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Webinar: South Africa's Economic Recovery Beyond COVID-19

Webinar: South Africa's Economic Recovery Beyond COVID-19 27 May 2020 — 1:00PM TO 2:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 18 May 2020

South Africa’s rapid action to prevent accelerated domestic transmission of the coronavirus has been widely praised. But, as in many countries, despite a substantial bailout, the pandemic is causing significant damage to the economy, from which it will take a long time to recover.
 
Even before the pandemic, South Africa’s economy was in recession. Citizens’ support is being tested by the need for immediate livelihood protection, and long term recovery will require public trust.
 
As the long-standing party of government, the African National Congress (ANC) is at the forefront of policy formation and debates on the future role of the state in the governance of state-owned enterprises, and transformation policies such as empowerment legislation and land reform.
 
At this webinar, Paul Mashatile, Treasurer General of the African National Congress (ANC), discusses the party’s priorities for economic recovery during and after the pandemic. He is joined for the Q&A by Enoch Godongwana, Chair of the ANC’s Economic Transformation Committee.

Read meeting summary




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Webinar: Finding Solutions to Insecurity in Cabo Delgado

Webinar: Finding Solutions to Insecurity in Cabo Delgado 16 June 2020 — 3:00PM TO 4:30PM Anonymous (not verified) 9 June 2020

Since October 2017, armed attacks in Cabo Delgado, Northern Mozambique have increased in intensity and the spread has widened. Over 1,000 people are thought to have died, and an unknown number of homes and public buildings destroyed. Reports suggest that more than 100,000 people have been internally displaced by these attacks that have been attributed to an armed Islamist sect.
Yet very little is known about who the attackers are, what their strategic objectives are and on whose domestic and international support they rely. Developing multi-faceted solutions to this insecurity will require detailed understanding of the drivers of this extremism, its connection to local informal and illicit economic activity, and the social and structural roots of disenfranchisement and disenchantment.
At this online event, the speakers explore the structural causes, drivers and dynamics of the armed attacks in Cabo Delgado, including the regional and international aspects of the situation.




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Mozambique’s Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement: One Year On

Mozambique’s Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement: One Year On 6 August 2020 — 2:30PM TO 4:30PM Anonymous (not verified) 29 July 2020 Online

August 6, 2020 marks one year since the Peace and National Reconciliation Agreement was signed in Maputo. The agreement, signed by the President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi and RENAMO leader Ossufo Momade, and witnessed by regional and international political and religious leaders, ended the return to conflict that started in 2013.

It also paved the way for Mozambique’s national elections in October 2019. Since the agreement, the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) won a landslide victory in the elections, weakening RENAMO, and a splinter group has conducted targeted armed violence in Manica and Sofala provinces. Yet, the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) process has made progress.

At this event, senior figures reflect on the peace agreement and the key factors of its success. The event also draws upon insights from the authors of recent publications on the latest peace agreement in the context of longer term trends of democratization and peace-building in Mozambique.

A Chatham House Africa Programme research paper published in August 2019, Prospects for a Sustainable Elite Bargain in Mozambique: Third Time Lucky?, examined how the deal was achieved. The Portuguese version includes the full text of the peace accord. Read the research paper in Portuguese or English here.




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Zambia’s political and economic reform and recovery

Zambia’s political and economic reform and recovery 5 November 2021 — 11:30AM TO 12:30PM Anonymous (not verified) 2 November 2021 Chatham House and Online

At this event, HE Hakainde Hichilema, president of the Republic of Zambia, discusses his vision for Zambia’s development and long-term political and economic reform and recovery.

Zambia’s new administration, following the general elections of August 2021, faces a daunting challenge of reversing economic contraction, lowering income-eroding inflation, and addressing the unsustainable national debt.

The country has been one of the few to seek debt restructuring under the G20’s new Common Framework for Debt Treatments, and its immediate priorities include a prospective agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).




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Lords recommend “passive immunisation” if bird flu reaches UK




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Mental Health Bill promises more tailored and dignified treatment for people detained




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Patients taking dabigatran to prevent stroke should avoid simvastatin and lovastatin, study suggests




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Swimming, aerobics, and racquet sports are linked to lowest risk of cardiovascular death




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SGLT-2 inhibitors for diabetes may help prevent dementia, study finds




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Members' drinks and exhibition

Members' drinks and exhibition 27 October 2022 — 6:00PM TO 8:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 7 October 2022 Chatham House

A showcase of a selection of the Black Cultural Archives photo exhibition of up-and-coming Black British leaders.

Chatham House is pleased to showcase a selection of the Black Cultural Archives photo exhibition of up-and-coming Black British leaders. These portraits illuminate the talent and pipeline of ‘next gen’ leaders in the Black British community – some of whom will be in attendance at the reception. The chair of the Black British Cultural Archives, Dr Yvonne Thompson, will make short remarks at around 18:20 BST.

We hope you will join your fellow members and Chatham House staff for a chance to connect and celebrate.

You are welcome to attend the event Black perspectives on International Relations preceding the reception.

Please note as space is limited, this event is operating a ballot for registrations. Your place will be confirmed by Tuesday 25 October if you are successful.




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Chatham House exhibition - In conversation with the future

Chatham House exhibition - In conversation with the future 19 April 2023 — 6:00PM TO 8:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 31 March 2023 Chatham House

Hear from the innovative leaders and companies driving change towards a more sustainable future.

This event is an opportunity to hear from the innovative leaders and companies driving change towards a more sustainable future.

The evening begins with a panel discussion then, over sustainably sourced drinks and canapés, you are invited to walk through Chatham House and explore the innovative and experimental ideas enabling radical shifts to allow us to prosper without exhausting our planet’s resources.

Our exhibiting partners include Earthshot Prize winner NotPla, Hawkins Brown, Polymateria, and BEEN London. 

Bronwen Maddox, director of Chatham House, opens the evening at 6pm and introduces our panel of experts, chaired by Ana Yang, head of Chatham House’s Sustainability Accelerator. 

Please note that this event is operating a ballot for in-person attendance. Your place will be confirmed by Wednesday 12 April if you are successful.




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If I were still an MP I’d be voting against Kim Leadbeater’s bill on assisted dying

I’m often asked if I miss working in the House of Commons. Of course I do; it’s one of the most amazing places in the world and remains the cockpit of our nation.There are obviously days I miss it more than others, usually around the big national moments. Whatever your view of Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill—the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill—its second reading this month will be one of those big moments.Kim is a friend of mine, and we spoke before she decided to put her bill forward after it topped the private members’ ballot at the start of the new parliament. My advice was to proceed with great care, to remember that this will take over your career in many ways, and to read the report produced earlier this year by the Health and Social Care Committee, which I chaired, on the subject of assisted dying/assisted...




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Theranostic GPA33-Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy of Human Colorectal Carcinoma with a Bivalent 177Lu-Labeled Radiohapten

Radiolabeled small-molecule DOTA-haptens can be combined with antitumor/anti-DOTA bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) for pretargeted radioimmunotherapy (PRIT). For optimized delivery of the theranostic - and β-emitting isotope 177Lu with DOTA-based PRIT (DOTA-PRIT), bivalent Gemini (DOTA-Bn-thiourea-PEG4-thiourea-Bn-DOTA, aka (3,6,9,12-tetraoxatetradecane-1,14-diyl)bis(DOTA-benzyl thiourea)) was developed. Methods: Gemini was synthesized by linking 2 S-2-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-DOTA molecules together via a 1,14-diamino-PEG4 linker. [177Lu]Lu-Gemini was prepared with no-carrier-added 177LuCl3 to a molar-specific activity of 123 GBq/μmol and radiochemical purity of more than 99%. The specificity of BsAb-177Lu-Gemini was verified in vitro. Subsequently, we evaluated biodistribution and whole-body clearance for [177Lu]Lu-Gemini and, for comparison, our gold-standard monovalent [177Lu]Lu-S-2-(4-aminobenzyl)-DOTA ([177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Bn) in naïve (tumor-free) athymic nude mice. For our proof-of-concept system, a 3-step pretargeting approach was performed with an established DOTA-PRIT regimen (anti-GPA33/anti-DOTA IgG-scFv BsAb, a clearing agent, and [177Lu]Lu-Gemini) in mouse models. Results: Initial in vivo studies showed that [177Lu]Lu-Gemini behaved similarly to [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Bn, with almost identical blood and whole-body clearance kinetics, as well as biodistribution and mouse kidney dosimetry. Pretargeting [177Lu]Lu-Gemini to GPA33-expressing SW1222 human colorectal xenografts was highly effective, leading to absorbed doses of [177Lu]Lu-Gemini for blood, tumor, liver, spleen, and kidneys of 3.99, 455, 6.93, 5.36, and 14.0 cGy/MBq, respectively. Tumor–to–normal tissue absorbed-dose ratios (i.e., therapeutic indices [TIs]) for the blood and kidneys were 114 and 33, respectively. In addition, we demonstrate that the use of bivalent [177Lu]Lu-Gemini in DOTA-PRIT leads to improved TIs and augmented [177Lu]Lu-Gemini tumor uptake and retention in comparison to monovalent [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Bn. Finally, we established efficacy in SW1222 tumor-bearing mice, demonstrating that a single injection of anti-GPA33 DOTA-PRIT with 44 MBq (1.2 mCi) of [177Lu]Lu-Gemini (estimated tumor-absorbed dose, 200 Gy) induced complete responses in 5 of 5 animals and a histologic cure in 2 of 5 (40%) animals. Moreover, a significant increase in survival compared with nontreated controls was noted (maximum tolerated dose not reached). Conclusion: We have developed a bivalent DOTA-radiohapten, [177Lu]Lu-Gemini, that showed improved radiopharmacology for DOTA-PRIT application. The use of bivalent [177Lu]Lu-Gemini in DOTA-PRIT, as opposed to monovalent [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-Bn, allows curative treatments with considerably less administered 177Lu activity while still achieving high TIs for both the blood (>100) and the kidneys (>30).




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Development of 18F-Fluoromisonidazole Hypoxia PET/CT Diagnostic Interpretation Criteria and Validation of Interreader Reliability, Reproducibility, and Performance

Tumor hypoxia, an integral biomarker to guide radiotherapy, can be imaged with 18F-fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) hypoxia PET. One major obstacle to its broader application is the lack of standardized interpretation criteria. We sought to develop and validate practical interpretation criteria and a dedicated training protocol for nuclear medicine physicians to interpret 18F-FMISO hypoxia PET. Methods: We randomly selected 123 patients with human papillomavirus–positive oropharyngeal cancer enrolled in a phase II trial who underwent 123 18F-FDG PET/CT and 134 18F-FMISO PET/CT scans. Four independent nuclear medicine physicians with no 18F-FMISO experience read the scans. Interpretation by a fifth nuclear medicine physician with over 2 decades of 18F-FMISO experience was the reference standard. Performance was evaluated after initial instruction and subsequent dedicated training. Scans were considered positive for hypoxia by visual assessment if 18F-FMISO uptake was greater than floor-of-mouth uptake. Additionally, SUVmax was determined to evaluate whether quantitative assessment using tumor-to-background ratios could be helpful to define hypoxia positivity. Results: Visual assessment produced a mean sensitivity and specificity of 77.3% and 80.9%, with fair interreader agreement ( = 0.34), after initial instruction. After dedicated training, mean sensitivity and specificity improved to 97.6% and 86.9%, with almost perfect agreement ( = 0.86). Quantitative assessment with an estimated best SUVmax ratio threshold of more than 1.2 to define hypoxia positivity produced a mean sensitivity and specificity of 56.8% and 95.9%, respectively, with substantial interreader agreement ( = 0.66), after initial instruction. After dedicated training, mean sensitivity improved to 89.6% whereas mean specificity remained high at 95.3%, with near-perfect interreader agreement ( = 0.86). Conclusion: Nuclear medicine physicians without 18F-FMISO hypoxia PET reading experience demonstrate much improved interreader agreement with dedicated training using specific interpretation criteria.




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Nuclear Imaging of Bispecific Antibodies on the Rise

Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) are engineered to target 2 different epitopes simultaneously. About 75% of the 16 clinically approved bsAbs have entered the clinic internationally since 2022. Hence, research on biomedical imaging of various radiolabeled bsAb scaffolds may serve to improve patient selection for bsAb therapy. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in radiolabeled bsAbs for imaging via PET or SPECT. We compare direct targeting and pretargeting approaches in preclinical and clinical studies in oncologic research. Furthermore, we show preclinical applications of imaging bsAbs in neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we offer perspectives on the future directions of imaging bsAbs based on their challenges and opportunities.




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Webinar: Turkey’s Challenging Post-COVID 19 Outlook

Webinar: Turkey’s Challenging Post-COVID 19 Outlook 7 May 2020 — 1:00PM TO 2:00PM Anonymous (not verified) 17 April 2020

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has so far refused to impose a nation-wide lockdown to suppress the spread of coronavirus in the country. In late March, Turkish health officials announced that they expect the virus to peak in three weeks’ time and for Turkey to overcome it quickly. At the same time, Turkey has ruled out turning to the IMF for help in dealing with the crisis despite growing pressures on the Lira and the wider economy. The country’s relations with its traditional allies, the US and Europe, remain thorny.
This event will focus on the likely impact of the epidemic on Turkey’s economy and politics. What are the reasons behind Erdogan’s reluctance to implement a comprehensive lockdown to break the chain of virus transmission? Why is Turkey resolutely opposed to agreeing a funding package with the IMF? What is the macro outlook for 2020 and beyond for the country’s economy? And how may the government’s long-term popularity be affected?




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Planet Fitness makes second bid to buy out Blink Fitness chain in bankruptcy

Planet Fitness is seeking to further grow its number of locations in a second bid for the Blink Fitness chain of workout facilities, according to new reports.




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Nu Quantum Unveils Qubit-Photon Interface to Enable Distributed Quantum Computing Networks

CAMBRIDGE, England, Oct. 15, 2024 — Nu Quantum has announced a proof-of-principle prototype that advances the development of modular, distributed quantum computers by enabling connections across different qubit modalities and […]

The post Nu Quantum Unveils Qubit-Photon Interface to Enable Distributed Quantum Computing Networks appeared first on HPCwire.




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Microchip Expands 64-Bit Portfolio with High-Performance PIC64HX Microprocessors for Edge Computing

CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 23, 2024 — The global edge computing market is expected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next five years, serving mission-critical applications in the […]

The post Microchip Expands 64-Bit Portfolio with High-Performance PIC64HX Microprocessors for Edge Computing appeared first on HPCwire.




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Bill to legalize assisted-sying introduced in British Parliament

The British parliament published an assisted-dying draft bill Tuesday that would give terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the legal right to end their lives with the help of medical professionals.




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U. of Florida football to keep coach Billy Napier despite lackluster record

Billy Napier will remain in place as head football coach at Florida, despite the Gators producing another lackluster campaign during his third season, athletic director Scott Stricklin announced Thursday.




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Cornelis Networks Partners with SURF to Enhance HPC Cluster Networking Capabilities

Aug. 19, 2024 — SURF’s innovation department recently collaborated with Cornelis Networks to advance networking capabilities for high-performance computing (HPC) clusters. The collaboration marks a new step forward for SURF […]

The post Cornelis Networks Partners with SURF to Enhance HPC Cluster Networking Capabilities appeared first on HPCwire.




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Ethernet Alliance to Feature Cross-Industry Collaboration at ECOC 2024 Exhibit

BEAVERTON, Ore., Sept. 10, 2024 — The Ethernet Alliance, a global consortium dedicated to the continued success and advancement of Ethernet technologies, today announced details of its exhibit at stand #A3 […]

The post Ethernet Alliance to Feature Cross-Industry Collaboration at ECOC 2024 Exhibit appeared first on HPCwire.




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Harness Insights with Cutting-edge AI Capabilities from HPE

The demand for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) is rising dramatically as organizations rush to put their data to work. Several industries see a significant increase in HPC […]

The post Harness Insights with Cutting-edge AI Capabilities from HPE appeared first on HPCwire.




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Ukraine-led Rapid Trident exercise to increase U.S., NATO interoperability

The Rapid Trident 21 exercise to enhance interoperability between Ukraine, U.S. and NATO partners started Monday, with an opening ceremony, and will run through Oct. 1.




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Air Force Special Operations looking to test amphibious MC-130J in 2022

Air Force Special Operations aims to test the MC-130J Hercules transport aircraft's amphibious capability in 2022, the commander said Monday.




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U.S. Navy, Lebanese military begin partnership to improve construction, humanitarian capabilities

The USNS Choctaw County has arrived in Beirut, Lebanon, to participate in a first-of-its-kind mission intended to strengthen military ties between the countries, the U.S. Navy said Tuesday.




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Four Marines remain hospitalized month after suicide bombing at Afghan airport

Four U.S. Marines remain hospitalized after an attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, last month as service members were evacuating foreign nationals and refugees.




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IonQ to Expand Quantum Networking Portfolio with Qubitekk Acquisition

COLLEGE PARK, Md. and VISTA, Calif., Nov. 8, 2024 — IonQ has announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the operating assets of Qubitekk, […]

The post IonQ to Expand Quantum Networking Portfolio with Qubitekk Acquisition appeared first on HPCwire.




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Go (Mountain) West, Quantum Workers! CU, CUbit, and Elevate Quantum Issue Workforce Roadmap

Last week the University of Colorado (Boulder), the CUbit Quantum Initiative, and the Elevate Quantum consortium released workforce roadmap for educating and building a quantum workforce. “This roadmap provides a […]

The post Go (Mountain) West, Quantum Workers! CU, CUbit, and Elevate Quantum Issue Workforce Roadmap appeared first on HPCwire.




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Why IT Must Have an Influential Role in Strategic Decisions About Sustainability

In this era, expansion in digital infrastructure capacity is inevitable. Parallel to this, climate change consciousness is also rising, making sustainability a mandatory part of the organization’s functioning. As computing […]

The post Why IT Must Have an Influential Role in Strategic Decisions About Sustainability appeared first on HPCwire.




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SC24 Invited Talks to Spotlight HPC’s Role in AI, Quantum Computing, and Sustainability

ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2024 — As the high-performance computing (HPC) community gathers in Atlanta for SC24, the world’s largest HPC conference, the event will feature presentations from thought leaders and […]

The post SC24 Invited Talks to Spotlight HPC’s Role in AI, Quantum Computing, and Sustainability appeared first on HPCwire.




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OSC Advances Marine Movement Research with Computational Tools for Bio-Inspired Robotics

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2024 — Alexander Hoover, an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Cleveland State University, has always been fascinated by marine organisms—the way […]

The post OSC Advances Marine Movement Research with Computational Tools for Bio-Inspired Robotics appeared first on HPCwire.




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University of Sydney Scientists Unveil Quantum Code to Enhance Error Correction with Fewer Qubits

Nov. 11, 2024 — University of Sydney quantum researchers Dominic Williamson and Nouédyn Baspin have revealed a new architecture for managing errors that emerge in the operation of quantum computers. Their […]

The post University of Sydney Scientists Unveil Quantum Code to Enhance Error Correction with Fewer Qubits appeared first on HPCwire.




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How Long Does It Really Take to Form a Habit?

There’s a myth that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Experts explain why it might take some people longer—or shorter




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The Secret to Accomplishing Big Goals Lies in Breaking Them into Flexible, Bite-Size Chunks

Subgoals can make all the difference when ambitious targets seem too daunting




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Four farmworkers in Washington state test positive for bird flu

Four agricultural workers in Washington state have tested positive for bird flu, the first human cases of H5N1 virus to be reported in the state. Washington is the sixth state to report a human infection of avian flu.




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Halloween candy binges can overload gut microbiome, spooking helpful bacteria

While no candy is truly healthy, some options are better for your gut than others. And there are ways you can help wake your gut from its sugar "spell" after holiday indulgence.




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Biden invokes wartime powers to address IV fluids shortage

The nation's depleted supply of IV solutions is recovering after a North Carolina facility recently resumed production after Hurricane Helene temporarily put it out of business.





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D-Wave Readies 4,400-plus-qubit Advantage2 System for Use

Quantum computing pioneer D-Wave today announced it had completed calibration and benchmarking the latest latest version of its Advantage2 quantum processor, a 4,400-plus-qubit device. D-Wave said that compared with the […]

The post D-Wave Readies 4,400-plus-qubit Advantage2 System for Use appeared first on HPCwire.




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BSC Develops AI Model to Predict Stroke Risk Using Mobile Devices

Nov. 8, 2024 — Barcelona Supercomputing Center‘s Innostroke project aims to transform the prevention and monitoring of stroke, one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, through artificial […]

The post BSC Develops AI Model to Predict Stroke Risk Using Mobile Devices appeared first on HPCwire.




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Veterans Day: Biden expands benefits, urges Americans to 'keep faith' in one another

President Joe Biden on Monday addressed a Veterans Day crowd at the national cemetery in Virginia where he revealed newly-expanded veteran benefits and urged Americans to "come together" and "keep faith."




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Biden to host Indonesian President Subianto at White House meeting

President Joe Biden will hold a White House meeting with President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia on Tuesday to celebrate 75 years of U.S.-Indonesian relations and discuss ways to strengthen their countries' cooperation.




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Famous birthdays for Nov. 11: Leonardo DiCaprio, Calista Flockhart

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio turns 50 and actor Calista Flockhart turns 60, among the famous birthdays for Nov. 11.




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Famous birthdays for Nov. 12: Anne Hathaway, Raffey Cassidy

Actor Anne Hathaway turns 42 and actor Raffey Cassidy turns 23, among the famous birthdays for Nov. 12.




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Look: Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger announce birth of 3rd child

Film star Chris Pratt and his wife, author Katherine Schwarzenegger, have announced the birth of their third child.




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Famous birthdays for Nov. 13: Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Michaels

Actor/TV personality Whoopi Goldberg turns 69 and singer Julia Michaels turns 30, among the famous birthdays for Nov. 13.




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House voting on bill to allow government to remove tax-exempt status from nonprofits

Congress is voting on a bill Tuesday that will empower the executive branch to remove the tax-exempt status from any nonprofit it deems to be supporting terrorists.




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Britain's archbishop of Canterbury to quit as Church of England head over abuse scandal

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has opted to quit as head of the Church of England after a critical report over his handling of an abuse scandal, it was announced.