Surf Collective Initiative Part II: PROGRESS
Introducing Coastal Upcycling
Second Exemption Granted For NSW Shark Net Trial
Bird Walks And Talks 2017: PNHA
Come and see and hear some of our fantastic native birds, many of which you'll never see in your garden. Join in a Sunday guided bird walk with Pittwater Natural Heritage Association. All walks start at 8am and end about 10am.
November 26 Warriewood Wetlands. Meet end of Katoa Close, north Narrabeen.
Bring binoculars if possible. Drink, hat and comfortable shoes.More information contact pnhabirdwatching@gmail.com or Ph Kerry on 0402 605 721.
You don't need to book but if we know you're coming we'll watch out for you. Call if in doubt about weather as we won't go out if it's raining.
Come and see and hear some of our fantastic native birds, many of which you'll never see in your garden. Join in a Sunday guided bird walk with Pittwater Natural Heritage Association. All walks start at 8am and end about 10am.
November 26 Warriewood Wetlands. Meet end of Katoa Close, north Narrabeen.
Bring binoculars if possible. Drink, hat and comfortable shoes.
More information contact pnhabirdwatching@gmail.com or
Ph Kerry on 0402 605 721.
You don't need to book but if we know you're coming we'll watch out for you. Call if in doubt about weather as we won't go out if it's raining.
Friends Of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Activities
Spotlight Walk - 8:15pm Monday Nov 27
This walk will take place after Jayden Walsh has shown pictures and talked about amphibians and reptiles in Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment.8:15pm Meet at Katoa Close. Spaces limited to 30 people
Spotlight Walk - 8pm Friday Dec 15Spotlighting walk - meet at start of Slippery Dip Trail. Spaces limited to 20 people
Wildlife Walk - 7:30am Friday January 19, 2018Meet at end of Deep Creek Carpark. Spaces limited to 30 peopleEmail: Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment to get a ticket and book a place for one of these fascinating Wildlife Walks led by Jayden Walsh.
Bush Regeneration - Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment This is a wonderful way to become connected to nature and contribute to the health of the environment. Over the weeks and months you can see positive changes as you give native species a better chance to thrive. Wildlife appreciate the improvement in their habitat.
Belrose area - Thursday mornings Belrose area - Weekend mornings by arrangementContact: Phone or text Conny Harris on 0432 643 295
Wheeler Creek - Wednesday mornings 9-11amContact: Phone or text Judith Bennett on 0402 974 105Or email: Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment : email@narrabeenlagoon.org.au
Eco Paddle on Narrabeen Lagoon1pm, Sunday Feb 11, 2018Black Swan have returned to the lagoon after 20 years - come and see these majestic creatures! This paddle will visit the Western Basin, Deep and Middle Creeks. Beautiful Deep Creek attracts migratory birds from as far away as Russia and Middle Creek has been the subject of a substantial remediation programme. A relaxing 2 to 3 hour afternoon paddle. No previous kayaking experience required, tuition given. BYO boat or a hire kayak can be arranged for you at cost. Bookings essential.Email tonycarr@ozemail.com.au or call 0417 502 056.
Spotlight Walk - 8:15pm Monday Nov 27
This walk will take place after Jayden Walsh has shown pictures and talked about amphibians and reptiles in Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment.
8:15pm Meet at Katoa Close. Spaces limited to 30 people
Spotlight Walk - 8pm Friday Dec 15
Spotlighting walk - meet at start of Slippery Dip Trail. Spaces limited to 20 people
Wildlife Walk - 7:30am Friday January 19, 2018
Meet at end of Deep Creek Carpark. Spaces limited to 30 people
Email: Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment to get a ticket and book a place for one of these fascinating Wildlife Walks led by Jayden Walsh.
Bush Regeneration - Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment
This is a wonderful way to become connected to nature and contribute to the health of the environment. Over the weeks and months you can see positive changes as you give native species a better chance to thrive. Wildlife appreciate the improvement in their habitat.
Belrose area - Thursday mornings
Belrose area - Weekend mornings by arrangement
Contact: Phone or text Conny Harris on 0432 643 295
Wheeler Creek - Wednesday mornings 9-11am
Contact: Phone or text Judith Bennett on 0402 974 105
Or email: Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment : email@narrabeenlagoon.org.au
Eco Paddle on Narrabeen Lagoon
1pm, Sunday Feb 11, 2018
Black Swan have returned to the lagoon after 20 years - come and see these majestic creatures! This paddle will visit the Western Basin, Deep and Middle Creeks. Beautiful Deep Creek attracts migratory birds from as far away as Russia and Middle Creek has been the subject of a substantial remediation programme. A relaxing 2 to 3 hour afternoon paddle. No previous kayaking experience required, tuition given. BYO boat or a hire kayak can be arranged for you at cost.
Bookings essential.
Email tonycarr@ozemail.com.au or call 0417 502 056.
Human-Caused Warming Increasing Likelihood Of Record-Breaking Hot Years
Major Changes: State Environmental Planning Controls(Draft Enviro. SEPP)
$3 Million In Grants Now Available For Commuity Recycling Centres
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Board Meeting In Public
Tahmoor Coal Mine
Tahmoor Colliery MOD 4
Centennial Northern Coal Services: Northern Coal Logistics Project - Mod 1
Moolarben Mine: Moolarben Coal 1 - MOD 14
Barangaroo South
Building C1
Magenta Shores: DA 32-01-2003 MOD 5 -
Reducing Threats To The NSW Marine Estate
Draft Environment SEPP
Primary Production And Rural Development
Draft SEPP And Planning Reforms
EP&A Regulation Review
Repeal Of Two Operational SEPPs
Calorie Counts On Menus Make A Difference
November 6, 2017: University of Technology Sydney
One the most comprehensive pieces of research into the impact of displaying calories on menus reveals it not only influences consumers to make lower calorie choices but also encourages retailers to provide lower calorie options.
The research confirms the move that has been made in Australia towards, and supports a push in the United States, for greater disclosure of calorie or kilojoule information on menus at fast-food outlets and restaurant chains.
The researchers, Dr Natalina Zlatevska from University of Technology Sydney, Dr Nico Neumann from Melbourne Business School, and Professor Chris Dubelaar from Deakin University, collated 186 studies on the effect on consumers of displaying calories on menus, as well as 41 studies on the effect on retailers.
The results of the meta-analysis, to be published in the international Journal of Retailing, show that displaying calorie information encouraged a reduction of 27 calories (112 kilojoules) per meal for consumers and 15 calories (62 kilojoules) per menu item by food retailers.
Lead researcher Natalina Zlatevska, from the Marketing Discipline Group at UTS Business School, says while the calorie reduction isn't much if you only eat out once a year, for those who eat out regularly it can make a real difference.
The impact was also greater for women, with a 60 calorie (251 kilojoule) reduction per meal, and for those who are overweight, with a reduction of 83 calories (347 kilojoules) per meal.
"With more and more food dollars spent on meals purchased outside the home, anything we can do to educate consumers, and make them a bit more aware of their choices is a good start," Zlatevska says.
Obesity increases the risk of many chronic and lethal diseases including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and is a leading cause of premature death in the US, UK and Australia.
Zlatevska says the finding that retailers adjust the choices they offer when required to display calorie information is significant.
"In the same way that corporate or financial disclosure changes behaviour, here we see the disclosure effect changing the food environment," she says.
"We know that retailers are adjusting so there is the possibility of a combined effect. That is where I think bigger change will probably happen. All these incremental changes add up, it is cumulative."
In the US providing calorie information on menus has proved controversial, with constant delays and "push back" from food industry groups fearing the cost of implementing the laws.
First mandated in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, labelling laws are due to be implemented in the US in May 2018, but already there are suggestions they will again be postponed or watered-down.
In Australia, displaying kilojoule information on menus is mandatory in NSW, SA, ACT and Queensland for food outlets and restaurant chains with more than 20 stores in a state or 50 nationwide, with Victoria to follow suit next year.
Remarkable Results For Spinal Muscular Atrophy Drug Trial
November 8, 2017: By Gabrielle Dunlevy, UNSW
An international study involving researchers from UNSW Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick has led to the first approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), providing hope for families.
SMA is a devastating but little-known genetic neuromuscular disorder that affects one in 10,000 babies worldwide, causing severe physical disability and profound implications for the health and wellbeing of patients and their families.
The drug nusinersen, marketed as Spinraza, was registered on 3 November with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as a treatment for SMA, after results of the first phase-three study of the drug were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Two of the 31 study sites internationally were in Australia, including Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick / UNSW Sydney, led by paediatric neurologist Dr Michelle Farrar and involving families from across the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network.
In the blind trial of nusinersen involving 122 patients worldwide, 41% of babies with various SMA types reached motor milestones (such as sitting, crawling and walking), compared to none in the group receiving the placebo.
Dr Farrar said it was challenging to work with such a devastating condition in young children, but the team was motivated by the unmet need and remarkable results it was witnessing.
"It was clear the treatment was working, we were seeing babies getting stronger, defying the natural history of progressive weakness and limited survival," Dr Farrar said.
"This has led to the first approved treatment for SMA and, importantly, provides hope for families."
There is a long road ahead before nusinersen is widely used in clinical practice.
The drug has been available free to infants with SMA Type 1 under a compassionate access program.
In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug for all SMA patients last year.
Introducing Ernie, The Return And Earn Wombat
05 November 2017: NSW EPA
The awareness campaign for the NSW Government’s Container Deposit Scheme – Return and Earn – has commenced in the lead up to the 1 December scheme commencement.
Ernie the wombat with a recyclable bottle and coins
Ernie, the star of the campaign, is a wombat and a natural forager prevalent across most of the state. He embodies the pristine environment we’re working to protect.
The awareness campaign coincides with the roll out of the first Return and Earn reverse vending machine kiosks currently being installed as part of hundreds of collection points around the state.
Small volume drink containers account for a staggering 44% of the total volume of litter across the state and have a detrimental impact on the local environment and community. To address the issue of drink container litter the ‘Return and Earn’ campaign encourages people to collect and return used eligible containers for a 10c refund.
Drink containers eligible for the 10-cent refund include most bottles and cans between 150ml and three litres. Containers should not be crushed or broken and should have the original label attached to be eligible for the refund. People who use Return and Earn will be able to transfer their refund to their designated bank account or donate directly to selected charities. Alternately, they will be able to redeem the refund for cash from Woolworths supermarkets or use a credit voucher towards their shopping at Woolworths across NSW (except Metro branded Woolworths stores).
Return and Earn will make a major contribution to helping achieve the Premier’s Priority of reducing litter volume by 40% by 2020. It will also provide people with a financial incentive to do the right thing and recycle, to significantly reduce the estimated 160 million drink containers littered every year.
Impact Of Coral Bleaching On Western Australia's Coastline
November 8, 2017
Researchers from The University of Western Australia (UWA), ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and Western Australian Marine Science Institution have examined the impact of the 2016 mass bleaching event on reefs in Western Australia (WA). They found significant bleaching occurred in the inshore Kimberley region, despite Kimberley corals being known as exceptionally stress resistant. They also found mild bleaching at Rottnest Island and that the Ningaloo Reef escaped bleaching.
The 2016 mass bleaching event is the most severe global bleaching event to ever be recorded.
Coral bleaching occurs as the result of abnormal environmental conditions, such as heightened sea temperatures that cause corals to expel tiny photosynthetic algae, called 'zooxanthellae.' The loss of these colourful algae causes the corals to turn white, and 'bleach'. Bleached corals can recover if the temperature drops and zooxanthellae are able to recolonise the coral, otherwise the coral may die.
The researchers, led by UWA's Dr Verena Schoepf and Masters student Morane Le Nohaïc, conducted surveys on the health of coral reefs along the Western Australian coastline from tropical to temperate locations.
"We found a concerning 57 to 80 per cent of corals on inshore Kimberley reefs were bleached in April 2016 -- this included Montgomery Reef, Australia's largest inshore reef," Dr Schoepf said.
"Our research also found that there was mild bleaching at Rottnest Island -- 29 per cent of corals were moderately bleached."
"Ningaloo Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site, escaped bleaching, but had some temperature-unrelated coral mortality. Temperate corals at Bremer Bay (Southwest) experienced no bleaching."
Dr Schoepf said bleaching patterns were consistent with patterns of heat stress across WA.
"This is the first documented regional-scale bleaching event in WA during an El Nino year and the first time we have been able to measure the percentage of impacted corals in 2016," she said.
"Coral reefs in WA are now at risk of bleaching during both El Nino years, such as in 2016, and La Nina years, such as 2010/11. But the geographic footprint differs -- the northwest is at risk during El Nino years, whereas Ningaloo Reef and reefs further south are at risk during the La Nina cycle."
"As bleaching events become more common in the future, it is critical to monitor how bleaching events impact coral reef resilience, and how long it takes reefs to recover from such catastrophic events."
Morane Le Nohaïc, Claire L. Ross, Christopher E. Cornwall, Steeve Comeau, Ryan Lowe, Malcolm T. McCulloch, Verena Schoepf. Marine heatwave causes unprecedented regional mass bleaching of thermally resistant corals in northwestern Australia. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7 (1) DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-14794-y
Bleached Kimberley coral communities. Credit: Morane Le Nohaic
A Warbler's Flashy Yellow Throat? There Are Genes For That
November 8, 2017
University of British Columbia (UBC) research might have pinpointed some of the genetic machinery responsible for the plumage colouration in Audubon's and myrtle warblers, related but distinctly feathered North American songbirds. Credit: Alan Brelsford, University of British Columbia
Birds get their bright red, orange and yellow plumage from carotenoid pigments -- responsible for many of the same bright colours in plants. But how songbirds turn carotenoids into the spectacular variety of feathered patches found in nature has remained a mystery.
Now University of British Columbia (UBC) research might have pinpointed some of the genetic machinery responsible for the plumage colouration in Audubon's and myrtle warblers, related but distinctly feathered North American songbirds.
"Audubon's and myrtle warblers interbreed in a narrow band across British Columbia and Alberta," says David Toews, co-author of a new Proceedings of the Royal Society paper exploring the birds' colouration.
"Those hybrid warblers, while considered oddities to some birders, were key for this study because their plumage traits and genes are all jumbled and mixed, allowing us to link their differing colours to genetic markers and hopefully the genes responsible."
Both types of warblers use colourful carotenoid pigments to make several yellow feather patches, including their yellow-rumps -- the birds are colloquially referred to as 'butter butts'.
But only Audubon's also used carotenoids in their telltale yellow throats. Myrtles have white throats and the hybrids have a mix of white and yellow.
The study identified several genomic region s -- one including a member of the scavenger receptor gene family that affects carotenoids in other animals -- that might be involved in this selective distribution of yellow carotenoid colours.
"We found strong associations with several genomic regions across a handful of distinct plumage traits" explains co-author Alan Brelsford. "Now we can now dig even deeper into these regions to understand the mechanisms that make warblers so colourful and diverse."
"This study is unusual in that it focused on variation in multiple colour patterning traits," says co-author Darren Irwin, a professor of zoology at UBC. "Two of the plumage differences between the species, eye spot and eye line colouration, appear to be encoded by a single region in the genome."
Alan Brelsford, David P. L. Toews, Darren E. Irwin. Admixture mapping in a hybrid zone reveals loci associated with avian feather coloration.Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2017; 284 (1866): 20171106 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1106
Women Rock: New Symposium Celebrates Females In Earth Sciences
7 November 2017
The evolution of the Australian continent, the triggers behind volcanic eruptions, and the achievements of women in earth science will be on the agenda at a University of Queensland symposium this month.
UQ’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences organising committee chair Dr Teresa Ubide said the inaugural Dorothy Hill Women in Earth Sciences Symposium (November 15-16) would showcase the contribution of outstanding women in the earth sciences.
“Eminent speakers will cover a range of fields in the geosciences, including marine geology, past climates, geochemistry, geomicrobiology, geophysics, mineral resources and energy, petrology, seismology, tectonics and volcanology,” she said.
“The symposium is not only a great opportunity to discuss science with internationally-renowned experts, but a chance to learn more about the pathways to academic and industry careers and leadership roles in the earth science field.”
Dr Ubide said the symposium honoured the late UQ Professor Dorothy Hill - a pioneer in geological and paleontological research and a leader for women in science.
“She was the first female professor in Australia and the first female president of the Australian Academy of Science,” Dr Ubide said.
“She left a powerful physical legacy of fossil slides and specimens, and authored more than 100 articles and books.
“She is remembered in the naming of a state electorate, a Gold Coast street, a school campus, a library, a marine research vessel, a UQ scholarship and two medals awarded annually by the Australian Academy of Science and the Geological Society of Australia (Qld).
“While Dorothy Hill died in 1997, aged 89, her bequest of personal papers and donation to the UQ library continues to inspire new generations of students and scientists, equally keen to make a positive impact on the world.”
Find the program and registration at www.dorothyhillsymposium.com.au, onFacebook, or contact organisers at dhsymposium@absoluteevents.com.aufor more information.
Read about Dorothy Hill in The hammer that shaped a university.
A portrait of Professor Dorothy Hill by Jiani Sheng, Bachelor of Science (Honours) student with UQ’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Carbon Fibre Breakthrough For Australian Industry
November 8, 2017
CSIRO scientists have produced Australia’s first entirely home-grown carbon fibre, paving the way for Australian industry to mass-produce the next generation materials, used in everything from bicycles and tennis rackets to satellites and fighter planes.
The breakthrough was announced by CSIRO’s Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra today.
“Cracking the carbon code will allow industry to manufacture this incredibly strong and lightweight material for the first time from scratch, using Australia’s own top secret recipe,” Dr Marshall said.
“Together with Deakin University, we’ve created the seed to grow our manufacturing industry in Australia – generating jobs of the future built on home-grown innovation.”
Carbon fibre is only made by a handful of manufacturers around the world, each of whom hold their own secret, patented recipes.
“From wind turbines to aerospace, even the latest Mustang wheels, a carbon fibre industry signals the kind of reinvention needed across Australian industry, shifting our focus from raw exports to high value products to retain our global competitive advantage,” Dr Marshall said.
“This is another chapter in the innovation history of Geelong, where Australia’s first carbon fibre was created from scratch using CSIRO produced white fibre. It’s a major leap forward in turning the region into an international carbon fibre hub.”
Carbon fibre combines high rigidity, tensile strength and chemical resistance with low weight, and is used in everything from aviation and defence to space and car manufacturing.
Today’s announcement that Australia has joined the elite club of carbon fibre manufacturers using CSIRO patented technology is the first step in creating a generation of carbon fibre that is stronger and of a higher quality.
“We want to unlock carbon fibre’s full potential,” CSIRO Research Director Dr John Tsanaktsidis said.
“On our first attempt we created car-quality carbon fibre – we now expect to improve on that result and produce aerospace standard carbon fibre.
“CSIRO’s Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap, released in November 2016, called on Australian industry to play to its strengths by focusing on high value advanced manufacturing. Creating a future industry based on carbon fibre is an excellent example of bringing that to life.”
Australia’s first carbon fibre was produced using polyacrylonitrile fibre, spun on the joint CSIRO/ Deakin University wet spinning line, then carbonised at Deakin’s “Carbon Nexus” facility.
Note
As part of our Strategy 2020, CSIRO has produced a series of Industry Roadmaps outlining challenges and opportunities faced by a number of sectors crucial to the Australian economy.
Released in November 2016, the Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap revealed a blueprint for how Australian manufacturers can survive and prosper in an uncertain future.
For more information, please visit our website Advanced manufacturing roadmap.
CSIRO and Carbon Nexus researchers inspect Australia’s first carbon fibre. photo courtesy CSIRO
Icebreaker Construction Barges Ahead
3rd November 2017: Department of the Environment and Energy
Australian Antarctic Division
Construction of Australia’s new Antarctic icebreaker RSV Nuyina reached a numerical milestone this week with 5000 tonnes of steel cut at Damen Shipyards in Romania.
This marks the half way point in the steel cutting, with some 10 000 tonnes expected to be cut. (Watch our new daily timelapse video of Nuyina's construction in the Damen Shipyards).
Progress was also made on another front today with the signing of a letter of intent by Tasmanian based maritime engineering firm, Taylor Bros Pty Ltd, with Damen Group, to construct two landing barges for Nuyina.
The barges will be launched from Nuyina to complete the ship-to-shore transfer of cargo to Australia’s three Antarctic stations.
The two aluminium landing barges are approximately 16 metres in length and will be powered by two water-jets.
A graphic representation of the RSV Nuyina with the two barges that will be built by Taylor Bros Pty Ltd. (Photo: AAD/Damen)
Nominations Open For 2018 Australian Surfing Awards Incorporating The Hall Of Fame
COOLANGATTA/QLD
November 9th, 2017
By Surfing Australia
Nominations are now open for the 2018 Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame.
For the first time since 2011, Surfing Australia’s night of nights will be held on the Gold Coast on Tuesday March 6th at QT Surfers Paradise.
Tourism and Events Queensland Chief Executive Officer Leanne Coddington said the Australian Surfing Awards’ return to the Gold Coast was fantastic news for the tourism region.
“We look forward to hosting more than 350 guests as part of the awards ceremony, many of whom are prominent Australian surfing identities, including past, present and future world champions,” Ms Coddington said.
“Not only will these elite athletes be recognised for their commitment to the sport of surfing, they will also have an opportunity to experience the Gold Coast’s famous beaches and other tourism offerings first-hand.
“Alongside the World Surf League Awards, Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro, taking place on the Gold Coast next March, the Australian Surfing Awards will reinforce the Gold Coast’s place as a world-class surfing destination.”
World Surf League (WSL) competitor Matt Wilkinson and 2016 WSL Women’s World Champion Tyler Wright took the honours last year for the Male and Female Surfer of the Year awards, while Peter Crawford became the 39th inductee into the Hall of Fame.
“We’re pleased to be bringing the Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame to the Gold Coast for the next two years,” said Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark.
“In celebrating the past and present surfing champions of Australia, it’s important that we move the prestigious awards night to iconic surfing regions across the nation following successful years in Newcastle and in Sydney.”
‘We also thank Tourism and Events Queensland and our valued partners for their support of the annual Australian Surfing Awards.”
Other awards to be presented on the night will be:
MALE SURFER OF THE YEAR
FEMALE SURFER OF THE YEAR
RISING STARS (MALE & FEMALE)
MILWAUKEE HEAVY WATER AWARD
ASB GREATER GOOD AWARD
PETER TROY LIFESTYLE AWARD
SURF CULTURE AWARD
SIMON ANDERSON CLUB AWARD
NIKON SURF VIDEO OF THE YEAR
NIKON SURF PHOTO OF THE YEAR
AUSTRALIAN SURFING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
The Milwaukee Heavy Water Award winner will receive $2,000 and a Milwaukee tool pack valued at $1,849.
The winners of the Nikon Surf Photo of the Year and Nikon Surf Video of the Year will each receive a brand-new, top-of-the-line Nikon D850 and NIKKOR AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens – valued at $6,800.
World renowned Surf Journalist Nick Carroll continues in the role of Curator of the Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame.
Nick Carroll - AJG Pic.
Operated with the support of Tourism and Events Queensland, the Australian Surfing Awards is renowned for recognising the best in surfing talent.
To nominate, visit: www.australiansurfingawards.com
NOTE: Nominations close Monday January 8th, 2018.
The Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame is proudly supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, QT Gold Coast, the Australian Sports Commission, Nikon, Milwaukee, nudie, Australasian Surf Business Magazine, XXXX Summer Bright Lager and DrinkWise.
Biomarker May Predict Early Alzheimer's Disease
November 10, 2017
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have identified a peptide that could lead to the early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The discovery, published in Nature Communications, may also provide a means of homing drugs to diseased areas of the brain to treat AD, Parkinson's disease, as well as glioblastoma, brain injuries and stroke.
"Our goal was to find a new biomarker for AD," says Aman Mann, Ph.D., research assistant professor at SBP who shares the lead authorship of the study with Pablo Scodeller, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at SBP. "We have identified a peptide (DAG) that recognizes a protein that is elevated in the brain blood vessels of AD mice and human patients. The DAG target, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) appears in the AD brain before amyloid plaques, the pathological hallmark of AD."
"CTGF is a protein that is made in the brain in response to inflammation and tissue repair," explains Mann. "Our finding that connects elevated levels of CTGF with AD is consistent with the growing body of evidence suggesting that inflammation plays an important role in the development of AD."
The research team identified the DAG peptide using in vivo phage display screening at different stages of AD development in a mouse model. In young AD mice, DAG detected the earliest stage of the disease. If the early appearance of the DAG target holds true in humans, it would mean that DAG could be used as a tool to identify patients at early, pre-symptomatic stages of the disease when treatments already available may still be effective.
"Importantly, we showed that DAG binds to cells and brain from AD human patients in a CTGF-dependent manner" says Mann. "This is consistent with an earlier report of high CTGF expression in the brains of AD patients."
"Our findings show that endothelial cells, the cells that form the inner lining of blood vessels, bind our DAG peptide in the parts of the mouse brain affected by the disease," says Erkki Ruoslahti, M.D., Ph.D., distinguished professor at SBP and senior author of the paper. "This is very significant because the endothelial cells are readily accessible for probes injected into the blood stream, whereas other types of cells in the brain are behind a protective wall called the blood-brain barrier. The change in AD blood vessels gives us an opportunity to create a diagnostic method that can detect AD at the earliest stage possible.
"But first we need to develop an imaging platform for the technology, using MRI or PET scans to differentiate live AD mice from normal mice. Once that's done successfully, we can focus on humans," adds Ruoslahti.
"As our research progresses we also foresee CTGF as a potential therapeutic target that is unrelated to amyloid beta (A?), the toxic protein that creates brain plaques," says Ruoslahti. "Given the number of failed clinical studies that have sought to treat AD patients by targeting A?, it's clear that treatments will need to be given earlier -- before amyloid plaques appear -- or have to target entirely different pathways.
"DAG has the potential to fill both roles -- identifying at risk individuals prior to overt signs of AD and targeted delivery of drugs to diseased areas of the brain. Perhaps CTGF itself can be a drug target in AD and other brain disorders linked to inflammation. We'll just have to learn more about its role in these diseases."
Aman P. Mann, Pablo Scodeller, Sazid Hussain, Gary B. Braun, Tarmo Mölder, Kadri Toome, Rajesh Ambasudhan, Tambet Teesalu, Stuart A. Lipton, Erkki Ruoslahti. Identification of a peptide recognizing cerebrovascular changes in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease.Nature Communications, 2017; 8 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01096-0
Old Human Cells Rejuvenated In Breakthrough Discovery On Aging
November 7, 2017
A team led by Professor Lorna Harries, Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Exeter, has discovered a new way to rejuvenate inactive senescent cells. Within hours of treatment the older cells started to divide, and had longer telomeres -- the 'caps' on the chromosomes which shorten as we age.
This discovery, funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust, builds on earlier findings from the Exeter group that showed that a class of genes called splicing factors are progressively switched off as we age. The University of Exeter research team, working with Professor Richard Faragher and Dr Elizabeth Ostler from the University of Brighton, found that splicing factors can be switched back on with chemicals, making senescent cells not only look physically younger, but start to behave more like young cells and start dividing.
The researchers applied compounds called reversatrol analogues, chemicals based on a substance naturally found in red wine, dark chocolate, red grapes and blueberries, to cells in culture. The chemicals caused splicing factors, which are progressively switched off as we age to be switched back on. Within hours, the cells looked younger and started to rejuvenate, behaving like young cells and dividing.
The research, Small molecule modulation of splicing factor expression is associated with rescue from cellular senescence, is published in the journal, BMC Cell Biology.
The discovery has the potential to lead to therapies which could help people age better, without experiencing some of the degenerative effects of getting old. Most people by the age of 85 have experienced some kind of chronic illness, and as people get older they are more prone to stroke, heart disease and cancer.
Professor Harries said: "This is a first step in trying to make people live normal lifespans, but with health for their entire life. Our data suggests that using chemicals to switch back on the major class of genes that are switched off as we age might provide a means to restore function to old cells."
Dr Eva Latorre, Research Associate at the University of Exeter, who carried out the experiments, was surprised by the extent and rapidity of the changes in the cells.
"When I saw some of the cells in the culture dish rejuvenating I couldn't believe it. These old cells were looking like young cells. It was like magic," she said. "I repeated the experiments several times and in each case the cells rejuvenated. I am very excited by the implications and potential for this research."
As we age, our tissues accumulate senescent cells which are alive but do not grow or function as they should. These old cells lose the ability to correctly regulate the output of their genes. This is one reason why tissues and organs become susceptible to disease as we age. When activated, genes make a message that gives the instructions for the cell to behave in a certain way. Most genes can make more than one message, which determines how the cell acts.
Splicing factors are crucial in ensuring that genes can perform their full range of functions. One gene can send out several messages to the body to perform a function -- such as the decision whether or not to grow new blood vessels -- and the splicing factors make the decision about which message to make. As people age, the splicing factors tend to work less efficiently or not at all, restricting the ability of cells to respond to challenges in their environment. Senescent cells, which can be found in most organs from older people, also have fewer splicing factors.
Professor Harries added: "This demonstrates that when you treat old cells with molecules that restore the levels of the splicing factors, the cells regain some features of youth. They are able to grow, and their telomeres -- the caps on the ends of the chromosomes that shorten as we age -- are now longer, as they are in young cells. Far more research is needed now to establish the true potential for these sort of approaches to address the degenerative effects of ageing. "
Professor Richard Faragher of the University of Brighton, will today argue for more research into the degenerative effects of ageing in a debate into whether science should be used to extend people's lifespans.
"At a time when our capacity to translate new knowledge about the mechanisms of ageing into medicines and lifestyle advice is limited only by a chronic shortage of funds, older people are ill-served by self-indulgent science fiction. They need practical action to restore their health and they need it yesterday," he said.
Professor Faragher added: "Our discovery of cell rejuvenation using these simple compounds shows the enormous potential of ageing research to improve the lives of older people"
Jeynes, Amy Hooper, Helen R. Dawe, David Melzer, Lynne S. Cox, Richard G. A. Faragher, Elizabeth L. Ostler, Lorna W. Harries. Small molecule modulation of splicing factor expression is associated with rescue from cellular senescence. BMC Cell Biology, 2017; 18 (1) DOI:10.1186/s12860-017-0147-7
The Popular Tabloid Pix Magazine Now Online!
November 8th, 2017: State Library of NSW
Australia’s post-depression resurgence from 1935 to 1939 coincided with a change in the tempo of public thought and the arrival of new pictorial magazines like Pix which gave the public new ways to imagine Australia and themselves. By the early 1930s, nearly all the magazines previously published in Australia had ceased production and only a handful of the well-established titles from the turn of the century were still in circulation.
Pix played an important role in the post-war aspirations which shaped Australian’s and their sense of national identity, albeit in a playful, light-hearted manner. At the price of sixpence, the heavily illustrated magazine featured a uniquely Australian mix of scandal, sensationalism, human-interest stories, fashion, politics, culture and entertainment. Its boldly designed covers included a black and white photo, showcasing a Hollywood starlet, fresh-faced Aussie girl (often in a swimsuit) or quirky animal, shot along with attention-grabbing text .
Pix provided many local professional and amateur photographers with an additional source of income by offering top rates for ‘unusual pictures which have not appeared elsewhere’. One of the magazine’s best features was its focus on Australian content with pages of Aussie jokes and cartoons as well as international photo stories. Proudly proclaiming ‘There's knowledge in PIX - every week’, the magazine’s ‘Photo Crime’ series asked ‘how good a detective are you?’, tempting readers to examine the pictures closely for clues to see if they could solve the crime, as well as including a ‘Check What you've learned’ quiz and crossword puzzle in each issue.
Pix also favoured more liberalised attitudes towards sex in its articles and, following in the wake of the late 60s and 70s sexual revolution, became even more daring with its covers and content – often running stories focused on adultery, hedonism and nudity. At the height of its popularity in the 60s and 70s, Pix magazine was read by millions of Australians. The proliferation of tabloid periodicals like Pix, saw the launch of Australasian Post (1946-96) and People (1947-68); so similar in content were Pix and People that the two titles actually merged in 1971.
Every issue of Pix from 29 January 1938 to 25 December 1954, has been digitised and made fully searchable online as part of the State Library's Digital Excellence Program. This is a major initiative supported by the NSW Government.
By Margot Riley, Curator, Research and Discovery, State Library of New South Wales, 2017
NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 NSW AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
8 November 2017
Medical scientists, inventors, a surf therapist, a teacher, rural community leaders, a Playschool legend and cycling cancer fundraisers are among the nominees for the 2018 NSW Australian of the Year Awards.
The NSW Award nominees announced today are in the running to be named NSW Australian of the Year, NSW Senior Australian of the Year, NSW Young Australian of the Year and NSW Local Hero.
The 2018 NSW Award nominees are:
2018 NSW AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Geoff Coombes, Gary Bertwistle, and Samantha Hollier-James – Cancer fundraisers & Tour de Cure founders (Northern Beaches Sydney)
Professor Peter Macdonald AM – Cardiologist & medical pioneer (Maroubra)
Walter Mikac – Gun control campaigner & children’s champion (Byron Bay)
Professor Michelle Yvonne Simmons – Professor in quantum physics (Sydney)
2018 NSW SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Reverend Bill Crews AM – Humanitarian (Sydney)
Dr Catherine Hamlin AC – Pioneering surgeon (Sydney)
Brian Myerson – Organ transplant advocate (Rose Bay)
Don Spencer OAM – Singer, songwriter & musical educator (Sydney)
2018 NSW YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Macinley Butson – Scientist & inventor (Wollongong)
Connor McLeod – Human rights & disability campaigner (Sydney)
Joel Pilgrim – Mental health champion & surf therapist (Sydney)
Ben Wang – Inventor (Sydney)
2018 NSW LOCAL HERO
Jay Allen – Melanoma crusader (Southern Highlands)
Ian Burns – Community supporter (Dubbo)
Alistair Ferguson – Indigenous community leader (Bourke)
Eddie Woo – Mathematics teacher (Sydney)
The NSW Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero Award recipients will be announced on Monday 13 November 2017 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.
The NSW Award recipients will then join a cohort of 32 State and Territory recipients from around Australia in the national Awards, which will be held in Canberra on 25 January 2018.
National Australia Day Council CEO, Ms Jenny Barbour, said the NSW nominees are among 130 great Australians being recognised at the state level in the Australian of the Year Awards.
"The Australian of the Year Awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding Australians – people making extraordinary contributions to our society," said Ms Barbour.
“The NSW Award nominees are an extraordinarily diverse group of people, yet all are giving in their own way. Their stories remind us we all have the power to help others, to bring about real change, to improve lives, to create and to bring joy.”
Commonwealth Bank has been a major sponsor of the Australian of the Year Awards for over 30 years.
“We are proud to support the Australian of the Year Awards, a program that celebrates the achievements of inspirational Australians,” said Mr Ian Narev, Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Bank.
“Thank you to all of the amazing nominees for your contribution to our nation.”
Geoff Coombes and Gary Bertwistle and Samantha Hollier-James
State: New South Wales
Cancer fundraisers and Tour de Cure founders
Three friends determined to find a cure for cancer, Geoff Coombes, Gary Bertwistle, and Samantha Hollier-James established the now iconic Tour de Cure in 2007. Drawing on their professional backgrounds in branding, marketing and events, the trio decided to create a life-changing bike ride to raise money for pioneering Australian cancer research, support and prevention projects.
The first Tour de Cure, from Brisbane to Sydney, brought together 29 people and raised just over $400,000. Today, Tour de Cure’s signature Tour is considered a ‘bucket list’ experience that raises more than $2.5 million annually. As the charity expands, Tour de Cure hosts a calendar of cycling tours and non-lycra fundraising gala events.
Geoff, Gary and Samantha have also established a kids’ cancer prevention project that has encouraged more than 95,000 Australian school children, to be fit, healthy and happy. Tour de Cure has raised $32 million to fund 266 world-class Australian cancer research, support and prevention projects, that has resulted in 21 breakthroughs.