Games

American trial of Kidderminster poker champion accused of killing wife delayed
Assassin’s Creed III sells a lot, debuts at top of UK chart
IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14262-14277: Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activities of Three Polysaccharide Fractions from Pine Cones
IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14251-14261: Effect of β-Cyclodextrin Complexation on Solubility and Enzymatic Conversion of Naringin
IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14243-14250: Nuclear Microsatellite Primers for the Endangered Relict Fir, Abies pinsapo (Pinaceae) and Cross-Amplification in Related Mediterranean Species
IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14219-14242: Noncanonical Reactions of Flavoenzymes
DODONPACHI MAXIMUM - Screenshots
IJERPH, Vol. 9, Pages 4017-4032: Quantitative RT-PCR Detection of Hepatitis A Virus, Rotaviruses and Enteroviruses in the Buffalo River and Source Water Dams in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
IJERPH, Vol. 9, Pages 3978-4016: Ambient Air Pollution Exposure and Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Mortality in Cape Town, South Africa: 2001–2006
Entropy, Vol. 14, Pages 2192-2226: Shannon’s Sampling Theorem for Bandlimited Signals and Their Hilbert Transform, Boas-Type Formulae for Higher Order Derivatives—The Aliasing Error Involved by Their Extensions from Bandlimited to Non-Bandlimited Signals
Entropy, Vol. 14, Pages 2173-2191: Life as Thermodynamic Evidence of Algorithmic Structure inNatural Environments
Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 1010-1028: Decellularized Tendon Extracellular Matrix—A Valuable Approach for Tendon Reconstruction?
Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 994-1009: Human Stem Cells and Articular Cartilage Regeneration
Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 976-993: Redox Mechanisms in Regulation of Adipocyte Differentiation: Beyond a General Stress Response
Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 961-975: Cell and Gene Therapy Approaches for Cardiac Vascularization
League of Legends MLG Fall Champion Interview
Halo 4 MLG Fall Champions Interview
Life claws his way to his first MLG Starcraft II Championship
Now Playing: RaiderZ
Ret talks about his run at MLG, quitting smoking, and more

American trial of Kidderminster poker champion accused of killing wife delayed

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 02:49 AM PST

THE US trial of a Midland poker champion accused of killing his wife, which was due to start yesterday, has been delayed for five months, officials have confirmed.

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Assassin’s Creed III sells a lot, debuts at top of UK chart

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 02:52 AM PST

Christmas comes early for Ubisoft as Assassin's Creed III dives straight in at number one in the latest UK software chart from Chart Track. Even

IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14262-14277: Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activities of Three Polysaccharide Fractions from Pine Cones

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

The traditional method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for monosaccharide component analysis with pretreatment of acetylation is described with slight modifications and verified in detail in this paper. It was then successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of component monosaccharides in polysaccharides extracted from the pine cones. The results demonstrated that the three pine cone polysaccharides all consisted of ribose, rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose in different molar ratios. According to the recovery experiment, the described method was proved accurate and practical for the analysis of pine cone polysaccharides, meeting the need in the field of chemical analysis of Pinus plants. Furthermore; the chemical characteristics, such as neutral sugar, uronic acids, amino acids, molecular weights, and antioxidant activities of the polysaccharides were investigated by chemical and instrumental methods. The results showed that the chemical compositions of the polysaccharides differed from each other, especially in the content of neutral sugar and uronic acid. In the antioxidant assays, the polysaccharide fractions exhibited effective scavenging activities on ABTS radical and hydroxyl radical, with their antioxidant capabilities decreasing in the order of PKP > PAP > PSP. Therefore, although the polysaccharide fractions had little effect on superoxide radical scavenging, they still have potential to be developed as natural antioxidant agents in functional foods or medicine.

IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14251-14261: Effect of β-Cyclodextrin Complexation on Solubility and Enzymatic Conversion of Naringin

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

In the present paper, the effect of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complexation on the solubility and enzymatic hydrolysis of naringin was investigated. The inclusion complex of naringin/β-CD at the molar ratio of 1:1 was obtained by the dropping method and was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. The solubility of naringin complexes in water at 37 ± 0.1 °C was 15 times greater than that of free naringin. Snailase-involved hydrolysis conditions were tested for the bioconversion of naringin into naringenin using the univariate experimental design. Naringin can be transformed into naringenin by snailase-involved hydrolysis. The optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis were determined as follows: pH 5.0, temperature 37 °C, ratio of snailase/substrate 0.8, substrate concentration 20 mg·mL−1, and reaction time 12 h. Under the optimum conditions, the transforming rate of naringenin from naringin for inclusion complexes and free naringin was 98.7% and 56.2% respectively, suggesting that β-CD complexation can improve the aqueous solubility and consequently the enzymatic hydrolysis rate of naringin.

IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14243-14250: Nuclear Microsatellite Primers for the Endangered Relict Fir, Abies pinsapo (Pinaceae) and Cross-Amplification in Related Mediterranean Species

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

Twelve nuclear microsatellite primers (nSSR) were developed for the endangered species Abies pinsapo Boiss. to enable the study of gene flow and genetic structure in the remaining distribution areas. Microsatellite primers were developed using next-generation sequencing (454) data from a single Abies pinsapo individual. Primers were applied to thirty individuals from the three extant localities. The number of alleles per locus ranged from one to four. Cross-amplification was tested for other Abies species from the Mediterranean Basin, and most of the loci showed higher polymorphisms in the Mediterranean species than in A. pinsapo. These microsatellite markers provide tools for conservation genetic studies in Abies pinsapo as well other Abies species from the Mediterranean Basin.

IJMS, Vol. 13, Pages 14219-14242: Noncanonical Reactions of Flavoenzymes

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

Enzymes containing flavin cofactors are predominantly involved in redox reactions in numerous cellular processes where the protein environment modulates the chemical reactivity of the flavin to either transfer one or two electrons. Some flavoenzymes catalyze reactions with no net redox change. In these reactions, the protein environment modulates the reactivity of the flavin to perform novel chemistries. Recent mechanistic and structural data supporting novel flavin functionalities in reactions catalyzed by chorismate synthase, type II isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase, UDP-galactopyranose mutase, and alkyl-dihydroxyacetonephosphate synthase are presented in this review. In these enzymes, the flavin plays either a direct role in acid/base reactions or as a nucleophile or electrophile. In addition, the flavin cofactor is proposed to function as a “molecular scaffold” in the formation of UDP-galactofuranose and alkyl-dihydroxyacetonephosphate by forming a covalent adduct with reaction intermediates.

DODONPACHI MAXIMUM - Screenshots

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 01:58 AM PST

BEGINNERS CAN JUMP RIGHT IN! EASY MODE INCLUDED!
If you're not sure you've got what it takes, start off with Easy Mode.
Once you've conquered that, test your mettle with Normal Mode!

OPTIMIZED FOR ONE-FINGER WARFARE!
Weave through walls of bullets! Smash through the enemy and build combos!
Manic, full-throttle gameplay, all controlled with your thumb!

REMIXED MUSIC INCLUDED!
Remixed versions of classic Dodonpachi series tracks included!
Remix composer WASi303 has written a new soundtrack for a new Dodonpachi world!

IJERPH, Vol. 9, Pages 4017-4032: Quantitative RT-PCR Detection of Hepatitis A Virus, Rotaviruses and Enteroviruses in the Buffalo River and Source Water Dams in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

Human enteric viruses (HEntVs) are a major cause of water-related diseases. The prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV), rotaviruses (RoV) and enteroviruses (EnV) in Buffalo River waters was assessed quantitatively over a period of 12 months (August 2010 to July 2011). Seventy-two samples were collected from six sites, including three dams, and concentrated using the adsorption-elution method. Viral RNA was extracted using a commercial kit, and the viruses were quantified by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR). Two or more viruses were detected in 12.5% of the samples. HAV was detected in 43.1% of the samples and in significantly (p < 0.05) varying concentrations of 1.5 × 101–1.9 × 105 genome copies/L compared to RoV and EnV, while RoVs were detected in 13.9% of samples, with concentrations ranging from 2.5 × 101–2.1 × 103 genome copies/L, and EnV were detected in 9.7% of the samples, with concentrations ranging from 1.3 × 101–8.6 × 101 genome copies/L. Only HAV was detected at all the sites, with the Bridle Drift Dam recording significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations. The presence of enteric viruses in Buffalo River may constitute public health risks and the incidence of HAV at all the sites could reflect both the epidemiological status of hepatitis A and HAV persistence in the water environments.

IJERPH, Vol. 9, Pages 3978-4016: Ambient Air Pollution Exposure and Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Mortality in Cape Town, South Africa: 2001–2006

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

Little evidence is available on the strength of the association between ambient air pollution exposure and health effects in developing countries such as South Africa. The association between the 24-h average ambient PM10, SO2 and NO2 levels and daily respiratory (RD), cardiovascular (CVD) and cerebrovascular (CBD) mortality in Cape Town (2001–2006) was investigated with a case-crossover design. For models that included entire year data, an inter-quartile range (IQR) increase in PM10 (12 mg/m3) and NO2 (12 mg/m3) significantly increased CBD mortality by 4% and 8%, respectively. A significant increase of 3% in CVD mortality was observed per IQR increase in NO2 and SO2 (8 mg/m3). In the warm period, PM10 was significantly associated with RD and CVD mortality. NO2 had significant associations with CBD, RD and CVD mortality, whilst SO2 was associated with CVD mortality. None of the pollutants were associated with any of the three outcomes in the cold period. Susceptible groups depended on the cause-specific mortality and air pollutant. There is significant RD, CVD and CBD mortality risk associated with ambient air pollution exposure in South Africa, higher than reported in developed countries.

Entropy, Vol. 14, Pages 2192-2226: Shannon’s Sampling Theorem for Bandlimited Signals and Their Hilbert Transform, Boas-Type Formulae for Higher Order Derivatives—The Aliasing Error Involved by Their Extensions from Bandlimited to Non-Bandlimited Signals

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

The paper is concerned with Shannon sampling reconstruction formulae of derivatives of bandlimited signals as well as of derivatives of their Hilbert transform, and their application to Boas-type formulae for higher order derivatives. The essential aim is to extend these results to non-bandlimited signals. Basic is the fact that by these extensions aliasing error terms must now be added to the bandlimited reconstruction formulae. These errors will be estimated in terms of the distance functional just introduced by the authors for the extensions of basic relations valid for bandlimited functions to larger function spaces. This approach can be regarded as a mathematical foundation of aliasing error analysis of many applications.

Entropy, Vol. 14, Pages 2173-2191: Life as Thermodynamic Evidence of Algorithmic Structure inNatural Environments

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

In evolutionary biology, attention to the relationship between stochastic organisms and their stochastic environments has leaned towards the adaptability and learning capabilities of the organisms rather than toward the properties of the environment. This article is devoted to the algorithmic aspects of the environment and its interaction with living organisms. We ask whether one may use the fact of the existence of life to establish how far nature is removed from algorithmic randomness. The paper uses a novel approach to behavioral evolutionary questions, using tools drawn from information theory, algorithmic complexity and the thermodynamics of computation to support an intuitive assumption about the near optimal structure of a physical environment that would prove conducive to the evolution and survival of organisms, and sketches the potential of these tools, at present alien to biology, that could be used in the future to address different and deeper questions. We contribute to the discussion of the algorithmic structure of natural environments and provide statistical and computational arguments for the intuitive claim that living systems would not be able to survive in completely unpredictable environments, even if adaptable and equipped with storage and learning capabilities by natural selection (brain memory or DNA).

Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 1010-1028: Decellularized Tendon Extracellular Matrix—A Valuable Approach for Tendon Reconstruction?

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

Tendon healing is generally a time-consuming process and often leads to a functionally altered reparative tissue. Using degradable scaffolds for tendon reconstruction still remains a compromise in view of the required high mechanical strength of tendons. Regenerative approaches based on natural decellularized allo- or xenogenic tendon extracellular matrix (ECM) have recently started to attract interest. This ECM combines the advantages of its intrinsic mechanical competence with that of providing tenogenic stimuli for immigrating cells mediated, for example, by the growth factors and other mediators entrapped within the natural ECM. A major restriction for their therapeutic application is the mainly cell-associated immunogenicity of xenogenic or allogenic tissues and, in the case of allogenic tissues, also the risk of disease transmission. A survey of approaches for tendon reconstruction using cell-free tendon ECM is presented here, whereby the problems associated with the decellularization procedures, the success of various recellularization strategies, and the applicable cell types will be thoroughly discussed. Encouraging in vivo results using cell-free ECM, as, for instance, in rabbit models, have already been reported. However, in comparison to native tendon, cells remain mostly inhomogeneously distributed in the reseeded ECM and do not align. Hence, future work should focus on the optimization of tendon ECM decellularization and recolonization strategies to restore tendon functionality.

Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 994-1009: Human Stem Cells and Articular Cartilage Regeneration

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

 The regeneration of articular cartilage damaged due to trauma and posttraumatic osteoarthritis is an unmet medical need. Current approaches to regeneration and tissue engineering of articular cartilage include the use of chondrocytes, stem cells, scaffolds and signals, including morphogens and growth factors. Stem cells, as a source of cells for articular cartilage regeneration, are a critical factor for articular cartilage regeneration. This is because articular cartilage tissue has a low cell turnover and does not heal spontaneously. Adult stem cells have been isolated from various tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose, synovial tissue, muscle and periosteum. Signals of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily play critical roles in chondrogenesis. However, adult stem cells derived from various tissues tend to differ in their chondrogenic potential. Pluripotent stem cells have unlimited proliferative capacity compared to adult stem cells. Chondrogenesis from embryonic stem (ES) cells has been studied for more than a decade. However, establishment of ES cells requires embryos and leads to ethical issues for clinical applications. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated by cellular reprogramming of adult cells by transcription factors. Although iPS cells have chondrogenic potential, optimization, generation and differentiation toward articular chondrocytes are currently under intense investigation.

Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 976-993: Redox Mechanisms in Regulation of Adipocyte Differentiation: Beyond a General Stress Response

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

In this review, we summarize advances in our understanding of redox-sensitive mechanisms that regulate adipogenesis. Current evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species may act to promote both the initiation of adipocyte lineage commitment of precursor or stem cells, and the terminal differentiation of preadipocytes to mature adipose cells. These can involve redox regulation of pathways mediated by receptor tyrosine kinases, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), PPARγ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ). However, the precise roles of ROS in adipogenesis in vivo remain controversial. More studies are needed to delineate the roles of reactive oxygen species and redox signaling mechanisms, which could be either positive or negative, in the pathogenesis of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 961-975: Cell and Gene Therapy Approaches for Cardiac Vascularization

Posted: 05 Nov 2012 12:00 AM PST

Despite encouraging preclinical results for therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemia, a suitable approach providing sustained, safe and efficacious vascular growth in the heart is still lacking. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is the master regulator of angiogenesis, but it also can easily induce aberrant and dysfunctional vascular growth if its expression is not tightly controlled. Control of the released level in the microenvironment around each cell in vivo and its distribution in tissue are critical to induce stable and functional vessels for therapeutic angiogenesis. The present review discusses the limitations and perspectives of VEGF gene therapy and of different cell-based approaches for the implementation of therapeutic angiogenesis in the treatment of cardiac ischemia.

League of Legends MLG Fall Champion Interview

Posted: 04 Nov 2012 11:38 PM PST

Travis Gafford chats with Ambition and Helios from Azubu Blaze after their huge comeback over Najin Sword.

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"League of Legends MLG Fall Champion Interview" was posted by erickt on Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:38:35 -0800

Halo 4 MLG Fall Champions Interview

Posted: 04 Nov 2012 11:14 PM PST

TSquared catches up with Warriors after their big win at the Halo 4 Pre-Release tournament at MLG Dallas.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Halo 4 MLG Fall Champions Interview" was posted by erickt on Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:14:32 -0800

Life claws his way to his first MLG Starcraft II Championship

Posted: 04 Nov 2012 10:20 PM PST

Slasher chats up with the youngest player to win an MLG Championship.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Life claws his way to his first MLG Starcraft II Championship" was posted by erickt on Sun, 04 Nov 2012 22:20:51 -0800

Now Playing: RaiderZ

Posted: 04 Nov 2012 09:49 PM PST

GameSpot Asia's Randolph and Jonathan hunt down beasts great and not-so-small in NeoWiz's free-to-play take on Monster Hunter. Protip: it's called "ray-derz", not "ray-der Z".