Peer Reviewed

Have we given a thought to the nurses' anxiety and pressure at workplace? Researchers at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Malaysia have been studying how being burnt out at work affects nurses' job performance.

Latest news from Nature 8 March 2012

Farmers in Malaysia, especially rice farmers, can now take advantage of mobile technology, with information related to planting and other farming practices available at their fingertips, thanks to an initiative set up by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Researchers at the RIKEN SPring-8 Center in Japan have clarified for the first time how chromatin in archaea, one of the three evolutionary branches of organisms in nature, binds to DNA. The results offer valuable clues into the evolution of chromatin structure and promise insights into how abnormalities contribute to cancers and gene disorders.

Joint R&D Centre is first dedicated facility of its kind focused on developing next-generation packaging technologies to feed the explosive growth of mobile devices

An analysis of earthquake and tsunami risks presented this month in the Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology suggests that mangrove forests have a protective role in the event of a tsunami.

The formation of planets occurs under constant bombardment from particles ranging from a few nanometres to tens of kilometres in size, according to recent analyses of asteroid samples by scientists at Okayama University. The study is the first reported analysis of grains taken directly from a solar body in space.

Fumio Futami at Tamagawa University, Quantum ICT Research Institute, announced the world first transmission of the stream cipher by Yuen 2000 protocol (Y-00) at the bit rate of 40 Gbit/sec over 120 km.

Tokyo Tech’s Hiroshi Handa and colleagues have identified a key protein— cereblon —involved in the development of birth defects associated with thalidomide using unique sub-micrometer functionalized magnetic nanobeads. The discovery opens up possibilities for the development of safer drugs for the treatment of multiple myeloma and leprosy.

More than 100 social workers, occupational/rehabilitation therapists, medical/nursing personnel, researchers and clothing designers gathered at Hotel ICON on 26 February to attend the Symposium and Workshop on Apparel for the Elderly and the Disabled with Special Needs, organized by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) will focus on sharing the best practices of indigenous knowledge so That the impoverished 'bottom billion' of the world's population can benefit from more affordable technology, said USM Vice-Chancellor Prof Dato 'Omar Osman.

Latest news from Nature journals 5 March 2012

March 11 marks the one year anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. The Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) is organising a briefing for journalists entitled 'Fukushima - one year on' on Tuesday 6 March 2012. The briefing will be available in both English and Japanese.

PSU had the honor to host the 9th ASEAN Learning Network Council (ALNC) on February 16, 2012. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Surna Tjahja Djajadiningrat, from the Institute of Technology Bundung, Indonesia, and Prof. Chong Li Choy, Director of Asia Research Center at St. Gallen University, Switzerland.

Imaging data suggest that conscious perception has little to do with the primary visual cortex—the region where visual information enters the brain

An Alaskan beetle beats the cold using an unusual, natural antifreeze with a novel mode of action that scientists are beginning to unravel

A theoretical model for the unusual occurrence of magnetism in organic molecules may help develop this class of material for electronics applications.

A*STAR IMRE’s Dr Loh Xian Jun was recently elected a Fellow of the prestigious Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge. He is an A*STAR scholarship recipient currently working on smart biomaterials that identify and target cancer cells.

A total of twelve winners of the 2012 Bauhinia Cup Outstanding Entrepreneur Awards were presented with the coveted prizes at a gala dinner held on 28 February 2012. This event is a major activity of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) 75th anniversary celebrations.

A recent colloquium focusing on creative work, research and development initiatives in the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) campus featured 26 research presentations and a parallel exhibition of UP Diliman journals and R&D partners.

The state government in Saarawak, Malaysia will allocate RM10 million annually to technical education development for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) starting next year.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) aims to help Malaysia become a major contributor to global knowledge and scientific research in the world's fifth largest continent (and the coldest in the world) Antarctica.

Latest news from Nature 01 March 2012

Researchers have synthesized a fungal metabolite and derivatives that inhibit crucial enzymes related to cancers

A robust approach for preparing polymer-coated quantum dots may find use in a wide range of applications

Long diamond tips could broaden the three-dimensional measuring capabilities of atomic force microscopes

Takashi Hamano from Waseda University explores the issues surrounding humans and animals.

A study carried out by fourth year medical students of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has shown that taking contraceptive pill is the most common method for birth control.

Children of of Malacca, Malaysia, who are pursuing studies at Higher Education Institutions have been urged to provide new ideas that can help towards the development of Malacca.

Hanyang University of Korea and RIKEN of Japan, along with other Asian research institutes, are launching the Asian Research Network (ARN). Recently ARN members succeeded in producing transparent touch sensors using carbon nanotubes and ink solutions that can print electronic circuits or change colour in exposure to heat or UV radiation.