Peer Reviewed

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Animals: Turn up the heat on sex determination, Volcanoes under ice, From little seeds do laser beams grow, The dark side of X-ray imaging, A stem cell-based therapy to treat muscular dystrophy, Genetic variants associated with susceptibility to lupus

The exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation originating from sunlight can cause harmful effects on human health, such as erythema (sunburn), melanoma (skin cancer), and premature skin aging. This research provides two alternatives in producing structured lipids that has sun-screening effect and has 2 patents pending.

A potentially fatal species of malaria is being commonly misdiagnosed as a more benign form of the disease, thereby putting lives at risk, according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust and the University Malaysia Sarawak.

Urban areas of Indonesia generate about 55,000 tons of solid waste every day. Only about 50 to 60 percent of the waste is collected, and landfill sites are mostly open dumps. The IDRC-backed initiatives are looking at new ways of managing solid waste in slums, through innovative collection, separation, and disposal mechanisms.

A research team with members from Japan and the US has discovered a means of inducing persistent immunity to tumors in mice. In the long term, the work could lead to a vaccine against certain tumors in people.

A new mouse model of human leukemia may provide fresh insights on the genesis of the disease

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Containing uranium, Tethering HIV, Regenerating hair in waves, Listeria dodges host’s immune response, Identifying skin cancer starter cells, Encoding biopolymers with instructions, RNA and tumour suppression and Sing-a-long-a-neuron

Pollen trapped in lake sediments on the Tibetan Plateau provides an indicator of the past climate. Other highlights from Nature China include Trace fossils: Revealing an ancient gardener, Zinc nanowire: Easy wiring, Visual perception: Left or right, Boron nanotubes: Rolling metals into semiconductors and Quantum computing: Making qudits

Spectacular rice terraces, some of which are thought to be more than 1,000 years old, are the landscape signature of Ifugao Province in the northern Philippines. The new issue of Rice Today combines anthropology and photography to explore the cultural and scientific significance of rice farming in this fascinating place.

The last of a series of seven surveys of residents’ opinions towards Hong Kong Disneyland conducted by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) found that residents’ opinions towards the Disney theme park were still mixed, shifting more to the negative.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Receptor signalling in pairs, To mend a failing heart, Seven novel loci for plasma lipid levels, Genetics of height and bone disease, Sleep provides a window into memory, Seeing how viruses encounter immune cells and Transmitting HIV through T cell nanotubes

High-energy protons with polarized spin can now be produced in particle colliders, thanks to devices called Siberian snakes

Statistical analyses demonstrate variability in association between genes and osteoarthritis links to ethnicity. Genes can affect disease differently depending on one’s ethnicity, concludes a team of international researchers reporting in the July 2007 issue of Human Molecular Genetics[1].

Lasing from ‘artificial atoms’ is demonstrated for the first time. Researchers from RIKEN’s Frontier Research System in Wako, in collaboration with the NEC Nano Electronics Research Laboratory in Tsukuba, have realized the first laser made from ‘artificial atoms’ based on a superconducting electronic device.

Local governments should start taking action now and begin implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation policies to cushion the impact of climate change, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said during a video-conference held on November 2, 2007 at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).

Communicating Disasters was published in December 2007. It is a multi-author book that discusses how information, education and communication can help create disaster resilient communities across the Asia Pacific region. It also takes a critical look at the communication lessons of the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004.

There are currently many incentives given to the promotion on the use of renewable energy from biomass in Malaysia. This paper reviewed the current status of the technologies used in Malaysia, with special emphasis given to environmentally clean and economically viable systems.

This paper elaborates on how the optimum harvesting regime is developed and its contribution to the sustainable management of Seraya forests.

Almost 80% of the wood composite products are exported and generates more than RM 5 billion revenues annually. Statistics have indicated that Malaysia exported more than 1 million m3 per year and became the second largest MDF exporter behind Germany since 2001 until 2004

Natural chemicals found in green tea may be a safe and easily administered neuroprotective treatment for Parkinson's disease

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Cancer: MicroRNAs that reduce metastasis, Space: Antimatter close to home, Cancer biology: Suppressing a leukaemia suppressor, Immunodeficiency: A shortage of oxygen to beat infection, Nanotechnology: Roughened silicon nanowires take the heat and The genetics of sex

Experts from the University of the Philippines Diliman are currently working on the development of an optical imaging technique that would provide quantitative analysis of artworks which may guide curators, conservators and researchers.

Many of the historic moments in modern science can now be explored online. The archive of the first eighty years (1869-1949) of the journal Nature, the world's foremost weekly scientific journal, goes live today. Every article published in Nature, back to volume 1, issue 1 will now be available online.

The CIST – Centre for Information Systems Training – was launched in 2005 in Phnom Penh to provide disadvantaged students with IT training and qualifications leading to a job. In 2009 it will reach its full capacity and bring 200 people out poverty each year to become actors of the economic development of Cambodia within the IT sectors.

This book brings together scholars, practitioners, former regulators, and policymakers to address the problem of expanding information and communication technology (ICT) connectivity in emerging Asia. It gleans lessons from five Asian countries — Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Summaries of other newsworthy papers include Walking after spinal rewiring in Nature Medicine and First sign of trouble in Nature Immunology

Researchers identify a mechanism controlling the function of an important cellular protein

Development of a computation system that can accurately predict electron magnetism provides a test of quantum theory

Researchers are applying relativistic quantum theory to explain how graphene could switch from a metal to an insulator

Garcinia atroviridis known in Malaysia as Asam Gelugor is popularly used as seasoning in curries, sour relish and fish dressing. FRIM researchers have discovered that it also has the ability to help reduce weight and have developed it into a herbal tea.