Daily Archives: June 20, 2024

Cloning and functional characterization of the legumin A gene (EuLEGA) from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver | Scientific … – Nature.com

Posted: June 20, 2024 at 3:57 am

Lu, Y. et al. Combined analysis of the transcriptome and proteome of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.(Duzhong) in response to Fusarium oxysporum. Frontiers in Chemistry. 10, 1053227 (2022).

Article ADS CAS Google Scholar

Ren, N., Gong, W., Zhao, Y., Zhao, D. G. & Xu, Y. Innovation in sweet rice wine with high antioxidant activity: Eucommia ulmoides leaf sweet rice wine. Frontiers in nutrition. 9, 1108843 (2023).

Article Google Scholar

Zhao, Y., Liu, Y., Dong, X., Liu, J. J., & Zhao, D. G. Identification of a novel laccase gene EuLAC1 and its potential resistance against Botrytis cinerea. Transgenic Research. 31, 215225 (2022).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Bamba, T., Fukusaki, E., Nakazawa, Y. & Kobayashi, A. In-situ chemical analyses of trans-polyisoprene by histochemical staining and Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy in a rubber-producing plant, Eucommia ulmoides Oliver. Planta 215, 934939 (2002).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Nakazawa, Y. et al. Production of Eucommia-rubber from Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (hardy rubber tree). Plant Biotechnol. 26, 7179 (2009).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Wang, J., Chen, X., Huang, X., Zhao, Y. & Zhao, D. Cloning and Function Identification of a Phytoene Desaturase Gene from Eucommia ulmoides. Phyton. 92, 00319457 (2023).

Article Google Scholar

Wang, L., Wang, R., Li, Y., Zhao, Y. & Zhao, D. Overexpression of -1, 4-Glucanase Gene EuEG1 Improves Micrografting Eucommia ulmoides. Phyton. 92, 00319457 (2023).

Article Google Scholar

Wei, X., Peng, P., Peng, F. & Dong, J. Natural polymer Eucommia ulmoides rubber: A novel material. J. Agric. Food Chem. 69, 37973821 (2021).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Zhang, C., Tan, L., Zhu, W., Yang, Z. Z. & Guo, M. Research progress on prevention and treatment of osteoporosis by Eucommia Ulmoides. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Med. Res. 6, 286294 (2022).

Article Google Scholar

Xiong, Q. Y., Peng, C., Gao, J. H. & Xie, X. F. Comparative study among commercial Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. of different grades and Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. from Guangyuan on effects of immunity enhancement and liver protection. Nat. Prod. Res. Dev. 31, 916 (2019).

Google Scholar

Zhang, B. L. et al. The effects of dietary Eucommia ulmoides Oliver on growth, feed utilization, antioxidant activity and immune responses of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Aquac. Nutr. 25, 367376 (2019).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Hu, T. et al. Dietary Eucommia ulmoides extract alleviates the effect of cold stress on chick growth performance, antioxidant and immune ability. Animals 11, 3008 (2021).

Article Google Scholar

Huang, D. Y. et al. Dietary supplementation with Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract improved the intestinal antioxidant capacity, immune response, and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae in genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT; Oreochromis niloticus). Antioxidants 11, 1800 (2022).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Bao, L. et al. A review of plant gold Eucommia ulmoides Oliv: A medicinal and food homologous plant with economic value and prospect. Heliyon 10, 24058440 (2024).

Article Google Scholar

Dunwell, J. M., Purvis, A. & Khuri, S. Cupins: The most functionally diverse protein superfamily?. Phytochemistry. 65, 717 (2004).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Dunwell, J. M., Culham, A., Carter, C. E., Sosa-Aguirre, C. R. & Goodenough, P. W. Evolution of functional diversity in the cupin superfamily. Trends Biochem. Sci. 26, 740746 (2001).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Pirovani, C. P. et al. A sucrose binding protein homologue from soybean exhibits GTP-binding activity that functions independently of sucrose transport activity. Eur. J. Biochem. 269, 39984008 (2002).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Dunwell, J. M. Cupins: A new superfamily of functionally diverse proteins that include germins and plant storage proteins. Biotechnol. Genet. Eng. Rev. 15, 132 (1998).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Seymour, G. B., stergaard, L., Chapman, N. H., Knapp, S. & Martin, C. Fruit development and ripening. Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 64, 219241 (2013).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Wang, T. et al. Characterization of peanut germin-like proteins, AhGLPs in plant development and defense. PLos One 8, e61722 (2013).

Article ADS CAS Google Scholar

Xie, M. et al. Regulation of lignin biosynthesis and its role in growth-defense tradeoffs. Front. Plant Sci. 9, 1427 (2018).

Article Google Scholar

Karlova, R., Boer, D., Hayes, S. & Testerink, C. Root plasticity under abiotic stress. Plant Physiol. 187, 10571070 (2021).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Wright, D. J. & Boulter, D. Purification and subunit structure of legumin of Vicia faba L. (broad bean). Biochem. J. 141, 413418 (1974).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Iwabuchi, S. & Yamauchi, F. Determination of glycinin and beta.-conglycinin in soybean proteins by immunological methods. J. Agric. Food Chem. 35, 200205 (1987).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Saalbach, G. et al. Different legumin protein domains act as vacuolar targeting signals. Plant Cell 3, 695708 (1991).

CAS Google Scholar

Bai, R. et al. Electron beam irradiation induced aggregation, structural and functional changes of soybean 11S globulin. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 260, 129585 (2024).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Bumlein, H., Wobus, U., Pustell, J. & Kafatos, F. C. The legumin gene family: Structure of a B type gene of Vicia faba and a possible legumin gene specific regulatory element. Nucleic Acids Res. 14, 27072720 (1986).

Article Google Scholar

Gueguen, J., Anh, T. V. & Franois, S. Large-scale purification and characterisation of pea globulins. J. Sci. Food Agric. 35, 10241033 (1984).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Angelina, A. et al. The lipid interaction capacity of Sin a 2 and Ara h 1, major mustard and peanut allergens of the cupin superfamily, endorses allergenicity. Allergy 71, 12841294 (2016).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Geiselhart, S., Hoffmann-Sommergruber, K. & Bublin, M. Tree nut allergens. Mol. Immunol. 100, 7181 (2018).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Gmez-Lpez, A., Fernndez-Bravo, S., Nuez-Borque, E. & Prez, D. B. 11S globulin identified as a new bean allergen. J. Investig. Allergol. Clin. Immunol. 33, 309311 (2023).

Article Google Scholar

Li, L. et al. Covalent polyphenol with soybean 11S protein to develop hypoallergenic conjugates for potential immunotherapy. J. Funct. Foods 104, 105518 (2023).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Yang, A., Yu, X., Zheng, A. & James, A. T. Rebalance between 7S and 11S globulins in soybean seeds of differing protein content and 11SA4. Food Chem. 210, 148155 (2016).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Krishnan, H. B. & Nelson, R. L. Proteomic analysis of high protein soybean (Glycine max) accessions demonstrates the contribution of novel glycinin subunits. J. Agric. Food Chem. 59, 24322439 (2011).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Zhao, D. G. et al. Transcriptome data assembly and gene function annotation of female and male plants in Eucommia ulmoides. J. Mt. Agric. Biol. 34, 113 (2015).

ADS Google Scholar

Giraud, M. F., Leonard, G. A., Field, R. A., Berlind, C. & Naismith, J. H. RmlC, the third enzyme of dTDP-L-rhamnose pathway, is a new class of epimerase. Nat. Struct. Biol. 7, 398402 (2000).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Peng, I. C., Quass, D. W., Dayton, W. R. & Allen, C. E. The physicochemical and functional properties of soybean 11S globulinA review. Cereal Chem. 61, 480490 (1984).

CAS Google Scholar

Jin, T. et al. Crystal structure of prunin-1, a major component of the almond (Prunus dulcis) allergen amandin. J. Agric. Food Chem. 57, 86438651 (2009).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Argos, P., Narayana, S. V. & Nielsen, N. C. Structural similarity between legumin and vicilin storage proteins from legumes. EMBO J. 4, 11111117 (1985).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Shewry, P. R. & Casey, R. Seed proteins [M]// Seed proteins. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. 110, 17.060166.000553 (1999).

Liu, Y. et al. Structure and function of seed storage proteins in faba bean (Vicia faba L.). 3 Biotech 7, 114 (2017).

Article Google Scholar

Kawakatsu, T. & Takaiwa, F. Cereal seed storage protein synthesis: Fundamental processes for recombinant protein production in cereal grains. Plant Biotechnol. J. 8, 939953 (2010).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Giraud, M. F. & Naismith, J. H. The rhamnose pathway. Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 10, 687696 (2000).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Jiang, N., Dillon, F. M., Silva, A., Gomez-Cano, L. & Grotewold, E. Rhamnose in plants-from biosynthesis to diverse functions. Plant Sci. 302, 110687 (2021).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Tamara, L. et al. MUCILAGE-MODIFIED4 encodes a putative pectin biosynthetic enzyme developmentally regulated by APETALA2, TRANSPARENT TESTA GLABRA1, and GLABRA2 in the Arabidopsis seed coat. Plant Physiol. 134, 296306 (2004).

Article Google Scholar

Tandang-Silvas, M. R. G., Tecson-Mendoza, E. M., Mikami, B., Berlind, C. & Naismith, J. H. Molecular design of seed storage proteins for enhanced food physicochemical properties. Annu. Rev. Food Sci. Technol. 2, 5973 (2011).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Kesari, P. et al. Structural, functional and evolutionary aspects of seed globulins. Protein Pept. Lett. 24, 267277 (2017).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Scott, M. P. et al. A protease responsible for post-translational cleavage of a conserved Asn-Gly linkage in glycinin, the major seed storage protein of soybean. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 89, 658662 (1992).

Article ADS CAS Google Scholar

Hara-Nishimura, I., Shimada, T., Hiraiwa, N. & Nishimura, M. Vacuolar processing enzyme responsible for maturation of seed proteins. J. Plant Physiol. 145, 632640 (1995).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Carpita, N. C. & Gibeaut, D. M. Structural models of primary cell walls in flowering plants: Consistency of molecular structure with the physical properties of the walls during growth. Plant J. 3, 130 (1993).

Article CAS Google Scholar

Kawakatsu, T., Hirose, S., Yasuda, H. & Takaiwa, F. Reducing rice seed storage protein accumulation leads to changes in nutrient quality and storage organelle formation. Plant Physiol. 154, 18421854 (2010).

See the original post:

Cloning and functional characterization of the legumin A gene (EuLEGA) from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver | Scientific ... - Nature.com

Posted in Cloning | Comments Off on Cloning and functional characterization of the legumin A gene (EuLEGA) from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver | Scientific … – Nature.com

Singers Offered AI Voice Cloning by World’s Biggest Record Label – Ultimate Classic Rock

Posted: at 3:57 am

The worlds biggest record label, Universal Music Group, announced plans to offer its artists AI models of their own voices.

The corporations deal with digital startup firm SoundLabs will create software called MicDrop, designed to replicate an individual voice via machine learning techniques. The artist will retain full control of the model it wont be used in any way without permission, wont be available to the public, and the voice owner will profit from its use.

MidDrop is the latest iteration of technology thats been under development for years and has already begun impacting the music industry. Practical uses include being able to sing in foreign languages without having learned them; being able to create music after health issues prevent ones vocal cords from working; and even allowing music to be made after ones death.

READ MORE:Hear 25 AI James Hetfield Covers: Toto, Wham!, Seal and More

In addition, the voice model can by used like the voices on a synthesizer, offering additional creative opportunities. While its use as an onstage tool remain to be revealed, it could theoretically be used by a singer like Jon Bon Jovi who fears he may never tour again as a result of health issues to stay on the road.

MicDrop is the first in a suite of interoperable AI tools and services developed by SoundLabs for sound design and music generation, UMG said in a statement. It gives artists new music super-powers and completely reimagines how music is made, enabling them to expand what is possible.

SoundLabs goal is to place powerful new compositional tools at artists fingertips, while supporting proper management of their intellectual property. SoundLabs is focused on helping artists retain creative control over their data and models.

We believe the future of music creation is decidedly human, said BT, musician and boss of SoundLabs which uses the tagline Transform your voice into any voice, instantly. He continued: Artificial intelligence, when used ethically and trained consensually, has the promethean ability to unlock unimaginable new creative insights, diminish friction in the creative process and democratize creativity We are designing tools not to replace human artists, but to amplify human creativity.

Chris Horton, SVP of UMG which recently revealed its Principles for Music Creation With AI added: UMG strives to keep artists at the center of our AI strategy, so that technology is used in service of artistry, rather than the other way around.

We are thrilled to be working with SoundLabs and BT, who has a deep and personal understanding of both the technical and ethical issues related to AI. SoundLabs will allow UMG artists to push creative boundaries using voice-to-voice AI to sing in languages they dont speak, perform duets with their younger selves, restore imperfect vocal recordings, and more.

Music lives on long after the artists who create it are gone. Sometimes, lucky fans even get to enjoy new songs afterward.

Gallery Credit: Corey Iwwin

Read the original here:

Singers Offered AI Voice Cloning by World's Biggest Record Label - Ultimate Classic Rock

Posted in Cloning | Comments Off on Singers Offered AI Voice Cloning by World’s Biggest Record Label – Ultimate Classic Rock

IZEA Introduces AI Voice Cloning and Speech Synthesis in FormAI – GlobeNewswire

Posted: at 3:57 am

Cannes, France, June 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA), the premier provider of technology, data, and services for the Creator Economy, today announced it has launched new technology that enables both text-to-speech generation and AI voice cloning in FormAI, its suite of artificial intelligence tools built for influencer marketing. FormAI combines the best aspects of a variety of generative AI technologies and models across photos, video, text, chat and now audio. The company provides users with free access to FormAI, allowing power users to upgrade to get additional features and expanded content volume options.

IZEA CEO Ted Murphy unveiled these powerful new features at the companys second annual AI Days event during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Marketers and creators aboard a chartered yacht on the waters of the French Riviera viewed a live demonstration of the new FormAI tools.

AI Voice Cloning FormAIs new voice cloning feature allows users to upload a sound clip and generate an AI version of their voice. AI Voice Cloning allows content creators and marketers to generate voiceovers for their videos or podcasts in various tones, accents, or languages, expanding their reach to a more diverse audience. It saves resources by eliminating the need to hire professional voice actors, as creators can simply input their script and have the AI generate the audio. The voice cloning process requires a voice matching authentication, review, and approval process to ensure that the voices cloned are those of the end users.

AI Voice Sharing Creators can share their AI-trained digital voice with other creators, their talent management, or directly with brands. Brands can share an AI voice with creators to ensure consistency in content output. This shared ecosystem fosters a rich collaborative environment, allowing for easy sharing and access controls.

AI Text-to-Speech Synthesis FormAIs AI Text-to-Speech Synthesis feature boasts the capability to articulate text in 29 different languages, offering over 100 pre-existing voices. This includes both male and female voices with a variety of accents designed specifically for narration, character voicing, and more. It allows creators to produce multilingual content effortlessly in a pre-existing voice or their own, opening opportunities to reach a global audience.

With the launch of FormAI Voice Cloning, were taking another significant stride toward our goal of Generative Sponsorships, said Ted Murphy. The sharing of models and voices between brands and creators opens a gateway to a new era of digital storytelling where creators, brands, and technology converge to produce something truly extraordinary together.

These new features are available on FormAI paid plans. To get started with FormAI for free, visit izea.com. For news and resources, follow IZEA at x.com/izea.

About IZEA Worldwide, Inc.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (IZEA) is a marketing technology company providing software and professional services that enable brands to collaborate and transact with the full spectrum of todays top social influencers and content creators. The company serves as a champion for the growing Creator Economy, enabling individuals to monetize their content, creativity, and influence. IZEA launched the industrys first-ever influencer marketing platform in 2006 and has since facilitated nearly 4 million transactions between online buyers and sellers. Leading brands and agencies partner with IZEA to increase digital engagement, diversify brand voice, scale content production, and drive a measurable return on investment.

View original post here:

IZEA Introduces AI Voice Cloning and Speech Synthesis in FormAI - GlobeNewswire

Posted in Cloning | Comments Off on IZEA Introduces AI Voice Cloning and Speech Synthesis in FormAI – GlobeNewswire

MrBeast has a ‘clone’ who allows him to ‘be in multiple places at once’ – UNILAD

Posted: at 3:57 am

MrBeast has revealed he has a team of clones, which is how he is able to make so many huge-scale YouTube videos.

I think we would all like a clone of ourselves to cut in half the amount of jobs we have to do on a daily basis.

MrBeast is one of the most subscribed-to YouTubers on the platform, so its no wonder why he has such a huge team around him.

Now, whether they are actually clones is another question, but whatever hes doing, it seems to be going down well with his viewers.

To make sure his team are making exactly the same decisions he would make, and think exactly how he would think, MrBeast - real name Jimmy Donaldson - hired people who shared his vision and then put them through rigorous training or, as he calls it, 'cloning'.

In an interview with Lex Fridman, MrBeast explained: "I have a lot of people in the company who are able to think like me and basically make decisions like I would make.

"One example is Tyler [Conklin].

Basically for four or five years we just spent an absurd amount of time together and worked on every single video together... and the same thing with my CEO James, he lived with me for a couple of years.

"I'm a big fan of finding people who are just super obsessed and all in that really just want to be great, and then just dumping everything I have in them."

Trusting someone to be CEO of a company you created is pretty major, so it makes sense that MrBeast wanted to make sure James was right for the job - but the process was pretty intense.

He explains: "For two years, [James] lived with me and we probably talked, on average of those two years, seven hours a day... like really, just training his brain to think like me.

"That way, he could just do things without my input, without me having to constantly watch over him or give him advice.

"So for the first six months, he didn't do anything. He just studied me and studied everything I cared about and how I spoke.

"For the next six months he started taking on some responsibilities and now he can just run the company and I don't ever really have to check in on him.

"Like, most of the decisions he makes are exactly what I would do.

"I call that cloning, I don't know that other people would."

He added: "It just makes it where I don't have to be so involved in everything because I just have these people I know will think like I will. So I can kind of almost be in multiple places at once, per se.

"I still approve every idea before we film.

All the creative, I approve it, but I don't have to be in the weeds and nuances and do all this minor stuff."

See the original post:

MrBeast has a 'clone' who allows him to 'be in multiple places at once' - UNILAD

Posted in Cloning | Comments Off on MrBeast has a ‘clone’ who allows him to ‘be in multiple places at once’ – UNILAD

The Boys star’s reaction in shocking scene banned in India was ‘totally genuine’ – LADbible

Posted: at 3:57 am

When it comes to The Boys, there are numerous scenes that you really hope they dont actually put the actors through.

If every victim of Homelander was shot practically, Antony Starr would have somehow found the only way to actually get even scarier than he is when playing the Trumpian superhero.

Fans were shocked, however, to find out that a scene in the newest season so X-rated it was banned in India was completely genuine - at least regarding the actors reaction.

Censorship in India has been a problem for the newest season of The Boys, with one scene involving a cloning superhero human centipeding himself being banned with an edit put in its place of the superhero masturbating by himself without the help of clones.

As much as it wouldnt shock me to hear that the team behind The Boys perfected human cloning and immediately used it to film a self-orgy scene that isnt what happened here.

The scene in question is another in season four, in which Vice-President elect and secret supe Victoria Neuman (played by Claudia Domit) arranges a deal with Butcher (Karl Urban) to steal files the Boys have on her.

When he goes to send her said files, she instead opens her emails to be met with the only way to describe it is what we assume to be Billy Butchers spread a***hole.

Along with the human centipede scene, this moment also ended up getting censored in India - with viewers just seeing a blurred phone screen.

One fan wrote: Hey [Prime Video India] babe, you up? Great. Can we have a chat about you Randomly censoring scenes from The Boys in India?

In season 4 episode 1 Butcher sends a picture of a (his?) butthole to screw with someone (typical Butcher) which has been blurred out.

The official The Boys account on X posted a meme of the scene, saying:

We cant show you the actual image from the episode, but if youve seen it, you know exactly what goes here. Two things you should know:

1. That was Claudias first time seeing it, so her reaction is totally genuine.

2. It is not Karls butthole, but a model hired specifically for this shot. The more you know.

Absolutely. Diabolical.

Whilst were glad Karl wasnt made to spread and cough over a camera, the question asked by fans was clear: How much do you even pay someone to do that?

Never one to disappoint, The Boys account responded to one of the many asking to say: Probably a-whole lot.

No innuendo there Im sure.

Fans of The Boys, sickos that we all are, loved this detail.

One responded to the tweet to say: Could tell. Noticed a grin on her face when she covered it with her hand.

Another said: A genuine reaction, that scene was insane.

A third summed things up perfectly, tweeting: This show is so out of pocket and i bloody love it.

Too bloody right.

View post:

The Boys star's reaction in shocking scene banned in India was 'totally genuine' - LADbible

Posted in Cloning | Comments Off on The Boys star’s reaction in shocking scene banned in India was ‘totally genuine’ – LADbible

‘Orphan Black Echoes’ Review – A Soulless Clone of the Original – Collider

Posted: at 3:57 am

The Big Picture

Its always an exciting day for fans of an IP when a sequel series gets announced. Any opportunity to delve further into the lore of a beloved world especially when its science fiction or fantasy is a boon for longtime fans who usually sate that need via pages and pages of fanfiction or hours scrolling on Tumblr. So naturally, when Orphan Black: Echoes was first announced in 2022, the two-year wait about what to expect from the new project starring Krysten Ritter and Keeley Hawes was near-excruciating.

The premise is simple for anyone familiar with Orphan Black: Ritters Lucy wakes up with no memories at all, unable to ascertain where shes come from. In reality, she didnt exist before that moment shes a print-out, created by Hawes Kira Manning, the daughter of Tatiana Maslanys original clone Sarah Manning. But Lucy doesnt know that and embarks on a quest to figure out exactly who she is and why shes been created, a feat that becomes all the more difficult when she discovers other print-out versions of herself.

Initially, Echoes has all the hallmarks of what fans would want from an Orphan Black sequel series: a further exploration of the ethics behind human cloning, and a direct connection to Sarahs story from the original series. It sets itself up for a slam-dunk into the hearts of avid fans and seems like itll go down in sci-fi history until the end of the first episode, when things take a sharp turn.

Orphan Black: Echoes delves into a new chapter of the Orphan Black universe, exploring the lives of a fresh set of clones. Set in a near-future society, the series follows a group of women who discover they are part of a vast and complex cloning experiment. As they uncover their origins and grapple with their identities, they must navigate dangerous conspiracies and powerful enemies determined to control their fates.

Expand

Perhaps the most egregious problem of Echoes is that Ritters Lucy has none of the charm of Maslanys various clones from the original. This is less the fault of the actress herself and more of the writing, which is nearly a carbon copy of the original series with all its zing and interest surgically removed. Its Scientific Ethics for Dummies, talking down to the viewer about why everything going on in the show is wrong despite trying to make you root for some of the people who committed those atrocities in the first place. It doesnt help that Rya Kihlstedt and Amanda Fix, who play the younger and older versions of the same print-out character, seem like theyre letting Ritter do all the work for them, reading their lines with what feels like complete and utter disinterest in the show theyre starring in.

Hawes is really the only thing that makes Echoes worth watching, but I couldve told you that without watching a single episode. From kicking ass and taking names in Ashes to Ashes and Spooks to her more recent, nuanced work in projects like Its a Sin and Stonehouse, Hawes has always been one to watch, and its a shame that Echoes reduces her to a waif-like plot driver, forcing an American accent on her that, while believable, only makes her exposition-dumping dialogue seem all the more stilted and unnatural. Id be hard-pressed to say that shes bad as Kira Manning, considering she and Ritter are carrying the entire series on their own, but anyone would struggle with the material Echoes provides, which coasts by entirely on the reputation of the original series and nothing more. (This is also proven by a brief appearance from original star Jordan Gavaris, playing Hawes uncle despite being thirteen years her junior and wearing what can only be described as a comically bad fake beard.)

It's been seven years since Orphan Black went off the air, and yet Echoes doesn't offer up a single idea that expands upon the ethics of human cloning in a meaningful way. Echoes itself feels like a clone in the same way that Lucy is without any of her host mothers original memories a hollow print-out, a copy that forged all the structural basics with none of the flair or creativity. It feels less like a sequel to the original, continuing its ideas in a new format, and more like a cheap remake; change a few names, and it could be a completely different project, with almost no throughline to the original beyond Kiras name.

Echoes also features a heavy reliance on flashbacks, as though it cant trust the viewer to infer things for themselves and must walk them, baby step by baby step, through each plot point. When the A plot is about as interesting as watching paint dry, it might help to spice things up a bit by mixing up the timelines, but the flashbacks (one of which lasts an entire episode) do nothing but dump more exposition on the viewer. Echoes doesnt trust its audience for a second, which might explain why its about as fun to watch as one of those instructional training videos every job puts you through it wants to make sure you dont miss a damn thing, to its own detriment, rather than letting the viewer interpret its art through a personal lens.

As a result, getting through Echoes ten episodes its the rare show that gets more than an eight-episode season order is a feeling akin to wading through mud, with the end ultimately lacking what should feel like a satisfying conclusion. Its a tragedy, considering how much Ritter and Hawes can knock you on your ass when theyre given the right material to work with, but its also unsurprising, given the landscape we live in, of IPs flogged until every last bit of moneys been stripped from them. Echoes is nothing more than a dead horse being beaten repeatedly in the hope that someone, somewhere, will mistake it for the (much better) original.

Despite great leads, Orphan Black: Echoes fails to hit its mark and doesn't live up to the original series.

Orphan Black: Echoes premieres June 23 on AMC, AMC+, and BBC America.

Watch on AMC+

Read the original post:

'Orphan Black Echoes' Review - A Soulless Clone of the Original - Collider

Posted in Cloning | Comments Off on ‘Orphan Black Echoes’ Review – A Soulless Clone of the Original – Collider

Cardinal Sarah Warns of Dangers of Practical Atheism Even Within Church – National Catholic Register

Posted: at 3:56 am

Cardinal Sarah Warns of Dangers of Practical Atheism Even Within Church  National Catholic Register

Originally posted here:
Cardinal Sarah Warns of Dangers of Practical Atheism Even Within Church - National Catholic Register

Posted in Atheism | Comments Off on Cardinal Sarah Warns of Dangers of Practical Atheism Even Within Church – National Catholic Register

A journey from atheism in China to Catholicism in the United States – CatholicVote org

Posted: at 3:56 am

CV NEWS FEED // In a recent op-ed published in The Catholic Spirit, Juekun Wen, a recent Catholic convert, shared his journey from the atheism he grew up surrounded by in China to Catholicism in the US.

I became Catholic because I am a seeker of truth, Wen wrote in his June 17 article. God planted wonderful people along my journey in my darkest hour to show me the path of light, leading me toward him.

Describing his upbringing in China, Wen recalled that his family did not practice religion. He did not encounter Christianity until he was 25. I have always been taught that nothing is valid until proven to be true, he wrote. Skepticism was my religion.

However, after finishing his studies at the University of Richmond, and working for a few years as a lab technician, Wen decided he would visit his parents before returning back to the US to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota.

Then covid happened.

Wen was faced with either having to return to China and potentially be unable to return for graduate school, or remain in the US without a job or place to live.

I was very depressed and anxious and felt that my life had hit rock bottom. Little did I know that the Almighty had his plan for me, even though I was not one of his followers yet, he wrote.

Ultimately, Wen recalled that it was one of his undergraduate professors who came to his aid, and subsequently led him to the Catholic faith.

Upon hearing of Wens circumstance, the professor and his family, who are all Christian, offered to host Wen for as long as he needed. It was during this time that Wen began to learn about Christianity.

Wen later attended the University of Minnesota, where his professor connected him with the family that would later become his sponsors to the Catholic Church, and the future godparents to his child.

Alongside his studies, Wen discovered that the more he learned about God, the more he realized that religion and science are not in conflict.

I came to realize that the analytical method and inquisitive mindset (as my younger self would call it, being skeptical) fostered by science are powerful tools to aid one in understanding and searching for truth, he wrote, adding:

One can say that those are wonderful gifts that our Lord has bestowed upon us, to be able to search for him.

Wen now attends St Mark parish in St Paul, where he lives with his wife Lauren. They are currently expecting their first child.

Looking back now, I feel so blessed and grateful for God to put those people in my life to guide me to him, he concluded: Even when I was skeptical of his existence, God had his way of leading me to the truth and happiness.

Read more from the original source:
A journey from atheism in China to Catholicism in the United States - CatholicVote org

Posted in Atheism | Comments Off on A journey from atheism in China to Catholicism in the United States – CatholicVote org

His Mom Passes And He’s Sent To Live With His Very Religious Dad. Now He’s Trying To Convert Him, But He Says … – Twisted Sifter

Posted: at 3:56 am

For many deeply religious families, atheism is unfathomable maybe even a ticket to hell.

Atheism can also be interpreted as an insult to their whole way of life and some families go as far as to try to convert non-believers.

So stories like the one youre about to read are not too uncommon.

I met my father in September of last year. I (16m) was 15 at the time and had recently lost my mom to cervical cancer.

My grandparents and two of my aunts did not want to keep taking care of me.

So instead of letting me go to my aunt out of state, they contacted the man who wanted nothing to do with me before and involved a social worker.

This meant I would have to go live with him instead of the aunt I actually knew and who did want me.

It was hard enough losing his mom and not being wanted by other relatives, but then things get worse.

What made it worse is that my father and his wife are very religious and Im not.

I was raised by an atheist mom, had a mostly atheist family and I have no interest in joining or taking part in anything religious.

Unfortunately, my father and his family try taking me to church and also get me baptized. I have refused.

Things got way more tense recently because two of my fathers other kids were questioning me on why I dont pray.

Their efforts became a full-on campaign to convert him and they didnt let up.

They got upset and tried to do all this converting stuff and theyre only middle schoolers for **** sake.

My father tried telling me I shouldnt shoot it down so quickly and he told me to give it a try and I said no.

Then his wife told me I should be grateful for a chance to be saved and Im being very stubborn and should show them respect as my parents to let them guide me into religion.

I told her they are not my parents, they are randos Im forced to live with and I will never take part in their religion ever and they need to accept that because I dont believe in God or anything.

They didnt like my closed mindedness and they were angry I spoke to them with such finality.

AITA?

Heres what people are saying.

I would recommend this, too. Its not right.

A lot of people suggested doing things that Christians stereotypically hate.

It seems so cold and unfair. Im not sure the social worker can do much.

Some people shared how they dealt with their deeply religious families.

It was great to see so many people empowering OP.

Stop trying to manipulate people!

If you liked that story, read this one about grandparents who set up a college fund for their grandkid because his parents wont, but then his parents want to use the money to cover siblings medical expenses.

See the original post here:
His Mom Passes And He's Sent To Live With His Very Religious Dad. Now He's Trying To Convert Him, But He Says ... - Twisted Sifter

Posted in Atheism | Comments Off on His Mom Passes And He’s Sent To Live With His Very Religious Dad. Now He’s Trying To Convert Him, But He Says … – Twisted Sifter

Cardinal Sarah warns against ‘practical atheism’ even within the Church – CatholicCitizens.org – Catholic Citizens of Illinois

Posted: at 3:56 am

By Our Sunday Visitor staff, June 14, 2024

Cardinal Robert Sarah delivered a speech to attendees of a sold-out event June 13 at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he emphasized the dangers of practical atheism, calling it a great temptation in the Church today.

Practical atheism does not deny God or reject God outright, the cardinal said, but it removes God from the center of life. Criticizing the Church in Europe, Cardinal Sarah repeatedly warned of the loss of the sense of the Gospel which has permeated much of daily life in the West.

The temptation has even impacted Church leaders, tempting them to dream of being loved by the world rather than steadfastly opposing it, said the cardinal, who isprefect emeritus of the Holy Sees Congregation (now Dicastery) of Divine Worshipand the Discipline of the Sacraments, and archbishop emeritus of Conakry, Guinea.

More than 350 people attended the lecture, which was sponsored by the California-basedNapa Instituteand theCatholic Information Center, a Washington bookstore and intellectual hub. The lecture was preceded by Mass in the Crypt Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which was attended by hundreds more, organizers told Our Sunday Visitor.

In his address, Cardinal Sarah examined the contributions of Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis in condemning practical atheism. He urged heightened vigilance against this subtle state of mind, which he dubbed a dangerous disease.

At one point, Cardinal Sarah highlighted the ongoing Synod on Synodality process in particular, questioning whether it genuinely reflects the Holy Spirits guidance.

There are voices at the synod that are not speaking within the sensus fidei, the sense of the faith the cardinal said. He elaborated, Just because someone identifies as Catholic does not mean they are Catholic or have the sensus fidelium. Those voices, Cardinal Sarah said, are leading to confusion and instability.

Cardinal Sarah criticized the idea that the Churchs doctrine could be subject to change based on majority opinion, stating, To move outside the content of faith both in belief and practice is to move outside the faith. He warned that such an approach reduces faith to mere human opinion and leads to a cacophony of voices rather than a unified message.

There are voices at the synod that are not speaking within the sensus fidei, the sense of the faith the cardinal said. He elaborated, Just because someone identifies as Catholic does not mean they are Catholic or have the sensus fidelium.

The cardinal also addressed recent discussions within the Church about the possibility of ordaining women to Holy Orders, naming Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich,the synods relator general, who has expressed openness to womens ordination. Cardinal Sarah reaffirmed Pope Francis clear stance that ordaining women is not possible but noted that confusion persists on this issue.

This is the sort of thing that Catholics should believe is impossible, Cardinal Sarah said, and yet, we have a senior ranking official espousing an ideology that rejects stability of doctrine. He emphasized the importance of maintaining doctrinal stability to prevent further harm to the Church and its members.

The cardinal stressed that the Churchs authority is not based on democratic principles but on the authority of Christ himself, which he willed to pass on to men who (would be) his representatives until his definitive return. To manifest that authority clearly, he echoed Pope Francis repeated calls for bishops and priests to live lives consistent with the Gospel, and to serve as credible witnesses to the faith.

In his concluding remarks, Cardinal Sarah praised the vitality of the Church in the United States, drawing parallels to the youthful and heroic witness of the African Church. The cardinal pointed tothe witness of the African Churchwhich saved the Church from grave error in the wake of that misguided document Fiducia Supplicans, on blessings for people who are in same-sex relationships and other couples in irregular situations.

The cardinal urged the Church in the United States to also be a witness to the global Church, asking Catholics to embrace their responsibility and potential for significant impact.

Imagine what could happen, he said, if America were to become home to an even more vibrant Catholic community.

This article first appeared HERE.

See the article here:
Cardinal Sarah warns against 'practical atheism' even within the Church - CatholicCitizens.org - Catholic Citizens of Illinois

Posted in Atheism | Comments Off on Cardinal Sarah warns against ‘practical atheism’ even within the Church – CatholicCitizens.org – Catholic Citizens of Illinois