четверг, 17 января 2013 г.

Games

Games

Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 411-424: PAT Design Strategy for Energy Recovery in Water Distribution Networks by Electrical Regulation

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

In the management of water distribution networks, large energy savings can be yielded by exploiting the head drop due to the network pressure control strategy, i.e., for leak reductions. Hydropower in small streams is already exploited, but technical solutions combining efficiency and economic convenience are still required. In water distribution networks, an additional design problem comes out from the necessity of ensuring a required head drop under variable operating conditions, i.e., head and discharge variations. Both a hydraulic regulation (HR)—via a series-parallel hydraulic circuit- and an electrical regulation (ER)—via inverter- are feasible solutions. A design procedure for the selection of a production device in a series-parallel hydraulic circuit has been recently proposed. The procedure, named VOS (Variable Operating Strategy), is based on the overall plant efficiency criteria and is applied to a water distribution network where a PAT (pump as a turbine) is used in order to produce energy. In the present paper the VOS design procedure has been extended to the electrical regulation and a comparison between HR and ER efficiency and flexibility within a water distribution network is shown: HR was found more flexible than ER and more efficient. Finally a preliminary economic study has been carried out in order to show the viability of both systems, and a shorter payback period of the electromechanical equipment was found for HR mode.

Buildings, Vol. 3, Pages 39-60: Framework for Detailed Comparison of Building Environmental Assessment Tools

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Understanding how Building Environmental Assessments Tools (BEATs) measure and define “environmental” building is of great interest to many stakeholders, but it is difficult to understand how BEATs relate to each other, as well as to make detailed and systematic tool comparisons. A framework for comparing BEATs is presented in the following which facilitates an understanding and comparison of similarities and differences in terms of structure, content, aggregation, and scope. The framework was tested by comparing three distinctly different assessment tools; LEED-NC v3, Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), and EcoEffect. Illustrations of the hierarchical structure of the tools gave a clear overview of their structural differences. When using the framework, the analysis showed that all three tools treat issues related to the main assessment categories: Energy and Pollution, Indoor Environment, and Materials and Waste. However, the environmental issues addressed, and the parameters defining the object of study, differ and, subsequently, so do rating, results, categories, issues, input data, aggregation methodology, and weighting. This means that BEATs measure “environmental” building differently and push “environmental” design in different directions. Therefore, tool comparisons are important, and the framework can be used to make these comparisons in a more detailed and systematic way.

Minerals, Vol. 3, Pages 36-48: Towards a Model for Albitite-Type Uranium

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Albitite-type uranium deposits are widely distributed, usually of low grade (<1% U3O8), but are often large and collectively contain over 1 million tonnes of U3O8. Uranium is hosted in a wide range of metamorphic lithologies, whose only common characteristic is that they have been extensively mylonitised. Ore minerals are disseminated and rarely in megascopic veins, within and adjacent to albitised mylonites. Grain size is uniformly fine, generally less than 50 microns. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that spatial association between uranium and various Ti-bearing phases is common. Gangue minerals include albite, carbonates (calcite and dolomite), and sodic pyroxene and amphibole. The ore rarely contains economic metals apart from uranium, phosphorous at Itataia being an exception. There is widespread evidence of hydrothermal zirconium mobility and hydrothermal zircon and other Zr phases are frequent and in some cases abundant gangue minerals. Positive correlations are noted between uranium and various high field strength elements. The group remains poorly described and understood, but a link to iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits and/or carbonatite and/or alkaline magmatism is plausible.

Diagnostics, Vol. 3, Pages 105-116: Performance Evaluation of Fast Microfluidic Thermal Lysis of Bacteria for Diagnostic Sample Preparation

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Development of new diagnostic platforms that incorporate lab-on-a-chip technologies for portable assays is driving the need for rapid, simple, low cost methods to prepare samples for downstream processing or detection. An important component of the sample preparation process is cell lysis. In this work, a simple microfluidic thermal lysis device is used to quickly release intracellular nucleic acids and proteins without the need for additional reagents or beads used in traditional chemical or mechanical methods (e.g., chaotropic salts or bead beating). On-chip lysis is demonstrated in a multi-turn serpentine microchannel with external temperature control via an attached resistive heater. Lysis was confirmed for Escherichia coli by fluorescent viability assay, release of ATP measured with bioluminescent assay, release of DNA measured by fluorometry and qPCR, as well as bacterial culture. Results comparable to standard lysis techniques were achievable at temperatures greater than 65 °C and heating durations between 1 and 60 s.

Economies, Vol. 1, Pages 3-5: Economies: An Open Access Journal for the Field of Development Macroeconomics

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Economies (ISSN 2227-7099) is a new international, peer-reviewed open access journal for the academic fields of development economics and macroeconomics. While the latter seems to be clearly defined, development economics is not, because it is related to nearly all traditional economic sub-disciplines such as macroeconomics, international trade and finance, as well as microeconomics and public finance. Typically, academic field journals of development economics cover all those economic sub-disciplines. Economies instead focuses mainly on the macroeconomic perspective of economic development and it intends to publish academic research that is of strong macroeconomic policy relevance. In general, contributions in Economies should foster understanding of the macroeconomic process of economic development, with the process of development not exclusively being reserved to what we typically call developing countries. Also, the group of developed economies is still developing in the sense of improving their living standards further.

Ni No Kuni Live Stream Spectacular

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 01:30 AM PST

Studio Ghibli and Level 5's RPG finally makes it to the West, and to celebrate the embargo lifting, we'll be live streaming and taking your questions.

 

Get the full article at GameSpot

"Ni No Kuni Live Stream Spectacular" was posted by Guy Cocker on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 01:30:00 -0800

Killer is Dead out this summer in Japan

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:28 AM PST

Story, character, and gameplay details about upcoming Xbox 360 and PS3 action game from Suda 51 revealed.

 

Grasshopper Manufacture has announced a release window for its upcoming action game Killer is Dead.

According to the latest issue and online preview from Famitsu, the game will be out in Japan this summer for Xbox 360 and PS3. The game's story takes place in a future where both traveling to the moon and human cybernetic implants are possible.

Players control an agent called Mondo Zappa who is given the task of executing criminal targets for the Execution Office. Aiding him are his female boss, Vivian Squall, his assistant Mika Takekawa, and the head office chief cyborg Brian Roses. The main antagonist is a cyborg named Victor who can manipulate human emotions with the use of sound.

The game is billed as an action title where the highlight is melee combat with swords. Mondo's left arm can transform into a gun or a drill; options for upgrading it further are available in the game. Striking enemies will allow players to absorb their blood, which is used to charge up Mondo's Adrenalin Burst that can clear the screen full of enemies. Killing enemies with the special move unleashes dark matter; there is no word on what this energy will be used as.

There is currently no word on whether the game will be out in English.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Killer is Dead out this summer in Japan" was posted by Jonathan Toyad on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:28:07 -0800

Atelier Ayesha out in US this March

Posted: 16 Jan 2013 11:59 PM PST

NIS America to handle localization of RPG title; English voiceovers only available.

 

Fans of JRPGs will be pleased to know that the Japanese RPG Atelier Ayesha will be localized in English for North American and European markets.

The next game in the Atelier series will be out on March 5. Tecmo Koei will be handling the game's distribution while NIS America will be localizing the title. The game will only have English voiceovers; previous Atelier titles had the option to toggle between English and Japanese voices.

The game stars an alchemist named Ayesha who is on a quest to find her missing sister Nio. The game features an upgraded version of the alchemy system prevalent in past Atelier titles. Players can craft their own items and weapons for use in defeating foes and helping townsfolk and people in the game's world.

For more information, check out GameSpot's Now Playing on the import version of the title below.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Atelier Ayesha out in US this March" was posted by Jonathan Toyad on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:59:07 -0800

Diablo III, Pro Evo Soccer 2013 tops Asian sales charts

Posted: 16 Jan 2013 11:58 PM PST

GFK group reveals numbers for home and portable consoles for Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

 

Get the full article at GameSpot

"Diablo III, Pro Evo Soccer 2013 tops Asian sales charts" was posted by Jonathan Toyad on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:58:24 -0800

Valve investigating R18+ options for Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia

Posted: 16 Jan 2013 10:47 PM PST

Publisher says it has been exploring the legal options surrounding the re-submission of Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia under the new R18+ adult classification.

 

Valve has responded to user questions on the Steam forums surrounding the release of an unedited version of Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia, following the introduction of an R18+ classification for video games.

Posting on the official Steam forums, Valve's Chet Faliszek told users the publisher has been exploring its options and investigating the legalities of what would be involved in releasing Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia with an adult rating.

"No need to flood us with emails," Faliszek wrote. "We have been exploring the options here and what we can legally do. We will have more information on this when we understand the issues fully and how we are moving forward but don't worry any cost associated with it doesn't worry us, this is something we want to do."

Left 4 Dead 2 was initially banned by the Australian Classification Board in September 2009 for "realistic, frenetic and unrelenting violence". Valve responded by re-submitting two versions of the game to the Board: the original, unaltered version and one with some modifications.

A modified version of Left 4 Dead 2 was later released in Australia. This version of the game removed decapitation and limb dismemberment.

Earlier this month, the Classification Board confirmed that the first title to receive the new R18+ rating in Australia will be Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge for the Wii U. The game will be published by Nintendo, but currently has no release date in Australia.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Valve investigating R18+ options for Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia" was posted by Laura Parker on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:47:44 -0800

Next Civ V expansion revealed?

Posted: 16 Jan 2013 09:15 PM PST

Steam Apps Database listing points to possible expansion for Firaxis' PC strategy game titled "One World"; no other details given.

 

A new expansion for Firaxis' 2010 release Civilization V could be on its way, according to a listing on the Steam Apps Database.

The listing--first spotted on the 2K Games forums--clearly states "One World" as a PC expansion for the game, but provides no other details.

The last expansion for Civilization V was last year's Gods & Kings, which added new civilizations, scenarios, and leaders to the game as well as a reworked combat system.

For more on the Gods & Kings expansion, check out the GameSpot review.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Next Civ V expansion revealed?" was posted by Laura Parker on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:15:13 -0800

Microsoft looking to make Skype default chat service - Report

Posted: 16 Jan 2013 09:00 PM PST

CVG source claims the publisher has plans to consolidate "all their communications technology" around Skype; next-gen Xbox will reportedly see asynchronous voice and video messages.

 

A new report has surfaced, claiming to contain more details about Microsoft's proposed plans for the VoIP platform Skype, which the publisher acquired in 2011 for $8.5 billion.

The CVG report cites an anonymous source "familiar with the matter", who reportedly told the publication that Microsoft is planing to consolidate its communications technology around Skype in the near future, including implementing it as the default chat service on the next-generation Xbox console, as well as on PCs and tablets.

"You might jump to the conclusion that we'll see asynchronous voice and video messages in next-gen Xbox Live," the source told CVG.

Skype's applications currently run both on home PCs and mobile devices, and use a peer-to-peer network for voice and video traffic. The company was founded in 2003.

GameSpot has reached out to Microsoft for comment and will continue to update this story.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Microsoft looking to make Skype default chat service - Report" was posted by Laura Parker on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:00:21 -0800

JPM, Vol. 3, Pages 14-22: Driving Forces Behind the Past and Future Emergence of Personalized Medicine

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Personalized medicine can be seen as a continuously developing approach to tailoring treatments according to the individual characteristics of a patient. In some way, medicine has always been personalized. During the last decade, however, scientific and technological progress have made truly personalized healthcare increasingly become reality. Today’s personalized medicine involves targeted therapies and diagnostic tests. The development of targeted agents represents a major investment opportunity to pharmaceutical companies, which have been facing the need to diversify their business due to an increasingly challenging market place. By investing into the development of personalized therapies, pharmaceutical companies mitigate a major part of the risks posed by factors such as patent expiries or generic competition. Viewing upon personalized medicine from different perspectives points out the multi-causality of its emergence. Research efforts and business diversification have been two main driving forces; they do supplement each other, however, are not jointly exhaustive in explaining the emergence of this approach. Especially in the future, a number of further stakeholders will impact the evolution of personalized medicine.

JSAN, Vol. 2, Pages 25-46: Detour Path Angular Information Based Range-Free Localization in Wireless Sensor Network

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Range-free localization algorithm continues to be an important and challenging research topic in anisotropic Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Designing range-free localization algorithms without considering obstacles or holes inside the network area does not reflect the real world conditions. In this paper, we have proposed Detour Path Angular Information (DPAI) based sensor localization algorithm to accurately estimate the distance between an anchor node and a sensor node. We utilized the Euclidean distance and transmission path distance among anchor nodes to calculate the angle of the transmission path between them one by one. Then the estimated hop distance is adjusted by the angle between the anchor pairs. Based on the angle of the detoured path (which is the key factor for accuracy), our algorithm determines whether the path is straight or detoured by anisotropic factors. Our proposed algorithm does not require any global knowledge of network topology to tolerate the network anisotropy nor require high sensor node density for satisfactory localization accuracy. Extensive simulations are performed and the results are observed to be in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. DPAI achieved average sensor localization accuracy better than 0.3r in isotropic network and 0.35r in anisotropic network when the sensor density is above 8.

Algorithms, Vol. 6, Pages 12-28: ℓ1 Major Component Detection and Analysis (ℓ1 MCDA): Foundations in Two Dimensions

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is widely used for identifying the major components of statistically distributed point clouds. Robust versions of PCA, often based in part on the ℓ1 norm (rather than the ℓ2 norm), are increasingly used, especially for point clouds with many outliers. Neither standard PCA nor robust PCAs can provide, without additional assumptions, reliable information for outlier-rich point clouds and for distributions with several main directions (spokes). We carry out a fundamental and complete reformulation of the PCA approach in a framework based exclusively on the ℓ1 norm and heavy-tailed distributions. The ℓ1 Major Component Detection and Analysis (ℓ1 MCDA) that we propose can determine the main directions and the radial extent of 2D data from single or multiple superimposed Gaussian or heavy-tailed distributions without and with patterned artificial outliers (clutter). In nearly all cases in the computational results, 2D ℓ1 MCDA has accuracy superior to that of standard PCA and of two robust PCAs, namely, the projection-pursuit method of Croux and Ruiz-Gazen and the ℓ1 factorization method of Ke and Kanade. (Standard PCA is, of course, superior to ℓ1 MCDA for Gaussian-distributed point clouds.) The computing time of ℓ1 MCDA is competitive with the computing times of the two robust PCAs.

Life, Vol. 3, Pages 52-85: Biohydrogen Production by the Thermophilic Bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus: Current Status and Perspectives

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus is one of the most thermophilic cellulolytic organisms known to date. This Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium ferments a broad spectrum of mono-, di- and polysaccharides to mainly acetate, CO2 and hydrogen. With hydrogen yields approaching the theoretical limit for dark fermentation of 4 mol hydrogen per mol hexose, this organism has proven itself to be an excellent candidate for biological hydrogen production. This review provides an overview of the research on C. saccharolyticus with respect to the hydrolytic capability, sugar metabolism, hydrogen formation, mechanisms involved in hydrogen inhibition, and the regulation of the redox and carbon metabolism. Analysis of currently available fermentation data reveal decreased hydrogen yields under non-ideal cultivation conditions, which are mainly associated with the accumulation of hydrogen in the liquid phase. Thermodynamic considerations concerning the reactions involved in hydrogen formation are discussed with respect to the dissolved hydrogen concentration. Novel cultivation data demonstrate the sensitivity of C. saccharolyticus to increased hydrogen levels regarding substrate load and nitrogen limitation. In addition, special attention is given to the rhamnose metabolism, which represents an unusual type of redox balancing. Finally, several approaches are suggested to improve biohydrogen production by C. saccharolyticus.

Pharmaceutics, Vol. 5, Pages 94-106: Safety Monitoring in Clinical Trials

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Monitoring patient safety during clinical trials is a critical component throughout the drug development life-cycle. Pharmaceutical sponsors must work proactively and collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure a systematic approach to safety monitoring. The regulatory landscape has evolved with increased requirements for risk management plans, risk evaluation and minimization strategies. As the industry transitions from passive to active safety surveillance activities, there will be greater demand for more comprehensive and innovative approaches that apply quantitative methods to accumulating data from all sources, ranging from the discovery and preclinical through clinical and post-approval stages. Statistical methods, especially those based on the Bayesian framework, are important tools to help provide objectivity and rigor to the safety monitoring process.

Entropy, Vol. 15, Pages 287-310: Covariance-Based Measurement Selection Criterion for Gaussian-Based Algorithms

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Process modeling by means of Gaussian-based algorithms often suffers from redundant information which usually increases the estimation computational complexity without significantly improving the estimation performance. In this article, a non-arbitrary measurement selection criterion for Gaussian-based algorithms is proposed. The measurement selection criterion is based on the determination of the most significant measurement from both an estimation convergence perspective and the covariance matrix associated with the measurement. The selection criterion is independent from the nature of the measured variable. This criterion is used in conjunction with three Gaussian-based algorithms: the EIF (Extended Information Filter), the EKF (Extended Kalman Filter) and the UKF (Unscented Kalman Filter). Nevertheless, the measurement selection criterion shown herein can also be applied to other Gaussian-based algorithms. Although this work is focused on environment modeling, the results shown herein can be applied to other Gaussian-based algorithm implementations. Mathematical descriptions and implementation results that validate the proposal are also included in this work.

Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 1214-1226: Protective Effect of Ginsenoside Rb1 Against Lung Injury Induced by Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion in Rats

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a critical event in the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS). The lungs are some of the most vulnerable organs that are impacted by intestinal I/R. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ginsenoside Rb1 can ameliorate remote lung injury induced by intestinal I/R. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) a control, sham-operated group (sham group); (2) an intestinal I/R group subjected to 1 h intestinal ischemia and 2 h reperfusion (I/R group); (3) a group treated with 20 mg/kg ginsenoside Rb1 before reperfusion (Rb1-20 group); and (4) a group treated with 40 mg/kg ginsenoside Rb1 before reperfusion (Rb1-40 group). Intestinal and lung histology was observed. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in intestinal tissues were measured. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), TNF-α, MDA levels, wet/dry weight ratio and immunohistochemical expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in lung tissues were assayed. In addition, a western blot of lung NF-kB was performed. Results indicated that intestinal I/R induced intestinal and lung injury, which was characterized by increase of MDA levels and pathological scores in intestinal tissues and MPO, TNF-α , MDA levels, wet/dry weight ratio and ICAM-1, NF-kB expression in the lung tissues. Ginsenoside Rb1 (20, 40 mg/kg) ameliorated intestinal and lung injury, decreased MPO, TNF-α, MDA levels, wet/dry weight ratio, ICAM-1 and NF-kB expression in lung tissues. In conclusion, ginsenoside Rb1 ameliorated the lung injuries by decreasing the NF-kB activation-induced inflammatory response.

Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 1188-1213: Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling in Acylation Reactions, Scope and Recent Developments

Posted: 17 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Since the first report and due to its handiness and wide scope, the Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) cross coupling reaction has become a routine methodology in many laboratories worldwide. With respect to other common transition metal catalyzed cross couplings, the SM reaction has been so far less exploited as a tool to introduce an acyl function into a specific substrate. In this review, the various approaches found in the literature will be considered, starting from the direct SM acylative coupling to the recent developments of cross coupling between boronates and acyl chlorides or anhydrides. Special attention will be dedicated to the use of masked acyl boronates, alkoxy styryl and alkoxy dienyl boronates as coupling partners. A final section will be then focused on the acyl SM reaction as key synthetic step in the framework of natural products synthesis.
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