There were emotional scenes at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon as North Melbourne’s Ben Cunnington returned to AFL action for the first time in more than a year.
The Kangaroos midfielder has survived two bouts of testicular cancer that have kept him out of the AFL since he last played in round 19 last year — 385 days ago.
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Cunnington, a two-time North best and fairest, addressed his teammates during the week and spoke about his battle and the support from his family and the club that helped him fight his way back.
It has been a long and emotional journey back to senior football for the 31-year-old, who was seen soaking up the moment by himself in the middle of Adelaide Oval before North’s clash with the Crows.
And many footy fans would have shed a tear watching Cunnington embrace his partner and walked out onto the field with his three children.
Cunnington took a few deep breaths as she ran through the banner.
The Herald Sun’s Lauren Wood said it would be “tough to top for footy’s moment of the year”.
Broadcaster Chad Ryan tweeted: “Bloody powerful stuff. F*** cancer. So glad to have Cunnington back.”
Peter Hooley said: “Man, who’s cutting onions. Love every little thing about this. Go well Cunners.”
Cunnington finished with 17 disposals and three clearances in a solid performance.
The Crows spoiled his return, pushing ahead in the last quarter to claim a 103 (15.14) to 74 (10.14).
Dual premiership-winning Kangaroo David King said it was “so good” to see Cunnington back playing for North.
“Just really rapt to see him back out there and wearing the jumper,” he said on Fox Footy.
“Things look right for the Kangaroos when he’s out there.
“I think he’s been the Kangaroos’ best player since the turn of the century. This guy’s impact on football has been phenomenal for us.”
“You think you might be done with the game but until it gets taken away from you, you quickly realize how much you do love it,” Cunnington told Fox Footy post game.
“To get another opportunity to play, I couldn’t be more appreciative and grateful.”
“Even though we lost I can’t stop smiling, I’m just trying to appreciate it right now.”
Small is proving to be big business in the restaurant industry, with a boom in private dining prompting restaurants of all shapes and sizes to add spaces with quirky touches like a BYO record policy or free karaoke.
Intimate groups of 25 to 30 people are contacting Simon Blacher’s casual southside restaurants Tokyo Tina and Moonhouse for everything from end-of-financial year bashes to 21st birthdays.
“I know moving forward, any restaurant that we open will definitely have a private dining option associated with it,” says Blacher.
Armadale wine bar Auterra says the biggest demand for its new 12-seat private dining space is from groups of friends simply catching up.
Melburnians are cottoning on to the benefits of private dining rooms, flocking to them for dinner party vibes that feel more COVID-safe and don’t come with any of the hard parts of hosting.
They’re an attractive prospect right now for restaurants, too. The exclusive rooms, which typically offer set menus and beverage packages, are easier for venues to staff and usually attract consumers who are in the mood to spend.
Tokyo Tina co-owner Simon Blacher says private dining rooms will be part of any new restaurant his Commune Group opens in future. Photo: Eddie Jim
In the last 12 months, Blacher’s Commune Group has added two private dining areas to its portfolio of venues.
One of these is an offshoot of popular Windsor restaurant Tokyo Tina. Called Tokyo Private, it has its own entrance on Chapel Street and is built for fun, with a karaoke machine included in the price.
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Blacher says when it opened last October it had five to eight bookings per week, and sometimes up to 10. While that’s plateaued slightly over winter, it’s still doing an average of three functions a week, “which is still fantastic”.
Private rooms may once have been associated with exclusive or pricey restaurants but some operators, including Commune Group, are showing they can come in all shapes and sizes, with quirky touches to boot.
In Thornbury, a neighborhood trattoria Umberto added a private room last year that comes with a TV for movie nights, a card table, a record player and a buzzer for service. The venue asks you to be a member to book the room, but at $330 a year, that’s not as exclusive as it sounds.
“The membership growth has exceeded our expectations,” says co-owner Carla Barbieri. “We’re approaching capacity and anticipate taking applications for a waiting list.”
Fitzroy restaurant Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca has three different dining spaces upstairs for private events, or you can book out the whole venue. Photo: Bonnie Savage
Blacher has also been pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm for both Tokyo Private and an exclusive space upstairs at his latest venue Moonhouse in Balaclava.
He acknowledges that COVID caution may be a contributing factor in people booking events away from the main dining room. Some diners have more peace of mind if everyone in their group has done a RAT before dinner, for example.
But overall Blacher thinks it’s a festive spirit and desire for smaller celebrations that’s driving demand.
Armadale wine bar Auterra added a 12-seat private dining space in May and has seen it used for birthdays as well as more casual catch-ups among friends. Photo: Supplied
“Sitting down with a select group of friends rather than everyone you’ve ever met is a trend we’re seeing [for celebrations],” he says.
In these days of timed bookings, getting a table together for a whole night of uninterrupted fun is also another factor in the popularity of private dining.
Auterra’s general manager Gareth Burnett says since the Armadale wine bar opened its upstairs private dining room in May, the most common bookings are for birthdays or intimate catch-ups among friends.
Society’s most exclusive private dining space, the Green Room, comes with a show kitchen, separate entrance and private chef, making it a magnet for celebrities and athletes looking to celebrate. Photo: Supplied
But, with spring in sight, he says festive season inquiries are coming thick and fast.
The latest and greatest private dining rooms in Melbourne
Umberto
Celebrating your big moments your way is the idea behind the Rosarno Room, located upstairs and hidden behind a peep hole at this modest neighborhood trattoria. Pop your own vinyl on the record player, stream your favorite film via Apple TV or get the card table out. There’s even a buzzer for service. “It’s like the idea of a clubhouse but not like the old, stuffy ones we may picture in our minds,” says co-owner Carla Barbieri. The catch is that you must be a member to partake, a privilege that costs $330 a year. But can you really put a price on street credit?
Umberto Espresso Bar’s members-only room, the Rosarno Room, can be used for private dinners, card nights, watching Netflix and more. Photo: Hi Sylvia
917 High Street, Thornbury, 03 9484 8654, umberto.com.au
Auterra
It’s not called a secret hideaway for nothing. From the fireplace and sheer drapes right down to the glass cabinets filled with crockery, this 12-person space feels like sitting down to lunch at home with your nearest and dearest. The best part is you’re not doing the cooking. Soaring ceilings, an inlaid brass tabletop and a gilt mirror add a luxe touch, as do the private bathroom and kitchen. But mismatched chairs and napkins in bright colors inject some fun. Brown donuts and soft-serve with whiskey caramel continue the high-low theme.
1160 High Street, Armadale, 03 8529 2660, auterrawinebar.com.au
Tokyo Tina offers private dining with a side of karaoke. Photo: Parker Blain
Tokyo Private
Groups of between 14 and 28 can book out this understated space next door to Tokyo Tina – and it’s all yours for as long as your heart desires. The no-timed-bookings policy is a rarity these days, while the karaoke system is a kitschy (and free!) touch. Food is a likeable mix of mod-Australian meets Japanese: think katsu prawn buns or umeboshi-glazed duck, washed down with Kirin Ichiban lager and whiskey highballs. You can also play your own music via Spotify and kids are welcome.
By far the ritziest option on this list (and perhaps in Melbourne), Society’s Green Room comes with a private entrance and its own kitchen, chef and sommelier, so you truly will be getting something no one else in the restaurant has. Tucked upstairs and decked out with meters of timber, stone and glass, the 20-seat room has hosted athletes, celebrities and anyone else who loves the VIP treatment. With a price tag starting at $4500, file this one under special occasion.
Sweeping art deco curves define this iconic Balaclava building, recently reborn as a contemporary Cantonese restaurant. That’s particularly true upstairs where private events take place across a cocktail bar and dining room. A crescent-shaped booth for eight people in the bar is perhaps the best seat in the house, tucked into a nook of the building with views of Carlisle Street in either direction. In the neighboring room, a long table for 30 can play host to feasts of wontons, beef with black bean and luxe items like mud crab. A separate entrance and bathrooms add to the exclusive feel.
Creating sumptuous spaces is the ninja skill of Rocco’s owners, who also operate Poodle further along Gertrude Street. Private dining here might look like an intimate 20-person table in one half of the upstairs ballroom with checkerboard floors. Larger events can spread over the entire room and adjoining Vince’s Bar, giving you access to an outdoor terrace and your own bar star. Two fireplaces, timber joinery, mosaic tiles and fun spins on Italian dishes spell out good times galore.
If Crusaders coach Scott Robertson (right) replaces under-fire All Blacks coach Ian Foster, he’s tipped to recruit Blues coach Leon MacDonald to join his staff as an assistant.
If Crusaders coach Scott Robertson replaces Ian Foster as All Blacks coach, it’s understood Leon MacDonald and Jason Holland will be among those recruited as his assistants.
Former Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan, who was asked by Foster to replace Plumtree after the 2-1 series loss to Ireland last month, is expected to be retained if Robertson gets the job.
With incumbent Foster under immense pressure after five defeats from six tests, the match against the Springboks in Johannesburg on Sunday morning may be his final game in charge before he either resigns or is sacked by NZ Rugby.
ALL BLACKS
All Blacks No 10 opens up on his horrific spill in the opening test against the Springboks in Mbombela.
Speculation about Foster’s future has reached fever pitch since the All Blacks were beaten 26-10 by the Springboks in Mbombela last weekend, with a groundswell of support for Robertson to replace him before the next Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Christchurch on August 27.
READMORE: * Super Rugby: Scott Robertson recommits to the Crusaders through 2024 * ‘Not far away’: Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby closing in on re-signing Razor * Crusaders coach Scott Robertson set to stay loyal as NZ Rugby ramp up talks
Should he take over from Foster, Robertson will want to hand-pick the assistants he believes can help produce a team capable of winning the World Cup in France next year.
It’s understood MacDonald and Holland, who coach the Blues and the Hurricanes, Ryan and Crusaders assistant coach Scott Hansen have been short-listed.
Hagen-Hopkins/Getty Images
Jason Ryan joined the All Blacks as forwards coach before the trip to South Africa.
When Robertson was interviewed for the All Blacks job after the 2019 World Cup – he was overlooked for Foster – he wanted Ryan, MacDonald and Holland on his coaching staff.
After Ryan left the Crusaders – he had coached under his friend Robertson at the franchise since 2017 – he made it clear how difficult the decision was. But he said he couldn’t turn down the All Blacks.
“We worked together for 12 years, so let’s not hide from that,” Ryan said in reference to Robertson. “We had a good chat and a good coffee. I wished me all the best, and it was a good moment.”
If he does get the job, and recruits MacDonald and Holland, it will mean the Crusaders, Blues and Hurricanes will be forced to search for new coaches to lead their programs.
Hagen-Hopkins/Getty Images
Jason Holland assisted Scott Robertson at Canterbury before moving to the Hurricanes. Holland was appointed head coach of the Hurricanes when John Plumtree joined the All Blacks in 2020.
MacDonald, who played with Robertson at the Crusaders and assisted him when the team won the 2017 Super Rugby title, was appointed Blues coach in 2019.
Robertson was instrumental in arranging a job for Holland at Canterbury in 2013 when he returned to New Zealand following a long playing and coaching career at Irish club Munster.
Holland later moved to the Hurricanes and in 2020 took over the top job after Plumtree accepted Foster’s invitation to join the All Blacks.
Christiaan Kotze/Photosport
Dejected All Blacks coach Ian Foster and talks to his players following the 26-10 loss to the Springboks in Mbombela last weekend.
The Crusaders, undoubtedly, will be hit hardest if Robertson replaces Foster.
The Christchurch-based franchise has yet to name a replacement for Ryan. If Robertson and Hansen, who deals with the game plan and attack strategies, also depart it will mean the franchise will have to fill three positions.
Had NZ Rugby appointed Robertson as coach instead of Foster in late 2019, it could have potentially avoided such a messy situation.
If Robertson, MacDonald and Holland do join the All Blacks, the contracting part of the transition should be relatively smooth given they are all directly accountable to NZ Rugby.
Following the Irish series Foster sacked attack coach Brad Mooar and Plumtree, while replacing departing selector Grant Fox with ex-Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.
Now, if Foster departs, it’s unclear whether scrum coach Greg Feek, defense mentor Scott McLeod, Schmidt and the other management staff will remain with the All Blacks.
Larry Emdur has had a serious case of the giggles, laughing so hard that he had to momentarily abandon a segment on Friday’s The Morning Show.
The hilarity began when the normally unflappable Larry – widely known for his composure and immaculate articulation – tried to pronounce a dinosaur name.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Larry Emdur walks off momentarily during The Morning Show
Watch The Morning Show on Channel 7 and stream it for free on 7plus >>
But his attempt at “diplodocus” came out completely wrong, sounding more like “dipo-lacko-ducko-dos”.
After his failed try at the word, co-host Kylie Gillies corrected him.
Larry then tried to continue with the script – but became totally immersed in a giggling fit.
Larry Edmur covers his face. Credit: TMS
Composing himself just long enough to be able to speak again, he protested that the way he had pronounced “diplodocus” was the way that “everyone says it”.
“It’s not just me,” he insisted.
The laughter continued, with Larry doubling over as he giggled, before waving his hand about, as if telling the cameras to stop rolling on him.
Larry Emdur briefly walks off the set. Credit: TMS
A still-incapacitated Larry then began shaking his head, before momentarily walking off camera.
Somewhat confused, Kylie asked him: “Did I say something wrong? No what, tell me”, before inviting Larry back into camera view.
Larry grabbed his glasses and tried to re-read his script, as Kylie asked, “What, diplodocus?… I don’t get it.”
Joking, Larry then said, “Please, (you) read the words.”
Kylie Gillies looks off camera laughing. Credit: TMS
‘I don’t understand’
Kylie tried to continue with the segment, but ‘laughing Larry’ was not done.
Wanting to make his point, he said that “All I was saying was that people say that”, referring to his unique pronunciation of “diplodocus”.
“But I don’t know if that’s the word, exactly,” he said.
Kylie looked over to the producers off-camera, laughing, before telling her co-host “I don’t understand”.
Neither host can stop laughing. Credit: TMS
Larry then asked Kylie how she pronounced “diplodocus”, prompting her to gently sledge him.
“No, no, no,” she joked, “You didn’t know the word (diplodocus) and you made it up (the pronunciation).”
Larry eventually managed to snap back into focus and continue with the segment.
His uncontrolled laughing fit was a rare departure from his normal on-screen composition.
Away from The Morning Show, Larry is also known for his laser-sharp focus and crisp diction as host of The Chase Australia.
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An extraordinary eight-car crash has brought the second last race of the Formula E championship to a halt in Seoul on Saturday.
The chaos occurred on the opening lap of the Seoul E-Prix as the field went into the last corner, led by Jaguar driver Norman Nato.
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After Nato came Sebastiaen Beumi, who was then followed by Nick Cassidy, Dan Ticktum, Oliver Askew, Andre Lotterer, Nyck De Vries and Oliver Turvey.
Nato and Cassidy were the only drivers able to continue their race after they managed to remove themselves for the messy pileup.
The race was red flagged but motorsport fans couldn’t believe their eyes as a car became perched on top of the Mercedes of De Vries, who was protected by the halo.
“A couple of big hits at the back,” the commentator said.
“Everyone piles into the back, a really weird accident that. Very strange incident there.”
Motorsport writer Hazel Southwell tweeted: “Buemi, Askew, Lotterer, Ticktum, Turvey, Cassidy, Nato and De Vries in the wall. Buemi also on the Mercedes. simply incredible Formula E stuff (red flag, they all seem to be OK, just no one seemed to be able to brake).”
Several of the cars had to be taken away on the back of trucks, much to the amusement of viewers.
Nato said the slippery surface on the wide part of the track, which weaves through Seoul’s Olympic Stadium, was his undoing.
“In the middle of the pack the visibility in the last sector was quite poor,” said Nato, who was able to restart the race.
“One guy in front of me, I don’t even know who he was to be honest because I couldn’t really see, he was really cautious and braked.
“The two cars in front of me, they tried to avoid him and when I arrived I got a bit surprised and I had to avoid, going on the left-hand side of the apex.
“The tarmac is really different at this part and that’s why we saw so many cars (in the wall) because so many people tried to do the same to avoid the inside because of one car.
“On the outside, you have no chance to turn. Six cars or seven cars out in one corner is not what we expected.”
Lotterer added: “Basically, it was super slippery out there.
“Same, like the other guys, just touched the brakes and it was just like ice. Nothing you can do from that point on.
“I don’t think it’s braking too late, it was where there was paint, maybe some cars just happened to be on those patches of paint and lock up and that’s it.
“I managed to find a little gap and not hit another car but I still hit it, but not full on.”
The race restarted with Mitch Evans in the lead, who went on to claim victory in the penultimate race of the season ahead of Oliver Rowland and Lucas di Grassi.
It means the championship battle will go down to the last race of the season as Evans attempts to chase down Stoffel Vandoorne.
Google Duo and Google Meet have been merged for nearly a week now. Google Duo has been renamed as ‘Google Meet’ and the Google Meet app has been renamed as ‘Google Meet (Original)’. Furthermore, the original Google Meet app now has a green icon to help users distinguish it.
Initial speculations say that Google is trying to merge its professional and personal video calling apps into one. Google has also suggested using the new Meet app for a better combined video call and meeting experience. However, it is still quite confusing for many users.
The new Meet app carries the best features of both apps. The 2022.07.23 beta version of the new Google Duo app first hinted that some exciting features might be coming to the app. Earlier this year in February, the live-sharing feature was introduced on Google Duo as a Samsung device exclusive.
But now in August, the merged app is receiving the same feature as users can now enjoy videos, songs, or games together in lengthy meeting sessions.
Google Meet users can now stream YouTube, Spotify, and play games, here’s how
Google Meet users can now stream videos from YouTube, songs from Spotify, manage tasks using GQueues, and play games like Heads Up!, UNO! Mobile, and Kahoot! during a meeting. This new feature can have two to five participants involved in any shared activity.
How to use these all new features
To stream YouTube, Spotify, play games, or use any other newly added features, users have to follow the steps mentioned below:
Update the Meet app to the latest version.
Go to the three dots menu.
Go to the Activities tabs (where the Q&A and Poll options are available).
From that point, they can start any desired shared activity just by selecting the option. Icons of all the available shared activities will be shown. For example, users have to press the UNO! Mobile icon if they want to start the game.
However, it should be mentioned that Spotify is currently only allowing its Premium users to use this group session feature, which is also the same for Samsung device users. The group session feature is quite similar to Apple’s SharePlay, although SharePlay doesn’t allow users to stream from either YouTube or Spotify.
SharePlay currently supports a large number of apps, like Apple TV+, TikTok, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, NBA, Twitch, TikTok, MasterClass, ESPN+, Paramount+, Pluto TV, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Music. The new Google Meet is also expected to spread its domain of supported apps in the future.
Speaking about the future of the new Meet app, Google stated:
“We will continue to invest in bringing more features to Google Meet to help people to connect, collaborate and share experiences on any device, at home, at school and at work.”
Features like scheduled recurring meetings, virtual backgrounds, and in-meeting chats have also come to the new Meet app. The new update will be available to all mobile and tablet devices by the end of August. Later on, Google is expected to bring this change to other platforms as well.
Melbourne socialite and charity worker Lillian Frank dies aged 92
The Melbourne identity passed away on Friday night at the age of 92
Her daughter Jackie posted a moving tribute to her mother on Facebook
Lillian Frank was raised in Burma but fled during WWII after Japan invaded
She eventually settled in Melbourne and forged a path as a hair stylist
By Michael Pickering For Daily Mail Australia
Published: | Updated:
A giant of Melbourne’s social scene, Lillian Frank, has died aged 92.
Ms Frank was known for her hairdressing salon in Toorak, her tireless charity work and her love of a party.
Her daughter, magazine publisher Jackie, announced Ms Frank had passed on Friday night.
‘Last night we lost the heart and soul of our family,’ Jackie said.
‘She lived life to the max, without any regrets and was forever grateful.’
A giant of Melbourne’s social scene, Lillian Frank, has died aged 92. Ms Frank was known for her hairdressing salon in Toorak, her charity work and her love of a party
Lillian Frank pictured with Australian actor Heath Ledger at Derby Day, Melbourne, in 2001
Lillian Frank’s daughter Jackie shared a moving tribute to her mother on Facebook, announcing her passing on Friday at the age of 92
Ms Frank was raised in the Burmese capital of Rangoon before her family fled the invasion of the country by Japan.
After spending the war in a refugee camp in Calcutta, she and her family then went to London.
During the 1950s she came to Melbourne to visit her sister and stayed, forging a path as a prominent member of Melbourne society.
Ms Frank in 1985 during a fundraising event in Melbourne. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to the community in 1991
Ms Frank with her husband, restaurateur Richard Frank, who she married in 1956 had two daughters with – Jackie and Michelle
She married restaurateur Richard Frank in 1956 and they had two daughters, Jackie and Michelle.
One of the first hairdressers in Australia to be trained at Elizabeth Arden, Ms Frank set up her own hairdressing salon in the 1960s, becoming famous as the hair stylist for Jean Shrimpton when the model infamously wore a mini skirt at the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
On June 11, 1977, Ms Frank was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her involvement with charities, including the Royal Children’s Hospital and Odyssey House in Melbourne.
In 1991 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to the community.
JACKIE FRANK’S FULL TRIBUTE TO HER MOTHER LILLIAN
Last night we lost the heart and soul of our family.
She lived life to the max, without any regrets and was forever grateful.
She saw things through rose colored glasses. No matter what adversity she had to face, and there were many, she saw the good in everyone and everything.
Not many of you will know she was born in Burma, in 1930, fled to India during the war before being sent to her Aunt in the UK finally to make Australia her home.
Jackie Frank (right) pictured with her mother Lillian from her Facebook tribute to her mother, who has passed away aged 92
Forever trying to make a difference in the world. She used her de ella flamboyant personality and social standing for good, raising millions and millions for charity.
She had a very public life and I was often asked what’s it like growing up with Lillian Frank as your mum? My answer, to us she was mum, to my children nani and the most spectacular selfless human being in the world with the biggest heart.
We ❤️ you but a piece of our hearts will be broken forever.
Cowboys skipper Jason Taumalolo said there were “no words” to express what he and his teammates were feeling in the wake of Paul Green’s shock death.
The rugby league legend passed away at his Brisbane home on Thursday and tributes have since flooded in for the former North Queensland coach.
Green led the Cowboys to premiership victory in 2015, with Jason Taumalolo starting at lockout, having been coached by the former representative halfback from 2014 to 2020.
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Taumalolo was the only player to take the field on Saturday that was a part of the 2015 grand final team, giving an emotional plea for people to speak out no matter “how big or small the problem is”.
“It has been a big few days given what has happened, no real words really to express what has happened over the last few days,” Taumalolo said in the post-match press conference.
“How it has affected people in the rugby league community, and families, I can’t imagine what Amanda and the kids are going through right now.
“Everyone should have someone to talk to, regardless of how big or small the problem is, no one should have to carry around that pressure with them.
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Fletch lauds Green’s Roosters influence | 03:04
“We have a tight-knit group and I know rugby league teams have their own little groups, I just hope that if anyone is going through something they have someone to talk to about any problems.”
Taumalolo went on to say the loss of their former coach “shocked and rattled” the playing group after the club’s 32-18 loss to the Roosters.
“I think everyone copes with loss and grief differently and yeah, I am not sure about any of the other boys but everyone is affected differently,”
“I’d like to think we are a tight-knit group and we are able to talk to each other whether we are going through a tough time or something really difficult.
“But again, I think just what has happened has really shocked and rattled most of us and it is going to take some time to get over it.”
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Emotional Parker speaks about Green | 03:13
Cowboys coach Todd Payten echoed Taumalolo’s sentiment, revealing NRL powerbrokers have provided the club with necessary resources to deal with the shock loss.
“The club and the league have been great with the resources they have provided us as a group,” Payten said.
“It is my job to make sure that we keep an eye out for each other, that everyone feels comfortable that they can go and see me or someone within the club to get some help.”
During the Cowboys and Roosters clash, both teams wore black armbands to remember Green, who had a lasting impact on both clubs.
Green was assistant to Trent Robinson in 2013, his first year at the helm of the Tricolours club — and in that year they won the premiership.
Green also played 35 games for the Cowboys and 20 for the Roosters during his glittering 162-game playing career.
PAUL GREEN NEWS
‘DOESN’T HURT TO TALK’: V’landys’, Kevvie’s emotional pleas over Green tragedy
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In a novel approach, a new study at SISSA uses technology that can activate individual nerve cells with a light impulse. A targeted, non-invasive approach that can be used for fundamental studies into the nervous system as well as the development of innovative therapies for neurological diseases.
‘A jolt of light’ to modulate the activity of a single neuron in real time. This is how innovative nanometric photodiodes work, the protagonists of a new research study published in Science Advances. The technique developed by Professor Laura Ballerini’s team at SISSA in Trieste, in collaboration with the Universities of Chicago and Cambridge, is a truly innovative and sophisticated one. When activated with an infrared ray, photodiodes of nanometric dimension are able to send an electrical message to the nerve cell to which they are bound, regulating its function. The effect of the stimulation can then be extended and amplified to the surrounding network of neurons by virtue of their synaptic contacts. Working like a real electrode, but with a non-invasive and very selective approach, these nanotechnologies could be extremely useful for basic research, to investigate in-depth the mechanisms of the nervous system, but also to develop targeted therapies for neurological diseases.
Nanometric photodiodes: here is how they work
“To investigate the functioning of the nervous system, there is now great interest in technologies that must be both very precise and non-aggressive. Our strategy goes precisely in this direction. Differently from what explored so far, where metal electrodes or the optogenetic combination of genetic manipulation and optical techniques were used, we pursued a new, more specific and less invasive approach” say Professor Ballerini and her collaborators Denis Scaini and Mario Fontanini. In the study, the SISSA research group used innovative nanometric photodiodes, developed by the University of Chicago, which are capable of binding to the surface membrane of nerve cells.”The photodiodes light up when illuminated with infrared light,” explain the scientists.”In this way they can act electrically on the nerve cell, activating it. This is extremely useful for research purposes because it allows us to see what role a specific neuron plays in a given process and, since infrared is able to pen treat tissue, modulate its activity from the outside in an agile and non-aggressive way.” But how do you get the photodiode to the neuron you wish to study?Thanks to an ingenious mechanism developed in collaboration with Ljiljana Fruk’s group from University of Cambridge: “The photodiode is bound to an antibody that works like a courier taking and hooking it exactly where we wish to.This is because the antibody recognizes with great specificity a structure that we know is on the surface of the target neuron.”
New technology with a huge potential
Working in the laboratory on explant sections of the spinal cord, the SISSA staff focused on the study of the sensory neurons involved in pain pathways: “We realized that our method is able to selectively stimulate individual cells, allowing us to activate individual neurons with opposite functional roles, eg excitatory or inhibitory,” explain the researchers. “By activating an excitatory neuron on the spinal dorsal horn with the photodiode, we witnessed an amplification of the pain signal. Vice-versa, by acting on an inhibitory neuron the opposite effect was obtained: the amplification of the pain signal was switched off.” Interestingly, the research also shows that acting on just one neuron can have a much wider effect, affecting the activity of a whole area. The researchers confirmed: “This is exactly what we verified: by stimulating a target neuron we can modulate the response of the whole circuit, and this is very interesting for a number of reasons.”
More generally, concludes Laura Ballerini: “Thanks to its functionality and efficiency this technique, which has so far only been developed in-vitro, could allow us to define neurosensory circuits in a very sophisticated way, obtaining highly detailed information on the role played by individual nerve cells in different mechanisms. This in-depth knowledge would consequently allow increasingly specific therapeutic approaches to be designed at the spinal cord level.”
Research Method
experimental study
Subject of Research
cells
Article Title
Distributed interfacing by nanoscale photodiodes enables single neuron light-activation and sensory enhancement in 3D spinal explants
Article Publication Date
12-Aug-2022
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Shoulder pads add presence, confidence, and create the illusion of better posture. Why did they ever go away?
For me, confidence and shoulder pads are inextricably linked. I came to understand the power of a jacket with shoulder pads aged 17, when I was desperate to impress.
I was in a stew. I’d won a magazine competition to travel to Paris and meet my design hero Karl Lagerfeld. I was ridiculously excited to be invited but utterly flummoxed by one simple question: what to wear?
My teenage clothing options (denim, denim and more ripped denim) wouldn’t do. I wanted to look grown-up. For me, that meant tailoring. I gathered my savings and went shopping. I might have been a schoolgirl, but I recognized the power of a sharp shoulder as soon as I looked at myself in the changing room mirror. Like instant armor, the structure delivered a poise and posture that was not my natural lot.
Years later and the shoulder is back. After seasons of slouchy everything, from pandemic-appropriate athleisure wear to soft knits and wafty dresses, the style device that efficiently delivers power and glamor has returned. It’s like saying hello to an old friend.
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Of course, there are various degrees of shoulder pads about this winter – some more exaggerated than others. This winter the fashion world went mad for Anthony Vaccarello’s strong vision of how women might want to look. At Saint Laurent his overcoats and trouser suits were cut broad through the shoulders and slim through the hips, looking powerfully chic and altogether French.
At Versace, the enormous shoulders on a pink satin coat somehow managed to look mightily modern when mixed with a corset top and pinstripe skirt. At Dolce & Gabbana, a caricature of an hourglass silhouette stood out in orange. The huge shoulders and tiny waist paved the way for diluted variations on the theme.
Which brings us to how all that translates to real life. Look in the shops and you’ll see a variety of jacket styles built around varying degrees of pronounced shoulders. The Harris blazer, $699 from New Zealand brand Harris Tapper has an hourglass shape with strong shoulders, which make any waist seem smaller.
The Double Cloth blazer, $349 from Country Road, is a short slim style with sharp little shoulders. It’s neat and tidy and makes a great counterpoint to wide pants or baggy jeans. And Glassons’ oversized button front blazer, $90, illustrates the still-popular, borrowed-from-the-boys style; a loose body shape falling from softened, oversized shoulders.
But it’s not just jackets that benefit from today’s shoulder pads. Gigi Hadid recently pitched up at a party wearing a sheer slinky lime-green dress by the brand Self-Portrait with the kind of visible shoulder pads not seen since the days of Dynasty.
Why show off shoulder pads? Perhaps it’s the result of a new kind of body honesty. Look at Gigi. She’s not pretending. The pads simply lift her shoulder line and, like a superior coat hanger, bring some structure and emphasis to her natural shape. It’s an interesting approach.
“Shoulder pads are all about emphasizing femininity and adding a bit of wow,” says Kirsty White, the New Zealand manager of Carla Zampatti. The Australian label that specializes in powerful femininity combined with a healthy dose of Italian drama, is a proponent of shoulder pads, visible or not. “They elevate the shoulder, making proportions look incredible.”
Zampatti’s floaty georgette Divine Design shirt, $678 is a case in point. This slightly translucent top with its sculptural gold button that glints like a jewel, is lightly built up on the shoulders. Tucked into anything waisted and the va-va-voom effect is instantaneous.
Don’t underestimate the secret superpower of shoulder pads. As White points out, “They always add presence.”
