who spoke out about sexual harassment at Fox News found themselves blacklisted from the news business. * Randall Eliason explains why the latest development in the Paul Manafort case is such a big deal. * ProPublica is running an interesting experiment in pairing with local news organizations to do local investigative reporting, at a time when such journalism has been badly downsized. * Kirsten Powers explains that there\u2019s nothing pro-life about wanting to execute women who have abortions. * Tara Golshan wonders if Republicans are going to increasingly turn to race-based appeals this fall as it becomes clearer that their tax cut won\u2019t deliver victory at the polls. * Michael Tomasky explains what we can learn about November from a Wisconsin Supreme Court race. * At The Week, I contemplated whether we\u2019re stuck in an eternal political doom loop. * And Michelle Goldberg examines a bizarre right-wing conspiracy theory in which Trump is a genius who only pretended to collude with the Russians in order to trap his enemies."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "* Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Lisa Friedman report that the finely-tuned machine that is the Trump White House continues to operate perfectly:\nI figure it\u2019ll take one or two more cycles of such embarrassing revelations to make Trump decide that Pruitt isn\u2019t up to his administration\u2019s high standards. On the other hand, he\u2019s so petulant that he probably doesn\u2019t want to give Kelly the satisfaction, so who knows.\n* Peter Nicholas reports that Trump\u2019s aides gave him a Powerpoint presentation to try to convince him that the things he\u2019s been saying about Amazon are false, to no avail.\n* John Hudson and Seung Min Kim report that the administration imposed a new set of sanctions on Russian companies and business leaders, including Oleg Deripaska, the mob-connected billionaire whom Paul Manafort owes millions of dollars, and who for some reason has not had Manafort murdered.\n* Ariel Edwards-Levy reports on polling that shows voters are saying their top issue is health care, which bodes well for Democrats in November.\n* Arit John reports that Democrats are planning on using the Affordable Care Act as an issue against their Republican opponents in the fall.\n* Stocks slid again today, and the New York Times reports that investors are now beginning to take the prospect of a major trade war \u201cseriously.\u201d\n* A good catch by Steve Benen: Trump let slip that he realizes managing this trade war is not going to be \u201ceasy,\u201d which is an important revelation, given his constant claims that solving problems as president will be a simple matter.\n* Ari Berman reports that Maryland just became the 12th state to enact automatic voter registration, a big step forward for voting rights.\n* Allegra Kirkland reports that Democrats in blue states are being unusually aggressive in passing legislation this year.\n* Yardena Schwartz reports that women who spoke out about sexual harassment at Fox News found themselves blacklisted from the news business.\n* Randall Eliason explains why the latest development in the Paul Manafort case is such a big deal.\n* ProPublica is running an interesting experiment in pairing with local news organizations to do local investigative reporting, at a time when such journalism has been badly downsized.\n* Kirsten Powers explains that there\u2019s nothing pro-life about wanting to execute women who have abortions.\n* Tara Golshan wonders if Republicans are going to increasingly turn to race-based appeals this fall as it becomes clearer that their tax cut won\u2019t deliver victory at the polls.\n* Michael Tomasky explains what we can learn about November from a Wisconsin Supreme Court race.\n* At The Week, I contemplated whether we\u2019re stuck in an eternal political doom loop.\n* And Michelle Goldberg examines a bizarre right-wing conspiracy theory in which Trump is a genius who only pretended to collude with the Russians in order to trap his enemies."}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "ZBNNXOQDW4I6TEJCQLUY7EPON4_1", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ZBNNXOQDW4I6TEJCQLUY7EPON4_1", "title": "Russians sanctioned over election hacking and assassination attempt", "text": "Trump administration has sanctioned to 272, even as President Trump has continued to deny any collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Nine officers for Russia\u2019s Main Intelligence Director (GRU) were sanctioned for playing a role in undermining the election. The Treasury Department\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control said they were engaged in cyberactivities that targeted election systems and political parties. It said they released stolen documents related to the election, using online personas, and promoted their spread on social media accounts operated by the GRU. Treasury also sanctioned the chief accountant for a Russian company that took part in the information war by producing English language news sites such as USA Really, which played up divisive political issues and attempted to stage a political rally in the United States. In addition, Treasury imposed sanctions on Alexander Petrov and Rusian Boshirov, two GRU officers who have been accusing of attempting to assassinate Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, last year. Skripal, a former Russian spy, and his daughter fell gravely ill after being exposed to a military grade nerve agent called Novichok. Britain, the United States, Germany, France and Canada have all concluded that the Russian government was responsible for the attack. The Kremlin has denied involvement. British police have charged Petrov and Boshirov with conspiracy to murder the Skripals and a British detective who also fell ill after being exposed to the nerve agent. Also among the individuals who were sanctioned is a former GRU officer who gave money to a political party in Montenegro before its 2016 elections. The Treasury Department said Victor Boyarkin was acting on behalf of Oleg Deripaska, a Kremlin-connected oligarch who despite being sanctioned has been invited to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. At the same time, the Treasury Department lifted sanctions on three companies after the companies agreed to diminish Deripaska\u2019s holdings or sever his control over the companies. Two GRU agents were sanctioned for playing a role in hacking into the databases of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). WADA exposed Russia\u2019s state-sponsored doping program for athletes, and the Russian hacking exposed confidential medical data of professional athletes, Treasury said. The OPCW assisted in investigating the Skripal attack and the use of chemical weapons in Syria, where Moscow has provided military backing for the government. carol.morello@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The Trump administration slapped new sanctions on 18 Russian intelligence agents Wednesday for a variety of activities, including interfering in the U.S. presidential election, the attempted assassination of a former spy in Britain and hacking international agencies that combat chemical weapons and doping.\nThe latest round of sanctions bring the total of Russian individuals and entities the Trump administration has sanctioned to 272, even as President Trump has continued to deny any collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 election.\nNine officers for Russia\u2019s Main Intelligence Director (GRU) were sanctioned for playing a role in undermining the election.\nThe Treasury Department\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control said they were engaged in cyberactivities that targeted election systems and political parties. It said they released stolen documents related to the election, using online personas, and promoted their spread on social media accounts operated by the GRU.\nTreasury also sanctioned the chief accountant for a Russian company that took part in the information war by producing English language news sites such as USA Really, which played up divisive political issues and attempted to stage a political rally in the United States.\nIn addition, Treasury imposed sanctions on Alexander Petrov and Rusian Boshirov, two GRU officers who have been accusing of attempting to assassinate Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, last year.\nSkripal, a former Russian spy, and his daughter fell gravely ill after being exposed to a military grade nerve agent called Novichok. Britain, the United States, Germany, France and Canada have all concluded that the Russian government was responsible for the attack. The Kremlin has denied involvement.\nBritish police have charged Petrov and Boshirov with conspiracy to murder the Skripals and a British detective who also fell ill after being exposed to the nerve agent.\nAlso among the individuals who were sanctioned is a former GRU officer who gave money to a political party in Montenegro before its 2016 elections. The Treasury Department said Victor Boyarkin was acting on behalf of Oleg Deripaska, a Kremlin-connected oligarch who despite being sanctioned has been invited to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.\nAt the same time, the Treasury Department lifted sanctions on three companies after the companies agreed to diminish Deripaska\u2019s holdings or sever his control over the companies.\nTwo GRU agents were sanctioned for playing a role in hacking into the databases of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).\nWADA exposed Russia\u2019s state-sponsored doping program for athletes, and the Russian hacking exposed confidential medical data of professional athletes, Treasury said.\nThe OPCW assisted in investigating the Skripal attack and the use of chemical weapons in Syria, where Moscow has provided military backing for the government.\ncarol.morello@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 969, "pid": "c797d308-6106-11e3-94ad-004fefa61ee6_5", "query_info": {"_id": 969, "text": "Describe US sanctions on Oleg Deripaska", "instruction_og": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent.", "instruction_changed": "US sanctions against companies owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska have been lifted.  What prompted imposition of the sanctions?  Why were sanctions lifted?  What Deripaska-owned companies were involved?  What impact did the sanctions have on Deripaska?  European sanctions on Deripaska are not relevant nor are European reactions to US sanctions.  Deripaska's relationship with Paul Manfort and Konstantin Kilimnik are not pertinent and should not be mentioned in any relevant document.", "short_query": "Find information online that answers this multifaceted question.", "keywords": "information online"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "c797d308-6106-11e3-94ad-004fefa61ee6_5", "title": "As Sochi Winter Olympics near, rich Russians bankrolling Games spar with Vladimir Putin", "text": "Polyana and Adler on the coast, both of which are part of Sochi\u2019s sprawling Adler district. Russian Railways chief executive Vladimir Yakunin, a close associate of Putin, says the government ordered him to construct the road even after the Transport Ministry concluded that the project was too difficult. \u201cI was very reluctant,\u201d Yakunin says. \u201cThey decided we were a sacrificial goat.\u201d If the hoped-for influx of post-Olympics tourists doesn\u2019t materialize, Putin\u2019s government may end up with heavily indebted ghost towns around Adler and Krasnaya Polyana. \u201cThere\u2019s massive infrastructure, and there\u2019s no plan to attract business,\u201d Macro Advisory\u2019s Weafer says. Basic Element, the holding company of United Co. Rusal\u2019s Deripaska, has made one of the biggest private investments. It oversees Sochi projects worth $2.4 billion, using about $1 billion in loans from VEB. Among them: a $778 million Olympic athletes village on the coast; a $186 million cargo port that the 45-year-old billionaire wants to turn into a yacht marina; and a $440 million overhaul of Sochi International Airport, with two VIP terminals, one built just for Putin and the government. Deripaska\u2019s Olympics headaches mounted in October 2012, when his Port Sochi Imeretensky defaulted on a VEB loan of about $118 million. In one of a flurry of Olympics-related lawsuits, the port company sued Olympstroy, the state firm building most venues, in April and VEB in May. Deripaska\u2019s company claimed that just 2 percent of the planned 14 million tons of Olympic cargo was shipped via sea from 2010 to 2013. Without sufficient cargo, the port has been unable to keep up with loan payments. In October, VEB countersued the port company and Olympstroy for about $150 million. Relaxing on a brown leather chair in Sochi airport\u2019s main VIP terminal, Andrey Elinson, deputy chief executive of Basic Element, says the government invited the company to build a port to get Olympics-related goods into Sochi. Basic Element would never have pursued it without Olympstroy outlining minimum expectations. No promises \u201cWe\u2019re in a bit of a disagreement with the government,\u201d he says. \u201cThey have pushed more cargo through railways and invested in extending railway cargo capacity while the port was underloaded.\u201d The government made no promises, Kozak says. \u201cNo one guaranteed a flow of goods,\u201d he says. \u201cNeither Olympstroy nor anyone else forced Oleg Deripaska to build the port.\u201d For his part, Russian Railways\u2019 Yakunin says the port wasn\u2019t up to the Olympics"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Russia's President Vladimir Putin (front) visits the \"RusSki Gorki\" Jumping Center at the Krasnaya Polyana resort near the Black Sea city of Sochi November 27, 2013.  (Novosti / Reuters/Novosti / Reuters)\nIn August, Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where his country is spending a record $48\u00a0billion on the 2014 Winter Olympics. A regular visitor, with an official residence in town, Putin watched mixed-martial-arts contests at the Oblaka nightclub with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.\nAfter the first fight, the leaders suddenly were plunged into darkness for almost three minutes, giving them a taste of the blackouts that have plagued Sochi for years. Putin, poker-faced when the power returned, strode into the ring to congratulate the fighters as the tournament concluded.\n\u201cHere in Russia, we have always valued and respected men who know how to stand firm to the last,\u201d he said.\nPutin is bracing for a fight of his own in the mad rush to the Feb.\u00a07 opening ceremony. With concerns about terrorist attacks, lack of snow and anti-gay laws dominating headlines, Sochi has endured its share of pre-Olympics tension.\nYet another, potentially longer-lasting battle is playing out behind the scenes \u2014 involving Putin\u2019s government, some of Russia\u2019s wealthiest industrialists and a state-owned bank. The government is demanding that the country\u2019s biggest companies stand firm on commitments to bankroll the Games.\nTo finance venues and apartments in the Caucasus Mountains and along Sochi\u2019s coast, state-owned Vnesheconombank, known as VEB, lent $7.4\u00a0billion to a who\u2019s who of Russia\u2019s elite. Among the biggest loan recipients are companies controlled by Vladimir Potanin, chief executive of OAO GMK Norilsk Nickel, the world\u2019s largest nickel producer. Joining him are Oleg Deripaska, chief executive of United Co. Rusal, the No.\u00a01 aluminum company; Alexey Miller, chief of state-controlled gas provider OAO Gazprom; and German Gref, chief of state-controlled OAO Sberbank, Russia\u2019s largest bank.\nThe moguls say skyrocketing costs and restrictions on commercial activities mean they risk losses on their investments unless the government helps. They want extended tax breaks and subsidies on the interest payments they owe VEB for Sochi assets.\nPutin is staking Russia\u2019s image \u2014 and his legacy \u2014 on his pet Olympics project.\nSochi 2014 might as well be renamed Putin 2014, says Scott Antel, a partner at DLA Piper in Moscow who has worked on hotel projects in the region. Antel says Putin twisted billionaires\u2019 arms to get the Olympics off the ground in return for letting their companies run their quasi-monopolies.\n\u2018You will do your civic duty\u2019\n\u201cThis was a deal with the devil,\u201d Antel says. \u201cYou will do your civic duty and build facilities in Sochi so we can have this coming-out party for the new Russian state. This is your indirect taxation to be allowed to continue with your main business activity.\u201d\nDeputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, the country\u2019s top Olympics official, dismisses suggestions of coercion. Kozak, who has worked alongside Putin for two decades dating to the St. Petersburg city administration, says investors got good deals \u2014 from favorable rates to government-built roads.\n\u201cAll investors were invited to the project voluntarily,\u201d Kozak says on a gray day in late October, sitting in Moscow\u2019s White House, the mazelike government headquarters. He says investors will have to forfeit Sochi projects if they can\u2019t repay their loans.\n\u201cIf they default, then they will lose their equity and lose their business,\u201d Kozak says. \u201cThe shares will be sold at auction.\u201d\nThe Winter Games have proved a gamble for Putin. Russia\u2019s economic growth was set to slow to 1.5\u00a0percent in 2013 just as Sochi soaks up the single biggest infrastructure investment since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.\n\u201cIt\u2019s the single most important event for Putin\u2019s presidency,\u201d says Chris Weafer, a senior partner at Moscow-based consulting firm Macro Advisory. \u201cIf it is deemed to be a failure, there will be a focus on the cost.\u201d\nThe reason Sochi\u2019s price tag has quadrupled from Putin\u2019s original $12\u00a0billion estimate depends on whom you ask. Boris Nemtsov, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Sochi in 2009, says as much as $30\u00a0billion has disappeared through corruption, a charge Kozak denies. Locals blame inflated prices for labor and materials. Others say the $48\u00a0billion figure is misleading because it covers infrastructure that will remain after the Games.\nPutin is brooking no failures in his Olympics obsession. In February, he fired Akhmed Bilalov, vice president of the Russian Olympic Committee. Putin publicly criticized him for cost overruns and delays in the $245\u00a0million ski jump complex, which was seven times over budget. The Russian prosecutor general\u2019s office opened a criminal case in April, accusing Bilalov of misspending funds as head of state-owned OAO Northern Caucasus Resorts.\nBilalov denies wrongdoing, says an associate who doesn\u2019t want to be named, because the case hasn\u2019t been settled. The associate says Bilalov had been feeling ill for months. In April, after fleeing to Germany, he discovered high levels of mercury in his bloodstream and later traced it to carpets in his Moscow office. Bilalov, who declined to comment, doesn\u2019t know who\u2019s responsible for the contamination, his associate says.\nKozak says investigators can\u2019t find billions of rubles Bilalov allegedly spent on the Olympics project.\n\u201cIt\u2019s an extremely unpleasant story,\u201d Kozak says.\nPutin has unleashed the unparalleled spending to try to transform Sochi, a fading resort city 1,000 miles south of Moscow with pebble beaches and mountain views, into a year-round destination.\nThe spa region favored by Soviet leaders now has about 12,000 new hotel rooms. Near the Olympic stadium, whitewashed apartment blocks dot the seaside. In the mountains, white-knuckle chairlifts have been replaced with modern equipment to lure Russian skiers from their beloved French resort of Courchevel.\nBackers are betting nightclubs and malls will turn sleepy Caucasus villages into hot spots. The priciest project: Government-owned OAO Russian Railways built an $8.7\u00a0billion rail line and highway to provide a 30-minute link between ski sites around Krasnaya Polyana and Adler on the coast, both of which are part of Sochi\u2019s sprawling Adler district.\nRussian Railways chief executive Vladimir Yakunin, a close associate of Putin, says the government ordered him to construct the road even after the Transport Ministry concluded that the project was too difficult.\n\u201cI was very reluctant,\u201d Yakunin says. \u201cThey decided we were a sacrificial goat.\u201d\nIf the hoped-for influx of post-Olympics tourists doesn\u2019t materialize, Putin\u2019s government may end up with heavily indebted ghost towns around Adler and Krasnaya Polyana.\n\u201cThere\u2019s massive infrastructure, and there\u2019s no plan to attract business,\u201d Macro Advisory\u2019s Weafer says.\nBasic Element, the holding company of United Co. Rusal\u2019s Deripaska, has made one of the biggest private investments. It oversees Sochi projects worth $2.4\u00a0billion, using about $1\u00a0billion in loans from VEB. Among them: a $778\u00a0million Olympic athletes village on the coast; a $186\u00a0million cargo port that the 45-year-old billionaire wants to turn into a yacht marina; and a $440\u00a0million overhaul of Sochi International Airport, with two VIP terminals, one built just for Putin and the government.\nDeripaska\u2019s Olympics headaches mounted in October 2012, when his Port Sochi Imeretensky defaulted on a VEB loan of about $118\u00a0million. In one of a flurry of Olympics-related lawsuits, the port company sued Olympstroy, the state firm building most venues, in April and VEB in May.\nDeripaska\u2019s company claimed that just 2\u00a0 percent of the planned 14\u00a0million tons of Olympic cargo was shipped via sea from 2010 to 2013. Without sufficient cargo, the port has been unable to keep up with loan payments. In October, VEB countersued the port company and Olympstroy for about $150\u00a0million.\nRelaxing on a brown leather chair in Sochi airport\u2019s main VIP terminal, Andrey Elinson, deputy chief executive of Basic Element, says the government invited the company to build a port to get Olympics-related goods into Sochi. Basic Element would never have pursued it without Olympstroy outlining minimum expectations.\nNo promises\n\u201cWe\u2019re in a bit of a disagreement with the government,\u201d he says. \u201cThey have pushed more cargo through railways and invested in extending railway cargo capacity while the port was underloaded.\u201d\nThe government made no promises, Kozak says.\n\u201cNo one guaranteed a flow of goods,\u201d he says. \u201cNeither Olympstroy nor anyone else forced Oleg Deripaska to build the port.\u201d\nFor his part, Russian Railways\u2019 Yakunin says the port wasn\u2019t up to the Olympics task, so the cargo loads shipped via rail doubled.\nOther projects are burdened with debt and scant cash flow after delays in turning them into commercial businesses. Basic Element in 2011 counted on preselling some of the 1,500 apartments it built in the coastal Olympic Village, where palm trees from Italy adorn courtyards with pools. The company plans to turn the complex into a resort called Sochnoe, marketing it as a Russian C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur.\nVEB wouldn\u2019t allow apartments to be sold early, Elinson says. Deripaska\u2019s companies must start repaying the principal of a $687\u00a0million loan in 2014 and are trying to renegotiate, he says.\n\u201cThe government has to forgive the interest payments for a certain amount of the loan lifetime,\u201d Elinson says. \u201cWe\u2019re also discussing the cancellation of property taxes.\u201d\nVEB is caught in the middle. After Putin\u2019s government tapped the bank to lend billions to finance the Olympics and rescue companies amid the financial crisis, VEB\u2019s capital adequacy ratio approached 10\u00a0percent in July, nearing the minimum allowed under the bank\u2019s internal requirements. If investors default and VEB can\u2019t quickly sell the assets to cover the loan, its capital could take a further hit.\n\u201cIn the case of default, the Olympic projects will form a big hole in VEB\u2019s balance sheet,\u201d VEB Deputy Chairman Sergey Vasiliev says.\nPotanin, the Norilsk Nickel chief \u2014 and Russia\u2019s ninth-richest man as of late November \u2014 is bleeding money in Rosa Khutor, which will host Alpine skiing, snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions. Potanin, 52, and Putin hatched the idea for Rosa Khutor in 2002, when they were skiing in Austria.\nThey thought, \u201cWhy don\u2019t we have such a resort?\u201d Potanin recalls.\nPotanin planned to spend about $300\u00a0million. After Russia\u2019s successful Games bid in 2007, his costs soared to $2.6\u00a0billion, including interest, as he made the resort Olympic-class. He financed the upgrades with a $1.7\u00a0billion loan from VEB that has grown to $2.2\u00a0billion with interest. Repayments on the principal must begin in June.\nThe resort is more Austrian than Russian. Doppelmayr lifts zip skiers to 7,550 feet. Pink and yellow hotels at the base nestle along the roaring Mzymta River.\nRosa Khutor assumed about $500\u00a0million of noncommercial expenses for facilities and equipment that Potanin says he wouldn\u2019t have added without the Games. He built apartments for 2,600 athletes in the mountains and stockpiled snow.\nHe says the government indicated last year it would be willing to reimburse about $245\u00a0million, or half of the costs required by the Games, but he hasn\u2019t received anything yet. He\u2019s negotiating for tax breaks and restructured debt payments to make the resort commercially viable. VEB rates, about 9\u00a0percent in November, have dented cash flow.\n\u201cNowhere in the world are green field projects like this one financed at such high interest rates,\u201d Potanin says.\nDeripaska and Potanin are just two investors seeking government relief. Gazprom, the world\u2019s largest gas producer, is spending about $3\u00a0billion on projects including a power station in Adler, a gas pipeline and a cross-country and biathlon complex, according to Olympstroy. Sberbank took over construction of the $2.4\u00a0billion Gornaya Karusel mountain resort in Krasnaya Polyana.\nGazprom\u2019s Miller and Sberbank\u2019s Gref joined Potanin and Deripaska in a March letter to Kozak, the deputy prime minister. They demanded subsidies for interest payments on loans and asked that Sochi become a special economic zone with lower property tax rates.\n\u201cOur companies agreed to participate in investing in Olympic venues taking into consideration the social nature of the project,\u201d they wrote. \u201cAt the same time, Sberbank, Gazprom, Rusal and Norilsk Nickel are public commercial companies, the aim of which is to increase returns for their shareholders.\u201d\nThe standoff continued in November.\n\u201cThe ball is in their court,\u201d Potanin said through a spokesman. Sberbank says it wants property tax incentives in place until 2024, when it expects to repay its VEB loan. Gazprom declined to comment.\nIn an indication of how pinched they\u2019re feeling, Potanin and Deripaska transferred some Sochi debts to Norilsk in April. Norilsk loaned $140\u00a0million to a company controlled by Deripaska, chief of Rusal, which owns a stake in the nickel producer. The loan can be repaid with stakes in Olympic Village assets. The company also took an undisclosed share of Rosa Khutor in exchange for about $140\u00a0million of debt.\nKozak says investors must be prepared to repay. VEB charged just 0.4\u00a0percentage points above the Russian central bank rate, 8.25\u00a0percent in November, on most loans. Meanwhile, the government built electricity networks, roads and the train line. Kozak dismisses the notion of tax breaks.\n\u201cWe cannot give tax preferences to those we already supported and leave others on their own to face their debts,\u201d he says.\nBasic Element\u2019s Elinson says Russian companies delivered venues on an accelerated time scale \u2014 and need to recoup their investments.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not fair to treat us in a way that we just should leave the sites because we\u2019re not able to repay the loans,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was never intended to be a sponsorship idea.\u201d\nThe full version of this Bloomberg Markets article appears in the magazine\u2019s January issue."}
{"qid": 970, "pid": "09e8745d-1ea7-41d7-be16-e2b19bd5f087_8", "query_info": {"_id": 970, "text": "Provide information regarding the possibility of sabotage being responsible for the SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion.", "instruction_og": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant. Omit documents referring commercial purposes.", "short_query": "Investigate the cause of an event to answer this question.", "keywords": "Investigate cause"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "09e8745d-1ea7-41d7-be16-e2b19bd5f087_8", "title": "Flying astronauts has always been risky. No wonder NASA and SpaceX are on edge.", "text": "But there are always concerns about the unexpected and the overlooked. The space shuttle Challenger exploded on chilly January day in 1986 after an \u201cO-ring\u201d joint failed amid unheeded warnings about launching in cold weather. In 2003, Columbia disintegrated as it was reentering Earth\u2019s atmosphere after a piece of foam became dislodged during the launch and damaged heat resistant tiles on the wing. A subsequent investigation found a \u201cbroken safety culture\u201d at the space agency. In the past several years, NASA and SpaceX have led investigations into a trio of failures. In 2015, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying supplies to the station exploded during flight after the failure of a strut designed to withstand 10,000 pounds of force buckled at 2,000. A year later, another rocket blew up on the launchpad after the failure of a pressure vessel in the second stage liquid-oxygen tank. And last year, during a test of the abort system, the Dragon spacecraft exploded because of a leaky valve. SpaceX also has struggled with the parachute system that would guide the spacecraft to a soft landing as it returns to Earth. No one was injured in any of those failures. NASA and SpaceX said they have investigated all the problems, fixed them and are now ready to launch humans. \u201cThis endeavor is the culmination of not only years and years of experience, or time and work, but hundreds of thousands of hours of tireless effort to bring us here,\u201d said Benji Reed, SpaceX\u2019s Commercial Crew Program manager. \u201cAnd it\u2019s all focused on the safety and reliability of the system.\u201d He said that the mission was a \u201csacred honor\u201d and that the company would do everything possible to fly the astronauts \u201cto the space station and safely bring them back home to their families. Fundamentally, this is what SpaceX was founded for.\u201d Outside experts agree the teams have prepared as best they could. \u201cI would say the risk is acceptable. But it\u2019s not zero. Spaceflight is inherently dangerous, so there is always risk,\u201d said Wayne Hale, the former manager of NASA\u2019s shuttle program. \u201cBut I think that all the appropriate checks appear to have been done. I think appropriate measures have been taken and having an uncrewed test flight was a big step.\u201d That said, everyone will be holding their breath the moment the countdown ticks to liftoff. \u201cI think we\u2019re all very appropriately nervous,\u201d Reed said."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "\nCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. \u2014 Spaceflight is a dangerous enterprise. That unrelenting reality underlies every decision as NASA and SpaceX near the hour when they\u2019ll strap two veteran astronauts into a spacecraft that will mark not only the first human launch to orbit from United States soil in nearly a decade but also the first time a private company has performed the feat.\nThat mission, scheduled for 4:33 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday, is being celebrated as a historic moment for NASA and the nation. It\u2019s also an enormously risky endeavor whose failure could be a major setback for a growing commercial space industry and a devastating blow to SpaceX, which has upended the traditional aerospace pecking order.\nThat\u2019s among the reasons that weather now looms as the most likely obstacle to an on-time launch. It has been rainy and overcast here the last few days with low thick clouds that unveiled a stunning rainbow Tuesday morning.\nBut forecasters at Patrick Air Force Base still predicted a 40 percent chance that weather would force a postponement of Wednesday\u2019s launch, an improvement from Monday\u2019s 60 percent, but still casting doubt on the schedule. And conditions at Cape Canaveral may not be the only reason for cancellation: forecasters are watching developments all along the East Coast, where the Dragon capsule might have to ditch in the case of an emergency abort.\nFear of lightning also could force a postponement under complex NASA rules that prohibit a launch if the spacecraft is going to fly within 10 nautical miles of storm clouds that might generate an electrical discharge. Rockets tearing through such clouds can cause a lightning strike, as happened during Apollo 12 when the Saturn V rocket was hit twice, causing damage to some non-essential components. The crew was still able to complete its mission to the moon.\n\nNASA administrator Jim Bridenstine emphasized at a news conference Tuesday his concerns for the safety of the two astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, and said the expected presence of President Trump and Vice President Pence would not increase pressure to launch if conditions are not right.\n\u201cWe want people to be able to feel free to say, \u2018No,\u2019 and not feel any pressure to launch,\u201d he said, adding that he had texted Hurley and Behnken on Monday and told them, \u201cIf you want me to stop this for any reason, say so.\u201d\nThere is no way to exaggerate the inherent risk involved any time people are placed atop a rocket filled with thousands of gallons of highly volatile propellants. The danger is compounded by the fact that SpaceX\u2019s Dragon spacecraft has never flown humans before.\nIn an interview, Elon Musk, SpaceX\u2019s founder and CEO, called the launch a \u201ccrucial step. Can\u2019t mess it up.\u201d\nHe said he was optimistic. \u201cThe probability of success, you know, knock on wood, I think is high,\" he said. \"But it it is not 100 percent. And so we\u2019re just doing everything we can to think of, any possible way, to improve the probability of success, because this would be a big setback if something were to go wrong.\u201d\nPaul Hill, a member NASA\u2019s safety advisory panel and the former director of mission operations at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston, warned that human factors can lead to mistakes.\n\u201cNow is the time to be on alert for \u2018go\u2019 fever,\u201d he said after the panel\u2019s recent quarterly meeting. \u201cSo much work has gone into being this close to launch, it can be difficult to resist the pressure to accept some risk or trivialize some concern with less rigor.\u201d\n\nFor all of NASA\u2019s accomplishments, human spaceflight remains a relatively rare and exceedingly dangerous enterprise. Since John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962, NASA has launched a total of 164 spacecraft with astronauts to orbit, an average of fewer than three a year.\nTwo ended in disaster \u2014 the Columbia and Challenger shuttle flights that killed 14. And many others narrowly escaped harrowing calamities, like the Apollo 12 lightning strike or the oxygen tank rupture that threw the Apollo 13 mission into chaos.\nMaiden flights of spacecraft with humans on board are the scariest. When the space shuttle flew for the first time in 1981, for example, officials estimated the chance of losing the crew was somewhere between 1 in 500 to 1 in 5,000. Later, after NASA had flown the shuttle many times, it found that first flight was far riskier than originally thought \u2014 the chance of death was actually 1 in 12.\nThere are many key differences between the shuttle\u2019s first flight and the upcoming launch of what\u2019s known as NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program. The spacecraft and rocket are owned and operated by a private firm, SpaceX, not NASA. The technology has advanced a great deal since the shuttle days; SpaceX\u2019s Dragon capsule is outfitted with modern touch screens and safety measures, such as an abort system, not available on the shuttle.\nAnd while the space shuttle\u2019s first flight had crews on board, Dragon last year completed what NASA said was a flawless test mission without crews to the International Space Station that returned to Earth safely. Flying astronauts to the station may be a new feat, but SpaceX has flown 21 cargo and supply missions to the station since 2012 in the uncrewed version of the Dragon spacecraft. That\u2019s given the company plenty of practice sending spacecraft to orbit, and then chasing down the station and attaching to it as it orbits the Earth at 17,500 mph.\nSpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket has also proved to be a reliable work horse that is closing on 100 launches.\nBut spaceflight is governed by unforgiving physics, requiring extraordinary amounts of energy to escape gravity. Launching a rocket is like detonating a bomb, but with the blast controlled so it flows in a single direction.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve done everything we can to make sure that the rocket is safe and the spacecraft is safe,\" Musk said in the interview. \"But the risk is never zero when you\u2019re going 25 times the speed of sound, and you\u2019re circling the Earth every 90 minutes. It\u2019s a speed that\u2019s difficult for people to even comprehend.\u201d\nThe mission would also be the first time since the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz flight, when Russian and American spacecraft docked in orbit, that NASA astronauts would return to Earth by landing in the ocean, rather than on land. Water landings have their own risk, such as when Gus Grissom nearly drowned in 1961, after his capsule filled with water and eventually sank.\nThe space shuttle landed on a runway, and since its retirement in 2011, NASA astronauts have been flying in Russian Soyuz spacecraft that land on the steppe in Kazakhstan. But there have been hair-raising moments with the Soyuz as well. In 2018, one of the side boosters failed to separate properly and slammed into the rocket, triggering the emergency abort system, which sent NASA astronaut Nick Hague and his Russian counterpart, Alexey Ovchinin, on a harrowing ride to the edge of space.\n\u201cIf you do this business, you\u2019re going to get your nose bloodied some,\u201d said Gerry Griffin, who served as a NASA flight director during the Apollo era. \u201cHopefully, you don\u2019t kill anybody. But if you do it long enough and fly enough vehicles, you\u2019re going to have a failure.\u201d\nNo one knows the risks inherent in human spaceflight better than Behnken and Hurley. Since they were assigned to the Commercial Crew mission in 2015, they\u2019ve spent thousands of hours training for the flight and are confident, especially since Dragon has a robust abort system.\n\u201cNow, I will add that it is the first flight with crew,\u201d Hurley said during a recent news conference. \u201cIt\u2019s the second flight of the vehicle. So the statistics will tell you that\u2019s riskier than, say, the 15th flight or the 20th flight of the vehicle.\u201d\nStill, he said he was \u201cconfident in both the SpaceX and NASA teams. We\u2019ve looked at all the stuff that we need to look at. And when we\u2019re ready to launch, we\u2019ll go do it.\u201d\nThe whole point of this test flight is to put the spacecraft through its paces and wring out any problems before NASA certifies it for the operational missions the agency hopes will ferry crews to the space station and back for years to come.\nBoeing, the other company NASA is paying to develop a new vehicle to fly its astronauts, suffered troubling setbacks late last year during the test flight of its Starliner spacecraft. No astronauts were on board, but the spacecraft encountered trouble almost immediately upon reaching orbit. The onboard computer was 11 hours off, making the spacecraft think it was at a different part of the mission than it actually was.\nCrews on the ground scrambled, and then discovered a second software problem that would have caused the wrong thrusters to fire during the spacecraft\u2019s return to Earth, when what\u2019s known as the service module was to separate from the crew module.\nControllers on the ground discovered the problem while the spacecraft was in orbit and were able to correct it. Had they not, however, it could have damaged the spacecraft\u2019s heat shield or sent the crew module tumbling off course.\nSince then, NASA officials have said they should have been better at holding Boeing accountable to the agency\u2019s rigorous safety standards. And they are confident that after years of working closely together to deliver cargo and supplies to the station and now crew, NASA and SpaceX won\u2019t encounter any such problems on the upcoming mission.\nBut there are always concerns about the unexpected and the overlooked.\nThe space shuttle Challenger exploded on chilly January day in 1986 after an \u201cO-ring\u201d joint failed amid unheeded warnings about launching in cold weather. In 2003, Columbia disintegrated as it was reentering Earth\u2019s atmosphere after a piece of foam became dislodged during the launch and damaged heat resistant tiles on the wing. A subsequent investigation found a \u201cbroken safety culture\u201d at the space agency.\nIn the past several years, NASA and SpaceX have led investigations into a trio of failures. In 2015, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying supplies to the station exploded during flight after the failure of a strut designed to withstand 10,000 pounds of force buckled at 2,000. A year later, another rocket blew up on the launchpad after the failure of a pressure vessel in the second stage liquid-oxygen tank. And last year, during a test of the abort system, the Dragon spacecraft exploded because of a leaky valve. SpaceX also has struggled with the parachute system that would guide the spacecraft to a soft landing as it returns to Earth.\nNo one was injured in any of those failures. NASA and SpaceX said they have investigated all the problems, fixed them and are now ready to launch humans.\n\u201cThis endeavor is the culmination of not only years and years of experience, or time and work, but hundreds of thousands of hours of tireless effort to bring us here,\u201d said Benji Reed, SpaceX\u2019s Commercial Crew Program manager. \u201cAnd it\u2019s all focused on the safety and reliability of the system.\u201d\nHe said that the mission was a \u201csacred honor\u201d and that the company would do everything possible to fly the astronauts \u201cto the space station and safely bring them back home to their families. Fundamentally, this is what SpaceX was founded for.\u201d\nOutside experts agree the teams have prepared as best they could.\n\u201cI would say the risk is acceptable. But it\u2019s not zero. Spaceflight is inherently dangerous, so there is always risk,\u201d said Wayne Hale, the former manager of NASA\u2019s shuttle program. \u201cBut I think that all the appropriate checks appear to have been done. I think appropriate measures have been taken and having an uncrewed test flight was a big step.\u201d\nThat said, everyone will be holding their breath the moment the countdown ticks to liftoff.\n\u201cI think we\u2019re all very appropriately nervous,\u201d Reed said."}
{"qid": 970, "pid": "3d2557ddfa8db1eee7bd84a79c493846_0", "query_info": {"_id": 970, "text": "Provide information regarding the possibility of sabotage being responsible for the SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion.", "instruction_og": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant. Omit documents referring commercial purposes.", "short_query": "Investigate the cause of an event to answer this question.", "keywords": "Investigate cause"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3d2557ddfa8db1eee7bd84a79c493846_0", "title": "What the SpaceX rocket explosion means for NASA and human spaceflight", "text": "A fire burns on a launchpad after reports indicated that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a test firing in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Tia Grant/European Pressphoto Agency) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded while being fueled Thursday morning on a launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Fla. No injuries resulted, but the rocket and its payload, an Israeli satellite named Amos-6, were destroyed. The explosion is a serious setback for SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk in 2002, and by extension for NASA, which has been investing in SpaceX for many years as part of the \"commercial crew\" program. SpaceX has said it hopes to launch U.S. astronauts into orbit to the International Space Station by the end of next year. Boeing also has a NASA commercial contract to launch astronauts in a capsule on top of an Atlas V rocket. The United States has been unable to launch astronauts on American rockets since the retirement of the space shuttle program in 2011. But an audit coincidentally issued Thursday by the NASA Inspector General's office said delays in the commercial crew program could push the first launch to late 2018, and have already forced NASA to buy additional seats on Russian rockets, at a cost to taxpayers of $490 million. On Facebook Live, Washington Post reporters Chris Davenport and Joel Achenbach discussed the SpaceX explosion and its ramifications \u2014 including how it might have an effect on Musk's desire to put humans on Mars in the 2020s. Read more: Why NASA still believes we might find life on Mars SpaceX nails booster landing at sea Which way to space? SpaceX says it will fly a spacecraft to Mars as soon as 2018 That SpaceX explosion blew up one of Facebook\u2019s most ambitious projects"}], "old": [{"_id": "3d2557ddfa8db1eee7bd84a79c493846_0", "title": "What the SpaceX rocket explosion means for NASA and human spaceflight", "text": "A fire burns on a launchpad after reports indicated that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a test firing in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Tia Grant/European Pressphoto Agency) On Facebook Live, Washington Post reporters Chris Davenport and Joel Achenbach discussed the SpaceX explosion and its ramifications \u2014 including how it might have an effect on Musk's desire to put humans on Mars in the 2020s. Read more: Why NASA still believes we might find life on Mars SpaceX nails booster landing at sea Which way to space? SpaceX says it will fly a spacecraft to Mars as soon as 2018 That SpaceX explosion blew up one of Facebook\u2019s most ambitious projects"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "A fire burns on a launchpad after reports indicated that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a test firing in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Tia Grant/European Pressphoto Agency)\nA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded while being fueled Thursday morning on a launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Fla. No injuries resulted, but the rocket and its payload, an Israeli satellite named Amos-6, were destroyed. The explosion is a serious setback for SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk in 2002, and by extension for NASA, which has been investing in SpaceX for many years as part of the \"commercial crew\" program.\nSpaceX has said it hopes to launch U.S.\u00a0astronauts into orbit to the International Space Station by the end of next year. Boeing also has a NASA commercial contract to launch astronauts in a capsule on top of an Atlas V rocket. The United States has been unable to launch astronauts on American rockets since the retirement of the space shuttle program in 2011.\nBut an audit coincidentally issued Thursday by the NASA Inspector General's office said delays in the commercial crew program could push the first launch to late 2018, and have already forced NASA to buy additional seats on Russian rockets, at a cost to taxpayers of $490 million.\nOn Facebook Live, Washington Post reporters Chris Davenport and Joel Achenbach discussed the SpaceX explosion and its ramifications \u2014 including how it might have an effect on Musk's desire to put humans on Mars in the 2020s.\nRead more:\nWhy NASA still believes we might find life on Mars\nSpaceX nails booster landing at sea\nWhich way to space?\nSpaceX says it will fly a spacecraft to Mars as soon as 2018\nThat SpaceX explosion blew up one of Facebook\u2019s most ambitious projects"}
{"qid": 970, "pid": "7AILDAR45QI6RJ6R4TX6YY4J6A_5", "query_info": {"_id": 970, "text": "Provide information regarding the possibility of sabotage being responsible for the SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion.", "instruction_og": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant. Omit documents referring commercial purposes.", "short_query": "Investigate the cause of an event to answer this question.", "keywords": "Investigate cause"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "7AILDAR45QI6RJ6R4TX6YY4J6A_5", "title": "Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX is using a powerful rocket technology. NASA advisers say it could put lives at risk.", "text": "thousands of pounds of really highly energetic propellants on board. You\u2019ve got mini controlled explosions going off. You\u2019ve got to survive the rigors of space, which is not very friendly for the human body. And then you\u2019ve got to reenter the atmosphere, and the spacecraft gets heated up to thousands of degrees.\u201d SpaceX pulled off 18 successful launches last year, a record, and is aiming for more this year. But it has also lost two of its Falcon 9 rockets in explosions, and amid all its triumphs, it has never attempted flying humans. The first failure happened in 2015, when a rocket blew up a couple of minutes after liftoff as it was flying cargo and supplies to the space station. No one was on board, and no one was injured. Then, just over a year later, another rocket exploded, this time on the launchpad while being fueled ahead of an engine test. At the time, Musk declared that if crews had been aboard they would have been safely ferried away by the rocket\u2019s abort system. Still, that mishap is forcing the company to redesign bottles of pressurized helium that sit inside the rocket\u2019s fuel tanks. Now SpaceX is getting ready to fly astronauts on an upgraded version of the same rocket. And its decision to add propellant to the rocket with astronauts on board is attracting scrutiny. To get more power out of its rocket, SpaceX brings its propellants \u2014 liquid oxygen and refined kerosene \u2014 to unusually low temperatures. That causes them to become dense, meaning SpaceX can pack more fuel into its rockets. To SpaceX, the approach is another example of how it is breaking the mold. The densified propellant \u201cprovides greater propellant margin for increased reliability,\u201d the company said in a statement. In other words, should something go wrong on the mission, the rocket would have more propellant to adjust to emergencies. SpaceX\u2019s dramatic booster landings also require additional propellant. But to others it is an unnecessary risk. At a Capitol Hill hearing earlier this year, members of Congress pressed Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX\u2019s vice president for build and flight reliability, about the safety of the load-and-go procedure. Koenigsmann said that the fueling takes only about a half-hour, a \u201crelatively quick procedure, and we believe that this exposure time is the shortest and therefore the safest approach.\u201d And the company points out that if anything goes wrong"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "When Elon Musk and his team at SpaceX were looking to make their Falcon 9 rocket even more powerful, they came up with a creative idea \u2014 keep the propellant at super-cold temperatures to shrink its size, allowing them to pack more of it into the tanks.\nBut the approach comes with a major risk, according to some safety experts. At those extreme temperatures, the propellant would need to be loaded just before takeoff \u2014 while astronauts are aboard. An accident, or a spark, during this maneuver, known as \u201cload-and-go,\u201d could set off an explosion.\nThe proposal has raised alarms for members of Congress and NASA safety advisers as the agency and SpaceX prepare to launch humans into orbit as early as this year. One watchdog group labeled load-and-go a \u201cpotential safety risk.\u201d A NASA advisory group warned in a letter that the method was \u201ccontrary to booster safety criteria that has been in place for over 50 years.\u201d\nConcerns at NASA over the astronauts\u2019 safety hit a high point when, in September 2016, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blew up while it was being fueled ahead of an engine test. No one was hurt, but the payload, a multimillion-dollar satellite, was lost. The question on many people\u2019s minds at NASA instantly became: What if astronauts were on board?\nThe fueling issue is emerging as a point of tension between the safety-obsessed space agency and the maverick company run by Musk, a tech entrepreneur who is well known for his flair for the dramatic and for pushing boundaries of rocket science.\nIn this culture clash, SpaceX is the daring, Silicon Valley-style outfit led by a man who literally sells flamethrowers on the Internet and wholeheartedly embraces risk. Musk is reigniting interest in space with acrobatic rocket-booster landings and eye-popping stunts, such as launching a Tesla convertible toward Mars.\nHis sensibilities have collided with a bureaucratic system at NASA that has been accused of being overly conservative in the wake of two shuttle disasters that killed 14 astronauts.\nThe concerns from some at NASA are shared by others. John Mulholland, who oversees Boeing\u2019s contract to fly astronauts to the International Space Station and once worked on the space shuttle, said load-and-go fueling was rejected by NASA in the past because \u201cwe never could get comfortable with the safety risks that you would take with that approach. When you\u2019re loading densified propellants, it is not an inherently stable situation.\u201d\nSpaceX supporters say tradition and old ways of thinking can be the enemy of innovation and thwart efforts to open the frontier of space.\nGreg Autry, a business professor at the University of Southern California, said the load-and-go procedures were a heated issue when he served on Trump\u2019s NASA transition team.\n\u201cNASA is supposed to be a risk-taking organization,\u201d he said. \u201cBut every time we would mention accepting risk in human spaceflight, the NASA people would say, \u2018But, oh, you have to remember the scar tissue\u2019\u2014 and they were talking about the two shuttle disasters. They seemed to have become victims of the past and unwilling to try anything new, because of that scar tissue.\u201d\nIn a recent speech, Robert Lightfoot, the former acting NASA administrator, lamented in candid terms how the agency, with society as a whole, has become too risk-averse. He charged the agency with recapturing some of the youthful swagger that sent men to the moon during the Apollo era.\n\u201cI worry, to be perfectly honest, if we would have ever launched Apollo in our environment here today,\u201d he said during a speech at the Space Symposium last month, \u201cif Buzz [Aldrin] and Neil [Armstrong] would have ever been able to go to the moon in the risk environment we have today.\u201d\nNASA is requiring SpaceX and Boeing to meet a requirement that involves some complicated calculations: The chance of death can be no greater than 1 in every 270 flights.\nOne way to ensure that, as Lightfoot said during his speech, is to never fly: \u201cThe safest place to be is on the ground.\u201d\nShuttles shelved\nStill, the scar tissue runs deep.\nNASA lost 14 astronauts in two space-shuttle disasters, the result of deep systematic problems of a once young and swashbuckling agency that many said had grown sclerotic.\nIn the investigation into the 2003 disaster, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board blasted NASA for failing to learn \u201cthe bitter lessons\u201d from the Challenger explosion in 1986. Columbia was lost as much by a \u201cbroken safety culture\u201d as much as the chunk of foam that broke off and damaged the shuttle\u2019s heat shield. That second disaster helped lead to the retirement of the shuttle in 2011, leaving NASA in the position of being unable to fly astronauts from U.S. soil.\nInstead, NASA pays Russia to ferry its astronauts to the International Space Station, an arrangement that costs the agency millions. In 2006, Russia charged $21.3\u00a0million a seat. That jumped to $81.9\u00a0million by 2015.\nTo end the dependence on Russia, NASA has turned to the private sector, outsourcing the responsibility of flying astronauts to the space station to two companies \u2014 SpaceX and Boeing \u2014 that have been awarded $6.8\u00a0billion in contracts combined. Other private companies eventually could compete for other government launch contracts \u2014 including Blue Origin, which was founded by Washington Post owner Jeffrey P. Bezos \u2014 but none are expected to send people to the space station anytime soon.\nThe pivot to private companies is enabling NASA to focus on deep space. But SpaceX and Boeing have both faced challenges and delays. Now, as the drought in human spaceflight extends into its seventh year, NASA is facing the prospect of even more delays \u2014 and questions about whether the contractors it plans to rely on will have a better track record than the agency that put men on the moon.\n\u201cIt really is a very, very difficult problem to do human spaceflight,\u201d said Phil McAlister, the director of NASA\u2019s commercial spaceflight development division. \u201cYou\u2019ve got thousands of pounds of really highly energetic propellants on board. You\u2019ve got mini controlled explosions going off. You\u2019ve got to survive the rigors of space, which is not very friendly for the human body. And then you\u2019ve got to reenter the atmosphere, and the spacecraft gets heated up to thousands of degrees.\u201d\nSpaceX pulled off 18 successful launches last year, a record, and is aiming for more this year. But it has also lost two of its Falcon 9 rockets in explosions, and amid all its triumphs, it has never attempted flying humans.\nThe first failure happened in 2015, when a rocket blew up a couple of minutes after liftoff as it was flying cargo and supplies to the space station. No one was on board, and no one was injured. Then, just over a year later, another rocket exploded, this time on the launchpad while being fueled ahead of an engine test.\nAt the time, Musk declared that if crews had been aboard they would have been safely ferried away by the rocket\u2019s abort system. Still, that mishap is forcing the company to redesign bottles of pressurized helium that sit inside the rocket\u2019s fuel tanks.\nNow SpaceX is getting ready to fly astronauts on an upgraded version of the same rocket. And its decision to add propellant to the rocket with astronauts on board is attracting scrutiny.\nTo get more power out of its rocket, SpaceX brings its propellants \u2014 liquid oxygen and refined kerosene \u2014 to unusually low temperatures. That causes them to become dense, meaning SpaceX can pack more fuel into its rockets.\nTo SpaceX, the approach is another example of how it is breaking the mold. The densified propellant \u201cprovides greater propellant margin for increased reliability,\u201d the company said in a statement. In other words, should something go wrong on the mission, the rocket would have more propellant to adjust to emergencies. SpaceX\u2019s dramatic booster landings also require additional propellant.\nBut to others it is an unnecessary risk. At a Capitol Hill hearing earlier this year, members of Congress pressed Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX\u2019s vice president for build and flight reliability, about the safety of the load-and-go procedure.\nKoenigsmann said that the fueling takes only about a half-hour, a \u201crelatively quick procedure, and we believe that this exposure time is the shortest and therefore the safest approach.\u201d\nAnd the company points out that if anything goes wrong during fueling, the rocket\u2019s launch abort system would allow the astronauts to escape safely. It also conducts a \u201cstatic fire,\u201d a quick test firing of the engines in the days leading up to the launch to make sure the rocket is operating properly.\nAnd since its rockets and its Dragon spacecraft are reusable, the company gets to inspect them after each flight, giving it an in-depth understanding of how the vehicles perform.\n\u201cAs with all hazard analyses across the entire system and operations, controls against those hazards have been identified, and will be implemented and carefully verified prior to certification,\u201d the company said in a statement.\nBut in a 2015 letter to NASA, Thomas Stafford, a retired Air Force lieutenant general and then chairman of the agency\u2019s space-station advisory committee, wrote that \u201cthere is a unanimous, and strong, feeling by the committee that scheduling the crew to be on board the Dragon spacecraft prior to loading oxidizer into the rocket is contrary to booster safety criteria that has been in place for over 50 years, both in this country and internationally.\u201d\nAt the hearing this year, William Gerstenmaier, NASA\u2019s associate administrator for human exploration and operations, said the agency had not decided whether it would allow SpaceX to load crews before loading the fuel, but he did not rule it out.\nHe vowed that the agency would \u201cmake sure that we\u2019re really, really safe to go fly, and the system is ready for crew before we put them on board.\u201d\nIn an interview, Lightfoot, the former acting NASA administrator, said the agency is in deep discussions with SpaceX about the safest way to go. The agency has a long history with SpaceX, first hiring it to fly cargo to the station and now looking for it to send humans into space.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a matter of having a good risk discussion so that we understand that,\u201d he said. \u201cI would just say that instead of working it in the press, we work in the engineering review boards.\u201d\n'You have to humanize it'\nFor all its push-the-envelope swagger, SpaceX says it is serious about flying people safely and is going to great lengths to study every aspect of the vehicle, down to individual valves, so that it will meet and surpass the 1-in-270 chance-of-death metric, said Benji Reed, the director of SpaceX\u2019s commercial crew program.\nWhen Reed was down at Cape Canaveral, Fla., on a recent trip, he came across a room on a special tour where the astronauts\u2019 families from the shuttle program used to wait ahead of the rocket launch.\nThey were stunned to see that a whiteboard with drawings made by the children of the crew lost in the 2003 Columbia disaster was still there, preserved.\n\u201cThat really drives it home,\u201d Reed said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just the people that we\u2019re flying \u2014 these are all of their families. So we take this extremely seriously, and we understand that our job is to fly people safely and bring them back safely. To do that you have to humanize it. You have to see them as your friends and as your colleagues.\u201d\nBut even with some of the best engineering minds at NASA, calculating risk is an imperfect science. There are too many unknowns in systems that are inherently dangerous and complex.\n\u201cEven identifying all of the risks is impossible,\u201d Gerstenmaier said during a speech last year. \u201cAlso, risk cannot be boiled down to a single statistic.\u201d\nBefore the very first shuttle flight, NASA estimated that the chance of death was between 1 in 500 and 1 in 5,000. Later, after the agency had compiled data from shuttle flights, it went back and came up with a very different number.\nThe chance of death was actually 1 in 12.\nchristian.davenport@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 970, "pid": "MJXG6AVGIYI6RJSWSQ7O7K25V4_3", "query_info": {"_id": 970, "text": "Provide information regarding the possibility of sabotage being responsible for the SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion.", "instruction_og": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant. Omit documents referring commercial purposes.", "short_query": "Investigate the cause of an event to answer this question.", "keywords": "Investigate cause"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "MJXG6AVGIYI6RJSWSQ7O7K25V4_3", "title": "The change agents bringing tradition-bound NASA into the future", "text": "NASA reached out to industry for suggestions, said Mike Gold, vice president of regulatory at Maxar Technologies, one of the companies to study the power and propulsion module. \u201cLoad and go is just another example of an evolution that is occurring across the agency where we are seeing NASA embrace commercial practices and commercial experience in a wide variety of programs,\u201d he said. A new approach to fuel For years, the thinking was that you fuel the rocket, make sure it\u2019s stable and then allow the astronauts on board. That would limit their exposure to a disaster. That\u2019s how the space shuttle program did it. And that\u2019s how Boeing, which also has the contract to fly astronauts for NASA, plans to fuel its rocket. But SpaceX likes to do things differently. To get more power out of its Falcon 9 rockets, it chills its propellants, liquid oxygen and refined kerosene, to extremely low temperatures. As a result, they become denser, allowing SpaceX to pack more fuel into its rockets, giving them more performance. But because the fuel is so cold, it can warm up quickly, which is why it needs to be loaded at the last minute. The company, which has never flown humans to space before, says that safety is its top priority and notes that the Falcon 9 also comes with an escape system that would allow the Dragon spacecraft to quickly fly away from the rocket booster in the event of an emergency on the pad or during flight. \u201cWe would never have proposed it had we thought that it was a less safe way to go,\u201d Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX\u2019s president and chief operating officer, told reporters this month. \u201cThe vehicle has more margin when we load the fuel quite close to liftoff.\u201d She added that the astronauts are \u201cprotected by the launch escape system. They\u2019re protected by the heat shield between Dragon and the rocket.\u201d Since its rocket exploded while being fueled in 2016, the company has notched 33 successful launches in a row using this fueling technique and has completed dozens more engine test fires. In a statement, Kathy Lueders, the manager of NASA\u2019s commercial crew program, said the agency decided to go along with SpaceX\u2019s plan after conducting \u201can extensive review of the SpaceX ground operations, launch vehicle design, escape systems and operational history. Safety for our personnel was the driver for this analysis,"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The rap on NASA is that it\u2019s risk-averse, stuck in the old ways of doing things, stymied by a big 60-year-old bureaucracy that was chastened by two fatal space shuttle disasters.\nThat was the mind-set that seemed to greet SpaceX\u2019s controversial fueling plan. Instead of filling the rocket with propellant before the astronauts board, the company proposed doing it after.\nLoading a combustible mix of propellants underneath NASA\u2019s finest set off alarms inside some parts of the agency and among safety experts, who warned that it was contrary to decades of spaceflight procedure. One watchdog group called it a \u201cpotential safety risk\u201d \u2014 a spark during fueling could set off an explosion, many in NASA feared. That\u2019s what happened when a SpaceX rocket blew up while being fueled in 2016.\nBut then NASA recently announced that it would allow SpaceX\u2019s fueling procedure, informally known as \u201cload and go,\u201d under the condition that the company demonstrate it five times before receiving formal certification. The decision was a significant one for NASA and signals an ongoing cultural shift as the agency partners with a growing commercial space industry that thrives on pushing boundaries.\nNASA\u2019s evolution has been years in the making, officials said, as it grows more comfortable giving industry more autonomy and freedom, which many hope will spark the kind of innovation necessary to make spaceflight more routine.\nOver the years, it has developed deep partnerships with several companies, awarding them billions of dollars in contracts to carry out crucial services. Under the George W. Bush administration, NASA decided to hire contractors \u2014 SpaceX and Orbital ATK \u2014 to fly cargo and supplies to the International Space Station.\nThen, under President Barack Obama, it awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing to fly crews there, with the first flights expected next year. In doing so, the agency allowed the companies to build, design and operate their spacecraft. And while NASA laid out a list of requirements that the companies must meet, it did not dictate how they should meet them.\nBeing able to rely on private companies to provide a delivery service to the space station \u201cwas one of the major shifting factors,\u201d said Eric Stallmer, the president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. \u201cThat played a huge role.\u201d\nTrading knowledge\nNASA does lend its expertise and oversight, but at the same time, the companies are teaching the agency a thing or two about how to apply business practices to open the frontiers of space. None more so than Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX, which from the beginning of its partnership with NASA ran into resistance, a clash of Silicon Valley-style ethos with government bureaucracy, youthful impatience with aged bureaucracy.\nNow President Trump and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine have gone out of their way to praise the efforts of private space companies and make it clear that the agency intends to rely on them.\n\u201cRich guys, they love rocket ships,\u201d Trump said at a Cabinet meeting this year. \u201cThat\u2019s good. That\u2019s better than us paying for them.\u201d\nIn a statement to The Washington Post, Bridenstine said that industry has had a transformative effect on the agency: \u201cOur commercial partners are challenging us to be more agile, think differently, buy smarter and develop more efficiently.\u201d\nSpaceX isn\u2019t the only company seeing the benefit of NASA\u2019s shift. The agency is being far more welcoming to private-sector input in the first component of its proposed lunar gateway program, a space station to float in the vicinity of the moon.\nInstead of dictating the requirements and design of the part of the gateway that would provide power and propulsion, NASA reached out to industry for suggestions, said Mike Gold, vice president of regulatory at Maxar Technologies, one of the companies to study the power and propulsion module.\n\u201cLoad and go is just another example of an evolution that is occurring across the agency where we are seeing NASA embrace commercial practices and commercial experience in a wide variety of programs,\u201d he said.\nA new approach to fuel\nFor years, the thinking was that you fuel the rocket, make sure it\u2019s stable and then allow the astronauts on board. That would limit their exposure to a disaster. That\u2019s how the space shuttle program did it. And that\u2019s how Boeing, which also has the contract to fly astronauts for NASA, plans to fuel its rocket.\nBut SpaceX likes to do things differently.\nTo get more power out of its Falcon 9 rockets, it chills its propellants, liquid oxygen and refined kerosene, to extremely low temperatures. As a result, they become denser, allowing SpaceX to pack more fuel into its rockets, giving them more performance. But because the fuel is so cold, it can warm up quickly, which is why it needs to be loaded at the last minute.\nThe company, which has never flown humans to space before, says that safety is its top priority and notes that the Falcon 9 also comes with an escape system that would allow the Dragon spacecraft to quickly fly away from the rocket booster in the event of an emergency on the pad or during flight.\n\u201cWe would never have proposed it had we thought that it was a less safe way to go,\u201d Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX\u2019s president and chief operating officer, told reporters this month. \u201cThe vehicle has more margin when we load the fuel quite close to liftoff.\u201d\nShe added that the astronauts are \u201cprotected by the launch escape system. They\u2019re protected by the heat shield between Dragon and the rocket.\u201d\nSince its rocket exploded while being fueled in 2016, the company has notched 33 successful launches in a row using this fueling technique and has completed dozens more engine test fires.\nIn a statement, Kathy Lueders, the manager of NASA\u2019s commercial crew program, said the agency decided to go along with SpaceX\u2019s plan after conducting \u201can extensive review of the SpaceX ground operations, launch vehicle design, escape systems and operational history. Safety for our personnel was the driver for this analysis, and the team\u2019s assessment was that this plan presents the least risk.\u201d\nStill, before signing off on the procedure, she said, SpaceX would have to demonstrate it five times, and then \u201cNASA will assess any remaining risk before determining that the system is certified to fly with crew.\u201d\nIf all goes to plan, the astronauts would board the SpaceX craft about two hours before liftoff. Then the ground crews would leave the launch site, the escape system would be activated, and fueling would begin about 38 minutes before launch.\n\u201cNASA has learned a number of things from SpaceX,\u201d said George Nield, a member of NASA\u2019s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. \u201cThere\u2019s not just one way to do these things. And with new technology and thinking out of the box, there are other ways that can be beneficial to not just the companies but to the government itself. .\u2009.\u2009. And load and go is an example that NASA has slowly warmed up to.\u201d\nSpeaking to reporters last spring, Musk, SpaceX\u2019s founder and chief executive, said that the rocket was designed to be the most robust in the world and dismissed concerns over the fueling.\n\u201cI really do not think this presents a safety issue for astronauts,\u201d he said, calling it an \u201coverblown issue.\u201d\nStill, he said that launching rockets is a dangerous business that always carries some level of risk.\n\u201cThere could be a thousand things that could go right with this rocket and one that goes wrong,\u201d he said. \u201cThe reason it is so hard to make an orbital rocket is that your passing grade is 100\u00a0percent.\u201d\nchristian.davenport@"}
{"qid": 970, "pid": "OA6O2JPM6RHWBIYRGJQV22CTYI_2", "query_info": {"_id": 970, "text": "Provide information regarding the possibility of sabotage being responsible for the SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion.", "instruction_og": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant. Omit documents referring commercial purposes.", "short_query": "Investigate the cause of an event to answer this question.", "keywords": "Investigate cause"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "OA6O2JPM6RHWBIYRGJQV22CTYI_2", "title": "Rocket problem prompts NASA and SpaceX to delay next launch of astronauts", "text": "crew safe. Speaking to reporters recently, Koenigsmann stressed that there \u201cwas nothing to be concerned with at all times. The astronauts were safe, and the vehicle was working perfectly.\" Earlier this month, SpaceX scrubbed a pair of launches late in the countdown, prompting Musk\u2019s plans for \"a broad review of launch site, propulsion, structures, avionics & regulatory constraints this weekend.\u201d He added that he would make a trip to Cape Canaveral \u201cto review hardware in person.\u201d A launch on Oct. 2 of a GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force was scrubbed two seconds before liftoff after what Musk described as an \u201cunexpected pressure rise in the turbomachinery gas generator,\u201d which helps power the rocket\u2019s Merlin engines. A day earlier, SpaceX scrubbed a launch of its Starlink satellites with 18 seconds to go in the count because of a problem with a ground sensor. After scrubbing the Starlink mission, SpaceX bounced back and launched the batch of 60 satellites on Tuesday. Still, SpaceX\u2019s goal is to launch much more frequently, and Musk said on Twitter recently that: \u201cWe will need to make a lot of improvements to have a chance of completing 48 launches next year!\u201d The GPS launch has not yet been rescheduled. The company\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket has flown more than 90 times, the most of any U.S. rocket currently in operation and is considered a reliable workhorse. NASA uses it to fly cargo and supplies to the International Space Station and has certified it for human spaceflight as well. But it has had problems. In 2015, a rocket carrying cargo to the station exploded some two minutes into flight after a steel strut failed, causing helium to overpressurize a second stage liquid oxygen tank. Then, in 2016, another exploded while being fueled on the launch pad ahead of an engine test after a helium tank buckled. Last year, the company lost its Dragon spacecraft in an explosion ahead of an engine test fire. NASA and SpaceX investigated all three incidents and eventually cleared SpaceX to fly again. Noguchi, a veteran of the three space missions, recently told reporters that it is important \"to be diligent and don\u2019t be complacent. We have to ask the right questions at the right time to make sure the space vehicle is safe enough. Of course we trust the system. But as a crew we have to persuade ourselves that this vehicle"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "NASA announced Saturday that SpaceX\u2019s next mission flying astronauts to the International Space Station will be delayed until early or mid-November after the company experienced a problem with the first stage of a booster rocket during a recent launch.\nIn a blog post, the agency said that the extra time would allow \u201cSpaceX to complete hardware testing and data reviews\u201d of an issue with an engine gas generator. NASA said it has \u201cfull insight into the company\u2019s launch and testing data.\u201d\n\u201cWe have a strong working relationship with our SpaceX partner,\u201d Kathy Lueders, associate administrator of NASA\u2019s human exploration and operations mission directorate, said in the post. \u201cWith the high cadence of missions SpaceX performs, it really gives us incredible insight into this commercial system and helps us make informed decisions about the status of our missions. The teams are actively working this finding on the engines, and we should be a lot smarter within the coming week.\u201d\nSpaceX declined to comment.\nEarlier this month, after the company had to delay a couple of launches because of mechanical issues, Elon Musk, SpaceX\u2019s founder and CEO, said on Twitter he was going to Cape Canaveral to conduct a \u201cbroad review\u201d of operations there.\nThe mission, which had previously been scheduled for Oct. 31, would launch NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Shannon Walker, Victor Glover as well as Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi to the space station for a stay of about six months.\nIt would be SpaceX\u2019s first operational mission of flying full crews for extended stays after it successfully completed a shorter test mission with two astronauts in August to verify the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.\nNASA and SpaceX said that test mission, from launch, to docking to splashdown, went flawlessly. But since then SpaceX said that it had redesigned a portion of the capsule\u2019s heat shield after noticing what Hans Koeigsmann, SpaceX\u2019s vice president of build and reliability, said was \u201ca little more erosion than we wanted to see.\u201d The erosion was in a few small areas where the crew capsule joins the spacecraft\u2019s trunk, an unpressurized cargo hold that is discarded before the spacecraft slams into the atmosphere.\nThe friction between the thickening air and the speeding spacecraft generates temperatures as high as 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit and engulf the capsule in a fireball. The heat shield covers the bottom of the spacecraft and keeps the crew safe.\nSpeaking to reporters recently, Koenigsmann stressed that there \u201cwas nothing to be concerned with at all times. The astronauts were safe, and the vehicle was working perfectly.\"\nEarlier this month, SpaceX scrubbed a pair of launches late in the countdown, prompting Musk\u2019s plans for \"a broad review of launch site, propulsion, structures, avionics & regulatory constraints this weekend.\u201d He added that he would make a trip to Cape Canaveral \u201cto review hardware in person.\u201d\nA launch on Oct. 2 of a GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force was scrubbed two seconds before liftoff after what Musk described as an \u201cunexpected pressure rise in the turbomachinery gas generator,\u201d which helps power the rocket\u2019s Merlin engines.\nA day earlier, SpaceX scrubbed a launch of its Starlink satellites with 18 seconds to go in the count because of a problem with a ground sensor. After scrubbing the Starlink mission, SpaceX bounced back and launched the batch of 60 satellites on Tuesday. Still, SpaceX\u2019s goal is to launch much more frequently, and Musk said on Twitter recently that: \u201cWe will need to make a lot of improvements to have a chance of completing 48 launches next year!\u201d\nThe GPS launch has not yet been rescheduled.\nThe company\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket has flown more than 90 times, the most of any U.S. rocket currently in operation and is considered a reliable workhorse. NASA uses it to fly cargo and supplies to the International Space Station and has certified it for human spaceflight as well.\nBut it has had problems. In 2015, a rocket carrying cargo to the station exploded some two minutes into flight after a steel strut failed, causing helium to overpressurize a second stage liquid oxygen tank. Then, in 2016, another exploded while being fueled on the launch pad ahead of an engine test after a helium tank buckled.\nLast year, the company lost its Dragon spacecraft in an explosion ahead of an engine test fire. NASA and SpaceX investigated all three incidents and eventually cleared SpaceX to fly again.\nNoguchi, a veteran of the three space missions, recently told reporters that it is important \"to be diligent and don\u2019t be complacent. We have to ask the right questions at the right time to make sure the space vehicle is safe enough. Of course we trust the system. But as a crew we have to persuade ourselves that this vehicle is safe to fly.\u201d"}
{"qid": 970, "pid": "Y62CZXXXFEI6PM2KXBLCNLZU54_2", "query_info": {"_id": 970, "text": "Provide information regarding the possibility of sabotage being responsible for the SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion.", "instruction_og": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant. Omit documents referring commercial purposes.", "short_query": "Investigate the cause of an event to answer this question.", "keywords": "Investigate cause"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "Y62CZXXXFEI6PM2KXBLCNLZU54_2", "title": "Lost in space? Questions mount over fate of secret satellite as SpaceX pushes ahead", "text": "and the satellite manufacturer, Northrop.\" While he said he did not know who was to blame, he indicated that the dispute might lead to litigation. \"Those two companies are going to have a long and, I suspect, very expensive discussion,\" he said. SpaceX's resolve and relentless drive were unchanged by the mystery surrounding Zuma (which included the possibility that nothing went wrong and that the satellite was, indeed, in orbit). Last year, the company launched 18 times successfully, a record for SpaceX. This year, it plans to break that record, continuing its disruption of an industry Musk first targeted when he founded SpaceX in 2002. As critics were quick to call SpaceX's reliability into question, the company rolled its new powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy, onto the same launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center that hoisted the Apollo astronauts to the moon. An engine test fire had been postponed earlier in the week and was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Despite the Zuma mystery, SpaceX vowed to continue with its manifest without delay. That in itself was a statement: \"They're not going to launch again if they think there's a chance it was their fault,\" said Todd Harrison, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Matt Desch, the chief executive of Iridium, a communications satellite company that is one of SpaceX's biggest customers, said in an interview that he \"absolutely\" had full confidence in SpaceX and that he had no qualms about proceeding with the four launches Iridium has on the Falcon 9 this year. \"We're moving forward with plans for our next launch,\" he said. \"I know there are people who would love SpaceX to be taken down a few notches. And I'd be glad to hold them accountable for things they should be held accountable for. But this isn't one. I believe they weren't really responsible.\" Meanwhile, SpaceX's chief rival made a statement of its own on Friday. After a couple-day delay, the United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, launched a Delta IV rocket carrying a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. After a successful liftoff, the rocket was traveling at Mach 1, the speed of sound, within 49 seconds, as it burned through propellant at a rate of 1,950 pounds per second. \"Delta is ripping the sky at incredible speed,\" Tory"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The top-secret satellite known only by a code name, \"Zuma,\" was a mystery from the start. Its classified mission was intentionally inscrutable, whether to detect missile launches, spy on adversaries or track ships at sea with a space radar.\nThe satellite was so highly secretive that it was not publicly released which government agency \u2014 The National Reconnaissance Office? The CIA? \u2014 was responsible for it. During the launch on the evening of Jan. 7, SpaceX cut short its webcast so that it wouldn't reveal details of where the satellite was going or what it looked like.\nNow there's another mystery: What happened to Zuma?\nAfter reports Monday that the satellite suffered some sort of failure, SpaceX rushed to defend its reputation, denying that it had done anything wrong. Its Falcon 9 rocket \"performed nominally,\" it said.\nThen, on Tuesday morning, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell issued a more strongly worded statement, saying: \"For clarity: after review of all data to date, Falcon 9 did everything correctly on Sunday night. If we or others find otherwise based on further review, we will report it immediately.\"\nShotwell pushed back on reports that seemed to implicate SpaceX with the satellite's demise, saying \"information published that is contrary to this statement is categorically false.\"\nNorthrop Grumman, the satellite's manufacturer, said it could not comment on a classified mission. As members of Congress began requesting classified briefings about what, if anything, went wrong, Pentagon officials were also mum.\nFor SpaceX, the stakes are especially high \u2014 not just because a valuable national security asset valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, that it was hired to launch was possibly lost. It had fought so hard for the right to compete for national security launches. After a bitter legal and lobbying battle, the Pentagon certified SpaceX's Falcon 9 for the missions and now is relying on SpaceX to reliably fly its satellites to orbit.\nFurthermore, NASA is counting on Elon Musk's company to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, with test flights as early as this year.\nU.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), who said he received a \"preliminary briefing,\" had two concerns about the possible loss of the satellite.\n\"One is the loss of the intelligence that would have been available,\" he said. \"The second concern is the reliability of the delivery systems. And that issue is being debated between the contractors, SpaceX and the satellite manufacturer, Northrop.\"\nWhile he said he did not know who was to blame, he indicated that the dispute might lead to litigation. \"Those two companies are going to have a long and, I suspect, very expensive discussion,\" he said.\nSpaceX's resolve and relentless drive were unchanged by the mystery surrounding Zuma (which included the possibility that nothing went wrong and that the satellite was, indeed, in orbit). Last year, the company launched 18 times successfully, a record for SpaceX. This year, it plans to break that record, continuing its disruption of an industry Musk first targeted when he founded SpaceX in 2002.\nAs critics were quick to call SpaceX's reliability into question, the company rolled its new powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy, onto the same launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center that hoisted the Apollo astronauts to the moon. An engine test fire had been postponed earlier in the week and was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Despite the Zuma mystery, SpaceX vowed to continue with its manifest without delay.\nThat in itself was a statement: \"They're not going to launch again if they think there's a chance it was their fault,\" said Todd Harrison, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.\nMatt Desch, the chief executive of Iridium, a communications satellite company that is one of SpaceX's biggest customers, said in an interview that he \"absolutely\" had full confidence in SpaceX and that he had no qualms about proceeding with the four launches Iridium has on the Falcon 9 this year.\n\"We're moving forward with plans for our next launch,\" he said. \"I know there are people who would love SpaceX to be taken down a few notches. And I'd be glad to hold them accountable for things they should be held accountable for. But this isn't one. I believe they weren't really responsible.\"\nMeanwhile, SpaceX's chief rival made a statement of its own on Friday. After a couple-day delay, the United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, launched a Delta IV rocket carrying a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.\nAfter a successful liftoff, the rocket was traveling at Mach 1, the speed of sound, within 49 seconds, as it burned through propellant at a rate of 1,950 pounds per second.\n\"Delta is ripping the sky at incredible speed,\" Tory Bruno, the United Launch Alliance's chief executive, wrote on Twitter.\n'What an incredible way to start off 2018'\nOn Jan. 7, the SpaceX launch appeared to go smoothly. The company cheered a successful liftoff and then the touchdown of its first-stage booster back on land so that it could be flown again, a practice designed to lower the cost of spaceflight.\nMusk on Monday tweeted a long-exposure picture of the launch showing its fiery trail to space \u2014 and then the return of the booster, which has become routine for the company.\nThe Air Force's 45th Space Wing congratulated SpaceX in a tweet: \"What an incredible way to start off 2018 w/the world's 1st successful launch and landing of this year!\"\nThe launch was an important one for the California-based company founded nearly 16 years ago. Since its early days, Musk has waged war against the traditional contractors, namely the United Launch Alliance, in an attempt to compete for national security launch contracts, generally worth hundreds of millions of dollars.\nFor years, Musk proclaimed that SpaceX could save taxpayers millions by offering the Pentagon launches for far less than its rival. Meanwhile, the United Launch Alliance maintained that responsibility for vital national security satellites that cost hundreds of millions should not be decided on just price.\nMore than 10 years ago, even before it had flown a rocket to space successfully, SpaceX sued Boeing and Lockheed Martin in an attempt to block the formation of the United Launch Alliance, which it said was using \"strong-armed tactics to demand that the Air Force grant them exclusive long-term contracts.\" But SpaceX was derided as an \"ankle biter\" by its competitors, and the lawsuit went nowhere.\nIn 2014, SpaceX sued again in an attempt to end the nearly decade-long monopoly the United Launch Alliance held on national security launches, arguing that it should be able to compete for the launch contracts. By that point, SpaceX had been flying its Falcon 9 rocket successfully, and the Air Force settled the case with SpaceX, eventually granting it the certification required for it to compete.\nUnder mounting pressure from SpaceX, Bruno vowed to \"literally transform\" the company to compete \u2014 and he also continued to champion the firm's track record of more than 100 successful launches in a row.\nSince the contracts became competitively bid, SpaceX has won two of three contests.\n'Space is a risky business'\nBut it has also had its setbacks. In 2015, a Falcon 9 rocket blew up while carrying cargo to the space station. Then, in 2016, another rocket exploded while being fueled ahead of an engine test. No one was hurt in either explosion, but the payloads, worth millions of dollars, were lost.\nIn both cases, the company was grounded while it investigated the cause of the problems. As of now, SpaceX is moving ahead with its launch manifest.\n\"Since the data reviewed so far indicates that no design, operational or other changes are needed, we do not anticipate any impact on the upcoming launch schedule,\" Shotwell said.\nAs for Zuma's fate, little is known.\nThis week, members of Congress began receiving briefings but were tight-lipped about the classified sessions.\nU.S. Rep. Mike D. Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, said in a statement that while he couldn't comment on classified matters, \"space is a risky business.\" He said his committee would provide \"rigorous oversight that accounts for that risk and ensures that we can meet all of our national security space requirements as the Air Force looks to competitively procure space launch services in the future.\"\nHarrison, the defense analyst, said that SpaceX is in a frustrating position because it is limited in what it can say publicly about what happened.\n\"It's a particular nightmare if nothing went wrong on their part and they can't prove it because of the classified nature of the mission,\" he said.\nchristian.davenport@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 970, "pid": "YJWVAJX5Z5D6BN62I2VSGLFHOQ_0", "query_info": {"_id": 970, "text": "Provide information regarding the possibility of sabotage being responsible for the SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion.", "instruction_og": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant. Omit documents referring commercial purposes.", "short_query": "Investigate the cause of an event to answer this question.", "keywords": "Investigate cause"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "YJWVAJX5Z5D6BN62I2VSGLFHOQ_0", "title": "After 2016 rocket explosion, Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX looked seriously at sabotage", "text": "His rocket had blown up into a spectacular fireball. The Cape Canaveral launchpad that SpaceX had essentially built from scratch was now in ashes. And Elon Musk was dumbfounded. A week after the explosion in September 2016, with still no idea what caused the rocket to suddenly explode while being fueled ahead of an engine test, Musk vented on Twitter that the loss of the rocket was \u201cturning out to be the most difficult and complex failure we have ever had in 14 years.\u201d On the Internet, where conspiracy theories were already percolating, some speculated that the \u201csomething else\u201d was a projectile, maybe even a bullet or UFO. On Twitter, Musk was asked about the possibility of something hitting the rocket, and he fueled speculation even further by saying, \u201cWe have not ruled that out.\u201d Although they didn\u2019t say so publicly at the time, SpaceX investigators were looking seriously at sabotage, Musk and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in their most extensive public comments since the explosion. \u201cWe literally thought someone had shot the rocket,\u201d Musk said in an interview last summer at SpaceX\u2019s headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif. \u201cWe found things that looked like bullet holes, and we calculated that someone with a high-powered rifle, if they had shot the rocket in the right location, the exact same thing would have happened.\u201d If someone did shoot the rocket, SpaceX knew it needed to collect whatever evidence it could as fast as possible. \u201cSo for sure, we put pressure on the Air Force and the [Federal Aviation Administration] to go collect whatever forensic data was possible,\u201d Shotwell said. \u201cThe first thing you do is think it\u2019s some outside force, right. Because we couldn\u2019t figure out how in the world this could have happened.\u201d Early indications were that something caused an upper-stage helium bottle to explode, and at the SpaceX test site in McGregor, Tex., engineers were trying to replicate the explosion. But \u201cwe were having a hard time blowing these bottles up,\u201d she said. So, instead, they got a rifle, \u201cand we shot it,\u201d Shotwell said. \u201cAnd the signature on the bottle was just like the signature on the bottle that we recovered. That was an easy test to do. It\u2019s Texas, right, everybody\u2019s got a gun and you can blow stuff up.\u201d But who would want to? About two weeks after the explosion, a SpaceX employee suddenly appeared at a"}], "old": [{"_id": "YJWVAJX5Z5D6BN62I2VSGLFHOQ_0", "title": "After 2016 rocket explosion, Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX looked seriously at sabotage", "text": "This story is adapted from a forthcoming book, \"The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos.\""}], "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "His rocket had blown up into a spectacular fireball. The Cape Canaveral launchpad that SpaceX had essentially built from scratch was now in ashes. And Elon Musk was dumbfounded.\nA week after the explosion in September 2016, with still no idea what caused the rocket to suddenly\u00a0explode while being fueled ahead of an engine test,\u00a0Musk vented on Twitter that the loss of the rocket was \u201cturning out to be the most difficult and complex failure we have ever had in 14 years.\u201d\nOn the Internet, where conspiracy theories were already percolating, some speculated that the \u201csomething else\u201d was a projectile, maybe even a bullet or UFO. On Twitter, Musk was asked about the possibility of something hitting the rocket, and he fueled speculation even further by saying, \u201cWe have not ruled that out.\u201d\nAlthough they didn\u2019t say so publicly at the time, SpaceX investigators were looking seriously at sabotage, Musk and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said in their most extensive public comments since the explosion.\n\u201cWe literally thought someone had shot the rocket,\u201d Musk said in an interview last summer at SpaceX\u2019s headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif.\u00a0\u201cWe found things that looked like bullet holes, and we calculated that someone with a high-powered rifle, if they had shot the rocket in the right location, the exact same thing would have happened.\u201d\nIf someone did shoot the rocket, SpaceX knew it needed to collect whatever evidence it could as fast as possible. \u201cSo for sure, we put pressure on the Air Force and the [Federal Aviation Administration] to go collect whatever forensic data was possible,\u201d Shotwell said. \u201cThe first thing you do is think it\u2019s some outside force, right. Because we couldn\u2019t figure out how in the world this could have happened.\u201d\nEarly indications were that something caused an upper-stage helium bottle to explode, and at the SpaceX test site in McGregor, Tex., engineers were trying to replicate the explosion. But \u201cwe were having a hard time blowing these bottles up,\u201d she said.\nSo, instead, they got a rifle, \u201cand we shot it,\u201d Shotwell said. \u201cAnd the signature on the bottle was just like the signature on the bottle that we recovered. That was an easy test to do. It\u2019s Texas, right, everybody\u2019s got a gun and you can blow stuff up.\u201d\nBut who would want to?\nAbout two weeks after the explosion, a SpaceX employee suddenly appeared at a Cape Canaveral facility of one of the company\u2019s chief rivals. For years, SpaceX had been battling the United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, over lucrative contracts, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, to launch military satellites. At first, SpaceX was dismissed as an \u201cankle biter\u201d and wasn\u2019t taken seriously.\nBut SpaceX had become more successful than anyone predicted.\u00a0It had also settled a lawsuit with the Air Force, which granted the company the right to compete against ULA. SpaceX now posed a serious threat.\nThe SpaceX employee who showed up at ULA\u2019s facility had an odd request: Could he have access to the roof?\nThe reason, the employee explained, was that SpaceX had still images from a video that appeared to show a shadow, then a bright white spot, coming from the roof. ULA\u2019s building was about a mile away from the launchpad and had a clear line of sight to it.\nULA was incredulous, and refused to let the SpaceX employee into the building. Instead, it called Air Force investigators, who inspected the roof and found nothing amiss.\nIt took\u00a0months for SpaceX to complete its investigation into the cause of the explosion. Ultimately, it concluded there was a problem with a pressure vessel in the second-stage liquid oxygen tank.\u00a0The FAA ruled out sabotage -- by rifle shot or any other means\u00a0-- as a cause, and granted SpaceX a launch license so that it could return to flight.\nMusk concluded that SpaceX, not ULA or anyone else, was to blame. \u201cIt was a self-inflicted wound,\u201d he said in the interview. \u201cIt took us a long time, but we were able to re-create the failure.\u201d\nSpaceX returned to flight in early 2017. And then in February of that year, it had a triumphant launch in its first flight from the Kennedy Space Center\u2019s launch pad 39A, the site that sent the crew of Apollo 11\u00a0-- Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins\u00a0-- to the moon.\nSpaceX pressed ahead, but Musk grew wary. Even if he had ruled out foul play, the incident \u201cdid alert us to the fact that sabotage was a real thing, so we upgraded security,\u201d he said.\nA crew from CBS\u2019s \"The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,\" which was being escorted by Boeing officials, stopped outside the gates to check out pad 39A, SpaceX called security on them.\nThey were stopped and\u00a0questioned. After showing identification, they were allowed to go.\nThis story is adapted from a forthcoming book, \"The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos.\""}
{"qid": 970, "pid": "a766cb99a7457bfd9d32005ce8ae49e1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 970, "text": "Provide information regarding the possibility of sabotage being responsible for the SpaceX Falcon 9 explosion.", "instruction_og": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant.", "instruction_changed": "I am interested in information concerning the possibility that sabotage might have been responsible for the September 2016 explosion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Details of the explosion itself and any observations are relevant. Details of the investigation into the explosion, including evidence pointing toward or away from sabotage, and any conclusions are all relevant. Omit documents referring commercial purposes.", "short_query": "Investigate the cause of an event to answer this question.", "keywords": "Investigate cause"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a766cb99a7457bfd9d32005ce8ae49e1_0", "title": "That SpaceX explosion blew up one of Facebook\u2019s most ambitious projects", "text": "An explosion at a SpaceX launch site in Florida occurred during a static test fire. The explosion destroyed a satellite that Facebook help fund which was designed to provide Internet access to areas in Africa. SpaceX is reeling after an early-morning explosion took out its rocket on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral. The incident is a major setback for chief executive Elon Musk. But odds are the tragic news is disappointing another U.S. tech billionaire, too. You see, the rocket destroyed Thursday was bearing a satellite that Facebook intended to use to beam Internet access to developing nations. When the rocket went up in smoke, so did the cargo inside, according to SpaceX. \"SpaceX can confirm that in preparation for today's static fire, there was an anomaly on the pad resulting in the loss of the vehicle and its payload,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cPer standard procedure, the pad was clear and there were no injuries.\" Last year, Facebook's chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, said he was eager to use the AMOS-6 satellite to deliver broadband connectivity to hard-to-reach parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Facebook has some 84 million users in the region. \"To connect people living in remote regions, traditional connectivity infrastructure is often difficult and inefficient, so we need to invent new technologies,\" he wrote in a Facebook post in October. Zuckerberg has spoken proudly of the initiative to connect the world's next billion people to the Web. On Monday, Zuckerberg met with Pope Francis and presented him with a model of the Aquila drone that Facebook expects to help beam Internet down to the Earth. The drones are meant to work together with Facebook's satellite plans by essentially creating a single wireless network in the atmosphere. The company has also developed terrestrial equipment that can either act as standalone mobile data hotspots or as a hub for a local data network. A Falcon 9 rocket set to take a satellite into space on Labor Day weekend exploded during testing days before. Courtesy of http://www.uslaunchreport.com/. \"As I'm here in Africa, I'm deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX's launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent,\" Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post Thursday. \"Fortunately, we have developed other technologies like Aquila that will connect people as well.\" It's unclear what Facebook plans to do next to compensate"}], "old": [{"_id": "a766cb99a7457bfd9d32005ce8ae49e1_0", "title": "That SpaceX explosion blew up one of Facebook\u2019s most ambitious projects", "text": "An explosion at a SpaceX launch site in Florida occurred during a static test fire. The explosion destroyed a satellite that Facebook help fund which was designed to provide Internet access to areas in Africa. \"SpaceX can confirm that in preparation for today's static fire, there was an anomaly on the pad resulting in the loss of the vehicle and its payload,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cPer standard procedure, the pad was clear and there were no injuries.\" A Falcon 9 rocket set to take a satellite into space on Labor Day weekend exploded during testing days before. Courtesy of http://www.uslaunchreport.com/. It's unclear what Facebook plans to do next to compensate for the loss of the AMOS-6 satellite, whose 18 Gbps connections it planned to lease in partnership with Eutelsat for $95 million across five years. The company declined to comment on the explosion."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "An explosion at a SpaceX launch site in Florida occurred during a static test fire. The explosion destroyed a satellite that Facebook help fund which was designed to provide Internet access to areas in Africa.\nSpaceX is reeling after an early-morning explosion took out\u00a0its rocket on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral. The incident is a major setback for chief executive Elon Musk. But odds are the tragic news is disappointing\u00a0another U.S. tech billionaire, too.\nYou see, the rocket destroyed Thursday was bearing a satellite that Facebook intended\u00a0to use to beam Internet access to developing nations. When the rocket went up in smoke, so did the cargo\u00a0inside, according to SpaceX.\n\"SpaceX can confirm that in preparation for today's static fire, there was an anomaly on the pad resulting in the loss of the vehicle and its payload,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cPer standard procedure, the pad was clear and there were no injuries.\"\nLast\u00a0year, Facebook's chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, said he was eager to use the AMOS-6 satellite to deliver broadband connectivity to hard-to-reach parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Facebook has some 84 million users in the region.\n\"To connect people living in remote regions, traditional connectivity infrastructure is often difficult and inefficient, so we need to invent new technologies,\" he wrote in a Facebook post in October.\nZuckerberg has spoken proudly of the initiative to connect the world's next billion people to the Web. On Monday, Zuckerberg met with\u00a0Pope Francis and presented him with a model of the Aquila drone that Facebook expects to help beam Internet down to the Earth. The drones are meant to work\u00a0together\u00a0with Facebook's satellite plans by essentially creating a single wireless network in the atmosphere. The company has also developed terrestrial equipment\u00a0that can either act as standalone mobile data hotspots or as a hub for a local data network.\nA Falcon 9 rocket set to take a satellite into space on Labor Day weekend exploded during testing days before. Courtesy of http://www.uslaunchreport.com/.\n\"As I'm here in Africa, I'm deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX's launch failure destroyed our satellite that would have provided connectivity to so many entrepreneurs and everyone else across the continent,\" Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post Thursday. \"Fortunately, we have developed other technologies like Aquila that will connect people as well.\"\nIt's unclear what Facebook plans to do next to compensate for the loss of the AMOS-6 satellite, whose 18 Gbps connections it planned to lease in partnership with\u00a0Eutelsat for $95 million across five years.\nThe company\u00a0declined to comment on the explosion."}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "3257e3e8-3476-11e4-9e92-0899b306bbea_0", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3257e3e8-3476-11e4-9e92-0899b306bbea_0", "title": "Backers of high-speed \u2018maglev\u2019 train to Washington claim $5 billion in funding", "text": "The L0 series magnetic-levitation train, developed by Central Japan Railway Co., moves along a test track near the control center during a trial run in Tsuru City, Japan, on Aug. 29, 2013. (Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg) An investor group hoping to build a high-speed train capable of cutting the travel time between Baltimore and Washington to 15 minutes says in a filing to state regulators that it has lined up more than $5 billion in financial backing. The commitment is from the Japanese government, which hopes to showcase the technology behind superconducting magnetic levitation or \u201cmaglev\u201d trains to an American audience, the company behind the proposal wrote to the Maryland Public Service Commission on Wednesday. Such trains are capable of extreme speeds, thanks to their frictionless, magnetically-controlled motion above their tracks. The technology has been approved in Japan and is to be rolled out next month on an initial stretch of track that planners hope will eventually connect Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. In addition to the $5 billion commitment from the public Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the private Central Japan Railway Co. has agreed to waive any licensing fees for use of its maglev technology, wrote attorneys for the Annapolis-based Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail LLC. The details were included in Rapid Rail\u2019s filing Wednesday asking Maryland regulators for the old state franchise rights of the former Washington Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railroad, a once-busy interurban electric rail car system that linked the three cities in the early 20th century. \u201cIn a back-to-the-future type way, you see that there was already a Baltimore-Washington service that previously existed. . . sort of sitting on the shelf waiting for people to pull it off and dust it off, for us to get back to providing what they had in 1935,\u201d said Wayne Rogers, a major shareholder in Rapid Rail and chairman and chief executive of The Northeast Maglev, a separate Washington-based company backing the project. A spokeswoman for the Maryland PSC, which regulates \u201ccommon carriers\u201d in the state, including passenger rail providers, confirmed receipt of the application. The agency will open a case on the application, accept comments from staff and others, and conduct a hearing on whether granting Rapid Rail\u2019s request \u201cis consistent with the public convenience and necessity,\u201d said Regina L. Davis. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake\u2019s office welcomed the new details about maglev. \u201cBecause Baltimore provides millennials and empty-nesters with affordable city living,"}], "old": [{"_id": "3257e3e8-3476-11e4-9e92-0899b306bbea_0", "title": "Backers of high-speed \u2018maglev\u2019 train to Washington claim $5 billion in funding", "text": "The L0 series magnetic-levitation train, developed by Central Japan Railway Co., moves along a test track near the control center during a trial run in Tsuru City, Japan, on Aug. 29, 2013. (Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg) The commitment is from the Japanese government, which hopes to showcase the technology behind superconducting magnetic levitation or \u201cmaglev\u201d trains to an American audience, the company behind the proposal wrote to the Maryland Public Service Commission on Wednesday. Such trains are capable of extreme speeds, thanks to their frictionless, magnetically-controlled motion above their tracks. The technology has been approved in Japan and is to be rolled out next month on an initial stretch of track that planners hope will eventually connect Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. In addition to the $5 billion commitment from the public Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the private Central Japan Railway Co. has agreed to waive any licensing fees for use of its maglev technology, wrote attorneys for the Annapolis-based Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail LLC. The details were included in Rapid Rail\u2019s filing Wednesday asking Maryland regulators for the old state franchise rights of the former Washington Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railroad, a once-busy interurban electric rail car system that linked the three cities in the early 20th century. A spokeswoman for the Maryland PSC, which regulates \u201ccommon carriers\u201d in the state, including passenger rail providers, confirmed receipt of the application. The agency will open a case on the application, accept comments from staff and others, and conduct a hearing on whether granting Rapid Rail\u2019s request \u201cis consistent with the public convenience and necessity,\u201d said Regina L. Davis. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake\u2019s office welcomed the new details about maglev. \u201cBecause Baltimore provides millennials and empty-nesters with affordable city living, this speedy mode of transportation will provide residents who work in D.C. with a convenient alternative, while also giving tourists throughout the country who visit our nation\u2019s capital easier access to enjoy all of the attractions Baltimore has to offer,\u201d said Caron Brace, a spokeswoman for the mayor. \u201cUltimately, this would help the local economy, as well as help to grow the city. It could be a game-changer for Baltimore.\u201d While maglev is a tantalizing technology for high-speed transportation, there are many barriers to its implementation, including concerns over the difficulty of assembling a route, its effect on neighbors and its sheer cost. The Japanese financing has been hinted at for nearly a year."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The L0 series magnetic-levitation train, developed by Central Japan Railway Co., moves along a test track near the control center during a trial run in Tsuru City, Japan, on Aug. 29, 2013.  (Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg)\nAn investor group hoping to build a high-speed train capable of cutting the travel time between Baltimore and Washington to 15 minutes says in a filing to state regulators that it has lined up more than $5 billion in financial backing.\nThe commitment is from the Japanese government, which hopes to showcase the technology behind superconducting magnetic levitation or \u201cmaglev\u201d trains to an American audience, the company behind the proposal wrote to the Maryland Public Service Commission on Wednesday.\nSuch trains are capable of extreme speeds, thanks to their frictionless, magnetically-controlled motion above their tracks. The technology has been approved in Japan and is to be rolled out next month on an initial stretch of track that planners hope will eventually connect Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.\nIn addition to the $5 billion commitment from the public Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the private Central Japan Railway Co. has agreed to waive any licensing fees for use of its maglev technology, wrote attorneys for the Annapolis-based Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail LLC.\nThe details were included in Rapid Rail\u2019s filing Wednesday asking Maryland regulators for the old state franchise rights of the former Washington Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railroad, a once-busy interurban electric rail car system that linked the three cities in the early 20th century.\n\u201cIn a back-to-the-future type way, you see that there was already a Baltimore-Washington service that previously existed.\u2009.\u2009. sort of sitting on the shelf waiting for people to pull it off and dust it off, for us to get back to providing what they had in 1935,\u201d said Wayne Rogers, a major shareholder in Rapid Rail and chairman and chief executive of The Northeast Maglev, a separate Washington-based company backing the project.\nA spokeswoman for the Maryland PSC, which regulates \u201ccommon carriers\u201d in the state, including passenger rail providers, confirmed receipt of the application. The agency will open a case on the application, accept comments from staff and others, and conduct a hearing on whether granting Rapid Rail\u2019s request \u201cis consistent with the public convenience and necessity,\u201d said Regina L. Davis.\nMayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake\u2019s office welcomed the new details about maglev.\n\u201cBecause Baltimore provides millennials and empty-nesters with affordable city living, this speedy mode of transportation will provide residents who work in D.C. with a convenient alternative, while also giving tourists throughout the country who visit our nation\u2019s capital easier access to enjoy all of the attractions Baltimore has to offer,\u201d said Caron Brace, a spokeswoman for the mayor. \u201cUltimately, this would help the local economy, as well as help to grow the city. It could be a game-changer for Baltimore.\u201d\nWhile maglev is a tantalizing technology for high-speed transportation, there are many barriers to its implementation, including concerns over the difficulty of assembling a route, its effect on neighbors and its sheer cost.\nThe Japanese financing has been hinted at for nearly a year. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talked up the project to the Obama administration last year. Northeast Maglev said it could count on financing from a Japanese government bank, citing that support as the key difference between its proposal and others in the past that fizzled out with little outside investment and a lack of federal will to assist.\nStill, Northeast Maglev did not disclose details about the Japanese commitment until now.\nThe total cost of the Baltimore-to-Washington leg of the project is unknown and would depend largely on the final route of the mostly underground track, Rogers said, but it would cost at least $10 billion.\nSome critics say even that price tag is too low to make maglev a reality.\n\u201cUnless someone has all the cash to build the whole system all in one go, or at least in rapid phasing, the whole thing doesn\u2019t make sense,\u201d said Andy Kunz, president and CEO of the U.S. High Speed Rail Association, which supports more conventional high-speed rail systems. \u201cWho is going to come up with the other $5 billion, or probably $10 billion more?\u201d\nKunz said some estimates put maglev costs at five times those of high-speed rail systems that now can reach speeds of 220 mph \u2014 like those currently being built in California.\nThe investment needed to build a maglev line between Washington and New York, the only connection that would make sense for the system, is so huge that it will never get built, Kunz said. He predicted that if the Baltimore to Washington stretch gets built, it will end up like other short-track maglev experiments around the world.\n\u201cIf this does get built, it\u2019s going to end up looking just like the Chinese maglev, which is almost a joke. People ride it as a novelty, but not for transportation,\u201d he said. \u201cI would really be [angry] if our government forked over $5 billion for this little system to Baltimore\u201d when it could move more people farther distances with the same amount in California.\nRogers said his hope is that the promised investment from the Japanese will spur interest among more investors, eventually allowing the extension of the line from Baltimore to New York.\nThe Japanese hope the same, and that U.S. commitment to the technology along its busy Northeast Corridor will be copied around the world \u2014 creating a new export market for Japan\u2019s rail industry.\nThe Baltimore Sun"}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "3542f2f2-e62e-11e1-8f62-58260e3940a0_0", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "3542f2f2-e62e-11e1-8f62-58260e3940a0_0", "title": "Hypersonic jet: just one project to get you there faster", "text": "In this July 17, 2009 photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, an X-51A WaveRider hypersonic flight test vehicle is uploaded to an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 for fit testing at Edwards Air Force Base. Four scramjet-powered Waveriders were built for the Air Force. The Los Angeles Times says the unmanned X-51 WaveRider is expected to reach Mach 6 _ or about 3,600 mph _ Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, when it's dropped by a B-52 bomber and takes flight off the Southern California coast near Point Mugu. (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Chad Bellay) (Chad Bellay/AP) The world is getting smaller and moving faster, leaving many unsatisfied with the time it still takes to get anywhere these days. That\u2019s why there\u2019s been so much buzz around the X-51A Waverider \u2014 a hypersonic jet being tested Tuesday that is theoretically capable of going six times the speed of sound. The jet is just one avenue of high-tech, high-speed transit floated over the years; here\u2019s a look at it and other projects hatched in the name of speed and where they stand today. X-51A Waverider: Concorde: As The Associated Press reported at the time, many were sad to see the flights end. \u201cMany Britons expressed pride in the technological achievement the Concorde embodied but sadness that its days in the skies were ending without a supersonic successor to take its place,\u201d read an article on the plane\u2019s last flight. Maglev trains: As Ho reported, the project is still \u201cin its infancy.\u201d High-speed rail: California recently approved a high-speed rail project \u2014 one that the San Jose Mercury News reports is the most expensive project in the state\u2019s history. The California Senate passed the first $8 billion of the project on July 6, by one vote. Related stories: Hypersonic craft X-51A put to the test Washington to New York City in 60 minutes by train VentureBeat: SFO to JFK in less than an hour? It could happen."}], "old": [{"_id": "3542f2f2-e62e-11e1-8f62-58260e3940a0_0", "title": "Hypersonic jet: just one project to get you there faster", "text": "In this July 17, 2009 photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, an X-51A WaveRider hypersonic flight test vehicle is uploaded to an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 for fit testing at Edwards Air Force Base. Four scramjet-powered Waveriders were built for the Air Force. The Los Angeles Times says the unmanned X-51 WaveRider is expected to reach Mach 6 _ or about 3,600 mph _ Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, when it's dropped by a B-52 bomber and takes flight off the Southern California coast near Point Mugu. (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Chad Bellay) (Chad Bellay/AP) The world is getting smaller and moving faster, leaving many unsatisfied with the time it still takes to get anywhere these days. That\u2019s why there\u2019s been so much buzz around the X-51A Waverider \u2014 a hypersonic jet being tested Tuesday that is theoretically capable of going six times the speed of sound. The jet is just one avenue of high-tech, high-speed transit floated over the years; here\u2019s a look at it and other projects hatched in the name of speed and where they stand today. X-51A Waverider: Concorde: \u201cMany Britons expressed pride in the technological achievement the Concorde embodied but sadness that its days in the skies were ending without a supersonic successor to take its place,\u201d read an article on the plane\u2019s last flight. Maglev trains: As Ho reported, the project is still \u201cin its infancy.\u201d High-speed rail: Related stories: Hypersonic craft X-51A put to the test Washington to New York City in 60 minutes by train VentureBeat: SFO to JFK in less than an hour? It could happen."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In this July 17, 2009 photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, an X-51A WaveRider hypersonic flight test vehicle is uploaded to an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 for fit testing at Edwards Air Force Base. Four scramjet-powered Waveriders were built for the Air Force. The Los Angeles Times says the unmanned X-51 WaveRider is expected to reach Mach 6 _ or about 3,600 mph _ Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, when it's dropped by a B-52 bomber and takes flight off the Southern California coast near Point Mugu. (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Chad Bellay) (Chad Bellay/AP)\nThe world is getting smaller and moving faster, leaving many unsatisfied with the time it still takes to get anywhere these days. That\u2019s why there\u2019s been so much buzz around the X-51A Waverider \u2014 a hypersonic jet being tested Tuesday that is theoretically capable of going six times the speed of sound.\nThe jet is just one avenue of high-tech, high-speed transit floated over the years; here\u2019s a look at it and other projects hatched in the name of speed and where they stand today.\nX-51A Waverider:\nConcorde:\nAs The Associated Press reported at the time, many were sad to see the flights end.\n\u201cMany Britons expressed pride in the technological achievement the Concorde embodied but sadness that its days in the skies were ending without a supersonic successor to take its place,\u201d read an article on the plane\u2019s last flight.\nMaglev trains:\nAs Ho reported, the project is still \u201cin its infancy.\u201d\nHigh-speed rail:\nCalifornia recently approved a high-speed rail project \u2014 one that the San Jose Mercury News reports is the most expensive project in the state\u2019s history. The California Senate passed the first $8 billion of the project on July 6, by one vote.\nRelated stories:\nHypersonic craft X-51A put to the test\nWashington to New York City in 60 minutes by train\nVentureBeat: SFO to JFK in less than an hour? It could happen."}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "5d840856-432e-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_1", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "5d840856-432e-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_1", "title": "Organizers line up big names to push new high-speed rail line linking D.C. to N.Y.", "text": "former chief executive of Northwest Airlines Doug Steenland; former transportation secretaries Mary Peters and Rodney Slater (now a lobbyist at Patton Boggs); and George Pataki, Christine Todd Whitman and Ed Rendell, former governors of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively. The board is being led by former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle, who is now an adviser at DLA Piper, the international law firm that the Northeast Maglev has hired to lobby on its behalf before Congress. The rail line would include stops at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Philadelphia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. The project is unrelated to Amtrak\u2019s $151 billion plan to develop a high-speed rail system \u2014 that would go from Washington to New York in 94 minutes \u2014 in the Northeast corridor by 2040. The Northeast Maglev chairman Wayne Rogers said his firm does not have a cost estimate for the entire project but that the Washington-Baltimore leg would cost at least $10 billion. He said he expects it to take at least three years to navigate the regulatory, environmental and planning process and another 10 years for construction. The company is working closely with engineers from Central Japan Railway, which operates the bullet train in Japan. In Washington, they are considering station locations on K Street, near Metro Center, near the convention center and around Union Station, Rogers said. \u201cLots of items that go into that selection [process],\u201d he said. \u201cConnectivity to Metro is one consideration, constructability is another consideration, connecting with the population and business centers \u2014 where office centers will be \u2014 it\u2019s a complicated equation,\u201d he said. \u201cAll those are being studied and put together. We\u2019re looking to be able to connect near Metro. . . . Our goal is to connect city centers and airports.\u201d Roger said his company has met with representatives from the Maryland Transit Administration and D.C. government. It is not the first time there\u2019s been interest in building a maglev system in the Northeast, but previous attempts were halted by lack of support from lawmakers and funding shortfalls. In 2001, transit officials from Maryland, the District and Baltimore formed the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project, which competed for Federal Railroad Administration consideration to develop a 39-mile maglev line linking Camden Yards in Baltimore, BWI and Union Station in Washington. But the project, which in 2007 was estimated to cost $5.1 billion, lacked legislative support."}], "old": [{"_id": "5d840856-432e-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_1", "title": "Organizers line up big names to push new high-speed rail line linking D.C. to N.Y.", "text": "magnetic levitation system that would bring passengers from Washington to Baltimore in 15 minutes and to New York in 60 minutes, at speeds of 311 miles an hour. The company, which according to its chairman has raised $50 million in private funding, plans to announce today it has enlisted several of the region\u2019s business and political leaders to join its advisory board: Under Armour founder and chief executive Kevin Plank; former chief executive of Northwest Airlines Doug Steenland; former transportation secretaries Mary Peters and Rodney Slater (now a lobbyist at Patton Boggs); and George Pataki, Christine Todd Whitman and Ed Rendell, former governors of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively. The board is being led by former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle, who is now an adviser at DLA Piper, the international law firm that the Northeast Maglev has hired to lobby on its behalf before Congress. The rail line would include stops at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Philadelphia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. The project is unrelated to Amtrak\u2019s $151 billion plan to develop a high-speed rail system \u2014 that would go from Washington to New York in 94 minutes \u2014 in the Northeast corridor by 2040. The Northeast Maglev chairman Wayne Rogers said his firm does not have a cost estimate for the entire project but that the Washington-Baltimore leg would cost at least $10 billion. He said he expects it to take at least three years to navigate the regulatory, environmental and planning process and another 10 years for construction. The company is working closely with engineers from Central Japan Railway, which operates the bullet train in Japan. In Washington, they are considering station locations on K Street, near Metro Center, near the convention center and around Union Station, Rogers said. Roger said his company has met with representatives from the Maryland Transit Administration and D.C. government. It is not the first time there\u2019s been interest in building a maglev system in the Northeast, but previous attempts were halted by lack of support from lawmakers and funding shortfalls. In 2001, transit officials from Maryland, the District and Baltimore formed the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project, which competed for Federal Railroad Administration consideration to develop a 39-mile maglev line linking Camden Yards in Baltimore, BWI and Union Station in Washington. But the project, which in 2007 was estimated to cost $5.1 billion, lacked legislative support."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The privately owned Washington company that last year began lobbying to build a high-speed rail line between Washington and New York has lined up some prominent names to press its ambitious plan to improve congestion in the Northeast corridor.\nThe Northeast Maglev, the 25-employee company founded in 2010, is looking to develop a high-speed magnetic levitation system that would bring passengers from Washington to Baltimore in 15 minutes and to New York in 60 minutes, at speeds of 311 miles an hour.\nThe company, which according to its chairman has raised $50 million in private funding, plans to announce today it has enlisted several of the region\u2019s business and political leaders to join its advisory board: Under Armour founder and chief executive Kevin Plank; former chief executive of Northwest Airlines Doug Steenland; former transportation secretaries Mary Peters and Rodney Slater (now a lobbyist at Patton Boggs); and George Pataki, Christine Todd Whitman and Ed Rendell, former governors of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively.\nThe board is being led by former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle, who is now an adviser at DLA Piper, the international law firm that the Northeast Maglev has hired to lobby on its behalf before Congress.\nThe rail line would include stops at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Philadelphia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. The project is unrelated to Amtrak\u2019s $151 billion plan to develop a high-speed rail system \u2014 that would go from Washington to New York in 94 minutes \u2014 in the Northeast corridor by 2040.\nThe Northeast Maglev chairman Wayne Rogers said his firm does not have a cost estimate for the entire project but that the Washington-Baltimore leg would cost at least $10 billion. He said he expects it to take at least three years to navigate the regulatory, environmental and planning process and another 10 years for construction. The company is working closely with engineers from Central Japan Railway, which operates the bullet train in Japan.\nIn Washington, they are considering station locations on K Street, near Metro Center, near the convention center and around Union Station, Rogers said.\n\u201cLots of items that go into that selection [process],\u201d he said. \u201cConnectivity to Metro is one consideration, constructability is another consideration, connecting with the population and business centers \u2014 where office centers will be \u2014 it\u2019s a complicated equation,\u201d he said. \u201cAll those are being studied and put together. We\u2019re looking to be able to connect near Metro. .\u2009.\u2009. Our goal is to connect city centers and airports.\u201d\nRoger said his company has met with representatives from the Maryland Transit Administration and D.C. government.\nIt is not the first time there\u2019s been interest in building a maglev system in the Northeast, but previous attempts were halted by lack of support from lawmakers and funding shortfalls. In 2001, transit officials from Maryland, the District and Baltimore formed the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project, which competed for Federal Railroad Administration consideration to develop a 39-mile maglev line linking Camden Yards in Baltimore, BWI and Union Station in Washington. But the project, which in 2007 was estimated to cost $5.1 billion, lacked legislative support."}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "60c8eef5d8a566acfb760e9a10434cca_0", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "60c8eef5d8a566acfb760e9a10434cca_0", "title": "Maryland Gov. Hogan is entranced by Maglev", "text": "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press) Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) campaigned on cutting costs. Since taking office, however, he\u2019s expressed interest in throwing big money at numerous transportation programs \u2014 just not the transit lines that actually work and that businesses and residents want. His latest big spending idea: A $10 billion magnetic levitation train, or \u201cmaglev,\u201d between the District and Baltimore. Hogan is in Japan right now on a trade mission, and according to WAMU\u2019s Martin di Caro, has agreed to work with Japan and seek federal funds for a study of what it would take to build a maglev line here at home. The Federal Railroad Administration has $27.8 million available for a maglev study, but Maryland is the only state interested in the money. Japan is offering $5 billion in loans to help make the line happen, but that money would have to be paid back. The maglev line could run more than 300 miles per hour and, di Caro reports, possibly go from the District to Baltimore in 15 minutes (though time estimates for transportation facilities often are rosy before the gritty details come in). However, to run that fast, the tracks would have to be very straight. There\u2019s no place to put very straight tracks right through the mostly suburban area in between; instead, maglev supporters expect the line to be mostly in a tunnel. According to contributor and maglev supporter Peter Dovak, Japan\u2019s maglev (which is different from its well-known \u201cShinkansen\u201d high-speed trains) will run in a tunnel for 85 percent of its length. That makes it very expensive. [Continue reading David Alpert\u2019s post at Greater Greater Washington.] David Alpert is founder and editor of Greater Greater Washington. The Local Blog Network is a group of bloggers from around the D.C. region who have agreed to make regular contributions to All Opinions Are Local."}], "old": [{"_id": "60c8eef5d8a566acfb760e9a10434cca_0", "title": "Maryland Gov. Hogan is entranced by Maglev", "text": "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press) The Federal Railroad Administration has $27.8 million available for a maglev study, but Maryland is the only state interested in the money. Japan is offering $5 billion in loans to help make the line happen, but that money would have to be paid back. The maglev line could run more than 300 miles per hour and, di Caro reports, possibly go from the District to Baltimore in 15 minutes (though time estimates for transportation facilities often are rosy before the gritty details come in). However, to run that fast, the tracks would have to be very straight. There\u2019s no place to put very straight tracks right through the mostly suburban area in between; instead, maglev supporters expect the line to be mostly in a tunnel. According to contributor and maglev supporter Peter Dovak, Japan\u2019s maglev (which is different from its well-known \u201cShinkansen\u201d high-speed trains) will run in a tunnel for 85 percent of its length. That makes it very expensive. David Alpert is founder and editor of Greater Greater Washington. The Local Blog Network is a group of bloggers from around the D.C. region who have agreed to make regular contributions to All Opinions Are Local."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press)\nMaryland Gov.\u00a0Larry Hogan (R) campaigned on cutting costs. Since taking office, however, he\u2019s expressed interest in throwing big money at numerous transportation programs \u2014\u00a0just not the transit lines that actually work and that\u00a0businesses and residents want. His latest big spending idea: A $10 billion magnetic levitation train, or \u201cmaglev,\u201d between the District and Baltimore.\nHogan is in Japan right now on a trade mission, and according to WAMU\u2019s Martin di Caro, has agreed to work with Japan and seek federal funds for a study of what it would take to build a maglev line here at home.\nThe Federal Railroad Administration has $27.8 million available for a maglev study, but Maryland is the only state interested in the money. Japan is offering $5 billion in loans to help make the line happen, but that money would have to be paid back.\nThe maglev line could run more than\u00a0300 miles per hour and, di Caro reports, possibly go from the District to Baltimore in 15 minutes (though time estimates for transportation facilities often are rosy before the gritty details come in).\nHowever, to run that fast, the tracks would have to be very straight. There\u2019s no place to put very straight tracks right through the mostly suburban area in between; instead, maglev supporters expect the line to be mostly in a tunnel. According to contributor and maglev supporter Peter Dovak, Japan\u2019s maglev (which is different from its well-known \u201cShinkansen\u201d high-speed trains) will run in a tunnel for 85 percent\u00a0of\u00a0its length.\nThat makes it very expensive.\n[Continue reading\u00a0David Alpert\u2019s post\u00a0at\u00a0Greater Greater Washington.]\nDavid Alpert\u00a0is founder and editor of\u00a0Greater Greater Washington. The Local Blog Network is a group of bloggers from around the D.C. region who have agreed to make regular contributions to All Opinions Are Local."}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "6567a9ca2d38ba82c816a0c5a6374a83_1", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6567a9ca2d38ba82c816a0c5a6374a83_1", "title": "Germany has highways for bikes. You can learn from that, America", "text": "visit near the town of Sedrun, Switzerland, on Thursday. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann) According to the World Economic Forum, Switzerland has the world's best infrastructure, even though everyone who has been to the country in the center of Europe knows that its mountainous landscape is far from being perfect to build modern infrastructure systems. For every highway or train line, construction workers need to tunnel through mountains and hills. Having one of the world's highest transport system densities, Switzerland primarily proves that it is governmental commitment to infrastructure that makes the difference. 3. Money matters \u2014 and banks aren't much interested in long-term projects Given the United States' size, developing countries like India or China might be a better comparison than Switzerland. Writing in the Financial Times, Patrick Jenkins argues that it's all about money. Infrastructure projects often face financing gaps because banks have abandoned the idea of financing such long and massive projects. \"This is partly a result of a shrunken risk appetite across banking. It is also thanks to tougher capital charges on such assets, imposed by global regulators,\" Jenkins writes. 4. In Copenhagen, you can travel on a driverless metro running 24/7 One does not have to change the entire banking and financing system to improve American infrastructure, though. The example of Copenhagen shows that smaller steps might be equally helpful. The Copenhagen metro runs 24/7 because it operates without drivers. 5. This Japanese train could get you from San Francisco to New York City in seven hours The Maglev (magnetic levitation) train is seen on an experimental track in Tsuru, west of Tokyo, in May 2010. The train set a world speed record on April 21, 2015, in a test run near Mount Fuji, clocking 375 miles an hour. (KATORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) Japan's magnetic-levitation trains set a new world record last year when they reached 375 miles per hour on a test run. That means travelers could go from San Francisco to New York City in only seven hours because the trains do not touch the steel tracks because of magnetic power. The \"bullet\" trains are primarily a prestige project. Critics have said the expensive investment makes little sense for a country like Japan that has a rapidly aging and declining population. Last year, U.S. officials appeared to show interest in implementing a similar system between Washington and Baltimore. There's still hope for commuters in and around D.C."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "People ride D.C.'s Metrorail system the day after a train filled with smoke, leading to the death of one woman. (Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post)\nAs hundreds of thousands of D.C. commuters tried to get to work on Wednesday during a 24-hour Metrorail shutdown for an emergency safety inspection, many might have wondered: Why is our infrastructure system so broken?\nThese five lessons from abroad might help understand what is going wrong in the United States.\n1.\u00a0Germany has highways for bikes\nGerman autobahns are renowned all over the world for having no general speed limit. Now, the country is at the forefront of a new kind of highway \u2014 for bikes. German engineers recently finished construction on the first section of what will become a 62-mile network of bike highways in and around the Western German city of Duisburg.\n2. Switzerland, ranked the country with the world's best infrastructure, shows that good infrastructure depends\u00a0on political commitment\nJournalists walk through an emergency tunnel during a media visit near the town of Sedrun, Switzerland, on Thursday. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)\nAccording to the World Economic Forum, Switzerland has\u00a0the world's best infrastructure, even though everyone who has been to the country in the center of Europe knows that its mountainous landscape is far from being perfect to build\u00a0modern infrastructure systems.\nFor every highway or train line, construction workers need to\u00a0tunnel through mountains and hills. Having one of the world's highest transport system densities, Switzerland primarily proves that it is governmental commitment to infrastructure that makes the difference.\n3.\u00a0 Money matters \u2014 and banks aren't much interested in long-term projects\nGiven the United States' size, developing countries like India or China might be a better comparison than Switzerland. Writing in the Financial Times, Patrick Jenkins argues that it's all about money. Infrastructure projects often face financing gaps because banks have abandoned the idea of financing such long and massive projects. \"This is partly a result of a shrunken risk appetite across banking. It is also thanks to tougher capital charges on such assets, imposed by global regulators,\"\u00a0Jenkins writes.\n4. In Copenhagen, you can travel on a driverless metro running 24/7\nOne does not have to change the entire banking and financing system to improve American infrastructure, though. The example of Copenhagen shows that smaller steps might be equally helpful. The Copenhagen metro runs 24/7 because it operates without drivers.\n5.\u00a0This Japanese train could get you from San Francisco to New York City\u00a0in seven hours\nThe Maglev (magnetic levitation) train is seen on an experimental track in Tsuru, west of Tokyo, in May 2010. The train set a world speed record on April 21, 2015, in a test run near Mount Fuji, clocking 375 miles an hour. (KATORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images)\nJapan's magnetic-levitation trains set a new world record last year when they reached 375 miles per hour on a test run. That means travelers could go from San Francisco to New York City in only seven hours because the trains do not touch the steel tracks because of\u00a0magnetic power.\nThe \"bullet\" trains are primarily a prestige project. Critics have said the\u00a0expensive investment\u00a0makes little sense for a country like Japan that has a rapidly aging and declining population. Last year, U.S. officials appeared to show interest in implementing a similar system between Washington and Baltimore.\nThere's still hope for commuters in and around D.C."}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "8d6c3f94608119237d85eceae47052d5_1", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "8d6c3f94608119237d85eceae47052d5_1", "title": "Japan\u2019s maglev train sets second world record", "text": "according to NBC. Maglev trains use magnets to push the train 4 inches off the tracks and propel it forward, according to CNN. With 49 railway employees on board, the train covered 1.1 miles in about 11 seconds, the company reported, according to the Guardian. That, as CNN helpfully pointed out, \"is nearly 20 football fields in the time it took you to read the last two sentences.\" Japan's maglev train sets world record speed of 375 MPH. http://t.co/1SWRWtuR3N http://t.co/tYDRa0hPSB \u201cThe ride was comfortable and stable,\u201d Yasukazu Endo, the head of the Maglev Test Center, told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. \u201cWe would like to continue analyzing data and make use of it in designing the cars and other equipment.\u201d In the future, maglev trains, which are expected to run between Tokyo and Nagoya, will top off at 313 mph, according to the New York Post. The trip \u2014 which takes five hours by car \u2014 will last 40 minutes, which is less than half the time the journey requires on current bullet trains, according to CNN. Takeo Ookanda, who runs an exhibition center next to the test track, told CNN that witnesses erupted in applause when the record was announced. \"I was moved just like many other visitors here today,\" he said. \"This maglev project... [increases] the hope that Japan can have a good growth again in the future.\" There is talk of bringing the trains to the United States. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe \"is set to pitch the new technology to the American market, including for a Washington-New York train link\" during a visit that begins next week, according to the Wall Street Journal. \"By contrast, the fastest train in the United States, Amtrak's Acela Express, is only capable of 241 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour), though it usually plods along at half that speed,\" CNN reported. Were the trains exported abroad, the Guardian notes, they could revolutionize travel times, especially in countries where air travel is less common. Here are few examples the paper came up with: New York to Los Angeles \u2013 7 hours 45 minutes (currently a 68 hour trip) Cape Town to Cairo \u2013 17 hours 30 minutes Sydney to Perth \u2013 7 hours 20 minutes Moscow to Vladivostock \u2013 15 hours MORE READING: Abe urged to uphold Japan\u2019s apology for wartime aggression U.S. top diplomat Kerry to host Japan PM in Boston"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The maglev train on experimental track in Tsuru, west of Tokyo, in 2010. (Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images)\nA high-speed Japanese bullet train bested its previous world record for speed by traveling 374 mph on Tuesday, according to news reports.\nThe Central Japan Railway\u2019s seven-car maglev \u2014 short for magnetic levitation \u2014 topped its 366 mph record (set last week) on a test track track near Mount Fuji, according to the Guardian.\nThe previous record of 268 mph stood since 2003, according to NBC.\nMaglev trains use magnets to push the train 4 inches off the tracks and propel it forward, according to CNN.\nWith 49 railway employees on board, the train covered 1.1 miles in about 11 seconds, the company reported, according to the Guardian.\nThat, as CNN helpfully pointed out, \"is nearly 20 football fields in the time it took you to read the last two sentences.\"\nJapan's maglev train sets world record speed of 375 MPH. http://t.co/1SWRWtuR3N http://t.co/tYDRa0hPSB\n\u201cThe ride was comfortable and stable,\u201d Yasukazu Endo, the head of the Maglev Test Center, told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. \u201cWe would like to continue analyzing data and make use of it in designing the cars and other equipment.\u201d\nIn the future, maglev trains, which are expected to run between Tokyo and Nagoya, will top off at 313 mph, according to the New York Post.\nThe trip\u00a0\u2014 which takes five hours by car\u00a0\u2014 will last 40 minutes, which is less than half the time the journey requires on current bullet trains, according to CNN.\nTakeo Ookanda, who runs an exhibition center next to the test track, told CNN that witnesses erupted in applause when the record was announced.\n\"I was moved just like many other visitors here today,\" he said. \"This maglev project... [increases] the hope that Japan can have a good growth again in the future.\"\nThere is talk of bringing the trains to the United States. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe \"is set to pitch the new technology to the American market, including for a Washington-New York train link\" during a visit that begins next week, according to the Wall Street Journal.\n\"By contrast, the fastest train in the United States, Amtrak's Acela Express, is only capable of 241 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour), though it usually plods along at half that speed,\" CNN reported.\nWere the trains exported abroad, the Guardian notes, they could revolutionize travel times, especially in countries where air travel is less common. Here are few examples the paper came up with:\nNew York to Los Angeles \u2013 7 hours 45 minutes (currently a 68 hour trip)\nCape Town to Cairo \u2013 17 hours 30 minutes\nSydney to Perth \u2013 7 hours 20 minutes\nMoscow to Vladivostock \u2013 15 hours\nMORE READING:\nAbe urged to uphold Japan\u2019s apology for wartime aggression\nU.S. top diplomat Kerry to host Japan PM in Boston"}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "b9d09e40-cbd1-11e3-93eb-6c0037dde2ad_2", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b9d09e40-cbd1-11e3-93eb-6c0037dde2ad_2", "title": "A floating train from New York to Washington, via Japan", "text": "Thursday. \u201cTonight I just want to get home fast. I\u2019ve had a long week.\u201d The prime minister has touted the \u201cdream technology.\u201d \u201cIt would free people from the congested roads that frazzle their nerves while saving not only 443,000 gallons of gasoline but also 682,000 hours of time that are now wasted annually,\u201d Abe said last year at the New York Stock Exchange. The prime minister took America\u2019s ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, for a 300-plus-mile-per-hour spin on the duck-nosed train earlier this month. Japan has a 27-mile initial maglev line outside of Tokyo, and is slated to begin construction later this year on the rest of a privately financed 178-mile line between the capital and Japan\u2019s third largest city, Nagoya, according to Yoshiro Taguchi, transportation counselor at Japan\u2019s Embassy in Washington. Much of it will be underground and it is set to be completed by 2027, Taguchi said. Plans also call for the line to be extended to Osaka by 2045, though there is pressure for that portion to be speeded up, Taguchi said. It will cost $54 billion to Nagoya, and another $36 billion to reach Osaka, Taguchi said. Once completed, the American line would have a super express version \u2013 making one stop in Philadelphia and reaching New York in an hour. There would also be a slightly more local version with traditional East Coast stops in places like Baltimore, Wilmington and Newark. Each way, up to six trains can run per hour, with 1,000 people per train, Taguchi said. The Northeast Maglev YouTube video from The Northeast Maglev. Wayne Rogers, a Naval Academy graduate and Maryland businessman who heads the Northeast Maglev, the Washington firm developing detailed plans for the line, said the United States should embrace maglev technology its scientists invented decades ago. \u201cIt\u2019s time to deploy our ideas at home,\u201d Rogers said. The Central Japan Railway Company has agreed to transfer the technology \u2014 in which powerful magnetic forces lift and propel a train four inches above a U-shaped guideway that acts as an extended channel \u2014 \u201cwithout charge,\u201d Rogers said, adding that construction costs are only part of the picture. \u201cMany times we focus on the cost of doing something but ignore the cost of inaction,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cAt $14.5 billion in lost productivity per year in our corridor and growing, these hidden costs need to be considered. . . . Can we"}], "old": [{"_id": "b9d09e40-cbd1-11e3-93eb-6c0037dde2ad_2", "title": "A floating train from New York to Washington, via Japan", "text": "Thursday. \u201cTonight I just want to get home fast. I\u2019ve had a long week.\u201d The prime minister has touted the \u201cdream technology.\u201d \u201cIt would free people from the congested roads that frazzle their nerves while saving not only 443,000 gallons of gasoline but also 682,000 hours of time that are now wasted annually,\u201d Abe said last year at the New York Stock Exchange. The prime minister took America\u2019s ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, for a 300-plus-mile-per-hour spin on the duck-nosed train earlier this month. Japan has a 27-mile initial maglev line outside of Tokyo, and is slated to begin construction later this year on the rest of a privately financed 178-mile line between the capital and Japan\u2019s third largest city, Nagoya, according to Yoshiro Taguchi, transportation counselor at Japan\u2019s Embassy in Washington. Much of it will be underground and it is set to be completed by 2027, Taguchi said. Plans also call for the line to be extended to Osaka by 2045, though there is pressure for that portion to be speeded up, Taguchi said. It will cost $54 billion to Nagoya, and another $36 billion to reach Osaka, Taguchi said. Once completed, the American line would have a super express version \u2013 making one stop in Philadelphia and reaching New York in an hour. There would also be a slightly more local version with traditional East Coast stops in places like Baltimore, Wilmington and Newark. Each way, up to six trains can run per hour, with 1,000 people per train, Taguchi said. The Northeast Maglev YouTube video from The Northeast Maglev. The Central Japan Railway Company has agreed to transfer the technology \u2014 in which powerful magnetic forces lift and propel a train four inches above a U-shaped guideway that acts as an extended channel \u2014 \u201cwithout charge,\u201d Rogers said, adding that construction costs are only part of the picture. \u201cMany times we focus on the cost of doing something but ignore the cost of inaction,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cAt $14.5 billion in lost productivity per year in our corridor and growing, these hidden costs need to be considered. . . . Can we afford to do nothing?\u201d Rogers has sought to build bipartisan support with an advisory board that includes Rendell and former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (S.D.) as well as former Republican governors Christine Todd Whitman (N.J.) and George Pataki (N.Y.), among others. He declined to"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "The L0 series magnetic-levitation train, developed by Central Japan Railway Co., moves along a test track near the control center during a trial run in Tsuru City, Japan, on Aug. 29, 2013.  (Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg)\nThe idea of getting from Washington to Manhattan in an hour on a floating train would seem a tad less fanciful if a similar system weren\u2019t already being built in Japan.\nThat\u2019s not to say the idea isn\u2019t a serious stretch. Even the backers of a Washington company\u2019s proposal to build a superconducting maglev train line concede the pervasive doubt.\n\u201cPeople dismiss it as unrealistic,\u201d said former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, who has been talking about speeding up trains along the East Coast since he was elected Philadelphia\u2019s mayor in the early 1990s. \u201cBut I guarantee you when Lincoln talked about building the transcontinental railroad people said, \u2018Are you crazy? You can\u2019t get that over the Rockies!\u2019\u201d\nIn the car-loving context of the American transportation system, where political gridlock and scarce funding mire down many big ideas, there are countless questions. Among them: Which private investors will pony up for a magnetically levitated train that boosters say will cost $100\u2009billion or more? How much will the federal government, already struggling to keep up with aging infrastructure, chip in? Can skittish residents in the train\u2019s path be convinced, or at least bought off relatively affordably? Do American policy makers \u2013 and Americans themselves \u2013 have the inclination, and imagination, for such a venture? And can a nudge from one of the United States\u2019 top allies make a difference?\nJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is trying.\nCaroline Kennedy, U.S. ambassador to Japan, left, speaks to Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, as they sit on board the MAGLEV train undergoing testing at the Yamanashi Maglev Test Track in Tsuru City, Japan, on April 12. (Koji Sasahara/Via Bloomberg)\nAbe pushed the proposal in a meeting this week with President Obama in Tokyo, and the Japanese government has offered a low-interest loan to finance up to half the $10\u2009billion-plus first leg of a new maglev line from downtown Washington to Baltimore. That ride would take 15 minutes.\n\u201cI would love it. It would make my life a whole lot more comfortable,\u201d said Marianne Matheny-Katz, an economist for the Army who commutes from Baltimore to Washington four days a week and stood in a snaking Amtrak line at Union Station Thursday. \u201cTonight I just want to get home fast. I\u2019ve had a long week.\u201d\nThe prime minister has touted the \u201cdream technology.\u201d\n\u201cIt would free people from the congested roads that frazzle their nerves while saving not only 443,000 gallons of gasoline but also 682,000 hours of time that are now wasted annually,\u201d Abe said last year at the New York Stock Exchange. The prime minister took America\u2019s ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, for a 300-plus-mile-per-hour spin on the duck-nosed train earlier this month.\nJapan has a 27-mile initial maglev line outside of Tokyo, and is slated to begin construction later this year on the rest of a privately financed 178-mile line between the capital and Japan\u2019s third largest city, Nagoya, according to Yoshiro Taguchi, transportation counselor at Japan\u2019s Embassy in Washington. Much of it will be underground and it is set to be completed by 2027, Taguchi said.\nPlans also call for the line to be extended to Osaka by 2045, though there is pressure for that portion to be speeded up, Taguchi said. It will cost $54 billion to Nagoya, and another $36 billion to reach Osaka, Taguchi said.\nOnce completed, the American line would have a super express version \u2013 making one stop in Philadelphia and reaching New York in an hour. There would also be a slightly more local version with traditional East Coast stops in places like Baltimore, Wilmington and Newark. Each way, up to six trains can run per hour, with 1,000 people per train, Taguchi said.\nThe Northeast Maglev\nYouTube video from The Northeast Maglev.\nWayne Rogers, a Naval Academy graduate and Maryland businessman who heads the Northeast Maglev, the Washington firm developing detailed plans for the line, said the United States should embrace maglev technology its scientists invented decades ago. \u201cIt\u2019s time to deploy our ideas at home,\u201d Rogers said.\nThe Central Japan Railway Company has agreed to transfer the technology \u2014 in which powerful magnetic forces lift and propel a train four inches above a U-shaped guideway that acts as an extended channel \u2014 \u201cwithout charge,\u201d Rogers said, adding that construction costs are only part of the picture.\n\u201cMany times we focus on the cost of doing something but ignore the cost of inaction,\u201d Rogers said. \u201cAt $14.5 billion in lost productivity per year in our corridor and growing, these hidden costs need to be considered. .\u2009.\u2009. \u2009Can we afford to do nothing?\u201d\nRogers has sought to build bipartisan support with an advisory board that includes Rendell and former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (S.D.) as well as former Republican governors Christine Todd Whitman (N.J.) and George Pataki (N.Y.), among others. He declined to offer a range of maglev ticket prices, though he said they \u201cwill be competitive with existing transit options.\u201d The route is also yet to be determined.\nRobert J. Puentes, director of the Metropolitan Infrastructure Initiative at the Brookings Institution, said the maglev train offers a concrete way to explore the realities of big, creative, and difficult ideas at a time when traditional U.S. government funding is tightly limited.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about infrastructure in the abstract for too long,\u201d Puentes said. Brookings is organizing a session next month with key American and Japanese players to wrestle with issues raised in the effort. \u201cThis represents a way to think about what kind of transportation infrastructure projects we need in the future. .\u2009.\u2009. There\u2019s lots of interest in private sector investment in traditionally public-sector infrastructure.\u201d\nAmtrak says its Acela train travels at an average of speed of 83 miles per hour between Washington and New York, hitting a high of 135 mph and reaching Manhattan in about 2\u2009hours, 45 minutes. Officials said the government-backed train system is working to purchase 28 new higher-speed trains, and has long-standing, multi-decade plans to build new rail-lines along the Northeast to ramp up train speeds.\n\u201cAs the most knowledgeable and successful intercity passenger rail operator in the U.S., Amtrak is prepared to operate maglev trains as part of a coordinated intercity passenger rail system\u201d whenever such a system exists, said spokeswoman Kimberly Woods. She added that Amtrak is \u201cmindful\u201d that such an effort \u201cwill face major funding and logistical obstacles that only a new paradigm in support for public transportation can address.\u201d\nGet updates on your area delivered via e-mail"}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "ba5602a05a1c80e1e19e63be3541b490_0", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ba5602a05a1c80e1e19e63be3541b490_0", "title": "World\u2019s fastest passenger train breaks its own speed record", "text": "Central Japan Railways says its magnetically levitating train has broken its previous world speed record in a test-run at a special track West of Tokyo, reaching a speed of more than 374 mph. Now that\u2019s what we call fast. Many Americans have long dreamed of high-speed rail, but efforts to build such a system in the United States have moved forward in fits and starts. In Japan, bullet trains are the norm, and despite its tiny size, the country has long been the leader in high-speed train travel. But when fast is the norm, apparently faster is even better. Which is why news that a Japan Railway maglev train hit 374 miles per hour on a test track is causing much excitement in that country. A spokesperson told CNN that the train covered 1.1 miles in 10.8 seconds. Yes, seconds. Apparently, the previous record, set last Thursday was a mere 366 miles per hour. Compare that to the fastest train in the United States \u2014 Amtrak\u2019s Acela Express, which is capable of going 150 miles per hour. On the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak says Acela trains travels at an average of speed of 83 miles per hour between Washington and New York, hitting a high of 135 mph. It takes roughly 2 hours, 45 minutes to get from D.C. to Manhattan. The record setting Japanese train uses different technology. It doesn\u2019t travel using traditional metal tracks. Rather, it floats four inches above special guideways thanks to magnets. Don\u2019t believe it? See the video above. And there is a chance \u2014 albeit small \u2014 that such maglev technology may come to the East Coast. The Japanese government is all for building a line that would carry passengers between Washington and New York. The Northeast Maglev is a Washington-based company that \u201cdeveloping detailed plans for a line,\u201d The Post\u2019s Michael Laris reported last spring."}], "old": [{"_id": "ba5602a05a1c80e1e19e63be3541b490_0", "title": "World\u2019s fastest passenger train breaks its own speed record", "text": "Central Japan Railways says its magnetically levitating train has broken its previous world speed record in a test-run at a special track West of Tokyo, reaching a speed of more than 374 mph. Now that\u2019s what we call fast. Many Americans have long dreamed of high-speed rail, but efforts to build such a system in the United States have moved forward in fits and starts. In Japan, bullet trains are the norm, and despite its tiny size, the country has long been the leader in high-speed train travel. But when fast is the norm, apparently faster is even better. Apparently, the previous record, set last Thursday was a mere 366 miles per hour. Compare that to the fastest train in the United States \u2014 Amtrak\u2019s Acela Express, which is capable of going 150 miles per hour. On the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak says Acela trains travels at an average of speed of 83 miles per hour between Washington and New York, hitting a high of 135 mph. It takes roughly 2 hours, 45 minutes to get from D.C. to Manhattan. The record setting Japanese train uses different technology. It doesn\u2019t travel using traditional metal tracks. Rather, it floats four inches above special guideways thanks to magnets. Don\u2019t believe it? See the video above."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Central Japan Railways says its magnetically levitating train has broken its previous world speed record in a test-run at a special track West of Tokyo, reaching a speed of more than 374 mph.\nNow that\u2019s what we call fast.\nMany Americans have long dreamed of high-speed rail, but efforts to build such a system in the United States have moved forward in fits and starts.\nIn Japan, bullet trains are the norm, and despite its tiny size, the country has long been the leader in high-speed train travel. But when fast is the norm, apparently faster is even better.\nWhich is why news that a Japan Railway maglev train hit 374 miles per hour on a test track is causing much excitement in that country. A spokesperson told CNN that the train covered 1.1 miles in 10.8 seconds. Yes, seconds.\nApparently, the previous record, set last Thursday was a mere 366 miles per hour.\nCompare that to the fastest train in the United States \u2014 Amtrak\u2019s Acela Express, which is capable of going 150 miles per hour. On the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak says\u00a0 Acela trains travels at an average of speed of 83 miles per hour between Washington and New York, hitting a high of 135 mph. It takes roughly 2\u2009hours, 45 minutes to get from D.C. to Manhattan.\nThe record setting Japanese train uses different technology. It doesn\u2019t\u00a0 travel using traditional metal tracks. Rather, it floats four inches above special guideways thanks to magnets. Don\u2019t believe it? See the video above.\nAnd there is a chance \u2014 albeit small \u2014 that such maglev technology may come to the East Coast. The Japanese government is all for building a line that would carry passengers between Washington and New York. The Northeast Maglev is a Washington-based company that \u201cdeveloping detailed plans for a line,\u201d The Post\u2019s Michael Laris reported last spring."}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "ce0ce53d2a2f5cffb0905120d2f84867_0", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "ce0ce53d2a2f5cffb0905120d2f84867_0", "title": "D.C. to Baltimore in 15 minutes?", "text": "Japan wants to loan the U.S. $4 billion to build a 15-minute \"super train\" between D.C. and Baltimore. http://t.co/NWiMWmUIdq So really? A 15-minute trip between D.C. and Baltimore? You could get to Camden Yards quicker than you could make it Nats Park! Japan is well known for its super-efficient bullet trains. And while travelers in the U.S. always have been enamored with the idea of high-speed rail, efforts to build such as system have been stymied by myriad issues. According to The Telegraph newspaper, however, the Japanese government is eager to promote \u201cSuper-Maglev\u201d trains \u2014 an even faster solution. The D.C. to Baltimore link would be part of a large rail line that would connect D.C. with Boston. The proposal for the Maglev route was put forward last year by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during talks with President Obama, the newspaper reported. The Japanese government would be willing to pay half of the $8 billion it would cost to install the tracks. According to The Telegraph: \u201cMaglev vehicles have no wheels and are propelled along their track through electromagnetic pull \u2013 doing away with friction and, hence, providing a smoother and quieter ride at a faster speed. Conventional Maglev technology is already in use on a number of short routes around the world, but is limited to a speed of around 267mph. Japanese \u201cSuper-Maglev\u201d trains are already operating on test tracks at speeds of more than 310mph.\u201d Considering the bumpy road advocates have already encountered when it come to high speed rail, it\u2019s pretty unlikely that we\u2019ll see Super-Maglev trains anytime soon. But in a region looking for smart solutions for its congested roads, it\u2019s always nice to dream."}], "old": [{"_id": "ce0ce53d2a2f5cffb0905120d2f84867_0", "title": "D.C. to Baltimore in 15 minutes?", "text": "Japan wants to loan the U.S. $4 billion to build a 15-minute \"super train\" between D.C. and Baltimore. http://t.co/NWiMWmUIdq So really? A 15-minute trip between D.C. and Baltimore? You could get to Camden Yards quicker than you could make it Nats Park! The D.C. to Baltimore link would be part of a large rail line that would connect D.C. with Boston. The proposal for the Maglev route was put forward last year by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during talks with President Obama, the newspaper reported. The Japanese government would be willing to pay half of the $8 billion it would cost to install the tracks. According to The Telegraph: \u201cMaglev vehicles have no wheels and are propelled along their track through electromagnetic pull \u2013 doing away with friction and, hence, providing a smoother and quieter ride at a faster speed. Conventional Maglev technology is already in use on a number of short routes around the world, but is limited to a speed of around 267mph. Japanese \u201cSuper-Maglev\u201d trains are already operating on test tracks at speeds of more than 310mph.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Japan wants to loan the U.S. $4 billion to build a 15-minute \"super train\" between D.C. and Baltimore. http://t.co/NWiMWmUIdq\nSo really? A 15-minute trip between D.C. and Baltimore? You could get to Camden Yards quicker than you could make it Nats Park!\nJapan is well known for its super-efficient bullet trains. And while travelers in the U.S. always have been enamored with the idea of high-speed rail, efforts to build such as system have been stymied by myriad issues. According to The Telegraph newspaper, however, the Japanese government is eager to promote \u201cSuper-Maglev\u201d trains  \u2014 an even faster solution.\nThe D.C. to Baltimore link would be part of a large rail line that would connect D.C. with Boston. The proposal for the Maglev route was put forward last year by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during talks with President Obama, the newspaper reported. The Japanese government would be willing to pay half of the $8 billion it would cost to install the tracks.\nAccording to The Telegraph:\n\u201cMaglev vehicles have no wheels and are propelled along their track through electromagnetic pull \u2013 doing away with friction and, hence, providing a smoother and quieter ride at a faster speed.\nConventional Maglev technology is already in use on a number of short routes around the world, but is limited to a speed of around 267mph.\nJapanese \u201cSuper-Maglev\u201d trains are already operating on test tracks at speeds of more than 310mph.\u201d\nConsidering the bumpy road advocates have already encountered when it come to high speed rail, it\u2019s pretty unlikely that we\u2019ll see Super-Maglev trains anytime soon. But in a region looking for smart solutions for its congested roads, it\u2019s always nice to dream.\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "d36283f4-0970-11e5-951e-8e15090d64ae_5", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "d36283f4-0970-11e5-951e-8e15090d64ae_5", "title": "In Japan, Md. governor is wowed by super-fast trains \u2014 with big price tags", "text": "Line and questioned whether it is a wise investment for the state. But as for the maglev, the state government is \u201cvery interested in studying it further and taking it to the next level,\u201d he said, and the Japanese government is \u201cvery interested in being involved in financing the project.\u201d The two leaders agreed on a \u201cmemorandum of cooperation\u201d that addresses liquefied natural gas exports to Japan, scientific and cultural exchanges \u2014 and maglev rail. Certainly, Japan is also desperate to sell the high-tech trains. Abe has been busy touting its rail technology as part of his plan to get the world\u2019s third-largest economy back on track. In addition to promoting maglev for the Northeast corridor, when he visited the United States in April, Abe tried to persuade California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) to choose Japanese companies to build a $68 billion high-speed non-maglev railway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. A separate project is underway to sell Japanese trains to Texas, linking Dallas and Houston. But, as with so many things in Japan, this is also about China. China is fast catching up with Japan when it comes to train technology, and its companies are also looking for export opportunities. In a time of increasing concerns about China, Abe has suggested that the maglev could stand as a testament to the strong alliance between the United States and Japan. \u201cI have just proposed to President Obama that this technology be introduced to the Northeast part of the United States as a symbol of Japan-U.S. cooperation,\u201d he said last year on the 50th anniversary of the shinkansen, a train he said was \u201csymbolic of safety and peace of mind.\u201d In the wake of the Amtrak accident near Philadelphia that killed eight people last month, Japan\u2019s safety record could be its strongest selling point. Asked about the crash, Hogan said that \u201cone of the beautiful things about this technology is that an accident like that couldn\u2019t happen.\u201d \u201cYou can\u2019t have driver error because there is no driver,\u201d Hogan said. For his part, Hogan seemed sold. As he left the maglev site on Thursday evening, he joked to his Japanese counterparts: \u201cYou had me at 314 miles per hour.\u201d World\u2019s fastest passenger train breaks its own speed record This train could take you from D.C. to New York in less than an hour VIDEO: The future of train travel in the U.S."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sits on board a magnetic-levitation (maglev) train at the Yamanashi Maglev Test Track. (Ko Sasaki/For The Washington Post)\nTSURU, Japan \u2014\nHogan wants Maryland to get these \u201cmaglev\u201d trains \u2014 short for magnetic levitation \u2014 and Japan wants to sell them.\n\u201cThere is no question that this is the future of transportation,\u201d Hogan, a pro-business Republican whose victory in November shocked his heavily Democratic state, said after taking four trips along the 26-mile test track near Mount Fuji.\nIf he\u2019s right, it\u2019s an expensive future \u2014 even many in Japan are balking at the multibillion-dollar cost of the fast new trains. And in the United States, such trains would face daunting questions concerning not only cost (and more importantly, who would bear it) but the need to find a right of way through the most congested and perhaps litigious part of the country. It would take an unusual amount of national willpower to make the idea a reality.\nJapan is already renowned for its shinkansen bullet trains, which whiz between the main cities at speeds of up to 200 mph, are almost always perfectly on time and have not had a fatal accident in 50 years of operation.\nCentral Japan Railways says its magnetically levitating train has broken its previous world speed record in a test-run at a special track West of Tokyo, reaching a speed of more than 374 mph.\nBut the maglev is something else.\nVisiting the test site Thursday, Hogan walked past departure screens showing imaginary journeys to Baltimore (\u201con time\u201d) and boarded a train that still had that new-car smell. As the train picked up speed, screens inside the car showed the view from cameras on the front of the fully automated train, which doesn\u2019t have a windshield because there\u2019s no driver who needs to see out.\nThe train quickly hit 150 mph \u2014 the top speed of Amtrak\u2019s Acela \u2014 and passed through 200, then 300 mph. It topped out at 314, well below the world record of374 mph that the maglev hit during tests in April.\nThe point of Thursday\u2019s runs was not to prove how fast these trains can go but rather to convince Hogan that Maryland needs them. And Hogan, who inherited the proposed maglev project when he took office in January, seemed convinced.\n\u201cIt\u2019s the most advanced technology in the world,\u201d said the governor, who has focused much of his energy on giving Maryland\u2019s business climate a boost. He said traveling from Baltimore to Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport in five minutes or from Washington in eight minutes could be \u201cincredibly transformative\u201d for the region.\nThe Japanese maglev trains start moving on wheels. When they hit a certain speed, magnets push the cars up almost four inches above the guideways and propel the train forward without the friction associated with traditional tracks. When it slows down to200 mph, it feels like the train is barely moving. Then when it reverts to using its wheels, passengers feel a bump akin to a gentle airplane landing.\nJapan Railways is already working on plans to build a maglev line between Tokyo and Nagoya, 200 miles away, to start running in 2027. The journey time, currently 100 minutes by shinkansen and just over four hours by car, would be cut to 40 minutes.\nThe problem, on both sides of the Pacific, is money.\nIn Japan, there are critics who say that the shinkansen is perfectly adequate and that the country does not need to spend the billions of dollars that would be needed to build a maglev system. The cost of building the line to Nagoya is estimated at almost $50 billion, largely because it would require tunneling through many mountains along the way.\nFor the United States, maglev technology is much more expensive than building a shinkansen line or any of the other high-speed options the Obama administration has been promoting.\nA 40-mile maglev line between Baltimore and Washington would cost at least $10 billion.\nJapanese media have reported that the government has offered $5 billion in financial backing for a Maryland line, while Central Japan Railway Co., the train operator, has said it will not charge any licensing fees for the technology.\nThe Northeast Maglev\nHogan, who is at the end of a 12-day trip that also took him to South Korea and China, met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before he went on the maglev, but he declined to comment on the specifics of any financing deal \u2014 including whether Maryland would be expected to cover part of the costs.\nHogan is expected to decide later this month whether to pull the plug on a different long-planned transit project, the light-rail Purple Line that would connect Prince George\u2019s and Montgomery counties. As a candidate and since taking office, he has criticized the overall cost of the Purple Line and questioned whether it is a wise investment for the state.\nBut as for the maglev, the state government is \u201cvery interested in studying it further and taking it to the next level,\u201d he said, and the Japanese government is \u201cvery interested in being involved in financing the project.\u201d\nThe two leaders agreed on a \u201cmemorandum of cooperation\u201d that addresses liquefied natural gas exports to Japan, scientific and cultural exchanges \u2014 and maglev rail.\nCertainly, Japan is also desperate to sell the high-tech trains. Abe has been busy touting its rail technology as part of his plan to get the world\u2019s third-largest economy back on track.\nIn addition to promoting maglev for the Northeast corridor, when he visited the United States in April, Abe tried to persuade California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) to choose Japanese companies to build a $68 billion high-speed non-maglev railway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. A separate project is underway to sell Japanese trains to Texas, linking Dallas and Houston.\nBut, as with so many things in Japan, this is also about China.\nChina is fast catching up with Japan when it comes to train technology, and its companies are also looking for export opportunities.\nIn a time of increasing concerns about China, Abe has suggested that the maglev could stand as a testament to the strong alliance between the United States and Japan. \u201cI have just proposed to President Obama that this technology be introduced to the Northeast part of the United States as a symbol of Japan-U.S. cooperation,\u201d he said last year on the 50th anniversary of the shinkansen, a train he said was \u201csymbolic of safety and peace of mind.\u201d\nIn the wake of the Amtrak accident near Philadelphia that killed eight people last month, Japan\u2019s safety record could be its strongest selling point. Asked about the crash, Hogan said that \u201cone of the beautiful things about this technology is that an accident like that couldn\u2019t happen.\u201d\n\u201cYou can\u2019t have driver error because there is no driver,\u201d Hogan said.\nFor his part, Hogan seemed sold. As he left the maglev site on Thursday evening, he joked to his Japanese counterparts: \u201cYou had me at 314 miles per hour.\u201d\nWorld\u2019s fastest passenger train breaks its own speed record\nThis train could take you from D.C. to New York in less than an hour\nVIDEO: The future of train travel in the U.S."}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "fe70f716-8598-11e5-9afb-0c971f713d0c_0", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "fe70f716-8598-11e5-9afb-0c971f713d0c_0", "title": "Feds award $28 million to study \u2018maglev\u2019 train system for Maryland", "text": "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sits on board a magnetic-levitation (maglev) train at the Yamanashi Maglev Test Track in Japan in June. (Ko Sasaki/For The Washington Post) The U.S. Transportation Department has awarded nearly $28 million to conduct studies on building a high-speed rail line that would carry passengers between Washington and Baltimore in about 15 minutes, according to Maryland officials. The money will support \u00adprivate-sector efforts to bring magnetic-levitation trains to the region as part of a larger vision for building a maglev system along the Northeast Corridor. Maryland\u2019s Department of Transportation and the state\u2019s Economic Development Corporation applied for the federal funds in April, with an understanding that the Japanese government and Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail, a private group, would provide significant investments for the project. \u201cThe ability to travel between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., in only 15 minutes will be absolutely transformative, not just for these two cities, but for our entire state,\u201d Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said in a statement. Japan is one of the first countries to develop and adopt maglev trains, which use magnetic forces to accelerate trains smoothly at speeds of up to 375 mph. Hogan and Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn rode Japan\u2019s 27-mile Yamanashi maglev line during a trade mission in Asia this past spring, promising afterward that they would work to bring the technology to the state. Building a 40-mile maglev line between Baltimore and Washington is expected to cost at least $10 billion. According to media reports in Japan, the Japanese government has pledged $5 billion in financial backing for a Maryland line, and a Japanese train operator has said it would not charge licensing fees for the technology. The remaining funds would come from public and private sources. Maryland requested $1.7 billion in federal funding for the maglev project in 2010, but the Federal Railroad Administration rejected the bid, declaring it \u201cnot ready.\u201d Japan has been promoting its maglev and other high-speed-train technology as part of a plan to bolster the nation\u2019s economy, which is the world\u2019s third-largest. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pressed California to choose Japanese companies to build a $68 billion high-speed, non-maglev train system between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Additionally, the country has tried to sell Japanese trains to Texas for a link between Dallas and Houston. Kenichiro Sasae, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, applauded the funding announcement in a statement Saturday."}], "old": [{"_id": "fe70f716-8598-11e5-9afb-0c971f713d0c_0", "title": "Feds award $28 million to study \u2018maglev\u2019 train system for Maryland", "text": "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sits on board a magnetic-levitation (maglev) train at the Yamanashi Maglev Test Track in Japan in June. (Ko Sasaki/For The Washington Post) The U.S. Transportation Department has awarded nearly $28 million to conduct studies on building a high-speed rail line that would carry passengers between Washington and Baltimore in about 15 minutes, according to Maryland officials. The money will support \u00adprivate-sector efforts to bring magnetic-levitation trains to the region as part of a larger vision for building a maglev system along the Northeast Corridor. \u201cThe ability to travel between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., in only 15 minutes will be absolutely transformative, not just for these two cities, but for our entire state,\u201d Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said in a statement. Japan is one of the first countries to develop and adopt maglev trains, which use magnetic forces to accelerate trains smoothly at speeds of up to 375 mph. Hogan and Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn rode Japan\u2019s 27-mile Yamanashi maglev line during a trade mission in Asia this past spring, promising afterward that they would work to bring the technology to the state. Building a 40-mile maglev line between Baltimore and Washington is expected to cost at least $10 billion. According to media reports in Japan, the Japanese government has pledged $5 billion in financial backing for a Maryland line, and a Japanese train operator has said it would not charge licensing fees for the technology. The remaining funds would come from public and private sources. Maryland requested $1.7 billion in federal funding for the maglev project in 2010, but the Federal Railroad Administration rejected the bid, declaring it \u201cnot ready.\u201d Japan has been promoting its maglev and other high-speed-train technology as part of a plan to bolster the nation\u2019s economy, which is the world\u2019s third-largest. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pressed California to choose Japanese companies to build a $68 billion high-speed, non-maglev train system between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Additionally, the country has tried to sell Japanese trains to Texas for a link between Dallas and Houston. Kenichiro Sasae, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, applauded the funding announcement in a statement Saturday. \u201cWorking with the United States Government, the State of Maryland and Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail, we will prove that this cutting-edge Japanese technology will be a great asset to the busy Northeast Corridor,\u201d he wrote."}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sits on board a magnetic-levitation (maglev) train at the Yamanashi Maglev Test Track in Japan in June. (Ko Sasaki/For The Washington Post)\nThe U.S. Transportation Department has awarded nearly $28\u00a0million to conduct studies on building a high-speed rail line that would carry passengers between Washington and Baltimore in about 15\u00a0minutes, according to Maryland officials.\nThe money will support \u00adprivate-sector efforts to bring magnetic-levitation trains to the region as part of a larger vision for building a maglev system along the Northeast Corridor.\nMaryland\u2019s Department of Transportation and the state\u2019s Economic Development Corporation applied for the federal funds in April, with an understanding that the Japanese government and Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail, a private group, would provide significant investments for the project.\n\u201cThe ability to travel between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., in only 15\u00a0minutes will be absolutely transformative, not just for these two cities, but for our entire state,\u201d Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said in a statement.\nJapan is one of the first countries to develop and adopt maglev trains, which use magnetic forces to accelerate trains smoothly at speeds of up to 375\u00a0mph.\nHogan and Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn rode Japan\u2019s 27-mile Yamanashi maglev line during a trade mission in Asia this past spring, promising afterward that they would work to bring the technology to the state.\nBuilding a 40-mile maglev line between Baltimore and Washington is expected to cost at least $10\u00a0billion.\nAccording to media reports in Japan, the Japanese government has pledged $5\u00a0billion in financial backing for a Maryland line, and a Japanese train operator has said it would not charge licensing fees for the technology. The remaining funds would come from public and private sources.\nMaryland requested $1.7\u00a0billion in federal funding for the maglev project in 2010, but the Federal Railroad Administration rejected the bid, declaring it \u201cnot ready.\u201d\nJapan has been promoting its maglev and other high-speed-train technology as part of a plan to bolster the nation\u2019s economy, which is the world\u2019s third-largest.\nPrime Minister Shinzo Abe has pressed California to choose Japanese companies to build a\u00a0$68\u00a0billion high-speed, non-maglev train system between Los\u00a0Angeles and San Francisco.\nAdditionally, the country has tried to sell Japanese trains to Texas for a link between Dallas and Houston.\nKenichiro Sasae, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, applauded the funding announcement in a statement Saturday.\n\u201cWorking with the United States Government, the State of\u00a0Maryland and Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail, we will prove that this cutting-edge Japanese technology will be a great asset to the busy Northeast Corridor,\u201d he wrote."}
{"qid": 972, "pid": "fe8f57e0-cae5-11e1-aea8-34e2e47d1571_0", "query_info": {"_id": 972, "text": "Japan is backing it's magnetic-levitation railroad technology in the US.", "instruction_og": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology.", "instruction_changed": "The Japanese government has promoted it's high-speed maglev rail technology in the US for years, in particular for a project between Baltimore and Washington.  Discuss Japan's role in building this segment and why it is promoting this technology. Relevant documents will discuss time savings of such technology or the specific speed of the trains.", "short_query": "Research the background and motivations behind a specific technology promotion question.", "keywords": "background motivations technology promotion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "fe8f57e0-cae5-11e1-aea8-34e2e47d1571_0", "title": "", "text": "Central Japan Railway Co.\u2019s magnetic levitation train running at 311 miles per hour. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg) A small privately owned Washington company is lobbying to develop a high-speed rail system that would take passengers from the District to Baltimore in 15 minutes and to New York in an hour. The Northeast Maglev, a downtown D.C. firm with 30 employees, is working with Central Japan Railway Co. \u2014 which operates the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan \u2014 to develop a maglev network that would connect Washington and New York, with stops in Baltimore, Wilmington and Philadelphia, including BWI Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Eventually, the company wants to extend the line to Boston. Trains that use maglev technology, or magnetic levitation, typically travel faster than traditional rail \u2014 Shanghai\u2019s maglev train runs at an average of at least 139 miles per hour, compared to Acela Express that runs at an average 84 miles per hour. The only commercial maglev lines are in Aichi, Japan, and Shanghai. Maglev vehicles are suspended above the track and use magnetic propulsion. The project is unrelated to a proposal by Amtrak to build a high-speed rail system in the region by 2040. Amtrak, which runs the Acela Express, last week released a $151 billion proposal to redevelop and build out a high-speed rail network that would enable travel between Philadelphia and New York in 37 minutes, and between Washington and New York in 94 minutes. It is not the first time there\u2019s been an interest in building a maglev system in the Northeast, but previous attempts were halted by lack of support from lawmakers and funding shortfalls. In 2001, officials with the Maryland Department of Transportation, the District of Columbia, Baltimore, Baltimore County and the Maryland Transit Administration formed the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project, which competed for Federal Railroad Administration consideration to develop a 39-mile maglev line linking Camden Yard in Baltimore, BWI Airport and Union Station in D.C. But the project, which in 2007 was estimated to cost $5.1 billion, was cost-prohibitive and lacked legislative support, Maryland Transit Administration spokesman Terry Owens said. Owens said Northeast Maglev has not yet met with anyone at MTA. The Northeast Maglev project is still in its infancy, according to an attorney advising the company on regulatory and governmental issues. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t launched all the way yet,\u201d said John Merrigan, who co-chairs the lobbying practice at DLA"}], "old": [{"_id": "fe8f57e0-cae5-11e1-aea8-34e2e47d1571_0", "title": "", "text": "Central Japan Railway Co.\u2019s magnetic levitation train running at 311 miles per hour. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg) A small privately owned Washington company is lobbying to develop a high-speed rail system that would take passengers from the District to Baltimore in 15 minutes and to New York in an hour. The Northeast Maglev, a downtown D.C. firm with 30 employees, is working with Central Japan Railway Co. \u2014 which operates the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan \u2014 to develop a maglev network that would connect Washington and New York, with stops in Baltimore, Wilmington and Philadelphia, including BWI Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Eventually, the company wants to extend the line to Boston. Trains that use maglev technology, or magnetic levitation, typically travel faster than traditional rail \u2014 Shanghai\u2019s maglev train runs at an average of at least 139 miles per hour, compared to Acela Express that runs at an average 84 miles per hour. The only commercial maglev lines are in Aichi, Japan, and Shanghai. Maglev vehicles are suspended above the track and use magnetic propulsion. It is not the first time there\u2019s been an interest in building a maglev system in the Northeast, but previous attempts were halted by lack of support from lawmakers and funding shortfalls. In 2001, officials with the Maryland Department of Transportation, the District of Columbia, Baltimore, Baltimore County and the Maryland Transit Administration formed the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project, which competed for Federal Railroad Administration consideration to develop a 39-mile maglev line linking Camden Yard in Baltimore, BWI Airport and Union Station in D.C. But the project, which in 2007 was estimated to cost $5.1 billion, was cost-prohibitive and lacked legislative support, Maryland Transit Administration spokesman Terry Owens said. Owens said Northeast Maglev has not yet met with anyone at MTA. The Northeast Maglev project is still in its infancy, according to an attorney advising the company on regulatory and governmental issues. A spokeswoman for Northeast Maglev said it is \u201ctoo early to discuss project details\u201d and declined to comment on potential funding sources or a timeline for the project, saying only that company leaders are meeting with officials. \u201cThe Northeast Corridor is an economic powerhouse, but gridlock threatens to constrain growth,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cIt\u2019s time for America to harness technology that is faster, cleaner and safer ... we believe that as the U.S. looks at transportation solutions"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Central Japan Railway Co.\u2019s magnetic levitation train running at 311 miles per hour. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg)\nA small privately owned Washington company is lobbying to develop a high-speed rail system that would take passengers from the District to Baltimore in 15 minutes and to New York in an hour.\nThe Northeast Maglev, a downtown D.C. firm with 30 employees, is working with Central Japan Railway Co. \u2014 which operates the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan \u2014 to develop a maglev network that would connect Washington and New York, with stops in Baltimore, Wilmington and Philadelphia, including BWI Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Eventually, the company wants to extend the line to Boston.\nTrains that use maglev technology, or magnetic levitation, typically travel faster than traditional rail \u2014 Shanghai\u2019s maglev train runs at an average of at least 139 miles per hour, compared to Acela Express that runs at an average 84 miles per hour. The only commercial maglev lines are in Aichi, Japan, and Shanghai. Maglev vehicles are suspended above the track and use magnetic propulsion.\nThe project is unrelated to a proposal by Amtrak to build a high-speed rail system in the region by 2040. Amtrak, which runs the Acela Express, last week released a $151 billion proposal to redevelop and build out a high-speed rail network that would enable travel between Philadelphia and New York in 37 minutes, and between Washington and New York in 94 minutes.\nIt is not the first time there\u2019s been an interest in building a maglev system in the Northeast, but previous attempts were halted by lack of support from lawmakers and funding shortfalls. In 2001, officials with the Maryland Department of Transportation, the District of Columbia, Baltimore, Baltimore County and the Maryland Transit Administration formed the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project, which competed for Federal Railroad Administration consideration to develop a 39-mile maglev line linking Camden Yard in Baltimore, BWI Airport and Union Station in D.C. But the project, which in 2007 was estimated to cost $5.1 billion, was cost-prohibitive and lacked legislative support, Maryland Transit Administration spokesman Terry Owens said.\nOwens said Northeast Maglev has not yet met with anyone at MTA.\nThe Northeast Maglev project is still in its infancy, according to an attorney advising the company on regulatory and governmental issues.\n\u201cIt hasn\u2019t launched all the way yet,\u201d said John Merrigan, who co-chairs the lobbying practice at DLA Piper, one of three lobbying firms Northeast Maglev has hired since March to track legislation impacting magnetic levitation transportation, including the transportation bill President Obama signed July 6. The two other lobbying firms are American Defense International and Commonwealth Research Associates, to whom the company has paid $10,000 and $8,400 in lobbying fees, respectively.\nA spokeswoman for Northeast Maglev said it is \u201ctoo early to discuss project details\u201d and declined to comment on potential funding sources or a timeline for the project, saying only that company leaders are meeting with officials.\n\u201cThe Northeast Corridor is an economic powerhouse, but gridlock threatens to constrain growth,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cIt\u2019s time for America to harness technology that is faster, cleaner and safer ... we believe that as the U.S. looks at transportation solutions to meet growing demand, it makes sense to invest in the most advanced technology that is proven and available.\u201d\nNortheast Maglev is not affiliated with Maglev Inc., the Pennsylvania company that, prior to declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011, wanted to develop a maglev train from Pittsburgh International Airport to Greensburg, Penn.\nAn Amtrak spokesman said he has not seen Northeast Maglev\u2019s plans.\nOne of the lobbyists affiliated with the project, Chris Brady of Commonwealth Research, agreed to pay $300 last month to settle a complaint brought by a Georgia government watchdog group before the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission.\nThe watchdog group accused Brady of paying $17,000 for House Speaker David Ralston and his family to take a trip to Europe in 2010 without first registering as a lobbyist in Georgia that year. Brady, whose firm has lobbied for a maglev line between Atlanta and Chattanooga, missed the deadline to file disclosure reports required of lobbyists, the commission found. Brady\u2019s attorney said he agreed to pay $300 to settle the matter, but denied wrongdoing."}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "0b130d34-8c0d-11e2-b63f-f53fb9f2fcb4_4", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "0b130d34-8c0d-11e2-b63f-f53fb9f2fcb4_4", "title": "Five myths about a government shutdown", "text": "continue to be credited for benefits and seniority.) But even though furloughed workers are not legally entitled to pay, Congress has traditionally passed legislation after the fact to compensate them. 5. Shutdowns show that there are a lot of nonessential government workers. During the November 1995 shutdown, the federal government furloughed 800,000 \u201cnonessential\u201d employees. Hundreds of thousands of workers were furloughed during the December 1995 shutdown, too. If we can do without those employees during a shutdown, why can\u2019t we get rid of them entirely? It turns out that the government\u2019s narrow definitions of \u201cessential\u201d and \u201cnonessential\u201d don\u2019t always match the common-sense meanings. As Treasury\u2019s assistant secretary of management, George Munoz, testified to Congress in 1995: \u201cThese are inappropriate terms that mistakenly convey a sense of relative importance among federal employees. They perpetuate the false impression that some federal workers perform jobs that are trivial or unnecessary.\u201d Now, the federal government tends to use the terms \u201cexcepted\u201d and \u201cnon-excepted\u201d to get away from the notion that the vast ranks of feds are \u201cnonessential.\u201d Executive branch employees deemed excepted are required to work during a shutdown because, for example, they perform emergency services involving life or property, or they are involved in the orderly suspension of agency operations. Excepted personnel may include a National Zoo worker responsible for feeding animals, while a zoo employee who manages programming may be non-excepted. An Army information manager may be deemed non-excepted, but an agency budget officer may be considered essential because her job involves ensuring that funding lapses don\u2019t result in overspending. These bureaucratic terms \u2014 excepted and non-excepted \u2014 don\u2019t make much sense to the public if a needed service can\u2019t be delivered because the government has shut down. In those cases, pretty much everyone is considered essential. outlook@washpost.com Read more from Outlook, friend us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. Dan G. Blair is president and chief executive of the National Academy of Public Administration, an independent nonprofit chartered by Congress. He served as deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management from 2002 to 2006. President Obama and Congress have until March 27 to reach a budget agreement to avert a government shutdown. If they don\u2019t meet the deadline, federal agencies will halt many public services and send \u201cnon-excepted\u201d workers home without pay. Let\u2019s look at some of the misconceptions about what happens when the U.S. government officially closes shop."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "1. It won\u2019t happen this time.\nThe country has weathered several federal shutdowns over the years, and it could happen again. The last threatened shutdown was in 2011; it was narrowly avoided late on Friday, April 8, within an hour of the midnight deadline.\nThe longest shutdown in U.S. history, which also happens to be the most recent, occurred during Bill Clinton\u2019s presidency and lasted 21 days, from Dec. 15, 1995, until Jan. 6, 1996. It came only a month after a five-day shutdown from Nov. 13 to 19, 1995. From fiscal year 1981 through 1995, during the Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton presidencies, there were nine shutdowns, none lasting longer than three full days. Six shutdowns occurred during Jimmy Carter\u2019s presidency, between fiscal year 1977 and fiscal year 1980, ranging from eight to 17 full days.\nThis week, the Senate will vote on an amended House bill to keep the government funded. The bill will then go back to the House. But this Congress and this White House have been locked in stalemates too many times for us to feel certain that we\u2019ll avoid a shutdown: Think of the summer 2011 debt-ceiling fight, this year\u2019s sequester showdown and a near-certain battle over the debt limit coming up again this spring. With House Republicans and the Obama administration constantly at odds, why would we think any agreement between them would be inevitable?\n2. Shutdowns have little impact on the general public.\nEven during a government shutdown, many federal services would be available to the public. Self-funded agencies, such as the Postal Service, would stay open. Uniformed military personnel would stay on the job. And federal guidelines mandate that certain other services continue, including national security functions such as airport screening and border and coast patrol; customs inspections and air-traffic control; and some benefit payments and contractual obligations, such as borrowing and tax collecting (yes, you would still have to pay your taxes).\nBut there are plenty of other services that would be missing: Citizens couldn\u2019t get or renew passports, and foreign visitors wouldn\u2019t be issued visas, affecting our tourism economy; all of our national parks would close their gates; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would stop monitoring diseases. Veterans would still receive health benefits, but those going through the application process would have to wait even longer to be granted benefits.\nDuring the shutdowns in the 1990s, vital programs took hits. At the end of 1995, 2,400 workers stopped cleaning up toxic waste at 609 Superfund sites, investigations of delinquent child-support payments stopped, and decisions on whether to allow new medical drugs on the market were interrupted. Eleven states and the District of Columbia suspended unemployment assistance for lack of federal funds.\nPayments to federal contractors were delayed, something that can be devastating to small businesses. Exports were also affected: Some companies were unable to ship goods overseas because no one was there to inspect them.\n3. Shutdowns save money.\nFact or fiction? A collection from Outlook\u2019s popular Five Myths series.\nIt seems counterintuitive, but shutdowns do not necessarily save the government money. Preparing for a shutdown takes time and resources that could be spent delivering services, and any savings that are achieved are minimal compared with the size of the federal budget. In fact, shutdowns can actually cost the taxpayer, because even though furloughed workers are not working, the government traditionally pays them retroactively. The Office of Management and Budget estimated the cost of the shutdowns in 1995 and 1996 at $1.4 billion.\nDuring the two shutdowns in the 1996 fiscal year, the government closed 368 national parks, turning away 7 million visitors; local communities lost that tourism revenue. At the same time, $3.7\u00a0billion of a total $18 billion in Washington area contracts were delayed or canceled. The halt in processing visa applications for up to 30,000 foreigners resulted in millions of dollars in losses for the tourist industry and airlines.\nA lengthy shutdown, coupled with the sequester, would probably hurt, not help, economic growth.\n4. Federal workers lose pay.\nSome might, but not if past experience is a guide.\nThe president, presidential appointees, members of Congress and some career executive branch personnel are required to continue working during a shutdown. They would be paid.\nMost federal employees, however, are subject to furlough and not entitled to pay. This includes rank-and-file workers as well as senior leadership. For example, a veterans benefits customer-service representative may have to stay home, as could the division\u2019s managers, if those functions are deemed \u201cnonessential.\u201d (Furloughed employees continue to be credited for benefits and seniority.)\nBut even though furloughed workers are not legally entitled to pay, Congress has traditionally passed legislation after the fact to compensate them.\n5. Shutdowns show that there are a lot of nonessential government workers.\nDuring the November 1995 shutdown, the federal government furloughed 800,000 \u201cnonessential\u201d employees. Hundreds of thousands of workers were furloughed during the December 1995 shutdown, too. If we can do without those employees during a shutdown, why can\u2019t we get rid of them entirely?\nIt turns out that the government\u2019s narrow definitions of \u201cessential\u201d and \u201cnonessential\u201d don\u2019t always match the common-sense meanings. As Treasury\u2019s assistant secretary of management, George Munoz, testified to Congress in 1995: \u201cThese are inappropriate terms that mistakenly convey a sense of relative importance among federal employees. They perpetuate the false impression that some federal workers perform jobs that are trivial or unnecessary.\u201d\nNow, the federal government tends to use the terms \u201cexcepted\u201d and \u201cnon-excepted\u201d to get away from the notion that the vast ranks of feds are \u201cnonessential.\u201d Executive branch employees deemed excepted are required to work during a shutdown because, for example, they perform emergency services involving life or property, or they are involved in the orderly suspension of agency operations. Excepted personnel may include a National Zoo worker responsible for feeding animals, while a zoo employee who manages programming may be non-excepted. An Army information manager may be deemed non-excepted, but an agency budget officer may be considered essential because her job involves ensuring that funding lapses don\u2019t result in overspending.\nThese bureaucratic terms \u2014 excepted and non-excepted \u2014 don\u2019t make much sense to the public if a needed service can\u2019t be delivered because the government has shut down. In those cases, pretty much everyone is considered essential.\noutlook@washpost.com\nRead more from Outlook, friend us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.\nDan G. Blair is president and chief executive of the National Academy of Public Administration, an independent nonprofit chartered by Congress. He served as deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management from 2002 to 2006.\nPresident Obama and Congress have until March 27 to reach a budget agreement to avert a government shutdown. If they don\u2019t meet the deadline, federal agencies will halt many public services and send \u201cnon-excepted\u201d workers home without pay. Let\u2019s look at some of the misconceptions about what happens when the U.S. government officially closes shop."}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "15e566b4-221a-11e3-a358-1144dee636dd_2", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "15e566b4-221a-11e3-a358-1144dee636dd_2", "title": "Wondering about a government shutdown? First thing to know: It all won\u2019t disappear.", "text": "funding to keep the government running could mean that \u201ca number of employees may be temporarily furloughed.\u201d 3. Does the entire government close? Will anyone patrol the borders? Will services disappear and benefits such as Social Security checks stop? What about services to veterans? Can I still see the panda cub at the National Zoo? In any shutdown, the government does not stop functioning completely. By law, certain agencies must be allowed to operate with unsalaried employees. According to the Office of Management and Budget, those are employees who: \u25cfProvide for national security, including the conduct of foreign relations essential to the national security or the safety of life and property. \u25cfProvide for benefit payments and the performance of obligations under no-year or multi-year contract or other funds remaining available for those purposes. \u25cfConduct essential activities to the extent that they protect life and property. Managers would still have to decide how the work is executed, such as who stays on the job and who doesn\u2019t. So while the panda cub and her zoo-mates will get fed, the zoo may not be open to visitors. The borders would still be patrolled. Veterans in hospitals would still receive care. Government operations not directly paid for by the Treasury, the largest of which is the U.S. Postal Service, also would continue. In a similar shutdown threat in 2011, the government said that of the roughly 2.1 million non-postal federal employees, all but about 800,000 would be kept on the job. 4. What happens to Americans who are expecting checks for Social Security and other benefits? These entitlement programs are considered mandatory spending, although payments could slow down if fewer federal employees must handle the work. In the shutdowns in 1995 and 1996, military veterans saw some health and financial services delayed. However, some services for veterans are funded by budgets that cover multiple years, which means the Treasury would have to pay for them. 5. Would federal workers and contractors be paid? According to OMB\u2019s missive this week, employees who stay on the job would not get a paycheck at first. But they would be entitled to retroactive pay once the government is running again. It gets murkier for nonessential employees. They would have to come to the office on the first day of a shutdown for up to half a day to secure files, fill out time and attendance forms and"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "With no deal in sight between the House, Senate and White House to pay the nation\u2019s bills after midnight on Sept. 30, much of the federal government is set to run out of money 10 days from now, and large functions of the federal world could shut down Oct. 1.\nWhat might this mean for you, your family and for the people who keep the government running day to day \u2014 even as Democrats and Republicans in Congress bicker over whether to stop funding President Obama\u2019s health-care law and other fiscal issues they cannot seem to resolve?\nThe latest updates on the battle over Obamacare\nDeadlines and showdowns won't make Capitol Hill a fun place to be this fall.\nHere are some basics of what a government shutdown might look like:\n1. What got us to this point, and who\u2019s at fault if the government closes?\nAs with most things in Washington, naming who\u2019s at fault would likely depend on your political persuasion.\nUnder a budget law passed 39 years ago, the House and Senate must approve 12 appropriations bills funding the federal government by Sept. 30, the last day of the fiscal year. It almost never happens.\nIn the past 17 years \u2014 in 10 of which Congress was controlled by Republicans, four by Democrats and two with mixed leadership in the chambers \u2014 Congress did not meet its statutory deadline for approving the spending bills.\nThis year\u2019s confrontation is over the conservative Republican effort to defund the Affordable Care Act. On Friday, the House approved a stopgap bill to fund the government that would strip all funding for the law, large parts of which are set to take effect Oct. 1. The bill is considered to have no chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate.\n2. Is the government making preparations to close Oct. 1?\nYes. The Obama administration told agencies this week to begin planning for a partial shutdown. A memo issued to agencies said that \u201cprudent management requires that agencies be prepared for the possibility of a lapse.\u201d\nFederal managers must review which of their employees would be essential and required to come to work, and which would be non-essential and sent home during a shutdown.\nAgencies are notifying their employees to expect some chaos: On Thursday, for example, State Department Undersecretary for Management Patrick F. Kennedy issued a memo making clear that a lapse in funding to keep the government running could mean that \u201ca number of employees may be temporarily furloughed.\u201d\n3. Does the entire government close? Will anyone patrol the borders? Will services disappear and benefits such as Social Security checks stop? What about services to veterans? Can I still see the panda cub at the National Zoo?\nIn any shutdown, the government does not stop functioning completely. By law, certain agencies must be allowed to operate with unsalaried employees. According to the Office of Management and Budget, those are employees who:\n\u25cfProvide for national security, including the conduct of foreign relations essential to the national security or the safety of life and property.\n\u25cfProvide for benefit payments and the performance of obligations under no-year or multi-year contract or other funds remaining available for those purposes.\n\u25cfConduct essential activities to the extent that they protect life and property.\nManagers would still have to decide how the work is executed, such as who stays on the job and who doesn\u2019t. So while the panda cub and her zoo-mates will get fed, the zoo may not be open to visitors. The borders would still be patrolled. Veterans in hospitals would still receive care.\nGovernment operations not directly paid for by the Treasury, the largest of which is the U.S. Postal Service, also would continue.\nIn a similar shutdown threat in 2011, the government said that of the roughly 2.1 million non-postal federal employees, all but about 800,000 would be kept on the job.\n4. What happens to Americans who are expecting checks for Social Security and other benefits?\nThese entitlement programs are considered mandatory spending, although payments could slow down if fewer federal employees must handle the work.\nIn the shutdowns in 1995 and 1996, military veterans saw some health and financial services delayed. However, some services for veterans are funded by budgets that cover multiple years, which means the Treasury would have to pay for them.\n5. Would federal workers and contractors be paid?\nAccording to OMB\u2019s missive this week, employees who stay on the job would not get a paycheck at first. But they would be entitled to retroactive pay once the government is running again.\nIt gets murkier for nonessential employees. They would have to come to the office on the first day of a shutdown for up to half a day to secure files, fill out time and attendance forms and \u201cotherwise make preparations to preserve their work.\u201d\nWhether they would recover lost pay is up to Congress and the White House. In past shutdowns, those employees were paid retroactively, but there is no guarantee. They could not substitute paid leave such as vacation time, or even work voluntarily. That\u2019s against the law.\n6. Has the government shut down before?\nNot in recent years. But the government closed six times between 1977 and 1980, and nine times between 1981 and 1996. Shutdowns in the 1970s and 1980s ranged from three to 17 days. A shutdown in November 1995 lasted five days. The most recent shutdown was from mid-December 1995 to early January 1996. That one lasted 21 days.\nThe threat has come up repeatedly in recent years as lawmakers and the administration have battled over fiscal policy.\nSome say a shutdown now would have a bigger fallout than in 1995. Back then, several appropriations bills had been signed into law, including the two that funded the military, so most of the government stayed open. Many affected agencies operated at a reduced level during the three weeks by spending down savings from previous budgets.\nBut this time, no appropriations bills have been signed into law. That means the entire government would have no money to operate at midnight on Sept. 30.\n7. Weren\u2019t a lot of federal employee furloughed this year?\nYes, almost half of them. The standoff on Capitol Hill is over funding for fiscal 2014, which begins Oct. 1, because Congress has not passed any regular appropriations.\nThe recent furloughs were the result of another fiscal showdown that set into motion automatic cuts known as sequestration. The largest agency, the Defense Department, furloughed about 650,000 civilian employees for six days.\nGovernment workers are also in the third year of a pay freeze.\n8. Do the president and Congress continue working?\nThe president and political appointees are exempt from furloughs, although that not true for all White House staff. Lawmakers would continue working and would be responsible for deciding who on their staffs is essential.\nIn past shutdown threats, the judiciary has said it could continue operating for possibly two weeks with some fees and funds from previous years. Afterward, judges would have to go home.\n9. How does a shutdown end?\nIt\u2019s up to Congress and the White House. No doubt there would be plenty of pressure from the public and workforce. There is no law setting a time limit."}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "39afdc12-37e8-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_2", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "39afdc12-37e8-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_2", "title": "During zoo closure, panda cub got chubby, a tortoise died and some animals acted freaky", "text": "We can\u2019t do our mission of saving species without our visitors coming. \u201d The zoo, part of the federally funded Smithsonian Institution, had been closed since the shutdown began Oct. 1. Officials said the hiatus seemed to have affected animals in different ways. Don Moore, associate director of animal-care sciences, said it was hard to say if some animals missed people. \u201cWe missed people,\u201d he said of the staff. Sophie, the sea lion? \u201cI think you could probably, safely say [she] missed people,\u201d he said. \u201cShe\u2019s very, very human-oriented, and she\u2019s been looking for people.. \u201cI would go walking down there, and she would just follow me around the entire exhibit. And I\u2019m not even one of her keepers. \u201cThe maned wolf was howling during the day, instead of the evening,\u201d he said. \u201cI guess you could interpret that as, \u2018Well, there\u2019s nobody else around, so it\u2019s safe to do this.\u2019 I don\u2019t know what the maned wolf is thinking.\u201d The maned wolf, native to South America, is famous at the zoo for its heavy skunklike odor. The flamingos seemed to get used to the quiet of the shutdown and then would become agitated when staff members walked by. \u201cThey have pretty small brains in those big birds,\u201d Moore said. \u201cThere are about 65 or 70 . . . flamingos here. So your flock is only as stable as the least-stable member.\u201d The zoo\u2019s two African vultures, Natalie and Tuck, \u201chave been kind of a little freaky,\u201d Moore said. They seemed to be \u201con high alert\u201d as more keepers showed up for work. \u201cMy own opinion is vultures might be a little smarter than flamingos,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re more predatory birds. A little bit larger brain there.\u201d Neither the maned wolf nor the vultures came out during the reopening. During the shutdown, there were some deaths at the zoo. Sable, a large Aldabra tortoise about 100 years old, had been suffering from renal failure and an upper respiratory infection. She had been at the zoo since 1956 and died Oct. 7 in the zoo\u2019s veterinary hospital. Friday morning, zookeepers found one of its two new wrinkled hornbills, a female, dead in the Bird House. The birds are endangered, and the zoo had just taken in a pair. A significant departure also occurred. Kigali, a female lowland gorilla, was moved from the zoo Wednesday to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "\u201cWe are so excited to be back here,\u201d director Dennis Kelly said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a hard 17 days. The animals have missed the people. The staff has missed the folks.\u201d\nSophie, the gregarious California sea lion, seemed to miss visitors.\nThe flamingos got used to the solitude.\nAnd Siete, the maned wolf \u2014 he of the repellent odor \u2014 took to howling at unusual times.\nOfficials at the Smithsonian\u2019s National Zoo said Friday that there were subtle and not-so-subtle changes for the animals during the 17 days it was closed because of the government shutdown. Some believe that the absence of human beings had an impact.\nBut did the animals miss us?\nThe National Zoo's giant panda cub has grown and passed several developmental milestones since the panda cams went dark because of the government shutdown, according to zoo officials.\nDo we need to think they missed us?\nPerhaps they didn\u2019t care.\nWhile we were gone, there were two deaths and one departure, and a pair of lions mated.\nThree elephants took an important walk. And the 8-week-old giant panda cub grew from three pounds to five.\nThe zoo reopened at 10 a.m. Friday to a mob of eager visitors who had started gathering an hour beforehand to participate in the return of one of the most visible signs of the government shutdown.\nA person wearing a panda costume, along with members of the Friends of the National Zoo with faces painted to look like pandas, greeted the waiting crowd.\nWith television cameras rolling and dozens of sign-carrying zoo staffers poised to greet the throng, zoo director Dennis Kelly stood with a red-and-white bullhorn and looked at his watch as the moment approached.\nThe zoo\u2019s giant panda cub, Bao Bao, turns 1 year old.\n\u201cOkay, everybody: Let\u2019s do a countdown!\u201d he called out at the main entrance. And as the crowd chanted \u201cThree! Two! One!,\u201d he slid open the black metal gate that is flanked by two giant statues of lions.\nBystanders cheered, and scores of people pushing baby strollers and clutching their morning coffee surged in.\nSoon, the zoo again echoed with the sounds of crying children and the lectures of zookeepers. And the aroma of popcorn drifted through the air.\n\u201cWe are so excited to be back here,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a hard 17 days. The animals have missed the people. The staff has missed the folks. We can\u2019t do our mission of saving species without our visitors coming. \u201d\nThe zoo, part of the federally funded Smithsonian Institution, had been closed since the shutdown began Oct. 1.\nOfficials said the hiatus seemed to have affected animals in different ways.\nDon Moore, associate director of animal-care sciences, said it was hard to say if some animals missed people. \u201cWe missed people,\u201d he said of the staff.\nSophie, the sea lion?\n\u201cI think you could probably, safely say [she] missed people,\u201d he said. \u201cShe\u2019s very, very human-oriented, and she\u2019s been looking for people..\n\u201cI would go walking down there, and she would just follow me around the entire exhibit. And I\u2019m not even one of her keepers.\n\u201cThe maned wolf was howling during the day, instead of the evening,\u201d he said. \u201cI guess you could interpret that as, \u2018Well, there\u2019s nobody else around, so it\u2019s safe to do this.\u2019 I don\u2019t know what the maned wolf is thinking.\u201d\nThe maned wolf, native to South America, is famous at the zoo for its heavy skunklike odor.\nThe flamingos seemed to get used to the quiet of the shutdown and then would become agitated when staff members walked by.\n\u201cThey have pretty small brains in those big birds,\u201d Moore said. \u201cThere are about 65 or 70 .\u2009.\u2009. flamingos here. So your flock is only as stable as the least-stable member.\u201d\nThe zoo\u2019s two African vultures, Natalie and Tuck, \u201chave been kind of a little freaky,\u201d Moore said.\nThey seemed to be \u201con high alert\u201d as more keepers showed up for work. \u201cMy own opinion is vultures might be a little smarter than flamingos,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re more predatory birds. A little bit larger brain there.\u201d\nNeither the maned wolf nor the vultures came out during the reopening.\nDuring the shutdown, there were some deaths at the zoo.\nSable, a large Aldabra tortoise about 100 years old, had been suffering from renal failure and an upper respiratory infection. She had been at the zoo since 1956 and died Oct. 7 in the zoo\u2019s veterinary hospital.\nFriday morning, zookeepers found one of its two new wrinkled hornbills, a female, dead in the Bird House. The birds are endangered, and the zoo had just taken in a pair.\nA significant departure also occurred.\nKigali, a female lowland gorilla, was moved from the zoo Wednesday to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita as part of a breeding program. \u201cThey\u2019ve got a male that wants a girlfriend,\u201d Moore said.\n\u201cIt\u2019s always a massive thing when you\u2019re moving a gorilla,\u201d he said. \u201cIt takes a lot of preparation, a lot of safety measures. The good news was we didn\u2019t have to cordon off the zoo, because we were closed to the public.\u201d\nThere were no births at the zoo during the shutdown, Moore said, but two lions mated. \u201cSo we\u2019re trying to make babies.\u201d\nThe zoo\u2019s Asian elephants took a giant step: For the first time, the three females \u2014 Ambika, Shanthi and newcomer Bozie \u2014 went for a stroll together along the zoo\u2019s elephant walk. Bozie recently joined the herd and is still getting acclimated.\nAnd the unnamed giant panda cub expanded in size, fur and popularity.\nThe zoo\u2019s Internet panda cams, which show live feeds from the panda compound, have been deluged since being back online Thursday morning.\nThe Web feed, which shows the cub with her mother, Mei Xiang, can host 850 viewing slots for each of the two cameras. To ensure access for the maximum number of people, viewers can watch for only 15 minutes at a time.\nThe panda cub looked different since her last appearance on video. At last glimpse, she looked like a large rodent, with minimal black-and-white coloring. On Thursday, she looked like a little version of her mother.\nNeither the cub nor her mother was on view Friday. But visitors crowded at the outdoor part of the giant panda compound to see the cub\u2019s father, Tian Tian, who lounged across a log, basking in the sun and the attention."}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "3TDG7GAPOMI6TAY7HKRMFPSMXU_2", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3TDG7GAPOMI6TAY7HKRMFPSMXU_2", "title": "Consequences of the government shutdown strike the private sector", "text": "really sad because most of the cooks, they have only one job. I\u2019m lucky because I have a second job,\u201d said Lazaro, who works the evening shift at Grille District at Reagan National Airport. Lazaro, who is married with two daughters, said his family cut back on expenses a month ago, buying less expensive Christmas gifts. His older daughter got a $100 used iPhone for Christmas instead of a new one. \u201cIt isn\u2019t connected yet. There is no line. I can\u2019t afford it right now,\u201d he said. \u201cBut she\u2019s happy.\u201d The partial shutdown that began Dec. 22 has really been a sequence of shutdowns. The early repercussions were muted by the holidays and by the ability of some institutions, national parks and agencies to remain at least partially operational for a few days or longer through table-scrap funding, volunteer help and donations. But the budgetary squeeze is intensifying. The National Gallery of Art in Washington closed Thursday, a day after a similar move by the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s many museums and the National Zoo. \u201cIt\u2019s really only yesterday and today that things are getting out of holiday mode and into serious business,\u201d said David Berteau, president and chief executive of the Professional Services Council, which represents about 400 firms that contract with the federal government. \u201cFor many agencies affected by the partial shutdown, their flexibility has been used up. And now they\u2019re having to start issuing more stop-work orders, with no end predictably in sight.\u201d Contractors \u2014 including security guards, suppliers and researchers \u2014 form a vast shadow government and must abide by byzantine regulations about whether and how to continue operations during a funding shortfall. The contractors have expanded in size and power in recent decades in a push by small-government conservatives to outsource federal functions to the private sector. Four out of every 10 people who work for the federal government are private contractors, according to 2017 research by New York University professor Paul C. Light. The federal government spends about $300 billion a year just on contracts for services, Berteau said. \u201cThis shutdown is harder in two ways. One is the uncertainty of how long it\u2019s going to last and when it\u2019s going to end. The other is the ambiguity, because it\u2019s partial \u2014 it\u2019s not a full government shutdown,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s insufficient communication from the government to the companies over what to plan for.\u201d Unlike federal"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Kelly Dodge has a case of shutdown anxiety. She is a project manager at a Colorado tech firm that produces software for the federal government, and none of her coders are getting paid.\nShe is increasingly worried that they will find jobs that are more stable elsewhere.\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard to find people who can do this work,\u201d said Dodge, whose team is developing a tool to help private companies comply with the Endangered Species Act. \u201cI have a highly motivated and exceptional team that really cares about working for the government and doing something for natural resources. But they feel disrespected.\u201d\nAs the partial government shutdown enters Day 14, its effects are starting to cascade far beyond the hulking agency buildings in Washington. Private companies with federal contracts are coping with chaos, confusion and uncertainty, while businesses large and small that rely on the operations of the vast federal bureaucracy are starting to feel sand in their gears.\nSen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) predicted Thursday that the shutdown could last for \u201cmonths and months.\u201d While the broader U.S. economy has yet to feel sharp effects from the scaled-down federal government, economist Mark Zandi of Moody\u2019s Analytics said that the impact could be significant if the shutdown drags on.\n\u201cIf it extends into the spring, it\u2019ll start to do real damage and have real impact, because it probably signifies other things are going off the rails \u2014 the acrimony in Washington is run amok,\u201d Zandi said.\nIt\u2019s difficult to know how that disruption might play out, he added.\n\u201cTake the housing market, for example. The fact that the IRS isn\u2019t open and verifying tax returns and W-2 statements may mean that we might not get home closings,\u201d he said. \u201cThe housing market could be severely disrupted, particularly during the spring selling season.\u201d\nThe shutdown is also affecting workers up and down the pay scale. In addition to the approximately 800,000 federal workers who are either furloughed or facing the prospect of working without pay, low-wage employees such as cafeteria workers and custodial staffers work for private contractors that \u2014 unlike federal employees \u2014 have little hope of getting back pay when the shutdown ends.\nPablo Lazaro, 49, works full time at the Smithsonian\u2019s National Museum of the American Indian, but the museum hasn\u2019t been open since New Year\u2019s Day. His employer, Restaurant Associates, is a contractor that manages Smithsonian cafeterias.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really sad because most of the cooks, they have only one job. I\u2019m lucky because I have a second job,\u201d said Lazaro, who works the evening shift at Grille District at Reagan National Airport. Lazaro, who is married with two daughters, said his family cut back on expenses a month ago, buying less expensive Christmas gifts. His older daughter got a $100 used iPhone for Christmas instead of a new one.\n\u201cIt isn\u2019t connected yet. There is no line. I can\u2019t afford it right now,\u201d he said. \u201cBut she\u2019s happy.\u201d\nThe partial shutdown that began Dec. 22 has really been a sequence of shutdowns. The early repercussions were muted by the holidays and by the ability of some institutions, national parks and agencies to remain at least partially operational for a few days or longer through table-scrap funding, volunteer help and donations. But the budgetary squeeze is intensifying. The National Gallery of Art in Washington closed Thursday, a day after a similar move by the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s many museums and the National Zoo.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really only yesterday and today that things are getting out of holiday mode and into serious business,\u201d said David Berteau, president and chief executive of the Professional Services Council, which represents about 400 firms that contract with the federal government. \u201cFor many agencies affected by the partial shutdown, their flexibility has been used up. And now they\u2019re having to start issuing more stop-work orders, with no end predictably in sight.\u201d\nContractors \u2014 including security guards, suppliers and researchers \u2014 form a vast shadow government and must abide by byzantine regulations about whether and how to continue operations during a funding shortfall. The contractors have expanded in size and power in recent decades in a push by small-government conservatives to outsource federal functions to the private sector. Four out of every 10 people who work for the federal government are private contractors, according to 2017 research by New York University professor Paul C. Light.\nThe federal government spends about $300 billion a year just on contracts for services, Berteau said.\n\u201cThis shutdown is harder in two ways. One is the uncertainty of how long it\u2019s going to last and when it\u2019s going to end. The other is the ambiguity, because it\u2019s partial \u2014 it\u2019s not a full government shutdown,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s insufficient communication from the government to the companies over what to plan for.\u201d\nUnlike federal civil servants, private-sector workers have limited expectation of receiving back pay from Congress or their employers when the shutdown ends.\n\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s any way I can get back pay,\u201d said Daniel Highlands, 45, a contractor who handles fraud analysis in the Boston office of the Securities and Exchange Commission and earns $50,000 a year. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say that I live paycheck to paycheck, but missing one could really hurt.\u201d\nFederal contractors often work side by side with civil servants and sometimes feel as if they are second-class citizens. The jobs can be unstable, particularly for people working for small companies.\nThe government relies heavily on this shadow workforce not just to clean offices and prepare food in cafeterias but to provide expertise that the government lacks, particularly in hard-to-hire areas such as engineering and information technology, where federal agencies have lagged behind the private sector.\nThe shutdown will affect scientific research across the country. Major conventions scheduled for the coming days \u2014 such as ones held by the American Meterological Society and the American Astronomical Society \u2014 will be disrupted by the absence of government scientists who are not allowed to travel or perform any work.\nAnne Jefferson, associate professor of geology at Kent State University, teaches a watershed hydrology class that requires students to use data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website over the course of the semester. But when students go to the website to do their work, data no longer pops up.\nInstead there\u2019s a notice that says, \u201cAccess is not available at this time due to a lapse in appropriation.\u201d\nJefferson said university professors who use such federal data \u2014 deemed to be nonessential under the rules of the partial government shutdown \u2014 may soon have to restructure their coursework if the shutdown continues. And Jefferson said that graduate students will have to rethink their research projects or risk missing deadlines. Jefferson is facing a Jan. 31 deadline for a research project that she is required to write with a furloughed government scientist.\n\u201cI can\u2019t talk to her,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cDo we continue to work on the proposal without her? Do we throw in the towel? If we do, that opportunity will be moved back a year. We lose out and science loses out.\u201d\nFlorida-based Food and Drug Administration consultant Daniel Kamm said he can no longer submit applications for new medical devices while the government is closed. A diagnostic X-ray machine and an accessory for a defibrillator are among the devices that are now on hold.\n\u201cI\u2019m afraid there will be a backlog when they reopen,\u201d Kamm said. He noted that he was able to pay annual registration fees to the FDA for several foreign companies so they can continue to sell their FDA-approved devices in the United States. However, it is still technically illegal for them to do so because no one at the FDA has processed their 2019 registrations.\n\u201cThe funny thing is they accept my money, but they aren\u2019t providing the service,\u201d Kamm said.\nRichard Furstein, 26, who leads tours around Independence Mall in Philadelphia, said business has suffered and visitors have complained about closed facilities. Normally in January and February people can enter Independence Hall, but the building is closed, he said. And they can\u2019t get up close to the Liberty Bell, either. They can view it only through windows that do not provide a good angle on the famous crack in the bell.\nVisitors from Australia and New Zealand recently said they were disappointed with the closures, and one offered a rather tart observation, Furstein recalled, saying, \u201cYour country broke off because of a minor tax disagreement, and now your government is closed because of a minor wall disagreement.\u201d\nkimberly.kindy@washpost.com\nlisa.rein@washpost.com\njoel.achenbach@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "51066a45b4b68058163b80438a76f2f7_0", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "51066a45b4b68058163b80438a76f2f7_0", "title": "10 ways the government shutdown will impact your daily life", "text": "A protester sends a message to lawmakers outside the U.S. Capitol.<br />(Melina Mara / The Washington Post) Congress\u2019 failure to reach a compromise on government funding last night means a number of federal agencies will close their doors for the indefinite future. That augurs big and costly consequences for federal workers. But it also impacts everyone who uses services administered or funded by the federal government -- which is to say, just about everyone. Here\u2019s a quick guide to how the shutdown could impact you even if you're not a federal worker. 1) You may not receive certain government benefits, particularly if the shutdown lasts late into October, or you\u2019ll see a delay in benefits. 2) There could be delays processing your Pell Grant and student loan payments. 3) Your passport or visa office might close. 4) You\u2019ll eat food that was produced in neglected factories. 5) You won\u2019t be able to visit national parks or drive on roads that cut through them. 6) You won\u2019t be able to use some government Web sites or Twitter accounts. Due to a lapse in government funding, this account will not be active until further notice. 7) You won\u2019t know if the flu is brewing in your area. 8) You won\u2019t be able to ask the IRS for help with your taxes. 9) You won't be able to get certain types of loans. 10) You won\u2019t be able to watch the Panda Cam. Of course, there are many critical government services that will not be impacted by the shutdown. Those include the Postal Service, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (better known as food stamps) ... and, ironically, the Affordable Care Act, which goes into effect today and kicked off this whole shutdown mess to begin with."}], "old": [{"_id": "51066a45b4b68058163b80438a76f2f7_0", "title": "10 ways the government shutdown will impact your daily life", "text": "A protester sends a message to lawmakers outside the U.S. Capitol.<br />(Melina Mara / The Washington Post) 1) You may not receive certain government benefits, particularly if the shutdown lasts late into October, or you\u2019ll see a delay in benefits. 2) There could be delays processing your Pell Grant and student loan payments. 3) Your passport or visa office might close. 4) You\u2019ll eat food that was produced in neglected factories. 5) You won\u2019t be able to visit national parks or drive on roads that cut through them. 6) You won\u2019t be able to use some government Web sites or Twitter accounts. Due to a lapse in government funding, this account will not be active until further notice. 7) You won\u2019t know if the flu is brewing in your area. 8) You won\u2019t be able to ask the IRS for help with your taxes. 9) You won't be able to get certain types of loans. 10) You won\u2019t be able to watch the Panda Cam."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A protester sends a message to lawmakers outside the U.S. Capitol.<br />(Melina Mara / The Washington Post)\nCongress\u2019 failure to reach a compromise on government funding last night means a number of federal agencies will close their doors for the indefinite future. That augurs big and costly consequences for\u00a0federal workers. But it also impacts everyone who uses services administered or funded by the federal government -- which is to say, just about everyone.\u00a0Here\u2019s a quick guide to how the shutdown could impact you even if you're not a federal worker.\n1) You may not receive certain government benefits, particularly if the shutdown lasts late into October, or you\u2019ll see a delay in benefits.\n2) There could be delays processing your Pell Grant and student loan payments.\n3) Your passport or visa office might close.\n4) You\u2019ll eat food that was produced in neglected factories.\n5) You won\u2019t be able to visit national parks or drive on roads that cut through them.\n6) You won\u2019t be able to use some government Web sites or Twitter accounts.\nDue to a lapse in government funding, this account will not be active until further notice.\n7) You won\u2019t know if the flu is brewing in your area.\n8) You won\u2019t be able to ask the IRS for help with your taxes.\n9) You won't be able to get certain types of loans.\n10) You won\u2019t be able to watch the Panda Cam.\nOf course, there are many critical government services that will not be impacted by the shutdown. Those include the Postal Service, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (better known as food stamps) ... and, ironically, the Affordable Care Act, which goes into effect today and kicked off this whole shutdown mess to begin with."}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "6QZNONQOVEI6TAY7HKRMFPSMXU_2", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6QZNONQOVEI6TAY7HKRMFPSMXU_2", "title": "The Panda Cam is dark. But not everything is shut down at D.C. attractions.", "text": "at the Natural History Museum. But, Wood said, things could get difficult if the shutdown goes on for an extended period. \u201cWhere it gets a little tricky,\u201d he said, \u201cis . . . when you have other components, like curatorial review of wall text,\u201d as most curators are furloughed federal employees. \u201cIn the short term, we\u2019re okay.\u201d Some Smithsonian workers, including minimal security and maintenance personnel, are exempt from the shutdown because their jobs are considered essential, said Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas. The largest number of exempt employees are at the National Zoo, taking care of the animals. Animal care remains a priority, but the widely watched Panda Cam and other zoo cameras are no longer broadcasting. Employees at the National Museum of American History reported to work Wednesday for a four-hour \u201corderly shutdown,\u201d after which they set out-of-office replies on their phones and email and then left, some taking office plants with them. Furloughed staff are not allowed to work, even on a volunteer basis, so progress on upcoming exhibitions will be stalled, a museum spokeswoman said. During the shutdown, social media accounts will be dark and no new content will be shared. If the shutdown doesn\u2019t end quickly, exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art that are scheduled to come down will require registrars and other staff to uninstall the items, said gallery spokeswoman Anabeth Guthrie, who added that it\u2019s too early to tell whether any exhibitions will be delayed. Many projects that are not in public view also have been affected by the shutdown. Four students from Los Angeles are expected to begin internships Monday with the Smithsonian Latino Center and its museum partners, who are federal workers. \u201cWe\u2019ve found people who are willing to help us, but it means the students won\u2019t have the internships we had thought,\u201d said Eduardo Diaz, the center\u2019s director, adding that his office also will provide space for workers who can\u2019t access their museum offices. \u201cWe are improvising and picking up the slack where we can,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been through this before, so we know how to manage, not only the work itself, but the mental aspect as well.\u201d Meanwhile, several thousand museum workers are in limbo. \u201cWe\u2019re hopeful that this gets resolved as soon as possible,\u201d Wood said, \u201cso we can get back to serving the American people through science and access to our exhibits and programs.\u201d peggy.mcglone@washpost.com"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "You can\u2019t see the Wright Flyer at the National Air and Space Museum, or snap a selfie with Henry, the African bush elephant at the Natural History Museum, or even peek at the pandas at the National Zoo.\nOn Wednesday, the partial government shutdown hit many of Washington\u2019s cultural attractions when the Smithsonian museums \u2014 and the zoo and its popular Panda Cam \u2014 closed to the public.\nThe National Gallery of Art \u2014 which, like the Smithsonian museums, stayed open during the busy holiday week \u2014 will close Thursday if an agreement hasn\u2019t been reached. The museums, which are partially federally funded, used reserve money to keep operating when the shutdown began Dec. 22. The holiday season is typically one of the busiest times of the year for Smithsonian museums. (Officials reported 1.1 million visitors between Dec. 22 and Jan. 1.)\nBut the closure doesn\u2019t mean the entire Smithsonian Institution has gone dark. About 2,000 of the Smithsonian\u2019s 6,000 employees are not paid by the federal government, so those staffers \u2014 including museum directors, senior-level administrators, fundraisers and employees of its magazine, television channel and Folkways music label \u2014 haven\u2019t been furloughed and are working as usual.\nConstruction is underway at the Air and Space Museum, which this month begins a long-planned seven-year renovation. And at the National Museum of Natural History, exhibits are still being installed in the popular Fossil Hall, which is set to reopen June 8 after a five-year renovation.\n\u201cThe contract has been signed and we\u2019re able to move forward, using nonfederal dollars, to allow the exhibit installation to move forward,\u201d said Jim Wood, communications director at the Natural History Museum.\nBut, Wood said, things could get difficult if the shutdown goes on for an extended period.\n\u201cWhere it gets a little tricky,\u201d he said, \u201cis .\u2009.\u2009. when you have other components, like curatorial review of wall text,\u201d as most curators are furloughed federal employees. \u201cIn the short term, we\u2019re okay.\u201d\nSome Smithsonian workers, including minimal security and maintenance personnel, are exempt from the shutdown because their jobs are considered essential, said Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas. The largest number of exempt employees are at the National Zoo, taking care of the animals.\nAnimal care remains a priority, but the widely watched Panda Cam and other zoo cameras are no longer broadcasting.\nEmployees at the National Museum of American History reported to work Wednesday for a four-hour \u201corderly shutdown,\u201d after which they set out-of-office replies on their phones and email and then left, some taking  office plants with them. Furloughed staff are not allowed to work, even on a volunteer basis, so progress on upcoming exhibitions will be stalled, a museum spokeswoman said. During the shutdown, social media accounts will be dark and no new content will be shared.\nIf the shutdown doesn\u2019t end quickly, exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art that are scheduled to come down will require registrars and other staff to uninstall the items, said gallery spokeswoman Anabeth Guthrie, who added that it\u2019s too early to tell whether any exhibitions will be delayed.\nMany projects that are not in public view also have been affected by the shutdown. Four students from Los Angeles are expected to begin internships Monday with the Smithsonian Latino Center and its museum partners, who are federal workers.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve found people who are willing to help us, but it means the students won\u2019t have the internships we had thought,\u201d said Eduardo Diaz, the center\u2019s director, adding that his office also will provide space for workers who can\u2019t access their museum offices.\n\u201cWe are improvising and picking up the slack where we can,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been through this before, so we know how to manage, not only the work itself, but the mental aspect as well.\u201d\nMeanwhile, several thousand museum workers are in limbo.\n\u201cWe\u2019re hopeful that this gets resolved as soon as possible,\u201d Wood said, \u201cso we can get back to serving the American people through science and access to our exhibits and programs.\u201d\npeggy.mcglone@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "FU365BSCGVAR3DUZWY7625MSSY_3", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "FU365BSCGVAR3DUZWY7625MSSY_3", "title": "Disruptive, disappointing, chaotic: Shutdown upends scientific research", "text": "2019, panels in January will have to be canceled and rescheduled, disrupting the flow of science. The NSF does not distribute grant payments to scientists during a shutdown. The U.S. Antarctic Program remains operational \u201cfor the foreseeable future,\u201d according to a statement from Kelly Falkner, director of the NSF\u2019s Office of Polar Programs. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the Agriculture Department, is running on a skeleton crew. Only four of the 399 NIFA staff members, according to the USDA shutdown plan, report to work during a shutdown. As at the NSF, the NIFA grant program tends to be quiet during the final week of the year \u2014 but January is a critical time in its grant review process. The Agriculture Department\u2019s in-house body of scientists, the Agricultural Research Service, shrinks by 82 percent to just over 1,100 people. Those exempt from the furlough will maintain laboratories, greenhouses and care for research animals; there are time-sensitive data to collect as well as crops and cells to tend. The USDA shutdown plan allows studies involving human subjects to continue. The Agriculture Department did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday, perhaps because the USDA shutdown plan furloughs all but two of the 58 people who work in its communications office. Federal science agencies are \u201cbasically closed for business today,\u201d Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.), the likely next chair of the House Science Committee, said in a Dec. 22 statement. \u201cAs I\u2019ve noted in previous shutdowns, as our competitors in other countries surge ahead in their R & D investments, we have basically shut down a large chunk of our federal science and technology enterprise.\u201d Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo, supported by prior-year funds, remained open as scheduled this week. But if the shutdown continues into the new year, the museums and zoo will close on Jan. 2. All research will cease, but employees who feed and care for animals at the zoo and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are exempted. \u201cIt\u2019s like being put in the penalty box and not being told when you can come back out on the ice,\u201d said Nick Pyenson, curator of fossil marine mammals at the National Museum of Natural History and author of \u201cSpying on Whales.\u201d Smithsonian scientists cannot communicate with collaborators. Researchers in the field \u2014 who are spread across the world \u2014 must return home. \u201cThat\u2019s really"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Kay Behrensmeyer was supposed to be preparing for a three-week expedition to look for evidence of ancient humans in Kenya. Instead, she spent Thursday packing her research permits, her fossil-collecting supplies, and maps she\u2019d spent weeks compiling and annotating by hand into a FedEx box, which she shipped to a junior colleague on the project. Behrensmeyer, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the National Museum of Natural History, wasn\u2019t going anywhere. The federal government was shut down.\nIn research labs and at field sites across the world, the week-long government shutdown has ground scientific progress to a halt. Thousands of scientists are among the hundreds of thousands of federal employees and contractors who must stay at home without pay. The furlough is expected to persist into the new year, which would mean a rocky start to 2019 for American science.\n\u201cIt\u2019s distressing, dispiriting, deflating,\u201d said Behrensmeyer, who has spent two years planning this trip. She was supposed to leave on Saturday but was instructed not to go when it became clear that the Smithsonian would run out of stopgap funding before a budget agreement was reached.\nThe partial shutdown, caused by President Trump\u2019s rejection of a bipartisan spending deal that did not allocate billions of dollars for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, also curtailed scientific operations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Agriculture Department, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Geological Survey. Furloughed government scientists are prohibited from checking on experiments, performing observations, collecting data, conducting tests or sharing their results.\nIf the budget impasse extends into the new year, scientists say, it could harm critical research.\n\u201cAny shutdown of the federal government can disrupt or delay research projects, lead to uncertainty over new research, and reduce researcher access to agency data and infrastructure. .\u2009.\u2009. Continuing resolutions and short-term extensions are no way to run a government,\u201d Rush Holt, chief executive of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, said in a statement.\nAlice Harding, an astrophysicist at Goddard Space Flight Center who is among roughly 15,000 furloughed NASA employees, worries about missing rare astronomical phenomena \u2014 starbursts proceed with or without a federal budget. Just days before the government closed, she and her colleagues at the Fermi space telescope observed a pulsar flashing in an unprecedented way. She scrambled to get a follow-up observation using NASA\u2019s NICER instrument in her last days at work.\n\u201cBut if the government ends up shutting down for more than a week, we won\u2019t get a second one,\u201d Harding said.\nCrucial research windows will slam shut on Earth, too. A crop-eating pest called the brown marmorated stink bug emerges only in the spring. Scientists must prepare for the insects' annual debut, and missing it would set researchers back an entire year, the Entomological Society of America warned. \u201cA lot of incredible science happens in our government every day,\u201d Robert K.D. Peterson, the organization\u2019s president, said in a statement. \u201cBut when the government shuts down, even partially, that work is derailed.\u201d\nIn Alexandria, Va., the National Science Foundation headquarters is closed. About 1,400 employees are furloughed, a spokesman said. \u201cOngoing operational and administrative activities will be minimal unless the suspension of these activities will imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property,\u201d the agency said in a statement.\nThe NSF is a funding agency, and its closure will have a massive effect on research if the shutdown lasts for an extended period. Review panels, which convene to approve or reject scientific grant proposals, were not scheduled in the final week of 2018. Should the shutdown extend into 2019, panels in January will have to be canceled and rescheduled, disrupting the flow of science. The NSF does not distribute grant payments to scientists during a shutdown.\nThe U.S. Antarctic Program remains operational \u201cfor the foreseeable future,\u201d according to a statement from Kelly Falkner, director of the NSF\u2019s Office of Polar Programs.\nThe National Institute of Food and Agriculture, part of the Agriculture Department, is running on a skeleton crew. Only four of the 399 NIFA staff members, according to the USDA shutdown plan, report to work during a shutdown. As at the NSF, the NIFA grant program tends to be quiet during the final week of the year \u2014 but January is a critical time in its grant review process.\nThe Agriculture Department\u2019s in-house body of scientists, the Agricultural Research Service, shrinks by 82 percent to just over 1,100 people. Those exempt from the furlough will maintain laboratories, greenhouses and care for research animals; there are time-sensitive data to collect as well as crops and cells to tend. The USDA shutdown plan allows studies involving human subjects to continue. The Agriculture Department did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday, perhaps because the USDA shutdown plan furloughs all but two of the 58 people who work in its communications office.\nFederal science agencies are \u201cbasically closed for business today,\u201d Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.), the likely next chair of the House Science Committee, said in a Dec. 22 statement. \u201cAs I\u2019ve noted in previous shutdowns, as our competitors in other countries surge ahead in their R & D investments, we have basically shut down a large chunk of our federal science and technology enterprise.\u201d\nSmithsonian museums and the National Zoo, supported by prior-year funds, remained open as scheduled this week. But if the shutdown continues into the new year, the museums and zoo will close on Jan. 2. All research will cease, but employees who feed and care for animals at the zoo and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are exempted.\n\u201cIt\u2019s like being put in the penalty box and not being told when you can come back out on the ice,\u201d said Nick Pyenson, curator of fossil marine mammals at the National Museum of Natural History and author of \u201cSpying on Whales.\u201d Smithsonian scientists cannot communicate with collaborators. Researchers in the field \u2014 who are spread across the world \u2014 must return home. \u201cThat\u2019s really frustrating.\u201d\nThousands of atmospheric scientists are scheduled to converge in Phoenix starting Jan. 6 for the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society. Hundreds of those scientists work in the federal government, mainly in agencies such as NOAA, which includes the National Weather Service, and NASA. More than 800 of the presenters and speakers on the docket are federal employees. If the shutdown continues, those scientists will not attend.\nThis meeting is where scientists hatch new ideas for lifesaving methods and warnings, said Dan Sobien, the president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization. \u201cAny delay in that research could someday cost someone their life, and that person could be you or me,\u201d Sobien said. Not having NWS meteorologists there to collaborate \u201cwill likely cost many more lives than the absence of any border wall, anywhere.\u201d\nKeith Seitter, the executive director of the American Meteorological Society, said the effect of the shutdown on future advances is impossible to calculate, \u201cbut we know that it is significant.\u201d\n\u201cThe interactions that occur at these meetings foster new science and new services across the enterprise that greatly benefit all of society,\u201d Seitter said. \u201cHaving one of those sectors not represented at the meeting greatly impedes progress\u201d on saving lives, supporting the economy and building an understanding of the environment.\nAt least 26 events at the meeting will be affected or wholly canceled because of the federal scientists' absence, including events such as a \u201ctown hall\u201d session on global weather models, where NOAA scientists hope to talk with colleagues about progress, challenges and ideas surrounding its new forecasting system. The United States has fallen behind in weather forecasting over the past couple of decades, outpaced by the United Kingdom and Europe in technology and computing power.\nThe student and early-career branch of the conference will be severely affected \u2014 many of the mentors for that group are federal employees in NOAA or NASA. A managing meteorologist at one of the National Weather Service offices, who wished to remain anonymous to speak openly about the shutdown, said the opportunities for young people to meet and interact with professionals are scant outside of conferences like these.\n\u201cYou are removing a large body of people whom they can meet as future mentors, giving them exposure to what federal agencies do,\u201d the manager said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to recruit talented people, and AMS and [the National Weather Association] are our two biggest opportunities to interact with these bright young people who are our future workforce.\u201d\nMore generally, the manager added, \u201cthe entire weather enterprise is impacted\u201d when a whole sector is absent.\nIf the shutdown lasts into the second week of 2019, it could also weaken the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society, which organizers bill as \u201cthe Super Bowl of astronomy.\u201d AAS\u2019s executive officer, Kevin Marvel, said that two of the meeting\u2019s seven invited speakers and roughly a third of its 3,100 participants are federally funded scientists who would be unable to attend if funding is not restored.\n\u201cThere could be a lot of empty poster boards, missing oral talks,\u201d Marvel said. \u201cIt\u2019s just going to be a mess.\u201d\nThe conference is the biggest annual gathering of astronomers in the United States and offers an important chance for researchers to meet with federal officials who operate their field\u2019s most important instruments, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.\n\u201cWithout the government scientists that make the missions go and make the telescopes operate,\u201d Marvel said, \u201cyou\u2019re missing a big component of what makes the meeting valuable.\u201d\nMuch astronomical research will go forward despite the lapse in federal funding. Operations staff for ongoing space missions are deemed essential, and observing time at ground-based telescopes is awarded far enough in advance to allow for several weeks of uninterrupted research. Facilities like the National Radio Astronomy Observatory have implemented short-term cash management measures to continue normal operations during the shutdown.\nBut a prolonged closure could stretch these temporary measures to their breaking points, scientists said. Even though instrument operators are allowed to stay on the job, without working scientists they won\u2019t have new targets for their telescopes.\nFor a time, it seemed as though the shutdown might also put a damper on two high-profile space events: the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft\u2019s arrival into orbit around its target asteroid, Bennu, on Monday; and the New Horizons probe\u2019s historic encounter with a faraway space rock called Ultima Thule, the most distant object ever explored by humans, early on New Year\u2019s Day. Though NASA scientists and engineers who operate the missions are considered essential and able to work, the people who run its vaunted publicity operation \u2014 which includes NASA TV and its Twitter account with 30 million followers \u2014 were among those furloughed without pay.\nAlan Stern, a Southwest Research Institute scientist and the principal investigator for New Horizons, said the absence of publicity from the agency would be \u201cincredibly disappointing.\u201d\nBut on Friday, NASA Administrator James Bridenstine announced that forward funding of the projects would allow for coverage of both missions.\n\u201cYay!!\u201d Stern tweeted.\nRead more:\nTrump administration threatens future of HIV research hub\nHalf of women in science experience harassment, a sweeping new report finds\nHouse Science Committee\u2019s likely next chair wants a return to science\nEverything you need to know about a government shutdown"}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "PA3WJHX32EI6PLMM5S5WEAMTSM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "PA3WJHX32EI6PLMM5S5WEAMTSM_0", "title": "Trump officials weigh keeping national parks open even if government shuts down", "text": "As a Friday deadline for a government shutdown approached, the Trump administration began setting plans in motion to halt scores of federal functions \u2014 even as it scrambled to keep hundreds of national parks and monuments open to the public to minimize anger over the disruption of services. With government funding set to expire at midnight Friday, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke was still working out details of a plan to permit the parks to function without rangers or other staff on site. With many parks in peak season, drawing thousands of visitors, the lack of finality was causing wide confusion across the park system. Officials from three sites said Thursday they were unsure how to proceed. \"We don't have a plan yet,\" said Abby Wines, spokeswoman for Death Valley National Park in California, which is seeing 80,000 visitors a month. \"We just got a memo about this yesterday. Today's the first day we're seriously thinking about this.\" Other federal agencies were preparing plans to close. Across Washington, senior officials were pulling out the detailed manuals that tell them whom to send home and whom to keep on the job if the government runs out of money, either because their mission is essential or is funded by a source other than Congress. About 800,000 federal workers were furloughed during the last shutdown in 2013, which lasted 16 days. Roughly the same number would be affected today. The full impact of a shutdown would not be apparent until Monday. In the District, the Smithsonian's 17 museums and the National Zoo would remain open Saturday and Sunday, using funds from previous appropriations. They would close on Monday \u2014 though the zoo animals would still receive food and care. The National Gallery of Art also is planning to stay open this weekend to accommodate crowds flocking to its popular \"Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry\" exhibit, set to close Sunday. Monday also would bring the cessation of some other services: Some long-term recovery efforts would be affected in areas stricken by catastrophic hurricanes, wildfires or mudslides, officials said. The Internal Revenue Service would send home thousands of employees, leaving questions about the new tax law unanswered. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would furlough about 61 percent of its staff \u2014 roughly 8,400 people \u2014 in the midst of one of the harshest flu seasons in recent years. And"}], "old": [{"_id": "PA3WJHX32EI6PLMM5S5WEAMTSM_0", "title": "Trump officials weigh keeping national parks open even if government shuts down", "text": "lisa.rein@washpost.com juliet.eilperin@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "As a Friday deadline for a government shutdown approached, the Trump administration began setting plans in motion to halt scores of federal functions \u2014 even as it scrambled to keep hundreds of national parks and monuments open to the public to minimize anger over the disruption of services.\nWith government funding set to expire at midnight Friday, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke was still working out details of a plan to permit the parks to function without rangers or other staff on site. With many parks in peak season, drawing thousands of visitors, the lack of finality was causing wide confusion across the park system. Officials from three sites said Thursday they were unsure how to proceed.\n\"We don't have a plan yet,\" said Abby Wines, spokeswoman for Death Valley National Park in California, which is seeing 80,000 visitors a month. \"We just got a memo about this yesterday. Today's the first day we're seriously thinking about this.\"\nOther federal agencies were preparing plans to close. Across Washington, senior officials were pulling out the detailed manuals that tell them whom to send home and whom to keep on the job if the government runs out of money, either because their mission is essential or is funded by a source other than Congress. About 800,000 federal workers were furloughed during the last shutdown in 2013, which lasted 16 days. Roughly the same number would be affected today.\nThe full impact of a shutdown would not be apparent until Monday. In the District, the Smithsonian's 17 museums and the National Zoo would remain open Saturday and Sunday, using funds from previous appropriations. They would close on Monday \u2014 though the zoo animals would still receive food and care. The National Gallery of Art also is planning to stay open this weekend to accommodate crowds flocking to its popular \"Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry\" exhibit, set to close Sunday.\nMonday also would bring the cessation of some other services: Some long-term recovery efforts would be affected in areas stricken by catastrophic hurricanes, wildfires or mudslides, officials said. The Internal Revenue Service would send home thousands of employees, leaving questions about the new tax law unanswered.\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would furlough about 61 percent of its staff \u2014 roughly 8,400 people \u2014 in the midst of one of the harshest flu seasons in recent years. And the Education Department would furlough 90 percent of its staff in the first week \u2014 though employees serving 13 million students who use financial aid to pay tuition bills would stay on the job.\nThe most crucial government functions would be performed throughout any shutdown: Air traffic controllers and airport security screeners would come to work; the borders would be patrolled; military operations would continue. Federal prisons and veterans hospitals \u2014 the only agencies for which Congress has approved funding \u2014 would also stay open. The Agriculture Department would continue inspections of meat, poultry and eggs, and the Forest Service would keep fighting fires.\nThe U.S. Postal Service \u2014 which is not directly funded by Congress \u2014 would continue to deliver the mail. And special counsel Robert S. Mueller III would continue his probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election uninterrupted, since it is funded with a permanent, indefinite, appropriation.\nThe shuttering of iconic parks proved to be a political flash point during government shutdowns in 1995 and 2013. On both occasions, Republicans controlled Congress and a Democratic president sat in the White House; both times, Republicans shouldered much of the blame for ruining people's vacations.\nThis time, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney proposed keeping the parks open in the event of a budget impasse, according to an administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. That triggered discussions between top officials at the Interior Department and the Park Service and administration lawyers to determine whether and how to preserve public access to national parks.\nIn an interview, Sen. Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.) described the effort as a calculated ploy to obscure the real impact of failing to reach a spending deal.\n\"It's purely motivated by politics,\" Bennet said. \"But no matter what they do, there will be no way to cover up the many catastrophic effects of a shutdown.\"\nPresident Trump and congressional GOP leaders, however, argued that Democrats were spoiling for a shutdown fight because it would distract the public from the recently passed tax bill.\n\"I really believe the Democrats want a shutdown to get off the subject of the tax cuts,\" Trump told reporters ahead of a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. \"That is not a good subject for them, the tax cuts.\"\nWith Republicans now in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, many fear they would shoulder the blame for failure to strike a deal to keep the government open.\nMulvaney pledged in an interview on Fox Business this week that a shutdown \"would look very different under a Republican administration than it would under a Democrat.\" He cited national monuments, which he said would stay open.\nLate Thursday, as lawmakers labored to forge an agreement to avert a shutdown, administration officials said they were laying plans to keep many parks open for hiking, wildlife watching, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.\nDepending on the location, park concessions \u2014 hotels, gas stations, gift shops and food stores run by private companies \u2014 might stay open as well, officials said.\n\"We fully expect the government to remain open. However, in the event of a shutdown, National Parks and other public lands will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures,\" Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift said in an email. \"Visitors who come to our nation's capital will find war memorials and open-air parks open to the public.\"\nThe department \"will still allow limited access wherever possible\" to national parks, refuges and other public lands, Swift added, including on roads that have been cleared of snow. \"Wilderness type restrooms .\u2009.\u2009. will remain open,\" too, she wrote. But \"services that require staffing and maintenance such as campgrounds, full service restrooms, and concessions will not be operating.\"\nOpen gates at national parks and monuments would stand in stark contrast to the last government shutdown, in 2013. The Obama administration erected barricades around popular sites to mark the closures, which quickly became potent symbols of government dysfunction. In Washington, busloads of elderly veterans, many of them in wheelchairs, angrily pushed aside barricades to tour the World War II Memorial on the Mall.\nLate Wednesday, Lena McDowall, Interior's deputy director for management and administration, sent park officials a \"draft contingency plan\" outlining how they could stay open.\nBut she cautioned that the plan was still in flux: \"The Solicitor's Office is still reviewing and continues to make additional suggestions and edits, so this is probably not the last version you will see.\"\nExperts on the national park system said providing access when the parks are not adequately staffed could pose serious risks to tourists as well as to the parks themselves. Park staff provides safety guidance to visitors, including which trails are safe and what sort of equipment is needed to traverse them.\nTheresa Pierno, president of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in an email that \"the vague direction\" superintendents are receiving from headquarters puts them \"in an impossible situation.\"\n\"They'll be forced to make on-the-fly decisions about what areas of national parks warrant protection. And then they'll need to determine how to protect those places with virtually no staff,\" she said, adding that the policy \"raises some serious questions not only about what resources get protected, but also the legality of this partial closure scenario.\"\nJohn Czwartacki, a spokesman for the White House budget office, said it makes sense that the administration is not going to use shuttered parks as political ammunition the way Obama did five years ago.\n\"There is no desire to weaponize closing of public parks or monuments for partisan, political reasons,\" he said.\nIn the event of a shutdown, different parks may adopt different policies, according to officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Some free-standing gift shops could remain open, while those in parks' visitor centers would have to close because there would be no park staff to let workers in.\nEasily accessible scenic areas would stay open, they said, while isolated backcountry trails could close because of safety risks and fewer staff members in position to respond in emergencies.\nA privately run lodge could stay open, so long as it did not rely on the Park Service for snow and trash removal, the officials said. And visitors could be encouraged to bring their own grocery bags to collect trash.\nActing Glacier National Park Superintendent Eric Smith said visitors would be able to drive along the eight miles of the park that are open, and they would be able to snowshoe and cross-country ski. The visitor center, lodges and gift shops would be closed, but toilets would be accessible, and two law-enforcement rangers would be on duty to respond to emergencies.\n\"People who have driven a long way to see the scenery won't be completely disappointed,\" Smith said.\nlisa.rein@washpost.com\njuliet.eilperin@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "PDNOTAQQIUI6TBH42WGDHVWIY4_1", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "PDNOTAQQIUI6TBH42WGDHVWIY4_1", "title": "\u2018Hoping that this will end soon\u2019: D.C. tourists, residents find workarounds as shutdown drags on", "text": "here before and people are realizing a lot of what D.C. has to offer has nothing to do with the federal government,\u201d said Elliott Ferguson, president of Destination DC, the city\u2019s tourism arm. \u201cThey\u2019ve realized a government shutdown doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019ve put a padlock on New York Avenue.\u201d Hotels are seeing fewer cancellations than in past shutdowns, Ferguson said, and fewer tour groups have called Destination DC in a panic. Two conventions scheduled this month are expected to bring about 27,000 people and $33 million to the city. \u201cRight now, we\u2019re all hoping that this will end soon,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cBut in the meantime, we want everyone to know D.C. is open for business.\u201d Getting that message out has been a challenge for small businesses, especially those near closed attractions. Yael Krigman, owner of Baked By Yael, a bakery across from the National Zoo, said she\u2019s leaned more heavily on catering and \u201ccake pop parties\u201d in lieu of the usual zoo-goer foot traffic. It hasn\u2019t been easy. \u201cIt\u2019s not as though January was going to be our best season anyway, but that\u2019s why we really rely on the zoo even more than in other months, because people aren\u2019t sending gifts and throwing parties as much as they do in December or February,\u201d Krigman said. \u201cBut people still go to the zoo \u2014 when it\u2019s open.\u201d Private museums have worked with tour guides to fill gaps in tourists\u2019 schedules left by shuttered public attractions. The Newseum and Madame Tussauds wax museum are offering free admission for furloughed federal workers. \u201cDuring shutdowns, we always see an increase \u2014 especially of tour groups who are trying to change their itineraries at the last minute,\u201d said Sonya Gavankar, director of public relations for the Newseum. The National Geographic museum isn\u2019t fully operational, with two rotating exhibits closed for construction, but spokeswoman Lexie de los Santos said the museum also has seen a \u201csignificant increase in the number of people visiting.\u201d Still, museum officials and city leaders say no one wants to see the shutdown persist. \u201cDuring a shutdown, there are no winners and our nation\u2019s federal workers, including the 170,000 federal employees who work in Washington, DC, pay the highest price,\u201d D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser wrote in a letter to Trump last week. Dawit Kassa, 41, a full-time Lyft driver from Arlington who works primarily in downtown Washington, said his earnings have been"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "On the first Friday of the year, tourists roamed the Mall searching for signs of life.\nThe Smithsonian museums were closed. So, too, was the carousel on the Mall, its painted horses frozen in place.\nTourism in the District typically slows in January. Hotels have fewer guests, and restaurants are less crowded. Washingtonians and visitors alike shop a little less.\nBut the partial government shutdown has deepened the lull.\nBusiness owners, taxi drivers and others who rely on foot traffic have watched revenue slump as parts of the government ground to a halt. Should the shutdown persist for \u201cmonths or even years,\u201d as President Trump said it could Friday, its effect on the District will only worsen.\nThis isn\u2019t the District\u2019s first go-round with a government shutdown, though it\u2019s already one of the longest.\nIn 2013, the federal government suspended operations for 16 days as Congress sparred over the Affordable Care Act. The longest shutdown was in 1995. It lasted three weeks.\nPrevious standoffs have taught business owners and tour guides how to adapt.\n\u201cSix years ago it was like, \u2018Oh my God, the city\u2019s shut down. We\u2019re going to have to cancel our trip.\u2019 But now, we\u2019ve all been here before and people are realizing a lot of what D.C. has to offer has nothing to do with the federal government,\u201d said Elliott Ferguson, president of Destination DC, the city\u2019s tourism arm. \u201cThey\u2019ve realized a government shutdown doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019ve put a padlock on New York Avenue.\u201d\nHotels are seeing fewer cancellations than in past shutdowns, Ferguson said, and fewer tour groups have called Destination DC in a panic. Two conventions scheduled this month are expected to bring about 27,000 people and $33\u00a0million to the city.\n\u201cRight now, we\u2019re all hoping that this will end soon,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cBut in the meantime, we want everyone to know D.C. is open for business.\u201d\nGetting that message out has been a challenge for small businesses, especially those near closed attractions.\nYael Krigman, owner of Baked By Yael, a bakery across from the National Zoo, said she\u2019s leaned more heavily on catering and \u201ccake pop parties\u201d in lieu of the usual zoo-goer foot traffic.\nIt hasn\u2019t been easy.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not as though January was going to be our best season anyway, but that\u2019s why we really rely on the zoo even more than in other months, because people aren\u2019t sending gifts and throwing parties as much as they do in December or February,\u201d Krigman said. \u201cBut people still go to the zoo \u2014 when it\u2019s open.\u201d\nPrivate museums have worked with tour guides to fill gaps in tourists\u2019 schedules left by shuttered public attractions. The Newseum and Madame Tussauds wax museum are offering free admission for furloughed federal workers.\n\u201cDuring shutdowns, we always see an increase \u2014 especially of tour groups who are trying to change their itineraries at the last minute,\u201d said Sonya Gavankar, director of public relations for the Newseum.\nThe National Geographic museum isn\u2019t fully operational, with two rotating exhibits closed for construction, but spokeswoman Lexie de los Santos said the museum also has seen a \u201csignificant increase in the number of people visiting.\u201d\nStill, museum \nofficials and city leaders say no one wants to see the shutdown persist.\n\u201cDuring a shutdown, there are no winners and our nation\u2019s federal workers, including the 170,000 federal employees who work in Washington, DC, pay the highest price,\u201d D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser wrote in a letter to Trump last week.\nDawit Kassa, 41, a full-time Lyft driver from Arlington who works primarily in downtown Washington, said his earnings have been halved since the shutdown began.\nDuring periods that would normally be busy, Kassa has sat idle up to 40 minutes between calls. Usually, he said, he has another ride lined up by the time he\u2019s dropping a customer off.\n\u201cIt\u2019s so slow,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not just me. You know, drivers talk. We call each other. I have friends who drive taxis and Uber and we all call each other to ask, \u2018Hey, do you have a ride?\u2019 Everyone who works out here on the street is suffering.\u201d\nUnemployment claims in the District since the shutdown began exceeded 1,200 as of Friday, which marked a full pay period for unpaid federal workers.\nClaims typically spike during shutdowns because federal workers are not guaranteed back pay and government contractors lose their source of income.\nDuring the 16-day shutdown in 2013, the city processed about 5,000 unemployment claims. District officials expect to meet or exceed that number, depending on how long the present shutdown lasts. About 800,000 workers around the country are affected, with about a quarter of the federal government shuttered.\nAs the sun set Friday, a smattering of tourists posed for pictures on the Mall outside wrought iron fences.\nMinwa and Khafe Oshingbemi, a married couple from Nigeria, took turns taking photos that appeared to show each being pricked by the top of the Washington Monument. It was their first time in Washington.\n\u201cWhat are we going to do?\u201d Minwa Oshingbemi said with a shrug. \u201cWe\u2019re here now.\u201d\nA few feet away, a tour guide on a Segway rolled past, trailed by a line of visitors.\n\u201cUsually, this is just overflowing with people,\u201d he said. \u201cNot today.\u201d\nmarissa.lang@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "UYE2SU6WV5HE3B7APVOD4AL4RQ_0", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "UYE2SU6WV5HE3B7APVOD4AL4RQ_0", "title": "Shuttered zoos are hemorrhaging money, and they want federal help for endangered species work ", "text": "Three months after stranding on a Delaware beach, a gray seal dubbed Pippi Longstocking is recovering at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and will soon be released to the wild. She may be the facility\u2019s last such patient for the foreseeable future. The aquarium has lost more than $8 million and furloughed one-third of its staff since closing in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Although its 20,000 animals \u2014 including 13 endangered sea turtles convalescing in a new rehabilitation center \u2014 are still being cared for, the institution\u2019s rescues of stranded seals and other federally protected marine mammals can\u2019t happen now. The National Aquarium is one of more than 200 major U.S. zoos and aquariums that \u2014 like most attractions that rely on ticket sales \u2014 have suffered huge losses amid shutdowns to combat the spread of the coronavirus. But these zoos say they have been hit harder than many other shuttered institutions because their occupants \u2014 more than a million animals nationwide, some owned by the U.S. government \u2014 still need food, water, heating, cooling and veterinary care. Helping wild animals such as Pippi is important to the aquarium, said president and CEO John Racanelli, but it takes \u201cexistential\u201d resources that are vanishing. \u201cMany of our peers are in tougher shape,\u201d Racanelli said. \u201cBut all of us are confronting the fact that if we\u2019re not operating, we\u2019re dying.\u201d Many zoos have laid off or furloughed most staff members except those who care for animals, but they are hemorrhaging money even as some partially reopen, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which represents 229 facilities in North America. Their future tenuous, some of their first cuts are likely to be to wildlife conservation programs, some of which buttress federal efforts to rebuild endangered species populations, said Dan Ashe, the association\u2019s president. \u201cThe bottom line is that it\u2019s been financially devastating for our members,\u201d Ashe said. Most zoos, he said, have three to six months of financial reserves, and the federal paycheck protection funds received by about 70 percent are running out. \u201cThe casualty, I\u2019m almost certain, will be the ability to support conservation work. Because that\u2019s fueled by gate revenue,\u201d he said. Critics Breeding of endangered species is on hold at many zoos. The Endangered Wolf Center, near St. Louis, in May flew nine critically endangered Mexican wolf pups to Arizona, where they were placed with wild"}], "old": [{"_id": "UYE2SU6WV5HE3B7APVOD4AL4RQ_0", "title": "Shuttered zoos are hemorrhaging money, and they want federal help for endangered species work ", "text": "Critics"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Three months after stranding on a Delaware beach, a gray seal dubbed Pippi Longstocking is recovering at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and will soon be released to the wild. She may be the facility\u2019s last such patient for the foreseeable future.\nThe aquarium has lost more than $8 million and furloughed one-third of its staff since closing in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Although its 20,000 animals \u2014 including 13 endangered sea turtles convalescing in a new rehabilitation center \u2014 are still being cared for, the institution\u2019s rescues of stranded seals and other federally protected marine mammals can\u2019t happen now.\nThe National Aquarium is one of more than 200 major U.S. zoos and aquariums that \u2014 like most attractions that rely on ticket sales \u2014 have suffered huge losses amid shutdowns to combat the spread of the coronavirus. But these zoos say they have been hit harder than many other shuttered institutions because their occupants \u2014 more than a million animals nationwide, some owned by the U.S. government \u2014 still need food, water, heating, cooling and veterinary care.\nHelping wild animals such as Pippi is important to the aquarium, said president and CEO John Racanelli, but it takes \u201cexistential\u201d resources that are vanishing. \u201cMany of our peers are in tougher shape,\u201d Racanelli said. \u201cBut all of us are confronting the fact that if we\u2019re not operating, we\u2019re dying.\u201d\nMany zoos have laid off or furloughed most staff members except those who care for animals, but they are hemorrhaging money even as some partially reopen, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which represents 229 facilities in North America. Their future tenuous, some of their first cuts are likely to be to wildlife conservation programs, some of which buttress federal efforts to rebuild endangered species populations, said Dan Ashe, the association\u2019s president.\n\u201cThe bottom line is that it\u2019s been financially devastating for our members,\u201d Ashe said. Most zoos, he said, have three to six months of financial reserves, and the federal paycheck protection funds received by about 70 percent are running out. \u201cThe casualty, I\u2019m almost certain, will be the ability to support conservation work. Because that\u2019s fueled by gate revenue,\u201d he said.\nCritics\nBreeding of endangered species is on hold at many zoos. The Endangered Wolf Center, near St. Louis, in May flew nine critically endangered Mexican wolf pups to Arizona, where they were placed with wild foster mothers. But it was able to afford the trip only because donors provided private planes.\nThe Saint Louis Zoo pulled nearly $900,000 in money designated for conservation programs, including one dedicated to monitoring and reintroducing the endangered American burying beetle. Omaha\u2019s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium permanently closed its plant conservation center, known for its work to propagate a Bermuda fern not seen in the wild since 1905.\n\u201cIf it weren\u2019t for zoos, the federal government couldn\u2019t take care of species that face extinction in the wild,\u201d said Jeffrey P. Bonner, president of the Saint Louis Zoo, which says it spends more than $500,000 a year caring for animals on the endangered species list, including 1,840 Ozark hellbender salamanders. \u201cWe are on the front lines, and we aren\u2019t getting any help.\u201d\nThe zoo association is part of a coalition of cultural institutions asking Congress to provide relief in a future stimulus package. It also asked last month for $30 million for zoos and aquariums that participate in endangered species recovery or house animals rescued or confiscated by the government. Many of those animals are the property of the federal government, and without help, zoos may no longer be able to afford caring for them, Ashe wrote in a request.\nBy the association\u2019s calculation, rescue and rehab of protected sea turtles costs 40 aquariums a total of $450,000 a month. Breeding and caring for endangered black-footed ferrets: $200,000 a month. A new government-managed program at 18 aquariums to house and propagate corals experiencing massive die-offs in the Florida reef tract totals more than $1 million a month, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums said.\nAnd then there are about 80 giant Thai catfish at the Georgia Aquarium. The fish, critically endangered in the wild, were confiscated as babies from an illegal fish farm by federal authorities more than a year ago and taken by the aquarium for holding at an off-site facility. They weigh about two pounds now, the aquarium says, but they can become more than five feet long \u2014 and take up far more space than one aquarium can provide.\nAshe said the aquarium\u2019s efforts to place the fish at other aquariums have mostly been unsuccessful. Thailand doesn\u2019t want them, and euthanizing them \u2014 which the Georgia Aquarium does not want to do \u2014 would require explicit federal permission. An aquarium representative said the catfish are being cared for by a team of specialists, which hopes to find new homes for them while they are still small.\nNot all zoos are in dire straits. Some, such as Smithsonian\u2019s National Zoo in the District, are government-funded. Others, including the Indianapolis Zoo, say they have sufficient reserves to last for much of the year with belt-tightening, though they would welcome government help.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a challenging time to ask for additional funding when we know that the human cost is incalculable,\u201d said Rob Shumaker, president of the Indianapolis Zoo, which has about 250 staffers. \u201cBut when we talk about the human cost, it\u2019s about 250 families that are relying on us here at the zoo.\u201d\nSome zoos have come up with ways to stanch the bleeding. The San Antonio Zoo, which earns all of its revenue from ticket sales and donations \u2014 much of it tied to Texas oil money that has tanked in the markets \u2014 opened a wildly popular \u201cdrive-through zoo\u201d in May. About 1,000 vehicles a day tooled through safari-style, their passengers buying Dippin\u2019 Dots from vendors who approached vehicle windows and getting out one-by-one to use bathrooms, to allow for sanitizing between each pit stop. The money helped, but the zoo, which partially reopened in late May, is \u201cstill coming out of this millions of dollars in the hole,\u201d said CEO Tim Morrow.\n\u201cZoos are seeing that as soon as they open, everyone thinks everything is okay,\u201d said Bert Vescolani, president and CEO of the Denver Zoo, which is working on a reopening plan that will involve herding visitors through paths formed by hay bales and keeping indoor areas closed. \u201cThe fact of the matter is, we will be at half our attendance, so we won\u2019t be able to cover our expenses even being open.\u201d\nThe Calgary Zoo announced in May that it would send its two pandas to China after flight cancellations made it difficult to procure sufficient bamboo to feed the animals. Leaders of zoos represented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums insist their financial woes will not lead to animals suffering or to euthanasia, which one German zoo recently said was an option. But they said they would be far less able to take in animals from smaller, private zoos that might have even deeper troubles.\nRon Kagan, director of the Detroit Zoo, said he is confident donors or the government would step in before zoo animals starved. \u201cUltimately, society would decide that this just can\u2019t happen,\u201d Kagan said. \u201cWe can\u2019t have animals die, and certainly we can\u2019t kill them.\u201d\nBut even major zoos may be permanently changed by the pandemic. The still-closed Detroit Zoo has put forth a strong public face \u2014 it\u2019s sharing educational videos about flamingo rescues and animal ultrasounds on Facebook, and newborn prairie dogs are starring in one of five livecams. But it has laid off half of its staff and is losing more than $2.5 million a month.\n\u201cWe can\u2019t help but watch the resources drain and begin to wonder when does this become a life-threatening crisis for the organization,\u201d Kagan said. Asked where additional cuts could cut from, he said: \u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019ll be smaller, meaning we\u2019ll have fewer people, and we\u2019ll have less money.\u201d\nAt the Endangered Wolf Center, which has helped increase the wild population of Mexican wolves from near zero in the 1970s to more than 160 last year, the resident canines\u2019 diets have changed a bit. With fewer donated deer carcasses from hunters coming in, the 41 Mexican and red wolves are eating more dry chow and hunting more raccoons in their wild-like habitats, said Regina Mossotti, director of animal care and conservation.\nThe small center remains closed to the public, whose entry fees fuel its $1 million annual budget. But the staff \u2014 about one-sixth smaller following layoffs \u2014 was elated to have been able to place the wolf pups with wild packs in Arizona, she said.\n\u201cWhen things like covid happen, those animals still need to be cared for, and the recovery efforts and conservation efforts still need to push forward,\u201d Mossotti said. \u201cWe still need to save these endangered species. And the pandemic has made that very challenging.\u201d"}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "XOW2WVQLUMI6TBNWIHAP4DC3R4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "XOW2WVQLUMI6TBNWIHAP4DC3R4_0", "title": "As shutdown threatens tourist sites, visitors squeeze in their last moments", "text": "By all accounts, Saturday was a near-perfect day to be a tourist in Washington. It was unseasonably warm, and the sun cast a soft orange glow on the monuments and cupola, creating the postcard-like scene that draws so many visitors to the city. Legions of strollers took to the winding paths of the National Zoo, where a tiger\u2019s deep bellow rang out over the chatter of visitors. But the partial government shutdown cast a shadow on the day. So far, the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s museums, research center and zoo have been spared from the shutdown that has furloughed thousands of federal employees. But if the closure continues beyond New Year\u2019s Day, all Smithsonian institutions will shutter, locking visitors out of tourism mainstays like the National Zoo, the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden ice rink, where visitors can skate in the shadow of the National Archives building, will also close. \u201cWe have no control over this,\u201d said Linda St. Thomas, spokeswoman for the Smithsonian Institution. She lamented that closures were bound to disappoint visitors next week, many of whom make visiting the free museums a central part of their trips to the nation\u2019s capital. Tourists often have their heart set on seeing the 45-carat Hope Diamond at the National Museum of Natural History, or the portraits of the Obamas at the National Portrait Gallery. \u201cThe Smithsonian museums are a big part of a person\u2019s trip to Washington,\u201d St. Thomas said. Luckily, it is slow season, she said, so a closure will affect far fewer travelers. The partial shutdown is set to be one of the longest in history, the result of an impasse between President Trump, who is demanding billions for a border wall, and congressional Democrats, who refuse to authorize the funding. There were few signs the shutdown would end anytime soon, with Trump tweeting threats to shut down the entire southern border if he did not get funding for the wall. Lawmakers are not scheduled to return until at least Jan. 2. The shutdown has meant about 800,000 federal workers are without paychecks during the holiday season, plunging many low-wage workers into economic peril. The Smithsonian is set to be the latest tourism casualty of the shutdown, which has also suspended the work of the National Park Service. That meant hikers at Great"}], "old": [{"_id": "XOW2WVQLUMI6TBNWIHAP4DC3R4_0", "title": "As shutdown threatens tourist sites, visitors squeeze in their last moments", "text": "moriah.balingit@washpost.com emily.wax@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "By all accounts, Saturday was a near-perfect day to be a tourist in Washington. It was unseasonably warm, and the sun cast a soft orange glow on the monuments and cupola, creating the postcard-like scene that draws so many visitors to the city. Legions of strollers took to the winding paths of the National Zoo, where a tiger\u2019s deep bellow rang out over the chatter of visitors.\nBut the partial government shutdown cast a shadow on the day.\nSo far, the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s museums, research center and zoo have been spared from the shutdown that has furloughed thousands of federal employees. But if the closure continues beyond New Year\u2019s Day, all Smithsonian institutions will shutter, locking visitors out of tourism mainstays like the National Zoo, the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden ice rink, where visitors can skate in the shadow of the National Archives building, will also close.\n\u201cWe have no control over this,\u201d said Linda St. Thomas, spokeswoman for the Smithsonian Institution.\nShe lamented that closures were bound to disappoint visitors next week, many of whom make visiting the free museums a central part of their trips to the nation\u2019s capital. Tourists often have their heart set on seeing the 45-carat Hope Diamond at the National Museum of Natural History, or the portraits of the Obamas at the National Portrait Gallery.\n\u201cThe Smithsonian museums are a big part of a person\u2019s trip to Washington,\u201d St. Thomas said. Luckily, it is slow season, she said, so a closure will affect far fewer travelers.\nThe partial shutdown is set to be one of the longest in history, the result of an impasse between President Trump, who is demanding billions for a border wall, and congressional Democrats, who refuse to authorize the funding. There were few signs the shutdown would end anytime soon, with Trump tweeting threats to shut down the entire southern border if he did not get funding for the wall. Lawmakers are not scheduled to return until at least Jan. 2.\nThe shutdown has meant about 800,000 federal workers are without paychecks during the holiday season, plunging many low-wage workers into economic peril.\nThe Smithsonian is set to be the latest tourism casualty of the shutdown, which has also suspended the work of the National Park Service. That meant hikers at Great Falls Park in Virginia were locked out of park restrooms and that rescue and emergency services were limited. At Joshua Tree National Park in California, the holiday season is the busiest time of the year with families on break camping and rock climbing.\nBut this year, the rangers have been sent home and volunteers have been buying and restocking toilet paper and even scrubbing toilets. One camper put up an American flag upside down, as a sign of distress.\nBruce Damon, owner of Nomad Ventures, a backpacking supply shop that works in the park and said that since the government shutdown, \u201cwe have had some people volunteer to keep the park clean because of the bathroom situation.\u201d\n\u201cIt feels like we are just pawns,\u201d said Damon. \u201cThe parks are so underfunded as it is, it just feels like such a slap in the face.\u201d\nHe said they sold at cost \u201cwag bags,\u201d which allows volunteers and campers to clean up waste.\nThere\u2019s also been a host of illegal camping practices and visitors putting Christmas lights around endangered Joshua trees they are supposed to leave untouched, said Joe De Luca, who started a group called Climbers\u2019 Collective.\nHe said he felt strongly that the park should be closed down.\n\u201cClosing Joshua Tree during the busiest part of year would upset people .\u2009.\u2009. so it\u2019s open without staff, and 90 percent do fine, but 10 percent do some damage to a delicate environment,\u201d said De Luca.\nThe Smithsonian Institution employs about 4,000 federal employees, many of whom will be furloughed after Jan. 1, joining the 350,000 others who have been off the job since the start of the shutdown. As in other federal departments, essential staff will remain on the job.\nAt the National Zoo, that means caretakers \u2014 including veterinarians and nutritionists \u2014 will remain on hand for the lions, tigers, bears and other creatures. Museum security staff will also stay on the job, as will the approximately 2,000 Smithsonian staff whose work is not funded by the federal government.\nLucy Asmat, a 53-year-old nurse visiting from Lima, Peru, watched prairie dogs peek out of dirt holes in their mound-like habitat Saturday. She said a closure would be deeply disappointing for tourists who had traveled great distances to see Washington.\n\u201cI understand there are priorities,\u201d Asmat said. The attractions \u201care not just for Americans. They are for foreigners, like us, who want to see all the beautiful things that you have in the United States. The wall should not be a priority.\u201d\nHeather Randell, 35, came to the zoo Saturday with her husband and 7-month-old son Jules. Randell, an environmental sociologist at the University of Maryland, said a potential zoo closure worried her, but not as much as other consequences of the shutdown, like federal employees going without paychecks.\n\u201cI care more about inaction over environmental issues,\u201d Randell said.\nSome tourists enjoying the very attractions that could shut their doors Wednesday said they back the president\u2019s stance on the wall, even if it means they will have to change their itinerary.\nRalph Pariente Jr., who traveled from Miami, explored the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden with his wife and 10-year-old son, his neck wrapped in an American flag scarf. He said he backs Trump and believes the border wall is necessary to stop or slow illegal immigration.\n\u201cI agree with the shutdown,\u201d Pariente said. \u201cI feel bad for the employees who aren\u2019t getting paid. .\u2009.\u2009. But nothing ever gets done.\u201d\nmoriah.balingit@washpost.com\nemily.wax@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 973, "pid": "dd8506d74b6aaf0079327be51bc05886_7", "query_info": {"_id": 973, "text": "How is The National Zoo affected during shutdowns?", "instruction_og": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them.", "instruction_changed": "The National Zoo can be affected in various ways during a government shutdown. Before the COVID-19 shutdown at the zoo, there have been other shutdowns in which the animals still have to be cared for. Many of the animals are effected in  various ways since they are used to more people visiting them. Documents mentioning musems are not relevant.", "short_query": "Find information on how a specific event impacts zoo operations.", "keywords": "event zoo operations"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "dd8506d74b6aaf0079327be51bc05886_7", "title": "The nine most painful impacts of a government shutdown", "text": "sounds like a minor inconvenience, but it can have a major economic impact. During the last shutdown in 1995-1996, some 7 million visitors were turned away from national parks. Tourist industries and airlines lost millions of dollars per day, according to the Congressional Research Service. This time around, the National Parks Conservation Association estimates that local communities could lose some $30 million in business for every day of the shutdown. 8) Head Start programs for hundreds of kids will slowly start closing. (Carol Kaliff/AP )- Lead teacher Carmen Prybylski works with children Quinn Watson, left, 3, Sofia Coway, 2, and Kayla Lamour, 3, at Head Start's new building in Danbury, Conn. July 17, 2013. There are some 1,600 Head Start programs around the country providing education, health, nutrition and other services to roughly 1 million low-income children and their families. Those will slowly begin closing during a shutdown. Initially, only about 20 programs would be affected \u2014 the programs whose federal grants expire on Oct. 1 and don't get renewed. Over time, more programs would likely be affected. The effects really vary from community to community. In York County, S.C., for instance, pre-kindergarten classes for some 864 kids will be canceled this Friday. (These programs would likely be reinstated once the shutdown ended.) Note that Head Start has already faced cutbacks due to sequestration budget cuts, having eliminated services for some 57,000 children this year. 9) Disability benefits could be interrupted. (Source: Center for American Progress) During the shutdown, the Social Security administration won't have enough staff to schedule new hearings for those applying for disability benefits. And the Veterans Appeal Board will be closed, which means veterans appealing a decision on disability benefits will have to wait until the shutdown ends. Update: 10) Kids with cancer could get turned away from treatment. Here's one last impact to add to the list. As long as the government is shut down, the National Institutes of Health says it will turn away roughly 200 patients each week from its clinical research center, including children with cancer. \u201cWe\u2019ve had to tell people, \u2018I\u2019m sorry, you can\u2019t come here,\u2019 \u201d NIH Director Francis Collins told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. See this post for more information and context. ----- Note that these aren't the only consequences of the shutdown. There are plenty of others: Businesses won't be able to access E-Verify to check"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The federal government shut down on Tuesday and will stay closed until Congress can reach an agreement on how to fund day-to-day operations.\u00a0So who gets hurt most by the shutdown?\nEveryone's heard that the panda cam at the National Zoo has powered down, but that's hardly the most serious consequence of a shutdown. The biggest disruptions are less visible\u00a0\u2014 the workers going without pay, the patients turned away from research clinics, and so on. Here's a rough list:\n1) More than 2 million federal workers will see their paychecks delayed \u2014 and 800,000 of them\u00a0might never get repaid.\nFederal employees protest the sequester outside the Department of Labor on March 20. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg).\nThis is, by a fair margin, the biggest immediate consequence of a shutdown. So long as Congress keeps the government closed, many federal workers simply won't get paid during the shutdown (save for those in agencies with independent funding, like Postal Service employees).\nThere are two classes of federal workers to consider. First, there are the 1.3 million \"essential\" civilian employees who keep working during the shutdown. These workers may see their paychecks delayed, but they'll eventually get paid once the government reopens.\nIt's a different story for the 800,000 or so workers deemed \"non-essential.\" These employees have to come in for a few hours on Tuesday, get their files in order, and then go home without compensation, indefinitely. And it's unclear if they'll\u00a0ever\u00a0receive back pay. That's completely up to Congress. Non-essential workers did get paid retroactively after the 21-day 1995-'96 shutdown. But this time around, some conservative\u00a0are reportedly skeptical\u00a0at the idea of paying federal employees for \"work they didn't do.\"\nThis could be a fair-sized financial hit for many workers, depending on how long the government stays shut down. Note that many of these federal employees have already gone through a three-year wage freeze and months of furloughs imposed by the sequestration budget cuts.\nThe economic impacts could also be sizable. Economist Mark Zandi argues that the furloughs could shave 0.3 percentage points of fourth-quarter GDP growth (although some of that activity would come back if the workers get back pay). Maryland, where many federal workers live, could lose up to $5 million per day in income and sales tax revenue.\nNote that this doesn't include federal contractors, who will also start furloughing employees as contracts dry up. (During the 1995-'96 shutdown, one-fifth of contracts were put on hold.) It's still unclear how many companies will be affected, but the numbers are large.\u00a0Fairfax County, Va., alone has 4,100 contractors that bring in about\u00a0$26 billion per year.\n2) Millions of veterans may not receive benefits if the shutdown lasts more than two weeks.\n(The Washington Post)\nOfficials at the Department of Veterans Affairs have quietly told Congress that they likely won't have enough money to pay disability claims or make pension payments for veterans if a government shutdown lasts for more than two or three weeks. That could affect some 3.6 million veterans who receive these benefits.\nIn a briefing with Congress, VA officials\u00a0warned\u00a0that many veterans depend almost entirely on these checks for their livelihood, and many have not been given enough time or information to prepare.\n3) The CDC will halt its flu program just as flu\u00a0season gets underway.\n(Rogelio V. Solis, File/Associated Press)\nEvery fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors the spread of flu and figures out how best to direct vaccine programs around the country. During the shutdown, however, the agency will be \"unable to support the annual seasonal influenza program,\" according to a memo from the Department of Health and Human Services.\nWe're sorry, but we will not be tweeting or responding to @ replies during the government shutdown. We'll be back as soon as possible!\nAnd it's not just the flu. The CDC also has to stop providing \"support to state and local\u00a0partners for infectious disease surveillance.\" And the agency will have a \"significantly reduced capacity to respond to outbreak investigations, processing of\u00a0laboratory samples, and maintaining the agency\u2019s 24/7 emergency operations center.\"\n(The CDC will, however, continue its overseas malaria and AIDS programs, as those are funded independently.)\n4) Some food-safety operations would cease.\nKen Trevarthan/AP - Water can cause harm by entering the egg through its porous shell, increasing the risk of contamination.\nDuring the shutdown, the Food and Drug Administration\u00a0will have to cease most of its food-safety operations. That includes \"routine establishment inspections, some compliance and enforcement activities, monitoring of imports, notification programs (e.g., food contact substances, infant formula), and the majority of the laboratory research necessary to inform public health decision-making.\"\nThis past December, the FDA shut down a nut processor in New Mexico after records showed that the facility was shipping products infected with salmonella. That sort of monitoring and enforcement could become much harder.\nNow, that doesn't mean\u00a0all\u00a0food-safety oversight stops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will still maintain thousands of inspectors to check out meat and poultry facilities, and the\u00a0Food Safety and Inspection Service is still allowed to recall workers in the event of an emergency. So there's still a fair bit of oversight capacity in place. But many routine FDA activities on this front will come to a halt.\nIt's not just food safety either. A wide swath of regulatory agencies will close during the shutdown. The Environmental Protection Agency will stop monitoring air pollution and pesticide use. The Labor Department won't be around to enforce wage and hour laws or occupational safety. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees America's vast derivatives market, will close up.\nIt's very possible that nothing will go awry while these regulators are closed. But that's hard to say for sure.\n5) Nutritional programs for women, infants and children could be disrupted after a week.\nSome programs will continue to receive federal funds, but those for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children would be cut off during a shutdown. (Tracy A. Woodward/The Washington Post.\nDuring the shutdown, the Department of Agriculture will stop supporting the\u00a0Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which helps pregnant women and new moms buy healthy food and provides nutritional information and health care referrals to those who need it. The program aids some 9 million Americans.\nThat won't hit immediately. The USDA estimates that most states have funds and authority to continue their programs for \"a week or so,\" but they'll \"likely be unable to sustain operations for a longer period.\u00a0\"Contingency funds will be available to help States\u2014but even this funding would not fully mitigate a shortfall for the entire month of October.\"\nUpdate:\nThe agency notes, meanwhile, that food stamp aid for 47 million low-income Americans would be unaffected through the month of October, since that program still gets stimulus funds that won't run out until next year.\n6) Financing for small businesses could be hampered.\nDurham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina. (Bill Russ / VisitNC.com)\nThe Small Business Administration has provided guarantees for some\u00a0$106 billion\u00a0in loans to more than 193,000 small businesses over the last four years. It also runs\u00a0programs to help small firms win government contracts, help veteran-owned businesses, and boost international trade.\nAll that would cease in a shutdown. Although the SBA would continue to back existing loans in its portfolio, it wouldn't initiate any new loan guarantees. The one exception here is the Disaster Loan Program, which steps in during natural disasters and other emergencies \u2014 that\u00a0would continue to operate.\nFor those reasons and others, a recent poll found that fully 41 percent of small-business employers with less than $5 million in annual revenue said that an extended shutdown (three months or more) would force them to pull back on their hiring plans. No one expects a shutdown that long, but even a shorter hiatus could disrupt some economic activity.\n7) The tourist trade would take a hit.\nClosed! Well, unless Arizona wants to pay to operate it. (Ron Watts / Corbios)\nThe National Park Service\u00a0will close\u00a0more than 400 national parks, museums and sites across the country, including Yosemite National Park in California, Grand Canyon park, Alcatraz in San Francisco, and the Statue of Liberty in New York. Day visitors will have to leave immediately. Campers will have two days to pack up and get out.\nThat sounds like a minor inconvenience, but it can have a major economic impact.\u00a0During the last shutdown in 1995-1996, some 7 million visitors were turned away from national parks. Tourist industries and airlines lost millions of dollars per day, according to the Congressional Research Service.\nThis time around, the\u00a0National Parks Conservation Association estimates that local communities could lose some $30 million in business for every day of the shutdown.\n8) Head Start programs for hundreds of kids will slowly start closing.\n(Carol Kaliff/AP )- Lead teacher Carmen Prybylski works with children Quinn Watson, left, 3, Sofia Coway, 2, and Kayla Lamour, 3, at Head Start's new building in Danbury, Conn. July 17, 2013.\nThere are some 1,600 Head Start programs around the country providing education, health,\u00a0nutrition and other services to roughly 1 million low-income children and their families. Those will slowly begin closing during a shutdown.\nInitially, only about 20 programs would be affected\u00a0\u2014 the programs whose federal grants expire on Oct. 1 and don't get renewed. Over time, more programs would likely be affected. The effects really vary from community to community. In York County, S.C., for instance, pre-kindergarten classes for some 864 kids will be canceled\u00a0this Friday.\u00a0(These programs would likely be reinstated once the shutdown ended.)\nNote that Head Start has already faced cutbacks due to sequestration budget cuts, having eliminated services for some 57,000 children this year.\n9) Disability benefits could be interrupted.\n(Source: Center for American Progress)\nDuring the shutdown, the Social Security administration won't have enough staff to schedule new hearings for those applying for disability benefits. And the Veterans Appeal Board will be closed, which means\u00a0veterans appealing a decision on disability benefits will have to wait until the shutdown ends.\nUpdate:\u00a010) Kids\u00a0with cancer could get turned away from treatment.\n\nHere's one last impact to add to the list.\u00a0As long as the government is shut down, the National Institutes of Health says it will turn away roughly 200 patients each week from its clinical research center, including children with cancer.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve had to tell people, \u2018I\u2019m sorry, you can\u2019t come here,\u2019 \u201d NIH Director\u00a0Francis Collins told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.\u00a0See this post for more information and context.\n-----\nNote that these aren't the only consequences of the shutdown. There are plenty of others: Businesses won't be able to access E-Verify to check the immigration status of potential hires. The National Institutes of Health will stop accepting new patients for clinical trials. The Bureau of Land Management will stop issuing permits for oil and gas companies on public lands.\nHow painful the above impacts are depends on your perspective. Obviously the people affected will care a lot. But how big an outcry will there be from the broader public? Over at Business Insider, Joe Weisenthal suspects that \"there's no obvious one thing [about a shutdown] that will be so annoying to the public that the two sides would quickly have to come to a deal.\" If that's true, a shutdown could last for quite some time.\nIt's also worth noting that we've already seen disruptive cuts this year after Congress\u00a0allowed sequestration to hit\u00a0\u2014 and lawmakers haven't exactly rushed to reverse those haphazard budget cuts. Indeed, much of Washington appears to have made peace with sequestration. That makes it hard to guess exactly how long a shutdown might last.\nRelated: Absolutely everything you need to know about how a government shutdown works.\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 976, "pid": "2UVADNGF4BHKFBDBJI3MGK7K3M_1", "query_info": {"_id": 976, "text": "I'm looking for information about the prevalence of marathon runners who cheat.", "instruction_og": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest.", "instruction_changed": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest. To be relevant, the document must describe a marathon in the USA.", "short_query": "Find articles related to this question on marathon cheating cases.", "keywords": "marathon cheating"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2UVADNGF4BHKFBDBJI3MGK7K3M_1", "title": "A 70-year-old shattered an age-group record. The Los Angeles Marathon says he cheated.", "text": "than three hours, setting personal bests with times of 2:53.33 at the 2014 California International Marathon in Sacramento and then a 2:52.47 in Los Angeles a few months later. But the marathon in Sacramento questioned the irregular splits he posted in 2014 and 2016, eventually disqualifying him from both and banning him from the race. The marathon in Los Angeles, meanwhile, did not have the evidence to disqualify him but asked that he run the 2016 version of the race with an official observer. Meza instead chose to skip that marathon to run in a race in Northern California. According to the Times, the Los Angeles Marathon has again asked Meza to run with an observer if he chooses to enter the 2020 race. \u201cThat\u2019s my only silver lining,\u201d he said. Other races Meza has run have come into question, as well. Derek Murphy, a business analyst who described himself to the Times as a \u201cplodding\u201d runner, began a website called Marathon Investigation a few years ago to document cheating allegations against marathon runners, advancing his sleuthing to the point where marathon organizers have paid him for his investigations. If a runner posts irregular split times, he checks the marathon\u2019s route map for potential shortcuts and goes over time-lapse and video documentation provided by race organizers from along the course to see if the runner either disappeared for a stretch or started running irregularly fast. In May, Murphy wrote about Meza\u2019s time in Los Angeles, noting that the marathon was run in record-breaking heat and using photo evidence to claim that Meza was cutting the course. (One photo shows Meza emerging from the sidewalk to rejoin the race along Hollywood Boulevard.) He has also questioned Meza\u2019s time from the Mesa-Phoenix Marathon in February, when he again set an age-group record with a time of 2:53.54. Murphy claims photo evidence proves that Meza\u2019s split times were significantly slower than his overall time and that he did not appear when he should have on an official race video camera set up at the 22-mile mark, alleging that Meza skipped that portion of the course. Meza now has been disqualified from three marathons and a number of his other races have been questioned. Why would a 70-year-old man, a lifelong runner and former high school track coach who has spent his life helping others, allegedly take shortcuts to set records few would care"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "In March, a 70-year-old named Frank Meza finished the Los Angeles Marathon in 2 hours 53 minutes 10 seconds \u2014 unofficially the fastest-ever time for a man his age. But almost immediately after the race, some began to question Meza\u2019s time, noting that he had twice been disqualified and eventually banned from a marathon in Sacramento.\nAfter an investigation, the Los Angeles Marathon\u2019s organizers disqualified Meza on Monday, saying in a statement that, based on video evidence and an eyewitness account, he had left the course and then reentered it in a different location and had posted a midrace five-kilometer split time that would have set the world record at that distance for the 70-to-74 age group, \u201can impossible feat during a marathon.\u201d\nMeza told the Los Angeles Times he merely left the course in search of a restroom and ran the race on the sidewalk before finding one.\n\u201cI didn\u2019t cut the course,\u201d he said.\nMeza, a lifelong runner and retired physician who had worked to provide health care to low-income Southern California residents, didn\u2019t start running marathons until around 60. He began to attract attention when his marathon times went from about 3\u00bd hours or longer to less than three hours, setting personal bests with times of 2:53.33 at the 2014 California International Marathon in Sacramento and then a 2:52.47 in Los Angeles a few months later. But the marathon in Sacramento questioned the irregular splits he posted in 2014 and 2016, eventually disqualifying him from both and banning him from the race. The marathon in Los Angeles, meanwhile, did not have the evidence to disqualify him but asked that he run the 2016 version of the race with an official observer. Meza instead chose to skip that marathon to run in a race in Northern California.\nAccording to the Times, the Los Angeles Marathon has again asked Meza to run with an observer if he chooses to enter the 2020 race.\n\u201cThat\u2019s my only silver lining,\u201d he said.\nOther races Meza has run have come into question, as well. Derek Murphy, a business analyst who described himself to the Times as a \u201cplodding\u201d runner, began a website called Marathon Investigation a few years ago to document cheating allegations against marathon runners, advancing his sleuthing to the point where marathon organizers have paid him for his investigations. If a runner posts irregular split times, he checks the marathon\u2019s route map for potential shortcuts and goes over time-lapse and video documentation provided by race organizers from along the course to see if the runner either disappeared for a stretch or started running irregularly fast.\nIn May, Murphy wrote about Meza\u2019s time in Los Angeles, noting that the marathon was run in record-breaking heat and using photo evidence to claim that Meza was cutting the course. (One photo shows Meza emerging from the sidewalk to rejoin the race along Hollywood Boulevard.) He has also questioned Meza\u2019s time from the Mesa-Phoenix Marathon in February, when he again set an age-group record with a time of 2:53.54. Murphy claims photo evidence proves that Meza\u2019s split times were significantly slower than his overall time and that he did not appear when he should have on an official race video camera set up at the 22-mile mark, alleging that Meza skipped that portion of the course.\nMeza now has been disqualified from three marathons and a number of his other races have been questioned. Why would a 70-year-old man, a lifelong runner and former high school track coach who has spent his life helping others, allegedly take shortcuts to set records few would care about apart from a small number of dedicated marathoners? Meza won\u2019t admit to cheating, but he\u2019s mostly quiet about his motivation, too.\n\u201cMy take on all this, it was supposed to be fun,\u201d he told the Times. \u201cObviously it\u2019s not fun anymore.\u201d\nRead more from The Post:\nKansas City radio host, station \u2018mutually part ways\u2019 after his Andy Reid comments\nRyan Shazier, working on an NFL comeback, says \u2018I still want to make the Hall of Fame\u2019\nThe Ravens are all in on Lamar Jackson and their reworked offense proves it\nHelpful Brett Favre says the Packers should let Aaron Rodgers play his game"}
{"qid": 976, "pid": "556d909aaf7c262761b1b099cdd8e804_1", "query_info": {"_id": 976, "text": "I'm looking for information about the prevalence of marathon runners who cheat.", "instruction_og": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest.", "instruction_changed": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest. To be relevant, the document must describe a marathon in the USA.", "short_query": "Find articles related to this question on marathon cheating cases.", "keywords": "marathon cheating"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "556d909aaf7c262761b1b099cdd8e804_1", "title": "We had another Rosie Ruiz \u2014 a cheater, that is \u2014 at the St. Louis Marathon", "text": "more infamous than that of Rosie Ruiz, the woman who crossed the line first in the 1980 Boston Marathon, only to get disqualified for re-entering the race near the finish. St. Louis now has a Rosie Ruiz of its own in Kendall Schler. Schler\u2019s first-place finish in the GO! St. Louis Marathon was wiped off after officials determined Wednesday that she could not have actually run the entire course, or even most of it. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Schler is thought to have crept onto the course after the final checkpoint. Schler also had a third-place finish at last year\u2019s event disqualified, after officials went back and could find no evidence that she crossed any checkpoints and couldn\u2019t identify her in any photos. From the Post-Dispatch: \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult situation for everybody, including the people who run a fair race and don\u2019t get the recognition they should receive,\u201d said Nancy Lieberman, president of GO! St. Louis. \u201cI said to her, \u2018It looks like you perpetrated a fraud.\u2019 I have nothing legitimate that says she officially started and ran 26.2 miles in 2014 or 2015.\u201d Lieberman said incidents of dishonest runners happened but called this \u201can extreme case.\u201d \u2026 Lieberman said that nothing about Schler\u2019s story made sense. She had her bib and number on her leg, contrary to marathon guidelines, and covered by a shirt. She told Lieberman she had removed the timing strip from the bib in each of the last two years. Schler, from Columbia, Mo., had been manually given a time of 3 hours 13 minutes 4 seconds in 2014, easily fast enough to have qualified in her age group for the Boston Marathon, and she had been entered in that race, which will be held on Monday. Schler won\u2019t be allowed to run in Boston, or in any future organized events in St. Louis. The actual women\u2019s winner this year in St. Louis was Andrea Karl, a Washington University graduate student who crossed the line in 2:54:28. However, she received no initial fanfare and wasn\u2019t even photographed finishing, because Schler had crossed the line ahead of her. Kendall Schler should be barred from all @USATF certified events for cheating + stealing Andrea Karl's moment. http://t.co/ItQAIqHafW \u201cThere\u2019s a euphoria the winner gets, breaking the tape and having the crowd cheer,\u201d Lieberman told the Post-Dispatch. \u201cThe true winner did everything right and didn\u2019t get her due.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "In the world of running, there are few names more infamous than that of Rosie Ruiz, the woman who crossed the line\u00a0first in the 1980 Boston Marathon, only to get disqualified for\u00a0re-entering the race near the finish. St. Louis now has a Rosie Ruiz of its own in Kendall Schler.\nSchler\u2019s first-place finish in the GO! St. Louis Marathon was wiped off after officials determined Wednesday that she could not have actually run the entire course, or even most of it. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Schler is thought to have crept onto the course after the final checkpoint.\nSchler also had a third-place finish at last year\u2019s event disqualified, after officials went back and could find no evidence that she crossed any checkpoints and couldn\u2019t identify\u00a0her in any photos. From the Post-Dispatch:\n\u201cIt\u2019s a difficult situation for everybody, including the people who run a fair race and don\u2019t get the recognition they should receive,\u201d said Nancy Lieberman, president of GO! St. Louis. \u201cI said to her, \u2018It looks like you perpetrated a fraud.\u2019 I have nothing legitimate that says she officially started and ran 26.2 miles in 2014 or 2015.\u201d\nLieberman said incidents of dishonest runners happened but called this \u201can extreme case.\u201d \u2026\nLieberman said that nothing about Schler\u2019s story made sense. She had her bib and number on her leg, contrary to marathon guidelines, and covered by a shirt. She told Lieberman she had removed the timing strip from the bib in each of the last two years.\nSchler, from Columbia, Mo., had been manually given a time of 3 hours 13 minutes 4 seconds in 2014, easily fast enough to have qualified in her age\u00a0group for the Boston Marathon, and she had been entered\u00a0in that race, which will be held on Monday.\u00a0Schler won\u2019t be allowed to run in Boston, or in any future organized\u00a0events in St. Louis.\nThe actual women\u2019s winner this year in St. Louis was\u00a0Andrea Karl, a Washington University graduate student who crossed the line in 2:54:28. However, she received no initial fanfare and wasn\u2019t even photographed finishing, because Schler had crossed the line ahead of her.\nKendall Schler should be barred from all @USATF certified events for cheating + stealing Andrea Karl's moment. http://t.co/ItQAIqHafW\n\u201cThere\u2019s a euphoria the winner gets, breaking the tape and having the crowd cheer,\u201d Lieberman told the Post-Dispatch. \u201cThe true winner did everything right and didn\u2019t get her due.\u201d"}
{"qid": 976, "pid": "75dcebd6e5586939d4506d9cf0665be9_0", "query_info": {"_id": 976, "text": "I'm looking for information about the prevalence of marathon runners who cheat.", "instruction_og": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest.", "instruction_changed": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest. To be relevant, the document must describe a marathon in the USA.", "short_query": "Find articles related to this question on marathon cheating cases.", "keywords": "marathon cheating"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "75dcebd6e5586939d4506d9cf0665be9_0", "title": "Lance Armstrong likely to be removed from New York City, Boston marathon results, too", "text": "(Michael Paulsen / AP) Lance Armstrong\u2019s name is likely to be expunged from the results of the New York City and Boston marathons, in addition to the Tour de France. Officials from both NYC and Boston races said they expect to follow decisions by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the International Cycling Union to ban Amstrong from competition and strip him of his seven Tour de France titles. However, both marathons are likely to wait until any appeals have taken place. Armstrong had been banned in late summer from running in the Chicago Marathon as well as the NYC race; those and the Boston race are governed by USA Track and Field rules. \u201cI anticipate the results will come out of our archives,\u201d Mary Wittenberg, president and chief executive officer of the New York Road Runners (sponsor of the NYC Marathon), told Bloomberg Businessweek. \u201cLance doesn\u2019t have a place in running because we will stick to the rules and support USADA.\u201d Boston Marathon officials also are waiting for any appeals to be exhausted before removing Armstrong\u2019s name from its 2008 race finishers. \u201c[T]here have been a great many developments on the matter of Mr. Armstrong over a rapid period of time. Perhaps there will be appeals,\u201d Tom Grilk, executive dircector of the Boston Athletic Association, said in a statement to Runner\u2019s World Newswire. \u201cWe have no way of knowing that. We will make every effort to be as thoughtful in our approach as the various governing bodies have been in theirs, and we will comply with the rules. Right now, it appears that the application of those rules will require expungement.\u201d Armstrong, who no longer describes himself as a \u201cseven-time Tour de France winner\u201d on his Twitter bio, competes in triathlons. The Half Full and SuperFrog triathlons have recently chosen to have Armstrong participate, passing up sanctioning by USA Triathlon. Armstrong has denied doping, but gave up his fight against allegations in August. Follow us: More Armstrong changes his Twitter bio ICU bans Armstrong, strips him of Tour titles Armstrong\u2019s participation trumps being officially sanctioned Armstrong in the SuperFrog Armstrong says he will fight no longer Armstrong \u201cdeserves to be forgotten\u201d Nike, other sponsors drop Armstrong What\u2019s next for Livestrong? Photos: Gallery of Armstrong\u2019s career"}], "old": [{"_id": "75dcebd6e5586939d4506d9cf0665be9_0", "title": "Lance Armstrong likely to be removed from New York City, Boston marathon results, too", "text": "(Michael Paulsen / AP) Lance Armstrong\u2019s name is likely to be expunged from the results of the New York City and Boston marathons, in addition to the Tour de France. Armstrong has denied doping, but gave up his fight against allegations in August. Follow us: More Armstrong changes his Twitter bio ICU bans Armstrong, strips him of Tour titles Armstrong\u2019s participation trumps being officially sanctioned Armstrong in the SuperFrog Armstrong says he will fight no longer Armstrong \u201cdeserves to be forgotten\u201d Nike, other sponsors drop Armstrong What\u2019s next for Livestrong?"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "(Michael Paulsen / AP)\nLance Armstrong\u2019s name is likely to be expunged from the results of the New York City and Boston marathons, in addition to the Tour de France.\nOfficials from both NYC and Boston races said they expect to follow decisions by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the International Cycling Union to ban Amstrong from competition and strip him of his seven Tour de France titles. However, both marathons are likely to wait until any appeals have taken place. Armstrong had been banned in late summer from running in the Chicago Marathon\u00a0as well as the NYC race; those and the Boston race are governed by USA Track and Field rules.\n\u201cI anticipate the results will come out of our archives,\u201d Mary Wittenberg, president and chief executive officer of the New York Road Runners (sponsor of the NYC Marathon), told Bloomberg Businessweek.\u00a0\u201cLance doesn\u2019t have a place in running because we will stick to the rules and support USADA.\u201d\nBoston Marathon officials also are waiting for any appeals to be exhausted before removing Armstrong\u2019s name from its 2008 race finishers. \u201c[T]here have been a great many developments on the matter of Mr. Armstrong over a rapid period of time. Perhaps there will be appeals,\u201d Tom Grilk, executive dircector of the Boston Athletic Association, said in a statement to Runner\u2019s World Newswire. \u201cWe have no way of knowing that. We will make every effort to be as thoughtful in our approach as the various governing bodies have been in theirs, and we will comply with the rules. Right now, it appears that the application of those rules will require expungement.\u201d\nArmstrong, who no longer describes himself as a \u201cseven-time Tour de France winner\u201d on his Twitter bio, competes in triathlons. The Half Full and SuperFrog triathlons have recently chosen to have Armstrong participate, passing up sanctioning by USA Triathlon.\nArmstrong has denied doping, but gave up his fight against allegations in August.\u00a0\nFollow us:\nMore\nArmstrong changes his Twitter bio\nICU bans Armstrong, strips him of Tour titles\nArmstrong\u2019s participation trumps being officially sanctioned\nArmstrong in the SuperFrog\nArmstrong says he will fight no longer\nArmstrong \u201cdeserves to be forgotten\u201d\nNike, other sponsors drop Armstrong\nWhat\u2019s next for Livestrong?\nPhotos:\u00a0Gallery of Armstrong\u2019s career\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 976, "pid": "ASMDJQZ55RHF7AZFBFWQQSRPUE_0", "query_info": {"_id": 976, "text": "I'm looking for information about the prevalence of marathon runners who cheat.", "instruction_og": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest.", "instruction_changed": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest. To be relevant, the document must describe a marathon in the USA.", "short_query": "Find articles related to this question on marathon cheating cases.", "keywords": "marathon cheating"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ASMDJQZ55RHF7AZFBFWQQSRPUE_0", "title": "70-year-old marathon runner accused of cheating found dead in Los Angeles River", "text": "Frank Meza, the 70-year-old marathon runner whose record time in the Los Angeles Marathon recently was disqualified because of suspicions that he cheated, was found dead Thursday morning in the Los Angeles River, the Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed to The Washington Post on Friday. Although Meza\u2019s body was found lying in shallow water northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the Cypress Park area, LAPD officials do not suspect that he drowned, ABC 13 reported. The exact cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy will be performed. \u201cRunning was very important to my husband. He had been running marathons for the last 30 or 40 years. He was very fast, quite fast, and now unfortunately he won\u2019t run marathons any more,\u201d Meza\u2019s wife, Tina, told the Daily Beast, adding that her husband told her he was going out for a run Thursday morning and never returned. Rescue workers found his body in the river below Figueroa Street around 10 a.m. and pronounced him dead at the scene. In March, Meza finished the Los Angeles Marathon in 2 hours 53 minutes 10 seconds, unofficially the fastest-ever time for a man his age. The record pace almost immediately aroused suspicion in the distance-running community, especially because Meza had twice been disqualified and eventually banned from a marathon in Sacramento, and an running journalist named Derek Murphy published a story in May that provided photographic evidence that claimed Meza had cut the course. Meza denied cheating, saying he merely left the course to use the restroom and immediately returned. But on Monday, the Los Angeles Marathon\u2019s organizer announced that it had disqualified Meza based on video evidence and an eyewitness account that he had left the course and then reentered it in a different location. The organizer also found that he had posted a midrace five-kilometer split time that would have set the world record at that distance for the 70-to-74 age group, \u201can impossible feat during a marathon.\u201d The marathon did say that Meza would be allowed to participate in the 2020 race if he allowed an observer to track his path. \u201cThat\u2019s my only silver lining,\u201d he said. Meza, a lifelong runner and retired physician who had worked to provide health care to low-income Southern California residents, didn\u2019t start running marathons until later in life. He began to attract attention when his marathon times went from about 3\u00bd"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Frank Meza, the 70-year-old marathon runner whose record time in the Los Angeles Marathon recently was disqualified because of suspicions that he cheated, was found dead Thursday morning in the Los Angeles River, the Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed to The Washington Post on Friday.\nAlthough Meza\u2019s body was found lying in shallow water northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the Cypress Park area, LAPD officials do not suspect that he drowned, ABC 13 reported. The exact cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy will be performed.\n\u201cRunning was very important to my husband. He had been running marathons for the last 30 or 40 years. He was very fast, quite fast, and now unfortunately he won\u2019t run marathons any more,\u201d Meza\u2019s wife, Tina, told the Daily Beast, adding that her husband told her he was going out for a run Thursday morning and never returned. Rescue workers found his body in the river below Figueroa Street around 10 a.m. and pronounced him dead at the scene.\nIn March, Meza finished the Los Angeles Marathon in 2 hours 53 minutes 10 seconds, unofficially the fastest-ever time for a man his age. The record pace almost immediately aroused suspicion in the distance-running community, especially because Meza had twice been disqualified and eventually banned from a marathon in Sacramento, and an running journalist named Derek Murphy published a story in May that provided photographic evidence that claimed Meza had cut the course.\nMeza denied cheating, saying he merely left the course to use the restroom and immediately returned. But on Monday, the Los Angeles Marathon\u2019s organizer announced that it had disqualified Meza based on video evidence and an eyewitness account that he had left the course and then reentered it in a different location. The organizer also found that he had posted a midrace five-kilometer split time that would have set the world record at that distance for the 70-to-74 age group, \u201can impossible feat during a marathon.\u201d\nThe marathon did say that Meza would be allowed to participate in the 2020 race if he allowed an observer to track his path.\n\u201cThat\u2019s my only silver lining,\u201d he said.\nMeza, a lifelong runner and retired physician who had worked to provide health care to low-income Southern California residents, didn\u2019t start running marathons until later in life. He began to attract attention when his marathon times went from about 3\u00bd hours or longer to less than three hours, setting personal bests with times of 2:53:33 at the 2014 California International Marathon in Sacramento and then a 2:52:47 at the 2015 Los Angeles Marathon a few months later. But the marathon in Sacramento questioned the irregular splits he posted in 2014 and 2016, eventually disqualifying him from both and banning him from the race. His time in the 2015 Los Angeles Marathon also was scrutinized, but race organizers said they did not have enough evidence to disqualify him.\nMurphy also accused Meza of cheating at a February marathon in Arizona, when he again set an age-group record with a time of 2:53:54. Murphy claims photo evidence proves that Meza\u2019s split times were significantly slower than his overall time and that he did not appear when he should have on an official race video camera set up at the 22-mile mark, alleging that Meza skipped that portion of the course. On Thursday, Murphy published a photo that he claims shows Meza riding a bicycle during the 2014 San Francisco Marathon, another race in which Meza set age-group records.\nMeza\u2019s wife told the Daily Beast that the reports were \u201cmanufactured lies.\u201d\n\u201cWe don\u2019t understand why he was attacked,\u201d she added. \u201cHe was just a soft-spoken, nice person. It hurt him deeply. I still don\u2019t understand it.\u201d"}
{"qid": 976, "pid": "SL36JJVZDUI6TM5UFO3J5DCOHE_2", "query_info": {"_id": 976, "text": "I'm looking for information about the prevalence of marathon runners who cheat.", "instruction_og": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest.", "instruction_changed": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest. To be relevant, the document must describe a marathon in the USA.", "short_query": "Find articles related to this question on marathon cheating cases.", "keywords": "marathon cheating"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "SL36JJVZDUI6TM5UFO3J5DCOHE_2", "title": "Rosie Ruiz, the Boston Marathon winner who wasn\u2019t, dies at 66", "text": "less a feminist trailblazer than a brazen course-cutter and an unrepentant cheat. Some wrote her off as a mischievous prankster; others suggested she was deluded, struggling with mental illness. According to one theory, she had only wanted to cross the finish lane with the rest of the women, and her real mistake was winning. \u201cIt was the last time we could have been fooled,\u201d said marathon runner and race commentator Kathrine Switzer, who interviewed Ms. Ruiz on television after the race. \u201cWomen\u2019s running was growing so fast and so excitingly, that there was still a chance that some unknown could emerge and win a race.\u201d \u201cPeople called me and said, \u2018This is such a setback for women,\u2019\u201d Switzer recalled by phone. \u201cI said, \u2018People haven\u2019t even been paying attention to women. The reason she was allowed to cheat is nobody was paying attention to anyone except for the first 10 men at the Boston Marathon. At least now people are paying attention to what we do.\u2019 \u201d Ms. Ruiz was far from the first person to cheat at a marathon. Fred Lorz finished first at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, only to acknowledge that he was helped by hitchhiking roughly 10 miles after suffering from cramps. (It was all a \u201cjoke,\u201d he said.) More recent contestants have been caught doping and biking across racecourses. Last month, the marathon world was rocked when Frank Meza, a 70-year-old runner, died by suicide, after his record time at the Los Angeles Marathon was disqualified amid accusations of cheating. Ms. Ruiz\u2019s victory was suspect from the beginning. In a post-race interview with Switzer, Ms. Ruiz said she had run in high school, quit because of a knee operation and only recently taken it back up, running 65 to 70 miles each week. \u201cHave you been doing a lot of heavy intervals?\u201d asked Switzer, using a common term for a speed-training technique. \u201cSomeone else asked me that,\u201d Ms. Ruiz replied, crowned with the winner\u2019s wreath. \u201cI\u2019m not sure what intervals are. What are they?\u201d In a separate interview, she explained: \u201cI just got up this morning with a lot of energy.\u201d Two Harvard students ultimately helped uncover the ruse, reporting that they saw Ms. Ruiz emerge from the crowd near Commonwealth Avenue, not far from the finish. Soon after, the phrase \u201cpulling a Rosie\u201d became \u201ca euphemism for finagling with infamy or finding a"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "The first woman to cross the finish line of the 1980 Boston Marathon seemed to have run 800 meters, not 26.2 miles. Scarcely out of breath, hair still in place, she had finished her first marathon in New York months earlier in just under three hours, then set a course record in Boston with a stunning time of 2 hours 31 minutes 56\u00a0seconds, the third fastest in women\u2019s history.\nBut competitors said they never saw Rosie Ruiz and her bright yellow shirt fly down the course. On video tapes of the marathon, the 26-year-old Cuban American was nowhere to be found. No one had jotted down her number, W50, at checkpoints during the event.\nFour days after the race, officials in New York concluded that she had skipped much of that city\u2019s marathon, apparently taking a 16-mile subway ride to the finish after turning an ankle. And in what is sometimes described as one of the worst moments in marathon history, Ms. Ruiz was soon stripped of her Boston Marathon title as well, as race officials determined she had jumped in with roughly half a mile to go, cheating Canadian runner Jacqueline Gareau at the finish line.\nMs. Ruiz, who later went by Rosie M. Vivas, was 66 when she died July 8, according to an obituary her family placed with a funeral home in West Palm Beach, Fla. The obituary said she had been diagnosed with cancer more than 10 years ago but did not specify where she died.\nIn rare interviews after the Boston race, Ms. Ruiz always insisted that she had completed the marathon. As she saw it, her boyish short hair had led the crowd to mistake her for a men\u2019s runner; officials were embarrassed that she, an amateur, had defeated the professionals; and her victory marked a \u201ctriumph\u201d for women\u2019s sports.\n\u201cI do not believe that there is enough coverage for women in any of the races,\u201d Ms. Ruiz said in a tearful news conference days after the marathon. \u201cI believe that maybe after this, whether you prove me guilty or not \u2014 which I am not \u2014 there will be more coverage of women crossing the finish line during 26 miles.\u201d\n\u201cI had one minute to feel that I had won the race,\u201d she added, \u201cand every moment after that has been a nightmare.\u201d\nTo many runners and race historians, Ms. Ruiz was less a feminist trailblazer than a brazen course-cutter and an unrepentant cheat. Some wrote her off as a mischievous prankster; others suggested she was deluded, struggling with mental illness. According to one theory, she had only wanted to cross the finish lane with the rest of the women, and her real mistake was winning.\n\u201cIt was the last time we could have been fooled,\u201d said marathon runner and race commentator Kathrine Switzer, who interviewed Ms. Ruiz on television after the race. \u201cWomen\u2019s running was growing so fast and so excitingly, that there was still a chance that some unknown could emerge and win a race.\u201d\n\u201cPeople called me and said, \u2018This is such a setback for women,\u2019\u201d Switzer recalled by phone. \u201cI said, \u2018People haven\u2019t even been paying attention to women. The reason she was allowed to cheat is nobody was paying attention to anyone except for the first 10 men at the Boston Marathon. At least now people are paying attention to what we do.\u2019 \u201d\nMs. Ruiz was far from the first person to cheat at a marathon. Fred Lorz finished first at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, only to acknowledge that he was helped by hitchhiking roughly 10 miles after suffering from cramps. (It was all a \u201cjoke,\u201d he said.) More recent contestants have been caught doping and biking across racecourses. Last month, the marathon world was rocked when Frank Meza, a 70-year-old runner, died by suicide, after his record time at the Los Angeles Marathon was disqualified amid accusations of cheating.\nMs. Ruiz\u2019s victory was suspect from the beginning. In a post-race interview with Switzer, Ms. Ruiz said she had run in high school, quit because of a knee operation and only recently taken it back up, running 65 to 70 miles each week.\n\u201cHave you been doing a lot of heavy intervals?\u201d asked Switzer, using a common term for a speed-training technique. \u201cSomeone else asked me that,\u201d Ms. Ruiz replied, crowned with the winner\u2019s wreath. \u201cI\u2019m not sure what intervals are. What are they?\u201d\nIn a separate interview, she explained: \u201cI just got up this morning with a lot of energy.\u201d\nTwo Harvard students ultimately helped uncover the ruse, reporting that they saw Ms. Ruiz emerge from the crowd near Commonwealth Avenue, not far from the finish. Soon after, the phrase \u201cpulling a Rosie\u201d became \u201ca euphemism for finagling with infamy or finding a shortcut to success,\u201d the Boston Globe reported, and Ms. Ruiz became one of the world\u2019s best-known marathon runners.\n\u201cGreat for our sport, isn\u2019t it? Think of the two most famous marathoners \u2014 Pheidippides and Rosie Ruiz,\u201d said Boston Marathon champion Bill Rodgers in an interview with the Globe. \u201cOne dropped dead and the other was crazy.\u201d\nBut the episode \u201creally did pay off for women,\u201d Switzer said, spurring anti-cheating reforms and a separate start time for women at the Boston Marathon. \u201cIt matured us. It forced us to organize our sport better \u2014 and it forced us to understand that we were important enough to be cheated in.\u201d\nMs. Ruiz was born in Havana on June 21, 1953, and was 8 when she came to the United States. (Accounts vary on her birth name: She once told the Globe it was Maria Morales, but an aunt told the newspaper it was actually Maria Rosario Ruiz.) According to her family obituary, \u201cshe was separated from her mother and lived with cousins, aunts and uncles in Hollywood, Fla.\u201d\n\u201cThere was nothing for me to do but run,\u201d Ms. Ruiz later said, recalling her upbringing near Miami. \u201cIt was an escape for me.\u201d\nShe played piano and studied music at Wayne State College in Nebraska before settling in Manhattan, where she worked as an administrative assistant for a metals company. She said she was recovering from surgery to remove \u201ca tumor on my skull\u201d when she qualified for the Boston Marathon.\n\u201cAs I saw it, and several of my colleagues saw it, she wanted to be part of the \u2018in\u2019 group at the office, and running was her attempt of being accepted,\u201d her boss at the time, John Emptage, later told the Globe.\nMs. Ruiz went on to work as a client representative at the Laboratory Corporation of America, an accreditation specialist at the Better Business Bureau, and as a real estate agent and public notary, according to her family.\nBut she struggled at times with the law, making national headlines in 1982 when she spent a week in jail (later receiving five years\u2019 probation) after being accused of stealing cash and checks from her employer in Manhattan. The next year, she was arrested and accused of trying to sell cocaine to undercover narcotics agents and received another two years\u2019 probation.\nHer marriage to Aicaro Vivas ended in divorce. Survivors include her partner, Margarita Alvarez, whom she met in 1988; three sons; and a brother.\nIn a 1998 interview with the Palm Beach Post, Ms. Ruiz said she still had her Boston Marathon medal and watched the event each year, calling herself \u201ca masochist\u201d while continuing to insist she had completed the marathon.\nBy then, however, an old friend had contradicted her story, telling the Globe that Ms. Ruiz had confided to him six or nine months after the marathon that she had sneaked onto the course near the finish line. The friend, running-club leader Steve Marek, said Ms. Ruiz told him she covered herself with water to make it look like she had been sweating.\n\u201cShe jumped out of the crowd, not knowing that the first woman hadn\u2019t gone by yet,\u201d Marek said. \u201cBelieve me, she was as shocked as anyone when she came in first. But at that point they had put the crown on her, gave her the medal and told her she\u2019s the winner. How could she say, \u2018No, I\u2019m not\u2019?\u201d\nharrison.smith@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 976, "pid": "d0daf2842cd77adfc68602513610bff1_0", "query_info": {"_id": 976, "text": "I'm looking for information about the prevalence of marathon runners who cheat.", "instruction_og": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest.", "instruction_changed": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest. To be relevant, the document must describe a marathon in the USA.", "short_query": "Find articles related to this question on marathon cheating cases.", "keywords": "marathon cheating"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "d0daf2842cd77adfc68602513610bff1_0", "title": "Running Commentary", "text": "The news about running hasn\u2019t been so hot recently. There\u2019s the Michigan dentist who\u2019s been labeled a \u201cmarathon fraud\u201d for his questionable wins. There\u2019s the competitive runner who was caught injecting EPO. Even the Lance Armstrong scandal has extended to his marathon times, which are likely to get wiped from the record books. \u201cThere\u2019s lying and cheating in the air. It must be a presidential election year,\u201d jokes David Willey, editor-in-chief of Runner\u2019s World, which unexpectedly had a scoop this summer when it found that Paul Ryan had fudged his claim that he\u2019d run a marathon in less than three hours. Whether the GOP vice presidential candidate purposely lied or just has a bad memory, the story had legs \u2014 particularly among Willey\u2019s readership. \u201cRunners are upstanding, responsible, goal-oriented people who put pride into efforts and times,\u201d he says. \u201cHe tried to claim credit for an achievement without doing the work. That violated their unspoken code.\u201d Will it affect the results of today\u2019s election? Probably not, Willey says, but he thinks runners as a voting bloc will cast their ballots with a few specific issues in mind, including the environment and health care. Personally, he\u2019d like to see running used as a public policy in the fight against obesity. \u201cIt\u2019s the best and quickest way to get kids moving,\u201d Willey says. It\u2019s also an effective regimen for presidents, who don\u2019t just run for office but also for exercise, stress relief, mental clarity and a host of other benefits, he says. The November issue of Runner\u2019s World features an interview with former Secret Service agent Nick Trotta, who ran with President Bill Clinton and both Presidents Bush. \u201cYou can really tell a lot about the person by what kind of runner he or she is,\u201d says Willey, who notes the major differences between the presidents\u2019 styles. While W liked to go out in 100-degree-plus weather and rarely had anyone other than his security detail tag along, Clinton used his jogs as social events, inviting other folks to join in and often ending with a bite at McDonald\u2019s. Willey finds it unremarkable that so many presidents have been runners. (\u201cIt\u2019s not as though they\u2019re stamp collectors. There are a lot of runners in America.\u201d) What amazes him is that more politicians don\u2019t run. \u201cRunning sends the message that a president is healthy, vigorous and active,\u201d Willey says. \u201cIt\u2019s also incredibly egalitarian and"}], "old": [{"_id": "d0daf2842cd77adfc68602513610bff1_0", "title": "Running Commentary", "text": "Whether the GOP vice presidential candidate purposely lied or just has a bad memory, the story had legs \u2014 particularly among Willey\u2019s readership. \u201cRunners are upstanding, responsible, goal-oriented people who put pride into efforts and times,\u201d he says. \u201cHe tried to claim credit for an achievement without doing the work. That violated their unspoken code.\u201d Will it affect the results of today\u2019s election? Probably not, Willey says, but he thinks runners as a voting bloc will cast their ballots with a few specific issues in mind, including the environment and health care. Personally, he\u2019d like to see running used as a public policy in the fight against obesity. \u201cIt\u2019s the best and quickest way to get kids moving,\u201d Willey says. \u201cYou can really tell a lot about the person by what kind of runner he or she is,\u201d says Willey, who notes the major differences between the presidents\u2019 styles. While W liked to go out in 100-degree-plus weather and rarely had anyone other than his security detail tag along, Clinton used his jogs as social events, inviting other folks to join in and often ending with a bite at McDonald\u2019s. Willey finds it unremarkable that so many presidents have been runners. (\u201cIt\u2019s not as though they\u2019re stamp collectors. There are a lot of runners in America.\u201d) What amazes him is that more politicians don\u2019t run. \u201cRunning sends the message that a president is healthy, vigorous and active,\u201d Willey says. \u201cIt\u2019s also incredibly egalitarian and democratic. You can do it anywhere, and it doesn\u2019t take a lot of time.\u201d That\u2019s important when your schedule includes running the country."}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The news about running hasn\u2019t been so hot recently. There\u2019s the Michigan dentist who\u2019s been labeled a \u201cmarathon fraud\u201d for his questionable wins. There\u2019s the competitive runner who was caught injecting EPO. Even the Lance Armstrong scandal has extended to his marathon times, which are likely to get wiped from the record books.\n\u201cThere\u2019s lying and cheating in the air. It must be a presidential election year,\u201d jokes David Willey, editor-in-chief of Runner\u2019s World, which unexpectedly had a scoop this summer when it found that Paul Ryan had fudged his claim that he\u2019d run a marathon in less than three hours.\nWhether the GOP vice presidential candidate purposely lied or just has a bad memory, the story had legs \u2014 particularly among Willey\u2019s readership.\n\u201cRunners are upstanding, responsible, goal-oriented people who put pride into efforts and times,\u201d he says. \u201cHe tried to claim credit for an achievement without doing the work. That violated their unspoken code.\u201d\nWill it affect the results of today\u2019s election? Probably not, Willey says, but he thinks runners as a voting bloc will cast their ballots with a few specific issues in mind, including the environment and health care. Personally, he\u2019d like to see running used as a public policy in the fight against obesity.\n\u201cIt\u2019s the best and quickest way to get kids moving,\u201d Willey says.\nIt\u2019s also an effective regimen for presidents, who don\u2019t just run for office but also for exercise, stress relief, mental clarity and a host of other benefits, he says. The November issue of Runner\u2019s World features an interview with former Secret Service agent Nick Trotta, who ran with President Bill Clinton and both Presidents Bush.\n\u201cYou can really tell a lot about the person by what kind of runner he or she is,\u201d says Willey, who notes the major differences between the presidents\u2019 styles. While W liked to go out in 100-degree-plus weather and rarely had anyone other than his security detail tag along, Clinton used his jogs as social events, inviting other folks to join in and often ending with a bite at McDonald\u2019s.\nWilley finds it unremarkable that so many presidents have been runners. (\u201cIt\u2019s not as though they\u2019re stamp collectors. There are a lot of runners in America.\u201d) What amazes him is that more politicians don\u2019t run.\n\u201cRunning sends the message that a president is healthy, vigorous and active,\u201d Willey says. \u201cIt\u2019s also incredibly egalitarian and democratic. You can do it anywhere, and it doesn\u2019t take a lot of time.\u201d\nThat\u2019s important when your schedule includes running the country."}
{"qid": 976, "pid": "e4abb75dc596151d2262e4c11f1dfa86_0", "query_info": {"_id": 976, "text": "I'm looking for information about the prevalence of marathon runners who cheat.", "instruction_og": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest.", "instruction_changed": "A 61-year old runner was discovered to have cheated in the Marine Corps Marathon. I am looking for information about other cases of cheating in marathon races.  Documents with information describing methods of determining cheating has occurred, reactions of accused cheaters and any consequences they received are all relevant. Information about individual cheaters discovered and the possible prevalence of marathon cheating also is of interest. To be relevant, the document must describe a marathon in the USA.", "short_query": "Find articles related to this question on marathon cheating cases.", "keywords": "marathon cheating"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "e4abb75dc596151d2262e4c11f1dfa86_0", "title": "Chicago and London marathon winner reportedly paid Russian officials $550,000 to keep her doping secret", "text": "Lilya Shobukhova. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP) Liliya Shobukhova is a good runner. But she wanted to be better. She wanted to win. So she started doping, and to keep her secret quiet, the 37-year-old reportedly paid Russia\u2019s athletics federation $550,000 to help her cover up a positive test, according to the Associated Press, which cites German and French news sources. Shobukhova has won the Chicago Marathon three times, from 2009 to 2011, as well as the London Marathon in 2010. According to France\u2019s L\u2019Equipe sports newspaper and German television channel ARD, which claims to have undercover video of Shobukhova admitting to using oxandrolone, a banned steroid, the money Shobukhova reportedly paid the Russian athletics federation is what led Shobukhova to be able to compete in the 2012 Olympics, where she entered but failed to finish the marathon event. Less than two years later, Shobukhova was stripped of her Chicago and London wins after Russian doping officials discovered suspicious blood samples in her biological passport in April of this year. As a consolation payment, ARD reports, Shobukhova\u2019s husband received a refund of $370,000 from the Russian athletics federation, which had allegedly been using the money to bribe officials at the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to falsify positive tests. Apparently, at least one official couldn\u2019t be bribed. The main accusations come from former Russian Anti-Doping Agency official Vitaly Stepanov and his wife Yulia, a former runner herself who was once banned for doping. Per the Associated Press: Stepanov told ARD that various Russian sports federations \u201cwould come to (Russian) doping control officers\u201d offering \u201cextra cash\u201d to hush up positive tests. He also accused the head of the national doping test laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov, of falsifying tests and selling banned substances. Yulia Stepanova accused coaches of providing her with banned substances. Yulia Stepanova also accused the head of the Russian federation\u2019s medical department, Sergei Portugalov, of supplying doping products in exchange for 5 percent of an athlete\u2019s earnings, plus bonuses for competition wins. She also said Russian athletes had avoided out-of-competition testing by using false names during foreign training camps. The story, however, doesn\u2019t end there. The ARD report states the behavior could be endemic and could implicate Russian officials and athletes in other sports, such as swimming, cycling, biathlon, weightlifting and cross-country skiing, the AP writes. \u201cThese are serious allegations. I understand an investigation is already under way by the IAAF ethics commission and"}], "old": [{"_id": "e4abb75dc596151d2262e4c11f1dfa86_0", "title": "Chicago and London marathon winner reportedly paid Russian officials $550,000 to keep her doping secret", "text": "Lilya Shobukhova. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP) Shobukhova has won the Chicago Marathon three times, from 2009 to 2011, as well as the London Marathon in 2010. Less than two years later, Shobukhova was stripped of her Chicago and London wins after Russian doping officials discovered suspicious blood samples in her biological passport in April of this year. As a consolation payment, ARD reports, Shobukhova\u2019s husband received a refund of $370,000 from the Russian athletics federation, which had allegedly been using the money to bribe officials at the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to falsify positive tests. Apparently, at least one official couldn\u2019t be bribed. The main accusations come from former Russian Anti-Doping Agency official Vitaly Stepanov and his wife Yulia, a former runner herself who was once banned for doping. Per the Associated Press: Stepanov told ARD that various Russian sports federations \u201cwould come to (Russian) doping control officers\u201d offering \u201cextra cash\u201d to hush up positive tests. He also accused the head of the national doping test laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov, of falsifying tests and selling banned substances. Yulia Stepanova accused coaches of providing her with banned substances. Yulia Stepanova also accused the head of the Russian federation\u2019s medical department, Sergei Portugalov, of supplying doping products in exchange for 5 percent of an athlete\u2019s earnings, plus bonuses for competition wins. She also said Russian athletes had avoided out-of-competition testing by using false names during foreign training camps. The story, however, doesn\u2019t end there. The ARD report states the behavior could be endemic and could implicate Russian officials and athletes in other sports, such as swimming, cycling, biathlon, weightlifting and cross-country skiing, the AP writes. \u201cThese are serious allegations. I understand an investigation is already under way by the IAAF ethics commission and we await the full findings,\u201d IOC spokesman Mark Adams told AP. \u201cShould there be anything affecting the International Olympic Committee and our code of ethics we will not hesitate take any and all action necessary.\u201d The Russian athletics federation and Russian Anti-Doping Agency, both of which are overseen by the Russian government, have not commented, neither to the foreign press nor to Russian publications that have also picked up the story. (H/t: Sport.ru)"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Lilya Shobukhova. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)\nLiliya Shobukhova is a good runner. But she wanted to be better. She wanted to win. So she started doping, and to keep her secret quiet, the 37-year-old reportedly paid Russia\u2019s athletics federation $550,000 to help her cover up a positive test, according to the Associated Press, which cites German and French news sources.\nShobukhova\u00a0has won\u00a0the Chicago Marathon three times, from 2009 to 2011, as well as the London Marathon in 2010.\nAccording to France\u2019s L\u2019Equipe sports newspaper\u00a0and\u00a0German television channel ARD, which claims to have undercover video of Shobukhova admitting to using oxandrolone, a banned steroid, the\u00a0money Shobukhova reportedly paid the Russian athletics federation is what led Shobukhova to be able to compete in the 2012 Olympics, where she entered but failed to finish the marathon event.\nLess than two years later, Shobukhova was stripped of her Chicago and London wins after Russian doping officials discovered suspicious blood samples in her biological passport in April of this year.\u00a0As a consolation payment, ARD reports, Shobukhova\u2019s husband received a refund of $370,000 from the Russian athletics federation, which had allegedly been using the money to bribe officials at the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to falsify positive tests. Apparently, at least one official couldn\u2019t be bribed.\nThe main accusations come from former Russian Anti-Doping Agency official Vitaly Stepanov and his wife Yulia, a former runner herself who was once banned for doping. Per the Associated Press:\nStepanov told ARD that various Russian sports federations \u201cwould come to (Russian) doping control officers\u201d offering \u201cextra cash\u201d to hush up positive tests. He also accused the head of the national doping test laboratory, Grigory Rodchenkov, of falsifying tests and selling banned substances.\nYulia Stepanova accused coaches of providing her with banned substances.\nYulia Stepanova also accused the head of the Russian federation\u2019s medical department, Sergei Portugalov, of supplying doping products in exchange for 5 percent of an athlete\u2019s earnings, plus bonuses for competition wins. She also said Russian athletes had avoided out-of-competition testing by using false names during foreign training camps.\nThe story, however, doesn\u2019t end there. The ARD report states the behavior could be endemic and could implicate Russian officials and athletes in other sports, such as swimming, cycling, biathlon, weightlifting and cross-country skiing, the AP writes.\n\u201cThese are serious allegations. I understand an investigation is already under way by the IAAF ethics commission and we await the full findings,\u201d IOC spokesman Mark Adams told AP. \u201cShould there be anything affecting the International Olympic Committee and our code of ethics we will not hesitate take any and all action necessary.\u201d\nThe Russian athletics federation and Russian Anti-Doping Agency, both of which are overseen by the Russian government, have not commented, neither to the foreign press nor to Russian publications that have also picked up the story.\n(H/t: Sport.ru)\n\u00a0"}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "3UUEZKW354I6VNFPOKEV4IUUDU_4", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3UUEZKW354I6VNFPOKEV4IUUDU_4", "title": "Trump weighs blocking Americans at the Mexico border, but legal authority is shaky and no decision has been made", "text": "court might uphold it, like an Ebola outbreak in Mexico that amounted to a true public health emergency,\u201d said John Sandweg, who served as the top attorney at DHS under President Barack Obama. \u201cBut it\u2019d be very hard to bar U.S. citizens from entering based on covid. At this point, the barn door is wide open, and to say to a U.S. citizen that you can\u2019t return home because you\u2019ve been exposed, I don\u2019t see how that\u2019s constitutional.\u201d A system that would selectively screen out some travelers based on a suspicion of covid-19 infection also appears unworkable, according to others involved in the discussions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel have the ability to question travelers and perform cursory inspections, but because large numbers of covid-19 carriers are asymptomatic, the effectiveness of such screenings is questionable. Temperature checks are considered unreliable as well, because many infected carriers do not have fevers or develop them well after they are already contagious. Some of the U.S. cities and counties along the Mexico border have been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic, especially in Arizona and the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Those areas could be hurt even more by border closures, because they depend heavily on cross-border trade and many essential workers \u2014 including in hospitals and health care \u2014 who live in Mexico. The official said the strongest thing they could anticipate would be a kind of federal \u201cstay at home\u201d order from the CDC telling travelers on both sides of the border to avoid crossing into the other country \u201cunless you have a good reason\u201d such as a school, work or a medical appointment. The goal would be to reduce some of the daily volume of travelers without severely disrupting local economies or triggering a cascade of lawsuits. CBP officials at ports of entry could interview travelers to determine whether their trip would be essential, and then potentially turn them back if they acknowledge the purpose of the trip does not meet that threshold. \u201cIf you\u2019re just coming for the day to shop and eat, and then leave, you can\u2019t do that,\u201d the DHS official said. The screenings would have to function \u201con the basis of the honor system,\u201d the official cautioned, acknowledging that CBP officers would have limited ability to turn back U.S. citizens who profess to be traveling for essential purposes, even if officers doubt their claims."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A Trump administration proposal\nWhile the executive branch has broad authority to close border crossings or restrict travel in the event of a spreading disease outside U.S. territory, it is less clear how the Trump administration could justify such restrictions on U.S. citizens when infection already is spreading rampantly inside the United States.\nAdministration officials familiar with the internal discussions said some Trump administration officials want to stem the spread of covid-19 by reducing the hundreds of thousands of daily border crossings by U.S. citizens and green-card holders, many of whom reside in Mexico and work in the United States.\nThe Trump administration already has tried to ban nonessential travel across the border, but it has little ability to enforce measures that would bar Americans from entering. About 400,000 people continue to go back and forth each day, officials said, about half the pre-pandemic volume.\nBlocking those U.S. citizens and permanent residents from returning would be an extraordinary step, but President Trump has long viewed border closures and travel restrictions as a demonstration of strength and executive prerogative. Trump has repeatedly pointed to his Jan. 31 order halting travel from China in defending his handling of the pandemic.\nThe difference now is that the United States has the world\u2019s worst outbreak, with more than 5 million confirmed coronavirus cases. Medical experts have warned the administration that barring American citizens from entering their own country would do little to change that.\nOne Department of Homeland Security official familiar with the discussions played down the border proposal, saying it likely would be more of a travel advisory than a rigidly enforced ban, similar to New York State Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo\u2019s call for out-of-state visitors to quarantine for 14 days.\n\u201cWe know it would be very hard to police,\u201d said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. \u201cBut in some ways there is a benefit to having an order in place, even if everyone knows you can\u2019t enforce it, because the vast majority of Americans will follow the rules.\u201d\nSome administration critics have doubted the seriousness of the proposal, because border officials would have to establish a process for screening travelers for illness and coming up with parameters for denying their entry. Public health authorities could establish a more obligatory quarantine system, but denying Americans the ability to enter the United States on the basis of their mere presence in Mexico would land quickly in federal court.\n\u201cAny proposal that would bar citizens or lawful permanent residents from returning to the United States would be unconstitutional,\u201d said Lee Gelernt, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union who has successfully challenged several of the Trump administration\u2019s border and immigration measures.\n\u201cThe administration should focus less on bans and more on genuinely helpful public health measures,\u201d Gelernt said, calling the White House \u201cban-happy.\u201d\nOfficials at the White House and DHS have been discussing such restrictions for weeks, according to two officials involved in the talks. They said the measures likely would be issued in the form of an order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not unlike the public health emergency used to implement a policy of mass expulsions for unauthorized migrants attempting to enter.\nTwo officials said White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller is not behind the proposal and has been focused instead on the Trump administration\u2019s law-and-order campaign in Portland, Ore., and other U.S. cities. The proposal is not being actively considered at the top levels of the White House, one official said, cautioning that it has not gone through the \u201ctraditional White House policy process.\u201d\nThe initiative is \u201cnot necessarily a good election move for us,\u201d one official said. \u201cI can't imagine we would actually do it.\u201d\nDHS officials declined to comment on the discussions.\nBorder closures and travel restrictions have been a preferred policy tool of the president\u2019s from his first week in office, when the administration attempted to bar travelers from majority-Muslim countries. Those restrictions were scaled back, and while federal courts have upheld the administration\u2019s authority to restrict entries on national security grounds, Trump has not tried to place broad limits on the ability of American citizens to enter their own country.\n\u201cI could see a scenario where a court might uphold it, like an Ebola outbreak in Mexico that amounted to a true public health emergency,\u201d said John Sandweg, who served as the top attorney at DHS under President Barack Obama. \u201cBut it\u2019d be very hard to bar U.S. citizens from entering based on covid. At this point, the barn door is wide open, and to say to a U.S. citizen that you can\u2019t return home because you\u2019ve been exposed, I don\u2019t see how that\u2019s constitutional.\u201d\nA system that would selectively screen out some travelers based on a suspicion of covid-19 infection also appears unworkable, according to others involved in the discussions. U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel have the ability to question travelers and perform cursory inspections, but because large numbers of covid-19 carriers are asymptomatic, the effectiveness of such screenings is questionable. Temperature checks are considered unreliable as well, because many infected carriers do not have fevers or develop them well after they are already contagious.\nSome of the U.S. cities and counties along the Mexico border have been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic, especially in Arizona and the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Those areas could be hurt even more by border closures, because they depend heavily on cross-border trade and many essential workers \u2014 including in hospitals and health care \u2014 who live in Mexico.\nThe official said the strongest thing they could anticipate would be a kind of federal \u201cstay at home\u201d order from the CDC telling travelers on both sides of the border to avoid crossing into the other country \u201cunless you have a good reason\u201d such as a school, work or a medical appointment. The goal would be to reduce some of the daily volume of travelers without severely disrupting local economies or triggering a cascade of lawsuits.\nCBP officials at ports of entry could interview travelers to determine whether their trip would be essential, and then potentially turn them back if they acknowledge the purpose of the trip does not meet that threshold. \u201cIf you\u2019re just coming for the day to shop and eat, and then leave, you can\u2019t do that,\u201d the DHS official said.\nThe screenings would have to function \u201con the basis of the honor system,\u201d the official cautioned, acknowledging that CBP officers would have limited ability to turn back U.S. citizens who profess to be traveling for essential purposes, even if officers doubt their claims."}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "50767507-0a7a-42ba-ae34-30b0136b0800_0", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "50767507-0a7a-42ba-ae34-30b0136b0800_0", "title": "Mexico to start reopening border region, other areas as coronavirus lockdown eases", "text": "Long lines form outside a wholesale market in Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez on May 8, 2020. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters) MEXICO CITY \u2014 The country has been on a nationwide lockdown for more than seven weeks, and businesses are eager to reopen. Analysts are predicting that the economy could shrink up to 10 percent this year \u2014 one of the most significant recessions in Latin America. \u201cWe\u2019ve begun a new stage. There\u2019s a light at the end of the tunnel,\u201d President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador said at a news conference on Wednesday. Under the plan, the government would allow 269 municipalities scattered over 15 states to resume most activities on Monday. These are places that have had no confirmed coronavirus cases and whose neighboring counties also have no sign of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. They represent just over 10 percent of all municipalities in Mexico. The rest of the country will be assigned a color starting June 1 that indicates the extent to which businesses, schools and public gathering places can reopen. In addition, three major industries will be included on the list of \u201cessential\u201d sectors that can resume operations nationwide \u2014 construction, mining and auto manufacturing. Mexico has had significant outbreaks in five cities, including Mexico City, the epicenter. As of Tuesday, the government had logged nearly 4,000 confirmed deaths from covid-19. Authorities have said that the actual number is certainly higher. [\u00a1Caray! Coronavirus shuts the Mexican beer industry down, and the country is running dry] The lockdown in Mexico has been less severe than in many other Latin American countries, relying on persuasion rather than police or soldiers to keep people home. Schools and most businesses and government offices have had to close, however. Authorities say the restrictions have prevented a nationwide spike in cases, although the virus continues to spread through the country. Officials indicated that Mexico City will remain \u201cred\u201d \u2014 the highest level of lockdown. Three big states on the U.S. border, in contrast, are considered \u201cgreen\u201d \u2014 Chihuahua, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. If they remain in that category, they will be able to resume manufacturing and other business activities in June, and schools in those states will reopen. New safety measures will be in place to discourage transmission of the virus. The Iztapalapa neighborhood in Mexico City on May 8, 202. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters) The Trump administration has been urging Mexico to restart assembly plants"}], "old": [{"_id": "50767507-0a7a-42ba-ae34-30b0136b0800_0", "title": "Mexico to start reopening border region, other areas as coronavirus lockdown eases", "text": "Long lines form outside a wholesale market in Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez on May 8, 2020. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters) MEXICO CITY \u2014 [\u00a1Caray! Coronavirus shuts the Mexican beer industry down, and the country is running dry] The Iztapalapa neighborhood in Mexico City on May 8, 202. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters) mary.sheridan@washpost.com Read more Coronavirus on the border: why the U.S. has so many more cases than Mexico As coronavirus fears grow, doctors and nurses face attacks Coronavirus outbreaks at Mexican hospitals spark protests Today\u2019s coverage from Post correspondents around the world Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "\n\n\n\nLong lines form outside a wholesale market in Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez on May 8, 2020.  (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)\n\n\nMEXICO CITY \u2014\nThe country has been on a nationwide lockdown for more than seven weeks, and businesses are eager to reopen. Analysts are predicting that the economy could shrink up to 10 percent this year \u2014 one of the most significant recessions in Latin America.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve begun a new stage. There\u2019s a light at the end of the tunnel,\u201d President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador said at a news conference on Wednesday.\nUnder the plan, the government would allow 269 municipalities scattered over 15 states to resume most activities on Monday. These are places that have had no confirmed coronavirus cases and whose neighboring counties also have no sign of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. They represent just over 10 percent of all municipalities in Mexico.\nThe rest of the country will be assigned a color starting June 1 that indicates the extent to which businesses, schools and public gathering places can reopen. In addition, three major industries will be included on the list of \u201cessential\u201d sectors that can resume operations nationwide \u2014 construction, mining and auto manufacturing.\nMexico has had significant outbreaks in five cities, including Mexico City, the epicenter. As of Tuesday, the government had logged nearly 4,000 confirmed deaths from covid-19. Authorities have said that the actual number is certainly higher.\n\n\n[\u00a1Caray! Coronavirus shuts the Mexican beer industry down, and the country is running dry]\n\nThe lockdown in Mexico has been less severe than in many other Latin American countries, relying on persuasion rather than police or soldiers to keep people home. Schools and most businesses and government offices have had to close, however. Authorities say the restrictions have prevented a nationwide spike in cases, although the virus continues to spread through the country.\nOfficials indicated that Mexico City will remain \u201cred\u201d \u2014 the highest level of lockdown. Three big states on the U.S. border, in contrast, are considered \u201cgreen\u201d \u2014 Chihuahua, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. If they remain in that category, they will be able to resume manufacturing and other business activities in June, and schools in those states will reopen. New safety measures will be in place to discourage transmission of the virus.\n\n\n\nThe Iztapalapa neighborhood in Mexico City on May 8, 202. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters)\n\nThe Trump administration has been urging Mexico to restart assembly plants that provide inputs for critical U.S. industries such as defense contractors. Mexico has been wary since dozens of workers have become sick at border factories that remained open. Several have died.\nBaja California is considered \u201cred\u201d because of a coronavirus outbreak in the city of Tijuana, south of San Diego.\nThe two other border states \u2014 Sonora and Tamaulipas \u2014 are \u201cyellow,\u201d meaning that businesses can reopen but schools will remain closed and restrictions on gathering places, including churches and parks, will continue.\nMany of Mexico\u2019s popular beach destinations \u2014 Acapulco, Cancun, Playa del Carmen \u2014 are in \u201cred\u201d states, meaning hotels and restaurants will probably not reopen for weeks. Tourism accounts for about 8 percent of the economy.\nOfficials cautioned that shutdowns could be reintroduced in states or municipalities if cases flare up again.  They believe that Mexico City and Cancun recently passed their peaks of new cases and that the epidemic will ebb in those cities in the coming weeks.\nBut Hugo L\u00f3pez-Gatell, the Health Ministry official who has designed Mexico\u2019s strategy, acknowledged that much was still unknown about the path of the virus.\n\u201cIn every moment, there is uncertainty,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery country in the world faces the question of whether you can head into the new normality, and at what speed.\u201d\n\nmary.sheridan@washpost.com\n\n\nRead more\n\nCoronavirus on the border: why the U.S. has so many more cases than Mexico\n\nAs coronavirus fears grow, doctors and nurses face attacks\n\nCoronavirus outbreaks at Mexican hospitals spark protests\n\nToday\u2019s coverage from Post correspondents around the world\n\nLike Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news"}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "BM46N6V5HII6VF6BNTYRN77CNQ_1", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "BM46N6V5HII6VF6BNTYRN77CNQ_1", "title": "Mexican governors want tighter border controls to keep Americans from bringing coronavirus south", "text": "weekend, a dangerous vector for the virus to enter the country from the United States. As cases have increased in Southern California, Arizona and Texas, Mexican border states have increasingly come to see the outbreak in the United States as their biggest threat in controlling the epidemic. Citing no evidence, President Trump has said that the border wall would keep infections from entering the United States from Mexico. But given the soaring U.S. caseload, it is Mexico that has more reason to fear the virus coming across the border. On Thursday, the Mexican government said it would be installing \u201csanitary filters,\u201d where travelers from the United States will have their temperatures checked at several border crossings. Those checkpoints have \u201cthe goal of protecting the health of the Mexican population, particularly those in the border states,\u201d said a statement from the Mexico Foreign Ministry. Officials in Mexico\u2019s border states have gone further, pleading for people not to cross the border at all. Enrique Clausen, Sonora state\u2019s health minister, said he would seek to apply more stringent controls on border crossings than those mandated by Mexico\u2019s federal government. \u201cIt\u2019s so important to implement the necessary measures to protect the health of Sonorans. And one of them, at this moment, has to be reducing the border crossings from the United States toward Mexico,\u201d Clausen said during a news briefing Tuesday. Two days later, he too tested positive for the virus. On Thursday, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau, echoed that message in Spanish, addressing U.S. citizens living along the border in a video posted on Twitter. He advised Americans to avoid cross-border travel during the Fourth of July weekend. \u201cIn recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of people have crossed the land border every day and 90 percent of them are U.S. citizens or green-card holders,\u201d he said. \u201cIf this traffic doesn\u2019t decline, there will be an increase, not a decrease, in travel restrictions.\u201d The U.S. government has continued deportations to Mexico throughout the pandemic. In many cases, deportees have tested positive for the coronavirus after entering Mexican territory. Those deportations have further infuriated Mexican officials who have tried to restrict Americans from visiting the country. \u201cWhy are they continuing these deportations in the middle of a deadly pandemic, including people who are already sick and who knows how many asymptomatic people,\u201d Maki Ortiz, the mayor of the Mexican city Reynosa, told The"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "MEXICO CITY \u2014\nFor years, officials in northern Mexico watched as a border wall rose just north of the Rio Grande, and as the White House threatened repeatedly to freeze cross-border traffic.\nNow, with coronavirus cases soaring in the southwestern United States, it\u2019s Mexican leaders who are asking for tighter border enforcement to keep their communities safe.\n\u201cThe situation is very bad in Texas and [cross-border travel] would only bring us problems in northern Tamaulipas,\u201d said Javier Garc\u00eda Cabeza de Vaca, the governor of Tamaulipas state, who tested positive for the virus this week.\nGarc\u00eda Cabeza de Vaca and other border governors have pleaded with Mexico\u2019s central government to better vet people entering Mexico from the United States, to ensure that their trips qualify as \u201cessential travel.\u201d\nWhile the United States has applied that designation relatively strictly since March \u2014 allowing entry only to noncitizens and nonresidents whose jobs are deemed critical \u2014 Mexican border officials rarely question travelers entering the country. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Americans have continued crossing the border into Mexico for recreational purposes \u2014 including visiting relatives and going shopping. Mexican officials are worried such visits will surge during the Fourth of July weekend, a dangerous vector for the virus to enter the country from the United States.\nAs cases have increased in Southern California, Arizona and Texas, Mexican border states have increasingly come to see the outbreak in the United States as their biggest threat in controlling the epidemic.\nCiting no evidence, President Trump has said that the border wall would keep infections from entering the United States from Mexico. But given the soaring U.S. caseload, it is Mexico that has more reason to fear the virus coming across the border.\nOn Thursday, the Mexican government said it would be installing \u201csanitary filters,\u201d where travelers from the United States will have their temperatures checked at several border crossings. Those checkpoints have \u201cthe goal of protecting the health of the Mexican population, particularly those in the border states,\u201d said a statement from the Mexico Foreign Ministry.\nOfficials in Mexico\u2019s border states have gone further, pleading for people not to cross the border at all.\nEnrique Clausen, Sonora state\u2019s health minister, said he would seek to apply more stringent controls on border crossings than those mandated by Mexico\u2019s federal government.\n\u201cIt\u2019s so important to implement the necessary measures to protect the health of Sonorans. And one of them, at this moment, has to be reducing the border crossings from the United States toward Mexico,\u201d Clausen said during a news briefing Tuesday. Two days later, he too tested positive for the virus.\nOn Thursday, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau, echoed that message in Spanish, addressing U.S. citizens living along the border in a video posted on Twitter. He advised Americans to avoid cross-border travel during the Fourth of July weekend.\n\u201cIn recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of people have crossed the land border every day and 90\u00a0percent of them are U.S. citizens or green-card holders,\u201d he said. \u201cIf this traffic doesn\u2019t decline, there will be an increase, not a decrease, in travel restrictions.\u201d\nThe U.S. government has continued deportations to Mexico throughout the pandemic. In many cases, deportees have tested positive for the coronavirus after entering Mexican territory. Those deportations have further infuriated Mexican officials who have tried to restrict Americans from visiting the country.\n\u201cWhy are they continuing these deportations in the middle of a deadly pandemic, including people who are already sick and who knows how many asymptomatic people,\u201d Maki Ortiz, the mayor of the Mexican city Reynosa, told The Washington Post in May.\nU.S. border states have a significantly higher rate of infection than Mexican border states, although with limited testing in Mexico, it is difficult to compare the numbers.\nTamaulipas, with a population of 3.5 million, has had 5,712 confirmed coronavirus cases. Sonora, with a population of 2.85 million, has had 7,064\nTexas has a population of 29\u00a0million and more than 175,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. Arizona has a population of 7.3\u00a0million people and more than 90,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.\nIn June, Trump said at a rally in Phoenix that the Mexican city of Tijuana was \u201cheavily infected with covid\u201d and that the border wall was preventing cross-border transmission. In fact, San Diego had more cases of the virus per 100,000 residents.\nSome U.S. citizens and permanent residents who live in Mexico are crossing the border to be treated in American hospitals, placing a disproportionate stress on small community hospitals in places like Imperial County, Calif. U.S. border restrictions still allow Americans to cross the border into their own country without citing a reason."}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "DCWXTMTQMEI6VIKWABELMLG3KE_3", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "DCWXTMTQMEI6VIKWABELMLG3KE_3", "title": "Coronavirus on the border: Why Mexico has so few cases compared with the U.S.", "text": "to 15 times as many common flu cases each year as reported, L\u00f3pez-Gatell noted. But the raw numbers aren\u2019t the point, he maintained. What matters, he said, is identifying when and where the virus starts to grow exponentially. Figuring that out is a bit like conducting a presidential election poll, he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t interview 300 million Americans,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a scientific method to know what is the size\u201d of the sample needed for an accurate survey. From the start of the outbreak, Mexican authorities tested likely coronavirus carriers \u2014 people with symptoms such as fever and dry cough who had recently visited a country with known cases. When a diagnosis was confirmed, officials tried to track and isolate the victim\u2019s contacts. Authorities also watched for unusual spikes in seasonal flu cases. They didn\u2019t spot any. On March 24, Mexico declared that the virus had moved to a new phase and was spreading unchecked in communities. Since then, monitoring stations around the country \u2014 in hospitals and primary-care centers \u2014 have been testing about 10 percent of suspected coronavirus patients with mild symptoms. Everyone with serious symptoms is tested, said L\u00f3pez-Gatell. \u201cThis allows you to have the information to construct estimates,\u201d he said. In total, Mexico has conducted about 65 tests per million inhabitants. That compares with 2,250 per million in the United States. Mexico\u2019s approach varies dramatically from the much-praised model of South Korea, which blunted the coronavirus curve through mass testing and aggressive tracking and isolation of victims and their contacts. Carlos del Rio, an epidemiologist at Emory University in Atlanta, says Mexico has moved too slowly. \u201cCountries that have done [extensive] testing are doing better than those that don\u2019t,\u201d said del Rio, the former head of the National AIDS Council of Mexico. Alejandro Macias, Mexico\u2019s former national flu commissioner, said there was not enough early testing to confidently determine when community transmission began. \u201cI don\u2019t think there was enough of a budget,\u201d he said. Others say testing has been overemphasized. \u201cIt\u2019s as though doing tests will solve the problem. That\u2019s not clear at all,\u201d said Samuel Ponce de Le\u00f3n, an infectious-disease specialist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. \u201cNo one has been able to replicate\u201d South Korea\u2019s success, he said. Of course, pinpointing when coronavirus cases started to explode was supposed to be only the first step in trying to tame the pandemic. The second"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "[Leer en espa\u00f1ol]\nMEXICO CITY \u2014\nThe U.S.-Mexico border has long been a region of contrasts. But people in both countries are puzzling over the latest one: The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus on the Mexican side is just a small fraction of the U.S. count.\nOn Sunday, confirmed cases in California topped 6,200, compared with just 23 in Baja California. Arizona had 919 cases, dwarfing the 14 in neighboring Sonora. New Mexico reported 237 cases; in Chihuahua state, there were six.\nThe U.S.-Mexico border is the busiest in the world, with an estimated 1\u00a0million legal crossings per day. The neighbors\u2019 economies are intertwined.\nSo why is there such a big difference in cases?\nThe disparity reflects, in part, a time lag. Mexico did not report its first case until Feb.\u00a027 \u2014 a month after the virus was detected in the United States. To date, the country has counted 993 cases, less than 1\u00a0percent of the U.S. total.\nBut Mexico is also pursuing an unorthodox strategy. It is relying less on tests, and more on its own disease modeling, to guide its response to the pandemic. As Central American neighbors declared emergencies in mid-March, Mexico kept its airports, shops and government offices open \u2014 the government didn\u2019t urge a broad stay-at-home policy until last week.\nMexico\u2019s approach amounts to a bet, its coronavirus czar acknowledges \u2014 \u201ca bet that\u2019s technically sound,\u201d Hugo L\u00f3pez-Gatell said in an interview. Authorities are wagering that they can fine-tune their response to the virus, even as it has outwitted health officials in the United States and Europe.\nThe stakes of that gamble are enormous. Mexico held off on harsh lockdown measures to allow citizens to work for a few more weeks. Nearly 60\u00a0percent of the labor force works in the informal sector \u2014 as plumbers, gardeners, taco vendors \u2014 and they have little or no savings.\nKeeping those workers home when it\u2019s not absolutely necessary, L\u00f3pez-Gatell said, can cause \u201cfrightening damage.\u201d\nBut if it turns out Mexico waited too long to introduce restrictions, analysts warn, it could suffer a crisis like Italy\u2019s or New York\u2019s \u2014 with far fewer resources. Mexico has half as many hospital beds per capita as the United States, and a quarter as many nurses, according to statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.\n\u201cThe health system will be overloaded much faster\u201d than in other countries, Eduardo Gonz\u00e1lez-Pier, a former Mexican deputy health minister, said last week in a briefing sponsored by the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.\nTurmoil in Mexico typically generates fears of spillover  in the United States \u2014 surges in illegal migration and narcotics, snags in trade. At the moment, though, it is Mexicans who are worrying about crossover problems. On Saturday, governors of three Mexican border states called on President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador to tighten controls to limit the arrival of the coronavirus from the United States.\nMexico has extensive experience with infectious diseases; it was the epicenter of the 2009 swine flu pandemic. But unlike many nations, it has not rushed to scale up testing. L\u00f3pez-Gatell, a respected epidemiologist with a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University \u2014 an institution currently distinguishing itself with a widely cited website tracking the pandemic \u2014 acknowledged that Mexico\u2019s official count does not reflect the real number of cases.\n\u201cAny country in the world that takes public health seriously knows there\u2019s a portion of the epidemic that\u2019s visible, and a portion that\u2019s not visible,\u201d he said.\nHow deep is the undercount? Academic studies estimate that there are 10 to 15 times as many common flu cases each year as reported, L\u00f3pez-Gatell noted.\nBut the raw numbers aren\u2019t the point, he maintained. What matters, he said, is identifying when and where the virus starts to grow exponentially. Figuring that out is a bit like conducting a presidential election poll, he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t interview 300\u00a0million Americans,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s a scientific method to know what is the size\u201d of the sample needed for an accurate survey.\nFrom the start of the outbreak, Mexican authorities tested likely coronavirus carriers \u2014 people with symptoms such as fever and dry cough who had recently visited a country with known cases. When a diagnosis was confirmed, officials tried to track and isolate the victim\u2019s contacts.\nAuthorities also watched for unusual spikes in seasonal flu cases. They didn\u2019t spot any.\nOn March\u00a024, Mexico declared that the virus had moved to a new phase and was spreading unchecked in communities.\nSince then, monitoring stations around the country \u2014 in hospitals and primary-care centers \u2014 have been testing about 10\u00a0percent of suspected coronavirus patients with mild symptoms. Everyone with serious symptoms is tested, said L\u00f3pez-Gatell.\n\u201cThis allows you to have the information to construct estimates,\u201d he said.\nIn total, Mexico has conducted about 65\u00a0tests per million inhabitants. That compares with 2,250 per million in the United States.\nMexico\u2019s approach varies dramatically from the much-praised model of South Korea, which blunted the coronavirus curve through mass testing and aggressive tracking and isolation of victims and their contacts.\nCarlos del Rio, an epidemiologist at Emory University in Atlanta, says Mexico has moved too slowly.\n\u201cCountries that have done [extensive] testing are doing better than those that don\u2019t,\u201d said del Rio, the former head of the National AIDS Council of Mexico.\nAlejandro Macias, Mexico\u2019s former national flu commissioner, said there was not enough early testing to confidently determine when community transmission began. \u201cI don\u2019t think there was enough of a budget,\u201d he said.\nOthers say testing has been overemphasized.\n\u201cIt\u2019s as though doing tests will solve the problem. That\u2019s not clear at all,\u201d said Samuel  Ponce de Le\u00f3n, an infectious-disease specialist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. \u201cNo one has been able to replicate\u201d South Korea\u2019s success, he said.\nOf course, pinpointing when coronavirus cases started to explode was supposed to be only the first step in trying to tame the pandemic. The second was ordering tough measures to \u201cflatten the curve\u201d of illnesses and keep hospitals from being overwhelmed.\nMexico closed down schools and most government offices last week, and urged citizens to stay indoors. By Saturday, though, the movement of people in Mexico City had declined by only 30\u00a0percent, L\u00f3pez-Gatell told reporters. He pleaded with Mexicans to stay home.\n\u201cThis is our last chance,\u201d he said.\nIf Mexicans haven\u2019t gotten the message, it might be partly the fault of the messenger-in-chief. For weeks, even as health authorities called on citizens to refrain from kissing and hugging, L\u00f3pez Obrador plunged into crowds of admirers, slapping backs and shaking hands. He has only recently stopped his rallies.\nState and local officials have criticized the federal government\u2019s strategy. And there is plenty of skepticism about the case numbers.\nBut medical experts say there is little doubt there are more cases on the U.S. side of the border. Californians and Texans have more and closer ties with Europe and Asia \u2014 regions with big outbreaks \u2014 than people living in northern Mexico.\nAnd in a telltale sign of the pandemic\u2019s toll, Mexico has had just 20\u00a0deaths so far, compared with more than 2,500 for its northern neighbor.\nIf there were a dramatically higher number of cases, Ponce de Le\u00f3n said, Mexican hospitals would be struggling with the same patient load currently overwhelming some U.S. hospitals. \u201cAnd we don\u2019t have that,\u201d he said.\n\u201cWe will have it,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we\u2019re at a different moment in the epidemic.\u201d\nmary.sheridan@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "HTFAXJVGEMI6VCMOWINZVA7XSI_0", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "HTFAXJVGEMI6VCMOWINZVA7XSI_0", "title": "Mexico adds 1,000 deaths to official coronavirus toll, most in a single day", "text": "MEXICO CITY \u2014 Mexican authorities added more than 1,000 people to the country's official coronavirus death toll on Wednesday in an outbreak that's proving far more vicious than the government had anticipated. The 1,092 deaths did not occur in one day. Rather, many of the death reports had been delayed \u2014 a common event as records make their way to the central government. A graph displayed at a Health Ministry news conference on Wednesday evening showed that the total deaths on any single day had not exceeded 350, so far. But the figure was a startling indication of how the outbreak here has intensified. It was only Monday that the official count of people who died after testing positive for covid-19 surpassed 10,000. Now it stands at 11,279 \u2014 a two-day leap of more than 10 percent. Officials acknowledge the real total is higher, since many victims die before they can be tested. Hugo L\u00f3pez-Gatell, the senior Health Ministry official who has coordinated Mexico\u2019s coronavirus campaign, told reporters the new figures had arrived from various hospitals, reflecting deaths from different dates. \u201cHere we have a very old one, from some state, from March 25,\u201d he said, pointing to the graph. It was not immediately clear why the tally might have jumped so dramatically in one day. Mexican authorities have acknowledged that the virus is turning out to be more deadly than they had expected. Mexico reported its first confirmed coronavirus cases on Feb. 28, a day before New York City. But while New York\u2019s cases quickly skyrocketed, Mexico\u2019s climbed more slowly. President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador said last month that Mexico had \u201cdominated\u201d the pandemic. Now the Mexican capital is at the epicenter of the country\u2019s health crisis. Authorities have said new cases have reached a peak, with some signs of decline. Deaths, however, have stayed stubbornly high for days. Mexico has followed a controversial policy of not seeking mass testing for the virus. Instead, authorities have predicted the pandemic\u2019s course by watching cases at a sample set of medical centers around the country and constructing mathematical models. A lockdown was imposed on March 23, when officials said cases were starting to multiply. Critics have said the quarantine should have been imposed earlier, and more strictly. Many factors have contributed to the rising death toll. Mexico suffers some of the hemisphere\u2019s highest levels of obesity, hypertension and diabetes, complicating factors"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 16, "full_doc": "MEXICO CITY \u2014\nMexican authorities added more than 1,000 people to the country's official coronavirus death toll on Wednesday in an outbreak that's proving far more vicious than the government had anticipated.\nThe 1,092 deaths did not occur in one day. Rather, many of the death reports had been delayed \u2014 a common event as records make their way to the central government. A graph displayed at a Health Ministry news conference on Wednesday evening showed that the total deaths on any single day had not exceeded 350, so far.\nBut the figure was a startling indication of how the outbreak here has intensified. It was only Monday that the official count of people who died after testing positive for covid-19 surpassed 10,000. Now it stands at 11,279 \u2014 a two-day leap of more than 10 percent. Officials acknowledge the real total is higher, since many victims die before they can be tested.\nHugo L\u00f3pez-Gatell, the senior Health Ministry official who has coordinated Mexico\u2019s coronavirus campaign, told reporters the new figures had arrived from various hospitals, reflecting deaths from different dates. \u201cHere we have a very old one, from some state, from March 25,\u201d he said, pointing to the graph. It was not immediately clear why the tally might have jumped so dramatically in one day.\nMexican authorities have acknowledged that the virus is turning out to be more deadly than they had expected.\nMexico reported its first confirmed coronavirus cases on Feb. 28, a day before New York City. But while New York\u2019s cases quickly skyrocketed, Mexico\u2019s climbed more slowly. President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador said last month that Mexico had \u201cdominated\u201d the pandemic.\nNow the Mexican capital is at the epicenter of the country\u2019s health crisis. Authorities have said new cases have reached a peak, with some signs of decline. Deaths, however, have stayed stubbornly high for days.\nMexico has followed a controversial policy of not seeking mass testing for the virus. Instead, authorities have predicted the pandemic\u2019s course by watching cases at a sample set of medical centers around the country and constructing mathematical models. A lockdown was imposed on March 23, when officials said cases were starting to multiply.\nCritics have said the quarantine should have been imposed earlier, and more strictly.\nMany factors have contributed to the rising death toll. Mexico suffers some of the hemisphere\u2019s highest levels of obesity, hypertension and diabetes, complicating factors for covid-19 that are often linked to the diets of the poor.\nIn parts of the country, residents have started leaving home more in recent days.\nThe country\u2019s hospitals have strained to treat coronavirus victims. The government has massively expanded hospital capacity in recent months and hasn\u2019t run out of beds. But the system has long been plagued by underinvestment and a lack of doctors and nurses.\nMexico ended its nationwide lockdown last weekend, replacing it with a system that gives more leeway to states with fewer cases. Still, the vast majority of the country remains in \u201cred,\u201d the danger category, with most offices, businesses and schools closed."}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "HUT7SOUVDUI6VB5DELJSII2WGY_0", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "HUT7SOUVDUI6VB5DELJSII2WGY_0", "title": "Mexico to start reopening border region, other areas as coronavirus lockdown eases", "text": "MEXICO CITY \u2014 Mexico's government says it will lift a quarantine for hundreds of counties starting May 18 and will begin to gradually reopen the rest of the nation on June 1 as it seeks to emerge from the coronavirus epidemic. The country has been on a nationwide lockdown for more than seven weeks, and businesses are eager to reopen. Analysts are predicting that the economy could shrink up to 10 percent this year \u2014 one of the most significant recessions in Latin America. \u201cWe\u2019ve begun a new stage. There\u2019s a light at the end of the tunnel,\u201d President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador said at a news conference on Wednesday. But he cautioned that Mexico was headed for a \u201cnew normality\u201d that would require safety measures to prevent major outbreaks of disease. Under the plan, the government would allow 269 municipalities scattered over 15 states to resume most activities on Monday. These are places that have had no confirmed coronavirus cases and whose neighboring counties also have no sign of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. They represent just over 10 percent of all municipalities in Mexico. Other municipalities and states will be assigned a color each week, starting June 1, that indicates the extent to which businesses, schools and public gathering places can function. In addition, three major industries will be included on the list of \u201cessential\u201d sectors that can resume operations nationwide next week \u2014 construction, mining and auto manufacturing. Mexico has had significant outbreaks in five cities, including Mexico City, the epicenter. As of Tuesday, the government had logged nearly 4,000 confirmed deaths from covid-19. Authorities have said the actual number is certainly higher. The restrictions in Mexico have been less severe than in many other Latin American countries, relying on persuasion rather than police to keep people home. Schools and most businesses and government offices have had to close, however. Authorities say the restrictions have prevented a nationwide spike in cases, although the virus continues to spread. Some governors expressed concern that Mexico was reopening too early. \u201cEverything is going to collapse, all the measures we have taken to keep people at home,\u201d said Gov. Miguel Barbosa of Puebla, which is home to major Volkswagen and Audi plants. Officials indicated that Mexico City will remain \u201cred\u201d \u2014 the highest level of lockdown. Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said restaurants, department stores and cinemas would reopen in mid-June,"}], "old": [{"_id": "HUT7SOUVDUI6VB5DELJSII2WGY_0", "title": "Mexico to start reopening border region, other areas as coronavirus lockdown eases", "text": "mary.sheridan@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "MEXICO CITY \u2014\nMexico's government says it will lift a quarantine for hundreds of counties starting May 18 and will begin to gradually reopen the rest of the nation on June 1 as it seeks to emerge from the coronavirus epidemic.\nThe country has been on a nationwide lockdown for more than seven weeks, and businesses are eager to reopen. Analysts are predicting that the economy could shrink up to 10 percent this year \u2014 one of the most significant recessions in Latin America.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve begun a new stage. There\u2019s a light at the end of the tunnel,\u201d President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador said at a news conference on Wednesday. But he cautioned that Mexico was headed for a \u201cnew normality\u201d that would require safety measures to prevent major outbreaks of disease.\nUnder the plan, the government would allow 269 municipalities scattered over 15 states to resume most activities on Monday. These are places that have had no confirmed coronavirus cases and whose neighboring counties also have no sign of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. They represent just over 10 percent of all municipalities in Mexico.\nOther municipalities and states will be assigned a color each week, starting June 1, that indicates the extent to which businesses, schools and public gathering places can function. In addition, three major industries will be included on the list of \u201cessential\u201d sectors that can resume operations nationwide next week \u2014 construction, mining and auto manufacturing.\nMexico has had significant outbreaks in five cities, including Mexico City, the epicenter. As of Tuesday, the government had logged nearly 4,000 confirmed deaths from covid-19. Authorities have said the actual number is certainly higher.\nThe restrictions in Mexico have been less severe than in many other Latin American countries, relying on persuasion rather than police to keep people home. Schools and most businesses and government offices have had to close, however. Authorities say the restrictions have prevented a nationwide spike in cases, although the virus continues to spread.\nSome governors expressed concern that Mexico was reopening too early. \u201cEverything is going to collapse, all the measures we have taken to keep people at home,\u201d said Gov. Miguel Barbosa of Puebla, which is home to major Volkswagen and Audi plants.\nOfficials indicated that Mexico City will remain \u201cred\u201d \u2014 the highest level of lockdown. Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said restaurants, department stores and cinemas would reopen in mid-June, at one-third capacity.\nThree big states on the U.S. border, in contrast, are considered \u201cgreen\u201d \u2014 Chihuahua, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. If they remain in that category, they will be able to resume manufacturing and other business activities in June, and schools in those states will reopen.\nThe Trump administration has been urging Mexico to restart assembly plants that provide inputs for critical U.S. industries such as defense contractors. L\u00f3pez Obrador, too, has been eager for a resumption of economic activity. Some Mexican officials have been wary, however, because dozens of workers have become sick at border factories that remained open. Several have died.\nBaja California is considered \u201cred\u201d because of a coronavirus outbreak in the city of Tijuana, south of San Diego.\nThe two other border states \u2014 Sonora and Tamaulipas \u2014 are \u201cyellow,\u201d meaning that businesses can reopen but schools will remain closed and restrictions on gathering places, including churches and parks, will continue.\nMany of Mexico\u2019s popular beach destinations \u2014 Acapulco, Cancun, Playa del Carmen \u2014 are in \u201cred\u201d states, meaning hotels and restaurants will probably not reopen for weeks. Tourism accounts for about 8 percent of the Mexican economy.\nWhile authorities issued a detailed plan on easing lockdowns, L\u00f3pez Obrador said states would not be punished if they decided to establish their own rules.\nAnd officials cautioned that shutdowns could be reintroduced in states or municipalities if cases flare up again. They estimate that Mexico City and Cancun recently passed their peaks of new cases.\nHugo L\u00f3pez-Gatell, the Health Ministry official who has designed Mexico\u2019s strategy, acknowledged that much was still unknown about the path of the virus.\n\u201cIn every moment, there is uncertainty,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery country in the world faces the question of whether you can head into the new normality, and at what speed.\u201d\nmary.sheridan@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "NIXM3AXSBMI6VGM4M77XX5VJ2I_3", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "NIXM3AXSBMI6VGM4M77XX5VJ2I_3", "title": "Latin America, unable to flatten its curve, struggles to cope with pandemic", "text": "have long criticized health guidelines as governmental overreach, meanwhile, have cheered the rule-breakers on. \u201cCrowded beaches don\u2019t just show people\u2019s willingness to have fun, but are also a message to aspiring dictators,\u201d tweeted Eduardo Bolsonaro, the president\u2019s son. \u201cPeople know what\u2019s best for themselves, not hypocritical government leaders and authoritarians.\u201d Critics say fumbled, sometimes inexplicable government decisions have helped fuel the region\u2019s failures. Authorities in Mexico blame the country\u2019s size for an outbreak that has infected more than 652,000 and killed more than 69,000. They hired more than 45,000 doctors, nurses and other health professionals in the early days of the crisis, and they boast that no coronavirus victims have been denied a bed. But critics say Mexico\u2019s epidemic has been more deadly than it would have been if authorities had conducted mass testing. And while the country locked down for 70 days starting in late March, it began reopening businesses while case numbers were still rising \u2014 in part because of pressure on the economy. \u201cEconomic conditions forced a reopening that was too early,\u201d said Malaqu\u00edas L\u00f3pez Cervantes, a public health expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Peru now has the highest coronavirus mortality rate per capita of any major country in the world. But because of limited testing, even its official tally of more than 700,000 cases might be a gross underestimate. Infections, analysts say, might be as high as 7 million. Peru\u2019s disastrous performance might appear perplexing, given President Mart\u00edn Vizcarra\u2019s initially decisive response: an early and strict lockdown that put the economy into deep freeze. Restrictions including a national 10 p.m. curfew remain in force. Yet poverty, decades of underinvestment in health care and what critics say are strategic errors by the government \u2014 repressive policies enforced by the police and military, a complete lack of contact tracing, the failure to use targeted lockdowns for local outbreaks, and the lack of a communication strategy \u2014 have undermined the response. Even as Peru struggles to control its virulent outbreak, it is facing a constitutional crisis. Congress on Friday voted to open impeachment proceedings against Vizcarra amid allegations, denied by the president, of his involvement in an influence-peddling scandal. Only 20 percent of the nearly 3.3 million coronavirus tests administered so far in Peru have been the molecular tests that require a swab from the nose or throat, considered the best way to diagnose patients before"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "BUENOS AIRES \u2014\nWhen ICU doctor Arnaldo Dubin left the sick and the dying at the end of another harrowing workday last week, the scene outside made him shudder.\nClusters of people, many without masks, were strolling and chatting under the Belle Epoque-style balconies of the capital\u2019s fashionable Recoleta district.\nArgentina is trying to return to \u201cnormal life\u201d \u2014 the phrase President Alberto Fern\u00e1ndez used when he announced new steps to ease one of the world\u2019s strictest coronavirus lockdowns in July. Within days, long-cooped-up porte\u00f1os were returning to hair salons, workplaces and psychiatrists\u2019 couches. This month, the capital\u2019s cafes and bars won permission to serve outside tables, bringing the sound of clinking wine glasses and beer bottles back to the city\u2019s grand avenues.\nBut as Argentines emerge from their shells, they\u2019re getting sick, undoing what had been one of the globe\u2019s strongest  performances against the novel coronavirus. In less than two months, new cases have grown threefold, to top 12,000 a day.\n\u201cIf there are more infections, we will not be able to handle them,\u201d said Dubin, head of intensive care at Otamendi Hospital. \u201cWe are at our limit, and losing more and more of our colleagues to this fight.\u201d\nSeven months after Latin America diagnosed its first case of covid-19, the region continues to rack up some of the worst numbers in the world \u2014 failing to flatten its curve as it reels from persistently high infection levels and devastating mortality rates.\nBrazil\nThe region suffers from a range of preexisting conditions. The population is more urbanized than in Europe, Oceania, Asia or Africa. Covid-19 has scythed its way through the urban slums of Sao Paulo in Brazil, Lima in Peru, Buenos Aires and Mexico City.\nClose quarters and multigenerational households have undermined attempts at social distancing. Inequality is high, health care uneven and safety nets limited. The region\u2019s many poor people must work to live, and they have routinely violated lockdowns to eat. Porous borders have made it difficult to quarantine infected travelers.\nAs in the United States, erratic leadership has also played a role, particularly in hard-hit Brazil under coronavirus skeptic Jair Bolsonaro and in Mexico under Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador. Some countries haven\u2019t even tried contact tracing, which health experts say is key to containing the virus.\n\u201cHere, in the area where I live, there are huge families living all together, some in houses, and others just share rooms,\u201d said Daniela Fonseca, 21, a public administration student in Colombia.\nFonseca, her mother, brother, sister and 2-year-old son all were infected in the rundown colonial-era home they share near downtown Bogota. They lost her 44-year-old father to the virus in July.\nBut despite rampant infections in the neighborhood, she said, \u201cthere\u2019s still people walking around without face masks, people on the street corners drinking, having parties. .\u2009.\u2009. There really is a big lack of awareness.\u201d\nIndeed, analysts say, Latin American countries have suffered from the same divisive individualism that has hampered a unified coronavirus response in the United States.\nIn Colombia, people attended thousands of fiestas clandestinas \u2014 secret parties \u2014 as cases exploded in July. In Peru, a mayor undermined quarantine by going out, getting drunk, then playing dead in a failed attempt to avoid detection.\nAnd in Brazil, where the virus has infected  4.2 million and killed more than  129,000, people have packed beaches, jammed into bars and flouted pleas to wear masks. A survey released this week found that a plurality of respondents blamed not Bolsonaro\u2019s chaotic leadership nor local leaders for the country\u2019s crippling outbreak, but other Brazilians. National leaders who have long criticized health guidelines as governmental overreach, meanwhile, have cheered the rule-breakers on.\n\u201cCrowded beaches don\u2019t just show people\u2019s willingness to have fun, but are also a message to aspiring dictators,\u201d tweeted Eduardo Bolsonaro, the president\u2019s son. \u201cPeople know what\u2019s best for themselves, not hypocritical government leaders and authoritarians.\u201d\nCritics say fumbled, sometimes inexplicable government decisions have helped fuel the region\u2019s failures.\nAuthorities in Mexico blame the country\u2019s size for an outbreak that has infected more than  652,000 and killed more than 69,000. They hired more than 45,000 doctors, nurses and other health professionals in the early days of the crisis, and they boast that no coronavirus victims have been denied a bed.\nBut critics say Mexico\u2019s epidemic has been more deadly than it would have been if authorities had conducted mass testing. And while the country locked down for 70 days starting in late March, it began reopening businesses while case numbers were still rising \u2014 in part because of pressure on the economy.\n\u201cEconomic conditions forced a reopening that was too early,\u201d said Malaqu\u00edas L\u00f3pez Cervantes, a public health expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.\nPeru now has the highest coronavirus mortality rate per capita of any major country in the world. But because of limited testing, even its official tally of  more than 700,000 cases might be a gross underestimate. Infections, analysts say, might be as high as 7\u00a0million.\nPeru\u2019s disastrous performance might appear perplexing, given President Mart\u00edn Vizcarra\u2019s initially decisive response: an early and strict lockdown that put the economy into deep freeze. Restrictions including a national 10 p.m. curfew remain in force. Yet poverty, decades of underinvestment in health care and what critics say are strategic errors by the government \u2014 repressive policies enforced by the police and military, a complete lack of contact tracing, the failure to use targeted lockdowns for local outbreaks, and the lack of a communication strategy \u2014 have undermined the response.\nEven as Peru struggles to control its virulent outbreak, it is facing a constitutional crisis. Congress on Friday voted to open impeachment proceedings against Vizcarra amid allegations, denied by the president, of his involvement in an influence-peddling scandal.\nOnly 20 percent of the nearly 3.3 million coronavirus tests administered so far in Peru have been the molecular tests that require a swab from the nose or throat, considered the best way to diagnose patients before they become contagious.\n\u201cWe are missing too many asymptomatic people, never mind the people they have been in contact with,\u201d said Dionicia Gamboa, a tropical-diseases expert at Cayetano Heredia University, Peru\u2019s top medical school.\nArgentina\u2019s Fern\u00e1ndez, who took office in December, imposed a strict national lockdown in March, halting international and domestic flights and buses, closing borders, and requiring people to isolate themselves even in the remote cities and towns of sparsely populated Patagonia.\nAt first, it seemed to work. Cases spread in the poor, densely populated villas miserias, or misery villages, of Buenos Aires, where residents did not have the luxury of following the rules.\n\u201cMore than half of the residents in our villa have already got the virus,\u201d said the Rev. Guillermo Torres, who lives in Villa 31, a slum beside a railway in the capital. The infected have included Torres and two fellow priests. \u201cWe knew it was going to happen.\u201d\nBut national numbers remained relatively low compared with those of nearby Brazil, Chile and Peru \u2014 a development that boosted Fern\u00e1ndez\u2019s approval ratings. In one sense, the lockdown might have been too successful: The president soon faced mounting pressure from the opposition, and part of the public and the media, to ease the restrictions.\nBy May, children in Buenos Aires were allowed to leave their homes for one hour per weekend for \u201crecreative walking.\u201d In June, Fern\u00e1ndez shifted from a policy of \u201cmandatory isolation\u201d to \u201cmandatory social distancing.\u201d Isolation remained in place for Buenos Aires and its suburbs, but local authorities allowed more stores to open and some sports to resume.\nAs infections edged upward, Fern\u00e1ndez reimposed some restrictions. \u201cThey wanted to go out and run, and they went out and ran,\u201d he said. \u201cNow we see the consequences.\u201d\nBut as the economic toll of locking down mounted, he allowed a phased easing of restrictions in July. Specifics have been left to local officials, subject to the approval of the national government. In Buenos Aires, for example, hairdressers, takeout service from bars and restaurants, and other professional services were allowed to reopen.\nBy late July, infections began to skyrocket in middle-class neighborhoods of the capital and expand more deeply into the provinces. Still, diners in Buenos Aires this month were allowed to eat at sidewalk tables at bars and restaurants. Masks remain mandatory in public, but the rule is routinely flouted.\nOther restrictions remain. Domestic flights and long-distance buses are still idle, and malls, cinemas, schools and universities remain closed.\nArgentine officials point to the country\u2019s still relatively low mortality rate and say they have managed the curve, giving the country time to respond to a crunch period now, in part by expanding ICU beds by 41 percent since March.\nThe strict, early quarantine and phased reopening \u201callowed the number of cases and deaths to increase more slowly than in other countries, and thus prevented the health care system from collapsing,\u201d Health Minister Gin\u00e9s Gonz\u00e1lez Garc\u00eda told The Washington Post in a statement.\nBut doctors are alarmed by the massive surge in cases.\nOn June 7, the country had recorded 22,794 infections.\nToday, it has counted more than  524,000.\nAt Otamendi Hospital, the ICU ward is now at 100 percent capacity.  Nationwide, ICU wards are 62\u00a0percent full \u2014 compared with 45 percent in late June.\n\u201cWe know that one in two patients will never wake up again,\u201d Dubin said."}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "XDOHHNM22ZG7TLUPEEXSF7JXCQ_1", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XDOHHNM22ZG7TLUPEEXSF7JXCQ_1", "title": "U.S.-Mexico border closure extended days after State Dept. lifts \u2018do not travel\u2019 advisory ", "text": "and water crossings, as flights between the United States and Mexico have largely continued since the early days of the pandemic. Until last week, the State Department\u2019s Mexico advisory was a Level 4 (do not travel) nationwide. Some less-visited regions of Mexico remain classified Level 4 for \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d The modified travel advisory said U.S. travelers should \u201creconsider travel to Mexico due to covid-19\u201d as well as \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d A border closure restricting nonessential travel has been in place between the United States and Mexico since March 21 in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. The popular resort areas of Cabo San Lucas, Canc\u00fan and Cozumel have been allowing U.S. travelers who fly into the country to visit without required quarantines or coronavirus tests. Instead, Mexican airports have been carrying out health-screening procedures such as temperature checks, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. \u201cThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Mexico due to COVID-19,\u201d the advisory states. \u201cMexico has lifted stay at home orders in some areas and resumed some transportation and business operations. Visit the embassy\u2019s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Mexico.\u201d Mexico has seen a total of 668,000 coronavirus cases and more than 70,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with daily new cases peaking in August before lowering and holding steady in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 per day since then. The United States has reported more than 6.5 million total coronavirus cases and 194,000 deaths, with the peak in daily new cases hitting mid-July, at more than 75,000. Major tourist sites in Mexico have reopened, including Teotihuac\u00e1n, a UNESCO World Heritage Site outside of Mexico City. The only area in Mexico that has a higher covid-19 rate than Mexico City is the tourist-frequented state of Baja California Sur, which includes Los Cabos. Subregions that have earned the World Travel and Tourism Council\u2019s \u201cSafe Travels stamp,\u201d which certifies a locale follows health protocols established by the WTTC, include Los Cabos, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, Yucat\u00e1n, Jalisco and the islands of Cozumel. Read more: Where can Americans travel to in the Caribbean? What to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel Miami airport officials seize $490,000 stuffed into an accent chair passing through customs"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "Mexico announced Thursday that its border with the United States will remain closed for another month to further prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The border closure was due to expire on Sept. 21.\nThe Mexican secretary of foreign affairs said that Mexico and the Unites States would continue the terms of that closure, which have been in place since March, until at least Oct. 21.\nThe announcement comes days after the State Department had lowered its travel advisory for Mexico to a Level 3 from a Level 4, the highest on the scale.\nThe border closure terms only apply to land and water crossings, as flights between the United States and Mexico have largely continued since the early days of the pandemic. Until last week, the State Department\u2019s Mexico advisory was a Level 4 (do not travel) nationwide. Some less-visited regions of Mexico remain classified Level 4 for \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d\nThe modified travel advisory said U.S. travelers should \u201creconsider travel to Mexico due to covid-19\u201d as well as \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d A border closure restricting nonessential travel has been in place between the United States and Mexico since March 21 in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.\nThe popular resort areas of Cabo San Lucas, Canc\u00fan and Cozumel have been allowing U.S. travelers who fly into the country to visit without required quarantines or coronavirus tests. Instead, Mexican airports have been carrying out health-screening procedures such as temperature checks, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.\n\u201cThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Mexico due to COVID-19,\u201d the advisory states. \u201cMexico has lifted stay at home orders in some areas and resumed some transportation and business operations. Visit the embassy\u2019s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Mexico.\u201d\nMexico has seen a total of 668,000 coronavirus cases and more than 70,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with daily new cases peaking in August before lowering and holding steady in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 per day since then. The United States has reported more than 6.5 million total coronavirus cases and 194,000 deaths, with the peak in daily new cases hitting mid-July, at more than 75,000.\nMajor tourist sites in Mexico have reopened, including Teotihuac\u00e1n, a UNESCO World Heritage Site outside of Mexico City. The only area in Mexico that has a higher covid-19 rate than Mexico City is the tourist-frequented state of Baja California Sur, which includes Los Cabos. Subregions that have earned the World Travel and Tourism Council\u2019s \u201cSafe Travels stamp,\u201d which certifies a locale follows health protocols established by the WTTC, include Los Cabos, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, Yucat\u00e1n, Jalisco and the islands of Cozumel.\nRead more:\nWhere can Americans travel to in the Caribbean?\nWhat to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel\nMiami airport officials seize $490,000 stuffed into an accent chair passing through customs"}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "XPAC2UOALRDVDJOAYTCBNHFYW4_1", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "XPAC2UOALRDVDJOAYTCBNHFYW4_1", "title": "Coronavirus on the border: California hospitals overwhelmed by patients from Mexico", "text": "including families who have moved freely across the region since before that line was drawn and whose movement has continued during the pandemic. Public health issues have always straddled the border here. Texas conducts mosquito-spraying campaigns with the Mexican state of Tamaulipas during dengue outbreaks. Arizona has joint firefighting exercises with Sonora. California and Baja California have long battled a cross-border tuberculosis epidemic together. The San Ysidro border crossing, south of San Diego, is the busiest ambulance pickup point in the United States. For years, the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission conducted simulations on how the two countries would respond if a pandemic settled on the border. A special procedure was created for Mexican ambulances to transfer patients to U.S. ambulances on American soil. Then a real pandemic struck. Now, approximately half of the coronavirus patients in several California border hospitals, including El Centro Regional Medical Center, are recent arrivals from Mexico. As a result of that surge, Imperial County, home to El Centro, has a much higher concentration of coronavirus cases \u2014 760 per 100,000 residents \u2014 than any other county in California. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing how this disease has taught us that borders don\u2019t exist,\u201d said Adolphe Edward, the chief executive of El Centro Regional. The hospital\u2019s staff includes 60 people who cross the border from Mexicali each day to work. About 1.5 million Americans live in Mexico, and more than 250,000 of them live in the cities just south of California. Those cities have been hit harder by the coronavirus than almost anywhere else in Mexico. More than 300 medical personnel in Tijuana and its outskirts have been infected, according to Yan\u00edn Rend\u00f3n Machuca, the head of the local health workers union. At the city\u2019s general hospital, only a quarter of the staff remains at work. Ambulance drivers in Mexicali sometimes wait hours while hospital workers make room in hallways for patients with covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Some overwhelmed public clinics in the border city are no longer accepting patients. \u201cWe see patients who have been in Mexican hospitals for two, three or four days before they cross the border and come to us,\u201d said Dennis Amundson, the medical director in the intensive care unit at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista, Calif. U.S. citizens and green-card holders in northern Mexico started sharing messages and Facebook posts in groups such as \u201cRosarito Living\u201d and \u201cExpats"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "EL CENTRO, Calif. \u2014 When Manuel Ochoa started feeling sick \u2014 his body sore, his breathing restricted \u2014 he drove from his mother\u2019s home in Mexicali, Mexico, to the U.S. border.\nThe 65-year-old retiree parked his car at the border crossing and tried to drag himself to the country where he has permanent residency, and where his health insurance is valid. Just before he approached the port of entry, he collapsed in the sun.\nThat\u2019s when U.S. immigration officials made a call that has become increasingly common during the coronavirus outbreak: for an ambulance to transport a U.S. citizen or resident from the Mexican border to the nearest American hospital.\nAs Mexico\u2019s health-care system has strained under the coronavirus, small community hospitals in Southern California, some of the poorest in the state, have been flooded with Americans who have fallen ill and crossed the border. They are retirees and dual citizens, Americans working in Mexico or visiting family there.\nIt is an example of how easily the virus moves between countries, even as governments \u2014 and particularly the Trump administration \u2014 have attempted to shut their borders. And it\u2019s a window into how many American lives span the U.S.-Mexico border, including families who have moved freely across the region since before that line was drawn and whose movement has continued during the pandemic.\nPublic health issues have always straddled the border here. Texas conducts mosquito-spraying campaigns with the Mexican state of Tamaulipas during dengue outbreaks. Arizona has joint firefighting exercises with Sonora. California and Baja California have long battled a cross-border tuberculosis epidemic together. The San Ysidro border crossing, south of San Diego, is the busiest ambulance pickup point in the United States.\nFor years, the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission conducted simulations on how the two countries would respond if a pandemic settled on the border. A special procedure was created for Mexican ambulances to transfer patients to U.S. ambulances on American soil.\nThen a real pandemic struck. Now, approximately half of the coronavirus patients in several California border hospitals, including El Centro Regional Medical Center, are recent arrivals from Mexico. As a result of that surge, Imperial County, home to El Centro, has a much higher concentration of coronavirus cases \u2014 760 per 100,000 residents \u2014 than any other county in California.\n\u201cIt\u2019s amazing how this disease has taught us that borders don\u2019t exist,\u201d said Adolphe Edward, the chief executive of El Centro Regional. The hospital\u2019s staff includes 60 people who cross the border from Mexicali each day to work.\nAbout 1.5 million Americans live in Mexico, and more than 250,000 of them live in the cities just south of California. Those cities have been hit harder by the coronavirus than almost anywhere else in Mexico.\nMore than 300 medical personnel in Tijuana and its outskirts have been infected, according to Yan\u00edn Rend\u00f3n Machuca, the head of the local health workers union. At the city\u2019s general hospital, only a quarter of the staff remains at work. Ambulance drivers in Mexicali sometimes wait hours while hospital workers make room in hallways for patients with covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Some overwhelmed public clinics in the border city are no longer accepting patients.\n\u201cWe see patients who have been in Mexican hospitals for two, three or four days before they cross the border and come to us,\u201d said Dennis Amundson, the medical director in the intensive care unit at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista, Calif.\nU.S. citizens and green-card holders in northern Mexico started sharing messages and Facebook posts in groups such as \u201cRosarito Living\u201d and \u201cExpats in Mexico.\u201d If you get sick, they say, cross the border.\nSo that\u2019s what Ochoa did. He\u2019s been a permanent resident of the United States since 1978. He retired a few years ago after a career as a truck driver in Los Angeles.\nOn Sunday morning, the ambulance drove him the 10 miles from the border to El Centro Regional, which was already treating 43 coronavirus patients and where a disaster response team was preparing to set up a military-style tent for overflow.\n\u201cThis is where I have insurance, and it\u2019s where there\u2019s better attention,\u201d he said at the hospital. The machine reading his resting heart rate bounced between 128 and 135 beats per minute.\nDuring the pandemic, the influx of patients from Mexico has posed an unprecedented challenge. El Centro Regional normally serves a county with a population of about 180,000 residents, many of whom live below the poverty line. Suddenly, the hospital was responding to an additional community of Americans in Mexicali, thought to number 100,000 people.\nWhen Edward posted a video update on Facebook last week explaining that his overwhelmed hospital would temporarily stop accepting covid-19 patients, he received a stream of messages criticizing him for prioritizing patients from across the border.\n\u201cSend them back to Mexico,\u201d one person wrote.\n\u201cThe border should have been closed from day one,\u201d wrote another.\nEdward, a former Air Force Medical Service Corps officer who helped lead the U.S. military\u2019s medical team in Baghdad, tried to explain that these were Americans he was treating.\n\u201cWe can pretend that 275,000 American retirees in Baja California don\u2019t exist, but they do. Or the 35,000 military members,\u201d he said.\nThe spike in cases along the border comes as California is trying to reopen. In San Diego on Memorial Day weekend, restaurants and bars were crowded with people, many not wearing masks. Medical experts warn that relaxing those rules, in addition to the cases coming across the border, could lead to a surge in infections.\n\u201cI expect Mexico to peak this month, but then as San Diego opens up, we\u2019ll see an increase from that side as well,\u201d said Juan Tovar, a physician chief operations executive at Scripps Mercy. \u201cOur peak is going to depend on both of those factors.\u201d\nAmong the patients who have come from Mexico in recent weeks is Patricia Gonzalez-Zuniga, a Tijuana physician who works frequently with the University of California at San Diego. Gonzalez-Zuniga and her husband were both diagnosed with covid-19 last month. Her husband\u2019s health deteriorated rapidly.\n\u201cI have no doubt that he would have died if we had stayed in Tijuana and gone to a hospital there,\u201d she said.\nOthers were U.S. citizens who took their children to Mexico for more-affordable child care. Some were Americans who had lost their jobs during the early weeks of the U.S. outbreak and went to live with relatives in Mexico to save money.\n\u201cThat\u2019s where they were infected,\u201d said Amundson, the ICU medical director at Scripps Mercy. \u201cAnd they came back to be treated here.\u201d\nBefore the pandemic, more than 200,000 people per day crossed the border from Mexico to California. The Trump administration closed the border to \u201cnonessential travel\u201d in March, and President Trump promised to \u201csuspend immigration\u201d to halt the spread of the virus. But after an initial dip in entries, the pace has begun to bounce back. An average of 86,000 people per day crossed the border during the week of May 11 to 18, a mix of U.S. citizens and residents and Mexicans with legal work visas whose jobs are deemed essential.\nNo health screenings are being conducted at the border. When a Washington Post reporter crossed last week, an immigration agent looked at him and asked, \u201cYou\u2019re not sick, are you?\u201d before scanning his passport.\nThe Department of Homeland Security\u2019s senior medical officer for operations, Alex Eastman, told medical professionals in Southern California this month that they should be prepared for U.S. citizens or permanent residents to continue to cross the border, including for medical treatment.\nThe federal government has dispatched teams from the National Disaster Medical System to the border to respond to the influx of patients. The California Department of Public Health has sent its own team. Some patients are being transferred as far north as Los Angeles to relieve border hospitals such as El Centro Regional.\nForty-eight percent of patients at Scripps Mercy in Chula Vista last week had visited Mexico in the week before they were admitted. In the hospital\u2019s lobby hangs a painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico\u2019s patron saint.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t think the border should be closed, but we do think health checks and contact tracing would make a difference,\u201d said Chris Van Gorder, the chief executive of Scripps Health, which runs the hospital. \u201cWhat we don\u2019t want is people going back and forth across the border and infecting other people.\u201d\nLast month, Van Gorder wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar asking them to apply pressure on Mexico to sharpen its public health response.\n\u201cWe also need the federal government to put pressure on Mexico to enforce social distancing and shelter-in-place policies as we have done in the United States,\u201d he wrote.\nOn the Texas-Mexico border, the dynamic appears to be inverted. Mexican officials have expressed concern that a growing outbreak in South Texas is spilling over into Tamaulipas, which had been largely spared during the pandemic.\nThe United States has deported thousands of people to Tamaulipas since March. In Reynosa, Mexico, the largest city in the state, at least 16 deportees have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Mayor Maki Ortiz. Before becoming mayor, she was Mexico\u2019s undersecretary of health.\n\u201cWhy are they continuing these deportations in the middle of a deadly pandemic, including people who are already sick and who knows how many asymptomatic people?\u201d she said. Between the deportees and the thousands of dual citizens who cross the border every day, Ortiz worries her city will wind up importing a large outbreak from Texas.\n\u201cI say it as many times as I can on my television and radio messages: Stay in your homes and do not cross the border,\u201d she said. \u201cBut when I look at the international bridges, I still see massive lines.\u201d\nIn the nearby city of Matamoros, officials last week set up a checkpoint to question U.S. citizens crossing into Mexico and turned away some whose visits they deemed nonessential.\nSome health experts say the epidemiological curves in border cities on both sides will eventually overlap.\n\u201cThere are so many people crossing back and forth that it becomes one homogeneous rate,\u201d said Arturo Rodriguez, the public health director of Brownsville, Tex. \u201cIn other words, you have three rates: the U.S., Mexico and your border rate.\u201d\nPhotos by Melina Mara. Photo editing by Chloe Coleman. Graphic by Chiqui Esteban. Design by Brianna Schroer. Gabriela Mart\u00ednez in Mexico City contributed to this report.\nCorrection: An earlier version of this article misstated Adolphe Edward\u2019s role in the Air Force. He was a Medical Service Corps officer."}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "ZJQDHLJSEFF2XP3M3N23GZ4FOM_1", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "ZJQDHLJSEFF2XP3M3N23GZ4FOM_1", "title": "State Dept. lifts \u2018do not travel\u2019 advisory for Mexico as border closure is due to expire", "text": "4 (do not travel) nationwide. Some less-visited regions of Mexico remain classified Level 4 for \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d The popular resort areas of Cabo San Lucas, Canc\u00fan and Cozumel have been allowing U.S. travelers who fly into the country to visit without required quarantines or coronavirus tests. Instead, Mexican airports have been carrying out health-screening procedures such as temperature checks, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. \u201cThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Mexico due to COVID-19,\u201d the advisory states. \u201cMexico has lifted stay at home orders in some areas and resumed some transportation and business operations. Visit the Embassy\u2019s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Mexico.\u201d Mexico has seen a total of 668,000 coronavirus cases and more than 70,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with daily new cases peaking in August before lowering and holding steady in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 per day since then. The United States has reported more than 6 million total coronavirus cases and 190,000 deaths, with the peak in daily new cases hitting mid-July, at more than 75,000. The change comes soon after some major tourist sites in Mexico reopened, including Teotihuac\u00e1n, a UNESCO World Heritage Site outside of Mexico City. The only area in Mexico that has a higher covid-19 rate than Mexico City is the tourist-frequented state of Baja California Sur, which includes Los Cabos. Subregions that have earned the World Travel and Tourism Council\u2019s \u201cSafe Travels stamp,\u201d which certifies a locale follows health protocols established by the WTTC, include Los Cabos, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, Yucat\u00e1n, Jalisco and the islands of Cozumel. \u201cCDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Mexico. Travelers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel, to Mexico,\u201d according to the CDC website. \u201cLocal policies at your destination may require you to be tested for COVID-19 before you are allowed to enter the country. If you test positive on arrival, you may be required to isolate for a period of time. You may even be prevented from returning to the United States, as scheduled.\u201d Read more: Where can Americans travel to in the Caribbean? What to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel Miami airport officials seize $490,000 stuffed into an accent chair passing through customs"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The U.S. State Department has lowered its travel advisory for Mexico to a Level 3 from its highest possible Level 4, days before the U.S.-Mexico border closure is due to expire on Sept. 21.\nThe modified travel advisory says U.S. travelers should \u201creconsider travel to Mexico due to covid-19\u201d as well as \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d A border closure restricting nonessential travel has been in place between the United States and Mexico since March 21 in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.\nThe border closure terms only apply to land and water crossings, as flights between the United States and Mexico have largely continued since the early days of the pandemic. Until last week, the State Department\u2019s Mexico advisory was a Level 4 (do not travel) nationwide. Some less-visited regions of Mexico remain classified Level 4 for \u201ccrime and kidnapping.\u201d\nThe popular resort areas of Cabo San Lucas, Canc\u00fan and Cozumel have been allowing U.S. travelers who fly into the country to visit without required quarantines or coronavirus tests. Instead, Mexican airports have been carrying out health-screening procedures such as temperature checks, according to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.\n\u201cThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Mexico due to COVID-19,\u201d the advisory states. \u201cMexico has lifted stay at home orders in some areas and resumed some transportation and business operations. Visit the Embassy\u2019s COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Mexico.\u201d\nMexico has seen a total of 668,000 coronavirus cases and more than 70,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, with daily new cases peaking in August before lowering and holding steady in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 per day since then. The United States has reported more than 6 million total coronavirus cases and 190,000 deaths, with the peak in daily new cases hitting mid-July, at more than 75,000.\nThe change comes soon after some major tourist sites in Mexico reopened, including Teotihuac\u00e1n, a UNESCO World Heritage Site outside of Mexico City. The only area in Mexico that has a higher covid-19 rate than Mexico City is the tourist-frequented state of Baja California Sur, which includes Los Cabos. Subregions that have earned the World Travel and Tourism Council\u2019s \u201cSafe Travels stamp,\u201d which certifies a locale follows health protocols established by the WTTC, include Los Cabos, Cancun, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, Yucat\u00e1n, Jalisco and the islands of Cozumel.\n\u201cCDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential international travel to Mexico. Travelers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel, to Mexico,\u201d according to the CDC website. \u201cLocal policies at your destination may require you to be tested for COVID-19 before you are allowed to enter the country. If you test positive on arrival, you may be required to isolate for a period of time. You may even be prevented from returning to the United States, as scheduled.\u201d\nRead more:\nWhere can Americans travel to in the Caribbean?\nWhat to know about getting tested for the coronavirus to travel\nMiami airport officials seize $490,000 stuffed into an accent chair passing through customs"}
{"qid": 982, "pid": "edaebaa8-338e-4948-95ec-dcd15e31ddf3_0", "query_info": {"_id": 982, "text": "How accurate was the 2020 reporting of COVID-19 in Mexico?", "instruction_og": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.", "instruction_changed": "Several factors contributed to under-reporting COVID-related cases and deaths in Mexico.  One factor was that Mexico only included fatalities confirmed with a lab test. Hospitals were understaffed and often people died at home so those deaths were not counted as COVID deaths.  Also, due to Mexico's informal economy where more than 50 per cent of the workforce does not have government benefits meant that this sectors' COVID cases and deaths were under-reported.  Further, understaffed hospitals could not keep up with the massive amount of COVID-patients and the associated documentation.  Although the US-Mexico border was closed to vehicular traffic, air travel to Mexican resorts did not require COVID tests or quarantine time.  Therefore COVID cases associated with these travelers was not reported.  Documents must include relevant information about the US-Mexico border.", "short_query": "Find a document that explains reasons for a specific under-reporting issue.", "keywords": "under-reporting reasons"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "edaebaa8-338e-4948-95ec-dcd15e31ddf3_0", "title": "Mexico begins to life coronavirus lockdown, but officials say the country is still \u2018in danger\u2019", "text": "workers at Flex, a company that makes specialized harness products for the automotive industry, adjust their protective face masks while waiting to enter the plant in Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez on Monday, the first day of a gradual reopening of the economy for industries deemed essential. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters) MEXICO CITY \u2014 Mexico on Monday lifted a 70-day coronavirus lockdown, but the federal and local governments replaced it with a contradictory patchwork of measures as the country struggles to contain the outbreak. The nation\u2019s coronavirus czar, Hugo L\u00f3pez-Gatell, took a hard line, saying that federal guidelines on opening businesses would barely budge. Only a few industries \u2014 construction, auto manufacturing and mining \u2014 would be added to the list of \u201cessential\u201d businesses allowed to operate, he said. \u201cIt\u2019s vital that society understands that the danger continues,\u201d he said. [Coronavirus on the border: Patients from Mexico overwhelm hospitals in California] But several governors defied the federal government\u2019s orders, allowing shops and hotels in their states to open at least partially. Meanwhile, President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador resumed his travel around the country with a visit to the Caribbean coast. \u201cWe have to enter a new normality,\u201d L\u00f3pez Obrador told a news conference. \u201cOur national economy, the well-being of our people need this.\u201d President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador speaks at a news conference Monday at the facilities of the X Military Region in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. (Alonso Cupul/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock) Mexico has confirmed nearly 10,000 deaths directly linked to coronavirus, with an unknown number of other people perishing without a test. The Mexico City region has been hit hardest. L\u00f3pez-Gatell says it\u2019s starting to show signs of a decline in cases, but some scientists believe deaths could continue at elevated levels for weeks. Mexico has suffered the second most coronavirus fatalities in Latin America, after Brazil, whose president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been a global outlier in downplaying the threat. [Coronavirus outbreaks at Mexico\u2019s hospitals raise alarm, protests] Jes\u00fas Silva-Herzog M\u00e1rquez, a political scientist at the Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey, said L\u00f3pez Obrador had failed to establish a coordinated national policy. \u201cHe\u2019s far from the terrible denialism of Bolsonaro and the brutal lack of responsibility of Donald Trump,\u201d he said. But \u201che\u2019s a politician who hasn\u2019t managed to fit together the pieces of his strategy.\u201d People pass the time on benches in Mexico City on Sunday. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP) The Mexican leader initially appeared to minimize the coronavirus threat,"}], "old": [{"_id": "edaebaa8-338e-4948-95ec-dcd15e31ddf3_0", "title": "Mexico begins to life coronavirus lockdown, but officials say the country is still \u2018in danger\u2019", "text": "workers at Flex, a company that makes specialized harness products for the automotive industry, adjust their protective face masks while waiting to enter the plant in Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez on Monday, the first day of a gradual reopening of the economy for industries deemed essential. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters) [Coronavirus on the border: Patients from Mexico overwhelm hospitals in California] President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador speaks at a news conference Monday at the facilities of the X Military Region in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. (Alonso Cupul/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock) [Coronavirus outbreaks at Mexico\u2019s hospitals raise alarm, protests] People pass the time on benches in Mexico City on Sunday. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP) [\u00a1Caray! Coronavirus shuts the Mexican beer industry down, and the country is running dry] Commuters cross a pedestrian bridge in Mexico City on Monday. (Fernando Llano/AP) [Coronavirus hits Mexico\u2019s economy where it hurts most: Oil, tourism, remittances and trade] Mexico City Police officers scuffle with colleagues during a protest over nonpayment of raises outside the office of Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. (Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images) Read more Coronavirus on the border: Why Mexico has so few cases compared with the U.S. Health workers attacked over fears of coronavirus The U.S. wants Mexico to keep its defense and health-care factories open. Mexican workers are getting sick and dying."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "\n\n\n\nworkers at Flex, a company that makes specialized harness products for the automotive industry, adjust their protective face masks while waiting to enter the plant in Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez on Monday, the first day of a gradual reopening of the economy for industries deemed essential. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)\n\nMEXICO CITY \u2014 Mexico on Monday lifted a 70-day coronavirus lockdown, but the federal and local governments replaced it with a contradictory patchwork of measures as the country struggles to contain the outbreak.\nThe nation\u2019s coronavirus czar, Hugo L\u00f3pez-Gatell, took a hard line, saying that federal guidelines on opening businesses would barely budge. Only a few industries \u2014 construction, auto manufacturing and mining \u2014 would be added to the list of \u201cessential\u201d businesses allowed to operate, he said.\n\u201cIt\u2019s vital that society understands that the danger continues,\u201d he said.\n\n[Coronavirus on the border: Patients from Mexico overwhelm hospitals in California]\nBut several governors defied the federal government\u2019s orders, allowing shops and hotels in their states to open at least partially. Meanwhile, President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador resumed his travel around the country with a visit to the Caribbean coast.\n\u201cWe have to enter a new normality,\u201d L\u00f3pez Obrador told a news conference. \u201cOur national economy, the well-being of our people need this.\u201d\n\n\n\nPresident Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador speaks at a news conference Monday at the facilities of the X Military Region in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. (Alonso Cupul/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)\n\nMexico has confirmed nearly 10,000 deaths directly linked to coronavirus, with an unknown number of other people perishing without a test. The Mexico City region has been hit hardest. L\u00f3pez-Gatell says it\u2019s starting to show signs of a decline in cases, but some scientists believe deaths could continue at elevated levels for weeks.\nMexico has suffered the second most coronavirus fatalities in Latin America, after Brazil, whose president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been a global outlier in downplaying the threat.\n\n[Coronavirus outbreaks at Mexico\u2019s hospitals raise alarm, protests]\nJes\u00fas Silva-Herzog M\u00e1rquez, a political scientist at the Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey, said L\u00f3pez Obrador had failed to establish a coordinated national policy.\n\u201cHe\u2019s far from the terrible denialism of Bolsonaro and the brutal lack of responsibility of Donald Trump,\u201d he said. But \u201che\u2019s a politician who hasn\u2019t managed to fit together the pieces of his strategy.\u201d\n\n\n\nPeople pass the time on benches in Mexico City on Sunday. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)\n\nThe Mexican leader initially appeared to minimize the coronavirus threat, holding crowded rallies and saying he was protected by religious tokens. He then largely turned over management of the pandemic to L\u00f3pez-Gatell, a respected epidemiologist and senior Health Ministry official. On March 23, Mexico ordered businesses, government offices and schools to shut down.\nSeveral governors broke with the federal government\u2019s strategy from the start, saying it was too lax and imposing quarantines earlier. On Monday, some went in the opposite direction.\nIn the northern state of Nuevo Leon, officials allowed beer factories, hotels and shopping centers to resume some operations. In the western state of Nayarit, authorities permitted car dealerships, clothing stores and paint stores to operate at 30 percent capacity.\n\n[\u00a1Caray! Coronavirus shuts the Mexican beer industry down, and the country is running dry]\n\u201cOur state can\u2019t survive being paralyzed any longer,\u201d said Enrique Alfaro, the governor of the western state of Jalisco, which plans to open its businesses gradually.\nSeveral governors cited economic concerns for reopening. In the face of the coronavirus, L\u00f3pez Obrador has adopted one of the smallest stimulus packages of any country in Latin America, saying he wanted to avoid debt.\n\u201cL\u00f3pez Obrador\u2019s government is not crafting an economic strategy to protect jobs and businesses,\u201d said Jos\u00e9 Antonio Crespo,  a political scientist at the Center for Research and Economic Policy.  \u201cSo many governors say, \u2018I will.\u2019 \u201d\n\n\n\nCommuters cross a pedestrian bridge in Mexico City on Monday. (Fernando Llano/AP)\n\nMexico\u2019s government has come under pressure not only from businesses and the unemployed \u2014 nearly 1 million people have lost jobs amid the country\u2019s outbreak \u2014 but from the Trump administration. Mexico was more aggressive in shutting down some industries than in the United States, leading to shortages of parts for U.S. auto and aerospace manufacturers.\nBy Monday, officials said, more than 5,000 manufacturers of cars or transportation equipment had applied to reopen.\nAuthorities announced weeks ago that the lockdown would be terminated at the end of May. They appear to have underestimated how punishing the coronavirus would be. A month ago, L\u00f3pez-Gatell predicted Mexico would suffer 6,000 deaths nationwide.\n\n[Coronavirus hits Mexico\u2019s economy where it hurts most: Oil, tourism, remittances and trade]\nOfficials now believe the country\u2019s outbreak will probably not be a single, cataclysmic event. Instead, they say, outbreaks are likely to surge in different parts of the country at different times, as they have in the United States.\nSo the federal government has switched to a traffic light system in which states are labeled red, orange, yellow, or green\nAs of Monday, all but one state was red. Zacatecas was orange \u2014 some nonessential businesses and public spaces may reopen, but most restrictions remain in place.\nSome jurisdictions added stricter measures. The mayor 0f Mexico City ordered residents to wear face masks in public. Men were advised to get rid of beards or mustaches, out of concern they could trap the virus.\n\n\n\nMexico City Police officers scuffle with colleagues during a protest over nonpayment of raises outside the office of Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. (Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images)\n\nWhile many Mexicans remained at home, L\u00f3pez Obrador was on his first domestic trip in two months. He plans to spend several days in the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula, promoting construction of his Mayan train project to link popular attractions and boost tourism and jobs. He has said he\u2019ll avoid crowds.\nThe president has been widely criticized for traveling amid a raging outbreak.\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem to be a very coherent message,\u201d Silva-Herzog M\u00e1rquez said.\n\nRead more\n\nCoronavirus on the border: Why Mexico has so few cases compared with the U.S.\n\nHealth workers attacked over fears of coronavirus\n\nThe U.S. wants Mexico to keep its defense and health-care factories open. Mexican workers are getting sick and dying."}
{"qid": 984, "pid": "2XGL2XBAIEI6VPWVRABGJTERVE_1", "query_info": {"_id": 984, "text": "Lidl grocery store begins operations in US.", "instruction_og": "The German discount grocery chain began operations in northern Virginia in 2015.  Of interest are the grocer's plans to expand and compete with traditional grocery stores.", "instruction_changed": "The German discount grocery chain began operations in northern Virginia in 2015.  Of interest are the grocer's plans to expand and compete with traditional grocery stores.  Exclude documents referring to the year 1980.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing this grocer's expansion plans related to the question.", "keywords": "grocer's expansion"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2XGL2XBAIEI6VPWVRABGJTERVE_1", "title": "Shoppers Food is leaving 13 locations. Here\u2019s what is happening next.", "text": "asking [company officials]for a meeting for almost a year.\u201d Williams said the union has been told that the Shoppers in Landover could close as early as Thursday \u2014 a decision that could leave its 72 employees without work heading into the holidays. Signs posted in the windows Tuesday read: \u201cStore closing,\u201d \u201cEverything on sale!\u201d \u201cNothing held back!\u201d Inside, many of the shelves were bare. UNFI, a major supplier for Whole Foods Market, is committed to reducing its retail footprint, chief executive Steven Spinner said in a statement this month announcing the sale of the 13 stores. North Carolina-based grocer Compare Foods will take over the Shoppers location in Landover, in addition to those in Coral Hills and Colmar Manor in Prince George\u2019s County and two locations in Baltimore, said general manager Leo Pena. He said that Compare Foods will receive the keys to the stores around Jan. 10 and that the stores will open 30 to 45 days after that. Pena said Compare Foods will offer \u201cthe same services as Shoppers, and more,\u201d including free delivery. He said the store is considering renegotiating a contract with the union that serves Shoppers\u2019 employees. Lidl, a German grocery powerhouse that is rapidly expanding in the United States, plans to acquire six Shoppers locations, said spokesman William Harwood. Those sites are in Annapolis, Brooklyn Park, Oxon Hill, Takoma Park and Wheaton in Maryland and in Burke in Virginia. \u201cWe will be making significant investments in the redevelopment of these sites, and will have more to share in terms of the grand opening timeliness and hiring events at the end of next year,\u201d Harwood said in a statement. The four Shoppers locations that are closing by the end of January are in Baltimore and Severn in Maryland, andAlexandria and Manassas in Northern Virginia. This summer, the chain\u2019s outlet in Chillum, Md., shut its doors; a store in Falls Church, Va., closed Sept. 1. Kevin Freeman, a butcher who has worked at Shoppers for 32 years, said the spirits of employees at the New Carrollton location where he now works are low, even though the fate of that location is unknown. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know where they are going to live \u2014 they are already living paycheck to paycheck.\u201d In Prince George\u2019s County, which had 12 Shoppers locations, officials say they have been frustrated by the lack of information they have received from UNFI. About 15"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "After nearly a year of uncertainty, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy\u2019s parent company announced this month that it is selling 13 stores to other grocery chains and shuttering four locations in the Washington region.\nEmployees and local officials protested that decision Tuesday, demanding new jobs for laid-off workers and new shopping options for residents as United Natural Foods Inc. \u2014 which bought Shoppers last year \u2014 considers plans for the chain\u2019s remaining 26\u00a0locations.\n\u201cWhen you suffer, Prince George\u2019s County suffers,\u201d said Prince George\u2019s County Council member Calvin Hawkins (D-At Large) at a rally Tuesday with union workers and politicians in front of the Shoppers in Landover. \u201cIt\u2019s time to stop this foolishness.\u201d\nState Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) said he planned to work with leaders at United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, which represents the Shoppers workers, to introduce legislation in January that would give more protections to workers.\nCurrently, there are state recommendations that large companies provide 90 days\u2019 notice before closing and offer employees retraining. But those are not legal requirements.\nLocal 400 spokesman Jonathan Williams said the union learned about the most recent round of closures minutes before they were publicly announced and \u201cafter we had been asking [company officials]for a meeting for almost a year.\u201d\nWilliams said the union has been told that the Shoppers in Landover could close as early as Thursday \u2014 a decision that could leave its 72 employees without work heading into the holidays.\nSigns posted in the windows Tuesday read: \u201cStore closing,\u201d \u201cEverything on sale!\u201d \u201cNothing held back!\u201d\nInside, many of the shelves were bare.\nUNFI, a major supplier for Whole Foods Market, is committed to reducing its retail footprint, chief executive Steven Spinner said in a statement this month announcing the sale of the 13\u00a0stores.\nNorth Carolina-based grocer Compare Foods will take over the Shoppers location in Landover, in addition to those in Coral Hills and Colmar Manor in Prince George\u2019s County and two locations in Baltimore, said general manager Leo Pena.\nHe said that Compare Foods will receive the keys to the stores around Jan. 10 and that the stores will open 30 to 45 days after that.\nPena said Compare Foods will offer \u201cthe same services as Shoppers, and more,\u201d including free delivery. He said the store is considering renegotiating a contract with the union that serves Shoppers\u2019 employees.\nLidl, a German grocery powerhouse that is rapidly expanding in the United States, plans to acquire six Shoppers locations, said spokesman William Harwood. Those sites are in Annapolis, Brooklyn Park, Oxon Hill, Takoma Park and Wheaton in Maryland and in Burke in Virginia.\n\u201cWe will be making significant investments in the redevelopment of these sites, and will have more to share in terms of the grand opening timeliness and hiring events at the end of next year,\u201d Harwood said in a statement.\nThe four Shoppers locations that are closing by the end of January are in Baltimore and Severn in Maryland, andAlexandria and Manassas in Northern Virginia. This summer, the chain\u2019s outlet in Chillum, Md., shut its doors; a store in Falls Church, Va., closed Sept. 1.\nKevin Freeman, a butcher who has worked at Shoppers for 32\u00a0years, said the spirits of employees at the New Carrollton location where he now works are low, even though the fate of that location is unknown. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know where they are going to live \u2014 they are already living paycheck to paycheck.\u201d\nIn Prince George\u2019s County, which had 12 Shoppers locations, officials say they have been frustrated by the lack of information they have received from UNFI.\nAbout 15 percent of the suburb is classified by the U.S. Agriculture Department as a \u201cfood desert,\u201d and residents \u2014 especially in poorer communities inside the Beltway \u2014 have long complained about a dearth of healthy grocery options.\nPrince George\u2019s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D), who has made bringing healthy foods to the county a top priority, said in a statement that she has been working to make sure all of the locations operating in Prince George\u2019s are purchased by other grocers.\n\u201cWe will be laser-focused on the high-quality grocers and dining options our citizens deserve,\u201d she said. \u201cWe also understand the need for stability and job security for the hundreds of workers and their families who are impacted by these closures, especially during the holiday season.\u201d\nWilliams, the union spokesman, said that according to the terms of the union\u2019s contract, if a company buys more than 10 percent of the stores and opens within 30 days, then they also have to also buy the union contract. But he said he has little confidence that UNFI will adhere to that contract.\nA spokesman for UNFI did not respond to requests for comment about the union contract.\nOfficials said there will be a resource fair Jan. 11 for affected workers to receive hardship funds and help applying for other jobs.\nrachel.chason@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 984, "pid": "9f819d1bdf90777026a1c355c220d30d_0", "query_info": {"_id": 984, "text": "Lidl grocery store begins operations in US.", "instruction_og": "The German discount grocery chain began operations in northern Virginia in 2015.  Of interest are the grocer's plans to expand and compete with traditional grocery stores.", "instruction_changed": "The German discount grocery chain began operations in northern Virginia in 2015.  Of interest are the grocer's plans to expand and compete with traditional grocery stores.  Exclude documents referring to the year 1980.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing this grocer's expansion plans related to the question.", "keywords": "grocer's expansion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "9f819d1bdf90777026a1c355c220d30d_0", "title": "It\u2019s a nightmare for grocery stores, but it might make your groceries cheaper", "text": "One of Lidl's first U.S. grocery stores awaits customers June 18, 2017, in Virginia Beach (Chet Strange/Getty Images) It's a rough time to be a grocery store, with competition from new rivals squeezing margins on all sides. But it's a killer time to be a grocery store shopper: They've never had so many companies vie to offer the lowest price. The expansion of foreign discount stores Aldi and Lidl \u2014 the latter of which just opened its first U.S. stores last week \u2014 are challenging traditional grocery stores on cost, with prices that beat those in existing U.S. stores by 20 to 30 percent, on average. On top of that, Amazon\u2019s recent announcement that it plans to acquire organic giant Whole Foods threatens to take a bite out of grocers\u2019 high-end business. (Amazon\u2019s founder and owner, Jeffrey P. Bezos, also owns The Washington Post.) To stave off the new competitors, chains like Walmart, Kroger and Albertson\u2019s may have to make significant changes. \u201cPrices will go lower \u2014 that\u2019s for sure,\u201d said Daniel Lucht, the global research director at ResearchFarm, a British retail consultancy. \u201cThere will be lots of promotions, lots of special offers, lots of brands being pulled in, as well. This will be a great year for consumers.\u201d In some parts of the country, that great year has already begun \u2014 particularly where Lidl and Aldi have moved in. The two chains, both of which are German-owned, offer a limited selection of produce and packaged foods in relatively small, no-frills stores. That narrow focus has allowed them to optimize their supply chains and offer prices well below those of mainstream grocers. A recent analysis by RBC Capital Markets, which compared Lidl sale fliers with those of other stores, found that its prices were about 22 percent cheaper than Food Lion's and 20 percent cheaper than Kroger's. Scott Mushkin, an analyst with Wolfe Research, has said that Aldi products typically cost about 20 percent less than Walmart\u2019s. For brand-name products \u2014 think Coca-Cola or Oreos \u2014 analysts have found as much as a 200 percent gap between Aldi-bought products and mainstream-grocery-bought ones. Historically, that hasn\u2019t posed an existential threat to mainstream U.S. stores. Aldi has been in the United States for 40 years, for instance, and still represents a tiny portion of sales by volume. On June 12, however, the company announced plans to spend $3.4 billion over the next"}], "old": [{"_id": "9f819d1bdf90777026a1c355c220d30d_0", "title": "It\u2019s a nightmare for grocery stores, but it might make your groceries cheaper", "text": "One of Lidl's first U.S. grocery stores awaits customers June 18, 2017, in Virginia Beach (Chet Strange/Getty Images) It's a rough time to be a grocery store, with competition from new rivals squeezing margins on all sides. But it's a killer time to be a grocery store shopper: They've never had so many companies vie to offer the lowest price. The expansion of foreign discount stores Aldi and Lidl \u2014 the latter of which just opened its first U.S. stores last week \u2014 are challenging traditional grocery stores on cost, with prices that beat those in existing U.S. stores by 20 to 30 percent, on average. On top of that, Amazon\u2019s recent announcement that it plans to acquire organic giant Whole Foods threatens to take a bite out of grocers\u2019 high-end business. (Amazon\u2019s founder and owner, Jeffrey P. Bezos, also owns The Washington Post.) To stave off the new competitors, chains like Walmart, Kroger and Albertson\u2019s may have to make significant changes. \u201cPrices will go lower \u2014 that\u2019s for sure,\u201d said Daniel Lucht, the global research director at ResearchFarm, a British retail consultancy. \u201cThere will be lots of promotions, lots of special offers, lots of brands being pulled in, as well. This will be a great year for consumers.\u201d In some parts of the country, that great year has already begun \u2014 particularly where Lidl and Aldi have moved in. The two chains, both of which are German-owned, offer a limited selection of produce and packaged foods in relatively small, no-frills stores. That narrow focus has allowed them to optimize their supply chains and offer prices well below those of mainstream grocers. Historically, that hasn\u2019t posed an existential threat to mainstream U.S. stores. Aldi has been in the United States for 40 years, for instance, and still represents a tiny portion of sales by volume. On June 12, however, the company announced plans to spend $3.4 billion over the next five years to open an additional 900 locations, which will make it the third-largest grocer in the U.S. At the same time, Lidl plans to have 100 U.S. stores by this time next year, and analysts are predicting that within five years it could have as many as 600. Conventional grocers have taken notice, spending millions of dollars on improvements to existing stores and developing new formats that emphasize offerings the discounters don\u2019t have, such as prepared foods, coffee shops"}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "One of Lidl's first U.S. grocery stores awaits customers June 18, 2017, in Virginia Beach (Chet Strange/Getty Images)\nIt's a rough time to be a grocery store, with competition from new rivals\u00a0squeezing margins\u00a0on all sides.\nBut it's a killer time\u00a0to be a grocery store shopper: They've never had so many\u00a0companies vie to offer\u00a0the lowest price.\nThe expansion of foreign discount stores Aldi and Lidl \u2014 the latter of which just opened its first U.S. stores last week \u2014 are challenging traditional grocery stores on cost, with prices that beat those in \u00a0existing U.S. stores by 20 to 30 percent, on average.\u00a0On top of that, Amazon\u2019s recent announcement that it plans to acquire organic giant Whole Foods threatens to take a bite out of grocers\u2019 high-end business.\u00a0(Amazon\u2019s founder and owner, Jeffrey P. Bezos, also owns The Washington Post.)\nTo stave off the new competitors, chains\u00a0like Walmart, Kroger and Albertson\u2019s may have to\u00a0make significant changes.\n\u201cPrices will go lower \u2014 that\u2019s for sure,\u201d said Daniel Lucht, the global research director at ResearchFarm, a British retail consultancy. \u201cThere will be lots of promotions, lots of special offers, lots of brands being pulled in, as well. This will be a great year for consumers.\u201d\nIn some parts of the country, that great year has already begun \u2014 particularly where Lidl and Aldi have moved in. The two chains, both of which are German-owned, offer a limited selection of produce and packaged foods in relatively small, no-frills stores. That narrow focus has allowed them to optimize their supply chains and offer prices well below those of mainstream grocers.\nA recent analysis by RBC Capital Markets, which compared Lidl sale fliers with\u00a0those of other stores, found that its prices were about 22 percent cheaper than Food Lion's and 20 percent cheaper than Kroger's. Scott Mushkin, an analyst with Wolfe Research, has said that Aldi products typically cost about 20 percent less than Walmart\u2019s. For brand-name products \u2014 think Coca-Cola or Oreos \u2014 analysts have found as much as a 200 percent gap between Aldi-bought products and mainstream-grocery-bought ones.\nHistorically, that hasn\u2019t posed an existential threat to mainstream U.S. stores. Aldi has been in the United States\u00a0for 40 years, for instance, and still represents a tiny portion of sales by volume.\nOn June 12, however, the company announced plans to spend $3.4 billion over the next five years to open an additional 900 locations, which will make it the third-largest grocer in the U.S. At the same time, Lidl plans to have 100 U.S. stores by this time next year, and analysts are predicting that within five years it could have as many as 600.\nConventional grocers have taken notice, spending millions of dollars on improvements to existing stores and developing new formats that emphasize offerings the discounters don\u2019t have, such as prepared foods, coffee shops and pharmacies.\nMany have also begun aggressive pushes to lower their prices relative Lidl and Aldi.\n\u201cThat is probably the most immediate effect you\u2019re going to see,\u201d said Bill Urda, a retail analyst at the Boston Consulting Group. \u201cThere are many factors that go into customer loyalty, but price is always up there.\u201d\nTo wit, Walmart, the country\u2019s largest seller of groceries, embarked on a three-year, multibillion-dollar plan in February 2016 to lower its prices. While the company would not elaborate on the details of that project, citing competitive interests, Reuters reported that Walmart significantly dropped its prices in more than\u00a01,200 North Carolina and Midwestern stores earlier this year. In the cities where Walmart was running the price experiment, Reuters found, a basket of its products cost 8 percent less than their Aldi equivalents.\nThe company has also been in talks with thousands of its suppliers to\u00a0reduce costs. Phillip Keene, a spokesman for the company, said its price reductions intensified this year\u00a0and will continue\u00a0into 2018.\n\u201cWe welcome competition because it makes us stronger,\u201d Keene said in a statement.\nOther stores are expected to take similar steps to keep in line with both Walmart and the new discounters. Mushkin, of Wolfe Research, has estimated that Kroger will spend $450 million this year to keep its prices in line with Walmart\u2019s.\nThe company declined to expand further on its plans, and neither Albertson\u2019s nor Kroger responded to the Post\u2019s request for comment. But it\u2019s easy to see how this will play out, said Lucht, particularly if they follow the model that\u2019s been perfected by years of competition in Europe.\nUnable to compete on price across the board, most stores will try to drop the prices of consumer essentials, such as milk and bread, and aggressively promote sales and deals on brand-name products. They may also expand their lines of in-house, private-label products or reformulate them to bring quality on par with competitors\u2019.\nIn a June 15 webinar for mainstream grocers, Brick Meets Click, a prominent industry consulting firm, warned stores that they \u201cwill have to learn quickly or experience significant losses.\u201d The number one way stores can compete, the webinar continues, is by \u201cblunting\u201d discounter\u2019s price advantage.\nThat can be difficult for traditional stores though, Lucht said. If Kroger drops the price of its eggs to compete with Aldi, Aldi can drop the price of its eggs even lower. In the event of a price war, the discounter has a distinct advantage, in that its overheard and logistics are already far lower.\n\u201cEverything we do \u2014 from the size of our stores and the number of items we carry to the quality controls we have in place \u2014 is designed to keep shoppers\u2019 costs down,\u201d said Scott Patton, the vice president of corporate buying for ALDI US, in a statement to The Post. \u201cWe are able to deliver everyday low prices other retailers simply can\u2019t match.\u201d\nWhen you see these low prices, of course, may depend on where you live. Right now, price competition is fiercest in the Mid-Atlantic, where both Lidl and Aldi now have a presence. In markets where these stores don\u2019t exist yet, change may come slower. Howard Elitzak, an agricultural economist who tracks food prices at the Department of Agriculture, points out that Walmart, Kroger and Albertson\u2019s still dominate the national market.\n\u201cI would anticipate that this situation will hold for the foreseeable future,\u201d he said.\nStill, there\u2019s little doubt that the industry is changing \u2014 and at an unprecedented pace. Only 24 hours after Lidl opened its first U.S. stores, Amazon announced its intention to acquire Whole Foods, the country\u2019s largest seller of organic groceries.\nAlthough\u00a0it\u2019s unclear what Amazon intends for Whole Foods, analysts agree that it will only exacerbate the pressure on traditional grocery stores. Initially, there will be pressure on stores to improve their delivery and digital operations, said Urda, the BCG analyst. Eventually, Amazon\u2019s Whole Foods will also put downward pressure on food prices, as\u00a0it has with products as diverse as\u00a0sports bras and\u00a0books.\n\u201cYou\u2019re about to see the best operators in the country, if not the world, butt heads,\u201d Urda said. \u201cThere will always be losers. But the consumer wins.\u201d\nRead more:\nThe simple mistake people make when they try to eat healthy\nThe bizarre thing that happens when grocery stores can't sell booze\nPeople are worried Amazon will replace Whole Foods workers with robots"}
{"qid": 984, "pid": "BAEH4KXJM5CJLGYPBLJHA5XGNM_0", "query_info": {"_id": 984, "text": "Lidl grocery store begins operations in US.", "instruction_og": "The German discount grocery chain began operations in northern Virginia in 2015.  Of interest are the grocer's plans to expand and compete with traditional grocery stores.", "instruction_changed": "The German discount grocery chain began operations in northern Virginia in 2015.  Of interest are the grocer's plans to expand and compete with traditional grocery stores.  Exclude documents referring to the year 1980.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing this grocer's expansion plans related to the question.", "keywords": "grocer's expansion"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "BAEH4KXJM5CJLGYPBLJHA5XGNM_0", "title": "Safeway workers prepare for strike vote as contract negotiations remain stalled", "text": "The union representing more than 10,000 Safeway grocery store workers is moving closer to a strike that could disrupt operations at 116 D.C.-area locations, union representatives said Friday, as a disagreement with the company\u2019s private equity-owned management over pensions remains unresolved. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, which represents workers at Safeway and Giant stores in Washington, Maryland and Virginia, has been negotiating with Albertsons, a management company owned by the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, since September 2019. A temporary extension has been in place since the contract expired in October. A meeting between union and company representatives Friday did not resolve the dispute, and negotiations were expected to resume Monday, the union said. To trigger a strike, a majority of Local 400 members would have to reject the company\u2019s offer, and then two-thirds would have to vote to strike. The vote is scheduled for March 5, and a strike could begin the next day. The pension dispute at Safeway is in many ways a microcosm of the broader retail industry, where automation, outsourcing and thinning profit margins have weakened the hand of organized labor. Pensions have been phased out across the business world as financial managers favor employee-managed 401(k) plans that entail fewer long-term liabilities for managers. Grocery stores also face new competition as gas stations, drug stores and delivery services enter the market. Amazon opened its first cashier-less Amazon Go grocery store this week, marking the latest major foray into the industry by the online giant, which bought Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion in 2017. (Amazon\u2019s founder and chief executive, Jeff Bezos, owns The Washington Post.) European discounters Aldi and Lidl also have expanded rapidly throughout the country, adding further pressure to traditional chains. Private equity firms and hedge funds have been aggressively buying up supermarket chains since the mid-2000s, when a strong economy and low interest rates made leveraged buyouts attractive. They often used large chunks of debt to finance the deals, putting pressure on grocers as increased competition was cutting into sales. Local 400 officials say Cerberus, which bought Safeway in 2015, is offloading its financial responsibilities to take the company public. \u201cSince Cerberus has taken over Safeway, thousands of jobs have been lost at these stores,\" said Jonathan Williams, communications director for the Local 400. \u201cWe think that has everything to do with the company\u2019s brutal efforts to reduce its costs"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The union representing more than 10,000 Safeway grocery store workers is moving closer to a strike that could disrupt operations at 116 D.C.-area locations, union representatives said Friday, as a disagreement with the company\u2019s private equity-owned management over pensions remains unresolved.\nUnited Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, which represents workers at Safeway and Giant stores in Washington, Maryland and Virginia, has been negotiating with Albertsons, a management company owned by the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, since September 2019. A temporary extension has been in place since the contract expired in October. A meeting between union and company representatives Friday did not resolve the dispute, and negotiations were expected to resume Monday, the union said.\nTo trigger a strike, a majority of Local 400 members would have to reject the company\u2019s offer, and then two-thirds would have to vote to strike. The vote is scheduled for March 5, and a strike could begin the next day.\nThe pension dispute at Safeway is in many ways a microcosm of the broader retail industry, where automation, outsourcing and thinning profit margins have weakened the hand of organized labor. Pensions have been phased out across the business world as financial managers favor employee-managed 401(k) plans that entail fewer long-term liabilities for managers.\nGrocery stores also face new competition as gas stations, drug stores and delivery services enter the market. Amazon opened its first cashier-less Amazon Go grocery store this week, marking the latest major foray into the industry by the online giant, which bought Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion in 2017. (Amazon\u2019s founder and chief executive, Jeff Bezos, owns The Washington Post.)\nEuropean discounters Aldi and Lidl also have expanded rapidly throughout the country, adding further pressure to traditional chains.\nPrivate equity firms and hedge funds have been aggressively buying up supermarket chains since the mid-2000s, when a strong economy and low interest rates made leveraged buyouts attractive. They often used large chunks of debt to finance the deals, putting pressure on grocers as increased competition was cutting into sales.\nLocal 400 officials say Cerberus, which bought Safeway in 2015, is offloading its financial responsibilities to take the company public.\n\u201cSince Cerberus has taken over Safeway, thousands of jobs have been lost at these stores,\" said Jonathan Williams, communications director for the Local 400.\n\u201cWe think that has everything to do with the company\u2019s brutal efforts to reduce its costs as it pursues this [initial public offering],\u201d Williams said. \"That\u2019s why when you walk into Safeway these days you see emptier shelves, you see poorer customer service, and that\u2019s the fault of the owner.\u201d\nChristine Wilcox, group vice president for communications at Albertsons, said any job losses at Safeway are due to \u201cbusiness decisions\u201d to close under-performing stores in order to invest in new ones.\n\u201cIt\u2019s completely inaccurate to say that the reduction in the number of employees in Safeway\u2019s Eastern division is related to anything other than business decisions to close under-performing locations,\u201d Wilcox said. \u201cDoing so has allowed us to invest in remodels and new stores in the Washington D.C. area.\u201d\nSuch arrangements often have resulted in tremendous job losses followed by bankruptcy: At least nine private equity-owned grocery chains have filed for bankruptcy since 2015, including A&P, Tops Markets and Southeastern Grocers. Fairway Market and Earth Fare filed for bankruptcy last month.\nAlbertsons and the union are at odds over whether the company should be required to fully support some 50,000 retirees and employees who draw or plan to draw their benefits from the fund. The fund took a hit after the 2008 financial crisis and is short $1.7 billion. It is expected to become insolvent next year.\nUnion representatives say the contract requires Safeway to increase its contributions to the pension plan when and if it is depleted to ensure its retirees receive the same level of benefits they\u2019ve been getting. The company disagrees.\n\u201cWe\u2019re just not even in agreement about the basic facts,\u201d Williams said. \u201cOur demand is that they fulfill their obligation to our pension, which means fully funding it to ensure the benefits continue.\u201d\nWilcox said that Safeway has been \u201cthoughtful and reasonable\u201d throughout its negotiations with the union and hopes to arrive at an agreement soon.\nAn Albertsons spokesperson said earlier to the New York Post that the company would keep contributing to the pension at its current rate but would not cover the additional unfunded amount of the pension plan. Fully funding the pension plan \"is neither required by law nor by any agreement we have with the union,\u201d the spokesperson said.\nA copy of the union\u2019s collective bargaining agreement reviewed by The Washington Post includes a provision that \u201cif and when the [pension fund] becomes insolvent and benefits are reduced ... a benefit will be effective ... that is equal to the amount of the benefit that would have been provided by the [pension] absent any reduction.\u201d\nThe agreement also states that \u201cwhen the benefit protection provision is effective the cost of this new benefit will be incorporated into the Mid-Atlantic Fund hourly contribution rate.\u201d"}
{"qid": 984, "pid": "bd9d66fb2e1f5607712c7b506f3d72ca_0", "query_info": {"_id": 984, "text": "Lidl grocery store begins operations in US.", "instruction_og": "The German discount grocery chain began operations in northern Virginia in 2015.  Of interest are the grocer's plans to expand and compete with traditional grocery stores.", "instruction_changed": "The German discount grocery chain began operations in northern Virginia in 2015.  Of interest are the grocer's plans to expand and compete with traditional grocery stores.  Exclude documents referring to the year 1980.", "short_query": "Find articles discussing this grocer's expansion plans related to the question.", "keywords": "grocer's expansion"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "bd9d66fb2e1f5607712c7b506f3d72ca_0", "title": "What is Lidl? 5 things the German grocer is bringing to America", "text": "Lidl opened its first 10 U.S. stores Thursday, including this one in Virginia Beach, Va. The German grocery chain plans to open 100 U.S. locations within the year. (Steve Helber/Associated Press) German grocery powerhouse Lidl arrived in the United States on Thursday, opening 10 new stores along the East Coast and putting big-name companies like Walmart, Whole Foods and Trader Joe\u2019s on high alert. The company, which has 10,000 locations in 27 countries, is hoping to win over Americans with its sweeping discounts, modern stores and carefully-curated wines. Its newest supermarkets are concentrated in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, but 90 more East Coast locations are planned for the coming year. The company, which has its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, has been quietly testing its plans for the American market for over a year, using a prototype store in the Fredericksburg, Va., area in Spotsylvania County to understand its newest shoppers. (Among other things, executives say Americans expect chilled beer and free bakery samples, which Lidl is adding to its U.S. stores.) But what exactly is the Lidl (pronounced lee-duhl)? And what will its U.S. stores bring to America? 1. Even lower prices in an industry that is already offering huge markdowns In an industry marked by cutthroat competition and mounting markdowns, Lidl executives say they plans to offer even larger discounts, with prices that are up to 50 percent lower than at rival stores. This week\u2019s offers, for example, include 99 cent red bell peppers, 89 cent pineapples and 39 cent butter croissants (which a spokesman says have twice as much butter as the typical croissant). The company\u2019s circular is also touting jars of peanut butter for $1.19, chicken breasts for $1.29 per pound and frozen pizzas for $2.99. The grocery business is a notoriously tough one \u2014 nearly 20 U.S. grocers have filed for bankruptcy in the past three years \u2014 and the introduction of Lidl and fellow German discounter Aldi, which is investing $3.4 billion to open 900 U.S. stores, is set to intensify that battle. Roughly 90 percent of Lidl\u2019s products are in-house brands. Brendan Proctor, the U.S. chief executive of Lidl, highlights the company\u2019s selection on opening day. (Steve Helber/AP Photo) 2. Smaller stores that feature in-house brands Lidl\u2019s first U.S. stores are about 21,000 square feet \u2014 about the size of many Trader Joe\u2019s stores, but considerably smaller than grocers like Whole Foods,"}], "old": [{"_id": "bd9d66fb2e1f5607712c7b506f3d72ca_0", "title": "What is Lidl? 5 things the German grocer is bringing to America", "text": "Lidl opened its first 10 U.S. stores Thursday, including this one in Virginia Beach, Va. The German grocery chain plans to open 100 U.S. locations within the year. (Steve Helber/Associated Press) German grocery powerhouse Lidl arrived in the United States on Thursday, opening 10 new stores along the East Coast and putting big-name companies like Walmart, Whole Foods and Trader Joe\u2019s on high alert. The company, which has 10,000 locations in 27 countries, is hoping to win over Americans with its sweeping discounts, modern stores and carefully-curated wines. Its newest supermarkets are concentrated in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, but 90 more East Coast locations are planned for the coming year. The company, which has its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, has been quietly testing its plans for the American market for over a year, using a prototype store in the Fredericksburg, Va., area in Spotsylvania County to understand its newest shoppers. (Among other things, executives say Americans expect chilled beer and free bakery samples, which Lidl is adding to its U.S. stores.) But what exactly is the Lidl (pronounced lee-duhl)? And what will its U.S. stores bring to America? 1. Even lower prices in an industry that is already offering huge markdowns In an industry marked by cutthroat competition and mounting markdowns, Lidl executives say they plans to offer even larger discounts, with prices that are up to 50 percent lower than at rival stores. The grocery business is a notoriously tough one \u2014 nearly 20 U.S. grocers have filed for bankruptcy in the past three years \u2014 and the introduction of Lidl and fellow German discounter Aldi, which is investing $3.4 billion to open 900 U.S. stores, is set to intensify that battle. Roughly 90 percent of Lidl\u2019s products are in-house brands. Brendan Proctor, the U.S. chief executive of Lidl, highlights the company\u2019s selection on opening day. (Steve Helber/AP Photo) 2. Smaller stores that feature in-house brands Lidl\u2019s first U.S. stores are about 21,000 square feet \u2014 about the size of many Trader Joe\u2019s stores, but considerably smaller than grocers like Whole Foods, Safeway and Giant. But no matter, executives say, you\u2019ll still be able to find what you need. The company\u2019s stores have just six aisles, and 90 percent of its shelves are filled with its own brands. Tomatoes are sold in the boxes they were shipped in. (Steve Helber/AP Photo) 3. More efficient displays and practices"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Lidl opened its first 10 U.S. stores Thursday, including this one in Virginia Beach, Va. The German grocery chain plans to open 100 U.S. locations within the year.\u00a0(Steve Helber/Associated Press)\nGerman grocery powerhouse Lidl arrived\u00a0in the United States on Thursday, opening 10 new stores along the East Coast and putting\u00a0big-name companies like Walmart, Whole Foods and\u00a0Trader Joe\u2019s on high alert.\nThe company, which has 10,000\u00a0locations in 27 countries, is hoping to win over Americans with its sweeping discounts, modern stores and carefully-curated wines. Its newest supermarkets\u00a0are concentrated in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, but 90 more East Coast locations are planned for the coming year.\nThe company, which has its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, has been quietly testing its plans for the American market for over a year, using a prototype store in the Fredericksburg, Va., area in Spotsylvania County to understand its newest shoppers. (Among other things, executives say Americans expect chilled beer and free bakery samples, which Lidl is adding to its U.S. stores.)\nBut what exactly is the Lidl (pronounced lee-duhl)? And what will its U.S. stores bring to America?\n1. Even lower prices in an industry that is already offering\u00a0huge markdowns\nIn an industry marked by cutthroat competition and mounting markdowns, Lidl executives say they plans to offer even larger discounts, with prices that are up to 50 percent lower than at rival stores.\nThis week\u2019s offers, for example, include 99 cent red bell peppers, 89 cent pineapples and 39 cent butter croissants (which a spokesman says have twice as much butter as the typical croissant). The company\u2019s circular is also touting jars of peanut butter for $1.19, chicken breasts for $1.29 per pound and frozen pizzas for $2.99.\nThe grocery business is a notoriously tough one \u2014 nearly 20 U.S. grocers have filed for bankruptcy in the past three years \u2014 and the\u00a0introduction of\u00a0Lidl and fellow German discounter Aldi, which is investing $3.4 billion to open 900 U.S. stores, is set to intensify that battle.\nRoughly 90 percent of Lidl\u2019s products are in-house brands. Brendan Proctor, the U.S. chief executive of Lidl, highlights the company\u2019s selection on opening day. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)\n2. Smaller stores that feature in-house brands\nLidl\u2019s first U.S. stores are about 21,000 square feet \u2014\u00a0about the size of many Trader Joe\u2019s stores, but considerably smaller than grocers like Whole Foods, Safeway and Giant. But no matter, executives say, you\u2019ll still be able to find what you need.\n\u201cA lot of the supermarkets are so large, it\u2019s a challenge for people to go shopping,\u201d Brendan Proctor, the U.S. chief executive of\u00a0Lidl, told The Washington Post earlier this year. \u201cIf I wanted to go in and get a bottle of ketchup \u2014 first of all, there are probably about 24 aisles in the store. I have to find what aisle it\u2019s in. I get there, I find that there\u2019s 50 types of ketchup. Who honestly needs 50 types of ketchup? We can streamline that.\u201d\nThe company\u2019s stores have just six aisles, and 90 percent of its shelves are filled with its own brands.\nTomatoes are sold in the boxes they were shipped in. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)\n3. More efficient\u00a0displays and practices\nLidl is able to keep prices low\u00a0in part by cutting waste in every step of the process, spokesman William Harwood says.\n\u201cWe look at waste differently,\u201d Harwood said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just what ends up in the\u00a0garbage can at the end of the day, but also about any inefficiency along the way that ends up costing the customer more.\u201d\nIn practice, that means having paperless offices and stores that rely heavily on natural light. Another example: You won\u2019t find onions, oranges\u00a0or other produce stacked in intricate (and sometimes precarious) pyramid formations. That mainstream practice is inefficient, Harwood says. It can keep prime produce buried, affect the freshness of fruits and vegetables and require employees to spend a lot of time positioning products just-so.\u00a0Instead, Lidl\u2019s produce is often displayed in the same cardboard boxes they were shipped in. The boxes are stacked so the freshest items are on top. Once those sell out, employees can easily rearrange remaining boxes as necessary.\n4.\u00a0A chance to buy to pick up men\u2019s leather shoes for $34.99 and an inflatable kayak for $59.99\nIn addition to meat, fruits and vegetables, Lidl also offers a rotation of \u201cin and out specials\u201d that are released every Monday and Thursday. But you have to act fast.\n\u201cAs soon as\u00a0they\u2019re gone, they\u2019re gone,\u201d Harwood said of the \u201cLidl surprises\u201d section, which currently includes\u00a0$8.99 leather wallets, $11.99 chest waders (a similar pair is $14.88 at Walmart.com) and $19.99 charcoal grills.\nLidl wines recently won 104 medals at the 2017 Indy Independent Wine Competition. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)\n5. (Cheap) Award-winning wines\nIt\u2019s no secret that millennials love wine \u2014 one study estimates they drank 42 percent of the country\u2019s supply\u00a0in 2015 \u2014 and Lidl is hoping to lure them in with its line-up of cheap, award-winning\u00a0varieties. The company plans to stock 120 varieties, starting at $2.89 a bottle, in its U.S. stores.\nWine director Adam Lapierre, one of 356 certified Masters of Wine worldwide, estimates he tasted more than 10,000 bottles of wines to come up with Lidl\u2019s line-up, which includes an $8.99 bottle of prosecco that was recently named Sparkling Wine of the Year at the\u00a02017 Indy Independent Wine Competition.\nRead more:\nWalmart\u2019s answer to Aldi and Amazon: \u2018designer cantaloupe\u2019\nWawa is coming to Washington \u2014 but won\u2019t be selling gas\nWegmans to open its first\u00a0Washington store\nA man is suing Hershey for \u2018under-filling\u2019 his box of Whoppers"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "01c33cf43e974f0f78908f0cf2069815_0", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "01c33cf43e974f0f78908f0cf2069815_0", "title": "Michelle Obama makes the pitch for pollinators", "text": "First lady Michelle Obama at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Whitney Museum Of American Art on April 30 in New York. (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) President Obama isn't the only member of the First Family preaching the gospel of pollinators: On Wednesday Michelle Obama explained to a group of school children gathered on the State Floor as they prepared vegetables from the White House garden. As the schoolchildren flapped their hands in a butterfly motion, the first lady explained why the administration was joining with outside groups to launch the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge on Wednesday. The initiative, which features more than a million seed kits donated by W. Atlee Burpee & Co., aims to expand the amount of habitat available for species that pollinate fruit and vegetable crops nationwide. \"Butterflies, bats, bees, birds: all of those they get attracted to the gardens,\" she explained, \"and then they go sprinkle life around so that food grows.\" The event was initially planned to take place outside, but given the threat of rain, White House officials harvested vegetables in the morning and then convened the group of children indoors, where they assembled five different vegetables in honor of the fifth anniversary of the first lady's \"Let's Move!\" initiative. [READ: How the White House aims to help the bee keep its buzz] White House chef Cristeta Comerford explained to the kids that they would be consuming \"grilled soba chicken salad with chopped White House garden vegetables,\" along with a dressing that used honey from the White House's apiary. The chickens, however, were not produced in-house. \"Is it good?\" Comerford asked the children as they dined, prompting a round of murmured assent. \"Okay, thank you.\""}], "old": [{"_id": "01c33cf43e974f0f78908f0cf2069815_0", "title": "Michelle Obama makes the pitch for pollinators", "text": "First lady Michelle Obama at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Whitney Museum Of American Art on April 30 in New York. (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) As the schoolchildren flapped their hands in a butterfly motion, the first lady explained why the administration was joining with outside groups to launch the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge on Wednesday. The initiative, which features more than a million seed kits donated by W. Atlee Burpee & Co., aims to expand the amount of habitat available for species that pollinate fruit and vegetable crops nationwide. \"Butterflies, bats, bees, birds: all of those they get attracted to the gardens,\" she explained, \"and then they go sprinkle life around so that food grows.\" The event was initially planned to take place outside, but given the threat of rain, White House officials harvested vegetables in the morning and then convened the group of children indoors, where they assembled five different vegetables in honor of the fifth anniversary of the first lady's \"Let's Move!\" initiative. The chickens, however, were not produced in-house. \"Is it good?\" Comerford asked the children as they dined, prompting a round of murmured assent. \"Okay, thank you.\""}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "First lady Michelle Obama at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Whitney Museum Of American Art on April 30 in New York. (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)\nPresident Obama isn't the only member of the First Family preaching the gospel of pollinators: On Wednesday Michelle Obama explained to a group of school children gathered on the State\u00a0Floor as they prepared vegetables from the\u00a0White House garden.\nAs the schoolchildren flapped their hands in a butterfly motion, the first lady explained why the administration was\u00a0joining with outside groups to launch the\u00a0Million Pollinator Garden Challenge on Wednesday. The initiative, which features more than a million seed kits donated by\u00a0W. Atlee Burpee & Co., aims to expand the amount of habitat available for species that pollinate fruit and vegetable crops nationwide.\n\"Butterflies, bats, bees, birds: all of those they get attracted to the gardens,\" she explained, \"and then they go sprinkle life around so that food grows.\"\nThe event was initially planned to take place outside, but given the threat of rain, White House officials harvested vegetables in the morning and then convened the group of children indoors, where they assembled five different vegetables in honor of the fifth anniversary of the first lady's \"Let's Move!\" initiative.\n[READ: How the White House aims to help the bee keep its buzz]\nWhite House chef Cristeta Comerford explained to the kids that they would be consuming\u00a0\"grilled soba chicken salad with chopped White House garden vegetables,\" along with a\u00a0dressing that used honey from the White House's apiary.\nThe chickens, however, were not produced in-house.\n\"Is it good?\" Comerford asked the children as they dined, prompting a round of murmured assent. \"Okay, thank you.\""}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "07c47f11ca8d779301649d879c900334_0", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "07c47f11ca8d779301649d879c900334_0", "title": "The $15 billion bee in President Obama\u2019s bonnet", "text": "A bumble bee collects in Berlin on July 11, 2011. (WOLFGANG KUMM/AFP/Getty Images) Honeybees have a sweet new ally: President Obama. Plans for a \u201cPollinator Health Task Force\u201d to help save bees from their mysterious decline were announced Friday in a presidential memorandum. Why Obama\u2019s worried: The decline of bees could sting the economy. \u201cHoney bee pollination alone adds more than $15 billion in value to agricultural crops each year in the United States,\u201d the administration said in the release. \u201cOver the past few decades, there has been a significant loss of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, from the environment. The problem is serious and requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, avoid additional economic impact on the agricultural sector, and protect the health of the environment.\u201d Last winter, 23.2 percent of the country\u2019s managed honey bee colonies died, according to a report by the Bee Informed Partnership, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Deaths are fewer than during the 2012-2013 winter, but still higher than the \u201cacceptable\u201d rate of about 19 percent, the report said. The task force will have 180 days to create a strategy to prevent future bee loss. Specifically, the task force will investigate how to reduce pollinator exposure to pesticides found to harm bumblebees by interfering with their homing abilities, according to two studies detailed by Reuters. In a 2011 United Nations report, U.N. Environment Program Executive Director Achim Steiner said \u201cthe way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century.\u201d Steiner said in the report that of 100 crop species that provide 90 percent of the world\u2019s food, more than 70 are pollinated by bees. \u201cHuman beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature,\u201d Steiner said in the release. \u201cBees underline the reality that we are more, not less dependent on nature\u2019s services in a world of close to seven billion people.\u201d The bee team will be co-chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy. Related: \u201cWe all get stung by bee colony collapse\u201d"}], "old": [{"_id": "07c47f11ca8d779301649d879c900334_0", "title": "The $15 billion bee in President Obama\u2019s bonnet", "text": "A bumble bee collects in Berlin on July 11, 2011. (WOLFGANG KUMM/AFP/Getty Images) Honeybees have a sweet new ally: President Obama. Why Obama\u2019s worried: The decline of bees could sting the economy. \u201cHoney bee pollination alone adds more than $15 billion in value to agricultural crops each year in the United States,\u201d the administration said in the release. \u201cOver the past few decades, there has been a significant loss of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, from the environment. The problem is serious and requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, avoid additional economic impact on the agricultural sector, and protect the health of the environment.\u201d Steiner said in the report that of 100 crop species that provide 90 percent of the world\u2019s food, more than 70 are pollinated by bees. \u201cHuman beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature,\u201d Steiner said in the release. \u201cBees underline the reality that we are more, not less dependent on nature\u2019s services in a world of close to seven billion people.\u201d The bee team will be co-chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy."}], "qrel_score": 8, "full_doc": "A bumble bee collects in Berlin on July 11, 2011. (WOLFGANG KUMM/AFP/Getty Images)\nHoneybees have a sweet new ally: President Obama.\nPlans for a \u201cPollinator Health Task Force\u201d to help save bees from their mysterious decline were announced Friday in a presidential memorandum.\nWhy Obama\u2019s worried: The decline of bees could sting the economy.\n\u201cHoney bee pollination alone adds more than $15 billion in value to agricultural crops each year in the United States,\u201d the administration said in the release. \u201cOver the past few decades, there has been a significant loss of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, from the environment. The problem is serious and requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, avoid additional economic impact on the agricultural sector, and protect the health of the environment.\u201d\nLast winter, 23.2 percent of the country\u2019s managed honey bee colonies died, according to a report by the Bee Informed Partnership, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Deaths are fewer than during the 2012-2013 winter, but still higher than the \u201cacceptable\u201d rate of about 19 percent, the report said.\n\nThe task force will have 180 days to create a strategy to prevent future bee loss. Specifically, the task force will investigate how to reduce pollinator exposure to pesticides found to harm bumblebees by\u00a0interfering with their homing abilities, according to two studies detailed by Reuters.\nIn a 2011 United Nations report, U.N. Environment Program Executive Director Achim Steiner said \u201cthe way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century.\u201d\nSteiner said in the report\u00a0that of 100 crop species that provide 90 percent of the world\u2019s food, more than\u00a070 are pollinated by bees.\n\u201cHuman beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature,\u201d Steiner said in the release. \u201cBees underline the reality that we are more, not less dependent on nature\u2019s\u00a0services in a world of close to seven billion people.\u201d\nThe bee team will be co-chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy.\nRelated: \u201cWe all get stung by bee colony collapse\u201d"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "2e289f4e975e2934c2688df69acd71eb_1", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "2e289f4e975e2934c2688df69acd71eb_1", "title": "Maryland\u2019s honeybees are being massacred, and the weapon might be in your house", "text": "the law when it takes effect in 2018. Maryland lost more than 60 percent of its hives last year, each with up to 20,000 honeybees. About a dozen other states are considering taking similar steps as bees die and honey production declines. Last year, honey production fell 12 percent among producers with five or more colonies, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey. Neonicotinoids were introduced to agriculture in the 1990s and made available to the general public more recently because it was thought to be safer for bees than other pesticides. They seep into plants rather than simply coating the surface. Although some researchers insist the chemical doesn\u2019t cause bee mortality, other scientists are gathering evidence that it does. The Environmental Protection Agency launched a review to determine if several varieties of the insecticide have contributed to the collapse of bee colonies. Its findings are due in 2018. The Obama administration announced the first national strategy to promote the health of bees and other pollinators, following the sharp decline in colony numbers in recent years. USDA bee scientist Jay Evans explains why honeybees are so important and how bees affect food prices. Two years ago, an team of global, independent scientists that formed the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides concluded that neonics are a key factor in bee declines after reviewing a thousand studies. The report said they should be restricted. Hogan has given no indication about his intention to sign or reject the bill, but Del. Anne Healey (D-Prince George\u2019s), who authored the House version, said it had strong bipartisan support, and there appeared to be enough votes to override a veto. \u201cI\u2019m a little nervous talking about things that haven\u2019t happened yet,\u201d Healey said. \u201cThere were very strong votes in both houses. The public is very much in favor \u2026 of doing something to protect our pollinators in the state.\u201d Healey said a new law would \u201cbe a landmark, and it would set a standard that maybe other states would follow.\u201d She called it a \u201cstep in the right direction.\u201d Maryland\u2019s Department of Agriculture disagreed, saying that they too care about the decline of bees but that there is little scientific evidence linking it to neonicotinoids. A spokesman at the department declined to comment on the legislation but provided its testimony from a committee hearing opposing it. A beekeeper uses a lift to stack beehives onto"}], "old": [{"_id": "2e289f4e975e2934c2688df69acd71eb_1", "title": "Maryland\u2019s honeybees are being massacred, and the weapon might be in your house", "text": "a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey. Neonicotinoids were introduced to agriculture in the 1990s and made available to the general public more recently because it was thought to be safer for bees than other pesticides. They seep into plants rather than simply coating the surface. Although some researchers insist the chemical doesn\u2019t cause bee mortality, other scientists are gathering evidence that it does. The Environmental Protection Agency launched a review to determine if several varieties of the insecticide have contributed to the collapse of bee colonies. Its findings are due in 2018. The Obama administration announced the first national strategy to promote the health of bees and other pollinators, following the sharp decline in colony numbers in recent years. USDA bee scientist Jay Evans explains why honeybees are so important and how bees affect food prices. Two years ago, an team of global, independent scientists that formed the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides concluded that neonics are a key factor in bee declines after reviewing a thousand studies. The report said they should be restricted. Maryland\u2019s Department of Agriculture disagreed, saying that they too care about the decline of bees but that there is little scientific evidence linking it to neonicotinoids. A spokesman at the department declined to comment on the legislation but provided its testimony from a committee hearing opposing it. A beekeeper uses a lift to stack beehives onto a truck before transferring the bees to another crop after they pollinated a blueberry field near Columbia Falls, Maine, on June 23, 2014. (Adrees Latif/ Reuters) Agriculture \u201chas not documented any cases of neonicotinoid pesticides negatively impacting honeybees in Maryland,\u201d the agency\u2019s statement said. It cited a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Honeybee Survey data for Maryland saying \u201cno neonicotinoids were found in Maryland pollen samples, and fewer pesticides overall were detected when compared to the national average.\u201d The department was also concerned about the $200,000 allocated in the House bill to implementation and enforcement. Agriculture said it would likely cost more than $1 million the first year and nearly that much every year afterward. Keeping tabs on homeowners would be a major headache, officials at the agency said. Homeowners would be banned from buying products containing neonicotinoids such as Knockout Ready-to-Use Grub Killer, Ortho Bug B Gon, All-In-One Rose & Flower Care, Lesco Bandit Insecticide and other products at 3,000 hardware stores, garden centers, nurseries and other outlets"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Bees tend to honeycomb cells in a colony in Frederick, Md. (Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)\nIn the end, Maryland lawmakers couldn\u2019t ignore the same haunting story from beekeepers. \u201cI go into winter with a really strong population, managed them to be fat and healthy, treated for mites, with plenty of food,\u201d said Bonnie Raindrop, a keeper in Baltimore County. \u201cBut at the end of winter, you open your hives and they\u2019re all dead.\u201d\nThe keepers joined academics and conservationists in convincing\u00a0the state General Assembly that the mass deaths over the past four years are likely tied to widespread use of household pesticides linked to honeybee mortality.\u00a0Both chambers recently passed bills that would ban stores from selling products laced with neonicotinoids to homeowners who tend to lather too much on trees and gardens.\nThe similar bills \u00a0are expected to be forged into a single piece of legislation for Gov. Larry Hogan (R) to sign\u00a0within two weeks.\u00a0Hogan\u2019s signature would make Maryland the first state to take the harmful pesticides away from amateurs.\u00a0Farmers and professionals who better understand how to apply them in a way that poses a lesser threat to bees would be exempted by the law when it takes effect in 2018.\nMaryland lost more than 60 percent of its hives last year, each with up to 20,000 honeybees. About\u00a0a dozen other states are considering taking similar steps as bees die and honey production declines. Last year, honey production fell \u00a012 percent among\u00a0producers with five or more colonies, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey.\nNeonicotinoids were introduced to agriculture in the 1990s and made available to the general public more recently because it was thought to be safer for bees than other pesticides. They seep into plants rather than simply coating the surface. Although some researchers insist the chemical doesn\u2019t cause bee mortality, other scientists are gathering evidence that it does. The Environmental Protection Agency launched a review to determine if\u00a0several varieties of the insecticide have contributed to the collapse of bee colonies. Its findings are due in 2018.\nThe Obama administration announced the first national strategy to promote the health of bees and other pollinators, following the sharp decline in colony numbers in recent years. USDA bee scientist Jay Evans explains why honeybees are so important and how bees affect food prices.\nTwo years ago,\u00a0an team of global, independent scientists that formed the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides concluded that neonics are a key factor in bee declines after reviewing a thousand studies. The report said they should be restricted.\nHogan has given no indication about his intention to sign or reject the bill, but Del.\u00a0Anne Healey (D-Prince George\u2019s), who authored the House version, said it had strong bipartisan support, and there appeared to be enough votes to override a veto.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m a little nervous talking about things that haven\u2019t happened yet,\u201d Healey said. \u201cThere were very strong votes in both houses. The public is very much in favor \u2026 of doing something to protect our pollinators in the state.\u201d\nHealey\u00a0said a new law would \u201cbe a landmark, and it would set a standard that maybe other states would follow.\u201d She called it a \u201cstep in the right direction.\u201d\nMaryland\u2019s\u00a0Department of Agriculture disagreed, saying that they too care about the decline of bees but that there is little scientific evidence linking it to\u00a0neonicotinoids. A spokesman at the department declined to comment on the legislation but provided its testimony from a committee hearing opposing it.\nA beekeeper uses a lift to stack beehives onto a truck before transferring the bees to another crop after they pollinated a blueberry field near Columbia Falls, Maine, on June 23, 2014. (Adrees Latif/ Reuters)\nAgriculture \u201chas not documented any cases of neonicotinoid pesticides negatively impacting\u00a0honeybees in Maryland,\u201d the agency\u2019s statement said. It cited a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Honeybee Survey\u00a0data for Maryland saying \u201cno neonicotinoids were found in Maryland pollen samples, and fewer\u00a0pesticides overall were detected when compared to the national average.\u201d\nThe department was also concerned about the $200,000 allocated in the House bill to implementation and enforcement. Agriculture said it would likely cost more than $1 million the first year and nearly that much every year afterward. Keeping tabs on homeowners would be a major headache, officials at the agency said.\nHomeowners would be banned from buying \u00a0products containing neonicotinoids such as Knockout Ready-to-Use Grub Killer, Ortho Bug B Gon, All-In-One Rose & Flower Care, Lesco Bandit Insecticide and other products at 3,000 hardware stores, garden centers, nurseries and other outlets in the state. But it can\u2019t stop them from buying it out of state and on the Internet. Usage would be banned, but a small crew of state enforcers isn\u2019t\u00a0likely to catch gardeners red-handed.\nOther opponents said honeybees are suffering from problems that have nothing to do with insecticides. Poor nutrition and the varroa mite that infects them with a pathogen are two.\nSen.\u00a0Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (D-Baltimore County), who authored the companion bill, dismissed those arguments as \u201cintellectually dishonest,\u201d saying, \u201cWe should do what is in our power to help save the bee population and not shy away simply because a given measure is not a global solution.\u201d\nSteve McDaniel, owner of McDaniel Honey Farms, agreed. He has lost 50 percent of his hive where he lives in Manchester, Md., and 100 percent in downtown Baltimore since 2012, about 20 each year. Hives with up to 20,000 bees cost about $1,200. \u201cIt\u2019s been awful,\u201d McDaniel said.\n\u201cI\u2019ve had them there for 30 years,\u201d said McDaniel, a master beekeeper, and in the last four years, \u201cI can\u2019t keep them alive no matter what I do.\u00a0The trouble is they started selling these pesticide to homeowners. They put these things on flowers that bloom within a mile of the beehive. No one can offer me a reasonable explanation of any other cause for what I\u2019ve been seeing.\u201d\nWhen she searched her hive this year, Raindrop found piles of dead bees or their rotting remains. Out of about 10,000 bees in a hive she kept in Baltimore County, only a few survived.\u00a0\u201cSometimes it\u2019s just a big handful, that\u2019s all,\u201d she said.\nRead More:\nButterfly declines signal trouble in the environment\nThe Monarch massacre: Nearly a billion butterflies have vanished\nFrog, toad and salamander populations are plummeting, study finds\nCalifornia\u2019s rural poor hit hardest as drought makes remaining water toxic\n\u00a0\nFor more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter here."}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "2efc1233e9a226408a27775f725768b4_4", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "2efc1233e9a226408a27775f725768b4_4", "title": "Bumblebee habitats are shrinking at an alarming rate, and scientists are blaming climate change", "text": "might not shift well in response to climate change: Either it has problems actually moving from one place to another, or it has problems building its population up once it gets to a new place. \u201cClearly bumblebees are pretty good at getting around,\u201d Kerr said at the press conference, since they can fly. Rather, the scientists suspect that they\u2019re having trouble growing their populations at their northern range limits. The reason remains unclear. More research is needed into the bees\u2019 behavior and the biological and environmental factors that may be causing them problems. In the meantime, there are some actions humans can take to try to help out their struggling populations. The obvious course of action is to keep up with efforts to mitigate climate change so that rising temperatures don\u2019t continue to drive the bees out of their historical southern ranges, Richardson said. But there are some other strategies conservationists can try in the meantime. One fairly drastic solution is assisted migration, which is when humans physically relocate bumblebee populations to a new area. \u201cIt\u2019s certainly a possible solution on a case-by-case basis or a site-specific basis for bumblebees,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cHowever, it will be expensive to do this, and it\u2019s not really a solution to what is probably a global problem for many hundreds of species.\u201d Simply trying to protect local populations is another option. Stricter policies on pesticide use can help keep minimize declines. And citizens can even help out by diversifying the plants they grow in their own back yards to attract more pollinators, said Laurence Packer, another author on the study and a professor of biology at York University, at Wednesday\u2019s press conference. \u201cThe way you plant your garden can make a very big difference,\u201d he said. With concern over the health of pollinators at an all-time high, this study highlights the impact of climate change on an already vulnerable (and economically important) organism \u2014 and underscores the fact that its consequences are already noticeable. \u201cThe impacts are large, and they are underway,\u201d said Kerr. Also in Energy Environment: Scientists have discovered that living near trees is good for your health Why the Earth\u2019s past has scientists so worried about sea level rise Many Americans still lack access to solar energy. Here\u2019s how Obama plans to change that For more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter here."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A red-tailed bumblebee from Denmark. By analyzing 110 years of biological observations across North America and Europe, a new picture of climate change impacts emerges. As temperatures warm, bumblebee species are declining rapidly from warm areas but failing to colonize new areas in the north. (Photo by Jeremy T. Kerr)\nThere\u2019s no doubt that bees have had their share of the spotlight lately. The pervasive collapse of honeybee colonies, in particular, has captured national attention. But other bee\u00a0species are starting to get their share of recognition, too. Wild bees, which are not managed by humans like honeybees are, are also declining, due to factors such as habitat loss and the effects of pesticides.\nNow, there\u2019s evidence that bumblebees, at least, are suffering at the hands of yet another environmental crisis: climate change.\u00a0A study, published Thursday in the journal Science, found that climate change is causing the geographic range of bumblebees \u2014 the area the bees live in \u2014 to shrink in both North America and Europe.\nThe study\u2019s authors analyzed data on 67 bumblebee species in Europe and North America, examining changes in their northern and southern range limits. They found that bumblebees on both continents were experiencing dramatic losses in the southern parts of their ranges. In other words, climate change has been driving the southern edge of the bumblebees\u2019 range northward.\nAccording to the study, bumblebees have lost up to 300 kilometers (more than 180 miles) of their southern range in both continents over the past 110 years. \u201cThis is a huge loss, and it has happened very quickly,\u201d Jeremy Kerr, lead author and a professor of biology at the University of Ottawa, said at a press conference on Wednesday.\nClimate change has been known to affect other organisms in similar ways, so in one sense\u00a0the loss of the bees\u2019 southern ranges makes sense. Bumblebees evolved in mild, temperate climates, so as things heat up near the equator, it\u2019s logical that conditions might get too warm for them to survive, driving them northward.\n\u201cThey may not have the ability to adapt to changing climate in the way that some organisms that have a tropical evolutionary history are able to adapt,\u201d said Leif Richardson, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Vermont\u2019s Gund Institute for Ecological Economics and another one of the paper\u2019s authors.\nIn many cases, if an animal\u2019s southern range moves up, so does its northern range, so that its entire geographic range shifts. But the researchers in this study found this was not the case for bumblebees. While the southernmost edges of their ranges have been creeping northward, their northernmost edges have not moved. This means that the total geographic area the bees occupy has been shrinking.\nShrinking geographic ranges could put major pressure on already vulnerable bee populations, driving them closer to the edge of endangerment or extinction. And the shifting ranges could also be a problem for both wild plants and crops at the bees\u2019 southernmost limits if the bumblebees aren\u2019t around in the future to pollinate them, said Richardson.\n\u201cThere certainly is a\u00a0threat to human agriculture,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat we know from research is that this can lead to lower crop yields, higher food costs, and there are all these consequences for the human food supply and the economy.\u201d\nWild plants tend to be important components of their ecosystems. If they start to decline because of a lack of pollination, other species that depend on them for food or habitat could suffer, too. It\u2019s unclear whether other pollinators, such as other wild bee species or butterflies, could adequately step up to fill the void left behind by bumblebees in these cases.\nSince bumblebees are known to be vulnerable to other environmental influences, the researchers wanted to be sure that climate change was the culprit behind their geographic shifts. So they analyzed the bumblebees\u2019 range shifts with data on land use changes (essentially the alternation or destruction of bee habitat by humans) and pesticide use. They found that neither of these factors correlated to the changes in the bees\u2019 geographic ranges.\nThis is not to say that these factors don\u2019t have negative impacts on bumblebee populations, Richardson said. They can still hurt bees\u2019 local populations \u2014 it\u2019s just that they don\u2019t appear to be responsible for the bees\u2019 larger geographic shifts.\nThe scientists aren\u2019t sure why bumblebees haven\u2019t been able to expand their northern edges. According to Kerr, there are two reasons a species might not shift well in response to climate change: Either it has problems actually moving from one place to another, or it has problems building its population up once it gets to a new place. \u201cClearly bumblebees are pretty good at getting around,\u201d Kerr said at the press conference, since they can fly. Rather, the scientists suspect that they\u2019re having trouble growing their populations at their northern range limits. The reason remains unclear.\nMore research is needed into the bees\u2019 behavior and the biological and environmental factors that may be causing them problems. In the meantime, there are some actions humans can take to try to help out their struggling populations.\nThe obvious course of action is to keep up with efforts to mitigate climate change so that rising temperatures don\u2019t continue to drive the bees out of their historical southern ranges, Richardson said. But there are some other strategies conservationists can try in the meantime.\nOne fairly drastic solution is assisted migration, which is when humans physically relocate bumblebee populations to a new area. \u201cIt\u2019s certainly a possible solution on a case-by-case basis or a site-specific basis for bumblebees,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cHowever, it will be expensive to do this, and it\u2019s not really a solution to what is probably a global problem for many hundreds of species.\u201d\nSimply trying to protect local populations is another option. Stricter policies on pesticide use can help keep minimize declines. And citizens can even help out by diversifying the plants they grow in their own back yards to attract more pollinators, said Laurence Packer, another author on the study and a professor of biology at York University, at Wednesday\u2019s press conference. \u201cThe way you plant your garden can make a very big difference,\u201d he said.\nWith concern over the health of pollinators at an all-time high, this study highlights the impact of climate change on an already vulnerable (and economically important) organism \u2014 and underscores the fact that its consequences are already noticeable.\n\u201cThe impacts are large, and they are underway,\u201d said Kerr.\nAlso in Energy  Environment:\nScientists have discovered that living near trees is good for your health\nWhy the Earth\u2019s past has scientists so worried about sea level rise\nMany Americans still lack access to solar energy. Here\u2019s how Obama plans to change that\nFor more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and\u00a0follow us on Twitter here."}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "3a5199101470a12660656a52af15f2cf_3", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "3a5199101470a12660656a52af15f2cf_3", "title": "Why are the monarch butterflies disappearing?", "text": "happen again this year, it could be catastrophic. BP: You mentioned severe weather as another factor in the last two years. What happened? LB: That was a really serious drought. There was a very strong possibility that not enough butterflies made it to Mexico with enough energy to survive the winter. Then, this year, the numbers were already down, only about 60 million. So the migration comes back at the end of February and the middle of March and they move northward. These are the 5-month-old survivors that leave Mexico, migrate up through Texas, and lay eggs on milkweed. And the new generation that's produced in about three weeks moves all the way up to Canada. But when that new generation tried to migrate this spring, they were held back by a cold front that was in place for a long time. And that prevented a really good spring re-migration up into the northern breeding range. Normally over the course of the summer, that first spring generation will produce two more summer generations. But data indicates that the butterflies are missing a whole generation this year. And reports coming all over the Eastern range, from the Rockies all the way to Maine and Virginia, there are very few butterflies breeding anywhere. So the numbers getting back to Mexico are really low. And that's what we're waiting to hear, just how low are they? BP: Is climate change expected to affect the butterflies in any way? LB: BP: You also mentioned Midwestern agriculture as a third factor in the decline. What's happening there? LB: These crops are planted in the grassland ecosystems of the United States, where the monarchs do most of their breeding. And normally in that area there are milkweed growing all over the place on the agricultural fields and the edges of fields and the sides of roads. There are 108 species of milkweed in the United States \u2014 the whole monarch migration evolved in relation to evolution of this milkweed flora. Anyway, where they use these herbicides, it kills all emergent seedlings and all the emergent perennial plants. A paper last year by John Pleasants of the University of Iowa and Karen Oberhauser of the University of Minnesota estimated that 60 percent of milkweed has been eliminated from the grassland ecosystem. We're not just talking about one species, we're talking about the entire native flora being eliminated."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Every November, millions of monarch butterflies arrive at the Oyamel fir forests in central Mexico, where they migrate to survive through the winter. Or at least that's what's supposed to happen.\n\nIn recent years, however, scientists have noticed a disturbing trend. The number of butterflies migrating to Mexico has been dropping sharply. Last winter, just 60 million butterflies arrived at their overwintering habitats, a record low. And early signs suggest that this winter's population might be even lower \u2014 though, do note, we're still awaiting final numbers.\nTo get a sense why the monarch butterflies are in decline, I called Lincoln Brower, a professor of biology at Sweet Briar College who has studied the monarch migrations for decades. In a paper last year, he cited three major factors: Deforestation in Mexico, recent bouts of severe weather, and the growth of herbicide-based agriculture destroying crucial milkweed flora in the Midwest.\nSo is it too late to stop the monarch butterflies from vanishing? Or are there still things we can do to reverse the decline? A transcript of our conversation follows:\nBrad Plumer: What do the numbers tell us about the decline of monarch butterflies so far?\nLincoln Brower:\nThe total annual area occupied by overwintering monarch butterflies from 1994 through 2013 has declined significantly, with the all-time smallest area reported during the 2012\u201313 overwintering season. (Source: <a href=\"http://academics.hamilton.edu/biology/ewilliam/publications/Brower2012ICD5,95.pdf\">Brower et. al 2012</a> updated with data from the author for the past two years)\nThe colonies are spread across twelve mountain ranges in Mexico, and in the biggest year on record they covered 21 hectares. Two years ago, that was down to 2.89 hectares. Last year, it was down to about 1.19 hectares. That's a highly significant trend.\nWe don't yet have full data for this year, but the number of trees occupied by butterflies on Nov. 12 was way low compared with what it should be. It's possible that even fewer monarch butterflies are reaching Mexico this year than last year \u2014 and last year was the lowest it's ever been since the butterfly colonies were first discovered in 1975.\nBP:\nLB:\nBP: We're still waiting on complete data for this year, right?\nLB:\nBP: Why has there been such a sharp decline in monarchs?\nLB:\nBP: Let's take these one at a time. What's happening with illegal deforestation in Mexico?\nLB:\nA man cuts down an infested tree in the monarch butterfly reserve near Ocampo, Mexico. (Gregory Bull / AP)\nSince then, there's been heavy deforestation from illegal logging. The World Wildlife Fund has published quite a bit of documentation of that. In 2000, a new decree was announced by the president of Mexico, but even after that, there was still illegal logging, with several hundred hectares of forest clear-cut. The Mexican government in the last five years has made a strong effort to stop illegal logging, but there\u2019s still small-scale logging going on, with a few trees taken here or there. This progressively deteriorates the forest.\nThe forest serves as a blanket and umbrella for the butterflies. Even though the area is in the tropics, because it\u2019s such high elevation, 11,000 feet up, it gets cold during January and February. The temperatures can drop to 10\u00b0C below freezing. Butterflies can tolerate that provided they're not wet \u2014 but if they get wet, they lose their resistance.\nIn 2002, [the overwintering habitats had] the worst storm on record. We counted the number of dead butterflies in the colonies and estimated that about 75 percent of the population was killed, by a combination of rain, snow, and freezing. If that were to happen again this year, it could be catastrophic.\nBP: You mentioned severe weather as another factor in the last two years. What happened?\nLB:\nThat was a really serious drought. There was a very strong possibility that not enough butterflies made it to Mexico with enough energy to survive the winter.\nThen, this year, the numbers were already down, only about 60 million. So the migration comes back at the end of February and the middle of March and they move northward. These are the 5-month-old survivors that leave Mexico, migrate up through Texas, and lay eggs on milkweed. And the new generation that's produced in about three weeks moves all the way up to Canada. But when that new generation tried to migrate this spring, they were held back by a cold front that was in place for a long time. And that prevented a really good spring re-migration up into the northern breeding range.\nNormally over the course of the summer, that first spring generation will produce two more summer generations. But data indicates that the butterflies are missing a whole generation this year. And reports coming all over the Eastern range, from the Rockies all the way to Maine and Virginia, there are very few butterflies breeding anywhere. So the numbers getting back to Mexico are really low. And that's what we're waiting to hear, just how low are they?\nBP: Is climate change expected to affect the butterflies in any way?\nLB:\nBP: You also mentioned Midwestern agriculture as a third factor in the decline. What's happening there?\nLB:\nThese crops are planted in the grassland ecosystems of the United States, where the monarchs do most of their breeding. And normally in that area there are milkweed growing all over the place on the agricultural fields and the edges of fields and the sides of roads. There are 108 species of milkweed in the United States \u2014 the whole monarch migration evolved in relation to evolution of this milkweed flora.\nAnyway, where they use these herbicides, it kills all emergent seedlings and all the emergent perennial plants. A paper last year by John Pleasants of the University of Iowa and Karen Oberhauser of the University of Minnesota estimated that 60 percent of milkweed has been eliminated from the grassland ecosystem. We're not just talking about one species, we're talking about the entire native flora being eliminated.\nThe other thing herbicides do is kill sources of nectar. This is important: When monarchs come back [to the United States] they lay their eggs on milkweed, the caterpillars hatch out in four or five days and develop over a period of two or three weeks, then form the chrysalis, then a week later it hatches into an adult. These adults initially have about 20 milligrams of fat in their body that's carried over from larval development. But the butterflies that migrate back [to Mexico] have about 125 mg of fat. All that additional fat is gotten from drinking nectar from wildflowers. And this agriculture is killing off the wildflowers.\nBP: Why should we care about the decline of monarch butterflies? Because they're an iconic species? Or are they important to broader ecosystems?\nLB:\nThere's also the fact that monarch butterfly is used in teaching biology to kids on a scale that's unequaled by any other insect in the world. So it's an incredibly strong educational tool. And the biology of the migration is absolutely unique.\nSo you get back to the philosophical aspect of it: How many natural phenomena are we going to kill off? I think the monarch is the canary in the coal mine telling us that things are beginning to go really wrong, when you can take a widespread migration of this sort and completely dismantle it as a result of human activity.\nBP: What's the best-case scenario for the monarch butterfly?\n( Lisa Bolton / The Washington Post ) - At the monarch butterfly way station in Morven Park, Nicole Hamilton is happy to find that a monarch butterfly has laid an egg and that the caterpillar is healthy and strong.\nLB:\nSo if the conditions are right, the monarch has the chance of coming back fast. If we have really good weather and healthy milkweeds and no freezing in Mexico and no drought in Texas... they may be able to come back. But I\u2019m beginning to have doubts.\nBP:\nLB:\nSo the question is how do they find the same trees year after year? Our hypothesis \u2014 for which there is weak evidence, no specific chemical evidence yet \u2014 is that they may be marking the trees chemically, so that they can orient themselves when they come back the following year.\nMy concern is that if that hypothesis is true, then the signal could get so weak because so few butterflies are getting back that next year the butterflies might not even be able to find the area. The whole migration could collapse. This is a real concern, but it's going to be controversial, because we don't have hard evidence for it. We're working on it.\nBP: Are there things people could do to halt the decline in monarch populations? You mentioned deforestation in Mexico above. What about here in the United States?\nLB:\nYou can also look at highways. Drive along Interstate 81 through south Virginia, there's tons of milkweeds growing in the median, and much of that is being eliminated over such a huge area by highway departments. One of the problems is that they mow the sides of the road, and if they hit that area during the peak of monarch breeding, that can kill everything.\nSo one of the things we've suggested, there are millions of miles of roadside in the eastern United States, and if we could get highway departments everywhere to manage roadsides for wildlife rather than just cutting them down when it's convenient or spraying them with herbicides, that could be a boon to insects in general. That's the one mitigation I can think of.\nThe other is to try to get the people using herbicides in agriculture to have a system of not spraying 100 percent of their fields. Don't spray along 100 feet along the edge of everyone's field, so that there's some native habitat left. So there are some things that can be done.\nInterview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.\nRelated:"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "43fba7d6-fe6c-11e4-833c-a2de05b6b2a4_1", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "43fba7d6-fe6c-11e4-833c-a2de05b6b2a4_1", "title": "7 milkweed varieties and where to find them", "text": "\u201cweed\u201d label is for the most part a throwback to an age when native flora was undervalued and naturalistic gardens were generally unknown. Some milkweeds will probably never be valued garden plants, but it is interesting that a dozen species are known to grow in the Mid-Atlantic. Asclepias verticillata. (James Gagliardi/Smithsonian Gardens) Here are ones of particular value to gardeners who want to support monarchs and other pollinators: 1. Butterfly milkweed 2. Swamp milkweed 3. Whorled milkweed 4. Common milkweed 5. Purple milkweed 6. Balloon plant 7. Tropical milkweed Where to find milkweed Obtaining milkweed for the garden can be challenging. Even if you have a friend with milkweed to spare (don\u2019t collect from the wild), established plants are deep-rooted and won\u2019t move well. Seed may be stubborn to germinate and may need a period of cold treatment. Another consideration: Plants at garden centers may have been treated with pesticides that could harm feeding caterpillars. Plants that have been sprayed with contact insecticides will produce fresh, untreated growth, but plants raised with systemic pesticides such as neonicotinoids will remain toxic to monarch larvae. Ask what pesticides have been used in growing the plants. These specialty nurseries and native plant groups sell milkweed plants, typically the swamp milkweed, common milkweed and butterfly milkweed. Check hours and plant availability before setting out. \u2192Nature by Design 300 Calvert St., Alexandria. 703-683-4769. www.nature-by-design.com. \u2192Hill House Farm and Nursery 631 Scrabble Rd., Castleton, Va. 540-937-1798. www.hillhousenativeplants.com. \u2192Earth Sangha Franconia Park, entrance at the end of Cloud Drive, Springfield. 703-764-4830. www.earthsangha.org. \u2192Watermark Woods Native Plants 16764 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton, Va. 540-441-7443. www.watermarkwoods.com. \u2192Abernethy and Spencer 18035 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln, Va. 540-338-9118. www.abernethyspencer.com. \u2192Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy The conservancy is holding a milkweed plant sale Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Morvern Park, 17263 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. 703-777-2575. www.loudounwildlife.org. \u2192Chesapeake Natives The nonprofit nursery will hold a sale (nectar plants and some common and butterfly milkweeds) Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rosaryville State Park, 9640 Rosaryville Rd., Upper Marlboro. 202-262-9773. www.chesapeakenatives.org. \u2192Monarch Watch The organization sells 32-plug flats of milkweed, maybe too many for one garden but enough to share with others. 888-824-4464. www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/market. \u2192Herring Run Nursery Plant sales are staged in the maintenance area of the Mount Pleasant Golf Course in north Baltimore, 6131 Hillen Rd., Baltimore. This weekend and next, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Four species available. 410-254-1577. www.bluewaterbaltimore.org/herring-run-nursery. \u2014 Adrian Higgins"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa. ( Terry Glase/Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)\nMilkweeds are not the most spectacular of flowering perennials, but they can look highly effective as fillers and textural foils in plant combinations. They are a must in any sunny herbaceous garden where the gardener wants to attract monarch butterflies.\nThree or so species are typically found in home gardens, but others deserve to be grown as well. As a group, they have two things against them: They can be hard to find and there\u2019s that word \u201cweed\u201d in their name.\nThey are wild plants, growing on disturbed land, and some species will spread if unchecked, but their \u201cweed\u201d label is for the most part a throwback to an age when native flora was undervalued and naturalistic gardens were generally unknown.\nSome milkweeds will probably never be valued garden plants, but it is interesting that a dozen species are known to grow in the Mid-Atlantic.\nAsclepias verticillata. (James Gagliardi/Smithsonian Gardens)\nHere are ones of particular value to gardeners who want to support monarchs and other pollinators:\n1. Butterfly milkweed\n2. Swamp milkweed\n3. Whorled milkweed\n4. Common milkweed\n5. Purple milkweed\n6. Balloon plant\n7. Tropical milkweed\nWhere to find milkweed\nObtaining milkweed for the garden can be challenging. Even if you have a friend with milkweed to spare (don\u2019t collect from the wild), established plants are deep-rooted and won\u2019t move well.\nSeed may be stubborn to germinate and may need a period of cold treatment.\nAnother consideration: Plants at garden centers may have been treated with pesticides that could harm feeding caterpillars. Plants that have been sprayed with contact insecticides will produce fresh, untreated growth, but plants raised with systemic pesticides such as neonicotinoids will remain toxic to monarch larvae. Ask what pesticides have been used in growing the plants.\nThese specialty nurseries and native plant groups sell milkweed plants, typically the swamp milkweed, common milkweed and butterfly milkweed. Check hours and plant availability before setting out.\n\u2192Nature by Design\n300 Calvert St., Alexandria. 703-683-4769. www.nature-by-design.com.\n\u2192Hill House Farm and Nursery\n631 Scrabble Rd., Castleton, Va. 540-937-1798. www.hillhousenativeplants.com.\n\u2192Earth Sangha\nFranconia Park, entrance at the end of Cloud Drive, Springfield. 703-764-4830. www.earthsangha.org.\n\u2192Watermark Woods Native Plants\n16764 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton, Va. 540-441-7443. www.watermarkwoods.com.\n\u2192Abernethy and Spencer\n18035 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln, Va. 540-338-9118. www.abernethyspencer.com.\n\u2192Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy\nThe conservancy is holding a milkweed plant sale Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Morvern Park, 17263 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. 703-777-2575. www.loudounwildlife.org.\n\u2192Chesapeake Natives\nThe nonprofit nursery will hold a sale (nectar plants and some common and butterfly milkweeds) Sunday 10\u00a0a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rosaryville State Park, 9640 Rosaryville Rd., Upper Marlboro. 202-262-9773. www.chesapeakenatives.org.\n\u2192Monarch Watch\nThe organization sells 32-plug flats of milkweed, maybe too many for one garden but enough to share with others. 888-824-4464. www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/market.\n\u2192Herring Run Nursery\nPlant sales are staged in the maintenance area of the Mount Pleasant Golf Course in north Baltimore, 6131 Hillen Rd., Baltimore. This weekend and next, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Four species available. 410-254-1577. www.bluewaterbaltimore.org/herring-run-nursery.\n\u2014 Adrian Higgins"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "462720b6-c9fb-11e5-a7b2-5a2f824b02c9_8", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "462720b6-c9fb-11e5-a7b2-5a2f824b02c9_8", "title": "Was a USDA scientist muzzled because of his bee research?", "text": "after the trip). A fourth scientist, Jian Duan, said in a phone interview that he forgot to fill out paperwork until after a trip but faced no penalty. After this, Lundgren says, he became the subject of his supervisors\u2019 unrelenting focus: investigating his grants and his use of government vehicles, reviewing his slides for a presentation and even requiring him to retract his name from an article on the adverse consequences of increased U.S. corn production because it seemed to comment on policy. By this time, he says, he started thinking about his next steps. Lundgren, in fact, first tried working through the USDA\u2019s standard procedures to get his career back on track. After his first suspension, he filed a scientific integrity complaint, according to USDA-ARS procedures, alleging that his research and attempts to communicate his findings to the media had been disrupted. The USDA rejected the complaint, and after an appeal, a five-member panel convened by the agency recently confirmed that decision. The internal report, deemed confidential by the USDA but released by Lundgren\u2019s attorney, states that \u201cthe scientist\u2019s written complaint did not provide credible and verifiable evidence that his research was impeded and that he was restrained from communicating with the media.\u201d The report cites multiple instances in which Lundgren was allowed to publish research and give interviews or travel to present his findings. Jeff Ruch, the executive director at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility who has been representing Lundgren, says the report reveals a systemic problem inside the agency: \u201cNo witnesses named by Lundgren were interviewed,\u201d Ruch says. \u201cThe panel was told not to even consider allegations of reprisal. And they also repeated USDA\u2019s position that they can prohibit any scientist from talking to the media even about already published research, which completely undermines any claim of scientific freedom.\u201d A USDA spokesperson said: \u201cThe documents that this organization has released affirm that the referenced allegation of scientific misconduct at USDA is untrue and misleading. Both the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Agency scientific integrity officer and an independent USDA scientific integrity review panel have reviewed the allegation and found it to be unsubstantiated. The scientific integrity review panel has spoken, and we stand by their decision. We will have no further comment on this matter.\u201d Commercial beekeepers continue to report escalating losses of 42 percent or more. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) To this point, Lundgren stands There"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Entomologist Jonathan Lundgren blames overuse of pesticides and a lack of crop diversity for the dwindling honeybee population. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)\nJonathan Lundgren is buying\nThe land, rolling hillocks and flatlands alive with wildflowers and blooming weeds, includes a large house for his family and storage facilities he can convert into a lab. Even as this future beckons, however, his recent past still stings.\nU.S. agriculture, says Lundgren, is in crisis. A lack of diversity in farming and a related overreliance on pesticides have triggered a host of negative effects, including the decline of pollinators, such as butterflies and bees.\nBees are vital to U.S. agriculture, pollinating foods that make up roughly a third, and the most nutritious portion, of our diet, such as fruits and leafy greens. But commercial beekeepers continue to report escalating losses of 42 percent or more, jeopardizing $30\u00a0billion in annual revenue and our health.\nA couple of years ago, the now 40-year-old Lundgren \u2014 running a government lab, winning awards from both his agency and President Obama \u2014 occupied the right position to aid in this crisis. He says he was doing just that when the trouble started: a pair of suspensions \u2014 one for conduct unbecoming a federal employee and another for violating travel regulations.\nIn October, Lundgren filed a whistleblower suit alleging that he was disciplined to suppress his science. The government says the suspensions had nothing to do with his research. Today, he is the most outspoken of several scientists who say they feel muzzled by the government.\nThe lawyers who filed Lundgren\u2019s suit allege that nine additional USDA scientists have been ordered to retract studies and water-down findings, or have faced discipline in retaliation for their work. They further allege that three of those scientists, beyond Lundgren, were also working on pollinator-related research. The USDA\u2019s inspector general just announced an audit, to take place later this year, in response to the \u201csignificant volume\u201d of complaints they\u2019ve had on their office\u2019s hotline, alleging scientific censorship on pesticides and other issues.\nThis dynamic of government scientists claiming suppression extends across institutions. Just a few months ago, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alleged that the House Science Committee, led by Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), was attempting to intimidate researchers who had produced data indicating that global warming hadn\u2019t slowed.\nSuch disputes show how complicated the intersection of government, science and industry can become when billions of dollars are at stake.\nA mural at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D., testifies to the importance of corn to the state. Corn is regularly treated with the neonic pesticides some say are dangerous to bees. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)\nLundgren, a husband and father of\nClose associates, however, say he bears a profound stubborn streak. \u201cWhen Jon thinks he is right about something, he\u2019ll dig in,\u201d says his old doctoral adviser at the University of Illinois, Rob Wiedenmann. \u201cHe\u2019ll shift when he finds that he is wrong, but you need to prove it to him.\u201d\nAs a USDA-ARS employee, Lundgren has run his own lab and staff for 11 years, wrote a well-regarded book on predator insects, published nearly 100 scientific papers and acted as a peer reviewer for dozens of publications. For years, his body of research was either neutral or favorable to farming policy and the chemical industry. But three years ago, he started cautioning against the overuse of pesticides. That shift, he says, triggered his suspensions and the downturn in his professional fate.\nHe believes the problem began in 2012, when he published findings in the Journal of Pest Science suggesting that a popular class of pesticides called neonicotinoids don\u2019t improve soybean yields. He also served as a peer reviewer for a Center for Food Safety report on the dangers of neonics. The next year, he published a paper suggesting that a new genetic pest treatment, dubbed RNAi pesticides, required a new means of risk assessment.\nThe publications drew media interest, and after an interview with an NPR affiliate, Lundgren was brought into a conference call with his supervisor, Sharon Papiernik, and an area director above her, Larry Chandler.\n\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t talk to the press anymore without prior approval,\u201d Lundgren says Chandler told him. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to protect you.\u201d\nAs a regulatory scientist, Lundgren believed that discussing his research was part of his job.\nNeither Papiernik nor Chandler responded to requests for interviews. A USDA spokesman said the agency would handle all responses. The spokesman said that Chandler doesn\u2019t remember the conversation and that ARS scientists often receive guidance or approvals from supervisors and can present peer-reviewed research results but cannot speculate on policies.\nA few months later, in 2014, Lundgren gave an interview to Boulder Weekly. Within two weeks, he was the subject of a misconduct investigation over his office behavior. Lundgren was cited for dancing around the office and pretending to hump a chair. He allowed two employees with the same name to differentiate themselves by \u201cAP\u201d and \u201cEP,\u201d for \u201caverage penis\u201d and \u201cenormous penis.\u201d He teased one employee about being so old she dated Napoleon. He was suspended for three days.\nHe says he never felt anyone on his staff was uncomfortable or he\u2019d have stopped. \u201cI\u2019d lay down in traffic for my employees, and they know that,\u201d he says.\nAfter contacting all 11 of Lundgren\u2019s then-staff members, as identified by staff members themselves, a complicated picture emerges. Eight requested anonymity, one spoke on the record and two declined to be interviewed \u2014 one invoking a nondisclosure agreement many staffers claimed they were asked to sign; the other saying, \u201cIf other staff members are talking to you, you\u2019ll find out what you need to know.\u201d\nCollectively, Lundgren\u2019s staff members described the work environment as loose, sometimes juvenile, but said the whole group participated. They even collaborated on a letter to management decrying the investigation.\nLundgren says he feared they might face reprisal and declined to pass the letter to his supervisors. But a former staff member supplied a copy, along with contemporaneous emails in support of it from the two staffers who declined to be interviewed. The letter states that \u201cwhat management construed as behavioral misconduct\u201d was \u201cnot offensive to those immediately involved.\u201d\nUSDA officials cannot speak on the record about personnel matters, but a spokesman said the investigation was conducted after management received a complaint from an employee in Lundgren\u2019s lab and bore no connection to his interviews or research. The USDA spokesman also said there was no nondisclosure agreement.\nAs a manager, Lundgren couldn\u2019t be represented by the union, but his staff sought out Sheila Sears Wichmann, a now-retired ARS union rep, to guide them as witnesses. \u201cI was a union rep for 35 years,\u201d says Wichmann. \u201cI\u2019ve seen sexual harassers and serial harassers, the kind of things where even I \u2014 as the union rep \u2014 would think, \u2018Go on and knock his block off.\u2019 But this, was nothing.\u201d\nWichmann believes Lundgren was the real victim. \u201cI don\u2019t know why they did it,\u201d she says, \u201cbut it seemed that they wanted to get him and were out to find some way of doing it.\u201d\nLundgren with Janet Fergen, his lab manager for 10 years before retiring. He was suspended for misconduct in the office. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)\nJanet Fergen, retired after 30 years\n\u201cThere were questions from management about how the study was conducted,\u201d she says. \u201cThat hadn\u2019t happened before.\u201d\nShe also questions the timing of the USDA\u2019s investigation, saying the incidents they asked about had occurred \u201cmany months earlier, so if it was so serious where was the urgency?\u201d\nLundgren says the tumult left him stunned. \u201cAt first, I couldn\u2019t believe this was happening,\u201d he says. \u201cBut as time went on, it seemed like anytime my work got media attention, they came after me.\u201d\nIt happened again, he says, when he submitted a paper to his supervisors early last year, describing how clothianidin \u2014 another form of neonic pesticide \u2014 harms monarch butterflies. Papiernik returned the paper, asking for minor revisions. Following standard USDA-ARS procedures, Lundgren says, he made the requested changes, then submitted the paper to a scientific journal for publication. He also supplied an interview on his as-yet-unpublished results to an NPR affiliate.\nAlmost immediately, an ARS national program leader in pest management emailed him for more information and compared the paper to a different scientist\u2019s discredited study. Two weeks later, Lundgren says, Papiernik came into his office \u201cvisibly angry,\u201d questioning why he\u2019d given the interview and telling him the paper wasn\u2019t approved. Lundgren says he reminded her that she had reviewed the paper and requested only minor edits.\nA week later, in March last year, he was in trouble again. Lundgren says he was late filing a travel request before a trip to Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., to address a group of farmers and the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, and forgot to sign the form. After his flight landed, Lundgren says he received a text from Papiernik advising him that his trip was not approved and declaring him AWOL. He was suspended for two weeks.\n\u201cDr. Lundgren failed to seek the necessary approvals for travel, thereby violating the agency\u2019s guidelines,\u201d a USDA spokesman said. \u201cHe submitted an unsigned request to accept contributed travel for that meeting on the day of his departure, leaving insufficient time to ensure the travel met ethical and other agency guidelines.\u201d\nIn his whistleblower complaint, Lundgren\u2019s attorneys cite three USDA scientists who committed similar infractions without being disciplined (two took trips without having their paperwork countersigned; another filled out paperwork after the trip). A fourth scientist, Jian Duan, said in a phone interview that he forgot to fill out paperwork until after a trip but faced no penalty.\nAfter this, Lundgren says, he became the subject of his supervisors\u2019 unrelenting focus: investigating his grants and his use of government vehicles, reviewing his slides for a presentation and even requiring him to retract his name from an article on the adverse consequences of increased U.S. corn production because it seemed to comment on policy.\nBy this time, he says, he started thinking about his next steps.\nLundgren, in fact, first tried working through the USDA\u2019s standard procedures to get his career back on track. After his first suspension, he filed a scientific integrity complaint, according to USDA-ARS procedures, alleging that his research and attempts to communicate his findings to the media had been disrupted. The USDA rejected the complaint, and after an appeal, a five-member panel convened by the agency recently confirmed that decision.\nThe internal report, deemed confidential by the USDA but released by Lundgren\u2019s attorney, states that \u201cthe scientist\u2019s written complaint did not provide credible and verifiable evidence that his research was impeded and that he was restrained from communicating with the media.\u201d\nThe report cites multiple instances in which Lundgren was allowed to publish research and give interviews or travel to present his findings.\nJeff Ruch, the executive director at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility who has been representing Lundgren, says the report reveals a systemic problem inside the agency: \u201cNo witnesses named by Lundgren were interviewed,\u201d Ruch says. \u201cThe panel was told not to even consider allegations of reprisal. And they also repeated USDA\u2019s position that they can prohibit any scientist from talking to the media even about already published research, which completely undermines any claim of scientific freedom.\u201d\nA USDA spokesperson said: \u201cThe documents that this organization has released affirm that the referenced allegation of scientific misconduct at USDA is untrue and misleading. Both the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Agency scientific integrity officer and an independent USDA scientific integrity review panel have reviewed the allegation and found it to be unsubstantiated. The scientific integrity review panel has spoken, and we stand by their decision. We will have no further comment on this matter.\u201d\nCommercial beekeepers continue to report escalating losses of 42 percent or more. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)\nTo this point, Lundgren stands\nThere are signs, however, that this could be changing. Data seems to be mounting suggesting that pesticides are a significant contributor to bee declines.\nA recent scientific literature review conducted by researchers in the United Kingdom, France, Japan and Italy determined that pesticide exposure renders bees more susceptible to disease and increases mortality rates. Pesticides have also been linked to harming bees\u2019 memory and navigational capabilities.\n\u201cNo one would describe them as the driver,\u201d says Lundgren, \u201cbut they are significant, and the government doesn\u2019t seem to want to do anything about them.\u201d\nMost of the attention has focused on neonicotinoids. Entering broad use here in the late \u201990s, neonics\u2019 global share of the pesticide marketplace ballooned by 2008 to roughly 25 percent and $2.5\u00a0billion. Neonics can be implanted directly on the seed and are classified as a \u201csystemic\u201d insecticide because they are fully incorporated into the plant\u2019s tissue, remaining present in pollen and nectar.\nTwo key studies have found that feeding neonics to bees, even in amounts so low they couldn\u2019t be detected afterward, render them more susceptible to infection. The co-author of one of those studies, Jeffrey Pettis, is joining Lundgren in speaking out.\nPettis is a highly respected entomologist and led the USDA\u2019s bee laboratory in Beltsville for nine years, through April 2014, when he testified before the House Agriculture Committee.\nPettis had developed what he describes as a \u201csignificant\u201d line of research showing that neonics compromise bee immunity. But in his opening remarks before Congress, he focused on the threat posed by the varroa mite, often put forward by chemical company representatives as the main culprit behind bee deaths.\nOnly under questioning by subcommittee Chairman Austin Scott (R-Ga.) did Pettis shift. Even if varroa were eliminated tomorrow, he told Scott, \u201cwe\u2019d still have a problem.\u201d Neonics raise pesticide concerns for bees \u201cto a new level,\u201d he said.\nAbout two months later, Pettis was demoted, losing all management responsibilities for the Beltsville lab.\nDave Hackenberg, a central Pennsylvania beekeeper and longtime friend of Pettis\u2019s, says Pettis confided in him that the official reason given for his demotion \u2014 poor performance as an administrator \u2014 wasn\u2019t the real one. The real reason was his congressional testimony.\nPettis, 61, has never provided a full public account of his side of the story. But with Hackenberg talking he decided to respond. \u201cDave and I talk a lot,\u201d he said, \u201cand I cannot be sure what I might have said to him around the time of my demotion.\u201d\nBut, Pettis said, the USDA\u2019s congressional liaison told him that the Agriculture Committee wanted him to restrict his testimony to the varroa mite. \u201cIn my naivete,\u201d he said, \u201cI thought there were going to be other people addressing different parts of the pie. I felt used by the whole process, used by Congress.\u201d\nThe hearing was \u201cheavily weighted toward industry,\u201d he said, \u201cand they tried to use me as a scientist, as a way of saying, \u2018See, it\u2019s the varroa mite,\u2019 when that\u2019s not how I see it.\u201d\nAs for his demotion, Pettis called himself a \u201cbad administrator.\u201d But did he think the hearing played a role?\nPettis delivers an elliptical answer. He said he walked up to Scott afterward, to make small talk, and the congressman \u201csaid something about how I hadn\u2019t \u2018followed the script.\u2019\u00a0\u201d\nA spokeswoman for Scott said the congressman no longer chairs the same House agriculture subcommittee and referred questions to the committee\u2019s professional staff. A spokesperson there declined to make anyone available for an interview.\n\u201cIn my gut,\u201d said Pettis, \u201cI feel I pissed someone off with my testimony. Beyond that I have not felt or seen the big hand of industry saying, \u2018We\u2019re going to make you pay for this.\u2019 I have seen more direct evidence that Congress was influenced by industry than I ever felt with regard to the USDA.\u201d\nA USDA spokesman said Pettis\u2019s demotion was in no way linked to his research or testimony, and points to USDA studies on the varroa mite, sublethal pesticide effects and preserving genetic diversity as examples of \u201cbreakthrough studies\u201d the agency has conducted.\nLundgren is planning a farm where he says he can demonstrate the viability of crop diversity in large-scale farming. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)\nThe dispute hit a new low\nRNAi pesticides work by attaching a molecule to the target pest\u2019s DNA, keeping specific, vital gene sequences from functioning.\nLundgren and postdoc Chrissy Mogren used computer software to mimic the action of 21 such pesticides to determine if any threaten honeybees. What they discovered is that each pesticide might bind with some section of the honeybee\u2019s DNA. Lundgren himself describes this result as not so dramatic as it sounds. The honeybee genome is vast, and any overlap between the pesticide and the bee\u2019s genome might prove innocuous and unrelated to survival.\nStill, Lundgren thought of this research as a step to encourage further study. He also knew the data would likely spark more trouble with his bosses, so he sent the paper to seven colleagues for informal peer reviews. Five suggested relatively minor revisions, checking one of two boxes indicating the paper as \u201cacceptable\u201d for submission. Neil Hoffman and John Turner, both managers for the USDA\u2019s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, referred to the paper as \u201ctrivial\u201d and didn\u2019t check a box.\nHoffman and Turner said the paper offered no evidence of \u201cmeaningful\u201d interactions between the pesticides and the honeybee genome. Lundgren\u2019s supervisors made the same argument and refused him permission to submit the paper to an outside journal.\n\u201cThe whole process seemed tainted to me by then,\u201d says Lundgren. \u201cThey were suppressing science. This was a \u2018proof of concept\u2019 paper\u201d \u2014 a pointer to areas scientists might research further \u2014 \u201ca standard part of science.\u201d\nGreg Heck, Monsanto\u2019s weed control platform lead, with an expertise in RNAi technologies, believes Lundgren is too alarmist about the new technology and says Monsanto is conducting tests to make sure the pesticides are harmless to bees. But, hearing what the paper contains, he said he believes submitting it for publication was appropriate. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen the study, but I am a firm believer in getting research out there,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause then we can discuss the results and say, \u2018Hey, is any of this truly meaningful?\u2019\u00a0\u201d\nAt this point, Lundgren started planning a lab outside USDA, with some of the people he calls his \u201cprofessional family,\u201d including a pair who worked with him when he was suspended for unbecoming conduct.\nHe accompanied me to the site, a half-hour jaunt from his ranch home across the flatlands and open highways of Brookings. The farm, Blue Dasher, is named after Lundgren\u2019s favorite dragonfly species. Ecdysis is the process of molting, when an insect sheds its skin and transforms, a period of great promise and vulnerability. The symbolism is entirely conscious.\n\u201cI don\u2019t think science can be done, at least on this subject, in any of the conventional ways,\u201d he says. \u201cI think we need truly independent scientists \u2014 not funded by government or industry.\u201d\nBee declines, says Lundgren, are not difficult to understand. \u201cYes, the bees are in crisis, and we need to help them,\u201d he says. \u201cBut what we have is not a bee problem. What we have is a biodiversity problem.\u201d\nU.S. corporate agriculture tends toward monoculture farming \u2014 in the simplest terms, one giant farm specializing in one crop. The two key monoculture crops are corn and soybeans. Corn alone takes up 30 percent of the country\u2019s crop space, an area almost the size of California.\nSoybean acreage is nearly as vast. The corn rootworm, the Colorado potato beetle and soybean aphids all thrive best on the crops that give them their names. And so monocultures have allowed, even caused, says Lundgren, pest populations to explode.\n\u201cWe\u2019re using all of these pesticides because we\u2019ve created a pest problem,\u201d Lundgren says, \u201cand bee health is a symptom of this underlying cause.\u201d\nHe says the solution is to diversify American farming. \u201cAny other course is unsustainable,\u201d he says. \u201cPesticides, herbicides, fungicides should be something we resort to, not a first option.\u201d\nLundgren says he will use Blue Dasher to prove farmers can produce high yields, big profits and enough food by rotating crops, which will suppress pest populations naturally.\nAs he stands at the edge of what he hopes will be his new operations, the land spread out before him, he looks happy.\n\u201cThis,\u201d he says, \u201cis the future.\u201d\nIn November, when he accepted a civic courage award in Washington from the Shafeek Nader Trust for his stand against the USDA, he evoked the future as a talisman, a future in which bees and our food supply will no longer be under threat. This time, as if sensing skepticism, he goes on: \u201cI really believe it,\u201d he says. \u201cWe can do it through science.\u201d\nSteve Volk is a writer at large for Philadelphia Magazine and a contributing editor for Discover.\nEditor\u2019s note: A version of this story appears in the print magazine of March 6, 2016. After this story was printed, a five-member panel convened by USDA ruled that Lundgren\u2019s claim has no merit. That development has been incorporated into this version.\nA cutline in an earlier version of this story said bees are critical to corn. Corn is wind-pollinated.\nE-mail us at wpmagazine@washpost.com.\nFor more articles, as well as features such as Date Lab, Gene Weingarten and more, visit\u00a0The Washington Post Magazine.\nFollow the Magazine on Twitter.\nLike us on Facebook."}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "5a5ec71a-3558-11e5-adf6-7227f3b7b338_0", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "5a5ec71a-3558-11e5-adf6-7227f3b7b338_0", "title": "How to get the pollinator garden of your dreams", "text": "Butterflies are attracted to flowers with nectar and bright colors. (Hans_madsen /AP) On \u201cAsk This Old House,\u201d landscape designer Jenn Nawada constructed an instant pollinator garden for D.C. homeowner Amy Enchelmeyer. The Michigan Park home\u2019s landscape now hosts classic long-flowering native perennials for butterflies and bees, including coneflowers, Stokes aster, false indigo, hyssop and penstemon. We asked the Boston-based designer to share some ideas for achieving a butterfly-attracting space: \u25cf Pollinators such as butterflies are attracted to flowers with nectar and bright colors. Plant a variety of native flowers that have a succession of showy, colorful blooms throughout the season and are rich with pollen and nectar. This will accommodate different pollinators during different life cycle stages. Similarly, using trees, shrubs or perennials that have spring, summer and fall blooms will provide multiple food sources and habitats for the pollinators to thrive. \u25cfDepending on your space, plant clusters of one type of plant for better foraging efficiency. Designing these groupings of plants will create more of a visual impact and larger cafeteria for the pollinators. \u25cfSelect a sunny area to start your garden and be patient as it develops. Plants take time to grow and become established. \u25cf Plant a variety of flower shapes and sizes to attract a wide range of pollinators. Different kind of pollinators all interact with different shapes and sizes of flowers. Bees usually like small clusters or open-faced flowers, while hummingbirds typically like tubular blossoms loaded with nectar. \u25cfUrban gardens with little space can grow herbs, annuals and perennials in containers. \u25cf Avoid using pesticides and herbicides that can be harmful to the pollinators. If necessary, use the least-toxic solution possible and spray at sundown when the pollinators are not active. \u25cf Have fun observing all of the activity and movement in your new garden. Take time to notice which pollinator travels where and how they interact with the flowers."}], "old": [{"_id": "5a5ec71a-3558-11e5-adf6-7227f3b7b338_0", "title": "How to get the pollinator garden of your dreams", "text": "Butterflies are attracted to flowers with nectar and bright colors. (Hans_madsen /AP) On \u201cAsk This Old House,\u201d landscape designer Jenn Nawada constructed an instant pollinator garden for D.C. homeowner Amy Enchelmeyer. The Michigan Park home\u2019s landscape now hosts classic long-flowering native perennials for butterflies and bees, including coneflowers, Stokes aster, false indigo, hyssop and penstemon. We asked the Boston-based designer to share some ideas for achieving a butterfly-attracting space:"}], "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Butterflies are attracted to flowers with nectar and bright colors. (Hans_madsen /AP)\nOn \u201cAsk This Old House,\u201d landscape designer Jenn Nawada constructed an instant pollinator garden for D.C. homeowner Amy Enchelmeyer. The Michigan Park home\u2019s landscape now hosts classic long-flowering native perennials for butterflies and bees, including coneflowers, Stokes aster, false indigo, hyssop and penstemon.\nWe asked the Boston-based designer to share some ideas for achieving a butterfly-attracting space:\n\u25cf Pollinators such as butterflies are attracted to flowers with nectar and bright colors. Plant a variety of native flowers that have a succession of showy, colorful blooms throughout the season and are rich with pollen and nectar. This will accommodate different pollinators during different life cycle stages. Similarly, using trees, shrubs or perennials that have spring, summer and fall blooms will provide multiple food sources and habitats for the pollinators to thrive.\n\u25cfDepending on your space, plant clusters of one type of plant for better foraging efficiency. Designing these groupings of plants will create more of a visual impact and larger cafeteria for the pollinators.\n\u25cfSelect a sunny area to start your garden and be patient as it develops. Plants take time to grow and become established.\n\u25cf Plant a variety of flower shapes and sizes to attract a wide range of pollinators. Different kind of pollinators all interact with different shapes and sizes of flowers. Bees usually like small clusters or open-faced flowers, while hummingbirds typically like tubular blossoms loaded with nectar.\n\u25cfUrban gardens with little space can grow herbs, annuals and perennials in containers.\n\u25cf Avoid using pesticides and herbicides that can be harmful to the pollinators. If necessary, use the least-toxic solution possible and spray at sundown when the pollinators are not active.\n\u25cf Have fun observing all of the activity and movement in your new garden. Take time to notice which pollinator travels where and how they interact with the flowers."}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "5ebd1580-fd6a-11e4-805c-c3f407e5a9e9_4", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "5ebd1580-fd6a-11e4-805c-c3f407e5a9e9_4", "title": "How the White House plans to help the humble bee maintain its buzz", "text": "why honeybees are so important and how bees affect food prices. \u201cWhat are we doing on bees?\u201d Obama asked Holdren as they prepared to wrap up an Oval Office meeting in the summer of 2013. \u201cAre we doing enough?\u201d That discussion led to the launch of the White House Pollinator Health Task Force, whose recommendations are being unveiled Tuesday. The federal government has undertaken two targeted initiatives in the past: a 2007 action plan on honeybee colony collapse disorder and 2008 North American recovery strategy for monarch butterflies. But this one, which has drawn on the work of 14 agencies as well as the private sector, is more ambitious. It aims to reduce honeybee colony losses during winter to no more than 15 percent within a decade, and increase the Eastern population of the monarch butterfly so that 225 million butterflies occupy roughly 15 acres of wintering grounds in Mexico by 2020. The government and private entities will also restore or enhance 7 million acres of land for pollinators over the next five years. Environmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Earthjustice have been pressuring the Environmental Protection Agency to outlaw neonicotinoid pesticides, which are banned in Europe, on the grounds that they are toxic to bees. In March, the EPA issued a moratorium on approving any new use permits for these kinds of insecticides, and on Tuesday, it will announce it\u2019s accelerating its review of their impact. The agency will issue its first assessment at the end of this year \u2014 two years earlier than scheduled \u2014 and will finalize regulatory action by the end of 2018, a year ahead of schedule. The agency will also impose new restrictions on what pesticides farmers can use when commercial honeybees are pollinating their crops. CropLife America chief executive Jay Vroom, whose group represents pesticide manufacturers and participated in the task force, said that while his members might disagree with the EPA at times, they\u2019ve \u201ccontinued to be science-based and balanced\u201d at the agency. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Agriculture subcommittee on biotechnology, horticulture and research, said he\u2019s \u201cglad the administration is putting an emphasis on the pollinator issue,\u201d even though he thinks the EPA is unduly focused on pesticides\u2019 impact compared with the varroa mite, a deadly parasite. Davis noted that the EPA recently concluded soybean producers received little benefit from seeds coated with neonicotinoids, while"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "An Hairy-Footed Flower Bee prepares to burrow in the soft clay at the home of USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center biologist, Sam Droege in Upper Marlboro, Md. One of the environmental issues President Obama cares most about is something that's barely on most American's radar screen: The impending collapse of the nation's pollinators. (Doug Kapustin/For The Washington Post)\nThe humble bee \u2014 nuisance, threat, and linchpin of the American food supply \u2014 has won over the leader of the free world. And now President Obama is intervening on the bee\u2019s behalf as its habitat dwindles.\nOn Tuesday, the Obama administration will announce the first National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, a bureaucratic title for a plan to save the bee, other small winged animals and their breeding grounds. The initiative may feel like the kind of niche interest a second-term president devotes his time to, but scientists say his attention to the busy workforce that sustains many American crops is critical. While bee colonies regularly die off during winter because of stressful conditions, their sharp decline has been called a potential ecological disaster by some environmentalists and academic experts; conservative Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) described it in an interview as \u201can essential thing [that] we need to pay attention to.\u201d\nThe strategy, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, will seek to manage the way forests burned by wildfire are replanted, the way offices are landscaped and the way roadside habitats where bees feed are preserved.\nIt is also the culmination of a years-long fascination Obama has had with the bee and its worrisome fate.\n\u201cI have to say that it is mighty darn lovely having the White House acknowledge the indigenous, unpaid and invisible workforce that somehow has managed to sustain all terrestrial life without health-care subsidies, or a single COLA, for that past 250\u2009million years,\u201d said Sam Droege, a U.S. Geological Survey wildlife biologist and one of the country\u2019s foremost experts on native bee identification.\n\nBees \u2014 along with birds, bats and butterflies \u2014 play a key function by pollinating commercial fruit and vegetable crops; alfalfa and clover that provide feed for cattle; and the nuts, seeds and fruits that sustain massive grizzly bears and delicate songbirds. Some estimates put the economic value of their activities at roughly $15\u2009billion a year.\nBut over the past five years, winter losses of commercial honeybee colonies have averaged roughly 30 percent. A consortium of universities and research laboratories announced last week that beekeepers lost 42.1 percent of their colonies between April 2014 and 2015, an 8 percent spike from the previous year, and that the number of summer deaths exceeded winter deaths for the first time since the survey began in 2010.\nA similar problem exists with the monarch butterfly, which undertakes an arduous annual migration from sites in the Northern United States and Southern Canada to Mexico. The butterflies have been hit hard by the decline in native milkweed that has come from shifts in farming practices, as well as by climate change and exposure to insecticides. During this past winter, the butterflies occupied just 10 percent of the habitat in Mexico that they did a couple of decades earlier.\nJohn P. Holdren, assistant to the president for science and technology, said in an interview that the president is concerned about the issue not just because of bees\u2019 economic impact, but also because of the \u201ccanary in the coal mine\u201d phenomenon. \u201cIf honeybee colonies are collapsing for a reason we don\u2019t understand, what is that telling us about our overall impacts and understanding of the ecosystems on which we depend?\u201d\nObama has signed off on the placement of a beehive and then a pollinators\u2019 garden on the South Lawn. When National Medal of Science winner May Berenbaum, sporting a Fortunoff blue sapphire honeybee pin on her lapel, thanked him for caring about bees as she shook his hand on Nov. 20, he replied, \u201cI do care about bees \u2014 and we\u2019re going to fix them!\u201d\nLong before Berenbaum broached the subject, the issue made it to the Oval Office. Sam Kass, then the president\u2019s senior policy adviser on nutrition and the first family\u2019s personal chef, frequently discussed bees with Obama. After reading a New York Times article in early 2011 about honeybee colony collapse disorder \u2014 where many bees die and others abandon the hive \u2014 the president asked aides for a memo. Two years later, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack authored another memo, accompanied by one co-written by Holdren and Obama\u2019s domestic policy director, Cecila Mu\u00f1oz.\nThe Obama administration announced the first national strategy to promote the health of bees and other pollinators, following the sharp decline in colony numbers in recent years. USDA bee scientist Jay Evans explains why honeybees are so important and how bees affect food prices.\n\u201cWhat are we doing on bees?\u201d Obama asked Holdren as they prepared to wrap up an Oval Office meeting in the summer of 2013. \u201cAre we doing enough?\u201d\nThat discussion led to the launch of the White House Pollinator Health Task Force, whose recommendations are being unveiled Tuesday. The federal government has undertaken two targeted initiatives in the past: a 2007 action plan on honeybee colony collapse disorder and 2008 North American recovery strategy for monarch butterflies. But this one, which has drawn on the work of 14 agencies as well as the private sector, is more ambitious.\nIt aims to reduce honeybee colony losses during winter to no more than 15 percent within a decade, and increase the Eastern population of the monarch butterfly so that 225 million butterflies occupy roughly 15 acres of wintering grounds in Mexico by 2020. The government and private entities will also restore or enhance 7\u00a0million acres of land for pollinators over the next five years.\nEnvironmental groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Earthjustice have been pressuring the Environmental Protection Agency to outlaw neonicotinoid pesticides, which are banned in Europe, on the grounds that they are toxic to bees. In March, the EPA issued a moratorium on approving any new use permits for these kinds of insecticides, and on Tuesday, it will announce it\u2019s accelerating its review of their impact. The agency will issue its first assessment at the end of this year \u2014 two years earlier than scheduled \u2014 and will finalize regulatory action by the end of 2018, a year ahead of schedule.\nThe agency will also impose new restrictions on what pesticides farmers can use when commercial honeybees are pollinating their crops.\nCropLife America chief executive Jay Vroom, whose group represents pesticide manufacturers and participated in the task force, said that while his members might disagree with the EPA at times, they\u2019ve \u201ccontinued to be science-based and balanced\u201d at the agency.\nRep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Agriculture subcommittee on biotechnology, horticulture and research, said he\u2019s \u201cglad the administration is putting an emphasis on the pollinator issue,\u201d even though he thinks the EPA is unduly focused on pesticides\u2019 impact compared with the varroa mite, a deadly parasite.\nDavis noted that the EPA recently concluded soybean producers received little benefit from seeds coated with neonicotinoids, while the Agriculture Department disagreed. \u201cWe need to know what the best avenue for success is,\u201d he said.\nSimon Fraser University biology professor Mark Winston, however, said the administration is not pushing big agricultural producers hard enough to grow diverse crops and dramatically cut the amount of toxic pesticides they put on crops.\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t change farming and you don\u2019t change pesticide use, you\u2019re not going to make substantial changes in the health of pollinators,\u201d Winston said.\nBut others describe these efforts \u2014 especially on habitat \u2014 as significant. W. Atlee Burpee & Co. has donated more than 1 million seed packets that the White House, National Park Service and Agriculture Department are distributing to Americans to plant in their yards, and most have already gone out the door. George Ball, the company\u2019s chief executive, explained they called it a butterfly and bee garden because \u201cthere are people who are afraid of bees, so we had to shade it a little bit to ensure it was widely distributed.\u201d\n\u201dIt\u2019s not like wolves, it\u2019s not like we\u2019re saying we\u2019re going to have to set aside a couple of counties in Maryland,\u201d said Droege, who has devoted years to collecting and identifying native bee species at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md.\nAnd while Yoho said he might press for the next president to reverse the new policies if \u201cyou\u2019re having politics dictate policies, versus scientific research,\u201d USGS Associate Director for Ecosystems Mission Area Anne Kinsinger said she thinks that is unlikely.\n\u201cThese are changes to our basic guidelines on how we do things,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re in the fabric of the organization.\u201d"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "68a00162-3de8-11e4-9587-5dafd96295f0_4", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "68a00162-3de8-11e4-9587-5dafd96295f0_4", "title": "Loudoun fourth-grader plays major role in effort to save the monarch butterfly", "text": "\u201cAnd there will be an educational element, so people understand why medians won\u2019t be mowed. That will have a huge impact.\u201d Monarch butterflies, along with their fellow pollinators, also got a boost this summer from the White House, which issued a presidential memorandum in June calling for protective measures for butterflies and other pollinators. Noting that populations of domestic pollinators \u2014 including bees, birds, bats and butterflies \u2014 have been falling for many years, the memorandum directed U.S. government agencies to take additional steps to help protect and strengthen the creatures that serve as \u201ccritical contributors to our nation\u2019s economy, food system, and environmental health.\u201d The memorandum came as welcome news to wildlife advocates and enthusiasts, Hamilton said. \u201cIt really demonstrated that there is a national interest and a national interest for monarchs as well as pollinators, and a recognition that these species are really playing a strong role in our environment and our habitats and our own food supply,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cI think that\u2019s a really great step in the right direction.\u201d Meanwhile, Carter Steadman is doing his best to help this year\u2019s monarch campaign surpass last year\u2019s total of 2,500 butterflies released. So far, about 900 monarchs have been released by volunteers participating in the campaign. At the same time last year, that number was closer to 400, Hamilton said. Most butterflies \u2014 including the 200 still developing at the Steadman home \u2014 will be released in the coming weeks. Carter hopes that sharing his passion for raising the butterflies will encourage friends and neighbors to do what they can to help \u2014 even if they\u2019re unlikely to invite hundreds of caterpillars into their homes, or don\u2019t have property to plant a way station. \u201cWe\u2019ve been telling everyone about the monarch problem,\u201d he said. \u201cEven if you live in a townhouse and can\u2019t plant a way station, you can tell people and spread the word.\u201d His parents and big sister, Samantha, 13, have encouraged his devotion to his cause \u2014 which is a good thing, he said, because he has no plans to slow down. When the monarchs return next spring, he\u2019ll be ready to start the whole process again. \u201cI love that I have more monarchs this time. I can handle more, I can release more, and more practice means more experience, which means I\u2019m getting better,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re never too young to make a difference.\u201d"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Carter Steadman prepares to release a monarch butterfly in his backyard way station garden.  (Caitlin Gibson/The Washington Post)\nOn a recent afternoon, the dining room of the Steadman family\u2019s stately home in South Riding was filled with books, notepads, family photos \u2014 and roughly 200 insects.\nAtop a wooden cabinet, a large net enclosure was filled with bunches of milkweed plants and scores of bright green, yellow and black striped monarch butterfly caterpillars. Half a dozen newly formed chrysalises, the delicate casings that enclose the caterpillars as they turn into adult butterflies, were taped securely to the shelves of a nearby bookcase. In a mesh cage on the dining room table, a single orange-and-black monarch butterfly softly flapped its wings.\nThe elaborate arrangement was the work of 9-year-old Carter Steadman, a fourth-grader at Hutchison Farm Elementary in South Riding and a diehard \u201ccritter lover,\u201d in the words of his mother, Sarah Steadman. The young naturalist was first inspired to help monarch butterflies nearly two years ago, when a second-grade teacher taught the class about the life stages of the monarch and explained that the delicate creatures were increasingly threatened by changes to their environment.\n\u201cI thought maybe it could be easy to help them, and maybe I could try this,\u201d Carter said while sitting at the dining room table-turned-monarch nursery.\nIt\u2019s no small commitment. The net container filled with milkweed must be cleaned nightly. As the caterpillars move through their life stages, they are relocated accordingly into separate areas where they will be safe. New chrysalises are taped to the bookshelf until they harden. Once hardened, they are tied snugly to the top of another mesh enclosure. Once they \u201ceclose\u201d \u2014 or emerge from the chrysalis \u2014 the butterflies are escorted to yet another net container until their wings dry, after which they are released.\n\u201cIt\u2019s very detailed work for a child his age,\u201d Sarah Steadman said. \u201cHe\u2019s very dedicated to it.\u201d\nCarter set out to help the threatened butterflies as part of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy\u2019s inaugural monarch butterfly campaign. The effort aimed to bolster local butterfly populations by planting monarch \u201cway stations\u201d filled with milkweed, which serves as breeding and feeding grounds for the monarchs, and encouraging Loudoun residents such as Carter to raise and release the insects.\nAfter Carter\u2019s first season of butterfly-raising last year, he released more than a dozen monarchs into the wild. This year, he has already released nearly 100, and twice as many are being nurtured through their life stages in the family dining room.\nThe devoted young volunteer also spent many hours during his summer vacation tending to a monarch way station at his school, updating his \u201cButterfly Buddy\u201d Web site with his mom, and leading library workshops to help other kids learn about the butterflies.\n\u201cHe knows so much .\u2009.\u2009. it\u2019s fabulous to see his passion and his excitement, it\u2019s truly infectious,\u201d said Nicole Hamilton, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy president. \u201cSeeing him interact with other kids and talk about monarch butterflies in terms that not only he relates to, but that his peers and kids younger than him relate to, is just fabulous.\u201d\nThe Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy launched its first monarch butterfly campaign last year, after mounting concern over the dwindling migratory population of monarchs, which are well known for their impressive annual migration from Mexico to the United States. In recent years, the insects have become increasingly vulnerable to environmental changes along their migration routes, including scarce feeding and breeding grounds because of the use of herbicides and genetically modified crops, as well as the illegal logging of the Mexican forests where the insects winter.\nDespite the challenges, there is reason to hope, Hamilton said: In an August butterfly count in Loudoun, 70 monarchs were spotted, a dramatic improvement over last year\u2019s tally of seven.\n\u201cIt\u2019s still nowhere near as high as it\u2019s been in some years, when we\u2019ve had up to 150 or more,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cBut it\u2019s not as bad as it was last year, at least.\u201d\nShe hopes those numbers will climb with the help of the organization\u2019s expanding campaign. In addition to planting monarch way stations and encouraging citizen involvement, Hamilton said, she is working with Dominion Power and the Virginia Department of Transportation on plans to turn right-of-way property and highway medians into butterfly-friendly territory.\n\u201cWe want, as they said, to create something that Virginians will be proud of,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cAnd there will be an educational element, so people understand why medians won\u2019t be mowed. That will have a huge impact.\u201d\nMonarch butterflies, along with their fellow pollinators, also got a boost this summer from the White House, which issued a presidential memorandum in June calling for protective measures for butterflies and other pollinators.\nNoting that populations of domestic pollinators \u2014 including bees, birds, bats and butterflies \u2014 have been falling for many years, the memorandum directed U.S. government agencies to take additional steps to help protect and strengthen the creatures that serve as \u201ccritical contributors to our nation\u2019s economy, food system, and environmental health.\u201d\nThe memorandum came as welcome news to wildlife advocates and enthusiasts, Hamilton said.\n\u201cIt really demonstrated that there is a national interest and a national interest for monarchs as well as pollinators, and a recognition that these species are really playing a strong role in our environment and our habitats and our own food supply,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cI think that\u2019s a really great step in the right direction.\u201d\nMeanwhile, Carter Steadman is doing his best to help this year\u2019s monarch campaign surpass last year\u2019s total of 2,500 butterflies released. So far, about 900 monarchs have been released by volunteers participating in the campaign. At the same time last year, that number was closer to 400, Hamilton said. Most butterflies \u2014 including the 200 still developing at the Steadman home \u2014 will be released in the coming weeks.\nCarter hopes that sharing his passion for raising the butterflies will encourage friends and neighbors to do what they can to help \u2014 even if they\u2019re unlikely to invite hundreds of caterpillars into their homes, or don\u2019t have property to plant a way station.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been telling everyone about the monarch problem,\u201d he said. \u201cEven if you live in a townhouse and can\u2019t plant a way station, you can tell people and spread the word.\u201d\nHis parents and big sister, Samantha, 13, have encouraged his devotion to his cause \u2014 which is a good thing, he said, because he has no plans to slow down. When the monarchs return next spring, he\u2019ll be ready to start the whole process again.\n\u201cI love that I have more monarchs this time. I can handle more, I can release more, and more practice means more experience, which means I\u2019m getting better,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re never too young to make a difference.\u201d"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "6GH5LRXDOJG7VK7XH6O6RZEKSQ_0", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "6GH5LRXDOJG7VK7XH6O6RZEKSQ_0", "title": "Monarch butterflies\u2019 migration is part relay race, part obstacle course \u2014 and full of danger", "text": "Life is hard for the modern American butterfly. Monarch butterflies, the iconic American insect, are declining in North America, and scientists are scrambling to uncover the mystery of their disappearance during their thousands of miles of migration. Step aside, Shark Week; it\u2019s The authors find that the greatest declines for monarchs may be occurring during their winters in Mexico and the following migration north to the Texas and Gulf States. Migration mortality, as it\u2019s called, is creating a disconnect between the large numbers of monarchs produced in the United States and Canada and the smaller numbers reported in Mexico. \u201cThe migration itself might be the problem,\u201d said Anurag Agrawal, James Perkins Professor of Environmental Studies at Cornell University and lead author of the paper. In past 25 years, Mexican forests where the monarchs live have experienced a steep decline. But the butterflies face many struggles during the long international journey. \u201cTwenty million monarchs die in car accidents every year on their way to Mexico,\u201d Agrawal said. Freeways and cities across the United States bisect the butterfly habitat and reduce the areas of appropriate pit stops. In addition, habitat loss, pollution, pesticides and climate change are also threatening the tiger-striped insect. When resting between trips, monarchs are a mosaic of orange and black, often appearing so thickly in trees that they appear to be a cloud of gently blinking leaves. The monarchs can be so dense that scientists and volunteers count them per hectare, the area of land they cover, rather than individually. Imagine having such a density of anything. Imagine an acre of bunnies. Monitoring monarch migrations is a huge effort involving three countries, more than 3,000 miles and myriad citizen scientists, along with large organizations such as World Wildlife Fund and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and a lot of butterfly researchers. Andy Davis, assistant research scientist of the University of Georgia, examines the insects\u2019 stress responses by gently placing chubby striped caterpillars under a small sensor that lets him and his team watch the bug\u2019s tiny tubular heart beat. \u201cYou can get it similar to the heart-rate monitor at the hospital, you know: Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep,\u201d Davis said. Then he plays the sounds of highway traffic. He and his colleagues found that, not unlike humans, caterpillars are distressed by short bursts of traffic noise. However, after long periods of chronic noise, the caterpillars became accustomed or desensitized. It\u2019s"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Life is hard for the modern American butterfly. Monarch butterflies, the iconic American insect, are declining in North America, and scientists\u00a0are scrambling to uncover the mystery of their disappearance during their thousands of miles of migration.\nStep aside, Shark Week; it\u2019s\nThe authors\u00a0find that the greatest declines for monarchs may be occurring during their winters in Mexico and the following migration north to the Texas and Gulf States. Migration mortality, as it\u2019s called, is creating a disconnect between the large numbers of monarchs\u00a0produced in the\u00a0United States and Canada and the smaller numbers reported\u00a0in Mexico.\n\u201cThe migration itself might be the problem,\u201d said Anurag Agrawal, James Perkins Professor of Environmental Studies at Cornell University and lead author of the paper. In past 25 years, Mexican forests where the monarchs live have\u00a0experienced a steep decline. But the butterflies face many struggles during the long international journey.\n\u201cTwenty million monarchs die in car accidents every year on their way to Mexico,\u201d Agrawal said. Freeways and cities across the United States bisect the butterfly habitat and reduce the areas of appropriate pit stops. In addition, habitat loss, pollution, pesticides and climate change are also threatening\u00a0the tiger-striped insect.\nWhen resting between trips, monarchs are a mosaic of orange and black, often appearing so thickly in trees that they appear to be a cloud of gently blinking leaves. The monarchs\u00a0can be so dense that scientists and volunteers count them per hectare, the area of land they cover, rather than individually.\nImagine having such a density of anything. Imagine an acre of\u00a0bunnies.\nMonitoring monarch migrations is a huge effort involving three countries, more than 3,000 miles and\u00a0myriad citizen scientists, along with large organizations such as World Wildlife Fund and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and a lot of butterfly researchers.\nAndy Davis, assistant research scientist of the University of Georgia, examines the insects\u2019 stress responses by gently\u00a0placing chubby striped caterpillars under a small sensor that lets him and his team watch the bug\u2019s tiny tubular heart beat.\n\u201cYou can get it similar to the heart-rate monitor at the hospital, you know: Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep,\u201d Davis said.\u00a0Then he plays the sounds of highway traffic. He and his colleagues found that, not unlike humans, caterpillars are distressed by short bursts of traffic noise. However, after long periods of chronic noise, the caterpillars became accustomed or desensitized. It\u2019s not yet clear what this means for the butterfly\u2019s long-distance migration, but the research, published last month in\u00a0Biology Letters,\u00a0could be a piece of the puzzle of their decline.\nMonarchs migrate in multiple generations.\u00a0An egg laid in the Midwest will hatch into a tiny worm that is small enough to curl up comfortably on the \u201cm\u201d of an M&M candy. It will grow, voraciously munching milkweed for a few weeks, before transforming into a butterfly. This butterfly will then travel a little farther south, lay more eggs and die after living for a month. That butterfly\u2019s daughter, however, could be in the overwintering generation that makes it to Mexico, and instead of living one month, the daughter butterfly could live eight months.\nAgrawal explains that this long-lived generation is different: The\u00a0butterflies do not lay eggs or eat milkweed in the winter; they sun and drink nectar in Mexico. After what seems like a long vacation, they fly north to Gulf States\u00a0such as Texas to breed and die. These next generations will go back to being short-lived and continue their generational steppingstone migration north.\n\u201cHaving that final generation live three times longer than your parent, if we think about that in humans, that\u2019s pretty wild,\u201d said Hidetoshi Inamine, a postdoctoral researcher at Pennsylvania State University and co-author of the Science study.\nDecline of milkweed in recent years is\nScientists, conservationists and concerned citizens are working to determine how best to restore the monarch to its previous glory. Inamine\u00a0has milkweed in his Pennsylvania backyard, so he can watch the monarchs. Want a front-row seat to a total life change? Plant a milkweed and watch with childlike amazement as a pudgy, sticky caterpillar explodes into a leggy, delicate butterfly.\nFor now, it can\u2019t hurt to\nMonarch lives are complicated by battles with a changing planet across thousands of miles of travel each year. The butterflies are a"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "6d4cd834-43e8-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_1", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "6d4cd834-43e8-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_1", "title": "A successful first year for Loudoun\u2019s monarch butterfly campaign", "text": "there\u2019s a chance to make a difference.\u201d Monarch butterflies, famed for their extraordinary annual migration between Mexico and the United States, have been increasingly threatened by several factors, including changing climate patterns, illegal logging in the Mexican forests where the butterflies spend the cold winter and the widespread use of herbicide sprays in the United States that kill the insects\u2019 milkweed breeding grounds. Northern Virginia residents can\u2019t do much about climate change or illegal logging, Hamilton said, but they can definitely help the butterflies by planting milkweed and creating much-needed breeding and feeding sites. Many of the campaign volunteers told her that they have often responded to calls for action to help threatened species that are far away, such as wolves or polar bears, Hamilton said. \u201cBut with this campaign, they felt like they could really make a difference that was tangible \u2014 they could see it,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd as they talked to their neighbors and friends, it really took off on its own.\u201d At the beginning of the year, the campaign had 20 monarch way stations at schools and community sites across the county, Hamilton said. By the end of August, there were more than 60. About 3,000 milkweed plants were added to the community. Hamilton is planning to meet with Loudoun public school officials this month to discuss expanding the campaign. This year, 20 schools participated, she said, but she would love to see a way station at every public school in the county. \u201cThat would make Loudoun County the first school system in the United States with a way station at every school,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat a fine example to set.\u201d Ultimately, Hamilton said, she would like to see the campaign spread beyond Loudoun. \u201cThis year was all about building that foundation and getting our materials and our handouts together, and we didn\u2019t really have enough time to look beyond our county borders,\u201d she said. Hamilton said she is confident that there is interest among wildlife enthusiasts in neighboring jurisdictions. Her observation was echoed by Kim Hosen, executive director of the Prince William Conservation Alliance, who said the organization has created a one-acre butterfly garden with host plants such as milkweed that will be waiting to receive the migrating insects in the spring. It\u2019s only one garden, but it\u2019s intended to deliver a message to residents across Prince William. \u201cPlease do this at home,\u201d Hosen said."}], "old": [{"_id": "6d4cd834-43e8-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_1", "title": "A successful first year for Loudoun\u2019s monarch butterfly campaign", "text": "insects\u2019 milkweed breeding grounds. Northern Virginia residents can\u2019t do much about climate change or illegal logging, Hamilton said, but they can definitely help the butterflies by planting milkweed and creating much-needed breeding and feeding sites. Many of the campaign volunteers told her that they have often responded to calls for action to help threatened species that are far away, such as wolves or polar bears, Hamilton said. \u201cBut with this campaign, they felt like they could really make a difference that was tangible \u2014 they could see it,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd as they talked to their neighbors and friends, it really took off on its own.\u201d At the beginning of the year, the campaign had 20 monarch way stations at schools and community sites across the county, Hamilton said. By the end of August, there were more than 60. About 3,000 milkweed plants were added to the community. Hamilton is planning to meet with Loudoun public school officials this month to discuss expanding the campaign. This year, 20 schools participated, she said, but she would love to see a way station at every public school in the county. \u201cThat would make Loudoun County the first school system in the United States with a way station at every school,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat a fine example to set.\u201d Ultimately, Hamilton said, she would like to see the campaign spread beyond Loudoun. \u201cThis year was all about building that foundation and getting our materials and our handouts together, and we didn\u2019t really have enough time to look beyond our county borders,\u201d she said. It\u2019s only one garden, but it\u2019s intended to deliver a message to residents across Prince William. \u201cPlease do this at home,\u201d Hosen said. \u201cIt\u2019s a demonstration to say that gardening for wildlife can be very attractive . . . while providing habitat for butterflies who are in big trouble.\u201d The Prince William Conservation Alliance is also planning to publish a field guide, in print and online, to help gardeners learn how to create butterfly-friendly gardens, Hosen said. Hamilton said she has received inquiries from wildlife enthusiasts in West Virginia and other parts of Northern Virginia who heard about the Loudoun monarch campaign and wanted to join in it or replicate it. \u201cWe\u2019re going to help them with that,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m willing to give anyone what they need to replicate this and make it better and take it even further.\u201d"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The goal of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy\u2019s inaugural monarch butterfly campaign was to raise and release 2,013 of the threatened orange-and-black butterflies \u2014 a symbolic number to match the first year of an initiative that the organization hopes to expand.\nThis month, as the campaign came to a close, the conservancy announced that participants had well exceeded the goal. About 2,500 monarch butterflies were released across Loudoun County over the summer, organization President Nicole Hamilton said.\nFor years, Hamilton has tracked the number of monarch butterflies she sees in Loudoun \u2014 an annual tally that has steadily declined. This year, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy launched its first organized effort to help bolster the butterflies\u2019 presence in Northern Virginia, focusing on educating the community and creating monarch \u201cway stations\u201d \u2014 gardens of milkweed plants and wildflowers that serve as breeding and feeding sites for the insects.\nHundreds of people across the county got involved in the effort, Hamilton said.\n\u201cWe were thrilled. We definitely didn\u2019t expect quite so much of an outpouring,\u201d she said. \u201cAs we started to do the different educational programs and engage more people in their communities, folks just really latched on to it, and could see that there\u2019s a chance to make a difference.\u201d\nMonarch butterflies, famed for their extraordinary annual migration between Mexico and the United States, have been increasingly threatened by several factors, including changing climate patterns, illegal logging in the Mexican forests where the butterflies spend the cold winter and the widespread use of herbicide sprays in the United States that kill the insects\u2019 milkweed breeding grounds.\nNorthern Virginia residents can\u2019t do much about climate change or illegal logging, Hamilton said, but they can definitely help the butterflies by planting milkweed and creating much-needed breeding and feeding sites. Many of the campaign volunteers told her that they have often responded to calls for action to help threatened species that are far away, such as wolves or polar bears, Hamilton said.\n\u201cBut with this campaign, they felt like they could really make a difference that was tangible \u2014 they could see it,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd as they talked to their neighbors and friends, it really took off on its own.\u201d\nAt the beginning of the year, the campaign had 20 monarch way stations at schools and community sites across the county, Hamilton said. By the end of August, there were more than 60. About 3,000 milkweed plants were added to the community.\nHamilton is planning to meet with Loudoun public school officials this month to discuss expanding the campaign. This year, 20 schools participated, she said, but she would love to see a way station at every public school in the county.\n\u201cThat would make Loudoun County the first school system in the United States with a way station at every school,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat a fine example to set.\u201d\nUltimately, Hamilton said, she would like to see the campaign spread beyond Loudoun.\n\u201cThis year was all about building that foundation and getting our materials and our handouts together, and we didn\u2019t really have enough time to look beyond our county borders,\u201d she said.\nHamilton said she is confident that there is interest among wildlife enthusiasts in neighboring jurisdictions. Her observation was echoed by Kim Hosen, executive director of the Prince William Conservation Alliance, who said the organization has created a one-acre butterfly garden with host plants such as milkweed that will be waiting to receive the migrating insects in the spring.\nIt\u2019s only one garden, but it\u2019s intended to deliver a message to residents across Prince William.\n\u201cPlease do this at home,\u201d Hosen said. \u201cIt\u2019s a demonstration to say that gardening for wildlife can be very attractive . . . while providing habitat for butterflies who are in big trouble.\u201d\nThe Prince William Conservation Alliance is also planning to publish a field guide, in print and online, to help gardeners learn how to create butterfly-friendly gardens, Hosen said.\nHamilton said she has received inquiries from wildlife enthusiasts in West Virginia and other parts of Northern Virginia who heard about the Loudoun monarch campaign and wanted to join in it or replicate it.\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to help them with that,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m willing to give anyone what they need to replicate this and make it better and take it even further.\u201d"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "8de71748-2174-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_1", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "8de71748-2174-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_1", "title": "Pollinators and the power of flowers", "text": "flower beetle, and they\u2019re just living and mating in the snapdragons. Be my guest, I tell them. Recently I compared notes with my friend Deb Soule, author of the book \u201cHow to Move Like a Gardener.\u201d At her farm in West Rockport, Maine, Deb grows plants that are hand-processed and go into the tinctures of her Avena Botanicals. Visitors can stroll the lush flower gardens during open hours or workshops. She, too, values catmint, not only for its use in herbal teas, but for its bee-attracting powers. Also, it\u2019s ready and blooming when the ruby-throated hummingbird (another important pollinator) arrives in early summer. Butterflies and bees alike flock to her echinacea, used to make a mild immune-system stimulant, and to lavender, which helps treat respiratory infections and poor digestion. Deb and I both grow joe-pye weed, a giant purple-flowered native, named (the story goes) for an Indian herbalist in Massachusetts who passed his wisdom on to settlers. The plant is also called gravel root, for its use in treating kidney stones. Among Deb\u2019s bee-attracting favorites are anise hyssop, bee balm, black cohosh, borage and feverfew. Bee balm is also on her hummingbird list, along with cardinal flower, evening primrose, marsh mallow, lungwort and Solomon\u2019s seal. People grow flowers for many reasons, including their beauty. Those concerned about the fate of bees are especially inclined to plant them and to avoid toxic sprays that could harm any pollinators that visit. Possible causes of colony collapse disorder in bees include both pesticides and loss of habitat, so a poison-free yard bursting with blooms makes a double contribution to this cause. The same goes for monarch butterflies, whose numbers have declined in recent years. One plant that Deb especially loves is tithonia, also called Mexican sunflower. Its gorgeous flowers are somewhere between bright scarlet and deep orange. \u201cI love tithonia, too,\u201d I told her, \u201cbut it doesn\u2019t work in bouquets. It\u2019s droopy and fragile. Is it medicinal?\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d she replied. \u201cIt\u2019s not good for anything, but I plant whole hedgerows of it because the monarch butterflies, ruby-throated hummingbirds and native bees all love it.\u201d Reason enough, I\u2019d say. Tip of the week Removing fading flowers \u2014 dead-heading \u2014 will drastically improve the groomed look of a plant, prevent seediness and often promote reblooming. Use hand pruners to remove the flower back to a set of healthy leaves or take off entire stalks, depending"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "A monarch butterfly on a tithonia blossom in Deb Soule\u2019s garden.  ( Deb Soule)\nEach sunflower I pick is full of bees, sometimes eight or 10 per blossom. Most are still and quiet, as if sleeping off a sweet meal. Before I bring the flowers indoors, I flick each bee off with my finger, to fly in search of more nectar.\nThis year I\u2019m growing and selling lots of bouquets locally. Flowers are just a sideline for our vegetable business, but they serve another purpose as well. Our melons, cucumbers, squash and other fruiting crops never lack for the pollinators they need for an abundant harvest, and picking flowers gives me a good view of their numbers.\nThe catmint (which blooms all summer), lavender, shasta daisies, salvia and many others are always full of bees, butterflies and other helpers. Rarely does any insect damage them, although some are mysterious. For instance, the snapdragons are full of tiny, glossy, black beetles that hide inside their cave-like petals. They\u2019re always locked in pairs, even while moving. After consulting my old 1951 beetle guide (\u201cHow to Know the Beetles,\u201d by H.E. Jaques) I\u2019ve decided they are  Stilbus apicalis , a species of shining flower beetle, and they\u2019re just living and mating in the snapdragons. Be my guest, I tell them.\nRecently I compared notes with my friend Deb Soule, author of the book \u201cHow to Move Like a Gardener.\u201d At her farm in West Rockport, Maine, Deb grows plants that are hand-processed and go into the tinctures of her Avena Botanicals. Visitors can stroll the lush flower gardens during open hours or workshops.\nShe, too, values catmint, not only for its use in herbal teas, but for its bee-attracting powers. Also, it\u2019s ready and blooming when the ruby-throated hummingbird (another important pollinator) arrives in early summer. Butterflies and bees alike flock to her echinacea, used to make a mild immune-system stimulant, and to lavender, which helps treat respiratory infections and poor digestion. Deb and I both grow joe-pye weed, a giant purple-flowered native, named (the story goes) for an Indian herbalist in Massachusetts who passed his wisdom on to settlers. The plant is also called gravel root, for its use in treating kidney stones.\nAmong Deb\u2019s bee-attracting favorites are anise hyssop, bee balm, black cohosh, borage and feverfew. Bee balm is also on her hummingbird list, along with cardinal flower, evening primrose, marsh mallow, lungwort and Solomon\u2019s seal.\nPeople grow flowers for many reasons, including their beauty. Those concerned about the fate of bees are especially inclined to plant them and to avoid toxic sprays that could harm any pollinators that visit. Possible causes of colony collapse disorder in bees include both pesticides and loss of habitat, so a poison-free yard bursting with blooms makes a double contribution to this cause. The same goes for monarch butterflies, whose numbers have declined in recent years.\nOne plant that Deb especially loves is tithonia, also called Mexican sunflower. Its gorgeous flowers are somewhere between bright scarlet and deep orange. \u201cI love tithonia, too,\u201d I told her, \u201cbut it doesn\u2019t work in bouquets. It\u2019s droopy and fragile. Is it medicinal?\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d she replied. \u201cIt\u2019s not good for anything, but I plant whole hedgerows of it because the monarch butterflies, ruby-throated hummingbirds and native bees all love it.\u201d Reason enough, I\u2019d say.\nTip of the week\nRemoving fading flowers \u2014 dead-heading \u2014 will drastically improve the groomed look of a plant, prevent seediness and often promote reblooming. Use hand pruners to remove the flower back to a set of healthy leaves or take off entire stalks, depending on the flower structure. Wear thick gloves when dead-heading roses. \u2014 Adrian Higgins\nDamrosch\u2019s latest book is \u201cThe Four Season Farm Gardener\u2019s Cookbook.\u201d"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "90a0b494431f0d8dd5522664416b4f51_0", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "90a0b494431f0d8dd5522664416b4f51_0", "title": "Ten things in nature that could vanish before your kids see them", "text": "In their losing battle with television and digital devices, conservationists have urged parents to get the kiddies to the great outdoors. But even if parents managed to pull their children away from cellphones, what would they find in America's wilderness? A new report by the Endangered Species Coalition, an alliance of 10 environmental activist groups, says they'll see fewer things in nature than their parents did. Many are listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Here are 10 plants and animals the groups say your children might never see. (Johanna James-Heinz/AP) Rusty patched bumblebees These big, fat and cute bees were once the most common bees in North America, buzzing across millions of acres in the United States, sucking nectar and moving pollen from the male to female parts of plants, making them one of America's most efficient pollinators, worth about $3 billion per year to U.S. agriculture. Now they have lost nearly 90 percent of their range. (Billy Hefton/Enid News & Eagle via AP) Monarch butterflies When farmers spray pesticides to protect corn and soy they've planted throughout the Midwest, the chemicals also fall on a food that's cherished by monarch caterpillars: milkweed. Monarch caterpillars are creepy and black and yellow striped early in life, but eventually they become one of the prettiest butterflies to take flight. Up to a billion monarchs once fluttered about from Canada to Mexico, but lately they've been grounded; only 33 million remain. (Leila Navidi/The Star Tribune via AP) Polar bears Being the largest predator on land is not easy. A fully grown male polar bear weighs well more than half a ton, and has a big belly to fill. With ice melting because of global warming and the seal blubber it needs to survive drifting away, polar bears are struggling to survive. They can eat as much as 100 pounds of fat in a single meal, the report says. Many drown attempting to swim to ice floes in search of food. (AP/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Marvin Moriarty) Little brown bats These little creatures are about to head back into caves for their annual hibernation. Chances are, many of them won't come back out. There's a monster lurking in those caves that attacks numerous species of bats, but kills little browns more than most. It's called White Nose Syndrome, a fungus that covers the winged animals when their hearts slow"}], "old": [{"_id": "90a0b494431f0d8dd5522664416b4f51_0", "title": "Ten things in nature that could vanish before your kids see them", "text": "(Johanna James-Heinz/AP) Rusty patched bumblebees These big, fat and cute bees were once the most common bees in North America, buzzing across millions of acres in the United States, sucking nectar and moving pollen from the male to female parts of plants, making them one of America's most efficient pollinators, worth about $3 billion per year to U.S. agriculture. Now they have lost nearly 90 percent of their range. (Billy Hefton/Enid News & Eagle via AP) Monarch butterflies (Leila Navidi/The Star Tribune via AP) Polar bears Being the largest predator on land is not easy. A fully grown male polar bear weighs well more than half a ton, and has a big belly to fill. With ice melting because of global warming and the seal blubber it needs to survive drifting away, polar bears are struggling to survive. They can eat as much as 100 pounds of fat in a single meal, the report says. Many drown attempting to swim to ice floes in search of food. (AP/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Marvin Moriarty) Little brown bats (Carl de Souza/AFP/GettyImages) Great white sharks (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP) Mountain yellow-legged frogs Frogs (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP) North Pacific right whales These whales are some of the most endangered animals on Earth. Some estimates say only 30 remain in U.S. waters, but there's no way of knowing for sure. Once they were plentiful, but hunting that lasted from the 1800s until the 1960s took about 30,000, and now the whales are classified as endangered throughout its range, according to NOAA. (Donald Owen/California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection/Bugwood.org) White bark pine White bark does a lot for nature. It provides shelter for numerous animals and birds and helps grizzlies get fat and healthy off its pine seeds. But nature isn't giving back. The species is being ravaged by a beetle that's spreading because of global warming, and it's being attacked by a fungus. In the western United States and Canada, its historic range, 85 percent of white bark has been wiped out. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the pine is worthy of endangered species protection but hasn't been listed because other species are a higher priority. (Kim Toulouse/Nevada Department of Wildlife via AP) The greater sage-grouse (Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times) Snake River sockeye salmon There was a time when 40,000 of these fish with a"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "In their losing battle with\u00a0television and\u00a0digital devices, conservationists have urged parents to get the kiddies to the great outdoors. But even if parents managed to pull their children away from cellphones, what would they find in America's wilderness?\nA new report\u00a0by the Endangered Species Coalition, an alliance of 10 environmental activist groups, says they'll see fewer things in nature than their parents did. Many are listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Here are 10 plants and animals the groups say your children might never see.\n(Johanna James-Heinz/AP)\nRusty patched bumblebees\nThese big, fat and cute bees were\u00a0once the most common bees in North America, buzzing across millions of acres in the United States, sucking nectar and moving pollen from the male to female parts of plants, making them one of America's most efficient pollinators, worth about $3 billion per year to U.S. agriculture. Now they have lost nearly 90 percent of their range.\n(Billy Hefton/Enid News & Eagle via AP)\nMonarch butterflies\nWhen farmers spray pesticides to protect corn and soy they've planted throughout the Midwest, the chemicals also fall on a food that's cherished by monarch caterpillars: milkweed. Monarch caterpillars are creepy and black and yellow striped early in life, but eventually they become one of the prettiest butterflies to take flight. Up to a billion monarchs once fluttered about from Canada to Mexico, but lately they've been grounded; only 33 million remain.\n(Leila Navidi/The Star Tribune via AP)\nPolar bears\nBeing the largest predator on land is not easy. A fully grown male polar bear weighs well more than half a ton, and has a big belly to fill. With ice melting because of global warming and the seal blubber it needs to survive drifting away,\u00a0polar bears are struggling to survive. They can eat as much as\u00a0\u00a0100 pounds of fat in a single meal, the report says. Many drown attempting to swim to ice floes in search of food.\n(AP/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Marvin Moriarty)\nLittle brown bats\nThese little creatures are about to head back into caves for their annual hibernation. Chances are, many of them won't come back out. There's a monster lurking in those caves that attacks numerous species of bats, but kills little browns more than most. It's called White Nose Syndrome, a fungus that covers the winged animals when their hearts slow and their bodies go cold during their deep sleep, wreaking havoc on their bodies. The government count of bats killed by white nose was nearly 7 million\u00a0\u2014 two years ago in the Northeast, Southeast and parts of the Midwest. In Pennsylvania, little brown bat mortality was nearly 100 percent.\n(Carl de Souza/AFP/GettyImages)\nGreat white sharks\nGreat white sharks are partially warm-blooded animals that slice through the water at up to 35 mph. But their offspring, shark pups, can't outrun commercial gill nets that pull them up as by-catch\u00a0\u2014 creatures\u00a0caught by fishermen who are targeting something else, such as tuna. Fishing for great whites is illegal because their numbers are dwindling due to mortality at the hands of humans, but there's no limit on the by-catch in nursery areas off California and Mexico in the gulf, unintentionally killing up to 200 young sharks per year, the reports says.\u00a0Great whites grow slowly and mature\u00a0late on their way to living as long as\u00a070 years, \"but low\u00a0reproductive rates, small populations, and by-catch keep\u00a0this species at risk of extinction,\" the study says.\n(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP)\nMountain yellow-legged frogs\nFrogs\n(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP)\nNorth Pacific right whales\nThese whales are some of the most endangered animals on\u00a0Earth. Some estimates say only 30 remain in U.S. waters, but there's no way of knowing for sure. Once they were plentiful, but hunting that lasted from the 1800s until the 1960s took about 30,000, and now the whales are\u00a0classified as endangered throughout its range, according to NOAA.\n(Donald Owen/California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection/Bugwood.org)\nWhite bark pine\nWhite bark does a lot for nature. It provides shelter for numerous animals and birds and helps grizzlies get fat and healthy off its pine seeds. But nature isn't giving back. The species is being ravaged by a beetle that's spreading because of global warming, and it's being attacked by a fungus. In the western United States and Canada, its historic range, 85 percent of white bark has been wiped out. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the pine is worthy of endangered species protection but hasn't been listed because other species are a higher priority.\n(Kim Toulouse/Nevada Department of Wildlife via AP)\nThe greater sage-grouse\nThe greater sage-grouse is the poster bird of the conservationist movement. Its range, which once covered\u00a0297 million acres across\u00a0more than a dozen Western states, has given way to development and natural gas exploration, and is now in the path of the Keystone oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. But federal agencies strongly disagree with conservationists over whether projects should be halted to protect the bird. \"U.S. Fish and Wildlife supports efforts to keep the greater sage-grouse off the endangered species list\" by managing its habitat better, an agency Web post says.\n(Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times)\nSnake River sockeye salmon\nThere was a time when 40,000 of these fish with a green head and red body returned to spawn in the Rocky Mountains. But that was before four federal dams blocked its path. In 1992, one fish made it back. Since that time, federal, state and tribal fish managers have spent $40 million in an attempt to restock 2,500 salmon in the river. U.S. Fish and Wildlife lists Snake River sockeye as threatened and endangered in Oregon and Washington.\nRead more:\nAmerican birds fight to survive\nGlobal warming may force orioles, eagles from D.C. region\nHummingbirds want the sweet stuff. And if they don't get it, they get mad."}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "PS45IGHAREI6TMMZ6Y4L6LBUB4_0", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "PS45IGHAREI6TMMZ6Y4L6LBUB4_0", "title": "Help butterflies, bees and birds with a pollinator garden in your yard", "text": "Monarch butterflies are on the move. They\u2019re traveling from the Northeast to their winter home in Mexico. And as they travel, they might stop in your neighborhood for sips of nectar from flowers. But what if none of the yards offer a tasty snack for monarchs or other pollinators? You can change that. And October is a good time to start. We talked to two experts at Smithsonian Gardens for pointers on creating a home garden to attract pollinators. James Gagliardi and Sylvia Schmeichel are the horticulturalists responsible for the large pollinator garden outside the National Museum of Natural History in Washington. It features 230 plant species to attract pollinators and host their eggs. They encourage kids (and their parents) to think about a variety of animals when planning a garden. \u201cMove beyond monarchs,\u201d Gagliardi said. \u201cDifferent pollinators connect with different plants in different ways. Beetles are pollinators. Hummingbirds, flies, bees, moths.\u201d Gagliardi suggests finding out which plants are native to your area and seeing what those plants attract. Mountain mint, asters and goldenrod are a few of his suggestions. \u201cPlant a variety that bloom all year long,\u201d Schmeichel said. \u201cIf there is a particular pollinator you want, read about what they like.\u201d And you don\u2019t have to have a large planting space. \u201cYou can even do it in a container on your balcony,\u201d she said. Using seeds or plants depends on the time and money you can spend. \u201cI like to use plant material because I\u2019m impatient,\u201d Gagliardi said. Some flowers come from bulbs, which require a bit of patience. You plant bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses and snow drops in the fall, and they flower in the spring. Thinking ahead is important for creating a welcome spot for pollinators in every season. \u201cYou know that on a warm day at the end of winter you start to see insect activity, and there\u2019s places for them to eat,\u201d Gagliardi said. Providing year-round food for pollinators has benefits well beyond your yard. Pollinated plants provide berries and seeds that other wild animals eat. And about 35 percent of the world\u2019s food crops rely on pollinators. So at your next meal, you might consider something Schmeichel mentioned: \u201cEvery third bite of food is thanks to a pollinator.\u201d kidspost@washpost.com"}], "old": [{"_id": "PS45IGHAREI6TMMZ6Y4L6LBUB4_0", "title": "Help butterflies, bees and birds with a pollinator garden in your yard", "text": "kidspost@washpost.com"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Monarch butterflies are on the move. They\u2019re traveling from the Northeast to their winter home in Mexico. And as they travel, they might stop in your neighborhood for sips of nectar from flowers. But what if none of the yards offer a tasty snack for monarchs or other pollinators? You can change that. And October is a good time to start.\nWe talked to two experts at Smithsonian Gardens for pointers on creating a home garden to attract pollinators.\nJames Gagliardi and Sylvia Schmeichel are the horticulturalists responsible for the large pollinator garden outside the National Museum of Natural History in Washington. It features 230 plant species to attract pollinators and host their eggs.\nThey encourage kids (and their parents) to think about a variety of animals when planning a garden.\n\u201cMove beyond monarchs,\u201d Gagliardi said. \u201cDifferent pollinators connect with different plants in different ways. Beetles are pollinators. Hummingbirds, flies, bees, moths.\u201d\nGagliardi suggests finding out which plants are native to your area and seeing what those plants attract. Mountain mint, asters and goldenrod are a few of his suggestions.\n\u201cPlant a variety that bloom all year long,\u201d Schmeichel said. \u201cIf there is a particular pollinator you want, read about what they like.\u201d\nAnd you don\u2019t have to have a large planting space.\n\u201cYou can even do it in a container on your balcony,\u201d she said.\nUsing seeds or plants depends on the time and money you can spend.\n\u201cI like to use plant material because I\u2019m impatient,\u201d Gagliardi said.\nSome flowers come from bulbs, which require a bit of patience. You plant bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses and snow drops in the fall, and they flower in the spring. Thinking ahead is important for creating a welcome spot for pollinators in every season.\n\u201cYou know that on a warm day at the end of winter you start to see insect activity, and there\u2019s places for them to eat,\u201d Gagliardi said.\nProviding year-round food for pollinators has benefits well beyond your yard. Pollinated plants provide berries and seeds that other wild animals eat. And about 35 percent of the world\u2019s food crops rely on pollinators. So at your next meal, you might consider something Schmeichel mentioned: \u201cEvery third bite of food is thanks to a pollinator.\u201d\nkidspost@washpost.com"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "W4EGFIR3MUI6TIDMH3EO2UE5CU_3", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "W4EGFIR3MUI6TIDMH3EO2UE5CU_3", "title": "Butterflies aren\u2019t expendable. Our brittle reality depends on them, too.", "text": "natural products, oxygen and any other number of basic life functions. These same plants need insects to such a degree that the absence of the latter makes our world untenable. If we lose insects, then we would simultaneously lose enormous percentages of our plants, as well as swaths of birds, mammals, freshwater fish and countless other groups. Consider just one of the myriad ways in which insects support our survival. Of the nearly 300,000 species of flowering plants, around 90 percent of these rely on an animal pollinator to complete their reproductive cycle. Approximately 200,000 species of animals provide this critical service, 199,000 of which are insects, pollinating everything from our heavy contingent of crops to mighty forests, deserts, prairies, tundras and everything in between. As insects are disappearing, plants everywhere are experiencing a diminution in natural pollination. Without these critical animal species, the basic reproduction of these plants would be compromised and, for many, would grind to a halt. These plants are our foodstuffs (every third bite of food is the product of such pollination), the timber for our homes, the source and templates for many of our pharmaceuticals, and the natural products from which we derive so many other materials. The world\u2019s forests generate the very oxygen we breathe. Beyond pollination services, insects are also the food of many birds, mammals and fish \u2014 their lives sacrificed to sustain those of tens of thousands of other more conspicuous species \u2014 species that in their own way go on to support us. In such a fashion, even pests such as mosquitoes are necessary to sustain life. Without insects, all of these would perish. Insects underpin, often unseen and ignored, the essential processes of our world. We can no longer afford to be cavalier about saving those species with whom we share this world, including insects. Our indispensable pollinators, most of whom are insects, are disappearing. Our Jenga tower is teetering, and the brittleness of our reality is becoming more apparent. Choosing to save the National Butterfly Center is a microcosm of the larger choice we face in saving ourselves. We need to become disentranced when it comes to insects, awakening to the reality that our very lives are dependent on their success and survival. The loss of insects confronts us with famine, economic turmoil, pandemics and the toxification of our atmosphere. Anything that jeopardizes insect success undermines our own."}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Michael S. Engel is a paleontologist and entomologist at the University of Kansas.\nThe National Butterfly Center in Mission, Tex., encompasses 100\u00a0acres of subtropical bushlands along the banks of the Rio Grande. It\u2019s a refuge for more than 200\u00a0species of pollinating butterflies, as well as thousands of other species \u2014 flowers, birds, mammals and countless other insects.\nThe administration\u2019s plan to build a border wall through the sanctuary will effectively destroy it. But such a loss will strike many as insignificant. Butterflies \u2014 so graceful and frail \u2014 seem almost a luxury rather than a necessity. Surely, the disappearance of a few more won\u2019t make any difference in the long run?\nWe now know that this is not true. Similar losses have played out time and again to the point at which our insects are in decline. Ecosystems are much like the game of Jenga: You pull too many blocks from the tower, and it collapses. We remove one biological reserve here, we extirpate a series of species there, we pollute, we fragment, we introduce invasive species, all to the point of eventual catastrophe.\n\u201cHow brittle in reality are all the things whose permanence is never questioned.\u201d These words from the great 20th-century explorer Freya Stark are supremely fitting for our blatantly blas\u00e9 attitude toward biological diversity and its conservation. Most of us take it for granted that those species we rely upon daily will always be around.\nRecent studies, however, have revealed precipitous declines in insect abundance that foretell the possibility of considerable extinction, the so-called insect apocalypse. It is peculiar, given our interdependence, that there has been no great swell of concern regarding the impending possibility of a world in which insects are a shadow of their former selves, or gone entirely. Many, presumably, think \u201cgood riddance.\u201d Who needs roaches, mosquitoes or filthy flies? And, what if we lose some butterflies, bees and beetles along the way? Surely, we gain more by ridding ourselves of these pests? Do they really matter?\nIt is dangerous to set an entire group of organisms apart from all others when referring to their impact on the broader economy of nature. In these matters, everything is intertwined. Among all of life\u2019s creatures, insects are some of the most vital, whether we notice their many services or not. By the sheer fact of their staggering diversity and vast ecological connectedness, insects are interwoven into the fundamental functions of virtually every ecosystem. An insect apocalypse is our apocalypse.\nHad the headlines specified that plants or mammals or birds or fishes were about to go extinct, we can be sure that considerable alarm would arise. We understand, for example, that we need plants for food, medicines, natural products, oxygen and any other number of basic life functions. These same plants need insects to such a degree that the absence of the latter makes our world untenable. If we lose insects, then we would simultaneously lose enormous percentages of our plants, as well as swaths of birds, mammals, freshwater fish and countless other groups.\nConsider just one of the myriad ways in which insects support our survival. Of the nearly 300,000 species of flowering plants, around 90 percent of these rely on an animal pollinator to complete their reproductive cycle. Approximately 200,000 species of animals provide this critical service, 199,000 of which are insects, pollinating everything from our heavy contingent of crops to mighty forests, deserts, prairies, tundras and everything in between.\nAs insects are disappearing, plants everywhere are experiencing a diminution in natural pollination. Without these critical animal species, the basic reproduction of these plants would be compromised and, for many, would grind to a halt. These plants are our foodstuffs (every third bite of food is the product of such pollination), the timber for our homes, the source and templates for many of our pharmaceuticals, and the natural products from which we derive so many other materials. The world\u2019s forests generate the very oxygen we breathe.\nBeyond pollination services, insects are also the food of many birds, mammals and fish \u2014 their lives sacrificed to sustain those of tens of thousands of other more conspicuous species \u2014 species that in their own way go on to support us. In such a fashion, even pests such as mosquitoes are necessary to sustain life. Without insects, all of these would perish. Insects underpin, often unseen and ignored, the essential processes of our world.\nWe can no longer afford to be cavalier about saving those species with whom we share this world, including insects. Our indispensable pollinators, most of whom are insects, are disappearing. Our Jenga tower is teetering, and the brittleness of our reality is becoming more apparent.\nChoosing to save the National Butterfly Center is a microcosm of the larger choice we face in saving ourselves. We need to become disentranced when it comes to insects, awakening to the reality that our very lives are dependent on their success and survival. The loss of insects confronts us with famine, economic turmoil, pandemics and the toxification of our atmosphere. Anything that jeopardizes insect success undermines our own."}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "a9ba7c36-152e-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_1", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "a9ba7c36-152e-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_1", "title": "Getting monarch butterflies to hit the highways in Virginia", "text": "mowing or spraying herbicides on milkweed and other plants that pollinators need to survive, Hamilton said, officials should let the state\u2019s median strips and roadside vegetation serve as a wild habitat for the butterflies that urgently need them. The group\u2019s goal is aligned with a recently announced national priority: Last month, President Obama introduced the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, a comprehensive plan that aims to stop the continuing decline of pollinating insect populations through a variety of methods, including placing restrictions on pesticides and restoring millions of acres of pollinator habitats. The population of monarch butterflies, which are famous for their extraordinary annual migration between Mexico and the United States, have declined dramatically in recent years. Experts have cited numerous factors, including changing climate patterns, illegal logging in the Mexican forests where the butterflies winter and the widespread use of herbicide sprays in the United States. Virginia transportation officials can help the orange-and-black butterflies survive, Hamilton said, by allowing existing habitats to flourish and by planting native, pollinator-friendly plants in place of fescue grass. \u201cWe already have this great resource that\u2019s growing on its own, and just by changing mowing practices and herbicide practices, which saves taxpayer money, we can foster that,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then we can look at replanting, so we can change fescue over to wildflower mixes.\u201d Hamilton said her contacts at VDOT\u2019s central office have been supportive and encouraging. Last year, VDOT officials and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy headed a project to establish monarch way stations at four rest stops and commuter lots in Northern Virginia. But without a formal statewide plan, Hamilton said, not all jurisdictions will be aware of or support a pollinator-friendly approach to vegetation management. A few weeks ago, Hamilton learned that certain VDOT districts were spraying herbicides on milkweed and mowing medians and roadsides. On June 4, Hamilton wrote a letter to the commissioner of the department, urging him to take action: \u201cThis practice is not only damaging to monarchs, bees and other pollinators, but also a waste of taxpayer money,\u201d she wrote. The letter included recommendations that included using a more environmentally friendly mowing schedule, and education and training materials to help the public understand why the look of public roadways might change. Hamilton said she hoped to hear back before the July Fourth weekend, which typically involves a \u201cmowing blitz\u201d along"}], "old": [{"_id": "a9ba7c36-152e-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_1", "title": "Getting monarch butterflies to hit the highways in Virginia", "text": "annual migration between Mexico and the United States, have declined dramatically in recent years. Experts have cited numerous factors, including changing climate patterns, illegal logging in the Mexican forests where the butterflies winter and the widespread use of herbicide sprays in the United States. Virginia transportation officials can help the orange-and-black butterflies survive, Hamilton said, by allowing existing habitats to flourish and by planting native, pollinator-friendly plants in place of fescue grass. \u201cWe already have this great resource that\u2019s growing on its own, and just by changing mowing practices and herbicide practices, which saves taxpayer money, we can foster that,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then we can look at replanting, so we can change fescue over to wildflower mixes.\u201d Hamilton said her contacts at VDOT\u2019s central office have been supportive and encouraging. Last year, VDOT officials and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy headed a project to establish monarch way stations at four rest stops and commuter lots in Northern Virginia. But without a formal statewide plan, Hamilton said, not all jurisdictions will be aware of or support a pollinator-friendly approach to vegetation management. A few weeks ago, Hamilton learned that certain VDOT districts were spraying herbicides on milkweed and mowing medians and roadsides. On June 4, Hamilton wrote a letter to the commissioner of the department, urging him to take action: \u201cThis practice is not only damaging to monarchs, bees and other pollinators, but also a waste of taxpayer money,\u201d she wrote. The letter included recommendations that included using a more environmentally friendly mowing schedule, and education and training materials to help the public understand why the look of public roadways might change. Hamilton said she hoped to hear back before the July Fourth weekend, which typically involves a \u201cmowing blitz\u201d along Virginia\u2019s highways. She hopes the mowing can wait until October, after the monarchs have completed their breeding and migration cycle. Marshall Herman, a VDOT spokeswoman, said that the commissioner had mailed a response to Hamilton\u2019s letter and that officials hope to arrange an in-person meeting to discuss how the department \u201ccan help the monarch butterfly.\u201d The conservancy\u2019s goal might seem simple enough, Hamilton said, but she expects some concerns. She has been told on occasion that Virginia drivers are accustomed to the aesthetics of mowed and manicured roadways and might not like the look of wild native plants. But she\u2019s convinced that if people understand the reason for the change,"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "As the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy\u2019s third annual monarch butterfly campaign gains momentum in Northern Virginia this summer, conservationists are taking their fight to the streets \u2014 specifically, Virginia\u2019s vast network of highways.\nSince the conservancy\u2019s campaign to help the threatened monarch butterfly was launched in 2013, the project has led to the release of thousands of butterflies and the planting of hundreds of monarch \u201cway stations\u201d \u2014 gardens filled with pollinator-friendly plants, such as milkweed \u2014 across Loudoun County and beyond.\nThe group\u2019s public outreach and education efforts are going strong this year, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Executive Director Nicole Hamilton said, but the campaign is broadening its goals to include a statewide makeover of the landscaping along hundreds of miles of highways.\n\u201cMilkweed is growing all over the place in the medians and along the roadsides in Virginia,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cI get e-mails from people driving up along [Interstate] 81 and on Route 50, and they\u2019re always asking me, \u2018What are you doing about this?\u2019\u00a0\u201d\nFor 11 months, Hamilton has been working with officials in the central office of the Virginia Department of Transportation, hoping to encourage the statewide cultivation of monarch-friendly greenery along the commonwealth\u2019s highways. Instead of mowing or spraying herbicides on milkweed and other plants that pollinators need to survive, Hamilton said, officials should let the state\u2019s median strips and roadside vegetation serve as a wild habitat for the butterflies that urgently need them.\nThe group\u2019s goal is aligned with a recently announced national priority: Last month, President Obama introduced the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, a comprehensive plan that aims to stop the continuing decline of pollinating insect populations through a variety of methods, including placing restrictions on pesticides and restoring millions of acres of pollinator habitats.\nThe population of monarch butterflies, which are famous for their extraordinary annual migration between Mexico and the United States, have declined dramatically in recent years. Experts have cited numerous factors, including changing climate patterns, illegal logging in the Mexican forests where the butterflies winter and the widespread use of herbicide sprays in the United States.\nVirginia transportation officials can help the orange-and-black butterflies survive, Hamilton said, by allowing existing habitats to flourish and by planting native, pollinator-friendly plants in place of fescue grass.\n\u201cWe already have this great resource that\u2019s growing on its own, and just by changing mowing practices and herbicide practices, which saves taxpayer money, we can foster that,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd then we can look at replanting, so we can change fescue over to wildflower mixes.\u201d\nHamilton said her contacts at VDOT\u2019s central office have been supportive and encouraging. Last year, VDOT officials and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy headed a project to establish monarch way stations at four rest stops and commuter lots in Northern Virginia. But without a formal statewide plan, Hamilton said, not all jurisdictions will be aware of or support a pollinator-friendly approach to vegetation management. A few weeks ago, Hamilton learned that certain VDOT districts were spraying herbicides on milkweed and mowing medians and roadsides.\nOn June 4, Hamilton wrote a letter to the commissioner of the department, urging him to take action: \u201cThis practice is not only damaging to monarchs, bees and other pollinators, but also a waste of taxpayer money,\u201d she wrote. The letter included recommendations that included using a more environmentally friendly mowing schedule, and education and training materials to help the public understand why the look of public roadways might change.\nHamilton said she hoped to hear back before the July Fourth weekend, which typically involves a \u201cmowing blitz\u201d along Virginia\u2019s highways. She hopes the mowing can wait until October, after the monarchs have completed their breeding and migration cycle.\nMarshall Herman, a VDOT spokeswoman, said that the commissioner had mailed a response to Hamilton\u2019s letter and that officials hope to arrange an in-person meeting to discuss how the department \u201ccan help the monarch butterfly.\u201d\nThe conservancy\u2019s goal might seem simple enough, Hamilton said, but she expects some concerns. She has been told on occasion that Virginia drivers are accustomed to the aesthetics of mowed and manicured roadways and might not like the look of wild native plants. But she\u2019s convinced that if people understand the reason for the change, they will be supportive.\n\u201cThe solution is education and outreach and communication,\u201d she said. \u201cIf people understand what this is for, then they\u2019ll get behind it. Who doesn\u2019t want to see their roadsides used for something good, like bringing back a species?\u201d\nRead more on this here:\nFourth-grader plays major role in local effort to save the monarch\nThe White House plan to save the monarch butterfly: build a butterfly highway\nMichelle Obama makes the pitch for pollinators"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "b86b8cf4-da8c-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_1", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "b86b8cf4-da8c-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_1", "title": "Butterfly decline signals trouble in environment", "text": "that we need to be watching butterflies more closely.\u201d At least one species of butterfly has vanished from the United States, along with the two subspecies in South Florida. Seventeen species and subspecies are listed as endangered nationwide, and two are listed as threatened. Habitat loss is a major problem, as are bug sprays, especially those used by municipalities and homeowners to control mosquitoes. \u201cWe know that it\u2019s becoming increasingly popular for individual homeowners to use misting systems to spray low levels of pesticides. As those become more abundant, we have to evaluate if those are contributing to the decline,\u201d Williams said. To Laurie Davies Adams, executive director of Pollinator Partnership, a group dedicated to the conservation of insects such as bees, moths and butterflies, the explanation for the butterfly decline is simple. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have a place to nest, if you don\u2019t have a place to lay eggs, if you don\u2019t have a place to get the floral resources you need, because they\u2019re absent because of drought or early bloom, you\u2019re in trouble,\u201d Adams said. The same issues plaguing butterflies are also causing populations of frogs, salamanders and toads to plummet, along with bees and other insects. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study estimated that seven species of amphibians will drop by 50 percent if the current rate of decline, fueled by pesticide use and loss of habitat, continues. Pesticide use has also led to a collapse of other pollinators \u2014 wasps, beetles and especially honeybees. At least 25,000 bumble\u00adbees were recently found dead at an Oregon parking lot, ironically during National Pollinator Week, which started June 18. Why should anyone care about losing butterflies, asked Robert K. Robbins, a research entomologist at the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s Museum of Natural History. Although the insect looks fragile, like most bugs it clings to existence more ferociously than mammals. If butterflies are going extinct, \u201cit\u2019s a strong indicator that we\u2019re messing up the environment around us,\u201d Robbins said. Numerous animals such as Carolina parakeets and passenger pigeons have vanished, but butterflies have been known to disappear in one place and show up in another, which is why the Fish and Wildlife Service waited at least a decade to announce the extinction of the skippers. The last confirmed extinction of a butterfly species was of the blueberry-colored Xerces blue, which disappeared from San Francisco sand dunes that were commercially developed, Robbins said."}], "old": [{"_id": "b86b8cf4-da8c-11e2-a9f2-42ee3912ae0e_1", "title": "Butterfly decline signals trouble in environment", "text": "and two are listed as threatened. Habitat loss is a major problem, as are bug sprays, especially those used by municipalities and homeowners to control mosquitoes. \u201cWe know that it\u2019s becoming increasingly popular for individual homeowners to use misting systems to spray low levels of pesticides. As those become more abundant, we have to evaluate if those are contributing to the decline,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have a place to nest, if you don\u2019t have a place to lay eggs, if you don\u2019t have a place to get the floral resources you need, because they\u2019re absent because of drought or early bloom, you\u2019re in trouble,\u201d Adams said. The same issues plaguing butterflies are also causing populations of frogs, salamanders and toads to plummet, along with bees and other insects. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study estimated that seven species of amphibians will drop by 50 percent if the current rate of decline, fueled by pesticide use and loss of habitat, continues. Why should anyone care about losing butterflies, asked Robert K. Robbins, a research entomologist at the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s Museum of Natural History. Although the insect looks fragile, like most bugs it clings to existence more ferociously than mammals. If butterflies are going extinct, \u201cit\u2019s a strong indicator that we\u2019re messing up the environment around us,\u201d Robbins said. Numerous animals such as Carolina parakeets and passenger pigeons have vanished, but butterflies have been known to disappear in one place and show up in another, which is why the Fish and Wildlife Service waited at least a decade to announce the extinction of the skippers. Like all flora and fauna, humans stand to gain a lot from the presence of a butterfly species \u2014 a possible medical breakthrough from study and biomedical research, for example, Robbins said. But he sees a bigger picture. When an entire line dies off, \u201cit\u2019s a report card on the health of the environment around us,\u201d Robbins said. \u201cWe depend on fresh air and food that isn\u2019t full of chemicals. I think that\u2019s a more important aspect than maybe we would\u2019ve discovered a gene that would\u2019ve cured some disease. It\u2019s our general survival.\u201d Eighty percent of food crops are pollinated by insects such as bees, moths and butterflies, according to scientists. Nearly a third of the nation\u2019s honeybees have disappeared, and scientists theorize that pesticide use is a contributing factor in their decline. It\u2019s not"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "The male Schaus swallowtail butterfly is an endangered species.  (Dr. Thomas C. Emmel/University of Florida)\nButterflies are the essence of cool in the insect world, a favorite muse for poets and songwriters, who hold them up as symbols of love, beauty, transformation and good fortune.\nBut providing good fortune apparently goes only one way. As humans rip apart woods and meadows for housing developments and insecticide-soaked lawns, butterflies across the country are disappearing.\nThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that two brown, mothlike butterfly subspecies are probably extinct in South Florida, which some entomologists say is ground zero for the number of butterfly species on the verge of annihilation.\nThe rockland grass skipper went missing in 1999, and the Zestos skipper hasn\u2019t been seen since 2004. Several other species, such as the ebony-and-ivory-colored Schaus swallowtail, are listed as endangered, and many others are threatened, including the silvery Bartram\u2019s hairstreak.\n\u201cWe look at it as a signal that we\u2019ve got a serious problem with butterflies and other insects and pollinators here in Florida,\u201d said Larry Williams, a supervisor for the ecological services program at the Fish and Wildlife Service. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at this as sort of a wake-up call that we need to be watching butterflies more closely.\u201d\nAt least one species of butterfly has vanished from the United States, along with the two subspecies in South Florida. Seventeen species and subspecies are listed as endangered nationwide, and two are listed as threatened.\nHabitat loss is a major problem, as are bug sprays, especially those used by municipalities and homeowners to control mosquitoes. \u201cWe know that it\u2019s becoming increasingly popular for individual homeowners to use misting systems to spray low levels of pesticides. As those become more abundant, we have to evaluate if those are contributing to the decline,\u201d Williams said.\nTo Laurie Davies Adams, executive director of Pollinator Partnership, a group dedicated to the conservation of insects such as bees, moths and butterflies, the explanation for the butterfly decline is simple.\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t have a place to nest, if you don\u2019t have a place to lay eggs, if you don\u2019t have a place to get the floral resources you need, because they\u2019re absent because of drought or early bloom, you\u2019re in trouble,\u201d Adams said.\nThe same issues plaguing butterflies are also causing populations of frogs, salamanders and toads to plummet, along with bees and other insects. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study estimated that seven species of amphibians will drop by 50 percent if the current rate of decline, fueled by pesticide use and loss of habitat, continues.\nPesticide use has also led to a collapse of other pollinators \u2014 wasps, beetles and especially honeybees. At least 25,000 bumble\u00adbees were recently found dead at an Oregon parking lot, ironically during National Pollinator Week, which started June 18.\nWhy should anyone care about losing butterflies, asked Robert K. Robbins, a research entomologist at the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s Museum of Natural History.\nAlthough the insect looks fragile, like most bugs it clings to existence more ferociously than mammals. If butterflies are going extinct, \u201cit\u2019s a strong indicator that we\u2019re messing up the environment around us,\u201d Robbins said.\nNumerous animals such as Carolina parakeets and passenger pigeons have vanished, but butterflies have been known to disappear in one place and show up in another, which is why the Fish and Wildlife Service waited at least a decade to announce the extinction of the skippers.\nThe last confirmed extinction of a butterfly species was of the blueberry-colored Xerces blue, which disappeared from San Francisco sand dunes that were commercially developed, Robbins said.\nLike all flora and fauna, humans stand to gain a lot from the presence of a butterfly species \u2014 a possible medical breakthrough from study and biomedical research, for example, Robbins said. But he sees a bigger picture.\nWhen an entire line dies off, \u201cit\u2019s a report card on the health of the environment around us,\u201d Robbins said. \u201cWe depend on fresh air and food that isn\u2019t full of chemicals. I think that\u2019s a more important aspect than maybe we would\u2019ve discovered a gene that would\u2019ve cured some disease. It\u2019s our general survival.\u201d\nEighty percent of food crops are pollinated by insects such as bees, moths and butterflies, according to scientists. Nearly a third of the nation\u2019s honeybees have disappeared, and scientists theorize that pesticide use is a contributing factor in their decline.\nIt\u2019s not that butterflies will be wiped off the face of the Earth anytime soon. There are 650 to 750 species in the United States and slightly fewer than 20,000 species worldwide. Peru has a quarter of those, and species explode in tropical areas such as the Caribbean. But their estimated decline is rapid and troubling in the United States.\n\u201cEvery single day the number of butterflies in the United States decreases, because every day a meadow is developed into a lot,\u201d said Jeffrey Glassberg, president of the North American Butterfly Association.\n\u201cAnd then I would say second is pesticide use,\u201d he said. It doesn\u2019t have to be this way, he said. \u201cIt would be really easy for people to make a significant difference in the environment just by the way they planted their suburban yards. Many butterflies would be increased by planting your yard with the right native plants.\u201d\nButterflies live a few days or a few weeks, depending on the species. Females lay a few hundred eggs in a lifetime, Williams said. Generally, they lay about a half-dozen at one time.\nA larva emerges and slowly feeds on plant leaves. Even those are threatened by invasive species introduced by humans, such as the green iguana in Florida, which eats the plants along with the larva.\nMark Salvato, a Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, hacked his way through pine scrub at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys and discovered that first-hand with the endangered Miami blue butterfly.\n\u201cA very large iguana population was eating the Miami blue host plant,\u201d Salvato said. After a two-year cold snap ending in 2010, the plants died back, and when they returned, iguanas pounced, devouring both the plants and the butterfly larva. \u201cIt was kind of like a perfect storm,\u201d he said."}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "d0b531931221e4c779ed70513b2c18fd_3", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "new", "new": [{"_id": "d0b531931221e4c779ed70513b2c18fd_3", "title": "A cry in the dark but no answer. This is how millions of little bats are dying from a lethal fungus.", "text": "spread too far,\" he said, \"and it\u2019s too late.\" Pause for a second to see the big picture, the awesome devastation biologists have witnessed now for nearly a decade. In the spring, they've visited caves in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oklahoma and other states to find hundreds of thousands of bats lying dead or flopping about in the late stages of agonizing deaths. Bats are preparing to reenter caves and abandoned mines in late October for a four-month hibernation. \u201cI\u2019m terribly, terribly concerned,\u201d Katie Gillies, a conservation biologist for Bat Conservation International, said when they were about to hibernate last year. \u201cI don\u2019t think the disease will run its course. There is no way to save our bats from white nose without intervention. The situation is . . . absolutely dire.\u201d White-nose syndrome is basically Ebola for bats, an animal pandemic. Gray bats, big brown bats, Northern long-eared bats and tri-colored bats are also affected. Ninety-percent of little brown bats in the northeast are dead. Here's how the research paper describes it: \"White-nose syndrome is the most devastating epizootic wildlife disease of mammals in history, having killed millions of hibernating bats in North America since 2007.\" Sometimes it drives bats mad before they start to sleep. Consider this 2013 incident Great Smoky Mountain National Park that straddles North Carolina and Tennessee. Bats that were supposed to be sleeping were out and about, acting crazy in many cases. [Bats hit hard by deadly one-two punch: windmills and white-nose syndrome] Seemingly coming out of nowhere, they launched their mouse-sized bodies at unsuspecting tourists, who tried to shoo them off with walking sticks, fishing poles and their bare hands. One bat flew smack into a trail walker\u2019s forehead. This might seem funny if you don't know what bats mean to the world. They pollinate everything from bananas to peaches to agave plants from which tequila is extracted. It's a good bet that people who dislike bats dislike gypsy moths and other moth species even more. Moths are like a tater tot for bats. Bats that eat bugs by the metric ton are worth about $3 billion per year in pest control for U.S. agriculture, according to a separate report by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2011. \u201cPeople often ask why we should care about bats,\u201d said Paul Cryan, a USGS research biologist who helped write the report. \u201cBats are saving"}], "old": null, "qrel_score": 4, "full_doc": "Mexican free-tailed bats swirl higher and higher as they make their nightly exit from the Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve outside of Mason, Tex. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News via AP)\nSometimes bad guys are clad\u00a0in white.\nA creepy, sticky and icky menace known as white-nose syndrome that attacks little brown bats as they're curled up sleeping during their winter hibernation is a case in point.\nMore than 7 million bats have perished from white-nose since it was discovered in an Albany, N.Y. cave nine years ago, and a new research paper provides insight into why. As little brown bats observed for the study dozed in a coma-like sleep, their immune systems recognized the attacking disease but never didn't lift a finger to stop it.\n[Nearly seven million bats have died from white-nose fungus]\n\"The alarm is going up and no one is showing up to put out the fire,\" said Kenneth A. Field, the lead author of the research released Thursday. Normally, when inflammation and swelling happens, immune systems spring into action like a body guard. But for little brown bats, it turned a little and kept sleeping.\nBU-led researchers predict that little brown bats may be extinct in the Northeast within 16 years.\nField is one of the first researchers to take the study of the\u00a0Pseudogymnoascus destructans\u00a0fungus that causes white nose from a petri dish to the field. He watched helplessly as the disease ate away at membranes in the wings of the bats. His understanding of what was happening was limited by the step-by-step nature of research. More observation was needed to know exactly why the bats were so easily taken out.\n\"We don\u2019t know for sure that it\u2019s the fungus in white nose that\u2019s stopping the cells, or that the bats are hibernating and can\u2019t respond,\" said Field, an associate professor of biology at Bucknell University. Little brown bats that once filled the night skies to hunt insects have been nearly wiped out on the Atlantic coast, and a recent U.S. Geological Survey report said it could take decades for them to recover, if at all.\nField hopes the study is a positive step toward finding a way to one day strengthen the immune system of bats or maybe even kill white-nose. The paper broke down the processes happening in bats and the disease attacking them, showing pathways that gave way in the animals and how genes in the disease behaved as they destroyed.\nElectron microscopy of white nose syndrome. (Kevin Keel/Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study)\nAn \"important finding was to look at how the genes in the fungus expressed\" in order to know how to target its growth,\" Field said. Maybe scientist can develop a drug, he speculated. But wondering how such a drug could be administered to bats, or how white-nose can possibly be disinfected in some of the vast cave systems where bats hibernate brought him back to Earth.\n\"It\u2019s not understood what\u2019s going in the summer with the disease because the caves stay cold all year long,\" he said. \"It\u2019s still a mystery what\u2019s going on.\"\nThe paper was published Thursday in the journal PLOS Pathogens.\u00a0Other authors included\u00a0Joseph S. Johnson, Thomas M. Lilley and Sophia M. Reeder, all researchers in Bucknell's biology department.\u00a0Melissa J. Behr, a biologist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, was also an author.\nAt least one other research paper showed that bats that survive hibernation -- many drop dead to the floor of their cave -- develop massive inflammation when their immune systems awaken and kick in. \"But the fire has spread too far,\" he said, \"and it\u2019s too late.\"\nPause for a second to see the big picture, the awesome devastation biologists have witnessed now for nearly a decade. In the spring, they've visited caves in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oklahoma and other states to find hundreds of thousands of bats lying dead or flopping about in the late stages of agonizing deaths.\nBats are preparing to reenter caves and abandoned mines in late October for a four-month hibernation.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m terribly, terribly concerned,\u201d Katie Gillies, a conservation biologist for Bat Conservation International, said when they were about to hibernate last year. \u201cI don\u2019t think the disease will run its course. There is no way to save our bats from white nose without intervention. The situation is .\u2009.\u2009. absolutely dire.\u201d\nWhite-nose syndrome is basically Ebola for bats, an animal pandemic. Gray bats, big brown bats, Northern long-eared bats and tri-colored bats are also affected. Ninety-percent of little brown bats in the northeast are dead. Here's how the research paper describes it: \"White-nose syndrome is the most devastating epizootic wildlife disease of mammals in\u00a0history, having killed millions of hibernating bats in North America since 2007.\"\nSometimes it drives bats mad before they start to sleep. Consider this 2013 incident Great Smoky Mountain National Park that straddles North Carolina and Tennessee. Bats that were supposed to be sleeping were\u00a0out and about, acting crazy in many cases.\n[Bats hit hard by deadly one-two punch: windmills and white-nose syndrome]\nSeemingly coming out of nowhere, they launched their mouse-sized bodies at unsuspecting tourists, who tried to shoo them off with walking sticks, fishing poles and their bare hands. One bat flew smack into a trail walker\u2019s forehead.\nThis might seem funny if you don't know what bats mean to the world. They pollinate everything from bananas to peaches to agave plants from which tequila is extracted. It's a good bet that people who dislike bats dislike gypsy moths and other moth species even more. Moths are like a tater tot for bats.\nBats that eat bugs by the metric ton are worth about $3 billion per year\u00a0in pest control for U.S. agriculture, according to a separate report by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2011.\n\u201cPeople often ask why we should care about bats,\u201d said\u00a0Paul Cryan, a USGS research biologist who helped write the report. \u201cBats are saving us big bucks by gobbling up insects that eat or damage our crops.\u201d\nA male big brown bat. (University of Maryland)\nRead More:\nThis tiny dinosaur may have had wings like a bat\nTen reasons why bats are cooler than you think\nErratic bat behavior at Great Smoky park may be linked to lethal syndrome\nWhite-nose syndrome threatens bat species\nThe Monarch massacre: Nearly a billion butterflies have vanished\nBat with record-breaking tongue found in the Bolivian jungle"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "df8fc016-13aa-11e6-81b4-581a5c4c42df_0", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "df8fc016-13aa-11e6-81b4-581a5c4c42df_0", "title": "A common pesticide may be a menace to pollinators. Know how to protect them.", "text": "Be the guardian of your garden. (Gaby D'Alessandro/for The Washington Post) Many homeowners want to throw a lifeline to beleaguered bees and butterflies by planting pollinator gardens that will provide sustenance and habitat, but the unwitting use of insecticides may lure these beloved insects to their doom. The worry is that a common type of pesticide known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, will poison honeybees, bumblebees, monarch butterflies \u2014 all the species of insects that we want in our gardens. For a decade, neonics have dominated a frustrating quest to find a cause for the loss of commercial beehives in agriculture, but the issue has also moved into the garden, particularly with new legislation in Maryland. If the Pollinator Protection Act is signed into law by Gov. Larry Hogan this month, consumers will not be able to buy neonic insecticides after 2017. Farmers and licensed applicators could still use them. The pesticide industry says neonics are safe, that honeybees are doing all right and that the law \u201cinexplicably blames homeowners for the nonexistent decline in bees.\u201d But those who want to see broader restrictions for neonics in the United States are buoyed by it. Hogan has yet to announce whether he will sign the bill. \u201cIt\u2019s important that Maryland be the leader and show the rest of the United States these are really harmful compounds and we need to limit their use,\u201d said April Boulton, associate professor of biology at Hood College in Frederick. She was among scientists testifying for the bill earlier this year. (The Washington Post) Neonics control some of the most common and persistent garden pests, including thrips, adelgids, borers, scale insects and Japanese beetles, but they also kill or harm beneficial insects, as well as aquatic life if they enter bodies of water. Within a treated plant, the compounds also find their way to pollen and nectar, the treats that flowers give pollinators for their service. One of the major concerns is that homeowners, as opposed to farmers or professional landscapers, are the least likely to know what\u2019s in a pesticide product and correctly follow the label\u2019s directions. \u201cInstead of putting in a capful in a bucket of water, the homeowner will pour in half the bottle or the whole bottle,\u201d with highly toxic results, Boulton said. But Boulton and many other scientists say that even at correct doses, the compounds can harm desirable organisms, even if"}], "old": [{"_id": "df8fc016-13aa-11e6-81b4-581a5c4c42df_0", "title": "A common pesticide may be a menace to pollinators. Know how to protect them.", "text": "Be the guardian of your garden. (Gaby D'Alessandro/for The Washington Post) Many homeowners want to throw a lifeline to beleaguered bees and butterflies by planting pollinator gardens that will provide sustenance and habitat, but the unwitting use of insecticides may lure these beloved insects to their doom. The worry is that a common type of pesticide known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, will poison honeybees, bumblebees, monarch butterflies \u2014 all the species of insects that we want in our gardens. For a decade, neonics have dominated a frustrating quest to find a cause for the loss of commercial beehives in agriculture, but the issue has also moved into the garden, particularly with new legislation in Maryland. If the Pollinator Protection Act is signed into law by Gov. Larry Hogan this month, consumers will not be able to buy neonic insecticides after 2017. Farmers and licensed applicators could still use them. The pesticide industry says neonics are safe, that honeybees are doing all right and that the law \u201cinexplicably blames homeowners for the nonexistent decline in bees.\u201d But those who want to see broader restrictions for neonics in the United States are buoyed by it. Hogan has yet to announce whether he will sign the bill. \u201cIt\u2019s important that Maryland be the leader and show the rest of the United States these are really harmful compounds and we need to limit their use,\u201d said April Boulton, associate professor of biology at Hood College in Frederick. She was among scientists testifying for the bill earlier this year. (The Washington Post) Neonics control some of the most common and persistent garden pests, including thrips, adelgids, borers, scale insects and Japanese beetles, but they also kill or harm beneficial insects, as well as aquatic life if they enter bodies of water. Within a treated plant, the compounds also find their way to pollen and nectar, the treats that flowers give pollinators for their service. \u201cInstead of putting in a capful in a bucket of water, the homeowner will pour in half the bottle or the whole bottle,\u201d with highly toxic results, Boulton said. But Boulton and many other scientists say that even at correct doses, the compounds can harm desirable organisms, even if they don\u2019t kill them. Hartmut Doebel, assistant professor of biology at George Washington University, has directed honeybee experiments that suggest memory loss with extremely low levels of imidacloprid, he said. Bees need"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Be the guardian of your garden. (Gaby D'Alessandro/for The Washington Post)\nMany homeowners want to throw a lifeline to beleaguered bees and butterflies by planting pollinator gardens that will provide sustenance and habitat, but the unwitting use of insecticides may lure these beloved insects to their doom.\nThe worry is that a common type of pesticide known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, will poison honeybees, bumblebees, monarch butterflies \u2014 all the species of insects that we want in our gardens.\nFor a decade, neonics have dominated a frustrating quest to find a cause for the loss of commercial beehives in agriculture, but the issue has also moved into the garden, particularly with new legislation in Maryland. If the Pollinator Protection Act is signed into law by Gov. Larry Hogan this month, consumers will not be able to buy neonic insecticides after 2017. Farmers and licensed applicators could still use them.\nThe pesticide industry says neonics are safe, that honeybees are doing all right and that the law \u201cinexplicably blames homeowners for the nonexistent decline in bees.\u201d But those who want to see broader restrictions for neonics in the United States are buoyed by it. Hogan has yet to announce whether he will sign the bill.\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that Maryland be the leader and show the rest of the United States these are really harmful compounds and we need to limit their use,\u201d said April Boulton, associate professor of biology at Hood College in Frederick. She was among scientists testifying for the bill earlier this year.\n(The Washington Post)\nNeonics control some of the most common and persistent garden pests, including thrips, adelgids, borers, scale insects and Japanese beetles, but they also kill or harm beneficial insects, as well as aquatic life if they enter bodies of water. Within a treated plant, the compounds also find their way to pollen and nectar, the treats that flowers give pollinators for their service.\nOne of the major concerns is that homeowners, as opposed to farmers or professional landscapers, are the least likely to know what\u2019s in a pesticide product and correctly follow the label\u2019s directions.\n\u201cInstead of putting in a capful in a bucket of water, the homeowner will pour in half the bottle or the whole bottle,\u201d with highly toxic results, Boulton said.\nBut Boulton and many other scientists say that even at correct doses, the compounds can harm desirable organisms, even if they don\u2019t kill them. Hartmut Doebel, assistant professor of biology at George Washington University, has directed honeybee experiments that suggest memory loss with extremely low levels of imidacloprid, he said. Bees need memory to navigate between nectar sources and their hives. Imidacloprid is one of the most common types of neonics; others include acetamiprid, clothianidin and dinotefuran. (These are the names consumers have to find in fine print on the bottle labels to know whether they contain neonics.)\n\u201cEven at sublethal levels, they have impairments of memory capacities,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are not aware of all the implications and effects\u201d of the insecticides.\nDoebel and others said that most of the research on neonic toxicity has been on honeybees, because of their agricultural importance, and much less is known of the effects on other insects, including hundreds of species of native bees that are much harder to track.\nTo discover whether a pesticide contains a neonicotinoid, look for the active ingredient on the label. The most common neonic is imidacloprid, but others include thiacloprid, acetamaprid, clothianidin and dinotefuran. (Gaby D'Alessandro/for The Washington Post)\nThis was a central argument by environmental groups commenting on a current draft assessment of imidacloprid by the Environmental Protection Agency. (A preliminary review says honeybees feeding on two crops \u2014 citrus and cotton \u2014 have been placed at risk from neonics.)\n\u201cIn our home gardens, we have an amazing array of beneficial insects \u2014 lacewings, assassin bugs, for example \u2014 that help us maintain pest levels,\u201d said Aimee Code, pesticide program director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. \u201cNeonics can be extremely harmful, particularly because they are so long-lived and toxic.\u201d\nNeonics entered the market in the 1990s and were quickly embraced by farmers around the world: They were cheap, effective, long-lasting and safe for people and other warm-blooded animals, which was not the case for older-generation pesticides, including ones made from real nicotine.\nAs a systemic insecticide, neonics are taken up within a plant\u2019s tissues. This proved a seemingly perfect way of targeting the aphids, flea beetles, weevils, worms or whatever pest was sucking the sap or munching on the leaves. Even if you just treated a seed with a neonic, it would grow into a plant fully protected from pests.\nStephanie Darnell, a scientist with Bayer Crop Science, said that restricting a systemic pesticide such as neonics, which her company produces, could lead consumers to use more products that are less discriminating in what they kill. The Maryland bill could also push consumers, she said, to pay for lawn service agreements with contractors with licenses to use neonics.\nBy 2011, almost one-third of insecticides used globally were neonics, creating a market worth $3.6 billion.\nBy then, the mysterious loss of honeybees known as colony collapse disorder had emerged to bring unsustainable hive losses to commercial beekeepers, and researchers began to link the crisis to the widespread use of neonics.\nThe jury is still out on the cause of the disorder, which is more likely to be a lethal mix of stressors, particularly the spread of a parasitic bee mite. Some studies show that neonics compromise bees\u2019 immune systems and ability to raise their young.\nIn spite of the absence of a clear single reason, the movement against neonics appears to be gaining traction. The European Union has imposed a ban on three types of neonics pending study. In the United States, the EPA has put a halt on issuing permits for new neonic pesticide products and is reevaluating the environmental risks of neonics. Several states besides Maryland are considering restrictions, and major retailers such as Lowe\u2019s and Home Depot have said they will phase out the sale of neonic pesticides and label plants that have been treated. Ortho recently announced it was removing neonics from eight consumer pesticides.\nOne quandary for gardeners is knowing whether annuals, perennials or even woody plants sold at garden centers have been treated with neonics, which can linger in a plant for a year or more, as well as in the soil. It\u2019s also a challenge for independent garden centers, which might source a wide range of plants from dozens of different growers.\nRetail nursery Behnke in Beltsville has pulled neonic pesticides from its shelves, stopped treating its plants with neonics and polled its growers on neonic use. \u201cAbout 70 percent of the perennial growers we buy from are not using them,\u201d horticulturist Larry Hurley said. Plants sold by Behnke\u2019s as \u201cpollinator-friendly\u201d are known not to be treated, he said.\nMy thoughts? I wouldn\u2019t want neonic-treated plants in my suburban garden, given the risks to bees. I could see using a neonic on a precious hemlock to ward off the woolly adelgid (as a conifer, the hemlock wouldn\u2019t attract pollinators). If I had a specimen ash tree, now at mortal risk from the emerald ash borer, the choice would be hard, although ash trees aren\u2019t known as big magnets for insect pollinators, so it might be justified. I would never treat trees that are bee magnets, such as tulip trees, linden trees, cherries and hollies, and fruit trees, to name just a few obvious ones.\nThe bigger issue is the idea of reaching for a pesticide to fix a problem, which is often a symptom of something greater. Most problems can be minimized by picking a plant developed by nature or a breeder to grow in our region, to place it correctly, to care for the soil and to live with a level of insect or disease damage. Weeds are suppressed by the presence of more plants and by the gardener with a sharp hoe.\n\u201cWe need to take a step back,\u201d said Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society and the co-author of \u201cGardening for Butterflies.\u201d \u201cWe need to work with nature rather than fighting against it.\u201d\n@adrian_higgins on Twitter\nMore from Lifestyle:\nAn introduction to the 4,000 kinds of bees in the U.S. and Canada\nWhen you love lilacs, but they don\u2019t love you back\nEverything you need to know to assemble and care for a succulent garden\n5 secrets of successful gardeners"}
{"qid": 985, "pid": "edd9cd60-10f1-11e3-b4cb-fd7ce041d814_0", "query_info": {"_id": 985, "text": "Describe how best to protect insect pollinators like bees and butterflies.", "instruction_og": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides.", "instruction_changed": "There continues to be a significant loss of pollinators, like bees and butterflies, that are critical to our food supply.  They need to be protected to ensure sustainability of food production systems, to avoid additional economic impact and to protect the health of the environment.  Bees and butterflies are particularly threatened by neonicotinoid pesticides.  People can help by planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants, like nectar-rich flowers, milkweed and dill, and not using harmful pesticides. Relevant documents will include butterflies. ", "short_query": "Find information online that addresses this environmental question.", "keywords": "information environmental"}, "diff_type": "text_only", "new": [{"_id": "edd9cd60-10f1-11e3-b4cb-fd7ce041d814_0", "title": "Creating a haven for butterflies and bees", "text": "Sharon Metcalf relaxes in her Bethesda townhouse garden that she reworked as a habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) If you plan to renovate or rework parts of your yard this fall, your plan should include your hardest-working partners in the garden, the insect pollinators. They are not only industrious, fascinating and beautiful, they are up against it. Bees and butterflies are imperiled by habitat loss and pesticide use. Gardeners, collectively, can throw them a lifeline. \u201cBasically, we have to convince the gardeners of this country to convert their gardens in some manner for pollinators,\u201d said Chip Taylor, a scientist and educator who founded Monarch Watch to raise awareness of the plight of this wondrous insect. Successive generations of monarch make an annual journey from Mexico to Canada and back, but the butterfly is losing ground. Taylor, who is a professor of ecology at the University of Kansas , says that in the United States as much as 6,000 acres of open land is lost each day to development, territory that the butterfly relies on to feed and reproduce. In addition, he says, the widespread planting of genetically modified crops has allowed farmers to more effectively kill milkweed, the plant that monarchs need as caterpillars. In March, conservation groups reported the smallest overwintering population of monarchs since their colonies were discovered in Mexico by scientists in 1975. Taylor said he has so far persuaded about 7,000 gardeners to establish \u201cwaystations\u201d for the monarchs. But with the loss of almost 200 million acres of monarch habitat over the past 20 years, he would like to see 7 million gardeners come to their rescue. Mace Vaughan, pollinator program director for the Providing nectar plants for monarchs, of course, will help other butterfly species. Other pollinators \u2014 notably honeybees and bumblebees \u2014 are facing problems of their own. Here, too, the gardener can make a difference by installing plants rich in nectar and pollen and by using pesticides carefully, if at all. Monarchs Sharon Metcalf lives in a cul-de-sac of townhouses in Bethesda, backing up to a grassy hillside and public woodland. She decided she would come to the aid of the monarch after watching the Imax film, \u201cFlight of the Butterflies,\u201d at the Smithsonian\u2019s National Museum of Natural History. She planted a bank of swamp milkweed across the hillside and then converted her little patch of lawn,"}], "old": [{"_id": "edd9cd60-10f1-11e3-b4cb-fd7ce041d814_0", "title": "Creating a haven for butterflies and bees", "text": "Sharon Metcalf relaxes in her Bethesda townhouse garden that she reworked as a habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post) In addition, he says, the widespread planting of genetically modified crops has allowed farmers to more effectively kill milkweed, the plant that monarchs need as caterpillars. In March, conservation groups reported the smallest overwintering population of monarchs since their colonies were discovered in Mexico by scientists in 1975. Taylor said he has so far persuaded about 7,000 gardeners to establish \u201cwaystations\u201d for the monarchs. But with the loss of almost 200 million acres of monarch habitat over the past 20 years, he would like to see 7 million gardeners come to their rescue. Mace Vaughan, pollinator program director for the Providing nectar plants for monarchs, of course, will help other butterfly species. Other pollinators \u2014 notably honeybees and bumblebees \u2014 are facing problems of their own. Here, too, the gardener can make a difference by installing plants rich in nectar and pollen and by using pesticides carefully, if at all. Monarchs She planted a bank of swamp milkweed across the hillside and then converted her little patch of lawn, adding nectar-rich perennials to some existing shrubs and planting additional milkweed among them. She says the adult butterfly can detect milkweed plants from as far as a mile away. The butterfly lays eggs on the leaves, which hatch into hungry worms. Chemicals in the leaf make the caterpillars and adults distasteful to birds, and the striking markings of the caterpillar and the butterfly signal the fact. \u201cI was noticing fewer hummingbirds. I was getting turtles at some point, but they seemed to be disappearing. I was noticing in the lights at night fewer and fewer insects,\u201d she said. \u201cI realized if I wanted to create a healthier ecosystem, a good visible place to start is with monarchs, particularly because of their decline.\u201d Since she reworked her garden in early spring, she says, \u201cI\u2019m seeing things come back that I had lost.\u201d Replacing a small lawn with wildlife-friendly plantings might be enough for most of us, but a pair of tent-like cubes, three feet by two feet, attest to a greater effort: Metcalf is currently raising a brood of two dozen monarch caterpillars obtained through Taylor\u2019s organization. They arrived the day I paid her a visit. Several small plastic cups each held two or three caterpillars. Newly hatched,"}], "qrel_score": 2, "full_doc": "Sharon Metcalf relaxes in her Bethesda townhouse garden that she reworked as a habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)\nIf you plan to renovate or rework parts of your yard this fall, your plan should include your hardest-working partners in the garden, the insect pollinators. They are not only industrious, fascinating and beautiful, they are up against it. Bees and butterflies are imperiled by habitat loss and pesticide use. Gardeners, collectively, can throw them a lifeline. \u201cBasically, we have to convince the gardeners of this country to convert their gardens in some manner for pollinators,\u201d said Chip Taylor, a scientist and educator who founded Monarch Watch to raise awareness of the plight of this wondrous insect.\nSuccessive generations of monarch make an annual journey from Mexico to Canada and back, but the butterfly is losing ground. Taylor, who is a professor of ecology at the University of Kansas , says that in the United States as much as 6,000 acres of open land is lost each day to development, territory that the butterfly relies on to feed and reproduce.\nIn addition, he says, the widespread planting of genetically modified crops has allowed farmers to more effectively kill milkweed, the plant that monarchs need as caterpillars.\nIn March, conservation groups reported the smallest overwintering population of monarchs since their colonies were discovered in Mexico by scientists in 1975.\nTaylor said he has so far persuaded about 7,000 gardeners to establish \u201cwaystations\u201d for the monarchs. But with the loss of almost 200 million acres of monarch habitat over the past 20 years, he would like to see 7 million gardeners come to their rescue.\nMace Vaughan, pollinator program director for the\nProviding nectar plants for monarchs, of course, will help other butterfly species. Other pollinators \u2014 notably honeybees and bumblebees \u2014 are facing problems of their own. Here, too, the gardener can make a difference by installing plants rich in nectar and pollen and by using pesticides carefully, if at all.\nMonarchs\nSharon Metcalf lives in a cul-de-sac of townhouses in Bethesda, backing up to a grassy hillside and public woodland. She decided she would come to the aid of the monarch after watching the Imax film, \u201cFlight of the Butterflies,\u201d at the Smithsonian\u2019s National Museum of Natural History.\nShe planted a bank of swamp milkweed across the hillside and then converted her little patch of lawn, adding nectar-rich perennials to some existing shrubs and planting additional milkweed among them.\nShe says the adult butterfly can detect milkweed plants from as far as a mile away. The butterfly lays eggs on the leaves, which hatch into hungry worms. Chemicals in the leaf make the caterpillars and adults distasteful to birds, and the striking markings of the caterpillar and the butterfly signal the fact.\n\u201cI was noticing fewer hummingbirds. I was getting turtles at some point, but they seemed to be disappearing. I was noticing in the lights at night fewer and fewer insects,\u201d she said. \u201cI realized if I wanted to create a healthier ecosystem, a good visible place to start is with monarchs, particularly because of their decline.\u201d\nSince she reworked her garden in early spring, she says, \u201cI\u2019m seeing things come back that I had lost.\u201d\nReplacing a small lawn with wildlife-friendly plantings might be enough for most of us, but a pair of tent-like cubes, three feet by two feet, attest to a greater effort: Metcalf is currently raising a brood of two dozen monarch caterpillars obtained through Taylor\u2019s organization. They arrived the day I paid her a visit.\nSeveral small plastic cups each held two or three caterpillars. Newly hatched, they were tiny \u2014 maybe a quarter-inch long and not much thicker than a cotton thread. They go through five molts before reaching pupating size. If you looked closely \u2014 she handed me a magnifying glass \u2014 you could see the distinctive patterning of black, yellow and white stripes.\nMetcalf took a milkweed leaf she had harvested from the garden and placed it in one of the cups. The tiny creature went straight for it.\n\u201cI like to make milkweed sandwiches,\u201d she said, demonstrating the technique. She places a leaf with the underside up. When a caterpillar crawls on it, she places a second leaf on top to allow it to munch away while covered. After a few minutes, the larva has made a dis\u00adcern\u00adible hole in the upper leaf.\nAs the caterpillars grow, so do their appetites, and Metcalf has to make sure they have enough milkweed: She sets a whole plant that she has dug and potted, and places it in each of the two zippered tents. Here they can develop into big caterpillars and then chrysalides without fear of being eaten.\nThe larvae take about 10 days to pupate and another 10 to 14 days as a chrysalis before emerging as a butterfly. Metcalf already has raised one brood this summer. She held a party for its release, first attaching a small identifying tag to each butterfly before its release.\nThe effort takes time, knowledge and equipment, and the kit comes with two full pages of single-spaced instructions. Taylor says the rearing program is an educational initiative geared more to schools than home gardeners, but there is little doubt that Metcalf is helping the monarch population.\nFor every 100 monarch eggs that hatch in nature, only one makes it to adulthood. Metcalf is counting on all two dozen of her charges taking flight toward the end of this month. \u201cIt could be these butterflies will move north or they\u2019ll decide it\u2019s time to fly back to Mexico,\u201d she said.\nTaylor also runs a tagging program for folks who want to capture migrating monarchs in a butterfly net and affix a sticker to their underwing. Since 1992, more than 1 million monarchs have been tagged, of which 16,000 have been recovered to provide scientific tracking of their migrations.\nRunning a kindergarten for butterflies and tagging them may be too much for most of us, but anyone with a bit of land can do something: \u201cThe average gardener just needs to plant eight or 10 plants to provide some habitat for pollinators,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to plant a whole garden.\u201d\nHoneybees\nThe decline of the honeybee has been one of the most publicized environmental disasters of the past decade. The sudden die-off and disappearance of whole hives, known as colony collapse disorder, is a phenomenon noted mos\nIn May, a panel of scientists established to find the cause of CCD reported its finding: There is no single cause. The honeybee is beaten down by a number of viruses spread in part by a parasitic mite, called varroa, and by poor nutrition and pesticide exposure.\nThe panel said that honeybee colonies need more genetic diversity bred into them, and that more study is needed to determine the risks of pesticides.\nOfficials have said there isn\u2019t enough evidence to follow a European Union ban on a class of systemic pesticides called neonicotinoids, which even in low levels can harm the ability of bees to navigate and forage, critics say.\nOne response by the home gardener is to keep bees, but this is a time-consuming hobby beyond gardening. Vaughan, of the Xerces Society, says the gardener can do more for the honeybee by providing plants rich in nectar and pollen and by avoiding pesticides.\nBumblebees\nUnlike honeybees, which came from the Old World with European settlers, bumblebees are native species that provide their own benefits to the gardener. They are better, for example, at pollinating tomatoes and blueberries than honeybees, and do a great job of pollinating squashes and cucumbers. They also can tolerate colder temperatures than honeybees. In addition to providing sources of nectar and pollen, the gardener can help the bumblebee by providing undisturbed, uncultivated areas of the yard where the bees can establish colonies, which may number 40 bees. (A honeybee hive can contain 50,000 bees.) Bumblebees may also nest in stone walls, unoccupied birdhouses or compost piles. Although they can sting, they rarely do. So if you find a nest, leave it alone.\nPesticides\nRecently, a landscape contractor in Portland, Ore., sprayed linden trees against feeding aphids and managed to kill thousands of bumblebees.\nThere are ways of minimizing the risk, by not spraying plants in bloom and applying chemicals after bees have returned to their colonies at night. But the best way to conserve pollinators, according to the Xerces Society, is to avoid pesticides altogether.\nPyrethroids, which are commonly used against mosquitoes, kill many insects on contact, including beneficials. Of particular concern to pollinator advocates are neonicotinoids, which are relatively new and are now used extensively on plant-feeding pests. Among those registered are imidacloprid, acetamiprid and clothianidin.\nTargeted pests include turf-feeding grubs, termites, leafhoppers, lacebugs and aphids. Bees can ingest neonicotinoids in nectar and pollen.\nSeparately, a study published July 24 by scientists at the Agriculture Department and the University of Maryland showed that when honeybees ingested pollen contaminated with fungicides, they were more likely to get a serious gut disease called nosema.\n\u201cOverall, we aren\u2019t taking very good care of the little critters out there,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cThese guys keep the system together.\u201d\n@adrian_higgins on Twitter"}