Peer Reviewed

Two genes have been identified that are essential to the reproduction of the hepatitis B virus and are therefore potential targets for novel anti-HBV drugs, A flowering-plant fossil tells us about the origin of the first flowers on Earth, Catalytic carbon nanotube reactors boost ethanol production and more

Japanese learners of English have suffered from an inability to become competent communicators despite their large vocabulary and good grammar. This paper details an approach used to overcome this. The 2nd paper is on a project which puts into practice the principles underlying vocabulary learning.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Saturn’s magnetosphere gets the Cassini treatment, Transients in the sky: Stellar puzzle, Why cold is such a pain, Human carbon footprint leaves a lasting mark on forests, Water on Mars revisited and The eyes have it

ICT is used in almost all phases of the disaster management process. In the disaster mitigation and preparedness process, ICT is widely used to create early warning systems. This APDIP publication gives examples of its use in disaster management.

This publication, with a foreword by Executive Director of UNIFEM, Noeleen Heyzer, looks at information and communications technology (ICT) for development through a gender lens and discusses ICT within a gender equality framework.

The remains of a gigantic, surprisingly bird-like dinosaur have been uncovered in Inner Mongolia, China.

Genetic variants predisposing to celiac disease, Regulating insensitivity to DNA damage, Getting specific with miRNA production, Following mitochondria in mouse neurons and Recombinant RNA

Sarawak, Malaysia - Unimas (University Malaysia Sarawak) will collaborate with European and South-East Asian Partners to develop the Computerized Automative Technology Reconfiguration System for Mass Customization (CATER).

Serdang, Malaysia - Australia's University of Newcastle and UPM explore cooperation avenues.

Serdang, Malaysia - The main aim of the MOU includes promoting staff exchange programme, industry training for students, research collaboration, external examiner exchange and others.

An exciting new program just launched in Asia is encouraging some of the world’s best and brightest young scientists to consider careers helping developing nations, instead of taking jobs focused on the developed world.

Potential drug for atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes, DNA damage contributes to stem cell ageing, MicroRNAs and tumour suppression, Hurricanes: Back to normal?, Evolution: It’s all so predictable and finally Fishy genome swims into view

This is a book that provides a detailed account of the Islamic Resistance Movement in Palestine -- better known as Hamas -- from a Hamas perspective.

Penang, Malaysia - Muslim countries have been urged to increase cooperation and research links, particularly in improving the management quality of hajj.

Minangkabau, West Indonesia - UiTM (University Technology MARA, Malaysia) and Universitas Andalas, Padang, West Sumatera, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for cooperation on a various areas.

A University of Queensland scientist at the Queensland Brain Institute has uncovered evidence that could help to explain why some stroke patients have trouble maintaining a stable image of their visual world when they make eye movements.

Sarawak, Malaysia - UNIMAS and University of South Florida (UNIMAS-USF) education and research partnership was forged through a Memorandum of Understanding.

Sarawak, Malaysia - One of the most important output of ICREPE activities to date has been published “Wise Use of Tropical Peatlands: Focus on Southeast Asia”.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Quantum communication over 144 km in Nature Physics and In praise of forgetting in Nature Neuroscience

The latest breakthrough from UPM is a Recombinant Vaccine for Mannheimiosis, a vaccine that provides a broad protection against pneumonia in goats and sheep caused by Mannheimia haemolytica.

What role should governments play in protecting the environment and controlling the environmental impacts of industry? Do regulations benefit the environment, and how do they affect industrial innovation?

Indian Government and Keio University co-hosted the international workshop “Light Path to India” in Delhi last week to promote collaboration in advanced research projects among Asian countries utilizing the latest Information Technology

The winning inventions include Violet Biothread, Dairy Probiotic, Biofiltration for Wastewater Treatment, Industrial Sludge Reduction Using Biomass Extract, Corporate Governance Screencard, Malaysian Café, Biodegradable Natural Colour Pencils, Drug Delivery System for Herbal Extracts and Semi-Purification Process of Bioactive Herbal Fractions

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Chilly receptor, Very short RNAs make unexpected appearance, Tropical cyclones mix things up, Neuronal duo implicated in diet-restricted ageing, Water vapour in planetary birthplace, Arithmetic is child’s play, Putting a spin on logic gates and How animal ‘personalities’ came to be

Summaries of newsworthy papers include : DNA breakage in living colour – Nature Genetics, Forever blowing bubbles – Nature Nanotechnology and Checking immune activation – Nature Immunology

The ‘localization’ of the English language has caused fear among educators and professionals especially the native speakers that English has turned into a corrupt language. This paper highlights the nature of local variations in Malaysian English

UiTM also received four international awards namely; the ARCA Award (Croatia), British Inventors Society Award (BIS) and INPEX Award (USA). The GENEVA Award (Switzerland) was also won by UiTM for receiving the highest gold medals.

Prof. Shigeru Watanabe and Associate Prof. Eiichi Izawa of Keio University and his group became the first in the world to succeed in drawing up a stereotaxic atlas of a crow. Crows are known to be smart, and the findings proved that the pallium of the crow brain, which is related to intellectual activities, is well developed.

A baby girl of extremely low birthweight, born in Keio University Hospital on 25 October, 2006, was discharged from the hospital on 3 April in good health. Born weighing only 265 grams, she is the smallest baby ever survived in Japan, and the second smallest throughout the world.