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Spot Electroplater for Lead Frame (SPEL) have been designed to cater to existing problems faced by the rubber masking technique, presently applied in lead frame manufacturing industries.

Male Asian elephants are famed for their annual bouts of heightened sexual activity and aggression, during which they produce a delicately concocted, notoriously pungent cocktail of chemicals to advertise their mating status.

Researchers present the atomic structure of one of the parasite proteins that recognizes human red blood cells and facilitates parasite invasion into host cells. This should have a direct effect on both drug and vaccine development against malaria.

Three papers present the almost complete genome sequences of three fungus species: Aspergillus oryzae, used for food production; Aspergillus fumigatus, a common pathogen; and Aspergillus nidulans, a model organism used by many fungus geneticists.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature Vol.438 No.7071 including Dance hall moves show off symmetry and sex appeal and Blast from the past

Everyday, we use many different types of liquids. Understanding their flow behaviour is very important. This paper studies how the flow of a viscoelastic liquid in a pipe changes by imposing alternating pressures.

A new study in the January issue of Nature Genetics reports that individuals with particular combinations of genetic variants are less susceptible to infection by the SARS virus.

Japanese researchers have found that a rice plant that grows with its shoots more erect will produce more grains than normal.

Using a new technique, geneticists have reached into the past to reconstruct the genetic sequence of the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius).

Researchers demonstrate an easy and very flexible control over microfluidic flow by using suspended gold nanoparticles; Motor neurons secrete a mutant protein produced from a particular gene, setting off a chain of events that leads to cell death.

The Indus river, Pakistan's major river, supplied water to one of the earliest of all human civilizations, and gave its name to India. But according to a paper in this week's Nature, it was once fed by a source different from today's.

Science entries in the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia are not markedly less accurate those in Encyclopaedia Britannica. That's the conclusion of a Nature investigation

Early humans were living in Britain as much as 700,000 years ago, according to a newly discovered set of flint tools that provides evidence that early human species journeyed across the Alps and into northern Europe much earlier than experts had suspected

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature Vol.438 No.7070 including Cell biology: How stem cells arrange to shape feathers; Molecular biology: The secrets of ion channels unbound; Insight into angiogenesis; Weird bubbles wearing armour

The book should provide an interesting reading for policy-makers, reform consultants, and academics and help inculcate added pragmatism in their work on the electricity sector reforms.

This report gives readers an overview of the research activities within Keio University with excellent summaries of their achievements and current projects

Disorders occurring during early life (including prenatal period) can cause long-standing serious effects that are reflected in the child's development.

NATURE AND THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE For papers that are published online on 11 December 2005

Vanadium oxides nanotubes are important in technological applications such a catalysts for oxidation-reduction reactions, semiconductors, optical devices and coatings.

Results indicated that abnormal p16 methylation is an early frequent event that can contribute to the development of gastric cancer and may be a very important biomarker for diagnosis of the disease.

Why do power sector problems persist in Bangladesh? What can be done to solve them? This report assesses the barriers to accelerated electrification - in particular the barriers to rural electrification – and puts forward practical recommendations.

There is a perception among potential investors in electricity distribution projects in India that the price-setting methodologies not conducive to long-term investments. This paper evaluates and shows that this need not be the case.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature. VOL.438 NO.7069 including GbpA protein enables cholera to hijack gut and gutter; Greyhounds take bends better than humans

Mass screening has been a problem in many developing countries due to costs and lack of expertise. The NeuralMammo can help solve this. It is an artificial intelligent system to diagnose breast cancer based on images captured from fine needle aspirates.

NATURE AND THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE - For papers that will be published online on 4 December 2005

Researchers have found a way to explain how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be kept dormant and hidden in immune cells.

In this paper, we use South Africa as a case study to discuss the relationship between access to finance, economic growth, and sustainable development.

When babies with severe problems of respiration and birth asphyxia are discharged home after stormy hospital stay, those with more problems may suffer later from a wide range of problems like cerebral palsy, vision, speech and hearing problems.

This is the first research in Malaysia and in the world that uses oil palm biomass as an ash glaze. Aside from being cost efficient, this glaze is also aesthetically pleasing compared to the usual commercial glazes.

It is perceived that with the continued Westernization of the Japanese diet, colon cancer will become more prevalent and more important for screening in Japan.