MLRv is a great tool for live performance, as proven by a number of talented button mashers such as Galapagoose and Daedelus. It creates an immediate feedback loop between button presses and sounds that audiences just “get”. But if you’re only using MLRv for button mashing, you’re missing out on a ton of potential it has […]

In my last post, I suggested that MLRv could be used to enhance your production workflow, outside of its abilities as a live performance tool.  In this post I’ll cover the configuration necessary to get MLRv set up for automation with Ableton.  In the post following this, I’ll give an example of how this setup […]

In post 1 and post 2 of this series, I talked about why it’s worth trying MLRv as a production tool, as opposed to a live performance tool.  Let’s get to some examples of what this really means. A couple months back, I was approached by Edison to do a remix of his track My […]

Most Canadians are secure knowing that they benefit from universal health care. All you have to do is walk into a clinic or hospital and you will be treated. For an estimated 500,000 people who live and work among us, it’s a different reality.

With Halloween coinciding with school half-term and the religious festival of Diwali this year, UK shoppers embraced spooky season, delivering a boost to in-store shopper traffic, the latest data from Sensormaic Solutions, the leading retail traffic consulting and analytics group from Johnson Controls, shows.

Virologist Beata Halassy says self-treatment worked and was a positive experience — but researchers warn that it is not something others should try.

I want candy! If you're a big fan of sweet treats (or have children who are) and like to let your imagination run wild then you'll need to tweak the "I want candy" notion a little bit to "I Want Candytopia!"

With all the costumes and candy and scary good fun, Halloween is one of the most enjoyable holidays. Here are some items that we think will make your spooky parties even more fun, and we begin with a monstrously good soundtrack

Follow-up e-mail from Hillary Ndubem, the new beneficiary of Mrs Ruth Mohammed's funds, as assigned by Barr. Katie Richardson.

Yes, man's best friend can benefit from CBD, too.

Beyond Inclusion hosted its Trunk or Treat event this weekend, creating an inclusive Halloween celebration for families to enjoy, with over 25 different organizations and individuals hosting trunks. “Trunk or Treat is an inclusive and accessible alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. This year, we’ve opened the event for members of the general public to attend, in […]

Bermuda Hospitals Board [BHB] is “partnering with Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Optimum Wellness and the Bermuda College Division of Nursing & Allied Health to offer a free, public panel discussion about the latest treatment options for male and female incontinence.” A spokesperson said, “The free event will take place from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday […]

Jazzy Treats is hosting a series of free Movie Night events at Parson’s Road Playground. Scheduled for 6 pm to 10 pm, these gatherings will occur on June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, and August 9 and 23. Attendees can enjoy an array of amenities including fun castles, various foods, popcorn, snowballs, and […]

There is a popular and well-informed YouTube channel called BoardGameCo that has its finger on the pulse of the crowdfunding market for board games. A number of years ago, my husband Christopher shared the channel and its content with me, and it was an instant like for me. The main host, Alex, manages to come across as charming, intelligent, and principled all at once. He has a firm understanding of the board game industry, a vast library, and good instincts when it comes to predicting the value (both in terms of play and resale) of upcoming and current crowdfunding games, and makes recommendations on when to purchase and when to pass. I never feel like he’s trying to sell me something. He’s just very enthusiastic about board games and somewhere along the way realized people enjoy his work and I think that fuels him (along with YouTube ad revenue of course).

In 2023, Alex and his business partner Motti Eisenbach (of Addax Games) launched Level Up Events and hosted the inaugural Level Up Retreat. The retreat is an annual board game and RPG convention associated with BoardGameCo. It’s a small (<400 attendees) and cozy event tucked away in the Tri-State metropolitan area  (NY/NJ/CT), and very welcoming to all. The library (800+games) is well balanced in terms of complexity of play, player count, publication date, and game mechanisms.

This year the retreat was held in February and branded as the Level Up Winter  Retreat. One of my friends in the industry encouraged me to check it out and I was invited by Alex as a special guest to participate. My husband talked me into bringing him along as well since he’d introduced me to BoardGameCo all those years ago. There were a handful of other special guests in attendance – board game designers, content creators, etc. - and many of them became part of the draw of the retreat for attendees. It’s fun to play board games with smart, funny, and popular people. I definitely enjoyed getting to play with friends I don’t get to see often and also networking with other content creators.  I haven’t even mentioned the cosplayers yet but they were pretty cool too – shout out to all the Star Wars players especially. 

One thing I really enjoyed about the Level Up Retreat is their choice to host a regional qualifier for the World Series of Board Gaming (WSBG). The WSBG is an annual event in Vegas where competitors choose from 16 different games to begin a tournament that ends in 1 finale winner and a cash prize of $25,000. Serious gaming! To enter the WSBG, one must pay a registration fee, OR, win a regional qualifier to receive a gratis entry. So for anyone living in the Tri-State area and interested in qualifying for the WSBG, the Level Up Retreat is especially a great idea. I competed in the qualifier and made it to the semi-finals and it’s really spurred my interested in the WSBG. After returning home from the retreat, I’ve been organizing practice games and I’m currently running multiple practice games on Board Game Arena at all hours and planning to attend the WSBG. It’s really fantastic that the Level Up Retreat included this event as part of its scheduled activities and I hope that more regional board game conventions follow suit.

Another nice touch at the retreat was the VIP snack room. Are you a chocoholic? Or maybe a sugar fiend who skips over the chocolate for straight sugar goodness like Sweet Tarts, Runts, or Sour Patch Kids, or Nerds? Perhaps you go for the salty and you fuel your games on pretzels, chips, and granola bars? You might even be in the select group of healthy noshers who prefer fresh fruit and protein bars? It’s all good because the VIP snack room has it all (except beverages; the hosting hotel did not permit the organizers to provide beverages this year). Personally, I ate a lot of Nerds ropes, punctuated by a few fresh fruits. It’s an upcharge to have access to the VIP room, but if you’re a hard core board gamer who likes to hyperfocus, you’ll want to opt for it. You’ll also get additional swag in a nice swag bag as well.

So, the games were on point, the snacks were fantastic, the guests were great, and the events were numerous and well attended (including many many RPG events outside my scope that I heard were fantastic). Bonus: I never had to wait in a long line in the library for a game I wanted to become available. In fact, there weren’t any lines at the library at all, as it was kind of a constant free-for-all. And that’s the only aspect of this convention that needs some work – the library setup and procedures. While the library volunteers did their best to help people find games they were looking for, there isn’t any inventory list of games for attendees to browse through when selecting games, the games are not arranged on the shelves in alphabetical order, and there is no formal check-out, check-in process. Not only does this create a bit of chaos when trying to find a game, it’s a security issue. Most conventions have either a formal check-out/check-in process so that someone is always accountable for each game removed from the library, or they have the library setup directly within the gaming space and security at the door to prevent attendees from removing games from the gaming area. The Level Up Retreat had neither; it’s all operating on the honor system. I hope for the sake of future attendees and the profitability of the event for the organizing entities that more effort is given toward organizing and securely managing the library at the next retreat.

The Level Up Retreat has found the formula for convention success and I’m confident that once they address the library management issues it will be well on its way to being recognized as one of the best regional board gaming conventions.

Queen Elizabeth wore a neon green outfit to her 90th birthday party. What could go wrong? Oh right, the internet...

The hepatitis E virus protein ORF1 contains a region that scientists have struggled to characterize, making the structure and function of this region the subject of much debate. Now, Princeton scientists show that this region of the protein does not behave as a protease, as has been previously suggested, but instead serves as a molecular scaffold to stabilize the rest of the ORF1 protein.

With roots in America, western-style furniture is a traditional and vintage style. There are many reasons to admire such furniture, whether captivated by its timeless beauty or collecting and displaying them as part of one’s house decor. People have a particular appreciation for and attraction to Western-style because of its traditional and rustic charm. People ... Read more

The post Western Rustic Charm: Creating A Personalized Retreat With Western-Style Furniture appeared first on Star Two.

(Nov. 9, to kick off Veterans Day weekend)  MOBILE, Alabama — On this Veterans Day, Alabama is roiled by a doozy of a veterans-related controversy. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey last month invoked […]

The post Gov. Ivey’s treatment of Bama veterans is a scandal appeared first on Quin Hillyer.

Mum of premature twins says rigid restrictions on birthing wards during Covid were traumatic.

Formula 1 drivers urge the sport's governing body to treat them like adults after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for swearing.

The Ipswich legend and former Scotland manager says he is feeling optimistic after his initial treatment.

Roland Bruderer
May 1, 2015; 14:1400-1410
Research

Expert

Expert

Conroy Overdose's 'Life of a Star' birthday bash sizzled recently at Cool Breeze Entertainment Complex in Church Pen, St Catherine. Glamorous ladies and dapper gents gathered for a night of high fashion and revelry. The Sharper Lane venue pulsed...

Visual Abstract

The increasing consumption of high-fat foods combined with a lack of exercise is a major contributor to the burden of obesity in humans. Aerobic exercise such as running is known to provide metabolic benefits, but how the over-consumption of a high fat diet (HFD) and exercise interact is not well characterized at the molecular level. Here, we examined the plasma proteome in mice for the effects of aerobic exercise as both a treatment and as a preventative regime for animals on either HFD or a healthy control diet. This analysis detected large changes in the plasma proteome induced by the HFD, such as increased abundance of SERPINA7, ALDOB, and down-regulation of SERPINA1E, CFD (adipsin). Some of these changes were significantly reverted using exercise as a preventative measure, but not as a treatment regime. To determine if either the intensity, or duration, of exercise influenced the outcome, we compared high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and endurance running. Endurance running slightly out-performed HIIT exercise, but overall, both provided similar reversion in abundance of plasma proteins modulated by the high-fat diet including SERPINA7, APOE, SERPINA1E, and CFD. Finally, we compared the changes induced by over-consumption of HFD to previous data from mice fed an isocaloric high saturated fat (SFA) or polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) diet. This identified several common changes including increased APOC2 and APOE, but also highlighted changes specific for either over-consumption of HFD (ALDOB, SERPINA7, CFD), SFA-based diets (SERPINA1E), or PUFA-based diets (Haptoglobin - Hp). Together, these data highlight the importance of early intervention with exercise to revert HFD-induced phenotypes and suggest some of the molecular mechanisms leading to the changes in the plasma proteome generated by high fat diet consumption. Web-based interactive visualizations are provided for this dataset (larancelab.com/hfd-exercise), which give insight into diet and exercise phenotypic interactions on the plasma proteome.

Our objective is to explore quantitative imaging markers for early prediction of treatment response in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) undergoing [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTATATE therapy. By doing so, we aim to enable timely switching to more effective therapies in order to prevent time-resource waste and minimize toxicities. Methods: Patients diagnosed with unresectable or metastatic, progressive, well-differentiated, receptor-positive GEP-NETs who received 4 sessions of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTATATE were retrospectively selected. Using SPECT/CT images taken at the end of treatment sessions, we counted all visible tumors and measured their largest diameters to calculate the tumor burden score (TBS). Up to 4 target lesions were selected and semiautomatically segmented. Target lesion peak counts and spleen peak counts were measured, and normalized peak counts were calculated. Changes in TBS (TBS) and changes in normalized peak count (nPC) throughout treatment sessions in relation to the first treatment session were calculated. Treatment responses were evaluated using third-month CT and were binarized as progressive disease (PD) or non-PD. Results: Twenty-seven patients were included (7 PD, 20 non-PD). Significant differences were observed in TBS_second-first, TBS_third-first, and TBS_fourth-first (where second-first, third-first, and fourth-first denote scan number between the second and first, third and first, and fourth and first [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTATATE treatment cycles), respectively) between the PD and non-PD groups (median, 0.043 vs. –0.049, 0.08 vs. –0.116, and 0.109 vs. –0.123 [P = 0.023, P = 0.002, and P < 0.001], respectively). nPC_second-first showed significant group differences (mean, –0.107 vs. –0.282; P = 0.033); nPC_third-first and nPC_fourth-first did not reach statistical significance (mean, –0.122 vs. –0.312 and –0.183 vs. –0.405 [P = 0.117 and 0.067], respectively). At the optimal threshold, TBS_fourth-first exhibited an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.957, achieving 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity. TBS_second-first and TBS_third-first reached AUCs of 0.793 and 0.893, sensitivities of 71.4%, and specificities of 85% and 95%, respectively. nPC_second-first, nPC_third-first, and nPC_fourth-first showed AUCs of 0.764, 0.693, and 0.679; sensitivities of 71.4%, 71.4%, and 100%; and specificities of 75%, 70%, and 35%, respectively. Conclusion: TBS and nPC can predict [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTATATE response by the second treatment session.

Researchers have a clearer picture than ever before of how common conditions that involve aggressive behavior emerge and how treatment can help

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRDs) are broad-impact multifactorial neurodegenerative diseases. Their complexity presents unique challenges for developing effective therapies. This review highlights research presented at the 2024 Society for Neuroscience meeting which emphasized the gut microbiome's role in AD pathogenesis by influencing brain function and neurodegeneration through the microbiota–gut–brain axis. This emerging evidence underscores the potential for targeting the gut microbiota to treat AD/ADRD.

Washington, 15 September 2016 - The recent entry into force of a ground-breaking international accord on illegal fishing is a welcome development but it now requires "strong and effective implementation", FAO [...]

Two of the preeminent researchers of gene therapy hope to improve their patients' sight in an experimental operation (Stephen Voss/WPN)

When the blaze in Moscow subsided on September 18, 1812, the French—who had traveled hundreds of miles into Russia—were left without vital resources as a brutal winter approached

Scientists converted the patient’s own cells into blood sugar-regulating cell clusters before injecting them back into her abdomen—and one year later, she still doesn't need insulin injections

Across Canada, there’s a growing number of political leaders proposing to force people into treatment for drug addiction, despite inconclusive evidence about its effectiveness.

These two Indigenous women veterans from Saskatchewan were able to serve in the U.S. Navy and Airforce because of the Jay Treaty, a 1794 agreement that allows some First Nations people to travel freely across the Canada-U.S. border for employment, study, retirement, investing and immigration.

Several firearms, body armour, diamonds and fentanyl shaped like dog treats were among the items seized in a recent bust, say Metro Vancouver Transit Police.

With SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Software, DECOLAV Accelerates and Coordinates Global Design of Luxury Bathrooms

OM Europe's Bus4Life assisted the local Baptist Church in the small village of Torda reach out to their local community.

OM Ukraine and experts in crisis management held a seminar for pastors serving on both sides of the conflict line in Eastern Ukraine.

Penn State Hazleton's trick-or-treating is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the Sports and Recreation Field at the campus. Children attending the event must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Active-duty service members and veterans experiencing PTSD have additional opportunities for treatment to support them, along with their partners, after the Department of Defense awarded a $3 million grant to Steffany Fredman, associate professor of human development and family studies, and colleagues in the STRONG STAR Consortium.