Clarivate Analytics and the Science and Technology Policy Research and Information Center on Friday published a report showcasing neuroscience research to help Taiwanese researchers keep up with trends in the field.
The report, titled “Analysis of Neuroscience Research Fronts,” shows that the global trend for neuroscience research is focused on clinical neuroscience and nerve-related diseases, neurogenetics and cognitive neuroscience.
The US, the UK and Germany issued the most papers that were frequently cited, it said.
The University of California, Harvard University and the University of London were the top three institutes that issued papers, the report said.
Papers published by the University of Toronto have the highest average citation and the institute is considered the most influential, it added.
Center director-general Joung Yuh-jzer (莊裕澤) said that nations are injecting cash into neuroscience research, while private funds and venture capital are also investing heavily in new companies in the field.
Neuroscience research from Taiwan is concentrated on neuromodulation, nerve injuries and neurodevelopment disorders, Joung said.
Over the past five years, Taiwan has published nearly 650 papers per year, Joung added.
The report said that Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Taiwan University and National Yang Ming University regularly publish quality papers.
While mostly consistent with the direction of international research in the same field, Taiwan’s focus centers on migraines, sleep apnea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, depression and stroke, a direction perhaps influenced by the number of clinical studies in the nation, the center said.
Some experts said that Taiwan should find a “localized subject of research,” the report said, adding that while Taiwan benefits from National Health Insurance archive data, it lacks a more systematic integration of the data to give researchers better understanding of diseases.
Taiwan could consider extending its research toward medical materials, such as nerve conduits used to regenerate or repair the nervous systems, or skin dressing that would enhance nerve regeneration, the report said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19