COVID-19 Insights from OIST＃6 - Lessons Learned from Other Countries

COVID-19 OIST Insight 6

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The 6th story was written by Prof. Mahesh Bandi.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

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Since the first coronavirus cases were reported six months ago, nations all over the world have dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic via a wide range of measures. Let us examine the lessons we have learned along the way.

COVID-19: Insights from OIST＃5 - Tracking the asymptomatic traveler

COVID-19 OIST Insight vol.5

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The 5th story was written by Prof. Mahesh M. Bandi.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

In deep water: combatting the extinction of sharks

The latest OIST column in the Asahi Shimbun GLOBE+ is out now! This month we wrote about the shark research that is being carried out at OIST and the University of the Ryukyus. The article is in Japanese, but the original English translation is given below.

In deep water: combatting the extinction of sharks

COVID-19 Insights from OIST＃4 - Vaccine Development

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The forth story was written by Provost Mary Collins.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

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COVID-19: OIST Insights #3 - How we can best prevent virus infection and accurately identify the virus?

OIST is collaborating with an Okinawa's newspaper Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The second story of the series was written by President Peter Gruss and Provost Mary Collins.

The article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

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COVID-19: OIST Insights #2 - What makes it so difficult to treat viral infections?

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The second story of the series was written by President Peter Gruss.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

What makes it so difficult to treat viral infections?

COVID-19 Insights from OIST#1 - Understanding the threat

OIST is collaborating with Ryukyu Shimpo for a series of column articles related to COVID-19 on weekly basis. The first story was written by President Peter Gruss.

Article is in Japanese, but please see below the original draft in English.

Understanding the threat

The new coronavirus COVID-19 has inflicted a global health emergency.

There are physical steps we can all take to reduce its spread and protect human lives. But the fightback is also greatly strengthened by society’s understanding of infectious diseases.

Turning Disability Into Ability

Kaori Serakaki, 43, is a graphic designer at Media Section, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). Serakaki designs posters and pamphlets for various events the university hosts. Her sophisticated designs have earned high recognition and are essential to her team. The designer has Asperger’s Syndrome, a developmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in communication.

"Look for Something That You Can Really Get Into" (OIST-Shimpo Next Generation Education Project)

As part of the OIST-Shimpo Next Generation Education Projects, OIST and Ryukyu Shimpo cohosted a lecture by Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, a Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine at Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Naha on March 25th.  OIST has also introduced some of their science for young generations at the exhibition which coincided with the lecture. 

You can read the full article in Japanese from here.

What Makes a Jellyfish?

Scientists in the OIST Marine Genomics Unit have uncovered some surprising history hidden in the genes of two species of jellyfish. The new study, published on April 16, 2019 in Nature Ecology & Evolution, reports the genomes of two jellyfish species and investigated why some creatures can enter the medusa stage while others remain frozen as polyps.

Media Coverage:

NHK Broadcast Satoh Unit's Jellyfish Story

NHK's signature morning program "Ohayo Nippon" broadcast OIST's recent study which was published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

You can learn what makes jellyfish from here: https://www.oist.jp/news-center/press-releases/what-makes-jellyfish

Umibudo Genome Decoding, the Center of Attention!

The Marine Genomics Unit  (Prof. Satoh) has decoded the genome of the popular umibudo (seagrapes), providing data that could someday be critical to local farmers. 

OIST Column: PHD Student Started an Event for Nerds!?

Maggi Brisbin, a PHD Student who studies marine biology at the Mitarai Unit innitiated an event of "nerds", by "nerds" in Okinawa.  Tomomi Okubo from the OIST Media Section contributed the column (available only in Japanese) to the Asahi Shimbun GLOBE+ and introduced why and how she started it. 
https://globe.asahi.com/article/12230647

Singing Folk Songs - Keep the Okinawa's Dialects Alive

A local newspaper, the Okinawa Times introduced Mr. Takaaki Iwasa, OIST Associate Vice President for the Office of the Chief Operating Officer about his feeling toward "Shimakutuba," Okinawa's dialect. He learned Okinawa's three strings, sanshin and songs which are usually written in the dialect. He says that singing and passing down the folk songs are a good way to keep the dialects alive.

Read the article online.

Scientists Crack Genome of Superfood Seaweed, Ito-Mozuku

Machine Learning Tracks Moving Cells

Small Brains, Big Picture: Study Unveils C. elegans’ Microscopic Mysteries

A joint collaboration between scientists from the Information Processing Biotlogy Unit and the Neurobiology Research Unit discovered how brain cells in the microscopic worm C. elegans send electrical signals. The results from their research on the minuscule animal can serve as a future model for piecing together neuronal processing in other organisms, including humans.

Their work was published in Scientific Reports on March 5, 2019.

Prof. Kono Helps Uncover How Cells Split Smoothly

<Column> OIST Science Talk Season 2 : No. 6 - Dr. Tsumoru Shintake

OIST Communication and Public Relations Division hold  "OIST Scientists Talk on Clothing, Food and Housing" at Junku-do Bookstore Naha from 6:30pm - 7:30 pm every second Friday of the month. 

Before the each event, OIST Communications staff introduces the speaker.  This time, Tomomi Okubo, The Media Section staff wrote about Dr. Tsumoru Shintake and introduced about his project on wave power generator.

Contributed Article on Citizen Science and Fire Ant Countermeasure

Dr. Masashi Yoshimura, the coordinator of the OKEON Churamori Project contributed an article to the journal "Seibutsu no kagaku Iden” and it is published on Vol.73 No.2 in 2019.

Chapter 3. Citizen Science and RIFA Countermeasure
By Masashi Yoshimura (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology)

You can read the article from here (In Japanese only)

 

Mouse Model of Parkinson's in the News