Press releases

Antibodies are important in eliminating infectious viruses. However, DNA vaccinations generate only low levels of antibodies. UPM researchers outline approaches to improve the humoral response of DNA vaccines without suppressing the T cell response.

Newcastle disease is one of the most important viral diseases of poultry in the world. It occurs in most countries and has a devastating effect on poultry production.

Palm oil and kitchen wastes used as raw materials for the production of biodegradable plastics.

An array of newly synthesized 'fine organics' originated from palm oil and its fractions for the chemical industry.

A new tool is available to contribute to the genetic improvement of banana in Malaysia.

Internet-based ecotourism site rating expert system

John Richards, IUBAT overseas faculty member, led a roundtable on the problems of school quality in Bangladesh. The roundtable was organized to release the latest monograph of the IUBAT Centre for Policy Research. The monograph title is “What Parents Think of their Children’s Schools”.

Glitter of gold traps microparticles, Gene copy number and risk of autoimmunity, A red-letter day for brain connectivity, Skin barrier formation and caspase-14, Control of all fates, The dual role of BRCA2 in DNA repair, Deciphering the histone code

Researchers, civil society and entrepreneurs are invited to submit applications for four action research projects under the theme of ‘Value chains and the rural poor in disadvantaged regions’. These studies will start in September 2007. Deadline June 29th 2007.

Book Review - The Palestinian refugee issue remains a central component of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This timely book, brings together the most cutting-edge research from various disciplines and explores the demographic and developmental challenges that the return of refugees to a future Palestinian state would generate.

An IDRC-supported peer-to-peer mentoring program helps bring science journalists in the Middle East and Africa closer to the professional mainstream.

Summaries of newsworthy papers in Nature on 17 May 2007: Planetary science: Enceladus' daily grind; Infectious diseases: Global early-warning system needed; Immunology: The good news about herpes infection; Materials: Silicon in a spin; Infectious diseases: West Nile virus wreaks havoc for birds and Unexpected biodiversity springs from the depths

This paper suggests code mixing as a strategy to improve English speaking skills while the 2nd paper attempts to understand the writer-reader relationship in academic writing and the 3rd paper examines effective communication through e-learning.

Summaries of newsworthy papers that will be published online on 13 May 2007 in Nature research journals including: Nanotubes sort out their left and right, Gene combinations influence AIDS progression, Another immune evasion strategy by HIV and Protein structures from micrograms of material

The publication “Finding the Missing Women: Trade Issues from a Gender Perspective” tackles the effects of trade liberalization and promotes gender perspective in its analysis in order to recognize the roles and needs of women in the industry.

A study shows that the traditional fish/shrimp paste condiment, or bagoong, of the Philippines contains the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. In its analysis, it was found that among the samples of bagoong, shrimp paste has the highest omega-3 content.

Summaries of newsworthy papers published in Nature on 10 May 2007 including: Genetics: Marsupial genome sequenced; Planetary science: Extrasolar planet mirror ball; Oceanography: Oceanic short circuit; Materials: Lithium superconducts without pressure; Gender-specific differences fuel biodiversity

The Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) has two Fellowship schemes aimed at supporting the deserving young scientists in developing countries.

The office is affiliated with the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) San Francisco Center and located near the UC Berkeley. TUS continues to promote international collaboration in education and research with the advanced research universities.

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), an international institution of higher learning, is looking for a News and Media Specialist who will be responsible for writing, editing and disseminating news stories about AIT through web and print media. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2007.

Summaries of newsworthy papers in Nature and Nature research journals published online on 07 May 2007. Including: Yeast that smell? – Nature Chemical Biology; Turning up autophagy – Nature Chemical Biology; Tuberculosis bacteria blunt immunity – Nature Immunology; Immune responses tailored to specific pathogens – Nature Immunology

A major international initiative is being launched to try to boost the income of the world’s millions of poor rice farmers and at the same time provide consumers with more nutritious, better tasting food.

The 1st paper suggests new literatures in English from many Asian countries can sensitise students towards other cultures and should be included in English textbooks. The 2nd paper asseses the attitudes of Singaporean students towards “Singlish” and the relationship between language and national identity, an issue facing Singaporean society.

The International Institute for Environment and Development has published a short guide to ways forestry can contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development.

The Research and Media Network is an online social network intended to be of value to journalists, scientists, press officers and others who communicate about research - whether on health, environment, water, energy, agriculture, sustainable development or communications.

A faster and more effective way of applying titanium nitride coating on industrial tools developed by Dr. Henry J. Ramos of the University of the Philippines’s National Institute of Physics (UP-NIP) was awarded a Taiwan Patent on March 16, 2007.

Summaries of newsworthy papers published in Nature on 03 May 2007 including: Neuroscience: Mapping functional brain anatomy, Planetary science: Measuring Martian ice, Seismology: A new class of earthquake, Physics: Noisy magnets, Chemistry: Super-heavy elements stay with the group, Ecology: The water of life

A study presents the habit formation utility function, particularly, the external habit model, as a resolution to the equity premium puzzle encountered in the estimation of the Consumption Capital Asset Pricing Model (C-CAPM).

Trieste, Italy, 26 April 2007. An eminent Mexican biologist, whose research helped to spur the creation of the first genetically modified plants, and an internationally renowned Indian chemist, whose innovative laboratory techniques have led to the synthesis of more than 50 natural products, have been awarded the Trieste Science Prize for 2007.

It took nearly 140 years for Asia to develop a prosperous Asian communications industry. This paper tells the story of why it took so long by focusing on a Danish telegraph company who monopolised the telecommunications industry in the region from the mid-19th century until quite recent times.