text:
Adelaide researchers developing graphene biosensing device to revolutionise disease diagnosis
The goal: improving healthcare for all. The research: developing graphene-based technology by exploiting materials at the atom-scale for high-value end uses, such as the biosensor industry.
Lead researcher Dr Nathan Stanley, Postdoctoral fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, in collaboration with industry partner Archer Materials, an Adelaide-based and founded materials developer and innovator are working to create the first pre-commercial printed synthetic graphene biosensing device. In simple terms, the biosensing device will one day provide a cheap, quick and accurate test for disease diagnosis in places where it is needed the most.
But how will it work? The graphene surface is extremely ultrasensitive, which means that biomolecules present only a few atoms from the surface of the graphene can be accurately detected – making it ideal for biosensing. By digitising the manufacture of the biosensor componentry, Dr Stanley and Archer Materials are uniquely overcoming key commercial and technological barriers to printable biosensor development.
While the research has not been released to the public yet, it will hopefully not be too long before we see their research addressing these complex challenges to technology and human health.
About the researcher
Dr Nathan Stanley was awarded his PhD in Synthetic Chemistry and Pharmacology by the University of Adelaide in 2010.
He is an inventor and maker of new things; a trained research scientist with an insatiable curiosity and aptitude for creative problem solving.
Dr Stanley is a lifelong learner and lover of collaboration with a passion for applied engineering, with the goal to make the world a better place for humankind.
About the Graphene Research Hub
Launched in 2017, the Graphene Research Hub is based at the University of Adelaide with the goal of enabling the development of a sustainable graphene-based industry in Australia. Graphene is an advanced 2-dimensional (2D) carbon-based material that has many exceptional properties and has been recognised as the Material of the 21st Century; it is lightweight, strong, flexible and conductive.
As well as the University of Adelaide, the Hub includes teams from 4 other universities; Monash, Melbourne, RMIT and UniSA, and partner institution) and principal investigators from 5 industry partners; Archer Materials, First Graphene, Graphene Technology Solutions, NematiQ and Cleanfuture Energy.
The Hub aims to address the challenges of developing scalable, low cost and sustainable graphene manufacturing processes, maintain quality control and provide scientific evidence of the safety of using graphene materials by bringing together a team of researchers and industry partners to work on developing new graphene products and technologies that are needed across broad industry sectors such as mining, oil, gas and energy, biomedical, advanced manufacturing, transport, construction, environmental, defence and space industries.1
Some examples of these products include sensors, biosensors, composite materials, coatings, antennas, membranes and batteries.
About Archer Materials
Archer Materials develop and integrate materials to address complex global challenges in quantum technology, human health and reliable energy. Archer Materials has a diverse advanced materials inventory, strong intellectual property, world-class expertise, and access to over $300 million of R&D infrastructure. In addition, they explore for mineral resources that are categorised by many world economies as ‘critical’ raw materials that are important to long-term economic growth and supply-chain security.2


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top 25 films
a personal reflection
I'd say it's more than a daunting task for a self-proclaimed movie buff to compile an absolutely finite "Top Anything" list as the medium spans hundreds of years, countries and styles. However, I did my best to relaya list that I personally enjoy the most and take most value in surrounding myself for years and deacdes to come. Enjoy.
25. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001). Directed by Steven Spielberg.
Originally the brain child of the late, great master high-concept artist Stanley Kubrick, Spielberg collaborated with Kubrick before his death to seamlessly carry out the imaginative visuals and thick themes of humanity, reliant technology, family and moral ambiguity. A futuristic Pinnocchio tale that is emotionally daunting yet a fascinating neon plethora of impressive sets pieces. I knew as a young boy that I was watching something profound upon original release but now the layered, visceral intentions of Kubrick and Spielberg are so much more to me. That ending is brutal. Amazing work.
24. The Lion King (1994). Directed by Roger Allers.
A childhood favorite I simply could not leave off the list. I wanted to include an animated film not out of obligation but because I respect the art and the process. The Toy Story trilogy should have a spot as well but the quality of all three make it hard to include all in a list of just twenty five entries. I grew up on The Lion King, even persuading my mother to buy me the sing-a-long soundtrack, telling her it was for Chorus class as a tyke. It has great themes (circle of life) and it's somewhat Shakespearean at it's core. Not to mention, that soundtrack is just as catchy today as ever.
23. The Dark Knight (2008). Directed by Christopher Nolan.
It's rare that a single performance can catapult a film into an all-time favorite list and while The Dark Knight is exemplary in almost every aspect regardless, Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker cemented this selection with a transcendent descent (oxymoron much?) into the madness of a sociopath. It was a game-changer and the theatrics of the characters felt disturgingly real. It is an evocative picture that Nolan and Co. really hit out of the park with the help of DP Wally Pfister's Heat-inspired framework.
22. In Bruges (2008). Directed by Martin McDonagh
This black comedy is unlike anything I've ever seen. Two hitmen encounter an enchanting exile to the serene beauty in one of Belgium's most picturesque cities. Colin Farrell's best role will have you laughing out loud, not to mention amazing outset work by Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. It has heart yet revels and drips in satire. One thing I promise you, you'll never look at little people the same.
21. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). Directed by David Fincher.
The cinematography is simply stunning and it comes as no surprise that Fincher is in the top echelon of contemporary filmmakers. F. Scott Fitzgerald's story of a man who ages backwards displays top-notch effects and as mentioned, some of the finest shots of recent memory. The fact that this film got the Criterion Collection treatment upon release solidifies how the scholarly film community felt about a work of art that tugs at the heart strings. The closing monologue of all of Benjamin's influences is one of my favorite sequences of the decade.
20. Bicycle Thieves (1948). Directed by Vittorio De Sica.
The social tale of post-Fascist Italy jeers quite a response from the audience. The title alone becomes something more than convention, instead proving a self-fulfilling prophecy. Moral men had a hard time providing for their family, especially in the war-torn domestic turmoil of post WWII Europe. The themes are still applicable to the modern recessions surrounding us worldwide. Needless to say, it's a doozy. Not to mention, the young son Bruno is one of my favorite film characters. This is indeed a very valuable film.
19. True Romance (1995). Directed by Tony Scott.
The sharpness of Quentin Tarantino's script mixed the humor, suspense and inspired casting of Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette create a 'love story' unlike any other. Amazing cameos and small roles of veteran heavy-hitters like Gary Oldman (Dexter!), Brad Pitt, Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken and Samuel L Jackson further create an intriguing tale of love and criminal business gone wrong. Arquette looks absolutely stunning (as much as any call girl can) and the story keeps you on edge while also infused with Tarantino's staple pop culture references and eccentric dialogue.
18. Planet of The Apes (1968). Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.
A powerhouse social commentary that rocked me to the core when I first viewed it as a 9 year old on an AMC marathon. This film holds up great and Charlton Heston is a bonafide leading man in a film that feels like an extended Twilight Zone episode. This film is rich in sociological undertones and provided one of the most shocking endings in the history of stories. A lucrative franchise was started and thrives into the new age yet it all started with Icarus and Captain Taylor.
17. Psycho (1960). Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
I also saw this classic American film as a young lad and no growing up was necessary even at that time. Psycho is a benchmark of filmmaking incorporating all of the elements of suspense, tension, and bleak unknowing horror by the original master of horror- Alfred Hitchcock. The shocking fate of Marion Crane, the creepy innocence of Anthony Perkin's Norman Bates, the isolation of the motel; everything swirls into an absolute masterpiece with a great ending, proving anticipation and grey conclusions define the genre and not blood, gore and high body counts.
16. There Will Be Blood (2007) . Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Adapted from the novel, Oil! Paul Thomas Anderson directs an instant classic including a haunting Oscar-winning performance by the greatest character actor of all-time in Daniel Day-Lewis as driven oil innovator Daniel Plainview. The story is important to the fabric of American economics yet encapsulates the ambition of greed and the decomposition of one's soul in climbing in the business world. The direction of photography is also pristine and breath-takingly captures oil derricks up in a blaze of glory. The strong critique of clergy is also quite effective and creates a very sinister ending.
15. Pulp Fiction (1994) . Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Often regarded as Quentin Tarantino's magnum opus, the fleeting nature of the non sequential plot is a fascinating amalgamation of character study and classic American dialogue. Iconic performances from Jackson, Travolta, Willis, Thurman and Ving Rhames as Marcellus Wallace, with a couple "hard pipe hittin niggas" in his back pocket. This one never gets old and the ending diner scene is about as evocative as it comes. I still believe this or another film higher up on our list deserved to win Best Picture at the 1994 Academy Awards instead of Forrest Gump...sorry Tom.
14. No Country For Old Men (2007). Directed by The Coen Brothers.
Filming just up the road from P.T. Anderson and his There Will Be Blood crew was the Coen Brothers crafting another American classic Oscar caliber film. Adapted from the novel by Cormac McCarthy, the execution of this screenplay is glorious. It is artistically woven into a commentary of the human spirit and the dulling of the soul when confronted with the overwhelmingly complicated future. Tommy Lee Jones' character is the voice of the story and Javier Bardem turns in an all-time great performance akin to the essence of The Terminator mixed with Michael Myers as sociopath Anton Chigurh. Just look above. While some complain about the ambiguous nature of the third act, it is easy to deduce that the Coens are making a statement about the future and life in general being a hazy mess for the socially aware.
13. Leon: The Professional (1995). Directed by Luc Besson.
Young Natalie Portman makes a grand entrance to her acting career shadowing the suppressed, loner assassin Leon after her entire family is slain by corrupt police Captain Stansfield. Despite maybe hamming it up a little, the great chameleon Gary Oldman is a first rate antagonist the viewer loves to hate. it a very emotional story, with creepy overtones of romanticism between Mathilda and Leon, explored further in the Director's Cut. I do appreciate the nuances displayed and this movie even compelled me to download a Sting song.
12. A Bronx Tale. Directed by Robert De Niro
I place sentimentality with this picture because the scenes with 'C' and father Robert De Niro listening to the Yankees on the radio while driving reminded me the times riding to Redskins games listening to Sports Talk Radio. Robert De Niro does a marvelous job in the DIRECTOR'S chair as well as being the moral compass of the film to Chazz Palmieri's gangster influence Sonny. My grandfather was born in Brooklyn so I also was intrigued by the racial circumstances in New York at all time periods. There isn't as huge scope to this film but it has a large heart.
11. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Directed by James Cameron.
Everybody has seen this movie unless you live in a bomb shelter and most people prefer this over the original. Understand that this is the most watched movie of my life and have been watching it for almost 20 years. I love it. It is the greatest action film ever and revolutionized the industry. That being said, one could say the main plot flow is a re-hash of the 1984 original. Robert Patrick is a classic menacing yet scientifically implausible villain. I think I prefer Arnold as the bad guy. However, Cameron does a marvelous job expanding the Terminator mythos and punctuating what should have been the end of the Terminator story. Crazy how one can feel for a cyborg by the end of the third act. Thumbs up.
10. Carlito's Way (1993). Directed by Brian De Palma.
Pacino shines as the criminally reformed Carlito Brigante who looks to start a new clean life after his corrupt lawyer gets him a new lease on life. Sean Penn absolutely disappears as Jewish lawyer Dave Kleinfelt. The suspense is palpable in many scenes, the tension is great, the characters have great chemistry including Penelope Ann Miller and the spiteful little prick Bennie Blanco from the Bronx. Pacino's classical Shakespearean roots shine through particularly at the end after a climactic chase through New York into Grand Central Station that will keep smokers pacing and needing a cigarette after.
9. Sling Blade (1996). Directed by Billy Bob Thornton.
Common attributes of my all-time favorite films have are excellent character acting, stories with great interpersonal interaction and solid relationships. Perhaps no movie on my list showcases both these two more intently than when Billy Bob Thornton pulls an Orson Welles: directing, producing and starring in a modest Southern drama about a slow man with a violent past and his re-assimilation into society. The key variable of the film is his close friend ship with country boy Frank played by Lucas Black in his first role. Carl is one the most fascinating characters in film; personally, also one of the most fun to quote, mimic and prank people with voice captured sound boards to boot.
8. American Psycho (2000). Directed by Mary Harron
Satire. Black comedy. The examination of the self-absorbed yuppie culture of the 1980's. The screenplay is fantastic as this film also to be one of Rocco's most quoted ever, though not with the tense sarcasm of psycho Patrick Bateman, my favorite role for Oscar winner Christian Bale. Everything about this film works and while VERY dark in superficial nature is also a very smart comedic piece. Just make sure you sway from the Valentino suits and Oliver People's glasses or it's possible you may never eat at Dorsia again.
7. The Terminator (1984) . Directed by James Cameron
The time travel paradoxes of The Terminator story used to keep me awake many nights when I was a kid. It's such a smart idea and while not feasible, creates masterfully impossible scenerios. As mentioned, I prefer the original over the larger sequel mainly due to the effectiveness of the somber tone and bleak atmosphere of present day and the futuristic nuclear winter of Los Angeles. I prefer Arnold as the villain as he rarely speaks but demands screen presence. Perhaps that is best. Kyle Reese and his never fleeting love for Sarah Connor creates classic movie drama that shapes mankind in Cameron's vision. Fun fact: O.J. Simpson was considered for the part of The Terminator but was deemed too nice to play a believable killing machine. You can't make that shit up.
6. Metropolis (1927). Directed by Fritz Lang.
Not only is this a landmark of cinema, it is one of the most important pieces of ART we have been given in a visual or storytelling medium. Dichotomies certainly exist and as presented by the visionary nature of master filmmaker Fritz Lang, we are given a romanticized version of the industrial working class and the philosophic thinkers that attempt to maintain harmony within society. Of course within the broad strokes of labor and ideals comes the intrusion of science and invention. Perhaps one of my favorite and the most poignant of quotations comes from Maria when she maintains, " There can be no understanding between the hand and the brain unless the heart acts as mediator." Coming off a tumultuous election year, perhaps these are words to take heed from.
5. City of God (Cidade de Deus) 2002. Directed by Fernando Meirelles.
City of God puts on display the favellas (ghettos) and those that dwell just outside the beautiful Rio De Janeiro, a stark contrast from the paradise that tourists flock to. Just as with the film above, City of God is a foreign film that tells an historic account of a list of characters over the years and their survival through what becomes almost martial law. Lil Ze is one of the most ruthless and evil of villains, also at the top of my list in that regard. The photography is warm when it needs to be and stone cold upon certain developments, giving the entire area a legacy of its own. Not enough can be said about this film and the juxtaposition it poses to our worldly perspective.
4. Taxi Driver (1976). Directed by Martin Scorsese
Robert De Niro completely sinks into his role in the next two films on the list. Here he carries the film when he assumes mentally fragile nighttime taxi driver Travis Bickle and the festering frustration of a damaged psyche. This is my personal favorite Scorsese film because it's so intrinsic to delve into a guy with loose screws that loosen even further. The city of New York acts as the antagonist in a large sense and while the ending is open to interpretation, the narrative comes along with direct purpose. Young Jodie Foster plays off the title character well and gives Bickle a moral responsibility that he takes to an extreme level.
3. The Godfather Part II (1974). Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
A lot of people prefer this one over the original. This is due to the amazing acting (again) by Robert De Niro playing the young, hungry Vito Corleone as he finds in niche in America trying to support his young family. The transformation is uncanny as we really believe Brando's character could have really been this young man that leads a silent powerful walk of purpose with hope for justice and order. Meanwhile, the disturbing descent of Michael as he expands his empire west reveals a true darkness developed in the dealings of the criminal underworld. The two contrasting stroylines and the father-son intentions are extremely effective.
2. The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Directed by Frank Darabont
This film comes on TNT seemingly every month because it is so accessible and an excellent piece of work everyone needs to see. I bet Stephen King never imagined his story could be improved in the film medium but, alas. Tim Robbins' Andy Dufresne is the epitome of resilience while maintaining a calm exterior and noble intentions in a nightmarish scenario that becomes his life. This movie is about survival of the spirit and never letting go of what is the altering world, despite being confined to institutionalized routine. The ending is extremely powerful as Red finally is released on parole and meets his old friend on the beach blue waters of Mexico. Not before Andy pulls off a well sought out escape from Shawshank Prison and exposes the warden and guards for the immoral evils they display in the face of justice and rehabilitation. Anyone at a crossroads in life stuck in dormant apathy, just remember the words of Red when he exclaims, "Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'."
1. The Godfather (1972). Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Here we are: my favorite film EVER. It should come as no surprise and while it may not be the most inspired selection for top overall film due to it's heralded genius, The Godfather hits on every single level imaginable. Technically, narratively, emotionally, Coppola creates a legacy with just the first entry, as good as the trilogy is as a whole. I could go on and on about the work of Coppola, Brando, Pacino, Caan, Cazale and company but I have written a thorough review of The Godfather already on Fresh Cut Roc, so if you want to know my TRUE feelings about the film, simply read below....
Just Missed the Cut: Goodfellas, Training Day, Aliens, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Toy Story trilogy, Fargo

domain: artistic


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LED STERN LIGHT PORTABLE WITH SUCTION CUP
360º clear lens. High impact resistant ABS housing. Rubber suction cup mount. Battery operated by two ‘D’ cell batteries (not included). 121425 features LED lighting for dramatically increased battery life. LED lights take three ‘C’ cell batteries.
LED LIGHT POLE TELESCOPIC 610-1220MM
Telescopic 360º 12 volt white riding lights with LED efficiency and durability. Simple screw lock telescopic function allows extension when installed or in operation. Anodised aluminium pole with plug-in design is supplied complete including round mount base with stainless steel cover plate, socket cover and fasteners. Meets 72 COLREGS. Low 1 watt power consumption. Ideal
NAV LIGHT LED PLUG-IN S/S 360-DEGREE
360 degree anchor riding light with bright long-life LED’s giving low power consumption. Cast stainless steel base with plastic tube bush, aluminium tube and sealed LED light unit. Pole plugs into base and removes easily for storage. Approved for boats to 12 Mtr length, USCG Colregs as a 2 mile light. 12 volt only. 600mm
NAV LIGHT P&S SIDE MOUNT WHITE LED
Clean contoured shape to blend with the boat aesthetics. No edges to catch on ropes or crew. LED reliability, energy efficiency and low heat generation. Clear lens for maximum illumination. The red and green colour is created by the LED. High quality, U.V. stabilised plastic housing. 12 volt, sold as a pair. Complies with ABYC
NAV LIGHT P&S SIDE MOUNT S/S LED
Same basic shape as 121042 but with conventional incandescent bulbs and coloured lenses. ‘O’ ring sealed lens with PVC mount base gasket. Stainless steel bulb contacts. Pressed 316 grade stainless steel cover. 12 volt, sold as a pair.
NAV LIGHT P&S SIDE MOUNT BLACK LED
Clean contoured to blend with the boat aesthetics. No edges to catch on ropes or crew. LED reliability, energy efficiency and low heat generation. Clear lens for maximum illumination. The red and green colour is created by the LED. High quality, U.V. stabilised plastic housing. 12 volt, sold as a pair. Complies with ABYC A-16:2016
LED Nav Light Port 12/24v White
• UV resistant housing. • High powered LED. • Reverse polarity protected. • Waterproof rating of IPX6. • Internationally approved ABYC-A16/USCG, 2 NM up to 20 meter vessels. • Side Mount. • Up to 50,000 hours. • CE approved. Length: 70mm Width: 64mm Height: 59mm Angle: 112.5° Type: Port Frame Colour: Cool White Depth: 59mm


text:
Covid-19 led to a surge in growth for software-as-a-service (SaaS), but many companies were unable to maintain those growth levels in 2021
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies saw their revenue growth slow by 46% in 2021 compared to 2020, according to a new study released today by Paddle, the provider of a complete payments infrastructure for SaaS companies. The result of qualitative and quantitative research into SaaS firms from 84 countries, Paddle’s Outliers report charts the key factors driving the industry by leveraging data from thousands of companies.
According to the Outliers report revenue growth for SaaS businesses slowed in 2021 with the majority of companies managing only to maintain their newly-increased revenue, rather than building on the previous year’s success. Overall, the SaaS companies surveyed recorded an average revenue growth of 32% in 2021, a decline of 46% from the prior year.
Moreover, the outlook for 2022 remains uncertain, with only half (51%) of businesses surveyed expecting to hit their ARR targets this year. It’s clear that as the impact of the pandemic subsides, software businesses need to change tack to preserve momentum.
Thankfully, Paddle’s research has identified the three key growth levers of SaaS businesses that have managed to maintain high growth rates throughout 2020 and 2021, by examining these so-called ‘Outlier’ firms. These companies remained agile during the pandemic, experimenting with new tools and approaches as well as capitalising on opportunities presented by a remote-first world to pursue global strategies.
The Outliers’ growth levers
Dynamic pricing – The fastest growing SaaS firms were those that reconsidered their pricing and experimented with dynamic and usage-based models.
40% of companies that regularly alter their pricing report a 25% higher increase in ARR as a result.
However, the majority of businesses still don’t have a strategy in place around pricing optimization or even consider pricing as a growth strategy.
Over 20% of SaaS firms haven’t changed their pricing at all within the last 5 years, and almost 30% have no set schedule for pricing reviews.
Embracing new growth models – Companies that bucked the traditional sales-led growth model also fared better.
Those that adopted a product-led approach grew by 7% more than those with other strategies. There are also signs that product-led growth is becoming the dominant model: 79% of software sellers surveyed by Paddle said they describe themselves as primarily product-led.
Those with a purely sales-led growth (SLG) approach saw 8% lower growth in 2021; a product of the ‘Zoomification’ of the sales cycle, the impact of reduced travel on in-person field sales, and elongated buying cycles.
In addition, 90% of SaaS sellers surveyed either have a self-serve option or expect to implement one in the near future.
Investing in true localisation – SaaS firms that invested in localising their offering to sell internationally also grew more quickly.
Companies accepting payments in at least two currencies grew 13% faster in 2021 than those with only one currency option.
Companies accepting payments in over 25 currencies saw 25% higher growth than those with only one.
Companies with at least one alternative payment method available grew 22% faster than those without one.

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text:
Clinical effectiveness of usual care with or without antidepressant medication for primary care patients with minor or mild-major depression: a randomized equivalence trial
BMC Medicine volume 5, Article number: 36 (2007)
Minor and mild-major depression are highly prevalent in primary care. There is insufficient evidence for the effectiveness of antidepressants in the treatment of minor and mild-major depression. We compared the effectiveness of usual primary care treatment, with or without antidepressants, in minor and mild-major depression.
A pragmatic patient-randomized equivalence trial with 52 weeks follow-up was conducted in The Netherlands. In total, 59 primary care physicians (PCPs) recruited and treated 181 adult patients with minor or mild-major depression. Patients were randomized to four consultations within 3 months of usual care plus antidepressants (UCandAD) or usual care alone (UCnoAD). The Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was used to assess changes in severity of depressive symptoms. The predefined equivalence margin was set at five points. Multilevel analysis was used to analyze the data. Secondary outcome measures were the Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8).
Patients received on average 3.0 (SD 1.4) 15-min consultations within 3 months with (n = 85) or without paroxetine (n = 96). Equivalence of UCandAD and UCnoAD was demonstrated in the intention-to-treat analyses as well as the per-protocol analysis after 6 weeks, but not at 13, 26 and 52 weeks follow-up. No statistical differences in effectiveness between treatment groups were found in the intention-to-treat analysis. No differences in the physical and mental functioning (SF-36) were found between the treatment groups. Patients allocated to UCandAD were slightly more satisfied with their treatment at 13 weeks follow-up (but not at 52 weeks follow-up) than patients allocated to UCnoAD. Preliminary analyses suggested that subgroups such as patients with mild-major (instead of a minor) depression might benefit from antidepressant treatment. Patients who were assigned to their preferred treatment (in particular to UCnoAD) were more often compliant and had better clinical outcomes.
UCandAD was as effective as UCnoAD over the first 6 weeks, but not at 13, 26, and 52 weeks. However, superiority of either treatment could not be demonstrated either. The question whether antidepressants add any clinical effect to usual care remains unresolved. We recommend future studies to look for subgroups of patients who may benefit from antidepressants.
Dutch Trial Registry ISRCN03007807.
In primary care, minor and mild-major depressions are more common than severe major depressive disorders . The estimated point prevalence of minor depression among primary care patients varies between 3.4% and 4.7% . There is insufficient evidence for the effectiveness of antidepressants in the treatment of minor and mild-major depression in primary care [2–7]. Potential hazards of antidepressants are stigmatization, medicalization, dependence, and undesirable side effects. In general, antidepressants are only recommended when depressive symptoms are persistent and patients experience severe functional impairment [2, 7–9]. In minor depression, specific treatments may not be indicated as there are high rates of improvement with watchful waiting .
It is interesting that, from an international perspective, the same body of scientific evidence on the treatment of minor and mild major depression has been interpreted differently. British guidelines favor some restraint in the prescription of antidepressants [5, 6], while the American guidelines favor the use of these medications . Dutch depression guidelines, like the British guidelines, recommend refraining from the prescription of antidepressants in patients with minor or mild-major depression . However, the prescription rate of antidepressants increases year by year  and it seems that a substantial portion of the antidepressants is prescribed to this group [8, 9]. In our opinion, prescription of antidepressants in patients with minor or mild-major depression would only be justified if antidepressants are shown to have additional benefits over non-pharmacological care alone.
The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether antidepressant medication (UCandAD) adds any clinical effectiveness to non-pharmacological usual care (UCnoAD) by the primary care physician (PCP) in patients with minor or mild-major depression. As we hypothesized that antidepressants would have no additional effects in comparison with usual care, we designed an equivalence trial.
We conducted a randomized controlled trial in which adult primary care patients with minor or mild-major depression were randomized to receive either usual care plus 3 months of antidepressant treatment (UCandAD) or usual care alone (UCnoAD). Because we were interested in the treatment effectiveness in everyday practice, we decided to conduct a pragmatic trial, implying that the interventions were provided by PCPs to typical primary care patients under normal practice circumstances. UCandAD was our treatment of interest, the experimental treatment. We did not want to compare antidepressant medication with placebo medication as such a treatment is not a feasible alternative to medication in daily practice. Instead, our control intervention, usual care, was based on the guideline on depression issued by the Dutch College of General Practitioners . We hypothesized that UCandAD was as effective as, i.e. equivalent to, UCnoAD. Therefore, we designed an equivalence trial. The investigation was carried out in accordance with the latest version of the Declaration of Helsinki . The Medical Ethical Committee of the VU University Medical Center approved the study design.
The study was conducted in 2002 and 2003. PCPs in the west and middle of The Netherlands were invited to participate in this trial. During a practice visit the PCPs were informed about the study's aim and procedures. Participating PCPs recruited, diagnosed, and treated consecutive eligible patients themselves. Patients were considered eligible if they had been diagnosed by their PCP as suffering from a current episode of minor or mild-major depression (i.e. three to six out of nine DSM-IV symptoms of depression, including at least one of the core symptoms, 'sadness' or 'loss of pleasure'). In accordance with the Dutch guideline on depression we defined minor depression as a depressive disorder with three to four DSM-IV depressive symptoms . Largely in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV ), we defined mild-major depression as a depressive disorder with five to six symptoms. The symptoms had to be present nearly every day for at least 2 weeks. Also, they had to cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
Patients were excluded from the trial for the following reasons: age under 18 years, currently on antidepressant medication, currently receiving psychological therapy, experiencing psychotic features, addiction to alcohol or drugs, loss of a loved one or significant other in the past 6 months, pregnancy or breastfeeding, inability to complete questionnaires because of language difficulties, illiteracy or cognitive decline, or not having a telephone.
When the PCP considered a patient to be eligible for the study, a research assistant made an appointment for a baseline interview at the patient's home. At the start of the interview, the patient received a full explanation of the study and written informed consent was obtained.
Patients were randomly assigned to one of the treatment conditions. Block randomization (block size 4) was used to ensure equal numbers of patients in the two conditions per PCP. Allocation schemes were generated by random number tables before the trial started. After the baseline interview with the patient, staff not in contact with the patient opened the appropriate opaque sealed envelope. PCPs and patients were not informed about the allocated treatment until the first treatment session. Due to the nature of the study, blinding of patients, research assistants or PCPs was not possible.
Before the start of the trial, PCPs received a 3-h training session to improve recognition of patients with minor and mild-major depression, to make a standardized DSM-IV depression diagnosis, and to refresh their treatment skills.
All patients were scheduled for four 10–20 min consultations with the PCP at 2, 4, 7, and 11 weeks after inclusion. During these consultations, patients randomized to the usual care condition (UCnoAD) received patient education, information about depression and its prognosis, and advice on how to deal with depression (focus on the present, maintain social activities and daily routines, exercise, putting achievable goals, and restrain alcohol usage). This treatment may be considered as a standardized form of usual PCP care. Patients in this condition were not to receive any antidepressant medication.
Patients randomized to the antidepressant condition (UCandAD) received the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine beside the usual care treatment described above. The paroxetine dose was 20 mg/day for at least 3 months, along with education about the effects and side-effects of paroxetine. After 4 weeks the dose could be increased to 40 mg/day in case of poor clinical response. In case of intolerance to paroxetine, sertraline was advised. Paroxetine was chosen as first choice antidepressant because it was the most commonly prescribed antidepressant drug in The Netherlands at the time the study started , and no clinically meaningful differences between antidepressants are found in primary care patients .
In both conditions, prescription of benzodiazepines was allowed in patients with severe sleeping disturbances. After 3 months, treatment could end or continue in the way PCPs and patients preferred.
In equivalence trials, it is important to optimize the contrast between the two treatment conditions to assure a conservative approach. Therefore, we gave PCPs some instructions on how to shape both treatments in such a way that the two interventions would differ mostly with respect to the use of antidepressants. During the first 3 months, PCPs were asked to give patients in both conditions the same number of consultations and not to deviate from the medication protocol unless the PCP judged this to be imperative. To prevent contamination from co-interventions, PCPs were asked to refrain from referral to specialized mental health care (e.g. to a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or a social worker).
Sociodemographic and clinical information was collected at baseline, comprising the List of Threatening Experiences Questionnaire (LTE-Q ), neuroticism (a subscale of the NEO-FFI ), duration and history of depressive symptoms, and chronic somatic diseases. As a check of the diagnoses of the PCP, but without consequences for the inclusion in the study, standardized psychiatric diagnoses according to DSM-IV criteria were obtained with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI ). In addition, we collected both patients' and PCPs' treatment preferences before randomization.
Primary outcome measure
The Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS , observer rating scale, 10 items, scale range 0–60, higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms) was used to assess changes in severity of depressive symptoms over 52 weeks of follow-up. The MADRS was administered face-to-face at baseline, and by telephone at 6, 13, 26, and 52 weeks follow-up by the same research assistant. No differences in the mode of administration of the MADRS (i.e. by telephone versus face-to-face) were found .
Secondary outcome measure
The Short-Form 36 (SF-36 [22, 23]) was completed by patients during the baseline interview and was sent to the patients' home at 6, 13, and 52 weeks follow-up. The SF-36 is a self-report quality of life measure, consisting of eight scales that are aggregated into two summary measures: the Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Summary scores. Lower scores indicate worse health, higher scores indicate better health.
The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8 , self-report scale, eight items, item range 1–4, higher scores indicating higher satisfaction with the treatment received) was sent to the patients' home at 13 and 52 weeks follow-up.
Regarding the secondary outcomes we were only interested in possible differences between treatment groups, and thus not in demonstrating equivalence.
The equivalence margin for improvement in MADRS score was set at five points. A five-point difference in MADRS score corresponds to 0.5 standard deviation of the MADRS change score (mean 12.5; SD 10.0) at 6 months follow-up in a comparable primary care study in patients allocated to placebo treatment . Half a standard deviation is considered to represent a clinically relevant effect . Our main hypothesis in this clinical evaluation was that UCandAD by the PCP was as effective (i.e. equivalent) in reducing depressive symptoms as UCnoAD. This hypothesis was accepted if the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference in improvement in MADRS scores between UCandAD and UCnoAD at different time points was between -5 and 5.
Using the sample size calculation of Jones et al for equivalence trials , based on 90% power (1-β) to detect a clinically relevant difference in improvement of -5 points on the MADRS (α = 0.05, two-sided), 84 patients were required in each group.
To estimate the CIs for the mean difference between the groups, we used parameter estimates of repeated measures multilevel analysis in MLwiN . This method is characterized by an unrestricted repeated measurements design, allowing all observations to be used. Multilevel analysis was used for both the intention-to-treat analyses and the per-protocol analyses. To study change in MADRS scores, baseline measurements were used as a covariate as the improvement in depressive symptoms may be different for patients with higher versus lower MADRS baseline scores. In all analyses, all available time points were analyzed simultaneously.
Additionally, an adjusted model was analyzed. We adjusted for additional specialized help from mental health services during the experimental period, which was considered a co-intervention, to check the robustness of our outcomes.
In equivalence trials it is recommended to perform a per-protocol analysis in all cases; intention-to-treat analysis is no longer considered conservative [27, 29]. When equivalence is demonstrated in both the intention-to-treat and the per-protocol analysis, the evidence is considered to be strongest. We performed both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. If equivalence of the two treatments could not be established, we explored superiority of either treatment. As intention-to-treat analyses has been recognized as the most conservative strategy for superiority trials to analyse data, we focused at the intention-to-treat analysis. First statistical significance was explored (95% CI < 0 or 95% CI > 0), then clinical superiority was explored (95% CI < -5 or 95% CI > 5).
In the intention-to-treat analyses all patients were analyzed according to group assignment. Per-protocol analyses were performed for patients who received at least 70 defined daily doses (DDDs) of an antidepressant drug in the first 3 months when in the UCandAD group, and patients who received no more than 30 DDDs of an antidepressant drug in the first 3 months when in the UCnoAD group. Thus, protocol violation has a different meaning in the treatment groups; violators in the UCandAD group received a less extensive treatment (no antidepressants), whereas violators in the UCnoAD group received a more intensified treatment (additional antidepressants).
Differences in protocol violation between treatment groups were analyzed using the chi-square test (SPSS 11.0). To find predictors of protocol violation logistic regression was used for each treatment group separately. The influence of gender, age, the presence of life events, duration and history of depressive symptoms, chronic diseases, neuroticism, severity of depression diagnosis at baseline (i.e. minor versus mild-major depression, as assessed by the PCP), and use of mental health services during the first 3 months were explored.
In addition, some explorative analyses were performed. Differences in benzodiazepines prescription between treatment groups and differences in protocol violation in combination with patient's treatment preferences and assignment were analyzed using the chi-square test in SPSS 11.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Il).
The secondary outcomes, the SF-36 and the CSQ-8, were explored for statistical significant differences in the intention-to-treat analyses. We used multilevel analysis in MLwiN  for the SF-36. For the CSQ-8, total mean item scores were computed and the t statistic in SPSS 11.0 was used (two-sided, p < 0.05).
Patients were recruited from February 2002 to March 2003. Of 117 participating PCPs, 59 assessed 293 contacting patients for eligibility. As a result, 181 patients were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments (Figure 1). No differences in baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between the patients in the two treatment conditions (Table 1) were found.
For 160 patients, self-report information and/or information from the pharmacist on antidepressants during the first 13 weeks could be used to determine whether patients had or had not violated the treatment protocol. For 21 patients the necessary information was incomplete or missing and we contacted the PCP for information on antidepressant prescription in order to decide whether protocol violations had occurred.
At baseline, 43% of the patients had no preference for any of the two treatments (77/181); 19% preferred UCandAD (35/181), and 38% preferred UCnoAD (69/181). PCPs registered their treatment preference at baseline in 79% of the patients (143/181). In 52% of the cases the PCP did not have any preference regarding the treatment (75/143); in 34% of the cases the PCP preferred UCandAD (48/143), and in 14% the PCP preferred UCnoAD (20/143).
The mean number of consultations with the PCP in the first 3 months, ascribable to our study, was 3.0 (SD 1.4), and each lasted on average 15.1 min (SD 0.7) with no differences between UCandAD (mean 3.1; SD 1.3) and UCnoAD (mean 2.9; SD 1.4). During these consultations, the PCP evaluated the depressive symptoms (82%), discussed the course of the depressive symptoms (76%), and talked with the patient about their functioning at home or at work (80%). Slightly less attention was paid to patient education on depression (58%), emotional support (71%), giving practical advice (64%), and formulating achievable goals (55%). In patients receiving UCandAD, the PCP also paid attention to the effects and side-effects of antidepressants (62%), the prognosis as a result of antidepressant use (54%), and the importance of compliance with the antidepressant therapy (57%). A total of 41 patients (23% of 181 patients) received additional specialized help from mental health services during the experimental period; 15 in the UCandAD group and 26 in the UCnoAD group (p > 0.05). For 127 patients (70% of 181), information on the prescription of benzodiazepines was available. A total of 43 patients received additional benzodiazepines; 19 in the UCandAD group and 24 in the UCnoAD group (p > 0.05).
Primary outcome: MADRS
Table 2 presents the change in the severity of the depressive symptoms and 95% CIs for both treatment groups over 52 weeks. The results of Table 2 are visualized in Figure 2. As randomization had been successful (Table 1) we did not explore potential effect modifiers or confounders. Table 3 shows that additional specialized help from mental health services during the first 3 months biased the results to no difference (e.g. adjusted 95% CI at 6 weeks -5.5 to 2.1 versus unadjusted 95% CI at 6 weeks -4.5 to 2.4 in the per-protocol analyses).
Table 2 shows that, in the intention-to-treat (n = 181) as well as the per-protocol analysis (n = 133), equivalence of UCandAD and UCnoAD could be demonstrated at 6 weeks follow-up (the 95% CI of the difference in improvement in MADRS scores between the treatment groups lies between the equivalence margins of -5 and 5). However, at 13, 26, or 52 weeks follow-up equivalence could not be demonstrated.
Superiority of either treatment could not be demonstrated; no statistical significant difference in effectiveness of either treatment could be demonstrated at any time point in the intention-to-treat analysis.
Protocol violations more often occurred in UCandAD (30 of 85 patients) than in UCnoAD (18 of 96 patients) (p < 0.02). Specialized help from mental health services at 13 weeks (p < 0.01) predicted protocol violations in UCandAD. Chronic disease (p = 0.04) and specialized help from mental health services at baseline (p < 0.02) were predictors of protocol violation in UCnoAD. Explorative analyses showed that patients who preferred UCnoAD violated the protocol more often when assigned to UCandAD than when assigned to UCnoAD (number of violations 11/30 vs 5/39, p = 0.02). Patients who had no treatment preference had comparable results (number of violations 16/39 vs 5/38, p < 0.01). Patients who preferred UCandAD violated the protocol more often when assigned to UCnoAD than when assigned to UCandAD (number of violations 8/19 vs 3/16, p value not significant).
To get an impression of the effect of protocol adherence on the MADRS scores, the intention-to-treat analyses were compared with the per-protocol analyses. The only patients for whom marked differences were found, were those with mild-major (instead of a minor) depression, as diagnosed by the PCP. Patients receiving UCandAD who were diagnosed with a mild-major depression had overall lower mean MADRS scores in the per-protocol analysis (mean difference -2.9 in the per-protocol analysis, versus 1.2 in the intention-to-treat analysis).
Patient's treatment preferences
Explorative analyses showed that patient's treatment preferences were related to MADRS scores at 13 weeks and 26 weeks follow-up in the intention-to-treat analysis. At 13 weeks, patients who preferred UCandAD or UCnoAD and received their preferred treatment had lower MADRS scores. When the patient's preference for UCnoAD was in line with the PCP's preference and with treatment assignment, the positive effect increased (mean UCandAD 15.3; SD 13.9 and UCnoAD 12.1; SD 7.7 vs overall mean UCandAD 13.7; SD 11.1 and mean UCnoAD 15.7; SD 12.3). At 26 weeks, patients who preferred and received UCnoAD had lower MADRS scores (mean UCandAD 11.0; SD 11.4 and UCnoAD 10.2; SD 9.4 vs overall mean UCandAD 11.3; SD 10.7 and mean UCnoAD 14.0; SD 11.8). No relation between patients' treatment preferences and MADRS scores was found in the per-protocol analysis.
No significant differences on the PCS scale or the MCS scale (SF-36) between the treatment groups were found at any time point. For example, the mean score on the PCS scale at 13 weeks follow-up was 43.8 (SD = 8.0) in UCandAD and 46.1 (SD = 7.9) in UCnoAD. The mean score on the MCS scale at 13 weeks follow-up was 40.5 (SD = 11.0) in UCandAD and 37.8 (SD = 11.6) in UCnoAD.
At 13 weeks follow-up, but not at 52 weeks, patients allocated to UCandAD were modestly more satisfied with their treatment than patients allocated to usual care alone (mean item difference 0.18; p = 0.04).
We conducted a large, pragmatic randomized equivalence trial with 52 weeks follow-up in primary care patients with minor and mild-major depression. We compared usual care with antidepressants (UCandAD) to usual care without antidepressants (UCnoAD) and hypothesized that they were equally effective, i.e. equivalent. The results showed that equivalence of UCandAD and UCnoAD was demonstrated after 6 weeks of treatment in both the intention-to-treat analysis and the per-protocol analysis. Equivalence could not be demonstrated from 13 weeks on. Therefore, one of the two treatments could be more effective from 13 weeks on. We took the next step and explored whether UCandAD was more effective than UCnoAD. No statistical significant differences were found between the treatments in the intention-to-treat analysis. In summary, from 13 weeks on, there is no hard evidence that both treatments are equally effective, but neither that antidepressant medication adds substantial effectiveness to usual care alone.
No differences between treatment groups in the physical and mental functioning were found. Patients allocated to UCandAD were more satisfied with their treatment in the short run (at 13 weeks follow-up) than patients allocated to UCnoAD. However, differences were small.
Are there no indications that antidepressants might have some additional effectiveness over usual care alone? Figure 2, which visualizes the results of Table 2, suggests that there are on average small differences between the treatments in favour of UCandAD. In the per-protocol analysis statistical significant differences between the treatment groups were found at 26 and 52 weeks follow-up. Despite the initial lack of benefit of antidepressant medication, the differences increased over time and were maintained until the last follow-up assessments at 52 weeks, long after the treatment had ended. Therefore, it is not very likely that this effect was purely due to a placebo effect. These outcomes should be weighted carefully, as they differ from the results of the intention-to-treat analysis and protocol violation more often occurred in UCandAD. However, given the heterogeneity of depressive disorders, some subgroups of patients may actually benefit from antidepressants. We found an indication that in particular patients with mild-major (instead of minor) depression may benefit from additional antidepressant medication.
A recent review on the treatment of depression in primary care concluded that patients with strong preferences, in particular when psychotherapy is preferred, are likely not to enter randomized clinical trials if their preferences are not supported . We also found some support for this phenomenon. Because of the randomization procedure, 42 patients choose not to enter our trial. Furthermore, we found that protocol violation more often occurred in UCandAD. Patients who were not assigned to the treatment of their preference were less compliant. This was found in particular for patients who preferred UCnoAD or had no treatment preference, but were assigned to UCandAD. The review also concluded, based on results of partially randomized patient-preference trials, that there is no evidence that patient's treatment preference predicts clinical outcome. However, our results indicate that patient's treatment preferences were positively related to clinical outcome, again in particular for patients who preferred and were assigned to UCnoAD.
Our study had some limitations. The combination of a pragmatic and an equivalence trial turned out to be difficult. Comparison of the unadjusted results in Table 2 and the adjusted results in Table 3 show that co-interventions have diluted differences between treatment groups. Moreover, more than 25% of the patients were not treated according to the protocol (Figure 1). Protocol violations reduce the contrast between the treatments. This is considered a problem in equivalence trials, because it increases the risk of erroneously concluding equivalence (type I error) [29, 31]. However, in pragmatic trials, as in everyday practice, protocol violations are common practice. Protocol violations therefore determine the effectiveness of an intervention under normal circumstances.
There are very few controlled trials in primary care examining the effectiveness of antidepressant treatments for minor and major depression, and these were designed to prove superiority of antidepressants over placebo or problem solving treatment [32–36]. None of these studies could prove superiority of antidepressant medication. These results raise questions how liberal physicians should be in prescribing antidepressants to patients in primary care . Our study is the first equivalence trial on the treatment of depression in primary care, while at the same time the follow-up in our trial was much longer than in most antidepressant studies in primary care. Added to the fact that it was a pragmatic trial, mirroring normal clinical practice, the generalizability is high.
Usual care combined with paroxetine (UCandAD) was as effective as (equivalent to) usual care alone (UCnoAD) over the first 6 weeks, but not thereafter. We found small differences in effectiveness in favor of UCandAD, but superiority was not demonstrated. We cannot but conclude that the question 'Do antidepressants add any effectiveness to usual care?' remains open. We recommend future studies to distinguish between subgroups of patients who might benefit from antidepressant medication. Until then, the potential benefits of adding an antidepressant to usual care alone must be balanced judiciously against possible harms such as side effects and dependence. Moreover, patients should be properly informed about the advantages and disadvantages of interventions in order to enable them to make a balanced choice.
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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/5/36/prepub
The work was performed at the EMGO Institute, Department of general Practice, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The study was funded by the Dutch Health Care Insurance Board (CvZ), grant number OG 00-020. The funding source had no involvement; the views expressed in this paper are those of the authors only and are not attributable to the CVZ.
The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
MH, HvH, BT, RvD, and MdH contributed to the design of the study and coordinated the conduct of the trial and the data collection. All authors made substantial contributions to the design of the manuscript. MH and HA performed the statistical analyses; HvH and BT contributed to the interpretation of the data. MH drafted the manuscript and the other authors revised it critically. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Hermens, M.L., van Hout, H.P., Terluin, B. et al. Clinical effectiveness of usual care with or without antidepressant medication for primary care patients with minor or mild-major depression: a randomized equivalence trial. BMC Med 5, 36 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-5-36

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How to Draw Harry Potter
Step 1. In this first step you will star by drawing out the guidelines and shapes that make up the frame for Harry Potter. Start by drawing a circle for his head and then add the facial guidelines. You will then start drawing out the lining for the shoulders and then his jacket to make a nice shape for his torso. From the torso shape draw out the limb guidelines for his legs and feet.
Step 2. Now in this step you will start to sketch out the shape of Harry's Body starting with his face first. You will first sketch out the outlining for his hair style and then his face and jaw. You will then start sketching out the collar and then the shaping of his jacket and pants as shown to you here. Detail his sleeves with wrinkle lines and then his pants need to have a baggy look.
Step 3. Here you will start sketching in his face and detail his hair some more. You will sketch the shape of his eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth as well as shade in some areas of his neck to give him a three dimensional look. Next shade in some areas of his jacket starting with the sleeves and the front. Start shaping out the hands and sketch in the wand. Make the lining for the inner legs and detail the lower part of his pants by making them look cuffed or folded.
Step 4. Here in this step you will now shade in all the hair pieces on his head and then sketch in the shape of his round looking glasses. Shade in the collar as well as detail and define his shirt. You will then start detailing his right arm sleeve by adding some shading as shown. And then sketch out his belt and detail the cuff on the jacket sleeve. Detail and shade in his dress pants the way it is shown to you here.
Step 5. This is the last drawing step and what you will do here is add some sketching detail to his face, jacket and belt. Then move down a bit and detail his pants and then his shoes need more definition and detail. You will then erase any guidelines that are noticeable. Once you are done you can move down to the next step.
Step 6. In the end this is what your sketch of Harry Potter should look like. I used a picture from a story I found in an article that I was using as a book mark for one of my Harry Potter books. When you are done there is no need to color him in but you can add a little color if you want. That will end this tutorial on how to draw Harry Potter step by step. I will be back with more drawing tutorials in a bit so stay tuned.
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Hello everyone I am back with another exciting tutorial for the day. Today I am going to show you how to draw a character that is neither from a cartoon or a game. Instead I will show you how to draw Harry Potter. As you all may be familiar with the story of Harry Potter he is the boy that is the main character of the Harry Potter novels written by a woman named J.K. Rowling. He is a book character that came to life on the big screen and since then he has remained one of the worlds most recognizable characters ever since. The first book that was released was called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the third novel is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azaban, forth novel is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, fifth novel is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the sixth novel is Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and then lastly the seventh book is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter is a young boy that is being raised by his relatives because his parents died when he was just a baby. He was born into a world filled with magic and mythical creatures. He attends the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with his two very good friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Harry struggles with staying sharp and aware of the evil that is constantly surrounding him. It is hard to trust anyone that he comes into contact with because so many people want him either dead or hurt him in some way. He is also said to be a very powerful and strong wizard that needs to find his inner self. He was the son of two very powerful and intelligent wizards. He often finds answers from one of the head wizards Albus Dumbledore. The new movie is said to be released some time in 2009 which is going to be a very exciting day. I like all the Harry Potter novels and I even own a few. This tutorial will show you how to draw Harry Potter step by step. I left him as a sketch because he is one of those drawings that don't look good colored in. I hope you have fun with this one and I will be back soon. Until then stick around and stay put.

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