Games |
- Ghost Patrol - Screenshots
- IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14016-14025: Digluconate and Isopropyl Alcohol Biocide Formulation
- IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14002-14015: Bacterial Exopolysaccharides: Functionality and Prospects
- JPM, Vol. 2, Pages 201-216: Insurance Coverage Policies for Personalized Medicine
- JPM, Vol. 2, Pages 192-200: An Altered Treatment Plan Based on Direct to Consumer (DTC) Genetic Testing: Personalized Medicine from the Patient/Pin-cushion Perspective
- JFB, Vol. 3, Pages 745-759: Hydration-Induced Phase Separation in Amphiphilic Polymer Matrices and its Influence on Voclosporin Release
- Minerals, Vol. 2, Pages 365-384: Platinum-Group Minerals in Chromitites of the Niquelândia Layered Intrusion (Central Goias, Brazil): Their Magmatic Origin and Low-Temperature Reworking during Serpentinization and Lateritic Weathering
- IJERPH, Vol. 9, Pages 3934-3942: Increased Incidence and Altered Risk Demographics of Childhood Lead Poisoning: Predicting the Impacts of the CDC’s 5 µg/dL Reference Value in Massachusetts (USA)
- Brain Sciences, Vol. 2, Pages 553-572: Striatal Volume Increases in Active Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals and Correlation with Cognitive Performance
- Atmosphere, Vol. 3, Pages 537-556: Modelling Regional Surface Energy Exchange and Boundary Layer Development in Boreal Sweden — Comparison of Mesoscale Model (RAMS) Simulations with Aircraft and Tower Observations
- Viruses, Vol. 4, Pages 2670-2684: Comparative Genomics of Korean Infectious Bronchitis Viruses (IBVs) and an Animal Model to Evaluate Pathogenicity of IBVs to the Reproductive Organs
- Symmetry, Vol. 4, Pages 626-643: Dirac Matrices and Feynman’s Rest of the Universe
- Religions, Vol. 3, Pages 1025-1040: The Idea of a Highest Divine Principle — Founding Reason and Spirituality. A Necessary Concept of a Comparative Philosophy?
- Materials, Vol. 5, Pages 2101-2136: Potential Applications of Zeolite Membranes in Reaction Coupling Separation Processes
- Forests, Vol. 3, Pages 997-1016: Invasive Plant Species in the National Parks of Vietnam
- Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 905-925: Successful Reconstruction of Tooth Germ with Cell Lines Requires Coordinated Gene Expressions from the Initiation Stage
- Record attendance at chess tournament
- HOWTO make a gingerbread Haunted Mansion
- PS Move Racing Wheel works with any game - Report
- Plays Like... Assassin's Creed 3
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 04:18 AM PDT Game features: - Deep entertaining story tailored to players' environment and revealed in episodes that reward their progress. Initial release includes 11 ghost characters and levels with more content, characters and surprises currently in development. - Two-tiered gameplay lets players scan real world surroundings for ghostly auras, then contact the entities using fast and fun Rock Band™-style gameplay with a supernatural twist. Succeed and capture spooky pictures of the ghosts. - Original retro-comic characters created by renowned Hollywood illustrator Pete Von Sholly, known for his work on Mars Attacks!, Disney's James and the Giant Peach, The Mask and other distinguished movies. - Collect and share photos and trading cards. Complete the game and collect 50 ghostly photos and 10 demented trading cards. Share photos on your favorite social network and visit the Ghost Patrol website in the weeks ahead to discover secrets about this arcane agency. |
| IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14016-14025: Digluconate and Isopropyl Alcohol Biocide Formulation Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT Effective surface disinfection is a fundamental infection control strategy within healthcare. This study assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of novel biocide formulations comprising 5% and 2% eucalyptus oil (EO) combined with 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) and 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) contained within a wipe. The efficacy of this novel antimicrobial formulation to remove and eliminate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli and Candida albicans from steel surfaces was investigated. Adpression studies of pre-contaminated wipes were also utilised to assess their potential to induce cross-contamination between hard surfaces. Furthermore, the bactericidal nature of the EO-formulation was established in addition to time-kill. The EO-containing formulations demonstrated bactericidal antimicrobial efficacy against all microorganisms and did not induce surface cross-contamination. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between the 5% and 2% EO formulations in their ability to remove microorganisms from steel surfaces, however both significantly (p < 0.05) removed more than the control formulations. Microbial biofilms were eliminated within 10 min (p < 0.05) when exposed to the EO formulations. Our novel EO-formulation demonstrated rapid antimicrobial efficacy for potential disinfection and elimination of microbial biofilms from hard surfaces and may therefore be a useful adjunct to current infection control strategies currently employed within healthcare facilities. |
| IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14002-14015: Bacterial Exopolysaccharides: Functionality and Prospects Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT Diverse structural, functional and valuable polysaccharides are synthesized by bacteria of all taxa and secreted into the external environment. These polysaccharides are referred to as exopolysaccharides and they may either be homopolymeric or heteropolymeric in composition and of diverse high molecular weights (10 to 1000 kDa). The material properties of exopolysaccharides have revolutionized the industrial and medical sectors due to their retinue of functional applications and prospects. These applications have been extensive in areas such as pharmacological, nutraceutical, functional food, cosmeceutical, herbicides and insecticides among others, while prospects includes uses as anticoagulant, antithrombotic, immunomodulation, anticancer and as bioflocculants. Due to the extensive applications of bacterial exopolysaccharides, this overview provides basic information on their physiologic and morphologic functions as well as their applications and prospects in the medical and industrial sectors. |
| JPM, Vol. 2, Pages 201-216: Insurance Coverage Policies for Personalized Medicine Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT Adoption of personalized medicine in practice has been slow, in part due to the lack of evidence of clinical benefit provided by these technologies. Coverage by insurers is a critical step in achieving widespread adoption of personalized medicine. Insurers consider a variety of factors when formulating medical coverage policies for personalized medicine, including the overall strength of evidence for a test, availability of clinical guidelines and health technology assessments by independent organizations. In this study, we reviewed coverage policies of the largest U.S. insurers for genomic (disease-related) and pharmacogenetic (PGx) tests to determine the extent that these tests were covered and the evidence basis for the coverage decisions. We identified 41 coverage policies for 49 unique testing: 22 tests for disease diagnosis, prognosis and risk and 27 PGx tests. Fifty percent (or less) of the tests reviewed were covered by insurers. Lack of evidence of clinical utility appears to be a major factor in decisions of non-coverage. The inclusion of PGx information in drug package inserts appears to be a common theme of PGx tests that are covered. This analysis highlights the variability of coverage determinations and factors considered, suggesting that the adoption of personal medicine will affected by numerous factors, but will continue to be slowed due to lack of demonstrated clinical benefit. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT Direct to consumer (DTC) genomic services facilitate the personalized and participatory aspects of “P4” medicine, but raise questions regarding use of genomic data in providing predictive and preventive healthcare. We illustrate the issues involved by describing a pregnancy management case in which a treatment plan was modified based on a DTC result. A woman whose personal and family history were otherwise unremarkable for thromboembolism learned through DTC testing about the presence of a prothrombin (factor 2) gene mutation (rs1799963). Twice daily injections of enoxaparin were recommended throughout pregnancy for this patient who, without prior knowledge of this mutation, would not have been offered such therapy. Moreover, genetically based medical guidelines are a moving target, and treatment of thrombophilic conditions in asymptomatic patients is controversial. We address the state of the art in actionable personalized medicine with respect to clotting disorders in pregnancy, as well as other factors at play— economics, patient preference, and clinical decision support. We also discuss what steps are needed to increase the utility of genomic data in personalized medicine by collecting information and converting it into actionable knowledge. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT Voclosporin is a highly potent, new cyclosporine-A derivative that is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials in the USA as a potential treatment for inflammatory diseases of the eye. Voclosporin represents a number of very sparingly soluble drugs that are difficult to administer. We therefore selected it as a model drug that is dispersed within amphiphilic polymer matrices, and investigated the changing morphology of the matrices using neutron and x-ray scattering during voclosporin release and polymer resorption. The hydrophobic segments of the amphiphilic polymer chain are comprised of desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine ethyl ester (DTE) and desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine (DT), and the hydrophilic component is poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Water uptake in these matrices resulted in the phase separation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains that are a few hundred Angstroms apart. These water-driven morphological changes influenced the release profile of voclosporin and facilitated a burst-free release from the polymer. No such morphological reorganization was observed in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), which exhibits an extended lag period, followed by a burst-like release of voclosporin when the polymer was degraded. An understanding of the effect of polymer composition on the hydration behavior is central to understanding and controlling the phase behavior and resorption characteristics of the matrix for achieving long-term controlled release of hydrophobic drugs such as voclosporin. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT A variety of platinum-group-minerals (PGM) have been found to occur associated with the chromitite and dunite layers in the Niquelândia igneous complex. Two genetically distinct populations of PGM have been identified corresponding to phases crystallized at high temperatures (primary), and others formed or modified during post-magmatic serpentinization and lateritic weathering (secondary). Primary PGM have been found in moderately serpentinized chromitite and dunite, usually included in fresh chromite grains or partially oxidized interstitial sulfides. Due to topographically controlled lateritic weathering, the silicate rocks are totally transformed to a smectite-kaolinite-garnierite-amorphous silica assemblage, while the chromite is changed into a massive aggregate of a spinel phase having low-Mg and a low Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio, intimately associated with Ti-minerals, amorphous Fe-hydroxides, goethite, hematite and magnetite. The PGM in part survive alteration, and in part are corroded as a result of deep chemical weathering. Laurite is altered to Ru-oxides or re-crystallizes together with secondary Mg-ilmenite. Other PGM, especially the Pt-Fe alloys, re-precipitate within the altered chromite together with kaolinite and Fe-hydroxides. Textural evidence suggests that re-deposition of secondary PGM took place during chromite alteration, controlled by variation of the redox conditions on a microscopic scale. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT In May 2012, the CDC adopted a new sliding scale reference value for childhood lead poisoning, reducing the former 10 µg/dL benchmark by half. Using Massachusetts (MA) as a model state, we estimated the change in the population of 9–47 month-olds at risk for lead poisoning. We then examined the impact of the 5 µg/dL reference value on the demographic characteristics of lead risk in MA communities. We find that the new CDC benchmark will lead to a 1470% increase in childhood lead poisoning cases among 9–47 month-olds in MA, with nearly 50% of the examined communities experiencing an increased prevalence of lead poisoning. Further, the top 10 MA communities with BLLs ≥5 µg/dL have significantly fewer foreign-born residents and significantly larger white populations than the highest risk communities formerly identified by the MA Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. The CDC’s new 5 µg/dL lead poisoning benchmark will drastically increase the number of children with elevated BLLs and alter the distribution and demographics high-risk communities in MA. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT The effect of methamphetamine (MA) dependence on the structure of the human brain has not been extensively studied, especially in active users. Previous studies reported cortical deficits and striatal gains in grey matter (GM) volume of abstinent MA abusers compared with control participants. This study aimed to investigate structural GM changes in the brains of 17 active MA-dependent participants compared with 20 control participants aged 18–46 years using voxel-based morphometry and region of interest volumetric analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging data, and whether these changes might be associated with cognitive performance. Significant volume increases were observed in the right and left putamen and left nucleus accumbens of MA-dependent compared to control participants. The volumetric gain in the right putamen remained significant after Bonferroni correction, and was inversely correlated with the number of errors (standardised z-scores) on the Go/No-go task. MA-dependent participants exhibited cortical GM deficits in the left superior frontal and precentral gyri in comparison to control participants, although these findings did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. In conclusion, consistent with findings from previous studies of abstinent users, active chronic MA-dependent participants showed significant striatal enlargement which was associated with improved performance on the Go/No-go, a cognitive task of response inhibition and impulsivity. Striatal enlargement may reflect the involvement of neurotrophic effects, inflammation or microgliosis. However, since it was associated with improved cognitive function, it is likely to reflect a compensatory response to MA-induced neurotoxicity in the striatum, in order to maintain cognitive function. Follow-up studies are recommended to ascertain whether this effect continues to be present following abstinence. Several factors may have contributed to the lack of more substantial cortical and subcortical GM changes amongst MA-dependent participants, including variability in MA exposure variables and difference in abstinence status from previous studies. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT Simulation of atmospheric and surface processes with an atmospheric model (RAMS) during a period of ten days in August 2001 over a boreal area in Sweden were compared to tower measurements and aircraft measurements of vertical profiles as well as surface fluxes from low altitude flights. The shape of the vertical profiles was simulated reasonably well by the model although there were significant biases in absolute values. Surface fluxes were less well simulated and the model showed considerable sensitivity to initial soil moisture conditions. The simulations were performed using two different land cover databases, the original one supplied with the RAMS model and the more detailed CORINE database. The two different land cover data bases resulted in relatively large fine scale differences in the simulated values. The conclusion of this study is that RAMS has the potential to be used as a tool to estimate boundary layer conditions and surface fluxes and meteorology over a boreal area but also that further improvement is needed. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT The K-I and nephropathogenic K-II genotypes of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have been isolated since 1995 and 1990, respectively, in Korea and commercial inactivated oil-emulsion vaccines containing KM91 (K-II type) and Massachusetts 41 strains have been used in the field. To date, genomic analyses of Korean IBV strains and animal models to test the pathogenicity of Korean IBVs to the reproductive organs have been rare. In the present study, comparative genomics of SNU8067 (K-I type) and KM91 IBVs was performed, and an animal model to test the pathogenicity of SNU8067 was established and applied to vaccine efficacy test. The genome sizes of SNU8067 (27,708 nt) and KM91 (27,626 nt) were slightly different and the nucleotide and amino acid identities of the S1 (79%, 77%), 3a (65%, 52%), and 3b (81%, 72%) genes were lower than those of other genes (94%–97%, 92%–98%). A recombination analysis revealed that SNU8067 was a recombinant virus with a KM91-like backbone except S1, 3a, and 3b genes which might be from an unknown virus. An SNU8067 infection inhibited formation of hierarchal ovarian follicles (80%) and oviduct maturation (50%) in the control group, whereas 70% of vaccinated chickens were protected from lesions. |
| Symmetry, Vol. 4, Pages 626-643: Dirac Matrices and Feynman’s Rest of the Universe Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT There are two sets of four-by-four matrices introduced by Dirac. The first set consists of fifteen Majorana matrices derivable from his four γ matrices. These fifteen matrices can also serve as the generators of the group SL(4, r). The second set consists of ten generators of the Sp(4) group which Dirac derived from two coupled harmonic oscillators. It is shown possible to extend the symmetry of Sp(4) to that of SL(4, r) if the area of the phase space of one of the oscillators is allowed to become smaller without a lower limit. While there are no restrictions on the size of phase space in classical mechanics, Feynman's rest of the universe makes this Sp(4)-to-SL(4, r) transition possible. The ten generators are for the world where quantum mechanics is valid. The remaining five generators belong to the rest of the universe. It is noted that the groups SL(4, r) and Sp(4) are locally isomorphic to the Lorentz groups O(3, 3) and O(3, 2) respectively. This allows us to interpret Feynman's rest of the universe in terms of space-time symmetry. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT By reference to the Platonic, Aristotelian, and Neo-Platonic philosophical traditions (and then to German Idealism, including Husserl and Heidegger), I will indicate the way in which the concept of reason—on the one side—depends on the horizon of spirituality (by searching for the ultimate ground within us and the striving for the highest good); and inversely—how far the idea of the divine or our spiritual self may be deepened, understood and transmitted by reference to reason and rationality. But whereas philosophical analysis aims at the universal dimensions of spirituality or the divine (as in Plato's idea of the 'highest good', the Aristotelian 'Absolute substance', the 'Oneness of the One' (Plotinus and the Neo-Platonists) or the Hegelian 'Absolute spirit'),—Comparative Theology may preserve the dimension of spirituality or divinity in its individuality and specifity. Comparative Theology mediates between the universality of the philosophical discourse and the uniqueness of our individual experience (symbolized by a sacred person—such as Jesus, Brahman, Buddha or Mohammed) by reflecting and analyzing our religious experiences and practices. Religion may lose its specificity by comparative conceptual analysis within the field of philosophy, but Comparative Theology may enhance the vital dimensions of the very same spiritual experience by placing them in a comparative perspective. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT Future production of chemicals (e.g., fine and specialty chemicals) in industry is faced with the challenge of limited material and energy resources. However, process intensification might play a significant role in alleviating this problem. A vision of process intensification through multifunctional reactors has stimulated research on membrane-based reactive separation processes, in which membrane separation and catalytic reaction occur simultaneously in one unit. These processes are rather attractive applications because they are potentially compact, less capital intensive, and have lower processing costs than traditional processes. Therefore this review discusses the progress and potential applications that have occurred in the field of zeolite membrane reactors during the last few years. The aim of this article is to update researchers in the field of process intensification and also provoke their thoughts on further research efforts to explore and exploit the potential applications of zeolite membrane reactors in industry. Further evaluation of this technology for industrial acceptability is essential in this regard. Therefore, studies such as techno-economical feasibility, optimization and scale-up are of the utmost importance. |
| Forests, Vol. 3, Pages 997-1016: Invasive Plant Species in the National Parks of Vietnam Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT The impact of invasive plant species in national parks and forests in Vietnam is undocumented and management plans have yet to be developed. Ten national parks, ranging from uncut to degraded forests located throughout Vietnam, were surveyed for invasive plant species. Transects were set up along roads, trails where local people access park areas, and also tracks through natural forest. Of 134 exotic weeds, 25 were classified as invasive species and the number of invasive species ranged from 8 to 15 per park. An assessment of the risk of invasive species was made for three national parks based on an invasive species assessment protocol. Examples of highly invasive species were Chromolaena odorata and Mimosa diplotricha in Cat Ba National Park (island evergreen secondary forest over limestone); Mimosa pigra, Panicum repens and Eichhornia crassipes in Tram Chim National Park (lowland wetland forest dominated by melaleuca); and C. odorata, Mikania micrantha and M. diplotricha in Son Tra Nature Conservation area (peninsula evergreen secondary forest). Strategies to monitor and manage invasive weeds in forests and national parks in Vietnam are outlined. |
| Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 AM PDT Tooth morphogenesis is carried out by a series of reciprocal interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme in embryonic germs. Previously clonal dental epithelial cell (epithelium of molar tooth germ (emtg)) lines were established from an embryonic germ. They were odontogenic when combined with a dental mesenchymal tissue, although the odontogenesis was quantitatively imperfect. To improve the microenvironment in the germs, freshly isolated dental epithelial cells were mixed with cells of lines, and germs were reconstructed in various combinations. The results demonstrated that successful tooth construction depends on the mixing ratio, the age of dental epithelial cells and the combination with cell lines. Analyses of gene expression in these germs suggest that some signal(s) from dental epithelial cells makes emtg cells competent to communicate with mesenchymal cells and the epithelial and mesenchymal compartments are able to progress odontogenesis from the initiation stage. |
| Record attendance at chess tournament Posted: 30 Oct 2012 12:18 AM PDT OVER 150 people took part in the ninth annual Dundee and Angus Chess Congress which was held in Monifieth recently. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| HOWTO make a gingerbread Haunted Mansion Posted: 29 Oct 2012 12:19 PM PDT Haunted Dimensions- Gingerbread Dimensions (Thanks, Francesco!) |
| PS Move Racing Wheel works with any game - Report Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:54 PM PDT According to tests done by an iWaggle 3D user, the new racing wheel peripheral seems to add motion controls to PS3 games that don't necessarily support Move.
A PlayStation 3 user has reportedly discovered a hidden benefit to Sony's PlayStation Move Racing Wheel peripheral. According to Albert Chen, whose discovery was reported on iWaggle 3D, the peripheral appears to add motion control to any game, even those that do not necessarily support Move.
Chen said that his tests with the PS Move Racing Wheel showed that it would work with any game, provided the Move was attached to the device and set to controller port 1. Chen reportedly tried the device with games including Need For Speed: Shift 2, Gran Turismo 5, and Sonic the Hedgehog 2. He said that while the above games did not recognise the wheel peripheral, they were able to read the controller's inputs as those coming from a normal DualShock 3 controller. (Chen said that his console registered the wheel peripheral's face buttons as regular controller buttons, and the tilting of the peripheral as a normal controller's left analog stick tilt.) According to Chen's reports, a PS Eye camera is not needed to make the wheel peripheral work with other games. His implication was that any racing game that uses the left analog stick to steer will already be compatible with the racing wheel peripheral. The PS Move Racing Wheel peripheral is designed to work with racing, motorcycle, and flight games, and will support the upcoming title Little Big Planet Karting, as well as older titles, such as Gran Turismo 5, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Burnout Paradise, and MotorStorm Apocalypse. The entire wheel is powered by the PS Move controller at its centre, and also features expanding handles, which can turn the peripheral into a motorbike racing handle; in this mode, the right handle of the peripheral features twist throttle. It's available for pre-order now in North America for $39.99. GameSpot has contacted Sony for comment and we will continue to update this story. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot "PS Move Racing Wheel works with any game - Report" was posted by Laura Parker on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:54:49 -0700 |
| Plays Like... Assassin's Creed 3 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:51 PM PDT If it's assassinations in colonial America that you can't get enough of this week, Jess McDonell has uncovered mobile games that play a lot like Assassin's Creed 3.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot "Plays Like... Assassin's Creed 3" was posted by JessicaM on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:51:31 -0700 |
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