Press releases

Penang, Malaysia - Muslim countries have been urged to increase cooperation and research links, particularly in improving the management quality of hajj.

Minangkabau, West Indonesia - UiTM (University Technology MARA, Malaysia) and Universitas Andalas, Padang, West Sumatera, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for cooperation on a various areas.

A University of Queensland scientist at the Queensland Brain Institute has uncovered evidence that could help to explain why some stroke patients have trouble maintaining a stable image of their visual world when they make eye movements.

Sarawak, Malaysia - UNIMAS and University of South Florida (UNIMAS-USF) education and research partnership was forged through a Memorandum of Understanding.

Sarawak, Malaysia - One of the most important output of ICREPE activities to date has been published “Wise Use of Tropical Peatlands: Focus on Southeast Asia”.

Global Savings–Investment Imbalances: What Role for East Asia, Demographic Changes, Saving, and Current Account in East Asia, Export Orientation and Technological Intensities in Auto Parts Firms in East and Southeast Asia: Does Ownership Matter and many more.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Quantum communication over 144 km in Nature Physics and In praise of forgetting in Nature Neuroscience

The latest breakthrough from UPM is a Recombinant Vaccine for Mannheimiosis, a vaccine that provides a broad protection against pneumonia in goats and sheep caused by Mannheimia haemolytica.

The program is aimed at candidates who, have shown interest in the creation and utilization of knowledge from an international perspective. Candidates can be Canadians, permanent residents, or citizens of developing countries, who are either currently registered in a Master's Program or have completed a Master's Degree.

What role should governments play in protecting the environment and controlling the environmental impacts of industry? Do regulations benefit the environment, and how do they affect industrial innovation?

The research must be located in a disadvantaged region in one of the following four RPE priority regions: the Sahel Belt of West Africa; the Nile Basin; South Asia; the Mekong Delta; or the Philippines. The deadline is Friday June 29, 2007

Studies can be on managerial, epidemiological or behavioral issues with respect to communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, but excluding clinical interventions. The deadline for submission of Expression of Interest is 28 June 2007

Asia Pacific Conference on Plant Tissue Culture and Agribiotechnology (APaCPA) 2007 - "Biotechnology for Better Food, Health and Quality Living" 17 - 21 June 2007, PWTC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A study of Asian men shows that both obese and underweight individuals with low physical activity are at greater risk of impotence; Desertification in northern China is reversing as a result of climatic changes, Increased human activities alter the balance of nutrients in Chinese coastal waters and more

Indian Government and Keio University co-hosted the international workshop “Light Path to India” in Delhi last week to promote collaboration in advanced research projects among Asian countries utilizing the latest Information Technology

The winning inventions include Violet Biothread, Dairy Probiotic, Biofiltration for Wastewater Treatment, Industrial Sludge Reduction Using Biomass Extract, Corporate Governance Screencard, Malaysian Café, Biodegradable Natural Colour Pencils, Drug Delivery System for Herbal Extracts and Semi-Purification Process of Bioactive Herbal Fractions

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Chilly receptor, Very short RNAs make unexpected appearance, Tropical cyclones mix things up, Neuronal duo implicated in diet-restricted ageing, Water vapour in planetary birthplace, Arithmetic is child’s play, Putting a spin on logic gates and How animal ‘personalities’ came to be

Summaries of newsworthy papers include : DNA breakage in living colour – Nature Genetics, Forever blowing bubbles – Nature Nanotechnology and Checking immune activation – Nature Immunology

The ‘localization’ of the English language has caused fear among educators and professionals especially the native speakers that English has turned into a corrupt language. This paper highlights the nature of local variations in Malaysian English

UiTM also received four international awards namely; the ARCA Award (Croatia), British Inventors Society Award (BIS) and INPEX Award (USA). The GENEVA Award (Switzerland) was also won by UiTM for receiving the highest gold medals.

Innovating Towards Sustainability - The best innovative ideas will be awarded grants in collaboration with Malaysian researchers. The abstracts should be submitted by 15 June 2007.

Prof. Shigeru Watanabe and Associate Prof. Eiichi Izawa of Keio University and his group became the first in the world to succeed in drawing up a stereotaxic atlas of a crow. Crows are known to be smart, and the findings proved that the pallium of the crow brain, which is related to intellectual activities, is well developed.

A baby girl of extremely low birthweight, born in Keio University Hospital on 25 October, 2006, was discharged from the hospital on 3 April in good health. Born weighing only 265 grams, she is the smallest baby ever survived in Japan, and the second smallest throughout the world.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Biophysics: Clustering key to membrane remodelling, Optical materials: Semiconducting nanocrystals light up the way, Evolution: Paddlefish clues to limb development

This study explores how community radio plays a role in revitalizing local communities in Japan.

An accounting educational computer-based learning courseware, GenerReS was developed as an innovative pedagogical tool for financial accounting.

Detection kit for White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) which causes millions of dollars losses to the shrimp industry in Asia.

Digital meter to measure ripeness of oil palm fruits

Tropical herbs which prevent cardiovascular related disorders have been developed into capsules.

Serious infestation of weedy rice or locally known as "padi angin" had been reported to reduce rice yield up to 75%. UPM researchers have developed a novel seed treatment to counter the infestation