Peer Reviewed

NIMS has developed a new material which enables long-term immobilization of highly concentrated cesium.

The NIMS International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), in joint research with other institutions, developed a novel method, "chemical soldering", which enables us to connect single conductive polymer nanowires to individual organic molecules.

The 4th World Materials Research Institutes Forum (4th WMRIF) was held at the Institute of Metal Research　(IMR), Chinese Academy of sciences, at Shenyang, China, during May 22-26, 2011.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) welcomed the Report from the Quality Assurance Council (QAC) released 9 June 2011. The report concluded that "PolyU has a long-standing and firm commitment to quality assurance" and that "there is a strong culture of quality assurance in the University".

In an effort to help rebuild research communities in areas devastated by the recent earthquake, the RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC), together with bioinformatics solution provider CLC bio Japan, will provide a free software environment for advanced DNA/RNA/protein analysis to researchers in affected areas.

Waseda University’s green computing system links the world’s highest-performing fundamental technology to the competitive industry of Japanese industry. The system also contributes to the formation of a sustainable global society.

RIKEN and the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) have successfully produced a first beam of X-ray laser light with a wavelength of 1.2 Angstroms.

Researchers from Institute of Materials Research and Engineering have invented new ‘smart’ biomaterials including a unique hydrogel that has an on-off switch to precisely control its density and a new modular block copolymer that can be tailored to be triggered by specific temperatures.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Chemistry: Finding a ‘Goldilocks’ catalyst; Photonics: A cellular laser; Methods: Fast and sensitive sequencing; Geoscience: Rain in the Sahel; Immunology: Inducing lung immune centers; And finally…Genetics: Variants associated with migraine

The year 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of Japan–Germany relations as well as the centennial of the Max Planck Society (MPG), an important international partner for RIKEN.

Tiny membrane pockets that gain catalytic activity upon self-assembly in water shed light on biological enzymatic processes

Brain structure is maintained during development by two distinct mechanisms that regulate the production and movement of cells

CMU researchers invented an analyzer capable of measuring the quantity and size of pollutants and aerosols in smoke emissions, providing an equally accurate, lower-priced, local Thai substitute for pollution monitoring equipment imported from abroad.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Biology: Target for type 2 diabetes and obesity treatment; Comment: End the bias against non-native species; Virology: Modelling HCV; Quantum physics: Catching the wavefunction; Chemistry: Probing the air–water interface; Flies hot-foot it to safety; Stem cells: Mending a broken heart

Better insulation makes phase-change memory work faster and more efficiently

Periodic structures in organic light-emitters can efficiently enhance and replenish surface plasmon waves

A silicon waveguide that converts the polarization mode of light could speed up the operation of photonic circuits

Software originating at A*STAR that optimizes the flow of resources is enabling the aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing sectors to stay lean and flexible.

Scientists from Singapore have created a new chemical method that enables the development of a variety of tiny light conducting metal-semiconductor contacts. These light-sensitive nano-sized components could help create bioimaging labels as well as better photocatalysts used in fuel cells.

Summaries of newsworthy papers - Nature: Sculpting of the inner Solar System; Neuroscience: Insul(in)-ation from obesity; Geoscience: Slow release of carbon during ancient warming; Nature: Genomic clues for targeting chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; Geoscience: Permafrost degradation leads to wetland loss.

Keiko Sakagami of Waseda University looks at the role of nature in Japanese art and how events such as the 2011 earthquake can affect the viewer's response.

More than 500 delegates from 37 countries and territories are gathering in Hong Kong to attend the 9th Asia-Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (APacCHRIE) Conference organized by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 2 to 5 June 2011.

Shiro Segawa of Waseda University examines the media response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and the ensuing disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Taishi Takenobu of Waseda University gives an overview of his research history in materials science, seeking next generation functional materials.

Trapping four silicon atoms into a short-lived, diamond-shaped complex gives surprising insights into aromaticity

The first cubic-shaped complexes of rare-earth metals and organic carbenes present chemists with a unique structure motif for carbene chemistry study

Gene expression data offer surprising evidence that embryos of different vertebrate species are most similar at intermediate stages of development

Nazlin Asari of UiTM Shah Alam Malaysia studied the diversity of bamboo in the Pahang National Park, Malaysia.

Five Canadian and Developing Country Teams to Study Climate Change Adaptation

Organized and hosted by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the Fourth International Forum on China Hotel Brand Development was kicked off on 1 June at PolyU’s teaching and research hotel, Hotel ICON.