Peer Reviewed

This study has found that oleic acid, commonly found in palm oil and olive oil may have a positive effect in combating osteoporosis by enhancing bone formation.

DataPap is the first database system that gathers patient's details, medical report and Pap smear images in a single database. It also has intensive search facilities, sophisticated image processing and automatic diagnostic functions.

When the Huygens probe landed on Titan, it provided the first direct measurements from Saturn's giant moon. Seven papers in Nature this week describe a world that resembles a primitive Earth, complete with weather systems and geological activity.

Scientists have devised a way to view how autoimmunity is averted, Polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused by two mutated genes working together - researchers unravel how these mutated genes operate.

OilZob, is ideal for cleaning up oil spills and a low cost technology for recycling rubber waste. The amount of discarded tyres alone reaches 10 million tons every year worldwide.

Adipose or fatty tissue appears to represent a potentially clinically useful source of cells for cellular therapy, tissue engineering and gene transfer applications

The author highlights the importance of acquiring knowledge of the multilateral rules for the least developed countries

A controversial vaccine that was the subject of a halted trial to prevent cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients could have the potential to be reformulated to eliminate its toxicity while retaining the benefits.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature Vol.438 No.7067 Dated 24 November 2005 including How cells stay calm inside when it's chaotic outside; In (self) defence of sea squirts and Stop in their tracks

This paper reviews macro trends in the performance of regulatory institutions in electricity and telecommunications sectors in India and evaluates the direction and pace of their work.

A practical approach for the isolation and molecular identification of bird flu virus from duck cloaca swabs submitted during the surveillance of bird flu in Malaysia.

Using a database of infrastructure and utility bond issues made over the period 1996 to 2001, the authors investigate whether there has been a growing usage of the international bond market.

A new and simple method of removing residue oil from oily wastewaters

This paper highlights a new method to detect damage of buildings after a severe natural disaster using middle resolution images resulting in wider coverage and lower cost.

The site and moment when a gene carrier will release its cargo and endow the cells of a specific tissue with the correspondent protein, can be controlled simply with a low-power laser

NATURE AND THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE - For papers published online on 20 November 2005

Summaries from TWAS Research Updates – No. 1, November 2005

The number of plantlets produced was found to be ten times more than that of the conventional gel culture system. The plantlets can be harvested within 1/3 of the time used in the conventional method.

In the present case however, the bruises were well discernible even after 49 days of its production. This case proves that a medicolegal expert must base his opinion regarding the age of bruise with great care.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature. Vol.438 No.7066 Dated 17 November 2005 including Optical telecommunications: Meaning from chaos and Development: A starring role for SCL in astrocytes

Typing biometrics is an approach used to verify the identity of an individual by examining his/her keystrokes on a keyboard or keypad.

The General Agreement on Trade in Services and poor people's right to water

Only one trained healthcare provider is available for every 16 villages. Although, more than 70% of India's population lives in rural areas, only 20% of the total hospital beds are located in rural area.

NATURE AND THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE - For papers published online on 13 November 2005

A common variant of a gene involved in inflammation is associated with a significantly increased risk of heart attack in Americans of European and of African descent.

The reconstructed version of the flu virus that caused the 1918 world pandemic will be mailed to registered labs in the US that ask for it; A US patent has been granted for an antigravity device. Watchdogs can sometimes provoke scientific misconduct

There are about 36 million labors working in agriculture sector in the country, who are not covered by pensions. Similarly migrant workers do not receive any pension.

Compared to conventional systems, this hybrid system provides superior comfort conditions because of substantial radiant heat transfer, low air draft and low humidity level

Despite the improvement in newborn health care services neonatal and infant mortality rate has not significantly declined. In India 26 million babies are born every year, out of which 1.2 million die before completing the first four weeks of life.

A solid acid catalyst that can convert vegetable oils into 'biodiesel' fuel could replace the expensive and inefficient process used today, according to a Brief Communication in this week's Nature.