3D Realms' Shadow Warrior, originally released in 1997, is back as a free-to-play game available for download for both OS X and Windows through Steam, according to Samit Sarkar of Polygon.
Based on 3D Realms' Build engine, used to create Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior is a first person shooter in which the game's protagonist, Lo Wang, faces off against vile creatures controlled by the evil Master Zilla, a crazed megalomaniac.
A pastiche of tropes from bad martial arts movies of the 1970s and 80s, Shadow Warrior lampoons the genre much in the same way that Duke Nukem 3D made fun of 1980s Hollywood action hero movies. Shadow Warrior from getting some heavy criticism at the time for perceived racially insensitive Asian stereotypes. Still, the game is fondly remembered by many first person shooter enthusiasts for pushing the once-popular Build engine in new directions.
Shadow Warrior has been resurrected as free-to-play through Steam as a promotion for a new game based on the property that's currently in development at Flying Wild Hog and Devolver Digital, planned for PC and console.
Mac players should bear in mind that this isn't the MacSoft port of the game - this is the original DOS version, running in DOSbox emulation.
OHSU scientists advance understanding of brain receptor; may help fight neurological disordersPublic release date: 28-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Todd Murphy murphyt@ohsu.edu 503-494-8231 Oregon Health & Science University
PORTLAND, Ore. For several years, the pharmaceutical industry has tried to develop drugs that target a specific neurotransmitter receptor in the brain, the NMDA receptor. This receptor is present on almost every neuron in the human brain and is involved in learning and memory. NMDA receptors also have been implicated in several neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and depression.
But drug companies have had little success developing clinically effective drugs that target this receptor.
Now, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's Vollum Institute believe they may understand why. And what they've discovered may help in the development of new therapies for these conditions.
In a paper published in the current issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, OHSU scientists describe their work on NMDA receptors. There are various types of NMDA receptors, resulting from differences in the protein components that make up the receptor. These differences in the protein components produce receptors with varying properties.
As drug companies have worked to develop compounds that manipulate the activity of these receptors, the focus of much of this drug discovery effort has been on a specific NMDA receptor subtype. In their Journal of Neuroscience paper, the OHSU scientists describe their discovery that the specific receptor subtype that drug companies have seen as a target is an almost nonexistent contributor of NMDA receptor action.
What does exist, the OHSU scientists found, was a different kind of NMDA receptor subtype one containing two specific protein components, called GluN2A and GluN2B. NMDA receptors containing these two components were not thought to be very common. The OHSU study found that not only was this NMDA receptor subtype more common than previously believed, it was the most common subtype at synapses. And it was far more common than the receptor subtype that has been the target of drug development efforts.
"What our paper shows is that one reason no drugs have worked well to this point may be because that particular NMDA receptor subtype isn't there in high quantities. The target they've been looking for isn't the target that's there," said Ken Tovar, Ph.D., a senior postdoctoral fellow at the Vollum Institute. Tovar's co-authors on the paper were Gary Westbrook, M.D., senior scientist and co-director of the Vollum Institute, and Matthew McGinley, Ph.D., a former graduate student in the Westbrook laboratory.
Tovar said these findings could provide a new target for drug development.
"If you know what's there, then you know what to go after you just have to figure out how to do it," Tovar said.
The OHSU study also provides clues into how the function of this most common NMDA receptor subtype might be manipulated. Highly specific drugs interact with either GluN2A or GluN2B. Tovar and colleagues demonstrated that when GluN2A and GluN2B coexist in the same receptor, molecules that targeted GluN2A change the behavior of the receptor in ways that could be clinically beneficial.
"NMDA receptors have been implicated in a diverse list of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Thus, the more we know about how to modulate the behavior of the receptors that are there at synapses the greater chance we have of finding drugs to treat these conditions," Tovar said.
"From the perspective of drug development, knowing the nature of your target is one way to keep drug development costs down," said Tovar. "Spending resources investigating a target that turns out to be unimportant means those costs get passed on to the drugs that are effective."
###
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, grants NS 26494 and MH 46613.
About the OHSU Vollum Institute
The Vollum Institute is a privately endowed research institute at OHSU and is dedicated to basic research that will lead to new treatments for neurological and psychiatric diseases. Vollum scientists have transformed the field of neuroscience and, in particular, have been pioneers in the study of cellular signaling, neuronal development, gene regulation and the neurobiology of disease.
About OHSU
Oregon Health & Science University is the state's only public academic health and research university. As one of Oregon's largest employers with more than 14,000 employees, OHSU's size contributes to its ability to provide many services and community support not found anywhere else in the state. OHSU serves patients from every corner of Oregon and is a conduit for learning for more than 4,400 students and trainees. OHSU is the source of more than 200 community outreach programs that bring health and education services to each county in the state.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
OHSU scientists advance understanding of brain receptor; may help fight neurological disordersPublic release date: 28-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Todd Murphy murphyt@ohsu.edu 503-494-8231 Oregon Health & Science University
PORTLAND, Ore. For several years, the pharmaceutical industry has tried to develop drugs that target a specific neurotransmitter receptor in the brain, the NMDA receptor. This receptor is present on almost every neuron in the human brain and is involved in learning and memory. NMDA receptors also have been implicated in several neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and depression.
But drug companies have had little success developing clinically effective drugs that target this receptor.
Now, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's Vollum Institute believe they may understand why. And what they've discovered may help in the development of new therapies for these conditions.
In a paper published in the current issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, OHSU scientists describe their work on NMDA receptors. There are various types of NMDA receptors, resulting from differences in the protein components that make up the receptor. These differences in the protein components produce receptors with varying properties.
As drug companies have worked to develop compounds that manipulate the activity of these receptors, the focus of much of this drug discovery effort has been on a specific NMDA receptor subtype. In their Journal of Neuroscience paper, the OHSU scientists describe their discovery that the specific receptor subtype that drug companies have seen as a target is an almost nonexistent contributor of NMDA receptor action.
What does exist, the OHSU scientists found, was a different kind of NMDA receptor subtype one containing two specific protein components, called GluN2A and GluN2B. NMDA receptors containing these two components were not thought to be very common. The OHSU study found that not only was this NMDA receptor subtype more common than previously believed, it was the most common subtype at synapses. And it was far more common than the receptor subtype that has been the target of drug development efforts.
"What our paper shows is that one reason no drugs have worked well to this point may be because that particular NMDA receptor subtype isn't there in high quantities. The target they've been looking for isn't the target that's there," said Ken Tovar, Ph.D., a senior postdoctoral fellow at the Vollum Institute. Tovar's co-authors on the paper were Gary Westbrook, M.D., senior scientist and co-director of the Vollum Institute, and Matthew McGinley, Ph.D., a former graduate student in the Westbrook laboratory.
Tovar said these findings could provide a new target for drug development.
"If you know what's there, then you know what to go after you just have to figure out how to do it," Tovar said.
The OHSU study also provides clues into how the function of this most common NMDA receptor subtype might be manipulated. Highly specific drugs interact with either GluN2A or GluN2B. Tovar and colleagues demonstrated that when GluN2A and GluN2B coexist in the same receptor, molecules that targeted GluN2A change the behavior of the receptor in ways that could be clinically beneficial.
"NMDA receptors have been implicated in a diverse list of neurological and psychiatric conditions. Thus, the more we know about how to modulate the behavior of the receptors that are there at synapses the greater chance we have of finding drugs to treat these conditions," Tovar said.
"From the perspective of drug development, knowing the nature of your target is one way to keep drug development costs down," said Tovar. "Spending resources investigating a target that turns out to be unimportant means those costs get passed on to the drugs that are effective."
###
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, grants NS 26494 and MH 46613.
About the OHSU Vollum Institute
The Vollum Institute is a privately endowed research institute at OHSU and is dedicated to basic research that will lead to new treatments for neurological and psychiatric diseases. Vollum scientists have transformed the field of neuroscience and, in particular, have been pioneers in the study of cellular signaling, neuronal development, gene regulation and the neurobiology of disease.
About OHSU
Oregon Health & Science University is the state's only public academic health and research university. As one of Oregon's largest employers with more than 14,000 employees, OHSU's size contributes to its ability to provide many services and community support not found anywhere else in the state. OHSU serves patients from every corner of Oregon and is a conduit for learning for more than 4,400 students and trainees. OHSU is the source of more than 200 community outreach programs that bring health and education services to each county in the state.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
In northeastern Mexico, archaeologists found ancient paintings on the walls of caves before Spanish rule. (Photo : Reuters)
In northeastern Mexico, archaeologists found ancient paintings on the walls of caves before Spanish rule. Livescience.com reported that the art shows evidence of native cultures that lived in the area around Sierra de San Carlos which is a mountain range in Tamaulipas.
There wer almost 5,000 paintings found in the region. "Created with red, yellow, black and white pigments, the images show animals from deer to lizards to centipedes, as well as people. Depictions of tents, hunting, fishing and possibly?astronomical charts?also offer a glimpse into the life of this mysterious culture," reported Livescience.com.
Archaologist Gustvao Ramirez from the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a press release that the discovery shows the presence of pre-Hispanic groups, "where before it was said that there was nothing, when in fact it was inhabited by?one or more cultures."
The Agence France Presse reported that researchers will try to find out the age of the artwork by using chemical and radiocarbon analyses. The colors they used were made using organic dyes and minerals said the INAH press release.
"We have not found any ancient objects linked to the context, and because the paintings are on ravine walls and in the rainy season the sediments are washed away, all we have is gravel," added Ramirez, reported LiveScience.com.
The History Channel said on its website that there may have been nomadic tribes as far back as 6000 BC in Tamaulipas. Then between 1445 and 1466 Aztec armies conquered a lot of the region.
"These tribes of primitive men, women and children resembled wandering gypsies except for the fact that they remained fixed in a natural niche within the boundaries of which they had freedom of movement. They escaped the greedy and authoritarian clutches of the gold-diggers who had arrived from across?the?Atlantic, ?reported I4UNews.com.
The findings were presented ?recently during the Second Conference of Archaeological History in Mexico City.
Here?s a big one ? Tim Cook has just openly claimed at his AllThingsD interview tonight that Apple will give users more third party choice on upcoming iterations of iOS (iOS 7, anyone?) and will open up some previously closed API and lift some restrictions. Tim Cook?s exact words are as follows:
On the general topic of opening up APIs, I think you?ll see us open up more in the future, but not to the degree that we put the customer at risk of having a bad experience. So there?s always a fine line to walk there, or maybe not so fine.
?
We think the customer pays us to make choices on their behalf. I?ve see some of these settings screens, and I don?t think that?s what customers want. Do some want it? Yes. But you?ll see us open up more.
Apple has often been criticized for too tightly controlling what developers can and can?t do on iOS, and this should ease some fears that iOS would fall out of favor with developers in exchange for the open and more powerful Android. The extent of this openness is yet to be known, however, but I?d wager we?ll be hearing more at WWDC.
Singer Chris Brown is looking at a possible four year stint behind bars over violating his probation. Police are considering prosecuting Chris Brown for refusing to co-operate with the victim of a minor car crash on May 21, which could land him in hot water because he’s still on probation for smacking Rihanna around in ...
Conversocial has been around since 2009, but only recently has the team decided to infiltrate the U.S. market with its social customer service software, which brings the social media response team into the call center. The company has just secured a $4.4 million A2 round led by Octopus Investments, including a $3.2 million investment alongside a previous $1.2 million convertible note. The investment is aimed toward powering the UK-based company's expansion into the U.S., as well as further product development and hiring. This latest A2 round comes on the heels of a $2.4 million Series A round in May of 2011, bringing the company's total funding to just under $7 million.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rallied more than 1 percent on Tuesday as supportive comments from central banks around the world reassured investors that monetary policies designed to support the global economy would remain in place.
Equities have been closely tethered to monetary policy, with major U.S. indexes last week posting their first negative week since mid-April on lingering concerns that the Federal Reserve may scale back its stimulus measures sooner than expected.
Both the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank reaffirmed that their policies would remain in place. On Monday, when U.S. markets were closed for the Memorial Day holiday, ECB Executive Board member Joerg Asmussen said the policy would stay as long as necessary. On Tuesday, BOJ board member Ryuzo Miyao said it was vital to keep long- and short-term interest rates stable.
"Investors want to make sure that everyone is in the same boat, since monetary policy has been the mother's milk of the rally so far this year and there was some concern that policy would be changed or amended," said Paul Nolte, managing director at Dearborn Partners in Chicago.
Monetary stimulus has contributed to Wall Street's gains this year, with the S&P 500 up almost 17 percent. Analysts have also cited earnings growth and relatively cheap valuations as reasons investors have used any market decline as a buying opportunity, helping lift both the S&P and Dow to a series of new highs.
Cyclical sectors, closely tied to the pace of economic growth, are likely to advance on any sign of continued supportive policies. Bank of America rose 1.6 percent to $13.45 while Citigroup Inc was up 2.2 percent at $51.61.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> was up 170.22 points, or 1.11 percent, at 15,473.32. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> was up 20.02 points, or 1.21 percent, at 1,669.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> was up 46.86 points, or 1.35 percent, at 3,506.00.
Investors will be watching the S&P's 14-day moving average of 1,647.91. On Friday, the benchmark index briefly fell below that level though it subsequently rebounded and closed above it. If the index remains below that level for a protracted period, it could portend waning momentum.
In the latest economic data, consumer confidence jumped far more than expected in May, climbing to 76.2 from a revised 69 in the previous month. Analysts were looking for a reading of 71.
Home prices rose 1.1 percent in March, according to the latest S&P/Case Shiller data. Analysts were looking for a rise of 1 percent.
Luxury retailer Tiffany & Co reported adjusted earnings and sales that beat expectations, sending shares up 4.8 percent to $79.81, the biggest percentage gainer on the S&P.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co late Friday reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss, though the loss narrowed from the previous year. Shares rose 1.4 percent to $50.80.
With 486 S&P companies having reported, 66 percent have topped earnings expectations, about even with the 67 percent beat rate over the past four quarters. Only 46 percent of companies have beaten on revenue, lower than the 52 percent rate over the past four quarters.
Omthera Pharmaceuticals soared 96 percent to $13.27 after AstraZeneca agreed to buy the company for $443 million. U.S. shares of Astra gained 2.4 percent to $53.42.
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tmtchpb6t16kTMJtF90WNndxvSfv6esa-tCGaymOjpUf6DlWOr9uwcf2kCDR-6KAB0D9Nsly0Y6lEFN0OxgwggJx64sGmImxrwXtY5s8w=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 28-May-2013
Share ] 
Here?s a big one ? Tim Cook has just openly claimed at his AllThingsD interview tonight that Apple will give users more third party choice on upcoming iterations of iOS (iOS 7, anyone?) and will open up some previously closed API and lift some restrictions. Tim Cook?s exact words are as follows:
Singer Chris Brown is looking at a possible four year stint behind bars over violating his probation. Police are considering prosecuting Chris Brown for refusing to co-operate with the victim of a minor car crash on May 21, which could land him in hot water because he’s still on probation for smacking Rihanna around in ...