This article presents a Python-based program, DFT2FEFFIT, to regress theoretical extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra calculated from density functional theory structure models against experimental EXAFS spectra. To showcase its application, Ce-doped fluorapatite [Ca10(PO4)6F2] is revisited as a representative of a material difficult to analyze by conventional multi-shell least-squares fitting of EXAFS spectra. The software is open source and publicly available.

Structural modelling of operando pair distribution function (PDF) data of complex functional materials can be highly challenging. To aid the understanding of complex operando PDF data, this article demonstrates a toolbox for PDF analysis. The tools include denoising using principal component analysis together with the structureMining, similarityMapping and nmfMapping apps available through the online service `PDF in the cloud' (PDFitc, https://pdfitc.org/). The toolbox is used for both ex situ and operando PDF data for 3 nm TiO2-bronze nanocrystals, which function as the active electrode material in a Li-ion battery. The tools enable structural modelling of the ex situ and operando PDF data, revealing two pristine TiO2 phases (bronze and anatase) and two lithiated LixTiO2 phases (lithiated versions of bronze and anatase), and the phase evolution during galvanostatic cycling is characterized.

The first Federation of European Biochemical Societies Advanced Course on macromolecular crystallization was launched in the Czech Republic in October 2004. Over the past two decades, the course has developed into a distinguished event, attracting students, early career postdoctoral researchers and lecturers. The course topics include protein purification, characterization and crystallization, covering the latest advances in the field of structural biology. The many hands-on practical exercises enable a close interaction between students and teachers and offer the opportunity for students to crystallize their own proteins. The course has a broad and lasting impact on the scientific community as participants return to their home laboratories and act as nuclei by communicating and implementing their newly acquired knowledge and skills.

Energy-dispersive Laue diffraction (EDLD) is a powerful method to obtain position-resolved texture information in inhomogeneous biological samples without the need for sample rotation. This study employs EDLD texture scanning to investigate the impact of two salivary peptides, statherin (STN) and histatin-1 (HTN) 21 N-terminal peptides (STN21 and HTN21), on the crystallographic structure of dental enamel. These proteins are known to play crucial roles in dental caries progression. Three healthy incisors were randomly assigned to three groups: artificially demineralized, demineralized after HTN21 peptide pre-treatment and demineralized after STN21 peptide pre-treatment. To understand the micro-scale structure of the enamel, each specimen was scanned from the enamel surface to a depth of 250 µm using microbeam EDLD. Via the use of a white beam and a pixelated detector, where each pixel functions as a spectrometer, pole figures were obtained in a single exposure at each measurement point. The results revealed distinct orientations of hydroxyapatite crystallites and notable texture variation in the peptide-treated demineralized samples compared with the demineralized control. Specifically, the peptide-treated demineralized samples exhibited up to three orientation populations, in contrast to the demineralized control which displayed only a single orientation population. The texture index of the demineralized control (2.00 ± 0.21) was found to be lower than that of either the STN21 (2.32 ± 0.20) or the HTN21 (2.90 ± 0.46) treated samples. Hence, texture scanning with EDLD gives new insights into dental enamel crystallite orientation and links the present understanding of enamel demineralization to the underlying crystalline texture. For the first time, the feasibility of EDLD texture measurements for quantitative texture evaluation in demineralized dental enamel samples is demonstrated.

A procedure is presented to exactly obtain the apparent average crystallite size (ACS) of powder samples using standard in-house powder diffraction experiments without any restriction originating from the Scherrer equation. Additionally, the crystallite size distribution within the sample can be evaluated. To achieve this, powder diffractograms are background corrected and long-range radial distribution functions G(r) up to 300 nm are calculated from the diffraction data. The envelope function fenv of G(r) is approximated by a procedure determining the absolute maxima of G(r) in a certain interval (r range). Fitting of an ACS distribution envelope function to this approximation gives the ACS and its distribution. The method is tested on diffractograms of LaB6 standard reference materials measured with different wavelengths to demonstrate the validity of the approach and to clarify the influence of the wavelength used. The latter results in a general description of the maximum observable average crystallite size, which depends on the instrument and wavelength used. The crystallite site distribution is compared with particle size distributions based on transmission electron microscopy investigations, providing an approximation of the average number of crystallites per particle.

High-pressure crystallographic data can be measured using a diamond anvil cell (DAC), which allows the sample to be viewed only along a cell vector which runs perpendicular to the diamond anvils. Although centring a sample perpendicular to this direction is straightforward, methods for centring along this direction often rely on sample focusing, measurements of the direct beam or short data collections followed by refinement of the crystal offsets. These methods may be inaccurate, difficult to apply or slow. Described here is a method based on precise measurement of the offset in this direction using a confocal optical device, whereby the cell centre is located at the mid-point of two measurements of the distance between a light source and the external faces of the diamond anvils viewed along the forward and reverse directions of the cell vector. It is shown that the method enables a DAC to be centred to within a few micrometres reproducibly and quickly.

Understanding the structure–property relationship in electrocatalysts under working conditions is crucial for the rational design of novel and improved catalytic materials. This paper presents the Aarhus University reactor for electrochemical studies using X-rays (AUREX) operando electrocatalytic flow cell, designed as an easy-to-use versatile setup with a minimal background contribution and a uniform flow field to limit concentration polarization and handle gas formation. The cell has been employed to measure operando total scattering, diffraction and absorption spectroscopy as well as simultaneous combinations thereof on a commercial silver electrocatalyst for proof of concept. This combination of operando techniques allows for monitoring of the short-, medium- and long-range structure under working conditions, including an applied potential, liquid electrolyte and local reaction environment. The structural transformations of the Ag electrocatalyst are monitored with non-negative matrix factorization, linear combination analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient matrix, and refinements in both real and reciprocal space. Upon application of an oxidative potential in an Ar-saturated aqueous 0.1 M KHCO3/K2CO3 electrolyte, the face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) Ag gradually transforms first to a trigonal Ag2CO3 phase, followed by the formation of a monoclinic Ag2CO3 phase. A reducing potential immediately reverts the structure to the Ag (f.c.c.) phase. Following the electrochemical-reaction-induced phase transitions is of fundamental interest and necessary for understanding and improving the stability of electrocatalysts, and the operando cell proves a versatile setup for probing this. In addition, it is demonstrated that, when studying electrochemical reactions, a high energy or short exposure time is needed to circumvent beam-induced effects.

This article presents a web-based framework to build a database without in-depth programming knowledge given a set of CIF dictionaries and a collection of CIFs. The framework consists of two main elements: the public site that displays the information contained in the CIFs in an ordered manner, and the restricted administrative site which defines how that information is stored, processed and, eventually, displayed. Thus, the web application allows users to easily explore, filter and access the data, download the original CIFs, and visualize the structures via JSmol. The modulated structures open database B-IncStrDB, the official International Union of Crystallography repository for this type of material and available through the Bilbao Crystallographic Server, has been re-implemented following the proposed framework.

Here, it is investigated how optical properties of single scatterers in interacting multi-particle systems influence measurable structure factors. Both particles with linear gradients of their scattering length density and core–shell structures evoke characteristic deviations between the weighted sum 〈S(Q)〉 of partial structure factors in a multi-component system and experimentally accessible measurable structure factors SM(Q). While 〈S(Q)〉 contains only the structural information of self-organizing systems, SM(Q) is additionally influenced by the optical properties of their constituents, resulting in features such as changing amplitudes, additional peaks in the low-wavevector region or splitting of higher-order maxima, which are not related to structural reasons. It is shown that these effects can be systematically categorized according to the qualitative behaviour of the form factor in the Guinier region, which enables assessing the suitability of experimentally obtained structure factors to genuinely represent the microstructure of complex systems free from any particular model assumption. Hence, a careful data analysis regarding size distribution and optical properties of single scatterers is mandatory to avoid a misinterpretation of measurable structure factors.

The two most abundant CaCO3 polymorphs, calcite and aragonite, are universally recognized for the richness of their morphology to which different twins make relevant contributions. The epitaxial transformation calcite ↔ aragonite has long been debated. While the twinning has been thoroughly treated, the homo-epitaxy occurring within each of these minerals has, inexplicably, been overlooked to date, both experimentally and theoretically. Twinning can be deceptive to the point where it can be mistaken for homo-epitaxy, thus making the proposed growth mechanism in the crystal aggregate wrong. Within the present work, the first aim is a theoretical investigation of the homo-epitaxies among the three {10.4}-cleavage, {01.2}-steep and {01.8}-flat rhombohedra of calcite. Accordingly, the specific adhesion energies were calculated between facing crystal forms, unequivocally showing that the {01.2}/{01.8} homo-epitaxy competes with the generation of both {01.2} and {01.8} contact twins. Secondly, the calculation of the specific adhesion energy was extended to consider homo-epitaxy for the {10.4} rhombohedron. The two-dimensional geometric lattice coincidence has been tried for the {00.1} pinacoidal form as well.

Here, a morphologically based approach is used for the in situ characterization of 3D growth rates of facetted crystals from the solution phase. Crystal images of single crystals of the β-form of l-glutamic acid are captured in situ during their growth at a relative supersaturation of 1.05 using transmission optical microscopy. The crystal growth rates estimated for both the {101} capping and {021} prismatic faces through image processing are consistent with those determined using reflection light mode [Jiang, Ma, Hazlehurst, Ilett, Jackson, Hogg & Roberts (2024). Cryst. Growth Des. 24, 3277–3288]. The growth rate in the {010} face is, for the first time, estimated from the shadow widths of the {021} prismatic faces and found to be typically about half that of the {021} prismatic faces. Analysis of the 3D shape during growth reveals that the initial needle-like crystal morphology develops during the growth process to become more tabular, associated with the Zingg factor evolving from 2.9 to 1.7 (>1). The change in relative solution supersaturation during the growth process is estimated from calculations of the crystal volume, offering an alternative approach to determine this dynamically from visual observations.

We describe an ultra-compact setup for in situ X-ray diffraction on the inelastic X-ray scattering beamline ID20 at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The main motivation for the design and construction of this setup is the increasing demand for on-the-fly sample characterization, as well as ease of navigation through a sample's phase diagram, for example subjected to high-pressure and/or high-temperature conditions. We provide technical details and demonstrate the performance of the setup.

Here, a recently commissioned five-analyzer Johann spectrometer at the Inner Shell Spectroscopy beamline (8-ID) at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) is presented. Designed for hard X-ray photon-in/photon-out spectroscopy, the spectrometer achieves a resolution in the 0.5–2 eV range, depending on the element and/or emission line, providing detailed insights into the local electronic and geometric structure of materials. It serves a diverse user community, including fields such as physical, chemical, biological, environmental and materials sciences. This article details the mechanical design, alignment procedures and data-acquisition scheme of the spectrometer, with a particular focus on the continuous asynchronous data-acquisition approach that significantly enhances experimental efficiency.

A novel in situ/operando method is introduced to measure the photon beam stability of synchrotron radiation based on orthogonal diffraction imaging of a Laue crystal/analyzer, which can decouple the energy/wavelength and Bragg angle of the photon beam using the dispersion effect in the diffraction process. The method was used to measure the energy jitter and drift of the photon beam on BL09B and BL16U at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The experimental results show that this method can provide a fast way to measure the beam stability of different light sources including bending magnet and undulator with meV-level energy resolution and ms-level time response.

In synchrotron X-ray radiography, achieving high image resolution and an optimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is crucial for the subsequent accurate image analysis. Traditional methods often struggle to balance these two parameters, especially in situ applications where rapid data acquisition is essential to capture specific dynamic processes. For quantitative image data analysis, using monochromatic X-rays is essential. A double multilayer monochromator (DMM) is successfully used for this aim at the BAMline, BESSY II (Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Germany). However, such DMMs are prone to producing an unstable horizontal stripe pattern. Such an unstable pattern renders proper signal normalization difficult and thereby causes a reduction of the SNR. We introduce a novel approach to enhance SNR while preserving resolution: dynamic tilting of the DMM. By adjusting the orientation of the DMM during the acquisition of radiographic projections, we optimize the X-ray imaging quality, thereby enhancing the SNR. The corresponding shift of the projection during this movement is corrected in post-processing. The latter correction allows a good resolution to be preserved. This dynamic tilting technique enables the homogenization of the beam profile and thereby effectively reduces noise while maintaining high resolution. We demonstrate that data captured using this proposed technique can be seamlessly integrated into the existing radiographic data workflow, as it does not need hardware modifications to classical X-ray imaging beamline setups. This facilitates further image analysis and processing using established methods.

X-ray ghost imaging with a crystal beam splitter has advantages in highly efficient imaging due to the simultaneous acquisition of signals from both the object beam and reference beam. However, beam splitting with a large field of view, uniform distribution and high correlation has been a great challenge up to now. Therefore, a dedicated beam splitter has been developed by optimizing the optical layout of a synchrotron radiation beamline and the fabrication process of a Laue crystal. A large field of view, consistent size, uniform intensity distribution and high correlation were obtained simultaneously for the two split beams. Modulated by a piece of copper foam upstream of the splitter, a correlation of 92% between the speckle fields of the object and reference beam and a Glauber function of 1.25 were achieved. Taking advantage of synthetic aperture X-ray ghost imaging (SAXGI), a circuit board of size 880 × 330 pixels was successfully imaged with high fidelity. In addition, even though 16 measurements corresponding to a sampling rate of 1% in SAXGI were used for image reconstruction, the skeleton structure of the circuit board can still be determined. In conclusion, the specially developed beam splitter is applicable for the efficient implementation of X-ray ghost imaging.

Soft X-ray spectroscopy is an important technique for measuring the fundamental properties of materials. However, for measurements of samples in the sub-millimetre range, many experimental setups show limitations. Position drifts on the order of hundreds of micrometres during thermal stabilization of the system can last for hours of expensive beam time. To compensate for drifts, sample tracking and feedback systems must be used. However, in complex sample environments where sample access is very limited, many existing solutions cannot be applied. In this work, we apply a robust computer vision algorithm to automatically track and readjust the sample position in the dozens of micrometres range. Our approach is applied in a complex sample environment, where the sample is in an ultra-high vacuum chamber, surrounded by cooled thermal shields to reach sample temperatures down to 2.5 K and in the center of a superconducting split coil. Our implementation allows sample-position tracking and adjustment in the vertical direction since this is the dimension where drifts occur during sample temperature change in our setup. The approach can be easily extended to 2D. The algorithm enables a factor of ten improvement in the overlap of a series of X-ray absorption spectra in a sample with a vertical size down to 70 µm. This solution can be used in a variety of experimental stations, where optical access is available and sample access by other means is reduced.

We present first hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) results of aqueous salt solutions and dispersions of gold nanoparticles in liquid cells equipped with specially designed microfabricated thin silicon nitride membranes, with thickness in the 15–25 nm range, mounted in a high-vacuum-compatible environment. The experiments have been performed at the HAXPES endstation of the GALAXIES beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility. The low-stress membranes are fabricated from 100 mm silicon wafers using standard lithography techniques. Platinum alignment marks are added to the chips hosting the membranes to facilitate the positioning of the X-ray beam on the membrane by detecting the corresponding photoemission lines. Two types of liquid cells have been used, a static one built on an Omicron-type sample holder with the liquid confined in the cell container, and a circulating liquid cell, in which the liquid can flow in order to mitigate the effects due to beam damage. We demonstrate that the membranes are mechanically robust and able to withstand 1 bar pressure difference between the liquid inside the cell and vacuum, and the intense synchrotron radiation beam during data acquisition. This opens up new opportunities for spectroscopic studies of liquids.

The design and first results of a high-transmission soft X-ray spectrometer operated at the X-SPEC double-undulator beamline of the KIT Light Source are presented. As a unique feature, particular emphasis was placed on optimizing the spectrometer transmission by maximizing the solid angle and the efficiencies of spectrometer gratings and detector. A CMOS detector, optimized for soft X-rays, allows for quantum efficiencies of 90% or above over the full energy range of the spectrometer, while simultaneously offering short readout times. Combining an optimized control system at the X-SPEC beamline with continuous energy scans (as opposed to step scans), the high transmission of the spectrometer, and the fast readout of the CMOS camera, enable the collection of entire rapid resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering maps in less than 1 min. Series of spectra at a fixed energy can be taken with a frequency of up to 5 Hz. Furthermore, the use of higher-order reflections allows a very wide energy range (45 to 2000 eV) to be covered with only two blazed gratings, while keeping the efficiency high and the resolving power E/ΔE above 1500 and 3000 with low- and high-energy gratings, respectively.

The Takagi–Taupin equations are solved in their simplest form (zero deformation) to obtain the Bragg-diffracted and transmitted complex amplitudes. The case of plane-parallel crystal plates is discussed using a matrix model. The equations are implemented in an open-source Python library crystalpy adapted for numerical applications such as crystal reflectivity calculations and ray tracing.

Conic sections are commonly used in reflective X-ray optics. Hyperbolic mirrors can focus a converging light source and are frequently paired with elliptical or parabolic mirrors in Wolter type configurations. This paper derives the closed-form expression for a mirror-centered hyperbolic shape, with zero-slope at the origin. Combined with the slope and curvature, such an expression facilitates metrology, manufacturing and mirror-bending calculations. Previous works consider ellipses, parabolas, magnifying hyperbolas or employ lengthy approximations. Here, the exact shape function is given in terms of the mirror incidence angle and the source and image distances.

Hard X-ray microscopes with 20–30 nm spatial resolution ranges are an advanced tool for the inspection of materials at the nanoscale. However, the limited efficiency of the focusing optics, for example, a Fresnel zone plate (ZP) lens, can significantly reduce the power of a nanoprobe. Despite several reports on ZP lenses that focus hard X-rays with 20 nm resolution – mainly constructed by zone-doubling techniques – a systematic investigation into the limiting factors has not been reported. We report the structural effects on the focusing and imaging efficiency of 20–30 nm-resolution ZPs, employing a modified beam-propagation method. The zone width and the duty cycle (zone width/ring pitch) were optimized to achieve maximum efficiency, and a comparative analysis of the zone materials was conducted. The optimized zone structures were used in the fabrication of Pt-hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) ZPs. The highest focusing efficiency of the Pt-HSQ-ZP with a resolution of 30 nm was 10% at 7 keV and >5% in the range 6–10 keV, whereas the highest efficiency of the Pt-HSQ-ZP with a resolution of 20 nm was realized at 7 keV with an efficiency of 7.6%. Optical characterization conducted at X-ray beamlines demonstrated significant enhancement of the focusing and imaging efficiency in a broader range of hard X-rays from 5 keV to 10 keV, demonstrating the potential application in hard X-ray focusing and imaging.

The Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL) uses a superconducting multipole wiggler (SCMPW) source, dual crystal Laue monochromator and 135 m propagation distance to enable imaging and computed tomography (CT) studies of large samples with mono-energetic radiation. This study aimed to quantify two methods for CT dose reduction: wiggler source operation at reduced magnetic field strength, and beam modulation with spatial filters placed upstream from the sample. Transmission measurements with copper were used to indirectly quantify the influence of third harmonic radiation. Operation at lower wiggler magnetic field strength reduces dose rates by an order of magnitude, and suppresses the influence of harmonic radiation, which is of significance near 30 keV. Beam shaping filters modulate the incident beam profile for near constant transmitted signal, and offer protection to radio-sensitive surface organs: the eye lens, thyroid and female breast. Their effect is to reduce the peripheral dose and the dose to the scanned volume by about 10% for biological samples of 35–50 mm diameter and by 20–30% for samples of up to 160 mm diameter. CT dosimetry results are presented as in-air measurements that are specific to the IMBL, and as ratios to in-air measurements that may be applied to other beamlines. As CT dose calculators for small animals are yet to be developed, results presented here and in a previous study may be used to estimate absorbed dose to organs near the surface and the isocentre.

XMDS Holding has launched XPP, a new umbrella organisation...

Mirakl has announced its partnership with

Digital wallet and fintech platform Careem Pay has launched...

 ‘The Road Ahead: Towards Seamless Payments Interoperability’, an eBook from Thunes, Visa, and The Paypers, explores how payments interoperability is reshaping the future of cross-border transactions.

William Jackson Harper and Aya Cash in “We Broke Up.”; Credit: Vertical Entertainment

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Jason Statham's character H in the film "Wrath of Man"; Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Source: Scott Searle 11/08/2024

Gogo Inc. (GOGO:NASDAQ) reported its Q3/24 financial results, and they slightly exceeded expectations, reported Scott Searle, managing director at Roth MKM, in a Nov. 5 research note.

The company provides in-flight connectivity services to business aviation markets through its North American terrestrial air-to-ground network.

137% Potential Return

Roth maintained its target price of US$15.50 per share on Gogo, noted Searle.

"We believe this provides a reasonable 12-plus-month target given the expected impact from two major new product cycles as we enter 2025," he wrote, referring to Galileo, the company's global inflight broadband service, and its 5G product line.

In comparison, the company's share price at the time of the report was about US$6.55 per share. From this price, the return to target reflects 137% upside.

Gogo remains a Buy.

Quarter's Highlights

Searle reported that Gogo's Q3/24 service revenue was a beat. At US$81.9 million (US$81.9M), it was slightly higher than that in Q2/24 and driven by modestly better-than-expected aircraft online, Searle reported. This revenue exceeded Roth's estimate by about US$300,000.

Also of note, Galileo is on track to launch in Q4/24, and Gogo continues to grow its portfolio of supplemental type certificates and partners around the world.

A Look Ahead

Gogo's outlook for 2024 of US$400-410M encompasses consensus' estimate, noted Searle. The company, though, has "pulled long-term guidance ahead of the Satcom Direct [acquisition] closing."

Roth expects Galileo and 5G will lead recovery, expected in late 2025.

In other news, noted Searle, Gogo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Oakleigh Thorne will present at Roth's NYC Tech Event on Nov. 20.

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ROTH Capital Partners, LLC expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking or other business relationships with the covered companies mentioned in this report in the next three months. The material, information and facts discussed in this report other than the information regarding ROTH Capital Partners, LLC and its affiliates, are from sources believed to be reliable, but are in no way guaranteed to be complete or accurate. This report should not be used as a complete analysis of the company, industry or security discussed in the report. Additional information is available upon request. This is not, however, an offer or solicitation of the securities discussed. Any opinions or estimates in this report are subject to change without notice. An investment in the stock may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Additionally, an investment in the stock may involve a high degree of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. No part of this report may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of ROTH. Copyright 2024. Member: FINRA/SIPC.

( Companies Mentioned: GOGO:NASDAQ, )

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 07: Actor Simon Pegg attends the "Hector and the Search for Happiness" premiere during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival at Winter Garden Theatre on September 7, 2014 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images); Credit: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

British actor Simon Pegg has had the chance to take on some pretty fun roles. He’s battled zombies in Shaun of the Dead. He’s taken on the role of Scotty in the J.J. Abrams reboot of "Star Trek." And he plays an Impossible Missions Force technician alongside Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible film series.

In his latest film release, Pegg plays Hector, a psychiatrist who decides his life is just too “beige,” so he sets out into the world to find out what makes people truly happy.

Pegg joins Take Two to talk about what Hector’s journey brings him in “Hector and the Search for Happiness.”

“Hector and the Search for Happiness” opens in the U.S. September 19th.

Interview Highlights:

On prepping to play the psychiatrist, Hector:

“Rosamund Pike and I…had dinner with a psychiatrist prior to starting shooting just to see, sort of, how he felt about dealing with people who have problems which aren’t necessarily, real problems, you know; which are what people call first world problems on Twitter.”

Why Hector sets out on his journey:

"I think Hector, at the beginning of the film, has a life that is very satisfactory; and to that degree, he’s unhappy…And, you know, what he learns is, you need more than that emotionally in your life to truly be happy. You know, if everything’s kind of just beige, you’re never going to be happy. You need to know misery, you need to know fear, and you need to know abandonment."

A little perspective:

"It was a very interesting thing to be shooting in Johannesburg, and to get out into…the townships…and see societies which contend with just abject poverty, and hardship everyday; but seeing so many smiles, and so many people genuinely joyful. And then get into the interior of Johannesburg, where there’s a lot of white people living in, sort of, gated communities, terrified...And see less smiles. It’s a very odd thing. And very, in keeping with the message of the film, which is, avoiding unhappiness is not the root to happiness.”

On his favorite emotion to convey as an actor – happiness, sadness, or anger:

“It’s a weird thing, I think, acting, sometimes. I sometimes almost resent it because you go through this sort of Pavlovian trauma sometimes because you have to recreate certain things that are sometimes a bit stressful.”

“Happiness is always a nice one because it’s fun to laugh on screen or to recreate moments of joy or euphoria, cause you do get a buzz from it, you know, you get this…vicarious, sort of, happiness in yourself. But that works as well for having to replicate sadness, or fear, or anger, or love even. “

“Your body thinks, ‘Oh, are we doing this now? Are we in love with someone here? Are we scared of something [laughs]?’ And you have to constantly intellectualize and remind your hormones that you’re actually – ‘No. This is fake, okay. You’re actually not about to die.’”

Lisa Emery, left, and Lois Smith are in the world premiere of Jordan Harrison’s “Marjorie Prime” at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. ; Credit: Craig Schwartz

Lois Smith has had a long and varied acting career. She made her Broadway debut in 1952 and three years later was cast opposite James Dean in “East of Eden.” She was in “Five Easy Pieces” with Jack Nicholson and — more recently — she had a role on HBO’s “True Blood.”

Now, the 83-year-old Smith is starring at the Mark Taper Forum in the world premiere of “Marjorie Prime” — a play by Jordan Harrison about aging, memory and artificial intelligence.

Smith spoke with The Frame's John Horn about the play and her role.

Interview Highlights

Smith on how "Marjorie Prime" addresses the notion of memory

"One character at some point says, 'I don't know what memory's made of. Is it sedimentary layers?' The play [is] not a meditation, but a riff, perhaps, on that subject. Jordan [Harrison, the playwright] said at some point, 'This play is the intersection of perhaps humanity and technology.' The play takes place a bit in the future. Not a long time — we'll all recognize ourselves very well — but that's one of its surprises."

Smith on the evolution of becoming a character

"It's been extremely interesting. I suppose in every play [the process] deepens and stretches out. This one, no doubt about it...it's elusive in a lot of ways and I think, 'Oh good, I'm getting there, I'm finding out.' And then I think, 'Oh, farther to go.'" 

Smith on how audience members of different ages react to the play's take on aging

"One friend saw it in regards to [her] mother, who's becoming forgetful. [That] mother saw her own very aged father. They laughed about what they each brought up, because they had just been sitting at the same performance of the same play."

Smith on her role, which isn't too physically taxing

"I'm not doing much walking around. I walk on, I walk off, I walk on — and that's about it. I sometimes say, 'It's almost as good as a bed part,' because I spend time in a recliner, which is pretty nice."

We explore a special class of periodic graphs, ladder graphs, whose edges can coincide when embedded vertices are moved. Many of these exhibit additional non-crystallographic graph symmetries.

Source: Streetwise Reports 10/28/2024

Atlas Lithium Corp. (ATLX:NASDAQ) announced that it has received the operational permit for its Neves Project. This marks a significant milestone for the company's ambitions in lithium production. The permit, approved by the Minas Gerais government in Brazil, allows Atlas Lithium to assemble and operate its processing plant, develop open-pit mining operations, and produce lithium concentrate. The unanimously voted October 25 decision officially progressed with the publication in Minas Gerais' government gazette the following day.

The Neves Project permit, a comprehensive triphasic license (LI/LP/LO), enables a more streamlined development, encompassing initial, installation, and operating permissions.

"Permitting is widely considered the most critical risk in any mining project," said Atlas Lithium CEO Marc Fogassa in the news release. The company's success in obtaining this permit underscores its commitment to sustainable, responsible operations in Brazil's "Lithium Valley."

The Allure of The Lithium Market

According to Visual Capitalist on September 29, battery metal prices have recently "struggled as a surge in new production overwhelmed demand." However, with battery demand projected to increase ninefold by 2040, companies positioned to produce high-quality lithium concentrate, such as Atlas Lithium, are likely to see enhanced market relevance as the demand trajectory for lithium-ion batteries strengthens significantly over the coming decades.

Jake Sekelsky from Alliance Global Partners reaffirmed his "Buy" rating for Atlas Lithium, setting a price target of US$45.00.

As Forbes wrote on October 8, 2024, recent industry dynamics have shown that "a 50% rise in the price of a downtrodden lithium producer has boosted investor hopes that a revival in the battery metal is possible after two grim years of oversupply and low prices."

This improvement in lithium prices reflects a broader trend that may positively impact companies like Atlas Lithium, whose operational progress aligns with the gradual sector recovery. The recent permitting for Atlas Lithium's Neves Project positions it to capitalize on these trends as it advances its lithium production capabilities.

On that same day, Barry Dawes of Martin Place Securities commented that "the lithium market is showing strong signs of upturn," anticipating "lithium shortages post-2027." This outlook emphasizes the sector's potential for heightened demand and supply constraints, which is particularly beneficial for projects advancing toward production. Atlas Lithium's strategy, which includes a modular processing plant and environmentally responsible operations, underscores the company's readiness to meet this anticipated demand.

What's Driving Atlas Forward?

Atlas Lithium's Neves Project's recent permit positions the company to advance toward its production goals with key environmental and operational clearances in place. According to the company's September 2024 investor presentation, this approval aligns with an expedited project timeline and enhances the company's potential to become a low-cost lithium concentrate producer. With Brazil's favorable mining conditions and Atlas Lithium's established partnerships with Tier 1 global companies, the Neves Project is poised for cost-effective operations and market alignment.

Atlas's modular processing plant, currently in the final pre-shipment stage, also demonstrates a strategic focus on efficiency and ESG standards. This advanced plant is set for rapid assembly and installation. It reflects Atlas Lithium's intention to minimize environmental impact and expedite production ramp-up, contributing to a streamlined path toward production in Brazil's burgeoning lithium sector.

Analysts On Atlas

Jake Sekelsky from Alliance Global Partners reaffirmed his "Buy" rating for Atlas Lithium, setting a price target of US$45.00. He described the recent operational permit issuance for the Neves Project as a "significant de-risking event," emphasizing that this milestone positions the project to move forward with construction and operations. Sekelsky highlighted that the approval "marks the final step in the permitting process" and grants Atlas Lithium the authorization to proceed with assembling its processing facility and initiating open-pit mining operations. This development aligns with a clear production path, with Sekelsky noting that the project is now at "shovel-ready status," a critical advancement toward fulfilling Atlas Lithium's strategic objectives. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-11040]

Sekelsky also pointed to the current market environment for lithium, expressing optimism regarding "signs of an upcoming recovery" in lithium prices. He interpreted recent merger and acquisition activities within the sector, including other acquisitions in Brazil's Lithium Valley, as indicators that larger players anticipate a rebound. Sekelsky remarked that this resurgence could benefit advanced hard-rock lithium projects, such as Neves, which "continue to command attention from potential suitors."

Ownership and Share Structure

About 34% of Atlas Lithium is owned by management and insiders. About 11% of the shareholders are institutional. Strategic partners hold another 12%. The rest, about 43%, is retail.

Top shareholders include Waratah Capital Advisors Ltd. with 4.34%, Mitsui & Co. Ltd. with 12.27%, and Candace Shira Associates LLC with 1.39%, according to Reuters.

Its market cap is about US$165 million. It trades in a 52-week range of US$34 and US$6.25.

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Important Disclosures:

1) James Guttman wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.

2) This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.

For additional disclosures, please click here.

( Companies Mentioned: ATLX:NASDAQ, )

Source: Streetwise Reports 10/31/2024

American Salars Lithium Inc. (USLI:CSE; USLIF:OTC; Z3P:FWB; A3E2NY:WKN) announced it has signed a mineral claims purchase agreement with an arm's length vendor to acquire 100% of the Lac Simard South Project in Quebec.

The more than 3,600-hectare project covers 64 claim blocks contiguous to projects owned by Sayona Mining Ltd. and Refined Metals Corp.'s Lac Simard property that sampled 2.1% lithium (4.52% lithium oxide or Li2O) and 5.88% tantalum oxide (Ta2O5), the company said.

"This is the company's entry point into Quebec with the intention of building a strategic portfolio of hard rock lithium projects to complement our lithium brine assets," Director and Chief Executive Officer R. Nick Horsley said. "The company's long-term belief in a lithium price rebound is steadfast and now is the time to build a multi-jurisdictional lithium company."

The Lac Simard South project is about 80 kilometers southwest of Sayona’s Authier lithium project and spans the townships of Beauneville, Clérion, Delbreuil, and ChabertIt, and is accessible by gravel road off Route 117 near the municipality of Cadillac, American Salars said.

"The claims in the eastern sector are accessible by a network of logging roads; the southern and western sectors are accessible by boat or all-terrain vehicle and has very little overburden," the company said in a release.

American Salars said it will begin planning for a work program to identify targets and test areas at the project, which is in an "active lithium exploration, production, and processing region of mining-friendly Quebec."

Located nearby is Sayona's Abitibi Hub — made up of its North American, Authier, and Tansim lithium projects — which boasts a "staggering aggregate measured and indicated resource of 111 million tonnes grading 1.14% lithium, the largest lithium resource in Quebec," American Salars said.

The company also noted the lithium hub's accessibility provides relatively lower exploration costs than James Bay, and the area has a fully operating lithium concentrator and a planned lithium carbonate/hydroxide conversion plant.

Additional Projects Being Reviewed, Co. Says

Under the agreement, American Salars is acquiring a 100% interest in the Lac Simard South project by issuing 50,000 common shares to the vendor, Quartier Mineral Ltd of Quebec.

The company said additional lithium projects are still being reviewed and will be subject to further disclosure once due diligence is completed and any deals are completed.

"Our primary objective remains the acquisition of low-cost lithium brine assets in Argentina while expanding our existing NI 43-101 lithium brine resources," Horsley has said. "We believe that Quebec-based hard rock lithium assets can now be acquired at deeply discounted prices and advanced with critical mineral flow through financing incentives in anticipation of the next lithium rally."

Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote that the entire "San Emidio Desert basin is a highly prospective lithium exploration zone."

The company's existing portfolio of lithium deposits includes two NI 43-101-compliant Inferred Mineral Resource Estimates (MREs) consisting of 457,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at the Candela 2 Lithium Brine Project and a shared MRE at the Pocitos 1 Lithium Brine Project consisting of 760,000 tonnes LCE. The Pocitos MRE is shared with the neighboring Pocitos 2 property, which is not under contract or owned by American Salars, but the company noted that none of the drilling that makes up a partial basis for the MRE took place on the Pocitos 2 block. Both brine projects are located in Salta Province, Argentina.

Major mining company Rio Tino recently invested in Argentina by acquiring Argentina lithium producer Arcadium Lithium for US$6.7 billion, making the company the world's third-largest lithium producer.

American Salars also recently released assay results from soil samples collected during its Phase 1 exploration program at its 100%-owned Black Rock South lithium project close to Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada. Out of 38 samples, 33 recorded lithium concentration of more than 100 parts per million (ppm) or higher, the company said. The highest grade was 180.5 ppm with an average grade of 131 ppm across the 33 samples of the surface of the property.

'Basing Process' Underway for Commodity

Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote that the entire "San Emidio Desert basin is a highly prospective lithium exploration zone."*

"After a massive speculative runup in 2020 and especially in 2021, the lithium price fell victim to a severe bear market that ran from mid-2022 through the end of 2023," Maund wrote. "By the end of last year, this bear market had exhausted itself, and a basing process began that has continued up to the present."

Black Rock South is also 215 miles northwest of the United States' only producing lithium mine, the Silver Peak lithium brine mine owned by Albermarle.

The Catalyst: Experts Predict Recovery

Lithium is critical in the energy transition for its use in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and other application and is also used in electronics, medicine, and other industries.

While prices have slumped this year after EV sales didn't hit predicted marks, many experts believe the market will recover.

According to a report by Grand View Research, market size for the metal was estimated at US$31.75 billion last year and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7% from this year through 2030.

"The automotive application segment is expected to witness substantial growth, driven by stringent regulations imposed by government bodies on ICE automakers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles," researchers at Grand View said. "This has shifted the interest of automakers toward producing EVs, which is anticipated to benefit the demand for lithium and related products."

EVs and battery storage primarily will fuel future growth of the lithium market, Marin Katusa of Katusa Research wrote recently. He pointed out that all major electric vehicle batteries require lithium, about 1.55 pounds per kilowatt hour of battery capacity, on average.[OWNERSHIP_CHART-11095]

"I think the data speaks for itself that there's more growth and opportunity on the horizon," Katusa wrote.

The consensus among market analysts points to a recovery in lithium prices in the fourth quarter of 2024, Fastmarkets reported.

Ownership and Share Structure

American Salars said it has 28.8 million shares outstanding and 5.5 million warrants, according to the company.

As for insiders, the CEO Horsley owns about 1.83 million, or about 7.37%, with 4666,666 warrants. Strategic investor Hillcrest Merchant Partners owns 1 million shares or 4.03%. There are no institutional investors, and the rest is retail.

Its market cap is CA$4.79 million. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.45 and CA$0.08.

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Important Disclosures:

1. American Salars Lithium Inc.has a consulting relationship with Street Smart an affiliate of Streetwise Reports. Street Smart Clients pay a monthly consulting fee between US$8,000 and US$20,000.
2. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of American Salars Lithium Inc.
3. Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.
4. This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.

For additional disclosures, please click here.

* Disclosure for the quote from the Clive Maund source June 17, 2024

1. For the quote (sourced on June 17, 2024), the Company has paid Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, US$1,500.
2. Author Certification and Compensation: [Clive Maund of clivemaund.com] is being compensated as an independent contractor by Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, for writing the article quoted. Maund received his UK Technical Analysts’ Diploma in 1989. The recommendations and opinions expressed in the article accurately reflect the personal, independent, and objective views of the author regarding any and all of the designated securities discussed. No part of the compensation received by the author was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed.

Clivemaund.com Disclosures

The quoted article represents the opinion and analysis of Mr. Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund's opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stock market analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund's opinions on the market and stocks cannot be only be construed as a recommendation or solicitation to buy and sell securities.

( Companies Mentioned: USLI:CSE; USLIF:OTC; Z3P:FWB; A3E2NY:WKN, )

Off-Ramp's Rosalie Atkinson, her dad, and her dad's mustache circa quite a few facial hair fads ago. (Credit: Rosalie Atkinson); Credit:

These cool tips would have landed in your in-box with no extra effort on your part IF you'd subscribed to Off-Ramp's weekly e-newsletter. We send out a recommendation every week, along with all the latest Off-Ramp news. Sign up now!

Father's Day is coming quick! But before you run to Walgreen's Sunday morning to find they are sold out of touching cards for the father figure in your life, let us help you curate a fun day out with dad.

Thinking about significant-figure holidays, there seems to be more of a method for planning Mother's Day surprises. You get the breakfast-in-bed together quietly for mom or grandma or aunt, etc., wake her up early on a Sunday, she quickly scrambles to hide the fact that she decided to sleep pantsless, then you present her with some poorly made waffles and juice which she will inevitably spill on her white sheets.

But what about your father-figure? A card? Yes. Maybe a golf ball? Okay. A mug you Amazon Prime'd to him in a last-ditch effort that says "Captain Dad?" Don't do that. It might be weird to ask the men in our life, "What the hell do you want?" under the veil of Father's Day, so to spare you we've compiled some ideas.

Idea #1: Take your father to get pampered! Spa days are are not gender-specific and when was the last time someone even looked at your dad's feet? Hollywood salon Hammer & Nails focuses on men's cuticle care. Treat your dad to a MANi-pedi, and he'll also enjoy a glass of bourbon, a personal flatscreen TV with noise-cancelling headphones, all while relaxing in an over-sized leather chair. Although Hammer & Nails targets men, women are also welcome. 8257 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Idea #2: Take in a tasting. Greenbar Distillery is LA's first spirit distillery since the Prohibition was repealed in 1933. They boast the "World's largest portfolio of organic spirits." Take a tour, pose with their gigantic copper stills and whiskey barrels, sign up for a class, or just taste some of their 16 spirits and five bitters. Their tours are reserved for Saturday so consider this a pregame to your other Father's Day plans. 2459 E 8th St, Los Angeles, California, 90021.

Idea #3: Younger kids? Let's play! Sunday, the Autry Museum of the American West is opening a new exhibit about the history of play. Experience the next generation of toys and games, but also see how they differ across generations and cultures. The exhibit is very interactive and the museum is in beautiful Griffith Park, so there are plenty of hiking trails, picnic spots, or viewpoints to snap some pictures with your man/men.  234 Museum Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90065 .

Idea #4: The Abbey's annual Father's Day Brunch. For the past six years, The Abbey in West Hollywood has hosted a brunch in celebration of LGBT families or those considering starting one. There will be a breakfast buffet from 9am-1pm and attendees can get more info about fostering opportunities. $18 per person. 692 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 .

Much love to all the dads, uncles, grandpas, friends, and men nurturing other people!

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

"Dispersion" (detail). Acrylic ink and paint on canvas. (Courtesy of Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle); Credit:

Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle's "The Evanesced" was inspired by the #SayHerName movement against police violence, as well as Los Angeles's Grim Sleeper serial killer. Hinkle depicts black women in the nude, twisting and writhing, as though they're sinking back into the canvas. Or are they reemerging from it?

Deputy Director of the California African American Museum Naima Keith says Hinkle's exhibit looks at the "historical present," the way in which history still affects us today, harkening back to slavery and Jim Crow. Keith says the main issue Hinkle is addressing is the invisibility of black women, especially those who are abused or in danger. 

Hinkle was particularly inspired by the South LA serial killer "The Grim Sleeper." He is accused of murdering over one hundred women from the 1980's onward, until being captured in 2007. Many of his victims were women of color according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"He had been killing prostitutes and runaways and drug addicted women," says Keith, noting that some saw these deaths as occupational hazards.

Most of Hinkle's subjects in the paintings and sketches in "The Evanesced" are clearly nude. This was a deliberate choice to showcase femininity, according to Keith. She says:

She’s talking about being women... There’s love, there’s joy, there’s pain. All things we experience as all women... But [nudity], I think, allows us to focus on the female form, not necessarily get caught up on what they are wearing or what they’re doing.

In the artwork, viewers can see that every face, body, and hair style is completely unique to each sketch or painting. Keith says this helps the viewer appreciate the diversity amongst women of color. She says:

You have women that are smiling. You have women that are looking at you- you know- lovingly, shyly. Not every one, not every image in the show is about negativity, disappearance, or sadness. There is a bit of celebration. There’s interaction between multiple women. That’s what makes the body of work so interesting: it’s not just seeing women of color through one lens. There’s the possibility of seeing them through, like I said, disappearance, and also the freedom to have a wide range of emotions.

There is one painting that continues to draw Naima Keith back to it. It is called "Uproot 2017" and it features a feminine figure with three exposed breasts. She says this painting speaks to her about motherhood and the connection women have with their changing bodies. Keith says:

I asked Kenyatta why she depicts women with multiple [extra] breasts and we had a conversation about being moms. Kenyatta and I are both mothers of young children... As moms, we just kinda talked about how things aren't what they used to be, in terms of where they used to be. Like I said, becoming mothers, you have this different relationship with your body in relation to someone else.

Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle's "The Evanesced" runs at the California African American Museum through June 25, 2017.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Elizabeth Harper, a relics expert, at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena; Credit: John Rabe

"Reach a certain moment in your life, and you discover that your days are spent as much with the dead as they are with the living." – Paul Auster

This has been one of my favorite quotes for a long time. To me it means that when you get older and your friends, relatives, and heroes start dying, you have a choice. You can either stop thinking about them because they're dead, giving up, as it were, the pleasure of their company; or you can keep them in your life. To me, that's not denial; it's being realistic.

So, it makes sense that I felt a kindred spirit with Elizabeth Harper, who keeps the website All the Saints You Should Know, when we met at a beautiful mausoleum at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena to talk about the history of cemeteries, relics, castrated Italian avuncular mummies, and the best spots in Los Angeles to commune healthily with death.

Elizabeth will be part of the team when Atlas Obscura leads tours of The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Saturday, July 1. It's billed as "A celebration of life, death, architecture, and the patron saint of Los Angeles."

Here are some highlights of my mausoleum conversation with Elizabeth Harper:

At first glance, she says, all of the tombs are very similar.

And that was one of the things, when we started making modern cemeteries, outside the city lines, they wanted them to be regular and not so expressive and macabre. But people leave little things behind. On a lot of these (crypts), you can see a little emblem of something that was important to them. If they were a Mason or if they served in the Army. I like the (cremains) urns that are shaped like books. I have a friend who is a librarian and she was very taken with the idea of being in a book.

Napoleon instituted the Edict of Saint-Cloud, which mandated that cemeteries must be outside city limits (for health reasons) and must be toned-down (for no good reason).

People did not like the edict. There's a very famous poem called Sepulchers by Ugo Foscolo that was written in protest, that said, essentially, looking upon the graves of strong men strengthens the mind and the spirit.

From Slate: Photographing the Real Bodies of Incorrupt Saints, by Elizabeth Harper

Elizabeth often writes about cemeteries and tombs and sometimes posts photos of bodies, which causes a "certain segment" to assume she has no experience with death, or she wouldn't presume to do such a thing.

What I want to put out there is that we have this pervasive idea that we grieve and move on, and this moving on is very important, and I think there are multiple ways to incorporate the idea of death in your life, to get used to the idea, without forgetting, that's more of a way of memorializing. When I take these pictures, I'm very aware that these are real people, and I think of myself, what I will be one day, and people I love, who are already there.

Make sure to listen to our entire interview in the audio player to hear Elizabeth's 3 top spots in Los Angeles to consider the place of death in our lives, and to hear about poor old Uncle Vincent, a neutered naked mummy in a small town in Italy who has a large fan base.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

; Credit: John Rabe/KPCC

Off-Ramp fan, KPCC member (!), and Tom Petty and Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench III joined John in his old Mercedes with his large, but portable Casio.

Tench has lived in the hills of Tarzana for decades, in a perfectly good house, but in the 100-degree heat, John outfitted his car with condenser mikes to record a farewell ode to Off-Ramp, Tench's "Like the Sun."

The full band version of Benmont Tench III's "Like the Sun"

"Like the Sun" helped Tench get back in the songwriting groove a decade ago after he burnt out on being professional songwriter in Nashville. He based the lyrics on tours of Los Angeles given to him by a friend, and takes the listener (with his Southern accent) from a restaurant called Michoacan to a hill top tent city. Tench also told John how he and his wife Alice explore Los Angeles.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Full Text:

The molecular mechanism used by many bacteria to kill neighboring cells has redundancy built into its genetic makeup, which could allow for the mechanism to be expressed in different environments, say researchers at Penn State and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Their new study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of competition among bacteria. "Many organisms, including humans, acquire bacteria from their environment," said Tim Miyashiro, a biochemist and molecular biologist at Penn State and the leader of the research team. "These bacteria can contribute to functions within the host organism, like how our gut bacteria help us digest food. We're interested in the interactions among bacteria cells, and between bacteria and their hosts, to better understand these mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships." Cells of the bioluminescent bacteria Vibrio fisheri take up residence in the light organ of newly hatched bobtail squid. At night, the bacteria produce a blue glow that researchers believe obscures a squid's silhouette and helps protect it from predators. The light organ has pockets, or crypts, in the squid's skin that provide nutrients and a safe environment for the bacteria. "When the squid hatches, it doesn't yet have any bacteria in its light organ," said Miyashiro. "But bacteria in the environment quickly colonize the squid's light organ." Some of these different bacteria strains can coexist, but others can't. "Microbial symbioses are essentially universal in animals, and are crucial to the health and development of both partners," says Irwin Forseth, a program director in the National Science Foundation's Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, which funded the research. "The results from this study highlight the role small genetic changes can play in microbe interactions. Increased understanding will allow us to better predict organisms' performance in changing environments."

Image credit: Andrew Cecere

Global financial platform Adyen has announced that it enabled...

Saudi Arabia-based fintech infrastructure platform Lean Technologies has raised USD 67.5 million in a Series B funding round to scale its Pay-by-Bank and Open Banking offerings.

Mollie, a financial service provider in Europe, has introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone, enabling businesses to accept contactless payments via the Mollie app.

Floating point arithmetic doesn't get the respect it deserves. Many people consider it mysterious, fuzzy, unpredictable. These misgivings often occur in discussion of vector sums. Our provocatively named SuperSum is intended to calm these fears.... read more >>

A friend is investigating the use of generative AI in his classes. I asked two different popular chatbots to write MATLAB programs for a mathematically nontrivial problem. Both chatbots understood my query and both wrote plausible MATLAB programs, but one of the programs was not correct. My recommendation for coursework: carefully read and test programs produced by generative AI and repair any incorrect ones.... read more >>

Source: Bryce Adams 11/04/2024

O3 Mining Inc. (TSXV:OIII; OTCQX:OIIIF) updated the timeline for its flagship Marban Alliance gold project in Quebec and closed a small equity financing, reported CIBC analyst Bryce Adams in an Oct. 30 research note.

"With the updated shareholder register and continued derisking of Marban, we expect that the takeout potential for O3 shares increases within the next two years," Adams wrote.

O3 Mining is the third iteration of the successful Osisko Mining Inc. (OSK:TSX) model, focused on acquiring, exploring and developing mineral properties in Canada.

168% Return Implied

The Canadian company was trading at the time of the report at about CA$1.12 per share, and CIBC's target price on it is CA$3 per share, noted Adams. These figures reflect a potential return for investors of 168%.

O3 Mining has an Outperformer rating.

PEA Coming this Quarter

Adams presented O3's timeline for Marban Alliance and noted it aligns with CIBC's projections. The next step is completion of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA), slated for Q4/24, "which we expect will be reported on a standalone basis, with upside from potential toll milling agreements," the analyst wrote. G Mining Services now is the lead consultant on the PEA.

Next, a feasibility study will be done based on the PEA and the 2022 prefeasibility study. Targeted dates are Q1/25 to start it and Q2/25 to finish it.

Also in Q1/25, baseline environmental studies are slated for completion. Impact studies are to be started in Q2/25, and filing is slated for Q1/26.

More Strategic Investments

O3 Mining completed a non-brokered private placement of CA$1.4 million with Sidex LP and NQ Investissement Minier, two mining investment funds sponsored by the Quebec government, reported Adams. Subsequently, O3 closed a follow-up offering of US$76,800 to the company's strategic investor at the same terms.

"We view these as smaller issuances, and after model updates, our net asset value per share estimate is now one penny lower at CA$4.48 per share," Adams wrote.

O3 Mining will use the proceeds to drill at Kinebik, where it continues to consolidate land. This project shares the same formation as Hecla Mining Co.'s (HL:NYSE) Casa Berardi mine and Gold Fields Ltd.'s (GFI:NYSE; GFI:JSE) Windfall project.

Takeout Target Potential

Through its acquisition of Osisko, Gold Fields gained 100% ownership of Windfall (it previously had acquired 50% from Osisko in 2023) and 17% of O3 Mining, Adams pointed out. Gold Fields also unsuccessfully made a bid for Yamana Gold Inc.'s (YRI:TSX; AUY:NYSE; YAU:LSE) interests in the Canadian Malartic mine in Quebec earlier in 2023 and "has indicated further growth interest in Quebec."

"With Measured and Indicated resources of 2,400,000 ounces (2.4 Moz) and Inferred resources of 0.6 Moz at its flagship Marban project and near-term final permitting submission, O3 has above average takeout potential," purported Adams.

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Important Disclosures:

1. O3 Miing Inc. is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.
2. Doresa Banning wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor.
3. This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.

For additional disclosures, please click here.

Disclosures for CIBC Equity Research, O3 Mining Inc., October 30, 2024

Analyst Certification: Each CIBC World Markets Inc. research analyst named on the front page of this research report, or at the beginning of any subsection hereof, hereby certifies that (i) the recommendations and opinions expressed herein accurately reflect such research analyst's personal views about the company and securities that are the subject of this report and all other companies and securities mentioned in this report that are covered by such research analyst and (ii) no part of the research analyst's compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by such research analyst in this report.

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A COVID-19 vaccination clinic last month in Auburn, Maine. A drop in life expectancy in the U.S. stems largely from the coronavirus pandemic, a new study says.; Credit: Robert F. Bukaty/AP

A new study estimates that life expectancy in the U.S. decreased by nearly two years between 2018 and 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And the declines were most pronounced among minority groups, including Black and Hispanic people.

In 2018, average life expectancy in the U.S. was about 79 years (78.7). It declined to about 77 years (76.9) by the end of 2020, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal.

"We have not seen a decrease like this since World War II. It's a horrific decrease in life expectancy," said Steven Woolf of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and an author of the study released on Wednesday. (The study is based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics and includes simulated estimates for 2020.)

Beyond the more than 600,000 deaths in the U.S. directly from the coronavirus, other factors play into the decreased longevity, including "disruptions in health care, disruptions in chronic disease management, and behavioral health crisis, where people struggling with addiction disorders or depression might not have gotten the help that they needed," Woolf said.

The lack of access to care and other pandemic-related disruptions hit some Americans much harder than others. And it's been well documented that the death rate for Black Americans was twice as high compared with white Americans.

The disparity is reflected in the new longevity estimates. "African Americans saw their life expectancy decrease by 3.3 years and Hispanic Americans saw their life expectancy decrease by 3.9 years," Woolf noted.

"These are massive numbers," Woolf said, that reflect the systemic inequalities that long predate the pandemic.

"It is impossible to look at these findings and not see a reflection of the systemic racism in the U.S.," Lesley Curtis, chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine, told NPR.

"This study further destroys the myth that the United States is the healthiest place in the world to live," Dr. Richard Besser, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (an NPR funder), said in an email.

He said wide differences in life expectancy rates were evident before COVID-19. "For example, life expectancy in Princeton, NJ—a predominantly White community—is 14 years higher than Trenton, NJ, a predominantly Black and Latino city only 14 miles away," Besser said.

Life expectancy in the U.S. had already been declining — albeit slowly — in the years leading up to the pandemic. And the U.S. has been losing ground compared with other wealthy countries, said Magali Barbieri of the University of California, Berkeley, in an editorial published alongside the new study.

The study estimates that the decline in life expectancy was .22 years (or about one-fifth of a year) in a group of 16 peer countries (including Austria, Finland, France, Israel, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) compared with the nearly two-year decline in the United States.

"The U.S. disadvantage in mortality compared with other high income democracies in 2020 is neither new nor sudden," Barbieri wrote. It appears the pandemic has magnified existing vulnerabilities in U.S. society, she added.

"The range of factors that play into this include income inequality, the social safety net, as well as racial inequality and access to health care," Duke's Curtis said.

So, what's the prognosis going forward in the United States? "I think life expectancy will rebound," Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth said.

But it's unlikely that the U.S. is on course to reverse the trend entirely.

"The U.S. has some of the best hospitals and some of the greatest scientists. But other countries do far better in getting quality medical care to their population," Woolf said. "We have big gaps in getting care to people who need it most, when they need it most."

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.