Peer Reviewed

NATURE VOL.436 NO.7053 DATED 18 AUGUST 2005

H5N1 and H1N1 are high on the international agenda due to fears that it could lead to the next worldwide human flu pandemic. See here for Experts and press releases.

This study finds that household income, child’s age, premature births, and average number of births turn out to be significant predictors of child survival in Pakistan.

Conventional methods of health care financing through tax revenues have failed to meet the health care needs of all, resulting in differential access to health care facilities by different income groups.

The objective of the book is to look into the causal relationships between poverty and lack of democracy on the one hand, and terrorism on the other.

NATURE AND THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE. For papers that will be published online on 14 August 2005

Nature reveals that from the dozens of patients who caught the deadly H5N1 strain this year, the WHO has managed to obtain just six samples.

Press release for Nature's avian flu special issue. 26 May, vol 435, no 7041

The focus is on Asian security issues and opportunities for the European Union to enhance its role as an actor in relation to Asian security. The potential role of Denmark in this respect is also touched upon.

This book has two objectives: 1. It analyses the sources and catalysts of violence in relations between the Muslim world and the West. (Part II). 2. It offers strategic perspectives for reducing Islamic-West inter-civilizational violence. (Part III)

The completed rice genome sequence and the gene characteristics will hopefully lead to improvements in rice production; The red pigment in roses also makes cornflowers blue, which has puzzled scientists until now.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from NATURE VOL.436 NO.7052 DATED 11 AUGUST 2005

Nature research journals - For papers that will be published online on 7 August 2005

Up to three million courses of anti-flu drugs, as well as a policy of isolating groups at risk, would be needed to ward off a human outbreak of avian flu in Southeast Asia.

Rice grown in the United States contains an average of 1.4-5 times more arsenic than rice from Europe, India and Bangladesh.

Dioxin levels in chicken eggs from Peshawar was almost 3-times higher than the background levels and levels of DDT was more than four and a half times higher than the EU limit

Batten down the hatches; Faster sequencing of DNA; Targeting the transcription start site of DNA; A new way to silence genes.

In a special Outlook on India in this week's Nature, K.S. Jayaraman investigates how the industry will respond to new guidelines from WTO and what it can do to tackle the problems it faces.

A commonly used drug could have the power to extinguish the trauma associated with horrific memories

Humans can learn without remembering; How the Earth's insides stay warm; Genes responsible for breast cancer metastasis identified; The age of the Amazon's breath; Hybridization throws up new animal species; Parasites give caterpillars a taste for revenge

Biology: A structure of antidepressants' binding sites; Botany: A twist on corn-on-the-cob; Fast diodes speed up organic electronics; Small doses go a long way; Interfering with HIV.

A report of a volunteer study in Bangladeshi adults of a candidate oral cholera vaccine, Peru-15, has been shown to be safe and effective.

The low-lying coastal areas are particularly vulnerable, thus placing these population, infrastructure, agriculture, livestock and economic development in a high-risk situation.

It is the most frequent bacterial cause of diarrhoea in children and adults living in the developing world and also the most common cause of traveller's diarrhea.

GPS data confirm huge dimension of Boxing Day quake; Genes shine light on mosquito bacterial infections; Mutants arise from Sleeping Beauty; Birds' ancestors showed modern breathing mode; Three's a crowd; Raptors fly the flag for biodiversity

SARS receptor identified in vivo; Insights into the carbon trade; Nitric oxide targets cysteine; Understanding a side effect of TZDs; TACI is mutant in common variable immunodeficiency and IgA deficiency; Genetic influences on anxiety.

Dry dust on Mars; Missions to Mars part 2; Cigarette brain boost inseparable from addiction; An amplified difference in melanoma cells; What the retina doesn't tell the brain; Slow breeders need more space; Sound analysis reveals didgeridoo secrets

This paper presents new approach of Genetic algorithm (GA) to solve constrained optimization problem.

In the Philippines, only a handful of companies have adopted ABC in their strategy formulations and little is known about it. This research focuses on the implementation of ABC, the benefits derived and the problems encountered in using the system.

The Vision and Praxis of Nothingness and Unity in the Spirituality of Chiara Lubich is a qualitative inquiry using the descriptive and evaluative methodology which takes into account the spiritual, theological and pedagogical dimensions.