Asia Research News 2009

asia research

news 2009 A ResearchSEA publication to highlight research in Asia

The brightest light on the planet...

Seeking the essence of Islam...

Stem cells: the brain game...

Climate change in Southeast Asia...

Challenging the "Out of Africa" theory...

CONTENTS and INTRODUCTION

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Welcome to the first edition of Asia Research News.

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TECHNOLOGY

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SOCIETY

This is an annual publication highlighting interesting on-going research in universities and research institutions in Asia. Asia Research News is part of ResearchSEA's service to further raise awareness about research and experts in Asia to the international community, including journalists, researchers and policy makers.

This issue focuses on a variety of research topics ranging from the launch of the XFEL facility in Japan to children in the Philippines, climate change in Southeast Asia and a 3000 year old Egyptian princess. All research stories featured in Asia Research News 2009 consist of on-going or recently completed work. Contact details of lead researchers are provided with each article for readers who would like more information. This issue is printed in May 2009. For further updates of each project, please contact the lead researcher or go to www.researchsea.com.

ResearchSEA would like to thank the research institutions below for their support of our continued efforts to raise awareness of research in Asia. For this first issue contributions were received from (in alphabetical order): • Asian Institute of Technology

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A G R I C U LT U R E

• Forest Research Institute Malaysia • Hong Kong Polytechnic University • International Development Research Centre • Keio University • RIKEN

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ENVIRONMENT

• Tokyo University of Science • Universiti Malaysia Sarawak • Universiti Putra Malaysia • Universiti Sains Malaysia • University of the Philippines - Diliman • Waseda University

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Institutions who would like to have their research or advertisement featured in Asia Research News 2010 should contact Magdeline Pokar at m.pokar@researchsea.com.

Editors and writers: Magdeline Pokar, Catherine Atkins, Ruth Francis and Daniel Raymer 13-14 I N T . R E L A T I O N S

ResearchSEA Limited 65 Covent Garden, Willingham, Cambridge CB24 5GD UK Website: www.researchsea.com • Email: info@researchsea.com Copyright ResearchSEA Limited 2009 If you would like to reproduce any articles in Asia Research News 2009, please contact ResearchSEA

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Asia Research News 2009 is published by ResearchSEA Limited, Asia’s premier platform for raising awareness of Asian research and experts. Research featured in Asia Research News 2009 is based on information provided by the research institutions listed above. ResearchSEA editors have strived to ensure the accuracy of information and aims of the projects featured in Asia Research News 2009. Readers are advised to use the contacts provided for confirmation of current details and status of projects. ResearchSEA Limited accepts no liability for any loss, damage or expense incurred resulting from the use of information in this publication.

Cover Photo Credit: Waseda University Contents Photo Credits: RIKEN (Technology) • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Society) Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Agriculture) • Universiti Sains Malaysia (Environment) Universiti Sains Malaysia (Archaeology) • International Development Research Centre (Int. Relations) Keio University (Health).

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Photo Credit: Dr H. Ykhanbai

TECHNOLOGY

DREAM IT – Development Research to Empower All Mongolians through Information Communications Technology Mongolia’s large land mass and limited infrastructure pose formidable development challenges. More than half of the country’s 2.6 million citizens live in remote areas, many in communities not connected by roads.

How best to provide essential services to a population widely dispersed across an often difficult terrain?

Canada’s International Development Research Centre has supported research in Mongolia since the early 1990s, helping the country connect to the Internet and to use information and communication technologies (ICTs). A coordinated country program is now being launched to explore ways in which ICT can be harnessed to deliver information and services more efficiently and equitably throughout Mongolia. This large-scale holistic project will investigate the best ICT tools to use in addressing a range of development challenges in spheres such as health, education, environment, livelihoods, and governance.

Initially, six projects are clustered under the umbrella of the new DREAM IT program. For example, to help reduce job stress among health professionals, researchers will pilot an online psychological counselling service. The data collected will inform the Ministry of Health about what works in the Mongolian context.

Another team will test the delivery of distance education via television, the Internet, and mobile phones.

The findings should help the Ministry of Education design plans to expand distance learning. Another study will focus on improving ICT and mathematics course content in universities.

Other projects will explore ways to boost citizen engagement in e-governance initiatives and improve the delivery of public information. One research team aims to build a model "participatory eco-information system" to facilitate dialogue among government officials, grassroots groups and mining companies in the Gobi region.

For further information contact: Dr Gombo Enkhbold Datacom Co. Ltd Email: enkhbold@datacom.mn Maria Ng Lee-Hoon Pan Asia Networking Program International Development Research Centre Email: mng@idrc.org.sg

Making sign language accessible to all Researchers are developing a prototype which will enable the recognition of sign language by computer Sign language is often the only language that deaf people have 100% access to. Communication with the non-deaf population can often be difficult due to the lack of understanding of sign language.

Scientists at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak are working on a framework for a sign language computer interface to aid mastery of sign language and interaction between deaf and non-deaf people. The prototype will be able to extract the hand area from a complex and dynamic background in order to interpret hand gestures for accurate sign language recognition and presentation. It is hoped that the results of this research will make it easier for deaf people to communicate with others in their daily lives and vice versa.

For further information contact: Wang Hui Hui Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Email: hhwang@fit.unimas.my

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TECHNOLOGY

Photo Credit: Waseda University Sugano Laboratory

Robotic help for ageing population In the future, TWENDY-ONE will be able to assist people in their homes, transferring them from chair to bed or helping them to stand. In a rapidly ageing society, the possibilities for this little home-help robot are huge.

Waseda University’s humanoid robot, TWENDY-ONE is nearly 5ft tall and its manual dexterity allows it to handle kitchen utensils and mirror complex human manoeuvres.

TWENDY-ONE’s hands are covered with a silicone skin to imitate the softness of a human hand and each hand’s thirteen sensors allow for delicate and precise movement.

The brightest light on the planet Using beams of electrons travelling close to the speed of light, XFEL will produce light 10 billion times brighter than the sun and allow scientists to study proteins, viruses and nanomaterials currently impossible to view, promising important breakthroughs for the next generation of scientific discovery.

The 700- metre long X-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL) currently under construction in Harima, Japan, will be the first X-ray laser in the world. Using beams of electrons travelling close to the speed of light, XFEL will produce light 10 billion times brighter than the sun and radiation beams a billion times brighter than existing x-ray sources.

XFEL will be able to take snapshots of extremely fast movements, including the vibration of atoms in crystal lattices. This will allow close, real-time observation of small but vital objects such as proteins, viruses and nanomaterials.

The machine offers hope to fields of drug discovery by allowing scientists to study proteins and viruses currently impossible to view in this way since they cannot be frozen and immobilised for scanning. New nanomaterials can be developed thanks to the ability to instantaneously capture atomic scale events. Similar facilities are being built by teams in Germany and the US but the Harima XFEL will be the first of its kind.

Scheduled for completion in 2010, the RIKEN Harima Institute has already been flooded with proposals from around the world from teams keen to benefit from this pioneering laser.

Photo Credit: RIKEN

For further information contact: Sugano Laboratory School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University Email: twendy-one@sugano.mech.waseda.ac.jp http://twendyone.com/index_e.html

Converting silicon waste to electricity Researchers in Japan have developed a technology which transforms wasted silicon sludge into a material which captures wasted heat energy and converts it into electricity.

The electronics industry produces silicon sludge as waste. In the process of silicon wafer fabrication, about 60% of the initial silicon source is discarded as silicon sludge. Even solar cell fabrication produces silicon sludge waste. Associate Professor Iida and his team from Tokyo University of Science have developed a technology which converts silicon sludge into magnesium silicide (Mg2Si), a material which traps wasted heat energy and converts it into electricity. One possible use for this technology is in diesel or petrol cars which waste about 70% of heat generated in the engine and exhausts.

For further information contact: Associate Professor Tsutomu Iida Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology Tokyo University of Science Email: tlo@admin.tus.ac.jp • http://www.tus.ac.jp/tlo/

The XFEL facility (under construction) stretching out from the round SPring-8 facility in the background.

For further information contact: Professor T. Ishikawa RIKEN-JASRI Joint project for Spring-8 XFEL Email: project-XFEL@riken.jp

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SOCIETY

Photo Credit: Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Fashion industry gains from first digital database of Chinese head and face shapes The SizeChina project provides invaluable data of Chinese head and face shapes for the fashion industry and the global Chinese market.

Prior to the SizeChina project, all ergonomic data available for fashion and clothing designers focused on the body shapes of Western populations. This was problematic since Western physiology differs significantly from the physiology of Chinese people, particularly in terms of the shape of the head and face. The result was that helmets, facemasks and eyeglasses designed from Western data simply did not fit the needs of Chinese users.

Using the most current digital scanning methodology, researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University assembled data from a representative cross section of the mainland Chinese population to create the first-ever digital database of Chinese head and face shapes. Now, for the first time, products will genuinely fit.

The next phase of the project will see the creation of a database of Chinese foot and hand shapes. Western designed footwear does not fit Chinese customers well.

For example, Chinese women tend to have a wider foot and a higher arch. The research on hand shape will take into account strength and flexibility as well as size. This data will be of use to designers and manufacturers of hand power tools which have traditionally been dimensioned to suit Western male users.

For further information contact: Professor Roger Ball School of Design The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Email: sdroger@polyu.edu.hk

One size fits all sales promotion?

Sales promotion is a well-established means of gaining market share, but how do different cultures react to the sales promotion techniques used by many multinational corporations?

Do differences in age, product type, occupation and religious affiliation have an impact on the effectiveness of certain sales promotion techniques compared with others? Professor de Run of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak has been conducting research on the Asian consumers’ viewpoint of sales promotion techniques. In particular the study looks at the impact of national and local culture as well as religion on sales promotion activities.

The study is being conducted amongst consumers in the 25-45 year age group in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand.

For further information contact: Associate Professor Ernest Cyril de Run Faculty of Economy and Business Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Email: drernest@feb.unimas.my

Tourism forecasting for Hong Kong Given the important role played by the tourism industry in Hong Kong’s economy, an accurate way of forecasting demand is crucial for tour operators, transport and facility providers, policymakers and business strategists Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s project aims to develop a web-based forecasting system to forecast the demand for tourism in Hong Kong over the next decade.

With this system, users can be informed about the factors that determine the demand for Hong Kong tourism and the future demand trends which will enable them to plan accordingly. The system forecasts tourism-related demand in terms of tourist arrivals, total tourist expenditure, expenditure by product category and hotel room nights. It will also look at the number of outgoing tourists from Hong Kong and their preferred destinations.

For further information contact: Professor Haiyan Song School of Hotel and Tourism Management The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Email: hmsong@polyu.edu.hk www.tourismforecasting.net

SOCIETY

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Photo Credit: J. J. Angeles

Encouraging community-based tourism This research looks at how sustainable tourism may be implemented in the absence of government assistance in areas of scarce resource.

When Taketomi Island, one of the islands at the southernmost edge of Japan abandoned fishing and farming in favour of tourism, a community-based approach was adopted. The entire community was encouraged to focus on their traditions and valuesystems to serve as a basis for action and involvement.

This research being undertaken by the University of the Philippines seeks to investigate ways in which whole communities can sustain and profit from the benefits brought by tourism. The study will look at the experience of Capul Island in Northern Samar and compare it to the tourism development seen in Taketomi island.

The project will look at how sustainable tourism may be implemented in areas of scarce resource or with little infrastructure investment and in the absence of government assistance. The successful organisation of communities to share in the responsibility of promoting tourism activities will also be studied.

For further information contact: Dr David Leonides T. Yap School of Urban and Regional Planning University of the Philippines Diliman Email: rduo.ovcrd@up.edu.ph

Japanese-Filipino children in metro Manila Concerns about the welfare of children of Japanese fathers and Filipina mothers have been raised by several organisations. This study will open avenues for mutual co-operation between the Philippines and Japan to assist these children.

Relationships between Japanese nationals and Filipina overseas workers, primarily employed in the entertainment and restaurant industry, often fail due to many factors including financial difficulties, cultural differences and language barriers. The children of such relationships are typically left to live with their Filipina mothers.

In the Philippines concerns regarding the welfare of these children have been raised by several nongovernment organisations yet there is a lack of information about these children and their families. The study by the University of the Philippines focuses on Japanese-Filipino children in Manila city. These children need to understand the two cultures from which their parents come and this study aims to provide a demographic presentation of the numbers of Japanese-Filipino children in Manila and to identify and recommend areas for intervention from both the Philippines and Japan to assist these children.

For further information contact: Professor Jocelyn T. Caragay College of Social Work and Community Development University of the Philippines Diliman Email: joycetcaragay@yahoo.com

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A G R I C U LT U R E

Rice husks to the rescue Scientists have developed a cheap and efficient means of reducing industrial pollution using a waste product from rice processing.

In rice-producing countries, the processing of the rice produces rice husk which is generally either burnt or sent to landfill. The burning of the rice husk generates rice husk ash as well as greenhouse and acidic gases which cause global warming. In Malaysia alone over eighty thousand metric tons of this ash is produced annually. Since pollutants that cause global warming/acid rain and ashes are produced simultaneously from the industrial combustion processes, an attractive and economical solution to this problem is to utilise the ash to absorb these pollutants.

Working on this challenge, the team at Universiti Sains Malaysia have successfully developed a technology to produce a highly active sorbent/catalyst from the rice husk ash that is efficient in simultaneously removing three important industrial pollutant gases (i.e. N2O, NOx, and SO2,).

For further information contact: Dr Lee Keat Tong School of Chemical Engineering Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: chktlee@eng.usm.my

Mass Cloning of Plants This new system can produce tissue-cultured plantlets faster than the conventional gel culture medium.

Improvements to the speed at which plants are produced can impact on the competitiveness and costeffectiveness of the agricultural industry. Scientists in Malaysia have developed a system which increases the speed at which plantlets can be cultivated.

The new system is made up of two glass vessels.

The bottom vessel holds the culture medium and the top container holds the plantlets. The culture medium is pumped into the upper container a number of times a day, depending on the plant species.

Tests performed on Alocasia x Amazonica ornamental plantlets showed growth after immersion in the culture liquid for just thirty minutes per day. After two weeks, multiple shoots were seen and the plantlets were ready to be transferred to an outdoor environment.

Photo Credit: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Spicing up pepper production As the fourth-largest producer of pepper in the world, Malaysian scientists are looking at alternative means for harvesting and uses for waste products from the processing of pepper.

Malaysia is the fourth-largest world producer of pepper after Brazil, India and Vietnam with 95% of Malaysian pepper grown in Sarawak. Pepper vines are usually found on hilly terrain which makes pepper harvesting laborious, time-consuming and hazardous.

A team at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak is working to develop a mechanised pepper harvester. The machine will consist of a robotic chassis and an arm that will reach over four metres, the average height of a pepper vine. The current design runs on wheels, but the researchers are also investigating the possibility of the harvester running on a rail.

Once the pepper is harvested, the processing of the spice produces a large amount of organic waste, most of which is currently discarded. As an alternative, a second team at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak is researching the potential of pelletising the pepper waste into biomass pellets for energy generation. This has been previously done with wood, barley and wheat waste which provides useful grounds for comparison.

For further information contact: (Pepper harvester) Mohammed Shahril Osman Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering University Malaysia Sarawak Email: omshahril@feng.unimas.my (Pepper waste pelletisation) Siti Nor Ain Musa Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering University Malaysia Sarawak Email: msnain@feng.unimas.my

For further information contact: Associate Professor Chan Lai Keng School of Biological Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: lkchan@usm.my Photo Credit: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

A G R I C U LT U R E

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Increasing childbirth and healing herb stock Soil mapping to reduce fertilizer use Precise monitoring of soil properties can assist farmers with soil and fertilizer management, reducing fertilizer input costs and environmental impact.

The characteristics of agricultural land are generally variable. To practice precision farming, traditional field soil sampling and laboratory tests, which are costly and time consuming, can be replaced by a more rapid and intensive soil-sampling techniques.

Scientists in Malaysia have developed a mapping system known as RETECS (real-time electrical conductivity of soil). The electrical conductivity of the soil is measured at various points in the field giving a reading of the nutrient content of the soil. The results are displayed in real-time on a computer screen in the tractor cab.

Once the electrical conductivity data has been collected, another system known as MAZDEC (management zone delineation using soil-apparent electrical conductivity) developed by the same research group is used to produce a detailed soil-variability map for identifying areas of contrasting soil properties.

This enables the farmer to determine different rates of fertilizer required according to the needs of the crop and soil. The systems enable precision farming of rice while improving fertilizer management in paddy fields which saves money and reduces pollution.

For further information contact: Professor Ir Dr Mohd Amin Mohd Soom Smart Farming Technology Laboratory Universiti Putra Malaysia Email: amin@eng.upm.edu.my

Use of satellite imagery will allow new opportunities for effective plantation management.

The use of satellites enables the capture of information about crops grown over a large area and multi-spectral imagery taken by satellite is able to detect properties of plants which are not visible in standard or infra-red photography.

This research aims to develop an algorithm for the identification of oil palm by modelling the spectral signature of these plants. This will lead to the development of a prototype that is able to identify individual oil palm trees in a satellite image. Thus allowing differentiation and classification of non oil palm and oil palm plantation areas leading to better plantation management across Malaysia.

For further information contact: Wang Hui Hui - Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Email: hhwang@fit.unimas.my

For further information contact: Nor Aini Shukor Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products Universiti Putra Malaysia Email: anishukor@yahoo.com

Ceramic glaze from oil palm waste As a leading exporter of palm oil, Malaysia has an abundance of agricultural waste from the processing of the oil. This project looks at using the waste products to create value-added products for the ceramics industry.

The research by the Universiti Sains Malaysia has shown that the use of oil palm waste in the development of glazes can make a significant contribution to the local ceramics industry and reduce reliance on non-renewable raw materials. The glazes produced from the oil palm waste can be used for a wide variety of ceramic products such as tiles, tableware, decorative items and sculptures.

Photo Credit: Universiti Sains Malaysia

Multi-spectral imaging for oil palm plantations

Labisia pumila is used by Malay women to induce and facilitate childbirth as well as to help healing after the event.

Three varieties viz pumila, alata and lanceolata are found in Malaysia but only two are commonly available and logging and forest encroachment activities are affecting their ability to grow. Researchers at Universiti Putra Malaysia are investigating whether raising planted stocks of selected cuttings using different methods can help increase stocks. The team is testing the three varieties in different systems; misting vs. non misting, river sand vs. sawdust vs. sand and sawdust mix, and so on. They have shown so far that L. pumila var alata using stem cutting is the most viable genotype that could be propagated vegetatively through rooting of cuttings especially when raised on river sand medium with misting system.

For further information contact: Shamsu Mohamad Design Department School of Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: shamsu@usm.my

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ENVIRONMENT

Climate Change vulnerability map for SEA

This study, conducted by EEPSEA, identifies the regions most vulnerable to climate change in Southeast Asia.

"Based on this mapping assessment, all the regions of the Philippines; the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam; almost all the regions of Cambodia; North and East Laos PDR; the Bangkok region of Thailand and West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Western Java, and Eastern Java of Indonesia are among the most vulnerable regions in Southeast Asia" (Yusuf & Francisco).

Gravity waves play an important role in the global circulation and climate systems.

Scientists in Japan are studying the mechanisms of gravity wave radiation from jet streams in the atmosphere.

The results will help reduce uncertainties in global climate models, thus further improving climate change predictions.

For further information contact: Dr Norihiko Sugimoto Department of Physics Keio University Email:nori@phys-h.keio.ac.jp

For further information contact: Dr Herminia A. Francisco Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia International Development Research Centre Email: hfrancisco@idrc.org.sg

Photo Credit: Keio University

Improving climate change predictions

A report on this mapping project is available online at http://www.eepsea.org

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ENVIRONMENT

Photo Credit: Universiti Sains Malaysia

Cement Kilns to remove toxic chemicals High temperature incinerators, the recommended treatment for organic hazardous chemicals are expensive for developing countries. Cement kilns however are readily available and offer an affordable alternative to treat certain persistent organic pollutants.

Hazardous waste issues are now a priority in Asia due to the toxic effects on human health and the environmental risks posed by inadequate management of these pollutants. Understanding of the safe and effective management of hazardous wastes is key to ensuring that the risks associated with these products are minimized and enable to Asian countries to comply with international legislation.

One means of doing this is by demonstrating the potential for clean-up of hazardous waste by coprocessing in existing cement kilns. The Asian Institute of Technology will be conducting real-life pilot demonstration projects to show the use of cement kilns in the management of hazardous chemicals.

Absorbing landfill pollutants Leachate pollution of chemicals such as ammonia and heavy metals from landfill sites is being tackled by the development of a new adsorbent.

Current technology for removing pollutants from leachate is expensive because it involves many stages of treatment and available absorbents only remove specific pollutants.

Researchers are using low cost and waste materials to develop a new material which can absorb and remove many pollutants leaching from landfills, resulting in a discharge which complies with the Department of the Environment standards. This single stage treatment significantly reduces the cost of treatment especially for developing countries.

For further information contact: Professor Chongrak Polprasert School of Environment, Resources and Development Asian Institute of Technology Email: chongrak@ait.ac.th

For further information contact: Associate Professor Hamidi Abdul Aziz School of Civil Engineering Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Email: cehamidi@eng.usm.my

Making recycling paper environmentally friendly

Photo Credit: Asian Institute of Technology

The use of recycled paper reduces the need for virgin resources to be used. Yet the de-inking process utilises many chemicals which contribute to environmental pollution.

There is a huge global demand for recycled paper, which reduces the need to cut down trees for our paper needs. Yet the recycling process is far from being environmentally friendly. The current de-inking process results in a high concentration of polluting chemicals, which also diminishes the strength of the pulp fibre. In order to tackle this issue, scientists in Malaysia have developed a low cost environmentally-friendly process using enzyme systems which significantly reduces the impact of chemical pollution.

For further information contact: Professor Darah Ibrahim School of Biological Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: darah@usm.my

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ARCHAEOLOGY

Photo Credit: Universiti Sains Malaysia

Challenging the ‘Out of Africa’ theory

Insight into prehistoric Philippines

Archaeologists in Malaysia reveal early human existence in South East Asia dating back to 1.83 million years, calling into question the date of the "Out of Africa" theory.

The "Out of Africa" theory is based on fossils of early man found in Georgia dating back between 1.7-1.8 million years, but new findings by Universiti Sains Malaysia show evidence of human existence in South East Asia dating back 1.83 million years. The discovery suggests that the "Out of Africa" theory ought to be earlier than 1.8 million years ago.

The study at Bukit Bunuh in Lenggong in the state of Perak, Malaysia by Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Archaeological Research (CARM) uncovered stone tool artefacts like hand axes and flake tools preserved in suevite, a type of rock formed by meteorite impact. The rock dated in Japan using fission track dating revealed a date of approximately 1.83 million years old.

These discoveries at Bukit Bunuh provide new evidence that human life existed in Malaysia 1.83 million years ago and revise previous theories that the earliest humans in the region inhabited Java, Indonesia from 1.2 to 1.7 million years ago. It suggests that early man lived in Malaysia before migrating to Java as a result of the destruction of Bukit Bunuh by meteorite impact. The discovery of the hand tools also clearly disputes the Movius Line theory that the use of hand axes did not occur in South East Asia until much later.

Ongoing research of Palawan Island aims to create a stone tool classification system and a clear picture of the pre-historic Philippines.

Palawan Island in the South-West Philippines, is the site of the some of the oldest human remains in the region. The Palawan Island Prehistoric Project have discovered evidence of burials and artefacts showing the use of the site dating back 15 000 years. One of the sites excavated, Ille Cave, has revealed a number of stones tools, which are currently being analysed. To date, very few stone-age tools found in the Philippines have undergone any detailed analysis and this project will provide the opportunity to gain a clearer picture of the pre-history of the islands.

The study aims to reconstruct the methods used for manufacturing stone tools and to conduct a microscopic use-wear analysis of the artefacts to identify their functions and activities that took place at Ille during prehistoric times. A classification system will be established which can be used as a standard for the recording and evaluation of prehistoric stone tools in the future.

Meanwhile, on another site, researchers from CARM unearthed the remains of a sophisticated iron smelting site, dating back to the 3rd Century AD. The discovery at Lembah Bujang, Kedah is further proof that early human civilization in the region was far more advanced than was first believed. The site was used for iron smelting and tools to pump oxygen into the iron smelting process were found alongside artefacts such as rooftops of buildings, beads and pots. Carbon dating of a coal sample from the site was carried out, placing the date of the site around the 3rd century AD. The remains of an administration building or port complex were also discovered nearby.

For further information contact: Associate Professor Dr. Mokhtar Saidin The Centre for Archaeological Research Malaysia Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: mmokh@usm.my

The team have uncovered evidence that early anatomically modern Homo Sapiens came to Germany inhabited by Neanderthals, probably from the nearEast, and introduced their technologies 80 000 years earlier than previously assumed.

On another project, archaeologists from the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Rhineland Regional Council in Germany have collaborated on an excavation project in Inden/Altdorf, Germany. Items found include projectile implements for hunting spears as well as various hafted working tools. The researchers found residue on the stone tools which has been identified as tar produced by the distillation of birch bark. This is the earliest synthetic product in pre-history and was used as an adhesive to attach stone implements onto wooden shafts.

For further information contact: Dr Alfred F. Pawlik Archaeological Studies Program University of the Philippines Diliman Email: alfred.pawlik@up.edu.ph

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ARCHAEOLOGY

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Photo Credit: Waseda University

3000 year old Egyptian princess Archaeologists from Waseda University, Tokyo, discover the 3000 year old remains of an Egyptian princess.

The site at Saqqara, south of Cairo, is an ancient necropolis which has been the subject of excavations by the team from Waseda University since 1991. In early March 2009, a previously unknown tomb consisting of the base of a pyramid, a monumental gateway, a colonnaded courtyard, and an ante-chamber with three cult chapels was found on a rocky outcrop on the edge of the site. The complex measures 27 by 10 metres and dates back to the Nineteenth Dynasty.

The tomb contained a broken limestone sarcophagus, inscribed with hieroglyphics in brilliant blue color indicating the title 'noblewoman', three mummies and fragments of funerary objects.

The identity of the bodies is a mystery as the title of Noblewoman is rare in this period. It was used for women from the royal family or of outstanding stature.

The Japanese team believes that the tomb belongs to Isisnofret, daughter of Prince Khaemwaset and granddaughter of Ramses II, the famed 19th dynasty Pharaoh who reigned over Egypt for about 66 years from 1279 to 1213 BC.

For further information contact: Office of Information & Public Relations Waseda University Email: koho@list.waseda.jp

The Sarcophagus of Isisnofret

Relief decoration on the exterior wall of the sarcophagus of Isisnofret

Photo Credit: Waseda University

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E L AT I O N S

Comparative study of the Basque and Moro separatist movements For separatist movements around the globe the use of electoral politics as a means of problem resolution is an emerging phenomenon.

In liberal democracies there is a view that problems posed by separatist movements can be resolved through the practice of political representation, particularly through electoral politics. To examine this, researchers at the University of the Philippines Diliman are comparing the experience of two separatist movements, the Spanish Basque and the Moro in the Philippines, with regard to the use of electoral politics as a means to resolve the problem of separatism.

The study will look at the nature of political parties which have emerged to address the concerns of the Basque and the Moro separatist movements as well as assessing the impact and limitations of electoral politics to tackle the challenges posed by these separatist movements.

The researchers will also look at the similarities and differences in the use of electoral politics by the two separatist movements in a developed (Spain) and a developing (the Philippines) nation. They will also examine alternative frameworks to electoral politics as a means of seeking solutions to end separatist conflicts.

For further information contact: Dr Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem Department of Political Science and Third World Studies Center University of the Philippines Diliman Email: teresatadem@zpdee.net

Japan-US partnership reviewed from a global viewpoint US studies in Japan are now at a crucial turning point and a more comprehensive understanding is required.

Waseda University has a long history of international exchange with the United States. The recently launched Organisation for Japan-US studies will focus on relationships between the US and the international community with a particular emphasis on Japan and its position in Asia. It will pioneer new research areas by bringing together researchers with diverse expertise to work on projects focusing on society, global development, security, environment and business to name just a few examples. The intention is that the Organisation will make relevant policy proposals aimed at problem-solving.

For further information contact: Professor Shiro Yabushita Organization for Japan-US Studies Waseda University Email: info-wojuss@list.waseda.jp

Preparing for ASEAN in 2015 The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Canada have something big in common – both are situated adjacent to economic giants. ASEAN has China and India as neighbours; Canada has the United States.

ASEAN, a regional grouping of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is embarking on a bold and ambitious plan to integrate the economies of the 10 member countries and establish an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. There are lessons that can be shared from the Canadian experience with the North American Free Trade Agreement and from ASEAN’s steps toward greater economic integration through the ASEAN Free Trade Area.

To explore issues arising from these shared circumstances, the Institute of South East Asian Studies in Singapore initiated the launch in 2008 of the ASEANCanada Forum, which aims to provide a platform for policy dialogue and promote greater intellectual and research exchange. More broadly, the Forum seeks to strengthen ASEAN-Canada partnerships and build stronger economic, political and socio-cultural and research linkages.

Canada’s International Development Research Centre is supporting this initiative, which is to include an annual forum, collaborative research, seminars, publications, and the creation of an Internet portal. The first ASEAN-Canada Forum Conference, held in Singapore in November 2008, focused on the challenges of regional integration in the main areas of trade and investment, institutional development, governance and accountability, dispute resolution approaches and labour mobility and cross-border migration issues.

For further information contact: Dr Denis Hew Regional Economic Studies Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Email: denishew@iseas.edu.sg Dr Evan Due Globalization, Growth and Poverty Program International Development Research Centre Email: edue@idrc.org.sg

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Five Japanese research institutions are collaborating on a project investigating the impact of globalisation on the essence of Islam.

In the present day the ethnic groups, religion and culture of Islam are found from East to West, starting from South East Asia, passing through the Middle East and Eastern Europe and extending through to Western Africa. Many Muslims have immigrated to the countries of Europe, the United States and Japan and these immigrants are an important element of the various societies in which they live.

Until now, the various encounters and conflicts of each region were localised problems. However, upon entering the internet age, regional events began to spread throughout the entire world, and these encounters and conflicts are now shared as global issues. Against this background of "Islamic globalisation", the phenomenon of "Islamic radicalism", symbolised by the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York City, has emerged as an issue which concerns the entire world.

With a focus on the issues of Islamic globalisation and Islamic radicalism, Islamic Area Studies is a joint research project that searches for the essence of Islam among the diversity which has become rooted in each region. This is an interdisciplinary project which draws on the research expertise of each participating institute.

It approaches Islam by combining almost all research fields including politics, economics, religious studies, history, cultural anthropology, social sciences, architecture and geography and The Organisation for Islamic Area Studies consists of researchers from Waseda University, The University of Tokyo, Sophia University, Kyoto University, and The Toyo Bunko (Oriental Library). The Waseda University Institute of Islamic Area Studies functions as the central institute for the entire project and is responsible for unifying the actions of the multiple partners. The research group also collaborates actively with researchers based in Islamic regions outside Japan.

For further information contact: Professor Tsugitaka Sato Organisation for Islamic Area Studies Waseda University Email: info@islam.waseda.ac.jp

Photo Credit: International Development Research Centre

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Seeking the essence of Islam across regional diversity

New support for researchers in Cambodia Within recent memory being a researcher in Cambodia was risky and regarded as tantamount to spying. Now, a remarkable network is taking shape that promises to provide opportunities for collaborative thinking and interaction, as well as greater policy influence, for Cambodian researchers The idea of creating the Cambodian Development Research Forum grew out of a meeting convened in Phnom Penh in 2007 by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for all its research partners. At the meeting, the participants agreed that a national research forum would be useful in bringing together Cambodia's diverse community of development researchers, scattered in NGOs, government departments, and research institutes, who otherwise might seldom meet.

Much of the development research in Cambodia currently takes place outside the universities. The Forum plans to commission a study to explore the opportunities for building research capacity at the universities. The Forum will also administer a fund providing small grants and research fellowships, and support the translation of key research documents from English to Khmer. An open platform is being created to help researchers manage information and communicate with each other, as well as with the broader development community.

The immediate objective is to support local researchers in producing high-quality work that can help inform public policies. Ultimately, it is hoped that the Forum will lay the groundwork for a national research council in Cambodia.

For further information contact: Srey Marona/Serey Rotha Community Based Natural Resource Management Learning Institute Email: info@cbnrmli.org http://www.cbnrmli.org Larry Strange Executive Director Cambodia Development Research Institute http://www.cdri.org.kh Richard Fuchs Regional Director International Development Research Centre Email: rfuchs@idrc.org.sg

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Photo Credit: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Orthopaedic implants to be produced locally in Hong Kong A team of scientists in Hong Kong are designing and manufacturing orthopaedic implants designed to fit the Asian bone structure The ageing population in Hong Kong is experiencing a growing need for metal implants in orthopaedic surgery to replace injured and defective joints. Research and clinical data have shown that knee and hip joints have a longer life expectancy if they are designed to fit the Asian bone structure accurately. However, almost all orthopaedic implants currently used in Hong Kong are imported from overseas. These do not always fit properly, are expensive and have a long delivery time.

A team of scientists from Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong have been working together to establish local capability for the design and manufacture of orthopaedic implants designed to fit the Asian bone structure better, promising greater longevity for the implant, greater comfort for the user and shorter delivery time.

For further information contact: Professor Lee Wing Bun Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Email: mfwblee@inet.polyu.edu.hk

Devices for stroke and cerebral palsy patients Scientists in Malaysia have developed a prototype device which enables stroke patients to regain movement in their fingers and hand by enabling them to perform extension and flexion exercises anytime and anywhere .

Meanwhile, another group of researchers have developed an intelligent axoskeletal arm-trainer for stroke patients which incorporates the major rehabilitation procedures and training modes and a third group have designed an adaptive device to help children with cerebral palsy carry on with their exercises with less dependence on their parents.

For further information contact: S. Mohamaddan (Finger rehabilitation) Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Email: mshahrol@feng.unimas.my Prof. Mohd Zaid Abdullah (Intelligent arm-trainer) School of Electrical and Electronic Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: mza@usm.my Kamarudin Saleh (Adaptive Device for Cerebral Palsy) Rehabilitation Unit Hospital USM Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: kamarudin@kck.usm.my

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A fishy story about wound healing

Regional partnership to fight avian influenza The Asian Partnership on Avian Influenza Research group will help governments design new strategies not only to control avian influenza but also protect vulnerable producers from loss of income and nutrition.

The panic about avian influenza may be over in the media, but the reality of the threat is still very much with us. The disease knows no borders, and collaboration is crucial if it is to be contained in future. In this spirit Asian Partnership on Avian Influenza Research (APAIR) is a network of government ministries and research academies from the five Southeast Asian countries hardest hit by H5N1 in both birds and humans.

Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam make up the partnership, which is supported by Canada’s International Development Research Centre. The groups aim to better understand how outbreaks may spread, what works best for containment and how working together can improve pandemic planning and outcomes.

Many Asian countries have been affected by the H5N1 epidemic and each has used a range of measures to combat avian flu. One key group of APAIR researchers are currently evaluating and comparing these efforts.

Similarities and differences between national policies, like poultry vaccination and anti-viral drugs, can offer insights that researchers hope will strengthen efforts across the region. Others are looking into the impact of pandemic control measures, comparing methods used by farmers across the region, the role of wild birds and more.

The results of the alliance’s work will help governments design new strategies not only to control avian influenza but also to protect vulnerable producers from loss of income and nutrition.

For further information contact: Dr Hein Mallee - Ecohealth Program International Development Research Centre Email: hmallee@idrc.org.sg www.apairesearch.net APAIR Regional Coordinating Office Email: co-office@apairesearch.net www.apairesearch.net

Channa striatus or the common snakehead fish is known for its traditional healing uses. Now a group of scientists in Malaysia are investigating its medicinal value, in particular with an view to replacing current wound care films and dressings.

The common snakehead fish, also known as haruan is already traditionally used to enhance the wound healing process, especially after an accident, operation or childbirth. Professor Saringat Baie and colleagues from Universiti Sains Malaysia are examining the medicinal value of haruan as well as its commercial viability in body cream and other cosmetics.

With amino and unique fatty acids that accelerate healing, using a biocompatible polymer, application by aerosol forms a skin-like layer over the damaged area.

The size of the wound is unimportant as a spray-on application will cover the area better than a pre-sized plaster.

As well as reducing pain from rubbing in a cream or gel the aerosol’s contents remain sterile and there is no need for changing of bandages. The film created by the spray protects the wound from infection, acting as a barrier against foreign microbes, is comfortable and on removal does not disturb the wound bed.

For further information contact: Professor Saringat Baie School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: saringat@usm.my

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Diagnosing diseases in developing countries Tropical diseases threaten millions. Mosquito borne Elephantiasis or Lymphatic filariasis puts over a billion people in more than 80 countries at risk. Bacillary dysentery, affects an estimated 164.7 million people a year worldwide, while patients who have recovered from typhoid fever can continue to carry the illness, leaving others exposed.

As new strategies are being developed to combat these parasitic and bacterial diseases, one avenue that is hotly being pursued is improving diagnostics, with the common theme of ‘the simpler the better’. The diagnostic kits need to be easy to transport, simple to use and able to produce fast results. Early diagnosis means early treatment, and in cases of bacterial infection accurate diagnosis can result in interventions and limiting the spread of infection to others.

Elephantiasis - Elephantiasis is caused by mosquitoes transmitting one of three parasites: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori.

Symptoms range from fever and lymphatic damage, to renal damage, elephantiasis and pulmonary disorders.

Researchers at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have developed BRUGIArapid which employs an antigen of Brugia malayi (BmR1). It requires a small sample of blood serum or plasma and responds in just 15 minutes. The test has proved useful in mapping the disease and has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for this purpose.

Diarrhoea - Diagnosing the cause of diarrhoea in children can help with treatment and prevention of transmission but many tests have long response times and are complicated to carry out. Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of diarrhoea around the world, particularly in children and USM researchers have developed a test in the hope of providing an economical solution. EZCampyDNA only requires a DNA sample, distilled water and can detect c. jejuni in just three hours. Researchers are beginning to use it to detect the bacteria in food and water samples for the food industry.

Dysentery - For bacillary dysentery, the team developed EZDysentry which can give results within 3 hours, which is imperative as bacillary dysentery, from Shingella flexneri, sonnei and dysenteriae, is highly communicable. The kit can also be used to test for Shingella in water and food samples.

Typhoid fever - Typhoid fever, a bacterial disease caused by Salmonella typhi is transmitted through food or drink contaminated by faeces or urine of the infected.

Researchers at USM have developed a simple test based on a strip of paper coated with antibodies specific for an antigen of typhoid. Another test, TYPHIDOT, which was developed by the same group and patented in 1991, has been used by more than 2 million people.

Drug Resistant Bacteria - Acquiring an infection from hospital stays and drug resistant bacteria are serious problems in modern hospitals. Over the last decade there has been a dramatic increase of antibiotic resistant enterococci in many countries. Enterococci cause urinary tract infections, surgical wound infections and more. In Malaysia, cases have been reported in poultry samples which pose a high risk of transmission to humans during handling or consumption of meat. To limit spreading of disease, Enterococcus and its antibiotic-resistant

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genotypes need to be rapidly and accurately identified but conventional methods can take up to four days, or require skilled personnel and a temperature controlled supply chain. A team at USM have developed a kit (EZVRE Amp) that can detect 8 Enterococcus genes requiring only the addition of boiled urine, stool, pus, blood, poultry or water samples and take only three hours to produce results, instead of conventional 48-72 hours.

For further information contact: Professor Rahmah Noordin (BRUGIArapid) Email: rahmah@yahoo.com Professor Asma Ismail (EZCampy DNA, EZDysentry, TYPHIDOT) Email: asma@kb.usm.my Assoc Professor Manickam Ravichandran (EZVRE Amp) Email: mravic@kb.usm.my Universiti Sains Malaysia

Children’s health in rural Philippines How does poverty affect health choices made in families? Can parenting skills be enhanced through children’s feedback? How can childhood illnesses, malnutrition and school absences be reduced?

Researchers in the Philippines have been looking into ways of improving children’s health in rural areas.

The three-year long project is being carried out in the municipality of San Juan, Batangas in the Philippines. The overall aim of the project is to develop community and family-based action in the municipality to address common socio-economic and health needs and problems.

The first stage involves an assessment of the knowledge amongst mothers and caregivers of childhood illnesses and how this impacts on care-seeking behaviour, especially in poorer households. This is followed by a study looking at the capacity of families, day care and health workers to provide nutritional and psycho-social care to children aged 0-6 years, focusing on breastfeeding, complementary feeding and the ability to provide a stimulating environment for child development. The final stage of the project focuses on children’s health and the participation of children in community activities. The aim of this is to reduce incidences of childhood illness, malnutrition and school absence due to illness.

For further information contact: Rainier V. Almazan: rva_ph@yahoo.com Dr Milagros P. Querubin: milaquerubin@yahoo.com Yolanda Ealdama: yolanda.ealdama@up.edu.ph University of the Philippines Diliman

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Stem cells: the brain game

Upping the pace of metabolism research

Stem cell research is the great hope of the moment and has captured the imagination of the public around the world. A team of scientists in Japan hope to develop new treatments for brain disease and neural injury.

Stem cells are found in most multi-cellular organisms and have the ability to regenerate or to become different specialised cell types. In this fast paced and exciting field, researchers at Keio University are trying to pin down the exact mechanism of brain development; the formation of both neurons and glia from neural stem cells.

They hope to add to a growing knowledge of diseases and injury that occur in the brain, the most complex organ in the body, in order to develop new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of brain disease and neural injury.

Science in the 21st century is helping us get to grips with the molecular mechanisms that maintain life in all its forms. Genome analysis and the mining of protein interactions are beginning to explain disease states and researchers hope to develop therapies and control strategies based on this knowledge.

Metabolism, or the set of chemical reactions that occur in order for life to grow, reproduce, respond to external influences or to maintain its structure, is little understood, but a program at Keio University hopes to break down some of these barriers.

Metabolomics is the "systematic study of the unique chemical fingerprints that specific cellular processes leave behind" - specifically, the study of their smallmolecule metabolite profiles. The Keio group is using metabolomic systems biology to examine human tissue in an attempt to understand malignant and infectious diseases. In collaboration with Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Boston University in the USA, the team hopes to uncover unknown mechanisms of metabolic regulation under physiologic and pathological conditions in vivo.

For further information contact: Professor Hideyuki Okano School of Medicine Keio University Email: hidokano@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp Photo Credit: RIKEN and FANTOM Consortium

Omics hits its stride Omics – the term given to large scale biology producing huge datasets – is a hot topic and set to get even hotter as sequencing technology improves.The Omics Science Centre (OSC) at Riken opened last year with the newest sequencers and intends to develop a comprehensive system called "Life Science Accelerator" for the advancement of omics research.

The equipment at OSC can read three billion bases every five to ten days, more than 100 times faster than conventional equipment. The technology also combines a quality check of base sequence data, and mapping technology to fit new information into ready known arrays.

Along with continued work on the Riken Mouse Encyclopedia, a project to comprehensively collect and analyze full-length cDNA to find the parts of the information written in the genome DNA that function as genes, and their sponsorship of FANTOM, the Functional Annotation of Mammalian cDNA, the team intend to do the world’s first sequencing of an induced pluripotent stem cell this year.

For further information contact: RIKEN Omics Science Center Email: rgscerg@gsc.riken.jp http://www.osc.riken.jp

For further information contact: Professor Makoto Suematsu Center for Human Metabolomic Systems Biology Keio University Email: c-rp@adst.keio.ac.jp

Conjoined TWIns March 2008 saw a brand new research institute spring up in Kawada Town, Tokyo. Located next to the Tokyo Women’s Medical University Hospital, the joint venture with Waseda University is focused on the advancement of biomedical science.

Named TWIns as a fusion of the names of the two institutions, and fusing medicine, science, and engineering, the combination of the medical and general universities works to encourage interdisciplinary research.

The lack of walls between the two universities, the sharing of facilities are all intended to allow for true collaboration and lead to the creation of a new system for research, development and education.

As Mitsuo Umezu, Senior Director of the Center for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, says: "By combining fields that have never been combined before and fusing different technologies, we will endeavor to find new treatments for illnesses that have hitherto been impossible to cure and to develop technologies for preventing disease. By engaging our human resources in such challenges, we will develop their knowledge and skills."

For further information contact: Professor Mitsuo Umezu Center for Advanced Biomedical Sciences (TWIns) Waseda University Email: advmed-info@list.waseda.jp

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Plants to improve human health Diabetes hopes

Essential studies

Diabetes is a chronic disease, predicted to affect 239 million people by 2010. Currently patients can control many aspects of the disease, but their day to day lives can be interrupted by distressing side effects. The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) are about to assess an extract from a Malaysian legume species as a safer antidiabetic candidate.

Many species from the ginger– Zingiberaceae – custard apple – Annonaceae – families have been studied for their anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties, but researchers at FRIM believe the potential of these species is not yet fully understood. A current project aims to gather new information on beneficial bioactivities of the phytoextracts and essential oils of the plants with a view to developing new therapies.

Reducing inflammation Another group from FRIM are analysing the antiinflammatory activities of certain senna plants. While there are already numerous medications available to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma and allergy, many can have side effects and traditional remedies may offer potential for new therapies. The team hope to assess the efficacy of senna species for their antiinflammatory activities.

New weapons to fight malaria Malaria continues to be a major public health problem around the world, killing between one and three million people each year. Cell culture work at Universiti Sains Malaysia have demonstrated that constituents in Eurycoma longifolia are effective against Plasmodium falciparum infection. Work in rats treated with the same purified extract also shows promise.

The battle against drug-resistance At FRIM, scientists are trying to tackle multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using compounds from Chromolaena odorata, after several studies showed it has wound healing properties against human pathogens and preliminary research has shown it to have some antiMRSA traits.

Cutting off cancer’s blood supply Teams in the Philippines are scouring their primary forest for plants that may have useful anti-cancer properties.

They are specifically searching for ways to induce antiangiogenesis – or the prevention of blood vessels forming – which deprives the tumour of the nourishment it needs in order to grow. They aim to evaluate the antiangiogenicity of local flora and, where results show promise, the local indigenous Aeta community will share in possible economic returns.

Seeking chemoprevention Also in the Philippines, similar work is addressing the chemopreventative properties of local plants. Researchers are screening Canarium ovatum Engl., Premna odorata, Pouteria campechiana Baehni, Crataeva religiosaForst, and Syzygium samarangense along with many more.

Cancer chemoprevention is considered one of the most promising areas in current cancer research with the goal of delaying or inhibiting the disease progression. The project will be directed toward the exploration of plants with confirmed antimutagenic activity. The scientists hope to isolate and determine the structure of the most promising compounds.

Anti-oxidant identification Moving away from medicine, researchers at FRIM are evaluating the chemical, biological and toxicity properties for selected Syzygium species with a view to developing a high quality, safe and efficacious natural preservative for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industry. Syzygium is a genus of about 500 species from the family of Myrtaceae, occurring mainly in tropical and subtropical rainforests.

Plants of the genus are reported to be strongly antiseptic, astringent, and expectorant and with antioxidant and antiviral properties, therefore selected species from the genus have been chosen for the research study.

For further information, contact Abd Rashid Li (Diabetes Hopes) Medicinal Plants Programme Forest Research Institute Malaysia Email: abdrashid@frim.gov.my Mazura Md.Pisar (Reducing inflammation) Medicinal Plants Programme Forest Research Institute Malaysia Email: mazura@frim.gov.my Saiful Azmi Johari (The battle against drug-resistance) Medicinal Plants Programme Forest Research Institute Malaysia Email: saifulazmi@frim.gov.my Professor Chan Kit Lam (New weapons to fight malaria) School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia Email: klchan@usm.my Mailina Jamil (Essential studies) Medicinal Plants Programme Forest Research Institute Malaysia Email: mailina@frim.gov.my Ong Boo Kean (Anti-oxidant identification) Medicinal Plants Programme Forest Research Institute Malaysia Email: ongbk@frim.gov.my Dr Annabelle A. Herrera (Cutting off cancer’s blood supply) Institute of Biology College of Science University of the Philippines Diliman Email: annabelle.a.herrera@gmail.com Christine C. Hernandez (Seeking chemoprevention) University of the Philippines Diliman Email: cchernandez@up.edu.ph

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