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A motor racing driver, Karun Chandhok, 27, is the second Indian driver to compete in Formula One. Last year, he made his F1 debut at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) driving for the Hispania racing team. This Chennai lad followed his passion and nurtured his talent to make the country proud. With support from his family and words of encouragement from Bernie Ecclestone, president and CEO, F1 management, Chandhok has consistently been one of the most successful Indian drivers, winning three championships, over 35 races and has flagged off from the front row on over 25 occasions. From winning his debut race at 16 to becoming an F1 racer, Chandhok has come a long way. All the hard work, commitment and sacrifices have made Chandok a renowned sports person. He reminisces his childhood, shares his success story and discusses his future plans with Devika Jeet.Flagging offSince childhood, all I remember being interested in are cars. My Lego sets were always race tracks or cars, my toys were all cars and the videos I watched were all on races. All my babysitters knew names such as Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet and Gerhard Berger despite not being able to speak English. Alain Prost has always been my all time favourite driver and it was an amazing feeling to finally meet and talk to him over the Bahrain GP. It was a dream come true for me. Prost was one of the few drivers who believe that the focus of a race driver should not only be on speed, but also on technique.Hard driveNot only my family but I have also made a lot of sacrifices to get myself here. My parents and brother have played a big role in getting me to this position. I am lucky to have such a family, which always stands by each other through highs and lows. Motor racing is not a cheap sport. Even at the grass root levels, the investments are high. It is not a sport like cricket or tennis where it is not too expensive to start playing. The higher you go in racing the more costly it becomes. This is why we need more companies to get involved with motorsports in the country. I have also lived in England for more than 10 years now, to be closer to my teams. I had to leave my friends and missed most of my youth. While others went out, I had to hit the gym. So, the sacrifice is not only financial but personal as well.In the circuitFor me, this is the greatest sport on Earth. There is absolutely nothing else that combines competition, technology, finance, marketing, geography and glamour like Formula 1. Being on the F1 track for the first time was surreal. However, when it happened, the feeling of accomplishment was the last thing on my mind. Just before the race began, I was told about a possible hydraulics problem. So the only thing on my mind was whether we will manage to get the car out. Before that, it was a good experience overall. Most of the drivers were very welcoming and many of them are the people I grew up idolising. So, to be one amongst them is a wonderful feeling. For me the greatest part of what I do is representing my country. After I won my first GP2 race in the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium in 2007, our national anthem played for the first time in a motorsport event. This was the proudest thing for me. The hype and response in India has been fantastic. There has been so much support from within India and also from the Indian communities around the world, who have come to the races with Indian flags to support me, which has been great to see.Driving awayI want to plan ahead and set long term goals but not just for 2011. What I do in 2012 and 2013 is very important. If that means taking a back seat, as reserve driver next year, then so be it- a bit like what Paul di Resta did in 2010. As long as it is somewhere further up the grid, then that is the best option. But hopefully everything should fall into place soon.Tips for successBe passionate about what you want to do as drive plays a big role in achieving your dream.Sacrifices are part of the long term commitment to any sport. All the sacrifices made by my family and I have been for the love of the sport. I love this sport and always have.It is a real dog-eat-dog world,very much a case of each man for himself and thus you have to stay on your toes.advertisementadvertisement
India’s bid to overturn the controversial ouster of 69kg boxing medal hope Vikas Krishan from the Olympics came to a nought on Saturday when the world governing body for the game rejected their appeal here.Stung by Vikas’ ejection from the Olympics despite winning his pre-quarterfinal bout against Errol Spence of United States after a review, the Indian boxing officials filed a protest with AIBA, that was thrown out.”The appeal has been rejected and we cannot do anything now,” a source in the Indian contingent said.The appeal was filed after an emergency meeting of the team with Chef-de-Mission and Indian Boxing Federation Secretary General P K Muralidharan Raja.In a stunning turn of events, Vikas was ousted from the Games here after AIBA overturned the result of the bout he had won, following a review.The 20-year-old had won 13-11 over Spence in a thrilling contest last night but following an appeal by his rival’s team management, the AIBA awarded the bout 15-13 to the American citing the fouls committed by the Indian which were not noticed by the referee.While agreeing, Vikas had gone into a clinch with his rival, the Indians have claimed that the American was equally guilty of the same offence.National coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said the Indians will challenge the observations made by the competition jury, which felt that Vikas should have been penalised four points for holding his rival nine times and deliberately spitting out his gumshield during the bout.”…our guy did not hold Spence for more than seven times. The American was guilty of holding Vikas four times according to us. As for spitting the gumshield, that may or may not be considered because the referee had failed to spot it during the bout,” Sandhu said.advertisement
Even as Kabul residents savour the new sense of liberation, they are unable to forget the trauma of the Taliban years and remain sceptical of what the future holdsOnce a gem of a city, kabul bears the ongoing war’s heartbreaking legacy. The relentless bomb blasts and gunfire in the past,Even as Kabul residents savour the new sense of liberation, they are unable to forget the trauma of the Taliban years and remain sceptical of what the future holdsOnce a gem of a city, kabul bears the ongoing war’s heartbreaking legacy. The relentless bomb blasts and gunfire in the past month have turned vast sections of the city into rubble that resemble millennia-old ruins more than neighbourhoods built mere decades ago.Now from the rubble, Afghanistan’s capital is slowly beginning to rise again. The second week of Taliban absence in Kabul found most residents scrambling to take advantage of newfound freedom and opportunities. Scores of civil servants laid off or fired by the Taliban – from police officers to schoolteachers – answered a general request from the Northern Alliance, which has taken charge of the city, to return to jobs lost years ago.Many institutions held “re-inauguration” ceremonies. Boxing, kung fu and bodybuilding clubs reopened their doors to hundreds of teenaged boys. At the Nazir Zalma Supplementary School, Dr Obaid Massoud lectured about 150 students at a gathering to celebrate the end of Taliban rule: “We have experienced something like the Dark Ages in Europe, but we now can express our own points of view. We can have personalities. We can ask, ‘Who am I?'”Although the city remains devoutly Muslim, the holy month of Ramzan began with many residents feeling free to ignore the calls to prayer blaring from mosques throughout the city. A different kind of music could be heard on the streets, for the first time in years, thanks in part to newly reopened stereo shops and cassette vendors openly selling popular music banned by the Taliban.advertisement”People are noticeably happier than they were a couple of weeks ago,” says 21-year-old Ajumal Ismael. “You can see it in their faces. Everyone is more relaxed, and you can count more smiles.” Ismael went on his first bicycle ride around the city “just for fun”.This is in marked contrast to the despair that had gripped the city after it became known that the US and its allies had decided to target the Taliban regime in Afghanistan for supporting Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaida network. When the bombing began in October, Kabul entered a twilight zone that saw an almost total blackout of the conditions in the city during that month of fear and devastation. But freed from the repressive Taliban regime, residents have begun to paint a picture of their life on the edge, revealing remarkable endurance of spirit.Four weeks ago, 23-year-old Jawed Nazir recalls that he and his father stood on the roof of their home to witness the lightning bolts and deafening claps of US bombs pounding Taliban Unit 350, positioned less than a mile away on a slope above their humble Kabul neighbourhood, Sowom-e-Khairkhanah. The blasts shook the mud-brick floor under their feet.Inside, Nazir’s mother and younger brother and sisters huddled in a windowless closet of their four-room house to avoid the hazard of flying glass. Between bombing runs, Nazir’s mother ran to the kitchen to prepare tea, bread and beans from the rations the family had stockpiled.”My 13-year-old sister was crying all the time because she was so scared,” said Nazir. “But my father was very excited. Every time a bomb exploded on a Taliban position, he would throw his arms in the air and shout, ‘Hurrah!'” Such was the sense of fear, anticipation and uncertainty that residents say marked the final weeks of the Taliban’s five-year hold on the Afghan capital.”Everyone was nervous,” says taxi driver Mohammed Yosin. “You could see it in people’s faces. No one knew what was going to happen.” But hardened by more than two decades of war, and in desperate need of money to survive, many people tried to go about their daily business as much as possible.Every day, merchants opened tiny shops and wood-and-aluminium stalls that house most of Kabul’s commercial activity. “I would close shop early to get home before dark, so I could be with my family before the bombing started,” said Shawali Aziz, who owns a small radio repair shop. “Business was bad, but I felt I needed to keep busy.” Banks remained open throughout the weeks of instability. Despite a lack of staff and funds, the main post office kept sending and receiving letters. Even the electricity flowed almost uninterrupted.Nazir Ahmad, 25, married 19-year-old Hamida Asmiri two and a half weeks before the Taliban withdrew. The groom draped his car with ribbons, packed it with his friends and picked up his bride for a quick afternoon blessing by a mullah before the newlyweds returned home to their families to await another night of bombing and apprehension. “I would have preferred to get married in a time of peace,” Ahmad says, “but I didn’t know when that would be.”During the final weeks of its rule, however, the Taliban’s grasp on Kabul apparently began to slip dramatically. In the upmarket, tree-lined Wazeer Ahmad Khan neighbourhood, where many Taliban officials lived until a few weeks ago, a sense of near panic was noted in the weeks leading to the fall of the regime.advertisementAccording to those who remain, latest-model Japanese sedans with tinted windows – the preferred mode of transport for the Taliban elite – whisked wives, children and belongings from the two-story walled compounds toward the south and west exits from the city, leaving only men behind.RAGE OF THE REPRESSED: Kabul residents beat up a Pakistani jehadi fighting for the Taliban, forcing Alliance soldiers to interveneDespite the lack of a coherent police presence in Kabul, there were no reports of a crime wave in the weeks before the Taliban fled. In a sign that the Taliban still held a chilling psychological grip on the citizenry, there is no evidence of an uprising against the regime before Northern Alliance troops advanced.”The Taliban had us in a grip of terror right till the end,” says Ismatullah Aziz, a shopkeeper in the Kabul bazaar. “We were afraid even to meet in groups of more than three people for fear of arrest.”Neither the Taliban nor the citizens of Kabul expected the instant domino effect that finally saw the Northern Alliance sweep into Kabul on November 12. Already demoralised by the sustained US bombardment, Taliban forces rapidly deserted the streets and military bases in and around the city. It was a nearly bloodless exit.Utter chaos reigned that morning. A hundred-strong mob captured and dragged through the streets a long-haired man identified as a Pakistani. Local Afghans swarmed around him, slapping and punching him in the head, throwing small stones at him and screaming “Death to Pakistan!” Several rioters tried to stuff Pakistani banknotes in his mouth, in what they considered a gesture of revenge for Pakistan’s support for the Taliban and its meddling in Afghan affairs. The unidentified victim appeared dazed. At an intersection, he fell to his knees.”Kill him! Kill him now!” shouted many in the crowd. Two newly arrived Northern Alliance troops took custody of the man, escorting him toward a holding area as the mob continued to jeer and throw an occasional stone at him. They probably saved his life. “He will not be killed or tortured,” the soldiers said.In a sign of their resilience, Kabul residents quickly adapted to the new political establishment as thousands of Northern Alliance forces moved into the capital. By November 17, many shops had reopened and traffic once again clogged the streets. Police officers laid off by the Taliban returned to work to join Northern Alliance security forces. The National Bank reopened. The Afghan State Bank remained closed, pending an accounting of funds and the appointment of a new director.However, Kabul residents know it is going to be a long haul before things return to normal. The past week has been dominated by political haggling over the shape of a provisional administration to rule the liberated parts of Afghanistan even as the battle for the key provinces of Kandahar and Kunduz entered a critical phase. The Northern Alliance forces reluctantly agreed to have peace talks with former king Zaheer Shah in Bonn – a move that could pummel the various groups into an interim settlement.Speed is the key to pull the country out of the abyss. Its economy lies in tatters partly because of the war but mainly because of the three years of drought. In Kabul alone, the ranks of unemployed have swelled to frightening numbers. Almost everyone is out on the streets in Kabul looking for jobs.advertisementAs the Taliban rulers were largely inward looking, very little industry has survived. Trading and agriculture became the main vocations. Poverty swelled but the people were too afraid to revolt. Now they are beginning to breathe freely again and expectations are soaring.Signs of cultural rebirth are emerging. Younger residents tested their new freedom by playing sports and flying kites – forbidden under the Taliban regime. Nazir’s parents told his 13-year-old sister that she might soon be able to attend school for the first time since she was eight.Many older residents, wary after a long succession of incoherent and destructive regimes, remained sceptical about the future. “What we want is stability, not more military on the streets,” said Mohammed Asef, owner of Khaled Restaurant. “We need a society that has more to give than war.””The author writes for The Boston Globe”
Karun Nair till yesterday would not have expected to get his Test cap, until his Karnataka team-mate KL Rahul got injured before the start of the third Test against England in Mohali.There were talks of Nair and Hardik Pandya making their Test debuts in the last two matches but that didn’t happen. Nair became India’s 287th player to make debut for India and received his Test cap from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.Apart from Nair, India have included wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel in place of an injured Wriddhiman Saha. The Karnataka batsman was waiting in the wings after having had been consistent at the domestic level. In his 37 first-class matches, Nair has scored 2845 runs at an average of 52.68.He had an impressive 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season and also helped Karnataka win the title after 15 years, by scoring hundreds in the quarterfinal and semifinal.
Shane Warne’s comment about having nightmares about Sachin Tendulkar may have been a joke, but the legendary former Australian leg-spinner still remembers Tendulkar ‘smashing me all over the park every time I bowled to him’.WATCH VIDEOSachin was among the best batmen of my time, Warne said at Salaam Cricket 2017. “Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are the two best batsmen in my time. They were something special. The third one would be Jacques Kallis, as a cricketer being a batsman, bowler and fielder,” Warne said.Warne went on to indicate that the current Indian bating prowess is not as good as the lineup that he faced during his time on the field. “I wouldn’t mind bowling to the Indian team now. I would fancy my chances against this team compared to the team which had Ganguly, Tendulkar, Sehwag and Dravid,” Warne said.Virat Kohli may be an issue, he further said, adding that he doesn’t find the current Indian side to be the best players of spin in the world.’INDIAN FANS RESPECTED WHAT I DID’ Warne also spoke about Indian fans and their passion for cricket, saying he really enjoyed playing in India. Indian fans respected what I did, Warne said, adding, ‘They knew how difficult it was to bowl leg spin.’People loved to see Tendulkar vs Warne but unfortunately he smashed me all over the park every time, Warne went on to say.PLAYING AGAINST SACHIN Warne recalled the first time he ever faced off against Sachin Tendulkar in India. It was the 1998 series, and both of us were on the top of our games, Warne said.advertisementThe Aussie leg-spinner recalled how during the first innings, the crowd erupted in chants of Sachin-Sachin at the fall of the second wicket. We went into a huddle to discuss how we could get Tendulkar out, Warne said, adding, ‘And I said, I will get him out.”The very first bowl I bowled, he smashed me for a four. But, on the third or the fourth delivery, he nicked the ball and I got him out,’ Warne said, recalling how the crowd went completely quiet.Warne may have successfully scalped Sachin in the first innings, but it is the maestro’s second innings that the Aussie remembers until this day. “(Sachin’s) next innings was one of the greatest innings against the Australian team of my time,” Warne said. “He scored around 158 and it was the best 100 I’ve seen against an Australian team that I’ve played with.”
There’s Never a Bad Time to Visit Whistler, the Four-Season Outdoor Playground Whether you’re going to a huge blowout or ringing in the new year with a few friends, face the night with bright complexion and a relaxed bod by indulging in a pre-NYE spa treatment just for dudes.It’s no longer considered soft to book yourself a facial, manicure, or indulgent 120-minute massage, so get with the times and treat your tough skin and tired muscles. We’ve got options for those who want a quick, 10-minute face brightening on the drive to a party or a futuristic skin-lifting to restore elasticity.If there’s one night to pamper that mug, it’s for New Year’s Friggin’ Eve. Plus, it might make your hangover on January 1 look less … well, scary.Hot Stone MassageOffered at Boulder, Colorado’s Spa at the St. Julien Hotel, the Rock On! Massage centers on the use of heated stones combined with massage for a restorative thermotherapy experience. This type of hot stone treatment is offered in many iterations at spas around the country (simply ask for hot stones) and is a heaven-sent in the cooler weather, as the heat is both deeply relaxing and helps toast up tight muscles so your masseuse can work deeper into the knots. Get this treatment at least a day before New Year’s Eve to welcome 2018 with a rejuvenated body (and to properly hydrate before going hard on the Champagne.Lash PermAs a dude with tons of testosterone, odds are you already have long, luscious eyelashes that have the volume to make your crush swoon from across the crowded bar. If your lashes are meh, you can add length by boosting curl in a way that, thanks to the spa gods, won’t look too extra. Call up a local, five-star eyelash spa nearby (like Lash Spot) and ask for a dye and perm. You’ll be asked to lie flat on a spa bed and simply close your eyes while the technician uses a perm rod to apply the solution. Wait 45 minutes and done. The treatment is painless, quick, costs anywhere between $25-$70, and gives you an instant allure. It’s all in the eyes, gentlemen, and on New Year’s Eve, your eye contact flirting will be on point.HydradermieSay what? Hydradermie is treatment developed by Guinot that uses electrical currents. For example, the Hydradermie Lift, a powerful two-hour treatment offered exclusively at the Como Metropolitan in London, combines an anti-aging facial of firming and toning serums, particularly around the eyes, face, and neck, with the futuristic “cellular energy lift”— a non-surgical lifting treatment that has the affect of restoring elasticity to the skin. The point of this package is to get as close to Botox and invasive anti-aging treatments without a scalpel. You’re supposed to be relaxing, after all. Can’t get to London? Look for a local spa that offers Hydradermie, Guinot-trainged therapists, or anti-aging facials using vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and procollagen. The earth turns another year older but your wrinkles don’t have to.Hydradermie by Guinot (Photo/Como Metropolitan London)BacialA facial for your back, this treatment eases bacne, ingrown hairs, and dry, irritated skin. The process blends the comfort of a massage with the cleansing and exfoliating products of a facial scrub. We love bacials for because upper backs are a hard spot to care for at home. With the bacial offered by Toronto’s Bode Spa, a male-only mecca that aims to make the spa experience part of the dude lexicon, you’ll melt into a 60-minute treatment that cleanses, scrubs, extracts (if needed), and moisturizers. After all, your NYE kiss may lead to something more and shoulder zits aren’t so sexy. If you’re not in Toronto, look for bacial or back facial on your local spa menu, or check out some other men-only spas.Korean SaunaSo you don’t want a facial or pedicure (the inner Ron Swanson may not allow it). However, you can still enjoy the purifying relaxation of a Korean sauna experience before ringing in the new year. Four Seasons Hotel Seoul’s Spa For Men has the ultimate version with a men’s dry and wet sauna room; relaxation zones with a TV lounge; cold, warm, and hot baths; and a collection of beds put out specifically for mid-day naps. Meander at your own pace like the lone-shark you are, soaking in this traditional Korean experience. We understand not everyone can jet to South Korea before the year ends, but there are most likely similar spas or experiences in your town.Four Seasons Hotel Seoul’s Spa For MenAt-Home MaskFor a last-minute glow, stop by the store and pick up the Yes To grapefruit paper mask that will brighten your face in only 10 minutes the same way an hour-long facial can. This mask, which doesn’t take any scrubbing or water wash, can be applied to your face right before you head at the door. Grapefruit and vitamin C help refine pores and bring much-needed moisture to your dry mug. Feeling a little tingle? Don’t worry, that means it’s working. After removing the paper sheet (you may need to stretch the eyes and mouth some), rub the remainder of the goo into your skin and go along your way. The glow will last all night.While you’re getting ready to party, you can put on this thumping New Year’s Eve playlist we whipped up: How Fast Does Facial Hair Grow? Tips for Growing a Beard Faster Editors’ Recommendations What Men Should Expect from Their First Facial How to Shave With a Straight Razor Is Calisthenics Right For You? A Guide to Bodyweight Workouts
CALGARY – A radio host in Calgary has come forward with a new sexual misconduct allegation against the frontman of the Canadian pop-rock group Hedley.Katie Summers, who co-hosts the morning show on 90.3 AMP, says she encountered the band about seven years ago while she was working evenings at the music station.During a post-interview meet-and-greet, Summers, who was 23 at the time, told lead singer Jacob Hoggard she was a fan and that she’d seen the group perform recently.“He just made this comment to me about performing oral sex on him out in the alley if I was lucky and it kind of took me off guard,” Summers recalled in an interview Wednesday.“I didn’t react because I didn’t really know what to say in that moment.”They then posed for a photo.“And as the photo op was sort of over and he was getting ready to leave, he sort of just touched my rear end. It was very fast. It all kind of happened in a flurry and I chalked it up to rock star behaviour.”There were four or five other people there at the time, including representatives of the band and its record label, Summers said.“It’s not like he said it to me in a dark hallway or in secret or anything,” said Summers. “He said it out loud like it was a joke, but it still made me feel uncomfortable.”A witness who was in the room at the time told Global News that he saw Hoggard grab Summers’ buttocks, but does not remember the specific comment the musician made.Anonymous sexual misconduct allegations against the Vancouver band began emerging online earlier this month.The group has since been dropped by its management team, blacklisted by scores of radio stations and abandoned by bands booked as tour openers. Hedley also withdrew itself from consideration for the Juno Awards.The band’s members have called the allegations involving young fans “unsubstantiated,” but acknowledged that in the past they “engaged in a lifestyle that incorporated certain rock ‘n’ roll cliches.”A CBC story on Sunday recounted a 24-year-old woman’s allegation that Hoggard sexually assaulted her in a hotel two years ago. A lawyer for Hoggard has denied any wrongdoing by the musician.Hoggard did not respond directly to Summers’ allegations, but Wednesday night he issued a statement apologizing for how he has treated women over the past 13 years.“The way I’ve treated women was reckless and dismissive of their feelings,” Hoggard said on Twitter.“I understand the significant harm that is caused not only to the women I interacted with, but to all women who are degraded by this type of behaviour. I have been careless and indifferent and I have no excuse. For this I am truly sorry.”Hoggard was adamant that he has never engaged in what he calls non-consensual sexual behaviour.Summers said she wasn’t traumatized by the encounter and didn’t lose any sleep over it. If anything, it made her lose respect for a band she admired.But she said the #metoo movement inspired her to share her story.Since accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein began surfacing last fall, there has been a barrage of allegations against some of the most powerful men in entertainment, media and politics.“I’m OK, but it’s important to know that there are a lot of people who experienced something like this, whether it’s with this same person in this same band, or a boss at work or a teacher at school or who knows?” Summers said.“It’s OK to tell your story if you’re ready to tell it, because somebody out there will listen to you.”
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA Los Angeles) is pleased to announce that award winning actor and comedian Rob Brydon will host the 2013 BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards presented by BBC AMERICA.In addition, BAFTA LA will honor Golden Globe Award winning and Emmy nominated actor, Idris Elba, with the BAFTA LA Britannia Humanitarian Award at the 2013 BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.For the second year in a row, the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards will be broadcast on BBC AMERICA, airing in primetime November 10 at 9:00pm ET and on the U.K.’s Sky Movies on November 11, as a two-hour special including footage of the Britannia Awards Red Carpet.The Britannia Awards are BAFTA Los Angeles’ highest accolade, a celebration of achievements honoring individuals and companies that have dedicated their careers to advancing the entertainment arts.Idris Elba will receive The BAFTA LA Britannia Humanitarian Award. Idris Elba is a Golden Globe award winning and Emmy nominated actor, producer, director, humanitarian and an anti-crime ambassador for the Prince’s Trust. Elba constantly showcases his creative versatility both on-screen in television and film as well as behind the camera and continues to captivate audiences and secure his position as a formidable talent, with a string of acclaimed performances in high-profile films as well as multiple critically acclaimed television series.Elba’s charitable work off-set is just as commendable as his acting accolades which includes his devout involvement with the Prince’s Trust, Staying Alive Foundation and supporting causes related to AIDS & HIV, at-risk/disadvantage youths, children, health and education.“Idris Elba has used his success in film and television to turn the spotlight towards a very deserving cause. His work with the Prince’s Trust for disadvantaged youth is highly commendable, and in complete accord with BAFTA Los Angeles’ own work in the inner city,” said Gary Dartnall, Chairman, BAFTA Los Angeles.The Britannia Humanitarian Award has previously recognized Richard Curtis, Don Cheadle and Colin Firth. Elba is being honored for his work with the UK charity The Prince’s Trust, founded in 1976 by Prince Charles to help disadvantaged youth. The recipient of a grant from The Prince’s Trust himself, Elba was able to attend The National Youth Music Theatre at the age of 16; something he credits with changing his life. Starting his work with the Trust as an anti-crime ambassador, Elba helped launch ’Prince’s Trust Undiscovered’ campaign, aiming to help young people caught in the recession.
In a powerful show of collaboration and support, leading names, artists and businesses in the entertainment community are teaming up in an event to honor as well as raise much needed funds for the victims of the Orlando tragedy.onePULSE: A Benefit for Orlando is a unique partnership effort to raise in support of onePULSE Foundation, the official 501c3 entity incorporated by the owners of the Pulse Nightclub. The August 19th event will be held at the recently launched NeueHouse Hollywood, aligning artists, activists, and survivors in a program that honors those taken by the tragedy with tributes to the heroes and victims of the Orlando shooting.The diverse presentation from the Hollywood community will include Barbara Poma, owner of Pulse Nightclub, and will feature an exclusive video that interviews both survivors and families of the victims, some of whom will be in attendance at the event, along with a special video message from President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.The evening is supported by many leading names in the industry, and the onePULSE Foundation will raise additional funds through their generous donations. Via partners CharityBuzz, Prizeo and Omaze, those who want to support the initiative beyond the text to donate campaign can bid on one-of-a-kind experiences donated by supporters who include Mark Cuban, Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres, Cyndi Lauper, Sir Richard Branson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, LP, Robbie Rogers and many others.All proceeds raised through individual donors, corporate sponsorship – and via the text PULSE to 91999 donation campaign – will benefit the onePULSE Foundation, whose mission is to provide assistance to victims of the attack at Pulse Nightclub and build a permanent memorial at the Pulse Nightclub site. Through the end of 2016, ninety percent of monies raised through this campaign will be granted to the National Compassion Fund, developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime, and designated to support those affected by the June 12th tragedy. The remaining proceeds from the event and campaign will contribute to the creation of a permanent memorial at the existing site of Pulse Nightclub, providing a sanctuary of hope dedicated to the lives affected and taken by the tragedy in Orlando, FL.“The genesis of Pulse Nightclub began with honoring the heart and vibrant spirit of my late brother many years ago, but at this moment we have an even greater call to action,” said Barbara Poma. “With the help of some incredibly generous partners, we are grateful to lean on the platform that the industry provides to spread love and support to those affected by this tragedy. I am awed by how quickly so many individuals have come together in a common cause. Our goal is to create a true family community. No amount of hate can destroy that bond. We will heal together.”Entertainment industry leaders including Virgin Produced, iHeartMedia, Universal, private work collective for creative entrepreneurs NeueHouse Hollywood and the City of Los Angeles have also lent their support to the campaign. In support of the initiative, Virgin America guests will soon be able to donate inflight by going to the shop: make a difference section of the RED in-flight entertainment system as well.“The horror of this attack on the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities prompted the generosity of people from around the world. We are honored to serve as steward of these funds and ensure that we receive in the name of victims is distributed directly to them,” said Mai Fernandez, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime.“We look forward to collaborating with all those who support this mission so that this is a unified effort, made possible not by one person but by and for everyone who wants to help,” added Poma.For more information on how to join or support the onePULSE coalition as an individual or business, please visit: www.onepulsefoundation.org.
Twitter LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment Advertisement Back-to-back Banksy exhibits featuring works by the secretive street artist are unfolding in Toronto.But observers are torn over the way his subversive messages are being portrayed.Neither show is endorsed by the urban art darling, known for cheeky stencils and illicit, politically charged graffiti that often take aim at the establishment. Neither shows are endorsed by the urban art darling, known for cheeky stencils and illicit, politically charged graffiti that often take aim at the establishment. (CBC) Facebook
The first is a free, open-air show in the city’s tony Yorkville Village, where two pieces have been installed amid a luxury retail strip home to designer brands that include Chanel, Tiffany and Prada. Advertisement Advertisement Login/Register With:
CALGARY, A.B. – Alberta’s finance minister says Ottawa’s latest fiscal update shows the federal government doesn’t appreciate how badly the price squeeze on western Canadian crude is hurting the Canadian economy.“It’s clear the federal government’s not speaking the same economic language of Albertans,” Joe Ceci said Wednesday. “Ottawa is living in a different economic planet.”Ceci said he was disappointed the fall economic statement included no actions to help Alberta oil producers narrow the price gap between their product and U.S. light crude, around a staggering $45 a barrel recently. He said Ottawa has not demonstrated a clear understanding of the economic damage caused by the failure to build new pipelines to coastal waters, enabling exports outside the United States.“We face a critical time for Canada’s energy sector and until our market access issues are addressed, the national economy will continue to forfeit billions to the American economy,” Ceci said.“This update does not address one of the biggest concerns Albertans have, getting fair value for our non-renewable resources.”Last month, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley proposed Ottawa invest in moving oil to market on rail cars as a stop-gap measure to relieve some of the landlocked oil glut until new pipelines come into operation.Ceci said he would have liked to see a mention of crude-by-rail in the economic statement.But he said there could be more information on that matter as soon as Thursday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to visit Calgary. “We’re busily working to get those numbers together.”Ceci said he is pleased with measures included in the fiscal update to allow manufacturers to write off certain capital costs immediately. It was something Ceci pitched in a letter to his federal counterpart.“This improves our competitiveness and is a win for Alberta workers and companies,” Ceci said. “I’m pleased the federal government listened to our advice and took action.”(THE CANADIAN PRESS)
THE EDUCATION MINISTER Ruairi Quinn says that he won’t have any problem asking for more money to fund a radical overhaul of the special education sector.Speaking today at the launch of the National Council for Special Education’s (NCSE) proposals for the sector, Quinn said that he was not worried that the proposals could cost more than the current system.He said that the makeup of the top of the cabinet meant that he never“I don’t have to encourage my cabinet colleagues because three of the four people on the Economic Management Council are teachers.“The Department of Education and Skills is the one department that has not been ringfenced in terms of allocation of funding. It is driven by demographic growth.“There has been an increase in SNAs and resource teachers generally.”Quinn said that he was supportive of the NCSE’s proposals, which will see resource teachers allocated on need rather than on enrolment.He said that the current system, which allocates special needs resources on the overall size of the school, not the number of the children needing support, was “not as fair as it should be.”He added that the plan is “not about resources”.“This is about treating people fairly, having outcomes and measuring outcomes.”Eamon Stack, chairperson of the NCSE said that the plan would be a “more equitable model” and that schools would not be able to use resources as a reason not to be inclusive of those with learning difficulties.Read: Radical shake-up on the cards for country’s 10,000 special education teachers
One of the most impressive zoetropes we have ever seen was posted about back in January. It was a 3D sculpture of Toy Story characters spinning so fast they animate perfectly. The detail in the characters and the speed achieved makes it something you can appreciate on video, but won’t get the full effect until you see it in person. You can do just that at Disney’s California Adventure or Hong Kong Disneyland.That Pixar zoetrope must have cost a small fortune to create and setup, but Tim Wheatley, digital animation student, has shown us you can create your very own on a budget and be experimental at the same time.AdChoices广告Rather than a traditional zoetrope he has created a cyclotrope. It has that name due to the use of a bike wheel and gears to get the spinning going at various speeds. That coupled with his use of cardboard cutouts, wire, and clear plastic sheets produces a pretty decent animation which we believe is what his project required at University College Falmouth in Cornwall.We especially like the use of the clear sheets with the guy riding the bike on. At first we thought it was some intricate wire models, but you can tell when the camera pulls in it’s drawn on a clear surface.Tim says on his website that this is just an initial test of the cyclotron and he has much bigger plans for it. He’s currently working on a longer piece and has roped in a musician who is working with bikes to create the music. We look forward to seeing the results.via Vimeo
We have no idea how Valve manages to cram so much personality into its turret bots, but they make for a very compelling trailer. Give it a watch and we’re guessing you’ll be that much more excited for Portal 2.The video above, with voice-over by Aperture Science CEO Cave Johnson, talks a bit about the company’s turret and why exactly they are so effective. It’s because the turrets fire the whole bullet. That’s 65% more bullet, according to Johnston. (Does that technically make the turret some kind of automatic musket? Or is it as simple as jacket-less ammo? We’re definitely curious, but this is very far removed from the point…) The turret also come in hundreds of colors and patterns, including some snazzy camouflages and a brick pattern.AdChoices广告Anyway, it’s a great commercial and if Valve is bringing this kind of humor to Portal 2, and even some minor appearances by Johnson, it’s going to be one of the best games of 2011.via Blues News
File Photo File Photo Image: Matt Hartman Boeing 737 MAX makes emergency landing in Florida after engine problem The Federal Aviation Agency is investigating the incident. Short URL Mar 27th 2019, 7:24 AM 30,969 Views By AFP Wednesday 27 Mar 2019, 7:24 AM
16 Comments Share137 Tweet Email2 https://jrnl.ie/4562703 A BOEING 737 MAX aircraft made an emergency landing yesterday after experiencing an engine problem as it was being ferried from Florida to California.“The aircraft returned and landed safely in Orlando,” the Federal Aviation Agency said in a statement, adding that no passengers were on board the aircraft.“The FAA is investigating,” added the agency, which grounded the Boeing 737 MAX on 13 March following two fatal plane crashes. A new Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on 10 March, killing all 157 people on board.That followed the October crash of a new Lion Air jet of the same model in Indonesia, which killed 189 people shortly after takeoff from Jakarta.The widening actions against the aircraft puts pressure on Boeing – the world’s biggest plane manufacturer – to prove that MAX planes are safe. The company has said it is rolling out flight software updates by April that could address issues with a faulty sensor.Southwest Airlines has said that the plane travelling from Florida to California experienced an engine problem “shortly after takeoff.”“The crew followed protocol and safely landed back at the airport” around 3pm, spokesman Chris Mainz said. “The Boeing 737 MAX 8 will be moved to our Orlando maintenance facility for a review.” Image: Matt Hartman Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
Quand la musique nous rappelle notre côté animalDans une récente étude publiée dans la revue Biology Letters, des chercheurs expliquent qu’ils sont parvenus à expliquer pourquoi certains musiques discordantes, telles que le rock, créent parfois en nous des émotions négatives. Certains caractéristiques de celles-ci s’apparenteraient en fait à des cris d’animaux en détresse.Aujourd’hui, 21 juin, se tient la 31e fête de la musique. L’occasion pour tous les mélomanes de sortir dans les rues partir écouter les musiciens professionnels comme amateurs qui jouent leurs compositions en plein air. Mélancoliques ou dansantes, enjouées ou plus lourdes, il y en aura pour tous les goûts aujourd’hui à la grande joie de tous. Mais si les effets bénéfiques de la musique ne sont plus à démontrer, les mécanismes qu’elle déclenche chez nous restent aujourd’hui assez mystérieux. Toutefois, des chercheurs viennent de trouver de nouveaux éléments pour élucider une partie de l’énigme : pourquoi certains types de musique créent-ils en nous des émotions négatives telles que la peur ou l’agressivité ?Aussi surprenant que cela puisse paraitre, c’est en s’intéressant à des marmottes que les chercheurs ont réalisé une partie de leur étude. En effet, Daniel Blumstein, biologiste à l’université de Californie a observé ces petits mammifères et remarqué quelque chose d’intéressant à propos de leurs cris. “Les petits se mettent parfois à crier lorsqu’on les capture”, explique ce chercheur. Mais ces cris sont très particuliers. Ceux-ci “sont très différents des autres vocalisations que nous avons étudiées, ressemblant un peu à une alarme de réveil”, ajoute t-il cité par Live Science. En poursuivant les recherches, ce scientifique a alors découvert des preuves attestant que la musique pouvait posséder des caractéristiques semblables à ces fameux cris d’animaux. Sitel était le cas, elle avait alors davantage tendance à exciter l’attention des auditeurs humains. Pour arriver à cette conclusion, Daniel Blumstein s’est fait aider par un autre spécialiste, Gregory Bryant chercheur à UCLA avec qui il a créé 12 petits clips de musique différents. Alors que certaines étaient plutôt fades et ne provoquaient pas d’émotion particulière, les autres en revanche comportaient des sons plus brutaux et agités, pour certains similaires aux effets de guitare utilisés dans la musique rock. L’idée était ainsi de créer des sons discordants ressemblant un peu aux fameux cris de détresse animaux. Une musique perçue comme une voix chargée d’émotion Ensuite, les chercheurs ont fait écouter les sons à des étudiants et leur ont demandé de témoigner de leur ressenti : tous ont dit que les musiques plus rudes étaient plus excitantes mais surtout déclenchaient plus d’émotions négatives que les autres. Au cours d’une seconde expérience, Blumstein et Bryant ont alors couplé les mêmes clips musicaux avec des vidéos ennuyeuses montrant par exemple quelqu’un en train de marcher ou de boire un café. Puis ils ont fait regarder ces vidéos à un autre groupe d’étudiants. Au final, ils ont constaté que l’addition de la vidéo semblait éliminer le côté excitant des musiques. En revanche, les sujets ressentaient toujours les émotions négatives associées.”Quand nous écoutons de la musique, un grand nombre de mécanismes se déclenchent dans notre cerveau pour nous aider à la comprendre. Mais ceux-ci ont probablement été conçus au départ pour percevoir les émotions dans les voix. En quelque sorte, la musique remplit donc ce rôle de voix émotionnelle”, explique Gregory Bryant. Dans cette seconde expérience néanmoins, la vue interfère avec ces mécanismes. Comme le souligne Daniel Blumstein, les humains se fient beaucoup à leur vue. Ainsi, il est possible que les sujets aient inconsciemment déconnecter leurs signaux d’alarme en voyant les scène bénignes. Une sensibilité déjà utilisée par les compositeursÀ lire aussiDengue : symptômes, traitement, prévention, où en est-on ?Désormais, les chercheurs prévoient d’étudier les réponses physiologiques engendrées par la musique contenant ces caractéristiques particulières. Toutefois, pour eux, ces effets sont loin d’être une découverte dans la mesure où ils sont utilisés depuis des décennies par les compositeurs de musique de film et de télévision. Souvenez-vous la musique de la scène de la douche dans le film Psycho ou encore celle qui marque les attaques de requin dans les Dents de la mer. “Je pense que les compositeurs exploitent ces sensibilités sans le réaliser. Ce sont des sons naturels qui attirent notre attention et les personnes qui produisent la musique ont un sens intuitif de cela”, même s’ils ignorent d’où cela vient, commente le biologiste.Le 21 juin 2012 à 17:15 • Maxime Lambert
We thought the Harry Potter franchise was done after the last movie, but J.K. Rowling is not to be denied, and now we’re midstream in the Fantastic Beasts franchise with a second movie premiering this week. It’s pretty wild that an amateur who was living on the dole became one of the world’s most famous and wealthy authors, but magic works like that. Harry Potter has seen a ton of different toy tie-ins, and we dove in to the toybox to find eleven of the coolest for your collection.Bandai SH Figuarts Harry Potter Action FigureThe SH Figuarts line from Bandai has branched out into pretty much every major pop culture franchise, and for good reason — they’re loaded with detail and articulation at a very reasonable price point. This sculpt of first-year Harry as seen in The Sorcerer’s Stone comes with a ton of accessories and items, including Hedwig the owl and his broom, as well as a second set of legs so he can ride it while he plays Quidditch. The owl even comes with a second set of wings. This is by far the best Harry action figure on the market, so pick it up while it’s still affordable.Buy it at Amazon.comHarry Potter Coding KitJ.K. Rowling didn’t write that famous aphorism about science, at a certain level, being indistinguishable from magic. But as technology advances, it’s becoming more and more true. Why not merge the two with this odd little educational toy from Kano. Here’s how it works: you assemble the motion-sensing wand from included parts, decorating it with whatever phoenix feathers or other stuff you have laying around, and then use the included iOS app to write JavaScript code to make feathers float, toads transform and a variety of other magical effects. You’re a code wizard, Harry!Buy it at Amazon.comDobby PlushThe liberation of beleaguered house elf Dobby is one of the Harry Potter franchise’s best feel-good moments, as Harry pulls one over on Snape involving a pair of socks to give the obsequious little guy his freedom. If you’re looking for a mystical servant of your very own, we can’t promise that this stuffed version will do your dishes but he’ll be happy with all of your other stuffed critters on your bed or display shelf.Buy it at Amazon.comFunko Pop Harry Potter Collector’s SetIf you’re a serious Funko Pop maven, you probably have all of your favorite franchises represented. But if you don’t have the three leads of the Harry Potter franchise, here’s a great way to get them all at once. Big-headed versions of Harry, Hermione and Ron come complete with their wands and school uniforms, ready to fulfill prophecies, fall in love and drink butterbeer on your display shelf. It’s sort of hard to write about Funko Pops because you already know what they are, but we soldier on.Buy it at Amazon.comStar Ace Toys Voldemort Action FigureHong Kong-based Star Ace Toys have a reputation for absurdly detailed 1/6 scale action figures, and their Harry Potter line is a wild one. It was tough to pick just one example from their selection, but we had to go with He Who Must Not Be Named, the noseless antagonist Voldemort. Born Tom Marvolo Riddle, the leader of the Death Eaters bedevils Harry for seven books before he’s put away. The action figure version features 30 points of articulation and a pair of heads — one calm and one freaking out with dark rage. It even comes with translucent plastic effects pieces for evil curses.Buy it at Amazon.comHarry Potter Nano MinifigsThere’s something so satisfying about die-cast metal. In a world of disposable plastic, the heft and solidity of metal is very comforting. This is a really cool set of 20 miniature figurines from throughout the Harry Potter saga — in addition to Dumbledore, Snape and the teachers you get a Harry from first year and one from seventh year, a Hermione and a Ron the same way, and even a Voldemort. Of course, since these are die-cast metal you can’t really pose them, but for the scale they’re nicely painted and sculpted.Buy it at Amazon.comHogwarts Castle Lego KitThe Harry Potter license has been very good to Lego, with tons of different sets. But the absolute king of them all is the Hogwarts Castle, a two-sided construction that depicts the outside of the imposing edifice, and then when you flip it around it incorporates a number of really cool interior locations like the Great Hall and several classrooms. Throw in the Whomping Willow and Hagrid’s hut, among others, and you’ve got a set that requires over 6,000 pieces.Buy it at Amazon.comSeverus Snape Action FigureNECA’s seven inch figures are the industry standard for sculpt quality and posability, and their take on the traitorous Severus Snape is one of the best in the Harry Potter series. Snape is one of the franchise’s most confusing antagonists — a friend of Harry’s parents who seems loyal to Hogwarts until the very end when his betrayal sets the endgame in motion, Alan Rickman’s performance of him is career-defining. This figure comes with a wand and a massive removable cloak. The torso and arms have multiple joints so you can pose him to your heart’s content.Buy it at Amazon.comHarry Potter Hogwarts Battle Card GameThere are plenty of ways to simulate the wizarding world, but this cooperative card game is one of our favorites. Four players take the roles of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville and combine their magical might to fend off a variety of attacks on the school over seven different campaigns. It’s a remarkably well-designed game with lots of replayability, and the combination of a deep deck-building element with rules that are clearly explained and easy to understand make this a very worthwhile purchase for the Potter fan looking to diversify their game night.Buy it at Amazon.comStar Ace Toys Hermione Granger Action FigureHere’s another Star Ace figure for the Hermoine fans in the audience. This is a note-perfect recreation of her appearance in the first Harry Potter movie, all thick sweaters, frizzy hair and armloads of books. As with the Voldemort from earlier, this is a 1/6 scale figure, meaning that it stands around eight inches high and comes with all sorts of accessories, including a bottle of ink and a writing quill. The detail of this thing is unbelievable — they captured Emma Watson’s face with absurd fidelity and it’s super poseable to boot.Buy it at Amazon.comFantastic Beasts Niffler PlushThe breakout star of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them was undoubtedly the Niffler, a little marsupial that escapes from Newt Scamander’s case and lets his obsessive desire for gold wreak some serious havoc. They typically live in burrows below ground and are used by the Curse-Breakers of Gringotts to ferret out buried treasure. If you want one of your own, this plush replica is about eight inches in height and comes clutching an imitation gold coin. Alas, the loot-hunting abilities don’t carry over to the stuffed version. You’ll just have to work for a living.Buy it at Amazon.comMore Toys on Geek.com:Kindle the Bonfire With Dark Souls ToysThe Scariest Movie Monster ToysMost Responsible and Powerful Spider-Man Toys Stay on target Catholic School Bans ‘Harry Potter’ Books Because SpellsToy Tuesday: The Best Animal Toys 
Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LAKE WORTH, Fla. (WSVN) – Newly-released surveillance video showed a man leaving a brown paper bag filled with three kittens behind a restaurant’s dumpster in Lake Worth.The 5-week-old kittens were left there on Thursday and were later found by an employee of the restaurant, located along the 6100 block of Jog Road.The kittens were later taken to a shelter.Police said the felines were found in good condition.Investigators are looking for the man who abandoned the cats behind the restaurant.If you recognize this man, call Palm Beach Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.
The scientists, led by Professor Emeritus Daniel E. Morse of the University of California, Santa Barbara, created synthetic cells containing a polystyrene micro-bead as a nucleus. They then created DNA segments containing genes from two related silicateins along with random mutations and attached a piece of this DNA to each plastic bead. They soaked each bead in a mixture of bacterial proteins required by the synthetic cells to manufacture silicateins, and surrounded the beads with oil to act as the cell membrane.Silicateins are biomineralizing proteins found in marine sponges that synthesize silica (silicon dioxide) and titania (titanium dioxide) materials. The marine sponge Tethya aurantia, for example, produces silica spicules that make up 75 percent of its dry weight. Silica is commonly used in computer chips, while titania is used in photovoltaic solar cells. The synthetic cells manufactured silicateins, which appeared on the nuclear bead’s surface attached to antibodies. The researchers then ruptured the artificial cells to release the silicateins, and soaked them in a solution containing the silica or titania precursors. The resulting minerals formed a coating on the beads.The researchers then set out to direct the evolution of the synthetic cells. They first sorted the beads to identify those with DNA coding for proteins making particularly strong minerals. They sorted them by size, with those having the thickest layers of minerals being selected. They then shook the selected beads to break up the minerals, and selected only those beads that survived this process.Thirty genes randomly selected from the DNA for either silica- or titania-forming enzymes in the selected beads were then sequenced. They found that the genes contained sequences common to the two original silicatein genes, but they also identified new genes that were completely different from the initial genes. The original genes coded for silicatein alpha, which manufactures silica in clumps of particles. The new genes coded for proteins that produced silica and titania in a dispersed nanoparticle form. One of the new proteins, silicatein X1, manufactured silica in the form of folded sheets of silica-protein fibers.The process being developed could be extended to other materials. There are other marine sponges, for example, that produce fibreglass, and bacteria that produce magnetic nanoparticles. The new method could also be used to bioengineer novel materials with hitherto unseen structures and to do so in a way that is environmentally benign. Glass sponges inspire: Hybrid material made of collagen fibers and silica as possible substrate for bone tissue culture This is first author Lukmaan Bawazer. Credit: UCSB (Phys.org) — Scientists do not fully understand how nature uses proteins to develop new materials and minerals, but learning more about the natural processes could lead to bioengineering methods such as the biological synthesis of solid-state materials for electronics applications. Now researchers in the US have designed a synthetic biological platform to facilitate the study of these processes and genetically engineer new materials. Explore further More information: Evolutionary selection of enzymatically synthesized semiconductors from biomimetic mineralization vesicles, PNAS, Published online before print June 7, 2012, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1116958109AbstractThe way nature evolves and sculpts materials using proteins inspires new approaches to materials engineering but is still not completely understood. Here, we present a cell-free synthetic biological platform to advance studies of biologically synthesized solid-state materials. This platform is capable of simultaneously exerting many of the hierarchical levels of control found in natural biomineralization, including genetic, chemical, spatial, structural, and morphological control, while supporting the evolutionary selection of new mineralizing proteins and the corresponding genetically encoded materials that they produce. DNA-directed protein expression and enzymatic mineralization occur on polystyrene microbeads in water-in-oil emulsions, yielding synthetic surrogates of biomineralizing cells that are then screened by flow sorting, with light-scattering signals used to sort the resulting mineralized composites differentially. We demonstrate the utility of this platform by evolutionarily selecting newly identified silicateins, biomineralizing enzymes previously identified from the silica skeleton of a marine sponge, for enzyme variants capable of synthesizing silicon dioxide (silica) or titanium dioxide (titania) composites. Mineral composites of intermediate strength are preferentially selected to remain intact for identification during cell sorting, and then to collapse postsorting to expose the encoding genes for enzymatic DNA amplification. Some of the newly selected silicatein variants catalyze the formation of crystalline silicates, whereas the parent silicateins lack this ability. The demonstrated bioengineered route to previously undescribed materials introduces in vitro enzyme selection as a viable strategy for mimicking genetic evolution of materials as it occurs in nature.via Arstechnica
Citation: Synthetic cells used to bioengineer new forms of silica (2012, June 8) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2012-06-synthetic-cells-bioengineer-silica.html © 2012 Phys.Org Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.