India News | Dynasts Continue to Dominate Maharashtra Polity; Key Victories for Rane and Thackeray FamiliesAP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:55 p.m. EST
Florida Gov. DeSantis’ Canadian drug import plan goes nowhere after FDA approvalTikTok's future uncertain after appeals court rejects its bid to overturn possible US ban
Former justice secretary urges UK to make more use of open prisonsAnti-Israel convention in Chicago suburb instructs students how to 'make your campus Palestinian': Report
Healthy corals are colorful and full of life. And under normal conditions, corals and algae depend on one another. The corals offer the algae protection and the photosynthesizing algae provide the coral with the components they need to make proteins and sugars. As waters warm, though, corals often bleach, which means they eject their algae. "The corals look white or sometimes black cause they've died," says Dakota McCoy , a biologist at the University of Chicago. "There's no fish around. It's way less biodiverse." However, "if you snorkel over a reef after a heat wave, other animals still look healthy," says McCoy. "They've still got their algae unlike the coral. It seems to take more to get them to bleach. So that's kind of a weird biological mystery." These seemingly healthy creatures include a clam-like mollusc called a heart cockle — the name coming from the shape of its shell. "These strange little clams are a little bit tougher than corals," says McCoy, "even though they host the same type of algae inside their cells that corals do." McCoy wanted to know why that might be. In a paper published in Nature Communications , she and her colleagues conclude that the structure of the heart cockle's shell operates as its own kind of fiber optic cables to channel light to the algae living inside it. It's a finding that may have both engineering and conservation implications. Stained glass in miniature McCoy and her colleagues began their investigation by shining LED lights through the heart cockles. "In a lot of shells, there [are] tiny little triangles where the light passes through. In some of the shells, it looks more like big zebra stripes. Some of the shells, they look like stained glass windows. So there's material there but light gets through." She wanted to know how the heart cockles render their shells transparent to get the light to their algal residents that depend on it. "Are they doing something more interesting than just letting light pass through?," she wondered. So she gathered some cockles from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History and an online collector for a closer look. An instrument called a spectrophotometer, "can measure what color light passes through a little fragment of shell suspended in seawater by scanning over every wavelength of light from ultraviolet to infrared," McCoy explains. She and her colleagues found that the little windows in the heart cockle shells stream more than twice as much useful sunlight into their interiors for their algal tenants than harmful UV radiation. In addition, some individuals have mineral lenses beneath their little windows. "What they seem to do is condense light into a beam so that it's illuminating more deeply into the algae-rich tissue that's doing all the photosynthesis," says McCoy. The lens may also spread the light out "so you're not going to actually burn your [algae] or have too much light intensity," says Stanford University physicist Jennifer Dionne , who collaborated with McCoy. Natural fiber optics McCoy and Dionne then looked more closely at the shell's architecture. They knew it was made out of a kind of calcium carbonate, aragonite, a mineral that's usually opaque in coral skeletons or other clam shells. When those structures are examined under a microscope, McCoy says, "you see lots of big plates that are jumbled together and often arranged in a very sturdy brick-like manner." But when she used an electron microscope to study the mineral structure of the heart cockle shell, the calcium carbonate crystals were organized into long, super narrow fibers that were "all oriented the same direction as the direction that sunlight needs to travel to get into the shell," she says. Dionne instantly saw something familiar. "Here's a natural organism that is guiding light essentially via its own fiber optic bundles to basically help its symbionts harness sunlight," she says. "I think it might be one of the first examples in nature." The researchers say that structure could inspire tiny cameras with miniscule lenses or even improve fiber optic cable technology. "I think there's a lot we can learn about how biology handles light," says Dionne. University of Georgia cell biologist Mark Farmer wasn't involved in the research and was impressed with the paper. "It's difficult to balance the needs of a strong structural shell — which is of course the reason that clams make shells in the first place — with light transmission," he says. "So I think the fact that the cockles have solved effectively both problems with these fiber optics is the most significant finding." Farmer says the results may help explain why corals tend to bleach more readily than heart cockles, a phenomenon triggered by stress. While both organisms may be exposed to the stress of warming ocean temperatures, "by eliminating that additional stress of ultraviolet light, which can damage DNA, the cockles are perhaps less subject to the kind of stress that would lead to a bleaching event," says Farmer. McCoy agrees and believes that this difference could provide insights into how to help corals. "Can we think a little bit more about how heart cockles manage the light environment for their algae and maybe take inspiration from that to engineer new algae or new corals — a little bit more resilient, a little bit more robust?" she asks. McCoy sees in these shells more than a billion years of evolution — what she calls "product design honed by natural selection." "The heart cockle is a very cool story of how a living creature can manipulate light as well as many human engineers can," she says. "It's a beautiful example of a sustainable creature using solar energy in a very efficient way, thanks to an amazing natural evolved technology." Copyright 2024 NPRWho is Matteo Berrettini’s Girlfriend? Former Italian No.1 Dating Singer Ultimo’s Ex
SHANGHAI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - China's Huawei, blacklisted by the U.S., said on Saturday it is targeting 100,000 applications for its Harmony operating system in coming months as it seeks widespread help to achieve self-reliance. The tech giant has more than 15,000 applications based on Harmony that can meet consumers' basic needs, but the ecosystem requires more personalised and boutique apps, Huawei Chairman Xu Zhijun told a conference on Saturday. "Based on our analysis, for the Harmony ecosystem to be mature in meeting consumer needs, 100,000 apps is the milestone, and that is the key objective over the next six to 12 months," Xu said in a speech posted on the WeChat messaging app. The ambitious app target highlights the urgency in developing home-grown technologies as China faces elevated tensions with the U.S. in areas ranging from trade to technology as President-elect Donald Trump threatens to be tougher on China. Huawei launched its operating system five years ago after U.S. sanctions cut off support for Google's (GOOGL.O) , opens new tab Android. The Shenzhen-based company, which sells products ranging from smartphones to laptops, later developed an open-source version of the Harmony system. Due to the U.S. sanctions, "Huawei has been forced to accelerate developing its own operating system," Xu said. Although much progress has been made, "for any operation system, no matter how advanced it is, it would be of no value if no one uses it." Xu expressed hope that developers could work hard to enrich app offerings and called on government agencies, state companies and social organisations to use Harmony as their operating system at work. He asked consumers to be tolerant of the system's immaturity, saying, "The more people use it, the more quickly it will become mature." Huawei unveiled Harmony in August 2019, three months after Washington placed it under trade restrictions over alleged security concerns. Huawei denies its equipment poses a risk. "No way back leads to victory," Xu said. "Huawei will unwaveringly invest in developing the Harmony ecosystem, and strive to make the impossible possible." Sign up here. Reporting by Samuel Shen and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Editing by William Mallard Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabWASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin bucked his party in 2021 when he refused to support a $1.8 trillion bill on taxes, social programs and clean energy, thus dooming President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" initiative. Then this month, in one of his final actions as a member of Congress, he also bucked his party and voted against a nominee that would have continued the Democratic majority on the National Labor Relations Board once both he and Biden leave office. In between, Manchin played outsized roles in Biden's economic stimulus program and his infrastructure bill, as well as the smaller climate change and health care law that came out of the wreckage of Build Back Better. In exit interviews, Manchin, I-W.Va., said his former party had gone too far to the left and left him in a position he did not want — the one individual who could make or break legislation. "I did not run for that position," Manchin told the Washington Post. "I did not try to wedge myself in that and be the deciding vote." He said he made it clear once the Democrats won the trifecta of the White House, Senate and House in 2021 that he was not going to be a guaranteed "yes" vote. "I don't work for you," he said he told his colleagues, according to the Post interview. "You didn't hire me and you can't fire me. I work for the people of West Virginia on behalf of the United States government. That's who I have to answer to, and if this stuff doesn't make sense no matter how bad you want it, I can't vote for it." None of Biden's major accomplishments — the economic stimulus package, the infrastructure law, the climate change and health care measure, and the funding to bring manufacturing, including those of computer chips, back to the U.S. — would have passed without Manchin's vote. "Each of these victories required senators to come together from both sides of the aisle to find solutions for Americans," he said on the Senate floor earlier this month in his farewell speech. "These were bills that just made common sense. And when each side could take just a little step to find common ground, powerful things have happened." In his closing weeks as a senator, he touted funding in those bills for clean energy manufacturing in West Virginia coal communities, for a new hanger at a small West Virginia airport and for a carbon storage hub in the state. He singled out the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (Arch2), which will receive up to $925 million in federal funding for projects in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky. "You can't eliminate your way to a cleaner environment, you can innovate it," Manchin said in his floor speech. "That's why we funded the development of regional hydrogen hubs and made sure one of them would be in the Appalachia region." His closing words on the Senate floor also talked about the need for lawmakers to work together, and his support for the filibuster that requires 60 votes — support from both parties — to pass legislation. But it didn't always work, he said. Popular legislation such as overhauling immigration laws and expanding background checks for guns failed, he said. "These opportunities were missed because we've let politics get in the way of doing our job," he said in his floor speech. "I am not saying that dealing with politics is easy. It's not. It's messy. I've had my share of tough votes. At times, I have felt like the whole Senate was united — in being upset with me. So sometimes I guess we did come together." Harsh words for Democrats Manchin officially left the Democratic Party in May and registered as an independent. He continued to caucus with his fellow Democrats until the end. But he's leaving office with some harsh words for the party he left behind. After all, he said, he wasn't the only person who left the Democratic Party. "The brand got so bad. The 'D' brand has been so maligned from the standpoint of — it's just — it's toxic," he said in the CNN interview. He said Democrats have been telling people what they have to believe in and what they have to do, no matter how outrageous. "The Democrat I grew up being, they wanted to make sure that people had an opportunity for a good job, a good pay," he told CNN. "I will protect you. Just don't try to mainstream it. And the Democratic Party, the Washington Democrats, have tried to mainstream the extreme. ...They have — they have basically, expanded upon thinking, well, we want to protect you there, but we're going to tell you how you should live your life." He never endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in 2024, and said the election results showed that Americans didn't want someone on the left. He said it was "nuts" and "completely insane" to say Harris lost because she wasn't progressive enough. The problem was that her liberal voting record made it hard for her to pivot to the center in the fall campaign, he said, "They're saying if Kamala would have been who she always has been, pretty far to the left, it would have been better for her. That's crazy," Manchin told CNN. "Basically, she was having a hard time trying to come back to the middle and then speak about it with any conviction. If you try to be somebody you're not, it's hard." Manchin resisted entreaties that he run for president as an independent in 2024, lest he be a spoiler. But he said there was room for a real third party. "The centrist part of both parties," he said on CNN. "So the centrist moderate vote decides who's going to be the president of the United States. And when they get here, they don't govern that way. Neither side does. They go to their respective corners. So if a centrist had a voice and had a party that could make both of these, the Democrat and Republican Party come back, OK, that would be something." Manchin told CNN that the new organization would be called the American Party, and while he wouldn't lead it, "I'll be the best cheerleader they've ever had." (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
None
Is masked Aadhaar valid everywhere? Know how to download and use masked Aadhaar to avoid frauds
Mumbai: The cases of sudden heart attacks have spiked in the country as many cases are coming to the fore in the recent past, especially post COVID-19 pandemic. Another incident of sudden heart attack has come to the fore where an elderly passenger suffered heart attack while traveling in a train. The TTE present inside the train reacted quickly and gave timely CPR to the patient due to which his life was saved. A video of the TTE giving CPR to the patient and blowing air into his mouth has gone viral on social media. The incident reportedly occurred in train number 15708 Amrapali Express as a passenger traveling in the general coach suffered sudden heart attack, after which the TTE came to the rescue of the 70-year-old passenger. The passenger was administered with CPR due to which the passenger got a new lease of life. The passenger was then sent to a hospital at Chhapra Railway Station for further treatment. The video of the incident is going viral on social media and the internet users are slamming the TTE even after his heroic act of saving the life of the elderly passenger. The internet users are commenting on the video which was shared by the Railway Ministry on its official social media account, saying that CPR is not given to a person if he is conscious. Let us know! 👂 What type of content would you like to see from us this year? The video shows that the TTE is pumping the patient's chest with his hands and also blows air into the mouth of the elderly patient while the patient is looking at him. The patient seems to be conscious, however, the patient is also in need of urgent medical attention as he allegedly suffered in moving train. The Railway Minitry shared the video and said, "TTE's promptness gave 'life'. While travelling in the general coach of train number 15708 'Amrapali Express', a 70-year-old passenger suffered a heart attack. The TTE deployed there immediately gave CPR and saved the life of the passenger. The passenger was then sent to the hospital at Chhapra railway station." A user said, "The patient is conscious and has raised his hands but the TTE is giving him CPR and giving him mouth-to-mouth breathing. What kind of CPR is this?" Another user said, "It is seen in the video that the person's hands are moving which means that his heartbeat is present. Wrong CPR has been given. The patient is inspected before giving basic life support. More training and awareness is needed among the people."
Uttar Pradesh assembly bypolls: SP retains Karhal, Sisamau bastions, loses elsewhereFormer Rep. Matt Gaetz reportedly he will not seek to return to Congress to resume duties after withdrawing his name to be Donald Trump's U.S. Attorney General . He announced the decision on Friday. Ginger Gaetz, his wife, posted a photo of him at a bar with "Unemployment has never looked so good." Unemployment has never looked so good pic.twitter.com/wGfxr2HjDg Gaetz faced an uphill battle to win enough support. A House Ethics Committee was investigating reports that he had sex with a minor. He resigned from Congress the day after Trump nominated him and the committee declined to release its findings. Gaetz announced Thursday he was no longer seeking to become Attorney General after holding meetings with Senators to try to win their backing. Those meetings indicated he would have enough votes to be confirmed. "I'm still going to be in the fight, but it's going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress," he said in an interview with Charlie Kirk . The Florida Republican hinted at what he is doing next. "Stock trading is such a huge part of congress. It shouldn't be," he posted on X. "I can't wait to tell all these stories of corruption, treason and betrayal." He ended with with, "Coming soon." Matt Gaetz Speaks + Why Dems Lose the Bathroom Battle + Shut Down The Education Cartel https://t.co/RZEvwKehr7No turnover tax on SEZ enterprises in Gwadar: Ahsan Meeting reviewed progress in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, food & agriculture, and SEZs ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal on Friday chaired progress review meetings on the CPEC. According to an official announcement, made by the planning ministry on Friday, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal chaired a progress review meeting on CPEC in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Planning, members of the Planning Commission, secretaries of various ministries and divisions, and senior officials from relevant departments. The meeting reviewed progress in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, food & agriculture, and special economic zones (SEZs). The Ministry of Railways and Communications updated the meeting participants on the recent progress of the ML-1 and KKH projects and outlined their future course of action. Discussing the ML-1 project, the minister noted the commitment made by the Chinese premier for the visit of a team of Chinese technical experts to Pakistan. During a recent meeting with the Chinese ambassador, it was also agreed that a team of financial experts would accompany them to ensure simultaneous and efficient resolution of all matters related to the project. Regarding KKH, the minister directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to expedite progress in coordination with the Chinese side to ensure its timely completion, as it is a strategic project under CPEC Phase-II. While addressing the development of industrial zones, the minister stressed China’s extensive expertise in this area. He highlighted that Pakistan had requested China to develop two model industrial zones, which would be done in turn-key basis. These model zones would serve as benchmarks for other industrial zones across the country. He also directed the Board of Investment (BoI) to finalise the availability of land for an SEZ development in Islamabad. The minister directed the Power Division and PESCO to immediately energise the internal network of Rashakai SEZ and provide electricity to meet its current requirements. Regarding Gwadar’s tax exemption policy, officials clarified that under the Finance Act, the China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC) and other Free Zone businesses are entitled to tax holidays and related incentives. Notifications have already been issued to relevant departments, confirming there is no turnover tax on SEZ enterprises operating in Gwadar. The meeting also reviewed progress on the training of 1,000 agriculture graduates in China. The Minister directed that experts traveling for agricultural training should be fully facilitated. These trainees, to be selected from public and private sector on merit, will learn latest technology and farm mechanisation techniques from China and help in modernising Pakistan’s agriculture. Special arrangements for halal food, including sehri and iftar during Ramazan, were also instructed. The minister reiterated the vital role of the agriculture sector in Pakistan’s development and noted that the PM will soon announce the 5Es National Economic Transformation Plan Framework, which is home-grown. This framework will be integrated into the five-year development plan, followed by formulation of a comprehensive National Agriculture and Industrial Policy to advance the agriculture sector under a structured policy framework. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of commitment to ensuring timely implementation of CPEC projects for the country’s economic growth and development. Meanwhile, sources said that China might be ready for a piecemeal approach for funding the ML-1 [Mainline-1] and KKH [Karakoram Highway] projects by adopting a phased-wise approach, but it all depends on improvement in security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.