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To promote inter-university cooperation between Hong Kong and the Philippines, Lingnan University (LU)’s Office of Service-Learning (OSL) and 10 universities in the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today (9 February).

Researchers from Osaka University have identified a protein, FER1L5, that is essential for sperm to acquire fertilizing ability. Sperm from mice lacking this protein were unable to undergo the “acrosome reaction”, which releases molecules that facilitate fertilization, resulting in impaired male fertility. As FER1L5 is also present in human sperm, this work may lead to new diagnostic methods and treatments for male infertility in humans.

New research from Osaka University indicates that more screen time at age 2 is associated with poorer communication and daily living skills at age 4—but when kids also play outdoors, some of the negative effects of screen time are reduced. Increasing outdoor play time could reduce the negative effects of screen time on daily living skills by almost 20%.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are the growing trend of unique name pronunciations in Japan, an aquarium that can tell you about which fish you are looking at, and which professional baseballs are slipperiest.

Kayson Lau Ho-wing, MPhil graduate of the Department of Sociology and Social Policy (SOCSP) of Lingnan University, has received 2021/22 Hong Kong Sociological Association (HKSA) Best Thesis Award for his thesis “Aging in Place or Stuck in Place? The Aging in Place Experiences of Older Adults in a Gentrifying Neighborhood in Hong Kong”.

The living environment of subdivided flats in Hong Kong has aroused extensive public concerns. A lot of community groups and research teams are committed to providing support for improvement. The Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative (LEI) of Lingnan University in Hong Kong strives for driving the development of humanitarian technology for the betterment of humankind. Under its pilot project, a low-cost mini air purifier is developed to fit in sub-divided flats. The LEI collaborated with Sham Shui Po District Office of Home Affairs Department and Sham Shui Po Residents Association Limited today (23 December 2022) to arrange volunteers to distribute 1,000 free air purifiers, spreading care to families living in sub-divided units before the Christmas.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are how we determine which animals we would eat or not, a robot with sticky magnetic feet that can climb, and coriander seeds that had a great holiday in space.

At the Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony today (15 December), Lingnan University (LU) conferred honorary doctoral degrees upon three distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their respective professions and valuable contributions to the well-being of society. Prof Woo Chia-wei, GBS, CBE （吳家瑋教授）received a Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa [in absentia], Ms Anna Wu Hung-yuk （胡紅玉女士）, GBS, JP received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, and Dr Zhang Yimou （張藝謀博士） received a Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa [in absentia]. Ms Anna Wu expressed her gratitude to the University on behalf of all Honorary Doctorates. She also shared the importance of engagement and transformation to resolve conflicts. She said: “Many young people are pessimistic about the future of Hong Kong. Many need to heal their bruised spirit. What can be more important than encouraging our youths to explore the constraints and opportunities in the community together, and build a shared future for themselves and others? This is the time to equip them with essential transformative skills. Let them be the architects of human relations and create space for interaction and engagement.”

Training individuals to inhibit imitation of others increases empathy and allows them to recognize facial expressions in others regardless of their situations.

Lingnan University (LU) in Hong Kong will confer honorary doctoral degrees upon three distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their respective professions and valuable contributions to the well-being of society. The honorary doctorate recipients are Prof Woo Chia-wei, GBS, CBE (吳家瑋教授), Ms Anna Wu Hung-yuk (胡紅玉女士), GBS, JP and Dr Zhang Yimou (張藝謀博士).

World's first research into relationship between rich-in-biodiversity garden greenery and health/well-being launched by University of Tokyo and Sekisui House Ltd.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are a “smart ranch” featuring connected cows, a way to see what a 1 600-year-old woman looked like, and a new bird-like dinosaur.

Giants in History: Chinese palaeontologist, archaeologist and anthropologist Pei Wenzhong (January 19, 1904 – September 18, 1982) is regarded as a founder of Chinese anthropology.

Four years of online training, fellowships and support for research on digital rights gets underway as the second phase of the Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative launches in Bangkok on November 25, 2022.

Giants in History: Through her iconic stories featuring fictional scenes from the history of the Philippines, language teacher and academic Genoveva Matute (3 January 1915 – 21 March 2009) helped strengthen the Filipino identity.

An Osaka Metropolitan University study found that differences in culture affect when Japanese and American university students feel comfortable providing social support. The researchers found that Japanese university students were less likely than American students to offer assistance to a close friend or family member unless they had been explicitly asked for help, even when they knew that the person needed assistance. There were no differences in providing assistance between Japanese and American students when requests for help were explicitly stated.

Exploring virtual human-agent relationships, A fly protein gives clue for human cancers, Rare earth elements formed in neutron star mergers 💥, One-stop process for hydrogen production. Read all in the November's Editor's Choice plus Upcoming event K4DM KNOWLEDGE MARKETPLACE – Bangkok 2022: Exchanging Ideas for a Democratic Myanmar.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are a bioinspired tiny jumping robot, evidence of gender stereotypes in young children, and the first sighting of a new species of crab.

Injury from falls lowers healthy life expectancy and quality of life, especially for older people. In Japan, patients discharged from acute care hospitals have higher incidences of falls. These falls occur more often indoors in places used frequently in daily life. A group of Osaka Metropolitan University researchers conducted a 6-month follow-up survey, after discharge from an acute care hospital, on falls and near-falls, of orthopedic disease patients with a fall history aged 65 or older. The results suggest that preventive intervention instructing patients using their home floor plans may help prevent falls during the early post-discharge period.

Focusing on the imperative of integrating science, policy and clinical practice to advance global One Health movement especially in the aftermath of COVID-19, the Congress will feature sharing by leading global scientists and policymakers on ways to address complex global health challenges.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are jellyfish-like fossils, mythic diseases, and a transistor that can detect cancer cells.

New research identifies a unique way that people find connection in the modern world and provides novel insight into the fields of anthropomorphism, virtual interactions, and relationship science.

Small neighboring galaxy filled with dark matter detected with gamma rays, How a virus induces heart inflammation, Shedding light on the happy hormone, Microfossils may hold key evolution clues. Read all in the October's Editor's Choice plus Upcoming event KNOWLEDGE MARKETPLACE – Bangkok 2022: Exchanging of ideas for a Democratic Myanmar.

The Council of Lingnan University (LU) in Hong Kong approved today (17 October) the recommendation of its Search Committee to appoint Prof S Joe Qin, who is a world-leading data science expert, as the next President for a period of five years.

The Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2022: SDG International Innovation Awards & Expo (SDGIIAE) returns for its 2nd edition and the awards encourage the development of innovative solutions for local and global challenges.

Lingnan University (LU) in Hong Kong will confer Honorary Fellowships upon four distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their professions and valuable contributions to the community.

- Providing a forum for cooperation by sharing sensor and semiconductor technology trends and holding exchange meetings with related researchers

- Recognized for the commercialization potential of smart clothing based on fabric with excellent durability, washability, and electrical signal transmission capability - Expected to contribute to intensifying technological strength of Daegu, the center of the textile and medical industry

A simple and economical method of detecting SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in wastewater with high sensitivity has been developed, expanding the use of wastewater-based epidemiology for tracking the virus in populations.

Reviewed Preprint authors from underrepresented backgrounds and countries with limited funding can now apply for an award to support their research and career.