A small National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found the bodys immune response to COVID-19 may be involved with inflammation and damage to the brain, adding to a growing body of evidence that ties the disease to an increased risk of neurological damage.

NIH researchers from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) examined brain tissue from nine people who suddenly died from COVID-19 between March and July 2020 the first wave of the pandemic, according to the study published in the journal Brain.

The patients, who were between the ages of 24 and 73, were selected because they showed signs of blood vessel damage in the brain. They were then compared with a control group for signs of inflammation and immune responses.

The study found evidence that antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the virus were involved in an attack on the cells lining the brains blood vessels, causing inflammation and damage, even though the disease was not directly found in the brain.

Patients often develop neurological complications with COVID-19, but the underlying pathophysiological process is not well understood, Dr. Avindra Nath, clinical director at NINDS and the senior author of the study, said in a release. We had previously shown blood vessel damage and inflammation in patients brains at autopsy, but we didnt understand the cause of the damage. I think in this paper weve gained important insight into the cascade of events.

Scientists have been working to uncover the mechanisms that cause issues like brain fog and fatigue that are among the symptoms tied to long COVID the designation given to symptoms that persist after initial infection.

Some studies found lasting neurological issues for survivors that persisted for more than a year, and others discovered connections between the disease and tissue damage in the brain related to smell.

The most recent research suggests the body may be mistakenly targeting endothelial cells in the blood-brain barrier that are crucial to keeping harmful invaders away from the brain. Damage to these cells could cause proteins to leak from the blood, ultimately increasing the risk of stroke, the researchers said.

The NINDS researchers found damage to these cells and evidence of blood proteins that normally do not cross the blood-brain barrier. Those protein clusters are typically caused when endothelial cells activate and release molecules that stick together, suggesting antibodies were the cause of the attack.

By building off past research that showed COVID-19 damaged the brain by causing thinning and leaky blood vessels, the new findings bolster the belief that the bodys natural immune response could be the source of damaging and dangerous inflammation.

Activation of the endothelial cells brings platelets that stick to the blood vessel walls, causing clots to form and leakage to occur. At the same time the tight junctions between the endothelial cells get disrupted causing them to leak, said Nath. Once leakage occurs, immune cells such as macrophages may come to repair the damage, setting up inflammation. This, in turn, causes damage to neurons.

The researchers believe the patients used in the study would have developed long COVID if they survived. They added the study sheds light on the underlying mechanism causing neurological damage and could better enable doctors to treat long-term symptoms.

It is quite possible that this same immune response persists in long COVID patients resulting in neuronal injury, added Nath, who noted that the findings could have very important therapeutic implications.

Original post:
Small study sheds light on how COVID-19 affects the brain - SILive.com

Four people were injured in a shed fire on the St. ClairCargill Salt plant's property Wednesday afternoon.

Rescue crews responded to a report of a fire at the plant at 916 Riverside Ave. at about 2:30 p.m., St. Clair Fire Chief Dave Westrick said.

When firefighters arrived, they found a welding shed on the plant's property covered in flames, Westrick said.

St. Clair Police Chief Tim Raker said four people were injured and transported to Ascension River District Hospital by personal car. One was treated and released, while three people were transported to Detroit hospitals by Tri-Hospital EMS.

The shed was a total loss. The fire was contained to only the shed, Westrick said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Marine City Fire Department andSt. Clair Police Departmentalso responded to the scene.

Cargill spokesperson Daniel Sullivan said the four people who were injuredwere contractors who are receiving treatment for their injuries.

The facility remains operational and the company expects to meet all its customer commitments, he said Thursday.

"We are grateful for the partnership of the local emergency medical and fire response teams," Sullivan said in an email."Our focus remains on the safety of our employees and contractors."

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.co

Visit link:
Four people injured in shed fire at Cargill Salt plant Wednesday - The Times Herald

While it may not be enough for some shareholders, we think it is good to see the Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PARR) share price up 14% in a single quarter. But that cannot eclipse the less-than-impressive returns over the last three years. After all, the share price is down 30% in the last three years, significantly under-performing the market.

After losing 8.2% this past week, it's worth investigating the company's fundamentals to see what we can infer from past performance.

View our latest analysis for Par Pacific Holdings

Par Pacific Holdings isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

Over the last three years, Par Pacific Holdings' revenue dropped 2.9% per year. That is not a good result. The stock has disappointed holders over the last three years, falling 9%, annualized. And with no profits, and weak revenue, are you surprised? However, in this kind of situation you can sometimes find opportunity, where sentiment is negative but the company is actually making good progress.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. You can see what analysts are predicting for Par Pacific Holdings in this interactive graph of future profit estimates.

While it's never nice to take a loss, Par Pacific Holdings shareholders can take comfort that their trailing twelve month loss of 4.3% wasn't as bad as the market loss of around 17%. Given the total loss of 3% per year over five years, it seems returns have deteriorated in the last twelve months. While some investors do well specializing in buying companies that are struggling (but nonetheless undervalued), don't forget that Buffett said that 'turnarounds seldom turn'. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Par Pacific Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Par Pacific Holdings that you should be aware of.

Par Pacific Holdings is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

See the article here:
Investors three-year losses grow to 30% as the stock sheds US$81m this past week - Simply Wall St

Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) shareholders have seen the share price descend 14% over the month. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last five years have been respectable. After all, the stock has performed better than the market (70%) in that time, and is up 82%.

While the stock has fallen 5.1% this week, it's worth focusing on the longer term and seeing if the stocks historical returns have been driven by the underlying fundamentals.

See our latest analysis for Analog Devices

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

During five years of share price growth, Analog Devices achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 3.6% per year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 13% per year, over the same period. This suggests that market participants hold the company in higher regard, these days. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth. This optimism is visible in its fairly high P/E ratio of 45.23.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Analog Devices' earnings, revenue and cash flow.

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Analog Devices the TSR over the last 5 years was 100%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Although it hurts that Analog Devices returned a loss of 15% in the last twelve months, the broader market was actually worse, returning a loss of 18%. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 15%, each year, over five years. In the best case scenario the last year is just a temporary blip on the journey to a brighter future. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for Analog Devices that you should be aware of.

Analog Devices is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

The rest is here:
Analog Devices (NASDAQ:ADI) sheds 5.1% this week, as yearly returns fall more in line with earnings growth - Simply Wall St

A severely overweight dad who would break beds, sofas and chairs just by sitting on them has shed more than half his body weight. Dave Winchester used to weigh in at 27 stone - and would sometimes be abused by strangers as he walked down the street.

But now the 36-year-old has been crowned Slimming World's Man of the Year after losing 14 stone. He was spurred on when told his father-in-law's dying wish was for him to get healthy.

Data analyst Dave rarely used to leave the house and struggled to find any clothes to fit him. He also struggled to drive when his belly got stuck on the steering wheel.

READ MORE: These inspirational slimmers lost 63 stone - and this is how

Having wanted to lose weight for years, Dave - who lives with wife Susie, 35, seven-year-old daughter Heidi and four-year-old Freddie - could not find a method that worked. He said: I knew I had a problem, but it wasnt until the wake when my mother-in-law told me her husbands dying wish was for me to join Slimming World that I decided to do something about it.

Hed been a member of the local Baptist church and had seen the posters for a Slimming World group that was held there. I knew he wanted the best for his daughter and grandchildren, so I decided to try and tackle my weight once and for all.

Dave Winchester before his weight loss ( Slimming World/Field Photographic/SWNS)

At first, he was worried he would be the only man and joined just for the online sessions. He said he was doing well until the pandemic hit when he found bad habits creeping back.

So, when in October 2021 Slimming World opened back up again, he decided to join his local group in Ashford. He said: I felt nervous because I had this perception that the group would be really cliquey and full of women and I worried Id be made to feel even more ashamed for being so overweight than I already was.

It was nothing like that at all so, so much better than I imagined. I wasnt the only guy there and everyone I met was so warm and supportive, plus we all had one thing in common we all wanted to lose weight.

Dave Winchester before his weight loss ( Slimming World/Field Photographic/SWNS)

Men often think that Slimming World is just for women but research shows that men tend to lose more weight than women, as well as boosting their physical and mental health and having more sex. There are 40,000 men that attend Slimming World sessions each week and 92 percent said they would recommend it to a friend or colleague.

Mr Winchester said: What I loved about Slimming World was that I could still eat big, hearty portions so I never felt hungry. Ive tried every diet you can think of. Soups, juices, calorie counting... they all worked for a while but Id inevitably end up hungry and reaching for the nearest quick fix, usually crisps chocolate or the takeaway menu.

So with Slimming World it was amazing to me that I could lose weight and still have a full English and steak and chips.

He said however that by far the biggest benefit of losing weight has been the impact on his family life, adding: I finally feel like the dad I always wanted to be. Heidi and I went to Park Run together recently and she absolutely loved it. Theres no way I could have done something like that with her before I lost weight. I barely had any energy to play with her at all.

I hope that her grandfather is proud of how far we have come as a family. Were all active, happy and healthy and I think thats the life he wanted for us.

Dave Winchester after his weight loss ( Slimming World/Field Photographic/SWNS)

VITAL STATS:

Name: Dave Winchester

Age: 36

Height: 5ft 11in

Starting weight: 27st 1lb

Current weight: 12st 6.5lbs

Weight loss: 14st 8.5lbs

Waist size before: 48

Waist size now: 32

Date joined Slimming World: June 2018

Before menu

Breakfast: Double sausage and egg muffin, hash brown, latte

Lunch: Two 12 sausage baguettes, grab bag of crisps, chocolate

Snack: Chocolate, sweets, crisps

Dinner: Pizza, chips, nuggets

Snacks: Fizzy pop, cans of cider, Cornish pasty, microwave burger

After menu

Breakfast: A full English with grilled bacon, Slimming World sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes and eggs fried in a pan sprayed with low-calorie cooking spray

Lunch: A lunch bowl made of flavoured couscous, onion, pepper, sweetcorn and beetroot served with tuna or beef

Dinner: A homemade meal such as slow-cooked chilli con carne served with brown rice

Snack: Slimming World Hi-Fi bar, packet of low-fat crisps

NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email alerts to StaffordshireLive straight to your inbox here

READ NEXT:

Every word of Boris Johnson's resignation speech outside Number 10

Concern grows for missing Burton man seen wearing distinctive jacket

Boris Johnson supporters blame BBC, Putin and MI6 for PM's exit

Paedo Burton salesman told told cops 'I've been expecting knock on door'

Park-goers horrified as decapitated rabbits spotted floating in water

View original post here:
27-stone dad who broke beds, sofas and chairs sheds half his body weight - Staffordshire Live

Investors can approximate the average market return by buying an index fund. When you buy individual stocks, you can make higher profits, but you also face the risk of under-performance. For example, the Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies Socit anonyme (EPA:ALHGR) share price is down 48% in the last year. That's well below the market decline of 10%. Because Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies Socit anonyme hasn't been listed for many years, the market is still learning about how the business performs. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 23% in the last three months. Of course, this share price action may well have been influenced by the 11% decline in the broader market, throughout the period.

With the stock having lost 12% in the past week, it's worth taking a look at business performance and seeing if there's any red flags.

View our latest analysis for Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies Socit anonyme

Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies Socit anonyme wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

In the last year Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies Socit anonyme saw its revenue grow by 372%. That's a strong result which is better than most other loss making companies. Given the revenue growth, the share price drop of 48% seems quite harsh. Our sympathies to shareholders who are now underwater. On the bright side, if this company is moving profits in the right direction, top-line growth like that could be an opportunity. Our monkey brains haven't evolved to think exponentially, so humans do tend to underestimate companies that have exponential growth.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

Take a more thorough look at Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies Socit anonyme's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies Socit anonyme shareholders are down 48% for the year, even worse than the market loss of 10%. There's no doubt that's a disappointment, but the stock may well have fared better in a stronger market. The share price decline has continued throughout the most recent three months, down 23%, suggesting an absence of enthusiasm from investors. Given the relatively short history of this stock, we'd remain pretty wary until we see some strong business performance. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies Socit anonyme that you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on FR exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Read more:
Investors one-year losses grow to 48% as the stock sheds 26m this past week - Simply Wall St

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya said on Friday, July 8 that the senior national team has been making a conscious effort to be more proactive and express themselves more when batting in T20I cricket. Hardik said it's good to see batters going out there and looking to take the attack to the opposition bowlers from the word go.

Hardik Pandya said he was delighted to see the renewed approach in the first T20I against England in Southampton where India scored 198 before bowling the opposition out for 148 and taking a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. The Baroda all-rounder led the show from the front, hitting a six and 6 boundaries for his 33-ball 51.

Hardik Pandya got going from the time he walked into the middle even as India lost wickets in frequent intervals. Hardik, who walked in at No. 5, did not go for a lot of aerial shots but found gaps with precision after a solid platform laid by captain Rohit Sharma who hit 24 in just 14 balls and cameos from Deepak Hooda (17-ball 33) and Suryakumar Yadav (19-ball 39).

India posted 66 in the powerplay and never let the momentum dip as the likes of Hooda, Suryakumar and Hardik belted the England bowlers across all parts of the park.

"It's a conscious effort by everyone that we will be making sure we will be expressing ourselves, go out there and enjoy. it's a good sign for Indian cricket because whenever a wicket fell, not just me, whoever went out to bat, they have gone from the second ball if it's there. I think in T20 cricket, this will help the team a lot," Hardik told Ishan Kishan in a chat for BCCI.

"There will be days when we lose 5 wickets for nothing with this approach but, more often than not, it will get us those extra 10-15 runs that we have been speaking in the dressing room," he added.

Hardik said he has bettered his art of playing risk-free cricket after having batted higher up the order for Gujarat Titans in his maiden stint as captain in the Indian Premier League. The Baroda all-rounder, who is known for his big six-hitting ability, said he is enjoying hitting boundaries more.

"When I went out to bat, I wanted to play risk-free cricket. I knew that wickets had fallen. If they hadn't fallen, I would have gone for more sixes and more shots. I knew that the pitch was good and having batted higher up the order in the IPL, I am getting a feel of the gaps better, understand which shots will hit the gaps," Hardik said.

"I am getting a bit more joy hitting fours as I have been hitting sixes all through my life. This is personally making me feel a bit happier," he added.

Notably, India have been trying to be more proactive, especially in the middle-overs after the early exit at T20 World Cup 2021 wherein they struggled with the scoring rate against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Captain Rohit Sharma also shed light on India's changing approach, saying it's important that every batter buys into it.

"You got to make use of those six overs in the powerplay. There is a certain approach we want to take in the powerplay. You got to back yourself in this game, sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn't. The whole batting unit needs to understand the direction the team is taking and the guys were spot on today," Rohit said after the win in Southampton.

Also Read: India should send their B team to win T20 World Cup: Graeme Swann

Also Read: India finding aggressive approach they lacked in T20 World Cup: Eoin Morgan

--- ENDS ---

See the original post:
Hardik Pandya sheds light on India's new T20I approach: Players making conscious effort to express themselves - India Today

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

PROVO The Utah County attorney and sheriff took shots at each other last week over a child sexual abuse investigation recently announced by the sheriff's office.

In dueling press conferences on June 1, prosecutor David Leavitt called it a political attack on him, while Sheriff Mike Smith refused to name suspects or link the case to Leavitt. Both discussed a case that was filed in 2012, and later dropped in 2014, all before Leavitt was elected to his current office.

The day before, the sheriff's office had made a vague announcement about an investigation into ritualistic child sexual abuse. Leavitt then called a news conference and shared that he was named in a 151-page document labeled as a "victim statement" that was connected to the 2012 case. The statement names Leavitt and more than a dozen others as part of a group alleged to have practiced ritual sexual abuse of children.

Now, courtroom audio recordings obtained by the KSL Investigators provide more insight into the dismissal of 18 felony child sexual abuse charges against a Utah County man. In an effort to protect the privacy of the woman who came forward, KSL is not naming the man who was charged.

"Those charges were dismissed by my predecessor because the allegations were so untenable and unbelievable," Leavitt said.

Leavitt said the allegations are "100% false," but when pressed about details surrounding the dismissal of the case, admitted he had not reviewed the case file himself. He said the records are not digitized and would take several days to locate.

"I will make those files available to the extent they are allowed under the law," he said. "I have nothing to hide."

According to online court records, the case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors can still refile the charges. When questioned Friday about the effort to locate the old records, a spokesperson for Leavitt's office said he was traveling and could not immediately provide answers.

There's a lot more that needs to be done with this case, and it's just not coming together.David Sturgill, Utah County prosecutor

During his news conference, Leavitt said he discussed the case with David Sturgill, the prosecutor who was assigned to the case 10 years ago and still works in the Utah County Attorney's Office.

"He told me they dismissed it because the evidence was so outlandish," Leavitt said.

But Leavitt's statements about the dismissal don't quite line up with what attorneys said in court.

"The allegations are some of the worst allegations of sexual abuse that I've come across in the many years that I've been prosecuting these types of cases," Sturgill said during a hearing in May 2013.

During that same hearing, the defense attorney representing the man charged also discussed the seriousness of the case and the need for a thorough investigation.

"If Mr. [] is convicted of these charges, he will never see the light of day," said Michael Esplin. "I mean, these are he'll be there for the rest of his life in prison."

During a hearing in March 2014, Sturgill moved to dismiss the charges, with a plan to possibly refile the case in the future.

Neither attorney shared concerns during the hearing that the allegations were outlandish or unbelievable. Instead, they pointed to the several-years delay in reporting by the alleged victim, and difficulty in obtaining records.

"There's a lot more that needs to be done with this case, and it's just not coming together," Sturgill said. "I'm getting resistance from DCFS and then there's other medical records that we're having some trouble gathering. A lot of it's due to just the age of this case. It's an extremely delayed disclosure."

Esplin sought unsuccessfully to have the case permanently dismissed, citing similar challenges that he believed would prevent his client from having a fair trial.

"Witnesses have passed away, records have been shredded, just because of the nature of the length of the time that's gone on," he said. "I don't believe this case will ever be ready to be tried."

Those charges were dismissed by my predecessor because the allegations were so untenable and unbelievable.David Leavitt, Utah County attorney general

Why the case was never refiled and what will happen with it now are questions that remain unanswered, but the sheriff says the current investigation has expanded beyond one case.

"We have new victims coming forward," he said.

The man once charged in the case has recently filed to have the court records expunged. The Attorney General's Office has filed an objection to the expungement request, saying, "The petitioner is currently the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation by four law enforcement agencies into the same conduct which was the basis of the 1999 arrest."

The Utah County Attorney's Office has also filed an objection.

Smith has said the current investigation will continue, regardless of whether the 2012 case is expunged.

Daniella Rivera joined the KSL team in September 2021. Shes an investigative journalist with a passion for serving the public through seeking and reporting truth.

See more here:
Courtroom audio sheds light on case at the heart of Utah County controversy - KSL.com

I have long puzzled over why Van Goghs paintings of his own chair and that of Gauguin were separated. They are so obviously a pair and Vincent must have expected them to hang together, facing each other.

Van Goghs Chair (November 1888-January 1889) was sold by Vincents sister-in-law Jo Bonger to the National Gallery in London in 1924. Gauguins Chair (November 1888) remained with the family, ending up at Amsterdams Van Gogh Museum on its establishment in 1973.

Splitting up the pair seems most unfortunate. It also struck me as surprising that Bonger had sold off her brother-in-laws own chair, rather than that of Gauguin, who was just a friend.

An answer comes in an article by Louis van Tilborgh, a senior researcher at the Van Gogh Museum, in the latest issue Simiolis, the quarterly journal of Dutch art history. In Van Gogh, Gauguin and Rembrandt he argues that Bonger took a dislike to Gauguinand wanted the painting of his chair hidden away.

This interpretation helps us see the two chair paintings in a fresh light. In his article, Van Tilborgh rejects some of the traditional interpretations of the pictures, focussing on Van Goghs artistic ambitions and his partnership with Gauguin.

The collaboration of the two artistswhich had started off with such high hopes, but ended in tragedyis illustrated by these two paintings. The men presumably both had their favourite chairs in the Yellow House, where they lived together in Arles for two months in the autumn of 1888.

Vincents own chair was a simple piece of rustic furniture with a straw-covered seat, reflecting something of his more austere personality. Gauguin had a comfortable armchair, depicted under gaslight, with a candle and two novels, suggesting a sophisticated man who enjoyed the evening hours. In a sense, the two pictures can be regarded as portraits of the artists.

Van Gogh began the paintings in mid-November 1888, when relations between them were still friendly. He finished Gauguins Chair and most of Van Goghs Chair within a few days. A month later their collaboration came to a terrible end, when during the evening of 23 December 1888 Vincent mutilated his ear. By this time serious tensions had developed between them. Gauguin quickly fled to Paris.

In January Van Gogh returned to the picture of his own chair, adding the pipe and tobacco on what had been an empty seat. Smoking, for him, represented consolation and relaxation, which was now much needed. He also included onions in the background, which presumably had a meaning for him, although their symbolism remains somewhat obscure. Finally, he prominently signed the picture, indicating that it was both his work and a representation of his personal seat.

Traditionally, art historians have regarded the two paintings as empty chairsand have linked them with the tensions that the artists were facing. But Van Tilborgh points out that in mid-November, when they were mostly done, relations were still collaborative. And when fully completed, he sees both chairs as not empty, but occupied and speaking of presenceone with Gauguins books and the other with Van Goghs pipe.

Vincent sent the two paintings to his brother Theo in Paris in April 1889. After Vincents suicide in July 1890 ownership passed to Theo and following Theos death in January 1891 to Bonger.

The publics first opportunity to see Van Goghs Chair came in 1905, when Bonger lent it to a major retrospective of the artists work in Amsterdam. Comprising nearly 500 works, it is still the largest Van Gogh show ever held. Although most of the important family paintings were lent, Gauguins Chair was not included.

Reproduction of Van Goghs Chair and cover of Vincent van Gogh: 40 Photocollographies daprs ses Tableaux et Dessins, Amsterdam (1905) Credit: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Van Goghs Chair (but not Gauguins Chair) was also included in an important portfolio of reproductions of the artists work which was published in 1905. From then onwards Van Goghs Chair was lent to ten other exhibitions up until the First World War, which meant it came to be regarded as a key work.

In December 1923, Bonger loaned Van Goghs Chair to the artists first one-man show in London, at the Leicester Galleries. A few weeks later it was bought by the National Gallery for just under 800, with funds provided by Samuel Courtauld.

But it was not until 1928 that Gauguins Chair was first publicly exhibited. This was three years after Bongers death, when the collection was managed by her son, Vincent Willem.

Van Tilborgh believes that Bonger resented Gauguin because after his friends suicide he had tried to claim credit for Van Goghs artistic innovations. One can also speculate she partly blamed Gauguin for Van Goghs tragic self-mutilation.

The first time the two chair paintings were brought together was at a Van Gogh show at Manchester Art Gallery in 1932. A newspaper article noted that the pair were among the most notable exhibits and were poignant with meaning, an indication that their importance was finally being recognised.

Manchester Evening Chronicle, 11 October 1932, with an article on the citys Van Gogh exhibition (a cutting in an album at Manchester Art Gallery) Credit: Manchester Art Gallery

These two still lifes reveal much about one of the most important collaborations in art history. Sadly, the paintings are now only rarely brought together.

Other Van Gogh news:

Now that the Hermitage Amsterdam has cut its links with the St Petersburg museum, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has struck off on its ownwith Van Gogh. This is part of a fundamental rebranding, with the Hermitage dropping a m to become Heritage, with a focus on Dutch heritage.

Van Goghs The Yellow House (September 1888), at the far end of the room, in the rebranded Dutch Heritage Amsterdam Credit: The Art Newspaper

The Van Gogh Museum has offered an extremely generous loan, The Yellow House (September 1888). This single painting is displayed alone, at the far end of a huge gallery. In side rooms, there are displays of reproductions of Van Gogh's art and panels about his life, presented engagingly. With only a single original picture, even though a masterpiece, and a 15 ticket charge it is hardly attracting the crowds that flock to the nearby Van Gogh Museum. But supporting Heritage Amsterdam, which has taken decisive action over Ukraine, is a worthy cause.

Van Gogh is certainly in good company at Heritage Amsterdam. After The Yellow House returns home to the Van Gogh Museum it will be followed by Rembrandts last Self-portrait (1669) from the Mauritshuis in The Hague (28 June-24 July).

Martin Bailey is the author of Van Goghs Finale: Auvers and the Artists Rise to Fame (Frances Lincoln, 2021, available in the UK and US). He is a leading Van Gogh specialist and investigative reporter for The Art Newspaper. Bailey has curated Van Gogh exhibitions at the Barbican Art Gallery and Compton Verney/National Gallery of Scotland. He was a co-curator of Tate Britains The EY Exhibition: Van Gogh and Britain (27 March-11 August 2019).

Martin Baileys recent Van Gogh books

Bailey has written a number of other bestselling books, including The Sunflowers Are Mine: the Story of Van Gogh's Masterpiece (Frances Lincoln 2013, available in the UK and US), Studio of the South: Van Gogh in Provence(Frances Lincoln 2016, available in the UK and US) and Starry Night: Van Gogh at the Asylum (White Lion Publishing 2018, available in the UK and US). Bailey's Living with Vincent van Gogh: the Homes and Landscapes that Shaped the Artist (White Lion Publishing 2019, available in the UK and US) provides an overview of the artists life. The Illustrated Provence Letters of Van Gogh has been reissued (Batsford 2021, available in the UK and US).

To contact Martin Bailey, please email: vangogh@theartnewspaper.com. Please note that he does not undertake authentications.

Read more from Martin's Adventures with Van Gogh bloghere.

Original post:
New research sheds light on Van Gogh's problems with Gauguin, as revealed by the paintings of their favourite chairs - Art Newspaper

Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios

The fallout continues for Olive AI, the Columbus-based health tech startup that is shedding top talent amid reports the company overpromises benefits to clients, Erin Brodwin writes for Axios Pro.

Why it matters: The news threatens the company's status as the highest-profile startup in health care automation.

What they're saying: Current and former employees believe the company is dealing with internal culture problems while underdelivering on its promise to save health systems money using automation software.

Subscribe at AxiosPro.com to read more about this story and other scoops in the Axios Pro Health Tech Deals newsletter.

Support local journalism by becoming a member.

Learn more

No stories could be found

Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Columbus.

Support local journalism by becoming a member.

Learn more

Continue reading here:
Local health tech startup Olive sheds more top talent - Axios