Peer Reviewed

This study focuses on understanding the oasis desertification process over the last 2000 years, using multi-methods such as historical document, archaeology, remote sensing and GIS. The result shows that the human activities in Minqin Basin can be dated back to the Shajing Culture, a Neolithic culture at around 2600 years ago.

New information on the complex interplay between host cells and bacteria during infection is reported in the June issue of Nature Immunology. Three studies provide a new understanding of the relationship between salmonella bacteria and the cells infected.

Studies in recent years have shown that some brain regions continue to generate new neurons even during adulthood. Scientists have identified a new target for an old drug that has been used to treat tuberculosis for over 50 years.

If we take the success story of Punjab in introducing and developing forensic nursing in the state it can be role model for the development of forensic nursing anywhere in the world.

Article from - International Journal of Computational Intelligence Research Year : 2005, Volume : 1, Issue : 1

Market survey showed that LidiMan was highly effective and entertaining in disseminating cultural infotainment (100% agreement). It has potential in education, entertainment, tourism and advertisement.

In the arid and semi-arid regions, particularly on the degraded lands and lands affected by moving sands, Jatropha curcas L. has proved to be a promising oil-bearing tree. The seeds of this Euphorbiaceae tree contain more than 30 % oil, which can be used for making bio-diesel.

The use of climatic data could help in providing tools for proper pest management through the possibility of forecasting the incidence of pests and diseases, and hence reduce the risk in plant production and help to minimize the amounts of chemicals used to control pests.

Sago bark wastes are recycled through a bio-composite method and utilized the natural features and beautiful surfaces into interior decoration products.

The last century has seen a dramatic increase in snowfall in central Asia compared to the previous thousand years, according to research published in this week's Nature.

Rapid treatment and isolation of not just infected cases but also their household contacts will be the key elements of an effective strategy to beat a future influenza pandemic, report researchers who have simulated the spread of such an outbreak in both Great Britain and the United States.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature. VOL.440 NO.7088 DATED 27 April 2006 including :LOX stops the spread and ‘Top dog’ determined in the womb

The process of Astaxanthin extraction is not only expensive but environementally unfriendly as well. This new research offers an environmentally friendly and cheap alternative

Aeolian desertification is land degradation characterized by wind erosion mainly resulting from the excessive human activities in arid, semiarid and part of sub-humid regions in North China. The research on aeolian desertification has been underway for more than 5 decades leading to the establishment and development of China’s desert science.

Since 1993 FEDA has worked in Rosetta (coastal area), Wadi Natroun (desert area) and Gamalia district (historic part of Cairo). These fragile ecosystems are well known for their cultural heritage. Both Gamalia and Rosetta have some of the most important Islamic monuments, while Wadi Natroun is known for its famous Coptic Christian monasteries.

Nearly 50% of the arid regions globally, including one-quarter of the irrigated land, one-half of the rainfed cropland and three-quarters of the rangeland, are estimated to be degraded. Unless this trend is checked, the food security of the people in the dry areas will continue to be under threat.

NATURE AND THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE - For papers that will be published online on 23 April 2006

The goal of the meeting was to address migratory bird populations and environmental aspects in the current Asian lineage Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 epidemic. Sound scientific information, including an understanding of the environment and migratory bird populations, is a necessity for understanding the epidemic

The first system, mPADI is an intelligent mobile system which has the ability to diagnose 6 types of paddy diseases commonly found in paddy fields. The 2nd project is the mobile Intelligent Thalassaemia Diagnosis System (mTADI).

Soil & water conservation & degradation; Dust-storm process; Range management; Forage & livestock production; Biodiversity & Ethnobotany; Stress physiology; Renewable energy; Indigenous/traditional knowledge & heritage; Sustainable development of oasis; desert communities & socioeconomic studies; & role of NGO’s; Application of new...

A new study to be published in the June issue of Nature Genetics reports the binding profile of proteins involved in organizing the structure of DNA in the Drosophila genome.

Researchers have shown that by labeling pools of cells with different combinations of dyes, they can generate fluorescent ‘barcodes’….; A technique which helps cell culture make the leap into the third dimension, allowing scientists to more closely replicate naturally occurring arrangements of cells in the laboratory is described

Human societies are notable for cooperation, but the origins of this behaviour are confusing. As the 20-year anniversary of Chernobyl approaches, Nature investigates the health effects of radioactive fallout. The process of protein degradation and clearance of cellular components may be more important than was previously understood

Summaries of newsworthy stories from Nature Vol 440, No 7087 Dated 20 April 2006 including Evolutionary pathways lead to same destination and Invisible skeleton

The invention involves the use of new methods to allow the visually impaired to sense the embossed braille on a garment as a guide to identify the features of the textile product.

Typhoid is a major public health problem caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi and transmitted via food. The current method for diagnosis of typhoid carriers takes 2-7 days, has low isolation rate and labour intensive. This EZTYPHI Carrier DNA kit will be able to do this in a single tube within 3 hours and is cost effective.

Unlikely to infect people; Bird flu, rates, oil pose risks Asia’s growth; Outbreak in Myanmar raises alarm; Viet Nam can’t be over-confident; Restoring wetlands key..; Britain's method questioned; Egypt - 12th case; Indonesia's 33rd case; Thailand 'clean' but spreading; China, markets worry; Bird flu seen unlikely in Japan sparrow deaths

Aged and weak patients, for instance, often face serious difficulty in putting on the hospital gown and tying up the strings (behind them), by themselves. This work won 2 prestigious certificates at the 2006 Geneva International Inventions Expo.

Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is pleased to announce its support of the Asia Research Partnership on Pandemic Influenza. Pandemic experts, scientists and Asian national granting councils will meet in Beijing, China, on April 24-26 to formalize the Partnership.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature. Vol.440 No.7086 Dated 13 April 2006 including Watching synpases at work; The ‘impossible’ microbes; Doting mums let their kids eat them; The gas that won't settle down; A new spin on Vega; Catfish hunts on land