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Year: 2021

Novel way to prevent postoperative complication after pancreatic surgery

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Scientists have developed a polymer-based hydrogel that can prevent pancreatic fistulae, a frequent complication of pancreatic surgery.

An unnatural connection between the pancreas and adjacent organs, called a pancreatic fistula, is a common complication of pancreatic surgery. This condition can lead to infection, sepsis and in some cases be fatal. So far, there are no effective methods that can stop these fistulae from developing after surgery. But, now, a team led by researchers from Tokyo University of Science have developed a novel hydrogel that can prevent pancreatic fistulae and thus, save lives.

Pancreatic fistulae, or ducts that grow from the pancreas to nearby organs such as the colon, are a frequent complication after pancreatic surgery. Studies have shown that the risk of pancreatic fistulae after surgery is as high as 50%. These fistulae cause a leakage of pancreatic fluid, which can then accumulate near the pancreas and form an abscess, become severely infected, and—in severe cases—lead to death. Repairing these fistulae is also a prolonged and complex process. They say prevention is better than cure, but despite multiple attempts, there are currently no effective prevention methods for pancreatic fistulae.

In a recent study, a team of scientists—including Professor Takehisa Hanawa, Dr. Yayoi Kawano and Mr. Hiroshi Mamada from Tokyo University of Science, as well as Dr. Akira Kemmochi and Dr. Takafumi Tamura from the University of Tsukuba—have developed a novel hydrogel that can prevent the formation of these postoperative pancreatic fistulae. The study was published in Polymers for Advanced Technologies.

“There are many polymers with chemical or biological synthesis, but their preparation and application can be somewhat complicated. Our research was inspired by a desire to develop a hydrogel that can be used simply and effectively in surgical settings as one of the ‘Patient-Friendly Formulations,’” says Prof. Hanawa.

Like the name suggests, hydrogels are three-dimensional polymer networks that can hold a large amount of water. This makes them useful in a wide variety of fields, from agriculture to wound healing in medicine. These hydrogels can be prepared in one of two ways. One, using chemical techniques such as chemical reactions or electron beam crosslinking, and the other using physical methods such as the freezing-thawing (F/T) cycle method. The polymer solution is prepared and then frozen, which makes the water present in the solution gather as ice. This allows the hydrogel particles to link together. The solution is then thawed and frozen again until the desired level of linkage is achieved in the hydrogel.

In this study, the research team prepared two polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels using of two types of PVAs, Poval® and Exceval®. They then studied then evaluated a critical hydrogel property called swelling behavior. Hydrogels absorb water, which makes them swell. This swelling can at times cause the hydrogel to rupture. They found that the Exceval® hydrogel showed a lower swelling degree, increased elasticity, and superior gel strength to the one made with Poval®. These properties implied that the Exceval® could potentially be used in the abdominal cavity after pancreatic surgery.

The research team then prepared hydrogels that contained tartrazine, a common dye used to study the drug-release behavior of hydrogels, and nefamostat mesylate (NM), a drug that is used to treat pancreatitis. They found that the drug-release behavior of both hydrogels depended on the number of F/T cycles used in their preparation.

Finally, the research team tested the hydrogel in vivo in a pancreatic fistula rat model. They found that rats with the hydrogel showed lower levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood and abdominal fluid, indicating that the leakage of pancreatic fluid was controlled. They inferred that the hydrogel was capable of absorbing pancreatic juices and intra-abdominal fluid, and of preventing pancreatic fistula.

The research team mentions that the results of animal experiments using the gel prepared in this study have been published in the Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Sciences.

“Since the hydrogel prepared in this study also has the ability to absorb liquid, we believe that it can be applied, not only to the body, but also to cancerous skin ulcers and wounds, where it can absorb secretions and release medicines for treatment,” explains Prof. Hanawa.

With its adjustable properties, excellent swelling behavior and high absorption abilities, the novel Exceval® hydrogel shows great promise for clinical applications for the prevention of pancreatic fistulae.

***

Reference
Title of original paper: Development and evaluation of novel hydrogel for preventing postoperative pancreatic fistula
Journal: Polymers for Advanced Technologies
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.5496

Chula expects “ChulaCov19” mRNA and “Chula-Baiya” protein subunit vaccine in 2022

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

November 18, 2021 – Chulalongkorn University held Chula The Impact 5 Seminar on “The Progress on ChulaCov19 — an mRNA vaccine by Thais — the World’s Hope“. Also discussed was the progress of Chula-Baiya, Thailand’s first protein subunit vaccine from tobacco leaves by Baiya Phytofarm Co., Ltd., and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University. Prof Dr. Bundhit Eua-arporn, Chula President gave the opening remarks and joined the discussion with the panel including Prof. Kiat Ruxrungtham, M.D., Executive Director of the COVID-19 Vaccine Development Project, Chula Vaccine Research Center (CVRC), and Asst. Prof. Dr. Suthira Taychakhoonavudh, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and CEO & Co-Founder of Baiya Phytofarm Co., Ltd. the developer of the Chula-Baiya vaccine.

Prof. Dr. Kiat said that the clinical trials Phase 1 and 2 of ChulaCov19 are now done. Preliminary results show the volunteers to develop good immunity with only mild to moderate side effects which improved within 1-2 days. The FDA has already given the green light to Phase 3 human trial, which will also be benchmarked against the Pfizer vaccine for efficacy and safety. The trial will start in early 2022 and is expected to be complete in March. Tests in younger volunteers, preparation for mass production in collaboration with Bionet-Asia Co., Ltd., as well as preparation for Gen 2 and 3 vaccines that respond well to mutated strains are also underway. These next generations of vaccines have already been tested in lab animals.

ChulaCov19 vaccine can boost the immune system, and prevent cross-infection in both B Cells and T Cells — twice higher than the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine design is different from the existing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to avoid copyright issues, and its encasing is using the latest technology. ChulaCov19 can be stored for 3 months at 2-8 degrees Celsius which is longer than its counterparts. With a 2.3-billion-baht budget, mass production of the vaccine is estimated to be in June-September 2022 after the FDA approval.

On the progress of Chula-Baiya Vaccine, Asst. Prof. Dr. Suthira said that this protein subunit vaccine from N. benthamiana tobacco leaves uses a recombinant protein production with genetically-altered pathogenic bacteria in tobacco leaves. Currently, the industrial-grade vaccine factory, with a monthly capacity of 1-5 million doses is complete. Phase 1 clinical trials started on September 27 and no worrisome side effects have been found in volunteers, but the efficacy and safety of the vaccine are pending the data. Phase 2 trial is underway. Meanwhile, a second-generation vaccine is being developed from more than 10 strains of mutated viruses to combine into a cocktail vaccine. Phase 1 clinical trial on volunteers is expected in January 2022. The best vaccine will be selected for Phase 2 trials in February. Chula-Baiya vaccine can be approved for use in the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2022.

Researchers from LETI find most promising material for acoustic microaccelerometers

Posted on by Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University

An accelerometer is a device that measures acceleration. Accelerometers are used in many systems, from navigation modules of planes and submarines to smartphones and other gadgets. In the first accelerometers, acceleration was measured based on the compression of the spring with a load attached to it. The same principle of movable mass is used in modern-day accelerometers but on a smaller scale. However, many devices (such as industrial robots) require navigation systems that are not only small in size but also resistant to impact, vibration, and high acceleration. Accelerometers based on surface acoustic waves can provide accurate data even in these conditions. Surface acoustic waves spread across the surfaces of solid bodies and can be registered in piezoelectric materials (i.e. the materials that have electric fields reacting to mechanical impact). To do so, a piezoelectric membrane is connected to devices that transform mechanical waves into acoustic ones.

In modern-day accelerometers, membranes are usually made of quartz and lithium niobate. Although effective to some extent, these materials are still not the best: quartz isn’t sensitive enough, and lithium niobate becomes unstable when the temperature changes. To find an alternative solution, a team of physicists from LETI modeled the sensitive elements of accelerometers from aluminum nitride using the COMSOL Multiphysics software package. This tool allows one to set up various mechanical and electric properties of models and test them in different conditions. The team modeled round membranes surrounded by ring transducers and encased in thick aluminum nitride frames. For comparison, they also created models of similar structures from quartz and lithium niobate. The sensitive elements had 3 mm in diameter, and the membranes were only 0.22 mm in thickness.

First, the researchers tested different ways of fixing a membrane in a frame. According to the model, the best option was to use a thin layer of silicone adhesive. If a membrane is simply inserted into a frame, it can deform at fixation points under load thus reducing the sensitivity of the accelerometer. In the following tests, the team considered a model with adhesive fixtures. The researchers modeled the device’s behavior at acceleration tens, hundreds, and thousands of times higher than the standard acceleration of free fall (g=9.81 m/c2). Regardless of the acceleration value, the aluminum nitride membrane moved less than the quartz or lithium niobate one. It means that a meter with it would work more effectively. Another considerable advantage of this material was its relatively small energy loss. At the same time, the accelerometer with the membrane made of aluminum nitride was more sensitive to temperatures than the device with the quartz membrane.

“Based on the results of computer modeling, we can conclude that aluminum nitride is a promising material for acoustic accelerometer sensors, especially for measuring high levels of acceleration. Its resistance to mechanical deformation is two times higher than that of quartz which increases the sensitivity 1.5 times. Like in the case of lithium niobate, the main issue that can limit the use of aluminum nitride is its sensitivity to temperature changes,” said Sergei Shevchenko, Associate Professor of the Department of Laser Measuring and Navigation Systems at LETI.

St Petersburg University doctors first to prove the safety of COVID-19 vaccine for patients with chronic kidney disease

Posted on by Alina Perevizintsova

Nephrologists and geneticists from the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University have conducted a study on patients on haemodialysis for renal replacement therapy. They have also found out that vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with the Sputnik V vaccine is effective and safe for patients with chronic kidney disease.

The study population consisted of 21 patients, aged 39 to 84, who had been receiving haemodialysis therapy for five and a half years. Before vaccine administration, none of them had had COVID-19 (confirmed or suspected). The study did not include patients who had: been on corticosteroid or immunosuppressive therapy; malignant neoplasms; or secondary immunodeficiency.

The first phase of the study was to monitor adverse reactions following the vaccine administration. According to the study findings, adverse reactions were reported in 30% of the subjects. After the second dose of vaccine was administered, pain at the injection site was reported in four patients, fever – in one patient, general weakness – in two patients, joint pain – in one patient, and muscle pain – in one patient. No allergic reactions to Sputnik V vaccine were reported in the study population.

The aim of the second stage was to determine the effectiveness of vaccination. Four weeks after the second dose of the vaccine was administered, two blood tests were performed on all patients: a COVID-19 Spike Protein IgG Antibody test – to determine the number of antibodies as a response to vaccination; and a test for COVID-19 T cells immunity – to determine the number of specific T cells responsible for the long-term immune response of the body – the so-called cellular memory. The efficacy of Sputnik V vaccine in haemodialysis patients was similar to its efficacy in the general population. In 20 of the 21 participants, either a humoral (antibody production) or cellular immune response to the vaccine was reported. Most importantly, the participants were closely monitored for five months after the vaccination. During this period, none of the patients developed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The authors of the study are: Aleksei Tolkach, Ekaterina Parshina, Andrei Ivanov, and Pavel Kislyi, doctors from the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University. The study findings are published in the journal Nephrology and Dialysis.

‘The study findings suggest that the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection by full vaccination with the Gam-COVID-Vac, or Sputnik V, vaccine can be effective and safe for patients on haemodialysis for renal replacement therapy. It should be recommended for all patients when there are no contraindications to vaccination,’ said Dr Ekaterina Parshina, a co-author of the study. Dr Parshina is nephrologist and transfusiologist, Head of the Nephrology and Dialysis Department at the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies, St Petersburg University.

The doctors from the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies expressed hope that this study will help nephrologists and general practitioners who make decisions regarding the vaccination of dialysis patients. Dr Parshina noted: ‘We would like to assist patients in decision-making about the need for vaccination. Indeed, it is a difficult decision to make in the absence of a reliable evidence base, on the one hand, and an active anti-vaccination campaign, on the other.’

UiTM’s service learning initiative

Posted on by fspppeditorialteam

On 19th of June 2021, the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies (FSPPP), Universiti Teknologi MARA, students from the Bachelor of Administrative Science (Hons) program, and the Pejabat Undang Luak Rembau and Lembaga Muzium Negeri Sembilan co-organized an International Seminar titled “Adat Perpatih Knowledge Sharing and Book Donation Collaboration With Undang Luak Rembau Community”. The program was part of the Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM) initiative, considered one of the High Impact Educational Practices introduced by the Ministry of Higher Learning Education Malaysia. The book donation project, which started a month earlier, managed to collect books worth RM7000.00. The books will be donated to primary and secondary school students around Rembau once the Movement Control Order is lifted. Meanwhile, the webinar consisted of three sessions covering different topics that managed to gather excellent feedback from the viewers. The accumulated number of viewers for the three sessions were almost 12000. One of the comments from the live session stated that this webinar had opened his eyes to know more and sparked his interest in acquiring more knowledge on this unique custom.

Malay customs and traditional culture inherently strive to demonstrate good moral values and guidance to acceptable behaviour and conduct according to the norms of the society. A prominent example of such custom is the Adat Perpatih, which has been practised longer than the Common Law. The custom originated from the Minangkabau ethnic from Sumatra, Indonesia, and was brought and adopted in Negeri Sembilan. Adat Perpatih divides the lineage based on the maternal or matrilineal lineage system. Adat Alam Minangkabau has undergone three main forms of development, namely the Nan Tigo Law, Adat Tarik Baleh and Adat Tuah Disakato arranged by Datuk Perpatih Nan Sebatang. Another concept related to Adat Perpatih is Laras Nan Dua, which consists of Bodi-Cianago and Koto-Piliang. Historically, the concepts exist through the consensus between two community leaders marked with batikam stone and baling stone. Then, the two maternal lineage and paternal lineage systems merge and are known as Adat Tuah Disakato or Adat Alam Minangkabau. In Malaysia, Adat Alam Minangkabau is known as Adat Perpatih. The Adat Perpatih is a dynamic and comprehensive social system as it provides the space, opportunity and rules so it can be changed according to the time, situation and era.

This project was inspired by Dr Muhamad Fuad bin Abdul Karim, a senior lecturer and resource person of the course. The panelists for the first session, “Adat Perpatih dan Kepatuhan Syariah di Malaysia”, were Dr Suhaimi bin Hj. Abd. Samad, Deputy Rector from UiTM Seremban Campus; Dr Mohd Kamel bin Mat Salleh, Senior Lecturer from ACIS UiTM Seremban Campus; and Yang Mulia Dato’ Perba Abdul Razak bin Mohd Yassin, a representative from Balai Undang Luak Rembau. The second topic, “Urbanisasi dan Era Digital serta Kelangsungan Amalan Adat Perpatih” involved Dr Muhamad Fuad bin Abdul Karim, a Senior Lecturer from the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Dr Mohd Afendi bin Daud, a Senior Lecturer from Universiti Melaka, Yang Mulia Dato’ Raja DiRaja Haji Bahaman bin Harun, a representative from the Balai Undang Luak Rembau, and Drs Shamsudin bin Ahmad, the Director of Lembaga Muzium Negeri Sembilan as the panelists. For the third and final session, the panellists were Dr Nur Zafifa binti Kamarunzaman, a Senior Lecturer from the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies; Dr Mohamad Fauzi bin Sukimi, a Senior Lecturer from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Dr Sulikah Asmorowati, the Vice Dean II from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Airlangga Indonesia with the topic “Budaya dan Hubungan Etnik di Nusantara”. The opening speech was given by Drs Shamsudin bin Ahmad, the Director of Lembaga Muzium Negeri Sembilan and the Yang Teramat Mulia Dato’ Lela Maharaja Dato’ Haji Muhamad Sharip Bin Haji Othman (DTNS, PPT, ANS, PMC, PJK, PKL), Dato’ Undang Luak Rembau officiated the event. Meanwhile, the event concluded with the closing remarks by Yang Berbahagia Prof Madya Dr Abdul Jalil bin Mohamed Ali Dean Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA.

Short-term programmes in Mining University for students from Namibia and South Africa

Posted on by St. Petersburg Mining University

Mining University, in conjunction with the International Competence Centre for Mining-Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO, offers a wide range of short-term programmes for international students. This autumn, St. Petersburg Mining University provided, amongst others, courses for Namibian and South African students.

One of the autumn schools – Digital Mining – was attended by participants from the universities of Namibia and Johannesburg.

Dr Pitchou Bukasa Mukendi, Senior Lecturer at the University of Namibia, shares his opinion on the programme:

“We are grateful to Mining University for having organised this programme and for the quality of education it offers. This has been an honour for us to participate in it. The lectures were very informative, and our students have learnt about what’s happening in the mining industry, new digital solutions, recent statistics. All in all – an incredible experience for both the students and us, lecturers.”

The Digital Mining programme was created by leading professors and specialists of Mining University. Aside from lectures, which covered such topics as, for instance, basics of modelling and simulation in engineering, the course included various workshops and masterclasses. Its attendees – altogether 40 students – have learnt how digital technology affects sustainability in mining and how AI can enhance the sector.

IBAT College celebrates first conferring ceremony since 2019

Posted on by Global University Systems

DUBLIN, 3 DECEMBER 2021: IBAT College Dublin, Ireland’s leading enterprise-focused third level institution has hosted its first conferring ceremony since 2019.

Joe Gorey, College Principal, welcomed the graduates, their families, lecturers, IBAT staff and governors of the college, Ms Breege O’Donoghue and Dr Frank McMahon to the ceremony with the latter delivering the keynote address, highlighting the significance of being an MBA graduate relative to any other business discipline graduate.

Addressing the graduates and their families, Gorey said: “Studying in a global pandemic is challenging and unsettling and requires even more sacrifices to be made. Yet tonight shows you succeeded and is a testament to your resilience and intellect. It was so important that this success was celebrated in a responsible manner.”

Elsewhere, Dr McMahon, who was a graduate of the first MBA programme in Ireland in UCD in 1967, also touched on the demands and rewards that led him to being an MBA graduate, citing lifelong learning and keeping in touch being pivotal. “Graduation is not the end, it is the beginning,” he said. “The word graduation comes from the Latin for a step. An important step of course, but only a step.”

Following the graduands becoming graduates a conferring ceremony at IBAT acknowledged the achievement of an exceptional student, Paul Faherty, who received the John Murtagh Memorial Award for not only his academic performance, but also for his engagement, interaction and support with fellow students, lecturers and staff.

A passionate and dedicated educationalist, John Murtagh lectured in IBAT College Dublin. John sadly passed away in 2016. His award recognises a student that exemplifies John’s qualities; value of learning, helping others, respecting all, trying your best and having fun while doing it.

After the conferring formalities, a reception was held giving all in attendance an opportunity to reacquaint with one another and for lecturers, staff and Governors to meet with the graduates and guests in an informal setting.

Monograph of TPU scientists published by Springer Nature

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

Springer Nature, an international academic publishing company, has published a monograph of scientists of the Division of Power and Electrical Engineering of Tomsk Polytechnic University. The collection is dedicated to power transformer diagnostics, one of the main problems of modern power engineering.

The monograph entitled Transformers Condition Control. Advanced and Traditional Technologies presents the physical reasons for power transformers’ failures, technical and economic consequences of disruption of normal operation, standard technologies for monitoring the state of the high-voltage transformers, as well as monitors the condition of transformer windings based on the pulse method.

“Probing with nanosecond pulses is to apply a rectangular pulse to the winding of the inspected transformer, the duration of which is about 100 nanoseconds.

Alternatively to the basic method suggested in 1966 based on the pulses of microsecond duration (a microsecond is a millionth of a second ed. note) used in Russian electric power systems until the end of the twentieth century, we use a pulse lasting for hundreds of nanoseconds. The pulse is applied from a special oscillator to the input of the transformer winding, responses or signals are picked up from the adjacent windings. The analysis of these responses allows concluding a failure or absence of failure,”

Alexey Mytnikov, Associate Professor of the TPU Division of Power and Electrical Engineering, one of the monograph authors, the co-author of the article, explains the core of monitoring the condition by the pulse method.

By reducing the length of the probing pulse and penetrating in a nanosecond range, the scientists were able to improve the efficiency of the diagnostics. The sequential research on the transition to a single stage, when only the probing pulse and switching pulses of the network are used, according to the scientists, bring the diagnostics of windings to the next level. All the results mentioned in the monograph and the ways of their implementation are used for the first time.

“At the moment, the frequency response analysis is recognized the most advanced in the diagnostics. Definitely, it is a good analysis, however, possesses essential disadvantages. We have shown that probing with nanosecond pulses is not inferior and somewhere superior to the frequency response analysis. Taking into account that the frequency response analysis was created in North American countries, patents for this analysis do not belong to the domestic electric power systems, therefore there are some difficulties implementing the analysis in the Russian electric power systems. The diagnostics trajectory chosen by us is quite relevant and promising,” the scientist adds.

The book describes the stages of improving the method based on a short probing pulse of the nanosecond range, the results of experiments on identifying radial and axial displacements of the winding, studies of the effect of the duration and shape of the probing pulse on sensitivity, sequentially presents the diagnostic procedure, as well as the stages of developing a mathematical and physical model of a power transformer.

“Despite the relevance and topical nature of the problem, there are not so many such publications. In our opinion, we were able to deeply analyze a variety of methods and ways of power transformer diagnostics, find out the problems and suggest the ways of solving them. Moreover, the ways of solving the problems are simple and effective, which is essential for modern power engineering.

“Despite the relevance and topical nature of the problem, there are not so many such publications. In our opinion, we were able to deeply analyze a variety of methods and ways of power transformer diagnostics, find out the problems and suggest the ways of solving them. Moreover, the ways of solving the problems are simple and effective, which is essential for modern power engineering.

The analysis results show that there is no applicable method to control the state of active parts of transformer equipment. In our monograph, we suggested and described our approach to solve the problem, a so-called probing with nanosecond pulses,” Alexey Mytnikov explains.

The monograph volume published by Springer Nature in 2021 is 150 pages. The editing lasted for one year. Vasily Ushakov, Professor of the TPU Division of Power and Electrical Engineering, an honored worker in science and technology became an editor and leader of the research writers who compiled the book. The co-authors of the monograph are Alexey Mytnikov, a leading expert in high voltage engineering at the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Technical Physics (Moscow), Professor Valery Lavrinovich and Alexey Lavrinovich, a postgraduate student of Tomsk Research and Planning Institute of Oil and Gas.

Thammasat University discovers “The Gemstone of Nakhon Si Thammarat”

Posted on by Thammasat University

This research is the discovery of thw world new orchid species in the Corybas Salisb. genus having Prof. Dr. Janejaree Inuthai from the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University as a member of the research team together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sahat Chantanaorapin, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University; Dr. Somran Suddee, Forest Botany Group Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; Dr. Naiyana Tessana, Forest Botany Work Group, Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; Mr. Manop Phophat, Forest Botany Work Group, Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and; Mr. Wittawat Khiaobang, Forest Economics Division, Royal Forest Department, which has been published in the PhytoKeys journals.

This new species of orchid is called “The Gemstone of Nakhon Si Thammarat” or Corybas papillatus Inuthai, Chantanaorr. & Suddee in the Corybas genus or a small soil orchid. At present, there are approximately 120 species propagated in India, southern China, southern Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Western Pacific Islands Region.

The title ‘Corybas papillatus’ is named after the papillae that appear on the posterior half of the dorsal sepal. This orchid is similar to Corybas villosus J. Dransf. & Gord. Sm. and Corybas ridleyanus Schltr. However, C. papillatus differs from the two aforementioned orchids in that the base of the lateral calyx connects to the lateral lobe, and that C. villosus has ridged upper calyx back. C. ridleyanus has a truncated upper calyx which is clearly different from the new species.

Prof. Dr. Janejaree Inuthai from the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University revealed that the new orchid species is a species at critical risk of extinction (Critically Endangered) according to IUCN guidelines. However, since this new species of orchid is very small, this allow them to escape from the sight of the explorer. Currently, only 4 plants of this orchid species have been found and is from only one area that is Khao Luang, Khao Luang National Park, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. It was discovered only once in the 2018 survey and sample collection.

In the past, there have been continuous reports of the discovery of the world and Thailand new orchid species from the Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain range. This shows that the southern region of the country is an important region in terms of Thailand orchid diversity.

SWEAT Hong Kong International Dance Workshop Festival

Posted on by Communications Office

Presented by the School of Dance of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the 1st edition of SWEAT Hong Kong International Dance Workshop Festival (SWEAT) will be launched from June 13 – 25, 2022 at the Academy. Over a two-week period, SWEAT serves as a platform for meeting, sharing, and dancing through research lab, workshops, masterclasses, dansathon, dance film screenings, open discussion, and performance projects. Participants can mix and match programmes of their choice to fit their practices and research ideas.

In collaboration with Hong Kong Dance Alliance, the World Dance Alliance Global (WDA) Summit, as part of SWEAT’s umbrella events, is now inviting proposals for presentations of various formats related to the theme Dance Offer/On New Energy, with sub-themes covering the following:

Sustaining wellness and creativity under the “new normal”
Empowering dance artists of tomorrow amid the pandemic
Reimagining the future of Dance – light after lockdown
Leading the arts through a pandemic

If you are interested, please submit your proposals on or before December 24, 2021.