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Embryology

This Month at Illinois Wesleyan – Illinois Wesleyan University

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A few days ago we had a conversation with one of our graduating seniors who grew up outside of the United States. Is college graduation a big deal in the U.S.? he asked. Everyone goes to college.

We gently rebuked him. "No, not everyone goes to college, whether in the U.S. or outside its boundaries," we said, and so we hope you will pardon us when we devote a significant portion of this space to something we think is a very big deal: graduation from Illinois Wesleyan. Its big for the third- or even fourth-generation Titans destined to wear green and white. Its big for the student whose parents came to the United States dreaming of a better future for their beloved child, and who aspire to do something great in part to honor those who never got the same chance. And its big for every senior who failed organic chemistry freshman year, for those graduating summa cum laude, and for every young adult who juggled the rigors of IWU with parenting or working two jobs.

Of course, Commencement is not the only notable thing that happens here in May, and we share some of this months other highlights on the athletic field, in the classroom, and far beyond the Quad. Forgive us, though, if we focus on graduation as a very big deal indeed.

Traveling in London for the May Term travel course The Greening of Great Britain, Jacki Schirmacher 18 snapped this striking photo of street art in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The French artist, Manyoly, is a young, self-taught painter who expresses her ideas by portraying womens faces with powerful colors. Schirmacher shared this photo through the May Term 2017 Photo Contest with the hashtag "Women's Power, Women's Justice." While in Wales, Schirmacher noted students stayed in eco-cabins as a way of measuring the groups ecological footprint. Our society needs to stop thinking that we have to make these major life changes or have these groundbreaking discoveries to have a positive impact on the environment, she said. Simple, everyday changes can add up to make a bigger difference than we realize. We just have to be willing to make those changes. (Photo by Jacki Schirmacher 18)

In the second round of the NCAA Division III championship match, Grainne Kelly 19 led the womens lacrosse team with five caused turnovers and tied for the team lead in goals against Rhodes College. Despite a late rally, the Titans fell to Rhodes, 16-10. Illinois Wesleyan advanced to postseason play for the first time in program history and finished with a 14-6 record. (Photo courtesy of Rhodes College)

Seconds after receiving the Caroline F. Rupert Nursing Award saluting outstanding work during his four years of study in nursing, Keith Carter 17 acknowledges another recipient of Commencement Honors. Carter plans to work as a child psychiatry nurse at Rush University Medical Centers Rush Day School. (Photo by Robert Frank III 14)

Kenny Tran 17 makes a toast during Senior Dinner on May 3. Several members of the class spoke during the annual event, which is sponsored by the Office of Alumni Engagement. (Photo by Marc Featherly)

Max Porter 17 (far left) and Zack Ladd 19 play defense against an Aurora attacker during the Titans rain-soaked, second-round game at Aurora University. That win was the first-ever for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin team in NCAA postseason play and advanced Illinois Wesleyan to the third round, where the Titans lost to Denison University on May 13, ending the season with a program-best 16-4 record. (Photo by Steve Woltmann)

New graduate Stella Wang 17 chats with Professor of Sociology Jim Sikora, who is retiring this year after more than 35 years of service to IWU. Wang majored in sociology and plans to take a gap year before she enters graduate school. (Photo by Marc Featherly)

Students enrolled in May Term courses are invited to submit photos to the May Term 2017 Photo Contest, which will feature winners in three categories: travel, local and the IWU annual theme: womens power, womens justice. As a student on the travel course The Art and Archaeology of Greek Myth, business administration major Halley Shanley 18 shared this beauty of a Roman theatre overlooking Athens. Shanley said the course allowed her to put the information weve been studying from our readings into context at the various archaeological sites and museums and learning on siteThe entire trip has been such a rewarding experience and something I will cherish forever. (Photo by Halley Shanley 18)

Donning his best eyewear, Austin Wagner 17 is congratulated by President Eric Jensen during Commencement on May 7. A native of Elmhurst, Ill., Wagner majored in business administration and played wide receiver for the Titan football team. (Photo by Marc Featherly)

Jordan Koehler 19 lines up a putt during the first day of the NCAA Division III Championships at Houstons Bay Oaks Country Club. The womens golf team finished 15th in the four-day tournament. Koehler was also Illinois Wesleyans low scorer. (Photo by Erik Williams)

Anna Kerr-Carpenter 17 cheers for herself, her classmates and the excitement of ending one journey and beginning another. More than 400 graduates received their degrees on a nearly perfect Commencement day. (Photo by Marc Featherly)

With a top jump of 5 feet-7 inches, Molly McGraw 18 tied for fourth place in the high jump at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. McGraw, who won the high jump in the 2016 Outdoor Championships, and teammates Amelia Glueck 18, Liz Oltman 17, Maddison Zimmer 17, Jamie Gradishar 17 and Karly Goodman 18 represented Illinois Wesleyan in the 2017 national contest. (Photo by d3photography.com)

First-year coach Tiffany Prager (far left) celebrates with the softball team after Illinois Wesleyan shut out St. Catherine 7-0 in the first round of the NCAA Softball National Championship. In the second straight year the Titans played in the national tournament, IWU lost to eventual national champion Virginia Wesleyan College. (Photo by Joshua Gateley)

Biology major Nivedha Poondi 18 uses histological techniques to stain certain parts of the embryos of the zebrafish Danio rerio. Poondi was a student in Assistant Professor of Biology Brian Walters May Term course Experimental Embryology. Poondi said once she and her classmates finished staining, they observed the slides under the microscope, where intestinal cells and their nuclei were clearly visible. (Photo by Marc Featherly)

Karly Goodman 18 throws in the 2017 Division III Mens and Womens Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Although she finished 20th in shot put in the national meet, Goodman had a stellar season, including a school record shot put of 44 feet-10 3/4 inches during a qualifying meet on May 18 and winning four events at the DePauw Outdoor Invitational in April. (Photo by d3photography.com)

In homage to IWUs favorite mammal, art major Makenna Merritt 17 designed her mortarboard to include a plush squirrel holding a walnut. Merritt completed her design with the whimsical declaration: I start my journey today and I walnut fail. (Photo by Robert Frank III 14)

With this lecture hall, how can you not engage your fellow students? Classmates listen as Madison Karabinus 18 (standing) discusses the famed marble Metope panels adorning the outer walls of the Parthenon during the May Term travel course The Art and Archaeology of Greek Myth. Faculty members Nancy Sultan and Amy Coles led students to ancient Greek sites including Athens, Crete, Delphi, Eleusis and Peloponnese. (Photo courtesy of Professor of Greek and Roman Studies Nancy Sultan)

A loved one captures the joy of graduation for Tess Wisher 17 and her friends. Wisher received the John L. Clark Award in Literary Studies honoring outstanding academic performance through scholarly activity and participation in the creative work of the School of Theatre Arts. (Photo by Robert Frank III 14)

Members of the 300-level Properties for the Theatre class put their puppets through their paces during a dress rehearsal near the conclusion of the spring semester. The 12 students enrolled in the course combined talents to create the puppets, the puppet theatre, all the scenery, and all the properties for the musical Cinderella. We took off a very big bite, admitted Professor of Theatre Arts Curtis Trout. I had never tried to stage a production as a result of this craft-oriented making class. Puppeteers included (from left): Cami Tokowitz 19, Olivia Sarkis 19, Tuxford Turner 19, Ilyssa Kosova 19, and Dominic Gambaiani 19. More than 125 people attended an open final presentation. (Photo by Marc Featherly)

Nate Wilkins 17 was one of several legacy students receiving degrees on May 7. Hes pictured with his mother Lois (Bright) 75 and father David 74, who did double duty at Commencement speaking to the graduates and their loved ones as the representative of the Universitys Board of Trustees. (Photo by Marc Featherly)

Students enrolled in the May Term course Marketing Seminar: Entrepreneurship visited eight business sites, including the law offices of McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff, during a three-day trip to Chicago. Other sites included Google Chicago, Fruition Partners, CannonDesign, mHUB and other locations where students heard presentations from more than 20 alumni entrepreneurs and senior leaders at their companies. (Photo courtesy of Coordinator of Entrepreneurial Activities Tara Gerstner 01)

The mens golf team poses for quick photo at the NCAA Division III Mens Golf Championships, held this year at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. The Titans finished ninth of 18 teams and Drew Pershings final-day 67 tied for lowest round of the tournament. Conner ONeil 18 finished tied for 18th place, and was chosen to the first team PING All-America for Division III by the Golf Coaches Association of America. (Photo courtesy of Head Coach Jim Ott 91)

Mother Nature delivered a gorgeous day for the Universitys Commencement on May 7. (Photo by Robert Frank III 14)

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This Month at Illinois Wesleyan - Illinois Wesleyan University

Cell Biology

Scientists locate crucial off-switch for central cell control – News-Medical.net

June 2, 2017

As the cell's molecular control center, the mTor kinase regulates cellular metabolism, growth and division. However, in cells affected by pathological change, the regulation goes array. Therefore, it would be helpful if the central control could be simply turned off to suppress insulin resistance or cancerous growth for example. Scientists at the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut fr Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) in Berlin (Germany) succeeded in locating a crucial off-switch for the central cell control. Paradoxically, this 'off-switch' is a lipid kinase producing a product previously known for its role in the activation of mTor. The results just appeared in the high-ranking journal 'Science'. They bolster the hopes of patients waiting for new effective therapies against diabetes, obesity, cancer and a rare congenital muscular disease.

The important control functions of the mTor kinase influence cell metabolism, division and growth. For example, the molecular control unit ensures the production of new proteins or the storage of fat and carbohydrates in metabolically active tissue. These processes are stimulated by the influx of sugar and amino acids and by signals initiated by growth factors including the insulin-like growth factor. If this influx does not occur in a starvation period, mTor switches the cell from anabolic to catabolic mode. Instead of synthesizing new proteins from amino acids, the cell now activates clean-up processes to remove damaged proteins, which could become hazardous for the cell or organ. The cleansing effect of interval fasting is attributed to the consequences of deactivating the mTor kinase.

In certain disease states, it would be sensible to shut down the mTor kinase complex. In cases of diabetes and obesity for example, pathological mutations exist in the cellular control center. This also applies to many cancers. This raises the question how and where to switch off such a complex mechanism.

A Surprising Discovery

To find this switch-off mechanism, researchers in the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut fr Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) in Berlin kept a keen eye on nature's ways to accomplish this down regulation. According to known facts, the lysosomal mTor kinase complex becomes less active or inactive in extended hunger periods. The lysosome is the regular cell compartment for the mTor kinase complex activity. However, the complex also turns inactive several times during the day without leaving its membrane-bound place. This happens for example when the stimulating insulin signals do not arrive. Therefore, there has to be a natural mTor brake somewhere in this location. The discovery of this brake is now published in the top journal 'Science'. It came as a surprise even for FMP Director Professor Volker Haucke: "We found a local lipid kinase on the lysosome. This kinase deactivates mTor. Paradoxically, if the lipid product of this kinase is synthesized on the cell surface membrane, it is rather known as growth stimulating lipid, i.e. it has the exact opposite effect."

As the scientist discovered, another scarcely investigated specific class II lipid kinase (PI3KC2) exists in the cell, which deactivates the mTor complex on the lysosomal membrane in the absence of stimulating signals from the outside. In the absence of hormonal signals such as insulin or insulin-like growth factor (e.g. at night), the lipid kinase PI3KC2 becomes active at the lysosomal membrane. The active lysosomal lipid kinase phosphorylates a lipid, which then deactivates the mTor complex. Under these conditions the lysosome mainly functions to degrade cellular proteins.

The discovery of this off-switch for mTor sheds light on one of the riddles in basic cell biology. In addition, the new insights are of the highest relevance for clinical research projects. Doctoral candidate Alexander Wallroth in collaboration with Dr. Andrea Marat (a former postdoctoral researcher now working in New York) discovered the mTor brake. Alexander Wallroth comments: "We set out to discover biomedical applications, and our research is closing in on that goal."

Biomedical Applications are within Reach

The scientists set their immediate sights on practical applications in the treatment of obesity and diabetes. The well-known diabetes drug Metformin already utilizes the mTor repression by activating an enzyme in the same cascade as the now discovered lipid kinase.

Alexander Wallroth emphasizes: "If we succeed in activating the discovered lipid kinase, we will have another, possibly better shut-off switch for mTor. This will enable us to devise therapies, which influence sugar and fat metabolism. There is even a chance to influence the growth of malignant tumors. It is generally known that patients treated with Metformin are less prone to developing cancer even though obesity actually increases the cancer risk. Right now, our discovery may or may not be applicable to cancer therapies. However, our group considers new approaches within the range of the possible."

Now Underway: The Search for Active Agents

Scientists consider the lipid kinase PI3KC2 a particularly suitable therapeutic fulcrum because this kinase is not essential for survival. Targeted manipulations from outside the body would therefore be relatively safe. Therefore, scientists working in the screening unit of the FMP are busy hunting down activating and inhibiting substances, which are specific for the lipid kinase.

An activator could be useful for the treatment of diabetes and obesity because it will dampen mTor activity. An inhibitor could possibly be useful in other therapeutic applications: The lipid kinase now identified as an mTor inhibitor also plays a crucial role in myotubular myopathy. So far, there is no treatment for this disease, let alone a cure. Recently, Canadian scientists demonstrated in mouse and zebra fish models that switching off the lipid kinase PI3KC2 can at least partially cure a rare congenital myotubular myopathy (muscle weakness). So far however, the used inhibitors are unsuitable for use in humans because they also inhibit related enzymes. This alone is a good reason to search for a specific inhibitor.

While the FMP has not developed real drugs, the institute certainly can deliver the 'raw materials' for such development. In view of the started search for active drugs, Volker Haucke promises: "We discovered a new, potentially promising point to attack mTOR and are now pursuing possible therapeutic options. Following up on our work, there is a reasonable chance for our scientists to identify candidate molecules with the desired clinical effects someday."

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Scientists locate crucial off-switch for central cell control - News-Medical.net

Biochemistry

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Selects New Leaders – Newswise (press release)

Newswise The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology announced this week the election and appointment of seven new society leaders. They begin their terms July 1.

President-elect

Gerald Hart, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who studies nutrient regulation of signaling and transcription.

Council

Takita Sumter, Winthrop University, who studies high-mobility group A proteins in cancer signaling.

JoAnn Trejo, University of California, San Diego, who studies G proteincoupled-receptor signal transduction.

Publications committee

Brian Crane, Cornell University, who studies molecular mechanisms of signal transduction.

Ruth Welti, Kansas State University, who studieslipid metabolism and plant response to environmental stress.

Nominating committee

Anthony Kossiakoff, University of Chicago, who studiesligand-induced receptor activation, antibody engineering and drug delivery.

Iqbal Hamza, University of Maryland, who studies heme trafficking in iron homeostasis.

Note to reporters and PIOs: Print-quality images are available upon request. Email Angela Hopp at ahopp@asbmb.org.

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About the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The ASBMB is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with more than 12,000 members worldwide. Most members teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. Others conduct research in various government laboratories, at nonprofit research institutions and in industry. The Societys student members attend undergraduate or graduate institutions. For more information about ASBMB, visit http://www.asbmb.org.

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American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Selects New Leaders - Newswise (press release)

Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy Producer Shonda Rhimes is a Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz Board Member – LifeNews.com

On a journalistic fact-finding mission the other day, I found one of the keys to our future success as pregnancy help ministries . . . from a most unexpected source.

My mission was simple; to take Planned Parenthoods Annual Report (recently released) and highlight some of its more salient points. Its an easy task. The abortion giant uses so many euphemisms and is often full of contradictory information.It wouldbe comical if werentso sad.

But, as I was scrolling through the pages, toward the end of the report are names of Planned Parenthoods board members, including the new additions. One name popped out: Shonda Rhimes.

If you dont immediately know her name, you know of her work. Rhimes is creator, head writer and producer of Greys Anatomy. And Private Practice. And Scandal. Shes also executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder, Off the Map and The Catch.

Shes only 47 and yet, 10 years ago she was named one of TIME magazines 100 People Who Help Shape the World. And she does.

On several occasions, Rhimes shows introduce abortion. Its not worth going into every episode, but when Ms. Rhimes shows abortion on TV, its in a positive light. Millions watch as Rhimes characters frame the abortion debate for us.

Its not surprising then, that Planned Parenthood wanted Shonda Rhimes on its board. She has money (about $120 million according to some estimates), fame and a perfect medium to display Planned Parenthoods message. Lets be honest; Rhimes is a smart choice.

The media of course, loves Rhimes because she is one of them. If one googles Shonda Rhimes Planned Parenthood, the first related article comes from NBC News. And it is glowing.

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The article references the fight for womens reproductive rights, (no bias there, right?), posts Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards tweet on the news, and tells us Rhimes does not want to downplay the fact that Planned Parenthood is one of the few health care providers that is geared towards women and allows women to have a safe space for all types of health care, not only abortions.

Folks, this is supposedly a news article (okay, the network is NBC, but still).

The article says nothing about the many Center for Medical Progress videos uncovering Planned Parenthoods true agenda and instead focuses on fear over its possible defunding. And of course, Rhimes is portrayed not as controversial but as a key leader in a crucial time in the fight for womens reproductive rights.

Another tremendous example of objective journalism.

But heres the point: Like her or not, Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards made an astute decision to bring Rhimes on board. For Richards, cultivating a relationship with Rhimes probably took time and effort.

In fact, Rhimes is no stranger to Planned Parenthood. Shes been involved on multiple levels with the organization, and this was the next logical step.

Rhimes took that step, and we can learn a lesson.

Just like Richards relationship with Rhimes was built over time, so must ours be with our future board members. Instinct tells me Cecile Richards has a list of possible future board members in a file. No doubt, she is getting to know these people and spending time to cultivate these relationships so that when she asks, the answer will be Yes.

Lets be fair. Richards landed a big fish in Shonda Rhimes.

On our boards of directors, we dont need the Hollywood elite, but we do need those proven to be leaders in the Christian community. We dont need those the media fawns over, but we do need those who bring wisdom and insight to our ministries.

We dont find strong board members overnight; by placing an article in our newsletter or by announcing we need board members at our fundraising dinners. We find them by searching diligently and by building strong relationshipsover time.

Show me a strong board of directors and Ill show you a group of people invited through prayer, research and strong relationships.

I doubt whether Cecile Richards spent a lot of time praying over her decision to invite Shonda Rhimes onto Planned Parenthoods board. But Im willing to bet she spent a lot of time on research and relationship-building.

Its something from which we can learn, and grow. The truth is, we can do better than Ms. Richards because we have a tremendous group of leaders to choose from. Lets take the time to do just that.

LifeNews Note: Kirk Walden is a senior writer with Pregnancy Help News, where this originally appeared, and an Advancement Specialist with Heartbeat International and author of The Wall.

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Grey's Anatomy Producer Shonda Rhimes is a Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz Board Member - LifeNews.com

Anatomy

When will ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 14 premiere? – Blasting News

"Grey's Anatomy" season 13 may have only just finished two weeks ago, but fans are already looking for details about season 14.Just when will the show premiere on #ABC? Unfortunately, only CBS has released its fall 2017 schedule dates right now, but it shouldn't be too long before ABC follows suit. We can work out a rough date to pencil in your diary for now, and share all we know about "#Grey's Anatomy" season 14 so far.

Based on last season, a rough start date for season 14 will be September 28. We know that the show is definitely returning to its usual Thursday night 8 p.m. slot. Why change something that clearly isn't broken? It will also be the first of three Shonda Rhimes shows, with the final season of "Scandal" and then "How to Get Away with Murder" following on.

There is a lot of hype around one of Rhimes' newest planned shows. She plans to create a "Grey's" spinoff focused on firefighters, nicknamed "Seattle Fire." Very little is known about that so far.

One of the biggest storylines to focus on for "Grey's Anatomy" season 14 will be Megan Hunt's arrival. Previously believed dead, it turned out that Owen's sister and Riggs' ex-fiancee was actually held captive. She has been found and is now in Seattle for recovery.

This changes everything for our two doctors. Owen and Riggs are already suffering from the guilt of believing that she was dead. However, Owen still has issues with Amelia to discuss and those discussions can't happen now. Riggs had also started dating Meredith, but Meredith made it clear to put Megan first.

Throughout season 13, Maggie was in a love triangle without even knowing.

She liked Riggs, but Riggs and Meredith had already started hooking up. She'd only just gotten over the feeling of betrayal before finding out that Jackson is interested in her. This puts her in an awkward position again, as April clearly isn't happy with this development.

Fans aren't happy with the reveal that Jackson likes Maggie. For many fans, it came out of the blue and it means Jackson and April won't get back together, despite hooking up in Montana. It is possible this storyline will change direction based on the fan response.

"Grey's Anatomy" season 14 will likely return on September 28 or close to that date. It will definitely be back on Thursdays on ABC for the fall 2017 schedule. What do you think will happen in season 14?

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When will 'Grey's Anatomy' season 14 premiere? - Blasting News

Human Behavior

Teaching Robots "Manners": Digitally Capturing And Conveying Human Norms – ECNmag.com

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are making virtual and robotic assistants increasingly capable in performing complex tasks. For these smart machines to be considered safe and trustworthy collaborators with human partners, however, robots must be able to quickly assess a given situation and apply human social norms. Such norms are intuitively obvious to most peoplefor example, the result of growing up in a society where subtle or not-so-subtle cues are provided from childhood about how to appropriately behave in a group setting or respond to interpersonal situations. But teaching those rules to robots is a novel challenge.

To address that challenge, DARPA-funded researchers recently completed a project that aimed to provide a theoretical and formal framework for what norms and normative networks are; study experimentally how norms are represented and activated in the human mind; and examine how norms can be learned and might emerge from novel interactive algorithms. The team was able to create a cognitive-computational model of human norms in a representation that can be coded into machines, and developed a machine-learning algorithm that allows machines to learn norms in unfamiliar situations drawing on human data.

The work represents important progress towards the development of AI systems that can intuit how to behave in certain situations in much the way people do.

The goal of this research effort was to understand and formalize human normative systems and how they guide human behavior, so that we can set guidelines for how to design next-generation AI machines that are able to help and interact effectively with humans, said Reza Ghanadan, DARPA program manager.

As an example in which humans intuitively apply social norms of behavior, consider a situation in which a cell phone rings in a quiet library. A person receiving that call would quickly try to silence the distracting phone, and whisper into the phone before going outside to continue the call in a normal voice. Today, an AI phone-answering system would not automatically respond with that kind of social sensitivity.

We do not currently know how to incorporate meaningful norm processing into effective computational architectures, Ghanadan said, adding that social and ethical norms have a number of properties that make them uniquely challenging. There seems to be an enormous number of these norms, yet they are highly context-specific and only a relevant subset of them get activated, depending on the situation. Moreover, they seem to exist in an organizational hierarchy but can also be activated in horizontal bundlesnetworks of norms tied together by the contexts in which they apply and triggered by certain context-specific features of the world. They can be in conflict with one another but they are also continuously being updated.

Further complicating matters, norms are activated extremely quickly. Thats something we are all familiar with, Ghanadan said, since normal people detect norm violations very quickly! And in people, new norms or their preconditions for activation are learned into the already complex norm network through not just one but rather a variety of modalities, such as observation, inference, and instruction. The uncertainty inherent in these kinds of human data inputs make machine learning of human norms extremely difficult, Ghanadan said.

Ultimately, for a robot to become social or perhaps even ethical, it will need to have a capacity to learn, represent, activate, and apply a large number of norms that people in a given society expect one another to obey, Ghanadan said. That task will prove far more complicated than teaching AI systems rules for simpler tasks such as tagging pictures, detecting spam, or guiding people through their tax returns. But by providing a framework for developing and testing such complex algorithms, the new research could accelerate the day when machines emulate the best of human behavior.

If were going to get along as closely with future robots, driverless cars, and virtual digital assistants in our phones and homes as we envision doing so today, then those assistants are going to have to obey the same norms we do, Ghanadan said.

At some point, it may even be a robot behind that desk at the library, raising its finger and saying, Shhhh!

The work was conducted by researchers at Brown University and Tufts University, led by Bertram Malle at Brown.

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Teaching Robots "Manners": Digitally Capturing And Conveying Human Norms - ECNmag.com

Genetics

UCLA researchers link genetics, brain morphology to autism, schizophrenia – Daily Bruin

UCLA researchers discovered that individuals with certain brain structures and genetics are at a higher risk of autism and schizophrenia.

The researchers found that certain chromosomal abnormalities can increase individuals risk of schizophrenia and autism. These findings could help explain the biology behind these neuropsychiatric disorders and help researchers understand their causes at a cellular level, said Carrie Bearden, the lead author of the study.

Bearden, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, found that children missing specific sections of genetic material on chromosome 22 are at greater risk for schizophrenia.

Bearden also found that children with 22q gene duplication are at greater risk for autism and learning delays but are at a lower risk for schizophrenia.

The genetic differences also result in different brain structures, and brain anatomy can be related to psychiatric disorders, Bearden said. After running MRI scans of 143 study participants, the researchers found that the children with 22q deletion had a smaller brain surface area but thicker gray matter, while people with 22q duplication had a larger brain surface area and thinner gray matter.

Bearden added that while these genetic brain differences alone do not cause schizophrenia and autism, they will help researchers understand these disorders. She said the research team will continue to study the different brain structures and see how the participants in the study change over time.

The next question is, How does brain anatomy and brain function relate to psychiatric outcomes? These findings provide a snapshot, Bearden said in a statement. (Our follow up studies) are the puzzle pieces that are next on our list to disentangle.

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UCLA researchers link genetics, brain morphology to autism, schizophrenia - Daily Bruin

Embryology

Did you go abroad for fertility treatment? Tell us why | Society | The … – The Guardian

Its believed a growing number of people go to countries such as Spain for fertility treatments. Photograph: ZEPHYR/Getty Images/Brand X

An investigation has been launched into the number of people going abroad for IVF treatment and coming back pregnant with twins or triplets.

Doctors fear that hundreds of women are returning to Britain with multiple pregnancies after getting treatment abroad, putting pressure on the NHS. Twin or triplet pregnancies are more expensive due to the need for additional scans and longer hospital stays. According to the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority, multiple births carry the greatest health risk in fertility treatment. More than 90% of triplets have low birth weights, putting them at risk of health problems.

The number of multiple births fell in the UK after 2008 when it was decided that only a single embryo would be implanted at a time to reduce risky pregnancies. But foreign clinics do not always have the same rules and guidelines in place.

The trend of people going abroad treatment comes as the NHS rations IVF to reduce costs, a move thats been condemned by critics. Its believed a growing number of people go to countries such as Spain for fertility treatments because they are cheaper and the waiting list for donated eggs is shorter.

We want to hear from people who have gone abroad for fertility treatments. Why did you go? Have you come back and are due to have twins or triplets? What do you think of the UK IVF industry? Is it too expensive? We also want to hear from those treating patients, tell us about your experiences as someone who works in the industry. Share your views and thoughts.

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Did you go abroad for fertility treatment? Tell us why | Society | The ... - The Guardian

Anatomy

When does ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 14 premiere on ABC? – Hidden Remote

Photo Credit: Grey's Anatomy/ABC Image Acquired from Disney ABC Media

Kelsey knows everything about Liza in the Younger season 4 trailer by Reed Gaudens

Shadowhunters S2, E12 Preview: You Are Not Your Own by Marissa Messiano

Photo Credit: Greys Anatomy/ABC Image Acquired from Disney ABC Media

Warning:The following piece contains spoilers pertaining to the Season 13 finale ofGreys Anatomy.If youre still catching up on the latest season and have not caught the finale, you might want to bookmark this tab and check back after you finish the season!

After yet another eventful and emotional season,Greys Anatomyclosed the book on Season 13 with an finally that left us wanting more. Sure the fire was intense and provided plenty of entertainment, but compared to finales of years past (and the hype surrounding the finale) the bar was set high and the episode failed to live up to our hopes.

There were a few major revelations along the way including the return of Meganwhich sent Nathan rushing to her side after discovering she was alive and leaving his future with Meredith up in the air; Eliza was fired by Bailey; Stephanie announced that she was going to leave to pursue life outside the walls of a hospital; Owens PTSD started up again as Amelia stepped up to support him in wake of the news he received about his sisters fate; andwe discoveredMaggie has a thing for Jackson. All of this was on top of the seasons unresolved storylines including the future of Alex and Jo and that Japril hookup!

With so many questions left unanswered, fans are sure to be counting down the days until the new season begins but when exactly will that be? While an official premiere date has yet to be announced, all signs point towards Season 14 beginning on Thursday, September 28.

Dont miss the return ofGreys AnatomyThursdays this fall on ABC!

What are you most looking forward to from the next season ofGreys Anatomy? Do you think Minnicks firing will stick and are you prepared to see Nathan and Owen reconnecting with Megan?And what do you hope Season 14 holds for Meredith and the rest of the docs? Keep the conversation going in the comments section below!

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When does 'Grey's Anatomy' season 14 premiere on ABC? - Hidden Remote

Anatomy

‘Anatomy of an Accident’ Dissects Casualty Response – Maritime Professional (blog)

Anatomy of an Accident, a new publication from The Swedish Club, provides a unique insight into the huge coordinated exercise that surrounds a serious vessel casualty. Illustrating just how easily an incident can escalate; the guide explores the various parties and processes involved in dealing with an emergency situation, and the complicated interplay between the cast of professionals involved in bringing an incident to a resolution.

Developed out of The Swedish Clubs Emergency Response Training programme, Anatomy of an Accident focuses on a realistic incident scenario run by the Club with participants from important maritime services and support sectors. This approach has been designed to test how operations are affected when dealing with an incident, reinforce who is responsible for which action during an emergency, and ensure that a shipowners emergency response plan works with the individual elements interacting and supporting one another should a real life crisis occur.

The exercise was supported by DNV GL, HRS Sr-Norge, Navigate Response, The Norwegian Coastal Administration, The Norwegian Maritime Authority and T&T Salvage. The scenario covers an incident involving the fictional chemical tanker Uswidia, laden with caustic soda and caught up in the nightmare scenario of lost engine power, drifting in high winds, injured crew and eventually grounding and hull breach.

Lars A. Malm, Director, Strategic Business Development and Client Relations, said: When an accident takes place, the emergency plan comes into play, but can the operator be sure that it works? On paper it may look fine however reality is often a different matter. We need to simulate that reality, and so we developed Emergency Response Training to help ship operators become better at emergencies before they happen.

It is an immense job a company cannot hope to set up such a situation for themselves. Should an incident become a reality there is no doubt that an organisation that has been proactive in testing its established emergency plans, and made the most of the Clubs expertise and guidance, will see a big difference in the way a real-life incident is handled in terms of saving lives, protecting the environment and minimising costs in many areas, he added.

The Swedish Clubs loss prevention team is offering a series of alternative scenarios such as grounding and wreck removal, cargo damage, salvage and pollution, collision, tendering and repair, forum shopping and legal and medical scenarios. As part of the Clubs commitment to loss prevention, the training is offered to members of The Swedish Club free of charge and response to the initiative has been extremely positive.

Read more:
'Anatomy of an Accident' Dissects Casualty Response - Maritime Professional (blog)