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Month: August 2022

Empowering women in Indonesia and the Philippines

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

World University Association for Community Development (WUACD) Universitas Airlangga held another summer program. This year, WUACD collaborates with the UNAIR Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) to discuss the Community Business Capacity Development Related to GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion).

In the webinar held on Tuesday, July 13, 2022, the WUACD Summer Program featured the experts and discussed the woman empowerment strategy through business schemes. The event was attended by the Vice-Dean for Research, Innovation, and Community Development Affairs of UNAIR FEB, Dr Ahmad Rizki Sridadi. He said that women and children currently face lots of violence and discrimination.

It was shown from the Human Development Index (IPM), Gender Development Index (IPG), and Gender Empowerment Index (IDG) that they had not met the target.

“Hopefully, this forum could formulate an empowerment strategy so that women can be prioritized and become the development actors to realize the fifth point of SDGs,” he said.

Ending discrimination against women

In the webinar, Dr Jennifer Operio MBA from the Holy Angel University Philippines was featured as one of the guest speakers. She explained that some patriarchal cultures that discriminate against women in society are also embedded in the Philippines, just like in Indonesia.

It causes the low involvement of women, particularly in economic activity. “As a result, a lot of families were plunged into poverty,” she said.

Therefore, education to change the mindset and empowerment activities in the form of training to develop skills are highly required. Dr Jennifer said that the institutional approach-based is one of the most effective empowerment strategies. She gave an example of women empowerment in Mindanao, Philippines.

“There is a community development institution that designs a development project for the farmers’ wives in Mindanao. The project received funding from the World Bank, which increases their revenue and infrastructure, and significantly improves their welfare,” she said.

Apart from Dr Jennifer, the forum was also attended by other guest speakers, Dwi Yuliawati Faiz from UN Women (United Nation Entity for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment) Indonesia, Dr Tri Siwi Agustina, and Shochrul Rohmatul Ajija MEc from FEB. (*)

Thammasat supports students with disabilities with opportunities to enter labour market

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thammasat University insists on being a university for all groups of people in society, aiming to create equality, and bridging the gap in education according to the determination of being a university for the people. It is regarded as the first higher education institution to establish “Students with Disabilities Project” to expand educational opportunities for people with disabilities to receive equal education and produce graduates who are ready to enter the labor market. Let’s hear the story of a graduate with disabilities who attend the graduation ceremony this year, Ms. Nitcharee Pen-aekchanasuk, a graduate of the academic year 2019.

Than-Ms. Nitcharee Pen-aekchanasuk, a graduate from the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Thammasat University, second-class honours who is outstanding in both study and work. She is currently working as a corporate communicator to organizations in both the public and private sectors, driving policies for people with disabilities by which Ms. Nitcharee herself is under mobility impairment caused by an accident.

Ms. Nitcharee mentioned about studying at Thammasat University that studying at the university does support her in many ways. In fact, in the beginning, her intention to study at Thammasat University is from sensing the freedom of thoughts, open-mindedness not only towards political aspect but an idea of ​​what we would like to do. Thammasat helps us to expand our perspectives. At Thammasat University, there are professors who drive resolutions towards people with disabilities problems. From year one where wheelchair were inaccessible, but nowadays it has been fixed and it actually works. Most importantly, Thammasat is a model university in the field of universal design, driving creativity and social assistance. “I’ve never seen a university where people with disabilities can be anything they want to be regardless of what your dreams are. Studying at Thammasat University has proved that disability is not a hindrance. Whatever activity you wish to do, Thammasat University is more than ready to support. We feel good every time we go out to do activities and have the university’s name on it. We are proud that we are one of the students with disabilities of Thammasat University.”

I would like to leave a message for those who may see themselves as being limited or having obstacles. Everyone can actually make their dreams come true, just that the path or method may be varied. Therefore, do not assume that if we can’t follow other people’s paths, then we won’t succeed. I want you to see that each of us have our own path, and having our own dreams. Try stepping in, and try lightening up the courage to make your own dreams come true. Whether it’s coming to study at Thammasat University, or doing activities the pursuit of dreams. Everyone can achieve success in their own way. It is not necessary that the person who receives honours is the perfect person. It depends on what our dreams expect, Ms. Nitcharee concluded.

This year, Thammasat University has marked the graduation ceremony for the academic year 2019-2020 on 27-30 May 2022 at the main auditorium, Thammasat University, Tha Prachan Campus. In the academic year 2019-2020, there are 29 graduates with disabilities who sucessfully graduated as follows:

Of the 18 graduates with disabilities who graduated in 2019, 83% are employed, as follows:

1. Mr. Teeraphong Jaiprom, Faculty of Law

2. Mr. Patipat Boonnakorn, Faculty of Law

3. Ms. Pitchayapha Thammaratphimol, Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy

4. Ms. Orapriya Mongkolsitthichai, Faculty of Political Science

5. Ms. Jutamas Klinkajon, Faculty of Political Science

6. Ms. Watcharee Lanthaisong, Faculty of Political Science

7. Mr. Natthapong Khumpanich, Faculty of Economics

8. Mr. Sornram Salee, Faculty of the Faculty of Social Administration

9. Ms. Meena Saengthong, Faculty of Social Administration

10. Ms. Supisara Wanbaworn, Faculty of Social Administration

11. Ms. Panida Simainam, Faculty of Liberal Arts

12. Mr. Sakditouch Wisalaset, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication

13. Ms. Jeeranan Suaydudee, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication

14. Ms. Pornphat Ammartmanee, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication

15. Ms. Nitcharee Pen-aekchanasuk, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication

16. Ms. Phuttida Roerkpathomsak, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

17. Ms. Sunattha Ruangsirikan, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning

18. Ms. Parichat Pohkongmee, Faculty of Public Health

 

11 graduates with disabilities who graduated in 2020 are employed, representing 100 percent, as follows:

1. Ms. Arisa Kaewkrajok, Faculty of Political Science

2. Ms. Natcha Trairat, Faculty of Political Science

3. Mr. Polawat Hemharn, Faculty of Social Administration

4. Ms. Natthamon Thanatrisit, Faculty of Social Administration

5. Ms. Buntarik Champaphan, Faculty of Social Administration

6. Ms. Orawan Premprik, Faculty of Social Administration

7. Mr. Jaruwat Laythaisong, Faculty of Social Administration

8. Ms. Sarocha Phadungkit, Faculty of Social Administration

9. Mr. Photsawat Khewmuean, Faculty of Social Administration

10. Mr. Thanaphat Laohaprasert, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication

11. Ms. Pattra Krangpanich, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

Ultrasound exposure improves depressive behavior in rodents: Study

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

It is well known that whole-body exposure to high frequency ultrasound increases brain activity in humans. However, little is known about its impact and associated mechanisms on emotional states like depression. Now, a team of researchers at Tokyo University of Science have recently demonstrated the anti-depressant effects of ultrasound exposure in a rodent model of depression. Their findings shed light on the potential of ultrasound exposure as a non-invasive treatment for mental disorders.

The effect of ultrasound waves on the function of the human brain has been the key focus of recent research, which has indicated its potential as an effective, non-invasive approach for the modulation of brain activity. While the effects of ultrasound exposure on consciousness and cognition have been extensively explored, little is known about its impact on emotional states such as depression. To add to it, there are limitations in our understanding of neural and molecular mechanisms that underpin emotions.

Fortunately, rats experience pleasant emotions in response to high-frequency ultrasound vocalizations (USVs), making them ideal model organisms to study mechanisms underlying depression.

To this end, a team of researchers led by Professor Akiyoshi Saitoh, including Professor Satoru Miyazaki, Assistant Professor Daisuke Yamada and Ms. Tsugumi Yamauchi from Tokyo University of Science, and Mr. Shoichi Nishino from FUJIMIC, Inc., delved deeper into understanding the effects of ultrasound exposure on depression, by conducting experiments on rats lacking olfactory lobes—organs that regulate neurotransmission. These “olfactory bulbectomized (OB)” rats undergo changes in neurotransmitters, endocrine secretions, and behavior, which are similar to those observed in humans with depression.

Giving further insights into their study, Prof. Saitoh remarked, “Since studies on ultrasound exposure have been primarily conducted on human subjects, we needed to establish robust animal models to elucidate underlying mechanisms using invasive techniques. In our current study, we have used OB rats to study the effects of ultrasound on neural activity and behavior” Their study, published in Volume 33, Issue 10 of NeuroReport on July 6, 2022, is the first of its kind to demonstrate potential anti-depressant effects of ultrasound exposure in rats.

Initially, the team exposed wild type and OB rats to USV for 24 hours, following which they scored them for “hyperemotionality” (agitation and anxiety-like behavior) by studying their responses to getting attacked, getting startled, facing a struggle, and initiating a fight.

Next, they monitored plasma corticosterone (a hormone that is released in response to stress) levels in the blood samples of these rats. In addition, the team assessed anxiety-like behavior of the rodents using the elevated plus maze (EPM)—an approach which triggers behavioral anxiety in rats by exposing them to open spaces in a maze, and causes them to move to closed spaces.

Their findings revealed that OB rats exposed to USV had significantly lower hyperemotionality scores and lower plasma corticosterone levels than unexposed rats. Furthermore, in OB rats with a higher latency initially. i.e., higher inclination to reach the open areas of the maze, ultrasound exposure significantly decreased their latency. Similar effects were observed with a 50-kHz ultrasound frequency which was generated artificially.

This study provides novel evidence on the anti-depressant effects of ultrasound exposure in rodents. “Our findings suggest that OB rats may be a useful animal model for investigating the effects of ultrasound exposure and mechanisms of influence.”, exclaims Prof. Saitoh about the implications of the study.

He further adds, “Unlike drug therapy, ultrasound exposure is non-invasive and easy to use. An ultrasound based therapeutic device may therefore aid the treatment and prevention of mental disorders in patients while they go about their daily lives.”

Let’s hope that these results pave the way for developing ultrasound exposure therapy as a novel treatment to help patients cope with stress and psychiatric disorders.

***

Reference

Title of original paper: High-frequency ultrasound exposure improves depressive-like behavior in an olfactory bulbectomized rat model of depression

Journal: NeuroReport

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/WNR.0000000000001804

Self-assembling 2D materials at a liquid–liquid interface

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Molecular 2D materials find immense applications in materials science, owing to their wide structural variety and easy controllability. Establishing a simple and efficient method for their synthesis is, therefore, important. Now, scientists from Japan present a simple method for synthesizing heterolayer coordination nanosheets, a promising 2D material, shedding light on how certain chemical coordination reactions occur at liquid–liquid interfaces. Their method could help develop novel 2D materials with applications in optoelectronic devices.

The past few decades have witnessed a great amount of research in the field of two-dimensional (2D) materials. As the name implies, these thin film-like materials are composed of layers that are only a few atoms thick. Many of the chemical and physical properties of 2D materials can be fine-tuned, leading to promising applications in many fields, including optoelectronics, catalysis, renewable energy, and more.

Coordination nanosheets are one particularly interesting type of 2D material. The “coordination” refers to the effect of metallic ions in these molecules, which act as coordination centers. These centers can spontaneously create organized molecular dispositions that span multiple layers in 2D materials. This has attracted the attention of materials scientists due to their favorable properties. In fact, we have only begun to scratch the surface regarding what heterolayer coordination nanosheets – coordination nanosheets whose layers have different atomic composition – can offer.

In a recent study published first on June 13, 2022, and featured on the front cover of Chemistry—A European Journal, a team of scientists from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) and The University of Tokyo in Japan reported a remarkably simple way to synthesize heterolayer coordination nanosheets. Composed of the organic ligand, terpyridine, coordinating iron and cobalt, these nanosheets assemble themselves at the interface between two immiscible liquids in a peculiar way. The study, led by Prof. Hiroshi Nishihara from TUS, also included contributions from Mr. Joe Komeda, Dr. Kenji Takada, Dr. Hiroaki Maeda, and Dr. Naoya Fukui from TUS.

To synthesize the heterolayer coordination nanosheets, the team first created the liquid–liquid interface to enable their assembly. They dissolved tris(terpyridine) ligand in dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), an organic liquid that does not mix with water. They then poured a solution of water and ferrous tetrafluoroborate, an iron-containing chemical, on top of the CH2Cl2. After 24 hours, the first layer of the coordination nanosheet, bis(terpyridine)iron (or “Fe-tpy”), formed at the interface between both liquids.

Following this, they removed the iron-containing water and replaced it with cobalt-containing water. In the next few days, a bis(terpyridine)cobalt (or “Co-tpy”) layer formed right below the iron-containing one at the liquid–liquid interface.

The team made detailed observations of the heterolayer using various advanced techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. They found that the Co-tpy layer formed neatly below the Fe-tpy layer at the liquid–liquid interface. Moreover, they could control the thickness of the second layer depending on how long they left the synthesis process run its course.

Interestingly, the team also found that the ordering of the layers could be swapped by simply changing the order of the synthesis steps. In other words, if they first added a cobalt-containing solution and then replaced it with an iron-containing solution, the synthesized heterolayer would have cobalt coordination centers on the top layer and iron coordination centers on the bottom layer. “Our findings indicate that metal ions can go through the first layer from the aqueous phase to the CH2Cl2 phase to react with terpyridine ligands right at the boundary between the nanosheet and the CH2Cl2 phase,” explains Prof. Nishihara. “This is the first ever clarification of the growth direction of coordination nanosheets at a liquid/liquid interface.”

Additionally, the team investigated the reduction–oxidation properties of their coordination nanosheets as well as their electrical rectification characteristics. They found that the heterolayers behaved much like a diode in a way that is consistent with the electronic energy levels of Co-tpy and Fe-tpy. These insights, coupled with the easy synthesis procedure developed by the team, could help in the design of heterolayer nanosheets made of other materials and tailored for specific electronics applications. “Our synthetic method could be applicable to other coordination polymers synthesized at liquid–liquid interfaces,” highlights Prof. Nishihara. “Therefore, the results of this study will expand the structural and functional diversity of molecular 2D materials.”

With eyes set on the future, the team will keep investigating chemical phenomena occurring at liquid–liquid interfaces, elucidating the mechanisms of mass transport and chemical reactions. Their findings can help expand the design of 2D materials and, hopefully, lead to better performance of optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells.

***

Reference

Title of original paper: Chemically Laminated 2D Bis(terpyridine)metal Polymer Films: Formation Mechanism at the Liquid–Liquid Interface and Redox Rectification

Journal: Chemistry—A European Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202201316

Chulalongkorn University, NUS executives discuss academic cooperation

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Professor Dr. Kaywalee Chatdarong, Vice President for Strategic Planning, Innovation and Global Engagement, welcomed Prof. Dr. Chee Yeow Meng, Associate Vice President, Innovation & Enterprise, and Director, NUS Overseas Colleagues & MSc in Venture Creation, and delegates from National University of Singapore (NUS).

The visit was to discuss possibilities for future academic collaboration between Chulalongkorn University and NUS Overseas Colleagues (NOC), NUS MSc in Venture Creation and NUS Graduate Research Innovation Program (GRIP).

On this occasion, Dr. Santhaya Kittikowit, Assistant to the President for Innovation Affairs, served as a representative to discuss about CU Innovation Hub. Asst. Prof. Dr. Jittima Luckanagul, Head of Chula Spinoff Club Project, was present to discuss about a dual degree program between NUS MSc in Venture Creation and Chula MSc Innovation Enterprise.

Miss Kanyasorn Tansubhapol, Assistant to the President for Secretary and Special Affairs, and Dr. Pietro Borsano, Deputy Executive Director of the School of Integrated Innovation, were also present to welcome the NUS delegation.

Role of integrative psycho-biophysiological markers in predicting psychological resilience

Posted on by eduhk

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and parasympathetic nervous systems have been reported to play important roles in regulating emotion and coping with stress. But their direct relationship with psychological resilience remains unclear. These biophysiological features should be considered together with traditional psychometric properties to study resilience more comprehensively.

A Study of Dr Way Lau Kwok-wai, Assistant Professor at the Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, examined the role of biophysiological features such as vagal tone and HPA reactivity in resilience and determine the predictive power of resilience with the combination of psychological and biophysiological measures.

The study involved 55 male and 52 female university students with no psychiatric disorders. To examine the physiological changes in response to stress, the participants undertook a 15-minute Trier Social Stress Task (TSST), consisting of five minutes’ preparation, and delivering a five-minute speech in their second language and performing mental arithmetic in front of a review panel.

Psychometric properties of resilience were measured at rest; and vagal heart rate variability (HRV), salivary cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels were captured at baseline during and after the TSST. Multivariate linear regression and support vector regression machine-learning analyses were performed to investigate significant predictors and the predictive power of resilience.

The results showed that positive and negative affects, HRV during the anticipatory phase of stress, and the ratio of cortisol/ DHEA at the first recovery time point were significant predictors of resilience. The addition of biophysiological features increased the predictive power of resilience by 1.2 times compared to psychological features alone. The results from machine-learning analysis further demonstrated that the increased predictive power of resilience by adding the ratio of cortisol/ DHEA was significant in ‘cortisol responders’ (those who demonstrated an increase in cortisol during the stress phrase); whereas a trend level was observed in ‘cortisol non-responders’.

In the investigation of the HPA axis, the researchers did not observe any notable changes in cortisol or DHEA, but there was a marginally significant increase in the ratio of cortisol/ DHEA during and after the TSST in the complete samples, suggesting that the ratio of cortisol/ DHEA could plausibly be a more sensitive marker for acute stress.

The findings extend knowledge from the literature that high vagal activity during the anticipating phase of stress and the ability to restore the balance between cortisol and DHEA after a stress event can be an important feature in predicting resilience. The findings enhance our understanding of the role of vagal tone and HPA functioning in resilience, and further support the notion of combining psychological and biophysiological data in measuring and predicting resilience.

Training multi-talents specialising in East Asian languages

Posted on by Chinese Culture University

The Chinese Culture University was in the vanguard of establishment of the Department of Japanese Language and Literature in Taiwan.

The department cultivates transdisciplinary talents by providing professional courses of “humanities expertise plus one.” The department also offers practical courses to help students transfer learning from classroom to workplace and encourages students to understand Japanese society from the popular industry chain. Moreover, the department receives a grant from the Eurasia Foundation to provide a lecture course entitled “The Asian Community: The Construction and Transformation of East Asian Studies.” Combining the resources of Japan Research Center and the East Asian Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at our University, the department aims to cultivate young talents specializing in East Asian studies.

The department has cooperation relations with 33 partner institutions in Japan. The cooperation activities include exchange studies to Japan annually, summer study at partner institutions in Japan, and inviting students from partner institutions to join the Chinese language summer camp at our university. The department also has the only Japanese-Taiwan exchange professor system in Taiwan, which increases the opportunities for teacher-student exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. In addition, the department organizes Taiwan-Japanese student exchange activities such as “Japanese Corner” and “Student Companion.”

Moreover, we have industry-academy cooperation with travel agencies to promote Taiwan-Japanese youth exchange activities, provide students with internship opportunities to guided tour to famous off-campus attractions through the service learning courses, and provide trainings for students who want to take foreign-language tour manager and tour guide national license examination. We also encourage students to gain internship experience in foreign countries. Our department offers the industry-academy cooperation internship project to foreign countries, applies for “Overseas Internship Program” provided by the Ministry of Education, and selects outstanding students to intern abroad in overseas business institutions during summer vacation.

HKBU establishes the School of Creative Arts

Posted on by HKBUCPRO

To further augment human creativity in the world of arts, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) will establish the School of Creative Arts with effect from 1 July with a revitalised vision to nurture the next generation of creative talent for Hong Kong, and contribute to the city’s development as a creative arts hub for China and the world.

Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, said: “Recent advancements in digital technology have opened up new avenues in the world of arts. On top of this, the Government’s Policy Address in 2021 expressed its vision to position Hong Kong as Asia’s city of culture and creativity. The National 14th Five-Year Plan also raised the level of support for Hong Kong to help it develop into a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

“By capitalising on the new opportunities and the latest technological advancements, and with the synergies created by the establishment of the School of Creative Arts, the University will take the development of the creative arts to a higher level, and set new standards for future teaching and research.”

The School of Creative Arts will be comprised of three constituent academic units, namely the Academy of Film, Academy of Music and Academy of Visual Arts. By integrating related talent and resources of the University, it will be a place where great minds in the creative arts and technology can meet, and it will provide HKBU with a strong platform to advance the arts and culture, as well as art-tech, in Hong Kong and the region.

Professor Johnny ML Poon, Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research) and Dr Hung Hin Shiu Endowed Professor in Music at HKBU, has been appointed as the School’s Founding Dean.

“The School of Creative Arts is well poised to disrupt creative practice and art education in film, music and visual arts. Certain aspects of the world of arts – namely, its creative genealogy and methodology – require a radical rethink. A new framework of education and research is needed for artists to ‘think’ about futurity.

“Inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote ‘the best way to predict your future is to create it’, the new school, rooted in HKBU’s liberal arts ethos and transdisciplinary inquiries, aims to interrogate the infinite acts of human creativity, reassess the different roles of the arts in our time, and create new artistic opportunities for the future,” said Professor Poon.

The School of Creative Arts attaches great importance to transdisciplinary teaching and learning to nurture future-ready talent for Hong Kong and the nation who can innovate solutions and tackle the challenges of the times through ideation that transcends the boundaries of disciplines. On top of the existing programmes offered by the University in the disciplines of acting, film, music and visual arts, two new transdisciplinary programmes, namely the Bachelor of Arts and Science (Hons) in Arts and Technology and the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Business Administration (Global Entertainment), will be launched by the University in the 2022/23 academic year, and they will be housed in the School.

In terms of research and professional development, the integrated talent pool of the School of Creative Arts, which comprises experts from different arts disciplines, can facilitate broader collaboration with local and overseas universities, research institutions, government departments, professional bodies and industries.

Furthermore, the School’s capacity to fuel the development of the creative arts will be substantially strengthened with the expected completion of the Jockey Club Campus of Creativity in 2024, which will feature state-of-the-art facilities for a comprehensive range of creative arts disciplines.

With the School’s strengthened focus on the development of the creative arts for the future and the synergies created by the strategic realignment of its resources, it is expected that the University’s knowledge output in the creative arts and its impact can be maximised, enabling HKBU to become the research and education hub for the creative arts, culture and related industries in Hong Kong for China and the world.