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Anatomy

The Anatomy of Washington Husky Quarterback Jake Browning … – FOXSports.com

Washington Husky Quarterback Jake Browning is recovering from surgery on his throwing shoulder. Heres why this is very good news

Quarterback Jake Browning led the Washington Huskies to the NCAA football playoffs. There, he ran into a tough Alabama defense and the team lost the game 24-7. But unknown to many, Browning was not up to 100%. In fact, he had injured his throwing shoulder early in the season in the home victory over Arizona State.

The following week, the Huskies would lose to the visiting USC Trojans 26-13. They would not lose another game until the playoffs.

In retrospect, his performance in the Arizona State and USC games were below average for the young hurler. With a season average rating of 167.5, his Arizona State win came in at 61.4 percent completion for 338 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for a rating of 131.8. The following week, he completed 37.5percent of his passes for 118yards twotouchdowns and zerointerceptions for a rating of 106.3. In the playoff game facing Alabama, he completed 52.6 percent of his passes for 150 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for a rating of 83.9. All efforts contributed to the two season losses.

But an injury to the throwing shoulder can lead to below average performances. While we do not know the exact nature of the injury, we do know these facts:

So in summary, the injury is relatively minor. But based on the evidence, what is the most likely injury?

Nov 12, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) lies on the turf following a 21-yard loss on a scramble against the USC Trojans during the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium. USC defeated Washington, 26-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

In summary, there are three types of soft tissues that could be mended with a minor surgical procedure: cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

While cartilage is the plastic-like tissue that covers the ends of bones, acting like lubricant and shock absorbers, ligaments are the soft connective tissue that holds the joint together. Secondly, tendons are the soft connective tissues that anchor muscles to bones and joints. In the case of a minor shoulder injury, any of the three tissues could be injured.

Healing any of these types of injuries are similar in arthroscopic surgery. So lets discuss the process:

Phase I : Post Operative recovery This is the period of time immediately following surgery. Browningwill need to keep the shoulder as immobile as possible and to keep hisarm in a sling. The use of the sling keeps the weight of hisarm off of thesoft tissues which assists in the healing process. (through Feb 2017)

Phase II: Passive Physical Therapy For the next six to eight weeks, Browning enters passive physical therapy. Now he will work with a physical therapist to perform gentle, assisted exercises to help regain movement and range of motion inhis shoulder. Because damaged tissues are still actively healing,his shoulder joint needs to be supported during movement. (Mid April 2017)

Phase III: Active Physical Therapy Now the therapy changes from motion to strength. Browning will be tasked with building his shoulder strength gradually to avoid reinjury, but at an intensive pace to meet the demands of the 2017 football season. While this period will progress quickly, the minimum is likely to be three months time. (End July 2017)

Oct 8, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; The University of Washington Huskies football team takes the field before the start of a game against the University of Oregon at Autzen Stadium. The Huskies won 70-21. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Husky Spring Football game will be held on Saturday, April 22nd. Its highly unlikely Jake Browning will be playing in that game. The team will likely have Tony Rodriguez, Jeff Lindquist, Blake Gregory, Daniel Bridge-Gadd and K.J. Carta-Samuels active for the game. The team also has 2017 recruit QB Jake Haener in the mix for the 2017 season.

It is very unlikely that Jake Browning will suit up for this game.

The Huskies regular season begins on September 1st on a coast to coast road trip to Piscataway, New Jersey to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. As of now, Browning will very likely be suited up and ready to go for the season opener.

With his shoulder fully healed, Browning should be far more effective to close out this season. It was the Seattle Times Adam Jude who first reported the shoulder injury to quarterback Jake Browning in mid January. He followed up with a second article on February 1 to confirm that Brownings status was determined to be doing well by head coach Chris Petersen.

Weve already had a plan you know, Jake is one of those guys that just loves to throw and throw and throw, Petersen said. So from really when he got here, weve been trying to back him off (after) these long years, to make sure. And so he should be fine for spring ball, but also want to give these other (quarterbacks) some really good work in spring ball. Chris Petersen per Adam Judes interview

And so, there was a little ambiguity here. Yes, Jake Browning is right on track. Yes, He will be fine for spring ball. He may even be throwing by then. But dont panic when he isnt suiting up for the annual Spring Football game.

He will be good, but he wont be THAT good.

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Genetics

Scientists Discover 83 Genetic Mutations That Help Determine Your Height – Huffington Post

Ever wonder how much of your height you inherited from your parents?

A large-scale genetic study published recently in the journal Natureis helping shed some light on the factors that determine whether a person grows to be 6-feet-1 or 5-feet-2.

While scientists already had a good idea of the most common genetic factors that contribute to height, the new findings uncover a number of rare genetic alterations that can play a surprisingly major role in human growth.

Using data from the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits consortium (a group also known as GIANT), scientists from the Broad Instituteat MIT and Harvard analyzed genetic information from more than 700,000 people, discovering 83 DNA changes that play a part in determining a persons height.

In their previous work, the same research team identified nearly 700 common genetic factors linked with height. Now, theyve identified a number of rare genetic variants for human growth that have an even larger effect than most common factors. For some people, these rare DNA changes may account for height differences of up to a full inch.

Overall, common variants still contribute more to height than rare variants, Dr. Joel Hirschhorn, the studys lead author and a professor of pediatrics and genetics at Boston Childrens Hospital and Harvard Medical School, told The Huffington Post. But, for the person who happens to carry one of the rare variants, the impact can be much greater than for common variants. For the variants we looked at, this was up to almost an inch... as opposed to a millimeter or less for the common variants.

Using a new technology called the ExomeChip, the researchers were able to scan the genomes of large populations to find rare markers that correlated with a particular height. They identified 51 uncommon variants found in less than 5 percent of people, and 32 rare variants found in less than 0.5 percent of the population.

With the addition of these uncommon variants, geneticists can now account for 27 percent of the genetics determining height up from 20 percent based on earlier studies.

Heritability is by far the largest factor contributing to individual height.

Today, in places where most people get enough nutrition in childhood to grow to their potential, about 80 percent or more of the variability in height is due to genetic factors that we inherit from our parents, Hirschhorn explained.

According to the studys authors, this method of testing rare genetic variants could be used to investigate uncommon DNA changes involved in other aspects of human health.

Looking at rare variants in genes was helpful in understanding the biology of human growth, Hirschhorn said. With a big enough study, similar approaches could be valuable in understanding the biology of many diseases, which could help guide better treatments.

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Scientists Discover 83 Genetic Mutations That Help Determine Your Height - Huffington Post

Embryology

Abortion is really settled science — Robert Rittmann – Madison.com

After 44 years and more than 58 million aborted babies, I don't know how anyone can continue to ignore the March For Life.

I don't know how anyone can ignore the science of an ultrasound picture and deny that it is a baby in the womb. Children are not like bad teeth one yanks out because they produce pain or are inconvenient.

In this day and age, if you are educated in basic science, you must reject abortion on the basis that all individual citizens are equal, and the freedom of choice is for choices that do not hurt or exterminate other human individuals.

Science shows the baby has separate DNA that is different from the mother's. The new human has a genetic composition that is absolutely unique, different from any other human that has ever existed, including that of his or her mother. You can find this information in any basic textbook of embryology.

Scientist don't argue against this.

Unlike climate change, this really is settled science. We all have an unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Robert Rittmann, Sun Prairie

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Abortion is really settled science -- Robert Rittmann - Madison.com

Biochemistry

Biochemistry professor continues to follow passions at 100 years old – The Maneater

Eighty years ago, professor emeritus of biochemistry Boyd ODell began taking classes at MU. Now 100 years old, ODell, who has made many discoveries and inspired generations of colleagues, can still be found in his office in Eckles Hall.

I have some questions I really would like to answer, and Id rather think about answering those questions than retiring, ODell said.

ODell technically retired in 1988, but still does part-time research on campus.

In September, a celebration honoring the 40th anniversary of the biochemistry department served as an early 100th birthday party for ODell. In December, a plaque was unveiled, naming the bridge connecting Schweitzer Hall to the Schlundt Annex the Boyd ODell Bridge of Discovery.

I hope the bridge will be a bridge to the future for all the students and progress will be made in research and learning, ODell said at the unveiling.

Over the years, ODell has served as a mentor and a friend for many of his colleagues and students. Biochemistry professor Judy Wall first met ODell when she joined the MU faculty in 1978.

Hes an incredible gentleman, very professional, a great scholar and a truly kind person, Wall said.

Wall remembers when she and ODell were assigned to evaluate a graduate students grant proposal for a comprehensive exam. This was Walls first time evaluating this type of exam, and the only other female faculty member in the department did not attend their presentations.

I was the sole female faculty member and, you know, a silly person who was in the process of thinking about impressing all of my peers and making sure they didnt think I was an idiot at the evaluations, Wall said. So I was all set for getting this guy because I didnt think his proposal was great.

ODell went first. He discussed the importance of the problem the student had addressed and the strengths of the work before introducing criticism.

That was a wonderful experience for me because I thought thats exactly the way you should do it, Wall said. You have to earn the right to criticize by showing that you understand whats going on and you have to earn the right to begin to make constructive suggestions. Dr. ODell had shown me that was the professional way of going about it.

Wall uses this same approach anytime she has to evaluate anything in a similar manner.

He didnt realize, and I dont think I realized at the time, that he was mentoring me, but he certainly was, Wall said.

ODell decided to pursue education because he admired his teachers, who were his first role models.

I always had an ambition to be a teacher, ODell said. What did a farm boy in Carroll County have as role models? There was two things that I can think of, teacher was the most obvious one, and veterinarian.

ODell was born on a farm outside of Hale, Missouri, on Oct. 14, 1916. Becoming a veterinarian wasnt an option he considered, because it wasnt a financial possibility.

My parents were just poor farmers, and they couldnt help me, he said. I had to pave my way.

The summer after he graduated high school, ODell took an examination to become a teacher.

I passed all subjects with high scores except one, and that was pedagogy, ODell said. I didnt even know what pedagogy was. I suppose its the art of teaching.

That summer, ODell took classes at the University of Central Missouri, which was known as Warrensburg Teachers College at the time. He then began working in a one-room schoolhouse, where he taught first through eighth grade.

It was kind of fun in retrospect, ODell said. And that was in the depths of the Depression, to be paid $50 a month was a very good job. A lot of people were unable to even find a job.

Because he wanted to continue his education, ODell left the grade school after four years.

After a few years I transferred to the university here and got jobs one way or another and was able to support myself, he said.

He wanted to study bacteriology, but MU didnt have a program, so ODell was advised to become a chemistry major.

I worked for Dr. A.G. Hogan, who was my mentor for my Ph.D. At that time, he was interested in a vitamin that now is known as folic acid, ODell said.

ODell went on to work for a pharmaceutical company in Detroit after receiving his degree. With the end of World War II, MU saw an increase in students and invited ODell back to become a professor.

Coming back to Mizzou was kind of an easy choice because that was home. Im a Missourian through and through, ODell said.

ODell then studied the existence of unknown vitamins as an assistant professor.

At that time, an assistant professor was really an assistant to the professor, ODell said. When I became a little further along and had the independence, I still followed the question of, are there still unknown vitamins?

ODell went on to study the role of copper and zinc in the body. Among his discoveries was the revelation that copper deficiencies in animals can cause death through the rupture of the aorta, in the heart.

The opportunity arose for me to go on a sabbatical to Australia, ODell said. And why would I want to go to Australia? If youre interested in copper, its the place to go because much of the soil in Australia is copper-deficient.

In Australia, ODell saw that copper deficiency in sheep can cause symptoms similar to Parkinsons disease. He later observed the same results in rats.

We became interested in zinc deficiency around the same time, ODell said. We found that zinc deficiency in animals stops growth and causes increased subject to disease. Diarrhea is a common complaint of zinc-deficient animals and children.

He then discovered that phytic acid, which appears in plants such as soybeans and corn, can actually impact the way the body absorbs zinc.

Scientists want to know why does zinc deficiency cause these signs and symptoms in humans and animals, ODell said. Ive been interested in trying to solve that question for quite a number of years.

ODell is currently researching the importance of zinc in maintaining calcium channels.

If you think back of all the factors that a cell does, a cell divides, a cell secretes, contracts and carries messages, ODell said. All of this is dependent on a calcium channel, and if you take away zinc, the channel fails and you get all these symptoms. I think that that is the true, fundamental function of zinc to maintain the calcium channel.

ODell and Wall, a professor of biochemistry, have since worked together on a variety of committees and both taught biochemistry to first-year medical students.

He was always incredibly prepared, just beautiful lectures and so absolutely timely, Wall said. He knew the literature and was just great.

Another of ODells colleagues, professor emerita of biochemistry Grace Sun, also spoke of ODells role as a mentor.

Right now, Ive been retired for two years only and hes been retired for many more years, Sun said. I would say that hes a role model for me, and I wish I could do half as much like him.

The two became friends in the 80s, when a colleague Sun had met while working as a visiting professor in Taiwan came to MU to study with ODell.

ODell and his wife used to throw parties around the holidays where they would serve American foods, Sun said.

We loved it because we have a lot of international students and he has always a group of them, Sun said. At the time, he was like a hub for the international students.

Sun says ODell still interacts with colleagues and former research assistants by attending seminars and events on campus.

I remember one time, this must have been four or five years ago, and hes way over 90 and he wrote me an email, Sun said. He read a paper and then he said, Hey, Grace, maybe we can work together to do something on this area. I was so shocked. I was really amazed how he must be reading a lot of papers at home or in his office.

Now, ODell does experiments once or twice a week with cells that are grown in the Life Science Building.

I asked to use the equipment and I think they decided they better volunteer to do some of the work rather than trust me, ODell said with a laugh.

An undergraduate was assigned to help ODell grow and transfer the cells, Wall said.

It came holiday time, and the undergraduate was coming up on holiday, and so instead of imposing on this woman, Boyd decided he would just teach himself how to culture the human tissue culture, and so he did it, Wall said. Every day he would come over and transfer his cells and work with his cells. He walks over form Eckles to the Life Sciences Center and back again and has learned how to do this. What a terrifically fearless person he is when it comes to science.

ODell doesnt just walk across campus; he also walks from his house every time he comes to do research.

Most of my career I rode a bicycle to work, ODell said. I dont have a car, and I dont ride my bicycle anymore that leaves walking. I like walking. I think its good exercise, and I need exercise.

ODells daughter Ann, who lives in Columbia, helps drive him when he needs to go shopping and eats with him every week. ODell has a son, David, who lives in California, as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Outside of science, ODells hobbies include photography and bird-watching.

I was always interested in bird-watching and nature work; I guess that might fall from the science, ODell said. Even when I was teaching at the grade school, I had projects for the kids where wed collect plants.

After 100 years, ODell recognizes the importance of lifelong learning and following ones interests.

I think you should, in general even beyond science, you should pick a job or do what you have a real passion for, ODell said. I think if you really are keenly interested in it you will be successful.

Edited by Kyle LaHucik | klahucik@themaneater.com

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Biochemistry professor continues to follow passions at 100 years old - The Maneater

Biochemistry

Sumo protein explored as likely source for some congenital heart defects – Medical Xpress

February 7, 2017 by Brandi Klingerman Professor Paul Huber. Credit: University of Notre Dame

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins are small peptides that get added on to other proteins to regulate their activity. While SUMO has many regulatory roles in cells, it is especially important for controlling gene expression during early development. Just a few years ago this connection between SUMO and gene regulation was relatively unknown, but now, Notre Dame researchers are exploring how a disruption to the SUMO protein's ability to regulate embryo development may be linked to congenital heart defects.

Paul Huber, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Norman Dovichi, the Grace-Rupley Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, are working together to understand the role of all proteins in embryo development using Xenopus laevis or the African claw frog. This species is known for having a similar gene structure to that of the human genome, meaning that findings related to this species have the potential to provide a deep understanding about human diseases.

When discussing their research, Dovichi said, "In 2014, Huber and I completed a study using Xenopus laevis embryos to understand how more than 4,000 proteins fluctuate during the different stages of development. We found that certain proteins spike or lower during specific stages. For example, a number of proteins that are used during the creation of cardiovascular tissue rose during stage 13, when organs develop."

In these early experiments, Huber found that when SUMO activity was repressed, many of the embryos had two predominate phenotypes, one of which was heart defects. Then, new studies began linking mutations in SUMO protein to heart failure as well as congenital heart defects. This is when the Notre Dame researchers began to develop the next steps for their research.

"At the time, there was not a lot of information about the role of the SUMO protein, but our theory was that it was critical for proper development of the heart," said Huber. "To study the protein's specific impact, we inhibited SUMO activity in the developing cardiovascular tissue. This will allow us to compare the proteome or all of the proteins that are expressed by a cell of the defective hearts with their normal counterparts."

To support the research, Olivia Cox, a Notre Dame graduate student, collaborated with Daniel Weeks, professor of biochemistry and pediatrics at the University of Iowa, and identified three predominate heart defects in the SUMO-deficient hearts: septal defects commonly thought of as holes in the heart abnormal turning of the outflow tract, and noncompaction cardiomyopathy.

The goal of this research is to use the proteome comparisons to specifically identify which proteins are responsible for congenital heart defects. Additionally, Huber, affiliated with the Harper Cancer Research Institute (HCRI) and the Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, and Dovichi, affiliated with Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics as well as the HCRI, plan to continue exploring the SUMO protein's significance in other areas of embryo development. This research could help explain why other development defects arise, and eventually lead to a solution for increasing SUMO protein expression when a mutation occurs.

Explore further: SUMO-snipping protein plays crucial role in T and B cell development

More information: Liangliang Sun et al. Quantitative proteomics of Xenopus laevis embryos: expression kinetics of nearly 4000 proteins during early development, Scientific Reports (2014). DOI: 10.1038/srep04365

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Sumo protein explored as likely source for some congenital heart defects - Medical Xpress

Anatomy

Pregnant ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Has Big, Feminist Dreams For Her … – Huffington Post

In an empowering Instagram post, Greys Anatomy star Camilla Luddington announced shes expecting a girl, whom she will raise to be a little warrior.

On Feb 3, Luddington posted a photo on Instagram that showed her holding a onesie with the words Tomb Raider in training on it. In her caption, she wrote she was so excited to share the news that she and her partner, Matthew Alan, will be welcoming a baby girl into their family. And Luddington already has big plans for her little one.

I want her to grow up knowing how strong women are, she wrote.

The actress wrote that she will teach her daughter to be kind and to be vocal about what she thinks is right.

[I want her to grow up] to be a little warrior who is not afraid to use her voice and stand up for what she believes is right, she wrote. To navigate through life with courage and kindness, and to be one of the girls who says, You CAN sit with us....

Luddington also posted a funny video of Greys Anatomy co-star Ellen Pompeo directing her in a maternity photo shoot inspired by the pics Beyonc released two days earlier when she announced she was expecting twins.

I mean this is amazing, Pompeo said. You are pregnant at the same time as Beyonc. When is that ever going to happen again, Camilla?

Heres to hoping Luddingtons little warrior will team up with Beyoncs newest members of the BeyHive for some playdates.

The HuffPost Parents newsletter offers a daily dose of personal stories, helpful advice and comedic takes on what its like to raise kids today.Sign up here.

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Anatomy

Anatomy of an Ad: Moment of Truth for Tide’s Stain – AdAge.com

"We hope the internet goes crazy."

That's what Amy Krehbiel, P&G associate brand director for Tide, told Ad Age the brand hoped to accomplish from its unprecedented Super Bowl ad in which Terry Bradshaw feigns a stain.

And now, inside the Procter & Gamble war room, during the Big Game, comes Tide's moment of truth. The millions spent, months of hard work and top-level secrecy are all coming to fruition in this 75 seconds.

Will America fall for the stain?

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Anatomy of an Ad: Moment of Truth for Tide's Stain - AdAge.com

Anatomy

Anatomy of Ahmedabad’s road accidents – Times of India

AHMEDABAD: The city reports six deaths per week on the road. Victims vary from senior citizens crossing a road to youths high on liquor behind wheels. Out of over 3,000 road accidents reported with EMRI 108 ambulances, majority take place in the city periphery on roads such as SG Road and SP Ring Road. Why do these accidents take place, and how to reduce fatalities?

A report by JP Research India, titled 'Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar Road Accident Study' analyzes 211 accidents that took place between February 2004 and February 2015 on the 31-km stretch of SG Road, 27 km of SP Ring Road, 13.5 km of NH8 and 27 km of state highways passing near or through Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

The study is part of a national scientific database called "Road Accident Sampling System - India" (RASSI). It is submitted to the state transport commissioner by the agency. According to the research, cars and two-wheelers posed highest risk of accidents among road users. Both segments were found involved in 56% (28% each) of total road accidents. Moreover, two-wheelers were most affected - having been involved in 53% of fatal accidents and 47% of serious accidents. The study mentions that only 22% of the total road accidents get reported to police. Moreover, out of 211 accidents, 34% were serious accidents, 8% fatal and 48% minor. In 8% cases, there were no injuries whereas in 2% cases there is unknown outcome.

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Anatomy of Ahmedabad's road accidents - Times of India

Anatomy

Professional Idiot: an Anatomy – PoliticalCritique.org

The inauguration of President Donald Trump revealed that the USA has more in common with the Czech Republic than anyone (presumably, Americans least of all) had hoped for.

President Trumps inauguration ceremony was a flop, at least within the parameters of the universe most of us live in. A universe, it turns out, not shared by Trump and his Press Secretary Sean Spicer. America is getting its first glimpse into the wonderful world of alternative facts, coming from the highest level and it honestly seems a bit shocked. But worry not dear, poor America: you are not the first nor the last. We have been there. We can share survival tips.

The Antichrists Lesson

For starters, there are historical precedents. When the then-President of the Czech Republic Vclav Klaus decided to employ known conspiracy theorist Petr Hjek, most famous for denying evolution, claiming that 9/11 was an inside job, and accusing the late Havel of having been a servant of Satan, he left more than a few heads scratching. Hjek, however, possessed a very useful ability: should it ever become necessary to draw the medias attention, he could always give an interview and bleat something about the Antichrist among us. And then shock and awe would follow.

It was not that what he claimed was particularly interesting or original; the trick was doing it from a position of authority.

This man worked directly for the president and because of that, when he spouted his drivel, the media listened because they simply could not afford to ignore him, especially with the appeal of pure, unadulterated bullshit being so high to audiences. Remove the authority, however, and you get just another conspiracy nut job with a blog. Which, coincidentally, is exactly what became of Hjek.

Now, it seems President Trump possesses a pet lunatic of his own in the person of his Director of Social Media, Dan Scavino. Hoaxes, conspiracy theories, smear campaigns, he has shared it all. The biggest challenge he has faced was to defend his lord and master after Trump retweeted an image from a white supremacist message board. Trumps campaign placed heavy emphasis on social media and there was no indication this would stop once he came in power so it will be quite a surprise if we do not hear more of the talented Mr. Scavino in the near future, and quite possibly in a newfound capacity as a sacrificial lamb. The thing about crackpots is that there are always more where they came from.

There is a lesson and a warning in this comparison: people in power always like having an idiot around and being near that power entitles said idiot to inflict his views on the country. So, dear America, you should prepare for a new onslaught of flashy nonsense.

Going Professional

The most obvious analogy, however, is that between the current presidents of the Czech Republic and the United States. Both President Zeman and President Trump are populists who declare strong pro-Russian views, both love the use of fear mongering and xenophobia to garner popularity and both possess a relationship with facts that can be described as tenuous at best. They also both employ PR specialists whose job descriptions include publicly ignoring realty.

In spite of rather overwhelming photographic evidence to the contrary, Sean Spicer claims President Trumps inauguration gathered the biggest crowd ever. It is a public, shameless lie delivered from a position of authority. It is, also, something that the Czech Republic happens to have experience with, especially given the results of last Novembers presidential vote gathering tour (above: the official version; below: police camera at the other end of the square). And it is an extremely efficient means of dealing with the pesky media.

Lenin is said to have coined the term useful idiot and a tame conspiracy theorist works very well in that role. Presidents Trump and Zeman, however, took this a step further.

What we have in Spicer and Ovek is a logical evolution: the professional idiot.

Here is how it works: the president either slips up or unabashedly tells a lie about, say, a historical article that totally exists or the oh-so-huge Chinese investments in the Czech Republic. The Media points it out and in steps Ovek, either insisting on the lie, producing an alternative and even more outrageous statement or attacking the media in extremely petty ways. Standard PR practice where the truth does not enter the process at any point, right? But there is a difference: professional idiocy results in the unprecedented presence of Zeman in the media the Czech Republic is not a presidential system, the man is there literally just to ruin our reputation abroad. Yet his every (mis)step is religiously followed by the media and he uses it to the maximum to voice populist views quite likely to help him in the next election after all, terror is coming!

Jester to Speaker

The professional idiot strategy works simultaneously as an attention grab and misdirection. Consider President Trumps inauguration mess. Almost immediately afterward, Trump followed it up with a lie about the popular election presumably the same invisible crowd present at his inauguration that happened to have voted invisibly by casting invisible ballots into invisible boxes. Americas stealth plane technology has apparently entered the public domain.

Meanwhile, Spicer proves that he is a real pro in the idiot biz by attacking the media and pitching another shovelful of bullshit towards the pile by stating that the inauguration had the largest audience ever, and by the way, why are we still talking about this and can we get to running that pipeline over Sioux sacred grounds again already?

A professional idiot possesses no qualms about ethics or taste and will most certainly not let something as trivial as facts slow him down on his way towards attention. An analogy to the time-honored institution of the court jester comes to mind, although with a rather crucial difference: while in ages past it was the jesters prerogative to talk smack in the presence of the monarch and to the monarch, it seems a supremely stupid suggestion to have the jester speak for the monarch.

To Wage War on Reality

There is another, altogether more sinister turn to this. A professional idiots job (which, at least in some cases, appears to be a hobby as well) is a symptom of society. Post-truth is the buzzword that immediately comes to mind, but there is more. A systematic denial of reality is also a tool of totalitarian propaganda: recall that the crowning achievement of indoctrination is doublethink. This is something professional idiots seem to radiate effortlessly, especially when flocking around politicians with dictatorial tendencies.

It is entirely possible that Spicer cheered along with the invisible crowd at the inauguration, that Zeman and Ovek read the article on the bottom left of the page and that Trump has evidence that the popular vote was tampered with by millions of illegal voters. We all do this to some extent mentally editing experiences and memories to fit our own world-view. It only becomes problematic once the person in question is unaware of the factand in possession of power.

And so we get alternative facts instead of lies, different recollections instead of mistakes and quickly evolving opinions instead of contradictions. It is a sign of the times. Perfectly natural. Nothing wrong about this sign of the times, we got the best times in the world.

Do not worry, America. You will be alternatively fine.

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Professional Idiot: an Anatomy - PoliticalCritique.org

Genetics

Studies reveal link between rotator cuff disease and genetics – News-Medical.net

A new study presented this week at the Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting in Las Vegas shows rotator cuff disease might be a heritable trait.

Rotator cuff disease is a common disorder that affects 30 to 50 percent of people over the age of 50. The disease often leads to shoulder pain and loss of function. While many think of this as a 'tear' due to an injury or sustained over/misuse, some studies suggest genetics might play a role.

"People are living longer and more active lives, but a large percentage of these people may suffer from rotator cuff disease," explains Lead Investigator in the study, Dominique Dabija, MS, a medical student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. "Identifying a genetic link can help early recognition of individuals at higher risk and could warrant application of prevention strategies for this specific population.

To assess if there could be a genetic or familial predisposition to rotator cuff disease, Dabija along with Chan Gao, MD, PhD; Todd L. Edwards, MS, PhD; John Kuhn, MD, MS; and Nitin B. Jain, MD, MSPH, also from Vanderbilt University Medical Center looked through two databases (PubMed and EMBASE) that hold thousands of medical research studies to identify those using the term "rotator cuff." They searched all studies in the databases through March 2016 and narrowed down 251 citations to seven studies that were relevant to their literature review.

"Different studies on similar topics may produce different results depending on the specific methods and populations looked at," explains Dabija. "Our literature review compiles all of these studies to look at the data on a larger scale, and this allows us to identify macro trends as well as research gaps that need to be filled."

Four of the seven studies reviewed by Dabija's team assess whether there is a familial predisposition to rotator cuff disease. One of these found if an individual has a sibling with a rotator cuff tear, he or she is twice as likely to also have a tear and nearly five times more likely to have associated pain and loss of function. This is in comparison to if that individual did not have a sibling with a tear.

Another study reviewed by Dabija's team showed that a significantly higher number of individuals with tears (32.3 percent) had family members with a history of tears or surgery on their rotator cuffs than those without tears (18.3 percent).

A third study found if an individual is diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear before the age of 40, there is a higher likelihood that any of his or her family members immediate or extended will also have a tear. In contrast, if an individual is diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear after the age of 40, only close family members parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts/uncles have a higher likelihood of having a tear. This difference may also be attributed to environmental factors.

The other three studies investigated whether there is a genetic predisposition to rotator cuff disease, and these noted certain patterns of genes were found more often in people with rotator cuff disease when compared to those without rotator cuff disease.

"Although there was a small number of studies in this literature review pointing to a need for more studies on this topic the consensus among all seven studies is rotator cuff disease is a heritable trait," says Dabija. "More large-scale studies need to be performed, and these results can assist in identifying individuals at higher risk of developing a tear and then help them before they have pain."

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Studies reveal link between rotator cuff disease and genetics - News-Medical.net