RUTHFULLY YOURS

Repression lifted slightly in the 1990s but the economy did not, and state-sponsored terrorism abroad continued.

Most backers of the nuclear accord with Iran hopefully insist that the theocratic regime will moderate once sanctions are lifted. Plugged back into the global economy, Iran will become less militant. The “pragmatists”—those surrounding President Hasan Rouhani, who supposedly want better relations with the West, will grow in strength; the “hard-liners”—the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the ideologically ardent clergy—will weaken.

This is an unlikely scenario. Consider what happened after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, died in 1989. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the mentor of Mr. Rouhani, was elected president shortly afterward and remained in office until 1997. Mr. Rafsanjani, with Mr. Rouhani always at his side, encouraged and welcomed European engagement. A regime of global sanctions did not exist, and American sanctions were far less effective then. Tens of billions of dollars in foreign investment and trade arrived.

www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Liver cells produced from stem cells. Scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have successfully engineered large amounts of functioning liver cells from stem cells. It is a major breakthrough as currently, biotechs testing new liver treatments have to rely on donated or purchased organs.
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=155111&CultureCode=en

Simple test for smoke inhalation damage. Researchers at Beersheba’s Soroka Medical Center have devised a simple blood test to determine the extent of damage done to the lungs of smoke inhalation victims. High levels of free DNA in the blood indicates greater damage and will determine resuscitation and treatment requirements.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Simple-blood-test-can-predict-how-much-damage-is-suffered-by-victims-of-smoke-inhalation-410315

Award for 3D denture scanning. Israel’s HoloDent produces a 3D holographic image of the mouth, reducing the time taken to produce dentures to just 30 minutes. (see Sep 2013 newsletter) The students on the BioDesign program that designed HoloDent at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have won Startup Open Israel award.
http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/27308

Successful trials for novel treatment. Israeli biotech Peritech announced successful results in its pivotal trials for PP-110 – an advanced treatment for hemorrhoids. Worth reading here about how PP-110 works.
http://www.peritech-p.com/?p=183

One device to check them all – anywhere. (TY Michelle) Israeli startup Tytocare is developing a handheld diagnostic device that enables a local nurse to check a patient’s ears, throat, heart and lungs, skin, temperature etc. and then send data and photos electronically to a medical specialist. Tytocare has just raised $11 million.
http://www.imedicalapps.com/2015/07/tytocare-smartphone-stethoscope-otoscope/
http://www.geektime.com/2015/07/14/israeli-tyto-care-raises-11-million-with-an-astounding-solution-for-parents/ http://tytocare.com/

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A green park on top of Tel Aviv’s highway. Tel Aviv’s congested Ayalon highway is to be transformed into an oasis of greenery. The Ayalon Roofing Project will create a 593-acre public space for recreation, while enabling traffic to continue flowing below. It will be Israel’s largest municipal project, costing over NIS 2bn.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Tel-Aviv-approves-mega-project-for-green-oasis-above-Ayalon-Highway-409868

Keeping your computer healthy. Israeli startup Fixico has been chosen by IBM to export its remote Endpoint Management product to the private market. Now you can download Fixico to check your computer’s functions, disk and programs upon startup. Fixico has free basic features or paid-for advanced service.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/automatic-pc-repair-uses-ibms-tech-to-keep-computers-clean/