Peer Reviewed

Japanese scientists have succeeded in fabricating a crystalline thin film with a film thickness of nanometer order, in which molecules of a 3-dimensionally strong porous coordination polymer (PCP) are oriented in a designated direction, and demonstrated that this thin film has a reversible gas adsorption/desorption reaction function.

A research group including the NIMS Superconducting Properties Unit and others, in joint work with the University of Fukui, discovered a new material, NaCr2O4, which was developed by ultra-high pressure synthesis and displays a novel type of colossal magnetoresistance effect.

RIKEN, the University of Tokyo, and NIMS succeeded in forming a skyrmion crystal, in which electron spin is aligned in a vortex shape, in a microdevice using the helimagnet FeGe, and driving the skyrmion crystal with an ultra-low current density less than 1/100,000 that of the current necessary to drive magnetic domain walls in ferromagnets.

Toronto, Ontario; Ithaca, NY; Singapore, August 28th, 2012 - Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has attracted interest from the medical imaging community for its ability to provide live 3D images at near microscopic levels, offering an ‘optical ultrasound’ alternative for doctors.

(Aichi, Japan, 28, 2012) - Aisin Seki Co., Ltd, Japan, has developed an eyelid monitor and identified symptoms in eyelid behaviour that indicate drowsiness in motorists. The new automated technology (Intelligent Transport System (ITS)) eliminates the fallibility of human judgement in gauging when drowsiness is becoming a driving hazard.

Singapore, 28 Aug 2012 ― Researchers from A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) have developed the first compact high performance silicon-based cavity-backed slot (CBS) antenna that operates at 135 GHz.

(Tokyo, 27 August 2012) Tokyo Tech ‘s Yoshihiro Miyake and colleagues have developed an innovative, non-invasive therapeutic intervention that may improve the mobility, stability, and quality of life of Parkinson’s disease patients.

(Tokyo, 27 August 2012) The bulletin contains cutting research from fish collagen for cosmetics and medical applications to multi-petaflop supercomputing, and environmentally responsive organic materials.

(Tokyo, 24 August 2012) Tokyo Institute of Technology researchers show simpler versions of the universal genetic code can still function in protein synthesis. In addition to understanding early primordial organisms, the research could lead to applications preventing non-natural genetically modified materials from entering the natural world.

Children of older fathers have a higher rate of new mutations according to a large genome-sequencing study published in this week’s Nature. The effect is an increase of roughly two new mutations per year for every additional year of father’s age at conception.

Medical scientists at Tokai University School of Medicine in Japan announce the development of a new cancer therapy using ultra violet C (UVC) pulses of light. Details of these findings will be described by Johbu Itoh at the International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (ICHC 2012), 26–29 August, 2012, Kyoto.

The process by which male fruit flies learn to focus their courtship away from females that have already mated and towards eligible partners is deciphered in Nature this week. It seems that the mantra is simple: be promiscuous at first, but become more selective if a mating attempt fails.

The finding that nitrogen can combine with oxygen in zirconia to form NO molecules may lead to safer materials for nuclear reactors

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)'s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) was this year's recipient of the McCool Breakthrough Award from the International Council of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (I-CHRIE), the world's largest organisation of hospitality and tourism educators.

Studies reveal a new way to make superhydrophobic surfaces with better self-cleaning capabilities

Researchers from A*STAR IME have developed an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that uses only 400 nW, the lowest power consumption reported to date amongst today’s standard processing technology.

Transistors made from graphene nanoribbons make efficient magnetic field sensors

A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and Futurewei Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei), have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to develop and advance Through Silicon Interposer (TSI) technology.

Water plays a key role in the co-crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients

Two new genetic variants associated with resistance to severe malaria are identified in a study published in Nature this week. These genetic variants may confer resistance by affecting certain steps involved in disease development. The variants may represent candidates for the development of medical control measures against malaria.

I2R’s Techfest 2012 showcases the latest exciting innovations from revolutionary big data analytics to next-generation entertainment technologies. Techfest 2012 and ICM Horizons will be open to the public from 10am to 6pm on 15th and 16th August 2012.

A method for printing colours at the highest possible resolution is reported in a paper published online this week in Nature Nanotechnology. The resolution of about 100,000 dots per inch could be useful for high-resolution printing for security purposes or for high-density optical data storage.

Singapore, 12 August 2012 - Inspired by colourful stained-glass windows, researchers from Singapore have demonstrated an innovative method for producing sharp, full-spectrum colour images at 100,000 dpi which can be applicable in reflective colour displays, anti-counterfeiting, and high-density optical data recording.

New fossils aged between 1.78 and 1.95 million years old from northern Kenya that provide evidence that early Homo, the group ancestral to modern humans, was a diverse genus are described in this week’s Nature.

University Teknologi MARA researchers studied carotene and antibacterial effects of microwave heated and conventional heated red palm oil (RPO). They discovered that conventional heating reduced its carotene levels but microwave heating retained a higher carotene content.

A quantum communication experiment represents a significant step towards a global quantum network. These findings have high practical relevance for quantum communications between satellites and ground stations, and may enable large-scale tests of quantum foundations.

(Kuala Lumpur, 8 August 2012) - Concerns over the current situation of public art in Malaysia prompted Mohd Fabian Bin Hasna and colleagues of Universiti Putra Malaysia, to assess possible solutions to the problem.

(Tokyo, August 7, 2012) – Researchers at Tamagawa University announced today that they had proved the incompleteness and limit of the security theory in quantum key distribution. The present theory cannot guarantee unconditional security. Details will be given at the SPIE conference on Quantum Communication and Quantum Imaging on August 15, 2012.

Tapping into the power of natural ingredients for safer treatment is the next frontier in the battle against cancer. A recent breakthrough from HKPolyU uses tiger milk mushroom to prepare anti-tumor nanoparticles is bringing us one step closer.

Genome sequencing of a global collection of Shigella sonnei or baciliary dysentery, in developing countries is reported in a study published in Nature Genetics. Their study provides insights into the course of recent shigellosis epidemics. S. sonnei are human-adapted E. coli responsible for approximately 150 million cases of dysentery each year.