Peer Reviewed

Summaries of newsworthy papers include In charge of biosensing, Fountain of youth and Finding co-dependent genes in fission yeast

Collective motion of molecules in a crystal could lead to new electronic devices

Multipolar-to-biopolar neuronal transition is essential during brain development. A team of Japanese scientists have determined that a protein called cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is required for neurons to develop their proper shape.

New research has revealed how protein filaments drive a key cellular process by physically wrapping around and constricting bits of cell membrane

Japanese and American scientists have discovered a bactericidal peptide in M cells that is connected with gut immunity. M cells ingest bacteria or viruses and deliver them to our immune system. This research will help scientists develop a drug delivery system that can deliver medicines specifically to M cells.

Serotonin is used faster in the winter by people suffering from seasonal depression when compared with a control group, according to research to be published in Neurpsychopharmacology this month. The research also shows that serotonin usage returns to normal both where depression is treated effectively and during the summer months.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Stem cells: Identifying self renewing cells, Climate change: British bog holds clue to ancient global warming and Geochemistry: Argon retention in terrestrial planets

Hydrogen ions produced in very hot water are used in the eco-friendly hydrolysis of cellulose. Other research highlights from Nature China include Gadd45a regulation, Stem-cell transplantation: Cut risks to the bone, Asian dust: Where the dust settles, Quantum dots: Two is not a crowd, Thin films: The stress test

According to the latest research report on “Customer Perceived Value in Hong Kong’s Retail Sector” conducted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Faculty of Business, both local and non-local shoppers are becoming less satisfied with the services of Hong Kong’s retail sector.

The world’s first database storing 3D head and face measurements of ethnic Chinese has come into use, after 18 months of dedicated efforts by pioneering researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. As a result of this important ergonomic data, industrial designers will now be able to design products that fit Chinese people properly.

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) also known as Gumboro disease is the second most important poultry disease after Newcastle disease. In this study, we reported for the first time the use of Sybr Green I based real-time PCR to differentiate different strains of IBD virus.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Biochemical pay dirt in Nature Chemical Biology, Delicate and dynamic immunological equilibrium in Nature Immunology and Many targets – one tube in Nature Methods

Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of shrimps, yet its share of the world largest shrimp market - the European Union - is proportionally far lower. This project aims to understanding the problems and devise solutions and training to boost the incomes of many poor farmers and improve access to the European Union market.

Japanese scientists describe crystal structures at the heart of antitumor compound synthesis

A RIKEN-led team of researchers from Japan and the US has used an innovative combination of genome survey techniques in live Drosophila fruit flies to reveal a previously unknown master gene involved in setting circadian rhythms.

"Biotechnology has the potential to produce more food to meet the increasing demand in developing countries, but it must be nutritionally and environmentally safe." Representatives and scientists from 16 countries and three international organizations met in Syria to develop an integrated regional framework on biotechnology and biosafety.

A young Russian biologist taking samples to a collaborative institute in France has been accused of attempting to smuggle bioweapons by Russia’s federal security service, the FSB.

One-sixth of the world’s population is affected by tropical diseases, yet the drug ‘pipeline’ for these diseases is almost dry. Other newsworthy papers include Planet survives the red-giant phase, Pinpointing the end of Neanderthals, Two-score ice ages for Mars, Universities and the money fix and Pulsed model for continent growth

Smart surfaces can be switched between water-loving and water-repelling states in response to temperature, pH and glucose changes

Producing food for the increasing human population generally results in increased use of pesticides, which is finding its way into drinking water supplies. This research is proven to filter up to 85 % of dimethoate and more than 95% of atrazine.

This e-primer introduces policy makers and development practitioners to the application of different information and communications technology (ICT) for disaster management, with case studies from the Asia-Pacific region.

In rice-producing Malaysia, rice bran is a rice-milling by-product that is normally considered wasteful. However, researchers at University Putra Malaysia have developed antioxidant neutraceutical formulations from rice bran oil and palm oil.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Adding a pinch of sugar, Watching protein-cutting enzymes in action, Muscle metabolism and human evolution, The political brain, Dialling up damage responders and Stem cells have nervous impulses

Two researchers from RIKEN’s SPring-8 Center in Harima have demonstrated the conversion of x-rays into longer wavelengths that preserves some of their useful properties, such as high spatial resolution.

A three-component catalytic system enables the formation of carbon–fluorine bonds at precise positions in organic molecules

Researchers find superconductivity in a material typically used as cement

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Killer asteroid shower identified, Protein duo make up tip links, Clue to HIV vaccine success, Materials: Tickle me!, SYNERGY sheds light on gene evolution, Symbiotic evolution: Host genes incorporated and finally… Jaws II

As the economical and technological growth of China increases exponentially, the country has a great opportunity to become an environmentally clean society.

Information from distant seismic events is revealing a complex picture of the tectonic plate boundary in southeast China

This APDIP e-Note intends to give a brief introduction to government interoperability frameworks (GIFs), explain how they are classified and provide details of their common features. It also discusses the importance of open standards in GIFs and why governments should consider open standards seriously when designing or evaluating their GIFs.