Anatomy of a one-on-one steal: is this how we want the game to look? – NRL.COM

A rule tweak at the end of 2017 allowing one-on-one steals to be executed in multi-tackler tackles provided only one defender was involved at the time of the strip saw the tactic proliferate last season.

As we head into the third season of the new rule interpretation, NRL.com Stats has taken a look at how the practice has evolved, how it may evolve further and what implications that may hold.

After little change in 2018, the first year of the new interpretation, one-on-one strips proliferated in 2019.

The Raiders in particular and also the Storm got better at surprising teams by using secret code-words to co-ordinate for extra tacklers to drop off, leaving one man to effect a steal before the ball-carrier realised he was in danger of losing possession.

There were 120 successful steals through the 201 NRL matches in 2019. That is up from 68 in 2018 when the rule was first changed (the Raiders again were top with 11), and 44 in 2017 under the old rule.

The Raiders (28), Storm (19) and Warriors (11) were the only clubs to hit double digits in 2019. Josh Hodgson (14) individually effected more than 14 other clubs.

Teams were generally good at ensuring they didn't infringe once they decided to attempt a steal there were 25 penalties for stealing the ball where it was deemed there was more than one in the tackle.

There were a further 232 penalties for a stripping action however these are the ones where the ball pops free in a tackle and it is deemed a defender hit or raked at the ball so there is no deliberate stealing action.

For the most part the officials did a remarkably good job of deducing in a split second at what point the extra tacklers dropped off and at what point the ball came free.

With the practice likely to increase further in 2020 as teams aim to emulate the Raiders' success, things won't get easier for the officials.

The officials have to make the calls in real time (unless there is a rare instance of the steal directly leading to a try) so they do not have the benefit of video replays.

They didn't always get it right; for example frustrated Warriors coach Stephen Kearney lashed out after a couple of tight calls incorrectly went against his side in a 24-22 loss to the Eels in round 19. "If they can't get it right just piss it off," Kearney fired.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson and, perhaps surprisingly, Raider coach Ricky Stuart have publicly criticised the rule.

Robinson believes it is not in the spirit of the game and says his team will not be coached to do it (the Roosters registered just three steals in 2019) while Stuart suggested referees were being forced to guess when the extra tacklers drop off.

The reception has been largely positive from fans on both social media and in official fan surveys.

For the most part fans appreciated the unpredictability and the chance for momentum swings in a game where possession is at a premium and can be hard to claw back once the tide turns against a team.

The NRL's head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley touched on issues around the rule during his weekly briefings several times and, while admitting it placed extra pressure on referees, broadly supported the positive reception around the increase in unpredictability and renewed contest for possession.

One of the looming issues for the rule in 2020 is what actually constitutes "one-on-one". NRL.com Stats has isolated a number of incidents from 2019 where a ball-carrier was effectively gang-tackled, with defenders wrapping up his legs and non-ball-carrying arm while another defender started prising the ball out.

The extra defenders drop off with the steal largely effected already.

So while defenders of the new rule say "if you hang onto the ball you won't have a problem" that doesn't always hold true, as the attached examples highlight.

Some have expressed concern coaches may become so worried about having the ball ripped away, players would be instructed to wrap it up tightly in carries and put the offloads away. There has been no evidence of this yet but 2020 could be the acid test if more clubs work on the strategy.

NRL.com Stats has collated some examples that most clearly highlight the issue in the above video and still shots. Each was deemed a legal strip at the time, and resulted in the team executing the strip gaining possession.

These selected examples are at the more extreme end of a ball carrier being wrestled by one or more defenders while also being stripped by another. However, they do not represent the majority of instances of one-on-one strips.

In all, there were 120 steals in 2019, from 201 total games, at a rate of slightly over one steal for every two games.

Of those 120, some would have been legal one-on-one steals even under the old interpretation and in many more the stripping action largely occurs in a one-on-one scenario despite earlier involvement from an extra tackler or tacklers.

Less than a quarter which would equate to roughly one instance per round of eight games bears similarity to the attached examples.

So, at this stage, there is no epidemic of messy gang-tackle steals. However as we have seen with countless previous rules and interpretations, coaches are smart. Their concern is winning games. If they sense a chance to earn an advantage, they will explore it.

Will we see more cases like these examples in 2020? If so that would test the interpretation. If the above examples become more common that could have a detrimental effect on the game as a spectacle and raise questions about fairness.

How the Perth NRL Nines will work

The details are still being worked out but a challenge system will be in play in 2020.

A by-product of this is for the potential for steals to be adjudicated on by the Bunker with slow-motion replays rather than by on-ground officials on the fly.

If a captain believes his player has been unfairly stripped but play has been allowed to continue, he will be able to send that play to the Bunker.

This in turn could force some clarity around what happens in situations like those outlined above.

The reworded rule concerning stealing the ball is as follows:

a. The ball can be stolen from the player in possession at any stage prior to a tackle being complete when there is only one defender effecting the tackle;

b. If there are two or more defender[s] effecting the tackle and the ball is stolen a penalty should be awarded, except if the player in possession is attempting to ground the ball for a try.

So when it comes to a grey area where the ball is partway out while more than one player is still involved, it comes down to the referee's interpretation as so many other grey areas do.

Think forward passes that look backwards out of the hand but float forward, or when a player loses control in a play-the-ball while being crowded by a tackler. This is what could be tested by the Bunker this season.

The rule is certainly here to stay for 2020 at least the competition committee have already decided on rule changes for 2020 and the stripping law will stay as-is for at least this year.

Originally posted here:
Anatomy of a one-on-one steal: is this how we want the game to look? - NRL.COM

Cooper explains the anatomy of an interception – KTAB – BigCountryHomepage.com

The Cooper Cougars return to the field on Friday night in Class 5A Division I play.

The Cougars bring an interception happy defense to the second round in Stephenville.

How interception happy?

In eleven games, The Cougars picked off 25 passes and returned seven for touchdowns.

How does that happen?

We all see the interception itself, but what are we missing that causes those turnovers?

Isaiah Boutte said, The D-line gets pressure on the quarterback, also the linebackers getting the pressure on the quarterback. It messes them up. They throw it up, something like that, and then we pick it off.

Brady Miller said, We are stopping the run. Our front seven is doing a great job stopping the run and forcing them to throw the ball. Our d-line and linebackers are getting pressure. There have been so many interceptions where they just throw it up, and we just go and catch it. You also dont see the other secondary guys doing their job, so the other guy can shine. We are playing the game we love with our friends. Its really what it comes down to. The fact that we are winning and doing so much fun makes it that much more fun.

The Cougars defense is going to be tested Friday night by the Azle Hornets.

They meet in Stephenville at 7 p.m.

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Cooper explains the anatomy of an interception - KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 16 Return: The Most Outrageous Things Fans Are Hoping For, Plus Who They Want to Kill Off – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Our beloved medical drama,Greys Anatomy, is on a verylong mid-season break, and fans are restless. Lets take a look at the top favorite scenarios viewers would like to see when Greys Anatomy returns forseason 16on Jan. 23, 2020. They are outrageous, and not one of them involves someone elseaccidentally getting pregnant.

Lets make a whole list of plot lines we think are more interesting than women in their 30s and 40s getting accidentally pregnant, asked the original poster on Reddit.

The following was a list of over 150 comments of what fans want to see on the show. The central theme of the responses is that fans want more interesting medical cases. There is so much devastation and tragedy on the show lately that viewers are calling for a new twist.

I want more crazy medical stuff, wrote one fan in response to the question. Challenge the doctorsgive us a patient that is hard to diagnose (like in House),

Redditors upvoted that one fans comment 169 times. Many fans would like to see more medicine like what was in the medical drama, House.

Omg, yes, responded another fan. I think [Dr. House] would make a great addition to the show.

Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) starred in the fictional medical drama, House, broadcast on Fox for eight seasons. He tackled difficult medical problems in a Sherlock Holmes type of way while playing mind games with his friends and colleagues.

Hell, yes, added yet another Redditor. I love House, and Im sick of Greys being so melodramatic; we used to have interesting characters and actual problems. Dr. House would make things darker and more medicine-centric.

Sticking with the theme of wanting to see more medicine, fans call for a storyline surrounding an outbreak of measles.

A measles outbreak caused by the anti-vaxxers movement, wrote one fan on Reddit regarding what they want to see for the back half of season 16.

The first six months of 2019 produced more measles cases than any other year since 2006, according to theWorld Health Organization. In the wake of this problem, it would be timely to see an episode surrounding an outbreak of measles.

The way I would do this storyline would be having an immunocompromised kid of one of the lead characters die from measles complications after getting infected by an unvaccinated kid of anti-vaxxer, added another Redditor. I think this could be fun.

Im not sure that even Greys Anatomy could be that dark. They do not often show children dying on the show. However, it is plausible that one of the main characters children could contract measles.

The last outrageous thing fans are asking for is the death ofOwen Hunt(Kevin McKidd). Many viewers are still upset with Owens attempt to dissuade Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) from having an abortion. He eventually went with her for support, but then he threw it in her face on another episode.

You killed our baby; you dont ever forget that, he yelled at Cristina during season 8, episode 12.

Many fans dislike Owen for the way he acted towards Cristina regarding the abortion. Others are upset that he might be the father of Amelias (Caterina Scorsone) baby.

Give Owen testicular cancer and have Catherine do the surgery with Richard, wrote one fan after others commented that the writers should kill off Owen.

Among the many, Kill Owen, comments in the thread, fans came up with the idea to have him die from testicular cancer. They believe his character has not done anything worthwhile in the show for many seasons.

To find out if any of these fan theories might be true, watch Greys Anatomy when it returns to ABC on Jan. 23, 2020.

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'Grey's Anatomy' Season 16 Return: The Most Outrageous Things Fans Are Hoping For, Plus Who They Want to Kill Off - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

$10+ Billion Osteoarthritis Therapeutics Markets, 2024 by Anatomy, Drug Type, Route of Administration, Distribution Channel, Purchasing Pattern – P&T…

DUBLIN, Oct. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Osteoarthritis Therapeutics Market by Anatomy (Knee, Hip), Drug Type (NSAIDs, Corticosteroids), Route of Administration (Parenteral, Topical), Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies), Purchasing Pattern (Prescription Drugs) - Global Forecast to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The osteoarthritis therapeutics market is projected to reach USD 10.1 billion by 2024 from USD 6.8 billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 8.1%.

Growth in this industry is driven by the rapid growth in the geriatric and obese population and the associated increase in the prevalence of osteoarthritis disease. On the other hand, the availability of alternative non-drug pain management therapies is a major market challenge.

Knee osteoarthritis segment to witness the highest growth during the forecast period.

Based on anatomy, the osteoarthritis therapeutics market is segmented into knee, hip, hand, and small-joint. The knee osteoarthritis segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. A large number of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis is the major factor supporting the growth of this segment.

Viscosupplementation agents segment to register the highest growth in the osteoarthritis therapeutics market during the forecast period.

Based on drug type, the osteoarthritis therapeutics market is segmented into viscosupplementation agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, and corticosteroids. The analgesics segment is sub-segmented into duloxetine and acetaminophen, while the NSAIDs segment is sub-segmented into naproxen, aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and other molecules. The viscosupplementation agents segment is projected to witness the highest growth in the osteoarthritis therapeutics market during the forecast period. The rising incidence of knee osteoarthritis is one of the major factors supporting the growth of this segment.

Asia Pacific is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

In this report, the osteoarthritis therapeutics market is segmented into four major regional segments, namely, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). The market in Asia-Pacific is projected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The growth in this market is driven primarily by the rising incidence and prevalence of osteoarthritis, increasing geriatric and obese populations, and healthcare infrastructure improvements in several APAC countries.

Key players in the osteoarthritis therapeutics market include Sanofi (France), Horizon Therapeutics (Ireland), Johnson & Johnson (US), GlaxoSmithKline Plc (UK), Bayer AG (Germany), Abbott (US), Pfizer (US), Eli Lilly (US), Anika Therapeutics (US), and Flexion Therapeutics (US).Market Dynamics

Drivers

Restraints

Opportunities

Challenges

Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uodmjp

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com

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SOURCE Research and Markets

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$10+ Billion Osteoarthritis Therapeutics Markets, 2024 by Anatomy, Drug Type, Route of Administration, Distribution Channel, Purchasing Pattern - P&T...

Argentine Elections: Political Anatomy Of Alberto Fernndez, Cristina Kirchners Handpicked Successor To Oust Mauricio Macri – Forbes

Alberto Fernndez as Batman, "the hero we need"?

Alberto Fernndez has gone through a deep transformation in the eyes of most Argentines since he was handpicked by Cristina Fernndez de Kirchner to lead the Peronist ticket in the upcoming presidential elections. Not too long ago, a substantial portion of businessmen and journalists considered anything even remotely related to Mrs. de Kirchner as a signifier of Venezuelan socialism an autocratic form of populism that consumes capital, isolates itself from the world and inexorably generates hyperinflation. Now, with President Mauricio Macri one foot out the door, given the disastrous state of Argentinas economy, Fernndez begins to look like a possible hero. But is he truly this moderate negotiator who understands the dangers of deficits and the importance of both paying the International Montary Fund and cozying up with the United States and Donald Trump? Are his economists and advisors skilled enough to orchestrate a Keynesian economic rebound while generating the conditions for Vaca Muerta to thrive, while keeping the social movements happy and at bay? And, probably most importantly of all, will he be able to keep CFK and the more fringe elements of this pan-Peronist coalition under control, allowing the supposed racionales to govern?

Of course, this analysis only makes sense assuming Macri and his Juntos por el Cambio coalition loses the general election. Polls, of course, have proven they are methodologically failed in recent times, yet things are easier when the work has already been done for you. With the results of the PASO primaries already in, several polling outfits have released figures, most of them indicating the Fernndez-Fernndez ticket will handily take the election in the first round, probably securing more than 50 percent of the vote, and extending its lead over the Macri-Pichetto ticket beyond the nearly 17 percentage points tallied in the first vote.

Macri, of course, refuses to believe in this scenario and continues to dream with the possibility of a run-off, where he could stand a chance against Alberto. Even if he made it to the second round, its unlikely he would beat Alberto and Cristina given the disapproval ratings hes scoring. Macri has gone full campaign mode, launching a raid that spanned 30 cities where he hosts Yes we can marches. The president is also announcing a set of measures per day in order to put money in peoples pockets and seduce the electorate, while Finance Minister Hernn Lacunza and Central Bank President Guido Sandleris struggle to keep a lid on the slippery dollar-peso exchange rate. It feels like too little too late, as Macris desperate measures face resistance from the opposition, and other state powers including the Supreme Court, while they fail to translate into new votes for the beleaguered candidate. Still, Macri understands that in order to build a strong opposition he needs to muster as many votes as possible in order to build legislative muscle next year. And retain Buenos Aires City, with Mayor Horacio Rodrguez Larreta as a potential leader of the Cambiemos coalition, rebranded Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change), along with the Radicals.

We often pride ourselves on our capacity to predict the future, trying to use our past experience to project what will happen. In Dantes Inferno, fortune-tellers and soothsayers had their heads twisted back so that they would walk backwards for the rest of eternity. What, exactly, Alberto plans to do is impossible to predict at this juncture, as he himself doesnt know. He understands, for example, that naming a cabinet would by definition weaken his power as it could generate cracks in the Peronist coalition that has banded behind him to get rid of Macri and return their front to power.

Alberto Fernndez is a political construction of a league of governors who, tired of losing election after election, have taken him as their unity candidate. His power is derived from the governors who, before Cristina took the decision to lower her pretensions and let someone else run for the presidency, stood behind Alternativa Federal (Federal Alternative), with Roberto Lavagna as their potential candidate. He also derives power from Cristina, who with a wave of her magic wand anointed him and transferred her winning votes onto him. Its not enough with Cristina, but without her we cant make it, (Con Cristina no alcanza, pero sin ella no se puede) is a phrase that has circulated among the Peronists, supposedly put together by Alberto, indicating the necessity to unite the party to displace Macri. The league of governors remembers Cristinas disdain for the party all too well, as she distributed funds at her discretion to divide and rule. She knows that they know. Right now, they all need each other.

In order to understand the potential President (Alberto) Fernndez, we need to look at those with strings to pull around him. The governors appear more transparent in their intentions: with fiscal surpluses, they control the Senate and will look to Alberto to fix the national economy, taking the heat for necessary but unpopular austerity measures. Cristina needs to stay out of prison, while guaranteeing a political future for son Mximo and the wellbeing (and freedom) of daughter Florencia, currently in Cuba for medical treatment. Supposedly, Florencia is in bad shape, which is why CFK has cancelled several rallies and flown to Havana many times throughout the campaign. Theres also Cristinas support base, the youth organisation La Cmpora, which apparently is already in an internal power struggle with Axel Kicillof, who seems headed to the governorship of Buenos Aires Province, where the Kirchnerites have their power base.

The unions are already playing to Albertos tune, it seems. Strongman Hugo Moyano has called for unity, while Hugo Yaskys CTA is expected to fuse with the CGT. In exchange, they are asking Alberto for key posts for their leaders and family members, along with key concessions for their members. Already, though, Alberto has faced the problem of the pilots and airport workers, who openly rebelled against him before eventually conceding. The support of the unions guarantees governability. Yet, Alberto Presidente will also need the social movements on his side if he is to control the streets. Hes lauded Juan Grabois, a young and up-and-coming leader who counts on the support of Pope Francis. Hes criticised Grabois followers who recently protested in shopping-malls, while contradicting him with regards to an agricultural reform that would redistribute lands. These groups, though, represent large groups of people that receive pensions and other government disbursements, one of the key elements of the fiscal deficits. The Pope, who had a conflictive relationship with the Kirchners while they ruled Argentina, will definitely be playing his chips. Reducing the weight of social plans and disbursements is the key to balancing the budget.

What will Alberto do internationally? Already, Sergio Massa is in the United States where hes building bridges. The IMF is controlled by the United States, and Massa is buddies with Rudy Giuliani, former New York Mayor and currently Trumps personal lawyer. This column has already explained the potential relationship with the IMF and Wall Street, where it seems Argentinas hands are tied. What about Venezuela? The US needs Argentina against President Nicols Maduro if it is to play ball. What will Cristina say about that? Another open front is Brazil, where Alberto has visited former president Luiz Incio Lula Da Silva in prison and insulted sitting president Jair Bolsonaro. Argentinas major trading partner is key to her future.

All of these are open questions as it is too early to make a proper prediction. Some expect Alberto to, having the power of the pen, swipe Cristina out of the picture. Others choose to believe hes a pragmatist who, with the support of the Peronists, will execute a successful austerity plan. A small minority, though, remember his intolerance for criticism, his irate ways,
his ideological malleability, and his disdain for anyone who does not think like him. Because hes the hero Gotham deserves, not the one it needs right now, says Lieutenant James Gordon referring to Batman toward the end of The Dark Knight. That hero, for some, is already taking the shape of Alberto.

This piece was originally published in the Buenos Aires Times, Argentina's only English-language newspaper.

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Argentine Elections: Political Anatomy Of Alberto Fernndez, Cristina Kirchners Handpicked Successor To Oust Mauricio Macri - Forbes

Grey’s Anatomy Season 15, Episode 19 Recap: Jo Confronts …

This week's episode of Grey's Anatomy began with a viewer discretion advisory, and for good reason. There was a lot of hurt to be experienced, so please consider this an additional trigger warning about what's about to be discussed.

In the episode, titled "Silent All These Years," Jo (Camilla Luddington) decided to pay a visit to her birth mother (Michelle Forbes) to find out why she was left at a firehouse as a newborn, and what she learned about her history was unspeakably upsetting.

It's not just the fact that she was expecting her mother to be someone struggling at life after a teen pregnancy derailed all of her plans, or that her mother claimed she wanted to give her a better life by letting her go but didn't bother to engage an adoption agency. Those things are difficult enough to internalize, but what she learned about her "father" and how she was conceived is absolutely earth-shattering.

Discover your new favorite show: Watch This Now!

As it turns out, when her mother was a college student, she was sexually assaulted by her date, and she suffered from deep depression and dread throughout the duration of her resulting pregnancy. She hoped against hope that once Jo arrived she would fall madly in love with the baby and not resent the child for being the product of the worst experience of her life, and although she loved her, she couldn't. She wasn't well enough to care for baby Jo, and so five days after her birth, she left her in hopes that someone else could care for her better than she could.

"Of course you deserved better," she tearfully told Jo, who still wanted to hear that she was remorseful for the sour life that Jo led as a result of being in the foster system. "I didn't have better to give you."

Jo understood. Jo empathized. Jo even shared that she herself had to make the impossible decision to terminate her pregnancy because of the violent home life she had with her ex-husband. Jo even tried to extend a hand to her mother, but she resisted her touch. Some wounds will never heal, and even though her mother told her she didn't look like her "father," it still pained her to be near Jo.

These revelations about her excruciating encounter with her mother were happening at the same time that she was treating another assault patient named Abby. All the signs were there, and Jo recognized them instantly. Abby blamed a kitchen accident for the bump on her head, and when she revealed injuries to her abdomen and legs, she claimed it was a neighborhood hockey game-gone-wrong. Meanwhile, she was absolutely petrified and shaking like a leaf the moment she saw anyone but Jo walk through her treatment room.

Grey's Anatomy Recap: Amelia and Link Are Just Getting Started

Teddy (Kim Raver) was reticent to speak up, but Jo had been through this and told Abby that she believed she was the victim of domestic violence, and she wanted to help. However, Abby eventually revealed that her husband was actually a decent man, but after a fight about such a pithy issue as laundry, she went out to a bar and had a few too many, at which point she was attacked and violated.

Abby was convinced that there was no reason for her to report the incident or even bother submitting to a rape kit test because she's seen women in her position be disbelieved before, despite all it takes to open up about something this devastating. She didn't even want her husband to know, lest he always see her as "broken." But Jo managed to convince her to at least let them gather the evidence in case she changed her mind.

"I never had the chance or the choice to hold him responsible. I can't imagine how you are feeling right now. I can't," Jo told her. "But one day you might feel differently. You might want justice. And I want you to have everything you need to do that."

After that, we witnessed, in painstaking detail, all of the steps that a woman in Abby's situation must go through to create the DNA evidence box that so often ends up untested. The many swabs, the intimate photographs, the questionnaires, the process of consenting to every single step ... it was so very painfully personal and yet so clinical and cold. To their credit, Jo and Teddy did do their best to make Abby feel comfortable and not alone throughout the process, and that seemed to help as much as it could.

It's a hard episode, but there was a hopeful moment to be witnessed, as Jo arranged for all of the men in the hospital to leave the wing between Abby's treatment room and the OR so that the many women of Grey-Sloan could instead line the halls in solidarity with her. It was a touching gesture that gave Abby just enough strength to go on to her surgery to repair her sternum.

In the recovery room, Jo remained at her side and refused to pressure her to submit the rape kit or a report. However, she and Teddy did suggest that she talk to someone even if it's never her husband. They both reminded Abby that what happened to her was not her fault and that it doesn't define her.

"You're a survivor," Jo stressed.

At that, Abby made the decision to call her husband and the police, and when we left her, she was holding her husband's hand, instead of Jo's.

Both experiences have hardened Jo against Alex, though. She knows that he loves her and would not treat her the way that her ex-husband did, but she still needs room to process what she's learned about herself and what she's witnessed. Trauma doesn't come in tidy boxes. People unpack it in different ways, and if Alex is wise, he'll give her the space she needs to heal and be there when she's ready for him.

Grey's Anatomy Stars Made a Teen's Wish Come True and Whew, Try Not to Cry

Side note: The inclusion of the subplot that Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Ben (Jason George) have discovered that Tuck is dating might seem simple in comparison to all of his heaviness. But it did ultimately lead to "the talk" about consent, and Ben framed it in a way that almost felt instructional for audiences. In short, he told his stepson to always be present and aware of what his lady friends are feeling, that they can change their minds at any time, and that if they're not having fun, he should immediately tamp the pause button. This is a good primer for that conversation of course.

You might recall that a previous episode about Jo's past was titled "1-800-799-7233" to direct audiences to a helpline if they ever find themselves in an abusive situation, and this seems like a good time to bring that up again.

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

PHOTOS: The 100 Best Shows on TV Right Now

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Grey's Anatomy Season 15, Episode 19 Recap: Jo Confronts ...

Royal Court’s Anatomy of a Suicide deserves a prize for most obtuse script of the year – Spectator.co.uk

Anatomy of a Suicide looks at three generations of women in various phases of mental collapse. They line up on a stage that resembles a grey dungeon while sad events unfold around them. The first woman gets pregnant. The second takes heroin. The third argues with a lesbian about a fish. Their lives span several decades but their stories are presented simultaneously, and this tripartite method conceals the plain fact that the events dramatised are too flimsy to merit theatrical portrayal. A soap opera would baulk at such scenes: a druggie teenager bores a cameraman with a list of gloomy soundbites; a female wedding guest is partially seduced by a giggling gatecrasher; a patient in a hospital invites a nurse to eat some haddock.

Writer Alice Birch aims her characterisation at the chicklit crowd. All the females are sympathetic because theyre lost, miserable and a bit whiney. The males are uniformly horrible, aggressive, sentimental boors. With one exception: a black male character who seems so sweet and intelligent that he might be an honorary woman. Each change of scene involves a flash of lesbian titillation. The actresses are stripped to their bikinis by stage hands who pass them fresh costumes to climb into. Some scenes end with a massive CRUMP! and a surge of lights as if to remind us that a momentous art work is in progress. And the actors move to their new positions in super-slow motion, which gives a strong hint that This Play Deserves A Prize. It does, in a way, deserve a prize for the most obtuse script of the year.

The dialogue has been crafted as an act of sabotage. Rather than editing and refining normal conversation to give it tension, shape and direction, Ms Birch has retained all the banal and pointless detritus of everyday speech. This trick is perfectly easy to accomplish if you have copious quantities of stage time to fill and nothing significant to say. Both conditions are met here. One wonders why the actors agreed to participate in a show that demeans their artistry and sets out, quite deliberately, to discover how thoroughly an audience can be demoralised within a two-hour timescale. And although the production takes itself very seriously, it fails to extend the same courtesy to mental illness. Suicide is treated as one of those things that sort of, you know, kind of happens, like rheumatism or bad teeth. Of the three main characters, two kill themselves and the third seeks a surgeon who can cut out her ovaries for her, as if infertility were the pathway to happiness. Anyone with mental-health problems should avoid this play. It discusses various life-ending techniques and demonstrates one of them on stage. How odd of the Royal Court to create an ode to extinction and a hymn to self-slaughter. If Isis had an Arts Council, this would be among its proudest commissions.

Emma Rices subtle, clever and fabulously entertaining show, Tristan and Yseult, opens with a chorus of anoraked nerds identifying themselves as the love-spotters. They belong to The Club of the Unloved and the title is spelled out for us in vivid neon lights. Perhaps this is a sly dig at the Globes management, which is said to have lost patience with Ms Rices taste for modern dress, stage lights and electrical instruments played live. But why? This show is a triumphant blend of fun, jokes, pop tunes and satirical slapstick.

Only a couple of drawbacks. The story is short of detailed incident and the three lead actors are not the companys best strengths. Mike Shepherd is too solemn as King Mark. Yseult, played by Hannah Vassallo, relies too much on her giggly smile and Dominic Marshs Tristan is short of energy and grandeur. This leaves a vacuum which the minor players rush to fill. Kyle Lima (Frocin) is an exceptional clown with a wonderfully bendy physique. He may be slim and handsome (both are drawbacks for a physical comic), but he has a terrific way of parading his sexual charisma while parodying it at the same time. Kirsty Woodward, as Whitehands, shimmies around the stage in a Jackie-O outfit making sardonic comments on the action. Best of all is Niall Ashdown as Yseults cross-dressing maid, Brangian. His comic gift is matched by his absolute mastery of the crowd.

The building itself helps, of course. In some mysterious way the Globes atmosphere seems to combine the riotous air of a cup final with the warmth and intimacy of a pub gig. Emma Rice will be a hard act to follow. Her experiments with music, lighting and on-stage acrobatics have stopped the Globe from becoming a museum, or even a mausoleum, of Shakespeare. The snag is that we have only one Globe to play with. Lets build a replica, dedicate it to musical theatre, and put the newly elevated Dame Emma in charge.

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Royal Court's Anatomy of a Suicide deserves a prize for most obtuse script of the year - Spectator.co.uk

Anatomy of a Leader: The practical skills you need to get to the top – Marketing Week

Human, empathetic, rational, emotional, brave and agile just a snapshot of the essential attributes a modern marketing leader must possess.

From being data literate and adept at driving sales, to having the ability to tell a rich brand story, marketers can feel under real pressure to excel at every aspect of the role in order to succeed. This pressure, coupled with the shrinking length of CMO tenure, is putting marketing leaders under the microscope like never before.

To examine the key skills and attributes required by a modern marketing leader in 2017 Marketing Week has carried out an in-depthqualitative and quantitive study, mapping out the Anatomy of a Leader

The first part of the study looked at the core responsibilities of a marketing leader, with our survey of more than 600 marketers finding thatsales and commercial awareness (74%) is considered the most important responsibility for marketing leaders.

Now, switching the focus to the essential attributes of a modern leader, it is strategic thinking that most marketers (86%) believe is imperative.

Relationship building came in a distant second (61%), followed by people management (60%), vision (59%) and problem solving (57%).

Conversely, visual presentation emerged as the least important skill for a marketing leader (14%), followed by practicality (15%), general knowledge (16%), specialist knowledge (16%) and written communication (20%).

READ MORE:Take our quiz to find out if you have the Anatomy of a Leader

Recognition of the importance of strategy is welcomed by Marketing Week columnist Mark Ritson: In recent years, marketing has become more and more tactical and we have lost the art of developing clear strategic direction first. We like to debate the knobs and dials of communication, but do not have a clear strategy for our brands first.

Adaptability (87%) was identified as the attribute growing most in importance for marketing leaders, followed by strategic thinking (83%), vision (81%) and technical proficiency (77%).

The fact that strategic thinking, commercial awareness and vision are now seen as being more important is unsurprising since more marketing leaders are moving into roles with a broader set of commercial and customer accountabilities, says Direct Line Groups marketing director, Mark Evans.

What is perhaps surprising is that more marketing leaders believe that technical proficiency has simultaneously become more important. I suspect that this relates to being literate and staying fresh with regards to all things digital. However, there is a risk of being a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Evans recognises that not all digital skills are a must-have for marketing leaders and while it is helpful for CMOs to understand developments in digital, it is better to remain channel agnostic.

CMOs may feel pressure to personally build digital skills, but I dont think its something to lose sleep over if you have invested in your team, he adds.

Bacardi head of creative excellence, Zara Mirza, agrees it is less about being a super CMO who can do it all and more about building strong teams. At Bacardi, we have more than one CMO. We have me, we have a head of data, head of PR. Together we figure it out and we all report into the CEO.

Thats a smart move as theres not going to be one person as a super CMO. Having lots of perspectives and figuring it out together will give you a better chance of success.

READ MORE:Russell Parsons The modern marketing leaders might not be who you think

Looking ahead, problem solving (77%), the ability to listen (74%), resilience (74%), people management (67%) and risk taking (67%) are key attributes that marketers say are becoming the DNA of a marketing leader.

By contrast the research finds that experience (11%), specialist knowledge (10%), tactical execution (9%) and assertiveness (7%) are the attributes marketers are most likely to identify as becoming less important to the make up of the modern leader.

LinkedIn CMO ShannonStubo believes asking the right questions and using the answers to solve problems is the hallmark of a successful leader. Reflecting on her own background in PR, Stubo explains that despite not having the typical marketing experience of most CMOs, she understands how to set a vision, hire great people and build excellent teams.

Marketing leaders need to be able to identify the right talent, but also be relationship-focused with key stakeholders. They need to be able to dedicate time to mentoring and coaching to help teams develop, as well as navigate and adapt to increasingly fast-moving trends, she adds.

READ MORE: LinkedIns CMO on being a marketing boss with PR DNA

Reflecting on the skills he feels are missing from the top survey findings, Britvic CMO Matt Barwell highlights the ability to lead creatively and encourage an environment of creative thinking, which he argues are attributes far more likely to deliver true breakthroughs.

Humanity and empathy are the stand-out traits of a brilliant marketing leader in the opinion of Tommy Hilfiger CMO Avery Baker, who argues that leading without an ego is the only way to get the best out of people.

However, these softer skillsfail to impress Ritson. All this wank about humanity and bravery is the outcome of sitting around on yachts in Cannes feeling each others pain. Its time for marketers to wake up and smell the coffee. Our role is as a fundamental part of organisational success, not some personality-driven, self help group for sensitive people.

Peugeot marketing director Mark Pickles disagrees, arguing that marketers ultimately have to be brave and adaptable in order to succeed.

It is only by understanding the core desires, motivations and demands of consumers, and being brave enough to consider how to quickly adapt the enterprise to deliver these that the modern marketer can survive and prosper.

However, in the opinion of IBM CMO Lisa Gilbert, the perfect marketing leader is T-shaped. She defines this as a mixture of general leadership skills, like the ability to set a vision or the tenacity to bring an idea over the finish line, combined with expertise such as the ability create a compelling narrative or get to the root of a data problem.

This mix of skills is underpinned by empathy and the ability to manage your energy, explains Gilbert.

Being a leader in this fast-paced industry takes stamina. Fortifying yourself with people who lift you up, coupled with a few good nights sleep are critical to winning the marathon of leadership versus the sprint.

At its core Marketing Weeksresearch reaffirms how essential it is for marketers of any level to possess strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking, talents that are superseding functional skills such as copywriting and design.

To be a successful marketing leader the key is to recognise that you do not need to be good at everything and that fundamentally it is far more valuable to ask the right questions, listen to the answers and empower your teams to execute your vision with confidence and creativity.

Marketing Week will further explore the necessaryqualitiesfor leadership on the Realising YourPotential stage at the Festival of Marketing in October. For tickets, visit festivalofmarketing.com

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Anatomy of a Leader: The practical skills you need to get to the top - Marketing Week

Anatomy of wildlife crime in southern Africa – Times LIVE

Firearms (usually hunting rifles) were the common weapons used. There were however cases where cyanide was used to poison animals in Zimbabwes Hwange National Park.

Police customs officials or other governmental officials were perpetrators in 5% of incidents.

The top five commonly illegally possessed poached or smuggled species in the southern region were rhino horn elephant tusk abalone pangolin and big cats. Incidents where one or more species types were mixed were the third most popular after rhino and elephant.

Rhino poaching dominated South Africa and Namibia abalone dominated the Western Cape of South Africa while elephant dominated in the Botswana Zimbabwe Zambia corridor.

Poaching and trading in abalone was mostly associated with drug trafficking particularly methamphetamine (tik).

The top nationalities mentioned as perpetrators were South African first Chinese Zimbabwean and Vietnamese.

The reported market value of different commodities at the time of the crime or seizure ranged between US$200 and US$1 million per incident. Rhino horn and elephant tusk were associated with some of the higher values.

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Anatomy of wildlife crime in southern Africa - Times LIVE

‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Kim Raver To Make A Return In Season 14 – Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: An old Greys Anatomy favorite is coming back for a visit. Kim Raver, who was a series regular on the ABC medical drama in Seasons 6-8, is set to return to the show for a guest arc on the upcoming 14th season. She will reprise her role as Dr. Teddy Altman, the former head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital.

Courtesy of Gersh

The last time we saw Teddy, she was dramatically fired from Seattle Grace by old friend and one-time crush Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) in the Season 8 finale, written by Greys Anatomy creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes, so she would take her dream chief job at MEDCOM.

Irs a busy time for24alumna Raverwho also just signed on for a recurring role on the upcoming fifth season of Showtimes Ray Donovan where she also will be playing a surgeon.

Raver is repped by Gersh and Atlas Artists.

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'Grey's Anatomy': Kim Raver To Make A Return In Season 14 - Deadline

About last night: Anatomy of one of Phillies’ worst losses of 2017 – PhillyVoice.com

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About last night: Anatomy of one of Phillies' worst losses of 2017 - PhillyVoice.com

Scoop: Coming Up on a New Episode of GREY’S ANATOMY on ABC – Thursday, April 2, 2020 – Broadway World

"Sing It Again" - Owen and Link treat an older woman who wakes up from surgery and can't stop singing, while Teddy helps Koracick stay afloat after an estranged loved one from his past comes to the hospital looking for help. Meredith, Bailey and Maggie focus their efforts on a difficult patient with a tricky diagnosis on an all-new episode of "Grey's Anatomy,"THURSDAY, APRIL 2 (9:00-10:01 p.m. EDT), on ABC. Episodes can also be viewed next day on demand and on Hulu."Grey's Anatomy" stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber, Kevin McKidd as Owen Hunt, Jesse Williams as Jackson Avery, Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd, Camilla Luddington as Jo Wilson, Kelly McCreary as Maggie Pierce, Kim Raver as Teddy Altman, Giacomo Gianniotti as Andrew DeLuca, Greg Germann as Tom Koracick, Chris Carmack as Atticus "Link" Lincoln and Jake Borelli as Levi Schmitt.Guest starring is Debbie Allen as Catherine Fox, Jason George as Ben Warren, Jaicy Elliot as Taryn Helm, James Saito as Herschel Roberts, Kheng Hua Tan as Vera Roberts and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson as Dana Hamilton."Sing It Again"was written by Jess Righthand and directed by Michael Watkins."Grey's Anatomy" was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes. Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, Krista Vernoff, Debbie Allen, Zoanne Clack, Fred Einesman, Andy Reaser and Meg Marinis are executive producers. "Grey's Anatomy" is produced by ABC Studios. ABC Studios is a part of Disney Television Studios,alongsideTwentieth Century FOX Television and FOX 21 Television Studios.

A TV parental guideline will be assigned to this program at a later date.

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Scoop: Coming Up on a New Episode of GREY'S ANATOMY on ABC - Thursday, April 2, 2020 - Broadway World

Hyderabad researchers develop device to look into the anatomy of the eye – Times of India

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad-based premier ophthalmology hospital and research centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, has developed a new gadget, Holo Eye Anatomy Module, that will help doctors see through the eye for better diagnosis of eye diseases.

The eye Institute in the past developed many innovative technologies in the areas of eye care delivery, biology of the eye, surgical techniques, eye banking and children's eye health among many others. The hospital conducts research under Srujana Center for Innovation. The latest in the field of ophthalmology is the Holo Eye Anatomy module for the cornea. This is a sophisticated device worn on head to help doctors see the human eye anatomy in 3D perspective.

"At LVPEI, our vision is to reconcile excellence with equity. As we incorporate more and more technological tools, we hope that our education and research efforts can be significantly enhanced both qualitatively and quantitatively," said Dr Gullapalli N Rao, founder and chair - L V Prasad Eye Institute.

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Hyderabad researchers develop device to look into the anatomy of the eye - Times of India

Anatomy of a Witch Hunt – Wall Street Journal (subscription)


Wall Street Journal (subscription)
Anatomy of a Witch Hunt
Wall Street Journal (subscription)
Americans won't be really good citizens until they read Timur Kuran and Cass Sunstein's 1999 law review article about availability cascades. Their launching point is the process by which we (i.e., human beings) decide to believe what others believe ...

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Anatomy of a Witch Hunt - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Inside the Funhouse Action Scene From Birds of Prey – The New York Times

In Anatomy of a Scene, we ask directors to reveal the secrets that go into making key scenes in their movies. See new episodes in the series each Friday. You can also watch our collection of more than 150 videos on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Roller skating in an action scene? Difficult. Roller skating in an action scene while on a rotating carousel? Good luck with that.

Margot Robbie pulls off the stunt as Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey. Though the climactic moment, which takes place in a funhouse, wasnt just a challenging set piece for Robbie. Other cast members, including Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ella Jay Basco and Rosie Perez, performed many of their own stunts in a sequence that required months of training and preparation. That included leaping on bouncy props and executing complex fight choreography on that rotating set.

In this video, the director Cathy Yan further discusses the scenes levels of difficulty and how the shots were organized. For one, she and her team came up with a clever way to maintain continuity when shooting on a spinning set with a wildly colorful background.

Read the Birds of Prey review.

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Inside the Funhouse Action Scene From Birds of Prey - The New York Times

Jennifer Esposito to Join New Netflix Series From the Creator of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Shonda Rhimes continues being one of the most ubiquitous creative presences on TV and in the streaming universe, with some of her older shows still going. Now shes delving into the Netflix arena with a new series called Inventing Anna.

Those familiar with Jennifer Esposito will know shes not a part of the usual Rhimes repertory of actors. Shes nevertheless been hired by Rhimes to play a pivotal part in Inventing Anna, a show exploring the true tale of criminal German heiress Anna Delvey.

Its going to be a different role in how Esposito fans usually see her. Take a minute to see what this means based on her more familiar roles in shows from Blue Bloods to NCIS. Even though shell play a more outlandish role in Inventing Anna, shes done comedy very well before.

According to most media sources, Esposito plays Talia Mallay, possibly loosely based on a Martha Stewart lifestyle guru. Her character is like Anna Delvey in being an avid user of Instagram.

Such a role may involve a little bit of comedy or satire since the premise of the series is already a little broad. However, its perfect territory for Rhimes to explore and turn into an interesting portrait of women dealing with unique circumstances.

Whether theres any real comedy in this is still yet to be determined since its marketed as a drama. Also, Esposito will only play her character as a background figure since the main cast has Anna Chlumsky and Julia Garner in the leads.

Should Esposito play someone with a little more comedic flare, it wouldnt be the first time by any means. Shes one of the rare actresses whos been able to fluctuate successfully between doing dramas and comedy in movies/TV.

Her first role on TV was on Law & Order: SVU, setting her up for playing parts in cop-related shows, something shes done several times in her career. The same year (1996), she acted in a TV movie remake of The Sunshine Boys, proving she could split it down the middle when it came to veering into two different genres.

The best example of Espositos early dramatic work in film was Summer of Sam in 1999, leading to a string of dramas for a couple of years until finally moving into a few movie comedies.

As she continued to flourish on TV at the same time, the only Oscar-caliber movie she appeared in happened to be a drama: The notorious Oscar Best Picture winner Crash.

Before this occurred, she did find herself on a comedy series for a brief time (Spin City), later starring in her own sitcom called Samantha Who? on ABC. Latter series lasted a couple of years from 2007-2009, giving everyone awareness she could do comedy with aplomb.

Rather than venture further into sitcoms, she pivoted into playing cop roles more recent audiences would find familiar. A year after Samantha Who? ended, she nabbed a role on CBSs Blue Bloods playing Det. Jackie Curatola. During the third season, however, Esposito found out she had Celiac disease, causing her to collapse one day while filming.

Her doctors told her shed have to take time off from acting to properly recover, hence the producers of Blue Bloods dropping her character, never to return. Esposito was more than a little upset about being laid off from the show, despite it only being a temporary setback.

Since those days, shes been working steadily on shows like The Affair and even briefly on NCIS. Now shes maybe reinventing herself from the cop show persona into something different in Inventing Anna, a plan already started recently by joining the superhero show The Boys.

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Jennifer Esposito to Join New Netflix Series From the Creator of 'Grey's Anatomy' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 and the drugs that might lessen its power – The Economist

Mar 12th 2020

THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS of the modern world has been a boon for SARS-CoV-2. Without planes, trains and automobiles the virus would never have got this far, this fast. Just a few months ago it took its first steps into a human host somewhere in or around Wuhan, in the Chinese province of Hubei. As of this week it had caused over 120,000 diagnosed cases of covid-19, from Troms to Buenos Aires, Alberta to Auckland, with most infections continuing to go undiagnosed (see article).

But interconnectedness may be its downfall, too. Scientists around the world are focusing their attention on its genome and the 27 proteins that it is known to produce, seeking to deepen their understanding and find ways to stop it in its tracks. The resulting plethora of activity has resulted in the posting of over 300 papers on MedRXiv, a repository for medical-research work that has not yet been formally peer-reviewed and published, since February 1st, and the depositing of hundreds of genome sequences in public databases. (For more coverage of covid-19 see our coronavirus hub.)

The assault on the vaccine is not just taking place in the lab. As of February 28th Chinas Clinical Trial Registry listed 105 trials of drugs and vaccines intended to combat SARS-CoV-2 either already recruiting patients or proposing to do so. As of March 11th its American equivalent, the National Library of Medicine, listed 84. This might seem premature, considering how recently the virus became known to science; is not drug development notoriously slow? But the reasonably well-understood basic biology of the virus makes it possible to work out which existing drugs have some chance of success, and that provides the basis for at least a little hope.

Even if a drug were only able to reduce mortality or sickness by a modest amount, it could make a great difference to the course of the disease. As Wuhan learned, and parts of Italy are now learning, treating the severely ill in numbers for which no hospitals were designed puts an unbearable burden on health systems. As Jeremy Farrar, the director of the Wellcome Trust, which funds research, puts it: If you had a drug which reduced your time in hospital from 20 days to 15 days, thats huge.

Little noticed by doctors, let alone the public, until the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) that began in Guangdong in 2002, the coronavirus family was first recognised by science in the 1960s. Its members got their name because, under the early electron microscopes of the period, their shape seemed reminiscent of a monarchs crown. (It is actually, modern methods show, more like that of an old-fashioned naval mine.) There are now more than 40 recognised members of the family, infecting a range of mammals and birds, including blackbirds, bats and cats. Veterinary virologists know them well because of the diseases they cause in pigs, cattle and poultry.

Virologists who concentrate on human disease used to pay less attention. Although two long-established coronaviruses cause between 15% and 30% of the symptoms referred to as the common cold, they did not cause serious diseases in people. Then, in 2002, the virus now known as SARS-CoV jumped from a horseshoe bat to a person (possibly by way of some intermediary). The subsequent outbreak went on to kill almost 800 people around the world.

Some of the studies which followed that outbreak highlighted the fact that related coronaviruses could easily follow SARS-CoV across the species barrier into humans. Unfortunately, this risk did not lead to the development of specific drugs aimed at such viruses. When SARS-CoV-2similarly named because of its very similar genomeduly arrived, there were no dedicated anti-coronavirus drugs around to meet it.

A SARS-CoV-2 virus particle, known technically as a virion, is about 90 nanometres (billionths of a metre) acrossaround a millionth the volume of the sort of cells it infects in the human lung. It contains four different proteins and a strand of RNAa molecule which, like DNA, can store genetic information as a sequence of chemical letters called nucleotides. In this case, that information includes how to make all the other proteins that the virus needs in order to make copies of itself, but which it does not carry along from cell to cell.

The outer proteins sit athwart a membrane provided by the cell in which the virion was created. This membrane, made of lipids, breaks up when it encounters soap and water, which is why hand-washing is such a valuable barrier to infection.

The most prominent protein, the one which gives the virions their crown- or mine-like appearance by standing proud of the membrane, is called spike. Two other proteins, envelope protein and membrane protein, sit in the membrane between these spikes, providing structural integrity. Inside the membrane a fourth protein, nucleocapsid, acts as a scaffold around which the virus wraps the 29,900nucleotides of RNA which make up its genome.

Though they store their genes in DNA, living cells use RNA for a range of other activities, such as taking the instructions written in the cells genome to the machinery which turns those instructions into proteins. Various sorts of virus, though, store their genes on RNA. Viruses like HIV, which causes AIDS, make DNA copies of their RNA genome once they get into a cell. This allows them to get into the nucleus and stay around for years. Coronaviruses take a simpler approach. Their RNA is formatted to look like the messenger RNA which tells cells what proteins to make. As soon as that RNA gets into the cell, flummoxed protein-making machinery starts reading the viral genes and making the proteins they describe.

First contact between a virion and a cell is made by the spike protein. There is a region on this protein that fits hand-in-glove with ACE2, a protein found on the surface of some human cells, particularly those in the respiratory tract.

ACE2 has a role in controlling blood pressure, and preliminary data from a hospital in Wuhan suggest that high blood pressure increases the risks of someone who has contracted the illness dying of it (so do diabetes and heart disease). Whether this has anything to do with the fact that the viruss entry point is linked to blood-pressure regulation remains to be seen.

Once a virion has attached itself to an ACE2 molecule, it bends a second protein on the exterior of the cell to its will. This is TMPRSS2, a protease. Proteases exist to cleave other proteins asunder, and the virus depends on TMPRSS2 obligingly cutting open the spike protein, exposing a stump called a fusion peptide. This lets the virion into the cell, where it is soon able to open up and release its RNA (see diagram).

Coronaviruses have genomes bigger than those seen in any other RNA virusesabout three times longer than HIVs, twice as long as the influenza viruss, and half as long again as the Ebola viruss. At one end are the genes for the four structural proteins and eight genes for small accessory proteins that seem to inhibit the hosts defences (see diagram). Together these account for just a third of the genome. The rest is the province of a complex gene called replicase. Cells have no interest in making RNA copies of RNA molecules, and so they have no machinery for the task that the virus can hijack. This means the virus has to bring the genes with which to make its own. The replicase gene creates two big polyproteins that cut themselves up into 15, or just possibly 16, short non-structural proteins (NSPs). These make up the machinery for copying and proofreading the genomethough some of them may have other roles, too.

Once the cell is making both structural proteins and RNA, it is time to start churning out new virions. Some of the RNA molecules get wrapped up with copies of the nucleocapsid proteins. They are then provided with bits of membrane which are rich in the three outer proteins. The envelope and membrane proteins play a large role in this assembly process, which takes place in a cellular workshop calle
d the Golgi apparatus. A cell may make between 100 and 1,000 virions in this way, according to Stanley Perlman of the University of Iowa. Most of them are capable of taking over a new celleither nearby or in another bodyand starting the process off again.

Not all the RNA that has been created ends up packed into virions; leftovers escape into wider circulation. The coronavirus tests now in use pick up and amplify SARS-CoV-2-specific RNA sequences found in the sputum of infected patients.

Because a viral genome has no room for free riders, it is a fair bet that all of the proteins that SARS-CoV-2 makes when it gets into a cell are of vital importance. That makes each of them a potential target for drug designers. In the grip of a pandemic, though, the emphasis is on the targets that might be hit by drugs already at hand.

The obvious target is the replicase system. Because uninfected cells do not make RNA copies of RNA molecules, drugs which mess that process up can be lethal to the virus while not necessarily interfering with the normal functioning of the body. Similar thinking led to the first generation of anti-HIV drugs, which targeted the process that the virus uses to transcribe its RNA genome into DNAanother thing that healthy cells just do not do.

Like those first HIV drugs, some of the most promising SARS-CoV-2 treatments are molecules known as nucleotide analogues. They look like the letters of which RNA or DNA sequences are made up; but when a virus tries to use them for that purpose they mess things up in various ways.

The nucleotide-analogue drug that has gained the most attention for fighting SARS-CoV-2 is remdesivir. It was originally developed by Gilead Sciences, an American biotechnology firm, for use against Ebola fever. That work got as far as indicating that the drug was safe in humans, but because antibody therapy proved a better way of treating Ebola, remdesivir was put to one side. Laboratory tests, though, showed that it worked against a range of other RNA-based viruses, including SARS-CoV, and the same tests now show that it can block the replication of SARS-CoV-2, too.

There are now various trials of remdesivirs efficacy in covid-19 patients. Gilead is organising two in Asia that will, together, involve 1,000 infected people. They are expected to yield results in mid- to late-April. Other nucleotide analogues are also under investigation. When they screened seven drugs approved for other purposes for evidence of activity against SARS-CoV-2, a group of researchers at the State Key Laboratory of Virology in Wuhan saw some potential in ribavirin, an antiviral drug used in the treatment of, among other things, hepatitis C, that is already on the list of essential medicines promulgated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Nucleotide analogues are not the only antiviral drugs. The second generation of anti-HIV drugs were the protease inhibitors which, used along with the original nucleotide analogues, revolutionised the treatment of the disease. They targeted an enzyme with which HIV cuts big proteins into smaller ones, rather as one of SARS-CoV-2s NSPs cuts its big polyproteins into more little NSPs. Though the two viral enzymes do a similar job, they are not remotely relatedHIV and SARS-CoV-2 have about as much in common as a human and a satsuma. Nevertheless, when Kaletra, a mixture of two protease inhibitors, ritonavir and lopinavir, was tried in SARS patients in 2003 it seemed to offer some benefit.

Another drug which was developed to deal with other RNA-based virusesin particular, influenzais Favipiravir (favilavir). It appears to interfere with one of the NSPs involved in making new RNA. But existing drugs that might have an effect on SARS-CoV-2 are not limited to those originally designed as antivirals. Chloroquine, a drug mostly used against malaria, was shown in the 2000s to have some effect on SARS-CoV; in cell-culture studies it both reduces the viruss ability to get into cells and its ability to reproduce once inside them, possibly by altering the acidity of the Golgi apparatus. Camostat mesylate, which is used in cancer treatment, blocks the action of proteases similar to TMPRSS2, the protein in the cell membrane that activates the spike protein.

Not all drugs need to target the virus. Some could work by helping the immune system. Interferons promote a widespread antiviral reaction in infected cells which includes shutting down protein production and switching on RNA-destroying enzymes, both of which stop viral replication. Studies on the original SARS virus suggested that interferons might be a useful tool for stopping its progress, probably best used in conjunction with other drugs

Conversely, parts of the immune system are too active in covid-19. The virus kills not by destroying cells until none are left, but by overstimulating the immune systems inflammatory response. Part of that response is mediated by a molecule called interleukin-6one of a number of immune-system modulators that biotechnology has targeted because of their roles in autoimmune disease.

Actemra (tocilizumab) is an antibody that targets the interleukin-6 receptors on cell surfaces, gumming them up so that the interleukin-6 can no longer get to them. It was developed for use in rheumatoid arthritis. China has just approved it for use against covid-19. There are anecdotal reports of it being associated with clinical improvements in Italy.

While many trials are under way in China, the decline in the case rate there means that setting up new trials is now difficult. In Italy, where the epidemic is raging, organising trials is a luxury the health system cannot afford. So scientists are dashing to set up protocols for further clinical trials in countries expecting a rush of new cases. Dr Farrar said on March 9th that Britain must have its trials programme agreed within the week.

International trials are also a high priority. Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the WHO, says that it is trying to finalise a master protocol for trials to which many countries could contribute. By pooling patients from around the world, using standardised criteria such as whom to include and how to measure outcomes, it should be possible to create trials of thousands of patients. Working on such a large scale makes it possible to pick up small, but still significant, benefits. Some treatments, for example, might help younger patients but not older ones; since younger patients are less common, such an effect could easily be missed in a small trial.

The caseload of the pandemic is hard to predict, and it might be that even a useful drug is not suitable in all cases. But there are already concerns that, should one of the promising drugs prove to be useful, supplies will not be adequate. To address these, the WHO has had discussions with manufacturers about whether they would be able to produce drugs in large enough quantities. Generic drug makers have assured the organisation that they can scale up to millions of doses of ritonavir and lopinavir while still supplying the HIV-positive patients who rely on the drugs. Gilead, meanwhile, has enough remdesivir to support clinical trials and, thus far, compassionate use. The firm says it is working to make more available as rapidly as possible, even in the absence of evidence that it works safely.

In the lab, SARS-CoV-2 will continue being dissected and mulled over. Details of its tricksiness will be puzzled out, and the best bits of proteins to turn into vaccines argued over. But that is all for tomorrow. For today doctors can only hope that a combination of new understanding and not-so-new drugs will do some good.

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This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline "Anatomy of a killer"

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Understanding SARS-CoV-2 and the drugs that might lessen its power - The Economist

SUNY Poly students learn anatomy with synthetic cadaver – The Times Telegram

One of SUNY Polytechnic Institute's newest teachers just goes by one name: Syndi.

That's because she's a real dummy, a synthetic cadaver donated to the school's College of Health Sciences in Marcy to help students learn anatomy.

Syndi is a nickname, chosen by biology and chemistry lecturer Megan Dischiavo, for the silicone cadaver, which is officially known by its brand name, SynDaver.

"It's such a beneficial tool to teaching anatomy because you can teach the body as an entity, rather than using separate models," Dischiavo said in an email. "This really gives the student a global perspective of how the body works rather than learning bits and pieces on the cat or separate models.

"I've already had them relate their own bodies to the SynDaver. For example, when I showed one student the appendix, she immediately said, 'I had that taken out.' She then understood why she had pain right where the appendix is."

And students can learn all that, she said, without the "emotional experience" or chemical involved in dissecting human cadavers.

The almost $75,000 synthetic cadaver was bought by four donors, including the Dorothy Griffin Foundation, M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund, SUNY Performance Improvement Fund and an anonymous donor who gave in memory of a "remarkable man."

It is the only life-sized SynDaver in Upstate New York, according to the college. It includes bones, joints, organs and tendons, which can be exposed to let students see anatomical structures as they would appear in a real human body.

With Syndi, students see things in the same perspective they would on a patient, Dischiavo said.

"It's also helpful so they can start moving the SynDaver just as they would their patients from day one of learning," she said. "For example, we can show them how to take a radial pulse in the exact location they would on a human or the blood vessel cardiac surgeons take from the leg to use in the heart with bypass surgery."

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SUNY Poly students learn anatomy with synthetic cadaver - The Times Telegram

Grey’s Anatomy season 16: How Jesse Williams will be… – CarterMatt

Even though Jesse Williams may be spending a good bit of time away fromGreys Anatomylater this season, rest assured that hes still going to be a part of the show. The actor has a contract, and it does seem like there is a plan to continue to feature Jackson despite the actors Broadway gig.

In a new interview with TVLine, show executive producer Krista Vernoff did her best to outline how were going to be seeing Jesse on the ABC series moving forward. There is a recognition here that he will be busy, but there is a lot that this cast and crew can do within a single days time:

Ive known since the beginning of the season and Ive been able to plan [Jackson]s storyline [accordingly] Jesse is able to fly back one day a week; were just making it work [because] this was important to him.

Want some otherGreys Anatomyvideo thoughts?Then watch our take on Thursdays episode at the bottom of this article! Once you do that, be sure to alsosubscribeto CarterMatt on YouTube and then also view our show playlist.

In the end, the name of the game here is working to be accommodating and recognizing your own efficiency. At this point, the entireGreys Anatomyteam has been together long enough to know how to make things work without fail. They can get in Jesse, do what they need to do with him fora given episode, and then send him on his way. This schedule probably means that he wont have some sort of enormous spotlight episode near the end of the season, but they can still find a way to make things work.

For the past couple of years in general, Jesse has shown an ability to be able to balance outGreys Anatomywith some other gigs. Take, for example, doing work for the video gameDetroit Become Humanor a brief one-episode gig onPower.The show has been accommodating with allowing him to do some other stuff.

The next new episode ofGreys Anatomyis going to be airing on ABC this Thursday. If you want to get some more news on what to expect, be sure to visit the link here.

Be sure to share right now in the comments! Also, be sure to stick around for some other updates when it comes to the series. (Photo: ABC.)

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Grey's Anatomy season 16: How Jesse Williams will be... - CarterMatt

Grey’s Anatomy And Station 19 Hits New Levels Of Danger And Sexiness With Crossovers – CinemaBlend

Expect new levels of danger and sexiness when Greys Anatomy and Station 19 team up for their next big crossover. Not too long ago, ABC announced that Greys Anatomy would be switching time slots, a move that now makes Station 19 the lead-in to the veteran medical drama, which recently celebrated 350 episodes!

Fans should probably get set for more tears and heartache when Greys Anatomy returns, at least as far as the immediate aftermath of that fall finale goes. The shows midseason sendoff set the stage for a life-threatening crossover with Station 19. Ben, Blake, Casey, Chief Herrera, Helm, Jackson, Levi, and Nico were all in Joes Bar when disaster struck.

A car crashed into the bar, endangering the lives of fan favorites, not to mention various other patrons. Station 19's return in 2020 will apparently kick the big crossover off at full speed, while Greys Anatomy will keep the action going in Hour 2. Station 19s Jason George, who's starred as Ben Warren across both series, teased the drama ahead, telling ET:

That they were! Now fans will have to endure the hiatus before finding out what happens next. Station 19 will be the one that directly picks up from the aftermath of the disaster, with emergency responders needed to keep things on track amidst the chaos. Greys Anatomy and its spinoff series are no strangers to dealing out heartbreaking crossovers.

Station 19 underwent some behind-the-scenes changes for Season 3, so there should be some differences in front of the camera. As for the two-hour crossover event, which is set to lead off a more intertwining set of episodes, it was apparently pretty intense to film. These crossovers take a lot of effort and the trend is everywhere! Giving some insight into what it took to do Station 19 and Greys Anatomys, Jason George said:

That had to be hectic! The two-hour event is going to get fans excited and on the edge of their seats. Greys Anatomy and Station 19 are already quite dramatic independently, but together, they are a united force of immense suspense. Jason Georges Ben was in Joes Bar, the very heart of the crossovers action, so he will be front and center when Station 19 returns. There's not a whole lot of insight into how any of this is supposed to bring more sexiness, but we'll take his word for it.

Ben has had a lot going on this season on Greys Anatomy. He and wife Miranda Bailey learned they were expecting a baby earlier in Season 16. Sadly, in the fall finale, Bailey found out that she had lost their baby, and Ben later ended up going with Chief Herrera to the bar with a lot on his mind.

In the same episode, Chief Herrera learned from Bailey that his lymphoma had returned, so a lot of sadness has already taken place. The trailer for the Greys Anatomy/Station 19 crossover showed Bailey telling the authorities to get her husband out of the wreckage of the bar. I can't imagine what'll happen if things only get more dangerous from there.

Station 19 returns on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Greys Anatomy will air directly after it at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes of both shows are part of this winters premieres.

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Grey's Anatomy And Station 19 Hits New Levels Of Danger And Sexiness With Crossovers - CinemaBlend