Games

Tomb Raider multiplayer announced
Mac Backup Guru 1.2 - Backup focused on simplicity and reliability.. (Shareware)
Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 466-481: Optimization of Shikonin Homogenate Extraction from Arnebia euchroma Using Response Surface Methodology
Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 440-465: Semi-Synthesis of Labeled Proteins for Spectroscopic Applications
Membranes, Vol. 3, Pages 1-15: Electrodialytic Transport Properties of Anion-Exchange Membranes Prepared from Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Poly(vinyl alcohol-co-methacryloyl aminopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride)
Materials, Vol. 6, Pages 116-142: Photo-Responsive Shape-Memory and Shape-Changing Liquid-Crystal Polymer Networks
IJERPH, Vol. 10, Pages 178-191: Health Insurance, Socio-Economic Position and Racial Disparities in Preventive Dental Visits in South Africa
Foods, Vol. 2, Pages 1-17: Development and Characterization of Biodegradable Composite Films Based on Gelatin Derived from Beef, Pork and Fish Sources
Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 97-116: Burning Behaviour of High-Pressure CH4-H2-Air Mixtures
Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 79-96: Second-Order Harmonic Reduction Technique for Photovoltaic Power Conditioning Systems Using a Proportional-Resonant Controller
Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 58-78: Variable DC-Link Voltage Algorithm with a Wide Range of Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Two-String PV System
Biology, Vol. 2, Pages 40-63: BRCA1 and Its Network of Interacting Partners
Top 10 Stories of 2012: #1, PokerStars Acquires Assets of Full Tilt Poker
R18+: What Happens Next?
iFFmpeg 3.4.5 - Convert multimedia files between formats.. (Shareware)
Powerball Winning Numbers for 12/29/2012
Powerball Estimated Jackpot for 01/02/2013
Mega Millions Winning Numbers for 01/01/2013
Mega Millions Estimated Jackpot for 01/04/2013
Lotto Texas Winning Numbers for 12/29/2012

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 03:26 AM PST

Square Enix has announced that its Tomb Raider reboot will have a separate multiplayer mode. But it's not being coded by Crystal Dynamics like the

Mac Backup Guru 1.2 - Backup focused on simplicity and reliability.. (Shareware)

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 02:58 AM PST

Mac Backup Guru provides a simple and reliable bootable backup solution.

The philosophy behind Mac Backup Guru is that of the utmost importance is that the backup or sync is reliable. And the other most important attribute is that it's simple to use. Mac Backup Guru provides bootable backup, normal backup, and sync following this philosophy which you will see in its design pattern. If want solid functionality over bells and whistles, this was designed for you.

Version 1.2:

Fixed some OS X 10.7 compatibility issues.

OS X 10.7 or later

Download Now

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 466-481: Optimization of Shikonin Homogenate Extraction from Arnebia euchroma Using Response Surface Methodology

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

An efficient homogenate extraction technique was employed for extracting shikonin from Arnebia euchroma. The homogenate extraction procedure was optimized and compared with other conventional extraction techniques. The proposed method gave the best result with the highest extraction efficiency in the shortest extraction time. Based on single-factor experiments, a three-factor-three-level experimental design has been developed by Box-Behnken design. The optimal conditions were 78% ethanol as solvent, homogenate extraction time of 4.2 min, 10.3 liquid to solid ratio and two extraction cycles. Moreover, the proposed method was validated by stability, repeatability and recovery experiments. The developed homogenate extraction method provided a good alternative for the extraction of shikonin from A. euchroma. The results indicated that the proposed homogenate extraction was a convenient, rapid and efficient sample preparation technique and was environmental friendly. Furthermore, homogenate extraction has superiority in the extraction of thermally sensitive compounds from plant matrices.

Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 440-465: Semi-Synthesis of Labeled Proteins for Spectroscopic Applications

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Since the introduction of SPPS by Merrifield in the 60s, peptide chemists have considered the possibility of preparing large proteins. The introduction of native chemical ligation in the 90s and then of expressed protein ligation have opened the way to the preparation of synthetic proteins without size limitations. This review focuses on semi-synthetic strategies useful to prepare proteins decorated with spectroscopic probes, like fluorescent labels and stable isotopes, and their biophysical applications. We show that expressed protein ligation, combining the advantages of organic chemistry with the easy and size limitless recombinant protein expression, is an excellent strategy for the chemical synthesis of labeled proteins, enabling a single protein to be functionalized at one or even more distinct positions with different probes.

Membranes, Vol. 3, Pages 1-15: Electrodialytic Transport Properties of Anion-Exchange Membranes Prepared from Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Poly(vinyl alcohol-co-methacryloyl aminopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride)

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Random-type anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) have been prepared by blending poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and the random copolymer-type polycation, poly(vinyl alcohol-co-methacryloyl aminopropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) at various molar percentages of anion-exchange groups to vinyl alcohol groups, Cpc, and by cross-linking the PVA chains with glutaraldehyde (GA) solution at various GA concentrations, CGA. The characteristics of the random-type AEMs were compared with blend-type AEMs prepared in our previous study. At equal molar percentages of the anion exchange groups, the water content of the random-type AEMs was lower than that of the blend-type AEMs. The effective charge density of the random-type AEMs increased with increasing Cpc and reached a maximum value. Further, the maximum value of the effective charge density increased with increasing CGA. The maximum value of the effective charge density, 0.42 mol/dm3, was obtained for the random-type AEM with Cpc = 4.2 mol % and CGA = 0.15 vol %. A comparison of the random-type and blend-type AEMs with almost the same Cpc showed that the random-type AEMs had lower membrane resistance than the blend-type ones. The membrane resistance and dynamic transport number of the random-type AEM with Cpc = 6.0 mol % and CGA = 0.15 vol % were 4.8 Ω cm2 and 0.83, respectively.

Materials, Vol. 6, Pages 116-142: Photo-Responsive Shape-Memory and Shape-Changing Liquid-Crystal Polymer Networks

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

“Surrounding matters” is a phrase that has become more significant in recent times when discussing polymeric materials. Although regular polymers do respond to external stimuli like softening of material at higher temperatures, that response is gradual and linear in nature. Smart polymers (SPs) or stimuli-responsive polymers (SRPs) behave differently to those external stimuli, as their behavior is more rapid and nonlinear in nature and even a small magnitude of external stimulus can cause noticeable changes in their shape, size, color or conductivity. Of these SRPs, two types of SPs with the ability to actively change can be differentiated: shape-memory polymers and shape-changing polymers. The uniqueness of these materials lies not only in the fast macroscopic changes occurring in their structure but also in that some of these shape changes are reversible. This paper presents a brief review of current progress in the area of light activated shape-memory polymers and shape-changing polymers and their possible field of applications.

IJERPH, Vol. 10, Pages 178-191: Health Insurance, Socio-Economic Position and Racial Disparities in Preventive Dental Visits in South Africa

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

This study sought to determine the contributions of socio-economic position and health insurance enrollment in explaining racial disparities in preventive dental visits (PDVs) among South Africans. Data on the dentate adult population participating in the last South African Demographic and Health Survey conducted during 2003–2004 (n = 6,312) was used. Main outcome measure: Reporting making routine yearly PDVs as a preventive measure. Education, material wealth index and nutritional status indicated socio-economic position. Multi-level logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of PDVs. A variant of Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis was also conducted. Health insurance coverage was most common among Whites (70%) and least common among black Africans (10.1%) in South Africa. Similarly, a yearly PDV was most frequently reported by Whites (27.8%) and least frequently reported among black Africans (3.1%). Lower education and lower material wealth were associated with lower odds of making PDVs. There was significant interaction between location (urban/rural) and education (p = 0.010). The racial and socio-economic differences in PDVs observed in urban areas were not observed in rural areas. In the general dentate population, having health insurance significantly increased the odds of making PDVs (OR = 4.32; 3.04–6.14) and accounted for 40.3% of the White/non-White gap in the probability of making PDVs. Overall, socio-economic position and health insurance enrollments together accounted for 55.9% (95% CI = 44.9–67.8) of the White/non-White gap in PDVs. Interventions directed at improving both socio-economic position and insurance coverage of non-White South Africans are likely to significantly reduce racial disparities in PDVs.

Foods, Vol. 2, Pages 1-17: Development and Characterization of Biodegradable Composite Films Based on Gelatin Derived from Beef, Pork and Fish Sources

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

The objectives of this study were to develop composite films using various gelatin sources with corn oil (CO) incorporation (55.18%) and to investigate the mechanical and physical properties of these films as potential packaging films. There were increases (p < 0.05) in the tensile strength (TS) and puncture strength (PS) of films when the concentration of gelatin increased. The mechanical properties of these films were also improved when compared with films produced without CO. Conversely, the water barrier properties of composite films decreased (p < 0.05) when the concentration of gelatin in composite films increased. Comparing with pure gelatin films, water and oxygen barrier properties of gelatin films decreased when manufactured with the inclusion of CO.

Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 97-116: Burning Behaviour of High-Pressure CH4-H2-Air Mixtures

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

Experimental characterization of the burning behavior of gaseous mixtures has been carried out, analyzing spherical expanding flames. Tests were performed in the Device for Hydrogen-Air Reaction Mode Analysis (DHARMA) laboratory of Istituto Motori—CNR. Based on a high-pressure, constant-volume bomb, the activity is aimed at populating a systematic database on the burning properties of CH4, H2 and other species of interest, in conditions typical of internal combustion (i.c.) engines and gas turbines. High-speed shadowgraph is used to record the flame growth, allowing to infer the laminar burning parameters and the flame stability properties. Mixtures of CH4, H2 and air have been analyzed at initial temperature 293÷305 K, initial pressure 3÷18 bar and equivalence ratio  = 1.0. The amount of H2 in the mixture was 0%, 20% and 30% (vol.). The effect of the initial pressure and of the Hydrogen content on the laminar burning velocity and the Markstein length has been evaluated: the relative weight and mutual interaction has been assessed of the two controlling parameters. Analysis has been carried out of the flame instability, expressed in terms of the critical radius for the onset of cellularity, as a function of the operating conditions.

Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 79-96: Second-Order Harmonic Reduction Technique for Photovoltaic Power Conditioning Systems Using a Proportional-Resonant Controller

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

This paper proposes a second-order harmonic reduction technique using a proportional-resonant (PR) controller for a photovoltaic (PV) power conditioning system (PCS). In a grid-connected single-phase system, inverters create a second-order harmonic at twice the fundamental frequency. A ripple component unsettles the operating points of the PV array and deteriorates the operation of the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique. The second-order harmonic component in PV PCS is analyzed using an equivalent circuit of the DC/DC converter and the DC/AC inverter. A new feed-forward compensation technique using a PR controller for ripple reduction is proposed. The proposed algorithm is advantageous in that additional devices are not required and complex calculations are unnecessary. Therefore, this method is cost-effective and simple to implement. The proposed feed-forward compensation technique is verified by simulation and experimental results.

Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 58-78: Variable DC-Link Voltage Algorithm with a Wide Range of Maximum Power Point Tracking for a Two-String PV System

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

This paper proposes a variable DC-link reference voltage algorithm for wide range of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for two-string photovoltaic (PV) systems. A multi-string system, which is a kind of PV system, is widely used due to its many merits (such as the ability to use low rating devices, high MPPT efficiency, and so forth). PV systems can choose their input voltages on the basis of their PV cell connection structure. The PV cell connection structure can be restricted because the input voltage and current affect the PV system design. This reduces the MPPT range under some weather conditions. In the restricted PV connection structure, this algorithm enlarges the MPPT range and minimizes the increment of the total harmonic distortion (THD) by selecting the appropriate DC-link voltage reference which is changed by comparing the sorted input voltage. To verify the proposed algorithm, simulation and experiments are conducted to show the results of the performance for the proposed algorithm.

Biology, Vol. 2, Pages 40-63: BRCA1 and Its Network of Interacting Partners

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 12:00 AM PST

BRCA1 is a large multi-domain protein with a pivotal role in maintaining genome stability and cell cycle progression. Germline mutations in the BRCA1 gene confer an estimated lifetime risk of 60%–80% for breast cancer and 15%–60% for ovarian cancer. Many of the germline mutations associated with cancer development are concentrated in the amino terminal RING domain and the carboxyl terminal BRCT motifs of BRCA1, which are the most well-characterized regions of the protein. The function of BRCA1 in DNA repair, transcription and cell cycle control through the DNA damage response is orchestrated through its association with an impressive repertoire of protein complexes. The association of BRCA1 with ATM/ATR, CHK2 and Aurora A protein kinases regulates cell cycle progression, whilst its association with RAD51 has a direct impact on the repair of double strand DNA breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination (HR). BRCA1 interactions with the MRN complex of proteins, with the BRCC complex of proteins that exhibit E3 ligase activity and with the phosphor proteins CtIP, BACH1 (BRIP1) and Abraxas (CCDC98) are also implicated in DNA repair mechanisms and cell cycle checkpoint control. BRCA1 through its association with specific proteins and multi-protein complexes is a sentinel of the normal cell cycle control and DNA repair.

Top 10 Stories of 2012: #1, PokerStars Acquires Assets of Full Tilt Poker

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 01:03 AM PST

This time last year, PokerNews ' No. 1 story of 2011 was Black Friday . The events of that day - April 15, 2011 - forever changed online poker; the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a complaint against the founders of Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars , and Absolute Poker , alleging bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

R18+: What Happens Next?

Posted: 31 Dec 2012 04:00 PM PST

R18+ is officially introduced in Australia today, but what does this mean for previously banned games? And what about the states that are yet to introduce the law? Read our Q&A to find out!

Get the full article at GameSpot

"R18+: What Happens Next?" was posted by Laura Parker on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:00:00 -0800

iFFmpeg 3.4.5 - Convert multimedia files between formats.. (Shareware)

Posted: 01 Jan 2013 08:59 PM PST

iFFmpeg is a graphical front-end for FFmpeg, a command-line tool used to convert multimedia files between formats. The command line instructions can be very hard to master/understand, so iFFmpeg does all the hard work for you. This allows you to use FFmpeg without detailed command-line knowledge.

Version 3.4.5:

Added encoding to Animated GIF.
Added encoding with FDK-LibAAC (HE-AAC)
Added AAC profile option (AAC-MAIN, AAC-LOW, AAC-SSR, AAC-LTP, AAC-HE, AAC-LD, AAC-ELD)
Added FFmpeg option 'Write Timecode'.
Added FFmpeg option 'MPEG GOP Timecode'.
Added JPEG2000 codec for MOV container.
Added 'Force decoding with selected FPS'.
Fixed issue writing user presets.
Added user preset for Apple TV1.
Much improved VOB encoding.
Updated the FFmpeg information sheet.
Removed FFmpeg option 'Deinterlace' (deprecated). Use YADIF instead.
Fixed several advanced options (AQ Method, AQ Strength, ..) to meet new FFmpeg syntax.
Fixed issue with AAC encoding for more then one audio stream (introduced in 3.4.4)
It is highly recommended to use FFmpeg 1.0 or higher for best performance/quality.
Demo is reset.