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Neuroscience

‘Journal of Neuroeducation’, first neuroeducation research journal in Spain – Mirage News

The University of Barcelona promotes a new semi-annual journal in open format which will publish articles from the field of neurosciences in Catalan, Spanish and English.

The editing committee is led by experts Anna Fors, Marcel Ruiz and David Bueno.

Building bridges between the science and education communities to contribute and improve the current didactic experiences is the goal of the Journal of Neuroeducation (JONED), a new online free-access journal open to the scientific community at a national and international level. It is promoted by the Chair of Neuroeducation of the UB ( Edu1st), created in 2019 and pioneer in Spain, led by the lecturer David Bueno, from the Faculty of Biology, with Anna Fors, lecturer from the Faculty of Education of the UB, as assistant director.

The new online journal -the first neuroeducation research journal in Spain- will be published semi-annually and will publish science articles in Catalan, Spanish and English. It results from an innovative proposal to join two disciplines which used to be separated from each other -neurosciences and education- and create a place for scientific dissemination -accessible to the national and international research community.

The editing committee -led by Marcel Ruiz (UPF), David Bueno (UB) and Anna Fors (UB)- counts on the participation of a distinguished group of national and international experts from centers such as the UPF, UAB, Educacin Activa Foundation, University of Oakland (United States), University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) and the Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), among other institutions.

A new space for neuroscience and education

According to Marcel Ruiz, editor in chief of the journal, we want to provide with new evidence in the field of applied neurosciences in education through research studies, experiences and online reviews, among other content. The journal aims to encourage lecturers, professors and scientists to find places such as this journal to share their knowledge and get young students closer to science and education.

The disseminating activity of the publication aims to contribute to inform the people on the only way in which education is developing in our society. In a broader sense, it has a dual aim: inform people and contribute to build a learning culture from the earliest stages of life, notes David Bueno, lecturer at the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics of the Faculty of Biology and assistant editor in chief of the new science journal.

The Journal of Neuroeducation aims to become a meeting point to establish synergies between different areas of knowledge which aim to optimize educational processes. We believe that society will benefit from the culture of education and learning, non-segregated and interdisciplinary, since the wellbeing and cohesion of people should be one of the goals of any emerging activity in society, notes Anna Fors, lecturer at the Department of Didactics and Educational Planning of the UB, and assistant editor in chief of the journal.

A journal with disseminating vocation and international outreach

With a clear disseminating vocation, the articles from the neuroscience and educational research fields in the journal have to be written with a strict terminology but they have to allow a total comprehension of the texts, notes Anna Fors. The section Neuromads, aimed at the young research collective, will publish articles from this profile in an accessible language and aimed at the audience interested in the content on neuroeducation.

With the same view on internationalization as the Chair Edu1st had, unfolding courses and content in Catalan, Spanish and English, this open-access journal advocates for the necessary and essential internationalization of knowledge, without leaving the immediate environment aside, notes Marcel Ruiz.

We seek the mximum transfer -he continues- to enrich the fields of our competence. This is why the journal accepts articles in the three languages -although they all need an abstract in English- in order to bring closer these works to the collectives that are interested in this fields of research.

Neuroeducation: at the forefront of learning

In a pedagogical context, neuroeducation is a discipline which gives scientific rigour to the educational practice, by giving evidence from an academic discipline that complements pedagogy to promote a more efficient learning, notes David Bueno.

However -he continues-, neuroeducation does not try to replace pedagogy nor education sciences, which are essential in the development and analysis of new didactic experiences in the social environment and its dynamics.

Neuroeducation brings new tools to increase self-awareness on our learning process, and it enables the activation of new areas of the brain which are related to pleasure, which would be essential to understand how we learn, reveals David Bueno.

An open project to turn education into a learning science

In the institutional context, initiatives such as the Chair of Neuroeducation UB (Edu1st) and the Journal of Neuroeducation are a a key step to increase the value of education in our society, concludes Fors.

The first issue of the journal will be available in July. All members of the research collective who want to publish their studies according to the avaluation criteria and scientific assessment of this initiative can contact the editing team via website until netx June 15.

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'Journal of Neuroeducation', first neuroeducation research journal in Spain - Mirage News

Neuroscience

Ipsen Donates 2 Million to the Institut Pasteur to Support Research on COVID-19 – Business Wire

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

The biopharmaceutical group Ipsen has answered call of the Institut Pasteur and announces today a donation of 2 million dedicated to COVID-19 research. Since January, the Institut Pasteur has devoted a portion of its research to understanding the emerging COVID-19 virus, in terms of epidemiology, biological characteristics, pathogenicity, etc. A call for donations had been issued to support its teams and to further advance the projects underway.

Scientists at the Institut Pasteur quickly mobilized themselves in response to the fight against the coronavirus as soon as the epidemic broke out. Sequencing the virus genome, isolating French strains, epidemiological surveillance, the Institut Pasteur is on the front lines, conducting fundamental research to gather more knowledge and develop diagnostic tests and even vaccines.

To address the challenges of the unprecedented health crisis caused by COVID-19, the Ipsen group, one of Frances leading pharmaceutical companies, has joined forces with the Institut Pasteur following its call for donations. Funding in the amount of 2 million will be provided in the next few days to support research.

As an international biopharmaceutical company, Ipsen centers its business entirely around the development of treatments to save or improve the lives of patients. Faced with this major health crisis, we have chosen to back the work of scientists at the Institut Pasteur, and we are proud to do so. There is a colossal amount of pure research to be done to enable the development of diagnostics, vaccines and treatments, explained Aymeric Le Chatelier, CEO of Ipsen.

A dedicated coronavirus research facility

Since January, the Institut Pasteur in Paris has rallied a team of 300 employees in the fight against the coronavirus. They are also supported by teams from the Institut Pasteur International Network, a community of research institutes. These scientists are working on 21 priority scientific projects aimed at gaining extensive knowledge of the virus and its pathogenicity. The projects include the development of research tools (e.g., animal models), vaccine candidates, drug candidates, serological tests for diagnosis and epidemiological research.

The funds raised enable us to provide all the equipment and infrastructure our teams need to move forward with their research programs as quickly as possible. We also plan to launch new areas of study over time. The entire international scientific community has mobilized to provide the necessary knowledge about this new virus and to identify the means to combat it. We thank each individual and corporation that contributes financially to help us in this effort, concluded Stewart Cole, Director General of the Institut Pasteur.

About Ipsen

Ipsen is a global specialty-driven biopharmaceutical group focused on innovation and Specialty Care. The Group develops and commercializes innovative medicines in three key therapeutic areas Oncology, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases. Its commitment to oncology is exemplified through its growing portfolio of key therapies for prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, renal cell carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. Ipsen also has a well-established Consumer Healthcare business. With total sales over 2.5 billion in 2019, Ipsen sells more than 20 drugs in over 115 countries, with a direct commercial presence in more than 30 countries. Ipsens R&D is focused on its innovative and differentiated technological platforms located in the heart of the leading biotechnological and life sciences hubs (Paris-Saclay, France; Oxford, UK; Cambridge, US). The Group has about 5,800 employees worldwide. Ipsen is listed in Paris (Euronext: IPN) and in the United States through a Sponsored Level I American Depositary Receipt program (ADR: IPSEY). For more information on Ipsen, visit http://www.ipsen.com

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Ipsen Donates 2 Million to the Institut Pasteur to Support Research on COVID-19 - Business Wire

Anatomy

Anatomy – dummies

Innate, or non-specific, defenses are the tools our bodies use to attack foreign invaders regardless of their ilk. Adaptive, or specific, defense is part of the lymphatic system that protects our bodies from foreign invaders.How our innate defenses protect usGerms can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other microorganisms, and other foreign particles (pollen, toxins) can be pro...

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Anatomy - dummies

Anatomy

The Anatomy of the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Bill – Visual Capitalist

How far can interest rates fall?

Currently, many sovereign rates sit in negative territory, and there is an unprecedented $10 trillion in negative-yielding debt. This new interest rate climate has many observers wondering where the bottom truly lies.

Todays graphic from Paul Schmelzing, visiting scholar at the Bank of England (BOE), shows how global real interest rates have experienced an average annual decline of -0.0196% (-1.96 basis points) throughout the past eight centuries.

Collecting data from across 78% of total advanced economy GDP over the time frame, Schmelzing shows that real rates* have witnessed a negative historical slope spanning back to the 1300s.

Displayed across the graph is a series of personal nominal loans made to sovereign establishments, along with their nominal loan rates. Some from the 14th century, for example, had nominal rates of 35%. By contrast, key nominal loan rates had fallen to 6% by the mid 1800s.

Centennial Averages of Real Long-Term Safe-Asset Rates From 1311-2018

*Real rates take inflation into account, and are calculated as follows: nominal rate inflation = real rate.Safe assets are issued from global financial powers

Starting in 1311, data from the report shows how average real rates moved from 5.1% in the 1300s down to an average of 2% in the 1900s.

The average real rate between 2000-2018 stands at 1.3%.

Why have interest rates been trending downward for so long?

Here are the three prevailing theories as to why theyre dropping:

Since 1970, productivity growth has slowed. A nations productive capacity is determined by a number of factors, including labor force participation and economic output.

If total economic output shrinks, real rates will decline too, theory suggests. Lower productivity growth leads to lower wage growth expectations.

In addition, lower productivity growth means less business investment, therefore a lower demand for capital. This in turn causes the lower interest rates.

Demographics impact interest rates on a number of levels. The aging populationpaired with declining fertility levelsresult in higher savings rates, longer life expectancies, and lower labor force participation rates.

In the U.S., baby boomers are retiring at a pace of 10,000 people per day, and other advanced economies are also seeing comparable growth in retirees. Theory suggests that this creates downward pressure on real interest rates, as the number of people in the workforce declines.

Dampened economic growth can also have a negative impact on future earnings, pushing down the real interest rate in the process. Since 1961, GDP growth among OECD countries has dropped from 4.3% to 3% in 2018.

Larry Summers referred to this sloping trend since the 1970s as secular stagnation during an International Monetary Fund conference in 2013.

Secular stagnation occurs when the economy is faced with persistently lagging economic health. One possible way to address a declining interest rate conundrum, Summers has suggested, is through expansionary government spending.

According to the report, another trend has coincided with falling interest rates: declining bond yields.

Since the 1300s, global nominal bonds yields have dropped from over 14% to around 2%.

The graph illustrates how real interest rates and bond yields appear to slope across a similar trend line. While it may seem remarkable that interest rates keep falling, this phenomenon shows that a broader trend may be occurringacross centuries, asset classes, and fiscal regimes.

In fact, the historical record would imply that we will see ever new record lows in real rates in future business cycles in the 2020s/30s

-Paul Schmelzing

Although this may be fortunate for debt-seekers, it can create challenges for fixed income investorswho may seek alternatives strategies with higher yield potential instead.

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The Anatomy of the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Bill - Visual Capitalist

Anatomy

The Anatomy of the Clinical Trials: How Researchers are Testing COVID-19 Treatments – Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun

As COVID-19 cases continue to soar across New York and around the globe, the race to find coronavirus treatments has led to a surge of clinical trials seeking to test the efficacy of different treatments against the virus.

Experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci M.D. 66 have emphasized the importance of using controlled clinical trials to scientifically prove whether experimental drugs actually work against COVID-19.

But what are clinical trials, and how do they work?

Weill Cornell physician-scientist Dr. Marshall Glesby, who works for the Clinical and Translational Science Center, explained that clinical trials are research studies that test how well new medical interventions or approaches work in people.

An intervention commonly takes the form of an investigational drug, although it could also be a medical procedure or a change to a participants behavior.

According to Glesby, before a clinical trial for a drug treatment can even begin, researchers must thoroughly study a proposed biological mechanism for the drug, acquire promising data from laboratory studies, and advance the study to an animal model to test for preliminary efficacy and any signs of toxicity.

Before youd actually [administer a drug] thats never been given to a person, youd want to have some compelling reasons to do it and some safety data, usually [from] animals, Glesby said.

After these initial stages, the drug still has a long way to go before being tested in humans.

For researchers, a clinical trial begins months in advance of actually testing on patients by first designing a protocol a guidebook that details how the study will be implemented, as well as criteria and assessments to determine participants eligibility, Glesby explained.

Within the design of a protocol, there are many measures incorporated to ensure that the results of the experiment are statistically and scientifically valid.

For example, studies must have control groups to provide researchers with a comparison so they can determine whether a new treatment actually worked. Glesby explained that in clinical trials, controls can be the existing standard of treatment, a different combination of drugs, or a placebo, depending on the medical condition being treated.

Participants are then typically randomly assigned to one treatment group or another, which serves to ensure that each patient has an equal possibility of receiving any treatment under the study.

According to Glesby, trials can also be double-blinded, in which neither the participants nor the researchers have prior knowledge of which treatment the participant received, a precaution designed to eliminate any further bias.

Glesby added that the protocol would then have to be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board, and for drug interventions, the protocol would also have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration to further protect participants from the risks of clinical trials.

Only after this often months-long approval process can participants finally be recruited and enrolled into the study.

After participants have been recruited and undergone initial screening, participants are regularly assessed throughout the trial to evaluate any possible adverse effects that could result from the drug treatment, Glesby explained.

[At the end of the study] the data are compiled to determine whether the intervention is safe and efficacious, Glesby said.

According to Glesby, the clinical trial process start-to-finish usually take years to complete, as trials gradually expand to include more and more participants. However, in extreme cases, there are ways the process can be accelerated to quickly get clinical trials started something that has become the norm as the severity of the pandemic rapidly mounts.

With what were living through now with COVID-19, undoubtedly there will be expedited paths for drugs to be developed and approved, Glesby said. If there is no available treatment for something, then those [drugs] can be reviewed in a more timely fashion.

Even though the FDA has been expediting trials and waiving many typical requirements, Glesby still expressed awe at how fast the testing of COVID-19 treatments has been implemented.

Whats been amazing to me is that in the context of this COVID-19 pandemic, my colleagues and I have been able to implement studies over a handful of days, as opposed to months, Glesby said. And thats in large part because everyone has ralliedand recognized that this is a real priority because we dont have [any proven treatment] to offer people other than supportive measures.

Although the potential of a number of treatments have been heralded by some President Donald Trump, for example, has repeatedly championed the use of anti-malarial drug chloroquine Glesby noted that anecdotal evidence is not valid in proving the efficacy of certain treatments.

There are a lot of things that are being studied that we dont know if theyre going to be harmful or helpful, and the only way to know is to do a controlled experiment, which is why we do randomized, controlled trials, Glesby said.

As it stands, several different treatments for COVID-19, such as antiviral drugs, like Remdesivir, and immunomodulatory therapy, have rapidly entered clinical trials.

A vaccine developed by Washington-based biotech firm Moderna has already begun human-testing a turnaround time that, according to Fauci, launched in record speed,

But even though these clinical trials are being fast-tracked at an unprecedented speed, Glesby stressed that definitive results are still well over months away.

If something is successful, then maybe its possible it could become available in the 9 to 12 month rangeits hard to know, he said.

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The Anatomy of the Clinical Trials: How Researchers are Testing COVID-19 Treatments - Cornell University The Cornell Daily Sun

Anatomy

The Anatomical Regions of the Body – dummies

By Maggie Norris, Donna Rae Siegfried

The anatomical regions (shown) compartmentalize the human body. Just like on a map, a region refers to a certain area. The body is divided into two major portions: axial and appendicular.

The axial body runs right down the center (axis) and consists of everything except the limbs, meaning the head, neck, thorax (chest and back), abdomen, and pelvis. The appendicular body consists of appendages, otherwise known as upper and lower extremities (which you call arms and legs).

Heres a list of the axial bodys main regions:

Heres a list of the appendicular bodys main regions:

Erin Odya is an anatomy and physiology teacher at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, one of Indiana's top schools. Maggie Norris is a freelance science writer living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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The Anatomical Regions of the Body - dummies

Anatomy

Carolina Sandoval shows off her entire anatomy in a yellow swimsuit – Explica

The host of Suelta La Sopa appears in a photograph enjoying the sand and the sun

Carolina Sandoval, The famous host of Suelta La Sopa appeared on Instagram wearing a yellow swimsuit. In the image it shows all its sexy anatomy while enjoying the sun, sand and sea.

The stamp corresponds to a photograph of the memory. And it is that Sandoval, star of Telemundo, like many other famous ones, enjoys the beach but in these days of pandemic with the coronavirus it returns to the sea through memory.

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Aha, by the way, this was the bathing suit I was wearing that can also be used as a bodysuit with pants #ideas #styleoftheday by me #lareinadelafaja #trabajodesdecasa #throwbacktuesday

A post shared by Carolina Sandoval (@venenosandoval) on Mar 31, 2020 at 3:20 pm PDT

Along with the photograph, the driver highlights a fact of fashion with this swimsuit: Aha by the way this was the swimsuit @ I was wearing that can also be used as a bodysuit with pants #ideas #styleoftheday by me #lareinadelafaja #trabajodesdecasa #throwbacktuesday, wrote Sandoval .

Adamari Lpez breaks down in tears with Toni CostaKimberly Dos Ramos, the famous Maribel in Rub, forgot the bra on InstagramAracely Armbula shows off her entire anatomy with a hot selfie

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Carolina Sandoval shows off her entire anatomy in a yellow swimsuit - Explica

Anatomy

Former ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Jessica Capshaw Was Turned Down For Two Roles Before Landing the Part of Arizona Robbins – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Fans of Greys Anatomy were saddened to learn that Jessica Capshaw, who portrayed pediatric surgeon Dr. Arizona Robbins, was being written out of the show at the conclusion of Season 14. Few may realize that while Capshaw nailed the role of Dr. Robbins, she had previously auditioned for two parts on the show but was passed over.

Shortly after welcoming her first child in 2007 with husband Christopher Gavigan, Capshaw learned of an available role on the popular medical drama.

I auditioned for this show two weeks after I had my son Luke, and I was not interested in auditioning for anything because I was interested in being a mother, Capshaw recalled, according to TV Guide. But my agent called me and said, I wouldnt call you for any other reason other than Greys Anatomy, because I know thats your favorite show.'

The actress tried out for the part of Nurse Rose, the romantic interest of none other than Dr. Derek McDreamy Shepherd (portrayed by Patrick Dempsey) when he was on the outs with longtime love Dr. Meredith Grey. Capshaw had hoped she had an advantage due to previously working with Demspey.

So two weeks after I had the baby, I auditioned for Nurse Rose. I knew Patrick because I had worked with him two years prior, so he and I got along real well, Capshaw shared. But they picked the other girl and I was like, Man!'

Actress Lauren Stamile was given the part of Nurse Rose, though the characters relationship with Derek was short-lived.

In 2008, Capshaw tried putting her acting skills to the test again when she auditioned for the role of Sadie Harris, a freewheeling intern and former college friend of Meredith. Yet again she wasnt chosen for the part.

I went in for a part that hadnt been named yet, but she was this sexually promiscuous, adventurous part, and I didnt get the role again, Capshaw remembered. That was Melissa Georges part, Sadie.

Capshaw began to get a bit frustrated with producers raving about her performance yet not signing her up for the show. They kept saying they really love me and I was like, If they really love me, I would have a part in the show,' the former Greys star revealed, adding that her persistence did the trick. A month later, I got a three-episode offer to play Arizona Robbins.

Leaving the hit ABC series in 2018 after nine years on the show, Capshaw was began pursuing other projects including a role in the Netflix film Holidate with Kristen Chenoweth and Emma Roberts. Even though the mom of four was continuing a hectic schedule, she made time to give a shout out to her former gig when Greys Anatomy hit a major milestone.

Ok, sooootonight is a BIG night for@greysabc, Capshaw wrote on Instagram in February 2019. The airing of tonights episode makes it the longest running prime time medical drama EVER.

Capshaw even donned her characters lab coat to celebrate the occasion, posting a selfie along with her well-wishes. Soooo in honor of this exceptional distinctionI pulled out Dr. Arizona Robbins trusty lab coat, dusted it off, brought it out into the sunshine and I took it for a spin, she wrote, while giving props to her former colleagues. @shondarhimes and @beersbetsy THANK YOU for bringing this show to our television screens (and computers and phones).

The Greys alum expressed her gratitude for being a part of such a successful series. This show is a total dreamboat and I am so fortunate to have taken a cruise on itgrateful times a millionxoxo Congratulations!!! she wrote.

Fans are hoping that Dr. Robbins makes an appearance back at Grey Sloan Memorial before the series ends for good!

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Former 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Jessica Capshaw Was Turned Down For Two Roles Before Landing the Part of Arizona Robbins - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Anatomy

RuPauls Drag Race celebrates the charms and excesses of Gays Anatomy – The A.V. Club

TV ReviewsAll of our TV reviews in one convenient place.

Acting challenges have been a staple of Drag Race since early in its run and over time, the shows priorities have become clear. The task is not to execute a strong script, but to take an underwritten, uninspired role and elevate it into something interesting. Drag Race chooses its parody subjects with love and a wink, but its rare for these re-imaginings to connect to their source material beyond the broad strokes. Not so with Gays Anatomy. Each scene draws from memorable installments of Greys Anatomys 15-season run, and because of the heightened, frankly ridiculous nature of the medical drama, the material doesnt need much of a twist to go from primetime to parody. Fans of Greys Anatomy will appreciate the specificity and shout-outs and having more concrete resolutions to draw from makes for a more satisfying script. Throw in arguably the deepest bench Drag Race has ever had for an acting challenge11 strong queensand its a match made in TV parody heaven.

It may not be the laugh riot that season 11s Church of Britney sketch was, but Gays Anatomy doesnt step a toe out of line, and oddly enough, that consistency winds up as the biggest mark against the episode. The top 11 queens all do a good job. There are a few standouts but no lowlights, and that makes for frustrating judging. Most of the critiques are vague and as in most acting challenges, the queens stuck with the smallest roles find themselves at the bottom, while those given the juiciest parts are at the top. When the bottom two feels more determined by the whims of casting than the queens performances, its hard to engage with the show. If the season 12 queens continue to deliver at this level, the judges will need to step up their game.

The episode begins as always with the queens post-elimination debrief. Several of the seasons threads are center stage. Brita has joined the grand tradition of established, popular queens struggling on Drag Race. Nicky is still insecure, despite her positive critiques, and that insecurity will come back to bite her if shes not careful. Aiden remains defensive, closed off to Jaidas clear-eyed advice. All three queens are falling into the same trap: Theyre making excuses when they should be reassessing their work and seeing what more they have to give.

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Its a new day in the workroom, and it would appear the doctor is in. After a RuMail filled with medical puns, Ru enters the workroom in a lab coat to announce the next maxi challenge. No mini challenge this episode. The queens will be over-acting in Gays Anatomy, a send-up of the long-running medical soap. Its an excellent choice and one of the few shows that caters to as big a cast as this one. Ru summons the Pit Crew to help randomize who will get to cast the parts, and much silliness ensues. Keeping with the medical theme, Gigi and Nicky wind up with pink pills, instead of silver placebos, giving them the power to assign the roles. The queens head over to the couch and read through the script, chiming in with their preferred characters before Gigi and Nicky retire to finalize their casting. Widow and Aiden are a bit salty about their partsneither got their desired rolebut the queens mostly seem happy with Nicky and Gigis choices.

Jaida is concerned heading into rehearsal, and after the palpable tension between Widow and Nicky and Aidens not-great Mae West impression, she may be right to worry. Ru comes back for a walk-through and surprisingly, focuses less on stirring the pot and more on lighting a fire under Brita, Aiden, and a couple others. The episode is surprisingly streamlined so far; most of the queens arent getting much screen time. Showing so little rehearsal is either a good sign or a bad one. Either filming is about to go swimmingly, and the editors dont want to give away the jokes, or the few queens weve spent time with are about to crash and burn.

When the queens arrive on set, Carson is there to greet them. Hell be directing their scenes, pushing them to go bigger as needed, or in Jaidas case, to make a rare Drag Race call for subtlety. There are a few hiccups here and there, but compared to previous acting challenges, the season 12 queens are in fine form. Sherry and Widow are clear standouts and will likely vie for the win, and both Nicky and Brita are in trouble. Nicky looks great as a drag baby, but her nerves are evident every time she gets direction from Carson. As for Brita, her delivery is solid when she needs to go broad, but she struggles when Carson asks her to pair that tone with a few more clinical line readings.

The next day, the workroom is positively buzzing with anticipation as the queens get ready for the runway. Jaida is a little nervous, but most of the queens are excited and confident. Things take a quick turn when the topic of mothers comes up. Its clearly a difficult conversation for some of the queens. Jackie opens up about her strained relationship with her mom, who doesnt know she does drag. After a little prompting, Widow shares that her mother died when she was a teen. She never had a chance to come out to her mom, and the two fought during their last interaction. This weighs heavily on her, and several of the queens come over to console her. Season 12 has had some thoughtful and emotional moments in the workroom, but this is the most fraught yet. Eventually Jaida breaks the tension, and the queens hurry to finish their prep.

Its time for the runway. Ru walks out in a fabulous green gown and welcomes guest judge Normani. Category is: Planet of the Capes. Jaida is first, with a striking pink look featuring dramatic, tall shoulders. Brita has a Little Red Riding Hood-inspired ensemble thats cute, but could use a more substantive cape to better fit the brief. Jackie goes slinky as a belly dancer, complete with headpiece and golden cape. Jans look is solid, a black and silver take on a skydiver, but her cape could use more volume, especially to better invoke a parachute. Gigis look is much more tailored, a Troop Beverly Hills Wilderness Girls-inspired outfit, while Sherry goes full Elvis and Heidi sports a black body suit and multicolored cape. Crystals yellow and purple look is strong, with the volume one expects in a cape category, and Aiden goes spooky with a black Silence Of The Lambs-inspired cape and a moth across her mouth. In contrast, Widows watermelon look is underwhelming, at least until she goes full Janet Jackson and pops off her bra cups to reveal pasties. Last out is Nicky, who looks great in her Joan of Arc armor, but misses the brief a bit by casting aside her massive white cloak early in her walk.

The moment has arrived. Gays Anatomy is screened in its entirety, and as mentioned above, its really fun. There are a couple strange choiceswhy put the Christina stand-in in the Denny storyline, instead of Izzy?but most of the references are on point, from the ghost sex to the bomb to the two patients skewered on a pole. There arent any weak links, and Ru agrees. She compliments the entire cast, singling out Jan, Widow, Jackie, Sherry, Gigi, and Aiden out as the top queens before giving the win to Sherry. That leaves Jaida, Brita, Heidi, Crystal, and Nicky in the bottom.

The judges make sure to specify that all of the queens did well in the challenge. What has put these five in danger of elimination is a sense that they could have made more of their smaller rolesBrita is the only queen in danger whose character has more than two scenes. In theory to help with the decision, and in actuality to stir up drama, Ru asks the queens who they think should be eliminated. Everyone except Jaida says Nicky. Even Nicky says Nicky. Jaida goes with Heidi, based purely on her runway, and is seconded by Nicky, when Ru pushes her to choose someone besides herself. From here on out, the elimination is a foregone conclusion. Nicky has given up, and its sad to see.

After deliberations, Ru concurs with the queens. Heidi and Nicky will Lip-sync For Their Lives to Heart To Break by Kim Petras. Both queens serve drama and face, but Heidi takes command of the stage, forcing Nicky to make way. Shes fighting harder; she wants it more. Thats all Ru needs to see. Heidi is safe, and Nicky is eliminated. Nicky Doll has been a strong competitor, and in a different season, she would have gone much further. Even in this season she would have gone further had the more language-based challenges come later in the season. Ultimately what held her back was not her difficulty with English, but her lack of confidence in herself, her fear of tripping over her tongue. Drag Race demands a lot, but more than anything, it requires supreme self-confidence. Hopefully Nicky will be back with buckets to spare for her eventual All Stars return, and fans will get to see what she can really do. Weve only gotten a glimpse in season 12.

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RuPauls Drag Race celebrates the charms and excesses of Gays Anatomy - The A.V. Club