WinJS is a JavaScript framework for Windows 8, and David Rousset uses it here to create a quick RSS reader. He shows how in a tutorial series. This first article shows the way to build a welcome screen that employs WinJS ListView control. Blend and CSS3 are employed. The second tutorial shows work on the Read the rest...

We're back and this week, we're talking to Avatar's colorful frontman Johannes Eckerström. If you've ever seen the band live,...

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Former host of MTV Headbangers Ball, Riki Rachtman, called into the show to share memories of Headbangers Ball, working at...

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The time has come and our loyal reader know already our traditional Advents Calendar. For the people who don’t know, […]

A classical problem in appointment scheduling, with applications in health care, concerns the determination of the patients' arrival times that minimize a cost function that is a weighted sum of mean waiting times and mean idle times. One aspect of this problem is the sequencing problem, which focuses on ordering the patients. We assess the performance of the smallest-variance-first (SVF) rule, which sequences patients in order of increasing variance of their service durations. While it was known that SVF is not always optimal, it has been widely observed that it performs well in practice and simulation. We provide a theoretical justification for this observation by proving, in various settings, quantitative worst-case bounds on the ratio between the cost incurred by the SVF rule and the minimum attainable cost. We also show that, in great generality, SVF is asymptotically optimal, i.e., the ratio approaches 1 as the number of patients grows large. While evaluating policies by considering an approximation ratio is a standard approach in many algorithmic settings, our results appear to be the first of this type in the appointment scheduling literature.

Coordinating the operation of combined heat and power plants (CHPs) and heat pumps (HPs) at the interface between heat and power systems is essential to achieve a cost-effective and efficient operation of the overall energy system. Indeed, in the current sequential market practice, the heat market has no insight into the impacts of heat dispatch on the electricity market. While preserving this sequential practice, this paper introduces an electricity-aware heat unit commitment model. Coordination is achieved through bid validity constraints, which embed the techno-economic linkage between heat and electricity outputs and costs of CHPs and HPs. This approach constitutes a novel market mechanism for the coordination of heat and power systems, defining heat bids conditionally on electricity market prices. The resulting model is a trilevel optimization problem, which we recast as a mixed-integer linear program using a lexicographic function. We use a realistic case study based on the Danish power and heat system, and show that the proposed model yields a 4.5% reduction in total operating cost of heat and power systems compared to a traditional decoupled unit commitment model, while reducing the financial losses of each CHP and HP due to invalid bids by up-to 20.3 million euros.

By Energy.Gov Annual reports analyzing the wind energy industry released today by the Energy Department show continued rapid growth in wind power installations in 2015, demonstrating market resilience and underscoring the vitality of the U.S. wind energy market on a … Continue reading →

Q: I recently read that a combination of the drugs hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin might be effective against COVID-19. I have diabetes and I am at risk for this viral infection.…

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a compound of formula wherein: R2 is cycloalkyl or alkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted; Y is —CONR3R4, —CN or CO2R5; R3, R4 and R5 are each independently H or alkyl; n is 1 to 6; wherein said process comprising the steps of: (i) treating a compound of formula (IV), where R1 is alkyl, with a compound of formula (V) and forming a compound of formula (IIIb); (ii) treating said compound of formula (IIIb) with a compound of formula (I1) to form a compound of formula (I).

Provided are an anti-static and anti-microbial surface treatment agent including a quaternary ammonium salt compound as an active ingredient and a method of preventing a polymer fiber from developing static electricity by using the surface treatment agent. The quaternary ammonium salt compound has excellent anti-static and anti-microbial effects for the prevention or improvement of static electricity in a polymer fiber. Accordingly, the quaternary ammonium salt compound is suitable for use as a fabric softener, or an anti-static agent, and also, provides anti-microbial effects to a polymer fiber.

A modeling framework for evaluating the impact of weather conditions on farming and harvest operations applies real-time, field-level weather data and forecasts of meteorological and climatological conditions together with user-provided and/or observed feedback of a present state of a harvest-related condition to agronomic models and to generate a plurality of harvest advisory outputs for precision agriculture. A harvest advisory model simulates and predicts the impacts of this weather information and user-provided and/or observed feedback in one or more physical, empirical, or artificial intelligence models of precision agriculture to analyze crops, plants, soils, and resulting agricultural commodities, and provides harvest advisory outputs to a diagnostic support tool for users to enhance farming and harvest decision-making, whether by providing pre-, post-, or in situ-harvest operations and crop analyzes.

In one embodiment, a system includes a data collection system configured to collect a data from a control system by using an offline mode of operations. The system further includes a configuration management system configured to manage a hardware configuration and a software configuration for the control system based on the data. The system additionally includes a rule engine configured to use the data as input and to output a health assessment by using a rule database, and a report generator configured to provide a health assessment for the control system.

The present invention provides a use of a lipid composition for the preparation of a nutritional, pharmaceutical or nutraceutical composition or a functional food, for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders, and for promoting intestinal development, maturation, adaptation and differentiation.

A perpendicular spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) element includes a fixed layer having a magnetization that is substantially fixed in one direction and a barrier layer formed on top of the fixed layer and a free layer. The free layer has a number of alternating laminates, each laminate being made of a magnetic layer and an insulating layer. The magnetic layer is switchable and formed on top of the barrier layer. The free layer is capable of switching its magnetization to a parallel or an anti-parallel state relative to the magnetization of the fixed layer during a write operation when bidirectional electric current is applied across the STTMRAM element. Magnetic layers of the laminates are ferromagnetically coupled to switch together as a single domain during the write operation and the magnetization of the fixed and free layers and the magnetic layers of the laminates have perpendicular anisotropy.

Disclosed herein are surface treatments for soft silicone gel materials such as silicone intraocular lenses.

A method is provided for the decontamination of radioactive carbonaceous material, such as graphite, in which an injection of steam is planned into the material, concurrent with a first roasting thermal treatment of the material at a temperature between 1200° C. and 1500° C. Advantageously, the first treatment may be followed by a second treatment at a lower temperature with an injection of carbon oxide for oxidation according to the Boudouard reaction.

The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of hazardous waste, the process comprising: (i) providing a hazardous waste; (ii) providing a further waste; (iii) plasma treating the hazardous waste in a first plasma treatment unit, (iv) gasifying the further waste in a gasification unit to produce an offgas and a char material; and (v) plasma treating the offgas, and optionally the char material, in a second plasma treatment unit to produce a syngas, (vi) optionally treating the syngas in a gas cleaning plant, wherein the first plasma treatment unit is arranged to plasma treat at least some of the solid by-products from the gasification unit and/or the second plasma treatment unit and/or the gas cleaning plant.

A continuous process for the thermal treatment of a refinery sludge, comprising the following operations: a. drying of the refinery sludge, possibly mixed with pet-coke, at a temperature ranging from 110 to 120° C.; b. gasification of the dried sludge, at a temperature ranging from 750 to 950° C., for a time of 30 to 60 minutes, in the presence of a gas containing oxygen and water vapour, with the associated production of synthesis gas (CO+H2) and a solid residue; c. combustion of the synthesis gas at a temperature ranging from 850 to 1,200° C. and recycling of the combustion products for the drying and gasification phases; and d. inertization of the solid residue, at a temperature ranging from 1,300 to 1,500° C., by vitrification with plasma torches.

An organic synthesis of materials to achieve removal of low molecular weight ionic species, such as transition metal ions including cobalt, iron, nickel, and zinc, from aqueous solutions. The synthesis includes the steps of providing a cation exchange resin, functionalizing the cation exchange resin using a chloride intermediate to form a sulfonyl chloride resin, and reacting a multi-amine based ligand with the sulfonyl chloride resin to form a sequestration resin. The synthesis further includes the steps of cooling the sequestration resin, and washing and drying the sequestration resin.

An exemplary system for treatment and disposal of pharmaceutical waste comprises a sealable pail, a stirring device, a sealable bag, a container, an acidic substance, and a denaturant. The sealable pail receives the pharmaceutical waste and the acidic substance. The acidic substance dissolves the pharmaceutical waste, and the stirring device stirs the acidic substance to ensure that the pharmaceutical waste is completely dissolved. The denaturant is added to the dissolved pharmaceutical waste and renders the dissolved pharmaceutical waste safe for transport. The treated pharmaceutical waste is sealed within the sealable pail, and the sealable bag receives the sealed pail and is sealed. The sealed bag is then placed in the container for transport to a disposal facility.

Techniques for disposing of one or more toxic materials, such as coal waste (e.g., fly ash, sludge, etc.), include incorporating the toxic materials into artificial feldspar or forming artificial feldspar from the toxic material(s). The artificial feldspar may be used to form an artificial aggregate, which may be used in a construction material, as road base, as a fill material or for any other suitable purpose. Artificial aggregates that are formed from toxic materials are also disclosed, as are construction materials that include such artificial aggregates.

A treatment system and a method for removal of at least one halogenated compound, such as PCBs, found in contaminated systems are provided. The treatment system includes a polymer blanket for receiving at least one non-polar solvent. The halogenated compound permeates into or through a wall of the polymer blanket where it is solubilized with at least one non-polar solvent received by said polymer blanket forming a halogenated solvent mixture. This treatment system and method provides for the in situ removal of halogenated compounds from the contaminated system. In one embodiment, the halogenated solvent mixture is subjected to subsequent processes which destroy and/or degrade the halogenated compound.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for treating spent caustic soda generated from an oil refinery process, a petrochemical process, etc. through a process in which a series of treatment steps are integrated, wherein the method can constitute a process under mild conditions excluding high temperature and/or high pressure conditions and can be advantageous to a post treatment process since the amount of by-products is small.

Described is a radiation-crosslinkable hotmelt adhesive comprising at least one radiation-crosslinkable poly(meth)acrylate formed to an extent of at least 60% by weight of C1 to C10 alkyl(meth)acrylates and at least one oligo(meth)acrylate which comprises nonacrylic C C double bonds and has a K value of less than or equal to 20. The hotmelt adhesive comprises a photoinitiator which may be present in the form of an additive not attached to the poly(meth)acrylate and/or not attached to the oligo(meth)acrylate, may be incorporated by copolymerization into the poly(meth)acrylate, and/or may be attached to the oligo(meth)acrylate. The hotmelt adhesive can be used for producing adhesive tapes.

The invention relates to process for the treatment of a hydrophobic surface by a liquid film comprising an aqueous phase comprising the coating of said surface by the liquid whose aqueous phase comprises an effective amount of an agent of modification of the properties of surface and an active agent.

Embodiments provide various techniques for dynamic adjustment of a number of threads for execution in any domain based on domain utilizations. In a multiprocessor system, the utilization for each domain is monitored. If a utilization of any of these domains changes, then the number of threads for each of the domains determined for execution may also be adjusted to adapt to the change.

A method for isolating 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (TMCD) solids from an isolated feed slurry formed in a TMCD process comprising TMCD, a liquid phase, and impurities by (a) treating the isolated feed slurry in a product isolation zone to produce an isolated TMCD product wet cake, a mother liquor, and impurities; wherein the product isolation zone can comprise at least one rotary pressure drum filter.

The disclosed technology is related to adjusting an integrated circuit design while accounting for a local density of the design. In particular exemplary embodiments, a local density value for a layout design that defines a plurality of geometric shapes is derived. Subsequently, one or more of the geometric shapes are adjusted such that the local density value is preserved. With some implementations, the local density value is preserved if the adjusted local density value is within a threshold amount of the derived local density value.

The present invention relates to novel isocyanate and isothiocyanate compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and to the use thereof in the treatment of cancer diseases in humans and animals. The novel isocyanate and isothiocyanate compounds are distinguished, as compared with the known isocyanate and isothiocyanate compounds, by improved therapeutical breadth, i.e. fewer side effects while having high anti-tumor activity.

Alkyl nitrate ester compounds are provided for the delivery of nitric oxide to targeted muscle tissues, and in particular, to normal and dystrophic muscles. In one aspect, nitrate ester compounds are provided having the following formula: wherein, R1 is ONO2, CH2ONO2, CnH2n+1OH, CnH2n+1OH, or CH2CH2CH3, or H;R2 is ONO2, CH2ONO2, Cn'H2n'+1OH, Cn'H2n'+1OH, CH2CH2CH3 or H; andR3 is ONO2, CH2ONO2, Cn'″H2n″+1OH, Cn″H2n″+1OH, CH2CH2CH3 or H; wherein n is an integer from 0 to 9, n' is an integer from 0 to 9, and n″ is an integer from 0 to 9, and n+n'+n″≦9, and wherein at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is an ester nitrate selected from the group consisting of ONO2, CH2ONO2, and combinations thereof.

A controller receives a request to perform a release space operation. A determination is made that a new discard scan has to be performed on a cache, in response to the received request to perform the release space operation. A determination is made as to how many task control blocks are to be allocated to the perform the new discard scan, based on how many task control blocks have already been allocated for performing one or more discard scans that are already in progress.

The present invention concerns a TCTP antagonist, in particular a nucleic acid targeting an m RNA encoding Translationally-Controlled Tumor Protein (TCTP), wherein said nucleic acid is capable of reducing the amount of TCTP in cells, for use in the treatment or prevention of hormone-independent cancer or chemo-resistant cancer, such as an androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Disclosed herein are methods and reagents for determining the responsiveness of cancer to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting treatment. The detection of these mutations will allow for the administration of gefitinib, erlotinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors to those patients most likely to respond to the drug.

A cytosine analog, a method of preparation of a cytosine analog, a DNA methyltransferase 1 inhibitor, and a method for DNA methylation inhibition, is provided for the treatment of diseases associated with deviations from normal DNA methylation. The analog of cytosine may be comprised of 1, N4, 5 and 6-substituted derivatives of cytosine or 5,6-dihydrocytosine, wherein the analog can be described by the chemical formula where R1 is H, R3, R4, 2'-deoxyribosyl, R4 is alkyl or aryl, X is N or C, wherein if X in the analog of formula I is N, then R5 is no substituent and if X in the analog of formula I and/or II is C or if X in the analog of formula II is N, then R5 and R6 are independently alkyl, aryl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino group, alkoxyl, aryloxyl, aminoalkyl, aminoaryl, thio group, sulfonyl, sulfinyl or halogen.

The present invention relates to oligomer compounds (oligomers) for the treatment and prevention of acute myeloid leukemia, which target GLI2 mRNA in a cell, leading to reduced expression of GLI2.

RNA interference is provided for inhibition of Frizzled Related Protein-1 mRNA expression, in particular, for treating patients having glaucoma or at risk of developing glaucoma.

Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating cardiovascular treatment options for a patient. One method includes creating a three-dimensional model representing a portion of the patient's heart based on patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart or vasculature; and for a plurality of treatment options for the patient's heart or vasculature, modifying at least one of the three-dimensional model and a reduced order model based on the three-dimensional model. The method also includes determining, for each of the plurality of treatment options, a value of a blood flow characteristic, by solving at least one of the modified three-dimensional model and the modified reduced order model; and identifying one of the plurality of treatment options that solves a function of at least one of: the determined blood flow characteristics of the patient's heart or vasculature, and one or more costs of each of the plurality of treatment options.

A method and system for treating brain disorders comprises detecting activity of a first target area of the brain via a first implanted sensor and determining the presence of target brain activity by analyzing the detected brain activity in combination with treating the user based upon the determined presence of target brain activity by supplying a first therapeutic agent to the first target area via a first implanted fluid delivery member including at least one distal opening adjacent to the first target area. In addition, the system may be used as well for testing the effectiveness of drugs.

The present invention relates to organometallic compounds useful in the treatment of metastasis. The organometallic compounds comprise a ligand that is covalently bound to a bioactive compound, which is an inhibitor of a resistance pathway or a derivative thereof. Preferably, the organometallic compounds are half-sandwich (“piano-stool”) compounds. The compounds of the present invention offer a high variability with respect to the bioactive compound and to the nature of the ligand bound to a central transition metal.

Bromoacetoxycalcidiol (B3CD), which is structurally related to calcidiol, exhibits cytotoxic and apoptotic activity toward cancer cells, including highly aggressive neuroblastoma cells. A series of small molecules designed around the structure of B3CD is expected to have growth inhibitory and apoptogenic activities toward a wide range of malignancies. B3CD shows no apparent toxicity in vivo, indicating potential value as a chemotherapeutic agent which will be particularly useful in treating highly aggressive tumors.

Provided are methods for the treatment of a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosating spondylitis and/or polymyalgia rheumatic, by administering a delayed-release dosage form of a glucocorticoid to a subject in need thereof wherein the treatment is administered once daily for at least about two weeks. Also provided are methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis by administering a delayed-release dosage form of a glucocorticoid to a subject in need thereof wherein the treatment is administered once daily for at least about two weeks.

It is reported herein that certain muscle diseases and conditions, including forms of muscular dystrophy, are characterized by impaired insulin-dependent signaling in the muscle tissue, in essence, a form of insulin resistance. The present disclosure relates to therapeutic agents, compositions and methods for treating a muscle disease or condition characterized by impaired insulin-dependent signaling by targeting components of the defective insulin signaling pathway. The disease or condition may be treated by administering a therapeutic agent that activates the insulin signaling pathway, in particular, therapeutic agents that act post-insulin receptor to modulate intracellular effector molecules. An exemplary modulator is metformin. Metformin may be administered alone or may be coadministered with another therapeutic agent for treating the muscle disease or condition, such as a corticosteroid.

Compositions and methods, including novel homogeneous microparticulate suspensions, are described for treating natural surfaces that contain bacterial biofilm, including unexpected synergy or enhancing effects between bismuth-thiol (BT) compounds and certain antibiotics, to provide formulations including antiseptic formulations. Previously unpredicted antibacterial properties and anti-biofilm properties of disclosed BT compounds and BT compound-plus-antibiotic combinations are also described, including preferential efficacies of certain such compositions for treating certain gram-positive bacterial infections, and distinct preferential efficacies of certain such compositions for treating certain gram-negative bacterial infections.

The present invention relates to novel compositions comprising: a fungicide that inhibits mitochondrial respiration at the QoI site (QoI inhibitor), a contact fungicide, a demethylation inhibitor, and pigments, which are highly suitable for controlling unwanted phytopathogenic fungi. Moreover, the fungicidal compositions are able to control mold and fungus infection in grasses and in particular turf grasses.

A method of treating a surface of a substrate using modified urushiol derived from Toxicodendron vernicifluum is provided. More particularly, the reactivity of a hydroxyl group of urushiol extracted from fresh Toxicodendron vernicifluum is removed before the lacquer is used as a UV coating agent for a substrate such as a steel sheet. Therefore, the substrate may have high antibacterial activity, and excellent appearance and functionalities such as far-infrared radiation, blocking of electromagnetic waves, enhanced corrosion resistance, high crosslinking speed when a low content of a photoinitiator is used, excellent surface gloss and high scratch resistance.

This invention is related to a pharmaceutical combination that contains a Casein kinase 2 (CK2) peptide inhibitor (termed P15) along with the standard chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer treatment and which are administered together, separated or sequentially. The chemotherapeutic drugs include cisplatin, taxol, alkaloids from Vinca, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, mitomicin C, imatinib, iressa and velcade (vortezomib). The synergism between the P15 peptide and the anticancer drugs achieves an efficient concentration of each cytostatic drug in the combination which is from 10- to 100-fold lower than that for each cytostatic drug alone. The pharmaceutical combination described in this invention exhibits lower toxicity compared to that reported by the anticancer therapeutics and therefore, it represents a crucial advantage for its use in cancer therapy. Furthermore, the sequential administration of this pharmaceutical combination through the pretreatment with the P15 peptide leads to the chemo sensibilization of refractory tumors to the anticancer therapeutics.

Embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus and method for treatment of pain by a device that provides transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. The device includes an applicator equipped with an electric pulse provider that sends an electric pulse to a set of electrodes disposed in an applicator head. The device is placed onto the skin of a patient's body at the point where the patient experiences pain and such that the electrodes of the device contact the skin of the patient while an insulating land area between the electrodes compresses the nerve during transmittal of the electric pulse through the electrodes and into the patient's body.

A system and method for treatment of skin including a treatment surface having numerous small energy emitting points for fractional skin treatment as well as negative pressure outlets. During a treatment, negative pressure from the outlets may exert a pulling force on an opposing tissue surface to bring the tissue into contact with the energy points.

Methods and devices for cardiac signal analysis in implantable cardiac therapy systems. Several signal processing and/or conditioning methods are shown including R-wave detection embodiments including the use of thresholds related to previous peak amplitudes. Also, some embodiments include sample thresholding to remove extraneous data from sampled signals. Some embodiments include weighting certain samples more heavily than other samples within a sampled cardiac signal for analysis.