Peer Reviewed

This study explores how the state defines “indigenous people” and determines their position in the Philippine society. Through cultural productions by indigenous performing troupes, cultural difference is established which also results to cultural brokerage. (Audio links are available).

Bangka, Kaluluwa at Katutubong Paniniwala - Bangka is the general Philippine term for all kinds of seacraft. The rituals involving the bangka reveal that it is more than a water vessel in Philippine culture: it is a repository of an entire belief system in indigenous society.

This recently completed project aimed to develop a mobile telemedicine system in Indonesia using existing Internet communication technology. This system will allow remote patients to receive a routine check-up using a mobile phone and local hospitals to respond faster by being able to contact specialists in spite of geographic barriers.

The haze of air pollution over the Indian Ocean may be causing as much lower atmospheric warming as the recent increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gases, a Nature study suggests. Summaries of newsworthy papers include Earthquakes: Love and stress, Deep brain stimulation in a minimally conscious state and Tunable light sources lose their mirrors

Keio’s project aims to create communities in a comfortable, safe and creative living and communication space in which everyone will be able to live and communicate with each other. The “Co-mobility Society” combines the latest technologies to provide practical solutions for improving various difficulties and problems of daily life.

As a facility to carry out their joint research, Keio University and Dentsu plan to establish the Keio University Second Life Campus within Virtual Tokyo, which Dentsu will open in August this year as a virtual city within the Second Life metaverse.

Various organizations and government agencies involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country gathered to share success stories and challenges at a workshop that launched the latest Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project against the epidemic.

Researchers in the Philippines have revealed that a fast and low cost photographic method is just as effective as the more expensive videographic method in assessing the condition of coral reef benthic communities.

Most of the cross-arms of the 275 kV and 123 kV electricity transmission lines in Malaysia and other countries are made of hard wood. Due to natural weathering the wood decays over time. For safety and maintenance, it is useful to have a simple, accurate non-destructive decay detection system.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Genetic risk factor for multiple sclerosis, Graphene senses single molecules, A new twist on the AFM, To mend a broken heart, A genetic variant enhances emotional memory, Transporting immune cargo

A team of Japanese molecular biologists has determined the structure of a protein complex that plays a key role in the initiation of one of the most fundamental of biological processes: the replication of DNA.

Researchers from the RIKEN SPring-8 Center in Harima, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency and the universities of Tokyo and Virginia have discovered how changes to the crystal structure of the oxide material HgCr2O4 correlate to its magnetic state

RIKEN scientists have accurately measured a tiny voltage produced by segregating electrons according to their spin1, a result which could help to usher in a new era of spin-based computing.

An exclusive interview in this week's Nature Podcast with Simpsons head writer Al Jean, also includes Homer, Lisa and, er, Stephen Hawking. Together they explain why the Simpsons is the most scientifically literate show on TV, and now at the movies. The interview is supported by a feature in this week's issue of Nature.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Climate change: Don’t blame the weatherman, Pressure in the Amazon, Tectonics: Rift of difference, Materials: Graphene oxide ‘paper’ is super strong and Quantum physics: Entangling atom pairs

A microscope imaging technique for visualizing and analyzing semiconductor integrated circuits developed by a team of scientists from the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Physics was awarded a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Highlights from Nature China include Organogels: Stick and shine, Autoimmune disease: A balanced approach, Forestation: Carbon storage in soil, Papaya ringspot virus: Coat variations, Frustrated magnets: Seeking stardom

Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are collecting and analysing large amounts of biological data but have their progress is impeded by low network bandwidths. This project addresses the problem of low bandwidth and reliability through the introduction of third generation P2P protocols.

Researchers in Universiti Teknologi Mara are working on pre-nanoemulsion gel from coconut oil which can help repair skin damage and chewable vitamin C tablets and herbal tea made from hibiscus.

The paper evaluates the effects of reducing higher income tax rates in New Zealand. The results indicates that reduction in higher income tax rates would improve New Zealand’s long run economic performance if it were financed by a decline in non-productive government spending and/or increase in revenue from other less distortional taxes.

Universiti Putra Malaysia's researchers have produced MBSofax, an array of newly synthesized ‘fine organics’ originated from palm oil and its fractions. It is suitable for use in the cosmetics, food, drugs, pharmaceuticals and other chemical industries.

Researchers from Universiti Teknologi Mara are working on a non toxic, nature dye for optoelectronic devices, a new source of energy that is environmentally friendly and particleboards from oil palm for the furniture industry.

Scientists have identified the cellular target of two important anticancer molecules as a component of the spliceosome and a rapid and very sensitive technique for the detection of infectious prion proteins is reported. Prions, the cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as mad cow are infectious proteins in the brain.

A team of researchers from RIKEN’s Discovery Research Institute, Wako, and the US universities of Chicago and Santa Barbara has elucidated the role played by electrons in the transition of a two-dimensional disordered material from an insulating to a metallic state.

A team of researchers from the RIKEN Discovery Research Institute has shown that the strong light–matter interaction between a short laser pulse and a mix of the two noble gases helium and neon can be used to create laser pulses with very high energies and extremely short duration. This work marks the beginning of an entirely new research field.

Researchers provide a detailed insight into the change in structure of a metal complex when exposed to light. This study not only sheds new light on the fundamental question of how metal-ligand complexes change shape in real time, but could have implications for practical applications that use these materials.

Keio University has decided to partner with Google Book Search Library Project for digitalization and release of its library collection, and for this purpose, has signed an Agreement fwith Google, Inc. This project already has 25 partners in the U.S. and Europe, however Keio University will be the first partner outside U.S. and Europe.

From the empowerment of women to managing their health — information and communication technologies (ICTs) have changed the lives of thousands of Indian villagers.

Pakistan is in the grip of a wave of vicious suicidal attacks after religious extremists vowed to avenge the operation on the Lal Masjid/Jamia Hafsa mosque/seminary in Islamabad last week.

The paper evaluates the option of changing the fully funded individual account in China to a notional defined contribution individual account that operates on a pay-as-you-go basis. The change will keep the advantages of the individual account and avoid huge risks caused by China’s immature capital market.