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Year: 2021

UiTMLaw gearing up for dynamic and proficient legal professionals

Posted on by ilyanailias

The Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia (UiTMLaw)  is always committed to prepare future-proof and quality graduates. In line with this, UiTMLaw Career Path Webinar Series 2.0 “What’s Out There ?” has been organised to gear up the students for the new
job market.

This 3-day webinar series commenced on 3rd March 2021. Eminent figures in the legal fraternity shared their immense experiences and practical knowledge in various aspects relevant with students soon to embark on their legal career.

The webinar series set off with an enthralling topic, “Money Laundering: What Should You Know?.” Three distinguished speakers were invited to discuss this topic, namely; Mr Mohamad Faizal bin Sadri, Deputy Director II, Anti-Money Laundering Division, Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission, Mr Amir Zharif Abdullah and Mr Nizamuddin Hamid, the Managing Partner and Partner of Messrs Zharif Nizamuddin, respectively.

The webinar series continued with inspirational sharing by UiTMLaw Adjunct Professor Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Richard Malanjum on the topic “Strategic Approach on Civil Litigation and Writing Impactful Submissions-Sharing Experiences.”

Sound financial management, including debt management, is essential to inculcate positive financial behaviour and prevent individuals from falling into the debt trap.

Mrs Nirmala Subramaniam, Manager, Financial Education Department, Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) and Ms Elena Cho, Legal Executive, Modalku Ventures Sdn Bhd, spoke on the important topic of “Managing Financial after Graduation: How to Avoid Debt Trap”.

Next, to find out the reality behind “Life as a Deputy Public Prosecutor”, Dato’ Masri bin Mohd Daud, Head of Special Litigation Unit, Prosecution Division, Attorney General’s Chambers, who is also UiTMLaw Adjunct Professor, was specially invited to share the ups and downs of being part of the prosecution team.

The final day of the webinar series featured Mr Justice Dean Wayne Daly, High Court Judge of Miri, Sarawak, who clarified the distinction between pupillage in East Malaysia and Peninsular Malaysia in a talk entitled “Pupillage and Legal Practice in Sabah and Sarawak”. Datuk Dr Prasad Sandosham Abraham, UiTMLaw Adjunct Professor who is now the Deputy Director, Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), offered invaluable insights on the question, “How to Begin your Legal Career as an Arbitration Counsel?”.

The programme was well-received since the scope covered were not restricted to conventional civil and criminal litigation but extended to other critical areas, including money laundering, financial management and alternative dispute resolutions. Engagement with prominent legal personnel and industry players has
offered distinct outlooks to the students. Overall, this program will help them shape their careers, explore their niche and better prepared to handle the future.

Experts in Industrial Design, Photonics and Ecology work with finalists of Urban Greenhouse Challenge at TPU

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

The finalists of the Urban Greenhouse Challenge: Reforest, an international competition of students held at Tomsk Polytechnic University this year, have been working on their projects jointly with their mentors.

It is the first time Urban Greenhouse Challenge: Reforest has been held at a Russian university. Tomsk Polytechnic University became its main organizer. The key task of the contestants is to develop a project of a city farm, an autonomous greenhouse for growing coniferous and deciduous seedlings on multi-tiered shelving units. The prize pool of the competition is $10,000.

Over 20 teams from 12 countries took part in the selection round of the competition. Ultimately, the expert jury selected the 10 best projects. These projects include teams from Tomsk, St Petersburg, Moscow, Voronezh, Kazakhstan, Novosibirsk and other cities.

“Our teams are working with their mentors individually. The experts are answering their questions, holding video consultations. Based on the results of this cooperation, the contestants are polishing and fine-tuning their projects, as well as are preparing final presentations. The mentors include representatives of our industrial partners, which is very appreciable. We are pleased that our contestants possess an opportunity to receive their consultations and adopt the professional experience in the convenient format for them,” Maxim Volkov, Head of TPU International Cooperation Division, says.

For instance, the contestants can ask questions on industrial design, photonics, automation, biology, horticulture and plant nutrition, ecology and recycling technologies. The mentors include representatives of Schneider Electric, the world expert in energy management and automation with branches in over 100 countries and iFarm, a Russian company creating vertical farms.

Thammasat University students bag several research awards at AUCC2021

Posted on by Thammasat University

The students of the Faculty of Computer Science and the Faculty of Science and Technology from Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, participated and received eight research awards at the 9th Asia Undergraduate Conference on Computing (AUCC2021).

The event was hosted by the Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin, Klai Kang Won Palace Campus. The academic conference took place via ZOOM.

The project “Intelligent Kale Farming with Automatic Watering System Based on Climate Predictions” won the Oral Presentation Research Awards (Category: Excellent). The project owner are Mr. Theerachai Mueangpan, Mr. Peerapat Yato, and Mr. Natthapon Tajai. Instructor Kritkom Srijiranon is the Advisory Professor for the project.

The Project “Classification of Dog Vocalization on an Edge-AI Device” won in the Oral Presentation Research Awards (Category: Very good). Mr Theerapat Kanchanakom, Mr Noppanat Nampan, and Mr Thaweesak Wangpo are the project owners while Associate Professor Wornwan Diaz Garbayo is the Advisory Professor.

The third award-winning project is “Thai Rice Price Prediction Simulation by LSTM”. It won the Oral Presentation Research Awards (Category: Very good). The project owners are Mr. Athibodi Mahawan and Mr Suthipong Jaithiang and they were supervised by Instructor Kritkom Srijiranon.

The project “Lampang Café Introduction Chatbot” by Ms Pornsawan Waisith, Ms Wiraporn Rosamod, Mr Prapanpong Pianchan, and Mr Thanapat Tanai also won the Oral Presentation Research Awards (Category: Very good). For this project, Dr Pokpong Songmueang is the advisory professor.

The fifth project to win the Oral Presentation Research Awards (Category: Very good) is “System for Recommending Northern Local Cuisine for Tourists” by Mr Yossakorn Lertrattanakam, Mr Apisith Wongson, and Mr Pachorn Meewongukot. Instructor Kritkom Srijiranon is the advisory professor for the project.

“MRak: Application for Recommendation Films by Filter with Privacy Considerations” by Ms Jintapa Kamonpitupong and Ms Natsuda Tidla also won the Oral Presentation Research Awards (Category: Very good). The advisory professor for the project is Associate Professor Wonwan Diaz Garbayo.

The seventh project to win the Oral Presentation Research Awards (Category: Good) is “Performance Measurement Based on the Bert Model on the Center of Computer Resources for Advanced Computation: Case Study Involving MNLI Data Sets” by Mr. Chanon Chanpeng and Mr Wacharapong Sukkapan. Associate Professor Wonwan Diaz Garbayo supervised the project.

Finally, the project “Web Application for Appointment (WUSY)” has won the Poster Presentation Research Award (Category-Good). The project owners are Mr Suppakiat Waipinit, Mr Kanokpon Saweang, Ms Wilasini Maithong, and Ms Waewta Saengsuwow.
Dr Pokpong is the advisory professor for the project.

Researchers make advances in understanding the role of a novel drug in reducing anxiety-like behavior in mice

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Anxiety is considered a natural response to stress. However, a state of heightened anxiety, called anxiety disorder, prevents thousands of people from living their best lives. While several underlying mechanisms have been therapeutically targeted, much remains to be discovered about this disorder. In an effort to get closer to unravelling the mechanisms that govern this condition, Japanese researchers have identified a drug that reduces glutamate-induced neurotransmission, involved in anxiety-like behaviour.

For a group of Japanese researchers from Tokyo University of Science and University of Tsukuba, endeavouring in this line of research is not new. In a previous study, they used a drug called KNT-127, which acts by activating specific receptors in the brain, called “delta opioid receptors.” The researchers found KNT-127 to reduce anxiety-like behavior in mice. They found that KNT-127 caused the reduction of an excitatory neurotransmitter, called glutamate, in the extracellular regions of a part of the brain that controls several emotional states, called the “prelimbic subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex” (PL-PFC). The researchers went on to study this phenomenon in a new study published in Biochemical
and Biophysical Research Communications

According to Professor Akiyoshi Saitoh, from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, and corresponding author of this study, there is a good reason to have investigated the glutamate levels specifically in PL-PFC. He says, “The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a vital role in the processing of emotional events. It has been shown that activation of the glutamatergic transmission in PL-PFC evoked anxiety-like behavior in rodents.”

Accordingly, Professor Saitoh and his colleagues conducted electrophysiological studies at a single-neuron level in mice. The team measured spontaneous excitatory currents from the glutamate-releasing presynapse region of various important neurons treated with and without KNT-127, in the PL-PFC of mice that had been induced to exhibit anxious behaviour.

For neurons treated with KNT-127, the results showed that the release of glutamate was reduced at the PL-PFC synapses. Since this excitatory neurotransmitter relays information from one neuron to the other, at the synapse region, the corresponding brain activity was also found to be lowered. Interestingly, the team found that KNT-127 treatment made the PL-PFC neurons less excitable. The researchers considered these findings to be a consequence of the anxiolytic effects of KNT-127.

Overall, this study proposes a novel pathway—and a novel drug candidate—that can be targeted for treating anxiety disorder. Commenting on the clinical potential of drugs like KNT-127, Dr. Daisuke Yamada, one of the investigators in the study from Tokyo University of Science, says, “There is a need for the development of new therapeutic agents that have different mechanisms of action from existing drugs. The results of this study are expected to lead to the development of evidence-based antipsychotics with a new mechanism of action, targeting opioid delta receptors.”

New study by St Petersburg University can help better understand the mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases

Posted on by Alina Perevizintsova

Researchers from St Petersburg University have created a new theory of diffusion NMR experiments to study amyloid fibrils. Fibrils are one of the key factors behind various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Based on this theory, the researchers showed that using a diffusion filter it is possible to separate the spectral signals of fibrils and other components of the amyloidogenic sample and obtain their individual spectra, which has been considered impossible for a long time. An article with their research findings was published in one of the most prestigious peer-reviewed chemistry journals Angewandte Chemie.

Application of the diffusion filter in a sample containing Sup35NM amyloid fibrils and proteolytic fragments. Data obtained in the Resource Centre ‘Magnetic Resonance Research Centre’ of the St Petersburg University Research Park

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in which neurons gradually die off, leading to dementia. The exact mechanism and causes of this disorder have not yet been identified. However, it is known that amyloid plaques form in the brains of patients. Plaques consist of amyloid fibrils, which are special filamentous assemblies formed by amyloid proteins.

‘The number of patients with neurodegenerative disorders will continue to grow in the future. Thanks to the success of humanity in the treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, more and more people are living into their 80s. At this age, the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, becomes very high. Unfortunately, no cures for these diseases have yet been found’ says Nikolai Skrynnikov, a co-author of the research, Ph.D., Professor, Head of the Biomolecular NMR Laboratory at St Petersburg University.

According to Nikolai Skrynnikov, scientists have deciphered the structural features of amyloid deposits relatively recently. However, a more detailed study of amyloidogenesis is faced with a number of difficulties. In particular, this is because in brain tissues amyloid fibrils coexist with other structural forms of amyloidogenic protein. These are monomers, proteolytic fragments, and various oligomers, some of which serve as ‘seeds’ for building new fibrils. Analysing such a mixture is a major challenge. For example, when studying amyloidogenic samples by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, one obtains a multitude of signals that originate not only from fibrils that are of interest to scientists, but also from other protein species. Experts are therefore looking for ways to separate the spectral signals of fibrils and other concomitant structural forms.

The most obvious and straightforward method to achieve this goal is the so-called ‘diffusion filter’. This is a special NMR experiment that makes it possible to separate signals from heavy fibrils and other more mobile components of the sample. However, about ten years ago scientists from Cambridge University published two articles in which the feasibility of such a filter for samples of amyloid fibrils has been put into question. After that, the research in this field has come to a halt.

‘The motion of a fibril can be likened to random motion of a log on the surface of a lake, while the motion of a monomer is like that of a pine needle. The researchers from Cambridge argued that the rotation of the log might be faster — while turning, the linear speed at the ends of the log proves to be sufficiently high. For this reason, according to the authors, it becomes impossible to distinguish between a rapidly turning log and a nimble needle,’ explains Nikolai Skrynnikov. ‘But this is far from the truth’.

The scientists from St Petersburg University put the assertion of their Cambridge colleagues to a rigorous test, and not only disproved it, but also created a new theory of the diffusion NMR experiment. Moreover, the researchers described the essence of the effect by three methods: the analytical method, i.e. by deriving a compact formula that reflects the outcome of the experiment; the numerical method, i.e. by solving certain differential equation by means of a suitable numerical algorithm; and the Monte Carlo method, i.e. by using computer simulation to capture random fibril movements in solution. All three methods showed virtually identical results, thereby validating the new theory.

For the experimental verification of the new theory, the researchers have turned to yeast protein Sup35, which is known to have amyloidogenic properties. Scientists from St Petersburg University played a prominent role in the early studies of this protein. Professor Sergey Inge-Vechtomov, his students and followers were among the first investigators of Sup35. The research team from the Biomolecular NMR Laboratory at St Petersburg University together with the scientists from the University’s Department of Genetics and Biotechnology used Sup35 as a model system to demonstrate that the use of a diffusion filter in samples containing amyloid fibrils is indeed possible. The researchers successfully obtained a spectrum of fibrils, ‘cleared’ from other spectral signals.

Electron micrograph of Sup35NM fibrils. Data obtained in the Resource Centre ‘The Centre for Molecular and Cell Technologies’ of the St Petersburg University Research Park

‘Twenty to thirty years ago, scientists had little understanding of what happens in the human brain with the onset of dementia. Gradually, knowledge has been accumulated and new research methods have been developed. Thanks to these methods, we now know about the existence of amyloid deposits and have a fairly detailed idea of their structure,’ notes Nikolai Skrynnikov. ‘Our theory and its proof is a contribution to the body of fundamental knowledge that medicinal chemists rely on in their search for new drugs. In the future, our proposed diffusion filter for NMR experiments in amyloidogenic systems may help in this search.’

The university’s research team comprised of Boris Kharkov, Postdoc, Research Associate, the Biomolecular NMR Laboratory, Ivan Podkorytov, Deputy Head of the Biomolecular NMR Laboratory, Stanislav Bondarev, Research Associate, the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Mikhail Belousov, Junior Research Associate, the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Vladislav Salikov, a doctoral student, the Department of Nuclear Physics Research Methods at St Petersburg University, Galina Zhouravleva, Professor, the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, and Nikolai Skrynnikov, Professor, Head of the Biomolecular NMR Laboratory.

UiTMLaw and ICRC organize regional discussion to explore best practices for teaching International Humanitarian Law

Posted on by ilyanailias

A virtual academic roundtable discussion focusing on teaching International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in an online learning environment was held on 29 March 2021, involving a think
tank across the Asian region, including Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Timor Leste and Morocco. This event was jointly organized by the Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia (UiTMLaw) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

 

This roundtable discussion offered an opportunity for academicians in the region to learn from
each other and share ideas on teaching IHL in a flexible learning environment. The initiative was in response to a significant shift in the teaching approach that was forced upon universities and learning institutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

The roundtable discussion reveals that teaching IHL during a pandemic is challenging as some students may not have access to the Internet and the gadgets to facilitate online learning. In addition, there is a lack of engagement and motivation among students in the learning process. Apart from the difficulties faced by students, the lecturers equally struggle to set up and design the appropriate content for online learning. 

 

To overcome this challenge, the participants agreed that lecturers must adapt to new technology and become tech-savvy. They may use pop culture references, Kahoot and Wooclap to make the lesson more exciting and pleasant. Additionally, the participants also propose establishing a regional platform among academicians to facilitate the exchange of ideas and good practices. Simultaneously, this platform can assist lecturers in developing IHL teaching materials based on the Asian or the Southeast Asian experience. 

 

Acting as a key person in charge of this program on behalf of UiTMLaw, Dr Ummi Hani’ binti Maso’od hopes a similar collaboration can be held in future to allow the sharing of ideas for the mutual benefit of students and academicians at the regional level.

TPU develops device with nanosensors for detection of early signs of sudden cardiac death

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University have developed a nanosensor-based hardware and software complex for the measurement of cardiac micro potential energies without filtering and averaging out cardiac cycles in real time.

The device allows registering early abnormalities in the function of cardiac muscle cells, which otherwise can be recorded only during open-heart surgery or by inserting an electrode in a cardiac cavity through a vein. Such changes can lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Nowadays, there are no alternatives to the Tomsk device for a number of key characteristics in Russia and the world.

The research findings of four-year measurement of cardiac micropotential energies using this device and the participation of a volunteer are published in Measurement academic journal (IF: 3,364; Q1).

The heart permanently generates electrical signals. These electrical signals cause cardiac muscle contraction and help the heart to function as a pump. Based on the form and duration of these pulses, it is possible to assess the condition of the heart. The main method of detection of electrical pulses, that is used everywhere, is electrocardiography (ECG). Nevertheless, ECG modern devices detect already critical changes in the function of the myocardium, cardiac muscle.

“Therefore, there is much concern about the creation of devices for early detection of these disorders, when it is still possible to restore cell function using medication and without surgical intervention,” Diana Avdeeva, Head of the TPU Laboratory for Medical Engineering, a research supervisor of the project, explains.

“To implement this, it is required to record cardiac micro potential energies, electrical pulses emitted by separate cells. Here, there is a question of how to implement it noninvasive. Our research team have worked on this task for a long time, as a consequence, we jointly with the participation of our colleagues, doctors, have developed a hardware and software complex,” she continues.

“The core principles of its operation are similar to ECG, however, we changed sensors: we made nanosensors instead of conventional sensors and managed to measure signals of nanovoltage and micro voltage layers without filtering and averaging out in broadband. The use of nanosensors led to the necessity to apply original circuit solutions, write individual software, Ultimately, we gained a tremendous difference in sensitivity,” Diana adds.

The complex consists of a set of sensors, a tiny key device for recording incoming signals from sensors and software for data processing. The sensors are fixed on a human’s chest using a conventional conducting gel. The monitoring procedure takes about 20 minutes.

Conventional ECG machines operate on frequencies from 0,05 Hz to 150 Hz, while the device of the Tomsk scientists operates on frequencies to 10,000 Hz.

Silver chloride electrodes are usually used for recording ECG of high quality. Our sensors are also silver chloride electrodes, however, we used silver nanoparticles. There are up to 16 thin plates from porous ceramics in every our sensor, silver nanoparticles are placed in these pores. There are millions of particles in one sensor, where every particle is a silver chloride electrode capable to enhance an electric field of the heart. Silver and gold nanoparticles are capable to enhance an electromagnetic field: visible light by 10,000 folds and infrared radiation by 20 folds. We also refused to use filters for rejection network interference and noises, which are usually used in conventional ECG and significantly distort micropotentials,” Diana Avdeeva says.

The published article represents the monitoring data of one volunteer’s heart function. He took part in research for four years and was monitored every 7-10 days.

“At the beginning of our research, we recorded clear violations of activity of cardiac muscle cells. His attending physician recommended surgery, he gained an inserted stent at the Cardiology Research Institute. Then, he continued to take part in the research and the device recorded the further gradual restoration of cardiac function,” the scientist notes.

Previously, the project received sponsorship of the Technology Platform “Medicine of the Future” and the federal targeted program. The complex was created in partnership with experts of the Cardiology Research Institute of the Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The industrial partner was the Scientific Production Association Ekran, a Moscow enterprise.

“A task to create a sensitive, tiny and affordable complex was set up, in order in a long run, outpatient clinics and patients at home could use it. Moreover, the developed methods and devices can be used not only in cardiology.

The fields of any electrophysiological research, such as electroencephalography, electromyography and so on are promising. Of course, before applying it to cardiology, we have to pass some essential stages. These are the collection of the required array of statistics, certification of the complex for medical use. All these stages require sponsorship, we are engaged in searching for partners and supporting programs,” Mikhail Yuzhakov, Engineer of the TPU Laboratory for Medical Engineering, a participant of the research team, says.

Thammasat University offers Thailand’s first Master of Thai Traditional Medicine program

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat University and three healthcare organizations have come together to offer the Master of Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic programme for the first time in Thailand for tertiary hospitals.

Associate Professor Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University said that the Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University has been offering the Bachelor of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Program for 15 years and it was highly successful and nationally recognized.

Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) represented by the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine and Alternative Medicine, Public Health Office 5 and Ratchaburi Hospital in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University is offering the ‘Master of Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic Program’.

This program has been carried out under the MOU of the “Pilot of clinical education development for Thai traditional medical profession to support the operations in tertiary healthcare services” on March 18, 2021, between four organizations- Thammasat University, Department of Thai Traditional Medicine and Alternative Medicine, Public Health Office 5 and Ratchaburi Hospital.

Associate Professor Gasinee said, “Thailand’s first pilot project of ‘Master of Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic Program’ would help enable the public health personnel to apply the knowledge between Thai traditional and conventional medicine. Importantly, it would also focus on the advanced operational skill in large or tertiary hospitals.”

“We can say that this program will produce modernized Thai traditional doctors who will be able to collaborate interprofessionally in tertiary hospitals with skills for knowledge development and further evidence-based clinical research in Thai traditional medicine,” said Associate Professor Gasinee.

Associate Professor Arunporn Itharat from the Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, “2019 SEM AWARD” winner in the research and communal herb usage promotion category awarded by Dr. Sem Pringpuangkeo Foundation, as a promoter of the pilot program, said that Ratchaburi Hospital was a large hospital with a great advantage of fund for Thai traditional medicine.

“The hospital’s management always had a good vision focusing on Thai traditional medicine. Ratchaburi Hospital would be developed as Thailand’s center of excellence in Thai traditional medicine. The collaboration with Ratchaburi Hospital would therefore fulfil the pilot project in every aspect. Importantly, students would be able to share, learn and get on-the-job training,” Professor Arunporn added/

Dr Amphon Benchapolpitak, MD., Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine said that this collaboration will produce competent Thai traditional medical personnel who would be able to manage patients.

“The program would serve as a prototype for many universities in developing the educational system of Thai traditional medicine which will further strengthen the public health system of Thailand,” concluded Dr. Amphon Benchapolpita.

 

Nrf2: The custodian regulating oxidative stress and immunity against Acrylamide toxicity

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Acrylamide, which is extensively used in industries, causes peripheral neuropathy or encephalopathy. Now, scientists from Japan examined the response against oxidative stress in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity and found that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master regulator of the immune system and response to oxidative stress, was at the centre of this toxicity. They found that Nrf2 plays a protective role by increasing the expression of protective genes and decreasing that of pro-inflammatory genes.

In a recent study, a team of scientists, led by Prof. Gaku Ichihara from Tokyo University of Science, reported the role of Nrf2 in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity. Prof. Ichihara
states, “Our study showed that Nrf2 has a protective role against neurologic damage and suggests it is through activation of antioxidant stress genes and suppression of proinflammatory cytokine genes.”

In their study published in the journal Toxicology, Prof. Gaku Ichihara, along with his colleagues Prof. Masayuki Yamamoto from Tohoku University, Prof. Ken Itoh from Hirosaki University, Associate Prof. Seiichiroh Ohsako from The University of Tokyo, and Prof. Sahoko Ichihara from Jichi Medical University, used mice models to study the role of Nrf2 in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity.

They tested their hypothesis that when Nrf2 gene is removed, the neurotoxic effects of acrylamide will be amplified. For this, they developed “knockout” mice that could not produce Nrf2, and gave the Nrf2-knockout mice and a set of counterpart “wild-type” mice that could produce Nrf2 different concentrations of acrylamide for 4 weeks. Then, they compared the neurotoxicity between both groups of mice using various sensory and motor tests, immunohistochemistry, and protein and gene expression analyses.

The scientists found that the Nrf2-knockout mice had severe neurotoxic effects such as sensory and motor system dysfunction and axonal damage. While these mice produced fewer antioxidants and protective factors in response to acrylamide, they also showed enhanced release of pro-inflammatory chemicals, called “cytokines,” in the brain, which can potentially cause additional damage. Additionally, as different doses were given to the mice, the scientists also determined that the neurotoxicity was dose-dependent.

Previous studies have established the role of Nrf2 as a master regulator of protective genes but this study explained the specific mechanisms of immune response to acrylamide-induced toxicity, with Nrf2 at the center of it all. As Prof. Ichihara states, “The results document the first known morphological and neuro-functional evidence of the regulatory role of Nrf2 in acrylamide-induced neurotoxic effects in mice.”

The findings of this study are also immensely valuable in the field of disease biology, as recent studies have shown a link between air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease. Since the air contains other acrylamide-like chemical pollutants with similar neurotoxic effects, the study’s findings could prove useful in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Prof. Ichihara and his team’s study is certainly a timely one, as reports of acrylamide intoxication are on the rise and further research is required to better understand the specific mechanisms by which the body protects itself from harm.

President University collaborates with the Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency

Posted on by President University

President University (PresUniv) held a zoom meeting with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Republic of Indonesia on 23 June 2021 to the readiness of BRIN researchers to share knowledge with the entire PresUniv academic community and research collaboration.

Both BRIN and PresUniv have high hope that the collaboration can be implemented immediately through concrete actions.

The agenda was attended by S.D. Darmono, Founder and Chairman of the Jababeka Group including PresUniv, Prof. Dr. Jony Oktavian Haryanto, Rector of PresUniv, Handa S. Abidin, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D., Vice-Rector for Academics and Student Affairs. Meanwhile, from Jababeka, Tjahjadi Rahardja, Director of PT Jababeka & Co. Tbk.

From the BRIN, there was Dr. Laksana Tri Handoko, M.Sc. as Head of BRIN. Moreover, there was also Dr. Mego Pinandito, M.Eng, Secretary of the Ministry/Primary Secretary of BRIN, Dr. Ir. Erry Ricardo Nurzal, M.T., MPA, Assistant of Minister for Institutional and Science and Technology Resources, BRIN, and Prof. Dr. Ismunandar, Assistant of Minister Staff for Sustainable Development, BRIN.