ind Evaluation of Fibroblast Activation Protein Expression Using 68Ga-FAPI46 PET in Hypertension-Induced Tissue Changes By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2024-11-01T04:25:31-07:00 Chronic hypertension leads to injury and fibrosis in major organs. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is one of key molecules in tissue fibrosis, and 68Ga-labeled FAP inhibitor-46 (FAPI46) PET is a recently developed method for evaluating FAP. The aim of this study was to evaluate FAP expression and fibrosis in a hypertension model and to test the feasibility of 68Ga-FAPI46 PET in hypertension. Methods: Hypertension was induced in mice by angiotensin II infusion for 4 wk. 68Ga-FAPI46 biodistribution studies and PET scanning were conducted at 1, 2, and 4 wk after hypertension modeling, and uptake in the major organs was measured. The FAP expression and fibrosis formation of the heart and kidney tissues were analyzed and compared with 68Ga-FAPI46 uptake. Subgroups of the hypertension model underwent angiotensin receptor blocker administration and high-dose FAPI46 blocking, for comparison. As a preliminary human study, 68Ga-FAPI46 PET images of lung cancer patients were analyzed and compared between hypertension and control groups. Results: Uptake of 68Ga-FAPI46 in the heart and kidneys was significantly higher in the hypertension group than in the sham group as early as week 1 and decreased after week 2. The uptake was specifically blocked in the high-dose blocking study. Immunohistochemistry also revealed FAP expression in both heart and kidney tissues. However, overt fibrosis was observed in the heart, whereas it was absent from the kidneys. The angiotensin receptor blocker–treated group showed lower uptake in the heart and kidneys than did the hypertension group. In the pilot human study, renal uptake of 68Ga-FAPI46 significantly differed between the hypertension and control groups. Conclusion: In hypertension, FAP expression is increased in the heart and kidneys from the early phases and decreases over time. FAP expression appears to represent fibrosis activity preceding or underlying fibrotic tissue formation. 68Ga-FAPI46 PET has potential as an effective imaging method for evaluating FAP expression in progressive fibrosis by hypertension. Full Article
ind Association of Free-to-Total PSA Ratio and 18F-DCFPyL Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET/CT Findings in Patients with Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy: A Prospective Single-Center Study By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2024-11-01T04:25:31-07:00 In Canada and across the globe, access to PSMA PET/CT is limited and expensive. For patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) after treatment for prostate cancer, novel strategies are needed to better stratify patients who may or may not benefit from a PSMA PET scan. The role of the free-to-total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio (FPSAR) in posttreatment prostate cancer, specifically in the PSMA PET/CT era, remains unknown. Our aim in this study was to determine the association of FPSAR in patients referred for 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT in the BCR setting and assess the correlation between FPSAR and 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT positivity (local recurrence or distant metastases). Methods: This prospective study included 137 patients who were referred for 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT and had BCR with a total PSA of less than 1 ng/mL after radical prostatectomy (RP) (including adjuvant or salvage radiotherapy). Blood samples were collected on the day of 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT. FPSAR was categorized as less than 0.10 or as 0.10 or more. A positive 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT scan was defined by a PROMISE classification lesion score of 2 or 3, irrespective of the site of increased tracer uptake (e.g., prostate, pelvic nodes, bone, or viscera). Results: Overall, 137 blood samples of patients with BCR after RP were analyzed to calculate FPSAR. The median age at 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT was 68.6 y (interquartile range, 63.0–72.4 y), and the median PSA at 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT was 0.3 ng/mL (interquartile range, 0.3–0.6 ng/mL). Eighty-six patients (62.8%) had an FPSAR of less than 0.10, whereas 51 patients (37.2%) had an FPSAR of 0.10 or more. An FPSAR of 0.10 or more was identified as an independent predictor of a positive 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT scan, with an odds ratio of 6.99 (95% CI, 2.96–16.51; P < 0.001). Conclusion: An FPSAR of 0.10 or more after RP independently correlated with increased odds of a positive 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT scan among BCR post-RP patients. These findings may offer an inexpensive method by which to triage access to 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT in jurisdictions where availability is not replete. Full Article
ind uPAR Immuno-PET in Pancreatic Cancer, Aging, and Chemotherapy-Induced Senescence By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2024-11-01T04:25:31-07:00 Identifying cancer therapy resistance is a key time-saving tool for physicians. Part of chemotherapy resistance includes senescence, a persistent state without cell division or cell death. Chemically inducing senescence with the combination of trametinib and palbociclib (TP) yields several tumorigenic and prometastatic factors in pancreatic cancer models with many potential antibody-based targets. In particular, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) has been shown to be a membrane-bound marker of senescence in addition to an oncology target. Methods: Here, 2 antibodies against murine uPAR and human uPAR were developed as immuno-PET agents to noninvasively track uPAR antigen abundance. Results: TP treatment increased cell uptake both in murine KPC cells and in human MiaPaCa2 cells. In vivo, subcutaneously implanted murine KPC tumors had high tumor uptake with the antimurine uPAR antibody independently of TP in young mice, yet uPAR uptake was maintained in aged mice on TP. Mice xenografted with human MiaPaCa2 tumors showed a significant increase in tumor uptake on TP therapy when imaged with the antihuman uPAR antibody. Imaging with either uPAR antibody was found to be more tumor-selective than imaging with [18F]FDG or [18F]F-DPA-714. Conclusion: The use of radiolabeled uPAR-targeting antibodies provides a new antibody-based PET imaging candidate for pancreatic cancer imaging as well as chemotherapy-induced senescence. Full Article
ind Precautions to Consider in the Analysis of Prognostic and Predictive Indices By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2024-11-01T04:25:31-07:00 Understanding the differences between prognostic and predictive indices is imperative for medical research advances. We have developed a new prognostic measure that will identify the strengths, limitations, and potential applications in clinical practice. Full Article
ind Roles of Individual Human Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Drug Metabolism [Review Article] By pharmrev.aspetjournals.org Published On :: 2024-10-16T07:40:25-07:00 Our knowledge of the roles of individual cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes in drug metabolism has developed considerably in the past 30 years, and this base has been of considerable use in avoiding serious issues with drug interactions and issues due to variations. Some newer approaches are being considered for "phenotyping" metabolism reactions with new drug candidates. Endogenous biomarkers are being used for noninvasive estimation of levels of individual P450 enzymes. There is also the matter of some remaining "orphan" P450s, which have yet to be assigned reactions. Practical problems that continue in drug development include predicting drug-drug interactions, predicting the effects of polymorphic and other P450 variations, and evaluating interspecies differences in drug metabolism, particularly in the context of "metabolism in safety testing" regulatory issues ["disproportionate (human) metabolites"]. Significance Statement Cytochrome P450 enzymes are the major catalysts involved in drug metabolism. The characterization of their individual roles has major implications in drug development and clinical practice. Full Article
ind Prevalence of Rathke Cleft and Other Incidental Pituitary Gland Findings on Contrast-Enhanced 3D Fat-Saturated T1 MPRAGE at 7T MRI [CLINICAL PRACTICE] By www.ajnr.org Published On :: 2024-11-07T15:14:12-08:00 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A cleftlike nonenhancing hypointensity was observed repeatedly in the pituitary gland at the adenohypophysis/neurohypophysis border on contrast-enhanced 3D fat-saturated T1-MPRAGE using clinical 7T MRI. Our primary goal was to assess the prevalence of this finding. The secondary goals were to evaluate the frequency of other incidental pituitary lesions, MRI artifacts, and their effect on pituitary imaging on the contrast-enhanced 3D fat-saturated T1 MPRAGE at 7T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients who underwent 7T neuroimaging between October 27, 2021, and August 10, 2023, were included. Each case was evaluated for cleftlike pituitary hypointensity, pituitary masses, and artifacts on contrast-enhanced 3D fat-saturated T1 MPRAGE. Follow-up examinations were evaluated if present. The average prevalence for each finding was calculated, as were descriptive statistics for age and sex. RESULTS: A cleftlike hypointensity was present in 66% of 7T MRIs. There were no significant differences between the "cleftlike present" and "cleftlike absent" groups regarding sex (P = .39) and age (P = .32). The cleftlike hypointensity was demonstrated on follow-up MRIs in 3/3 patients with 7T, 1/12 with 3T, and 1/5 with 1.5T. A mass was found in 22%, while 75% had no mass and 3% were indeterminate. A mass was found in 18 (27%) of the cleftlike present and 4 (13%) of the cleftlike absent groups. The most common mass types were Rathke cleft cyst in 7 (31.8%) patients, "Rathke cleft cyst versus entrapped CSF" in 6 (27.3%), and microadenoma in 6 (22.2%) in the cleftlike present group. There were no significant differences in the mass types between the cleftlike present and cleftlike absent groups (P = .23). Susceptibility and/or motion artifacts were frequent using contrast-enhanced 3D fat-saturated T1 MPRAGE (54%). Artifact-free scans were significantly more frequent in the cleftlike present group (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: A cleftlike nonenhancing hypointensity was frequently seen on the contrast-enhanced 3D fat-saturated T1 MPRAGE images at 7T MRI, which most likely represents a normal embryologic Rathke cleft remnant and cannot be seen in lower-field-strength MRIs. Susceptibility and motion artifacts are common in the sella. They may affect image quality, and the artifacts at 7T may lead to an underestimation of the prevalence of the Rathke cleft and other incidental findings. Full Article
ind Automated Volumetric Software in Dementia: Help or Hindrance to the Neuroradiologist? [RESEARCH] By www.ajnr.org Published On :: 2024-11-07T15:14:12-08:00 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain atrophy occurs in the late stage of dementia, yet structural MRI is widely used in the work-up. Atrophy patterns can suggest a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) or frontotemporal dementia (FTD) but are difficult to assess visually. We hypothesized that the availability of a quantitative volumetric brain MRI report would increase neuroradiologists’ accuracy in diagnosing AD, FTD, or healthy controls compared with visual assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with AD, 17 with FTD, and 21 cognitively healthy patients were identified from the electronic health systems record and a behavioral neurology clinic. Four neuroradiologists evaluated T1-weighted anatomic MRI studies with and without a volumetric report. Outcome measures were the proportion of correct diagnoses of neurodegenerative disease versus normal aging ("rough accuracy") and AD versus FTD ("exact accuracy"). Generalized linear mixed models were fit to assess whether the use of a volumetric report was associated with higher accuracy, accounting for random effects of within-rater and within-subject variability. Post hoc within-group analysis was performed with multiple comparisons correction. Residualized volumes were tested for an association with the diagnosis using ANOVA. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant effect of the report on overall correct diagnoses. The proportion of "exact" correct diagnoses was higher with the report versus without the report for AD (0.52 versus 0.38) and FTD (0.49 versus 0.32) and lower for cognitively healthy (0.75 versus 0.89). The proportion of "rough" correct diagnoses of neurodegenerative disease was higher with the report than without the report within the AD group (0.59 versus 0.41), and it was similar within the FTD group (0.66 versus 0.63). Post hoc within-group analysis suggested that the report increased the accuracy in AD (OR = 2.77) and decreased the accuracy in cognitively healthy (OR = 0.25). Residualized hippocampal volumes were smaller in AD (mean difference –1.8; multiple comparisons correction, –2.8 to –0.8; P < .001) and FTD (mean difference –1.2; multiple comparisons correction, –2.2 to –0.1; P = .02) compared with cognitively healthy. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of a brain volumetric report did not improve neuroradiologists’ accuracy over visual assessment in diagnosing AD or FTD in this limited sample. Post hoc analysis suggested that the report may have biased readers incorrectly toward a diagnosis of neurodegeneration in cognitively healthy adults. Full Article
ind High-Resolution MRA Cerebrovascular Findings in a Tri-Ethnic Population [CLINICAL PRACTICE] By www.ajnr.org Published On :: 2024-11-07T15:14:12-08:00 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Incidental findings on brain MRI and variations of the circle of Willis (CoW) are relatively common among the general population. Ethnic differences have been described before, but few studies have explored the prevalence of incidental intracranial cerebrovascular findings and CoW variants in the setting of a single multiethnic cohort. The purpose of this investigation was to describe both incidental cerebrovascular findings and the morphology of the CoW on high-resolution 3T TOF-MRA in a UK tri-ethnic population-based cohort and to present updated prevalence estimates and morphologic reference values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied participants from the UK Southall and Brent REvisited study who underwent 3T brain MRI between 2014 and 2018. TOF-MRA images were assessed for the presence of incidental cerebrovascular findings and used to determine CoW anatomy. RESULTS: Seven hundred fifty participants (mean age, 71.28 [SD, 6.46] years; range, 46–90 years; 337 women), 322 White Europeans, 253 South Asians, and 175 African Caribbeans were included. Incidental cerebrovascular findings were observed in 84 subjects (11.2%, 95% CI, 9.0%–13.7%; 36 women; 42.86%, 95% CI, 32.11%–54.12%), with cerebral aneurysms being the most frequent followed by intracranial arterial stenoses with the highest prevalence among South Asians compared with White European (OR: 2.72; 95% CI, 1.22–6.08; P = .015) and African Caribbean subjects (OR: 2.79; 95% CI, 1.00–7.82; P = .051). Other findings included arteriovenous malformations and infundibula. The CoW was found to be more often complete in women than in men (25.22% compared with 18.41%, P = .024) and in African Caribbean (34.86%) compared with White European (19.19%) and South Asian (14.23%) subjects (P < .001 each). CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial arterial stenoses were independently associated with ethnicity after adjusting for vascular risk factors, having the highest prevalence among South Asians. The prevalence of aneurysms was higher than that in previous population-based studies. We observed anatomic differences in the CoW configuration among women, men, and ethnicities. Full Article
ind Distribution and Disparities of Industry Payments to Neuroradiologists [CLINICAL PRACTICE] By www.ajnr.org Published On :: 2024-11-07T15:14:12-08:00 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Physician-industry relationships can be useful for driving innovation and technologic progress, though little is known about the scale or impact of industry involvement in neuroradiology. The purpose of this study was to assess the trends and distributions of industry payments to neuroradiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neuroradiologists were identified using a previously-validated method based on Work Relative Value Units and Neiman Imaging Types of Service classification. Data on payments from industry were obtained from the Open Payments database from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, from 2016 to 2021. Payments were grouped into 7 categories, including consulting fees, education, gifts, medical supplies, research, royalties/ownership, and speaker fees. Descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 3019 neuroradiologists were identified in this study. Between 2016 and 2021, 48% (1440/3019) received at least 1 payment from industry, amounting to a total number of 21,967 payments. Each year, among those receiving payments from industry, each unique neuroradiologist received between a mean of 5.49–7.42 payments and a median of 2 payments, indicating a strong rightward skew to the distribution of payments. Gifts were the most frequent payment type made (60%, 13,285/21,967) but accounted for only 4.1% ($689,859/$17,010,546) of payment value. The greatest aggregate payment value came from speaker fees, which made up 36% ($6,127,484/$17,010,546) of the total payment value. The top 5% highest paid neuroradiologists received 42% (9133/21,967) of payments, which accounted for 84% ($14,284,120/$17,010,546) of the total dollar value. Since the start of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of neuroradiologists receiving industry payments decreased from a mean of 671 neuroradiologists per year prepandemic (2016–2019) to 411 in the postpandemic (2020–2021) era (P = .030). The total number of payments to neuroradiologists decreased from 4177 per year prepandemic versus 2631 per year postpandemic (P = .011). CONCLUSIONS: Industry payments to neuroradiologists are highly concentrated among top earners, particularly among the top 5% of payment recipients. The number of payments decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, though the dollar value of payments was offset by coincidental increases in royalty payments. Further investigation is needed in subsequent years to determine if the postpandemic changes in industry payment trends continue. Full Article
ind [PERSPECTIVES] Restoration of Rod-Derived Metabolic and Redox Signaling to Prevent Blindness By perspectivesinmedicine.cshlp.org Published On :: 2024-11-01T07:17:20-07:00 Vision is initiated by capturing photons in highly specialized sensory cilia known as the photoreceptor outer segment. Because of its lipid and protein composition, the outer segments are prone to photo-oxidation, requiring photoreceptors to have robust antioxidant defenses and high metabolic synthesis rates to regenerate the outer segments every 10 days. Both processes required high levels of glucose uptake and utilization. Retinitis pigmentosa is a prevalent form of inherited retinal degeneration characterized by initial loss of low-light vision caused by the death of rod photoreceptors. In this disease, rods die as a direct effect of an inherited mutation. Following the loss of rods, cones eventually degenerate, resulting in complete blindness. The progression of vision loss in retinitis pigmentosa suggested that rod photoreceptors were necessary to maintain healthy cones. We identified a protein secreted by rods that functions to promote cone survival, and we named it rod-derived cone viability factor (RdCVF). RdCVF is encoded by an alternative splice product of the nucleoredoxin-like 1 (NXNL1) gene, and RdCVF was found to accelerate the uptake of glucose by cones. Without RdCVF, cones eventually die because of compromised glucose uptake and utilization. The NXNL1 gene also encodes for the thioredoxin RdCVFL, which reduces cysteines in photoreceptor proteins that are oxidized, providing a defense against radical oxygen species. We will review here the main steps of discovering this novel intercellular signaling currently under translation as a broad-spectrum treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. Full Article
ind Con: indwelling pleural catheters cause harm to patients By breathe.ersjournals.com Published On :: 2024-11-12T00:25:08-08:00 Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) have rapidly grown in popularity since their introduction for the management of recurrent pleural effusions. In malignant pleural effusions especially, there has been a shift away from measuring pleurodesis success and towards more patient-centred outcomes. Multiple randomised controlled trials have shown that despite lower rates of pleurodesis, symptom control and quality of life outcomes are comparable when compared to alternatives such as talc pleurodesis. IPCs have the added benefit of minimising inpatient hospital stays and reducing the need for recurrent pleural interventions, key priorities for patients with palliative disease. As a result, IPC treatment is associated with excellent patient satisfaction coupled with acceptably low complication rates. Furthermore, in patients with a short life expectancy they confer a cost benefit for the healthcare system. Far from causing harm, IPCs are now recommended as first-line treatment by current clinical guidelines. In malignant pleural disease, guidance advocates IPCs should be offered as a first-line option with the focus on patient priorities and preferences. Ultimately IPCs provide a safe, effective, ambulatory option for managing recurrent pleural effusions. Full Article
ind Pro: indwelling pleural catheters cause harm to patients By breathe.ersjournals.com Published On :: 2024-11-12T00:25:08-08:00 Malignant pleural effusions (MPE) tend to recur and require definitive treatment with either chest drain and talc pleurodesis or indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs), which offer similar symptomatic benefits. In recent years, IPCs have become popular due to the presumed convenience of an outpatient procedure followed by home drainage leading to a misconception of IPCs being an ideal treatment for MPE. However, IPCs predispose the patient to multiple complications and have significant physical and psychological implications that are under-recognised. Patients require additional clinical reviews, hospital admissions and treatment for these complications related to IPCs. Additionally, there is a huge psychological impact of living with a home catheter that is a constant reminder of their cancer and this has been shown to affect quality of life negatively. Hence, IPCs should not be considered the "ideal" treatment for MPE management and clinicians should reflect the equipoise of the evidence for the benefits and accurately reflect the adverse effects of IPCs in their discussions with patients to facilitate informed decision making. Full Article
ind Lung imaging methods: indications, strengths and limitations By breathe.ersjournals.com Published On :: 2024-10-01T10:05:24-07:00 Imaging methods are fundamental tools to detect and diagnose lung diseases, monitor their treatment and detect possible complications. Each modality, starting from classical chest radiographs and computed tomography, as well as the ever more popular and easily available thoracic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear medicine methods, and new techniques such as photon counting computed tomography, radiomics and application of artificial intelligence, has its strong and weak points, which we should be familiar with to properly choose between the methods and interpret their results. In this review, we present the indications, strengths and main limitations of methods for chest imaging. Full Article
ind First-of-Its-Kind Glowing Sea Creature Discovered in Ocean’s ‘Midnight Zone’ By gizmodo.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:00:20 +0000 A nudibranch from the midnight zone has fingers on its tail, collects food with a hood, and glows. Full Article Biology Animals DEEP SEA oceans slugs
ind The Team Behind Heretic Talks That Ending, The Book of Mormon, and Monopoly By gizmodo.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:00:26 +0000 Writer-director partners Scott Beck and Bryan Woods dive into the biggest spoilers of their new Hugh Grant thriller. Full Article Movies Bryan Woods Heretic Scott Beck
ind The History Behind Andor Season 2’s New TIE Fighter By gizmodo.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:40:23 +0000 Cassian's on a new mission to steal a familiar ship in the next season of his self-titled Star Wars show. Full Article Television Andor Explainer LUCASFILM Star Wars
ind Iraqi, Kurdish forces in standoff, weeks after Kurdish vote for independence By www.pbs.org Published On :: Sun, 15 Oct 2017 20:33:23 +0000 Watch Video | Listen to the AudioHARI SREENIVASAN: The desire of the Kurds along Iraq’s northern border to govern themselves is receiving more resistance from Iraq’s central government. Iraqi army forces are demanding Kurdish troops withdraw from oil fields and military bases around Kirkuk, a city in the Kurdistan region that voted for independence last month. Kirkuk also has 10% of Iraq’s known oil reserves. Washington Post’s Loveday Morris is in Baghdad covering this standoff joins me now via Skype. First of all the significance of this. Why is it so important? LOVEDAY MORRIS: There’s been a longtime conflict between Baghdad and Kurdistan over these disputed territories. Most significant of which is Kirkuk because of the oil reserves. But the referendum last month has really sharpened these disputes because you have Baghdad opposing independence and so it feels like they have to restate its territorial claims these areas. So that’s why we’re seeing a lot of tension right now. HARI SREENIVASAN: And just to give people a little bit of a brief timeline – Iraqi forces control this area for a while and then in June ISIS took over the area and now it’s kind of back in Kurdish hands? LOVEDAY MORRIS: Right. So in June 2014 Iraq lost control of a lot of the areas and we have this huge collapse in the face of an ISIS offensive. Over 100,000 soldiers fled and Kurdish forces moved in some of these areas – some of them maybe took from ISIS and others just moved into into the vacuum. And so Iraqi forces have been in these areas since June 2014. And that’s their main demand that they return to the areas. HARI SREENIVASAN: What’s the likelihood that this standoff right now turns violent? Into some sort of a civil war? LOVEDAY MORRIS:: I think at this point both sides don’t want violence. Al-Abadi, the prime minister, is really trying to defuse the situation by saying there’s going to be no military attack. But at the same time there is this buildup of forces so that I think they are trying to, in a way, intimidate the Kurds to withdraw from some areas but they don’t want to see a fight per say. But in this really tense situation there can be a small spark and things can turn violent quite easily. HARI SREENIVASAN: Thank you. The post Iraqi, Kurdish forces in standoff, weeks after Kurdish vote for independence appeared first on PBS NewsHour. Full Article iraq Kurdistan middle east NewsHour Weekend
ind Nordic-style Open Kindergarten to be trialled in Scotland ahead of potential roll-out By www.heraldscotland.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:01:00 +0000 A new Nordic-style Open Kindergarten will be trialled in part of Scotland ahead of a potential roll-out across the country. Full Article
ind RPG Cast – Episode 543: “Go Find Gnome, Dumb***” By rpgamer.com Published On :: Sat, 16 May 2020 20:17:15 +0000 It’s a slightly more potty mouthed cast than usual, as Alice joins Peter, Kelley, Anna Marie and Chris to discuss what the cast has been playing for the week. Anna Marie’s 5-hour rule resurfaces and we explore what crazy black holes Chris has been down this week, alongside the news and your feedback. The post RPG Cast – Episode 543: “Go Find Gnome, Dumb***” appeared first on RPGamer. Full Article News Podcasts RPG Cast Final Fantasy VII Remake Saturday Morning RPG Seiken Densetsu 3 Trials of Mana
ind RPG Cast – Episode 547: “Cancer Inducing External Hardrive” By rpgamer.com Published On :: Sat, 20 Jun 2020 21:03:42 +0000 The best way to predict the review score of a game is to play a demo of it. So never trouble another for what you can do yourself. For every minute you are playing you lose sixty seconds of ignorance. And without Pokémon tooth brushing games, life would be a mistake. The post RPG Cast – Episode 547: “Cancer Inducing External Hardrive” appeared first on RPGamer. Full Article News Podcasts RPG Cast Final Fantasy II Final Fantasy V Persona 4 Golden Phantasy Star Online 2 Pokémon Sword / Shield Xenoblade Chronicles Ys: Memories of Celceta
ind RPG Cast – Episode 565: “Whiskers on Raindrops” By rpgamer.com Published On :: Sat, 05 Dec 2020 21:12:43 +0000 Kelley mounts her fox onto a fox to go for a walk with her foxes. Robert breaks his keyboard. Anna Marie drinks the Kool-Aid. Chris is singing about Death Tales, awooo-oo. And Josh vapes with his Xbox. Regardless, they all agree that you should not play Operation Darkness. The post RPG Cast – Episode 565: “Whiskers on Raindrops” appeared first on RPGamer. Full Article News Podcasts RPG Cast Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light God Wars: Future Past World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Yakuza: Like a Dragon
ind RPG Cast – Episode 737: “India’s Best Divorce Lawyer” By rpgamer.com Published On :: Sat, 24 Aug 2024 20:02:34 +0000 Chris requires pirate games to be on the ocean. Kelley's over capybaras. Josh is betrayed by his potato peeler's safety guard. Also, everybody hates Wakka. The post RPG Cast – Episode 737: “India’s Best Divorce Lawyer” appeared first on RPGamer. Full Article News Podcasts RPG Cast Cat Quest III Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Lost Odyssey The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak
ind Budget airlines boost industry By www.theaustralian.com.au Published On :: Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:00:00 GMT More than a billion passengers flew with budget airlines last year, helping lift total passengers to 3.7 billion. Full Article
ind Sega Sells Humankind Developer Amplitude Studios By www.vgchartz.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:30:09 GMT Sega has sold Humankind and Endless developer Amplitude Studios to members of its internal team, announced the developer in a community post. This means the studio is now independent. "Our studio is backed by strong and meaningful franchises and our team is committed to creating the best games possible," said Amplitude Studios founder Romain de Waubert de Genlis. "With our extensive experiences in strategy game development and two exciting titles currently in progress, we are confident in our ability to deliver outstanding experience to players. This decision allows us to be more agile in our approach while continuing to shape the vision that has been ours from the very beginning, empowering us to push boundaries and be closer as ever of our community." Sega in its own statement said: "Sega Europe has today announced the sale of Amplitude Studios following a management buyout from senior leaders and employees at the Parisian studio. The move will see Amplitude go back to its roots as an independent organisation and concludes the structural reforms that have been taking place in Sega’s European business. "The decision to part ways follows a period of close consultation between Sega Europe and Amplitude. As an independent studio once more, Amplitude will focus on its in-development projects and growing its own franchises, while Sega will continue to advance its strong and diverse stable of Japanese and Western IP. “Sega Europe acquired Amplitude in 2016, and together have released epic strategy titles like Endless Space 2 and Humankind, along with Endless Dungeon, the successor to 2014’s indie hit, Dungeon of the Endless. "While Amplitude is no longer a part of the Sega family of studios, the two entities will continue to work together on the smooth transition of services and operations, ensuring minimum disruption for Amplitude employees and continuity of service for players of Amplitude games." A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/463024/sega-sells-humankind-developer-amplitude-studios/ Full Article Analysis Charts Industry
ind Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Gets Gameplay Deep Dive By www.vgchartz.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:35:15 GMT ublisher Bethesda Softworks and developer MachineGames have released a gameplay deep dive video for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle that is nearly 15 minutes in length. "From locations and puzzles to gear and combat, MachineGames Audio Director, Pete Ward, takes us on a whirlwind journey through the world of The Great Circle," reads the description to the video. "Get ready for launch with this look at Indy’s grand adventure." View the gameplay deep dive below: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch for the Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Microsoft Store, and Xbox Game Pass on December 9. A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/463033/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-gets-gameplay-deep-dive/ Full Article Analysis Charts Industry
ind Nightingale can't outfly "the stark realities of the industry" as creators Inflexion close UK office and lay people off By www.rockpapershotgun.com Published On :: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:10:44 +0000 Inflexion Games are closing their UK office, laying off staff and restructuring their main Canadian studio after failing to find commercial success with their Victorian fantasy survival game Nightingale. Reportedly, at least 22 people have been let go. Read more Full Article Layoffs Inflexion Games PC Action Adventure Nightingale
ind The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth celebrates 10 year anniversary with online co-op announcement and sale By www.rockpapershotgun.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:06:38 +0000 Beloved roguelike traumatic-childhood-em-up The Binding Of Issac: Rebirth turned 10 yesterday, and it’s half off on Steam to celebrate. What’s more, maker Edmund McMillen has announced that the foretold online co-op update is due on the 18th of this month, alongside a “considerable” balance update. Consider me considering the considerability of said considerable update! Read more Full Article Indie Action Adventure Single Player Arcade Xbox One PS4 PlayStation Vita Edmund McMillen Nicalis Multiplayer Competitive Multiplayer Cooperative PC Nintendo 3DS Bird view / Isometric Mac RPG Shooter Nintendo Wii U The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
ind Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival beats its way onto Steam today, with 70+ songs (and 700 more behind a subscription) By www.rockpapershotgun.com Published On :: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:24:18 +0000 I first played Taiko no Tatsujin in an arcade (in Japan, because I am very cool), where it's controlled by hitting a recreation of an actual taiko drum. It was fun enough that I wish there was a taiko drum peripheral available for PC now the series is on our platform. Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is out now via Steam, where it offers over 70 songs to drum through, and a subscription service through which to unlock over 700 more. Maybe I should try to get my Donkey Konga drums working on PC, but I'll probably settle for playing it with a gamepad. Read more Full Article Bandai Namco Entertainment Multiplayer Competitive Rhythm Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Festival Single Player
ind Sega sell off studio behind Endless Legend and Humankind as part of "restructuring" - but it goes to the original owners By www.rockpapershotgun.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:31:01 +0000 Amplitude Studios, developers of many a game with "Endless" in the name, have split with publisher Sega to become independent again, with ownership of the studio reverting to its original founders and "other members of the team". The developers say everyone is parting "on good terms" and that the last eight years of getting published under Sega has been "amazing". But there are other businessy reasons, of course. Namely, Sega have been trying to trim down their European studios for the past year, and Amplitude is just the latest bunch of devs affected by that. Read more Full Article Indie Single Player Strategy: Grand Strategy/4X Humankind SEGA Corporation Simulation Endless Space 2 Endless Dungeon Strategy Multiplayer Competitive Multiplayer Cooperative PC Bird view / Isometric Iceberg Interactive Endless Legend Shooter: Third Person Strategy: Turn-Based Strategy Sega AMPLITUDE Studios RPG
ind How ten years of Game Maker’s Toolkit’s design analysis informed Mind Over Magnet By www.rockpapershotgun.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:00:00 +0000 "A lot of puzzle games can leave you staring at the same static screen for ages, but here, I’m always pushing you forward," says Mark Brown of Game Maker’s Toolkit. For a decade now, Brown has been releasing accessible deep dives on game design for his popular YouTube channel, like "How Game Designers Protect Players From Themselves" and "The Two Types of Random in Game Design." This week, he’s releasing his own for the first time. Read more Full Article Puzzle Game Maker's Toolkit Mind Over Magnet PC Platformer
ind Man accused of killing Muslim teen indicted on capital murder charges By www.pbs.org Published On :: Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:03:24 +0000 An attendee leaves flowers for Nabra Hassanen, a teenage Muslim girl killed by a bat-wielding motorist near a Virginia mosque, during a vigil in New York City. Photo by Brendan McDermid/Reuters A grand jury has formally charged a 22-year-old man with capital murder and rape in the death of Nabra Hassanen, who was killed on her walk back to a Virginia mosque. The Fairfax County Circuit Court indicted Darwin Martinez-Torres of Sterling, Virginia, on Monday on four counts of capital murder for killing Nabra, who was with friends while they had a meal before Ramadan services. Dozens of people had gathered outside the courthouse today, chanting “Justice for Nabra.” Virginia law has specific conditions for pursuing the death penalty, but the Associated Press reported that the grand jury’s indictment described in graphic detail how Nabra’s killing was grounds for a death penalty against Martinez-Torres. The indictment appears to acknowledge for the first time that the 17-year-old Muslim teen was raped. Under state law, the combination of a rape charge with a premeditated murder charge means the death penalty can be pursued. Police have said that Martinez-Torres, who is an undocumented immigrant, got into a confrontation on June 18 with a group of teens walking back to the All Dulles Area Muslim Society after grabbing a late meal. He is accused of returning later and beating Nabra with a baseball bat. Police said Nabra’s body was later discovered in a pond. A search warrant affidavit revealed that Martinez-Torres admitted to killing Nabra and had led authorities to where he dumped her body, AP reported. Nabra’s parents and Muslim advocates have said that Nabra’s death was motivated by hate, but police has said that they will not treat the killing as a hate crime. Instead, police have said it was a road rage incident. “The reason this guy he hit my daughter is because she’s Muslim,” Nabra’s father Mahmoud Hassanen told WAMU. “Why [didn’t he] hit the boy who bothered him?” Nabra’s father added that he hoped for the death penalty, while her mother said she wanted Martinez-Torres to serve life in prison. “I just want people to remember her, and don’t forget her,” Mahmoud told WAMU. “I think nobody can forget her too, for what she did in her life.” A preliminary hearing for Martinez-Torres reportedly turned emotional on Friday, with Nabra’s parents both shouting at the suspect in court. Nabra’s mother Sawsan Gazzar apparently threw a shoe at Martinez-Torres during the proceedings. READ MORE: D.C. memorial for slain Muslim teen was set on fire, officials say The post Man accused of killing Muslim teen indicted on capital murder charges appeared first on PBS NewsHour. Full Article Darwin Martinez Torres Nabra Hassanen virginia
ind We keep finding water on Mars – here are all the places it might be By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Aug 2024 22:44:14 +0100 Researchers recently found a possible reservoir of liquid water more than 11 kilometres below Mars's surface – the latest in a long series of potential water discoveries on the Red Planet, hinting at its temperate past Full Article
ind We’ve just doubled the number of gravitational waves we can find By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Sep 2024 20:00:55 +0100 Nearly imperceptible quantum flickers used to limit how precisely we could detect the way space-time ripples, but squeezing the laser light used in detectors overcomes this and doubles the number of gravitational waves we can see Full Article
ind Chinese rover finds further evidence for an ancient ocean on Mars By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:00:28 +0000 Data collected by the Zhurong rover and orbiting satellites suggests the existence of an ancient shoreline in the Utopia Planitia region of Mars Full Article
ind Orbital wins the Booker prize: “I see it as a kind of space pastoral" By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:01:06 +0000 Samantha Harvey has won the UK's top fiction prize for a novel that takes place over 24 hours on the International Space Station Full Article
ind DeepMind AI gets silver medal at International Mathematical Olympiad By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:40:39 +0100 AlphaProof, an AI from Google DeepMind, came close to matching the top participants in a prestigious competition for young mathematicians Full Article
ind Will implants that meld minds with machines enhance human abilities? By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Devices that let people with paralysis walk and talk are rapidly improving. Some see a future in which we alter memories and download skills – but major challenges remain Full Article
ind A glob of jelly can play Pong thanks to a basic kind of memory By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:00:37 +0100 Researchers trained a polymer gel to play the computer game Pong by passing electric current through it and measuring the concentration of ions Full Article
ind I took control of NASA's Valkyrie robot and it blew my mind By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Sep 2024 19:00:11 +0100 Are humanoid robots the future of space exploration? New Scientist reporter James Woodford took NASA's Valkyrie for a spin to find out Full Article
ind Drone versus drone combat is bringing a new kind of warfare to Ukraine By www.newscientist.com Published On :: Wed, 02 Oct 2024 22:50:53 +0100 Machines are fighting machines on the Ukrainian battlefield, as a technological arms race has given birth to a new way to wage war Full Article
ind America Cured of the Woke Mind Virus By www.realclearpolitics.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 07:50:31 -0600 They were the ten words that sealed the comeback deal for Donald Trump. Full Article AM Update
ind Destiny 2 Xur Exotics: All items for sale and where to find him on November 8 By www.dailystar.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 8 Nov 2024 12:14:48 +0000 Destiny 2's Exotic vendor, Xur, is back again this week. Here's how to find him, what he's selling, and whether we recommend his offerings before he vanishes again. Full Article Gaming
ind Electric vehicles could save thousands of lives by reducing pollution, new study finds By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:24:33 EDT Researchers calculated that if 30 per cent of vehicles in Chicago currently running on combustion engines were converted to electric, the reduction in pollution would save billions in health care costs every year. Full Article Radio/Quirks & Quarks
ind Cement is everywhere. The industry is turning to carbon capture to curb emissions, and it's not alone By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Sat, 16 Sep 2023 04:00:00 EDT Cement is ubiquitous, but the process of making it emits carbon into the atmosphere. The industry says there's no easy way to avoid that, which is why it's turning to carbon capture and storage technology as a way to decarbonize. Full Article News/Canada/Calgary
ind Do Newfoundland's Tablelands hold the answer to life on Mars? This researcher is trying to find out By www.cbc.ca Published On :: Tue, 19 Sep 2023 10:21:28 EDT The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most unique landscapes in the world — and its orange peridotite rocks could hold the secret to finding life on Mars. Full Article Radio/The Current
ind Junior India squad for Davis Cup, Fed Cup named By www.sport.co.uk Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2018 06:57:00 +0000 … Junior Asia/ Oceania Davis Cup and Fed Cup final qualifying event. The … players selected for the Junior Davis Cup include Dev V. Javia, Sandeep … Gogoi (reserve). The Junior Fed Cup team includes Anisha Kashyap, Bhakti … Junior Asia/ Oceania Junior Davis Cup will begin in Kuching, Malaysia …. Full Article
ind New study finds 'conclusive' proof contact-sports athletes 68 times more likely to develop CTE By www.telegraph.co.uk Published On :: Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:42:10 GMT Full Article topics:things/dementia structure:sport storytype:standard
ind Laura Kenny leaves heartache behind to lead England to Commonwealth team pursuit bronze By www.telegraph.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 29 Jul 2022 20:50:36 GMT Day 2 action at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Local boy Fraser stars as England retain gymnastics team title England's Yee wins first gold of Games in men's triathlon Cyclist Fachie equals Scottish record of five Commonwealth golds Olympic champion Duffy wins women's triathlon England's Taylor-Brown second, Scotland's Potter third ]]> Full Article topics:organisations/the-commonwealth structure:sport topics:events/birmingham-commonwealth-games-2022
ind Cybersecurity top revenue driver for bulk of MSPs, Kaseya report finds By www.itbusiness.ca Published On :: Wed, 06 Mar 2024 02:33:44 +0000 Kaseya, a provider of unified IT management and security software for managed service providers (MSPs) and small to midsize business (SMBs), today released its 2024 MSP Benchmark Report, which surveyed close to 1,000 MSPs from the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and APAC (Asia Pacific) regions and includes responses from both IT professionals […] The post Cybersecurity top revenue driver for bulk of MSPs, Kaseya report finds first appeared on ITBusiness.ca. Full Article Managed Services & Outsourcing Security AI ai-ml cybersecurity Kaseya msps SMBs Survey Top Story
ind Hamilton confirms ransomware is behind cyber attack By www.itbusiness.ca Published On :: Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:00:52 +0000 Ransomware is behind the cyber attack on the city of Hamilton, Ont., the municipality’s city manager says. Marnie Cluckie told reporters Monday afternoon that the attack, which was detected the evening of Sunday, Feb. 25, was the result of ransomware. She wouldn’t say what strain of the malware the city has been hit with, how […] The post Hamilton confirms ransomware is behind cyber attack first appeared on ITBusiness.ca. Full Article Security city-of-hamilton ransomware security strategies Top Story