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Biochemistry

Medical Research Specialist I job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY | 206266 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Job Description General Responsibilities:

Specific Responsibilities and Tasks:

Minimum Qualification

B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree in a relevant discipline.

Preferred Qualification

Demonstrated prior experience in animal care and handling, flow cytometry, molecular biology and cell culture techniques is essential.

Expected Skills/Rank/Experience

Minimum 3-4 years in academic or research institution setting and/or in the relevant scientific field.

Division College of Medicine&Health Sciences

Department Biochemistry - (CMHS)

Job Close Date open until filled

Job Category Staff

Salary 7000 to 18000 AED

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Medical Research Specialist I job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY | 206266 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Biochemistry

UGA researcher works on test to determine severity of virus – The Albany Herald

ATHENS In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers across the world are looking not only for a vaccine to combat the virus, but also better testing resources to find out both who is infected and how serious those infections may be.

Michael Tiemeyer, distinguished research professor in the University of Georgias Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, is trying to determine if a saliva test could predict the severity of a coronavirus patients disease course.

The test would be derived from glycosylation profiles of patients mucin, a type of bodily secretion that is found in both saliva and mucus. Glycosylation is related to bodily cells protein manufacturing function. It is the process by which cells modify those proteins by attaching carbohydrates, or glycans, that exist on the surface of every cell. Glycans regulate how cells interact with one another and with their environment, and theyre the first thing a virus encounters when it attempts to infect a cell.

Many viruses use those glycans to attach to cells, or to be released from cells to go out and attack another cell, Tiemeyer, CCRC co-director and a professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of biochemistry and molecular biology, said. The influenza virus, for example, has a binding protein on its surface that recognizes specific glycan structures that are found at the surface of lung cells.

While theres no evidence that COVID-19 has a binding protein similar to influenza, it still has to negotiate with glycans at the surface of cells it infects, Tiemeyer said. The virus infects specialized epithelial cells, which line the bodys airway and produce prodigious amounts of mucus.

When someone is infected with COVID-19, epithelial cells in their submucosal gland, which secretes mucus, are compromised. The virus kills the mucus-producing epithelial cells, resulting in the infections characteristic dry cough. Tiemeyer is working on defining glycan markers for normal submucosal gland function, which could be compared to a COVID-19 patients reduced gland function.

If gland function in an individual is different, it may tell us how severe their expected disease course is, and it may tell us if they are more sensitive or less sensitive to the virus, Tiemeyer said. We know there are differences from person to person, and some of those differences may lie in how their submucosal glands are functioning.

Tiemeyer is working with Richard Boucher, director of the Marisco Lung Institute at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Since the onset of the pandemic, Boucher has adjusted his lab specifically to study the lung physiology of COVID-19. Hes able to grow human epithelial cells in culture dishes and collect clinical mucus samples from consenting patients, which he and Tiemeyer can study.

Viral load, referring to the number of viral particles carried by an infected individual, is a useful indicator for identifying the severity of symptoms for someone infected by several viruses, like SARS. But for COVID-19, viral load thus far hasnt shown to be a useful predictor.

The jury is still out, Tiemeyer said. I think we still dont have enough data to be sure, but that means people want other ways to look at the infection besides viral load. Physicians would like some other marker they could use to say, This person needs more attention than this person, because their disease is more severe. Thats where we come in trying to molecularly identify changes in mucus and mucin glycosylation and understand how they relate to disease progression.

Tiemeyer is currently in the first phase of his research, trying to define a normal pattern of infection. Once thats established, he and his team can investigate how the infection changes and correlates with disease severity.

The ultimate goal of the research is to produce a saliva test, where a COVID-19 patients mucus would be analyzed to determine if it fits a mucin glycosylation profile that would indicate a probable need for hospitalization. Tiemeyer said the test wont come to fruition during the current wave of infection but might exist in time for any future wave that may occur.

Tiemeyer is currently applying for funding from the National Institutes of Health, which supports Bouchers research. Just like many other UGA researchers, Tiemeyer has worked quickly to convert his lab for studying COVID-19.

Were shifting gears, trying to participate and finding funding as we can, Tiemeyer said. Im really impressed with how many people at UGA have been able to turn on a dime and apply their attention to a new area of research.

Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free.Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution today.

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UGA researcher works on test to determine severity of virus - The Albany Herald

Physiology

Sending copper where it is needed most – Science Magazine

Copper (Cu) is an essential component of human physiology, and it is indispensable for normal brain development. Cells use Cu in many processes, including respiration, formation of myelin sheath, immune responses, wound healing, and synthesis of neurotransmitters (1). A sophisticated network of Cu-transporting proteins retrieves Cu from dietary sources, transfers Cu across biological membranes, and distributes it within cells and tissues (2). The key component of this network, Cu-transporting adenosine triphosphatase 1 (ATP7A), is inactivated in Menkes disease (MNKD). This causes Cu deficit in the brain, neurodegeneration, and early death. Cu supplementation is ineffective in treating MNKD patients because Cu cannot reach many cellular destinations, especially the brain, without functional transporters. On page 620 of this issue, Guthrie et al. (3) show that a small Cu-binding molecule, elesclomol, can overcome this problem, improving Cu delivery to the brain and alleviating mortality of ATP7A-deficient mice.

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Sending copper where it is needed most - Science Magazine

Physiology

Dare to live without limits Week of 5/11/20 – Press Publications Inc.

Take time to find the cure that is within you

You have within you a powerful ability to improve your physical and emotional health. A positive mental attitude combined with optimism has been linked to strengthening your immune system.Norman Cousins is a perfect example of this phenomena. Norman, a magazine editor, was 49 years old when he was diagnosed with a crippling connective tissue disease. He was told that he only had a 1 in 500 chance of recovery. Cousins had previously done research on the impact of human emotions on physiology. He had a firm belief that positive emotions were a key component to fighting disease.Cousins created a recovery program which included massive doses of laughter brought on by watching comedy films and television shows. He discovered that 10 minutes of intense laughter gave him at least two hours of pain free sleep. When the pain set in again, cousins would resume watching the comedies. Cousins laugh therapy aided his full recovery from the debilitating disease.In addition to Norman Cousins experience, research shows laughter decreases stress hormones, increases 'good' cholesterol, and reduces artery inflammation. You can actually laugh your way to physical and mental health. So, look for the humor which exists in most situations. A good sense of humor is an integral part of the cure within you.The placebo effect demonstrates the power of your mind to cure ailments. When new drugs are tested, two groups of test subjects are used. One group gets the new drug, while the other receives a placebo. The test subjects do not know which group they are part of.At the conclusion of the drug test, the percentage of people who took the drug and saw improvements is compared to the percentage of the placebo group who also experienced improvements.A fascinating aspect of these studies is that there is a percentage of people on the placebo who experience the same benefits as those taking the drug. This is incontrovertible evidence of your minds ability to cure various ailments.This power also boosts the effectiveness of medications. People who take medications have better results when they believe the medications will work. Your mind has an amazing ability to facilitate your wellbeing when directed by a positive attitude.What you say to yourself has a tremendous impact on your physical and mental wellbeing. Positive self-talk boosts the cure within you. Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own negative self-talk. Yet, too many people regularly say awful things to themselves.Dont internalize negative emotions. Dont connect a negative emotion with a physical ailment. For example, dont say to yourself, Im so upset I have a stomach ache. If you do this you are inviting the ailment into your body. Additionally, negative emotions are linked to lowered immunity. Release negative emotions instead of hanging on to them.Exercise enhances the cure within you by lowering stress. If you are stressed out because you dont know how to deal with a problem, just go and get some exercise. Even if you dont feel like it, just go do it. You will feel better.Acknowledge the powerful cure that is already within you. Stop any behavior which interferes with it. Focus on the strategies which enhance it.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit http://www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. Email Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. 2020 Bryan Golden

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Dare to live without limits Week of 5/11/20 - Press Publications Inc.

Physiology

The Big PhD Pause – postgraduate students, COVID-19, and the next brain drain? (Science Interrupted Part 3) – ABC Science Online

Doing a PhD is damn hard at the best of times as relentless and isolating as it can be stimulating and satisfying.

Mental health suffers and existential angst becomes amplified as the clock ticks down to D(eadline) Day.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has now put many PhD students on an even more precarious path.

Labs are locked down, experiments stopped, crucial field trips cancelled, part-time jobs terminated, international students stranded, and there is no end to the pandemic in sight anytime soon.

How are graduate students coping, and what are their options?

How are universities responding?

And, with university revenues likely to take a big hit from a diminished overseas student market, graduate students are wondering what their employment and research funding prospects will be like after this.

Part 3 in our Science Interrupted series bringing you poignant, personal stories from a pandemic. Hear Part 1 and Part 2

Guests:Romana-Rea Begicevic (@CAPAPresident)National President, Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations PhD candidate Biosciences and Metabolic HealthSchool of Health Sciences Curtin University, WA

Hericka Bruna Figueiredo GalvaoPhD candidate Physiology Anatomy & Microbiology School of Life Sciences La Trobe University, Victoria Madison (Maddy) Hoffman (@maddy_hoff)PhD candidateCentre for Marine Ecosystems Research School of Science Edith Cowan University, Western Australia Haylo Roberts (@aqueerscientist)PhD candidateAnimal Plant & Soil Sciences School of Life Sciences La Trobe University, Victoria Professor Brian Schmidt(@cosmicpinot)Nobel Prize-winning astronomer Vice ChancellorAustralian National University, Canberra

Further information: Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations Federal Department of Education, Skills and Employment - Information sheet about COVID-19 ABCs Coronacast podcast hosted by Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Presenter: Natasha Mitchell Producers: Natasha Mitchell and Jane Lee Sound engineer: Brendan ONeill

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The Big PhD Pause - postgraduate students, COVID-19, and the next brain drain? (Science Interrupted Part 3) - ABC Science Online

Physiology

UCLA’s grading portals miss mark on tracking progress when students need it most – Daily Bruin

For students around the globe, the past month has been riddled with adjustments to online learning.

But for many UCLA students, challenges with the universitys portals Common Collaboration and Learning Environment and MyUCLA are nothing new.

CCLE allows students to access their course syllabuses, assignments, grades and other resources. MyUCLA, alternatively, is a website utilized for many student services, most notably enrollment and grading updates. Information is shared between both platforms to translate academic feedback from CCLE to MyUCLA.

If only that information was shared efficiently.

Currently, students dont have a solid understanding of their letter grade until its carried over from CCLE to MyUCLA which often does not happen until the last couple weeks of the quarter. Beyond that, professors and departments upload grades inconsistently between the websites, making it difficult for students to know where to look.

In a time when online resources are all students have, UCLA must strengthen the link between the two portals so that students are more aware of their grades before it is too late to change them. With no in-person office hours or feedback, students need consistent access to updated grades to succeed academically. This is especially important when students have the option to choose Pass/No Pass grading anytime before finals week, considering that missing grades could prevent them from making the decision to change their grade type. Unless UCLA can ensure better accessibility of grades, the university needs to implement a new system across the board.

And its not just students who are affected by this unorganized system.

One thing I do not like right now is the fact that its very hard for MyUCLA and the grade book on MyUCLA to talk to the grade book in CCLE, said Anthony Friscia, a UCLA adjunct professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology. That part is really annoying, so its hard to keep students up to date on whats going on with their grades and things like that because of it.

So while instructors might be providing insightful comments and individual assignment grades to students on CCLE, students are still left guessing about their overall course progress.

This is a critical time for students to keep track of their grades. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to online learning, students can now take more than one class during spring quarter on a Pass/No Pass grading basis.

Pass/No Pass grading enables students to take a class without the distinction of a letter grade. As a result, this grading option allows students to take classes for units without the class affecting their GPA. This is an important decision for students who find themselves struggling with the transition to online learning.

But without a grasp on what grade they are on track for, this decision is difficult to make.

Isba Keshwani, a first-year astrophysics student, agrees that CCLE should be more efficient in communicating course grades with students.

I never know what grade I have, Keshwani said. Now that were remote, our grades are more based on homework, and sometimes even participation for some of my classes. So I feel like (the grading portals) should make it more possible to give you your grades as you go on.

This is why many UCLA instructors turn to third-party grading websites, like Gradescope.

Kirie Stromberg, a graduate student in archaeology, uses Gradescope to give her students a more updated look on their grades. In addition, she said Gradescope is often simpler to use.

I think youd be hard-pressed to find any professor or TA right now who isnt using at least one other online platform in addition to what we have from UCLA, Stromberg said.

In light of this, UCLA should consider converting to more mainstream grading portals, like Canvas or Blackboard, across all departments. In fact, many other schools within the University of California system use Canvas, such as UC Davis and UC Irvine.

It would certainly be easier to have one unified grading portal instead of the countless sites that different instructors choose as supplements to the deficient UCLA option.

Stromberg noted this was another flaw with having to use other additional academic websites as companions to UCLA sites.

Then (students) have to have like 20 different things depending on what each instructor is using, Stromberg said.

Students are already facing major challenges with the pandemic and the transition to online learning, whether that be technical difficulties or a lack of motivation. And having to sort through multiple websites just to check grades and assignments only adds to this stress.

However, CCLE and MyUCLA do offer elements exclusive to UCLA students. One of CCLEs advantages is that it offers one website for all of a students classes one place for a class syllabus, assignments, readings, Turnitin and instructor feedback. But despite these distinct advantages, students still lack the ability to view their letter grade progress throughout the quarter.

So even if UCLA grading stays on the MyUCLA and CCLE interfaces, the communication between the two websites, and thus between students and their instructors, needs improvement.

Because in an era when office hours have been replaced by online portals, it is UCLAs responsibility to ensure these websites are the best they can be.

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UCLA's grading portals miss mark on tracking progress when students need it most - Daily Bruin

Physiology

Turning the Tide: Digest these facts about your gut – South Coast Herald

Most people consider the gastro-intestinal system merely a tube through which food goes in and waste products pass out, give or take a few enzymes and digestive proteins here and there to help the process of absorption of nutrients. But it turns out the gut is one of the most important organs in the body in terms of brain function as well as immunity.

There is still so much that scientists are learning all the time, and I must admit I still feel a bit overwhelmed by all the detail. Unfortunately there are also conflicting stories about the condition termed leaky gut and the causes and influence this condition has on the functioning of the body. I will attempt to negotiate through the maze of opinions to give you a rational perspective.

What has the gut to do with lifestyle medicine? A great deal. Lifestyle medicine seeks to combat poor lifestyle choices responsible for conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardio-vascular disease, auto-immune diseases, dementia and cancer. The gut is the conduit through which many of those diseases are caused, and the health of the gut has much to do with how those diseases develop.

What we will do today is give a brief anatomy and physiology lesson about the gastro-intestinal tract. Next time we will delve into some of the history of how diet became such an important aspect of healing of the ravages of modern living. Thereafter we will deal with various aspects of how to heal the gut, and conditions that affect our gut health.

Anatomy:

I believe most of us in primary school learned the rudiments of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). Starting at the lips and mouth, with teeth, tongue and taste buds, to salivary glands, oro-pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine (consisting of duodenum, jejunum and ileum), appendix, colon (consisting of caecum, ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon), rectum and anus. Also part of the gastro-intestinal system are the liver and biliary system (gall bladder and bile ducts) and the pancreas.

As in most parts of natural science, deeper study has demonstrated immense complexity of these structures both in anatomical structure as well as in biochemical function. Our scientific forefathers had such a simplistic perception of how things worked. From that perspective it was not too difficult for them to say that these organs and functions arose through slow processes of trial and error as random events. However any honest student of anatomy and physiology today would have to take an enormous leap of faith (or dogma) to convincingly claim that the intricate design and complex interactions responsible for normal healthy life could possibly have arisen randomly.

As I read the research about all the complex derangements taking place in the body as a result of Covid-19 infection, many of these cytokines and fancy named proteins were not even imagined when I did physiology 50 years back. Even when I did my primary examination at the beginning of my specialty 30 years ago, so much has knowledge increased about the highly sophisticated and interconnected physiology of the various organs of the human body.

A young engineering student would be overwhelmed with the complexity and sophistication of the design and functioning of a Boeing 777. And yet even a single cell in the human body makes the complexity and design of that amazing jet pale into deep insignificance.

Physiology

Our primary school physiology lesson on the GIT started with the taste buds the ability to perceive sour, sweet, bitter and salty. Now there is a new taste called umami, as we find in savoury broths and proteins and monosodium glutamate. But actually the functioning of our GIT starts even before the lips our eyes and noses can start the process of digestion getting the cravings and the digestive juices going. Who has not had salivary glands secrete at the thought of a sour lemon; or the aroma of freshly baked bread stimulate desire for a slice.

Chewing of food and mixing it with saliva, with some of those enzymes that already begin to break down complex carbohydrates starts the digestion process. Smoothies and juicing are the craze, and although there are many advantages in terms of saving time, taking your time to chew the food is part of the relaxation that goes into helping your digestive process work more efficiently, apart from the benefit of the social event of a meal with family or friends. (By the way juicing removes much of the fibre which we will learn later is vital for proper health of the intestinal flora. Smoothies do retain the fibre).

Pixabay

The strong hydrochloric acid of the stomach is antiseptic killing bacteria, But it has other benefits as well. It helps with the breakdown of foods, in particular protein by activating the enzyme pepsin. It also helps with the absorption of vitamins and minerals such as B12, iron, calcium and magnesium. It prompts the release of digestive enzymes and bile from the pancreas and gall bladder respectively. The stomach also acts as a temporary store of ingested foods which are gradually released into the duodenum. Cells lining the stomach wall secrete mucus which protects the delicate epithelial cells from damage from the strong acid. The integrity of these lining cells is important to prevent gastritis and ulcers.

The small intestine is responsible for breakdown and absorption of nutrients. Multiple enzymes are secreted from the pancreas to help with protein digestion, and bile salts come from the liver via the gall bladder to help with digestion of fats. Carbohydrates are further broken down into simple sugars. The surface area of the small intestine is greatly increased by the presence of folds called villi, and in turn these villi are covered with hundreds of microvilli which are well endowed with capillaries. The small intestine is lined with just a single layer of cells across which sugars and fats easily cross, and through which proteins and some carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins are actively transported.

The integrity of this single layer of cells is vital to prevent harmful micro-organisms as well as to keep antigenic proteins and toxins out of the body. Within the wall of the small intestine are lymphatic tissues, (called Peyers patches) similar to the tonsils and adenoids in the wall of the oropharynx and nasopharynx. These lymph glands provide the first warning of harmful invaders to the body and set the immune system into action to fight potential dangers.

Here is an interesting article detailing the complex immune systems at play in the intestinal wall. As you will discover from this article there is a delicate balance between healthy protection and over-reaction with excess inflammation of the bowels. Enter the gut microflora. I will not go into details at this stage, as there is so much information it will take a special article to just cover the broad picture of what the microflora is all about.

One last physiological concept the quantity of fibre in the intestinal contents has a direct effect on the bowel passage time. There are two types of fibre insoluble fibre such as wheat bran, and water soluble fibre such as pectin found in fruits and vegetables, and oats fibre. The latter is digested by the bowel flora into butyric and propionic acid which have beneficial effects on bowel function. Recommendations are around 30 gm of fibre per person per day for a healthy gut.

I trust that you will have a peaceful week, in spite of the stresses of either going back to work for those who can, or the stresses of not being able to go back to work for those who cant. Whatever you do, remember to implement the preventive measures of social distancing, washing hands frequently or using hand sanitiser, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and now wearing of face masks in public places. (I see many people fiddling with their face masks which defeats the purpose. Try to find or make a mask that is comfortable to wear and fits well, to avoid touching it frequently.)

Kind regards,

Dave Glass

Dr David Glass graduated from UCT in 1975. He spent the next 12 years working at a mission hospital in Lesotho, where much of his work involved health education and interventions to improve health, aside from the normal busy clinical work of an under-resourced mission hospital.

He returned to UCT in 1990 to specialise in obstetrics/gynaecology and then moved to the South Coast where he had the privilege of, amongst other things, ushering 7000 babies into the world. He no longer delivers babies but is still very clinically active in gynaecology.

An old passion, preventive health care, has now replaced the obstetrics side of his work. He is eager to share insights he has gathered over the years on how to prevent and reverse so many of the modern scourges of lifestyle obesity, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, common cancers, etc.

He is a family man, with a supportive wife, and two grown children, and four beautiful grandchildren. His hobbies include walking, cycling, vegetable gardening, bird-watching, travelling and writing. He is active in community health outreach and deeply involved in church activities. He enjoys teaching and sharing information.

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Turning the Tide: Digest these facts about your gut - South Coast Herald

Physiology

X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Nightcrawlers Body – CBR – Comic Book Resources

While many mutants undergo a physical transformation, the X-Men's Nightcrawler mutated body has given him a number of unique advantages.

After Nightcrawler first joined the X-Men in Len Wein and Dave Cockrum's Giant-Size X-Men #1, he quickly became a favorite member of the team by both his teammates and readers alike. While he has moved between various teams like Excalibur and his spiritual calling to the Catholic Church, he always finds himself back as the heart of the X-Men, and he currently sits on the Quiet Council of Krakoa as one of the leaders of the mutant state Krakoa.

Unlike most mutants whose abilities or transformations occur during puberty, Kurt Wagner's devilish mutation was visible from birth, which led him to find a place within a traveling circus, where he was raised as a gifted acrobat and aerialist well before his teleportation abilities presented themselves. While Nightcrawler's monstrous appearance seems at odds with his personality, it's actually perfectly suited to his character and grants him additional strengths and abilities that give him a totally unique physiology.

RELATED: X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Mystique's Body

One of Nightcrawler's most striking physical features is the blue color of his skin, which is actually a fine fur that covers his entire body. This body fur doesn't grow out like his regular hair or facial hair, as we saw recently when the character grew a beard during his time withX-Men: Red. However, aside from Kurt's blue fur allowing him to join a prestigious club of blue X-Men that includes characters like Beast and his mother Mystique, Kurt's fur also grants Nightcrawler a verystealthy ability.

While Kurt's face almost always rests in shadow due to his unique coloring and shading, he discovered in Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum's X-Men#103 that he was actually capable of almost disappearing entirely when he enters a shadow, though his glowing eyes are often visible in the shadows when he is camouflaged. This abilityhas been re-explored a few times over the years and has been connected to his teleportation abilities as well.

Along withthe pointed ears that help contribute to his elfish appearance that has resulted in his nickname of "fuzzy elf," Kurt also has a prehensile tail that he can use in various ways, though the obvious function of the tail is to assist Kurt with his balance, much like the tail of a cat. This functionbenefits Kurt greatly in his aerial acrobatics, though there are quite a few other advantages to his prehensile tail.

RELATED:X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Jean Grey's Body, Explained

Kurt can use his tail to holdhis own weight or the weight of others and has even used his tail to tie up or throw his foes. He is also able to skillfully wield a fencing foil with his prehensile tail, which makes it as dextrous as it is powerful. He has used his tail many times in battle when his hands were otherwise occupied or he needed a surprise advantage while engaged in his favorite past-time, swashbuckling.

Kurt's hands and feet are also quite different from the average human/mutant in a number of ways,the most noticeable of which is the fact that Kurt only has three fingers and toes on each hand and foot. His hands have two fingers and a thumb while his feet feature two forward-facing toes and a larger backward-facing toe thatenhances his agility and allows him to grip better with his feet, which comes in handy with Kurt'saerial fighting style.

Nightcrawler's hands and feet also havemicroscopic suction cups that allow him to cling to and scale walls much like Spider-Man, though his sticking ability is often easily negatedby slippery surfaces or other means. Through a combination of his agility, balance, prehensile tail and sticky extremities, Nightcrawler is able to use his wall-climbing ability to reach almost any place, even without his ability to teleport.

Another easily distinguishable difference of Kurt's is his glowing yellow eyes, which occasionally have pupils drawn in but for the most part, remain a solid yellow even when he is camouflaged in shadow. Thestriking color and design of his eyes aren't just cosmetic either, as his night vision is greatly enhancedby his eyes as well.

RELATED:X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Cable's Body

He has previously remarked that "the deepest darkness is like high noon to me," and he has used his night vision many times while in his shadow form to his advantage. Kurt's connection to the Brimstone Dimension and his demonic father Azazellikely affected his mutant physiology, as his father shares a number of the same abilities and characteristics, including his shining yellow eyes.

Nightcrawler is one of the most agile members of the X-Men, and he uses skills learned during his upbringing in the circus and instilled in him by Danger Room drills. However, Nightcrawler's agility is also due to hismutated bone structure, which allows him to contort his body well beyond the average human.

When the High Evolutionary "cured" the mutant gene temporarily during the "Mutants No More" storyline, Kurt discovered quickly that he wasn't capable of achieving the same feats of agility, despite having years of circus training to fall back on. His extreme flexibility also allows him to stay crouched and fit into places others his size wouldn't be able to, which only increases his stealthy skills when combined with his ability to cling to walls and blend into shadows.

NEXT:X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Apocalypse's Body

Harry Potter: The Absolute WORST Change the Films Made to the Books

Entertainment reporter, writer, and all around geek. I like salad but prefer french fries.

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X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Nightcrawlers Body - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Physiology

Close to home: ‘Inexplicable love of what you do’ makes writer’s wife a nurse | News, Sports, Jobs – timesobserver.com

Photo submitted to Times ObserverMindy Cottons nursing school graduation photo.

Over 15 years ago, a high school junior job-shadowed a nurse on the Critical Care Unit at Warren General Hospital.

Flash forward to 2020 and that nurse is working where?

The Critical Care Unit at Warren General Hospital.

But the thought of a career in nursing went back far further for Mindy Cotton (Writers note: Yes, shes my wife.)

I was young, probably elementary school, she said.

Photo submitted to Times Observer Mindy Cotton, right, and her husband, Josh Cotton, the article author.

She explained that her babysitter Sarah Klenck was in nursing school and proceeded to marry a cousin.

(I) used to beg her to tell me about all her patients, Mindy said. It was just very intriguing to me, taking care of people.

It wouldnt be until those high school years when she settled on pursuing nursing.

But it didnt happen immediately.

My mom liked the idea of being a nurse so that made me feel like I did want to, Mindy said, which was probably about the only rebellious thing I did as a teenager. (Im) not sure I even ever told her that.

Mindy graduated from Youngsville High School in 2004, which was right around when the Warren County School District rolled out a new, extensive graduation project.

One of the easier things to do was to job shadow someone, she said. A good friends mom, Jane Abbott, was a CCU nurse.

The job shadow was one day. I was just hooked on it. The minute I left there, (it was) deeply resonating that that was what I wanted to do and that was where I wanted to work.

Knowing where she was headed, she took anatomy and physiology and statistics in high school because they had been recommended for people pursuing nursing. (Writers note: I asked Mindy out for the first time via a note in that statistics class, so I think the course worked out well for both of us!)

Pitt-Titusville was on the cusp of starting a nursing program so Mindy took non-nursing classes there for a year before being admitted to the first class of that program.

College was stressful in a very intense program.

I cried a lot, she said.

Being that no one in my immediate family had been to college, I had no idea what to expect going into it, she said, calling it a huge learning curve.

I didnt want my parents to go into debt for my education so I had to figure all that out on my own.

With her Associates Degree awarded in 2007, Mindy applied two places Warren General and Corry.

In retrospect, I shouldnt have had blind faith that I was going to get in at Warren General, she joked. I think I applied to Corry almost as an afterthought. My goal was pretty specific.

Hired at Warren General, Mindy worked nights on the medical surgical floor for most of her first eight years there.

There were only a couple opportunities to actually move to CCU during that time, Mindy said.

I felt the responsibility of being a CCU nurse was very high, she said. I didnt want to get in over my head.

(Writers note: What she didnt say, though, was that the CCU nurses who knew her knew she would make the move eventually.)

13 years into her career, what keeps her coming back?

Its just an inexplicable love of what you do.

She explained that she tried working in maternity but responded back to her old floor to answer a code.

Every nurse has their area that they love, she said. This is my home and this is what I wanted to do.

I cant even explain why you keep going back. Its a calling. For those 12 hours a day, those people are your family and you do your best.

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The top 7 movies on Netflix this week, from Den of Thieves to Dangerous Lies – Business Insider

sourceNetflix

The Netflix action movie Extraction is pacing to be the streaming giants biggest movie premiere ever, but it was dethroned this week as the services most popular movie. Another Netflix original, Dangerous Lies, stole the crown.

Netflix introduced daily top 10 lists of its most viewed movies and TV shows in February (it counts a view if an account watches at least two minutes of a title).

Every week, the streaming search engine Reelgood compiles for Business Insider a list of which movies have been most prominent on Netflixs daily lists that week. On Reelgood, users can browse Netflixs entire movie library and sort by IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

This weeks list also includes Den of Thieves, another movie starring Gerard Butler after his Angel Has Fallen enjoyed a few weeks on the list.

But the real winner this week is Netflix itself, as five of the seven movies on the list are Netflix originals.

Below are Netflixs 7 most popular movies of the week in the US:

Netflix description: Four siblings with horribly selfish parents hatch a plan to get rid of them for good and form a perfectly imperfect family of their own.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 89%

What critics said: Though the film-makers are indebted to Edward Gorey and Lemony Snicket and pay musical homage to Mark Mothersbaughs work on The Royal Tenenbaums they find their own voice, when it counts. London Evening Standard

Netflix description: After 16-year-old Cyntoia Brown is sentenced to life in prison, questions about her past, physiology and the law itself call her guilt into question.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 75%

What critics said: A moving reflection of what criminal justice reform means in personal terms. New York Times

Netflix description: When he stumbles upon evil Otto Von Walruss scheme to melt the Arctic, ambitious delivery fox Swifty assembles a ragtag crew to protect the planet.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 13%

What critics said: Theres really not much to recommend about this film: the animation lacks texture, the score is overwrought, the plotting is scattershot, and the character design is uninspired. AV Club

Netflix description: A highly skilled crew of bank robbers plotting a heist at the supposedly impenetrable Federal Reserve faces off against an elite unit of L.A. cops.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 41%

What critics said: It often resembles a mens rights bonding weekend more than it does a movie. Guardian

Netflix description: A hardened mercenarys mission becomes a soul-searching race to survive when hes sent into Bangladesh to rescue a drug lords kidnapped son.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 68%

What critics said: Illustrates an important principle in escapist entertainment: you dont have to one-up your predecessors. Sometimes, its enough to replicate what made them successful. Newsday

Netflix description: While serving life in prison, a young man looks back at the people, the circumstances and the system that set him on the path toward his crime.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 56%

What critics said: All Day and a Night lingers and sometimes meanders in that gray zone, where the story can accrue texture and feeling and emerge as more than the sum of its plot mechanics. Los Angeles Times

Netflix description: A broke caregiver unexpectedly inherits her patients estate, but dark secrets swirl around her newfound wealth, tangling her in deceit and danger.

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 39%

What critics said: Looks like it cost the amount of your monthly Netflix subscription and is as satisfying to watch as it is paying that particular bill. Globe and Mail

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The top 7 movies on Netflix this week, from Den of Thieves to Dangerous Lies - Business Insider