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Infographic: USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Dana R
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Infographic: USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

As you work toward your Public Administration degree, you will study the importance of a multitude of organizations, including the ever-controversial National Security Agency (NSA). When President Harry Truman established this government organization, he had in mind an agency that would collect and decode information from around the world. In the infographic below, learn more about the NSA and how it evolved into its current reputation for exceeding the scope of its power by monitoring US citizens without warrants:


University of Southern California Online

Public Administration | University of Southern California Online

Source: USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Technology Uncovers Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles Original Colors

Sonia Pantiss
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Technology Uncovers Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles Original Colors

Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles is getting a digital makeover to show what it would have looked like before its colors faded, Chicago scientists say.

The artist painted three versions of this famous scene, using broadly the same color scheme.

However, time and light degradation have taken their toll on the pigments.

Using a variety of techniques, Chicago researchers have digitally restored the light blue walls and door to their original lilac and purple.

The computer visualization is part of a major new exhibition at The Art Institute of Chicago, which brings together all three versions for only the second time since Van Gogh produced them.Van Gogh Bedroom Art Institute Chicago

It is hoped visitors to the exhibition will get a deeper sense of the emotions the 19th Century artist was trying to convey in the works.

“Science is vital in identifying the pigments that have faded, but then there is a lot of interpretation that we rely on from conservators and art historians who really know the hand of the artist, and know how to dial that virtual knob more or less,” explained Dr. Francesca Casadio, Mellon Senior Conservation Scientist at the Chicago institute.

“This is just a visualization of what we think the faded colors looked like, but barring the invention of a time machine it will always still be an approximation.”

Dr. Francesca Casadio was speaking here in Washington at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The Art Institute of Chicago has one of the bedrooms permanently in its collection. The other two are normally held at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.

How Successful Labs Operate Today

Dana R
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How Successful Labs Operate Today

Running a laboratory can be very challenging. There are many variables that have to be taken into consideration. But there are things that are improving to make labs safer and more efficient. So, if you want to find out how successful labs operate and function today, read on for more details.

Modern Equipment

Modern technology is changing things rapidly in laboratories across the world. In every type of lab, no matter what it specialises in, technology is advancing. It’s making things quicker, safer and making testing more precise. In some drug testing facilities, for example, machines are being developed that can mimic the human body. This means that soon medicine will be able to be trialled on these machines without the need for human test patients or animals. This could be a big step forward in medical laboratories. And that’s just one example of how things are changing for the better thanks to new technology.

medic

Photo Source

Strong Systems

There are different systems that labs often use to keep things running smoothly and efficiently at all times. These systems can be complicated, but they do help to make sure that everything goes according to plan. It’s all about minimising wasted time and resources and making sure everyone has the best chance possible to do the very best work possible. It’s something that lab employees can really benefit from. LIMS systems are one of the most popular well-known out there. They make sure that the system in place is tailored to the specific needs of the laboratory in question.

Strict Safety Measures

Safety is a big concern in any successful laboratory. If a lab is not safe at all times, it will not function the way it should. In an unsafe environment, things go wrong. And when those things go wrong, there are all sorts of other problems that are caused. It’s not just about making sure that everything is kept ticking over either. What’s even more important is keeping everyone safe from harm. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong in a laboratory environment. The precise risks and dangers involved vary from lab to lab depending on what kind of work is being carried out. But every good lab has one thing in common: strict safety measures.

doctor

Photo Source

Oversights and Communication

One of the main ways in which the modern laboratory is kept safe and functional is through strong communication and oversights. This means colleagues making sure that everyone is doing the job as it should be done. The laboratory is a potentially hazardous environment to work in, so communication becomes essential. When people are not talking to each other and letting everyone know what they’re doing and what’s happening, accidents can happen. It’s everyone’s responsibility to make checks and enquiries if they’re not sure that something is being done the right way.

For a laboratory to be successful, it has to be efficient, organised and safe. If it’s not these things, then it won’t stay around for very long.

Syrian Hospitals Hit by Airstrikes

Roy Siemens
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Syrian Hospitals Hit by Airstrikes

A number of people have been killed after airstrikes hit three hospitals in northern Syria, doctors and witnesses say.

According to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), seven people died in an attack in Maarat al-Numan. Activists said another hospital in the town was also hit.

Another strike in Azaz near the Turkish border killed 10, reports said.

MSF blamed pro-Syrian government forces for the raid in on its hospital; Turkey blamed Russia for the Azaz strike.

They come days after Russia and other world powers agreed to a limited cessation of hostilities in Syria.

Almost five years of civil war in Syria have led to the deaths of more than 250,000 people. More than 11 million people have been displaced.

It has not been confirmed who carried out the latest attacks.Syrian hospital airstrike

However, Mego Terzian, president of MSF France, said the Maarat al-Numan strikes were carried out by forces “loyal to President Bashar al-Assad”.

Mego Terzian told Reuters: “There were at least seven deaths among the personnel and the patients, and at least eight MSF personnel have disappeared, and we don’t know if they are alive.”

Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu said a Russian ballistic missile had hit buildings in Azaz, with children among the dead.

Associated Press reported that five people had died at a children’s hospital.

One doctor, Juma Rahal, told the Reuters news agency: “We have been moving scores of screaming children from the hospital.”

Several more people were killed in an air raid on a nearby village, AP reported.

Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since September in support of President Assad and against what it terms “terrorists”.

Azaz has seen an influx of thousands of people fleeing advances by the Russian-backed Syrian army in Aleppo province.

The Kurdish YPG militia, which has been making advances in the area, has also targeted Azaz.

Turkey has shelled Kurdish positions since the weekend and on February 15 promised the “harshest reaction” if the forces tried to take Azaz.

Turkey views the YPG militia in Syria as allied to the outlawed PKK, which has carried out a decades-long campaign for Kurdish autonomy within Turkey.

Syria said the Turkish shelling was a violation of its sovereignty and has called on the UN Security Council to act.

MSF said four rockets had hit the hospital in Maarat al-Numan, a rebel-held town about 20 miles south of the city of Idlib, within minutes of each other on February 15.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group which relies on a network of sources on the ground, said nine people were killed, including a child. The raid also left dozens of others wounded, it added.

MSF’s head of mission in Syria, Massimiliano Rebaudengo, said the strikes appeared to be a “deliberate attack on a health structure”, warning the attack left tens of thousands without medical care.

Another hospital in Maarat al-Numan was also hit, opposition group the Local Co-ordination Committees said, killing three people.

Japan Stock Market Surges 7% as US Dollar Strengthens against Yen

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan Stock Market Surges 7% as US Dollar Strengthens against Yen

Japan’s stock market soared by more than 7% on February 15 as the dollar strengthened against the yen.

Last week, the US dollar fell to a 15-month low against the yen and the Nikkei 225 index lost more than 11%.

On February 15, however, the dollar rose to 113.95 yen from 113.25 yen on February 12 in New York.

The bounce for the Tokyo market came despite official figures showing Japan’s economy had contracted by 0.4% in the three months to December.Japan stock market February 2016

The worse than expected quarter-on-quarter figures did not stop the Nikkei 225 closing 7.2% higher at 16,022.5 points – its biggest daily percentage gain since late 2008.

Last week, Japan’s markets traded sharply lower as a stronger yen against the dollar hurt the country’s big exporters.

On February 12, the Nikkei index closed down 4.8% to 14,952.6 points – below the 15,000 points level and its lowest close since October 2014.

However, a retreat of the yen on February 15 sent shares in the country’s big exporters sharply higher.

Toyota finished the trading day in Tokyo up more than 9.5%, Honda gained 8% and Nissan rose 6.7%. Sharp and Sony gained just over 7% and 8% respectively.

Analysts said the yen could continue to weaken this year, which would be good for exporters.

Elsewhere, markets in China were divided despite worse-than-expected trade numbers.

On the mainland, where markets were open after a week off for Lunar New Year celebrations, the Shanghai Composite closed down 0.6% at 2,746.2.

In Hong Kong, however, the Hang Seng jumped 3% to 18,874.5 points after finishing lower on February 11 and 12.

Trade numbers released on February 15 showed China’s exports in yuan terms fell 6.6% in January from a year earlier, while imports dropped 14.4%.

In US dollar terms, exports fell 11.2% from a year earlier and imports fell 18.8%, marking the seventh and 15th month of straight declines respectively.

The numbers mean the country was left with a record trade surplus of $63.3 billion for the month, compared to $60.9 billion in December.

Analysts said the January trade data was a reflection of slower external demand – particularly from trading partners like South Korea.

In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 finished up 1.6% to 4,843.5 points, while South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index closed up 1.5% to 1,862.2 points.

Nikita Kamaev Dead: Ex-RUSADA Executive Director Dies of Massive Heart Attack

Clyde K. Valle
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Nikita Kamaev Dead: Ex-RUSADA Executive Director Dies of Massive Heart Attack

Russia’s anti-doping ex-chief Nikita Kamaev has died, the RUSADA agency says.

Nikita Kamaev’s death comes two months after he resigned his post following a doping scandal in Russian athletics.

RUSADA said Nikita Kamaev’s cause of death was “a massive heart attack”.

Russia was suspended from international athletics last November. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accused Russian athletics of state-backed doping, corruption and extortion.

“He will remain in our memories as an experienced and understanding leader, distinguished by his high professionalism,” the RUSADA statement said, adding that Nikita Kamaev was able to create a “friendly atmosphere” in his team.

Photo AP
Photo AP

“He complained of heartache after a skiing session,” RUSADA’s former director general Ramil Khabriev was quoted as saying by Russia’s Tass news agency.

“He had never complained about heart problems, at least to me. Maybe his wife knew about such problems.”

Russia was provisionally suspended from international athletics, including the Olympic Games, in November by the International Association of Athletic Associations (IAAF).

The IAAF took action following the WADA report.

The suspension will remain in place until Russia convinces athletics authorities it has sufficiently changed its practices.

Along with Argentina, Ukraine, Bolivia, Andorra and Israel, Russia was deemed in breach of Wada codes.

RUSADA was prohibited from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activity.

Nikita Kamaev resigned from RUSADA in December 2015 along with all the organization’s other top executives as Russia began work on lifting the ban in time for its athletes to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZwiPeUTM6U

Japan’s Economy Shrinks 0.4% in Q4 of 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan’s Economy Shrinks 0.4% in Q4 of 2015

The Japanese economy contracted by 0.4% in Q4 of 2015 compared with the previous quarter, official figures show.

Expectations for the numbers were for a quarterly contraction of 0.3%.

Weaker domestic demand, together with slower investment in housing, contributed to the disappointing numbers.

On an annualized basis, Japan’s economy contracted 1.4% during the period. That compares with expectations for an annualized contraction of 1.2%.

The annualized figure is the rate at which the economy would have contracted over a full 12 months had the December quarter been a reflection of the entire year.Japan economy Q4 2015

PM Shinzo Abe’s plan to revive the economy – dubbed Abenomics – was introduced after his December 2013 election win.

Its aim was to combat deflation, which Japan has struggled with for nearly two decades, as well as boost demand and investment. It also wanted to weaken the yen, so helping big exporters like Toyota become more competitive.

However, growth has remained a concern. Analysts say Japan needs to ensure exports grow in order to support future economic growth – for every 1% that Japan’s economy grows, between 0.5 and 0.7% comes from exports.

Japan also relies heavily on domestic consumption but its population is ageing and shrinking so fewer people are contributing to the economy.

In Q3 of 2015, according to revised numbers, Japan avoided a technical recession. It has already been in recession four times since the global financial crisis.

Some analysts said February 15 numbers should be viewed in context.

“A single negative growth number should not be over-interpreted because the economy remains in rather good shape and continues to get strong policy support,” said economist Martin Schulz.

Investors seemed to shrug off February 15 growth numbers, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 jumping more than 4% shortly after the figures were released.

However, the benchmark shed more than 11% last week, which was a short trading week due to a public holiday on February 11.

Japan’s big exporters were particularly hard hit as a stronger yen against the dollar hurt investor sentiment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPd2VwFgIzM

North Korea Used 70% of Kaesong Wages to Develop Weapons

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea Used 70% of Kaesong Wages to Develop Weapons

North Korea has used 70% of wages earned by workers at Kaesong complex for its weapons program and luxury goods for the elite, South Korea claims.

Last week, South Korea suspended its operations at the jointly-run industrial park following North Korea’s recent rocket and nuclear tests to cut off the money supply.

Pyongyang has called the shutdown “a declaration of war”.

Kaesong was one of the last points of co-operation between the two Koreas.

North Korea reacted to the shutdown by expelling all South Koreans from the complex and freezing the assets of South Korean companies. It has also vowed to cut key communication hotlines with South Korea.

Kaesong saw thousands of North Koreans working for South Korean businesses, making clothing, textiles, car parts and semi-conductors.North Korea Kaesong money

On February 14, South Korea’s unification ministry said in a statement the wages, in US dollars, had been paid to the government instead of directly to the workers.

“Any foreign currency earned in North Korea is transferred to the Workers’ Party, where the money is used to develop nuclear weapons or missiles, or to purchase luxury goods,” said Hong Yong-pyo, the unification minister, in a televised interview, referring to Pyongyang’s ruling communist party.

Hong Yong-pyo added that 70% of the money was kept by the North Korean government while workers were given tickets to buy food and essential items, and local currency. The South Korean government cited “multiple channels” as its sources for these claims but did not divulge how it had arrived at the percentage.

South Korea estimates about 616 billion Korean won ($508 million) had been paid to North Korea over the years.

Hong Yong-pyo was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying that South Korea did not suspend operations earlier at Kaesong because “the international community recognized its significance”, and it shut it down this time because “North Korea was only going to intensify its weapons development, and we needed to make a decisive move to alleviate our people’s security concerns”.

Grilled Dogs: Burger King Adds Hot Dogs to Its US Menus

Nancy Clayson
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Grilled Dogs: Burger King Adds Hot Dogs to Its US Menus

Burger King has added hot dogs to its menus in the US.

The fast food giant plans to launch the hot dogs in 7,100 stores in the US, amid growing competition from other fast food chains.

Burger King’s North American president said adding hot dogs was “the most obvious product launch ever.”

This is not the first time Burger King has turned to new product offerings to boost sales.

In March 2015, the company reintroduced “chicken fries” – deep fried chicken strips – first launched in 2005.

Burger King credited them with helping to drive better-than-expected sales in Q2 of 2015.Grilled dogs Burger King

The new hot dogs, called “grill dogs”, will come in two varieties – classic, topped with ketchup, mustard, chopped onions and relish; and chili cheese.

Burger King has suggested franchisees sell the classic for $1.99 and the chili cheese version for $2.39.

The company hopes the new “grilled dogs” are the perfect product as its restaurants can use the same grilling equipment used for burgers, and many of the same toppings.

Burger King is not the only US fast food chain looking to new products to boost sales.

McDonald’s has begun offering its breakfast foods all day long, while Wendy’s restaurants have begun offering a four for $4 menu – allowing customers to pay $4 for four items on an abbreviated menu.

More expensive chains like Shake Shack have put forward new products to attract customers, such as its “Chick’n Shack” chicken burger in January.

Not all new products are a success though. In 2013, Burger King launched “Satisfries” – a low calorie alternative to chips – that failed to attract customers.

Burger King’s parent company Restaurant Brands International will announce its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings next week.

Restaurant Brands was created in 2015, when Burger King’s majority shareholder, 3G Capital, bought Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons for $11 billion. 3G also owns the Heinz ketchup brand.

CBS Republican Debate 2016: Candidates Clash over Foreign Policy

Diane A. Wade
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CBS Republican Debate 2016: Candidates Clash over Foreign Policy

Republican presidential hopefuls traded sharp blows over foreign policy and the future of the Supreme Court in an often unruly and chaotic debate on CBS News.

After Iowa and New Hampshire, the race has now moved to South Carolina before the February 20 primary.

Front-runner Donald Trump repeatedly tangled with Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in a series of tense exchanges.

The lively audience repeatedly jeered and booed the candidates.

As the candidates shouted down and interrupted each other, CBS moderator John Dickerson warned: “We’re in danger of driving this into the dirt.”

Donald Trump and Jeb Bush clashed over the war in Iraq and President George W. Bush’s role during the September 11attacks.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Jeb Bush responded robustly to Donald Trump’s attacks, a departure for the former governor who originally sought a “joyful” campaign.

“We should have never been in Iraq,” Donald Trump said.

“They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none and they knew that there were none.”

Jeb Bush pushed back, defending his brother who will soon join him on the campaign trail before the pivotal South Carolina primary.

“I’m sick and tired of Barack Obama blaming my brother for all the problems that he’s had and frankly I could care less about the insults Donald Trump gives against me,” Jeb Bush said.

Justice Antonin Scalia’s death was addressed early on in the debate most of the six candidates saying the next president should choose his replacement.

Ted Cruz said “we are one justice away” from the court reversing conservative legal gains.

Donald Trump said President Barack Obama would probably pick a replacement, but stressed that Republicans in the Senate should block him.

“Delay, delay, delay,” Donald Trump said.

Later, Ted Cruz contended that Donald Trump, who has supported Democrats in the past, would nominate liberal Supreme Court justices if elected president.

“You are the single biggest liar,” Donald Trump said to Ted Cruz.

“This guy will say anything.”

The next primary and caucus is in South Carolina next week. Other states will have their turn over the coming weeks and months.

Each party formally announces their presidential candidate at conventions in July, four months before the presidential election.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Z33XKWa_w

Cuba Returns Hellfire Missile Mistakenly Received in 2014

Roy Siemens
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Cuba Returns Hellfire Missile Mistakenly Received in 2014

A dummy Hellfire missile that had been wrongly shipped to Cuba in June 2014 has been returned to the Unites States.

The missile, which did not contain explosives, had been shipped to Spain for a NATO training exercise, the Wall Street Journal said.

It was then taken to Germany and eventually to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris for onward delivery to Florida.

The missile was instead loaded on to an Air France flight to Havana.

The incident could have led to a serious loss of military technology, officials told the Wall Street Journal.Cuba returns hellfire missile

The whole affair has been embarrassing for the Americans, who have had to ask the Cubans if they could have their highly sensitive missile back.

The missile arrived on a flight from Paris “by mistake or mishandling in the country of origin,” said a Cuban Foreign Ministry statement.

“Cuba acted with seriousness and transparency and co-operated to find a satisfactory solution to this issue,” it added.

The AGM 114 Hellfire is a laser-guided missile that can be deployed from an attack helicopter or an unmanned drone.

US officials were worried that Cuba could share the advanced technology inside the missile with countries such as North Korea, China or Russia, sources close to the investigation told the Wall Street Journal.

The US and Cuba, old Cold War enemies, restored diplomatic relations in July 2015 after more than 50 years.

The two countries have been working to rebuild their economic and trade ties.

An announcement is expected on February 16 about the reinstatement of scores of commercial flights between US cities and Havana.

Pensylvannia I-78 Pileup: Three Dead and Scores Injured as Dozens of Cars Collide in Lebanon County

Nancy Clayson
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Pensylvannia I-78 Pileup: Three Dead and Scores Injured as Dozens of Cars Collide in Lebanon County

At least three people were killed and scores were injured in a highway pileup involving more than 50 vehicles in Pennsylvania, authorities say.

The crash, on I-78 in Lebanon County – 75miles north-west of Philadelphia – left trucks and cars strewn across three lanes of traffic and the central reservation.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said 40 people had been taken to hospital and 70 to a temporary shelter.

Drivers have been urged to use caution during the icy weather.I 78 pileup Pensylvannia

A spokeswoman for Penn State Hershey Medical Center said three patients had been brought in a critical condition, three more with moderate to severe injuries and four with minor injuries.

The accident happened at 9:30 a.m. at mile marker 7.5 and the interstate is shut down in both directions, state police said.

Agency spokesman Cory Angell said drifting snow had been reported in the area of the crash, which took place in strong winds on the eastern carriageway of Interstate 78 near Bethel Township.

“You could be driving down the interstate and all of a sudden conditions change because the winds are drifting the snow,” he said.

Witnesses described a scene of devastation with reports that some people remain trapped in vehicles.

“The snow just started and it was a total whiteout. The car in front of us just disappeared,” driver Ashley Fisher told NBC News.

“We were able to stop, but a couple cars slid and hit the shoulder. It was a mess.”

Officials have warned people in the north-eastern US to stay indoors during what the National Weather Service described as “life-threatening temperatures”.

Where Will You Be Spending Your Money This Valentine’s Day?

Lisa.Felice
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Where Will You Be Spending Your Money This ValentineInfographics by www.dailysale.com

Valentine’s Day Dennounced by Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain

Nancy Clayson
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Valentine’s Day Dennounced by Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain

Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain has denounced St Valentine’s Day, saying the festival has no connection with his country’s culture and should be avoided.

The president told students that it was a Western tradition and conflicted with Muslim culture.

Mamnoon Hussain’s remarks came after a district in north-western Pakistan banned Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Valentine’s Day is popular in many cities in Pakistan, but religious groups have denounced it as decadent.Valentine's Day ban Pakistan

Earlier this week, the local government in Kohat, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told police officers to stop stores from selling Valentine’s Day cards and items.

Kohat district is run by a religious political party and borders Pakistan’s conservative tribal areas.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar local council also passed a resolution to ban celebrations of what it called a “useless” day.

However, officials in both places later said the bans had been discarded or ignored for being unpopular.

Earlier this week, there were unconfirmed media reports that Valentine’s Day gifts had been banned in the capital Islamabad – although this was subsequently denied by the government.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l14FEb0s47A

Narendra Modi Wishes Happy Birthday to Ashraf Ghani on Wrong Date

Nancy Clayson
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Narendra Modi Wishes Happy Birthday to Ashraf Ghani on Wrong Date

Indian PM Narendra Modi has wished Afghan President Ashraf Ghani a happy birthday on a wrong date.

Narendra Modi tweeted his best wishes to Ashraf Ghani, writing: “Praying for your long life & exceptional health and a joyful journey ahead.”

Ashraf Ghani gently responded on Twitter only to point out his birthday is, in fact, on May 19: “Greetings from Munich Mr. PM. Although my Birthday is on 19th May, but I’d still like to thank you for your gracious words.”

Ashraf Ghani’s profile on Google lists his birthday as being on February 12, which may explain the mistake.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

It is not known if Narendra Modi himself wrote the erroneous tweet. His posts are reportedly written by his social media manager, Hiren Joshi.

Also, it is unlikely Ashraf Ghani, who is at Munich Security Conference, wrote the polite reply, as any posts written by the president himself are signed AG.

Given there at least 22.2 million Twitter users in India and that Ashraf Ghani has more than 176,000 followers, the mistake was spotted by plenty of people.

One Twitter user in India, replied to Ashraf Ghani: “We don’t care when you b’day is , if our honorable PM has wished you today, we will celebrate it today.”

Another, Richard Rego, said it was “the biggest international joke from someone occupying the biggest chair in the biggest democracy”.

Bexarotene: Cancer Drug Could Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Kathryn R. Bown
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Bexarotene: Cancer Drug Could Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

A number of drugs could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, acting like statins for the brain, scientists say.

In experiments on worms, University of Cambridge researchers identified drugs which prevented the very first step towards brain cell death.

They now want to match up drugs with specific stages of the disease.

According to experts, it was important to find out if these drugs could work safely in humans.

Statins are taken by people to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and the Cambridge research team says its work may have unearthed a potential “neurostatin” to ward off Alzheimer’s disease.

Rather than treating the symptoms of the disease, a neurostatin could be used as a preventative measure to stop the disease appearing in the first place.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The cancer drug bexarotene, for example, was found to stop the first step which leads to the death of brain cells in worms genetically programmed to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

In previous trials in humans, researchers tested the drug at a later stage of the disease to see if it would clear amyloid plaques from the brain but the trials were unsuccessful.

Writing in Science Advances, Prof. Michele Vendruscolo, senior study author from the University of Cambridge, said the research team wanted to find out more about the mechanics of every stage of the disease’s development.

“The body has a variety of natural defenses to protect itself against neurodegeneration, but as we age, these defenses become progressively impaired and can get overwhelmed.

“By understanding how these natural defenses work, we might be able to support them by designing drugs that behave in similar ways.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBhGPr60Q0k

Zika Outbreak: Brazil Deploys 220,000 Troops to Warn of Risks

Kathryn R. Bown
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Zika Outbreak: Brazil Deploys 220,000 Troops to Warn of Risks

Brazil has deployed more than 220,000 soldiers across the country to warn people about the risks of the Zika virus.

The South American country is at the center of an outbreak of the Zika virus, which has been linked to a surge in babies being born with underdeveloped brains.

Brazil has 462 confirmed cases of microcephaly, and is investigating another 3,852 suspected cases.

Troops will hand out 4 million leaflets advising people about the risks of the virus, carried by mosquitoes.

However, critics have said the move would not helping reduce mosquito numbers or stop the spread of Zika.Zika outbreak Brazil 2016

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global public health emergency over the possible connection between Zika and microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small heads in newborn babies that can result in developmental problems.

The link with Zika has not been confirmed, but the WHO and other public health bodies have said it is strongly suspected.

On February 12, the WHO said it expected that a link would be established within weeks between Zika, microcephaly and another neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The microcephaly cases have been centered in north-east Brazil, but the Zika outbreak has affected people in more than 20 countries in the Americas.

Some governments have advised women to delay getting pregnant. Already-pregnant women have been advised not to travel to the countries affected.

Rio de Janeiro is to host the Olympic Games in August. A diving test event is to take place in the city next week, and organizers said on February 12 that some of the 270 athletes taking part had expressed their concern over the Zika virus.

Global Burden of Disease: Air Pollution Causes 5.5 Million Deaths Every Year

Kathryn R. Bown
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Global Burden of Disease: Air Pollution Causes 5.5 Million Deaths Every Year

According to a new research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, more than 5.5 million people worldwide are dying prematurely every year as a result of air pollution.

Most of these deaths are occurring in the rapidly developing economies of China and India.

The main culprit is the emission of small particles from power plants, factories, vehicle exhausts and from the burning of coal and wood.

The data was compiled as part of the Global Burden of Disease project.

Scientists involved in the initiative say the statistics illustrate how far, and how fast, some nations must travel to improve the air their citizens breathe.

Breathing in tiny liquid or solid particles can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, respiratory complaints and even cancer. And while developed nations have made great strides in addressing this problem these past few decades, the number of citizens dying as a result of poor air quality in developing countries is still climbing.Air pollution Global Burden of Disease

According to the study, air pollution causes more deaths than other risk factors like malnutrition, obesity, alcohol and drug abuse, and others. The Global Burden of Disease project puts it as the fourth greatest risk behind high blood pressure, dietary risks and smoking.

In China, there are said to be about 1.6 million deaths a year; in India, it is roughly 1.3 million. This data is from 2013, the most recent year for which it is available.

The key sources of pollution concern are slightly different in each nation, however.

In China, the dominant factor is particle emissions from coal burning.

The project calculates this source alone is responsible for more than 360,000 deaths every year.

Even though China has targets to restrict coal combustion and emissions in the future, it may struggle to bring down the number of deaths because it is acquiring an aging population and these citizens are naturally more susceptible to the illnesses associated with poor air quality.

In India, the problem that draws particular attention is the practice of burning wood, dung, crop residues and other materials for cooking and heating.

This “indoor pollution” causes far more deaths than “outdoor pollution”.

Looking at the broad economic trends in India, the research team says the country runs the risk of having even poorer air quality in the future.

Oil Prices Surge as OPEC Nations Plan to Cut Production

Clyde K. Valle
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Oil Prices Surge as OPEC Nations Plan to Cut Production

Oil prices soared as much as 12% on February 12 after new suggestions that OPEC nations were set to cut oil production.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the United Arab Emirates’ energy minister said that OPEC members were ready to reduce output.

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s oil minister said oil-producing nations were on a “very good path” to clinch a deal.

However, traders said sharp falls on February 11 may have triggered some bargain-hunting.

Eulogio Del Pino, the Venezuelan minister, who recently visited Russia and Saudi Arabia as part of a global tour to drum up support among both OPEC and non-OPEC producers, said “we’re on a very, very, very good path” to reducing production.Oil prices February 2016

Brent crude closed up $3.30 at $33.36 a barrel in New York after falling below $30 on February 11.

After sinking to a 12-year low of $26.05 on February 11, US crude settled up 12%, or $3.23, to $29.44 a barrel – its biggest one-day rise since 2009.

Many traders were skeptical about the Journal‘s report, pointing out that Venezuela and Russia had tried in vain earlier this week to stir Saudi Arabia and other major producers into agreeing to output cuts.

However, some believe that prices would rebound sooner or later if production tightened or demand rose.

Commerzbank analysts said: “We expect declining US oil production, in particular, to drive the oil price back up to $50 per barrel by the end of the year.”

Friday’s price rises were also aided by figures from oil services company Baker Hughes, which said that US energy companies cut the number of oil rigs for the eighth consecutive week to the lowest levels since January 2010.

Drillers removed 28 oil rigs, bringing the total rig count down to 439, Baker Hughes said.

The jump in oil prices helped to boost sentiment on stock markets.

Wall Street was trading higher on February 12, with the S&P 500 rising 1.8% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average up close to 2% in late trading.

Bill Murray Mobile Phones Incident

Lisa.Felice
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Bill Murray Mobile Phones Incident

Bill Murray has offered to pay for mobile phones he allegedly threw from a rooftop California bar after their owners tried to take photos of him.

The comedian was annoyed by camera flashes after fans spotted him at the lounge in the seaside town of Carmel, reports say.

Bill Murray is alleged to have grabbed at least two phones before throwing them.

Police reportedly spoke to him but have decided not to press charges.

The owners were happy to be compensated rather than press charges, the TMZ website quoted police as saying.Bill Murray mobile phones incident

According to the TMZ, Bill Murray was “hanging out” on February 11 at the Vesuvio rooftop lounge, “a popular watering hole for celebs” playing in an annual golf tournament.

Californian broadcaster KSBW reported that a tequila party hosted by the actor and singer Justin Timberlake was being held at the venue.

The restaurant owner told TMZ that Bill Murray had not been drinking at the bar but got angry when “a few patrons got star struck and took his picture”.

“The flashes were going off only 10 feet away from Bill,” the owner said, “and he got so angry he got up and chucked their phones off the second storey rooftop.”

A police spokesman told People magazine that officers were called to “a disturbance” but that Bill Murray had already left by the time they arrived.

Venezuela: Opposition-Controlled National Assembly Plans to Oust Nicolas Maduro

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: Opposition-Controlled National Assembly Plans to Oust Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela’s opposition plans to speed up moves to oust the government of President Nicolas Maduro after it took control of the National Assembly.

Parliament speaker Henry Ramos Allup said proposals would be presented in a matter of days – rather than months.

A day earlier, Nicolas Maduro was given backing by the Supreme Court for a declaration of economic emergency, giving him greater powers.

The country is facing a shortage of many staple goods and rampant inflation.

Venezuela’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports and has suffered substantially in the past year given the sharp fall in crude oil prices in international markets.

Energy rationing has been imposed, blamed by government ministers on critically low water levels caused by drought at 18 of the country’s hydro-electric dams.

The National Assembly speaker and other opposition leaders had previously announced they planned to challenge Nicolas Maduro in six months’ time.

However, Henry Ramos Allup now says Venezuela cannot afford to wait.Henry Ramos Allup on Nicolas Maduro ousting

“Nobody doubts now that that six-month timeframe is too long,” he said.

“It is not we who impose the timing, it is the needs of the country.”

“In the next few days we will have to present a concrete proposal for the departure of that national disgrace that is the government,” he told a news conference.

Henry Ramos Allup called on President Nicolas Maduro to revoke the decree on emergency measures.

He also attacked the Supreme Court over the decree, saying if what it “has done is not a coup, I don’t know what to call it”.

Most if not all Supreme Court judges have been appointed either by Nicolas Maduro or his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. It rarely rules against the government.

Nicolas Maduro defended the court’s ruling and said the measures were necessary to deal with the crisis.

“This decision was taken by the highest court of the country, in accordance with the constitution,” the president said.

Nicolas Maduro’s decree was issued on January 14. It is valid for 60 days and it can be renewed by the president.

The government says businessmen linked to the opposition have been hiding basic staples such as flour, sugar and toilet paper as part of a strategy to undermine the economy and oust Nicolas Maduro’s democratically elected government.

He was elected in April 2013 to a six-year term, replacing Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer after 14 years in office.

The Venezuelan constitution says that a referendum to replace the president can be called any time after the first three years of his term, which will be in April 2016.

Four million signatures are needed to trigger a recall referendum.

The governing Socialist Party suffered a heavy defeat in December’s legislative election. It lost control of the National Assembly for the first time in 16 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0wr4hskpXM

MyShake Earthquake App Turns Your Smartphone into a Mobile Seismometer

Nancy Clayson
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MyShake Earthquake App Turns Your Smartphone into a Mobile Seismometer

MyShake is a free app for Android phones that has the ability to recognize earthquake shaking using the sensors in every smartphone.

The new app can sense an earthquake even when the phone is being carried in a pocket or a bag.

It turns a smartphone into a mobile seismometer.

The researchers want users to download MyShake app, in the first instance, to help test and improve its capabilities.

Ultimately the idea is that recruited phones will be part of a network that not only gathers data but also issues alerts.

Destructive ground motions take time to move out from the epicenter of a large quake, meaning people at more distant locations could receive several seconds’ vital warning on their phones.

“Just a few seconds’ warning is all you need to <<drop, take cover and hold on>>,” said Prof. Richard Allen from the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory.

Prof. Richard Allen has a paper about MyShake in this week’s Science Advances journal, but he has also been demonstrating it here in Washington DC at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.MyShake earthquake app

MyShake relies on a sophisticated algorithm to analyze all the different vibrations picked up by a phone’s onboard accelerometer.

This algorithm has been “trained” to distinguish between everyday human motions and those specific to an earthquake.

The achieved sensitivity is for a Magnitude 5 event at a distance of 10km (6.2 miles) from the epicenter.

In simulations, the app detects a quake correctly in 93% of cases.

All this is done in the background – much like health apps that monitor the fitness activity of the phone user.

Once triggered, MyShake sends a message to a central server over the mobile network. The hub then calculates the location and size of the quake.

False positives are filtered out because the server is connected to existing seismic and GPS monitoring stations, and – if the public take up MyShake – thousands of other phones.

MyShake is available for Android devices; an iOS version is very likely to come in the future.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill Hold Historic Talks in Havana

James J. Williams
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Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill Hold Historic Talks in Havana

Pope Francis has met Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill at Havana airport to hold historic talks.

Both leaders have called for restored Christian unity between the two churches.

The meeting was the first between a Pope and a Russian Church head since the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity split in the 11th Century.

In a joint declaration, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill also urged the world to protect Christians from persecution in the Middle East.

The two-hour talks took place during Pope Francis’s stopover on his way to Mexico. Patriarch Kirill is visiting Cuba, Brazil and Paraguay.

The two leaders embraced and kissed each other at the start of the meeting on February 12.

“I’m happy to greet you, dear brother,” the Russian Church leader said.Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis in Havana

“Finally,” Pope Francis said.

At a news conference after the meeting, Patriarch Kirill said the discussions were “open” and “brotherly”, while Pope Francis described them as “very sincere”.

“We hope our meeting contributes to the re-establishment of this unity wished for by God,” their joint declaration said.

The document called on the world community to defend Christians, saying that “in many countries of the Middle East and North Africa whole families, villages and cities of our brothers and sisters in Christ are being completely exterminated.”

“Their churches are being barbarously ravaged and looted, their sacred objects profaned, their monuments destroyed.”

Patriarch Kirill has been the head of the Russian Orthodox Church since February 2009, while Pope Francis took up his role in March 2013.

The Roman Catholic Church has more than a billion members worldwide, while the Russian Orthodox Church numbers about 165 million.

The Russian Church is the largest and most powerful in the Orthodox faith, which is made up of a number of separate churches.

Vatican has ties with Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I – nominal head of Eastern Orthodox Churches, but Cuba talks is the first between a Pope and a Patriarch of Russian Church.

The Russian Church is the largest and most powerful Church in Orthodoxy.

Cuba was reportedly chosen as the place of their first meeting because it is far from Rome, Istanbul and Moscow with all their historical baggage of schism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcz4QlCbg4I

The Diary of Anne Frank Removed from Wikisource

Sonia Pantiss
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The Diary of Anne Frank Removed from Wikisource

The Diary of Anne Frank has been removed from Wikisource after the site became aware it had fallen foul of copyright law.

The book repository briefly hosted a digital copy of Het Achterhuis, the first version of the diary compiled by Anne Frank’s father Otto, which was published in 1947.

The book had been put online in the belief that the copyright expired in January 2016, 70 years after Anne Frank’s death.

However, under US law the book is protected until 2042.

Wikisource removed the book voluntarily.Anne Frank diary Wikisource

The Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia as well as Wikisource, said its action was “an unfortunate example of the overreach of the US’ current copyright law”.

“In general, the US copyright for works published before 1978 is 95 years from date of publication,” it said.

“Foreign works of countries that are treaty partners to the United States are covered as if they were US works.”

The removal of the book has highlighted confusion over the copyright status of Anne Frank’s famous diary, because so many different editions exist and legislation varies around the world.

Under European law, books typically leave copyright 70 years after the author’s death and can then be reproduced freely.

Anne Frank died in 1945, which suggests that her elements of the original Dutch language version of the diary is now copyright free.

However, since the book was compiled and edited by Anne Frank’s father Otto Frank, who omitted much of the content in her original manuscripts, some people argue that he created a new version of the text which should be protected by its own copyright.

Otto Frank died in 1980, which would mean the copyright of the 1947 edition does not expire in many countries until 2050.

Eurozone Economy Expanded by 1.5% in Q4 of 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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Eurozone Economy Expanded by 1.5% in Q4 of 2015

The eurozone economy expanded by 1.5% in 2015, the statistics agency Eurostat has announced.

In Q4 of 2015, the 19 countries that use the euro grew 0.3%, compared with the previous three months, Eurostat has said.

The 28 countries of the EU also grew 0.3% in Q4, to a GDP growth rate of 1.8% for the full year.

Growth slowed during 2015, suggesting that more action may be needed to stimulate economies from the European Central Bank (ECB).Eurozone economy Q4 2015

Eurostat also announced on February 12 that industrial production had fallen 1% in December compared with the previous month, both for the eurozone and the EU.

Year on year, it fell 1.3% in the eurozone and 0.8% in the EU.

The biggest contraction in GDP came in Greece, where the economy shrank 0.6% in Q4 of 2015, which was better than had been expected.

However, the contraction in Q3 turned out to have been bigger than previously thought, being revised from 0.9% to 1.4%.

Germany’s economy expanded by 0.3% in Q4 of 2015 to an annual rate of 1.7%.

The German statistics agency said that government spending was “markedly up”, while household consumption rose slightly.

The figures follow surprisingly poor industrial production data for December 2015.

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