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Month: May 2023

Macao Science 1 successfully launched

Posted on by Editorial Team

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that Macao Science 1, the first space science satellite jointly developed by the Mainland and Macao, was launched with a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 16:00, 21st May, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.

Macao Science 1 features A+B joint observation, in which Satellite A carries payloads like high-precision vector magnetometers and standard-scale magnetometers to detect Earth’s magnetic field. In contrast, Satellite B includes high-energy particle detectors and solar X-ray instruments to obtain data on the space environment such as solar radiation and high-energy particles that serve the ends of geomagnetic field detection. It will provide valuable data for long-term studies of the geomagnetic field, advancing China’s various fields of study such as lithospheric magnetic field, origins of the geomagnetic field, forecast on space weather, geomagnetic navigation, spacecraft operation safety, and boost technology development in high-precision field explorations by satellite and multiparametric joint observation.

After the successful launching of Macao Science 1, the next major phase of the project is in-orbit tests on all the scientific payloads on the satellite. Starting in late May, the team of scientists at Macao University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) will commence in-orbit tests in Xi’an for 6 to 12 months. After they are completed, Macao Science 1 will be handed over to the team of Macao Science 1 scientists at M.U.S.T. for at least 5 years, and this team will undertake comprehensive scientific research with the data obtained from the satellites.

The Project “Macao Science 1” encourages open sharing and application of scientific data. Under relevant data policies, it will promote extensive cooperation with domestic and foreign research institutions for increased output in scientific research and promote joint cultivation and exchange of talents. It is expected that the project will drive aerospace research and Macao’s youth space science education.

Why don’t we learn from history?

Posted on by Jerry Wind

It’s high time to use wisdom learned from the past to outsmart technology and transform new challenges into opportunities, comments Yoram (Jerry) Wind, Lauder Professor Emeritus and Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. 

In January, the New York City education department blocked access to ChatGPT on the city’s school devices and networks. Some educators and school administrators fear the app, which uses artificial intelligence to convert prompts into high-quality text, might lead to widespread cheating, as students pass off ChatGPT’s work as their own. Haunted by similar concerns, the school districts of Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, and Baltimore have instituted similar bans, as have districts in Alabama and Virginia. Other school districts are pondering similar restrictions.

Are we right to worry about the “negative impacts on student learning,” as the NYC education department calls them?

Based on more than five decades of teaching experience at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, I consider the recent decision by the New York City Board of Education and other school districts to be a mistake. While it is possible that text generators such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Bing AI could be used to plagiarise or cheat when we assess students based on testing for memorisation, why are we addicted to archaic testing approaches and trying to protect them? What does anyone gain by glorifying learning by rote?

I believe that a much better approach is to assess the students’ understanding of the material they are required to learn. During my time teaching at Wharton, I have never given a closed book in-class exam that relied on memory. All my exams have been open book or take-home exams that allowed students to use any source in demonstrating their understanding of the material.

If we prevent students from using tools that can make them faster and more efficient at expressing what they have learned, it is as silly as arguing that students will become better writers if they are barred from using typewriters and computers or that using calculators will hamper their efforts to master math.

In the case of ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms that follow or will follow them, the solution is simple: We should encourage students to start with the ChatGPT response to the query they are trying to study. Then they should be evaluated based on their ability to critically analyse the algorithm’s response, creatively improve it, and ideally implement what they have learned.

To be sure, this means that teachers will have to work harder. This new approach to assessment will require them to read and evaluate each response. It will also eliminate the convenience of automatic grading of multiple choice questions. However, at the same time, it will encourage students to focus on understanding rather than memorising their lessons. It will also increase the relevance of and their engagement with the topics they are studying.

This solution is consistent with history’s lessons. You cannot stop technological advancement by mandating it to disappear. We cannot decree that students can no longer use calculators, typewriters, computers, and mobile phones. Such bans never work — and the blockage of large language models like ChatGPT will ultimately fail. It is for similar reasons that prohibition did not work, and most anti-drug legislation is ineffective.

Those in charge of our education system need to realise that they should not fight technological advances. Instead, they need to embrace these new technologies. It is much better to adapt pedagogical systems so that they can work with innovative technologies and not against them.

Teachers, for the sake of our students, it is time to get real.

This article was from the QS Insights Magazine, Issue 3. Read the full edition.

CityU becomes world’s first university to manufacture next-generation electron microscopes

Posted on by Editorial Team

A research team at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is pioneering advanced technology for the next-generation self-design and manufacture of electron microscopes (EMs). CityU is the first university in the world to achieve this.

An EM system composed of a pulsed electron source, a fast camera, a staged pumping vacuum system, and an aberration corrector has been developed by a team led by Professor Chen Fu-rong, Chair Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

The team’s ultimate goal is to develop a miniature high space-time resolved “quantum” EM that can be used to study atom dynamics of beam-sensitive materials.

Since EMs are capable of imaging at a significantly higher resolution than light microscopes and provide measurements and analysis at the micro-nano, and even the atomic scale, they are much sought after, especially in medicine, life science, chemistry, materials, integrated circuits and other research industries.

The team has also overcome some longstanding problems in the development of EMs. Currently, EMs cannot overcome the scientific bottleneck of radiation damage and a static view of the sample, hindering their capability for studying small molecule and electron beam-sensitive materials. Furthermore, their size limits their application in space-expensive environments, such as space shuttles, and deep sea and deep earth research ships and devices.

To overcome these limitations, the CityU research team designed pulsed electron sources and the fast camera that can be used with a desktop EM. By equipping the fast camera with a deflector, the speed of imaging is not limited to the readout time. This is the first time that such a concept can be verified on a desktop EM system. The team also designed an aberration corrector, which can further improve imaging resolution.

In the future, with the ability to independently design and hold intellectual property rights, the team will be able to produce customised miniature EMs at a lower cost. For instance, the LaB6 desktop electron microscope is expected to be sold at 60% of the price of similar products on the market.

“The miniaturisation of high-end instruments is an inevitable trend in industrial development,” said Professor Chen, concurrently Director of the Time-Resolved Aberration-Corrected Environmental EM Unit and Director of the Shenzhen Futian Research Institute at CityU.

With the support of the Futian District Government, the team is the only university-based research group to have produced several high-end EMs.

The research team is developing a high spatio-temporal resolution desktop scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) that utilises pulsed hollow cones to enable observation and reconstruction of protein structures in 3D in room temperature and liquid conditions. This overcomes the current limitation of observing protein structures only under extremely low-temperature conditions using cryo-electron microscopy.

The next stage is to establish a world-leading electro-optical design and manufacturing centre in the Greater Bay Area that will focus on technology transfer and research into electron optics technology.

“This centre aims to spin off electron optics-related technologies for established and start-up companies,” said Professor Chen.

The goal is to stay 15 years ahead of the world’s other EM user facilities in terms of instrumentation and science, he added.

The centre will be organised around novel electron optics for servicing a series of high space/time resolution EMs dedicated to science applications, such as artificial photosynthesis, quantum materials and water science, in environments with a varied range of external stimuli (for example, electric fields, lasers, high temperatures and low temperatures) that are not accessible today.

This platform will lead to breakthroughs in quantum devices, future energy, life science and medicine, said Professor Chen, thereby helping to transform the team’s research findings into applications with real-world benefits, and stimulating collaboration between industry and academia.

Chula launches “CUDSON” to help students develop their abilities

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Chula has launched the “CUDSON” web application to help students discover and develop life skills, select activities and subjects that are suitable for their needs, develop themselves properly, learn what they like, and prepare for a world of creative and happy work.

“Who am I? What am I good at? What skills do I have? What should I study? What job should I get after graduation?” These are questions that many students may be pondering so they can develop themselves appropriately, study the right subjects, and apply for or create jobs that they
like at their own pace and aptitude.

Knowing oneself is important, but it may take time and learning through a series of experiences to find one’s own path. Assistant Professor Dr. Chaiyaporn Puprasert, Vice President of Student Development, Office of Student Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, therefore initiated the web application development project. “CUDSON” (meaning curated) allows students to get to know themselves clearly and quickly. This will help students choose the right subjects and activities to prepare for the world of work and life in the future.

According to Nopparuj Punyaratanasoonthorn, Education Services Officer, Office of Student Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, “in addition to academic learning and hard skills, which students receive from the classroom, they usually need soft skills to be ready for socialization in their working age and lifelong learning.  Each person has a different skill set, be it communication
skills, problem-solving skills, or working with others, making their potential development process unique.”

CUDSON was first launched in 2017 as a mobile application. However, due to the complexity of the system and the length of the assessment that users had to complete for 40 minutes, it was quite difficult touse. The Office of Student Affairs, Chulalongkorn University has improved the system to be easier to use in the form of a web application, which was launched at the end of 2022 and has already attracted over 4,000 students.

“CUDSON” activities and courses for self-paced learning

Among a variety of features, CUDSON’s main function is a two-type self-assessment for students:
learning and activity assessments.

Nopparuj explained that the assessment takes only 6 minutes and the system will process the answers into 6 types of competency scores. These are life skills or soft skills, including self-management skills, emotion management skills, communication skills, collaboration skills, problem-solving skills, and social transformation skills.

“The assessment will let students know what skills and competencies they have and what they need to develop to prepare themselves for future life goals. The CUDSON web application will introduce the appropriate activities and courses to the students individually,” said Nopparuj
while adding that the activities and courses suggested by CUDSON include activities organized by GenEd, CUVIP, and Chula MOOC online courses.

CUDSON “Finding Experiences”

Students who are clear on their abilities and self-development path can find the courses and activities that interest them at the “Finding Experiences” function to find out about all the classes, courses, and activities that are open for application at Chula.

“On the website, we will provide information about the activities, courses, and classes that will help students develop their competencies. If students already have in mind what skills they wish to develop, they can come to this section to see if the subjects or activities in which they are interested will help promote competencies in the way that they want.”

CUDSON “Discover Your Ideal Careers”

The “Discover Your Ideal Careers” function allows students to explore the career they are looking for or interested in, whether it is job characteristics, career-related disciplines, skills and knowledge needed for a such career, as well as lifestyle in the workplace.

“This section introduces students to different careers or fields, and the knowledge and skills requirements to see if their skills and knowledge match those requirements.  If they want to pursue that profession, what experience and competency would they need to sharpen,” explained Nopparuj.

Selecting the “right job” for the right person

The six competency assessment guidelines on the CUDSON web application are also useful in job recruitment to get “the right people for the job” at the CU Job & Higher Education Fair Online 2022 organized by the Office of Student Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, March 22, 2022.

“We ask companies and business owners who came to recruit students at the Job Fair to do Spider Chart based on CUDSON’s competencies according to opening positions, so that students can see themselves, compared with the expectations of the recruiting organizations.  Students are shown the ways to develop themselves, if they want to work in those positions, or if the positions are suitable for them.”

 “Cudson” promotes lifelong self-improvement.

Soon, the CUDSON web application will have an English version for international students. In addition, Mr. Nopparuj reveals that the Office of Student Affairs will link to other parts of the university and cooperate with external agencies to design activities for students to open up new
experiences that will help them develop themselves and be happy with their activities.

“Apart from improved usability, we will always keep the information and assessments up to date. The performance values used as assessment criteria will change with the times, like some abilities may not be necessary when we reach a certain age, then will change the criteria accordingly.”

Finally, Nopparuj invites Chula students to complete the assessments on the “CUDSON” web application every year to monitor their development in knowledge and competencies, as well as view ideas that may change with age because this is lifelong learning.

Interested students can access the CUDSON website in 2 ways: 1) Connect from the CUNEX
application and 2) Via https://cudson.chula.ac.th/

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/109329/

 

UiTM Kedah forges an international connection with Institute of Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Posted on by Syazliyati Ibrahim

Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia is set on its path to be a globally renowned university by 2025 or known as GRU 2025 in its blueprint. Due to this, various international initiatives have been planned and executed by the university toward achieving this overriding goal. One of the projects undertaken under this mission takes place in the actual classroom setting involving the teaching and learning process. This venture is named Global Learning and is placed under the Centre for Innovative Delivery and Learning Development (CIDL), UiTM. Its main focus is to bring international connection and live interaction directly to the classroom. This undertaking aspires to deliver world class education and at the same time, benefit students so that they can be competent graduates globally. With the acceleration in online learning and virtual meetings, Global Learning is even more relevant because UiTM students can now have international speakers in their classroom without having to leave their space.

Realising the benefit of such an innovation, UiTM Kedah Branch, Malaysia, via one of its English language classrooms, has successfully conducted a Global Learning session for its students. The English language subject is ELC650 or known in full as English for Professional Interaction, is offered to the degree students of various disciplines. This subject exposes a variety of workplace communication issues to the students and deal with a wide range of topics such as how to behave professionally, how to write emails and how to conduct formal group discussions. For the planned Global Learning session, 34 students from the classes of KAM2285C and KAM2285D who are pursuing their Bachelor of Administrative Science took part. The session took place on 3 January 2023, Tuesday, from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm. The invited speaker was Mr. Abdul Bari Khan, is a senior lecturer at the Institute of Southern Punjab, Multan, Pakistan. The topics covered by Mr. Abdul Bari Khan were Consideration for Professional Interaction, Professional Etiquette, Politeness & Concept of Face. The session was conducted using Webex. The organising team for this session includes Syazliyati Ibrahim as the group leader, Rafidah Amat as the moderator, Dr. Nursyazwanie Mansor, Nur Hidyati Zolhani and Nurazila Abdul Aziz as the committee members.

All in all, the students gave positive feedback and managed to garner valuable insights from the invited speaker. The experiences shared by the speaker who hails from Pakistan have been able to expose the students to different perspectives on workplace issues and allow them to compare their future workplace scenarios with the ones in Pakistan.

Parks and green spaces increase the social well-being of older adults

Posted on by Valerie Won

A new study by SMU Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA) unveils a higher social well-being score among seniors who have access to neighbourhood amenities

The availability of neighbourhood amenities, including parks, greenspaces, or exercise spaces within a 10-minute walk from home, is found to be associated with higher social well-being scores among Singapore’s older adults, according to a new study by the SMU Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA).

ROSA researchers reached these conclusions after polling 6,689 Singaporeans between the ages of 58 to 78 (inclusive) in May 2022, with data drawn from the Singapore Life Panel® (SLP). The SLP is a nationally representative monthly panel survey of middle-aged and older adults in Singapore, which began with a sample of Singaporeans aged between 50 and 70 years of age in 2015.

Named “The social well-being of older adults in Singapore”, the study aimed to use the Keyes concept of social well-being to understand and improve the well-being of middle-aged and older adults in Singapore. According to Keyes, social well-being consists of 5 primary components: social coherence, social actualization, social integration, social contribution, and social acceptance.

“Aristotle famously said that Man is by nature a social animal. Social well-being is, and will remain, key to successful ageing. With this study, we’re seeing that as social well-being improves, mental well-being scores among older adults improve. As Singapore’s silver population comes of age, it’s more important than ever for us to step up efforts to help older adults feel like they are part of a community,” said Professor Paulin Straughan, Director, ROSA.

This study was made possible through the generosity of The Ngee Ann Kongsi and the support of the Ministry of Education. Full details of the report can be accessed here.

Key findings and practical implications for society:

  1. The availability of neighbourhood amenities is found to be positively associated with social well-being. In other words, our results suggest that when older adults have more amenities available to them within their neighbourhood, they feel more integrated within their communities and that they have more to contribute to their communities.

2. The greatest difference in social well-being score is found when comparing between respondents with and without parks, greenspaces, or exercise spaces within a 10-minute walk from their home. This suggests that parks and green spaces are especially important in ensuring for the social well-being of older adults. This could be due to the fact that such spaces afford older adults with opportunities to interact with other members of the community. Such interactions are vital in creating a sense of community among residents.

3. We also find that social activities are positively correlated with social well-being, with the frequency of digital contact having the strongest effect on the social well-being of respondents. This suggests that digital contact can be a viable point of intervention in increasing the social well-being of older adults in Singapore, and that current efforts to increase the digital literacy of older adults should be strengthened.

In terms of recommendations, ROSA suggests the following for consideration:

1.       Further research should be conducted to uncover the differential effects that the availability of specific neighborhood amenities can have on the social well-being of older adults. The current descriptive results preliminary suggest that different amenities shape social well-being to different extents. However, we note that the present data are correlational and that these trends will thus require further investigation. This further research will likely be valuable for policy formation as by identifying the types of amenities that are most likely to contribute to social well-being.

2.       Increasing middle-aged and older adult participation in social activities may be a key means by which social and mental well-being can be improved, and efforts to keep older adults engaged in such activities should be expanded.

Chula geologist and team discover possible ancient structures on Khao Phanom Rung

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Chula geology professor and team of surveyors discovered foreign materials, suspected to be “terracotta”, in the center of Khao Phanom Rung (Phanom Rung Mountain) forest, Buriram Province. The discovery provides significant evidence indicating that Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is not the only ancient building hidden on Khao Phanom Rung.

The discovery was made when Prof. Dr. Santi Pailoplee, lecturer at the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, and his team of surveyors, interested in using remote sensing and geographic information systems to explore archaeology, were exploring the Khao Phanom Rung area.  Earlier, they had discovered traces of structures on Khao Phanom Rung, which is one of Thailand’s historical parks dated back thousands of years.

Prof. Dr. Santi explained that in geological terms, Khao Phanom Rung is a Quaternary volcano generated by lava eruption about one million years ago. By surveying the type of rocks in the area, geologists discovered that Khao Phanom Rung was formed by the accumulation of lava from mafic magma.  After the lava cooled down, there should only be basaltic rocks on the mountain.

However, during the latest survey at Khao Phanom Rung forest, Prof. Dr. Santi and his research team found, in addition to plenty of basalt rocks, non-basalt materials that resembled weathered cement and were foreign to the area. Ms. Nopphamat Ritthanont, a student from Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Geology, took samples for laboratory evaluation, and used an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), the team was able to analyze the structural properties of the materials collected without destroying the samples.  Lab results showed the materials were composed of quartz or sand deposits, and the majority of what was discovered was clay mineral, namely kaolin clay, which is commonly used today to produce ceramics.

Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Santi and the survey team investigated the plains surrounding Khao Phanom Rung and discovered a newly excavated villager’s well that illustrated the area’s rock hierarchy. The excavated well showed red siltstone at the bottom, white kaolin clay in the middle, and piled at the top was black soil from the breakdown of basalt rocks on Khao Phanom Rung, which later accumulated and covered the entire area. This was significant proof that “the kaolin clay used to build several buildings on Khao Phanom Rung was easily found in the area.”

Prof. Dr. Santi stated that scanning the material in high resolution with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), which clearly showed features of the external structure or surface of the sample in 3D, enormous quartz crystals surrounded by kaolin clay with an uneven surface were found. In comparison to previous studies that showed a difference in kaolin texture in relation to the measured temperature, it may be deduced that the kaolin soil or foreign material discovered on Khao Phanom Rung was calcined at a temperature of around 700 – 800 degrees Celsius. After a thorough study in the laboratory using cutting-edge scientific instruments, it was inferred that the substance is most
likely “terracotta”.

“When we revisited the survey area, we discovered key evidence as the lumps of fresh material had both decayed and non-decayed qualities. The portion that rotted out was white, while the portion that did not had an earthy orange color similar to modern bricks. The clay or brick lumps also contained traces of tiny fibers and holes. The conclusion was, to create such materials, straw and grass clippings were added into the mixture. This evidently supports the assumption that Prasat Hin Phanom
Rung is not the only ancient structure concealed in the center of Khao Phanom Rung forest”, said Prof. Dr. Santi.

Survey Team: Santi Pailoplee, Nopphamat Ritthanont, Kangvol Khatshima, Sombat Mangmeesuksiri, U-tain Wongsathit, Panya Nakauthok, Chakkrit Udonphim, Tamsak Wongmuneevorn, and Sitthichoke Towiriyakul

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/110337/

Investigations into factors controlling growth and lignin synthesis in spruce

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Enzymes producing reactive oxygen species may be involved in lignin biosynthesis and growth of coniferous plants

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic compounds generated by living systems through aerobic respiration and photosynthesis. Now, researchers from Finland and Tokyo University of Science, Japan have studied the mechanism to regulate the activity of ROS-producing enzymes and revealed that ROS is involved in the growth of spruce and synthesis of lignin, a key cell wall component. The findings could help develop technologies for producing valuable timber-based materials and boost the growth of coniferous trees.

Norway spruce is a large coniferous tree native to Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. Conifers make up a considerable portion of the terrestrial biomass and serve as a significant carbon sink, with the majority of the carbon going into the cell walls of the wood tissues. The economically-important Norway spruce is no exception.

The Norway spruce is a model species of gymnosperm—woody plants that produce naked seeds, on cones, without forming flowers and fruits—whose secondary xylem (water-conducting vascular tissue, also called ‘wood’) cell wall contains 27% of an important phenolic polymer—lignin. Lignin provides rigidity and structural support to cell wall polysaccharides. It is also valued for the production of important bio-based materials. Thus, the Norway spruce holds significance not just as an important lumber crop but also as a source of rich organic chemicals.

As such, much research has been conducted over the years to unravel the intricate metabolic pathways involved in the growth and metabolite production in this species, at the forefront of which are researchers in Finland.

Now, Professor Kazuyuki Kuchitsu at Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, a leading researcher on reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants has collaborated with Finnish scientists to study lignin biosynthesis in spruce.

Previous research has shown that the last polymerization stages in the production of lignin involve the oxidation of monolignols to phenolic radicals, which are then coupled non-enzymatically, using either hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-using peroxidase or oxygen-using laccase. With time, the role of ROS biogenic enzymes in lignin synthesis and spruce growth has also been identified.

ROS, such as superoxide anion radicals, H2O2, and hydroxyl radicals, can be produced by a number of sources in the plasma membrane and cell walls of plants and enter the apoplast (the space outside the plasma membrane of a plant cell). These sources include different enzymes, for instance, oxidases and peroxidases, as well as respiratory burst oxidase homologues (RBOHs, also known as NADPH oxidases). Using cytoplasmic NADPH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) as an electron donor, the plant RBOHs produce superoxide anion radicals, which then dismutate to H2O2. Prof. Kuchitsu’s research has revealed that this mechanism of producing ROS is crucial for many molecular processes in plants including pollen tube growth and fertilization.

In the lignin-forming cell culture and developing xylem of the Norway spruce, PaRBOH1 is the most highly expressed RBOH gene.

But how is PaRBOH1 regulated?

To answer this question, Prof. Kuchitsu’s team from TUS in collaboration with Finnish scientists studied the ROS-producing activity and regulatory mechanism of PaRBOH1 in gymnosperms, including the coniferous species spruce. Their study revealed, for the first time, that PaRBOH1 is activated by calcium ions and phosphorylation to produce ROS. Additionally, protein kinase activity was observed in the cell extract of the developing xylem, phosphorylating certain serine and threonine residues in PaRBOH1.

These findings have been published in volume 13 of Frontiers of Plant Science on 13 October
2022. The multinational team involved in the study included Dr. Kenji Hashimoto from TUS; Dr. Kaloian Nickolov of the University of Oulu, Finland; Dr. Adrien Gauthier of Aghyle Unit, Institut
Polytechnique UniLaSalle, France; and Dr. Anna Kärkönen of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland.

The results of RBOH regulation in the first gymnosperm species to be examined, the Norway spruce, demonstrates that all seed plants—gymnosperms (naked seeded) or angiosperms (closed seeded)—share the same mechanisms for controlling RBOH activity.

Prof. Kuchitsu explains why this is significant: “ROS were typically regarded as toxic substances, but our study shows that several plant functions, including stress response and plant vegetative
and reproductive development, are regulated by ROS produced by ROS biogenic enzymes.”

Prof. Kuchitsu also sheds light on the practical applications of their findings. Owing to their potential for use as new sources of energy and materials, research into tree development and the
mechanisms governing the valuable components in their cells is gaining momentum. “Our research, in the future, might contribute to the promotion of tree growth and aid in advancing technology for producing valuable materials,” observes Prof. Kuchitsu.

Will the findings contribute to meeting our energy and materials demands while complying with the global sustainable development goals? The researchers are hopeful they will, and so are we.

Reference                     

Title of original paper: Regulation of PaRBOH1-mediated ROS Production in Norway Spruce by Ca2+ Binding and Phosphorylation

Journal: Frontiers in Plant Science

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.978586

UITM Perak branch initiates Social Responsibility (USR) Programs on solar lighting

Posted on by Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak Branch

On 18 March 2023, UiTM Perak Branch, Malaysia, under the Green Campus Committee and Green Safe Cities (GreSAFE) Research Group, collaborated with the housing community of Puncak Iskandar, Perak, and the local council of Perak Tengah, Malaysia in disseminating the solar lighting technology towards enhancing the safety level of the neighborhood. Under the initiation and support of the UiTM Perak technical team, Assoc. Prof. Sr Dr. Nur Azfahani Ahmad addressed that this program is sequential knowledge and technology transfer program using a community-based approach.

This program has successfully gathered 30 academic and supporting staff of the UiTM Perak Branch, 15 staff from the local council, and more than 50 community members in the installation process of 12 units of solar lighting system in the housing surroundings, the amenities, and playgrounds. The municipal councilor, Mr. Syukri Azaari, highlights that this program helps to strengthen the safety, security, well-being, and inclusivity of the community toward crime prevention. It aligns with the Malaysian Twelfth Plan (2021-2025) and United Nation Sustainable Development Goals No 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and No 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by synchronizing the plan of Malaysian Science, Technology, Innovation, and Economic (MySTIE), specifically Smart Cities and Transportation. The community leader, Dr. Norhazlan Haron has supported the program and agreed that the people’s quality and welfare are improved with the aid of green energy. It significantly strengthens the country’s prosperity by enhancing the excellence of academia through green technology applications.

At current, UiTM Perak Branch under the Green Campus initiative and Green Safe Cities Research Group are actively conducting various activities focusing on resilient and safe communities in Malaysia. It includes activities on crime prevention through environmental design, green environment of safe cities, and resilient cities with green management.

Thammasat predicts the future, ‘Health-Wellness’ is Thailand’s treasure

Posted on by Thammasat University

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phaiwan Satthanon, Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University revealed that currently, personnel in the health profession are not limited to a career in the hospital only, as nowadays ‘healthcare’ is a trend both in Thai society and globally, especially after the COVID-19 crisis. The business sector agrees that the opportunity of Thailand is wellness tourism, including the business of providing medical wellness services at the cost of Thailand’s treasure, both resources, potential, travel, and most importantly, personnel potential and health service provision including national policies that promote such businesses. This leads to the growth of opportunities for healthcare professionals to become entrepreneurs or business owner from small to large by their own or even perform duties within government or private organizations that will expand to accommodate the increasing demand for health services.

In addition, Thailand has now entered an aging society while, the value of having children of the new generation is decreasing. This reflects that in the near future, businesses related to health services will grow exponentially. An obvious and growing example is the emergence of new private sector businesses that support health systems and government services, both health promotion and disease prevention, including services that cover the physical rehabilitation of patients. For example, the opening of a medical technical laboratory, wellness center of sports science, elderly care centers or patients with chronic illnesses, and quality of life care for terminally ill patients and their families that focus on reducing physical, mental, social and spiritual suffering such as palliative care centers, etc.

Moreover, in modern times, especially when the communication system, public relations and social media can reach large groups of people without limits. The provision of health services is therefore not limited to a place or that required a complex system. On the other hand, the new generation sees opportunities to build careers and health businesses online, such as giving advice, or as a health consultant or exercise therefore, having a background in health sciences will be an advantage in the future.

Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences said that the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences has always followed the trend of society and the world including cooperation with both the government and private business sectors. Therefore, we can see the tendency of increasing health demands, whether it is entering an aging society in many countries around the world, development of medical genomics, precision medicine and personalized medicine, including the promotion and care of health at early stage. These visions are considered to increase career opportunities for graduates from each program of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Phaiwan went on to say that the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences curriculum is developed based on meeting the needs of Thai society as well as adapting to the current and future world trends. This will allow graduates who complete each program to have a wide range of career options in order to support the needs of both the government and business sectors, and especially the current direction that is more open and no longer limited only to working as a medical personnel in the public sector.

Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University is strong in the diversity of its undergraduate programs, which include six areas: medical technology, physiotherapy, sport and exercise science, sports management, sports coaching, and radiological as well as postgraduate programs with a focus on cutting-edge research. In addition, there are activities both within and outside the curriculum through collaboration between government and private agencies, both domestically and internationally. We as well have a learning platform for real practice through the Health Service Center of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences which has conducted activities in both business forms to earn income and forms of corporate social responsibility activities, thus combining both the ability to manage business along with having a public mind that works for society as well.

“We foster the skills needed today that are different from the past. We try to give our students choices and to obtain a variety of skills, including important soft skills, be ready and able to seize opportunities that arise, thus making our curriculum strong and that graduates are ready to keep up with current and future changes,” stated the Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences.