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NYC tourism still lags pre-COVID era amid crime concerns: report
NYC tourism still lags pre-COVID era amid crime concerns: report
New data shows U.K. inflation plummeting, in contrast to the U.S. – Axios
New data shows U.K. inflation plummeting, in contrast to the U.S. Axios UK inflation lowest in 3 years. Prime Minister Sunak ...
NJ Transit, Amtrak warns of more delays, cancellations after downed power lines strand thousands for hours
NJ Transit and Amtrak warned rush hour commuters of canceled or delayed trips Thursday morning after thousands were stranded due to fallen electrical wires on the rail tracks. “Customers should expect possible delays and cancellations today due to residual impacts resulting from crew availability and equipment that was out of position as a result of last evening’s service disruption caused by Amtrak’s overhead wire issues,” NJ Transit said on X. The schedule disruption began just after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday when the power lines fell in Kearny, NJ, causing a complete shutdown of Northeast Corridor service, according to the New York Times. Rush hour commuters were forced to bunker inside New York and Newark Penn Station as workers were dispatched to clear the tracks. Commuters sit on stairs at New York’s Penn Station as they wait out delays caused by downed wires in between Newark and New York on Wednesday. FOX 5 Crews restored power to one of the tracks at around 9:30 p.m., but minimal travel was still in place as the outage had caused travel issues to other stops along the Northeast Corridor. Explore More “This incident has affected trains operating as far as Philadelphia, PA. Customers traveling through the affected areas should expect extensive residual delays due to speed restrictions and rail congestion,” Amtrak revealed. Multiple trains scheduled to depart from or travel to New York were canceled including Philadelphia, Metropark, and Trenton. “We were supposed to leave at 5:30, all the trains are backed up and now it’s just a wait and see,” one traveler inside New York’s Penn Station told Fox 5. Multiple trains scheduled to depart from or travel to New York were canceled including Philadelphia, Metropark, and Trenton. FOX 5 Rush hour commuters were forced to bunker inside New York and Newark Penn Station as workers were dispatched to clear the tracks. Gabriel Blxssid via Storyful Frustrated commuters were seen sitting on stairwells and gathering around schedule boards waiting for any hopeful news. “There’s no communication, everyone is just wandering around, got no service here, my wife’s not picking up my calls, so it’s a brutal day,” another commuter told the outlet. Service Disruption: As of 7:13 PM ET, Due to downed overhead power lines in the area, All travel between Philadelphia and New York is temporarily stopped. We anticipate extensive delays as crews work to resolve this issue. Updates to follow as new information becomes available.— Amtrak Northeast (@AmtrakNECAlerts) May 22, 2024 One frustrated commuter blamed New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy for the delays, saying the anticipated 15% fare hikes overlooked much-needed restoration of the rail lines. “When you increase the fares 15%, you need to do your job, you need to communicate with Amtrak, Amtrak needs to communicate with everyone cause they keep saying the trains are delayed. “No if you have people waiting here for an hour, its suspended, that is absurd,” the traveler said. Crews restored
Velcro vs. Bacteria: A New Twist in Antibiotic Warfare
By assembling into large structures, the antibiotic plectasin latches onto its target on the bacterial cell surface. This is comparable to how both sides of Velcro form a bond. Credit: Gloria Fuentes, editedResearchers discovered a novel antibacterial mechanism of plectasin, an antibiotic derived from a fungus. The study reveals that plectasin forms Velcro-like structures that trap crucial bacterial components, preventing their escape and enhancing drug effectiveness. This mechanism could guide the development of new antibiotics to fight antimicrobial resistance.Plectasin, a small antibiotic, uses an innovative mechanism to kill bacteria. It assembles to form a large structure that latches onto its target on the bacterial cell surface comparable to how both sides of Velcro form a bond.A research team mapped how the Velcro-structure is formed. Their discovery unveils a new approach that could have broad implications for the development of antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance. Published today (May 23) in the scientific journal Nature Microbiology, the research was led by structural biologist Markus Weingarth and biochemist Eefjan Breukink at Utrecht University. Innovative Research TechniquesThe research team delved into the workings of plectasin, an antibiotic derived from the fungus Pseudoplectania nigrella. The team employed advanced biophysical techniques, including solid-state NMR and, in collaboration with Wouter Roos from Groningen, atomic force microscopy.Traditionally, antibiotics function by targeting specific molecules within bacterial cells. However, the mechanism behind plectasin’s action was not fully understood until now. Previous studies suggested a conventional model where plectasin binds to a molecule called Lipid II, crucial for bacterial cell wall synthesis, akin to a key fitting into a lock.Maik Derks, Eefjan Breukink, Shehrazade Miranda Jekhmane, and Markus Weingarth (from left to right). Credit: Utrecht UniversityVelcro-Like Structures in Antibacterial ActionThe new study reveals a more intricate process. Plectasin doesn’t just act like a key in a lock; instead, it forms dense structures on bacterial membranes containing Lipid II. These supramolecular complexes trap their target Lipid II, preventing it from escaping. Even if one Lipid II breaks free from plectasin, it remains contained within the Velcro-structure, unable to escape.Weingarth compares this structure to Velcro, where plectasin forms the microscopic hooks that attach to bacterial ‘loops’. In normal Velcro, if one of the loops breaks free from its hook, it is still trapped by the entire structure. The same goes for bacteria trapped in the plectasin superstructure: they can break free from the plectasin’s binding, but stay trapped in the superstructure. This prevents the bacteria to escape and cause further infections.Role of Calcium Ions in Plectasin’s EffectivenessMoreover, the researchers found that the presence of calcium ions further enhances plectasin’s antibacterial activity. These ions coordinate with specific regions of plectasin, causing structural changes that significantly improve the antibacterial effectiveness. That ions play a critical part in the action of plectasin was discovered by PhD students Shehrazade Miranda Jekhmane and Maik Derks, co-first authors of the study. They realized that plectasin samples had a peculiar color, which hinted at the presence of ions.Implications for Future Antibiotic DevelopmentMarkus Weingarth, the lead author of the study, expects this finding could open new avenues for developing superior antibiotics.“Plectasin is presumably not the ideal antibiotic candidate due to safety concerns. However, in our study, we show that the ‘Velcro-mechanism’ appears widely used among antibiotics, which was thus far ignored. Future drug design efforts hence not only need to focus on how to bind targets, but also how drugs can self-assemble efficiently. Thereby, our study closes a major knowledge gap which could have broad implications for the design of better drugs to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.”Reference: “Host defense peptide plectasin targets bacterial cell wall precursor Lipid II by a calcium-sensitive supramolecular mechanism” 23 May 2024, Nature Microbiology.DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01696-9
Ethereum ETF Approval Could Spur 60% Rally as ETH Buying Increases – CoinDesk
Ethereum ETF Approval Could Spur 60% Rally as ETH Buying Increases CoinDesk SEC signals possible approval of anticipated Ethereum spot ETFs Fox ...
Playoff hockey, peddlers and parades: What to do in West Michigan this weekend
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — West Michigan will be keeping the fun going all throughout Memorial Day Weekend. Here is a look at what you can do the weekend of May 24: Griffins taking on Admirals The Grand Rapids Griffins are cruising through the American Hockey League playoffs right now and the fun continues this weekend at Van Andel Arena. The Griffins will take on the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday starting at 7 p.m. for Game 4. You can get tickets to the game by clicking here. Cars & Coffee at Downtown Market Cars & Coffee Grand Rapids will take over the Downtown Market this Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., you’ll be treated to 150 different exotic, classic and even custom vehicles while you enjoy some treats. The event is free to attend. Click here to learn more. “Wicked” at DeVos Performance Hall The award-winning musical “Wicked” is coming to West Michigan for several performances this month. From now until June 2, you can plan a trip to DeVos Performance Hall and see all of the stage production’s glory. Get your tickets here. Bus Benefit 2024 Buses by the Beach is hosting the return of its Bus Benefit this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, you can check out a variety of camping options, live music concerts and a huge raffle everyday at Smiling Acres in Trufant. More information can be found here. Kalamazoo Hot Dog Walk The 14th annual Kalamazoo Hot Dog Walk will take place this Friday afternoon. Those who attend will be invited to ride buses to try out several restaurants all offering some delicious hot dog creations. The proceeds from this event will go toward helping Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. Details can be found here. Michigan’s Adventure opens for the season You know summer is here when Michigan’s Adventure opens up for the season. The amusement park is set to open to the public starting Friday and all U.S. military members and veterans will get free admission over Memorial Day weekend. Click here for more information. Inside woodtv.com: Storm Team 8 forecast Grand Haven Rib Fest Grand Haven Veterans of Foreign Wars will host the 18th annual Rib Fest this Friday and Saturday. The event will feature some incredible ribs from local pit bosses accompanied by live music. It is free to attend. Details can be found here. Zeeland Peddlers’ Market The city of Zeeland is getting set to host its Peddlers’ Market once again this Saturday. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., check out the open-air lifestyle market that will feature over 70 different vendors offering items from vintage furniture to organic foods. Additional information can be found here. Fruitport Old Fashioned Days The return of Fruitport Old Fashioned Days just so happens to be this weekend. Enjoy six different days full of fun from firework shows, carnival rides and plenty of tasty treats. It kicks off Wednesday and will go through Memorial Day weekend. Get more information by clicking here. Memorial Day events list Memorial Day weekend means an extra day off of work for most of us, but it’s also the day we honor those who paid the ultimate price serving our country. West Michigan will be holding lots of events to commemorate those with parades and other celebrations. We have a full list of events which you can find here.
“Unprecedented Discovery” – New Low-Cost Catalyst Converts Carbon Dioxide to Valuable Chemicals
Researchers have developed a tin-based catalyst that efficiently converts CO2 into key chemicals like ethanol and acetic acid using electrocatalytic conversion, with potential applications in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing renewable energy sources.A low-cost, tin-based catalyst can selectively convert carbon dioxide to three widely produced chemicals — ethanol, acetic acid, and formic acid.Lurking within the emissions from many industrial operations is an untapped resource — carbon dioxide (CO2). A contributor of greenhouse gas and global warming, it could instead be captured and converted to value-added chemicals.In a collaborative project involving the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, Northern Illinois University, and Valparaiso University, scientists report a family of catalysts that efficiently converts CO2 into ethanol, acetic acid, or formic acid. These liquid hydrocarbons are among the most produced chemicals in the U.S. and are found in many commercial products. For example, ethanol is a key ingredient in numerous household products and an additive to nearly all U.S. gasoline. Electrocatalytic Conversion MethodThe method used by the team is called electrocatalytic conversion, meaning that CO2 conversion over a catalyst is driven by electricity. By varying the size of tin used from single atoms to ultrasmall clusters and also to larger nano-crystallites, the team could control the CO2 conversion to acetic acid, ethanol, and formic acid, respectively. Selectivity for each of these chemicals was 90% or higher. “Our finding of a changing reaction path by the catalyst size is unprecedented,” Liu said.Computational and experimental studies revealed several insights into the reaction mechanisms forming the three hydrocarbons. One important insight was that the reaction path completely changes when the ordinary water used in the conversion is switched to deuterated water (deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen). This phenomenon is known as the kinetic isotope effect. It has never been previously observed in CO2 conversion.Researchers experimenting with tin-based catalysts that efficiently convert CO2 into ethanol, acetic acid or formic acid. Shown in image are Argonne researchers Haozhe Zhang and Jianxin Wang. Credit: Argonne National LaboratoryThis research benefited from two DOE Office of Science user facilities at Argonne — the Advanced Photon Source (APS) and Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM). “Using the hard X-ray beams available at the APS, we captured the chemical and electronic structures of the tin-based catalysts with different tin loadings,” said Chengjun Sun, an Argonne physicist. In addition, the high spatial resolution possible with a transmission electron microscope at CNM directly imaged the arrangement of tin atoms, from single atoms to small clusters, with the different catalyst loadings.According to Liu, “Our ultimate goal is to use locally generated electricity from wind and solar to produce desired chemicals for local consumption.”This would require integrating the newly discovered catalysts into a low-temperature electrolyzer to carry out the CO2 conversion with electricity supplied by renewable energy. Low-temperature electrolyzers can operate at near ambient temperature and pressure. This allows rapid start and stop to accommodate the intermittent supply of renewable energy. It is an ideal technology to serve this purpose.“If we can selectively produce only the chemicals in need near the site, we can help to cut down on CO2 transport and storage costs,” Liu noted. “It would truly be a win-win situation for local adopters of our technology.”Reference: “Modulating CO2 Electrocatalytic Conversion to the Organics Pathway by the Catalytic Site Dimension” by Haiping Xu, Jianxin Wang, Haiying He, Inhui Hwang, Yuzi Liu, Chengjun Sun, Haozhe Zhang, Tao Li, John V. Muntean, Tao Xu and Di-Jia Liu, 4 April 2024, Journal of the American Chemical Society.DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12722Support for the research came from DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy under the Advanced Manufacturing Office, Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office. Additional support was provided by Argonne’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development fund.
Nvidia stock pops 7% to top $1,000 after earnings beat forecasts, it announces stock split and dividend hike – Yahoo Finance
Nvidia stock pops 7% to top $1,000 after earnings beat forecasts, it announces stock split and dividend hike Yahoo Finance NVIDIA ...
Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck’s close pal Jason Mewes ‘would be shocked’ if they split amid divorce rumors
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s close friend Jason Mewes has weighed in on the divorce rumors surrounding the couple. The “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” star, 49, was asked about the duo’s relationship and if he thinks they’ll be going their separate ways soon. “I would be shocked,” Mewes told TMZ Wednesday. Affleck and Lopez’s marriage has been plagued by split rumors in recent weeks. GC Images Mewes’ friendship with the Oscar winner spans over two decades when they co-starred in “Dogma,” and “Chasing Amy,” as well as other comedy classics. In August 2022, Mewes attended Bennifer’s lavish nuptials at Affleck’s Georgia home. Explore More “I’m being sappy,” Mewes told the outlet when asked about the pair’s wedding. “When you were there watching their interactions, the singing — she sang to him — it just seemed after 20 years and them and everything that’s going on, [to be] very sincere and real.” Mewes cast doubt on reports that the pair are living apart despite having not kept in touch with Affleck and the “On The Floor” hitmaker, 54, since they tied the knot. “Maybe he’s busy working and she’s working and it’s too much with the kids,” he shared. “I’m not saying that’s what it is — I don’t know.” Mewes’ friendship with Affleck, 51, spans over two decades. Getty Images The actor’s comments come just hours after Lopez shut down a reporter who asked her to address the divorce rumors during a panel in Mexico City for her forthcoming film “Atlas.” “You know better than that,” she responded with a brief smile, per a video posted to Instagram by El Gordo y la Flaca’s account. Her co-star Simu Liu then chimed in to shut the reporter down. On Wednesday, Lopez shut down a reporter who asked her to address the divorce rumors during a panel in Mexico City. ISAAC ESQUIVEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A day prior, the mom of two attended the film’s second premiere solo once again — while the “Argo” actor was photographed leaving hotspot Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, Calif., later that night. Just hours before the first “Atlas” premiere, a source told Page Six exclusively that Affleck has “come to his senses” about the pair’s marriage. “If there was a way to divorce on grounds of temporary insanity, he would,” an insider told us Monday. On Monday night, Lopez attended the premiere of “Atlas” alone. FilmMagic The following night, Lopez walked the red carpet alone for the second time. Zuma / SplashNews.com “He feels like the last two years was just a fever dream, and he’s come to his senses now and understands there is just no way this is going to work.” Affleck’s apparent absence from the red carpet came exactly two weeks after the pair first sparked split rumors when Lopez showed up to the 2024 Met Gala without him — despite serving as one of the event’s co-chairs. The Oscar winner reportedly started staying at a home in the Brentwood neighborhood of LA — less than 30 minutes from his and Lopez’s $60 million Beverly Hills mansion — two weeks ago. Page Six learned that Affleck has been quietly house-hunting around the LA area. Getty Images Page Six later learned that Affleck has been quietly house-hunting around the LA area. He was also spotted without his wedding band on Saturday. ...
NASA PREFIRE Postponed: Arctic Heat Mission Launch Delayed Due to Severe Storms
NASA’s PREFIRE mission, in collaboration with Rocket Lab, is now rescheduled for no earlier than May 25 due to adverse weather conditions at the launch site in Mahia, New Zealand. The mission’s objective is to deploy two CubeSats into near-polar orbits to investigate thermal energy loss from the Arctic and Antarctica, with a second launch planned following the first. Credit: NASANASA and Rocket Lab have postponed the launch of NASA’s PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission to no earlier than Saturday, May 25, due to a severe weather system affecting Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The team will stand by until the weather clears.The mission aims to deploy two CubeSats into asynchronous, near-polar orbits to investigate the amount of Earth’s heat lost to space from the Arctic and Antarctica. Following the successful deployment of the first CubeSat, a second launch will be scheduled.This artist’s concept depicts one of two PREFIRE CubeSats in orbit around Earth. The NASA mission will measure the amount of far-infrared radiation the planet’s polar regions shed to space – information that’s key to understanding Earth’s energy balance. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechPREFIRE, which stands for Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment, is a NASA mission designed to investigate Earth’s thermal energy dynamics, specifically focusing on how much heat is lost to space from the Arctic and Antarctica. The mission utilizes two CubeSats, small research satellites, which are deployed into asynchronous, near-polar orbits. By measuring the far-infrared radiant energy emitted from these polar regions, PREFIRE aims to enhance our understanding of Earth’s energy balance and contribute valuable data to climate science, particularly in terms of understanding and predicting changes in polar ice and cloud dynamics. The data collected by PREFIRE will also help improve climate models, providing a more accurate prediction of future climate scenarios.
