[Science] :
The government held an annual conference and exhibition at Silicon Valley in the U.S. to give support to South Korean firms in the AI and digital sectors making inroads into the U.S. market. According to the ICT ministry on Saturday, the two-day K-Global@Silicon Valley 2024, marking its 13th year, ...

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The poorest states in the U.S. often face a multitude of economic and social challenges that contribute to and perpetuate their low median household incomes.

[International] :
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Russia could hold military drills with North Korea.  According to Reuters and the Russian state news agency TASS, Putin mentioned the possibility during a plenary session of the annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in ...

[more...]

[International] :
Media outlets in Japan have reported that talks are underway for a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Yoon Suk Yeol on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) Summit in Peru. Japan’s Kyodo News said the two sides are discussing details of the potential ...

[more...]

[International] :
South Korea, the United States and Japan are set to hold their trilateral multidomain Freedom Edge exercise this week.  According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff(JCS), this year’s second Freedom Edge exercise runs Wednesday to Friday in international waters south of Jeju Island.  The three ...

[more...]

Minho of SHINee will hold his first solo concert in November. Titled “MEAN: of my first” it will be Minho’s first solo concert since his debut as a member of SHINee in 2008....

[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...]

Seabed geology data: stakeholder consultation  British Geological Survey

Maximizing the performance of crystal monochromators is a key aspect in the design of beamline optics for diffraction-limited synchrotron sources. Temperature and deformation of cryo-cooled crystals, illuminated by high-power beams of X-rays, can be estimated with a purely analytical model. The analysis is based on the thermal properties of cryo-cooled silicon crystals and the cooling geometry. Deformation amplitudes can be obtained, quickly and reliably. In this article the concept of threshold power conditions is introduced and defined analytically. The contribution of parameters such as liquid-nitro­gen cooling efficiency, thermal contact conductance and interface contact area of the crystal with the cooling base is evaluated. The optimal crystal illumination and the base temperature are inferred, which help minimize the optics deformation. The model has been examined using finite-element analysis studies performed for several beamlines of the Diamond-II upgrade.

The damage threshold of an Au-coated flat mirror, one of the reflective optics installed on the FEL-2 beamline of the Dalian Coherent Light Source, China, upon far-UV free-electron laser irradiation is evaluated. The surface of the coating is characterized by profilometer and optical microscope. A theoretical approach of the phenomenon is also presented, by application of conventional single-pulse damage threshold calculations, a one-dimensional thermal diffusion model, as well as finite-element analysis with ANSYS.

Xray free-electron lasers (XFELs) enable experiments that would have been impractical or impossible at conventional X-ray laser facilities. Indeed, more XFEL facilities are being built and planned, with their aim to deliver larger pulse energies and higher peak brilliance. While seeking to increase the pulse power, it is quintessential to consider the maximum pulse fluence that a grazing-incidence FEL mirror can withstand. To address this issue, several studies were conducted on grazing-incidence damage by soft X-ray FEL pulses at the European XFEL facility. Boron carbide (B4C) coatings on polished silicon substrate were investigated using 1 keV photon energy, similar to the X-ray mirrors currently installed at the soft X-ray beamlines (SASE3). The purpose of this study is to compare the damage threshold of B4C and Si to determine the advantages, tolerance and limits of using B4C coatings.

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

Advocates for expanding Medicaid in Kansas staged a protest outside the entrance to the statehouse parking garage in Topeka in May 2019. Today, twelve states have still not expanded Medicaid. The biggest are Texas, Florida, and Georgia, but there are a few outside the South, including Wyoming and Kansas.; Credit: John Hanna/AP

There are more than 2 million people across the United States who have no option when it comes to health insurance. They're in what's known as the "coverage gap" — they don't qualify for Medicaid in their state, and make too little money to be eligible for subsidized health plans on the Affordable Care Act insurance exchanges.

Briana Wright is one of those people. She's 27, lives near Jackson, Miss., works at McDonalds, and doesn't have health insurance. So to figure out her options when she recently learned she needed to have surgery to remove her gallbladder, she called Health Help Mississippi, a nonprofit that helps people enroll in health insurances.

Because she lives in Mississippi, "I wasn't going to be eligible for Medicaid — because I don't have children [and] I'm not pregnant," she tells NPR. When she had her income checked for Healthcare.gov, it was just shy of the federal poverty line — the minimum to qualify for subsidies. "It was $74 [short]. I was like, oh wow," she says.

Wright's inability to get a subsidized policy on Healthcare.gov is related to how the Affordable Care Act was originally designed. People needing insurance who were above the poverty line were supposed to be funneled via the federal and state insurance exchanges to private policies — with federal subsidies to help make those policies affordable. People who were under the poverty line were to be funneled to a newly-expanded version of Medicaid — the public health insurance program that is jointly funded by states and the federal government. But the Supreme Court made Medicaid expansion essentially optional in 2012, and many Republican-led states declined to expand. Today, there are 12 holdout states that have not expanded Medicaid, and Mississippi is one of them.

So, Wright is still uninsured. Her gallbladder is causing her pain, but she can't afford the surgery without shuffling household bills, and risking leaving something else unpaid. "I'm stressed out about it. I don't know what I'm going to do," she says. "I'm going to just have to pay it out of pocket or get on some payment plan until it all gets paid for."

Hoping to finally find a fix for Wright and the millions like her who are in Medicaid limbo, several teams of Democratic lawmakers have recently been hashing out several options — hoping to build on the momentum of the latest Supreme Court confirmation that the ACA is here to stay.

OPTION 1: Sweet-talk the 12 holdout states

The COVID-19 relief bill passed in March included financial enticements for these 12 states to expand Medicaid. Essentially, the federal government will cover 90% of the costs of the newly eligible population, and an additional 5% of the costs of those already enrolled.

It's a good financial deal. An analysis by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that the net benefit for these states would be $9.6 billion. But, so far — publicly, at least — no states have indicated they intend to take the federal government up on its offer.

"If that is not getting states to move, then that suggests that the deep root of their hesitation is not about financial constraint," says Jamila Michener, a professor of government at Cornell University and author of the book Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid Federalism And Unequal Politics.

Instead, Michener says, the reluctance among some Republican-led legislatures and governors to expand Medicaid may be a combination of partisan resistance to President Obama's signature health law, and not believing "this kind of government intervention for these groups of people is appropriate."

What's Next: When asked about progress on this front in an April press briefing, Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki said "the President is certainly supportive of — and an advocate for — states expanding Medicaid," but did not answer a follow up about whether the White House was directly reaching out to governors regarding this option.

OPTION 2: Create a federal public option to fill the gap

Some have advocated for circumventing these holdout states and creating a new, standalone federal Medicaid program that people who fall into this coverage gap could join. It would be kind of like a tailored public option just for this group.

This idea was included in Biden's 2022 budget, which says, in part: "In States that have not expanded Medicaid, the President has proposed extending coverage to millions of people by providing premium-free, Medicaid-like coverage through a Federal public option, paired with financial incentives to ensure States maintain their existing expansions."

But it wouldn't be simple. "That can be quite complex — to implement a federal program that's targeted to just these 2.2 million people across a handful of states," says Robin Rudowitz, co-director of the Medicaid program at the Kaiser Family Foundation, who wrote a recent analysis of the policy options.

It also may be a heavy lift, politically, says Michener. "Anything that expanded the footprint of the federal government and its role in subsidizing health care would be especially challenging," she says.

What's next: This idea was raised as a possible solution in a letter last month from Georgia's Democratic senators to Senate leaders, and Sen. Raphael Warnock said this week he plans to introduce legislation soon.

OPTION 3: Get around stubborn states by letting cities expand Medicaid

Instead of centralizing the approach, this next idea goes even more local. The COVER Now Act, introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, would empower local jurisdictions to expand Medicaid. So, if you live in Austin, Texas, maybe you could get Medicaid, even if someone in Lubbock still couldn't.

The political and logistical challenges would be tough, policy analysts say. Logistically, such a plan would require counties and cities to create new infrastructure to run a Medicaid program, Rudowitz notes, and the federal government would have to oversee how well these new local programs complied with all of Medicaid's rules.

"It does not seem feasible politically," Michener says. "The legislators who would have to vote to make this possible would be ceding quite a bit of power to localities." It also might amplify geographic equity concerns, she says. People's access to health insurance would not just "be arbitrarily based on what state you live in — which is the current state of affairs — It's also going to be arbitrary based on what county you live in, based on what city you live in."

What's next: Doggett introduced the bill earlier this month. There's no guarantee it would get a vote on the House floor and — even if it did — it wouldn't survive a likely filibuster in the evenly divided Senate.

OPTION 4: Change the ACA to open up the exchanges

A fourth idea, Rudowitz says, is to change the law to remove the minimum cutoff for the private health insurance exchanges, since "right now, individuals who are below poverty are not eligible for subsidies in the marketplace." With this option, states wouldn't be paying any of the costs, since the federal government pays premium subsidies, Rudowitz says, but "there are issues around beneficiary protections, benefits, out-of-pocket costs."

What's next: This idea hasn't yet been included in any current congressional bills.

Will any of these ideas come to fruition?

Even with a variety of ideas on the table, "there's no slam dunk option, it's a tough policy issue," Rudowitz says. All of these would be complicated to pull off.

It's possible Democrats will include one of these ideas in a reconciliation bill that could pass without the threat of a Republican filibuster. But that bill has yet to be written, and what will be included is anyone's guess.

Even so, Michener says she's glad the discussion of the Medicaid coverage gap is happening, because it's sensitizing the public, as well as people in power, to the problem and potentially changing the political dynamic down the line. "Even in policy areas where you don't have any kind of guaranteed victory, it is often worth fighting the fight," she says. "Politics is a long game."

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

Do you have any unwanted household products, such as paints, cleansers, solvents, antifreeze, batteries or used motor oils; or electronics like computer equipment, old radios, mobile phones, TVs, VCRs, calculators or copiers? Dispose of them properly, free of charge, on May 7th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

From April 28 to May 1 the National Academy of Sciences will hold its 155th annual meeting.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examines evidence on whether providing permanent supportive housing (PSH) – a combination of stable housing and supportive services -- to individuals who are experiencing homelessness improves their health.

Biotechnology has the potential to be a part of the solution in protecting forest trees against destructive pest and disease outbreaks

Last week, the International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing held its first public meeting at the National Academy of Sciences building in Washington, D.C.

A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee tasked with developing an overarching framework to assist policymakers in planning for equitable allocation of a vaccine against COVID-19 will issue a discussion draft of the preliminary framework for public comment on Sept. 1.

The National Academy of Sciences will hold its 158th Annual Meeting online this Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25.

A new roundtable will hold its first public meeting on Jan. 23 to discuss challenges associated with incorporating climate change into the macroeconomic analyses used for federal policymaking. The roundtable’s activities will inform a new White House interagency working group.

In a new NAE Perspective, Idalis Villanueva Alarcón argues that engineering must recognize and permanently remove negative hidden curriculum. It is only then that engineering can create a new image, one where everyone is equitably welcomed, valued, invested in, and sustained for generations to come.

Big Tech companies are likely to get less time than startups, MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), government departments and other state governments to implement the rules around the DPDPA, the official had said. The government is also ready with a broad draft of the 21 rules under DPDPA, the official had said, adding that the government would now begin consultation on these rules.

The frozen breakfast category, anchored by waffles, pancakes and French toast, has produced its share of picks and pans over the past year, largely dominated by a handful of big-dollar items with little variation in sales.

Consumers are choosing frozen over delivery demand quality and variety in their pizzas.

T. Marzetti Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lancaster Colony Corp., purchases the flatbread manufacturer for approximately $92 million.

Bagels continue to tempt consumers, with better-for-you versions attracting attention and dollars.

Business lessons are everywhere. I’ve long been a student of the game of life, and one of my biggest curriculums of education is business. Due to the rapid changing landscape and structures of the plumbing and mechanical industries, we all have a lot to learn. The lessons exist regardless of the size, location or current structure of your business. 

From being able to get things done to staying on track, distractions can sabotage productivity in ways that we don’t even realize.

Patient and health advocacy groups representing millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions are applauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear arguments in the case of Texas v. United States this term. The case is the latest court challenge to the health care law known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The groups filed an amicus brief urging the Court’s swift action and citing the detrimental impacts and uncertainty patients would face were the case left at the lower court level.

Safety debates surrounding hiking risks run parallel to opinions on workplace safety.

Celsius Holdings Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., announced its acquisition of Big Beverages Contract Manufacturing LLC for $75 million. The transaction was completed using cash on hand and closed on Nov. 1.

Smart lifestyle with smart light and humidifier — now available on Amazon U.S.A. Store plus all their products can be controlled with smartphones through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi easily by one touch or shake.

President Ahn said, "If we utilize the results of this mRNA patent analysis, it would be greatly helpful in determining the direction of future vaccine research and development."

Renowned author, speaker, and radio/TV personality, Dr. Madelyn Blair, takes the spotlight in this very special profile. "Unlock" her hit series, explore her acclaimed work, and get ready for the return of Mental Espresso, reimagined for 2023.

On November 9 in Barcelona, PUZZLE X convenes key quantum industry stakeholders to present the industry recommendations in preparation for the passing of the International Year of Quantum resolution (IYQ2025)

GREEN, GREEN, GREEN… When you USE American Coin for commercial and/or cross-border payments, you will see big differences in low cost, instant speed and huge energy savings!

The Innovative Solution for Efficient Hose & Tubing Management in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Facilities

Seaside living at Singapore District 15

A unique perspective on the mental challenges of golf and how they mirror the struggles we face off the course.

Event is part of the company's education and outreach program called 'Fun through safe Sliming'

Zak Rivers and Wilderness Mindsets film features the oldest man to canoe the Mississippi

NHN FORWARD which marks the fourth anniversary this year is a forum in which business divisions within NHN share their major technologies and experience with developers around the world under the slogan "Small Steps Big Difference."

Contract awarded for products that bring improvement to healthcare industry

Richard Runyon, legendary storyteller and retired FDA employee, lives up to his Q4 2022 Flagship status with an exciting slate of new releases.

At Back-to-School Brunch on the Chef Point patio, participants will be able to buy and decorate kindness rocks for $5 that will be gifted to local classroom teachers.

CandoPack is the top manufacturer of cooler bags in China. Its products cover various sporting goods industries, such as sports cooler bags and sports drawstring bags. Welcome to customize.

Our organization is looking forward to this opportunity to forge new partnerships and learn from the maritime sector along the Mississippi River

Event will honor pets and people lost in the fires

Celebrated in 40 countries domestically and abroad