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“People think cholesterol is bad for health. But without cholesterol, we could not survive. Cholesterol is important, but its function remains elusive.”

In addition to these young people, members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries and agencies of the Japanese government are also very interested in a career at the U.N. One of the major reasons for this is that the number of Japanese U.N. staff members is currently below the “desirable range.”

There are many types of medicine for which effects are improved and side-effects are decreased when attention is based to the rhythm of ingestion. For example, people with hyperlipidemia are prescribed with medicine that reduces the formation of cholesterol, and this medicine is best taken in the evening.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Parasitology: New coats for old, Physics: Electrons go ballistic and Materials: Nanoribbons produced in abundance

Food technologists at the University of the Philippines Los Baños have identified local squash varieties that may be used for food processing.

The extract from kasoy shell, a recent study revealed, can be potentially used against termites. This is according to findings made by a multi-disciplinary research team from the Institute of Chemistry-CAS and Department of Forest Products and Paper Science-CFNR at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Nanotechnology: Brushes make a difference, Geoscience: Long-term mussel survival in acidic waters and Methods: Assembling large DNA molecules in a test tube

Comparing aluminate and zincate compounds has revealed their versatility, which provides new tools for chemists

A detailed structural analysis reveals new insights into the operating mechanism of a protein pore

A first-of-a-kind switch in chemical bonding by a zirconium atom spotted by scientists

Supercomputers allow researchers to calculate symmetry violations in the strong interaction that holds atoms together

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Cancer genomics hits its stride, Did nickel shortage trigger global oxygen rise?, Antimalarial combats drug resistance, The shape of catalysts to come and Submillimetre galaxies accounted for

“Asymmetric Autocatalysis Triggered by Carbon Isotope Chirality,” was published in the digital version of the American science journal Science (Science Express), on March 26.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has achieved further breakthrough in developing cancer drugs. The innovation has recently been awarded at the 37th International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products of Geneva.

To help protect and conserve the country’s rich floral heritage, a project led by Dr. Nestor Altoveros of UP Los Baños has embarked on the collection and re-introduction of indigenous orchids in selected protected areas in the Philippines.

At UPLB, Dr. Nimfa D. Montes of the Department of Agribusiness Management - College of Economics and Management recently reported that the application of technology related to endoparasite control resulted in significant reduction in death of goat kids, from 70% to 5%.

Genetic regulators of radiation response identified, Lightning as a harbinger of hurricane winds, Controversial Crohn’s disease risk factor clarified, Sequencing a single cell, Pores for complexity, Neuronal cue to never dining alone, Catalysts use the force, Yeast are stuck in a snowdrift and How scratching relieves itch

Cellular proteins assist plant cells to ensure their offspring inherit the capacity to support themselves

The controlled rearrangement of surface-adsorbed molecules can be achieved by careful application of an electric field between a scanning tunneling microscope tip and a surface

Controlled collisions of molecules allow RIKEN scientists to visualize dual microscopic chemical reaction pathways

A genomic study reveals important details about how microbes dwelling in the termite gut help their insect hosts to wreak havoc

Inhibiting GSK-3β, a molecule that causes Alzheimer disease pathology, may also create memory problems

UP Los Baños is currently employing biotechnology to produce clinically-important compounds from an erstwhile common garden plant – the Vinca. According to Dr. Eufrocinio Marfori of BIOTECH based at UP Los Baños, his team is looking for more natural products which can be derived from the Vinca.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has recently received research funding totaling more than $9 million from the Research Grants Council (RGC), the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) and industry partners to advance the study of nanostructured materials on both theoretical and technological application sides.

Multi-awarded computer scientist Prof. Jaderick Pabico of the University of the Philippines Los Baños has developed a computational model that can operate a cheap computer-based system to grade agricultural produce such as tomatoes and eggs.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Possible signature of dark matter detected, Melting mantle plumes and island formation and All in a spin

Sugarcane conversion into biofuel is cost-effective with petroleum fuel when oil prices are high; it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and diversifies energy sources. Ethanol production from sugarcane may look good at the outset but do these rewards true to its form?

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Peek-a-boo perception, Softening bone, Patagonian glacial-age dust machine, New genetic risk factors for breast cancer, Stem cells generate intestine, A new treatment for arrhythmia, Bio-inspired bond-breaking and How does your fungus garden grow?

World Heritage Sites – Why is such focus now being placed on World Heritage Sites? What meaning does protecting World Heritage Sites for future generations have for the 21st century? The history of World Heritage Sites can be traced back more than 30 years ago.

Waseda University plans to increase the number of international students from the current level, about 3000 students, to 8000 students in the medium term.