17th-century French literature, Other genres, Mémoires and letters
The 17th century is noted for its biographical "mémoires". The first great outpouring of these comes from the participants of the Fronde (like Cardinal de Retz), who used the genre as political justification combined with novelistic adventure. Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Bussy (known as Bussy-Rabutin) is responsible for the scandalous Histoire amoureuse des Gaules, a series of sketches of amorous intrigues by the chief ladies of the court. Paul Pellisson, historian to the king, wrote a Histoire de Louis XIV covering 1660–1670. Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux wrote Les Historiettes, a collection of short biographical sketches of his contemporaries.


17th-century French literature, Other genres, Mémoires and letters
Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac's collected letters are credited with executing (in French prose) a reform paralleling Francois de Malherbe's in verse. Madame de Sévigné's (1626–1696) letters are considered an important document of society and literary events under Louis XIV. The most celebrated mémoires of the 17th century, those of Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon (1675–1755), were not published until over a century later. we also remember Ninon de Lenclos's Lettres and the little book La Coquette vengée.


17th-century denominations in England
Many religious denominations emerged during the early-to-mid-17th century in England. Many of these were influenced by the radical changes brought on by the English Civil War, subsequent Execution of Charles I and the advent of the Commonwealth of England. This event led to a widespread discussion about how society should be structured.


17th-century philosophy
17th-century philosophy is generally regarded as seeing the start of modern philosophy, and the shaking off of the medieval approach, especially scholasticism. It succeeded the Renaissance and preceded the Age of Enlightenment. It is often considered to be part of early modern philosophy.


17th-century philosophy, History
The period is usually taken to start in the seventeenth century with the work of René Descartes, who set much of the agenda as well as much of the methodology for those who came after him. The period is typified in Europe by the great system-builders — philosophers who present unified systems of epistemology, metaphysics, logic and ethics, and often politics and the physical sciences too. Immanuel Kant classified his predecessors into two schools: the rationalists and the empiricists, and early modern philosophy is often characterised in terms of a conflict between these schools.


17th-century philosophy, History
The three main rationalists are normally taken to have been Descartes, Baruch Spinoza and Gottfried Leibniz. Building upon their English predecessors Francis Bacon and Thomas Hobbes, the three main empiricists were John Locke, George Berkeley and David Hume. The former were distinguished by the belief that, in principle (though not in practice), all knowledge can be gained by the power of our reason alone; the latter rejected this, believing that all knowledge has to come through the senses, from experience. Thus the rationalists took mathematics as their model for knowledge, and the empiricists took the physical sciences.


17th-century philosophy, History
This period also saw the birth of some of the classics of political philosophy, especially Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan, and John Locke's Two Treatises of Government.


17th-century philosophy, History
The seventeenth century in Europe saw the culmination of the slow process of detachment of philosophy from theology. Thus, while philosophers still talked about – and even offered arguments for the existence of – a deity, this was done in the service of philosophical argument and thought. (In the Enlightenment, the "Age of Reason", 18th-century philosophy was to go still further, leaving theology and religion behind altogether.)


17th/21st Lancers
The 17th/21st Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in England by the amalgamation of the 17th Lancers and the 21st Lancers in 1922 and, after service in the Second World War, it amalgamated with the 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers to form the Queen's Royal Lancers in 1993.


17th/21st Lancers, History, Second World War
The regiment was formed in England during the interwar period by the amalgamation of the 17th Lancers and the 21st Lancers on 27 June 1922. The regiment was deployed to Meerut in India in 1936 and it was mechanised in 1938.


17th/21st Lancers, History, Second World War
On the outbreak of the Second World War, in September 1939, the regiment transferred back to the United Kingdom and became part of the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade defending south-east England. On 12 October 1940, the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade became the 26th Armoured Brigade. On 9 November 1940, the brigade became part of the newly raised 6th Armoured Division, with which it served for the rest of the war. Some personnel from the regiment were detached in December to help form the cadre of the 24th Lancers.


17th/21st Lancers, History, Second World War
In November 1942, the division was deployed to Tunisia for Operation Torch. Now equipped with Valentine Mk III and Crusader Mk III tanks, the regiment saw action in the Tunisia Campaign for some time, including taking heavy losses defending Thala in the Battle of Kasserine Pass in February 1943 during which fourteen tanks were put out of action. After this, the regiment was withdrawn and refitted with M4A2 Sherman tanks. In April, the regiment attempted to take the Fondouk Pass during which thirty-two tanks were put out of action.


17th/21st Lancers, History, Second World War
The campaign in Tunisia came to an end in May 1943, with the surrender of almost 250,000 German and Italian soldiers who subsequently became prisoners of war (POWs). Most of the 6th Armoured Division (minus the 1st Guards Brigade) then deployed to the Italian Front in March 1944, and fought to breach the Gustav Line, taking part in Operation Diadem, the fourth and final Battle of Monte Cassino. The regiment advanced to the Gothic Line, and spent the winter there—at points, serving as infantry rather than as an armoured unit, due to the static nature of the trench warfare there. After the final breakthrough in April 1945, codenamed Operation Grapeshot, the regiment ended the war in Austria.


17th/21st Lancers, History, Post-war
In October 1946, the regiment was posted to Greece on internal security duties. In October 1947, it deployed to the Suez Canal Zone and re-equipped as an armoured car regiment; it then moved to Palestine in 1948. The regiment returned home to Catterick Garrison later that year as RAC Training Regiment and then joined 20th Armoured Brigade and moved to York Barracks at Münster in December 1951. It transferred to 4th Guards Brigade Group and moved to Barker Barracks in Paderborn in August 1957. After briefly returning home in December 1959, it moved to Hong Kong in March 1960 from where it deployed units to Aden in October 1961.


17th/21st Lancers, History, Post-war
The regiment joined 20th Armoured Brigade Group and moved to Athlone Barracks at Sennelager in December 1962. After that it moved to Lisanelly Camp in Omagh in March 1968 from where it deployed a squadron to Libya in 1970. It then transferred to 4th Armoured Brigade and moved to Northampton Barracks in Wolfenbüttel in November 1972 from where it deployed units to Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles. It transferred to 11th Armoured Brigade and moved to Wessex Barracks in Bad Fallingbostel in October 1974 from where it again deployed units to Northern Ireland.


17th/21st Lancers, History, Post-war
It returned home re-locating to Bovington Camp as RAC Centre Regiment in December 1977 and then went back to West Germany to join 4th Armoured Brigade becoming based at Swinton Barracks in Münster in November 1980. A squadron was sent to Northern Ireland to undertake guard duties at the Maze Prison in December 1982.


17th/21st Lancers, History, Post-war
After deploying two squadrons to the Persian Gulf in September 1990 for the Gulf War, the regiment returned to the United Kingdom later in the year. In 1993, with the reductions in forces after the end of the Cold War, the regiment was amalgamated with the 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers to form the Queen's Royal Lancers.


17α-Alkylated anabolic steroid
A 17α-alkylated anabolic steroid is a synthetic anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) that features an alkyl group, specifically a methyl or ethyl group, at the C17α position. Unlike many other AAS, 17α-alkylated AAS are orally active and do not require intramuscular injection. However, they uniquely possess a high potential for hepatotoxicity, which simultaneously limits their use. In addition, some have a high risk of gynecomastia due to uniquely high estrogenic activity, although this does not apply to 17α-alkylated AAS that are also 4,5α-reduced or 19-demethylated (i.e., that are also dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or nandrolone derivatives, respectively). The prototypical example of a 17α-alkylated AAS is methyltestosterone (17α-methyltestosterone).


17α-Alkylated anabolic steroid, Structure-activity relationships
Extension of the C17α alkyl chain longer than an ethyl group abolishes androgenic activity and converts the drug into an antiandrogen, as in topterone (17α-propyltestosterone) and allylestrenol (17α-allyl-3-deketo-19-nortestosterone) (an extended-chain variant of ethylestrenol). Conversely, replacement of the C17α alkyl group with an ethynyl group greatly reduces but does not abolish androgenic activity, as in ethisterone (17α-ethynyltestosterone) and norethisterone (17α-ethynyl-19-nortestosterone). Similarly to extension of the C17α alkyl chain, extension of the C17α ethynyl chain abolishes androgenic activity, as with dimethisterone (6α,21-dimethylethisterone). Dienogest, which is antiandrogenic, features extension of the C17α chain in the form of a cyanomethyl group at the C17α position.


17α-Allyl-19-nortestosterone
17α-Allyl-19-nortestosterone, also known as 3-ketoallylestrenol or as 17α-allylestr-4-en-17β-ol-3-one, is a progestin which was never marketed. It is a combined derivative of the anabolic–androgenic steroid and progestogen nandrolone (19-nortestosterone) and the antiandrogen allyltestosterone (17α-allyltestosterone). The drug is a major active metabolite of allylestrenol, which is thought to be a prodrug of 17α-allyl-19-nortestosterone.


17α-Allyl-19-nortestosterone
17α-Allyl-19-nortestosterone has 24% of the affinity of ORG-2058 and 186% of the affinity of progesterone for the progesterone receptor, 4.5% of the affinity of testosterone for the androgen receptor, 9.8% of the affinity of dexamethasone for the glucocorticoid receptor, 2.8% of the affinity of testosterone for sex hormone-binding globulin, and less than 0.2% of the affinity of estradiol for the estrogen receptor. The affinity of 17α-allyl-19-nortestosterone for the androgen receptor was less than that of norethisterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate and its affinity for sex hormone-binding globulin was much lower than that of norethisterone. These findings may help to explain the absence of teratogenic effects of allylestrenol on the external genitalia of female and male rat fetuses.


17α-Bromoprogesterone
17α-Bromoprogesterone (17α-BP) is a progestin which was first described in 1957 and was never marketed. It is about twice as potent as progesterone in terms of progestogenic activity in animal bioassays. 17α-BP is a parent compound of haloprogesterone (6α-fluoro-17α-bromoprogesterone) and 6α-methyl-17α-bromoprogesterone.


17α-Dihydroequilenin
17α-Dihydroequilenin, or α-dihydroequilenin, also known as 6,8-didehydro-17α-estradiol, as well as estra-1,3,5(10),6,8-pentaen-3,17α-diol, is a naturally occurring steroidal estrogen found in horses which is closely related to equilin, equilenin, and 17α-estradiol, and, as the 3-sulfate ester sodium salt, is a minor constituent (1.2%) of conjugated estrogens (Premarin).


17α-Dihydroequilin
17α-Dihydroequilin, or α-dihydroequilin, also known as 7-dehydro-17α-estradiol, as well as estra-1,3,5(10),7-tetraene-3,17α-diol, is a naturally occurring steroidal estrogen found in horses which is closely related to equilin, equilenin, and 17α-estradiol. The compound, as the 3-sulfate ester sodium salt, is present in conjugated estrogens (Premarin), a pharmaceutical extract of the urine of pregnant mares, and is the third highest quantity constituent in the formulation (13.8%). The compound has been studied clinically.


17α-Epiestriol
17α-Epiestriol, or simply 17-epiestriol, also known as 16α-hydroxy-17α-estradiol or estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,16α,17α-triol, is a minor and weak endogenous estrogen, and the 17α-epimer of estriol (which is 16α-hydroxy-17β-estradiol). It is formed from 16α-hydroxyestrone. In contrast to other endogenous estrogens like estradiol, 17α-epiestriol is a selective agonist of the ERβ. It is described as a relatively weak estrogen, which is in accordance with its relatively low affinity for the ERα. 17α-Epiestriol has been found to be approximately 400-fold more potent than estradiol in inhibiting tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression in vitro.


17α-Estradiol
17α-Estradiol (also known as 17α-E2, 17-epiestradiol, alfatradiol, or estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17α-diol) is a minor and weak endogenous steroidal estrogen that is related to 17β-estradiol (better known simply as estradiol). It is the C17 epimer of estradiol. It has approximately 100-fold lower estrogenic potency than 17β-estradiol. The compound shows preferential affinity for the ERα over the ERβ. Although 17α-estradiol is far weaker than 17β-estradiol as an agonist of the nuclear estrogen receptors, it has been found to bind to and activate the brain-expressed ER-X with a greater potency than that of 17β-estradiol, suggesting that it may be the predominant endogenous ligand for the receptor.


17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol
17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol (developmental code names HE-3235, Apoptone), also known as 17α-ethynyl-5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, is a synthetic androstane steroid and a 17α-substituted derivative of 3α-androstanediol which was never marketed. It was under development for the treatment of prostate cancer but was discontinued.


17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol
17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol itself shows very low affinity for steroid receptors, including the AR, ERα, ERβ, PR, and GR, and its mechanism of action is not well-characterized. It produces 5α-dihydroethisterone (5α-dihydro-17α-ethynyltestosterone), a ligand of several steroid hormone receptors, and 17α-ethynyl-3β-androstanediol, an estrogen, as active metabolites. These metabolites may contribute importantly to the biological activity of 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol, with 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol potentially serving as a prodrug.


17α-Ethynyl-3α-androstanediol
Analogues of 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol include 17α-ethynyl-3β-androstanediol, ethinylandrostenediol (17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol), ethandrostate (17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol 3β-cyclohexanepropionate), ethinylestradiol (17α-ethynylestradiol), ethisterone (17α-ethynyltestosterone), and 5α-dihydroethisterone (17α-ethynyldihydrotestosterone).


17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol
17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol (developmental code HE-3539; also known as 17α-ethynyl-5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol) is a synthetic estrogen and a 17α-substituted derivative of 3β-androstanediol which was never marketed.


17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol
17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol shows high affinity for the estrogen receptors in vitro (IC50 values of 16 nM for ERα and 126 nM for ERβ relative to values of 8 nM at ERα and 7 nM at ERβ for estradiol), and activates the estrogen receptors in vitro (EC50 value of 0.9 nM relative to 0.002 nM for estradiol). It also has weak affinity for the androgen receptor in vitro (IC50 = 277 nM relative to 15 nM for dihydrotestosterone), but doesn't appear to activate the receptor. 17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol may produce 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol and 5α-dihydroethisterone (5α-dihydro-17α-ethynyltestosterone) as active metabolites in vivo. In accordance with its in-vitro estrogenic activity, 17α-ethynyl-3β-androstanediol produces estrogenic effects like uterotrophy and testicular atrophy in animals.


17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol
17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol is a positional isomer of 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol, and is a metabolite of this compound in vivo via metabolic inversion of the position of the C3 hydroxyl group. It may be involved in the biological activity of 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol.


17α-Ethynyl-3β-androstanediol
Analogues of 17α-ethynyl-3β-androstanediol include 17α-ethynyl-3α-androstanediol, ethinylandrostenediol (17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol), ethandrostate (17α-ethynyl-5-androstenediol 3β-cyclohexanepropionate), ethinylestradiol (17α-ethynylestradiol), ethisterone (17α-ethynyltestosterone), and 5α-dihydroethisterone (17α-ethynyldihydrotestosterone).


17α-Hydroxypregnenolone
17α-Hydroxypregnenolone is a pregnane (C21) steroid that is obtained by hydroxylation of pregnenolone at the C17α position. This step is performed by the mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzyme 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1)  that is present in the adrenal and gonads. Peak levels are reached in humans at the end of puberty and then decline. High levels are also achieved during pregnancy. It is also a known neuromodulator.


17α-Hydroxypregnenolone, Prohormone
17α-Hydroxypregnenolone  is considered a prohormone in the formation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), itself a prohormone of the sex steroids.


17α-Hydroxypregnenolone, Prohormone
This conversion is mediated by the enzyme 17,20 lyase. As such 17α-hydroxypregenolone represents an intermediary in the Δ5 pathway that leads from pregnenolone to DHEA. 17α-Hydroxypregneolone is also converted to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, a prohormone for glucocorticosteroids and androstenedione through the activity of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.


17α-Hydroxypregnenolone, Clinical use
Measurements of 17α-hydroxypregnenolone are useful in the diagnosis of certain forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency 17α-hydroxypregnenolone is increased, while in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 17α-hydroxylase deficiency levels are low to absent.


17α-Hydroxypregnenolone, Neurosteroid
17α-hydroxypregnenolone is a known neuromodulator as its acts in the central nervous system. Specifically, it is known to modulate locomotion.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone
17α-Hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP), also known as 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP), or hydroxyprogesterone (OHP), is an endogenous progestogen steroid hormone related to progesterone. It is also a chemical intermediate in the biosynthesis of many other endogenous steroids, including androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids, as well as neurosteroids.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Biological activity
17α-OHP is an agonist of the progesterone receptor (PR) similarly to progesterone, albeit weakly in comparison. In addition, it is an antagonist of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) as well as a partial agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), albeit with very low potency (EC50 >100-fold less relative to cortisol) at the latter site, also similarly to progesterone.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Biochemistry, Biosynthesis
17α-OHP is derived from progesterone via 17α-hydroxylase (encoded by CYP17A1)


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Biochemistry, Biosynthesis
17α-OHP increases in the third trimester of pregnancy primarily due to fetal adrenal production.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Biochemistry, Biosynthesis
This steroid is primarily produced in the adrenal glands and to some degree in the gonads, specifically the corpus luteum of the ovary. Normal levels are 3-90 ng/dl in children, and in women, 20-100 ng/dl prior to ovulation, and 100-500 ng/dl during the luteal phase.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Biochemistry, Measurement
Measurements of levels of 17α-OHP are useful in the evaluation of patients with suspected congenital adrenal hyperplasia as the typical enzymes that are defective, namely 21-hydroxylase and 11β-hydroxylase, lead to a build-up of 17α-OHP. In contrast, the rare patient with 17α-hydroxylase deficiency will have very low or undetectable levels of 17α-OHP. 17α-OHP levels can also be used to measure contribution of progestational activity of the corpus luteum during pregnancy as progesterone but note, 17α-OHP is also contributed by the placenta.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Biochemistry, Measurement
Immunoassays like RIA (radioimmunoassay) or IRMA (immunoradiometricassay) used to clinically determine 17α-OHP are prone to cross-reactivity with the 17α-OHP steroid precursors and their sulphated conjugates. Gas or liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (e.g. LC-MS/MS) achieves greater specificity than immunoassays.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Biochemistry, Measurement
Measurement of 17α-OHP by LC-MS/MS improves newborn screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, because 17α-OHP steroid precursors and their sulphated conjugates which are present in the first two days after birth and longer in pre-term neonates, cross-react in immunoassays with 17α-OHP, giving falsely high 17α-OHP levels.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics
Although 17α-OHP has not been used as a medication, its pharmacokinetics have been studied and reviewed.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Medical uses
Esters of 17α-OHP, such as hydroxyprogesterone caproate and, to a far lesser extent, hydroxyprogesterone acetate and hydroxyprogesterone heptanoate, have been used in medicine as progestins. When "hydroxyprogesterone" is referenced from the standpoint of medical use, what is usually being referred to is actually, in general, hydroxyprogesterone caproate.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Chemistry
17α-OHP, also known as 17α-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, is a naturally occurring pregnane steroid. It features ketone groups at the C3 and C20 positions, a hydroxyl group at the C17α position, and a double bond between the C4 and C5 positions.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Chemistry
17α-OHP is the parent compound of a class of progestins referred to as the 17α-hydroxyprogesterone derivatives. Among others, this class of drugs includes chlormadinone acetate, cyproterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and megestrol acetate.


17α-Hydroxyprogesterone, Society and culture, Generic names
Hydroxyprogesterone is the generic name of 17α-OHP and its INN and BAN.


17α-Methyl-19-norprogesterone
17α-Methyl-19-norprogesterone (developmental code name H-3510), also known as 17α-methyl-19-norpregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, is a progestin which was never marketed. It is a derivative of progesterone, and is the combined derivative of 17α-methylprogesterone and 19-norprogesterone. The drug is the parent compound of a subgroup of the 19-norprogesterone group of progestins, which includes demegestone (the δ9 derivative), promegestone (the δ9 and 21-methyl derivative), and trimegestone (the δ9, 21-methyl, and 21-hydroxyl derivative).


17α-Methylprogesterone
17α-Methylprogesterone (17α-MP), or 17α-methylpregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, is a steroidal progestin related to progesterone that was synthesized and characterized in 1949 but was never marketed. Along with ethisterone (1938) and 19-norprogesterone (1951), 17α-MP was one of the earliest derivatives of progesterone to be identified as possessing progestogenic activity. Similarly to progesterone and derivatives like 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and 19-norprogesterone, 17α-MP was found to possess poor (though not negligible) oral bioavailability, but showed improved progestogenic activity relative to progesterone when administered via other routes (e.g., subcutaneous or vaginal). In addition to its activity as a progestogen, 17α-MP has also been found to possess some antiglucocorticoid activity.


17α-Methylprogesterone
The observation of two-fold improved potency of 17α-MP relative to progesterone led to renewed interest in 17α-substituted derivatives of progesterone. Subsequently, hydroxyprogesterone acetate and hydroxyprogesterone caproate were synthesized in 1953 and introduced in 1956 and 1957, respectively, and medroxyprogesterone acetate was discovered in 1957 and introduced in 1959. In addition, though 17α-MP itself was never introduced for medical use, progestogen derivatives of the compound, including medrogestone (1966) and the 19-norprogesterone derivatives demegestone (1974), promegestone (1983), and trimegestone (2001), have been marketed.


17β-Aminoestrogen
17β-Aminoestrogens are a group of synthetic, steroidal estrogens derived from estradiol which have an amine substitution in place of the hydroxyl group at the C17β position. They are estrogenic similarly, but, unlike estradiol, show sustained anticoagulant activity that appears to be mediated by non-genomic mechanisms. As such, it is thought that they may have a reduced risk of venous thromboembolism. The 17β-aminoestrogens include the base or parent estrogen aminoestradiol (AE2) and the extended-chain derivatives butolame, hexolame, pentolame, prodiame, and prolame. They are a homologous series of steroids.


17β-Dihydroequilenin
17β-Dihydroequilenin, or β-dihydroequilenin, also known as δ6,8-17β-estradiol or 6,8-didehydro-17β-estradiol, as well as estra-1,3,5(10),6,8-pentaen-3,17β-diol, is a naturally occurring steroidal estrogen found in horses which is closely related to equilin, equilenin, and estradiol, and, as the 3-sulfate ester sodium salt, is a minor constituent (0.5%) of conjugated estrogens (Premarin). 17β-Dihydroequilenin has unexpectedly shown a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)-like profile of estrogenic activity in studies with monkeys, in which beneficial effects on bone and the cardiovascular system were noted but proliferative responses in breast and endometrium were not observed.


17β-Dihydroequilin
17β-Dihydroequilin is a naturally occurring estrogen sex hormone found in horses as well as a medication. As the C3 sulfate ester sodium salt, it is a minor constituent (1.7%) of conjugated estrogens (CEEs; brand name Premarin). However, as equilin, with equilin sulfate being a major component of CEEs, is transformed into 17β-dihydroequilin in the body, analogously to the conversion of estrone into estradiol, 17β-dihydroequilin is, along with estradiol, the most important estrogen responsible for the effects of CEEs.


17β-Dihydroequilin, Pharmacology, Pharmacodynamics
17β-Dihydroequilin is an estrogen, or an agonist of the estrogen receptors (ERs), the ERα and ERβ. In terms of relative binding affinity for the ERs, 17β-dihydroequilin has about 113% and 108% of that of estradiol for the ERα and ERβ, respectively. 17β-Dihydroequilin has about 83% of the relative potency of CEEs in the vagina and 200% of the relative potency of CEEs in the uterus. Of the equine estrogens, it shows the highest estrogenic activity and greatest estrogenic potency.


17β-Dihydroequilin, Pharmacology, Pharmacodynamics
Like CEEs as a whole, 17β-dihydroequilin has disproportionate effects in certain tissues such as the liver and uterus. Equilin, the second major component of conjugated estrogens after estrone, is reversibly transformed into 17β-dihydroequilin analogously to the transformation of estrone into estradiol. However, whereas the balance of mutual interconversion of estrone and estradiol is largely shifted in the direction of estrone, it is nearly equal in the case of equilin and 17β-dihydroequilin. As such, although 17β-dihydroequilin is only a minor constituent of CEEs, it is, along with estradiol, the most important estrogen relevant to the estrogenic activity of the medication.


17β-Dihydroequilin, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics
17β-Dihydroequilin has about 30% of the relative binding affinity of testosterone for sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), relative to 50% for estradiol. The metabolic clearance rate of 17β-dihydroequilin is 1,250 L/day/m2, relative to 580 L/day/m2 for estradiol.


17β-Dihydroequilin, Chemistry
17β-Dihydroequilin, or simply β-dihydroequilin, also known as δ7-17β-estradiol or as 7-dehydro-17β-estradiol, as well as estra-1,3,5(10),7-tetraen-3,17β-diol, is a naturally occurring estrane steroid and an analogue of estradiol. In terms of chemical structure and pharmacology, equilin (δ7-estrone) is to 17β-dihydroequilin as estrone is to estradiol.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSD, HSD17B) (EC ), also 17-ketosteroid reductases (17-KSR), are a group of alcohol oxidoreductases which catalyze the reduction of 17-ketosteroids and the dehydrogenation of 17β-hydroxysteroids in steroidogenesis and steroid metabolism. This includes interconversion of DHEA and androstenediol, androstenedione and testosterone, and estrone and estradiol.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
The major reactions catalyzed by 17β-HSD (e.g., the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone) are in fact hydrogenation (reduction) rather than dehydrogenation (oxidation) reactions.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, Reactions
17β-HSDs have been known to catalyze the following redox reactions of sex steroids:


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, Genes
At least 7 of the 14 isoforms of 17β-HSD are involved in interconversion of 17-ketosteroids and 17β-hydroxysteroids.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, Clinical significance
Mutations in HSD17B3 are responsible for 17β-HSD type III deficiency.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, Clinical significance
Inhibitors of 17β-HSD type II are of interest for the potential treatment of osteoporosis.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, Clinical significance
Some inhibitors of 17β-HSD type I have been identified, for example esters of cinnamic acid and various flavones (e.g. fisetin).


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency
17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of sexual development condition that is a cause of 46,XY disorder of sex development (46,XY DSD). The impaired  testosterone biosynthesis by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III (17β-HSD III), presents as atypical genitalia in affected males.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Signs and symptoms
17-β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency is a cause of 46,XY disorder of sex development (46,XY DSD) that presents in males with variable effects on genitalia which can be complete or predominantly female with a blind vaginal pouch. Testes are often found in the inguinal canal or in a bifid scrotum. Wolffian derivatives including the epididymides, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, and ejaculatory ducts are present.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Signs and symptoms
The autosomal recessive deficiency arises are a result of homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations mutations in HSD17B3 gene which encodes the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III enzyme, impairing of the conversion of 17-keto into 17-hydroxysteroids. The enzyme is involved in the last phase of steroidogenesis and is responsible for the  conversion of androstenedione to testosterone and estrone to estradiol. Virilization of affected males still occurs at puberty.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Genetics
17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency is caused by mutations found in the 17β-HSD III (17BHSD3) gene.17β-HSD III deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Biochemistry
Androstenedione is produced in the testis, as well as the adrenal cortex. Androstenedione is created from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or 17-hydroxyprogesterone.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Biochemistry
A deficiency in the HSD17B3 gene is characterized biochemically by decreased levels of testosterone and increased levels of androstenedione as a result of the defect in conversion of androstenedione into testosterone. This leads to a clinically important higher ratio of androstenedione to testosterone.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Diagnosis
In terms of the diagnosis of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency the following should be taken into account:


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Management
The 2006 Consensus statement on the management of intersex disorders states that individuals with 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency have an intermediate risk of germ cell malignancy, at 28%, recommending that gonads be monitored. A 2010 review put the risk of germ cell tumors at 17%.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Management
The management of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency can consist, according to one source, of the elimination of gonads prior to puberty, in turn halting masculinization.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Management
Hewitt and Warne state that, children with 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency who are raised as girls often later identify as male, describing a "well known, spontaneous change of gender identity from female to male" that "occurs after the onset of puberty." A 2005 systematic review of gender role change identified the rate of gender role change as occurring in 39–64% of individuals with 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency raised as girls.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Society and culture
Modification of children's sex characteristics to meet social and medical norms is strongly contested, with numerous statements by civil society organizations and human rights institutions condemning such interventions, including describing them as harmful practices.


17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase III deficiency, Society and culture, The case of Carla
A 2016 case before the Family Court of Australia was widely reported in national, and international media. The judge ruled that parents were able to authorize the sterilization of their 5-year-old child reported only as "Carla". The child had previously been subjected to intersex medical interventions including a clitorectomy and labiaplasty, without requiring Court oversight - these were described by the judge as surgeries that "enhanced the appearance of her female genitalia". Organisation Intersex International Australia found this "disturbing", and stated that the case was reliant on gender stereotyping and failed to take account of data on cancer risks.


17β-Methyl-17α-dihydroequilenin
17β-Methyl-17α-dihydroequilenin (developmental code name NCI-122), also known as 17β-methyl-6,8-didehydro-17α-estradiol, is a synthetic steroidal estrogen which was never marketed. It is the C17β methylated derivative of 17α-dihydroequilenin, an equine estrogen and constituent of conjugated estrogens (Premarin). 17α-Dihydroequilenin itself is an analogue of 17α-estradiol, the C17 epimer of estradiol (or 17β-estradiol). NCI-122 has respective relative binding affinities of about 8.1% and 16% for the ERα and ERβ when compared to estradiol. It is far less potent as an estrogen in comparison to estradiol, with relative estrogenic potencies at the ERα and ERβ of 1.4% and 0.81%, respectively. Nonetheless, NCI-122 acts as a full agonist of the ERα (ERβ was not assessed) and has estrogenic activity similar to that of estradiol at sufficiently high concentrations. The mechanisms of the lower potency of NCI-122 and related estrogens (e.g., 17α-estradiol and equilenin) relative to estradiol have been studied.


18 (British Board of Film Classification)
The 18 certificate is issued by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), to state that in its opinion, a film, video recording, or game is suitable only for persons aged 18 years and over. It recommends that no one below that age should be admitted to view a film with an 18 certificate in a cinema, and that 18-rated video recordings should not be sold or rented to anyone below that age.


18 (British Board of Film Classification)
As with other British film certificates, the 18 certificate theoretically only has advisory power for films shown in public cinemas, with the ultimate say being held by local authorities. In practice, the local authorities tend to follow BBFC rulings in all but a few exceptional cases.


18 (British Board of Film Classification)
For video and game sales, the BBFC rulings have statutory power, as under the terms of the 1984 Video Recordings Act all videos sold or distributed within the UK must be given a certificate by the BBFC, unless they fall into one of a number of exempt categories. Uncertificated recordings which are not exempt cannot legally be sold, regardless of content.


18 (British Board of Film Classification)
The 18 certificate was created in 1982 as the successor of the previous X certificate, which in turn was the successor of the H certificate (with H standing for "horror"). See History of British Film Certificates for more details.


18 (British Board of Film Classification)
Typical reasons for restricting films to the 18 certificate category have included hard drug use, supernatural horror, sexually explicit scenes, graphic violence, sadistic violence and sexual violence — the latter two of which have in the past led to a certificate not being issued at all, in effect banning the film in the UK.


18 (British Board of Film Classification)
It was only around the start of the 21st century that the censors passed films with explicit ('hardcore') sexual acts despite the 18 certificate existing for many years.


18 (British Board of Film Classification)
It is also issued by the Irish Film Classification Office.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
Until recently, 18 certificate films could not contain the depiction of actual sex acts, which more recently could only appear in films with an R18 certificate (when created in 1982 only simulated acts could be shown under an R18, but this was relaxed after legal challenges in 2000). Although the BBFC allowed the depiction of simulated sex scenes in 18 certificate films, actual sexual acts were still not allowed to be depicted in 18 certificate films until around 1999.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
This precedent appears to have been set when the BBFC granted 18 certificates for films containing short scenes of unsimulated sex, such as Catherine Breillat's Romance (1999) and Patrice Chéreau's Intimacy (2001). In October 2004, a new precedent appeared to be set when the BBFC granted an 18 certificate for Michael Winterbottom's film 9 Songs, which featured a number of lengthy explicit scenes of unsimulated sex. This was followed by certificates for Shortbus and Destricted. In the statement justifying the latter decision, it was stated that there is no limit to the number of images that can be considered to be justified.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
In 2004, the board was also challenged by some pornographic video distributors to award 18 certificates to material otherwise falling under the R18 guidelines. This could have greatly diminished the role of the R18 certificate but failed. This means there continues to be a form of artistic merit test requiring the work to be judged non-pornographic and the scenes in question "exceptionally justified by context" for a mainstream release.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
In its 2009 report (available on its website), the BBFC updated its standards stating that:"When it comes to sex in films for adults, the Board's policy is that explicit images of real sex should be confined to the ‘R18’ category, unless such images can be justified by their context. However, contextual justification is irrelevant if the primary purpose of the work is sexual arousal or stimulation (i.e. a sex work). Under the new Guidelines, the contextual justification for explicit images of real sex at ‘18’ no longer needs to be ‘exceptional’."


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
The main difference between this new policy and previous years' policies is that contextual justification for images of real sex no longer needs to be "exceptional" in an 18 rated work.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
In its 2010 report (available on its website), the BBFC updated its standards again stating that:"As in previous years, the Board's policy remains that explicit images of real sex should be confined to the ‘R18’ category unless such images can be justified by their context. Contextual justification, however, has less weight if the primary purpose of the work is sexual arousal or stimulation (i.e. a sex work)."


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
The main difference between this new policy and previous years' policies is that contextual justification for images of real sex is no longer irrelevant if the primary purpose of the work is sexual arousal or stimulation; instead, it merely reduces the amount of justification that context can provide.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
In a sex work, any explicit and non-obscured sight of vaginal or anal penetration by any object whatsoever; any contact between the lips or tongue and genital/anal area; and ejaculation usually requires an R18. Any sight of a liquid resembling semen is also usually restricted to R18, even if the ejaculation is not visible: images of liquid splashing onto faces, breasts or being swallowed have been censored from 18 certificate films. The R18 versions contained these images unaltered.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Sex and the 18 certificate
Further reasons for R18, as opposed to 18, include vigorous and/or extensive genital touching (brief genital touching may be passed "18"), implied triple penetration, extreme close-ups of spread female genitals or anuses (erections are now permissible at 18 however), and certain fetish material, especially urination and potentially dangerous sadomasochistic activities. However, under the new 2010 guidelines, explicit images of real sex can be passed 18 in a sex work provided there is exceptional justifying context.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Violence, horror, and the 18 certificate
In the past, violence was one of the more problematic aspects when passing a film with an 18 certificate, whether it was sexualised or fantasised violence. Horror films were often the culprits for depicting graphic violence and this often resulted in criticism of the examiners. Particularly violent scenes must be removed before a certificate is awarded. With the advent of home video, films that were cut in the cinemas could be released uncut on video. This led to a moral panic concerning "video nasties" as coined by tabloid newspapers.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Violence, horror, and the 18 certificate
The government passed the Video Recordings Act 1984 which meant all videos offered for sale must be assigned a classification agreed upon by an authority designated by the Home Office, which was the BBFC. As a result of this, many films previously cut for cinema (such as The Evil Dead and Dawn of the Dead) had to be cut further in order to get a legal release on video.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Violence, horror, and the 18 certificate
In recent times, the BBFC has been more lenient towards fantasised violence, and so former 'video nasties' have since passed uncut. Current concerns include content such as "any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts which is likely to promote the activity", and sexualised violence. The BBFC also takes into account whether the scenes are considered to glamorise sexual assault. In 2002, the board passed Gaspar Noé's Irréversible without any cuts. It said that the rape depicted in the film does not contain any explicit sexual images and is not designed to titillate. Less than a month later, Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer had to be cut by three minutes and twenty-five seconds due to sexual violence. In this case, the scenes were felt to be potentially glamourising assault.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Violence, horror, and the 18 certificate
Another example of cuts for sexual violence, as well as child protection issues, is A Serbian Film, a horror film about a retired porn star lured back into performing. Over four minutes of cuts were required, primarily to remove material involving children in sexual and sexually violent scenarios. The initially banned 1980 Italian film Cannibal Holocaust had five minutes and forty-four seconds of cuts to scenes of sexual violence and actual animal cruelty on its first submission in 2001, reduced to only a single cut of three seconds in 2011.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Violence, horror, and the 18 certificate
References or scenes of suicide or dangerous stunts, which can be easily imitated by youth, can lead to a DVD being given an 18 certificate. Volume 3 of the anime Paranoia Agent (which is normally rated 12 or 15) is rated 18 because of suicide references and violence, mostly in the episode "Happy Family Planning", which made light of suicide and featured a scene of someone pretending to hang himself, a scene which was edited by the BBFC.


18 (British Board of Film Classification), Violence, horror, and the 18 certificate
An episode of House titled "Under My Skin" became the first and only one to be passed with an 18 certificate due to scenes depicting a suicide technique that can easily be imitated in real life. Most of the Jackass films are also given an 18 certificate because of dangerous and imitable stunts.


18 (Moby album)
18 is the sixth studio album by American electronica musician, songwriter, and producer Moby. It was released on May 13, 2002 by Mute Records in the UK and on May 14, 2002 by V2 Records in the US. After the unexpected commercial and critical success of his previous album, Play (1999), Moby started to write songs for a follow-up during its supporting tour. He started work on the album at its conclusion in December 2000, using fewer samples than before. Guest vocalists include Azure Ray, MC Lyte, Angie Stone, and Sinéad O'Connor.


18 (Moby album)
Following its release, 18 went to number one in 12 countries, including the UK, and reached number 4 in the US. The album went on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide. 18 B Sides + DVD, a collection of the album's B-sides and live video footage, was released a year later.


18 (Moby album), Background
In December 2000, Moby finished his world tour in support of his previous studio album, Play (1999), which had lasted for 21 consecutive months. He wanted to start on a follow-up as soon as it was over, by which time he had already recorded ideas for some new songs. This process was under way in the spring of 2001, with Moby using a Power Macintosh G3 and G4 to write and record with Pro Tools. He felt no pressure in delivering an album that matched the commercial success of Play, but an "artistic pressure" to make a record that he and others could enjoy.


18 (Moby album), Background
Prior to starting on 18, Moby had friends in New York City, Los Angeles, and London search through local record shops for albums that contained strong vocals that he could use to sample from and write songs based on them, a technique he had used for Play. He received several hundred and from them, clipped vocal lines, often two or three words long, that caught his interest. From there, he played different chords on his piano that suited the part to build an outline for a song. He then stored the records in his cabinets.


18 (Moby album), Background
Moby composed the album in batches, transferring songs onto a CD and sending them to his management and the A&R representative at V2 with labels such as "Moby Ideas 2, August 2001" or "Moby Demos 3". After 10 months Moby had sent 35 discs comprising over 140 songs, which promoted ideas of making 18 a triple album, but his friends and management advised against it. There were arguments between Moby and V2 over the use of vocal samples on 18, and V2 believed that a follow-up album that sounded like Play was going to attract criticism.


18 (Moby album), Background
Moby named the album after the number of tracks that he put on it, and his fondness towards the idea of the title being easily translated and known as something different in other countries. He pointed out that there are some "really esoteric reasons" for the title, but did not mention them. On his website, Moby hinted that those who had visited Israel and are familiar with conspiracy theories regarding extra-terrestrials may spot its significance. He said that Play and 18 were structured around the same motivation: "The desire to make compassionate records that meet a need in someone else's life."


18 (Moby album), Background
By the time of the September 11 attacks in New York City, the album was almost recorded and finished. Following the incident, Moby made alterations to "Sleep Alone" as he found some of its lyrics "too prescient"; the line "Pieces of fire touch your hair" became "Pieces of light". Moby had written "Harbour" in 1984, at nineteen years of age; Sinead O'Connor was surprised upon learning this, as she initially thought the song related to pre- and post-September 11 events. O'Connor was too afraid to fly to New York City to record her vocals at the time, so she used a studio in London.


18 (Moby album), Background
Prior to the album's release, V2 Records avoided to send advance copies to soundtrack supervisors. As Play had gained momentum after it was licensed to television and film productions, the label did not rule out the possibility of licensing tracks from 18 but wanted to hold out from doing so until the official launch.


18 (Moby album), Critical reception
18 received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five, writing that, "Moby not only creates a shimmering, reflective mood from the outset, but [that] he sustains it throughout the 18 songs, as the album shifts from pop and soul songs to soaring instrumental stretches letting the sound deepen and change colors with each new track."


18 (Moby album), Certifications
* Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.


18 (Nana Kitade album)
18: Eighteen is the debut studio album by Nana Kitade. It was originally released August 24, 2005 in Japan. The album peaked at #16 on the Oricon chart and charted for five weeks. On September 7, Kitade held a special one-man live show, which was titled Nana Kitade Live Showcase '18: Eighteen', in Shibuya-Ax. First press editions of the album included a ticket to the live show and handshake event. On December 7, she released a DVD called Nana Kitade: 18Movies. The DVD consists of all her music videos up until this point, clips from her one-man live show, commercials for her releases, and a studio recording of "Kesenai Tsumi". The album was released in the United States on July 11, 2006 through Tofu Records due to increased popularity overseas.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment
18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment is a regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army that provides Communications and Information Systems (CIS) support to the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF). The regiment is under the operational command of the Director Special Forces and includes signal squadrons from both the Royal Corps of Signals and the Royal Navy.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, History
The regiment traces its lineage to 18 Signal Regiment formed in 1959 in Singapore as part of the Far East Land Forces (FARELF) which was disbanded on 1 December 1971.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, History
The 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment was secretly established in April 2005 at the same time as the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR). The establishment of the SRR was announced by the Secretary of State for Defence in the House of Commons. The regiment was formed around the existing communication capabilities of the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS), namely 264 (SAS) Signal Squadron based at Stirling Lines, Herefordshire, SBS Signal Squadron based at RM Poole, Dorset and 63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (V) of the Territorial Army (now known as Army Reserve).


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, History
264 (SAS) Signal Squadron was formed in July 1966 to support 22 SAS and traces its lineage to a signal troop formed in 1951 for the Malayan Scouts. 63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (V) was formed on 1 April 1967 to support 21 SAS and 23 SAS from elements of 41 Signal Regiment, 63 Signal Regiment, 327 Signal Squadron and 115 Field Squadron Royal Engineers.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, History
The regiment also incorporated 267 (SRR) Signal Squadron to support the SRR and a new squadron 268 (UKSF) Signal Squadron. 267 Signal Squadron had been formed on 18 December 1987. 268 (UKSF) Signal Squadron incorporated the strategic communications element from 264 (SAS) Signal Squadron which provided long range strategic communications. 63 (SAS) Signal Squadron (R) was re-designated as 63 (UKSF) Signal Squadron circa 2014.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, Capbadge
The regimental cap badge endorsed on 18 August 2020 is a Xiphos sword and three signal flashes representing the three supported regiments: SAS, SBS and SRR.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, Role
The regiment is tasked to deliver the "military CIS capability to enable UK Special Forces operations worldwide in support of Government, Foreign, Security and Defence Policy" with operators providing close support to the SAS, the SBS and the SRR.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, Role
The regiment served in Afghanistan and Iraq with several operators killed on special forces operations.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, Selection and training
Regular members of all three services of the Armed Forces and members from the Army Reserve are eligible to apply to join the regiment.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, Selection and training
An applicant is required to successfully pass a 5 day Briefing Course and then successfully complete a 25 week UK Special Forces Communicators Course (UKSFCC) to become a Special Forces Communicator (SFC). Prior to attempting the UKSFCC, applicants have the option of attending a 3 week SFC Preparation Course.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, Selection and training
The Special Forces Communicators Course consists of six phases: technical trade assessment, general support communications, physical aptitude, close support communications, conduct after capture, military training and special forces parachute training.


18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, Selection and training
Applicants for reserve service in 63 (UKSF) Signal Squadron have to successfully pass an Assessment Course conducted over three weekends and then complete a two week Royal Signals Communications Training course to be eligible to be accepted as Fit for Appointment to the squadron. The applicant is then posted to the squadron to carry out a probationary year completing mandatory courses and a two week training exercise to achieve Fit for Mobilisation.


18 (film)
18 is a 1993 Taiwanese experimental film directed by Ho Ping, written by Ho Ping and Kuo Cheng, based on Kuo Cheng's 1991 short story "God's Dice" (上帝的骰子).


18 (film)
The title refers to a popular Taiwanese gambling game played with 4 dice in a rice bowl, with the highest combination (called "18") containing 2 sixes and 2 of any identical number not six (i.e. 1166, 2266, 3366, 4466, and 5566).


18 (film), Awards and nominations
The film won International Federation of Film Critics Prize during the 1993 Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Thessaloniki, Greece.


18 (number)
18 (eighteen) is the natural number following 17 and preceding 19.


18 (number), Age 18
In most countries, 18 is the age of majority, in which a minor becomes a legal adult. It is also the voting age, marriageable age, drinking age and smoking age in most countries, though sometimes these ages are different than the age of majority.


18 Again
18 Again (Korean: 18 어게인; RR: 18 Eogein) is a South Korean television series based on the 2009 film 17 Again by Jason Filardi. Starring Kim Ha-neul, Yoon Sang-hyun and Lee Do-hyun, it aired on JTBC from September 21 to November 10, 2020, every Monday and Tuesday at 21:35 (KST). The series is available on Netflix, iQIYI and Viu with multi-language subtitles.


18 Again, Synopsis
Jung Da-jung (Kim Ha-neul) and Hong Dae-young (Yoon Sang-hyun) are married and have a set of fraternal twins, Hong Shi-ah (Roh Jeong-eui) and Hong Shi-woo (Ryeoun). At first, they have a perfectly happy marriage despite having children at a very young age and having financial problems. Years later, their happy marriage starts crumbling when 37-year-old Da-jung files for divorce and their 18-year-old twins start ignoring Dae-young, except for pocket money. Furthermore, Dae-young's life turns more miserable when he loses his job, after his boss promotes his nephew who has worked in the company for only 4 years, while relocating Dae-young to Busan.


18 Again, Synopsis
Wishing he could go back in time and fix his life, Dae-young's 37-year-old body miraculously morphs into the body he had when he was 18 years old (Lee Do-hyun) but retains his 37-year-old mentality. He starts living a new life under his alias "Go Woo-young" and attends Serim High School, which is his twins' school, and also the school he and Da-jung attended 18 years ago.


18 Again, Synopsis
During Dae-young's life as the 18-year-old Go Woo-young, he learns that his daughter Shi-ah is working part-time in a convenience store without his permission and his son Shi-woo is being abused at school by basketball captain Goo Ja-sung (Hwang In-yeop). Dae-young also learns about his son's interest and talent in basketball that Shi-woo always hides from him. Dae-young eventually realizes the true reason behind his family's crumbling bond and gets to know more about his twins. He resolves to use this chance to protect his kids by befriending them and to do his best to be more present to the family despite his appearance as an 18-year-old boy.


18 Again, Production
The series adaptation is directed by Ha Byung-hoon, who also helmed the similarly themed romantic fantasy drama Confession Couple in 2017.


18 Again, Production
18 Again was originally scheduled to premiere on September 7, 2020, but it was postponed by two weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


18 Again, Original soundtrack, 18 Again: OST Special Album
The drama's soundtrack is compiled in a two-part album released on 10 November 2020. CD 1 and CD 2 contain the drama's theme songs and musical score, respectively.


18 Again!
18 Again! is a 1988 American fantasy-comedy film directed by Paul Flaherty and starring George Burns and Charlie Schlatter. The plot involves a college student switching souls with his grandfather by means of an accident. The film is based on the song "I Wish I Was Eighteen Again" written by Sonny Throckmorton and recorded by Burns in 1980.


18 Again!, Plot
Jack Watson is a millionaire playboy and businessman who is about to turn 81 years old just as his grandson David is about to turn 18, but Jack laments his old age and wishes to get back to his teens once more. When an accident switches their souls, Jack gets to live his grandson's life and all that it entails: school, sports, and romance. Unfortunately, David gets the "short end of the deal", as not only is he trapped in his grandfather's 81-year-old body, but he is also in a coma. The only one who knows the truth is his longtime friend Charlie, whom Jack was able to convince by recounting experiences only they knew.


18 Again!, Plot
Jack gets to approach his family from a fresh point of view and doesn't always like what he sees: he's been a distant parent for his son Arnie and has repeatedly disregarded his ideas for improving the family company. The college fraternity that he coerced David into joining (his old alma mater) is bullying him on a regular basis and forcing him to write their test finals for them. He also finds out that his girlfriend Madeline is unfaithful when she tries to seduce him, thinking he's Jack's grandson.


18 Again!, Plot
Deciding to set things right, Jack in David's body decides to take charge by convincing his father (or rather, Jack's son) to implement his ideas on the family business and uses his poker playing skills to beat the frat boys while betting $1000 that he will beat the lead frat boy Russ in the upcoming track meet. Jack also impresses a girl named Robin, who is taken with David's old-fashioned style with bow ties and his vividly recounting the Second World War and meeting President Harry S. Truman.


18 Again!, Plot
However, Jack realizes too late that he has willed half of everything to Madeline, who convinces Arnie and his wife to disconnect Jack's 81-year-old body from life support. Knowing that this will kill David, Jack and Charlie rush to the hospital to prevent this, wheeling Jack's body away from an orderly. When they crash in the hospital chapel, Jack and David's minds are returned to their rightful bodies, and Jack awakens. Jack still has unfinished business, as in David's body he challenged the fraternity president to a race, and now David must face him.


18 Again!, Plot
Jack gives David a pep talk, and David beats the frat president. Jack then encourages David to pursue an interested Robin. In private, Jack tells Arnie that his greatest mistake was trying to get him and David to relive his own life, and encourages Arnie to nurture David's interest in art, which Jack will do as well by getting David involved in the graphic design aspect of the family business.


18 Again!, Plot
Finally, Jack confronts Madeline by saying he knows that she made a pass at David and is well aware that she is a gold digger only interested in his bank account. He throws her out of the house and lets her know that he has rewritten his will to include his family and his faithful butler Horton, whom he promptly orders to have Madeline thrown out. Robin and David start their relationship, and the movie finishes with Jack telling David everything about Harry S. Truman.


18 Again!, Reception
Roger Ebert gives the film a score of 1 and a half out of 4. He compares it to Like Father Like Son and Vice Versa, calling Vice Versa the best of the three, by far. He stated, "The whole project seems to have been enveloped in a miasma of good intentions and heartwarming sentiments. There’s no edge, no bite and none of the inspired body language that made 'Vice Versa' so special.


18 Again!, Reception
The movie makes no attempt to really imagine what it would be like to inhabit another body; it just springs the gimmick on us and starts unreeling its sitcom plot. Although Burns is, of course, a beloved institution, and any opportunity to see him is welcome, he is not given much to do in the movie, and he doesn’t do much with it... No real effort has been made to find any differences between Burns and the character he plays in this movie."


18 Again!, Reception
Janet Maslin was critical of the film for leaving George Burns in a coma when he is who the audience came to see, and says that it "isn't successfully aimed at anyone in particular".


18 Again!, Reception
18 Again! currently holds a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on seven reviews.


18 Andromedae
18 Andromedae, abbreviated 18 And, is a single star in the northern constellation of Andromeda. 18 Andromedae is the Flamsteed designation. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.350. The annual parallax shift of 7.9 mas can be used to estimate a distance of 413 light years. It is moving further from the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of +10 km/s.


18 Andromedae
This is a B-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of B9 Ve, where the 'e' notation indicates this is a Be star. The stellar spectrum of 18 And displays an emission line in the hydrogen Brackett series due to a dense gaseous circumstellar envelope. The star is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 183 km/s and has about three times the mass of the Sun. It is radiating 147 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 10,351 K.


18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings
The 18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings were a series of attacks that occurred when five car bombs exploded across Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq, on 18 April 2007, killing nearly 200 people.


18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings
The attacks targeted mainly Shia locations and civilians. The Sadriya market had already been struck by a massive truck bombing on 3 February 2007 and was in the process of being rebuilt when the attack took place. The bombings were reminiscent of the level of violence before Operation Law and Order was implemented to secure the Iraqi capital in February 2007.


18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings
The attacks came as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that Iraqi forces would assume control of the country's security by the end of the year, and they also came as officials from more than 60 countries attended a UN conference in Geneva on the plight of Iraqi refugees.


18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings, Bombings
The first attack occurred when a bomb detonated on a minibus in the Risafi neighborhood of Baghdad, killing four people and wounding six. A parked car in the Karrada neighborhood exploded afterward, killing 11 and wounding 13.


18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings, Bombings
A suicide car bomber crashed his car into an Iraqi police checkpoint; the resulting explosion killed at least 41 people, including five Iraqi police officers, and wounded 76.


18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings, Bombings
One hour later, the deadliest attack was in the al-Sadriya market in central Baghdad, where a powerful car bomb killed at least 140 people and wounded 148, according to an Iraqi hospital official. The bomb was reportedly left in a parked car and exploded at about 1600 local time (1200 UTC) in the middle of a crowd of workers. The market was being rebuilt after it was destroyed by a bombing in February which killed more than 130 people.


18 April 2007 Baghdad bombings, Bombings
Later in the day another suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the Sadriya district of Baghdad killing two police officers and wounding eight.


18 April 2013 Baghdad bombing
On 18 April 2013, a suicide bombing in a Baghdad cafe killed 27 people and injured another 65. A suicide bomber set off his explosive belt inside the cafe on the evening of 18 April 2013. The establishment was packed with young people enjoying water pipes and playing pool.


18 April 2013 Baghdad bombing, Background
Violence in Iraq has decreased since its peak in 2006–07, but attacks remain common. Deaths rose in 2012 for the first time in three years.


18 April 2013 Baghdad bombing, Background
In the months leading up to the 20 April provincial elections, the first since the withdrawal of US forces in 2011, tensions were high in Iraq as Sunni groups claimed they were being marginalized by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite dominated government. A number of large scale attacks linked to the Sunni umbrella group Islamic State of Iraq were carried out in early 2013 in an attempt to destabilize the country ahead of the elections. At least fourteen election candidates have been murdered, while Anbar and Nineveh provinces have postponed elections because of security concerns. Four other provinces are not scheduled to hold elections on 20 April.


18 Aquarii
18 Aquarii is a single, yellow-white hued star in the equatorial constellation of Aquarius. The designation is from the catalogue of English astronomer John Flamsteed, first published in 1712. The star is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.49 and is located about 154 light-years (47 parsecs) from Earth.


18 Aquarii
This is an F-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of F0 V. It is an estimated 480 million years old and has a high rate of spin with a projected rotational velocity of 138 km/s. The star has 1.54 times the mass of the Sun and is radiating 11.8 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 7,194 K.


18 Aquilae
18 Aquilae (abbreviated 18 Aql) is a triple star system in the constellation of Aquila. 18 Aquilae is the Flamsteed designation; it also bears the variable star designation Y Aquilae. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 5.07. The distance to this system can be estimated from the annual parallax shift of 6.43 mas, yielding a value of around 510 light-years (160 parsecs) away from Earth.


18 Aquilae
The inner pair of stars in this system form a spectroscopic binary with a combined magnitude of 5.44 and an orbital period of 1.302 days. The primary component is a giant star with a stellar classification of B8 III. Because the orbital plane is inclined near the line of sight, two form an eclipsing binary system. The eclipse of the primary component causes a 0.04 drop in magnitude, while the eclipse of the secondary results in a decrease of 0.03. At an angular separation of 0.310 arcseconds is the magnitude 6.39 tertiary component. This system has a high peculiar velocity of 29.7 ± 3.9 km/s relative to the neighboring stars.


18 Aurigae
18 Aurigae is a star located 233 light years away from the Sun in the northern constellation of Auriga. The brightness of this object is near the limit of visibility to the naked eye under good viewing conditions, appearing as a dim, white-hued star with an apparent visual magnitude of 6.49. The star is moving away from the Sun with a heliocentric radial velocity of 7 km/s.


18 Aurigae
This is an ordinary A-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of A7 V, which indicates it is generating energy by hydrogen fusion at its core. The object is 950 million years old with a high rate of spin, showing a projected rotational velocity of 124 km/s. It has 1.7 times the mass of the Sun and 1.9 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 10 times the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 7,432 K.


18 Aurigae
18 Aurigae has a magnitude 12.50 companion star at an angular separation of 3.90″ along a position angle of 167°, as of 2006.


18 B Sides + DVD
18 B Sides + DVD is a compilation album by American electronica musician Moby. The album's first disc is a CD featuring nine B-sides from his 2002 album 18, as well as four new songs. The second disc is a DVD featuring a live concert at the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival on June 29, 2003, various outtakes and studio demos taken from the Play and 18 studio sessions, a megamix with eleven remixes of six different songs, and music videos for five singles from 18. The DVD also contains an additional non-musical feature entitled Highlights from Moby TV, consisting of several short skits.


18 B Sides + DVD
The compilation was released in the United States in a CD-style case, and was alternatively released in the United Kingdom in a DVD-style case under the title 18 DVD + B Sides.


18 B Sides + DVD, Personnel
Credits for 18 B Sides + DVD adapted from album liner notes.


18 BC
Year 18 BC was either a common year starting on Friday, Saturday or Sunday or a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar (the sources differ, see leap year error for further information) and a common year starting on Thursday of the Proleptic Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Lentulus (or, less frequently, year 736 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 18 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.


18 Boötis
18 Boötis is a single star in the northern constellation of Boötes, located about 85 light years away from the Sun. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, yellow-white hued star with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.41. This object is a suspected member of the Ursa Major Moving Group, based on velocity criteria. It has a magnitude 10.84 optical companion at an angular separation of 163.7″ along a position angle of 219°, as of 2010.


18 Boötis
This is an F-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of F3 V. Older surveys gave a class of F5 IV, showing the luminosity class of a subgiant star. It shows strong evidence for short-term chromospheric variability, although it is not optically variable.


18 Boötis
18 Boötis is an estimated 1.15 billion years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 40.5 km/s. It has 1.3 times the mass of the Sun and 1.4 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 3.9 times the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 6,731 K. An infrared excess has been detected that suggests a cold debris disk is orbiting 34.9 AU from the host star with a blackbody temperature fit of 65 K.


18 Bronzemen
18 Bronzemen is a 1976 Hong Kong kung fu film directed by Joseph Kuo. It is one of the Shaolin themed films, concerning their battles against the Qing Dynasty.


18 Bronzemen
A sequel, called Return of the 18 Bronzemen, followed and was released in the same year.


18 Bronzemen, Plot
The much-reviled Qing government decide to eradicate any opposition to their rulership by attacking pro-Ming families in the kingdom. One such attack sees an influential official killed, though his wife and son manage to escape thanks to the intervention of a close ally. While on the run, the son, Shaolung, is aided by his father's close friend (Jack Long) who teaches the young boy the basics of kung-fu. As time passes, the renegades must once again move on and evade capture by the Qing army.


18 Bronzemen, Plot
However, it is decided that the safest place for Shaolung to hide would be in the Ming-friendly Shaolin Temple where he could also further his knowledge of kung-fu. Once there, the boy finds the severe, disciplined lifestyle hard to cope with and, despite his best efforts, he lags behind his fellow pupils. Over time he does make a couple of close friends and it is their encouragement that drives him to reach his goals. Now a young man, Shaolung (Tien Peng) gradually develops into a formidable fighter and concentrates his sights on leaving Shaolin to avenge his father's death.


18 Bronzemen, Plot
However, to 'graduate' from Shaolin means to defeat the Shaolin bronzemen and a series of similarly fiendish tests. The first attempt to conquer these trials is unsuccessful, but Shaolung is spurred on by his straight-talking friend (Wong) and finally leaves through Shaolin's hallowed gates after a final tremendous effort. Once through the dreaded chambers, the Shaolin disciples will have the Shaolin crest of the dragon and tiger burnt into their forearms by lifting a huge bronze pot. Outside, our heroes meet up with more patriots.


18 Bronzemen, Plot
Shao Lung meets his uncle who tells him the true story of his past and gives him half of a royal seal,  the other half belonging to his (unknown) future wife. Once on his journey again his constantly stalked by a young "man" (actually a woman in disguise), Miss Lu. After defending him from an assassination attempt, Miss Lu constantly claims how Shao Lung owes her his life, though he is still under the impression she is still a man (a typical recurring plot device in some martial arts films though it is obvious it is a woman).


18 Bronzemen, Plot
After another failed attempt at Shao Lung, he manages to come across Miss Lu’s half of the royal seal thus revealing she is a woman and also his wife-to-be. Shao Lung and Miss Lu meet up with Brother Wan, and in turn they meet with Brother Ta-Chi who managed to beat the Bronzemen and leave Shaolin. Ta-Chi is a mole who was placed in Shaolin by the Qings to learn kung fu and eventually kill Shao Lung. Shao Lung and Brother Wan manage to kill their former brother in self-defense, and with Miss Lu, move on to kill the Manchu general.


18 Bronzemen, Reception
In his book Horror and Science Fiction Film IV, Donald C Willis reviewed 18 Bronzemen as a "routine martial arts actioner" noting a "long bizarre sequence in which Shao Lin students face the Bronzemen".


18 Camelopardalis
18 Camelopardalis is a yellow-white-hued star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Camelopardalis. It has an apparent visual magnitude is 6.44, which makes it a challenge to view with the naked eye. Using the measured annual parallax shift of 23.02 mas, its distance can be estimated at around 142 light-years. The star is moving away from the Sun with a radial velocity of +33 km/s and has an annual proper motion of 0.251 arcseconds.


18 Camelopardalis
The spectrum of this star matches a stellar classification of F8 V, indicating this is an ordinary F-type main-sequence star. It is around 5.3 billion years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 5 km/s. The star has 1.2 times the mass of the Sun, 1.93 times the Sun's radius, and has near solar abundances of elements. The star is radiating 4.24 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 5,908 K.


18 Candles: The Early Years
18 Candles: The Early Years is the first compilation album by Silverstein, released in 2006. It compiles their first two previously released, then-out-of-print EPs Summer's Stellar Gaze and When the Shadows Beam, along with some newly recorded acoustic and live material and a remix of the song "Smile in Your Sleep". By July 2006, the album had sold over 20,000 copies.


18 Days
"18 Days" is the second single by American rock band Saving Abel from their self-titled debut album. It was released after the band's hit single "Addicted". "18 Days" reached #10 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and number six on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song is also featured in Tapulous' hit iPhone OS games Tap Tap Revenge and Tap Tap Revenge 2.


18 Days (film)
18 Days (Egyptian Arabic: ١٨ يوم, translit. Tamantashar Yom) is an Egyptian anthology film focusing on the 18 days of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. It premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.


18 Days (film)
A group of ten directors, twenty or so actors, six writers, eight directors of photography, eight sound engineers, five set designers, three costume designers, seven editors, three post-production companies, and about ten technicians have agreed to act fast and shoot, with no budget and on a voluntary basis, ten short films about the January 25 revolution in Egypt. Ten stories they have experienced, heard or imagined.


18 Days (film)
All the proceeds of this movie will be devoted to organizing convoys to provide political and civic education in the villages of Egypt.


18 Delphini
18 Delphini, also named Musica /ˈmjuːzɪkə/, is a single star in the constellation of Delphinus of the low northern hemisphere. It has a Sun-like golden hue and is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.506. The star is located at a distance of approximately 249 light years from the Sun based on parallax, and it is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +4 km/s. An object believed to be an extrasolar planet (designated 18 Delphini b or Arion) orbits the star.


18 Delphini, Nomenclature
18 Delphini is the star's Flamsteed designation, abbreviated 18 Del. Following its discovery the planet was designated 18 Delphini b.


18 Delphini, Nomenclature
As part of the NameExoWorlds program by the International Astronomical Union, in 2015 the name Musica, Latin for 'music', was selected for this star by Tokushima Prefectural Jonan High School Science Club of Japan. The planet was given the name Arion, after a genius of poetry and music in ancient Greece. According to legend, his life was saved at sea by dolphins after attracting their attention by the playing of his kithara. The constellation 'Delphinus' is Latin for 'dolphin'.


18 Delphini, Properties
The stellar classification of 18 Delphini is G6III, which means it is an evolved star that has cooled and expanded off the main sequence. It is a suspected red clump giant that is generating energy from core helium fusion. A moderate level of X-ray emission has been detected from this star, which suggests it has a mildly active chromosphere. The star is 650 million years old with more than double the mass of the Sun, and has expanded to seven times the Sun's radius. It is radiating 34 times the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 5,071 K.


18 Delphini, Properties
The Washington Double Star Catalogue lists a pair of visual companions for this star. Component B is magnitude 9.88 and lies at an angular separation of 197.5 arcseconds along a position angle (PA) of 162° from the brighter star as of 2003. Component C has a magnitude of 12.77 with a separation of 129.3 arcseconds as of 2000. The proper motion of both stars are diverging significantly from 18 Delphini, so they can be ruled out as physical companions. However, a faint star located 29.2″ away appears to be a co-moving companion. This has a projected separation of 2,199 AU and an mass estimated as 19% that of the Sun. It is a small red dwarf star with a class of M4–5.


18 Delphini, Planetary system
On February 19, 2008, an extrasolar planet was found to be orbiting the star with a period of 2.720 years and a mild eccentricity (ovalness) of 0.08. The mass of this exoplanet is greater than 10 times the mass of Jupiter.


18 Delphini b
18 Delphini b (abbreviated 18 Del b), formally named Arion /əˈraɪən/, is an extrasolar planet approximately 249 light-years away in the constellation of Delphinus.


18 Delphini b
The 993-day period planet orbits the yellow giant star 18 Delphini. A very massive and dense planet with a minimum mass of 10.3 MJ, it was discovered on February 19, 2008, by Sato.


18 Delphini b
In July 2014 the International Astronomical Union launched NameExoWorlds, a process for giving proper names to certain exoplanets and their host stars. The process involved public nomination and voting for the new names. In December 2015, the IAU announced the name Arion for this planet. The winning name was submitted by the Tokushima Prefectural Jonan High School Science Club of Japan. Arion was a genius of poetry and music in ancient Greece. According to legend, his life was saved at sea by dolphins after attracting their attention by the playing of his kithara ('Delphinus' is Latin for 'dolphin').


18 Doughty Street
18 Doughty Street was a British political Internet-based broadcaster that hosted a webcast as its chief product. It began broadcasting at 18:55 on 10 October 2006, from its studio at 18 Doughty Street in the Bloomsbury area of London, and ceased broadcasting at 23:00 on Thursday 8 November 2007. It claimed to be Britain's first Internet-based TV station.


18 Doughty Street, Birth and Early Beginnings
Doughty Media Limited was funded by Stephan Shakespeare and its core presenters at launch included Iain Dale, Tim Montgomerie, Rena Valeh, Zoe Phillips and Donal Blaney. Alex Story, a director of the company at the time of the launch, was the creator of 18 Doughty Street. He wrote the concept on which the station was based, built the studio, and initially organised the production of the channel. Story developed the idea of creating a news platform that would challenge the dominance of terrestrial TV stations over the course of 2005 when he stood for parliament in Denton & Reddish. Over the course of the campaign, he noticed the wide cultural chasm between mainstream news channels and the people. He took his idea of an on-line TV station to Stephan Shakespeare during the first half of 2006.


18 Doughty Street, Birth and Early Beginnings
The station used live video streaming technology in a Windows format to webcast from 19:00 until midnight from Monday to Friday, with all programmes being made available to stream again shortly after the programme had aired. Due to the technology of the time, viewers could not download archived videos to their computer or portable device directly from the site, although a video podcast service of all archive videos was offered shortly before the station ceased broadcasting.


18 Doughty Street, Birth and Early Beginnings
Although it called itself a "TV station", legally it was not, so did not operate under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, which requires "due impartiality" and prevents politicians being newsreaders, interviewers or reporters in any news programme.


18 Doughty Street, Birth and Early Beginnings
At the point of launch, there were four directors of the company, Alex Story, Iain Dale, Tim Montgomerie and Stephan Shakespeare, all  Conservative Party members and self-described conservatives, but did not represent the Conservative Party in an official capacity on the station. In late 2006  Story left as a director of the company, followed by the resignations of Tim Montgomerie around March 2007 and of Donal Blaney in October 2007, followed by Iain Dale later in around December 2007. The latter three were said to be leaving to focus on other projects. For  Story, the aim of the channel was to provide an intellectual and cultural platform to take-on the political orthodoxy of the time; for other directors, the channel was to be narrowly focused on the politics of Westminster.


18 Doughty Street, Birth and Early Beginnings
Tim Montgomerie suddenly left 18 Doughty Street around March 2007 to work on other products and was replaced by Shane Greer, who became a full-time presenter at the station whilst also acting as Executive Director for Young Britons' Foundation. The station also hosted programmes produced and presented by Alan Mendoza, Peter Tatchell, Christian Wolmar, Christine Constable and Claire Fox.


18 Doughty Street, Birth and Early Beginnings
On 22 January 2007 a redesign of the website was launched to promote additional services that 18 Doughty Street wanted to produce: written news and opinion, news links, and what was billed as a series of controversial "attack" adverts that were to be released on a weekly basis. However, only four were ever produced and their cost rumoured to be disproportionate to success. The total makeover was also supposed to realise the citizen journalism element of 18 Doughty Street and allowed contributors to submit videos for inclusion in the website publications and live productions. However, this project had no success. Against the professional advice of  Story, Tim Montgomorie bought 100 Sanyo C5 digital camcorders, but only a handful of videos were received among reports of technical difficulties with the externally developed platform and a lack of editing skills.


18 Doughty Street, Collapse & Shutdown
18 Doughty Street stopped broadcasting on 19 November 2007 claiming that it was being taken off-air to make a range of improvements. Around the same time Donal Blaney and Iain Dale also decided to move on from the station leaving Stephan Shakespeare as the sole remaining director of the company.


18 Doughty Street, Collapse & Shutdown
With the core team collapsed, including the resignations or sackings of production and back office staff, and rumours of a lack of interest from potential investors the project finally collapsed completely when the main investor, Stephan Shakespeare, decided to instead start PoliticsHome in the same building in partnership with Freddie Sayers and also led by the return of some staff, including former Director Tim Montgomerie, who had previously resigned from 18 Doughty Street when it was a TV station following what is now revealed as a senior-level split over the direction of the TV station earlier in 2007.


18 Doughty Street, Other websites
18 Doughty Street displayed its brand on a website called The Fisk that featured a variety of contributors critiquing left-leaning commentary and opinion pieces. Following the resignation of Tim Montgomerie from 18 Doughty Street, the website has been re-branded under Conservative Home as part of Stephan Shakespeare's efforts to move the TV station away from the right-wing area of politics.


18 Doughty Street, Other websites
18 Doughty Street also launched conservative websites CentreRight.com and BritainAndAmerica.com in early 2007, prior to Montgomerie's departure. CentreRight.com still carries 18 Doughty Street branding, whereas BritainAndAmerica has been rebranded under Conservative Home. Although it was already operational, CentreRight.com launched again in January 2008.


18 Doughty Street, Contributors and Appearances
Former leader of the Conservative Party and founder of the Centre for Social Justice Rt Hon Iain Duncan-Smith MP appeared on Issue of the Hour and One to One from the stations beginnings.


18 Doughty Street, Ad campaigns
The channel created a series of adverts intended to raise public awareness on selected issues. Topics included taxation, state funding of political parties, and the Labour politician and then Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. Users of the channel's website were invited to vote between a number of alternative outlines, the winner being made into a campaign advert.


18 Draconis
18 Draconis is a likely binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Draco. With an apparent visual magnitude of 4.84, it is just bright enough to be faintly visible to the naked eye. The distance to this system, as estimated from an annual parallax shift of 4.5 mas, is roughly 720 light years. It is moving closer to the Sun with a heliocentric radial velocity of −1.4 km/s, and is a probable member of the Sirius stream of co-moving stars.


18 Draconis
The visible component has a stellar classification of K0 III CN−0.5 CH−2 Ca1, indicating it is an evolved K-type giant star with some abundance peculiarities in its atmosphere. At the age of around 280 million years, it is most likely (99% chance) on the horizontal branch. It is a barium star, which suggests it may have a degenerate white dwarf companion from which it accreted materials during an earlier stage of its evolution. 18 Dra has an estimated 3.8 times the mass of the Sun and has expanded to 47 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 787 times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,471 K.


18 East 50th Street
18 East 50th Street, also known as the Hampton Shops Building and the New York Health & Racquet Club Building, is an office building in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Located on the south side of 50th Street, on the middle of the block between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, it was designed by William Lawrence Rouse, Lafayette Anthony Goldstone, and Joseph L. Steinam.


18 East 50th Street
18 East 50th Street is designed in the Neo-Gothic style, sometimes referred to as the Perpendicular Gothic style. The style was chosen because it complemented the St. Patrick's Cathedral complex across the street. The 11-story building has a facade of grey terracotta that resembles granite. The building has no setbacks, as it was built before zoning ordinances required them.


18 East 50th Street
The Hampton Shops, founded in the early 1860s as the Grand Rapids Furniture Company, sold traditionally-styled furniture. The building site was leased in 1914 and the store at 18 East 50th Street was constructed from June 1915 to March 1916. Hampton Shops subsequently acquired the lease before going bankrupt in 1938. The building was then divided up and leased to art and design businesses. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated 18 East 50th Street as an official landmark in 2016.


18 East 50th Street, Site
18 East 50th Street is in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, on the south side of 50th Street between Fifth Avenue  to the west and Madison Avenue to the east. The land lot covers 5,640 square feet (524 m2) with a frontage of 56.4 feet (17.2 m) along 50th Street and a depth of 100 feet (30 m). Nearby buildings include 623 Fifth Avenue (containing Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store) to the west; St. Patrick's Cathedral to the north; 444 Madison Avenue to the east; and Tower 49 to the south. In addition, the Lotte New York Palace Hotel and Villard Houses are less than a block east, while Rockefeller Center is less than a block west.


18 East 50th Street, Site
Before the building was developed, the site contained a pair of houses rising three and five stories. These buildings were purchased in the 1880s by Andrew Jeffries Garvey, who was affiliated with William M. Tweed, the one-time leader of the Tammany Hall political ring. In 1893, Garvey leased the site for twenty years to Arthur H. Cutler of the Cutler School, at a rate of $8,500 per year, with options to renew the property indefinitely. The Cutlers conveyed the lease to residential developer W. W. and T. M. Hall in 1906. When Garvey died, his daughter Helena assumed ownership of the ground.


18 East 50th Street, Design
18 East 50th Street was designed by William Lawrence Rouse and Lafayette Anthony Goldstone of the firm Rouse & Goldstone, along with Joseph L. Steinam. Completed in 1916, the building was designed in what was characterized by the Real Estate Record as the "Perpendicular Gothic" style. The building is 11 stories tall, or 12 including a mezzanine at the base, and contains a roof 133.94 feet (40.82 m) tall. The design was intended to "harmonize well with the surroundings", particularly with St. Patrick's Cathedral. The building has no setbacks because it was designed just before the 1916 Zoning Resolution, which would have required such setbacks, was passed.


18 East 50th Street, Design
At the time of its completion, the Hampton Shops Building was described as "interesting" in the Real Estate Record, as well as a "perfect example of pure Renaissance design" in the New-York Tribune. The building was also praised by the architect Aymar Embury III as a "very lovely piece" of Gothic design. Writing for The New York Times in 1920, Helen Bullitt Lowry said the building "out-Goths the very Goths in its efforts to exploit 'the period' quality in its business”.


18 East 50th Street, Design, Facade
The facade is made of terracotta interspersed with random ashlar in varying colors. The only facade visible to the public, on 50th Street, is divided horizontally into three sections, with double-height arcades (sometimes characterized as loggias) at the base and top. The loggia at the base consists of three pointed arches, flanked by a service entrance on the far left and an office entrance on the far right. The arches have been modified with storefront windows but retain Hampton Shops company insignia. The 50th Street facade had wrought iron work and stained glass windows, which resembled an entrance into a medieval castle. At ground story, the facade was also designed with a cathedral window on the southern side.


18 East 50th Street, Design, Facade
A flagpole hangs from the top of the arcade and two more from the top of the second story (the floor directly above the arcade). The intermediate stories on 50th Street are treated as subdivided vertically into three bays, each with a pair of windows. The windows on each different story are separated by spandrels with Gothic tracery. The top story has round pointed arches as well as finials.


18 East 50th Street, Design, Facade
At the time of the building's completion, the side facades were visible from the nearby avenues and contained store advertisements. According to Embury, the side facade was "agreeable in itself, of balanced character", with a design complementing the main facade. The east facade was obscured with the construction of 444 Madison Avenue in 1931, while the west facade was blocked by 623 Fifth Avenue, completed in 1990. Small portions of the western and eastern facades remain visible at the top.


18 East 50th Street, Design, Features
Inside the first story was a foyer with administrative office and elevators. The hall was 25 feet (7.6 m) tall and lit by suspended chandeliers, surrounded by a mezzanine gallery on three sides. The other stories contained eleven galleries. The seventh story was particularly ornate with decorated dining and living rooms for what the New-York Tribune described as "the suggestive exhibition of period furniture". As of 2016, the lowest four stories are used by the New York Health & Racquet Club while the other stories are used as office space.


18 East 50th Street, History
The Grand Rapids Furniture Company was established in 1861. Its founder Henry Mannes named the company for Grand Rapids, Michigan, a furniture manufacturing hub at the time. By 1914, the company was publicly known as the Hampton Shops Company in order to distinguish it from other firms associated with Grand Rapids. The firm retained "Grand Rapids Furniture Company" as its corporate name. Grand Rapids Furniture had a store at 34–36 West 32nd Street in Manhattan, where it used both the Hampton Shops and Grand Rapids names during the early 20th century.


18 East 50th Street, History, Showrooms
In October 1914, the Grand Rapids Furniture Company acquired the leasehold on 18 and 20 East 50th Street from the Halls. Initially, the Real Estate Record and Guide reported the existing houses would be converted into showrooms. The following week, the Real Estate Record reported that the company would construct a new structure for its own use. Rouse, Goldstone, and Steinam filed plans with the New York City Department of Buildings in February 1915, and Bing and Bing Construction was hired as the general contractor. Work began that June and was substantially completed by January 1916. According to the media, the building was occupied by the middle of March 1916. With the completion of the Hampton Shops Building on 50th Street, the old 32nd Street building continued to be associated with the Grand Rapids Furniture Company.


18 East 50th Street, History, Showrooms
A 1918 advertisement for the Hampton Shops in the New-York Tribune described the building as a "Gothic temple of art" which displayed European antique furniture. During the Hampton Shops Building's usage as a showroom, it was used for events such as a 16th-century Spanish art exhibition, as well as home-furnishing seminars. The Hampton Shops Company acquired the ground lease from Helena B. Garvey Hayden in 1922. Mutual Life Insurance placed a loan of $300,000 on the building. The building was resold to Eben C. Gould in 1927.