Christian leaders in Pakistan have condemned Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s objectionable remarks about Christianity during his various public sermons in Pakistan when touring the country on a month-long state-sponsored visit in October.

Muslims in Sudan’s River Nile state drove 34 displaced Christians from their homes, sources said.

A former “gender-care specialist” at Boston Children’s Hospital testified that her ex-employer slashed the time allotted for psychologists to assess minors expressing confusion about their sex before referring them for life-altering procedures. 

Source: REX Scientists say that those people who start working before 10 a.m. torture themselves voluntarily. A workday is supposed to comply with biological rhythms that do not fit into the standard working day from 9:00 to 17:00.Is it true? What is the best time to start working not to cause damage to one's health? Pravda.Ru asked this question to Alexei Kozlov, Candidate of Physiological Sciences, specialist in pain mechanisms at the Institute of Normal Physiology."One should not generalize here, because all people are different. There are early risers and night persons, and well all have our own time range for work. Making individual schedules for every person is impossible," the physiologist said. Scientists established that sleeping less than six hours for seven days causes as many as 711 physiological changes, including gene function failure. In addition, a lack of sleep makes a person more prone to alcohol and drugs."Sleep is not just the rest that we need to have. This is an active process, during which many hormones are produced. Our chronology depends on melatonin. This hormone is needed so that a person could have good sleep. Yet, modern lifestyles delay the production of this hormone," the specialist said. "The shortage of melatonin leads to faster aging - this was proved in tests on animals, when scientists discovered that melatonin brings certain blood parameters in aged animals to levels found in young animals. This is not something that happens in humans. If a human being does not sleep well, the sleep deprivation factor interrupts the work of certain genes and makes life shorter," he added. "The evolution of humans takes relatively a very short time in history. Our biological clock does not work according to our modern lifestyle. Residents of the Caucasus are known for their ability to live for more than 100 years. They have a high level of melatonin," Alexei Kozlov told Pravda.Ru. "If you try to make your work hours match your biological clock, the melatonin level will normalize," he added. Pravda.Ru Read article on the Russian version of Pravda.Ru

New exhibition entitled “Art of Islam” begins today in the halls of the State's Hermitage Museum in London's Somerset House. 75 items from the Hermitage's Eastern Art Collection will be displayed. “Exhibition of Islamic art with a few pieces from Hermitage had taken place in London nearly 40 years ago. However, this art collection of the world’s famous Hermitage is taking place in London for the first time on such grand scale,” stated senior staff scientist of the Department of Eastern studies of Hermitage, Adel Adamova, reports RIA ‘Novosti”. Museum halls will showcase various pieces from different countries of the Islamic world; the earliest dating back to the Middle Ages. Visitors could witness the best examples of Muslim bronze work, Turkish and Iranian weapons, jewelry items, a series of Persian miniatures, chasubles of Russian priests made from Turkish and Persian fabrics, as well as velvet fabrics made in Iran in XVI century.

Former Real Madrid defender Marcelo, who now plays for Brazil's Fluminense, broke Argentinos Juniors defender's leg in a Copa Libertadores match in Buenos Aires. The defender, Luciano Sanchez, had his knee dislocated. The player will recover in about a year, Spanish sports website AS said. In the second half of the game, Marcelo, circling Sanchez, accidentally stepped on his leg when Sanchez threw it forward. Marcelo burst into tears because of the shocking incident and was sent off.

Jon Jones, US champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) responded to Russian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Islam Makhachev, who criticised promotion's ratings. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Criticism comes with territory. I want to encourage the young fighters to beat some of my records instead of using their lips. Now thats gangsta,” Jones wrote in a message posted on social media. Jones is the current UFC heavyweight champion. He tops the ranking of the promotion's best fighters regardless of weight categories (P4P). During his career, the fighter won 27 victories and suffered one loss. Another fight with his participation was declared invalid.

The opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang is to begin on Friday, February 9, at 14:00 MSK. One hundred and sixty-eight athletes from Russia will take part in the Games for sure, but their quantity may increase. The second hearing of the panel of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was held on Feb. 8. For the time of the Olympics, judges stay in Pyeongchang. Today, they looked into the cases of 45 athletes and two coaches from Russia, who still have a chance to perform at the Games.They received such an opportunity after the first meeting, at which the CAS issued a decision that came contrary to the position of the IOC, but the decision was consistent with common sense. Having not heard any evidence to establish the guilt of several Russian athletes, the CAS sustained their appeals. Afterwards, the Russian athletes appealed against the non-admission to the Olympics.During the second hearing, CAS arbitrators considered the cases of 13 athletes and two coaches who had been acquitted. They also looked into the cases of 32 athletes who had never been suspected of violating anti-doping rules. None of them have received invitations from the IOC. They are stars of Russian sports - Anton Shipulin (biathlon), Victor An (speed skating) and Sergei Ustyugov (skier). Which abbreviation is worse: CAS, WADA, or IOC? Head coach of the Russian national luge team, Albert Demchenko, Tatyana Ivanova (sleigh) and Elena Nikitina (skeleton) had an opportunity to speak at the hearings. They told reporters later that they could not say anything about the hearings, and expressed a hope that common sense would prevail. According to Albert Demchenko, CAS arbitrators have listened to all arguments of the Russians.Earlier, skeletonist Elena Nikitina expressed the general idea of the outcast athletes. In an interview with R-Sport, she said that CAS made an independent and fair decision at first hearings contrary to that of the IOC, which gave the Russian athletes more confidence. The athlete also said that she would not mind moving into the Olympic Village even on the opening day of the Games.The head of the Russian Bobsleigh Federation, Sergei Parkhomenko, said that Russian bobsleighers would fly to South Korea as soon as they are allowed to do so. Nick Butler of Inside The Games shared insider information on Twitter. A reliable source, he wrote, informed him that the lawsuits from the Russian athletes would be sustained partially - some would be allowed to take part in the Games, but some others would not. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the IOC remain dissatisfied with the decision that CAS made during the first hearing. WADA officials said that the CAS verdict may cause anxiety and disappointment among athletes.However, it was only the Germans, who publicly supported the decision of the International Olympic Committee not to admit even acquitted Russian athletes. The head of the German delegation, Dirk Schimmelpfennig, told Munchner Merkur that the IOC rightly sticks to its original opinion, and this comes as "an important signal about the equality of all athletes - a signal about the ongoing struggle against doping."IOC President Thomas Bach stated that one needs to reform the CAS. All of a sudden, it turned out that the court in Lausanne makes the decisions that the IOC does not like, because the attacks against the Russian athletes were unfounded. Vice president of the Curling Federation of Russia, Andrei Sozin, said that the IOC behaves like a feudal lord who chooses whom of his slaves can be admitted to the Olympics. Yet, the Russians do not agree with that role that someone wants them to play. Evgeny ShurshakovPravda.Ru Read article on the Russian version of Pravda.Ru

Robert Fico became the first NATO leader to have given an interview to Russian media after the start of the special military operation and he made some very bold statements in it. The West fails to bring Russia to its knees Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico gave an interview to Russian journalist Olga Skabeeva on the state-run Rossiya-1 TV channel. He started his interview with a Slovak proverb that says that "no one on their knees can be considered defeated — perhaps they are just tying their shoelaces."

The American stock market has approximately 250 trading days a year. Of which, there are around 60 trading days remaining. At present, the market has reached more than 45 "New All-Time Highs!” in 2024.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beslan. The head of state visited the City of Angels memorial complex — a large cemetery where 266 victims of the monstrous 2004 terrorist attack were buried. The attack that took place on September 1 at Beslan's School No. 1 claimed the lives of 334 people. September 2024 will mark 20 years since the tragedy. A monument on the territory of the complex, the Tree of Sorrow, was built in memory of the hostages who fell victim to the terrorist attack. There is also a monument to the fighters of the Alpha and Vympel special forces who died during the assault.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited School No. 1 in Beslan, where a terrorist attack took place шт 2004 on September 1-3. The school is now used as a memorial complex. The school gymnasium, where militants held more than 1,200 people hostage, has been preserved in its original state, with photographs of the victims hanging on its walls. Visitors regularly bring toys, flowers, and bottles of water. A memorial vigil is held at school every year during the first three days of September.

As AI regulations in the US have evolved to be more supportive of commercial use, retailers and malls are increasingly adopting technologies that were once the domain of law enforcement and federal agencies. This shift is driven by the need for enhanced security and operational efficiency, with many turning to advanced video analytics and facial intelligence.

As Dyslexia Awareness Week (07-13 October 2024) arrives this week, digital transformation specialists Sherwen Studios are advocating for retailers to reconsider how accessible their website is for users affected by dyslexia.

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.

According to a report from Adroit Market Research, 3D printing powder market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 26.6% between 2021 and 2031.

In 2024, the retail landscape has continued to evolve rapidly, with leading retailers adopting the best solutions to increase efficiency and improve customer experience. In recent years, ESLs (Electronic Shelf Labels) have been viewed as the next big thing for accurate price communication and inventory management for retailers.

House Republicans are preparing a legislative agenda for Trump's first 100 days in office. ...

[Domestic] :
Testimonies from surviving crew members who were aboard the fishing boat that sank in waters off Jeju Island on Friday suggest that the excessive amount of fish caught may have caused the ship to go down. According to the Jeju branch of the Korea Coast Guard on Saturday, all of the rescued crew members ...

[more...]

[Inter-Korea] :
The South Korean military has dismissed North Korea’s claims that a drone invaded its airspace earlier this month after taking off from the South’s Baengnyeong Island near the western de facto maritime border. At a press briefing Monday, spokesperson Lee Sung-joon from Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of ...

[more...]

[Sports] :
FIFA has slapped a ten-match ban on Italian footballer Marco Curto for making racist comments to Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan during a pre-season friendly against Como 1907 back in July.  British sports media outlet, Sky Sports, quoted a spokesperson for the international football ...

[more...]

[Science] :
Rain is in the forecast nationwide on Tuesday, with downpours expected along the southern coastal areas of South Jeolla Province, in the southeastern Gyeongsang region and on the southernmost island of Jeju. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, over 100 millimeters could fall on the ...

[more...]

[International] :
North Korea has slammed the European Union(EU) for moving to adopt a resolution to address human rights violations in the North.  In an announcement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the North’s permanent mission to the UN criticized the EU for following what it called the United ...

[more...]

[International] :
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has picked Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to co-lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency along with former Republican presidential primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. In a statement on Wednesday, Trump said the nominees will pave the way for his government ...

[more...]

Islam is one of the world's largest religions, practiced by over 1.9 billion people across the globe — that's nearly a quarter of the world population. The world's Muslims are spread out across the globe, but the largest Muslim population is in the Middle East and other surrounding regions.

Band FTIsland will make a comeback with their seventh full-length album in July.The group's agency FNC Entertainment released the band's promotion schedule for the album 'Serious' through its official...

[more...]

[Economy] :
Global investment banks have slashed their growth outlook for South Korea for this year. According to the Korea Center for International Finance on Friday, the growth forecast by eight foreign investment banks averaged two-point-three percent at the end of October, representing a zero-point-two percentage ...

[more...]

[Economy] :
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed three-point-48 points, or zero-point-14 percent, on Friday to close at two-thousand-561-point-15. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ gained nine-point-86 points, or one-point-34 percent, to close at 743-point-38.

[more...]

[Economy] :
The Korea Development Institute(KDI) has recommended further easing of monetary policy tightening as it forecast that the slowdown in inflation will continue for the time being.  The state-run think tank made the recommendation in a report released on Monday that analyzed recent price fluctuation factors ...

[more...]

[Economy] :
South Korea’s benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index(KOSPI) slipped below the two-thousand-500 threshold on Tuesday for the first time since August’s “Black Monday.” The KOSPI dipped 49-point-09 points, or one-point-94 percent, on Tuesday to close at two-thousand-482-point-57. In the ...

[more...]

[Economy] :
The nation added 83-thousand jobs in October, with job growth falling below 100-thousand for the first time in four months.  According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, the number of employed people stood at 28-point-eight million last month, up 83-thousand from the same month last year. Job growth fell ...

[more...]

BGS receives award at the World Landslide Forum 2023  British Geological Survey

BGS completes first mapping expedition to Ascension Island  British Geological Survey

Moving stones: faults, slopes and sediments  British Geological Survey

This study validates the feasibility of applying a smearing method for the multi-slit very small angle neutron scattering instrument (MS-VSANS) at the China Spallation Neutron Source. Through analysis limited to a vertical range of 8 mm, the study demonstrates consistency between the predicted smearing function and experimental data, marking a significant milestone in utilizing real data from such instruments.

Besides traditional pinhole geometry, the multi-slit very small angle neutron scattering instrument (MS-VSANS) at the China Spallation Neutron Source also utilizes a multi-slit collimation system to focus neutrons. Using the special focusing structures, the minimum scattering vector magnitude (q) can reach 0.00028 Å−1. The special structures also lead to a significantly different smearing function. By comparing the results of theoretical calculations with experimental data, we have validated the feasibility of a smearing method based on a mature theory for slit smearing. We use the weight-averaged intensity of neutron wavelength as a representative to evaluate the effect from a broad wavelength distribution, concentrating on the effect from the geometry of the multi-slit structures and the detector. The consistency of the theoretical calculation of the smearing function with experimental VSANS scattering profiles for a series of polystyrene standards of different diameters proves the feasibility of the smearing method. This marks the inaugural use of real experimental data from an instrument employing a multi-slit collimation system.

In the scope of the latest upgrade of the Swiss Light Source, five hard X-ray beamlines will be constructed or rebuilt. To use synergies between these beamline projects, a concept is developed here for hard X-ray beamlines that is tailored to the new storage ring. Herein, this concept is described from the source, via the front end, to the beamline optics. The latter will be outlined in detail, including a new and modular concept for hard X-ray monochromators, focusing optics and heat-load management. With a simple, easy-to-operate and robust beamline design, the new beamlines will greatly profit from the increased brilliance of the new storage ring. The performance increase is up to four orders of magnitude, while the beamline concept allows for the broad application of experimental techniques, from propagation-based methods, such as phase-contrast tomography, to imaging techniques with nanometre resolution. At the same time, spectroscopy experiments are possible as well as high-performance serial X-ray crystallography.

Deflectometric profilometers are used to precisely measure the form of beam shaping optics of synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers. They often utilize autocollimators which measure slope by evaluating the displacement of a reticle image on a detector. Based on our privileged access to the raw image data of an autocollimator, novel strategies to reduce the systematic measurement errors by using a set of overlapping images of the reticle obtained at different positions on the detector are discussed. It is demonstrated that imaging properties such as, for example, geometrical distortions and vignetting, can be extracted from this redundant set of images without recourse to external calibration facilities. This approach is based on the fact that the properties of the reticle itself do not change – all changes in the reticle image are due to the imaging process. Firstly, by combining interpolation and correlation, it is possible to determine the shift of a reticle image relative to a reference image with minimal error propagation. Secondly, the intensity of the reticle image is analysed as a function of its position on the CCD and a vignetting correction is calculated. Thirdly, the size of the reticle image is analysed as a function of its position and an imaging distortion correction is derived. It is demonstrated that, for different measurement ranges and aperture diameters of the autocollimator, reductions in the systematic errors of up to a factor of four to five can be achieved without recourse to external measurements.

Structural biology experiments benefit significantly from state-of-the-art synchrotron data collection. One can acquire macromolecular crystallography (MX) diffraction data on large-area photon-counting pixel-array detectors at framing rates exceeding 1000 frames per second, using 200 Gbps network connectivity, or higher when available. In extreme cases this represents a raw data throughput of about 25 GB s−1, which is nearly impossible to deliver at reasonable cost without compression. Our field has used lossless compression for decades to make such data collection manageable. Many MX beamlines are now fitted with DECTRIS Eiger detectors, all of which are delivered with optimized compression algorithms by default, and they perform well with current framing rates and typical diffraction data. However, better lossless compression algorithms have been developed and are now available to the research community. Here one of the latest and most promising lossless compression algorithms is investigated on a variety of diffraction data like those routinely acquired at state-of-the-art MX beamlines.

Proteins frequently undergo covalent modification at the post-translational level, which involves the covalent attachment of chemical groups onto amino acids. This can entail the singular or multiple addition of small groups, such as phosphorylation; long-chain modifications, such as glycosylation; small proteins, such as ubiquitination; as well as the interconversion of chemical groups, such as the formation of pyroglutamic acid. These post-translational modifications (PTMs) are essential for the normal functioning of cells, as they can alter the physicochemical properties of amino acids and therefore influence enzymatic activity, protein localization, protein–protein interactions and protein stability. Despite their inherent importance, accurately depicting PTMs in experimental studies of protein structures often poses a challenge. This review highlights the role of PTMs in protein structures, as well as the prevalence of PTMs in the Protein Data Bank, directing the reader to accurately built examples suitable for use as a modelling reference.

A slit-less wavelength-dispersive spectrometer design using a single-bounce monocapillary that aligns the sample on the Rowland circle, enhancing photon throughput and maintaining resolution. The compact design supports flexibility and reconfiguration in facilities without complex beamline infrastructure, significantly improving detection efficiency.

An implementation of Slater-type spherical scattering factors for X-ray and electron diffraction for elements in the range Z = 1–103 is presented within the software Olex2. Both high- and low-angle Fourier behaviour of atomic electron density and electrostatic potential can thus be addressed, in contrast to the limited flexibility of the four Gaussian plus constant descriptions which are currently the most widely used method for calculating atomic scattering factors during refinement. The implementation presented here accommodates the increasing complexity of the electronic structure of heavier elements by using complete atomic wavefunctions without any interpolation between precalculated tables or intermediate fitting functions. Atomic wavefunctions for singly charged ions are implemented and made accessible, and these show drastic changes in electron diffraction scattering factors compared with the neutral atom. A comparison between the two different spherical models of neutral atoms is presented as an example for four different kinds of X-ray and two electron diffraction structures, and comparisons of refinement results using the existing diffraction data are discussed. A systematic but slight improvement in R values and residual densities can be observed when using the new scattering factors, and this is discussed relative to effects on the atomic displacement parameters and atomic positions, which are prominent near the heavier elements in a structure.

A multi-slit very small angle neutron scattering (MS-VSANS) instrument has been finally accepted at the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). It is the first spallation neutron source based VSANS instrument. MS-VSANS has a good signal-to-noise ratio and can cover a wide scattering vector magnitude range from 0.00028 to 1.4 Å−1. In its primary flight path, a combined curved multichannel beam bender and sections of rotary exchange drums are installed to minimize the background downstream of the instrument. An exchangeable multi-slit beam focusing system is integrated into the primary flight path, enabling access to a minimum scattering vector magnitude of 0.00028 Å−1. MS-VSANS has three modes, namely conventional SANS, polarizing SANS and VSANS modes. In the SANS mode, three motorized high-efficiency 3He tube detectors inside the detector tank cover scattering angles from 0.12 to 35° simultaneously. In the polarizing SANS mode, a double-V cavity provides highly polarized neutrons and a high-efficiency 3He polarization analyser allows full polarization analysis. In the VSANS mode, an innovative high-resolution gas electron multiplier detector covers scattering angles from 0.016 to 0.447°. The absolute scattering intensities of a selection of standard samples are obtained using the direct-beam technique; the effectiveness of this method is verified by testing the standard samples and comparing the results with those from a benchmark instrument. The MS-VSANS instrument is designed to be flexible and versatile and all the design goals have been achieved.

X-ray diffraction from dislocation half-loops consisting of a misfit segment with two threading arms extending from it to the surface is calculated by the Monte Carlo method. The diffraction profiles and reciprocal space maps are controlled by the ratio of the total lengths of the misfit and the threading segments of the half-loops. A continuous transformation from the diffraction characteristic of misfit dislocations to that of threading dislocations with increasing thickness of epitaxial film is studied. Diffraction from dislocations with edge- and screw-type threading arms is considered and the contributions of the two types of dislocations are compared.

Dark-field X-ray microscopy (DFXM) is a full-field imaging technique that non-destructively maps the structure and local strain inside deeply embedded crystalline elements in three dimensions. In DFXM, an objective lens is placed along the diffracted beam to generate a magnified projection image of the local diffracted volume. This work explores contrast methods and optimizes the DFXM setup specifically for the case of mapping dislocations. Forward projections of detector images are generated using two complementary simulation tools based on geometrical optics and wavefront propagation, respectively. Weak and strong beam contrast and the mapping of strain components are studied. The feasibility of observing dislocations in a wall is elucidated as a function of the distance between neighbouring dislocations and the spatial resolution. Dislocation studies should be feasible with energy band widths of 10−2, of relevance for fourth-generation synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser sources.

Presented here is an effective approach to desmearing slit ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (USANS) data, based on complementary small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements, leading to a seamless merging of these data sets. The study focuses on the methodological aspects of desmearing USANS data, which can then be presented in the conventional manner of SANS, enabling a broader pool of data analysis methods. The key innovation lies in the use of smeared SANS data for extrapolating slit USANS, offering a self-consistent integrand function for desmearing with Lake's iterative method. The proposed approach is validated through experimental data on porous anodized aluminium oxide membranes, showcasing its applicability and benefits. The findings emphasize the importance of accurate desmearing for merging USANS and SANS data in the crossover q region, which is particularly crucial for complex scattering patterns.

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.

The upgrade of the Swiss Light Source, called SLS 2.0, necessitates comprehensive updates to all 18 user front ends. This upgrade is driven by the increased power of the synchrotron beam, reduced floor space, changing source points, new safety regulations and enhanced beam properties, including a brightness increase by up to a factor of 40. While some existing front-end components are being thoroughly refurbished and upgraded for safety reasons, other components, especially those designed to tailor the new synchrotron beam, are being completely rebuilt. These new designs feature innovative and enhanced cooling systems to manage the high-power load and meet new requirements such as mechanical stability and compact footprints.

Archival still from the documentary "Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street"; Credit: HBO

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The Maya of Central America are thought to have been a kinder, gentler civilization, especially compared to the Aztecs of Mexico. At the peak of Mayan culture some 1,500 years ago, warfare seemed ritualistic, designed to extort ransom for captive royalty or to subjugate rival dynasties, with limited impact on the surrounding population. Only later, archeologists thought, did increasing drought and climate change lead to total warfare -- cities and dynasties were wiped off the map in so-called termination events -- and the collapse of the lowland Maya civilization around 1,000 A.D. (or C.E., current era). New evidence unearthed by National Science Foundation-funded researchers call all this into question, suggesting that the Maya engaged in scorched-earth military campaigns -- a strategy that aims to destroy anything of use, including cropland -- even at the height of their civilization, a time of prosperity and artistic sophistication. The finding also indicates that this increase in warfare, possibly associated with climate change and resource scarcity, was not the cause of the disintegration of the lowland Maya civilization.

Image credit: Francisco Estrada-Belli/Tulane