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Jetlag skin patch may prevent brain damage in newborns

James Aridas presenting his talk at the FameLab Australia National Final in May. Credit: OK-White Lane © International FameLabA simple and affordable ‘jetlag’ skin patch could help prevent deaths and disabilities of two million babies worldwide each year by reducing brain damage caused by low oxygen during birth.

Monash University PhD student James Aridas and his colleagues at MIMR-PHI Institute’s Ritchie Centre have found that melatonin patches, commonly used to treat jetlag in the US, can reduce damaging free radicals and subsequent brain cell death when they are administered in the hours after birth asphyxia has occurred.

The discovery could help change the fate of around 300 Australian babies who develop disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders after birth asphyxia each year, as well as that of millions of babies in developing countries where treatment is almost non-existent.

[Read more…] about Jetlag skin patch may prevent brain damage in newborns

We’re hiring: project manager/science publicist

We’re looking for a project manager and/or science publicist with 3 to 5 years’ experience to join our team at Science in Public.

Ideally, we’d like someone who’s got runs on the board getting science, health, or environment stories into the public domain. The more knowledge you have of the science world in Australia the better.

You must be able to write fluently and accurately, manage a number of projects at once, and work to tight deadlines. A solid grounding in tools such as WordPress, Twitter and MailChimp would also be useful.

The position is full-time or near full-time and hours are flexible. Pay will be negotiated based on experience and hours can be negotiated to be family-friendly.

[Read more…] about We’re hiring: project manager/science publicist

Turning on our immune sentries

Melbourne, Monash, UQ and the synchrotron find what sends our MAITs into action to protect our gut from invaders.

T-cell-activation-by-transitory-antigens_smallOur guts, lungs and mouths are lined with mysterious immune cells that make up to ten per cent of the T cells in our immune system. Last year Australian researchers showed that these cells act as sentinels against invading bacteria and fungi. Now they’ve identified the precise biochemical key that wakes up these sentries and sends them into action.

Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific: who’s top in Asia-Pacific science?

NPI front cover captureOn Thursday 27 March 2014 (AEDT) Nature Publishing Group releases the Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific as a supplement to Nature. The Index measures the output of research articles from nations and institutes in terms of publications in the 18 Nature-branded primary research journals in 2013.

Here are links to the overview media release and the releases for Japan, China, Australia, South Korea and Singapore.

The supplement is available to download at http://www.natureasia.com/en/publishing-index/asia-pacific/supplement2013

Or click on the image on the image (it’s a 9MB file).

[Read more…] about Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific: who’s top in Asia-Pacific science?

China and Japan battle for science lead in dynamic Asia-Pacific region

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 27 March 2014

China and Japan continue to battle for the Asia-Pacific science crown as the region also boosts its contribution to global science, according to the Nature Publishing Index (NPI) 2013 Asia Pacific published today as a supplement to Nature.

Researchers from the Asia-Pacific contributed 31% (1,371) of papers in the 18 Nature-branded research journals in 2013, up from 28% (1,009) in 2012. Supplement editors say ‘the region will continue to be an engine of growth for quality research output for years to come.’

Last year, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) took the lead for the first time in NPI Asia-Pacific institutional rankings, knocking the traditional leader, the University of Tokyo, off its perch. China accomplished much in 2013, leading the region in chemistry. [Read more…] about China and Japan battle for science lead in dynamic Asia-Pacific region

Australia performs strongly in earth and environmental sciences

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 27 March 2014

Australia retains third place in a dynamic Asia-Pacific region, with its greatest strengths still in earth and environmental sciences, according to the Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific released today as a supplement to Nature.

The country improved its NPI score by almost every measure, with the second highest level of international collaboration in the region. Its contribution to Nature journals grew by more than 50% in 2013.

In the life sciences, Australia ranks third in the NPI Asia-Pacific behind China and Japan. However, it is persistently strong in immunology. Four of the top five regional institutions contributing to Nature Immunology were Australian.

[Read more…] about Australia performs strongly in earth and environmental sciences

Japan remains the major scientific power in Asia-Pacific

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 27 March 2014

Japan remains the major scientific power in Asia-Pacific, despite China nipping at its heels – according to the Nature Publishing Index (NPI) 2013 Asia-Pacific published today as a supplement to Nature.

Japan, which is overcoming the impacts of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, with the help of a US$1.8 billion science stimulus package, continues to lead the Asia-Pacific NPI in physics, life sciences and earth and environmental sciences. [Read more…] about Japan remains the major scientific power in Asia-Pacific

China’s star ascendant as Academy tops Asia-Pacific rankings

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 27 March 2014

China is on track to become the dominant scientific power in Asia-Pacific, according to the editors of the Nature Publishing Index (NPI) 2013 Asia-Pacific published today as a supplement to Nature.

Supplement editors predict China is ‘on pace to take over as the top Asia-Pacific contributor to the NPI in the next two or three years’. The country has accomplished much in 2013, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) knocking the University of Tokyo off the top of the NPI institutional rankings for the first time. Chinese scientists also lead the way in publishing more papers in Nature journals than Japan or any other Asia-Pacific nation. It is also the regional leader in Chemistry.

Despite Chinese growth, Japan still leads the region when the publication figures are corrected for authors’ affiliations. However, China is narrowing the gap and at this rate could potentially overtake Japan in 2014. [Read more…] about China’s star ascendant as Academy tops Asia-Pacific rankings

South Korea regains scientific impetus

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 27 March 2014

South Korea ranks fourth for scientific research output in the region, according to the Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific released today.

In 2013, the nation significantly increased its NPI output following a slight drop in 2012.

Named a possible ‘one to watch’ by the supplement editors, with high levels of investment in science and technology announced by both government and private enterprise, its NPI output is growing faster than China’s. [Read more…] about South Korea regains scientific impetus

Singapore’s scientific output continues to grow

PRESS RELEASE FROM NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Thursday 27 March 2014

Singapore holds its own among its bigger Asia-Pacific neighbours, ranking fifth for scientific research output according to the Nature Publishing Index 2013 Asia-Pacific released today.

The country’s multi-billion dollar research and development investment programme has been steadily growing over the past decade and its NPI output almost doubled in 2013.

Singapore’s three significant research institutions all rank in the Asia-Pacific top 20. The National University of Singapore (NUS), sixth in the Asia-Pacific, outperformed the top institutions from higher-ranked nations, Australia and South Korea. [Read more…] about Singapore’s scientific output continues to grow