Games

Forging £1 coins is apparently profitable
Philippines aims to produce more Sudoku champs
Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 6113-6127: The Ameliorative Effect of Sophoricoside on Mast Cell-Mediated Allergic Inflammation in Vivo and in Vitro
Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 6101-6112: Bolaamphiphiles Derived from Alkenyl L-Rhamnosides and Alkenyl D-Xylosides: Importance of the Hydrophilic Head
Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 6092-6100: Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-Antioxidant Biflavonoids from Garcinia madruno
Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 2663-2685: Energy and Environmental Implications of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in China
Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 2644-2662: Life Cycle GHG of NG-Based Fuel and Electric Vehicle in China
Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 2624-2643: Short-Term Power Forecasting Model for Photovoltaic Plants Based on Historical Similarity
Xbox One contains non-replaceable hard drive
Xbox One: The Controller Closeup
House of Horrors - Among The Sleep
Xbox One: Everything Else You Need To Know
How's the Xbox One controller?
Free of Charge - The Banner Saga: Factions
Xbox One: Everything You Need To Know
Call of Duty: Ghosts - Screenshots
Powerball Winning Numbers for 05/18/2013
Powerball Estimated Jackpot for 05/22/2013
Mega Millions Winning Numbers for 05/21/2013
Mega Millions Estimated Jackpot for 05/24/2013

Forging £1 coins is apparently profitable

Posted: 22 May 2013 02:36 AM PDT

Three men have been convicted of forging £1 coins. The London Police Detective Inspector even got all quippy about the sentencing ("These three men are organised criminals who were intent on undermining the UK monetary system. There is nothing fake about the reality they must now face of life behind bars." -- yes, yes, very clever DI South) but what fascinates me about the story is that it can somehow be profitable to forge £1 coins.

I got passed a fake pound shortly after I first moved to the UK, almost ten years go; it was a foil-wrapped plastic slug. Not realizing it was fake, I tried to buy something with it at a corner shop and the cashier pressed it edge-on on his counter and the foil split open, revealing the green plastic disc inside.

From the sound of this article, these fakes were solid metal, which, I think, would make them more expensive than the fake I got. When you add the costs of the materials, the wages for the manufacturing process, warehousing, the discount for counterfeit cash, etc, it's hard to believe that this was worth anyone's while.

On the other hand, it's probably easier to go on counterfeiting when you're passing very small denominations as most people (me included) won't bother going to the cops over a mere pound; and it's much harder to remember where a given pound coin came from than a £20 note.

The court heard Fisher, of Rags Lane in Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire, Sullivan, of Bancroft Chase in Hornchurch, east London, and Abbott were arrested during an undercover police operation in Essex last May.
Police found a storage container with 1.6 million metal discs inside and fake coins equivalent to £20,000.
Fake coins equivalent to a further £30,000 were found in a nearby car.

Three men jailed over 'largest' fake £1 coin plot [BBC]

(Image: Yet another forged pound coin, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from pahudson's photostream)

Philippines aims to produce more Sudoku champs

Posted: 22 May 2013 01:57 AM PDT

The country has so far produced international Sudoku winners like Sarah Jane Cua who won in the 2008 and 2010 BRAND's Sudoku Challenge Asia Pacific Open in Singapore.

Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 6113-6127: The Ameliorative Effect of Sophoricoside on Mast Cell-Mediated Allergic Inflammation in Vivo and in Vitro

Posted: 22 May 2013 12:00 AM PDT

Sophoricoside exhibits numerous pharmacological effects, including anti- inflammatory and anti-cancer actions, yet the exact mechanism that accounts for the anti-allergic effects of sophoricoside is not completely understood. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether and how sophoricoside modulates the mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the pharmacological effects of sophoricoside on both compound 48/80 or histamine-induced scratching behaviors and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis in mice. Additionally, to find a possible explanation for the anti-inflammatory effects of sophoricoside, we evaluated the effects of sophoricoside on the production of histamine and inflammatory cytokines and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and caspase-1 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1). The finding of this study demonstrated that sophoricoside reduced compound 48/80 or histamine-induced scratching behaviors and DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in mice. Additionally, sophoricoside inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines as well as the activation of NF-κB and caspase-1 in stimulated HMC-1. Collectively, the findings of this study provide us with novel insights into the pharmacological actions of sophoricoside as a potential molecule for use in the treatment of allergic inflammation diseases.

Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 6101-6112: Bolaamphiphiles Derived from Alkenyl L-Rhamnosides and Alkenyl D-Xylosides: Importance of the Hydrophilic Head

Posted: 22 May 2013 12:00 AM PDT

The two step synthesis of a new bolaamphiphile derived from alkenyl l-rhamnosides was described. The general synthetic strategy of bolaamphiphiles derived from l-rhamnose was based on a previous work describing the synthesis of bolaamphiphiles derived from d-xylose. The conformational properties of this new compound were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy in an aqueous film in order to obtain a reference for further studies about the membrane-interacting properties. Moreover, the surface activity of this new bolaamphiphile was analyzed by Langmuir balance technology and was compared with that of the analogous bolaamphiphile derived from alkenyl D-xylosides. The findings indicate that the rhamnoside-based bolaform has an increased surface activity and a better ability to form aggregates than xyloside-based one.

Molecules, Vol. 18, Pages 6092-6100: Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-Antioxidant Biflavonoids from Garcinia madruno

Posted: 22 May 2013 12:00 AM PDT

Six biflavonoids were isolated from G. madruno, one of which, 7''-O-(6''''-acetyl)-glucoside of morelloflavone, is a new compound identified on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR (HMQC and HMBC) spectroscopic methods and chemical evidence. The antioxidant activity of the biflavonoids against low-density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation induced with Cu2+, was studied by means of a TBARS assay. The antioxidant potential of a biflavonoid fraction (BF) was also evaluated and correlated with its biflavonoid content. The flavanone-(3→8'')-flavone biflavonoids displayed antioxidant activity, particularly morelloflavone, which was significantly more potent than quercetin, with a CE50 of 12.36 μg/mL. Lipid peroxidation, was also significantly reduced in the presence of the BF (EC50 = 11.85 μg/mL). These results suggest that the BF is an excellent antioxidant.

Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 2663-2685: Energy and Environmental Implications of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in China

Posted: 22 May 2013 12:00 AM PDT

The promotion of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) has been proposed as one promising solution for reducing transport energy consumption and mitigating vehicular emissions in China. In this study, the energy and environmental impacts of hybrid and EVs during 2010–2020 were evaluated through an energy conversion analysis and a life cycle assessment (LCA), and the per-kilometer energy consumptions of gasoline, coal, natural gas (NG), oil, biomass, garbage and electricity for EVs and HEVs were estimated. Results show that the EVs and HEVs can reduce the energy consumption of vehicles by national average ratios of 17%–19% and 30%–33%, respectively. The study also calculated the detailed emission factors of SO2, NOX, VOC, CO, NH3, PM10, PM2.5, OC, EC, CO2, N2O, CH4, Pb and Hg. It is indicated that the HEVs can bring significant reductions of NOX, VOC and CO emissions and lesser decreases of SO2 and CO2 for a single vehicle. The EVs could decrease many of the VOC, NH3, CO and CO2 emissions, but increase the SO2, NOX and particles by 10.8–13.0, 2.7–2.9 and 3.6–11.5 times, respectively. In addition, the electricity sources had significant influence on energy consumption (EC) and emissions. A high proportion of coal-fired energy resulted in large ECs and emission factors. The total energy consumption and pollutants emission changes in 2015 and 2020 were also calculated. Based on the energy use and emission analysis of HEVs and EVs, it is suggested that EVs should be promoted in the regions with higher proportions of hydropower, natural gas-fired power and clean energy power, while HEVs can be widely adopted in the regions with high coal-fired power ratios. This is to achieve a higher energy consumption reduction and pollutant emission mitigation. Moreover, the results can also provide scientific support for the total amount control of regional air pollutants in China.

Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 2644-2662: Life Cycle GHG of NG-Based Fuel and Electric Vehicle in China

Posted: 22 May 2013 12:00 AM PDT

This paper compares the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of natural gas (NG)- based fuels to the GHG emissions of electric vehicles (EVs) powered with NG-to-electricity in China. A life-cycle model is used to account for full fuel cycle and use-phase emissions, as well as vehicle cycle and battery manufacturing. The reduction of life-cycle GHG emissions of EVs charged by electricity generated from NG, without utilizing carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology can be 36%–47% when compared to gasoline vehicles. The large range change in emissions reduction potential is driven by the different generation technologies that could in the future be used to generate electricity in China. When CCS is employed in power plants, the GHG emission reductions increase to about 71%–73% compared to gasoline vehicles. It is found that compressed NG (CNG) and liquefied NG (LNG) fuels can save about 10% of carbon as compared to gasoline vehicles. However, gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel made through the Fischer-Tropsch method will likely lead to a life-cycle GHG emissions increase, potentially 3%–15% higher than gasoline, but roughly equal to petroleum-based diesel. When CCS is utilized, the GTL fueled vehicles emit roughly equal GHG emissions to petroleum-based diesel fuel high-efficient hybrid electric vehicle from the life-cycle perspective.

Energies, Vol. 6, Pages 2624-2643: Short-Term Power Forecasting Model for Photovoltaic Plants Based on Historical Similarity

Posted: 22 May 2013 12:00 AM PDT

This paper proposes a new model for short-term forecasting of electric energy production in a photovoltaic (PV) plant. The model is called HIstorical SImilar MIning (HISIMI) model; its final structure is optimized by using a genetic algorithm, based on data mining techniques applied to historical cases composed by past forecasted values of weather variables, obtained from numerical tools for weather prediction, and by past production of electric power in a PV plant. The HISIMI model is able to supply spot values of power forecasts, and also the uncertainty, or probabilities, associated with those spot values, providing new useful information to users with respect to traditional forecasting models for PV plants. Such probabilities enable analysis and evaluation of risk associated with those spot forecasts, for example, in offers of energy sale for electricity markets. The results of spot forecasting of an illustrative example obtained with the HISIMI model for a real-life grid-connected PV plant, which shows high intra-hour variability of its actual power output, with forecasting horizons covering the following day, have improved those obtained with other two power spot forecasting models, which are a persistence model and an artificial neural network model.

Xbox One contains non-replaceable hard drive

Posted: 22 May 2013 12:31 AM PDT

Microsoft has confirmed the Xbox One's internal hard drive will not be interchangeable; USB 3.0 allows for users to plug-in external hard drives for additional storage.

The Xbox One console will contain a non-replaceable 500GB hard drive, Microsoft has confirmed in an interview with Engadget.

Microsoft's senior director of product planning, Albert Penello, confirmed that the console would contain an internal 500GB hard drive that cannot be upgraded.

By comparison, the Xbox 360 console offered hard drives with varying degrees of capacity and allowed users to replace the hard drive.

If users wish to expand the Xbox One's storage, a USB 3.0 port is available to plug-in external hard drives. Penello confirmed the external hard drives could be used in the same fashion as internal storage, including abiltiies such as installing games and storing downloads.

To keep up with the latest news on Microsoft's next-gen console, check out GameSpot's Xbox One hub.

[ Watch Video ]

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Xbox One contains non-replaceable hard drive" was posted by Zorine Te on Wed, 22 May 2013 00:31:03 -0700

Xbox One: The Controller Closeup

Posted: 21 May 2013 11:43 PM PDT

No commentary, No promises, Just shots of the new Xbox One Controller.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Xbox One: The Controller Closeup" was posted by Andy Bauman on Tue, 21 May 2013 23:43:38 -0700

House of Horrors - Among The Sleep

Posted: 21 May 2013 11:33 PM PDT

Think horror games aren't scary enough? Well try playing them as a BABY. Jess and Zorine take a look at the alpha version of this recently Kickstarter-funded title!

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"House of Horrors - Among The Sleep" was posted by Jessica McDonell and Zorine Te on Tue, 21 May 2013 23:33:40 -0700

Xbox One: Everything Else You Need To Know

Posted: 21 May 2013 11:20 PM PDT

Jeff and Justin try to make sense out of everything they saw at the Microsoft Xbox Campus on Xbox One reveal day.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Xbox One: Everything Else You Need To Know" was posted by Andy Bauman on Tue, 21 May 2013 23:20:30 -0700

How's the Xbox One controller?

Posted: 21 May 2013 10:45 PM PDT

Justin offers some opinions on the new Xbox One controller after spending a little time with it.

Get the full article at GameSpot

"How's the Xbox One controller?" was posted by Justin Calvert on Tue, 21 May 2013 22:45:57 -0700

Free of Charge - The Banner Saga: Factions

Posted: 21 May 2013 08:53 PM PDT

GameSpot's Jonathan Toyad explores the tactical intricacies of turn-based vikings-slash-giants combat in this free-to-play multiplayer game made by former Bioware developers.