This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The Monkey is a delightful exercise in black humor Screening at movie houses throughout New England The eponymous creature of doom in The Monkey I don’t wanna be one of those critics who reads too much into a filmmaker’s biography There’s a little “1970s Pop Psychology” to the practice Osgood Perkins’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Monk,ey” which the director transforms from a lean short story about grief and loss into a grotesque Looney Tunes-like meditation on the randomness begins with a (very funny and gross) scene involving fire which was crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11 She died one day before the anniversary of her husband Tony Perkins’s death from AIDS after his condition had been leaked without his knowledge to the National Enquirer and secrets form the backbone of a lot of Perkins’s very somber and dark and scary horror films I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Coyote’s spine after a Chuck Jones boulder has landed on it from a great and whistling height While I had some issues with last year’s surprise hit Longlegs — I liked it but it’s my least favorite of Perkins’s movies — there were moments that were … kinda funny “Hail Satan!” freak-a-zoid killer who had the demeanor of a Romper Room TV kiddie host crossed with a subway demon from Jacob’s Ladder Chuckle in the way that the cannibal brothers from Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw movies make me chuckle and that made a bunch of people at the matinee of Longlegs I attended give me “What the fuck Dude?!” looks And local girl Alicia Witt’s turn as a messed-up mom in an isolated house (the most messed-up horror movie mom in an isolated house since… errr… Tony Perkins’s mom in Psycho) worked because she brought a tiny bit of humor to the role The All-American Sweetheart star of a bajillion Hallmark movies was mutated into every mom of every grammar school kid whose weird-smelling house you visited and who made you feel uneasy as she served you Fluffernutters blown up to Kaiju extremes It’s a vile outrage that Witt wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for the role — but never mind It’s that “blowing up to extremes” that makes The Monkey such a delicious banquet of gross-outs Perkins doesn’t just exaggerate the randomness of death to cruel extremes He also exaggerates the cruel extremes of family connections There’s not a single healthy familial relationship in this movie Perkins not only looks at anatomical grotesques with glee the movie’s warped logic can handle a grown-ass man wearing clothes meant for a child — and that is the least messed up thing in The Monkey For those five or six of you who didn’t read “The Monkey” during study hall the premise here is there’s a toy monkey that each time it’s wound up and activated because the cymbal-clashing monkey has apparently been copyrighted by Disney since its appearance in a Toy Story movie King takes the concept and transforms it into a redemptive tale about father/son connection in the face of bereavement Perkins makes The Monkey an essay on shell shock but the psychological violence of just living with crazed relatives King has this thing about legacies — think of his thematizing of alcoholism in The Shining an intrusion that turns into a family legacy Jacobs’s classic story “The Monkey’s Paw.” Perkins’s take on the wind-up monkey suggests that it is not alien to the family That it didn’t generate the horrible domestic reality on display but is a manifestation of these dark energies The cruelty of the monkey and the deaths it foretells fits snugly into the homes the toy disrupts demises well suited for an Omen or Final Destination movie are as organic to the dysfunctional households of The Monkey as are their crappy carpets and worn-out quilts given the psychological framework of the characters’ reality There’s an inevitability to the deaths that makes them all hit like well-earned punchlines that death is as cruel and organic as two brothers hating each other allows Perkins to have a shit-ton of fun with his carnage and psychological abuse Creepy twins peering down a well conjures up a quote of The Other During a showdown with the monkey there are musical quotes of what sounds like themes from a spaghetti western Every Stephen King story set in a high school requires bullies But Perkins jumps in with both feet and treats us to horrible girl bullies modern iterations of the “Plug It Up!” thugs in Carrie whose antecedent is not just the King short story but — in its confrontation with death and how it can inspire morbid laughs — the “Chuckles Bites the Dust” episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and personal trainer Michael Marano (www.BluePencilMike.com) was weirded out by Gordy the Chimp in Jordan Peele’s NOPE Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The Lady’s Dressing Room (1732) BY JONATHAN SWIFT Five hours (and who can do it less in?) By haughty Celia… but this Littlefield review has convinced me to make the purchase your comments reek of what is wrong in today's society and also if entitlement About Us Advertising/Underwriting Syndication Media Resources Editors and Contributors © 2025 The Arts Fuse. All Rights Reserved. Site by AuthorBytes 'Investing in a prominent international position' the holding company behind European print platform Print.com which was announced yesterday (12 February) as well as Simian’s 23,000sqm production facility near Groningen in the Netherlands Print.Group CEO Marco Aarnink – who prior to starting the business owned Dutch online printshop Drukwerkdeal which was sold to Cimpress in 2014 – said the deal was a logical step towards futureproofing the group’s production and fulfilment operations while strengthening Print.com’s position in the European print landscape Print.Group has grown to generate more than €60m (£50m) in revenue across nine European countries Aarnink said: “We are investing in a prominent international position in a rapidly evolving market Our customers expect smaller production runs a broader and more sustainable product range we differentiate ourselves by adding value through digitisation and flexible logistics right to the customer’s doorstep.” He added: “With this acquisition and the additional volume it brings we immediately achieve economies of scale within our group Simian’s fully equipped and highly optimised production facility provides the foundation for us to remain a leader in a rapidly consolidating market both in terms of cost efficiency and innovation.” also operates in Belgium and France and achieved revenues of around €28m in 2024 Simian CEO and founder Wouter Haan also commented: “Print.com and Simian share an immense passion for the power of print which is evident everywhere – from traditional brochures to merchandising “New markets and opportunities can only emerge when the entire supply chain collaborates in an integrated and sustainable way I will focus on further developing these strategic ambitions within Print.Group.” The new production facility will serve as a central production and fulfilment hub for the brands within the Print.Group holding Print.Group said merging order volumes was a key priority enabling it to implement significant cost optimisations that it said would ultimately benefit its customers Print.com Productions’ existing facility in Oss will be closed the group said Print.com would remain an exclusive platform tailored to creative professionals such as print resellers and Drukland labels would continue to focus on SMEs Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed Print.com launched its UK online B2B print platform at The Print Show last year having established a sterling storefront and secured its first UK production partners told Printweek today (13 February): “This acquisition positions us for further expansion within the European print industry enabling us to consolidate our strengths to futureproof production and fulfilment and support further international expansion.  “Our goal is always to enhance the customer experience – ensuring quality “This acquisition means more choice for our UK customers they can choose where their work is produced whether that be via our growing network of UK-based production partners or via our impressive mainland European production facility.” The Print.com product range includes items like books and brochures Print.com has also recently become the newest member of print and paper advocacy group Two Sides Robinson said: “Print.com is committed to a socially responsible and sustainable future with efficient technology – this is how we reduce CO2 emissions “We are constantly adding sustainable products and services to our ordering environment with recyclability as our starting point We implement eco-friendly and ethical solutions throughout the supply chain and inspire partners to do the same Our sustainability values align with the Two Sides campaign and we are delighted to have become a member.” Printweek welcomes informed debate, but please read our House Rules before posting Printweek is the premier website for the print industry BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jan 17 James Ford — the prolific English record producer and songwriter known for being a member of Simian Mobile Disco and the Last Shadow Puppets — has shared he's been diagnosed with leukemia the artist shared how he received his diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after "feeling pretty rough in the run up to Christmas." "It's a huge shock and while it's very clear in my mind how serious this is and as of today I'm starting pretty aggressive chemo to treat it," Ford wrote "I'm very aware that it's gonna be a bumpy road ahead but I'm confident and ready to fight and I hope to be out the other side of the initial treatment in 6–8 months' time." Ford added that he's also cleared his work schedule to pursue treatment which "has meant putting on hold a lot of very exciting musical projects I was eager to get stuck into I know they will go on to deliver great records with whoever takes the reins Ford has produced albums for artists including Arctic Monkeys In 2023, he released his solo debut album as James Ellis Ford, The Hum, via Warp Records. View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Ford (@james_ellis_ford) Be the first to get our biggest stories delivered to your inbox. Garhigh a well-established name in the domestic roofing sector is now broadening its horizons into the commercial industry the company has invested in its workforce through apprenticeships — and has chosen SIMIAN LASC as its training partner The company currently has three apprentices enrolled at SIMIAN LASC: two specialising in Slate & Tiling and one in Waterproof Membranes and a growing sense of teamwork as they develop their skills both in the classroom and on site A trusted industry recommendation influenced the decision to train with SIMIAN spoke highly of SIMIAN’s training centre and apprenticeship programme — highlighting its reputation for delivering quality With workforce development a clear priority for the business Garhigh saw SIMIAN as the perfect partner to support their goals apprentices are actively supported through structured supervision real-world experience complements their learning at the training centre creating a well-rounded development journey has seen firsthand the positive impact of the programme: “They’re always upbeat when we speak to them The training has helped build their confidence and teamwork Garhigh has ambitious plans to continue developing their apprentices beyond the initial programme Their vision includes cross-skilling — encouraging learners to broaden their expertise by completing NVQs in different roofing disciplines This approach not only builds individual capability but also creates a more flexible and skilled workforce for the business Communication between Garhigh and SIMIAN has been described as “really good” throughout the process — from initial sign-up to ongoing support The regular feedback provided by tutors has proven especially valuable helping the company stay informed about what their apprentices are learning and enabling them to reinforce this on-site For businesses considering taking on apprentices “Get in touch with Sara — she’ll walk you through everything and make it easy We would recommend SIMIAN LASC for any apprenticeship programme.” combined with SIMIAN’s expert-led delivery is helping to shape a new generation of roofing professionals equipped with the skills If you would like to find out more about our apprenticeship programmes, click here or phone us on 0345 6022 418 The Work at Height Regulations 20th Anniversary SIMIAN Wins ‘People First: Health & Safety First’ Award SIMIAN Supports National Careers Week with Local Careers Fair Engagement Insights on Recruiting Apprentices from GKR Scaffolding Women in Construction Week: A Conversation with Erika Redler Learner Coach & Designated Safeguarding Lead Sign up for industry insights and latest offers © 2025 SIMIAN Risk Group All rights reserved Website by Entyce Website by Entyce We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful If you'd rather we didn't use cookies when you visit our website click one of the links below for information on how to configure your browser settings to reject cookies and how to delete cookies Please note that our website may not work correctly if you disable cookies "(Required)" indicates required fields The All’s Eye—the new genre-blending collaboration of guitarist Ari Joshua formerly of Goose)—enlisted The String Cheese Incident percussionist Jason Hann for its vibrant new single premiering today exclusively via Live For Live Music ahead of its official release on February 14th Drawing inspiration from the soulful sounds of the Allman Brothers Band the track exudes freedom with its laid-back groove and uplifting lyrics about conquering fear and breaking out of destructive patterns “The song is about kicking habits and focusing forward on the dream,” Ari Joshua explained Rich guitar harmonies and warm organ swells offer a nod to the ABB while a dynamic piano solo reinforces the song’s organic feel Hann’s conga playing propels the arrangement Recorded at the iconic Carriage House Studios in Connecticut during the summer of 2024 and completed at Joshua’s Music Factory Studios in Seattle the track signifies a step in a new direction for the trio which is known for blending electronic influences with boogaloo funk It is one of more than a dozen singles the band plans to release in the coming months The All’s Eye will return to the stage this week for shows at Woods Valley Ski Resort in Westernville February 6th and Ophelia’s on Broadway in Albany Leading up to the release of “The Simian” on Valentine’s Day the trio will continue its run with performances at Buffalo Iron Works in Buffalo Listen to “The Simian” by The All’s Eye below. For more information, visit the band’s website A post shared by TheAllsEye (@theallseye) Copyright © 2025 L4LM | Website by Computer Courage "It’s very clear in my mind how serious this is I’m starting pretty aggressive chemo to treat it" The renowned music producer James Ellis Ford has been diagnosed with leukaemia Posting on Instagram on Friday (17th), the award-winning musician, who is also one-half of Simian Mobile Disco citing a "scary few weeks" after becoming ill in the run up to Christmas Now admitted for treatment at Barts Hospital he hopes to complete the first round of treatment within the next eight months “On Xmas Eve things took a turn for the worse.. I had a scary few weeks where I was very ill and they didn’t know what was wrong with me "While it’s very clear in my mind how serious this is I’m starting pretty aggressive chemo to treat it."  who are world leaders in leukaemia treatments and I’ve had excellent care from our wonderful NHS both initially in Canterbury Hospital before being moved here to Barts just last week," Ford continued "I’m very aware that it’s gonna be a bumpy road ahead but I’m confident and ready to fight and I hope to be out the other side of the initial treatment in 6-8 months time,” he continued Ford explained he'd been forced to "clear my work diary" and hold off on "a lot of very exciting musical projects I was eager to get stuck into." Acknowledging this was a "massive shame" he wished those had had been collaborating and producing with "all the best" in realising their endeavours As well as his output as a member of Simian Mobile Disco alongside Jas Shaw Ford has produced for the likes of Arctic Monkeys the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the simian smallpox epidemic to be an “international health emergency” following an outbreak of cases in Africa Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but it can also be transmitted from human to human through close physical contact Smallpox is characterized by a rash or skin lesions generally concentrated on the face the disease heals spontaneously within two or three weeks Click here for complete information on symptoms and WHO advice in the event of transmission Africa is facing the spread of a new strain of the virus detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September 2023 and dubbed “clade Ib” which is more deadly and transmissible than previous strains more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths have been reported since the beginning of the year in the DRC The DRC and other African countries have been experiencing Mpox outbreaks for over ten years WHO had already issued a global alert following an outbreak of cases These alerts are used to coordinate responses and contain epidemics WHO urged countries to “share tools such as vaccines and apply lessons learned from previous public health emergencies of international concern to address the current epidemic” WHO encourages all countries to strengthen surveillance share data and work to better understand the transmission of the virus There are two licensed and effective vaccines against Mpox Several studies have shown that vaccination against “classic” smallpox is 85% effective in preventing Mpox Previous smallpox vaccination may result in less severe disease the smallpox vaccine has not been administered since the disease was eradicated in 1980 More from our Engagement Hub We are thrilled to announce that SIMIAN has partnered with the Department for Education Skills Bootcamps to deliver top-quality, funded CISRS Part 1, CISRS Part 2 and Advanced Scaffolding Courses This collaboration presents an incredible chance for scaffolders to elevate their skills and advance their careers at a substantially reduced cost Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to receive training from industry experts Managed by City & Guilds and funded via the Department for Education this is a fantastic way to upskill your current workforce at a fraction of the price Thanks to the funding from the Department for Education the employer contribution for these courses is a fraction of the regular cost: ensuring you receive comprehensive training and practical experience N.B – Funded courses only available at our Warrington and Weston-Super-Mare centres The (November 2024) Layher Advanced Course at our CIST centre in North Wales Email bookings@simian-risk.com or call 0345 6022 418 Note: The funding does not cover these courses’ NVQ and Skills elements Apprenticeship Spotlight: Garhigh Roofing Builds for the Future with SIMIAN we are committed to shaping the future of the construction industry by providing top-tier training and apprenticeship opportunities we have hosted several key events aimed at inspiring and supporting the next generation of skilled professionals We recently welcomed a new cohort of potential roofing apprentices to our SIMIAN LASC centre for an insightful assessment day Nine eager learners took part in a structured programme including an informative presentation outlining apprenticeship expectations and behaviours and a guided tour of our state-of-the-art facility This session provided valuable insight into what it takes to excel in the industry and offered a glimpse into their future career paths Employer Insights: Apprenticeship Success Stories Our Sales and Marketing team had the pleasure of visiting A&R Elite and GKR two leading employers who have successfully integrated apprentices into their workforce These visits provided an excellent opportunity to gather firsthand insights and advice on introducing apprentices into businesses highlighting the immense value they bring to the industry we captured testimonials showcasing the achievements of their apprentices and the support they receive from SIMIAN School Visits: Encouraging the Next Generation Students from Eden Girls’ School Waltham Forest recently attended a construction VIP day at SIMIAN LASC in Leytonstone The enthusiasm and engagement shown by the students were truly inspiring as they explored various roles within the industry From constructing scaffolding bases to replacing roof tiles they gained hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the diverse career opportunities available Breaking down stereotypes and encouraging young women to see construction as a viable and rewarding career path remains a priority for us These interactions provided students with a realistic perspective on the industry and showcased the wealth of opportunities available to them North West Roof Training Group & SIMIAN Roofing Apprentice of the Year Competition We were proud to host the prestigious North West Roof Training Group and SIMIAN Roofing Apprentice of the Year Competition, sponsored by IKO This event celebrated the skills and dedication of the next generation of roofing professionals as eight talented apprentices competed for top honours in their respective categories The competition featured four Roof Slate and Tiling apprentices and four Waterproof Membrane apprentices and craftsmanship through a series of challenging tasks Under the watchful eyes of industry-leading judges these apprentices showcased the expertise they have gained through their training and on-the-job experience reinforcing the importance of high-quality apprenticeship programs in fostering industry excellence SIMIAN was proud to have a stand at the local Careers Fair in Birchwood where we engaged with over 800 students and their parents Our team provided valuable information about apprenticeship opportunities in scaffolding and roofing inspiring young people to consider a fulfilling career in construction We are dedicated to fostering talent and providing high-quality training to ensure the construction industry continues to thrive These events demonstrate our ongoing commitment to education For more information on apprenticeships and training opportunities with SIMIAN, visit our website or get in touch with our team today by emailing apprenticeships@simian-risk.com At SIMIAN, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of promoting safety in the construction industry, not just in terms of physical protection but also when it comes to mental well-being. This February, we had the immense pleasure of hosting the Lighthouse Construction Charity‘s Make It Visible site tour at our training centre The event brought together over 70 apprentices and commercial delegates for a Safety Stand Down where participants listened to inspirational talks and real-life experiences that shed light on the critical topic of mental health within the construction industry The Make It Visible initiative is all about raising awareness of mental health issues in a sector where such concerns have often been overlooked delivered by experts and individuals with personal experiences were incredibly moving and thought-provoking Attendees were not only provided with invaluable insights but also encouraged to reflect on the importance of mental health awareness and the difference we can all make by supporting one another The work the Lighthouse Construction Charity is doing is truly impactful By shedding light on mental health challenges and offering support to those who need it they’re making a difference in the lives of countless individuals across the construction industry Events like the Make It Visible site tour are vital in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and creating a culture of support and openness within the workplace It was inspiring to see the passion and commitment of the delegates and the Lighthouse team in action This event was a powerful reminder that mental health truly matters and initiatives like this are essential in making lasting change we are incredibly proud to have been a part of such an important event and we look forward to continuing to support mental health awareness in every aspect of the work we do SIMIAN’s Designated Safeguarding Lead “The Make It Visible Tour is incredible It was on a level that everyone could associate with— it was honest and full of real-life experiences that people could truly relate to I truly think it was really good and inspiring for our learners; it made people talk and think.” Let’s keep making mental health visible and ensure that everyone Thank you to the Lighthouse Construction Charity for your dedication and to all those who attended for your engagement in this vital cause we are proud to champion diversity in construction and this Women in Construction Week (March 3rd – 7th we want to celebrate the incredible women shaping the future of our industry Women play a crucial role in the construction industry yet they remain significantly underrepresented Women in Construction Week is a time to celebrate their contributions raise awareness of the challenges they face and encourage more women to pursue careers in the sector Women currently make up around 15% of the construction workforce in the UK with approximately 340,000 women employed in the sector representation in manual trades remains at just 1% and only 7% of executive roles in construction are held by women As construction faces an urgent skills shortage with an estimated 250,000 additional workers needed by 2027 women represent a key opportunity to help close this gap and drive the industry forward Women in construction still encounter challenges that limit their opportunities for career progression Women in Construction Week is not just about recognising challenges – it’s about celebrating the incredible work that women already do in the industry women are leading major infrastructure projects we believe that support and guidance are key to fostering a more inclusive industry there are organisations dedicated to helping women succeed in construction One such organisation is the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity which provides vital support to construction workers If you or someone you know needs advice or assistance we encourage you to reach out to the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity For more information about industry support, visit Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity At SIMIAN, we’re passionate about shaping the future of the construction industry, and what better way to do that than by engaging with the next generation of professionals? As part of our commitment to National Careers Week, we proudly attended local Careers Fairs, including the Culcheth High School Careers Fair on Wednesday we had the fantastic opportunity to exhibit and connect with students across multiple year groups sparking conversations about the exciting career paths available in construction Our team was on hand to provide invaluable insight into scaffolding and roofing apprenticeships and what day-to-day life in a construction career entails Our goal was to inspire young people to consider construction as a viable and fulfilling career choice showcasing the many opportunities available for progression and skill development SIMIAN is actively helping to bridge the gap between education and industry ensuring that students are well-informed about their future options We believe that investing time in these events is crucial for not only supporting young talent but also for securing a strong skilled workforce for the construction industry in years to come We look forward to continuing our work in schools and colleges across the UK promoting apprenticeships and career opportunities that can help shape a safe Interested in a career in scaffolding or roofing? Get in touch with SIMIAN today to learn more about our apprenticeship programs and training opportunities We are thrilled to announce that SIMIAN has received the ‘People First: Health & Safety First’ award as part of the Lloyds Banking Group Framework This recognition highlights the dedication and hard work our team invests in maintaining the highest scaffolding safety standards.  The nomination for this award came from Michael Parkin, Mitie’s Head of Operational Excellence who commended our commitment to safety and compliance:  “We are delighted to nominate SIMIAN for their exemplary work in conducting comprehensive audits on scaffolds across the Lloyds Banking Group estate Their meticulous attention to detail and dedication to safety have ensured that all scaffold structures meet the highest standards of integrity and compliance.”  This award acknowledges the vital work we conduct through inspections and audits for key clients These assessments guarantee that scaffolding structures adhere to the highest industry standards Winning this award is a significant achievement and stands as a testament to the hard work and expertise of our team shared his thoughts on this wonderful recognition:  safety is at the heart of everything we do Receiving this award is a proud moment for our entire team as it reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest standards of scaffolding safety and compliance I’d like to thank everyone involved for their dedication and professionalism—it is their hard work that makes accomplishments like this possible.”  This recognition inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of scaffolding safety We remain committed to raising industry standards and ensuring that construction professionals have access to the best guidance and support available.  Thank you to our incredible team for their continued commitment to safety We also extend our gratitude to our clients and partners who trust us to uphold the highest safety standards If you would like to become a SIMIAN Health & Safety retained client, contact us on 0345 6022 418, email consultancysupport@simian-risk.com or click here Looking for something specific? Contact us Want to learn more about our training or consultancy services At SIMIAN, we take immense pride in partnering with businesses that share our commitment to developing the next generation of scaffolding professionals. One such company is A&R Elite Scaffolding a forward-thinking employer who recently joined our apprenticeship program Their dedication to nurturing young talent and bridging the skills gap is commendable and we’re delighted to spotlight their journey so far A&R Elite Scaffolding has embraced the SIMIAN apprenticeship program with enthusiasm Their experience so far has been overwhelmingly positive with a close and supportive relationship established between them and our team and she will get back to me straight away,” they shared Having reliable communication and dedicated support ensures that both employers and apprentices get the best possible experience from the program A&R Elite Scaffolding firmly believes in the long-term benefits of recruiting and developing young talent through apprenticeships “The idea is to get them in at an early age and they can then increase standards as they go through the programme and bring this new knowledge on site becoming an example for the rest of the business.” By integrating apprentices into their workforce early setting a strong foundation for the future onboarding apprentices is a carefully structured process that prioritises community engagement and individual support working with local authorities and job centres to gain new young talent We have regular meetings with the apprentices before they join us and these continue once they start to ensure they are comfortable.” Their focus on recruiting school leavers and younger apprentices demonstrates a commitment to bridging the skills gap providing an accessible route into the industry and helping young individuals build rewarding careers from an early stage A&R Elite Scaffolding emphasises the importance of gathering as much information as possible and involving key stakeholders in the recruitment process “I would say gain as much information as possible from as many different people as possible Include all stakeholders in the interview process and understand the apprentice and their ambitions.” They also highlight the personal satisfaction that comes from watching an apprentice grow and develop in their career who is currently on the programme at SIMIAN LASC progress at such an early stage of his career.” A&R Elite Scaffolding praises SIMIAN’s consistent communication and reliability describing the experience as seamless and supportive “I always receive instant communication – I email SIMIAN and Sara have good human values and do exactly what they say they are going to do.” Having a trusted training provider that delivers on its promises is essential for businesses investing in apprenticeships and we’re proud to be recognized for our commitment to both employers and apprentices alike When asked whether they would recommend SIMIAN’s apprenticeship program to other companies A&R Elite Scaffolding’s response was resoundingly positive: I would be more than happy to have a long-term partnership with them.” Their collaboration with local job centres has also been invaluable in equipping apprentices with essential tools and PPE They describe SIMIAN as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all their training needs reinforcing our mission to provide comprehensive support for both apprentices and employers We’re thrilled to see A&R Elite Scaffolding thriving as an apprentice employer and look forward to supporting their apprentices as they grow and develop Their commitment to nurturing young talent and raising industry standards aligns with our vision at SIMIAN and we’re excited about the future of this partnership If your business is considering taking on apprentices, get in touch with us today to find out how SIMIAN can support you every step of the way! Click here or email apprenticeships@simian-risk.com for more information and ready to fight and I hope to be out the other side of the initial treatment in 6-8 months time" James Ford – the acclaimed producer behind the major of the Arctic Monkeys‘ discography and half of Simian Mobile Disco – has revealed he has leukaemia. Ford took to his official Instagram to share a photo of a doctor holding a syringe connected to an IV. In the caption, the producer revealed that during Christmastime, he was feeling sickly and suspected that it was just a case of burnout leading up to the holiday. “On Xmas Eve things took a turn for the worse,” he wrote. “I had a scary few weeks where I was very ill and they didn’t know what was wrong with me, but finally I got a diagnosis.” He revealed that he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and explained that it came as a huge shock. “While it’s very clear in my mind how serious this is, it is curable, and as of today, I’m starting pretty aggressive chemo to treat it,” he shared. A post shared by James Ford (@james_ellis_ford) both initially in Canterbury Hospital before being moved here to Barts just last week I’m very aware that it’s gonna be a bumpy road ahead but I’m confident and ready to fight and I hope to be out the other side of the initial treatment in 6-8 months time,” he continued Ford also shared that due to his diagnosis he had to “clear my work diary” and pause on “a lot of very exciting musical projects I was eager to get stuck into.” He continued sharing that though it is a “massive shame” he knows that those artists he was supposed to be working with “will go on to deliver great records with whoever takes the reins He concluded: “I am really looking forward to getting back into the studio in my own time so that I can once again work on the music that is dear to me I want to express the deepest possible gratitude to my family friends and colleagues who have been so supportive at this difficult time particularly my wife Sereen and all the NHS staff who’ve looked me so brilliantly Ford has become one of the most influential and in-demand producers over the past two decades He was a founding member of the band Simian and went on to create the spin-off electronic duo Simian Mobile Disco alongside his bandmate Jas Shaw Jas Shaw and James Ford of DJ/Producer duo Simian Mobile Disco perform on stage at Field Day Festival 2014 (Photo by Andy Sheppard/Redferns via Getty Images) Other Ford productions include Florence and the Machine‘s ‘Ceremonials’, Bill Ryder-Jones‘ ‘A Bad Wind Blows in My Heart’, Haim‘s ‘Days Are Gone’ and Shame‘s ‘Drunk Tank Pink’ Ford released his own solo record titled ‘The Hum’ Back in 2023, Ford opened up about his time working with the Arctic Monkeys and explained that he still tries to push Turner out of his comfort zone “I’ve known them so long now. I’ve been working with quite a lot of new bands … But with the Monkeys, it’s a totally different thing where there’s this deep trust that we’ve grown up together,” he told The New Cue I’ve introduced him and he’s introduced me to so much different music … sometimes that’s good and bad.” but I still definitely try and push him as hard as I can I’m aware I don’t want him to settle into a comfort zone and it just become boring you’re trying to keep finding ways to move forward and do new things.” That same year, he revealed that he had regrets about producing Mumford & Sons‘ third album, telling NME: “Well the one I wish I’d never done was that fucking Mumford record [2015’s ‘Wilder Mind’] It paid for my house but it’s the record I regret doing.” In that same interview, he opened up about the hardest record he has ever produced and said that it was “probably the [2017] Depeche Mode album ‘Spirit’ because everyone was in a horrible place and a lot of it felt like marriage guidance counselling to stop the whole thing falling off the rails and the band splitting up.” Ford also opened up about working with Blur on their ninth studio album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ and shared: “Working with Blur was a dream come true for me. I’d already worked on Gorillaz with Damon and the Waeve with Graham [Coxon but working with Blur was a whole different beast It was fascinating to see how the individual parts come together to make something that is uniquely them.” The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952 Photo credit: James Ellis Ford – Instagram has revealed his recent leukemia diagnosis sharing his journey with resilience and transparency In a heartfelt Instagram post shared last Friday Ford detailed the path that led to his diagnosis He began experiencing health complications during the holiday season culminating in a critical turn of events on Christmas Eve After a period of severe illness and medical investigation “It’s a huge shock and while it’s very clear in my mind how serious this is and as of today I’m starting pretty aggressive chemo to treat it,” Ford shared in his statement Currently receiving treatment at London’s Barts Hospital Ford expressed gratitude for the exceptional medical attention he’s received His journey began at Canterbury Hospital before his transfer to the specialized facility at Barts highlighting the comprehensive care provided by the NHS Ford maintains an optimistic outlook despite the challenges ahead “I’m very aware that it’s gonna be a bumpy road ahead but I’m confident and ready to fight and I hope to be out the other side of the initial treatment in 6-8 months’ time,” he stated This development has necessitated a temporary pause in his professional commitments including several musical collaborations in the pipeline Una publicación compartida por James Ford (@james_ellis_ford) According to new research by money.co.uk the construction sector is facing one of the most significant workforce shortages in the UK with 16% of businesses struggling to find skilled labour underscore the urgent need for the construction industry to take proactive measures to develop a skilled workforce helping to steady the pipeline of talent and ensure a steady influx of trained professionals into the sector One key contributor to the shortage is an ageing workforce coupled with an insufficient intake of younger talent The industry also faces ongoing challenges with diversity which limits its ability to attract new workers from a broader demographic Apprenticeships offer a clear path to overcoming these issues by equipping young people with hands-on experience SIMIAN is crucial in delivering high-quality apprenticeships ensuring that recruits enter the workforce with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive By engaging young people early through structured training programs apprenticeships create a consistent flow of skilled workers ready to step into key roles within the industry apprenticeships provide real-world experience that prepares individuals for the complexities of the job from day one As apprenticeship programs are designed in collaboration with industry up-to-date skills that align with evolving industry demands Encouraging a wider range of applicants to join apprenticeships can help create a more diverse workforce fostering innovation and fresh perspectives in construction Apprenticeships not only open doors for new entrants but also provide a clear path for career progression Apprentices can be more productive than their training costs with employers in the UK seeing a yearly gain of £2,500–£18,000 per apprentice.* Training providers like SIMIAN are at the forefront of addressing the industry’s labour shortages ensuring that recruits develop both technical expertise and a strong understanding of health and safety standards “Apprenticeships are the backbone of a sustainable and skilled workforce in the construction industry we not only bridge the skills gap but also cultivate a new generation of professionals who are equipped with the knowledge we are committed to developing apprenticeships that provide real career opportunities while ensuring the industry’s long-term success.” Construction firms can future-proof their workforce by investing in apprenticeships With the demand for skilled labour growing businesses must prioritise apprenticeships as a core recruitment strategy and retain the talent needed to drive infrastructure development and economic growth in the UK To learn more about SIMIAN’s apprenticeship programmes email apprenticeships@simian-risk.com or phone 0345 6022 418 *Federation of Small Businesses a dedicated professional helping shape the industry’s future As a Learner Coach and Designated Safeguarding Lead at SIMIAN Erika plays a vital role in supporting apprentices ensuring they develop essential skills and thrive in a safe and inclusive environment Here’s what she had to say about her experiences “My role as a Learner Coach is all about guiding apprentices and employers throughout the apprenticeship journey and ensure their well-being while overcoming challenges and address safeguarding concerns to help learners stay on track and succeed The impact of my work extends beyond just training creating a safe and inclusive learning environment and developing skilled and confident professionals I contribute to a more equitable and competent workforce—where talent When asked about the most rewarding aspect of the role Erika had no hesitation: “Seeing the learners achieve Watching them progress from induction day to their End-Point Assessment (EPA) is incredibly fulfilling.” One common misconception about women in construction is that they are not able to sustain or be successful in the industry and passion to construction as anyone else Success is not defined by gender—it’s defined by ability and hard work.” For young women considering a career in construction Don’t be scared that it’s a traditionally male-dominated industry.” one key lesson has stood out: adaptability “Every day presents new challenges and opportunities to grow Being flexible and willing to learn is essential in this industry.” When asked if she could switch roles with anyone for a day Erika found it difficult to choose—because she loves what she does I’d probably choose to be a Business Development Manager I’d still have the opportunity to engage with employers and learners while promoting the industry.” Erika’s journey has been one of resilience and achievement and building a career in the training industry has been a huge accomplishment I’m also proud of earning my Level 2 Functional Skills with SIMIAN along with many other qualifications related to my job and scaffolding.” “If I could give my younger self one piece of advice it would be: take yourself out of your comfort zone—it’s worth it!” “Being able to help others achieve their dreams and goals and the fact that no two days are ever the same It’s a dynamic and rewarding environment.” As Women in Construction Week comes to a close we celebrate the incredible contributions of women like Erika across the sector and resilience continue to break barriers and inspire the next generation we remain committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all professionals—regardless of gender—can thrive The former Take That star has made a biopic drugs and the traumatic madness of 90s pop in the gloriously bonkers musical biopic Better Man from The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey Williams is played not as the King of the jungle but as a clownish is Robbie Williams being played as a CGI animal at all a Robbie Williams biopic without the monkey is way less appealing or intriguing,” the singer says matter of factly but not to anyone else.” And he’s right; it’s rare to see a Hoover bag of cocaine consumed by a chimp in front of an approximation of the very human Gallagher brothers Robbie-the-monkey getting a handjob in a nightclub from a fan Williams has always seen himself as a performing monkey since joining Take That as a 16-year-old in 1990 “I am very aware that I am stunted,” he says Sat cross-legged on a plush sofa in a London hotel suite looks dapper in a double-breasted brown suit and leopard-print loafers (no socks) A hectic film promo schedule and family life (he and his wife have four children) means he’s happy but tired an Australian who has shown up looking like early yoga-era Chris Martin his oversized beanie hat accented by a loosely tied scarf Perhaps he’s still trying to find his zen; he admits the film’s bizarre concept “terrified people” in early meetings with studios People would go ‘the director of The Greatest Showman plus Robbie Williams That was the end of so many finance meetings.” Williams and Gracey make for an amusing double act with the latter’s attempts at flattery pierced by very British self-mockery “When we first started talking [about doing a film] it was because I heard Rob at dinner parties talking …” says Gracey What I really enjoyed isn’t just the story but the way in which Rob tells it,” Gracey continues “It was fascinating.” With perfect timing Williams yawns for what feels like 30 seconds It’s noticeable that whenever the attention drifts away from Williams he loses focus: at one point he downs a big glass bottle of water as Gracey talks about decamping to Williams’s LA studio to interview him about his life; when Gracey details the making of a truly spectacular musical number set to Rock DJ and filmed in London’s Regent Street Williams wanders off to get some Nicorette gum from his PR Primate scream: the solo Robbie as played by the chimp Photograph: YouTubeI ask Williams why he wanted to do a biopic now: “I am a professional attention seeker,” he says This is how you advertise that you’re still here This love-hate relationship with fame underpins Better Man’s darkest moments We see the effect it has on Williams’s mental health and also on his relationships both with his family and the friends he’s left behind in Stoke in a bold fusion of Planet of the Apes and Trainspotting we see Williams injecting heroin in his bathroom Later we see him attempting suicide with a razor blade “There are some very confronting moments,” agrees Gracey That’s important to say because I think a lot of people would weigh in and say ‘that’s going too far Gary Barlow said: I read the script and I come off worse than Darth Vader in the first Star WarsPerhaps the most shocking passage involves his relationship with All Saints’ Nicole Appleton who he started dating in 1998 and to whom he was briefly engaged Their meet-cute is rendered as a glittering ballroom dance fantasia soundtracked by She’s the One but via a flash forward montage we’re also shown Appleton being pressured by her management team into aborting their baby When I mention how tough those scenes were “It was the bit that Rob was most protective of,” he says “He was very clear that unless Nicole was on board that this wasn’t something we could do.” Williams looks a bit lost before snapping back into the room to terminate a life because of being in a pop band Incredibly fucking sad while it was happening and traumatic but also for me because I thought I was going to be a father in that moment and was happy to embrace that who in turn countered that Williams was using him as a scapegoat for his problems Today’s interview also takes place in the stark light of One Direction member Liam Payne’s tragic death at just 31 a topic that Williams chooses not to speak about directly out of respect for Payne’s family that things can change for the current crop of pop stars and that “myself and a group of creative people with sensitive can get in a room and say ‘what can we do?’ – hopefully we can come up with something.” Williams sees our confrontation with the past as more complicated, however. As he wrote on Instagram in an open letter to Martin-Smith after the first part of Boybands Forever aired he doesn’t see it as simply apportioning blame “What we didn’t know back then I don’t think we can be held accountable for,” he says now and the people that were going through them – me – didn’t know they were having one The people that are around you need a bit of grace.” He does however think there should be some self-reflection Williams suggested Martin-Smith needed a “glow-up where redeemable features are concerned” asking him to contemplate his role in the band’s mental health issues ‘Five boys isolated’: Take That in 1993: (clockwise from lower left) Robbie Williams Photograph: L Busacca/WireImageDid he have anyone around him during his Take That years that he could turn to We were all having this fucking insane experience There has to be an amount of disassociation whilst trying to understand all of these brand new feelings while watching your life become warped And living inside the warp is surreal.” He likens it to being on drugs “I first took LSD when I was 15 and I shouldn’t have taken LSD when I was 15 and I’m glad I’ve experienced what I’ve experienced The villains in the story presented by Better Man shift constantly throughout played as selfish and self-absorbed by Steve Pemberton played as a nerdy librarian with two left feet is shown sapping Williams’s confidence as Take That go from early performances in gay clubs to Top of the Pops one of the things Rob said very early on was that no-one comes across worse than he does,” adds Gracey “Because legally we couldn’t,” Williams quips I point out that the notoriously litigious Martin-Smith (he sued Williams in 2006 for implying he ripped off Take That on his song The 90s) is introduced as a “first class cunt” but that’s just an opinion,” smiles Williams Simian mobile disco: a scene from Better Man Photograph: © Paramount Pictures“It’s also a quote of something that’s been said in public,” adds Gracey it’s public knowledge.” I check afterwards and there it is As Barlow and Williams reconciled in 2008 – Better Man’s slightly jumbled timeline only goes as far as 2003 – Barlow was sent an early version of the film’s script “He phoned me up and he’s like” – here Williams effortlessly glides into a perfect impression – “‘Rob I come off worse than Darth Vader in the first Star Wars’ But that’s another one of those confusing things about our job – Gaz’s job my job – is that we constantly revisit the past to propel our careers forward I do not think in the same way about that man now I feel guilt in some ways about how Gaz is represented in the film but my want and need to tell my story outweighs the guilt that I feel.” The early years of Take That represent some of Better Man’s liveliest scenes the dodgy photoshoots and the general panic when Martin-Smith tells the band that “in five years we’re all going to hate each other” “Where I’m from we do two things really well; kindness and violence,” he says “When you went out of an evening it was highly likely that violence was in your near future And you always had to be hyper aware of who you’d pissed off When I went into the gay world there was none of that There was total acceptance and humour and gay abandon That’s what I take with me to this day; it was an incredibly safe place for me to grow up.” you’ve never met somebody that wants to be gay as much as meRumours around Williams’s sexuality are also playfully mentioned in the film a tabloid newspaper ran an interview with Williams’s alleged “secret gay lover” suggesting that Williams was deceiving the public by claiming to have sex with women to cover his “sordid homosexual encounters with strangers” He sued the paper a year later for libel and won substantial damages and an apology “Here’s the thing: are you straight or are you gay?” he asks I’ll ask you this: There is a front cover of a newspaper that is read by millions and a lady has said you have performed cunnilingus on her by a canal sue the newspaper?” I tell him I wouldn’t sue you’ve never met somebody that wants to be gay as much as me.” He then further dispels any lingering rumours by reaching for a football analogy “I’m a Port Vale fan and it’s like somebody going ‘well you’re a Liverpool fan’,” he says turning to Gracey When somebody says you’re a Liverpool fan a hundred times it’s like ‘I’m not a fucking Liverpool fan why do people think I’m a Liverpool fan?!’.” “You want to be an ally while at the same time protecting your own authenticity and your own life,” he says Williams has spent two books (2004’s Feel and 2017’s Reveal) last year’s four-part Netflix documentary series and a good amount on therapy reflecting on the interplay between his life and fame Since marrying Field in 2010 and starting a family It was something that was supposed to be magical and when I got to the top of the mountain all that was there was existential crisis He’s stopped “trying to be Liam Gallagher” and is comfortable being “more Val Doonican” He also doesn’t care if calling it a job makes it seem a bit unromantic but just because your job is shit doesn’t mean my job has to be shit.” Better Man is released in the UK on 26 December. The soundtrack is released digitally on 27 December. Robbie Williams tours the UK we know that incidents like this can and should be prevented within the scaffolding industry A recent case in Devon has once again highlighted the dangers of inadequate planning and supervision when working at height within the scaffolding industry — something that our consultancy services help businesses avoid A self-employed roofer has been handed a suspended prison sentence after a worker fell more than 25 feet from a scaffold platform The incident occurred in June 2023 when Iain Smith fell while carrying roof slates down a ladder An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the employer had failed to properly plan or supervise the work nor had he provided the correct equipment to ensure his workers’ safety The use of a ladder to manually transport heavy slates was deemed unsafe with safer alternatives such as pulleys or mechanical conveyors readily available This case serves as a stark reminder that falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and fatality in the construction industry we work with businesses to ensure that all work at height is carried out safely in full compliance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 we help prevent accidents before they happen—protecting workers and safeguarding businesses from legal and financial consequences Jamie Lyons Senior Health & Safety Advisor said: “This incident highlights the serious consequences that can arise from insufficient planning and supervision when working at heights coupled with comprehensive planning and training is crucial safeguarding employees from potentially life-altering impacts.” Get in touch with SIMIAN today to ensure your projects meet the highest safety standards by phoning 0345 6022 418 or emailing consultancysupport@simian-risk.com The original Mercury space capsule had no window a hatch with 70 bolts that had to be removed from outside and zilch for the astronaut to do except endure g-forces and throw an “abort” switch on command from mission control if it did seven test pilots known as the “Mercury Seven” had fought through almost two years of experimental training to become the first American in space It is understandable if their egos were hurt when NASA decided to send up a monkey first In an event that’s varyingly heralded and maligned the first hominid in space completed his record-setting flight on Jan Ham the Astrochimp blasted off on top of a Mercury-Redstone rocket — a rig that amounted to a chair strapped to an eight-story-tall ballistic missile — and punched a hole through the atmosphere Ham survived a 250-kilometer-high Mach 7 flight that spiraled out of its planned path and almost killed him he became an incidental hero while still technically an infant astronaut Alan Shepard became the first U.S NASA largely assuaged his and his cohort’s complaints in the years to come All seven Mercury astronauts made landmark flights as the American space program decisively eclipsed the rival Soviets’ Though the ape was “grinning” when recovery crews rescued him from a sinking Mercury capsule and brought him aboard the U.S.S When handlers later brought him near the “couch” he sat in for his 16.5 minutes in space In 1983, Ham died from liver failure at a North Carolina zoo at around 26 years old. The Astrochimp’s remains now lie in a commemorative grave at the International Space Hall of Fame in Alamogordo But what good is a Hall of Fame honor to a chimp It’s been 60 years since NASA closed the books on Project Mercury and even philosophers have all spun Ham’s story into a complex fabric that unites humans with our closest living ancestors — but also highlights a mutual isolation Ham with his lead handler at Holloman Aerospace Medical Center Ham was born in approximately 1957 in what was then French Cameroon, West Africa. Captured by trappers, he soon ended up at a Florida tourist attraction called the Miami Rare Bird Farm. In 1959, the U.S. Air Force purchased the young chimp for $457 and transferred him to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico The facility spelled out Ham’s name in acronym — Holloman Aerospace Medical Center — but at first military had been busy acquiring chimps to support testing for the space program struck fear into the free world by launching a microwave-sized Sputnik 1 had achieved an elliptical low-Earth orbit It’s hard to overstate the primitivity of early space engineering engineers were still trying to figure out if humans could perform tasks in orbital flight as mundane as operating levers It’s one of the factors that make those early achievements so astonishing Enter Number 65 and the rest of Project Mercury’s test chimpanzees When NASA personnel selected him and 39 other chimps for aptitude testing — which was virtually identical to the human astronauts’ training — the only living creature in space had been Laika Laika, a stray plucked from the Moscow streets, died in orbit on a 1957 mission that became infamous for animal rights abuse even at the time Sputnik engineers shot the female stray into space with one meal and the expectation that she would run out of oxygen and die in seven days (The flight went awry and she likely died within hours.) chose chimpanzee pilots because they wanted the animals to survive their flights from liftoff to capsule recovery and work while they were on board could potentially perform similar tasks in the capsule NASA manuals referenced in the 1998 book, This New Ocean: A History of Project Mercury, read: the chimpanzee is a primate of sufficient size and sapience to provide a reasonable facsimile of human behavior Its average response time to a given physical stimulus is .7 of a second compared with man’s average .5 second Having the same organ placement and internal suspension as man the chimpanzee chosen to ride the Redstone and perform a lever-pulling chore throughout the mission should not only test out the life-support systems but prove that levers could be pulled during launch Ham the Astrochimp’s training followed B.F. Skinner’s conditioning theory: rewards for the correct response Project Mercury handlers strapped chimps into simple chairs facing a panel fitted with colored lights and levers According to the National Air and Space Museum they earned banana pellets if they responded to the right light-and-sound cue by activating the right lever they received electrical shocks on the soles of their feet They also underwent g-force testing in a massive centrifuge at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Incessant medical checkups and monitoring accompanied the regimen a World War II veteran and non-commissioned laboratory officer he repeatedly praised the chimp’s trainability and sometimes humanized him Dittmer said, according to the Space Hall of Fame: author of the celebrated Mercury Project chronicle The Right Stuff wrote that the relative peace was hard-won Before “rebellion proved to be a dead end” for the chimps The beasts tried everything they could think of to escape Or they bided their time and used their heads until the white smoker seemed to let his guard down — then they’d make a break for it But the resistance and the wiles were of no avail All they got for their struggles was more zaps Engineers at Holloman culled the entry class of 40 primates down to 18 29 separate tests stood between the chimps and the planned suborbital flight the tests “had made each of the six chimps a bored but well-fed expert at the job of lever-pulling.” When the electrical shocks and the banana pellets abated Ham emerged at the top of the pile along with a female alternate Ham and his alternate went on a “low-residue” diet 19 hours before liftoff and awaited circumstances they couldn’t possibly anticipate the United States space program had produced discouraging results Jupiter and Atlas rockets veered off course and exploded spectacularly on and off the tortured Cape Canaveral launchpad The Redstone proved more reliable in early tests but was still a beast of a machine It was essentially a 10-meter aluminum can of liquid oxygen and ethyl alcohol on top of a gaudy combustion engine First designed as a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with an 800km range it generated 35,380kg of thrust and tore through the sky at 9,400 kph and the astronaut — or astrochimp — held on for the ride 1960 — just over two months before Ham’s flight anyone or anything strapped into the capsule that day would have experienced almost nothing but a meek trip from the top of the rocket back to the ground climbed a few centimeters off the launch pad an electrical chain reaction caused the escape tower to blast off and deployed the still-attached capsule’s drogue (or safety) parachute The so-called “four-inch flight” drew public ridicule to Project Mercury But it also introduced glaring safety concerns they would have been trapped on top of a teetering The failure also delayed planned tests of the recovery system This was a critical piece of the Mercury program in part because capsules would touch down in the ocean off the Florida coast Recovering a capsule was an all-hands-on-deck situation: a plethora of aircraft and ships were involved By the time Ham and his alternate astrochimp made their final trip out to the launch pad for MR-2 only one Mercury-Redstone test (MR-1A) had succeeded Malfunctions and setbacks delayed Ham’s January 31 flight almost to the breaking point it put him through conditions more extreme than anyone expected Accounts report Ham’s condition as calm on the morning of the launch This New Ocean renders the moment stirringly an hour and a half before the scheduled launch time the chimpanzee named ‘Ham,’ still active and spirited although encased in his biopack boarded the elevator to meet his destiny.” Ham inside his ‘couch.’ Photo: Creative Commons MR-2 was scheduled for liftoff before noon because mission control didn’t want to risk a night recovery the hours-long countdown and final check process went as planned until about 7:45 am That’s when a “tiny but important” inverter in the automatic control system started overheating technicians loaded Ham into the capsule at 7:53 am and bolted down the heavy hatch for liftoff Hours of delays followed as mission control tried to fix the inverter too many people took too long to clear the pad area checks of the environmental control system ran 20 minutes too long and flaps on the rocket’s booster tail jammed “it was decided that now or never was the time to go today.” the Mercury-Redstone started to pitch upward A launch angle just one degree steeper could significantly alter the flight plan the high angle slammed Ham with a maximum g-force of 14.7 (making his body weigh 243 kg) He experienced 58,000kg of thrust for one unplanned second and his 8,200 kph top speed was about 1,000 kph faster than planned Ham’s flight hit its apex at 253km — about 150km above the rough threshold between Earth and space during a flight that lasted two minutes longer than expected NASA knew Ham was going to come down farther away — much farther away — than mission control hoped Ham’s spacecraft was already 77km farther downrange than programmed,” NASA calculated He landed over 200km away from his target landing site Cabin pressure had plummeted at one point during the flight NASA later traced the problem to a spring-loaded valve that had unexpectedly popped open from vibrations and a rough landing due to an overcooked reentry When the capsule splashed down at 12:12 pm The closest rescue was a destroyer stationed almost 100km away Wave action after impact had apparently punished the capsule and its occupant severely The beryllium heatshield upon impact had skipped on the water and bounced against the capsule bottom punching two holes in the titanium pressure bulkhead the open cabin pressure relief valve let still more sea water enter the capsule Pilots finally recovered the spacecraft around 3 pm It’s unknown how long it would have taken the capsule to sink, but Gus Grissom almost drowned under similar circumstances on MR-4 six months later (NASA incorporated an explosive escape hatch into the Mercury design in the interim.) Ham reportedly remained calm and performed admirably — pulling his levers when prompted to avoid the shocks on the soles of his feet with a clock that reset to schedule a new shock every 15 seconds (Enos, who became the first chimpanzee to orbit the Earth later that year, endured an especially grim situation. During his three-hour flight, the shock system shorted out and inverted. The five-year-old chimp responded to every prompt perfectly but still received 76 shocks.) Despite the “grin” he displayed as he accepted an apple after MR-2 he refused to go near his couch for a photo shoot on a later occasion Though interpreted as a happy gesture at the time The ‘grin.’ Photo: Creative Commons The world-famous Jane Goodall assessed it for the 2003 film One Small Step: The Story of the ‘Space Chimps.’ “Actually, that is the most extreme fear that I’ve ever seen on any chimpanzee,” she said. It’s now widely thought that when a chimpanzee shows its top teeth during a smile From the deck of the U.S.S. Donner in 1961, Ham’s story didn’t get brighter. NASA eventually transferred him to the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington, D.C., where he lived alone until 1980. (It’s also widely understood that chimpanzees need companionship to flourish.) His soft tissue was cremated and transported to his ceremonial grave at the Space Hall of Fame Photo: National Museum of Health and Medicine The human body can only endure the g-forces Ham survived for about a minute Ham alone knew at this time how grueling his flight had been,” said Robert F There’s an aviator slang phrase for a pilot with no control over his ship “SPAM in a can” means exactly what it sounds like: your aircraft is the can “It is hard to imagine a human toddler performing as well as Ham in this challenging task Ham’s involuntary contribution helped re-orient the space race in favor of the U.S. But if his Project Mercury cohort visited him after he left the program despite a host of harrowing mischances over which he had no control raised the confidence of the astronauts and the capsule engineers alike,” This New Ocean reads Wolfe puts a considerably sharper point on it in his last mention of Ham in The Right Stuff The public attitude toward human space flight after Ham’s success do you mean there are men brave enough to try what the ape has just gone through?'” Sam Anderson spent his 20s as an adventure rock climber and Thailand to scope out prime stone and great stories Life on the road gradually transformed into a seat behind the keyboard where he acted as a founding writer of the AllGear Digital Newsroom and earned 1,500+ bylines in four years on topics from pro rock climbing to slingshots and scientific breakthroughs Sign up to receive ExplorersWeb content direct to your inbox once a week “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” — Think “I by way of “Lord of the Rings” and “The Searchers.” A scene from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes But I didn’t want to know where the monoliths from 2001 came from and didn’t read any of his 2001 sequels after 2010 One of Clarke’s most famous novels is Rendezvous with Rama I didn’t want to know where Rama came from “Mysterious” was the most potent modifier describing Rama so I didn’t read Clarke’s sequels explaining that I didn’t want to know where the Xenomorph of Alien came from which is why the Alien prequels have been like watching the magician David Copperfield explain his illusions for two hours rather than performing them I didn’t want to know what happened on the Norwegian base before the events of John Carpenter’s The Thing I didn’t want to know how Han Solo made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs so Solo left a dry cardboard taste in my mouth And while I didn’t want to know how the Rebels got the Death Star plans in Star Wars (don’t you dare call it “A New Hope” in my presence) Rogue One is tied with Empire Strikes Back as my favorite Star Wars movie I sure as hell didn’t want to know where the antique pistol with the plate that read “Raphael Adolini 1715” in Predator 2 came from but when that was explained in 2022’s excellent Prey There have been four Planet of the Apes prequel films since 2011 explaining just how “A planet where apes evolved from men?!” came to be But the Apes prequels have been solidly well told… so solidly well told that for a combined running time of eight hours I’ve been eagerly finding out something I didn’t think I’d want to know: the means by which those “damned dirty apes” took control of the Earth these Apes prequels have been made by storytellers They are not just products commissioned by studio MBAs to defibrillate decades-old intellectual properties and franchises the Ape archaeologist digging up the ruins of a dead and long-gone human culture the makers of these recent shitty prequels have no understanding of cultural legacies in their care This year we’ve had two — count ’em two — prequels to iconic movies from the ’70s written by David Seltzer: Wonka and The First Omen neither of which have the slightest inkling of what made Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory or The Omen iconic (Though First Omen director Arkasha Stevenson is a hell of a filmmaker; I hope she moves on to better projects.) Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (hereafter shortened to Kingdom) is a densely plotted quest epic with actual thematic weight that addresses the rise and fall of empires and nation states by way of Lord of the Rings and The Searchers There’s a Shire-like enclave of nature-loving chimps who train eagles to hunt with them and a Mordor-like proto-and-post-industrial hellscape overseen with Colonel Kurtz-style brutality by Ape King Proximus Caesar When Proximus abducts most of the eagle-hunting clan youthful hero-chimp Noa must strike out across an overgrown and ruined landscape to save his people an orangutan hermit and scholar who gives Noa lessons in history who seems intent on following Noa on his quest… for unknown reasons commenting — I’m not kidding — about the influence of the Roman Empire on the foundation of the nation states and empires that followed There’s also discussion about the nature of history It’s pretty goddamn telling that bad guy Proximus wants to literally weaponize history and its artifacts to expand his empire History itself becomes the object of an arms race There are even hints that the Apes feel they have a “White Man’s Burden” sort of obligation to uplift the dirty humans running around the planet in packs There’s even a warning that one can take up the tools of human oppressors to become oppressors oneself Proximus is a realpolitik iteration of King Louie from the Jungle Book; he’s built his Ape empire on the ruins of a human empire He wants to become more like humans by seizing their technology only the “red flower” he wants to pick isn’t fire Kingdom deftly engages with the history of the almost 60-year-old Apes franchise These are knowing moments that are dialogues with the franchise’s legacy in which we see where Bond got his Aston Martin by winning it in a poker game in a scene that was ass-kicking there are nudge-to-the-ribs callbacks — not only to scenes from the first 1968 Apes films but also to Jerry Goldsmith’s iconic and terminally creepy score for that movie The makers of Kingdom and the other post-2011 Apes prequels engage with their own history and they respect it and that’s why these new prequels don’t feel like cheats Think of what should have been the emotional payoff of the utterly turgid Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: it was just a pilfering of a great scene from the franchise’s past Because of the inventiveness of these Ape prequel storytellers not only do I want to know where the Planet of the Apes came from I want to see where the franchise will go next And for a guy with serious franchise fatigue like me and personal trainer Michael Marano had his mind utterly blown when he saw the ending of 1968’s Planet of the Apes on TV A scaffolding company has been fined £28,000 by the Royal Court following an incident in which a battery-powered ratchet tool fell from height onto a busy street admitted to breaching health and safety regulations by failing to take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent the risk of falling objects endangering the public The incident occurred in January 2024 while the company was erecting scaffolding in a busy pedestrianised area CCTV footage captured a man reacting in shock as the tool landed on the road just behind him A nearby witness reported the incident to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) the judge emphasised that companies operating in high-risk industries have a duty to safeguard both their employees and the general public had dropped several meters into an area filled with pedestrians the potential for serious injury or even fatal consequences was significant Investigations revealed that the ratchet tool had been kept in a holster but was not tethered securely it was found that Access employees were retrieving materials from a lorry parked across the street forcing pedestrians to walk through what had effectively become a construction zone Prosecutors argued that inadequate risk assessments and method statements contributed to the failure while the remaining two had expired training certificates which had no prior convictions but had previously come to the HSE’s attention for safety concerns related to working at height The court heard that the ratchet tool had been attached to a worker’s tool belt with a plastic clip but became detached when he climbed through a hatch between decking levels While the lead charge hand was working higher up the scaffold at the time the defence disputed claims of a complete lack of supervision arguing that oversight does not require constant observation “This incident highlights the critical importance of robust health and safety measures when working at height Every scaffolding and construction site must have clear procedures in place to prevent falling objects and protect both workers and the public and risk management aren’t just legal requirements—they are fundamental to ensuring that everyone goes home safely at the end of the day we are committed to driving the highest safety standards across the industry to prevent avoidable accidents like this.” the judge criticised the company for initially misrepresenting the timeline of events to the HSE regarding the movement of safety barriers She also pointed out that Access Ltd had previously been advised to improve its health and safety protocols even though past incidents were unrelated to this case These factors contributed to the severity of the penalty imposed the court concluded that the company had failed to provide adequate employee training and on-site supervision To find out more about SIMIAN health & safety consultancy services, click here At SIMIAN LASC, we are dedicated to providing industry-leading training that supports businesses in developing highly skilled scaffolding professionals. GKR Scaffolding currently has 22 apprentices enrolled in training with SIMIAN LASC with many potential apprentices currently gaining experience as laborers in the yard to discuss how their apprenticeship program is shaping the next generation of scaffolders and how SIMIAN LASC plays a role in their journey Dan Williams: We take apprentices on with an initial six-month trial period to ensure the job is the right fit for them The last thing we want is for someone to start a career they won’t complete especially if they have prior experience as labourers If an apprentice struggles with punctuality and attendance early on it’s a strong sign they may not be suited for the role We also conduct monthly well-being checks for all staff Apprentices meet with their supervisors regularly to discuss any concerns ensuring they receive the necessary support both professionally and personally Dan Williams: It depends on how they adapt once on-site—how they take initiative and manage materials like fixtures and fittings we assess their ability to work safely and efficiently apprentices handle smaller tasks like installing handrails which helps us evaluate their adaptability We also rotate apprentices across different managers and projects to ensure they experience a range of tasks and challenges This variation helps them develop a well-rounded skill set and understand different management styles Dan Williams: We maintain ongoing communication with our apprentices and their supervisors this can mean weekly or bi-weekly check-ins we ensure follow-ups are conducted twice a week to provide additional support A strong indicator of a successful apprentice is their demand on-site—if a supervisor consistently requests to work with an apprentice If an apprentice identifies a mentor they look up to we map out what they need to do to achieve that level We also encourage them to gain additional qualifications By showing clear career progression opportunities we keep apprentices engaged and focused on their future Dan Williams: The best part is seeing an apprentice become self-sufficient and complete their training Watching their confidence grow and knowing we’ve played a role in shaping their career is incredibly rewarding At GKR Scaffolding, we are committed to developing a highly skilled, safety-conscious workforce. With the support of SIMIAN LASC, our apprentices gain the training and experience needed to build a successful career in scaffolding. To find out more about SIMIAN Apprenticeship opportunities, click here or email apprenticeships@simian-risk.com We’re excited to announce that SIMIAN is expanding its training options with the addition of Level 2 and Level 3 NVQs in Roofing and special introductory pricing until June 2025 These qualifications are specifically designed to equip professionals with the skills and certifications required to excel in the roofing sector Whether you are a specialist in waterproof membrane systems or slating and tiling our new NVQs offer robust pathways to career advancement through onsite assessments With grandfather rights being removed in January 2025 there has never been a better time to secure your qualifications at reduced rates we are offering £100 off both our Level 2 and Level 3 NVQs This promotional pricing is available for 8 months so take advantage of these rates while they last These discounts apply to the full range of Level 2 and Level 3 Commercial Roofing NVQs Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting your career our Level 2 and Level 3 NVQs can help you gain recognition for your skills and advance your career The qualifications are designed to reflect real-world roofing tasks focusing on everything from installation to health and safety practices the flexibility of our assessments allows you to learn at your own pace while gaining valuable hands-on experience Our promotional rates make achieving your Level 2 or Level 3 NVQ in Commercial Roofing easier than ever before Contact us today to take advantage of this limited time offer and advance your career with SIMIAN’s accredited NVQs Contact Farhana at frahman@simian-risk.com or 07512 379967 to find out more information on our Roofing NVQ’s skilled workforce of around 36 scaffolders Their team provides high-quality scaffolding services across a range of projects including new-build housing estates and refurbishment work Their operations are split evenly between domestic and commercial scaffolding highlighting their adaptability and breadth of expertise Gold Scaffolding has embraced apprenticeships as a cornerstone of its workforce development strategy they have three apprentices training with SIMIAN each gaining valuable experience and skills to build a solid foundation for a successful career in scaffolding Gold Scaffolding’s approach to onboarding apprentices is a standout feature This hands-on experience ensures they develop a strong foundational knowledge before heading out into the field Apprentices also accompany contracts managers on on-site visits This immersive approach ensures that they are “bedded into the company,” allowing them to understand both the technical and operational sides of the business By taking such a structured and supportive approach Gold Scaffolding not only equips apprentices with technical expertise but also instils a strong sense of responsibility and professionalism Apprenticeships are vital to the long-term success and sustainability of the scaffolding industry Companies like Gold Scaffolding are leading the way by recognising the value of cultivating new talent Gold Scaffolding’s Contracts Manager shared his thoughts on their choice of apprenticeship provider: “We choose SIMIAN LASC for our apprentices as they offer the best and they have a good reputation in the industry with the Managing Director Simon Hughes being very well known in the scaffolding industry.” SIMIAN is proud to partner with Gold Scaffolding Gold Scaffolding not only enhances their own operations but also contributes to the broader industry’s success We look forward to seeing their apprentices grow and thrive setting the standard for the next generation of scaffolders Inspired to take on apprentices at your company? Click here or email apprenticeships@simian-risk.com for more information we are reflecting on what has been a great year for the SIMIAN team and the construction industry as a whole So what has 2024 held for the construction industry SIMIAN started the year off strong by hosting a number of ‘Introduction to Construction’ Workshops in schools throughout the Waltham Forest borough In their roles as Enterprise Advisors with Local London Careers Hub East Sara Calvo from SIMIAN and Lisa Beresford from Taylor Wimpey are dedicated to delivering valuable insights and opportunities to young minds fostering a passion for construction and opening doors to a world of possibilities In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 we engaged in a series of enriching activities aimed at nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals in the construction industry From insightful talks by accomplished SIMIAN apprentices to an immersive “Meet the Employer” event and empower aspiring individuals to pursue rewarding careers in construction Read about how SIMIAN Celebrated National Apprenticeship Week here we were delighted to announce the launch of our NEW Flexible Scaffolding Health & Safety Consultancy packages by the industry leaders Our fixed-fee expert consultancy services provide support and peace of mind by ensuring health and safety compliance We work with you to safeguard and improve the health safety and well-being of your employees and others affected by your business’s activities Find out more about our consultancy packages here. on successfully completing her Level 3 AAT qualification we’re proud to support our staff in their career development!Well done and good luck with your Level 4 Ofsted Awards Our Apprenticeship Provision with Good: A Remarkable Achievement The grading reflects the tireless efforts made by the whole team since the previous Ofsted visit in late 2022 and also showcases the team’s significant professional development during the improvement journey “The fact that we have been recognised as a ‘good’ apprenticeship provider bears testimony to the efforts and professionalism of the team and it is an achievement of which they should all be proud. The grading cements our position as one of the UK’s leading providers of construction apprenticeships and we are already implementing additional improvements as we seek to tackle the challenges that are faced by an Independent Training Provider.”  Read the full details of the Ofsted audit here. In June, NASC (National Access and Scaffolding Confederation) published its annual safety report containing statistics and analysis based on 2023 information from its members We were pleased to support  Rose System Scaffolding during there fantastic Safety Stand Down Day in July presented an annual safety report on Rose System Scaffolding inspections highlighting the strides they have made in enhancing construction and scaffolding safety We are pleased to have been their consultancy provider since 2017 and aim to achieve world-class status together The SIMIAN team grew in August as we welcomed Stephen Robinson as Business Development Manager.  On joining the team Stephen said “Joining SIMIAN as Business Development Manager for the North West is an incredible opportunity I’m thrilled to be part of a company that’s so passionate about promoting safety and excellence in the construction and scaffolding sectors I look forward to building strong relationships with clients across the region and contributing to SIMIAN’s continued success and growth.” We were thrilled to announce that SIMIAN partnered with the Department for Education Skills Bootcamps to deliver top-quality, funded CISRS Part 1, CISRS Part 2 and Advanced Scaffolding Courses For full details on the funded places, click here We have the funding in place until June 2025 call 0345 6022 418 to take advantage of this fantastic way to upskill your current workforce at a fraction of the price The SIMIAN team celebrated World Mental Health Day 2024 to raise awareness and encourage conversations about mental health in the workplace Whether it was chatting with colleagues about the day or having deeper conversations about challenges and mental health this simple activity served as a reminder of the importance of connection and support in maintaining a healthy mindset Read the full blog on SIMIAN celebrating World Mental Health Day here we were  excited to announce that SIMIAN was expanding its training options with the addition of Level 2 and Level 3 NVQs in Roofing and special introductory pricing until June 2025 Find our more about our NEW Roofing NVQ’s here. SIMIAN teams from all centres got into the festive spirit whilst supporting a good cause and raising money for Save the Children as part of their national Christmas Jumper Day we’ve only just scratched the surface on what has been a great year for SIMIAN we are busily planning for what is certain to be an equally amazing 2025 With lots of exciting things on the horizon we can’t wait to see what the New Year will bring IN CELEBRATION of National Apprenticeship Week (10-14 February 2025) roofing manufacturer IKO PLC is partnering with training provider SIMIAN The collaboration will equip the next generation of roofing professionals with premium training materials and real-world experience helping to address the industry’s growing skills shortage IKO will provide essential flat roofing materials – including built-up roofing and single-ply products – to SIMIAN’s roofing apprenticeship programmes By integrating IKO’s high-quality materials into hands-on training apprentices will gain practical experience that mirrors real-world site conditions preparing them for long-term success in the sector The initiative, facilitated by the North West Roof Training Group (NWRTG) – a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing improving and providing training for roofing contractors – highlights the power of collaboration in tackling workforce shortages and sustaining the future of the construction industry said: “This partnership is about more than just materials – it’s about building a highly skilled workforce for the future we’re able to support more people entering the roofing trade sharpening their skills and building lasting careers.” With clients facing the longest waiting lists for roofers of all trades due to a shortage of skilled professionals IKO’s collaboration with SIMIAN is more important than ever Research shows that customers wait an average of nine weeks for a roofer – nearly double the national average of five weeks for other trades “We’re incredibly grateful to IKO for their generous support Providing our apprentices with hands-on experience using industry-standard materials is invaluable With demand for skilled roofers at an all-time high partnerships like this are essential to bringing fresh talent into the industry and ensuring they have the expertise to succeed.” >> Read more about apprenticeships in the news Issue 117 - March 2025 Sign up now to get news by email from Roofing Today Osma StormLine: Designed to weather the storm Unlocking roofing potential: Onduline & Northstone Partnership Traditional Roofing spring 2025 Orangutan Ozi is an eco chimpfluencer in a film whose excellent animation is let down by underdeveloped characters and blind faith in social media activism Produced by nature-lover Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way, this is a passable eco-primer for the younger generation, but a limp bit of storytelling about the eponymous junior orangutan (voiced by Amandla Stenberg) Its flower-topknotted hero is a kind of simian Greta Thunberg bent on using her influencer clout to protect her rainforest home from an evil corporation but the film doesn’t exactly lead us into Watership Down territory Anthropomorphism these days doesn’t just mean talking animals; it means they use tablets and social media as well (There’s something a bit wrong about that in a film about the sanctity of nature.) No matter: after being separated from her parents in a Lion King-esque conflagration Ozi is brought to an animal sanctuary where she takes to technology like an ape to an all-you-can-eat buffet the company responsible for orphaning Ozi in the first place especially when she realises her folks are still alive in the corporation’s shiny biosphere with spry character models and storybook relief and the cast of fauna feels like a scrape of training data from Madagascar and in the case of feisty but dumb rhino companion Honkus estuary-accented monkey called Chance pierce Greenzar’s enclave palm oil monoculture and modern alienation from the natural world It’s all in the service of upbeat eco gong beating that may recruit a few younger viewers to the cause. However, there is something a bit insidious about its blind faith in social media activism, omitting how it is intertwined with the technological lobby that is the vanguard of destructive capitalism. Donald Sutherland gets his final screen credit here But a dose of actual Hawkeye rebelliousness is what this pious animation really needs Ozi: Voice of the Forest is in UK cinemas from 10 August At Simian, we are thrilled to announce the expansion of our training offerings with the addition of CITB Site Safety Plus courses designed to meet the needs of the construction industry and enhance workplace safety These highly regarded courses are essential for individuals seeking to improve their skills and foster a culture of safety within their organisations Whether you’re a seasoned manager or a first-time supervisor our Site Safety Plus courses provide the knowledge and certification you need to lead your teams safely and effectively The CITB Site Safety Plus suite of courses is tailored for construction professionals at every stage of their career These qualifications are widely recognised across the industry ensuring your teams stay compliant and competitive in an ever-evolving landscape Here’s a breakdown of the Site Safety Plus courses now available at SIMIAN: more compliant future by enrolling in one of our CITB Site Safety Plus courses Whether you’re advancing your career or ensuring your team is ready to lead Contact us at 0345 6022 418 or email bookings@simian-risk.com to secure your place today At SIMIAN, we understand that apprenticeships are the foundation of a skilled and sustainable workforce. To gain expert insight into effective apprentice recruitment, we sat down with Ginte, HR Manager at GKR Scaffolding GKR has built a strong reputation for developing young talent and setting them up for long-term success in the scaffolding industry investing in apprentices is not just about filling vacancies but about shaping the future of the industry “We see it as an opportunity to nurture talent from the ground up and instil the right skills and values early on.” apprenticeships provide young people with structured career paths companies contribute to the wider goal of improving safety and sustainability within the scaffolding sector “We don’t expect apprentices to have industry knowledge from day one,” Ginte explains but having the right mindset is what leads to long-term success.” GKR’s approach to apprentice recruitment is structured Here are Ginte’s top tips for businesses looking to bring in apprentices: Work with the Right Training Provider – “Partnering with organisations like SIMIAN ensures that apprentices receive top-quality training and development This makes a huge difference to their confidence and competence on-site.” Create a Supportive Environment – “Apprentices need mentors who will guide them and help them transition into working life A strong support system increases retention and success rates.” Have a Clear Progression Plan – “Show apprentices a future beyond their initial training We map out potential career paths within GKR to keep them motivated and engaged.” Invest in Wellbeing and Development – “Apprenticeship programs should go beyond just technical training we work closely with companies like GKR to ensure apprentices get the highest standard of training and development From initial recruitment to ongoing support we help businesses structure successful apprenticeship programs that benefit both employers and apprentices alike If you’re considering taking on an apprentice or want to learn more about how apprenticeships can benefit your business, get in touch with us at SIMIAN Well aware of audiences’ over-familiarity with the genre Gracey previously spoke about doing something different with this film There is perhaps no film genre more tired than the music biopic you’ll know the formula: an unlikely hero transcends barriers to climb the charts probably gets involved with drugs along the way and has an expected fall before the eventual recovery and reprise While there are more experimental exceptions—2019’s surreal Rocketman bucked the trend, and 2022’s Elvis was a hallucinatory fever dream—audiences are weary of endless examples of Hollywood’s most cliched genre one upcoming film is doing something radically different with the help of cutting-edge technology With The Greatest Showman, director Michael Gracey helped reignite the popularity of movie musicals. For a short while Now he’s at the helm of the upcoming Robbie Williams biopic Better Man Talking to Deadline when the project was announced he said: “As for how we represent Robbie in the film I want to do this in a really original way ‘I’ve never seen this before’.” After screening at the Telluride Film Festival Better Man tells the story of Robbie Williams the British pop music mainstay and headline-grabbing bad boy It covers his life from a starry-eyed kid in Stoke-on-Trent to his massive success with Take That and triumphant solo career interspersed with his battles with depression and drug addiction Williams’ honesty about his struggles notwithstanding this is pretty typical fare for a music biopic Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis How Better Man distinguishes itself, to the surprise of critics is that Robbie Williams is played by a CGI monkey throughout Think Rise of the Planet of the Apes meets ‘Rock DJ’ Williams is a household name in the UK but less so in the US So a cynic might argue the monkey is a marketing ploy to draw in unfamiliar audiences Gracey has explained that the ape avatar represents Williams’ view of himself through much of his career as a performing monkey the film offers little explanation and the other characters in the film do not acknowledge it so it perhaps serves to illustrate Williams’ internal view of himself as uncanny or not good enough Like Rocketman’s examination of Elton John it’s a surreal take on a larger-than-life figure or however you interpret the purpose of the primate it demonstrates how technology can serve to innovate even the most hackneyed stories Using the same motion capture technology employed by Weta in the successful Planet of the Apes franchise the film tells a familiar story in a madly unusual way The bananas decision to replace Robbie Williams with a monkey has already generated headlines bringing the film to the attention of those who may previously have ignored it but it’s doubtful how much demand there would be for a by-the-numbers retelling of his story and instead of using technology to cut corners Hollywood will start using the latest innovations to make the familiar unfamiliar It would undoubtedly make for more interesting stories and could even help to bring people back to the cinema. Attendance is growing but the industry could certainly use a boost Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network THE FIRST Apprentice of the Year competition to be hosted by SIMIAN and the North West Roof Training Group (NWRTG) has announced the winners the competition saw both pitched and flat roofing contests take place where the apprentices had to complete roofing rigs while being scrutinised by judges The judges were looking out for technical skill the apprentices demonstrated the knowledge and skills gained since they started their apprenticeship training in September 2024 Winner of the pitched roofing competition was Mark Knight, apprentice at Greenough & Sons Roofing Judges commented that Mark showed thorough understanding of calculating measurements for battening the roof was precise and careful in working with the tiles and delivered a clean and neat roofing rig Highly commended in the pitched roofing category were Lindon Clayton and Jordan Parr of The Roofing Company as well as Daniel Knight of Greenough & Sons Roofing In the flat roofing competition, the winner is Harry Crawford, apprentice at Protech Roofing Highly commended flat roofing apprentices were apprentices Alfie Hirst from Karl Austerfield Roofing, Michael Jump from Norman Shawcross Roofing, and Scott Finney from BBR Roofing Ltd The highly experienced industry experts judging the competition included Judging the flat roofing competition were: we spoke to one of the competing apprentices about his apprenticeship journey in the below video Jordan, 25, started his apprenticeship in September 2024 with The Roofing Company in Rochdale and loves the “variety and career opportunities that roofing offers” “I was an apprentice labouring for a roofer and then it got to the point where I wanted to take it a step further and then ended up getting put on this course It’s good learning new things – it’s great.” Metrics details Hepatitis B virus (HBV) only infects humans and chimpanzees posing major challenges for modeling HBV infection and chronic viral hepatitis The major barrier in establishing HBV infection in non-human primates lies at incompatibilities between HBV and simian orthologues of the HBV receptor sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) Through mutagenesis analysis and screening among NTCP orthologues from Old World monkeys we determined key residues responsible for viral binding and internalization respectively and identified marmosets as a suitable candidate for HBV infection Primary marmoset hepatocytes and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells support HBV and more efficient woolly monkey HBV (WMHBV) infection Adapted chimeric HBV genome harboring residues 1–48 of WMHBV preS1 generated here led to a more efficient infection than wild-type HBV in primary and stem cell derived marmoset hepatocytes our data demonstrate that minimal targeted simianization of HBV can break the species barrier in small NHPs these data have not been independently reproduced The latter result indicates that overcoming the entry block in small NHP species may suffice to break the species barrier suggesting that this New World monkey (NWM) species may be a suitable model for testing HBV therapeutics Saimiri oerstedii) squirrel monkeys have also been placed on the list of endangered species and are not readily accessible we determined key residues of hNTCP responsible for viral binding and internalization We identified these residues by systematic genetic and structural comparisons between NTCP orthologues from Old World monkeys (OWM) we reasoned that marmoset hepatocytes would likely be susceptible to hepadnavirus infection Replacing the first 48 residues of HBV preS1 with the equivalent sequence of WMHBV resulted in a chimeric virus (HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48]) that can robustly infect primary marmoset hepatocytes and iPSC-derived hepatocyte-like cells A Phylogenetic analysis and sequence alignment of two important regions (highlighted with dash rectangles) of NTCPs in humans Arrows indicate the NTCP orthologs used in this study Differential residues were highlighted by color through MegAlign Pro (DNASTAR Inc. B Ectopic NTCP (tagged with RFP) overexpression of different species error of mean are based on 4 biologically independent experiments The dash line indicates the gating for background fluorescence intensity C HBV preS1 binding assay on HepG2 cells expressing NTCP from human Quantification of 5′ myristoylated and 3′ FITC-labeled HBV preS1 AAs 2–48 peptide binding (200 nM) in the presence or absence of Myrcludex B (750 nM) by flow cytometry Bars depict the mean of 4 biologically independent experiments and error bars represent s.e.m The dash line indicates the defined baseline of the assay based on the control groups D HBsAg detection in supernatants of HBV-infected (MOI = 8000) HepG2 cells expressing NTCP from human Bars depict mean of 4 biologically independent experiments (n = 6 for control group) and error bars represent s.e.m Primate icons were created with BioRender.com Source data are provided as a Source Data file A Ribbon diagrams (left) and molecular surface (right) representation of hNTCP structure showing forward and back views based on released cryo-EM data (PDB: 7PQQ) Residues related to HBV preS1 binding and the NTCP functional cavity are labeled B Schematics (Created with BioRender.com.) for hNTCP C HBV binding assay on HepG2 cells expressing NTCP orthologues with or without mutations by flow cytometry using 5′ myristoylated and 3′ FITC-labeled HBV preS1 AAs 2–48 peptide (200 nM) in the presence or absence of Myrcludex B (750 nM) The dashed line indicates the defined baseline of the assay based on the control groups Gray bars depict mean of 3 biologically independent experiments and error bars represent s.e.m D HBV binding assay on HepG2 cells expressing NTCP orthologues with or without mutations by fluorescent microscopy imaging using 5′ myristoylated and 3′ FITC-labeled HBV preS1 AAs 2–48 peptide (200 nM) E HBeAg detection in supernatants of HBV-infected (MOI = 6000) HepG2 cells expressing different NTCP orthologues Bars depict mean of 7 independent experiments (n = 6 for OWM-NTCPR158G L161I and SqM-NTCPQ84R groups) and error bars represent s.e.m The dashed line indicates the low limit of the assay based on the control groups Similarity assay conducted by root mean squared deviation (RMSD) A WMHBV binding assay on HepG2 cells expressing NTCP from human Bars depict mean of 4 biologically independent experiments and error bars represent s.e.m B Confocal imaging showing the binding of WMHBV preS1 (200 nM) to different NTCPs The experiments were repeated twice independently with similar results and the representative images were shown C WMHBsAg detection in supernatants of WMHBV-infected (MOI = 8000) HepG2 cells The dash line indicates the low limit of the assay based on the control groups D Schematic (Created with BioRender.com.) of self-assembling primary marmoset hepatocyte (SACC-PMH) co-cultures system for HBV/WMHBV replication or infection Quantification of HBeAg in supernatants of primary marmoset hepatocytes (PMHs) transduced with a 1.3x HBV genome (E); transduced with hNTCP and infected with HBV (F); or infected with WMHBV (G) Bars depict mean of biologically independent experiments (n = 4 in E; n = 4 in PLVX-vehicle-mock group and n = 3 in PLVX-hNTCP-HBV group in F; n = 6 in mock and MOI = 4000 groups and n = 4 in MOI = 8000 group in G) and error bars represent s.e.m The dashed lines indicate the low limit of the assay based on the control groups J Multiplexed HBV RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) HBc and NTCP immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays using formalin-fixed Representative positive signals were indicated by arrows (HBV RNA At least 3 images from different fields were taken from which the representative images are shown A Hepadnavirus infections of SACC-PMH cultures WMHBeAg/HBeAg levels (left) were detected in the supernatants at days 8 SACC-PMHs that had not been exposed to any virus were used as controls Intracellular WMHBV/HBV DNA (middle) and WMHBV/HBV pgRNA (right) were detected by qPCR and RT-qPCR The dash lines indicate the low limit of the detection Bars depict mean of 10 biologically independent experiments (for mock group n = 4 for HBeAg detection and n = 6 for DNA/pgRNA detection) and error bars represent s.e.m B Schematic representation of iPS-derived marmoset hepatocyte-like cells (iPS-MHLC) The corresponding representative images at different stages for iPS cells (iPSCs) and HLCs are shown C Hepatic gene expression levels in the HLCs compared with those in the undifferentiated iPSCs Data are presented as the mean of 9 biologically independent experiments and error bars represent s.e.m Data are presented as the mean of 9 biologically independent experiments and error bars represent s.e.m E HBV and HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48] chimeric virus infections of iPS-MHLCs HBeAg was detected in the supernatants (left) by ELISA and intracellular HBV DNA (middle) and HBV pgRNA (right) by qPCR and RT-qPCR Bars depict mean of 6 biologically independent experiments and error bars represent s.e.m Two tailed unpaired t test or Nested t test and one-way ANOVA were used for the statistics The dashed lines indicate the low limit of the detection Our results suggest that the AA84–87 motif is mainly responsible for HBV entry interactions between the HBV envelope and NTCP within this region causes topological/conformational changes that ultimately trigger endocytosis Our data confirmed these prior observations but our extensive mutational analysis demonstrated that the additional P165L mutation further enhanced HBV infection by 10–15 fold mutating R158G and P165L led to a greater increase in HBV infection than replacing the entire 157–165 sequence with the human counterpart suggesting that other residues may actually have an inhibitory effect While the R158G mutation introduces a smaller side chain that presumably enables preS1 binding the P165L mutation may contribute to stabilizing the loop structure between TM4 and TM5 by forming a helix the core and panel domains are conceivably brought into a conformation that maintains the functional tunnel and facilitates HBV infection To gain further insights into the function of residue 158 in the HBV entry process we introduced mutations that enabled or abrogated HBV binding—R158G in OWM and G158R in NWM NTCP These results revealed that HBV can bind to NWM and OWM NTCP regardless of the residues in the 84–87 region but the exact underlying mechanisms still need further studies which results in tremendous genetic diversity and putative mutations that may boost HBV infection in marmoset cells It remains to be seen whether similar immunosuppressive regimens would have to be applied in marmosets to establish an infection The latter is particularly attractive for genetically controlled studies analyzing the underlying basis of age-dependent susceptibility to HBV infection Our work thus represents an excellent starting point for establishing marmosets as a potential animal model for HBV infection VA) and HepG2 cell lines (American Tissue Culture Collection VA) were maintained in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM; ThermoFisher MA) base medium supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Sigma Aldrich 293T cells were grown on tissue culture-treated plastic ware (Corning Inc. NY) and HepG2 cells on type IV collagen-coated plates (Sigma Aldrich cryopreserved hepatocytes were thawed and centrifuged at 150 × g for 10 min and then the cells were re-suspended in Hµrel plating medium™ (Visikol Inc. Hepatocyte number and cell viability were assessed using trypan blue exclusion 3T3-J2 cells were cultured in normal DMEM medium (10% FBS 200 U/mL penicillin/streptomycin) at 37 °C with 5% CO2 Hepatocytes were seeded at a density of 30,000 cells in each well of a 96-well plate 3T3-J2 cells were added the next day at 15,000 per well of 96-well plate HµREL™−96 SACC-PMH are distributed by the Visikol Cells were maintained in 100 μl Hµrel maintenance medium™ (Visikol The cells were co-cultured at 37 °C in a 5% CO2 for 10 days prior to HBV infections These constructs were transformed into Stellar E and grown in the presence of Amp selection Germany) and confirmed by Sanger sequencing (Eton Bioscience Lentiviral pseudo-particles were generated by co-transfecting 4.0E + 6 293T cells in a 10 cm tissue-culture plate using Xtremegene (Sigma-Aldrich MO) with plasmids expressing the respective pLVX-NTCP-tagRFP proviral DNA and filtered through a 0.45 μm filter (Millipore Filtered lentiviral supernatants were supplemented with polybrene (4 μg/mL HepG2 cells were transduced with the human- OWM- (with or without humanizing mutations) NWM- (with or without humanizing mutations) expression of the fusion protein was assessed by both fluorescence microscopy using an EVOS microscope (Fisher Scientific NJ) at the Princeton flow cytometry core facility Each cell line generated showed greater than 90% of the cells expressing the respective fusion construct Primary marmoset fibroblasts were obtained from Coriell Institute (Camden Fibroblasts once thawed were resuspended in a α-MEM (Thermo Fisher Scientific MA) supplemented with 10% FBS (Thermo Fisher Scientific GlutaMAX (both from Thermo Fisher Scientific) and 64 mg/L L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate sesquimagnesium salt hydrate (Sigma-Aldrich Cells were plated in a single well of a 6-well plate coated with 4 µg/cm2 human fibronectin (Sigma-Aldrich) Cultures were grown at 5% CO2/5% O2 until confluent and then split using 0.05% trypsin For routine passaging cells were cultured at 5% CO2 and atmospheric oxygen iPSCs were cultured in monolayer on Matrigel (Corning) and directed differentiation was achieved by sequential exposure to activin A bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and oncostatin M (OSM) (all cytokines from RND Systems Urea secretions were analyzed by measuring the concentration of urea in phenol-red free culture medium The medium was collected and replaced with fresh medium every 2 days The collected medium was centrifuged at 100 g for 5 min The supernatant was stored at −20 °C for analysis Urea concentration was assayed using a colorimetric endpoint assay using diacetylmonoxime with acid and heat (Stanbio Labs) Metabolite conjugates formed from Luciferin H and CYP3A4-IPA were processed and analyzed per Promega protocol and analyzed using a microplate luminometer (Molecular Devices A WMHBV infectious clone (kindly provided by Robert Lanford Texas Biomedical Research Institute) was used for producing WMHBV stocks HBV/WMHBV chimeric virus stocks were produced using the constructed HBV/WMHBV chimeric clones HepG2 cells were seeded into two 150 mm collagen coated plates at a density of 7.0E + 6 cells per plate When the cell confluence reached about 90% medium was changed to 25 mL DMEM/F12 (#11320082 CA) supplemented with 5% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum (FBS) 1% (vol/vol) pen/strep (P/S) prior to the DNA transfection Cells in each plate were transfected with 28 μg of plasmid DNA mixed with 2800 μL Opti-MEM™ Reduced Serum Medium (#51985034 MA) and 84 μL X-tremeGENE™ HP DNA Transfection Reagent (Sigma-Aldrich cells were washed three times with 25–30 mL pre-warmed DPBS and then cultured in 20 mL DMEM/F12 with 5% (vol/vol) FBS cells were again washed three times with pre-warmed 25–30 mL DPBS Cells were subsequently cultured in 20 mL DMEM/F12 with 5% (vol/vol) FBS Supernatants were harvested every 2–3 days for a total of 10–11 days and stored at 4 ˚C temporarily Supernatants were either spun at 3000 g for 15 min at 4 ˚C or passed through a 0.45 μm filter (Thermo Fisher supernatants were transferred and concentrated either by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8,000 (Sigma-Aldrich MO) precipitation or using heparin columns (GE Healthcare viruses were concentrated by precipitation using 8% (vol/vol) PEG 8,000 The viruses were pelleted at 4200 g for 1 h and 15 min at 4 ˚C Supernatants were removed carefully and the precipitate was resuspended in 1% (vol/vol) of the original supernatant volume in PBS supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) FBS on a shaker at 25 rpm The viruses were then spun at 800 g for 8 min at 4 ˚C The supernatant was transferred into a sterile tube and aliquoted For the heparin column concentration and purification supernatants were run through the 5 mL heparin columns at a speed of 5 mL/min Then the columns were washed once with 8 mL 1×PBS followed by elution with 30 mL elution buffer (25 mL 10×PBS pH 7.4 diluted into 100 mL with 75 mL distilled water) The elution was collected and further concentrated with the centrifugal filters (100,000 NMWL Merck Millipore Ltd.) at 3000 g for 30 min at 4 ˚C about 1.6 mL virus stocks were transferred and aliquoted in LoBind Microcentrifuge Tubes (Eppendorf) Then 20 μL of virus stock was used and DNase I was added (37 ˚C 1 h) to digest possible residual plasmid DNA DNA was extracted with the QIAmp MinElute virus spin kit (Qiagen Based on the HBV DNA copy numbers virus was aliquoted and cryopreserved at −80 °C until use The linearized vector backbone and the HBV 1.3-mer genome were then ligated by infusion cloning per the manufacturer’s instructions (Clontech 10 days following the establishment of the SACC-PMH culture cells were transduced with 150 μl of undiluted HBV 1.3-mer lentivirus hNTCP lentivirus or mock lentivirus as control and washed twice with Hµrel maintenance medium™ For SACC-PMHs transduced with the HBV 1.3-mer lentivirus cultures were maintained in 100 μl/well Hµrel maintenance medium™ and the supernatants were collected every two days for the HBV infection assay For SACC-PMHs transduced with hNTCP lentivirus cells were pretreated and infected with HBV in the same manner as naïve SACC-PMHs HBV infections of HepG2 cells overexpressing different NTCP orthologues and un-transduced HepG2 cells were performed as follows: Naïve HepG2 or HepG2-NTCP cells were seeded into 48-well plates or 24-well plates at 5.0E + 4 or 1.0E + 5 cells/well and then were pre-treated with pretreat medium (DMEM supplemented with 3% (vol/vol) FBS HBV infections with cell-culture derived HBV WMHBV or HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48] chimeric virus stocks were used at a MOI of 8,000 unless indicated otherwise in the presence of 4% polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8,000 (Sigma-Aldrich After inoculating the cells with viruses for 12–24 h the cells were washed with pre-warmed sterile 1×PBS for at least 4 times and then incubated with fresh maintenance media (DMEM supplemented with 3% FBS 1% Pen/Strep and 1x non-essential amino acids) media supplemented with 750 nM Mycludex B (kindly provided by Stephan Urban University of Heidelberg) was used for the HBV infections and the drug was kept continuously in the duration of the experiment Samples were collected at the indicated time-points cells were pretreated with 100 μl Hµrel maintenance medium™ (Visikol Inc. The cells were then washed four times with pre-warmed Hµrel PlatinumHeps maintenance medium™ supplemented with 0.5% DMSO and then maintained with 100 μl Hµrel maintenance medium™ supplemented with 0.5% DMSO Cell morphology was monitored under bright field light using an EVOS microscope (Fisher Scientific The medium was harvested and replaced every 2 days Detection and quantification of HBsAg and HBeAg levels were performed by a chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Autobio Diagnostics CO. China) or the HBsAg levels were tested by the HBsAg EIA 3.0 kit (Bio-Rad For samples from sucrose density gradient centrifugation a 50 µl sample of a 1:10 dilution in 1× sterile PBS was used For samples derived from infection experiments 50 μl supernatant was processed for HBsAg and HBeAg quantification directly Total DNA and RNA from infected cells was extracted by using a Quick-DNA/RNA Microprep Plus Kit (Zymo Research CA) following the manufacturer’s instructions cells were resuspended in 300 µl DNA/RNA Shield and then digested with 15 µl Proteinase K (20 mg/ml) for 30 min 300 µl DNA/RNA lysis buffer was subsequently added and mixed The sample solution was then transferred into the Zymo-Spin IC-XM column to harvest the DNA The flow-through from the last step was saved and an equal volume of ethanol was added to purify RNA by using the Zymo-Spin IC column the DNA/RNA was then eluted with 30 μl of nuclease-free water and concentrations were measured using a Nanodrop spectrophotometer (Thermo Fischer Scientific Primers were kept at a final concentration of 500 nM in a 20 μl reaction volume The following PCR program was run on a Step One Plus qPCR machine (Life Technologies): denature 95 °C for 10 min the standards with 1-mer HBV target template were cloned into the TOPO-Blunt Cloning vector (Thermo Fisher USA #450245) and the copy number was calculated based on the vector molecular weight and concentration A master mix was created containing 15 µl 2 × Taqman reaction mix (Applied Biosystems 200 nM probe and 3 µl synthesized cDNA in a 30 µL reaction The master mix was then added to the samples or to the 10-fold serial dilution standards and the following cycling program was used to run the qPCR: 95 °C for 10 min; 45 cycles of 95 °C 15 sec and 58 °C for 45 sec HBV DNA detection by Southern blotting was carried out by using the DIG labeled probe 1.0 × HBV genome (gt D) plasmid was constructed as the template by using the HBV full length primers: an HBV full length DNA probe was generated by the PCR DIG Probe Synthesis Kit (Roche #11636090910 3.2 kb and 2.0 kb HBV DNA markers were amplified by regular PCR using the HBV full length primers above and HBV-FL-F and HBV-2.0-R (TGAGGCCCACTCCCATAGG) HBV infection was performed in 12-well-plates in which 4.0E + 5 HepG2-marmoset-NTCP cells were seeded per well and infections were carried out similiarly as those for HBV infection of human hepatoma cells cells were lyzed by adding 400 μl lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0; 0.625% SDS; 10 mM EDTA) and shaking at room temperature for 30 min The cell lysates were then transferred to 2 mL tubes and 200 μl 3 × Proteinase K buffer (15 mM Tris-HCl pH 8; 300 mM NaCl; 3 mM EDTA; 1.5% SDS) together with 2 μl 25 mg/mL Proteinase K (MilliporeSigma The mixtures were then incubated in a Thermomixer (Eppendorf) at 55 °C 300 rpm for 2 h followed by a standard Phenol/Chloroform purification After isopropanol precipitation and 70% ethanol wash the DNA pellets were dissolved with 30 μl distilled water HBV and the chimeric WMHBV/HBV infection groups were pooled respectively and then the total HBV DNA was purified through the MinElute PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen Germany) which can selectively purify DNA fragments from 70 bp ~ 4 kb The DNA from each group were then resolved on a 1.3% (wt/vol) agarose gel The gel was treated with denaturing buffer (0.5 M NaOH 1.5 M NaCl) for 2 × 15 min at room temperature doubly distilled water briefly and then submerged into the neutralization buffer (1 M Tris-HCl pH 7.5 After equilibrating the gel in the standard 20 × SSC buffer (Roche #11666681001) for 10 min the DNA was then transferred onto a positively charged nylon membrane (Roche #11209272001) using Whatman 3MM paper (#3030-866 IL) and 20 × SSC buffer by overnight capillary transfer The DNA was then cross-linked to the membrane by UV irradiation at 120,000 μJ for 2 min (UV Crosslinker The membrane was washed briefly in 2 × SSC for 5 min and allowed to air dry The membrane was then incubated with the DIG Easy Hyb (Roche # 11603558001) for 1 h at 55 °C before hybridization with DIG-labeled HBV full length probe at 55 °C overnight The hybridized membrane was washed twice with washing buffer (2 × SSC 0.1% SDS) for 5 min at room temperature followed by 2 × 20 min washes with stringent washing buffer (2 × SSC 0.1% SDS) at 60 °C and was subsequently rinsed briefly in maleic acid buffer (Roche #11585762001) and blocked at room temperature for 30 min in blocking buffer (Roche #11585762001) Then the membrane was incubated with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated DIG antibody (1:10,000; Roche #11093274910) for 30 min at room temperature followed by 3 × 15 min washing with washing buffer (Roche #11585762001) After equilibration in detection buffer (Roche #11585762001) for 3 min the membrane was subjected to chemiluminescent detection using the CDP-Star solution (1:500; Roche #11759051001) and the signal was captured through the chemiluminescence channel on a blot Imaging machine (iBright 1500 ayw) S and X gene regions were designed and manufactured by Molecular instruments (#LSA204 Molecular instrument does not currently allow publication of the individual probe binding sequences but identical probes are available per request In addition to an HBV RNA probe for test samples USA) and a Bacillus subtilis negative control (dapB USA) probe were employed to ensure RNA integrity and specificity respectively Probes were hybridized for 2 h at 42 °C following the manufacturer’s instructions and developed using a DAB chromogen (Roche) horse radish peroxidase (HRP) was inhibited using an endogenous peroxidase blocker and the IHC sequences were conducted following primary and secondary HRP polymer (Vector Laboratories Heat stripping was conducted after the first purple (Roche) IHC sequence to remove primary and secondary antibody complexes prior to the development of the second yellow (Roche) IHC reaction All positive and negative controls were confirmed ensuring specificity of the assay 600x representative images were taken or 400× total magnification digitalized whole slide images (WSI) of the multiplex ISH-IHC combination assay were generated using a multispectral Vectra Polaris Automated Quantitative Pathology Image System (Akoya Biosciences N-terminal myristoylated peptides with amino acids 2–48 of HBV (genotype D GeneBank U95551.1) or WMHBV preS1 (GeneBank AY226578.1) conjugated with FITC at the C-terminal were synthesized by GenScript USA Inc The peptides were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO 3.0E + 4 HepG2 cells or HepG2 cells expressing different NTCPs were seeded in each well of the round-bottom 96-well plates and were cultured in 100 µL pretreatment medium (3% (vol/vol) FBS 1% (vol/vol) Pen/Strep and 1 × NEAA in DMEM medium) with 0 200 nM peptides and 750 nM Myrcludex B (MyrB University of Heidelberg) were included in the medium unbounded peptides were washed out by FACS buffer (PBS with 1% (vol/vol) FBS) followed by 4% (vol/vol) PFA fixing at 4 °C for 30 min The cells were then washed for another two times and resuspended in 200 µl FACS buffer NTCP expression and HBV/WMHBV binding were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine tagRFP expression and FITC signal respectively using a LSRII Multi-Laser Analyzer (BD 8.5E + 4 HepG2 cells or HepG2 cells expressing different NTCPs were seeded in each well of 24-well plates with a collagen precoated cover slide and were cultured in 500 µL pretreatment medium (3% (vol/vol) FBS 1% (vol/vol) Pen/Strep and 1X NEAA in DMEM medium) with 200 nM peptides at 37 °C for 1 h The cells were then washed twice and fixed with 4% (vol/vol) paraformaldehyde (PFA) at 4 °C for 30 min followed by washing two more times MD) was used to stain nuclei (1:1000 dilution incubated with cells for 15 min at room temperature followed by washing twice The cover slides with cells were then transferred onto a glass slide with 2 µl ProLong Gold antifade solution (#P36930 MA) and sealed with CoverGrip™ Coverslip Sealant (#23005 The slides were then covered with foil and dried overnight at 4 °C and then analyzed with a confocal microscope (Nikon A1R-STED) in the Imaging Core facility at Princeton University 7.0E + 4 HepG2 or HepG2-NTCP cells were seeded into each well of 48-well plates and then cultured with 300 µl pretreatment medium (DMEM WMHBV or HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48] inoculum in the presence of 4% (w/vol) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8,000 (Sigma-Aldrich MO) and 2% (vol/vol) dimethylsulfoxid (DMSO MO) and incubated for another 15 min on ice to allow for viral attachment the cultures were kept at 4 °C for 1 h followed by 4 washes with 500 µl/well cold PBS to remove unbound particles The cells were then lysed using 400 µl lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl cultures were shifted to 37 °C following viral attachment to the cells incubated for 16 h and then washed once by using 500 µl/well room temperature 1 × PBS The cells were then trypsinzed for 3 min with 150 µl Trypsin (0.05% then quenched by adding 150 µl regular DMEM culture medium (10% FBS After centrifugation the medium was aspirated and cells were washed again with 500 µL 1 × PBS HBV DNA was isolated from the lysates by standard Phenol/Chloroform extraction and quantified by qPCR HepG2 cells +/- NTCP were grown on collagen-precoated cover slides and fixed 6 days after infection with 4% (vol/vol) paraformaldehyde (PFA) The cells were then washed 3 times with 1 × PBS followed by 1 h of incubation with the blocking and permeabilization buffer (5% BSA cells were incubated with an anti-HBc antibody (1:200 dilution WA) or an anti-HBc antibody (1:500 dilution 0.3% Triton-X-100 in 1 × PBS) at 4 °C overnight washed for 3 times and incubated with an Alexa Fluor® 488 conjugated goat anti-mouse secondary antibody (for LSBio antibody MA) or Alexa Fluor® 488 conjugated goat anti-mouse secondary antibody (for Dako antibody MA) and DAPI (1 µg/mL) in dilution buffer (1% BSA 0.3% Triton-X-100 in 1 × PBS) at room temperature for 1 h the cover slides with cells were then transferred onto a glass slide with 2 µl ProLong Gold antifade solution (#P36930 The images were analyzed and exported by ImageJ (Version: 2.1.0/1.53c) 20 mL supernatant was collected from day 2 to day 4 post transfection of WMHBV HBV or HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48] infectious clones into HepG2 cells The supernatants were then centrifuged in 50-mL tubes at 1700 g for 15 min and approximately 19 mL of cleared supernatant were carefully layered onto a discontinuous sucrose gradient from 60–15% (w/w 5 mL of 15%)) in TNE buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl 1 mM EDTA) in a 38.5 mL polyallomer ultracentrifuge tube (Beckman Coulter The gradient was allowed to rest for at least 4 h at 4 °C before proceeding with centrifugation in a SW 28 rotor at 25,000 rpm (112,000 g) for 15 h at 10 °C in an Optima XE-100 ultracentrifuge (Beckman Coulter Fractions (1.3 mL each) were collected from bottom to top The sucrose density in different fractions was determined with a refractometer (Hogentogler & Co For transmission electron microscopic analysis 2 μl of sample from fraction 6 of the sucrose density gradient was placed on a glow-discharged carbon-coated 400-mesh copper grid (CF400-Cu-50 PA)) followed by negative staining with uranyl formate (1% and then examined at 80 kV using a transmission electron microscope (Philips CM100 TEM) equipped with CCD camera in the Imaging and Analysis Center (IAC) of Princeton University The phylogenic trees were built by MegAlign Pro (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, WI) using a RAXML alignment of orthologous amino acid sequences of NTCPs from 38 species including 28 primates (Supplementary Table 1) The residue numbering is based on human NTCP Tupaia is included in the assay as it shows near evolution relationship with primates and support HBV infection FASTA files of NTCP (WT or mutants) of each species were submitted to the AlphaFold algorithm33 (Version 2.1.2 United Kingdom) run on the Princeton Research Computing DELLA Cluster at Princeton University 5 models of each protein prediction were produced and the best ranked model for each was used for subsequent analysis Molecular graphics and analyses performed with Protein 3D (DNASTAR Inc. NTCP structures were shown and rendered either in Ribbon (cartoon) or molecular surface (solid or mesh) models The side chains were visualized in some regions in ball and stick model to highlight important residues the known crystal structure and the AlphaFold predications were fed into the TM-Align software Since the structures of highly flexible regions at the C and N termini of NTCP could not be resolved by CryoEM but Alphafold produced structural predictions for these regions the amino acid sequences not present in the Cryo-EM human NTCP structure (AAs 12–310) were removed utilizing Protein 3D (DNASTAR Inc. To enable direct structural comparisons different NTCP structures or specific regions were aligned using Protein 3D and the root mean squared deviation (RMSD) was calculated to indicate the structural similarity Bar graphs were presented as mean ± SEM with individual data points and experiments were repeated at least 2 times with duplicates or triplicates unless indicated otherwise All data were analyzed with Prism v9.2.0 (GraphPad) and either Student’s t test (unpaired nested t test (two-tailed) or one-way ANOVA was used for the statistics Statistical significance of p values are indicated Experiments described here have been approved by the Princeton University Institutional Biosafety Committee (# 1145) All work involving infectious HBV and WMHBV regents including recombinant HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48] strain was performed in Biosafety Level 2 laboratory All personnel working with the virus were trained with relevant safety and procedure-specific protocols For the adapted HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48] strain the replaced region localizes at the beginning of HBV preS1 protein and the currently utilized HBV vaccines target antigenic epitopes within HBV S protein (downstream of preS1 specific region) so the antigenic epitopes are same between HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48] and HBV and thus the adapted HBV/WMHBV preS1[1–48] strain should not result in immune escape from commonly used vaccines Further information on research design is available in the Nature Portfolio Reporting Summary linked to this article The script used to generate the AlphaFold prediction has been deposited in Zenodo with the access link https://zenodo.org/record/7799411#.ZC16cHvMJD8 and prevention of hepatitis B virus infection in 2016: a modelling study European Association for the Study of the Liver & European Association for the Study of the EASL 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of hepatitis B virus infection NIH. 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JHEP Rep. 4, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100534 (2022) Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide is the limiting host factor of hepatitis B virus infection in macaque and pig hepatocytes Hematologic and cytogenetic evidence for hematopoietic chimerism in the marmoset Long-term hepatitis B infection in a scalable hepatic co-culture system An efficient nonviral method to generate integration-free human-induced pluripotent stem cells from cord blood and peripheral blood cells Molecular clones of genetically distinct hepatitis B virus genotypes reveal distinct host and drug treatment responses Hepatitis B virus virions produced under nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment are mainly not infectious because of irreversible DNA chain termination Serum hepatitis B virus RNA is encapsidated pregenome RNA that may be associated with persistence of viral infection and rebound TM-align: a protein structure alignment algorithm based on the TM-score Liu, Y. et al. Generation of simian-tropic hepatitis B virus by targeted viral adaptation. Zenodo https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7799411 (2023) Download references Robert Lanford (Texas Biomedical Research Institute) for providing the WMHBV infectious clone and Dr Stephan Urban (University of Heidelberg) for providing the Myrcludex B We would like to thank Christina DeCoste and Katherine Rittenbach in the Molecular Biology Flow Cytometry core facility and Dr Gary Laevsky and the Molecular Biology Confocal Microscopy Facility which is a Nikon Center of Excellence for their excellent technical support We further thank all members of the Ploss lab Robert LeDesma for critical discussions and comments throughout experimentation and preparation of the manuscript Work in the lab is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01 AI138797 a Burroughs Welcome Fund Award for Investigators in Pathogenesis (#101539 to A.P.) and funding from Princeton University The Molecular Biology Flow Cytometry Resource Facility is partially supported by the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Cancer Center Support grant (P30CA072720) This work utilized NIH S10 Shared Instrumentation Grants S10-OD026983 and SS10-OD030269 (awarded to N.A.C.) Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Bioinformatic analyses were performed by Y.L All other experiments were performed by Y.L. The draft of the manuscript was prepared by Y.L and A.P have filed a patent application on the generation and use of simian-tropic HBV for modeling HBV in vivo Claims cover the use of HBV and stHBV of multiple genotypes to infect marmosets There are no restrictions on the publication of the data The remaining authors declare no competing interests Nature Communications thanks Jianming Hu and the other reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39148-3 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science Tailing Williams (born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1974) as he rises to stardom with boy band Take That, falls to drugs and alcohol, and ultimately finds success as a solo artist, there’s nothing that this big-budget biopic technically does wrong. But to set itself apart from similar biopics, its lead is a CGI chimpanzee; it’s never acknowledged, never explained, it’s just Robbie Williams’ life through simian eyes. Beginning way before he even joined Take That, it’s something you’ll have to adjust to. Set in Northern England, his humble origins are as much the first act of his life as they are a slice of kitchen sink realism. Except that the main character is a monkey, of course. The young upstart eventually gets his big break when he successfully auditions to join a new boy band alongside Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, and Gary Barlow. Williams’ self-professed love for performing and egomania fully emerged here, so the biopic explains, particularly when it came to competing with Take That lead man Barlow.  The story Better Man tells certainly proves insightful. As the boys became a breakthrough pop sensation in the UK, it was Williams that went off the deepest end. Alcoholism, cocaine addiction, and mental health issues plague him - to the point where he’s kicked out and left to wallow in his own washed-up existence. Things get pretty dark for Williams: in a total creative rut, he indulges in ever more drugs and booze, makes a fool of himself (often in public), and generally can’t keep his act together. Compared to other headline biopics (think, for example, of Bohemian Rhapsody, which was editioralised entirely by the remaining members of Queen), Better Man has a tell-all autobiographical quality to it. Sure, some events are reordered for the sake of narrative. But it’s essentially Williams himself who’s doing the telling here. And he doesn’t shy away from the ugliest, meanest parts of his past self. So Better Man works as a biopic. It might even be pretty good. But considering any of these aspects is impossible without addressing the monkey in the room. Each and every vulnerable scene - when his grandmother dies, when his substance abuse is at its worst, when he abuses the people he loves - are all performed by a CGI monkey. A lot of very positive reviews treat this as something to come to terms with: ‘You stop noticing after a while.’ Or even: Iit actually works out quite well. It’s really a metaphor for how he feels like an outsider!’ And yet it’s not some sort of subtle mixing up of the formula. It’s a massive gambit that’ll dominate any discussion of the film. In multiple interviews, Williams has stated that it was a decision taken by the film’s director, Michael Gracey, in order to make the film stand out. More than that, it certainly captures Williams’ own humorous tone: a sort of cheeky, driven, deeply psychological aspect of his character which really shines through in the movie. But what’s striking about this tongue-in-cheek creative decision is that it leaves the film teetering on the edge of total insincerity. It’s not that a monkey doing cocaine and making millions is in itself so ridiculous as to invalidate all the events recounted in this biopic.  Rather, it’s as if it’s some sort of defence mechanism, a constant shield of ironic distance which makes the events of the film all seem detached because they’re being performed by a computer-generated character rather than a real person. That that character should incidentally be an anthropomorphic monkey certainly doesn’t help, either. You could even argue that it perfectly fits Williams’ sense of humour as conveyed in the film: ending each vulnerable moment with a crude joke so as to take the edge off. But as a whole-movie gimmick, the look really works against the tone.  Imagine being verbally abused by a millionaire monkey who’s off his head on drugs and alcohol. How would you TakeThat? ReviewMystery thriller ‘Drop’ is much better than it has right to beStrong performances and gripping story save this film from mediocrity, even if the plot makes no sense at all The papacy on screenSix films that look behind the walls of the VaticanThese films tell of tradition and modernity, of compromising secrets and disgraceful deeds, and of melancholy and cowardice Review‘Sinners’ plays like an all-out rock opera firing on all cylindersImagine a full-blown, blues-themed horror musical that’s also a grounded historical drama - with vampires! FilmThree Luxembourg co-productions selected for Tribeca film festivalFilms showing Sophie Mousel and Vicky Krieps are in the running in two categories at the festival, to be held in New York in June CannesLuxembourg co-production in running for main prize at Cannes Film FestivalThe film, Un simple accident, co-produced by Bidibul Productions, will compete for the Palme d’Or at the festival, which will run from 13 to 24 May Film reviewGritty war film ‘Warfare’ paints a nihilistic pictureDespite the impressive filmmaking on display, it’s hard to walk away from Alex Garland’s movie without feeling hollow Film Review‘The Monkey’ is an exceptionally stylish splatter festThis short and sweet horror film almost perfectly captures the energy of 1980s horror stories - a feat many other movies try and fail to accomplish Films that hurtPremiumWhy cinema must go beyond trigger warningsThe debate about artistic freedom and responsibility needs more than warnings about sensitive content, says sociologist Eric Fassin Advertiser contentTreat yourself to a stress-free holidayDreaming of a worry-free trip What if the secret to a smooth getaway was simply good preparation and the right protection Advertiser contentReal estate: Why should you take advantage of the start of 2025 to begin your real estate project?The main things we remember about the housing sector over the past 12 months are the rise in interest rates and the fall in property prices Advertiser contentProperty: I've decided to invest!The various forms of government support for investment Advertiser contentThe Luxembourg Times BusinessRun is happening again on 18th September!On Thursday 18th September with the starting gun of the 11th Luxembourg Times BusinessRun fired at the Coque at 7 pm Share this with instagramShare this with facebookShare this with linkedinSections SIMIAN LASC, in partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest Council recently held a highly impactful Green Construction JOBSFEST and employers to explore career opportunities in the rapidly expanding field of sustainable construction The event was a fantastic opportunity for the local community to engage with an industry that is driving the future of construction while opening doors to career pathways for young people and job seekers alike Their participation ensured that attendees had direct access to a diverse range of potential employers and industry leaders who are at the forefront of sustainable construction Local schools were a key focus of the event giving students the chance to interact with industry professionals and discover a wide variety of career possibilities in green construction Engaging workshops and presentations highlighted innovative building techniques and emerging technologies that are shaping a more sustainable future Students had the opportunity to learn about roles ranging from scaffolders and bricklayers to project management with a focus on how they can contribute to the local community’s sustainability efforts the Green Construction JOBSFEST was a valuable chance to explore new career paths in a sector that is experiencing rapid growth The presence of major employers such as Taylor Wimpey and Countryside ensured that attendees were exposed to a wide range of career options from apprenticeships and entry-level roles to more advanced positions within the industry With our renowned expertise in scaffolding and safety training SIMIAN offered guidance on upskilling and obtaining necessary certifications With hands-on system scaffolding demonstrations roof slate and tiling workshops and waterproof membrane demonstrations we provided attendees with an insight into the training opportunities available at SIMIAN LASC for their next steps toward their green construction careers Business Development Manager for the Southeast at SIMIAN LASC “The Green Construction JOBSFEST was a fantastic opportunity to bring together our local community and key employers in the construction industry and employers engage with the concept of green construction and explore the possibilities it holds for the future Events like this are crucial in showcasing not only the exciting career opportunities available but also the importance of sustainability in shaping the next generation of construction professionals Through our continued collaborations with Waltham Forest council and local school engagement we are excited to drive growth and increase awareness for the construction industry.” and local businesses made this event a success The JOBSFEST created a platform where employers and job seekers could come together to discuss not just immediate job opportunities but also the broader role of green construction in shaping a sustainable future provided invaluable insights into the skills needed to thrive in this new age of construction while local organisations like Waltham Forest Job Centre helped facilitate connections for job seekers eager to enter the field As the demand for sustainable construction continues to rise SIMIAN LASC remains committed to supporting both individuals and businesses as they adapt to this evolving landscape The Green Construction JOBSFEST marks the beginning of a larger initiative to ensure the workforce is ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow It’s time to find out more about the newest edition to the SIMIAN team as we welcome Farhana as our latest Business Development Manager (BDM) for the South East region Please can you tell us about your past work experience I have been working as a Business Development account manager for local council colleges for the past 6 years my role at SIMIAN is quite similar to that at the colleges as the aim it to engage with employers and generate new revenue for the company my key tasks were to support employers with their apprenticeships through onboarding and sharing my knowledge about the programmes support the learners and identify tendor bidding opportunities Its very early stages but I had a fantastic onboarding process with the people and process manager and Sara Calvo who has been a brilliant mentor to me There is a lot of information to take in but I am getting there and making relationships and connecting with roofing companies to onboard and provide information for new apprenticeship learners Is there one aspect of your work in particular that you most enjoy I really enjoy working in the education sector and I am keen on learner achievement I like seeing the learners progress and achieve results in their chosen field It’s not only supporting the company but supporting the individual learner too The companies I have worked with valued the relationships but I am passionate about this role and enjoy it What advice would you give those considering a career in the construction industry Keep your options open – do not block your options off solely wanting to become a trade specialist in one sector so anyone who is interested can enjoy a fulfilling career what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had I worked as an Data Quality and Personnel Analyst for Philips company in Eindhoven in the Netherlands for almost 6 years I really enjoyed that job as it allowed me to connect and work within a multi-cultural environment with people from various backgrounds Keep the journey of education going because knowledge is the power Switzerland – I have never been and it looks like a beautiful place Terminal – it represents different people’s lives and the life changes that you have to be prepared and adapt for also shows to be creative in a situation and not frustrated and Ross from Friends in a Starbucks in Southwark I was so excited instead of being nice and I just said ‘Are you ‘The’ Ross from Friends’ and whilst laughing he replied ‘No I still do dance now and dancing makes my day – I feel happy when I am dancing I also used to do painting and sketching as a hobby too If you would like more information about our Apprenticeship Programmes email Farhana on frahman@simian-risk.com  Please note that our website may not work correctly if you disable cookies.