Peer Reviewed

Under the Abe administration in 2007, the then minister Watanabe hammered out the public service reform as an eye-catcher for an Upper House election. He advertised his enthusiasm for the reform by establishing two conferences related to the public service reform immediately before the election.

Since the early 1990s, within my research in international developmental cooperation and international environmental cooperation, I have worked to establish a model for “the development of social capacity and institutional change”, a model that can become a new policy for international development.

Determining the molecular workings of plant cells is now possible using a newly developed method

Experiments with a rotating magnetic field provide new understanding on its coupling to the electric polarization of a multiferroic material

Brain cells called astrocytes secrete the S100B protein to modulate the network activity of neurons

A cooperative effect gives rare-earth metal complexes with two metal centers better selectivity than single metal catalysts

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Volcanoes: Under my umbrella, Developmental biology: Molecule implicated in stem cell engraftment, Earth Science: The lingering effects of deglaciation, Gene Patenting: new perspectives and potential problems and Oldest, well-preserved bony fish found

Based on a ‘Future Alternative Fuel for Sustainability’ theme, two groups of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) students secured second place for Model Car Invention and poster production categories

Summaries of newsworthy papers including; Heat-assisted magnetic recording, Geoscience: Dangers in the deep, Risk factors for cardiovascular health, Unexpected tumour growth?, Chemical Biology: Fragment filtering goes virtual, Finding footprints in the genome, And finally…Stellar evolution: Is it or isn’t it?

Ultrafast lasers instantaneously track a molecular twist in progress

Multiple timescales of neural activities are important to motor-control systems in animals, according to research using robots

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Metal rings for molecular dumb-bells, Heat in the crust, Light switch for brain signalling pathways, Pollen tube attractant found and Ancient feathered dinosaur and rise of the blogs

Working in collaboration with the government departments, researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University are taking active steps to ease traffic noise generated from frictional contact between vehicle tyre and road surface.

Results of the Open Grant research project "Systems Approach to Teacher Mentoring and Urban Poor Student Achievement" were presented in the forum "Pagbabago sa Silid Aralan: Kung Hindi Ngayon, Kailan?" Six reactors from different fields were invited to analyze the study and the current condition of the Philippine educational system.

The 1st University of the Philippines Asian Institute of Tourism Conference featured folklore of Sariaya, Quezon for a glimpse into the province's history and culture. The conference presented partial findings of the Open Grant Research Project on "Alternative Model Towards Sustainable Tourism," funded by the Chancellor of UP Diliman.

A technological innovation for art authentication and preventive conservation was developed by a multidisciplinary research team from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. The new technology was installed at the UP Vargas Museum to preserve artworks of Philippine National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Model projections suggest ice-free Arctic Ocean by 2100, Quantum entanglement could boost communication capacity, New York sea level to rise owing to slowing ocean circulation, A brain trauma–Alzheimer’s disease connection, How nerve fibres degenerate, Many antibodies make light work and Shutting the door on obesity

Civil and structural engineering experts of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) were recently granted two first-honour research awards in the technology category by the Technology Development Centre, established under the Ministry of Education in Mainland China.

A new quantum theory describes magnetism in multiferroic materials more realistically than earlier theories

A previously enigmatic protein has been found to play a direct role in monitoring glucose levels in the body

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Link between cancer and dietary restriction, Was the Wenchuan quake an indicator of crustal shortening?, The smart way to beat hunger, Sorting senses in the fruitfly, Real time light–matter mix and A new super-battery!

Originally, the Japanese and Chinese languages are quite different from each other. The Japanese originally had no written characters, but they adopted Chinese characters and adjusted them accordingly for use in a variety of societies within Japan.

A large headline at the top of the first page of the January 19th evening edition of The Asahi Shimbun reported, "Yokohama city to start unified elementary and junior high school education."

Summaries of newsworthy papers in Nature and Nature research journals including: Turning decision-making on its head, Weaving a web of tiny reactors and Neuroscience: Forming first impressions.

SERDANG, 2 March – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has entered into collaboration with Solution Engineering Holdings Bhd. (SEH) in designing and producing a pilot plant in Puchong, Malaysia worth RM4 mil (USD1.1 mil) that will be capable to produce bio based vegetable oil.

PETALING JAYA, February 16 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Dutch Lady Milk Industries (M) join hands in a research project to study on milk nutrition and mental performance of Malaysian pre- school children.

The powerful x-rays from a RIKEN synchrotron can provide high-contrast images of biological specimens

A new theory predicts an unusual excitation spectrum for a chain of ultracold gas atoms

Genomic studies have now provided enough understanding to design clock genes

HONG KONG, 4 March - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has signed an agreement with the CareLife Healthcare Limited (CareLife) today and received a strong boost of HK$30 million from the company to support further research and development of its patented, award-winning "Non-Invasive Blood Glucose Meter".