NewsBytes

Centre to launch drive to strengthen women panchayat leaders

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is organising a national workshop of elected women representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions in which ‘Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan’ will be launched, to strengthen their role in governance, on March 4 at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital.  The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the capacity-building interventions for elected women representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions across the nation. It focuses on sharpening their leadership acumen, enhancing their decision-making capabilities, and reinforcing their role in grassroots governance.

How brain plays central role in development of obesity

A new study has offered intriguing new insights into the origins of type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as the brain's function as a critical control centre. The hormone insulin plays a key role in the development of obesity. Up until recently, there have been numerous signs indicating insulin causes neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, especially in the brain. The latest study by the University Hospital of Tubingen, the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), and Helmholtz Munich now offers new insights. Unhealthy body fat distribution and chronic weight gain are linked to the brain's sensitivity to insulin. What specific functions does insulin perform in the brain, and how does it affect individuals of normal weight? In their study, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, Professor Dr. Stephanie Kullmann and her colleagues at the Tubingen University Hospital for Diabetology, Endocrinology, and Nephrology found the answer to this query.

Scientists identify blood metabolites behind early childhood development

A team of researchers has identified small molecules in the blood that may impact early childhood development. The McMaster University team shows how dietary exposures, early life experiences, and gut health can influence a child's growth and cognitive milestones. The team collaborated with Brazilian scientists to conduct an untargeted metabolomic analysis of blood samples taken from more than 5,000 children between the ages of six months and five years as part of the Brazilian National Survey of Child Nutrition study. They found several metabolites – small molecules that are by-products of human metabolism and microbial fermentation, known as uremic toxins – were inversely associated with developmental outcomes. Metabolites play important roles in human health especially at early stages of life.

Alzheimer's disease: Researchers discover role of key protein

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the role of the tau protein in Alzheimer's disease. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), a research team at the University of Cologne in Germany has been able to show that a specific form of the tau protein, known as the 1N4R isoform, is responsible for mediating the toxic effects of protein clumps in human brain cells.  The study, published in the Alzheimer's & Dementia journal, was led by Dr Hans Zempel from the Institute of Human Genetics, who is also a group leader in the Career Advancement Program (CAP) at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) of the University of Cologne and University Hospital Cologne. If a person suffers from Alzheimer's disease, certain proteins accumulate in brain cells, forming clumps that restrict normal cell function or even cause the cell to die.

Russian chess legend Boris Spassky dies at 88

Russian chess legend and 10th World Chess Champion Boris Spassky died at the age of 88 on Thursday, the Russian Chess Federation said.  Spassky was born in 1937 in Leningrad and was recognised as a chess prodigy from an early age. He started playing at the age of 5, became an international master at 16 and, two years later, became the world junior champion. He became the first Soviet player to win the title of chess prince. He earned the Grandmaster title at 18, made his Candidates Tournament debut in 1956 (Amsterdam) at 19 and claimed the World Chess Championship title in 1969.

H5N1 in cats: Chhindwara on high alert

Normalcy is expected to return after March 4 in Chhindwara town as the H5N1 virus was detected in domestic cats. The meat, chicken and egg markets are closed and people are advised to visit government hospitals if they have any flu-like symptoms. The entire tribal-dominated district has been on high alert since February 10. This is the first time in India that domestic cats have been detected with bird flu. On January 10, according to a senior government official, 99 domestic cats fell sick and were brought to a veterinary hospital, later two of them detected the H5N1 virus. Although avian influenza usually does not infect humans, in rare cases, illnesses in humans from avian influenza virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death.

Chang’e-6 study reveals ‘magma ocean' entirely covered moon during early stages

A new study of the lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 mission has verified the hypothesis that the moon was entirely covered by a molten “magma ocean” in the early stages after its birth, providing critical evidence for understanding the moon's origin and evolution. This study, led by a joint research team organised by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), has been published in the latest issue of the journal Science, Xinhua news agency reported. The Chang'e-6 mission in 2024 accomplished humanity's first-ever sampling from the far side of the moon, successfully retrieving 1,935.3 grams of lunar materials from the Apollo Basin within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin.

EU exploring new security, defence partnership with India

The European Union (EU) is exploring a security and defence pact with India in line with its similar partnerships with close allies Japan and South Korea. The announcement, seen as significant, was made by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen ahead of her wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an address at a think-tank, she pitched for taking the EU-India strategic partnership to the next level to effectively deal with various geopolitical headwinds. Security should be a core part of our new strategic partnership with India, Von der Leyen said.