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This week in Christian history: Bob Marley baptized; Billy Sunday dies; pope defends indulgences

Events that occurred this week in Christian history include Bob Marley joining the Orthodox Church, the death of Billy Sunday, and Pope Leo X defending indulgences.




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Accession of new territories: Billions of dollars in expenses and trillions in revenues

The accession of new territories to Russia is justifiable from the economic point of view and will not have a negative impact on the Russian budget, the Kremlin said. As Russia readies to grow even larger, experts try to calculate how much it will cost the Russian budget to rebuild cities and restore peaceful life in the new territories. Some others try to find out how much profit the new territories will bring. The Washington Post announced the approximate cost of mineral deposits in the new regions — about 12.4 trillion dollars.




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Bill Clinton tried to bribe Boris Yeltsin for NATO to expand eastwards

Former US President Bill Clinton offered Russian President Boris Yeltsin large investments in Russia in the 1990s in exchange for NATO's eastward expansion and Moscow's approval of that expansion. A number of declassified documents testifying to USA's plans to buy off Russia became available on the website of the US Presidential Library. According to the documents, Yeltsin responded to Clinton's suggestion by saying that such a measure was like a bribe in exchange for Russia's consent to NATO's expansion to the detriment of her own interests.




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Health Care Provider Boot Camp Day 8: Billing and Reimbursement Training for Designated Doctor and Other Certifying Doctor Exams

Health Care Provider Boot Camp Day 8: Billing and Reimbursement Training for Designated Doctor and Other Certifying Doctor Exams




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Health Care Provider Boot Camp Day 3: Health Care Provider Roles and Responsibilities

Health Care Provider Boot Camp Day 3: Health Care Provider Roles and Responsibilities




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Waizu – Reducing mobile device loss and protecting the bottom line

RetailTechnologyReview.com spoke with Adrian Lawson, managing director of independent software vendor (ISV) Waizu, about how the company’s solutions are geared to helping organisations avoid the costly loss or misplacement of their mobile devices, thereby keeping their assets active and accountable and their workers fully productive.




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Designing for Gen Z: What do digital natives really want in a mobile app?

As digital natives, Gen Z -  those aged 10 to 25 - have been surrounded by technology, social media, mobile devices, and the internet their entire lives.




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Speed, accuracy and traceability

Mobile Computing/AIDC (Data capture) Technology Report

Retail Technology Review spoke with leading representatives from the analyst and vendor communities about many of the current key talking points and areas of innovation taking place within the world automatic identification and data capture (AIDC)/mobile computing solutions.




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Out of the data jungle: More interoperability for resilient supply chains

By Philipp Pfister, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Transporeon (a Trimble company)

There’s no denying that the transport sector is a prominent cog across most global industries. As the saying goes, “There is no production without procurement logistics, and no trade without delivery traffic.”




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Customer adoption of Bitsight cloud monitoring grows 170% amid increased demand for Visibility Across digital infrastructure

Bitsight, the cyber risk management solutions provider, has introduced new asset mapping capabilities to help companies better manage vulnerabilities across their extended attack surface.




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Paper packaging sales stabilising, as decline slows from 17% in Q1 to 12% in Q2, and to 9% in August

New data from Demica, the fintech, reveals that the paper packaging sector in key markets across Europe and North America is showing signs of stabilisation.




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Foreign companies suffer a total of $70 billion in losses after they leave Russia

The losses that American, European and Japanese companies have suffered after they left the Russian market are evaluated at tens of billions of dollars, RIA Novosti reports. Since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine to the present, foreign companies have lost a total of $70 billion. Companies of the fuel and energy complex have suffered the biggest losses. Many companies in this sector have deconsolidated and devalued Russian assets by ceasing to report the results of their activities in the country, they have not completely stopped working in Russia. For example, the UK-based BP, having made a number of statements about its decision to withdraw from Russian projects, was forced to retain shares in local assets. According to Putin's decree from August 5, shareholders from unfriendly countries will no longer be able to make transactions with shares in companies of strategic significane, fuel and energy companies and banks without the consent of the state. In its report for the first quarter of 2022, BP depreciated Russian assets in the amount of $25.5 billion, but it did not take practical steps to exit the projects.




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Russian billionaire: Sell dollars quickly, buy euro, yuan and gold instead

Russians should start selling dollars and buy euros, yuan and gold instead, businessman Oleg Deripaska believes. In his recent post on Telegram, Deripaska reacted to the statement from the author of the best-selling book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" Robert Kiyosaki about the future economic crisis in the United States. Kiyosaki, who predicted the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, encouraged investors to buy more gold, silver and bitcoin. In his post, Deripaska published a link to Kiyosaki's interview with Fox Business.




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Divido bolsters merchant capabilities to supercharge checkout finance experience ahead of the Golden Quarter

Checkout finance provider, Divido, has launched two new product capabilities ‘Divido Analytics’ and ‘Split Capability’, allowing merchants to have greater understanding and flexibility over their checkout finance experience.




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Queue busting over peak season with mobile receipt and label printers

The peak season is renowned for Christmas cheer, retail opportunity, in store shopping, bustling shopping centres and queues. Additionally, shoppers and restaurant clientele are busy. They detest queues. Their time is precious. They have places to go and people to see.




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ACS Postal Services partners with BIXOLON to enhance European courier services with mobile printing solutions

BIXOLON Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of BIXOLON, the manufacturer of advanced receipt, label and mobile printers, has entered into a partnership with ACS Postal Services (ACS), the Greek courier service provider.



  • Print and Label

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Brother UK named as leader in sustainability programs and services in new report

Brother UK has been named as a 'leader' in sustainability programs and services in the most recent IDC Sustainability MarketScape assessment.



  • Print and Label

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Digitisation, sustainability and the cloud – The printing and labelling evolution continues

Printing and Labelling Technology Report

RetailTechnologyReview.com spoke with leading analysts, vendors and associations about current developments within the printing and labelling technology marketplace about recent developments and what to look out for over the next year or two.




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ISTA European Packaging Symposium will bring together global transport packaging leaders to focus on e-commerce, sustainability and more

The International Safe Transit Association (ISTA), the industry developer of pre-shipment performance testing standards for packaged products, has announced programming for its annual European Packaging Symposium, which will be held 8-9 October at the Le Méridien Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany.




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Elon Musk's Starlink satellite Internet raises Russian combat capability dramatically

Russian military correspondent Alexander Kots said that the Russian Armed Forces use Elon Musk's technology in military actions. According to Kots, the Russian military use Starlink satellites in the special military operation zone. "The troops actively use Starlink in the SVO (SVO is a Russian abbreviation for special military operation — ed.). We use it, among other things, for broadcast to command posts, to get images from reconnaissance UAVs,” the military correspondent said. This has significantly raised the level of Russian intelligence, the military correspondent added.




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Consumer A2A payments - 186 billion transactions globally by 2029

A new study from Juniper Research, the expert in fintech and payment markets, has found the volume of global transactions via A2A (Account-to-Account) payments will rise from 60 billion in 2024 to 186 billion by 2029; an increase of 209%.




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What Will My Grocery Bill Be This Holiday Season?

What will my grocery bill be this holiday season?




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Main Opposition Passes Special Counsel Bill Against First Lady

[Politics] :
A special counsel bill aimed at investigating various allegations surrounding First Lady Kim Keon-hee was passed at the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee meeting on Friday. The bill was passed unilaterally at the parliamentary judiciary subcommittee by members of the opposition after ...

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Opposition to Submit Revised Bill on First Lady, Limiting Scope of Investigation

[Politics] :
The opposition will submit a revised version of its bill mandating a special prosecutor to investigate allegations against first lady Kim Keon-hee, limiting the scope of the probe in an apparent effort to win votes from the ruling party when the bill returns to parliament for a revote after an expected ...

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Ruling Party Floor Leader to Recommend President Veto First Lady Special Counsel Bill

[Politics] :
If the opposition unilaterally passes a bill mandating a special counsel investigation targeting first lady Kim Keon-hee, ruling People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho has said he will strongly recommend a presidential veto.  At a party Supreme Council meeting Monday, Choo said the ruling party ...

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N. Korean Leader's Sister Declares to Continue Bolstering Nuclear Capabilities

[Inter-Korea] :
Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, declared that the regime will continue to bolster its nuclear capabilities in protest of criticisms from the international community. In a statement carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) on Saturday, Kim ...

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Meet the World's Youngest Billionaire: A 19-year-old in Brazil

While the average billionaire is 66 years old, there’s a dramatic shift taking place in the world of wealth. A new generation of billionaires is making headlines with their impressive fortunes. Around the globe, 14 individuals have reached a net worth of over $1 billion despite being 30 years old or younger — and the youngest billionaire is still in her teens.




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[4K] SEVENTEEN, CNBLUE, AB6IX, Billlie, SAY MY NAME, YENA, EPEX, VANNER, Xdinary Heroes, JD1 | On the way to music bank 241018


On the morning of October 18, at Yeoido KBS HallKBS WORLD Radio filmed K-pop stars making their way to attend rehearsals for Music Bank.

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3 Essential Steps for Mobile Privacy With Startpage

In today's digital age, safeguarding your mobile privacy is vital. Here are three easy steps, powered by Startpage, to keep your digital life secure.




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Emotional Cancer Meets Free-Spirited Aquarius: Compatibility Breakdown

Discover the compatibility between Cancer and Aquarius in love, friendship, and relationships. Learn how their emotional and intellectual traits align or clash.




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Leo and Pisces Compatibility: Why Their Relationship Is Complex but Worth It

Explore Leo and Pisces compatibility, uncovering their strengths, weaknesses, and whether these zodiac signs can make their relationship work.




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Is Taurus and Virgo Compatibility a Perfect Match? Exploring Their Bond

Discover Taurus and Virgo compatibility in love, relationships, and friendship. Explore how these earth signs align in values, trust, and practical connections.




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Is Virgo and Capricorn Compatibility Solid? Discover the Strengths and Challenges

s Virgo and Capricorn compatibility strong? Discover how these earth signs connect in love, friendship, and marriage with shared values, loyalty, and mutual support.




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The Pros and Cons of Aries and Sagittarius Compatibility

Discover Aries and Sagittarius compatibility in love, friendship, and beyond. Learn how these two fire signs create a dynamic, passionate bond full of excitement and adventure.




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What Reversed Compatibility Reveals About Pisces and Cancer Pairing

Explore reversed Pisces and Cancer compatibility! Learn how these water signs bond emotionally, support each other deeply, and thrive together in relationships.




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Exploring the Deep Connection of Cancer and Taurus Compatibility

Explore Cancer and Taurus compatibility, where stability meets sensitivity. Learn how these signs create lasting love through trust, loyalty, and mutual understanding.





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Structural transformations and stability of benzo[a]pyrene under high pressure

This study explores the high-pressure behavior of benzo[a]pyrene, revealing two previously unknown polymorphs at 4.8 and 7.1 GPa. These findings enhance our understanding of the structural dynamics and stability of polycyclic aromatic hydro­carbons under extreme conditions.




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Crystal structure and compressibility of magnesium chloride heptahydrate found under high pressure

In-situ diffraction measurements reveal that magnesium chloride forms a unique high-pressure phase, a heptahydrate, above 2 GPa. The hydrogen-bonding structure appears to contain orientational disorder.




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Coordination geometry flexibility driving supramolecular isomerism of Cu/Mo pillared-layer hybrid networks

The hydro­thermal synthesis and structural characterization of four novel 3D pillared-layer metal–organic frameworks are studied, revealing how the malleability of copper coordination geometries drives diverse supramolecular isomerism. The findings provide new insights into designing advanced hybrid materials with tailored properties, emphasizing the significant role of reaction conditions and metal ion flexibility in determining network topologies.




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Variable stoichiometry and salt-cocrystal intermediate in the multicomponents of flucytosine: structural elucidation and its impact on stability

Five multicomponent solid forms of an antifungal drug flucytosine are reported with a hygroscopic stability study. A detailed CSD search on the cocrystal/salts of flucytosine is evaluated and correlated the structures based on bond angles and bond distances.




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Crystal structure and compressibility of magnesium chloride heptahydrate found under high pressure

The odd hydration number has so far been missing in the water-rich magnesium chloride hydrate series (MgCl2·nH2O). In this study, magnesium chloride heptahydrate, MgCl2·7H2O (or MgCl2·7D2O), which forms at high pressures above 2 GPa and high temperatures above 300 K, has been identified. Its structure has been determined by a combination of in-situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 2.5 GPa and 298 K and powder neutron diffraction at 3.1 GPa and 300 K. The single-crystal specimen was grown by mixing alcohols to prevent nucleation of undesired crystalline phases. The results show orientational disorder of water molecules, which was also examined using density functional theory calculations. The disorder involves the reconnection of hydrogen bonds, which differs from those in water ice phases and known disordered salt hydrates. Shrinkage by compression occurs mainly in one direction. In the plane perpendicular to this most compressible direction, oxygen and chlorine atoms are in a hexagonal-like arrangement.




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Grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering at high pressure (HP-GISANS): a soft matter feasibility study on grafted brush films

We present a demonstration of high-pressure grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering for soft matter thin films. The results suggest changes in water reorganization at different pressures.




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Improving the reliability of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements of anisotropic precipitates in metallic alloys using sample rotation

Rotations of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering samples during acquisition are shown to give a drastic improvement in the reliability of the characterization of anisotropic precipitates in metallic alloys.




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Real-time analysis of liquid-jet sample-delivery stability for an X-ray free-electron laser using machine vision

This paper describes real-time statistical analysis of liquid jet images for SFX experiments at the European XFEL. This analysis forms one part of the automated jet re-alignment system for SFX experiments at the SPB/SFX instrument of European XFEL.




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Grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering at high pressure (HP-GISANS): a soft matter feasibility study on grafted brush films

Grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS) under pressure (HP-GISANS) at the solid (Si)–liquid (D2O) interface is demonstrated for the pressure-induced lateral morphological characterization of the nanostructure in thin (<100 nm) soft matter films. We demonstrate feasibility by investigating a hydrophobic {poly[(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro)pentyl methacrylate]} (POFPMA)–hydrophilic {poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]} (PDMAEMA) brush mixture of strong incompatibility between the homopolymers, anchored on Si, at T = 45°C for two pressures, P = 1 bar and P = 800 bar. Our GISANS results reveal nanostructural rearrangements with increasing P, underlining P-induced effects in tethered polymer brush layers swollen with bulk solvent.




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Improving the reliability of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements of anisotropic precipitates in metallic alloys using sample rotation

Nanometric precipitates in metallic alloys often have highly anisotropic shapes. Given the large grain size and non-random texture typical of these alloys, performing small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) measurements on such samples for determining their characteristics (typically size and volume fraction) results in highly anisotropic and irreproducible data. Rotations of flat samples during SAXS/WAXS acquisitions are presented here as a solution to these anisotropy issues. Two aluminium alloys containing anisotropic precipitates are used as examples to validate the approach with a −45°/45° angular range. Clear improvements can be seen on the SAXS I(q) fitting and the consistency between the different SAXS/WAXS measurements. This methodology results in more reliable measurements of the precipitate's characteristics, and thus allows for time- and space-resolved measurements with higher accuracy.




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Stability of inorganic ionic structures: the uniformity approach

The crystal structure uniformity is numerically estimated as the standard deviation of the crystal space quantizer 〈G3〉. This criterion has been applied to explore the uniformity of ionic sublattices in 21465 crystal structures of inorganic ionic compounds. In most cases, at least one kind of sublattice (whole ionic lattice, cationic or anionic sublattice) was found to be highly uniform with a small 〈G3〉 value. Non-uniform structures appeared to be either erroneous or essentially non-ionic. As a result, a set of uniformity criteria is proposed for the estimation of the stability of ionic crystal structures.




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ProSPyX: software for post-processing images of X-ray ptychography with spectral capabilities

X-ray ptychography is a coherent diffraction imaging technique based on acquiring multiple diffraction patterns obtained through the illumination of the sample at different partially overlapping probe positions. The diffraction patterns collected are used to retrieve the complex transmittivity function of the sample and the probe using a phase retrieval algorithm. Absorption or phase contrast images of the sample as well as the real and imaginary parts of the probe function can be obtained. Furthermore, X-ray ptychography can also provide spectral information of the sample from absorption or phase shift images by capturing multiple ptychographic projections at varying energies around the resonant energy of the element of interest. However, post-processing of the images is required to extract the spectra. To facilitate this, ProSPyX, a Python package that offers the analysis tools and a graphical user interface required to process spectral ptychography datasets, is presented. Using the PyQt5 Python open-source module for development and design, the software facilitates extraction of absorption and phase spectral information from spectral ptychographic datasets. It also saves the spectra in file formats compatible with other X-ray absorption spectroscopy data analysis software tools, streamlining integration into existing spectroscopic data analysis pipelines. To illustrate its capabilities, ProSPyX was applied to process the spectral ptychography dataset recently acquired on a nickel wire at the SWING beamline of the SOLEIL synchrotron.




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Grazing-incidence synchrotron radiation diffraction studies on irradiated Ce-doped and pristine Y-stabilized ZrO2 at the Rossendorf beamline

In this work, Ce-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and pure YSZ phases were subjected to irradiation with 14 MeV Au ions. Irradiation studies were performed to simulate long-term structural and microstructural damage due to self-irradiation in YSZ phases hosting alpha-active radioactive species. It was found that both the Ce-doped YSZ and the YSZ phases had a reasonable tolerance to irradiation at high ion fluences and the bulk crystallinity was well preserved. Nevertheless, local microstrain increased in all compounds under study after irradiation, with the Ce-doped phases being less affected than pure YSZ. Doping with cerium ions increased the microstructural stability of YSZ phases through a possible reduction in the mobility of oxygen atoms, which limits the formation of structural defects. Doping of YSZ with tetravalent actinide elements is expected to have a similar effect. Thus, YSZ phases are promising for the safe long-term storage of radioactive elements. Using synchrotron radiation diffraction, measurements of the thin irradiated layers of the Ce-YSZ and YSZ samples were performed in grazing incidence (GI) mode. A corresponding module for measurements in GI mode was developed at the Rossendorf Beamline and relevant technical details for sample alignment and data collection are also presented.